Lea – Leave it to Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

PRODUCT EMPTIES AUGUST 2023

August 15, 2023August 13, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a product empties blog post! I’ve been doing them more often on my Youtube channel but thought it was time to do one here. My product empties posts are a great time for me to give an in-depth review on a product since I’ve finished it! I’ll let you know if I like the product and whether I would consider repurchasing the product. If you ever want to go through my past empties posts, you can click the “EMPTIES” category at the top of the post. Let’s get into it!

If you’ve followed me for a while then you’ll know I’ve been on the hunt for a good hair mask. My friend recommended the Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask. Even though it’s not silicone-free I decided to give it a shot and I was pretty underwhelmed. Even though it was hydrated and my hair felt soft after, it was curls were always weighted down after I used this mask. I think if you have straight or thicker hair you might like this mask, but it’s not for me so I won’t be repurchasing it.

The next product is a deluxe sample of the Necessaire The Body Lotion. I love testing out body lotions and heard great things about this one. It has a nice consistency and it absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth. I like that it comes in a squeezy tube so it’s easy to get out all the product. I prefer scented lotion but if you’re looking for an unscented lotion then you’ll love this. I won’t be repurchasing but I would still recommend the product.

I finished two different deodorants. And if you’re looking for natural deodorant I’m not the person to ask. The first one is the Mitchum Women Advanced Control Antiperspirant & Deodorant. This one was good but it did smell a little baby-powdery for my taste. It’s good for everyday wear but isn’t the strongest for heavy workouts or hot, humid summer days. The other I finished is my go-to, the Old Spice Deodorant in Fiji. I’ve been wearing Old Spice Fiji on and off since I was a teenager and I always go back. I’m not sure why but I find that the formulation is stronger and just helps me not smell. The Fiji scent is pretty well-known among my friends as being the best scent for women as it doesn’t have any strong musky undertones but just smells tropical. I have repurchased the Old Spice Deodorant!

The next product was a sample of the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads. These pads are a strong chemical exfoliant to help with fine lines, skin tone and texture. I’m not sure how people could use this daily because I found it to be strong. My skin felt so soft and smooth after using it. I don’t think I could purchase a full pack at $124 but I could see myself maybe getting the mini-pack and using it before an event to help clear up my skin.

One product I didn’t enjoy was the TRESemme Ultra Define Hair Gel. I’ve been having trouble finding my favourite hair gel so I decided to try this one out. It’s way too thick and heavy for my hair. My hair always felt crunchy after. I think this could be nice if you have thicker hair or if you want something for slicked-back hairstyles. But it’s too much for my curly hair so I won’t be repurchasing.

I find that eye creams take forever to finish so I was happy to be done with the Glow Recipe Avocado Fine Line Eye Cream with Retinol. I very rarely notice any effects from an eye cream and this one was no different. This eye cream is supposed to help firm, smooth and reduce the appearance of dark circles. I noticed some hydration and that was about it. I also found it took a while to sink into the skin so I would have to wait if I was applying concealer. Still on the hunt for a good eye cream.

The next product is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel. I love the scent of the Sol de Janeiro products so this was nice to use. But besides the scent, I’m not sure I noticed any difference between my Bath & Body Works shower gels. I rather spend more money on a lotion that will sit on my skin than a shower gel that I just rinse off. While I enjoyed the product I won’t be repurchasing.

Another product that I enjoyed but won’t be repurchasing is the Juno Skin Clarifying Cleansing Powder. This product is a powder that terms into an exfoliating cleanser once water is added. I think the product was good at gently exfoliating the skin. It’s only available online currently so it’s harder to ship into Canada and I already own a similar product from Dermalogica. But if you’re in the US, check this out because it’s also on Amazon!

I finished a sample of the Youth to the People Polypeptide-121 Future Cream. I thought it was fine. I didn’t use it enough to say if the peptides and ceramides made any difference in my skin. It wasn’t too thick and moisturized the skin. I think people with more combo/oily skin types would like it more as it’s not very thick. It was fine but I didn’t love the sample enough to want to go out and buy the full-size.

One of my favourite moisturizers is the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I use this on my shoulders and chest because those areas are acne-prone and don’t like scented lotions. But I have also used it on my face and loved it. It’s lightweight but still moisturizing. I love the pump as well. I have already repurchased and I highly recommend this lotion if you’re looking for a drugstore moisturizer.

Another moisturizer I finished was the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer. This moisturizer has been hyped up online but I thought it was fine. It’s quite thick so I think people with drier skin types would like this more than me. It also does have a pretty strong rose scent so watch out if you’re sensitive to fragrance. It was fine but nothing special so I won’t be repurchasing.

I finished both a sample and a full size of the Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil. I’ve tried lots of cleansing balms but thought it would be nice to try a cleansing oil. It does a good job of breaking down all my makeup and leaving my skin ready for a second cleanse. It didn’t clog my pores or strip my skin. It also doesn’t sting or make my eyes blurry. I had two complaints though. The pump on my bottle didn’t work very well so it would squirt all over the place. It also has a weird smell that I can’t quite put my finger on but I don’t like it. I think it’s a good option if you don’t like cleansing balms!

