Hey guys! Today I have a fun little dupe for you! Like many beauty lovers on the Internet, I am a huge fan of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. Last year, ELF released its own version of the product, the Halo Glow Liquid Filter. It took me forever to get my hands on it. It wasn’t available in Canada for quite a while. Once it was released, the ELF dupe was always sold out. But I have it and now I’m happy to share my thoughts on the products. Let’s get into it!
The Charlotte Tilbury filter is a ‘complexion booster’ meant to blur, smooth, and illuminate the face for a ‘real-life filter effect’. Charlotte Tilbury says you can wear it four different ways: alone all over the face, under foundation, mixed with foundation and on top of foundation like a highlighter. The filter comes with 1 oz (or 30 ml) and retails for $62 CAD. For quite a while there were only a few shades but they now offer 12 different shades.
The ELF dupe is described as a multi-purpose, liquid glow booster to give your complexion a ‘soft-focus social filter effect IRL’. ELF recommends the same four ways as Charlotte Tilbury to apply the product. It comes with 1.06 oz (or 31.5 ml) and retails for $18 CAD. ELF has eight different shades available.
I want to note that the two shades I got are not exactly the same. For Charlotte Tilbury, I have shade 3 Fair which they describe as a warm peach for light to medium skin tones. With ELF, I have shade 2 Fair/Light. There isn’t a shade description available but I would say it leans more yellow. I can see a slight difference when I wear them but when I asked my brother his opinion, didn’t notice a difference between the two shades.
Now onto comparing how the two perform on my face. This is such a good dupe. I like to wear this product both under foundation and on top like a highlight. I tested both methods and I noticed no difference in the performance between the two filters. As I mentioned, I asked my brother he if noticed a difference at all and he couldn’t tell I was wearing two different products.
My only issue with the ELF dupe is quite a minor one. Both come with a duo foot applicator which I find very convenient to apply the product. I find the ELF applicator is bigger so it dispenses a little too much product for my liking. But I don’t wear this all over my face like other people do so this is more of a personal preference.
I would say this is a very very good dupe. I would recommend the ELF product because it’s cheaper and performs the same. I will say that both come with a lot of product. I’ve had the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter for years and have a lot left. Charlotte Tilbury does sell a mini version in a limited number of shades for $22. So if you think that 1 oz is too much product, the Charlotte Tilbury mini could be a good option that is only four dollars more than the ELF product. But otherwise, I would recommend the ELF product.
Let me know if you guys have tried either of these products and what your thoughts were! If you have any other dupes that you would like me to test let me know in the comments!
Hey guys! It’s time for another product empties post. I love writing product empties because I’ve finished a product so I usually have formed my opinion on a product. I feel like I can give you guys the best review after using up a product. I had a bunch of empties but decided to break up my collection into two posts, so expect to see another product empties post in the future. Let’s get into it.
The first empty is a hair mask. I’ve mentioned before I’m on the hunt for the best hair mask that doesn’t count sulphates or silicones, which is proving to be difficult. The latest one I’ve tried is Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque. This is the second Shea Moisture mask I’ve tried and I’m a little underwhelmed once again. I want to love this brand’s masks because they’re available at the drugstore. I found the other mask I tried from this brand to be too heavy. With this Deep Treatment Masque, I don’t find much of a difference. Maybe I need to let it sit longer than five to ten minutes? I just find that hair masks with silicone always make my hair feel soft and smooth and I can’t seem to find a similar effect with silicone-free masks. Maybe if you have dry hair you’d like this, but for me, it’s a pass.
Next, I finally finished the Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash. You know I’ve had this for a while when the packaging has changed since I got this haha. I got this in my June 2020 Boxycharm. This cleanser is very gentle so I only use it as a second cleanser after I use a cleansing balm. It took me forever to go through this cleanser because it’s a foaming face wash. I only need about one pump to wash my face so it just took a long time to go through it. Overall it’s not a bad cleanser, if anything it would be great if you had sensitive skin. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to order it and ship it to Canada for such a gentle cleanser.
A product that is slowly becoming a reoccurring empty is the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots. I finished this pack back in January and I’m almost finished my current pack. To be fair my skin has been freaking out lately so I’ve been using a lot of these dots. They are by far the best acne patches I’ve tried and the patches make a difference with how quickly my breakouts heal. The key is to use these when the whitehead has appeared to suck all the gunk out. I will say the only thing that breaks my heart is that they’re not the cheapest at $25 for a 20 pack so I only use them on my had breakouts. Sometimes I’ll also cut them in half if I had a small breakout. Overall if you suffer from acne you have to check these out!
