Mail of the Week (October 31 - November 4)

George's products: I'm really thankfull to be offered the chance to try all of those products that are meant to help with eczema. George, the owner of George's Cream, sent me the Light Special Moisturizing Lotion and the Special Dry Skin Cream to try. George's Cream and Moisturizing Lotion were created for lasting dry skin relief. Although there is no cure for many skin problems, George's provides relief from different types of skin symptoms and conditions, such as eczema.

Hard Candy products: Since I fell in love with the only Hard Candy product I ever tried, Fox in a Box Blushing Quad in Spicy and Sweet, I simply couldn't refuse the opportunity to try some more of their products! I was very kindly sent World Balmination Glossy Tinted Lip Balm in Bridal Blush and Lash Tinsel Glitter Mascara in Seventeen's A Dream.

H&R Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron (1" inch) from Flat Iron Experts: Honestly, I'm not sure I really like my Karmin G3 Salon Pro Professional 100% Pure Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron that I won this summer - it takes too much time to really straighten my hair and it seems to tug it way too often - which is incredibly disappointing for the price (regular price: $295.00)!

Betty Hula The Secret Anti-Ageing Oil sample: I've been offered to try some Betty Hula products samples a long time ago and I eventually forgot about them until I received this in the mail. I'm not usually a fan of oil but I've been told that this is supposed to help with eczema so I can't wait to try it!

Kashi Fruit & Grain Peanutty Dark Chocolate Granola Bar and a coupon for one free box: I tweeted and posted this freebie on my Facebook fan page a while ago so be sure to follow me to stay in the know for future offers!

♫ Someone Like You - Adele

Mail of the Week (October 24 - 28)

My prize from Joyce's Pick + Choose giveaway: Wow, I must be the luckiest bitch alive, seriously! Look at all that gorgeous stuff Joyce sent me! Joyce was giving away makeup products she got from a friend but that she won't use, and the winner got to pick ten items from the list. Here are my picks:

• Hard Candy Fox in a Box Blushing Quad in Hot Flash
• Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink 
• Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose
• Physicians Formula Happy Booster Bronzer in Bronzer
• Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Bronzer in Bronzer
• Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Medium to Dark
• Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear Mirror/Brush Compact + Bronzer Refill in Medium Bronzer
• Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous
• Rimmel London Glam Eyes Eyeshadow Single in Spicy Bronze*
• Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes*

Thank you so much for this fantastic prize Joyce, I still can't believe my luck!


*I know that Rimmel and Maybelline test on animals but I was planning to give these items to my mother as she loves brown eyeshadows, just like me. 

Dr Hess products: Dr Hess Udder Ointment is said to be by far the best healing skin care ointment on the market today so I was very glad to be kindly sent these products to help with my eczema. Dr Hess products are recommended if you are dealing with problem skin, eczema, chafing, severe dryness, diabetic skin damage, cracked heels etc.

• Udder Ointment
• Udder Stick Mint Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Original Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Pomegranate Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Mango Lip Balm with SPF 15

Bronze Ambition Self Tan products: I kept hearing great things about these fake tan products on UK beauty blogs but I never saw them around here and I was really surprised to be given the opportunity to test drive some of them! I wouldn't say I'm complexed of my pale skin tone but I don't really like it and I like to use a little fake tan to give me a healthy glow, especially in the winter wher I can easily look dead. Here's what I was sent:

• Sun-Kissed Mist Instant Spray Tan
• Bronze Me Mousse Instant + Self Tan Foam
• Glow 'N 'Go Instant Tan Shimmer
• Fake Don't Bake Natural Look Tanning Cream

HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron from Misikko.com: I have worked with Misikko in the past and I'm delighted to have the chance to team up with them again for another product review! Misikko seriously has the best customer service and they always spoil you when they send you a package. Alon with the flat iron, Brian very kindly included other products in my package such as heat proof pad and pouch, flowers shaped soaps, LA Color Eyeshadow, ELF Hypershine Lipgloss, hairbrush, etc.

Wet Platinum Silicone Based Premium Personal Lubricant sample and $1.00 off coupon: Get yours for free here (USA and Canadian residents only).

♫ In The Dark - DEV

Mail of the Week (October 17 - 21)

For some reasons, I totally forgot to post last Friday! I usually make sure to post before going to work but oh well, I guess I was too lazy/tired! So this is what I got in the mail last week and this week.

Shikakai Hair Wash from Raw Gaia: I'm very excited to try this 100% natural shampoo powder - yes, powder! You mix the powder with water to create a thick paste and then gently massage into hair. It is also claimed to slightly darken the hair (making it not suitable for people with blonde hair) but that's good news for me as I'm always struggling to get my brown hair even darker!

