Beauty Box – Page 6 – Leave it to Lea

May 2019 Boxycharm Review

May 31, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I am officially back from my trip to Europe! Sorry I didn’t have any posts go up the last three weeks – I ran out of time before my trip to write and decided to just enjoy my trip instead of worrying about posting. I am an amazing time on my trip, and I will be writing a few blog posts about it so stay tuned for that!

Even though I was away most of the month, there was no way I would be missing a Boxycharm box! I haven’t had much time to try the products, but I wanted to at least give you guys my first impressions of the items in the box. This month’s theme is Make Waves.

Photo 2019-05-30, 2 18 16 PM

The first item in the box is the GlamGlow Gentlebubble Daily Conditioning Cleanser. I have used this cleanser a few times now and overall I think it’s pretty average. It’s a nice gentle cleanser, my skin didn’t feel stripped or dry after using it. It also does a good job of foaming up, just like it claims. I personally can’t stand the scent though. I know a lot of people like it, but it reminds me of alcohol. I actually checked the ingredients to see if there was alcohol in this cleanser, but GlamGlow says that it is ‘drying alcohol-free’. Either way, this green tea-apple combination is not my favourite. Overall I will probably continue to use this cleanser now that I have it, but I would recommend others over this one. Price: $28 USD, $35 CAD

Next I got an Eyelash Curler from PUR Cosmetics. Not going to lie, I’m bummed that I received this item. I already own an eyelash curler, and this tool is not really one that you need multiples of. I am sure it’s a create quality lash curler, but it’s just not something I needed. I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep it or give it to a friend/sell it. Price: $18 USD

The next item I got is the Oryza Opaline Top Gloss. I thought this product was a lip gloss, so imagine my reaction when I put this on my lips and it dried down completely within seconds. I have never tried something like this before! It has the shimmer impact of a glossy lip topper but the durability of a liquid lipstick. Now this is not a lippie that I would wear all the time, only for certain occasions when I want a ton of glitter on my lips. But I could imagine having a waterproof shimmer could be good for a festival or fun event. In the end, I wouldn’t say everyone should run out and buy this. I probably won’t use it very often but it does what it claims to do. Price: $14.99 USD or $17.99 (I don’t know what currency but the second price is what is on their website)

More glitter! The next item is the Ciate London Eye Lustre Creme Eyeshadow. Wow this are fun! This creme eyeshadow is extremely pigmented. I put one swipe on my eyelid and I was able to cover it completely all the way up to my eyebrow haha. I think just a little bit of this place on the middle of the eyelid would be so beautiful. While I found that the eyeshadow didn’t crease, it was still tacky. About an hour later I was able to wipe it off using my finger. I’m not sure how long wearing this product would be. Overall I think this is a fun creme eyeshadow that I will definitely play with more. Price: $22 USD

The final product is the Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio, and I got mine in the shade medium/tan. Man these shades just scream summer to me! I can’t wait until I am a little more tan because for now these shades are just a hair to dark. My set includes a coral, a peach and a rose shade which are my favourite to wear as blushes. These blushes aren’t so pigmented that I have to be careful not to over do it. Instead they are buildable and blendable. I really like the eyeshadow palette that I own from Alamar Cosmetics, so I’m not surpised that I like this blush trio. If you like blush, this is a gorgeous trio. Price: $22 USD

And that is my May Boxycharm! While I miss exploring and all the new friends I met abroad, I am excited to be home and have the chance to sit and play with my makeup again!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

April 2019 Boxycharm Review

April 26, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I AM DONE UNIVERSITY!! I can’t believe that it’s over! I will be posting a life update on Tuesday, so stay tuned for that. For now I have my April Boxycharm review. Now April has been a crazy month for me, with final papers and then exams and then moving back home. I have barely worn any makeup this month, so I haven’t really had much of a chance to test out the products I got in my box this month. I did one look with the box, so this post is going to be more of a first impression then an in-depth review.

Photo 2019-04-10, 1 36 18 PM

The first product is the Luxie Summer Daze 3PC Brush Set. I love Luxie brushes, they are some of the best I have ever used. They are super soft but also durable. They don’t get scratchy after multiple washes. I actually already own the 512 small contour brush, but I don’t mind a second one since I also like to use this brush to highlight. I always like getting brushes in my box, especially these Luxie ones since they are such high quality. Price: $28 USD

The next product is the Bodyography Eye Pencil in the shade Bali Bronze. I tried it in my waterline and it applied quite smoothly. Some wooden eye pencils can be quite stiff, but this one was creamy. I didn’t wear my makeup very long, so I don’t know how long wearing this pencil is. I am not sure how often I would use this pencil, since it is a sparkly bronze shade. Price: $14 USD

