Beauty – Page 16 – Leave it to Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Product of the Month

Products of the Month – May 2020

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020by Lea3 Comments

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my April products of the month and revealing the products I have selected for May. The point of this series is to rediscover products in my makeup collection and to get some use out of them.

Photo 2020-04-03, 12 12 50 PM

The first of my products is the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray. I have come to realize there is a reason why I don’t use this spray very often. They spray on this sucks. It leaks so there is setting spray all over the bottle. There is also glitter particles in the spray so it also gets stuck and makes the spray sputter. It’s also such a fine mist that I have like I have to hold it close to my face, with increases the chance of getting droplets all over my face. The formula isn’t bad but makes me really dewy. So this is nice on top of matte makeup, otherwise it becomes too much. Overall not impressed and I stopped using it because I didn’t like it for everyday use.

The other product was the Wet n Wild Rose in the Air Eyeshadow palette. This is one of the best drugstore palette is my opinion. The shimmers are quite medicore, but I have so many shimmers that it’s okay. The mattes make up the majority of the palette and they are great. I was able to create so many looks, where are two that I photographed. I like the mix of warm orangey shades and more neutral pinks. Also did I mention it’s under $10? Ya this palette is great.

Photo 2020-05-08, 1 11 42 PM

Now for my May products I decided to choose three. For my palette this month I decided to pick a blush palette. I picked the Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio in Medium/Tan (I got it in my Boxycharm and they sent me this one, would have liked the light one but oh well). I love blush but always forget to reach for my palettes. And I feel like spring is such a great time to use lots of blush. Excited to play with this palette.

The next are two lip products. I decided to pick both a lipstick and a lip gloss so I have some options. I’ve had both of these for quite awhile and they are probably expired but all the more reason for me to use them up. The first is the MAC Cremesheen Glass. The shade I own is discontinued (Calypso Beat) but the shade Boy Bait is similar. The second is the Maybelline Color Sensational The Mattes in the shade 655 Daringly Nude.

And those are the products I have selected. Excited to try and get some use out of them. Let me know if you have tried any of these products and your thoughts on them.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

April Boxycharm

May 1, 2020May 11, 2020by Lea4 Comments

Hey guys! Today’s post is my April Boxycharm. It took a little longer to arrive but I still had over a week to try all the products so that’s good. This month’s theme was Festival Vibes – I assume they picked it before Covid-19. Here are the products I received.

Photo 2020-05-01, 12 59 36 PM

For those you didn’t know, Boxycharm now allows for choice. I got to pick between three items this month and I chose The Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice. The was another Elemis product and one of 10 different eyeshadow palettes. Since I couldn’t choose the eyeshadow palette, I picked this Elemis moisturizer because I felt like I would get the most use out of it. This moisturizer is a gel, which I like for my skin type. It’s supposed to be a ‘super-hydrating’ and while it does a good job it’s not the most hydrating moisturizer I’ve ever used. Overall this is a good product and I will continue to use it, but I’m not saying you have to run out and purchase it yourself. Price: $48 US

The next product is the Iconic London Illuminator. I have heard many amazing things about this highlight but have never purchased it because it’s only sold on their website in Canada. This shit is BRIGHT. This is the blinding highlight that was super popular a couple of years ago. I have the original shade, which is a hair too dark for me. If I apply too much I can see a stripe on my face. I think once I get a bit of tan it will match me well. It’s also a bit fussy to use. I find that the only way it applies well is with my fingers. So I will continue to use it but it won’t be my go-to highlight. Price: $41 US, $57 CAD

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The Lavish 5-Piece Neon Eye Brush Collection is a weird set. Four of the five brushes are decent quality, on par with some of Morphe brushes. But the Fine Liner brush is crap. It reminds me of those scraggly brushes that you get with a Crayola paint kit as a kid. So it’s weird that there is different quality within the set. Also, the brand’s website is hard to find and doesn’t seem very legit. Honestly don’t buy these, stick to Luxie brushes. You can get them at Winners and they’re good quality. Price: $29.99 US

When I saw this was an option I was really hoping I wouldn’t get it and of course I did. I received the Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Face Primer. If you read my April Products of the Month post you would understand my feelings. While it’s not a bad primer, I just don’t use pore filling primers very often. I also have many other open primers in my collection. So I have decided to not open it and I will give donate it or sell it. Price: $32 US, $42 CAD