Another product that I’ve received from my Boxycharm is the Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil. I’m just gonna put it out there that this oil is no joke. As someone with oilier skin, I generally don’t reach for face oil. I used this oil as my moisturizer found that it gave me more than enough moisture. It claims to be fast-absorbing and I would have to disagree. I found that it took a while for the oil to sink into my skin. Maybe if you had super dry skin you would love this. As an oily skin girl, this just wasn’t meant for me so I will not be repurchasing this oil.
An oil that I do love is the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This is one of my favourite vitamin C serums I’ve tried. I find this vitamin C is potent enough to make a difference in my acne scars. The squalane and rose oil also had a visible brightness and glow to my skin that I haven’t found in other vitamin C serums. My only complaint is that it’s quite expensive, which is why I recently go the Glow Recipe vitamin C serum, you can check out my review of it here!
The next two empties are mascaras! I’m trying to be better about throwing out expired makeup and I’ve had both of these for over a year so it’s time for them to go in the garage. The first mascara is the Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara. I got this one in a Boxycharm. I generally like Tarte mascara and this one is no exception. The shape of the wand means that I don’t get mascara all over my lids. I do prefer the Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara over this one because I prefer length over volume. My second mascara empty is the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara. I thought I was going to love this mascara and I was disappointed. It’s supposed to be a lengthening mascara and I find it didn’t give me that much length. I also found that so much product got on the wand and it became very goopy very quickly so it would get all over my eyelids. The only pro was that it was easy to remove since it’s a tubing mascara. But I will not be repurchasing this mascara.
A drugstore empty! I decided to pick up the ELF Holy Hydration Face Cream because I wanted to test out some affordable skincare and this was a winner baby! This is a little on the thicker side for my oily side so this is more of a winter/nighttime moisturizer for me. But if you have dry skin you would love this. At $16 this is such an affordable moisturizer and shows you don’t always have to pay a ton of money for good skincare. I have purchased other moisturizers but this is one that I would instantly recommend to people in the future.
If you read my Body Lotion Round-Up post, you might recognize that I mentioned the Bath & Body Works Body Lotion. I had finally finished this Pumpkin Pecan Waffles scent back in January. I had bought this back in August so it took me five months to finish this! I have learned my lesson and won’t be buying seasonal scents anymore because I was sick of smelling like fall in early January haha. But the actual body lotion is great. It’s thick but absorbs quickly into the skin. The scents are strong and do linger so just keep that in mind if you are sensitive to scents. I have already repurchased another one, I like the B&BW lotions!
The final empty for today is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. This is an amazing cleanser if you have acne-prone skin. I didn’t realize how effective it was until I stopped using it. It’s gentle enough that my skin doesn’t feel stripped when using it. But it did a great job at reducing the number of breakouts I had. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump, which is great for the vanity but not good for travelling haha. I have purchased a different cleanser since but I am considering getting it again in the future.
And those are my product empties! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what your thoughts were!
Hey guys! I realized it’s been almost two years since I’ve shared my body lotion and hand cream collection. I will often mention when I finish a body lotion in my product empties post, but I thought it would be worth doing a dedicated post. I use body lotions year-round, but especially love slathering myself in lotions during the cold winter months. Because of that, I’ve amassed quite a collection. So let’s get into it!
A great drugstore option is the St Ives Body Lotion. I have the Almond & Flaxseed Oil lotion. I love the scent of almonds, especially in body lotions. I’m sad to say it doesn’t smell much like almonds. But besides that, it’s a great lotion. I find it’s on the thinner side so it’s not as moisturizing but it does absorb very quickly into the skin. It comes with a pump which I prefer and it’s a big bottle so it takes a while to get through it. If you don’t like Almond there are tons of other scents as well! A good drugstore choice.
Another good *affordable* option is the Bath and Body Works Body Lotions. I put affordable in asterisks because it’s not the cheapest on the market but they always have sales so it’s easy to get at a discounted price. I have the scent Watermelon Lemonade that I got after Christmas for $3. They have so many scent options that you’re bound to find one you like. The scents are quite strong and I find they do linger on the skin. I had a pumpkin pecan one and I didn’t put perfume on when I used that body lotion. Besides the strong scent, I do find they’re pretty hydrating and absorb into the skin relatively quickly. It’s a squeeze bottle which I don’t prefer as much as a pump but still not bad. Would still recommend it since they have a great scent selection.
My other drugstore recommendation is the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion. This is technically a face moisturizer but I use it on my body. I’ve mentioned this before but I’m prone to breakouts on my chest and back. I prefer to use an unscented face moisturizer on those parts of my body to help with the acne since scented moisturizers can be irritating and pore-clogging. This lotion provides the perfect amount of moisture while also absorbing into the skin quickly. It’s also a pump which I love! I would recommend this lotion for both the face and body.
