Product Empties March 2020

Hey guys! It feels weird to just be talking about beauty products when there is so much going on in the world. But it helps me to de-stress to sit and talk about beauty, so I will continue to talk about it. Today my school cancelled in-person classes for my semester. Please through all of the COVID-19 pandemic make sure to take care of yourself physically and mentally, and to listen to your local authorities.

Photo 2020-03-09, 4 56 10 PM

Anyways, now onto the product empties. Today I have quite a few makeup products! Usually, these empties are quite skincare heavy.

The first product is the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist. The spray on this mist is just so good. It’s so fine and doesn’t leave your face soaking wet. The setting spray is okay. It does make my skin look dewier and less powdery. But I think that my NYX Dewy Finish and MAC Fix+ does a better job. The spray is the best part of this setting spray, but aerosol isn’t the best for the environment… I think this is a pretty good setting spray, but I will not be repurchasing it.

Next, a hair mask that I got from Winners. It’s the Luseta Coconut Milk Hair Mask. I like the smell of this mask – it smells of almond and coconut. It also had a nice and thick consistency to it. While it did a nice job of hydrating my hair, it wouldn’t recommend it for two reasons. First, it doesn’t have the best ingredient list. If it does amazing things to my hair or skin I can sometimes look past bad ingredients, but since it did nothing special it’s not worth it. And second I don’t think it’s that easy to find. It’s not worth paying for shipping and duties just to get this mask. This is a pass.

Next is a sample of Estee Lauder Advanced Time Zone Night Age Reversing Line/Wrinkle Creme. This cream is way too thick for my face, so I decided to use it on my body. I’ve mentioned before that I use face cream on my shoulders/chest to help with my acne. Probably don’t need to use anti-ageing product on my body, but I wanted to use this sample up 😛. Because I used it on my body I can’t attest if it didn’t anything for lines or wrinkles. It is hydrating. It’s pretty perfumed though. Honestly, I didn’t think this was anything special, so I will not be repurchasing.

Next is the Bite Beauty Agave+ Daytime Vegan Lip Balm. This was a good lip balm. It’s pretty thick lip balm, but thinner than their old formula. I mean honestly since they have reformulated I think that it’s become an average lip balm. Like it’s good and does its job, but it’s nothing that would make me go out and pay $18 for it. I will not be repurchasing and be using the 10+ other lip balms I have littered around my house.

The next product is my holy grail liquid liner, the NYX Matte Liquid Liner. Now it’s still on their website, but I think they’re discontinuing it because I can’t seem to find it in-store. Now let me list the reasons why I love this liner. First and most important is the brush tip. I believe I am in the minority that I prefer brush tip over a felt tip. I just find it easier to control because it just glides along my lash line. Next, I like that it’s very black and very matte. Its formula is thin enough that it’s easy to apply, but thick enough that it isn’t watery and gets everywhere. Finally, it’s long-lasting but isn’t a pain to take off. I’ve had this one for a while but it’s finally drying out. Now I have mourned it’s lost and I have purchased the NYX Epic Wear Liquid Liner as it’s replacement. We’ll see if this can fill the hole in my heart.

The next product is the Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner. This is a great toner for oily/acne-prone skin. I have talked about it multiple times on my blog because I have used this toner for years. It does a great job of cleaning the skin without stripping it. Now I’ve decided to branch out and try a new toner since I have used the same one of years. But I would recommend this one to anyone in a heartbeat.

I never knew I would love this primer so much when I first tried it. The Dr Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer seems like an oxymoron. But it does a great job of adding some glow to my skin without overemphasizing my pores. I wouldn’t say that it’s as pore-blurring as a pore-filling primer, but it still does a good job. It doesn’t clog my pores and helps my foundation last longer. Honestly, I love this primer and I have already repurchased it.

Next is the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I have mentioned this on my blog multiple times that this is one of my favourite makeup removers. It does such a great job of removing mascara, eyeliner and lash glue. I only use it on my eyes just because I don’t want to rub oil all over my face. I will probably repurchase in the future, but for now I am trying to use up other makeup removers that I own.

The next product is a sample of the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet. This one is a pass for me. I like that it was lightweight and did a good job of moisturizing my skin. But I find that it has an oily consistency that always throws me off whenever I apply it. It’s not bad, which is why I finished the sample. But there are way better moisturizers out on the market.

The final product is the Milani Conceal and Perfect Foundation. I have not finished this foundation, but I am throwing it out because it’s old and I think it went bad. This foundation was all the rage when I first purchased it. It’s a thick, high-coverage matte foundation. Honestly, it’s great at what it does, but I just don’t use matte foundations much anymore. I will not be repurchasing just because I don’t think I would use it much.

