Category: Product of the Month

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Product of the Month, Review

December Products of the Month

by Lea1 Comment on December Products of the Month

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my November products of the month and picking my December products of the month. I can’t believe it’s already December. It somehow feels like 2020 has been the slowest but also the fastest year. Anyways, let’s get into the products.

The first product is the Milani Make It Last Setting Spray. I did finish their setting spray, which was the goal for the month. It’s not necessarily mattifying but it does help get rid of that powdery look to the face. This is a really good long-lasting setting spray. I do notice a difference in my makeup’s ability to stay put while using this setting spray. I would recommend this if you are looking for a good long-lasting setting spray. Now that I’ve finished this spray I am going to purchase a new one, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. I feel better about buying a new one now that I’ve finished one.

The second product I picked was the Glossier Wowder. My biggest complaint the first time I reviewed it was the fact that barely any powder comes out. And I have to agree that I had the same issue. I thought maybe because there was too much powder in it but I’ve used it all month and I still have the same issue. The packaging is a mesh that I find to be too tight to let out much powder. I struggle to get enough out and therefore find that I can’t powder as much as I want. For example, The Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder is also a mesh but it lets the product out. I think I need to cut the mesh or something but this is just aggravating me. Not a fan.

Now for my December products. The first is the Ace Beaute Bronzed in Paradise Palette. Bronzed is something I wear all the time, even when wearing a mask. There is also a range of shades in here, so I can also use it on the eyes. I also haven’t used this palette in a while so I thought it would be nice to get some use out of it. And then the second product is the Colourpop Jelly Much Shadow in Whistlin’ Pixie. It’s almost dried out, so I thought I would use it a few more times before throwing it out.

And those are the products of the month. As always, let me know if you have any suggestions on products that you would like to see me test out!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month, Review

November Products of the Month

by Lea1 Comment on November Products of the Month

Hey guys! It’s that time of the month where I review some products and pick some more to review lol. Every month I picked two products to focus on using up. I used the two items I picked for October quite often, so I have pretty definitive thoughts on the products. So let’s get into it.

The first product is the Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder. I was hoping to finish this powder but it’s still going strong. What I like about this powder is that it looks very smooth and soft on the face. It’s not too matte but it does help keep my oil at bay. The only thing is that I’ve noticed that it has a slight yellow tint to the powder. I always thought it was my concealers but I’ve come to realize that it’s the powder. Now that’s helpful is I apply a concealer that’s pink-based because it will help neutralize it. I just need to be careful because if I apply too much underneath my eyes I notice the yellow tint. For that reason, I prefer other powders, but it’s still good. I will continue to use it until I finish it.

The second product I picked for October is the Tarte Big Ego Mascara. This isn’t my favourite Tarte mascara. This one has a big mascara wand and I’m not a huge fan of those because I always manage to get mascara all over my lids. So that’s somewhat annoying. I also don’t like the formula. It’s more lengthening than volumizing, but even the length is pretty mediocre. It just doesn’t do much to enhance my natural lashes. And finally, I wore this outside one day when it was really cold so my eyes were watery. And it smudged all over the place! I’ve never had that happen to me before. Now this all might be because this mascara is ancient (aka I’ve had it for over a year) so that affects the quality of the makeup. I think based on my experience but also its age I’m going to throw it away.

Okay now for November! I’ve been trying to pick basic products that I will hopefully use even on days where I don’t wear much makeup. So keeping that in mind I have decided to pick a powder and a setting spray. The first is the Glossier Wowder. I got this powder back in August and I don’t think I’ve used it once since. So I thought it would be good to use it. The second product is the Milani Make It Last Setting Spray. I am pretty close to finishing this spray so I thought it would be good to finish it up and give my thoughts on it.

So those are my products for November. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried either my October or November products and what your thoughts were on them.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month, Review

October Products of the Month

by LeaLeave a Comment on October Products of the Month

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on the products I picked for September as also selecting which products I want to focus on in October.

The first product is the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Medium palette. I have decided that I am putting a pause on picking palettes for this series because I have used this palette twice. Because I don’t leave the house very often I’m not wearing makeup as much. And the days that I do put on makeup I have been gravitating towards no eyeshadow. Or if I do wear eyeshadow it’s because I’m testing out a palette for another post. So unfortunately I can’t give me thoughts on this palette because I didn’t use it.

