Spring Makeup 2015

So I finally made a video! Here is my Spring make-up look!

I hope you all enjoy, and make sure to leave a comment with your favourite make-up products of the moment!

I hope you have a fantastic day (or night)!

Mackenzie xx

Haircare Essentials

Hey guys, hope you are all well. Today I'm going to share some hair products and tools that I have found work best for my hair. I have quite thin natural blonde hair that tends to be dry at the ends and oily at the scalp. Since my hair is so fine I find my hair gets greasy super fast and these products have helped to manage that. I hope you find some of these products helpful!

This shampoo and conditioner were recommended to me by my hairdresser. I was finding that since I am in pool water teaching swimming lessons that my hair had become very brittle and would fall out easily. Since using this combo my hair has become less dry and fragile and it all around looks better. You don't have to use much of either- about a quarter-size for the shampoo, and a pump and a bit for the conditioner. The smell is also a huge bonus- I always feel that whenever there is mint in a product it makes you feel extra clean.

These two products are ones that I definitely do not use on a day-to-day basis. The conditioner is a very heavy one, you have to use the absolutely smallest amount to avoid weighing your hair down. When your hair dries it just feels so soft and looks so healthy. I use it about once or twice a week.
The shampoo is a cleansing one so it cuts through all the product build-up in your hair that your regular shampoo may not have been able to get rid of. Since I use dry shampoo and other things in my hair I find that using this twice a week helps to clean my hair completely and make it feel light and grease free for a few days.

This product has been a saving grace for my dry ends, it adds a lot of moisture but is still weightless. I use about a dime sized amount, and I run it through the ends of damp hair. When your hair is dry there is no frizzy-ness and it is easy to manage and style.

Sea salt spray is something I have recently gotten into and it is amazing. It is great if you want some texture to freshly washed hair, or to add some oompf to second day hair. I spray it generally just everywhere (flip your hair upside down to volumize underneath too) and then scrunch my hair to add some volume and work the product in. I have tried a few different brands and I like the Lush one the best, it doesn't make your hair crunchy, and leave a nice fragrance behind.

Dry shampoo is something I simply cannot live without, it changes your hair from a giant grease-ball to something that can be seen by people in the real world. I like the Batiste one because it doesn't leave a residue and is easy to brush out. I spray this down my roots, crown, and side of my face, if I want more volume I part my hair down the sides of my head to lift underneath the hair. It does leave a white cast so you have to really work it in, but it is well worth it. If you have brunette hair they do make one that is tinted brown.

This product is perfect for controlling any pesky fly-away hairs. Some pieces of my bangs like to stick straight up so this helps to make me look like less of a cockatoo. I take a tiny amount and work it between my fingers to warm it up and then run it through the hairs that need to be tamed.

This brush has made brushing my hair such a breeze, whether it is wet or dry. It doesn't pull your hair at all, it just glide through smoothly and leaves you tangle free. It is definitely worth buying if your hair tangles easily.

Let me know if you try any of these products, or have any recommendations for me to try!
Hope you all have a great Sunday!
Mackenzie xx

Dry Skin Fixes

Hey guys hope you are all surviving the never ending winter!
I have some of my favourite skin products to share with you all today.
My skin used to (and still sometimes) get extremely dry in the winter, especially on my face which made applying foundation a nightmare. Since I started using these face products I have not had a single issue! My knuckles seem to be betting the brunt of the dry weather but a new product discovery has brought them back. Hopefully you find these products/tips helpful!

The first product I want to talk about is my daily morning facial moisturizer;

There is also a gel for oily/combo skin.

This face cream is new to me this winter and I have fallen completely in love. The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + is for dry skin and I was worried that it would make my foundation breakup and look patchy on my skin, but it dries fast and leaves no oily residue- the perfect foundation base! It has a pump on it which makes it easy to dispense, and I typically use one pump for my entire face after I have cleansed.

My nighttime moisturizer is also from Clinique and it is one that I have used for years- and the jar lasts forever! The Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is perfect for skin that gets dry and flaky in the winter. I have not tried this under makeup but if you use a small amount it should work as long as you give it ample time to sink in completely. There is also a skin fortifying version which is more of a cream rather than a gel. I found with the skin fortifying one I had to use more product in order to feel like it was actually giving me enough moisture, whereas with the gel I use less and get the same result. If you find that you have flaky patches (I typically get them around my nose) put an extra dollop of the cream on the dry spot after you have applied it to the rest of your face- don't rub it in! Overnight it will sink into your skin and your dry spot will be gone by morning!

