Review: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

Please excuse my absence over the last few weeks – I was on a vacation and fully intended on blogging while I was away – but then vacation happened.  We spent the majority of our days either sight-seeing or driving and I just wanted to crawl into bed at the end of the day, which is exactly what I did.  I plan on doing a travel diary of our road trip so if you want more details on what we did, where we went and where we ate (the most important thing, IMO), keep your eyes peeled for that.  But now I’m back home and attempting to regain a sense of normal and routine, it’s time to resume blogging!

Today I’m sharing my thoughts what has become my go-to “foundation” over the last few months: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC Cream with SPF 50+.  First up I’m going to gift it the “Longest Ever Name for a Product” Award ;).  I purchased this way back in March from the Shopping Channel.  They were having a showstopper that included a 2.53 fl oz size of the CC Cream with the Dual Ended Concealer Brush for $60 CAD; the 32 mL/1.08 oz of the CC cream retails for $45 CAD on it’s own, so I couldn’t pass up such a good deal.  I placed my order within the first hour of the showstopper and waited for it to arrive.  Fast forward to two months later, when I actually received the product I ordered.  Long story short: they sent me the wrong shade (and knew it), ran out of the shade I had ordered and I had to wait 2 months for it to come back in stock.  Honestly, it was a horrible customer-service experience and every time I called to cancel my order, they told me it was just a week away from being shipped to me.  Eventually that actually did happen, in the right shade this time (#whataconcept) and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

Before I get into why I love this so much, let’s look at all of it’s many claims, via the IT Cosmetics website:

This highly pigmented multi-tasking beauty miracle truly covers everything, will not crease or crack in fine lines, and gives you a healthy, Your Skin But Better® glow. Paraben-free and SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, Physical Only, Non-Chemical Sunscreen.

Developed with leading plastic surgeons, Your Skin But Better® CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+ is truly a multi-tasking beauty miracle. It’s your SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Physical only sunscreen that protects against the rays that both burn your skin and age your skin. CC+™ is infused with cutting edge Anti-Aging technology and is clinically shown to improve skin texture, brightness and increase skin hydration by 79%. The Anti-Aging hydrating formula is infused with Peptides, Niacin, Algae, Vitamins A, C, B, E, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen along with Antioxidants and exotic natural botanicals for long-term brightening and color-correcting benefits.

And the ingredients (woah):

TITANIUM DIOXIDE 9.0%, ZINC OXIDE 6.3%, Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hexyl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Calcium Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Lactobacillus/Honeysuckle Flower/Licorice Root/Morus Alba Root/Pueraria Lobata Root/Schizandra Chinensis Fruit/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Sophora Japonica Flower Extract Ferment Filtrate, Perfluorohexane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Cholesteryl, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Perfluorodecalin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sprout Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Pentafluoropropane, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydrolyzed Silk, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Thiamine HCl, Riboflavin, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Niacin, Folic Acid, Chrysin, Carnitine HCl, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chlorhexidine Digluconate. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499).

THE GOOD

• It’s highly pigmented with medium to high coverage.  If I’m having a good skin day, I can get away with wearing this and only this.  No concealer needed.  Unfortunately my good skin days have been few and far between lately so I haven’t been so lucky to be able to do so.  But if you have normal skin or even skin with a few small blemishes, I think you could be one and done with this!
• It gives my skin a healthy glow.  With the amount of coverage this provides, you’d fully expect it to have a matte finish.  Instead it leaves behind a dewy finish and brightness to my skin.  Most days I skip highlighter because I just don’t feel like I need it.
• It blends effortlessly and seamlessly into skin.  I always, always have problems with foundations settling into my pores, particularly if I use a brush to apply them (which is why I tend to stick to a Beauty Blender) and/or skip using a primer beforehand.  Miraculously, I don’t have that problem with this.  I use the brush included with my set to stipple and buff it into my skin and it works like a charm – and I’m left with an airbrushed appearance.  I’m going to credit the snail secretion filtrate for this benefit – which I will admit, at first grossed me out.  Experiencing its benefits has lessened the gross-factor, however.
• It works for my sensitive skin.  My skin doesn’t react well to a lot of face products, and I’ll admit to feeling a bit worried when seeing the extensive ingredient list.  However, I’ve had zero issues with this irritating my skin.  In fact, I feel like any dry patches I had are a lot less dry since I’ve started using it.
• It’s simple and easy.  As mentioned above, if you have non-problematic skin, you can likely get away without using concealer.  But given how moisturizing this is, I also find it very easy to skip moisturizer and primer as well.  I don’t tend to skip moisturizer very often because my skin often needs the other benefits that moisturizer provides but I like the fact that I can, without any consequences.  In addition, my use of primers has severely decreased – I just don’t need one with this product.  It honestly makes using other foundations seem like so much work.
• Sunscreen is included: I love the fact that SPF 50 is included; I’ve heard that anything higher than 30 SPF doesn’t really offer any extra protection but regardless, I still appreciate it being in there.  With my fair skin, I’ll take all I can get!
• It’s the perfect shade.  I ordered the shade Light after reading reviews stating that the palest shade (Fair) was really grey-toned.  That turned out to be a really good decision – this matches my skin perfectly.  I have a little bit of colour right now but even when I didn’t it seemed to be a good match.  This is a big thing because I’m always struggling to find foundations that match my skin tone given that I have lots of redness and am quite fair.
• The packaging.  I feel like pumps should be mandatory on all foundations – they keep everything clean and they’re so much easier to control the amount of product you can dispense.  I also appreciate that it’s all contained in a tube, which makes it nice and light for travel.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD:

It requires a setting powder.  I don’t see this as a huge negative – but if I don’t set this with powder, it disappears off of my skin within a few hours.  This is not an uncommon problem for me but the few times I did use this without setting it, I was not impressed with the lasting powder.  I now set it with Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder and it stays put almost all day.  Despite that, I don’t see this working well for anyone with really oily skin; I suspect it’ll just make you look greasy.

It transfers.  This is probably my biggest frustration with this product – it transfers like crazy, even when set with powder.  I end up with it on the necklines of my clothes, on my phone, basically on anything that comes in contact with my face.

Requires concealer.  As mentioned above, I need a concealer with this, mainly to cover active breakouts.  It does not cover those to the level that I would like it to, but to be fair, I haven’t found a foundation that does, or at least one that doesn’t leave me with a serious case of cake face.  I’ll take the more natural look with the requirement of a concealer over that anyday!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Personally, I couldn’t be happier with this CC Cream and once I’ve ran out of my gigantic tube, I’ll be re-purchasing for sure!  I have used it so often that I’d estimate I’m about halfway through it and despite my horrendous experience with the Shopping Channel, I’ll continue to keep my eye out for future IT Cosmetics showstoppers, particularly if they’re featuring the jumbo size tube again (such good value!).  It’s got me interested in what other products are worth my time from this brand.

Have you tried IT Cosmetic’s Your Skin But Better CC Cream, or any other IT Cosmetics products?  Let me know below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Vichy Normaderm Skincare

Over a month ago, I was selected to receive a Vichy Skincare package on behalf of ChickAdvisor.  I’m always excited to be selected for campaigns by Chickadvisor, but I was a little more excited than normal for this one.  At the time, I was dealing with some of the worst skin I’ve had in years.  Specifically, I was experiencing constant breakouts and nothing I tried seemed to be helping – not even products that had worked before.  It was beyond frustrating and there were days where I didn’t even want to leave the house (as anyone who deals with problematic skin can understand!)

