Drugstore – Leave it to Lea

What Products from Elf Cosmetics Are Worth The Hype – Elf Cosmetics Review

October 15, 2021October 15, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! A couple of weeks ago I posted a haul and first impression video of a bunch of Elf Cosmetics products I ordered. It’s been a couple of weeks so I wanted to give you a follow-up review of the products. There are some hits and there are some misses, so let’s get into it.

First, let’s start with the brushes. I got the Mint Melt Eyeshadow Brush Set and the Putty & Cream Blush Brush. The brushes are good but you kinda get what you pay for. The handles are plastic and are very lightweight. The brush quality is nice but I find all the brushes to be a bit small. I would say if you’re to makeup and need to get some brushes then Elf is a great brand to buy from. If you love makeup and want to invest in some good quality brushes then I would pass on these.

By far the most disappointing product is the Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow. I thought this was going to be a dupe for the Stila Magnificent Metals but they just don’t compare. The Stila shadows are full of glitter but still have a base shimmer to the shadow. Whereas the Elf eyeshadow is just straight glitter. So I could apply the Stila eyeshadow to my bare eye but I need to put the Elf eyeshadow overtop another eyeshadow. The glitter is pretty, don’t get me wrong. It’s just glitter in a clear gel. I would recommend the Stila eyeshadows over the Elf ones.

The second eye product I got is the Bite-Size Eyeshadow. There are eight different palettes but I got the Cream & Sugar palette. I think the eyeshadows in the palette are amazing. The mattes blend well and the shimmers are easy to use and look great on the eye. I’m just not sure if I like the colour selection. I find when there are only a few shades in a palette it’s important which ones are included. This palette has only four shades so I would want to be able to do a full eyeshadow look. I personally find that I’m missing a good crease shade. The beige is too light and the brown is too dark to use in the crease. I need to use another eyeshadow to be able to do a full look. I almost always use a crease shade for my eyeshadow looks, so since this palette is missing one I don’t see myself using it very often. That being said, I’d be interested in getting other palettes if the colour story piques my interest.

One of Elf’s most popular products right now is the Poreless Putty Primer. This is a dupe of some more expensive primers such as the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer. I haven’t tried that one so I can’t compare. I got the regular Putty Primer but almost wish I got the Matte Primer. I feel like the primer does a great some of making my skin feel smooth but doesn’t do much for helping my makeup longer. I think the Matte one would just work better with my skin type. It’s a fine primer but I’m not blown away.

The next product I tried is the Flawless Finish Foundation. I LOVE the way my face looks when I first apply this foundation. It’s medium coverage and has a semi-matte finish. It just makes my face look flawless – just like the name suggests! It comes with a pump which is handy. I was able to shade match myself quite easily. I would say that it looks great for around five hours, but after that I look super oily. The excess oil means it’s also easy to rub off the foundation. So if you need a foundation to last all day and can’t powder then maybe pass on this one. But if you’re fine powdering or don’t have oily skin then this is a great foundation.

While I did a great match with my foundation, I didn’t do a good job picking the correct shade in the Hydrating Camo Concealer. So I haven’t worn it much under the eyes since it’s the wrong shade. I’ve worn it on my face and it’s great for spot concealing. It doesn’t look cakey and stays in place. Sorry, this isn’t the best review. It’s such a great price that I might get another shade for under my eyes.

I decided to pick up their new Putty Bronzer and Putty Blush. In the bronzer I got the shade Tan Lines and in the blush I got the shade Tahiti. If you are new to creams these are the products for you. These are very lightweight and very easy to blend. I find I have to build it up to get the blush and bronzer to the intensity that I like. But what I also like is that they dry down to a semi-matte finish so my face doesn’t feel sticky. The fact that it dries down means that it lasts quite a long time on the skin. If you are looking for drugstore cream products then you HAVE to check these out.

The final product is the Sheer Slick Lipstick. I got the shade Golden Pear. I expected the lipstick to be sheerer but despite that I like this lipstick. It’s very nourishing and feels very nice on the lips. While it’s not the most long-lasting it fades nicely from the lips. I’ve been using this a couple of times a week and I can see myself continuing to use it in the future.

