Hair – Leave it to Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

PRODUCT EMPTIES AUGUST 2023

August 15, 2023August 13, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a product empties blog post! I’ve been doing them more often on my Youtube channel but thought it was time to do one here. My product empties posts are a great time for me to give an in-depth review on a product since I’ve finished it! I’ll let you know if I like the product and whether I would consider repurchasing the product. If you ever want to go through my past empties posts, you can click the “EMPTIES” category at the top of the post. Let’s get into it!

If you’ve followed me for a while then you’ll know I’ve been on the hunt for a good hair mask. My friend recommended the Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask. Even though it’s not silicone-free I decided to give it a shot and I was pretty underwhelmed. Even though it was hydrated and my hair felt soft after, it was curls were always weighted down after I used this mask. I think if you have straight or thicker hair you might like this mask, but it’s not for me so I won’t be repurchasing it.

The next product is a deluxe sample of the Necessaire The Body Lotion. I love testing out body lotions and heard great things about this one. It has a nice consistency and it absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth. I like that it comes in a squeezy tube so it’s easy to get out all the product. I prefer scented lotion but if you’re looking for an unscented lotion then you’ll love this. I won’t be repurchasing but I would still recommend the product.

I finished two different deodorants. And if you’re looking for natural deodorant I’m not the person to ask. The first one is the Mitchum Women Advanced Control Antiperspirant & Deodorant. This one was good but it did smell a little baby-powdery for my taste. It’s good for everyday wear but isn’t the strongest for heavy workouts or hot, humid summer days. The other I finished is my go-to, the Old Spice Deodorant in Fiji. I’ve been wearing Old Spice Fiji on and off since I was a teenager and I always go back. I’m not sure why but I find that the formulation is stronger and just helps me not smell. The Fiji scent is pretty well-known among my friends as being the best scent for women as it doesn’t have any strong musky undertones but just smells tropical. I have repurchased the Old Spice Deodorant!

The next product was a sample of the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads. These pads are a strong chemical exfoliant to help with fine lines, skin tone and texture. I’m not sure how people could use this daily because I found it to be strong. My skin felt so soft and smooth after using it. I don’t think I could purchase a full pack at $124 but I could see myself maybe getting the mini-pack and using it before an event to help clear up my skin.

One product I didn’t enjoy was the TRESemme Ultra Define Hair Gel. I’ve been having trouble finding my favourite hair gel so I decided to try this one out. It’s way too thick and heavy for my hair. My hair always felt crunchy after. I think this could be nice if you have thicker hair or if you want something for slicked-back hairstyles. But it’s too much for my curly hair so I won’t be repurchasing.

I find that eye creams take forever to finish so I was happy to be done with the Glow Recipe Avocado Fine Line Eye Cream with Retinol. I very rarely notice any effects from an eye cream and this one was no different. This eye cream is supposed to help firm, smooth and reduce the appearance of dark circles. I noticed some hydration and that was about it. I also found it took a while to sink into the skin so I would have to wait if I was applying concealer. Still on the hunt for a good eye cream.

The next product is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel. I love the scent of the Sol de Janeiro products so this was nice to use. But besides the scent, I’m not sure I noticed any difference between my Bath & Body Works shower gels. I rather spend more money on a lotion that will sit on my skin than a shower gel that I just rinse off. While I enjoyed the product I won’t be repurchasing.

Another product that I enjoyed but won’t be repurchasing is the Juno Skin Clarifying Cleansing Powder. This product is a powder that terms into an exfoliating cleanser once water is added. I think the product was good at gently exfoliating the skin. It’s only available online currently so it’s harder to ship into Canada and I already own a similar product from Dermalogica. But if you’re in the US, check this out because it’s also on Amazon!

I finished a sample of the Youth to the People Polypeptide-121 Future Cream. I thought it was fine. I didn’t use it enough to say if the peptides and ceramides made any difference in my skin. It wasn’t too thick and moisturized the skin. I think people with more combo/oily skin types would like it more as it’s not very thick. It was fine but I didn’t love the sample enough to want to go out and buy the full-size.

One of my favourite moisturizers is the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I use this on my shoulders and chest because those areas are acne-prone and don’t like scented lotions. But I have also used it on my face and loved it. It’s lightweight but still moisturizing. I love the pump as well. I have already repurchased and I highly recommend this lotion if you’re looking for a drugstore moisturizer.

