Tag: Makeup

Beauty, Drugstore, Makeup

CHARLOTTE TILBURY DUPE: TESTING OUT THE ELF HALO GLOW

by LeaLeave a Comment on CHARLOTTE TILBURY DUPE: TESTING OUT THE ELF HALO GLOW

Hey guys! Today I have a fun little dupe for you! Like many beauty lovers on the Internet, I am a huge fan of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. Last year, ELF released its own version of the product, the Halo Glow Liquid Filter. It took me forever to get my hands on it. It wasn’t available in Canada for quite a while. Once it was released, the ELF dupe was always sold out. But I have it and now I’m happy to share my thoughts on the products. Let’s get into it!

The Charlotte Tilbury filter is a ‘complexion booster’ meant to blur, smooth, and illuminate the face for a ‘real-life filter effect’. Charlotte Tilbury says you can wear it four different ways: alone all over the face, under foundation, mixed with foundation and on top of foundation like a highlighter. The filter comes with 1 oz (or 30 ml) and retails for $62 CAD. For quite a while there were only a few shades but they now offer 12 different shades.

The ELF dupe is described as a multi-purpose, liquid glow booster to give your complexion a ‘soft-focus social filter effect IRL’. ELF recommends the same four ways as Charlotte Tilbury to apply the product. It comes with 1.06 oz (or 31.5 ml) and retails for $18 CAD. ELF has eight different shades available.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter

I want to note that the two shades I got are not exactly the same. For Charlotte Tilbury, I have shade 3 Fair which they describe as a warm peach for light to medium skin tones. With ELF, I have shade 2 Fair/Light. There isn’t a shade description available but I would say it leans more yellow. I can see a slight difference when I wear them but when I asked my brother his opinion, didn’t notice a difference between the two shades.

Now onto comparing how the two perform on my face. This is such a good dupe. I like to wear this product both under foundation and on top like a highlight. I tested both methods and I noticed no difference in the performance between the two filters. As I mentioned, I asked my brother he if noticed a difference at all and he couldn’t tell I was wearing two different products.

My only issue with the ELF dupe is quite a minor one. Both come with a duo foot applicator which I find very convenient to apply the product. I find the ELF applicator is bigger so it dispenses a little too much product for my liking. But I don’t wear this all over my face like other people do so this is more of a personal preference.

I would say this is a very very good dupe. I would recommend the ELF product because it’s cheaper and performs the same. I will say that both come with a lot of product. I’ve had the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter for years and have a lot left. Charlotte Tilbury does sell a mini version in a limited number of shades for $22. So if you think that 1 oz is too much product, the Charlotte Tilbury mini could be a good option that is only four dollars more than the ELF product. But otherwise, I would recommend the ELF product.

Let me know if you guys have tried either of these products and what your thoughts were! If you have any other dupes that you would like me to test let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Makeup

MY 3 FAVOURITE EVERYDAY LIP PRODUCTS

by LeaLeave a Comment on MY 3 FAVOURITE EVERYDAY LIP PRODUCTS

Hey guys! Today I am going to share with you my three favourite lip products that I like to wear every day. They are all a step above a lip balm. It took some time after masking ended for me to find lip products that I love. I stand by all three of these and if you follow me you’ll probably recognize a few of these. Let’s get into it!

For me, a perfect everyday lip product meets three requirements. First, it’s comfortable on the lips. Sometimes I’ll wear a drying liquid lipstick or a super sticky lip gloss if matches the look or outfit perfectly. But for everyday wear, it needs to be comfortable. Second, it must fade nicely (or last all day). There is nothing worst than putting on a lip product in the morning and seeing yourself in the mirror at midday looking crazy. My final requirement is easy to reapply. Sometimes I’m too lazy to go to the bathroom and just use my phone to reapply. I also don’t bring a lip pencil with me so it can’t require a lip pencil to look good. All of the lip products I’m going to mention meet these three things.

My first favourite shouldn’t be a surprise, it’s the Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil. I’ve mentioned these a ton on my Youtube channel but I love this lip oil! Unlike other lip oils, it’s quite thin so it’s very comfortable on the lips while still being hydrating. It adds a little shine and colour to the lips but is still pretty natural. Since it’s an oil it almost gets absorbed into the lips throughout the day. Since it’s sheer it’s easy to apply without getting everywhere. I’ve gotten quite a few of my friends hooked on these, they’re so good!

My next favourite lip product is the Clinique Almost Lipstick in the shade Black Honey. Now I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lot of money for a tinted lip balm, but my cost-per-wear with this lipstick is so good because I love it! The shade changes to match your natural lip tone so it’s super flattering. It’s a sheer but buildable formula which means I apply as much as my mood desire. Since it’s similar to a balm it fades well. Now a good affordable dupe for this is the Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss Your Berry. I prefer the Clinique lipstick for the packaging. It’s slick and smaller so it’s easier to have a precise application. This is a great everyday way to add colour to the lips!

