TopBox and Ipsy July 2013

Hello Lovelies! I've been slacking I know. I'm sad to report that I had to cancel a few of my boxes given my current jobless situation. I hope to get back with them soon. There were only two monthly subscriptions that I thought were worth holding onto. Why? Let me show you :)

I decided to go with the Regular TopBox again this month and I'm happy with that choice. This month I received:(left to right)
KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Spray: I'm actually pretty impressed with this product. It did exactly as it claimed!
yaby Lip Colour in Hot Date: Its sitting in my Glam RX palette right now :)
Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer in Make a Wish in Rome
Belvada Cosmetics One Moment Essential Day Cream: That's 24K gold flakes sitting in there. This also costs a pretty penny at $60/60 mL. I'm not entirely sure about this product. I mean the idea of smearing gold and pearls on my face doesn't sound like it would work. But I guess I'll have to see :)

Ipsy's theme this month is Beach Beauty. I received:
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray: adds texture to hair for that beach look.
Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush: I have a newfound love for lip crayons! 
Coola mineral sunscreen for the Face, SPF 20
Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Mai Tai: I love the names of all their products! Meet me at the nail bar Lovelies!
BH Cosmetics California Collection sampler: The colours are Hollywood, San Francisco, and Malibu. 

Great Months again for both TopBox and Ipsy!

Stella & Dot Giveaway!

Hi Lovelies! Stella & Dot is giving one lucky Facebook Fan 10 pieces from their collection. Quick, enter here! Good Luck!

Cocoon Apothecary starter kit

Hello Lovelies! I would like to share with you my review of the Cocoon Apothecary Skin Care Starter Kit for normal, dry, sensitive, and mature skin types. (from their website)

Cocoon Apothecary is an artisanal skin care company that embraces the power of nature to deliver a luxurious product without compromise. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, we make skin and body care products that are as good for your skin as they are for the Earth.

oH Canada!
The best thing about this set: Roses! Real rose oils and extracts! I used this set for about a week and I think my nose was in heaven as well! It was also very user friendly. It was pampering even when you are on the go!

The Petal Purity Facial Cleanser is meant to be used on dry skin. It has a sort of cream consistency. I would say its kinda like a milk but thicker. You give yourself a little facial massage as you are gently cleansing your face. You can wipe off with a damp cloth. I usually prefer to just rinse with some warm water and pat dry. Either way, it gets the job done.

The Rose Dew Facial Toner is an immediate fix for rose lovers. To tone just spray on your face or a cotton pad and wipe down your face. Gently and moisturizing, it did not dry out my face. Sometimes I spray it on throughout the day for a little spritz!

The Rosey Cheeks Facial Cream should be applied to dry skin. It feels like a heavier cream but definitely goes on smooth and light. And of course, makes you smell like you had a lovely rosewater steam facial. The formula last morning til night and kept my face baby soft!

Overall, I was really impressed with these skin care products and would not hesitate to pick up this little set again! The packaging also has an elegance with nature combined to it. Check out Cocoon Apothecary.


I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. 

I'm a Stylist for Stella & Dot! Hear Me Roar! (Meow!)

Hello all my wonderful Lovelies! I have some exciting news for you! 
The bad news first: I recently lost my job. I cried, I moped, I got angry, but I'm ok. The job search has been less than successful. I had always had it in the back of my mind to try my hand at being a Stylist. So now with me being unemployed, why not be my own boss for a try? And Voila! A Stylist is born!
Stella& Dot is an upcoming jewelry and accessories company designed with the woman entrepreneur in mind. Not only is it great quality jewelry using only quality materials (sterling silver, bronze, semi-precious stones), it is also a great opportunity for women to have a run at their own business. This is my new baby :)
I invite all my lovelies to check out my webpage: www.stelladot.com/geniemckrow When you think of buying from Stella & Dot, think of me, your Stylist. You can shoot me a message or shop online right from my website. They ship anywhere in Canada for one low flat rate of $7.95. If you are in my area, let's have a trunk show! A trunk show is a pop-up boutique in your home that you can invite your girlfriends to for a fun night in. You get to touch and try on the jewelry and get styled from your own personal Stylist! Trunk show Hostesses also get rewards, such as free jewelry credits. And trunk shows are Fun! I had my own a few years ago and that is what made me fall in love with Stella & Dot. And I also thought, 'Hey I could do this!' So I have! I'm super excited for this next part of my life. Who knows what this story has in hold for me? 
I am still job hunting as science is my first passion but so far I am enjoying this! But this also means a little slow down here. Not too slow! Onyx and Mick are still prominent features and I will still be wanting to share my thoughts and opinions and any new beauty finds with all my Lovelies! We aren't going anywhere, but we will take a tiny step back. At least until I can smoothly integrate all this newness together! So please bear with me and thank you for your patience.
I look forward to styling all my Lovelies!
Yours in Style,
Gen