And those were my product empties! Let me know your thoughts on some of these products. Do you like them or hate them? There were a lot of misses this time around. Oh well, you can’t love every product!

xoxo

Lea

Februrary Boxycharm 2020

Hey guys! Wow, the month has gone by so quickly! Is it just me or is 2020 going by in the blink of an eye? Anyways, today’s post is about my February Boxycharm! Something different this month is that they sent a virtual insert card instead of putting it in the box. While it’s great to save the paper, I do collect the cards so I’m sad to not have a physical one anymore. But saving the environment is more important than my card collection haha! So my box thing month:

Photo 2020-02-11, 2 09 05 PM

I will say that when I first got my box I was pretty underwhelmed. Most of the products are base products and nothing screams out as being fun or interesting to try. But after testing the products I’ve come to realize that this is a pretty decent box.

The first product is the Ciate London Everyday Vacay Coconut Setting Powder. I have many thoughts on this powder. First, the packaging is trash. There is no sifter so when I open the cap powder gets everywhere. Besides the bad packaging, the scent of coconut is pretty strong. If you are sensitive to scents stay away. It lingers on the face when I first apply it but fades away after an hour. While this is advertised as a translucent powder, it has a white colour to it when applied to the face. It’s nice for me because I can use it as a brightening powder, but if you have a darker skin complexion is powder is also a pass. The formula is great and makes my face look smooth and soft. So overall this powder has some flaws but at least the formula is nice. Price: $22 US.

Next up is the Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio. If you read my last post about my favourite makeup brushes, then you know I love the quality of Alamar Cosmetics brushes. These are also great quality! I love the brightening and complexion brush. I found the bronzer brush a little too stiff and dense for bronzer. But I saw Kathleen Lights use the bronzer brush for foundation the other day so I want to try it out that way! Price: $36 US

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Next is the most expensive product in the box, the QMS Medicosmetics Intensive Eye Cream. This is a step up from my Sephora Collection Eye Cream. I have been using this eye cream for about three weeks and I have noticed a slight difference in how dark my under eyes look. I think with continued use I might see more of a difference. I also do like that this is a day and night eye cream because that way I can get more use of it. Price: $132 US

I have this theory that brands use Boxycharm to get rid of products before they discontinue it. I have received multiple products that within a year is off the market. This Kat Von D Cake Pencil Liner is my example. I know that Kat Von D is going through some re-branding, and they are probably just trying to get rid of this product to roll out their new brand. I know also know a lot of people don’t like Kat Von D, so I find it surprising that Boxycharm carriers a controversial brand. Either way, it’s a gel liner. It’s a boring item to receive in my box, and you can definitely find a cheaper and better quality liner than this one. Price: $26 CA, $19 US

The final product is the PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Correcting Primer Energize & Rescue. PUR is a staple brand in Boxycharm, they have their products all the time. This primer is apart of a whole range of primers. This primer is supposed to smooth and soothe the face before makeup application. It’s basically a nice moisturizing primer if you ask me. The primer does smell like aloe and coconut water. It gives a nice appearance to the skin but doesn’t do anything for the look of pores or the longevity of my makeup. Overall it’s a decent primer but nothing spectacular. Price: $17 US

The final total of the box is $226 US. I don’t think I’ve had a box worth over $200 is a while! I might not have been wow-ed by the box, but it was still pretty good at the end of the day. Let me know what you think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

 

Current Skincare Routine Jan 2020

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my current skincare routine! I have been  loving my current routine and have noticed a huge difference in my skin because of these products. I will say that most of these products are a little pricey, but I see skincare as an investment in keeping my skin healthy so I don’t mind spending more money. Also something to note, this is my morning skincare routine. I’m pretty lazy at night and will just remove my makeup and cleanse my skin. I think to do an in-depth routine in the morning because it helps me wake up. 😊

jan 2020

My current cleanser is the OLEHENRIKSEN Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser. This cleanser is meant for oily to combo skin and is good for oiliness and acne. This has helped control my acne. I will say that it took a while for my skin to get used to it because it is pretty strong. I started using it just on my oily areas, and as my skin adjusted I can now use it on my whole face. It leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh but not stripped unlike some other cleanser meant for oily skin. This comes with a ton of product so I have been getting my money’s worth with this product.

My next step is toner. I have been using the Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner for a couple of years now. I put a little bit of this on a cotton round and swipe it across my face, focusing on my cheeks and around my nose. I find that this helps with oiliness in my t-zone, and also helps keep my pores clear. I also notice that it helps with texture on my face as well.

Next up is a step that isn’t in the photo, but I use a prescription acne cream for spot treatment and acne-prone areas. I use an adapalene cream, which is a type of retinoid. I find using a retinoid  helps heals my active breakouts. I also find that it helps with post-breakout scarring. I know there are a ton of non-prescription creams on the market that contain different retinoids, so I would recommend doing some research before using one.

