Hey guys! I am back with another round of product empties! I know you guys love these posts, so let’s get right into it.
First, we have the Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash. I got this in a pack with another Fresh cleanser. I don’t like this as much as my St Ives exfoliator. It’s very gentle so if you have sensitive skin you would probably like this! I personally like a bit of a strong exfoliator but it was still good enough that I finished the product. But I love the strawberry scent so that’s a plus. I did not repurchase this face wash.
The next product is the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm. I really like this cleansing balm – even more than the Farmacy Green Clean! It does an amazing job of removing all my makeup. Even if I’m wearing a super colourful look or waterproof eyeliner it just dissolves everything. The balm leaves my face feeling so clean after that sometimes I would not even double cleanse. I would repurchase it if was available at Sephora. I received it in a giveaway so I have no idea where to get it in Canada expect from their website. So for that reason, I won’t repurchase it.
Another skincare empty is the Sephora Collection Brightening Eye Cream. This eye cream is pretty average. I have sensitive under eyes (wait until the next product) so many eye creams give me dry patches. This one doesn’t irritate my skin BUT it also doesn’t do anything special. I don’t notice a difference whatsoever between using it and not using it. Now I know at my age using an eye cream is mainly preventative but I would hope it would at least do something. My main concern currently is darkness under my eyes and this did nothing. So I have decided to not repurchase.
This next product is not empty but I am throwing it out so I am mentioning it here. I got the QMS Intensive Eye Care Cream in February Boxycharm. I was using the Sephora Collection one at the time but switched to the QMS one to test for my blog. After switching I started to notice dry patches on my lids and my under eyes being super sensitive and almost having a burning effect. I thought it was just because it was winter and once I was done testing for my blog switched back to my Sephora Collection one. Once I finished it though I started using the QMS one again. I started getting dry patches and sensitivity again. I was also putting it around my mouth because I’ve heard that eye cream can be good for preventing fine lines around your mouth. Well, I started to get breakouts there too! So I finally realized it was this QMS eye cream and stopped using it immediately. I don’t know what’s causing it because I looked up the ingredients and there is nothing really bad. It’s also £120, that’s almost $200 CAD! Either way, I don’t like this eye cream and would not recommend it.
I have two setting sprays. First is a sample of the Tarte Rainforest of the Seas 4-in-1 Setting Mist (which they have since repackaged). I honestly can’t remember if it made any difference in my skin. I own another Tarte setting spray and don’t find it’s very effective. It does have an interesting scent though. I decided to not repurchase and instead get another of my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. I finished another one and this is a setting spray that I feel makes a huge difference in my makeup’s longevity.
The final product is the Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm. This used to be my favourite lip balm but they have reformulated it. It used to be thick but not as thick as the original. Now it’s waxy and not as nice on the lips as before. I’m so sad that it’s changed. Also, it seems like everyone on Nivea’s website agrees with me that the reformulation sucks haha. I will not be repurchasing this one.
And those are my product empties for this month! Let me know if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts were.
Hey guys! I thought I would share an updated skincare routine since it’s been about half a year since my last one and I have changed up the products I use a bit. I’ve been using this current routine for over a month and I find that my skin is just so healthy and glowy! Also just wanted to note that I do this routine in the morning. I know most skincare pros say to do the bulk of your skincare at night but I’m lazy in the evening. I just remove my makeup and call it a night. I like doing my full routine in the morning because it helps wake me up. If you are interested in knowing what products I use to take my makeup off let me know and I can do a full post on that!
So to start I wash my face with the OleHenriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser. I was using the oil control cleanser from this brand but I’ve noticed that my acne is *finally* started to settle a bit. Don’t get it wrong, I still get hormonal acne and certain products can cause flare-ups, but it’s definitely not as bad as it once was. So I find that I don’t need an acne control cleanser and toner. So I chose this one because it’s meant to cleanse and brighten. This is perfect because it cleanses my skin to help prevent acne but also brightens my dark spots from past breakouts! I also love the citrusy scent for using it in the morning.
