Sephora Haul & First Impressions!

Did you participate in the Sephora sale?  I did and although I didn’t get everything I intended (as usual) and made a few impluse purchases, I generally stuck to my shopping list.  Here’s what I picked up:

L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Supple Skin Oil – $52 CAD:

From the website: A quickly absorbed indulgent body oil formulated with more than 50 percent almond oil to help skin feel firmer, smoothed, and hydrated.

I first heard of this from Youtuber Brianna Fox, I believe she mentioned it in a monthly favourites post.  She said it was great for using after you’re out of the shower and it leaves your skin soft and smooth.  I mentioned it to my Mom and she said she uses it and loves it.  Since my skin has been feeling exceptionally dry lately, I decided to treat my skin.  The price was a little hard to swallow but I figured if it was that good, it’d be more than worth it.

First impression:  I’m not sure about this quite yet.  The oil itself is lovely – it absorbs quickly as it claims, it smells beautiful and my skin feels supple, soft and smooth afterwards.  However, the packaging is my biggest gripe.  The oil is housed in a beautiful thick glass bottle with a spray pump – normally this wouldn’t be an issue but it takes quite a bit of effort to push the pump down and that combined with my oily hands feels like a disaster waiting to happen.  I was using this every other day but I’ve since cut back to every 3rd day because I’ve already used about 1/5 of the bottle.  Given the price I can’t really justify buying a bottle of this every month and I was hoping it would last a while.  So while I like this, I think next time I’d try the Almond Milk Concentrate instead.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation – $47 CAD:

From the website: A lightweight, full coverage hydrating foundation infused with tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex.

I kept hearing everyone and their dog rave about this foundation and when I saw it in store, I couldn’t resist.  The packaging was beautiful, the shade (light neutral) was a perfect match for my skintone and the coverage looked amazing.

First impression: I obviously still have not learned my lesson to not buy foundations without trying a sample first.  I have sensitive, combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry, dehydrated skin everywhere else.  There are very few foundations that work for me, and unfortunately this is not one of them.  A few minutes after applying it, I loved how it looked, it literally made my skin look flawless.  Then it set, and that’s when the problems began.  It highlighted every dry patch and pore on my skin, and as the day went on, it only got dryer.  I tried applying it with various beauty sponges and foundation brushes, with primer, without primer and I just couldn’t get it to work.  On top of that, it was making me break out (not that that’s anything new).  So I unfortunately I had to return this which was disappointing.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe -$45 CAD

From the website: A six-piece, high-impact blush palette with shades that last for 16 hours.

I’m a big fan of Too Faced products and I’ve yet to try their blushes.  I’ve also been wanting a blush palette for a while so this killed two birds with one stone.  I swatched each one in store and they all looked like shades I would wear regularly so I was sold.

First impression: So happy with this purchase!  All of the blushes have just the right amount of pigment so you don’t need to use a light hand but you can easily build them for a more intense look.  They have a silky soft texture and tend to last about 6-8 hours on me, depending on what I’m doing.  My only complaint would be the packaging – it’s beautiful but it’s cardboard so I won’t travel with this – despite the fact that it’s super light, I know it’ll get scuffed and scratched in a second.  That’s no where near being a deal breaker though, so if you’re looking for a blush palette, I’d suggest you highly consider this one!  Note: this is limited edition.

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette – $48 CAD

From the website: A limited-edition, colored clay eye and cheek palette for day to night looks.

I did a post a few months back on multi-purpose palettes as I was trying to decide which one I should buy.  I looked at a few options but ultimately narrowed it down to this one and Tarte’s Showstopper palette.  I ended up choosing this one because it had everything I was looking for (eyeshadow, blush, bronzer and highlighter) and the shades are on the cooler side so I felt it’d work better with my skin tone.

First impression: Another satisfying purchase!  This is a great palette, I’m so happy with it!  The eyeshadows are fantastic – super buttery and pigmented and I absolutely love the shades.  The blush, highlight and bronzer are also gorgeous.  I’m going to be traveling with this soon and will do a more in-depth review sometime in June so stay tuned!

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

From the website: An edgeless, non-disposable, high-definition cosmetic sponge applicator.

If I’m being honest, I really did not want to buy another one of these.  Paying $28 for a makeup sponge kinda kills me!  But I’ve tried many of its dupes and I still like this the best – nothing applies my makeup quite the same.  My last one lasted me a year which I’m pretty sure is much too long but I took pretty good care of it. We’ll see how long this one holds up!

First impression: Still great!

Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Single Eyeshadow (No Faux) – $15 CAD

From the website: A primer-infused, powerfully pigmented eye shadow refill with intense color payoff.  Described as a iridescent snakeskin.

I’ve been eyeing this shade long before I even purchased my Buxom palette, and I’ve been waiting for it to come back in stock at my local store for months. Luckily there was one left when I visited and I couldn’t wait to get it home and try it out.

First impression: No Faux is a duo-chrome, warm-toned brown eyeshadow with a pale and dark green shift. I found the texture to be a touch dry compared to my other Buxom shadows, which was a little odd.  I’ve worn this several times since I purchased it and I love how beautiful and unique it is.  I do find this works better pressed into the lid rather than blended all over – the duo-chrome tends to disappears when it’s blended out too much.  Overall though, very happy with this purchase!

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint (sample) – Full size $28 CAD

From the website: A jet-black, volume-packed mascara so anyone can master the tarte of the fringe.