The next product is a sample that I received in a Sephora rewards box. I have been loving the Biossance Squalene + Vitamin C Rose Oil.  I have been applying this to my cheeks to help with my acne scarring and I have  noticed a difference! The acne scars don’t look as dark. The whole area overall just looks bright and more even. The oil does take some time to sink into my skin, so I brush my teeth while I wait for this to absorb. I know this oil is quite expensive, and I’m sure there are cheaper options as well. But since I have a sample I am using it and loving it!

My current eye cream was recommended to me by a friend. It’s the Sephora Collection Brightening Eye Cream – Hydrate & Depuff. I think this is a great hydrating eye cream for the price. It keeps my under-eyes hydrated, but I don’t find it the most brightening or depuffing cream. I think for $23 this is a basic eye cream, but it isn’t anything crazy that you need to go run out and get.

The final product I use is the Laneige Lip Glowly Balm. I have mentioned this lip balm before, but this is a great hydrating lip product. This is lightweight so great for daily use. I have found the packaging simple to use as well. It’s an expensive lip balm but I like it!

And that is my current skincare routine! Let me know what some of your current skincare favourites are in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Product Empties January 2020

Hey guys! I am back with a good old products empties! I didn’t do a post in December, so this one is a little longer than usual. But I will try to be brief haha.

jan 2020

First I have two setting sprays, both favourites of mine. First is the Urban Decay All Nighter and the other is MAC Fix+. I have talked about these setting sprays many times before on my blog. I find that UD does a great job of making my makeup last, and MAC Fix + does a great job of making my makeup look flawless. I have repurchased both of these.

Two hair products from L’Oreal today! The first is the L’Oreal Total Repair Cica Creme. I use this after I shower on the ends of my hair. I noticed a difference in my hair when I didn’t use the product, but I wouldn’t say it overall improved the health of my hair. It’s not bad, but I have decided to try a different hair oil for now. The other product is the L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Nectar. I did notice a difference with this product! My hair was softer and shinier after I used it. Not a product that I would use all the time, but great for special occasions.

A makeup empty for once! I finally finished my Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation. I think this might have been the first time I have ever finished a foundation! I talked about this foundation in my 2019 favourites if you want to know more about my thoughts on the product.

Two products from Lush today! The first is the Mask of Magnaminty. I didn’t finish this mask because it dried up on me. But I did repurchase it because I  enjoy this mask. It does a great job of cleaning my skin. I will just try  hard to use up the mask this time before it dries out. The other Lush product is Karma Kream. I love this body lotion. It is thinner than most but absorbs into the skin quickly. I love the scent, and I find that it lightly lingers throughtout the day. I just love the blend of orange and patchouli – it’s sweet and spicy at the same time!

I finished two Origins masks. I got both of these in a gift set last year, and these were my favourites. I like them both equally for different reasons. The Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay is good for evening out skin texture. The Out of Trouble mask is great for helping with active breakouts. I like both masks and would repurchase, but I am currently trying to use up some other masks in my collection. But I would recommend both masks.

I finished my favourite moisturizer, the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. They have updated the packaging so it looks different than the one I finished. I have already purchased another one and I’m already half-way through it. My skin just loves this moisturizer.

Another moisturizer is the Tula Super Soothe Calming Moisturizing Lotion. I have mentioned this in the past that I use a face moisturizer on my chest and back to help control my acne. This one I won in a giveaway so I decided to use it for that purpose. Did a great job of keeping my body moisturizer and not break me out. I will not be repurchasing because I don’t think Tula even ships to Canada?

Next up is a product I got in my Boxycharm, the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm. This balm is great at removing a full face of makeup. I enjoy using it after a night out to quickly and effectively remove my makeup. The only thing I don’t like is that if I get it in my eyes my vision gets all blurry. Very annoying. So while it did a good job of removing my makeup, I would go half-blind for five minutes after using it. I will not be repurchasing it because I have other products I want to test out.

The final product is the Nivea Hydro Care lip balm. I love this lip balm, but I repurchased it AND THEY CHANGE THE FORMULA. I am shocked and saddened. It smells different and feels different on the lips. I don’t like the new formula as much. I will continue to use my new lip balms since I purchased them, but guys it’s not the same. 😭

And those are my product empties! Also, I am looking into changing up how I take my photos, so head over to my Insta (@xoxoxoleelee) and let me know what you think!

xoxo

Lea

Sephora VIB Sale Haul

Hey guys! If you guys have been following me for awhile, you know when I don’t post for a bit it’s usually because I am busy with school. So sorry for taking so long to get this up, BUT school comes first! I still wanted to share my Sephora VIB Sale haul even though the sale is over. Might be useful for some Christmas wish-list inspiration 😉 I have two bonus products that I bought on Sunday with a coupon I got in the mail. So without further ado, my haul:

Photo 2019-11-23, 12 06 59 PM

First I got the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops in medium. I am going down south before Christmas, so I wanted to get some self-tanner. My friend owns this self-tanner and she recommended them to me! You add a few drops to your moisturizer and then apply it to your body. I will definitely update you guys on how it works!