The big item in this month’s box is the Festival Palette by PUR. I only used a few shades, but this palette is so gorgeous that I have many more in mind. The shade Wild Child, the bright pink, was the perfect balance of pigmented and blend-able. Sometimes bright shades are so pigmented that they can be hard to blend out. This shade is beautiful. I really like that they included two pressed glitters in the palette. These glitters are in a clear gel so they are pretty easy to use but it does take a bit to build it up. When using the glitters I would recommend using a glitter primer underneath. By the time I had finished doing my makeup the glitters were already starting to crease. Overall I really like this palette. I think it has a nice balance between wearable neutrals and fun pops of colour/glitter. I will definitely be using this again! Price: $36 USD

The lippie in this month’s box is the Appeal Cosmetics Holographic Lip Gloss. I really like this lip gloss! I will say it isn’t what I would picture for a holographic lip gloss. There isn’t a ton of glitter particles, so it just adds a nice hint of shine to the lips. But the base of this gloss is so juicy. This is like a nice almost clear gloss with just a hint of sparkle. Love it! Price: $21 USD

The final product is the Artist Couture Diamond Glow Powder in the shade Purple Dream. I have another one of the Artist Couture powder highlighters, and WOW they are great for festival season. These highlights have very fine glitter in them, so it makes your cheeks pop. It’s a little much for everyday use, but great for special occasions. I wore my other highlight during my school’s Frosh Week and got so many compliments. This shade is also super fun. It’s a peach base with a beautiful purple shift. Not something I would wear on the daily, but fits perfectly into the festival theme of the box. Price: $27 USD

And that is this month’s box. Overall I think this box was super cute and would be perfect for anyone planning on going to a festival this summer. What did you guys think of this month’s box? Let me know in the comments down below!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

March Boxycharm Review 2019

March 29, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hello friends! Today’s post is my favourite of the month – my Boxycharm! My box came in very late this month, but Boxycharm did send an email letting me know about this. I think all Canadian subscribers got this box late this month. So I have only tested these products for about a week, but overall I really enjoyed this box! I am also living for the theme, which is La Vie en Rose. Most of the products are rose/pink coloured, which I think it cute. I am really enjoying these cohesive boxes!

Photo 2019-03-27, 12 02 26 PM

First up are two Moda Brushes – a Powder brush and a Soft Glow brush. For those of you who do not know, Moda Brushes are a brand by Royal and Langnickel, who also make art brushes. I really like the other Moda brushes that I own. The handle on these are rose gold, which matches the theme but I excepted them to feel heavy like the other Moda brushes I own. The actual brush hairs are soooo nice though. They are super soft, and my other Moda brushes have continued to stay nice after many washes so I except these to last as well. The powder brush is a nice balance in between tense and fluffy, which is nice to putting powder on the face. The Soft Glow brush is fluffier compared to other highlight brushes I have used. Since the brush is less dense, it doesn’t put on as much product so it gives a nice soft glow. Honestly I have never used a brush like this before so I am not used to the soft effect it gives, but I am really liking it! I also think the price point on these brushes are quite fair. Price: $29.99 USD

Next is the Appeal Liquid Eyeshadow in the shade gold. At first I was shade that I didn’t get the rose gold shade because in the tube it looks very yellow gold. But honestly I think this is my favourite product in the whole box. This eyeshadow is more like a liquid glitter, it has a rather colourless base and is packed with gold glitters. I just dab it on my eyes and adds some very wearable sparkle to the lids. It reminds me of a limited edition Colourpop Super Shock Shadow that I own. This eyeshadow also lasts on the lids forever. It didn’t flake off or anything, it looked good all day love. Would definitely recommend these! Price: $21 USD

I was a little hesitant about the Wander Beauty Lift Off Purifying and Brightening Peel Off Mask at first. The last time I used a peel off mask I have little bumps all over my face for a week. The first time I used it I applied a thin layer all over my face. The thin layer meant that I didn’t hurt too much while peeling it off, but it kept on breaking off into tiny little pieces. I tried it again, this time using applying a thicker layer. The second time it was way easier to remove, and barely hurt at all. While my face felt smooth I didn’t notice a huge difference in the look of my pores. What I like the most is that this mask didn’t make my face felt dry after, like some other peel off masks that I have tried. I think this is a nice, gentle peel off mask – I will definitely continue to try this. Price: $34 USD

Next is the Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Monaco. This shade is not my thing really at all. It has a metallic finish which I am not a big fan of. It also is cool toned, which I don’t wear very often. Honestly not impressed by the shade, but as I have mentioned before I really like the formula of Ofra’s liquid lipsticks! Dear Boxycharm, please just send me nudes!! Price: $20 USD

