Tag: Sephora VIB Sale

Beauty, Favourites, Hair, Makeup, Skincare

My 2022 Sephora Sale Recommendations

by LeaLeave a Comment on My 2022 Sephora Sale Recommendations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul + Review

by Lea1 Comment on Sephora Sale Haul + Review

Hey guys! I am finally sharing my Sephora Spring Savings sale haul with you all. I know the sale has been long over so sorry about the delay. It’s been a very hectic month, to say the least. I gave my first impressions of the products in my Youtube video that I posted on Sunday. I filmed that video over a week ago so I’ve been able to test the products more. Let’s get into it!

The products I picked up during the Sephora Spring Savings event.

Starting with my one skincare product, I picked up the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I picked this up because I finished my other exfoliator and had this on my wishlist. This cleanser has natural jojoba and carnauba wax to gently exfoliate as well as ginseng and caffeine to boost radiance. I initially liked this cleanser. It’s not too abrasive but still does a good job of leaving my skin feel soft and smooth. I like that it has a slight ginger and citrus smell. My skin has been breaking out lately and I’m not sure if it’s because of this cleanser or some other products I’m testing. I’m going to continue testing it and I’ll give you guys an update if I figure out if it’s this cleanser or another product.

I decided to pick up another perfume this sale. It’s starting to become a thing that I pick up a new perfume each sale haha. This time I got the Ellis Brooklyn SALT Eau de Parfum Travel Spray. I got this travel-sized spray because this is a very summery scent, so I don’t see myself using this much except during the summer. The notes are ylang-ylang, violet leaves, tiare flower, magnolia, ambergris, musk and sandalwood. It reminds me of a beach in the summer but without the coconut. I can’t wait for it to be summer so I can wear this all the time!

If you watched my haul video, you would know I was quite on the fence of the shade I got in the Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick. I got the shade Slip, which they describe as a warm neutral. I find that it’s quite brown on me. I like to wear a pink lip liner underneath to help warm up the lipstick and make it look less like I have chocolate on my mouth. I really really like the formula. It’s a very sheer and satin finish, so it’s very comfortable on the lips. It does wear off easily but it’s super easy to reapply. I love Merit’s lip oils more, but these are still great lipsticks.

A product that I repurchased is the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. I got the mini during the last sale and I just recently finished it. I love it so much that I decided to upgrade to the full-sized setting spray. It’s unlike anything in my collection because it visibly blurs my pores and makes my makeup last longer without making my face look matte. Oftentimes long-lasting setting sprays are mattifying but not this one. But it also isn’t dewy or glowy either. It just helps blur everything. This setting spray is starting to cement itself in the hall of fame alongside my Mac Fix + and Urban Decay All Nighter. It’s so good!!

Another product that is quickly becoming a holy grail is the Nudestix Brow Set Gel XL. I wasn’t the biggest brow gel person before. I would only use it if my brows were getting particularly unruly. Since I’ve gotten this Nudestix brow gel, I’ve used it every day. It does an amazing job of putting my brow hairs in place without looking slicked down or like there is something in my brows. Sometimes clear brow gel will have a white cast but not the case with this brow gel! If you’re looking for something to laminate your brows this might not be the product for you. But if you just want to keep everything in place, check out this brow gel!

I’m so happy I placed my order on the first sale of the sale because the Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines – Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush is sold out in the shade that I got! I got the shade She’s Blushing, which they describe as a beige. Not sure why they describe it as beige because I think it’s pink. But I am loving this blush duo! The cream is so pigmented but very easy to blend. And the powder is so long-lasting, which doesn’t often happen with blushes. It’s a little on the pricey side, but it is two products in one in a beautiful compact so I’d say it’s worth it. If you’re a blush fan you need to check this product out.

And the final product I purchased is the JVN Nurture Deep Moisture Mask. If you follow my blog then you would know I’m on the hunt for a good hair mask. I’ve only used this mask once so far so it’s a little early for me to have formed my opinions yet. My first impression is that the mask has a strong scent that has lingered in my hair in the days since I’ve washed it. It’s a unisex scent, almost musky in quality but I don’t mind it. I would say that my hair does feel soft but I want to use it more and compare it to my regular conditioner before making any judgements. I will keep you guys updated on the mask.

And those are the products I got during my Sephora sale! Let me know in the comments what you guys got during the sale. I always love discussing what people got because it gives me ideas for the next time I order hehe.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Skincare

My 2022 Spring Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations List

by LeaLeave a Comment on My 2022 Spring Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations List

Hey guys! With the Spring Sephora VIB sale starting today for Rouge, I thought now would be the time to share my recommendations for the sale! The Sephora Spring Savings Event runs from April 1-11 for Rouge, April 5-11 for VIB and April 7-11 for VIB. The savings range from 10-20% off depending on what level you are, so it’s the perfect time of year to pick up something you’ve been eyeing. During the last sale, I did a super in-depth list and I still stand by all those recommendations so check out that post! Today I wanted to keep it short and sweet. If someone were to put a gun to my head and say “You’re only allowed to recommend five of your favourite products” then these would be my picks.

