So spoiled with Fabulous Lashes from Xtreme Lashes!

This post is long overdue, but not long forgotten......

No eyelashes, pre-application

Before I left for Argentina I was in such a bad headspace, I had so much on the go, I was desperate to get out of the city.... and I had a million and two things to do that ranged from getting my teeth cleaned to getting a pedicure, to changing my anti psychotic drugs.  In the mass of all this craziness came a lovely offer from @xtremelashes who I had become friends with on twitter to get a set of free Xtreme Eyelash Extensions.  I was beyond excited.  As you can see from my before photos:

I have no eyelashes.  I never have.  It doesn't matter how much mascara you wear, if you have no eyelashes you have no eyelashes, mascara or not!

No eyelashes - pre-aplication

I had also heard so many people rave about them on Twitter and how easy they were to upkeep and wear, not at all irritating and really easy to look after.  My Twitter contact put me in contact with Kristen at BloBar.  Could she have been a cuter, nice girl??? No.  She was wonderful to deal with and as I lay on the table with my eye's closed it was intresting to hear from Kristen how intense her training had been to be able to actually be certified to apply the "Xtreme Lashes".  She also was really knowledgable and causous about not putting on lashes that were too long for my current non-exsistent lashes.  Apperantly if you do that they just fall off to easily.  Exit stage left my dreams of Betty Davis eyes, enter in normal length eyelashes.  I was amazed at how careful she was, treating each lash individually and really talking me through the whole process, as I lay on my back with my eyes closed!

After xTreme Lashes application

Kristen was not at all surprised when I whipped out my camera before our session and asked her to take some photos through the process and after.  (Apparently they have to make before and after photos for there exams also.)  She did a wonderful job.

Post eyelash application, my eyes felt slightly heavy, but they looked amazing.  I loved them.  At dinner than night with my parents, my father asked me if I had gotten more sleep than usual?  When I showed him the eyelashes, even he loved them. 

After xTreme Lashes application

Two days later I was off to Buenos Aires where I used eye makeup so sporaticly because I did not want to lose any of my lashes.  I searched high and low for a salon that could fill them.  In a country that has more salons per capita and people nearly I was shocked that I could not find one.  So slowly but surely each of my lashes fell out.  I felt like I died a little bit with each one.  They made me so happy and I loved them. I miss them everytime i take my mascara wand out of its little jar promising "volume, length and happiness", I know its all lies compared to the happiness I found in my Xtreme Lashes.  I would love to have them on again, but my wallet can't afford them right now, and this makes my eyes and eyelashes very sad :(

For more info on Xtreme Lashes follow @xtremelashes on Twitter, visit http://www.xtremelashes.com/, or go and see Krisitn at http://www.theblobar.com/kristen.html tell her Steph sent you, you won't be disappointed.

xTreme Lashes with no make up

A new view of body image - the mirror at the end of my shower

I have been away in South America for a week now and yesterday I changed rooms in our apartment from a lovely Argentinian Blue Room that looked out onto the street with a fantastic en suite bathroom with a walk in shower, to an interior bedroom, that has an ensuite bathroom with a bathtub.  I hadn't used the shower yet in the bathroom until this afternoon.  I was taken completely aback when I turned around and there was a floor to ceiling mirror at the end of the tub.  I don't know about you, but it is a cold day in hell when I actually look at myself naked in a mirror.  I was shocked that there in my shower I am going to have to face myself everyday. 

I was recently told by a very sweet and kind boy, who had seen me in my most vulnerable state, that I was "gorgeous".  He told me that I "should tell the negative voices in my head to be quiet, because they were wrong", that "men should be lucky to be with me" and "that I should cherish how wonderful I made him feel".  I don't see what he sees in the mirror.  I see someone who is unattractive.  Who is not happy.  Who is fat.  Who has such negative voices screeming at me so strongly that I can't hear anything else but hatred and disgust at the way I look.  But somewhere in there is the reminder of that tiny voice of a man who appreciated my body for what it is, took pleasure in what it is, found it beautiful and critisized me for the negativity that I felt.  There have been others, but none who called me so clearly on the negative voice in my head. 

I feel as if the mirror at the end of the tub will be a chance to look at myself for what I am.  A chance to try and find beauty where I have not found beauty ever before.  To look at myself in a new light.  To go from not wanting to look at myself ever, to having to face myself everyday at the end of my shower.  There is no choice.  The mirror is not going away.

