Category: Haul

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul + Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Sale Haul + Review

Hey guys! I know I’m quite late posting getting my Sephora sale haul and review up. If you follow me on Youtube then you know it’s been a hectic month for me! I got my Sephora order right before I went to Vancouver and then a few weeks later I started a new job. I’m starting to get into a new routine so I finally have the chance to write this post. While the sale has long been over, it’s always a good time to talk about makeup 😉

Let’s start with some repurchases since I made a few. The first thing I got was a Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge. I’ve tried a bunch of sponges and this is still one of my favourites. I like to have a couple of sponges on hand so when one gets dirty I have another clean one available. It’s expensive so I like getting a new sponge during the sale.

The next repurchase is the MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix+. This is one of my favourite setting sprays and I always like to have a bottle in my collection. It helps the makeup melt into the skin and gives a soft look. Whenever I’m not happy with how my makeup is looking I spray this on my face and it always makes it look better. Such a classic makeup staple and since I was running low it was time to stock up.

The final repurchase was not in my original haul but purchased after. I’ve been having some issues with my skin lately so I decided to switch my cleanser to one of my favourites – the OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser (for some reason I can’t find just the cleanser on the website but I bought it in-store and it’s still available on the Ole website so idk). This cleanser is meant for acne and oily-prone skin, with lactic and glycolic acid to help deep clean the skin. My skin responds well to this cleanser so I’m happy to have it again.

I decided to purchase a different shade of the MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick. I was looking for a dupe for a discontinued lipstick that I have and the shade Yash matched perfectly. I love the formula of the MAC lipsticks and I know that Yash is one of their classic shades. The shade is described as deep neutral. It’s the perfect shade to wear with a bold eye look because it’s very neutral. I think this will be a great addition to my lipstick collection.

While doing my most recent makeup declutter, I discovered I needed some new brown eyeliners. I picked up the Sephora Collection Hot Line Brush Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Brown and Sephora Collection 12-Hour Contour Pencil Eyeliner in Cappuccino. I was able to save 30% on these eyeliners since they’re Sephora Collection! I tested out the liquid liner a few times and it’s good. It’s easier to use and remove and lasted well. I like the brown shade for more everyday wear as it’s less harsh than black. I haven’t tested out the pencil yet as I like pencils for more intense looks and I just haven’t done any yet! If I have any strong opinions (good or bad) I’ll be sure to share them with you guys.

I picked up two Rare Beauty products during the sale. The first is the Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick. I got the shade Happy Sol, which is described as having cool undertones but I find it to be quite warm. That’s my only real complaint. I find that the bronzer applies and blends so easily onto the skin. It also lasts a long time as well. It’s a pretty good bronzer! The other product I got is the Positive Light Under Eye Brightener. I put this product to the test because I have been super tired the past few weeks. This colour corrector adds that little pop of brightness I need under my eyes. It’s quite thin so it doesn’t make my under eyes look cakey when I apply my concealer on top. On very light makeup days I apply just this to my under eyes for just a little something. If you’re looking for a lightweight colour corrector this is a great product.

The final makeup product I got is the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick in the shade Pale Petal. I like this blush! The stick formula makes it easy to apply to the face. It takes a little more effort to blend but that’s okay because the longevity of this blush is crazy! I find that blush is usually the first product to fade from my face but this one lasts until the end of the day. The shade is so pretty and adds such a youthful flush to the face. My only complaint is that I don’t like the dense brush that the blush comes with. I find it harder to blend my blush using that brush than my normal brush. I often accidentally open the brush side while trying to open the product side because there isn’t much space between the caps. I honestly would be fine if this product didn’t come with a brush to be able to lower the price.

The other skincare product I purchased was a mini of the Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover. I needed a mini cleansing balm for my trip to Vancouver and this was the smallest one I could find in the store. Now I’ve never tried the original Take The Day Off so I’m not sure if the charcoal one is different but I wasn’t that impressed with it. The dark colour meant that it stained any white towel I used. I had to use a lot of product to remove my makeup and sometimes had mascara residue. I’ll continue to use it since I like having the mini size for travelling but it’s not my favourite.

A product that I absolutely love is the OUAI North Bondi Eau De Parfum. I’ve had this perfume on my list for a while so I’m very happy to finally have it in my collection. It smells exactly like the texturizing spray I have so it’s nice to match the scents. The main notes are Italian Lemon, Jasmine, and Bergamot. It’s fresh and floral with a little bit of musk to balance it all out. The longevity is also pretty great which I always appreciate. The perfect scent for spring and summer!

The final product I got is the Sol De Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream in the mini size. I find with the Sol De Janeiro body creams you either love or hate their scents. You have to go in-store and try it for yourself. I personally love this scent, as you can tell from the perfume I just bought I like the scent of jasmine haha. I also enjoy the formula of the Sol De Janeiro body creams. I find the creams to be rich but blend easily into the skin and the scent will linger throughout the day. I’m slowly building up my collection to have all the scents – I’m missing one more before I own all of them haha. The original scent is still by far my favourite.

