Tag: Beauty

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

Best of Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on Best of Boxycharm 2021

Hey guys! Every year I like to look back and pick out my favourite products that I received in my Boxycharm. There are so many products that I have discovered over the years from my Boxycharm. But sometimes it’s hard when I first get my box to truly know which products are going to be fan favourites. So today I am going to be sharing the 10 products that received this year that are my personal favourites.

1. Violet Voss Olive You Forever Palette

I have three products from my January Boxycharm, the first being my Violet Voss Olive You Forever Palette. I’ve received so many eyeshadow palettes this year and this is hands down my favourite. The colour story is unique but also extremely wearable. There are tons of warm browns and wearable golds but also some fun pops of green. The eyeshadow formula is also amazing. I used this palette for my holiday makeup tutorial! Definitely a palette I see myself reaching for more in the future.

2. Farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer

I love getting skincare in my box, and this Farmacy moisturizer that I got in my January Boxycharm was amazing. This is formulated for oily skin so it was meant for me! The gel formula is lightweight and skin easily into the skin. It dries down matte as well. This is a great daytime moisturizer. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already finished it!

3. Qveen Studio Dragon Duo

The final favourite from my January box is the Dragon Duo eyeliner set. Eyeliner is not necessarily something I get excited about, but I’ve used this set quite a lot and it’s great! The liquid liner is easy to use, which is not always the case with liquid liners haha. It’s black and applies smoothly. The pencil is super black and is pretty smudge-proof. I did a battle of the eyeliner and this Qveen pencil came on top! If you’re looking for some black eyeliner, I would recommend this set.

4. Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask

I received this Saturday Skin sleep mask in my February box and I have enjoyed it! I love using this in the evening, especially after a yoga class, to add some extra moisture to my skin. It sinks into the skin pretty quickly so I don’t have to wait forever for the mask to dry. In the morning my skin feels smooth and plump. I also love the citrus scent. The best face mask I’ve received this year.

5. KAB Cosmetics Hydrating Lip Oil

This KAB Lip Oil from my March box is easily one of the top products I’ve received this year. The formula is amazing, it’s not sticky and feels so comfortable on the lips. It’s super hydrating as well. It has a light coconut scent as well. I have the shade Blue Raspberry which just goes on clear on the lips. It also has a large doe-foot application so it’s so easy to quickly swipe on the lips. This lip oil is beautiful by itself of over top other lip products. I’m just so in love!

6. Maven Beauty Rose Water Setting Spray

A second product from my March box is the Maven Beauty setting spray. It’s funny because I wasn’t a huge fan of this setting spray at first. I was testing it out and then I found myself continuing to reach for this setting spray over and over again. It does a good job at setting my makeup and lasting longer! This was amazing during the summer months when I was wearing a bunch of dewy makeup products and didn’t want to use a dewy setting spray on top. I would use this one and it would tame everything. Still not a fan of the rose scent but the formula is great.

7. Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil

From my April box is the Farmacy face oil. I started using this oil once the weather got colder and it’s great! I use it as a moisturizer at night and it does a good job of adding moisture to my skin. Even though it’s an oil it doesn’t congest my skin or break me out. This is a dry weather favourite!

8. Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer

From my May box, I picked the Murad moisturizer. I recently finished this and featured it in an empties post. The packaging is a pump which I love because it dispenses the perfect amount and I don’t have to stick my fingers in a jar. This is a great nighttime moisturizer because it’s thick but not so thick that it clogs my pores. I think the fact that I finished the moisturizer shows how much I love it.

9. NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Dolce Vita

I received this Nars lippie in my June box and it’s become a perfect everyday lip. It’s not a super matte and drying lip so it’s very comfortable on the lips. I also find that it’s not super pigmented so it gives more of a wash of colour. The shade Dolce Vita is a dusty rose so it’s perfect for everyday use. Whenever I want a nice pink lip I reach for this.

10. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

I was so happy to receive the Glow Recipe Dew Drops in my October box. This was a product I had my eyes on so it was great to receive it in my box! These drops are a makeup-skincare hybrid. Whenever my skin is looking dry or dull I’ll use these drops before applying my makeup. It adds such a beautiful glow to the skin that is more light-from-within than blinding highlight, which is what I prefer. Very happy to have this product in my collection!

