Sonia Kashuk Hair brush

I was in Target a couple months ago to peruse the Sonia Kashuk (SK) collection & I spotted this hair brush. Have you tried any of her products? There are definitely some gems within her collection, not just in terms of makeup, but with her beauty tools, too. On top of having some beautiful makeup brushes, she also created some wonderful hair brushes.

I remembered reading about her hair brushes in Allure magazine. It was rated as one of the top beauty buys & was also said to be on par with the coveted Mason Pearson (MP) hair brushes. Immediately my interest was piqued.

The SK hair brushes come in two sizes. I bought the smaller of the two so I could easily throw it into my purse for on-the-go touch ups. I have to say -- it performs remarkably well.

Obviously there are a few differences between the handmade MP hair brushes and the mass produced SK hair brushes (aside from the price tag), but the similarities are uncanny. Both padded hair brushes have mixed bristles (boar & nylon) and they perform in a similar fashion, too.

l-r: Sonia Kashuk Small hair brush, Mason Pearson Mixed Bristle "Handy" hair brush

At first, I found the SK hair brush to be a bit stiff, it just didn't feel quite as flexible as the MP. Although, after more uses, I found both brushes to feel almost identical. The bristles run through my hair effortlessly. Detangles without tugging. Adds a subtle shine to my locks. Gently massages the scalp. Plus, despite the differently shaped handles, both hair brushes feel comfortable in the hand.

I’d highly recommend checking out the Sonia Kashuk brushes, especially if you’re not quite ready to dole out over $100 for a hair brush. The SK brushes retail for around $12 for the small version and $15 for the larger version.

Ps, if you still want to pick up a Mason Pearson brush in Canada & you’re not sure where to look, I got mine from eBeauty.ca :). It comes in a lot of different sizes & bristle combinations. I bought the “handy” with mixed bristles.

Pps, I took the liberty of cleaning my Mason Pearson brush before snapping these pictures. Trust me, it's typically not this pristine. It's not so much the hair that gets trapped in the bristles, but the dust (or is it hair lint?!), the product build up, and whatever else that likes to live in hair brushes. Highly recommend cleaning your brush (even if it's just an inexpensive one) once in a while :) x

Garnier BB Creams

BB Creams have become quite popular, haven't they? I've dabbled with quite a few of them in the last year or so, Garnier being the first "westernized" version I tried.

The original Garnier BB Cream was released in Canada last year around this time. I did like it, but I didn't really love it. When I heard about the release of a new formula for oily / combination skin, I was definitely eager to try it & see how they compared.

original CLAIMS renews, hydrates 24h, brightens, evens skin tone TEXTURE thicker cream, light-weight, blends easily; dries down to a dewy finish but feels tacky to the touch; can be applied with fingers or a brush SCENT the typical "Garnier" scent, dissipates quickly after application COVERAGE very light to light SHADES light, light/medium, medium/dark

oily/combination CLAIMS controls shine, minimizes pores, renews, brightens, hydrates, evens skin tone TEXTURE lighter cream (more fluidity), blends easily, absorbs quickly; dries to a matte / satin finish, luminous without looking oily; can be applied with fingers or a brush (preferably a brush) SCENT any fragrance is overpowered by a distinct alcohol scent, dissipates quickly after application COVERAGE very light to light SHADES light/medium, medium/dark

1/ Original, light / medium

2/ Oily / combination, light / medium

3/ Oily / combination, medium / dark

thoughts i. the original formula leaves a slightly more dewy finish on the skin & it tends to break down after a couple hours of wear on my t-zone, whereas the new formula's matte / satin finish wears all day; ii. when set with a powder, the original formula's dewiness is diminished & longevity increases on my skin; iii. the new formula's watery consistency can get a little messy, especially with the packaging; iv. both formulas transfer slightly (which is typical with most face products); v. experienced zero oxidation with the original formula, whereas the new formula oxidizes slightly; vi. new formula offers a tad more coverage on me than the original formula. Both formulas do not completely cover blemishes / dark spots, but they do neutralize slight redness; vii. both formulas do not settle into fine lines or dry patches; viii. it is not specified whether this product contains sun protection. I don't think the Canadian versions do; ix. I wear light / medium in the original formula, and a mix of  1/3 light / medium & 2/3 dark / medium in the new formula.

Applied a pea sized amount of each product to a completely bare face (cleansed skin; no moisturizer, serum, or eye cream)
Note skin imperfections (e.g., dark spot on forehead & café au lait on cheek) and under eyes are not completely covered, but they're slightly minimized.

For my skin type, I prefer the the new formula. It sits much better on my skin & it wears much longer throughout the day. I don't typically wear BB Creams on a daily basis -- only when I feel like I'm having a bad skin day -- but between the two formulas, the new formula is the one I've been reaching for the most lately.

Have you tried either formula? What's your favourite drugstore BB cream? x