Sephora Minnie Mouse Collection Review

Like many women of my generation I grew up captivated with Disney rather than tinkering on an iPad or connecting with friends on Facebook. The enchanting world of lovable characters and fantasy will always be a precious childhood memory which is why I can't get enough of the adorable Minnie Mouse Collection by Sephora! Minnie’s iconic, playful style is artfully captured in every piece of the set, from the makeup mirror and shadow palette to the gold polka dots, pretty pigments and bows. You are never too old to add some cuteness to your collection and this sassy little mouse is still totally on-trend!

The line-up of must-haves includes shiny lip stains, a signature red lipstick, liners, brushes and luminizer, all of which hit shelves this month! I can already predict a mad-dash to Sephora stores around the globe as Disney addicts everywhere try to get their hands on these cute collectibles. I managed to get a few pieces to tantalize you with a little preview!

First up is a charming eye shadow palette with 20 flattering universal shades packaged in Minnie's fashionable little clutch. Both the mirror and shadow trays are removable so you can use the shell for storing other goodies.

The variety of colors is eclectic and quite versatile. They range from nude, bright pink, mint green, navy, bold purple, sky blue, smoldering grey, yellow, black, cream, gold, deep brown, garnet and more. The finishes include satin matte and radiant shimmer and the pigmentation is absolutely stunning!

With this palette you aren’t just getting cuteness, the quality is fantastic and I love the soft, velvety texture. If you want to experiment with bold color but still feel a tad timid, this set has a great balance of tame everyday options and wild, striking hues.

The silky mattes have a luxurious creaminess to them and the luminous shimmers are also very smooth and beautiful. Most shades apply full-coverage and vibrant with or without primer and can be enhanced effortlessly for optimum intensity and endless eye-catching creations. The rich color pay-off actually reminds me of the popular Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca shadows...yes they are that awesome and who can resist those daring blues!

The trendy color selection incorporates fresh, vivid shades for spring and summer plus warm alluring hues for fall and winter. I have no issue with fall-out, creasing or fading and they layer and blend like a dream for professional results.

My favorite shades are: Miss Minnie, Some Like it Dot, Whoopee Party, So Demure, Be My Bow and Hello Mickey (did I mention the names are also cute as can be!). You get wonderful crease shades for sculpting, scintillating hues for the lids and pretty highlights to make your peepers pop! The palette retails for $45.00 which I consider a great deal.

The golden Minnie ears below is actually a cosmetic mirror that folds up for use on the go! It comes with a little black zip bag splattered with gold glitter and although it is a tad heavy it does have a handy magnified side for getting up-close-and-personal with your touch-ups. (mirror retails for $26.00).

The 5 piece brush set has the same polka dot design and comes with a cute bow brush holder that any makeup junkie would be proud to display on her vanity! There are two fluffy face brushes and 3 eye brushes (liner, shadow and blending).

The bristles are a bit coarse and not as soft as I expected but the lack of shiny coating actually allows the fibers to pick up a lot of product for efficient placement. The brushes are quite basic but still very usable and the set retails for $58.00.

As mentioned this collection is now available at Sephora so get it while you can!

Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush Wardrobe Palette Review

If you’ve ever been head-over-heels in love then you know how exhilarating and romantic it can be. The warm embraces, stolen kisses and lingering glances can be enough to make a girl flushed and go totally weak in the knees, which seems to be the inspiration for this gorgeous blush palette by Too Faced Cosmetics.

With 6 trendy hues ranging from nude, pinks, coral and berry there are options for every complexion. Nothing brightens dull, lackluster skin like a pretty pop of blush and for spring these fresh, youthful shades paired with a pouty lip color is a killer combination!

The great thing about these pigments is that they are made with a fade-proof, smudge-proof formula that lasts all day. You can sweep the color on in the morning and by evening you can dance the night away with the same rosy cheeks you started with. If you want to get creative you can even mix and match to create personalized hues.

Although the blushes are smooth and apply seamlessly, the powder formulation is completely dry with no creaminess whatsoever. I don’t have a problem with the texture since it applies well over liquid foundation and the pigments aren’t flaky or cakey.

The color pay-off is very good with the versatility and blendability to go from sheer to bright. All the shades are very silky and wearable but my favorite is Your Love is King - a pretty berry that is vivid enough to add a bit of contour and dimension to the face. The blushes all have a matte finish with no shimmer so you can pair them with a highlight if you want more of a luminous glow.

This stunning collection could easily become your new go-to palette since the blushes compliment a wide variety of makeup looks and seasons. The packaging is a bit long for a standard makeup bag but it is also quite thin . If you don’t yet have these colors this is a fabulous purchase! The Love Flush Palette retails for $51.00 CAD / $36.00 U.S. You can pick it up at Sephora or toofaced.com which now ships to Canada.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette Review

Over the last few months I’ve reviewed many sculpting products and I try to keep up with the latest trends like clown contouring, spoon contouring, henna contouring the dot technique, strobing and a variety of other creative hacks. Women seem to love the transforming effects of chiseled cheekbones and in a world obsessed with selfies many people want to show-off a perfect profile. Although I may not sculpt as drastically as Kim K’s signature look, I’m all for enhancing natural beauty and any product that makes the task easier will earn an honorary place in my makeup bag.

