Hard Candy Perfume Review

Today I'm reviewing Hard Candy perfume, only around $25 for a 50ml bottle. Type: Floral Fruity Gourmand.

Typically, (this is not a rule, just a preference,) I like to wear sweet, comforting perfumes in the winter, such as Midnight Fantasy or Pink Sugar, and fruity, summery fragrances in the summer. In autumn I prefer to wear something spicy, and spring... well, thats where it gets difficult. I hate 98% of the floral perfumes on the market- they all seem to either smell like cleaner, or make me smell like I have bathed in a sea of rose petals. Hard Candy perfume, however, is one floral fragrance I can handle.

Hard Candy perfume is a great spring fragrance. It has a great fresh scent that isn't too overpowering. It is not as long-lasting as my other perfumes, however, so I find myself having to reapply it throughout the day.

Top Notes:

White Tea

Pink Peppercorn

Rhubarb

Heart:

Passion Fruit Juice Extract

Enchanting Rose

Jasmine

Dry Down:

Caramel

Sultry Vanilla

Cedar Wood

Cashmere Musk

Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner Review

As a long-time hair abuser, I've stripped, dyed, chopped, straightened and curled my hair so many times. Today I like to maintain a full head of professional blonde highlights, which somehow seem to fade faster than a fake tan.

For girls with hair like mine- colored, dry, naturally curly, damaged- it's very difficult to find a good shampoo and conditioner, but incredibly important. The right shampoo and conditioner can make a big difference for making your hair stay shiny, healthy looking and keep your hair color looking vibrant. This is how I justified purchasing Frederic Fekkai's Technician Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner, around $30 each at Shoppers.

Sadly, I wasn't at all impressed with the results. First of all, the shampoo- it lathered well and did a good job of cleaning my hair but no matter what I did it seemed to leave my hair looking dryer and worse than before. As for the conditioner, I had to use a lot of product to get very minimal results. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of Technician Color Care shampoo and conditioner. It was worth trying, to see if Fekkai would live up to the hype, but personally I am not planning on repurchasing.

So, girlies, have you had any better luck with Frederic Fekkai products?

Best Little Pick-Me-Ups

It's amazing how the little things can make everything better.

Like Smashbox Photo Op Undereye Brightener, $22 at Shoppers. This little tube does wonders for my tired undereyes. You apply it under your regular concealer for a wide awake effect.

Or like OPI nail polishes, $9.00 each at the Beauty Supply Outlet. With so many beautiful colors to choose from, these high quality polishes can instantly brighten your mood. Today I'm wearing Tutti Frutti Tonga, a pretty, shiny pink. Check out OPI's new Pink SoftShades collection- so cute!

Or try Sephora Nano Lip Liner, $5 at Sephora stores. These cute little lip liners come in twenty cute shades and perfectly define your lips.

Cake Beauty Supreme Body Mousse Mini's are perfect for hydrating your skin and leaving a light scent. This size is perfect for your purse. $7.00 at The Bay.

Best Spring Beauty Gift Picks

One thing to avoid when purchasing beauty related gifts is purchasing something that may offend the recipient- such as a large set of anti-wrinkle creams. Also avoid purchasing lotions and body washes, unless you know it is a scent the recipient will love- chances are, she probably already has enough.


This spring, choose one of these fantastic budget friendly gifts which will delight and spoil the woman in your life- whether she's a best friend, a sister, mother or significant other.




Lush Buttercup Gift Set, $9.95 at Lush stores. This sweet little package contains a Butterball bath bomb and Honey I Washed the Kids Soap. Lush uses fresh, vegetarian ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging and doesn't test on animals. Their fragrant bath products also make lovely gifts!














NARS Temptation Gift Set, $30 at Sephora. This set includes a pretty, sparkly powder blush and golden peachy pink nail polish. They have rather interesting names (orgasm, super orgasm) but this set would be the perfect springtime pick-me-up.

Bare Escentuals Fab Fresh Gift set, $34 at Shoppers. This set contains a mini 100% natural lip gloss, blush, eye liner, and two eye shadows for a fresh spring look.

Flower by Kenzo eau de parfum, $56 for 1oz bottle at Sephora. This springy, florential perfume would make a great gift. It contains hints of violet, rose, vanilla and white musk.

Best Natural Beauty Products- Lip Edition

Many makeup products have been found to contain harmful chemicals, which is something we willingly put on our faces or ingest. While I'm not suggesting boycotting your favorite makeup items, I do suggest giving natural, potentially less harmful beauty products a try. Many natural beauty products are also packaged in more environmentally friendly packaging, which means they are not only better for you, but they are also better for our planet. Here are some lovely suggestions, in order from least expensive to most:

J.R. Watkins Lip Balms, around 3.99 at Shoppers. These 100% natural lip balms hydrate, soften and help protect your lips from the harsh weather, and have such a pretty tube (in my opinion!) Comes in a variety of scents- raspberry, peppermint, etc. I'm a new fan of Raspberry.

Sephora Pure Lip Gloss, $6 at Sephora. Not only are these pretty glosses made from natural ingredients- they are also packaged in 50% previously recycled plastics, and the cap is recyclable.

Korres Lip Butter, $10 at Sephora. These buttery balms can be used to give lips and cheeks a soft touch of pretty color, and are made with natural ingredients.

Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lip Color, around $19 at Shoppers. These creamy, pigmented lipsticks contain exotic oils, natural waxes and conditioning plant extracts instead of artificial dyes and irritants.

Josie Maran Finger Paints, $36 at Sephora. This little gloss palette is made from biodegradable corn plastic, and each pretty shade is comprised of natural, organic ingredients. They also contain argan oil, which repairs skin cells.

Beauty fix: Bags under eyes!

Sleepless nights... We've all had them. Puffy, dark undereye circles can become an annoying part of life for any busy, sleep deprived person. If yours are driving you insane, the following tips might help:

• Make sure you drink enough water- dehydration can lead to puffy eyes. I'd aim for atleast 8 glasses of water a day.
• Try to limit your intake of salty foods, which can cause puffy under eyes.
• Also try to limit your alcohol intake.

If your undereye area could still use some help, try keeping the area hydrated with a good undereye cream. Undereye creams are specially formulated to keep your delicate undereye area moisturized, without causing any irritation, which a regular moisturizer might cause. Fortunately, you don't have to shell out too much for a quality eye cream. Try:
Benefit Eye Con Brightening Eye Cream, $30, available at Shoppers everywhere. This will help keep your eyes hydrated and fade undereye circles.
L'oreal Advanced RevitaLift, $20. This lightweight, moisturizing, anti-aging under eye cream can be used at night or during the day, underneath your makeup to keep it from settling into fine lines.