Author: Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Product of the Month

Products of the Month – February 2020

by LeaLeave a Comment on Products of the Month – February 2020

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my January products and sharing the products I am picking for February. I pick two products every month that I want to focus on using. At the beginning of the month, I share my thoughts on the products and any progress in using up the product.

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The first product I picked was the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette. Man, this palette is huge! I tried to use a variety of shades and probably used 15 of the 35 shades. There are a lot of great everyday shades – there are 12 different browns haha. But there are also some fun colours as well. I did a cool looking using the blue all over my lid. Overall I like this palette, and I will continue to use it.

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The other product I picked was a mini of the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. This powder was full and a pain to use because it has no sifter. I am proud to say that I used about half of the powder! I was able to make a real dent it in, and it’s now much easier to use. I am very proud of the progress I have made.

For February I have decided to not pick a palette! I am so many ideas for Valentine’s looks, that I didn’t want to be constrained to one palette. So instead I picked two face products – both are drugstore too!

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The first is the Milani Powder Blush in Tea Rose. I thought this was the perfect blush for February since it’s shaped in a rose and it’s pink! While I have made a bit of a dent, the rose pattern is still pretty intact. I am hoping to get some good use of this blush this month.

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The other is a new product to me, which is the first time I am picking a new product. I picked the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Sculpting Bronzer. I have been wanting to get into creme bronzers more, and I thought this one from PF would be a great way to try it out. I also picked it because when you buy, the product sticks out above the edge of the tube. I am afraid I’m going to nick the top off. So hopefully if I use it a lot, then I won’t accidentally nick it.

And those are my products for February! Let me know in the comments if there are any products you would like to see me include in March.

xoxo

Lea

Bullet Journal

How I create my bullet journal spreads

by LeaLeave a Comment on How I create my bullet journal spreads

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my process of how I create my bujo spreads. Every time I post something about bullet journal on my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee), I always get so many questions. So I am going to take you through the step-by-step process that I take from start to finish on how I create a weekly spread.

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First I figure out what I want to do. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want my spread to look like. If I am really busy a certain week I make my spread simpler. I always like to look at Pinterest to get some inspiration. I have a full board on my account if you want to check it out. This week I wanted to do a cute Valentine’s theme, so I look at photos to get inspiration for that.

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Next, I sketch out the boxes for the days of the week. The days of the week as the most important for me, so that’s what I start with. This week I went with eight boxes on one side and made the extra box a ‘next week’ area.

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After that I decided if there are any fun pieces that I want to incorporate. I have these flower cutouts that I wanted to use, so I played around with where I wanted them. Then I drew in the outlines for my next elements. This might be different from person to person, but I always have a school to-do list, a regular to-do list, and a blog/Insta schedule. So I draw the outlines for these areas.

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Next, step is sketching out any fun design elements. I wanted to do these fun circles for my days of the week, so I sketched them out. I find it easier to do everything in pencil just in case I don’t like something.

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After everything has been sketched, I use a pen to draw all my main elements.

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To finish off my spread, I add all the cute elements. I glue down my flowers and add the flower pattern as well. Then I went around and added little hearts around the spread. I then erase all my pencil markings and I’m done!

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And that is my finished bullet journal spread for this week! I hope you guys found this post helpful. Let me know if you want more bujo content!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

January Boxycharm 2020

by LeaLeave a Comment on January Boxycharm 2020

Hey guys! Today’s post is everyone’s favourite – my Boxycharm post! I always love receiving my box and reviewing the products for you guys. I had a lot of questions last time I posted it to my stories, so I thought I would explain Boxycharm for those who may not know what it is. Boxycharm is a subscription service that sends five full-size beauty products every month. They have a ton of different options, so I would check their website for full details. It’s $25 US, so around $30 CA. I have been subscribed for three years now and while there are some things I don’t like about the box, overall I love it! So here is what I got in this month’s box.

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The first product is the Wander Beauty Trip for Two Blush and Bronzer Duo. I received the shades Bellini/Costa Rei. I like the blush more than the bronzer. Both have a great formula that is easy to apply and looks good on the skin. I find the bronzer looks slightly ashy on my skin. It’s not an awful match, and I will continue to use it. But I think there are better bronzers on the market. Price: $36 US, $43.20 CA

Next is the Ace Beaute Vintage Dawn Palette. I was very happy to receive another product from this brand because I enjoyed the other palette I have from them. The eye shadows are great quality. The mattes are pigmented as blend well. The blue in the palette was amazing, and a matte blue is a hard shade to formulate. I love the colour story because it’s so unique. It’s basically the rainbow but really interesting shades. It’s not an everyday palette though, which is slightly annoying because I can’t use it as much. But it makes me feel interested and watch to create makeup looking at the palette. There is a good-sized mirror too. Great palette! Price: $34.99 US. (Check out my Instagram for looks using the palette!)