Now switching from my least expensive to my most expensive – the L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate. As I mentioned, I love almond scented products and I had heard great things about this lotion so I wanted to try it for myself. It’s very luxurious with a glass container. The formula is thicker than some of the others in my collection so it feels luxurious to apply as well. I like using this after I’ve exfoliated and shaved to make my legs feel real smooth. I think there are lotions on this list that do a good job so you don’t necessarily need to buy this expensive one. But if you like the scent of almonds you have to try this one.
Next, I have my two Sol De Janeiro creams. I have the original Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and the Coco Cabana Body Cream. I’ve brought both of these creams to different vacations, so whenever I apply them I’m instantly transported back to that trip. I do like both of these creams. They’re thicker but absorb easily into the skin. The scent is strong but doesn’t linger too much so I can still apply perfume. I don’t use them too often since they are on the pricer side but I would say they’re good lotions.
If you follow my blog then you’ll know I like the Hempz Natural Herbal Body Moisturizer. It’s similar to the St Ives lotion but just a bit thicker so it adds more hydration to the skin. I also find the scent is stronger. I currently have the Fresh Coconut & Watermelon scent and it’s a great neutral scent. I’ve purchased this originally on Amazon but I’ve found them at Winners as well! Great mid-priced body lotion.
And now onto hand creams. First I’m going to shout out a local small business! My friend got me the Maison Apothecare On-The-Go: Lavender & Sea Salt Lotion for Secret Santa and I love it! I apply it every night before bed. The scent is perfect before bed to calm down. For hand cream, it’s very important that it’s fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy. This hand cream ticks both of those boxes! I would recommend checking out this shop if you’re local.
My other hand cream is not pictured because I leave it at work. All my coworkers are obsessed with the Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Hand Cream. They always ask me if they can have some hand cream! The formula absorbs very quickly so I don’t have to wait and worry about greasy hands. But it still gives that boost of hydration when my hands are cold in the winter. The scent is also divine. It’s very calming and I can smell it when other people use it. Like other Bath & Body Works products, it’s pretty affordable but you can get it even cheaper during the sales.
And those are all my favourite body lotions! Let me know in the comments if you have any favourites. I’m always willing to try out a new body lotion!
Hey guys! One of the things I look forward to every new year is watching my favourite YouTubers’ do their 2021 favourites (if you haven’t read mine yet, check it out!). I feel like yearly favourites are some of the best recommendations because the product made it to the top of someone’s list. I decided this year to pick up a couple of products that made some influencers’ faves list and test them out for myself. I did a YouTube video trying the products for the first time and also mentioned some products that were already in my collection. Today I’ll be giving you my follow-up to that video after using the products a few more times.
Let’s start with the product that inspired this post. I had seen Allana Davison rave about the Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil for quite a few months now to the point where I was like I HAVE to try it out. Allana is not only my favourite Youtuber but also this lip oil just seems right up my alley. Merit describes the product as a sheer slick of colour with rosehip oil and shea butter to create healthy-looking lips all day long.
I have to say their description is pretty accurate. The pigmentation is enough that I can wear it by itself for a very natural look or wear it on top of a lip liner for a more defined lip look. It’s not sticky whatsoever since it’s an oil and it’s very comfortable on the lips. Unlike some glosses, it doesn’t look gross if my lips are dry and crusty. Since it’s a lip oil it’s not the most long-wearing, it obviously goes away if I’m eating or drinking. I picked the shade Taupe because I am obsessed with browns and I love it. They have a beautiful range. I might pick one up for my mom for her birthday because I think she would really enjoy this formula. Allana was 100% right with this product.
The next product was a recommendation from Tati. If you watched my video, then you might have seen that I was on the fence about the shade I picked up in the Catrice True Skin Hydrating Foundation. Once I went into different lighting I realize I did get the perfect shade for my winter pale skin. I got the shade Neutral Ivory and I’ll give the brand major products because this foundation is neutral. I often find with drugstore foundation that the shade can lean either too yellow or too pink but this one matches me perfectly.
The foundation is described to be a long-wearing, medium-buildable coverage foundation with a natural ‘real skin’ finish. The foundation is also supposed to be hydrating, is vegan and cruelty-free and comes in 20 shades. I’ll be honest guys, this really isn’t a hydrating foundation. I find that it leans more matte. If I use a hydrating primer it’s not as bad. But because it’s matte, I find that it takes a bit more work to blend out cream products on top. That being said, this foundation is very long-wearing. I have very oily skin and I didn’t really need to powder until the 8-hour mark. If you have dry skin I would pass on this foundation. But if you need something that will look good all day, then check this one out.
The foundation and concealer when I first applied itThe foundation and concealer eight hours after I applied it
The other base product that I got was the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer. This was another recommendation from Allana. I wanted to try out a new concealer and thought this would be right up my alley. The concealer is described as creamy, with a natural, medium and buildable finish. It also is supposed to have a self-setting formula with up to 12-hour, crease-free wear. I’ve been having issues with my concealers creasing lately so thought this would be a good one to try.
