What I Am Loving This Week: Take 1

Deep Clean

Superfacialist Rose Miracle Makeover Facial Oil from Una Brennan, I think if this was available in Canada it would replace my Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. Sadly it's not but I will savor every drop of the 2 bottles of it that I have. It smells beyond and is great for a facial massage which I am trying to incorporate on a regular basis. .

 

Avocado Frenzy

Lisa Eldridge came out with a  new skincare film and of coarse I was all over that, she talked about a new eye cream she was using from Kiehl's with avocado oil so I went online found the ingredients and it seemed that really avocado oil was the star ingredient, I went to the health food store and picked some up have been using it this past week at night. If it pans out I will do a post on it.

 

NYX Xtreme Shine Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz and NYX Butter Gloss in Éclair, I have had these two for a for a while but I was way into lipsticks, the stickiness and overall feel of lip gloss on my lips drove me away but I have found my self using these two all week and keep going back to them,  no stickiness, well pigmented in my opinion overall winners.

 

Avocado Frenzy Take 2

 

Avocado spaghetti, addicted is understatement I have seen recipes floating around on the web for a while, and even though I am a huge avocado fan combining it pasta just didn't seem to fit... BUT IT DOES! oh does it ever, favorite new food. I used the recipe from Oh she glows.

 

A serious test for your hair heat protectant

 

An amazing post on Refinery29. about how to test if your hair protectant is doing it's job it involves spraying the protectant on your hand and letting it dry followed by well you guessed it basically blow-drying your hand. Read all about it here.

Spring Picks

These are some of the items I have my eye on for Spring, starting off with something I was sure I would never want are white shoes but never say never, these Topshop ones I think are just the perfect cut, and the heel right is reasonable for tall girls like myself. An item I am always lusting after is a trench coat and this one from Zara might just fit the bill, a classic trench with a  twist it's made of light flowing fabric making it more versatile it would be great wrapped up over simple cami dress with a good heel for a night out, or over jeans and a basic top. Spreaking of a night out you cant go wrong with a black dress this one from ASOS seems really fresh, the cut is really modern and I like that it's not form fitted.  For the accessories I wasn't into the mirrored sunglasses trend but after seeing a few pictures of Olivia Palermo sporting them it's safe to say I am on board, these classic Ray Bans with the mirrored lenses are a safe bet, a classic style with a twist. And finally my number one item is the boyfriend jean, these ones from The Gap have the right amount of distress and the wash is just great.

 

Leave a comment below and tell me what is on your spring wish list!

Get your Glow On: How To Make Any Foundation Have a Dewy Natrual Finish

 

 I was on YouTube the other night watching old footage of Kevyn Aucoin, I just find he was such an intriguing soul with immense talent . In one video they were talking about when he won the first CFDA award for best makeup for the Richard Tyler Spring/Summer 1996 collection. He was giving a breakdown of what he did on the models and for the skin he said he mixed glycerin with foundation, this of course intrigued me so I immediately mixed some glycerin and foundation ( I used Bourjois Happy Light Foundation and NOW Vegetable Glycerin) on the back of my hand and buffed it onto my face using a buffing brush and Viola a  finish that rival NARS Sheer Glow.

For the ratio of glycerin to foundation it really depends on what foundation you are using,  I used a drop or two of glycerin to two to three pumps of foundation, If you have the right among your foundation should be smooth and super bendable if you have added to much glycerin your foundation will separate and it will be though to blend. That's why I think it is best to mix it on the back of your hand so you can quickly make adjustments. I think this is such and easy, natural and affordable way to transform any foundation.

Review: Gosh Bronzing Powder 02 Natrual Glow

 

To me this is the best bronzer I have ever used, it is perfect if you are pale because it is lighter compared to most bronzers on the market and has no orange effect, I have used it on a medium tone skin and it looks just as lovely. If you like the tone of Benefit Hoola but find it a bit too dark this is literally the next shade down. It has this pretty glow to it but zero shimmer or sparkle so great for contouring. Below I swatched it next to a popular higher end bronzer Benefit Hoola and a drugstore favorite Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 22.

Left: Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 22, Benefit Hoola, Gosh Bronzing Powder 02 Natural Glow

Oatmeal Banana Bread ( Wheat, Dairy, Sugar Free)

This banana bread is guilt free you can eat it for breakfast, as a snack or desert. There is no added sugar, oil or flour. It is supper easy to make everything is whizzed up in a blender so no need for bowls or mashers.

Ingredients

• 6 Bananas (Very Ripe Bananas they should have spots on them)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup Regular Oatmeal
• 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder ( preferably aluminum free)
• 1 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 Cup Finely chopped walnuts (optional)

 

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F/175C and grease your pan around an 9" cake pan. Square or circular

Place your oats in a blender and give them a good whizz grind them so there looking more like flour you still want them to be a bit coarse

Place the rest of your ingredients ( except the walnuts) in the blender and blend, you may need to add your banana in batches depending on your blender, you don't want the banana at the bottom to get to over blended this will make the cake gummy.  Blend just until the mixture is incorporated around 15 seconds.

                                            Stir in your Walnuts with a spoon

Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.

Take the cake out of the oven and let cool at LEAST an hour, if you cut it or eat it before it will be wet and gummy. Slice how you like it and enjoy!