Category: Makeup Brushes

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Perfume

May Boxycharm 2023

by LeaLeave a Comment on May Boxycharm 2023

Hey guys! Today I am reviewing my second Ipsy-owned Boxycharm box. For those who don’t know about the merger, I recommend you check out my last Boxycharm post because I go into more detail there. Let’s get into the May box!

May Boxycharm box

First, I got a product that I didn’t pick! I had picked out the YC COLLECTION Wake & Shine Lip Balm and instead, I got the Ace Beaute Smoky Roses Eyeshadow Palette. Now I’m not too mad because the eyeshadow palette is pretty and worth more money. But it is annoying that I received a product that I didn’t pick. Part of the reason why I didn’t pick this eyeshadow palette is that I own many palettes already and don’t often use them. That being said, I think the colour story of this palette is gorgeous and I love the quality of Ace Beaute shadows. While I haven’t had the chance to play with this palette, I am excited to have it. Price: $39 US

Ace Beauty Smokey Roses Eyeshadow Palette

The second item I picked was the SLMISSGLAM Cotton Candy Trio (note: I can’t find the brush set on their website, only on the Ipsy website). I always love getting brushes because, in my opinion, you can never have too many brushes. I think the brush hairs are very soft. The handles are pretty lightweight and I prefer something a little heavier. But overall I think these are nice brushes. Price: $38 US

The final product I picked was the one I was the most excited about, the SKYLAR Vanilla Sky Eau de Parfum Rollerball. I love perfume and it was so cool to pick one! While normally I would be careful about picking a perfume I’ve never tried before, I’ve smelled this specific perfume at Sephora before and knew I would like it. I own two different SKYLAR scents already! I find that the scents are very powerful when you first apply them but don’t last the longest. The notes are cappuccino, pure vanilla, and caramelized cedar. I find the scent to be almost creamy and while it’s sweet it’s not sickly. I like this scent and I’m excited to wear it! Price: $29 US, $39 CAD

The first of two pre-selected items was the Violet Voss Whispering Rosé Blush Palette. I like this blush palette! Two blushes are matte and two have a bit more shimmer to them. The orange shade is unlike anything I have in my collection but is perfect for summer. I’ve worn the blushes a few times and found the formula to be quite long-lasting – which is impressive because blush often fades quickly for me. Overall I like this blush palette and I’m excited to continue using this. $43 US

Violet Voss Whispering Rose Blush Palette

And the final product was the PUR Big Look Extreme Mascara with Argan Oil. I’m on the fence about this mascara. I find the formula to be very wet, so I have to be careful or else I get mascara everywhere. I’m also not a big fan of the brush, I find there is a lot of product on it so I have to wipe it off before I go in. That being said I don’t think it looks bad on the eyes. It gives some nice separation and volume. Sometimes a mascara formula can change as it dries so I’ll wait and see how I feel in a month before I make any final decisions on this mascara. Price: $22

The total value of my box was $136 US. Overall I liked my box, enough though I got a product I hadn’t picked. There weren’t any products that were an immediate no. I see myself using many of these products after this month. Probably one of the best boxes I’ve received lately. Let me know what you think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review

November Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on November Boxycharm 2021

Hey guys! And just like that November is done. Can you believe that 2021 is almost over? I still sometimes find myself saying 2020 and not 2021 wow! Anyway, it’s time to review my November Boxycharm. Which by the way I do an unboxing and a first impression video on my Youtube channel, so I recommend checking that out! Let’s get into my thoughts.

November Boxycharm

The first product is the Violet Voss Violet Sunset Eyeshadow Palette. I like this palette. I’ve used other Violet Voss eyeshadows before and the quality is amazing. All the shimmers and metallics work easily. The mattes and pigmented and easy to blend. I haven’t used the bright mattes in this palette only the neutrals so far but I’m sure they’re good quality just based on my previous use. I also love the colour story. There is a nice balance between wearable warm tones and fun pops of colour. I can see myself creating so many different eyeshadow looks. I see myself reaching for this a lot in the spring and summer. Would recommend checking out this palette! Price: $37 US