Another moisturizer I finished was the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer. This moisturizer has been hyped up online but I thought it was fine. It’s quite thick so I think people with drier skin types would like this more than me. It also does have a pretty strong rose scent so watch out if you’re sensitive to fragrance. It was fine but nothing special so I won’t be repurchasing.

I finished both a sample and a full size of the Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil. I’ve tried lots of cleansing balms but thought it would be nice to try a cleansing oil. It does a good job of breaking down all my makeup and leaving my skin ready for a second cleanse. It didn’t clog my pores or strip my skin. It also doesn’t sting or make my eyes blurry. I had two complaints though. The pump on my bottle didn’t work very well so it would squirt all over the place. It also has a weird smell that I can’t quite put my finger on but I don’t like it. I think it’s a good option if you don’t like cleansing balms!

This isn’t an empty but a product I’m getting rid of is the Korres Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink. I don’t get this product. It’s an oil that’s supposed to hydrate but also blurs imperfections and smooth skin texture. I was going through a lot of skin issues in the spring and this product was just not messing well with my routine. I just found that it made my skin pill up whenever I used it with other products. Since it doesn’t work with my routine I’m just going to get rid of it (since I got it in my Boxycharm box I can’t return it).

I finished two primers, both of which I loved! The first one I finished is the Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm. I’m surprised how much I loved this primer because I’m usually not into the whole glassy skin trend. But man this primer made my face look so plump and juicy but not oily. It also was moisturizing at the same time. I loved this primer in the summer. The second primer I finished was the Rodial Soft Focus Glow Drops. This primer reminds me a lot of the Glow Recipe Dew Drops. It delivers that lit-from-within, dewy look. I would apply this primer just on the high points of my face and I sometimes would skip highlight, it was that dewy. I think both of these primers are amazing and I would highly recommend both. I won’t be repurchasing just because I have so many other primers but man they are good!

Another haircare product I liked was the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. It helps my hair feels soft and smooth. I notice a difference in my hair health when I use this leave-in and I’ll also use it as a heat protectant. It’s silicone and sulphate free, comes with a pump and has a light, almost peppery scent. I’m currently using other leave-in products but would repurchase this again in the future!

I finished my last pre-reformulation Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm. The lip balms were reformulated sometime before the pandemic and I find the new formula is much waxier and not as hydrating. I found an old formula lip balm in a backpack the other day and I finally finished it. I will not be repurchasing this lip balm and I’ve very sad about it.

I always seem to get the Realher brand products in my Boxycharm. I usually declutter them but I did finish their Definer Brow Pencil. Brow pencils are one of those products that are so hard to review because they’re so boring to talk about. Like it works but it’s nothing to write home about. I don’t think it’s worth ordering from their site (which seems kinda sketchy). The NYX brow pencils are more affordable and accessible so I wouldn’t recommend or repurchase this brow pencil.

The final product empty is the Tree Hut Coco Colada Shea Sugar Scrub. Now if you’re also Canadian and wondering how I got a Tree Hut scrub, I did order it off Amazon and paid a pretty penny for this scrub. I think the Tree Hut scrubs are pretty good but not mind-blowing. It’s not super coarse so it’s gentle on the skin but still exfoliates. The scents are delicious. I have repurchased but when I was in the US. It’s cheaper to buy in the US than to buy off Amazon so for that reason I’ll only repurchase when I’m in the US.

And that’s it (twenty products later haha)! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts were.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

July Boxycharm 2023

August 8, 2023August 6, 2023by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s time for another Boxycharm review. If you missed it, Boxycharm is now owned by Ipsy. Subscribers now get to choose three products and the other two are pre-selected by Boxycharm. Let’s get into this month’s box.

The first item pre-selected by Boxycharm was the Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer. I know this brand is popular for its perfumes but never knew it made skincare! That being said I won’t be testing it out. I’ve been told by multiple estheticians to avoid vitamin E as it can clog pores. If I could have the chance, I wouldn’t have picked this product. So I will be passing this along to some friends or family! Price: $52 US

The next product that was pre-selected is the Natasha Denona Fez Eyeshadow Palette. I’ve used many different Natasha Denona palettes before and I think the quality of the shadows is great. I think the colour story is gorgeous and great for summer. I think this palette is exclusive to Boxycharm because I can’t find it for sale anywhere else. Also, want to note that I got an email from Ipsy saying that many customers complained about receiving broken palettes so they sent everyone a coupon code for 20% off the Natasha Denona website. Thankfully my palette is fine! Price: $48 US