Next I repurchased my two favourite setting sprays. The first is the MAC Prep + Prime Fix +. I love this setting spray because it does an amazing job of melting my makeup into my face and making it look so flawless. The other setting spray I got is the Urban Decay All Nighter. I really do think this spray makes a difference in how long my makeup lasts. I got a mini so I can bring it with me on my vacation.

Another repurchase is the GlamGlow Bubblesheet mask. I kinda hate that I love this mask because $12 is a lot for one sheet mask. But it does such an amazing job at cleaning out my skin. Plus it’s really fun to use. So I have this one for special occasions, and only buy it when its on sale.

My favourite moisturizer at the moment is the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. I have been using this moisturizer for almost a year now, I am just in love. It’s the perfect texture – not too thick and not too thin. It really hydrates my skin and I have really noticed a difference using this moisturizer.

Next is a very boujee purchase. I bought myself the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in the shade Pillow Talk. This shade is their best seller and is known to be the perfect nude. I have heard so many people rave about it that I decided to try it for myself. While this lipstick is pretty pricey, sometimes you have to treat yourself!

Final product is a repurchase of the Beauty Blender. I love this sponge, but it ain’t cheap. I always like to get it during the VIB sale to save money. I basically buy a new one every sale and throw out my old one. While these babies last longer than disposable sponges, it’s important to change then after a couple of months.

And that is my Sephora VIB Sale haul! Let me know what you guys bought in the comments below!

xoxo

Lea

Product Empties November 2019

Hey guys! So today I am sharing my product empties! And like every other product empties post, this is going to be a long one! So let’s get right into it.

Photo 2019-11-08, 1 12 30 PM

First is the Glamglow Bubblesheet Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask. This is the best sheet mask I have ever used. Most sheet masks are just good at hydrating the skin, but this sheet mask did an amazing job of cleaning out my pores. My skin felt and looked so clean after. And it was super fun to use with all the bubbles. Not the cheapest sheet mask on the market, but good for those days when I want to treat myself.

Next is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer. This was an old shade that they don’t make anymore, which is sad because it matched me perfectly. I did repurchase it, but the one I own is a little too warm for me. This is a really good full-coverage concealer. For all my Canadian gals this is a great dupe for the Tarte Shapetape.

Two mascara empties are the Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara and the Butter London Double Decker Mascara. The Tarte mascara is one of my favourites and I did recently repurchase it. I like the Butter London mascara as well. It made my lashes look super fluffy and long. Unfortunately, Sephora does not sell this mascara, and I don’t love it enough to go through the hassle of ordering it online.

Next up is three dry shampoos. And funny side story: I was needing shampoo and I finished all three bottles in one go because they were all almost done! Always happens when you need something that you are out of it! Anyways, I finished two Batiste dry shampoos, one in the scent Rose Gold and one mini in the original scent. Batiste is a great drugstore dry shampoo, but I prefer the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones more. This does not leave a white cast like the Batiste one. I do find that my hair looks greasy by the end of the day still, but it looks way better than if I hadn’t used dry shampoo. I decided to repurchase the Moroccanoil one.

I just finished an Amika mouse, but it apparently doesn’t exist anymore. Honestly, that’s okay because it wasn’t my favourite mousse. It did an okay job. It defined my curls more than if my hair were to air dry, but I’ve tried mousses that have done a better job before. Still on the hunt for the best product for enhancing curls!

Next up is an Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. This is one of my favourite setting sprays. It just does such a great job of locking my makeup lock in place. I also notice a difference using this compared to some of my other setting sprays. I will definitely be purchasing another one.

A skincare favourite is the Garnier Micellar Water. It’s just the best and most sensitive way to remove my makeup. I do like to use a cleansing balm now and then, but this is good for those lighter makeup days when I don’t need a thick balm to remove my makeup. It also doesn’t leave my skin feeling dried out after either. Love it!

Another skincare favourite is the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub. It’s just the best at exfoliating my face. And I love that it’s a drugstore product. Whenever my face is feeling gross I will use this scrub and it feels so much nicer after! I love it and would definitely recommend.

I was waiting until I repurchased the Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream before finished the one I had. I just love this cream. I brought it with me to Europe, so every time I smell the cream it reminds me of my trip. It is also so hydrating. Will forever be repurchasing this lotion.

The final product is the Lush Mask of Magnaminty. I really like this mask. It does an amazing job of cleaning my face and helps with any active breakouts. Whenever I have a big bad zit this is the mask I grab. I also love the refreshing smell. Unfortunately, this mask dried out before I could finish it, but I did decide to repurchase it because I love it so much. I will make an effort to use it up before it dries out this time!