With some concealers, a little goes a long way. Not with this one. Where I apply it is where I get coverage and it doesn’t give much more. This just means that I have to apply more than I usually would. But once it’s applied and blended it’s amazing. The concealer does a good job of neutralizing the blueness I have under my eyes without being really stark and high coverage. I’d be lying to say that it doesn’t crease, especially because I have a very expressive face. But it took a while to crease and didn’t crease that bad. I would say it more just settled into my lines that high creases. From afar you really don’t notice it. I’m not the hugest fan of their shade range because I find that they have more undertones than shades. I wasn’t too confident when picking out a shade, but luckily the shade 20 Soft Sand worked for me. Overall I’m enjoying this concealer and excited to use it more.
The product I’m still on the fence about is the NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen. Both Allana and RachhLoves raved about this brow pen. This pen has a micro-brush tip pen that is supposed to be buildable to create hairlike strokes. The pen is supposed to be smudge and transfer-resistant with 16-hour wear. I got the shade Espresso because that’s what I use in NYX’s other brow products.
I think this is a good brow pen, I’m just not sure I like brow pens. When I first tried the pen it had been ages since I’d gotten my brows done. I had to be so precise since my eyebrows didn’t have much shape so it took forever for me to do my brows. The pen is quite pigmented so it created a bold brow very quickly. I have since gotten my brows done so now it’s just a case of filling in the bald spots. I once again find that because the pen is so pigmented that it creates a very bold brow. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if I was doing full game and wanted something to balance out my face. But for every day it’s too much since I naturally have a lot of brow hairs. I think if you’re someone with not a lot of natural brow hairs you’ll love this because it’s easy to create the hairs. I’ll continue playing around with the pen because maybe there is just a learning curve, but for now, I’m not sold on the whole brow pen train.
And the final product I picked up was recommended by THREE Youtubers – Tati, Rachhloves and Jamie Paige. And that is the Maybelline Lifter Lip Gloss. This lip gloss was going around the internet as being a dupe for the Fenty Beauty lip glosses. Maybelline describes their glosses as having hyaluronic acid to deliver lasting hydrating and fuller-looking lips. I got the shade Moon, which is supposed to be a dupe for Fenty’s Fussy shade.
This might be crazy, but I think I prefer the Maybelline formula! The glosses look very similar on the lips, giving a subtle sparkle to the lip and a very juicy and shiny look. The Maybelline gloss is slightly thinner than the Fenty one, which I prefer. I don’t like a very thick and sticky gloss, I prefer something I little thinner and smoother. That being shade, the Fenty one does last longer so it depends on what you rather have. There is no doubt you can’t bet the Maybelline price. The internet loves this gloss and I’d have to agree with the internet that they are pretty great!
And that’s my thoughts on the beauty products I picked up based on beauty YouTuber’s recommendations. If you enjoyed this post let me know and maybe I’ll do a part two? And if you’ve used any of these products let me know if you agree or disagree with my thoughts!
Hey guys! In the past few years since moving back to my parents’ house, I’ve gotten into baths. I consider myself a water person – I love swimming, being in the water or being by the water. So it only makes sense that I enjoy sitting in a hot bath for long periods of time. I would probably have more baths if we had a deeper bathtub and a bigger hot water tank haha. Right now bathtime is a special treat for me, so I like to create a luxurious spa-like moment when I do have a bath. I wanted to share a few of my favourite products to create the ultimate bath experience.
First, lighting sets the mood for bath time. I usually like to watch Youtube videos on my laptop (which I keep on a stool far away from my bathtub haha) so I don’t need to worry about good lighting. I will usually dim my overhead lights and light a couple of candles. Now the Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles are my usual go-to, but I recently got a single wick candle and it’s great! It’s just as potent but then I don’t want to worry about tunnelling. The other great thing is that the single wick candle is smaller so it perfectly fits in the corner of my bathtub. I have the scent Peach Bellini but B&BW has so many scents that you can find one that fits your fancy.
The next essential is Epsom salts. Epsom salts contain magnesium, which is known to help with joint and muscle pain. The other day I went skiing and had a bath with a bunch of Epsom salts and it was divine. Helped relieve my achy muscle and tired feet. My current jug is Rexall’s brand, Be Well. But I’ve also used Dr. Teal’s Epsom salts before and they also work great. I often like to get almond or eucalyptus scented salts since it’s neutral enough to do with my other bath products.
