Indigo Age Cafe – High Tea

July 22, 2017

Sangria found a Groupon for vegan high tea!

I’ve only had high tea once at Neverland Tea Salon, back when I was free to eat all the dairy I pleased. I enjoyed it and I see why high tea is appealing, as it is a cute, fun, and social activity. However, I don’t think I would personally pay more than $30 per person for high tea… which means I won’t get to try the other upscale high tea places. That’s fine with me though, because I don’t have much of a sweet tooth anyways! I much prefer savoury items.

Indigo Age Cafe is a small and hidden cafe in downtown. If you aren’t deliberately looking for the place, chances are that you would have missed it.

It was a hot day that afternoon, so the cafe was a bit stuffy. However, it felt very cozy and welcoming with a woodsy/nature theme inside. We were greeted right away and told that they would prepare our high tea. It took quite awhile to prepare and we were getting impatient … maybe like 35-40 minutes since we sat down?

Anyways, we were very happy when the food finally arrived. We were told what each food item was, but I didn’t bother writing it down because it changes constantly depending on the day.

Instead, feast your eyes on the pictures!

Now the most important part… was it delicious? Yes! After going to Eternal Abundance a couple weeks before, I did not have high hopes for Indigo Age Cafe… but it was actually really good. Each item was carefully made with little details. We could see why we waited that long for our food.

There were some items that had an eclectic mix of different food but they actually went really well together!

All the veggies were fresh and crunchy too! I really liked the cucumber cup and would love to recreate it at home or for a picnic!

The stuffed mushroom with avocado paste was so good! Same with the stuffed tomato cup!

Last but not least, a close-up of the vegan desserts!

I would highly recommend the high tea with a Groupon. It is a nice place to go if you want to try something new and exciting.

Apart from high tea, they also serve vegan Ukranian dishes. Talk about unique!

Hard Candy Colour Correct Cushion Wonder

July 20, 2017

When I first heard of the brand Hard Candy, my mind immediately went to Madonna. Even now that I’ve tried a few Hard Candy products, I still think of Madonna!

Anyways, today’s post will feature the first ever Hard Candy product on my blog! It is quite a long name – the official name is the Color Correct Cusion Wonder. For simplicity’s sake, I will be referring to it as simply a concealer from here on.

What it says (Taken from Hard Candy’s website):

This color-correcting serum instantly provides weightless color correction of any skin coloration concern.

Packaged in a tube with a cushion tip, no additional tools are needed!

Blend into your skin to target and CORRECT your skin concerns in 1 simple step!

The concealer comes with a very soft cushiony tip for convenient application. For a drugstore product at only $7, this is a really good bonus!

Am I the only one who hates ruining a beautiful, clean brush? I was so reluctant to use the cushion tip because I didn’t want to ruin it!

Application: Application was easy-peasy. It wasn’t messy to use and the cushion tip was very soft. Despite being a liquid concealer, the consistency turned soft and almost powdery upon application. It made blending very easy. This is a light coverage.

If I was going to a big event and wanted to put on my full make up face, I would definitely use a foundation and setting powder with this. But on a daily basis, the coverage will do.

Wear: Throughout the evening, the wear was very comfortable and I forgot I was wearing it until it showed up on my glasses.

A very good price- $7 CAD!!!!
Very soft cushion tip for easy application & touchups
Easy to blend and lightweight
Good for those who want light coverage

Wouldn’t call this a colour correcting product, better described as a concealer

Yay!

Availability: Hard Candy products are available exclusively at Walmart.

Media product featured. Opinions are own.

Laser Hair Removal: My Experience

July 18, 2017

Last summer, I decided to finally invest in laser hair removal for my legs. Laser hair removal has always been something that has been at the back of my mind, but I never did it… mostly because I never thought of it enough to commit fully, thought it was expensive, and painful.

After completing all 6 sessions of my laser hair removal, it is finally time that I write about my experiences here on the blog!

DISCLAIMER: Before we get started, it is very important to do research for yourself. You came across this post somehow, which is great – you’re doing your research! Laser hair removal is not for everyone. Please do extensive research into the facility you choose, after care, etc etc.

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a form of permanent hair reduction on your body. To keep this as concise as possible, the colour black absorbs light easily, hence why when we wear black clothing, we feel warmer. Laser works the same way. The intense laser beam shoots light at the dark hair follicles, which kills them.

Where did I go?

I went to Beauty Light Laser in downtown Vancouver. There was a Groupon so I was able to save lots! I decided to go with a Groupon because I trusted my friend who went here before me, and the reviews online were great. The picture below is the treatment room and laser machine that Natalya uses.

Photo credit: Natalya, Beauty Light Laser

How many sessions did I do?

Usually, packages start at 6 sessions. You can purchase sessions by itself, but to see the full benefits of laser, it is better to purchase the full package. I did 6 sessions over the course of 10 months. Once my sessions ended, Natalya said that I could purchase more individual sessions in the future, if I felt like I needed or wanted to.

Photo credit: Lutronic (http://www.usa.lutronic.com/hair_removal_patient)

How long does a session take?

