The top loungewear you need

Usually, around November, I start getting very drawn to anything that is remotely related to loungewear, my ultimate favourite is a matching set, a good jogging pant and sweatshirt go a log way.  Since then, I've been sharing with you on a weekly basis links to all of my favourite joggers. After many requests, I decided to round everything up here. On a side note, I am blessed to be working for a fashion company and as you know sweatsuits or jogging suits have become very much part of the street style movement. My colleagues can clearly vouch that I'm usually wearing a matching jogging suit on Fridays ;) Now, more than ever given our current situation of working from home, spending every hour of every day in our household, jogging suits and I have really become one. Here are my top picks of loungewear pieces, sweatshirts, matching sets, you name it! 

You can also visit some other of my favourites such as DailyStoryclothing, TrendSavvy and Aritzia.

Let me know if you decide to join me in the world of jogging sets and if you do, please tag your #jotd jogging of the day!

Stay safe!
xxx

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Top 5 things you need to know about retinol

In the last couple of months, I’ve been very open with you about my skin care journey. From June 2018 to July 2019, my skin was at its very best. I even went to not wearing an inch of makeup on my face for a year, which was beyond amazing. My skin was in very good condition, with very, very small imperfections such as old acne scars. Come August 2019, and my skin situation came crashing down. Stress took over my life and my skin was one of the main victims. I desperately wanted to take this matter into my own hands and properly alter my skincare routine by incorporating new products. 

Au cours des derniers mois, j'ai souvent abordé le sujet de mon parcours en matière de soins de la peau. De juin 2018 à juillet 2019, ma peau était à son meilleur. Pendant près d’un an, j’ai réussi à ne pas porter une touche de maquillage, ce qui était un super exploit. Ma peau était en très bon état, avec de très, très petites imperfections comme des vieilles cicatrices d'acné. En août 2019, ma situation cutanée s'est effondrée. Le stress a envahi ma vie et ma peau a été l'une des principales victimes. Je voulais désespérément prendre ce problème en main et modifier correctement ma routine de soins en intégrant de nouveaux produits.

Over the past years, I had always read that retinol was an amazing ingredient to use to reduce the appearance of acne scars but for a long time I was scared to use retinol because of all the stories and myths around this ingredient. Two months ago, after my research, I started using the new Olay Retinol24 Moisturizer and I asked you via my Instagram Stories if you had any questions regarding retinol, so here all the information I gathered to answer your questions and tell you all about the top 5 things you need to know about retinol: 

Au cours des dernières années, j’ai fait beaucoup de recherches et j'avais toujours lu que le rétinol était un ingrédient incroyable pour réduire l'apparence des cicatrices d'acné, mais pendant longtemps j'ai eu une peur envers l’utilisation du rétinol, probablement dû à toutes les histoires et mythes autour de cet ingrédient. Il y a deux mois, après mes recherches, j'ai commencé à utiliser le nouvel hydratant pour le visage Olay Retinol24 et je vous ai demandé via mes Stories Instagram si vous aviez des questions concernant le rétinol, alors voici toutes les informations que j'ai rassemblées pour répondre à vos questions sous forme des top 5 choses que vous devez savoir sur le rétinol:

1. What is retinol? Qu'est-ce que le rétinol?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that will brighten and smooth skin while fading signs of damage, like scars, sunspots and wrinkles. 

Le rétinol est une forme de vitamine A qui éclaircit et lisse la peau tout en atténuant les signes de dommages, comme les cicatrices, les tâches pigmentaires et les rides.

2. What does retinol do to your skin? Que fait le rétinol pour la peau? 

Retinol works by encouraging your skin cells to turn over faster than they would normally, making way for new skin. It’s sort of a ‘spring cleaning’ for your skin: out with the old, in with the new. Retinol will stimulate the production of collagen and leave your skin looking brighter and smoother. 

