New Job, New City, Start of a New Chapter

For those who have stumbled upon this blog in its early days, then you would know that I started posting while living in the UK. Now, this Canadian girl has relocated back to Canada and it is time to get ready for a new job in Toronto.



I love to travel and I have moved time and time again for one opportunity or another. To document my travels, I have amassed over 50 postcards over the last two years. Part of my collection is from friends & family and I always make an effort to write a postcard to myself from every new place I travel to. Small details that may seem memorable at the time will not stand a chance against the constant flux of incoming information if they are not written down. I love to take the time to read these postcards occasionally and be reminded of the great time I had during my travels.

This has not been the smoothest relocation so far, but I am slowly settling down thanks to the hospitality of friends. Although I already miss my life in the UK, I am excited to explore Toronto!


Any tips for relocation?

Review: IsaDora Lip Products x 3

I have never heard of the Swedish beauty brand IsaDora until I came across a display while in Munich [Haul Here]. With no prior knowledge to guide me, I picked up several products and hoped for the best. After wearing the three lip products since last summer, today I want to share my thoughts.

Empties: February 2014

Despite being the shortest month out of the year, this February was full of life changes for me. As mentioned in my previous post, I am still in the middle of relocation, so today's empties post will try to be short and to the point.



Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo (311mL)
I have been using this shampoo with the conditioner from the same line for the past three months and as usual, the shampoo ran out before the conditioner. After each wash, this shampoo always makes my hair feel very light and soft with a fresh melon scent. My only problem is that the formula tends to dry out my scalp with extended use, but I may repurchase it in the future to use as a clarifying shampoo. The shampoo retails for $7-9 and is suitable for all hair types, including color treated hair.

Olay Active Hydrating Cream - Original (56mL)
This facial moisturizer is one of the classic products in my skincare routine. I have gone through dozens and dozens of these over the years and I will be repurchasing eventually. I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a basic moisturizing formula.

Olay Silk Whimsy Body Lotion (350mL)
While I absolutely adore the body wash from this rose-scented line [Read Here], the scent of this body lotion is a bit too strong for me. After applying it before bed, I would go out and return home the next day and there would still be a strong scent lingering on my pajamas. Aside from the overpowering scent, I do like the texture of this lotion and how quickly it absorbs into my skin. I have another bottle of this body lotion to get through, but after that, I am not repurchasing.

Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil (150mL)
I bought this cleansing oil last June [Haul Here], but I only started to use it regularly since November. At first, I used 3-4 pumps as indicated in the directions, but soon I realized that I only needed 1-2 pumps to remove every trace of makeup. I usually massage the oil around for a minute before wetting the face to emulsify the oil and rinsing off. The scent is a soft floral and the oil washes off without too much of a greasy residue. I don't find this cleansing oil to be any more brightening than other ones that I have tried and at £30 for 150mL, I would not repurchase even though it performs amazingly as a makeup remover. This cleansing oil claims to be suitable for all skin types, non-comedogenic, and ophthalmologically-, dermatologically-, and allergy-tested.


Which products did you finish this month?

NOTD: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Red Carpet

I have been making moving plans since January and this week marks the start of the actual moving process. Since mid-week, time and internet access have been scarce, but today I still want to share one of my favorite red glitter nail polishes: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Red Carpet.

The first coat applies to a pink-red color that turns darker with additional coats. The glitters are layered within the red jelly base, thus creating dimension to the finished look. This manicure features 2 coats and there are some visible nail lines that would disappear with 3 coats. The thin formula dries extremely quickly, wears well, and looks absolutely gorgeous. This color is very flattering and is really a classic. If I only keep one red glitter nail polish, this would be that one polish that comes up on top. For under $3, Red Carpet is a great value and I highly recommend this color.

What is your favorite red glitter nail polish?

Review: Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel

My encounter with the Nuxe with Rose Petals range started with the Micellar Cleansing Water [Review Here]. While the scent was divine, that product itself did not perform to my expectations. However, I was so taken by the lovely scent that I became eager to try out other products in the range, thus leading to my purchase of this Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel. I have been using this exfoliant on a weekly basis since early November and today I want to share my thoughts.


Since my first use, I could not shake the disappointment that the dried petals are not rounded. Personally, when I use physical exfoliants, I want every microbead to be perfectly smooth. Otherwise, I worry about tearing my skin with the uneven pieces if I apply even a little bit of pressure when I massage the gel around my face.

To be fair, my fears of bad reactions to this exfoliating gel have not yet realized. I am careful to only gently pat the gel around my face to minimize the risk. The little pieces become less abrasive when mixed in with the amber gel and my skin feels softer and brighter after each use. While the brightening effect does not last overnight, I could count on the smoothing effect on my face for a couple of days.

When used very carefully, this exfoliating gel is gentle to its name and delivers great results. It leaves my skin feeling so clean without drying it out. I will use up the rest of this 75mL tube that retails for $26/€16.70, but the unevenness of the petals would prevent me from repurchasing this exfoliating gel.


Do you prefer rounded physical exfoliants like I do?