Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day land on Friday I haven’t been posting as much. But don’t worry, I will always post my Boxycharm! I got my box pretty late this month so I haven’t tested it much so this post is mainly my first impression. Let’s get into it!
I’m very conflicted on the Ofra Cosmetics Pressed Banana Powder. When I wear the powder in person my under eyes look very yellow and unnatural. But then in photos, it looks brighter and more even. So it’s hard because sure it’s nice to have something that looks good in photos, but I rather look good in person. So if you have a yellow undertone you’ll probably like it, but if you’re like me and have a more neutral/pink undertone I would skip this powder. Price: $35 US
With banana powder
Without banana powder
In this month’s box, we have two repeats. The first is the Spongelle Body Wash Infused Buffer in the scent Cherry Tonka Musk. In my March box, I got the same sponge in the French Lavender scent. My opinion on the sponge is the same as before. At first, it’s pretty scratchy but over time the sponge softens up. This scent isn’t my favourite for a shower product. I find it to be very spicy and musky which is a little overwhelming in the shower. But hey that’s my personal preference when it comes to scents. Price: $20 US, $27 CAD
Down to an Art (top) and Velvet Teddy (bottom)
The second repeat is a MAC Cosmetics lipstick – this time I got the shade Down to an Art which I love. This is a peachy nude and is similar to Velvet Teddy which is my favourite MAC Lipstick. Down to an Art is just slightly darker and warmer than Velvet Teddy. I’m pretty happy with this lipstick because it’s a shade I like. The only thing is that I don’t wear lipstick much right now with COVID, what with masks and not leaving the house. Price: $19 US, $24 CAD
The next product is the Tarte Maneater Mascara. You guys know I enjoy Tarte Mascara and this one is no exception. I still want to try it out more because mascaras do change as they dry out a bit. But so far it’s good. I find that this is very lengthening and separating. It gives a little volume but it’s not the most volumizing mascara I’ve tried. But it gives such long and feathery lashes which is right up my alley. Very excited to continue to use this. Price: $23 US, $20 CAD
And the final product is the Artist Couture Caliente Palette. I love the colour story in this palette, it’s unique to anything I own. The neons are so bright, photos don’t do them justice. They are also very vibrant on the eyes. The only thing is that the sensual is very orange on the eyes so there isn’t a brown in the palette. I would use this with a neutral palette to create a complete look. But ya girl has so many neutral palettes, that’s not a worry for me. Price: $30 US, $40 CAD
The overall price of my box is $127 US. I’m conflicted about the two repeat items in my box. On the one hand, I wish I got other things besides the Spongelle buffer. But on the other, I like the MAC lipstick that I got. I guess it depends on the product I’m receiving which isn’t very fair. But overall I would say that this box is pretty good. Let me know your thoughts on repeat products in the comments below!
Oh and P.S. my 2020 beauty favourites will be going up next Tuesday! See you then 🙂
Hey guys! Today’s post I am going to be sharing the best products I got in my Boxycharm this year. Unfortunately I still haven’t received my December box so I can’t include it in this post, but we still have 11 other boxes to choose from. So I picked out 10 products that I love from this past year, and we’re going to go in the order that I’ve received them.
January had two of my favourite products. The first is the Ace Beaute Vintage Dawn Palette. This year I’ve tried to give more love to black-owned business and one of my favourites is Ace Beaute. This palette is just beautiful and such good quality. I love the range of shades and I’ve created so many good looks using this palette this year. It’s still a palette I reach for almost a year later.
The second favourite product from January is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. I really didn’t like this mask at first because it’s not what I expected. But this mask has AHAs in it, so it’s a very gentle exfoliator. I use this mask whenever I had some bad acne scarring going on, and I find that is helps reduce the redness and makes my skin looked hydrated and smoother overall. Some products you just need to test more to like.
From Feburary’s box, I fell in love with the Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio. I always love receiving brushes, but these ones are great. I use the blush and the brightening brush all the time. I also will use the bronzer brush on occasion for foundation and it works really well. The brush hair is super soft and I like the tapered look of the handle. All the Alamar cosmetics brushes I own are amazing.
In March I received the Farmacy Beauty Very Cherry Clean Cleansing Balm. I actually just finished it the other day! It’s a great cleansing balm for when I have a full face of glam and need to remove it all. It breaks down liquid lipsticks and stubborn mascara. It doesn’t leave any residue on the face as well. I love prefer the scent of the cherry version over their regular version. It was supposed to be limited edition but it’s still on their website so grab it while you can!
