Tag: Natasha Denona

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, Makeup, Review, Skincare, Top 5

Top 5 Luxury Beauty I Think Is Worth The Splurge

by Lea4 Comments on Top 5 Luxury Beauty I Think Is Worth The Splurge

Hey guys! Today we’re talking all about luxury beauty. I don’t think you need to spend a lot to get good quality makeup. There are a lot of products available at the drugstore that are just as good if not better than some luxury makeup. Sometimes it’s nice to splurge and get something pretty. It’s called luxury makeup for a reason. Generally, the ingredients are better and the packaging is nicer. Today I’m going to share five products that are worth the high price tag. So let’s get into it.

A collection of luxury makeup products including: Natasha Denona Bronze Palette, Dior Lip Glow Oil, Biossance Squalene + Vitamin C Rose Oil, Auric Glow Lust and Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder.

Eyeshadow palettes can be hit or miss in the luxury category. A lot of times the quality is great. But sometimes you’ll find quads that are the same price as a 12-pan palette and I think that’s ridiculous (*cough* Tom Ford *cough*). But I think the Natasha Denona palettes are amazing. I have her Bronze Eyeshadow Palette, which retails for $87, and one of her mini palettes (mine is exclusive to Boxycharm).

The formula is just amazing! All the mattes are so pigmented and blend so effortlessly. And the shimmers are quite nice and aren’t finicky. I can just use my finger and they apply beautifully.

I was unsure when I first bought the palette if it’s worth the price but I think is it. The colour story of the Bronze palette is quite simple so I know I’ll get lots of use out of it. But Natasha Denona has lots of other eyeshadow palettes, some quite colourful, so I think there is a palette for everyone. So if you’re looking for a luxury eyeshadow palette, then check out this brand.

The next product is the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. Hourglass is known to be a luxury beauty brand. This powder retails for $60, which is $10 more than the Laura Mercier powder and significantly more than my Maybelline and WetnWild powders. But I do like this powder!

There is a smoothness to this powder that I haven’t found in other loose powders. I’m not sure if it’s just more finely milled but it just makes my skin looks so smooth and soft. This is also one of the few powders I would recommend to someone who has dry skin. This powder just sets the skin and smooths it, so someone with dry skin wouldn’t have to worry about it looking cakey.

I also love the packaging with this powder. Unlike other powders where it just comes out easily and gets all over the place, this powder dispenses the perfect amount so I’m not wasting any of my precise powder. If you use lots of powder, I think this Hourglass powder is worth the investment.

The next product is one I haven’t mentioned on my blog before. But I love the Dior Lip Glow Oil. This is expensive, like it’s $44. (BTW I got this while working at Sephora). It’s soooo good though.

This lip oil gives the hydration of a lip balm with the shine of a lip gloss. But unlike a lip gloss this is oily (duh it’s lip oil). So it feels so comfortable on the lips. I find it lasts a surprisingly long time. I have the shade Rosewood which adds the slightest pink tint to the lips.

This is perfect for those no-makeup-makeup days where I want to add something to my lips but I don’t want to deal with lipstick or lip gloss. If you’re going to invest in a makeup product, something like this is great because it’s something you can use every day instead of just for special occasions.

The next product is one I reviewed a couple of months ago: the Auric Glow Lust. This was pricey for me to purchase because I had to pay exchange rates, shipping and duties. So it took a pretty penny to get this product into my hands but I love it.

This Glow Lust can be used in multiple ways, which is what makes this a great product to purchase. Having multiple uses brings down the cost-per-use. I can add this into my foundation, use this under or over top of my foundation as a highlight. It also just looks so pretty on the skin.

I also think it’s nice to note that when supporting Auric, you’re supporting a Canadian Youtuber who also cares about inclusivity and sustainability with her brand. A major issue with luxury brands is that they often have trash shade ranges, but there are seven shades in the Glow Lust so there is a shade for everyone. I love this product and I think it was worth the high price tag.