The second OleHenriksen product I am using is the Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. I tried the OleHenriksen dark spot toner but I noticed my skin was getting textured and clogged so I switched to this oil control one. This just helps control my acne and skin texture. I use a few shakes on reuseable cotton round and wipe it around my face.
I’ve learned online that the product you want to penetrate the skin the most you should apply first after toner. So if I am having a nasty breakout I will use my prescription acne cream. I use DifferinXP, which has 0.3% of adapalene, a type of retinoid. Differin does sell gels over the counter that have 0.1%, so less strong than mine. I do find using a retinoid gel helps heal my acne faster and also helps it leave less of a scar.
The next step is a vitamin C serum. Generally, you want to apply your serums before moisturizers. Since my last post, I have purchased a full size of the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This shit is expensive and I could definitely get a vitamin c serum for cheaper BUT I really do like this one. I visibly notice a difference in my skin. It just looks brighter and feels softer. It’s also lightweight so it doesn’t clog my acne-prone skin. Like it brightens my skin so much that some days I don’t apply highlight because my face is just naturally glowing. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT.
The final product is one that I am just trying to use up, which is the Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice. I received this in my April Boxycharm. And since I’ve received the item and it’s not bad I’m going to use it up. But I’ve mentioned this in the blog post that Elemis is hard to buy in Canada. So because of that, I wouldn’t recommend it to my Canadian readers. But for those who can easily purchase Elemis products, it’s a pretty good moisturizer! I love a good pump and I love a gel moisturizer. This one hydrates my skin, dries quickly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling sticky. So ya that’s my moisturizer.
I finish off my skincare routine with an eye cream. I just recently finished my Sephora Collection eye cream (stay tuned for my next empties post for a full review) and so I tried this QMS one that I got in my Boxycharm. I remember when I tried it it was winter, so I thought the dry patches on my eyes were just because of this weather. But I recently tried it again but I had such a bad reaction to it. So please let me know if you have any good eye cream recommendations. I have sensitive eyes and my biggest concern is darkness and fine lines.
And that is my skincare routine guys! Please give me some eye cream recs in the comments. And let me know if you have any questions about any of the products.
Hey guys! Today I have an extra special Boxycharm post – I am reviewing both the base box and the premium box! I’ve mentioned in my last post that I was curious about the difference between the two boxes. So I decided to get both. I will review the products in both boxes and then let you know my thoughts between the regular and premium.
So first the base box. I just want to mention that I have been testing quite a few skincare products and I have noticed that my pores are a little clogged right now and I have some small breakouts on my face. I believe it’s from the BB cream, but it would be the face wash or the masks. Unfortunately, I don’t know.
Base Box
Base Box
The first product is the Foaming Face Wash by Kylie Skin. This face wash is supposed to be gentle, leave skin feeling moisturized and brighten skin’s complexion. This cleanser is okay. I do think the fact that it’s foaming is fun. I also only need half a pump to wash my face. But it’s quite gentle. My acne-prone, combo skin needs a little more for a daily cleanser. This would be a good shower cleanser when I don’t want something stripping by will still clean my face. I also wouldn’t say it’s necessarily moisturizing. Overall I think it’s a pretty mediocre cleanser. I’ll use it because I have it, but wouldn’t go out and repurchase it. Price: $24 US
Next up is the Purlisse Beauty Perfect Glow BB Cream SPF 30. I really like this BB cream, except for the fact that I think this is what broke me out. This is the perfect tinted moisturize. It gives enough coverage but still looks like skin. It just looked so nice and other products applied beautifully on top of it. I would wear this if I was going to be outside but still wanted to wear a foundation. I believe that this is breaking me out because I have had issues with sunscreens breaking me out in the past. I think if I were to wear it once in a while my skin would be fine but since I wore it every day for almost two weeks it was too much for my face. I would still recommend this BB cream though because it looks amazing on the skin! Price: $35