Call me a child, but I have to have bubbles with my bath. It just makes the experience more fun! Like you can’t tell me that you don’t enjoy bubbles. I enjoy the Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath Oil because not only does it add bubbles but the oil makes the water softer and more luxurious. Some bubble baths I have to use a bunch but I only need a bit of the Dr. Teal’s to get a ton of bubbles. And similar to my Epsom salts, I usually get a simple scent to not clash with my other bath products.
No bath is complete without a bath bomb. I like to go unscented or naturally scented with the salts and bubble bath to allow the bath bomb to be the star of the show. If you’re looking for an inexpensive option, then check out the Supertrip Bath Bomb Gift Set on Amazon. The gift set has 9 bath bombs for $25, which means that each bath bomb is under $2. Another great option for affordable bath bombs is looking for some at Winners. But when I want to treat myself, I get a bath bomb from Lush. I find that I don’t get much of a scent from cheap bath bombs, but the Lush bath bombs are strongly scented. They’re also very strong in colour pigmentation, meaning that the baths are always colourful when I use one. Some of my favourites include Sex Bomb and Intergalactic (both make super pretty baths) and Twilight (which is lavender scented and perfect before bed).
When I have a bath I will often use the time to do a big body scrub, since it’s easier when I’m sitting down than standing in the shower. One of my favourite body scrubs is the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. They have a ton of scents but the Macadamia & Rice Milk scent is my favourite. I love nutty scents. I’m not a big fan of sugar or salt scrubs, but I often find they’re so dry that they crumble away before I can scrub my skin. This scrub is quite creamy and hydrating, but still has the exfoliating bits to help buff away dead skin. It’s also quite affordable which is always a plus!
And those are my favourite bath essentials! Let me know what some of your favourite bath products are, especially bath bombs because I’m almost out and need to buy some more soon!
Hey guys! A couple of weeks ago I posted a haul and first impression video of a bunch of Elf Cosmetics products I ordered. It’s been a couple of weeks so I wanted to give you a follow-up review of the products. There are some hits and there are some misses, so let’s get into it.
First, let’s start with the brushes. I got the Mint Melt Eyeshadow Brush Set and the Putty & Cream Blush Brush. The brushes are good but you kinda get what you pay for. The handles are plastic and are very lightweight. The brush quality is nice but I find all the brushes to be a bit small. I would say if you’re to makeup and need to get some brushes then Elf is a great brand to buy from. If you love makeup and want to invest in some good quality brushes then I would pass on these.
By far the most disappointing product is the Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow. I thought this was going to be a dupe for the Stila Magnificent Metals but they just don’t compare. The Stila shadows are full of glitter but still have a base shimmer to the shadow. Whereas the Elf eyeshadow is just straight glitter. So I could apply the Stila eyeshadow to my bare eye but I need to put the Elf eyeshadow overtop another eyeshadow. The glitter is pretty, don’t get me wrong. It’s just glitter in a clear gel. I would recommend the Stila eyeshadows over the Elf ones.
The second eye product I got is the Bite-Size Eyeshadow. There are eight different palettes but I got the Cream & Sugar palette. I think the eyeshadows in the palette are amazing. The mattes blend well and the shimmers are easy to use and look great on the eye. I’m just not sure if I like the colour selection. I find when there are only a few shades in a palette it’s important which ones are included. This palette has only four shades so I would want to be able to do a full eyeshadow look. I personally find that I’m missing a good crease shade. The beige is too light and the brown is too dark to use in the crease. I need to use another eyeshadow to be able to do a full look. I almost always use a crease shade for my eyeshadow looks, so since this palette is missing one I don’t see myself using it very often. That being said, I’d be interested in getting other palettes if the colour story piques my interest.
One of Elf’s most popular products right now is the Poreless Putty Primer. This is a dupe of some more expensive primers such as the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer. I haven’t tried that one so I can’t compare. I got the regular Putty Primer but almost wish I got the Matte Primer. I feel like the primer does a great some of making my skin feel smooth but doesn’t do much for helping my makeup longer. I think the Matte one would just work better with my skin type. It’s a fine primer but I’m not blown away.
The next product I tried is the Flawless Finish Foundation. I LOVE the way my face looks when I first apply this foundation. It’s medium coverage and has a semi-matte finish. It just makes my face look flawless – just like the name suggests! It comes with a pump which is handy. I was able to shade match myself quite easily. I would say that it looks great for around five hours, but after that I look super oily. The excess oil means it’s also easy to rub off the foundation. So if you need a foundation to last all day and can’t powder then maybe pass on this one. But if you’re fine powdering or don’t have oily skin then this is a great foundation.
While I did a great match with my foundation, I didn’t do a good job picking the correct shade in the Hydrating Camo Concealer. So I haven’t worn it much under the eyes since it’s the wrong shade. I’ve worn it on my face and it’s great for spot concealing. It doesn’t look cakey and stays in place. Sorry, this isn’t the best review. It’s such a great price that I might get another shade for under my eyes.