The first product I picked was the ID.AZ Gold Fit Mask Set. I love getting sheet masks in my box because I like using them but I don’t like paying for them haha. This one is meant to hydrate, brighten and soothe the skin. It was quite slippery on the face so I couldn’t move around a lot while wearing the mask. But afterwards my face felt very plump and juicy. My only worry is that I couldn’t find much information on the product or company online so I’m not sure if I would recommend buying it. Price: $39 US

The next product that I picked was the Beauty Vaulte Lip gloss + Lip Liner Set in the shade Feeling Phoebe. I thought it would be fun to try a new lip gloss even though it’s sometimes a gamble if I like the shade or not. The shade is a nice rich brown. The lip liner is very creamy and glides on easily. The lip gloss is very opaque which I was not expecting. It’s pretty intense. I prefer wearing brown tones more in the fall, so while I haven’t worn it much yet I do see myself getting some use out of it. Price: $25 US

And the final product I picked was the VERB Ghost Exfoliating Scalp Nectar. I have heard of this brand before so I was excited to try out a product from them! This is not a physical exfoliant but I guess more like a chemical one with AHA and BHAs. It’s meant to gently exfoliant and remove product build-up. I’ve used it once and I didn’t notice a huge difference. I’ll test it out more and will give an update once I do my product empties post. Price: $20 US, $22 CAD

The overall total value of the box was $184 US. While the total value is pretty impressive, I wasn’t really wowed by any of the products. I won’t be using the face moisturizer at all. I’ll use the other products but I don’t see any of them becoming my new favourites. Let me know what you guys think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Product Empties November 2022

November 29, 2022November 27, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I’m back with another product empties. As I mentioned in my last empties, I’ve been going through products faster than I can write about them! I have fifteen empties to share today and I have about another twenty in my empties bag. Maybe I should do an empties Youtube video? Let me know what you think. Let’s get into today’s post!

Starting with body lotion, I finished the St Ives 24 Hour Moisture Body Lotion in the scent Almond & Flaxseed. I’ve mentioned my love of almond-scented products before and someone recommended this to me (I think on Insta). I liked this lotion! The pump made it easy to apply and it absorbed quickly into the skin. My only complaint is that it didn’t smell like almonds! If you prefer lightly scented products then you’ll love this but if you’re like me and want almonds this won’t hit the spot. I have other lotions that I like more but if you’re looking for a good drugstore lotion, this is a great option.

If you watched my USA shopping haul, then you’ll know that I’ve fallen in love with the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch. It’s just as good as my beloved Peace Out Acne Patches but more affordable! If you’re in the US you can get them at Target. For my fellow Canadians, they are available at Shoppers but currently only online. I put it on a whitehead before I got to bed and by morning the pimple is all gone! I will be purchasing these again in the future.

Another favourite is the OLEHENRIKSEN Cold Plunge Pore Remedy Moisturizer. I finished both a full-sized and a mini travel size of this moisturizer. I recommend this to all my fellow oily & acne-prone friends out there. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. If you have sensitive skin I would be careful though because it has BHA and LHA in the moisturizer to help with pores. While I decided to purchase something else to review, I would purchase this moisturizer again in the future.

I had a deluxe sample of the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser and it was alright. It’s a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser and I would say that it does exactly as it says. But for my skin I just like a little something more. If you have sensitive skin you would love this!

The next product is the Cerave Moisturizing Cream. I much prefer Cerave’s Moisturizing Lotion over the cream. The lotion comes in a pump so it’s easier to apply. I find the cream to be a little too thick for my skin. It’s nice in the winter when it’s super cold and my skin is super dry. But for the majority of the year, it’s just not the right moisturizer for my skin! If you have drier skin you’ll love this though!

I got the Clean Skin Club Pineapple Glow Mist in my Boxycharm box and I ended up liking it! It’s like having hyaluronic acid in mist form! It’s super easy to apply to the skin, it provided some extra hydration and smelt great. I would consider repurchasing in the future but I don’t want to deal with shipping and customs so I’ll be passing on that because I’m sure there are similar products available in Canada.

Now I wish the St Ives lotion smelled just as good at the L’Occitane Almond line. I finished the Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate and it was amazing. It smelled just like almonds and applied so well to the skin. It left me feeling so soft after. I used this only on special occasions because this is a pricey body lotion. But if you’re looking to treat yourself (or badly want an almond-scented product) then I highly recommend checking it out! I see myself purchasing from this line again in the future.