The final product is the Makeup Eraser. I have seen this before but never tried it before. It’s a cloth that you just wet and it removes your makeup. No need for makeup remover. It’s quite sustainable because not only is it eliminating cotton rounds but also the makeup remover itself. Does it work? Well, it does take off my makeup, even my mascara! But my face doesn’t feel clean after, I have to wash my face after. I like using micellar water to remove my makeup because it not only removes my makeup but cleanses my face at the same time. I have yet to wash it yet but I will update this post once I have. Overall if you like to double cleanse this might be a good product for you, but I’m lazy so I’m going to stick to my micellar water and reusable cotton rounds. Price: $22 US, $29 CAD

And that is my Boxycharm! The total price is $172.99. Pretty good value in the box, but it’s mainly the Elemis moisturizer and Iconic London Illuminator that brought up the price. Overall this was quite a mediocre box. Nothing was horrible but nothing amazing. Let me know what you think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

*UPDATE May 11* Hey guys. Wanted to post an update about a two of the products. The first is the Makeup Erasure. I have since washed it and it washed well! There are no makeup stains and it worked just as well as the first time. My thoughts still stand that while it took off the makeup it didn’t leave my skin feeling clean. I believe that this will be good when I am travelling and don’t want to bring makeup remover but will be bringing a cleanser anyways.

The second product is the Elemis moisturizer. I have used it for three weeks now and I’ve figured out my opinion. It’s a good moisturizer and would be best for oily/combo skin. It’s a gel, so it’s a enough for my skin but if you are dry wouldn’t be enough hydration. After first applying it to the skin it feels tacky, but that dissipates over time.

The only thing that is holding me back from recommending it is the availability in Canada. Now this may be different in other countries, but the only retailer I could find in Canada that sells this moisturizer is the Elemis website. Shipping is $25 for orders under $200 and who knows if they would be duties as well. I think there are other moisturizers that are more readily available than this one. Now if you live in the US or Europe it’s way easier to get Elemis products. I think it’s important to take into consideration how accessible a product is when recommending it.

I hope this update helps! 🙂

Beauty, Review

Sephora Haul April 2020

April 24, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am sharing a little Sephora haul! My birthday is at the beginning of April. I used a gift card that I received when placing this order. Now I know the Sephora sale is on right now, so this haul comes at a great time! I will probably be placing another order myself using the sale (mainly to buy a new Beauty Blender lol).

beauty, makeup, sephora, sephora sale, sephora haul, makeup haul, makeup review

So the first product is the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions in the shade Medium. I picked the Medium one specifically because I love the combination of warm browns and pink/peachy colours. I love every single shade in this palette. They all work so well together. I like how balanced the palette is with four shimmers and five mattes. Within the mattes, there is a mix of light and dark shades. It’s a tad deep for everyday use for me but I was able to make it work. This is the perfect glam palette, and it will be great to travel because it’s so small and I know I can create a bomb look with this palette. Overall very happy with this purchase and I think I’ll use it a lot.

Next up is the Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush in the shade In The Nude. I had heard so many people rave about this product and decided to try it myself. Well, they were right because this is the best cream blush I have tried yet. It’s very creamy so it’s easy to apply and blend out. It settles into the skin well and lasts a long time. The shade is the perfect everyday blush shade for my skin tone. I am in love and want to pick up more shades in the future. WOW.

This product is expensive which is why I got it with a gift card (should have waited until the sale oh well). I finished a sample of the Biossance Squalene + Vitamin C Rose Oil and decided to pick up the full size. This product has helped reduce my acne scarring and brighten my skin tone. I know there are cheaper vitamin c oils on the market, but with all the stuff going on I rather buy one I know that works than try a new one and not be able to return it. I am very happy to have this back in my routine because I noticed a difference in my skin when I stopped using this.

Another repurchase is the Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask. I had a sample of this mask and I feel in love. It’s amazing at helping active breakouts. I use this mask whenever I have an ugly or painful pimples and I notice a huge difference after I take off this mask. I would only recommend this mask if you have oily skin or deal with breakouts because this can be pretty drying.