For my lower legs, each session was really quick. The zapping session for both lower legs was done in under 5 minutes. It really is just a quick touch up and down your legs! I imagine that other areas such as your underarms, bikini line, face, and arms would take even faster since there’s less surface area.

Does it hurt?

Beauty is pain… but it doesn’t always have to be! I was a bit nervous about the pain, but I was really glad that it wasn’t extremely painful! Like on a scale of 1-10… it was probably a 2 at most for my legs. The front of my legs were probably like a 1, and the back were a 2.

I wouldn’t even consider doing my legs painful… it was more of a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

If you’ve ever done waxing before, laser is wayyy less painful than waxing! Compared to waxing my legs, I rather laser ANY DAY. If you can bear waxing, laser will be a breeze for you. With waxing, the area stings for a couple seconds or more after the wax strip is pulled off, which is the most painful part to me. However with laser, there is no lasting stinging. It is a quick, annoying little prick or rubber band snap.

Some areas are more sensitive than others though… such as the bikini area. That is definitely more painful!

Is it effective?

I was told I wouldn’t see results until a 2-3 sessions later, which was correct! I started to REALLY see a difference after 3 sessions. After shaving for years, my leg hairs have become thicker and they also grew faster. But after laser, the hairs that grow now are thin and it grows slower.

I would say that 80% of my leg hair has stopped growing, which is soo much better.

Do I have any regrets?

Definitely not! In the past, one of the things I dreaded most about summer was that I constantly had to shave my legs. This is something some girls are okay with, but to me it was such a drag and so annoying. Then, my legs would become itchy growing back, stubbly, and I would get those annoying bumps and dots despite exfoliating. Idk, my legs just really hated razors and I could never wait long enough to wax.

The only regret I have was not doing it sooner! It has made my routine so much easier and I don’t have to be self conscious about my legs with dots anymore.

Important things to note?

-Don’t do anything except shave between sessions! This includes waxing, tweezing, depilatory creams, etc!!! Each session targets the hairs at different growth stages in order to kill it. So when you wax/pluck/etc you are interfering with the hair growth cycle.

-Make sure you do a consultation first. If you go to a place where they say consultations aren’t necessary, RUN. RUN!!!! And write a bad Yelp review haha. Like I mentioned earlier, laser hair removal is not for everyone. In particular, it is harder to laser light blonde hairs or dark skin tones… so your technician needs to look at your particular hair and see if it works for you. I’ve seen horror pictures of laser hair removal burns and that just sounds horrible!

-Be patient and not lazy. For LHR to work, you need to be patient with the results because it’ll be worth it! For myself, I didn’t see results until 3-4 months afterwards. Since appointments are made 1-2 months in advance, make sure you keep it in your calendar. Beauty Light Laser was not a convenient location for me to get to but I liked it there.

-Don’t expect your hair to be 100% gone! I still have some leg hair, but the hair grows back slower and thinner.

Yay!

Disclaimer: Laser hair removal package bought on Groupon by myself. Opinions are own.

30 Beauty Questions Tag

July 7, 2017

I have some reviews in store this month, but I wanted to do more of a chatty, get to know me type beauty post. I found this one off The Beauty Section so all credits to their website!

30 Beauty Questions Tag

1 // Do you remember your first makeup item?

Hmm…. probably something from Claire’s! How I used to love Claire’s growing up! I loved their eye shadow palette and remembering using it before the school dances LOLOL.

2 // Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

I am very picky about mascara… and it’s not by choice, either. Mascaras tend to clump on me and I don’t even know why. In fact, I didn’t do a mascara review for 3 years because all mascaras I tried were the same! Until I found the Maybelline Lash Sensation. You can read my review here.

I just realized the answer didn’t really relate to the question… so my specifications would be one that lengthens, does not smear, and does not clump.

3 // What kind of coverage do you prefer from foundation?

I don’t wear foundation on a daily basis, probably occasionally now… but I have drastically cut back this year. My skin went through a sensitive stage in the winter and I’m trying not to wear much face products to make it flare up again.

However, when I do wear foundation, I prefer medium to full coverage. Since I don’t wear it often, go big or go home! I much prefer to stay home (and Netflix).

4 // Favorite high end brand?

Urban Decay 🙂 I don’t think I’ve tried a product from UD that I haven’t liked yet, and I’ve tried a lot! See what I’ve reviewed from UD here.

5 //What cosmetic brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

Deciem! Heard so many great things about the brand in the blogosphere.

6 // Favorite drugstore brand?

ELF and Maybelline!

7 // Do you wear fake eyelashes?

I wear glasses everyday, which makes it hard to. But I do sometimes when I wear contacts. They’re so fun!

8 // Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

I leave the house sometimes with no makeup… so no? But if I didn’t, it would have to be my eyebrows.

9 // What is your most cherised beauty product?

My Kat Von D liner! It’s my holy grail liner and I’ve repurchased it more times than I can count.

10 // How often do you shop for makeup? Do you like to pick up an item here and there or get lots of goodies at once?

Surprisingly, I don’t shop for make up often. I like to browse when I’m shopping, but I’ll only buy something if it’s either really cheap, or I’ve done research. Rarely do I spontaneously buy a high end product for no reason.