Thankfully the day before we left for our Vegas trip, my Chickadvisor package arrived.  Included were three, full-sized products from Vichy’s Normaderm line: the Deep Cleansing Gel, the Pore Tightening Lotion and the Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment. This line is specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin – ding ding ding!  Right after I received these products I started using them and I immediately ditched the skincare products I was using at the time.  Given that I’ve now been using them for over a month, the time has come for an in-depth review.

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This ultra-gentle soap-free, alcohol-free cleansing gel deeply cleanses sebum and impurities without over-drying or irritating the skin.  Its ingredients have purifying, anti-bacterial and keratolytic actions to prevent new imperfections from popping up.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: Gently smoothes skin texture and stimulates skin renewal.

My thoughts: At the risk of sounding like a tv commercial, the best way I can describe this cleanser is “gentle yet effective.”  It removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean!  Given its’ active ingredients, I fully expected it to leave my skin feeling tight and/or dry afterwards, but I haven’t experienced any of that whatsoever.  Now, keep in mind it is the summer and my skin tends to be a little oilier than usual – so that could change come the winter months.  But for now, it’s working great.

My only complaint about this is that I can’t use this to remove my eye makeup.  Those active ingredients that help heal skin and keep it clear are best kept away from eyes so a second product is needed to remove eye makeup.  Is this really an issue?  Not really and it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for clearer skin.  And if I’m being honest I have tried it on my eyes and it does take makeup off pretty well – but my eyes were definitely a little irritated afterwards.  So best to just not do it.

Vichy’s Normaderm Pore Tightening Lotion ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This toner is specifically formulated for anyone dealing with frequent breakouts, dilated pores and excess shine. This formula combines soothing Vichy Mineralizing Water with glycolic and salicylic acid to unclog, tighten pores and purify the skin.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: : Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: to smooth skin texture and stimulate skin renewal, without irritating the skin.

My thoughts: The fact that this is referred to as a lotion kind of confuses me – I honestly can’t remember the last time I used a toner, mainly because I never really saw any results with ones I’ve tried in the past.  In fact, I actually found they had adverse effects on my skin – my face would always feel extra dry and tight afterwards.  So I was a little skeptical to give this a try.  Turns out this has actually swayed my opinion of toners!  I use this after I wash my face with the Deep Cleansing Gel, and I love how refreshed my skin feels afterwards. Previously I was using a micellar water after cleansing to remove any last traces of makeup but I much prefer this because it does both that and refreshes my skin.  Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve seen any noticeable benefits in regards to mattifying my skin nor tightening pores – both are pretty much the same.  But overall I definitely like this more than I expected!

Normaderm Corrective Anti Acne Treatment ($29.95 CAD for 50 mL)

From the website: Normaderm Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment combines 1.5% Salicylic Acid, LHA, Phe Resorcinol and new Air Licium™ technology to treat and prevent all signs of acne: pimples, pore visibility, acne marks, shine and redness.

• Salicylic Acid + LHA: 50% more concentrated than our original formula to reduce pimples. Ingredients work together to quickly and effectively unclog pores without irritating the skin.
• Phe Resorcinol: New. Combined with exfoliating LHA, reduces acne marks thanks to its depigmentating properties.
• Air Licium: New Ultra-light aerogel helps reduce sebum production and pore visibility, giving the skin a soft focus mattifying finish.

My thoughts: This is the final product in this 3 step skincare process and if I had to pick a favourite, this would be it.  I LOVE this stuff.  I apply this product twice a day after using the Pore Minimizing Lotion; it feels moisturizing but not greasy.  It tingles a bit when I apply it but to me that just means that the active ingredients are doing their job. It doesn’t take long to soak into my skin, which I really appreciate, particularly in the morning when I’m applying foundation.  After it soaks in, my skin feels exceptionally soft, supple and moisturized. And the best part is, I see results. My skin hasn’t looked this great in months – I’m experiencing less breakouts and scars from previous breakouts are healing.  Again, I can’t say I’ve seen tightened pores and/or any less oil than usual but it’s been doing exactly what I want it to do – clear up my skin and keep it clear!

 

OVERALL:  I can honestly say that my skin has never looked clearer and felt more healthy and smooth after using this line.  My breakouts have been drastically reduced and scars from my previous blemishes are fading away.  I’m not using any other skincare products (aside from a micellar water to remove my eye makeup) so I have to give the credit to Vichy for getting my skin back on the right track.  The only true drawback I for forsee with these products is the fact that they do contain fragrance.  It is a light, fresh and clean scent, but it is still fragrance and that can cause irritation for sensitive skin.  Thankfully that’s now something I’ve experienced (despite having super sensitive skin) but it is something to be aware of.

I’m so thankful I was able to give these a try – they’ve totally transformed my skin!  Even though my one month test period is up, I will still continue to use the entire line and I will be purchasing them on my own dime as I use them up.  I actually want to do some further investigation on the other products in the Normaderm line as well.  They’ve hooked me in! If you’re struggling with acne, I’d highly recommend you give them a try yourself!

Have you tried any of Vichy’s skincare products?  If so, let me know below!

Special thanks to ChickAdvisor and Vichy Canada for sending me these products to try!  These products were sent to me for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

What Should I Buy? At Ulta!

Sooooo I’m going to be near an Ulta in the near future and I’m super excited about it; we don’t have Ulta here in Canada and they carry many brands that we can’t access here (at least without paying ridiculous amounts in shipping and duty).  I’ve started perusing the website to investigate my options, although I have decided to limit my purchases to items and brands that I can’t pick up in Canada.  Here’s what’s on my list so far:

Lorac PRO 3 Palette: The last thing I need is another eyeshadow palette but I can’t walk out of there without one of these.  I’m leaning towards the Lorac Pro 3 but I want to see the palettes in person before I make a final decision.

IT Brushes for Ulta – Your Beautiful Basics Airbrush 101 5 Pc Getting Started Brush Set: I have one IT Cosmetics brush and I absolutely love it.  These brushes are specifically made for Ulta by IT Cosmetics and I’ve heard good things about them.  Again, I want to see what these are like in person but I’m pretty convinced that I want to pick up some of these brushes in some shape or form.

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator (Guilded Honey): This will be a guaranteed purchase – I’ve been wanting this for a long time!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius: Kind of a weird addition to the list but we have limited access to Soap and Glory products and my heels are in really bad shape right now, plus the reviews on this are really positive.

Makeup Revolution Vivid Shimmer Brick:  We’re supposed to be getting access to Makeup Revolution in the Fall via London Drugs but you never know which products will actually be available.  This has very positive reviews, looks beautiful and is only $7!

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Eyeshadow Palette: This is supposed to be a dupe for the Lorac Pro palette but I’ll make that call when I’m in store.  I definitely think I will be picking up some kind of Makeup Revolution palette given how cheap they are.

Mally’s Must Haves Collection: The thing that intrigues me most out of this set is the Poreless Face Defender and the price of that product alone is the same price of this entire set!  All products are full-sized as well so if I can actually get my hands on this I’ll be estatic – what a great value!

Escada Aqua Del Sol: This is available in Canada but only in the largest size – Ulta has a 1.0 oz bottle as well as a rollerball so what size I end up will be another game time decision.