I decided to repurchase my eyeshadow primer, the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer. Now I was considering trying other eyeshadow primers out, but the ones I wanted weren’t available. So I decided to go back to my old classic. If I don’t prime my eyelids shadow will crease on me. This one is pretty good. It has a cream colour to it but drys clear on the eyelids. I prefer to set my primer before going in with other shadows. This is the only primer that I have used for years so I have nothing to compare it to haha. Does it the job.

sephora, sephora birthday gift, sephora haul, makeup, beauty, makeup review, blush, lipstick, nars, nars blush, nars lipstick

The final two products are my Sephora birthday gift! Sephora has a few sets, but I decided to pick up the Nars one that is exclusive to Rouge members. It comes with a mini blush in the shade Deep Throat and a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade Bad Girl. I like both of these products. The blush has a faint sheen that makes my cheeks look dewy – but without any visible glitter. I like the lip pencil because it’s a beautiful cool toned nude. I find cool-toned lips either to be really mauve or really pink. This one matches me so well. If you are a Rouge member I would recommend this set.

And that is my Sephora haul! Let me know if you guys are picking up anything during the Sephora VIB sale in the comments below.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Review, Skincare

Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations and Wish List

April 21, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So I did a poll on Instagram and A LOT of you wanted to see my Sephora VIB Sale recommendations. I also decided to throw in my wish list. I probably won’t pick up everything (if anything) on my wish list, but I thought it would be fun to share it with you guys. I tried to keep things pretty general, but if you want specific product recommendations feel free to DM me! My friends ask me all the time products for their specific skin type or my thoughts on a specific product. I want you guys to make well-informed decisions with your money, especially during this crazy time we are going through.

Sephora, Sephora Sale, Sephora VIB Sale, Makeup, Makeup Recommendations, Beauty, Beauty Recommendations

Sale Recommendations

1. Beauty Blender and brush cleanser

I love my Beauty Blender. It’s a great sponge and I use it almost everyday. But they unfortunately don’t last forever. I buy a new Beauty Blender every VIB Sale. While you can clean a sponge to help it’s longevity, eventually the sponge either breaks down or because unsanitary. So if you like using Beauty Blender, the sale is a good time to get them.

I also recommend getting a brush cleanser. It’s important to clean your brushes, and might as well get a boring product when it’s on sale. I currently use the Beauty Blender Liquid Cleanser but they are many on the market.

2. Restock favourites

Sale time is a great time to restock on favourites. These are products that I use all the time and can’t live without. They are also ones that I go through quickly. A few restock classics are:

Brow pencils – my favourite is ABH Brow Wiz
Setting sprays – my favourites are Urban Decay All Nighter and MAC Prep+Set Fix+
Mascara – I love all the Tarte mascaras, but specifically Tarteist Lash Paint

Skincare is another great thing to stock up on if you have a favourite product. If you want some skincare recommendations just send me a DM.

3. Face masks

I love a good face mask. Sometimes masks can be pricey if you are not using them on the daily. So that’s why buying them during a sale is a great time to get them. I have three that I love and would recommend:

Origins Out of Trouble – if you have oily skin get this mask. It is amazing at helping heal and deal with active breakouts.
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask – this mask if great when your skin just feels blah. Resets the skin and leaves it feeling smooth and clean after. Also it’s pink!
Glow Recipe Watermelon + AHA Sleeping Mask – I don’t like this as a sleeping mask, I only use it for 10 minutes. It does a great job of evening my skin texture. My face feels like a baby’s bottom after.

4. Palettes

Eyeshadow palettes can be expensive. So that’s why getting them during a sale is the best time to get them! Everyone likes different things when it comes to eyeshadow palettes, so it’s really personal preference. But if I had to recommend one, I would say the ABH Soft Glam palette. I have gotten a lot of use out of it. They colour palette is also very approachable and wearable for both everyday and glam looks.

5. Perfume

Once again, perfumes are expensive. So might as well get it while it’s cheaper. I wanted to add this recommendation because I recently got a new perfume for my birthday! I got the TOCCA Florence. I got it as a sample with Sephora and I fell in love. I don’t normally like florals, but this one is so fresh. The bergamot and pear balance out the gardenia so it’s more clean than sweet floral. This is a great spring/summer scent.

My Wish list

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I have quite a few items on my wish list. The first is pretty random, but I wanted the Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream. I love body lotion and I use it all the time. This one is described as “a relaxing body lotion created to spread warmth as tangy ginger embraces your body and nourishing oils surround skin in softness.” Like YUM sign me up. The reviews are also amazing! The only thing holding me back is that its $50 CAD, ugh. One day I’ll purchase it.