And that’s everything I got during the Sephora sale! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before. And if you have any recommendations for me (especially perfume) let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul + Review

by Lea1 Comment on Sephora Sale Haul + Review

Hey guys! I am finally sharing my Sephora Spring Savings sale haul with you all. I know the sale has been long over so sorry about the delay. It’s been a very hectic month, to say the least. I gave my first impressions of the products in my Youtube video that I posted on Sunday. I filmed that video over a week ago so I’ve been able to test the products more. Let’s get into it!

The products I picked up during the Sephora Spring Savings event.

Starting with my one skincare product, I picked up the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I picked this up because I finished my other exfoliator and had this on my wishlist. This cleanser has natural jojoba and carnauba wax to gently exfoliate as well as ginseng and caffeine to boost radiance. I initially liked this cleanser. It’s not too abrasive but still does a good job of leaving my skin feel soft and smooth. I like that it has a slight ginger and citrus smell. My skin has been breaking out lately and I’m not sure if it’s because of this cleanser or some other products I’m testing. I’m going to continue testing it and I’ll give you guys an update if I figure out if it’s this cleanser or another product.

I decided to pick up another perfume this sale. It’s starting to become a thing that I pick up a new perfume each sale haha. This time I got the Ellis Brooklyn SALT Eau de Parfum Travel Spray. I got this travel-sized spray because this is a very summery scent, so I don’t see myself using this much except during the summer. The notes are ylang-ylang, violet leaves, tiare flower, magnolia, ambergris, musk and sandalwood. It reminds me of a beach in the summer but without the coconut. I can’t wait for it to be summer so I can wear this all the time!

If you watched my haul video, you would know I was quite on the fence of the shade I got in the Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick. I got the shade Slip, which they describe as a warm neutral. I find that it’s quite brown on me. I like to wear a pink lip liner underneath to help warm up the lipstick and make it look less like I have chocolate on my mouth. I really really like the formula. It’s a very sheer and satin finish, so it’s very comfortable on the lips. It does wear off easily but it’s super easy to reapply. I love Merit’s lip oils more, but these are still great lipsticks.

A product that I repurchased is the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. I got the mini during the last sale and I just recently finished it. I love it so much that I decided to upgrade to the full-sized setting spray. It’s unlike anything in my collection because it visibly blurs my pores and makes my makeup last longer without making my face look matte. Oftentimes long-lasting setting sprays are mattifying but not this one. But it also isn’t dewy or glowy either. It just helps blur everything. This setting spray is starting to cement itself in the hall of fame alongside my Mac Fix + and Urban Decay All Nighter. It’s so good!!

Another product that is quickly becoming a holy grail is the Nudestix Brow Set Gel XL. I wasn’t the biggest brow gel person before. I would only use it if my brows were getting particularly unruly. Since I’ve gotten this Nudestix brow gel, I’ve used it every day. It does an amazing job of putting my brow hairs in place without looking slicked down or like there is something in my brows. Sometimes clear brow gel will have a white cast but not the case with this brow gel! If you’re looking for something to laminate your brows this might not be the product for you. But if you just want to keep everything in place, check out this brow gel!

I’m so happy I placed my order on the first sale of the sale because the Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines – Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush is sold out in the shade that I got! I got the shade She’s Blushing, which they describe as a beige. Not sure why they describe it as beige because I think it’s pink. But I am loving this blush duo! The cream is so pigmented but very easy to blend. And the powder is so long-lasting, which doesn’t often happen with blushes. It’s a little on the pricey side, but it is two products in one in a beautiful compact so I’d say it’s worth it. If you’re a blush fan you need to check this product out.

And the final product I purchased is the JVN Nurture Deep Moisture Mask. If you follow my blog then you would know I’m on the hunt for a good hair mask. I’ve only used this mask once so far so it’s a little early for me to have formed my opinions yet. My first impression is that the mask has a strong scent that has lingered in my hair in the days since I’ve washed it. It’s a unisex scent, almost musky in quality but I don’t mind it. I would say that my hair does feel soft but I want to use it more and compare it to my regular conditioner before making any judgements. I will keep you guys updated on the mask.

And those are the products I got during my Sephora sale! Let me know in the comments what you guys got during the sale. I always love discussing what people got because it gives me ideas for the next time I order hehe.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

Hey guys! It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for – my Sephora Sale haul and reviews! If you haven’t seen it already, I posted my Sephora Sale haul on my Youtube channel last weekend and that was filmed a couple of weeks ago. I’ve now used the majority of the products and am now ready to give you my thoughts on all the products. If you haven’t, I would check out my wishlist post so that way you can see what products I was thinking of purchasing and can compare to this list. Let’s get into it!

