BB Cream Showdown: Olay vs. L'OREAL

Have you ever had those moments in your life where something keeps recurring or popping up in unexpected places? I've often wondered what all the fuss is about when it comes to BB creams but lately it's been that recurring object in my life and I figured I should finally just give them a try.

For those that aren't aware, BB Creams (aka beauty or blemish balms) have been making their way into North American beauty regimens since around 2011. Originally developed by a German dermatologist, it became a huge hit in Asia and has now made it’s way over to our homeland. 

Taking into consideration that a high quality and what appears to be a small container of BB cream can cost around the $40-$50 - it’s been a pretty huge success. But is the success all hype from thousands of woman loving the idea of the product rather than its actual performance, or does it actually work? BB cream is marketed as the miracle worker of all beauty products, it’s a foundation, sunscreen, moisturizer and supposed all-around time saver. Intended to replace many of your normal beauty regimen steps, like foundation, concealer, bronzer and moisturizer, one could really benefit from a product like this that actually holds true to its claims.

I tested out two different brands as to not leave a bad taste in my mouth if the first one didn't pull through. This gave me a solid foundation to base a review on these two products, and I'm glad I did because one turned out to be substantially better than the other.

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Light to Medium

This was the first one I tried on and to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed since the last thing this product made my skin feel was fresh. After performing a bit of research on the active and inactive ingredients, I did find out that the majority of them are organic compounds that are insoluble in water which explains why it felt oily and left my face with a less than pleasant shine. The fragrance was a little overwhelming at the start, which I eventually got used to, but for anyone with sensitive skin or perfume allergies, this is probably a good way to steer clear of. Aside from the greasy feeling and scent, there is no way I could use this BB cream to replace a concealer or foundation, it simply didn't provide the coverage I was looking for. 

L'OREAL Youth Code BB Cream in Medium

After feeling less than satisfied with how my last BB cream experience went, I decided to try out L'OREAL's Youth Code BB Cream to see if price actually makes a difference. Coming in around $26 it's certainly not the most expensive but still more than the Olay's Fresh Effects. I also decided to try out just a Medium shade instead of light-to-medium just because I have so many freckles that I can usually get away with something a little darker than my actual skin tone. 

I preferred this one as it didn't leave my skin feeling oily, the scent was there but not over powering and it provided great coverage. Unlike it's contender, if I'm going for a more relaxed beauty routine I could totally replace my concealer and foundation with just this for the day if I felt the drive to do so. Not only that, but I didn't need to use anymore than a dime size to cover my face and neck. The colour adapted and blended into my skin tone nicely and I didn't need to worry about the makeup lines I get sometimes from my foundation. 

- Lyss

Fall Fashion: The Perfect Parka

With Fall just around the corner I've been pro-actively seeking my next jacket purchase. Every year, I buy new outerwear items but I have to admit, recent years have proven unsuccessful with buttons, stitching and spontaneous purchases failing me. In any case, I've ended up wearing my black winter jacket that I used while working for our local radio stations for the last four Winters. 

Sadly, I can no longer continue to don this much loved item as I've pretty well exhausted it's durability and the fluff on the inside is coming out of the seams. This makes me sound a lot less fortunate than I actually am, but I've really just been dealing with some separation anxiety when trying to get rid of it. This leads me to Parkas. I've been searching around in-store and online at various shops to find an exact replica of what I see in my minds eye and I've found quite a few. From ASOS to Canada Goose, the price structure varies but here are some of my favourite styles for this season.

 ASOS Fur Hooded Detachable Lined Parka

Price: $133.75

Available: Online at us.asos.com

In my personal opinion, U.K fashion is far more advanced than American and Canadian designs. ASOS, and us.asos.com is the primary online outlet for Primark and North American bound shipping. For $133 it's hard to beat this price considering your average winter coat of any decent quality is upwards of $200 here in Canada. This is going to be this fall's purchase. To be frank, I've never actually owned any jacket that came equipped with a fur hood before. In fact, I used to detest this look when I was younger. Now, theres something so appealing and comforting about this that I love. It’s casual meets functional and I'm really feeling the neutral colour scheme lately.

ASOS Knitted Hood Parka With PU Trim

Price: $133.75

Available: Online at us.asos.com

Another cozy piece available from the ASOS Collection is this Knitted Hood Parka. Available in Khaki and retailing for slightly over $100 Canadian dollars, this is a great option for anyone looking for a warm and fitted look. Featuring a cable knitted hood with fleece lining and draw strings, deep pockets and draw string at waist, it's super versatile and a great alternative for those not seeking a fur trimmed hood. 

