Tag: Makeup Review

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review

November Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on November Boxycharm 2021

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

November Boxycharm

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

by LeaLeave a Comment on Sephora Sale Haul & Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Review

Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Divine Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Holiday, Makeup, Skincare

12 Holiday Gifts Set To Pick Up From Sephora

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

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

My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

by Lea2 Comments on My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

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

Makeup

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skincare

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hair & Body & Miscellaneous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Review, Skincare

October Boxycharm 2021

by Lea1 Comment on October Boxycharm 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Haul, Makeup, Review

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

by Lea1 Comment on What Products from Elf Cosmetics Are Worth The Hype – Elf Cosmetics Review

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, Makeup, Project Pan

Project Pan Update October 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on Project Pan Update October 2021

Hey guys! It’s time for another project pan update!! I actually forgot that I was supposed to do an update this month which is why it’s up a little later. Better late than never!

If you don’t know what a project pan is, the idea is to focus on a few products and either hit pan or finish the product. I’ve been doing a project pan since January but in July I decided to switch up the products I use. I picked five products, so let’s get into it.

The first product is the the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Eyeshadow Palette. I’ve hit pan on one eyeshadow which I’m very happy about! I never managed to do that in my last project pan. I also think I’m making good progress on the second brown shade on the top row. I’m hoping to pan another two shadows by my next update.

The next product is the Maybelline City Bronzer & Contour Powder. This is the never-ending bronzer. I use so much bronzer, especially since it was summer. And I’ve barely made a dent in it. Hopefully by my next update ‘ll have made some visible progress.

I might not have hit pan, I’m do think I’m making progress with my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in the shade Paaarty. I can see the outline of the pan underneath pretty clearly now. I think by December I’ll hit pan.

I can’t wait to finish this powder because I’m sick and tired of using the TooFaced Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder. I find that it leaves a yellow cast on my skin and just isn’t the best at setting my face. But I’m SO CLOSE to finishing it that I’m just going to power through and finish it.

A product where I’m making good progress is the Temptu Liquid Glow. I wanted to be at the bottom of the Boxycharm logo by this update. I’m not there yet but I’m quite close so I’m pretty happy about that. I will say that I am getting bored of using this highlight because I’ve been using it since April. I think I’m going to use it until December and then take a break.

And the product I am officially retiring from my project pan is the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in the shade Fenty Glow. I do really like using this lip gloss, but I like changing up my lip too much to do a project pan with a lip product. Some days I don’t want to wear a gloss and other days I want something cool toned so I don’t use this gloss. I think just based on my personal makeup habits that it doesn’t make sense to do a project pan on a lip product.

And that is my project pan update! I am going to continue using all the products except for the lip gloss for the next couple of months. I’ll post an update in January and will probably change up the items then. If you guys are doing a project pan let me know in the comments how your progress is going!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Makeup Brushes, Review, Skincare

September Boxycharm 2021

by LeaLeave a Comment on September Boxycharm 2021

Hey guys! Sorry I haven’t posted in a week. As soon as I decided I wanted to come back to blogging, I became insanely busy at work. As well, I got my Boxycharm super late this month, hence why this post is going up in October. But I thought I would still share my thoughts on the products just in case you were curious about them. Let’s get into it!

The first product is the Glamglow Youthmud Glow Stimulating & Exfoliating Treatment Mask. This mask is meant to smooth the skin and help with fine lines. This is meant for people with oilier skin types, so if you have dry skin stay away. As well, if you have sensitive be careful because this mask tingles. I’m not a huge fan of the tingling sensation but it did do a nice job of smoothing my skin. Haven’t noticed any difference with fine lines, since I feel like that’s something that takes time to fix. Overall it’s a good mask but it’s not my favourite mask I’ve ever tried. Price: $60 US, $78 CAD

The next product is a duo, so two products in one! The Half Caked Best Friends Forever set comes with the In Bloom Blush and Duo Fiber Brush. The shade I got in the blush is Freshly Squeezed. I love getting brushes in my box and this one is super soft. The blush is super pigmented, so I have to use a very light hand. But it’s very long-lasting which is impressive for a powder blush. The shade Freshly Squeezed is quite a bright red – not exactly a shade I reach for often. But I think this shade would look gorgeous on deeper skin tones. I’m impressed with this set. Price: $22 US, $29 CAD