The product I was super excited to receive was the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. This is the mini size. I always see the mini when checking out at Sephora and always held back, so it was great to receive a product that I have been thinking about trying in my box. Unfortunately, this mask is not what I expected. Other sleeping masks that I have tried are like heavy moisturizers. This one I recommend putting on right before bed and washing off it in the morning. It pills off your face, which is weird when you’re just chilling around your house. I find the pilling weird, so it makes me reach for other masks. But I do like the smell, reminds me of Watermelon freezies. Overall just make sure to follow the instructions exactly. Price: $22 US, $29 CA (for the mini).

This product I was very unsure of but actually kind like! The Grande Cosmetics GrandeDrama Intense Thickening Mascara has pretty cheap packaging. It’s very light and the outside feels weird on the hand. So I thought I wasn’t going to like this mascara. It’s not like it’s advertised but I still like it. It’s supposed to be thick, voluminous lashes, but I like that it gives long, wispy lashes. So overall I like the mascara, but because it doesn’t perform as advertised, it has cheap packaging and it’s over-priced I wouldn’t recommend. Price: $25 US

The final product is the TooFaced Diamond Light Highlighter. There has been a lot of drama surrounding TooFaced as of late. So I am not going to review the product. All I will say is to do your own research and determine whether or not you want to purchase the product.

The overall price of the box is $153.99. I liked this box! While I might not be in love with every product, I received products that I am interested in and enjoyed trying out. I have received boxes where most of the products were duds or I received products that I don’t use. But this box was pretty good. Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Fashion

Winter Outfits of the Week

by LeaLeave a Comment on Winter Outfits of the Week

Hey guys! So today I am going to be sharing my outfits of the week! This was the week of Jan 20-26. I will say right away sorry for the quality of the photos. During the week I have to leave my house at 7 am to get to class, so I didn’t have time to take the cutest photos. In the future, I will not take the photos in-the-moment but at a later time in better lighting lol. But this is a learning process, so I hope you still enjoy it!

I will try to link everything if I can. If it’s an old piece I will try and find a dupe (sidenote: I have discovered this is very hard to do, so the dupes are not that great but I tried haha).

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Monday: It was freezing on Monday, -14 to be specific. Whenever it’s super cold outside I always rock leggings and a sweater. Leggings are much warmer than jeans, and my favourite is the Lululemon Align Pant. The sweater I wore is originally from Forever 21 (RIP). I like it because it’s thick but has this cute side zipper detail. The cut of this American Eagle sweater is the most similar I’ve found. And to finish the outfit I am wearing my current favourite black boot, my Doc Martens.

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I also wanted to mention my coat and scarf. I wear this on top of my outfit every day. I got from winter jacket on sale at Hudson’s Bay during Black Friday. It’s super warm and has been keeping me cozy in the cold. My scarf is from Zara and the white and grey matches the hats and gloves I own.

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Tuesday: It was another cold day. My sweater is old from Forever 21 (again). I like this one because it has a raw hem at the bottom. This one from H&M is similar in shape. My favourite jeans are from American Eagle. They just fit me so well. I like their Curvy Highest Waist jeans because they hug my curves and cinch in at the waist. It’s hard to see in the photo, but I finished the look with my other favourite boots. I got them from Call It Spring, I can’t find the exact ones but these are similar.

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Wednesday: I had a meeting downtown on Wednesday, so I wanted something casual business. I wore this animal print blouse from H&M. It’s nice and flowy – but not very warm so I wore my scarf as a blanket more of the day. I like this blouse because it’s professional looking but the animal print is also stylish and trendy. I paired it with my black American Eagle Curvy Highest Waist jeans and my Docs again.

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Thursday: Another turtleneck! It was pretty cold last week. This one was also from Forever 21. This dupe is similar in colour, and this dupe is similar in shape. I wore ripped black jeans to change it up a bit and make the look more casual. My favourite is another pair of American Eagle jeans. I added my Docs once again. As I said, those boots are my favourite.

