A Rose By Any Other Name: Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer

It takes a lot for me to want to break up with my favourite moisturizer. I really love Fresh's Soy Moisturizer - it works for my dry skin and has SPF. But it's fuckin pricey, dude. And it's seriously hard to find. Sephora doesn't seem to be carrying it anymore, so when the Fresh store by my office closed down and I ran out of supply, I was forced to go hunting for a new moisturizer. 

Enter: Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream . Swoon. 

Because of my amazeballs nighttime moisturizer (see this post), I really don't have to use a moisturizer every morning (I know, I know, I should be putting SPF on my face everyday. Death is coming. Whatever.). Korres offering is the perfect balance - where Origin's Night-A-Mins is thick and creamy, Korres is light and airy - like putting silk on my face. It's so soft and smooth you barely feel a thing, yet it's keeping me well moisturized and balanced. Plus, it smells like roses. 

It's a little less expensive than my usual too, so this might be a repurchase. If it had SPF, that would be even better, but I live a vampire life anyway so not a huge loss. 

Nightynight: Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Nighttime Moisturizer

This is a story about a product that transformed my face. 

I have very very dry skin. I'm talking itchy, flaky, sensitive, easily damaged dry skin. And it's not just my face - its my scalp, arms and legs, everywhere. For a very long time I ignored it, because I believed that nothing would ever help, and I just had to deal with my skin being the way it was. But since I've started this blog and started really looking for skincare, I've discovered that healthy skin is possible. And Origins Night-A-Mins Moisturizer is a total game changer. 

Not only is my skin thoroughly moisturized, but its almost oily - I'm serious. Within about a week of using this product, my skin was totally different. It feels like I don't have to moisturize every day anymore. It feels soft and clear and bright, and I'm seriously in awe. Like, I want to put this stuff on my whole body it's that good. This is a miracle product. And it makes your face smell like oranges.

So pretty much I am going to recommend the shit outta this stuff for anyone who has super duper dry skin. You may not even have to use it every night after a while, just maybe three times a week or so and you'll be good to go with totally smooth, soft skin. Just like, fucking do it already, okay? Okay. Glad we had this chat. 

Lush Madness!

I've been wanting to try Lush for a really long time. There's something really excited about all-natural products when it comes to skincare - I feel much better about the glop that's going on my face when I can look at the back of the container and see what's actually in it. And Lush has a really great vibe - they're all anti-animal testing and their new campaign for Valentine's Day was all about love and supporting the LGBT community, which is a cause close to my heart. 

I also had a really great in-store experience. My local mall is known for having crap customer service, so I did a lot of research about the products before going in to the store because I didn't expect the girls to really pay attention to me or know anything about the products. BOY WAS I SURPRISED to the point where I wrote Lush an email, which I will excerpt for you here: 

" I usually don't like shopping in stores because the stores are crowded, I don't get enough attention when I have a question, and most of the time the employees don't really know what they're doing. But the girls in the store were incredible. In particular, an employee there named Stephanie was a big help. She saw me staring confused at some products and offered some great advice, showed me how to use everything, and introduced me to new products I wouldn't normally try. All the girls took interest in my story and my blog and were ready and willing to help with expert product knowledge. I went home with a mountain of Lush products to try and review on my blog, and I've never been so excited. As a lifelong psoriasis sufferer, it's exciting to feel like I possibly have miracle products in my hands now. I just want to let you know that you have some great girls there. I've worked retail, I know how hard it can be, and it's rare to get customer service like that"

And an even bigger surprise, THEY WROTE BACK: 

"Thank you for taking the time to contact LUSH! You and I would make the best shopping buddies. I also go online first, get an idea of what I want and then hit the stores. I hate crowds! I'm so happy to hear that you had a fantastic experience at LUSH. I often sit at my desk and day dream about all the action that goes down at the stores. So, hearing about great experiences really makes my day! I think it's the people who used to work in retail that's hard to impress. I'm very happy that LUSH met your standards of good customer service! I will forward your feedback to our friends at the mall location so, Stephanie and the rest of the team will get all the kudos that they deserve. Your blog looks great! I tried to start one years ago but didn't keep up with it. I really admire your dedication. If there's anything else that I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask."

No, guys, this is for real. An actual response from an actual person. I'm really amazed. 

I ended up with a little bit of everything.

I don't usually do face masks but Stephanie recommended Mask of Magnaminty to help with my blackheads. I've used it once and it really does work - I saw a significant change in the softness of my skin and it did get rid of some of the blackheads. Next time I think I'm going to try it just on my nose - way better than any of those pore strips! Volcano is a foot mask, which is kind of weird because you have to wrap your feet in plastic wrap for ten minutes while it works it's magic, but it's great for winter feet that are trapped in tights and closed toed shoes!