My new Favourite Mascara: L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara

In the fall I was asked to test and write about the new L'Oreal Paris: Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara and I have worn it everyday since then. I love it. I have literally thrown out all of my other mascara and am only using this. I use it daily. It is fabulous. I love that it is lengthening and thickening, but most of all I love that it comes of with water. Now comes my challenge, what am I to do with the fact that it is not waterproof? I am back to my Maybeline pink and green waterproof mascara I guess for my vacay, but for now I will be using this daily. They sent me the coupon above for $5 off the $15 price tag and in these hard economic times, I will be using it this weekend. I can save every cent!

Terrible skin = new drug entering my life - Spironolactone

I have had enough of having terrible skin on my chin. I have been struggling with Rosacea for 10 years now and have tried all the usual suspects: tetracyclone, creams, facials, peels, lasers, homeopathic treatments, you name it I have tried it. I seem to have it under control over the last little while.

What has started over the last 2-3 years is terrible acne on my chin and very reactive skin. When I wash or apply cream to my face, or for that matter touch it, it goes bright red. It is so reactive. Just awful. No amount of foundation helps it from being red, but I can deal with it. What is so bad is the amount of hormonal acne that I have had lately. I don't know if it is because I am getting older or if it is because I am on all of these meds that are throwing things out of line. Who the hell knows.

Anyway, I have an excellent dermatologist who has been encouraging me to go on Spironolactone. It is a secondary use for the drug that is usually used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Apparently it is all about altering the hormones which is what I need. The thing that is scary is the list of side effects:

More common side effects:
nausea and vomiting
stomach cramps and diarrhea

Less common side effects:
breast tenderness (women)
clumsiness
decreased sexual ability
dizziness
deepening of voice (women)
enlargement of breasts (men)
headache
inability to have or keep an erection
increased hair growth (women)
irregular menstrual periods
sweating

Signs of too little sodium:
drowsiness
dry mouth
increased thirst
lack of energy

Lovely, just lovely. I have to do it. Acne/bad skin is an amazing thing. It affects everything about a person. I don't feel like leaving the house, my face is awful, no amount of makeup, product will help. Granted this is not even have as bad, or a tenth as bad as others that I have seen but currently the 3 large welts on my face are disgusting and enough to want to make me where a paper bag over my head!

The King of Blond Strikes again

It is so odd to have something that people stop you in the streets to say they like. I pride myself in having nice things, nice handbags, a good sense of style, good shoes etc. People will sometimes stop and ask where I got them or friends will ask where I picked up a clutch or a scarf, but recently my hair is getting a lot of press time. I have gone quite a bit blonder recently, thanks to Lois Pacheco at Hair on the Avenue, who is really the King of Blond. Anyway, more and more people are stopping me and asking me about the colour. I got my hair coloured on Saturday and 4, yes 4 people, STRANGERS!!!!, asked me who did my hair this weekend. Luckily when I visited Lois on Saturday, I grabbed a number of his cards for my wallet. Little did I know that I may need more than I have. I have apparently become a walking advertisement for the cute King of Blond Lois.

As he did say when he was done on Saturday, this was his best colour that he had done on me yet! I think that the 4 strangers and I would agree! Thanks sweety!

L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara Trial Part 1

L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara Trial Part 1

My L'Oreal Paris package arrived from last week. I have been asked to test the L'Oreal Paris: Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara and to blog about my thoughts on the product. I wrote in an earlier entry about the fun package that I got and all the fun things that came in it, but I thought that I would show you some of the pics that I took:All of the cosmetics came in this great cosmetic bag, and I love that they included two instruction sheets; one for the L'Oreal Paris: Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara and one for using all of the products for creating a smokey eye with all of the fun things that are included.Like the fact that the back of the cosmetic bag is mesh, hate the fact that it says L'Oreal on the front. I may be using this as my new carry on cosmetic bag. It's so light and I love that you can see what is in it, without it being see through. Hate having my personal effects on display while I am taking off my shoes in line at security at the airport!Now to the fabulous goods - the cosmetics. I really like all the cosmetics and especially the small brushes. They are going to be a lifesaver when travelling. I will no longer have to travel with 4-5 long brushes. I really like the two informational pages. I am going to try "The perfect Smokey Eye Look". It's pretty awesome that L'Oreal has asked me to try the mascara but has equipped me to make this a full eye look. I'll post some pics of what the eyes look like before and after.

