Reflection of Sanity

INTRODUCING BEAUTY THROUGH BALANCE, PROUDLY CANADIAN

2020-07-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Boutique Skin Envie kindly provides 15% off to anyone who would like to try Beauty Through Balance. This is NOT an affiliate code, I don't earn anything from it. This is a brand that I truly love and respect.

Use code BSE-BTB15 now and will be active until September 30, 2020. One time use per customer.

Recently I had the fabulous opportunity to discover a local British Columbia spa brand that not only concentrate on quality but also on the therapeutic and holistic level. Beauty Through Balance was created by Sherina Jamal and the whole brand centres on local Pacific Seaweed and Canadian Glacial Clay from the Northern Coast of British Columbia, Canada. It's obvious that Sherina took pride and inspiration from her East African/Indian and the products are brilliant testaments of her heritage.

I was kindly sent a selection of products to try and have been thoroughly enjoying most of them. You might have seen me gushing about a few of the products on IG and it's safe to say, these are just brilliant not only in quality but also on the sensory level.

Before moving forward with my thoughts on the products. I do have to mention that the brand doesn't disclose any of the ingredient lists online or at least I failed to find them. That said, Sherina was more than happy to send me the lists and I hope she will consider making them easily accessible in the future because they are pretty bloody awesome.

TWO NEW SUNSCREENS IN MY ROTATION

2020-07-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

With Summer supposedly here, and I emphasized on supposedly because the weather has been anything but that. It has been gloomy, windy and a dash of rain here and there throughout the day, Summer is taking its time to arrive this year.

That aside, we are here today not to hear me complaining about the weather...we're to talk about sunscreens. Recently I've been testing two new mineral sunscreens courtesy of WishTrend, so let's see how I get on with them. Yay or nay?

5 CREATIVE HOBBIES FOR FASHIONISTAS

2020-07-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

If you are a fashionista looking to destress or find something new to do, there are few better ways of doing this than getting a hobby. The hobbies you choose do not have to have anything to do with fashion, but rather a way of getting your creative juices flowing. Below, we will look at some creative hobbies for fashionistas that can even be turned into business opportunities.

Flower Arranging

If you love flowers, then this is the hobby for you. Flower arranging is for fashionistas who love colours, patterns and coming up with unorthodox designs. Getting started with this hobby is easy if you have a garden at home. If you do not, you can always get cheap flowers from a nearby flower shop for your creations.

When you get really good at it, you can start a business where you sell your designs to be used in weddings, parties, and much more. This way, your new hobby can bring in some extra money.

4 WAYS YOUR GUT HEALTH AFFECTS YOUR SKIN

2020-06-29T21:41:00.002-07:00

Most of us will experience some minor skin problems at some point in our lives, like spots, pimples, and rashes. However, if your skin is becoming irritated or breaking out more often than not, your gut could be the culprit. It turns out that the collection of bacteria that are in our intestines and digestive system, known as the gut microbiome, play a huge part in the condition and health of our skin. The microbes that live on your skin are key to its health. In fact, a 2014 study found that good microbes can help wounds heal faster. The imbalanced gut microbiome can manifest itself on your skin in various different ways, which could include:

THE PERFECT PRODUCTS FOR THE PERFECT BROWS

2020-06-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I slowly learned that my face structure looks best when I wear minimal makeup. I have tried endlessly to create Instagram worthy looks but in the end, I find that it's just not me. So it has come to a point that I finally conceded that there are only 3 must-haves; eyeliner, mascara and eyebrow products.

And I think we all can agree that Benefit does some pretty dang good brow stuff.

As most of you know and could probably relate, eyebrows can be the trickiest part of the face to master. It took me years to finally settle on a style that flatters my face but with lots of mishaps in between.

