Hey guys! Today I am going to share with you my three favourite lip products that I like to wear every day. They are all a step above a lip balm. It took some time after masking ended for me to find lip products that I love. I stand by all three of these and if you follow me you’ll probably recognize a few of these. Let’s get into it!
For me, a perfect everyday lip product meets three requirements. First, it’s comfortable on the lips. Sometimes I’ll wear a drying liquid lipstick or a super sticky lip gloss if matches the look or outfit perfectly. But for everyday wear, it needs to be comfortable. Second, it must fade nicely (or last all day). There is nothing worst than putting on a lip product in the morning and seeing yourself in the mirror at midday looking crazy. My final requirement is easy to reapply. Sometimes I’m too lazy to go to the bathroom and just use my phone to reapply. I also don’t bring a lip pencil with me so it can’t require a lip pencil to look good. All of the lip products I’m going to mention meet these three things.
My first favourite shouldn’t be a surprise, it’s the Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil. I’ve mentioned these a ton on my Youtube channel but I love this lip oil! Unlike other lip oils, it’s quite thin so it’s very comfortable on the lips while still being hydrating. It adds a little shine and colour to the lips but is still pretty natural. Since it’s an oil it almost gets absorbed into the lips throughout the day. Since it’s sheer it’s easy to apply without getting everywhere. I’ve gotten quite a few of my friends hooked on these, they’re so good!
My next favourite lip product is the Clinique Almost Lipstick in the shade Black Honey. Now I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lot of money for a tinted lip balm, but my cost-per-wear with this lipstick is so good because I love it! The shade changes to match your natural lip tone so it’s super flattering. It’s a sheer but buildable formula which means I apply as much as my mood desire. Since it’s similar to a balm it fades well. Now a good affordable dupe for this is the Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss Your Berry. I prefer the Clinique lipstick for the packaging. It’s slick and smaller so it’s easier to have a precise application. This is a great everyday way to add colour to the lips!
And my final favourite is the Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm. It’s similar to the Merit lip oil but like a lip gloss. It has a slightly thicker consistency and is shinier. It’s comfortable on the lips and not too sticky, unlike a traditional lip gloss. The pointed duo foot applicator makes it very easy to apply to the lips. The formula is a little more pigmented compared to the Merit lip oil but it’s still nice for everyday wear. There are some fun bright shades in the range though if you’re into that.
And those are my current favourite lip products. Let me know in the comments what some of your favourite lip products are right now, I’d love to try them out!
Hey guys, it’s that time of year again – the Sephora Sale! The sale is currently underway for all members and will end on November 7. Members can receive anywhere from 10% to 20% off. This is a great time to stock up on products or buy some higher ticket items as Sephora doesn’t often do store-wide sales. I have done many posts in the past and I still stand by all the recommendations in my 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations post so I highly suggest checking out that post. Today I am sharing 15 new recommendations, many of which I haven’t mentioned yet on my blog. So let’s get into it!
Starting off my makeup section I’m going to recommend a product that has been circling all over Tiktok – the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. This lipstick-lip balm hybrid is super comfortable on the lips. The shade is meant to be universally flattering. Because it’s on the more sheer side it’s easy to do one swipe for a light colour or apply more to intensify the colour. This has become my everyday lip product because it looks good, feels nice and wears well. I love it!
The Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray is becoming a holy grail product for me. It’s incredible but I do see a difference in the look of my pores after using this setting spray. It’s also amazing at helping my makeup last longer. This product lives up to its claims so it gets a thumbs up from me!
Brows is a category where I like to stick to the classics. I don’t experiment with brows all that much as I find the current brow trend of laminated brows doesn’t look very good on me. But I still want a product that keeps my brows in place. Enter the Nudestix Brow Set Gel XL. If you want something that sets your brows but doesn’t feel like super glue this is for you. I use this almost every day!
I love blush – it’s one of my favourite products to test and I love trying different formulas out. One of my recent favourites is the Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines – Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush. There is both cream and powder so I can pick which consistency I prefer on a certain day. The staying power of these blushes is INSANE. Blush is usually the first product to fade for me but with both formulas, my blush is still strong at the end of the day. I have the shade “She’s Blushing” and it’s so unique compared to my other blushes! A great product!
My final makeup recommendation is the ITEM Beauty Lash Snack Clean Lengthening Mascara. I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I got this product in my Boxycharm. But this is a great mascara! If you’re looking for a straight-up lengthening mascara this is the one for you. It has a small brush so it’s also amazing for the lower lash line. If these qualities are up your alley then you should check it out!
Moving into skincare now, we’re going to start with a boujee product – the Caudalie Grape Water. I like using a skincare spray before going in with my hyaluronic acid so the serum has something to absorb. I love the aerosol spray on this product. It feels so refreshing to spray. If you have sensitive skin I could see this being amazing and helping soothe the skin. It’s excessive but I love it so I thought I would share!
A second Caudalie product which I enjoy is the Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask. I got this when I went to Paris and I’ve loved it since! Whenever my skin is feeling gross or congested I always reach for this mask. If you can dry skin stay away because this will suck all the moisture out of your skin. But for me, it gets rid of all the oil and gunk. And it’s pink which is so fun!
The exfoliating product that I’ve been enjoying recently is the Clinique 7 Day Face Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula. This scrub has a nice balance between creaminess and grittiness. It does a great job of getting rid of any flakes or dry patches and leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth. It’s not too aggressive so I think people with drier skin would still enjoy this scrub.
Another mask favourite of mine is the Farmacy Honey Potion Hydration Mask. This mask is perfect for when my skin needs a little pick-me-up. It helps with texture but is also hydrating at the same time. The mask is cool because it goes on this honey colour but as I rub it in the mask turns white and warms up on the skin. It’s quite a unique mask which is why I recommend it!
The final skincare product is the Biossance Squalane+ Rose Vegan Lip Balm. Is lip balm considered makeup or skincare? I always apply it after I do my skincare which is why I’m including it here! This lip balm has a very interesting consistency almost a little waxy so it stays well on the lips. I love the tube packaging, makes it easy to apply. The Laneige lip balms are amazing but this is a great option if you’re looking for something fragrance-free!
Onto the final category, which I am calling miscellaneous. First I have to mention the Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray. My friends got this for me for my birthday and I fell in love. I love spraying this in my hair after curling it to give a messy and natural look to my curls. It makes them look less polished and more realistic. The smell is also amazing. Ouai sells the scent in a perfume and I’ll be buying it in the future, it smells divine. It’s not Curly Girl approved BUT I don’t use this often so I’m fine with it. Highly recommend this spray!
The next hair product is another product I got from my friends for my birthday – the Bumble and Bumble Curl Reactivator. Now this product isn’t Curly Girl approved but it’s so good that I don’t care haha. I’ve always struggled with my curls not holding their shape and becoming wavy/straight on the second day. I got this product in a set and it works so well! I dampen my hair with some water, spray this all over and scrunch my hair and my curls are back! It’s not as nice as freshly washed hair but still pretty good! I recommend my curly-haired friends check out this product.
My final hair recommendation is a scalp massager. The Sephora Collection one I own is slightly different than the model they currently have available. It looks similar to the one Briogeo is selling. Now that I’ve started using one I don’t think I could ever go back. I use it in the shower after I have applied shampoo but before I rinse it out to clean my scalp. I’ve always liked scratching my scalp with my nails but this is way better. Not only does it feel good, but apparently using a scalp massager is a great way to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth! I gave one to my one last Christmas and she loves it as well!
