5 THINGS . THE NEW & NOW FROM P&G BEAUT¥

Drugstore beauty brands have truly brought their A-game this Spring season, in both colour and skincare – and that is especially true for one of the biggest drugstore umbrella brands, Proctor & Gamble. This Spring their line-up of beauty giants including Olay, Covergirl, and Pantene, to name a few, have released luxury-inspired products at a fraction of the cost.     

I've long dreamt of the day that I could walk into a drugstore and purchase a hydrating overnight mask, and thanks to Olay's launch of the Regenerist Luminous Overnight Mask that day has finally arrived. It should come as no surprise that moisturizing masks are my thing, especially when in gel form, and the Regenerist Luminous Overnight Mask ranks high on my 'you need to own this or you'll die' scale. The hydrating gel is formulated with vitamin B3, Mulberry extract, and humectants, which are absorbed quickly and work late into the evening to produce a glowing, hydrated complexion come morning. Olay's Regenerist Luminous line also makes room for the brands first Daily Facial Oil, a blend of nine naturally-sourced oils that condition and protect the skin to reveal a luminous complexion. The oil has a much thinner consistency than those currently occupying my vanity, however it will be a go-to this summer when I'm in need of a lightly moisturizing, fast absorbing oil – plus the orange scent is divine.  

Spring also places a heavy focus on bright, airy makeup, and perfectly tamed, never frizzy hair, which can be a tough achievement when you're on a budget. However, the latest releases from Covergirl and Pantene make looking and feeling good this season simple and totally affordable. Covergirl's Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath developed an updated colour palette of 36 ultra-pigmented shades, dubbed the Colorlicious Lipsticks, curated into four colour families making it easy to find the perfect colour for every occasion. My top pick for Spring: Temptress Rose, a beautiful and flirty, every day medium pink shade – which also pairs beautifully with the white liner trend. Finally, to tame and control unruly hair there is the new Dry Defy line by Pantene, which features a shampoo, conditioner, and velvet hair creme. When used together in a routine this line keeps my hair intensely hydrated and frizz-free, boasting a glistening sheen. However the line is quite brilliant alone as well – the Velvet Creme transforms from creme to water when worked between the hands, then provides a micro-seal to the hair when applied, which prevents loss of future moisture. This Spring/Summer humidity and dryness are no match for this new army of drugstore products.  

Have you seen these new releases in store? 

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product/service. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.

PRO X BY OLA¥ . NIGHTL¥ PURIF¥ING MICRO-PEEL

A few weeks ago a friend of mine, Sarah, approached me regarding an adverse reaction she had when she used the Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel. The product contains glycolic acid, which simply didn't co-operate with her skin type, leading to a rosy rash on her cheeks and an overall uneven complexion. We got into an in-depth discussion about facial peels and glycolic acid, which is when I realized that not only have I never tried an at home peel before, but I was also extremely uneducated on glycolic acid – and it seems that I'm not the only one. Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), which works as an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, and can be effective at lightening discolouration in the skin. Sounds pretty great. So why did Sarah have such a poor reaction?  

I've included Sarah's account of her experience with the Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel, which can be seen here, but I still wanted to test the peel out myself since so many others rave about the product, including Temptalia. However, in my search I instead stumbled upon a new peel for 2015 from Olay's Pro X series, the Nightly Purifying Micro-Peel[*], which seems to be a much better option for those with sensitive skin. The Pro X by Olay Nightly Purifying Micro-Peel still contains glycolic acid, which is surprisingly at a higher level than the Thermal Mini-Peel, however it's devoid of the exfoliants and intense warming sensation that the Thermal Mini-Peel features, which could cause irritation.

I've been using the Nightly Purifying Micro-Peel for 5 days now, without having an adverse reaction. The price tag is on the hefty side at $50, but it features a self-drawing dropper, which collects liquid as you twist the product open and is easily dispensed without worry of contamination. I apply 2-4 drops all over my skin before bed, yet still cannot help but layer a drop of my Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil over top for added moisture. When I first began applying it to my skin I encountered a stinging sensation, but that dissipated within 5 minutes leaving behind an invisible, odourless layer that dried within minutes. In the morning I simply cleanse my skin and continue with my current skin care regime. Since using it I've noticed that my skin appears brighter, and the faint discolouration around my mouth left from blemishes has begun to fade away. I could never use this treatment nightly as I notice a bit of tightness come morning, but it will definitely become a valuable solider in my beauty army when that time of the month rolls around. 

Have you tried the Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel before? What was your experience?
Will you try the Nightly Purifying Micro-Peel instead?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.  

GIVEAWA¥ . BEAUT¥ UNITED . 12 DA¥S OF BEAUT¥ [CLOSED]

My affiliation with the P&G Beauty United program over the past year has led to a lot of exciting experiences – glitzy events, celebrity encounters and most importantly the exploration of new and well-loved drugstore products. But the part I love most about my partnership with them is the fact that they are always so eager to incorporate the people that matter the most – YOU, the readers.