I usually buy my mascara from the drugstore but this was a 100 point perk so I can never resist trading in a few points to try something new.  I’m pretty picky about what I look for in a mascara, so anything with a heftier price tag really has to blow me away to convince me to buy it.

First impression: Damnit – I love this!  This is an amazing mascara  – it’s super black and it adds crazy length, definition and volume to my lashes which is exactly what I look for in a mascara!  On top of that, it doesn’t flake or smudge.  My other favourite higher-end mascara is Too Faced’s Better than Sex and I think (I think!) I might like this better because thus far (knock on wood), I haven’t experienced any flaking.  The only drawback is the packaging – there’s no edge at the end of the tube to wipe the excess product off on, so it gets pretty messy pretty quick.  I think this is specific to the sample size though, the full size appears to be different.   If this continues to be awesome, I’ll be adding this to my full-size purchase list for sure!

Clinique Take it All Off Set – $17 CAD

From the website: A duo featuring a dramatic, black mascara and a creamy cleansing balm to remove makeup and refresh.

I’ve been wanting to try Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm since last year and I finally decided I was going to do it.  I was happy to find this little set in that always dangerous area before the checkouts and I figured this was a perfect way to try it out without committing to the full size.  Plus it included a mini High Impact mascara as well.

First impression: So at first, I didn’t really like this.  Mainly because I wasn’t following the directions and applying it to wet skin, rubbing it in and then washing my face.  That did pretty much nothing to remove my makeup.  Then I re-read the directions and applied it to dry skin – and I was much happier.  This does work really well to remove all traces of makeup (including stubborn eye makeup!) but it requires patience as it’s a bit of a process.  I’ve found the way it works best is to really massage it to my skin (particularly my eye area), let it sit for a minute or two and then rinse.  The end result is my face is completely devoid of every trace of makeup and feels super soft and moisturized.  I’ve never had a cleanser do both of those things at the same time!  So consider me impressed but also disappointed that I didn’t buy the full size of this! I have yet to try the mascara so I’ll keep you updated on that.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex – $19 CAD

From the website: A daily age-defying moisturizer formulated with Fresh’s proprietary Super 7 Complex, proven to prevent the signs of aging, provide 24 hours of significant moisture, and boost radiance.

This was another impulse purchase – I had no intention of buying this but that darn checkout section got me again!  In fairness I did need a new day cream and I had forgotten about that prior to getting in line so this was a convenient option.  I haven’t tried much in the Fresh line aside from their Sugar Lip Treatments and Soy Face Cleanser.

First impression: The first thing I did when I opened the glass jar was sniff it and I was kind of disappointed with the cucumber scent.  It wasn’t strong by any means but I hate cucumbers and anything that smells like them!  It smells very similar to the Soy Face Cleanser, perhaps a little more muted.  However what really impressed me was when I applied this to my face – wow!  It’s a silky smooth, lightweight cream that just melts into my skin really nicely.  It’s really hydrating but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave behind that horrible tacky feeling that creams sometimes do.  So while it’s still pretty early to make the determination that this is my new favourite moisturizer, I have to say that it’s definitely impressed me so far.

If you read my Sephora Shopping List post, you’ll notice there’s a few items that I said I was going to buy that didn’t make it home with me, including:

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird): I swatched this in store and I was disappointed.  The colour is pretty but I thought it was going to be more unique. ]

Sephora Kiss Me Balm (Soda Pop): My store didn’t have this shade in stock so I’ll pick it up another time.

Escada Aqua Del Sol Fragrance: Apparently Sephora no longer carries Escada in-store, only online.  Given that the rollerball was sold out online, I couldn’t be bothered to place an online order.

Benefit Coralista Blush: Given that I purchased the Too Faced Blush palette above, I didn’t feel like shelling out more for an individual blush.  I still want to try this though, so it’ll stay on my ongoing list of products I want to try.

Bite Agave Lip Mask: This was something I REALLY wanted but my store was sold out of the clear version and I had no interest in the coloured options.  I was annoyed but I’ll pick it up at some point as I know it’s normally in stock.

My initial plan was to go in store and confirm what I wanted and place my order online so I could take advantage of ebates.  Problem being I was using a gift card to pay for my purchases and guess what?  You can’t use gift cards to pay for purchases online in Canada.  That REALLY ticked me off – like its 2016, why is this not possible?  So I ended up just purchasing everything in store and scaling back on my purchases a bit.

Would love to know what you picked up from the Sephora sale – please share with me below or link to your posts!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sephora Haul!

This past weekend was the VIB Rouge 20% sale and last week, I put together a wish/shopping list post (read it here).  I added things to the list that I’d been wanting for a while, full well knowing that I wasn’t likely to buy everything I wanted (given the small issue of not having unlimited funds).  Also, usually by the time I get in store and have the time to compare and look at products in greater detail, I decide they’re not for me/talk myself out of them/change my mind, etc.

This time I feel like I stuck fairly close to my shopping list, with a few exceptions.  So without further ado, here’s my haul:

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Dim Light) – $22 CAD

I fully intended on picking up Diffused Light given its claims to counteract redness.  Unfortunately, it was sold out. So I looked through the other shades they had available, noticed the travel size of Dim Light and figured that was the next best option.  As mentioned previously, I love samples and travel/trial size products because it’s the best way to try new products for (typically) a lower cost.