And that is my round-up of all the products that I purchased from Elf Cosmetics. Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these products. And also let me know what your favourite product is from Elf!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

13 Best Beauty Under $15

June 25, 2021June 24, 2021by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! I’m back with the second part of my best affordable beauty posts. If you haven’t read my best beauty under $10 post, I highly recommend checking it out because it’s full of good products. Today everything will be under $15, which seems to be the most popular price category in the Canadian drugstore. In today’s post, everything is listed in Canadian dollars.

Best drugstore, affordable beauty under $15

Starting with the base, I have two concealers. The first is the NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer. If you’re looking for a full coverage concealer this is the one to get. It has a matte formula so this is great if you want something for full glam looks. There are 24 different shades and it’s $12.49. My other concealer recommendation is the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer. This concealer is also full coverage and matte but it’s so lightweight. And they are 50 different shades so you’ll be able to find one that matches. The best part is that the concealer is only $12.99.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a good setting spray! The NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray is one of my favourites. It helps set my makeup and makes everything look more natural and seamless. Unlike some other dewy sprays I’ve tried, this doesn’t make me look oily or just spray a bunch of glitters all over my face. And at only $11.49, it’s half the price of Mac Prep + Prime Fix+.

One of my favourite drugstore mascara is the Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara. I’m surprised that more people aren’t talking about this mascara because I think it’s a dupe for the TooFaced Better Than Sex mascara. The wands are identical and the formulas are quite similar. This mascara gives me volume and defined length. And no flaking or smudging. For $12.99 this is a great mascara (and it’s currently on sale).

If you want to get into false lases, then you have to go with Ardell lashes. They have so many different styles and they have multiple packs as well if there is a certain style you like. My favourites are the Ardell Faux Mink Demi Wispies. The lash band is invisible so it blends in seamlessly with my makeup. I find this style is on the more natural side where it adds volume but it’s not over the top nor too long. And they’re only $10.47, the perfect price if you don’t wear falsies very often or only once per pair.

My favourite drugstore brow pencil is the NYX Precision Brow Pencil. At first, I wasn’t a fan of the shape because it’s more oblong than a fine tip. But the shape is great for filling in brows quickly (perfect for when I’m running late in the morning 😝). The formula is stiff enough that I have good control but creamy enough that I can wipe away any mistakes. It has a spoolie attached which is always helpful to have when doing brows. The best part is that it’s only $12.99.

Maybelline makes great powder face products. If you read my top five products from my top five brands then these products might be familiar. For face powder, the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless is the best at $11.99. This powder helps set my makeup without making me look cakey. For bronzer check out the Maybelline FaceStudio City Bronzer, costing you $10.99. The colour is gorgeous, just make sure to use a light hand because this stuff is pigmented. And finally, for highlight check out the Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter. This is the best highlight you can get at the drugstore and it’s only $13.99.

If you want to complete the face and get a good blush, then check out the Milani Rose Powder Blushes. These blushes are quite finely milled so they look so soft and ethereal on the face. And they are buildable so you don’t have to worry about accidentally applying too much. These Milani blushes are only $11.49.

I have two different lipstick options. The first is a classic, the Maybelline Colour Sensational lipsticks. These are some of the best lipsticks at the drugstore and their formula reminds me a lot of MAC lipsticks. There are over 30 different shades and they’re only $10.99. If you want something a little creamier then check out the Burt’s Bee Natural Lipsticks. Not as many shade choices but they feel so comfortable on the lips and are only $10.99.

Finally, if you want something shiny, then check out the Burt’s Bee Natural Lip Shine. The squeezy tube makes it easy to apply to the lips. The formula is on the sheerer side colour-wise but delivers great shine to the lips. The lip shines are $10.99.

And those are my best makeup products under $15. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and found it helpful! Let me know what some of your affordable makeup products are. I have one more installment in this series, under $20, so stay tuned for that!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

10 Best Beauty Products Under $10

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! I love a good drugstore haul or product review, but I usually focus on the product over the price. Today I thought I would share some of my favourite products under $10. I also plan to do a post for products under $15 and $20. Just want to note that the majority of prices are in Canadian dollars since I live in Canada. But a few things are only listed in US dollars (such as Colourpop products) – which I will mark with an asterisk*. Since currency exchange varies I’m just going to include the US price in this post. I also have one product that is $9 US which is over $10 CAD, but I just decided to include it since it’ll be under $10 for all my American followers. Okay this intro is getting rambling. Let’s get into it.