It takes a lot for me to not like a mascara, but the PUR Cosmetics Fully Charged Mascara just wasn’t it for me. I like length, definition and a little volume with my mascara. This PUR one gave me barely any length and was so clumpy. As the mascara aged it also became flaky, which is not something I normally deal with mascaras. It was almost impossible to remove! There are so many better mascaras out there, don’t get this one.

Another item I received in my Boxycharm was the Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Radiant Dew Mist. The website says this can be used to set makeup but I preferred using this as a skincare mist. I would spray this all over my face and then apply my hyaluronic acid. This mist is supposed to be good for breakouts and oil but I didn’t notice a difference. Based on the photos from the website it looks like they changed their packaging, which is good because I found the nozzle wasn’t the greatest. I won’t be repurchasing this mist because it was fine but not great enough to deal with shipping it to Canada.

A product I’ve repurchased is the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. I decided to pick it up again since it’s a great body scrub available at the drugstore. I’ve come to realize I’m not a huge sugar scrub fan because I find they dissolve before I can scrub my body. This one is great because it’s not sugar so I can get a good scrub in. And I love the Macadamia & Rice Milk scent it’s nutty and sweet. I would repurchase again in the future.

Another scrub, this time a face one, is the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I struggle with texture so I love having a good physical exfoliator. This one was pretty good. It has tiny beads to buff away the dead skin. It has a very refreshing and citrusy scent which I enjoy. Overall I like this cleanser and would recommend it!

I finished a deluxe sample of the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+. Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed by the primer. It wasn’t bad. But if a primer claims to be a gripping primer, I expect it to grip my foundation and not budge throughout the day. I found it didn’t make much of a difference in the longevity of my makeup. If you want a gripping primer, the ELF one is much better and cheaper.

Another product I was completely unimpressed with was the Bumble and Bumble Curl Defining Cream. I didn’t finish this product, I’m throwing it away. It’s way too heavy for my hair. I could feel the cream in my hair and it weighted my hair down so the curls couldn’t form. I tried using this cream a few times using varying amounts and each time it was too heavy for my hair. It’s a real shame because I love Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Reactivator. But this curl cream wasn’t for me.

The Mudmasky Vitamin-infused Eye Serum was like the neverending eye cream. Most eye creams are 15 ml (or 0.5 oz) and the Mudmasky eye cream is double at 30 ml (or 1 oz). It took me forever to finish the eye cream. Overall I found it to be an alright eye cream. It did a good job of hydrating my under eyes and that’s all I ask for in an eye cream. It absorbs quickly into the skin and it worked well under concealer. But I don’t love it enough to ship it to Canada.

And the final empty is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. I liked this one! It was great at adding length to my lashes. I liked the skinny wand because I find it easier to not get mascara on my eyelids with the skinny wands. I wish it was a little bit more volumizing but overall it was great for everyday wear. I would repurchase this mascara.

And those are my product empties! If you have tried any of these products let me know what you thought about them in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

My 2022 Sephora Sale Recommendations

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022by Lea1 Comment

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!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

Product Empties September 2022

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s been a busy summer for me, that’s for sure! And while I haven’t been posting consistently, I have been using beauty products so I have a huge bag full of empties. I will be sharing 15 products today, but probably have enough to do another post next week haha. So since I have a lot of products, I’ll try and keep it brief. Let’s get into it!

First I finished the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. I had first tried this cleanser in my Boxycharm and then decided to repurchase it myself a second time. This has some strong acids so if you have sensitive skin, stay away! It has jojoba beads so gives that physical exfoliation along with the chemicals. I haven’t repurchased because I wanted to try other exfoliators but would consider repurchasing in the future.

You can tell I love the OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner by the fact that I finished two of these – a travel size and a full size. I am currently using another bottle. This just helps keep the oil at bay and keep my pores clean. If you have oily, acne-prone skin you need to check out this toner.

Another major love is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. I love testing out cleansing balms but this is one that I always go back to. I don’t have to use a ton of product to remove my makeup. It doesn’t leave any greasy residue to sting my eyes. It’s great with stubborn mascara, lash glue, glitter, etc. All the stuff that’s hard to remove. I will probably repurchase this again in the future.

