I’m once again hitting you with some swatches from an item you can no longer get your hands on: the Too Faced Holiday 2016 The Chocolate Shop palette!
The lovely Zoë of Writing Whimsy knows how deep my Too Faced obsession runs so she sent me this palette when she was done reviewing it! It was such a lovely surprise since she saved me the cash of picking it up for myself! (My Too Faced hoarder status is getting a bit ridiculous…)
This post is sponsored by Lisap.
New on the market is Lisap‘s Top Care Hydra Care range. Manufactured in Milan, Italy, this brand is producing their Hydra Care range as an answer for those of us with dry, damaged hair that’s a direct result of our lifestyles.
When I was first approached by Lisap to try out their Hydra Care range, I found myself nodding my head in agreement with their press sheet:
Hydra Care was created for hair that is frequently shampooed (yep, that’s me – I wash my hair daily) and weakened by the over use of blow dryers (yep) and hair straighteners (and yep!). It leaves hair feeling light (it actually does) and makes it easier to blow dry, style and comb. Its formula is enriched with Papyrus Extract, Ceramide A2, Hydra Care Complex and the perfect balance of nutrients to ensure the hair is intensely nourished and exceptionally soft. Top Care Hydra Care is also totally free of artificial colourings, sulphates and parabens.
So with all of that in mind, I was definitely eager to try out their range!
The whole Hydra Care range contains their Hydra Care complex which is a natural complex formulated to seal raised hair cuticles, Keratin that attaches directly to natural Keratin in the hair for a detangling effect, papyrus which is rich in minerals, sugar and hydrating agents, wakame (Japanese seaweed extract) which is also rich in vitamins and minerals that protects the integrity of the hair structure and combats hair stress, and finally, Ceramide A2 which strengthens and restores cellular cohesion to maximize the hair structure.
Obviously, the first two items I tried out from Lisap‘s Top Care Hydra Care range was their shampoo and conditioner. As far as products go, these feel like fairly standard products. It lathered well and rinsed out as I would expect which is a huge relief. Why is that a relief you ask? Because I’ve used hydrating hair products in the past and they’ve left me with a really awful texture to my hair – gunky, thick and hard to rinse out. Not the case with Hydra Care!
If you’re looking for a boost of moisture for your hair on days you know you’re going to be styling it heavily, the Nourishing Cream is there for you. It’s basically a combination leave in detangler as well as a hydrating agent for when you’re going to be heat styling your hair. I found it worked really well when I used it on my hair and followed it up with some heat styling. It was less necessary on days when I just pulled my hair back and ran out the door to work.
If you’re in need of some serious hydration for your hair, you can always use the Nourishing Mask in place of the conditioner. This is a much thicker cream that you leave on for about ten minutes in order to let the product really sink in. Again, I thought to myself “oh no this is also going to be too heavy for my hair” and again I was totally disproven! The Nourishing Mask is super luxurious and left my hair feeling light, fluffy and hydrated after use!
As I’ve mentioned a few times in this review, I was really into the idea of this product being for those of who wash and style our hair daily, but I was a little bit worried that the hydrating aspect would be too much for my hair. This never turned out to be the case! And while my hair got the hydration it needed, it was also incredibly fluffy and light. I was astonished with just how bouncy my hair was after using these products! Usually volume and hydration don’t go hand in hand, but that was absolutely the end result for my hair!
I’m also really happy to report that the Lisap range of products is not expensive either! The shampoo and conditioner are around the $12 mark, and the Nourishing Cream and Nourishing Mask are closer to about $17. If you’re interested in finding out where you can pick up Lisap products, call 1-800-667-5954 or visit www.lisap.ca.
Last week I was invited to try out a class at F45 in Yorkville (110 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Canada) and my friend and blogging pal Kaitlyn was more than happy to join me! (Never underestimate the power of having a friend in a group class setting – it’s very, very inspiring!)