Dim Light is defined as a “A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones.” To be honest, when I swatched this, I wasn’t overly impressed.  It does appear to very finely milled and exceptionally soft but there is just the slightest hint of shimmer.  I didn’t see how this was going to be any different than any other finishing powder I’ve tried and I was expecting more shimmer or glow.  But I bought it anyway.

I’ve used it twice and thankfully, my initial opinion has changed.  This is the only finishing powder I’ve tried that doesn’t emphasize or stick in my pores.  Hallelujah!  Also, note that if you’re looking for intense highlight, this isn’t going to satisfy that need.  Instead, it gives you a natural, glow from within look that I just love.  So far, I’m really enjoying this!

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation (Porcelain) – $39 CAD

I had full intentions of visiting Sephora early last week to pick up a couple of foundation samples before committing to a full-size purchase.  That didn’t happen.  Instead, I read a bunch of reviews online on this and the MUFE HD Foundation and ended up going with the Too Faced version.  Both had similar reviews but this one had been on my list for longer so it won.

So I’ve used this twice and so far….I’m not impressed with its staying power.  The colour match is pretty much a perfect match to my skin but after about 5 hours of wear,  I had very little of it left behind.  I’m going to experiment with a variety of primers and powders and I hope I can find something that makes it stick around a little longer  Stay tuned!

Buxom Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette – $50 CAD

The amount of time I spent trying to decide which eyeshadow palette I wanted was a little embarrassing.  I had given myself quite a few (aka too many) options including the Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette, Too Faced Chocolate Bar, and Tarte’s Showstopper Palette, plus Buxom’s Dolly’s Wild Side  My thought process on choosing Buxom sounded like this: First stop – Kat Von D; decided I didn’t want just matte shades.  Up next the Chocolate Bar Palette – pretty colours but more shimmery/glittery shades then I realized.  Third stop – the Showstopper Palette.  Decided I wasn’t crazy about the blush or highlighter.  That left me with Buxom.  Originally I wanted Dolly’s Wild Side palette, mainly because of the shade Wild Nights.  I looked at that palette and noticed there were only 2 matte shades in it – so I decided to make my own.  This all seems very logical now, but I spent a lot of time going back and forth between all 4 brands to get to that point. Yah, I’m a bit indecisive.  Anyway, in the end, I picked the following:

From left to right:Silk Sheets (Chai Luster) ; Feather Boa (Matte Pastel Pink); Lingerie Lover (Matte Mauve); Spoiled Sexy (Matte Deep Mauve); Haute Couture (Metallic Java); Wild Nights (Shimmering Sugar Plum)

You’ll notice that this doesn’t look too different from the Dolly palette, and that’s because I used 4 of the shades included in that, in my custom palette.  In place of Champagne Buzz (shimmering pearl) and Mink Magnet (metallic bronze), I used Haute Couture and Feather Boa.

Wild Nights is so gorgeous and quite pigmented.  I wouldn’t consider the other shades to be intensely pigmented but they have a decent colour payoff and are buttery and smooth to apply.  Overall, I’m really happy with this purchase and I love the fact that I can purchase refills for it!  It was fun customizing my own palette too!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $30 CAD

I’m not going to go into too much detail about this because I’ve done a review on it and stated how much I love the little sample size I received with the Too Faced Most Loved Set.  I’ve already used this a few times and nothing has changed, the full-size is still as fantastic!  The only thing I was surprised about was how heavy the tube is – it’s got some serious weight!  I think because the tube is made out of metal.  So maybe not the best option for traveling.  However this is easily the best mascara I’ve tried all year.

Bare Minerals Skin Rever-Upper – $26 CAD

Again, no need to get into too many details about this, I’ve done a review on it here.  This is my favorite lightweight daily moisturizer.  I just used up a bottle of it so this was a re-purchase.  For whatever reason on sephora.ca they say this product is not available in Canada but I purchased this in store?  I have a bad feeling that this is being discontinued which I’m hoping is not the case!

Too Cool for School Egg Cream Sheet Mask – $6 CAD

Sheet masks have grown on me and I couldn’t help but look through the selection of them while I was waiting in the checkout line.  This one sounds a little gross but I was also intrigued by it as well.  I read some of the reviews on Sephora’s website and the consensus seems to be that people either love it or hate it so I’ll be sure to do a review on it once I’ve used it!

Marc Jacobs Decadence Rollerball – $28 CAD

The more I wear this fragrance, the more I love it.  It’s only been two days and I can’t stop smelling myself.  It’s just the perfect fall/winter scent and it lasts!  One of my biggest pet peeves is paying a lot of money for perfume, using it and not being able to smell it. Not as in having a cloud of fragrance around you when you walk by, but as in, getting little whiffs of it throughout the day.  Also, I loved the packaging on this – its hard to see in the picture but the little box was covered in soft green velvet!  The full size of this is going on my Christmas list!