My perfume recommendation this time around is the Ellis Brooklyn Salt Perfume. This is a very summery perfume so it’s not the most seasonally appropriate scent but I wanted to share a new one! I got this perfume during the spring sale and I loved wearing it this summer! I find summer beachy perfumes are often very coconutty, which don’t get me wrong I love that scent. But this is a little more sophisticated. As the name implies, it has an almost salty scent to it. The main notes are ylang ylang, Tahitian tiare and ambergris. Smelling this perfume just transports me to the beach! If this sounds up your alley check it out.
My final product recommendation is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream. I have talked about this on my blog before but since it wasn’t featured in past Sephora rec posts I had to include it. This body cream smells divine. It’s a very sweet and gourmand scent so if that’s not your thing then pass. But whenever I wear this body cream I always get compliments on how I smell, especially from guys. Men just seem to love sweet scents! This cream is also so lush, leaving my skin feeling soft after I applied it. And if you like the scent they have so many other products like sprays and hair oils (even deodorants) so I recommend at least going in-store and smelling it for yourself!
And that’s it for my recommendations! Please let me know in the comments what you’re picking up during the sale. I have already received my order for this sale so I’m excited to share with you guys in a future post all the goodies I picked up!
Hey guys! It’s finally time to share my 2021 beauty favourites! If you watched my newest Youtube video, you might have noticed that I only mentioned makeup products. Well in this blog post I’m going to be talking about everything. I have makeup, skincare, haircare, body and perfume! I will try and keep things brief because I know this is going to be a long post. Let’s get into it.
Makeup
I feel like 2021 was the year of base products for me, so I don’t have many eye products. The one eyeshadow palette I picked is the Violet Voss Olive Your Forever Palette. I also featured this in my Best of Boxycharm 2021 post. I love the colour story and the quality is amazing. It’s one of the few palettes I reached for over and over again.
My eyeliner favourite is the same as 2020, the Make Up For Ever Artist Colour Pencil in Boundless Bisque. In the past, I gravitate to wearing browns and blacks in my waterline. This year it was all about nude eyeliner for me. I just wanted something to brighten my eyes and this always did the job. Or if I didn’t sleep a lot and my eyes were red this helped as well. I want to get more into eyeliner in 2022 because I have a bunch in my collection that I want to use more!
My two mascara picks are both from the drugstore! The Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara has easily become my everyday mascara. I love a lengthening mascara that adds a little volume as well and the Maybelline Sky High Mascara delivers exactly that. It adds some length to my lashes but isn’t too dramatic. My favourite mascara for my lower lashes is the L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara. My lower lashes naturally curl down so I often must mascara wands too big to coat my lower lashes. The L’Oreal mascara’s wand is super thin so it’s easy for me to coat my lower lashes. I also like using this after I apply false lashes to help everything blend together as well. Two great mascaras!
When I thought about which pair of false lashes were my favourite I couldn’t pick one. So I picked four haha. When I want something BIG I reach for the Lavaa Lashes in the style Flirty. There is something about big lashes that make it seem like your makeup is impressive even when it’s just a crease and shimmer. These lashes are super feathering which I like. When I want something a little less big but still long I reach for the Elise lashes in the Kash Beauty Secret Treasure Luxury Lash Set. These lashes have a beautiful wing to them so it gives a cat-eye effect which I love. A very similar-looking lash is the Colourpop Queenie Falsies Faux Lashes. The Kash Beauty lashes have a thicker band so it’s harder to conceal compared to the Colorupop lashes but a thicker band makes it’s easier to apply and more comfortable. I would recommend either. My favourite pair of lashes for more soft glam looks are the Ardell Faux Mink Demi Wispies. I love these because they’re wispy and the band is clear so people often don’t even realize I’m wearing falsies. I always get compliments when I wear them AND they’re from the drugstore. All of these lashes get two thumbs up from me.
This year when it came to brows I went back to the pencils. I find pencils the quickest and easiest to use. My favourites are Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil and NYX Precision Brow Pencil. My favourite brow gel is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. I already have thick brows so I don’t need to use a tinted brow gel and then I don’t have to worry about matching the gel to my brows. This ABH one is strong enough to keep my brows in place but not too stiff that or crunchy. And that’s it for brows, pretty simple.
I have three primer favourites this year, all of them I was madly in love with at different parts of the year. The first is a continuation from 2020, the Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm. If you’re looking for a primer that delivers glowy and smooth skin, then you have to check this one out. I think it’s all the skincare ingredients that stop this from looking greasy but instead dewy on the skin. I can wear this all over the face no problem. Another dewy primer is the Rodial Soft Focus Glow Drops. This primer makes me look SO dewy. I keep this on the periphery of my face because it does have a bit of shimmer that I don’t want to emphasize my pores. But this is so dewy that sometimes I can skip highlight when I’m using this serum. The final primer favourite is the NYX Marshmellow Smoothing Primer. This is for everyone who wants a pore-filling primer but hates the silicone texture. This primer does an amazing job at smoothing and creating an even base on my face. The texture is very similar to marshmallow fluff, probably why it’s named after it haha. A great drugstore primer that I recommend everyone check out!
I also have three foundation favourites! The first is the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I think this foundation is going to be on a lot of people’s 2021 favourite’s list. This skin tint is one of the best light coverage foundation I’ve tried. I think it’s because it has a buildable formula so it applies a light wash everywhere but I can build up the pigment where I had some redness or discolouration. And it’s Fenty Beauty so you already know the shade range is amazing. My dewy foundation pick is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation Dewy. It has good coverage but the dewy formula means that it doesn’t look cakey or dry on my skin like some other full coverage foundations. It’s got a decent shade range, but it’s such an affordable price that I can buy multiple shades and mix to create my perfect shade. The final foundation favourite is a hidden gem. Not enough people talk about the Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation. I think a lot of people would like this foundation because it’s right in the middle with medium coverage and satin finish. It’s not too much or too little of anything. It’s long-lasting and has a great shade range, what more could you want!
It wouldn’t be a favourites post without mentioning the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I love this concealer and I’ve talked on and on about this concealer. My other two favourites are the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer and the ELF Hydrating Camo Concealer. The Makeup Revolution concealer is quite similar to the Nars one just a little less creamy. But it’s not too high coverage and lasts well. The ELF concealer is the wrong shade for under my eyes but I’ve been using it constantly on my face. Even though it’s hydrating I’ve found it stays put and does an amazing job of concealing any acne I have. I would recommend all three concealers!
Powder is the category where I haven’t fallen in love with anything new. My favourite that I kept on returning to is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder. This powder has been a staple in my collection because it’s creamy but does a great job of mattifying any shininess I have going on. Whenever I’m looking greasy I just use a touch of this and the grease is gone without making me look cakey. I also pack this with me when I need a powder to touch up. And it’s drugstore so it’s quite affordable!
My two bronzer favourites are both cream! My more expensive favourite is the Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer. This cream is so easy to blend but lasts long on the skin. And the shade is the perfect bronzing shade for me. My affordable favourite is the ELF Putty Bronzer. The formula is a little stiffer but I find that it dries down almost to a powdery consistency. This makes it extremely long-wearing, especially under masks. I can also apply powders on top of it no problem. If you haven’t tried cream bronzer yet you need to!