This isn’t an empty but a product I’m getting rid of is the Korres Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink. I don’t get this product. It’s an oil that’s supposed to hydrate but also blurs imperfections and smooth skin texture. I was going through a lot of skin issues in the spring and this product was just not messing well with my routine. I just found that it made my skin pill up whenever I used it with other products. Since it doesn’t work with my routine I’m just going to get rid of it (since I got it in my Boxycharm box I can’t return it).

I finished two primers, both of which I loved! The first one I finished is the Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm. I’m surprised how much I loved this primer because I’m usually not into the whole glassy skin trend. But man this primer made my face look so plump and juicy but not oily. It also was moisturizing at the same time. I loved this primer in the summer. The second primer I finished was the Rodial Soft Focus Glow Drops. This primer reminds me a lot of the Glow Recipe Dew Drops. It delivers that lit-from-within, dewy look. I would apply this primer just on the high points of my face and I sometimes would skip highlight, it was that dewy. I think both of these primers are amazing and I would highly recommend both. I won’t be repurchasing just because I have so many other primers but man they are good!

Another haircare product I liked was the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. It helps my hair feels soft and smooth. I notice a difference in my hair health when I use this leave-in and I’ll also use it as a heat protectant. It’s silicone and sulphate free, comes with a pump and has a light, almost peppery scent. I’m currently using other leave-in products but would repurchase this again in the future!

I finished my last pre-reformulation Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm. The lip balms were reformulated sometime before the pandemic and I find the new formula is much waxier and not as hydrating. I found an old formula lip balm in a backpack the other day and I finally finished it. I will not be repurchasing this lip balm and I’ve very sad about it.

I always seem to get the Realher brand products in my Boxycharm. I usually declutter them but I did finish their Definer Brow Pencil. Brow pencils are one of those products that are so hard to review because they’re so boring to talk about. Like it works but it’s nothing to write home about. I don’t think it’s worth ordering from their site (which seems kinda sketchy). The NYX brow pencils are more affordable and accessible so I wouldn’t recommend or repurchase this brow pencil.

The final product empty is the Tree Hut Coco Colada Shea Sugar Scrub. Now if you’re also Canadian and wondering how I got a Tree Hut scrub, I did order it off Amazon and paid a pretty penny for this scrub. I think the Tree Hut scrubs are pretty good but not mind-blowing. It’s not super coarse so it’s gentle on the skin but still exfoliates. The scents are delicious. I have repurchased but when I was in the US. It’s cheaper to buy in the US than to buy off Amazon so for that reason I’ll only repurchase when I’m in the US.

And that’s it (twenty products later haha)! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts were.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

July Boxycharm 2023

August 8, 2023August 6, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s time for another Boxycharm review. If you missed it, Boxycharm is now owned by Ipsy. Subscribers now get to choose three products and the other two are pre-selected by Boxycharm. Let’s get into this month’s box.

The first item pre-selected by Boxycharm was the Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer. I know this brand is popular for its perfumes but never knew it made skincare! That being said I won’t be testing it out. I’ve been told by multiple estheticians to avoid vitamin E as it can clog pores. If I could have the chance, I wouldn’t have picked this product. So I will be passing this along to some friends or family! Price: $52 US

The next product that was pre-selected is the Natasha Denona Fez Eyeshadow Palette. I’ve used many different Natasha Denona palettes before and I think the quality of the shadows is great. I think the colour story is gorgeous and great for summer. I think this palette is exclusive to Boxycharm because I can’t find it for sale anywhere else. Also, want to note that I got an email from Ipsy saying that many customers complained about receiving broken palettes so they sent everyone a coupon code for 20% off the Natasha Denona website. Thankfully my palette is fine! Price: $48 US

The first product I picked was the ID.AZ Gold Fit Mask Set. I love getting sheet masks in my box because I like using them but I don’t like paying for them haha. This one is meant to hydrate, brighten and soothe the skin. It was quite slippery on the face so I couldn’t move around a lot while wearing the mask. But afterwards my face felt very plump and juicy. My only worry is that I couldn’t find much information on the product or company online so I’m not sure if I would recommend buying it. Price: $39 US

The next product that I picked was the Beauty Vaulte Lip gloss + Lip Liner Set in the shade Feeling Phoebe. I thought it would be fun to try a new lip gloss even though it’s sometimes a gamble if I like the shade or not. The shade is a nice rich brown. The lip liner is very creamy and glides on easily. The lip gloss is very opaque which I was not expecting. It’s pretty intense. I prefer wearing brown tones more in the fall, so while I haven’t worn it much yet I do see myself getting some use out of it. Price: $25 US

And the final product I picked was the VERB Ghost Exfoliating Scalp Nectar. I have heard of this brand before so I was excited to try out a product from them! This is not a physical exfoliant but I guess more like a chemical one with AHA and BHAs. It’s meant to gently exfoliant and remove product build-up. I’ve used it once and I didn’t notice a huge difference. I’ll test it out more and will give an update once I do my product empties post. Price: $20 US, $22 CAD

The overall total value of the box was $184 US. While the total value is pretty impressive, I wasn’t really wowed by any of the products. I won’t be using the face moisturizer at all. I’ll use the other products but I don’t see any of them becoming my new favourites. Let me know what you guys think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Book Review

Book Reviews: “Careering”, “Verity” and “The Fiery Cross”

July 11, 2023July 10, 2023by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! I realized the other day that I haven’t posted any book reviews yet this year! So I thought it was time to share reviews on some of the books I’ve read so far since we are halfway through the year. Let’s get into it!