I know I went on a whole rant about the Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice back in April. I really like this moisturizer but it’s hard to get in Canada! So in that sense it’s hard for me to recommend because like there are other moisturizers that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to ship to Canada. But at the same time I love using this moisturizer. It has a convenient pump so I didn’t have to stick my fingers in a jar. And it made my skin feel so hydrated and plump. I have finished this moisturizer and if it was available at Shoppers or Sephora I would have repurchased.
Another Elemis favourite is their Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. I got this in my May box. I wasn’t a huge fan at first. But recently with having to wear a full face of makeup at work I need to thoroughly cleanse my skin. So after using a cleansing balm I will go in with these pads. It a good way to ensure that my face is easy. And it’s easier than having to wash my face for those days where I’m feeling lazy. I’m really enjoying using them!
The next favourite is from my July box – the Alamar Cosmetics Birthday Suit Lip Gloss. I don’t wear a lot of lip products anymore but when I do I love using a good gloss. This one is the perfect everyday because it’s a beautiful pink with all these shimmers. It also has a soft vanilla scent that reminds me of Lip Smackers.
Probably my favourite colour story of all the palettes I’ve received this year is that of the Hipdot Zion Eyeshadow palette. It’s just so pretty! I can be hard to formulate these pretty pastel colours but they are great quality. I love the soft and dreamy looks I created with this palette. I used it the other day for work and I got so many compliments!
In my October palette I received the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This came to me at the perfect moment because I needed a new exfpliator. This one is great because it’s both a physical and chemical exfoliator. It took my skin a second to get adjusted but now it loves it. My brother also likes to steal it and use it as well. A great skincare product!
And the final favourite is from my November box – the Natasha Denona Peak Palette. I love this palette. The quality of Natasha Denona’s eyeshadows are amazing. A little goes a long way. And the colour story is perfect for me to use everyday. This would be the perfect palette for someone who works everyday and doesn’t need a lot of shades. It has everything you need in one palette. I think this would be the perfect palette to take with me once I can travel again.
And those are my favourites products that I got in my Boxycharm box this year. Please let me know, if you receive Boyxhcarm boxes what was your favourite product this year? Stay tuned guys, I will (hopefully) have my December boxycharm post going up soon! As well I will be posting my 2020 beauty favourites as well.
Hey guys! I did this blog post last year and thought I would bring it back this year. Today I am looking at what my favourite beauty products were in 2019 and let you know what I think about them a year later.
Starting with moisturizer, my favourite was the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. I haven’t used this moisturizer in months. Once I finished it I didn’t repurchase it because I had so many other moisturizers already open that I wanted to use up. I would love to purchase it again and see if I still love it as much as I did back then.
My favourite mask was the Lush Mask of Magnaminty. If you read my last product empties post, then you might remember that I am officially done with this mask. It’s a great mask but it always dries out before I’m even halfway through it. That’s just a waste of money if you ask me.
A product that I’m almost finished with is the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. I’m still using the same tube as 2019, so it lasts a long time. It’s a good lip balm! The squeezy tube is easy to apply, I find it lasts long on the lips and has a pretty shine. Still loving this lip balm.
My favourite primer was the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer. I used this a lot during the first half of 2020 but halfway through the summer, I fell in love with a different primer. It’s still a good primer, but I like my other one more. 😉
My two favourite foundations were the Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation and the Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation. Pretty sure they discontinued the Physicians Formula foundation because I can’t find it in-store anymore but I still love it. The Smashbox foundation is still a favourite and one I use on occasion. I do have some new foundation favourites this year though.
My favourite concealer in 2019 is (no surprise) the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I still love this concealer and I think I will love it forever. It’s just so creamy and has the perfect amount of coverage. But I have discovered quite a few concealers that I am excited to share!
The Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder was my favourite powder in 2019. I did finish the mini I had and purchased a full size. I still do enjoy using this powder. It’s very smooth and good at setting my face, especially my under eyes.
I’m honestly surprised I didn’t say that the PF Butter Bronzer was my favourite. But I had picked  the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer. This bronzer is pretty great. I haven’t used it in a while because I fell in love with cream products. But it’s still a good one that I recommend to people, especially because of the shade range.
My favourite blush was the Colourpop Blush Stix. Honestly my favourite cream blush this year is way better than this one. The Colourpop cream blush was the first one I tried so I was still new to the world of cream blushes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty good budget alternative, but there is better out there.
