Hey guys! I know you guys always like product reviews, so I want to do more one product reviews. I don’t always do big hauls, sometimes I pick up just one product. I recently needed a new vitamin C serum and wanted to try something new. I’ve had a good experience with other Glow Recipe so I thought I would try their vitamin C serum. So let’s get into the review!
I decided to pick the Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum because it had great reviews and was in the middle price range for vitamin C serums. You might remember that the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is my favourite vitamin C serum that I’ve tried so far but that’s $95. The Glow Recipe serum is $59 – not cheap but more affordable compared to the Biossance oil.
The Glow Recipe serum is a brightening serum with vitamin C, guava, tranexamic acid and ferulic acid all meant to reduce the appearance of dark spots and leave the skin looking visibly glowing and even. This is meant for all skin types. It’s also vegan and Clean at Sephora certified.
I like the packaging, I think it’s quite cute. I like the pump, it dispenses the perfect amount of serum for the face. The serum is pink in colour and has a strong guava scent. It’s a very milky consistency but it does dry down pretty quickly.
I’ve been using the serum for three weeks now and I am noticing a difference in my dark spots. I’ve had some wicked breakouts lately and it’s helping to heal the scarring. That being said, I don’t notice a huge difference in the brightness of my skin. I use the Biossance Oil and I almost immediately notice a difference in my skin. I find the brightness to be a more subtle and gradual difference.
Overall I do like the Glow Recipe serum because it’s making a visible difference in my dark spots. If you’re like me and looking for a serum to help with dark spots and acne then this is a great serum is check out! If you’ve tried this serum let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Hey guys! Today I have a mini Sephora Haul. I had to repurchase a few things and decided to pick up two new things with my order as well. Not a huge haul but still exciting nonetheless. Okay, let’s get into the products.
First I repurchase the Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. If you read my product empties post you would know I finished this toner recently. I need it in my life so I repurchased it! I’ve said this before, but if you have oily skin you need this in your life. I really notice a difference in my skin texture and oiliness. It just helps smooth my skin and reduces how quickly I get oily. I use this every morning after I cleanse my skin and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.
The next repurchase is the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+. I’ve had a MAC Fix+ in my makeup collection for years now, but decided to switch things up and get the coconut scent this time. If you’re going to have one setting spray in your collection, make it this one. The mist is super fine so it won’t ruin your makeup and just feel soft and gentle. The actual formula is great because it helps melt powders into the skin so they don’t look powdery or cakey. But it won’t add extra shine which is great for me since I’m an oily gal. It helps improve the look of my makeup. The coconut scent is nice – not too strong and sweeter than sunscreeny. I love this setting spray and would highly recommend it.
Now for new products. The first being the belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. I needed a new moisturizer and decided to give this one a try since I’ve heard really good things about it. I also decided to get the mini size just in case I don’t like it. This is a lightweight gel that is supposed to give a burst of hydration and quickly absorb into the skin without looking heavy or greasy. I’d say that the claims are true! It’s a gel formula which I prefer. It does leave my skin feeling hydrated and does absorb into the skin super quickly. It absorbs so well into the skin that my skin almost looks matte, very similar to the Origins Matte Moisturizer. While I do like it and will finish it, I’m on the fence if I would repurchase it. I will update you when I finish the product.
And for the final product, I purchased the Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub, which I also purchased in a mini size. I’ve mentioned this in my product empties post but I’m on the search for the best exfoliator for my skin. I thought I would hit a home run with this one but it’s just average. This scrub has AHAs, lemon peel and sugar to provide both a chemical and physical exfoliation to the skin. I like the consistency of the scrub – it’s not too thick and abrasive but enough that I can feel it on my face. And I like the light citrus smell as well. The only thing is that I don’t really notice a difference. With an exfoliator, I want an instant result so it’s a little disappointing to not notice anything. I’ll continue to use it but I wouldn’t be repurchasing.
And that’s my little Sephora haul guys! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before and if so what were your thoughts!
Hey guys! Today’s post has been in the making for a while. I bought some pimple patches back in the winter and I liked them. So I decided to buy a few more and test out to figure which brand has the best patches. The funny thing is that my skin was pretty good in the spring so it took me forever to test because I had no pimples! Lately, my skin has been freaking out, I think mainly from increased makeup and mask-wearing so I’ve been using pimple patches more. I have four different brands and we’re going to break each one down.
Pimple or acne patches have become popular within the last year. Instead of applying a sheet mask all over the face, you put the patch on a specific spot, usually a pimple, to help heal it. The idea is that it’s targeting a specific spot. The pimple patches come in a variety of sizes and colours depending on the brand. The majority you wear for a prolonged period of time, so it’s nice to put them on at night and sleep with it to help heal a pimple. As someone who suffers from acne, I was willing to try anything to help with my acne.