Up first I decided to get a mini of the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. The cleanser is a product that takes me a while to get through so getting a mini allows me to try more products. This is a gentle cleanser with hyaluronic acid and AHAs to help with pores, oiliness, acne and blemishes – everything that I suffer with! This is a nice cleanser. My skin feels soft and also hydrated after I use this. I think if you have normal or combo skin and suffer from acne then you’ll like this. I’ve found lately that my skin has been looking oilier by the end of the day. I’m not sure if it’s because of this cleanser or some other products but it’s something that I wanted to note that if you have oily skin like me it might be too gentle. I’ll continue to use this but if I notice that the oiliness doesn’t improve this might be relegated to a second cleanser.

I am already in love with the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Setting Spray. I have been using this setting spray every day since I’ve received it. It does make my skin looks smoother and poreless. Not sure if it necessarily makes my makeup last longer but I love it for the way it makes my face look initially. The mist is very fine so I do use a good amount to properly cover my face. I wish I had picked up the full size!

I like it but I’m not quite in love with the OLEHENRIKSEN Cold Plungeâ„¢ Pore Remedy Moisturizer with BHA/LHA. It has an interesting texture that is not quite a gel but not quite a cream. I find that my skin feels more smooth than hydrated with this moisturizer. Much more of a summertime moisturizer than for the dry winter months. Also because it has active ingredients in it, I just need to be careful not to apply it over top of other actives otherwise it’s too much for my face and I get a reaction. I will continue to use the moisturizer because at this point I wouldn’t necessarily repurchase it.

The next product shouldn’t be a surprise – I picked up the Briogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Repair Kit. I have not used the products in this kit yet oops! I have used this deep conditioner before and I absolutely love it so I didn’t need to try it again to let you guys know you need it to try it! It’s one of the most hydrating deep conditioners on the market that is Curly Girl Approved. The scent is also magical. I haven’t tried the shampoo and conditioner yet just because I have other ones open and I try and avoid having multiple shampoos and conditioners open since I have limited space in my shower. Once I finish the products I’ll update you guys in a products empties post.

I did end up splurging and getting the L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate. And I’m so happy I did. I used their Almond Delightful Body Balm last year and I loved the scent but found it was a little too thick for me. The Milk Concentrate has the exact same scent but is just a lighter cream compared to the balm. It’s still very moisturizing don’t worry! It also comes with a lot of products so I know this will last me a while.

For lip balm, I ended up getting the Laneige Dream Team Lip Set. It’s the same price as the Tarte one I was looking at as well but I get two products for the price of one! I do like the Lip Glowy Balm formula and it’s been forever since I’ve used the Lip Sleeping Mask. The Lip Sleeping Mask comes in Peach Iced Tea and I like that scent (or flavour?). The Lip Glowy Balm is in Berry. I like the slight tint it gives the lips but I do find the Berry to be slightly medicinal. At least it doesn’t linger on the lips. This is a great set and I’m happy with my purchase.

The final product is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. First I want to say while the packaging looks absolutely gorgeous, I was surprised by how light it feels. I always expected the compact to be super lux since it’s expensive. But at the end of the day, it’s what’s inside that matters. This is an ultra-fine powder so when I first apply the power it goes on so smooth and looks so good. My face looks flawless and not too cakey. But because it’s just a fine and lightweight power, but at the end of the day I’m a greasy mess. It does touch-up well. I can apply this to do touch-ups and it looks good. But if you’re like me and have oily skin this isn’t going to keep you locked in all day. I think this powder is perfect for dry, normal and combo skin people who need a powder to set everything in place but not necessarily keep the oils at bay. I will continue to use this because I love the way it makes my makeup look but if I need something long-wearing I’ll pick up something else.

I also did want to mention that I picked up the Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur Eau de Parfum, but it’s going to be a Christmas present so I haven’t used it. I sprayed it in-store and liked it! It has a clean and slightly earthy scent. I can’t wait until Christmas when I can wear this more!

And this is my haul and reviews! Let me know in the comments what you guys picked up during the sale!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Haul, Makeup, Review

What Products from Elf Cosmetics Are Worth The Hype – Elf Cosmetics Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on What Products from Elf Cosmetics Are Worth The Hype – Elf Cosmetics Review

Hey guys! A couple of weeks ago I posted a haul and first impression video of a bunch of Elf Cosmetics products I ordered. It’s been a couple of weeks so I wanted to give you a follow-up review of the products. There are some hits and there are some misses, so let’s get into it.

First, let’s start with the brushes. I got the Mint Melt Eyeshadow Brush Set and the Putty & Cream Blush Brush. The brushes are good but you kinda get what you pay for. The handles are plastic and are very lightweight. The brush quality is nice but I find all the brushes to be a bit small. I would say if you’re to makeup and need to get some brushes then Elf is a great brand to buy from. If you love makeup and want to invest in some good quality brushes then I would pass on these.

