Tag: Makeup Favourites

Beauty, Favourites, Makeup, Skincare

Revisiting my 2020 Beauty Favourites

by LeaLeave a Comment on Revisiting my 2020 Beauty Favourites

Hey guys! It’s now becoming a tradition that along with doing my yearly beauty favourites, I revisit my favourites from the previous year. So today I will be sharing with you my thoughts on my 2020 beauty favourites. I’ve already selected my 2021 beauty faves (post coming next week) so it’ll be interesting to see what’s different between last year and this year. Let’s get into it.

My primer pick was the Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Balm and this is still a favourite of mine. I love using this in the summertime. This primer gives that dewy look without the sparkle or glitter that some other glowy primers have. It also helps smooth the skin. Still love this primer.

My two foundation picks were ones that I haven’t used in a while. The first is the Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation. It’s funny because I thought that this foundation was glowy. Now that I’ve tried actual dewy foundation this one is surprisingly matte. It has a very moussy texture. I will say that it’s not a bad foundation, I just have found others I prefer more. The second foundation pick was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation. I wore this the other day and it’s been forever since I’ve worn a matte, full-coverage foundation. It’s a good foundation it’s not just what I prefer to wear anymore! I like something with a little lighter coverage and a more satin finish. My 2020 favourites have now become mid-tier foundations for me.

My two concealer picks were the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer and the Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer. It’s funny because in my post I mention that I wanted to pick something else besides my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and honestly I’ve gone back to using that one on the daily! The other concealers are good but Nars is just my favourite.

My love of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer continues. This bronzer is so creamy that it blends out super easily. But it lasts super long on the skin. And the shade just matches me perfectly for that natural bronze glow. I do have another bronzer favourite though this year so stay tuned!

My first blush favourite from 2020 was the Nudestix Nudies Blush in In The Nude. This is still a favourite and I have since added another shade of this blush to my collection. It blends easily but has a matte finish to it stays put all day. My second blush favourite was the Burt’s Bee Blush in the shade Fresh Apricot. This was a blush I had to pull out of my collection because it had been a while since I had used it. I forgot how pigmented it was so I accidentally used too much. But with a light hand, it’s a very nice warm-toned blush.

It’s funny because I recently started using the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter after not using it for months and fell in love with it all over again. The shade is skin toned so it’s one of the most ‘natural’ highlight I’ve used. It makes me look naturally glowy which I love. And I find that I can wear this with powder blush and bronzer so it’s very versatile. Love this highlight.

My favourite brow product was the Glossier Brow Flick. In my post, I said I wanted to try out other brow pens and I haven’t oops. I like the idea but I find that brow pens are a lot of work. I find when using a brow pen I have to be very precious and it therefore takes me way longer to do my brows. I’m often rushing in the morning and don’t have time so I’ve gone back to my pencils.

My first of two eyeshadow palettes was the Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Vol II. It’s funny because I’ve been using the first edition palette quite a bit this year since it’s a project pan product for me. Honestly haven’t used the palette much this year. The one issue with doing a project pan is that I’m not using my full collection which is something I want to change moving forward. My second palette pick was the KASH Beauty Secret Treasure palette. I do like this palette. I love the mattes and the colour story. My only complaint is that the shimmers are a little chunky so it’s hard to blend them out softly. It’s either full on bright metallic or nothing. I love using the mattes in this palette paired with an eyeshadow topper. Great palette!

My two eyeliner picks were the Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner and the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil. I stand by what I said for both of these eyeliners. They are both easy to use, show up well on the eye and last long. These are probably the two eyeliners that I get any use out of in my collection.

Next up is mascara, which unfortunately I can’t say much about since I have gotten rid of all these mascaras. I’m trying to be better arthrowing out expired makeup and mascara is the one product that I’m trying to stay on top of. So I haven’t used my mascara picks in a while so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment.