Le rétinol agit en encourageant les cellules de votre peau à se régénérer plus rapidement qu'elles ne le feraient normalement, laissant la place à une nouvelle peau. C’est en quelque sorte un « nettoyage de printemps » pour votre peau: on se débarrasse de l’ancien et on fait place au nouveau. Le rétinol stimule la production de collagène et laisse votre peau plus lumineuse et plus lisse. 

3. What can retinol do for me? Que peut faire le rétinol pour moi?

If you want your skin to look brighter and smoother, you should definitely try retinol. When I started using Olay Retinol24, I noticed that my skin’s texture was improved. I really noticed a difference after 10 days of using it, my skin was a lot smoother and brighter. After 3 weeks, I also noticed that the appearance of my acne scars and dark spots was reduced. 

Si vous voulez que votre peau soit plus lumineuse et plus lisse, vous devez absolument essayer le rétinol. Lorsque j’ai commencé à utiliser Olay Retinol24, j’ai remarqué que la texture de ma peau s’était nettement améliorée. Après 10 jours d'utilisation, j'ai vraiment remarqué une différence, ma peau était beaucoup plus lisse et plus lumineuse. Après 3 semaines, j'ai également remarqué que l'apparence de mes cicatrices d'acné et de mes tâches pigmentaires était réduite.

4. Is it true that retinol dries out your skin? Est-il vrai que le rétinol assèche la peau?

Most retinol products will dry out your skin. However, during my research I discovered that Olay’s Retinol24 formula not only hydrates your skin but it also improves your skin’s ability to hold onto that moisture. Why you may ask? Well the Olay Retinol24 products contain vitamin B3, which is known to help moisturize your skin and improve its resiliency and ability to hold onto moisture. After using it for many weeks now, I have not experienced any irritation or redness. 

La plupart des produits à base de rétinol assèchent la peau. Cependant, au cours de mes recherches, j'ai découvert que la formule Retinol24 d'Olay hydrate non seulement la peau, mais améliore également la capacité de la peau à retenir cette hydratation. Pourquoi vous vous demander? Et bien, les produits Olay Retinol24 contiennent de la vitamine B3, qui est connue pour aider à hydrater votre peau et améliorer sa résilience et sa capacité à retenir l'humidité. Après l'avoir utilisé pendant plusieurs semaines maintenant, je n'ai ressenti aucune irritation ou rougeur. 

5. When do I use retinol? Quand dois-je utiliser du rétinol?

It is very important to use retinol only during your nighttime routine as retinol is photosensitive and can breakdown with the sun. 

Il est très important d'utiliser le rétinol uniquement pendant votre routine du soir, car le rétinol est photosensible et peut se décomposer avec le soleil.

6. How often should I use retinol? À quelle fréquence dois-je utiliser le rétinol?

A misconception is that you can only use retinol once or twice a week because it will be too irritating to your skin. It really depends on the formula, but I have found that Olay’s new Retinol24 products are gentle enough to use everyday. 

Une idée fausse est que vous ne pouvez utiliser le rétinol qu'une ou deux fois par semaine, car il sera trop irritant pour votre peau. Cela dépend vraiment de la formule, mais j’ai découvert que les nouveaux produits Retinol24 d’Olay sont suffisamment doux pour être utilisés tous les jours.

I hope all of this information helps you have a better understanding of retinol. Looking back at my skin journey, I can now say that I’ve learned a lot about retinol and how it can improve my skin’s appearance, but I also need to learn how to manage my stress, because stress can have a direct impact on your skin and its appearance. 

J'espère que toute cette information vous aidera à mieux comprendre le rétinol. En repensant à mon parcours cutané, je peux maintenant dire que j'ai beaucoup appris sur le rétinol et comment il peut participer à améliorer l'apparence de ma peau, mais je dois aussi apprendre à gérer mon stress, car le stress peut avoir un impact direct sur votre la peau et son apparence.

Do not hesitate if you have any other questions about retinol in general and retinol products!

N'hésitez pas si vous avez d'autres questions sur le rétinol en général et les produits à base de rétinol!

