This & That – August 21

What’s going on with me:

Is there anything more frustrating than typing up an entire post, forgetting to save it and then losing it? *facepalm*

I placed an order for my first Love with Food box this month, thanks to Coffee Break with Dani. She was doing an unboxing on her channel and she had a 40% code and now that they ship internationally, I couldn’t resist giving them a try.  My box ended up costing me about $16 USD (including shipping), although the costs will increase the following month.  Keep an eye out for my review in early September!

Have you seen/heard?

Urban Decay is releasing a Naked Ultimate Basics Palette this fall, and I’m kind of liking the way it looks – it’s nothing super original, but I’ve hit pan on all the matte shades in my Naked palette and I’m considering a replacement for it.  Might be an option!

Have you tried any of these wild and wacky Oreo flavours?  I haven’t seen many of them in Canada, but I have tried the S’more flavour – which were really good, and the Red Velvet Cake flavour, which were just meh.

Recent purchases…

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes: I was a little disappointed in the last package of Olay wipes that I picked up so I decided to try something new. I was impressed with these – they removed my makeup with ease and were super gentle.  New potential favourite!

Ked Coursa Sneaker: I returned my Sam Edelman espadrilles that I bought a few weeks ago and replaced them with these.  Such a good decision!  These are so comfy and are made of a soft t-shirt like material.

Currently coveting…

RW & Co Lace Dress with Collar: I pretty much love anything lace but adding the white collar to this just makes it that much cuter.

CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream: Every review I’ve read/watched says this is nothing like a BB Cream but more like a foundation.  I’m not sure how well the matte formula will work my combo skin but given the drugstore price, I’m willing to take the risk.  Have you tried it?

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I’ve published over the last two weeks:

• Loves & Letdowns Lately
• Review: Vichy Normaderm Skincare

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Follow me!: INSTAGRAM: @classicmaggie | TWITTER: @classic_maggie | PINTEREST: @classicmaggie

March Loves & Letdowns

I’m a little behind on this month’s favourites – but on the bright side I’m actually doing it this month.  I completely forgot to do February favourites!  Oops!

I’m going to jump right in – here’s what I loved this month:

Gap Open Front Cardi: I love cardi’s any time of year, but especially for Spring and Summer.  This one is super lightweight so it’s perfect to throw overtop of a t-shirt or tank in the morning when it’s still a little chilly out.  They offer this sweater in a wide variety of colours; I selected it in Heather Grey colour but I’m tempted to pick up another in Turquoise or Blue.

Bath & Body Works Cinnamon Spiced Vanilla Hand Soap: I can’t get enough of this hand soap – it smells exactly like my favourite warm drink from Starbucks – their Cinnamon Dolce Hot Chocolate.  Love it!

Tarte Maracuja Oil: This was included in a Tarte set I bought on Black Friday and I was a little hesitant to use it as I haven’t really had much success with using oils on my face.  My skin is super sensitive and I usually break out when I try to use them.  This one is different though!  I’ve been using this off and on throughout the month as a night-time moisturizer and mixed into my foundation in lieu of primer and it works so well!  I totally expected it to leave me greasy and oily by the end of the day when I mixed it into my foundation but it just made my skin look glowy and healthy and my foundation applied like a dream.  Used as a nighttime moisturizer, I couldn’t believe how supple and smooth my skin felt the next day.  I’m about halfway through my little mini bottle of it but I plan on purchasing the full size, or at least another of the same size.

CoverGirl TruBLEND Blush (Light Rose): This might be one of the best drugstore blushes I’ve ever tried.  Be warned this particular shade is quite light so it probably wouldn’t work well for those with darker skin tones.  But for any of my fair-skinned friends, I’d recommend this.  It’s a really soft pink-ish peach and you can build it to your desired intensity.  On top of that the formula is great – it’s silky, soft and buttery.  Highly recommend this!

Frilly Lilly Argentinian Lemon Shea Butter Creme:  I’ve found my new favourite hand cream!  Frilly Lilly is a local mani/pedi/waxing boutique with locations in Alberta & British Columbia, and California.  I’ve been using this cream for probably a month and a half and it has really helped my chronically dry hands.  It’s not at all greasy – it absorbs quickly but moisturizes really well.  I also love that it doesn’t leave white marks on darker clothes if you touch them before it’s absorbed (one of my biggest pet peeves with hand cream!).  I picked up the Argentinian lemon scent and at first I wasn’t sure about it but I’ve grown to really like it – it’s very refreshing.

NYX Butter Gloss (Angel Food Cake / Strawberry Cheesecake): I’ve talked about how much I love the NYX Butter Glosses before and that hasn’t changed.  I gravitate towards lip glosses and these are some of the best I’ve tried.  They’re glossy and pigmented and so easy to wear.  Angel Food Cake is a lovely nude/mauve shade and Strawberry Cheesecake is a warm medium pink.  I really haven’t been wearing any other lip products aside from these this month!

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer (Blonde):  I have to admit I’m kind of lazy when it comes to brows – half the time I forget to do them.  However this eyebrow pencil is so good I’ve pretty much done my brows every day this month.  I can’t believe the difference between this and my previously beloved e.l.f eyebrow pencil – they don’t even compare!  Not only is the shade perfect for me, the precise tip makes it so easy to fill and define my brows (hence the name).  I’ve heard others say that this is a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz – not having tried it, I can’t confirm but if that’s true, but I see why everyone was going crazy over them if they are indeed similar.

Letdown:

NYX HD Concealer: I’ve been researching new concealers for a while and I had heard some good things about this one.  Unfortunately this did not work for me.  The reason: it’s ridiculously drying!  It seemed a little dry when I initially applied it but it only got worse as the day went on.  I used this to cover blemishes so I can’t imagine using this as an undereye concealer – it would totally emphasize and enhance any fine lines.  So this was a disappointment and the search for a new concealer continues…

Maggie’s love: Pet Kind Wild Pacific Salmon Treats

Maggie wanted to join in and share her love for the month.  She’s really been enjoying these salmon treats that I found at Homesense for $6.99.  Love that these are a Canadian product and made with wild pacific salmon.  And they stink so of course Maggie just loves them.  This is the second bag we’ve gone through and I haven’t seen these again at Homesense, so I’m going to have to track down a retailer here that sells them.

What were your loves and letdowns for March?

Thanks for reading!

Drugstore Haul & First Impressions

Happy Thursday!

I hope you’re having a good week – or at least a better one than me!  I had to take a bit of a break from blogging over the last few days as I was down and out with a stomach virus/flu and it literally knocked me out for a little less than a week.  I’ll spare you the details but there were moments where I just wanted to be put out of my misery.  Thankfully it’s seems to have run its course and I’m starting to feel more human again so now the blogging can continue.

So, on to the post at hand!  I did a bit of a drugstore haul a while ago and I’m anxious to share with you what I picked up and what my first impressions are:

CoverGirl TruBlend Blush (Light Rose 100): Love this!  I’m always sucked in by ombre or marbled products and a lot of the time, they never meet my expectations.  This one has defied the odds though!  This is a peachy pink shimmery blush that isn’t super pigmented – but I’m okay with that. I prefer buildable blushes and this falls in that category.  Note that I am quite pale so this likely wouldn’t work well on those with deeper skin tones but overall I’m impressed with it – it’s smooth and silky and blends and builds really well.  I might just pick up another shade!

CoverGirl OhSugar! (Cupcake):  I’ve been using this for probably the last month and a half and it’s 3/4 of the way done.  My first impression was that I didn’t really like it – I know these are supposed to be sheer but this shade in particular has almost no colour (I didn’t even bother uploading the picture of the swatch because there’s literally nothing to see). Which I could live with if I felt like it offered great hydration….but I’m not sure it does that either.  I know everyone is comparing these to the Fresh Sugar lip balms but I personally don’t feel they really match up.  I always felt the lasting effects of the Fresh version for at least a couple hours after application but with this, it’s disappeared not too long after I’ve applied it.  I might try another shade at some point once I’m done with this one but I think I’m going to stick with my tried and true Dr Pepper Lip Smackers! 🙂

CoverGirl Plumpifyier Blastpro Mascara: I’ve only been using this about a week and so far, I think it’s okay.  It gives me decent length and separation but I’m not seeing much volume and thickness.  Ironic given that this is supposed to provide 50% more volume.  I think the problem is the size of the brush – this thing is huge and I personally like big mascara brushes!  It really makes it difficult to get the wand close to the roots of my lashes.  The good thing is I haven’t experienced much clumping with this EXCEPT for on my lower lashes – would not recommend this for them.  The wand is just too big and bulky for that small of a space.   So far though, no flaking or smudging which is nice.  I need to test this out a little more to see if it’s something I’d repurchase though.