POINT PERKS

Buxom Objects of Obsession (500 points)

I was obviously on a Buxom kick that day and when I saw this set on display, I couldn’t help myself.  The set includes:

Mascara Bar Big & Bushy in Show-Off Black (0.16 oz)
Hold The Line™ Waterproof Eyeliner in I’ll Be Waiting (0.02 oz)
Full-On™ Lip Cream in Kir Royale (0.07 oz)
Full-On™ Lip Polish in Sophia (0.07 oz)

So far I’ve only tried the Lip Cream and I wasn’t sure about it at first – application can be a little patchy.  But once I applied a second coat, the patchiness went away.  I love the shade – it’s kind of a light cranberry colour and its perfect for fall.  It smells like vanilla but leaves a cooling/tingly sension on your lips.  It is slightly tacky and because it’s a fairly thick gloss, it won’t survive through eating or drinking.  But it does leave a bit of stain behind on your lips which was kind of nice!  I’m looking forward to trying the pink shade (although it does look a little sheer)!  The eyeliner is a silvery/gun-metal gray and I own nothing like it so I’m excited to use that  And I’m a mascara connoisseur so I’m intrigued by it as well (although that may be one of the worst product names I’ve ever heard).  Overall, pretty impressed with this kit!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Intense Hydration (100 points)

I kind of feel like I may be losing my mind.  Did FAB not used to have an ultra repair cream just for hands? I swore they did but maybe not.  Regardless, this used to be my favourite hand cream for the winter months as I often suffer from severely dry hands and excema on top of that.  This used to be the only thing that helped.  I feel like this has a thinner consistency since the last time I used this but it still seemed to work  I’ve only used it once so I will report back once I’ve gone through the tube entirely.

Bite Beauty Lip Lab Trio in Kir Royal (250 points)

I actually picked up this limited edition set a couple of weeks ago and thought I’d might as well throw it in here.  This is a 3 piece set that includes:

Mini Luminous Crème Lipstick in Kir Royale
Mini Lush Fruit Lipgloss in Kir Royale
Signature Bite compact mirror

Is it weird that I now own two lip products with the same yet not that common name (Kir Royale)?  I thought it was.  Anyway, I’ve worn the lipstick once and while the colour is super opaque and intense, it’s so creamy that it very easy slipped outside of my lip line.  You need a lipliner with this.

On the other hand the lip gloss is gorgeous – super pigmented and creamy and an absolutely gorgeous bright raspberry shade.  I’ve used Bite’s lip glosses before and always been impressed with them, and this was no exception.

The little compact mirror was a bit of a disappointment – it looks like a button pin without the pin.  I suppose its small and light so easy to throw in your purse but I didn’t feel it was anything special.  However, I didn’t get the set for the mirror, so no biggie!

2015 VIB Rouge Renewal Gift

Congratulations to me!  I qualified for VIB Rouge for 2016!  Is that something to be proud of – I’m not sure.  Either way, I received a gift for it.  Inside this little box was an exclusive shade of Marc Jacobs lipstick:

I’ve never tried anything by Marc Jacobs so receiving this was exciting – plus while the red looks more warm/orange I was happy see that it swatched more cool/pink which will work great with my skin tone.  If I’m being honest though, I feel like VIB Rouge members should get a full-size product or at least more than one product as a reward for qualifying.   It takes quite a bit of purchases to make it to VIB Rouge and in general I don’t the benefits between VIB and Rouge to be that different.  Last year I know they sent me a survey asking about my thoughts on their rewards program so I hope they do the same this year so I can give them my feedback.

And that’s all folks! Well, not quite.  I did pick up a few gift sets that I’m not going to post on here just in case the intended recipient happens to visit my blog.  All in all, it was fun picking out everything.  After I’ve used these products a little longer I will be sure to post updated reviews on all of them.

If you shopped at the Sephora sale this past weekend, let me know what you picked up!  And as always, thanks for reading!

Sephora VIB Sale Wish List

 

It’s that time of the year again!  If you haven’t heard, the Sephora VIB Rouge sale starts this weekend (November 6-9) and the VIB sale follows shortly thereafter (November 13-16).  I saw the news on Instagram last night and I knew I had to start thinking about what I wanted to purchase.

FACE

Before I purchase either of these foundations I’m going to try and get samples of both beforehand.  These are both pricey foundations so I don’t want to invest in one of them and then figure out they don’t work for me!

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – $49 CAD

I’ve heard so many good things about this foundation and because I just had a really good experience with the Too Faced Most Loved Set (review here), I’m kind of on a Too Faced kick now.

Makeup Forever Invisible Coverage Foundation – $50 CAD

I’ve heard such great things about this foundation as well.  The shade selection is extensive (40 shades!) so it seems like finding the right one for my face won’t be an issue.  I’m interested to see the differences between this and the Too Faced foundation in store.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Diffused Light) – $52 CAD

I’ve been wanting to try one of these highlighting powders for a while but the price just about kills me!  Taking 20% off helps soften the blow; if only they all didn’t look so beautiful!   I think I’d go with the Diffused Light shade given that its meant to conceal redness which is something I struggle with.

Bare Minerals Skin Rev-er Upper – $25 CAD

This is my favourite lightweight, every day moisturizer.  I’m almost out, so I need a refill!  It’s annoying that this doesn’t show up on the Canadian site, so I’m going to have to pick it up in-store.  It’s got a very thin and watery consistency and it absorbs into my skin very quickly, which is key for me in the mornings!

 

 

Nars Blush (Sin/Deep Throat/Mata Hari) – $37.00

I’ve worn Nars Orgasm for years and I think it will always be one of my favourite blushes of all time.  Because I’m such a fan of the formula, I want to add to my collection.  Can’t decide between these three shades though!

