PACIFICA PERFUME

I am a creature of habit in some ways, not all. I like towels folded a certain way, labels to be facing out in the cupboards, objects to be in pairs, and routines to be consistent. This also applies to perfume once I find something I love, and works well with my body chemistry I usually stick with a product long term. This happens to be the case with Pacifica perfume. 

 A little over three years ago I noticed the Pacifica line being carried through my favourite online retailer Well.ca (link in the sidebar) and opted to give it a try. Having been disappointed with fragrance in the past, I decided to start small instead of buying a full-size product. I ordered the Island Vanilla solid perfume, let's just say it was love at first whiff. This is a sweet yet rich Tahitian vanilla scent with honey dappled jasmine notes and a robust tea base all the things I love. I would say bar none this has become my signature scent which has taken me years to find. I also like the Indian coconut nectar as well, but still Island Vanilla remains #1. I often layer the two perfumes together. When you first spray Island Vanilla it hits you with that sweetness but as it dries down it turns into something warm, creamy, and not overwhelming.

WHAT'S IN IT? (INFO TAKEN FROM PACIFICA WEB SITE)
Pacifica’s Island Vanilla Spray Perfumes contain natural denatured alcohol and Pacifica’s own fragrance blend with natural and essential oils including juniper, grapefruit, and heliotrope.  No parabens, animal testing, animal ingredients or artificial colors.  100% VEGAN and Gluten-free.

Pacifica is carried online and you can also check who is a stockist in your area

I would highly recommend this line of perfumes especially if you have allergies or irritations to synthetic fragrance. Since using this product I don't have any congestion in my nose or eye twitching like I have with other perfume. I really hope that Pacifica never changes the formulation of this scent because it's perfect just the way it is.

In time I would like to try some other perfumes in the collection which has a range of 18 different scents. The average price here in Canada is between $25-30 for a 30ml bottle and about $10 for the solid perfume which is 10g. The current bottle I have I use every day and has lasted me 2 months, and I am only now starting to run out. 

For every Island Vanilla sold a portion of sales proceeds go to the Ocean Future Society which is a non-profit marine conservation group.

CanadianEcoMom Final thought- I find perfume purchasing a highly personal thing so unless you know a friend or family member likes a certain scent for sure, or they have made mention of one in conversation please refrain from buying it for others. I find people often buy something because they see a gift set on sale or even regift it, and why is that? because the person would not have chosen that scent in the first place. 

I hope you found this post helpful and will be on the look out for Pacifica near you

PACIFICA

NO BUY NOVEMBER PART4 BEAUTY PRODUCTS (ANYTHING)

Hi everyone,

So here in the GTA we have finally been hit with are first snow fall of the year which occurred Saturday November 23 and continued well into the night leaving us with just under a foot of snow and plunging temperatures feeling like -20 with the wind chill. I will be putting my winter boots to good use this week.
Speaking of which this is it the last week of "NO BUY" November and we have successfully made it unscathed, at least I know I have:) As I mentioned previously I found this a pretty easy challenge and would gladly do another one again in the future.

This last week we are able to just randomly share whatever items we have found in our stash that have become new and interesting all over again. I have 5 items to share all focusing on different areas, which I thought would round out the final week nicely.

 First up is:

ALBA BONTANICA ACNEDOTE FACE WASH- Truthfully when I first got this I really wasn't sure how I felt about it. I used it for a few weeks and I did not see a real difference if I had a small breakout etc. I decided to shelf it and come back to it at a later time. Now this past week I found myself grab for it and use it a couple of times again. I have no clue what is going on, but I keep getting pimples on my nose which seldom happened before and now it seems as of late every time I wake up there is something there. I don't know if it's a product I am using, maybe it could even be this particular face wash.?!?!?!? I am at a loss. However I did give it another fair chance, but I think this will be put to the back of the closet yet again. ACNEdote is a natural face wash with willow bark which for those that don't know has naturally occurring salicylic acid. I feel the peppermint oil is actually what is over stimulating my face and making me break out. You get 177ml for about $15

So all though rediscovered not my favourite choice for the month.