Canada Goose: The Montebello Parka 

Price: Upwards of $400

Available: Authorized Resellers only

The Mack Daddy, Big Cheese and Head Honcho of Parkaland - the Canada Goose brand. The Montebello has been my most coveted item for the last couple years. I had an opportunity to try on this exact one while visiting family out in New Brunswick and it's comfort and warmth is dubious.This hip length, fitted parka will bombard you with utility pocket after utility pocket, making it's functionality nearly unbeatable. Rightfully so, since Canada Goose markets these jackets as the be-all and end-all of "rugged luxury" which is yours for the taking if you're willing to shell out the cash.

Beauty | Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Moss

Good evening (or morning depending on where about you are in the world). I've mentioned in a previous post about my current love affair with lipstick and lip butters. Following suit, I thought I'd give you all my thoughts on Rimmel's Lasting Finish in shade 01 by none other than Kate Moss.

I graduated 4 years ago with a diploma in Advertising & Marketing Communications and as much as I should know to proceed with caution on what I will call "pretty little things", I have to admit, I am still a sucker for a really well packaged product. Albeit, this product is not elaborate whatsoever in it's packaging but it's simplicity and elegance makes it appear as something you'd want to classify as timeless. When we think about our purchases that extend beyond the necessities, we thrive on the thought of them defining us. A product with timeless and elegant features is not just targeted to those who see themselves as such, but also to those who aspire to be.

 

As far as this particular lipstick goes it's one of the better ones I've used. I try to avoid using red lipstick more than a couple times a month - if that. It's one of those things that the "less is more" rule applies to. Not only that, but it takes a lot of finessing to get red to stay on and not get it all over your face and teeth. 

Lasting Finish? This proves accurate. When you blot this, it looks like a scene from Dexter, but the colour doesn't actually fade that much. If you're anything like me then you've probably found yourself putting on red lipstick with great intentions, and then realized you don't actually feel that ballsy so you try to rub it all off and desperately back pedal your bad life choice for the day. You almost need paint thinner to get this stuff off. I mean, its not quite that bad, if you work at it, eventually you'll get it, but its hard to tell when the lipstick is off or your lips are just raw from scrubbing them.

Overall it's worth the money, and to make it that much better, it actually has a nice berry scent to it. I find a lot of lipstick can smell like the chemicals used in it, which never used to really affect my decision to use it or not, but after using this one it will moving forward, play a big role in my decision to purchase a product or not.


- Lyss

The Worst Pinterest Fail Ever

While skimming through Pinterest fails last night, I came across one for the good old Bloomin' Onion. This made me a lot more excited to share this story with the world than I should have been. This isn't one you're going to top very easily.

It all started last winter when my boyfriend had mentioned this glorious creation to me that I had never heard of before. He described it - it sounded easy, and so I thought I'd give it a shot. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to deep fry the onions since I do not own a deep fryer, but after one of my friends suggested that I do it in a dutch oven (because thats how he frequently makes his), I figured that it sounded legit enough to try.

I went out, bought some large onions and vegetable oil and started on my way while Ryan and his friend sat with some beers in the living room. Looking at my dutch oven I thought to myself 'that is WAY too big for only these onions and seems like a gigantic waste of oi'. So I opted for a much smaller pot. Now this pot is roughly and eighth the size of a dutch oven and didn't have a proper fitting lid so I used the one from the actual dutch oven. Needless to say the lid was too big. I proceeded to fill the pot with vegetable oil and absentmindedly filled it to about 3/4 full.

Pure genius.

I'd now prepared everything, including the onions battered and floured - ready to go. After I turned the stove top on and put the lid on the oil (because that'll help it boil faster, I thought) it took about 3.5 minutes before it started going up in smoke more than Cheech and Chong. Ryans friend happed to be standing in the kitchen with me and no sooner had I turned to open the window to air the place out, the stove was on fire. Well, the pot was on fire on top of the stove. 

Now, before I continue, lets take a moment to reflect back on Grade 5 fire safety. Sparky always said not to put oil fires out with water…

Not only did I throw water on the fire, but the container used to fill the water had a tonne of flour still in it. 

I have never witnessed a fire ball in real life and I can't say I ever want to again. It exploded and flames shot up towards my 9 foot ceilings. Ryan came running in and he eventually found a table cloth to put it out with. Unfortunately, It got so hot while trying to take it out into the snow that he dropped it - and it hit the metal dog bowl by the window and burst into flames…again.

It was around this time that I had grabbed my computer, my dog and my cell phone and ran outside. I'd really lost all hope at that point and just didn't want to die. There was fire everywhere, smoke like i'd never seen in my life and I was having a major breakdown on my priorities (obviously since I picked the computer over my boyfriend to take with me outside).

