My Skincare Routine

 

I love reading other girls skincare routine posts so I thought that I would do one of my own.

 

Here is a little background on my skin type. I am a Combination/Oily skin girl. My cheek area is kind of dry to normal, but my T-zone gets extremely oily. I can get quite congested in the nose area but I don't get many breakouts. I never really had bad acne but I feel that over the past few years my skin has gotten a lot better.

 

Now I am not picky about skincare. I don't really have many Holy Grail products that I buy all the time and my routine isn't consistent. I buy whatever is on sale and I try to buy new products all the time if I don't see any results.I wash my face every night in the shower and have a routine that follows and then I lightly cleanse and tone in the morning with a different routine.

 

These are the products I have been working with on a daily basis, however, I do substitute other product samples into the routine from time to time, in order to use up my sample stash.

 

Night Time Routine

 

Step 1 - Every other day I use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub to give my skin an extra deep cleansing. Sometimes I go longer between uses but I can always tell when my skin needs some exfoliation. This gentle yet effective scrub is really the best one I have ever used and will continue to use for a long time.

 

Step 2 - My current facial cleanser is the Nivea Natural Beauty Exfoliating Daily Peeling Cleanser. I bought this cleanser at the Dollarama for $2 which is a steal compared to its price at Walmart or Shoppers Drug Mart. It has tiny exfoliating beads that you barely notice when you compare them to the beads in the St. Ives Scrub. It has a fresh scent and froths wonderfully with only a little bit of product. My skin always feels very clean, moisturized, and refreshed after I use this.

 

Step 3 - On the days that I am not using the St. Ives Scrub I use step 2 of the Clinique 3 Step System. This Clarifying Lotion is a liquid exfoliator. I find this can be quite harsh on my skin so I use this sparingly and make sure that I am not putting it too close to my eyes. This is a product that I find has really helped my skin since I started using it years ago. I will probably always use this.

 

Step 4 - Every night I apply Caryl Baker Visage Firming Eye Gel. I'm only 22 years old but I would rather prevent now then try and reverse later in life. I haven't noticed huge results from this eye gel so I will probably buy something different next time that is maybe a bit cheaper then this gel was.

 

Step 5 - Lastly I finish with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. This has been my go to moisturizer for the last year and a half and I will probably continue to use it. This moisturizer gives enough moisture to my cheeks that are dry but isn't too heavy for my T-zone.

 

 Morning Routine

 

Step 1 - Even though I thoroughly cleansed my face the night before I like to use a makeup remover in the morning to get any last possible speck of makeup off my face before toning and applying new makeup for the day. Right now I am using Marcelle Essentials and I do enjoy this product but I might try something different once this bottle is empty. This is an oil free makeup remover and I recommend it to any other oily skinned girls. This stuff leaves no residue at all.

 

Step 2 - Toner! I used to use the Clean & Clear Astringent but found it extremely harsh and drying. I switched to Nivea Refreshing Toner for Combination skin because it was on sale and I LOVE THIS! It smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed.

 

Step 3 - Like at night I use my eye gel again in the morning. The firming action makes my eyes ready for concealer and I feel that my concealer goes on better when I use my eye gel compared to when I don't.

 

Step 4 - Like every night, every morning, I moisturize with Clinique Dramatically Different Gel. If I am wearing foundation that day I will mix it with this moisturizer to make more of a tinted moisturizer.

 

 

Once a week I use a mask. My current favourite has been the St. Ives Timeless Skin Mineral Clay Firming Mask. This mint green, mint smelling mask feels cool on your face and, when I wash it off my skin feels tight but not in a bad way. My pores seem smaller when I use this mask and I feel like I just had a facial.

 

 

Here are swatches of some of the products. From right to left: St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Nivea Cleanser, St. Ives Firming Mask.

 

 

What are your favourite skincare items? Which ones do you recommend for me to try out next?

 

 

 

NOTD: OPI Into The Night

Caryl Baker Visage, a beauty service store in most malls in Canada, was having a sale on OPI nails polishes a few weeks ago so I picked up a few from the OPI Spiderman Collection. I was instantly attracted to Into The Night because of its vibrant blue colour, but also because it looks metallic-y and kinda frosty.

I am really into metallic finish nail polishes for fall this year so this was a no brainer buy for me. On the nails it is gorgeous and I think would compliment any skin tone. This polish shimmers and glows and I got so many compliments when I wore it.

It took only 2 coats for this polish to be opaque and with a top coat lasted over a week without chipping.

If you have the chance to buy this polish I would definitely recommend that you do so. You wont be disappointed.

Sorry I changed again...& I found an awesome GIVEAWAY!

