Lea – Page 29 – Leave it to Lea

July Boxycharm 2019

July 26, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I don’t know about you, but July went by so quickly. I can’t believe that there is only one more month of summer! Anyways, today post is my July Boxycharm box. Now I haven’t been wearing makeup a ton (to be fair, working at a pool and wearing a full face of makeup don’t go together), but I have tried this products at least a few times! So, my July Boxycharm:

Photo 2019-07-18, 12 26 29 PM

First up is a three brush set from Luxie – the Gaea brush set. This brush set is supposed to be eco-friendly. The brushes came in paper packaging that is recyclable, and the wood handle has a more natural looking finish. As you guys know, I love Luxie brushes. The 246 Precision Crease is one of my favourites. I use it to cut my crease, apply shimmer shades and apply my inner corner highlight – so I’m happy to have another one. The 250 Large Eye Blending is actually pretty big. For me, I use this to just apply a light crease shade all over. The only one I’m not a fan of is the 510 Foundation brush. I prefer to use a flat top to apply my foundation, so I don’t know how often I’ll use this one. If you are ever looking to get some brushes, I always recommend the Luxie ones. Price: $30 USD

Next up is the Butter London Natural Goddess Eyeshadow Palette. This is not a bad palette, but what I have an issue with is the branding of the palette versus what it actually is. When I like natural goddess, I like of very light, easy breezy natural makeup. Playing in with the theme of the box, ‘au naturale’, I think of no-makeup-makeup. But this palette doesn’t really fit my idea of natural makeup I guess. While I think the blue shade is a fun pop of colour, I’m not sure it fits my idea of natural makeup. I would have preferred a lighter crease shade instead of the blue. The only matte shades are the blue and the dark drown shade. To do any eye look I have to dip into another palette, which I don’t like. I want to be able to do a whole look with one palette. Continuing on the fact that this is a ‘natural’ goddess, the shimmers are pigmented and metallic. They have a great formula for a bold look, but I find it hard to apply a light wash. During the day I don’t necessarily want a shiny metallic look, but when I tried to apply a lighter wash it was patchy. I think this palette is the perfect example of how shadows can be good quality but that still doesn’t mean that the overall palette is good. I think the shades are pigmented and blendable, but I’m just not a big fan of the colour story. Price: $32 USD (I will say at least the price is reasonable)

Next is the Appeal Cosmetics Gel Liner in the shade Forest Green. Okay so when I saw I got this pencil I was a little worried. I have never gotten a good eyeliner from Boxycharm. I find them to be scratchy and stiff. This is the first decent one that I’ve tried. I would say it’s the best eyeliner every and that everyone should go out and get it. But it’s good enough that I will use it again. Its creamy and easy to apply. It does a decent job of staying put, even in my waterline. My only complaint is that when I tried to smudge it out it fades away. I tried to do a smudgy wing with it and found that it didn’t work out. So overall not as good at my Marc Jacobs and Urban Decay eyeliners, but still pretty good. Price: $21 USD

First I’d just like to point out that this is the fourth month now that I have received a lip gloss, so I feel like a lip gloss reviewing expert at this point. This month’s lip gloss is the Alamar Cosmetics Des-Nudes-As Lip Gloss in the shade Coqueta. Man I wanted to love this lip gloss because I love Alamar Cosmetics. But I’m not in love. This is a thick lipgloss. The thickness and stickiness means that it lasts for a really long time on the lips. But I find the texture to be annoying. I am hyper aware of how sticky and tacky my lips are. Second, this gloss is an odd medium coverage. It’s not completely sheer and not completely opaque. Because of the coverage, my natural lip shade peeks through if I am not wearing a lipstick underneath. That would be fine expect that the brown/peachy colour of this gloss doesn’t match my naturally rosy lips underneath. So I could just use this gloss on top of lipstick, but it’s so thick and it feels like I have way to much product on my lips. The one thing I like about this lip gloss is the applicator. It’s like a double sided doe foot applicator, so it’s super easy to apply the gloss and I don’t need to redip the wander to cover my lips. Overall just not my favourite gloss. Price: $15 USD

The final product is the Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask. I actually really like this mask! Sometimes I want to do a mask but I don’t want a pore/deep cleansing mask. I want something that will hydrate my skin. This mask is very hydrating on the skin. It does tingle a little bit on the face, but otherwise is a soothing process. It is also super easy to take off, I don’t find any bits leftover and I don’t have to scrub my face. I will definitely be using this mask again! Price: $35 USD

