Adventures of a Makeup Junkie: Do Makeup and Outdoor Activities Mix?

I'm flying to BC next Tuesday (my first trip on a plane since before I was prego!) and I'm VERY excited! We'll be visiting my mother-in-law in what's referred to as the beautiful "Sunshine Coast". There will be lots to do including kayaking, canoing, hiking, and mountain biking. For the most part, I'd probably say I'm 85 % city girl and 15 %
outdoor-camping-roughing-it kind of girl. I much rather prefer stilettos over hiking boots and consider going without mascara as "roughing it". Sounds high maintenance, but I'm really not - I swear! I just like to look put-together in every situation. And although canoing is not my first choice of fun, I'm very open to new experiences.

As a child, my family wasn't really the camping type. The last time I did anything camping related, I was in grade school. Don't get me wrong - we won't be sleeping in tents or anything but in a beautifully renovated home just off the water. But cute flats or wedge sandals just won't cut it. Since I'm fairly new to the whole kayaking-hiking-canoing thing, I'm a little unsure if wearing makeup is a faux pas. This is my question to you - would you wear makeup while doing outdoor activities?

Here are the products I'm thinking about rockin' while canoing along the coast:

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Water-proof Mascara in Very Black: After rave reviews of the original formula, I was very bummed that my lashes went limp instead of lush and full. But I decided to give the water-proof version a try on recommendation of Arianne (thanks girl!). Well, I think my lashes have found a new love! I was fully committed to L'Oreal's Voluminous Waterproof mascara but I have moved on. I LOVE the results my lashes get - voluminous, super-long, lush non-smearing lashes! Mascara always manages to make you look polished without over-doing it with lots of shadow.

Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy and Flush: I know I'll probably get a natural flush from all the physical activity but a little help doesn't hurt right? I love Tarte's cheek stains because they give you a natural flush and stay put. Tipsy is a nice sheer coral-peach and Flush is a sheer berry. I like to have choices so I'll bring both. :)

Juice Beauty Lip Trio: SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers: I think when you're working out it's important to not look done up. These tinted lip balms are the perfect choice especially for outdoor activities. These lippies give you sun protection, moisture, and a natural tint of colour that goes on like a lip stain. My favourite is Delightful, a deep berry shade that makes your lips looks like you've been getting some serious snogging action.

So, would it be too much to also add a bit of YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch under the eyes, Cargo's blu_ray High Definition Mattifier for an even complexion without adding foundation and to double as a mattifier, and my Benefit Hoola Bronzer for a matte sun-kissed glow? I would love to hear what you think and if there's anything else you'd recommend please let me know!

Latest Obsessions: Hand Creams and Lip Balms

Lip products have always been an obsession of mine, but lately I've been on a quest for finding the best hand creams. My hands have been looking horrendously dry lately. If you have to hide your hands when you're in public then there's a problem. It's not attractive seeing cracked skin around the nails and cuticles. My husband especially doesn't appreciate the feeling of sand paper every
time I touch him. To solve that problem, I picked up Aveda's sought after Hand Relief Lotion in the travel size of course. It's incredibly moisturizing and has a yummy cinnamon-citrusy scent to it. If you have chronically dry hands I would definitely make this a must-buy.



I had bought the Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream from the Body Shop last week and I really liked it in the store. It definitely soothed my dry skin, but the more I wore it the more I couldn't stand the scent. It has a very sweet almondy-rose scent that's almost nauseating. The smell is almost as strong as a perfume and it lingers for a long time. It also doesn't come in travel size so it can be pretty bulky in your purse.



The one thing I do love from Body Shop, however, is their Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick. I love anything cocoa butter. It has a delicious chocolaty scent and keeps these smackers from getting chapped. At $6 a pop I picked up two: one for my home and one for my purse. Plus, every time you buy one you help support Community Trade; by buying ingredients like cocoa butter and beeswax this enables work for farmers in Ghana and North West Zambia and many other great causes.



Along with my Aveda purchase today I also bought Juice Beauty's SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers. I had been eyeing these for a while and finally decided to try them out. I love my Petting Pink lip conditioner from M.A.C. but it's not always the most convenient when you're walking down the street, pushing a baby stroller and talking on your cell phone. Juice Beauty's organic stick conditioners come in a pack of 3 (how cool is that?!) for $17. When I first opened one it looked kind of rough and not smooth like a normal lip balm. Once you put it on, your lips feel soft but it's not as moisturizing as M.A.C.'s lip conditioners. The colours, however, are awesome! They come in plum-berry (Delightful), red-berry (Playful), and pink-berry (Joyful - what a perfect name!) shades all with a slight shimmer. Each one of them gives your lips that "I've been snogging for hours" look.

I think I've satisfied my hand cream and lip balm craving for now. On to something new! haha