Make Up For Ever has recently launched a fabulous Sculpting Collection for the face lips and eyes to help you achieve professional results. This all-in-one palette accentuates your face in 4 easy steps with pigments that highlight, define, enhance and add a pop of color. For those who are relatively new to the contouring craze and require some guidance, the palette also comes with a guide corresponding to different face shapes.

The palettes are available in 4 shade combos: (20) Light, (30) Medium, (40) Tan (the shade I have) and (50) Dark. The formula is infused with nourishing oil and 3D pigment for blendability, long-wear and a beautiful satin finish that feels comfortable on the skin. Although these colors are lush and creamy they aren’t heavy, wet or thick and they set well with simple powder.

(40) Tan

The highlight (first shade on the left) can be placed under the brow bones, on the bridge of the nose and under the eyes. You can use it to form a V shape down towards the cheekbones to brighten the face. The deepest brown is your contour shade which can be applied to the hollows of the cheeks and along the jaw line, forehead and nose to define and sculpt. 

The third pigment is the highlight which is the only shade that isn’t matte. You can place the shimmer on the cheekbones, nose, Cupid’s bow or wherever the light naturally touches the face for a radiant glow. The blush (last shade on the right) is a deep peach/orange that also doubles as a color corrector for dark under eye circles!

These pigments are luxuriously smooth and creamy which makes them very easy to blend for a seamless, natural finish. Unlike powders that can sit on top of the skin and produce visible dark streaks, the creams are soft and don’t accentuate the texture of skin or feel dry. You can go from sheer and subtle for everyday looks or chiseled and glamorous for a bold effect. For those who crave a more structured profile you can slim and shape your entire facial structure! The palette is versatile enough to ignite your creativity and inspires you to play around with different effects to discover your ideal method. It is also very convenient for travel and professional kits.

The Pro Sculpting Collection is available at Sephora stores across Canada and makeupforever.ca, it retails for $54.00.

Hair Recipes Egg & Cognac Shampoo and Egg Yolk Conditioner Review

Recently I was asked to test and review the Hair Recipes egg infused shampoo and conditioner and I was all for trying something new! Applying a popular breakfast food on your mane may seem odd but eggs have been used as a natural hair treatment for ages and coating your strands in this slippery mixture is said to be an effective protein treatment to protect against weakness, split-ends and breakage.

My hair is quite resilient so I don’t usually buy protein packs but I do use products with strengthening properties in the ingredient list. The Egg and Cognac Shampoo can be used on its own or after the Hair Recipes homemade treatment which consists of 1 raw egg and 2-3 tablespoons of their Argan Oil. Naturally I assumed that since the shampoo has “egg” in the title and a yolky yellow tinge it was already included in the formula but after reading the ingredient list I’m not quite sure. Nevertheless I wanted to see how the shampoo worked on its own so I skipped the raw egg and lathered up.

For a sulfate free formula I found the cleansing agents quite strong. I’m not talking about scent as the shampoo doesn’t smell anything like egg or cognac (it smells good), but it left my hair extremely squeaky clean, bordering on stripped. It does a great job eliminating build-up but it diminished a little too much natural oil for my liking and left my hair craving immediate moisture and replenishment. I recommend apply the shampoo to the roots and just letting the foam trickle down as you rinse to prevent drying out your ends. This blend may be better suited for oily hair. The shampoo retails for $14.95.

The Egg Yolk Conditioner has the same yellow tinge but again I’m not sure if there is actually any egg in the formula. The pre-treatment plan outlined in the Hair Recipes pamphlet also calls for raw egg which made me wonder if these products are designed to simply support the homemade egg recipe rather than replace it.

The conditioner looks thick in the bottle but upon application it felt a bit thin and more like a shampoo without the cleansers. It didn’t coat my hair very well nor did it seem rich enough to nourish, moisturize or aide with detangling. For my thick, long hair that tends to need a lot of hydration this formulation just wasn’t enough but if you have oily hair this may be just enough without weighing down your tresses or causing limpness. The conditioner retails for $16.95.

After using these products I needed to follow up with a deep treatment mask to regain softness, bounce and shine. I also used the Hair Recipes paraben-free jojoba oil for extremely dry hair and scalp. The great thing about the oil is that it is lightweight and also contains argan, sunflower and soybean oils that help replenish and improve the look of parched areas. I like applying it to damp hair before styling for a nice glossy finish and on dry hair it helps smooth down fly-aways and frizz. It also improves the look of rough ends and works well as a finishing product, especially after heat styling. The oil retails for $18.95.

Considering my results I think this collection was made to compliment protein treatments and help reinforce hair fibers rather than soften them. I am no expert when it comes to protein recipes but I’m guessing silky hair wasn’t the main objective here and maybe some initial dryness or brittleness is to be expected when attempting to fortify? Whatever the goal, this collection wasn’t quite suited to my hair type but if you need more protein in your routine you may want to check it out. You can visit the website by clicking HERE.

