BEST EVER Eye Makeup Remover

Hello Lovelies,

Today I am going to share with you guys my absolute favourite eye makeup remover. Before I found this, I always struggled with finding the perfect product that would be strong enough to remove waterproof mascara, but gentle enough to not irritate my eyes, or pull my lashes. I don't have too many lashes to begin with, so I'd like to keep the ones I have thank you every much. I'm sure many of you can relate. I tried so many drugstore ones, from Nivea, to Loreal, to Almay. None of them really did the job that way I wanted them to. Some were sufficient, but nothing to really right home about. Until I found my magical product of course.

My absolute favourite product to use for eye make-up removal is...(drumroll please)...

Grapeseed Oil!

All natural, super nourishing, and most importantly, GENTLE. It's amazing stuff. I bought a huge bottle with 473 ml for $15 from the health store, and my life has been changed. It takes off my eye makeup effortlessly, and after I've washed my face, my eye area actually feel much softer and more moisturized. My eye lashes look amazing too. I think they've actually even grown a little, which thrills me to no end. The brand I use is Now Solutions. I've been using this oil for about two months now, and I have probably used about one tenth of the bottle, which is crazy. You can even use it to take off your face makeup, which I love to do. It's a slightly astringent oil, so it won't make you break out, and will actually help to nourish your skin. This is great for any of you who suffer from dry skin. 

What I also love about it is the fact that it has pretty much no scent. I'm very sensitive to fragrances, and I have absolutely no problems with grapeseed oil whatsoever.

Oils in general are all fantastic when it comes to makeup removal, so if Grapeseed oil isn't the one for you, maybe give coconut oil a shot. I've jojoba oil is amazing as well.

Have you ever tried removing your makeup with oil? Let me know :)

Why Body Wash Rocks

Hey guys,

Today I wanted to take the opportunity to spotlight on of my favourite beauty indulgences; body wash! I absolutely love body wash. I think it totally outperforms soap, and I can't believe that I had been using plain old dove up until a few months ago. Here are the reasons why body wash is so awesome.

1. The scents - One of the reasons why I love body wash is how much more potent the fragrances are, and how much longer they last on the skin. I personally love to go with body washes that contain all-natural fragrances, but honestly, just go for whatever works for you and makes you happy. There is nothing better than smelling wonderful after a shower. You can even customize scents depending on what time you shower; perhaps you want something fresher, or more minty in the morning to wake you up, and something more soothing, like lavender, for night time showers. The possibilities are endless. My personal favourite scents are vanilla

2. They don't melt in the shower - One of my biggest pet peeves with bar soaps is how they always begin to melt just sitting in the shower, which means they don't last nearly as long. It bothered me so much that i would keep my soap in a plastic container and take it out of the shower when I wasn't using it. Now, I'm sure that this works perfectly fine for many people, but I tend to be somewhat forgetful, which would result in me forgetting to bring in my soap. And no one likes that moment where you have to trek across your bathroom in the middle of your shower to grab something, thus leaving a huge puddle on the floor. *Sigh.*

3. Typically more moisturizing - Bar soap is known to sometimes be somewhat stripping on our skin, so if you happen to suffer from dry skin, body wash is probably the best way for you to go. More moisturizing ingredients are usually included in body washes, from Shea butter, to coconut oil to cocoa butter.

So there you have it guys! I know a lot of you are probably adamant about remaining faithful to your trusty bar of soap, but why not try something different? It's all about finding the right body wash for you that fits your needs, so a little trial and error may be required before you find your perfect fit.

Do you guys prefer body wash or bar soap? What's your favourite?

Keeping Your Skin Calm And Reducing Redness

I've always been a sensitive-skinned babe. It's not fun at all, but it's something I have grown to live with. Incredibly cold or hot temperatures affect my skin, spicy foods are a huge no-no, and I need to thoroughly read the ingredients on every product before I even think about buying it. It's important to take care when it comes to what we put on our skin and what we do in our daily lives if we want to ensure that our skin remains happy and healthy. It may seem as though red, sensitive skin is out of our control, but let me tell you; it is absolutely controllable. Here are the ways I keep my skin calm and clear.

1. Chug Water - I know, I know, I know. You guys have probably heard this one dozens of times, but it really truly does work. Try going above and beyond and drinking even more than the recommended eight to ten glasses. Hydrated skin is far less susceptible to irritation and sensitivity. Try herbal teas as well; they're great for keeping you hydrated while additionally providing antioxidants.

