Review: Badger Cheerful Mind Balm

For starters there are two amazing things about this product.
1. USDA Certified Organic
2. Qualifies with the Leaping Bunny standard. 

Packaging:
This balm comes in a handsome and handy container that can easily be reused or repurposed when the product is done. 

The Product:
This aromatherapy balm melts into your skin without leaving a greasy sheen. I recommend applying a little on your hands or temples by the hairline. Containing orange, lemon, spearmint, rosemary, cinnamon, and ylang yalng it smells like a sunny kitchen on a breezy summer day. I like to keep it on my desk for a middle-of-the-day pick me up when I'm feeling stressed. 

The Verdict:
At the very reasonable price of $7.99 a tin this is a great respite for a stressful day, and the perfect stocking stuffer as well. 

*Sniff*...

Winter is here and with it the common cold. Your nose is red, you have dark circles, and you look pale. When Monday comes you have to face the challenge of dragging yourself out of bed and heading off to work. Here are a few tips to make yourself feel and look bit healthier- even on a Monday morning.

• Take a hot shower and put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oils on the shower floor. The steam will create an aromatherapy experience that will help you breath more easily. 
• A personal favorite when I'm sick is Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap in Peppermint. 
• Use a gentil exfoliator all over your face to brighten your complexion and prep skin for a mask. 
• I don't know if the old wives' tale is true, but dry your hair right away so you don't catch a cold. 
• Tissues with lotion can clog your pores- try a gentle clay mask just on your nose and cheeks. 
• 1 tsp grey clay with equal parts water or aloe vera should do the trick. Leave on until dry. 
• When your sick your skin tends to get greasy- moisturize with a light lotion only. 
• If your nose is bright red try calendula oil to sooth the redness. It will absorb quickly. 
• Apply a good tinted lip balm to add some colour to your complexion. I recommend Burt's Bee's Tinted Lip Balm. 
• Try to keep makeup to a minimum when you're sick- by the end of the day it will have rubbed off from blowing your nose. If you have dark circles apply a small amount of yellow toned concealer or loose powder and blend. 

Remember the best thing for your skin is to hydrate, this is even more true when you're sick. Go make yourself a cup of ginger tea and enjoy your day!

Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising's Image of Women

I recently came across this fantastic documentary that discusses the objectification and sexualization of women in the media. Jean Kilbourne approaches the topic with years of experience in the topic, and presents an amazing look at the way our society portrays women. I recommend this as a must-watch for every woman. 

We should not aspire to be what these advertisements tell us a woman is. We are more than our bodies. We are more than an object to be ogled. 

This links to a low-quality version of the video: 
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=241&template=PDGCommTemplates/HTN/Item_Preview.html

Review: Burt's Bee's Beeswax Lip Balm

Even though Burt's Bee's was bought by Clorox I have remained a fan of the brand, though admittedly I have been scrutinizing the ingredient list more thoroughly. One of my favourite products is their Beeswax Lip Balm. Its a basic balm with a touch of peppermint that does not feel greasy and lasts without the need for continuous application. It has no colour or shimmer and layers well over or under lipstick, and helps prevent chapped winter lips. At the reasonable price of $4.49 CAD I recommend this as an alternative to petroleum jelly (a petroleum byproduct) based chap-sticks for everyday use.

Review: Simply Natural Blemish Formula

I will start of by mentioning that though I have not been using this product for long, it has quickly become one of my favourite products. I had been looking for a good moisturizer that didn't make my skin feel greasy when I came across this product. Made in Canada and with a very reasonable price I decided to give it a try. Even after the first application the texture of my skin felt different. The formula is very soothing while also reducing redness and inflammation.

Even those with acne prone skin should be using a moisturizer, and I recommend this product for anyone who has so far been tentative to use for fear of breaking out. 

A little goes a long way with this formula, but when I run out I will surely be purchasing it again. 

Q&A: Eyelash Troubles

I recently got this question from a reader...
"I've got mascara troubles. My eyelids are monolids so my eyelashes slant down. Even when I curl them, by the end of the day they droop into my eyes/glasses. Also, do you have any makeup recommendations for everyone who wears glasses?"

Yes I do!
First lets address the eyelash issue.
1. Make sure you have clean dry eyelashes. If you have traces of moisturizer or cleanser on them it will make it more difficult for the mascara to stick.
2. Use a metal eyelash curler and use either hot water or a blowdryer to slightly heat it. Check that it's not too hot and begin to curl your lashes starting at the base and working your way to the ends.
3. Try using a sturdy mascara formula, not one that is too slick or that adds additional fibers to the lashes. This will only cause your eyelashes to get heavy with product and fall more quickly. I recommend bareMinerals Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara, or Kiss Me Mascara (my personal favourite).
4. Never curl you eyelashes after applying mascara, you will break your lashes.

Tip: On days that I don't want to wear mascara or need to refresh the curl I use aloe vera gel and an empty eyebrow brush like a clear mascara.

Makeup: When it comes to wearing glasses it can be hard to find makeup looks that will show through your lenses, without overpowering your features. I recommend focusing on adding dimension to your eyes to make them stand out through your glasses.
Focus on adding deeper colours to the lash line, eyeliner is a great asset! Glasses can often cause shadows under your eyes, to counter this, don't apply eyeliner past the mid-way point of your pupil on your bottom lash line to 'lift' the corners of the eyes instead of dragging them down. Use a subtle highligher on your inner corners, the centre of your eyelid, and and your brow bone- this will also help to counter the dark circles. Use a middle toned eyeshadow across your lid, preferably one with a bit of shimmer. And of course, finish by curling your lashes and adding mascara.

A video tutorial will follow soon!

If you have a question you would like me to feature, comment below or email me at droppingthemask@gmail.com

Review: Lavera- Tinted Moisturizing Cream

When I bought Lavera's Tinted Moisturizer I was hoping for an alternative to powder for days when I just wanted to even out my skin tone. I have had a good experience with Lavera products in the past so I thought I would give it a try. 

The Verdict:

Not bad, but not fantastic either.

It has a nice consistency and applies well. The colour was a pretty good match for me, and it seemed to blend well for a natural look. However I found that even after a few minutes of wear the product would begin to feel as though it was sitting on top of my skin. The best way I can describe it is that after about 15min of wear it felt as though it was sliding down my face... not what you want if your makeup has to last all day. It took a bit of experimenting but I eventually found that if I set the product with a translucent powder in the T-zone it will keep the product in place and last quite well. 

Would I buy this product again? Probably not, I'll continue to use it- especially heading into the dryer winter months, but I'll try something new once it's done.