By far the most disappointing product is the Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow. I thought this was going to be a dupe for the Stila Magnificent Metals but they just don’t compare. The Stila shadows are full of glitter but still have a base shimmer to the shadow. Whereas the Elf eyeshadow is just straight glitter. So I could apply the Stila eyeshadow to my bare eye but I need to put the Elf eyeshadow overtop another eyeshadow. The glitter is pretty, don’t get me wrong. It’s just glitter in a clear gel. I would recommend the Stila eyeshadows over the Elf ones.

The second eye product I got is the Bite-Size Eyeshadow. There are eight different palettes but I got the Cream & Sugar palette. I think the eyeshadows in the palette are amazing. The mattes blend well and the shimmers are easy to use and look great on the eye. I’m just not sure if I like the colour selection. I find when there are only a few shades in a palette it’s important which ones are included. This palette has only four shades so I would want to be able to do a full eyeshadow look. I personally find that I’m missing a good crease shade. The beige is too light and the brown is too dark to use in the crease. I need to use another eyeshadow to be able to do a full look. I almost always use a crease shade for my eyeshadow looks, so since this palette is missing one I don’t see myself using it very often. That being said, I’d be interested in getting other palettes if the colour story piques my interest.

One of Elf’s most popular products right now is the Poreless Putty Primer. This is a dupe of some more expensive primers such as the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer. I haven’t tried that one so I can’t compare. I got the regular Putty Primer but almost wish I got the Matte Primer. I feel like the primer does a great some of making my skin feel smooth but doesn’t do much for helping my makeup longer. I think the Matte one would just work better with my skin type. It’s a fine primer but I’m not blown away.

The next product I tried is the Flawless Finish Foundation. I LOVE the way my face looks when I first apply this foundation. It’s medium coverage and has a semi-matte finish. It just makes my face look flawless – just like the name suggests! It comes with a pump which is handy. I was able to shade match myself quite easily. I would say that it looks great for around five hours, but after that I look super oily. The excess oil means it’s also easy to rub off the foundation. So if you need a foundation to last all day and can’t powder then maybe pass on this one. But if you’re fine powdering or don’t have oily skin then this is a great foundation.

While I did a great match with my foundation, I didn’t do a good job picking the correct shade in the Hydrating Camo Concealer. So I haven’t worn it much under the eyes since it’s the wrong shade. I’ve worn it on my face and it’s great for spot concealing. It doesn’t look cakey and stays in place. Sorry, this isn’t the best review. It’s such a great price that I might get another shade for under my eyes.

I decided to pick up their new Putty Bronzer and Putty Blush. In the bronzer I got the shade Tan Lines and in the blush I got the shade Tahiti. If you are new to creams these are the products for you. These are very lightweight and very easy to blend. I find I have to build it up to get the blush and bronzer to the intensity that I like. But what I also like is that they dry down to a semi-matte finish so my face doesn’t feel sticky. The fact that it dries down means that it lasts quite a long time on the skin. If you are looking for drugstore cream products then you HAVE to check these out.

The final product is the Sheer Slick Lipstick. I got the shade Golden Pear. I expected the lipstick to be sheerer but despite that I like this lipstick. It’s very nourishing and feels very nice on the lips. While it’s not the most long-lasting it fades nicely from the lips. I’ve been using this a couple of times a week and I can see myself continuing to use it in the future.

And that is my round-up of all the products that I purchased from Elf Cosmetics. Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these products. And also let me know what your favourite product is from Elf!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Review, Skincare

Sephora Skincare Haul

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Skincare Haul

Hey guys! Today I have a mini Sephora Haul. I had to repurchase a few things and decided to pick up two new things with my order as well. Not a huge haul but still exciting nonetheless. Okay, let’s get into the products.

Sephora haul featuring MAC, Belif and OleHenriksen products.

First I repurchase the Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. If you read my product empties post you would know I finished this toner recently. I need it in my life so I repurchased it! I’ve said this before, but if you have oily skin you need this in your life. I really notice a difference in my skin texture and oiliness. It just helps smooth my skin and reduces how quickly I get oily. I use this every morning after I cleanse my skin and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.

The next repurchase is the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+. I’ve had a MAC Fix+ in my makeup collection for years now, but decided to switch things up and get the coconut scent this time. If you’re going to have one setting spray in your collection, make it this one. The mist is super fine so it won’t ruin your makeup and just feel soft and gentle. The actual formula is great because it helps melt powders into the skin so they don’t look powdery or cakey. But it won’t add extra shine which is great for me since I’m an oily gal. It helps improve the look of my makeup. The coconut scent is nice – not too strong and sweeter than sunscreeny. I love this setting spray and would highly recommend it.