And my final favourite is the Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm. It’s similar to the Merit lip oil but like a lip gloss. It has a slightly thicker consistency and is shinier. It’s comfortable on the lips and not too sticky, unlike a traditional lip gloss. The pointed duo foot applicator makes it very easy to apply to the lips. The formula is a little more pigmented compared to the Merit lip oil but it’s still nice for everyday wear. There are some fun bright shades in the range though if you’re into that.

And those are my current favourite lip products. Let me know in the comments what some of your favourite lip products are right now, I’d love to try them out!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

January Boxycharm 2023

by LeaLeave a Comment on January Boxycharm 2023

Hey guys! Today we’re going to talk about what I got in my January Boxycharm!! For those that are new, Boxycharm is a monthly subscription service that sends five full-sized makeup and skincare products. The base box (which is what I get) costs $27.99 US. I pay what the exchange rate is when they charge my account – because I’m Canadian if you didn’t know. Now let’s get into what I got in the box!

January Boxycharm 2023

The first product is the Earth Harbor Naturals Nebula Adaptogen Clarity Ampoule. This a natural skincare product, with the key ingredients being Sea Lavender and Ginseng. It’s meant to brighten the skin but also helps with acne. I’ve only been using the serum for a week so it’s hard to see if it’s made a difference in my skin. It’s a pretty lightweight oil and it absorbs quickly into the skin. I like the packaging, I think the purple ombre is pretty. Overall I need to test this ampoule more before I can say if I like it. Price: $46 US

The next product is the Wander Beauty Suite Escape Palette. I started doing this last year, but if I don’t think I’m going to use a product very often I won’t open it just for the sake of this review. I own so many eyeshadow palettes, many of which I barely use anymore, so I don’t need to open this palette. I rather give it to a better home than use it once for this review. The colour story is nice, I just have similar palettes. Price: $42 US, $58 CAD

Persona Cosmetics E-Balm
Shaina B Miami Cream Blush
Love + Craft + Beauty Quasar Goo Plasma Gloss

A product I have been loving so far is the Persona Cosmetics E-Balm Tinted Lip Balm. As the name suggests, this is a sheer, tinted lip balm. It feels super comfortable on the lips. I have the shade Manifest which in the tube is a bright red but on the lips is a subtle wash of colour. I think this balm will be great in the summer when I want a pop of colour but nothing too intense. Loving this lip balm so far. Price: $22 US, $31 CAD

Another hit product for me is the Shaina B Miami Cream Blush. I can’t seem to find the shade I have on the website. I have the shade Rosa, which is a dusty rose, while on the website they only have the shade Bellini. Either way, the formula is pretty nice. The blush applies easily to the face and lasts pretty well for a cream. It’s a natural finish so not too dewy and not too matte on the skin. I would say it’s pretty similar to the Honest Beauty blush that I have (which is cheaper btw). Price: $23 US (it says $18 on Boxycharm’s information card)

And the final product I received is the Love + Craft + Beauty Quasar Goo Plasma Gloss. This gloss can be worn on the eyes, cheeks or lips. I was able to blend it out on the eyes for a subtle wash of bronze but I think it could be built up as well. Not sure how well it would work with powder products. This was a pretty easy product to use but I’m unsure how often I would reach for it. I guess time will tell! Price: $18

And the overall total (according to Boxycharm’s card) is $146 US. Not a bad total overall. I think the box is pretty good. I like the ampoule, the lip balm and the cream blush. I liked 3/5 products, not bad! Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Review, Skincare

December Boxycharm 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on December Boxycharm 2022

Hey guys! Been a hot minute since I’ve done a blog post. In December I decided to do Vlogmas, so any free time I had this past month went to the vlogs! But I have lots of end-of-year content planned, so you’ll be seeing lots of posts here within the next few weeks. Before we can get to that, it’s time to share my December Boxycharm. Let’s get into it.

December Boxycharm 2022

The first product is the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum. Murad is a great brand and I love getting eye creams because they’re often expensive. I find it hard to get eye cream out of little jars so I appreciate that this serum comes with a pump. The serum is very nice, it sinks quickly into the skin and hydrates the eye area. I can’t speak to the anti-aging benefits as I’ve only used this serum for a week. But I like it so far and will continue to use it! Price: $89 US ($114 CAD)

The next product is the Laruce Beauty Special Edition 3-Piece Brush Set. This brush set is exclusive to Boxycharm but the brushes in the set are available on the website. I love getting brushes, especially eyeshadow brushes. The more brushes I have the less often I have to wash them haha. The brushes are synthetic, vegan, cruelty-free and feel very soft. The set comes with a tapered blending brush, a shadow brush and a detail blending. I’m very excited to have these brushes in my collection. Price: $38 US

