Pixi Beauty is back in Canada!

Canadians may remember our short-lived access to Pixi Beauty before all the Target stores closed down... well, the brand is finally back and this time you can find it nationwide at Shoppers Drug Mart. I never got a chance to try their products before so when I attended the Pixi Beauty Vancouver Launch Party last month and came home with all sorts of goodies, I couldn't wait to put them to the test.

The brand's lineup seems mostly focused on skincare, though there is makeup as well (more on that below). Glow Tonic (250 mL/$38 CAD) is one of their star offerings (I was lucky enough to receive a personalized bottle!) and exfoliates without any alcohol to dry out your skin. I have also really been loving the Vitamin Wakeup Mist ($20 CAD) which is made with orange blossom and citrus extracts. I spritz it on my face throughout the day to feel more refreshed.

As a sucker for packaging, I think Pixi Beauty's green-themed packaging is super cute and seems to fit well with the brand's philosophy of incorporating botanicals and other beneficial ingredients into its products. You also don't really see this colour too often (except maybe old school Clinique), which makes it more unique. I checked out Pixi Beauty's new display at my local Shoppers Drug Mart and it was definitely very eye-catching.

I decided to put together a FOTD using products I received from the Vancouver Launch Party and the result was something totally natural and wearable. If you like fuss-free makeup with a focus on skincare, Pixi Beauty has a lot to offer.

On my face, I started with a layer of the Flawless & Poreless Primer ($30 CAD). It applied nicely although I prefer the more mattifying properties my Make Up For Ever Step 1 Ski  Equalizer Mattifying Primer (used here). In this case, you'll see that I was going for a more dewy look anyway with the H2O Skintint ($34 CAD). The result is a "no makeup" effect with a lot of hydration and a natural glow.

On my eyes, I used the Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in Mineral Contour ($16 CAD), which was perfect for a neutral-loving girl like me. For mineral shadows, they are surprisingly pigmented and I didn't even use them wet! The Endless Silky Eye Pen ($16 CAD) is a long-wearing gel pencil that applied like a dream and I skipped mascara, using the Black Lacquer Lash Primer ($20 CAD) alone instead. With any mascara layered on top, I'm sure lashes will just pop.

On my lips, I'm wearing the Mattelustre Lipstick in Rose Naturelle ($16 CAD). I love the colour although I thought it would be more matte than it is. Apparently it's meant to have an "adjustable finish" and to get it matte, you can blot it with your fingers.

I honestly really like everything that I've tried so far and am looking forward to experimenting more with the brand. The slightly higher price point initially surprised me (most of the skincare is in the $20-35 CAD range) but I've noticed a lot of drugstore products aren't even really that cheap anymore, so these prices are probably pretty standard. Plus, with Pixi Beauty, at least you are getting quality and cute packaging in one.

Copper H2O Water Bottle

Call me a little bit strange but I like to collect water bottles. Since I work out a lot and try to drink tons of water throughout the day, having a cool water bottle has become a fun and easy way for me to accessorize while keeping hydrated at the same time. So, it totally seemed like kismet when Jessica from Copper H2O reached out to see if I wanted to try out their copper water bottle. She and her partner first discovered the use of copper as a water vessel while traveling in India and decided to bring the idea to the mass market. The result: something both stylish and full of health benefits!

Each water bottle is made with a hammered copper and features a leak-proof cap with a food-safe seal. Over time, the copper will patina (become darker and less shiny) but it can easily be brought back to its original looks by sprinkling a lemon wedge with a few grains of sea salt and rubbing it over the surface of the bottle.

Apart from aesthetics, however, a copper water bottle like this is also good for you. If you let your water sit in the bottle for a few hours, it becomes naturally alkaline which helps balance your body's pH levels. Jessica told me she's noticed over time that regular use has helped with digestion (I'm excited to see if this works for me). Plus, copper is anti-bacterial so the bottle is naturally sterilizing meaning you don't have to clean it as much as you do regular water bottles. I haven't noticed any metallic taste while drinking from my bottle; in fact, both tap and filtered water taste nice and clean.

If you're obsessed with water bottles like me (and even if you aren't!), you will absolutely love Copper H2O's copper water bottle (as of now, only available online). In addition to upping your style points while getting your daily recommended intake of H2O, it's awesome being able to support a local Vancouver company at the same time.

Glamping Getaway on the Sunshine Coast

Sorry for the brief absence... I'm (sadly) back from Kauai which was a much-needed break but, as with most vacations, it was way too short. Just one day after arriving home I hopped on a float plane to Victoria for a meeting and already have two more work trips coming up in the next three weeks. With my work/travel schedule being what it is, weekend getaways have become increasingly important to me. I'm not sure I could get by without them!

Last month, I had the opportunity to take a break and fully recharge thanks to a weekend spent at the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort. Not only that but I also finally got to achieve my dream of "glamping"! Located in Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast, the resort is only a ferry ride and short drive away from Vancouver but it seems like a whole other world with its gorgeous views and the overwhelming feeling of being nestled in nature.

The resort does have some small cabins and a lodge/hotel on its grounds, but the real claim to fame here are the amazing tenthouse suites. If you ever make it out this way, a tenthouse suite is the only way to go -- trust me.

Accessed by a long treehouse boardwalk and built upon wooden platforms, each tenthouse suite is equipped with everything you'll need for a total glamping experience: fireplace, rainfall shower, jacuzzi bathtub, kingsize bed, and 360° views all around (you can bring down the blinds at night for privacy).

I had the best time just shutting out all the craziness of life and decompressing... in fact, I even got to read for fun!