Hey ladies! I'm back again with another update.

 

I didn't think that this blog changing stuff would be so complicated and stressful lol. I know I said I was going to be changing my URL and I thought it was simple...just change the URL in the settings section of Blogger, but apparently it isn't.

 

To change my URL with Blogger I would have to do a lot of custom redirecting and HTML work and I just don't understand what I am doing with that yet.

 

So I guess I am going to be keeping http://industrialdimestoremagic.blogspot.ca as my URL.

 

Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding! I don't know where this blog would be without your support!

Now onto the really exciting news of this post. theprettyvain is having a 250 follower giveaway!

Amy writes an amazing blog with the best product pictures. Her blog is one of the first ones I check everyday for new posts. Go show her some love on her page and you have a chance to win a Stila In the Know Palette!

*image is taken from the giveaway page*

 

 

P&G Try Before You Buy brandSampler Sponsored by Walmart

 

Every few months Proctor & Gamble put out a FREE Sample box filled with household and personal care products for their customers to try. This Summer season they had three different boxes that you could sign up for. I was lucky enough to get two of the three before they sold out and here is my review of the first one.

 

This Try Before You Buy sample box was sponsored by Walmart and could contain up to 8 different samples. When you log in they ask you a few quick questions about the products that you use now and then depending on your answers match you up the best they can with the samples that they think you would be interested in trying. You don't have to choose to receive all of the samples that they choose for you but why wouldn't you?? They are FREE! I was lucky enough to receive all 8 of the available samples.

 

If you would like to stay informed on P&G launches and sample boxes then click the link and follow P&G everyday Canada's Facebook Page.

 

To sign up for an account and to receive notice when new samples are available use this link to the P&G BrandSample Website. There are still samples available for their Summer BrandSampler!!

 

Now onto the products in this box!

*All values are based on Well.ca prices for the full size products.

1. Tide Pods
Sample Value - 1 pod/$0.36
Full Size - 14 pods/$4.99

These pods can be used in both front load and top load washers and include detergent, stain remover, and brightener. One pod equals one load of laundry. I got the scent "Spring Meadow". I give all my laundry samples to my mom because I still live at home.

2. Cascade All-In-One Dishwasher Pacs with Dawn
Sample Value - 2 pacs/$1.90
Full Value - 20 pacs/$18.99

These pacs include the grease fighting power of Dawn and one pac equals 1 load of dishes. Because I live at home I will be giving these to my mom. We are a fan of the pacs instead of liquid soap so these will go to good use.

3. Dawn Ultra Concentrated Dish Soap
Sample Value - 9ml/$0.05
Full Size - 709ml/$3.99

This sample is enough to do one sink of dishes. We like to use Dawn at my house so this is another sample that will go to good use.

4. Febreeze Set & Refresh Starter Kit
Sample Value - $4.69
Full Size - $4.69

This is a full size product and a good one at that! I got the scent Mediterranean Lavender which smells quite nice. I'm not the biggest fan of lavender but the other notes make it a subtle scent. Mine came in purple packaging which is perfect because my room is purple.

5. Bounty Trap & Lock Technology Paper Towels
Sample Value - 1 sheet/$0.07
Full Size - 88 sheets/$5.99

They sent out one sheet to sample to prove that you only need one sheet of Bounty to clean up life's little messes. I think I am going to use this sample when I clean my makeup brushes this week.

6. & 7. Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo & Conditioner
Sample Value - 100ml/$1.24
Full Size - 675ml/$8.39

Both the shampoo and conditioner have the same full size value and I combined their sample value together. Normally at Walmart or the Dollarama you would pay $1.50-$2.00 for each of these 50ml samples but I wanted to stick with what it is actually worth compared to the full size. I like that they sent both halves of the hair washing combo and I enjoy getting samples like this because they are perfect to bring on vacation. Samples this size also give you a good idea whether or not you are going to like the product.

8. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects
Sample Value - 2 strips/$3.50
Full Size - 40 strips/$69.99

I recently bought a box of whitestrips so it is nice to receive another top and bottom set to use. It is hard though to gauge if you would like the whitestrips with only one application so I think more than one sample needs to be sent.

Overall this brandSampler was a success and I received lots of products that myself and my family can benefit from. I should be receiving my next brandSampler box soon so stay tuned for that upcoming review.

Value of Try Before You Buy BrandSampler - $11.81

This or That TAG! & URL Update (Followers Please Read)

Good morning! I just wanted to put in a quick update about my current blog changes. My followers will notice that I have been doing a bunch of changes to the layout and look of my blog over the last week. Thank you to everyone for you kind words and encouragement about my change from industrial dime store magic to my beauty full adventure.
 