On the other hand, I have finished my MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder. I have been using more powder lately because I find it helps reduces the transfer of makeup from my face to my mask. I find that my favourite way to apply this powder is with a damp makeup sponge. I find it looks more flawless and less cakey. I wouldn’t recommend this powder and I won’t be repurchasing it for a couple of reasons. First, it does create a white cast when doing flash photography. I prefer not having a powder that does that in my collection. I also have other powders in my collection that does the same job but are cheaper. But overall I am so happy that I finished this powder and that’s the first time I have done that so far during this series!

Now for my October products. The first is going to be the Tarte Big Ego mascara. I’ve had this mascara in my collection for a bit but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite. I’m going to try and get some use out of it and if I don’t end up loving it will probably throw it away at the end of the month because there is a good chance that it’s expired.

The second product is my Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder. This powder is like the never-ending setting powder. I’ve had this for YEARS and I’ve made a consistent effort to use this up multiple times and I can’t seem to finish it. I also go back and forth on whether or not I like this setting powder. Sometimes I love it and other times I don’t but I just want to finish it! So here’s to getting some use out of it and maybe finally finishing it.

Let me know what you guys think of the products I have selected. And if there is a specific product or type of product you would like to see featured let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month

September Products of the Month

by Lea2 Comments on September Products of the Month

Hey guys! Today’s post is my September products of the month. For those of you who are new, each month I pick two products that I was to focus on and get more use out of. I also give my thoughts on the products I selected the previous month.

So the first product I picked for August is a NARS Lip Gloss. I don’t know what the name of it is since the sticker has fallen off. I purchased this lip gloss a couple of years ago and I have tried many lip glosses since. I am surprised to say that this isn’t my favourite lip gloss formula. It’s pretty opaque which is nice but it’s quite sticky. My hair gets stuck on it quite easily and it’s a mess if I wear a mask over the top of this. I love the shade though. It’s a beautiful pink with gold shimmer throughout. I think it’s beautiful on the lips but not the best everyday lip gloss. I’m so close to finishing it that I will keep the gloss but I wouldn’t repurchase it.

The second product is the Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Vol.1 Eyeshadow Palette. If I’m going to be honest, I keep this palette because of the shade Varadero, which is a beautiful sparkly blue. I don’t use it often, but every time I do I am just so blown away by the shade. The mattes aren’t bad but I do have similar shades in other palettes. So ya, I wouldn’t recommend this palette necessarily because it’s not worth it for the one shade BUT I will be keeping the palette for the one shade lol.

Now for my September products. The first is the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Medium palette. I got this palette back in April and haven’t used it much because you know it’s a ~pandemic~ and I don’t necessarily wear makeup everyday. It’s a nice mix of pink and bronze shades which I think is perfect for early fall.

The second product is one I’m hoping to finish. I’ve hit pan on my MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder. I’m hoping that if I focus on this product I can finish it up! I have a large powder collection so it would be nice to finish one.

And those are my products of the month! If you guys have a suggestion for a product for next month let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month, Review

Products of the Month – August 2020

by Lea1 Comment on Products of the Month – August 2020

Hey guys! Sorry, this is being posted a little later in the month. Y’all already know I was at my cottage and wanted to post other things before I got this post up. Anyways, let’s get into it!

makeup, beauty, primer, eyebrows, eyebrow pencil, Touch in Sol, IT Cosmetics

The first product I picked for July was the Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm. Man, this is a great primer I forgot how much I loved it! It makes my face look so dewy and glowy. But unlike applying a highlight it also makes my face feel soft and moisturized. I think this would be great to apply even on no-makeup-makeup days because it just makes my skin look healthy. I am so happy that I pulled this one out of my collection, I am going to continue to use it on the regular.

The second product I picked for July was the IT Cosmetics Brow Power in Universal Taupe. I wished I had used this more. But I’m just so faithful to my Brow Wiz that I found myself reaching for it over this one. First I don’t like the shape as much. The brow pencil is a wide oval so it’s not as precise. The other thing I don’t like as much is that because it’s universal I have to apply so much pressure to make it dark enough to match my brows. My brows are quite dark, they’re almost black, so a universal dark is just hard to match. But I will say that at least the taupe undertone matches me well. I’ll try and use it more but it doesn’t replace my favourite.

beauty, makeup, eyeshadow, eyeshadow palette, lip gloss, Alamar Cosmetics, NARS

Now for my August products. First I picked the Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Vol.1 Eyeshadow Palette. This palette just screams summer to me. So I thought it would be fun to use it to create a few more fun summer looks before the season is over. I also used this palette to create a look a couple of years ago and I thought it would be fun to recreate it as well!