The next product is the Luxie Por La Noche Brush Set. I love Luxie brushes. I have a bunch in my collection and they are the ones I always reach for. The brushes are so soft and they stay soft after multiple washes. The handles are pretty and feel nice in the hand. This set comes with a blush brush, a concealer brush and an angled brush. It’s funny because I use the blush brush for highlight and I found it worked beautifully! Just goes to show that you can use brushes for whatever job you want. I always recommend Luxie brushes for those looking to invest in some good-quality brushes. They also have some good sales going on right now! Price: $40 US

The most disappointing product in the box is the Bodyography Makeup Brush Cleanser. I love the idea of having something to be able to spot clean my brushes. Sometimes it’s helpful to have something to quickly clean if I want to go from blue to brown. I have the Sephora Daily Brush Cleanser and it works so much better. I find that I have to spray and wipe the brush twice to get the same result as the Sephora cleanser. If you’re looking for a spot brush cleanser I recommend the Sephora one over the Bodyography one. Price: $19 US

The next product is the Aesthetica Sunset Bronzer. First, they have only one shade which is completely abysmal. How is one shade of bronzer going to match everyone? I sometimes like to switch between a lighter and darker bronzer in the summer and winter – so how is one shade going to work for all the gorgeous, unique skin tones in the world? Besides the lack of shade range, it’s a pretty average bronzer. It applies easily to the skin and is pretty long-lasting. I would say that the Maybelline City Bronzer is pretty similar in formula but has at least three shades and it’s much cheaper. Price: $24 US

The final product is the Inc.redible Cosmetics Crystal Ball Rollergloss Duo. Just want to note that it seems that the duo is only available through Boxycharm. On the Inc.redible website they are only sold individually. I like the idea of the rollergloss, it’s very nostalgic. I remember using Lip Smackers roller balls when I was a kid. I have two issues with the packaging. First I find that it never rolls out evenly so I have to turn the thing upside down and roll over the lips like seven times. The second issue is that because it’s a rollerball it’s hard to clean. I often like to wear a lip liner or lipstick under my gloss. With a normal lip gloss wand, I can wipe it before putting it back in the tube. With the rollerball, it rolls under before I can clean it. So I can only use it on bare lips, which sucks since it’s a clear gloss. The actual gloss formula is nice. It’s almost oily so it doesn’t feel sticky and is hydrating. But the packaging is more of a pain than cute. Price: $24 US

The overall total is $144. I initially liked all the products in the box but when I tested them out more I noticed a few more flaws. I like the Violet Voss eyeshadow palette and Luxie brushes. The Aesthetica bronzer isn’t bad but it isn’t special. The Inc.credible Rollergloss is a cute idea but not my favourite. And finally there are better brush cleansers on the makeup compared to the Bodyography one. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. Is this a good box? If you get Boxycharm let me know what you got in your box!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review, Skincare

September Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on September Boxycharm 2021

Hey guys! Sorry I haven’t posted in a week. As soon as I decided I wanted to come back to blogging, I became insanely busy at work. As well, I got my Boxycharm super late this month, hence why this post is going up in October. But I thought I would still share my thoughts on the products just in case you were curious about them. Let’s get into it!

The first product is the Glamglow Youthmud Glow Stimulating & Exfoliating Treatment Mask. This mask is meant to smooth the skin and help with fine lines. This is meant for people with oilier skin types, so if you have dry skin stay away. As well, if you have sensitive be careful because this mask tingles. I’m not a huge fan of the tingling sensation but it did do a nice job of smoothing my skin. Haven’t noticed any difference with fine lines, since I feel like that’s something that takes time to fix. Overall it’s a good mask but it’s not my favourite mask I’ve ever tried. Price: $60 US, $78 CAD

The next product is a duo, so two products in one! The Half Caked Best Friends Forever set comes with the In Bloom Blush and Duo Fiber Brush. The shade I got in the blush is Freshly Squeezed. I love getting brushes in my box and this one is super soft. The blush is super pigmented, so I have to use a very light hand. But it’s very long-lasting which is impressive for a powder blush. The shade Freshly Squeezed is quite a bright red – not exactly a shade I reach for often. But I think this shade would look gorgeous on deeper skin tones. I’m impressed with this set. Price: $22 US, $29 CAD

