Cute Makeup Tips

L'Occitane is celebrating over 20 years of Shea!

In the early 1880's, Olivier Baussan, founder of L'Occitane, made his first trip to Burkina Faso and discovered shea butter, its incredible benefits and story.

Far from Provence, in Burkina Faso, Africa, grows the sacred Shea tree. Only the local women are entrusted with the secrets of Shea Butter preparation, and only they can benefit from its trade – which is why it is called “Women’s Gold.” Through a long-standing partnership, L'Occitane is celebrating over 20 years of Shea!

The women of Burkina Faso harvest the Shea fruit, extract and dry the nuts, grind them to make a fine paste and transform the paste into Shea Butter – a universal and irreplaceable beauty care product. Shea Butter protects the skin against the sun as well as the hot winds carrying dust and fine sand that dry the skin. Thanks to precious Shea Butter, the women of this region protect, nourish and moisturize their skin. The women also traditionally protect newborns against harsh environmental elements by applying Shea Butter daily to their delicate skin.

L’OCCITANE’s Shea Butter range brings these same benefits to the face, hair and body in products that contain a high percentage of Shea Butter, which is particularly recommended for dry and very dry skin.

For more information visit www.loccitane.com.

Lets face it - lips are damn sexy! My lips are one area on my body I don't mind putting the spotlight on. Lips aren't so sexy when they are flaking or chapped which is why I have an obsession with lip balms! Thanks to many products on the market, your lips can get some pampering too.

Eminence, an organic skin care company, has a Three-Step Lip Treatment ($30 CAD) that includes a Citrus Enzyme Lip Exfoliator, Lip Comfort and Plumping Masque, Citrus Lip Balm.

Step 1 Citrus Enzyme Lip Exfoliator: The citrus and pineapple enzymes refine the lip area removing dryness and fine lip lines. Apply a light layer over entire lips including the outline. Leave on for 5 minutes and remove with a damp cloth, blot with tissue or towel. Lips are left smooth and silky for the next step.

Step 2 Lip Comfort and Plumping Masque: Rich shea butter and avocado oil deeply hydrate lips and stimulate collagen production and fullness. Repeat Step 1.

Step 3 Citrus Lip Balm: Apply this petroleum free citrus balm with shea butter and sunflower seed oil to give lips maximum hydration and a sexy sheen. Over a four week period, the definition of my lips was more noticeable and prevented dry, chapped lips. I apply lip balm less frequently which saves me from using up the product so quickly.

It is the ultimate pampering experience for your lips. The price may be a little steep for people who use lip balm frequently but it's definitely worth it. Save it for special days when you really want to pamper yourself. The more you use it the less parched your lips will be!

www.eminenceorganics.com


In between my lip facials, I love using L'Occitane en provence Shea Butter Lip Balm Stick ($12 CAD). I was pleasantly surprised when I first applied it because the texture is a little rough but moisturizing at the same time. It exfoliates and moisturizes your lips all in one! The balm also has a light sugary scent. My lips stay smooth and soft for hours. It's the perfect primer before applying your lip products!

http://ca.loccitane.com

Have you tried these products? Love it? Hate it? Stay tuned for Lip Love Part 2!

In a perfect world we would be able to do whatever we wanted to our skin and hair no matter what the weather. Then what would my life be without beauty products??? I started noticing last year that my skin was becoming really sensitive to products with an SPF. It started out with face and body moisturizers and then I noticed some tinted moisturizers were making me react. My face would get red, itchy, and bumpy. I had a few rashes on my arms that turned into blisters last summer from a Neutrogena tan enhancing moisturizer with an SPF 20. After I stopped using it, my rashes disappeared (thank god!). I've been weary about using products with an SPF, up until now. (If you experience allergic reactions from SPF check out Savvy Skin's article on Burning Skin Care Ingredients.)



I know I'm committing a beauty offense, but I just started using sun protection on my face a couple of weeks ago! I've tested a few SPF moisturizers and tinted moisturizers this summer and I've finally found a winner with L'Occitane en provence Sunscreen Veil High Protection SPF 30 Face/Eye ($30 CAD)! This is part of a new sun care line fully made in Brazil. Made from a 100% mineral sunscreens and Brazilian organic vegetable oil from the palm-tree Buriti, which is incredibly concentrated in the anti-oxidant beta-carotene. It is light-weight and has a velvet matte finish. In the most humid weather, I don't even feel it on my skin. A little goes along way - you only need 1 pump. It goes on white but once massaged into the skin the colour disappears (be sure to apply before makeup). I love the compact bottle because you take it anywhere and reapply as needed. I'm glad my skin is getting some much needed sun protection without the burning itchy rash!

My skin doesn't usually burn. On Canada Day we were out the whole day in the beating hot sun without an SPF on my body. The next day to my surprise, I experienced my first burn on my neck and chest. It wasn't painful, but annoyingly itchy and hot. Thanks to L'Occitane After-Sun Balm Lotion ($26 CAD), the burn did not last long. It has a nice light scent and instantly cools and soothes the skin. It's non-greasy and doesn't clog the pores. Can be used on both face and body. This after-sun lotion is formulated with organic vegetable butter of Cupuacu, an ingredient that intensely hydrates and regenerates the skin after sun exposure. Tip: For a more cooling effect, place in the refrigerator.

The drugstore is usually my resource for hair care. It's rare for me to spend a lot on hair products even with all the rave reviews of the higher end brands. Ojon's 5 Piece Shine & Protect Hair Ritual Kit ($50 USD) is making me sing another tune. This rescue kit contains Restorative Hair Treatment, Shine and Protect Shampoo, Shine and Protect Conditioner, Shine and Protect Glossing Mist, and Leave-in Glossing Cream. It is the ultimate protection against thermal styling, the sun and environmental damage. I love the Leave-in treatment and the Glossing Mist! My hair is healthier, shinier, and less frizzy. A definite must for beautiful hair any time of the year!

Have you tried these summer beauty essentials? Love it? Hate it? Happy shopping!

L'Occitane en Provence
http://ca.loccitane.com

Ojon products available at Sephora
www.sephora.com