Author: Cassandra Riské

Wife | Mom | Beauty Junkie | Makeup Collector | Instagram: @myriskelashes

Skin Authority | Beauty Infusion Review

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Hi Guys!

I have recently discovered the brand Skin Authority, and I have been quite impressed with the brand, and with many of the products that I have tried from them.

I love that they use renewable energy to offset their carbon footprint.  They also use recycled paper, plastics and glass.  They print with soy ink, and eliminate most outer cartons and secondary packaging.  If their product does not need a box, they will most definitely not use a box and I LOVE that!

“If we don’t need a box, we don’t use a box”

I love that they have a “clean skin care approach” and say no to added parabens, added dyes, added perfumes, added microbeads, and most importantly they do not test on animals!! 

Now on to my review!!

Of all the products that I have tried from the brand, I wanted to start by sharing their Beauty Infusions with you.  They currently have four of them, and I currently have two that I use weekly.  The other two are on my wishlist as I feel my skin would really benefit from them all.

I would describe these as a light beauty oil that is not at all greasy or heavy.  They are also like a mixing medium as they can be added into other skincare, creams, foundations, primers, you name it!  They can also be applied onto your hair!!  The possibilities are endless with these beauty infusions and I love that!!

“Add a few drops to your favorite foundation or skin care product, or apply directly on your skin as a standalone skin primer”

Quinoa & Avocado for Hydration – Quinoa Proteins & Avocado Oils reduces the appearance of fine lines while firming the skin to create hydrated and smooth / supple skin.

Turmeric & Blueberry for Brightening – Tumeric is known for its potent antioxidant and inflammatory properties, which is good for those who suffer from acne & eczema.  Combine this with the antioxidants from the blueberries to fade dark spots and discolouration creates radiant and naturally illuminated skin.

Probiotics for Clarifying – This Infusion uses friendly bacteria to help increase skin clarity.  It normalizes pH balance, combats the appearance of inflammation, dry patches, rosacea, breakouts, and large pores.  So basically magic in a bottle!!

Swertia Chirata for Anti-Aging – Swertia Chirata helps improve the look of aged skin, wrinkles and roughness to restore the youthful look and texture of the skin.

I will typically mix these with other beauty oils or creams for an extra boost of hydration / anti-aging.  I will also use these on their own in the place of a beauty oil or to replace a serum. I also like to put these on top of everything as my last skincare step. Another trick that I love to do is to put a drop on my damp beauty blender and use that to blend my concealer out under my eyes, this helps to eliminate any dryness or cakeyness!!  Either way I use these, I am always happy to add a boost to my skincare routine!

Have you tried anything from Skin Authority yet?!!  If not, what are you waiting for!!!!

Xo Cassandra

Sephora Collection Micellar Cleansing Water & Milk

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Hi Guys!

I always surf the sale section of Sephora’s Website, and I often try new products based on their low sale price!

I came across something from the Sephora Collection and I was so blown away that I knew I had to share these with you.

Sephora Collection Micellar Cleansing Water & Milk 

“No-rinse, travel-size cleansers that use the technology of micelle molecules to effortlessly remove makeup without leaving a greasy or sticky residue”

These are on sale for $6 each!!!!  Run and get them all NOW!

As I am writing this review, I only have two of them, Coconut and Charcoal… BUT I just purchased them all online, and I bought FIVE more of the Coconut ones, because they have completely blown me away.

I am going to pop into my nearest Sephora store to find out if these are being discontinued or simply being repackaged.  Either way, grab them while you can at $6 a pop!

The package IS small (100 ml), but highly worth the price.  I think these may have just replaced my holy grail Bioderma Cleansing Water.

These come in two formulas, water and milk and are said to be good for all skin types.  I have combo skin, and both Coconut & Charcoal work so well with my skin.  I tend to use Coconut all the time, and Charcoal when I am having breakouts.  I normally always do the “double-cleanse” method, and I will use Micellar water before or after a cleansing oil to make sure all my makeup is off my skin.  These are not at all harsh on the skin, and safe for every day use and I love that they can be used on the eyes.

Coconut – Soothing & Relaxing (Milk)

Charcoal – Purifying & Detoxifying (Water) – Make sure to shake this one before use!

