Why I wax with Parissa

Can you believe Summer is finally here?! It’s time to break out the sundresses, shorts, rompers and bathing suits. This means it’s also time to have those legs, underarms and bikini lines ready for all that fun in the sun! It’s been a while since my last skincare blog post so I’m excited to share one of my summer ready secrets, Parissa wax. Waxing is a great way to get rid of unwanted body hair and can be done safely in the privacy of your own home.

The Parissa Story

Parissa is a brand I’ve always been familiar with when it comes to at-home waxing but what I didn’t know about this brand is that it’s Canadian and female owned. Founded by Azar Moayeri, a chemical engineer by profession the Parissa story is a true immigrant success story. Azar was a pioneer in a male dominated field and the first female chemical engineer to graduate from the University of New Edinburgh. She later moved back to her native Iran where she worked as a Project Manager. She moved to Canada in 1981 with her husband and children, that’s when she noticed a need for clean, safe and naturally based hair removal products. At the time all hair removal products were chemically based creams or bleaches and of course she saw this as an opportunity to create something remarkable for women!

Azar created Canada’s first all-natural hair removal products right from her kitchen and to this day Parissa remains a family affair. One of the things I love about Parissa is that the ingredients are 100% natural and ethically sourced. They’re also safe for my sensitive skin.

I’ve had bad experiences with skincare products in the past which has resulted in hyperpigmentation and breakouts, with Parissa I don’t have to worry about this.

I recently tried three products from Parissa and I’ve been loving the results I’ve seen.

Bow Waxing Pen

The first product I tried was the Brow Waxing Pen This product is great for keeping your brows on fleek all year round. It’ll also save you a bi-weekly or monthly trip to the salon. Having threaded my brows in the past I wanted to change up how I was styling my brows and this was a great alternative. I love the precision you get with this product and the fact that it’s vegan and fragrance free. It allows you to target specific areas of your eyebrow and is great for short and coarse hair as well. If you’re looking for a broader range of coverage for your brows or are new to at-home waxing then you can also try the Brow Wax Strips.

Face and Body Sugar Wax

For more gentle areas and the sensitive skin on my face I tried Parissa’s Face and Body Sugar Wax. This formula is the gentlest hair removal product and doesn’t irritate my skin. I also like the fact that it washes off and is easy to use. If you’re short on time this product is great since you can just warm it up in the microwave and you’re good to go. It’s safe for hair removal on your upper lip, underarms, legs and bikini line.

Roll-on Organic Sugar Wax

The third product I tried was the roll-on organic sugar wax. I found this products worked well for my legs and I really liked the convenience of the roll-on applicator, which comes in both wide and narrow sizes. This sugar wax is also microwaveable and washes off, a great time saver. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin on my legs but for those of you who do you’ll be happy to know that this wax is vegan and fragrance free. This product can also be used on your upper lip, underarms and bikini line.

Why wax at home?

One of the biggest reasons I chose to wax at home is convenience. I don’t have to worry about booking my appointments in advance or adjusting my schedule accordingly. Most salons also charge you a fee for missed or in some cases cancelled appointments, so you don’t have to think about this with at-home waxing.  There’s also the added privacy and safety of doing this yourself in your own home, especially for more discreet or sensitive areas.

And finally at-home waxing is a lot more economical than waxing at a salon. With the cost of just about everything increasing lately I’m more than happy to save some money with waxing at home. If you’ve never tried waxing at home you can find some tips and tricks here, including all the details about the international day of waxing.

Have you tried Parissa wax products before? Which one is your favourite?

The Weekend Fashionista Facial by MC Laser & Hair

Have you had a facial lately? I am so excited to announce that I’ve collaborated with my favourite medical aesthetician Cherine from MC Laser and Hair. I met Cherine about 3 years ago when I went in to get my eyebrows threaded. She subsequently introduced me to iS Clinical skincare products and I’ve been using them ever since. I wrote about my experience in a previous blog post as well.

Cherine and I wanted to create a relaxing and fun experience so we created a facial that is both rejuvenating and luxurious.

The Weekend Fashionista Facial is a customized combination of rejuvenating and hydrating iS Clinical treatment followed by the luxurious Casmara 24 Karat Gold Mask for an added revitalizing, firming and hydrating effect. I mean who wouldn’t want to have their face dipped in 24K gold right? Is there anything more luxurious or decadent? This facial will leave your skin glowing, plumped and extremely energized.

This 8 step facial is 90 minute long and is a great way to relax and recharge.