And those are the top products that I received from Boxycharm this year! If you are subscribed to Boxycharm, let me know in the comments which products were your favourite this year! And if you like end-of-the-year content, stay tuned because I have more planned for the following weeks!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hacks, Tips and Tricks

Five Tips for Transitioning Your Beauty Routine for Colder Weather

by LeaLeave a Comment on Five Tips for Transitioning Your Beauty Routine for Colder Weather

Hey guys! If you’re like me and live in a temperate climate, then right about now things are probably starting to get pretty cold. I’ve had a few light snowfalls already and things are starting to freeze over here. As we transition from fall to winter, I wanted to share five beauty tips that help make the transition more seamless.

1. Switch up your moisturizer

Everything about winter is dry. The cold air outside is drying and the heating inside is drying. I have oily skin but my skin still gets drier in the winter months. I recommend switching up your moisturizer to something a little heavier to provide that extra hydration. If you have dry skin consider the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration or the Cerave Moisturizing Cream. Both of these moisturizers are very thick and will help give you that boost of hydration. If you have oily skin like me you’ll probably find these moisturizers to be a little too much. I like using the Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil at night. The oil has more hydration than my normal moisturizers but it isn’t heavy feeling and absorbs quickly into the skin.

2. Moisturize the body

Similar to how it’s important to switch to a heavier face moisturizer, it’s important to take care of your body’s skin as well. If you don’t normally moisturize your body, I highly recommend you incorporate it during the winter months. First I will use an exfoliator in the shower such as the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. This helps get rid of any dead skin. I always like to rub some body lotion or body butter all over after I get out of the shower. I like to get some nicely scented ones to as well because it feels like such a self-care moment to use a nicely scented body lotion. Some of my favourites include Lush Sleepy Lotion, Hempz Natural Herbal Body Moisturizer and L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate.

3. Switch to using more powders

While I love using cream products year-round, the winter months are when I break out the powder products a bit more. Since I’m inside I’m wearing a mask more often. If I’m wearing makeup underneath a mask I find powders just last longer. They don’t move around as much and don’t get all over my mask as much. I also find I just gravitate to a more matte look in the winter. Something about the summer screams dewy and creamy to me and since winter is the opposite I go for mattes! Let me know in the comments if I should do a blog post sharing some of my favourite powder products!

4. Give your hands some TLC

If you’re like me, I often forget my gloves and my poor hands suffer from the cold. It’s important to get some products to help them out. I love the Bath and Body Works hand creams, I currently have the Eucalyptus Spearmint scent and it’s divine. Another great product to invest in for the hands is good cuticle oil. I’m not the best at remembering to use it, but whenever I do use cuticle oil I notice such a difference in the health and strength of my nails. I have the CND Essentials Nail & Cuticle Oil and it’s great. It smells like almonds and has a brush so it’s easy to apply. I just to apply it at night and my cuticles are looking great the next day

5. Refresh the hair

Right before the holiday season is a great time to get a haircut if you didn’t get one during the fall. It’s nice to freshen things up. I always love going darker for the winter as well. If you’ve recently got your hair done or it’s just not in the budget, then getting a good hair mask is also a great option. I highly recommend the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Vegan Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. The mask is limited edition to pick it up soon! If you have a good hair mask that is Curly Girl friendly please let me know in the comments!

And those are my five tips to help you transition to winter! Let me know in the comments what you like to do to get you ready for the winter weather in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Product Empties November 2021 (What Beauty Products Would I Repurchase?)

by Lea3 Comments on Product Empties November 2021 (What Beauty Products Would I Repurchase?)

Hey guys! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done an empties post. I barely had any empties for a while and then within the last couple weeks I’ve finished like five products. I have 12 products for today’s post so let’s get into it!

Up first is the Hempz Natural Herbal Body Moisturizer in the Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon scent. I was totally influenced by Sierra Schultzzie on this one. She did an “influencers made me buy it” video and fell in love with this lotion which in turn made me buy it. This is a great body lotion! It smells absolutely amazing – it reminds me of this certain gum but I can’t remember the name. I love the consistency because it’s not too thick but still hydrating. It sinks into the skin quickly and the scent lingers a bit but isn’t overpowering. I decided to repurchase the lotion but this time in the Fresh Coconut & Watermelon scent. Would recommend checking out this lotion.

The next product is the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. Cleansing balms are one of my favourite products to test out and this is one of the best I’ve tried so far. It’s an oil-based cleanser so I find that it’s incredible at removing makeup. Even the most stubborn mascara, liners, lipsticks and glitters come off easily with this balm. Despite the fact that it’s oil-based it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily or greasy. Sometimes if I’m feeling partially lazy I won’t double cleanse because my face feels clean enough after using this cleansing balm. AND best of all it’s available at the drugstore. I recommend checking out this cleansing balm if you wear makeup.

