Clearly, I’m not over my Canadian beauty product envy… While I was checking out the shops on Robson St. in Vancouver, I wandered into a Fruits & Passion store. Wow!

I’ve seen the Cucina line in Anthropologie stores in the US, but I don’t think I’ve seen any of the other products. While some products seemed overwhelmingly scented, others were quite nice. I really liked the Carrot and Avocado body butters and the products in the Buriti – Baobab – Tamanu line. Fruits & Passion has a US version of their website, so it’s possible to order online. They also have a handful of stores in the US, although the closest one to me is in southern California. I thought the packaging was very creative and pretty, and I’m really drawn to this brand.

I walked into a London Drugs store in Vancouver, and had a heart attack like the one I had when I stepped into a Shoppers Drug Mart. What did I see first? Bloom! Seriously, I’d kill to be able to troop down to Walgreens and buy Bloom products. I always used to love their glosses, but they’ve gotten hard to find in recent years. The London drugs also had some nice brands like Roger & Gallet, Biotherm, Elizabeth Arden, and others. Why oh why can’t American drugstores have this kind of selection? Their store brand products seemed really great too (I peruse ingredient lists), like Shoppers, and I was impressed with the selection of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Walgreens, are you listening??

This isn’t beauty products, but it is sort of relevant to my shopping theme, so I figured I’d mention it anyway. I found a great plus-size store, sort of like Lane Bryant but with a better selection of casual clothes, called Penningtons.  What they had that I really fell for was a great selection of panties, like LB has, but cuter and for less money. They were 3 pairs for $14 CAD, and I liked the prints. I especially like the boy shorts. Luckily, Penningtons ships to the US.

While checking out L’Occitane Canadian-style, I noticed a product not available in the US: Rose Face Mist.  It’s really soothing and smells amazing, so naturally I bought one. I’m just so sad that it’s not at my local store. Boo hoo!

Lucky for me, my other favorite store, Lush, didn’t have anything we don’t have here in the US, so it wasn’t TOTAL envy time. Just MOSTLY envy.

All is not lost, however. Target (which doesn’t have stores in Canada, which would make me so sad) is launching lines by Napoleon Perdis and Pixi that I’m excited to check out.

Let me say right off that I don’t really know anything about Diesel as a brand. They are an Italian company, and seem to specialize in casual clothing. I wasn’t even aware they made perfumes until the launch of the Fuel for Life perfumes for men and women. I think I saw ads in the magazines I read. When I tried the women’s perfume on a scent strip the first time, months ago, I wasn’t all that impressed. I thought to myself “yet another fruity scent,” and moved on.

Let this be a lesson that first impressions are not always accurate. I recently gave Diesel Fuel for Life another go, this time trying it on skin. To back up a little bit, I was intrigued by the description in Perfumes: The Guide, the perfume review book by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez (first mentioned here). I swear, one of these days I’ll do a comprehensive book review…

Anyway, Turin and Sanchez describe it as weird, left-of-center, inventive, and beautifully crafted. Upon reading that, I found it hard to believe they were writing about that fruity thing I smelled way back when. When it comes to perfume, I almost always fall for scents that other people describe as odd, unusual, or different. Since so few mainstream scents fit this category, I’m usually bored by them, and rarely does something that starts off fruity become interesting. After reading the review, I dutifully gave Fuel for Life another go, let it sit on my skin for a minute, and promptly had my socks knocked off.

Diesel Fuel for Life is indeed terrifically odd. At first it is fruity – it’s got blackcurrant and raspberry notes, and Sanchez describes mango in there as well. If you smell it on a scent strip, you might get a noseful of the berries and toss the strip away. But stick around, it’s not done. After the berries comes what Turin calls the “herbs from Mars” accord, which is a dead accurate way of describing it. Is it sage? Is it thyme? If it had a face, it would be green with little antennae. Whatever it is, I love it. Next comes along some woods and on me, lots of patchouli. I adore raspberry and patchouli together…

The fragrance dries down to a soft, woodsy, slightly powdery thing that is totally feminine and nice. But the trip on the way there is a lot of fun, and what makes this scent worth while. The bottle looks boring in pictures, but is actually really cute. I like the little knitted thing that goes over it, and the lid is elegant (how often can you say that about a perfume lid?).

This is quite possibly the first fruity perfume I’ve tried that had brains, instead of being empty-headed (like all those Escada things). What is also remarkable is how devoted I’ve been to this scent. I rarely wear the same fragrance two days in a row – I have a lot of perfume and I tend to grab whatever strikes my mood. However, I took Fuel for Life on vacation with me and happily spritzed myself with it, day after day. I only wore the other scents I brought once or twice. That’s practically a record for me.

Seriously, this could be a signature scent for me. I love it that much. I also want to give the men’s version a try now – it also got a great review in the book, and sounds like something I’d like. Nice work, Diesel!

Me being me, naturally I have to check out all the beauty products I can when I’m traveling. I’ve had a lot of fun discovering new brands to check out (and some I WISH we had in the United States!).