Essie Groove Is In The Heart: I have no clue why I picked this up – I just bought 3 pink nail polishes from the Hello Kitty! OPI Collection a couple months ago, so the last thing I needed was another pink polish.  Regardless, I did and I can’t say I’m crazy about it.  While the neon pink shade is gorgeous, the formula sucks.  It’s thick, gooey and gloopy and nearly impossible to apply.  Chipping wasn’t too bad, I went about 3 days before I experienced my first one (and for Essie, that’s actually quite impressive).  I might try adding some polish thinner to see if that helps but I can’t say I’d recommend this.

Essie Lounge Lover: I watched a Youtuber (I think it was Jenny Claire Fox) swatch and rave about this and I had to pick it up – it just seemed like the perfect colour for Spring/Summer.  And it is – it’s a gorgeous bright peachy pink shade and this formula is great: creamy, smooth and if you’re really good at nails, you could probably get away with one coat (I always have to do two).  Pretty happy with this one!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure (Black & Blue):  I’ve had this for over a month now and I’ve used it twice and I was really impressed!  The formula is great – it’s on the thinner side so you need 2 coats minimum but it just glides on my nails like silk!  It also lasted a good solid week without chipping.  I’m a huge fan of SH’s wide brush – it makes it so easy to get perfect application every single time.  I can’t believe I don’t have more shades in this line in my collection, I’m going to have to pick up a few more and see if they’re just as good as this one is.

Hardy Candy So Baked Bronzer (Tiki): This is called a bronzer but I’m not really sure it classifies as one.  I’d consider it to be more of a highlighter given how light it is – and I’m pretty fair!  To be fair (haha!), this is the lightest shade out of their line and there are darker options available.  However I chose this one as I had heard good things about it on Youtube.  I think it’s a decent drugstore highlight but I’m not sure about its longevity, it appears to fade halfway through the day.

Hard Candy Glow All the Way Ombre Blush (Punch): I saw this and I couldn’t not buy it – it’s so pretty!  Again, this is classified as a blush but I kind of see it more like a blush/highlighter.  It’s pretty frosty and shimmery and you definitely don’t need to highlight after using this.  I think the colour is pretty, it’s quite pigmented but I’m finding the lasting power iffy.  Still testing!

Hard Candy Stroke of Genius Marker (Little Black Dress): This might be one of the longest lasting liquid eyeliners I’ve ever tried from the drugstore – and I’ve tried many.  This literally does stay put for 12 hours, or more if needed! It’s also extremely pigmented and glides on smoothly. Two problems: it’s a pain in the @ss to remove.  I have to use an oil-based waterproof makeup remover to take it off and even then I end up with little black flakes everywhere.  Secondly, once it has dried, you cannot go over it again and fix any mistakes; it dries hard so you might as well just start your eye makeup all over again.  I think this is a great option for special occasions, but not for everyday use.  Oh and I’m skeptical about the lash growth serum but I haven’t used this enough to state if it actually does anything one way or another.

NYC Expert Last Satin Matte Lip Color (Creamy Mauve): When I saw these lip products were 2 for $4 I didn’t see how I could go wrong.  I remembered reading a blog somewhere that raved about them and lately there seems to be plenty of favorable reviews on NYC’s products so I didn’t see the harm in trying them out.  I swore I had picked out two different shades at the time but when I got home I realized both were Creamy Mauve.  I didn’t think that would be such a big deal because the colour looked pretty nice.  Then I applied it.  Ick.  On my lips it applied a really unflattering frosty/milky pastel pink.  In addition I think calling them matte is stretch – the formula was really creamy and rich and didn’t dry down to a matte finish at all.  It’s actually a good formula but they need to get the shade description straight.  Anyway, this was pretty much a fail for me, thankfully it was only a $4 fail!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Milan/Ibiza): Me and matte lip products don’t get along, given my naturally dry lips.  However I’ve heard that these are pretty comfortable and now that Shoppers Drug Mart is carrying the NYX line, I couldn’t resist picking out a few to try.  Overall I’d say they are less drying than other liquid lipsticks I’ve tried, but alas, they are still drying.  I have to make sure I’m having a good lip day before deciding to wear one of these – meaning my lips are hydrated, smooth and free from any peeling or flaking.  Even so, they tend to highlight every line and/or imperfection on my lips (although Milan is guilty of this moreso than Ibiza).  However the colours are glorious – so pigmented and rich!  Milan is described as a “mid toned, blue toned pink”…I tend to describe it more as a vibrant rosy pink – either way it’s very wearable.  Ibizia is described as a “matte deep rose pink”…I personally see it as more a vibrant pink/coral.  This seems like a perfect shade for spring/summer but it makes my teeth look so yellow, as orange-toned shades do.  Guess I’ll just wear it and smile with my mouth closed.  😉  Even though I’m struggling to wear these, I love how beautiful the shades are and I want to figure out a way to wear them. so I’m going to try and find a lip primer that I can wear underneath to see if I can make it work (if you have any recommendations, I’d appreciate them!)

NYX Butter Gloss (Angel Food Cake): I’m a big fan of NYX’s Butter Gloss in Tiramisu and I know that Angel Food Cake is popular as well so I figured I’d give it a try.  I applied it once and I was instantly a fan. Both shades are just your lips but better shades and so easy and comfortable to wear.  I’m a big gloss fan though so if you are too I’d recommend these!

L’Oreal Voluminious Superstar Liquid Eyeliner: I love trying new liquid eyeliners, especially from the drugstore.  Okay, I only buy my eyeliners from the drugstore, I can’t justify paying anything over $15 for them.  One of my favourite liquid eyeliners is the L’Oreal Infalliable version below so I had high expectations of this.  I love the shape of the tip on this – it makes doing a wing so much easier.  The problem is, it smudges like crazy.  If I use to line the inner half of my eye and I touch my eye or if my eyes water (which they always do), I’ve got black smudges everywhere.  I’m not sure why they didn’t use the same formula as the Infalliable but I won’t be repurchasing this.

L’Oreal Infalliable Super Slim 12H Liquid Eyeliner: One of my favourite drugstore liners, read the reasons why here.

e.l.f Angled Blush Brush:  I have a few of e.l.f’s brushes and I’ve always been very impressed with them.  This one has been a bit of a let down so far – I’m not sure if it’s just not packed tightly enough or if it’s just the bristles themselves but I have a hard time getting it to pick up product.  It seems works well to blend blush out though!

drugstore skin care – olay gentle clean wet cleansing cloths

Olay Gentle Clean Wet Cleansing Cloths: My favourite makeup removing wipes – details here.

Bonne Bell Lipsmackers (Dr Pepper): Had to pick up a few of my favourite lip balms!  Find out why these are my favourite here.

And that wraps up my drugstore haul.  Have you tried any of these products?  What products have you tried from the drugstore recently?  Let me know below.

Thanks for reading!

Used & Abused – Product Empties

It’s been a long time since I’ve done an empties post and my basket overfloweth so this was long overdue.  So on to it!

HAIR PRODUCTS

Batiste Dry Shampoo: I talk about Batiste all the time on my blog and I did a review on it very early on into my blog.  I only wish they’d bring more scents to Canada – the Floral, Tropical and Fresh scents are the only ones I’ve seen stocked regularly in store.  It’d be nice if there was more selection as I know they definitely make quite a few different scents than just those 3.  Won’t stop me from using it though!

Repurchase: Yup!

Chi Magnified Volume Finishing Spray: This made my list of Top 15 of 2015 Products because it does what a hairspray is supposed to do.  I know that doesn’t seem like much but me and hairspray don’t typically get along.  My hair is stubborn and this shows it who’s boss.  If you have problem hair like me, I’d recommend it!

Repurchase: Yes

Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo: Another product on my Top 15 of 2015 (God I’m boring!) but I’m estatic to have finally found a shampoo that works for me (it’s been a long journey, believe me).  This moisturizes my fine hair just the right amount and leaves it feeling silky and smooth.  Also because I colour my hair using a shampoo with colour-protecting properties is important to me so I appreciate that too.  I’m already on my third bottle of this.

Repurchase: Yes

David Baba for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray: I bought this at Winners quite a few years ago and I always threw it in my travel bag to use on beach days.  I haven’t used many beach/sea salt sprays but I was pretty impressed with this one.  It definitely gave my hair some texture and a bit of wave (which is something given my hair is naturally stick straight).  I had to be careful not to overuse it though as too much of it made my hair crunchy and sticky.  I had about 1/2 a bottle left of this but I had to dump it out as it was starting to smell a little funky and looked like it was discoloured.  I’d love to be able to find this again but I haven’t been lucky enough to come across it.