Then I had two lip favourites: the Colourpop Just a Tint Lip Crayons and the Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment. 2020 has not been the year for me wearing lip products, what with wearing a mask and not leaving the house. So I wouldn’t say that I got the chance to wear these lippies very much this year. But I will say that I still like both of them and would recommend both of them.
And that’s my thoughts on my 2019 beauty favourites. I think it’s interesting to go back and see how my thoughts and opinions have changed over the year. And stay tuned because I will be posting my 2020 favourites before the end of the year!
Hey guys! So today I am sharing a comprehensive list of recommendations for the Sephora VIB Sale. For those who don’t know, twice a year Sephora does a sale where you get anywhere from 10-to-20% off your purchase. This is huge because Sephora doesn’t often do sales. The dates of the sale and the percentage depends on what level of their BeautyInsider program you are (see photo below). I was debating doing this post but then ALL my friends were asking what I was getting and what I recommend. So if you are interested in what I’m ordering head over to my Instagram stories because I’ll show my cart there. I will also do a haul once I get my order. Here I will be doing an in-depth recommendation list. I’m going to go through each product category for makeup and skincare. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money (or have received in PR) to have tested every product under the sun, so I will be listing some products that I haven’t tried but I have heard positive reviews for. I will mark if I’ve tried a product or not. Okay, let’s get into it.
Makeup
Primer
First is a cult-classic, the Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer. This is the primer to use if you have oily skin or if you just want to have a smooth and even canvas for your makeup. This is a primer I will always have in my collection. One that is my wish list is the Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum. I have loved every Laneige product that I have tried and I have heard amazing things about this primer. This serum is supposed to hydrate the skin and keep oils at bay while giving a visible glow to the skin AND helping makeup last longer. That sounds pretty perfect to me.
Foundation
There are so many good foundations on the market and it’s all about personal preference when it comes to foundation. Either of the Fenty foundations, the Matte and the Hydrating are both amazing. Both foundations are full coverage and long-lasting on the skin. A foundation that I have on my wish list is the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation. I’ve heard Kathleen Lights and Samantha Ravndahl rave about this foundation and they both have dry skin. They say that while it’s matte the foundation is quite natural and looks good on the skin. Sounds amazing to me. Now I’ve had a few people ask me for a lighter coverage foundation/tinted moisturizer. I haven’t tried either of these so sorry if it doesn’t work out. But if you want something with lighter coverage check out the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer.
I could be here forever if I were to list all the blushes, bronzer and highlights that I’ve heard good things about. There are just so many good ones on the market. So instead I’m going to give you some tips for picking out a good one. First, decide what formula you want. There is a difference between using a powder vs a cream/liquid. Picking a formula will help narrow down the options. Next, decide what shade you want. Not every brand has every shade. If you want a specific blush or highlight shade then that will limit what brands you pick from. Bronzers some brands will lean more warm-toned or cool-toned. A good list of brands for blush is NARS, Rare Beauty, Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury, Tarte, Fenty and Nudestix. For bronzers I recommend: Benefit, Charlotte Tilbury, Marc Jacobs, Fenty and Milk Makeup. For highlight: Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury, Becca. As you can see there are a couple of brands who just do face products well across the board like Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty.
Setting Powder
One of my favourite setting powder is the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. It gives a very soft and natural look to the skin. Not cakey and matte unlike a lot of setting powders. The one I would like to try is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. Similarly to the Hourglass one, the Charlotte Tilbury setting powder is supposed to blur and reduce shin. It’s not a heavy-duty powder.
You can’t go wrong with a brow pencil from Anastasia Beverly Hills or Benefit. Both the Brow Wiz and Precisely My Brow are fan favourites for a reason. I’ve noticed that a few brands are coming out with their version of the Glossier Boy Brow. Benefit, ABH and Urban Decay all have their version that I would be interested in trying in the future.
Eyeliner is usually not a product I get excited over. I generally don’t go “oh that eyeliner looks so good I want to get it”. So I don’t have any on my wish list. I do have two recommendations. The first is the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon. The second is the Make Up For Ever Artist Colour Pencil. I find the Marc Jacobs eyeliner to be creamier than the MUFE one. This means that the Marc Jacobs eyeliner is more pigmented and impactful, but it’s not as long-lasting. Both have an impressive shade collection so you can probably find the shade you’re looking for between these two eyeliners.