Not aware of what F45 is? Neither was! As it turns out F45 stands for Functional 45 which, according to them:
“…is the new training technique leaving competition and clients gasping for air. F45 is the most innovative, challenging and systemised team training workout in the world. Come and train like the stars at F45 Training.
You’re scratching your head, aren’t you? I get it, that doesn’t explain a lot. So let me boil it down: it means you’re going to be working out like a beast for 45 minutes straight. It combines high-intensity interval training and functional training in a group fitness setting. The interesting thing? They conduct one class the entire day, it changes daily AND the sequence of intervals will never be the same again. Intrigued? I sure was!
The F45 training area is basically one big room with a lot of equipment that can be easily moved around depending on the kind of class you’re going to be taking (the instructors will set up the stations before you start the class). There are screens on the wall which will give you instructional quickies on how to complete the move you’re currently doing in your circuit – this is immensely appreciated because in a class of 20 or so, the instructor won’t be able to help you at all times so you can just follow what’s happening on the screen.
Keep in mind though – this is specifically a group exercise gym – it’s not intended for you to go there and do your own thing! We arrived early and got the lay of the land: a group before us was finishing up and they were looking hot and sweaty. The music was also POUNDING (which I really appreciated because I cannot stand hearing myself breathing while I’m working out).
While the other class finished up, we checked out the place: there are plenty of change rooms/shower stalls as well as bathrooms if needed. There are no lockers, but there are cubby slots where you can stash your stuff while you’re working out. You might be skeptical about a cubby slot with no lock, but it’s all out in the open where you’re working out so you can glance at your stuff if need be.
Kaitlyn and I opted to do the session labelled: “22: Paired Cardio”.
22: PAIRED CARDIO
Pray you get a good partner because you’ll be going through hell together. But then, apparently that’s the best way to heaven. Welcome to the infamous F45 1,000 calorie killer workout. No muscle escapes our attention since muscle tissue burns 15 times as many calories as fat. Even after your session, your metabolism will still be in overdrive. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the calories burning.
I liked the idea of doing it in a team, and, more interestingly, this workout claimed it would burn 1000 calories. For anyone who has ever counted calories you know that burning a thousand calories in 45 minutes in practically impossible (seriously – it takes me about 80 minutes of straight running to burn that), BUT I wanted to see how close to that 1000 I could get. (Sidenote: F45 has a TON of different programs, check them all out here.)
Armed with my trusty Garmin and heart rate monitor strapped to my chest (to track calories), Kaitlyn and I got to work. We tackled each station twice in rotation with your partner. You’ll do station 1.1 first for 45 seconds, rest for 15, do station 1.2 for 45, rest for 15, then repeat. After that station is finished, you’d then move on to station 2 and the cycle repeats.
The interval stations were extremely varied for the session we did. We went from axe chopping, to cycling, to sledgehammer shoveling, to the TRX thingamajig you see above. It’s varied enough so that you feel like you’re working opposite muscles per segment, which is always a blessing because it gives those muscles a chance to recuperate before you slam them with activity again. There are also two levels per station – so if you’re not feeling especially healthy that day you have the option of doing the less amped up version of the exercise.
By the time we hit the third segment of intervals (there are water breaks between the segments), I was starting to feel the burn for sure. Very rarely do I get in exercise situations where I feel genuinely SWEATY (running doesn’t really do that to me) but my back was soaked and my hairline was getting greeeeasy!
When 45 minute was up, I was so very close to spent. I was sweating like a beast, but I felt really, really good. The group atmosphere of the class was incredibly encouraging at the end – we were high fiving people that we had just finished the class with!
But… how did it play out calorie-wise?
As I suspected… nowhere even remotely close to 1000 calories. (For reference, I’m 34 years old, 155 pounds and 5’3″/160cm tall.) I burned roughly 430 calories in the 40 minutes I had the tracker going which is roughly the same I’d expend while running. I had anticipated burning somewhere in the range of 400 to 600 calories for the session, so this was on par with my expectations. Even if I had worked doubly hard (which, looking at my heartrate, would not be possible!), I still would not have achieved a 1000 calorie burn.