Careering

The first book I read this year was Careering by Daisy Buchanan. I read this all the way back in January. The book follows Imogen and Harri, two women working for a digital media site who both have a toxic relationship with their jobs. My friend got this for me as a gift because she thought it would be relatable for me since I was working at a pretty toxic workplace myself at the time. This is an adult contemporary novel.

The book was a little too relatable for me. Not always fun reading about toxic workplace culture when you’re in it yourself. Putting that aside, I think the book had good potential but didn’t deliver. The world of publishing was interesting and the two main characters were really cool.

My issues were with the writing style. Some sections were long-winded and rambly. Yet at the same time, the side characters were all underdeveloped. There were some sex scenes, since one of the big plot points is that Imogen is a sex blogger, but they’re all passionless because there was no romance between the characters.

As I said, I thought there was potential in the book and some well-done sections to the book. I gave the book 3/5 stars. I think it could have used maybe one more round of edits and it could have been a fabulous book.

The Fiery Cross

In between Careering and my next book, I did start a series. I still have to read the final book and then I will post my review. Moving on, the book that took me forever to read was The Fiery Cross, the fifth book in the Outlander series. If you haven’t heard of the Outlander series (either the books or tv show), you’re missing out. The series is about a British woman born in the 20th century who goes back in time to 16th-century Scotland and falls in love with a Highland warrior. The books are adult historical fantasy novels.

The Outlander series will always have a special place in my heart. And while I do love reading the book, man this fifth one was so slow. Gabaldon goes into minute details about everything. And while some of the details are important later, other bits are just pointless fluff.

I do love the characters and the writing is so immersive. But 1400 pages is just too long for me. I get tired of reading the same thing after a well. I will read the set of the series, but I will keep it exclusively for vacations only. I started this book when I was on vacation in the Dominican Republic and got through 300 pages in 3 days. It took me two months to get through the other 1100 pages. I will never meet any of my reading goals that way haha.

I didn’t rate the book since I like to rate series together. But my overall recommendation is to just watch the tv show instead of reading the books.

Verity

The final book in today’s post is Verity by Colleen Hoover. Now Colleen Hoover is quite a divisive author, people either love or hate her novels. This being my third Colleen Hover book, I think I finally figured out why — because her books are quite simple. For people who are new to reading, or just want some easy entertainment, they like how easy and approachable her novels are. For avid readers, her novels are so simple they’re almost boring. Verity is one of her biggest books, a thriller known for its great twist. Lowen is tasked with finishing a famous book series by the husband of an injured author.

I think people who are new to the thriller genre will enjoy the book. It introduces some of the topics of the genre but doesn’t push the envelope too far right away. I found the writing was easy and I read the book quite quickly.

Since this book was super hyped online, I knew there was a big plot twist coming. Unfortunately, that meant I spent a lot of time wondering when it was going to come and how good the twist was going to be. I will admit that I didn’t predict what the twist was going to be. It’s what made the book. Without the plot twist, it wouldn’t be as good of a novel.

I initially gave the book 4.5/5 stars when I first read it because I was so wowed coming off the plot twist high. Now that it’s been a few months I think I would lower the rating to 4 stars. The plot twist was good but the rest of the book was pretty basic.

And those are the book reviews I have for today! I should hopefully have some more coming soon. If you read these books let me know your thoughts in the comments. And if you have any recommendations for me leave them as well because I’m always on the lookout for new books!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

June Boxycharm 2023

June 27, 2023June 26, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Can you believe that I’m posting my Boxycharm before the end of the month? I got my box pretty early this month so I had lots of time to test out the products and get this review up on time. Let’s get into the box!

The first item I got was the Beauty Bakerie Lemon Bar Face Palette. They call these shades ‘universal’ which I don’t know how they could be. The bronzer shade works perfectly for my skin tone, but the contour shade is just a touch too dark. I don’t mind the highlight shade but prefer something more peach than yellow for highlight. The quality of the powders is great though. I’ve received many Beauty Bakerie and I’ve always found the quality to be good. I do see myself using this palette again but I don’t see it becoming an holy grail. Price: $18

The next item I got was the JLo Beauty That Hit Single Gel Cream Cleanser. This cleanser is a gel-to-cream that is meant to remove impurities and makeup from the skin. I didn’t test the makeup-removing abilities but I found it was a fine second cleanser. It lathered well and left my skin feeling clean. My only complaint is that there is nothing *special* about this cleanser. If I’m going to be paying $50 for a cleanser, I would prefer it had some extra ingredients to help with my acne or skin texture or something. This is comparable to the Cerave cleanser which is half the price. So while I like the cleanser and will use it, I don’t think it’s worth the price. Price: $38 US ($50 CAD)

The first item I picked was the THISWORKS Stress Check Sleep Lotion. Wow, I love this lotion. It’s in a squeeze bottle which is easy to use. The lotion is hydrating and absorbs quickly into the skin. My favourite part is the scent. It’s a blend of lavender, chamomile, and patchouli oil. It’s calming but with a little something-something from the patchouli. I love this and I would recommend picking it up (it’s currently on sale!). Price: $15 US

