Curiously Carmen

July 2015 Favourites

Hi everyone!

I can’t believe July has passed by with the blink of an eye (Hehe, I rhyme)! I haven’t compiled a list of some of my favourite products for awhile, so figured I would do that. I’ve been pretty busy this month and haven’t been posting as much as I would like, but am trying to get more content up for all of you wonderful readers to read!

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I’m always raving about my favourite eyeliner, the Kat Von D tattoo liner ever since I’ve started this blog. Unfortunately, I misplaced my KVD liner a few weeks ago amidst bringing it in different purses, applying makeup in the car, etc.

I’m certain that it will reappear one of these days although I have checked the most common places I misplace my items! Instead of spending another $25 on it, I decided to try L’oreal’s lineur intense felt tip liquid eyeliner in the meantime as a cheaper alternative.

This is the first drugstore liquid liner I’ve used for a few years now, but I am quite impressed with it. I bought it in the shade carbon black, and I love how dark the shade is. I prefer felt tip instead of brush tip, and I find this felt tip really easy to work with!

Because of the felt tip and shade, it’s very versatile and you can wear it every occasion. You can tightline for a natural look, or you can choose to wing it out for a more noticeable look!
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My mom had purchased Softsoap‘s body wash in sweet honeysuckle & orange peel,and I decided to give it a try one day!

I love this soap because it lathers very well, a little does go a long way! However, the reason why this product is on my favourites list is because I am absolutely in LOVE with the scent! I’ve never tried a honeysuckle and orange peel scent before, and let me tell you… it smells wonderful!

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While we are on the topic of soap, I was also introduced to Caprina’s goat milk soap. The boyfriend was suffering from really dry skin from the harsh winter climate. He said that goat’s milk soap improve their skin greatly, so I decided to give it a try too!

I noticed that compared to regular bar soap, this soap is a lot more milkier and creamier. It definitely feels a lot more moisturizing than regular bar soap! Since I don’t have dry skin, I can’t tell you if it made my skin less dry… but I do enjoy using this soap, it cleans well and smells wonderful too!
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I also purchased a new pair of glasses since my old ones were getting a bit scratched up and Clearly Contacts has having a promotion. Out of the two pairs, I really liked the Derek Cardigan glasses in 7037 olive.

They are very lightweight, comfortable, and stylish! I really like the design of these and have been wearing them quite often since I got them!
MPK-2Veering off beauty products now, this is really random but I just have to share it with you as this is an absolute lifesaver! Mopiko ointment is normally used in Asian households for mosquito bites. I’ve been using this ever since I was a child! I am prone to getting nasty, swollen mosquito bites, I am probably allergic to something in those annoying mosquitoes.

Whenever my bites begin to itch, I apply Mopiko and the itch literally goes away in 5 seconds. A cooling, breezy, minty feeling takes over the itch and it feels really relieving. I’ve tried many bug ointments in my life, but I always end up going back to Mopiko because it works the best for me!
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That’s it to my July 2015 favourites!

What are some of your current favourites? Doesn’t have to be beauty related!

Thanks for reading!

Carmen

The Mystic Masala Aromatherapy

Hi everyone,

Last weekend, I got to attend the Mystic Masala Aromatherapy farewell party!  Mystic Masala aromatherapy was created by owner Glynnis, and her desire and love for Ayurveda, a type of Hindu traditional medicine and of course, aromatherapy! The boutique is located in a cozy vintage house located right off Commercial Drive in Vancouver.

Glynnis has decided to sell her the Mystic Masala line to Danielle LaPorte Inc. who will be re-branding and re-launching all of the products. This event was to celebrate all that the Mystic Masala had accomplished, recognize the work that Glynnis had done, and to celebrate new beginnings.

IMG_2714.JPGThe scent of this store was absolutely wonderful – I could seriously stay there all day. With natural spices and aromatics, this place was truly a feast for my senses.

Something that really stood out and gave me the “wow” factor for the Mystic Masala was the fact that they work with Wild Earth Nepal, a women’s fair trade cooperative in Nepal. Because their website puts this in better words than I ever could:

Our relationship with Wild Earth Nepal, a women’s fair trade cooperative in Kathmandu, gives us the opportunity to work with authentic Ayurvedic knowledge and wildcrafted herbs and to contribute to women’s and rural economic development in Nepal. 

Herbs are wildcrafted in the Himalayas and oils are infused for weeks in the sun. After the healing properties of the herbs have infused into the oils, the essential oils are then added. A traditional Ayurvedic Tibetan Cold Process ensures maximum benefits for your skin and for mind, body and spirit!

The herbs are sustainably gathered from community-owned forests and private farms.
We support the training of proper harvesting techniques in rural communities and the conservation of rare and endangered plant products.
We do not believe in using rare or endangered plant products or improperly harvested plant products.
We support the empowerment of Nepalese women, and through Wild Earth, we work with NGOs who support women such as Women’sCraft, WEFD, ICIMOD, the Mountain Institute, and World Wildlife Fund’s Plants and People Project.
We believe in fair trade principles, fostering a working environment based on respect and dignity with fair wages.