If you have any other suggestions on products I should be considering (or avoiding) please let me know below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

I’ve had this palette for 6 months now and my review is long overdue.  I received this as a birthday gift and I was super excited to receive it – I mean, it smells like chocolate!  In addition, this is right up my palette alley – a wide range of neutral shades with pops of colour and varying finishes.  This is not a new palette by any means, in fact it was released back in 2013, and followed by the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette and the Chocolate Bon Bon’s palette.  I’ve seen teasers on Instagram that this years’ palette may be a White Chocolate version but I guess only time will tell!  On to my review!

PRICE

The Chocolate Bar palette retails for $59.00 CAD on both Too Faced’s and Sephora’s website.  You receive 14 shadows with a net weight of 0.03 oz and 2 eye shadows at 0.07 oz.  When comparing to other popular eye palettes, the Urban Decay Naked Palettes contain 12 shadows at 0.05 oz. for $66 CAD; both of Tarte’s Tartelette Palettes include 12 shadows at 0.053 oz for $54 CAD; and the Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette includes 14 shadows at 0.02 oz for $55 CAD.

PACKAGING

I really like the packaging of this palette – it’s made of metal and it feels well-constructed and sturdy, yet it’s not too heavy for travel.  I also appreciate that its easy to wipe down when it gets dirty.  The top of the palette resembles a large chocolate bar – as it should!  I totally appreciate the effort that goes into Too Faced’s packaging – it’s always unique and girly and cute.  The top and bottom “plates” of the palette have magnets in them which ensures a secure closure (also important for travel).

Inside a rectangular mirror is included; I rarely use mirrors in eyeshadow palettes to apply my makeup but they are nice to have just in case.  Note that it’s not perfectly rectangular given the lettering that overlaps it.

SCENT

How often can you actually comment on an eyeshadow palette’s scent, nonetheless in a positive sense?  As I mentioned above, the entire thing smells like chocolate and it’s amazing!   Using this in the morning just makes me happy (and a little hungry!). I can be sensitive to scents/fragrance, but thankfully this doesn’t bother me at all.  The chocolate scent is not overpowering, and once it’s applied, it disappears.

SWATCHES

Row 1 (from bottom to top):

• Gilded Ganache: A satin dark chocolate brown with a fine gold glitter.
• White Chocolate: A basic off-white matte.
• Milk Chocolate: A matte, medium-toned brown with a touch of warmth.
• Black Forest Truffle: Burgundy brown shade with multi-tonal glitter.
• Triple Fudge: Deep brown matte.

Row 2:

• Salted Caramel: Matte peachy beige.
• Marzipan: Rose gold frost.
• Semi-Sweet: Matte mid-toned brown.
• Strawberry Bon-Bon: Matte pale pink.
• Candied Violet: Sheer purple with silver glitter.
• Amaretto: Frosty bronze with a slight burgundy shift.

Third Row:

• Hazelnut: Bronze frost.
• Creme Brulee: Dark gold frost.
• Haute Chocolate: Frosty warm mid-tone brown.
• Cherry Cordial: Matte burgundy brown with a subtle silver glitter.
• Champagne Truffle: Frosty pink champagne.

FORMULAS

The formula breakdown is as follows: 6 matte, 7 shimmers/frosts/satins and 3 glittery shades.

Frosts/Shimmers: The frosty shadows are by far the standouts in this palette – they are super soft, dare I use the term “buttery”, ridiculously easy to blend and are highly pigmented. The only drawbacks are 1) I experience quite a bit of fall-out when using these so they need to be applied carefully and 2) If I pack them on too thick, they irritate my eyes.  My eyes burn and my eyelids get itchy; it’s not the first time I’ve experienced this kind of reaction to shimmery/glittery shadows – my eyes (like basically everything else on my body) are uber-sensitive.  It doesn’t deter me from wearing them, I just need to use a light hand.  My favourites in this group include Creme Brulee, Marzipan and Champagne Truffle.

Mattes: The mattes are right behind the frosts/shimmers in terms of performance.  They too are super soft and buttery, easy to blend and are not lacking in the pigmentation department.  The two I’m not a fan of are Triple Fudge and Strawberry Bon Bon.  Triple Fudge is hard to blend and can look muddy as a result; Strawberry Bon Bon lacks pigment, as demonstrated in the swatch above, although it can be built up if you have the patience.  On the other hand, I’ve dug into White Chocolate as a base colour so much that I’ve stopped using it unless I’m using other shadows from the palette.  I love using Milk Chocolate as a transition shade in the crease as well.

Glitters: The glitter shades are my least favourite of the bunch – I find the formulas patchy, dry and lacking in colour payoff.  The one exception would be Cherry Cordial – it has decent pigmentation and the glitter kind of disappears once it’s blended; I love using it with my Buxom palette as a darker crease colour.  Candied Violet and Black Forest Truffle are the biggest duds out the palette, in my opinion.

PERFORMANCE

I find these last about 7-8 hours with an eyeshadow primer applied before they start to crease.  So that’s decent performance, although I do have shadows that last longer (i.e. my Buxom shadows).  I never wear eyeshadows without a primer base because my eyelids are extremely oily so I can’t speak to how they’d perform without one.

VERDICT

Personally, I love this palette.  Yes, there are some issues with dry formulas, fallout and some irritation for me with the shimmery shades.  But the pros far outweigh the cons – there are more great shadows that not, it smells like chocolate and the neutrality of it guarantees a wide variety of looks that will look fantastic on any skin tone.  If you’re looking for a neutral palette, I’d highly recommend you take a look at this one.

Do you own any Too-Faced palettes?  Let me know below!

Makeup Haul – Bare Minerals, Buxom & Kiko!

I was in Vegas a few weeks ago and of course, I did a bit of shopping because what is Vegas without shopping?  Nothing, it’s nothing.  Anyway I’ve been using the products for almost two weeks now so I thought I’d share with you what I picked up and what I think about them thus far!

BAREMINERALS

I am a pretty big fan of bareMinerals and Buxom products so when I’m in Vegas I always hit up their outlet store in the North Premium Outlets; I rarely walk out of there empty-handed.

bareMinerals Pretty in Peach Collection -$14.50 USD: This was a bit of an impulse buy at the checkouts; they had one left and given that it included a full-sized blush, I couldn’t pass it up. This appears to be a set that was sold on QVC at some point but it is no longer available online.  Here’s what’s included in the set:

Well-Rested CC Eye Primer

From the website: Corrects, conceals, protects, and renews with an instant burst of cooling hydration, leaving the skin around your eyes looking revitalized and refreshed. Apply on bare skin, under or over your makeup.

My thoughts: This product kind of confuses me because I’m not sure what the purpose of this is.  I tried using it as an eye primer but it doesn’t blend well and dries tacky; I’ve tried it under my eyes to act as concealer, and on top of concealer and it settles into fine lines and creases.  It doesn’t seem to serve either purpose well although I will admit that it definitely has a nice cooling effect on my skin.  I’m not going to give up on it yet but so far I’m not all that impressed with it.

Apricot Sugar Eyecolor (not available online)

From the website: A vibrant, stay-true, shimmering peach shade that can be applied dry for rich color or wet for a high-sheen, foiled effect.

My thoughts: I’m not the biggest fan of loose eyeshadows in pots – they’re just so messy.  But if there’s good colour payoff I’ll work with them.  Unfortunately this is a huge disappointment – it states that this is a vibrant peach shade but it only it’s basically 90% chunky glitter with the faintest tinge of peach.  I’ve even tried foiling it and it doesn’t make that much of a difference.  The swatch above shows up way more pigmented than it does on my lid.

bareMinerals READY Blush in The Summer Fling  (not available online) 

From the website: Combines the bareMinerals SeaNutritive Mineral Complex while enhancing cheeks with a gorgeous flush of lasting color.

