Back when H&M first came out with makeup, I bought a contour powder palette and a BB cream because I wanted to try their makeup. I think I bought a shade that was too dark for the BB cream, but the powder was pretty good. I think it was $14.99 for the contour palette, and about the same for the BB cream. The contour palette had four shades (2 light, 2 dark) and the bb cream had a selection of 2-3 shades. Since then, H&M has come out with a lot more makeup: foundations, eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliners, nail polish, etc.
I bought the shimmery shades of eyeshadow because I have so many browns and taupes already and I wanted to get some more shimmery ones. The shadows are soft and buttery. I got the shades Paradise Lost (rose gold) and Over the Moon (silver). These are kind of glittery, it’s very easy to get it all over your face and might take a few swipes to remove it with your makeup remover. It reminds me of a pressed version of MAC pigments because of how much can fall onto your cheeks. If you use these, I would definitely suggest doing your eyes before foundation because you can wipe it off if it gets on your cheeks. I swatched the matte shades and those were beautiful and velvety too. The best way to apply is with your fingers.
The highlighter powder is a baked highlighter and it’s beautiful, but it is a bit powdery if you swatch with your fingers. Also, the swatch doesn’t look as pigmented as the eyeshadows, but in person, it’s a nice peachy pink highlight. It might seem expensive for a non-designer brand, but it’s huge and since it’s baked, there’s even more than what you’d get in a regular pressed highlighter. Since it is a bit powdery, I think the best way to apply is with a fan brush and lightly swipe your brush, don’t swirl your brush or the product will get all over your desk.
Spotlight Glow Powder Sheer Coverage Radiant Shimmer in Sumptuous Peach
Infinite Impact Eye Colour in Paradise Lost & Over the Moon
RATING: 4.5/5
I think the shimmery eyeshadow shades I bought will be pretty for a party or night out and I would definitely use the highlighter for every day makeup to give a pretty peachy glow.
Have you tried H&M makeup products? What are your faves?
I wanted to do a comparison post on two of my Maybelline Fit Me Foundations: liquid and stick foundations. I was going to do a This or That post, but it would be more useful to compare the matte liquid foundation with the stick because it’s mattifying. So, I am just comparing the two foundations to see how well the shades match. As we all know, sometimes the shades are called the same thing for different foundations, but the shades are not identical. I remember reading a post on the different Dior Skin foundations and the beauty blogger swatched them to show that even though they had the same name, the shades were slightly different.
I have the Hydrate + Smooth (also known as Dewy + Smooth) liquid and the Shine-Free + Balance stick, both in 130 Buff Beige (both retail for $12.99 CAD). As you can see from the swatches, the Hydrate + Smooth looks a tad more orange than the stick, but once blended out, they are pretty similar.
The stick is mattifying and has lighter coverage, but, in my opinion, it looks more like skin than the Hydrate + Smooth which is dewy and has higher coverage. I think I prefer the stick because it’s easier to travel with and it also doesn’t have a scent.
I thought I’d do something a little different since I haven’t been trying out too much makeup recently. I’ve been refraining from putting on makeup because of a breakout and I don’t want to anger it. I hope to finish the following 10 products before the end of 2018. I chose some products that I’ve had for a while and I want to use them before they go bad or dry out. I tried to pick at least one product from each category: Face (Foundation, Concealer, Bronzer, Blush), Eyes/Brows, Lips.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville – This shade is way too light for me. Of course, it looked fine in the store under the bright lights, but I look like a ghost when I wear it. I mix it with my Maybelline Fit Me Foundation to darken it.
Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Autumn Glow – This was the first non-drugstore blush I bought. It was kind of a pinky-brown shade that looked really nice when blended out.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess – This is a pretty bronzer, but since it was Made in China, I wouldn’t repurchase (read my post: Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?). If I’m spending that much money on a bronzer, I want it to be made elsewhere.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light – One of my fave concealers.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – I really like this brow pencil, it fills in the gaps and it’s not too dark.
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in Black – I liked this mascara.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – I liked this mascara. I kept the wand.