Mascara
I love mascara. It’s one of my favourite products to test out because I’m pretty picky. I have quite a few recommendations. First, any of the Tarte mascaras are good, but my favourite is the Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara. I know not everyone is a fan of the plastic wand, but I never accidentally get mascara on my lid while using this mascara. I think it gives the perfect balance between volume and length. The next is the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I like the formula but I don’t like the wand. I always get mascara on my lids. The formula gives me defined lashes and intense volume. And then one in the middle brush-wise is the Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. This gives me long, fluttery lashes. I didn’t like it at first but once it dried out a bit I like it now.
Lip Products
Okay, there are SO many lip products out there so it’s hard for me to have tried everything. I’m going to give a few options for each category. I haven’t tried all of these but I’ve good heard reviews for sure. So for lipliners, I would recommend Charlotte Tilbury or Pat McGarth. For lip gloss, Fenty and Bite Beauty. I also really want to try Tower28. For liquid lipstick, 100% the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigments are my fav. And finally for lipstick the MAC and Charlotte Tilbury.
Skincare
Skincare is hard to give recommendations because everyone has different skin types. I also haven’t tried every single product under the sun because I obviously only use products for my skin type. So please keep that in mind with my recommendations!
My current favourite face serum is pretty pricey ($95 CAD oof) but I love the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. If that’s a little out of your budget, I’ve heard good things about the OleHenriksen Truth Serum. I’ve also heard great things about The Ordinary, but I can’t figure out their brand and what products would be good for me.
Woo and that’s it! I decided not to do any haircare since I don’t really have any recommendations – I buy most of my haircare from the drugstore. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and it gave you some inspo for your shopping cart. Please let me know in the comments what you are getting from the sale this year!
Hey guys! My Boxycharm posts are always some of my favourites to write! It’s fun because there are sometimes really good products and sometimes really bad products haha. Also, I feel like October was the longest month ever. Maybe that’s because I was doing Vlogtober so having to vlog every single day just makes it seem longer. I enjoyed it but I am also excited to have a break in November. Okay anyway, my Boxycharm!
The first product in my box is the Rodial Soft Focus Glow Drops. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but after getting my box I saw that they did a special collaboration with GlossyBox (another beauty subscription box). Anyways, these drops are a skincare and makeup hybrid that is meant to brighten and illuminate the complexion. These drops are not hydrating. The serum dries down very quickly and just adds a nice shine to the skin. So if you are someone with oily skin that wants the look but not the oiliness of a dewy primer this is perfect for you. It’s not the most brightening primer I’ve ever used, I have stronger in my collection. So I will continue to use it but I think there are better on the market. Also just want to know it has a strong candy-like smell. Price: $60 US, I found it at Shoppers for $58 for all my fellow Canadians
The next product is the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This arrived at the perfect time because I just finished my exfoliator yesterday. This cleanser has both chemical and physical exfoliating properties, so it’s the best of both worlds. It does a great job of cleaning my skin and making it feel smooth. The only thing is that it’s meant to be hydrating and I don’t see that at all. The first time I used this my skin was so dry and itchy because I didn’t apply a moisturizer right after. I’ve tried it twice since then and I haven’t had that itchy sensation again but I am careful not to use it too much. If you have sensitive skin be careful with this a maybe do a patch test before putting it on your face. Since the itchiness hasn’t returned I’m going to continue to use this exfoliating cleanser 2-3 a week! Price: $40 US, $52 CAD
Up next in my box is the Pretty Vulgar Nesting B!#%H Face Palette. If you’ve followed my Boxycharm posts you would know that I get these fall palettes pretty often and I’m rarely fans of them. There is only one palette for all skin tones. This is annoying for me because I can’t use some of the darker shades and someone with a darker complexion can’t use the lighter shades. I think it’s a lazy way to be inclusive. I get that it’s easy for Boxycharm to give this palette because then it works for everyone. But I’m not a fan because I won’t use it all the product. On top of that, I’m not a huge fan of the quality of the products. I found the bronzer and blushes to be too pigmented so it goes on heavy and then I have to work to blend it out. I also find that I get patches of heavy pigmentation as well. I think the quality of the highlights but I don’t like the shades. One is way to white sliver and the other is too deep. So overall not a big fan of this product and I wouldn’t recommend it. Price: $32 US
The next product is the Sol de Janiero Brazilian Kiss Tinted Cupuacu Lip Butter. Okay, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m kind of disappointed in this lip butter! I thought it was going to be more moisturizing and I find the formula to be stiff and dry. If you have any dry patches or crustiness, the pigment of the lip butter just sticks to those areas and looks gross. I also find myself having to frequently reapply this lip butter. It’s honestly more of a lipstick than a lip butter. I thought this product was going to be more like the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm, where it’s a hydrating lip balm with a bit of colour. I’ll still use it because I love the scent, but I wouldn’t reach for this if my lips were super dry. Price: $20 US
And the final product is the Lavaa Lashes Charm Faux Mink. I like these lashes! The band isn’t too thick so it’s super easy to apply and blends seamlessly with my real lashes. For being super a big pair of lashes they are also not too heavy on the eyes. There are not exactly everyday lashes because they are huge. This isn’t the best pair of lashes if I wanted to show off my eyeshadow. But I think for a simple look they would just bring it to the next level. If I was going out these are the lashes I would reach for. (Except I don’t go out anymore because of the pandemic, ya know). I see myself wearing these lashes many times. Price: $20 US
The overall total of the box is $172 US which is a great value! I’m not a huge fan of the Pretty Vulgar face palette and the Sol de Janeiro Lip Butter. But I like the Murad Exfoliating Cleanser and the Lavaa Lashes. So there were some hits and misses. Let me know what you guys think in the comments!