My brother has gotten into the habit of using my eye cream. He loved the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream. We both have very sensitive under eyes and this didn’t both us. I honestly didn’t notice much of a difference but he did. He said it was hydrating and he just found it made a visible difference. He even asked if I was going to repurchase it (to which I replied he can purchase it himself since I have another eye cream open). So this eye cream has my brother’s seal of approval.

The first of two haircare products is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. I highly recommend this leave-in conditioner. First, it’s curly girl approved so my fellow curly hair friends can use this. Second, it does such a great job of leaving my hair smooth and silky. You can use a leave-in product as a heat protectant since its coats your hair. I will use this if I’m going to diffuse my curls and it helps prevent any frizziness. I currently have some other hair products open but once I finish them up I will buy this again.

The second haircare product is the Playa Healing Hair Masque. Honesltly I was a little disappointed by this mask. I had heard great things about the brand and assumed I would like the mask. It wasn’t a bad mask but it didn’t do anything more from my hair than using conditioner. If I’m going to pay almost $50 for a hair mask I want a noticeable difference and I didn’t get that. Still on the hunt for the best hair mask.

If you suffer from acne, then you HAVE to try the Benzagel Acne Gel. If you’ve followed me for awhile you might remember that I was using prescription acne cream for awhile. Unforuantely I’ve run out of the cream and cannot afford to repurchase it. So I switched over to this Benzagel Acne Gel. This contains Benzagel Peroxide, which is the main ingredient in Proactive. This is the best over the counter cream I’ve used so far. I apply it to wear I break out once a day and I noticed a huge difference in as little as two weeks. I’ll be honest and I still get breakouts but this has helped me. I recommend it to everyone suffering from acne.

Another cleanser I finished is the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. If you have dry skin you’ll love this cleanser for removing makeup. Unlike cleansing balms which sometimes can be stripped, this cleanser is quite hydrating. I will say it’s not as effective compared to other makeup removing cleansers so I used this more on my lighter makeup days. I personally won’t be repurchasing it but would recommend to anyone with normal to dry skin.

A moisturizer I finished is the Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer. While I like this moisturizer I still find it funny that it has vitamin C. I’ve already heard that it’s best to apply vitamin C in the morning because it helps prevent UV damage, so it’s weird to be that they put vitamin C in a night cream. But besides that this cream isn’t bad. A little on the thicker side, which makes sense since it’s a nice cream. I like the packaging. It’s a push pump so I don’t have to dig my fingers into a jar. Overall it was a good moisturizer but I’m not going to go out of my way to repurhcase it on the Murad website.

A product that I was surprised that I enjoyed so much is the MineTan Body.Skin Hydra Glow Sleep Serum, which is a hyaluronic acid serum. I haven’t had the best of luck with finding a hyalurnoic acid serum that I like but this one worked great! I noticed a difference in how moisturizer my face felt after using this serum. I also noticed that my skin looked brighter as well after using it for a couple of weeks. Overall I enjoyed this serum. Unfortunately it’s only available through their site so I don’t think I’ll repurchase it because I don’t want to deal with the hassle that is shipping to Canada. But if you live in the US check this out!

A finished a makeup product! Doesn’t happen very often but I finished my tube of my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. You already know that I’ve repurchased another one. I just love the way it brightens my undereyes and it’s so easy to blend. It does start to crease on me around the six hour makeup but it’s creamy enough that I can usually just tap out the creasing and lines with my finger and it looks fine. I think the fact that I finished a whole tube of this is just a testament to how much I love it.

Back to skincare again, I finished a bottle of the Clean Skin Club Vitamin C Brightening Booster. It was alright. At this point I compare all vitamin C serums to the Biossance one and this one just wasn’t as good. Now if you don’t like an oily feeling serum then you’ll probably like this one because it dries down almost matte. But I didn’t notice having any immediate brightening effect nor was it any faster at helping with my hyperpigmentation compared to the Biossance serum. It’s not bad but not good enough for me to want to repurchase.

And the final product is the Versed Look Alive Hydrating Plumping Mask. I thought for some reason based on the packaging that I would go through this in a few uses. But it took me like two years to get through the mask (expiry dates? what’s that lol). If you just want a mask to add some extra hydration to your skin, this is the mask for you. It’s like an extra juicy moisturizer. I leave it on for ten minutes, wash it off and my skin feels plump and juicy. It has a very nice, light floral scent. And best of all like other Versed products it’s affordable! I haven’t yet but I am considering picking another one up.