The products used in this facial are:

1- iS Clinical Cleansing complex

Skin is double cleansed to insure make up removal the first round and proper skin cleansing with second cleanse. I went in to my facial with a full face of makeup and the cleansing complex takes it right off. I use this product as part of my morning and nighttime skincare routines.

2- iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser

This rich, luxurious treatment cleanser with the purest raw honey, royal jelly, and propolis imparts an extraordinary sensory experience, while effectively cleansing and gently exfoliating the skin. It leaves the skin ultra-hydrated and moisturized.  The Warming Honey Cleanser is massaged on the skin for 10 minutes for a deeper cleanse, gentle exfoliation and added hydration. I really enjoyed this step and it’s very relaxing and great for your skin at the same time.

3- iS Clinical Rejuvenating Masque

This antioxidant rich, refreshing, and soothing masque is extremely hydrating and revitalizing. I found this step really refreshing and cooling.

4- iS Clinical Prohealth Serum Advanced+

15% L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) combined with a powerful blend of superior Olive Leaf extract and pure Vitamins A and E. This product provides powerful antioxidant protection and helps improve the appearance of blemish-prone skin. It’s also great with reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

5- iS Clinical Hydracool

Hydracool serum is formulated to rejuvenate, hydrate, and visibly soothe the skin. This refreshing, powerful, penetrating serum combines superior antioxidants with essential botanicals and bio-nutrients. This product is designed for all skin types and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. I love the feeling of hydracool on my skin it provides an instant cooling and soothing sensation.

6- iS Clinical Moisturizing Complex

This product provides an antioxidant-rich protective barrier. It penetrates the skin and provides surface hydration while the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

7- Casmara 24 Karat Gold Mask

This is my favourite part of the entire facial. You literally have 24K gold dust mixed in to a mask and placed on your face. This mask is amazing and reduces the temperature of the skin by 6 degrees celsius. The gold mask is the most relaxing part of the facial as you get to relax for 20 mins while the mask does its magic.

8- iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50

Sunscreen is so important, especially after a facial. You should always protect your skin against the sun irrespective of whether it’s Summer or Winter.

I really enjoyed my experience with Cherine and I’m so excited to share it with all my followers in Ottawa. The Weekend Fashionista facial is now available at MC Laser and Hair. Booking can be done online or on Instagram.

Preserving Your Perfumes

Christian Dior said that ” a woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting” and if you’re like me then you know how important having a signature scent is. I love perfumes and I must say over the years I collected quite a bit of them. In fact I had more perfumes than I could possibly wear. I’ve since scaled down my collection but as far as scents go my go to perfumes are always Dior.

Perfumes are an investment, they make you feel great and smell even better. Over time perfumes can lose their distinctive scents or evaporate too soon if they aren’t stored properly. I’ve been doing a lot of research on how to make your perfumes last longer so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned. Here are some of my tips for preserving your perfumes.

Save the box

Most fragrances come in a box, it’s a good idea to save the original box the scent came in. Perfume bottles are pretty to display but keeping your fragrances in their boxes protects them from sunlight and against moisture in the air.

Keep cool and dry

Store your perfumes in a cool (but not cold) and dry place. This means avoiding sunny places like a windowsill or a dresser top. Sunlight causes perfumes to evaporate and also affects the chemical makeup of the liquid, which could result in an altered scent. You should also keep your perfumes away from heat and humidity which again can alter the chemistry of a scent. It would be wise to stay away from storing your perfumes in the bathroom.

Travel sizes are your friend

Although it might be tempting to take your full size perfume bottles on trips with you the temperature changes in an airplane can affect your perfumes. Most airlines only allow 100ml quantities of liquids in carry on baggage which can make traveling with perfumes a little challenging. Most times you have no choice other than to pack your perfumes in your checked bags, which are stored in a non-temperature controlled compartment and subject to drastic temperature changes. The extremely cold temperatures can alter the chemical makeup of your favourite fragrances. If you love a particular perfume it’s always a good idea to invest in a travel size bottle or pick up a few samples which can easily fit in your carry-on.

Keep them closed

This may sound a little obvious but it’s important to keep your perfume bottles tightly capped. Improperly closed bottles can lead to evaporation so the next time you spray some of your favourite fragrance take a second to cap it tightly.

Places you shouldn’t store your perfumes:

Windowsills

Any place with direct sunlight

The bathroom

Places you should store your perfumes:

Dark closets

Dresser drawers

In the original box

Cupboards

Do you have any perfume tips to share? I’ve linked some of my favourite perfumes below. What’s your favourite?