Ryan managed to get it completely out and brought it outside ditching it in the snow. If it wasn't for him being there, I hate to think what would have happened. 

After airing out the apartment for about a week, It still took my another 4 weeks to clean up all of the oil, flour and smoke off of the ceiling/walls. A small price to have to pay for still being alive but as you can understand, I will not be attempting a blooming onion ever again in my life.

This is what a Blooming Onion SHOULD look like:

And this...is my kitchen....

- Lyss

The thing about naps…

...is that for me, it's like waking up from an extended trip to hell and back. After having a discussion with a coworker about our mutual distaste for napping, I felt that sharing my bad experiences might help me move forward in my nap-less life.

Let me preface this by saying, I wake up in the morning based solely on the fact that there is coffee to drink. That, in its own, should be the first indication that I do not fare well with routine morning tasks. Regardless of weather it's rise and shine at nine or a nap in the afternoon, some rather strange things happen to my body during this time. I know that your heart rate slows when you sleep, this happens to everyone. But for me, it feels like my heart rate slows to an abnormal rate. This is what I believe to be the root cause of my problem. The slowed heart rate means a decreased number of breaths and in turn, a lack of oxygen is supplied to my brain. Upon waking, my face is flushed and feels like an inferno is taking place somewhere inside of my head. I can't speak; any sound that does manage to come out is mere gibberish followed by a lot of groaning. My muscles feel like I've ran 6 straight marathons and I find myself usually rolling (ever so gracefully) out of bed. Then there is that awful feeling of trying to pry my eyes open while at the same time trying to spare them the obnoxious glow of the light.

For the next 20 minutes I sit in silence, drink my coffee and usually attempt to beat level 33 of Candy Crush (day 4 and still no progress on that one). Studies say that power napping has countless benefits including enhanced creativity, decreased stress levels and improved motor skills, so I truly wish it wasn't such a hassle for me to wake up, as I'd love to benefit from all of those lovely things. 

None of this would be too much of a problem if it were not for the invention of movies. This leads me to my second dilemma. If it's anywhere past 8:00 PM and you put a movie on, I am going to fall asleep and that is a solid fact. Movies = nap time. It took me almost three days to finish watching Finding Forrester. 

- Lyss

Beauty | L'OREAL Rouge Caresse

Lately I've been really into lipstick and lip butters and have started testing out a few different ones to see which ones I prefer. I've had this one for quite some time but I use it almost daily. The L'OREAL Rouge Caresse product line is available in about 13 different shades ranging from a beige to fuchsia. I much prefer a lighter or more neutral colour at this point so I had purchased it in 01 Fashionista Pink. 

The marketing imagery on the L'OREAL website makes it seem much more prominent on your lips but in reality, its very translucent when it goes on. Unlike wearing a bold red, I like this one because I can put it on without needing a mirror or worrying too much about it bleeding out. Although I'd prefer if it was more opaque, it certainly goes on light-weight and it's low maintenance. You could pretty much substitute this for lip balm because of how soft and moisturizing it is, which also keeps it from getting dried out and flaky on your lips. Overall, it's a good product but i'll probably opt for the 504 Nude & Cute shade next time around.

 

My Rating:    

- Lyss 

Stick To 3 Colours

On a less serious note from yesterdays post, I want to start sharing some of my go-to outfits for a simpler means of fashion. Referring back to the "minimalist" approach, I'm constantly looking for simple pieces that tie in nicely with one another and dressed up with a few statement pieces. Since my office does not have a strict business dress code, I normally opt for a more business-casual look. Something that says I put in some effort to look nice, but not too much effort. There is a fine line between trying, and trying too hard, which I have definitely fell victim too on more than one occasion.

This first outfit is one of my favourites. Black and gold work so well together in a nearly effortless classic look. The best part about black is that it goes well with almost any colour, and I love the coral tee with the black and gold. I would have to say anything more than 3 colours in one outfit might be a little too much for my personal taste, so I try to keep it near that range. 

Rummaging through my closet, I noticed that the majority of my clothes are black. It's certainly an easy colour to work with but also incredibly slimming. WARNING: Be mindful of the amount of black you are wearing in one outfit, especially for you ladies who have dark hair and fair skin like myself. You could find yourself slowly morphing into Morticia Addams (Exhibit A).

Exhibit A

More to come soon!

- Lyss

Progression

Imagine yourself in deep state of REM. You've begun dreaming. Images and ideas are intertwined and convoluted to a point of absurdity. Your dream morphs into a long, deserted highway and you are alone, biking down the yellow line in the centre. In the distance you see something. It is something memorable that brings a wave of nostalgia over you, yet something that you've longed for your entire life and have never had the pleasure of deeming your own. Consciously, you start pedalling the bike faster to reach your target at the end of the long, desolate road.  