Starting with my current obsession, the Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil. I picked this up when I did my Testing Beauty Youtubers’ 2021 Favourites post and my love for it has only grown since then. I brought this with me to Vancouver and let my friend try it. She loved it so much she picked one up for herself. I also gave my mom one for her birthday and she also loves it. So I am sharing this wonderful lip product with all of you to go out and get during the sale. It’s sheer but still has enough pigmentation where it’s not a clear gloss. Since it’s an oil it feels so comfortable on the lips. It can be worn by itself or on top of lip liners or lipsticks. I have the shade Taupe and it’s my perfect your-lips-but-better shade. If there is one product from this list you should buy, it’s this lip oil.

The second makeup product I recommend is one I’ve mentioned dozens of times but it’s the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I have tried so many concealers and I’ll love them for a couple of weeks and then I find myself going back to this one. The concealer is true to its name, it’s so creamy so it’s a dream to blend. It’s medium coverage so it helps brighten the undereyes but doesn’t look cakey. Because it’s creamy it can get a little creasy near the end of day but it’s easier to touch up with a beauty blender or powder. If you haven’t tried this concealer yet I highly recommend it.

Moving onto skincare, a product that I’ve been hyping up a lot lately is the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots. These make such a difference with my breakouts. Whenever I have a gross whitehead I’ll put one on before bed and by the next morning it’s cleaned out all the gunk. I notice my skin doesn’t scare as badly, or sometimes at all, when I use a patch on top of a whitehead. The key is that these are most effective on whiteheads. If you have something that is below the surface it’s not as effective. I know their not the cheapest on the market but these acne patches are by far the best I’ve tried so far.

I recently repurchased the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm and I’ve fallen in love all over again. I’m telling you it’s the best makeup cleansing balm out there. It does the best job at removing all my makeup, including liner, lash glue and glitter. Yet it’s still pretty gentle at the same time. My skin doesn’t feel stripped after. I would say that the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm is a close second, but the Farmacy one just leaves my skin feeling cleaner. I also think that if you wear makeup getting a cleansing balm is one of the best skincare products to invest in because properly cleansing your skin will go a long way to preventing breakouts.

The final recommendation I have is not necessarily the most exciting product but it’s something I use every single day – the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer. I have very oily eyelids and if I don’t prime them then my eyeshadow creases so badly. This primer does an amazing job at ensuring my eyeshadow stays put and doesn’t move around. I know that tinted and tacky eyeshadow primers (such as P. Louise) are popular but I find those so difficult to work with. I just apply a little bit of the primer and then set it with some powder and I’m good to go. I also only need a tiny amount so this tube has lasted me forever. It’s not an exciting product but one that will make a real difference in your final makeup look.

And those are my five Sephora sale recommendations! Let me know what you guys are picking up during the sale in the comments. And of course, I’ll be sharing what I get so stay tuned for that!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Holiday, Makeup, Skincare

12 Holiday Gifts Set To Pick Up From Sephora

by Lea1 Comment on 12 Holiday Gifts Set To Pick Up From Sephora

Hey guys! Today is going to be the final of my Sephora Sale recommendations list. I wanted to share some holiday gift sets that caught my attention and I think would be great gifts. These gift sets are all limited edition, so pick them up ASAP if you’re interested in them! I got a real mix of stuff so let’s get into it!

I mentioned this in my Sephora Recommendations, but Farmacy has their Garden Party Green Clean Trio. This is a set of three mini Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balms in three limited-edition scents: Strawberry Basil, Lemon Mint, Peach Thyme. This is also a great deal because this set is 5.1 fl oz in total for $56, and the original Green Clean is 3.4 fl oz for $45. A great deal for someone who loves Green Clean!

If you know someone who loves Benefit Cosmetics or you just want to get them a variety of products, I think the Holiday Cutie Beauty Makeup Bestsellers Value Set is the one to get. The set includes a full-size bronzer, mascara and brow gel as well as a mini primer sample. These products are some of Benefit’s bestsellers so you know they’ll be great. And it’s a $126 value for $54! A great deal!

The perfect gift set for a makeup lover is the Sephora Favourites Holiday Makeup Must Haves Set. This includes all of the top-selling and trending products for this holiday season – all products the makeup lover in your life probably has their eye on. The kit includes a variety of minis as well as three full-size products. I think Sephora always does a great job of selecting good products but also has the best value, with this set being $202 value for $71.

If your budget is a little smaller, then check out the Sephora Collection Holiday Vibes Favorite Nude Lip Set. Sephora Collection products are extremely underrated with their lip products being some of their best in my opinion. This kit includes three full-size lip products in their bestselling nude shades. The best part is this set has a $53 value for only $25 – perfect for Secret Santa or a small budget!