The second skincare product in the box is the Lapalette Beauty Vita Yellow Fresh Cleanser. This is a jelly cleanser with vitamin C that is meant to brighten and hydrate the skin. It claims that it can remove makeup but I didn’t test that out. The jelly consistency does lather nicely. The citrus scent is very nice in the morning. I like this cleanser and will continue using it! Price: $32 US

The next product is the Realher Blurring Veil Set Your Goal Powder. I could only find this product through the Boxycharm website, which is a little odd. This product claims to be super fine to set makeup in place and control excess oils. I’ve only used this powder once so I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I find the powder has a been of a sheen to it – it’s not shimmery but it’s not completely matte. I was hesitant to put it under the eyes but I used it on the perimeter of my face and it was nice. I think if you have drier skin you might like this more. I’m still on the fence about it. Price: $25 US

And the final product in my box is the Dominique Cosmetics Unconditional Palette. I have decided not to try this palette as I don’t think I’ll get much use out of it. I have so many eyeshadow palettes so unless a palette screams my name I rather pass it along to someone else. The colour story is pretty, with roses and burgundies, but I don’t wear those colours often. It’s nice but not for me! Price: $28 US

The overall value of the box is $212, with the value being driven up by the Murad eye serum. Overall I think this was a good box. I like the skincare items and the brushes. I didn’t like the other items as much, but that was due to personal preference not because they’re bad products. Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Product Empties November 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on Product Empties November 2022

Hey guys! I’m back with another product empties. As I mentioned in my last empties, I’ve been going through products faster than I can write about them! I have fifteen empties to share today and I have about another twenty in my empties bag. Maybe I should do an empties Youtube video? Let me know what you think. Let’s get into today’s post!

Starting with body lotion, I finished the St Ives 24 Hour Moisture Body Lotion in the scent Almond & Flaxseed. I’ve mentioned my love of almond-scented products before and someone recommended this to me (I think on Insta). I liked this lotion! The pump made it easy to apply and it absorbed quickly into the skin. My only complaint is that it didn’t smell like almonds! If you prefer lightly scented products then you’ll love this but if you’re like me and want almonds this won’t hit the spot. I have other lotions that I like more but if you’re looking for a good drugstore lotion, this is a great option.

If you watched my USA shopping haul, then you’ll know that I’ve fallen in love with the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch. It’s just as good as my beloved Peace Out Acne Patches but more affordable! If you’re in the US you can get them at Target. For my fellow Canadians, they are available at Shoppers but currently only online. I put it on a whitehead before I got to bed and by morning the pimple is all gone! I will be purchasing these again in the future.

Another favourite is the OLEHENRIKSEN Cold Plunge Pore Remedy Moisturizer. I finished both a full-sized and a mini travel size of this moisturizer. I recommend this to all my fellow oily & acne-prone friends out there. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. If you have sensitive skin I would be careful though because it has BHA and LHA in the moisturizer to help with pores. While I decided to purchase something else to review, I would purchase this moisturizer again in the future.

I had a deluxe sample of the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser and it was alright. It’s a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser and I would say that it does exactly as it says. But for my skin I just like a little something more. If you have sensitive skin you would love this!

The next product is the Cerave Moisturizing Cream. I much prefer Cerave’s Moisturizing Lotion over the cream. The lotion comes in a pump so it’s easier to apply. I find the cream to be a little too thick for my skin. It’s nice in the winter when it’s super cold and my skin is super dry. But for the majority of the year, it’s just not the right moisturizer for my skin! If you have drier skin you’ll love this though!

I got the Clean Skin Club Pineapple Glow Mist in my Boxycharm box and I ended up liking it! It’s like having hyaluronic acid in mist form! It’s super easy to apply to the skin, it provided some extra hydration and smelt great. I would consider repurchasing in the future but I don’t want to deal with shipping and customs so I’ll be passing on that because I’m sure there are similar products available in Canada.

Now I wish the St Ives lotion smelled just as good at the L’Occitane Almond line. I finished the Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate and it was amazing. It smelled just like almonds and applied so well to the skin. It left me feeling so soft after. I used this only on special occasions because this is a pricey body lotion. But if you’re looking to treat yourself (or badly want an almond-scented product) then I highly recommend checking it out! I see myself purchasing from this line again in the future.

It takes a lot for me to not like a mascara, but the PUR Cosmetics Fully Charged Mascara just wasn’t it for me. I like length, definition and a little volume with my mascara. This PUR one gave me barely any length and was so clumpy. As the mascara aged it also became flaky, which is not something I normally deal with mascaras. It was almost impossible to remove! There are so many better mascaras out there, don’t get this one.

Another item I received in my Boxycharm was the Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Radiant Dew Mist. The website says this can be used to set makeup but I preferred using this as a skincare mist. I would spray this all over my face and then apply my hyaluronic acid. This mist is supposed to be good for breakouts and oil but I didn’t notice a difference. Based on the photos from the website it looks like they changed their packaging, which is good because I found the nozzle wasn’t the greatest. I won’t be repurchasing this mist because it was fine but not great enough to deal with shipping it to Canada.