A product I did not like and didn’t finish is the Christopher Robin Instant Volumizing Leave-In Mist. I like to use empties posts as a way to update you on my thoughts. And my thought on this product is that it’s not good. It left my hair looking frizzy and my curs undefined. I tried this quite a few times, with different products and application methods, and each time I wasn’t satisfied with how my hair looked. So into the trash this product goes!

I finished my favourite limited edition leave-in conditioner – the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. They usually only have it available near the holidays, and it looks like it’s finally available again! This mask is more moisturizing compared to the original. This is the best silicone and sulphate-free mask I’ve found so far! Highly recommend picking it up!

Up next is an empty bottle of Bioderma Micellar Water. I find the Bioderma and Garnier Micellar waters to be the extra same, I just buy whichever is on sale. I don’t often use micellar water, mainly just to fix any makeup mistakes. It does the job so I can’t complain!

Another OLEHENRIKSEN favourite is the Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser. I got a mini kit that include the whole line when I travelled to Vancouver but I’ve used this cleanser before. It’s a great cleanser for those with oily, acne-prone skin. Does a great job of deep cleaning the skin. I totally see myself repurchasing this again in the future.

I got a mini of the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter using some of my Sephora VIB points. I had the unscented version but I just learned there are scented versions! I would purchase one of the scents because the texture of this body butter is divine. It’s on the thicker side so it’s great for the cold and dry winter months. This body butter is often a point perk, so if you see it I would recommend picking it up!

Another point perk was the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream. I know this cream has been really popular online lately and while it was good I don’t think it’s anything spectacular? It was almost balmy in consistency and took forever to sink into my skin. It did make my skin look super glowy but I think my skin is just too oily for this product. It was just too heavy for my skin but if you have drier skin you’d probably love this.

I finished a mini of the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. I’m not a huge user of dry shampoo. Because I like to wear my hair natural most of the time, it means that I was it frequently and don’t often need dry shampoo. I found that this dry shampoo wasn’t any better than the Batiste dry shampoo that you get from the drugstore. Maybe I’m not the best person to get dry shampoo advice from haha.

I have four bags photographed, but I actually have finished five bags of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots. These are some of the best acne patches that I have tried. I might have found another favourite – but that’s for another post. They sit nicely on the face and do a great job of pulling out all the gunk in a pimple. If you suffer from acne you need these in your life.

A product that I received in my Boxycharm that I finished is the Skin Inc My Daily Dose of Uplift serum. I liked the product but I don’t think I’ll go out of my way to reorder the product. If I can’t get a product at my local drugstore or online at Sephora it has to really wow me and this product didn’t do that. I can think of many different serums that can do something similar. It’s not bad just nothing special.

The first of two mascaras is the Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara. It’s an alright mascara – it just doesn’t tick the boxes for what I’m looking for. I like a lot of length with a little volume and this gave a lot of volume with a little length. This wand was very thick so it was hard to separate the lashes, especially as the mascara got older. I throw my mascaras out after being open for a year so this mascaras time has come. I will not be repurchasing.

The second mascara is the Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara. I’m not sure what’s going on with this mascara because I can’t find it in store anymore but it’s still available on the Covergirl website. Either way, I did like this mascara! It reminded me a lot of the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. It gave great volume to the lashes but also kept them defined and long. This was a great drugstore mascara but it’s expired so it was time to let it go.

The final product is the Ouai Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave-In Conditioner. Oh man, I love the scent of this leave-in conditioner. It’s the Ouai Bondi scent, which I think I’m going to get the perfume because I love the scent so much. I will say that this is also a pretty good leave-in conditioner. It did a good job of fighting frizz and helping define my curls. It does have silicones in it, so I probably won’t repurchase BUT if you don’t care about silicones then you HAVE to try this leave-in conditioner!

And that is a round-up of some of my product empties! Let me know if you tried any of these products in the comments and what your thoughts were!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

Product Empties May 2022

May 24, 2022May 23, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s time for another product empties. I don’t know if these types of posts are very popular anymore. I love doing them because it allows me to follow up on products I’ve mentioned before and give my in-depth thoughts. I’ve been finishing a bunch of products lately. I’m trying to limit to 10 products per post but I have another 15 so maybe sometime I should do a Youtube video? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Let’s get into it!