2. Take Lukewarm Showers - Hot showers are notoriously terrible for drying out your skin. On that note, cold showers too can be too much of a shock and therefore irritating. I recommend taking lukewarm showers. They're great for your skin, and once you start, I guarantee you'll notice a huge difference.

3. Try Camellia Oil - I have recently become addicted to Camellia oil. It's an oil derived form green tea flowers, and it is really such a beautiful oil. It is nourishing, calming, reduces redness and even promotes wound-healing. I really like this one from Pure + Simple, a great company based in Toronto.

4. Avoid Harmful Chemicals - One of the best ways to ensure that you're skin remains calm is to stay away from chemical laden products that contain harsh ingredients which will only strip your skin and further irritate it. I suggest avoiding products containing sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial fragrances, mineral oil and products with lots of drying alcohol. Perhaps try going more natural; your skin will thank you.

5. Avoid Harsh Essential Oils - While I do believe that natural products are very effective for those of us with sensitive skin, I believe it's also important to steer clear from natural products with astringents ingredients, such as peppermint, lemon, ginseng, or high amounts of vitamin C. These ingredients may be natural, but they too can irritate your skin, and are better suited for those who have normal or oily skin types.

6. Clean Up That Diet - Try to limit your intake of processed foods, fried foods and excessive amounts of meat, dairy and sugar. These common foods can trigger rosacea, eczema and acne, so if you want you complexion to remain calm and clear, do try to reduce your intake of these foods. Instead, try to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and clean proteins. You are what you eat.

7. Don't Smoke - Need I say more? We should all know by now how smoking is not only detrimental to our health but also to our skin.

8. Ditch The Alcohol - Drinking alcohol creates inflammation in the body, thus inflicting inflammation to our skin. You've probably noticed how red people can get when they consume too much alcohol. Theres nothing wrong with a glass of wine here and there, but try not to drink to excess if you want to improve your skin.

So there you have it! I hope you have enjoyed these tips to help keep your sensitive skin happy! What do you guys do when you want to reduce redness and keep your skin calm?

Natural Eczema Remedies

Hey guys,

January is always bone-chillingly cold! The air is dry, the wind is gusty, and snow is literally everywhere. Even with these cold temperatures, I can't help but love winter. It's perfect weather to curl up with a book and a nice steaming mug of peppermint tea. It's also the perfect time to wear thick chunky sweaters with comfy leggings pretty much everyday. Yup, I love winter alright. However, I hate what it does to my skin. It makes me so dry, and can sometimes even make my eczema flare, which is a common winter skin woe. I hate the idea of constantly slathering myself with steroid-filled hydrocortisone, so after endless trial and error, I found a few natural, EFFECTIVE ways to alleviate my eczema. Here are some of the remedies that worked wonders for me!

1. Shea butter - This is easily one of my favourite eczema remedies! Shea butter is rich in vitamins A,E and F and also in fatty acids, making it wonderful for healing scars and accelerating your skins renewal process. It can heal not only eczema, but also burns, sores, psoriasis and other irritations you may randomly develop. It can get a little greasy, so I suggest using it mostly at night. Make sure that you get unrefined Shea butter, as it is much more effective.

2. Coconut oil - Coconut oil in anti-inflammatory, ant-fungal, anti-bacterial and is also known for its high level of antioxidants. It is rich is nutrients and lauric acid, both of which will help to soothe your skin, combat itchiness and deeply moisturize. Like Shea butter, it too is amazing at healing damaged skin, which is why it is so excellent for those of us who suffer from eczema. Not only can you apply it topically, you can also take it internally by incorporating it into your everyday diet, which will help to treat your eczema and dry skin internally. I personally love spreading coconut oil on toast! It's also amazing as a healthy baking ingredient.

3. Camellia Oil - This stuff is golden. Seriously. This oil is cold-pressed from green tea plants, and is the best oil I have ever used on my face. It is incredibly moisturizing and incredibly calming. It soothes redness, heals irritations and is generally wonderful for all skin types, whether your skin is sensitive, mature, dry, or acne-prone. When it comes to treating eczema, I use camellia oil fro treating any on my face, and use the above two for treating any on my body, like my arms or elbows.

I hope that these remedies work with helping you to alleviate your eczema, or even just very dry skin!

What do you use to help combat eczema?