I have a lot of blush favourites. This was the year of blush for me. A continuation from last year is the Nudestix Nudies Blush. I love this blush formula because I can easily swipe it on my face and blend it out easily. My favourite shades are In the Nude (a warm peach) and Picante (an orange coral). In the Nude and the Milk Makeup bronzer are what I wear together almost on the daily because they go together so well. My other cream blush favourite is the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in the shade Love. The formula is a little more difficult to work with, I usually have to put it on the back of my hand or a palette and then onto my face. But this shade is so gorgeous I work around that. It gives the most beautiful flush to the face. I blush very red so it looks quite natural for me. And it dries down matte so it lasts a long time. My favourite blush favourite is the Colourpop Pressed Powder Blush in Flower Power. This was a collab between Colourpop and Animal Crossing. I thought I would like the other blush shade in the collab but I have been loving Flower Power. This lilac shade is quite unique for cool tone blushes but I think it gives the most amazing fresh-faced look. Whenever I want something cool toned I always reach for this blush.
My two highlights are both cream and are quite similar. A carry-over from last year is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. My other favourite is the Auric Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer. If you want to know the differences between the two, I would read my original Auric Glow Lust review. But what I like about both of them is that the shades are more skin tone and therefore very natural. It looks like my skin is dewy than some shiny stripe on my skin. They are also both easy to blend. Both are expensive highlights but they come with so much highlight that I will never run out of product!
Four setting sprays favourites may be a little excessive but I do love all of them. My holy grails are the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ and the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. My first newer favourite is the Maven Beauty Rose Water Setting Spray. I’m not a fan of the rose scent but I love the way it helps my makeup last longer. I like pairing this with a face full of creams because it helps set everything and keep it locked. My other favourite is the Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Setting Spray, which you may remember from my Sephora haul. This setting spray actually blurs my pores, which I think is just incredible for a setting spray. Whenever I want to look smooth and flawless I grab this spray.
Skincare was hard for me to pick because I go through products a lot quicker compared to makeup. I decided to focus on what products I truly loved and that is products that I have repurchased or would consider repurchasing in the future. So let’s get into it.
For cleansers, I have three favourites. My cleansing balm is the only thing not pictured above, but I picked the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. I loved this balm so much that after I finished it I repurchased it. I don’t currently have it in my collection because I have other balms I’m trying to finish up but I would get this one again. It’s quite oily so it does a great job of dissolving makeup but it doesn’t leave an oily residue on my face. It’s so good that if I’m not wearing a lot of makeup I can skip a second cleanser. And it’s available at the drugstore so it’s a great price! My second cleanser is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. This cleanser was great because it cleaned my skin but didn’t strip it. Whenever I used this regularly I barely had any breakouts. I’m currently using a different cleanser but I don’t like it as much as the Youth to the People cleanser. I will be repurchasing in the future. The final cleanser is the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. I treat this more as an exfoliator, using it only about once or twice a week. This cleanser has both physical and chemical exfoliants so it helps clean away any dead skin. This helps keep my skin feeling smooth and soft.
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you will know my love of the OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. This is one of the products that has helped the most with my texture. I use this every single day. If you suffer from acne, oily skin or texture you need to check this toner out.
I have two more products for everyone who suffers from acne. The first is the Benzagel 5% Acne Gel (not pictured because forgot to photograph it oops). I switched from my prescription acne gel to this one and it has done wonders for my skin. I apply this daily to the areas where I usually get acne and I’ve noticed a decrease in the amount of acne I get. I still get some but it’s better. When I do get some zits I will apply the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots on top. These dots help pull all the gunk out from any whiteheads. It helps get rid of a whitehead without having to pop it, which helps prevent any scarring. They are a little pricey but they are the best I’ve tried on the market.
My favourite serum is a pricey one but I do love the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This is one of the best Vitamin C oils I’ve tried so far. I’m still on the hunt for a more affordable option that gives me similar results. This oil helps reduce any pigmentation or dark spots that I have on my skin while also giving my skin some moisture and shine. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this oil.
And finally my two favourite face masks. These two do quite different things. Whenever my face is freaking out I reach for the Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask to Rescue Problem Skin. This helps dry up and clear out and breakouts that I’m having. If you have oily or acne-prone skin you have to check this mask out. The second mask is on the opposite end of the spectrum, being very hydrating and rejuvenating. The Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask goes on yellow and turns white and it heats up and helps the skin. If you ever want to turn your skin from blah to wow, then use this mask.
Haircare
Now moving on to haircare. I have been pretty consistent with my haircare products, haven’t tried many new products. But I’ve been loving how my hair looks so I want to share the goodies!
The first product, not pictured, is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. This is my favourite heat protectant. If I’m going to be diffusing my hair, I always like to add a heat protectant and leave-in products work since they coat your hair. I love leave-in because it doesn’t make my hair feel greasy or weight down my hair. And it smells amazing! I’m trying to finish up some other products but I will repurchase this leave-in in the future.
The two products that have transformed my curls are the Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Scrunching Gel and Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Hair Mousse. The mousse adds definition to my curls and the gel helps the curls keep their shape. My hair is soft and bouncy and shinier. The products are Curly Girl Approved AND available at the drugstore. Herbal Essences, you are never allowed to discontinue these products.
My form of self care is buying myself millions of body scrubs and lotions. I have tried many bodycare products but narrowed down my list of favourites to three.
My favourite body scrub is the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. The Macadamia & Rice Milk happens to be my favourite scent. I love this body scrub because unlike a lot of scrubs it’s actually quite creamy. I had scrubs that are dry because I find them more irritating than soothing. This scrub gets rid of all the dry skin but also moisturizes at the same time. And it’s available at the drugstore!!
It was hard to pick a favourite body lotion but I decided that the Hempz Natural Herbal Body Moisturizer is probably my favourite. It checks off all the major boxes for me: it smells good, it moisturizers my skin, it sinks quickly into the skin, it has a pump and it’s affordable. There is a great range of scents so you can find one you enjoy!
I’ve mentioned this before, but I get bad acne on my chest and shoulders. For this reason, I usually use a face moisturizer on this part of my body because fragranced body lotions usually irritate the skin there. I’ve been using the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion and loving it. It moisturizes the skin, dries quickly and isn’t sticky. I love the big bottle with a pump because it’s easy to use. And you guessed it, it’s affordable!
Perfumes
The final category is perfumes! This year I got into wearing perfume on the daily. I had a decent perfume collection but I never wore it until one day I realized I shouldn’t let my perfumes go to wear and now I wear them more. I switch up my perfumes based on the season and my mood but these three have been my favourite.
The first favourite is the Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine. I enjoy fresh-smelling perfumes but there is a complexity to this perfume that I adore. The orange scent is sweet but there is a bit of sandalwood that adds some spiciness to this perfume. I find this perfume is great year-round as well. Finally, it lasts quite a long time on the skin so it’s worth the expensive price tag.
The second favourite is the Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ By the Fireplace. This scent won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I love it. This is more of a fall/winter scent for me because it’s very spicy with clove, chestnut and vanilla. It’s also a unisex scent which I’ve noticed that I do enjoy wearing more unisex scents. This perfume gives me dark academia vibes which I love.