Now for new products. The first being the belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. I needed a new moisturizer and decided to give this one a try since I’ve heard really good things about it. I also decided to get the mini size just in case I don’t like it. This is a lightweight gel that is supposed to give a burst of hydration and quickly absorb into the skin without looking heavy or greasy. I’d say that the claims are true! It’s a gel formula which I prefer. It does leave my skin feeling hydrated and does absorb into the skin super quickly. It absorbs so well into the skin that my skin almost looks matte, very similar to the Origins Matte Moisturizer. While I do like it and will finish it, I’m on the fence if I would repurchase it. I will update you when I finish the product.

And for the final product, I purchased the Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub, which I also purchased in a mini size. I’ve mentioned this in my product empties post but I’m on the search for the best exfoliator for my skin. I thought I would hit a home run with this one but it’s just average. This scrub has AHAs, lemon peel and sugar to provide both a chemical and physical exfoliation to the skin. I like the consistency of the scrub – it’s not too thick and abrasive but enough that I can feel it on my face. And I like the light citrus smell as well. The only thing is that I don’t really notice a difference. With an exfoliator, I want an instant result so it’s a little disappointing to not notice anything. I’ll continue to use it but I wouldn’t be repurchasing.

And that’s my little Sephora haul guys! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before and if so what were your thoughts!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Skincare

Sephora Haul UPDATE April 2021

by Lea1 Comment on Sephora Haul UPDATE April 2021

Hey guys! Today I will be giving you an update on the products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I took my time to test out the products to give you guys a good review on each of the products. So let’s get into it.

A Sephora haul including Summer Friday body lotion, Youth to the People cleanser, Fenty Beauty foundation, Tower28 lip gloss, Rare Beauty blush, Supergoop sunscreen and Replica perfume.

The first product is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. It took me a while to start using this cleanser because I was testing out other skincare products. It’s useful to introduce new skincare products one at a time in case a product causes irritation or breakouts. But since starting this cleanser I haven’t had any issues. My skin has been pretty clear lately and I haven’t had any breakouts since starting using this cleanser. The real test will be when I get my period because my acne is mainly hormonal-based. Overall it doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or tight. And I like the scent, it reminds me of a forest. It’s hard to review cleansers but this Youth to the People one has been good so far.

The next product is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. This wasn’t like I expected. It has a silicone feel to it, similar to a primer. So it’s easy to apply and wears beautifully under makeup. It doesn’t break me out and it protected me from the sun. My only issue is that because of the consistency you can only apply so much to your face. I think it’s fine for everyday use or if I’m not in direct sunlight. But I wouldn’t feel like I’m using enough and getting enough protection if I was say at the beach in full sunlight. So while I will continue to use this, I feel like I need to continue my hunt for a good sunscreen.

The most disappointing product is the Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion. If you read my wish list post you might remember that I read reviews saying this smells like Play-doh. And I have to agree with the reviews. It doesn’t have the saltiness associated with Play-doh but I will say that this body lotion has a plastic-like smell to it. I could get over it except for the fact that it does linger on the skin. So I’m not a huge fan. We’re currently in lockdown so I’m unsure how I will return this product but I am considering returning it. Overall I wouldn’t recommend this body lotion because the scent isn’t great and the formula isn’t so amazing to make it worth using.

The next product is the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in the shade Love. I do really like this blush but it’s a little difficult to use. It’s extremely pigmented and dries down matte so I have to work quickly to blend it out. For that reason, I prefer to apply it to the back of my hand and use a brush to apply it to my cheeks. Once it’s on my face it sets down nicely and doesn’t budge. And I like this shade, it gives me a sun-kissed look. I see myself using this blush a lot this summer. If you’re new to using cream blushes I would be careful because it’s not the most user-friendly formula. But if you’re a makeup pro you won’t have any issues.

I was quite unsure about the Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss at first. When I first applied it I had just outlined my lips with a lip liner. Because it’s such a sheer lip gloss formula I was able to see the lip liner underneath. Because of that, I like to wear this gloss on its own or over top of lipstick. The lip gloss is also a lot creamier compared to other lip gloss formulas. It looks more like an oil than a shiny gloss. I like the shade a lot and will continue to use it. But I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite gloss I’ve ever used.

The next product is the Replica By The Fireplace perfume. I’ll be honest and I haven’t used this because it’s such a fall/winter scent. I probably could have waited until the next sale to get the perfume but oh well I bought it now. I still love the scent and it does last pretty well on my skin. This is impressive because I don’t find perfumes often last long on me. Overall I like this scent and would recommend you guys smell it if you like spicy, warm scents.

The final product is the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I did a full in-depth review on the Skin Tint so I would recommend checking out that blog post if you haven’t already.