I really like this product but I don’t think it’s for everyone. I received an Artist Couture Diamond Glow Powder in the shade Conceited. It’s a bronze/gold highlight with golden shimmering pearls. I actually like to wear this as glitter on my eyes the most. When I do wear it as a highlight, I just apply a little bit to the top of my cheeks. Because it’s a very glittery highlight. So if you like glitter you will love this. If you perfect a dewy, glowy look I would pass this. Price: $27 US, $36 CAD
The next product is insanely priced. The QMS Medicosmetics Lip Line Corrector is £155. That’s $260 Canadian dollars!!! Like what the fuck. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. This lip line corrector is supposed to target fine lines and wrinkles as well and hydrate and plump the lips. I was skeptical but I read good reviews about it, saying it has instant results but continued usage makes a significant difference. And then I tried it myself and it worked! Almost instantly my lips looked smoother and significantly plumper. And it didn’t have any tingly feeling like plumping glosses. The only annoying this is that a full pump is way too much product and it’s hard to half pump it so I feel like I’m wasting product. Listen, this shit might work, but I would never recommend spending that much money on a cosmetics product. Like at that price point you might as well get lip injections. Price: $200 US (that’s what the card says)
The final product is my face box is the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA. This is a hard product for me to review because I don’t have KP bumps. I used this scrub on one arm and a regular body scrub on the other and didn’t notice a difference. Both left my arms smooth. But maybe if you do have KP bumps and use this it’ll be strong enough to make a difference? I’m not sure but one of my friends used it and loves it. So overall I will be passing this product along to someone else who will get better use out of it than me. Price: $18 US, $36 CAD
Premium Box
Premium Box
The first product Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask. This mask is just … average. Like it’s basically just a super thick moisturizer that takes a little longer to sink into the skin. Like sure it makes my skin feel smooth, but I don’t wake up in the morning going wow my skin is amazing! Like it did its job but it’s nothing special. I think the Glow Recipes Watermelon Sleeping mask is better. Price: $49 US, $66 CAD
The next product is the Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette. I’ve mentioned this before but I am not a fan of this brand. Just so many controversies that I don’t think they handled well and a lot of products that they have realized lately haven’t impressed me. But I tried to keep an open mind about this product. First I love this packaging. It looks nice, feels nice but isn’t too bulky. It also smells amazing. Like every time I open it smells like chocolate but the scent doesn’t carry over to my face. It also has a big mirror. What I don’t like that there is only one palette for every skin tone. Like I’m glad that they are shade inclusive, but I will never use the deep shades. I wish it only had the shades I need so it was cheaper and less packaging for me. I find the highlight shade not very pigmented so I have to use a lot. The contour isn’t bad, but what’s the point of the palette if I only use one shade? So while it’s not a bad product, it just doesn’t suit my personal tastes. Price: $44 US, $59 CAD
The lip product is the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in the shade You’re No Good. I love the formula of this lipstick. I own this lipstick in the shade Light My Fire (which is an orange-red) and I love it. It is a very liquidy liquid lipstick that dries to be more of a stain. What I like is that I can apply a little and sheer it out for a wash of colour or apply a thick layer for a bight impactful look. Because it’s also more of a stain, it doesn’t look dry or cakey on the lips and lasts so long. I’m not a huge fan of this shade. It’s a deep red fuchsia, and I just prefer an orange toned than a pink. I will still wear it but probably sheered out. Price: $26 US, $34 CAD
The next item is the Grace & Stella Anti-Wrinkle + Energizing Face Masks. It came in a six-pack which is pretty great. These face masks are very slippery and slimy, so I have to lay down otherwise it falls off. It’s kinda annoying because then I can’t do other things, but on the other side that I am forced to relax at least. I think that they do a good job of moisturizing my face, but I don’t see how using one sheet mask can do that much for anti-ageing. Overall I will use them all, but I wouldn’t recommend these over other face masks.
