Makeup – Page 17 – Leave it to Lea

My Favourite Boxycharm Products from the Past 3 Years

October 25, 2019May 6, 2020by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! This October marks three years of subscribing to Boxycharm! I have received over 180 products from Boyxcharm over the past three years! That’s crazy! To celebrate, I have chosen eight of my favourite products from the past three years. Most products I picked were from past years. I will be doing my annual favourite products of the year in December. Also, I have one item not pictured because it broke – more on that down below.

Photo 2019-10-25, 12 55 22 PM

November 2016 – Studio Makeup On-The-Go Eyeshadow Palette

The first product is from my second box ever and is the only eye shadow palette I decided to feature. I have received many eye shadow palettes from Boxycharm, but the Studio Makeup On-The-Go eyeshadow palette has survived multiple makeup declutters. I’m not a huge cool-toned person, but this is the palette I always reach for when I want to do cool-toned makeup looks. There is a serious dent in the middle shadow because I have used this palette a lot. I received tons of palettes from big brand names and palettes with fun bright colours. But this basic palette does the job!

Photo 2019-10-25, 12 56 01 PM

January 2017 – PUR Cosmetics Mineral Glow Bronzer

Rest in peace my beloved PUR bronzer. This bronzer broke back in April and I have missed it ever since. This bronzer was the bomb. It was my summer-bronze-goddess-glow bronzer. It’s darker than the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, so I like to use it in the summer to deepen my tan. It also had the most beautiful slight shimmer to it. It made my face look so bronzed and health. This was such a bomb product. I decided to not repurchase it because I’m trying to go through some of my other bronzers, but this was a good one.

April 2017 – OFRA Cosmetics Rodeo Drive Highlighter

I received this highlight back in the craze of blinding highlights. To this day OFRA Rodeo Drive is one of the most blinding highlights I own. Just a little creates the most beautiful bright glow. The formula is so smooth. The highlight is not chunky and doesn’t have any big glitter particles in it. It is also a super flattering colour for my skin tone – a gold-champagne. While I don’t use this highlight as often anymore, I still pull it out whenever I want a really bright highlight.

December 2017 – Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara

You know it’s a good product when you repurchase it. I’ve received a lot of good mascaras from Boxycharm over the years, but I decided the Tarte Tarteist mascara is my favourite. This gives me volume and length without making my lashes clumpy. My lashes are prone to getting clumpy, so I don’t often like volumizing mascara. But this one just makes my lashes look amazing. This is my everyday mascara, I love it.

January 2018 – Girlactik Long Lasting Matte Lip Paint

The reason why I like Boxycharm is that I get to try products I would have never had the chance to try. This Girlactik liquid lipstick is a prime example. It doesn’t sell at Sephora, and I probably won’t bother to ship it into Canada. But because I have Boxycharm I was able to discover this amazing liquid lipstick. This is probably one of my favourite formulas because it’s so comfortable on the lips. I also always receive so many compliments on my lipstick whenever I wear it. So while I could have picked many different lipsticks as my favourite, that is why I picked this one.

June 2018 – Battington Lashes

It was a tie between these Battington lashes (in the style Monroe) and my Lashoholic lashes for my favourite pair from Boxycharm. I chose the Battington pair since I recently talked about the Lashoholic ones in my September Product Empties. I love receiving lashes in my Boxycharm because I generally don’t buy them myself. But these lashes have lasted me so well! I recently ripped them (RIP lol). But they lasted me almost a year, definitely worn them like 30 times. A really good quality pair of lashes.

Photo 2019-10-25, 12 55 45 PM

September 2018 – Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten

Man, I use this blush almost every day and it looks like I’ve barely made a dent in it. I have mine in the shade Tropic Hues and it’s so beautiful. This was the first blush that made me realize it’s nice to have a little shimmer in a blush. It makes me look so healthy and awake. I sometimes forget I received this in my Boxycharm box since I use it on the daily.