As you continue, objects begin to appear near the edges of the highway. They're accomplishments, memories and experiences filled with both joy and remorse. With every passing recollection you slowly approach the end of the highway. The desire to reach the end builds so greatly inside of you that you've become inpatient and ignorant to the processes happening around you. The progression towards the end of the highway has ceased. 

You are stuck half way and no matter how hard or fast you pedal you are no longer moving. Every breath you take becomes more rapid and your heart beats frantically wanting to escape entirely from your body. 

This is anxiety. 

Panic finds its sweet place of residance inside of you and you've now started to question every one of those memories that you see passing by. Was it enough? How could I have done it better? Was that the right decision? 

And so, this is where I find myself. I am stuck in this hypothetical dream struggling to find my progression to the end. I'm not moving backwards and yet not excelling in anything in particular. Stuck and surrounded in an abundance of mediocrity. 

-Lyss

Fashion | A Minimalist Approach

It goes without saying that I (like a lot of woman) spend a remarkable amount of time in the morning getting ready for the days excursions. There’s a lot finessing that goes into getting your hair, outfit and makeup perfect all in one go.  I wake up roughly 3 hours before I need to leave the house. This gives me time to do the following in this particular order:

Shower

Drink my coffee

Check Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest

Dry my hair

Curl / Straighten my hair

Start my makeup

Check Facebook again

Clean my apartment

Finish my makeup

Find an outfit.

Switch that outfit

Begin the household hunt for my car keys

Leave for work

In contrast, here is what it takes a man to get ready for work:

Wake up 10 minute prior to leaving the house

Shower

Dress

Done

For the past 9 months I’ve listened to my boyfriend express his opinion on how I take too long to get ready and care too much about what others think of me. As usual, I objected with the average excuses like “I just like taking my time” or “It just takes so long to dry my hair that’s the only reason”. After many of these discussions, I’ve come to a terrible realization - he was right. It should not take me 3 outfit changes before deciding something looks good on me, not when I’ve worn that exact outfit before and thought I looked hotter than Beyonce’s booty. This is why I’ve decided to embark on a new journey in terms of my fashion choices - a minimalist approach.

Simple. Elegant.

Nothing is more simple and elegant than the little black dress, a staple in every girl’s wardrobe. Hell, any dress could be a winner in this category. Save for the bra and panties, there are few things you need to dress yourself and look presentable. Since my job does not require a strict business dress code, I’ve opted for mostly black skinny jeans and a plain coloured v-neck the past couple of weeks as a test run. I bought v-necks in purple, bright coral, mint and navy, which I’ve paired with a black/gold belt and neutral coloured purse.

Now I’m not saying this is going to last. I’m the type that gets bored easily and needs to change things up; this is merely a test pilot. The next few updates I post will hopefully showcase some of my minimalist fashion choices in hopes of inspiring more women to carpe diem and simply be happy with their selves. The only competition you have is improving from who you were yesterday.

DENIM DENIM DENIM...DENIM DENIM DENIM

It’s made a surprisingly quick comeback in the recent months. As much as I love this look when paired with white or black leggings, I find myself reminiscing. Oh, the days when my mother would wear one of these shirts while crafting or painting.  At that age it was never a bright idea to go to school dressed in denim on any part of your body other than your legs. Now – it’s completely acceptable to don an entire Levi’s commercial.

The Fall 2013 collection from Levi’s Vintage Clothing brings us a mix of dark, medium and light washes with a western feel. The Orange Tab - 1960’s Chambray Shirt demonstrates that with two chest pockets and sewn together with just one signature orange thread. The 1970’s Denim Shirt is a great option if you’re looking for something to throw on over a few layers. The slit on the side makes this shirt fit more like a jacket – perfect for the Fall.

Levi’s (being the original and iconic denim company they are known to be) however, are not the only ones to produce such a wide spread pandemic of denim shirts. Banana Republic, Topshop, Forever 21, Primark and Target all retail their own unique take on this classic.

Always a safe bet - match any wash of denim shirt with either black or white skinny leggings. If you're the bold type - try pairing it with a patterned short like Julianne for a fun, casual look with a tinge of flare. 

The denim look can be pulled off in more ways than just a shirt and/or jeans. Accessories hold a large share of the denim market and they’re popping up all over the place. Raw denim known for its crisp, clean look and durability has become a great use for accessories. Camera straps, iPad/iPhone covers, aprons, handbags- you name there is probably a denim version of it.  