And those are my beauty product empties! Let me know your thoughts on some of these products, or if you have any product suggestions for me!

xoxo

Lea

Product Empties September 2019

Hey guys! Remember last product empties post I said I would post more often so there would be less products in one post? Ya that didn’t happen… today we have sixteen products! I honestly think I’m going to turn this into a monthly series in order to shorten these posts. On the plus side I am really proud of myself! I have been making a conscious effort to finish up half-used products, these posts really show that I have been doing that! So without further ado, my empties:

Photo 2019-09-18, 12 38 16 PM

So starting off with lip balm, I have three empties. I’m really bad at having multiple lip balms all over the place, so I’m trying to whittle my collection down. First I still had the old version of the Bite Beauty Agave lip balm (there new one is called Agave+). I won’t ramble on about the old formula since it’s not available anymore, but I do like the new formula. I also finished up a mini sample of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. This mini sample took me almost a year to finish, I’m sure the large size would last forever. I already have another mini of the grapefruit flavour, but I would personally suggest their balm over the mask. Finally, my favourite lip balm is the Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm. It’s super light weight on the lips but also super moisturizing. And it’s like $3 for a two pack, which is way cheaper than the other two I finish. Nivea is my ride-or-die, I have seven littered around my house.

Next empty is something that doesn’t exist anymore. I got an NYX single shadow in a holiday kit, and I finished the eyeshadow! It was a bone coloured creme, and I used it to set my eye primer every single day. I’m not sure if the quality of other NYX shadows are similar, but based on this single shadow I would purchase a palette of theirs.

Sticking with the drugstore, I finished my Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless powder. This was the first powder I purchased, about three years ago. I like this powder way more than their loose setting powder. It is just so buttery and creamy, and doesn’t leave your face looking cakey. I did decided to repurchase this powder because I really do like it. I don’t necessarily use it everyday, but it is create for touch ups. I highly recommend, best drugstore powder in my opinion!

Next up is pair of lashes – the Lashaholic Instaglam lashes. These ones are finally too full of mascara and lash glue to be worn anymore. But I friggin loved these lashes. I got them in a Boxycharm box once I just feel in love. I like them because they are very fluffy and not too full, so it is still possible to see the eye look behind the lashes. I also have hooded eyes, and I find that they just suited my eye shape so well. I would love to repurchase these, but it’s not just very economical of me to buy one pair of lashes from an American website. I will thoroughly miss these though.

Now to take a break from makeup, I have some skincare products. If you are new here, check out my last products empties post, I have already reviewed the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Mattifying Lotion. You can tell I love these products just by the fact that I have already finished them again since my last product empties post.

Another skincare product is a sample of the GlamGlow Supermud Activated Charcoal Treatment mask. I know this is one of the most popular charcoal face masks on the market, but I have to be honest – I didn’t like it that much. It made my face feel really tingly and tight afterwards. While it did a good job of cleaning out my pores, it did nothing for my active breakouts. It also smells like licorice – not my favourite scent.

Next up I have three setting sprays, because I go through setting sprays like water. From the drugstore I have the Milani Make It Last setting spray and the NYX Dewy Finish Setting spray. I like both of these because they do what they say. The Milani one makes my makeup last longer compared to other setting sprays, and the NYX one makes my face look dewy. Both are reasonably priced, therefore I would recommend both (and I have repurchased both). The other setting spray is the Mac Prep + Prime Fix +. Listen, this is a cult classic for a reason. I don’t know what they put in this spray, but my makeup just always looks ten times better after applying it. It takes away the powdery look and makes the makeup just melt into the skin. It is also amazing for enhancing any eye shadows, pigments or highlights. I will always have Mac Fix+ on my vanity.

Next up are two products from Sol de Janeiro. I finished a mini of the Coco Cabana Body Cream. I love this scent and I do find the textures between this one and the original slightly different. The original is a true cream whereas this one is more of a gel. Anyways I love it so much and I did repurchase it. Then I had a mini of the Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel. While I really liked using it, I will not be repurchasing it. The shower cream smells exactly like the cream, but I found it had not staying power. Sometimes I will use a shower gel or soap and can smell it on my skin afterwards. This wasn’t the case for this one. So while I enjoy using it in the shower, I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin. I rather by the lotion which has a strong lasting power than buy the shower gel.

Another body product is The Body Shop Body Butter in the scent Mango. Oh I love their body butters. They are just so moisturizing but also fast drying. I don’t have to wait forever for it to absorb into my skin. I have tried three of their scents so far, and next time I want to try another one. The Body Shop has such a nice range of scent, there is one for everyone.