EYES

Buxom Dolly’s Wild Side Eyeshadow Palette – $50

I spotted this palette back in the summer and it intrigued me, particularly that shimmery cranberry shade on the far right.  The shades in this one all look really pretty but I’m trying to decide if it’d be more fun to create my own palette within this line for the same price.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette – $55 CAD

Another highly raved about palette!  These are all very neutral though which I think is kind of boring, but neutrals and nudes are typically what I reach for on a daily basis.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette – $48 CAD

I’ve been looking for a travel-friendly palette and this one looks like it would fit the bill!  It contains eyeshadows, blush, bronzer and highlighter and the colours all look very neutral and warm but versatile!

Too Faced The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette – $59 CAD

The most expensive option of the bunch but probably the one I want most. The chocolate scent of this is what is pulling me in, not to mention the mix of brown and neutral shades, with the occasional pop of colour in there too.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $30

I did a full review on the trail size of this here; I rarely buy high-end mascara but this one has me converted!  My sample size has run out and I’m really missing this so I know I need the full size.

HAIR

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist – $32 CAD

I just used up a trial size of this and I lurrrrrved it!  It made my curls (via curling iron) last longer than anything I’ve used previously and it left zero residue behind.  The cost of this physically hurts but because my hair is so tempermental I’m willing to cough up the change for it.

 

 

FRAGRANCE

Marc Jacobs Decadence – $115 CAD

This might be my new fall/winter fragrance.  First, I’m mesmerized by the bottle, how unique is it?  And the scent is so lovely – a little woodsy, slightly musky but still feminine.  I might try the rollerball to start and then request a full size spray for Christmas.

LIPS

Bite Beauty Luminious Lip Creme (Mauvember) – $28 CAD

I’m not sure if you can use the discount on this product but I might just buy this anyway.  It looks like a great shade, plus its limited edition and supports a great charity!

 

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – $30 CAD

It’s only November and my lips are already so dry. I feel like I’m going to need something extra-strength to get me through the colder months, and this has been on my must-try list for a while.   I’ve heard the packaging sucks on this but the product itself is really good.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick (Melted Peony) – $25 CAD

I  have Melted Fig in this line and I love it.  All the other colours in this line look pretty intense and vibrant, but Melted Peony looks a little more muted and more my style.

 

So I’m obviously not going to buy all of these because I don’t have an unlimited bank account.  Plus, once I’m in store, I tend to talk myself out of things or convince myself that I don’t really need this or that.  Then I regret it after the sale is over and end up buying things at full price.  #logic  So this time I’m going to make sure that I’m thoughtful about what I purchase, why I’m purchasing and why I decide not to purchase something.

Have you tried any of these products?  Have I made some good choices?  Not so good choices?  What have I missed?  What are you buying at the VIB sale?  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!

Used & Abused – Product Empties!

Happy Saturday!

Today’s post is going to be all about products I’ve recently Used & Abused aka product empties!  I’ve been saving these up for a while so I have quite a few to get through!:

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser – $12.50 CAD

I picked this up a few months ago by accident; I thought it was the First Aid Beauty Repair Cream which I absolutely love, particularly in the winter.  I was a disappointed when I discovered that it wasn’t what I thought it was but thought I’d give it a try rather than returning it.

The good: This removes all kinds of makeup like nobody’s business.  I rarely use my face wash to take off my makeup because I’ve never found one that is actually effective.  This is an exception to the rule; it removed my liquid eyeliner and numerous coats of mascara with ease.  It also has a creamy, rich texture that lathered and foamed up really nicely.  My skin definitely felt cleansed after using this.

The bad: So while my skin definitely felt cleansed after using this, it also felt tight and dry after too.  Which is a pet peeve of mine. I definitely had an urge to slather on the moisturizer after using this which was disappointing to me.

Repurchase?  Unfortunately I’d have to say no on this one.  While I really liked how well it removed makeup, the way it left my skin feeling tight and dry after was a deal breaker for me.  I feel like this could potentially work well for someone with oily skin so I’ll leave it for them!

First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream (no longer available – alternative)

This is another First Aid Beauty product I picked up a while back, although this one was on purpose.  I was looking for a new everyday moisturizer and this one seemed like it would fit the bill.  Just so you’re aware, Sephora no longer carries this specific product but its been replaced with the Skin Rescue Daily Face Cream.  I compared the ingredients and they are basically the same, give or take a few ingredients.

The good: While they refer to this as a cream, I personally would label it more as a lotion. It has a very lightweight, thin consistency which I prefer in a moisturizer, especially in my daily moisturizer.  As a result, this absorbed into my skin quickly which I always appreciate!  I hate waiting around for products to soak in before I can apply my primer or foundation or whatever.  I also appreciated the packaging on this – it was in a plastic bottle with a pump so it was easy to throw in my travel bag and keep sanitary (no dipping fingers into a jar!).

The bad: So given that this product is touted as being oil free, safe for sensitive skin, fragrance free, allergy-tested AND non-comedogenic, I felt pretty comfortable with leaving my sensitive, acne-prone skin in its hands.  That was a mistake.  This made me break out in and around my chin area just a day or two after using it.  I’m not sure what ingredients are in this that caused the breakouts but it was super disappointing.

Repurchase?  Unfortunately not.  I’ll never repurchase a product that causes breakouts as there’s just too many other options out there.  Unfortunately I do have sensitive skin so there are a lot of products out there that work wonderfully for the majority of the population and just don’t work for me.  That said, the new formula could have removed the ingredient(s) that was irritating my skin but I’m just not willing to take the risk, given that while I found it to be a good moisturizer, there was nothing special about it.  However, if you have normal skin and are looking for a lightweight, oil free moisturizer, this may be a good option for you.