If you’re unsure what to get the makeup lover in your life because they seem to have everything, consider the MakeUp Eraser Wildflower MakeUp Eraser 7-Day Set. These little clothes are great at removing makeup and just need water! This set is perfect because it contains seven, so one for every day of the week. Every makeup lover needs something to remove their makeup. And these MakeUp Erasers have cute little flowers on them. The set is $33.

Switching into skincare, if you’re unsure what skin type someone has, I always recommend First Aid Beauty. Their skincare is designed to be gentle and for those with sensitive skin. Their Your Future Looks FAB Gift Set is great because it includes all of their top products. I’ve tried all of these products (my mom also loves them) and they’re great! Best of all it’s a $148 value for $64.

If you know what skin type someone has, consider Laneige. They have a Hydration-To-Go! Combination to Oily Skin and a Hydration-To-Go! Normal to Dry Skin. These kits are great because it includes a full face but is designed for a specific skin type. I love Laneige skin care and would be so happy if someone got me this set. Both sets are also a great price at $38.

If you know someone in your life who loves face masks, then check out the Origins MERRY MASKS Our 5 Best Mask Minis. I got a similar set from Origins a couple of years ago and discovered one of my favourite masks through it! These minis are also quite large so they will last someone quite a few uses before they run out. This set has a $44 value for $25 – another great affordable gift set!

Of course, I have to mention the Briogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Repair Kit. I love this deep conditioner and I think everyone should try it out. But the kit also comes with a shampoo and conditioner, so it’s a great way to try a variety of Briogeo’s products. The other great thing about Briogeo is that their products are made with silicones and sulphates, are vegan and are clean beauty so they will work for a variety of hair types.

If you want to get someone haircare but are unsure of what, consider the Sephora Favourites Healthy Hair Must-Haves Kit. This set comes with 10 different hair care products to help hydrate, strengthen and repair hair. It also includes a full-size Amika product. And like all the Sephora sets, this product has a value of $52.

If you have a candle lover in your life, then consider getting them the Voluspa Mini Candle Advent Calendar. This comes with 12 of their bestselling candles. This is a great way to try their candles and see which ones you like before investing in a large one. My mom and I got this last Christmas and spilt it between us. This could also be great to purchase and break up into multiple gifts. The votives are also really cute, I’ve kept the jars after I’ve finished burning them because they’re so cute.

And the final gift set is the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Jet Set. This set comes with a mini of their infamous Bum Bum Cream, a shower gel and a body fragrance mist. I love the scent of this set. This is perfect for anyone dreaming of a tropical getaway but are unable to go. This set has a $43 value for $33.

And those are my gift set recommendations! Let me know which set you think is the best or if there are any other gift sets that have caught your attention in the comments!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Favourites, Hair, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

by Lea2 Comments on My 2021 Sephora Sale Recommendations!

Hey guys! As promised, here is my Sephora Sale recommendations list! The Sephora Holiday Savings Event runs from November 5-15 for Rouge, November 9-15 for VIB and November 11-15 for VIB. The savings range from 10-20% off depending on what level you are, so it’s the perfect time of year to pick up something you’ve been eyeing. Today I’m going to be doing something similar to my wishlist, where I’ll be sharing Makeup, Skincare, Hair&Body (and maybe a few miscellaneous in Hair&Body). So let’s get into it!

Makeup

Starting off I have two foundation recommendations, and if you’ve been following my blog and Youtube these probably won’t be a surprise to you. For lighter coverage, I recommend the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I love this skin tint because it somehow manages to be light coverage but also helps reduce any redness I have going on. It looks and feels good on the skin and it’s easy to apply. Win, win, win. If you want something with more coverage than the Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Oil-Free Hydra Foundation. This is medium coverage and has a natural matte finish, so it just looks like skin. But best of all is that it’s sooooo long-lasting. I can wear this all day at work and not look like a greasy mess at the end of the year. Not enough people talk about this foundation, it’s so good.

My favourite bronzer is still the Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer. I feel like everyone launched new cream bronzers this year and I just stuck with my Milk Makeup one! The shade Baked is perfect for my complexion. It blends so easily and seamlessly into the face. And it’s long-lasting, which isn’t always the case for creams.

For blush, I have two recommendations. If you’re newer to using cream blushes, then try out the Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush. They have a great selection of shades. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but they are matte so they last a long time on the skin. I can swipe these blushes on my face and blend them on in three seconds. If you’re experienced with blush and want something impactful, then check out the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. This blush is pigmented, so it’s not for the faint of heart. I always apply some to a palette or the back of my hand and then go into my face. But I can get a flushed look and it lasts long on the skin. I love the shade Love because it’s a terracotta that gives me that almost sunburnt look which was gorgeous in the summer. I think you’ll be happy with either blush.

Sticking with the cream theme, my highlight recommendation is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. I was in love with this product for a while then took a break to focus on my project pan highlight. Well, I recently went back to the highlight and fell in love all over again. What I like is that the shades are based on skintones so the highlight is very natural and gives the glow-from-within look. Also, the bottle is huge so you’ll never run out.

