Tag: Makeup Review

Beauty, Favourites, Review

Current Beauty Favourites

by Lea2 Comments on Current Beauty Favourites

Hey guys! So I’ve realized that it’s been awhile since I’ve shared my favourite beauty products. I purchased some new makeup during the Sephora VIB sale, but I also went back to some old favourites during my trip in Europe. So this post includes a nice mix of old and new products!

Photo 2019-06-06, 6 54 56 PM

First is the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer. I kinda hate that I like this product because it’s so expensive but I just love it. I got it in a Boxycharm and I just fell in love. It’s adds the perfect amount of glow to my skin. I’ve tried other luminizing primers and found that they were way too much. This primer just adds a subtle glow under my foundation. I have been using this primer almost exclusively the past couple of months. I just love it.

Next up for foundation has been the Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation. I remember my friend complimented me on my skin while wearing this foundation. I just love this foundation, it’s actually the only one I brought with me to Europe. It feels lightweight, has a light-to-medium build-able coverage and has a beautiful satin finish. It also wears nicely through the day. Since my skin has been clearer lately, I have been enjoying a lighter coverage foundation. The shade I have also matches me really well – if you have neutral undertones this line is really good. I know Physicians Formula isn’t the cheapest brand at the drugstore, but this foundation is so worth it.

To round out my face product, my favourite concealer has been the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I love this concealer because it has good coverage but doesn’t look or feel heavy. For example, while Tarte’s Shape Tape has amazing coverage but can look heavy under the eyes if you apply too much. With the Nars concealer, I find that it look more natural compared to the Shape Tape. This is also the only concealer I brought with me to Europe and I loved it.

A new product to me is the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer in the shade Shady Biz. I have the mini because they were sold out of the bigger ones at the time, but man now I wish I had the bigger one! This is my new favourite bronzer. It’s fairly similar to the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, but with a way better shade range. This is the perfect shade to bronze with – it’s warm but not orange. I like that it’s pigmented but not too much because I really like to build up my bronzer. I think that this shade is also perfect for me because when I’m paler I just use a lighter hand but can go heavier once I get tan. I am so happy I found this right before summer!!

Another new favourite is the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. This might be controversial, but I like this more than the Lip Sleeping Mask! I find it a pain to dig my finger into the jar! This packaging is easier to use and more hygienic. I also just love how this makes my lips look and feel. My lips look so glossy but they are sticky, and it does an amazing job hydrating my lips. I know $20 is expensive for a lip balm, but man this one is sooooo good.

Next is a product that I don’t mention very often but wear the majority of the time of my eyes. I have three Colourpop single shadows that I use all the time as all over shades or just with a little highlight on the lids. Wake Up Call and Made to Last I often just wear all over my crease and lid with just a bit of mascara. Bel Air is slightly darker and cooler than Wake Up Call, and I will usually just a highlight shade on my lid when I wear this shade. This Colourpop single shadows are only $4.50 each, and they are so effortless and easy to use. I have been using them I would say 80% of the time that I wear makeup. I’ve had them for over two years and still haven’t hit pan either. I highly recommend buying some Colourpop single shadows!

My favourite mascara rotates, but currently I am loving the Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara. I like mascaras that give me lots of length with just a hint of volume. I also like how I can apply a little for an every day look or load it up for a night out look. I brought two mascaras with me to Europe, but I found myself reaching for this one more. I really like this one!

My final favourite is somewhat surprising, but it has been the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. My skin was quite dry this winter (did not like the extreme cold oof) and I was reaching for more hydrating products. I found that this setting spray made such a huge difference in the look and feel of my makeup. If I ever was looking dry or powdery, this setting spray would just revive my makeup. And it’s only $10 CAD!! I am almost out of my current bottle, and I am definitely going to repurchase it.

And those are my current favourite makeup products! Let me know in the comments what your current favourite products are, I am always looking to try new products 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review, Skincare

May 2019 Boxycharm Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on May 2019 Boxycharm Review

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

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

Photo 2019-05-30, 2 18 16 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

April 2019 Boxycharm Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on April 2019 Boxycharm Review

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

Photo 2019-04-10, 1 36 18 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Colourpop Zodiac Palette Review + Four Makeup Looks

by LeaLeave a Comment on Colourpop Zodiac Palette Review + Four Makeup Looks

Hey friends! So today’s post is a little different. I got the Colourpop x Kathleen Lights Zodiac palette right when it released last summer. When I got the palette I knew I wanted to do some fun looks with the palette, but I didn’t have time when I first got in. Fast forward to today, I have finally completed the four looks for the palette! First I am going to explain my looks and then I will give my full review of the palette.