Repurchase: Yes

BATH & BODY

Radox Time Out Herbal Bath (Lavender & Mimosa): I purchased this bubble bath in the clearance section at Superstore later last year for something like $3.  I’ve used bubble baths from this brand before and had always been happy with them.  I like having lavender-scented bath products around for when I am struggling to sleep; there’s nothing like a lavender-scented bubble bath to drift me into dreamland.  This definitely does the job but I don’t see myself making a point of repurchasing this; I liked it but I just picked it up because it’s on sale.  No complaints with it at all though!

Repurchase: No

Delectable Vanilla & Cream Super Smoothing Body Polish: Mmmm this stuff smells divine – like a delicious vanilla cake.  The scent won me over immediately but I also love that it’s a gentle yet effective body scrub.  If you’re looking for a super intense scrub this probably isn’t for you but my sensitive skin loves this stuff.  I’ve tried the Strawberries and Cream scent too and it’s equally as amazing.

Repurchase: Yes

Ombra Aromatic Foam Bath (Berries): Ombra makes my favourite Eucalyptus bubble bath and I actually received this mini bottle when I purchased that exact product.  This worked just as well as the Eucalyptus version but it smelled like cranberries.  It foams up well and the bubbles don’t dissipate which is key to a good bubble bath.

Repurchase: Yes

Delectable Coconut & Cream Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream:  I love this hand cream but I hated the scent.  And I love coconut-scented things!  But this just smells too synthetic to me, kind of like one of those fuzzy car air fresheners that hang off the rear-view mirror.  So while I wouldn’t buy this lotion in this particular scent, I know I’d be happy with the vanilla or strawberry versions.

Repurchase: Yes

SKINCARE

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: Another repeat offender in my empties – I’ve been using this for years mainly as my eye makeup remover, sometimes as my all-my-makeup remover when I’m feeling lazy. I did a full review on it here.  I’m happy with it – it works great and I have no complaints with it but I kind of feel like trying something new.  We’ll see.

Repurchase: Yes

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief: This is a fantastic moisturizer for dry/dehydrated skin!  I have combination skin but it made such a difference in the dry patches that I sometimes have flare up.  I also loved it as an overnight moisturizer if my skin was feeling parched – I’d wake up the next morning with super soft, re-hydrated skin.  I particularly loved the gel texture of this – I found it be to really cooling and soothing.  I didn’t really find that it did anything for wrinkles or fine lines though so I wouldn’t buy it for that reason.

Repurchase: Yes

Too Cool for School Egg Cream Sheet Mask: Maybe I haven’t found the right one yet but I’m not sold on sheet masks. I haven’t tried a lot of them but the ones I have tried haven’t done anything amazing to my skin that I feel I couldn’t get from just a regular face mask in a tube or bottle.  I had high hopes for this one but again, it just fell into that “ok” category.  My skin felt moisturized after – yes.  But that only lasted for about an hour or so and then my skin was back to way it was.  Perhaps you need to use these regularly to see lasting benefits but that would get really expensive.  I’d much rather spend more money on mask in a jar or bottle that will last me months than continually buy these.  Anyway back to this mask – I kind of expected this to smell like eggs but it didn’t thank god (gag – that would have been gross); it had more of a light floral scent.  No issues there.  I did find it a little difficult to apply as there was a sheet of thin plastic mesh you had to remove first and I ended up ripping the mask trying to do that.  Ugh.  Anyway I got it on and I found it to be quite goopy/tacky although once I took it off and rubbed the serum into my skin the tackiness disappeared.    One last thing I will say about sheet masks in general though – they will force you to relax.  It’s pretty much impossible to do anything but sit there and will it to stay on your face.  So if you’re in need of some relaxation, you might want to give one a try.

Repurchase: No

BareVitamins Skin Rever-Upper: I’ve mentioned before that I just don’t do thick moisturizers in the morning.  My skin takes forever to absorb anything so I don’t have time to sit and wait.  Which is why I like this stuff!  I have a more detailed review on it here but in short, it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly but still leaves my skin moisturized.

Repurchase: Yes

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream: Eye creams are another thing that I just can’t ever get to work for me.  There hasn’t been one that I’ve tried that’s done a darn thing.  No exception here – this did absolutely nothing. Note that I rarely have dark circles or puffiness but I didn’t even find that it moisturized my under eye area.  Despite that, I was trying to use it up but I contaminated it when I had my eye infection so there’s still a good 1/2 of the tube left.  Can’t say I’m super torn up about that.

Repurchase: No

Peter Thomas Roth 10% Glycolic Acid Moisturizer: This was the very first product I reviewed here on my blog (a few months short of a year now – time flies!).  This is another product I’ve used for years and I’ve kind of fallen out of love with it because I don’t find it works as well as it used to on me.  I was using it twice a day however, so I feel like my skin got a bit too used to it and it stopped being so effective.  Either way, I did see results when I used this – my skin was clearer and less prone to breakouts, it helped fade old scars, and decrease redness.  And as I write I feel like I want to go purchase another tube of this, just to have on hand and use a couple times a week.  The only thing that bugs me is the price – but one tube would typically last me 6 months..  So if you’re a fan of glycolic acid, I’d recommend this!

Repurchase: Yes

Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes: These are my go-to makeup remover wipes – I’ve tried a few different brands and types and I always come back to these because they work.  They’re gentle on my skin yet strong enough to actually remove a face full of makeup, including eye makeup.  They also stay moist right through to the last wipe – I hate it when wipes dry out halfway through the package.  Most importantly for me – no breakouts!  I always pick up a package of these before I travel anywhere.

Repurchase: Yes

Sephora Collection Express Cleansing Wipes – These used to be my go-to makeup remover wipes – but I think they’ve since changed the formula.  I wasn’t able to remove all my makeup with just one of these – I often had to use 2 or 3.  Then, halfway through the package, they dried up. Which is surprising given they have the plastic tab to seal them.  These are double the price of the Olay ones I mentioned above but don’t work near as well.

Repurchase: No

MAKEUP

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation: I rave about this often because it’s my favourite foundation to date.  This made my Top 15 of 2015 for a reason; full review here.

Repurchase: Yes

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer: This was an okay concealer, but I’m not sure I’d re-purchase it again.  It provided a good amount of coverage but I found it to be pretty dry, which is most likely related to the fact that it contains salicylic acid in it.  It’s supposed to help to clear up any blemishes but I honestly didn’t notice any difference.  And it’s use is limited because of that – you most definitely can’t put this under your eyes.  However it didn’t cause any additional breakouts so that’s something!

Repurchase: No

Buxom Big & Bushy Mascara: This is kind of a horrible name for a decent mascara.  I had just started using this when I got an eye infection last month and I had to chuck it before it’s time because I didn’t want to risk re-infecting my eye.  This has my kind of brush – a wand with full with “natural” (not silicone) bristles.  It provided some pretty good volume but I wouldn’t say it was massive as the description states.  It also references maximum length which I can’t really agree with – it gave a good amount of length.  Overall I feel I can obtain similar results with a number of drugstore mascaras though.

Repurchase: No

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara: This was my second time purchasing this mascara and even though I loved the first tube I purchased, this time I was kind of meh about this.  First off, my brush was wonky when I opened it – not sure if it went into the tube weird when it was packaged or what but the wand was all bent.  I did my best to straighten it out but it didn’t seem to function normally as a result.  I also experienced way more clumping this time, whereas I was able to comb any clumps out no-problem with my last tube.  If this had been my experience the first time I tried this mascara, I never would have re-purchased it. I’m hoping I just had a lemon.

Repurchase: On the fence.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara: This was another “meh” mascara.  It had a really weirdly shaped brush – similar to an S shape and it was quite large and fluffy.  Which normally I would like, but because of the S shape, I found it hard to apply evenly.  It did give me some decent volume but it flaked like crazy.  No go for me.

Repurchase: No

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: This little sample introduced me to my new favourite mascara that didn’t come from the drugstore.  I haven’t purchased a non-drugstore mascara in ages because I never found one that was worth the extra cash.  This one is.  Crazy volume, length, thickness, super black formula, definition.  The list goes on and on.  It checks all the boxes but be warned – it does flake.  I find using no more than 2 coats lessens the flaking but the good far outweighs the bad for me with this guy!