I got a second set of products, the Pinky Rose Cosmetics Multi-Use Makeup Base Sticks Jazz & Hip Hop Duo. These sticks can be used as either eyeshadow or an eyeshadow primer. Hip Hop is a creamy beige and Jazz is a shimmery copper. The pigmentation and bendability are great on both of these, but they crease so much. I wore Hip Hop as a primer and my eyeshadow creased. I tried Jazz by itself and it creased. If you don’t have greasy eyelids you’ll be fine, but if you’re like me then these sticks still just slip and slide everywhere. Price: $20 US, $25.17 CAD

The next product I received is the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter. This is such a cool product. I’ve used many cleansing balms before but the texture of this is very different. The name butter is quite accurate because it’s much creamier. It does an excellent job at removing all my makeup but not stripping my skin. If you have dry skin you’ll love this cleanser. Price: $38 US

And the final product is the Give Them Lala Beauty Mascara. First I must say that the packaging is a little odd. The tube itself is just plain white, with just the brand name on the cap. The wand of the mascara is nice, on the smaller side which I prefer. I like how my lashes look, they’re long and voluminous. But I find the formula to be very wet so I always get mascara on my lid which is very annoying. I’m curious to see what this mascara will be like in a month once it’s dried a bit and if it’ll still be wet. For now, it’s an average mascara. Price: $20 US

The total value of the box is $160, which is pretty good. I’m most impressed by the fact that there were two sets, so I technically got seven products in my box this month! I’m excited to continue using and testing out the products. Let me know in the comments what you think of September’s box. Was it worth it? Did you get the same or different products? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review, Skincare

November Boxycharm 2020

by LeaLeave a Comment on November Boxycharm 2020

Hey guys! Today’ post is my November Boxycharm. I would recommend watching my unboxing on Youtube if you haven’t already to see these products in action. I’ve tested the products a bit more and I’m ready to give you guys a more in-depth review.

Up first is the Natasha Denona Peak Palette. This palette is exclusive to Boxycharm, but the brand does have other five-pan eyeshadow palettes. I like the layout because it gives everything I need to great a warm-toned eyeshadow look. Natasha Denona’s eyeshadow formula is amazing – the mattes and pigmented but easy to blend and the shimmers are so gorgeous on the lid. Trying out the mini palettes is a great way to try out the formula before investing in a large eyeshadow palette as well. I definitely see myself using this more in the future. Price: $48 US (but also the mini palettes sell for $33 CAD on the Sephora website).

The next product is actually a new launch – the Dr. Brandt Antioxidant Spray Toner. I love a good toner, but I’ve never tried a hydrating toner before. This is supposed to tone, sooth and purify the skin to leave it feeling soft, hydrated and revitalized. Now I still need to test this out more because I find that it takes awhile to see results with skincare. The toner absorbs into the skin so quickly. The first time I used it I didn’t think I got anything on my face because when I went to rub it in the toner had already absorbed into the skin. What I’ve noticed so far it that the toner takes away that tightness in my skin after using a cleanser. I still need to go in with a moisturizer. This would be great for anyone with dry skin who don’t like oil controlling toners. Price: $40 US

The next product is the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Tinted Volumizing Gel. I rarely wear brow gel. My brows are naturally decent. There are a few bald spots that I fill in with a pencil but they stay in place pretty well. If you are someone who likes feathery brows or don’t have a lot of brows to begin with, this is the brow gel for you. It has some colour and volume to the existing brow hairs. It’s really easy to get the feathery look as well. Once it sets the brow gel stay put pretty well, unless you aggressively rub it (but why would you be rubbing your brows lol). If you are looking for a brow gel this is a good option. Price: $24 US, $32 CAD

I think my favourite product in this box is the Moda Ultimate Eye Sculptors. I love Moda brushes, I just find they are such good quality at a good price point. These two are unique in shape but work so well. The crease brush is tapered and oval in shape instead of round. This allows the brush to really get in the crease and blend out shadows while keeping the colour the most concentrated in the deep part of the crease. I don’t own anything like the triad eye brush. It’s triangular and cut at an angle that allows the brush to perfectly get into the outer crease. This is perfect for darkening up the outer v of the eye. I’m in love with these brushes and I see myself using the all the time in the future. Price: $15 US (currently on sale for $9!!)