And that is my extremely long 2021 beauty favourites post! Let me know in the comments what some of your favourites products were this year. As well just wanted to mention there won’t be a new blog post this Friday since it’s Christmas Eve. Hope everyone who celebrates has a wonderful Christmas!
Hey guys! It’s now becoming a tradition that along with doing my yearly beauty favourites, I revisit my favourites from the previous year. So today I will be sharing with you my thoughts on my 2020 beauty favourites. I’ve already selected my 2021 beauty faves (post coming next week) so it’ll be interesting to see what’s different between last year and this year. Let’s get into it.
My primer pick was the Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Balm and this is still a favourite of mine. I love using this in the summertime. This primer gives that dewy look without the sparkle or glitter that some other glowy primers have. It also helps smooth the skin. Still love this primer.
My two foundation picks were ones that I haven’t used in a while. The first is the Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation. It’s funny because I thought that this foundation was glowy. Now that I’ve tried actual dewy foundation this one is surprisingly matte. It has a very moussy texture. I will say that it’s not a bad foundation, I just have found others I prefer more. The second foundation pick was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation. I wore this the other day and it’s been forever since I’ve worn a matte, full-coverage foundation. It’s a good foundation it’s not just what I prefer to wear anymore! I like something with a little lighter coverage and a more satin finish. My 2020 favourites have now become mid-tier foundations for me.
My love of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer continues. This bronzer is so creamy that it blends out super easily. But it lasts super long on the skin. And the shade just matches me perfectly for that natural bronze glow. I do have another bronzer favourite though this year so stay tuned!
My first blush favourite from 2020 was the Nudestix Nudies Blush in In The Nude. This is still a favourite and I have since added another shade of this blush to my collection. It blends easily but has a matte finish to it stays put all day. My second blush favourite was the Burt’s Bee Blush in the shade Fresh Apricot. This was a blush I had to pull out of my collection because it had been a while since I had used it. I forgot how pigmented it was so I accidentally used too much. But with a light hand, it’s a very nice warm-toned blush.
It’s funny because I recently started using the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter after not using it for months and fell in love with it all over again. The shade is skin toned so it’s one of the most ‘natural’ highlight I’ve used. It makes me look naturally glowy which I love. And I find that I can wear this with powder blush and bronzer so it’s very versatile. Love this highlight.
My favourite brow product was the Glossier Brow Flick. In my post, I said I wanted to try out other brow pens and I haven’t oops. I like the idea but I find that brow pens are a lot of work. I find when using a brow pen I have to be very precious and it therefore takes me way longer to do my brows. I’m often rushing in the morning and don’t have time so I’ve gone back to my pencils.
My first of two eyeshadow palettes was the Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Vol II. It’s funny because I’ve been using the first edition palette quite a bit this year since it’s a project pan product for me. Honestly haven’t used the palette much this year. The one issue with doing a project pan is that I’m not using my full collection which is something I want to change moving forward. My second palette pick was the KASH Beauty Secret Treasure palette. I do like this palette. I love the mattes and the colour story. My only complaint is that the shimmers are a little chunky so it’s hard to blend them out softly. It’s either full on bright metallic or nothing. I love using the mattes in this palette paired with an eyeshadow topper. Great palette!
My two eyeliner picks were the Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner and the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil. I stand by what I said for both of these eyeliners. They are both easy to use, show up well on the eye and last long. These are probably the two eyeliners that I get any use out of in my collection.
Next up is mascara, which unfortunately I can’t say much about since I have gotten rid of all these mascaras. I’m trying to be better arthrowing out expired makeup and mascara is the one product that I’m trying to stay on top of. So I haven’t used my mascara picks in a while so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment.
I have a whole bunch of lip products (and spoiler I still have a bunch for this year). Products that are on my 2021 favourites list again are the Steve Laurant Lip Liner in Chic and the Burt’s Bee Satin Lipstick in the shade Blush Basin – so I’ll save my thoughts on those. I did finish my tube of the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm! It’s such a great balm. I reconsidered repurchasing it but decided to get the Laneige one instead. But I still recommend the lip balm and might repurchase it in the future. My lipgloss favourite was the Essence Shine Shine Shine Lipgloss. I do like this gloss, I just found myself gravitating towards coloured lip gloss, not clear. But if you want a clear lip gloss I highly recommend this one. The final lip product was the Glossier Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick. I like this lipstick and still use it occasionally. I don’t find myself gravitating towards it that often because it’s a sheer lipstick. There are times that I want a sheer lipstick but not as often as in the past.
And that is a look back at my 2020 beauty favourites! Let me know if you agree or disagree with my updated thoughts. And like I mentioned my 2021 beauty favourites will be coming soon so stay tuned!
Hey guys! As promised, here is my Sephora Sale recommendations list! The Sephora Holiday Savings Event runs from November 5-15 for Rouge, November 9-15 for VIB and November 11-15 for VIB. The savings range from 10-20% off depending on what level you are, so it’s the perfect time of year to pick up something you’ve been eyeing. Today I’m going to be doing something similar to my wishlist, where I’ll be sharing Makeup, Skincare, Hair&Body (and maybe a few miscellaneous in Hair&Body). So let’s get into it!
Makeup
Starting off I have two foundation recommendations, and if you’ve been following my blog and Youtube these probably won’t be a surprise to you. For lighter coverage, I recommend the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I love this skin tint because it somehow manages to be light coverage but also helps reduce any redness I have going on. It looks and feels good on the skin and it’s easy to apply. Win, win, win. If you want something with more coverage than the Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation. This is medium coverage and has a natural matte finish, so it just looks like skin. But best of all is that it’s sooooo long-lasting. I can wear this all day at work and not look like a greasy mess at the end of the year. Not enough people talk about this foundation, it’s so good.
My favourite bronzer is still the Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer. I feel like everyone launched new cream bronzers this year and I just stuck with my Milk Makeup one! The shade Baked is perfect for my complexion. It blends so easily and seamlessly into the face. And it’s long-lasting, which isn’t always the case for creams.
For blush, I have two recommendations. If you’re newer to using cream blushes, then try out the Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush. They have a great selection of shades. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but they are matte so they last a long time on the skin. I can swipe these blushes on my face and blend them on in three seconds. If you’re experienced with blush and want something impactful, then check out the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. This blush is pigmented, so it’s not for the faint of heart. I always apply some to a palette or the back of my hand and then go into my face. But I can get a flushed look and it lasts long on the skin. I love the shade Love because it’s a terracotta that gives me that almost sunburnt look which was gorgeous in the summer. I think you’ll be happy with either blush.
Sticking with the cream theme, my highlight recommendation is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. I was in love with this product for a while then took a break to focus on my project pan highlight. Well, I recently went back to the highlight and fell in love all over again. What I like is that the shades are based on skintones so the highlight is very natural and gives the glow-from-within look. Also, the bottle is huge so you’ll never run out.
For eyeshadow, I’m going to give a shoutout to Huda Beauty, especially her nine-pan palettes. I feel like everyone raves about her big palettes but I love my Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette. It’s small and compact so it’s easy to store. The colour stories are all gorgeous and there is a nice mix between mattes and shimmers. The mattes are so easy to work with. The glitters are a little bit more finicky, but wetting them with setting spray does the trick. There are so many different nine pan palettes that I’m sure you’ll find a colour story to match what you’re looking for.