Photo 2019-03-07, 1 56 47 PM

So for those of you who don’t know much about astrology, there are twelve signs that fall under four elements – fire, air, water and earth. I decided to do a look for each of the four elements, using the three shades for each element.

First I did fire. Fun fact: my sun sign is Aries and my rising sign is Sagittarius (my moon sign is Pisces lol I have a weird combination) so there is a ton of fire in my birth chart. So of course I started with fire! For this look, I put the Sagittarius in my crease and lower lash line, then I put the Aries on my lid and the Leo in my inner corner. I liked this look because it was bold and colourful, just like fire signs!

The next sign is earth, which includes Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. With all these neutral shades I decided to do a smokey eye. I used the Taurus and the Virgo in the crease, and then put the Capricorn all over the lid. This look was so easy to do and I think it turned out so great! I would totally wear this on a night out. Also the liquid lipstick I am wearing in this look is the Ofra Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Verona.

The third look is for air, which includes Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. I was originally thinking of doing a blue liner with the Aquarius, but it wasn’t working out so I put it on my lower lash line. I put the Libra in my crease and then the Gemini all over my lid. I think the final look was quite airy and elegant.

The final look is for the water signs, which includes Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. All of the other signs had matte shades that went together, but the water signs were all very different. Since I needed something in my crease, I used Sagittarius. Then I put Pisces on the inner half of my lid and then Scorpio in the outer half of my lid. I then put Cancer in my inner corner.

And now for the full review of the palette. I just going to start the review by saying that while the palette was fun to play with, I wouldn’t recommend everyone to go out and get it.

The quality of the eyeshadows are like any other Colourpop shadows, which if you haven’t tried them is pretty good. I find that the mattes are pretty pigmented and blended out really well. The Aquarius shade was the only one that I was slightly disappointed with. I expected it to be very bright and found it was very muted. The shimmers are really nice. I find that they are a really nice wash of colour, but I can wet them with setting spray and they are really foiled and pigmented.

I was able to create some really cool looks with this palette, and I also created a few wearable looks as well. I like to use the Taurus or the Libra in the crease and then a some of the shimmers on the lid. That being said, this is not the best everyday palette. I think this is a fun palette that encourages me to be creative, but for the average person this palette is a little out there. If you like astrology or Kathleen Lights, then I recommend this palette. Otherwise I would recommend some of Colourpop’s other palettes.

And that is my full review of the Colourop Zodiac palette! This post was a really fun way to do a review of an eyeshadow palette. I hope you enjoyed my looks, let me known which one was your favourite!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

March Boxycharm Review 2019

by LeaLeave a Comment on March Boxycharm Review 2019

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

Photo 2019-03-27, 12 02 26 PM

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Gel Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Gel Review

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my review of the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Gel. When I saw that ABH was releasing a tinted brow gel, I knew immediately that I was going to pick it up. I love their brow products, and I have been using the Brow Wiz since high school. There is a wide range of shades, which match with their Brow Wiz range. I got the shade Medium Brown, and it was $23 CAD.

Photo 2019-03-14, 11 05 19 AM

I have their clear brow gel, but I had never tried a tinted brow gel before. Using a tinted brow gel takes some getting used to. This formula is very wet, so it’s pretty easy to accidentally get it on your skin. It comes out pretty easily with some makeup remover if you do mess up. A pro to this wet formula is that can be used with a brush on the skin for a more detailed look. Another issue with the wet formula is that is does take about a minute to fully dry down. The dry down time was longer than their clear brow gel.

I tried the brow gel three different ways. First I tried it by itself, with no other brow products underneath. The gel makes my brows look thicker and fuller. Once I got the hand of using a tinted gel, I was able to pretty quickly brush my brows out for a more natural look. If you are a fan of fluffy brows, you would really like using the gel in this way. My only issue is that I have a few bald spots in my brows, and this method doesn’t cover them.

The second way I used this brow was to set my brows after filling them in. This is method is my favourite way to use the gel. By quickly running my brow pencil through first, I am able to fill in all my bald spots. Going in with the gel makes them look thicker and fuller.

