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Beauty Back 2 School Essentials Under 20 Bucks

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BY DANICA SMITH 

Ring! Ring! Ring! Class is in session and just like paper and pens, being stocked with the ultimate beauty must haves, especially on a budget is just as important.

A fresh start to a perfect year begins with each day and a flawless face St Ive’s Exfoliating Apricot Scrub $3.99, provides a deep invigorating clean with the help of tiny crushed apricot seeds to get deep into pores, providing a refreshing clean that is sure to wake you up in the morning with glowing skin. Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bars $5.99, followed by a light moisturizer that will help to quench the skin and keep it hydrated all day for that natural glow. Clean and Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer $8.49 with cucumber extract helps to calm the skin keeping it supple throughout the day and with its gel based formula is quick drying and won’t clog pores, unlike tacky lotions or oils. Cetaphil Moisturizer $8.99.

Speaking of oil and as the day goes by, oil buildup is inevitable by mid afternoon even if you’re using an oil free moisturizer. Blotting paper from Clean and Clear oil ­ absorbing sheets $6.49 helps to keep oils at bay keeping you mattified and ready for science. Use one to two sheets to carefully pat away oils within your t­zone area (forehead, chin, nose) for a quick touch up.

Now that we have our face covered for class let’s not forget about gym and that funk, yes ladies that funk after ball practice, especially if gym is first period. Don’t forget to pack a body spray in that gym bag too and the good thing about AXE Anarchy deodorant body spray for women $4.95 it keeps you dry and can be used on the body leaving a light floral scent for scent friendly environments. Apply when needed or before or after gym.

Keep your lipgloss poppin’, so let’s not forget about those cherry smackers with the new Baby Lips by Maybelline $5.99 that provides a wash of colour with a subtle tint to the lips without a bold distraction as lipstick. Baby Lips provides a nice gloss to the lips giving off just enough drama with its array of colours to keep you neutral and angelic till the next bell.

It’s after lunch and were approaching our afternoon plunge. Stay perky with 2­3 coats of Essence Clear Gel Mascara $2.99. This grooming tool is perfect as it can be used to set brows and keep eyes bright and natural with it’s lengthening formula to keep you looking wide awake.

Because we’re all about those letter A’s, let’s keep it smooth when giving those high fives with a silicone based lotion such as Glysomed Hand Cream $3.99 that will keep hands soft to the touch.

There you have it, all your beauty essentials under one roof to get you back to school ready!

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Make-up & Beauty

Keeping Your Skin Hydrated During Toronto’s Harsh Winter Season

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Photo by Audrey Fretz on Unsplash

Winters are known for being harsh in Canada, and our heavy snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and freezing winds are some of the country’s most known environmental features.

Toronto is no exception either; winter can bring difficult conditions to driving, public transit and sidewalks, and it’s also harsh on our skin.

The cold, dry air mixed with harsh winds can both work to create a tough time for your skin, and many people note that issues such as dry skin, raw skin, and itchy irritations. Many people who suffer from eczema also report that winter is their worst time of dealing with it. The problem is, keeping our skin in this state of damage for the many months that winter lasts can lead to premature signs of aging. This is likely why places like a Toronto plastic surgery clinic and dermatologists often see their patient list grow by late spring and early summer.

Here are some ways you can keep your skin protected and healthy during the harsh Canadian winter.

Change Up the Skincare

During winter, you might notice that your usual routine for skincare becomes less effective than it usually is. This is because the climate around you has heavily changed, and the environmental factors that affect your skin are now different.

A light moisturizer might be good for the humid weather of summer, but during winter, a heavier duty one may be needed instead to retain hydration in the skin effectively. If too much for day use, using a heavier moisturizer at night is at least recommended to keep your skin hydrated in your sleep.

It may also be beneficial to switch any lotions and soaps over to unscented sensitive skin variants, as skincare involving alcohols and fragrances can dry out the surface of your skin even further.

Lower the Water Temperature

When our bodies are chilled from the cold weather, it can be appealing to hop in the shower and crank the temperature and let the steamy water warm us up. However, this can be detrimental to your skin. Water at too-hot temperatures strips essential oils from your skin and damages the cells on the surface. This is why you may find your skin is red and raw after a hot shower and why it may feel so dehydrated when you begin to dry off.

When drying off, it’s advised to dab yourself damp dry with a towel rather than aggressively rub and lotion your skin and body as soon as possible to lock in moisture into your skin.

Humidify the House

While the cold winds outside do a number on your skin, relief is often not found within the warmth of our homes either.

The heating in our homes uses dry blowing air, which can further dehydrate the moisture in the air.

If you spend long periods inside your house during winter, you may find your skin is dryer, itchier, and lips more frequently chap inside your house during winter.

By placing a humidifier in the rooms you spend the most time in during the day, whether it be the living room, home office, or at the very least the bedroom, you will help add moisture back to the room, which will help to keep the air from pulling moisture from your skin.

There are other benefits to humidifiers too. Many people who snore say their condition improves when a humidifier is present in the room, or at the very least, the dry throat and mouth associated with open mouth breathing at night is less intense.

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Make-up & Beauty

Five Winter Beauty Must Haves

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BY: KIZZY COURTNEY

Winter is one of the toughest seasons when it comes to beauty. Cold, dry winter air can easily rob moisture from your skin, causing all kinds of problems. This is especially true of the skin on your face, lips, and hands, which are most frequently exposed to the elements. Rough chapped skin becomes more common in these areas and can show visible cracks and wrinkles more easily. Do you adapt your beauty routine to the seasons? If not, you may want to consider a few new products to keep you looking great all winter.