February 2019 – Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream

I love this cream. What I like about Boxycharm is that sometimes I receive a product that I wanted but hadn’t bought yet for myself. I love the original Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum cream, and when I saw that they had released the Coco Cabana Cream, I knew I wanted to try it. I decided to wait, and bam I got it in my Boxycharm box! I love this formula because it’s also different than the original, so it’s not the exact same product. I brought this cream with me to Europe, and now every single time I smell the cream it reminds me of my time there! I also decided to repurchase it as well once I finished the one I got in my Boxycharm box!

And those are eight of my favourite products that I have received in my Boxycharm! Should I do a part two? Or maybe my least favourite products? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Products I just don’t like – makeup fails

October 22, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So today’s post is one I’ve never done before – a product fails posts. I’ve done tons of empties posts, and sometimes there are duds in those posts. But today I am sharing four products that I dislike so much that I am not going to use them up. Now I consider myself to be a better good shopper. I like to look at reviews of products before purchasing them, so most of them work out. But every once in a while I get a product and I just don’t like it. So here are four products I don’t like and wouldn’t recommend.

Photo 2019-10-22, 12 51 48 PM

First is the Spascriptions Glitter Peel-off Mask. I don’t like peel-off masks in general, but this one was one of the worst I’ve tried. It’s so painful like it’s not even funny. I could get behind the pain if it helped my skin. But it just broke me out after using it. So it was a painful mask that didn’t do its job. Do yourself a favour and buy a different mask, the cute glitter isn’t worth the pain.

The next product is one I purchased without reading up on it, so I guess that is what I get for impulse purchasing. I wanted to try a cream blush (this is before I purchased my Colourpop one). I thought getting a drugstore cream blush would be a good way to test if I like creme products. Well, the Elf Monochromatic Multi Stick sucks. The product was full of chunky glitter, so it emphasized all the texture and pores on my cheeks. The product was also extremely difficult to blend out. Whenever I tried to blend it out it would lift up my foundation underneath. Honestly, just get the one from Colourpop if you are looking for a cheap cream blush.

This next one might be a little controversial because I know a lot of people love Drunk Elephant. I got the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser for my Sephora birthday present. I’m not sure why, but there is some ingredient in this that my skin doesn’t like. After using this cleanser for a couple of days, I noticed that my skin was looking very red and irritated. It would like I had a sunburn on my face. I switched to a different cleanser and I noticed the problem go away. So while some other people might like this cleanser, it is a no go for me.

The final product is the Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil Free Moisturizer. I am very picky when it comes to sunscreens. I tried to like this one, I really did. But I have a few issues with it. First, it claims to be an oil-free moisturizer, but it feels so oily when I apply it. It is also not moisturizing whatsoever. Finally, my biggest pet peeve when it comes to sunscreens is when they leave a white cast. And this moisturizer leaves a pretty bad white cast. Now I do like that this sunscreen is clean and vegan. But for my picky skin, it’s a no.

And those are my four product fails. Let me know what you think of this post, and if I should make it into a series!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Life, Review

I went to a makeup convention! IMATS Toronto Experience

October 18, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of posts the past the two weeks! The past two weeks have been crazy with school and then Thanksgiving and then midterms. But now it’s reading week! I am hoping to create a lot of content this week 🙂 For today’s post I am sharing my experience going to IMATS Toronto!

Photo 2019-09-29, 8 22 57 AM

IMATS stands for International Make-up Artist Trade Show. If you didn’t know, I am from Toronto so that’s why I went to that one. I have heard of other conventions like BeautyCon and Gen Beauty. Those events don’t come to Toronto, but when I heard about IMATS I thought it would be similar. Spoiler alert: I was wrong.

IMATS is for makeup artists. Beauty enthusiasts like myself can go, but it’s meant for working makeup artists. Many booths were selling SFX makeup and pigment palettes. The demonstrations were also meant for makeup artists – but more on that later.

I was surprised me was how small the event was. There were about about 15 to 20 vendors at the event. That sounds like a lot, but to put that into perceptive BeautyCon has over 200 vendors. There were a few brand names like Benefit, Makeup Forever, NARS and Beauty Blender. There were a few brush vendors – the only one I knew was Royal and Langnickel. There were also a bunch of indie brands as well. Most of the vendors had sales, ranging from 20-40% off retail price. There were no free samples or goodie bags.