Another underrated product is the Tarte Double Take Eyeliner. I have the shade brown and reach for this all the time. I find it super handy to have both the liquid and pencil liner in one product. I will often use liquid liner on my lid and then the pencil in my waterline. I’m usually not a fan of felt tip liners but this one is easy to use. And the pencil is easy to apply and lasts a long time. If you’re looking for a new eyeliner check this one out.
For lipstick, I have to go with a classic – Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but because it’s matte it stays put. It doesn’t make my lips look dry or cakey. It doesn’t last through lunch but I can sip a drink no problem. And the shade range is huge so you can find a shade that you like. My two favourites are Velvet Teddy and Down to an Art.
I just want to preface this section by saying that most of these recommendations are for my skin type, which is oily and acne-prone. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you might not like these products and that’s okay! I do have a few recommendations for dry skin people though so make sure to read ahead!
I have four different cleansers because I love trying and testing out cleansers haha. First, we’ll start with normal cleansers. A great daytime cleanser is the Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. It’s a gel cleanser that helps clean the skin without stripping it. And it has a delicious citrus scent that is amazing to smell in the morning. Next for cleanser, we have the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. This is for all my acne-prone people who want something that helps fight acne but doesn’t strip their skin. It’s a nice rich gel as well but lathers up well. And it has a scent that reminds me of pine (I don’t know why because there is no pine in it) but it’s a great cleanser.
Now for cleansing balms. My first recommendation is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. If you find that cleansing balms irritate your eyes or skin then you need to check this one out. This doesn’t irritate me at all but removes even the most stubborn mascara or glitters. They also have a limited edition holiday set with fun scents that I’m tempted to get. If you have drier skin, then check out the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. This stuff is great at removing makeup but also feels milky and hydrating at the same time. It’s very gentle so might even be good for sensitive skin people!
If you want a good vitamin C serum and don’t mind splurging, then check out the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This oil not only helps reduce my acne scarring and redness but also leaves my skin looking dewy and healthy. I’ve tried other vitamin C serums and nothing has compared so far.
I have two moisturizer recommendations. For something more lightweight I recommend the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. This gel is hydrating but lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin. Perfect for underneath makeup for more my fellow oily gals. For something a little thicker and with more hydration, then check out the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. My mom swears by this stuff. It’s super thick and super moisturizing. If you have sensitive skin First Aid Beauty is a great brand to check out. The tub is also huge and will probably last you a while.
For eye cream, this recommendation comes from my brother. He loves the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry. I got this eye cream in my Boxycharm and he stole it from me and loved it haha. He said that it moisturized the area and didn’t irritate him like some other eye cream. So if you need a new eye cream, this is brother-approved.
For hair masks, I have to recommend the Brigogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Mask. It pains me that this mask is limited edition. It’s just so much better than their original Don’t Despair Repair mask. You guys already know I’m picking up the set during the sale. This is the best Curly Girl Approved hair mask I’ve used. It makes my hair feel soft and hydrated. Highly recommend it.
My next hair recommendation is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. I love using this as a heat protectant before I blow-dry my hair. It just helps my hair stay smooth and not become super frizzy. I also love the scent it’s delicious. And it’s Curly Girl Approved so win-win-win!
The next product isn’t Curly Girl Approved so I use it sparingly, but I do like the Moroccanoil Treatment. Whenever my hair is super frizzy, usually on the second hair, I’ll just take a dime size amount in my palm and run it through my hair. It helps tame the frizz. If you’re not following the Curly Girl Method you need this in your life.
I feel like everyone and their mother has recommended the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. I do like them and would recommend, but I will give a warning. The nice thing about these drops is that you can add it to your body lotion and don’t have to rinse it off. The only downside is that after a couple of hours and the tan develops I find that it creates a weird smell. It’s not very strong but if my hands or arm is near my nose I can smell a distinct smell. I can only describe it as a combination of rotting flesh and chlorine. It does go away after the tan starts to develop so I recommend using it overnight or taking a shower if you are planning to go out the same day you use this tanner. But besides that, I find the drops easy to use, the tan looks nice and wears for a long time!
I have two perfume brand recommendations. Perfumes are very subjective so it can be hard to recommend them. But from what I’ve experience so far from these two brands I’m impressed. First is Masion Margiela Replica line. I have By the Fireplace and man is this stuff strong. Two sprits and I smell this perfume all day long. I also find the scents to be super unique and unlike anything else on the market. The other brand is Atelier Cologne. I own two perfumes by them – Vanille Insensee and Orange Sanguine. Unlike the Maison Margiela scents that are super complicated, I find that Atelier Colognes have one strong note with supporting scents. The Vanille Insensee smells like vanilla and Orange Sanguine smells like orange. It’s not fussy, very straight to the point scents which I enjoy. They don’t last as long as Maison Margiela but long enough for my tastes. I would recommend these three scents and would consider purchasing more from the brand.
The final product recommend is the Forvr Mood candle. I have a whole blog post about these candles but to summarize these candles are intense. They are also super long lasting. I’ve had mine since August and I’m still not done it. If you know someone in your life who is a candle lover, get this for them for the holidays.
And that my friends is my very long Sephora recommendations list. I left off some classic products that I mention a lot (Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, ABH Brow Wiz, Urban Decay All Nighter, Olehenriksen toner). But I hope you guys found this blog post to be helpful! Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to get during the sale.
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 is inspired by the lovely Allana Davison, who recently did this in video format. She shared her top five products from her top five makeup brands. I wanted to do this myself. This was a little harder than I expected because while I might love a certain brands, I didn’t necessarily have five products from them. But I managed to figure it out. I have 25 products so I will try and keep it brief otherwise this post will be super long! Let’s get into it.
When thinking of my top brands my mind immediately went to Fenty Beauty. I have three foundations and I love each one. I have the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, the Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation and the Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I discussed this in my Eaze Drop review but each foundation is unique. Both long-wearing foundations are full-coverage, but the finishes are different. The Eaze Drops have a lighter coverage but last just as long. Fenty Beauty is also known for having a large shade range, so there is a very high chance that you can find a shade that matches you. If you are looking for a new foundation Fenty Beauty is a great place to look.
Another one of my favourites is the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer. Just like the foundations, the bronzer range is quite extensive with nine different shades. This is unlike other brands that might have three shades. The bronzer is quite pigmented so just make sure to use a light hand!
I can’t talk about Fenty Beauty without mentioning the Gloss Bombs. These came out right when gloss was becoming big again. The doe-foot applicator is larger than other glosses so it’s easy to apply the gloss in one easy swipe. I have the original Fenty Glow, which is a rose nude. But the shade range has expanded, and they also come out with limited edition shades all the time. If you love gloss then you have to check this one out.
The second brand that came to mind is Maybelline. When I was a teenager and didn’t know anything about makeup, Maybelline was the brand that I gravitated towards. Now that I know more about makeup I still reach for them. My absolute favourite product from them is the Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Powder. This was the first powder I purchased, and after testing out other powders this one is still great. It’s silky smooth and feels so soft and does a great job of mattifying my skin but doesn’t make me look cakey. This powder is an oily girl’s dream.
Within the Fit Me! range, I also love the Fit Me Concealer. I’ve found that I prefer more natural concealers, and this one fits the bill. It’s thinner and so it blends out seamlessly. The shade I have is my summer shade. This is the perfect concealer to wear in the summer when I want some coverage but don’t want anything heavy or cakey. A great drugstore concealer.