The next item I picked was the MUDMASKY POREfection Serum-Infused Primer. Normally I don’t choose primers but I finished a few recently so I thought it would be fun to try a new one. This primer is meant to pore-minimize, mattify and blur the skin. I thought the primer was fine. I found the pore-minimizing to be minimal and didn’t notice any mattifying. I didn’t have any issues with the primer but I also didn’t notice a huge difference using it. I’m going to play around with it more. Price: $49 US

The final product I picked was the Too Faced Too Femme Heart Core Lipstick in Too Femme. It can be a gamble to pick lipstick because I don’t know what the shade is going to be like. The shade Too Femme is described as a medium nude pink and I do find it leans on the more cool-toned side. I don’t wear a lot of cool-tones but I also don’t own many cool-toned lipsticks so it’s nice to have at least one in my collection. The formula is very comfortable on the lips, with a glossy-creme finish. It was comfortable on the lips and wore nicely throughout the day. I can see myself picking this lipstick when I want a cool-toned shade. Price: $26 US, $34 CAD

The overall total value of the box was $146 US. I don’t think there were any bad products, just some that I liked more than others. Let me know what you guys think of the box in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Travel

Vancouver & Victoria Itinerary Spring 2023

June 20, 2023June 19, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Back in April, I visited my friend in Vancouver again! This was my third time going and so we decided to add a stop in Victoria this time around, as I’d never been to Vancouver Island. If you’re looking to visit Vancouver, I highly recommend reading my first and second trip posts for more ideas. Let’s get into it!

Day One

My first day was a travel day. We were taking the ferry from the mainland to the island and since the airport is in between Vancouver and the ferry terminal, it made the most sense to go when I first arrived. The public transportation system from the airport, to the ferry and then to Victoria is great – it just takes a while. So what you save in money you waste in time instead of driving or taking an Uber/taxi.

We arrived in Victoria pretty late so we wanted something quick and easy for dinner so we went to Burger Crush. The burgers are elevated from your average fast food place but still reasonably priced. I would recommend this place

Day Two

This was our only full day in Victoria, so we tried to make the most of it. We started off with breakfast at Jam Cafe. There are multiple locations in Vancouver and they’re always super busy but we were able to get a table in Victoria. After eating there I understand the hype. The service was excellent and very fast. And the food was delicious. There are so much yummy looking options on the menu, I would go back there!

Jam Cafe was right beside Victoria’s Chinatown, which is the biggest Chinatown in Canada and second only to San Fransico in North America. We walked down Fan Tan Alley, which is the narrowest street in Canada. We also stopped by the Canadian Chinese Museum which is free to visit. A great affordable activity to do in Victoria.

Then we went over to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The outside of the building was under construction but it’s still open to visitors. It’s free to walk around and they also have free guided tours twice a day. The building is gorgeous, with some photogenic corners. The actual Assembly was closed the day we visited due to a conference but normally the galleries are open to the public. This is another great free activity, perfect if it’s rainy or cold outside.

We then walked right down the street to the Fairmont Empress. The building and gardens are absolutely gorgeous. They are known for their high tea but it was a little out of our price range. Instead, after walking around we went to the Starbucks across the street and sat by the wharf, watching the seaplanes enter and exit the harbour.

We then took the bus over to Fisherman’s Wharf. Pro tip: you can get a ‘day ticket’ for the bus for $5. This was amazing because Victoria’s bus system is great so we just took the bus everywhere. Fisherman’s Wharf is a collection of colourful houseboats and restaurants. Everyone online mentioned getting fish and chips at Barb’s Fish and Chips. It was delicious and fresh!

After walking around for a while we decided to head to dinner at E:ne Raw Food Sake Bar. The food was delicious and I tried sake for the first time! The Ika Skewer (baby squid) was the best! A great place if you’re looking for elevated sushi in Victoria.

Day Three

Before we headed back to the mainland we had breakfast at Shine Cafe. The food was good but we both agreed that we preferred the food at Jam Cafe.

After breakfast, we started the trek back. We got a ride to and from the ferry from friends so it was a lot easier of a travel day back!

Day Four

After a busy few days, we decided to take our fourth day, which was a Sunday, much easier. We had a slow morning and in the afternoon we went to the movies! We saw Air, which I highly recommend if you haven’t checked it out.

Day Five

We started the day by doing a little shopping at Park Royal, a shopping mall in West Vancouver. It was a beautiful, sunny day so after we did some shopping we walked over to Ambleside Dog Beach. If you like dogs you have to go! The views are gorgeous, you can see the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. There are tons of benches and dogs! It’s an off-leash park so the dogs often would just wander over and say hello to my friend and me while we were just sitting. If you go to Park Royal I highly recommend going to the dog beach after.

After the shopping and the park, my friend and I did some grocery shopping and had dinner at home.

Day Six

My friend was working this day so I was by myself. Since I have a Goodlife membership, I just went to the closest one to my friend’s apartment.