I purchased four items. First I got the Benefit Precisely My Brow Eyebrow Pencil. You guys know I am a die-hard ABH Brow Wiz fan, but I have never tried any of the Benefit brow products before. So I decided to pick up the pencil since it was on sale. I purchased two brushes from the brand Stilazzi – the S203 and S302. Finally from Clionadh Cosmetics – a small Canadian Indie brand – I got one single shadow. I got the shade Sand Blast, and while it wasn’t cheap I have never seen a shadow like it before.

Now the speaker I saw was probably the best part of the whole event. I saw Kevin James Bennett speak. I didn’t even know was an award-winning makeup artist until after the event when I looked him up! He provided so much information. He talked about brushes – which ones to buy and to use. A big tip he had was to use synthetic brushes since they can be used wet and dry. I could have sat all day and listened to him!

So what are my overall thoughts on IMATS? While I loved seeing the demonstrations from makeup artists, I would not recommend going if you are an average beauty enthusiast. The deals and selection were not that great. If you want to learn from a professional it would be better to go to a masterclass instead of this event. I had fun and I was glad I went, but I don’t think I would go next year. Have you guys ever been to a makeup convention before? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm

September Boxycharm 2019

October 4, 2019May 6, 2020by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! Sorry this post is a little late – I was going to post it on Tuesday but I was so busy I didn’t get the chance to get it up. But it’s here now! This month’s theme is All Access, which I didn’t really get. I did like the products in my box thought.

Photo 2019-09-14, 12 47 15 PM

First set is the MODA 5 Piece Brush Set. I’ve always loved MODA’s brushes. I actually went to IMATS this past weekend (I will write a whole blog post on that), and I learned so much about their brushes. All their brushes are synthetic because they can be used wet or dry. They are so soft and are very durable. I always love getting brushes in my box because you can never have too many brushes! Price: US$27.95

Next is the MAC Cosmetics Frost Lipstick in the shade CB 96. I’ll be honest, I wish I had received the Stila Liquid lipsticks. This shade is a bright orange-red, which is something I don’t wear very often. On top of it’s a semi-lustrous finish. While I love MAC lipstick, this shade is just not for me. Price: US$18.50, C$23

A skincare product is the Dr Brandt Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask. I am on the fence about this product. I love the scent of it and it feels super nice to apply. I always use a thick layer so it takes awhile to soak into the skin – probably why it’s a sleeping mask. But I think it might be breaking me out. Every time I’ve used it I got a break out a day or two after. I’m not a 100% sure, because it could be stress or some other product, but I don’t think my skin likes it. I would recommend getting a sample and trying it out for yourself before buying it. Price: U$52, C$68 for a full size, I only got a deluxe sample.

Next up is the Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in the shade Peach Glow. I have heard so many amazing things about this highlight, so I was very happy to receive it. It gives a natural yet blinding highlight at the same time. It has so glitter or any chunky particles to it, and it blends into the skin very well. I wish I had received Gilded Honey, the gold shade, but I do enjoy the peach shade as well. Price: US$26

The final product is the Violet Voss Essentials Eyeshadow Palette. I have always heard good things about Violet Voss but never got the chance to try out their shadows. And well this palette did not disappoint. The mattes are easy to blend and the metallics are pigmented. They shades just look so beautiful on the eyes. I know the trend for eyeshadow palettes is to be huge right now, but this ten pan palette has such a variety. I was able to create everyday looks but also this super fun green fall look with the palette as well. The quality is just so good that I definitely would buy another palette from Violet Voss. Price: US$29 – this palette is unfortunately not for sale on Sephora Canada.

And that is my September Boxycharm! What did you guys think? What was your favourite item in this month’s box – let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Comparing the NEW Fenty Foundation to the Original

September 26, 2019by Lea1 Comment

Hey guys! When I saw that Fenty Beauty came out with a new foundation I knew I wanted to test it out. I loved the original, but recently I’ve been liking dewy foundations more. So I have decided to test out both foundations and see which one I like more!