Repurchase: Yes

L’Oreal Infalliable Super Slim 12H Liquid Eyeliner: This is one of my favourite drugstore eyeliners.  It stays put all day, is super black and the slim tip makes it easy to draw a precise line.  My dislike is also the slim tip – it’s flexible so it damages easily and once it’s damaged you might as well just chuck the whole thing.  I tend to be a little hard on my eyeliner so I find I go through these quicker than I would like; however I experienced the same issue with the Stila Eyeliner that everyone raves about and it was much more expensive.   I get similar results with this one so I’ll just stick with these as they are about half the price!

Repurchase: Yes

e.l.f Eyelid Primer: This is the best “drugstore” eyelid primer I’ve ever tried. I still can’t believe its is only $3!  Full review here.

Repurchase: Yes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance: My favourite non-drugstore eyeshadow primer!  It made my top 15 of 2015; love this stuff!

Repurchase: Yes

 

Lipsmackers Dr Pepper Lip Balm: My favourite lip balm ever, hands down.  I’ve been wearing Lip Smackers since I was in elementary school…so let’s just say that it’s been a very long time.  I almost had a heart attack last year when they said that they were potentially no longer making Lip Smackers – thank goodness someone stepped up and continued production.  Out of all the flavours I’ve tried, the Dr. Pepper one is the best – it gives my lips a hint of colour and smells like my favourite soda.  Can’t go wrong!

Phew and that was everything!  Apparently I need to do these more often as this was much too long.  If you read it all, or even just a portion – thanks for reading!

Top 15 of 2015 – Beauty!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas with family and friends!  I can’t believe that Christmas has come and gone already – everything just seems to go by so fast.  While Christmas was fun, it was super busy, a bit chaotic and stressful before and during so I enjoyed spending the last couple of days relaxing and decompressing.  But now it’s time to get back into blogging!

Since the beginning of December I’ve been contemplating how to compile my top products of 2015…do I put everything into one post or break them out into categories in a series???  Then I saw Leighann Says do her Top 15 Favorites of 2015 on her YouTube channel and my decision was made – it seemed like an easy way to do it!   I thought I’d have no issue narrowing my list down to 15 products…I was wrong!  I was surprised at how many products I used this year that I actually liked!  However I made sure I was mindful as I went through them so that the products I’m mentioning here were ones that I truly loved and actually deserved to be on my list.  The majority of these have been included in my monthly Loves and Letdowns posts but there are a few that I have been enjoying over the last month or so too (and would have been included in my December Loves & Letdowns had I done one).

On to my list:

1. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer: The fact that I purchased the full size of this primer says a lot.  I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did – I figured it would leave me greasy and oily by the end of the day but it actually does the opposite.  It gives my skin a natural glow and leaves it feeling hydrated and moisturized.  The combination of this with the Covergirl foundation below is perfection.  Another bonus is the scent – it smells like coconut! Review here.
2. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation: I can’t believe that my favourite foundation of the year comes from the drugstore.  Previously I’ve never had luck with getting drugstore foundations to work for me – they’ve always caused breakouts and I’ve had trouble getting the shades to match my skin tone. I have zero of those issues with this one.   I’m actually on my second bottle of this and I fully expect to buy a third.  Review here.
3. Bare Minerals Skin Rev-er Upper: I don’t do thick moisturizers in the morning – my skin takes too long for them to absorb and I just don’t have the time.  This can be used as a primer or a moisturizer, but I prefer to use it as the latter.  It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly but still gives my skin the moisture it needs.  Review here.
4. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: This has replaced my Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid moisturizer that I used and loved for years; I find it provides similar results for quarter of the price.  Review here.
5. Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask: As per my review linked below, I find this works better as a scrub rather than a mask but it can be used either way.  This is gentle while still being effective and it’s another drugstore bargain!  Plus it lasts forever – I’ve been using this a couple times a week for the last 6 months and I’ve barely made a dent in it.   Review here.
6. Too Faced Chocolate Soleli Matte Bronzer: I’ve been wearing this religiously since I purchased the Too Faced Most Loved Set back in October.  Despite it’s medium/deep shade description, it’s not as pigmented as expected.  Which definitely isn’t a bad thing if you’re on the paler side like me.  And the subtle cocoa scent is just the best.  Review here.
7. Milani Baked Blush – Luminoso: Everyone raves about this, and now I understand why.  This shade is so universally flattering and devoid of the shimmer/ glitter in Nars Orgasm.  And it’s drugstore!  This has been my go-to blush for a little over the last month or so and I’m loving it!
8. Too Faced Shadow Insurance: If I’m going to splurge on a eye primer, this will receive my money.  This is another product I tried and fell in love with from the Too Faced Most Loved set (which I actually should have included in this list!) and it is easily the best higher end eye primer I’ve used.  If you have oily lids like me, you’ll want to give this a try.  Review here.
9. Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner: I tried many liquid eyeliners this year and this one edged out the rest.  It actually stays put, is super black and glides on smoothly.  Highly recommended. Review here.
10. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Okay, I will warn you – this mascara does flake  But I don’t care because it does amazing things to my lashes.  I love the huge bristley brush and the super black formula.  It’s not perfect but its the closest I’ve found to it.  Review here.
11. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream – Rose Julep: I used to wear Buxom lip glosses years ago and I loved them…and I can’t remember why I stopped.  I recently acquired 3 mini sizes of these and while I love all 3, Rose Julep has stood out the most.  It’s just a perfect, everyday light pink shade.  I’m halfway through the tube and I’ve only had it in my possession for the last couple weeks.  I love how these leave a tingly sensation behind after I apply them and I feel like they actually do plump up my lips a bit (if only temporarily).  Can’t wait to give more of these a try in 2016!
12. Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo: Finding a shampoo that didn’t suck was a challenge this year and I tried out quite a few before I was successful.  This adds just the right amount of moisture to my fine hair, while still giving it a bit of volume without causing frizziness.  Bonus that it protects my colour as well.
13. Chi Magnified Volume Hairspray: My hair feels like my biggest enemy some days and trying to find styling products that actually do what they say is a constant struggle.  This hair spray has been such a great find for me – it gives my style a good strong hold but doesn’t leave it feeling sticky or crunchy.  Review here.
14. Beauty Blender: Previous to purchasing my Beauty Blender, I had tried a few knockoffs and was never all that impressed with them.  Yet I kept reading rave reviews on this thing so I finally caved to the pressure and purchased one earlier this year.  Best decision ever!  I absolutely love how this applies my foundation and concealer and if I want to, I can use it apply powder, blush, bronzer and highlight too.  And despite my continuous use over many months, it’s just starting to show signs of wear now.  I’ll be buying another in 2016 I’m sure! Review here.
15. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: My one and only Real Techniques brush but my favourite foundation/face brush that I own.  The bristles are soft, it fits comfortably in my hand, and most important – it gives my foundation that air-brushed effect.  I couldn’t be happier with this brush!  Review here.

What were your favourite beauty products of 2015?  Are any of mine on your list?

Thanks for reading!

Loves & Letdowns – September 2015

So I may have completely forgotten to do my favourites for August so I’m combining two months worth loves and letdowns into one very late post.  The good thing is that I only have ONE let down for those two entire months!  That never happens so I can’t decide if I should give the credit to my purchasing skills or the products themselves.

First of my, LOVES:

Cake Supremely Rich Bath and Shower Froth – Strawberry Sugar (not available online)

Whenever I see these @ Winners or Homesense, I always make sure to scoop them up.  I love Cake products because a) they’re always awesome and b) they are a Canadian company.  I was so disappointed when Sephora stopped carrying this brand and it’s near impossible to find their products anywhere now aside from on their website.

I use this exclusively as a bubble bath and because it’s such a generous size, it lasts me at least 4-5 months.  I’m a huge bath person so I have high standards for my bubble bath.  It needs to have a great scent both in the bottle and once its actually poured into the bath.  It also needs to foam up well and leave behind bubbles that last – not ones that dissipate within a few minutes.  And it needs to leave my skin feeling soft but not greasy.  This one checks all the boxes which is why I continue to buy it.  I’ve never tried this particular scent before so I’m assuming it was limited edition or something but I wish it wasn’t because it smells delicious.  Kind of like a strawberry daiquiri.

CHI Magnified Volume Finishing Spray

This is another Winners find that I’m really impressed with.  I’m really picky about my hairspray as I have fine hair that can’t handle something that is too heavy/sticky/crunchy but it needs to provide some good hold as I do have a lot of hair.  And it most definitely cannot make my hair greasy.  This does the job well and I like that I paid $12.99 for it versus the $20 I see it for in the salon.  However I will re-purchase it at the full price if I can’t get this at Winners once I’ve used it up!