Then in the afternoon, I went to the Museum of Vancouver. I loved it there! The feature exhibition was all about women’s fashion throughout history. I love fashion and history so I was thoroughly entertained. They also have a few other feature exhibitions and a permanent exhibition on the history of Vancouver. I could have stayed longer but I had to get back because we were going out to dinner with some of my friend’s friends.

For dinner, we went out to Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant. I never had Ethiopian food before so this was a cool experience. The food was delicious but they only have one person working in the kitchen so it took us an hour to get our food. So I’m warning you now, if you go expect to wait.

Then after dinner, we went to Dolce Amore for gelato. It was so good! They allow you to sample before you pick and I could have easily had ten different gelatos. I highly recommend checking them out if you like gelato!

Day Seven

I spent the morning at the gym again. Then in the afternoon my friend and I went to Breka Bakery & Cafe. They have a bunch of locations across Vancouver. My friend did some work while I read my book. Both the food and coffees were delicious. The only thing to be mindful of is they only allow laptops in certain areas of the cafe.

Then in the evening, I received the news that my flight the next day was cancelled! This was stressful but thankful I was able to reschedule it, and since I was staying with my friend I didn’t have to worry about accommodations.

Day Eight

My extra day! We went to another coffee shop, this time Tru Cafe. While it was cute looking, the chai tea lattes didn’t taste good. 😦

It was a gorgeous day so we spent the afternoon after work at Kitsilano Beach. Then after dinner we Rain or Shine for ice cream. It’s become a tradition since we got ice cream there last time I was there! They have some unique and yummy ice cream flavours and they’re all homemade.

Day Nine

My final day! I had breakfast and then headed to the airport! And just like that, another Vancouver trip is in the books.

If you have any questions about my trip, let me know in the comments! I’ve been three times now so I have a good idea of what to do and skip in the city!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Perfume

May Boxycharm 2023

June 6, 2023June 4, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am reviewing my second Ipsy-owned Boxycharm box. For those who don’t know about the merger, I recommend you check out my last Boxycharm post because I go into more detail there. Let’s get into the May box!

First, I got a product that I didn’t pick! I had picked out the YC COLLECTION Wake & Shine Lip Balm and instead, I got the Ace Beaute Smoky Roses Eyeshadow Palette. Now I’m not too mad because the eyeshadow palette is pretty and worth more money. But it is annoying that I received a product that I didn’t pick. Part of the reason why I didn’t pick this eyeshadow palette is that I own many palettes already and don’t often use them. That being said, I think the colour story of this palette is gorgeous and I love the quality of Ace Beaute shadows. While I haven’t had the chance to play with this palette, I am excited to have it. Price: $39 US

Ace Beauty Smokey Roses Eyeshadow Palette

The second item I picked was the SLMISSGLAM Cotton Candy Trio (note: I can’t find the brush set on their website, only on the Ipsy website). I always love getting brushes because, in my opinion, you can never have too many brushes. I think the brush hairs are very soft. The handles are pretty lightweight and I prefer something a little heavier. But overall I think these are nice brushes. Price: $38 US

The final product I picked was the one I was the most excited about, the SKYLAR Vanilla Sky Eau de Parfum Rollerball. I love perfume and it was so cool to pick one! While normally I would be careful about picking a perfume I’ve never tried before, I’ve smelled this specific perfume at Sephora before and knew I would like it. I own two different SKYLAR scents already! I find that the scents are very powerful when you first apply them but don’t last the longest. The notes are cappuccino, pure vanilla, and caramelized cedar. I find the scent to be almost creamy and while it’s sweet it’s not sickly. I like this scent and I’m excited to wear it! Price: $29 US, $39 CAD

The first of two pre-selected items was the Violet Voss Whispering Rosé Blush Palette. I like this blush palette! Two blushes are matte and two have a bit more shimmer to them. The orange shade is unlike anything I have in my collection but is perfect for summer. I’ve worn the blushes a few times and found the formula to be quite long-lasting – which is impressive because blush often fades quickly for me. Overall I like this blush palette and I’m excited to continue using this. $43 US

Violet Voss Whispering Rose Blush Palette

And the final product was the PUR Big Look Extreme Mascara with Argan Oil. I’m on the fence about this mascara. I find the formula to be very wet, so I have to be careful or else I get mascara everywhere. I’m also not a big fan of the brush, I find there is a lot of product on it so I have to wipe it off before I go in. That being said I don’t think it looks bad on the eyes. It gives some nice separation and volume. Sometimes a mascara formula can change as it dries so I’ll wait and see how I feel in a month before I make any final decisions on this mascara. Price: $22

The total value of my box was $136 US. Overall I liked my box, enough though I got a product I hadn’t picked. There weren’t any products that were an immediate no. I see myself using many of these products after this month. Probably one of the best boxes I’ve received lately. Let me know what you think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul + Review

May 23, 2023May 21, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I know I’m quite late posting getting my Sephora sale haul and review up. If you follow me on Youtube then you know it’s been a hectic month for me! I got my Sephora order right before I went to Vancouver and then a few weeks later I started a new job. I’m starting to get into a new routine so I finally have the chance to write this post. While the sale has long been over, it’s always a good time to talk about makeup 😉

Let’s start with some repurchases since I made a few. The first thing I got was a Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge. I’ve tried a bunch of sponges and this is still one of my favourites. I like to have a couple of sponges on hand so when one gets dirty I have another clean one available. It’s expensive so I like getting a new sponge during the sale.