Photo 2019-09-25, 12 46 09 PM

The original Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is a full coverage, long wearing, matte foundation. The new foundation, the Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation, is full coverage, long wearing but hydrating instead of matte. Both have 50 shades and retail for C$45.

I decided to do a full day wear test for both foundations. To keep the testing fair, I used the same primer and powder, the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer and the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. I love both of these products and I know how they preform. For my testing, I took photos right after I applied the foundation and six hours after application.

I definitely forgot how full coverage the Soft Matte foundation is. I had some acne spots and it covered them no problem. I found that it did last longer throughout the day. At six hours later by foundation was still on. From far away it looked good, but up close my t-zone was oily and my under eyes looked and felt dry.

First hour

Six hours later

six hours later

The Hydrating foundation didn’t conceal my acne as much as the Soft Matte foundation, but still had more coverage than I anticipated for a hydrating foundation. My skin looked more natural. After six hours my foundation had faded and my skin was peaking through. It might bother some people to have the foundation fade away, I like that it didn’t look as dry and cakey as the matte foundation.

First hour

Six hours later

First Hour

My winner is the Hydrating foundation. I think it looks more natural and I prefer the way it wears through the day. I will be keeping the Soft Matte for those times I do want more coverage. Have you tried either of the foundations? Which do you like more? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Review, Skincare

Product Empties September 2019

September 20, 2019by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! Remember last product empties post I said I would post more often so there would be less products in one post? Ya that didn’t happen… today we have sixteen products! I honestly think I’m going to turn this into a monthly series in order to shorten these posts. On the plus side I am really proud of myself! I have been making a conscious effort to finish up half-used products, these posts really show that I have been doing that! So without further ado, my empties:

Photo 2019-09-18, 12 38 16 PM

So starting off with lip balm, I have three empties. I’m really bad at having multiple lip balms all over the place, so I’m trying to whittle my collection down. First I still had the old version of the Bite Beauty Agave lip balm (there new one is called Agave+). I won’t ramble on about the old formula since it’s not available anymore, but I do like the new formula. I also finished up a mini sample of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. This mini sample took me almost a year to finish, I’m sure the large size would last forever. I already have another mini of the grapefruit flavour, but I would personally suggest their balm over the mask. Finally, my favourite lip balm is the Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm. It’s super light weight on the lips but also super moisturizing. And it’s like $3 for a two pack, which is way cheaper than the other two I finish. Nivea is my ride-or-die, I have seven littered around my house.

Next empty is something that doesn’t exist anymore. I got an NYX single shadow in a holiday kit, and I finished the eyeshadow! It was a bone coloured creme, and I used it to set my eye primer every single day. I’m not sure if the quality of other NYX shadows are similar, but based on this single shadow I would purchase a palette of theirs.

Sticking with the drugstore, I finished my Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless powder. This was the first powder I purchased, about three years ago. I like this powder way more than their loose setting powder. It is just so buttery and creamy, and doesn’t leave your face looking cakey. I did decided to repurchase this powder because I really do like it. I don’t necessarily use it everyday, but it is create for touch ups. I highly recommend, best drugstore powder in my opinion!

Next up is pair of lashes – the Lashaholic Instaglam lashes. These ones are finally too full of mascara and lash glue to be worn anymore. But I friggin loved these lashes. I got them in a Boxycharm box once I just feel in love. I like them because they are very fluffy and not too full, so it is still possible to see the eye look behind the lashes. I also have hooded eyes, and I find that they just suited my eye shape so well. I would love to repurchase these, but it’s not just very economical of me to buy one pair of lashes from an American website. I will thoroughly miss these though.

Now to take a break from makeup, I have some skincare products. If you are new here, check out my last products empties post, I have already reviewed the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Mattifying Lotion. You can tell I love these products just by the fact that I have already finished them again since my last product empties post.