I got a second set of products, the Pinky Rose Cosmetics Multi-Use Makeup Base Sticks Jazz & Hip Hop Duo. These sticks can be used as either eyeshadow or an eyeshadow primer. Hip Hop is a creamy beige and Jazz is a shimmery copper. The pigmentation and bendability are great on both of these, but they crease so much. I wore Hip Hop as a primer and my eyeshadow creased. I tried Jazz by itself and it creased. If you don’t have greasy eyelids you’ll be fine, but if you’re like me then these sticks still just slip and slide everywhere. Price: $20 US, $25.17 CAD

The next product I received is the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter. This is such a cool product. I’ve used many cleansing balms before but the texture of this is very different. The name butter is quite accurate because it’s much creamier. It does an excellent job at removing all my makeup but not stripping my skin. If you have dry skin you’ll love this cleanser. Price: $38 US

And the final product is the Give Them Lala Beauty Mascara. First I must say that the packaging is a little odd. The tube itself is just plain white, with just the brand name on the cap. The wand of the mascara is nice, on the smaller side which I prefer. I like how my lashes look, they’re long and voluminous. But I find the formula to be very wet so I always get mascara on my lid which is very annoying. I’m curious to see what this mascara will be like in a month once it’s dried a bit and if it’ll still be wet. For now, it’s an average mascara. Price: $20 US

The total value of the box is $160, which is pretty good. I’m most impressed by the fact that there were two sets, so I technically got seven products in my box this month! I’m excited to continue using and testing out the products. Let me know in the comments what you think of September’s box. Was it worth it? Did you get the same or different products? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup, Review

Makeup Products That Missed The Mark (I Never Use These Products)

by LeaLeave a Comment on Makeup Products That Missed The Mark (I Never Use These Products)

Hey guys! Today’s post is inspired by a video that I saw by Samantha Ravndahl, where she talks about products that missed the mark for her. The products aren’t necessarily bad but just didn’t work or live up to the expectations and therefore don’t get any use out of them. I decided to share a few products that I felt personally missed the mark for me for one reason or another. All of these brands have products that I adore, just these specifics products weren’t it for me. Let’s get into it.

Makeup products that missed the mark: Dior Backstage Eyeshadow palette, Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel and Colourpop Hyaluronic Tinted Moisturizer.

The first product is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel. I remember when this product came out there was so much hype around it that I bought it right away. This wasn’t necessarily the smartest decision for me since I don’t often use brow gel, let alone tinted brow gel. I have pretty naturally thick eyebrows, so all I need is a little pencil to fill them in. This Dipbrow Gel is very pigmented so it makes my brows look very dramatic very quickly. I also find the brush holds a lot of product so I have to wipe so much off otherwise my brows will look super bushy. And finally, if I ever mess up then I have dark brown on my face that I have to try and wipe off. Honestly, I just don’t use brow gel a lot to begin with but when I do I just prefer using a clear one than having to deal with this one.

The next product that I never reach for is the Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in Rosewood Neutrals. It’s a gorgeous palette, don’t get me wrong. But there are two reasons why I rarely reach for it. First, I like using a brown shade in the crease as a transition shade with the majority of my makeup looks. This palette doesn’t have one so I would have to use another palette along with this one. Second, most of the shades are shimmer finishes, which I don’t often use in the crease. So it’s another reason why I would use another palette along with this one. So because I have to use another palette to use this one, I just find myself reaching for another palette entirely and not using this one. This is a real shame because the palette is gorgeous and very expensive.

This product might be a surprise because I initially loved it, but I’ve used the Colourpop Hyaluronic Tinted Moisturizer in months. This was one of the first lighter coverage foundations I had tried so because I had nothing to compare it to I thought it was great. But as I’ve tried other tinted moisturizers I’ve just preferred them over the Colourpop one. My biggest gripe is that puts an even layer of a tint all over the face but does nothing for redness and dark spots. Maybe if you had perfect skin you would love this. But I prefer the Fenty Eaze Drops because while it’s light coverage it still does something for my redness and dark spots. There are just better products on the market.

And the final product is the Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick. I bought this because Allana Davison was raving about these last year and I got her favourite colour, Beaming Strawberry. I shouldn’t have got this shade because it’s a cool tone pink and I rarely wear cool-toned pinks to begin with. But the combination of this shade and how sheer the formula is just doesn’t work with me. It looks like the colour is sitting on top of my lips and you can see my natural lip colour peeking through, so it looks so weird. I also find that the formula bunches up in any lines on my lips or if I have any dry spots. So the combination of the colour and bunching product means that any time I put this lipstick on I just immediately wipe it off. I’ve loved the majority of the recommendations that Allana has given but this ain’t it.

And those are four products that missed the mark for me! Let me know if you have products in your collection that missed the mark. And should I do a part two?

xoxo

Lea