 

MILANI CRYSTAL GLOSS- SUMMER BABY
When this gloss first released it was considered a very good dupe for Mac's Nymphette tinted lipglass. I would have to agree based on the photo's I have seen of both swatches. However what a huge price difference Mac is $18 here in Canada and the Milani gloss is only $5. I love the smell, price, wear time and portable size of the tube of the Milani gloss and glad I picked one up and you should too:)

SPARITUAL LACQUER- SUN SALUTATION
For anyone who is new to my blog I am a huge fan of SpaRitual nail polish and think it's worth every penny and highly recommend this line if you are looking for beautiful, unique, vegan, earth friendly products. The pictures I take of this polish never ever do it justice, it is so much more beautiful in person and I suggest checking it out if you ever spot it at a store. It truly is the most amazing rose gold I have ever seen (no joke) and it lasts for days. SpaRitual polishes are 15ml bottles and cost about $13.

 

 

 

I have several polishes from SpaRitual and they are all my favourites in my entire collection of polishes which is currently sitting at 75.

 

 

 

L'OREAL LIMITED EDITION CANNES QUAD- COPPER COCKTAIL

I got this quad back in the summer and it got stuffed to the back of my eyeshadow drawer and I happened upon it and was wowed by its beauty all over again. I love strong metal shades that leave that foil type finish behind. I think there is nothing more pretty and definitely makes the eyes pop.

My only complaint with this quad is even though the lay out looks modern and geometric it is flawed because you need to be very careful when trying to pick up just one colour on your brush.

Also there is not much product, I imagine if I used it everyday it would be gone in no time. It was $12 which is also quite high for what it is. They are nicely pigmented and blend out well.

 

 

There are other quads out there with similar colours. Unfortunately this can no longer be picked up because it was limited edition, but you might find one floating around on Ebay if you really must have this one.

 

 

 

 

PINK SUGAR PERFUME BY AQUOLINA

Over the month of October I started experimenting wearing warm spicy fragrance, but have gradually headed back to my favorites which are "gourmand" type scents. Not saying I don't like the spicy scents I just prefer the sweeter tones especially now that I am in full on Holiday/Christmas mode. So with that I pulled out my bottle of "PINK SUGAR" and I have been loving it once again. So yummy it truly is like sweet candy in a bottle. I love that its a mix of vanilla, caramel, fig, cotton candy and a nice musky base and also sweet berries mingling in there to. There is a lot going on with this perfume, but it some how all seamlessly works together for a truly sugar-tastic experience. I got a 50ml bottle on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart for $20 which is an excellent deal as it retails at Sephora for $45.

 

SO THAT CONCLUDES THE NO BUY NOVEMBER SERIES AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED EVERY THING I FEATURED OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. ONLY 6 DAYS TO GO AND THEN I AM GOING SHOPPING LOL;D

DID YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE THAT WAS FEATURED IN MY "NO BUY NOVEMBER" POSTS???

 

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING HERE AT MAKEUP'ASYLUM

 

 

XOXO

 

ANNA SUI ROCK ME AND SECRET WISH FRAGRANCE REVIEW

Today is the last review I will be doing for a long while on Anna Sui products. So on a sweeter note I thought the last review should be two of her fragrances.

First up is SECRET WISH- This is a fresh fragrance with depth that screams summer time, at least to me any way. It smells of fresh floral's enveloped with sweet juicy essence of melon and lime and lemon tones linger nicely in the foreground of this scent. It has a mysterious tone to it that is a little hard to pinpoint, but is certainly unique.

 

Since I received this eau de toilette I have reached for it most days. I love scents that are not so common. Now a days you can literally pass a dozen people who pretty much smell the same because so many people buy very common fragrance or what ever is popular at the moment.

The bottle is fairly basic, but still looks pleasing with small detailing, geometric shape that can either be stood or laid on it's side and the aqua coloured liquid is a sure hit with me.

If your a fan of a fragrance such a Dolce & Gabbana light blue then this fragrance should be on your list of ones to try.

 

SECRET WISH comes in various sizes and price range from $18-75

This particular 75ml bottle would run you around $70

 

SECRET WISH was released in 2005

 

Moving a long the other scent I received is Anna Sui's ROCK ME- This bottle is a real show stopper with it's girly curved guitar bottle draped with a butterfly, hearts, stars and peace sign motif. So why not channel your inner rock star and give this scent a try.