Curly Wurly is a shampoo for frizzy curly hair (read: poofball hair like mine) and smells AMAZING. It's made with coconut and I mean it - real bits of coconut in there. So cool. And my hair is super soft right now (de-poofing is gonna take years, so game on,  Curly Wurly), so I'm loving it.

I love me  a scrub so I actually picked up two - both Ocean Salt and the Sugar Scrub. I've only used the Ocean Salt so far but it's really great. I'm super smooth and it's a way less expensive alternative to my favourite Fresh sugar scrub, and works just as well. The great thing about Ocean Salt is that it's also a facial scrub, so it's like getting two exfoliants for the price of one. Plus my boyfriend says I taste salty. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it's better than tasting not good? Right? Right.

Ultrabland is a really thick, creamy cleanser for makeup and dirt removal. When I was in the store, Stephanie rubbed it on my hand and you can really feel the way it pulls everything out of your skin. It's a bit strange at first since I'm used to a really light cleanser, but there was nothing leftover on my face after I used it.

I am always looking for badass moisturizers for my dry skin and Skin Drink has been working really well so far. It smells a bit strange (it's made with sesame oil) and it's kind of a weird brown goop, but it hydrates for the whole day. I'm never left wanting and my skin feels super soft. I'm all about soft, hydrated skin, especially since it's been such a harsh winter.

Stephanie also recommended using both Dreamwash and Dream Cream for my dry, itchy skin. So far they've been working great - Dreamwash smells amazing and is nice and creamy, and Dream Cream is very soothing and I've been lathering it on like a maniac every time my skin gets itchy. I'd heard a lot about Dream Cream (it's their best seller) so I was eager to try it, and so far it's been going very well.

Overall I'm really really pleased with my Lush products and I'm really excited to go into the store and try more, especially after such a great experience. Plus it's nice that I can feel really good about what ingredients I'm putting on my body. Lush products are relatively inexpensive (this huge haul was just over $100) and I really am loving their brand as a whole. Can't wait to try more!

Evil Queen Beauty's Favourites of 2013 Part 2: Friends with Benefits

On my first Sephora haul, I picked up a sampler box of Benefit products called "Goodtime Gals", and it contained the absolute gem that is Girl Meets Pearl. It's sort of a liquid highlighter with a really good sheen that gives you that dewy, radiant look without being too overpowering. What I've been doing is putting a little on the apples of my cheeks and my cheekbones to get that highlight, but you could really use it just about anywhere you needed a little bit of a light reflector.

Watt's Up has a similar highlighting effect but much more subtle. It's a cream stick instead of a liquid and is a little less powerful than the Girl Meets Pearl. I've been using it when I want just a little bit of glow on my cheeks and also under my eyebrows. I have Watt's Up in a travel size too, so it can go in my purse and I just swipe some  on when I need it for that little lift. They're maybe not every day products, but they work really well. Definitely going to buy the full size when it comes time to do so.

A lot of bloggers have been raving about the They're Real Mascara, and I kind of have to join in a little bit. I used to use Benefit's Bad Gal but found that it flaked a little too much. Since then I've been using Buxom Lash for my everyday, which is great but doesn't give me as much drama as the Bad Gal did. They're Real is all up on the drama. You get thick, long lashes and it's a great effect for going out. I had a little trouble with clumping but not so much with flaking, which is great. It's still a great product from Benefit and definitely worth a buy.

Now the Benefit Skincare Kit is definitely something I want to rave about. I'm always looking for great moisturizers and exfoliators, and Benefit is one of my favourite brands so I was looking forward to trying out their skincare line. The Total Moisture Facial Cream is fucking perfect. It's thick, creamy, lasts all day, smells nice, soaks perfectly into my skin, and is definitely a fullsize purchase. I've been using it at night and my Fresh Moisturizer during the day, but you could also use it during the day. Definitely loving it.

Out of the skincare kit I also really love the It's Potent Eye Cream which is so smooth and great for my tired morning eyes. It helps  moisturize that area (which I need, from scrubbing off all that winged eyeliner) and brightens any darkness that's there. I've also just started using the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion after reading Into The Gloss' "What Is Toner" and I'm liking it so far. It gives me a nice base before my moisturizer in the morning, and is cooling and creamy.

