Beauty

Bite Beauty reds + my custom colour

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I went to the Bite Beauty Lip Lab a few months ago (you can read about the experience here). But I thought it was due time to show you the shades actually swatched on my lips, so I did what I tend to do — both a YouTube video (at the end of the post) and post with still photos to pair with it.

As stated in my first post with Bite Beauty, I’m so glad I ended up making a nude colour for my custom lipstick shade, because my second thought was to make a bright red-orange shade. I didn’t realize we were going to get gifted with more product, and the one here in the middle called Cayenne is the exact shade I would’ve created. The formula of all three red lipsticks are in the new Amuse Bouche formula.

My nude is in a matte creme shade, and I’ll be honest, there’s not much difference between the matte creme formula, and the amuse bouche. That’s telling you that the matte’s are comfortable, and not drying on the lips. Win! This is the peachy-nude I came up with: 

Oof, I just love it. 

In the lipstick bullets Gazpacho and Cayenne look significantly different, however swatched onto the back of my hand and even on my lips they’re quite similar, on my skintone! Check out the reds, followed by my custom lipstick colour at the end — so exciting!

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche · Gazpacho

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in CayenneBite Beauty Amuse Bouche · Cayenne

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in TanninBite Beauty Amuse Bouche · Tannin

Bite Beauty Matte Creme · My custom colour!

I immediately had no questions of what colour I wanted to create for myself. I have this Burberry lipgloss in the shade Nude Beige No. 17 that I love, and wear to death – and I wanted to somewhat mimic that shade in a lipstick form with a different finish. So that’s why I ended up getting it in a matte creme — Oh my gosh, I LOVE how it came out, and what a fun experience!

See the swatches live in action in the quick video below :)

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Beauty

Dior Beauty Boutique at Westfield Valley Fair

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A complimentary Dior facial that you can take advantage of. Do I have your attention now? :)

The Dior Beauty Boutique store exudes pure luxury. Its shiny floors, comfortable couches, and plenty of Dior products to play around with and test out. Many of the items, much too far out of my budget, might I add. However, I definitely have a love for Dior and do know a lot about the products as I’ve been using a lot of it on a daily basis for the past couple of years.

Although shopping there when it first opened last year, I had no clue Dior Beauty Boutique at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall had a spa room. It was only recently when I connected with Valley Fair Mall and then to Dior, where I was invited to receive a complimentary facial at the Dior Beauty Boutique last week and I already can’t wait to go back. Kristine the manager greeted me, and introduced me to the Dior spa room towards the back of the store.

Dior not surprisingly, knows how to impress. The walls painted this lovely grey-purple (might I add that it was Christian Dior’s favourite colour) with many Dior products laid out ready to use. A towel along with a hairband was laying on the spa bed for me to put on. Even the towel was monogrammed with Dior on it! Fancy pants!

It’s the little things that impress me. Just me over here nonchalantly posing with the Dior dish where I put my jewelry for the duration of my treatment.

The best part about this experience? Anyone can get this free-of-charge Dior facial! I mean, it’s pretty booked up so you’re required to book an appointment. Your first one is complimentary — and after your first experience of Dior luxury, all you need to do is make a purchase (and still make that appointment in advance) and boom you’re in the spa room again getting that relaxing facial. You betcha I’ll be back to take advantage of that. I already need to stock up on a few Dior items (cuticle oil, and mascara are calling my name).

I applied a slight amount of makeup (bb cream, mascara and concealer) before driving to Westfield Valley Fair mall to the Dior Boutique. Mainly because I didn’t want to go in bare-faced making a first impression. Although, I knew Kristine would be removing my makeup with the Dior cleansers.

As Kristine was removing my makeup she noticed my skin was dry, and semi-sensitive. She focused on Dior products that would combat redness and also target more hydration into the skin using products with hyaluronic acid, so with that, she applied mostly the Dior Prestige line which felt heavenly. The facial itself is definitely worth going in for. My skin was gently exfoliated, masks were applied, and hydrating products added to seal in moisture for a healthy glow. I could’ve easily fallen asleep had I not been so chatty. Ha! A gentle hand massage concluded my Dior treatment, and at the end I was offered a bit of a finishing touch with a makeup and perfume. An ultimate Dior beauty experience!

Because the Dior Beauty Boutique is inside the mall, the spa room isn’t completely soundproof. It doesn’t bother me at all, because I can tune out background noise pretty easily. Since I don’t use a lot of Dior skincare (I mainly focus on the Dior makeup since I already really love the skincare routine I curated for myself over the years) it was a nice luxury treat for myself.