I have a whole bunch of lip products (and spoiler I still have a bunch for this year). Products that are on my 2021 favourites list again are the Steve Laurant Lip Liner in Chic and the Burt’s Bee Satin Lipstick in the shade Blush Basin – so I’ll save my thoughts on those. I did finish my tube of the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm! It’s such a great balm. I reconsidered repurchasing it but decided to get the Laneige one instead. But I still recommend the lip balm and might repurchase it in the future. My lipgloss favourite was the Essence Shine Shine Shine Lipgloss. I do like this gloss, I just found myself gravitating towards coloured lip gloss, not clear. But if you want a clear lip gloss I highly recommend this one. The final lip product was the Glossier Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick. I like this lipstick and still use it occasionally. I don’t find myself gravitating towards it that often because it’s a sheer lipstick. There are times that I want a sheer lipstick but not as often as in the past.

The final section was my skincare favourites. I’m going to summarize this section real quick. The products I still love and use in my routine are: the OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner, the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, and the Glow Recipe Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask. The following products I have since finished and not repurchased are: the OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Juice Daily Cleanser, the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream, the Farmacy Very Cherry Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, and the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. None of these products are bad, if anything I still stand by my reviews of them. Part of being a content creator is trying new things, so I did not repurchase those products in order to try new things. I would still recommend all of them.

And that is a look back at my 2020 beauty favourites! Let me know if you agree or disagree with my updated thoughts. And like I mentioned my 2021 beauty favourites will be coming soon so stay tuned!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Makeup

My Favourite Eyeshadow Palettes for Spring

by Lea1 Comment on My Favourite Eyeshadow Palettes for Spring

Hey guys! Back in the fall, I shared five eyeshadow palettes that I thought would be great for that season. Since it’s now officially spring I thought it would be nice to do the same for this season! So today I’ll be sharing five palettes that I think are great for spring. In the spring I like wearing pastels like pinks and purple and in late spring summer I like wearing oranges and golds. Let’s get into it.

spring, spring makeup, spring eyeshadow, spring eyeshadow palettes, eyeshadow palettes, Colourpop, Huda Beauty, Hipdot, Ace Beaute

I think if I would have to recommend one palette, it would be the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palettes. I have Nude Medium and I think it’s perfect for spring. This palette is pink-toned but has some browns, golds and coppers to balance it out. It’s quite wearable for every day but just adds that flush of pink to spice things up compared to normal neutral palettes. I think the quality of Huda Beauty shadows is great. And it’s a mini palette it’s not like you’ll be getting a bunch of shades that you might not use. A great choice for spring.

Now if you want a small palette but some really fun shades, then check out the Colourpop 5 Star Island Palette. These shades just scream spring and Easter to me. I mean pale pink and bright yellow, those are Easter colours right there. This would be a great way to add some fun colours into your life, but the bit-size and the low price tag make it more accessible. I think putting some matte browns in the crease with a pop of Island Designer or Isabelle in the crease would be an easy, spring look. If you want to know more about this palette, check out my Colourpop haul post.

If pinks and yellows aren’t your thing, then check out the Huda Beauty Obsessions Palettes in Amethyst. This is a palette full of purple eyeshadows. I love wearing purple eyeshadow. It’s so fun and different, and also brings out the green in my eyes. I know this palette might seem dark, but the glitters are quite light and reflective on the eyes. If you have green or hazel eyes, you have to try out purple eyeshadow. Plus this palette is small so it’s not overwhelming.

If you are ready to commit to the springtime shades, then check out the Hipdot Zion Palette. This palette screams spring to me. The light pinks, purples and oranges are perfect to create a pastel look for Easter. And the darker shades are perfect to use in the late spring. The sunset shades are perfect for the nights when the sun is up later and later. This palette is full of fun shades, but also has the basics to be able to create a variety of looks. The Hipdot palette will carry you from spring into summer.

The final palette is the Ace Beaute Grandiose Palette. This is another great palette for people who want the colour to be deeper and darker compared to the Huda Beauty palette. The orange and pink just scream warm weather to me. I love wearing warm shades all year round, but there is just something extra nice about wearing warm tones when the weather is warm outside. Also, the pan size for these shades ia huge so if you like the colour story you’ll never run out of shadow.