The final product is a skincare product that I love. The Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is one of the few vitamin C serums that I’ve tried so far that I’ve noticed an improvement in my skin. I notice a difference when I stop using this oil and try a different one.

This oil not only helps reduce the looks of my acne scars but also adds such a healthy-looking glow-from-within dew to my skin. I was scared at first implementing an oil into my regime, because ya know I have oily and acne-prone skin. But rose oil is great for acne-prone skin because it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and low comedogenic.

I know with brands like The Ordinary and The Inkey List are quite popular right now. But their products are often one ingredient whereas the Biossance oil has multiple great ingredients. So I’m able to buy one serum instead of three to get similar effects.

I also think it’s nice to invest in skincare. If my skin is looking clear then I’m less inclined to wear makeup or wear less of it. Plus it’s something I use every day so the cost-per-use is low and therefore worth it!

And those are my splurge-worthy makeup products. Let me know in the comments what some of your favourite luxury products are.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Review

NEW Natasha Denona Bronze Palette – 2 looks 1 palette

by Lea4 Comments on NEW Natasha Denona Bronze Palette – 2 looks 1 palette

Hey guys! Today I am sharing my thoughts on my newest palette purchase – the Natasha Denona Bronze palette. I’ve only used the palette a few times so this won’t be a super in-depth review. But I’ve used it a few times and have developed some ~thoughts and feelings~ about the palette that I thought I would share! 🙂

First I just wanted to say that I have been thinking about getting a Natasha Denona palette for a while. I’ve heard that the formula of her eyeshadows are some of the best and that they are worth the high price tag. I hadn’t bought one yet because they are expensive and wanted to pick one that I felt would be worth my money. Well, when I saw the Bronze palette I knew that that was the one for me.

I realize that the colour palette isn’t exactly revolutionary. It’s full of bronzes, golds and coppers. But that is what makes this perfect for me! Those are my favourite shades to wear, so I know I will get good use out of this palette. I also think that the balance between mattes and shimmers is pretty good. There are six mattes in a range of tones to be able to create depth in the crease and then a bunch of fun shimmers and metallics to use on top. One of my favourite shades is surprisingly Deep Dive. It looks like a black but it’s actually deep brown-purple and one of the most unique shades I’ve ever seen. Just shows that even in a neutral palette there are interesting shades.

I haven’t used all the shades yet but every shade that I have used has been great. In the two looks I did I was dealing with some dry patches in my crease (bad reaction for an eye cream). The shades still blended amazingly over dry patches. Like you can’t even tell unless you look up close that I had dry patches. I think that shows how great the mattes are. The shimmers are all great. They are pigmented and the duo-chromes are also really good.

I was able to great two very different looks. But I just like the fact that I can throw a couple of mattes in my lid and then pop a shimmer shade and I would have a great look no problem. There is not trying to figure out what shades will go together because every shade will go with the other shades. That’s something I love that you don’t see in a lot of palettes.

Now is it worth the price? To put this into perspective, this palette is $87 CAD for 15 shadows. In comparison one of my favourite palettes ever is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette, which is $55 for 14 shades. So the Natasha Denona palette is significantly more expensive. I am unsure if it’s worth the price tag, I would have to do some testing to see if I notice a significant difference between the two.

So what are my overall thoughts? I am happy that I purchased this palette. It’s something I’ve wanted for a while and I think I will use it a lot. It might even become my new holy grail palette (too early to say though). But I would hold off recommending it to everyone for now. I think you would have to consider how much you wear makeup. A good thing to consider when making purchases is the cost per use. So if you are planning to use this palette daily then it will be worth it. But if you don’t wear makeup a lot OR have a large collection then this palette might not be necessary.

And those are my thoughts on the Natasha Denona Bronze palette! Let me know your thoughts on the palette or if you have any questions about it in the comments!

xoxo

Lea