For eyeshadow, I’m going to give a shoutout to Huda Beauty, especially her nine-pan palettes. I feel like everyone raves about her big palettes but I love my Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette. It’s small and compact so it’s easy to store. The colour stories are all gorgeous and there is a nice mix between mattes and shimmers. The mattes are so easy to work with. The glitters are a little bit more finicky, but wetting them with setting spray does the trick. There are so many different nine pan palettes that I’m sure you’ll find a colour story to match what you’re looking for.

Another underrated product is the Tarte Double Take Eyeliner. I have the shade brown and reach for this all the time. I find it super handy to have both the liquid and pencil liner in one product. I will often use liquid liner on my lid and then the pencil in my waterline. I’m usually not a fan of felt tip liners but this one is easy to use. And the pencil is easy to apply and lasts a long time. If you’re looking for a new eyeliner check this one out.

For lipstick, I have to go with a classic – Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick. The formula is creamy enough where it’s easy to apply but because it’s matte it stays put. It doesn’t make my lips look dry or cakey. It doesn’t last through lunch but I can sip a drink no problem. And the shade range is huge so you can find a shade that you like. My two favourites are Velvet Teddy and Down to an Art.

The final makeup product is Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss. I love this lip gloss – and fun fact, a video I took of this lipgloss was reposted on their Instagram! 🤩 I like that it’s a semi-sheer lip gloss, so I can wear it by itself or overtop of a lipstick. It’s not sticky, if anything it’s quite moisturizing. I have the shade Cashew which is a gorgeous rosy brown, I just love it!

Skincare

I just want to preface this section by saying that most of these recommendations are for my skin type, which is oily and acne-prone. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you might not like these products and that’s okay! I do have a few recommendations for dry skin people though so make sure to read ahead!

I have four different cleansers because I love trying and testing out cleansers haha. First, we’ll start with normal cleansers. A great daytime cleanser is the Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. It’s a gel cleanser that helps clean the skin without stripping it. And it has a delicious citrus scent that is amazing to smell in the morning. Next for cleanser, we have the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. This is for all my acne-prone people who want something that helps fight acne but doesn’t strip their skin. It’s a nice rich gel as well but lathers up well. And it has a scent that reminds me of pine (I don’t know why because there is no pine in it) but it’s a great cleanser.

Now for cleansing balms. My first recommendation is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. If you find that cleansing balms irritate your eyes or skin then you need to check this one out. This doesn’t irritate me at all but removes even the most stubborn mascara or glitters. They also have a limited edition holiday set with fun scents that I’m tempted to get. If you have drier skin, then check out the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. This stuff is great at removing makeup but also feels milky and hydrating at the same time. It’s very gentle so might even be good for sensitive skin people!

If you want a good vitamin C serum and don’t mind splurging, then check out the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This oil not only helps reduce my acne scarring and redness but also leaves my skin looking dewy and healthy. I’ve tried other vitamin C serums and nothing has compared so far.

I have two moisturizer recommendations. For something more lightweight I recommend the Laneige Water Bank Hydro Gel. This gel is hydrating but lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin. Perfect for underneath makeup for more my fellow oily gals. For something a little thicker and with more hydration, then check out the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. My mom swears by this stuff. It’s super thick and super moisturizing. If you have sensitive skin First Aid Beauty is a great brand to check out. The tub is also huge and will probably last you a while.

For eye cream, this recommendation comes from my brother. He loves the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry. I got this eye cream in my Boxycharm and he stole it from me and loved it haha. He said that it moisturized the area and didn’t irritate him like some other eye cream. So if you need a new eye cream, this is brother-approved.

Finally, if you’re looking for face masks, check out my top five face masks for acne-prone skin blog post. Three of the five masks are available at Sephora!

Hair & Body & Miscellaneous

For hair masks, I have to recommend the Brigogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Mask. It pains me that this mask is limited edition. It’s just so much better than their original Don’t Despair Repair mask. You guys already know I’m picking up the set during the sale. This is the best Curly Girl Approved hair mask I’ve used. It makes my hair feel soft and hydrated. Highly recommend it.

My next hair recommendation is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. I love using this as a heat protectant before I blow-dry my hair. It just helps my hair stay smooth and not become super frizzy. I also love the scent it’s delicious. And it’s Curly Girl Approved so win-win-win!

The next product isn’t Curly Girl Approved so I use it sparingly, but I do like the Moroccanoil Treatment. Whenever my hair is super frizzy, usually on the second hair, I’ll just take a dime size amount in my palm and run it through my hair. It helps tame the frizz. If you’re not following the Curly Girl Method you need this in your life.

I feel like everyone and their mother has recommended the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops. I do like them and would recommend, but I will give a warning. The nice thing about these drops is that you can add it to your body lotion and don’t have to rinse it off. The only downside is that after a couple of hours and the tan develops I find that it creates a weird smell. It’s not very strong but if my hands or arm is near my nose I can smell a distinct smell. I can only describe it as a combination of rotting flesh and chlorine. It does go away after the tan starts to develop so I recommend using it overnight or taking a shower if you are planning to go out the same day you use this tanner. But besides that, I find the drops easy to use, the tan looks nice and wears for a long time!