A product I’ve repurchased is the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. I decided to pick it up again since it’s a great body scrub available at the drugstore. I’ve come to realize I’m not a huge sugar scrub fan because I find they dissolve before I can scrub my body. This one is great because it’s not sugar so I can get a good scrub in. And I love the Macadamia & Rice Milk scent it’s nutty and sweet. I would repurchase again in the future.

Another scrub, this time a face one, is the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I struggle with texture so I love having a good physical exfoliator. This one was pretty good. It has tiny beads to buff away the dead skin. It has a very refreshing and citrusy scent which I enjoy. Overall I like this cleanser and would recommend it!

I finished a deluxe sample of the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+. Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed by the primer. It wasn’t bad. But if a primer claims to be a gripping primer, I expect it to grip my foundation and not budge throughout the day. I found it didn’t make much of a difference in the longevity of my makeup. If you want a gripping primer, the ELF one is much better and cheaper.

Another product I was completely unimpressed with was the Bumble and Bumble Curl Defining Cream. I didn’t finish this product, I’m throwing it away. It’s way too heavy for my hair. I could feel the cream in my hair and it weighted my hair down so the curls couldn’t form. I tried using this cream a few times using varying amounts and each time it was too heavy for my hair. It’s a real shame because I love Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Reactivator. But this curl cream wasn’t for me.

The Mudmasky Vitamin-infused Eye Serum was like the neverending eye cream. Most eye creams are 15 ml (or 0.5 oz) and the Mudmasky eye cream is double at 30 ml (or 1 oz). It took me forever to finish the eye cream. Overall I found it to be an alright eye cream. It did a good job of hydrating my under eyes and that’s all I ask for in an eye cream. It absorbs quickly into the skin and it worked well under concealer. But I don’t love it enough to ship it to Canada.

And the final empty is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. I liked this one! It was great at adding length to my lashes. I liked the skinny wand because I find it easier to not get mascara on my eyelids with the skinny wands. I wish it was a little bit more volumizing but overall it was great for everyday wear. I would repurchase this mascara.

And those are my product empties! If you have tried any of these products let me know what you thought about them in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

November Boxycharm 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on November Boxycharm 2022

Hey guys! I know I have been slacking at posting lately, but I’m proud of myself for always getting my Boxycharm up! I’m pretty impressed by this month’s box so let’s get into it.

November Boxycharm 2022

The first product is the In My Element Eyeshadow Palette by Item Beauty (which is Addison Rae’s makeup line). As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I’m trying not to test products that I don’t think I’ll use. Eyeshadow is a product I don’t need more of because I already have so many palettes. But when I saw this palette I was so impressed by the colour story that I had to try it. There are six mattes and four shimmers. There is a beautiful blend of warm earthy tones and pretty purple cool tones. The mattes are soft and blend easily. I haven’t tried the shimmers on my eyes yet but they swatch beautifully. I love the colour story because I can do both a warm and cool-toned look with one palette. It’s not the most neutral, everyday palette but I think it’s perfect for someone to add to their collection to spice things up. Price: $24 US ($33 CAD)

Item Beauty In My Element Eyeshadow Palette

The next product is the Saturday Skin Pretty Pop Probiotic Power Whipped Cream. I’ve received a few Saturday Skin products in my Boxycharm box before and I’ve loved them all. Based on the description I thought this would be a heavier moisturizer but it’s quite light-weight! It absorbs easily into the skin and lefts my face feeling soft. I think this would be a great daytime moisturizer. If you have super dry skin it might not be enough for you but I think the majority of people would enjoy this moisturizer! Price: $57 US ($68 CAD)

The first of two lip products is the Sophia + Mabelle Lip Slick Lip Oil. I got the shade Yuzu. I was a little worried because the shade is so pale that it would give me glossy concealer lips. The lip oil is pretty transparent, the oil just provides a nice glossy look. The formula is nice, a little thicker than some other lip oils I’ve tried. The yuzu scent is spot on though – it smells almost exactly like yuzu. I like it and I’ll continue to use it. Price: $22 US

The second lip product I won’t be trying. I received the Amminah Macarron Lip Scrub. I already own a lip scrub and I don’t use it that frequently so I don’t see the point in opening another one. I rather give it away to someone who needs it more! It looks super cute though! Price: $18 US

The final product is the Les Beauty Cream Bronzer. I got the shade Skyscraper. I am a little disappointed because there are only two shades, but it’s a small indie brand so I’ll give them a little more slack. This bronzer is pigmented. I tap my brush on it a few times and I apply it to my face and every time I’m shocked at how much product I applied. Luckily it’s very easy to blend out. It’s a very warm-toned bronzer, almost a little too orange. So if you prefer cooler shades skip this one. Overall it’s a nice cream and I see myself reaching for it again. Price: $18 US