I love getting face brushes! These Powder and Contour Brush Set from Battington Beauty are pretty nice. The hairs feel very soft and apply powder very well. The powder brush is just a little big for my under eyes, but applies powder to the rest of my face well. The contour is a great shape for chiselling out the face. I will say that for $90 (so $45 for each brush) that the handles are pretty cheap feeling. They aren’t heavy and honestly feel like my Morphe brushes. If you want a nice brand of brushes, go with Luxie because I feel that those are worth the price. Price: $90 US
The final product is the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In. This leave-in treatment is supposed to help dry and damaged hair. I have heard great things about Living Proof so I was excited to test it out. It’s paraben and phthalates free, and I believe it’s also curly-girl approved but I’m not 100% sure. If you guys don’t know, I’m kinda on a curly-girl hair journey where I am trying to bring out and enhance my normal curls. So I think this Living Proof treatment is great at what it claims, but it’s not what my hair needs. It left my hair feeling smooth and soft but didn’t do anything to help my curls. So I will keep this treatment for when my hair does feel dry (like after going in the pool or sal water) but probably won’t be using it on the daily. Price: $30 US, $40 CAD.
Full face using products from both boxes
Comparing the Boxes
So my base box was $25 US with a value of $304. Now keep in my the lip corrector is $200, so that product inflates the price of the box. The premium box was $35 US with a value of $264. Once again I think those brushes are over prices. So this shows that getting the premium box doesn’t automatically mean that it’s worth more than the base box.
If what brands are included in the box, then I think the premium box is better. In the premium box, 4 out of the 6 products are available at Sephora and therefore more ‘mainstream’. Whereas in the base box only 2 out of the 5 are available at Sephora, but I would argue that Kylie Skin is still pretty mainstream. But on the flip side, I don’t necessarily subscribe to Boxycharm to get products that I know about. I like testing out new brands, especially ones that are not always easy to get in Canada. For example, one of my favourite products in both boxes in the Purlisse Foundation, a brand that I’ve only heard about from Boxycharm.
So either way, I think both boxes are pretty great. I don’t think the premium box was so much better than the base box. It was one more product, so it makes sense that it would therefore be more expensive. I have decided in the end to stick with my base box. I don’t have a ton of extra cash and would rather spend the extra $10 US on buying products that I know I will like then on a surprise. But I think in the future I would consider getting premium again as a treat.
And that is my very long Boxycharm post for June! Let me know in the comments which box you think was better!
Hey guys! Time for another product empties! I can’t believe that the last one I did was in April and I only have seven products this time around. I guess I wasn’t the best at using up products lately. But that means this post will be shorter for once haha.
I have two cleansers! I got both of these in May 2019 and it took me a year to finish them. The OleHenriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser was my daily cleanser and the GlamGlow GentleBubble Daily Conditioning Cleanser was my shower cleanser. I enjoyed both of these cleansers, but I would say that I like the Ole one more. When I first started using the OleHenriksen one, it took a bit for my skin to adjust to it. I quickly fell in love with how it made my skin just feel so clean and really helped control my oil and acne. If you have acne-prone skin I highly recommend the OleHenriksen cleanser. The GlamGlow one I got in my Boxycharm. It’s good to use in the shower because the hot water can be stripping enough, so there is no need to use a strong cleanser on top of that. This isn’t strong enough to be my everyday cleanser, but I still used it up.
The next product is the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. This powder was in my 2019 favourites! The Hourglass powder is perfect for setting my makeup without making every matte. I find that a lot of loose setting powders can be very mattifying. Sometimes if I am using a matte foundation, I don’t want to use a mattifying powder on top otherwise it will get cakey. This is perfect for setting my makeup so it doesn’t crease or move but still keeping my skin looking life-like. I will be picking up the full size of this powder in the future.
My favourite brow pencil hands down is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. I have been using it for years. I normally use Dark Brown, but I have been noticing that it’s a little light for my dark hair. I might try a shade darker in the future. Anyways, this is my favourite, I have already repurchased another one.
The next empty is the Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. I love this body lotion. The scent is just so amazing, I haven’t found anything quite like it. It also lingers on the skin, so I smell like pistachio and vanilla throughout the day. It’s also quite moisturizing and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. Because it’s quite expensive, I only use this cream on special occasions. If you haven’t tried this body lotion yet, I highly recommend it.