Shop The Post:

Holiday Skincare with iS Clinical

The holidays can be a busy time for everyone. With all the parties, celebrations and excitement it’s easy to forget about taking care of yourself and your skin. This year I made it a point to spend more time on skincare and incorporated iS Clinical products in to my daily routine.

I first heard about these products through my aesthetician Cherine at MC Laser Clinic. I usually go to Cherine to keep my eyebrows in top shape (I like to have them threaded instead of waxed) so if you’re looking for a threading artist in Ottawa I highly recommend her.

I’ve noticed a considerable difference in my complexion since I started using iS clinical products. My skin is clearer and more hydrated, which is really important in the colder, dryer Winter months.

I’ve outlined my skincare routine below:

Morning

  1. One pump of the Cleansing Complex
    • Foam and massage in to face for 2mins
    • Scrub off and rinse
  2. 5 drops of the Super Serum Advance + and 3 drops of the Hydra-Cool
    • Apply to face
    • Add moisturizer

Evening

  1. One pump of the Cleansing Complex
    • Foam and massage in to face for 2mins
    • Scrub off and rinse
  2. 5 drops of the Active Serum and 3 drops of the Hydra-Cool
    • Apply to face
    • Add moisturizer

iS Clinical products are made with plant based ingredients. A full breakdown of product ingredients can be found on each of the product pages linked above. You find these and other iS Clinical products at MC Laser Clinic in Ottawa.

Thank you to Cherine and MC Laser Clinic for sponsoring this post.

T3 Whirl Trio Review

Hair curled using T3 1.5′ straight barrel| Floral Blazer – Dynamite

Hair curled using T3 1′ straight barrel|Dress – Suzy Shier| Purse – Nordstrom

Hair curled using T3 1.25-0.75′ tapered barrel|Purse

 

If you’ve been following my blog posts in the last little while you’ve probably noticed that I’ve had curly or wavy hair in some of my photos 🙂 I received the T3 Whirl Trio curling iron for my birthday and I’ve been experimenting with different looks. After using it for about a month and a half I thought it would be good to provide a review since there’s so much buzz surrounding this product.

The Product

The T3 curling iron has an expensive look to it. It’s actually quite lovely to look at and comes in an off-white colour with rose gold details. The power base has 5 settings and LED lights behind each setting (I usually keep the heat low at setting 2 or 3). The curling iron heats up fast and can get very hot! This product travels well and is dual voltage compatible. I took my T3 with me on my trip to Dubai and was able to use it by adding in a converter plug for the prongs.

The Barrels

The Trio comes with a power base and 3 different types of interchangeable barrels. The 1.25-0.75 inch tapered barrel allows you to create soft tousled waves. The 1′ straight barrel is used for undone waves and the 1.5′ straight barrel creates loose waves.

The power base and the barrels are made of ceramic. One of the distinguishing features of the T3 trio is that the barrels are all clipless, unlike many other curling iron barrels. This takes a little getting used to so there’s a bit of a learning curve with this product. You basically wrap your hair around the barrels and hold it in place. The T3 does come with a heat resistant glove which can be used for extra protection.

The Price

T3 products are definitely more expensive than other brands. The trio costs around $350 CAD depending on where you buy it. I believe mine was ordered online from the Bay.

The Verdict

I’ve used many different ranges of curling irons from the Conair Clip Irons to the Curl Secret however I was never happy with the results from these products. I always struggled with the clip irons as I could never get both sides of my hair to look even and the curl would come apart throughout the day. I tried the Curl Secret which essentially does the work for you but it’s time consuming as you can only curl a small portion of hair at a time. This is a limitation of the product as the barrel chamber is fairly narrow. I found the curls lasted longer with the Curl Secret but the process was too tedious.

I have to say I’m extremely happy with the T3 trio. I use the iron on a weekly basis (at least once a week). I tend to use the 1.5′ barrel the most as I like the look of loose waves. This barrel also allows you to curl more hair as it’s wider. I would definitely recommend the T3 trio to someone who is looking to invest in a good curling iron. I like the option of having the 3 different barrels, it’s essentially 3 different curling irons in one package. I definitely think the product is on the expensive side but I’d look at it as an investment. It’s really about finding a product that works best for you and your hair type and the T3 works well for me 🙂

Shop The Post:


Follow my blog with Bloglovin