Green Tea – Mattifying & Anti-Blemish (Water)

Yuzu – Revitalizing & Toning (Water)

Pomegranate – Anti-Fatigue & Energizing (Water)

Have you tried these yet?!!  If not, which ones are speaking to you!!

I hope you liked this review!

Xo Cassandra

Kaplan MD Skin Fit Superset Review

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Hi Guys!

Im sure you know by now that I am a skin care junkie!  I want to try all the skin care on the market and share my thoughts with you!  Theres just something about good skin care that really excites me!

I was sent this Skin Fit Superset for review from Kaplan MD, and I can honestly say that I fell hard in love the first time that I used it.

“The Skin Fit Superset is the answer for instantly smooth, glowing, blemish-free skin!”

This set includes three items:

Radiant Glow Microfolliant – This gentle polish is formulated with powerful Fruit Enzymes, Bamboo Beads, 22 Certified Organic Extracts, and Plant Stem Cell Technology to effectively remove dead skin using ultra-gentle rice beads, to unclog pores and surface impurities for a soft, smooth, radiant glow.

Clarifying Facial Mist – This mist refines skin texture and balances pH for a soft, luminous complexion.  Formulated with Rosewater, Hyaluronic Acid, 22 Certified Organic Extracts and Plant Stem Cell Technology to tighten pores, hydrate skin and calm redness for clear, refreshed skin.

Glow Giving Facial Sponge – Intended to remove the Radiant Glow Microfoliant for maximum skin smoothing benefits.

My Thoughts:

I use this set every morning, or every second morning.  I love that it’s gentle enough to use every single day, yet has the right amount of grit to it so that you can feel it working when you massage it in.  The suggested way to use the face wash is to massage it onto the skin using damp fingertips.  Let sit for 1 min to allow Enzymes to activate, then rinse off with water or use the Glow Sponge to remove.

I prefer to massage it onto dry skin with dry fingers so that I am really working it into the skin without any barriers.  I was once told years ago by a dermatologist to always apply face wash to dry skin, water can create a barrier making it more difficult for face wash to penetrate the skin.  Once I started practicing this technique I found it made a huge difference in the clarity of my skin!  If you have troubled skin, try applying your face wash to dry skin!

Once a week or more, I leave the face wash on for longer than one minute.  I love how it has a thicker consistency so that it feels like a face mask.  I then wet the sponge and use that to massage and rinse off.  I am surprisingly really impressed by the sponge and I will continue to use it in my skincare routine.

I also really love the facial spray.  It sprays really nice onto the skin (some sprays squirt out too aggressively, or in a straight line and I really dislike that).  This one shoots wide and evenly and coats the skin perfectly.  They suggest spraying it on, then tapping it into the skin.  I can really see a difference this makes when I have redness.  Somehow it makes the redness disappear instantly!

This set is marketed towards active women / for pre and post workouts… I am a stay at home mom who currently does not work out and I love this set too!  I love that it comes in a handy case, and that the set is small making it perfect for travel or on the go, but I would LOVE to see these available in full sized bottles as I am almost out of both products and I can’t imagine not having these in my daily / weekly skincare routine!!

Kaplan MD please release full sized bottles of both products!!! 

I am in love with this set and I think you will be too!  They truly created products that work and I can see a difference in my skin after using them for just under 6 weeks.  My skin is smooth, clear, and my pore size is noticeably smaller!!

I hope you guys love this review as much as I loved writing it!!

Until next time,

Xo Cassandra

Benefit Cosmetics: They’re Real! Double The Lip Lipstick & Liner in One – Review with Swatches

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Hi Guys!

You may already know that Benefit Cosmetics is one of my all time favourite brands and has been for quite a number of years now.  I have so many holy grail products from Benefit and I consider myself extremely fortunate that I am now receiving packages from them.

They recently sent me three of their They’re Real! Double The Lip Lipstick & Liner in One Lipsticks.  While these lipsticks have been out for awhile now, these are new colours that just released at the beginning of March.  I was really excited because I had not yet tried any of them, and I had no idea how the formula or the colour payoff would be.

“Get fuller-looking lips in one easy stroke with they’re real! double the lip”

This is what this lipstick promises:

“This lip liner & lipstick in one features a Custom Teardrop Tip that grabs and defines your lip line and fills in lips with a complementing colour for the appearance of volume and dimension. This semi-matte lipstick comes in neutral to bright shades for visibly fuller, sexier lips”.