The last method I tried was putting in the brow gel, and then trying to fill in my brows later. This did not work. The brows were very set, so it was hard to run a pencil through after. It just made my hairs go in weird directions. So if you are like me and have bald spots in your brows, fill them in first and then apply the gel.

This brow gel does an amazing job of setting my brows in place, just like their clear gel. I do feel like gel, in a similar way to how you can feel hair gel in your normal hair. It lasted well through the day, unlike my pencil which fades this gel looked the same all day.

What surpised me is that the Dipbrow Gel is smaller than their original gel. The Clear Brow Gel is 0.28 oz while the Dripbrow Gel is 0.155 oz. Now there is a $6 price difference, so you are paying for more product when you get the Clear Brow Gel.

So to summerize, I believe the pros are:

  • pigmented
  • makes brows look thicker and fuller
  • can be used in different ways
  • long lasting

And the cons are:

  • learning curve/can be messy
  • longer dry down time compared to Clear Brow Gel
  • doesn’t cover bold spots

I like the Dipbrow Gel and I am happy that I got it. Would I recommend the product? This is a great brow gel, and I would believe that similar brow gels probably have similar pros and cons. If you are interested in getting a brow gel, I believe that this one would be a great one to try. I believe that is really comes down to personal preference towards brows that will determine whether or not you would like this product. I will definitely continue to use this gel.

And that is my full review of the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Gel. I would love to know if you guys have tried this product and your thoughts on it! Let me know in the comments down below!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Review

Sephora Haul 2019

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Haul 2019

Hey guys! I am back with a Sephora haul! I got a gift card for Christmas and I really took my time trying to figure out what I wanted to spend it on. And of course I got extra stuff on top of spending my gift card haha! I got a mixture of makeup and skincare as well as a mixt between new launches and older favourites.

Photo 2019-02-03, 3 34 51 PM

First, I got two sheet masks. One was the GLAMGLOW BUBBLESHEET Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask. The second was a Sephora Collection Eye Mask, specially the Perfecting and Brightening one. I haven’t tried either mask yet, I usually hoard masks and then save them for later. I might just post a mini review of them on my Instagram once I use them – what would you guys prefer?

I repurchased another Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. If you read my recent empties you would know how much I love this cleanser. I find it does a great job of cleaning my skin and has an amazing smell. I decided to buy the small size because it fits better where I store my skincare, and it’s also cheaper (like $30 cheaper!).

The other skincare product I got was the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post, but I was looking for a good medium hydration moisturizer. I currently have the Origins Matte Moisturizer and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, but I wanted something in between very matte and very thick. I think the Laneige is the perfect in between. This gel is lighter than their sleeping mask, but just as hydrating. I have only used it for a week, so I might change my opinion but so far I love it. The gel consistency feels like I’m applying water to my face. It also works well underneath makeup. The only thing is that this jar is glass, so it’s very heavy and I’m always afraid I’m going to drop it and break it. If you have normal, combo or oily skin I think you would like this, but people with drier skin might want something thicker.

The first makeup product I got was a mini size of the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. I always get the smaller size of powder just to try them out without having to commit to the larger size just in case I don’t like it.  Now I had heard a bunch of people rave about this powder, and many people put it in their favourite products of 2018 so I thought it was time for me to try it out. I didn’t notice the difference between this powder and other ones until I put this powder on one side of my face and a different powder on the other side of my face. This powder is soooo smooth, it’s incredible. This powder has this little particles, I wouldn’t call it glitter but it just gives the most beautiful glow to the face. This powder doesn’t make you look super matte and cakey, but instead leaves a smooth, satin finish. BUT this powder isn’t the best at keeping my skin from looking oily. I understand why so many people with dry skin love this powder. Even though I have oily skin, I like this powder because I don’t always want to look super matte. If I need my makeup to last, I think I will continue to reach for my Cover FX powder, but when I want to look glowy I will use this powder. I will definitely buy it in a bigger size once I finish the mini one.

Next up was the Fenty Gloss Bomb in the shade Fenty Glow. I almost bought this gloss when it first came out, and for some reason I decided not to. I have have almost bought this gloss so many times, and I honestly can’t believe I wanted so long. THIS GLOSS IS AMAZING. I got Fenty Glow because I prefer warmer tones and this is just the perfect shade of lip gloss for me. It’s super shiny but doesn’t make your lips feel gross and tacky. The scent is also so nice and not too overpowering. The gloss lasts a decent amount of time on the lips compared to some other glosses I own. If Fenty came out with a peach or coral shade I would definitely buy that too.