The final product is the CoverFX Perfector Face Palette. First, I am very happy that Boxycharm is finally taking into account our customization quizzes so I can get products that match my skin tone. I got the shade light/medium which is perfect for me. I really like this product. I find that contour shade is more of a bronzer but I really like it. It is pigmented but not overwhelmingly so, easy to blend and not too powdery. The blush has the same formula. Not a huge fan of a really pink blush, but it’s still quite nice on the skin. The highlighters are amazing! There are two shades, one pink and one more gold, are so beautiful on the skin. Then the brightener shade in the middle is an interesting icy-champagne. This palette has all the highlight shades I would ever need. The only powder I haven’t used is the finishing powder. It has little glitters within the powder, but is feels very nice and smooth. I don’t know if I would use this powder under my eyes, but it could look nice on the rest of the face? Honestly I would have preferred a matte setting powder. The package is hard and sturdy, and it comes with a nice big mirror. This would be great for travelling since it has everything in one palette and has a good mirror. I am really happy with this product! Price: $45 USD, $57 CAD

And that is my March Boxycharm! Honestly really impressed with this box! What did you guys think of this month’s box? Let me know 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

February Boxycharm 2019

March 1, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Happy March! So for those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram (which is @xoxoxoleelee, you should check it out), I posted a poll about when I should post this review. Last week I hadn’t had a chance to fully test out the products in my box yet, so it would have been a first impressions last week or wait until this week for an in-depth review. In-depth review won, which is why my Boxycharm review is going up today! This month’s theme is Afterglow, which I must say compared to the last few isn’t my favourite. I assume it’s joking around with the fact that they have the TooFaced Better than Sex mascara in the box. Anyways, here is the box!

Photo 2019-02-15, 12 35 39 PM

So the first big item in the box is the TooFaced Better than Sex Mascara. Now I know this is a classic mascara that is a fan favourite, so I was excited to try it for myself. Now I am going to just say, I’m not a huge fan of this mascara BUT it is still a good mascara. I know that might sound contradictory but here me out. I have realized after trying a few mascaras that most mascaras are either lengthening or volumizing. Rarely will you get one that is good at both. This is a very good volumizing mascara, but I have just come to realize that I prefer lengthening mascara. The only thing is that the brush is very big, so I find it very easy to get mascara on my eyelids. Be careful when applying, otherwise this is a good mascara. Price: $24 USD or $31 CAD

Next is the Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer. Primers are a beauty product that take awhile for me decide how I feel about them. I believe because there are so many things that must work with a primer. It’s performance can be affected by what foundation and powder is used with it. I also find some primers are good with some foundations and bad with others. I have been testing this out and honestly I am still unsure about this primer – which I definitely think says something. I didn’t instantly fall in love with it and I didn’t instantly hate it. What I have noticed so far is that it does make my pores look smaller and my skin looks smoother. But I also find that my foundation kind of sits on top of my foundation and doesn’t properly sink into my skin. I also haven’t noticed a difference in making my skin look any less oily. If you were curious about this primer I would say try it for yourself to see how you feel, but this isn’t a primer that I think everyone should go out and get. Price: $18 USD or $23 CAD

Next is the Pretty Vulgar Bronzed B Bronzer in the shade Bronzer Mannikin. Now I didn’t realized that this bronzer is for medium-deep skin tones until I looked it up to link but it makes so much sense now. I was finding that this bronzer was just a little too dark and a little too warm for my skin currently. I think once it’s summer that I would like this bronzer more. The other thing is that this bronzer is very pigmented, so the fact that it is too dark it very obvious. I have to use a very light hand and tap off any excess. For bronzers and blushes I personally prefer formulas that are more buildable than pigmented, because I find it very easy to go overboard with these products. I don’t think this is a bad bronzer, just maybe if I had the lighter shade I would like it more. Price: $32 USD or $39 CAD

I am SO happy that I got this product!!! I know that there was a few variations, and I am very happy that I was able to get the Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream. I love the smell of coconut, so I was thinking of buying this cream. I am glad I waited since I got it in my box. I really like the original, but I think I might like this one more. First the actual formula is different, and I find this one soooo much more mositurizing. I have used it every day I shower and wow I have noticed a difference in my skin texture. The scent is strong but isn’t as lingering which I prefer. But wow the scent. Like I said I love coconut, but this isn’t your Hawiian Tropics sunscreen coconut (which I still love btw). This is a warm coconut smell, which I love for the winter. I already know I will be purchasing another jar once I finish the one I got in my box. I suggest everyone goes and smells this cream for themselves, and if you like the scent definitely buy it! Price: $20 USD or $25 CAD for 2.5 oz