Another skincare product is a sample of the GlamGlow Supermud Activated Charcoal Treatment mask. I know this is one of the most popular charcoal face masks on the market, but I have to be honest – I didn’t like it that much. It made my face feel really tingly and tight afterwards. While it did a good job of cleaning out my pores, it did nothing for my active breakouts. It also smells like licorice – not my favourite scent.

Next up I have three setting sprays, because I go through setting sprays like water. From the drugstore I have the Milani Make It Last setting spray and the NYX Dewy Finish Setting spray. I like both of these because they do what they say. The Milani one makes my makeup last longer compared to other setting sprays, and the NYX one makes my face look dewy. Both are reasonably priced, therefore I would recommend both (and I have repurchased both). The other setting spray is the Mac Prep + Prime Fix +. Listen, this is a cult classic for a reason. I don’t know what they put in this spray, but my makeup just always looks ten times better after applying it. It takes away the powdery look and makes the makeup just melt into the skin. It is also amazing for enhancing any eye shadows, pigments or highlights. I will always have Mac Fix+ on my vanity.

Next up are two products from Sol de Janeiro. I finished a mini of the Coco Cabana Body Cream. I love this scent and I do find the textures between this one and the original slightly different. The original is a true cream whereas this one is more of a gel. Anyways I love it so much and I did repurchase it. Then I had a mini of the Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel. While I really liked using it, I will not be repurchasing it. The shower cream smells exactly like the cream, but I found it had not staying power. Sometimes I will use a shower gel or soap and can smell it on my skin afterwards. This wasn’t the case for this one. So while I enjoy using it in the shower, I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin. I rather by the lotion which has a strong lasting power than buy the shower gel.

Another body product is The Body Shop Body Butter in the scent Mango. Oh I love their body butters. They are just so moisturizing but also fast drying. I don’t have to wait forever for it to absorb into my skin. I have tried three of their scents so far, and next time I want to try another one. The Body Shop has such a nice range of scent, there is one for everyone.

My final product is the L’Oreal Dream Length Saviour Mask. It was a good mask but it wasn’t amazing. Like my hair did feel smoother and felt less dry after using it, but I didn’t feel blown away by it. I am on the hunt for a good hair mask, so let me know in the comments your favourite one!

And that is my product empties! What are some products that you finished lately? Let me know in the comments down below 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Review

Colourpop Haul Part 2

September 13, 2019by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! The long awaited part two to my Colourpop haul! Took me almost a month to get this up, and I am very sorry about that. Today’s focus is all the ‘fun’ products aka tons of glitter. Most of these products are not for everyday wear but for fun makeup, so that’s why it took me longer to review these products. The only products I haven’t really tested are the Creme Gel liners, but everything else I have a definite opinion about. So without further ado, my review:

Photo 2019-08-13, 12 54 27 PM — For other products not mentioned, check out my Colourpop Haul Part 1

First up are the most wearable/everyday products – the Colourpop Super Shock Shadows (or SSS for short). I love Colourpop’s SSS, and I highly recommend them to everyone. I got the shades Ladybird (worn in photo below), Set to Stun, and Drift. I like this formula because they all have a base colour along with a ton of glitter and shimmer. They add such a mutli-dimensional look to the eyes. They are also super easy to apply, I just use my finger and swipe it across my eye lids. Colourpop has such a wide range of shades, I am sure you can find a shade you look. I highly recommend this product.

Photo 2019-08-15, 2 22 13 PM (1)

The next product is not as easy to use as the SSS, but still pretty user friendly. I got one of their pressed glitters in the shade Get Lost. It has a base of gold glitter, with larger holographic glitter without. Colourpop is also introducing this formula in some of their palettes. I really like this glitter. It is way less messy than using loose glitter. I used a brush to apply the product, but a finger would also do. I am not sure how long lasting it would be, since I didn’t keep my makeup look on for long. But for $5 USD, I think this is a great way to get glitter if you are interested in trying it out.

Now moving onto something a little more finicky is the Colourpop Jelly Much Shadow. I got mine is the shadow Whistlin Pixie, which is a gorgeous red-brown with a gold sheen. I liked this product and I would use it again, but it does take some work. The product dries down very quickly, so it can be hard to blend out. If you have the patience it can look really nice. But I would suggest the Super Shock Shadows over this product.