My thoughts: This is the entire reason I bought this set as I’ve always wanted to try one of their blushes.  So far, this hasn’t disappointed me.  It’s a beautiful peachy shade – although it takes a while to build up.  Wouldn’t recommend this for anyone other than those with fair skin though, as I don’t think it would show up enough on darker skin tones.

Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Girl Next Door (not available online)

From the website: A universally flattering, glimmering peach gloss and the perfect finish to a natural daytime look. Luscious, vibrant color is loaded into a refreshing formula that slips on satiny-smooth for sheer-to-medium coverage with eye-catching shine.

My thoughts: This is a really sheer, glittery gloss (sensing a theme here?) but unlike the eyeshadow, I can work with this.  The formula of BM glosses is very similar to Buxom’s; I’ve used this overtop of other lip products and it gives them all a nice glossy finish with a touch of sparkle.

bareMinerals The Dream Come True Palette ($24.50 USD)

From the website: Complement your true, natural beauty with this palette of three soft, serene shades that multitask as classic eye shadows and luminous highlighters. It’s color that’s incredibly long-wearing and amazingly blendable with anti-aging benefits.

My thoughts: Another QVC featured set that is also no longer available.  The packaging just sucked me right in on this one – despite it being cardboard, I just couldn’t resist it!  In addition, all the shades appeared to be quite pigmented when swatched so I snatched it up.  Unfortunately I’m kind of having some buyers remorse with this.  While the shadows all swatch nicely, when applied to the eye they’re extremely sheer and it’s difficult to differentiate between one another.  In addition, Queen Phyllis and Celestine are extremely glittery, have a ton of fallout and they irritate the heck out of my eyes!  On the bright side, I can repurpose Queen Phyllis as a highlighter and Talented as a blush so not all is lost.  And I do love the double ended brush that came with it (it’ll work great as a contour brush too!).

BUXOM

The Bare Minerals outlet also carries a small selection of Buxom products; as much as I love bareMinerals products, I think I love Buxom even more.  There isn’t much in their line that I’m not a fan of.

Buxom Eyeshadow Brush – $6.65 USD

From the website: Expertly applies vibrant and lively, waterproof color that’s sure to please. Specially designed to tame Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadows,* the tapered brush head gives you the most well-behaved, precise application. The wider brush base lets you apply buildable layers of vivid color, so you get the exact intensity you’re after.

My thoughts: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Buxom brush before but I thought the shape of this one seemed pretty unique!  I liked how fat and wide it was and how soft the bristles were.  I can’t say it does anything out of the ordinary but it’s just a good overall eyeshadow brush.  It came along with this little case which is cute but I’ll likely never use it.

Buxom Full Bodied Lip Gloss (Boo-Yah) – $9.50 USD

From the website: Lusciously smooth and ultra-hydrating, this lip gloss offers a high-shine, shimmering finish with a no-tingle, pout-plumping effect. Encapsulated hyaluronic spheres help to promote hydration and fullness while jojoba oil and Vitamin E help moisturize and protect lips.

I LOVE Buxom’s lip glosses – they’re super glossy but not sticky and they smell like a vanilla cupcake.  These don’t leave behind the tingling sensation that I’m used to with the Lip Creams so I don’t find them as plumping but they’re still great.  This one offers a light wash of colour and can work well on its own, as well as overtop of other lip products; this particular shade leaves behind a shimmery, almost metallic looking shine.

KIKO

I was super excited to come across a stand alone store at the Fashion Show Mall; I’ve heard of Kiko but never used any of their products before.  Even better was that they were having a summer sale and had markdowns on a bunch of products.  I was near the end of my shopping day so I restrained myself a bit but I wish I had bought more!  Next time!

Kiko Fusion 01 Powder Brush – $11.90 USD

From the website: This face brush is perfect for applying and blending pressed, loose and bronzer powders. The soft, dome-shaped bristles ensure maximum control during application. The high-quality, synthetic bristles guarantee an even, smooth look and permit an easy, precise and professional-looking application of powders.The brush’s metal handle gives this tool a modern and elegant look. During the design process, the handle’s weight was carefully considered to create a practical, easy-to-control brush.

My thoughts: This.is.amazing.  By far my favourite purchase from Kiko.  First off, this brush is HUGE and it works wonders when applying powder (duh) but I also love using it all over my face once I’ve applied all my makeup to ensure it’s all blended.  It’s so soft and fluffy and the metal handle feels sturdy and luxurious.  I totally wish I had picked up more of their brushes.

Kiko Blending Wave Multi-color Blush (Ingenious Mauve) – $5.90 USD

From the website: Two-tone blush with a silky, creamy texture. The pan is composed of two different tones. The soft, velvety texture ensures excellent coverage and makes the product easy to blend. The powder clings to the skin, creating a natural, adjustable look. The blush comes in a compact case, also containing a practical mirror. The flashes of colour painted on the white top and the embossed brush strokes recall the theme of the collection inspired by the world of art.

My thoughts:  I love this too!  First up, the packaging is beautiful and unique; secondly the blush all 3 ways is gorgeous.  My favourite way is to blend both colours together.  I find it a little soft so it does kick up a bit of powder but it blends like a dream and has the perfect balance of pigmentation – not too light, not too dark.  The swatches didn’t photograph well but mixed it shows up a really nice coral shade.

Kiko Eye Base Primer – $4.90 USD

From the website: A creamy texture made from a smoothing and matifying powder base.  This supports the application and the fixing of the eyeshadow, making it extra long-lasting over time.Its light pigmentation neutralizes the tone of your eyelids emphasizing the resulting eyeshadow colour.  Hypoallergenic = formulated to ensure minimum instance of allergic reactions.  Ophthalmologically tested. Paraben free. Fragrance free.

My thoughts: I’m pretty picky when it comes to eye primers – I can’t wear just any because my lids are super oily.  This has impressed me – it’s a pretty thick formula but it blends effortlessly.  I also appreciate that its tinted as it helps blur any visible veins and discolouration on my eyelids.  Lastly it’s kept my shadow in place all day, with no creasing or fading.  A little of this goes a long way so I suspect this will be lasting me a while.

Kiko Endless Sky Volume Effect Mascara – $10.90 USD

From the website: Volumizing mascara featuring innovations that help preserve the structure of the eyelashes.  The formula’s ingredients instantly create a thick sheath that envelops, adds volume and helps to protect the lashes from base to tip. The thick, creamy texture doesn’t clump, applies easily and is adjustable.  The applicator consists of a mixture of different fibers and colours the lashes in a brilliant, jet black. The brush’s fine point reaches even the shortest side lashes.  The product comes in an elegant, coral-tinged gold package with an elongated shape, enhanced by a raised, three-dimensional design. Its silhouette is sensual and ergonomic.  

My thoughts: Mascara is another thing I’m picky about – my lashes are naturally quite long so I like mascaras that can enhance volume and thickness and are highly pigmented.  This seems to add a bit of length and a bit of volume but not a lot of thickness.  I’d describe it as black, but probably not jet black.  I haven’t experienced a lot of clumps, nor a ton of flaking so that’s positive.  I”m not sure what they mean but the texture being adjustable?  Regardless, I’d rate this as a middle of the road mascara – nothing inherently bad about it but it doesn’t do anything amazing – it’s just a good everyday mascara.  I must say I do love the rose gold tube however – so pretty!