I have been loving cream blush and I have my eye on two others. The first is the MAC Glow Play Blush. I have seen a few people use and love this blush. It is said to apply like a cream and finish like a powder, which I love. They are currently sold out of a lot of the shades so I will probably wait. The other blush is the new Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush. I have seen a bunch of people talk about them but not a lot of reviews. But I just know that these would be good.

Continuing the cream train, is the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer. I have so many people rave about this and I have almost bought it so many times. I will one day buy this product as well.

I have heard everyone and their mother talk about the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. This is apparently one of the best hydrating masks and it’s suitable for combo/oily skin folks as well. I do have a sample of it, so I will try it out and if I like it I will probably purchase it.

The final item on my wish list is the Olehenrikson Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. As soon as it launched I knew I wanted to try it. I have been loving all the Olehenrikson products that I have tried. It’s supposed to be purfying and brightening AND smell amazing. I think once I finish my current cleanser I’m going to pick this one up.

And those are my recommendations and my wish list. Let me know in the comments what you guys are thinking of getting or have already purchased!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Review

Testing TikTok Makeup Products

April 17, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am testing five products that I bought because of Tik Tok! I have seen a bunch of videos recommending drugstore makeup products, so I decided to pick some up. I had a long list but narrowed it down to five (mainly to save my wallet lol). I pick a variety of products, from ones I have heard a lot about to ones I haven’t heard of before. So here are my five products!

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The first product is the Maybelline Cheek Heat. I have been wanting to try this myself anyway and when I saw someone say this is a dupe for the Glossier Cloud Paints I added it to the list. I picked up the shade Coral Ember. Now the only other cream blush I’ve tried is the Colourpop one, and that is way better. First, it’s a little finicky to apply. I find the only way to apply it is with my finger, and the other ways ended poorly. Because it’s a gel it leaves my face looking a little oily, but if I set it with too much powder it just disappears. Overall this is nice for no-makeup-makeup days when I’m not planning to wear much makeup and just want a flush. But if you an affordable cream blush get the Colourpop one.

A huge hit is the Essence Shine Shine Shine Lipgloss. I got the shade clear because that’s what I say recommended. This gloss is AMAZING and it’s under $5. It’s not sticky whatever, it almost feels more like a lip oil on the lips. My lips just look so juicy and glossy. And it smells like this Lip Smackers roller boll lip gloss that I had as a kid. This product is amazing I highly recommend.

Continuing with lips, I got the NYX Slide On Lip Pencil. Now I couldn’t recommend which NYX pencil it was exactly, but I saw a video that compared these to Charlotte Tilbury ones. While it wasn’t bad, I prefer my Maybelline lip liners. First I accidentally got a cool pink, which is my bad because they didn’t have testers and I just randomly picked one. I found the formula to be too creamy. It sat on top of my lips and move around. I like my lip liners to stay put and last. Overall not a bad product but not my favourite.

A complete fail for me is the Pixi Glow Mist. This was supposed to be a dupe for the ABH setting spray. I have also just heard good things in general about Pixi. I haven’t tried any of their products because they are on the pricier side for the drugstore. This mist is supposed to give a dewy look, but I only just looked oily. Maybe if you have dry skin you could like it, but I found my skin looked greasy. I will not be using it again.

And finally another winner! I saw someone recommend the Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus. I decided to try the Brightening + Skin-Tone Evening one. There is also a Perfecting+Smoothing and Matte+Pore Reducing. WOW I love this primer. I think it’s a dupe for my Dr. Brandt one. It makes my skin look so dewy but doesn’t emphasize my pores. I have tried it with different concealers and foundation and I haven’t had any issues. I definitely recommend trying this one out.

And those are the five products I picked up! Let me know if you would like to see a part two because I had a bunch of other products on my list I wanted to try out!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review, Skincare

April Product Empties

April 14, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am sharing some product empties. This month is on the smaller size, only eight products this time! Maybe for once, this post won’t be super long haha. (*edit* it’s still kinda long oops!)

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The first product is the Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter. I love these body butters. They are thick but soak into the skin easily. They leave my body feeling soft and moisturized. I have had many different scents and this one is near the top of the list. Almond has become one of my favourite scents, it’s very calming and soft. Overall love this body butter, highly recommend. Once the mall opens again I am definitely stopping by the Body Shop.