The Olay Retinol24 collection is available as a Night Moisturizer, a Night Serum and a Night Eye Cream. Go to Olay.ca for more details!

La collection Olay Retinol24 est disponible en hydratant de nuit, en sérum de nuit et en crème pour les yeux de nuit. Visitez Olay.ca pour plus de détails!

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Top 5 winter fashion must-haves

I have a love/hate relationship with winter for the following reasons. I absolutely adore the fashion that comes with the winter season because it's all about the layering, however, as a Canadian we have to deal with the freezing cold, the inches of snow, the slush, the not wanting to leave the house/hibernation and so much more. This winter, to brighten up my mood because let's be honest with winter comes zero sun, I decided I wanted to incline my wardrobe towards winter whites and a palette of nude colors. Being Canadian ain't no joke. But all smiles now, let's talk fashion and the 5 fashion must-haves to stay cute this winter! 

Enjoy the shopping xxx

1. The Winter Whites

Coat - Knit - Jeans H&M | Sneakers Adidas | Bag Gucci

2. The Knit Dress

Dress H&M | Booties Mango

3. The Knee-High boots

Knit H&M | Dress American Eagle | Boots Aldo

4. The combat boots

Coat Quartz co | Jeans H&M | Bag Prada | Boots Dr.Martens

5. The jogger set

Coat Zara | Jogging set Dailystoryclothing

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How to make hair soft with Rose Water

As a young girl, I used to always watch my grandmother use rose water on her face and on her hair. She would even put a couple of drops in her water and would tell me that it would give her a calming effect. Rose water has many advantages and recently, I discovered that Pantene launched a new Sulfate Free Rose Water collection, so I had to give it a try. 

Quand j'étais jeune fille, je regardais toujours ma grand-mère utiliser de l'eau de rose sur le visage et sur les cheveux. Elle mettait même quelques gouttes dans son eau et me disait que cela lui donnait un effet calmant. L’eau de rose présente de nombreux avantages et récemment, j’ai découvert que Pantene avait lancé une nouvelle collection d’eau de rose sans sulfates; j’ai donc dû faire un essai.

As you know, I’ve dipped in the pond of hair coloration for almost a year now. At 32 years old, it’s no secret that I started having grey hair but I also wanted a little change to my always dark hair. We all know that dying your hair also dries your hair which means having to take extra good care of your locks. However, you do not always want to be worrying about what is in your shampoo… Is it ok for my hair? Will it make my colour fade faster? 

Comme vous le savez peut-être, je viens tout juste de plonger dans le monde de la coloration de cheveux depuis près d’un an maintenant. À 32 ans, ce n'est pas un secret, mais j'ai j’ai commencé à avoir des cheveux gris, mais en même temps je me suis dit que je voulais changer ma coiffure et essayer quelque chose de nouveaux. Nous savons tous que le fait de teindre nos cheveux les assèche, ce qui signifie qu'on doit bien prendre soin de notre couleur et de nos mèches. Par contre, on ne veut pas pas toujours se soucier de ce qui se trouve dans notre shampooing… Est-ce que c'est trop fort pour mes cheveux? Cela fera-t-il disparaître ma couleur plus rapidement?

I was so happy to discover that the Pantene Rose Water shampoo and conditioner were 100% sulfate free, no parabens, no mineral oil and no dyes. 

Tout récemment, j'étais super heureuse de découvrir que le shampooing et le revitalisant Pantene Rose Water étaient 100% sans sulfate, sans parabène, sans huile minérale et sans colorants.

Why Rose Water? The Pantene Rose Water collection contains rose water from the petals and buds of the rosa gallica plant, which was found to be rich in Vitamin B3 & Vitamin B5. Rose Water is rich in vitamins, antioxydants and nutrients which will hydrate your hair and lock in the moisture. 