My final product is the L’Oreal Dream Length Saviour Mask. It was a good mask but it wasn’t amazing. Like my hair did feel smoother and felt less dry after using it, but I didn’t feel blown away by it. I am on the hunt for a good hair mask, so let me know in the comments your favourite one!

And that is my product empties! What are some products that you finished lately? Let me know in the comments down below 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Product Empties July 2019

Hey guys! I am back with another product empties post. I know you guys always like these posts! I have also been making a conscious effort to go through my products. I have a bunch of half used product that I want to finish up. I am pretty impressed with the amount I have, since it’s been only four months! Anyways, here are my empties!

july 2019

First up I finished three cleanser. First is another Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (what a surprise). This is just my favourite cleanser. I always have an empty one every. single. product. empties. post. It’s so good. Just try it yourself.

Next is the Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acne Treatment Cleanser. I think this is a pretty good cleanser. It does a good job of leaving my face feeling clean and fresh. I also enjoy the citrus scent. I decided to not repurchase this cleanser for a few years. While my skin is still pretty acne prone, it is not as oily was it once was. So I felt like it was maybe time to switch it up. I was also finding it harder to find this cleanser in store as well. In the end I would recommend this cleanser, but I am using something else.

The other cleanser was a sample of the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. I also liked this cleanser. Once again I felt like it did a good job of cleaning my face. It has a bright peach scent that I also enjoyed. Also I only needed a small amount of this cleanser to wash my face. Overall, I thought it was a good cleanser, but since anti-aging is not really my big skin concern I will not be repurchasing.

Next up I have five moisturizers. My skin was actually dry this past winter/spring. I just want to start by saying I have a very acne-prone back/chest. To help with this I use moisturizers meant for the face on this area. The first I used for this area was the Jouviance Hydractiv Antiox Pollution-Fighting Moisturizer. You can purchase this product at Shoppers, but it ain’t cheap. Honestly I wasn’t a huge fan, which is why I used is on my back instead of my face. It has a weird texture and took awhile to sink into the skin. I had this moisturizer for like ever, it took so long for me to finish. Overall I wouldn’t recommend, especially for the high price that it is.

Now if you have acne prone skin you HAVE to get The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Mattifying Lotion. This moisturizer has done wonders clearing up the acne on my back/chest. It is important to keep areas that are breaking out moisturized, because over these areas are overproducing oil in order to compensate with dryness. This moisturizer gives enough hydration to help my skin, but the tea tree in this moisturizer helps treat active breakouts. I have already repurchased this moisturizer. I use it on my back/shoulder/chest after every shower.

My current favourite face moisturizer is the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. I originally purchased this moisturizer because I wanted something a little lighter and better suited for every day use than their overnight sleeping mask. I instantly fell in love. As I mentioned, but skin have slowly shift from being oily to being more combo/normal. It less oilier than before, if anything sometimes it can be a little dry. This moisturizer is more hydrating than my mattifying moisturizers, but it isn’t as thick as some other ones that I have tried. It is also very lightweight. But most importantly it doesn’t break me out. I really like this moisturizer, I already repurchased another one.

A moisturizer that I didn’t like as much was the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer. I know a ton of people really like this moisturizer, but I don’t like it as much as the Laneige one. This was actually the only moisturizer I brought with me to Europe, and while I was there I was missing my Laneige one. I just find this one thicker and I can feel it on my face after. Maybe if you have drier skin you would like this more, but this one is a pass for me.

The final moisturizer is the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream. This literally feels like rubbing water on your face. I don’t know how it works, but this cream quickly blends into the the face and feels as light as water. I just wish it was more hydrating. After I applied it I kind of wanted to apply another layer. I would recommend this for really oily people.

A product that I didn’t finish but I am throwing out is the Purlisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum. If there is one step in my skin care routine that I am horrible at remembering to do consistently, it’s apply eye cream. It’s just something I always forget to apply. During the seasonal change between winter to spring, but undereyes were a little dry. I tried using this Purlisse eye cream, which I got in my Boxycharm three year ago. Well I think it’s expired not, because it actually made my under eyes drier. I vaguely remember trying it when I first got it and liking it, but I think it’s just expired not, and that’s why it’s causing me to have a bad reaction.

One last product in the category of moisturizers is the Satsuma Body Butter by the Body Shop. It’s funny because I love of satsuma in soap form, but wasn’t a huge fan in the body butter form. But besides the scent, I loveeee the formula of the Body Shop body butters. They are thick and creamy, and leave the skin feeling so soft and smooth. I repurchased the body butter in a different scent.

Now for hair-case. I received the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask in a Boxycharm box. I feel like one of the few people who isn’t in love with Briogeo. I like that their product are clean, but I feel like the barely do anything for my hair. I feel like I get similar results from using a drugstore deep-conditioner mask. I don’t know, like I finish the bottle and didn’t notice a huge difference.