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Enhancing Styling Foam

I used this mousse years ago and I can’t remember why I stopped using it.  First off disclaimer: I don’t have curly hair.  In fact my hair is stick straight.  However I typically curl or round-brush it every day and I like to add a mousse after washing to add volume and keep my style in place.  For whatever reason, this works really well in my straight hair.  It’s a pretty thick mousse so I do have to be careful about how much I use as it tends to build up in my hair.  Otherwise, I really like this for the volume it adds, as well as it’s ability to keep my curls/style in check.

 

 

 

 

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation & Suncreen – Classic Ivory

I’ve been using this foundation since July and you may be wondering why its just showing up in my favourites now.  My skin is super sensitive, particularly to ingredients in foundations.  I want to make sure I gave this a really good try to ensure it wasn’t causing any breakouts or irritation before I wrote about it on here as I’ve made that mistake before.  I’m excited to report that this has passed the test!  And I’m really glad because this has become the foundation I reach for on a daily basis.

What I love about this is the coverage – I’d say it classifies as full-coverage, but it doesn’t look llike it.  Meaning it covers up any imperfections but doesn’t look cakey or thick.  I use my beauty blender to apply it and I find it just makes my skin look pretty close to flawless.  Its lasting power is also worth mentioning; if I use a makeup remover wipe at the end of the day and there’s foundation on it I’m impressed because it’s usually 14 hours after I’ve applied it.  I’ve been using this with the Too Faced Hangover Primer and I love the combination of the two – I feel like the primer gives my skin a bit of a glow while the foundation gives me the coverage I need.

If I had to pick something to complain about it would be the claim that this can be used as a primer, concealer and foundation in one.  I personally still use a bit of concealer (under my eyes and on any blemishes) because it doesn’t cover those areas up enough for me.  Also I always need a primer under my foundation so I can’t skip that either.  So for me, this can’t replace those products but depending on your skin type, it may do that for you.

Essie Gel Setter Top Coat

I did a full review on this product a little while ago so I won’t bother repeating my thoughts.  I’ve been using it regularly and I still love it – it makes my at-home manicures last for days longer!  Plus it makes them super shiny.  I definitely see myself re-purchasing this!

 

 

 

 

Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Pecan Waffles Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel

This is my favourite fall scent from B&BW.  I always keep one of these in my purse and I find that using them, especially as the weather gets colder and flu season sets in, has really reduced the number of times I get sick. Also very handy if public bathrooms run out of hand soap – which I’ve had happen before!  #ick

 

 

 

 

 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I have a review coming up on a Too Faced sample set that I picked up this Summer so I’m not going to get into too many details about this.  Except to say that this is my favourite high-end mascara.  I rarely buy mascara that’s not from the drugstore because to be honest, I’ve never tried one that has justified its cost, and the drugstore is FILLED with great mascaras for cheap!  I will definitely be picking up the full size of this!

Too Faced Hangover RX Replenishing Face Primer

This primer was also included in the set I referred to above so I’ll be including a full review of this in a post to come next week.  All I’ll say for now is that I was very hesitant to try this out but I don’t know why because it has completely changed how my foundation applies and looks on my skin!  The only thing I don’t like is the price but I’m going to have to suck it up because I’ve never used any primer as good as this one!

Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner

This was on my list of liquid eyeliners to try as I kept reading and hearing reviews about how great it was.  So I picked it up a couple of months ago and thought I’d test it out for myself.  Consider me impressed!  My preference for liquid liners is always felt tip, as I feel they are the easiest to apply.  This one is no exception and I like how the tip is a good balance between being flexible and firm.  I tend to press a little hard when applying my eyeliner so I need one that isn’t going to be destroyed when I do so.  This also lasted a good two months before it started to dry out!  Normally I can get a month out of one of these max so that was a big bonus.

I could be wrong, but I feel like this is the exact same product as the L’oreal Infalliable Super Slim Liner.  The packaging (aside from the name) is almost precisely the same, as is the product itself.  They also perform similarly so I like that I can pick up whichever one is on sale and know that they work equally as well.

Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes – Sensitive Skin

Facial cleansing wipes are a must for me when I travel, and I brought these with me the last two times I was away from home.  This is another product that I used to use a few years ago and I can’t remember why I stopped using them.  Regardless, I think these are the favourite face wipes I’ve ever used.  They stay moist (even when you get near the end), don’t irritate my skin and can take off all of my makeup with one wipe.  I’ve been exceptionally lazy lately and have been using these to take my makeup off at night and I feel like my skin is looking better than it has for a while.  Which I’m sure is just a coincidence but I like the fact that I don’t have to worry about these causing any breakouts or irritation.

 

 

And lastly, my one, lonely LETDOWN:

Rimmel Brow This Way Brow Setting Gel – Blonde

I don’t know what it is about Rimmel products, but I have zero luck with them.  So I’m not sure why I thought things would be different with this.  I’ve used this all of once and it’s going in the garbage now that I’ve reviewed it.  First of all, the colour states blonde but it tints my brows ORANGE.  Secondly, the brush on this is WAY too big; it’s near impossible to get a precise application with this.  Not sure what they were thinking when they designed it.  Thirdly, I wouldn’t say this classifies as a gel – to me it has more of a thick mousse consistency, which when you add in that brush, makes for a thick, gloopy mess.  Big thumbs down for me on this one!

And that’s all my August & September favourites!  Have you tried any of these products?  If so, what were your thoughts?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

July Loves & Letdowns

Hey everyone!

Well here I am again, behind on posts!  For the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to put together a travel diary for my trip to Vegas last month.  It’s been a bit of a struggle, mostly because I didn’t take many (aka any) pictures on our trip and I feel like a good post needs lots of pictures to tell a good story….I also didn’t take notes so I’ve been wracking my brain trying to remember some of the details – it just hasn’t been going well.  On top of that I’ve been struggling to manage my time lately – it just doesn’t feel like there is enough hours in the day!   So for the time being I’ve decided to focus on other posts and work on that one on the side and depending on how that goes, I may or may not decide to end posting it if I feel its worth reading.

Anyway it’s time again for my monthly loves and letdowns! These are mostly beauty-related but I do have one non-beauty related item at the end to share with you as well.

LOVES

CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara – $6.99 CAD

I decided to give this mascara a try after hearing great reviews online about it.  It’s not normally a mascara I would try based on the brush alone.  As I’ve said many times before, I typically like the traditional bristly-type brushes and this one is definitely not that.  It’s a plastic brush with tiny little comb-like bristles on the wand.  When I opened this up I was very skeptical that this could do anything at all to my lashes.  I was soon eating my words after giving it a try – it’s fantastic!  This separates my lashes, adds volume and length, is very pigmented, and holds curl.  I experience very little to no flaking with this which for me is huge – I suffer from seasonal allergies so I’m constantly rubbing my eyes.  I will get the occasional clump when applying but all I do is run the wand through it a few times and it combs them out.

Something to note: there is a bit of a technique to applying this – you need to twirl the wand through your lashes as you apply it. If you just comb the brush through like you normally would with any other mascara you’re going to get clumpy, stuck-together lashes.  As a result, I wouldn’t say this is a good mascara for a beginner but seasoned mascara users shouldn’t have an issue picking up the technique (if I can do it, anyone can!).  In my opinion the results are worth the bit of extra effort!

Cera Ve Foaming Facial Cleanser – $14.97 CAD

I’ve been using this cleanser for about 3 weeks now and I am in LOVE!  I bought this as part of a 3 piece Cera Ve set @ London Drugs that included their eye cream and PM Facial Moisturizer.  Its been a struggle for me to find a cleanser that is effective in removing my makeup at the end of the day that doesn’t dry out my skin or leave it with that tight feeling afterwards. After trying a few cleansers and having just ok results, I resided myself with the fact that I was going to have to use eye makeup remover prior to washing my face basically forever.  And then this came into my life!

I use one full pump to wash my face and it typically removes all of my makeup in one shot!  If I’m wearing heavier eye makeup I make sure to use an additional half pump specifically on my eye area and that seems to do the trick.  Very rarely have I had to resort to going over my eyes with my eye makeup remover afterwards.

It also leaves my skin feeling great afterwards!  Not dry, sticky, greasy but just soft and clean. It’ll be interesting to see if that changes once the winter months are upon us but for the time being it works great.  It has zero scent so that’s great for my very sensitive skin!  This is at the top of my list of cleansers right now!