These are the shades that I was sent:

Bare Affair – Warm Nude – This one is definitely my favourite out of the three simply because I love a nude lip!

Racy Raspberry – Pink Raspberry

Ruthless Red– Juicy Red

I find these lipsticks to be ultra creamy and pigmented and I would describe the formula to be a creamy matte / satin-matte.  I love the dimension they create with the built in lipliner and I find them really easy to use / apply with the pointed tip.  All I do is rotate / flip the lipstick upside down to really line the lips with the tip.  With more use I could see it becoming a little harder to get a sharp line, but I have yet to experience that.  I have also noticed that they have a nice, light and fruity scent, that is not at all overly strong.

Here you can really see the lipliner effect with Bare Affair.

Its safe to say that I am in love with these lipsticks, and I really like the teardrop shape of the bullet and also the design of the packaging.  Benefit always kills it with their packaging / marketing!!!

I highly recommend checking these out, as the formula and design gets two thumbs up from me!!  I hope they release more nudes / soft pinks in the near future!!

Thank You to Benefit Canada for giving me this opportunity to review these wonderful lipsticks!

I hope you found this review helpful!

Xo Cassandra

(Swatch images have no filters or edits so that you can see their true colour)

Modern Skin Co. Advanced Repair + Serum Review

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Hi Guys!

I recently discovered Modern Skin Co., a Canadian company based out of Toronto and I wanted to share them with you.  They focus on multi-functional & luxurious natural skincare and use powerful, all-natural ingredients to aid in transforming your skin.

“We do not simply treat the skin, but transform it”.

I have been testing out their Advanced Repair + serum and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you.  This serum is said to restore radiance, even out skin tone, and intensely boost hydration levels.

I received 6 sample packs, and what I really love about these samples is that they contain 3ml of product, whereas most brands only contain 1ml!!  A little goes a very long way therefore each sample pack lasts me quite awhile.

This serum is a lightweight, gel-based concentrate that contains powerful ingredients to detoxify, hydrate and restore radiance.  It contains Glycolic and Salicylic Acid, Schisandra extract, and Hyaluronic Acid which all help to boost radiance, hydrate the skin, and promote skin renewal.

So far I have been loving this serum.  I love that it’s a gel consistency, and I love how quickly it absorbs into the skin.  I find that it instantly smooths out the fine lines and makes my skin look very even, and it becomes very soft to the touch.

This is intended to be used at night, but on those days when I feel extra dry, I use this in the morning as well.  Products that contain Hyaluronic Acid are the best for dry and dehydrated skin!!  They are always my go to products, especially during the dry winter months.

“With its ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, Hyaluronic Acid is the most powerful natural moisturizing ingredient known to science.”

If you have dry skin, I highly recommend checking this serum out!  I am excited to see what the brand has in store for us next as I am very impressed thus far!!

Please be sure to check out Modern Skin Co. on Instagram and give them a follow!!

I hope you enjoyed this review!

Cassandra

Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette | Review with Swatches

Cassandra Riské1 Comment

Hi Guys!!

As soon as I started seeing this palette float around Instagram I knew I had to have it.  Im a sucker for rich, warm tones and the fact that the shadows had glimmer made it a no-brainer for me!  I HAD TO HAVE IT!!

I purchased mine online from Sephora Canada for $64.  Not cheap if you ask me.  But so far I have loved all the Kat Von D products that I’ve tried so I didn’t mind spending a little more for a palette if it was really good.  I had high hopes.

This palette includes base shades, contour shades, define shades, and topcoat shades.  I will describe each of these below.

The 3 Base Shades are all Satin Shadows…Porcelain, Dusk & Dune.  I thought that the shade Dune (satin peach) would be a stunning crease / transition shade, and while it swatches beautifully with my finger, it just didn’t translate well onto my lids, and the colour would not show up on me.  I had to go into a different palette of mine to get a good matte crease colour.

Then we have 3 Contour Shades which are the Metallic shadows…Copper, Cinder, and Rust.  I found these shadows took quite a few tries to build up any pigmentation with a brush.  The brush that I had the best luck with is my MAC 215 medium shader brush.  I got a ton of fallout with these contour shades, and the amount of time that it took to build up the colour just was not worth the time for me.

