Scratch for the Cure!

Head to divine.ca today and enter their amazing Scratch for the Cure giveaway in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Aside from a load of great prizes from the likes of Roots, Yves Rocher, Microsoft, Hugo Boss, Fruits and Passions, and Breville, they are also donating ¢.05 for every entry to Look Good Feel Better a national non-profit that helps empower and improve the self image women suffering from cancer and its treatments.

To enter this great giveaway click here, and for more information on breast cancer and breast cancer awareness month visit divine.ca

Brunette is the new blonde

Okay, okay. So the title of this post is only relative if you are (like myself) a brilliant brunette. Not that I don't love all my wicked blonde, red, pink, green, and blue haired readers just as much but well, admittedly, I love being a brunette. Sure I went through that awkward teenage faze where I died my hair every single colour under the sun, I had highlights and lowlights, chunky streaks and multi-tonal hues. But by mid-university years I had grown (what I thought at the time to be) wiser and decided to give my hair a rest from all the chemicals and processing I had tortured it with over those few years. And that was when I came to love being a brunette.

It has now been nearly four years since a dye bottle last touched my precious locks and I have to admit, I think my hair loves me for it. So how excited was I when a sample of Pantene's Brunette Expressions landed on my doorstep last week? Too excited probably, but we all know from past posts how I get about my beauty products so I won't get into that. The even better part about discovering this little treat in my mailbox? It was 10am on my day off and I hadn't showered yet. Woo!

It was all the motivation I needed to drag my lazy butt off the couch from a morning of catching up with my PVR. Having a vague recollection of having used the product once or twice before when it turned up in my bathroom at some point during my years away from home, I couldn't exactly recall what kind of "brunette expression" it was meant to promote, so I flipped over the bottles and started reading.

Designed to protect brown hair against damage using Pantene's famous pro-vitamin system, it includes something called prismatic shine enhancers which "boost dark brown tones by protecting against against daily damage and stresses that can dull brown hair". Hmmm, I glance up at my hair in the mirror. I wouldn't say my hair was dull by any means, but sure it could probably use a bit of a boost. I guess there was only one way to find out. Turning on the shower, I jump in (okay, not literally...I wasn't that excited about shampooing my hair, this isn't an Herbal Essence ad after all)

Popping open the shampoo I am a little shocked at the deep brown shade of liquid that comes oozing out. Normally one wouldn't place much faith in a product of this colour, no matter where it is going on your body but especially when it is going on your head. However, the iridescent tone of the brown made me curious and so, on it went.

So, okay...it is a shampoo. There isn't really much you can say about a shampoo. It did everything a shampoo is supposed to do. It foamed and smelled pretty, which are all pluses in my books. No complaints there. Rinse, rinse, and on goes the conditioner. This is where I get a bit more picky. I like my conditioners thick and pasty, I like to really feel the conditioner working its magic on my hair and I was not disappointed this time around. But really, after all those years that Pantene has been around they've obviously been doing something right. So again, there were few surprises here.

But was there surprises when I was dried off, blown out, and straightened down? No, not really. Maybe the product didn't work wonders on enhancing my brown hues because, well, my hair is naturally brown and full of all its own wonderful highlights. Maybe it was because, as I noted prior to my shower, that my hair wasn't really what one would term "dull". In actually fact my hair is pretty shiny on its own. So maybe it wasn't the best product for me to test and maybe some of you out there will love it (or its Blonde and Red counterparts) if you have dull hair or dyed hair or, well, less wonderful hair than me...ha, just kidding!

The complete line of Pantene Expressions haircare products are available now from pharmacies and department stores nationwide. Visit their website for more information on these products and more.

The question: how many vibrating devices does a girl really need?

Okay, so it became very clear to me this week that I need to find a company who has no ties, whatsoever, to any form of facial cleanser. Why you ask? Well between the two different cleansers that I had on the go, plus the skin cream and toner I am testing out I found myself faced with my next challange: Clean and Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser. Problem was my skin was so damn clean I wasn't sure if there was going to be any blackheads to erase.
Yes, I pondered dirtying up myself for a few days, letting myself get good and gross, and then going in for the kill, but I didn't think my boss at my retail job, where I am face-to-face with people all day, would appreciate my disgustingly oily mug coming anywhere within 50-feet of her customers.