Probably the hardest to use are the Loose Pigments from Colourpop, but that is to be expected. Loose pigments are difficult to use, that is why most eye shadows are pressed and not loose. The two pigmented I got were Redzone (pale champagne) and Gotta Jet (holographic glitter). I like Redzone better because it is pigment instead of just glitter. That means that Redzone has a base colour along with the glitter, whereas Gotta Jet is just pure glitter with no base colour underneath. So I tried to pack Gotta Jet along my lash line to do a liner effect, and it didn’t work because there is no base colour to it. Gotta Jet would look the best and just a loose dusting over top another shadow. Redzone, on the other hand, and be worn along since it has pigment underneath. It is a lighter shade on me, so I would mainly use it for highlighting purposes. I would get another loose pigment similar to Redzone, but probably not another glitter since I found Gotta Jet difficult to use. Overall these are not the most user-friendly products, definitely for more advanced users looking to step up their looks than for the average users.

The final product is the Glitterly Obsessed Body Glitter in the shade Ur A Firework. This is a thick, chunky glitter that is meant for the face, body and hair – not the eyes. I use this lightly on top of my highlight and it looked for fun. I would love to use this product for a music festival or for fun Halloween looks. Not an everyday product, but for $8 it was worth picking up for me.

And that is my Colourpop haul! Not exactly the most wearable products for the everyday person, but hey these are the products I bought! Let me know which was your favourite look of the four that I did using the products!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Review

August Boxycharm 2019

September 6, 2019May 6, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So the last couple weeks have been crazy for me. At the end of summer I was taking extra shifts to cover for everyone who was going back to school. Then I went back to school this week, and it has been definitely overwhelming to say the least. I also feel like I was in a writing lull for awhile, and then I got all this stuff at once to review and well – my life is all over the place. At first I wasn’t going to post this review, because at the time I hadn’t really tried out any products in the box. But now that school has started I am wearing more makeup regularly, so I have had a chance to try the products. Anyways, that is a very long winded way to say here is my August Boyxcharm:

Photo 2019-08-30, 2 41 16 PM

First up is the Steve Laurant Lip Liner. This lip liner isn’t worth your money – Maybelline makes much better ones. I do like the colour; I got the shade Chic which is a warm, slightly brown nude. It would work for a range of skin tones. What I don’t like is that the lip liner is very stiff. I really have to press hard to get any colour payoff. I don’t use lip liners very often, but when I do I like to use creamy pencils, and this ain’t it. Price: $15 USD

The product that I was most excited to try was the Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder. As someone with oily/combo skin, I am always looking for the best powder. I always wanted to try this powder when it first came out, but never got around to buying it. Now after trying it I’m unsure how I feel. What’s cool about this powder is that it claims to feel like applying water to your face when using this powder. This is true. The first time I applied the powder it felt so cool and almost wet. The only thing is that if you leave your powder out/open, this cooling effect goes away. I often pour some powder into the cap, and if I pour too much I just leave it in the cap for the next time I do my makeup. I did this with this Becca powder, and the powder didn’t have the same cooling effect. The cap does have a disclaimer to keep cap close, so just keep this in mind. Now I am on the fence about how I feel about this powder. The first time I used it I baked with it and my under eyes felt sooo dry. The second time I didn’t bake and it wasn’t as bad, but I still wasn’t super impressed. I feel like I have to play around with this powder a bit more. Price: $39 USD, $51 CAD

Next up is the Tarte Big Ego Mascara. I believe this is a new mascara, but I didn’t hear much press about it. This mascara claims to be a lifting mascara, and I definitely would say that’s true. It doesn’t give crazy volume, but does make my lashes look longer. It also lasts long through the day. I find that some mascaras almost ‘fall’ throughout the day, so by the end my lashes don’t look as long. This Tarte mascara lasted me though a good 10 hours no problem. I have yet to compared it to my other Tarte favourite, their Tarteist Lash Paint. Overall it wasn’t bad but didn’t WOW me. Price: $23 USD, $30 CAD