IS IT THE ONE: WISHTREND PURE VITAMIN C 15% WITH FERULIC ACID

2020-06-13T21:59:00.008-07:00

How would you describe 2020 so far or could you even put it into words? Personally, it has been an intense time for self-reflection, not only for me but as a family. We started this year full of dreams and hopes and fast forward today, we realized how even though we are blessed in so many ways, the journey of educating ourselves in so many matters in the world continues.

2020 is when the world stopped and reset itself.

As most of you know, I was laid off work for 10 weeks and while I was initially crushed, it turned out to be the best time of my life. The downtime was amazing as we bonded stronger than ever as a family and I had all the time in the world to properly test some of the newest beauty launches.

Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C 15% with Ferulic Acid* was one of the most exciting skincare launches this year. Based on the name itself, I wondered if it would be a dupe for my beloved Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Acid Serum (reviewed here) and after testing it for almost a month, I have to say this is better in many aspects.

6 NATURAL INGREDIENTS THAT CAN HELP YOU LOOK & FEEL YOUR BEST

2020-06-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Caring for your health—from your skin and hair to your nutrition—can be a chore, especially when you have to navigate what to buy in the complex world of products that are available for every aspect of your well-being. To simplify this daunting task, I have put together a list of some of my favourite natural ingredients that can benefit your health in a multitude of ways. By integrating these ingredients into your daily routine (everything in moderation, of course), you can look and feel your best.

#1: Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is commonly used to help with digestive issues or simply aid in keeping the digestive system working in top order. Many people subscribe to taking a shot of apple cider vinegar every day. Due to its high acidity, it is typically recommended to dilute apple cider vinegar before drinking, especially if you’re doing so on a regular basis. To make your apple cider vinegar shot, simply add one to two teaspoons to your glass of water or tea.

Apple cider vinegar is known to have a pungent smell and harsh taste, so if you can’t stomach taking a swig of it straight, try CBD gummies with apple cider vinegar. What’s more, is that CBD has additional benefits like helping you feel calm and focused.

#2: Coconut Oil

ONLY THE GOOD: REVERSA COLLAGENIQUE™ CREAM

2020-05-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Let me start this post with a blogger cliche...can you believe we're at the end of May? I took a blogging break last week, I tried creating a post but the words felt forced and I wasn't quite feeling like myself. I go through the motion of some days feeling like I can take on the world and get everything done and then a slump like I am a robot going through a written script.

Thankfully life is slowly inching itself to some sort of normalcy here and it feels like we could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. So let's celebrate the good and I am thankful that we are all healthy and not stressed out financially.

YAY OR NAY? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW AVON X THEFACESHOP ROUGE POWDER MATTE LIPSTICKS

2020-05-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

How many of us took self-isolation time to do some personal reflection on life? I did and frankly, this past 6 weeks was a journey of self-discovery. I found joy in the smallest little things, like my little one's laughter, the way my husband seems to understand me without words, how baking is actually not bad (cooking still wins though) and how I actually need very little in life.

I also did a major decluttering; getting rid of makeup that I held on because I 'will use it again one day, maybe I can make it work', etc and finally, getting rid of anything that is mediocre. 'Quality over quantity' and that brings me to today's post.

THE TALES ABOUT CONCEALER: THE GOOD & THE VERY BAD

2020-05-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Can I just say, the longer I am staying home, the lazier I become with wearing makeup? I am now at the point where I am not even arsed with mascara and I always wear mascara...every.single.day for the past couple of decades.

I swear by the end of this all, I will emerge looking like a cavewoman.

Anyhoot, as lazy as I've become, I still diligently use a concealer or two to make myself look more human. While I have waved goodbye to mascara, I have fully embraced concealers and today I am sharing my thoughts on 4 concealers in my rotation.

SELF-ISOLATION APRIL FAVOURITES

2020-04-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and I hope you're doing well and staying safe wherever you are. There was no blog post last week because well, truthfully I didn't feel like posting anything. It's a strange period of time, on one hand, I am more than grateful that my family and I are safe and we are closer than ever but, on the other hand, there is so much uncertainty about the future.