The final product is the Nude Stix Magnetic Luminous Eye Colour. I got the shade Copper Foil, which is a very warm, light copper shade. I am actual very happy to receive this product instead of another eye shadow palette because I actual don’t own any eyeshadow sticks so this was fun to try. I think luminous is really the best way to describe this this stick. I was expecting an intense metallic shade, but instead it a nice creamy wash of shimmer and colour. This pencil is better suited for everyday wear instead of an intense night-out look. I do like this pencil because it was easy to use. I just apply the pencil straight to my lid, and used a matte crease shade it help blend it out. The only thing is that I find that this copper pulls very orange-gold, whereas I prefer a darker copper or just straight up gold. So this is not my favourite shade, but it’s still nice. If there is a shade you like then I would recommend trying it out! Price: $24 USD

The overall total for the box is $118 USD. I really liked this box! There were no horrible products in the box, and I think anything I am not a huge fan of is because of personal preference and not because the product was bad. But the Sol de Janeiro cream just totally made this box though, if I had received a different variation I might feel differently. What are your thoughts on these products? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

January Boxycharm 2019

January 25, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Here we are with the first Boxycharm of the year! I really liked this month’s theme – Boxy and Chill. I found that some of my products matched this month’s theme and colours, which I really appreciate because it makes the box look cohesive. Anyways, this month’s box:

photo 2019-01-16, 11 43 49 am

First product is the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Strength + Moisture Leave-in Mask in a deluxe sample size. If you guys read last week’s post, you would know I wasn’t a huge fan of their deep conditioner. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this leave-in mask, but I did like it! Normally I use a hair oil and a mouse on my hair and then leave it to air dry. I tried this product with my other hair products and by itself. I definitely notice that it makes my hair softer compared to using no product, but I find my hair oil to be even more moisturizing. I will say that the spray on this bottle allows me to coat all of my hair while the hair oil I mainly concentrate on my ends. This leave-in mask isn’t heavy, and it actually helped my hair naturally curl. The only annoying thing is that because I have thick, long hair I find I have to use a lot. Overall I think I will continue using this product, but I don’t think I would repurchase it when I’m done. Price: $16 USD for 2 oz sample, $26 CAD for full size

Next is the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol III, which is limited edition. I received the Rainforest of the Sea Vol II in August 2017, and I just gave it away to my friend back in December. I decided to give it away because I just didn’t use it very often, so as you can imagine I wasn’t too excited to receive another one of these Tarte palettes. This one is different because it only has one matte shade and the rest are shimmers. They call the matte shade a ‘nude transition’ but it’s basically just a shade to set your concealer, which I actually really like. I find that this shade is often not included in palettes, so it’s nice to have. The rest of the shades are beautiful shimmers. I find that they are best applied with a finger, but beware that these shades have fallout even when using fingers. The shades are more of a light wash of shimmers than anything crazy pigmentation, so this palette is better suited for everyday lighter looks. I think this palette would be perfect for someone how has a matte palette and is looking for a shimmer palette to pair with it. Overall a pretty good palette, just not sure how much I will reach for it. Price: $36 USD or $47 CAD

Next are the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Face Masks, which came in a two pack. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a Tatcha product in the box because I know the brand is expensive. To put it into perspective, one of their sheet masks is $15 while most other ones at Sephora are around $10, and drugstore masks are under $5. Anyways, back to the product. Now while my skin has been drier, I still consider myself to be a relatively oily person. So I was worried that this sheet mask was going to be too much for my skin. When putting the face mask on, I noticed that this mask has a strong rice smell (probably because of the rice germ oil). I left the mask on for 15 minutes and then rubbed the leftover serum into my skin. My skin definitely felt tacky at first, but this went away after 45 minutes. I was then left with very soft and healthy looking skin. I would say even if you have oily skin you would like this product, but I would use it at night and not in the morning. I am going to save the second mask for when my skin is looking rather lack-luster and dry. Price: $24 USD for a 2 pack, $15 CAD for one.

photo 2019-01-24, 4 07 31 pm

The next product is the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick in the shade Gin Fizz. I have talked about these lipsticks before because I think they have an amazing formula and I love the brand. But this shade…. The best way to describe this shade is Barbie Pink, which is not look I go for on an everyday basis. Maybe if this shade was matte I would like it a little more, but the creamy formula along with the shade is too much for me. But it’s funny because I posted a photo wearing this shade and I got complimented on it. Just goes to show that makeup is subjective. I might use this shade again for certain looks (I’m actually thinking of a pink monochromatic look), but not something I would reach for every day. I WISH Boxycharm would offer better customization for things like lip shades. But overall the formula on these lipsticks are amazing, so I do recommend them. Price: $26 USD, $30 CAD

Finally is the Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Pencil in the shade Aura. Well, there is usually one product in my box I don’t like and this is it… Man, this is a bad pencil. This particular shade is a glittery pink, and it barely looks like anything on my eyes. The glitter in this liner is also sharp, so it hurt my eyes as I was applying it. The other two shades of this eyeliner aren’t glittery so maybe they are better. And this eyeliner is expensive for being so crappy! I did not like this eyeliner and I am going to be decluttering it. Price: $19 USD

The overall price of the box was $121 USD. It’s funny because the two products I was the most unsure about, the Tatcha sheet mask and the Briogeo leave-in mask, are probably my favourites. What products were your favourite? Let me know in the comments 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

December Boxycharm Review

December 28, 2018May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I am back from Mexico and spent the last few days relaxing with family. I hope everyone who celebrates had a great Christmas, and for those who don’t just a nice few days off work. Today’s post is about my December Boxycharm, but on Sunday I will have a bonus post about my favourite products of 2018, so come back for that!