And those are my recommendations for spring eyeshadow palettes. Let me know in the comments what your favourite eyeshadow palettes are for spring! I’d love to check them out.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Makeup, Review

Revisiting My 2019 Beauty Favourites

by LeaLeave a Comment on Revisiting My 2019 Beauty Favourites

Hey guys! I did this blog post last year and thought I would bring it back this year. Today I am looking at what my favourite beauty products were in 2019 and let you know what I think about them a year later.

2019 favourites, makeup, beauty, favourite makeup

Starting with moisturizer, my favourite was the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. I haven’t used this moisturizer in months. Once I finished it I didn’t repurchase it because I had so many other moisturizers already open that I wanted to use up. I would love to purchase it again and see if I still love it as much as I did back then.

My favourite mask was the Lush Mask of Magnaminty. If you read my last product empties post, then you might remember that I am officially done with this mask. It’s a great mask but it always dries out before I’m even halfway through it. That’s just a waste of money if you ask me.

A product that I’m almost finished with is the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. I’m still using the same tube as 2019, so it lasts a long time. It’s a good lip balm! The squeezy tube is easy to apply, I find it lasts long on the lips and has a pretty shine. Still loving this lip balm.

My favourite primer was the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer. I used this a lot during the first half of 2020 but halfway through the summer, I fell in love with a different primer. It’s still a good primer, but I like my other one more. 😉

My two favourite foundations were the Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation and the Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation. Pretty sure they discontinued the Physicians Formula foundation because I can’t find it in-store anymore but I still love it. The Smashbox foundation is still a favourite and one I use on occasion. I do have some new foundation favourites this year though.

My favourite concealer in 2019 is (no surprise) the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I still love this concealer and I think I will love it forever. It’s just so creamy and has the perfect amount of coverage. But I have discovered quite a few concealers that I am excited to share!

The Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder was my favourite powder in 2019. I did finish the mini I had and purchased a full size. I still do enjoy using this powder. It’s very smooth and good at setting my face, especially my under eyes.

I’m honestly surprised I didn’t say that the PF Butter Bronzer was my favourite. But I had picked  the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer. This bronzer is pretty great. I haven’t used it in a while because I fell in love with cream products. But it’s still a good one that I recommend to people, especially because of the shade range.

My favourite blush was the Colourpop Blush Stix. Honestly my favourite cream blush this year is way better than this one. The Colourpop cream blush was the first one I tried so I was still new to the world of cream blushes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty good budget alternative, but there is better out there.

I had three mascara favourites, which is so extra of me. I had picked the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, the Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara and the Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara. And honestly, they are all really good mascaras. I would recommend them all. But I do have two new favourites this year hehe.

Then I had two lip favourites: the Colourpop Just a Tint Lip Crayons and the Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment. 2020 has not been the year for me wearing lip products, what with wearing a mask and not leaving the house. So I wouldn’t say that I got the chance to wear these lippies very much this year. But I will say that I still like both of them and would recommend both of them.

And that’s my thoughts on my 2019 beauty favourites. I think it’s interesting to go back and see how my thoughts and opinions have changed over the year. And stay tuned because I will be posting my 2020 favourites before the end of the year!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Favourites, Review

Revisiting Old Makeup Favourites

by Lea1 Comment on Revisiting Old Makeup Favourites

Hey guys! So the other day I decided to revisit some of my old favourite makeup products. I feel like makeup, like any industry, is always focused on the new. A new palette comes out and every forgets about their old ones. Makeup has definitely improved in quality over the years, but are the old favourites bad or still pretty good? I decided to go through some of my old favourites and let you guys know my thoughts, whether they’re still good or not.

Photo 2019-08-08, 5 11 46 PM

First is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette. Everyone went crazy when this palette came out a couple of years ago. I actually waited out and bought this palette used in makeup-selling group for $25. Everyone was in love with the peachy shades and smell. So how do I feel now? Honestly, the peach smell is not strong it’s a little much if you ask me. But I still love the matte formula. The mattes are just so incredibly smooth. They have the perfect amount of pigmentation and blend beautiful on the eyes. The shimmers are definitely not like what I remember. Shimmer shades in palettes nowadays are super pigmented/metallic/foiled/glittery looking. The shimmers are still nice, don’t get me wrong. The perfect for a softer look. This palette is still great, and I definitely will still use it, but I don’t think you have to run out and get it for yourself.