Maybelline powder products are amazing. The Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighters are gorgeous. The formula is so creamy, so I can apply a small amount for a soft glow or pack it on to make it blinding. Another great powder is the City Bronzer. This is the perfect summer bronzer. It has a soft sheen in the powder so it creates a beautiful, bronzed, glow-from-within look. A great drugstore bronzer.
And my final favourite product from Maybelline is their Colour Sensational Lipsticks. Their formula and colour remind me of MAC lipsticks. There are different finishes and SO many shades that you’re bound to find one you like. So if you need a new lipstick, check out Maybelline.
The brand that I easily own the most products from is Colourpop. The majority of products I’ve ordered myself, but I have received a few from my Boxycharm as well. My favourite product is their Super Shock Shadows. I own quite a few of these. These are creamy eyeshadows that dry down on the eyes and last all day. I prefer the glittery ones because they’re just so pretty and such an easy way to apply glitter to the eyes. I will often just put bronzer on the eyes and a Super Shock Shadow for an easy but fun makeup look. I highly recommend this.
Colourpop’s eyeshadow formula is also amazing. I have so many palettes from them. The one I put in the photo is the So Jaded palette, one of my more recent purchases (which of course is now discontinued. Of course I pick the palette that’s discontinued lol). But I also have a magnetic palette with some of their single shadows. Their mattes are pigmented and easy to blend. And the shimmers are impactful and easy to apply. I love all their palettes, but they do discontinue them quite frequently so it’s hard to recommend one. So just pick one that has a colour story you like because it’s probably good.
Another eye product is their false lashes! Besides Ardell, these are the best affordable lashes that I’ve tried. They have a thick band so it’s easy to apply and stays put pretty easily. I have the styles Queenie and Dame. If you’re looking to get into lashes but don’t want to shell out a lot of money, check these out.
I love cream blushes, I really do. But most of my favourites are quite expensive. The Colourpop Blush Stix is the best affordable option I’ve tried. It’s quite pigmented AND blends easily, unlike a lot of affordable cream blushes. I can swipe this on my face and blend it out no problem. I have the shade Splash, which is a warm rose, but there are other shades as well.
Colourpop has so many great lip options, but my fave is their Just A Tint lip tint. There are some of the best hydrating lipstick formulas I’ve tried. It’s very hydrating and comfortable on the lips. But for being a tint it has a pretty good colour payoff. I have the shade Rise n Shine, which is a peach tint. I would recommend adding these to your cart.
When I was thinking about what some of my favourite products are, I realized I had quite a few from Tarte. They’re not necessarily a brand that’s always on my radar, but everything I own from them I love! Tarte mascaras are some of my favourites. The Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara is one of my all-time favourites. I don’t currently own it, but I have the Maneater Voluptuous Mascara and it’s pretty good as well.
I also love Tarte lip products. The Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm is one of my all-time favourite lip balms. I bought a new one at the beginning of winter and I’ve almost finished it already. The packaging is sleek and I prefer twist-up balms the most. It hydrates by chapped lips and adds the lightest tint as well. I also have one of the Tarteist Quick Dry Lip Paints and they’re some of the most comfortable liquid lipsticks. My favourite shade is unfortunately discontinued by the formula is still great. It dries quickly, doesn’t crack and is long-lasting. Everything you need with a liquid lip.
I got a Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in one of my Sephora birthday gifts many years ago and it looks like I’ve barely made a dent even though I’ve worn it so much. This is a blush that will take you forever to get through. It’s a very soft formula so you don’t have to worry about getting clown cheeks with this blush.
The final product is one I just recently finished – the Ready, Set, Radiant Skin Mist. I always found it a little too wet for makeup use. But then I saw someone using a mist before applying hyaluronic acid so I got the idea to use this mist. And it works perfectly for that! It’s easy to wet my face and it has skincare benefits as well! Just goes to show that sometimes getting creative and reworking products can be beneficial!
My final brand is Wet n Wild. I’m not a huge fan of the packaging, it’s pretty cheap, but the products are worth it. For example, I am in love with the Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder. The lid doesn’t even properly close, but I deal with it because the powder is so beautiful. It’s very similar in consistency to the Maybelline highlight; it can be soft or blinding depending on how you apply the powder. Great drugstore highlight.
Another great powder product from Wet n Wild is the PhotoFocus Pressed Powder. Unlike the Maybelline one, this almost feels like a baked powder. It’s quite light so it’s perfect for setting the skin. And with all the products in the PhotoFocus range, it’s meant to not create photo flashback.
Speaking of PhotoFocus, the PhotoFocus foundations are great. I have both the Matte and the Dewy foundations. Both foundations provide great coverage and are quite long-lasting. The only difference is the finish. I love using these foundations to mix with others. They add great coverage and can alter the finish depending on the one I use. And because they’re affordable, I own different shades as well. So I can use mix them or with other foundations to create my perfect shade. A great affordable foundation.
And the final product is the Wet n Wild Colour Icon Eyeshadow palettes. I’ve said this before but these are some of the eyeshadows at the drugstore. The shimmers are a little lacklustre, but there are only two in the palette. I can use the mattes to create a beautiful base and then add a colourful single shadow (such as the Colourpop Super Shock Shadows) to complete the look. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good eyeshadows.
And THAT IS IT. Wow, that’s a long post haha. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Let me know if you would want to see do a second part! And let me know in the comments what some of your favourite brands are!
Hey guys! Today we’re taking a deep dive into my favourite hair products. I will be posting a video on Sunday that will be showing the products in action and explaining how I style my hair. The majority of these products are from the drugstore, and the only products that aren’t I got in my Boxycharm so I’m just trying to use them up. Also, the majority of these products are Curly Girl Approved, but I will mention the few that aren’t. So let’s get into it.
The first products are my shampoo and conditioner. I know a lot of people within the curly hair community don’t use shampoo but I prefer using it. I wanted to get shampoo and conditioner from the drugstore because I go through a lot of it. So after testing many shampoos I’ve settled on the Maui Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo. All of Maui’s products are vegan as well as sulfate, silicon and paraben free so they’re safe for curly hair. This shampoo gives me that clean feeling without drying out my hair. It also smells amazing. The Maui website also has lots of resources for finding the right hair products. And the best part is that it’s available at Shoppers and Rexall.
The conditioner I use is the Tresemme Nourish and Replenish Conditioner for Dry Hair. I’ve also been a fan of Tresemme products, it’s what I used before switching to silicone and sulfate-free products. I found this conditioner through the curly hair subreddit. I believe this is the only Tresemme conditioner that is curly hair approved. I love this one because it’s a large bottle which is great since I go through a lot of conditioner. I use about a golf ball size every time I wash my hair. It’s helpful to use affordable products since I use so much conditioner. This also smells great.
Out of the shower I always use a mousse and a hair gel. I use a mousse to help with curl definition because it’s something I struggle with more wavy-curly hair. My favourite is the Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Mousse. It does a good job of defining my curls but doesn’t leave my hair feeling crunchy or dry. I’ve tested so many different mousses because I was using mousse before I switched to the curly girl method. And this one is the best. It works well both airdrying my hair and with a diffuser as well. And once again it’s available at the drugstore.