And that is my July Boxycharm! Total price is $133 USD. Honestly this wasn’t a bad box. I know I was pretty hard on the palette and the lipgloss, but I think both of those products are just personal preference reasons as to why I don’t like them. I don’t think there was any product that was a dud really. I’m pretty happy, let me know in the comments what you guys think!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Hair, Review, Tips and Tricks

Hair Care Routine + Products

July 19, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today’s post is inspired by the fact that when I told my friends I use blue shampoo, none of them knew what that was! So I will be sharing all the products I use on my hair on a regular basis. I just want to preface by giving you guys a little hair story. I have pretty thick hair and it’s naturally curly. My curls have slowly died over the years, probably through a combination of excessive chlorine and dyeing it. I started dyeing my hair only three years ago. I am currently dyeing it slightly darker than my natural hair colour. And finally it is really susceptible to getting dry/damaged looking.

hair care 2019

My favourite shampoo and conditioner brand is Tresemme. I find it to be a step up than other drugstore brands, but still cheaper than high end brands. When I have my hair freshly coloured I used their Keratin Smooth Colour line, but I have used many of their other lines before. I really like that they have bigger bottles because I go through a lot of shampoo and conditioner since I have a lot of hair.

Now when I recently went darker, I asked my hairdresser how to keep my hair from going brassy. It’s not just blondes that suffer from brassiness. When my colour starts to fade, I find that there is an orange quality that peeps through my hair. My hairdresser recommended to try blue shampoo and conditioner. Blondes use purple to cancel yellowness, but brunettes can use blue to cancel our orange. I use the Joico Colour Balance Blue Shampoo and Conditioner. I use this about one a week and I notice such a huge difference in my hair colour. It really does help cancel out the brassiness and makes my hair colour look fresh again.

One more shampoo recommendation is the Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three. If you swim in chlorine water, you need this shampoo. If you guys didn’t know, I work as a lifeguard. When I was in high school I was in the pool around five times a week. The chlorine absolutely killed my hair, so I looked for a solution and found this shampoo. It does such an amazing job and getting all of the chlorine out of my hair. I will use this shampoo and a deep conditioning mask to save my hair. I don’t go in the pool as often anymore, but I keep this product around for when I do.

I like to deep condition my hair around once a week as well. I will put the mask in my hair and let it sit for 5 minutes at least, I usually shave my legs while I wait. The mask I am currently using is the L’Oreal Dream Lengths Saviour Mask. It’s a pretty good mask, definitely leaves my hair feeling softer and shinier after. Another good drugstore brand for hair masks is Garnier.

After I wash my hair and towel it off I like to apply a hair serum, focusing on the ends of my hair. I find that the ends are definitely where my hair gets the most dry, so adding an oil helps keep them strong and healthy. I am currently using the L’Oreal Total Repair 5 Cica Creme, which is meant for breakage and split ends. It’s less of an oil and more like a creamy liquid, but it still does a good job.

Finally I apply a hair mousse to helps give my curls shape and then leave my hair to air dry. People are always shocked when I tell them I don’t blow dry my hair. But blow drying my hair gets rid of my curls, plus my hair is damaged enough I don’t need to add heat damage on top of it haha! I am still on the hunt for the best hair mousse. A good drugstore one is the Tresemme Flawless Curls Mousse. I am currently using the Amika The Perfect Body Whipped Mousse, which I think they changed or reformulated or got rid of I’m not sure. On the website they have the Plus Size Perfect Body Mousse. This one is pretty good, but I think a mousse specifically designed for curls would be better. If you guys have any mousse recommendations for curly hair please let me know!

And that is my everyday hair care routine. I do sometimes curl or straighten my hair, but this is what I do on a more average basis! Hope you guys found this useful 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Collection, Perfume, Review

My Perfume Collection

July 16, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So today I will be sharing my perfume collection. I did a poll on Instagram (follow me at @xoxoxoleelee) and you guys said you were interested in seeing my collection. Now I’m not a huge perfume person, I don’t even put it on every day. I also have a weak nose, so I gravitate towards stronger scents. But I have amassed a small collection – some of which are unfortunately not available anymore (rip). Anyways, before I begin just want to note that I am not a huge sweet/fruity perfume person. Actually all these perfumes has musk as one of their notes soooo…… I definitely have a perfume type haha!

perfume collection

First is the Kat Von D Saint Eau du Parfum. Now I’m not a huge Kat Von D fan, but god do I love this perfume. The main notes are vanilla, musk and jasmine. I like this perfume because it’s the perfect balance of floral and musky. It’s light enough to wear everyday day, but the musk adds that little something to it. I also think that the bottle is gorgeous as well.