The first brand I tried was the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots. I got these while I was working at Sephora because I heard good things about them. These patches are the biggest of the four I have, being 1.8cm in diameter. They also have a yellow tinge to them, so they are visible on the face. The bigger size means that if I have a large pimple or two beside each other it can cover both. It sticks easily to the face, but it’s thick so I do feel it on my face. These work well, especially on whiteheads. I place it on a whitehead and it will be cleaned out and healed by the next day. If you’re someone who struggles with the urge to pop pimples using these helps get rid of the whitehead without popping. I would say these are the best I’ve tried but they are also the most expensive at $25 for 20 patches.
The next patches I tried are the Yes To Tomatoes Zit Zapping Dots. I picked these up at Shoppers. While they are easily available, they are my least favourite. The patches are black and red, so they are not subtle whatsoever. Couldn’t get away with wearing these during the day. They are very thin plastic and I find that they don’t stick to my face very well. They’re fine on a part of my face, like my cheeks, but stay on my chin or jawline. And they’re just not as effective. The Peace Out ones can clear the gunk out of a white head, these will just bring everything to the surface. The ones I got on Amazon are cheaper and better so I would pass on these.
Then I decided to try two from Amazon. The first is the Rael Microcrystal Acne Healing Patch. These are meant for early-stage, cystic pimples. These look different. There is an outer ring and then an inner ring that has little dots. I believe it’s designed to go deep into the skin and penetrate the pimple. The patch as a whole is 1.9cm, but the inner ring is only 1.4cm. These aren’t bad, but I don’t find them as effective as the Peace Out ones. As well, they are $18 for 9 patches. The cost per patch is worst than Peace Out as well.
My runner-up after Peace Out is the Rael Pimple Healing Patch. These are similar to the Peace Out where they are meant to draw out the pus on surface-level pimples. They are much smaller than the Peace Out ones, being only 1cm in size. So sometimes I have to use two patches beside each other if I have a cluster whereas I could use one Peace Out patch. But I found that these are very discreet on the face. They are clear and blend easily into the face. I wore them while filming the other day and I couldn’t notice it when I was looking back into the footage. So if you want something discreet I would recommend these. They’re not as good as the Peace Out ones but I think they still do a good job. And they’re much cheaper at $9.16 for 24 patches.
If I were to rank these it would be a tie between Rael Pimple Healing Patch and Peace Out. Peace Out is the most effective and bigger sized whereas Rael is discreet and cheaper. Then Rael Micocrystal would be third and Yes To would be last.
I hope you guys found this post helpful! And if you have a favourite pimple patch that I didn’t mention, let me know in the comments I’d love to try it out!
Hey guys! Today I decided to share my nighttime skincare with you. The last time I shared a skincare routine it was my morning one, so I thought it was time to share my evening routine. While some things are the same, I have to remove my makeup in the evening so it’s a slightly different process. Let’s get into it.
Now if I’m feeling particularly lazy I will just remove my makeup with some micellar water on a cotton round. But the majority of the time I will use an oily cleanser to remove my makeup. I find that oil-based cleansers are the best at breaking down my makeup. There are two oil-based cleansers that I currently like to use.
If my makeup isn’t super heavy or if its already worn off, then I’ll use the Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser. This cleanser is quite thin so I use about three to four pumps for my whole face. It just melts the makeup off my face and leaves it feeling soft and smooth after. The milky consistency is suitable for all skin types. It removes all my makeup, but I find it’s not as effective as a balm.
If I’m wearing a lot of makeup then I reach for a cleansing balm. I just find that it’ll get really oily and breakdowns stubborn mascara or eyeliner the best. I’ve used quite a few, but the one I currently own is the Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. It has a light eucalyptus scent and doesn’t irritate my eyes. This one is cheaper than the other ones I’ve tried but just as effective. I always make sure to double cleanse when using a balm though, because my oily skin doesn’t like excess oil.
After I remove my makeup I go in with a second cleanser. If you’re unfamiliar with the double-cleanse method, the idea is to use a cleanser to remove your makeup and then a second cleanser to clean your skin. Since I have oily, acne-prone skin I find that it makes a difference to do a second cleanse. But I like to use a gentle cleanser as to not strip my face and irritate it.
The current cleanser I’m using for my second cleanse is the Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash, which I got in a Boxycharm box. This cleanser is formulated to be gentle so it’s perfect for my second cleanse. I wouldn’t use this as my morning cleanser because I find it isn’t strong enough by itself. But after a first cleanse it just ensure that my face is clean and ready for the next steps in my routine.
I focus most of my skincare use in the morning, so in the evenings I try and use up products that I have already open. For example, the Ole Henriksen Oil Control toner is my favourite, but I have the Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner as well so I use it in the evening to try and finish it. I just don’t find it very effective but I don’t want to waste it so I use it at night. This toner has AHAs to help brighten dark spots. I find my dark spots react better to vitamin c serum, which I use in the morning. So I don’t necessarily recommend this toner, but it’s what I’m currently using.