That wraps up my Vegas makeup haul.  Overall – disappointed with my Bare Minerals products and very happy with my Buxom and Kiko products!  I’d love to try more of Kiko but it doesn’t look like they ship to Canada so that’s a little disappointing; guess I just need to make another trip to Vegas! 😉

Have you tried products from any of these brands?  Let me know below what your favourites are!

Thanks for reading!

Luxe Box Summer 2016 – Review & First Impressions

Welcome to my review of the Summer 2016 Luxe Box! I received my very first Luxe Box in the Fall of 2015 and sadly, this will be the last box I receive.  I’ve decided to cancel my subscription because I’m considering trying something new and non-beauty related/focused and while I’ve generally enjoyed my boxes, I’ve never been blown away by them.  I found that Luxe Box could sometimes be disorganized – for instance, this month’s box came without any type of product card? Other times the cards would be inaccurate or missing products.  Also, there many times where I’d receive a shipping notification after my box had been delivered.  Those are small things but after a while they tend to add up.  In addition, I was a little frustrated that the boxes weren’t more uniquely curated, given that they were only sent out on a quarterly basis.

That said, I do really appreciate the fact that this box only ships on a quarterly basis – that’s why I signed up for it.  And I do find the price pretty reasonable for all that’s included ($26 CAD/month plus GST – shipping included) for 7-8 deluxe samples, with at least 1 full size item included.  Lastly, they are a Canadian company, and I love supporting Canadian businesses when possible.  So while I think they have some room for improvement, I wouldn’t hesitate to consider them again if I choose to sign up for another beauty subscription box.

So, with that out the way, let’s get into what my Summer 2016 Luxe box included…

Barefoot Venus Lip Bliss (Spearmint) – $7.50 CAD

Moisturizing Mango Butter chock full of Vitamin A, and deeply nourishing Shea Butter bursting with Vitamins A, C and E combat free radicals found in the sun’s rays.  The Meadowfoam Oil serves as a natural SPF and the Aloe Butter all work together in this seriously cute, 100% natural Lip Bliss. 

I’m a bit of a lip balm fanatic and I love trying new types; I’m not a fan of mint-flavoured balms but I have to say, this is a pretty good one!  It took a bit to figure out how it actually works (you push the tube up from the bottom) but the formula is super thick and buttery and it feels really moisturizing.  Bonus points for the unique and cute cardboard packaging.  Pretty happy with this!

Mirabella Refreshmint Eyeshadow Pigment – $10 USD

Innovative loose powder formula contains conditioning ingredients to soften skin. Versatile pigment can be blended from icy to mint, with either a wet application for bright color with a sharper finish, or a dry application for a more pearlescent look.

I was really excited to see this included in the box!  This is one of my favourite colours yet I don’t own any eyeshadows in this shade.  What I like about this is you can apply it with a fluffy brush for a sheer wash of colour or pack it on with a flat shader brush for a more intense look.  I won’t be wearing this on the regular, but it’s a nice addition to my collection.

Morgan Taylor Nail Polish – I’m the Good Witch ($?)

Last season’s box also included a full size Morgan Taylor polish, and while this is a different shade, I’m a little disappointed in the lack of effort involved in including an item twice.  Despite that, I do really like this polish – the glitter is really multi-faceted and colourful and has a rose gold look to it.  I’ve used it a few times as an accent nail paired with Essie’s Topless and Barefoot and the two pair really well together.  So I’m happy with this addition but I would have preferred something a little more unique.  Note – I wasn’t able to find a price online so I’m not sure how much this retails for (as mentioned above no product card was included).

Novex Brazilian Keratin Deep Conditioning Hair Mask – $4.99 USD for 15 mL

Novex Brazilian Keratin Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is an enhanced treatment to restore smoothness and deep repair all types of hair. This product is enriched with Vitamin E and the most genuine Brazilian Keratin.  Recommended for dry, dull and frizzy hair.

There’s not many deep conditioners that I can use on my hair, given how fine it is.  Typically they just end up making my hair greasy. I’ve tried this once and unfortunately I can throw this into the “doesn’t work for me” pile.  The formula is really thick and creamy and I was a total greaseball on Day 2 after shampooing (I can usually go 3 days without washing).  I think this would work best for those with coarse/thick hair.

pur~lisse BB Tinted Moist Cream SPF 30 – $32 for 1.4 oz (received 0.34 oz.)

Your beauty balm (shade: Light) that glides on like tinted moisturizer with all the age-defying, coverage, sunscreen benefits of an foundation and BB cream! Featuring our exclusive Asian Herb extracts complex, Chamomile & Artemisia soothes skin while Sugar Maple improves skin’s appearance and retains moisture to create a gorgeous & glowing complexion.

I received a BB cream in my Spring box, so this was kind of another repeat; this is also a second time receiving a Pur-lisse product. I wasn’t too impressed with the Model Co’s BB cream so I didn’t expect much from this.  Thankfully I was actually pleasantly surprised!   I’ve tried it a few times and it’s moisturizing and provides light coverage but it still evens out my skintone.   I could also see this working really well as primer underneath foundation.  I find this to be quite similar to my Clinique City Block so I don’t think I’d order it but it was nice to try it out.

Harvey Prince Organics Sincerely Body Cream – $24.00 for 12 oz. (received 0.5 oz.)

Revitalize, soften and soothe your skin’s dry, rough patches with our hydrating Sincerely Body Cream.  An intensely moisturizing and deeply nourishing blend of Shea butter and sweet almond oil, combined with extracts of French bergamot and South African freesia, Sincerely Body Cream brings out your body’s natural luster, giving you silky smooth skin all day long. Infused with Harvey Prince Sincerely perfume.  Suitable for all skin types. Hypoallergenic. Non-comedogenic.

I’ve never heard of this brand before and I’m always open to trying new body moisturizers so I was excited to try this out.  Unfortunately I can’t say I’m a fan; the scent was really perfume-like and overpowering.  In addition, I had some major issues trying to get this to absorb – when I applied it, it turned white and just kind of sat on top of my skin, no matter how much I tried to rub it in.  So weird!  Not a fan.

O.R.G Skincare Mineral Peel Face with Brightening Agents – $44 USD for 2 oz (received .16 oz.)

Facial and makeup prep exfoliant with natural brightening agents.  Mineral Peel Face is the first all-natural enzyme exfoliant that extracts dermal debris and dead skin within seconds of application for instantly smoother, softer, radiant skin.  

Now this was intriguing to me!  Sometimes I find chemical exfoliants to be a bit too harsh for my sensitive skin but I noticed that the active ingredients (ascorbic acid, retinol, hyaluronic acid) were lower on the ingredient list so I figured it would give it a try.  I’ve used it twice so far and I probably have one application left because unfortunately my spray bottle leaked in the bag during transport. Basically you spray this on dry skin, let it sit for a few seconds and then massage your face, which triggers exfoliation.  It’s kind of a weird experience to literally be rubbing your skin off your face!

I have actually used a product very similar to this before – Peter Thomas Roth’s FIRMx Peeling Gel.  The ingredients are different but it basically does the exact same thing – and PTR’s version is slightly cheaper per ounce.  I think I actually prefer the PTR because it’s in gel form, rather than a spray.  I found the spray a little harder to apply – I ended up spraying it in my eyes and in my hair a few times – with the gel you can apply it exactly where you want it.   Plus I can order the PTR version through Sephora’s Canadian website and not have to deal with shipping, duty and exchange rates.  So while I liked this product, I can’t really justify ordering it on my own.