Cera Ve PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion – $14.99 CAD

As mentioned above, this came in a pack with the cleanser and eye cream. I’ve been using the cleanser in combination with this moisturizer and I feel like my skin has greatly improved!  My fair skin is quite prone to redness and I feel like this has really helped even my skin tone. I also feel like it moisturizes it just the right amount – if I use a moisturizer that’s too thick, I usually wake up in the morning with a greasy face because my skin just can’t absorb it.  If it’s not thick enough, I end up with dry patches.  When I wake up the morning after using this, my skin just feels soft, hydrated and moisturized.  I notice a little less oil on my t-zone throughout the day as well which is a first for me!

This is also great for sensitive skin because it has zero scent.  No breakouts as a result of using this either, which for me is a huge bonus because my skin can react very badly to certain ingredients.  I’m considering giving the AM version of this a try!

Bare Escentuals/Bare Vitamins Skin-Rever Upper – $26.00 CAD

This is a product I’ve come back to after straying away from over the last few years.  I was searching for a new daytime moisturizer that was light and fast-absorbing and I remembered how much I used to like this.  I picked up a bottle back in June and I’ve been using it every morning since.  This is a super light moisturizer that includes salicylic and glycollic acids.  I find that salicylic acid isn’t always effective on my skin (for instance in acne treatment products) but I’ve been in love with glycollic acid ever since I started using Peter Thomas Roth’s Glycollic Acid Moisturizer years ago (see review here).  The two mixed together however produce really great results on my skin!  I don’t think there’s a large amount of either of these in here (if I’m comparing it to the PTR version anyway) but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I don’t want something super harsh in the morning anyway!

What is important to me in my daily moisturizer is something that is light and fast-absorbing yet still gives me a good base to apply my primer and foundation.  I don’t have time to wait for 20 minutes for something to absorb.  This soaks in quickly but still leaves my skin feeling moisturized.  I think this is actually marketed as a primer but I don’t see it working in that capacity for me, there’s nothing in here that would really make my makeup “stick”.

This has a very thin, watery consistency so if you like thicker moisturizers you’ll probably want to stay away from this.  I use a pump and a half on my entire face every day and that is plenty for me.  While this is a little expensive it will last me a while given how little I need to use.  Overall I’m really glad that I’ve re-discovered this!

Vaseline Lip Therapy (Original) – $2.49 CAD

As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, I have very sensitive skin.  And my lips aren’t exempt from that.  If I use a matte lipstick for a few hours my lips dry out.  It doesn’t even have to be a matte lipstick, if it’s not super moisturizing they typically react badly.  They peel, flake – you name it.  So lip balm is my best friend – I’m constantly applying it.

I bought this little guy a while ago and I threw it in my bathroom cabinet and forgot about it.  When I was cleaning out my drawers a few months ago I came across it and thought I might as well use it.  I put it on my nightstand and started using it religiously every night before I went to bed.  And I’ve really noticed a difference!  My lips definitely feel softer and smoother and peel and flake less often. I’ve also noticed that they can seem to handle drier lip products for longer periods of time now.  The only thing I’m not crazy about is the fact that the packaging is a little unhygienic – you have to dip your finger in to apply it.

I was curious what – if anything- was different in this compared to regular old Vaseline.  I was hoping that there was something different in it because even though I only paid a couple bucks for this, you can get a huge tub of Vaseline for a few dollars more!  So…..um….upon investigating, it appears this is just plain old Vaseline in a smaller container.  Lol!  I feel like this belongs in my letdowns for false advertising…but I like the product so….I guess it can stay here.  Next time I’ll perhaps try the cocoa butter version so I can feel better about paying $3 for the tiniest tub of Vaseline ever.

LIKES

So I decided to add a new category in here called Likes.  Love is a strong word and sometimes I don’t love something but it’s not exactly a letdown either.  But I still like it!  Hence the new category…

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer – $11.99

So you should know by now that I have sensitive skin.  I think I’ve mentioned it twice just in this post.  When I needed a new concealer I did a bit of research beforehand because I didn’t want to pick up something to cover breakouts that was going to make them worse.  I read a lot of good things about this concealer so I picked it up and have been using it for about a month and a half.  And I think it’s a pretty good solid concealer for blemishes!  It covers well and it contains salicylic acid so while its covering my breakouts it’s also supposed to be working to heal them.  Or at least that’s what it claims, I don’t rely on this solely to help heal a breakout because it’s just not strong enough.

I don’t have a ton of breakouts but I definitely don’t find it makes them worse which is a relief.  I do find that the salicylic acid gives this more of a dry texture and can highlight any dry patches so I make sure to moisturize any dry areas really well prior to applying.  Also I don’t use this on any other areas aside from breakouts – especially not under your eyes!  The salicylic acid would likely irritate that sensitive skin and causes dryness.

So overall, I like this and I may repurchase it but I think I’d like to try some other concealers first to compare.  If you have sensitive, acne prone skin, this could be a good option for you!

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector (Champagne Pop) – $46.00 CAD

So initially I had no intention of buying this.  While it looked like a beautiful product the price just seemed ridiculous to me.  And I didn’t own any highlighters and I wasn’t sure that purchasing one this expensive to start out with was a great idea.

Then I was in Sephora and they had this on display and it was in stock.  I had been hearing about how difficult it was for others to find and those that did have it were just RAVING about it.  So I did a quick swatch and I was impressed – it had such a silky and buttery texture and it just glided on to my skin.  I decided to treat myself and snatched it up.

The first few days using this I was still very impressed with it.  I loved how pigmented it is which means I need very little of it to give myself that glow-from-within-look. Being on the paler side I was a little worried that I was going to look like a super shiny peach but the shade of this is spot on.  I now understand the hype.

However now that I’ve had it for a couple of weeks I still think it’s great but I kind of think that this may be slightly overhyped.  Probably not a popular opinion but it’s my honest opinion!  I was in Sephora this weekend and I was checking out some of the other highlighters they carry and I found a few that seemed somewhat similar for less. Plus, I’m finding it doesn’t have the greatest staying power (at least on my skin).  That said, I do have trouble keeping most products on my face but when something is this expensive I just have higher expectations of it and I feel that’s a fair expectation!  So I will enjoy using this while I have it but I can’t see myself forking over this amount of money for this again (not that I could given that its limited edition).

LET DOWNS

Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector – $18.00 (0.4 oz)

I picked this up a month or so ago and I’m so glad I decided to try out the smaller size of it before committing to the larger, much-more-expensive full size!  I’m always looking for a product that will matify my t-zone and one of the You-Tubers that I’m subscribed to (can’t remember which one) recommended this in one of her videos.

There’s a few reasons why this was a let down.  First off – it doesn’t mattify.  I put this on underneath my foundation and my mid-day my t-zone is just as oily as it is when I use nothing.  Secondly, this is super difficult to apply.  The instructions state to rub a small amount between your fingers and then apply it but it dries really quickly so you have to work at lightning speed.  Lastly – it leaves a white residue behind after application.   No matter how much I blend it in, it leaves a white powdery finish behind that WILL NOT blend away, no matter what I tried.  It stuck around even after applying my foundation and I couldn’t get my foundation to blend over top of it.  So frustrating!

Huge fail for me – do not recommend this and most definitely will not repurchase!  I’ll be using this as an eye primer to finish it up.

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick (Paris) – $6.99 CAD

I received this lipstick free with a $20 purchase of NYX products at London Drugs a few months ago.  I loved the colour of this – it’s a cool-toned mauve shade and its very pigmented. I was intrigued by its creamy consistency but unfortunately that’s where the problem lies – this is just way too creamy.  I found that it tends to move around on my lips after applying so it ends up around my lips and on my teeth, etc.  It also has zero staying power, which I’m usually not a stickler on, but I expect a bit more from a lipstick when compared to a lip gloss or balm, and this just doesn’t deliver.  It transfers on to everything!  Lastly, because it’s so creamy and moisturizing, the product itself is just so soft it smears all over the inside of the cap and mine actually broke in half!  I didn’t even have it outside or in my purse or anything – it was just sitting on my makeup vanity.  So unfortunately although I am normally a fan of NYX products, I can’t recommend this one! 😦

EOS Lip Balm – Coconut Milk – $3.99

I have a slight addiction to lip balms and I’m always open to trying new ones.  A year or so ago I had purchased the Sweet Mint EOS lip balm and I was pretty disappointed with it – I found it waxy and not at all moisturizing – in fact I found it actually dried out my lips!  Because I wasn’t a fan of it after using it a few times I kept it at work and used it every once and while.  Then I was reading online somewhere about how their newer versions were a vast improvement – in particular the coconut milk flavor, so I picked it up and thought I’d give it another try.

