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!

What Should I Buy? Multi-Purpose Palettes

I’ve decided to start a new series on my blog called “What Should I Buy?”  I typically like to do some research before I make a purchase and I figured I can expand on that by doing up a post that describes what options I’m considering and hopefully gather some feedback from the blogging community.  One of my goals this year was to be more mindful of my purchases so this is going to help me in ensuring I’m buying things that are worth my hard-earned money!

So my first post in this series is going to be on multi-purpose palettes.  I’ve been wanting one for a while now and after traveling for work last week, I realized how much it would have come in handy.  I was in a bit of a rush when I was packing and it would had been really nice to be able to simplify my choices by having a palette that can cover several bases.

MY CRITERIA: A palette that includes eyeshadows, a blush, a bronzer and highlighter.  I’m willing to sacrifice not having a bronzer, a blush or highlighter (only one) if it means a better overall palette.   I would like a mix of neutrals and a few pops of colour; I’m cool-toned but I’m open to warm or cool toned palettes – although I tend to learn towards cooler tones.  I’m also looking for a mix of matte and shimmery shades, I don’t want just one or the other.

MY OPTIONS:

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette – $48 CAD

Tarte has the most multi-purpose palette options by far, and this is one I’ve been eyeing for ages.   I keep looking at it but never seem to take the plunge and I’m not sure why?  This set includes 6 warm eyeshadows, a bronzer, highlight and blush.  The blush might be what is throwing me off –  I’ve swatched it a few times and its just so orange.

Pros: Contains all 4 products; good value.

Cons: Blush seems really orange; bronzer seems really dark; only one true matte eyeshadow shade.

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

I came across this palette when I was investigating the Showstopper palette;  I love plum shades so the eyeshadows speak to me more than the Showstopper palette does.  It also includes 8 shadows, a bronzer, blush and highlighter.  My only gripe is the snake on the front of the palette…I don’t like it.   I know it’s not real but I just wish it wasn’t there.

Pros: Contains all 4 products; 50/50 split of matte and shimmery shades; good value.

Cons: Snake on packaging.

Tarte Energy Noir Clay Palette – $46 CAD

Yet another Tarte option – this one a few dollars cheaper but includes 8 eyeshadows, a highlighter and a blush.  It’s missing the bronzer which is a bit of an annoyance – I can make do without highlighter but bronzer is kind of a necessity for my pale skin.  I find it’s a similar to the Rainforest After Dark palette given that the shades are more plumy.

Pros: Beautiful packaging.

Cons: No bronzer; reviews state matte shades are difficult to blend; unfavourable reviews overall.

Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette – $43 CAD

My final Tarte option in the mix and one I don’t think I’ve seen this one in store. I love the pretty packaging but I also hate it because cardboard packaging damages easily when traveling.  This contains 8 eyeshadows, 2 blushes and a bronzer.  It excludes a highlighter but the bronzer is shimmery so it could potentially be skipped.

Pros: Great mix of eyeshadow shades; two blush shades.

Cons: No highlighter included; cardboard packaging; mixed reviews overall.

In the Balm of Your Hand Palette by The Balm – $52.25 CAD

I’ve only tried one product of The Balm’s and I wasn’t impressed (a sample-sized bronzer).  However I keep hearing great things about them so I’d definitely like to try more of their products.  I feel like this palette would be a great way to do so – given that it includes many of their best sellers – 4 eyeshadows, 3 blushes, a highlighter, a nude cheek/lip cream and a lip colour.  I love that it includes lip colours but if I’m being honest, I’ll rarely wear that shade.  Especially if I’m traveling!

Pros: 3 blush shades; love the bronzer and blush shades; cute packaging.

Cons: Not likely to use the lip colours; cardboard packaging; only includes 4 eyeshadows; eyeshadow shades are not my preference.

Balm Voyage Vol. 2 – $53.95 CAD

My second option from The Balm is this palette that contains 9 eyeshadow shades, two blushes, a bronzer, highlighter and two lip and cheek creams.  Again, The Balm has some of the cutest packaging around but cardboard is never my preference (although it is nice and light!).

Pros: Includes cream blush/ lip colours; good shade range on all products (more wearable than above).