And that is it for my product empties guys! Let me know if you’ve used any of these products and what your thoughts are on them. And if you have any hair mask suggestions leave them in the comments because I’m still on the hunt!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review

November Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on November Boxycharm 2021

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

November Boxycharm

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Review

Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Divine Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette Review

by Lea2 Comments on Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Divine Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette Review

Hey guys! I am a big Jaclyn Hill fan and her other two collabs with Morphe are some of my favourite palettes I own. So when I saw she was coming out with another palette with Morphe I knew I had to pick it up. I purchased the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Divine Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette when it first came out. But it’s taken me a while to test out the palette and give you guys a thorough review. But I have finally figured out my thoughts so let’s get into it.

When I first saw the palette I thought it was gorgeous. I’ve been into wearing neutrals more lately so the palette concept was right up my alley. After chatting with my friend about the palette I realized that it does skew pretty dark, especially in person. This might be a neutral palette but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s an everyday palette for me. If you’re someone with a deeper complexion though this would be perfect for you.

I think there is a good range of matte shades. There is a light shade for me to set my eyeshadow primer. There are some lighter shades for the crease and some darker shades to deepen the crease. The shade “Cinnamom Roll’ is the perfect dark shade for doing wing liner. My issue is that all the shimmer shades are quite deep and rich. This is perfect for evening looks but just too much for me for everyday use. I also find the shade “Awe Lux” a weird addition. All the other shades are very warm toned whereas “Awe Lux” is pink and doesn’t match as much.

Besides the colour story is the quality of the shadows. I love the matte shades. They are pigmented but also easy to blend. I also find that the shade in the pan and the shadow on the eye look the same. Sometimes an eyeshadow can look different once it’s blended out but these shades are consistent.

I find the shimmers to be a bit finicky. With my Jaclyn Hill Vol 1 palette, the shimmers can be packed on using a finger or a dense brush AND can be blended out softly with a fluffy brush. I often like using a fluffy brush with shimmers during the day to create a softer look. I find that the shimmers in this Divine Neutral palette look great packed on but barely show up on the lid when I try to do a soft look. I’m a bit disappointed because it feels to me that they changed the formula.

I know it seems like I had a lot of criticisms for this palette but that’s because I had some fairly high expectations for the palette. I thought it was going to be the perfect everyday palette and the quality would be the same as past palettes. It’s still a good palette. For me, it’s more of a special occasion palette than an everyday palette. You can’t bet the fact that it’s a 12-pan palette for $25. That’s an amazing deal.

If you have a deeper complexion or you’re looking for a special occasion palette then this is a great pick. But if you have fair skin and you’re looking for a good everyday palette then I would skip this one. If you guys have purchased this palette let me know what you think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Holiday, Makeup, Skincare

12 Holiday Gifts Set To Pick Up From Sephora

by Lea1 Comment on 12 Holiday Gifts Set To Pick Up From Sephora

Hey guys! Today is going to be the final of my Sephora Sale recommendations list. I wanted to share some holiday gift sets that caught my attention and I think would be great gifts. These gift sets are all limited edition, so pick them up ASAP if you’re interested in them! I got a real mix of stuff so let’s get into it!

I mentioned this in my Sephora Recommendations, but Farmacy has their Garden Party Green Clean Trio. This is a set of three mini Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balms in three limited-edition scents: Strawberry Basil, Lemon Mint, Peach Thyme. This is also a great deal because this set is 5.1 fl oz in total for $56, and the original Green Clean is 3.4 fl oz for $45. A great deal for someone who loves Green Clean!

If you know someone who loves Benefit Cosmetics or you just want to get them a variety of products, I think the Holiday Cutie Beauty Makeup Bestsellers Value Set is the one to get. The set includes a full-size bronzer, mascara and brow gel as well as a mini primer sample. These products are some of Benefit’s bestsellers so you know they’ll be great. And it’s a $126 value for $54! A great deal!

The perfect gift set for a makeup lover is the Sephora Favourites Holiday Makeup Must Haves Set. This includes all of the top-selling and trending products for this holiday season – all products the makeup lover in your life probably has their eye on. The kit includes a variety of minis as well as three full-size products. I think Sephora always does a great job of selecting good products but also has the best value, with this set being $202 value for $71.

If your budget is a little smaller, then check out the Sephora Collection Holiday Vibes Favorite Nude Lip Set. Sephora Collection products are extremely underrated with their lip products being some of their best in my opinion. This kit includes three full-size lip products in their bestselling nude shades. The best part is this set has a $53 value for only $25 – perfect for Secret Santa or a small budget!