And the final product is the Half Caked Game Changer Lip Fondant Trio. I absolutely love the branding of this makeup company, it’s just so girly and fun. That being said, I wish I had received something else because a liquid lipstick trio. I don’t wear lip products that much right now (because of masks and not leaving the house) and when I do it’s either a lip balm or a lip gloss. So I don’t see myself getting much use out of it. But I do like the fact that it’s a trio, so there are three shades. On the website you can choose any three shades within their range, but I received Theme Song, Low Key and 82′ Bordeaux. I think my favourite is 82′ Bordeaux, which is a deep red wine. The formula is easy to apply and transfer-proof at least. Price: $36 for trio (currently on sale for $32) or $12 for one lipstick

The overall total of my box is $159 US. I think this box is pretty good! Benefit and Natasha Denona are both really known brands. I also know Dr Brandt and Moda from having a Boxycharm subscritpion for awhile. The only brand I haven’t heard of before is Half Caked and I’m really into their branding. Sure I would have preferred maybe a gloss from Half Caked, but I don’t think there were any bad products in this box.

Let me know if you guys have tried any products in my box. And if you guys get Boxycharm, let me know in the comments what products you got in your box!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Holiday, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Perfume, Skincare

Beauty Lover Gift Guide

by LeaLeave a Comment on Beauty Lover Gift Guide

Hey guys! Today is the first of a few gift guides! I know it’s only November, but I wanted to get these gift guides up early for two reasons. First is next week is Black Friday, so there will be lots of deals (aka perfect time to shop). A second, with COVID-19 I’m sure lots of people will be shopping online so it’ll be best to do your shopping earlier if you want your packages to get delivered on time. So I have this post going up today, a general gift guide going up on Youtube on Sunday, and a book lover post going up on Tuesday. So let’s get into this beauty specific gift guide!

The first thing I’m going to recommend is a gift card. I know that might seem like a cop-out, but let me convince you otherwise. If you are reading this to figure out to get someone who likes makeup and skincare, they probably have a large collection. It could be hard to pick something out that they don’t already have in their collection. My mom doesn’t buy me makeup for Christmas anymore unless I specifically ask for a certain product. So by giving someone a gift card, they can get want they want! As well, the person could pool together other gift cards and money to get a more expensive product that someone might not be able to afford individually. So when in doubt, get a gift card! Okay now into specific products.

The first is the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer. I got a similar one for Christmas last year and it’s pretty good. I know that some higher end brands have their own version, but I’ve seen so many reviews saying that the Revlon one is just as good so might as well get the cheaper one. This is perfect for someone who wants to do their hair but doesn’t know how to do a blowout. I think this is a great present.

One of the best kits when it comes to value is the First Aid Beauty All That Fab set. It’s a $167 value for only $64!! First Aid Beauty has some great skincare products and this set contains all of the best. The brand is also known for being great for people with sensitive skin, so you don’t have to worry about the products irritating someone’s skin.

If you know someone who has been eyeing Charlotte Tilbury products, then the Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Lip Set is the perfect gift. It comes with a full-size of their matte lipstick in the iconic shade Pillow Talk. It also comes with a mini of the matching lip liner. Finally, it comes with two lip glosses – one shimmery and one clear. Listen, if I didn’t already have this lipstick I would pick up this set.

Up next are two gifts for someone who can’t live without doing their eyebrows. Both Anastasia Beverly Hills and Benefit Cosmetics have sets that include both a brow pencil and a brow gel. Brow products are a great gift because it’s something people go through quickly. Also, it can be pretty easy to pick someone’s shade if you know their hair colour. ABH has four shade options and Benefit has three shade options.