Please check out and like my new FB page as well!
www.facebook.com/StellaandDotGenie

Playing with My Hair: Hair OIls

One of the biggest trends I've noticed lately is the use of oils to restore your hair. Argan oil has made a name for itself in this field. In this post, I'd like to share with you my adventures with some different oil products. 

Let's start on the left and work our way right:

1. Weleda Rosemary Hair Oil
Rosemary is one of my favourite seasonings. So when I saw this product, I knew I had to sleuth it out! It smells exactly like rosemary should. This hair oil can also be used to treat the scalp. I applied this to my hair after a shower and left it in as a conditioner. You can also use it as a hair mask. Massage a good amount into the hair and cover with a shower cap. Leave on for forty minutes before rinsing it out. This oil has been formulated with organic  extracts of rosemary, clover blossoms, and burdock root.

2. Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment
This is one of the better known beauty brands for hair oil. And if you like the smell of macadamia nuts, this one's for you! I like to put it on my damp or dry hair and comb through. You can also add a few drops to your hair mask or leave-in conditioner. While it may sound kinda natural, the formulation does contain dimethicone and cyclomethicone (silicones that help in lubrication and coverage). 

3.Moroccan Hair Oil or Argan Oil from Gosh Cosmetics
Argan oil seems to have tons of uses! Facial oil, cuticle oil, and now hair oil. Argan oil adds a healthy shine to your locks. I like to massage this into my wet hair and just let everything air dry. I find my hair actually feels softer and silkier this way. The heat just kinda leaves a residue feeling, even though right on the bottle it says to blow dry for best results.

4. Mythic Oil by L'Oreal Professional
This is advertised as a nourishing oil. Yet this is probably the most synthetic smelling hair oil I've ever tried. It does a great job of nourishing hair as it says. I like to put this on dry hair. It makes my locks nice and smooth. Its the smell that both draws me in and throws me off. It smells quite fragrant, like a bottle of designer perfume. But therein lies my problem. I don't think hair oil should smell that way. At least I don't want my hair to smell that way all the time. I like hair oils that don't really have a scent to them. This was just over powering. I used this much less often then the others.

So Lovelies, what are your favourite hair oils? Are there any I should try?


I was given the Weleda Rosemary Hair Oil for the purpose of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Tashodi Shower Creme and Body Scrub review

Who's that under the coffee table? Why its Onyx! What a sneeky little girl! This is her 'come pet my belly and receive claws' look. I fall for it all the time :( Today, I want to share with you my review of a few more Tashodi products. You may remember my review of Tashodi's Hand soap and cream. I have a few more products to share with you! 

This is Tashodi's Shower Cream in the scent pure lavender. Now I'm not the biggest lavender fan. Its not one of my top favourite scents. I mostly think its a little overpowering and it doesn't appeal to the olfactory in me. So when I received this for review, I was incredibly skeptical. But one shower later.....woosh! Wow! The cream is incredibly indulgent. My skin never felt that good after one wash. It must be the shea. And the scent. Well, my nose rather welcomed it. It was not strong at all, like I was in a lavender flower patch but not yet ripe for picking. I enjoyed using this shower cream. The only complaint I have is that the dispenser was too small for the bottle and the liquid's thickness. It took a long time to dispense the amount I wanted onto my shower poof.