Too Faced Mini Chocolate Bar – This was redeemed from Sephora Rewards. I like this mini palette, but I’m not a huge fan of the chocolate smell. I don’t really like my powders having scents.
L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Nude Lipcolor in 370 Jennifer’s Nude – I think this is my favourite lipstick. I bought it when it first came out and fell in love with it. The makeup artist who did our makeup also used it on my sister and me for my sister’s wedding reception in Toronto. This is my go-to and that’s why I sort of want to use it up so that my other lipsticks have a chance of being used.
So, those are the 10 products I hope to finish by the end of the year. I’ll probably do an update at the end of this year to say if I did finish them.
What’s on your list of products you want to finish before the end of 2018?
I can’t believe February is almost over! Two months went by so fast. For some reason, I’ve finished quite a few products in the past two months. So I thought I’d share my product empties and whether I’d repurchase them.
Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream Skin Perfector in Light/Medium – I hate to admit that I kept this way too long. I only really got into foundations and bb/cc creams recently (within the past two years). When I first started using makeup in high school, I only used concealer, eye products and lip gloss. When I was in university, I upgraded to using powder foundation and then eventually got into liquid foundations and bb/cc creams. The PhotoReady BB Cream was the first BB I purchased and I really loved it. I used it for a whole summer until I purchased Maybelline’s Fit Me Hydrate + Smooth Foundation and it was forgotten. I wish the shade range was better because it was a bit too orange on me. I used Light/Medium, it’s possible I could’ve used Light.
Repurchase? Probably Not. I bought this on sale for less than $10 and I saw it at regular price for $22 or something. If I’m going to spend that much, I’d rather get a foundation or a better quality BB/CC Cream.
Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar – This lip balm is very hydrating and gives your lips a nice tint.
Repurchase? I think I’d rather spend the money on gloss or lipstick. I can use Nivea’s lip balm or vaseline if I want to hydrate my lips.
Pixi Glow Mist – I’d rather buy Pixi’s Hydrating Milky Mist because I like the scent more and it doesn’t have the Argan Oil (which made my face feel sticky).
Repurchase? No.
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 030 Classic Beige – I really like this concealer for my under eyes. It doesn’t fully cover dark circles, but since it’s a thinner concealer, I can use it with a colour corrector and it won’t look cakey. It’s one of the few concealers I’ve tried that doesn’t smell like chemicals- it actually reminds me of popsicles (like the popsicle stick after you’ve finished eating it).
Repurchase? Absolutely!
Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel – I loved this foundation. It never made my nose look dry and it gave a beautiful finish.
Repurchase? Absolutely! It’s expensive, but worth it if you can find your shade.
Garnier Grow Strong Fortifying Hair Mask (read my review) – This was the first time I tried a hair mask. I bought it on clearance at Rexall. I really liked it, but I didn’t love the scent.
Repurchase? Yes.
Garnier Papaya Hair Mask (read my review)* – I received this from GlamSense for review purposes. I got the papaya one, but there are other scents available that cater to different hair needs. I think I would buy the avocado or coconut one since my hair isn’t damaged. I would prefer if it came in a tube like the Grow Strong one (this one comes in a tub where you stick your hand in).
Repurchase? Yes.
What have you finished in the past two months so far? What would you repurchase?
Get a gorgeous, healthy glow using the MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite! I bought mine at the MAC sale. They have other shades now: goldlite, peachlight, silverlite and redlite. I love how you can wear it on its own, or wear it under or over foundation to give a beautiul, dewy look. I don’t use it all over my face, I just put it on the places I would put highlighter.
Every Pixi product I’ve tried, I absolutely love. The Pixi Glow Tonic is no exception. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now. After I get out of the shower, I use it before applying my serums and moisturizers. I bought the Glow Tonic as part of the $25 Peel & Reveal kit from Shoppers Drug Mart. It came with the Rose Flash Balm and the Peel & Polish. I wanted to see if I liked them before purchasing full-sized versions. The Glow Tonic has a nice scent to it (not too strong). It has definitely made my skin feel smoother because it gently exfoliates. I am definitely going to purchase the full-sized bottle once I finish the little one I have. After using it for a longer period of time, I noticed that the redness under my nose was worse when I used it. I stopped using it and it got better. I think I am allergic to witch hazel (read about it here).
