BeautyLash

Brow and Lash Tint Kit ($19.99) - With brow and lash tinting becoming so popular in the past couple years, bring the salon home with this DIY  tinting kit.

Mesmoreyes

Eyelash Collection 3 Sets ($12.99) - False lashes are easy to use and will come in handy - for either everyday wear or for special occasions *cough, New Years Eve*.

 Fletxitol

Lip Balm ($5.49) - Know someone with super dry and chapped lips? Yupp, me too. This is definitely going to the FH.

7th Heaven

Face Masks ($1.99-$2.49) - Face masks are the perfect stocking stuffer because anyone can use it, literally. The hardest part is choosing one from the wide range of possibilities, but exfoliating and peel-off masks are probably the safest bets.

 Yes To...

Face Masks ($3.99) - I know I've already suggested face masks, but I wasn't joking when I said anyone can use them. If anyone says otherwise, it's because they haven't tried one. I'm kidding... Maybe... These ones from Yes To.. are definitely more skin-type specific though, so if you know your giftee's skin type and would prefer a narrower selection to choose from, Yes To... has got you covered!

That wraps up my last minute beauty related stocking stuffers list. Let me know if you've braved some last minute shopping and what you got in the comments below!

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Happy Holidays everyone! In the spirit of giving, I have teamed up with Johnny's Chop Shop for an amazing giveaway, valued over $80. If you're unfamiliar with Johnny's Chop Shop, they are a breakthrough barbershop and male grooming brand that fuses 1950s and 1960s retro style and modern day trend. It's all about crafting honest, slick styles for guys who want to be well-groomed with attitude.

My FH has already given their Wild Cat Hair Clay a try and he absolutely loves it, especially because the compact metal tin is super convenient for his trips between Ottawa and Toronto. He also recently grew out his beard for Movember, so the Beard Oil is definitely going to be handy for the holidays.

Although this giveaway will run through Christmas, it'll be a great start to the New Year! Keep scrolling for giveaway rules, details, and to enter. Good luck!

Prize
One winner will receive the prize pack pictured above. featuring the following products from Johnny's Chop Shop:

• This giveaway is open for Canadian residents only.
• This giveaway starts on December 22, 2018 and ends on January 5, 2019 at 11:59pm (ET).
• One winner will receive the prize pack pictured and described above.
• Please be aware that all entries will be double checked to ensure fairness.
• Once the winner has been contacted, they will have 48 hours to provide me with their mailing address. If the winner fails to respond within that time frame, I will pick another winner.
• “Giveaway accounts” will not be considered for this prize. 

Founded in 2010, Crawford Street Natural Skin Care is a Toronto-based company that, like the name states, focuses on creating high-quality natural skin care products. Crawford Street products are made with natural ingredients and in small batches, with some of them being vegan as well, and are packaged in glass to try and reduce plastic wastage. 

As a newbie to the natural skincare world, I gravitated towards the Herbes de Provence Cream Deodorant ($10 for 1oz | $18 for 2 oz) as my first experience with natural deodorants was pretty positive. However, unlike regular stick deodorants, this was a cream deodorant that required using my fingers to apply the product. Not going to lie, I was so weirded out by the thought of touching my own armpits that I used a brush for my first ever application - which was a fail, mostly because finger warmth is necessary for this oil/butter based formula. 

Once I got over touching my armpits, the application was smooth - literally! The formula practically melts into my skin, and actually allowed me to have a more even and thorough application because I could feel it. It doesn't provide any white marks or stickiness that I sometimes get with regular deodorant, which is a huge plus. 

In terms of scent, this deodorant contains scents of lavender, rosemary, parsley, marjoram and thyme, which pretty much screams natural earthy fragrances - much like when walking past a Saje store. The longevity of the product is on par with my experiences so far with natural deodorants - great for everyday use, but not strong enough for the gym. With this in mind, the travel size of the cream deodorant makes it handy for on-the-go reapplication if you're not a fan of using regular deodorant.

All in all, I'm quite happy with Crawford Street's cream deodorant, and although I probably would've never tried this product if not for this opportunity, I'm really glad I did. I'll most likely continue using this deodorant as my travel deodorant, especially with my many commutes to Ottawa to visit the fiance, due to the convenient size. 

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Mix Beauty Lab is the ultimate beauty boutique in Toronto, offering a wide range of skincare products and services, such as facials, threading, manis-pedis, and more. The coolest service that Mix Beauty Lab offers is their Custom Makeup Services, which includes custom foundations, lipsticks, and glosses.

 I've always wanted to customize my beauty products, and up until this point, I thought it was only possible in Toronto through Bite Beauty's Lip Lab. To be able to create more than one custom beauty product with Mix Beauty Lab was really exciting, and to be honest, I'm really impressed with the whole experience and quality of the products. 

Custom Foundation ($65)

The process in creating the custom foundation was the easiest and fastest of the three.
I sat in a chair while the specialist asked a couple questions such as:
Do you prefer a light/medium/full coverage? What's your skin type? Do you want SPF? And so on.