Hey guys! Today I am sharing my review of KASH Beauty’s first-ever makeup collection. For those of you who don’t know, KASH Beauty is KeilidhMUA’s makeup brand. I have been following Keilidh for a couple of years so I knew I had to buy the collection as soon as I saw it. I got the eyeshadow palette, the lash set and one of the three lip kits available. I also forgot to mention this in my Youtube video (which is my first impressions and a makeup look using the collection) that I also got a few mask face with my order as well. I thought that was a super cute little free gift to add to the order and I will definitely be wearing it around town.
So the first product in the collection is the Secret Treasure Eyeshadow Palette. It’s a nine pan, golden-toned eyeshadow palette. I think the idea of gold-based browns works perfectly with the treasure idea. I also think the colour story is an interesting interpretation of the basic brown neutral palette. Having mainly browns and gold makes the palette accessible to the average makeup wearer, but the gold tone makes it unique compared to other brown palettes on the market.
The eyeshadow palette is mainly mattes which are fine by me. Each shade is quite different so it’s not like there are any repeats. And I think the mattes selected could work on a range of skin tones. For example, Script is a golden sand shade and I think that would look gorgeous all over the lid on someone with a deeper complexion. The mattes are the perfect level of pigmentation where they are impactful but easy to blend.
The shimmer shades are alright. The shades Gemstone and Treasure are actually pressed glitters. So they give more of a sparkle than colour to the lid. The shade Tarnish is the only metallic but it’s gorgeous. With one swipe it was pigmented and looked great on the eye. I think I would be more likely to use this palette for the mattes and then go in with my own single metallic shade and uses the glitters as a topper. The palette is $46.25 CAD. I’m very happy the website has CAD prices because they often don’t so it’s nice to know what the price of each item is. I think $45 is a fair price for the palette considering that the size of the pans is pretty large.
The next item is the Secret Treasure Luxury Faux Mink Lashes. These lashes are HUGE. Even the pair Elsie, which are supposed to be the natural pair, are still very large on me. So if you have small eyes pass on these because they will swallow you up. Even those these lashes are pretty large, they are nicely made and look gorgeous on the eyes. They are faux mink so they have that wispy look to them.
They do have quite a think lash band. On the one hand that makes it easier to apply them to the eye. On the other hand, it makes it harder to blend them with your makeup look. So I needed to apply eyeliner for each pair to help conceal the lash band.
Of the three my favourite is Elsie. Rich is very large so I would only want it for dramatic looks. I tired Daggers and found that they made my eyes look a little droopy and downturned. I will try to cut them more and see if that makes a difference. I think this lash set is for big lash lovers, not the everyday person necessarily. They were $20 CAD which is a really fair price for lashes. For example, one pair of Ardell lashes is around $10. And nice lashes from Sephora are like $20. So the fact that this set comes with three pairs for $20 is a really good price.
And the final product is the Secret Treasure Lip Bundle. I got the shade Rose Nude. And I think the shade range of the lips is pretty pitiful in the sense that all three lipsticks are very similar. They are all warm nudes and each is just slightly darker than the next. Like when I picked Rose Nude I was thinking it was going to be a pinky shade. But it’s not. I would say that the lip liner is slightly pink but the lipstick is almost an orange. I’m not saying that I don’t like this lipstick. I think it’s unique and I don’t own anything like it, but it’s just not what I expected with a rose lipstick.