I love the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder with Jeju natural mineral and natural originated mint. I bought it from Chuusi.ca (see my haul) for $9 CAD, and I have been using it to set my makeup. It comes in a small plastic container with a twist-off top and a puff. The puff is incredibly soft and squishy and super useful if you like to carry your powder around (or you can purchase the compact which is $16 CAD). The powder is very finely milled and translucent so you don’t have to worry about matching your skin tone. It leaves my under eye area silky smooth and my concealer has never creased. The mint smell is a bit strong and smells like Chinese herbal medicine.
Recently tried making plain popcorn with Japanese Nori Komi Furikake (aka seaweed seasoning). I had seen it before on Pinterest and wanted to give it a try. It was pretty good, although I think the popcorn needs to be lightly buttered so that the seasoning can stick on the popcorn and not fall to the bottom of the bowl. Give it a try if you want something healthy and has a bit of sweet and salty!
It’s also really good on McDonald’s fries (they use seaweed seasoning in Asian countries) and not bad on tostitos chips.
I recently went to Nordstrom Bar Verde for lunch and I got the short rib grilled cheese. It was really good, so I wanted to duplicate it at home. So, here’s the menu listing on the Bar Verde menu:
SHORT RIB GRILLED CHEESE- blackberry jam, sharp white cheddar cheese, rustic bread.
Braised Short Ribs
Blackberry Jam
Canadian Sharp Cheddar Cheese
French/Italian Crusty Bread
M made braised short ribs using our Instant Pot and they were delicious. She looked at several different recipes: some called for red wine and Worcestershire sauce, while others called for ketchup and brown sugar. So, search on Google and find a recipe that you would like (it’s probably best to use one that doesn’t have too many spices like thyme and rosemary because they might change the taste of the grilled cheese). M used beef stock, ketchup and brown sugar in our short ribs.
We couldn’t find any blackberry jam except for Smuckers. So, if you can find a better quality jam, I think it would taste even yummier, but it was still delicious with Smuckers.
I used the stove to make the grilled cheese, but you can use a panini press instead. I put some butter in the pan and lightly toasted the bread. I put the sharp white cheddar onto each slice of bread so that it could melt before closing the sandwich. Then, I spread the blackberry jam on one side of the sandwich and piled the short ribs on top. I put the other piece of bread on top and then flattened the sandwich down with a spatula. Heat until the bread is crispy or however you like your grilled cheese. Serve while it’s hot and gooey. Bon Appetit!
I was contacted on Instagram by Soo’Ae Canada asking if I liked sheet masks. My answer was: Absolutely! They were very generous and sent me their line of face masks. They never asked me to review the masks, but I wanted to write a review. So, here are my thoughts on the masks. Each of the masks retail for $4 CAD.
They have several different types of masks:
Sheet Masks
Hydrogel Mask
gel-like texture, thin, two-piece (eyes/nose and mouth)
I liked that it had two pieces because then you can move the mask to fit your face properly (sometimes eye, nose and mouth holes don’t line up with my face)
Premium Essence Mask
thin, stretchy material
Skin Friendly Mask
thin, regular material (like other masks you get)
Skin Gel Mask
very durable, won’t rip (I tried pulling and it barely stretched)
Hydrocell Mask
thick, fibrous
Peeling Mask
exfoliating mask
Oxygen Bubbling Mask
carbonated mask that foams up
Sleeping Mask
like a serum that you apply before bed and wash off in the morning
This all-in-one mask instantly purifies troubled skin with the combined power of activated binchotan charcoal, kaolin and bentonite clay, and oxygen bubbles. Active binchotan, powerful enough to purify water, is a renown anti-inflammatory known to refine and brighten skin.