Up first we have the Wet n Wild Photofocus foundations. Both the matte and the dewy finish are $8.79. These foundations provide great coverage, perfect for those days where I have some acne on my face. The foundations also mix well with other foundations. So I can use these foundations to mix with a foundation that is too light or dark for me. Both the matte and the dewy finish last long. A great foundation at an affordable price.

I’ve mentioned these eyeshadow palettes before, but the Wet n Wild Colour Icon palettes are some of the best at the drugstore. The shimmers are mediocre, but the mattes are great. They are quite pigmented and easy to blend. If you’re looking to getting into eyeshadow, these are a great palette to pick up since they are $7.27.

If you’re looking to build your eyeshadow collection but don’t want a palette OR are looking for a specific shade, single shadows are a great option. Colourpop has a great variety of single shadows. Their shadows are $4.50* and their pressed glitters are $5.00*. Some of my favourite shades include Bel Air, Made to Last and Get Lost.

Another great option from Colourpop is the Super Shock Shadows. Most are $6.00* and their limited edition Super Shock Shadows are $7.00*. You could pair one of these with a single shade and have a great eyeshadow look. I’ve owned many over the years, but the ones I currently own are Balloon Pop and Set to Stun.

If you’re looking to get into false lashes, then it’s great to get affordable pair. No sense in spending lots of money on something you might not wear often. Colourpop has great lashes, with a pair starting at $8.00*. My two favourite styles are Queenie and Dame.

Pressed powder is not exactly the most exciting product to purchase, but it’s important especially if you have oily skin like me. The Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Pressed Powder is a great affordable powder. It helps set the face and control oil. It also leaves my face smooth and soft. And it’s formulated to not flashback in photos. The best part is that this powder is $5.97.

It can be hard to find an affordable cream blush. They’re either expensive or don’t work well. The Colourpop Blush Stix is the best affordable blush and easily competes with my high-end blushes. They are quite pigmented and last a surprisingly long time for being a cream. The Blush Stixs are $9.00*.

I have two different highlight options for you. If you are looking for something bright and bold, then check out the Wet n Wild Megaglo highlights. At $7.47, these bad boys pack quite a punch but are still very creamy. No harsh lines with this highlight. If you want something softer, check out the Essence Pure NUDE Highlighter. This is a baked highlight so it’s quite soft and will give a glow from within look. And this highlight is only $5.49.

Colourpop has so many affordable lips, but if I had to pick my favourite it would be their Just a Tint lip tint. The formula is very comfortable on the lips but still gives off nice pigmentation. I have the shade Rise n Shine and I wear it all the time. And at $8.00* you won’t break the bank buying it.

And those are my best makeup products under $10. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and found it helpful! Let me know what some of your affordable makeup products are!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

NYX The Marshmellow Primer Review

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am giving you my thoughts on the infamous NYX The Marshmellow Soothing Primer. I know this primer was blowing up online earlier in the year. Because of its popularity, the primer has been sold out in my local drugstores for so long. I was finally able to get my hands on it and try it out. So let’s get into it.

The Marshmellow name is a play on the fact that the texture and smell are reminiscent of marshmallow and because it’s supposed to be mellow and soothing for the skin. It’s also made from marshmallow root extract. It has a long list of claims: smoothes, softens, extends makeup wear, hydrates, soothes, evens tone, minimizes texture, blurs lines, adds a soft-focus finish and keeps makeup fresh. So basically…everything? And it’s vegan!

First I like the packaging – pumps are the best. It’s nice because one pump is the perfect amount for my face. The claims are what you would see from both a hydrating primer and a pore-filling primer (think Smashbox Primerizer and Photo Finish). The texture isn’t at all like pore-filling primers, so if you don’t like silicone feeling primers don’t worry this isn’t like it. It feels much more like a whipped moisturizer – or like whipped marshmallow. It comes out a light pink and goes clear as it’s rubbed into the skin. It does have a sweet scent to it, but I can’t quite place what it smells like. It does have fragrance in it, but it’s listed as the last ingredient.

