Makeup – Page 2 – Leave it to Lea

November Boxycharm 2022

November 25, 2022November 24, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

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.

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

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022by Lea1 Comment

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

October 29, 2022October 27, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

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

October 4, 2022October 3, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

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

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

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

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

July Boxycharm 2022

August 2, 2022August 1, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Sorry for not posting much! I had two trips within a week this year so I’ve been very busy this month! But stay tuned because I will soon post a round-up from my Vancouver trip. I also went to the US and picked up some products there so expect a haul at some point as well. Let’s get into my July Boxycharm!

July Boxycharm featuring Juice Beauty, Phase Zero Makeup, Eloise Beauty, KNDR Beauty and Tresluce Beauty

The first product in the box was the Phase Zero Makeup The Necessities Eyeshadow Palette. This is a really good everyday eyeshadow palette. There is a nice balance between matte and shimmer shades. All the shades work well together. The only thing is I wish there was a darker brown shade to really deepen the crease or do eyeliner with. The mattes blend easily. If you’re looking for a crazy metallic or shimmery eyeshadow, this isn’t it. Instead, it’s great for everyday use to just add a little sparkle to the eyes. I see myself using this on a daily basis. Price: $40 US

The second product is the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Overnight Serum. This is a very pricey product so it’s great to receive it in my box. I won’t lie guys I’m pretty scared about using retinol. I’ve heard that it can cause purging and I’m currently dealing with some serious breakouts. I’ve only used this twice and strictly on my forehead since I don’t get breakouts there and it’s where most of my wrinkles are. Obviously using a product twice isn’t enough to see results. I haven’t had any immediate negative side effects so I’m going to continue cautiously using it on my forehead and see how it goes. Price: $72 US, $94 CAD

I love getting brushes in my box, and the Eloise Beauty Prism Luxury Eyeshadow Brush Set is no exception. This set comes with our eye brushes. I always like getting new eye brushes since I dirty mine so quickly. The brush hairs are super soft, with all four being made of synthetic fibres. I think the handles are super cute but they are very lightweight – I would call them cute not luxurious haha. Either way, these brushes are right up my alley and I’m excited to use them. Price: $22 US, $28 CAD

The next product is the KNDR Beauty Kind Bronze. They have only two shades of bronzer, which I think is a real shame. I’m finally starting to develop a tan so the bronzer works for me now but I can see that it might be too dark in the winter. It would also be too light for those with a darker complexion. The formula itself is nice. It’s very pigmented so I make sure to use a light hand and tap off the excess. It’s not bad but not the best bronzer I’ve ever tried. Price: $19 US

The final product is the Tresluce Beauty Bold Y Atrevida Liquid Lip Tint. Lip tints are having a moment again thanks to the new Fenty one (which I desperately want but can’t get because it’s sold out). I was very excited to try it out! I have the shade Daring which is a brown/rose nude. The lip tint has a very dewy finish that isn’t quite like a lip gloss but is very comfortable on the lips. I was a little disappointed at the wear time. When I think of a lip tint I expect there to be colour on my lips all day and I found by mid-afternoon there wasn’t anything left on my lips. It lasts longer than a lip gloss but not all day. I will reach for it again but it doesn’t necessarily scratch my lip tint itch. Also, the lip tint reminds me of the fluoride foam that I had at the dentist as a kid, not my favourite scent. Price: $18 US, $24 CAD

The total value of the box is $171 US. The Juice Beauty serum alone makes this box worth it since the product is so expensive! Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

June Boxycharm 2022

June 28, 2022June 26, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Today I am sharing with you my June Boxycharm! I can’t believe it’s the end of June already, it feels like it was just yesterday that I was writing my May Boxycharm. Let’s get into this month’s box.