 

 

I find this to be a very sweet scent with a strong hold on peach at the start and fusing into the honeysuckle, jasmine and waterlily. The dry down then takes on a warmer feeling with the amber and cedarwood marrying with all the other scents for quite the grand finale.

I find that I prefer the "Secret Wish" over this scent and this is not normally a fragrance I would jump to purchase. However this was gifted to me and I appreciate it no less. Even if the fragrance is not one I will use a lot, I will enjoy the aesthetic of the bottle sitting on my vanity.

 

Again there are various sizes for this fragrance and the price range is about the same as Secret Wish

 

This is a 75ml bottle for around $60

 

You can find Anna Sui fragrances at select SHOPPERS DRUG MART locations, as well as Secret Wish is carried at Sephora and you can also see these products on Anna Sui's direct website.

 

www.shoppersdrugmart.ca

or

www.sephora.ca/com

 and

www.annasui.com

 

When it comes to fragrance always make sure to go to the store and use the tester. Make sure to spray near pulse points and actually walk around the store for a while or go finish up your shopping to see how it melds with your own unique body chemistry. Just remember what may not work for one person, may just be the best thing you ever discovery.

 

BOTH FRAGRANCES WERE GIFTED TO ME FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW. ALL MY OPINIONS ARE STILL MY OWN AND BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRODUCTS.

 

Be sure to come back often, Till then...

 

STAY BEAUTIFUL XO

 

  

****SPECIAL EDITION MEN'S MONDAY******* AVON BLACK SUEDE ESSENTIAL

 For those of you that don't know I have decided to start a new segment on MakeUp'Asylum called "MEN'S MONDAY."

So for all you gals and guys out there that have a spouse or partner that loves facial care, shaving products and cologne then continue reading because that's what this is all about.

Now a days more and more men are starting to take much better care of their skin and making that a big part of their everyday routines. Also we as spouses and partners appreciate our men smelling just as good as we do, but on a masculine note.
That being said that's why I decided to start touching base on this end of the cosmetic world.

The item I would like to talk about on this very first "Men's Monday" is Avon's BLACK SUEDE ESSENTIAL. There are some names of cologne or perfume that are from Avon the minute you hear it you associate it with old or outdated. However rest assured this new take on an old favorite is sure to please a new audience of consumers.

 

So according to my husband he says he likes this cologne and has no complaints. He feels it has good staying power and the bottle is a nice simple yet masculine design that fits well in the medicine cabinet, which is his preferred place to keep his toiletries. The bottle is quite nice and is a deep rich plum purple glass with a thick plastic cap, but doesn't look cheap.

 

In terms of smell both my husband and I really like this. We have read other reviews about this cologne on "FRAGRANTICA" and totally disagree with people saying that its a weak cologne.

I smell rich tones throughout that is warm, but not to overly spicy which can be choky and irritating. I also smell the blend of lavender and faintly citrus. The scents I notice most is a rich musky leather, which I for one am a big fan of, but I understand that's not for everyone. I find this is a mature scent, but not mature as in old, mature as in just age appropriate for those in their 30's perhaps.

My husband said that he would buy this again because its a practical cologne and you get a lot for how much you pay.

So we got a bogo deal on this, I got my perfume free and this cologne is 100ml and was $20 at the time we purchased it.

 

Just remember when purchasing perfume or cologne when you have sprayed it on to make sure to do so on your pulse points and you don't have to drown yourself in it. We tend to think that because our nose has adjusted and we can't smell it that it means its weak, not true. People around you, standing beside you or in passing can indeed smell what your wearing. I like when I pass someone and catch a whisper of what they are wearing, not being hit by a wall of fragrance which in some cases can be horrible and stomach turning.

 

So in closing we will be using different ratings based on what we are speaking about that day. Today on the SMELL OR METER my husband and I give this a 4 outta 5.

 

So if this cologne sounds good to you contact your local Avon rep today. The reps can sometimes hook you up with a sample to try or look out for great offers and buy yourself a bottle.

 

HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS NEW SEGMENT AND FOR ALL YOU MEN OUT THERE STAY TUNED AND...........

 

 

STAY GROOMED

 

AND FOR YOU MARRIED FELLAS REMEMBER "HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE";)

 

 

 

BATH AND BODY WORKS 2013 ESCAPE COLLECTION and more.....