After my toner, just like in the morning, I go in with hyaluronic acid. I finally finished that Inkey List one and I’m now using the MineTan.Body.Skin Hydra Glow Sleep Serum, which I also got in my Boxycharm. And I notice a difference using this hyaluronic acid! It gives me some hydration and makes my face feel plumper. I also will spray my face with a facial mist before applying the serum. I find that’s the best way to get results. So I’ve concluded that hyaluronic acid does work for my skin, just not The Inkey List one.
The next step in my routine is my moisturizer. I’m currently using the Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer, which I also got in my Boxycharm. As I’ve said, I like to finish up products in my nighttime routine, so that means finishing up products that I tested from my Boxycharm. This moisturizer is pretty nice if a little on the thick side. I usually gravitate to something lighter but it doesn’t break me out and leaves me feeling hydrated so I use it!
Then I go in with my eye cream, the Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream. And you guessed it – I got this in my Boxycharm ahaha! I only use eye cream for hydration. This eye cream is supposed to help with fine lines and darkness but I haven’t noticed a difference. It doesn’t irritate my eyes so I use it to finish it up.
And then I’ll finish up with a lip balm, whichever is close by. And that’s my nighttime skincare routine! Besides my first cleanser, everything else I’m using to just to finish up. Because I focus on making sure that my skin is properly cleansed and treated in the morning, I just like to use up products in the evening. I have so many opened products and I’m making an effort to finish them up before purchasing more.
Let me know in the comments what products you guys like to use in the evening. And if you have any recommendations for me let me know, I always love trying new stuff!
Hey guys! I always love writing my Boxycharm reviews. I think because it’s always a surprise – I never know if the products are going to be good or bad. And because I take the time to test the products out I feel like I can give you guys really good reviews on the products. So let’s get into this month’s box.
The first product is the one I selected for this month. A while back Boxycharm introduced the ability to choose one product in your box. I don’t always remember to choose, but this month I picked the Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer. It was between this moisturizer and a concealer, and I didn’t want to pick a concealer and get the wrong shade. With a combination of antioxidants and vitamin C, this moisturizer is meant to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And it’s has a thicker consistency meant for drier skin types. So this isn’t exactly the moisturizer I would necessarily pick for myself but I still like it. It’s quite thick, which is fine since it’s meant for the nighttime anyway. It has a nice, lightly citrusy scent. I like the packaging because it has a special pump so I don’t have to dig my fingers into a tub. It’s a good product, but overall I prefer purchasing moisturizers I can use both day and night instead of just at night. So I will use this up but I don’t see myself repurchasing it. Price: $74 US, $95 CAD
The next product the KAB Cosmetics Day + Night Eyeshadow Palette. I was excited to test out this product because I got the KAB Lip Oil in my March Boxycharm and I love it. The colour story is nice, but also quite similar to the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk palette (on purpose or a coincidence? 👀). I think the mattes are quite nice in the palette. They’re pigmented and blend easily on the eyes. The shimmers are hit and miss for me. They swatched beautifully. But on the eyes, the eyeshadows don’t show up much. I was using the shade ‘Sunset’ and was struggling to get the beautiful duo-chrome effect in the pan on my eyes. I tried using my finger, a brush and wetting my brush and it was all same – mediocre. The shades ‘Golden’, ‘Stella’, and ‘Luna’ worked well but all looked similar on the eyes. I haven’t tried out the purples or darker metallics yet, but so far I’m a little underwhelmed, especially considering the higher price tag. Price: $52 US
The second skincare product in this box is the Skin Inc My Daily Dose of Uplift. I love getting skincare in my box because it can be expensive. The only thing is sometimes I get products like this that are good but I wouldn’t necessarily purchase myself. This serum is an anti-ageing cocktail with collagen, coenzyme Q10 and hyaluronic meant to help smooth and firm the skin. Now at the age of 24, I’m more concerned with fighting acne than anti-ageing to be completely honest. I’ve been using it for almost two weeks now and I don’t notice a difference. I think because my skin is already pretty smooth and firm. I was looking at reviews online and everyone who liked it was 30+, so I think in a couple of years I would like this more. Price: $65 US
The next product is the Trestique Refillable Brow Pencil + Gel. I love that this product is refillable because brows are the product I go through the quickest. That being said I wouldn’t say this is my favourite brow pencil I’ve tried. The pencil shape is quite large so I have to be quite careful and precise when filling in my brows. I’m surprised but I like the gel side. Because I have thicker brows naturally, it’s a slippery slope when using a brow gel. I can easily go from groomed to a mesh if the gel is too pigmented or wet or difficult to use. I think this gel just adds the perfect amount to my brows. I like the brush because one side is longer and the other side is shorter giving me more control. I can’t testify to the hold because I don’t brush my brow hair up to create a fluffy look. Overall I see myself reaching more for the brow gel than the pencil. Price: $26 US
The final product is the Sophia + Mabelle Hydrating Hybrid lipstick, in the shade Weekend Getaway. The website has no description of this shade, but I would say this is a berry shade. The formula is described as a hybrid between lipstick and lip balm and I would say that’s pretty accurate. It has the pigmentation of a lipstick but the look and feel of a lip balm. I like that I can apply a little and get a sheer wash or apply a full swipe and get a pigmented lip. Because of the consistency, it isn’t super long-lasting but it’s comfortable on the lips. And I like the packaging, it’s easy to see the colour and the pink-tinted plastic is cool and unique. Price: $18 US (the card that came in my box says $15 but the website says $18).
