L'Oréal Glam Bronze Mono

Now that we are on our way to winter, I sometimes feel like my skin could use a bit of warmth. When this happens, I reach for a light bronzer and one I have been enjoying recently is the L’Oréal Glam Bronze Mono in Blonde Sun (#00). This is the perfect shade if you have very fair skin and don’t want to look like an Oompa Loompa. It is a great mix of bronze with just a hint of brown and pink, so it does not come off orange at all. The matte formula also helps it look natural and really just bring a bit of warmth and life to the face. I found it to be quite long lasting, but the compact come with a nice mirror and a little brush in case you need to touch up. If you have darker skin, I recommend having a look at the other shades as this one might be a bit too light.

As some of you might know, my skin is very sensitive to silica so I had to stop using it after reading the ingredients list. However, if you don’t have this issue I would totally recommend this bronzer, it is a great budget buy.

You can find the L’Oréal Glam Bronze Mono in boots and other drugstores/pharmacies that carry L’Oréal in the U.K. I have not seen it in Canada yet, but you might want to keep your eyes open for it.  

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Scrub Foam

The Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Scrub Foam is one of my best workout buddies. I love using this cleanser after a good workout or in the morning if my skin feels particularly oily. The formula is a thick creamy foaming cleanser that contains tiny bits of scoria to exfoliate the skin without causing irritation. Scoria are volcanic rocks made from cooled down lava, the one from Jeju contains red clay and is great at absorbing sebum and removing dry skin cells. It leaves your face feeling super clean and refreshed.

Nonetheless, you should follow this cleanser with a nice moisturizer as the foaming formula can be a bit stripping depending on your skin type. I have not experienced any dryness from using it, but this is something you should be aware of.

One of the reason I love it so much is also the fact that the brand uses great natural ingredients and is free of mineral oil, parabens, silicone oil and other controversial ingredients. Plus this cleanser also has the ECOCERT certification.

You can find the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Scrub Foam on the new global Innisfree website for 10$ (they also offer great international shipping!). 

Smashbox O-Gloss

A few years ago, products that created a custom shade for you were all the rage. I think it all started with the Smashbox O-Glow and continued with the O-Gloss, a clear lipgloss that turns into your own custom shade of pink for a natural and flattering look.

The gloss actually goes on clear and reacts with your lips' PH levels to turn into a nice (slightly fuchsia) pink color. The gloss is non-sticky and has a faint silicone like feel, which makes it incredibly smooth. The finish isn’t high-shine but it does enhance your lips in a natural way.

As far as color goes I have to say this does not give you the most color compared to similar products. The O-Gloss gives a nice pink tint to your lips, but don’t expect a bright flush of color. I think this is great to carry around and since it’s pretty foolproof you can easily you use it to touch up during the day. The gloss easily wears for a few hours and even after it's gone, your lips will still have light pink stain.

You can get the O-Gloss from any Smashbox counter and Sephora for 27$ in Canada and you can get it from the Smashbox website in the U.K. 

Soap and Glory Flake Away

Soap and Glory is one of my favorite brands when it comes to body products, everything they make smells great and all their names are super clever. Today I present to you Flake Away, a body scrub that contains sugar, peach seed powder and shea butter to leave your skin soft and hydrated.

I bought the travel size version and I loved it. The scrub really buffs away dead skin cells, but it is doesn’t feel harsh or abrasive on your skin. The sugar actually has a moisturizing effect as it melts on your skin with the friction and combined with the shea butter it contains, your skin is left baby soft. I really enjoy how efficient it was without leaving any oil or greasy residue on my skin. As for the scent, it has the typical Soap and Glory scent which reminds me of a peachier version of Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie. 

This is a lovely product that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good scrub. Also I think it’s great Soap and Glory offers so many travel size versions of their products has they're a great way of trialing products without committing to a full size bottle.

You can get Flake Away from Boots or online for £8.00 (£2.50 for the travel size) in the U.K. and Shoppers Drug Mart carries some Soap and Glory products in Canada.

Bath and Body Works Nourishing Hand Cream

Today I thought I would talk to you about a cold weather must have: hand cream. Hopefully over the next few weeks I’ll be able to review a few more so you’ll know which ones are best for you depending on your situation.

The first one up is the Bath and Body Works nourishing hand cream. This one comes in a variety of seasonal scents and its convenient plastic tube contains 59ml making it perfect to carry around in your purse or when travelling.

This hand cream falls in the maintenance category for me, it moisturizes but it would not be enough to treat severely dry hands. It works nicely to keep your hands soft and it feels like it forms a protective barrier on the skin without leaving any residue behind. The texture is very creamy but it melts into the skin very easily (like a gel) and absorbs quickly. The shea butter and vitamin e make it a great everyday staple for colder months.

I have the crisp morning air scent and it is divine! It has note of pear, mountain pine and fresh juniper, but the pear is really what gives an incredible freshness to the scent. This particular one was part of the fall collection, but you might still be able to find it in stores and it is on the Bath and Body Works website. Nonetheless, they have such a wide range of scents that I’m sure you’ll be able to find one that suits you.

You can find the nourishing hand cream in any Bath and Body Works stores and on their website for 5$.