The lip liner is pretty good. It’s a little stiffer compared to other formulas, but it’s not so dry that there is no pigmented or that it’s a pain to apply. I would apply it under a lip balm or gloss and it looked nice. The lipstick is a matte so it’s not necessarily the most nourishing lipstick formula. The longevity is okay. It fades away whenever I eat something. After two hours my lips felt dry but at least they didn’t look dry. I also found that the lipstick was fading away from the centre of my lips which isn’t exactly the cutest look. Overall I like the lip liner more than the lipstick. The bundle is $29.27 which is for getting both a pencil and lipstick.
My overall thoughts about the collection is that the eyeshadow and lashes are great. I think I will get a lot of use out of those two products. I’m not the hugest fan of the lipstick. I find the shades to be all the same and it’s not my favourite lipstick formula. I’ll probably use the lip liner more than the lipstick. But I think the pricing for everything is really fair.
So that’s my thoughts on KASH Beauty! Let me know if you guys are considering getting anything from the collection, or if there are any brands you would like to see me test out.
Hey guys! Today I am testing out some of Burt’s Bee’s makeup line. I have tried out their lip balms but never tried their makeup despite hearing many good things. So I picked up three products (I picked the ones on sale oop) and I am going to give your my thoughts on them!
So a little info about their makeup products. Burt’s Bee describes their makeup as ‘natural’. I tried to research what is natural about their makeup. It’s made without parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum or synthetic fragrances. It’s also dermatologist tested and not tested on animals. Each makeup product also has some standout natural ingredients a part of their formula. For example, the blush features bamboo, honey and vitamin E and the lip shine features apricot wax and sunflower seed oil. Some of the product packagings are made from recycled materials.
I knew I had to pick up a blush because I know Kathleen Lights loved the blushes. So I picked up a Burt’s Bee Blush in the shade Fresh Apricot. There are five shades in total and I like the fact that all the shades are very different to match a variety of skin tones. This blush is supposed to be lightweight, blend easily and evenly to deliver a natural glow to the checks. With that description, I was very surprised how pigmented this blush is. I use a light hand when applying this blush because it’s very easy to apply too much. There is a slight sheen to the blush that isn’t exactly glitter but adds a radiance to the skin. I think this looks beautiful on the skin and it lasts a decent amount of time. I would recommend this blush, just use a light hand.
The next product is the Burt’s Bee Lip Shine. Not to be confused with the Burt’s Bee Lip Gloss. I could not tell you guys the difference between these two because from the description on the website they seem the same. The only difference is the lip shine has a white cap and the lip gloss has a brown cap. Anyways, the Lip Shine is supposed to be a sheer colour that glides on the lips to deliver a sweet and super shiny finish. I would say this is a hybrid between a lip gloss and a lip balm. It’s quite nourishing but also shiny. The other is sheer so I could probably use any shade no problem. I think this is a great product for when you want something hydrating for your lips but want something shinier than a plain lip balm. I would recommend this product!
Burt’s Bee Lip Shine in the shade Peachy
Burt’s Bee Satin Lipstick in the shade Blush Basin
And the final product is the Burt’s Bee Natural Satin Lipstick. Rea Ann Langas mention these on her Insta stories. I picked up the shade Blush Basin which I would describe as a neutral rose. There are 18 shades on the website and a variety of neutrals, berries, pinks, corals, red. There is a shade for everyone. This lipstick is described as moisturizing and lasting all day long. I haven’t tested out the longevity of this lipstick but it’s very hydrating. It’s so comfortable on the lips. The satin finish also means that I don’t need to apply a lip gloss on top. I like this shade and I can see it easily becoming an everyday favourite. I would also recommend this lipstick.
Well guys, that was a huge success! I loved each product that I tried and would recommend them all to you guys. I think it might have helped that I picked out two products based on good reviews I’ve heard. But that doesn’t matter. I’m here to tell you that these Burt’s Bee products are great! And the best part is that they are available at the drugstore. Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of Burt’s Bees makeup products and your thoughts on their products.
Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on the products I picked for September as also selecting which products I want to focus on in October.