My must have look - Jenni Kayne’s denim D’Orsay flat which look immaculate with a pair of leggings or skinny jeans.  Retailing at $425, this might not be in you’re budget for a pair of flats. The patterned denim fabric reminds me a lot of any pair of TOMS, but much more sophisticated. What I love about these little things? The open sides of the flat that expose more of your foot, is a perfect addition to nearly any summer or fall number. An alternative to the price tag is Breckelle's DOLLEY-03 Sideless Pointed Toe Flat available at zooshoee.com for just $22.

Jenni Kayne denim D’Orsay flat

Breckelle's DOLLEY-03 Sideless Pointed Toe Flat

- Lyss

Lush - The Brightside & Comforter

Having set up shop back in 1995 in Poole, England, LUSH has become known as one of the most devoted companies to use organic ingredients with little to no preservatives. They don't believe in packing and are diligent in purchasing their ingredients from suppliers who do not conduct, or commission product testing on animals. To say the least, their marketing campaign is one to be envied by other cosmetic companies. Click Here to learn more about LUSH.

One of my personal favourites from the LUSH product line is The Brightside Bubble Bar. If you have never used a bubble bar before, let me explain. Remember that scene from Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts is in the bath tub in the hotel room? The one that leaves you wondering why you can never get that amount of bubbles in your own bath no matter how hard you try. Any one of the LUSH bubblebars will have you throwing your run-of-the-mill drugstore bubble bath in the trash.

The Brightside was made from Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Tangarine Oil and Bergamot oil. Regrettably, it is no longer available for purchase. However, if you're in the market for one similar, The Comforter is another great choice. Both of these products smell amazing. The Brightside has notes of citrus from the mandarin and tangarine oil and turns the bath a bright orange colour. The Comforter tends to be more sweet smelling but is another one of my personal favourites. If you can think of the scent of swedish berries mixed with cotton candy, that is essentially the aroma the comforter produces in addition to bright pink bath water.

When using a bubble bar, use your own discretion. The LUSH recommendation is to break the bar in half, giving you two baths out of it. I say that half of the bubble bar is far too much and a waste of a great product. The bubble bars retail for about $10.95 CDN which can seem like a lot but if you cut the bar into six pieces, you will get your moneys worth. I personally break off about 1-inch cubes at a time and run it under the faucet, watching it to see if I feel like adding more later on. LUSH store locations are located all across Canada and products can be purchased online from www.lush.ca.

- Lyss

Travel | Hanlan's Point Beach

As a Toronto regular it somewhat surprises me that I've never been to any of the Toronto Islands. This past week I decided to take a trip down to visit a friend and take advantage of the nice weather that Ontario has been having as of late. Since the Ferry's over to the islands are not far from her house we decided to walk - subway - walk - ferry and more walk to Hanlan's Point Beach. As you may or may not be aware, Hanlan's Point Beach is known mostly for its "clothing optional" half (the other half is far more family oriented and clothing mandatory).

My view before heading back from the Island to the city

11:00 AM  -  After two Mimosa's and a considerably longer than anticipated time packing the cooler, we were on our way to the Young and Eglinton TTC stop.

11:20 AM -  The cooler bag seemed to be gaining weight by the minute and the walk to the TTC station was finally over. We took the subway down to Union and proceeded to walk the remainder of the way to the Ferry Docks.

Somewhere between 12:00-1:30 - We managed to purchase our tickets for the Ferry over. What I didn't understand is that you purchase your ticket and then literally two steps later you hand it over to someone who rips it up. That is the entire job description of that second person. There is no ticket required for your return. Why have that second person in the first place? Just rip it up when I give you the money.

The walk from the Ferry docks to the beach was less than pleasant. The cooler bag was killing our shoulders and walking through heaps of blazing hot sand, it felt like like we were in the Warrior Dash. Burnt feet and sore shoulders aside, it ended up being a marvellous day at Hanlan's Point. The beach wasn't packed and the weather was perfect. One suggestion if you decide to check it out for yourself: Bring your own umbrella. You can rent them when you get to the beach, but for an astounding $12. If you forget one though - it's still worth it to get the minimal amount of shade that they provide. Following our trip to the beach we decided to head downtown to King St. to find a place to have drinks. We stumbled upon Hey Lucy Cafe. Sadly, we didn't have the opportunity to try any of the food as it was about 1:30 AM, but we did manage to crush a couple of martinis as seen at left. If you're in the neighbourhood I highly recommend you stop by and try the Chocolate Martini as there really isn't a better combination than vodka and melted chocolate at 1:30 AM. 

- Lyss