The first product is the Eloise Beauty Sahara Nights Eyeshadow Palette. I’ll be honest that I haven’t used this palette yet. I want to keep it and use this palette because the eyeshadows look so pretty. But I don’t wear much eyeshadow regularly and it’s even rarer that I wear glitters. Not the most practical item for me but that’s just my personal preference! Price: $35 US, $42 CAD

The next product is the Tula Skincare Glow Hour Brightening & Neutralizing Eye Balm. This balm is supposed to cool, hydrate and brighten the undereye area. It has a peach colour that is supposed to neutralize the blue and purple tones that can occur under the eyes. I was pretty underwhelmed by this product. It provides the same amount of hydration as a regular eye cream would give. I didn’t really notice any difference in the brightness of my undereye. If you’re looking for colour corrector coverage this isn’t it. Maybe over time, it could help brighten but I didn’t see any immediate difference. Price: $32 US

A product that I am loving so far is the Dr. Brandt Backlight Primer. This primer is meant to smooth the skin, help with the appearance of pores and increase the wear time of makeup. This primer reminds me a lot of the NYX marshmallow primer because it gives that smooth skin looks without feeling like silicone. My skin looks smoother and my makeup lasts longer. This is the second Dr. Brandt primer I’ve tried and I’ve loved both of them. I would recommend trying this out. Price: $38 US

Another product I’ve been enjoying is the Viseart Bronze in the shade Noix. There is nothing crazy about this product, it’s just a plain old powder bronzer. But the tone of the bronzer is quite nice. It’s pretty neutral and works well with my fair skin. I appreciate the Viseart has quite a few shades of bronzer instead of one ‘universal’ shade. I hope that Boxycharm gave out different shades to match different people’s complexions! My only complaint is I find the cardboard to be a little cumbersome to unfold but it could be easily depotted into a magnetic palette as well. Price: $30 US

And the final product is the Give Them Lala Skin Stay Calm Soothing Sheet Masks. The pack comes with four sheet masks. These masks are meant to leave the skin feeling hydrated, soft and smooth. The masks are very saturated and lay nicely on the face. It has a very gentle, spa-like scent which I like. After I took off the mask there was an excess of serum that I let soak into my skin. My skin felt hydrated but quite tacky after. The tacky feeling did go away after an hour. The tackiness would probably be helpful if you’re applying makeup after using the mask. Price: $30 US

And the total of the box is $165, which I think is a pretty good price! Like most boxes, I think there are some products that I see myself using often and others that I probably won’t use much. There was also a great mix of brands in this month’s box. Let me know what you guys think in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Makeup, Skincare

May Boxycharm 2022

June 7, 2022June 5, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! Sorry, it’s a little late but here is my May Boxycharm review! I got the box this month in decent time so I did a thorough testing of each product. Let’s get into it!

The first product is the Skin Inc Serum Glow Filter. The brand claims to be the first ‘skincare makeup’ which I don’t necessarily think is true. The Glow Recipe Dew Drops immediately come to my mind when I think of skincare makeup. Anyway, this is a primer with skincare ingredients that should give a glowy, pearlized finish to the skin and reduce the look of pores and redness. I like this primer but I don’t think it does all that it claims. My skin looks dewy and smooth but I don’t see a pearlized finish nor and reduction in redness. It’s nice and I’ll continue to use it but I think there are better and cheaper options on the market. Price: $50 US

The next product is the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum. I was happy to receive this body lotion because I was on the market for another one! I don’t suffer from any bumps on my body so I can’t judge that aspect of the product. It has a serum-like consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin. The smell of the active ingredients is quite strong, giving the body serum a medicinal-like quality along with a honey scent. Also, I rubbed this on my legs right after shaving and it slightly stung anywhere I accidentally knocked myself. The scent does fade once applied. If you’re looking for a product to help clear bumps, I would recommend checking out other people’s reviews since I can’t attest to that claim. Price: $40 US, $52 CAD

Cream blush is one of my favourite products right now so I was very excited to try the Ciate London Dewy Blush. I received the shade Coconut which is a nude shade. I was a little hesitant because I was unsure how the gel-like formula would work with my oily skin. But it was great! It’s very easy to apply and can even be blended out using just fingers. It is a subtle formula but I prefer that because it’s so easy to overdo blush. My only complaint is that it does fade pretty quickly so it’s not the longest-lasting formula. If you like a dewy and subtle blush check this one out! Price: $22 US, $26 CAD