With the 1000 calorie expectations out of the way (seriously – that’s just advertising nonsense) – this is a REALLY good exercise routine. The 22: Paired Cardio program is varied and enticing and it MAKES. YOU. WORK. There is no point in the routine where it feels like a boring or conventional program. I was sweating extremely hard by the end, but I also felt really, really good. It’s an empowering workout made all that much better by doing it with a friend to help you with that internal motivation (thanks Kaitlyn!).
F45 was started in Australia (so you’ll find a metric ton of those gyms there), but they’ve got plenty of locations worldwide. If you’re interested in trying something new at the gym – something that will get you motivated and moving and isn’t your regular boring routine of treadmill or elliptical, this could definitely be for you!
We were invited to attend the F45 training session free of charge.
Mary Kay‘s Spring 2017 collection took me by complete surprise. I was expecting something more along the lines of florals (as per last year) and instead I got a whole pile of bright, cheery and FUN colours! The collection is called “Light, Reinvented” and I’m really, really in love with that concept.
Just to get it out of the way, let’s talk about the product I didn’t love: the Mary Kay Glossy Lip Oils.
Infused with grapeseed oil, this glossy lip oil conditions lips by quenching them with moisture. This innovative lip oil provides a comfortable application with a non-sticky, luminous shine. In shades that range from sheer to pigmented, these glossy lip products deliver colour and shine while doubling as a moisturizer.
While I can’t say that the glossy lip oils feel overly uncomfortable on the lips, the thing I find the hardest to get over is the weird fruity but gooey scent. They’re kinda gelatinous and if you apply too much to your lips… well they just look like a pile of ooze.
In swatches, I have to say they look rather pretty, but these are just a pass for me.
Magenta Ray has the most pigment in the bunch and it’s definitely a beautiful colour.
Brilliant Violet is kind of patchy and sinks into my lip lines.
And Sheer Pink is just a milky, streaky mess.
Lip Oils aside, let’s talk about the good stuff! These Light, Reinvented Eye Color Palettes were a pleasant surprise.
Glistening Horizon is definitely my favourite quad out of the two: the colour combination is really, REALLY nice. The purple may swatch a little weakly but it did apply better to the eye. That deep blue shade as well as the shimmery pale cream are EXCELLENT!
On the eye, Glistening Horizon makes one hell of an impact. I honestly think my favourite shade in that quad is the palest champagne colour – it’s gorgeous!
The Sunlight Eye Color Palette is a little bit more powdery in texture when you compare it to Glistening Horizon. I do wish there was a bit more depth to this quad because you may be hard pressed to create a look without keeping it very, very mild. That being said, the pink is INCREDIBLY pigmented and the orange has absolutely beautiful shimmer thrown in.
On the eyes, the pink and the orange translate really well. (Although in hindsight since the pink has more pigment, I should’ve put the orange in the crease and the pink in the outer corner.) The pale peach is fine and versatile as a brow bone highlight on my complexion. The one that really doesn’t end up translating very well is the pale lavender which basically diffused itself so much that it’s no even apparent (it’s on my inner corner).
I’ve saved the absolute best for last: Now I get to talk about the limited edition Light, Reinvented nail lacquers. These are INCREDIBLE and are hands down my absolute favourite nail polishes right now. I’ve worn each shade at least once, and I’ve already started in on my second rotation of wearing them (currently sporting Brilliant Violet again). These are wonderfully pigmented cream polishes (two coats for full opacity) in absolutely breathtaking shades. I’ve got nothing bad to say about these, and in fact I’d encourage you to get your hands on these as quickly as possible before they sell out. The formula, the colours and the wear time are all absolutely incredible.
And seriously, I’ve been wearing them in practically ever video I’ve recorded lately:
Since I’m not an epic nail swatcher like my friend Kaitlyn is, please head over to this blog post of hers in order to see these gorgeous polishes swatched. (Seriously, go over there – not only to see these beautiful polishes in action, but also to see just how amazing her nails are!)
The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Post may contain affiliate links.