My first impression of this was that I really quite liked it.  The smell was awesome  (sweet and light and not overpowering) – I’m a fan of anything coconut related so that was easy to win me over with.  This formula on this is also much better – it’s moisturizing, smooth and creamy.  So I was happily using this everyday for the last few weeks and then I noticed that I was experiencing breakouts around the corners of my mouth.  I couldn’t figure out what was causing it and then it dawned on me that this might be the culprit.  So I stopped using it and viola – the breakouts went away and stopped making an appearance.  Grrrr!

So that’s how sensitive my skin is – a lip balm can make me break out!  But I think the problem lies with two things – first this contains coconut oil.  I know some people slather their skin in it to cleanse and moisturize but you won’t ever catch me doing that!  I’ve read so many things about coconut oil being highly comedogenic and because my skin is so sensitive it just wouldn’t be worth the risk.  Secondly, the packaging on EOS lip balms means that you can’t get a precise application so I was often getting the product around my mouth instead of just on it.  Normally not a big deal but when the product contains coconut oil, those are the results. 😦

So it goes without saying that I won’t be repurchasing this!

True Detective – Season 2

So earlier this year I blogged about how much I enjoyed Season 1 of this series and how I couldn’t wait to watch Season 2   This season’s cast included some big names that I was really excited for such as Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch – who I love – and Vince Vaughn and Colin Farrell.  So going in, my expectations were pretty high.

If you’ve never heard of or watched True Detective it’s a crime drama with  a unique concept in that each season has a completely different storyline and cast than the previous.  Which I really like because you get complete closure on the previous season and start fresh with something completely different, unrelated to the previous set of episodes.  It feels like a brand new show each season.

So the final episode of Season 2 aired last week and I have to say – the entire season was such a disappointment! I found this season so difficult to follow – the plot was confusing, I couldn’t get invested in the characters and there were only 1 or 2 episodes that left me wanting more, one of which was the finale.  The episodes were dreary and depressing as well.  Not that Season 1 was heart warming or anything but there was always something going on in each episode that kept me engaged and excited to find out what was going to happen next.

So big thumbs down for this one.  It’ll be interesting to see who they cast in Season 3 but regardless, they better do a better job of it because I won’t continue watching if it proves to be another dud.

And that’s it for this month.  Have you tried any of these products?  Watched True Detective? If so let me know in the comments below – would love to hear your thoughts on them!

As always, thanks for reading!

London Drugs Haul & First Impressions!

So I stopped in London Drugs to pick up some new deodorant, and I walked out of there with all of this:

Because I totally needed 2 new foundations, another mascara, lip balm, a concealer, another face wash, night cream and eye cream.  I did need (ok want) another tube of the Jergens BB cream so technically that’s justified.  Must stay out of drugstores…or just stores in general.

Anyway, here’s the details on what I picked up:

Mitchum Unscented Gel Deodorant & Anti-Perspirant – $3.99 (SALE!)

I’ve discovered that the Dove dry spray deodorant that I’ve been using it actually irritating my skin and causing a rash – lovely!   I used to use Mitchum deodorant years ago and it seemed to work, so I thought I’d revisit it.  Bonus that it was on sale!

My first impression: I find this leaves a sticky residue after applying but once it’s dry it goes away.  No irritation so far either.  It seems to be doing its job so far.

 

Nivea Smooth Replenishing Cream – $2.49 CAD

Nothing super exciting here – just a small hand cream to throw in my purse.  This has macadamia nut oil in it which seemed interesting so I thought I’d give it a try.

My first impression: I’ve only used this once but it seemed to work fine.  Not too thick, standard drugstore lotion perfumey smell and my hands felt moisturized after.

e.l.f HD Lifting Concealer (Fair) – $3.99 CAD

If I could find a concealer that doesn’t settle into the fine lines around my eyes that would be great.  I liked the sound of this one (lifting?) and it was cheap so I figured it was worth a shot.

My first impression:  Creamy texture, a good colour match for my skin tone but I’m not seeing much staying power with this unfortunately.

 

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation (Classic Ivory) – $9.99 CAD (SALE!)

I’ve been wanting to try this foundation for a while because everyone raves about it.  Lately I’ve been wearing Covergirl’s Ready Set Gorgeous foundation and I included it as a love in my June Loves & Letdowns (review here) but it’s always good to have options.  Plus this was on sale this week so I thought I might as well pay a little less for it if I was going to try it.  I have read some comments about this causing breakouts which worries me a bit because it does have sunscreen in it.

My first impression: I’ve used this once so far and it probably wasn’t the best day to test it out for the first time.  Basically I was sitting directly in the sun for 2.5 hours straight so it just melted right off my face.  I’m not sure any foundation would have withstood those conditions so I’ll try it out under some more normal conditions and I shall keep you updated!

Marcelle Flawless Skin Fusion Foundation – $18.99 CAD 

This was a total impulse buy and one that I hope I don’t end up regretting!  I was just about to leave the cosmetics area and I noticed this on display. Given the price, I normally would have just walked away but there was a $5 manufactures coupon for it so I took the plunge. I’ve never tried any of Marcelle’s products before and I didn’t realize that they are a Canadian company, which I’m always happy to support.  The weird thing is I can’t find anything online about this foundation AT ALL.  Maybe it’s just because it’s so new but it seems weird that Marcelle wouldn’t have anything about it on their website at the very least?

My first impression: So I’ve only used this twice but so far, I REALLY like this.  I’d describe the texture as almost serum-like and it’s very lightweight.  I find it leaves behind a slightly dewy finish and it feels like its light coverage but it covers really well!  I’m going to continue to use this for the rest of this week and cross my fingers that the love just continues!

EOS Visibly Soft Coconut Milk Lip Balm – $3.99 CAD

Okay, I’ll admit that I was not fond of the original EOS lip balms that everyone else seems to go crazy over.  I tried them once and found them waxy and not at all moisturizing.  I read online somewhere about the newer versions being a vast improvement over the originals, so I purchased the coconut milk version.

My first impression: So far, so good!  This smells absolutely amazing and it’s definitely moisturizing!  I’ve only used it a handful of times but I’m kind of loving it already!

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (Light) – $11.99

I just did a full review on this in my Used & Abused post (read it here).  Love this stuff!

 

CeraVe Skincare Essentials Pack – $19.99 CAD

I’ve been wanting to try a few CeraVe products for a while now – specifically their eye cream and AM moisturizer.  I went and took a peek at the eye cream and it was priced at $22.99 (eek!).  I was about to walk away when I saw this display of these skincare essential packs that included the coveted Eye Repair Cream, Foaming Face Cleanser and the PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.  It was on sale for $19.99 (marked down from $29.99) so I snatched it up immediately because #nobrainer.  Even at $29.99, this is a fantastic deal, given that the eye cream retails for $22.99 alone!  I’m so tempted to go and buy another one but I know that I need to try these out for at least a couple of weeks first to ensure that I actually like them.

My first impressions: I’m liking the cleanser – not super moisturizing but not drying either and it takes off the majority of eye makeup which is really rare!  The eye cream – meh, doesn’t seem to be doing anything fantastic but its early days!  Same with the PM moisturizer but I’ll keep using all of these and do a full review in the near future.

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara (Very Black) – $6.99 CAD

I’ve heard some super good things about this mascara and I’ve been dying to try it.  It’s not one I would normally try because I typically like the traditional bristley brush mascaras, however I was intrigued by the reviews that said this was great for volume.

My first impression: The brush takes a bit of getting used to as you have to twirl it through your lashes as you apply it. As a result I find it end up getting mascara on my top water line which is a little annoying.  However this definitely provides some serious length and I’d say a reasonable amount of volume.  It does get a bit clumpy but I was able to use the brush to comb them out a bit which I thought was pretty cool!  I picked this up in Very Black and it is indeed, very black!

Have you tried any of these products?  If so, leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts – I’d love to hear them!

Thanks for reading!

Loves & Letdowns – June

Welcome to July!  I’m super behind on posts –  I was away for a little over a week on vacay and lately it’s been super hot here, which means I’ve not been sleeping well, which means I haven’t had much energy to do much at all lately.  Thankfully it sounds like it’s going to be cooler this week so I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.   I’ve noticed it seems a little slow in terms of posts for everyone so I guess it’s just that time of year!  Gotta get out and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts right?