This month’s theme was ‘Tis the Sea-sun, which was the perfect theme for me because I was in Mexico the past week. I brought all the products along with me to test them out.

Photo 2018-12-15, 11 41 32 AM

The first product is the Marajo Anti-Frizz Serum Capsules. I decided to use these capsules instead of my regular hair oil while I was in Mexico. The capsules come with the perfect amount of serum for me, since I have a lot of hair. If someone had shorter hair they might find it’s too much. I had to be careful while opening these, because the first time I got the serum everywhere. The serum did a great job of making my hair soft and shiny, but the serum was no match for the Mexican humidity. My hair was still frizzy, but at least it was soft. Overall I really liked these capsules, and I will definitely use all of them. They were not so life changing that I would repurchase them. Price: $28 on the card, but $18 on the website, so not sure which is the real price.

Next up was the Bodyography Lip Liner. I got the shade Barely There, which is pretty accurate because this shade is literally a perfect match for my lips. I don’t use lip liners very often, so I haven’t really figured out what I like. This lip liner is a wooden one, and a little sifter compared to some other ones I’ve tried. Because it’s the literal shade of my lips, it’s hard for me to see how long to lasts. Overall it’s not bad, but I don’t know how much I would use it. Price: $12

The Tarte Shimmering Lip Paint surprised me. I didn’t know they were sheer at first, so I was initially disappointed by the shade I received, which was Flaming Hot. But then I put it on my lips and I feel in love. This is a thick gloss that adds just a sheer wash of colour and sparkle. The smell is amazing, it reminds me of butterscotch or caramel. I didn’t think I would like this product but now it’s my favourite in the box. Price: $20

The next product is the PYT Mini Hair Straightener. I think it’s pretty cool that Boxycharm gave something different than another palette and instead a hair tool. I brought this straightener with me to Mexico, and it was the perfect size to travel with. This straightener is very mini, the plates are smaller than my thumb. This straightener is better suited for touch ups or people with short hair. I tried to straighten my hair, and I have long curly hair. It took me around 20 minutes to do my full head, longer than usual. Certain stubborn sections I had to pass over a few times. I want to try curling my hair with this iron though, because I think the smaller barrel could create some nice curls. Overall I’m pretty impressed, but because it is mini it does have some drawbacks compared to using a regular one. Price: $75

The final product was the Wander Beauty Dusk to Dawn Blush and Highlight Palette. This palette isn’t bad, but I’m not just wow-ed by it. The blushes and highlight are very pigmented, so I had to use a light hand. I also found the shades were just a bit to dark for me, especially the highlight. I brought this palette to Mexico, and I found myself reaching for other blushes and highlights over this palette. The palette is good quality, but it isn’t anything amazing that makes me choose it over other products. Price: $26

The total of the box was $161, and it was the straightener that really bad this box expensive. I know this month there were many other variations, and I definitely think I got one of the better variations this month so I’m happy! What are your thoughts on this box? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget to come back Sunday for my favourite beauty products of 2018!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Favourites, Review

Best Boxycharm Products of 2018

December 21, 2018May 6, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hello friends! I am survived exams and I am currently in Mexico! I am writing this post while looking at the ocean, ahhh how relaxing. Today’s post I am very excited to share. This is my second full year of reviewing Boxycharm, so I have received around 60 products this year. Some of the products were amazing, and some were not so great. I have twelve products that I absolutely loved, and at the end I will say which box I think was the overall best in 2018. Now in no particular order, my favourites:

Photo 2018-12-15, 12 06 54 PM

1 – Ace Beaute Grandiose Eyeshadow Palette

This year, Boxycharm put a palette in almost every box. I have tested many palette, and this is one of my favourite one. It was in November’s box (which was overall pretty great). The quality of the eyeshadows are amazing, and it has a nice mix of wearable everyday shades along with some fun pops of colour with the pink and coral. This is definitely a palette I see myself using in 2019.

2 – IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Throwing it back to January with this product. I remember when I first used this pencil I wasn’t too sure, and then I proceeded to use this pencil all summer. It was just the perfect match for me. I like this product during the summer because it added some colour and shape to my brows, but it didn’t look like too much. It perfectly matched the makeup-no-makeup look I rocked most of the summer. I will definitely repurchase this pencil when I run out.