The next repurchase is the MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix+. This is one of my favourite setting sprays and I always like to have a bottle in my collection. It helps the makeup melt into the skin and gives a soft look. Whenever I’m not happy with how my makeup is looking I spray this on my face and it always makes it look better. Such a classic makeup staple and since I was running low it was time to stock up.

The final repurchase was not in my original haul but purchased after. I’ve been having some issues with my skin lately so I decided to switch my cleanser to one of my favourites – the OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser (for some reason I can’t find just the cleanser on the website but I bought it in-store and it’s still available on the Ole website so idk). This cleanser is meant for acne and oily-prone skin, with lactic and glycolic acid to help deep clean the skin. My skin responds well to this cleanser so I’m happy to have it again.

I decided to purchase a different shade of the MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick. I was looking for a dupe for a discontinued lipstick that I have and the shade Yash matched perfectly. I love the formula of the MAC lipsticks and I know that Yash is one of their classic shades. The shade is described as deep neutral. It’s the perfect shade to wear with a bold eye look because it’s very neutral. I think this will be a great addition to my lipstick collection.

While doing my most recent makeup declutter, I discovered I needed some new brown eyeliners. I picked up the Sephora Collection Hot Line Brush Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Brown and Sephora Collection 12-Hour Contour Pencil Eyeliner in Cappuccino. I was able to save 30% on these eyeliners since they’re Sephora Collection! I tested out the liquid liner a few times and it’s good. It’s easier to use and remove and lasted well. I like the brown shade for more everyday wear as it’s less harsh than black. I haven’t tested out the pencil yet as I like pencils for more intense looks and I just haven’t done any yet! If I have any strong opinions (good or bad) I’ll be sure to share them with you guys.

I picked up two Rare Beauty products during the sale. The first is the Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick. I got the shade Happy Sol, which is described as having cool undertones but I find it to be quite warm. That’s my only real complaint. I find that the bronzer applies and blends so easily onto the skin. It also lasts a long time as well. It’s a pretty good bronzer! The other product I got is the Positive Light Under Eye Brightener. I put this product to the test because I have been super tired the past few weeks. This colour corrector adds that little pop of brightness I need under my eyes. It’s quite thin so it doesn’t make my under eyes look cakey when I apply my concealer on top. On very light makeup days I apply just this to my under eyes for just a little something. If you’re looking for a lightweight colour corrector this is a great product.

The final makeup product I got is the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick in the shade Pale Petal. I like this blush! The stick formula makes it easy to apply to the face. It takes a little more effort to blend but that’s okay because the longevity of this blush is crazy! I find that blush is usually the first product to fade from my face but this one lasts until the end of the day. The shade is so pretty and adds such a youthful flush to the face. My only complaint is that I don’t like the dense brush that the blush comes with. I find it harder to blend my blush using that brush than my normal brush. I often accidentally open the brush side while trying to open the product side because there isn’t much space between the caps. I honestly would be fine if this product didn’t come with a brush to be able to lower the price.

The other skincare product I purchased was a mini of the Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover. I needed a mini cleansing balm for my trip to Vancouver and this was the smallest one I could find in the store. Now I’ve never tried the original Take The Day Off so I’m not sure if the charcoal one is different but I wasn’t that impressed with it. The dark colour meant that it stained any white towel I used. I had to use a lot of product to remove my makeup and sometimes had mascara residue. I’ll continue to use it since I like having the mini size for travelling but it’s not my favourite.

A product that I absolutely love is the OUAI North Bondi Eau De Parfum. I’ve had this perfume on my list for a while so I’m very happy to finally have it in my collection. It smells exactly like the texturizing spray I have so it’s nice to match the scents. The main notes are Italian Lemon, Jasmine, and Bergamot. It’s fresh and floral with a little bit of musk to balance it all out. The longevity is also pretty great which I always appreciate. The perfect scent for spring and summer!

The final product I got is the Sol De Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream in the mini size. I find with the Sol De Janeiro body creams you either love or hate their scents. You have to go in-store and try it for yourself. I personally love this scent, as you can tell from the perfume I just bought I like the scent of jasmine haha. I also enjoy the formula of the Sol De Janeiro body creams. I find the creams to be rich but blend easily into the skin and the scent will linger throughout the day. I’m slowly building up my collection to have all the scents – I’m missing one more before I own all of them haha. The original scent is still by far my favourite.

And that’s everything I got during the Sephora sale! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before. And if you have any recommendations for me (especially perfume) let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

April Boxycharm 2023

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! Today we’re discussing all things Boxycharm. If you read my March post, you might remember me mentioning that I was getting a little tired of my box but was going to give it one more chance. April’s box is the first one since Boxycharm’s merger with Ipsy so this was a big test to see if I wanted to keep my subscription. I’ll break things down more in today’s post so let’s get into it.

Boxycharm and Ipsy were the two biggest beauty subscription box brands on the market. Ipsy’s ‘Glam Bag’ includes five deluxe samples and a makeup bag each month for $13. Boxycharm is five full-size products for $28. I picked Boxycharm because historically they always had the best value (in my opinion). I pay whatever the currency conversion rate is at the time when they bill my card and I’ve never had to pay any duties or taxes to get the box in Canada.

