Dior Amber Diamond

Today I bring you one of the most famous and beloved beauty products on the market: Dior's Amber Diamond! So many people raved about this highlighter, that I just had to have it. I bought this from Sephora about a year ago, and I have been loving it ever since. 

"This Spring Dior introduces Diorskin Shimmer Star, a light-filled pressed powder enriched with Jeweled Microdust™. These five micro-shimmering tones set off sparks of brilliance, highlighting your complexion. The ultra-fine, super-blendable formula virtually fuses with your skin for a sheer, radiant luminosity."

I absolutely love highlighters, and this one in particular gives my skin the most beautiful, radiant glow. This palette does include five different shades, but I personally like to swirl all of the shades together. I sweep this beautiful powder over my cheekbones, and down my nose. You can also use these as eye shadows, which makes this a great multi-purpose palette. 

Shades swatched individually left to right, and then lastely all together

My favourite blushes to pair this highlighter over are NARS' Cactus Flower, NARS Lustre, Tarte's Natural Beauty, and Tarte's Exposed. While Amber Diamond might look like a bronzer in the palette, it doesn't add very much colour to your skin. This product simply adds a beautiful warm glow, rather than a bronzey finish. 

I definitely think that this product is worth both the hype and the splurge! I also have Dior's Rose Diamond, and while I love them both, I would choose Amber Diamond if I could only have one. Have you tried Dior's famous Amber Diamond? Do you think it's worth the hype? :)

REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate

If you regularly follow beauty blogs, chances are you've heard about REN's Resurfacing AHA Concentrate. This product has been all over the blogging world, receiving a ton of hype. Once again, I gave into the hype and decided to give this product a try. Let's see how I got on with it...

"This product gently exfoliates so that the skin appears radiant, even toned, and smoothed. It reduces the appearance of pore size and fine lines, improves moisture retention, and enhances the efficacy of your skincare routine. A powerful complex alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids, promotes cell turnover. Skin is left looking healthier, revitalized, brighter, and smoother."

I apply this product a few nights a week after I've cleansed and toned my skin. I then always make sure to follow up with a moisturizer. This product is a clear liquid that almost looks like water. The runny formula applies easily to my skin, and absorbs quickly. REN's Resurfacing AHA Concentrate is meant to exfoliate the skin gently, reducing the appearance of pores, evening skin tone, and leaving your skin smoother. While many bloggers have raved about this skin care item, I don't think that it's life-changing. I've been using this bottle for a few months, and I unfortunately haven't seen a drastic change. I will continue to use my bottle, but I don't think I will be repurchasing. 

This product does brighten my skin, but the results are only temporary. I really had high hopes for this product, but unfortunately it fell a bit short for my skin. Have you tried REN's Resurfacing AHA Concentrate? Are you a fan, or were you also left disappointed?

Benefit Sun Beam

With Summer on the way, bronzers are of high importance to many beauty lovers. My go-to bronzer is Benefit's Hoola, but I also love Sun Beam. Sun Beam is a liquid bronzer that comes in the same packaging as High Beam and Benetint.

"Consider this liquid sunshine in a bottle. This golden bronze highlighter gives you a natural, sunkissed radiance. Dot and blend over makeup onto cheek and browbones for a bronzed glow that complements all skintones."

Sun Beam can be applied in a few different ways. One way is to mix this liquid bronzer into your foundation. I really love how Sun Beam mixes with MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Foundation. This combination gives your face the most beautiful glow, and adds just a hint of colour. You can also apply Sun Beam directly to your cheekbones and brow bones, and then blend out. I really like adding this to my cheekbones, as this doubles as a highlighter and bronzer. This formula is really smooth and creamy, with a nice glow without any glitter. I don't have anything else like this in my collection!

Left: swatched heavily. Right: Blended out

I love the golden glow that Sun Beam adds to my complexion. The formula is very creamy and easy to blend out without leaving any streaks. This product has good staying power, and it does last all day long on my skin. I know that I'm going to be reaching for this product a ton this Summer, as it adds a beautiful glow and it's super easy to use!

Have you tried Benefit's Sun Beam or any other cream or liquid bronzers?

Bioderma Sébium H2O

I reviewed Bioderma Sensibio H2O a few weeks ago, and now I bring you Bioderma Sébium H2O*! I find that the two formulas a very similar, but I like them for different reasons. The Sébium H2O line is meant for more oily skin types, while the Sensibio H2O line is geared towards anyone with normal, dry, or sensitive skin types. 

I like to use Bioderma Sébium H2O by saturating a cotton pad with the micellaire solution. The new packaging includes a very handy pump, so you don't waste any product! I use about 2-3 pumps for my entire face. I like to use Bioderma Sébium H2O to remove all of my face makeup before I use my facial cleanser. This way I know that my cleanser is properly cleansing my face, and not just working at removing my makeup. I used to double cleanse my face, but now Bioderma is my first step!