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Friday: On Friday I had another meeting downtown. So I wore the same black jeans and Doc Martens. I wore this cropped blue and white button-down cropped blouse (what a long description). I like that it looks formal but the crop and short sleeves make it more casual. This one from H&M is the closest dupe I’ve found.

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Saturday: Saturday was a not-leave-the-house kind of day – the best kinds of day after a long week. I wore my favourite sweatpants from Walmart. They are George sweatpants and they are so comfortable. On top I wore a baggy, worn-in shirt. The one in the photo is my program shirt from university, but I’m not going to link a dupe since I’m sure you all have a baggy black shirt haha. I wore my memory foam slippers that my mom got me for Christmas. Not sure where she got them from, but these slippers from Amazon a close dupe.

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Sunday: I had work in the morning, so I wore my leggings again since that was apart of my work uniform. My tie-dye hoodie is from a ski resort, but this one from Nordstrom is similar, and this one from Urban Outfitters is cheaper. And then I wore my Nike running shoes, these are similar. 

And that was my outfits last week. I hope you guys enjoyed this because it was a lot of work to do 😛

xoxo

Lea

Review, Skincare

Current Skincare Routine Jan 2020

by LeaLeave a Comment on Current Skincare Routine Jan 2020

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my current skincare routine! I have been  loving my current routine and have noticed a huge difference in my skin because of these products. I will say that most of these products are a little pricey, but I see skincare as an investment in keeping my skin healthy so I don’t mind spending more money. Also something to note, this is my morning skincare routine. I’m pretty lazy at night and will just remove my makeup and cleanse my skin. I think to do an in-depth routine in the morning because it helps me wake up. 😊

jan 2020

My current cleanser is the OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser. This cleanser is meant for oily to combo skin and is good for oiliness and acne. This has helped control my acne. I will say that it took a while for my skin to get used to it because it is pretty strong. I started using it just on my oily areas, and as my skin adjusted I can now use it on my whole face. It leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh but not stripped unlike some other cleanser meant for oily skin. This comes with a ton of product so I have been getting my money’s worth with this product.

My next step is toner. I have been using the Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner for a couple of years now. I put a little bit of this on a cotton round and swipe it across my face, focusing on my cheeks and around my nose. I find that this helps with oiliness in my t-zone, and also helps keep my pores clear. I also notice that it helps with texture on my face as well.

Next up is a step that isn’t in the photo, but I use a prescription acne cream for spot treatment and acne-prone areas. I use an adapalene cream, which is a type of retinoid. I find using a retinoid  helps heals my active breakouts. I also find that it helps with post-breakout scarring. I know there are a ton of non-prescription creams on the market that contain different retinoids, so I would recommend doing some research before using one.

The next product is a sample that I received in a Sephora rewards box. I have been loving the Biossance Squalene + Vitamin C Rose Oil.  I have been applying this to my cheeks to help with my acne scarring and I have  noticed a difference! The acne scars don’t look as dark. The whole area overall just looks bright and more even. The oil does take some time to sink into my skin, so I brush my teeth while I wait for this to absorb. I know this oil is quite expensive, and I’m sure there are cheaper options as well. But since I have a sample I am using it and loving it!

My current eye cream was recommended to me by a friend. It’s the Sephora Collection Brightening Eye Cream – Hydrate & Depuff. I think this is a great hydrating eye cream for the price. It keeps my under-eyes hydrated, but I don’t find it the most brightening or depuffing cream. I think for $23 this is a basic eye cream, but it isn’t anything crazy that you need to go run out and get.

The final product I use is the Laneige Lip Glowly Balm. I have mentioned this lip balm before, but this is a great hydrating lip product. This is lightweight so great for daily use. I have found the packaging simple to use as well. It’s an expensive lip balm but I like it!

And that is my current skincare routine! Let me know what some of your current skincare favourites are in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Book Review

Book Review 005

by LeaLeave a Comment on Book Review 005

Hey guys! Today I am reviewing the books that I read over my holidays. I finished another book that is apart of a series, so I will post that review once I finish the full series. For now, I have two cute little YA novels that both made me cry.

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The first book is Life As It Comes by Anne-Laure Bondoux. This book from France and has been translated into English. The translator did a great job, it didn’t notice at all that it was a translation. Overall the novel is very easy to read. I read it in two days but could have easily read it in one. The language is simple and flows quite easily, so I found myself breezing through the pages.