I think a really underrated product is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. I have the shade Deep End and I think it’s absolutely gorgeous. They glide on so well and are easy to smudge. But they also stay put so well, even on the waterline. They are just as good as the Marc Jacobs ones – they are $4 cheaper which isn’t much but still cheaper! Like this eyeliner has been out for almost ten years, that must mean that it’s good if people still use it.

The OG favourite primer for me was the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I have been using a dewier primer but I recently used this Smashbox primer again. There is a reason this is a cult classic. It does such an amazing job at smoothing out my pores. My foundation also lasts way longer when I use this primer over a dewy one. I don’t think I’ll be converting back over full time, but when I need my makeup to last I will definitely use this primer.

A foundation throwback is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation. I loved this foundation so much that I bought both a summer and winter shade. First I forgot how full coverage and matte this foundation is. I feel like the makeup community has been into much more lighter coverage and dewy skin lately, so it was a fun change to wear something else. I do still like this foundation because it makes my skin look so good. I think next time I am going to use a dewy primer and a beauty sponge to lighten up the coverage a bit.

A concealer favourite was the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer. This was my concealer of choice during the Tarte Shape Tape craze. I couldn’t get Shape Tape in Canada, so this was my go to high coverage concealer. I forgot how high coverage this concealer is. I have been using my Nars concealer lately, which is definitely more of a medium coverage. I think I need to get a different shade in this concealer because it was looking pretty yellow on my skin.

A powder favourite was the Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Powder. This was actually the first powder that I ever bought. I have tried so many since that I forgot how amazing this powder is. It makes my face look and feel sooo smooth. It also doesn’t leave me looking cakey afterwards. As you can see I’ve almost finished this powder, but I am definitely going out and repurchasing this.

Another Maybelline favourite was their Facestudio Master Blush Colour and Highlight Kit. I love this face palette when I first got it. The highlight is a nice pinky shade that isn’t too icy. My favourite of the blushes was the first peachy one. It is still gorgeous now. It has a very buildable formula, so I’m not afraid that I will apply too much. It also has a light sheen to it – don’t glittery but more than a matte. I don’t really use the other two shades that much so I’m not sure I would say it’s the best palette. I still like it and I think I will start using it again.

The final old favourite is the OFRA Cosmetics Rodeo Drive Highlighter. I still have the old packaging for this highlight, that’s how long I’ve had it! This used to be everyone favourite highlight. It’s just so blinding on the skin. I have definitely noticed that blinding highlights are not as popular anymore, but like man this is still a good highlight. It’s just so smooth, it doesn’t look chunky on the skin or make my skin look textured. I definitely use a lighter hand but I still really like this highlight.

Photo 2019-08-07, 6 24 46 PM

I was able to create this really fun look using some of my old favourites. Let me know if you guys would like to see a part two of this, I can definitely dig up some other old faves!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review, Skincare, Travel

What Makeup + Skincare I Travel With

by LeaLeave a Comment on What Makeup + Skincare I Travel With

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

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

Photo 2019-06-14, 2 18 48 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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testing 2

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

Photo 2019-06-14, 2 23 52 PM

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Makeup, Review

Best Beauty Products of 2018

by Lea2 Comments on Best Beauty Products of 2018

Hey guys! Decided to do an extra post this week to share my favourite products of 2018. Last year I only had five favourites, and this year I am up to fourteen! These products are not necessarily new this year, mainly products that I got this year and I’ve been loving. A lot of people said that this year was the year of palettes, and I definitely tried a ton. For me, there wasn’t one palette that really stood out and was my favourite of the year – which is so funny because last year I had two palettes apart of my favourites. Without further ado, here are my favourites!