The first product was the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I’ve mentioned this before but I use a face lotion on my chest and back because those areas are acne-prone. Using my heavily scented body lotions breaks me out in those areas so I use lotions like this CeraVe one. I liked this moisturizer! First, it’s a pump which I prefer for body lotions. The formula is thin but still moisturizing. It sinks very quickly into the skin and isn’t sticky. And best of all it’s from the drugstore! I tried to repurchase this and it was sold out everywhere! I picked up a different lotion but would get this again in the future. This lotion has my stamp of approval.

A haircare empty was the Moroccan Oil All in One Leave-In Conditioner. Just want to note that this isn’t curly-girl approved but I was all out of leave-in conditioner and was gifted this so I was like might as well use it. And I did enjoy it! I did a nice job of adding a little moisture to my hair. I still think my favourite is the leave-in by Living Proof. I wouldn’t repurchase it because it’s not curly-girl approved but I think it’s worth trying out if that is not something you look for in your products!

A mask empty!! It takes me forever to go through masks and the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Pore Purifying Mask was no exception. I got this mask in a Boxycharm back in 2018… that’s a long time. This mask wasn’t bad it just wasn’t my favourite. The mask is white with little beads that turn blue as you rub it into the skin. This is a pore-purifying mask and I just have masks that do a better job. I won’t be repurchasing and wouldn’t recommend it.

Another Boxycharm product was the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter. I got this product back in September 2021, not four years ago haha. My initial review was that this would be great for people with dry skin and that thought still stands. It has a very creamy texture that is very hydrating. My only issue is that it wasn’t the most effective cleansing product I’ve ever used. It’s fine for light, everyday makeup but if I was wearing liquid eyeliner or lash glue it wasn’t very good at removing it. I finished the product but I won’t be repurchasing it.

One of the many cleansers I recently finished was the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. This is a gentle cleanser with AHAs and hyaluronic acid to help with skin texture, oiliness and acne. When they say this is a gentle cleanser they weren’t joking. If you have sensitive skin you might enjoy this. But I personally found it wasn’t strong enough for my skin. I will not be repurchasing this.

The next product was the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. I was a little disappointed with this product. Everyone raved online that this setting spray would help make my makeup last long and I didn’t notice a difference. I was also not a big fan of the scent either, it was very floral which I personally don’t like. Now this might be because I got the mini size, but I found the nozzle often got clogged and would spray big droplets all over my face. If you want a long wear setting spray I would recommend the Milani Make It Last which is half the price of this Charlotte Tilbury one.

A cleanser that I didn’t even finish was the Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Gel Cleanser. Unfortunately, this cleanser broke me out so I stopped using it. I know it has Vitamin E in it which does clog my pores but I’m unsure if that was what was causing me to break out. Either way, I would suggest being cautious if you wish to try out this cleanser.

Another setting spray that I finished was the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. If you read my Sephora haul post then you would know that I already repurchased this setting spray. Unlike the Charlotte Tilbury spray, I do notice a difference in my skin when I use this spray. It just helps smooth my skin and blur my pores. It’s great after I use powder to just make everything look more skin-like. I highly recommend checking out this setting spray.

The final cleanser I finished was the Glamglow SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. This was my shower cleanser. I generally keep on cleanser in the shower so I don’t have to remember to bring one from my skincare to the shower each time. I generally relegate cleanser I’m not as fond of or ones that aren’t as strong to the shower. I chose this one to be a shower cleanser because it’s a messy cleanser and it’s easier to contain the mess in the shower. Since it’s a charcoal cleanser it would leave grey water stains in my sink. Also this has a licorice scent which I do not like so I would also hold my breath while using this cleanser. Probably would have returned it if I had purchased it but I got it in my Boxycharm so I was persistent and finished it instead. I will not be repurchasing though.

The final product today is the Frank Body Caffeinated Scalp Scrub. This was another Boxycharm product. This was my first time using a scalp scrub and it was alright. It felt nice in my scalp to use it but I didn’t really see a difference in my scalp or hair after using the scrub. I have a rubber scrubber that I use with my shampoo and I find that stimulates my scalp enough to help with product build up and dandruff. Overall maybe if you use a lot of product in your roots you would like this more but it just wasn’t for me.

And those are my product empties! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts were!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Hair, Makeup, Review

April Boxycharm 2022

May 3, 2022May 23, 2022by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on my April Boxycharm. I will say that this will be a mixed review because of some products I’ve tested and otherwise I haven’t even tried – oops! Let’s get into it.