This is Tashodi's Body Scrub in Ocean Minerals. This scrub was incredibly gritty. That's the way a scrub should be if you want the job done right. I also discovered this is a salt scrub. How did I discover? I accidentally got some in my mouth. It was salty! (and I'm not really sure how I got it in my mouth) I like to use a cloth with my scrubs to help exfoliate. This scrub was great in that it didn't leave a lot of oily residue on my skin or the bath tub walls. Followed up with some lotion and I was all set! Here is a close up of the scrub:

I enjoy Tashodi products and I hope you will check some out too! Tashodi



I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Kaia Naturals review

Happy Purrsday, Lovelies! Doesn't Mick look handsome? hehe

Lovelies, today I bring you an oH Canada review! Meet Kaia Naturals. Kaia Naturals specializes in making quality, all natural, organic, cruelty-free products in small batches. I had a chance to try a sampler of their skincare products.

The three products on the left are the Matte-finish products. The product on the right is a travel size packet with a juicy bamboo cleansing cloth inside. I used all these products for a week. I started my routine first with the Juicy Bamboo cleansing cloth. Juicy Bamboo cleansing cloths are alcohol, paraben and sulphate free. What's left? A blend of 8 essential plant-based oils, organic honey, and vitamins. I really love the smell of these wipes! I'm not entirely sure how to describe it but the scent is unique. I love putting it on my face. I don't think this is a great makeup remover though. I would use this after cleaning my make up off rather then the sole remover. I think it doesn't really work too well with makeup that is less than natural. This is great for just cleansing though. 
After cleansing I used the Booster serum. This serum is perfect for dry skin. It contains moringa oil. I was surprised to learn that moringa oil contains 6 times the amount of Vitamin C than a regular orange. 
After serum, I used the face cream. This cream contains both argan and moringa oil for a serious moisture punch. It also leaves a matte finish to your face so you are makeup ready!
Lastly, I dab eye cream under my eyes. This makes a great under-eye filler and helps any concealer stick better. 

Overall I was quite impressed with the Kaia Naturals products and will definitely need more Juicy Bamboo cloths! Please check out Kaia Naturals today!


I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

The Green Cream Review

Happy Hump Day, Lovelies! Life's a bit crazy right now so if there is a lull or weird pattern to my posts, you'll know why.
Onyx is pawing the product I'm going to share with you today. This is The Green Cream by Graydon Clinical Luxury by Nature. and oH Canada! This is a Canadian skincare company :)

The Green Cream is a salad for your skin. It actually is green and contains veggie extracts. (from the website)

Infused with cold pressed broccoli seed oil which is a rich source of sulforaphane as well as avocado, coconut, aloe and chlorophyll this light feeling cream is like a salad for your skin.

Aromatic essential oils of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme will wake up your senses and help stimulate your lymphatic system.

While my first instinct is to use this on my face, it can be used anywhere on your body that needs some extra moisturizing. I used this after my normal cleansing and toning routine morning and night. And don't worry about the green colour. It blends in transparent once you put it on. 

The smell was actually the one thing that stuck out with me. I had never tried a cream with vegetables in it. The smell of the cream is kind of like a lemon-parsley. It took me some getting used to. The creams I usually go for are fruit/flower scented or not scented at all. The cream did a wonderful job keeping my skin moisturized and feeling healthy. 

So I guess my skin is vegetarian, haha! Please check out Graydon Clinical Luxury by Nature.


This product was sent to me for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

(closed)Unmentionably Cheeky Giveaway!

Happy Meowsday, Lovelies! I have an exciting post for ya! Remember my Unmentionably Cheeky review?

Well, Lovelies, one of you is going to win a one month subscription to Unmentionably Cheeky! Just enter in the Rafflecopter widget below. Contest ends July 22nd! US and Canada only please! Good Luck!


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The Eyes have it- Eye creams I'm using at the moment

Happy Purrs-day! I thought I'd post some pics of the kitties and their peppers :) Onyx looks like a supervillain. Mick looks like a warg (GoT geek reference).

Today I wanted to share with you my daily eye creams. I've bot dark circles and bags under my eyes and to combat them, I use two different creams. One for Day and one for Night.