The other hair product is something that Herbal Essences doesn’t even sell anymore. I bought this oil elixir because I was finding the ends of my hair to be really dry. I would use a little bit of the oil on the ends of my hair and it made such a difference. I only needed a little pump so it lasted me forever. Sad that they don’t sell this oil anymore because it was really good!

Finally there are three makeup products. First is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I mentioned in my Current Faves post how much I was loving this concealer. It is the perfect medium coverage where it covers the dark circles but doesn’t look to full-coverage/cakey. Clearly I love this concealer since I finished it.

Next is two bronzers, which is super impressive. The first is my Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. It took me forever to finish this bronzer. I hit pan like a year ago, and I finally gave up on the bronzer last week. The reason why this is the best bronzer ever is because it buildable and leaves a beautiful glow to the skin. If you haven’t tried this bronzer yet, go out and get it now.

The final product is the PUR Mineral Glow bronzer. I actually shattered this bronzer. But it’s funny because a year ago I had actually broke the compact and got my dad to glue back together. And then a month ago it actually shattered and was gone for good. I am very sad about this bronzer because I liked it a lot. I liked to use it in the summer along with my Butter Bronzer. I would use this to really deepen up the skin. Plus it had a slight shimmer to it, so it would make me look like a bronze goddess. I believe that I can get PUR at Shoppers Drugmart now, so I might look around and get another one if I can find it.

And that is my long and rambly product empties post. Fifteen products might have been a little much for one post haha. Anyways, let me know down below what product you always finish and repurchase!

xoxo

Lea

Influenster #SpringThingsVoxBox Review

Hey guys! So today I am sharing some products that I got in my Influenster #SpringThingsVoxBox. I did received all these products for free for reviewing purposes, but all the thoughts in this post are my own.

influenster producters spring 2019

The only product I am not fond of is the Juice Beauty SPF Oil-Free Moisturizer. I am really picky with my sunscreens. Most either break me out or give me bad texture so I am very hesitant to try new ones. First I don’t like this because it claims to be a moisturizer but the feel and consistency is just like a sunscreen. I don’t find it that hydrating, if anything it leaves my skin feeling powdery. I have to be very careful not to apply too much or else it leaves a weird white-cast. But realistically I shouldn’t be putting on just a little sunscreen, so I don’t like how finicky it is. Finally I haven’t tried putting makeup over top, but judging from how powdery it makes my skin feel I don’t think it would work well. But while I don’t think I’ll use this on my face, I will probably still use this on the rest of my body. I like that it is made with organic ingredients, and it’s free of a lot of bad chemicals.

Next is probably by favourite product I tried, the Clean&Clean Deep Action Peel Off Mask with Activated Charcoal. I’ve tried a bunch of peel off masks, and this is the first I’ve actually liked. It was easy to peel, didn’t hurt, and actually cleaned my skin. This performed better than some high-end masks that I’ve tried. There is also a lot of mask in one packet, so you could probably get two masks out of the one packet. I would highly recommend trying out this mask, especially since it’s from the drugstore it’s so cheap!

The other Clean&Clear mask is the Night Relaxing Jelly Sheet Mask. The mask was very cooling and relaxing. I also think that it did a great job of hydrating. What I didn’t like is that it’s only covered half of my face. I get that the mask is meant to target the eye area, but if I wanted to do that I would just apply under eye masks. I still want to hydrate the bottom half of my face. I ended up using the extra serum from the packet on my chin and cheeks, but overall I rather use a full sheet mask.

A product I’ve already tried before is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. The one I received was in their Grapefruit flavour, which I much prefer over the original one. I really do like their Lip Sleeping Mask, but now that I have tried their Lip Glowy Balm I prefer that product over this one. This lip mask is super hydrating and leaves my lips feeling so soft. The only thing I don’t like is how unhygienic the product is. I have long nails, so I find it hard to put my finger in and not get it under my nails. I believe that the full size mask comes with an applicator, but the mini doesn’t. Their Lip Glowy Balm, on the other hand, is a squeezy tube which I find more hygienic.

The final item is the Elf Rose Gold Sunset Palette. This was perfect timing, because I had been thinking about trying a palette from Elf! This palette comes with 10 shades, with a mix of matte and shimmer. I think for $12 this palette is pretty amazing. I definitely prefer the mattes over the shimmers. The matte are super pigmented and blendable. The shimmers are okay by themselves, but I find that adding a little setting spray really makes them shine. I wish there was maybe one more matte brown shade, but overall I think there is a nice mix of shades in the palette. I was able to make a nice warm-tone smokey eye, check out my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) to see the look!