Photo 2018-12-15, 12 20 22 PM

First up, my favourite foundation is all thanks to Kathleen Lights. I heard her rave about the Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation, so I decided to try it out. This foundation is a light-weight, medium coverage and have a nice satin finish. I was getting tried of my full-coverage-matte foundations, and this was a refreshing change. The shade range is not amazing, but I do like that they have a mix of warm, cool and neutral toned shades. I’m not a few fan of the massive doe foot applicator, but this foundation is nice enough that I look past it. This foundation wears nicely through the day and I just really enjoy how this looks on my skin. AND it’s a drugstore foundation, so the price isn’t crazy!

My only palette for this year is actually a face palette. I got the Tarte Tarteist PRO Glow Highlight and Contour Palette during the Spring VIB sale and I have been loving it. I wanted to try a cream contour and this one has been very easy to use. I have no problems blending it out, and it’s the perfect shade – not too warm, not too cool. I might the bronzer very pigmented, so I don’t use it very often but it’s nice to have in the palette. The highlights in here are beautiful. There are creamy and pigmented, and there is a nice range of shades. If you are looking to try out cream contouring, this is great for beginners and it comes with a bunch of beautiful highlights!

While my favourite foundation is drugstore, my two favourite concealers are high-end. I have two favourites because one is my winter shade and the other is my summer shade haha. The first is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. This concealer is a cult classic for a reason. It has a medium coverage, but it can be built up to provide more coverage. I love this concealer because it makes my under eyes look bright and radiant and blends well with my foundation. Some concealers I find don’t blend well with my foundation, so my makeup doesn’t look as flawless. This concealer makes my under eyes look amazing, even during exams! My second favourite is one I have been using for years – I have been using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer before I even started my blog. I recently really got back into using it this year, especially in the summer. This concealer is super long-lasting, my foundation would wear away and yet this concealer would still be in place. This concealer is also great for spot concealing, it does a great job of cancelling out redness. I know both of these concealers are expensive, but they are both excellent concealers.

As an oily girl, I love powder. My favourite I discovered through my best friend. I have just been loving the Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder. This powder is very translucent, it doesn’t change the shade of my foundation. I also love the way it makes my skin look. It gives my skin a beautiful soft finish, and doesn’t make my skin look crazy matte. This powder is just so smooth, I love it. This powder is also great for touch up through the day. Once I finish my mini one I think I might get a full size one. If you are looking for a loose powder, this one is great!

If you read my Best Boxycharm products of 2018 post, then you would know which two mascaras are my favourite this year. The first is the IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. The mascara is perfect for when I want big, long, full lashes. The second mascara is the Butter London Double Decker Mascara. This mascara is perfect for when I want nice fluffy, natural lashes. Both are great mascaras that I have been loving.

Now I accidentally photographed the wrong highlight. My favourite, which I know isn’t new, is definitely the Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighter. I have the shade Rose Gold and I love it. I have tons of gold highlights, but this rose one is different that the other highlights that I own. This highlight is just as creamy and pigmented as my Becca ones. The other highlight I have been loving is a mini I got in a set from Sephora by Laura Mercier. This highlight is a beautiful light champagne shade, and I just love how it looks on my skin. I would recommend both of these highlights.

Photo 2018-12-15, 12 32 18 PM

I have four favourite lip products – a balm, a liquid lip, bullet lipstick and a lip gloss. First is the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm. This is a thicc lip balm. I use this lip balm when I am in need of some intense lip hydration. What I also like is that the balm is made from food-grade ingredients, and Bite Beauty is a Canadian brand (I love supporting my fellow Canadians). Another product from my Boxycharm was the Girlactik Long Lasting Matte Lip Paint. This liquid lipstick is one of the most comfortable ones I’ve tried. It’s long lasting, matte and budge-proof yet doesn’t leave my lips feeling all dry and gross. I would love to get more shades! Now I totally forget to review the collection on my channel, but I did get some items from Kathleen Lights’ Zodiac collection with Colorupop. The Creme Lux Lipstick in What’s Your Sign was my favourite item. The formula of these lipsticks are just so creamy, and this shade is the perfect slightly-warm nude. My final lip product is the Sephora Collection Outrageous Effect Volume Lip Gloss. This is definitely the best plumping lip gloss I’ve ever tried. It makes your lips tingle a little but nothing crazy that hurts. The shade XXL Nude its a beautiful warm neutral (can you tell what I shade is my favourite).

