skin care favourite: life brand face masks

Who doesn't love a good face mask? This at-home skin care product is steadily gaining in popularity. In fact, according to an article on Allure, wearing a face mask is one of the biggest beauty trends in the last few years. From sheet masks to peel off masks and everything in between...there is no denying the power of this skin care trend. Not only is it fun to do (have you seen those adorable animal printed face masks?!) but treating yourself to a little mask time is a wonderful part of self care. Are you in need of a little TLC? Looking for new face masks to try? Here are my thoughts on a few masks from Life brand.

testing life brand face masks (mini reviews)

How has your schedule been looking lately? It seems that everyone I know is juggling a little too much these days. Between work, responsibilities at home, and hobbies, it can be difficult to find time for it all. For me, it is the little things that I notice falling by the wayside when my schedule is full. For instance, skin care has been on the backburner lately. It wasn't something I even noticed at first. I skipped my little routine one night, then a second, and before I knew it, that routine had become the exception instead of the norm. There has been so much to do lately that the little things kind of went lower on my priority list. I am trying to turn this around by re-establishing my skin care routine. That means the nightly cleanse, but also masks, masks, and more masks. Lately, I have been using lots of Life Brand face masks that were gifted to me over the holidays. 

ranking recent face and eye masks

These days, face and eye masks are an essential part of my skin care routine. They leave my skin feeling pampered and pretty...but they also remind me to focus on self care at the end of a long hard day. The latter is especially important! Several masks have been sitting in my beauty room lately and I have dutifully been working to put them to use. Some are under eye masks, some are face masks and some even have animal inspired designs. Ready to dive into some of the loves, leaves, and so-so products? Here is a ranking of some of the recent face and eye masks that I have been using.

skin care review: masque bar mask set

Confession: I have been slacking when it comes to face masks. In fact, my entire skin care routine has been less than consistent lately. There is no concrete reason for this, other than the summer blues and feeling a little out of sorts. In an effort to feel more like myself, my days have included a lot of self-care recently. This has involved taking time to read, Disney inspired essential oils, watching old episodes of Survivor, and putting some face masks to use. The set shown above was gifted to me at Christmas, but for whatever reason, it did not receive my full attention until the last few weeks. Since all four Masque Bar masks have now been used, it seemed like an appropriate time for some mini reviews. Keep reading for all the details...

rank and review: peter thomas roth masking minis set

Finishing a product is easier said than done...especially when there is so much out there to test and try. That is where travel sized or mini sized products come in handy. It is so much easier to use something completely and really make the most of the purchase when the items are smaller. Over the last little while, the Peter Thomas Roth Masking Minis Set has been taking care of several skincare needs. The five-piece mask kit came with a mask to hydrate, lift, exfoliate, soothe, and refine. Though Peter Thomas Roth was a brand that I had seen time and time again in Sephora...it wasn't a brand that I had actually tried before. The mini mask set was the perfect opportunity to put five different products to the test and rank my favourites. 

winter skin care week: holiday themed hand cream + face masks

It is probably obvious by now, but I love a good theme. Not only is this winter skin care week on the creation of beauty is art. (the latest theme week) but when it comes to holiday sets, I am all in. Themed beauty products make me happy! Which is why it was so thrilling to be treated to some Christmas themed skin care products recently. My husband gave me a holiday themed hand cream set as well as a holiday themed face mask set for Christmas....and I have been putting it all to the test. 

testing out a charcoal skin care set

One of my beauty-related resolutions for the year had to do with skin care . It is true what they say: Consistency is key. However, consistency is often an area where I struggle. That is why skin care sets and kits are always really useful. Having a handful of different products to reach for can really simplify the process. A while back, my husband gifted me a charcoal skin care set. It included a number of different skin care products: face masks, a cleanser, and even wipes. Keep reading to find out more about the products included in this set and how each one of them actually performed. 

skin care week: life brand replenishing clay face mask (review)

It is skin care week on the creation of beauty is art. That means all of the blog posts this week will be dedicated to different skin care items that have become a part of my recent routine. Each year, I love to set different New Year's Resolutions. Some are personal, some are related to health and fitness, and some are even beauty resolutions. This year? One of my beauty-related goals is to focus more on skin care. There are many reasons for this! It is partly because I am home so often these days (courtesy of the pandemic and lockdowns) so it seems like as good a time as any to give my skin some much needed TLC. It is also because skin care has always been my lowest priority. Some people live and breathe skin care. Not me. I am all about the instant gratification. Makeup delivers an immediate splash of colour and glamour. Skin care requires long-term dedication. Despite this....I really am trying to make skin care a focus in 2021. Which is why skin care week is starting with a review.