Cons: Packaging (damages easily); no matte eyeshadow shades.

Smashbox #Shapematters Palette – $69 CAD

This Smashbox palette is one that I went back and forth on with regards to including it in here – but I love the look of it so I couldn’t bring myself to exclude it.  This palette is quite versatile in that it includes a brow wax, two brow powders, four face powders, nine eyeshadows and a brush.  However it excludes a blush and it’s quite large which doesn’t make it ideal for travel.

Pros: Includes a brush; includes a brow wax; versatile shades.

Cons: Large size; most expensive option; not a fan of brow powders; no blush.

NYX Butt Naked Eyes Makeup Palette – $27 CAD

I was happy to find a drugstore option to throw in here –  and when comparing the price and the quantity of product in this palette to the rest, it’s in its own field.  However the majority of the research I’ve done states that this is a palette for those that like “softer looks” – is that a big deal?  Not really, as I tend to do that anyway.  My concern is related to the quality aspect – the general consensus on this is that it is a good palette, but it doesn’t compare to some of the more popular, higher end palettes.

Pros: Price; quantity of product; variety of shades.

Cons: Quality of products; restricted to “softer looks”

The last option I’m considering is picking up a Z palette and creating my own customized travel palette.  That will involve a lot more research of a different kind and a lot more money, given that a large sized Z palette runs for $27 CAD and then I still have to find products to fill it with.  Buying a Z palette and filling it has been on my wish list for a while now but I’m not sure this is the time to do so.

THE VERDICT: I think I’m leaning most towards the Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette, mainly because it checks all the boxes.  If it weren’t for that damn snake, I’d probably have already purchased it.

If you own any of these palettes, I’d love to hear your feedback on them!  Or if I’ve missed any you think I should be considering, let me know too.

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!

Loves and Letdowns – May

Well I figured it’s about time I jump on this bandwagon, because why not?  I love reading other bloggers monthly favorites posts as it’s such a good way to learn about new products! Basically I’ll be sharing the products I loved throughout the month, as well as those that were letdowns and just didn’t work for me.  Pretty much the same as a favorites and unfavorites post but I thought I’d switch up the words a bit because I’m different, like this goat:

I laughed way too hard at this – hope it made you giggle too! 🙂

Enough about goats, on to the topic at hand:

LOVES:

NYX Butter Gloss – Tiramisu ($7.99 CAD)

I picked up this gloss a few weeks ago at London Drugs and I’ve been using it every day since.  It’s the perfect pinkish nude for every day use!  I find it works great on it’s own or on top of a brighter lip color to tone it down.  I love the formula – it’s super creamy, not sticky and glides on smoothly.  It smells delicious as well, I’m not sure how describe it (maybe like a vanilla cupcake?) but not overly sweet.  I’ll definitely be picking this one up again and I’d love to try the other shades at some point as well.

Maybelline Volum’Express The Colossal Mascara ($8.99 CAD)

Its been a long time since I’ve ventured out to try a new mascara; for years I was happy using L’Oreal’s Voluminous Carbon Black mascara.  Then something changed and it began to flake and smudge on me and I was crushed.  I’ve been in search of a replacement and so far this one has stood out the most.  It has the natural bristle brush that I like and it lengthen and thickens my lashes really nicely with very little to almost no clumps – which is really rare!  I find it flakes a little sometimes but I’m willing to live with that given it’s other benefits.  The only thing I’m not crazy about is the scent – it smells flowery.  Which I find kind of weird – mascara shouldn’t have a scent right?.  Doesn’t bother me though so I will definitely be repurchasing this one!

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Smoothing Cream ($7.99 CAD)

Lately I’ve found my hair is getting super dry, particularly around the ends.  I attribute that to my use of my curling iron on a daily basis, in addition to my hair being colour-treated.  I also tend to only wash my hair once every three days, using dry shampoo in between.  I find my hair feels and looks pretty dry during those in-between days, particularly on day 3.  I came across this and thought I’d give it a try.