And that’s it for my Sephora Sale haul update! I hope this was helpful for you guys. If you have tried any of these products let me know in the comments if you agree with my thoughts. I love chatting about makeup! 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul April 2021

by Lea2 Comments on Sephora Sale Haul April 2021

Hey guys! The Sephora Sale is in full swing and I wanted to share with you guys what I got in my order. If you still want to place an order yourself, you have until April 19th to participate in the sale. I also filmed a video trying out some of the products on my face. That video will be going up Sunday, I’ll update this post with the link once it’s live. I’ll post a follow-up in a couple of weeks reviewing all the products so stay tuned for that. Today’s post will be mainly first impressions.

A order from Sephora Canada made during their semi-annual sale. Products include body lotion from Summery Fridays, cleanser from Youth to the People, skin tint from Fenty Beauty, gloss from Tower28, blush from Rare Beauty, sunscreen from Supergoop and a perfume from Replica

The first item is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. I mentioned in my wish list that I needed a new sunscreen. This one is supposed to be invisible on the skin, great under makeup and oil-free as to not break out skin. I’ve worn this once so far. And I will say that it doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin and wore well under makeup. I still need to test to ensure that it protects my face from the sun and doesn’t break me out, because I only wore this sunscreen for an hour. I’m really hoping this works out!

I did get my perfume, the Replica By The Fireplace. I forgot how good this smells. It has a smokiness similar to a real fire. But underneath this is a nice spiciness from the clove and chestnut as well as a slight sweetness from the vanilla. This is a fall/winter scent so I probably won’t wear it much right now since I prefer cleaner scents in the spring/summer. But I’m happy to have picked it up!

As soon as I applied the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint I knew I was going to like it. It’s a lightweight, buildable light-to-medium coverage. It just looks so skin-like. I’ve been testing out lighter coverage foundation lately so I’m excited to see how this compares to the other ones I have. I’m planning on doing a dedicated post for this foundation so stay tuned for that. I will say that a lot of the shades are sold out, so you might want to hurry if you want to get this before the sale is over.

The next product is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. I have yet to test this out since I’m been testing out other skincare products. I generally avoid trying a bunch of new skincare products at once just in case I break out. If I tried three new things and break out it can be hard to know what caused it. So once I finish testing out some other products I’ll introduce this cleanser.

I’m on the fence about the scent of Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion. In the tube, it smells nice like coconut and almond. But when I’m rubbing it into the skin I get that Play-doh like smell that people mention in the reviews. I don’t think Play-doh smells bad, it’s just not the yummy scent I expected. But I will test it more to see what the formula is like. Because while smelling good is nice, the formula is technically the most important thing.

The next product is the Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss in Cashew. When I first applied it I wasn’t sure if I liked it. This is quite a unique formula because it’s a hybrid between a gloss and a lip balm. The first time I wore it I just lined my lips and it looked funny because this gloss is quite sheer. But I’ve worn it again by itself with nothing underneath and I prefer it more that way. I’m excited to continue testing out this gloss. I also love the shade I got, which is described as a rosy brown. It matches my natural lip well.

I decided to go with the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in the shade Love. I’m really happy with my decision. The shade is a matte terracotta, so it gives me a sunkissed look. It’s a create shade for putting all over the face. I think I’m going to get so much wear out of this blush this summer. The blush is quite pigmented so I’m going to play around to see what’s the best way to apply the blush, will update in the follow-up post.

Besides that, I got my birthday gift that includes a mini Nars bronzer and lip balm. I also redeemed my points for a set of Fresh products.

And that’s my Sephora Sale haul! Let me know in the comments what you guys got during the sale.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Review

Colourpop Haul Update: In-depth product review

by Lea4 Comments on Colourpop Haul Update: In-depth product review

Hey guys! A couple of weeks ago I posted a Colourpop haul on my Youtube channel. Today I wanted to give you an update on the products that I’ve purchased. I posted an in-depth review on the Pretty Fresh tinted moisturizer last week. I will be focusing on the rest of the products today.

So let’s talk about the Colourpop x Animal Crossing collection, the whole reason why I placed my order. I think the eyeshadow palettes are very cute but I wouldn’t say that they’re complete palettes. There is only four eyeshadow in each palette and they don’t build a complete look. In the What A Hoot palette, the difference between Celestial and WHO! is pretty large. I could use Celestial in the crease and WHO! as a liner, but in the crease I need a shade between the two. In the 5 Star Island palette I could create a little bit more of a cohesive look, but it’s very pink. Using a such as Celestial in What A Hoot creates a more cohesive look. This is just a long-winded way of saying that I like these palettes but I need to use them with other palettes. I don’t mind since I have so many eyeshadow palettes, but that might be something to keep in mind. But as an Animal Crossing fan, I love these palettes and I think they make sense for the characters.