review: eye woke up like this gold foil eye mask

Does your skin need a little TLC? Face masks are a quick and easy way to feel pampered. Every now and then, I like to set aside my to-do list and reach for a good mask. Those ten to fifteen minutes are the ultimate reset button. Not only does a face mask encourage me to stop and relax for a second but it also gives my skin a little extra care. Recently, I decided to try the Eye Woke Up Like This Gold Foil Eye Mask from sf. This eye mask had a whole list of promises...and I was eager to see if any of them were actually true. Since quarantine began way back in March, skin care is something that has been on my mind more than usual. So it only made sense to put this eye mask to the test. Find out how it looks and performs - and if it is worth trying.

does it work?? oh k! hyaluronic acid hydrogel mask

Some days are meant for face masks. Lots on your to do list? Exhausted by the end of the night? There is no better way to treat yourself than with a little skin care. Face masks tend to be a quick and easy way to pamper yourself and give your skin a little bit of a boost. Recently, I tried the Oh K! Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Mask with Vitamin B3 and Sea Kelp. This mask is designed to hydrate and plump the skin. Sounds appealing, right? I've tried a few other products from Oh K! in the past. To be honest, some have been good and some have been a little lackluster. Ready to find out how this particular skin care item performed? If it lives up to the claims? Here is everything you need to know about this hydrogel mask from Oh K! 

does it work?? precision beauty retinol forehead mask

Forehead wrinkles. Ahh...how I loathe them! While most people develop wrinkles and lines over time, my forehead has had lines on it for as long as I can remember. Kids at school would scrunch up their foreheads and the lines would disappear as soon as they stopped. Mine didn't disappear. They were always visible. I don't know if the forehead lines are the result of my dry skin or genetics...but it is something that I have been self-conscious about for a very long time. Over the years, I have tried an awful lot. Moisturizers, lotions, serums, and everything in between. Nothing seems to make a significant or noticeable difference in the appearance of those forehead lines. No matter what I seem to do, they remain. 

skin care love: oh k! face masks (sleep mask + mood mask)

Being home more often means that there is a little extra time to focus on skin care. This has definitely been a good thing! I've been trying to make use of some different face masks in my collection. Like the Oh K! Nourishing Overnight Hydration Sleep Mask with Hyaluronic Acid and the Oh K! Purifying Colour Change Mood Mask with Uplifting Grapefruit Oil. Both are from the same brand but are extremely different in terms of the scent, texture, and overall experience. Want to learn a little bit more about these Oh K! products? Keep reading for all the details on these Korean skin care items. 

nourishing yourself is attainable. and you are worth the effort.

So, I'm back. At the moment, I am slowly trying to catch up on things and get back into my regular routine. That is proving difficult because the week following my vacation has been equally action packed. The day after I got back, I went to a concert with my fiance - and later this week there is another concert happening. How am I supposed to keep up? I suppose these are good problems to have: too busy having fun to relax!

Speaking of relaxation....I am doing my best to make time for myself. (Yes, despite my hectic schedule.) A little while back, I picked up these face and under eye masks. They are supposed to brighten and tighten the skin and make it look younger. Sounds good to me! They cost $5 for a pack of four masks, so I thought, what the heck. They come in these individually wrapped packages, which you can see below.

What did I like about the masks? They are super quick and easy to use. They come wrapped. That makes it simple to just remove them from the package and apply them to your face. I definitely prefer this type of mask to a full blown scrub or cream. They can be so messy! These were neat, smelled nice, and got the job done. It was just a good way to spend a little time on myself.

The directions recommend using these 2 to 3 times a week. Realistically, I probably won't be all that diligent. (If past experience is anything to go by!) But my goal is to try and do a full face mask once a week and use the Naked Eye mask once a week. Between the two, my skin should be looking great in no time...right? Well, a girl can dream! Here is a closer look at the masks:

Those face masks turned out to be exactly what I needed. Being honest, they were pretty average. I don't know that my skin looked any younger after using them - but they definitely helped with my dull complexion. What I really loved? Taking just fifteen minutes to look after myself. It helped me de-stress and unwind for a little bit. And that is priceless.