Mont-Tremblant Ski Village & Resort

Nestled in the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains in beautiful Mont Tremblant Quebec is a colorful little village reminiscent of a charming European town. This lovely resort surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, luxurious chalets and spectacular wilderness is one of Canada’s hidden gems and a must-see destination. Tourists flock here from all over the world to experience the ski village ranked #1 in Eastern North America and whether you crave relaxation or adventure there is something for everyone!

There is no shortage of accommodations to suit your preferences including quaint inns, B & B’s upscale hotels, beautiful condos tucked into the mountains plus spacious suites, villas and studios.

With direct flights from Toronto and connecting flights through New York getting here is easy and as you land in Mont Tremblant and step into the warm log cabin airport, hectic city life seems to fade away and become a thing of the past. Tremblant is where couples come for romance and where families and friends come to play!

The airport shuttle service took us to the magnificent Fairmont Hotel which sits majestically atop the splendid little village. This full-service hotel with cozy fireplaces and rustic chandeliers is very large and boasts fabulous restaurants, heated pools, hot tubs, a trendy lounge, spa, a fully equipped gym and a variety of quality services to help you make the most of your stay. 

We were greeted warmly at the reception desk and in our spacious room there was a welcome package with delectable treats infused with Canadian maple syrup!

The deck of the Fairmont Hotel

The view from our room was spectacular and for a hotel that receives a high number of guests I was impressed with its level of cleanliness and comfort. The bathroom was conveniently stocked with an array of great toiletries and there was a large work desk, flat screen TV and a bed so comfortable I wanted to take it home with me! After a long, thrilling day in the village the Fairmont was a fabulous place to kick-back, have a drink and enjoy the evening. Click HERE for more info and rates.

Photo Source: Fairmont Hotel Mont Tremblant

After settling in and grabbing our map we headed out to explore. The resort is now transitioning out of winter and preparing for the spring-summer season but there was just enough snow for ski lovers to hit the slopes one last time.

The pedestrian village provides everything you need during your stay including a wonderful variety of restaurants, 35 boutiques, a casino, candy shops, lifts, bars, toasty outdoor fires, a grocery store, art galleries, and even free concerts! There is no need to battle traffic and city smog, simply take your time, stroll leisurely and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

For lunch we had reservations at Maison de la Crêpe which seems to be quite popular with visitors. The restaurant is cozy and small but the food is well worth the wait! I ordered the onion soup and a lunch crêpe with crispy chicken, tomato, yogurt and guacamole. 

We also went back for dessert the following night to try the scrumptious dessert crêpes. This mouth-watering creation is topped with homemade chocolate hazelnut sauce, fresh strawberries, sweet banana, and vanilla ice cream! I highly recommend stopping by to refuel between activities.

Aside from great skiing, snowmobiles, snowboarding and many other winter sports there are countless other activities to choose from during the spring/summer season including: horseback riding, ziplining, helicopter tours, swimming, golf, luge, canoeing, boat cruises, ATV tours, fly fishing, rafting, cycling, rollerblading, paint ball, rock climbing, hiking, yoga, the Aqua Club, eco tours at Mont-Tremblant National Park, dune buggy tours and more! The resort even hosts an International Blues Festival with an eclectic mix of artists and over 300 free shows! The seasonal and holiday events are fun for the whole family. Check out the activity video below!

One of my favorite ways to unwind and relax during my stay was spending a morning at the Scandinave Spa located just a short drive from the village. This luxurious spa is situated in a lush oasis of tranquility and seclusion, surrounded by forest and a sparkling river. The entrance is a quiet trail canopied by trees which leads to complete serenity. 

As you enter the toasty cabin you are provided with a fluffy robe, towels and water plus an explanation of your treatment plan.

The spa is well known for its hot baths, rejuvenating eucalyptus sauna and restful relaxation rooms surrounded by nature. You can enjoy a variety of soothing massages followed by a reviving dip in the various pools. The steam treatment opens the pores, releases toxins and stimulates circulation plus the invigorating jets and cascading waterfall helps loosen tired aching muscles to ease pain and soreness.

Photo source: Scandinave Spa Mont Tremblant

Photo source: Scandinave Spa Mont Tremblant

The Scandinave Spa or the Amerispa back at the village is the perfect blissful retreat and romantic hideout for couples, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet. You can visit the website by clicking HERE.

For dinner I highly recommend Coco Pazzo a delicious Italian restaurant with authentic dishes and
ȎWok which serves exquisite Asian Fusion courses like Pad Thai and sautéed chicken skewers dipped in savory curry sauce. The variety of restaurants at Tremblant Village is a culinary delight and there are options to tantalize every palette.

At night the village lights up with a variety of entertainment including live outdoor bands. Guests can socialize and dance around a roaring fire or enjoy drinks in one of the many bars. Vacationing at Tremblant is never dull and there is always something to do!

If you are looking for a fabulous getaway Tremblant resort is a Canadian treasure that will satisfy your need to de-stress, indulge and explore your adventurous side. For more information visit the website by clicking HERE.

*Special thanks to Pierre-Alexandre Legault, Tremblant Resort and The Fairmont Hotel