Let’s talk about the blushes. I knew I would like the shade Flower Tender. It’s a vibrant coral that is right up my alley. But I also really like Flower Power, which looks purple but translates pinker on the cheeks. These blushes are a nice level of pigmentation where I don’t have to worry about applying too much but I also don’t have to work to build it up. I will say that there is glitter in the blush but it’s not like highlight glitter. It’s a matte blush with glitter running through it. I don’t mind the glitter, it’s only noticeable up close. Tapping my brush also helps to shake off some of the glitters. Overall I like these and think they’re really cute!

Now for the sparkly products. First I have the Balloon Pop Super Shock Shadow. This is described as an icy peachy pink with hot pink and silver glitters. My shadow did come broken but because of the soft consistency of this formula I was able to mush it back together. I love Colourpop’s Super Shock Shadows and this is no exception. It does have that peach undertone but just adds the most gorgeous and easy to wear glitter appearance to the eyes. If you are looking to wear glitter this is by far the easy formula to do so.

On the other hand, there is the Bellionare Glittery Obsessed Glitter Gel. This glitter is true gold, and unlike the Super Shock formula, this is glitter in a clear gel. There is a combination of large and fine glitters. I will say that I’m not as likely to reach for this compared to other glitters. To be honest I haven’t used this yet – but I do have other Glittery Obsessed glitters so I know what the formula is like. This glitter is nice for specific looks, not everyday use. So unless you love glitter I wouldn’t recommend this. But for $10 I think it’s worth it for me because I do know I will use it, I just haven’t had the chance yet with all these other eye products to test.

Rounding out the eyeshadow category is the Kathleen Lights So Jaded palette. If you want to see me use this palette in action, then check out the three looks I did with this palette on my Youtube channel. I like this palette. There is such a large range of shades. I did three completely different looks and I can think of many more looks for this palette. While I love the fun colours, I notice that some basics are missing. This is a colourful palette that I would use in combination with a neutral palette. I also wanted to note that I did have some trouble with the shade Turquoise, which I’m not surprised because I know blues can be a difficult shade to formulate. But the rest of the mattes I had no problems with. Honestly, I enjoyed playing with this palette and I want to continue playing with it! If you like colour then I recommend this palette. If you’re not a colourful person then I would pass because there aren’t many neutrals.

Now let’s talk lashes. I got two pairs. My favourite of the two is Queenie, which has a fluffy flared look. They create the perfect cat-eye shape and just do a great job of elongating my eyes. Dame, the other pair, is wispy but has more volume. Also, I find that the last band on Dame is thicker and just more difficult to apply. I will still use Dame but I much prefer Queenie. It’s taken me a while to figure out which lash style I prefer, but in general I think I like flared lashes the most. But at $8 these lashes are great and perform just as well as other lashes I own.

And the final product is the Freckle Pen in Dark Brown. I know faux freckles have gained popularity and I was curious what the freckle pen would be like. It’s relatively easy to use. I just dot the pen on my face and lightly tap it to blend it into the skin. The longer I wait to tap the darker the freckles. The only thing is I found that it was pretty pigmented, so it was hard to make them look faint to create depth. Also, I’m kind of sad because my cap somehow fell off the other day so now my pen has changed colour. It’s now a blue-green that looks more like mold than freckles. Unfortunately for me, I will be throwing it okay because I don’t want moldy freckles. I think I’ll just go back to use brow pencils and eyeshadows for my freckles.

So that is my roundup of my Colourpop haul. I think besides the Freckle Pen that this haul was pretty successful. Let me know what you guys think. Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite Colourpop products!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Skincare

Sephora VIB Sale Haul + Announcement

by Lea2 Comments on Sephora VIB Sale Haul + Announcement

Hey guys! So let’s start with the announcement because that’s the exciting part. So I’ve mentioned on both my Instagram and Youtube that I got a part-time job that’s not in PR for the time being. So today I have my first in-store shift at SEPHORA! I know, super exciting! The position is only a seasonal cashier for now. Since it’s only part-time I am still planning to be posting twice a week. But I do want to make it clear that all opinions on my blog, Instagram and Youtube are my own and do not reflect those at Sephora.

So let’s get into the haul. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to post this before the sale was over. This isn’t going to be an in-depth review just because I haven’t had the chance to test the products out. I just wanted to let you guys know what I got quickly so you could pick them up while they are still in stock.

The first item is the Briogeo Merry Multi-Masking Kit ft. Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Honey Bear Mask. I got this set because I’ve heard so many good things about the Honey Bear mask in this kit. Unfortunately, the kit is sold out, and it’s the only way to get the Honey Bear mask. But the other two masks in this kit (the Don’t Despair Repair and Be Gentle, Be Kind masks) are both permanent products so you guys can still pick those up. There are also other kits featuring these masks as well.

The next product I got is the Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask. I had a sample of this mask before and I loved it so much that I decided to get a full size. It’s different compared to other hydrating masks because it gets warm and tingly. I would describe it more like a restorative mask. It takes my skin from blah to ahhhh. And the packaging is just beautiful.