If you’re unsure what to get the makeup lover in your life because they seem to have everything, consider the MakeUp Eraser Wildflower MakeUp Eraser 7-Day Set. These little clothes are great at removing makeup and just need water! This set is perfect because it contains seven, so one for every day of the week. Every makeup lover needs something to remove their makeup. And these MakeUp Erasers have cute little flowers on them. The set is $33.

Switching into skincare, if you’re unsure what skin type someone has, I always recommend First Aid Beauty. Their skincare is designed to be gentle and for those with sensitive skin. Their Your Future Looks FAB Gift Set is great because it includes all of their top products. I’ve tried all of these products (my mom also loves them) and they’re great! Best of all it’s a $148 value for $64.

If you know what skin type someone has, consider Laneige. They have a Hydration-To-Go! Combination to Oily Skin and a Hydration-To-Go! Normal to Dry Skin. These kits are great because it includes a full face but is designed for a specific skin type. I love Laneige skin care and would be so happy if someone got me this set. Both sets are also a great price at $38.

If you know someone in your life who loves face masks, then check out the Origins MERRY MASKS Our 5 Best Mask Minis. I got a similar set from Origins a couple of years ago and discovered one of my favourite masks through it! These minis are also quite large so they will last someone quite a few uses before they run out. This set has a $44 value for $25 – another great affordable gift set!

Of course, I have to mention the Briogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Repair Kit. I love this deep conditioner and I think everyone should try it out. But the kit also comes with a shampoo and conditioner, so it’s a great way to try a variety of Briogeo’s products. The other great thing about Briogeo is that their products are made with silicones and sulphates, are vegan and are clean beauty so they will work for a variety of hair types.

If you want to get someone haircare but are unsure of what, consider the Sephora Favourites Healthy Hair Must-Haves Kit. This set comes with 10 different hair care products to help hydrate, strengthen and repair hair. It also includes a full-size Amika product. And like all the Sephora sets, this product has a value of $52.

If you have a candle lover in your life, then consider getting them the Voluspa Mini Candle Advent Calendar. This comes with 12 of their bestselling candles. This is a great way to try their candles and see which ones you like before investing in a large one. My mom and I got this last Christmas and spilt it between us. This could also be great to purchase and break up into multiple gifts. The votives are also really cute, I’ve kept the jars after I’ve finished burning them because they’re so cute.

And the final gift set is the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Jet Set. This set comes with a mini of their infamous Bum Bum Cream, a shower gel and a body fragrance mist. I love the scent of this set. This is perfect for anyone dreaming of a tropical getaway but are unable to go. This set has a $43 value for $33.

And those are my gift set recommendations! Let me know which set you think is the best or if there are any other gift sets that have caught your attention in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Hair, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

by Lea2 Comments on My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

Hey guys! As promised, here is my Sephora Sale recommendations list! The Sephora Holiday Savings Event runs from November 5-15 for Rouge, November 9-15 for VIB and November 11-15 for VIB. The savings range from 10-20% off depending on what level you are, so it’s the perfect time of year to pick up something you’ve been eyeing. Today I’m going to be doing something similar to my wishlist, where I’ll be sharing Makeup, Skincare, Hair&Body (and maybe a few miscellaneous in Hair&Body). So let’s get into it!

Makeup

Starting off I have two foundation recommendations, and if you’ve been following my blog and Youtube these probably won’t be a surprise to you. For lighter coverage, I recommend the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I love this skin tint because it somehow manages to be light coverage but also helps reduce any redness I have going on. It looks and feels good on the skin and it’s easy to apply. Win, win, win. If you want something with more coverage than the Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation. This is medium coverage and has a natural matte finish, so it just looks like skin. But best of all is that it’s sooooo long-lasting. I can wear this all day at work and not look like a greasy mess at the end of the year. Not enough people talk about this foundation, it’s so good.

My favourite bronzer is still the Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer. I feel like everyone launched new cream bronzers this year and I just stuck with my Milk Makeup one! The shade Baked is perfect for my complexion. It blends so easily and seamlessly into the face. And it’s long-lasting, which isn’t always the case for creams.

For blush, I have two recommendations. If you’re newer to using cream blushes, then try out the Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush. They have a great selection of shades. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but they are matte so they last a long time on the skin. I can swipe these blushes on my face and blend them on in three seconds. If you’re experienced with blush and want something impactful, then check out the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. This blush is pigmented, so it’s not for the faint of heart. I always apply some to a palette or the back of my hand and then go into my face. But I can get a flushed look and it lasts long on the skin. I love the shade Love because it’s a terracotta that gives me that almost sunburnt look which was gorgeous in the summer. I think you’ll be happy with either blush.