I have been thinking non-stop over the week that I need to change my URL to match my new blog title, so that everything flows together, and in my mind I think that it is more professional looking. However, a problem occurs when I change my URL. All of you, my beautiful followers, who have me in your blog lists and reader list and on your profile blog lists will not be able to find me by clicking that link anymore, whether it says industrial dime store magic or my beauty full adventure.
 
Because they are linked to my old URL which will be non-existent after the change. I'm not sure what to do at this point except hope that a bunch of you read this and see that when I change my URL tonight you might have to come to my new URL and add it to your blog list, aka follow me by GFC again, even though it is telling me you all still do under the new URL.
 
Hopefully this update isn't too confusing lol...and I hope everyone finds me at my new URL starting tonight (mybeautyfulladventure.blogspot.ca) so that we can continue on this adventure together :)
 
Now on to the TAG!
 

 

I was tagged by Lacey over on her blog http://laceysmiles84.blogspot.ca/ to do this post and was so excited when she told me, because I have never been officially tagged to do a Tag Post before. Thanks again Lacey! If you've never been to Lacey's blog I would definitely recommend heading over there...like right after you're done reading this post cause she is the nicest more outgoing and positive person you will ever meet and her blog is truly amazing!

 

 

Blush or Bronzer?

Definitely blush! I have the ELF blush and bronzer duo which I was very excited to finally get my hands on but I am literally afraid to try using the bronzer cause I have no idea how to work with it.

Lipgloss or Lipstick?
Lipstick girl right here! I do love gloss from time to time but I hate when my hair gets stuck in it or it is super sticky. My go to lip is lip balm or chapstick then lipstick them more balm or chapstick over top.

Matte or Sparkle Eye Shadow?

I love using a mix of both when I am creating an eye look but lately I have been using mostly sparkle and shimmer eyeshadows. I love the look they give and they really help brighten up the eye area.

Gel, Liquid, Cream, or Pencil Eyeliner?

It is so hard to pick cause it all depends on the look I am going for. I use pencil eyeliner most often though. My favourite is the Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in Black, but I have been using a black Cargo eye pencil lately that I received in one of my Glymm boxes.

Foundation or Concealer?

Concealer all the way! I have pretty good skin most days so I don't really need foundation anymore.

Liquid or Powder Foundation?

I've used liquid for years but recently I've been loving the PUR Minerals 4-in-1 Powder Foundation.

Neutral or Statement Eyes?

Neutral 9 times out of 10. I don't have time everyday to create something as elaborate as a statement eye and I work at a hospital so I need to keep it professional.

Pressed or Loose Shadows?

Pressed. Loose shadows and I have a love/hate relationship that is currently on HATE.

Waterproof or Non Water proof?

Waterproof eyeliner...Yes! Waterproof mascara...NO!

Brushes, Sponges or Fingers?

I use all three when I get ready everyday but I think if I had to pick it would be brushes.

Powder, Cream, or Liquid Highlighter?

Powder because I have a bit more control when using it. I have both a cream and liquid highlighter and I still don't know how to properly put them on.

 

 

Well there you have it! Hopefully you enjoyed reading this tag! I tag any one of my followers who would like to do this tag to do it. I would love to read your answers!

 

I will see you all over at my new URL mybeautyfulladventure.blogspot.ca really soon! <3



 

Glymm September 2012 - A Farewell Post

Glymm, Glymm, Glymm our relationship has been long and at some points it was great and at others it was down-right disappointing, but in the end I feel we have grown together and now it is time to say goodbye.

Alas, this is my finally Glymm Box. I didn't think I would feel so sentimental and kinda upset that this is the last box I will be receiving. I have been so disappointed the last few months with the products that Glymm has been sending and I was almost ready to cancel my yearly subscription early, but I am glad I stuck it out until the end.

I was very tempted to sign up for the Free Nail Polish Promotion, but I don't feel as though the nail polish alone will be worth my $12/month. At the beginning Glymm was giving out more makeup and now I see them as a skincare/haircare sample bag and that is not what I am looking for. Maybe in the future if they start sending out more makeup I will subscribe again.

If you would like to sign up for Glymm you can see my past years boxes by searching "Glymm" in the Search My Blog Gadget. If you would like to get the Free Nail Polish Promo you must join by September 30 using the code below.

 Now onto what I received in this months bag!

EVOLVH MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Sample Value - 2oz for $5.65 & $5.88

Full Size - 8.5oz for $24 & $25

Shampoo - Ideal for both color treated and virgin hair, this Shampoo gently cleanses while infusing moisture and nutrients, leaving hair nourished.