Sidenote, I’m trying to gauge the vibe of how many locals here in the Bay Area of California read my blog. The Dior Boutique team and I were chatting and we were thinking of me hosting an event there at some point. Although this terrifies me like no other (as I’m naturally shy although I can be pretty loud when needed, ha!!). If I put out the invite for those to attend, would you leave a comment here below letting me know? I’d love to meet some of your faces! :)

Dior Facial appointments available Tuesday to Saturday (and remember, book in advance!).

Dior Beauty Boutique
Westfield Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95128
t. 408 484 3089

Disclaimer: Although a lot of Dior products have been sent to me to review in the past, this isn’t a sponsored post by any means. I was introduced to the Dior Boutique and decided to book in a facial and try it out.

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Daily

Make time for yourself.

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Since my husband was gone for two fun vacations in a row (and I couldn’t attend either of them — boo!), I lucked out and was invited to visit Burke Williams Spa in Santana Row for the second time. I happily obliged as anyone would, am I right? Because I signed a paper at the front desk of Burke Williams, there was to be no photography in the spa at all. So instead, you’ll have to revert back to me describing the location back in October, and have some photos of the outside in this post!

These April showers better be bringing some May flowers. Let me just say that right now. The scent of spring is simply refreshing and my surroundings are blooming all over the place. A visit to Burke Williams was thee spot to go to to balance myself, relax a little and feel renewed. A few weeks ago I went in for a full body Pure Relaxation massage, where actually although full-body, I asked my massage therapist to focus mainly on my shoulder area where I thought I was feeling a bit tight. However I was definitely in heaven getting massaged literally from the nape of my neck, right down to my toes.

Burke Williams has special pricing on their massage and skin care treatments this month; which is perfect timing to spoil your Mother considering Mother’s Day is coming up in a few short weeks. I can’t wait until my Mom comes down to California to visit us (she’s literally right across the North America continent, in Newfoundland Canada for those that are new to my blog). I’ll definitely be treating her to a spa day here at Burke Williams Spa Santana Row, since it’s so close to us and I have always enjoyed every second that I was there.

Ananda Ayurvedic Treatments: 80 minutes ($169-$189 depending on location)  One of my favourite treatments of all time, I had this done in October!

The Anti-Aging Facial: Regenerate and firm your skin ($179-$199 depending on location, regularly $205+)

Mother’s Day Packages: 

Choose from either Relax, Escape, or For Two: A Special Mother/Daughter Experience. Each package includes the Passion Fruit and Agave Pedi, which uses Passion Fruit and Blue Agave Sugar Scrub to exfoliate, Honey Heel Glaze to nourish the skin, and Passion Fruit and Agave body soufflé to hydrate. Each package is offered at an incredible value, and packages are available now and vary slightly per spa location.

“Relax” with the Passion Fruit and Agave Pedicure with her choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation Massage -or- Spa Style facial starting at $149 ($189+ value).
“Escape” with a Passion Fruit and Agave Pedicure, a 50-minute Pure Relaxation Massage -and- a 50-minute Spa Style facial all starting at $249 ($308+ value).
“For Two: A Special Mother / Daughter Experience” welcomes mothers and daughters to share in a relaxing experience and enjoy the nourishing Passion Fruit and Agave Pedicure with their choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation Massage -or- a 50-minute Spa Style facial for $299 ($378 value).

Burke Williams has incredible services that you should take advantage of while you’re there. It was suggested to me, my first time there that we arrive an hour early to do so. While I didn’t arrive an hour early this time, I ended up staying a little longer after my treatment to relax in the quiet atmosphere without my cell phone at my side. The robes you change into at Burke Williams do not have pockets — which I love, because that means I can fully recharge, and relax without the feeling of needing to check my phone every few minutes.

When I was called into the treatment room with my massage therapist, she asked me how deep I wanted my massage – and although it was labeled as a relaxing massage, I wanted her to dig deep and get the knots out of my shoulders. Definitely bearable, but some parts definitely took my breath away (it was my request, remember lol… you can ask to apply as much pressure as you want with a massage), but I felt a million times lighter in my shoulders once the 55 minutes were up. Although I knew I was feeling a bit tight, I never really knew how much I needed that. I guess I simply don’t get a massage as often as one should. I can count the times on one hand how many times I’ve ever gotten a massage to be honest.

Definitely an excellent relaxing retreat for part of my day a few weeks ago, and thanks again to Burke Williams for inviting me to try out the Pure Relaxation Massage.

Burke Williams Spa
355 Santana Row #2010
San Jose, CA 95128
T. 408 241 0071
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For information on Burke Williams and to find a spa near you visit Burke Williams Spa or call 1 866 239 6635. Spa services and pricing vary per spa location.

Disclaimer: My Pure Relaxation Massage was complimentary in exchange for my review. 

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