tatcha luminous dewy skin mist review

Tatcha is a luxury skincare brand that takes pride in both the quality of their products as well as their packaging. Every item is elegantly wrapped to the smallest detail. I had never heard of Tatcha until one day, they exploded with much buzz in the beauty world. Tatcha derives from Japan where founder, Victoria Tsai, learned about geisha inspired beauty rituals from a modern day geisha, claiming, “less is more”. During the bi-annual Sephora VIB sale, I picked up a bottle of their most coveted skincare product, the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist (1.35 oz, $58).

What it does:

This travel friendly silky spray-on moisturizer can be used anytime for a boost of soothing hydration, resulting in dewy, luminous skin. It contains extracted whole plant green tea, rice bran oil and red algae. The specialized pump design allows for an evenly distributed amount of product that will soften and smooth, without streaking or disturbing makeup.

Packaging

Any product by Tatcha has an incredibly luxurious look and feel to it. They spare nothing when it comes to the detail of their products and this skin mist exemplifies that. I love the sleek glass bottle of the mist and gold pump. The purple shade fades into translucent glass so you can note how much product is left when you begin to reach the end of the bottle. The gold pump creates an ultra fine mist, which makes application seamless and painless. I have been using the Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist and have instantly replaced it with the dewy mist by Tatcha because of how evenly distributed the product applies onto skin.

Product

I know facial mists aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and that many see it as an unnecessary step. I completely understand this, however, I feel that this luminous skin mist is so much more than “just a mist”. I think of it as part of my skincare routine as it is ultra hydrating and keeps my skin feeling incredibly healthy. 

This is a super versatile product; you can use this as a toner, moisturizer or my favourite way, a setting spray. If my skin feels ultra dry, I will spritz this on before makeup application, but on a normal day, I tend to apply my makeup and set it with this milky mist. The result is a radiant and luminous finish that keeps me hydrated and feeling like I’m having a good skin day. Don’t forget to gently shake before spritzing!

Verdict

If you’re like me and have combination/oily skin, you know the struggle of finding mattifying products. Once you find a good mattifying product, you’re stuck with the issue of looking a bit flat with no radiance or depth to your skin. Using a dewy skin mist will help create a subtle luminosity to your skin while keeping it hydrated with natural anti-aging properties. I haven’t come across another product like this before and I am so happy I finally took the plunge into the beautiful, luxurious world of Tatcha skincare!

Repurchase?

Absolutely – from start to finish, this product provides a feeling of excitement. The packaging is absolutely stunning and the application provides a healthy, flawless finish leaving you with the feeling of utter happiness.

Have you tried anything from the Tatcha line? If so, which product? 

ethnicity tag

I have been following beauty blogs for a few years now and have always loved when things got a little personal. I feel that getting to know the person typing away behind the keyboard helps connect the readers to the blogger. While browsing bloglovin' the other night I came across a fun tag posted by Tips Capsule Blog called "the ethnicity tag". I thought it was so fun and decided to answer the questions today. Here we go!

What is your ethnicity?
Although I may not look like it, I'm actually half Chinese and half Macedonian.

When was the last time you visited your country?
The last time I visited Hong Kong was almost 9 years ago (it feels like only a few years ago though!). Unfortunately, I haven't visited Macedonia yet, but it is on my travel list!!

Name one household item that best represents your culture.
If I had to pick one item, it would definitely be a lucky cat. Having one in your house brings the owners good luck, health and prosperity. We also used the lucky cats as our wedding favours, so this holds a special sentimental meaning to me as well.

Name one ethnic food that you enjoy the most.
If I'm mixed, I'm allowed to pick two items, right? I love both Chinese and Macedonian cuisine.
One of my favourite Chinese items are the Cha Siu Bao (steamed/baked pork filled buns) I grew up with. They taste incredible and I can literally have this any time of the day.
My favourite Macedonian item would definitely be Zelnik. This savory dish is made with phyllo pastry stuffed with feta. My baba (grandma) makes this from scratch, hand rolling the layers of thin pastry like a pro. Love you, baba!

Side note, what is it with me loving carbs stuffed with things?! haha moving on...

What part of your country are you from?
My mom's family lives in Hong Kong while my dad's family moved to Canada from a small village in the southern region of Macedonia.

What song reminds you of your country?
I can't honestly say there is one song that reminds me of either country, however, I do recall those early Saturday mornings when my mom would be cleaning downstairs blasting Chinese opera, haha. I associate any Macedonian song I hear with weddings. We attended many, many weddings when I was younger (my extended Macedonian family is pretty big).

Do you speak your language?
Sadly no, my parents spoke english to us so that the other parent could understand as well. People find it strange but it has always made sense to me.

If you found this tag interesting, feel free to share your story on your blog and let me know! I would be more than happy to check it out!

the must haves | le blanc de chanel

While out for dinner with a friend one night, I noticed that her makeup looked exceptionally flawless (we're talking Beyonce flawless). I asked her what she was wearing and she said four words that would change my makeup game forever - Le Blanc De Chanel* (1oz, $48). Not too long after that discussion, I caved and picked up a bottle. Le Blanc De Chanel is a multi use illuminating base that acts like a primer (for best results, wear this product under your foundation). Don't be afraid of the milky white consistency as this oil-free liquid applies smoothly onto skin as a sheer base. 