I really like that you can get a sample pack, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a new skincare line to try, and the packaging is very old-timey apothecary looking which I love. They remind me of Harry Potter potion bottles! They have other products like the Remove It Makeup Remover and the Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist that I'm interested in trying too.

Over all, loving what Benefit is doing right now.

Evil Queen Beauty's Favourites of 2013 Part 1: Getting Naked with Urban Decay & Fresh skincare

Happy 2014, Beauty Queens! It's time for the obligatory 2013 favourites post.

I'm going to start off with the best thing that 2013 had to offer, the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. The Naked Palettes have been a big hit with the blogger world, but up until now, they've all been too, well, brown. I'm not a brown person, and actually I actively avoid it. All these "natural" palettes are brown and beige and fucking boring. So I haven't really been all that thrilled with the Naked palettes until now. There was a huge buzz when UD announced that they were doing a third version, and I was SO THRILLED to find that it was a beautiful pinky palette. They call them "rose gold" shades, and they range from soft glimmery pinks to more golden colours, and a lovely defining grey and black with red glimmers at the end. It's safe to say I'm in love, and there are so many beautiful combinations that I really feel like I never need another palette again. The colours blend flawlessly and last all day, and the brush that comes with the set is pretty much perfect for creating a multitude of looks. I'm so pleased and it was totally worth the money.

Urban Decay is one of my favourite brands, so the other products I'm putting on this list are the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup which I use every day and pair with their Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion and I always set with All Nighter Setting Spray. I used to use their cream-to-powder foundation, but since that has been discountinued, the liquid foundation has been serving me well. I definitely recommend using the primer though as I find it wears a little bit by the end of the work day.

The B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray was something that came in a sample bag and I was a little bit confused as to what it was for, but I use it before I put on my moisturizer and it really helps my skin absorb the moisture and stay moisturized throughout the day. Right after I shower I spritz it on and I never feel wanting for moisture, even with the winter cold. It's really useful if you have super dry skin like me.

Fresh is definitely my favourite skincare brand of 2013. They're a little bit on the pricey end but I really love the products and they've lasted me a good long time, so I don't regret shelling out for them. The Soy Face Cleanser and Moisturizing Cream are part of my daily skincare routine and have never failed me. My skin has never felt softer and smoother.

The Brown Sugar Body Polish works wonders for my skin. I have very dry skin which can get scratchy and flaky, and this stuff makes everything smooth as all get out. The first time I used it at my boyfriend's place, he said I was "all marinated", so it passes the boy touch test! I use the Sugar Lip Polish before I put on my lipstick and it really helps soothe my chapped winter lips so that my lipstick goes on flawless and stays flawless throughout the day. Pretty much is my entire skincare routine was Fresh products, I'd be really happy. I'd be broke, but really happy, and with fucking flawless skin.

Stay tuned for part 2,

VIB status achieved!

So the other day I leveled up at Sephora and became a VIB! I'm actually really stoked about this, because the package not only came with 10% off my next purchase and Free shipping, but also a card for a 45-minute makeover, which I am totally going to cash in for my birthday next month. Playing at Sephora is one of my favourite things to do when I have the time, and I've had pretty good luck with the recommendations they've given me, even at my local store.

I went in there to look into skin exfoliants, especially a sugar body scrub, after reading this article from Huffington Post about SW Basics of Brooklyn (which I still fully intend on trying, because the article was hilarious and convincing). I picked up Fresh's Brown Sugar Body Polish and Sugar Lip Polish, as well as samples of their Umbrian Clay facial exfoliant and Soy Moisturizing Cream. I'm loving pretty much all of it, especially the Sugar Body Polish and the exfoliant, which works much better than the Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher. That left my skin feeling dry and tight, and Fresh's product doesn't at all. There are lots of little microbeads in there that make me feel like I'm getting a good scrub, and I can feel my skin getting softer already and I've only used it twice. So next time I go back to Sephora I'm going to pick up full sizes of those, for sure, though I'm tempted to try the Facial sugar scrub too! Sugar scrubs all around!

I also picked up a small size of Urban Decay's Naked Skin BB cream to try. I'm a big fan of Urban Decay and have been using their products for a long time, and recently switched over to their Naked Skin foundation. My friend Michaela of A Mane of Her Own uses a BB cream and loves it, so I wanted to give it a go. It gave me a really nice glow and was nice and thin, very light and easy to wear. However, I didn't feel like I got enough coverage without a proper foundation. I think a BB cream like this is great for weekends or lazy days when I don't want to wear a lot of makeup or just need a little SPF, though. Definitely great for the no-makeup makeup look.