My final favourite product is actually a pair of lashes! This year I have gotten into wearing false lashes, and PUR PRO Eyelashes have been my favourite. The band is thick but comfortable, and pretty easy to blend in. I just find these lashes so easy to put on, and they look amazing. I have worn them multiple times and they still look good. I definitely want to get another pair!

And these were my favourite products of 2018! Let me know what your favourite products are, I always love trying out new products! I hope you guys had an amazing 2018 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Review

Revisiting my 2017 Favourites

by LeaLeave a Comment on Revisiting my 2017 Favourites

Hey guys! So today’s post is inspired by a video by Diary of a Beauty Guru Wannabe, who was inspired by Alexandria S. The idea is to look back at our favourites from last year and to give our updated thoughts. I thought this was amazing idea, so I am giving you guys my update here!

So last year I had five favourites: The Jaclyn Hill Palette, the Laura Lee Cat’s Pajamas palette, the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation, the Colourpop Blotted Lip in Drip and the L’Oreal Lash Paradise.  Some of my thoughts are quite different!

First, I still love the Jaclyn Hill Palette. I still think this is probably one of the best palettes I own. I just love the shade range, and I have created so many different looks with this palette. I also have convinced a few of my friends to buy this palette as well. Definitely still one of my favourites!

Now anyone who is really into the beauty community knows all the controversy that happened with Laura Lee this year. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you can just Google it. I’m not really sure how I feel about this whole situation, but I will say that I haven’t used my Laura Lee products as much since all of this drama happened. I will say this is still a great palette, and I think the quality of the eye shadows are great. We will see what happens in 2019 with the beauty community…

The Wet n Wild foundation was my favourite for awhile. I think it so much that I bought a second shade. This is foundation is still pretty amazing, especially for the price point.  I do find this foundation to be a little heavy, and sometimes it can look cakey on my face if I apply too much. Lately I have been using a different foundation more, which I will talk about in my 2018 favourites. Overall this is still a foundation I recommend, but I don’t use it as often.

The Colourpop Blotted Lip in Drip was my favourite lippie of 2017, and I still love it. I used it most of this year as well, but sometime in the summer I lost it and now I can’t find it. I decided that I would repurchase it when I eventually make another Colourpop order. Except I just went to check the website for this blog post and it’s been discontinued! I am so upset, Colourpop why did you do this to me?? If you guys know of a sheer but matte lipstick let me know!

The final product is the L’Oreal Lash Paradise. This was everyone‘s favourite mascara last year. I used it most of the year as well, but I haven’t repurchased it since it last dried out on me. I really do like this mascara, and it’s a great price. But I found that this mascara dried up really quickly, and whenever it was starting to go it made my lashes look clumpy. I have been enjoying other mascaras recently, which is why I haven’t repurchased it. I might buy it again in the future though, who knows!

And those were my favourite products of 2017 and my updated thoughts on the products. I find it so funny that I only had five favourites, this year I have way more haha! Also life update: I am officially done exams, but next week I am going to Mexico! I will try to post when I can, but I am unsure what the wifi will be like. But I will have a blog post go up next week 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Favourites, Review

Drugstore Makeup Guide

by LeaLeave a Comment on Drugstore Makeup Guide

Hi guys! Today’s post is inspired by my friends. They are always asking me what my favourite drugstore products, so I thought I would compile all my faves into one post. I tried to stick to just one or two favourites in each category. I have linked all the products to Ulta’s website, but for all my fellow Canadian girls I bought most of these products at either Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall. Finally, the one product I do not have any favourites are primers because I do not own any drugstore primers. Let me know in the comments which drugstore primers I should try!

drugstore makeup guide

For foundation I decided to go with my current favourite – the Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation. I wear a lot of drugstore foundations, so it was hard for me to pick a favourite. I decided to pick this Wet n Wild one because it’s the cheapest while still being a great foundation. It has a matte finish and lasts a long time on the skin. If you still haven’t tried this foundation, I highly recommend you go get it!