And so I decided one fateful night, that it was now or never, clean or...well, cleaner.

Popping open the package I take a quick glance over the instructions, which seem simple and straightforward enough, pop the batteries in the little plastic eraser thingy, and give the bottom a little twist to switch it on. Whoa. To say this little guy packs quite a vibrating punch is quite an understatement. Immediately I am already unsure about how I am going to feel about this sucker being on some of the most sensitive skin on my face. Before even adding a scrubbing pad I test its strength against the skin of my arm, the nape of my neck, and finally my face. All the most sensitive places that should be considered in a case like this. Hmmmm. Thinking about whether I want to go through with this. Thinking, thinking. Suddenly I realize that I am grunting and moaning (in deliberation) while standing alone in my family bathroom while a dull humming sound makes its way through the door...and my visiting elderly Grandmother is standing on the other side waiting to pee. Awesome. Red faced, I shut off the device, let out a giggle (because that doesn't make it any more awkward, I swear) and make a quick escape to my own bathroom.

Laughing at my own misfortune and deciding that this would make too good of a blog post to pass up I take out one of the textured pads and attach it firmly to the velcro top on the eraser. Wetting my face and then gently wetting the pad I get started on the areas where I have had trouble with blackheads before: the area around my nose and my chin. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, it begins again. Moving in upward motions like directed, it takes me about 30 seconds before I realize that my greediness to have a good blog post is definitely not worth sacrificing my skin for. But, never one to give up with out a fight, I persevere.

The main problem? The burning sensation that I believe to be a result of the textured pad scaling along sensitive skin (especially that tricky area right beside your nose). However, as the cleanser (a "specially formulated blackhead fighting serum") starts to lather and foam a bit more I find the burning lessening, although not completely. Since I was instructed to use it all over my face as well as in my blackhead prone areas I slowly start to move the eraser to the other parts of my face (mostly to distract from the still tingly sensation I was experiencing). Admittedly the less sensitive areas were more resistant to the product and I did feel like I was getting the exfoliating end of the bargain, like promised. One minute plus and my time was up, cool water splashed on face in relief, I patted down with a towel and prepared myself to inspect.

There was a little redness, yes, but that was to be expected. My skin felt noticeably softer and smoother, but what about those pesky little blackheads. Did it live up to expectations? Well let me tell you. For someone who thought they didn't even have blackheads the evidence on that little pad told me otherwise. The shocking layer of dirt kept me mesmerized for a good five minutes before I busted out the magnifying mirror and decided it was time to look a little deeper into my skin. Oh yes, there they are. Blackheads. Apparently I do have them....and still have them. How was that even possible after that much dirt was just sucked from my skin?

Oh yes, this challenge was on. Two days later I went for it again. More burning, more tingling...less blackheads. Day five: less burning, less tingling...less blackheads. The tingling and the burning never completely went away but by day ten my skin was noticeably less riddled with dingy pores and my skin was soft, soft, soft. Who would have thought from that first experience to this. I was admittedly pleasantly surprised with the results. And I guess what they say is true....no pain, no gain!

Clean and Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser is available now from all major pharmacies and department stores nationwide. Visit the Johnson & Johnson Canada website for information on this product and more!

What is beaut*eh*ful to you?

Okay, so as this dear little blog of mine begins to take off and more and more people are talking about it I am realizing that I am going to need to start writing a bit more frequently than I currently am. Unfortunately, since I like to give myself a good few days testing out each products and it isn't really great for me to be overlapping products while testing them out, I am stuck only posting once or twice per week. This is where you guys come in. I am thinking about maybe adding in a few new dimensions to the blog so that I can be posting to you all more regularly, but I want to hear what YOU want to read about. Yummy recipes? Daring fashion? Healthy workouts? What is it that makes Canadian women beaut*eh*ful to you? Tell me about it at cdn.beaut.eh@gmail.com and be part of all of this!! Can't wait to hear from you all!! And thanks for all the love :)

Caitlin xoxo

I "nose" a great find when I see one...