I have two perfume brand recommendations. Perfumes are very subjective so it can be hard to recommend them. But from what I’ve experience so far from these two brands I’m impressed. First is Masion Margiela Replica line. I have By the Fireplace and man is this stuff strong. Two sprits and I smell this perfume all day long. I also find the scents to be super unique and unlike anything else on the market. The other brand is Atelier Cologne. I own two perfumes by them – Vanille Insensee and Orange Sanguine. Unlike the Maison Margiela scents that are super complicated, I find that Atelier Colognes have one strong note with supporting scents. The Vanille Insensee smells like vanilla and Orange Sanguine smells like orange. It’s not fussy, very straight to the point scents which I enjoy. They don’t last as long as Maison Margiela but long enough for my tastes. I would recommend these three scents and would consider purchasing more from the brand.

The final product recommend is the Forvr Mood candle. I have a whole blog post about these candles but to summarize these candles are intense. They are also super long lasting. I’ve had mine since August and I’m still not done it. If you know someone in your life who is a candle lover, get this for them for the holidays.

And that my friends is my very long Sephora recommendations list. I left off some classic products that I mention a lot (Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, ABH Brow Wiz, Urban Decay All Nighter, Olehenriksen toner). But I hope you guys found this blog post to be helpful! Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to get during the sale.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Hair, Makeup, Perfume

My 2021 Sephora VIB Sale Wishlist

by Lea1 Comment on My 2021 Sephora VIB Sale Wishlist

Hey guys! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – it’s time for the Sephora Sale! This year’s Holiday Savings Event runs from November 5-15 for Rouge, November 9-15 for VIB and November 11-15 for VIB. Today I will be sharing with you guys my personal wishlist and then on Friday, I will be sharing my recommendations. My wishlist is pretty large, I haven’t narrowed down yet which products I will be getting. Stay tuned for my haul where I will review all the products. Let’s get into it.

Makeup

My makeup wishlist is actually pretty small. I feel like with my huge Elf order and then all my Boxycharms that I’ve been pretty satisfied with my collection, but of course there are still a few things I wish for. First I’ve been eyeing the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. Pretty sure this was on my last wishlist, so the fact that it’s still here means that I will probably pick it up. My setting spray collection is pretty small and I want to freshen it up with something new. I’ve heard good reviews too so I want to try it out.

Next, I’m looking to get another powder. I have my eye on the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder and the Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder. I’ve heard great reviews for both powders. I’ve tried Charlotte Tilbury products before so I feel like it would be good but I’ve never tried anything from Kosas and it might be fun to try a new brand. We’ll see which one I pick.

The final makeup product is I’m debating between two lip balms. I’ve tried both the Tarte SEA Quench Lip Rescue Balm and the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. I love both but it doesn’t make sense for me to get both. So I’ll have to pick one.

Skincare

I’m running low on my current Youth to the People cleanser. I’m really debating if I want to repurchase it, go back to an Ole Henriksen cleanser or try out the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. I’m leaning towards trying out a new cleanser because it’s fun to try new stuff! And this cleanser is meant for oily and acne-prone skin so it would be perfect for me.

The Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Remedy Moisturizer with BHA/LHA came out right after the last Sephora Sale and I have been waiting ever since to pick it up. I’ve also had a bunch of open moisturizers that I wanted to use up before purchasing this, but I think I’m finally going to get it!

The final skincare product I’ll probably pick up another box of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots because I love them and might as well get them on sale.

Hair & Body

I am currently debating between two hair masks. It doesn’t make sense to buy both but I kinda want to buy both. First is the Briogeo Honey Hydration Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Repair Kit. You guys know I love the Honey mask and it’s limited edition so I can only get it this time of year. But Jonathan Van Ness, who I absolutely love, released a new haircare line called JVN and I want to try out the Nurture Deep Moisture Mask. I think I might wait for the JVN mask just because it’s not a limited edition product but I do really want to try it out, especially since it’s Curly Girl Approved.

I love body lotions and it makes sense to buy a new one now since it’s going to be winter soon. I have my eye on the L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate. It’s a similar scent to their other body lotion I tried but not as thick so I think I would like this more. If you guys know of any other good almost scented body lotions please tell me because it’s one of my favourite scents!

Finally, I’ve been really into wearing perfumes lately and I’ve been thinking of trying out Gucci Memoire. Lots of people describe it as fresh and earthy at the same time, which sounds right up my alley. I think I want to smell it in-store before I purchase it though, so I might make a trip in person and smell it for myself. I might also wait and ask for a big bottle for Christmas hehe.

And that is my Sephora Sale wishlist! If you’ve tried any of the products please let me know to help me with my decision-making process!