If you've followed my blog for a while now you will remember that last year I took part in the Beauty United 12 Days Of Beauty Photo Challenge – posting 5 themed photos on my social media accounts throughout the month of December. Well this year I'm at it again. And once again my lovely readers will have the chance to win all of the P&G products in this years 12 Days Of Beauty Prize Pack – trust me the COVERGIRL Eyeshadow Quad in Notice Me Nudes is not one to miss. All you have to do to enter is join the giveaway below and be sure to follow THE PRETT¥ VAIN on all of our various social media channels to hear my first hand experience with the products.

THE PRODUCTS

• Olay Sensitive Body Wash
• Secret Oh La La Lavender Clear Gel Deodorant
• Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream Fragrance-Free
• Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo + Conditioner
• Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner
• Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo
• Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care 2-minute Moisturizer Scalp & Hair Treatment
• Clairol Hair Colour Coupon
• Crest Flex-Fit Whitestrips
• COVERGIRL Full Lash Bloom Mascara in Very Black
• COVERGIRL Eye Shadow Quads in Notice Me Nudes
• COVERGIRL Bombshell Powder Brow & Liner Medium Brown

THE GIVEAWAY

The giveaway will be open from Dec 9th – Dec 18th [11:59pm] and will be open to Canadian Residents only – sorry guys! The winner will be announced on Twitter come December 19th 2014 and will be contacted thereafter. Good Luck dolls!

Beauty United 12 Days Of Beauty Giveaway

AM¥     XO

G¥M POSER . WORK OUT BEAUT¥ MUST HAVES

I'm working up the willpower to make the commitment to the gym again – I'm still in that hazy phase where you set your alarm each morning with intent but never make it out of bed on time. This overwhelming feeling of lazyness needs to end and this week I've taken matters into my own hands – and by that I mean I've bought some new workout gear, created the ideal playlist and assembled my very own post-workout beauty army.

THE GEAR

Getting the courage to go to the gym for the first time in a while can be daunting – you want to look the part and fit in seamlessly. When it comes to gym wear I tend to stick with brands like Lululemon, Addidas and Nike – their products last the test of time and keep me stylish as I sweat. Lululemon is my true kryptonite. Just one look at the Cardi All Day ($178) cardigan, made of merino wool and you'll understand why. I've also recently become obsessed with a new water bottle company called bkr – their simplistic design mixed with edgy editorials and vivid inspirations make them a brand to know. Below are a few products that are currently on my gym-wear wishlist.

THE PLAYLIST

Now that we've got the look down pat it's time to focus on the music. I spend days at a time researching what songs to add to my playlists because I hate the feeling of begrudgingly listening to a song I dislike while running – it's completely demotivating. The genre that gets me moving: trap music. I've found so many great trap playlists on 8tracks – a site similar to Spotify that let's you explore pre-made playlists. The playlist from 8tracks on days when I'm too lazy to create my own is called Okay Work, found here. It features strong women like Rihanna and Queen B to empower you as you work out and even offers some profound advice: Do your damn squats, wear red lipstick and tell boys to fuck off.

THE POST-WORKOUT BEAUTY ARMY

Before we get into the powerful little post-workout beauty army that I've assembled let's talk about my pre-workout regime, which consists of simply one detoxifying cleanser, the Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser[*]. It's lovely. The Purifying Cleanser deeply cleanses my skin removing all traces of makeup and even imparts a cooling sensation that feels great pre-workout. Post-workout I like to cleanse my face and neck using a cleansing cloth –  currently the Olay Fresh Effects S'Wipe Out. However I find them slightly irritating. I'm dying to try out the Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step Cleansing Cloths or the new Korres Greek Yoghurt Cleansing Wipes. Once cleansed I give my face a quick spritz of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir for a boost of radiance before moisturizing with whatever sample has peaked my interest that week. This week I've settled on the  Eve Lom Moisturizer[*] – so decadent, and so spa-worthy ahh.

My post-work makeup regime needs to remain quite simple because personally, I'm likely to be running errands or simply headed home to nap/binge on chocolates. The best errand running foundation I know of remains the Benefit Big Easy – it delivers light coverage, enhancing your skins natural beauty and hides any signs of the workout with it's matte finish. I then simply fill in my brows using the Benefit Gimme Brow, add a few coats of mascara and bring some life to my face with a pretty pink lip courtesy of the adorable Royal Apothic Tinties Lip Butter[*] in Pink. Although another great lip/cheek product to add colour and warm up the complexion are the Josie Maran Coconut Cheek Gelées – I used the shade Pink Escape while vacationing in Miami and absolutely loved the natural effect it delivered. Et voila, ready to face the world.

What keeps you on track before and after the gym?

AM¥     XO

*Some of items in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.