This conversation was probably only 3 minutes long, but within those 3 minutes, she was able to create my custom foundation using a base along with various pigments and additives. The best part was that she got it in the first try! I was completely expecting her to do more colour matching, but the fact that she was able to do it in one go was mind blowing.
The result was a light, sheer, almost BB cream-like, matte foundation that perfectly matched my skin.
The foundations are then hand poured into a glass bottle, and the specialist makes a voice memo of your shade so it can be added to your profile.

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I’m so amazed at the custom foundation from @mixbeautylab. It literally took a handful fo questions and a couple of minutes to create my perfect foundation ❤️. If you have trouble finding your perfect match, I would definitely check them out! . . #bblogger #bbloggersca #beautybloggers #canadianblogger #toronto #torontoblogger #customfoundation #foundation #mixbeautylabTO

A post shared by Maria L (@pnkpetals) on Nov 6, 2018 at 3:40pm PST

(P.S. If anyone knows how to centre embed Instagram posts on Blogger, your help would be much appreciated!)

Custom Lipstick (1 for $50, 2 for $80)
Of the three custom products, I found the custom lipstick was the most fun to make.
First, you get to choose between a satin or matte finish. The specialists then asks a couple questions to get an idea of the shade you want, and she puts a bunch of colours on your palette to mix. You can adjust the colour as you go with the help of the specialist - perhaps you want it a bit brighter, dustier, or darker. Jill from Beauty Vixen actually brought in her own lipstick to match for the specialist, and it the result was pretty darn close!

When you're happy with the colour, the specialist will add more pigment so that the colour won't be too sheer when mixed with the base of your choice. Then it's off to molding your custom shade of lipstick - mine being a matte mauve/dusty rose colour because I find that I always gravitate towards those shades.

Custom Lipgloss (1 for $40, 2 for $70)
The custom lipgloss was definitely the most hands on of the three, and the most personal as you're mixing everything from start to finish yourself. It first starts with your choice of three bases: high shine gloss, gel gloss, or smoothie gloss. Like the lipstick, the specialist asks what colour you're interested in making, giving you the base colours needed for your shade.

The rest is completely up to you, from colour, pigmentation, scent, and finish. The finished gloss will then be hand poured into clear tube with an attached mirror. My smoothie gloss was a semi-sheer, dusty maroon/brown colour, perfect for the Fall!

Although I'll admit that the price is a bit steep for the products, the quality of the products and ability to customize it is really great. The experience itself was also amazing, and one that I would look forward to again. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy personalized products, or have trouble finding the perfect shade for yourself, I would definitely recommend checking out Mix Beauty Lab.

As a brand, Vichy makes some really great quality products that are hypoallergenic, paraben-free, alcohol-free, oil-free, non-greasy, silicone-free - and they're tested on sensitive skin. Depending on the line, I've found some of Vichy's products is quite heavy for my skin, but the Aqualia Thermal line worked amazingly well. 

Vichy's Aqualia Thermal line is all about hydration, containing hyaluronic acid, vegetal sugars, and the highest concentration of soothing, fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water. Today, I'll be reviewing some of the newest members of this line: the Aqualia Thermal Rehydrating Serum, and the Aqualia Thermal Light Cream. 

The Aqualia Thermal Rehydrating Serum was definitely my favourite of the two because it was so light, refreshing, and soothing. The pump bottle also made it easier for me to apply in a rush for the late mornings - which is basically every morning for me. The formula absorbed pretty quickly into my skin, and although my skin was a bit oily at the end of the day, it was still very manageable.

The Aqualia Thermal Light Cream was a bit heavier for me, and was reserved for nightly uses, even though it's geared towards normal/combination skin. 

Both products were really effective in hydrating my skin, without making me feel like an oil slick, and more importantly, without breaking me out. Would I recommend this line? Heck yeah! I've actually already finished my bottle of Rehydrating Serum, which is a really big deal for me because I like to ping-pong back and forth between skincare products!

*Products were sent for review

If you've checked Instagram lately, you might have noticed a plethora of vibrant photos from the Happy Place. If not, then you might be wondering "what the heck is the Happy Place?".

Well, my friend, the Happy Place is an interactive pop-up exhibit all the way from Los Angeles, and will be temporarily residing in Toronto from November 1 to January 1, 2019. The exhibit boasts 13 different and funky rooms, providing numerous photo ops, such as rubber duck lined walls with a vibrant yellow bathtub, or a cookie scented room with a giant cookie to match. The best part is saved for last, containing a giant ball pit that you can jump into, and a confetti dome.