I decided to pick up their new Putty Bronzer and Putty Blush. In the bronzer I got the shade Tan Lines and in the blush I got the shade Tahiti. If you are new to creams these are the products for you. These are very lightweight and very easy to blend. I find I have to build it up to get the blush and bronzer to the intensity that I like. But what I also like is that they dry down to a semi-matte finish so my face doesn’t feel sticky. The fact that it dries down means that it lasts quite a long time on the skin. If you are looking for drugstore cream products then you HAVE to check these out.
The final product is the Sheer Slick Lipstick. I got the shade Golden Pear. I expected the lipstick to be sheerer but despite that I like this lipstick. It’s very nourishing and feels very nice on the lips. While it’s not the most long-lasting it fades nicely from the lips. I’ve been using this a couple of times a week and I can see myself continuing to use it in the future.
And that is my round-up of all the products that I purchased from Elf Cosmetics. Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these products. And also let me know what your favourite product is from Elf!
Hey guys! Today’s post is inspired by a video that I saw by Samantha Ravndahl, where she talks about products that missed the mark for her. The products aren’t necessarily bad but just didn’t work or live up to the expectations and therefore don’t get any use out of them. I decided to share a few products that I felt personally missed the mark for me for one reason or another. All of these brands have products that I adore, just these specifics products weren’t it for me. Let’s get into it.
The first product is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel. I remember when this product came out there was so much hype around it that I bought it right away. This wasn’t necessarily the smartest decision for me since I don’t often use brow gel, let alone tinted brow gel. I have pretty naturally thick eyebrows, so all I need is a little pencil to fill them in. This Dipbrow Gel is very pigmented so it makes my brows look very dramatic very quickly. I also find the brush holds a lot of product so I have to wipe so much off otherwise my brows will look super bushy. And finally, if I ever mess up then I have dark brown on my face that I have to try and wipe off. Honestly, I just don’t use brow gel a lot to begin with but when I do I just prefer using a clear one than having to deal with this one.
The next product that I never reach for is the Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in Rosewood Neutrals. It’s a gorgeous palette, don’t get me wrong. But there are two reasons why I rarely reach for it. First, I like using a brown shade in the crease as a transition shade with the majority of my makeup looks. This palette doesn’t have one so I would have to use another palette along with this one. Second, most of the shades are shimmer finishes, which I don’t often use in the crease. So it’s another reason why I would use another palette along with this one. So because I have to use another palette to use this one, I just find myself reaching for another palette entirely and not using this one. This is a real shame because the palette is gorgeous and very expensive.
This product might be a surprise because I initially loved it, but I’ve used the Colourpop Hyaluronic Tinted Moisturizer in months. This was one of the first lighter coverage foundations I had tried so because I had nothing to compare it to I thought it was great. But as I’ve tried other tinted moisturizers I’ve just preferred them over the Colourpop one. My biggest gripe is that puts an even layer of a tint all over the face but does nothing for redness and dark spots. Maybe if you had perfect skin you would love this. But I prefer the Fenty Eaze Drops because while it’s light coverage it still does something for my redness and dark spots. There are just better products on the market.
And the final product is the Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick. I bought this because Allana Davison was raving about these last year and I got her favourite colour, Beaming Strawberry. I shouldn’t have got this shade because it’s a cool tone pink and I rarely wear cool-toned pinks to begin with. But the combination of this shade and how sheer the formula is just doesn’t work with me. It looks like the colour is sitting on top of my lips and you can see my natural lip colour peeking through, so it looks so weird. I also find that the formula bunches up in any lines on my lips or if I have any dry spots. So the combination of the colour and bunching product means that any time I put this lipstick on I just immediately wipe it off. I’ve loved the majority of the recommendations that Allana has given but this ain’t it.
And those are four products that missed the mark for me! Let me know if you have products in your collection that missed the mark. And should I do a part two?
Hey guys! Today’s post is inspired by a series of videos that I’ve seen Jamie Paige do where she ranks all the products in a certain category or a certain brand. So I decided that I wanted to rank every single one of my foundations! My foundation collection is larger than the average consumer but not extensive. I’ve also gotten rid of any duds in my collection so there are no horrible foundations. Okay let’s get into it!