This was the first time I used a bubble mask. My face felt tingly when I used it from the bubbles. It had the consistency of a clay mask and when I applied it to my face, after a few seconds, it would start to bubble and puff up a bit. It didn’t puff up as much as some pictures I’ve seen of bubble masks. When I would touch it, it would go back to the clay mask consistency and then start to bubble again after a few seconds. I rinsed it off with warm water and applied my moisturizer. My face felt clean and very smooth after using it.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the tingling sensation, but that’s to be expected of the bubble masks. If you like bubble masks, give this a try. I would rather stick to a sheet mask or clay mask.
This silky and lightweight sleeping mask, formulated with acai berry, blueberry and niacinamide, improves the appearance of dull, lackluster and fatigued looking skin overnight for visibly youthful glowing skin.
Combines the potent benefits of black charcoal with peat water, bamboo water and birch sap to detox and replenish hydration in skin. Licorice root, green tea, omija (magnolia berry), and coptis japonica root extracts provide an additional boost of nourishing moisture to soothe dryness and fatigue helping to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This luxurious overnight sleeping mask delivers the benefits of nourishing moisture to skin suffering from dryness with Donkey Milk. Infused with the added benefits of 5 potent plant extracts (Soybean, Licorice Root, Camellia Seed, Japanese Yam and Snow Mushroom), the lightweight yet rich and silky texture absorbs quickly and deeply, improving dry and tired looking skin overnight.
Innovative ‘skin gel’ mask hybrids traditional sheet masks with hydrogel to improve delivery of active ingredients to the skin. Donkey’s Milk, referred too as “white gold” has been valued for its immense benefits, revered by the likes of Hippocrates and Cleopatra and helps the skin look more nourished. With the added benefits of Green tea, Salmon Egg, Sugar Maple and Mushroom extracts, skin looks radiant and youthfully plumped with moisture.
Honey and propolis restore moisture and nourish skin while hyaluronic acid provides hydration. This nourishing essence formula is infused into a unique tencel fabric to provide optimal comfort during application and effectively delivers nutrients to the skin.
Smooth away lip lines, dry, cracked lips in 15 minutes with the nourishing and moisturizing benefits of sea kelp and super berries. Soo Ae’s My Collagen Hydrogel Lip Patch is infused with a special blend of collagen, nutrient-rich fruit and plant extracts to soothe and plump with moisture.
Charcoal’s potent detoxifying and brightening abilities fuse with cultured green tea and green caviar extracts to provide instant clarity and moisture to relieve dry and tired looking skin. Formulated based on traditional Korean herbal medicine known as Hanbang, Soo Ae’s unique blend of herb and plant extracts helps to improve the appearance of beautiful, youthful and supple skin.
Formulated with eco-cert certified moisture-rich natural cellulose, to deliver superb and extra gentle exfoliation with the added benefits of vitamins C + E and fruit extracts. The moisture enriched cellulose helps to gently lift dead skin cells and unclog pores to restore skin clarity and radiance while allowing for improved absorption and efficacy for skincare applications that follow after use.
This hydrogel mask combines the potent benefits of black charcoal with peat water, bamboo water and birch sap to detox and replenish hydration in skin. Licorice root, green tea, omija (magnolia berry), and coptis japonica root extracts provide an additional boost of nourishing moisture to soothe dryness and fatigue helping to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Formulated with Soo Ae’s Moisture Revival Complex, a unique blend of botanical extracts and 17 complex amino acids, this hydrating formula helps to improve moisture and skin clarity for radiant and smooth skin. This moisture-rich essence formula is infused into Soo Ae’s unique eco-friendly Hydrocell mask fabric and allows for significantly improved absorption and delivery of powerful ingredients into the skin, exceeding those of a traditional sheet mask
Healthy collagen level in the skin can help to achieve the plump and smooth appearance of a youthful complexion. As a key ingredient in this mask, it restores hydration while protecting that moisture from breaking down that may lead to dryness, and improves elasticity and resilience. In addition, each mask is also formulated with Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Witch Hazel, Natto Gum, and Wheat Amino Acids, to provide additional hydration and skin care benefits.