Pourquoi l'eau de rose? La collection Pantene Rose Water contient de l’eau de rose issue des pétales et des boutons de la plante rosa gallica, riche en vitamine B3 et vitamine B5. L'eau de rose est riche en vitamines, en antioxydants et en nutriments, qui hydrateront vos cheveux et emprisonneront l'hydratation.

I’ve been using the Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water collection for the past 4 weeks and I’ve noticed that my hair is soft, shiny and my color is actually more vibrant that usual. Also, I suffer from a very dry scalp which is the consequence of high stress periods. After using the Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water collection I’ve noticed a significant difference in the hydration of my scalp, it’s not itchy or flaky. The Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water collection is made with a pH equivalent to our scalp’s pH level, which prevent drying the scalp. 

J'utilise la collection Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water depuis maintenant 4 semaines et j'ai remarqué que mes cheveux étaient doux, plus brillants et que ma couleur était plus éclatante que d'habitude. De plus, je souffre d'un cuir chevelu très sec, qui est la conséquence de périodes de stress intense. Après avoir utilisé la collection Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water, j’ai remarqué une différence significative dans l’hydratation de mon cuir chevelu: elle ne démange pas et j'ai moins de pellicules. La formule de la collection Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water est faite avec un pH équivalent à celui de notre cuir chevelu, ce qui évite le dessèchement du cuir chevelu.

Honestly, I am very pleased with the Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water collection for my dry coloured hair but it’s also very good for any type of hair. If you would like to test it out, the Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water collection is available at your local pharmacies and the pumps make it super easy to use in the shower! 

Honnêtement, je suis très satisfaite de la collection Pantene Sulfate Free Rose Water pour mes cheveux secs et colorés, mais elle convient également à tous les types de cheveux. Si vous souhaitez le tester, la collection d’eau de rose Pantene Sulfate Free Rose est disponible dans vos pharmacies locales et l'embout en pompe rend l'utilisation très facile sous la douche!

*This post was created in partnership with Pantene. All opinions are my own.
* Cette publication a été créé en partenariat avec Pantene. Mes propos reflètent mes propres opinions.

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Top 4 luxury hotels to visit in Puerto Vallarta with Air Transat

I think it's safe to say that I love Mexico. One place I had never visited is the West Coast of the beautiful country, more specifically Puerto Vallarta. Tickets were booked, luggages were made and after spending an incredible week in Playa Del Carmen where I got engaged, I was off to Puerto Vallarta with Air Transat.

I am very proud to be part of the Air Transat family and even more so as in 2018, they became the first major international tour operator to be Travelife Certified for all its activities in recognition of its commitment to sustainable tourism.

Did you know that Air Transat offers an incredible Luxury collection, what does this mean: 

• 40 hotels to choose from in 10 amazing tropical destinations
• Free access to airport VIP lounges
• Upgrade to OptionPlus on Air Transat flights
• If you fly with Club Class, you get very spacious seats, the option of travelling with 2 checked bagages of 23kg each, a gourmet menu by renown chef Daniel Vézina and many more...
• Private roundtrip transfers between the airport and the hotel

If this is the kind of trip you are looking for, whether you are travelling with your family or with your significant other, it is totally worth looking at the selection of Luxury hotels that Air Transat has to offers and all the perks that come with this service.

Now, let's talk about Puerto Vallarta and the 4 amazing hotels we had the immense pleasure of visiting. Puerto Vallarta is definitely a Mexican destination that is underrated. The region is absolutely breathtaking, you get the ocean and the mountains, what more can you ask for. Ok, the sand is not white but the juxtaposition of earth and water makes for absolutely picturesque views and the most beautiful sunsets you have ever seen. Better yet, the water is warm, the city is filled with culture and exudes a very European vibe. 