The next product is the Wander Beauty Glow Ahead Illuminating Oil. K I don’t get this product… like what is it? Is it a skincare product? Is it a primer? Honestly I have no idea. I would apply this to my face before applying makeup and honestly I didn’t really notice much of a different. My face didn’t look any dewier with it, and my Dr. Brandt primer is much better at illuminating. My face didn’t feel any more hydrated. I might try using it to sheer out a matte foundation, but that is really the only thing I could think it might be good at. If you have any idea on how to use this product let me know. Price: $42 USD, $50.40 CAD

Photo 2019-09-06, 12 22 49 PM

The final two products are the Glimmer Shadow Duo from Ace Beaute. I was skeptical at first, I won’t lie. These shadows look like a dupe for the Colourpop Super Shock Shadows. I was unsure if they would be that good. And I am hear to report that I am wrong, these are amazing. I got the duo with Cotton Candy and Iced Latte, and wow these shades are beautiful. The pink shade has a gold/peach shift to it, which is just so beautiful on the eyes. And the gold shade has little glitter in it that just look so great on the eyes. These shadows are easy to apply using a finger, and they are super pigmented. The only thing is that they are more expensive that Colourpop’s SSS, so they are not exactly a cheaper dupe… I would probably recommend the Colourpop ones over these just because they are cheaper but of equal quality. Price: $25 USD

And that is my August Boxycharm box! Let me know what you guys thought of the products. Also just an update – the part two of my Colourpop haul will be coming out next Friday, so stay tuned for that!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Review

Colourpop Haul Part 1

August 23, 2019by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! So about a month now I placed a Colourpop order. I don’t order from Colourpop often, so when I do I usually do a big order. My order came in a couple weeks ago (you would have seen this if you follow my Instagram @xoxoxoleelee). I have mentioned this before, but I am currently working at a pool this summer. Which means that I don’t wear makeup most days, so it is taking me longer than usual to test out products. I have decided to split up my haul into two parts. Some of the products I already have an opinion on, but others I still haven’t tried. So today I have five products, and the rest will be up within a week or two.

Photo 2019-08-22, 12 27 04 PM

First up is the Orange You Glad palette. Colourpop has been releasing these nine pan colourful palettes what seems like every other week. This palette was the newest one when I placed my order, plus I fell in love with the colour story. While a full orange palette might not seem like the most wearable palette, what I like is that you can take one or two of these shades along with a more neutral palette to make a beautiful look. Oranges pair well with browns and golds, so you can easily create a simple glam look that isn’t too bold. Or you can do what I did and go all out (see look below). But the best part of this palette is that the quality is amazing. Even the neon matte shade called Sunkiss’d (which reminds me of Cheetos) is so bright but also soo blendable. I had no problems blending out the shadows. And the photos don’t do them justice, they are so bight and pigmented in real life. Oh also did I mention that this palette is $12USD?? I highly recommend this palette if you like the colours.

Next up is the Lippie Stix in the shade Brink. This lippie is one of their best sellers and it’s currently sold out – for a good reason. I love this lip, it is definitely my new go to. This is such a comfortable matte lipstick. I wouldn’t even call it matte, it’s much closer to a creamy satin. It lasts pretty well through the day. It didn’t really make it through lunch, but it wear away badly like some other lips. The shade is also so nice. It’s a deeper nude, but not dark by any means. Overall I love this lippie, and will be continuing to wear it a ton.

The next lippie is their Lip Tint in the shade Rise n Shine. I featured this lippie in my simple school makeup look. This formula is like a hybrid between a creamy lipstick and a lip gloss. It’s sheerer than a regular lipstick but more pigmented than more lip glosses that I have tried. It’s perfect for a nice wash of colour on the lips. I also really like this peachy shade, it’s great for summer but also to transition into fall.