And the overall total of the box is $139. Overall I’m pretty impressed with the box. There were no big duds. If anything, I see myself reaching for all the products again (except for the lip scrub). Let me know what you think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

My 2022 Sephora Sale Recommendations

by LeaLeave a Comment on My 2022 Sephora Sale Recommendations

Hey guys, it’s that time of year again – the Sephora Sale! The sale is currently underway for all members and will end on November 7. Members can receive anywhere from 10% to 20% off. This is a great time to stock up on products or buy some higher ticket items as Sephora doesn’t often do store-wide sales. I have done many posts in the past and I still stand by all the recommendations in my 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations post so I highly suggest checking out that post. Today I am sharing 15 new recommendations, many of which I haven’t mentioned yet on my blog. So let’s get into it!

Starting off my makeup section I’m going to recommend a product that has been circling all over Tiktok – the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. This lipstick-lip balm hybrid is super comfortable on the lips. The shade is meant to be universally flattering. Because it’s on the more sheer side it’s easy to do one swipe for a light colour or apply more to intensify the colour. This has become my everyday lip product because it looks good, feels nice and wears well. I love it!

The Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray is becoming a holy grail product for me. It’s incredible but I do see a difference in the look of my pores after using this setting spray. It’s also amazing at helping my makeup last longer. This product lives up to its claims so it gets a thumbs up from me!

Brows is a category where I like to stick to the classics. I don’t experiment with brows all that much as I find the current brow trend of laminated brows doesn’t look very good on me. But I still want a product that keeps my brows in place. Enter the Nudestix Brow Set Gel XL. If you want something that sets your brows but doesn’t feel like super glue this is for you. I use this almost every day!

I love blush – it’s one of my favourite products to test and I love trying different formulas out. One of my recent favourites is the Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines – Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush. There is both cream and powder so I can pick which consistency I prefer on a certain day. The staying power of these blushes is INSANE. Blush is usually the first product to fade for me but with both formulas, my blush is still strong at the end of the day. I have the shade “She’s Blushing” and it’s so unique compared to my other blushes! A great product!

My final makeup recommendation is the ITEM Beauty Lash Snack Clean Lengthening Mascara. I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I got this product in my Boxycharm. But this is a great mascara! If you’re looking for a straight-up lengthening mascara this is the one for you. It has a small brush so it’s also amazing for the lower lash line. If these qualities are up your alley then you should check it out!

Moving into skincare now, we’re going to start with a boujee product – the Caudalie Grape Water. I like using a skincare spray before going in with my hyaluronic acid so the serum has something to absorb. I love the aerosol spray on this product. It feels so refreshing to spray. If you have sensitive skin I could see this being amazing and helping soothe the skin. It’s excessive but I love it so I thought I would share!

A second Caudalie product which I enjoy is the Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask. I got this when I went to Paris and I’ve loved it since! Whenever my skin is feeling gross or congested I always reach for this mask. If you can dry skin stay away because this will suck all the moisture out of your skin. But for me, it gets rid of all the oil and gunk. And it’s pink which is so fun!

The exfoliating product that I’ve been enjoying recently is the Clinique 7 Day Face Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula. This scrub has a nice balance between creaminess and grittiness. It does a great job of getting rid of any flakes or dry patches and leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth. It’s not too aggressive so I think people with drier skin would still enjoy this scrub.

Another mask favourite of mine is the Farmacy Honey Potion Hydration Mask. This mask is perfect for when my skin needs a little pick-me-up. It helps with texture but is also hydrating at the same time. The mask is cool because it goes on this honey colour but as I rub it in the mask turns white and warms up on the skin. It’s quite a unique mask which is why I recommend it!

The final skincare product is the Biossance Squalane+ Rose Vegan Lip Balm. Is lip balm considered makeup or skincare? I always apply it after I do my skincare which is why I’m including it here! This lip balm has a very interesting consistency almost a little waxy so it stays well on the lips. I love the tube packaging, makes it easy to apply. The Laneige lip balms are amazing but this is a great option if you’re looking for something fragrance-free!

Onto the final category, which I am calling miscellaneous. First I have to mention the Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray. My friends got this for me for my birthday and I fell in love. I love spraying this in my hair after curling it to give a messy and natural look to my curls. It makes them look less polished and more realistic. The smell is also amazing. Ouai sells the scent in a perfume and I’ll be buying it in the future, it smells divine. It’s not Curly Girl approved BUT I don’t use this often so I’m fine with it. Highly recommend this spray!

The next hair product is another product I got from my friends for my birthday – the Bumble and Bumble Curl Reactivator. Now this product isn’t Curly Girl approved but it’s so good that I don’t care haha. I’ve always struggled with my curls not holding their shape and becoming wavy/straight on the second day. I got this product in a set and it works so well! I dampen my hair with some water, spray this all over and scrunch my hair and my curls are back! It’s not as nice as freshly washed hair but still pretty good! I recommend my curly-haired friends check out this product.