Sticking with the cream theme, my highlight recommendation is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. I was in love with this product for a while then took a break to focus on my project pan highlight. Well, I recently went back to the highlight and fell in love all over again. What I like is that the shades are based on skintones so the highlight is very natural and gives the glow-from-within look. Also, the bottle is huge so you’ll never run out.

For eyeshadow, I’m going to give a shoutout to Huda Beauty, especially her nine-pan palettes. I feel like everyone raves about her big palettes but I love my Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette. It’s small and compact so it’s easy to store. The colour stories are all gorgeous and there is a nice mix between mattes and shimmers. The mattes are so easy to work with. The glitters are a little bit more finicky, but wetting them with setting spray does the trick. There are so many different nine pan palettes that I’m sure you’ll find a colour story to match what you’re looking for.

Another underrated product is the Tarte Double Take Eyeliner. I have the shade brown and reach for this all the time. I find it super handy to have both the liquid and pencil liner in one product. I will often use liquid liner on my lid and then the pencil in my waterline. I’m usually not a fan of felt tip liners but this one is easy to use. And the pencil is easy to apply and lasts a long time. If you’re looking for a new eyeliner check this one out.

For lipstick, I have to go with a classic – Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but because it’s matte it stays put. It doesn’t make my lips look dry or cakey. It doesn’t last through lunch but I can sip a drink no problem. And the shade range is huge so you can find a shade that you like. My two favourites are Velvet Teddy and Down to an Art.

The final makeup product is Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss. I love this lip gloss – and fun fact, a video I took of this lipgloss was reposted on their Instagram! 🤩 I like that it’s a semi-sheer lip gloss, so I can wear it by itself or overtop of a lipstick. It’s not sticky, if anything it’s quite moisturizing. I have the shade Cashew which is a gorgeous rosy brown, I just love it!

Skincare

I just want to preface this section by saying that most of these recommendations are for my skin type, which is oily and acne-prone. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you might not like these products and that’s okay! I do have a few recommendations for dry skin people though so make sure to read ahead!

I have four different cleansers because I love trying and testing out cleansers haha. First, we’ll start with normal cleansers. A great daytime cleanser is the Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. It’s a gel cleanser that helps clean the skin without stripping it. And it has a delicious citrus scent that is amazing to smell in the morning. Next for cleanser, we have the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. This is for all my acne-prone people who want something that helps fight acne but doesn’t strip their skin. It’s a nice rich gel as well but lathers up well. And it has a scent that reminds me of pine (I don’t know why because there is no pine in it) but it’s a great cleanser.

Now for cleansing balms. My first recommendation is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. If you find that cleansing balms irritate your eyes or skin then you need to check this one out. This doesn’t irritate me at all but removes even the most stubborn mascara or glitters. They also have a limited edition holiday set with fun scents that I’m tempted to get. If you have drier skin, then check out the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. This stuff is great at removing makeup but also feels milky and hydrating at the same time. It’s very gentle so might even be good for sensitive skin people!

If you want a good vitamin C serum and don’t mind splurging, then check out the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This oil not only helps reduce my acne scarring and redness but also leaves my skin looking dewy and healthy. I’ve tried other vitamin C serums and nothing has compared so far.

I have two moisturizer recommendations. For something more lightweight I recommend the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. This gel is hydrating but lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin. Perfect for underneath makeup for more my fellow oily gals. For something a little thicker and with more hydration, then check out the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. My mom swears by this stuff. It’s super thick and super moisturizing. If you have sensitive skin First Aid Beauty is a great brand to check out. The tub is also huge and will probably last you a while.

For eye cream, this recommendation comes from my brother. He loves the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry. I got this eye cream in my Boxycharm and he stole it from me and loved it haha. He said that it moisturized the area and didn’t irritate him like some other eye cream. So if you need a new eye cream, this is brother-approved.

Finally, if you’re looking for face masks, check out my top five face masks for acne-prone skin blog post. Three of the five masks are available at Sephora!

Hair & Body & Miscellaneous

For hair masks, I have to recommend the Brigogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Mask. It pains me that this mask is limited edition. It’s just so much better than their original Don’t Despair Repair mask. You guys already know I’m picking up the set during the sale. This is the best Curly Girl Approved hair mask I’ve used. It makes my hair feel soft and hydrated. Highly recommend it.

My next hair recommendation is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. I love using this as a heat protectant before I blow-dry my hair. It just helps my hair stay smooth and not become super frizzy. I also love the scent it’s delicious. And it’s Curly Girl Approved so win-win-win!