Conditioner - Rather than coating hair, this conditioner penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize and repair hair from the inside out.

My Thoughts - I am glad that these are not packet samples and I'm glad that we got to try both the shampoo and the conditioner together. I hate when sample boxes only send out half of the combo. They smell amazing and I'm excited to try a Vegan Hair Product. I'm finding that I am getting a lot of product buildup so hopefully this will help purify my hair. These came at the perfect time because I am going to a wedding in Port Credit in 2 weeks and I really didn't want to pack big bottles.

VILLAINESS SOAPS WHIPPED BODY CREME

Sample Value - 10ml(roughly) for $0.90

Full Size - 177ml/$15.75

Whip your skin into shape and 'redefine bad' with this thick, yet light and quite soluble body crème - much like edible whipped heavy cream. Yum.

You can buy the Villainess Whipped Body Creme by clicking the link.

My Thoughts - This smells so good and exactly like a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino from Starbucks! I have never used a whipped body cream before...the texture is different but I like it, and the sample size is perfect for your purse. It absorbs quickly into the skin leaving barely, if any, oily residue. I may buy the full size of this once my sample runs out.

BENTABERRY SUPER MOISTURIZING FACE CREAM FOR GIRLS

Sample Value - 3ml/$1.90

Full Size - 30ml/$19

The high-quality super moisturizing face cream for girls is made from 100% natural active ingredients: apple, prickly pear, strawberry, kiwi, kigelia africana and macadamia oil.

My Thoughts - I hated the BentaBerry cream we got last month and I am a little upset that they would send the same sample two months in a row. Face cream is face cream whether the name says for girls or for boys and girls. Plus this sample smells horrible and is not something I can see myself putting on my face.

LA FRESH WATERPROOF MAKEUP REMOVER

Sample Value - 2 wipes/$0.83

Full Size - 24 wipes/$9.99

Gently wipe your eyes & lips with love and good intention. Soon they will be sparkling clean. No need to rinse.

My Thoughts - I wasn't overly impressed with the nail polish wipes we got a few months ago, so I am not expecting to love these wipes. I also am not the biggest fan of lavender so I am not sure if I will use these.

Overall, I am pretty happy with this bag. Although I am sad to see Glymm go this now opens the door for me to bring in a new sample box. I am looking for one with more makeup and less skincare in it. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know in the comments below

Value of September Glymm Box - $15.16

Update & New Blog Title?

Hey ladies! Just wanted to give a little update as to where I have been and why I haven't been posting. My laptop is slowly dying and the Internet no longer works, so I had to go and buy a cheap WiFi USB to prolong this laptops life until I can afford a new one. I also started my new job as a Unit Clerk at my local hospital so training and transitioning into that role has taken up a bunch of my blogging time. The exciting world of shift work awaits me and the adjustment is moving a little slow.

My goal for this blog was to post daily, Monday to Friday, but I no longer think that will be possible with my schedule, so I am going to try my best to post as frequent as possible. I have some Nail of the Day posts planned, a skincare routine post, and a Fall Haul post coming up in the next weeks. As well as, my September Glymm Box review, so stay tuned.

On to another note, I've been dancing around the thought of changing my blog title and wanted your much valued opinions. When I first started this blog I was so excited and in a hurry to start one I really didn't care what I called it. I also didn't think anyone would ever read it or it would ever become something I cared about doing so much. I just pulled together the titles of 2 Kelley Armstrong novels that I liked and called it a day. I am thinking now that I need to tie my title into what my blog is about and make it more relevant to the beauty blogging community that it is a part of.

After much debate I've decided that I want to change it to "My Beauty Full Adventure". I am hoping to have the title and my contact email changed over this week and then start working on the layout of my blog in the upcoming weeks.

Here is where I need you lovely ladies opinions. I would like some constructive criticism from you about my blog so that I can make it better. This constructive criticism can be about the title, layout, pictures, descriptions, colour scheme, disclaimer...anything really. I just want to know what you like or think needs improvement about my blog so I can start taking this blog to the next level!

:) Chelsey

DIY: Food Edition - Taco Dip Recipe!

My favourite food is tacos and anything that tastes like tacos. My favourite dip is taco dip with low sodium nacho chips. For a Labour Day weekend BBQ I made Taco Dip and thought I would share the easy how-to recipe with all of you lovely ladies. This really is the easiest dip to make, so here we go!