The first product is the Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Medium palette. I have decided that I am putting a pause on picking palettes for this series because I have used this palette twice. Because I don’t leave the house very often I’m not wearing makeup as much. And the days that I do put on makeup I have been gravitating towards no eyeshadow. Or if I do wear eyeshadow it’s because I’m testing out a palette for another post. So unfortunately I can’t give me thoughts on this palette because I didn’t use it.
On the other hand, I have finished my MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder. I have been using more powder lately because I find it helps reduces the transfer of makeup from my face to my mask. I find that my favourite way to apply this powder is with a damp makeup sponge. I find it looks more flawless and less cakey. I wouldn’t recommend this powder and I won’t be repurchasing it for a couple of reasons. First, it does create a white cast when doing flash photography. I prefer not having a powder that does that in my collection. I also have other powders in my collection that does the same job but are cheaper. But overall I am so happy that I finished this powder and that’s the first time I have done that so far during this series!
Now for my October products. The first is going to be the Tarte Big Ego mascara. I’ve had this mascara in my collection for a bit but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite. I’m going to try and get some use out of it and if I don’t end up loving it will probably throw it away at the end of the month because there is a good chance that it’s expired.
The second product is my Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder. This powder is like the never-ending setting powder. I’ve had this for YEARS and I’ve made a consistent effort to use this up multiple times and I can’t seem to finish it. I also go back and forth on whether or not I like this setting powder. Sometimes I love it and other times I don’t but I just want to finish it! So here’s to getting some use out of it and maybe finally finishing it.
Let me know what you guys think of the products I have selected. And if there is a specific product or type of product you would like to see featured let me know in the comments!
Hey guys! Today is the second part of my favourite makeup product for fall. Today we are focusing on lip products! So I have one lip gloss, three liquid lipsticks and two regular lipsticks. I picked a range of shades as well. So let’s get into it.
In the fall I tend to move towards more matte lip products. After wearing lip glosses and balms I want a change. I also find that it’s windier in the fall and there is nothing worse than getting your hair stuff in your lip gloss. So that’s why I have only one on this list. I picked the Iconic London Lip Plumping Gloss in the shade Nearly Nude. This gloss has a slight taupe undertone which I think pairs perfectly with the warm tones of fall. I love this formula because it isn’t sticky and it’s opaque so I don’t need a lip liner underneath. A great fall gloss.
The first liquid lipstick is one I like to wear year-round but especially in the fall. The Girlactik Matte Lip Paint in the shade Posh is just so beautiful and unique. It’s hard to describe but I would say it’s a brown-based pink. It’s not too bright and it wears beautifully throughout the day. I would wear this with a brown or gold eye look.
Ofra Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Verona is my perfect fall brown. It’s described as a mocha nude brown. It has strong warm undertones so it’s beautiful with any orange or gold eyeshadow look. It’s definitely a statement lip, but it can be toned down with a light nude over top as well. This is also the perfect nude shade for those with darker skin tones.
The final liquid lipstick was one I mentioned in my vegan makeup blog post. I love dark, vampy makeup. I think the  KVD Everlasting Lipstick in the shade Nahz Fur Atoo is perfect for those who want to dip their toes into the deeper lipstick. This red shade is described as blood crimson, so it’s not as deep as say a burgundy but deeper than your average red. I think this red is perfect for any gold or brown makeup look or even a simple wing eyeliner. This is the perfect shade is your thinking of being a vampire for Halloween hehe.
The first lipstick is more of the true red if you’re not into a deep red. I think everyone needs a good red lipstick in the makeup collection. It’s timeless and goes with so many different looks. MAC’s Russian Red is the perfect lipstick if you don’t want something warmed toned. The matte formula will also help the colour not slip all over the place.
The final lipstick is one of my all-time favourites. MAC’s Velvet Teddy is a cult classic for a reason. This pinky beige is a my-lips-but-better shade for me. It goes with so many different makeup looks and does a good job of complementing not competing with eyeshadow. The formula is matte but creamy enough where it’s not drying. Because it’s nude it will work for both day and night looks as well.
And those are my six favourite lip products for fall. Let me know in the comments what your favourite lip product is to wear in the fall!
Hey guys! I am happy that my Boxycharm came earlier this month so I could probably test it out for you guys! If you want to see these products in action go check out my Youtube video where I give my first impressions of the products. Also, I will be giving an update from the skincare products that I got in my August box at the end of the post. Okay, let’s get into it!