When I was researching curly hair I noticed that everyone recommended using a hair gel. Since I liked the Herbal Essences mousse I decided to try their hair gel in the same line since it’s also curly girl approved. I love the Totally Twisted Curl Scrunching Gel. While mousse gives me the definition, hair gel gives me the hold to ensure that my curls keep their shape. Compared to other gels I find that it doesn’t leave that much of a cast. Depending on how much I use something I need to scrunch my hair once it dries, but once I scrunch out my hair it’s so soft. I’ve also got my brother to switch over to the gel as well, he likes it.
Now for a few products that I sometimes add-in. These aren’t available at the drugstore but I wanted to mention them because I do use them. So first when I am airdrying my hair I’ve been adding in the Drunk Elephant Wild Marula Tangle Spray. I got this while I was working at Sephora so I thought I might as well use it. I’ll spray this on my hair before applying my mousse and gel when I’m airdrying my hair. I suffer from having frizzy hair (I have a lot of baby hairs), so I use this to help ease the frizz and add some shine. I think it’s okay. I haven’t noticed a huge difference in my hair but I also haven’t had any negative experiences so I’ll continue to use it.
If I’m diffusing my hair or styling it (because on rare occasions I’ll still curl or straighten it), I will apply a heat protectant. I have two that I got in my Boxycharm that I’m using up. The first is the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream. This cream is curly girl approved, as all Briogeo products are made with sulfates and silicones. I will say I don’t like it as much as the next one because I find that it heights down my hair a bit and my curls aren’t as defined when I use this cream.
I’m happy to find out that the other protectant I like to use is also curly girl approved! I didn’t realize until I looked up the ingredients for this post. Wow, I’m so happy about that! I love using the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. I’ve read online that leave-in products are also good heat protectants because they coat the hair and therefore protect it from heat damage. This Living Proof Leave-In does a great protecting my hair and leaving it soft and smooth. And unlike the Briogeo one, I don’t feel like my hair is weighed down when I use it.
And the final product I like to use is a deep conditioning mask, but I’m still on the hunt for my favourite. I love the Briogeo Honey one but it was limited edition. So if you guys have a favourite deep conditioning mask, please let me know in the comments because I need a new one.
I hope you guys found this post helpful. I know when I was researching Curly Girl approved products it was a search to find products curly hair products that are affordable and available in Canada. And if I find a deep conditioner I’ll let you guys know!
Hey guys! Back in the fall, I shared five eyeshadow palettes that I thought would be great for that season. Since it’s now officially spring I thought it would be nice to do the same for this season! So today I’ll be sharing five palettes that I think are great for spring. In the spring I like wearing pastels like pinks and purple and in late spring summer I like wearing oranges and golds. Let’s get into it.
I think if I would have to recommend one palette, it would be the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palettes. I have Nude Medium and I think it’s perfect for spring. This palette is pink-toned but has some browns, golds and coppers to balance it out. It’s quite wearable for every day but just adds that flush of pink to spice things up compared to normal neutral palettes. I think the quality of Huda Beauty shadows is great. And it’s a mini palette it’s not like you’ll be getting a bunch of shades that you might not use. A great choice for spring.
Now if you want a small palette but some really fun shades, then check out the Colourpop 5 Star Island Palette. These shades just scream spring and Easter to me. I mean pale pink and bright yellow, those are Easter colours right there. This would be a great way to add some fun colours into your life, but the bit-size and the low price tag make it more accessible. I think putting some matte browns in the crease with a pop of Island Designer or Isabelle in the crease would be an easy, spring look. If you want to know more about this palette, check out my Colourpop haul post.
If pinks and yellows aren’t your thing, then check out the Huda Beauty Obsessions Palettes in Amethyst. This is a palette full of purple eyeshadows. I love wearing purple eyeshadow. It’s so fun and different, and also brings out the green in my eyes. I know this palette might seem dark, but the glitters are quite light and reflective on the eyes. If you have green or hazel eyes, you have to try out purple eyeshadow. Plus this palette is small so it’s not overwhelming.
If you are ready to commit to the springtime shades, then check out the Hipdot Zion Palette. This palette screams spring to me. The light pinks, purples and oranges are perfect to create a pastel look for Easter. And the darker shades are perfect to use in the late spring. The sunset shades are perfect for the nights when the sun is up later and later. This palette is full of fun shades, but also has the basics to be able to create a variety of looks. The Hipdot palette will carry you from spring into summer.
The final palette is the Ace Beaute Grandiose Palette. This is another great palette for people who want the colour to be deeper and darker compared to the Huda Beauty palette. The orange and pink just scream warm weather to me. I love wearing warm shades all year round, but there is just something extra nice about wearing warm tones when the weather is warm outside. Also, the pan size for these shades ia huge so if you like the colour story you’ll never run out of shadow.
And those are my recommendations for spring eyeshadow palettes. Let me know in the comments what your favourite eyeshadow palettes are for spring! I’d love to check them out.
Hey guys! Today I am sharing my favourite makeup and skincare favourites of 2020! I didn’t necessarily wear a lot of makeup in 2020, but there were still some gems that I discover. If you want to see these products in action, check out the Youtube video version of the post! Okay, let’s get into it.
My favourite primer is the Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Balm. I got this in my Boxycharm at some point but I rediscovered it this summer when it was one of my products of the month. This primer is a moisturizer hybrid that helps smooth the skin and give it a natural glow. It’s unlike other glowy primers because it isn’t glittery or metallic look. It’s not heavy like other moisturizing primers. If you have acne-prone skin but still want to add a little natural glow to this skin, this is the primer to try.
This year I have two foundations favourites, a new one and a rediscovered one. My new foundation favourite is the Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation. This is a long-lasting foundation that is medium coverage and has a natural finish. It’s the perfect everyday foundation because it’s not too much nor too little. It provides enough coverage to even out my skin tone and it gives me a bit of glow but still lasts. The Bite Beauty foundation is also clean and vegan! My other favourite is the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation. When I started working I need something with good coverage and would last me through my shift. This foundation was perfect. Combining it with a dewy primer, like the Touch in Sol one, helped make the finish less matte and more natural. If you haven’t tried this foundation yet, I highly recommend it.
For once my favourite concealer is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it but I have two new ones to mention. The first is the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer. This one reminds me of the Nars one. It’s lightweight and has good coverage, but not so full that it looks odd with a lighter coverage foundation. There is a good shade range as well. The second one is a more recent favourite but I’ve been using the Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer every day single I got it. It’s had serum concealer that is light in coverage than the Makeup Revolution concealer, but still enough to help brighten my under eyes. It also lasts well. I’ll wear it all day and it still looks good.
This shouldn’t be a surprise if you follow my blog or Youtube, but this year I fell in love with creams. My favourite bronzer is hands down the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer. It’s so creamy so it’s easy to apply on the face and blend out. Sometimes if a product is creamy it doesn’t last, but this bronzer lasts so long on the skin. The only downside is that it’s very warm tone, so I can’t use it to contour. If I put it under my chin it looks like an orange strip haha.
Everyone loved blush this year, myself included. I liberally applied blush all over my face. I have two favourites. The first is the Nudestix Nudies Blush in In The Nude. This blush blends so easily on the skin unlike a lot of other cream blushes. It also has a matte finish, which is nice if I’m wearing a dewy foundation and/or primer underneath. And the shade is the perfect neutral. I want to get more shades! The other favourite is the Burt’s Bee Blush in the shade Fresh Apricot. This is such a beautiful shade that has an ever-so-slight shimmer that just adds to the face. It’s pretty pigmented so I just need to go in with a light hand. There are a few other shades as well – and it’s drugstore so a great price!