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

In the mornings, after I put on my face cream, I dab a little of 100% Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream under my eyes. This smells great of coffee :) Another good thing to have in the morning for me ;) Caffeine de-puffs, brightens dark circles, lessens lines and wrinkles and nourishes with anti-aging nutrients. Its got organic ingredients such as aloe vera, rose hydrosol, rosehip oil, green coffee, Vitamin E and C. It also has extracts of coffee cherry, rosemary, oregano, thyme and goldenscal, vanilla absolute, candelilla wax. All sounds good to me. I like this cream not only because it smells great,   it softens and cools my eyes. I definitely look more awake after putting some on! You can purchase it from here

EarthWear Face & Body Delicate Petals Eye Satin

Delicate Petals Eye Satin is my favourite overnight eye cream right now. It smells like a bed of roses! I shall list out the ingredients for you: soybean butter, rice bean oil, evening primrose oil, argan oil, soy wax, rose oil, and orange blossom oil. It is strongly recommended to use this cream only at night. This is because the formulation is actually quite so that it absorbs slowly. And this is best achieved at night I think. A little dab will do it for each eye. Just gently apply to the under eye area and sleep soundly :) I find my eye area softened and the satin has usually all absorbed by morning. You can find it here. It is also one of EarthWear's best selling products.

June 2013 Seasonsbox

Dive into summer! This is the June Seasonsbox theme. This month was filled with tropical and eco friendly must haves for the summer.

 Let's go clockwise from the left:

Organic Rishi Iced Tea in Tropical Crimson (Caffeine-Free)
Doesn't that look like a tropical cocktail? I need a little umbrella for it.This tea is created with tropical hibiscus, pineapple, citrus and herbs. Just add ice after brewing!

Vance Family Soy Candle in Organic Pineapple and Coconut
This is a pina colada for your room! Smells just like it sounds.

Organic Tagua Jewelry Bracelet- I also have a close up picture of me wearing it below. Love it! Each bracelet is actually handcrafted from a palm tree nut native to rainforests in Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia. The dyes used are organic vegetable dyes from Italy. An awesome summer accessory.

Moksa Organic Exfoliating Body Bar in Amazon Lemon
An natural soap good for the body. It contains vanilla bean orchid and lemon. The poppy seeds are for exfoliation. Sound refreshing to me!

There you have it lovelies. June is the beginning of Summa time!!!!

Behind the Mask: EarthWear Green Clay Mask Review

Happy Meowday, Lovelies! The beautiful Onyx here is helping me model the mask I will be reviewing today! EarthWear Face & Body Products Healthy Glow 2 in 1 Green Clay Mask. EarthWear is based out of Saskatchewan. oH Canada! EarthWear specializes in all natural handmade ingredients. 

Here is a closer look. And a closer look reveals the ingredients: french green clay, oatmeal, rose petals, rosemary. The mask comes in dry form. Adding a tablespoon of mask and enough water to get the consistency you want. Mix well. Upon application, give yourself a little facial massage. This will let the mask pull double duty as a mild exfoliator. The 2 in 1 function is what gets me. After you exfoliate, you leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse off gently. You can use a cloth, I usually just rinse with my hands. The mask does harden a bit when drying but its a cinch to remove. Here's my mask glamour shot! 

Looking good, eh? :)

My skin afterwards always feels clean and smooth. Followed up with some serum and moisturizer and you are good to go. I am starting to lean towards dry masks as I find I waste less and can make the amount and consistency I need. 

Please check out EarthWear as they have tons of other wonderful products to give a try!

I was sent this product for the purpose of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own. That face is mine as well.

Fortune Cookie Soap Summer Box

Summer, how I've missed you! And now one of the ways I can tell when a new season is coming isn't the change of the weather. Its the arrival of my Fortune Cookie Soap Box! :D I also got one of those little drink umbrellas to help with the unboxing.......

Fortune Cookie Soap in One in A Melon. I love how it looks like a slice of watermelon. my fave summertime fruit. Last summer, I ended up eating a whole watermelon by myself....but that's another story. This one smells like a watermelon Jolly Rancher! My fortune this time: I can't complain., but sometimes I still do.

On the left is the Mother Pucker Shower Steamer. I have use it and it made my shower a nice lemon-minty escape :) On the right is Body Shot Don't be Jelly! Is a jelly soap that smells like raspberry lemonade. I wonder if you can put this in the fridge prior to using to give it a cool feeling?

On the left is a sugar scrub in I Scream, You Scream. This smells like a sundae with vanilla, chocolate and strawberries. On the right is What? It's Five O'Clock Somewhere! whipped cream. Haha. It smells like a tropical cocktail.