There are moments like last week when I felt writing about beauty was pointless but this week I do feel better so I thought what better time to share my April favourites. This post will be slightly different as it's a mixture of beauty and lifestyle.

THE NEW RETINOL IN TOWN: REVERSA RETIN[A]LIST CREAM

2020-04-17T14:09:00.002-07:00

Another week, another day in survival mode...I jest, frankly I am starting to see self-isolation in a very positive note. I treasure these moments as I am spending such amazing quality time with family especially with Little Tyke. It's fabulous to spend my time with him without any distractions; work, phone, social circles, etc and I feel that our bond is stronger than ever.

DISCOVERING REVERSA HYDRA-MINERAL CONCENTRATE

2020-04-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

The beauty world is so oversaturated with brands and products these days that I think many brands are overlooked. I personally am guilty of knowing brands that are very active with PR mailing. Well, to be honest, it's hard not to know certain brands when they are all I see on blogs, YouTube and Instagram.

Reversa is a local Canadian skincare brand that has been around since 1986 but other than seeing it sold in my local drugstores, I don't really see it mentioned on social media. That said, I do think it's a brand that has a strong cult following and a few of my close friends swear by the products.

5 TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR EYES HEALTHY AND HAPPY

2020-04-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

In today’s world, many of our lives involve copious amounts of time spent in front of a screen, whether that’s a computer or laptop at work, a phone for social media, or a television for games and entertainment of an evening. It goes without saying then, that our eyes could do with a rest from time to time. If you don’t look after your eyes, you can suffer from both short- and long-term problems, and you might find that the vision loss that comes with age is accelerated. But where do you start? Here are our top tips for keeping your eyes healthy and happy.

THE ONE YOU NEED TO KNOW: FRANZ EVERYDAY ESSENCE

2020-04-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

What is the one skincare ingredient that you overlooked the most? Mine would be hyaluronic acid, yes, I know the beauty world absolutely loves it but for me, it's...boring. For years, all I ever cared about was retinol, Vitamin C and exfoliating serums. It never crossed my mind to even invest or try a hydrating serum until recently.

BUYING BEAUTY PRODUCTS ONLINE:: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO SHOP SMARTLY

2020-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

The beauty industry was worth $532 billion in 2019. The most profitable sector is skincare, which accounts for 39% of the global market, closely followed by hair care and make-up. Many of these products are bought online because there is more choice and prices are often cheaper. But sourcing beauty products online isn’t always straightforward.

MORE THAN JUST A SHEET MASK: FRANZ JET DUAL MICROCURRENT FACE MASK SYSTEM

2020-03-27T14:18:00.004-07:00

FRANZ is a new Korean skincare brand that is recently available in Canada. I must admit that I am not familiar with the brand before but am intrigued as they claim to be the world's first eco-friendly micro-current facial mask. There is a lot of science behind the concept which you can read here as I am not even going to try to summarize it.

Before getting into this post, I want to be clear that I have pretty much quit using sheet masks for a few personal reasons. One of the main reasons is the environmental factor; the amount of waste each sheet mask contributes is a lot and this mask is no different. The term eco-friendly for this mask is due to the fact it doesn't need batteries or devices instead relies on ultra-small ion cells which generate power through osmotic principle.

4 TIPS FOR COUNTERING DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAIR LOSS

2020-03-25T20:29:00.003-07:00

If you are suffering from hair loss, you are not alone; thousands, if not millions of people across the country are facing similar problems with their hair. What most people don’t realize is that hair loss comes in different types and can be caused by different things.

The decreasing health of your scalp, the hair not getting enough nutrients, and other common causes could result in hair loss. The severity of your hair loss differs from person to person too. That said, there are several things you can do to counter different types of hair loss.

NEW LAUNCHES: CATRICE BASIC BAE & BADASS BAE EYESHADOW PALETTES

2020-03-21T14:25:00.005-07:00

There is nothing more exciting to me than discovering brilliant eyeshadow palettes. What would be the icing on top of the cake is if the palettes won't break the bank and kudos to Catrice for doing just that.