A face moisturizer that I finished is the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream. I’ve mentioned this before, but I use face moisturizers on my body to help me not break out. This one did a good job! It’s lightweight and dries quickly on the skin. It didn’t clog my pores, which is the most important thing for me. It was good, but I felt like I went through it quickly, so I decided to pick a different moisturizer.
The final product is the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. This is my favourite drugstore setting spray. It just does such a good job of melting my makeup into my skin and making it look glowy and dewy but not oily. There is a difference – dewy/glowy is a lit from within look whereas oily just looks like it’s sitting on top of the skin. The spray on this isn’t also too aggressive so it doesn’t ruin my makeup. I love this spray and I have already purchased another one.
And those are my empties for the month. Let me know if you guys have tried any of these products and if you agree/disagree with me!
Hey guys! Time for my favourite post to write every month – my Boxycharm! This month’s box was delivered on average of when I usually get it. Glad that it wasn’t too delayed because I know the post has been crazy lately. This month’s theme is Mother Nature. I also love that on the info card is says “packaged with gloves and love”!
The first item I received was my choice for the month. Because I selected a day late my only choice was the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. I would have preferred the Glam Glow mask but oh well! These pads are both chemical and physical exfoliant. The first time I used them my skin was super red after. My skin has slowly adjusted to them, but I can’t say if they’ve made much of a difference. I’m also using a new cleanser right now (I had to because I finished my other one) so it’s hard to tell if it’s the pads or the cleanser. Also, I hate using these pads because they’re not reuseable so I have to throw them away. If you read my April Boxycharm post you would also know my thoughts about getting Elemis products in Canada. I was able to find these on Amazon though if you are interested. I just don’t think it’s worth paying that much for a single-use product. Price: $59 US, $75 CAD
The next product is the Studio Makeup Ease to Wear Eyeshadow palette. At first, I was unsure how I felt about this palette, but after using it a few times I’ve come to realize this is a GREAT beginner eyeshadow palette. Sometimes eyeshadow palettes could be pigmented or have crazy colour stories which I love but aren’t great for the average wearer. This colour story is pretty for the average person wearing makeup just to work every day. The eyeshadows are the right amount of pigmentation to create a soft, day time look. I might not use this when I’m going out at night, but I would recommend this to any of my friends looking for something that is no fuss and easy to use. Also for all my GTA friends, you can get Studio Makeup at Rexall. Price: $35 US
I will say it’s hard to test an eyeshadow primer and palette at the same time. So I’m still on the fence about the Pretty Vulgar Uncaged Eyeshadow Primer. A little goes a long way with this product. If I apply too much my brush would stick or skip while blending shadows. I will say that it’s pretty long-lasting and my lids didn’t crease at all while using this base. So I think I like it, but it’s not replacing my Smashbox primer. Price: $22 US (Also sidenote it isn’t available at Sephora, they barely have any Pretty Vulgar products there!)
This is the second Seraphine Botanicals products that I have received from Boxycharm. I don’t care about getting repeat brands, but the products are nearly identical. This month I received the Whimsical Wisteria Conditioning Lip Polish. I have received the Daikon + Dreams Lip Exfoliator with Radish Extract in the past. There is literally no difference between these products except the scent. So that’s kinda a bummer to get this product. Also, it’s a lip polish/exfoliator. Like how many of those do I need! Pretty disappointed about this. Price: $24
The final product I received is the Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil in the shade Peachy Keen. Good lip liner but I’m not a fan of the shade. It’s creamy and pigmented enough that I can fill my lips in no problem. But it’s not too creamy that it smudges all over the place. I love peachy shades, but this one is just so pale. It’s lighter than my natural lip colour. I prefer to wear lipsticks that are either the same shade or darker than my natural lip colour. But that’s more of a personal preference thing. This would have been great when I was doing my 1960s makeup look ahaha. Price: $16 US
And that is my box this month! The total is $156 US. Not my favourite box. Something I’ve noticed is that ever since Boxycharm has come out with their different box options, the quality of their base box has gone down. I’ve signed up to be on the waitlist for their premium box. I’m curious whether the premium will be better than their normal box. I will definitely let you know my thoughts once I am off the waitlist and receive a box!