The glass bottle is luxurious but not practical for travel. The new bottles now come with a pump which keeps things less messy and more controlled. A little goes a long way with this base; I use half a pump to cover my cheeks and chin as I prefer a more mattified look without illumination on my super oily nose and forehead (Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector* is a great option). 

This has instantly become one of my Holy Grail products. Once applied onto my face, I feel like I'm having a great skin day. Since purchasing this base, I consistently reach for this above all other primers. It gives off a wonderfully radiant, dewy glow without being too shimmery or oily. If you haven't had a chance to try this base out yet, I highly recommend you should! You won't be disappointed!

Quick tip: blend this multi use base with your foundation to lighten up the coverage while giving you a healthy, radiant glow. 

*Shop Le Blanc De Chanel Here
*Shop Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector Here

why i love makeup

The beauty industry is exciting, captivating, chaotic and ever changing - and I love it all. Some people enjoy watching movies or collecting stamps, but I prefer beauty products. I beam with excitement when a friend asks me for advice on makeup or skincare. Before any advice, I ask what seems to be an endless stream of questions to get an idea of what they're looking for, completely oblivious of the fact that not everyone reads up on the latest innovations of skincare or watches youtube videos on how to perfect a cat-eye on a nightly basis. Winding down after work means logging onto my computer and absorbing everything I can about beauty. It is my daily serenity now moment.

I remember when Sephora first launched in Canada. I was intimidated to walk in, with all the beautifully lined products and bright lights. It was the first time I felt the chaos in the world of beauty. It was an exhilarating experience to say the least.  Fast forward to today and I can tell you where any product you're looking for is located in many Sephora's across the city. People may find it bizarre but I can spend an endless amount of time roaming the makeup aisles. You know those coffee connoisseurs that walk into Starbucks and ask for a double shot, skinny, soy, no foam latte? That's how I feel when I'm on a hunt for a new product that has just arrived. Can you direct me to the X palette from season Y by Z?

I've gone from thick brows to thin back to somewhere in between. I'm constantly learning new ways to use makeup and to see what works with my skin type. Throughout my journey, I decided I wanted to share my experiences with the internet world; so, welcome to the exciting, captivating, chaotic and ever changing world of beauty.

What do you love about the beauty industry?

the must haves: laneige water sleeping mask

Last year was all about skincare. I did a complete overhaul of my skincare products as I scoured the beauty aisles on a mission for the most hydrating, light weight and non-greasy formula money can buy. The hunt is over, friends. I transitioned entirely to the Laneige line and haven't looked back since! Everything I've tried from Laneige has been incredible, however, I can't rave enough about their Water Sleeping Mask (2.7 oz, $30 cdn). 

This revitalizing gel mask absorbs quickly and keeps your skin hydrated throughout the night. Although the product should be used once or twice a week, I tend to dip into the jar more frequently during the winter season. When my skin begins to feel dehydrated, I literally create a small layer over my face and let it soak in overnight. My skin receives an instant boost of hydration and the next morning my skin feels fantastic. I have never had so many great skin days in a row. 

Growing up with combination skin was pretty annoying. Every product I used would either work for my t-zone but not the rest of my face or vice versa. Hydrating gels and creams would make my t-zone super oily. This mask has a gel like consistency, making it super light weight and non-greasy, thus, making my skin look much less oily than it used to without sacrificing hydration. 

Needless to say, this is one product that is a must have for me. It works wonders and is currently one of the least expensive masks on the market. Laneige has began to expand their line; which now includes hydrating, repairing and brightening products. Moving into 2016, the Korean skincare game is continuing to remain strong.

Have you tried any of the brightening products by Laneige? That's next on my list to try!
Click here to read my review on the hydrating trial set by Laneige! 

the budget buy: joe fresh blush sticks

This Valentine's weekend has me thinking about love. Obviously, I'm talking about my love for blush and all things pink! I generally gravitate towards powder blushes and although I've always wanted to try cream blush, I've never had the courage to pick one up - until a few days ago. 

Shoppers Drug Marts across Canada have launched an affordable beauty line by Joe Fresh. I figured this would be my opportunity to play with creamy blush sticks without breaking the bank. I chose two pretty pink blushes in Radiant Rose and Peach Dream and the highlighter stick in Pure Glow. 

The packaging is exactly what you would expect at this price point - nothing fancy, just simple and sturdy. The blushes are not matte; they have a subtle sparkle when applied. I was surprised at how smooth the blushes glided on and how pigmented the product was. Both blushes blended easily and created a pretty powdery finish on my skin. The highlighter should apply the same as the blushes, however, I had a much harder time applying the product at first. It took some warming up, but I eventually got the product gliding the same way as the blush. I found the pure glow to be a little too sparkly for my taste and personally, I feel it's much more suited to younger women. 

If you haven't had a chance to try out Joe Fresh beauty products, I'd recommend starting with the blush and avoid the highlighter altogether if your age doesn't end in "teen". I think I need to pick up the other two blush stick colours! Love, love, love!