The final two products are both Hourglass. The first is the Mini Ambient Lighting Edit. This is a limited edition product for the holidays that features a powder, blush, bronzer and highlight. I have heard so many good things about Hourglass face products so I thought it would be a nice way to try multiple of their products. The second Hourglass product is Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara. It’s a tubing mascara, which means that I only need to use water to wash off the mascara. I’ve never tried a tubing mascara so I thought it would be interesting to try!

I am so excited to play and test out all of these products. Let me know in the comments what you picked up in the Sephora VIB sale!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Review

Glossier Haul Update Review

by Lea2 Comments on Glossier Haul Update Review

Hey guys! Today I am back with my Glossier update. I know this was supposed to go up next Tuesday and that’s because today’s post was supposed to be my Boxycharm review. But since my box still hasn’t arrived (need to email customer service about that) I have bumped this review up to today. So without further ado, let’s get into my thoughts on the products.

Glossier, makeup, makeup products, beauty

The first product is the Brow Flick in the shade Brown. I like this brow product! It takes a bit to get used to using it but it does a great job at creating almost hairlike strokes. I will say that if you have sparse brows you might like this better. My brows are naturally pretty thick and I’ve gotten them done recently so they have a nice shape to them. So I don’t need a ton of brow product. But if you don’t have a lot of brow hair, then using the Brow Flick to create all those hairs would be useful. Just make sure that your eyebrow area is clean and dry. I tried applying this after just applying moisturizer and it won’t stay. Overall a great brow product that I will continue to use.

The other brow product is the Boy Brow. I’m honestly still unsure how I feel about this brow gel. Like I said I got my brows done recently. So because of that they nice and neat and I don’t necessarily need a brow gel to hold them in place. I like using a brow gel when they are longer and unruly to help them stay in place. Honestly, I’m not a huge brow gel person to begin with so I’m unsure how much I will use it.

The next product is the Balm Dotcom lip balm. I really like this lip balm! It’s a good consistency where it’s not too thick but still thick enough to moisturize my lips. It leaves my lips feeling soft. The tint isn’t too opaque but I don’t mind that. The mango flavour is perfect because it lingers on the lips but it doesn’t feel like I’m eating mango. The only thing I don’t like is the lack of an applicator. The lip balm comes out of a hole and the surface is too rough to apply it directly to the lips. I find I have to put in on my finger and then rub it on my lips. I wish it had an applicator similar to the Laneige Lip Glowly Balm. That’s my only issue otherwise it’s great.

My favourite product is the Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick. It’s so similar to my favourite Colourpop lipstick that has been discontinued. It’s the perfect everyday lipstick. It’s sheer enough where it’s not like ‘BAM I’m wearing lipstick’ but it still gives some colour to the lips while also being a matte. It’s a comfortable matte and doesn’t look dry. It’s not very long-lasting in the sense if I eat something there is disappears. But sometimes that’s nice because then you don’t have to worry about having butt-hole lips while eating. Overall I like this lipstick and I will wear this a lot going into the fall.

Two simple makeup looks I did using my Glossier products.

I think my least favourite product is the Wowder. I can’t tell if I just can’t get enough powder on my brush or if it’s just not that good at mattifying. The sifter is this mesh that seems ingenious but it’s hard to get the powder out of. So I push my brush into the mesh and left go to my face and it barely mattifies my face. It does an okay job of setting my under eyes. But not even 30 minutes after I apply the powder I look so greasy and I feel like I have to powder again. It could be that I’m not applying enough so then it’s a bad design. Or it could be that I am applying enough and that this is just not a good mattifying powder. Overall I am pretty disappointed in this powder. I’ll still use it because I don’t want to go through the hassle of returning but I would not recommend this product.

And the final product is the Cloud Paint. This cream blush isn’t bad but I have decided that I like stick cream brushes more. Because it’s in a squeezy tube I have to apply it to my back of my hand and then my face. I just find that is wastes more product that way and then my hand is dirty. I find it easier to use a stick or compact because I can just dip my brush it or swipe it directly on my face. Besides that, the formula isn’t bad. It is easy to blend and lasts long. The first time I accidentally squeezed too much out and applied some to my eyelids and it lasted all day. Also, I have the shade Beam and I just wish it was slightly deeper in tone but that’s a personal preference thing. So overall while the product wasn’t bad I prefer a still form of packaging.

And that is my thoughts on Glossier! Overall while I enjoy the sleek and minimal packaging I find a lot of it annoying – like I wish the packaging was different for 3/6 products. I would say that the lip products are the best out of everything I tried.

Let me know what you guys think! Do you have different opinions on any of these products? Did I not pick up your favourite product from Glossier? Let me know in the comments 🙂

xoxo

Lea