This primer is pretty incredible. It does instantly blur the skin, helping minimize the look of pores and texture. I would say that the hydration is pretty subtle, if you have dry skin I would recommend pairing this with something more moisturizing. I was pretty impressed because I compared this side by side with my CoverFX Blurring Primer, and the Marshmellow primer is significantly better. It just makes my face look so smooth and soft.

While this primer looks amazing, I wouldn’t say that it improves the wear time any more than my other primers. It performs better than not using a primer at all, but if you’re looking for the key to long-wearing makeup this isn’t it.

Overall I like this primer. I don’t think all the claims are necessarily true, but it does make my face look smoother and blurred. If you like the idea of a pore-filling primer but hate the texture you need to check this one out. I see myself using this primer a lot.

Let me know in the comments if you tried this primer and if so what were your thoughts on it?

xoxo

Lea

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Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation Review

February 5, 2021February 5, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I love testing out and writing foundation reviews. This year I want to share more affordable makeup with you guys, so it only made sense to make my first foundation review this year to be a drugstore foundation! After watching a bunch of best makeup of 2020 videos and seeing the L’Oreal Infallible 24 H Fresh Wear Foundation be on top, I knew I had to try this one out for myself.

foundation, l'oreal foundation, l'oreal infallible foundation, l'oreal infallible 24 hour fresh foundation, drugstore foundation, makeup, beauty

This L’Oreal foundation claims to last up to 24 hours (I don’t know anyone who wears their makeup for that long, but anyway). The claims continue with it being long-lasting as well as water, sweat and transfer-proof. The coverage is supposed to be medium to full coverage and the finish is natural. The foundation should feel lightweight and breathable on the skin.

On the first application, I realized that I am paler than I expected. I got the shade Vanilla 445, which is their light neutral shade. This shade would probably work for me in the summer when I’m tan but right now it’s a little too deep. Besides the shade mismatch, but I liked it. I would say the claim of medium to full is correct. And the finish is nice if a little matte. It does look like I’m wearing foundation but it’s not cakey looking in any way. And it felt very comfortable on the skin. It didn’t feel heavy or like I was wearing a mask. I did wish it had a little bit more glow to it, but that’s easy to add with primers or highlights.

At five hours I didn’t notice any colour change, it was still the same shade of too-deep-for-me haha – but it didn’t oxidize. The foundation was mostly intact, it had just rubbed out in a few areas that I have the bad habit of touching such as the chin and cheek. But I would say that 80% of the foundation was still there and looking good. I wasn’t looking oily at all, which is often an issue I have with foundations. My bronzer was also still pretty visible which is nice. Overall still loving how it looked.

After nine hours I finally took my makeup off. By that point, a lot of the foundation had worn off and I was looking greasy. Honestly, this is pretty on par with other foundations, usually around the eight-hour mark is when my foundation is done. The issue with having oily skin is that I find foundation just slides or rubs off the greasier I get. So am I annoyed that I had no foundation left after nine hours? Not really because that’s how most foundations perform.

I wore the foundation a few more times, mixing it with other foundations and serums. I mixed it with a lighter foundation to help better match my current skin tone and it worked just as well. I also tried using a serum to make it glowy and found that the finish stayed about the same. The wear time wasn’t affected by mixing the products with other products.

So overall I like this foundation! I like the finish for days when I want more coverage. It also lasted pretty well. I have some foundations that fall apart at the five-hour mark. Nowadays I don’t need a foundation to last all day because let’s be real I don’t wear makeup for that long. I kind of want to get a lighter shade just to better match my skin how it is currently, but I’ll probably wait until it goes on sale for that. If you’re looking for a foundation at the drugstore, I would recommend this one!

Hope you guys found this review helpful! Let me know in the comments what your favourite drugstore foundation is and maybe I’ll test it out myself. 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

Testing Out Burt’s Bee Makeup

October 6, 2020October 6, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! Today I am testing out some of Burt’s Bee’s makeup line. I have tried out their lip balms but never tried their makeup despite hearing many good things. So I picked up three products (I picked the ones on sale oop) and I am going to give your my thoughts on them!