The first item is the Beauty Bakerie Sour Ya Doin’? Eyeshadow Palette. I was excited to receive this palette because I’ve heard great things about Beauty Bakerie eyeshadows. I like the colour story but I will say they’re not necessarily the most wearable everyday shades for my skin tone. I think this palette would look gorgeous on deeper skin tones. For me, it’s a more bold, colourful palette. I’ve yet to use the shimmers because they’re a little deep for everyday use. I have used the mattes and they are a great formula. I like the palette so far and can’t wait to play with it more. Price: $38 US

I was just thinking to myself the other day that it’s been a while since I’ve tested a new powder and then BAM I got the Viseart Seamless Setting Powder. I must say that the shifter on this powder is one of the best I’ve seen on a loose setting powder. It keeps the powder locked in when it’s closed but it’s easy to tap some out when I open the lid. So many loose-setting powders either let powder fly everywhere or are so difficult to get the powder out of so I appreciate that. The actual powder is pretty good. It does a good job of setting everything and gives a slight blurring effect to the last. By the end of the day, my face is a little oily and creasy which is pretty good since I have very oily skin. Overall I like this powder and I’m excited to own it. Price: $35 US

I am unfortunately not a huge fan of the Christophe Robin Instant Volume Mist. This mist is supposed to make thin, fine or flat hair feel thicker and have more body. I don’t normally struggle with that but I thought that a little more volume couldn’t hurt. If it did add any volume I didn’t notice because it made my hair so fizzy. Every time I used this mist as well my hair didn’t curl very well. This is quite surprising because this is a curly-girl-approved product. Either way, this mist just didn’t work well with my hair so I will not be using it again. Price: $39 US, $51 CAD

A product I really really like is the Item Beauty by Addison Rae Lash Snack Lengthening Mascara. You guys know I love lengthening mascaras, and this is one of the best I’ve tried yet. I will say that it gives barely any volume but the length is insane. This is great everyday mascara. It would also be great on the lower lashline. My only gripe is that the brush head is quite small so it just takes a little longer to coat all the lashes. But this mascara, along with my new Bite Beauty mascara, are easily my new favourite mascaras.

The final product is the Persona Cosmetics 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner. I’ll have to be honest, I haven’t tried this eyeliner yet. I’ve been keeping the eyes very minimal lately so I haven’t had the chance to try it. I do want to try this eyeliner eventually because I’ve heard great things about Persona Cosmetics. Price: $14 US

The overall total of the box is $141 US. This box is quite hit or miss. I like the mascara and the powder. On the other hand, I haven’t even used the eyeliner yet and I don’t like the hair mist. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. And if you are subscribed to Boxycharm, let me know what products you got in your May box!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

March 2022 Boxycharm

March 29, 2022March 28, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Long time no time from me! I’ve been feeling quite burnout lately when it comes to creating content so I just took a bit of a break. Posting might be a bit sporadic for a bit while I try to find my groove again. But do not worry I have no plans to stop any time soon! With that being said, today’s post is going to be my March Boxycharm. I always filmed my video version, so make sure to check that out to see the products in again. Let’s get into it.

The first product, which was chosen product for the month, is the Korres Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink. I’ve heard good things about the brand but haven’t tried any of their products before. This serum is meant for all skin types to help with imperfections, texture and give hydration. It’s kind of meant to do everything. I’ve only used it for a week, so it might take a little longer to notice a difference in imperfections and texture. I will say that it’s a thin serum but still manages to give some instant hydration to the skin. Not as much as a hyaluronic acid serum but still good. It absorbs into the skin quickly which I also appreciate. I’m excited to continue using the serum and see if it helps improve my skin. Price: $48 US, $60 CAD

The next product is the LYS Beauty Secure Skin Gripping Serum Primer. This primer is meant to help with the look of pores and shine control. It’s a serum so it’s a very thin product and I often find I pour out too much. It’s easy to blend onto the skin and is slightly tacky, which helps grip the foundation. I find that the primer works better with matte foundations. When I use this primer and a dewy foundation it doesn’t help keep the shiny at bay. While I find it doesn’t help the look of pores or shine, it does help my foundation last longer which is nice. I’m not in love with this primer but am willing to continue testing it out. Price: $20 US, $26 CAD

The second skincare product I received is the Frank Body Brightening Vitamin C Mask. This mask is packed with active ingredients to help with hyperpigmentation, scarring and fine lines. I’ve only used this mask once and this is something that needs to be used regularly to notice a difference. It reminds me of the Inkey List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel where it’s using a very strong concentration of active ingredients to help brighten and clear the skin. I prefer using a serum over a mask because I don’t have to rinse it off. But I’m willing to continue trying this mask and see if it makes a difference. Price: $19.95 US, $25.95 CAD