Charcoal helps to detox and purify skin. Plant extract delivers and nourishes skin. Hologram mask is soaked in a unique double-sided black charcoal and hologram sheet.
An effective hydrogel eye mask meets Soo’Ae’s cute panda to deliver a fun way to hydrate, soothe and smooth tired looking eyes. Formulated with Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract and Dipotassim Glycyrrhizate. this nourishing formula provides excellent moisturizing and soothing benefits, helping to chase those sad panda eyes away.
RATING: 4.5/5
These masks are a little more expensive than other sheet masks, but you can definitely see and feel that they are better quality than other brands. They all smell really nice.I think the hydrogel, skin gel and peeling masks were the best.
My face felt incredibly soft and plump after using the Donkey Milk Skin Gel Mask and the Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel (I wou. You could definitely get two uses out of one package of the peeling gel and the sleeping mask can last a while since a little bit goes a long way.
I think my favourites were the Donkey Milk Skin Gel Mask, Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel and the Black Charcoal Hydrogel Mask. I will definitely be purchasing those in the future.
The Super Intensive Hydrocell Mask was my least favourite one. I didn’t love the fibrous feel of the mask.
The lip patch made my lips feel super smooth and a bit tingly. It was also thicker than other lip patches I’ve tried and it didn’t really lay flat against my skin. It’s best to lie down when using it because it fell off while I used it.
The premium essence and skin friendly sheet masks were a similar material to the ones you get at The Face Shop. So, I wouldn’t purchase the nature essence ones since you can get similar ones for cheaper at The Face Shop or in packages at Winners. I think it’s more worth it to pay $4 for the peeling gel, hydrogel, and skin gel masks.
What are your fave face masks? Have you tried Soo’Ae masks?
Lately, I’ve been frequenting Winners because they have name brand products for really good prices. Sure, the products might be discontinued and older, but they’re still good. A lot of people open up the packages to see what the shades look like (I’m guilty of this), but I don’t swatch them like some people do. I’ve seen eyeshadows, blushes and powders with a finger smudge in them…gross! As a rule, I don’t buy anything that’s liquid (mascara, lip gloss, liquid lipstick, etc.) because you don’t know if people have tried them on. The only time I will buy any liquid products is if it’s clearly packaged up in plastic or if it’s in a security container (the higher end products are stored in these to prevent people from opening up the boxes). I haven’t found any shades that I like for lipsticks, but I would only buy if it’s untouched. I’ve seen some really high end brands for $10-20- Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, etc.
I picked up several things during my last shopping trip, but today’s review is on The Balm’s Batter Up Eyeshadow sticks. I picked up a 2-pack at Winners for $9.99! The shades are Dugout and Shutout. According to The Balm’s website, they go for $17 each and I’m guessing that’s in USD, not CAD.
Introducing Batter Up, the long-wearing cream shadow sticks from theBalm Cosmetics! These high-pigment shadow and base multi-taskers come in eight blendable and buildable shades.
Dugout is a metallic brown shade while Shutout is a gold shade (both are shimmery). Both the shades are beautiful on their own, but I like them together too. I’ve tried them doing gradient looks where Shutout is on the inner corner and Dugout on outer and Dugout smudged along my lashline and Shutout above. They glide easily and they’re very blendable.
I was wearing both shades yesterday. I used the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer, then used powder to set the primer. I applied Dugout along my lashline and blended with my fingers, then applied Shutout above it and blended that with my fingers. It created a very nice gradient look. I was wearing them for about 8 hours and the shadow didn’t crease at all.
Below are swatches of Dugout and Shutout swatched straight from stick, and then the bottom swatches are Dugout and Shutout applied from stick and then blended with a brush. I didn’t use an eyeshadow primer/base under the swatches. As you can see, Dugout is a brown shade, but when blended, its a bronze shade. Shutout is a gold shade, but when blended, it’s like a champagne shade.
RATING: 4/5
I really like these and they are so beautiful. It’s like each stick gives you a 2-in-1 shadow because you can apply directly without blending or achieve a lighter eye look by smudging them out.