The next product is the Basic Beauty Eyeshadow Primer. I haven’t been wearing a ton of eyeshadow recently so I haven’t used this product a lot. The few times I have used the primer it’s worked well. I find that setting the primer helps the shadows blend better whereas not setting the primer helps the shadow pop and look more saturated. As the name of the company, it’s a pretty basic primer. Helps prevent creasing but doesn’t do anything special. Price: $18 US

And the final product is V Kosmetik Creamy Liquid Velvet Lipstick. I decided to not test out this product in order to donate it. I don’t often wear liquid lipsticks anymore and if I do I have a few that I know that I like. I much rather pass this product along to someone who could get good use of it instead of just letting it sit in my makeup drawer. Price: $22 US

The total of the box is $152. This box was alright. None of the products were horrible but I’m also not immediately in love with any of the products. Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, empties, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

Product Empties May 2022

May 24, 2022May 23, 2022by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! It’s time for another product empties. I don’t know if these types of posts are very popular anymore. I love doing them because it allows me to follow up on products I’ve mentioned before and give my in-depth thoughts. I’ve been finishing a bunch of products lately. I’m trying to limit to 10 products per post but I have another 15 so maybe sometime I should do a Youtube video? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Let’s get into it!

The first product was the CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I’ve mentioned this before but I use a face lotion on my chest and back because those areas are acne-prone. Using my heavily scented body lotions breaks me out in those areas so I use lotions like this CeraVe one. I liked this moisturizer! First, it’s a pump which I prefer for body lotions. The formula is thin but still moisturizing. It sinks very quickly into the skin and isn’t sticky. And best of all it’s from the drugstore! I tried to repurchase this and it was sold out everywhere! I picked up a different lotion but would get this again in the future. This lotion has my stamp of approval.

A haircare empty was the Moroccan Oil All in One Leave-In Conditioner. Just want to note that this isn’t curly-girl approved but I was all out of leave-in conditioner and was gifted this so I was like might as well use it. And I did enjoy it! I did a nice job of adding a little moisture to my hair. I still think my favourite is the leave-in by Living Proof. I wouldn’t repurchase it because it’s not curly-girl approved but I think it’s worth trying out if that is not something you look for in your products!

A mask empty!! It takes me forever to go through masks and the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Pore Purifying Mask was no exception. I got this mask in a Boxycharm back in 2018… that’s a long time. This mask wasn’t bad it just wasn’t my favourite. The mask is white with little beads that turn blue as you rub it into the skin. This is a pore-purifying mask and I just have masks that do a better job. I won’t be repurchasing and wouldn’t recommend it.

Another Boxycharm product was the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter. I got this product back in September 2021, not four years ago haha. My initial review was that this would be great for people with dry skin and that thought still stands. It has a very creamy texture that is very hydrating. My only issue is that it wasn’t the most effective cleansing product I’ve ever used. It’s fine for light, everyday makeup but if I was wearing liquid eyeliner or lash glue it wasn’t very good at removing it. I finished the product but I won’t be repurchasing it.

One of the many cleansers I recently finished was the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. This is a gentle cleanser with AHAs and hyaluronic acid to help with skin texture, oiliness and acne. When they say this is a gentle cleanser they weren’t joking. If you have sensitive skin you might enjoy this. But I personally found it wasn’t strong enough for my skin. I will not be repurchasing this.

The next product was the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. I was a little disappointed with this product. Everyone raved online that this setting spray would help make my makeup last long and I didn’t notice a difference. I was also not a big fan of the scent either, it was very floral which I personally don’t like. Now this might be because I got the mini size, but I found the nozzle often got clogged and would spray big droplets all over my face. If you want a long wear setting spray I would recommend the Milani Make It Last which is half the price of this Charlotte Tilbury one.

A cleanser that I didn’t even finish was the Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Gel Cleanser. Unfortunately, this cleanser broke me out so I stopped using it. I know it has Vitamin E in it which does clog my pores but I’m unsure if that was what was causing me to break out. Either way, I would suggest being cautious if you wish to try out this cleanser.

Another setting spray that I finished was the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. If you read my Sephora haul post then you would know that I already repurchased this setting spray. Unlike the Charlotte Tilbury spray, I do notice a difference in my skin when I use this spray. It just helps smooth my skin and blur my pores. It’s great after I use powder to just make everything look more skin-like. I highly recommend checking out this setting spray.