The next product is the Benefit Porefessional. This was apart of my March products of the month. I finally finished it last week. This primer is good at what it claims to do, but I have come to realize that I prefer other primers. It does a great job of smoothing my skin, but I want my skin to look dewy. I recommend this primer for anyone looking for a smoothing primer, but I will not be repurchasing myself.

Next is a sample of the Biossance Squalene + Vitamin C Rose Oil. I got this sample in a Sephora rewards kit. I wanted to add vitamin C to my skincare routine and thought I might as well use a sample I had. Well, I loved it. It was the only thing I added to my routine and I noticed a huge difference. My skin looked brighter, my dark spots were reducing and my skin was so plump and dewy looking. And once I finished the oil my skin lost its lustre. Now it pains me to love this because it’s $95 CAD. That is a lot of money for oil. I debated trying another oil, but since doing returns right now is difficult because stores are closed I decided to bite the bullet and repurchase it. Now I did use my birthday gift card to do so at least!

Another makeup empty is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Now in the picture is actually my repurchased tube, because I can’t find my empty one. But it looked empty, trust me you could see that I scarped the sides haha. This is my all-time favourite concealer. I recently tried a bunch of drugstore concealers. And while some were close, nothing beat my Nars Concealer.

The next product is the St. Ives Radiant Skin Pink Lemon and Mandarin Orange Scrub. My mom accidentally picked up this one instead of my favourite apricot one. Now it’s described as having a lessen exfoliating factor than my favourite apricot one, so I can’t be made about it. While it did exfoliate my face, I was always left wanting more. I don’t think you would be surprised when I say that I picked up the apricot scrub from St. Ives instead of this one.

The best nail polish remover is the Quo Nail Polish Remover Dip. This is the easiest way to remove nail polish. Inside the container there is a sponge with holes in it. I stick my finger it, rub it against the sponge and it comes out completely clean! I also does a great job of removing stubborn nail polish like glitter. I also like to rest my hand on the tub while I paint my nails as well. I highly recommend picking it up, it’s available at Shoppers!

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I will miss these lashes. I love the Battington Lashes in the style Monroe. I got them in my Boxycharm awhile ago and they lasted a really long time. They are good quality and are easy to apply. I accidentally ripped mine in two while trying to take off lash glue, so sadly it’s time to get rid of these lashes. I love these lashes, but not worth it to order to Canada. RIP my Monroe lashes.

The final product is my favourite moisturizer, the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. I miss this moisturizer. It’s so hydrating and the texture is amazing for my skin. I have decided to not repurchase this moisturizer for now and use other ones I have in my collection. But I miss it dearly and will repurchase in the future.

And those are my product empties! Let me know what’s the product you finished most recently in the comments below!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hacks, Hair, Tips and Tricks

I tried Tik Tok Beauty Hacks

April 10, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Like everyone else these days I am obsessed with Tik Tok. So I decided to try three different hacks/tutorials from the app. It’s fine to try new things, and maybe some of these will work!

1. Foundation Hack

The first hack is from the user Ridaaamat. I have seen a bunch of people use her sound and had a friend ask me to try this out (so Maddie this is for you!). The trick is to powder your face and set it with setting spray before going in with primer and foundation. The trick is supposed to make makeup last longer and not crease.

When I first did this I was skeptical. My makeup didn’t look at that different, and in certain areas it looked like it was sitting on top of my skin. Now I used a dewy primer, so I am curious if a pore filling primer would make a difference. But overall I don’t think it make my foundation look at great.

BUT I am so impressed but how long it makes my foundation last. I used the Bite Beauty Changemaker foundation, which in my review I mentioned that I don’t find it very long lasting. Well this has done wonders. After six hours my makeup still looks great. My bronzer and blush are still there and my highlight it still popping.

I decided to try this technique again to see if using a different primer and foundation would make a difference. The same thing happened where my makeup was sitting on top of my skin. I think it’s because the powder makes a layer on the skin. It helps it last longer but also looks cakey in the process.

So would I do this hack again? Maybe. I will not be using everyday because I don’t love the way to makes my foundation look up close. But if I need my makeup to last all day then maybe I would use this technique.

Photo 2020-04-10, 2 33 21 PM — Here is the Foxy Eyes and the first time I tried the foundation hack.

3. Foxy Eyes

Now this trend is not only on Tik Tok. But I saw Ruzanna Smbatyan posted a tutorial that I was thought was straightforward enough for me to follow. The look involves having a straight brow and then a wing with a pointed inner corner. There is a gap between the inner corner and outer wing. Now I have a lot of mixed feeling about this look.