Dariya Hair Pad from AJHairPad.com: I'm sure you have heard of those pads before, I keep seeing them on blogs! The Dariya Hair Pad is an innovative special velcro hair pad that hold your hair away in place when you do your makeup, wash your face, put on contact lenses, etc. It is very hot in Asia right now and other people are trying to bring it over too. I'm so glad I had the chance to try it out as this product is not available around here as far as I know!

Lip balms from MyLipStuff.com: Being a lipbalms junkie - thanks to my constantly dry and chapped lips - I've been curious about those handmade, natural, vegan and cruelty lipbalms so when I was given the opportunity to try some, I had to say yes!

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips: Please don't hate me! I know Crest belongs to P&J which is evil because they test on animals, but do you know how hard it is to find a teeth whitening product that is cruelty-free, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and that actually works? My teeth are naturally yellow, and to make things worst, I'm addicted to coffee and tea. I have tried many kinds of whitening products such as toothpaste and mouthwash but nothing really worked. Do you have any idea how pricey these teeth whitening products are? This Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips box retails for $54.99 - I absolutely can't afford that.

With this review, I will also have a little surprise for you - that's another reason why I couldn't refuse this product.

I'm making big efforts to go completely cruelty-free but it's harder than I thought! If you know of any cruelty-free teeth whitening products, please do let me know!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty express For Brows and Eyes in Blonde: I have never used something like this before and I must say, I'm very excited to try it out! Hopefully it will help to tame my unruly brows!

$50 gift certificate to Mirage New York: This is actually the first time I won a prize from a radio station! Thank you 94.7 Hits FM!

November issue of Glamour: I'm often told that I look like Kristen Stewart! I can see a resemblence in the face shape and maybe the eyes... What do you think?

November issue of Cosmopolitan: OMG What's with the getup, seriously? I know it's Nicki Minaj but still...

And the winner of my EnvyDerm mascara giveaway is...

♫ Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO

Mail of the Week (October 3 - 7)

My prize from Michelle's 100 followers giveaway: I was extremely lucky to be the winner of Michelle's amazing giveaway! What makes it even more exciting is that I have never tried any of the products included in the prize:

• MAC Surf Baby Cheek Powder in My Paradise
• Butter London Nail Polish in Yummy Mommy
• ELF Eyelid Primer Collection

L - R: My Paradise; only the blush color, only the overspray, both blended together

Thank you so much Michelle!

Nail Foil Stickers from Born Pretty Store in the pattern # 02: Born Pretty Store offers such a wide selection of nail stickers (106 patterns!) at such an affordable price and I have always been curious about the foiled effect so I decided to give these a try. Stay tuned for my review!

And the winner of my Batiste dry shampoo giveaway is...

♫ Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine

Mail of the Week (September 26 - 30)

Candace Skye Jungle Blue swimsuit: How kind is it of the gorgeous Candace to send me this amazing bikini? A leopard print swimsuit was definitely missing in my collection and I couldn't have asked for something better! I know we're almost in October already but stay tuned for my review.

Passion Savon soap samples: I've always been more of a shower gels girl but since I tried some LUSH soaps, I must say I changed my mind and now I like to alternate between the two. That's why, when I was given the opportunity to try some of these handmade soaps that don't contain palm oil, preservatives, petrochemical or harsh detergents, I had to accept. Passion Savon soaps are also cruelty-free and vegetarians.

I was sent a selection of samples to try:

• Oatmeal Cream & Banana
• Mandarin Yogurt
• Goat's Milk, Honey, Lavender & Cedar
• Cranberry & Rhubarb
• Chestnut & Chocolate Torte

Pai Skincare products: I was very kindly offered to try some Pai Skincare products to help with my eczema and you know how I'm constantly complaining about this skin condition? Eczema products are usually filled with chemicals and other nasty things and steroids thin the skin, so I'm always on the lookout for natural alternatuves. I was sent these two products:

• Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream
• Rosehip & BioRegenerate fruit & seed oil

$10 Sears gift card from MyPoints: I'm a member of MyPoints since May 2010 and I was finally able to redeem my hard earned 1650 points for this gift card, yey! Now I'm left with only 35 points...

$5 off coupon on any Cetaphil Cleanser or Moisturizer from WebSaver.ca: I finally bought Cetaphil RESTORADERM Eczema Moisturizing Lotion some times ago after hearing Karen rave so much about it, but I'm not sure I really like it. It doesn't seem to do much for my eczema even if I use it every time I wash my hands, and that is disappointing because $20 is pretty steep for some drugstore hand lotion when you're on a tight student budget.