Finally a new foundation! This year I want to spend less money on eyeshadows and lip products and invest more into face products. So getting a new foundation was on the top of that list. I have a bunch of matte, full-coverage foundations. I wanted to try something a little lighter with a satin finish. The Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation just ticked off all the boxes for me. I got a sample of the foundation and liked it enough to buy a full bottle. I also choose this foundation because it had neutral undertones, which is what I prefer for myself (I got shade 1.1). This foundation has a very buildable formula, so I can make it lighter or fuller coverage depending on how I am feeling that day. The foundation lasts well throughout the day, it doesn’t slip off my face or break apart. I think the only downside it that I really feel the foundation on my face, but I don’t mind too much since it looks good on my face. I would definitely recommend this foundation to anyone looking for a medium, natural looking foundation!

And that is my Sephora haul! The next product I am looking to invest in is a new bronzer, so let me know down below if you have any favourites!

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, Review

The James Charles x Morphe Palette Review

by LeaLeave a Comment on The James Charles x Morphe Palette Review

Hey guys! For those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram, I am currently in the middle of my final exams for university. I had my first exam at 4pm yesterday, which is when I normally post around. That is why this post is going up on Saturday! I have another exam on Monday and then my last two on Thursday, so next week’s post should go up on Friday.

Sometimes in life you see something and know immediately that you need it. That’s how I felt when I saw the James Charles palette. I like James, but I’m not a hardcore fan. But when I saw the palette and watched his full reveal, I was blown away. I was actually looking to get a colourful palette when he released it, so it was perfect timing. I ordered the palette the day it released (I bought it in class haha). I got the palette within a week, which is pretty great because this was during the postal strike. The palette cost $50 CAD, and I bought a few other items to get the few international shipping. The other times I’ve ordered from Morphe I had to pay duties, but this time I didn’t have to!

Photo 2018-11-25, 12 43 36 PM

I asked you guys on Instagram if you wanted my first impression on the palette or an in-depth review, and the later won. So I took a couple weeks to play around with the palette. I was busy with end of term papers and studying for exams, so I still haven’t had the chance to use the entire palette. But I have done three different glam looks, along with playing with it for more everyday looks. I’m going to start the review saying that this palette is amazing, but it’s not for everyone.

This palette contains 39 eyeshadows, ranging in colour and finish. The top two rows are the more traditional glam shades, including transition shades, highlighting shades and a few metallic shades. In the middle are 7 larger pans, which James thinks people will use the most, along with one face highlight. The bottom two rows are all the fun colourful shades. I really like the layout of the palette. It is logical and eye-catching. It makes me inspired. My only compliant is that I could have done without the large highlight. There are already some shades to highlight the inner corner and brow bone, but I always forget about the one in the palette when I’m doing my face makeup.

Photo 2018-12-08, 11 37 54 AM

I have decided not to swatch the full palette – mainly because it’s a lot to swatch all 39 shades haha. I did just the rainbow to show you a few of the shades. As well, there has been some controversy about some of the shades not swatching well. If you are curious about seeing swatching, I suggest you watch James’ reveal video, he explains that some shades are better packed on than swiped. While it is sometimes useful to look at swatches to see how shimmers or metallics look, they don’t often trying represent how mattes preform.

Now for the actual formula of the shadows. These colourful mattes are amazing. I find the darker shades are super pigmented, and the lighter ones are pretty good as well they just need to be built up a bit. For example, when I used the shade Bee (the bright yellow) at first it was a nice light wash of yellow but I was able to build it up to intense yellow. The shades are overall pretty true to what’s in the pan. Some of the shades do get darker the more you use it, but that’s true for most mattes anyways.

Now the shimmers/metallics in this palette are mediocre. I’ve used a few of the shades thinking they were going to be bright and intense, but they were all right. For example, the shade Wig is a classic gold shade. I decided to compare the shade to the golds in the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette and the 35O (order in photo top to bottom is James, Jaclyn 35O). The other two shades are definitely creamier and more impactful, with the Jaclyn Hill one being my personal favourite. I’m not saying this shimmer shades are bad – they are still pigmented and easy to use. They are just not the best I’ve ever used, but they get the job done.