Overall, this was a good box with more hits than misses for me, so I’m happy to go out on a high note!

Do you have any suggestions for what subscription boxes I should consider next?  If so, let me know below!

Read about my previous Luxe Boxes here: Spring 2016 / Winter 2015 / Fall 2015

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Beauty Trash: July 2016

Another quarter, another round of my beauty trash!  I’ve changed the name of this re-occuring post to Beauty Trash from Used & Abused because it didn’t really click with me how inappropriate that could be perceived.  Eek.  Call me naive.   Anyway  I’ll get my repeats out of the way first thing, and then it’s on to new products I used up!

REPEATS

Batiste Dry Shampoo: Only 3 bottles this time – however I’m really loving the new Ella Henderson scent!  I’m hoping this isn’t limited edition and it sticks around permanently!

Repurchase?: Yes

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: One of the only hand creams that I regularly repurchase and always have to have on hand.  I go through a lot of these in the Winter because when my hands get really dry, my eczema tends to flare up but this keeps it in check.  I absolutely love this stuff!

Repurchase: Yes

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: My favourite micellar water, hands down.  Full review here.

Repurchase?: Yes

be Delectable Super Smoothing Body Polish (Strawberries & Cream): This is my second “tube” of this scrub but the Strawberries & Cream scent is divine.  It reminds me of a Strawberry Shortcake doll (do you remember those?) More details on why I like it here.

Repurchase?: Yes

SKINCARE

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion – PM: I really enjoyed this night-time moisturizer and it lasted me a long time – almost a year!  I appreciated that it included active ingredients such as Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid and I actually found I experienced similar results to one of my favourite moisturizers – Peter Thomas Roth’s 10% Glycolic Acid moisturizer.  It left my skin feeling moisturized and seemed to decrease the amount of redness I’d experience after washing my face.  The only drawback is that this does include parabens, which I’m not crazy about.  I haven’t repurchased it yet but I expect to at some point.

Repurchase?: Yes

Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Lotion: I’ve had this for a while and barely used it but unfortunately it’s expired so I chucked it.  I didn’t mind this but I don’t think I’d repurchase it – while it did its job as a sunscreen, it took a really long time to absorb and left my skin feeling a little greasy.  I had a really hard time trying to make this work under foundation so I wouldn’t repurchase it.

Repurchase?: No

Sephora Total Purify & Cleanse Gel: I loved this extra gentle face wash – my only gripe is that it didn’t remove my eye makeup very well.  My skin always felt so soft, yet clean after using this and my sensitive skin was just in love with it.  It had a light green tea scent that I found calming and soothing when used before bed.  I’m currently using some other cleansers but I wouldn’t hesitate to re-purchase this in the future.

Repurchase: Yes

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: This was just okay for me; it was gentle and I had no issues with irritation but I wasn’t crazy about the light cucumber fragrance (I hate cucumbers and anything cucumber-scented).

Repurchase: No

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (Mild – Dry/Combination): Another cleanser sample that I was just ‘meh’ about; it did the job but it didn’t do anything special and I found my face felt a little tight after using it.

Repurchase: No

Purlisse pur-delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser:  This was a sample I received in a previous Luxe box; the first few times I used this I actually quite liked it – it seemed to take all of my makeup off easily, even eye makeup.  Then I stopped using it and went back to a few weeks later and it didn’t seem to work as well.  So I’m not sure what changed?  Regardless, it appears to be discontinued, not that I could see myself paying $36 for it anyway.

Repurchase: No

The Face Shop Character Mask – Moisturizing (not available online): This was also included in a previous Luxe Box and I was excited to use it because it looked hilarious.  And it was, but I didn’t really feel like it did anything but I haven’t found a sheet mask that has.  My skin felt moisturized for about an hour after and that was about it.

Repurchase?: No

Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes (available in-store): I use these to remove swatches and clean my countertops and makeup vanity.  I do not put these anywhere near my face because these are beyond irritating to my skin.  Read more about it here.

Repurchase?: No

BATH & BODY

Frilly Lilly Shea Butter Creme (Argentinian Lemon): I picked this up at a local esthetics salon by the same name and at first I wasn’t sure about the lemon scent but it totally grew on me and I find it perfect for summer!  I also loved how it didn’t leave my hands feeling greasy or slick – it just moisturized them nicely.

Repurchase: Yes

L’Occitane Hand Gel Creme (Citrus Verbena):  Another hand cream that smells absolutely amazing!  This smells so fresh and clean and the gel formula is cooling and refreshing.  I’ve already bought another tube of this but I’m not going to lie, the $12 for 1 oz price tag kind of hurts given that this only lasts me a couple of weeks.  But L’Occitane has sucked me in so I’ll probably still keep buying them!

Repurchase: Yes

St.Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion (Naturally Energizing): I’m not sure if St.Ives is no longer carrying this particular scent as it’s not showing up on their website (just on Amazon) but if that’s the case I’m kind of disappointed because I really liked it.  I prefer body lotions that aren’t too thick but still really moisturizing and that describes this perfectly – except it’s in a handy-dandy spray format.  I’m using up some other body lotions right now but I will be picking up another one of these at some point.

Repurchase: Yes

Hawaiian Blend Aloe After Sun Lotion: I’ve had this for years and finally used it up – and I’m pretty sad about it.  This is such a great product to apply after you’ve spent a day in the sun, or if you’ve had a burn and need something to soothe your skin and prevent peeling.  I find that applying aloe vera gel helps cool your skin but doesn’t do much to moisturize it, which if you’re burnt, you really need.  I’ll definitely be picking up another bottle of this the next time I’m in Hawaii!

Repurchase: Yes

Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Lotion (no longer available): Another oldie, I don’t even want to know how many years I’ve had this lying around for.  I finally decided to use it up and I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.  This actually provides a pretty good amount of moisture!  Plus the cooling peppermint sensation was kind of nice too.

Repurchase: Yes

Ombra Aromatic Foam Bath (Eucalyptus): One of the first things I do when cold weather or the flu hits is go out and pick up this bubble bath.  It’s fantastic for soothing sore and aching muscles and the eucalyptus oil helps you breathe easier.

Repurchase: Yes

Cake Milk Made Supremely Rich Bath & Shower Froth:  I’ve gotten to the point now where I literally cannot live without this stuff – I always have a bottle on hand to replace the one I’ve just finished up.  I use this mostly as a bubble bath, but it works really well as a shower gel too.  They have various scents but this one might be my favourite because it’s so unique – it smells like whipped cream tastes, with a hint of raspberry.  Plus it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Repurchase: Yes

Rocky Mountain Soap Bubble Bath – Vanilla Ginger (no longer available): Can you tell I like bubble bath?  This was a Christmas gift and I enjoyed it I felt like I was bathing in gingerale.  The only drawback was that this was pretty liquidy so I used it pretty fast.  I wouldn’t purchase this regularly but it’s nice as a treat once and a while.

Repurchase: Yes

Mitchum Gel Anti-Perspirant (Unscented): This is the only anti-perspirant/deodorant that I’ve found that works for me; TMI – I tend to sweat a lot but I can actually wear this every other day and get away with it.  I’ve tried others and they just don’t compare.

Repurchase: Yes

Britney Spears Fantasy Perfume: Yes it’s Britney Spears perfume but it’s awesome.  Plus it’s super affordable and lasts all day.