Boxycharm implemented “Choice” where you get to pick one item a few years ago. Now with the Ipsy merger, I get to pick up to three products. This is exciting because I found I wasn’t always loving some of the products I was receiving in my box. The choice has some limits. There are three ‘categories’ with multiple product options within each category. So I still got one product that I didn’t want because I didn’t like any of the other options. There are limited quantities for each option so they can sell out. The other two items are selected by Boxycharm based on feedback from surveys.

The selection process is done on the second of the month. The boxes now ship the second week of the month and they can arrive sometime between the third and fourth. I find this a little annoying because I used to get my Boxycharm always around the 10-15th of the month and now it arrives around the 20th. This probably isn’t a big deal for most consumers but for me, it gives me little turn-around time before the end of the month to get my reviews up. This month I got my box right before my trip to Vancouver, and since I was flying carry-on I couldn’t review anything until I got home.

Now let’s get into this month’s box. One thing is that Boxycharm always gave a card with information on the products in the box. This month I didn’t receive any card so I had to go online to find information on the products.

The first product pre-selected for me was the Byroe Pear Serum Oil. I’ve never heard of this brand before. This face oil has moringa seed oil and red algae to help brighten the skin. The packaging is pretty but the dispenser for the product is just a hole at the top. I would prefer a dropper so I could be more precise in how much product I’m using. I was surprised that this oil dries down almost matte. I expected an oily finish considering it’s an oil lol. I need to test out the oil more to see if its claims are correct. Price: $65 US

The second product pre-selected for me was the Tula So Smooth Resurfacing & Brightening Fruit Enzyme Mask. I’ve tried quite a few Tula products through my Boxycharm subscription. This gel mask has fruit enzymes along with AHA, BHA and PHA to brighten, exfoliate and polish the skin. I put this mask to the test, using it after I hadn’t exfoliated my face in a week. While I still have some bumps from clogged pores, overall my skin feels smoother after using the mask. It helps get rid of any roughness. And with continued use, all the active ingredients should help with my clogged pores. Overall I think this is a pretty good chemical exfoliant and I will continue to use it. Price: $36 US, $47 CAD

The first item I selected was the Formula Z Cosmetics Unisexy Setting Spray. This setting spray is meant to be cooling, refreshing and hydrating. I picked this setting spray because I use setting sprays every time I do my makeup so I know I’ll get good use out of it. The nozzle is strong but provides an even mist on the face. The spray isn’t sticky or tacky. It helps take away the powdery look on the face. I like that it doesn’t make my skin look too dewy since I have oily skin. Overall I think I’ll get some good use out of this spray. Price: $26 US

The second item I picked was the Belle en Argent Fine Print Liquid Liner in black. If you watched my declutter video then you might remember me saying I needed a new black eyeliner so this was perfect! This product alone makes the box worth it since I needed a new black liquid liner. This eyeliner is supposed to have a super fine tip and smudge-proof formula. I tested this eyeliner out by going to a concert. It applied smoothly and lasted all night. Eyeliner is one of those products where I just want it to work and this does the job. Price: according to Boxycharm it’s $20 but the brand’s website says $15

And the final product I picked was the YC Bold + Matte Eyeshadow Primer. This product was the less of two evils if you will. I forgot to pick my items until late in the evening so the other options were sold out or sparkly lipstick that I know I wouldn’t like. I don’t need another eyeshadow primer. I don’t wear eyeshadow much anymore and the primer I have works perfectly fine. I thought this product would be better to pass along to my friends than sparkly lipstick. While I was hoping to avoid donating products with the new ‘choice’ it could be partially my fault for waiting too late and missing some options because they were sold out. Price: $23 US

The overall total of the box is $165 (or $170 according to Boxycharm lol). I picked items based on what I wanted and not value, so I don’t mind if the value isn’t very high. Hopefully, I’m happier with this box than the boxes I’ve had the past few months. I still would prefer to get five items that I love but as I mentioned I picked my choices pretty late in the day so my options were more limited. I’m willing to give Boxycharm/Ipsy another month or two before making any decisions.

Let me know what you think about the new Boxycharm in the comments. Do you think it’s worth the price? Should I continue getting the box? We’ll see what next month’s box is like!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Skincare

My 2023 Sephora Spring Sale Recommendations

April 14, 2023April 12, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! We are just around the corner from the 2023 Sephora Spring Sale. The sale starts today for Rouge members and will end for everyone on April 24. Members can receive anywhere from 10% to 30% off products, which is huge as Sephora doesn’t often do sales. I always do my BIG round-up post in the fall and I still stand by every product I recommended in my last Sephora sale recommendations post. Today I am going to share five products that I would recommend but haven’t mentioned much yet on my blog. So let’s get into it!

I know everyone and their mother is into Rare Beauty currently and are eyeing to get their new lip oils during the sale. But if the shade you’re looking for sells out, then consider checking out their Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm. This is one of my favourite lip products at the moment. It’s way more nourishing compared to traditional lip glosses. The gloss is buildable so I can play with how much pigmentation I want. The shades are the same as their liquid eyeshadow and cream blush so you could have a cute matching moment as well. I highly recommend checking these out.