Today is a sad day, because I found out that my beloved Marc Jacobs Mod Noir is discontinued. I have this in a roller ball, and was planning on eventually getting it in the bottle but clearly that’s not happening anymore. I liked Mod Noir because it’s more bright and sophisticated compared to some of my other perfumes. The notes are greens, gardenias and musk. I liked wearing this perfume when I wanted something more fresh but not sweet. I will enjoy this perfume to the last drop!

The most heady and sensual of all my perfumes is the Lancome La Nuit Tresor. This is the scent I like to wear on a night out. The notes are pink peppercorn, bergamot, rose and almond blossom, white musk and tonka bean accord. The peppercorn adds a bit of spiciness so it’s not just heavy all around. This scent is also super long lasting. If I put it on at night I can smell it the next morning. A little too heavy for everyday wear, I love it when I want to feel ~sexy~.

Another perfume I think is discontinued is the True Religion Hippie Chic. I’m not really surprised that this is not sold anymore, this was actually the first perfume I ever owned. This bad boy is like six years old (the fact that it’s still going shows you how much I wear perfume). This one is more floral and fruity compared to the other perfumes I own. The notes are raspberry, pomegranate, apple, hibiscus, jasmine, lily of the valley, wood and musk. The wood and musk base notes help balance out the sweetness. This is a great everyday scent, and I would love to find something similar once I finish it.

My most recent addition to my collection I purchased while I was in France. The Fragonard Etoile is a very clean, almost unisex scent. The notes are bergamot, lemon, apple, ginger, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, cedarwood, amber and musk. This is a very fresh scent, perfect for summer. I’m happy that I choose this one because I don’t have anything in my collection quite like it, so I’ve kinda rounded out my collection.

And that is my little perfume collection! I’m super curious, let me know in the comments what your go to perfume/scent is! 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Review, Skincare

Product Empties July 2019

July 12, 2019by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! I am back with another product empties post. I know you guys always like these posts! I have also been making a conscious effort to go through my products. I have a bunch of half used product that I want to finish up. I am pretty impressed with the amount I have, since it’s been only four months! Anyways, here are my empties!

july 2019

First up I finished three cleanser. First is another Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (what a surprise). This is just my favourite cleanser. I always have an empty one every. single. product. empties. post. It’s so good. Just try it yourself.

Next is the Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acne Treatment Cleanser. I think this is a pretty good cleanser. It does a good job of leaving my face feeling clean and fresh. I also enjoy the citrus scent. I decided to not repurchase this cleanser for a few years. While my skin is still pretty acne prone, it is not as oily was it once was. So I felt like it was maybe time to switch it up. I was also finding it harder to find this cleanser in store as well. In the end I would recommend this cleanser, but I am using something else.

The other cleanser was a sample of the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. I also liked this cleanser. Once again I felt like it did a good job of cleaning my face. It has a bright peach scent that I also enjoyed. Also I only needed a small amount of this cleanser to wash my face. Overall, I thought it was a good cleanser, but since anti-aging is not really my big skin concern I will not be repurchasing.

Next up I have five moisturizers. My skin was actually dry this past winter/spring. I just want to start by saying I have a very acne-prone back/chest. To help with this I use moisturizers meant for the face on this area. The first I used for this area was the Jouviance Hydractiv Antiox Pollution-Fighting Moisturizer. You can purchase this product at Shoppers, but it ain’t cheap. Honestly I wasn’t a huge fan, which is why I used is on my back instead of my face. It has a weird texture and took awhile to sink into the skin. I had this moisturizer for like ever, it took so long for me to finish. Overall I wouldn’t recommend, especially for the high price that it is.

Now if you have acne prone skin you HAVE to get The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Mattifying Lotion. This moisturizer has done wonders clearing up the acne on my back/chest. It is important to keep areas that are breaking out moisturized, because over these areas are overproducing oil in order to compensate with dryness. This moisturizer gives enough hydration to help my skin, but the tea tree in this moisturizer helps treat active breakouts. I have already repurchased this moisturizer. I use it on my back/shoulder/chest after every shower.