Repurchase: Yes

MAKEUP

Smashbox Photofinish Primer (Blemish Control): I was a little afraid to use this because I expected it to be drying given that it contains salicylic acid; it wasn’t but I didn’t find it did anything to keep my oily t-zone under control.  If you have blemishes and dry skin, this might work okay for you but I have other primers that work much better for me.

Repurchase?: No

CoverGirl Oh Sugar! Lip Balm (Cupcake): My initial thoughts on this really haven’t changed much – you can read them here.

Repurchase?: No

Better Than Sex Mascara: I still really like this mascara but I might be falling slightly out of love with it.  While it checks every box (lengthening, thickening, volumizing, separating) the flaking and smudging are starting to drive me nuts.  I’m tempted to try the waterproof version to see if it’s any better.  I’m currently using up another sample size of this so I’m going to finish that one up before I decide if I should purchase it again.

Repurchase?: Undecided

LipSmackers Lip balm (Strawberry Coconut / Dr. Pepper): Technically these should fall under Repeats but I forgot to split them out in the photo, so they’re down here.  Full review on Dr. Pepper here. Strawberry Coconut performed the same but it didn’t have the tint that Dr. Pepper has.

Repurchase?: Yes

TOOLS

Beauty Blender: I’ve said before how I didn’t expect to love my Beauty Blender as much as I do.  I bought it because of the hype but I truly feel it does live it up to it.  I’ve tried other versions and I find that they work fine for the most part, but they’re just not quite as good as this. This one lasted me a whole year; make note that I didn’t use it every single day but I took good care of it and cleaned it regularly and thoroughly.  I know they recommend to replace it every 3 months but out of pure curiosity I cut my open before I threw it out and it literally looked brand new inside.  My personal opinion is that if you take good care of it, one can last you way past the 3 month mark.

Repurchase?: Yes

Sephora Eyelash Curler: I’ve been wanting to get rid of this eyelash curler for a while and it sealed its fate one day a few weeks ago.  I went to curl my lashes with it and one of the silicone covers flew off, causing my hand to slip and resulting in a handful of lashes being ripped out.  #ouch  That’s my biggest complaint about this curler – the silicone covers were always coming off.  I’ve since purchased a replacement (Tarte’s version) and I haven’t looked back.

Repurchase?: No

Wow that took a while, I think I need to do these more often.  What products have you finished using lately?

Pick 3: Essential Summer Beauty Products

When summer hits the last thing I want to be doing is wasting my day inside doing a full face of makeup – only to have it sweat off my face a few hours later.  I like to keep my makeup routine simple and quick most days, especially if it’s hot outside.  In the second installment of my Pick 3 series, I’m sharing with you my 3 essential beauty products for summer!

1. Facial sunscreen: Before my trip for Mexico in May, I was on the hunt for a good facial sunscreen.  I ended up with Clinique’s City Block Sheer Oil Free Daily Face Protector.  I wore it everyday while in Mexico and I love it!  It has a light tint to it, so I feel comfortable skipping foundation if I so choose – but it also works fantastic as a primer under foundation.  It’s also NOT GREASY which can be really hard to come by in sunscreens, specifically ones for your face.  Another bonus – it’s safe for sensitive skin (that would be me!) as it contains only physical sunscreens (not chemical); I haven’t experienced any breakouts or irritation from using this which for me, is extremely rare.  Highly recommend this!
2. Mascara: It’s a rare day when I don’t leave the house wearing mascara – even if I’m heading to the beach/pool.  I’m naturally fair so my lashes are almost invisible without it.  One of my new favourites is Tarte’s Lights Camera Lashes mascara. This is another product I brought with me to Mexico and I was so happy with it!  I’d wear this during the day when we were at the beach and believe me when I was say it was HOT and extremely humid (like 40+ degrees Celsius).  I usually bring a waterproof mascara primer with me for beach days but I forgot it this trip and figured I’d end up with racoon eyes by the end of the day.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that was not the case at all – my mascara stayed put all day!  Now I wasn’t dunking my face in water or anything but I think that given that this is not a waterproof mascara, that’s pretty impressive.  In addition it gives my lashes some amazing length and a good amount of volume, although I would prefer that it thickens them a bit more.  I did find this to clump a little in the beginning but now that it’s dried out, that problem seems to have disappeared.  Given all it’s benefits, this has become my go-to summer mascara.
3. Blush: I really struggled with this 3rd one – blush or lip gloss?  In the end I went with blush because if I’m being honest I can’t always be bothered with applying lip gloss every couple of hours, but blush is usually a once a day type of thing.  Or at least it should be – which is why NARS Orgasm blush made my list.  I’ve worn this blush for years and I know that many aren’t fond of its glittery-ness (#notaword) but on me, it just looks shimmery and glowy.  Plus the longevity of this cannot be beat – it’s the longest-wearing blush I own, which is important for those hot summer days.  And the peachy pink shade looks great on my naturally pale skin or when I’m lucky enough to be sporting a hint of colour.  There’s a reason this is a cult classic.

What products would make your top 3 list for the Summer months?  Let me know below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: SoftLips Luxe & CUBE Lip Balms

If there’s one beauty product I cannot live without, it’s lip balm.  My lips are chronically dry and I suspect I have a mild case of lip balm addiction (this is a real thing – google it!) as I feel a little panicky when I’m without some kind of moisturizing lip product.  It’s a rare occurrence for me not to have a lip balm on my person.  So I was pretty pumped to hear that I had qualified for the Soft Lips campaign through Chickadvisor’s Product Review Club.  When I received the package I was pleasantly surprised to see I had been sent 2 flavours from their new CUBE line, and 2 from the Luxe Line, plus a cute little makeup bag!

A quick note about Chickadvisor – if you’re a Blogger in Canada or the US and you haven’t yet signed up with them yet, I’d highly recommend it! I’ve had several great opportunities to review full-sized products through them and I really appreciate their process.  Basically I receive emails once or twice a month regarding product review opportunities and I get to decide if it’s something I’m interested in or not.  If so I complete their survey and then keep my fingers crossed and await notification.  If I’m selected, I usually receive the products within a few weeks and am given a reasonable amount of time to write a review on the Chickadvisor site.  There’s no obligation for me to write a blog post on any of the products I’ve received but I always do because they make for great blog topics.  Also, I’m just raving about them because I truly do think they’re a great resource for us Bloggers – they didn’t ask me to do this!

Anyway, back to the lip balms; as mentioned, I received 4 Softlips balms in total – 2 from the Luxe line and 2 from the CUBE Line. First let’s look at the claims of the CUBE lip balms:

CUBE lip balms are described as sleek, stylish and sophisticated in design and are uniquely formulated with a Lip Perfecting Technology that blends 5 lip loving benefits into 1 to give beautiful, luscious looking lips.  The formula hydrates with shea butter, while anti-oxidant-rich ingredients Vitamin A, C & E work to replenish lips.  With one glide it smoothes away roughness, leaving a soft and silk-like texture on the lips.  It has a long-lasting moisture barrier that protects against further dryness, while natural olive extracts add a touch of shine leaving behind a perfect radiant finish.  Gluten & cruelty-free.

Those are some serious claims for a lip balm! 🙂

First up, I must say, I love the packaging on these!  They’re made of a thick, clear plastic and each flavour has a different colour base.  Despite being made of a sturdy plastic, they are relatively light and could easily be tossed in your purse.  But because they’re so cool looking, they also display nicely on your makeup vanity or nightstand.