I hope everyone has a great long weekend!
Have you tried cream shadow sticks? What are your fave brands?
If you’ve read my review on the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches, you’ll know that I love them. When I heard that they came out with a new pimple patch that is thinner. They also claim that you can apply makeup on top, so I wanted to try it. I found a Canadian website called Chuusi.ca that sold them. They retail for $4.50 CAD, but unfortunately you can only buy one package at a time (on Chuusi).
Clear Fit Master Patch
In a package for the Acne Pimple Master Patches, you get 24 (10 small, 5 medium, 9 large). I tend to use the medium ones the most. The Clear Fit Master Patches come in a package of 18 and they are all the same size (the same size as the medium master patches- 10mm).
An ultra-thin hydrocolloid patch that conceals blemishes and absorbs impurities and oil. These patches are thinner and less visible than the Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches, making them perfect for use under makeup and during the daytime.
How to Use: After cleansing, dry the area around the acne, pimple, or blemish and apply patch to completely cover the spot. The patch goes on clear. When the patch becomes white, remove the patch and cleanse the area before applying a new patch.
I mostly bought the Clear Fit patches because I wanted to see how well they were disguised under makeup. If you want to know how well the patches work, go to my review on the Acne Pimple Master Patches. The clear fit patches are thinner and not as noticeable, but they don’t absorb as much as the Acne Pimple Master Patches. The Acne Pimple Master Patches are the same thickness for the whole patch and they also stick better. The Clear Fit ones are thin and then thicker in the centre.
I tried one under makeup and it just emphasized the patch more. I tried several different ways to conceal the patch: a cream concealer from the Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review), Maybelline Fit Me concealer and a powder foundation. I tried using a brush, my finger and a sponge. I thought the sponge would work the best because you dab at it instead of moving concealer around the patch, but it didn’t make much of a difference. For the powder foundation, it didn’t do anything, it just made the patch look cloudy.
RATING: 4.5/5
I was disappointed that the clear fit patches don’t work under makeup. Unless you plan to wear pimple patches out of the house, I think the Acne Pimple Master Patches are better than the Clear Fit ones because they absorb more and you get more in each package (although the small patches can be a bit useless).
I love using micellar water to remove my makeup, you may have seen my post: Pros and Cons to Different Types of Makeup Removers. Micellar water is very gentle and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. When I was at Winners, I bought a few things and this was one of them. So, I wanted to see if micellar gelee worked as well or better than micellar water. I got it for $6.99 at Winners, but it retails for $16.49 at Rexall.
The micellar gelee doesn’t have a scent and the consistency is similar to spectro gel (just a tad more fluid). I would compare the gelee to a morph of micellar water and cleansing balm. Like a cleansing balm, you need to be in a bathroom or somewhere with access to water because it removes the makeup, but you need water or a face cloth to wipe off the dissolved makeup and you need to rinse your face after. It’s similar to micellar water because it’s not oily and if you accidentally get some in your eye, it won’t cloud your vision.
Ensures an ultra efficient makeup removal experience without irritations.
I tried several different ways to remove my makeup with the gelee: cotton pad, fingers, and face cloth. If you pour a small pea-sized amount, it takes off your eye makeup well, but you need to wash your hands because they get a bit sticky from the gelee. I tried the micellar gelee using my hands (like I do with cleansing balms), but you need water to rinse off the makeup. I don’t know about you, but when I need to wash my face at my bathroom sink, the water runs down my arms and gets all over the place. I tried using a face cloth and poured some gelee onto it; it easily wiped off the makeup without getting water all over the sink. I think using a face cloth or makeup remover cloth is the best way to use the gelee. The micellar gelee plus a makeup remover cloth will ensure all of your eye makeup is removed- I don’t know about you, but sometimes a makeup remover cloth doesn’t always get all of my eye makeup off.