HELLO EVERYONE,

                    Today's post is about the Bath & Body works 2013 ESCAPE COLLECTION this is a collection that has stolen my heart. Anything that is tropical is always a sure hit with me.

Over the mother's day week-end I picked up a lot of different things and got some great deals along the way.

I picked 4 body spray's and 1 triple moisture body cream

The body mist's are BALI MANGO, ARUBA COCONUT AND RIO RUMBERRY. The triple moisture cream I opted for is the companion cream to BALI MANGO. I also picked one body mist from the Bella Italy collection which is VENICE DOLCE BERRY.

Normally I am such a huge fan of coconut and yes I do love the Aruba coconut and I did want the companion triple cream as well but they were sold out at the location I was at. I love anything that smells like a tropical vacation spot or warm skin with tanning lotion on it. I in general love coconut to wear, eat and smell. So if you love it as much as I do then do NOT miss this years summer scent. I do not smell the tones of apple, but on first spray I do catch the essence of mango and nectarine ever so slight and quick. The dry down is richness from warm sandalwood and the vanilla and coconut cream with the sensual smell of exotic musk.

The Rio Rumberry has an interesting scent that seems sweet when first applied and you get that syrupy fruit scent from the Papaya and Tangelo. Then as it lingers it takes on a scent that is somewhat unisex almost like the lighter men's cologne that women can pull off wearing. I definitely smell the Plumeria and tropical fruit tones and once drying down I do sense a mild coconut smell but not as distinct as "Aruba Coconut."

Also in the collection is Bali Mango which actually has turned out to be my favorite of the three. Everything that makes you think of summer is beautifully combined in this scent from the delicious mango to the citrus fruits layered in with sugary tropical flower tones, this scent really speaks to me. When I say flowery tones they are subtle and not over powering as I am not a fan of anything that's to floral. It also is a lasting scent that stays for hours.

Overall I am extremely pleased with this particular collection. There are some scents within B&B that I often wonder how they maintain their popularity because I find them very annoying unpleasant smells, but to each their own. I just hate smells that make me feel headachy and there have been several over the years through B&B that have done just that.

Moving on to the "Bella Italy" line there was only one other scent in this collection that I liked aside from Dolce Berry. That one is the "Capri Seaside Citrus," but I prefer the Dolce Berry just a bit more. I find my nose tends to grab on to very specific smells within a fragrance and that's what I detect the most. So with Dolce Berry I really do catch the blackberry musk, sugar sandalwood and red and black berry tones. I however do not smell the "frosted magnolia." I do detect a mild white iris playing in the background. Some smells though are merely a description to entice our senses into believing that that is what that particular flower or fruit may smell like. I certainly haven't smelt specific exotic flowers, how could I? I live in Canada. So unless you have personal experience with certain fruits and flowers or any other smell it's merely only an assumption as to what it truly might smell like.

I also got two items from the B&B Aromatherapy line. I have some other items from this line from a previous haul which I love, but this next scent is new to MY collection. I was going to go with my usual Lavender/Vanilla scent, but then on the recommendation of a nearby shopper I picked something totally different for a change and I am very glad I did. It is the "ENERGY" line which is orange and ginger.

The shower gel has become a favorite that I have been using everyday since I bought it. What I love about this line is that its more natural and they use pure essential oils which gives you the truest scent within the product. The lotion absorbs in to the skin quickly and does not leave a greasy sheen behind and you skin feels immediately softer. The shower gels in this line are amazing. They lather incredibly and you only need a little bit, so a bottle last quite a while. That combination of orange and ginger is killer it totally does energize me first thing in the morning. I breathe deeply when I am in the warm shower because the ginger is strong and clears the sinuses well. I highly recommend this product it will invigorate you too.

So here is how it worked out cost wise. I purchased the 4 body sprays, 1 triple cream and the aromatherapy shower gel and matching body lotion. They had the deal if you buy 3 you get 2 free. Plus I got the aromatherapy items for a staggering $5 a piece which is a huge saving as the lotion is normally $14.50 alone. Then I used my receipt survey to get $10 off my total, so I walked away with 7 items for $33 WOW.