The total of the box is $235. That’s a high value and I do think it’s reflective in the products in the box. Overall I’m pretty impressed by this month’s box. While there were some minor issues with some of the products, overall I see myself continuing to use all the products. Let me know in the comments what you think about the box. And if you’re subscribed to Boxycharm, did we get the same box? Curious to see what the different variations are.
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.
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.
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! 🙂
Hey guys! I realized that I haven’t given you guys a skincare update since July of last year! So I thought I would share my current morning routine. I’m currently testing out some different makeup removers so I won’t be including my evening routine today. There is one new product that I’m excited to share with you guys. So let’s get into it.
In the morning I like to start with a cleanser. I’m currently using the OleHenriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. I’ve finished a full size and repurchased it, that’s how much I like it. This cleanser is meant to deeply clean without stripping the skin. My skin goes through cycles of breakouts and being calm and this cleanser is something I can use throughout. I also love the citrusy scent, it’s perfect to use in the morning. Highly recommend this cleanser.
The OleHenriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner has quickly become a ride-or-die. Without this toner, my skin just becomes so textured and congested. If you have oily or acne-prone skin this is the toner for you. It gets rid of any dirt or impurities that my cleanser missed. If you’re dry stay away because you might find this stripping. But it evens out my texture so I love it.
A new product to my regime is The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid. If you read my post about The Inkey List, then you would know that I didn’t notice a difference using this product. But I own it and so I want to use it up. The bottle says to apply before any other serums so that’s what I do. Once I finish it I might try another hyaluronic acid, so please leave your recommendations in the comments.
Up next I use a vitamin C serum. I still have the Biossance one that I mentioned in my previous post and I still love it. I’ve been alternating between that one and The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C and EGF. I’ve noticed that the colour is starting to change which means that it’s not going to be as effective soon so I want to use it up before it expires. That’s something I’ve noticed is that my Biossance one has a much better shelf life. If you want more details on my thoughts on these two vitamin c serums then check out my Inkey List review.
The next product I use is moisturizer. I’ve been using the Kypris Antioxidant Dew. I got this in my Boxycharm. I’m currently trying to use up some opened products before I buy another moisturizer myself. I think it’s alright. It’s quite liquidy and lightweight, which is perfect for my oily skin. I think it’s good and does the job but I wouldn’t go out of my way to repurchase since it’s quite expensive.
I finish off my face with an eye cream. I’ve mentioned this before but I don’t think that eye cream is necessarily needed. I relatively young and while I’m starting to get some fine lines, it’s nothing crazy. Besides hydration, I don’t need an eye cream. Yet for some reason, my eye skin is extremely sensitive so I have to be careful. Otherwise, I get dry patches and a burning sensation. The eye cream I’m currently using is the Origins Refreshing Eye Cream. Does it help brighten my dark circles and reduce puffiness? Meh. Does it hydrate my skin? Ya and that all I really want and need.
The final product I wanted to mention isn’t one I use every day. I recently got the Peace Out Acne Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots and wanted to let you guys know what I think about them. I like them but they work best as instructed. I use them on large pimples that have a whitehead or almost aka a prime popping pimple. I will apply it before bed and overnight it will draw out all the gunk. This is perfect for me because I am a pimple popper, which causes scarring. This will help heal the pimple without causing scarring. This doesn’t work for really deep acne that hasn’t come out yet. This also won’t help speed up the healing process to get rid of a scar. So it’s only good for when a pimple is juicy and ready (sorry for that description but I mean it’s accurate). I know some people say you can use topical spot treatments but they don’t work as well as this. The only thing is that it’s quite because a 20 pack is $25. I will continue to use this and would even repurchase. But I’d love to try other brands to see if there is one that is cheaper and just as effective or even better.
And that is my current skincare routine guys! Maybe next time I’ll let you guys know what my makeup removal process is like. Let me know what some of your favourite skincare products are, I’d love to try them out!
Leave it to Lea 