My final hair recommendation is a scalp massager. The Sephora Collection one I own is slightly different than the model they currently have available. It looks similar to the one Briogeo is selling. Now that I’ve started using one I don’t think I could ever go back. I use it in the shower after I have applied shampoo but before I rinse it out to clean my scalp. I’ve always liked scratching my scalp with my nails but this is way better. Not only does it feel good, but apparently using a scalp massager is a great way to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth! I gave one to my one last Christmas and she loves it as well!

My perfume recommendation this time around is the Ellis Brooklyn Salt Perfume. This is a very summery perfume so it’s not the most seasonally appropriate scent but I wanted to share a new one! I got this perfume during the spring sale and I loved wearing it this summer! I find summer beachy perfumes are often very coconutty, which don’t get me wrong I love that scent. But this is a little more sophisticated. As the name implies, it has an almost salty scent to it. The main notes are ylang ylang, Tahitian tiare and ambergris. Smelling this perfume just transports me to the beach! If this sounds up your alley check it out.

My final product recommendation is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream. I have talked about this on my blog before but since it wasn’t featured in past Sephora rec posts I had to include it. This body cream smells divine. It’s a very sweet and gourmand scent so if that’s not your thing then pass. But whenever I wear this body cream I always get compliments on how I smell, especially from guys. Men just seem to love sweet scents! This cream is also so lush, leaving my skin feeling soft after I applied it. And if you like the scent they have so many other products like sprays and hair oils (even deodorants) so I recommend at least going in-store and smelling it for yourself!

And that’s it for my recommendations! Please let me know in the comments what you’re picking up during the sale. I have already received my order for this sale so I’m excited to share with you guys in a future post all the goodies I picked up!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Review

October Boxycharm 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on October Boxycharm 2022

Hey guys! I’m on time with my Boxycharm review for once! It got the box pretty early this month – and I did a little unboxing in one of my Vlogtober vlogs. Without further ado, let’s get into this month’s box.

The first product in the box is the Natasha Denona Cupid Cheek Duo. In my September box, I received the Natasha Denona Cupid Eyeshadow Palette and I couldn’t find it anywhere online. Same thing with this cheek duo. Now I can’t confirm this, but based on the name and the fact that I can’t find these products for sale, I believe these are leftover limited edition Valentine’s Day products. I don’t necessarily mind because Natasha Denona is a great (and expensive) brand but I feel like it’s a little cheap to be getting discontinued products. This is something I notice that happens often with Boxycharm, brands give either discontinued products or products that they discontinue a few months later. Makes sense that they’re trying to get rid of old stock. This is a tangent so I digress. The product is nice, both the blush and highlight applied nicely to the skin and lasted well throughout the day. This duo has a cream blush and powder highlight and I prefer having the same formula in one pan but it’s not the end of the world. Price: $42 US (A similar one available on Sephora is $25 CAD so not sure how accurate Boxycharm’s MSRP is)

The next product is the Wander Beauty Double Date Eyeshadow Duo. I got the shades Smitten/Swoon. These are very similar to the Auric duos that I love but are more affordable. There is a cream shade on the bottom with a shimmer on top. I really like the cream shade, it’s gorgeous and sheer enough that I could wear it every day. The shimmer is very yellow gold and pigmented, so it’s a little strong for my everyday look but perfect for going out. My only issue is that I have oily eyelids so when I wore the cream share by itself it creased really badly by the end of the day. But if you set it with the shimmer it’s fine. I think this is a really great duo and would recommend it! Price: $26 US ($36 CAD)

The next product is the Half Caked Airbrushed Complexion Duo. I love getting brushes in my box and these two brushes are excellent! The 110 Complexion Brush gave my foundation such an airbrushed (haha get it) look. It doesn’t soak up any product so it kept the coverage. My only complaint is that the brush is a little on the small side so it takes more work to blend. The 160 Concealer Brush is the perfect size for the under eyes and just blends my concealer so well. I am very impressed with more of these brushes and would recommend both of them! Price: $25 US ($35 CAD)

If you love dewy setting sprays, then the Saint Luxe Setting Spray is for you. I used a matte foundation and powders and after using this setting spray I looked so dewy after. Now I have oily skin so I don’t usually want a super dewy face. But I can see myself reaching for this spray on the days when my face is dry or looking powdery. The spray is quite fine but I do find that sometimes the nozzle gets clogged. Overall not a bad setting spray. Price: $25 US

And the final product in my box is The Beauty Crop Stuck On You Eye Primer. I have decided to not open this product because it takes me forever to go through eyeshadow primer and I already have two open. Two eye shadow primers are more than enough for me. I will be donating this to someone else. Price: $18 US (website says $16.50)

The overall total (according to Boxycharm) is $136. I’m pretty happy with this box. I really like the brushes and I do see myself using all the products besides the eye primer again. Let me know what you think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

August & September Boxycharm 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on August & September Boxycharm 2022

Hey guys! Today we have two boxes in one post! I got my August box late and I was busy so I never got the chance to write about it. So I thought might as well combine it with my September box! I got my September box late as well, which is why I’m posting this in October. I’m going to review my August products first and then we’ll get into my September box.