The final cleanser I finished was the Glamglow SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. This was my shower cleanser. I generally keep on cleanser in the shower so I don’t have to remember to bring one from my skincare to the shower each time. I generally relegate cleanser I’m not as fond of or ones that aren’t as strong to the shower. I chose this one to be a shower cleanser because it’s a messy cleanser and it’s easier to contain the mess in the shower. Since it’s a charcoal cleanser it would leave grey water stains in my sink. Also this has a licorice scent which I do not like so I would also hold my breath while using this cleanser. Probably would have returned it if I had purchased it but I got it in my Boxycharm so I was persistent and finished it instead. I will not be repurchasing though.

The final product today is the Frank Body Caffeinated Scalp Scrub. This was another Boxycharm product. This was my first time using a scalp scrub and it was alright. It felt nice in my scalp to use it but I didn’t really see a difference in my scalp or hair after using the scrub. I have a rubber scrubber that I use with my shampoo and I find that stimulates my scalp enough to help with product build up and dandruff. Overall maybe if you use a lot of product in your roots you would like this more but it just wasn’t for me.

And those are my product empties! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts were!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Boxycharm, Hair, Makeup, Review

April Boxycharm 2022

May 3, 2022May 23, 2022by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on my April Boxycharm. I will say that this will be a mixed review because of some products I’ve tested and otherwise I haven’t even tried – oops! Let’s get into it.

The first item is the Beauty Bakerie Sour Ya Doin’? Eyeshadow Palette. I was excited to receive this palette because I’ve heard great things about Beauty Bakerie eyeshadows. I like the colour story but I will say they’re not necessarily the most wearable everyday shades for my skin tone. I think this palette would look gorgeous on deeper skin tones. For me, it’s a more bold, colourful palette. I’ve yet to use the shimmers because they’re a little deep for everyday use. I have used the mattes and they are a great formula. I like the palette so far and can’t wait to play with it more. Price: $38 US

I was just thinking to myself the other day that it’s been a while since I’ve tested a new powder and then BAM I got the Viseart Seamless Setting Powder. I must say that the shifter on this powder is one of the best I’ve seen on a loose setting powder. It keeps the powder locked in when it’s closed but it’s easy to tap some out when I open the lid. So many loose-setting powders either let powder fly everywhere or are so difficult to get the powder out of so I appreciate that. The actual powder is pretty good. It does a good job of setting everything and gives a slight blurring effect to the last. By the end of the day, my face is a little oily and creasy which is pretty good since I have very oily skin. Overall I like this powder and I’m excited to own it. Price: $35 US

I am unfortunately not a huge fan of the Christophe Robin Instant Volume Mist. This mist is supposed to make thin, fine or flat hair feel thicker and have more body. I don’t normally struggle with that but I thought that a little more volume couldn’t hurt. If it did add any volume I didn’t notice because it made my hair so fizzy. Every time I used this mist as well my hair didn’t curl very well. This is quite surprising because this is a curly-girl-approved product. Either way, this mist just didn’t work well with my hair so I will not be using it again. Price: $39 US, $51 CAD

A product I really really like is the Item Beauty by Addison Rae Lash Snack Lengthening Mascara. You guys know I love lengthening mascaras, and this is one of the best I’ve tried yet. I will say that it gives barely any volume but the length is insane. This is great everyday mascara. It would also be great on the lower lashline. My only gripe is that the brush head is quite small so it just takes a little longer to coat all the lashes. But this mascara, along with my new Bite Beauty mascara, are easily my new favourite mascaras.

The final product is the Persona Cosmetics 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner. I’ll have to be honest, I haven’t tried this eyeliner yet. I’ve been keeping the eyes very minimal lately so I haven’t had the chance to try it. I do want to try this eyeliner eventually because I’ve heard great things about Persona Cosmetics. Price: $14 US

The overall total of the box is $141 US. This box is quite hit or miss. I like the mascara and the powder. On the other hand, I haven’t even used the eyeliner yet and I don’t like the hair mist. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. And if you are subscribed to Boxycharm, let me know what products you got in your May box!

xoxo

Lea