First up, Rocky Mountain Soap. I kept running into this brand all over Jasper, which is a small tourist town in the middle of the Jasper National Park in Alberta. I highly recommend the park, although it was quite warm while we were there and it seems that air conditioning is rare in the lodgings. I was interested in the bar soaps and the massage bars, and loved how everything is scented with essential oils. Somehow, I didn’t end up purchasing any products, but since they ship to the US, I’ll probably make an internet order at some point. The company is based in Canmore, Alberta.

I found Beautea in a bookstore in Kamloops, BC. I practically swooned over the Black Ceylon Pekoe Tea scent, although all three (white tea and green tea as well) are great. The company is based in Montreal, and luckily enough seems quite available from US internet retailers. Beauty.com carries the line.

Skinnyskinny isn’t a Canadian company, but I’ve never encountered in the US so I’m including it here. I found it at the same bookstore that had Beautea. The soaps and bath salts look beautiful, and I was really tempted by the lip balm. They are based in New York.

Ombra is another brand that isn’t Canadian (they’re German) but it’s also one I haven’t seen in stores at home. I found this brand at the same Shoppers Drug Mart mentioned here – and now I’m REALLY jealous and want one at home. I was complaining about how I forgot bubble bath, so I got some Ombra Citrus Sage bubble bath. After I use it up (or if I want to try more from the line) I can order from Smallflower.com. Last of all, Shoppers Drug Mart has some really nice products under their own brand. I picked up a bar of 100% vegetable soap with shea butter and oatmeal (vanilla scent, yum) and a set of three shower gels from their Costa Blu line. I can’t find any info on these online, so you’ll just have to trek up to Canada and check them out yourself. I’ll probably end up sending money to my friend in Vancouver to get stuff shipped to me if it turns out I love the products.

Mmmm. This has been a fun trip.

So the husband and I are on vacation, traveling around British Columbia, with a short foray into western Alberta planned also. My beauty motto this time around? Travel easy, travel light.

We’re not camping, so I did feel justified in packing some makeup and nicer bath products – this is vacation after all. But we’re mostly looking at scenery and doing outdoorsy stuff, so I left my eyeshadows at home and am sticking to products that give a fresh, natural look. I’m trying to find a balance between the no-makeup “roughing it” of camping and my usual more refined look at home.

So, the essentials – Stila Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer (with the added bonus of SPF), Nyx Cream Blush in a pale pinky shade, Bourjois Pastel Teint face powder, Cargo Bronzer in Medium, Bourjois Yes to Volume Mascara, and a Benefit Bad Gal pencil. With this combination of products I feel nicely made up without looking too overdone to go bounding up a trail with a backpack. It’s basically stripping down what I use every day to the bare essentials.

I had a terrible time deciding what lotion/cream to bring. I have way too many body lotions and creams, and I love them all, so choosing what to bring for an eight-day trip was hard. (I know, I lead a terrible life if picking a lotion is the worst decision I have to make… no one ever said I wasn’t shallow, lol.) I finally settled on Sephora Body Butter in Nectarine Blossom. It’s a light, sweet scent, and the formula is awesome. One of my complaints with travelling is the water away from home can do weird things to my skin, so a good lotion is a necessity.

There was no way I was going to be able to take only one perfume with me, so I settled for three. Two are travel size, one is full-size. I brought Fresh Cannabis Rose, L’Occitane Citrus Verbena, and Diesel Fuel for Life. Three favorites, and each induces a different mood. Cannabis Rose soothes me, Citrus Verbena cheers me up, and Fuel for Life energizes me. (I have a review for Fuel for Life coming, it’s a new one for me.)

As for the rest, I have travel sizes of a variety of my favorite body scrubs, shower gels, etc. so I picked out one of each to bring too. One thing I did purchase after hitting the road was a cleanser. My travel size face cleanser was almost gone and I didn’t have time to get a new one at home. At the first store we hit (a Safeway in Vancouver) they had a very poor selection of face cleansers. I picked up a St. Ives Olive Cleanser as it seemed to have the best ingredients of the bunch. After using it, it’s merely okay. It has an annoying fruity scent, which seems incongruous for something called Olive Cleanser – I’d prefer something more herbal. Needless to say, I will probably ditch it as soon as I get home, but it’ll suffice for the duration.

I am also totally jealous at finding nice skincare brands (like Biotherm) in a regular ol’ drugstore called Shoppers Drug Mart. I went in to buy film in this little town in northern British Columbia called Quesnel, and almost fell over when I saw their skincare selection. I wanted to look further, but I was dragged away by my husband. I am sure that women in small towns all over the US wish they had this kind of selection available – I know I did when I lived in a small town. Some stores have quite a selection according to this list. If I had known this bounty was available I would have waited to buy the face cleanser mentioned above.

Anyway, it’s been a fun trip so far. I just wish I’d remembered some bubble bath.

Today was a day off, and naturally I spent it engaged in browsing my favorite online stores for what’s new. It was time well spent, at least for my squeal-o-meter. So much cute stuff! So little spending money! It’s tough being a beauty blogger, sometimes.