This is meant to boost shine, control frizz and smooth your hair without making it feel greasy.  I take a dime sized amount, and distribute it through my ends right before I use my curling iron.  It definitely makes my curls feel smooth and sleek and I find it does help hold my curls a little longer when the humidity is present outside.  It also smells amazing – a little bit fruity but nothing overpowering.  I’m very careful to not get this anywhere close to my roots as I can see it weighing my hair down and making it super greasy (it also recommends against doing so right on the bottle).  So far I’m loving this and would recommend it!

L’Oreal 12 Hour Infalliable The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner ($11.99 CAD)

THIS.IS.AMAZING!!! Best liquid eyeliner pen I’ve ever used, hands down and I have tried them all from the super cheap drug store versions to the higher end brand-name types.  Nothing beats this.  It is the only liquid liner that I’ve tried that truly stays on all day long and does not budge.  Yet it is simple to remove at the end of the day using my regular eye makeup remover!  I’m just blown away by this! I also love the super slim tip, it makes it very easy to get  precise line!  I have a bad habit of pressing down too hard on the tip when I’m applying liner and damaging it.  The tip on this is sturdy enough that I have yet to damage it (although I am trying to be more gentle!).  It’s also very pigmented and build-able – if you don’t get a thick enough line to begin with you can easily go overtop of it without it dragging and erasing the previous line.  If you wear liquid liner and you haven’t tried this yet – go out now and buy this!  I can’t rave enough about this, I’m in love!

The Original Beauty Blender ($26.00 CAD)

Okay, I really didn’t want to like this.  Previously I’ve used Beauty Blender knock-offs and convinced myself that there really wasn’t much difference between them and the original.  The thought of paying close to $30 for a makeup sponge seemed ridiculous.  However, I took the plunge over a month ago and ordered one to see what all the hype was about.  And at first, I wasn’t crazy about it. But the more I used it, the more I grew to like it and eventually love it and now I’m not sure I can go back to the knockoffs.  I feel like I’ve used and abused this and it’s practically in the exact same condition it was when I bought it.   No rips and no tears, unlike the cheaper versions where that occurred within a couple of weeks of use.  I can also get every trace of makeup out of it when I wash it which is impressive because I usually go an entire week of use before giving it a good cleanse.  It also applies my foundation beautifully and I’m loving it for applying mineral makeup! So I suppose I’m a convert now.  Which I’m okay with because I see the light now – this thing is really great!

LETDOWNS:

Essence I Love the Stage Eyeshadow Base – $3.99 CAD

I have super oily eyelids and I usually have trouble trying to find a primer that keeps my eye makeup set all day and doesn’t crease.  Unfortunately this was another one to ad to the fail pile.  It was super cheap so I’m not too crushed but it sure would have been nice if it had worked!  Despite the fact that it did basically nothing to stop my eyelids from creasing, I also hated the formula.  It’s super thick and dry and very difficult to blend!  The color is a little odd too – it has an orange/yellow tint which I’m guessing is meant to hide any discoloration and even out your lids but the problem is if I got this anywhere near my eyebrows it turned them orange!   Won’t be repurchasing this one!

Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion – $37.00 CAD

In my hunt for the perfect primer I picked this up a few months ago, used it for a week and it was promptly thrown into my black hole of products never to be worn again.  Which is disappointing because I used Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years and liked it.  Also it was pretty expensive (I should have taken it back, I forgot and now its too late). I found this did absolutely nothing to minimize the appearance of my pores and my skin was just a complete oil slick halfway through the day.  Consistency-wise it’s pretty thick and it definitely leaves a bit of a white cast on your face so I can’t see this working well for anyone with darker skin. I tried using it with different foundations and setting powders and I had the same result every time. This could possibly work for someone with super dry skin but it definitely wasn’t for me.

NYX Wonder Pencil (Light) – $5.99

This is supposed to be a 3 in 1 product that you can use as a concealer, eye brightener and lip liner.  I’ve tried it for all 3 purposes and I haven’t been impressed.  When using it to line my waterline, I could barely get any transfer.  I think part of the problem is that it’s just too hard and dry.  Same problem when using it as a concealer, I found it really highlighted any dry spots on my face, barely covered the areas that I applied it to and lasted an hour at most.  As for using it as a lip liner, I found it hard to apply – again given how hard it was, and it didn’t make any difference in the lasting power of my lipstick.  So all in all, a big thumbs down for this one.

That’s about it for May! Until next time!