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Skincare

Sephora Haul UPDATE April 2021

by Lea1 Comment on Sephora Haul UPDATE April 2021

Hey guys! Today I will be giving you an update on the products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I took my time to test out the products to give you guys a good review on each of the products. So let’s get into it.

A Sephora haul including Summer Friday body lotion, Youth to the People cleanser, Fenty Beauty foundation, Tower28 lip gloss, Rare Beauty blush, Supergoop sunscreen and Replica perfume.

The first product is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. It took me a while to start using this cleanser because I was testing out other skincare products. It’s useful to introduce new skincare products one at a time in case a product causes irritation or breakouts. But since starting this cleanser I haven’t had any issues. My skin has been pretty clear lately and I haven’t had any breakouts since starting using this cleanser. The real test will be when I get my period because my acne is mainly hormonal-based. Overall it doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or tight. And I like the scent, it reminds me of a forest. It’s hard to review cleansers but this Youth to the People one has been good so far.

The next product is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. This wasn’t like I expected. It has a silicone feel to it, similar to a primer. So it’s easy to apply and wears beautifully under makeup. It doesn’t break me out and it protected me from the sun. My only issue is that because of the consistency you can only apply so much to your face. I think it’s fine for everyday use or if I’m not in direct sunlight. But I wouldn’t feel like I’m using enough and getting enough protection if I was say at the beach in full sunlight. So while I will continue to use this, I feel like I need to continue my hunt for a good sunscreen.

The most disappointing product is the Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion. If you read my wish list post you might remember that I read reviews saying this smells like Play-doh. And I have to agree with the reviews. It doesn’t have the saltiness associated with Play-doh but I will say that this body lotion has a plastic-like smell to it. I could get over it except for the fact that it does linger on the skin. So I’m not a huge fan. We’re currently in lockdown so I’m unsure how I will return this product but I am considering returning it. Overall I wouldn’t recommend this body lotion because the scent isn’t great and the formula isn’t so amazing to make it worth using.

The next product is the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in the shade Love. I do really like this blush but it’s a little difficult to use. It’s extremely pigmented and dries down matte so I have to work quickly to blend it out. For that reason, I prefer to apply it to the back of my hand and use a brush to apply it to my cheeks. Once it’s on my face it sets down nicely and doesn’t budge. And I like this shade, it gives me a sun-kissed look. I see myself using this blush a lot this summer. If you’re new to using cream blushes I would be careful because it’s not the most user-friendly formula. But if you’re a makeup pro you won’t have any issues.

I was quite unsure about the Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss at first. When I first applied it I had just outlined my lips with a lip liner. Because it’s such a sheer lip gloss formula I was able to see the lip liner underneath. Because of that, I like to wear this gloss on its own or over top of lipstick. The lip gloss is also a lot creamier compared to other lip gloss formulas. It looks more like an oil than a shiny gloss. I like the shade a lot and will continue to use it. But I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite gloss I’ve ever used.

The next product is the Replica By The Fireplace perfume. I’ll be honest and I haven’t used this because it’s such a fall/winter scent. I probably could have waited until the next sale to get the perfume but oh well I bought it now. I still love the scent and it does last pretty well on my skin. This is impressive because I don’t find perfumes often last long on me. Overall I like this scent and would recommend you guys smell it if you like spicy, warm scents.

The final product is the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I did a full in-depth review on the Skin Tint so I would recommend checking out that blog post if you haven’t already.

And that’s it for my Sephora Sale haul update! I hope this was helpful for you guys. If you have tried any of these products let me know in the comments if you agree with my thoughts. I love chatting about makeup! 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Perfume, Review, Skincare

Sephora Sale Haul April 2021

by Lea2 Comments on Sephora Sale Haul April 2021

Hey guys! The Sephora Sale is in full swing and I wanted to share with you guys what I got in my order. If you still want to place an order yourself, you have until April 19th to participate in the sale. I also filmed a video trying out some of the products on my face. That video will be going up Sunday, I’ll update this post with the link once it’s live. I’ll post a follow-up in a couple of weeks reviewing all the products so stay tuned for that. Today’s post will be mainly first impressions.

A order from Sephora Canada made during their semi-annual sale. Products include body lotion from Summery Fridays, cleanser from Youth to the People, skin tint from Fenty Beauty, gloss from Tower28, blush from Rare Beauty, sunscreen from Supergoop and a perfume from Replica

The first item is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen. I mentioned in my wish list that I needed a new sunscreen. This one is supposed to be invisible on the skin, great under makeup and oil-free as to not break out skin. I’ve worn this once so far. And I will say that it doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin and wore well under makeup. I still need to test to ensure that it protects my face from the sun and doesn’t break me out, because I only wore this sunscreen for an hour. I’m really hoping this works out!

I did get my perfume, the Replica By The Fireplace. I forgot how good this smells. It has a smokiness similar to a real fire. But underneath this is a nice spiciness from the clove and chestnut as well as a slight sweetness from the vanilla. This is a fall/winter scent so I probably won’t wear it much right now since I prefer cleaner scents in the spring/summer. But I’m happy to have picked it up!