At the top of my list is the new Meteorites Illuminating Pressed Powder from Guerlain. I have long been a fan of the regular Meteorites for the healthy glow they give my skin. The pressed version looks like it would be even more convenient (especially for travel!) and I really, really want one.

I need more eyeshadow like a fish needs a bicycle, so I’m not really lusting after this palette. But isn’t it cute? It’s the Tarte Eye Couture Day-to-Night palette, with ten eyeshadows.  The colors look very user-friendly, and I have one of those double-ended eyeshadow brushes and it rocks. If I were in the market for a new palette, I’d want this one for sure.

I once posted about how I really liked Benefit’s Silky Finish lipstick, but that I found it very short-lived on the lips.  Well now they have come out with a Full Finish formula, which I am hoping means it will last longer. If it does, I’ll be a fan, especially if it feels as nice as the silky finish formula. I’m thinking the shades La La Land and On The Sly look particularly fetching.

Not online (and the fact that I can’t find a picture anywhere is making me crazy… I might try photographing it myself…) are some new Sally Hansen Comfort Shine Lip Glaze colors.  It’s a chocolate theme, and the colors are dark for fall (quite in keeping with the dark lips currently featured on Sephora’s front page). I picked up a Chocolate Cherry, and I love it. These little pots are a steal, and the quality is great. The color is excellent, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from rushing back to the drugstore to get one in each shade. Must. Exercise. Control.

The last squeal-worthy products are also from the drugstore: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Lip Veil.  The ingredients are excellent (super emollient!), it’s organic, and I love the variety of shades. Plus, I love products that are basically tinted lip balms because they are easy to apply in a hurry. I really want the Ginger shade. I’m intrigued by the whole Organic Wear line, really, so trying the lip product may just be the gateway drug to other products…

It’s only early August. I’m sure there will be more squeal-worthy product launches to come. I personally am breathlessly awaiting the launch of Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower.

When I had short hair, I abused it regularly, mostly by coloring it. Heck, two months and it’d all be fresh hair again, so I didn’t worry to much about drying it out etc. Now that it’s long, I’m suddenly paranoid about keeping it healthy and strong. I mean, it has to look good for years instead of months, so I’ve become something of a conditioner/hair protector junkie.

I’ve tried a few deep conditioners and I have a favorite. After trying the usual suspects at Sephora (Phtyo, Fekkai, etc.) I tried the Olive Paste for Hair from L’Occitane.  This one is my favorite because it leaves my hair super-glossy and soft, but not the least bit greasy or weighed down. I have the misfortune to have rather fine hair, but LOTS of it.

I also really like the Brilliant Damage Control from Aveda, which I spray on almost every day, whether or not I blow dry. It smells good and it’s supposed to help with breakage and provide UV protection. I’m also using the Shampure shampoo and conditioner now, because I like to buy in liters.

Jonathan Product has a leave-in styling cream conditioner thingy that I want to try called Green Rootine Silkening Creme. It looks really nice, and I’d probably like it as much as I like the Ojon Hydrating Styling Cream.

I’m trying to be a lot nicer to my hair these days, and it seems to be appreciative. It looks healthy and shiny when I take care of it.

Since I started growing my hair out, I’ve had quite a learning curve to tackle when it comes to hair styling. I haven’t had my hair this long since I was a kid, and my idea of a hair style then was a pony tail and straight across bangs.

The last time I had a salon visit, the stylist cut long layers into it, with shaggy bangs. I can wear it up in a ponytail, or half pulled back, or with this Vidal Sassoon comb thingy that’s super easy to use. Or I can wear it down – leaving it to air dry looks okay, but blowing it dry looks better. Hence, the challenge. I’ve never before had to blow dry my hair when it is this long (it’s well past my shoulders now).

For blow-drying, there are two things I am now hooked on. One is the BLO-and-GO and the other is Ojon’s Hydrating Styling Cream. The B-and-G (for brevity) looks like a gimmick. But this thing is actually really, really useful if you are like me and styling incompetent. For one thing, it’s very sturdy. It attaches to your mirror (or other smooth hard surface) with a super-suction cup, and stays put. The metal arm is really solid, so you can place it to whatever angle works best for you and it will stay there. It has an elastic band to hold your dryer firmly in place. All I have to do is move around under it to direct the flow of air where I want it, while I use both hands to lift or comb my hair as needed. It’s basically like having someone holding the dryer for you while you style your hair. Super easy! If you’re one of those people who’ve been styling your hair forever, you might not need the Blo-and-Go. If you’re like me, and need a little help, then I recommend it.

The Ojon Hydrating Styling cream also rocks my world. It’s light weight, and makes my hair super-shiny while protecting it from heat damage. Also, it smells awesome. It gives my hair just a little extra body, but it doesn’t get greasy or oily looking. For setting my style (especially the bangs), I really like Aussie Aussome Volume Hair Spray. It has good hold, but doesn’t get crunchy (I hate that).

To be posted soon: deep conditioners we love.