3 – Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer

This is probably a shocker to most of you. I got this product back in January and it wasn’t until December that I fell in love. My skin went through a dry period this much, so I was looking for products that helped bring some life back to my skin. This primer was the only one I owned that wasn’t completely matte, and it did wonders for helping my skin. For all my normal/dry girls out there, or anyone really who is looking for a dewier primer, this one is great.

4 – Sol de Janerio Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

It takes awhile for me to go through products, but I finished this before the month of June was even over. The scent of this cream is just amazing. I bought another one, which is the one in the photo above. If you haven’t tried this cream yet, you are missing out on something amazing.

5 – Butter London Double Decker Mascara

This was the year of great mascara in Boxycharm. The first of two favourites in the Butter London one. I should definitely get a new one because I’ve had this one since March (oops). But it’s so goooood. This mascara gives me fluffy lashes – that is the best way to describe it. It adds a little volume and length without looking too crazy. This mascara is great for every day wear, and removes really easily. I don’t know where they sell Butter London in Canada, but I will find a way to buy this mascara again because I need it in my life.

6 – IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

The IT Cosmetics mascara is the opposite of the Butter London one. This mascara is the one I wear when I want my lashes to be huge but I don’t feel like wearing falsies. This Mascara really lengthens my lashes and add just a hint of volume. This mascara can be a little stubborn to remove, but the effect is well worth it. This was by far the best product in November’s box.

7 – Alamar Cosmetics Ojitos Brush Trio

I received tons of brushes from Boxycharm this year. Besides the Luxie eye brushes I received in my box last year, these brushes that I received in my September box are my favourite. I just personally enjoy the brush shapes that come in this trio. It has a blending brush, a flat brush and a liner brush – everything you need to do an eye look. The quality of these brushes are great and I reached for them again and again.

8 – Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten

Another product from September, that I am actually surprised I love so much. I received quite a few blushes from Boxycharm, and I don’t like many of them. I didn’t think that I would like this blush since it has a slight sheen to it, but it’s actually what I love so much about this blush. Most of the blushes I own are matte, but this one just adds just a healthy glow to my skin. I love it. Very surprised, good choice Boxycharm!

9 – Battington Monroe Lashes

These lashes were from June’s box. This year I have really started to wear false lashes more, so it was great to received some in my Boxycharm. These Battington lashes have been great. They are easy to apply, look great on the eyes and can be re-worn multiple times. I have been thoroughly loving these lashes.

10 – Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Vol 1 Palette

Another great products from June’s box was this palette. The quality of the eyeshadows were just amazing. The blue shade, Varadero, is probably the best metallic blue I have ever used. Whenever I wore this palette everyone asked me what I was wearing. Just looking at this palette right now makes me want to go and play with it again. I also saw that they just released new products, so @Boxycharm, if you guys want to give us more of their products I would be very happy!

11 – Girlactik Long Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shade Posh

This year was not the year of lippies for me when it came to Boxycharm. I recieved soooo many weird shades, it’s not even funny. But this Girlactik liquid lipstick was by far the best. It is such a comfortable liquid lipstick, my lips don’t feel all dry and gross after wearing it. The shade Posh is just such a gorgeous warm nude. This was another hit product from January, and I honestly want to get more shades because this lipstick is great.

Honourable Mention to Naked Cosmetics Holographic Highlighter Collection

I used this highlighter palette, specifically the blue shade, during my school’s Orientation Week in September. Our theme was a music festival, so I went all out with the crazy makeup. This highlighter was amazing. It colour showed up so nicely and bright on my skin, and it lasted all day through the heat and humidity. I got some many people complimenting me on my highlight, everyone thought it must be Fenty Beauty or ABH because it was so good. If you are looking for a crazy, colourful highlight palette, this is the one.

Those were all my favourite products that I received in my Boxycharm this year. The best box of the year for me is a tie between June and November. For both June and November, the only bad product was the Jonteblu eyeliner – I’m not sure why Boxycharm keeps on giving us these eyeliners because I don’t like them. In June there were a tons of products that I really enjoyed. In November, I really liked that the box had a cohesive look to it.

Overall, I think 2018 was a great year for Boxycharm, and it has definitely gotten better over the years. What was your favourite Boxycharm products this year?

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

November Boxycharm

November 30, 2018May 6, 2020by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! I’m just gonna start off this post with saying that this is probably one of the best Boxycharm I’ve received in awhile. It’s not perfect, and I will give a fair review of all the products, but it was pretty good. I also loved the goal theme they had going on. Every product was black and gold, it gave me real New Year’s Eve vibes.