Moving on to my loves and letdowns for the month of June!  Let’s start with my loves:

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation – $8.99 CAD

I’ve had this foundation for just about 2 months now but I’ve only started using it regularly in the last month.  About a month ago I was breaking out like crazy and I was a little worried that this was one of the products causing it.  Having used this everyday for a few straight weeks I can confirm that this was not the culprit.  Which is great because I really like this foundation!  First off –  the plastic tube packaging is great!  I really dislike foundation in glass bottles – it’s just a matter of time before I drop of the bottle on the floor and smash it to pieces.  I don’t have to worry about that happening with this.

Secondly, in terms of coverage I’d classify this as medium, that could be buildable to full if desired.  My only caution with that is that I think it may look a little cakey if you pile too much of it on.  I still need to wear concealer with it as it doesn’t completely cover the broken capillaries under my eyes and old acne scars.  On my skin this dries to a demi-matte, slightly powdery finish but it doesn’t look dry at all.  My only complaint is that I do get slightly oily about mid-day which is  easily remedied by blotting with powder.  I wear shade 115 which is their lightest shade and it matches my skin tone really well and doesn’t oxidize at all.  I find this applies best for me with a damp beauty blender.  For the price, I’m super impressed with this and definitely plan to re-purchase!

Garnier Skin Renew 5 Second Blur Instant Smoother – $15.99 CAD

I was at Winners last month and they had a bunch of Garnier products in their cosmetics section.  I picked up this primer, read the description, was intrigued and was even more intrigued when I noticed it was priced at  $5!  I figured I didn’t have much to lose by giving it a try for that price!  When I finally cracked it open a little over a month I was pleasantly surprised about how good it was.  It really does most of what it claims: “Our light reflecting technology creates a visible blurring effect: lines and wrinkles are filled, pores and irregularities minimized, shine is mattified.”  It really does blur over large pores (and I have large pores on my nose and cheeks) and any acne scars.  Does it make them disappear completely?  No, but I’ve yet to find a product that successfully does that.  I do have some fine lines under my eyes and unfortunately I don’t find it does much for those.

It does have a very silicone-like, slippery texture which I am personally fond of because I like how it allows my foundation to blend flawlessly into my face.  I use this with the Covergirl foundation I mentioned above and it works wonders on me.  I always have the problem of foundation and powder sinking and sticking into my pores and this has completely solved that problem for me.  The only thing I’m not crazy about is the packaging; I find air gets caught in the tube so when I’m trying to remove it I’ll get a puff of air out of it and sometimes a bit of product with it and it’ll go flying across the room.  That doesn’t bother me too much though, and even though I’ve seen this in the drugstore being sold for pretty much triple the $5 I originally paid for it,  I would definitely repurchase this!

Maybelline Volum’ Express the Mega Plush Mascara – $8.99 CAD

I’ve been on the never-ending search for my holy grail mascara for months now and this was my newest candidate.  I was intrigued by the flexible brush as well as the gel-mousse formula so I thought I’d give this one a try.  Overall, I’d say this is a pretty solid mascara.  Is it the most voluminous mascara?  Not for my lashes.  But it did separate and define each lash, didn’t clump and provided really great length.  I liked how it left my lashes feeling quite soft and natural and not hard and crunchy.  There was also minimal smudging and flaking while wearing throughout the day which is really important to me.  I can’t stand having racoon eyes!

My only gripe about this is that I think the flexible wand is a little gimmicky and might contribute to the lack of volume this provides.  I find the flexibility means that the brush can’t grip your lashes as much as a non-flexible brush can.  But the brush itself is quite full and bristly which is a preference of mine.  Another thing I liked – you can build this up quite a bit without it getting clumpy.  Again, it’s not perfect but it’s definitely one that I’d purchase again!

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush – $10 CAD

I’m a bit late on the Real Techniques train but I thought I’d start slow with this Expert Face Brush.  Now I realize how much I’ve been missing out because I absolutely love this brush!  I’ve used it to apply mineral powder foundation, liquid foundation, and finishing powder and it applies them all fabulously!  The bristles are so soft and dense and it gives my skin an airbrushed finish.  I can’t believe how fantastic this brush is for $10!  If you’re looking for a new foundation and/or powder brush I’d highly recommend this one!  I can’t wait to try some of the other brushes they have!

Sephora Beauty on the Fly Travel Bag – $5.95 CAD (No photo)

Apologies for not having a photo of this item; I realized I forgot to include it after I edited the picture and I was too lazy to go back and retake and re-edit the photo! 😦

I purchased one of these way back in April prior to our trip to Mexico.  I used it on that trip, loved it and then my husband eyed it up and stole it for a work trip.  So what is it and why is it so great?  It’s a re-useable, TSA approved bag meant to store your liquids in when you travel.  It’s made of a thick, transparent plastic with a sturdy zipper at the top.  Previously I’ve used ziploc sandwich bags which work fine but would often rip and tear by the end of a one-way trip.  I’m constantly digging into my purse and/or carry-on for chapstick, hand sanitizier and hand cream before, during, and after my flight so I loved how no matter how much I did this, this bag stayed intact and didn’t rip or tear.  I also appreciate the zipper because I often forget to zip the ziploc bags (or I think I zipped it and I actually didn’t) and I’ve had products fall out of my purse.  I  purchased another one of these for my most recent trip to Vegas and it just re-affirmed how much I love it (and why my husband stole my original one!).  I received this free @ Sephora because I purchased 3 travel sized products (the ones around their cash registers) but you can buy it on it’s own for $5.99 and I personally think it’s well worth that and more!  Particularly if you travel a lot!

And now for my letdowns:

Colab Dry Shampoo (Rio) – $7.99 CAD

I’m not sure why I bought this.  I needed another can of dry shampoo and I happened to be in London Drugs and this was sitting right next to the cans of Batiste.  For the record, Batiste is my absolute favourite dry shampoo and I’ve never found anything that even comes close to working as well as it does.  This, and Batiste, were on sale for $7.99 so I picked up a can of each.  The fact that this was invisible is what intrigued me about it but unfortunately it does absolutely nothing to soak up the oil from my roots.  In fact, I almost feel like it makes my hair look and feel greasier/oilier.  It also provides no texture as well so if you’re looking for that from a dry shampoo, this is not the one for you.  On the bright side, I do like the fact that it’s invisible and it has a lovely scent.  But it doesn’t provide what I need from a  dry shampoo so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Dove Original Dry Spray Antiperspirant – $5.97

Antiperspirant and I have a long history together and it hasn’t been a great one.  I sweat.  ALOT.   So I need a good, strong antiperspirant to help me get through the day without pit stains and BO.  That’s probably TMI but it’s true.  I’m always on the hunt for the best antiperspirant and I haven’t found one yet that works for me and this one is no exception.  I liked the concept of this – it’s a dry aerosol spray so it just feels cleaner and more effective when you spray it under your arms.  The things that annoyed me about it were 1) You have to hold the can 15 cm away from your underarm prior to applying it.  I’m not sure who came up with that measurement but it’s ridiculous.  I needed to pull out my ruler to figure that one out.  If you hold it closer you’ll end up with little balls of deodorant under your arms, which is a good look if you’re wearing a sleeveless shirt!  If you don’t hold it close enough it won’t be effective and you’ll smell all day.  Made both mistakes multiple times while trying this out.  2) I hated the smell of this.  I usually always purchase unscented deodorant because a) I have sensitive skin and b) when I wear scented deodorant that’s all I can smell all.day.long.  Wiffs of “Powder Fresh” and “Summer Rain”…..barf!  Anyway I thought this one would be a little lighter and smell similar to Dove soap, which I don’t mind.  Unfortunately the scent of this is like the dove soap scent on steroids and the scent is REALLY overpowering, to the point where I started feeling nauseous by the end of the day because it’s all I could smell.  So, I definitely won’t be repurchasing this but I did manage to find an Unscented men’s version of this that I’m currently trying out so I’ll keep you updated on what I think about that!  #sweatypeopleproblems!

Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara – $3.99 CAD

This might just be the worst mascara I’ve ever used.  😦  Good thing it was only $4!   The brush is huge and way too big (and I like big brushes!) and I had mascara all over my eyelids after attempting to apply this.  The first time I wore this I was at home on a Sunday, when I was being lazy and lazing on the couch.  An hour in, I had racoon eyes and flakes under my eyes.  Which was pretty shocking given that I had done absolutely nothing that day – I hadn’t even stepped outside. I can’t imagine what it would look like if I had wore this to work.   So needless to say I won’t be repurchasing this.

And that’s it for this month.  Have a great week!