Items Favoured & Flawed

I have decided to introduce this new segment here on our blog where  I'll sporadically feature beauty & hair care products, clothing pieces and a couple other things that I have been gravitating towards and loving and even things that just didn't make the cut for me. So without further adieu here is my first installment of  Items Favoured and Flawed.

Items Favoured

Slatkin & Co candles from Bath & Body Works

• First up are these mini candles that I got from Bath & Body works; they're tiny but that pack a big punch, they'll leave you room smelling like an island escape. They come it an assortment of scents but I love the tropical scents. You can use them at home or in your hotel room when travelling.

• This Evian Facial Spray is great for spritzing my face when I think my makeup looks a little bit too powdery or cakey.

• I know I did a blog post on Tea Tree Oil for a 'on the spot' blemish treatment, but it turns out the Lemon Oil is just as good and it has a great fruity scent as well.

• My MAC Matchmaster foundation in 8.5 goes perfect with the Studio Careblend Pressed powder in Deep Dark. They're a match made in heaven.

• This Avon shave gel helps me to get a smoother shave and I really prefer it to those foaming shave creams. It also has Shea Butter so your legs don't feel dry after shaving.

• I got this Bare Escentuals Buxom mascara as a sample and I've been in love with it ever since. As you can see the plastic bristles really help to separate my lashes and gives a natural volume to them as well.

• As you can probably tell, I need a new packet of wipes. I know I raved about my Equate facial wipes, but these are thick, inexpensive, and easier to get in JA. I use them to take off my makeup and they're great for spot cleaning brushes, and even cleaning up my vanity whenever I make a mess.

Item Flawed

• I expected this locally made Naniki African Black Soap to be great, especially with all the benefits that Black Soap has for acne prone skin like mine, but this face wash is VERY watery, it has a lot of Lavender Oil in it ( a bit too much for my liking) and it leaves a residue on my skin which makes me feel as though I didn't wash my face properly. I definitely regret getting this.

Well there you have it folks, my very first  Items Favoured and Flawed... I hope it helped.

Keep safe friends, until next time
Debbie

Mizani Line Product Review

Check out the video below for my review of some of the products from the Mizani Line

Have a great day
Shannon

Mint Chocolate Body Scrub

Hey guys!! I often try to make my own body scrubs and I figured that I'd share how I make my Mint Chocolate Body Scrub, it's really easy and it will leave your skin feeling extra smooth, I promise.

Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:                                                                       Tools:

1 1/3 cups Brown Sugar                                                                       8 oz. plastic jar
1/4 cup Chocolate Powder                                                                  1 mixing bowl
1/4 cup Honey                                                                                      1 mixing spoon
2 tbsp Olive Oil                                                                                      measuring cups
2 tbsp Coconut Oil
1 tbsp Vitamin E Oil
1 tbsp Monoi de Tahiti Oil
10 - 15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Now you're more than welcome to change or add your favourite oils to the mix just to personalize it... this recipe is not set in stone so have fun with it and make it your own!!!

How To:

1. Mix the brown sugar, chocolate powder and honey in you mixing bowl until everything is well combined.

Honey, Brown Sugar & Chocolate Powder combined

2. Add your carrier oils (Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Monoi de Tahiti Oil) there after and make sure that everything is well combined as well.

3. Add your Peppermint Essential Oil last then gently fold it into the mixture.

4. Depending on how you made your mixture, it's always good to test it out first. You can do so by wetting the back of you hand and massage it in, just to see if you need to add anything else. TIP: If your scrub feels a little too oily, add a little extra of the dry ingredients (sugar and chocolate powder) to balance it out.

5. Once you're satisfied with the scrub you can now place your mixture into your jar (mine is a plastic jar that I purchased from From Nature With Love) and top it off with a few extra drops of Peppermint Oil and you're done!!!

How To Use:

Make sure that your skin is properly cleansed before usage. Apply the scrub to your damp skin, preferably after you've taken a shower. Gently massage your entire body, especially those ruff spots like your elbows and knees. Rinse thoroughly and pat your skin dry.You can even use this twice a week if you like.

Benefits:

Honey: moisturizing, natural anti-oxidant & anti-microbial properties, great for acne
Chocolate: great for moisturizing and has anti-oxidant properties
Peppermint Oil: leaves an invigorating, refreshing feeling
Carrier Oils: good for psoriasis and eczema, very moisturizing
Brown Sugar: great natural exfoliant

Have a great days guys and let us know how your body scrub works out for you!!
Debbie

Sun Protection 101

With summer quickly approaching, temperatures are sure to reach their peak once again in our tropical little island and with all the summer beach parties and ATI (Appleton Temptation Island) approaching girls and guys alike will be donning their swim wear and bikinis, but whilst you guys are out frolicking in the heat it's imperative that you all remember to protect your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun, cause getting sunburned will defintely put a damper on your beach fun. .