I was also a huge fan of the Berry Bliss flavour that I received; it smells so good that I could almost eat it.  It reminds me of some kind of candy or drink from my childhood – it’s sweet and fruity and just delicious.  I also received the Fresh Mint flavour, which is a classic but mint is never my first choice – I always go for the fruity or sweet flavours.

I can’t say I’m really a fan of the dome shape of these balms; I always prefer lip balms in stick/tube form.  Mainly because I always end up getting the product not just on my lips, but around my mouth.  This can cause breakouts on my super-sensitive skin, so I always have to be super careful when applying these types of balms,  and avoid using them before bed or prior to eating or drinking when the product can easily stray from my lips.

On the bright side, these are super moisturizing.  The formula is creamy and silky and my lips have never felt so moisturized and hydrated.  I didn’t really feel like they added any extra shine compared to any other lip product I’ve used but my lips definitely felt smoother.

Now on the Luxe line and it’s claims:

Sleek, stylish and sophisticated in design, Softlips Luxe is uniquely formulated with a Lip Perfecting Technology that blends 5 lip loving benefits into 1 to give you beautiful, luscious looking lips.  Can be used alone or as a lip conditioning base before applying lipstick.  Gluten and cruelty-free.

The claims here are a little more simple but I actually think they deliver on them very well!  This lip balm is lighter and thinner and therefore not as intensely moisturizing when compared to the CUBE formula.  However, it works REALLY well under lip products, particularly my NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams.  I really struggle with wearing liquid lipsticks but these made them much more bearable and comfortable for longer.  They just leave a nice thin layer of moisture on your lips which is exactly what I’m looking for in an everyday lip balm.

I also really appreciate the packaging on these; they are also made with that same thick, clear plastic with a coloured base that corresponds to its flavour.  These mimick a lipstick tube and I LOVE that – it makes applying these precisely so easy.

As mentioned I received two flavours of these as well – Creamy Coconut and Silky Shea.  I liked both flavours, although I preferred the coconut because I love coconut anything.  The Shea was nice too – it had a very light, sweet scent and I don’t know how to describe it except to say it was more than pleasant.

So what’s my verdict on these?  As much as I like the CUBE balms, I don’t see myself repurchasing them simply for their domed shape.  However, I would definitely re-purchase either of the Luxe balms.  I think they are perfect as an everyday lip balm and great to store in your purse, car, desk, etc.  Note that they are both devoid of any colour so they both can work well under any lip product.

Softlips CUBE and Luxe lip balms retail for $4.67 although prices can vary based on retailer.

Special thanks to ChickAdvisor and Softlips for sending me these products to try!  These products were sent to me for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

Loves & Letdowns – May 2016

I haven’t done a Loves & Letdowns post for a while and decided it was time.   I find that doing them on a monthly basis was a bit of a struggle for me – I don’t always have a long list of things that I loved (or let me down) so every couple of months seems to work better.  Without further adieu, here’s what I’ve been loving lately:

L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil: My mom passed a sample size of this shower oil on to me a while back and I decided to break it out back in April.  I’ve been using it several times a week and I LOVE it.  I put a drop or two directly on my skin and rub it in and it produces a light lather.  It leaves my skin feeling smooth and moisturized but not greasy; I particularly like using it to shave my legs as it leaves them feeling so silky.  I much prefer this over the Almond Supple Skin Oil that I purchased at the Sephora sale, and I most definitely plan on purchasing the full size.

Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara: I received this sample at the Sephora sale and I’ve been using it off and on since (you can read my first impressions review here).  Honestly, my opinion hasn’t changed, I still really like this mascara, although the packaging isn’t the best.  I thought for sure it would dry out quickly given the design of the tube, but surprisingly it’s still going strong!  Therefore I’ve added this to my purchase list, which is big considering I rarely splurge on non-drugstore mascaras.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe: I just did a full review on this so I bother repeating myself.  It’s awesome and I highly recommend it.  I’ve been using it non-stop for the last 2 months so it definitely deserves a spot on here.

L’Occitane Citrus Verbena Hand Cream Gel: I go through hand cream more than any other product and I love trying new ones.  This smells amazing; it’s so fresh and clean and refreshing.  The fact that it’s a gel means it isn’t intensely moisturizing but it works great for me in the summer months when my hands aren’t quite so dry.  Plus the gel leaves behind a nice cooling effect.

L’Oreal Brow Plumper by Brow Stylist (Transparent): I was in need of a new brow gel and given how impressed I was with the Brow Stylist Definer, I thought this would also be worth a try.  And it is great!  The small brush makes it super easy to get a precise application, while the formula keeps my brows in place without leaving them crunchy or sticky.

Swatch of Rimmel’s Airy Fairy

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick (Airy Fairy): I picked this up after hearing Young Wild & Polished says its one of her favourite drugstore lipsticks, and I can see why.  It’s a great pinkish nude shade with a maeuve undertone and the slightest hint of gold shimmer.  I find the formula kind of drying so I do make sure to coat my lips with balm before wearing this and before re-applying.  Despite that I really like how this looks on me – often nudes can wash me out but I think this one works!

Blaze Pizza: Pizza is the one thing that I feel like I could eat every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of.  I LOVE thin crust pizza but it can be hard to find places that make it right!  Enter Blaze Pizza!  This is a chain restaurant that has just started to expand into Canada.  I’ve eaten here a few times and the pizza is delicious!  The best part is you can customize your pizza and put whatever toppings you want on it for only $10.45 CAD.  I only wish the location was closer so I could eat here more often.

The Rosie Project: I read this book while on vacation and it was the perfect beach read!  It’s a hilarious account of a socially awkward genetics professor on his quest to find love.  I couldn’t help but picture Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory as Don here – way too many similarities!  If you just want to sit back and read something easy yet enjoyable, I’d recommend this.

And a few letdowns….

China Glaze Let’s Jam: I need help, I cannot stop buying nail polish!  I really need to start wearing ones I already own before I buy more, but when I saw this collection swatched on various Youtube channels, I knew had to try at least one.  By the time I found the collection, there weren’t many colours left – not that I was disappointed about scoring this one – it looked gorgeous.  Unfortunately it was a huge disappointment.  It’s a lilac purple shade with a blue shift but the blue shift is barely noticeable, except in certain light.  And I think I got a wonky formula – this took FOREVER to dry, no matter how long I let it set.  I literally applied this and 5 hours later my nails nicked and smudged, even though it felt completely dry to the touch.  I’ve tried applying it numerous times with the same result.  I have zero patience for formulas like this!

Mitchum SensitiveSkin Soft Solid Deodorant: I typically wear Mitchum deodorant because it’s the only one that is effective enough to wear every other day.  I really don’t like wearing deodorants with aluminum in them but I’m a big-time sweater and I just can’t go the natural route.  Because I have super sensitive skin, I couldn’t resist giving this a try.  Unfortunately it doesn’t work anywhere near as well as my regular Mitchum Gel.  I have to put several thick layers on for it to work, and if it’s a hot day out, it only lasts for a few hours max.  I also have to apply it daily, I can’t skip a day like I can with the gel.  I also hate that it’s a white solid; it doesn’t dry completely so I end up with white marks all over my clothes.  Fail!

L’Occitane Verbena Icy Lip Balm: This was an impulse buy when I was picking up the Verbena hand gel; unfortunately I just don’t find this moisturizes my lips at all.  It has a super thin and lightweight formula and it just kind of sinks into my lips and leaves no benefit behind.  In addition, the scent is almost non-existent.  Wouldn’t recommend this.

What made your favourites list this month? Let me know below!

Have a great day!