PMD Personal Microderm | Review

 

I couldn’t stop thinking about how much my skin gets so flaky and dry in the winter time. I feel like even after using an exfoliator there is a build up of dead skin on my skin that looks so unattractive when you apply makeup. I know it’s an amazing idea to go to a spa and pamper yourself or get a facial, but I’ve discovered a much better alternative.

The PMD Personal Microderm is really amazing! You can clear your blemishes, wrinkles, age spots, and dead skin with this great device from home without getting an expensive facial. I have noticed a more clear complexion within one use with this device. It claims that you notice changes over time, but I really saw a difference after using it the first time.

Since it was my first time using it I tried it on the back of my hand first to see it it’s okay for my skin and also to get used to it. It feels like your skin is being sucked in the device and you can really feel your skin clearing up. I used the head that it came with since it was for sensitive skin and I have some sensitivity in my skin. I used the PMD on my face and neck covering the area only twice with the PMD. It does look really red and irritated in the beginning but really it’s nothing to be afraid of.

I have a lot of dead skin and tiny blemishes under my skin and it really helps clear all of it. I also have some concerns with a few lines on my neck and I can see a difference already. It looks more lifted and smooth.

It does take a bit of time to get used to it but the results are AMAZING! Do your skin a favour and go get your PMD and clear your skin before spring!

 

xx, Mariam

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PMD Personal Microderm CA $159.00

 

* Gifted PR Samples
This is not a sponsored post.

this months cravings..

 

Here’s what I’m coveting this week… I would love to add these items to my wardrobe and makeup stash!

What are your favourites this month? Have you tried any of these?

xx, Mariam

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1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

valentines beauty essentials..

 

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is prepared for this weekend. If you aren’t… well I’ve got some tips for you all!

1. The night before Valentines day or the night before your date night start by prepping your skin for the next day! I recommend pampering your skin with a mask and using a gentle exfoliator on your skin to give you a polished look the next day. I recommend using the Origins Skin Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay. Its a two in one kind of mask where you leave it on for 10 minutes in the beginning then gently wash it off by massaging your face with your fingertips in circular motions.

2. Use a illuminating serum to give your skin a bright and even toned effect. I love using the Vichy Idealia Serum before I start applying my base to even out my complexion and give my skin a subtle glow. This serum works like magic and you can read more about it here!

3. Use your favourite foundation that works for your skin and a product you can’t go wrong with. You never want to end up using a new product or something you’ve never used. I use the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation to give my skin a flawless finish.

4. Dust your face with a powder to keep your foundation in place. It’s always important to set your base with a good powder to give your skin a finished look. I love using the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light because it’s such a fine milled powder and it looks flawless on top of your foundation. You may use a highlighter on top if you want more glow on the high points of your face but I’d prefer just the powder alone if you want a more simple look.

5. I love a more simple look on the eyes on Valentines day but lashes can never be simple for me. I always love my lashes as bold, long, and thick as possible. I love using the Benefit They’re Real Mascara to make my lashes bold and beautiful. Falsies can be a bit too much sometimes but if you’re looking to look super fabulous the Huda Beauty #7 Samantha Lashes are perfect.

6. Lips is a major step in my routine and on a special day it’s always nice to wear a fresh looking lip colour. I love the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Passionate to give a fresh and bright looking colour on your lips. Add a bit of the Dior Lip Maximizer to slightly plump your lips and give your lips a fuller look.

7. Last but not least you should wear your favourite perfume to make yourself feel special whether your going out to a date or not. This day is to love you and to look good for yourself too. I really enjoy wearing this Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline. It has a very feminine, fresh, and floral scent which I really love.

What are some of your most important tips for Valentines day?

xx, Mariam

BOURJOIS | healthy mix range..

There’s always that one foundation one can’t live without and for me it’s the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. I have found a product that I can always count on and it will never fail to make me love how perfect my base looks.

 

 

Although the Original and the Radiance Revealed formulas are not available in Canada, I am so glad that the Serum is. It is a light to medium coverage and has a hydrating gel like texture. It has a dewy finish with a good amount of radiance. I have been using this foundation for 4 years now and I have never had a day where I have run out of it (I stock up on these all the time when I visit the drugstore). The scent of this foundation is very fresh hence when you apply it your face feels very fresh and hydrated. It claims to give your skin a radiance boost and let me tell you it really does!

 

The only downfall of this foundation (which isn’t a big deal compared to all the great things) is the time it lasts on my skin. I usually realize a lot of shine on my t-zone after wearing this foundation for up to 6 to 7 hours. Though that being said, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation is still my go to budget foundations that I always reach for to get a beautiful polished look.

 

After having so much love for this product I tried the other products from the range. The Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder was another great buy from Bourjois. It feels like silk on your skin and claims to give your skin more radiance and hydration. I found it to work very well with evening out my skin tone but it felt very drying on my skin since my skin is very dry in some areas. This is definitely one of the best drugstore powders out there.