But  beyond getting sunburned, there are more serious implications of prolonged sun exposure such as skin cancer, premature wrinkles, sunspots and even damage to the eyes, so wearing sunblock and protective clothing and accesories is a must! Also, contrary to popular belief dark skinned people are also capable of being badly burnt and can also get skin cancer.

Sunblock with an Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of  30 or higher is recommended and there are many brands out there on the market that make sunblock... Neutrogena has a great affordable sun protection line which is gentle on the skin and doesn't leave behind a greasy film or white cast. Also, your lips can get sunburned too so remember to bring a lip balm that will protect them from the elements.

Remember to reapply your sunblock after excessive sweating or swimming.

Apart from wearing sunblock, here are some other ways to get beach ready while still being fashionable:

Cover-Ups
If you are not at the beach for the purpose of tanning, I would suggest finding a nice shaded area to lay out. However, if you find that you want to soak up the warmth of the sun, without being overly tanned a nice cover-up is a perfect option as they prevent your skin from being too exposed to the sun.

Sheer Cover-Up

Sarong Cover-Up

Hats
Hats are always a super cute trend for the summer, and they're a great way of protecting not only your skin, but also your hair from sun damage. Hats will shade your face and eyes from the direct sun (especially broad brimmed hats). Direct exposure of the sun on your hair can leave it dry and brittle, and even cause it to change colour. It's similar to using heat tools, so protect your hair from heat damage!

Wide brimmed hats are great & stylish sun protection accessories

Jazz up your hats with scarves, brooches, pins, headbands & chains. I even used my recently purchased GlamHead stuffed headband on the red hat.

Shades
This is the most fashionable way of protecting your eyes from UV rays. When worn to the beach they also protect your eyes from sand. Every girl should have a few, take a look at some of ours....

These neon trimmed sunnies are definatley on trend for summer

These clear sunglasses will give you that sophisticated look while protecting your eyes

These large ombre sunglasses will look great on everyone


All sunglasses are from Forever 21

Now if you happen to forget to put your sunblock on and you get burned, try applying some aloe vera gel or some After Sun Lotion directly to the affected area to help soothe your skin.

Have a great day guys and don't forget your sunblock!!
Debbie and Shannon

Cosmo-Topia 2012

I recently attended the Cosmo-Topia beauty expo which was held at the Girl Guides Headquarters, this past Saturday. The event was in its second year of operation and saw the likes of companies such as Facey Commodity, Black Opal Cosmetics, and smaller businesses such as Chain Reaction, Belleza Cosmetics, and Kimmy's Nails Exclusive Signature Spa just to name a few. Patrons were able to purchase cosmetics and jewelry at discounted prices and also partake in a number of activities such as makeovers, discounted nail services, free skin analysis, blood pressure checks and free HIV testing and there were prizes and giveaways throughout the day. Here's a few pictures of the event..

Beautiful Earth Natural Products

ELF Cosmetics sold at the Chain Reaction booth

More ELF Products sold by Chain Reaction

Scentsations booth showcasing BBW & Vic. Secret products and makeovers done by their MUA

Belleza Cosmetics

On site nail service by Kimmy's Nails

Glitz & Glam d' Store showcasing their jewelry

Skin Analysis booth

My friend getting her free skin analysis

Getting my blood pressure checked

The exhibitor turnout this year was poor in comparison to last year, but nevertheless patrons were still able to browse and shop for their favourite products for a great discount. If you were there let us know your thoughts on the event.

Thanks for stopping by friends
Debbie

Low Twisted Bun Hairstyle

This is the hairstyle that I created to go with my royal blue dress. I think this is perfect for semi-formal occasions and it's also a great protective style.

Hope you like it
Shannon

She's Royal OOTD

During NYC Fall 2011 Fashion Week, royal blue was the colour that dominated the runway, and coming into 2012 it was also seen in numerous collections from the London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 lines. It's certainly a bold colour that I am loving!

NYC Fashion Week - Fall 2011

London Fashion Week - Spring/Summer 2012

I recently found myself collecting quite a few royal blue pieces, as you can see...

Last Sunday, I went to the anniversary dinner of the company that I work for part-time and I decided to wear this royal blue dress, and my friend was kind enough to take a few shots for me before I headed to the event.

Dress: H&M

Bag: H&M  |  Belt: Lady Story  |  Cuff: H&M  |  Earrings: Cotton-On  |  Shoes: Steve Madden

How do you feel about this bold colour?
Shannon