I could have also purchased the special mother's day tote filled with $120 worth of goodies, but sadly I am not a fan of the "Rome Honeysuckle Amore" which was the main collection offered within this gift package. So I opted NO to that.

I hope you all enjoyed this slightly different review today

more to come at MakeUp'Asylum

STAY BEAUTIFUL

AVON "Totally Kissable" gloss and lipsticks and more.............

GOOD DAY EVERYONE,

I hope all the mom's out there had a great Mother's Day week-end spending time with family or doing what I did one of the days "SHOPPING." Nothing like time to one's self for all the time we lovingly put in for others.

So today I am focusing on AVON. I have been a long standing supporter of Avon for years now and a lot of my first big makeup purchases aside from Shopper's Drug Mart usually came from Avon. I drifted away from Avon for a while and more recently have gained a new found appreciation for some of there products again.

I originally was only purchasing a cologne for my husband but saw some decent deals that swayed me to do a little shopping.

So for starters I bought a couple of the new "Totally Kissable" lip glosses. The first colour is POUT MORE PINK so this time I have posted a picture with the product on my lip along with a hand swatch to switch things up a bit. I find when you see this gloss in person its much richer and brighter in person then the picture. These glosses apply nicely however being that it has only been two days I am not quite sure how I feel yet about the flat thumb like wand to apply with. Don't get me wrong it covers more surface but it seems a little awkward too.

                                           POUT FOR PINK

 

Then I also got a softer lighter pink called PINK PLUSH it actually reminds me of the colour of cotton candy. These glosses have a very faint but pleasant smell. One thing I really like about this collection of glosses and lipsticks is the packaging looks really good. Each gloss comes in a 7ml/.24fl oz tube and cost me $4.99. There are approx. 15 colours to choose from

 

I really like this gloss formulation because it feels like a lipstick on the lips but wears like a gloss, if that makes any sense. So check them out today. They are currently on special on the Canadian website for $4.99 but will be $9.99 after promotion.

from top pink plush and pout for pink

 

 

In this same line is a range of lipsticks as well so I chose LOVEY DOVEY PINK. I will say the first thing I notice with these lipsticks and especially the colours I opted for is that they are very sheer with a shimmer finish they are not extremely saturated colours. So if you like just a hint of colour then these are for you.

 

 

 

 

My other pick is NATURAL GLOW which in every sense of the word is a very true golden nude colour and again very faint colour payoff. These lipsticks were also $4.99 but will be $9.99 and come in sophisticated looking silver tube 3g/.106oz So that is the only draw back they are more expensive and 1 gram less then standard lipsticks and you would have to apply these more often to keep the sheer colour going.

 

 

     I like these lipsticks but I don't love them I give them a 3 out of 5 on the "LIPPY SCALE"

 

Up next is Avon's eyeshadow primer. I haven't heard a lot about this product except for I stumbled upon a woman speaking about them on YouTube and she had very positive things to say about the product so I thought I would give them a try. I bought both shades which are light and warm beige.

                                                      LIGHT BEIGE

 

                                             WARM BEIGE

 

So my first impression of this product is that it applies easily and is very light you can feel that creaminess that comes with silicone based products. I did notice when comparing my bare eye to the one with primer it looks smoother and much more even for eyeshadow application. I did use the light beige today and found overall that my eyeshadow stayed in place very well for the duration of the day. That also includes me sweating from doing a vigorous cycling session. I did notice with the warm beige a slight orange undertone but I plan to use this more during the summer months as my face gets pretty tanned.

I got these primers on a great deal both for $7.99 normally they cost that each. Very nice small glass pot with black lid. 35g/.123oz. They do have a slight smell that is nether pleasant or unpleasant.

 

I am always trying different foundations and it seems that there is a never ending desire to achieve what one might call the "FLAWLESS FACE," but can we really ever achieve that in real life? That I doubt because if your someone like me I will find the most trivial flaws in all complexions even ones that other's would consider perfect. I guess because of years spent dealing with a horrendous case of bad cystic acne I pay very close attention to people's complexions my own included which in turn maybe is my own flaw now.  

That being said I purchased the foundation called "IDEAL FLAWLESS" which states that is gives you an invisible coverage and has an SPF of 15.

So I have been testing this over the past two days now and here is my thoughts.