Hey guys! I am back with a Sephora haul! I got a gift card for Christmas and I really took my time trying to figure out what I wanted to spend it on. And of course I got extra stuff on top of spending my gift card haha! I got a mixture of makeup and skincare as well as a mixt between new launches and older favourites.
First, I got two sheet masks. One was the GLAMGLOW BUBBLESHEET Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask. The second was a Sephora Collection Eye Mask, specially the Perfecting and Brightening one. I haven’t tried either mask yet, I usually hoard masks and then save them for later. I might just post a mini review of them on my Instagram once I use them – what would you guys prefer?
I repurchased another Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. If you read my recent empties you would know how much I love this cleanser. I find it does a great job of cleaning my skin and has an amazing smell. I decided to buy the small size because it fits better where I store my skincare, and it’s also cheaper (like $30 cheaper!).
The other skincare product I got was the Laneige Water Bank Hydrating Gel. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post, but I was looking for a good medium hydration moisturizer. I currently have the Origins Matte Moisturizer and the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, but I wanted something in between very matte and very thick. I think the Laneige is the perfect in between. This gel is lighter than their sleeping mask, but just as hydrating. I have only used it for a week, so I might change my opinion but so far I love it. The gel consistency feels like I’m applying water to my face. It also works well underneath makeup. The only thing is that this jar is glass, so it’s very heavy and I’m always afraid I’m going to drop it and break it. If you have normal, combo or oily skin I think you would like this, but people with drier skin might want something thicker.
The first makeup product I got was a mini size of the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. I always get the smaller size of powder just to try them out without having to commit to the larger size just in case I don’t like it. Now I had heard a bunch of people rave about this powder, and many people put it in their favourite products of 2018 so I thought it was time for me to try it out. I didn’t notice the difference between this powder and other ones until I put this powder on one side of my face and a different powder on the other side of my face. This powder is soooo smooth, it’s incredible. This powder has this little particles, I wouldn’t call it glitter but it just gives the most beautiful glow to the face. This powder doesn’t make you look super matte and cakey, but instead leaves a smooth, satin finish. BUT this powder isn’t the best at keeping my skin from looking oily. I understand why so many people with dry skin love this powder. Even though I have oily skin, I like this powder because I don’t always want to look super matte. If I need my makeup to last, I think I will continue to reach for my Cover FX powder, but when I want to look glowy I will use this powder. I will definitely buy it in a bigger size once I finish the mini one.
Next up was the Fenty Gloss Bomb in the shade Fenty Glow. I almost bought this gloss when it first came out, and for some reason I decided not to. I have have almost bought this gloss so many times, and I honestly can’t believe I wanted so long. THIS GLOSS IS AMAZING. I got Fenty Glow because I prefer warmer tones and this is just the perfect shade of lip gloss for me. It’s super shiny but doesn’t make your lips feel gross and tacky. The scent is also so nice and not too overpowering. The gloss lasts a decent amount of time on the lips compared to some other glosses I own. If Fenty came out with a peach or coral shade I would definitely buy that too.
Finally a new foundation! This year I want to spend less money on eyeshadows and lip products and invest more into face products. So getting a new foundation was on the top of that list. I have a bunch of matte, full-coverage foundations. I wanted to try something a little lighter with a satin finish. The Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation just ticked off all the boxes for me. I got a sample of the foundation and liked it enough to buy a full bottle. I also choose this foundation because it had neutral undertones, which is what I prefer for myself (I got shade 1.1). This foundation has a very buildable formula, so I can make it lighter or fuller coverage depending on how I am feeling that day. The foundation lasts well throughout the day, it doesn’t slip off my face or break apart. I think the only downside it that I really feel the foundation on my face, but I don’t mind too much since it looks good on my face. I would definitely recommend this foundation to anyone looking for a medium, natural looking foundation!
And that is my Sephora haul! The next product I am looking to invest in is a new bronzer, so let me know down below if you have any favourites!
Leave it to Lea 