First, I didn’t do straight brows. I like my brow shape and I’m not about to shave off my tails to be able to change them for this look. But I think that the way my eyebrows and eyes are shape make this look a little weird. My eyebrow tail and wing are very close together, which doesn’t create the full effect. So while I do like the look, I think I would like the look better if my eyebrows were shaped different.

Doing wings on hooded every is always difficult. I either use liquid for a bold wing or shadow for a baby wing. So it was somewhat difficult for me to do the wing. But I love the inner corner triangle. I think it added drama to my eyes and made them look more almond shaped.

I also liked not having a line in the middle on my lid. Because of my hooded eyes, sometimes liner can take up the whole lid. Without it, I was able to just add mascara and still have a dramatic look.

Overall I do like the look and my mom even complimented me on it! I think in the future I would use a darker shade that matches my hair colour for a more cohesive look.

Photo 2020-04-10, 11 29 31 AM — Here is my hair an hour after taking out the curls and my second time trying the foundation hack

3. No heat curled hair

I have seen multiple videos of people using a bathrobe to curl their hair. The idea is to wrap your hair around the bath robe belt and leave it over night. It is supposed to create beautiful, heatless curls.

Now I have naturally wavy/curly hair that is also pretty thick. I tried this hack on second day hair to see if it could revive my curls. So I wrapped my hair and went to sleep. While it wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable to sleep in, but neck did hurt the next day haha.

So I unwrapped my hair and it worked on one side but not the other. I guess I didn’t wrap it tight enough on the one side. But almost three hours later the curls were gone.

Now I think this hack isn’t bad, but isn’t meant for my hair type. My hair curls okay naturally (I’m working on that!) and holds a curl from heat well. When I braid my hair it doesn’t do hold after though.

I’m saying this hack is a fail for my hair type but it might work for others. I rather just wear my hair natural or curl it myself than do this hack again haha.

And those are some hacks tested! Let me know if there are any other hacks you think I should try, I had so much fun doing this! Also check out my Tik Tik (@leeleexoxoxo) to see some videos of these hacks!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Review, Tips and Tricks

5-Minute Makeup Routine

April 7, 2020by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my 5-minute makeup routine. Before quarantine, I sometimes would snooze my alarm to the last minute before class. I needed to do my makeup fast to get to class on time. So I perfected my fast makeup routine. Well nowadays sometimes I want to look put together for video conference calls, but I don’t want to spend all that much time doing it. Enter my 5-minute makeup routine again! I also filmed a TikTok tutorial if you want to see some visuals (I will also post the video to my Instagram). A lot of these products are drugstore as well!

Photo 2020-04-07, 2 04 47 PM

First I go in with primer. Using a dewy primer like the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer. This helps me look fresh-faced and wake. I apply like liberally all over my face.

Next, I go in with concealer. I skip foundation and apply more to my cheeks because that’s where I had some redness. I also make sure to blend it over my eyelids because I don’t have time for eyeshadow. Recently I have been using the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define concealer. For a more in-depth review, you can check out my testing drugstore concealers post.

Apply applying cremes it’s time to set the face. I find it’s faster to use a pressed powder when I’m in a hurry. The Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless is still creamy enough that I don’t look too flat or cakey. But it helps my makeup stay on my face and lasts longer.

After putting on my powder it’s time to put on my only eye product – mascara. The Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara gives me thick and voluminous lashes so I don’t feel like I’m missing eyeshadow. I also make sure to take the extra seconds to curl my lashes to make them look extra long.

Next is brows. I am obviously using my ride-or-die eyebrow pencil, the ABH Brow Wiz. I have naturally thick brows, so I can do them pretty quickly. I have a scar that cuts into my left eyebrow, so that’s the only spot I have to fill in. I also find having my brows done helps cut down on the amount of time it takes to do my brows. My brow lady does a really good job of shaping them, so I don’t have to do as much work. My brows have grown out since going into quarantine, so it does take a little longer. But no one can tell over Zoom anyways.

Now I move back to my face. I skip bronzer and use a healthy amount of blush. I have been loving the Milani Powder Blush in Tea Rose. It was my product of the month in February and I think it gives such a nice flush. I also make sure to apply some to my nose to make it look more natural again.