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The first product is the Instaglam False Eyelashes by the brand Lashaholic Lashes. First I love the sparkly gold box that these came in. The lashes themselves are beautiful. They are long but wispy, which means that I can see the eye look behind them. The band on these are very thick, so they are not the most natural looking. I also had some difficulties putting them on, but I honestly find that I struggle putting lashes on the first time and then after that they are easy for me to apply. Overall, I really liked these lashes, but they’re not my absolute favourite because I did struggle to apply them. Price: $14.99 USD

Photo 2018-11-20, 2 40 36 PM

Next is the Luxie Luminous Eye Set. As you guys know, I always love getting brushes, and these are no exception. I really like that Boxycharm sent this set because these brushes are minis, so they are smaller than typical brushes. I have received larger brushes, so it’s nice to get some variety. These brushes are great for small eyes or doing detail work. The gold packagaing is also beautiful. Very happy with these brushes. Price: it says $21 on the card, but the website says $30 USD

The next product is the Coverfx Glitter Drops in the shade Nova. This product is beautiful, but definitely not an everyday kind of highlight. This is basically liquid glitter. I drop a little bit on the back of my hand and then use my finger to apply it to my face. It dries down and leaves little flecks of glitter where I apply it. I think this would also be beautiful all over the body. While I don’t wear glitter every day, I will definitely reach for this product when I want glitter. Price: $44 USD, $54 CAD

The Jonteblu Glittering Star Eyeliner is probably the only product that I don’t really like. Jonteblu is a repeat brand for Boxycharm, and to be honest I’ve never been a huge fan of any of the products I received from them. This eyeliner is not the worst, just the glitters back it a little crumbly. I put it in my waterline and it didn’t stay very long. Not the worst eyeliner, but at least the packaging is pretty. Price: $5 USD

The final product is for sure my favourite: the Ace Beaute Grandoise Palette. The eyeshadows in this palette are amazing. They are pigmented and creamy. They apply well using both my fingers and brushes. Overall the quality of the eyeshadow in this palette are amazing. I do have a few personal preferences towards the palette. The shade Patchouli is a little too dark for me to set my eyeshadow primer but I could use it for other purposes. The shade Primerose, which I used all of the lid for one of my looks, is a little yellow for my taste since I prefer lighter gold shades. I also wish I had a darker shade, because the shade Poppy is a little lighter on the eyes, and I wanted a shade to deepen some of my looks. But the shades Clove and Rose are so beautiful and unique, and Jasmine is a beautiful highlight. I really liked the pink look I did with this palette. For the second look, I tried to do a cut crease, but had so many issues with my hooded eyes haha! Overall, I really liked this palette and I would recommend to anyone looking to purchase it. Price: $24.99

The total value of this month’s price was $109.98. Like I mentioned before, I really liked this box even. I try to give you guys a critical review of all the products, to let you know whether the products are worth purchasing separately. I hope that is helpful! If you guys got Boxycharm, what was your favourite product this month?

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Review

Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations

November 9, 2018by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! It’s that time of year again – time for the Sephora Sale!! This weekend is the sale for those who are VIB Status, which is 20% off. Next weekend is the sale for everyone who is a Beauty Insider, which is 15% off. Sephora doesn’t do sales very often, so this is the time of the year to make some purchases! I have decided to round up my recommendations on what to buy from Sephora.

VIB Sales

1. Stock-up on frequently used products

If you’re like me, you probably have some ride-or-die products that you go through pretty quickly. For me, that’s my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. This are products that I use daily, so it’s nice to stock up on them.

2. A Beauty Blender or Brushes

Having good tools make applying makeup easier. If you have a good brush you can make even a mediocre product look better. Things like Beauty Blenders are expensive and maybe not the most exciting thing to purchase, so it’s nice to buy them when there is a discount available. I use my Beauty Blender daily to blend my concealer and apply powder, and while there are some drugstore dupes they’re not as great as the original. There are so many different brushes available at Sephora, but some of my favourite are the actual Sephora Collection ones. They have both sets and individual brushes, and some really cute ones too!

3. Skincare

Skincare can be expensive man! But it’s important to take care of your skin, because it makes makeup apply easier. There are so many amazing skincare brands at Sephora, and obviously every has different skin types, so what I like might be different than you. Some of my favourite brands are Origins, First Aid Beauty and Peter Thomas Roth.

4. Palettes

Palettes are probably some of the most expensive makeup items, so getting them during a sale is a great way to save money. Last VIB sale I bought Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette and the Tarte PRO Glow Highlight and Contour Palette. I really like both of them! Urban Decay and Too Faced also make some great eyeshadow palettes. Maybe I do a palette collection post sometime, let me know if you guys want me to do that!

5. Fun Purchases

I know that is a broad category, but I mean something that you would not purchase/use on a regular basis. Some examples include a new lipstick, some glitter or even false lashes! My lipstick recommendation are the Bite Beauty ones! They currently have some nice gift sets, so perfect time to try them out. For glitter, you can never go wrong with the Stila glitter eyeshadow – I own two and love them both. I also just bought the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, I will let you guys know how I like them. Finally, for lashes there are so many different ones, so it really depends on what you like/are looking for. I’ve tried the Sephora Collection ones and they are pretty good!