The second product I picked is a NARS Lip Gloss. I have no idea what shade it is because the sticker fell off. But I’ve had this lip gloss for a while and I’ve used it quite a bit. Hoping that I can some use out of it this month and maybe (probably won’t but I can hope) finish it! Going to try and wear this non-stop.

And those are my products for August! Let me know in the comments what your favourite eyebrow pencil is because I want to test out a bunch of different brow pencils to find the best one.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month

Product of the Month – July 2020

by Lea1 Comment on Product of the Month – July 2020

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my review of my June products and showing what products I have picked for the month of July.

makeup, beauty, eyeshadow, eyeshadow palette, Ace Beaute, Fenty Beauty, lipgloss

My products for the month of June were the Ace Beaute  Vintage Dawn and Grandiose Palette, and the  Fenty Gloss Bomb. So I’ll be honest guys, I didn’t wear my June products that much. That’s because I have been skipping eyeshadow and lip products to make my summer makeup feel light and be faster to apply. But I have used both of these products in the past and can attest that they are both amazing products.

makeup, beauty, primer, makeup primer, brows, eyebrows, eyebrow pencil

For the month of July I decided to pick products that I know I would get use out of. I use primer every day, so I thought it would be good to pick out one that I haven’t used in a while. I decided to pick the Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm. I always want dewy skin but especially in the summer so I thought this would be a good pick.

The second product I picked in the It Cosmetics Brow Power in Universal Taupe. I do my eyebrows every single day but often use the same brow pencil (my ABH Brow Wiz). I thought it would be good to get some use out of my other brow pencils.

And that’s in for this month guys! Sorry this wasn’t a very detailed post but I thought I would still update you guys.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Product of the Month

Products of the Month – June 2020

by LeaLeave a Comment on Products of the Month – June 2020

Hey guys! Today I am back with my June products of the month! I took the past two weeks off in support of Black Lives Matter. You can check out my Instagram if you want more information on what I have done for the past two weeks. With that being said, I have decided to pick three products by black-owned beauty brands! Before that let me share my thoughts on my May products.

The first product I picked was  the Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio in Medium/Tan. I liked using this palette! The three colours are all distinct but all wearable. They are very pigmented, so it’s pretty easy to accidentally apply too much. I always tap off the excess and sometimes swipe my brush on the back of my hand before applying it to my cheeks. The blushes have a slight sheen that looks very healthy on the cheeks. I like this palette and will continue to reach for it.

The other two products were both lippies. The first was the MAC Cremesheen Glass. I find there are two types of glosses – those that you can wear alone and those that look better over top of lipstick. This MAC one is the latter. I think it’s because it’s a lighter colour, it just looks funny with nothing underneath. I liked applying it over top of the second lip product, the Maybelline Color Sensational The Mattes. For being a matte lipstick, it’s creamy and feels so comfortable on the lips. The shade is also my perfect nude. The combo is great for everyday wear. I will continue to use both of these lippies.

Now for June’s products! The first product is the Fenty Gloss Bomb. I knew I wanted to use a Fenty product. But since the other products I own are foundation and bronzer, and I am testing out a foundation and bronzer currently, I thought it best to pick the gloss. Plus I haven’t used it in a while so I thought it would be great to revisit it.

The other brand I picked is Ace Beaute. I’ve received two of their palettes in my Boxycharm, but didn’t know until recently they were a black-owned brand! I’ve decided to use both of my eyeshadows palettes because I want to highlight the brand, not one specific palette. The two I own are the Vintage Dawn and Grandiose Palette. I am so excited to great some fun, colourful looks with these palettes!

And those are my products! Let me know in the comments some of your favourite black-owned brands – doesn’t have to be beauty related either!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Product of the Month

Products of the Month – May 2020

by Lea3 Comments on Products of the Month – May 2020

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my April products of the month and revealing the products I have selected for May. The point of this series is to rediscover products in my makeup collection and to get some use out of them.

Photo 2020-04-03, 12 12 50 PM

The first of my products is the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray. I have come to realize there is a reason why I don’t use this spray very often. They spray on this sucks. It leaks so there is setting spray all over the bottle. There is also glitter particles in the spray so it also gets stuck and makes the spray sputter. It’s also such a fine mist that I have like I have to hold it close to my face, with increases the chance of getting droplets all over my face. The formula isn’t bad but makes me really dewy. So this is nice on top of matte makeup, otherwise it becomes too much. Overall not impressed and I stopped using it because I didn’t like it for everyday use.