Today's Thanks - CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint

In this cold North Eastern Canadian winter, my lips die. They just die. They get so dry and gross that I can't wear lip stick and I really have a problem wearing any real color because they look so flaky and chapped. I do brush them and use my Dermatolica Daily Resurfacer on them whenever I use them on my face, but it is not enough. What I found to be a really big life saver at this time and what I am most thankful for this afternoon is the CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint. It has just enough colour that your lips don't look naked, but it is also a real lip balm, not a lip gloss. It protects and moisturizes. I have probably 10-15 tubes of this everywhere. I tend to buy it whenever I see it. I can't get enough. I do also like the clear one for nighttime use. Speaking of which I have to search thorough my huge bag to find some. My lips are about to fall off.

PS. you can pick it up at Bath and Body Works, just in case your interested. I highly recommend it.

L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara Trial Part 1

I was sent an e-mail last week from a representative at a marketing firm in Toronto who is representing L'Oreal Cosmetics, asking me if I would be interested in testing and blogging about one of their new products - The L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. Not one to ever turn down a free or paid for, new beauty product, I said yes quicker than the sweet girl on the phone could finish getting the question out.

Anyway, my package of "products" arrived today and I am terribly excited. I thought that I was just getting the new Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara, but no, it appears that this Princess has been a little bit spoiled. I was thrilled to open up my box to find:

• 2 tubes of L'Oreal Paris; Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Black
• 1 L'Oreal Paris Wear Infinite Eye Shadow in 904 Smokey Eyes (4 shades of grey, perfect for the holidays!)
• 1 L'Orela Paris Carbon Black Lineaur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner - 690 Carbon Black
• 1 package of L'Oreal Paris Makeup Artiste Travel Brush Set - contains the miniature size of a blush, all over eye, lip and precision concealer brush
• 1 L'Oreal Paris Makeup Bag with mesh back

So I am very excited. I have to say that one of the things about the mascara in particular that is very appealling, besides its promise of extending my non-existent lashes to 80% longer, is that it washes off with lots of water!!!! I travel a lot on overnight trips and with all of the travel restrictions on how much gel/liquid you can bring the eye makeup remover ofter doesn't make it in the carry on. This would be great! I'm also loving the travel size makeup brushes as a bonus, just because they are so cute!

I took some pics of the package and its contents and will post. I am also planning on posting before and after eyelash shots. We'll see how well that goes. You never know. I may have Betty Davis eyes before you know it!!

Shiny Glossy Hair - Fedrek Fekkai Salon Glaze

I just spent three days staring at the back of heads of a bunch of individuals at a conference and I was overwhelmed by how badly damaged so many peoples hair was. I spend a lot of money on my hair. I go to the "king of Blonde" in Toronto to get my highlights, Louis Pacheco at Hair on the Avenue, and to Tony Chaar, at Tony Chaar Salon, one of the top stylists in the city. I would recommend either of these to anyone, and have to many, many people. They are not cheap, but worth every penny and amazing.

Anyway, I was aware at the conference that I need to make sure that my hair stays really shiny to look as healthy as I want it too. I remember reading about the Fekkai Salon Glaze in a bunch of magazines recently this summer and I picked up a bottle of it today. I can't wait to try it and report back.

Beauty Essentials - Everyday needs

As anyone who reads my blog regularly knows, I am in major purging mode. Part of this has been the clearing out of all things that are not "necessary". What exactly does that mean for me I'm not sure? Being a bit of a pack rat, necessity is always in the eyes of the one making the choice. Anyway, one of the things that I am trying to do, is clean out my obscenely large amount of beauty products. So here is the second installment of my beauty essentials.

With my sensitive and dry skin, Dove is the soap for me. I have used it for years. In the summer I use Ivory up at the lake, because it floats, but I love Dove. My whole family uses it. I find that oddly my ph balance in my body changes if I use other soap whenever I stray. Serves me right.Another staple for many years has been Cetaphil. Recommended by a dermatologist when I was in my teens, I love it, but even more I love the price. Available at the local drugstore and for a huge bottle is $15.99. Lasts forever and is uber gentle and fab. Apparently you can use it without water, but I never have. Favourite toothpaste - Sensodyne Pronamel. It apparently enhances the enamel in your teeth. My dentist, who I don't visit as often as I should, thinks that my teeth are great.
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream is so lovely. I have been using it for a number of years and really like it. I have been using eye cream since my mother gave me a bottle of Clinique eye cream when I was 13 years. I try and use it every night. Not very successful at it, but try.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream LOVE THIS. it is so hydrating and great. I really like it. have been using it forever also. I started using it with the eye cream and it makes your skin feel great. mmmmm........