Peter Thomas Roth AHA/ABA Acne Clearing Gel – $59.00

I’ve said many times how much of a fan I am of Peter Thomas Roth products.  Whenever I’m experiencing breakouts I turn to them and 9 times out of 10, they help.  I’ve had this product for 2 years and just recently finished it up.  Which was good timing because it recently expired!  Important to note: This product is not available in Canada.  I purchased this in the US when I was visiting a while back.

The good: This is a fantastic spot treatment for acne, and this is exactly what I used it for over the last 2 years.  It provided great results and would shrink and dry up any breakouts over night.  I found it also helped with fading any old acne scares.

The bad:  Because this contains maximum strength salicylic acid and glycollic acid, it’s drying.  Which, to be honest, is what I want when I’m trying to get rid of breakouts.  But if you overuse it or use it with any other products that contain similar ingredients, you’re likely to end up with flaky, irritated skin.  So you need to use it sparingly and in my opinion, as a spot treatment instead of an overall face product.  Also it is quite expensive!  Because I saw results with this, I was fine to fork over the cash for it – plus it lasted forever.  I literally purchased this bottle 2 years ago and just finished it up a month ago.  You get a lot of product in the bottle and a little goes a long way.  I did notice that as I neared the end of the bottle and the expiry date, it wasn’t as effective as it used to be, but that’s not uncommon.

Repurchase?  Yes!  I love this stuff and will at some point re-purchase it.  It’s disappointing that it’s not available in Canada so I’ll need to pick up a bottle the next time I’m in the US.  I have some other acne spot treatments that I’m trying to use it up but once I’m finished with those, this will be on my shopping list for sure.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup – $44.00 CAD

This is one product I”m really on the fence on.  I know this foundation is well-loved amongst the masses and considered to be a holy grail product for many.

The good: When I first started using this I really liked it.  I was looking for a full-coverage foundation with some serious staying power and this is a very long-lasting foundation.  I was able to put this on first thing in the morning and by the time I got home at the end of the day, there was still quite a bit of it left on my face.  Which, for me, is rare.  I really struggle trying to get foundation that sticks on my face, even when I touch up halfway through the day.

The bad: Like most long-lasting foundations, this is drying.  The weird thing is that I found after wearing it for a few months, it appeared dryer and dryer on my skin as time went on.  I also didn’t find the staying power as good as it was in the beginning.  I definitely had to use a primer with this, in order to avoid having it sink into my pores and highlighting any dry patches.  Near the end of the day, I’d still have foundation left but it tended to look really patchy and uneven on my face.

Repurchase?: I don’t think so.  I think this is a good quality foundation but it is expensive and while I liked it at first, as time went on it just ended up being too dry for my skin.  I could see this working very well for those with oily skin.

Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation – $35.00 CAD

The good:  This is another product that people seem to love and I can understand why.  I started wearing this late last year and was wearing it up until early this year.  What I really liked about it was how clean and simple I found it to apply.  I’d just spray a few spots of it on my face, blend it in with a buffing brush or beauty blender and I was good to go.  It truly gave my skin an airbrushed finish and it felt so light on my face, I hardly felt like I was wearing foundation at all.  I also love the packaging – it’s super light and easy to travel with (I’ve mentioned my sincere dislike for glass bottle foundations).

The bad:  I realized quickly after using this that it wasn’t a long-lasting foundation.  I always carried a powder compact with me to touch up throughout the day because within a few hours of wearing this, I’d get super oily.  Not uncommon for me, but I liked it so much I was okay with doing those touch-ups.  Then back in December I went to renew my Driver’s licence and as a result, needed a new picture.  When I received my new licence in the mail, I was appalled at the picture because I looked like I had stuck my face in a vat of Crisco!  That immediately prompted to me to start searching for a new foundation and I haven’t used this much since.  I think I can get away with using it if I’m just going out for a few hours but no more than that.  I tried wearing this again recently just to confirm that it’s not for me and I noticed that it oxodizes on my face now.  Perhaps it did that all along and I’m just noticing now but it’s just another strike against it.

Repurchase?: Well unfortunately I have 2 of these sitting in my makeup storage because I stocked up on them when I thought this was the best foundation ever.  But I won’t be going back for more once those are done.  Again, I could see this being another option for those with dry skin!

Make Up Forever High Definition Microfinish Powder – $39.00 CAD

I’ve had this powder forever and I think they’ve since changed the packaging, and perhaps the formula since I purchased this.  Which, in my opinion, is probably a good thing but more on that below.  For whatever reason, I really struggle to get translucent powders to work on my skin.  They always, always get stuck in my pores.  I don’t know why that is but I just steer clear of them now.

The good:  Lately, in an effort to use this up, I’ve been using this to set my concealer and for that purpose it works just fine.  Another plus to this is that it has lasted me a long time. There’s a lot of product in here (which there should be for the price).

The bad: As mentioned above, like any other translucent powder I’ve tried, this sticks in my pores.  It didn’t do anything to set my makeup or keep my face matte during the day.  I also felt it clung to any dry patches I had.  For me, it literally did nothing of what it claimed to do. 😦

Repurchase?: No.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full for Colour-Treated Hair Shampoo – $8.99 CAD

I’m always on the hunt for the next best shampoo.  I’m pretty picky about what I like in shampoo, mainly because I feel like I have some high maintenance hair.  It’s colour-treated and fine and I subject it to heat styling on a daily basis.  It’s very susceptible to humidity and damage, and doesn’t hold style very well, at least without a ton of product.  Because it’s fine I also deal with oily roots (dry shampoo is my friend!) and product build up.  I used to use John Frieda’s Blonde line years ago and liked it but I can’t remember why I stopped using it. The fact that this was formulated for colour-treated hair and claimed to increase volume was what drew me to purchase this.