Those are my recommendations for the VIB sale! I also recommend to just try whatever product you have had on your wish list for awhile! The best time to try something is when you can get it on sale!

I personally only got a few products, so I will probably not being writing a full blog post of what I got. But check out my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) because I will definitively be showing what I got on there!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

October Boxycharm 2018

October 26, 2018May 6, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! It’s time to review my favourite thing – my Boxycharm!! Story time about my boxy before I start – it accidentally shipped to the wrong house! It happened during the fall break, when I was at home instead of my student house where I normally ship my Boxycharm too. Luckily I found it when I came back on the Sunday. I assume it was also at a student house, and they brought it over back when they came back to school as well. So glad they didn’t steal my package! Anyways, this month’s theme is Alter Ego, and if you haven’t seen the campaign photos you should check them out – Boxycharm did a great job this month!

Photo 2018-10-17, 1 31 09 PM

The first is the Dermovia Lace A Peel Black Bamboo Charcoal Peel off Mask. I am not a huge peel off mask person to begin with, but I decided to give this mask a chance. I like that it comes as a pack of two, so I can try it again. I also think the lace is cool and innovative, and did help with the peeling process. The lace was itchy while I was wearing it, especially around the ears. This mask was so painful. I did this mask about an hour ago and my cheeks are still red. It did a pretty patchy peel job. Areas around my nose and chin, which are my problem areas, did not peel off. Overall, my skin feels smooth, but when I look closely my pores are still clogged. But to be fair, I don’t like peel off masks in general, so maybe if you like them you would like this one. Price: $30 USD for two masks.

Next is the PUR Midnight Masquerade Palette. I have mixed opinions on the palette. I really like the face side but I’m not a big fan on the eyeshadow side. The face side has a nice balance of shades for lighter and darker complexions. I used the darker shades as eyeshadows and they worked beautifully for that as well. They are pigmented and blend really nicely. The eyeshadows are all relatively pigmented except the purple one – the purple blush is more pigmented than the shadow. My big problem is that it’s hard to create a full look. I would prefer three extra eyeshadow instead of the tiny mirror, and for those shades to be mattes to go in the crease. Overall, this is not that a palette I would recommend you go out an buy, but I will still use it. PUR’s eyeshadow quality is great though, so I recommend checking out some of their other palettes. Price: $38 USD

Another skin care item I received is the Farmacy Beauty Green Clean. I know some people don’t like getting skin care in their box, but I personally don’t mind receiving it. I was a little hesitant about this product, because I’ve tried other cleansing balms and didn’t really like them. This is the best cleansing balm I’ve every tried. It does a great job of removing stubborn makeup, especially mascara. It also doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy after, and I haven’t had any issues with it breaking me out yet. It also has a great lime smell, which I love! My only concern is that when I use it to remove my eye makeup, my eyesight is cloudy for a couple minutes and then it clears up. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s still not good for my eyesight to be messed up like that. I’ve never had this issue with other cleansing balms. I tried to see if anyone else has this problem, but no one else said anything on the reviews. This makes me hesitant to use this product, but it is a very clean product so this might be a personal issue and not a general product issue. Let me know if you have heard of people having a similar issue! Price: $22 USD, $34 CAD

My favourite product in the box is the IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. I tried a sample of the mascara and didn’t like it that much, but now that I used the full size I absolutely love it. I think this might be my new favourite mascara! It does a great job of lengthening my lashes, more than any other mascara I have tried. It also adds a little bit of volume as well. I really like how it makes my lashes look. The only downside is that the mascara is a little hard to take remove, but I think it’s worth it! Price: $24 USD, $32 CAD

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The final product is the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. Something I’ve noticed about the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks is that they are very different on the lips that in the tube. I got the shade Lovesick, which in the tube looks like a nice mauve nude. I was really excited for this lipstick, thinking that for once I got a shade I would like. Then I applied it on my lips, and it turned out to be so purple!! It’s good for bold looks, but is too much for me for any everyday basis. I’m just annoyed because there were shades I would have preferred to receive over this one. I feel like for every lipstick that I get from Boxycharm that I like, I get two that I don’t like. Patiently waiting for Boxycharm to actually take into account my product preferences… But besides that the lipstick is great! The formula is nice and lasts all day! Price: $20 USD, $24 CAD

Overall, this wasn’t a bad box. Most of the products I didn’t like were personally preference. Total box value is $134, which is pretty good! What do do you guys think of the products I got? How was your Boxycharm? Check out my Instagram for some great Halloween posts!

xoxo
Lea