I found this coupon offer some times ago and I completed forgot about it until now. I'm not sure I'm ready to give to give this lotion another try, but I figured out it couldn't be wrong to have a backup, just in case. This is until I started wondering if Galderma were conducting tets on animsl... and this is what I found:

"As such we, as any other Canadian pharmaceutical company, are obligated by Canadian law to test our products on animals to show they are safe for human use."

...Seriously? Wow. Now that's totally lame. This coupon is going in the trash right away.

♫ Champagne Showers - LMFAO ft. Natalia Kills

Mail of the Week (September 19 - 23)

My prize from Heidi's giveaway: I'm glad I can finally stop worrying whether I would receive this or not as when Heidi tried to post the package, it would also come back to her front door! Look at how everything was wrapped, doesn't it feel just like Christmas? I was amazed to see everything she included in the package:

• ELF Hypershine Lip Gloss Collection
• ELF Shimmer Lip Gloss Collection
• ELF Brightening Eye Color in Day 2 Night
• ELF Brightening Eye Color in Butternut
• ELF Studio Single Eyeshadow in Butter Cream
• Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy & Sweet
• Large Black Z Palette

I'm thrilled to play with everything as I have never tried anything from ELF and Hard Candy before (not to mention they are cruelty-free)! Thank you so much Heidi!

EnvyDerm Lash Growth and Conditioning Volume Mascara: I have never used a mascara designed to improve lash growth, and I was thrilled to be given this opportunity. This mascara is is claimed to instantly increase lash volume, definition and curl while promoting growth, length and thickness with continued use. Oh and have you ever tried a mascara infused with Moroccan Argan Oil? How awesome is that? I'll keep you updated!

Burberry Body Fragrance sample: Some times ago, Burberry were offering a trial size of the new fragrance Burberry Body on their Facebook page. Now I'm not sure if Burberry tests their products on animals (I bet they do) but they do promote fur, which I completely didn't think about before ordering this sample. It smells OK, but it's not really my kind of fragrance anyway.

Made From Earth products: I was sent some Aloe products from Made From Earth to help my eczema - I can't wait to see the results! Made From Earth products are organic, natural, vegan and cruelty-free!

• Aloe & Jojoba Creme Therapy
• Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment
• Lemongras Tea Soap

Lara Beauty Anti-Aging Skin Care products for sensitive skin: Lara Beauty products are fragrance free, hypoallergenic and paraben free, and they aren't tested on animals. I'm still not sure if I should describe my skin as sensitive because of eczema, but I figured out I had nothing to lose by trying these products. I was sent the complete line of products:

• Conditioning Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
• Polishing Microderm Abrasion for Sensitive Skin
• Revitalizing Daily Toner for Sensitive Skin
• Anti-Aging Daily Therapy for Sensitive Skin

♥How To Love - Lil Wayne

Mail of the Week (September 12 - 16)

PETA's cruelty-free shopping guide: I've always been on the fence regarding the subject of animal testing, but I'm ashamed to say that I've always been too lazy to properly "attack" the matter. Of course I'm strongly against animal testing - and I thought it was strange for me to be vegetarian but still "support" animal testing. Now that I've successfully made the switch to a strict vegetarian diet, I thought, why not? It has not been hard at all for me to quit meat as I absolutely hated the taste anyway - the hardest part at first was to make sure I had an healthy diet, but there's plenty of resources on the Internet and now I feel so dumb for not going vegetarian sooner!

I decided to order PETA's cruelty-free shopping guide because it was getting pretty annoying to always have to go on the Internet to make sure a product was not tested on animals before buying it. With this guide, everything is easier! I have downloaded the PDF version on my phone and I keep the paper version in my handbag.

With the guide also came interesting papers with more info regarding animal testing and cute stickers. Now of course I won't just throw away the products I have already purchased that are not cruelty-free (that would be stupid and a huge waste of money), but you can be sure I won't repurchase any and from now on, I won't accept products to review that are not cruelty-free.

Seriously, think about it - would you like your cat, dog, rat or rabbit to be trapped in a laboratory with electrodes implanted in their brain and screaming in terror as they have chemical pumped into their stomach? Thinking about this made me cry - what about you?

Kushyfoot products: This package was such a nice surprise after a long day at school! I was recently contacted by a PR firm on behalf of Kushyfoot legwear which I have never heard of before, and I wasn't expecting a package so quickly! Here's what I was very kindly sent:

• Flats To Go in Black
• Super Ultra Low Cut Foot Covers in Black
• Lace Foot Covers in Pink

October 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan

♥Danza Kuduro - Don Omar ft. Lucenzo

Mail of the Week (September 5 - 9)

P&G brandSAMPLER samples: The samples I received were quite disappointing as I've been told this edition was one of the most interesting to date. Here's what I got:

• Gillette Odour Shield Antiperspirant/Deodorant (great to keep in my handbag!)
• Gillette Fusion ProSeries Thermal Face Scrub
• Cascade All in 1 2 pacs

Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish Picture Perfect Hold Ultra Fine Long Wear Makeup Setting Spray: I won the prize #5 of Holly's month's worth of giveaways, which was a Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray in the finish of my choice (I chose the Bridal Makeup Finish). This is the first makeup spray I own and I can't wait to try it! Thank you Holly! =D

October 2011 issue of Glamour

♥Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera

Mail of the Week (August 29 - September 2)

My prize from Karen's 200th Post Giveaway: I was absolutely thrilled to win this amazingly generous giveaway! The main prize was two MAC lipsticks of my choice, but Karen also included some of her favorite products!