For anyone who is not familiar, Catrice is one of the leaders in affordable clean beauty. Many of products are vegan, alcohol-free, oil-free, perfume-free, paraben-free and all products are 100% cruelty-free. The brand recently released 3 new eyeshadow palettes, Basic Bae (basic neutral brown palette), BadAss Bae (warm red, orange tones) and finally Self-Made Bae (cool tone palette).

HOW POOR SLEEP IS HURTING YOUR OVERALL HEALTH

2020-03-20T11:28:00.004-07:00

We all know how frustrating it can be when we don’t get a good night's sleep. Not getting the rest we need can leave us feeling exhausted, lethargic, and even in a bad mood, but there are many more serious effects of poor sleep that many people don’t realize.

Getting enough good quality sleep is an essential human need, just like eating and drinking, and if you aren't getting the rest that your body requires, it will start to impact your overall health. You may even be surprised at the aspects of your health that not getting enough sleep can damage.

SIMPLICITY AT ITS BEST: SKINCEUTICALS HYDRATING B5 MASQUE

2020-03-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Another week and I am back with another skincare review. If you're wondering what's up with my lame-arse opening sentence, well, I have been staring blankly at the screen for the past hour and have zero success in coming up with something smart or witty.

So you, me and everybody will have to settle for something simple...at least I didn't say 'whattttt's upppp, everybody?!' And while we're on the topic of simple, let's talk about the star of today's show, Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Masque*.

LET'S TALK CLAY MASKS FT. BL'EAU BEAUTY

2020-03-05T20:46:00.000-08:00

Bl'eau Beauty is one of the latest Canadian beauty brand making waves in the skincare world. The brand pride itself with a collection of Glacial Oceanic Clay masks made with a blend of Canadian Glacial Oceanic Clay and Glacial Mineral Water.

3 THINGS THAT CAN HINDER YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

2020-02-25T19:48:00.002-08:00

Most people are well aware of how important sleep is to a beauty regime. Sleeping has a massive impact on your skin, which is evident when you don't get enough hours of shut-eye. Tell-tale signs are dark undereye circles, swollen eyes, eyelids that look like they are drooping or hanging, and what feels like an increase in fine lines and wrinkles. It can even make you look pale and lifeless, lacking that plumpness and glow you typically have.

So, knowing how sleep affects your beauty regime is one thing, but getting enough sleep is a whole other issue. Try as you might, there may be some factors and elements that are hindering your beauty sleep. Here’s a look at the top issues that may be affecting your ability to get enough sleep.

THIS OR THAT: GRAYDON SUPER SENSITIVE SKIN STUFF VS BERRY RICH CREAM

2020-02-24T21:06:00.002-08:00

Graydon is a brand that I have featured on here multiple times and every time I claimed that I have found my favourite product from the brand, I am surprised by another new brilliant product. This time the award goes to Super Sensitive Skin Stuff.

Rest assured this award isn't followed by a long lecturing speech on how to be a better human being. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that we as humankind desperately needs to do and be better but I don't need someone who has a different reality of life preaching about it to me.

7 HERBS TO BALANCE HORMONES DURING MENOPAUSE

2020-02-21T13:30:00.006-08:00

As you head into menopause, there will be a lot of changes in your life, especially in regards to your hormone levels. During this time, as hormones fluctuate wildly, you can experience hot flashes, fatigue, mood changes and a wide range of other undesirable symptoms. But you do not need to go through menopause without the support you need for hormonal balance and overall health and well-being.

There are a number of herbs which have shown promise in research studies and which may be able to help you feel and function more optimally during these turbulent years. Looking for an easy, affordable way to take the herbs below? They are all available in one simple capsule in the highly-rated STAYING COOL Hot Flashes & Menopause Natural Relief Supplement by Eu Natural.