Cult classic is the Creme de Corps from Kiehl's. it is a great all over body cream that is totally luxurious and is a staple in my bathroom. I also know that it is a total cult classic in the world of beauty affictionados.

The newest and maybe one of the best additions to my beauty regime is a daily self tanner. Not one that makes me look like I spent a week in a tanning bed, but one that makes me look like I haven't spent all winter cooped up in a closet. I like the Olay one in the winter, because it has a decent moisturizer.

2 Beauty Products that I can't live with out!

I am a product hore. Yes, a product junkie is not strong enough. I have products everywhere. I love skin creams and potions and lotions and shampoos and conditioners and promises of shiny hair and not shiny skin, clear pale facial skin and dark non-sun touched dark legs. You name it, I have probably tried it. I currently have a huge filing cabinet full of product, not to mention under my sink in my bathroom, under my kitchen sink and if the truth be told in one drawer in my kitchen. Its an illness. As part of my decluttering initiative, I am getting rid of the stuff that I am not using or is old. this is really making me look at the products that I love. In my new list vein, I thought that I would start to list them here. Please let us remember that I have uber sensitive skin, rosacea, reactive and oh yes, let us not forget, adult acne from hell on my chin. so pretty, its disgusting. So, drum roll please.......the first two things that I love both from Dermalogica:

Ode to the Daily Resurfacer. These are a miracle in a finger condom. They are packaged in one dose packages (perfect for travelling) and they are min-peels. I love them. I have too sensitive skin to use them everyday, and so I use them at night every 3 days or so. Love love love them. My skin feels softer and is clearer and better. I can't get this from a regular exfoliating. I really like them and even though you will have sticker shock, I think that they are $97 for 35 of them, they are worth every penny.

My other most recent can't live without is the Concealing Spot Treatment also from Dermalogica. I need everything that I use to be travel and carry on friendly so check on that front, but more importantly, this works. It is great. I went to my fabulous facialist at Gee Beauty in Toronto (they are great by the by) and spoke to her about my recently horrible skin and she recommended this. her big thing is that not only is this a concealer, but it also is a drying agent and is a healer. Unlike other "spot treatments" that are just dryers, this actually penetrates the skin and promotes healing. A whole bunch of mumble jumble you ask??? Well it works, so I am not judging the pitch. I also like that you can use it 4-5 times a day if you want and not worry about your skin flaking off. It also feels like it works. All good things if you ask me.

As I continue on the purging and pairing down mission, I assume that more things will come out of the wood work as things that I can't live without. These are just the first two.

Learning to love my curls

With all this humidity, I am starting to have a love affair with my curls. My name is Stephanie and I have curly hair. I have been fighting it for my whole life. I will admit it, when I was little my mother got me a perm to try and control it. I will tell you that it is not the pretty, curly controlled hair - The type of Grace from "Will and Grace" curl hair is a dream that I do not have. I have the curly hair that is never-no-what-is-going-to-happen-sort-of-ringlets-frizzy-straight-not-sure-what-is-going-to-happen-kind-of-hair-more-crazy-than-pretty-kind-of-hair.

This weather however has turned it into Kate Hudson hair. Its just like Kate Hudson. Gone into the back of my drawer (ok, only on the weekends) is my hairdryer and straightener, but it is fabulous. I am kind of really enjoying it. I wore it out last night and people loved it. I am struggling how to manage it a bit better in this summer weather, but I am getting there. I also bought some lovely ionic hot rollers for the first time in 20 years and these have been fabulous. They help the curl develop a bit if they are a bit too frizzy and unruly. I did find a book in a book store that I flipped through called Curl Talk: Everything You Need to Know to Love and Care for Your Curly, Kinky, Wavy, or Frizzy Hair. I don't want to buy it. looks like it is a bit of a waste of money, but I may have to go and have another look at it today and see what else I can learn to encourage these new Kate Hudson-esque curls........

Its all very freeing really. Throwing the hairdryer in the cupboard has been wonderful!

First Micro-dermabrasion

I had my first facial peel yesterday. It was great. My skin was really red afterwards and is still a bit red. I have generally sensitive skin so it is no surprise, but it feels great now. I went to a new place to get my facial and she was fantastic. I had not asked for a peel, but when I was having my facial she did it. I fell asleep during the facial and next thing you now my face was as smooth as a babies bum. I loved it. I have booked another one for the 27th of December. can't wait. How much facial acid is too much I wonder??? I would go back tomorrow if I could.