Next I tried one of their new-ish launches – their Blush Stix. Listen, I have been watching Youtubers rave about cream blushes all summer, especially the NudeStix ones. Now I have never tried cream blush before, so I was a little hesitant to spend $40 CAD on a product I’m not even sure I would like. So I decided to try the Colourpop ones and if I like the idea of cream blush then I might invest in a more expensive one. Well the answer is yes, I want more cream blushes! I got the shade Splash, which is a midtone rose (aka pink). I could rub a brush against the stick and then apply it to my face. It gave me such a fresh face look. It looks so much dewy and lighter than using powder blush. It is less long lasting than powder, but I really enjoy the look. And for $8USD it’s a great product. I definitely want to get a peachy one now.

The final product is a basic but needed one. I got a single pressed power eyeshadow in the shade Hear Me Out. This matte shade matches my skin tone perfectly. I like to use it to set my eyeshadow primer. I had finish a NYX shadow in a similar shade, so I decided to get one from Colourpop to do the job. I just find setting my primer with a shadow helps blend them out better. A pressed powder could also be used, but I like putting this in my magnetic palette with my other shadows so I have all the shadows I need in one place. I would definitely recommend Colourpop’s single eyeshadows, I’ve never had an issue with any of them.

And that is the first part of my Colourpop haul! Stay tuned for part two, which should be coming within the next couple of weeks! Also if you are interested in seeing swatching of all the products that I got, check out my IGTV!

xoxo

Lea

Back to School, Beauty, Drugstore

Simple School/Work Makeup

August 16, 2019by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Summer is almost over, only two more week! So I am starting up with some back to school/work content. I am personally super excited. I love fall and I am so tired of this hot weather. I am also ready for a change, and I’m excited to start my new program. So to start off my back to school series, I thought I would share my quick 10-minute makeup routine. This look is great for school or work because it’s quick and simple and lasts well. In this post I will be sharing all the products that I use, but check out my Instagram (@xoxoxoleelee) because I filmed myself doing the makeup! I am trying out doing some stuff for IGTV, so it should be up sometime this weekend!

Photo 2019-08-16, 12 17 49 PM

So to start off my makeup look I prime my eyelids and skin. I want my makeup to last me all day, so priming is super important t help it last. I use the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer on my eyes and the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer.

For my eyes I use three eyeshadows – super simple! Today I am using all Colourpop. First I set my eye primer using Hear Me Out. You could also just use a face product to do this as well. I find that shades blend better when I set my primer. Then I use Bel Air to add a little definition to my crease. You can use as much or as little as you want. A bronzer could also be used instead of a shadow for a more monochromatic look. Then I take my Super Shock Shadow in the shade Ladybird and put it all over my lid. The little bit of sparkle and glitter takes the look from average to fun, but the champagne shade is still neutral enough for everyday wear. To finish off the eyes I apply my Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara.

For my base I am currently doing a lot of mixing, just because I am in between shades right now. I used my Physicians Formula Healthy Foundation and Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation and buffed it out using a brush. Then I mixed my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, placing my Nars concealer (which is paler) closer to my under eyes to help brighten them. Then I took my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and used my sponge to pack it under my eyes and around my nose. These are the areas that crease the most/get oily first, so that’s why I densely apply powder here. I lightly dusk the rest of my face with powder just to set it.

Next I do my eyebrows with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. If you are curious about my brows, I have a whole blog post about them. I didn’t set them with brow gel because I find that makes them look harsher, and since I want a simply makeup look I let them be.

To finish up my face, I take my Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer and place in on my cheeks, forehead, nose and under my chin. Then I take my Milani Rose Powder Blush and place that on the apples of my cheeks and on my nose. Then I finish off with the Essence Pure Nude Highlighter for a soft glow. I like to use powders for my simple makeup look because I find them faster to apply then creams and they last way longer on the skin. I finish off the face with some NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray. To finish all the whole look, I apply the Colourpop Lip Tint in the shade Rise N Shine to add a little colour and shine to my lips!

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And that is my quick and easy makeup look! I have a lot of back-to-school stuff plan, including a haul, an outfit lookbook and some content about my bullet journal! Ooooh I’m so excited!

xoxo

Lea