The first product I received is the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry (such a long name). This eye cream is mention to brighten and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. It’s supposed to deliver instance radiance as well. I’m still unsure about this eye cream. I’m pretty picky because my under eyes can be quite sensitive. I’ve had quite a few eye creams react and create bad dry patches when the product is supposed to be hydrating. This one hasn’t negatively reacted but I’m not sure if I’ve seen any benefits yet. I’ve been using an Origins eye cream that also has vitamin C and I don’t see if doing anything more or less than the other one. Maybe I’m too young to see the impact of a good eye cream yet. So I’m on the fence. I’ll give you guys an update in October if I feel any different. Price: $45 US, $58 CAD
The next product is the Hipdot Zion Eyeshadow palette. I’ve never heard of this brand but I was pleasantly surprised by how great this palette is! First, the packaging is beautiful and the colour selection inside is gorgeous. It reminds me slightly of the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Vol 2 palette, but this one is much more muted which makes it more wearable. All the mattes blend beautifully on the eyes and are quite striking. The only thing is I wish that there were more shimmers. I also find Sublime and Surreal to be quite similar. I would have liked a pink shimmer or a lilac to compliment the shades in the palette. But otherwise, I think this is perfect and I did have a lot of fun playing with it. The palette is also cruelty-free and vegan! The only thing is that is has a weird smell to it that I don’t like. I can’t place what it smells like but a weird combination of plastic and dirt? I asked my brother and he thinks it smells like Crocs. 🤣 Price: $30 US
Hipdot Zion Eyeshadow Palette
PhaseZero Blusher and Bronzer Trio
The next item in my box is the Phase Zero Makeup Blusher and Bronzer Trio. Just want to say that while I do like this product, there is the only shade and that’s not acceptable. The website says that these shades are universal but that’s bullshit. I find the bronzer shade to be a tad light and I’m pretty fair! This would not work on people who even medium skin tones. I don’t understand why they can’t create more shades. They have different blush shades, so why can’t they create different bronzers shades to match everyone’s skin tone? I do like the formula of these shades and I like all three look lovely on the face, but it’s unacceptable in 2020 to come out with just one face product shade and think it’ll work for everyone. Price: $42 US, £35.00 (they are a British company).
The next product is the Laura Geller Lashboss Bold Mascara. This mascara is meant to give length and curl to the lashes. I think this mascara is okay. It’s not a volumizing mascara, but it doesn’t claim to do that. It gives decent length but I have mascaras that give me more. I think this is a good everyday mascara. Like if I only wanted to wear mascara I could grab this one. I wouldn’t use this for a bold makeup look because then my eye shadow would overwhelm my lashes. It’s not bad and I’ll continue to use it but it’s not the best mascara I’ve ever used. Price: $24 US
And the final product is the SFGlow Glam in Paradise Cannabis Sativa 3-Piece Mask Set. I’m not sure if my skin likes cannabis sativa oil. These masks are the second skincare product I’ve tried with cannabis sativa oil and my skin just doesn’t seem happy. It isn’t a strong reaction but I notice that my skin feels sensitive after using it. I also don’t find the products that hydrating. After using the lip mask my lips were bone dry an hour later. I just feel like I’ve had better results using other masks. The gold leopard print is cute though. Price: $18 US for the set
The overall price of the box is $159. I think this was a pretty good box. The only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the sheet masks – but they are single-use so I’m done with them haha! I think the palette was the high point of the box. Let me know in the comments what you guys think about this month’s box. There weren’t many well-known brands in this month’s box – is that important to you guys? I don’t need Sephora brands in my box, but I do prefer brands that I have heard of before. But just because I’ve heard of a brand doesn’t mean the product will be good and vice-versa!
xoxo
Lea
*NOTE: Product Update from August* Okay so I have two skincare products that I was testing from August. The first was the GlamGlow moisturizer and the second was the MineTan.Body.Skin serum. One of these products was breaking me out and I’m not sure which one. I think it’s the GlamGlow moisturizer since I was using it more consistently than the serum. I just noticed my skin was getting congested and I was getting texture on my forehead and chin. The moisturizer has cannabis sativa oil in it, and after using the SFGlow masks I think my skin doesn’t like it. I also think it’s the moisturizer because my face would get red after I apply it even though it’s supposed to help with redness. Also reading Sephora reviews on the GlamGlow moisturizer it seems that some people have the same problem as me. As for the serum, my thoughts from my original post still stand. It makes my face feel smooth but not hydrated. I would use this maybe as a primer instead of a skincare item.
Leave it to Lea 