The good: This is a bit of a stretch for me because there wasn’t a lot of good things about this, at least in my opinion.  It did have a pleasant scent and my hair did feel clean after using it….and that’s about it.

The bad: This did nothing in terms of adding volume or fullness to my hair.  After using it I found my hair to be pretty limp and lifeless, despite following my usual styling routine (hair primer and volumizing mousse).  I used it a few times and then passed it on to my husband who basically uses up any hair products that I buy and decide I don’t like.

Repurchase?  Nope.

Kenra Volumizing Shampoo – $15.99 CAD (Not pictured – I thought I had saved the bottle but I must have thrown it out!)

I purchased this a while back as well; it came in a set with the conditioner and a sample size of their heat protectant spray (which was actually pretty good, wish I could remember the name of it but I no longer have the bottle).  At the time I was using the Kenra Hairspray that everyone seems to love (which I’ve since fallen out of love with) and because I was impressed with it, I thought I’d give a Kenra shampoo a try.

The good: So I definitely noticed an increase in volume and body after using this, especially compared to the John Freida shampoo noted above.  I also noticed my hair kept curl/style longer which was nice.

The bad:  I know that some volumizing shampoos can coat hair your hair in order to add volume.  Maybe they all do and some just do so more than others?  I’m not sure about that but what I do know is that this shampoo definitely does that and I didn’t like it.  While my hair had more volume it also felt heavy and weighed down (yes I know I’m contradicting myself!).  Also, if I didn’t coat my hair in the corresponding Kenra Volumizing Conditioner, my hair was just a huge tangled rats nest after getting out of the shower.  The scent of this is pretty strong as well; it didn’t bother me but it’s a super sweet, kind of like that banana cough syrup you had as a kid scent?  I could see some not liking the scent but it doesn’t stick around after you wash your hair, you’d only smell it when shampooing.

Repurchase?: I don’t think so.  I hated how it coated and therefore, tangled and weighed-down my hair.  It also wasn’t cheap!  Again, too many options for shampoos out there so I’ll keep searching!

Jergens BB Body Skin Perfecting Cream – $9.99 CAD

I’m not one to use self-tanner, even though I probably should because 90% of the year I’m white as a ghost.  I personally just feel that much more confident when I have a hint of colour.  However I’m lazy and most times just can’t be bothered to first of all find a self-tanner that won’t turn me orange, exfoliate, apply self tanner with a glove, wait for it to dry, wash it off, make sure my sheets are dark so they won’t stain….ugh.  However, I came across this at Superstore a few months ago and  I was really intrigued by the multi-purposeness (I don’t think that’s a word but I’m going to use it anyway) of this!  It claims it will hydrate, illuminate, even, firm and correct – all within 5 days of use!  With those claims I couldn’t not pick it up and give it a try.

The good: If you’re lazy like me, this is a fantastic product.  I love that it contains a moisturizer and self-tanner in one and it did both of those jobs well.  I never had to worry about exfoliating before I used this, even though I did on occasion (which was strictly coincidence).  I did use this on my whole body but mostly on my legs as I like having a bit of colour on them in the summer when I tend to wear a lot of skirts and dresses, without nylons.  This would give me a hint of colour without making me look orange at all (note: I used the light/medium shade).  If you’re anything but fair, I’d probably recommend buying the medium to dark shade as the light to medium has a very subtle hint of colour.   I was not consistent with my use of this – sometimes I’d use this several days in a row, then I’d forget for a few and then start using it again.  I never had to worry about washing it off or it transferring to my clothing or bedding.  I applied it in the morning after I showered and by the time (most times before!) I applied my makeup and did my hair, it was dry.

The bad: This does have a bit of that self-tanner smell but it wasn’t overally strong and definitely less than a straight-up self-tanner.  I didn’t notice any firming benefits but because I wasn’t consistent with using this everyday, I can’t fairly judge if it does help with this or not.  Lastly, I found that when I used this and wore a skirt, my legs were so soft and moisturized that I struggled to keep them crossed during the day.  I know that’s a weird remark but it’s true!  I have a bad habit of wanting to sit with my legs crossed all the time so I should probably use this everyday so I can kick this habit.

Repurchase?:  Yes!  I’m going to pick up another one of these this weekend in fact!

Phew!  If you made it all the way to the end of this, I applaud you!

As always, thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Samples Review!

Samples are great, aren’t they?  I love getting them because they are such a great way to try a product out before committing to the entire thing.  I get the majority of my product samples from Sephora through their Beauty Insider program. I can very rarely get out of there without leaving with some kind of sample and I absolutely love ordering online as you get 3 free samples with your order.  I’m going to stop saying sample now.

Anyway I thought I’d do some reviews of some I’ve tried out recently so let’s get started:

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm (Woppin Watermellon) – $19.00 CAD

This was a really good-sized sample with an horrible name (really?).  This lasted me a good month or so of almost daily use and it gave my lips a sheer coat of pink that I really liked. I tried somewhat unsuccessfully to swatch this so you could see the colour – the top is one swipe and the bottom is two swipes.  Very sheer with just one swipe and it gets slightly darker with two or more swipes.