IMG_2713.JPGPictured above are products from the spice bliss and spicelove line. After talking to a couple of ladies about these products, they both said that they loved using the perfume roll on as they always received compliments from others when wearing this. I quite liked the smell as well, it had a very warmth and cozy scent to it with strong hints of cinnamon and apple.

The perfume roll on is made of 100% pure essential oil as well! Truly aromatic and wonderful.
IMG_2730.JPGI spent quite a few time trying out the different oils in this beautiful arrangement as well. My favourite was the tridoshic oil which contained a blend of olives, apricots, grapeseed, vitamin E base oils, essential oils of geranium, rosewood, spikenard and infused wildcrafted herbs of rose petals, jatamansi, bhringaraj, basil, shatavari. I heard great things about this oil too, one of the ladies I talked to swears by this oil and it is all she uses to moisturize her face.

There are also all natural shampoo soap bars, all of which target different needs with the help of essential oils and all natural ingredients.
IMG_2715.JPGI also got to meet a wonderful, and bubbly lady, Arielle, owner of Arielle’s Sweet Tooth! She made this delicious chocolate vegan cake, which was decorated and finished by a henna artist! You can’t have more of an authentic design than that =)
IMG_2716.JPGMore of Arielle’s gluten free and vegan treats. Chatting with Arielle, she told me that what makes her products unique from other gluten free bakers is that she does not use xanthan gum in any of her products. Since gluten-free products don’t bind as easily due to the absence of gluten, xanthan gum is used to bind ingredients together. Very few bakers use all natural binders like chia or flax seeds to bind their products.
IMG_2702.JPGAt the end of the event, Glynnis also provided everyone with some gifts! I received a small essential oil sample, and a wonderfully scented votive candle which had dried roses on it. I accidentally left the gift box in the boyfriend’s car for a couple hours, and when we went back, his car smelled amazing. He even commented and said that his car smelled really good!

I’m really glad I attended this event and was introduced to the Mystic Masala line, even though it will be re-branded soon.

Do you use aromatherapy products?

Thanks for reading!

-Carmen

Estée Lauder Spring/Summer 2015 Preview Event  

Hi readers!

Back in August, I had the pleasure of attending my first Estée Lauder media preview event.  I was thrilled when they invited me back to their Spring/Summer 2015 preview event this month!

The format of the media preview event this season was a bit different, but I still enjoyed it. Here are some of the highlights, plus some products that I am looking forward to in the upcoming season!

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Bronze Goddess shimmer collection: Want to achieve that tanned, golden, bronze look with a hint of shimmer this season?  My favourite from this line would have to be the shimmery body spray, seen in the back left. An Estee Lauder spokesperson showed us how to apply this product by gently dabbing it onto your skin to achieve a glowing sheen.

I love this line because it reminds me of a tropical vacation… if I had these products, I would bring them on my next tropical excursion!
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Up next, a pretty array of lipstick and nail polish shades for this season! I am a huge fan of coral and pinks, so these products are wonderful to me! My favourite would have to be the coral nail polish in the front.
IMG_2032.JPGNext up, my FAVOURITE Estee Lauder products… their perfumes! I’ve never encountered an Estee Lauder perfume scent that I did not like, so I was quite excited to see how these smelled. Of course, they did not disappoint.

The AERIN line, launched last season from Estee Lauder’s granddaughter Aerin Lauder, has the most amazing scents so I’m glad they came out with a few more this time around.
IMG_2031.JPGThis was definitely an interesting product that captivated my eye. It is their new finishing mineral powder.

It looks like a regular, mineral, loose powder foundation but upon application, it feels like pure silk. It is unbelievably soft and has a nice, smooth finish to it.
IMG_2026.JPGWe also previewed the new Courreges x Estee Lauder line, which the attendees were really excited about. Andre Courreges is a French fashion designer, known for his modern and futuristic design.

This preview session definitely did not disappoint. I’m super excited to see the new AERIN perfumes and finishing powder foundation on the shelves!

What were your favourite products that I talked about? Let me know in the comments down below!

Thanks for reading!

-Carmen

Jealous Coffee and Coconut Body Scrub

Helloooo everyone!

I’ve always wanted to try out coffee scrubs, as I found out during my barista days that scrubbing coffee grinds all over your body has great benefits, including improved skin texture, better blood circulation, get rid of cellulite, plus much more!

Jealous Body Scrub is a new company based out of my beautiful hometown of Vancouver, Canada. For now, they only have one type of body scrub which is the coconut and coffee, but are working on coming out with other products. Their products are also all online based, and currently do not have any in-person stores.
Jealous Body Scrub Coffee Review

Upon opening this, I was greeted with a strong smell of fresh coffee. Coffee is supposed to smell lovely, but after spending long shifts at a coffee shop and coming home smelling like stale coffee, you will slowly start to be numb to the “invigorating” smell of coffee and can find it quite “meh”. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been a barista before and if you understand what I’m talking about.