My ride-or-die concealer at the moment is the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Medium Coverage Concealer. Between my growing fine lines and ever-lingering darkness under my eyes, it’s been hard to find a good concealer. This concealer is lightweight, has a natural finish and doesn’t crease as much compared to some of my other concealers. It’s a true medium coverage, so some days when I’m tired I’ll have some darkness peeking through. But otherwise, this is a stellar concealer! Make Up For Ever has every undertone under the sun so I think you’ll be able to find your shade match.

If you’ve read my blog before, you’d know that I generally prefer lengthening mascaras. But I am loving the Ilia Fullest Volumizing Mascara! It gives volume without looking clumpy, something I find can happen with volumizing mascaras. This also still delivers a decent amount of length. It also helps my lashes keep their curl, something I struggle with. I get no smudging or flaking. I know everyone is currently obsessing over Ilia’s lengthening mascara, but their volumizing mascara is worth checking out!

I got the Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH Peptide Lash Enhancing Serum in my Sephora Advent Calendar. I was skeptical so I didn’t take any before photos but I swear this product helps grow my lashes. I would often get sparse spots where I’ve had a few lashes fall out. After using this product consistently I find that my lashes are a lot more even and thicker throughout. They’re not much longer but to be fair I’ve always had decently long lashes naturally. If you want some help with your eyelashes definitely check this product out! But pro tip: just buy the mini. I’ve been using the mini one daily now for over four months and it’s still going strong. Save some money with the smaller one.

And my final recommendation is the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. As we move into spring and summer a lot of people like to switch to a lighter moisturizer and this one fits the bill perfectly! It’s super lightweight. I use two pumps and it’s enough for my whole face. It sinks quickly into my skin and adds the perfect amount of hydration my oily skin needs. Just be careful when ordering online because Clinique has the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ in the same packaging but it’s way thicker (and personally too much for my oily skin). I had originally bought the lotion and had to exchange it for the gel haha.

And those are my five recommendations for the Sephora sale! Stay tuned because I will be posting my wishlist to my Youtube channel soon. I will also be posting a full haul and review of all the products once my order arrives. Let me know what you’re picking up during the sale in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

March Boxycharm 2023

April 4, 2023April 3, 2023by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! Today I’m here to share with you my March Boxycharm. I didn’t post my February box because I got it while I was away on vacation and felt like it was too late to post once I got home. I will say that I was pretty unimpressed by my February box, so I was hoping that March’s box would be better. Let’s get into it.

I first want to mention that Boxycharm always gives a card with the product information. My card this month was the wrong one. There were three items on the card that was different than what I got. I’m not too mad about it because one of the items was an eyeshadow palette and I didn’t need a new one haha.

The first item I received was the Il Makiage Icon Mascara. Il Makiage is a pretty trendy brand right now and I always enjoy testing out new mascaras so I was happy to receive this product. The mascara is meant to lift, separate, curl and thicken each lash. I will agree that it meets all those claims. This mascara is great for those who want more volume. I prefer a more lengthening mascara but this delivers what it claims. I will continue to use this mascara! Price: $27 US

The next product I received was the Aceology Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Repairing Biodegradable Masks. I love getting sheet masks in my box because I like using them but never feel like buying them haha. This mask is meant to moisturize and plump the skin. It has a recommended 30-minute sit time so I wore this mask while I had a nice bath. My skin felt super soft and plump after, didn’t need to apply a moisturizer! I would never personally pay the full price for these masks because I think $60 is a bit much for a one-time-use product. But I will enjoy the masks now that I have them! Price: $30 US

The next three products were not on my information card. I got the Give Them Lala Beauty Must-Have Bronzer in the shade Barbados, which they describe as having a golden undertone. I appreciate that the brand has four shades considering they seem to be a smaller business. It’s warmer compared to some of my other bronzers, which is nice when I have a tan. The formula is good but nothing special. I will continue to use it but I think there are comparable bronzers out there that are more accessible. Price: $26 US

The second skincare item I got is the Dew of the Gods Feels Microderm Face Scrub. The product is currently sold out, which I feel is a sign of a good product. The scrub uses silica crystals to physically exfoliate the skin and has oat & squalane to soothe the skin. I’ve only used this twice but both times my skin felt soft afterwards. I’m excited to continue using this scrub and see longer-term results. Price: $30 US ($40 CAD)

Please note I dug my finger nail into the bronzer, it did not come like this

And the final product I received is the Reina Rebelde Mordida Lip Stain in Paleta. I decided not to test out this product because the shade didn’t really speak to me. The formula is supposed to be a moisturizing lip stain. I rather not test the product when I don’t think I would like it so I can give the product to someone else. Price: $16 US

The total value of the box is $139 US. I think this box was pretty good, with only one product I didn’t want. I was debating cancelling my subscription after my February box and March being my last box since I had already paid for it. I’m starting to find that I don’t enjoy what I’m receiving in my box and I rather spend my money on products that I want than the surprise associated with a subscription box. Then I saw that Boxycharm was merging with IPSY so I decided to give it a chance. For my April box I was able to pick three products so I’m hoping that will help. We’ll see how April goes whether or not I keep my subscription!

xoxo

Lea