I love pharmacies. Like I love them. And I mean love with a big fat capital L. I love them all, every kind; big or small, from here, there, and everywhere. It doesn't matter where I am in the world; Toronto, Calgary, Dublin, London, Amsterdam, even Mombasa, Kenya; it is literally impossible for me to walk past a pharmacy without stopping in. Here I can spend countless hours (ask anyone who has braved this with me before to confirm that) browsing aisle after aisle after aisle, looking, reading, testing (and inevitably buying) all the new and exciting, as well as tried and tested, products that line the shelves. It is admittedly one of my favorite ways to spend a day (or two...or three...)

So you can only begin to imagine my elation when my contacts at B.Kamins told me that I could have my pick of anything...and I mean anything...on their amazing website and they'd send it off to me to review for my blog. They obviously were unaware that in my world that is like sending a six-year-old into a candy shop and telling them it is theirs for the taking. So, I logged on the first day and began my browsing. I looked, I read, and then I looked some more but it was all so overwhelming. This wasn't my first experience testing out the wonderful products from B.Kamins (their Vegetable Skin Cleanser still ranks up their as one of my all-time favorite skin products), so I knew that quality wasn't going to be an issue but really, how can you choose? Was it greedy to ask for one of everything?

With fingers that didn't want to cooperate with what my brain was telling me was right, I closed down my browser and walked away. The next day, with a level (and less greedy) head on, I logged back on and narrowed my choices down to my top three picks, the top one being an intriguing Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher listed on their bestsellers page.

Days later, when my package finally arrived I ripped it open and headed straight for the bathroom. First things first, I popped the top of the small white tube and took a sniff (my readers are well aware from my last post that I have a thing for pretty smelling things)....I stopped dead in my tracks. How do you describe a products that smells so organically natural, and yet still somehow manages to smell like some form of industrial strength chemical cleaner. Ugh. I am admittedly a little disappointed. I guess with a name that included bamboo and rice, I expected something a little fresher and clean smelling. However, I do have to pause at this point to reminded myself that some of the most reliable products on my shelves at home are actually some of my worst smelling (ever gotten a good whiff of Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Skin Protectant??? One word: Ew...but it works like a charm). And so, with an internal note to keep inhaling to a minimum I splash some water on my face and get down to business.

Being that I was blessed enough to have been given this product free of charge I have to admit I wasn't exactly being as stingy on my portions as someone who actually purchased one of the $45 bottles might have been. I quickly learned my lesson. As I gently rubbed the nickel-sized dollop into my skin it erupted into beautifully light bubbles that danced over my skin (called "tensio-active sudsing agents" I would later discover) while the tiny granules of milled bamboo and rice beads felt like they were literally scrubbing the badness right from my skin. But then it just kept bubbling....and bubbling. All right, first lesson learned: a nickel-sized dollop is definitely too much. The remainder of the week (I like to give myself at least that long with a facial cleanser in order to judge the full effect) involved dime-size drops that did the job just right and would totally agree with my budget when this bottle runs out and the next one finds its way onto my shelf.

So you get value for money, but do you get results? Designed for all skin types, the Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher is meant for a deep cleanse and to rid your skin of impurities "while helping to clarify and refine the complexion". Did I notice a huge difference in my complexion? Admittedly no, but I am also lucky enough to have a very clear complexion. Where I did notice the joys was how healthy my skin looked (and yes, there is a big difference between a good complexion and that glow of truly healthy skin) and how fresh I felt after each wash. It was like dipping my face into a rainforest, every time I walked away from that cleanser my skin felt like a layer of dirt and grime had been lifted from my skin. So maybe that industrial-strength cleaner joke wasn't meant for nothing.

And no, It might not smell the best but my theory proves true once more: when it works this good, it doesn't have to smell the same.

B.Kamins products can be founds in leading spas nationwide and on their website www.bkamins.com

Thank you for all the love!!!!