So a little info about their makeup products. Burt’s Bee describes their makeup as ‘natural’. I tried to research what is natural about their makeup. It’s made without parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum or synthetic fragrances. It’s also dermatologist tested and not tested on animals. Each makeup product also has some standout natural ingredients a part of their formula. For example, the blush features bamboo, honey and vitamin E and the lip shine features apricot wax and sunflower seed oil. Some of the product packagings are made from recycled materials.

I knew I had to pick up a blush because I know Kathleen Lights loved the blushes. So I picked up a Burt’s Bee Blush in the shade Fresh Apricot. There are five shades in total and I like the fact that all the shades are very different to match a variety of skin tones. This blush is supposed to be lightweight, blend easily and evenly to deliver a natural glow to the checks. With that description, I was very surprised how pigmented this blush is. I use a light hand when applying this blush because it’s very easy to apply too much. There is a slight sheen to the blush that isn’t exactly glitter but adds a radiance to the skin. I think this looks beautiful on the skin and it lasts a decent amount of time. I would recommend this blush, just use a light hand.

The next product is the Burt’s Bee Lip Shine. Not to be confused with the Burt’s Bee Lip Gloss. I could not tell you guys the difference between these two because from the description on the website they seem the same. The only difference is the lip shine has a white cap and the lip gloss has a brown cap. Anyways, the Lip Shine is supposed to be a sheer colour that glides on the lips to deliver a sweet and super shiny finish. I would say this is a hybrid between a lip gloss and a lip balm. It’s quite nourishing but also shiny. The other is sheer so I could probably use any shade no problem. I think this is a great product for when you want something hydrating for your lips but want something shinier than a plain lip balm. I would recommend this product!

Burt’s Bee Lip Shine in the shade Peachy

And the final product is the Burt’s Bee Natural Satin Lipstick. Rea Ann Langas mention these on her Insta stories. I picked up the shade Blush Basin which I would describe as a neutral rose. There are 18 shades on the website and a variety of neutrals, berries, pinks, corals, red. There is a shade for everyone. This lipstick is described as moisturizing and lasting all day long. I haven’t tested out the longevity of this lipstick but it’s very hydrating. It’s so comfortable on the lips. The satin finish also means that I don’t need to apply a lip gloss on top. I like this shade and I can see it easily becoming an everyday favourite. I would also recommend this lipstick.

Well guys, that was a huge success! I loved each product that I tried and would recommend them all to you guys. I think it might have helped that I picked out two products based on good reviews I’ve heard. But that doesn’t matter. I’m here to tell you that these Burt’s Bee products are great! And the best part is that they are available at the drugstore. Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of Burt’s Bees makeup products and your thoughts on their products.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

Battle of the Drugstore Shine Lipsticks

September 18, 2020September 18, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am back with another battle of the makeup products. Today we have drugstore shiny lipsticks. This type of product has become the new “it” formula and I feel like every brand is coming out with their version. They are lipsticks that have the feel of a lip balm but the shine of a lip gloss. Today I picked two from the drugstore to see which one was the best.

First up is the Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick. I got the shade Beaming Strawberry, which I would describe as cool-toned baby pink. This one lives up to its description as a hybrid between a lip balm and a lip gloss. It’s very comfortable on the lips, it doesn’t feel like it’s wearing anything heavy or sticky. But it’s super shiny and looks like a lip gloss. This shade isn’t too opaque. It gives a nice wash of colour. I think this formula would be great with bright shades to just give a hint of colour. It does rub off easily and isn’t the most long-lasting.

The opponent in this battle is the L’Oreal Colour Riche Shine Lipstick. I got the shade Sparkling Rose, which is a deceptive name because when I like rose I like warm toned and this was cool-toned. It’s almost the same shade as the Revlon one, so at least it was easier for me to compare. This is described as a lipstick with a glossy finish and I think that’s an accurate description. It much thicker and more opaque compared to the Revlon one. It’s just as shiny though. It also does last longer on the lips. While the glossiness will fade, the colour underneath will last.

So which one is the winner? While they are similar they are slightly different. The Revlon lipstick is more comfortable whereas the L’Oreal one is more opaque and long-lasting. I think the winner depends on what you prefer. I personally like the Revlon one more. Let me know which one you like more!