The story is also very simple on the surface, but the emotions and themes are much deeper. The story follows two sisters, Mado and Patty, during the first summer after their parents have died. It’s a coming of age story but focuses on death and life and the bond between sisters. It made me really sit back and think sometimes, and I found myself reflecting on the story when I was doing other things. It’s a young adult novel but still grabs my attention now that I’m older. Overall I think it was a very short and sweet novel. It’s perfect for a quick read on the beach.

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The second novel I read was Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. The novel follows two teens with cystic fibrosis, Stella and Will. As someone who has done fundraising for cystic fibrosis, I wanted to read this novel to learn more about the disease. I would probably recommend doing some research about CF before reading the novel. Otherwise you may find yourself having to do some research as you read. I was fine since I knew about CF, but just a recommendation.

I love the characters. Lippincott created a small cast but made the characters so complex. I fell in love with all the characters, despite their flaws. This show is also quite heavy, dealing with the philosophy of death and living. This was also a very emotional novel. I was reading this book on the beach, and I was casually sobbing at the end. 😂 The novel does have happy and bright moments, but I will say that the overall tone of the novel is very pensive and sad. Now I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that while it wasn’t perfect and happy, I still liked the ending. It felt like the right ending. I would definitely recommend this novel, but it’s more of a curled by the fire book than a beach book haha.

And that’s my thoughts on these two novels. Let me know some of your recent favourite books in the comments, I’m always looking for some to add to my reading list!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Skincare

Product Empties January 2020

by Lea2 Comments on Product Empties January 2020

Hey guys! I am back with a good old products empties! I didn’t do a post in December, so this one is a little longer than usual. But I will try to be brief haha.

jan 2020

First I have two setting sprays, both favourites of mine. First is the Urban Decay All Nighter and the other is MAC Fix+. I have talked about these setting sprays many times before on my blog. I find that UD does a great job of making my makeup last, and MAC Fix + does a great job of making my makeup look flawless. I have repurchased both of these.

Two hair products from L’Oreal today! The first is the L’Oreal Total Repair Cica Creme. I use this after I shower on the ends of my hair. I noticed a difference in my hair when I didn’t use the product, but I wouldn’t say it overall improved the health of my hair. It’s not bad, but I have decided to try a different hair oil for now. The other product is the L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Nectar. I did notice a difference with this product! My hair was softer and shinier after I used it. Not a product that I would use all the time, but great for special occasions.

A makeup empty for once! I finally finished my Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation. I think this might have been the first time I have ever finished a foundation! I talked about this foundation in my 2019 favourites if you want to know more about my thoughts on the product.

Two products from Lush today! The first is the Mask of Magnaminty. I didn’t finish this mask because it dried up on me. But I did repurchase it because I  enjoy this mask. It does a great job of cleaning my skin. I will just try  hard to use up the mask this time before it dries out. The other Lush product is Karma Kream. I love this body lotion. It is thinner than most but absorbs into the skin quickly. I love the scent, and I find that it lightly lingers throughtout the day. I just love the blend of orange and patchouli – it’s sweet and spicy at the same time!

I finished two Origins masks. I got both of these in a gift set last year, and these were my favourites. I like them both equally for different reasons. The Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay is good for evening out skin texture. The Out of Trouble mask is great for helping with active breakouts. I like both masks and would repurchase, but I am currently trying to use up some other masks in my collection. But I would recommend both masks.

I finished my favourite moisturizer, the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. They have updated the packaging so it looks different than the one I finished. I have already purchased another one and I’m already half-way through it. My skin just loves this moisturizer.

Another moisturizer is the Tula Super Soothe Calming Moisturizing Lotion. I have mentioned this in the past that I use a face moisturizer on my chest and back to help control my acne. This one I won in a giveaway so I decided to use it for that purpose. Did a great job of keeping my body moisturizer and not break me out. I will not be repurchasing because I don’t think Tula even ships to Canada?

Next up is a product I got in my Boxycharm, the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm. This balm is great at removing a full face of makeup. I enjoy using it after a night out to quickly and effectively remove my makeup. The only thing I don’t like is that if I get it in my eyes my vision gets all blurry. Very annoying. So while it did a good job of removing my makeup, I would go half-blind for five minutes after using it. I will not be repurchasing it because I have other products I want to test out.