While I like drugstore foundation, I usually prefer high-end concealers. A good one from the drugstore is the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. I really like this concealer in the summer when I looking for something that is a little more natural but still brightens my under eyes. If you don’t like heavy concealer I recommend you check this one out, but keep in mind it does need to be set to stay in place.

My favourite powder is a pressed one – the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder. This powder is for all my fellow oily girls out there. I love using this powder when I’m looking oily and need a touch up. It’s lightweight and does a great job of controlling shine. I have hit pan on this product,  I really need to buy a new one.

If you follow my blog or Instagram, you probably won’t be surprised that my favourite drugstore bronzer is the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. It’s the perfect bronzer shade – not too orange and no glitter. It gives a beautiful glow to the skin, and it’s so easy to apply. It also smells amazing, which is a great bonus! Everyone needs this bronzer in their life.

A great blush from the drugstore is the Milani Powder Blush. I don’t like a very pigmented blush because I have a heavy hand and can really easily apply to much. This blush is perfect for me because it’s a buildable formula, so I look perfectly flushed instead of a clown. I also think the rose pattern is beautiful.

It was really hard for me to pick my favourite drugstore highlighter because I have and love so many. I decided to pick two that are complete opposites. The first is the Maybelline Master Chrome Highligher. This highlighter is smooth but blinding. It’s very comparable to Ofra’s highlighters but at a much cheaper cost. My other favourite is the Essence Pure Nude Highlighter. This highlight is great for when I want a subtle look. The Essence highlighter is great for no-makeup makeup when I want a natural glow. The shade is also very flattering on my skin tone. Both of these highlighters are great for different reasons.

For setting spray, I recommend the Milani Make It Last Setting Spray. This stuff is great for really locking in my makeup look. If I want to make my makeup last all day, I use this spray. The only thing I don’t like is that I can make my face feel a little tight, probably because of all the alcohol in it. BUT I have almost used a full bottle of this because it just does such a good job.

Okay, I’m not sure if this product is being discounted or something, because it’s not on the Ulta website but I was able to find it on Amazon! The L’Oreal Infalliable 24 HR Eye Shadow in Amber Rush is just amazing. It’s an intense eyeshadow that can be easily applied with a finger. I just blend a matte shade in the crease and then pop this on the lid and it’s a beautiful look. The shade Amber Rush specifically is a beautiful rose gold that I 10/10 recommend.

The best drugstore matte eyeshadows are the ones in the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadows. I own Rose in the Air, and the mattes in this palette are great. They’re not as pigmented as some of my high-end palettes, but they are builable and blendable which is great. If you’re interested, check out this post for a more in-depth review of the palette.

If you like a brush liquid liner, you have to try the NYX Matte Liquid Liner. This liner applicator is probably one of the easiest to use out on the market. It has a fine tip to create a precise line, and it’s really use to create a wing look. If you have hooded eyes, like I do, then you would enjoy this liner. This is the only liquid liner I use because it’s just the best I’ve ever tried.

I have two mascara recommendations. The first is the classic L’Oreal Lash Paradise. It’s not pictured in the photo because I just threw mine out because it was expired and haven’t picked up another one yet. The L’Oreal mascara is great for making your lashes thick and voluminous. The Essence Volume Stylist Lash Extension Mascara is great for making your lashes nice a long. This adds length and a little volume, great for everyday use.

I don’t wear lip liner very often, but when I do I always wear the Maybelline lip liners. Mine is in old packaging, so I’m not sure if the formula is the same. These lip liners are creamy and very easy to apply. I also find that they last pretty well throughout the day. As well, they have a really nice colour selection, so check them out!

Finally, my favourite lipsticks at the drugstore are hands down Maybelline Colour Sensational lipsticks. They are a creamy matte, so they apply easily but still look matte on the lips. They are so comfortable on the lips and last really well through the day. The colour selection is amazing, but I think the nudes are the best. My favourite shade is Daringly Nude. If you don’t own one of their lipsticks, I highly recommend you go buy one right now.