Shopping List

500mL container of sour cream

250g of cream cheese

35g package of taco seasoning

340g bag of shredded cheese

430mL jar of salsa

10-12 cherry tomatoes

 

Utensils List

Medium mixing bowl

Electric mixer

Spatula

9x11 pan

 

Additional Optional Toppings

Green Onions

Lettuce

Ground Beef

Olives

Anything you would put on a taco!

 

Step 1 - Put the sour cream and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Blend until almost smooth.

Step 2 - Add taco seasoning to liquid mixture.

Step 3 - Blend, blend, blend until cmpletely smooth. You dont want any clumps of cream cheese left.

Step 4 - Spread the mixture into the bottom of a 9x11 pan (glass or foil). You want an even layer.

Step 5 - Pour the entire jar of salsa over the bottom layer and spread evenly with a spatula.

Step 6 - Sprinkle the bag of pre-shredded cheese over the sour cream in an even layer.

Step 7 - Cut up the cherry tomatoes and sprinkle over the top of the cheese.

 

If you were going to put any other toppings on your dip just cut them up and sprinkle on top of the cheese along with the tomatoes.

 

Keep the dip refridgerated and serve with any sort of tortilla or nacho chips that you prefer.

 

Hope you enjoy!

 

NOTD: Essence Choose Me!

Here I am with another Essence Nail of the Day. Essence has really been my go-to brand for polishes lately and this one does not disappoint either. It took two coats for this polish to be almost opaque, but I would probably recommend doing 3 for full opaque-ness. When I used my Seche Vite Top Coat it pulled the polish away from the tips, so you can see the whites of my nails in all the pictures.

 

This polish really reminded me of a mermaids tale. The glitter had great depth on the nail and really glittered in the sun. Most of the time this polish looks blue, but every once in a while it looks kind of green and/or teal-ish. It is truly a beautiful polish, and one I would recommend to any nail polish enthusiast.

 

 

This picture shows more of the teal/green look to the polish, whereas above, the blue in the photos is how the polish looks most of the time.

 

 

 

DIY - Missglamorazzi Inspired Tote Bag!

Last week I linked to a video where Ingrid or Missglamorazzi made this adorable no-sew tote bag using only duct tape and staples. I was hooked and knew I needed to make one of these. So me and my Mom went to Fabric Land and got a bold and bright floral print fabric and black belting for handles. Then we went to Walmart and got the duct tape. She got yellow and I got a bright highlighter green.

 

I am not going to do a complete step by step on how to make it here but I will link the video again. This bag was super simple to make and took me about an hour. Below the pictures I will have some tips and tricks that I think might make it easier for you to make this awesome tote bag if you should decide too!

 

In this video Ingrid used:

-Two pieces of 18"x21" fabric
-Standard size stapler
-Scissors
-Tape measure or ruler
-Two 24" pieces of belting for handles
-Duct tape
-An iron

 

For my tote bag I used:

-Two pieces of 18"x21" fabric (which I cut out of a larger piece of fabric)
-Standard size stapler
-Scissors (both regular and fabric scissors)
-Tape measure
-Two 24" pieces of belting for handles
-Duct tape

 

Tips & Tricks

1. When getting your fabric I would recommend getting pieces already cut to the 18"x21" dimensions. It was very hard to measure and cut out the fabric perfectly and by the end the two pieces I cut were not the same size and didn't line up so I had to do some trimming.

2. Walmart sells tons of different sets of fabric already cut to this size so next time I will be buying them pre-cut.

3. When it comes to scissors if you can find or have scissors that are made to cut fabric this will make it much easier for you if you are cutting from a larger piece of fabric. I found that regular scissors were too dull and fabric scissors cut through the duct tape easier as well.

4. When buying the duct tape think about what kind of bag you want to make. My roll had 15 yards and that was enough for a bag without a square bottom. I was 2 pieces of duct tape short when I made it into a square bottom bag. My mom's roll has 20 yards so she will have more then enough for making the square bottom.

5. I did not iron my fabric and when it came to putting the duct tape on the back where there were wrinkles it was hard to get the tape to stick. I would definitely recommend ironing the fabric first.

6. Do not keep your tote bag in a super hot area or directly in the sun for long, because it will cause the glue on the back of the duct tape to soften, melt, and peel away from the fabric. This didn't happen to me but my dad said it will so I should put it as a helpful hint to others who make and use this bag.

 

 

As you can see I filled the bag with a ton of stuff! I had a textbook, iPad, wallet, change purse, puffer, keys, agenda, and hardcover book and it lifted no problem. To tear or ripping, it held up extremely well.

 

 

This is me lifting it off the ground with everything above in it and there were no problems.

 

 

 

Did you make one of these Missglamorazzi Tote Bags? If so leave me a link to your blog below, I would love to check yours out! :)