The first category we have is holy grail status. These are some of my favourite foundations ever that I will always have in my collection. I have three foundations – except one I think might be discontinued. The Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation is one of the best matte foundations out there. Not only is the shade range impressive, but the undertones are really good. Sometimes I find shade ranges can lean a little warm or cool tone but the range is very accurate to the description. If I ever need something that will give me good coverage and last all day I know I can rely on the Fenty Soft Matte Foundation. A newer holy grail is the Fenty Eaze Drops Blurring Skin Tint. The shade range with this skin tint is the same as the matte foundation. Even though this is a skin tint, there is still decent coverage where it will cancel out any redness that I’m having. These two Fenty foundations match my two moods when it comes to foundation. My final holy grail is the Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation. It’s still in stock on the website but not sold in stores anymore so I feel like it’s being discontinued? This foundation makes my skin look so good but also looks so natural. It’s a lightweight, medium coverage foundation that just sinks into the skin. I feel like my skin always looks the best when I wear this foundation. The only downside is that I find it leans a little pink. But I see myself wearing these three foundations for as long as I can get my hands on them.
The next category is in the rotation. These are foundations that I have been loving lately but haven’t quite made it to holy grail status. The first is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Foundation. If you’ve watched my recent favourites video, you would know I have been loving this foundation lately. It has great coverage to help cover up any breakouts I’m having but the dewy finish keeps things from looking heavy or cakey. I can set it with powder and it stays put throughout the day pretty well. When I’m unsure of what type of foundation I want I reach for the Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation. It has medium coverage and a natural matte finish so it’s not too much of anything. It’s not too heavy nor too light, it’s not too matte nor too dewy. It’s a good everyday foundation. The final foundation in the rotation is the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation. This foundation has similar coverage to the Fenty Skin Tint but way dewier. It looks great on the skin but because it’s so dewy it doesn’t last very long. This is good for a couple of hours but not all day.
The next category is good but not great. These are foundations that I’ll use on occasion but for one reason or another, I don’t use them on the daily. The first being the L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation. This foundation has really good coverage but the undertone is just slightly off for me. I always have to bring this down my neck when I wear it, so I don’t reach for it as often. The next foundation is the Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation. I really like how this looks when I first apply it. But I find after four hours that it just breaks down and looks super oily. The shade also pulls pink on me. The final foundation in this category is the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation. This foundation is quite similar to the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy. I honestly haven’t worn this foundation in a while so I can’t remember what it’s like, but if two foundations are similar I rather recommend the cheaper option than the more expensive foundation.
The final category is take it or leave it. These are foundations that I currently own so I will continue to use them, but if there were to magically disappear tomorrow I wouldn’t go out a repurchase. The first is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Matte (the original one). I just like the dewy one so much that I don’t reach for the matte version much. I also have the Fenty Beauty matte foundation that I like more if I want a matte look. It’s not bad I just have others I like more. The next foundation is the Colourpop Hyaluronic Tinted Moisturizer. I got this just a couple of weeks before the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drops and I’ve barely used it since. I find that the Colourpop Tinted Moisturizer just gives a sheer wash of colour but doesn’t actual conceal anything. I have a lot of acne scars and redness on my face and this just doesn’t do enough for it. This tinted moisturizer is only nice on really good skin days. The final foundation is the Purlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream SPF 30. I got this in my Boxycharm, I would never purchase this myself. I’m always hesitant about SPF in products because it often breaks me out. This BB cream looks fine but it’s not anything special. Also, the shade range is atrocious. I have it but I rarely use it even though it looks fine on the face.
And those are all the foundations I currently own ranked! Let me know if you guys enjoy this post and if you would like to see me rank another product category!
Hey guys! Today’s post was inspired by my friend who was wondering to build a basic skincare routine. They weren’t doing much and wanted to do more to improve their skin but didn’t necessarily want a 7 seven routine. So today we’re keeping things basic. And by basic, I mean three products. I’m going to share a routine for dry skin and oily skin. And we’re going to keep all the products affordable. Let’s get into it.
For both routines, we’re going to keep it to three products – a cleanser, a treatment and a moisturizer. These are the main things you should be doing every time. You can add more things – but that can be another post. If you are unsure if you have dry or oily skin, then look at it at the end of the day. If it’s slick to the touch then it’s oily. If it’s rough and flaky then it’s dry. There are more skin types, such as combo, normal and sensitive, but today we’re keeping it super simple.
Dry Skin Routine
If you have dry skin it’s still important to cleanse your face. This helps get rid of any dirt or impurities that have accumulated on your skin. I recommend La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser. La Roche-Posay is used to teach people with  rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis – so you know is this going to be gentle. This will help clean the skin but not strip it and leave it feeling dry.
After cleansing the skin we are going to treat it. To help with dryness I recommend using hyaluronic acid. The Inkey List has a Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum that is only $9.99. By using a serum and a moisturizer you will be giving your skin twice the amount of hydration. Just make sure to wet the skin before applying the serum so it has something to adhere to.
The final step for dry skin is to moisturize. If you have very dry skin then you need the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. This stuff is thick and will help soothe any dry patches on your skin. I love using this in the winter when my skin is on the drier side, but if you have dry skin you can use this year-round. It helps soothe and bring down any irritating dry patches.