When is the last time you pampered yourself?

xo Shannon

love it or leave it? sarah jessica parker

The world of fashion has certainly changed in recent months. Large shows have been cancelled or turned into virtual viewing experiences. New lines and releases are scarce. Oh, and masks have become an essential part of our day-to-day lives. Though masks have a practical use...they can also be stylish and fashion-forward. Celebrities and fashion lovers alike have started to match their face masks to their outfits. It is yet another way to accessorize! Which brings me to my latest love it or leave it? post. This time it is all about the fashion icon, Sarah Jessica Parker. She spent time in her SJP Collection Store in New York City not long ago....wearing a floral dress and printed face mask. Is this look a love? Or does it totally fall flat? It is time to take a closer look at Sarah Jessica Parker's late summer florals. 

mini haul: the face shop

Something I am trying to do? Take better care of my skin. This is especially important now that winter is on the way. We all have our own skin issues to deal with. But come cold weather? The most common has to be dryness. My skin tends to be very dry in general....so I typically dread the return of winter. It never fails to wreak havoc on my skin. Which is why I decided to pay a visit to The Face Shop. This is a relatively new store in my area - and it is fabulous. They have a ton of different masks, skin care products, and even a little bit of makeup. The best part? The prices. Everything is super affordable.

As you can see from the picture above, I picked up a few different items while I was there. They were: The Face Shop Hand Mask, Face Mask With Honey, Milk Calcium Nail Pack, and the Over Girl Eye Stick. My main focus was definitely moisture, moisture, and more moisture. I got a face mask, a hand mask, and a nail mask. Why? My hands have been super dry and irritated lately. The dry air in the apartment combined with the cool weather? Not good. So I am hoping these masks will give my hands (and face!) some much needed moisture.

The other item I picked up was the Over Girl Eye Stick. It is essentially a cream eyeshadow in a pen form. It twists up from the bottom and has a slanted cap. That makes application super simple. (Which is great when you are running late in the morning.) The shade is a true gold. It has tons of shimmer though the pigmentation is only okay. This is good as a one-shadow look when you want something understated but fun. I actually think I might keep this in  my purse. It would be a great touch up item because of all the glitter and shimmer. Perfect to transition a makeup look from day to night!

Overall I am very excited about this mini haul from The Face Shop. Their masks are fantastic and I know that these will come in handy over the next little while. Fingers crossed they will help me combat dry skin all season long.

What are your dry skin secrets? Have you bought anything from The Face Shop?

xo Shannon

miss a haul and review.

Who can resist a bargain? Not me. Ever. If there is one thing I am a sucker for....it is a good deal. There is something oddly comforting about getting more bang for your buck. Which is why Miss A is such a standout website. Everything (and I do mean everything) costs $1. There are accessories, face masks, beauty products, and more. For $1. With super cheap shipping. How could a bargain hunter like myself possibly ignore the deals? It should come as no surprise that this is the second order I have placed with Miss A in the last six months or so.

I was not shopping for anything in particular. Instead, I ordered things that I wanted to try out. Or that were missing from my collection. Ready to take a closer look at what I bought? Here it is....my second Miss A haul.

Accessories and Face Products. My collection of face masks has dwindled recently. So I thought it would be a good idea to try out a couple available on the website. I chose the Revital Collagen mask and the Moisture Green Tea mask. I haven't had a chance to give these a try yet....but they will be the perfect add on to my next at-home spa day! I also picked up a small concealer and corrector palette. Honestly? That product was kind of a dud. The product is very thin and does little to conceal or correct. (Ahh well...at least it only cost a dollar.)

I also ordered a few accessories. There were a lot of temporary tattoos available on the site. For whatever reason, this was the most amazing thing to me at the time. So I purchased a sheet of temporary star tattoos. The sunglasses pictured above were a much smarter choice. I love them! They are big with fun pops of colour around the rim. And then there was the last accessory. That yellow ring. It is absolutely stunning. I love the colour and the bold shape.

Cheek and Lip Products. It wouldn't be a beauty haul without a blush shade or two. Yes, I am a total blush addict. Which is how these shades found their way into my life. Each one is very different to the colours already in my collection. They are super sultry. The packaging was pretty cute and the pigmentation was fantastic. For both of these! Both blush shades are a fantastic add on to a night out look. Needless to say? I am loving them both.

One of my current goals is to buy less lipstick. I have so much already.....and I really need to focus on using what is in my collection. So there was only one lip product in this Miss A haul. The shade caught my eye and I simply needed to see it in person. It is a frosty purple. And boy, is it frosty! This is very 80s. It is fabulous. Certainly not a shade that I would reach for on a normal day. But fun to play around with nonetheless.