The Fenty Beauty gloss sets have now become a staple for the brand. This year’s set includes four new shades – so you don’t have to worry if someone already has these shades. They come in a variety of shades so it matches a variety of tones. A great tip, you can also buy the set and spilt up the lipglosses. So if you are doing stocking stuffers or little gifts for your friends, you can give two to someone, or one each to four people (or to three people and keep one for yourself 😉).

A great skincare set is the Origins Mask Delights Mask Essentials Set. I’ve gotten myself this set in the past (hehe) and I loved it. Even though they are deluxe samples, there is a decent amount of product so I got many masks out of the tubes. This is a great way to try and test out a bunch of masks. I ended up getting the full size of the Out of Trouble mask, and I also loved the Retexturizing mask. This set is great if you don’t know someone’s skin type because there is a range of mask (but I will say it leans more oily). It’s also a pretty affordable gift at $25.

Similar to the Origins set is the Peter Thomas Roth Mix, Mask & Hydrate mask set. The jars are bigger than the Origins set (50 ml compared to 15 ml), but still smaller than a full-size mask (50 ml to 150 ml). This also someone to test and try out different masks. But just based on the size they will probably have these samples for a while. And I find this set more hydrating compared to the Origins set. I have the Irish Moor Mud mask and it’s pretty good, and my mom swears by the Rose Stem Cell mask.

When in doubt, getting a makeup lover a brush set is a great way to go. I picked out this Sephora Collection one because it looks pretty but there are so many great options out there. Brushes are a great option because it’s something that people don’t necessarily purchase for something, but it’s something they can always use more of. Having multiple brushes means I can extend the amount of time I can go in between washing my makeup brushes!

Now I don’t normally recommend perfume because it’s so personal. Everyone likes different scents and how a perfume interacts with someone’s body chemistry can change the scent as well. So I wouldn’t recommend a perfume unless you know exactly what they want. BUT if you know a perfume lover, getting them a sampler is a great option. I found this REPLICA Mini Discover Set. It has different scents so people can test out and see what they like. A bonus is you can offer you purchase the full size of their favourite scent for their birthday!

If you don’t have a lot of money, then getting a couple of Sephora face masks is a great option. This Skincare Surprise Set comes with a nose strip, an eye mask, a face mask and a lip scrub. At $14, this is perfect for a Secret Santa gift. Or you could also divide this up and use it for stocking stuffers as well.

I started with a blow dryer brush and I’m finishing with a legit blow dryer. The Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer Set is the perfect gift for someone who is looking for a blow dryer. It comes with a brush, clips and three of Drybar’s hair products – a serum, a dry shampoo and a heat protector. This set is the same price as the normal blow dryer, so you might as well get all the goodies that come with it! If I wasn’t looking for a diffuser attachment I would ask for this for Christmas.

And that is my beauty lover gift guide! Let me know in the comments down below what is on your holiday wish list this year guys!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Collection, Favourites, Makeup Brushes

My Favourite Makeup Brushes

by Lea1 Comment on My Favourite Makeup Brushes

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my favourite makeup brushes! Brushes are a super important part of doing your makeup. Good brushes can make a huge difference in the application process. Brushes are also an investment piece. They are something that if you take good care of can last you for years. Brushes can also be used for any use you want. Something you will notice is that I use brushes for different uses then they are created. Like painting, it’s not about the shape but how you use it. Today I am sharing 33 different brushes. You don’t need every brush I am sharing, but these are just what I like!

Photo 2020-02-19, 3 19 03 PM

First are makeup sponges. Sponges are very multiple functional. They can be used for any cream product and even powders too. I mainly use my sponges to blend out foundation, concealer and set up under eyes with powder. My two favourites are the Beauty Blender and the Real Techniques Sponge. The Beauty Blender is classic, and the Real Techniques one is the best drugstore dupe I have found. I find it a little softer but also absorbs more product. Both are great sponges.