Kat did release a brush designed to go with this palette but I heard a lot of people claim that the brush made no difference with the application of these shadows.  Since the brush is $32 Canadian, I decided to pass on it.

Next we have 3 Define Shades which are the glitter shadows…Bronze, Onyx and Jasper.  These shades also gave me a lot of fallout, and again, it took a lot to build up the colours.  The black shade was on the dry / powdery side and was not as black as it shows in the swatch on Sephora’s site.

And last we have 3 Topcoat Shades which are the special effect glimmer shadows.  These are the most shimmering shades and they are absolutely stunning!  The shade names are Sterling, Glacier, and Quartz.  Quartz is by far my fav.  The first two are very similar in colour, which was a little disappointing. And I found that these shadows work best with my finger.

I tried numerous times now with my fingers, and different brushes to make these shadows work for me.  And being a Mom of two toddlers, I just don’t have the time, or the patience it takes to put a look together with this palette.  The shade range and different textures are to die for, so if you have the time to work with these shadows and you don’t mind fallout, then id say give this palette a shot!!  But if you are like me and you dont have the time for finicky eyeshadows that take so much time and work to build-up, and then more time to clean up all the fallout then id say pass on this beauty.  Sorry Kat!!

I truly hate to give her a bad review because I love her beauty line so much! I cant deny just how beautiful this palette is both inside and out, and I have heard others who really enjoy this palette, so I urge you to try the palette for yourself to see if it works for you!! Just because it didnt work for me, does not mean you wont love it!! And thank god for Sephora’s amazing return policy… you can bring back absolutely anything if you are not 100% satisfied.

I hope you have found this review helpful, and I hope you like my swatches!!

Cheers,

Cassandra

BLAQ Dual Sided Charcoal Wipes Review

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Hi Guys!

I have been testing out these Charcoal Facial Wipes from the brand BLAQ and I have nothing but positive things to say, so I wanted to share my thoughts on these wipes with you and also why using Activated Charcoal in your skincare routine is a must!!

BLAQ is an Australian Skincare brand and their core ingredient is Activated Charcoal.  Their products are formulated to detoxify and nurture your skin back to a healthy state.  Who doesn’t want clear and healthy skin!!  They are also cruelty-free, 100% safe on the skin, and natural!  All things that are important to me when it comes to skincare!!

Their dual sided cleanse and exfoliate wipes are enriched with activated charcoal, the cleansing side gently removes surface level makeup and dirt while the exfoliating side complements with a deeper clean – working like a magnet to draw out impurities and dead skin cells.

There are many benefits to using Activated charcoal in your skincare routine.  Some of the benefits that I love is that it draws bacteria, chemicals, dirt and other micro-particles to the surface of skin, helping you to achieve a flawless complexion and fight acne.

Throughout the day, toxins from the world around us clog our pores.  When your pores aren’t clear, neither is your complexion.  Activated Charcoal helps to pull the dirt out of your pores, making them less visible. It’s the oil and dirt in your pores that makes them appear larger and more visible!! This is why I LOVE using Activated Charcoal skincare products, and why I am so happy to add these Charcoal facial wipes to my routine.

I have truly noticed a difference in my skin since I started using Charcoal products.  And I have also noticed my pore size decrease.  I cannot praise Activated Charcoal enough!  This is something that everyone needs to try, no matter your skin type!!

The reason that I love these facial wipes is that both sides are ultra gentle and can be used on the eyes.  A lot of facial wipes are too harsh to use on the eyes and I truly hate that!

Here is the smooth side which is intended to cleans the eyes, face and neck.

And here is the rough side which is used to exfoliate the skin, particularly the Tzone. Despite how rough and abrasive this side looks, it’s actually quite gentle for an exfoliating facial wipe, but I enjoy that. I have some exfoliating wipes that I simply cannot use every single day because they are way too rough on my skin.

I find both sides to be gentle, yet effective, and they never leave my skin feeling sore or dry.  I also love how thick these wipes are.  You will never find yourself having to use two wipes to properly cleanse your face.

I really love these facial wipes and I highly recommend testing them out!  They have quickly become a staple in my routine and I think you will love them too.

Next on my radar is their BLAQ hydrogel Eye Masks.  I can only imagine just how good these are!

Have you tried anything from the brand??  Let me know down below what you love!

Xo Cassandra