My current favourite face moisturizer is the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. I originally purchased this moisturizer because I wanted something a little lighter and better suited for every day use than their overnight sleeping mask. I instantly fell in love. As I mentioned, but skin have slowly shift from being oily to being more combo/normal. It less oilier than before, if anything sometimes it can be a little dry. This moisturizer is more hydrating than my mattifying moisturizers, but it isn’t as thick as some other ones that I have tried. It is also very lightweight. But most importantly it doesn’t break me out. I really like this moisturizer, I already repurchased another one.

A moisturizer that I didn’t like as much was the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer. I know a ton of people really like this moisturizer, but I don’t like it as much as the Laneige one. This was actually the only moisturizer I brought with me to Europe, and while I was there I was missing my Laneige one. I just find this one thicker and I can feel it on my face after. Maybe if you have drier skin you would like this more, but this one is a pass for me.

The final moisturizer is the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream. This literally feels like rubbing water on your face. I don’t know how it works, but this cream quickly blends into the the face and feels as light as water. I just wish it was more hydrating. After I applied it I kind of wanted to apply another layer. I would recommend this for really oily people.

A product that I didn’t finish but I am throwing out is the Purlisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum. If there is one step in my skin care routine that I am horrible at remembering to do consistently, it’s apply eye cream. It’s just something I always forget to apply. During the seasonal change between winter to spring, but undereyes were a little dry. I tried using this Purlisse eye cream, which I got in my Boxycharm three year ago. Well I think it’s expired not, because it actually made my under eyes drier. I vaguely remember trying it when I first got it and liking it, but I think it’s just expired not, and that’s why it’s causing me to have a bad reaction.

One last product in the category of moisturizers is the Satsuma Body Butter by the Body Shop. It’s funny because I love of satsuma in soap form, but wasn’t a huge fan in the body butter form. But besides the scent, I loveeee the formula of the Body Shop body butters. They are thick and creamy, and leave the skin feeling so soft and smooth. I repurchased the body butter in a different scent.

Now for hair-case. I received the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask in a Boxycharm box. I feel like one of the few people who isn’t in love with Briogeo. I like that their product are clean, but I feel like the barely do anything for my hair. I feel like I get similar results from using a drugstore deep-conditioner mask. I don’t know, like I finish the bottle and didn’t notice a huge difference.

The other hair product is something that Herbal Essences doesn’t even sell anymore. I bought this oil elixir because I was finding the ends of my hair to be really dry. I would use a little bit of the oil on the ends of my hair and it made such a difference. I only needed a little pump so it lasted me forever. Sad that they don’t sell this oil anymore because it was really good!

Finally there are three makeup products. First is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I mentioned in my Current Faves post how much I was loving this concealer. It is the perfect medium coverage where it covers the dark circles but doesn’t look to full-coverage/cakey. Clearly I love this concealer since I finished it.

Next is two bronzers, which is super impressive. The first is my Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. It took me forever to finish this bronzer. I hit pan like a year ago, and I finally gave up on the bronzer last week. The reason why this is the best bronzer ever is because it buildable and leaves a beautiful glow to the skin. If you haven’t tried this bronzer yet, go out and get it now.

The final product is the PUR Mineral Glow bronzer. I actually shattered this bronzer. But it’s funny because a year ago I had actually broke the compact and got my dad to glue back together. And then a month ago it actually shattered and was gone for good. I am very sad about this bronzer because I liked it a lot. I liked to use it in the summer along with my Butter Bronzer. I would use this to really deepen up the skin. Plus it had a slight shimmer to it, so it would make me look like a bronze goddess. I believe that I can get PUR at Shoppers Drugmart now, so I might look around and get another one if I can find it.

And that is my long and rambly product empties post. Fifteen products might have been a little much for one post haha. Anyways, let me know down below what product you always finish and repurchase!

xoxo

Lea

Book Review

Book Review 004

July 9, 2019by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! I am back with another book review! I recently finished the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han. I know I’m a little late to the game with these books (the movie is now almost a year old lol) but it’s never too late for a good book. If you were like me and haven’t read these books yet, I highly recommend you go out and read them!

july 2019

The books revolve around a girl named Lara Jean. She has written all these letters to boys she has had a crush on, and one day they mysteriously get sent out. The first book is about her dealing with the letters getting sent out, which results in a fake relationship with one of the boys, Peter K. *Spoilers* the next two novels are about Lara Jean’s relationship with Peter K.