Hotels

MARIVAL RESIDENCES LUXURY RESORT NUEVO VALLARTA - 5 Stars - Family hotel

For our first 3 nights, we had the pleasure of being hosted at the Marival Residences Luxury Resort. The amazing team placed us in the most amazing penthouse suites that had rooftop pools overlooking the ocean, which was a dream. The rooms were super spacious and so convenient for families, especially with kids, since the penthouse was equipped with a full kitchen. Let me tell you all the great things this resort has to offer:

• Loved the layout of the hotel, everything is very close by, the beach, the restaurants, the beach club, all in a small distance
• Very spacious rooms with 24-hour room service
• 4 à la carte restaurants that require no reservations
• Amazing service all around the resort
• Amazing breakfast service, very healthy food options all round the hotel
• Mozza Mare Beach Club that has an amazing menu and butler service to your beach chairs
• Bikes available to go around the property
• Very family-friendly
• Amazing beach location: the best stretches for miles and has an amazing view of the mountains

GRAND VELAS RIVIERA NAYARIT - 5 Stars - Family hotel 

We spent a day at the Grand Velas hotel and let me tell you that this hotel is straight out of a luxury hotel catalogue. The resort is breathtaking, every little detail counts for this hotel. The Grand Velas is a very family friendly hotel. We had the chance of eating at one of their restaurants and the food was absolutely delicious and ended the day, with the most amazing massage. 

SECRETS VALLARTA BAY PUERTO VALLARTA - 5 Stars - Adults only

For our last 4 nights, we made our way to the Secrets Vallarta Bay Resort, where we had very nice rooms with the most amazing views of the sunset. What I loved the most about this hotel is the fact that you have the city on one side and the ocean on the other. This is perfect if you want to spend the day at the beach but then take a quick taxi to the city for an evening stroll or some shopping. Let me tell you a bit more on this hotel: 

• All inclusive Adults only
• Spacious rooms
• Super close to the city of Puerto Vallarta
• Very friendly staff
• Really enjoyed the breakfast buffet (very easy to have healthy meals)
• Entertainment at the bar lobby
• Amazing spa experience where you can relax for hours.

HOTEL MOUSAI - 5 Stars - Adults only

Not many words can describe the beauty that is this resort. The Hotel Mousai is the perfect place for a couples retreat. The decor of this hotel is breathtaking and most importantly the rooftop pool. This hotel is all about the food and the pool, the beach is not very close and you need to take a shuttle to get to it but lounging by the pool makes it the perfect day. We had the pleasure of spending the day at the pool with drinks and such nice meals that it really made it the perfect day. Hotel Mousai is definitely a place I would come back to with some girlfriends or with my fiancé for a nice 5 relaxing trip. 

In resume, Puerto Vallarta is an absolutely beautiful destination and should be a must on your vacation list. It's a city that is surely very underrated and I do not understand why, as the ocean is adorned with a magnificent view of the mountains which makes the views absolutely breathtaking and the temperature more than perfect. Aside from the food being delicious and the community being so welcoming, Puerto Vallarta is in my books the place to be in Mexico. 

Excursions

SAYULITA - SAN PANCHO

There is nothing more that I like than discovering cities and getting lost in the streets. Our first excursion was in Sayulita, an absolutely beautiful little village. Sayulita is so laid back relax and it has such a surfer vibe, streets filled with cute cafés and artisan shops. The beach is beautiful and you can take surf lessons, enjoy a nice meal at a beachfront restaurant. A short 10 minute drive away is San Pacho, the most charming little village that is less touristic and has the most breathtaking beach. Picture ocean on one side and the mountains and jungle on the other, it was so beautiful that I got very emotional, I'm not going to lie!

TACO TOUR

I mean the title says it all, if you love tacos, you NEED to book this tour. The tour is with Cookin' Vallarta, a company that hosts cooking experiences through different cities in Mexico. What is a Taco Tour you may ask, well it means you get to try tacos at 5 different spots, from super local counters to cool hip restaurants, you get to taste the best of the best. Honestly, this was the coolest experience and something I recommend to absolutely everyone, a must in Puerto Vallarta! 

Please let me know if you have any hotspots in Puerto Vallarta, because I will definitely be travelling there again xxx

*This post was created in partnership with Air Transat. All opinions are my own.

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