The next product isn’t Curly Girl Approved so I use it sparingly, but I do like the Moroccanoil Treatment. Whenever my hair is super frizzy, usually on the second hair, I’ll just take a dime size amount in my palm and run it through my hair. It helps tame the frizz. If you’re not following the Curly Girl Method you need this in your life.

I feel like everyone and their mother has recommended the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. I do like them and would recommend, but I will give a warning. The nice thing about these drops is that you can add it to your body lotion and don’t have to rinse it off. The only downside is that after a couple of hours and the tan develops I find that it creates a weird smell. It’s not very strong but if my hands or arm is near my nose I can smell a distinct smell. I can only describe it as a combination of rotting flesh and chlorine. It does go away after the tan starts to develop so I recommend using it overnight or taking a shower if you are planning to go out the same day you use this tanner. But besides that, I find the drops easy to use, the tan looks nice and wears for a long time!

I have two perfume brand recommendations. Perfumes are very subjective so it can be hard to recommend them. But from what I’ve experience so far from these two brands I’m impressed. First is Masion Margiela Replica line. I have By the Fireplace and man is this stuff strong. Two sprits and I smell this perfume all day long. I also find the scents to be super unique and unlike anything else on the market. The other brand is Atelier Cologne. I own two perfumes by them – Vanille Insensee and Orange Sanguine. Unlike the Maison Margiela scents that are super complicated, I find that Atelier Colognes have one strong note with supporting scents. The Vanille Insensee smells like vanilla and Orange Sanguine smells like orange. It’s not fussy, very straight to the point scents which I enjoy. They don’t last as long as Maison Margiela but long enough for my tastes. I would recommend these three scents and would consider purchasing more from the brand.

The final product recommend is the Forvr Mood candle. I have a whole blog post about these candles but to summarize these candles are intense. They are also super long lasting. I’ve had mine since August and I’m still not done it. If you know someone in your life who is a candle lover, get this for them for the holidays.

And that my friends is my very long Sephora recommendations list. I left off some classic products that I mention a lot (Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, ABH Brow Wiz, Urban Decay All Nighter, Olehenriksen toner). But I hope you guys found this blog post to be helpful! Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to get during the sale.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Makeup, Perfume

My 2021 Sephora VIB Sale Wishlist

by Lea1 Comment on My 2021 Sephora VIB Sale Wishlist

Hey guys! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – it’s time for the Sephora Sale! This year’s Holiday Savings Event runs from November 5-15 for Rouge, November 9-15 for VIB and November 11-15 for VIB. Today I will be sharing with you guys my personal wishlist and then on Friday, I will be sharing my recommendations. My wishlist is pretty large, I haven’t narrowed down yet which products I will be getting. Stay tuned for my haul where I will review all the products. Let’s get into it.

Makeup

My makeup wishlist is actually pretty small. I feel like with my huge Elf order and then all my Boxycharms that I’ve been pretty satisfied with my collection, but of course there are still a few things I wish for. First I’ve been eyeing the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. Pretty sure this was on my last wishlist, so the fact that it’s still here means that I will probably pick it up. My setting spray collection is pretty small and I want to freshen it up with something new. I’ve heard good reviews too so I want to try it out.

Next, I’m looking to get another powder. I have my eye on the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder and the Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder. I’ve heard great reviews for both powders. I’ve tried Charlotte Tilbury products before so I feel like it would be good but I’ve never tried anything from Kosas and it might be fun to try a new brand. We’ll see which one I pick.

The final makeup product is I’m debating between two lip balms. I’ve tried both the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm and the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. I love both but it doesn’t make sense for me to get both. So I’ll have to pick one.

Skincare

I’m running low on my current Youth to the People cleanser. I’m really debating if I want to repurchase it, go back to an Ole Henriksen cleanser or try out the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. I’m leaning towards trying out a new cleanser because it’s fun to try new stuff! And this cleanser is meant for oily and acne-prone skin so it would be perfect for me.

The Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Remedy Moisturizer with BHA/LHA came out right after the last Sephora Sale and I have been waiting ever since to pick it up. I’ve also had a bunch of open moisturizers that I wanted to use up before purchasing this, but I think I’m finally going to get it!

The final skincare product I’ll probably pick up another box of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots because I love them and might as well get them on sale.