I’m partial to balms and glosses over lipsticks because my lips tend to dry out easily; I really liked how moisturizing this was.  I definitely see myself picking up a full size of one of these at some point although right now I have lots of lip products to get through before I allow myself to purchase anymore.

Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil Gel – $35.00 CAD

Given my acne-prone, combination and sensitive skin, oil-based cleansers tend to scare me.  I was a little nervous to try this out but I was pleasantly surprised.  I was expecting it to be a thin, oily consistency but it was actually more of a gel, which I’m a fan of. Apparently I can’t read because it says gel in the title?

I loved how soft and smooth my skin felt after using this and that it didn’t cause any breakouts or irritation so overall I was impressed with this!  I’ve got a bunch of cleansers I’m trying to make my way through but this will definitely be added to my Sephora cleanser wish list for sure.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Moisturizer – $74.00 CAD

Wowsers, I had no clue how pricey this moisturizer was until I looked it up on Sephora to do this review!  So I’m not too disappointed that I didn’t like it!  This felt nice and light when I applied it but it left my skin feeling greasy and tacky immediately afterwards.  I also found that it didn’t want to absorb into my skin so I only ever used it at night.  I’ve never been super impressed with anything from Philosophy and this is just another reason why.  Most definitely would not purchase a full size of this one!

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask – $56.00 CAD

I didn’t expect to like this given that it has cucumber in it and I am not a fan of anything cucumber-scented.  Luckily it doesn’t smell like cucumber at all in my opinion – it’s a lightly scented and more fresh and clean smelling.  I am a fan of a few PTR products but there have been some that just haven’t worked for me.  Fortunately this wasn’t one of them!  This gel mask claims to be “…a refreshing, cooling, moisturizing, and calming gel that helps soothe dry, irritated skin.”  In addition to cucumber, it includes extracts of papaya, sugar cane and aloe and can be used after facials, sun exposure, waxing, etc.  I haven’t used it after any of those kind of situations or events but ironically I did use it after I overused another PTR product that completely dried out my skin.  I did find it helped with that situation quite a bit – it was soothing, cooling and I really felt like it infused some moisture back into my skin.  I didn’t use this on a regular basis, just during times where I felt my skin needed some extra moisture and care.  I liked this but I’m not sure if I would re-purchase it.  It’s pretty pricey and it worked well but it didn’t wow me.

Dior Show Iconic Overcurl Mascara – $35.00 CAD

I’m pretty picky about my mascara and because I’ve heard nothing but good things about the original Dior Show mascara, I knew had to give this a try.  Overall I was pretty underwhelmed – I feel like I’ve used drugstore mascaras that are just as good as this one.  I really didn’t like the curved brush but I’m not a fan of curved brushes to begin with (I realized how bad of a picture I took of the brush after I uploaded this #blondemoment)  This is supposed to create curl and volume with no clumping or smudging.  I naturally have fairly long lashes but it doesn’t matter what mascara I use, I have to curl them otherwise they look spidery.  This one was no exception.  It delivered on volume but it did still clump and I found it did smudge a bit by the end of the day.  For $35 I just expect more so I wouldn’t repurchase the full size of this.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara – $28.00 CAD

Okay this mascara blew me away and I NEVER say that about higher end mascaras.  First off, I LOVED the brush. The cone shape is like nothing I’ve ever used and it made it so easy to apply. Typically I love full bristle brushes for mascara and this one offered the best of both worlds with the fullness at the top and its tapered tip, which made it easy to get the tiny lashes in corners and edges of my eyes. I really felt like it defined and extended each lash with minimal clumping.  It did flake off a bit by the end of the day but I’ve failed to find a mascara that didn’t.   As much as I hate the price of this I would seriously consider purchasing the full size of this!

Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster – $60.00 CAD

Vitamin C skin care seems to be all the rage these days so when I saw this as a points option @ Sephora I swiped it right up.  I’ve never actually used a serum before and after trying this I can see that I’m really missing out.  I’ve been using this at night after cleansing and the first time I used it I fully expected my face to be a greasy mess after applying it. I was amazed how it just sunk right into my skin but apparently that’s exactly what serums are supposed to do! The claims on this one are substantial including brightening, minimizing lines, damage repair, increased collagen production and more.  I definitely feel it brightens my skin but I can’t speak to the other claims.  This was a small sample of this though, I’m assuming you need to use it longer than a week or two to see full results.  Would I buy a full size of this?  I’m kind of on the fence.  I like it but it’s pricey and it’s the first serum I’ve tried.  I’d like to try some other serums to compare first.

Aveda Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil  $34.50 CAD

I received this mini sample from my hairdresser a while back; when I got it I wondered if it was even worth using given how tiny it was.  After using it once I realized a little goes a long way.  I’d use two drops distributed through the ends of my hair prior to using my curling iron to smooth the ends and to act as a bit of a heat protectant. I found it did make my ends a little smoother and less frizzy/fried looking.  However, because I have fine hair I really have to be careful with oils – if they get anywhere near my roots they turn instantly greasy.  Ironically right now I’m using an oil-infused shampoo so I feel like using this on top of that would be a bit too much for my hair. Overall I liked this but didn’t love it and because it’s so pricey I’m going to pass on buying the full size of this.

And that’s all folks!  Hope you enjoyed my samples review!

Have a beautiful day!