Now I am a such for cheesy YA rom-com type novels. I have read my fair share of Sarah Dessen novels. These types of novels are nice for an easy read, and this trilogy did not disappoint in the romantic tribulations department. I personally ship Lara Jean and Peter K. But what I also enjoy is that Han spends the next two novels actually developing their relationship. Often times YA romances can be pretty flat, and when once the couple gets together. Han goes beyond this stage, which I found refreshing.

Han also did an amazing job of balancing the romantic scenes with other aspects. Lara Jean’s relationship with her sisters are an important part of the novel, and one that I really enjoyed. It helps show that romantic love is not the only type of love, but that the bond between siblings is just as, if not more, important.

I like Han’s writing style as well. It’s simple and easy to read. I like she created a very likable character with Lara Jean. Which I find funny because I personally hated the main character in Han’s other series, The Summer I Turned Pretty. If you were like me and didn’t like that series, this one is much different.

Overall I really enjoyed these novels. Now I’m going to watch the movie! Let me know in the comments what you are currently reading! I just started Outlander, so don’t expect any new book reviews for awhile haha!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Makeup Revolution I Heart Revolution 24K Gold Palette

July 5, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So today I will be sharing a review on a Makeup Revolution palette! I know Makeup Revolution is a pretty widely available brand in Europe and in the US, but it’s hard to find in Canada. When I was in France and I saw that they had Makeup Revolution, I knew I wanted to try one of their palettes immediately. They had a few options, but I decided to get the I Heart Revolution 24K Gold Palette. I think paid twelve euros for the palette (it’s been a few weeks I can’t remember exactly), but online it is currently selling for $15 USD.

Photo 2019-07-04, 7 18 26 PM

First I really like the colour story of this palette. There are six mattes and a ton of fun shimmers. Most of the shimmers are shades of gold or bronze, but there are a few fun but still wearable shades like the green and the cranberry. This is a pretty simple palette, perfect for the average makeup wearer.

What I really like is that there are so many options with this palette. I was able to create two completely different looks using the palette. I was able to create a simple gold look, but also a dainty mauve look as well. I find that some palettes you can only do one look, but there are so many different looks you can do with this palette.

I think for the price point the shadows are pretty great! The mattes are very creamy and very pigmented. The black is amazing for being a ‘drugstore’ shadow. I’ve seen high end matte blacks that are worst than that. The shimmers are pretty good. I find that their quality varies slightly, with the darker shimmers being better than the lighter shimmers.

Overall I think this is a pretty good palette! I think this palette is good for the average person, someone who doesn’t own a ton of makeup. This palette has a lot of shades, so this would be a good palette if you only buy have one or two. If your like me and own a ton of palettes, I don’t think you need to necessarily run out and get it. I definitely have similar shades in my existing palettes. But I think this palette would be convenient to travel with since it had study packaging and everything for a basic look.

And that is my review on this Makeup Revolution I Heart Revolution 24K Gold palette. This review was short and sweet, let me know if you guys like these shorter reviews on one product or if you prefer longer posts!

xoxo

Lea

Home Decor, Life, Room Tour

Room Reno – Updating my Childhood Bedroom

July 2, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! As many of you know, I have moved back to my parents house for the foreseeable future. I am doing another year of school and then I’m going to try and find a job, so who knows when I will move out (not to mention that the Toronto housing market is insane). For that reason I decided it was time to redo my old bedroom. The last time I had redone my room was when I was 14 years old. As you can see from the photos below, I really liked purple, books and One Direction. While all of those things are still true, I wanted the room to match who I am now. Also there was no room for a desk in my room, something I will definitely need when I go back to school. So it was time for a room reno!

This was a long process to redo my room. My parents and I have decided back at Christmas that we would redo my room. During my reading week in February I had done a massive room clean out, donating a large amount of the stuff that was in my room. I donated around 100 books and tons of clothes. I had also packed up all of the stuff that I wanted to keep at this point. I would like to to shout out my father (even though he doesn’t read my blog). He helped me so much with this reno. First he painted all my walls for me while I was writing exams in April. He also built the bookshelves and my closet while I was away in Europe. Finally, he widened my existing desk and put a wider top on it. Couldn’t have done any of this without him. After I came back from Europe I spent the next while going through all my stuff and putting it all away. I finally finished my room this past week.