The other product was the Wet n Wild Rose in the Air Eyeshadow palette. This is one of the best drugstore palette is my opinion. The shimmers are quite medicore, but I have so many shimmers that it’s okay. The mattes make up the majority of the palette and they are great. I was able to create so many looks, where are two that I photographed. I like the mix of warm orangey shades and more neutral pinks. Also did I mention it’s under $10? Ya this palette is great.

Photo 2020-05-08, 1 11 42 PM

Now for my May products I decided to choose three. For my palette this month I decided to pick a blush palette. I picked the Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio in Medium/Tan (I got it in my Boxycharm and they sent me this one, would have liked the light one but oh well). I love blush but always forget to reach for my palettes. And I feel like spring is such a great time to use lots of blush. Excited to play with this palette.

The next are two lip products. I decided to pick both a lipstick and a lip gloss so I have some options. I’ve had both of these for quite awhile and they are probably expired but all the more reason for me to use them up. The first is the MAC Cremesheen Glass. The shade I own is discontinued (Calypso Beat) but the shade Boy Bait is similar. The second is the Maybelline Color Sensational The Mattes in the shade 655 Daringly Nude.

And those are the products I have selected. Excited to try and get some use out of them. Let me know if you have tried any of these products and your thoughts on them.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Product of the Month, Review

Products of the Month – April 2020

by Lea1 Comment on Products of the Month – April 2020

Hey guys! It’s April already, can you believe it? I always loved April, because it’s my birthday month hehe. Also, I am super proud to say that I posted two posts a week all of March! Anyways for today I am sharing my thoughts on my March products and sharing the products I have selected for April.

Photo 2020-03-09, 4 44 35 PM

The first two products were primers. Now I’ll be honest, I didn’t use the Smashbox primer once because I was really focused on finished the Benefit POREfessional Face Primer. Now I am SO close to being done with this primer. My guess is that I have only a few more uses and then I’ll be done with this primer. I will continue using this primer until I am done. So stay tuned for a full review in my next product empties post.

The other product I selected was the Colourpop x Kathleen Lights Dream St. I loved using this palette. I used every shade in this palette once except for the shade Mermaid Boy. I did a fun tutorial using the palette. This was also a great palette to use every day. I would often just use Magical and Shooting Star all over my lid. I would add some of the shimmers to pump up the look. And Elfish is a great shade to do eyeshadow liner. Overall I love this palette and would definitely recommend it.

Photo 2020-04-03, 12 12 50 PM

Now for my April products. The first is the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray. I got this in my Boxycharm but I barely use it. I usually only use it for special occasions, but I feel like I should get some use out of it. I also haven’t picked a setting spray for a product of the month!

Photo 2020-04-03, 12 13 06 PM

The second product is the Wet n Wild Rose in the Air Eyeshadow palette. This is the perfect palette for right now. I usually just do basic looks during the day and when I do fun looks for Instagram I used specific palettes. So this palette with all these matte shades will be great for everyday use! It’s also a drugstore palette that is super affordable.

So those are my products for April! Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions for May, whether it be a specific product or just a category.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Product of the Month

I tried following a beauty Youtube tutorial

by Lea4 Comments on I tried following a beauty Youtube tutorial

Hey guys! Today I decided to try and do something fun while I am stuck inside. If you read my March products of the month, then you know I am using the Colourpop x Kathleen Lights Dream St palette. Kathleen Lights always posts tutorials using her palettes, so I thought it would be fun to try and follow one! I decided to follow this video if you are curious.

So how easy was it to follow the video? Well, first it helped that I owned the palette that she used. That makes it easier than trying to use similar shades. But in the tutorial, she used a Colourpop Super-Shock Shadow that I don’t own. She applied it all over her lid before applying the dark brown Elfish. I decided to just apply Elfish by itself. In hindsight, I would have applied a plain brown eyeliner all over my lids. I felt that it would have given something for the shade to stick to.

Overall I think Kathleen did a great job explaining how to do the look. But to be fair it was a pretty simple smoky eye. It would be interesting to try and follow a more complicated look and see if it would be harder for me to do. I also think that since I had a great base knowledge about makeup it was easier for me to follow along than if someone didn’t know how to do their makeup.

It was funny because in the video Kathleen talked about how she struggled to apply her false lashes. And I had the same issue! I like Kathleen because she is honest, she shows when she is struggling. It makes her more honest and authentic.

This was super fun for me to do, especially because I wouldn’t have thought to do a makeup look like this. I want to try and follow more makeup tutorials!

Let me know if you guys have any you would like me to try! I think I want to do one by Allana Davison next. 👀

I also will be posting a video of me doing this makeup look on my Instagram as well, so make sure to follow me there (@xoxoxoleelee)!

xoxo

Lea