At the very top is a stick of solid sunscreen in Where the Sun Don't Shine. Its kinda small so I don't think you can get much coverage out of it. It has a coconut-banana smell. On the left is and OCD hand sanitizer in Do you Salsa or Mango? I love these things! This one is scented with island mango, lime, chile and cilantro. Finally, there is a Sea Salt Hair Spritz in Aquaholic. A pina colada scented hair spritz for that just at the beach look.

I'm over all super happy with this box and am pretty much in love with everything! Sign up for your own Soap Box here. The next one comes in Fall 2013 :)

Socking Behaviour: A New Sock Sub from Canada

Happy Friday, Lovelies! I love socks! Socks are a great gift for any occassion! WEll, I like receiving socks for no reason. ;) I always need them as much as they disappear on me. (Sometimes I think the dryer is eating them....) There seems to be a subscription box out there for anything and socks are no exception. However, Canadians seem to get saddled with shipping charges. I have found Socking Behaviour. A website that sells socks and accessaries and has a sock club. Socking Behaviour is proudly Canadian. You know what that means? Free Shipping in Canada! Whoo-hoo! I was kindly sent a package to review and share with you. 

This came in a large flat envelope.

Inside were my pair of socks! Each month is $12. If you want to share all the fun, they have a his and hers sock option. For $23/month, you get a pair for you and a pair for him/her. All with free shipping. The socks themselves are of high quality. I'm wearing them now and they fit great. I've never heard of the brand before but it seems to be holding together just fine after a washing. I'm a fan of all types of patterns so my socks are all different. Of course, I can appreciate the big stripes. If you'd like to start receiving your own socks, check out Socking Behaviour here.



I was sent this box for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

EarthLab Cosmetics MineralsVegan Mineral Pencils Review

Happy Purrs-day, Lovelies! And happy 4th of July to my American Lovelies! Have a safe and fun long weekend :)

Lovelies, today I bring you the Vegan Mineral Pencil from Earthlab Cosmetics. EarthLab Cosmetics is based out of West Kelowna, BC. oH Canada! If they sound a little familiar, its because they have appeared on Dragon's Den. Did they win a dragon? Watch here if you want to find out. Earthlab Cosmetics are 100% natural and cruelty free cosmetics. I have to show you the Vegan Mineral Pencils. I have them swatched in the picture below.

They are very easy to apply. I found the application to my eyes quite smooth. They also are great for smudging. The wear is all day which I found impressive. The colour pay off, as you can tell, is also great. Here is the ingredients list: Jojoba oil, castor oil, carnauba wax, cadelillia wax, ozokerite wax, vitamin E, mica, and iron oxides. That's it! No long names that are hard to pronounce. They also boast that you do not need a heavy make up remover and they wash off easily. I did a little experiment and tried to wash my hand above with just water and some gentle rubbing.

As you can see, a lot of the liner did come off, but not all. I think you could still use a gentle make up remover or perhaps two washings with water to remove it completely. Still pretty impressive to me. 

Check out the EarthLab Cosmetics site as they have more products, such as lip glosses and foundation, that are also all natural and all around good for your skin.

I was sent these products for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.

Kona Kare Lip Butter Review + (closed)Giveaway!

Lovelies, I have an exciting product and giveaway for you today! Kona Kare is based out of Ontario and these little guys are definitely amazing! oH Canada! Kona Kare's Lip Butter Balm looks like an ordinary lip balm but performs as a lip butter. I was pretty impressed when I first tried it. My lips stayed soft and supple and did not feel dried out after hours of wear. At this point, I was just re applying for fun! The consistency is soft and not too watery. Just enough slick to get your lips moist and right. They come in four different varieties. And I have them pictured below.

From left to right:

The Original: unscented but still a great feeling!
Chocolate Mint: this was the very first one I got to try and I really enjoyed the smell. A great chocolate smell!
Peaches and Dream: Smells just like peaches! This actually is my least favourite scent, but it was really a hard decision.
French Vanilla: ahh, good old vanilla.

The company also has a great work ethic and are highly motivated. Every email I've received from them contains a little motivating message. I definitely enjoy reading them. They are going through a re-branding right now and having a sale on their website right now! or you can win a lip butter of your choice, right here :)
Follow the rules and any invalid entries will be deleted. Canada and US only please! Good Luck, Lovelies! Please check out Kona Kare!
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I was sent these products for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine own.