I would just like to mention that nothing in my room is new. Everything was either already in this room or from my university house. I already linked a bunch of stuff in my University Room Tour blog post, so I could check that out.

My bed and most of the bedding is the same as before. I got this new summer duvet from Home Outfitters, which is going out of business (lol no link sorry). I was able to get it for 40% off! My hanging light fixture was in my room before, and I actually bought it at the CNE a couple years ago. Most of the stuff on my beside table I had before. My alarm clock is from Miniso and was around $9 (maybe?). I bought it a couple weeks ago, so it should still be in store. Finally, behind my diffuser is my Google Home Mini. I actually got it for free when Spotify was doing a promotion to get people to sign up for Premium.

Across my bed is the bookcase that my dad built for me. I was inspired by sunbeamsjess’ bookshelves (here is her Youtube video if you are curious, she is also amazing would totally recommend her channel). I decided to put my tv in the middle, with books and knick-knacks surrounding it. If you are curious for a more in-depth bookshelf tour, head over to my Instagram and check out my highlight about it. I did include some close up photos of my knick-knacks. Most of them are either from my old room, special mementos or antiques from my grandmothers. I also have my perfume collection and my candle collection. If you are interested in seeing either of these collections let me know in the comments and I can do so!

Beside my bookcase I have this antique dresser. On top I have some decor bits and my ukulele that I got for $20 at an antique sale. Inside my wardrobe I have all my Polaroids on one side and a mirror on the other. Inside the wardrobe I have shirts and stuff on top, underwear in the bins and sweatshirts on the bottom.

Across from the wardrobe is my closet, which my dad was nice enough to redo. On the right is two bars for hanging clothes. I have most of my hanging pieces on top, and I keep some bags underneath the bottom hanging one. To the left are some shelves with more clothes. There is also a rode to hang longer dresses. On the bottom of the shelves I keep bags, and on the top I have some miscellaneous clothes that I don’t wear but want to keep.

Finally, beside my closet is my desk! Like I mentioned before, my dad rejigged my desk so the top and side is bigger. On top of my desk I have some makeup, some pens, desk lamps, and a candle (from Bath and Body Works of course). I have this jewellery case that I received as a gift a couple years ago. I keep mainly nice pieces or stuff that I wear infrequently in here. Most of my daily pieces are kept in a box inside my desk. The prints I have linked in my previous room post.

And that is my room completely redone! I am so happy with the results 🙂 I am also happy because my parents got a new router, so the internet connection is stronger in my room! I hope you guys are enjoying this lifestyle posts, let me know in the comments if you have any post suggestions!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

June Boxycharm 2019

June 28, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my June Boxycharm! Usually in my Boxycharm posts I share any news or anything that happened to me this month, but it’s been a pretty quiet month for me! Just happy that the nice weather is actually here 🙂

Photo 2019-06-20, 3 42 34 PM

The first product is the Touch in Sol No Poreblem Prime Essence. This product is so new it’s not even on the Sephora Canada website yet! This essence is supposed to help with the look of pores and skin texture while also giving a dewy finish. I think I really like this primer, but I haven’t tested it long enough to officially be in love yet. The first thing I noticed is that this primer is very runny – makes sense since this is an essence. It has a light scent that disappears after it’s applied. What I like is that it makes my skin feel tacky after, and I find that foundation really adheres well to the essence. It makes my foundation look so natural and skin like. I’m currently testing it with other primers and different types of foundation, but so far I like it. I will keep you guys updated about this primer! Price $23 USD

Next is my least favourite product – the Dirty Little Secret Lip Liner. First, I really don’t like the shade I got – Pale Pink. I know some people like really light almost ‘concealer’ lip shades, but that just isn’t for me. This shade is super light, that after I applied it I immediately wiped it off. Second, this lip liner is very stiff, so you have to warm it up before applying it. Overall I don’t like this lip liner, and you can get way better from the drugstore. Price: $15 USD

Probably one of the most long wearing glosses I have ever tried is the Dominique Cosmetics Lemonade Lipgloss. I have the shade Peach Tea. This gloss lasted easily over three hours on my lips without me having to reapply, which is pretty good for a gloss. It’s very creamy and feels nice on the lips. I also like how it’s a flat colour, because I don’t always want shimmer in my gloss. It is a relatively sheer formula, but enough to add just a hint of colour to the lips. I really like this gloss. Price: $17 USD