As soon as I applied the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint I knew I was going to like it. It’s a lightweight, buildable light-to-medium coverage. It just looks so skin-like. I’ve been testing out lighter coverage foundation lately so I’m excited to see how this compares to the other ones I have. I’m planning on doing a dedicated post for this foundation so stay tuned for that. I will say that a lot of the shades are sold out, so you might want to hurry if you want to get this before the sale is over.

The next product is the Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. I have yet to test this out since I’m been testing out other skincare products. I generally avoid trying a bunch of new skincare products at once just in case I break out. If I tried three new things and break out it can be hard to know what caused it. So once I finish testing out some other products I’ll introduce this cleanser.

I’m on the fence about the scent of Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion. In the tube, it smells nice like coconut and almond. But when I’m rubbing it into the skin I get that Play-doh like smell that people mention in the reviews. I don’t think Play-doh smells bad, it’s just not the yummy scent I expected. But I will test it more to see what the formula is like. Because while smelling good is nice, the formula is technically the most important thing.

The next product is the Tower28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss in Cashew. When I first applied it I wasn’t sure if I liked it. This is quite a unique formula because it’s a hybrid between a gloss and a lip balm. The first time I wore it I just lined my lips and it looked funny because this gloss is quite sheer. But I’ve worn it again by itself with nothing underneath and I prefer it more that way. I’m excited to continue testing out this gloss. I also love the shade I got, which is described as a rosy brown. It matches my natural lip well.

I decided to go with the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in the shade Love. I’m really happy with my decision. The shade is a matte terracotta, so it gives me a sunkissed look. It’s a create shade for putting all over the face. I think I’m going to get so much wear out of this blush this summer. The blush is quite pigmented so I’m going to play around to see what’s the best way to apply the blush, will update in the follow-up post.

Besides that, I got my birthday gift that includes a mini Nars bronzer and lip balm. I also redeemed my points for a set of Fresh products.

And that’s my Sephora Sale haul! Let me know in the comments what you guys got during the sale.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Makeup, Perfume, Skincare

Beauty Wishlist for Sephora Sale 2021

by Lea3 Comments on Beauty Wishlist for Sephora Sale 2021

Hey guys! The semi-annual Sephora sale is coming up. So this year I thought it would be fun to share my wish list. I will not be getting all of these products because my cart would probably be $1000s if I did. But I thought it would be nice to share some of the products I had my eyes on for two reasons. First to see if anyone has tried the products and if you recommend them. And second to maybe inspire you and show some beauty products that you haven’t see before. So I’ll be sharing some makeup, skincare and body care. Let’s get into it!

The first thing on my wish list is the Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint. I have both the Fenty matte and hydrating foundation and love both of them. So I just know I will love this skin tint. This foundation is lightweight with light-to-medium coverage and a natural finish. It sounds right up my alley lately. I have been into lighter foundations so this just makes sense. There is a really good chance that I’ll be getting this foundation unless they sell out of my shade before I can pick it up.

Next, I’ve heard quite a few good things about the Benefit The POREfesssional Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray. This setting spray sounds like a dream: sets makeup, smooths skin, natural-looking and hydrating. Sign me up! I see Allana Davison using this like crazy. And with a 4.6 rating on Sephora, it sounds like a good spray! I haven’t purchased a new setting spray in a while so seems like a good product to pick up.

Even though I have so many primers, I want to try the Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum. I’ve tried quite a few Laneige products and their moisturizers are some of my favourites. And it also sounds perfect for me! This serum primer gives that glowy look while also keeping oil at bay and helps makeup last longer. There is a difference between dewy and oily. I want dewy skin, not oily skin. It sounds amazing and I want it.

I’ve had my eyes on Tower 28 products for a while, specifically their ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss. I was going to purchase their gloss during the last sale, but the shade I wanted (Cashew) was sold out. I’ve heard so many people rave about the glosses and I want to try them for myself. There is a good chance that I’ll finally pick it up during the sale.

The final makeup products I have my eyes on are the Rare Beauty blushes. I haven’t decided which formula I would prefer, the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush or the Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush. It’s hard for me to decide. Because it seems like Liquid Blush is more long-lasting, so that would be nice for days when I’m wearing more makeup and want my blush to last. Whereas the Cream Blush seems to be more natural and would be nice for everyday makeup, especially going into the summer. I do know what shades I want. If I got the Liquid Blush I could get the shade Love, and if I got the Cream Blush I could get the shade Nearly Apricot.

Now let’s talk skincare. I have heard so many good things about Youth to the People. I do need a new cleanser so there’s a good chance I’m going to be picking up the Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser. I know this is great for oily and acne-prone skin aka my skin type. I just like testing out hyped products to see if it’s worth it. So as long as it doesn’t sell out I’ll be getting this.