Deep Conditioner: Add dry winter air into the mix, and it’s a recipe for split ends, dehydration, and frizz. Fortunately, a good deep conditioner keeps your hair hydrated and protected year-round. Especially if you’re a naturally curly girl. I swear by coconut oil as a deep conditioner. You can buy it at your local health food store, rub some between your palms, and apply to your hair overnight. You’ll wake up to fabulously shiny and soft hair!

Body Lotion: One of the worst things about winter is how dry your skin gets. Even those of us who never have dry skin can often get it in the winter. That’s why body lotion is a must-have to keep your skin smooth and soft. Which body lotions are the best? I love Korres body butter in basil lemon, but all their scents are to die for! Any of their body butters would make a great winter body lotion. Korres can be found at Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Lip Balm: Probably the most important item on this list for me! Nothing is worse than chapped lips – they look bad, and they hurt. Worst of all they look terrible under your favorite lipsticks. Lip balm is your chapped lips best friend!

Water: Drinking tons of water is one of the best things you can do for your body year-round, but it’s so easy to get dehydrated in winter that it’s even more important. You don’t have to drink eight glasses a day, but keeping a bottle of water near you throughout the and refilling is the best way to keep hydrated. You’ll see the benefits right away – clearer skin, less dry skin, and even more energy throughout the day.

Humidifiers: These little machines are a great way to help prevent all those damaging effects caused by winters wrath, and ensure you maintain a glowing, vibrant look throughout the colder months. Having a good humidifier in place can literally help you feel more comfortable in your skin; using a humidifier can help your sinuses, soothe itchy skin, and lessen sore throats. It will also improve the appearance of your skin and help counteract signs of aging. For those of us who don’t have the luxury of simply relocating to the tropics, try combatting old man winter’s lack of moisture with a humidifier. Just like our skin, humidifiers come in all types. Here are the basics of the three types of units you can choose from.

  • Warm Mist: Warm mist humidifiers add moisture to the air with steam. They do not require filter replacements, making them a great low-maintenance option.
  • Cool Mist: Cool mist humidifiers disperse a comfortable stream of room-temperature mist throughout a larger space.   
  • Ultrasonic: Ultrasonic humidifiers are available in both cool and warm mist options. They are also the quietest type, making them ideal for light sleepers.

With colder temperatures, dry air, and so much time spent indoors, your skin, hair, and nails are faced with a new set of circumstances. Adding these products to your daily winter beauty routine will keep you glowing all winter long. I hope this helps you decide how best to combat the winter temperatures because ain’t nobody got time for dry or dull skin!

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Make-up & Beauty

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for Beauty Lovers

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BY: KIZZY COURTNEY

Have you left your Christmas shopping for the last minute? If you’re anything like me, then despite all the planning and preparation you do during December you still find yourself needing to pick up some last-minute presents before Christmas. Luckily, if the person on your list is especially into all things beauty and makeup related, there are plenty of easy, inexpensive gifts you can pick up that they’re sure to love. Choosing the right gift doesn’t mean you should spend hundreds of dollars. It’s the thought that is put into your gift that truly makes the difference. Here are a few examples of last minute gift ideas that anyone will be sure to enjoy.

Beauty Gift Sets: Christmas is fast approaching which means there are beauty gift sets galore from amazing brands including Nuxe, Avene, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Nars, MAC, etc. etc. etc. There are way too many to name them all but it sure is fun admiring them.

Bath Bombs: Of course, LUSH makes the best ones, but sometimes you don’t have time to make it to the mall. Amazon has an array of bath bombs to choose from that I hear are very good, and many come in pretty gift boxes. If you’re a Prime member and have one-day shipping, then there’s no need to worry about your gifts not arriving before the Big Day.

Makeup Brushes: Everyone needs makeup brushes but rarely thinks about buying them for themselves. A set of brushes to do a complete look will be much appreciated by any makeup lover. Luckily, we have some brands that offer inexpensive brush sets to choose from. BH Cosmetics and E.L.F are a few brands that offer great brushes at great prices.

Spin Brush: Skincare is very important, so gifting someone with a spin brush such as a Clarisonic Mia Fit or a Spin For Perfect Skin brush from Vanity Planet is always a good idea. These brushes are ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your hands and take up little space. Adding a spin brush to their regular skincare routine will boost the cleansing power and allow the products to work deeper. These brushes are also a perfect gift for the traveler in your life.

Gift Cards: This isn’t always seen as an easy way out. Gift cards for services you wouldn’t splurge on yourself, like a manicure or facials, are always welcome. For the makeup obsessed, MAC and Sephora gift cards are always a good choice. Knowing the gift receiver’s current needs will help decided the perfect gift card to give them. Did your friend just move to a new place for instance? Then a gift card to Homesense or Pier One will be the perfect gift to give.

Fragrance Sampler: Let’s face it perfumes are expensive. If you have a perfume lover in your life then a fragrance sample set is the best gift to give them. Shopper’s Drug Mart carries a fragrance sampler set that contains a gift certificate that your fragrance lover can redeem for a full-size bottle of their favourite sampler scent. Usually, these sampler sets come with 8-10 perfumes samples to choose from which I’m sure they’ll love.

I know it can be difficult trying to find the perfect gift for someone, so these are great ideas if you’re stuck on what to buy a friend or family member who enjoys trying out new beauty products. And if you’re buying for someone who really has got everything, why not book them a luxurious spa break? This is a Christmas gift idea I’d love to wake up to on Christmas morning! Hope these holiday gift ideas help take some of the stress out of shopping this year!

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