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A post shared by Maria L (@pnkpetals) on Nov 4, 2018 at 6:48am PST

Visitors have an hour to go through the exhibit, which I found was very true as it took us the full hour - and it wasn't really busy when we went either. With that in mind, it might take you a bit more time depending on the volume as lineups grow - mostly for the bathtub, XO, and ball pit photos. (One thing I will mention is that because it's an interactive exhibit, it's not the cleanest - the bathtub was full of dirt and other people's hair, which kind of grossed me out. If this would bother you too, I would recommend going at an earlier time because the Happy Place does routinely clean their exhibit.) At the end of the exhibit, there is a mini boutique, cafe, and lemonade stand where visitors can refuel, but it didn't seem worth it to me tbh, even if it was for the gram. Overall though, I had an amazing time - the Happy Place truly does make you happy! 

If you're interested in checking out the Happy Place, tickets will cost a chunk at $32.50 on weekdays and $39.50 on weekends, plus taxes. Tickets are timed and non-refundable, so be sure to clear your schedule before booking your tickets! 

Let's be friends!

Let's be friends!

Today, I'm going to be sharing my Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe. Seriously guys, I cannot have enough of these cookies, and neither can my fiance. We pretty much eat the batch as it's on the cooling rack. To help portion ourselves though, a lot of this dough gets frozen in pre-made cookie dough balls until we're ready to have a treat! This recipe creates about 2 dozen or so cookies, depending on the size of your cookies. And without further ado, here is my Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe!

Ingredients:

Directions:

And there you have it! The great thing about this recipe is that it is so versatile.You can substitute anything for the chocolate chips, such as Toblerone or chopped up candy bars, or even change it to a sugar cookie by replacing the brown sugar with granulated white sugar. 

Link your favourite cookie dough recipe below, I'd love to try some more! :) 

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The hardest part of doing gel manicures at home is definitely taking them off. SensatioNail sells removal kits, but I went about it the old fashioned way and soaked my nails in acetone while watching an episode of Friends, and peeled off the polish along the way. Because of the lengthy removal process, I wouldn't do this routinely, but unlike the first kit, I'm definitely keeping this! I actually was really impressed with this kit and was looking up other polish colours to purchase. It's great to have on hand and to use for any upcoming events and/or special occasions because you don't have to worry about the polish chipping off the day of.  SensatioNail's Express Gel One Step Polish Manicure Kit is available to purchase at Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart.

How often do you go to the nail salon?

Not too long ago, I reviewed Oko Creations' Reusable Makeup Removal Pads, which were a great alternative to disposable cotton pads. This time, I will be reviewing their Reusable Panty Liners ($18.95/2 pack) and see how it stands up to regular panty liners. Oko Creations has liners for panties and thongs, both of which claim to be waterproof, providing great protection for light flow days to leakages, and are made with 2 layers of absorbent hemp (58% organic cotton, 40% hemp, and 2% polyurethane). How does it stay on? The panty liners stay put with a snap enclosure that wraps around your underwear. Now, onto the review!

Before I start, this is your TMI warning, because it's about to get pretty darn personal here.

Now that that's out of the way, let me start by saying that my period last around 5-7 days with the first 2-3 being the heaviest. I also have fairly sensitive skin, so I almost always get a rash from using pads and/or liners, usually from the 4th day onward. I'm also not comfortable using tampons and/or menstrual cups so I just rash it out until I'm done my cycle. This is one of the reason why the reusable liners intrigued me so much - if it could help with my rashes, then I would be forever grateful! I'm also only going to be reviewing the regular liners, cause I absolutely hate thongs. Now, cut to me actually using the liners:

Before: I decided to save these liners for the 5th day onward because I wasn't sure how well it perform. Upon first impression, the liners were easy to use and the snap enclosure did a good job keeping the liners in place, but the snugness of my underwear definitely helped with this too. The liners were extremely soft and comfortable - way better than regular liners. They actually helped my rash situation and I was rash free this cycle!

 During: This cycle was fairly light, so the liners were up against light spotting - nothing crazy here, but I would advise against wearing for anything but spotting. The reason for this is that some of the spotting I had was able to transfer onto my underwear - not enough to soak through but there was some coloration that made me panic a little, but nothing more happened here. Because I was a bit unprepared to change the liners and forgot to bring a bag to put the soiled one in, I wore it for a full day and actually noticed that there was less of an odor compared to when I wore regular liners.

After: The liners are super easy to take care of as you just pop it into the wash with your regular underwear, and considering that a cycle is usually once a month, this is pretty low maintenance. I know what you're wondering - did it stain? And the answer is... yes. I know, I wish I could say otherwise, but like all light coloured fabrics, the blood does leave a stain. Because of this, I wish the liners were a darker or different colour because it does look a bit off putting, but at the same time it's a darn liner and you really can't expect too much here. As for storage, I just fold them and put them in my pad drawer. 

Based on my experience with Oko Creations' Oko-Liners, I will definitely recommend them if you have very light days at the end of your cycle. I'll continue to use these and much prefer them over my regular disposable liners. BUT, I would be sure to use them only on my lightest days to prevent any accidents, or use them when my skin starts to get irritated so I can prevent a rash forming. If you're interested in purchasing these liners, check out Oko's website to order online or find a retailer near you :).

Do you use any reusable menstrual cycle products? Which one is your favourite?

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