Another Youth to the People product I’ve heard a lot of hype about is their 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum. I feel like everyone and their mother has been raving about this serum. This serum is meant to brighten the skin, reduce hyperpigmentation and even the skin tone. You know, everything that a vitamin C serum does. Honestly, if I didn’t already have three open vitamin C serums open I would get it. But I’m going to wait until I finish up some products before purchasing this. (Side note: I didn’t realize how expensive it was until I was getting the pictures for the post organized. Wow it’s expensive!!!)

A brand that I love is Ole Henriksen, and because I love their products I want to try the Lemonade Smoothing Scrub. I find that my skin can get really clogged and textured quite easily. Using exfoliators help with this. And I do enjoy something that has a bit of a physical exfoliation it in. One of my recent favourites is the Murad one that is both a physical and chemical exfoliator. This Ole Henriksen one sounds similar with sugar and AHAs to both physically and chemically exfoliator the skin. It sounds like a product I would enjoy using.

A product that I’ve seen a lot of hype around is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. This is a hybrid between skincare and makeup. It can be used before moisturizer when doing skincare or right before putting on makeup as a primer. The Dew Drops can also be used mixed into foundation or over top of makeup as a highlight. To be honest, it seems quite similar to the Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum, so I probably wouldn’t purchase both.

And the final skincare product is a new sunscreen. My current one is almost empty and it might even be expired. So it’s time for a new one. I’ve had my eyes on the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen for a while. I believe it finally launched in Canada last year but was always sold out. I struggle with face sunscreens. They either have a white cast OR break me out. I’ve heard many people say this is the best sunscreen out there so I’m willing to try it out myself.

There are two more products on my wish list. The first is the Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion. I love body lotion. If you’ve read any of my product empties you’ll know that I use body lotions religiously year-round. Since I’ve finished a few I am allowing myself to purchase another one. Since we’re going into the warmer months I don’t need something as thick as body butter, so I think the texture of this lotion would be perfect. There are mixed reviews on the scent, so that makes me a little hesitant but I think I’ll still get it.

And the final product on my wish list is the REPLICA By the Fireplace perfume. I asked for this for my birthday but told my mom she could also just wait until the sale to be able to get it for a cheaper price. So I’m unsure if I’ll be getting it before or during the sale – I guess we’ll know on Sunday when it’s my birthday. Either way, I’ll be getting this perfume. I’ve sprayed this on myself so many times, and every time I get compliments. When I was working at Sephora, one of my coworkers also taught me about layering scents, using a vanilla perfume to tone down By the Fireplace and I loved it. The nail in the coffin though for me was when I was watching Kathleen Light’s zodiac perfume video and she said this was the perfect scent for Aries. I said to myself “this is a sign I need to get the perfume”. So I will be getting it.

And this is my very long Sephora Sale wish list. As I said, I won’t be getting all the products on this list. Please let me know if you’ve tried any of the products to help me narrow down the list.

xoxo

Lea

Beauty, Haul, Makeup, Skincare

Sephora VIB Sale Haul + Announcement

by Lea2 Comments on Sephora VIB Sale Haul + Announcement

Hey guys! So let’s start with the announcement because that’s the exciting part. So I’ve mentioned on both my Instagram and Youtube that I got a part-time job that’s not in PR for the time being. So today I have my first in-store shift at SEPHORA! I know, super exciting! The position is only a seasonal cashier for now. Since it’s only part-time I am still planning to be posting twice a week. But I do want to make it clear that all opinions on my blog, Instagram and Youtube are my own and do not reflect those at Sephora.

So let’s get into the haul. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to post this before the sale was over. This isn’t going to be an in-depth review just because I haven’t had the chance to test the products out. I just wanted to let you guys know what I got quickly so you could pick them up while they are still in stock.

The first item is the Briogeo Merry Multi-Masking Kit ft. Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Honey Bear Mask. I got this set because I’ve heard so many good things about the Honey Bear mask in this kit. Unfortunately, the kit is sold out, and it’s the only way to get the Honey Bear mask. But the other two masks in this kit (the Don’t Despair Repair and Be Gentle, Be Kind masks) are both permanent products so you guys can still pick those up. There are also other kits featuring these masks as well.

The next product I got is the Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask. I had a sample of this mask before and I loved it so much that I decided to get a full size. It’s different compared to other hydrating masks because it gets warm and tingly. I would describe it more like a restorative mask. It takes my skin from blah to ahhhh. And the packaging is just beautiful.

The final two products are both Hourglass. The first is the Mini Ambient Lighting Edit. This is a limited edition product for the holidays that features a powder, blush, bronzer and highlight. I have heard so many good things about Hourglass face products so I thought it would be a nice way to try multiple of their products. The second Hourglass product is Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara. It’s a tubing mascara, which means that I only need to use water to wash off the mascara. I’ve never tried a tubing mascara so I thought it would be interesting to try!

I am so excited to play and test out all of these products. Let me know in the comments what you picked up in the Sephora VIB sale!

xoxo

Lea