This product is lovely is goes on beautifully and even when applied with finger tips it does not leave behind a streaky mess. It has a gentle scent upon first application but dissipates shortly after. The colour range is excellent with 17 different shades to choose from and there are really great colour options for you ladies of colour out there.

 

First colour is NATURAL BEIGE which is very neutral and has a mild yellow undertone to even out any redness nicely.

 

 

The following colour is CREAMY NATURAL which is more a light medium colour with a slight pinky undertone, but still very usable for me. The way the lighting and colours came out in the swatches makes them seem so much darker on my hand but they really are not especially once blended out.

 

I feel so far this product is working for me but I would prefer to use it for several more days before giving my final feelings on this. However it does leave a beautiful sheen to the skin and gives you that dewy look and covers redness well. It is not the type of foundation to leave you looking overly done up, just a pleasant glow. I think this foundation would also be idle for more mature skin as we age skin gets parched and this will defiantly give your skin some much needed luminosity. I tend to have oilier skin so for me I do need to touch up mid day, but for drier skin this would be ideal (no pun intended.) If you have the chance give this product a go. Also for anyone familiar with Dior's foundation "Pro Lumiere" Avon's "Ideal

Flawless" bottle is very similar the only difference is that Dior's bottle is frosted glass.

 

So keep your eye out for great promo's like the one I got, I purchased one at regular price for $15 and got the second bottle for $5 what a steal.

 

I purchased two other types of foundation to try the next one is "Extra Lasting" foundation in the shade NUDE. When I first applied this I thought it would be to orange but once you blend it out it seems fine. I can not give you a full opinion about this foundation because I have been to busy playing with the other one. However its always good to have other options and back ups.

 

The one thing that I love that most companies are doing now is offering bottles with a pump on them. I am a big fan of this practice for the purpose of sanitation and it also gives you better control of the amount your using so that your not wasting excess product. One of the best things with Avon's pumps is that they can be unscrewed unlike L'Oreal's pump on the "Visible Lift" which doesn't come off. This in turn leaves for a lot of wasted product that you can't pump out. Also you would have to pry the pump off and risk injuring yourself in the process.

This foundation is suppose to give you 18hours of coverage and stand up to sweat and water and stays fresh looking all day. Will see about that on my oily face;)

$15 for 30ml

 

Last up for face makeup is "SMOOTH MINERALS" pressed foundation in NUDE and comes in a sleek compact. I like to use this for a quick dusting over my t zone once I have applied the ideal flawless foundation and may have to again depending on activity level.

Even though it says this can be used alone like any other foundation I probably would not do that, I prefer using a liquid followed up with a powder regardless if its mineral or not.

 

 

 

One last item I got for free because Avon had a bogo on perfume and colognes is the fragrance called "SECRETS TO KEEP"

 

 

 

 

This perfume is light but sweet. I do smell a berry scent mingling with a jasmine aura. I am not sure I would say strawberry is the berry note I pick up on its more like a raspberry with a more syrupy essence. I don't smell any apple as Avon states as one of the notes. I really can sense the musk and sandalwood which I pick up on right near the end. I wore this earlier today and I think its OK. I have never been a huge fan of Avon's fragrance line some how they always seems to fall short for me. Avon's perfume's for me are either to subtle or dry down to an extremely irritating smell or just don't end up melding well with my body chemistry. I think with Avon's perfumes its critical to ensure you get several samples and use them everyday for several days before you purchase. Fragrance is a very personal choice and what may be awesome to one person may be a total disappointment to another. So no matter the brand always buy in this area with caution. 50ml/$20

 

You can now browse online at the all new Avon website for Canada at

www.avon.ca

or look for a rep in your area. If you live in the Richmond Hill, Ontario area you can contact Lindy for all your Avon needs at avononlocation@gmail.com

 

Thanks again to NEW and returning readers and I hope many of you continue to read my thoughts on all things cosmetic here at MakeUp'Asylum.

On occasion I may also touch base on some fashion items and even throw in a few blogs about cooking in the future.

Just remember it can't be an Asylum unless I throw a few crazy idea's around;)

 

Check back soon when MakeUp'Asylum reviews

 

QUO, DRUG STORE GOODIES, BRONZERS and SEPHORA

 

till then.....

STAY BEAUTIFUL