Next up is the Tarte Be You. Naturally Eyeshadow Palette (which I think is limited edition because I can’t find it on the website). First, this is the third Tarte circular palette that I’ve received in my Boxycharm. While they have all been different palettes, I wish that I could receive different products or palettes from other brands. I will say that this one is probably the best one that I have received. There are four mattes and four shimmers, which is a nice balance. The palette is pretty simple, it has everything you need to create a simple day time look and also a bolder night time look. It’s a pretty small palette, so it would be nice for travelling. I also think the formula is better on these shadows compared to the other ones I’ve tried. I just find that the shades are creamier and easier to blend. While I am annoying about getting a similar palette, I like this one at least. Price: $36 USD (similar palettes are $47 CAD)

The final product is the St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse. While this is a sample size (the standard size is 4 oz while I received 1.69 oz), I like that I also got the mitt for free! While I understand that getting self tanner might not be something everyone is interested in, I was happy to receive this product. It’s not something I might necessarily go out and bye, but have been curious to try. This was only my second time using self tanner, so I was a little cautious in the amount I used. I used about two pumps per section on my lower body and only one pump on my upper body. I honestly could have used more, but it did give me a nice natural tan. If I had used more I bet if I had used more it would have really made a difference. It didn’t smell bad and it didn’t feel sticky as I was waiting for it to develop. I didn’t notice any streaks or patchiness. Most importantly, I did not look orange!! Honestly I am pretty impressed, and I definitely think I will be using this again. Price: the card says MSRP is $24.50, online $18 USD for the mini, $42 CAD for the standard size.

And that was my June box! The overall price was $115! I am pretty happy with my box. I think the self-tanner was fun to try out, and I like the gloss and primer! What do you guys think? What did you get in your boxes, let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Lea

Book Review

Book Review 003

June 25, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So today’s book review is actually books I read for an English class I took in university! I liked English in high school, but was always scared to take it in university. After talking to a few English majors, I decided to try it out! The class was longer genres, so they were actual novels versus poetry or short stories. In the end I really enjoyed the class, and there are a few books I would recommend from the class!

Photo 2018-12-15, 12 36 49 PM

The first book we read was Klee Wyck by Emily Carr. Carr is more well-known as being a Canadian landscape painter, but she also did write a few novels. Klee Wyck is an extremely interesting novel because it’s a memoir of sorts that won many awards after Carr’s death. The novel was censored, removing any parts that was critical of European missionaries. It wasn’t until 2004 that the original text was published again. Klee Wyck is a series of stories about Carr, British Columbia and the Indigenous people of the region. Carr explores the idea of how she, as a white women, can oppose the horrible treatment of the Indigenous people yet also profit from it at the same time. I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants to learn more about the relationship between colonization and the Indigenous people of Canada.

The second novel I read was another Canadian classic. Generals Die in Bed by Charles Yale Harrison was highly criticized at the time of being published because it doesn’t glorify war. It tries to show the reader how war isn’t like the romantic version people had heard back home. I really liked this book, especially the style of writing. The details about the narrator are very minimal, allowing the reader to better put themselves into the narrator’s shoes. The writing is also very simple and easy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in World War 2, especially the darker/gritter side of war.

Probably my favourite book from my class was Animal Farm by George Orwell. This book is a classic for a reason. Animal Farm is a satirical novel, using animals to critic Stalin and the Soviet Union. The references are strong enough that anyone who knows some modern history can get them, but they are not so strong that they get in the way of enjoying the story. This is the perfect book for an English class, because it is rich enough to write about but still enjoyable to read. I think this would also be a good book for pleasure reading as well. While the writing is a little dated, it is meant to be read as a children’s book, so the language is quite simple. After reading Animal Farm, I am quite interested in now reading 1984.

My least favourite piece was a play called Endgame by Samuel Beckett. This play is apart of the genre theatre of the absurd, which is basically the theatre version of surrealism or dadaism. Basically nothing makes sense. The play is supposed to be a comment on existentialism, but like I didn’t get it. The play was very cyclical, just repeating the same things over and over again without ever really making a point. I don’t even know how to describe or critique this play because it makes no sense. Save yourself the headache and don’t read this.