Now I have not tried many eye creams/gels in my day but I decided to pick one up because I found my under-eyes and lids to be getting quite dry which was making my eyeshadow not apply as smoothly as it should. Since this one is anti-aging it is very moisturizing and lightweight. I typically only apply this at night, but its texture is almost watery so you could definitely apply it in the morning.

The Body Shop has some amazing face masks but this one takes the cake for me; it gently exfoliates, cleanses, and nourishes the skin. I use this mask once a week, applying it to freshly washed skin and leave it on for around 20-30 minutes. It can be a bit tedious to remove but I find that warm water and a face cloth works the best. It removes dead skin but does not strip the skin, and you look glowing and refreshed after.

There is nothing worse than chapped lips, and this combo makes sure that you never feel like you are losing you mind with how dry your lips are. The scrub makes your lips feel tingly and brand new (also smells and tastes like peppermint + chocolate). You want to make sure you use a good lip balm after the Blistex one is amazing, I also like the Burt's Bees peppermint one. After doing this (when needed- typically once or twice a week) your lips will be perfectly prepped for any lipstick- especially matte ones! 

This scrub will make any Canadian feel right at home- it smells like straight up maple syrup. It is the perfect amount of grainy and moisturizing to make you feel all brand new- it gets rid of the dead skin but is not so rough that it's painful to use. I use this in the shower on my arms and my legs (perfect before shaving so you can get a closer shave), and once I'm out I follow up with the cream below.

Once again the Body Shop nails it for dry skin, this body butter is very thick and super moisturizing. I use this at night to give it time to sink it. It works well for any part of your body that needs a little TLC. They have so many scents to choose from, there is sure to be one for you.

If I ever need an extra boost of moisture I break out the Lemony Flutter, even though it is branded a cuticle butter I put it on any part of skin that is extremely rough. My knuckles always crack in the winter and this has saved them. I slather it on at night (I wouldn't use this in the day as it turns oily when warmed up) and wake up with happy soothed skin.

My last product is again from Lush their Charity Pot Body Lotion is perfect for when you're in a rush but still need to moisturize. All the money from the sales of this lotion goes to grassroots charities and it is an amazing way to help give a little something back. It is lightly scented (floral/chocolate-y) and that scent lingers for around an hour. Also comes in a larger pot, the small one is perfect to toss into your bag to use throughout the day.

tl;dr
You need;
-The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion +
-The Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
-Olay Age Defying Eye Gel
-The Body Shop 3-in-1 Face Mask
-Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub
-Blistex or Burt's Bees
-Soap and Glory The Breakfast Scrub
-The Body Shop Body Butter
-Lush Lemony Flutter
-Lush Charity Pot Body Lotion

 Let me know your favourite face/body products to use in the winter time!

Mackenzie xo

Easy Breakfast to Go

Hey guys! Hope you are all well!

Now I don't know about you but I never leave anytime to eat properly in the morning- especially coming into midterm season- so I'm sharing with you all my favourite way to start the day. I cherish my 5 extra minutes of sleep so in order to get them I make over-night muesli. It is so simple to make- you just throw everything together in a container, put it in the fridge and voila you're done!

Now what you need is:
-2 medium apples (any kind you like- I use pink lady's because they are sweet)
-1 cup (250 mL) rolled oats
-1 cup (250 mL) coconut yogurt (I don't usually like coconut but it's delicious in this!)
-2 tbsp raw pepita (pumpkin) seeds
-2 tbsp dried cranberries
-a splash of milk

Steps:
1. Dice one apple and grate the other on your largest grater size. Place the apples in a large tupperware container.
2. Add the oats, yogurt, pepita seeds, and cranberries on top.
3. Stir to combine (adding the milk if needed to make everything stick).
4. Put the lid on and refrigerate overnight (or at least 2 hours).
5. Portion into smaller containers to easily pack with you. And top with anything you desire (I always add fresh fruit).

This recipe makes about 2-3 servings and will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

Whenever I do this I am assured that I will have a healthy meal first thing in the morning, even if it means eating it while doing my makeup or having it in class.

I hope this helps to give you an alternative to just grabbing a granola bar in the morning because you are in a rush- something I am very very guilty of.

TL;DR
Throw some ingredients together and be proud of yourself for being an actual self-sufficient adult.

Enjoy! And let me know if you make it yourself or if you have any other suggestions of easy breakfast ideas!
Mackenzie xx

Ps. Who knew that MacBooks had a built in memory card reader? These things can do everything!