The first product is Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream. I like Glow Recipe products so I was excited to see this product in my box. This eye cream has retinol, avocado and coffeeberry this is meant to firm, smooth lines and reduce the appearance of dark circles. I like the consistency of the eye cream and found it absorbs quickly. I didn’t see a difference in the firmness or smoothness of my under eyes but I haven’t used it consistently. Overall I like this so far! Price: $42 US, $56 CAD

The next product is the Alleyoop Stack The Odds. This is a stack that includes a cream highlight, blush and bronzer. I got the shade Sunkissed which includes a champagne highlight, coral blush and a light-to-medium bronzer. I think how compact this stack is, which would be great for travelling. I do like both the blush and bronzer. The highlight is okay. It’s pretty stiff and a little on the glittery side. I prefer liquid highlights over creams but if I brought this stack while travelling I would use the highlight. Overall I like this stack and I see myself using it. Price: $38 USD

I decided not to try the Girlactik Metallic Eye Sparkle Shadow. While it looks gorgeous, I just don’t wear metallic eye shadows that often anymore and I already have a few so I don’t need any more. So instead of opening the product and only using it once, I’ll be donating this product instead. Price: $20 US, $31 CAD

The next product is the Luxie All-Purpose Sponge Set. It seems that these sponges are only available in a set, which honestly I would just skip because I’m not a fan of these sponges. I find that these sponges soak up all the product and leave my skin looking splotchy. This set was priced at $40 for two sponges and I would say it would be better to just get on Beauty Blender. What a shame because I love Luxie brushes. Price: $40 US

The final product in my August box is the Tanais Sunset to the Stars Lip Oil. When I think of a lip oil my mind immediately goes to the Dior Lip Oil formula, something on the thicker side that is nourishing, slick and glossy. This lip oil is much stickier and more opaque. It reminds me more of a lip gloss than a lip oil. It’s a nice shade, a pink with some gold running through. But it’s not the best lip oil that I’ve tried. Price: $22 US

The overall total is $167, which is pretty nice. I like the eye cream and the cream stack. Everything else was okay. Not the best, not the worst box.

Now onto my September box! The first product is the Avant Skincare Deluxe Hyaluronic Acid Vivifying Face and Eye Night Cream. This is expensive. At £98.00 this is a very pricey night cream. I like it, but it’s not worth that much. It has a very nice texture, not too heavy which my oily skin appreciates. It’s nice that it’s a face and eye cream because sometimes at night I’m too lazy to apply a different eye cream. But so far I haven’t noticed anything special that would make it worth the price tag. Price: $134 US, $150 CAD

The next product is another pricey one – the Natasha Denona Cupid Eyeshadow Palette. I really like this colour story but it’s a shame because I can’t seem to find the palette for sale anywhere! The Natasha Denona eyeshadows are great so I’ve very excited to lay with this palette! Price: $48 US (I think this price is incorrect but the mini palettes on Sephora sell for $34 CAD)

The next product is the Ciate London Dewy Highlight Glossy Cheek Glow. I did a double-take when I first saw this product because the packaging is identical to their Dewy Blush. This is supposed to be a champagne colour but I find it to be much deeper and almost pink. It reminds me more of a blush topper shade than a highlight. Because of the colour, I’m unsure of how often I’ll use this product. Price: $24 US

The second skincare product in my box is the Glow on 5th Bye, Bye Puffy Eyes Cooling Eye Balm. The first thing I noticed is that the opening for this eye balm is quite large so I often squeeze out too much product. I don’t suffer from very puffy eyes so I can’t confirm that claim. But I will say that I don’t notice much of a cooling sensation. It’s a nice hydrating eye cream but nothing special. Price: $24 US

And the final product in my box is the Pinklipps Cosmetics Lumi Balm Lip Tint. I got the shade Fantasy which is brown. Sadly this shade isn’t for me. It’s not quite sheer but not quite fully opaque. Combined with the shiny finish it looks like I have a light layer of chocolate all over my lips. If you have a darker complexion I think this would be a gorgeous nude. But for me to wear browns it needs to be either very sheer or very opaque. This is a pass for me but I think it would work well on others. Price: $12 US

The final total of my September box is $242 US which is insane! I think this box was really good! Some very expensive products and the majority of the products were really good. Let me know in the comments which of the two boxes you think is the better box!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

Product Empties September 2022

by LeaLeave a Comment on Product Empties September 2022

Hey guys! It’s been a busy summer for me, that’s for sure! And while I haven’t been posting consistently, I have been using beauty products so I have a huge bag full of empties. I will be sharing 15 products today, but probably have enough to do another post next week haha. So since I have a lot of products, I’ll try and keep it brief. Let’s get into it!