I hope you guys enjoyed this instalment in the battle of the beauty products series. Let me know what you would like to see in the future!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

Battle of the Brow Pencils – Drugstore Edition

August 14, 2020August 13, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! Today I am reviewing two drugstore brow pencils. I mentioned in my makeup collection if I wasn’t a blogger post that my brow pencil collection is pretty limited. So I thought it would be interesting to buy some brow pencils and test them out! I did a similar concept in March where I bought some drugstore concealers and just tested them out to see what my favourite was. Sometimes it’s helpful when testing out products to have something to compare to. Let me know if you guys like this type of post and I can make it a series!

brow pencil, eyebrows, drugstore eyebrow pencil, NYX, NYX brow pencil, ELF, ELF brow pencil

Anyways, back to the eyebrows. Now my favourite, holy-grail is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. There are a few reasons why I love this brow pencil. First, it’s a very fine tip so I can be very precise with my strokes. Second, it’s not too waxy. I’m not a fan of waxy brow pencils because I have to use more pressure to get any product on my skin. And finally, it has a great shade range so I can find a shade that makes me perfectly. So these were the criteria I was looking for in a brow pencil.

The first that I picked up from the drugstore is the elf Ultra Precise Brow Pencil. I’ve had someone recommend this one to me so I thought it would be a good one to test out. First, it does have a small, precise tip to great hairlike strokes. Second, it does have a pretty good formula. It’s almost too wavy but not quite. I’m able to vary the darkness by adjusting my pressure. The only thing is this is NOT the right shade for me. I got the shade Brunette thinking that would be the right shade for me. But it’s too warm for me. I could probably use the shade Deep Brown but I’m not sure if it was in store. Either way, I’m returning this one because it’s not the right shade. But a very promising brow pencil.

The second brow contender is the NYX Precision Brow Pencil. With a name like precision imagine my surprise when I found out that this brow pencil is actually a large oval and not a tiny circle like I expected. So I was thrown off by the shape but it’s not that difficult to use. I’m still able to create thin, hairlike strokes it’s just different. I can use the wide to be able to fill in my bald spot in my brows pretty well. I got the shade Espresso and it matches me well.

So which brow pencil is the winner? I’m going to say this is a draw. They are both good really good formulas and I think either would be a good option to pick up. The issues I had were both due to me buying the wrong one. I need a different shade in the elf brow pencil. And I think I would prefer the NYX Micro Brow Pencil because it has a smaller tip. But I am going to keep the NYX pencil because it’s still usable and return the elf one because it’s just the wrong shade.

And that is my battle of the brow pencils! Let me know in the comments what your favourite brow pencil is or if there are any you want me to test out.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

Testing New(ish) Makeup June 2020

June 19, 2020June 18, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am going to be rounding up my thoughts on my makeup that I have purchased somewhat recently. Some of these were products from my last Sephora order and some are products that I recently purchased from the drugstore. It’s taken me a while to test these products because I haven’t been wearing makeup as much. I started a new job a month ago and it took me about two weeks to get used to waking up early. But anyway, here are my thoughts on some products!

The first of two eyeliners is the Makeup Forever Artist Colour Pencil in 500 Boundless Bisque. Now I don’t wear this every day, only when I’m wearing full glam looks. But this pencil works perfectly for what I wanted. It helps brighten up my eye look but isn’t as stark as using a white pencil. It’s creamy and applying easily to my waterline. I haven’t tested how long it wears, but it doesn’t immediately fade away so that’s good! Overall it’s a great pencil and I would consider getting another one in a different shade in the future.

The next product is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation Dewy. Now unfortunately the shade I picked up is too light for me now that I have a bit of a tan going on. I’ve tried it a few times mixed with other foundations, but it’s hard to review a product when I’m mixing it. So far I’ve noticed it has good coverage though! I think I am going to get another shade and then post a full review for you guys. So stay tuned for that.

The first of two bronzers is the Maybelline City Bronzer. I wanted to expand my drugstore bronzer collection because it currently consists of the PF Butter Bronzer lol. This one is good! It’s supposed to be a bronzer and contour, but I think it’s too warm to contour. I use a big fluffy brush and liberally apply this around the perimeter of my face. It’s pretty pigmented so I always make sure to tap off the excess or dust the brush on the back of my hand before applying it to my face. For $11 I think this is a really good bronzer!