The next book is July’s People by Nadine Gordimer. Written in the 1980s, this novel was Gordimer’s prediction of what a post-Apartheid South Africa would look like. Unlike the past four novels, where I knew a decent amount about the subject matter, at the time I didn’t know much about South Africa. I have since made some South African friends (shoutout to Contiki for being us together) and now I feel more conflicted about this novel. I do think it some ways it reflects on identity in an interesting way, and it worked nicely with the other novels were studied in our class. I just think there are better novels about this subject out there. Also the writing is outdated and full of South African slang that I had no idea about. Very hard to read, wouldn’t recommend.

The final novel I read was Obasan by Joy Kogawa. The novel is about the interment and persecution of Japanese-Canadians during the second world war. While I didn’t know much about this subject going into this book, I felt like by the end I knew more about the topic. The story is a girl named Naomi, and switches between her experiences as a child and an adult. The story is simply and beautifully written. They are some more lyrical passages, which would be helpful to use if analyzing the novel. Overall I found the story very compelling, and I really enjoyed the novel!

And those were the books that I read for my English class! I just finished the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series recently, so expect another book review real soon!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Review, Skincare

Influenster #SpringThingsVoxBox Review

June 21, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So today I am sharing some products that I got in my Influenster #SpringThingsVoxBox. I did received all these products for free for reviewing purposes, but all the thoughts in this post are my own.

influenster producters spring 2019

The only product I am not fond of is the Juice Beauty SPF Oil-Free Moisturizer. I am really picky with my sunscreens. Most either break me out or give me bad texture so I am very hesitant to try new ones. First I don’t like this because it claims to be a moisturizer but the feel and consistency is just like a sunscreen. I don’t find it that hydrating, if anything it leaves my skin feeling powdery. I have to be very careful not to apply too much or else it leaves a weird white-cast. But realistically I shouldn’t be putting on just a little sunscreen, so I don’t like how finicky it is. Finally I haven’t tried putting makeup over top, but judging from how powdery it makes my skin feel I don’t think it would work well. But while I don’t think I’ll use this on my face, I will probably still use this on the rest of my body. I like that it is made with organic ingredients, and it’s free of a lot of bad chemicals.

Next is probably by favourite product I tried, the Clean&Clean Deep Action Peel Off Mask with Activated Charcoal. I’ve tried a bunch of peel off masks, and this is the first I’ve actually liked. It was easy to peel, didn’t hurt, and actually cleaned my skin. This performed better than some high-end masks that I’ve tried. There is also a lot of mask in one packet, so you could probably get two masks out of the one packet. I would highly recommend trying out this mask, especially since it’s from the drugstore it’s so cheap!

The other Clean&Clear mask is the Night Relaxing Jelly Sheet Mask. The mask was very cooling and relaxing. I also think that it did a great job of hydrating. What I didn’t like is that it’s only covered half of my face. I get that the mask is meant to target the eye area, but if I wanted to do that I would just apply under eye masks. I still want to hydrate the bottom half of my face. I ended up using the extra serum from the packet on my chin and cheeks, but overall I rather use a full sheet mask.

A product I’ve already tried before is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. The one I received was in their Grapefruit flavour, which I much prefer over the original one. I really do like their Lip Sleeping Mask, but now that I have tried their Lip Glowy Balm I prefer that product over this one. This lip mask is super hydrating and leaves my lips feeling so soft. The only thing I don’t like is how unhygienic the product is. I have long nails, so I find it hard to put my finger in and not get it under my nails. I believe that the full size mask comes with an applicator, but the mini doesn’t. Their Lip Glowy Balm, on the other hand, is a squeezy tube which I find more hygienic.

The final item is the Elf Rose Gold Sunset Palette. This was perfect timing, because I had been thinking about trying a palette from Elf! This palette comes with 10 shades, with a mix of matte and shimmer. I think for $12 this palette is pretty amazing. I definitely prefer the mattes over the shimmers. The matte are super pigmented and blendable. The shimmers are okay by themselves, but I find that adding a little setting spray really makes them shine. I wish there was maybe one more matte brown shade, but overall I think there is a nice mix of shades in the palette. I was able to make a nice warm-tone smokey eye, check out my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) to see the look!

And those were the products that I tested out! Thank you to Influenster for sending me these products. If you want to check out my Influenster account, it’s the same username as my Instagram!

xoxo

Lea