Photo 2020-02-19, 3 20 31 PM

Next up are my cream base brushes. My absolute favourite foundation is the Morphe Y6. This flat-top brush is dense enough to blend over a large space quickly and doesn’t leave any brush strokes. If I’m not using a sponge for concealer (which I usually do), I use my Luxie 660 Precision Foundation. The pointed tip fits perfectly under my eyes and blends my concealer while keeping the coverage. For cream bronzer, I like the Real Techniques Stippling Brush (also note: on Amazon it’s expensive, but I got it on sale at Rexall for $9). This brush does a great job of blending out a cream bronzer without moving my foundation underneath. For cream blush, I use the Stilazzi Duo Fibre Mini Blender S302. For blush, I am much more precise than bronzer, so I like using this mini brush. The final brush is for cream contour. I like a limited edition Tarte brush. The wide and rounded brush allows for a tight, angled contour.

Photo 2020-02-19, 3 21 17 PM

Next is my powder brushes. As an oily skin girl, I love powder. When I want to pack on the powder, I will use a makeup sponge. For under the eyes I like the Luxie 522 Tapered Highlighter and the brightening brush in the Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio. Both have a slight point and fit perfectly under my eyes. The Luxie brush is round while the Alamar brush is flatter. For all other the face my favourite is the Aesthetica P12. The tapered oval shape makes it perfect for loosely applying powder over the rest of my face.

Photo 2020-02-19, 3 22 58 PM

To finish off the face are the rest of my favourite powder product brushes (aka bronzer, blush and highlight). My favourite bronzer brush right now is the MODA Limited Edition Powder brush (apart of a set). This super fluffy and soft brush is perfect for great an all-over glow to the skin. For a more defined bronzer or contour look, I like the Elf Angled Blush Brush. It’s fluffy but narrow. For blush, I have two favourites. The first is the MODA Pro BMX-130 Pointed Blush. My other favourite is from a random kit that I got from Winners. It’s similar to the Elf one but just slightly fluffier. To highlight my ultimate favourite is the Luxie 512 Small Contouring. I know that it’s technically for contour, but it’s so good for highlight too. I own two of this brush and use one for powder and the other for cream highlight. My other highlight brush is the Morphe R31. I like the shape, the only thing is that it has gotten rough and scratchy with use.

The next category is crease brushes. All of these brushes are great, they are just different sizes. If you have larger eyes, you might like the larger brushes and vice-versa. Also having a bigger brush is nice for transition shades, and smaller brushes and nice for getting in the crease. Starting from the biggest is the Luxie 250 Large Eye Blending (apart of a set). Next is the Alamar Cosmetics Fluffy Blender (apart of Ojitos Brush Trio Vol 1). An average-sized crease brush is the Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Brush. Slightly smaller is the MODA Pro BMX-430 Crease brush. The smallest crease brush that I would still use for blending is the Luxie 229 Tapered Blending. The second photo shows all the brushes up close so you can see the different sizes.

Photo 2020-02-19, 3 29 45 PM

The final category is eye brushes that are not crease/blending brushes. The Sephora Collection PRO Allover shadow 12 doesn’t exist anymore but it’s great. I use this to set my eyeshadow base with a skin colour shadow. Next is the Luxie 141 Mini Round (apart of a set). I use this to pack shadow is my crease for a cut crease or to smudge out my lower lash line. The Luxie 237 Blending is a tiny brush that I like to use to apply highlight to my inner corner and brow bone. It’s fluffy which means it won’t pack on too much product. The next two brushes aren’t even eye brushes. First I the Simply Simmons Spotter brush, which is a paintbrush, do to eyeliner and fake freckles. Next, I use the Morphe M170-4 Oval Lip Brush to cut my crease with concealer for cut crease looks. Another brush from the Alamar Ojitos Brush Trio that I like is the flat tight liner. This is perfect for tight-lining both my upper and lower lash line. Whenever I use gel eyeliner, I use another discounted Sephora Collection brush – the PRO Gel liner 26. To finish off this long blog post about brushes, my two favourite flat brushes are the Alamar flat painter brush (also from the Ojitos Brush Trio) and the Luxie 245 Small Shader Brush (apart of a set). Both are great brushes, the other difference is that the Luxie one is slightly pointed.

And those are all my favourite brushes. Make sure to check out my Instagram because I will be talking more about my favourite brushes there this weekend. Also if you have any questions about brushes let me know in the comments down below!

xoxo

Lea