The final drugstore product is the Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick. I got the shade Beaming Strawberry because that’s what I saw Allana Davison use in one of her videos (she’s the reason I bought it lol). I love this lipstick. It’s super a shiny, buttery lipstick. It feels like a lip balm on the lips. I would say the pigmentation is between a lip balm and a lipstick. It’s just so comfortable on the lips. Now the shade I got is more of a cool-toned pink, which I don’t wear as often. I want to get another one of these, maybe in a peach or red-orange shade!

The next product is the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer. You guys might remember that I reviewed the Physicians Formula cream contour earlier this year. Well this one is way better. It just blends so easily and looks so good on the skin. I can apply it straight to my face and blend it out no problem. It doesn’t move my foundation around underneath. The way it sits on the skin just looks so natural. I feel that cream products generally sit better and look more life-like than powders. I love this cream bronzer and I will be using it so much this summer.

The final product is the Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner in the shade brown. I decided to get a brown liner because it looks more natural/lighter than a dark black. The liquid side is pretty easy to use and is very long-lasting. I wore it for over 12 hours the other day and it did not smudge at all. I haven’t used the pencil side much, but too be far I bought the eyeliner for the liquid side and consider the pencil side a bonus. It’s an eyeliner, not the most exciting product but it does a good job!

And that is my round-up on some new makeup! Let me know in the comments what makeup product you purchased recently.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Review

Testing TikTok Makeup Products

April 17, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am testing five products that I bought because of Tik Tok! I have seen a bunch of videos recommending drugstore makeup products, so I decided to pick some up. I had a long list but narrowed it down to five (mainly to save my wallet lol). I pick a variety of products, from ones I have heard a lot about to ones I haven’t heard of before. So here are my five products!

Photo 2020-04-17, 2 10 30 PM

The first product is the Maybelline Cheek Heat. I have been wanting to try this myself anyway and when I saw someone say this is a dupe for the Glossier Cloud Paints I added it to the list. I picked up the shade Coral Ember. Now the only other cream blush I’ve tried is the Colourpop one, and that is way better. First, it’s a little finicky to apply. I find the only way to apply it is with my finger, and the other ways ended poorly. Because it’s a gel it leaves my face looking a little oily, but if I set it with too much powder it just disappears. Overall this is nice for no-makeup-makeup days when I’m not planning to wear much makeup and just want a flush. But if you an affordable cream blush get the Colourpop one.

A huge hit is the Essence Shine Shine Shine Lipgloss. I got the shade clear because that’s what I say recommended. This gloss is AMAZING and it’s under $5. It’s not sticky whatever, it almost feels more like a lip oil on the lips. My lips just look so juicy and glossy. And it smells like this Lip Smackers roller boll lip gloss that I had as a kid. This product is amazing I highly recommend.

Continuing with lips, I got the NYX Slide On Lip Pencil. Now I couldn’t recommend which NYX pencil it was exactly, but I saw a video that compared these to Charlotte Tilbury ones. While it wasn’t bad, I prefer my Maybelline lip liners. First I accidentally got a cool pink, which is my bad because they didn’t have testers and I just randomly picked one. I found the formula to be too creamy. It sat on top of my lips and move around. I like my lip liners to stay put and last. Overall not a bad product but not my favourite.

A complete fail for me is the Pixi Glow Mist. This was supposed to be a dupe for the ABH setting spray. I have also just heard good things in general about Pixi. I haven’t tried any of their products because they are on the pricier side for the drugstore. This mist is supposed to give a dewy look, but I only just looked oily. Maybe if you have dry skin you could like it, but I found my skin looked greasy. I will not be using it again.

And finally another winner! I saw someone recommend the Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus. I decided to try the Brightening + Skin-Tone Evening one. There is also a Perfecting+Smoothing and Matte+Pore Reducing. WOW I love this primer. I think it’s a dupe for my Dr. Brandt one. It makes my skin look so dewy but doesn’t emphasize my pores. I have tried it with different concealers and foundation and I haven’t had any issues. I definitely recommend trying this one out.

And those are the five products I picked up! Let me know if you would like to see a part two because I had a bunch of other products on my list I wanted to try out!

xoxo

Lea