11 // Do you have a “beauty budget” or you spend freely?

Since I don’t buy makeup often (my last purchase was 7 months ago), I would say I spend freely. If I was to buy products more often, such as once a week, then I would definitely have a beauty budget.

12 // Do you utilize coupons, rewards cards and sales when you shop for cosmetics?

If it’s online shopping, then yes. I only buy online if there’s free shipping codes.

13 // What type of product do you buy the most of?

Well I use my essence eyebrow pencil every day… so I go through that quickly! Second would be Kat Von D tattoo liner. Pictured below with some other essence products!

14 // Is there a brand that you absolutely can’t stand?

Haha!!! Hmm…. Let me think… I don’t think so actually. There have been brands with disappointing products, but none that I absolutely can’t stand.

15 // Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics like parabens or sulfates?

Nope

16 // Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Sephora!

17 // Do you like trying new skincare products or do you keep a certain routine?

I enjoy trying new skincare products so that I have reviews to share on my blog, but my skin is also quite sensitive these days which is why I try to limit the amount of new skin products I expose them to. When I’m not reviewing skincare products, I stick to a routine of my trusted moisturizers.

18 // Favorite bath and body brand?

Right now, it’s definitely Weleda! I discovered them through blogging last month and can’t get enough of their Evening Primose body wash. I only reviewed the Evening Primose day and night cream, but here is a picture of what the line looks like. The body wash has the same packaging but in a larger size.

19 // If you could only buy from one brand, which brand would you choose?

Kind of similar to question 4! Urban Decay hands down. I’ve tried many of their products, and have yet to be disappointed. I can definitely trust them to come out with reliable products.

20 // What brand do you think has the best packaging?

Cutest packaging award goes to Paul & Joe for sure!

21 // Which celebrity always has great makeup?

I don’t really follow celebrity make up trends or looks… but if I was to pick, the first that comes to mind is Kylie Jenner. Her makeup snaps are gorgeous and her Kylie products are great too!

22 // Do you belong to any online makeup communities?

Hmm… does Instagram count? Yes, I’m going to say it does. Apart from Instagram, the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Network, and some other Facebook blogging groups but they aren’t make up related.

23 // 5 Favorite Beauty Gurus

I don’t watch beauty gurus much so I can’t give you five! I only watch Weylie regularly 🙂

24 // Do you like multifunctional products like lip and cheek stains?

Yes! Why not? It’s a better value. Pictured below is one of my favourite beauty products ever. The Korres wild rose oil moisturizes my skin really well. When mixed in with a foundation, it gives my skin a beautiful, non-cakey dewy look!

25 // Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Nope

26 // Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Yes, always. My eyes get pretty oily.

27 // How many hair products do you use on a typical day?

On a typical day, I don’t use hair products. I’m boring. But I use Batiste dry shampoo sometimes!

28 // What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Concealer!

29 // Do you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Nope.

30 // What do you love about makeup?

I love that there are so many options and styles you can choose from, depending on your mood and preference. I also love that it gives me something to write about, because I love writing. It’s also a good conversation piece.

Again, credits to The Beauty Section for this fun tag. I would love to see your version as well, so let me know if you do this tag too.

Sushi Nanaimo

June 23, 2017

I’m actually very surprised that I haven’t blogged about Sushi Nanaimo before. Five years ago in 2012, I used to come here very frequently… at least once a week or every two weeks!

There were many great memories and dinners held here with friends, and one of the first places the boyfriend and I went to. Or, I would get take out often with Jerky and Avocado, back when Jerky lived in this area.

I stopped coming here because I don’t work in the area anymore, Jerky moved to a new neighbourhood, and lastly, discovered Uomo and never looked back. But sadly, Uomo isn’t as good as it used to be.

The boyfriend and I came here for a quick late dinner since we were in the area and relive some old memories!

As usual, Sushi Nanaimo was packed and we ended up waiting about 10-15 minutes. One thing I used to hate about this place was that their floors were so SLIPPERY. Every time I came, it felt like they greased the floor or I was going ice skating in my regular shoes. Sad to say this was still the case and we saw one lady almost slip! Seriously, it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Negitoro roll: The negitoro roll was pretty decent, no complaints about it. Good ratio of toro and onion, mixed well and the toro was nice and soft.

Negihamachi roll: Same was the negitoro roll, no complaints!

Salmon roll: Salmon roll was average, no complaints about it. Good portion of salmon.

Chopped scallop roll: This was pretty disappointing. After having delicious chopped scallop roll at Shiro, I was in a chopped scallop mood! Unfortunately, the chopped scallop here was mushy and didn’t have a nice bounce to it. It was really unappetizing because chopped scallop isn’t supposed to be mushy.

Salmon and tuna sashimi: I remember that there was a period a few years ago where they changed their sashimi preparation, and sliced it very thin and long instead. After having that happen a few times, it was yet another reason why we stopped coming here. I actually forgot about that until now, writing this review.

Happy to say that the pieces were back to how they used to be. If you want thick slices of sashimi for a cheap price, this is the place for you.

Yay!