Like I mentioned above, I decided to do multiple looks with this palette to test out some different shades. I am definitely planning to do more looks with this palette, so check out my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) for more. The first look is definitely a little out there, but I loved it! I used the shades Punch Me, Mary and a little Code James in the crease, and then I put Bee all over the lid. My housemate said it reminded her of pink lemonade! All the colours I used for this look blended easily – like I mentioned before the mattes are definitely the best part of the palette.

The next look I decided to do a fun Christmas look for the next one. I also wanted to test out the red as well. I used Punch Me and 10% Off in the crease, then all over the lid I put Guac. While Guac was very pigmented, there was surpisingly not that much shimmer even though I used my finger to apply it. On my lower lash line I used You’re Kidding and WOW is this shade pigmented. It also such a true red. Some people were complaining that the red stains and yes this did stain my lower lash line, but it wasn’t that bad. I wore makeup the next day and it wasn’t noticeable underneath it. Finally in the inner corner I put some So Good along with some glitter. This was a pretty easy look to do! (Also excuse the massive bags under my eyes, I was so tired when I did this look. I took my makeup off and went to bed immediately after haha).

The final look I decided to do a warm smokey eye to test out the middle shades in the palette. I used all the big pans in the middle – Tune, Code James, 10% Off, No beans and Spooky. I used a combination of Halloween and Shook on the lid. In my inner corner I just used my highlight. Once again I wasn’t that impressed with Halloween and Shook – they were decent but not mind blowing. I am also not a huge fan of Tune, I would have preferred it Punch Me was bigger, but that’s my personal preference when it comes to matte crease shades.

Overall, I think this palette is great for people looking to get into colourful and creative looks, because the matte shades are the best part of the palette. If you are someone who wears prefers to stick to neutrals, I wouldn’t recommend this palette. Only half the palette are neutral, every day shades and $50 is a lot to spend on only half a palette. As well, the shimmers are not that impressive. If you are someone who likes neutral shades but wants a little colour, I would recommend the Jaclyn Hill palette. There are way more neutral shades and the shimmers are way more intense. If you are someone looking to experiment with colour, this is an amazing palette. It has all the colourful shades you could ever wish for. I am really happy that I purchased this palette, and I’m excited to continue playing with it.

Hope you guys enjoyed this really in depth review, let me know if you liked it and I should continue doing palette reviews like this!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Huda Beauty Amethyst Obsessions Palette Review

by Lea1 Comment on Huda Beauty Amethyst Obsessions Palette Review

Hey guys! Today I am sharing with you guys my review of one of Huda Beauty’s mini palettes! I have heard so many good things about the quality of her eyeshadows, and that the formula on her mini palettes are just as good as her bigger palettes. When I saw her gemstone collection, I knew I had to get the Amethyst  Obsessions palette. Purple is one of my favourite colours, and I was actually looking for a palette with some nice purple shades in it, so it was a win-win for me!

Photo 2018-10-12, 12 16 07 PM

I also may or may not have been super excited to be take a photo of the palette with my amethyst rock. The palette comes with nine eye shadows, all different shades of purple. There is a range of finishes, from matte to metallic to glitter. All the eye shadows are very pigmented, which is really important for colourfully shades. As someone is not very experience with colourful shades, I was very happy that these shades were blendable, because it made it easier to do my makeup. Finally, the glitters did have a little fallout while applying, but once they were on the eyes they were set.

I decided to do two looks with this palette to really show off the palette. The first look I went full glam, with wing liner and lashes (excuse the wonky liner haha). I used the pink matte shades in my crease, and the bottom right purple/pink glitter all over my lid. I LOVED this look. I couldn’t help keeping myself in the mirror the rest of the night – even though my night just consisted of going to McDonalds and watching Netflix haha. Also, my lipstick was Scorpio Moon from Colourpop.

For the second look, I wanted to do something simple, to show to you guys that you can still use a colourful palette on an everyday basis. I used the dark purple to do a shadow wing, and I put the middle glitter in my inner eye. I really liked this look as well, and thought it was a fun-yet-basic look.

Overall, I really like this palette! This palette really inspired me to play with more colour, and I can’t wait to use this palette again. I also want to now try some of the larger Huda Beauty palettes. Let me know if you guys have any of her larger palettes, and which one I should get!

xoxo

Lea