And these are all my favourite drugstore makeup products! I hope you I gave you guys some suggestions for new products to check out! Let me know down below your favourite drugstore makeup products 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites

Favourite Beauty Items of 2017

by Lea2 Comments on Favourite Beauty Items of 2017

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! Today I’m sharing with you guys some of my favourite beauty products of 2017. I decided to narrow it down to products that were either released in 2017 or were really popular. I had lots of makeup favourites this year but if I shared all of them this posts would be super long haha!

2017 beauty favs

 

I have two eyeshadow palettes, both of which were created by beauty Youtubers. The first is the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Eyeshadow Palette. I love this palette so much, and whenever I show it to people they can’t believe how beautiful it is. The colour selection just inspires me so much. The eyeshadows in this palette as also some of the best I have ever used. This is probably my favourite eyeshadow palette that I own. I highly recommend this that!

The second eyeshadow palette is the first product by Laura Lee’s new brand, Laura Lee Los Angeles. I really like the Cat’s Pajamas palette. I like to travel with this palette because it’s smaller but has a nice range of shades to create many different looks. This shades are also super buttery and pigmented. Another palette that I have been really enjoying in the few short months that I have had it.

A favourite foundation that I have tried this year is the Wet n Wild Photo Focus foundation. This is a great drugstore foundation. The coverage is medium to full coverage and is very buildable. It also have a nice finish – it’s matte but it doesn’t look to matte. It gives a soft look to the skin. I have received many compliments when wearing this foundation, and it’s so cheap!

The L’Oreal Lash Paradise has been basically the only mascara I have worn this year. I have people thinking I got lash extensions when I was wearing this mascara. It gives me equal parts length and volume, but unlike some mascaras I find it is not hard to remove. It is a slighty drier formula so it doesn’t get all over my eyelids. I highly recommend this mascara!

Finally, a product that I find was very underrated but I loved was the Colourpop Blotted Lipsticks. I have the shade Drip and it’s a great shade. It gives a nice wash of colour but it’s matte so it doesn’t slip all over the place like some tinted lip balm. I also find that it’s not that drying so it’s the perfect way to add a little colour!

And those were my favourites! Let me know in the comments what your favourite products were that I should try out!

xoxoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites

May Beauty Favourites

by Lea4 Comments on May Beauty Favourites

Hey guys! So for the month of May I did not purchase many beauty products until the end of the month. So most of my favourites come from my Boxycharm this month!

may fav

First is the Convertible Brow from The Brow Gal. I got this item in my Boxycharm so I won’t go into too much detail about it. I like it because it is easy to use and gives a variety of shades so I can create the perfect match to my brow shade.

Next is the Temptu Liquid Glow. I have never tried a liquid highlight before but I am now in love! This one by Temptu is more on the natural side, giving a subtle glow to my skin. I also find that this highlight does not emphasize texture on my skin as much as powder highlights. It also lasts all day! Really loving this highlight, I use every time I wear makeup!

I recently started using the Baby Lips lip balm by Maybelline and I have fallen in love with them again. It makes my lips feel moisturized by not too thick and goopy compared to some other lip balms. Also the coloured ones give a nice wash of colour to my lips. The only thing is that I do not like the scent. Otherwise loving this lip balm right now!

Another Maybelline product that I have been loving this month is the Fit Me Concealer. This is my first time using this concealer and I love it! It is really easy to blend out and lasts all day! It has medium coverage; it covers redness well but I find my dark circles peak through if I’m not using a colour corrector. I’ve only had this concealer for a week and a half but I am already in love!

Finally is the Crown Round Contour Brush from my Boxycharm. I personally use this brush for my foundation and I really enjoy it. I have never used a densely packed brush like this one but now I wan to try more! I find it gives a nice smooth finish and does not sheer out my foundation coverage. A nice cheaper option compared to the expensive Artis Brushes.

And those are my favourite beauty products for the month of May! I have a bunch of new makeup I am testing out for June so hopefully I will find some new favourites 🙂

xoxo

Lea