It has been just three weeks since I first started my blog and the response has been incredible!! As you can see from the shot above, I already have enough products to get me through countless reviews and I absolutely cannot wait to get started!! So thank you, thank you, thank you to all the companies who have shown an interest and sent me samples to review!!

Next step: let the social networking begin!! Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter, beaut*eh is (hopefully!!) about to start popping up nationwide!!

SOS! Winter is coming!

I know, I know, it feels like the Canadian summer has just started and here I go bringing up the dreaded winter already. But I promise it is all with good cause.

You see, it all started on Monday. It was one of those wickedly hot days that we have all been wishing for since that last square inch of snow finally disappeared months ago, but that we all despise when it actually arrives. When I arrived home from the gym (in a car without air conditioning!) I wonder how on earth it can possibly be this hot at 10.45am? I climbed out of the car and literally lunged for the cool bliss of my house, I whipped open the screen door but before I could even get my keys into the deadbolt I heard a thump. Looking down I stared curiously at the FedEx package that now lay across my feet. It was addressed to me. Interesting, I thought. I rotated my head slightly to read the upside down return address. I quickly recognized the sender's name as my contact from NIVEA Canada. Suddenly I cannot move fast enough. My fingers fumble to throw my keys in my bag, in my pocket, in the bushes, anywhere really, as I grasp for the package like it will melt away in the sunshine if I don't get to it quick enough. The heat fades (figuratively, and in my mind, literally) into the background as I perch myself on the concrete steps. My inner beauty feign is singing a blissful (and impatient) tune, my heart is humming along in my chest, and my fingers are literally itching to rip apart the cardboard that separates me from whatever materialistic form of happiness I am about to find inside. I force myself to take a steadying breath, insisting that I savor the moment in case I irrevocably screw up this blog and never receive another package of pretty goodies ever again. The pull tab teases me until I finally allow myself to tug. In one swift movement the top pops open and I pour the contents out on to my lap. The largest item immediately catches my eye. NIVEA SOS Skin Relief Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin? My gaze diverts to the beads of sweat that are forming on my bare arms and legs as we speak. I obviously have no concern for a problem of this type. Who sends out a lotion like this at the height of summer anyway? I ponder this as I toss it back in the box, making a mental note to review it a little closer to 'dry skin weather' and head inside.

Twenty minutes later I am showered and cooled when I turn the boxes contents onto my bed and begin to search out my first review from within. And there it is again, that silly lotion catches my eye once more. Still in my robe I look down at my bare legs, a little dried out from my shave, they are no where near what could be described as 'extra dry skin'. Ah, well, I think, I might as well give it a go. I pop the top, take a whiff, and that is it: I'm sold. From this point on I am pretty sure that no matter what kind of miracles it can or cannot perform on those with any kind of dry skin, if something smells this good I'm going to lather myself in it every single day.

So does it work? I throw off the robe and get down to business.

When described as a fast-absorbing, skin-soothing lotion that will repair and protect against dryness for up to 24 hours, one has to admit it is slightly difficult to be objective in the middle of the hottest month of the year. I mean, I know there are people out there who suffer from extreme dry skin every day of the year, but I have always been luckily enough not to fall into that category. Catch me in February, however, and I will be a grouchy, chappy, dry-skinned mess. So when I woke up the following morning and my legs (which usually cause me the most hassle in the cooler months) were still silky soft and moisturized to boot, my brain literally fast forwarded to the winter and what it would be like to wake up to that feeling every morning. I mean, who wouldn't want a soft, smooth body that smells like flowers (actually calendula oil, I would later discover) every day of those long, gloomy, gray months? Oh, and did I mention its one of NIVEA's best selling products? Well, duh. You wouldn't have to tell me twice. I mean, after all, I was sold with a whiff.

NIVEA SOS Skin Relief Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin is available now from all major pharmacies nationwide. For more information on this and other NIVEA products, visit their website.

What a beaut*eh*ful beginning!

Say hello to our first batch of beaut*eh*ful sponsors!!!

* B.Kamins Chemists
* NIVEA
* Mary Kay Cosmetics
* Johnson & Johnson's

I look forward to bringing you all reviews of the latest and greatest products from all these wonderful names!