Next, I apply highlight. The Maybelline Master Chrome in Molten Rose Gold matches the blush well. I also apply some to my inner corner. It helps me look more awake and bring attention to my eyes.

I spray a healthy amount of the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. This helps melts the powders into my face. It also helps my makeup last longer. I usually fan my face or take my sponge and press it into my face to help set everything in.

Finally, it’s time to add a lip. I change my lip depending on what I’m wearing or how I’m feeling. In my video, I applied the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lipstick. It’s similar to my natural lip shade. It also matches the blush really well.

And that is my full face! It might seem like a lot, but if I’m not distracted I can definitely do this in five minutes. And if you don’t think you can do it that fast, practice! Being at home is a great time to play with makeup. Practice now when you have more time means you’ll be able to do it quickly when you don’t.

Also, let me know in the comments what you include or do in your five-minute routine!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Product of the Month, Review

Products of the Month – April 2020

April 3, 2020May 8, 2020by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! It’s April already, can you believe it? I always loved April, because it’s my birthday month hehe. Also, I am super proud to say that I posted two posts a week all of March! Anyways for today I am sharing my thoughts on my March products and sharing the products I have selected for April.

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The first two products were primers. Now I’ll be honest, I didn’t use the Smashbox primer once because I was really focused on finished the Benefit POREfessional Face Primer. Now I am SO close to being done with this primer. My guess is that I have only a few more uses and then I’ll be done with this primer. I will continue using this primer until I am done. So stay tuned for a full review in my next product empties post.

The other product I selected was the Colourpop x Kathleen Lights Dream St. I loved using this palette. I used every shade in this palette once except for the shade Mermaid Boy. I did a fun tutorial using the palette. This was also a great palette to use every day. I would often just use Magical and Shooting Star all over my lid. I would add some of the shimmers to pump up the look. And Elfish is a great shade to do eyeshadow liner. Overall I love this palette and would definitely recommend it.

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Now for my April products. The first is the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray. I got this in my Boxycharm but I barely use it. I usually only use it for special occasions, but I feel like I should get some use out of it. I also haven’t picked a setting spray for a product of the month!

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The second product is the Wet n Wild Rose in the Air Eyeshadow palette. This is the perfect palette for right now. I usually just do basic looks during the day and when I do fun looks for Instagram I used specific palettes. So this palette with all these matte shades will be great for everyday use! It’s also a drugstore palette that is super affordable.

So those are my products for April! Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions for May, whether it be a specific product or just a category.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Testing Drugstore Concealers

March 31, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! So if you guys read my 2019 favourites post, you might remember that I mentioned wanting to try some new concealers. Well before heading into quarantine, I decided to pick up three drugstore concealers. It’s been two weeks now so I have tested these concealers. I compared all three to my all-time favourite concealer, the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. For reference, I use the shade Light 2 Vanilla.

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So the first one I selected was the Maybelline Superstay Concealer. This concealer is a lightweight, full-coverage under-eye concealer. Now unfortunately I bought that is way too light for me. I purchased 05 Ivory and could probably use 10 Fair. So this concealer is disqualified just because I couldn’t wear it to be able to test it. I will be returning it. I haven’t decided if I want to pick up another shade yet. I will update you guys if I do.

I already own the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer. I have the shade Beige which is perfect when I have a tan in the summer but is too dark most of the time. I wanted to pick up a lighter shade of this concealer, but I grabbed the NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer. I got the shade Vanilla which is supposed to have a neutral undertone but I find it pulls slightly yellow. But otherwise I like this concealer. It has great coverage but doesn’t look cakey. And it lasted a long time.

The final concealer I purchased was the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer. I got the shade C2 which is fair with pink undertones. I really, really like this concealer. It’s very lightweight. Now it’s advertised as being full coverage but it’s not compared to say Tarte Shape Tape. But it doesn’t settle into my lines and it lasts well.

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So how do these concealers compare? I think the NYX one has better coverage but settles into my lines more than the Makeup Revolution concealer. I do think that my Nars concealer is both of these, but they are close. My mom complimented my makeup when I was wearing the Makeup Revolution one!

My final thoughts: If you don’t mind paying more, than the Nars concealer is worth it. If you want more coverage go for the NYX, if you want a more natural look go for the Makeup Revolution one.

And that is my thoughts on some drugstore concealers! Let me know if you guys have any other concealer recommendations, or if there are other drugstore products you think I should check out!

xoxo

Lea