Last but not least I also picked up the Healthy Mix Concealer. I really love this concealer for spot concealing as well as using it under your eyes. If you have very dry skin this may look a bit cakey and can be drying under your eyes so it’s a good idea to use a bit more moisture under your eyes to prevent that. The concealer matches the foundation and the powder shades very well. They are the exact shade but with a thicker consistency. What I love about this concealer is that it has a yellow toned colour so it really brightens the under eyes yet it isn’t to noticeable on other areas of your face.

 

 

What I love about the Healthy Mix range is that they are all Dermalogically tested, it’s oil free, and it’s good for your skin! You can see a difference in your complexion after using them after a couple of weeks. Another important factor is the amount of hydration that the foundation has. I always use a wet beauty blender with my other foundations and concealers, but with this foundation I literally use my fingers to blend.

I hope this post was useful. Have you tried any products from the Bourjois Healthy Mix range? Comment below what your favourite is!

xx, Mariam

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Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation $29

Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder $26

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer $21

valentines day glam | makeup look

 

Here’s a little makeup inspiration if you have any valentines parties to attend to! This pink glitter liner looks fabulous in many ways!

I love the Heavy Metal Glitters fro Urban Decay! Should I review them?

xx, Mariam

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Eye Prime – Makeup For Ever $26

Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette – Kat Von D $55

Espresso – Mac $19

Blaze – Urban Decay (discontinued)

Twinkle Pop – Marc Jacobs Eye Shadow Stick $35

Tartiest Clay Paint Liner – Tarte $29

Heavy Metal Glitter Liner “Junkshow” – Urban Decay $23

Catwalk Black Mascara – Dior $39

Huda Beauty Lashes “Giselle” – $18

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in “Granite” – $18

in the spotlight | VICHY

Vichy, Vichy, Vichy! This post is all about Vichy! I cannot describe how my love has grown for this skincare and makeup line. I remember I used the face wash and toner about 10 years ago and then I just stopped. I think I just ran out them and forgot to repurchased them. Every time I start using Vichy products my face completely transforms. I love the quality of the products and how gentle they are. For someone who has very sensitive skin it’s very hard to find a product that works and doesn’t irritate your skin.

Can you tell I love the Normaderm range? I love how it controls your acne and at the same time doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals to irritate your skin. The problem with most skin care products for acne is that it can really make your skin feel very dry, but this range doesn’t dry out your skin and it clears all the impurities.

I recently picked up the Idealia serum and I really love it. I heard a lot of people say good things about it but I never really got the chance to try it. This time I wanted to try something new and what really made me buy it was when I read that it helps with dull skin and reduces the sign of fatigue. It also helps with impurities in your skin related to stress, pollution, and hormonal imbalances. This is that one product that literally works over night and you can see the difference right away.

So there you have it! My favourite Vichy products at the moment. Have you tried Vichy products? What are your favourites?

xx, Mariam

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Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel $19.95

Normaderm Hydrating Acne Care $29.95

Normaderm Purifying Lotion $19.95

Normaderm Tient Shade #15 $28.95

Idealia Life Serum $59

winter must-haves | basics

Hey Everyone! Here are some of my all time favourite items that I think every girl needs in their closet! These items are all essentials and I cannot wear them enough. I always reach for these items.

What are your must have items this season?

 

 

xx, Mariam

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biker jacket / white sneakers / metal sunglasses / crossbody bag / distressed denim
 silver rings / black pumps / white t-shirt

 

crimson & camel..

Hey everyone! I can’t believe we’re already in February. Time is going by really fast and January went by so quickly. Here’s an outfit I wore a few days ago. I’m usually dressed in darker colours all winter long but this time I thought it would be nicer if I changed it up so I went for a really bright red sweater. I got inspired by the stripes on my Burberry scarf and put this outfit together. These scarves are made of 100% wool and are so warm. It’s such a staple for anyones wardrobe especially if you live in a colder climate.

Hope you enjoyed this post and wishing everyone a happy February ahead!

 

xx, Mariam

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WHAT I’M WEARING

Drape Coat: Boohoo Abigail Wrap Coat  // Sweater: DEX Lace In-set Sweater // Pants: Zara (old) // Bag: Chanel // Lips: Mac Lip Pencil in Etcetera + Lancome Lipstick in Vintage Rose // Boots: Aldo
Watch: Michael Kors (similar) // Scarf: Burberry

how to avoid dry hands this winter..

During the winter time it can be hard to battle dry skin. It feels almost like my hands will never be moisturized. I can’t remember a day I haven’t applied lotion 6 times to keep my hands hydrated. I finally tried something new this time and though I’d share. I used to reach for sugar and tomatoes to scrub my face sometimes when I ran out of my exfoliators. So I thought I’d give it a try on my hands but this time I changed up the ingredients.

Here’s how I keep my hands moisturized for a longer time:

• I mix a table spoon full of sugar and a half a table spoon of olive oil and rub my hands together to gently exfoliate the skin and get rid of all the dead skin.

• Leave this mixture on your hands for at least 5 minutes (you can wear the loose plastic gloves found at the dollar store if you think things are going to get messy).