This month I have two products that I have decided not to test. The first product is the Aesthetica Cream Contour Kit. I have quite a few reasons for not testing this out. First I own a powder contour kit that has the same layout of three highlight shades and three contour shades, so I felt like I didn’t need the cream versions. I also don’t use the contour kit that often so I can’t justify having two. Second I already have cream contours so I didn’t feel like I need to test out more. Third, this is a universal kit so I won’t use every shade anyways. Overall I couldn’t see myself using it very often after testing it and therefore thought it best not to open it. Now that it’s unopen I can donate it to someone who will use it more than me. Price: $40 US

The final product in my box is the Styledry Coconut & Fig Hair Mask. I’m trying to be mindful of what products I use on my hair and trying to stay clear of products containing sulphates and silicones. The mask is sulphate free but contains a bunch of different silicones. Silicones often coat the hair to make it feel soft and silky but ultimately weigh down my curls, which I’ve trying to avoid. So I will be passing along this mask to someone who doesn’t mind silicones! Price: $16.95 US

The total value of my box is $144.90, which is great! While I might not be using two products I still got great value I believe. If you guys are subscribed to Boxycharm let me know in the comments which products you received. And if you tried out any of these products let me know what your think of them!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Product Empties February 2022

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

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.

A collection of makeup, skincare and hair care products that I recently finished.

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!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Review

Is the Denman Brush The Key to the Best Curls? A Review

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! If you follow my blog, then you might be aware that I am on the quest to help my curls look the best they naturally can. I’ve been following my own version of the Curly Girl Method for a while now. Recently I’ve seen many in the curly hair Tiktok community mention something called a Denman brush. After watching some tutorials and Sierra Schultzzie’s review, I decided to pick one up for myself (and by that, I asked for it for Christmas haha). So today I will be giving you my thoughts on the Denman brush.

First, let me give some context for those who are new and don’t know my hair. I had really curly hair growing up and after years of swimming and using heat on my hair, my curls were kinda toasted. I started researching more about how to revive my curls and slowly started incorporating aspects of the Curly Girl Method into my hair routine. I started really taking care of my curls about a year ago now. My curls have improved tremendously and I would say that they’re between a 2B and 2C depending on the day. If you want to be technical sure my way is more wavy than super curly but I use similar techniques as those with curly way, but I digress. One of the big things I struggle with still is definition, which is where the Denman brush enters.

The true name is the Denman Original Styling Brush. There are a few different types, but I got the D3 7-Row, which is their standard brush. This brush has blown up online for being a multi-functional hairbrush for detangling, blow-drying, styling and smoothing the hair. It states that it’s ideal for defining wet curls. The idea is that you run this brush through your hair and the way that the bristles are designed will help your curls clump together and form a nice curl.

I was intrigued by this brush. Before I got the brush, I would scrunch my hair when I got out of the shower and it would just naturally curl. I would then apply products to help the curls stay. My issue is that sometimes I have strands that struggle to clump and curl, especially my front framing pieces. I was really hoping that this brush would help out my stubborn pieces.

There are many techniques to using the Denman brush. I recommend doing some Googling because it’s usually easier to watch than read explanations. There are a bunch of different techniques, but I’m just going to explain the technique I like the most. I will generally do two steps. I will first run the piece through the brush like normal to ensure that there are no knots. This is often enough for the hair to clump for some people but not for my hair. The second step is that I hold the brush with the handle up and will twist the hair around the brush. Then I will brush through so it wraps around and then up the handle to create a curl. I will then scrunch the hair and it will form a nice curl. If that sounds confusing, just watch this tutorial.

Do I think this brush is the ultimate curly hair product and everyone needs to go get the Denman brush? No, not really. If you have issues getting curl definition this brush is helpful. For me personally, it does make a difference but it’s not such an astounding difference that I have to use the brush every time I do my hair. I generally only use it when I want my hair to look really nice and will only do the front pieces because it takes a lot of time to do my whole head. I think it’s a great quick product to help improve curls, but I’ve noticed a big difference just using less heat and better products than with this brush.

So what do you guys think about the Denman brush? I think the brush is overhyped but it does what it’s described to do. Let me know if you’ve tried this brush and what your thoughts were!

xoxo

Lea