The final product is the Nivea Hydro Care lip balm. I love this lip balm, but I repurchased it AND THEY CHANGE THE FORMULA. I am shocked and saddened. It smells different and feels different on the lips. I don’t like the new formula as much. I will continue to use my new lip balms since I purchased them, but guys it’s not the same. 😭

And those are my product empties! Also, I am looking into changing up how I take my photos, so head over to my Insta (@xoxoxoleelee) and let me know what you think!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Collection, Product of the Month

Products of the Month – January 2020

by Lea1 Comment on Products of the Month – January 2020

Hey guys! Today I am giving the update for my December products and sharing with you my pick for January. If you are unaware of my little series, every month I pick two products to focus on for the month. It’s a little hybrid between a shop-my-stash and a project pan. The goal is to give some love to existing products in my collection.

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The first was the  Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette. I picked this palette because I needed something for both day-time use and holiday parties, and this work perfectly. I was able to create so many looks using this palette. I also brought this palette with me to Punta Cana and it was great! This is a great palette to travel because of the variety within the palette. Honestly this is a great palette and it was fun to play around with it this month.

The second product was Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance. I was hoping to finish this primer but I still have a lot left! Just goes to show that primer can last a  long time since you only need a tiny amount. Especially with this one because it’s so glowy. This was great when I was in Punta Cana because I was going for a dewy look. I like my Dr. Brandt primer more, but this one was still pretty good.

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Now for my January products I picked another Laura Mercier product! I didn’t realize until I was writing this post – oh well! This is a baby sample of their Translucent Loose Setting Powder. I’ve used this powder before and I do like it! But this baby sample doesn’t have a sifter which makes it very annoying to use. So I want to use this powder up!

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The second palette was chosen by you guys! So follow me on Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) to be apart of these kinds of things! This month I will be playing with the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette, which was my favourite palette when it first came out. There are so many fun shades in this palette, so I am excited to play with it this month!

And that is my update for the month! Let me know if you have any suggestions for next month in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

December Boxycharm 2019

by LeaLeave a Comment on December Boxycharm 2019

Hey guys! Today I am sharing with you my December Boxycharm! I recently posted my 2019 Boxycharm favourites and my 2019 beauty favourites. Now back to Boxycharm! I got my box right before I went to Punta Cana, so I didn’t get much of a chance to test out these products. If I change my mind about any of these products I will let you guys know!

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The first product is the Storybook Cosmetics Fairy Tales palette. I got Little Red Riding Hood specifically. The formula of the shadows is great. The mattes blended well and the shimmers applied easily to the eyes. But I have a few problems with this palette. First I’m not a huge fan of the colour story. I get that it’s Little Red Riding Hood, so obviously there has to be a red shade. But it’s not the most wearable, everyday palette. The packaging is super cute but also extremely bulky. I think they could have cut the palette in half and it would have still been cute. I will display this palette on my vanity, but I don’t think I would use it very often. Price: $35 US

Next up is the Brow Makeover Kit by the Brow Bar. First, I can’t use the illuminator because it’s too deep, but the brow shades match me perfectly. The powders were mediocre, nothing to rave above. Same with the brow gel. But the wand is too large to it’s hard to use. Overall it’s not bad but I would recommend other products over this one. Price: $30 US

Next is the Seraphine Botanical Lip Exfoliator. It’s a good lip exfoliator. With winter here, my lips are quite dry and this goes a good job of scrubbing away all the dead skin. It also has a nice scent. But I have to wipe my lips after, and I find that all the hydration goes away after that. So while it does a good job exfoliating, I have to use a lip balm after which is annoying. Price: $24 US

My favourite product is the Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream. It reminds me of my favourite Laneige moisturizer. It is very gel-like, but doesn’t leave my skin sticky or anything. It sinks into the skin quickly and is very hydrating. I like this moisturizer and will continue to use it! Price: $35 US, $51 CA

The final product is the Ciate Marbled Light Illuminating Blusher. I received the shade Halo. This reminds me of the Laura Gellar baked blushes. This blush is very easy to apply and blends out well. It also gives a nice slight sheen to the face. I also don’t own a blush like this shade. I will continue to use this blush. Price: $26 US

And that is my December Boxycharm! The final price was $154 US, or approximately $199 CA. I like the blush and moisturizer, but the eyebrow kit was a real dud for me. What did you guys think? Let me know!

xoxo

Lea