However, in this case, the coffee smelled really fresh so I didn’t mind the smell =)

Jealous Coffee Body ScrubAmong coconut oil and ground premium coffee, Jealous body scrub also has vitamin e, raw brown sugar, sea salt, and minerals. As all of the ingredients are natural, it is recommended that customers finish this within six months to preserve freshness and quality.

Coffee grounds: Reduces the appearance of cellulite, eczema, stretch marks, age spots, varicose veins, psoriasis, and acne
Brown sugar & sea salt: Exfoliates and gets rid of dead skin cells
Cold pressed organic coconut oil: Moisturizes skin
Vitamin e: Protects and repairs skin

Jealous Coffee Body Scrub

The steps of using this scrub is very easy!

1. Step into the shower
2. Rinse your body using soap, etc
3. Scoop a handful of Jealous and scrub it in a circular motion. (For a full body scrub, use 2-3 scoops!)
4. Wait 5-10 minutes for the miraculous effects to take place
5. Rinse!

Since this is made as an exfoliant, I have to warn you that the scrub is quite abrasive and harsh so be gentle when you are scrubbing this onto your body. Do not use it over injured skin or it will probably really hurt! For myself, I enjoyed the abrasiveness as I knew that meant my skin would be perfectly exfoliated and fresh when stepping out of the shower.

Jealous Body Coffee Scrub Frank I’m giving you a warning now that this scrub will get very messy! While in the shower, I got some of it on the wall and on my shower curtain. Make sure you give the tub and walls a good rinse or spray or the next person using the tub will think you’re a disgusting, filthy creature who got “dirt” everywhere!

Now, the result?

AH-MAZING. Seriously, this stuff works wonders. My skin was exfoliated and felt rejuvenated afterwards. Due to the vitamin e and coconut oil, my skin was also very moisturized. Your skin feels like a newborn baby’s, it is that amazing.

Your skin also smells faintly of coffee afterwards. For me, that was odd since I’m used to constantly trying to get rid of the coffee smell after my barista shift.

There has been so much well-deserved hype for Jealous body scrub, I can’t wait to see what other products they will be launching! For once, getting jealous is a good thing. 😉 Check out their website here!

Thanks for reading!

-Carmen

Press product featured, all opinions are my own.

Garnier Clean + Makeup Removing Lotion Cleanser

Hi everyone,

I’m always into trying out new skincare products. I wish I was blessed with perfect, fair, smooth skin but unfortunately I’m not. Luckily, there are a lot of products out there that can make your skin feel and look healthy, given that you are willing to put in the effort! The new Garnier Clean Plus is one of these skincare products.IMG_1722.JPGThis product is targeted for those who have sensitive skin and wear makeup, especially those who live on waterproof mascara! Removing waterproof mascara is no easy task unless you have a great makeup remover at hand. In fact, waterproof mascara is so difficult to remove that Garnier specifically points out that this cleanser will remove waterproof mascara! That is a pretty bold claim!

IMG_1720.JPGSince the Clean + is for sensitive skin, there is no scent in it. I found the texture of the cleanser to be very creamy and thick, but also oily. I think the oily factor is for removing tough waterproof mascara. I’ve noticed that the best makeup removers I’ve ever used are oily, it must be some sort of ingredient in that oil that breaks and dissolves the makeup.
IMG_1718.JPGSince I had this product shipped from Garnier, it was out in the cold all day before I picked up the package. By then, the cleanser had slightly frozen over, I had to give it a good shake as all the oil was coming out instead of the creamy cleanser. This won’t be a problem if you are getting this product in stores, or if you don’t leave this out in the cold for hours on end. It was a weird and interesting experience as I’ve never dealt with frozen facial cleansers before!

I decided to test this out in the shower, without removing my makeup as I normally do. When I came out of the shower, any trace of my super tough Kat Von D eyeliner was gone. I was wearing minimal foundation that day too, Maybelline Dream Mousse, and it was easily removed as well! I noticed that my face felt really smooth and soft afterwards.
IMG_1733.JPGThe next day, I decided to test out this product out with some of my toughest products and see if it would withstand the test. On my hand are five different products, including waterproof mascara on the bottom. For this test, I also primed my skin as well, like I normally would if I was wearing full makeup.
IMG_1734.JPGI was shocked at how effortlessly the makeup came off! The toughest product to remove was not actually the waterproof mascara, but my Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner followed by the Benefit push-up liner! Even then, they both came off a few short moments after.

The area where the cleanser went made my hand extra soft as well.
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I would recommend this to those who have sensitive skin. As well, those who are looking for an all in one powerful cleanser – makeup remover, cleanser, AND moisturizer!

After writing this post, I am feeling like introducing my Holy Grail makeup remover in a future post!

Have you tried this product? Do you prefer to have a 3 in 1 cleanser OR prefer to do each step with different products?

Thanks for reading! You can see other reviews on this product here on She Blogs-CrowdSocial or check out #GarnierSensitive on Twitter!

-Carmen

Product provided for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and not altered by the requests of Garnier. This blog post does not reflect Garnier’s opinions in any way.