• Wash your hands off with warm water and apply your favourite hand cream/lotion.

• Repeat this method weekly to get proper results.

I find that my hands stay moisturized for longer when I use this exfoliator. It obviously doesn’t prevent it from becoming dry ever again but it does make a difference than just applying moisturizer on its own.

Does anyone have a better solution than this? Let me know in the comments below and if you try this method let me know how it worked for you!

xx, Mariam

the monthly roundup..

This January I’ve been restocking all my beauty staples. From high end to low end, to products I’ve used religiously over time, to discovering new beauty favourites. So my last post was about my style favourites and how I like to dress for the winter time and you can find that here. This post will be all about the good old beauty favourites. I’ve got some skincare favourites I’d like to include, some hair products, and some makeup favourites.

Haircare

One hair product I’m loving is the Batiste Dry Shampoo. I’ve really used this product many times during the month and all I can say is that it’s been a saviour! I love buying the mini travel sized bottles so I can have it handy in my purse. I usually don’t like putting too many products on my hair and I feel that it will way the hair down but this dry shampoo does the opposite and it give my hair so much volume and texture.

The next hair product I’ve been really enjoying is the Luseta Macadamia Hair Oil Treatment. I purchased this while I was shopping in Homesense and I thought I’d try this instead of the usual Moroccan Oil treatment I always use. It’s a moisurizing and strengthening oil for your hair and you can use it after washing your hair or any other time your hair feels really dry. You can use it all over your hair and it has a really nice scent to it as well(I am generally obsessed with anything that smells nice)z. My hair gets really dry during the winter and when I use curlers and straighteners to style my hair it gets even dryer. I’ve seen quite a difference using this oil. I usually use a few drops of this on the ends of my damp hair after washing my hair. It’s for all hair types and it’s not too oily. So you don’t really feel your hair getting all greasy.

Skincare

I’ve been using a few products that are quite hydrating and moisturizing. My first favourite product is a cleanser. I never stick to one cleanser and I always switch up to using different products. This month I’ve been using the Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel. One thing I love about most Vichy products is the it contains thermal water which is so good for your skin. It doesn’t completely dehydrate your skin so it never feels dull. Its a very thin gel texture and I use this in the mornings to really wake my skin up and give it a boost of hydration. You massage it into your skin and rinse it off with warm water. I also have used it a few times to remove my makeup and it does a very good job at wiping off your makeup.

Moisturizer is another product that I change up as soon as I run out of it. This month and all of last month I’ve been using the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation. I got this in one of the holiday sets and it included a lot of the more well known products from Ole Henriksen. This moisturizer helps a lot with dark spots and brightening up the skin. This moisturizer contains Vitamin C to brighten the skin and it also contains Vitamin E to nourish the skin for a healthy complexion. I’ve really noticed a difference by using this moisturizer. I’ve seen less visible pores and a more even skin tone in the last two months I’ve been using it. I haven’t had any dry flakes on my skin and this moisturizer isn’t very thick but also isn’t very slippery. So when you apply makeup on top it helps it stick onto your skin.

The last skincare product that I’ve included in my favourites is the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This product is very special and its almost like a treat and definitely something a bit more luxurious. This is a very effective oil and you literally wake up to younger looking skin. I usually use this after I rinse my face and get all my makeup off, I used 5 or 6 drops of this then I rub it along my fingers and press it onto my skin. I apply a moisturizer on over top of this just because my skin is always so dry especially now during the winter time. It feels very light and it gets absorbed really quickly. You can definitely see good results after waking up. I’ve also have a full review on this product here.

Makeup

The first makeup product that I’ve been wearing all month is the Bahama Mama Bronzer from The Balm Cosmetics. First of all the packaging of this blush is so nice and it reminds me of my vacation since I bought it that time as well. My skin gets so pale during the winter time and this bronzer has been really giving my skin that bronzy glow. I use it after setting my makeup with a light powder and it really warms up my complexion. I think the colour of this is just the best and I also use this sometimes to contour.

I’ve been using the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara this month and I’ve been really liking it. I really like the wand and it is a bit like the Roller Lash mascara by Benefit. It really helps open the eye and it lengthens and volumizes your lashes very well.

I couldn’t help myself but to try out another product from the amazing Anastasia Beverly Hills and it’s the Dipbrow Pomade. Its definitely a very pigmented and very thick gel. When I just got it I used way too much but if you just dap your brush into the product it will be good enough. It is highly pigmented and a small amount goes a very long way. I always love my brows in place and shaped very well and I really like using this instead of a powder.

The last product that I have been loving this month is the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery. This is such a good quality liquid lipstick that’s not too drying on my lips. Its so smooth and buttery and it lasts a very long time. I love using cool toned red lipsticks but they are very hard to find. Another good one is the Mac Ruby Woo but recently I found that it was so drying on my lips and the lipstick just goes everywhere. This lipstick stays on your lips all day and you have to touch up rarely. It’s definitely my favourite red lipstick. I’ll have to go back and purchase a few more colours.

Hope you all enjoyed my favourites this month! Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of them?

xx, Mariam