And those were the products that I tested out! Thank you to Influenster for sending me these products. If you want to check out my Influenster account, it’s the same username as my Instagram!

xoxo

Lea

What Makeup + Skincare I Travel With

Hey guys! So as a part of my travel series, today I am sharing what makeup and skincare I brought with me on my two and a half week trip to Europe! I brought a lot of stuff (my suitcase was almost overweight…) but too be fair I did use the majority of the products. Because I brought so many products, this post would be so long if I were to review each product. Most of the products I have reviewed before, but I think that it’s pretty obvious that I like most of these products since I brought them with me!

First is makeup! I bought a new makeup case specifically for this trip. I wanted a hard case one in order to keep all my makeup safe and in one spot. I got the ROWNYEON case from Amazon and it worked like a dream. I was able to fit the majority of my makeup and my brushes in this case. The only downside is that because it’s so protective it can be heavy, so that is something to keep in mind. I ended up carrying it on the airplane because my suitcase would have been overweight if I had put it there.

Photo 2019-06-14, 2 18 48 PM

So as you can see from the above photo, I brought a ton of makeup, and everything but my Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette fit in it. I’m just going to go through order of how I apply my makeup.

So first for eyeshadow primer I had the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer. It’s the only primer I use, so of course I brought it. For eyeshadow I brought my Colourpop single shadows that I mentioned in my Current Faves post in a mini Z palette. Then I brought the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette. I know that Jaclyn is currently going through some controversy with her brand right now, but at the end of the day this palette is amazing (and my trip was also before all this controversy). It just has such a nice range of shades, I was able to create some many looks with this palette. It’s also super study so it fit nicely on the side of my suitcase.

For eyeliner I brought the NYX Matte Liquid Liner and the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in the shade (Earth)quake. I always travel with a brown and black liner. I brought two mascaras – the Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara and IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. The Tarte mascara is more daytime while the IT Cosmetics is more big volume-night time looking. I also brought one set of lashes, the Battington Lashes in the style Monroe. For eyebrows I had the IT Cosmetics Universal Brow Pencil and my ride-or-die ABH Brow Wiz.

For face primer I brought my Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer and the Smashbox Photofinish Primer. The Smashbox primer I have in a mini, so it was super nice to travel with. For foundation I brought my Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation. I had decided to bring the full bottle of foundation with me because when I went to Mexico at Christmas I had depotted some but didn’t have enough so I didn’t want to have that problem in Europe. The nice thing is that this bottle fit perfectly in my makeup case, so I had no issues with it breaking. For concealer I brought my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I brought two powders with me. I would usually apply my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (in the mini size) in the morning and then use my Wet n Wild Photo Focus Pressed Powder to powder myself through the day.

I decided to bring my CoverFx Perfector Face Palette mainly because it has a big mirror in it. I used this mirror almost every time I was doing my makeup. I would also use the face products as well, especially the highlights. I still brought tons of face products ahaha. For bronzer I brought the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer which I had in a mini! Another mini I had was the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Paaarty – it was apart of the birthday present from Sephora a few years ago. For blush I also brought my Laura Geller Baked blush. I brought my Colourpop Pressed Powder Highlight in the shade Here Kitty Kitty. The formula is so creamy that I wasn’t afraid of it breaking. Finally for setting sprays I brought minis of my two favourites – the Urban Decay All Nighter and the Mac Fix+.

For lips I brought a ton of options, but to be honest I didn’t use most of them. Whenever I know I’m going to be eating food I will usually just wear lip balm or lip gloss. But just in case your curious, I brought: Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in Champagne Mami, Tarte Tarteist Shimmering Lip Paint in Flaming Hot, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow, Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in the shade Catoure and finally MAC Matte Lipstick in the shade Velvet Teddy.

Now to make this long post even longer – my skincare! So I kept all my toiletries in bag that I’ve had since I was 14, so I don’t think its available anymore (it was also a gift so I have no idea where it’s from). It has lasted me really well! So I keep all my shower products in the front back, and then inside I keep all my skincare to one side and then hair care to the other. As you can see from the photos, I keep some mini products in it all the time. In this post I will not be talking about my hair care because I am planning to do another separate post about that.

Photo 2019-06-14, 2 23 52 PM

In this photo most of these products are full sized, but on my trip I had either minis of everything or they were in travel bottles. First for cleanser I brought my Fresh Soy Cleanser and the Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. I hadn’t tried the Drunk Elephant cleanser before going on this trip which was a mistake. This cleanser is too strong for my skin, so luckily I brought my Fresh cleanser because I had to stop using it. For toner I had some of my Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner.

I had two moisturizers – the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer and my CeraVa Moisturizing Cream. For makeup removing, I had my classic Garnier Micellar Water and Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I also had some makeup wipes as well. In the shower I always exfoliated with my St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub. Finally I had minis of two of my favourite masks: The Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask and Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay.

And those were all the products I brought with me to Europe! This post really gives you a good look at what some of my favourite products are (and how much of an over packed I am haha). Stay tuned for Tuesday when I will have a post up about my actual trip!

xoxo

Lea