Eyeshadow and Glitter Galore. Now for the good stuff. The really good stuff. Out of everything I ordered? These last few items are the standouts for sure. Let's start with the eyeshadow palette. Honestly? I was curious about a $1 eyeshadow palette. What would it be like? I needed to know. So the Alpha Girl Perfectionist Eyeshadow Palette from KleanColor entered my life. Despite being well wrapped....there was a bit of fallout and a cracked shadow. But I cleaned everything up and ta da! I was left with some shockingly beautiful eyeshadow shades. They are largely quite pigmented (some are more pigmented than others) and have a beautiful shimmery finish. Plus there are some gorgeous shades that I am eager to play around with. Very impressed!

Then there were the glitters. Lately, I have been desperate to add a bit of glitter to my makeup looks. Not sure why or where this came from. I just needed a little glitter in my life! So I ordered a few from Miss A. Okay....these glitters are incredible. Not only are they much cheaper than any others I have purchased in the past. But they are better. The glitter is fine and the combination of colours is just breathtaking. I cannot get enough of these beautiful glitters.

Phew! So there it is. My second Miss A haul. Overall, I am really impressed with this website. The shipping takes ages but hey - everything is a dollar. It is a great way to test out new products and get familiar with different brands.

Have you tried Miss A? What do you think of this haul?

xo Shannon

skin care week: generation clay + purlisse face masks (review)

Samples are a girl's best friend. Especially skin care samples! It is a wonderful way to test out different items and determine which ones are worth purchasing. More recently, the two samples (shown above) have been put to the test. One is from Generation Clay and the other is from Purlisse. Neither are brands that I have tried in the past...so it was extra exciting to see how these brands would perform. Ready to find out how they did? Keep reading for all of the details. 

disney beauty week: mad beauty (sheet eye mask and mirror)

Beauty products often make me smile...especially when there is a little Disney thrown into the mix. As part of Disney Beauty Week here on the creation of beauty is art. it is time to focus on a few items from Mad Beauty. Now, this is not a beauty brand that I am overly familiar with, but based on their website, Mad Beauty focuses on well-known characters and brands. For instance, there are Disney themed products, Looney Tunes items, Star Wars inspired bath essentials, and even Friends inspired things. How fun! I love anything themed, especially when it involves a TV show, movie, or beloved character. Which is why it kind of surprises me that this is my first time trying anything from Mad Beauty. However, I am ready to make up for lost time and Disney Beauty Week seems like the perfect opportunity. Yes, it is time to take a look at the Minnie Mouse themed Cucumber and Green Tea Sheet Eye Mask and the Mulan themed Beautiful Blooms Compact Mirror from Mad Beauty. 

first impressions: jlo beauty (that limitless glow mask)

Even though there are countless celebrity makeup and skin care lines on the market...JLo Beauty was intriguing. First of all, Jennifer Lopez is well-known for her incredible skin. Secondly, she is someone that I have been a fan of for a very long time. Her movies and music have been an important part of my life. Not to mention her perfumes! Her incredible fragrance, "Still," was my first grown up bottle of perfume. My dad bought it for me one day when we were out and it has been incredibly meaningful to me ever since. Yes, when it comes to Jennifer Lopez, there are a lot of positive memories associated with this A-list celebrity. That being said, the products from JLo Beauty are on the expensive side. For example, $98 for a glow serum, $72 for a day cream, and $62 for an eye cream. Those items would definitely be a splurge for me. So, it made sense to start with a good old-fashioned sheet mask. Keep reading for a first impressions review of the JLo Beauty That Limitless Glow mask. 

my experience: scenic safari drive thru zoo

If you needed proof that the world we live in is completely different, I have three words for you: drive thru zoo. Yes, you read that right. Drive thru zoo. Recently, the Toronto Zoo announced that they would be holding a Scenic Safari. That involves taking your car through staff-only roads and through the zoo itself, while listening to a Zookeeper guided audio tour. Since most places are still closed or have limited capacities, places like zoos have understandably been closed for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, the Toronto Zoo came up with a unique way for guests to stay safe and still have a good time. Though getting tickets for this limited event was a bit of a struggle (I waited in a virtual queue for nearly six hours before I was able to select a date and time to visit)....it was something that really excited me. For starters, my husband and I always go to the zoo at least once or twice a year. Always! Beyond that, the concept itself is really unique and this Scenic Safari gave us an opportunity to enjoy a special event without feeling unsafe or uncertain. Today, I wanted to share my experience as well as a few of the photographs I snapped along the way. Here goes....