First I finished the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. I had first tried this cleanser in my Boxycharm and then decided to repurchase it myself a second time. This has some strong acids so if you have sensitive skin, stay away! It has jojoba beads so gives that physical exfoliation along with the chemicals. I haven’t repurchased because I wanted to try other exfoliators but would consider repurchasing in the future.

You can tell I love the OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner by the fact that I finished two of these – a travel size and a full size. I am currently using another bottle. This just helps keep the oil at bay and keep my pores clean. If you have oily, acne-prone skin you need to check out this toner.

Another major love is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. I love testing out cleansing balms but this is one that I always go back to. I don’t have to use a ton of product to remove my makeup. It doesn’t leave any greasy residue to sting my eyes. It’s great with stubborn mascara, lash glue, glitter, etc. All the stuff that’s hard to remove. I will probably repurchase this again in the future.

A product I did not like and didn’t finish is the Christopher Robin Instant Volumizing Leave-In Mist. I like to use empties posts as a way to update you on my thoughts. And my thought on this product is that it’s not good. It left my hair looking frizzy and my curs undefined. I tried this quite a few times, with different products and application methods, and each time I wasn’t satisfied with how my hair looked. So into the trash this product goes!

I finished my favourite limited edition leave-in conditioner – the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. They usually only have it available near the holidays, and it looks like it’s finally available again! This mask is more moisturizing compared to the original. This is the best silicone and sulphate-free mask I’ve found so far! Highly recommend picking it up!

Up next is an empty bottle of Bioderma Micellar Water. I find the Bioderma and Garnier Micellar waters to be the extra same, I just buy whichever is on sale. I don’t often use micellar water, mainly just to fix any makeup mistakes. It does the job so I can’t complain!

Another OLEHENRIKSEN favourite is the Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser. I got a mini kit that include the whole line when I travelled to Vancouver but I’ve used this cleanser before. It’s a great cleanser for those with oily, acne-prone skin. Does a great job of deep cleaning the skin. I totally see myself repurchasing this again in the future.

I got a mini of the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter using some of my Sephora VIB points. I had the unscented version but I just learned there are scented versions! I would purchase one of the scents because the texture of this body butter is divine. It’s on the thicker side so it’s great for the cold and dry winter months. This body butter is often a point perk, so if you see it I would recommend picking it up!

Another point perk was the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream. I know this cream has been really popular online lately and while it was good I don’t think it’s anything spectacular? It was almost balmy in consistency and took forever to sink into my skin. It did make my skin look super glowy but I think my skin is just too oily for this product. It was just too heavy for my skin but if you have drier skin you’d probably love this.

I finished a mini of the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. I’m not a huge user of dry shampoo. Because I like to wear my hair natural most of the time, it means that I was it frequently and don’t often need dry shampoo. I found that this dry shampoo wasn’t any better than the Batiste dry shampoo that you get from the drugstore. Maybe I’m not the best person to get dry shampoo advice from haha.

I have four bags photographed, but I actually have finished five bags of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots. These are some of the best acne patches that I have tried. I might have found another favourite – but that’s for another post. They sit nicely on the face and do a great job of pulling out all the gunk in a pimple. If you suffer from acne you need these in your life.

A product that I received in my Boxycharm that I finished is the Skin Inc My Daily Dose of Uplift serum. I liked the product but I don’t think I’ll go out of my way to reorder the product. If I can’t get a product at my local drugstore or online at Sephora it has to really wow me and this product didn’t do that. I can think of many different serums that can do something similar. It’s not bad just nothing special.

The first of two mascaras is the Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara. It’s an alright mascara – it just doesn’t tick the boxes for what I’m looking for. I like a lot of length with a little volume and this gave a lot of volume with a little length. This wand was very thick so it was hard to separate the lashes, especially as the mascara got older. I throw my mascaras out after being open for a year so this mascaras time has come. I will not be repurchasing.

The second mascara is the Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara. I’m not sure what’s going on with this mascara because I can’t find it in store anymore but it’s still available on the Covergirl website. Either way, I did like this mascara! It reminded me a lot of the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. It gave great volume to the lashes but also kept them defined and long. This was a great drugstore mascara but it’s expired so it was time to let it go.

The final product is the Ouai Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave-In Conditioner. Oh man, I love the scent of this leave-in conditioner. It’s the Ouai Bondi scent, which I think I’m going to get the perfume because I love the scent so much. I will say that this is also a pretty good leave-in conditioner. It did a good job of fighting frizz and helping define my curls. It does have silicones in it, so I probably won’t repurchase BUT if you don’t care about silicones then you HAVE to try this leave-in conditioner!

And that is a round-up of some of my product empties! Let me know if you tried any of these products in the comments and what your thoughts were!

xoxo

Lea