Oily Skin Routine
If you have oily skin, you want to make sure to probably clean the face but still moisturize. Many people with oily skin think they don’t need moisturizer, but often it’s because the skin is dry that it’s overcompensating by creating too much oil. But first, you need to clean it. Check out the CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Salicylic acid is a great active ingredient that helps chemically exfoliate the skin to help get rid of texture and prevent acne.
For treatment, I have two options. If you find that the CeraVe cleanser is enough to treat any breakouts, then try incorporating a vitamin c serum. Try The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C will help brighten any dark spots such as acne scars or sunspots. It will also just help brighten your overall complexion. If the CeraVe cleanser isn’t enough for breakouts, then check out the Benzagel 5% Gel. This is the most potent Benzoyl Peroxide that you can get over the counter. This is a strong ingredient but really does make a difference – it’s what I use to help treat my acne. Just put a bit on any acne breakouts or daily on areas where you often break out.
Finally, it’s time to moisturize. This helps soothe and repair the skin after using active ingredients to help fight oil and acne. For oily skin, I recommend using a gel moisturizer because it will hydrate the skin but it won’t feel as heavy as a cream. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream is a great dupe for some higher-end moisturizers. It’s lightweight but will give the skin some moisture.
And those are my basic skincare routines. Let me know if you want a part two where I can add in a few more product recommendations or give other options that are more mid-range prices!
Hey guys! I had the idea to write today’s post as I was writing and reading the comments on my July Boxycharm post. I received a bronzer trio from Alamar Cosmetics, a brand I love but feel doesn’t get enough love online. So today I’m going to share three brands and three products from each brand that I think deserve more love.
The first brand is Alamar Cosmetics, the brand that inspired this blog post. The brand was created by Cuban-American influencer Gabriela Trujillo, who worked for Boxycharm before starting her brand. Because of her connection to Boxycharm I’ve received many of their products in my box. The quality is amazing and I’m always happy to get the brand in my box.
The first product recommendation from Alamar Cosmetics is their eyeshadow palettes. I have the Reina Del Caribe Eyeshadow Palette and it’s beautiful. The eyeshadows are great quality and look so good. The blue shade Varadero is one of the best blues I’ve ever used. The next product recommendation is their face palettes. I got their Brighten & Bronze Complexion Trio recently but I can tell it’s already an all-time favourite. I also had their blush trios and those were so good as well. The powders are creamy and blend very easily on the face. The final product recommendation is their DesNUDEAs Lip Gloss. I have their shade Birthday Suit which is a gorgeous pink with diamond glitter in it. Their glosses have a high gloss finish and medium coverage, so the gloss can be worn by itself or overtop another lip product. And one more quick recommendation is their brushes – I have so many and their great quality!
The next brand is Ace Beaute. This is another brand that I discovered through Boxycharm that I love. Ace Beaute is a black, women-owned small business that is absolutely killing it. All their products are also cruelty-free!
Their eyeshadow quality is amazing. I have their Vintage Dawn and Grandiose Palette. The eyeshadows are so pigmented, especially the bright matte shades which can be hard to do well. I love their colour stories, they’re unique but also make sense. I also have their Glimmer Shadows (not pictured) and they are some of the best potted eyeshadows I’ve tried. They rival Colourpop’s Super Shock Shadows in terms of pigmentation and payoff. They’re sooo good! The final recommendation is the Bronzed in Paradise Palette. Now I know I say that I don’t normally like palettes that have all the shades in them. But there are very commendable qualities about this palette. The range of shades is so vast that it’s actually a palette for everyone. And because it’s bronzer palette so I can use the shades as eyeshadows. Finally, the quality is great. It’s pigmented and easy to use. So many great products from Ace Beaute!
The final underrated brand is one from the drugstore. I feel like Burt’s Bee is a well-known brand but doesn’t get enough hype. Burt’s Bee is known for using natural ingredients in their products and all their products are cruelty-free. I use their products all the time and everyone is surprised when I mention they’re from Burt’s Bee!
The first recommendation is the Satin Lipsticks. I have the shade Blush Basin which is a great everyday shade. These lipsticks are satin so they have a creamy quality to them and are very comfortable on the lips. Another great lip product from Burt’s Bee is their Lip Shines. If you don’t like thick glosses this is the product for you. It’s a quite thin formula but still provides some shine and colour. And it’s very comfortable on the lips. My final recommendation is the Burt’s Bee Blush. This is a lightweight, mineral formula which means that it goes on light but is easy to build. This is great because it’s so easy to over-apply blush. I also love the shade range. I have the shade Fresh Apricot but I want to buy more because I love the shades.
And those are my three underrated brands and their product recommendations! Let me know in the comments what your favourite underrated brand is in the comments!
Leave it to Lea 