This year I haven’t loved many highlights. Since I was gravitating to dewier primers and foundations I didn’t feel the need to use a highlight. That being said, my favourite this year is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. This is technically a “complexion booster” so all the shades are skin toned. That leads to the highlight being very natural and blending seamlessly into the skin. It just makes me look naturally glowy. Highly recommend it if you find other highlights to be too strong or unnatural.
Two categories where I don’t have a favourite is powder and setting spray. I didn’t purchase anything new in these categories this year, so I was just rotating through what I already own. Nothing stood out in my mind as a new favourite. Like sure I have my holy grails but nothing worth noting. Let me know what your favourite powder or setting spray was this year.
Up next is brows. This year I tried to diversify my brow selection and found a few gems. But my number one this year is the Glossier Brow Flick. It’s a brush-tip pen similar to an eyeliner that can define and add depth. It’s also amazing at creating a natural, feather-like stroke. I think it’s good for people with a lot or a little amount of brow hair. I know other brands have come out with similar style brow pencils, so maybe that’s something I’ll try in the future.
I tried out so many good new eyeshadow palettes this year. I decided to pick one colourful and one neutral. My colourful palette is the Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Vol II. This is such a gorgeous palette, every time I look at it I’m inspired. I think the layout is smart and all the shades work well together. And the quality is amazing. They blend easily, they are bright and are easy to work with. The second palette is the KASH Beauty Secret Treasure palette. Ever since I got the palette I’ve found myself reaching for it. While it does have some warm shades, I find that two of the browns (Face and Wreck) and quite neutral and therefore great for whatever look I need. The shimmers are also quite beautiful. This is the perfect palette to pair with a sparkly eye topper. It’s hard to create a good neutral palette but this one is the best.
I have two eyeliners this year! The first is the Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner in the shade Brown. I love using brown eyeliner, I just find it softer than black. I like using this to create a nice baby wing on the days where I don’t feel like doing eyeshadow. I also find it handy that there is a liquid and a pencil in one. The second liner is the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in the shade Boundless Bisque. This is a great beige that works perfectly in my waterline. Sometimes I don’t want to wear a dark colour but want something there. This beige just brightens up my whole eye look. I don’t know how I did my makeup without it.
I am not faithful when it comes to mascara. I generally have a bunch of tubes open and will just rotate around depending on my mood and the look I’m going for. Therefore I have three favourites lol. The first is the Lancome Monsieur Big Volumizing Mascara. At first, I didn’t like the mascara because I found it didn’t do anything. But once it dried a bit I fell in love. This mascara is volumizing and is perfect for those days where I want dramatic lashes sans false lashes. The next mascara is the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara. This mascara is perfect for those days where I don’t feel like wearing lots of makeup just a little mascara. What I like the most is how easy it is to remove. Because it’s a tubing mascara that just peels off with a little micellar water. Just don’t wear this one if you’re planning to watch a sad movie. And the final mascara is the Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara. This was my go-to in late high school/early university. I finished the tube and hadn’t purchased it again so I forgot how good this is. It’s good and lengthening but also separating the lashes to make it seem like your lashes are just naturally long. Oooh I love this mascara!
The final category is lips. Which I didn’t wear a lot because of the pandemic – I don’t leave the house much and when I do I wear a mask. But despite that, I have four favourites. The first is a lip balm, which is something everyone needs. I have many favourites but if I had to pick one it would be the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm. The twisty tube makes it easy to apply. This balm is super moisturizing and has a slight tint to it as well. My favourite lip liner is one I got in my Boxycharm – the Steve Laurant Lip Liner in Chic. It’s creamy enough that it’s easy to apply but stiff enough that it lasts long on the lips. And the shade is perfect for me, just slightly darker than my natural lip colour. I don’t use lip liner very often, but when I do it’s this one. For lip gloss, my favourite is the Essence Shine Shine Shine Lipgloss. It’s a clear lip gloss, so it can be worn over top of any lipstick or lip liner without altering the shade. It’s super shiny and almost has an oil consistency so it’s very comfortable on the lips. The first of two lipsticks is the Burt’s Bee Satin Lipstick in the shade Blush Basin. The satin finish means that it’s very comfortable on the lips and has a slight shine. But it’s a lipstick so the colour is opaque. It’s also a great price because it’s from the drugstore! The final lipstick is the Glossier Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick. The formula adds just a hint of colour, which I think on more natural days. The matte formula means that it lasts longer than using a gloss or balm. I have the shade Cake, which they describe as a subtle peach but there are some brown undertones to it. I do enjoy wearing this lipstick.
Okay, that’s all for makeup, let’s get into skincare! So let’s get into it with my favourite cleanser: the OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. This has been my morning cleanser for months now. It goes the job of cleaning my skin without leaving it feeling stripped. The citrusy scent is also so nice for the morning. I have oily, acne-prone skin but I could see this working for people with normal and combo as well.
Up next is toner, with my favourite being the OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. This is what helps keep my skin from breaking out and evens out my skin texture. For all my oily friends this is the toner for you. If you have dry skin stay away because this will be too strong for you.
My favourite serum is a very pricey one but it makes such a difference in my skin. The Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is just so good. This oil hydrates my skin making me look so dewy and glowy. But the vitamin c does such a good job helping heal my acne scarring and just brightening my whole complexion. I don’t find it clogs my pores or breaks me out, which can happen with other hydrating serum. I am just so in love with this.
I’m going to be honest, I don’t think that eye cream is necessary. I mean it’s good to hydrate the area but you probably don’t need anything fancy. Unless you are like me and have super sensitive under eyes. A lot of creams burn my skin and give me dry patches. The Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream is one of the few that work for me. I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t see a huge difference with brightness and puffiness, but I’m fine because it hydrates me which is all I need.
This year I focused on finding products that help with my acne scarring. A mask that makes a difference is the Glow Recipe Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask. I didn’t like this mask at first because I didn’t get it, but after using it a few times I started to notice a difference. I don’t use it as a sleeping mask but just as a normal mask that I’ll leave on for 15 minutes. I do notice that my skin is brighter, softer and plumper after using it. The fragrance is strong in this so just keep that in mind.
A makeup remover that I loved was the Farmacy Very Cherry Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. I don’t know why but I find that the limited edition cherry version doesn’t irritate my eyes. If you need to remove a full face of makeup, this is the cleansing balm for you. It does a great job of removing everything from liquid lipstick to glitter. If I’m wearing a lot of makeup I will double cleanse, but if it wasn’t a lot sometimes I just use this and call it a day with cleansing. My skin doesn’t feel dry or stripped after which is nice.
On the days where I feel I need to double cleanse after using a cleansing balm, I will use the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. I got these in my Boxycharm and wanted to use them up, but I fell in love. Sometimes after using a cleansing balm I don’t feel like wetting my face again but I still want to clean it. These pads are convenient and do the job. For an exfoliating product, these pads are pretty gentle. I know Elemis is hard to get in Canada, but for all my US and UK followers check these out.
And those are my 2020 beauty favourites! Wow, that was a long list! Let me know in the comments what YOUR favourite beauty products were last year. I hope everyone had a good holiday, I am so excited to start this year and kick some ass! Woooo!
Leave it to Lea 