Bioderma Sébium H2O removes foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter, you name it so easily. This product requires no effort at all, and all of your makeup is instantly dissolved! I like to use Bioderma Sensibio H2O to remove my eye makeup, since it is a slightly more gentle formula. Even though Bioderma Sébium H2O is geared towards oily skin types, I can't say for sure that this product actively helps to control oils. I have combination/normal skin, so at times my t-zone can get slightly oily, but normally it's pretty balanced. If you have very oily skin, this won't be a miracle product for curbing oil production, but it does a great job at removing makeup. 

Have you tried Bioderma's famous makeup removers? Which formula is your favourite? :)

Bath & Body Works Beautiful Day

I've been trying out the new Beautiful Day scent from Bath & Body Works, and I've really been enjoying it! This scent is perfect for Spring, as it's light and a great mix of florals and fuity notes. The Beautiful Day scent smells like apples to me, with a hint of floral. I absolutely love apple scents, so Beautiful Day is right up my alley!

"Our Beautiful Day fragrance makes you feel like you're having the perfect spring day! Lightly fragrance skin with a carefree blend of sun-kissed apple, wild daisies & fresh pink peonies. Our exclusive hydrating formula contains skin-loving shea butter to deliver long lasting moisture for the perfect everyday lotion and the softest way to fragrance!

Beautiful Day is a fragrance as beautiful as the perfect spring day with sun-kissed apple, wild daisies & fresh pink peonies
Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E hydrate skin with moisture that lasts all day
Our non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished"

The Shower Gel* has a very thick formula, which I really love. This creates a beautiful lather, especially when you use it on a loofah. For a shower gel, this formula is actually very hydrating. My skin is always left feeling smooth, soft, and moisturized after I leave the shower.

The Body Lotion* is a great light formula that is perfect for the warmer Spring and Summer months. I like this formula for the warmer months, and the Triple Moisture Body Cream for the cooler months. This formula sinks in quickly and leaves my skin hydrated all day long. The scent does linger for about an hour or so. 

The Fine Fragrance Mist* is the perfect compliment to the shower gel and body lotion. This mist is so fine, and is actually quite strongly fragranced. I only feel like I need one or two sprays, so this bottle would last a really long time. Being a body spray, the lasting power isn't as impressive as a perfume. On my skin, this fragrance mist lasts about 4 hours before I feel like I need to reapply. Body sprays are perfect for the warmer months, and I can see myself reaching for this a ton over the upcoming months. 

Have you tried Bath & Body Works' new Beautiful Day scent? What scents have you been loving lately? :)

New Glasses from Firmoo!

I've been wearing glasses for about 10 years now, so it's safe to say that I've owned quite a few pairs. Glasses can be very expensive without insurance, but I've found a company that sells glasses online for extremely reasonable prices. Firmoo offered to send me two pairs of glasses made with my prescription, and I thought I'd share my experience with you!

 Firmoo has a great First Pair Free Program for first time customers, where you actually get your first pair of glasses for free! All you have to pay is shipping, which is still quite reasonable. As I mentioned earlier, I've owned quite a few pairs of glasses over the past decade. I don't remember ever leaving the optometrist with a bill less than a few hundred dollar. In fact, I bought a pair of Tiffany glasses for just under $600 not too long ago (granted, they are Tiffany & Co., but still). If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, Firmoo might be right up your alley! Most glasses are around the $20-$30 price point!

I picked out two pairs of glasses from Firmoo. The first pair is style number SD 2383 , and I chose the matte black colour. These look very similar to traditional Ray-Bans, except these glasses are only $26!

The next pair I chose is style number SD2242 , and I chose the brown colour. These glasses are $19. 

After selecting the frames, you simply input your personal prescription. The whole process is extremely simple and only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Once I placed my order, I was sent a confirmation email outlining the style numbers of the glasses I had selected. My glasses arrived within one week, safe and sound! I've really been enjoying both pairs, as they are sturdy, fashionable, and lightweight. 

Have you ordered glasses online before? I highly recommend checking out Firmoo if you're on a budget, or if you're looking for an easy, stress-free way of shopping for glasses. The website even allows you to upload a picture of yourself to virtually try on the glasses! I found this tool very helpful, and it accurately showed what the glasses would really look like on. Leave me a comment below letting me know your favourite place to shop for glasses, and what shades you're currently rocking :)

Maybelline Color Whisper - Pin Up Peach

I've really been loving coral shades lately, including Maybelline's Color Whisper in Pin Up Peach. I absolutely love the Color Whisper line, as the formula is so creamy, hydrating, and they add a nice hint of colour.

Pin Up Peach is a beautiful light coral-peach shade that is perfect for Spring. I've been loving wearing corals on my cheeks, lips, nails, you name it! This shade is very wearable, since it has pink undertones and it isn't neon or too bright. I think Pin Up Peach would look amazing on lighter skin tones, and also with anyone with a tan. 

These Color Whispers are so hydrating and creamy, but they still have a good amount of pigmentation. The color from this tinted balms lasts on my lips for about 3-4 hours before I need to reapply. These don't withstand eating or drinking. However, applying is so easy (you don' even need a mirror!), so I don't mind reapplying. 

I really like tinted lip balms like this one. I find they are really easy to apply and wear without too much fuss. Have you tried any of Maybelline's Color Whispers? Are you a fan of peach and coral shades this Spring like I am?