• MAC Glaze Lipstick in Hue (soft pale pink)


• MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shy Girl (creamy neutral coral beige)


• Barry M Nail Paint in Vivid Purple


• Barry M Nail Paint in Peach Melba


• GOSH Nail Lacquer in Holographic


• Essence Colour & Go Quick Drying Nail Polish

Hue (top), Shy Girl (bottom)

Thank you so much Karen, I'm totally over the moon!

Erotica books from Greenleaf Book Group: I was sent two books from Craig Odanovich: The Black Widow Trainer and Captured Prey. I've been really into erotica books lately - not, it's not porn! - so I was happy to receive the opportunity to read and review these two books.

The Black Widow Trainer ($11.66 at Amazon.com)

Join the Black Widow Trainer in her sultry world of steamy, heart-pounding adventure. 

Bored with tedium of her passionless marriage, Misty's life explodes after a weekend of mind-blowing sex with the man of her dreams. Exploring the physical limits of her newfound desire, she combines the lure of her honed, disciplined body with cunning business acumen and redefines herself as the Black Widow Trainer, a high-price personal trainer/escort. 

Negotiating an open relationship with her husband is the easiest part of her career move. Adjusting to the whims and demands of her well-heeled and imaginative clients, however, requires Misty to expand the limits of her sensual being. 

The genre-busting novel features a cast of original, gritty characters, including an Alaskan sea captain, a pint-size satyr, and a genderbending woman, Misty's fantastic sexcapades in exotic locations around the world are hot enough to fire up anyone's sex life.

Captured Prey ($11.66 at Amazon.com)

After enjoying a brief but sultry respite in Argentina with her best friend Gabriella, Misty--the high-price personal trainer with a unique, controversial clause in her contract--embarks to the United States to meet her next trainee. What she finds under the hot Texas sun shocks and captivates her, and she ends up caught in a wrenching dilemma that causes her to choose between love and career. 

As she sorts out her feelings for an intriguingly handsome cowboy and his conniving, cowardly employer, Misty's sexual appetite and lust for adventure take her from honky-tonks to bustling Copacabana Beach festivals--and land her in the crosshairs of a scheming DC politician hell-bent on taking down an opponent in an upcoming election. 

Captured Prey is populated with a new set of impossible-to-forget characters, plus some key favorites from the first book. As always, Misty's blend of wiliness, sensuality, and wide-eyed innocence helps her charm everyone she meets. Surprises await at every turn in this seductive, action-packed follow-up.

Coupon from Save.ca for a free Kinder Surprise Egg

Samples of Zanta 150 Maximum Strength and a $2.50 mail-in rebate from LivingWell.ca

♥Up All Night - Blink-182

Mail of the Week (August 22 - 26)

My prize from Priscilla's Facebook giveaway: The prize was a MAC lipstick of my choice and of course, I absolutely didn't know which one to choose so I decided to play it safe and go for Angel as it seems to be such a staple. From the swatches on the net, I really didn't know what to expect as it seemd to look different on everyone! I was afraid it would wash me out because I'm so pale the frost finish scared me a bit, but I absolutely love it! It actually reminds me a lot of Creme Cup, which I love. Priscilla also very kindly included Ulta Mineral Powder Eyeshadow in Jade in the package.

L - R: Angel and Jade

Thank you so much Priscilla! =D

My order from AVEYOU Beauty Boutique: I was given the opportunity to test and review some products from this boutique on my blog. I placed my order on August 16, it was shipped on August 17 and I received it on August 23 - pretty quick! But I was incredibly disappointed to have had to pay more than $40 in duties and taxes, which I never ever had to do before. Anyway, I guess it was worth it? Here's what I received:

• TS-2 Conical Barrel Style Stick Clipless Curling Iron


• Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Spray 1.7 oz 50ml


• OPI Extra-va-vaganza! Nail Lacquer

August Luxe Box: You can read my thoughts on this box here and enter my giveaway for a chance to win your very own September Luxe Box!

September issue of Cosmopolitan

♥ Elle Me Dit - Mika