Hair & Body

I am currently debating between two hair masks. It doesn’t make sense to buy both but I kinda want to buy both. First is the Briogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Repair Kit. You guys know I love the Honey mask and it’s limited edition so I can only get it this time of year. But Jonathan Van Ness, who I absolutely love, released a new haircare line called JVN and I want to try out the Nurture Deep Moisture Mask. I think I might wait for the JVN mask just because it’s not a limited edition product but I do really want to try it out, especially since it’s Curly Girl Approved.

I love body lotions and it makes sense to buy a new one now since it’s going to be winter soon. I have my eye on the L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate. It’s a similar scent to their other body lotion I tried but not as thick so I think I would like this more. If you guys know of any other good almost scented body lotions please tell me because it’s one of my favourite scents!

Finally, I’ve been really into wearing perfumes lately and I’ve been thinking of trying out Gucci Memoire. Lots of people describe it as fresh and earthy at the same time, which sounds right up my alley. I think I want to smell it in-store before I purchase it though, so I might make a trip in person and smell it for myself. I might also wait and ask for a big bottle for Christmas hehe.

And that is my Sephora Sale wishlist! If you’ve tried any of the products please let me know to help me with my decision-making process!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Review, Skincare

October Boxycharm 2021

by Lea1 Comment on October Boxycharm 2021

Hey guys! We’re back with another Boxycharm post! Unrelated to Boxycharm but can you believe that October is already done?! We only have two more months in 2021. That’s crazy to me. Anyway, this month I got my box pretty early so I had time to test out the products. This month’s box was interesting since I got two primer-like products. Let’s get into it.

The first item was my pick for this month, the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. I had my eyes on this serum for a while so it’s exciting to get an item in my box that I wanted for myself. This serum is a hybrid between skincare and makeup, meant to hydrate and give the skin a reflective, dewy glow. It also has niacinamide which is meant to reduce hyperpigmentation over time. I thought this was more like a makeup product but it’s much more of a skincare product. It helps improve the look of my skin but doesn’t do anything to increase the wear or longevity of my makeup. I like to put this on for no makeup days or use it in combination with another primer to add some dew to my skin. If you prefer more natural makeup you’ll love this because it makes your skin look amazing. Very excited to own this and continue to use it. Price: $34 US, $45 CAD

The next product is the Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Hydrate. This primer is meant to be a moisturizer and primer in one. It’s meant to hydrate the skin and also create a smooth base for makeup. If you hate the feeling but want the look of silicone smoothing primers, this is the primer for you. The texture is like a moisturizer but it dries down to have the smoothing feeling. It makes my foundation look great. I see myself using this a lot, especially as we head into the drier winter months. Price: $32 US ($41 on website, unsure if that’s Canadian or just a different price).

The next product is the Hanalei Beauty Company Matte Bronzer. It’s an okay bronzer. I find the packaging to be a little cheap and hard to open. If the product itself was stellar I could get past that. But the powder is quite sheer so I find myself having to work hard to build up my bronzer. I like a strong bronzer so it can be a pain to use a sheer powder. I think you can find better bronzers at the drugstore. Price: $25 US

I’ll be honest with you guys, I haven’t tested out the Haus Laboratories Glam Attack Liquid Shimmer Powder much. This is a shimmer shadow with a bunch of glitters running through it. It’s absolutely gorgeous but I don’t wear glitter on the regular so it was hard for me to find the time to use it. I did play around with it one night before bed and I found it easy to blend out. I have the shade Angel Baby, which is a pale pink with pearl tones. This shade matches my skin tone so it blends in quite seamlessly. I didn’t wear it for a long time so I can’t confirm the longevity. While it’s not a product I’ll use often, I’m excited to try it for fun occasions. Price: $20 US, $26 CAD

The final product is the Julep Makeup Remover Towelettes. Makeup wipes are a product that is nice to have around but aren’t exactly the most exciting product to receive in a box. I often use makeup wipes to remove my makeup because it’s not the best for your skin. I’ll use them to remove swatches or I’ll bring them with me to the gym or yoga if I’m going after work. The wipes are a good level of saturation – not dripping wet but not too dry. They have a nice scent, a combination of witch hazel and olive oil. It did a good job of removing my face makeup but didn’t get all my mascara off. Honestly, I think drugstore makeup wipes are just as good if not better and are a fraction of the price. Price: $20 US

The overall total of my box is $131 US. But I have to say I think a couple of the products are overpriced, mainly the bronzer and the makeup wipes. On the other hand, I like the Glow Recipe serum and Laura Geller primer. So overall I would say this box is average. Some hits and some misses. What do you guys think? Did you receive this box or something different? Have you tried out these products? Let me know!

xoxo

Lea