RATING: 4/5
If you like cleansing balms, but hate when it accidentally gets in your eye and makes your vision cloudy, micellar gelee is a great alternative and it’s cheaper too. Personally, I think I still prefer micellar water as my main method of makeup removal. This was an interesting product to try, but it’s more expensive than micellar water and you get less product.
What do you use to remove your makeup? Have you tried micellar gelee?
Like every other beauty enthusiast, I wanted to try The Ordinary’s Foundation, but I waited a bit to read reviews and see which one I’d prefer: Coverage or Serum.Both foundations come in 21 shades. The Serum Foundation is described as a “Lightweight Pigment Suspension System with Moderate Coverage” while the Coverage Foundation is described as a “High-Spreadability Pigment Suspension System with High Coverage.” The foundations come in a plastic bottle with a pump. The pump is matte black which is kind of harder to keep clean than non-matte pumps, but who can complain when it’s less than $10 for the foundation. They also have a glass dropper you can purchase separately if you prefer.
After swatching both, I decided on the Serum Foundation because it’s more lightweight and not as thick. I prefer lightweight foundations especially since my face has been relatively clear recently. I used to prefer medium to full coverage matte foundations, but I think now I prefer sheer to medium coverage with a natural or radiant finish.
Serum Foundation in 2.0N – I decided to get the shade 2.0 N (Light Medium Neutral). Usually for foundations that have different shades for each undertone, I’m either yellow or neutral. I think that neutral suits me better because yellow can sometimes be a bit too yellow. They were sold out of 2.0 N at Hudson’s Bay (they had plenty of stock at the Queen Street location, but, of course they’re sold out of my shade…just my luck). My sister was able to pick it up at the Abnormal Beauty Company store downtown.
Serum Foundations are lightweight medium-coverage formulations available in a comprehensive shade range across 21 shades. These foundations offer moderate coverage that looks natural with a very lightweight serum feel. They are very low in viscosity and are dispensed with the supplied pump.
I apply the foundation after using a sponge or my fingers since it’s so liquid. If you read my First Impressions Review on the Buffet serum, you saw that I applied this on top of the Buffet and it started to pill when I used my fingers. So, if you use Buffet, keep that in mind when applying this foundation- it didn’t pill when I used a sponge.
Wearability
To test the foundation, I didn’t powder my t-zone to see how well it held up. It set to a nice, smooth finish. It started breaking up and getting shiny after the 2nd hour on my chin and around and on my nose. My skin isn’t very oily, so if you do have oily skin, you should definitely powder your t-zone.
Shade 2.0N
Number and Letter Meanings for the Shades
The shades range from very fair to deep: very fair to light (1.0-1.2), light medium to medium (2.0-2.1), medium dark to deep (3.0-3.3). Each shade is followed by a letter to indicate the undertone: Neutral (N), Pink (P), Yellow (Y), Red (R). They also have three shades that have a second letter: Silver (S) indicates silver highlights, and Gold (G) indicates gold highlights. For example NS listed below is Neutral undertones with Silver highlights and YG is Yellow undertones with Gold highlights. The S and G shades “use natural-looking and exceptionally fine dispersions of metallic effect pigments for added highlight,” and the description on The Ordinary’s website says they plan to “introduce individual enhancers and highlighters in the near future to customize all shades.”
Shade Range
N
P
Y
R
NS
YG
1.0 Very Fair
x
x
x
1.1 Fair
x
x
1.2 Light
x
x
x
x
2.0 Light Medium
x
x
x
2.1 Medium
x
x
3.0 Medium Dark
x
x
3.1 Dark
x
x
3.2 Deep
x
x
3.3 Very Deep
x
RATING: 4/5
I love that it comes in a pump and it’s super affordable. It covered up redness around my nose and chin really well. I think I would prefer a foundation that gives a more luminous finish, but I can always add something to it to give it a pop (check out my beauty hack using the white/silver ‘concealer’ from the Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette). You definitely can’t go wrong with this foundation’s price.
Back when I bought the Winterberry Palette from Coastal Scents (read my full review), I also bought the Eclipse Palette (a cream concealer palette). It comes with fifteen shades: white/silver, mint green, pale yellow, lavender, and 11 skin-coloured shades (pale to dark).
Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette
We’ve got you covered—literally. Neutralize under eye halos, conceal blemishes, banish breakouts, and reduce redness with fifteen cream-based shades. Designed to conceal, highlight, and custom blend to your skin tone, watch your flaws disappear.
The mint green shade counteracts redness or pinkness caused from rosacea, blemishes, or capillaries around the nose and cheek areas.
The pale yellow shade conceals black, blue, or purple imperfections such as bruises or unsightly under eye halos.
The lavender shade neutralizes areas with excessive yellow pigmentation and corrects olive skin tones.
The white/silver shade can be used as a highlighter to add sheen to cheekbones, nose and eyes.
I’ve tried applying these concealers with a brush and with my fingers. I find the best way is to use my fingers or apply with the brush, but then blend out with fingers. Using a brush requires a little more effort to blend in, and this isn’t exactly ideal for your under eyes. With the warmth of my finger, the cream blends out smoothly. I’ve been using either the hydrating or smoothing primer from Make Up For Ever under these concealers. To apply, I use my ring finger and swirl it in the concealer, then lightly dab it onto my face.
How I Use the Shades
I got the palette mostly to try the green and lavender shades. I’ve tried the green corrector from NYX, but the green is a bit too pale (I’ve swatched it next to the Urban Decay one- see here). I haven’t used the pale yellow too much. The green has been covering up redness really well. I’ve been using the lavender for under eyes to cover up dark circles, although I should test out the yellow for under eyes too.
For any colour-correcting concealer, you don’t blend it in all the way. You blend it just enough so that the colour is spread evenly, but you still want to see the purple, yellow or green. If you blend it all the way, then whatever you’re trying to cover up won’t be covered!
I was testing out the shades to see which would match my face and Shade 11 is pretty close. I could probably mix it with one of the others.
I’ve tried Shades 6 and 7 under my eyes, but I prefer using a more fluid concealer instead of a cream-based concealer to avoid cakey under eyes (especially when I might already be using the lavender one).
I’ve been using Shade 14 and 15 for contour. A small amount goes a long way, so I do a very thin line. I like to use my finger. When I contour my nose, I use a concealer brush to apply so it’s more precise, but then use my ring finger to blend out.
I don’t really use the other skin-coloured shades since they’re not a good match, but I could probably use them as cream eyeshadows or something.
At first, I didn’t really know what to do with the white/silver shade. I tried it as a highlight, but since it’s cream, it’s hard to blend out nicely without accidentally taking off your other makeup. Since the lavender, green and yellow shades are used for underneath your makeup, I thought I would try the white/silver one UNDER my foundation. I applied it to my cheeks where I would apply highlighter and blended it in. I didn’t blend it in all the way- similar to the colour-correcting shades, I blended just enough so that I looked like I was going to put on some galactic makeup. I applied my foundation on top of it and it leaves you with glowy, but natural look. It’s perfect for the day time when you don’t want to apply the most poppin’ highlighter you have, but just want a subtle glow and dewiness.
Another way to use the white/silver shade is to apply it under eyeshadow. It made my metallic eyeshadows go from beautiful to gorgeous! It’s like a primer that makes your shadow so metallic that it gives it that wet look.
RATING: 4/5
I really like this palette. I wish I could pick and choose the shades I wanted, but for less than $10, you can’t go wrong. I read reviews on the Eclipse Palette and a lot of people had problems with it blending well or looking cakey. I think you need a really good base (I always use a moisturizing or smoothing primer) and the best way to apply is with your fingers. Also, since this is a cream concealer, if you have any dry patches, they will show. So, unfortunately, your skin can’t be too dry or the concealer will emphasize the dryness.
I definitely want to try higher end cream concealer palettes or even drugstore ones because I don’t love that this palette was Made in China (which I didn’t know when purchasing). Check out my blog post- Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?
Also, since I’m Canadian, ordering from Coastal Scents costs a lot of money because they charge shipping, so I’d prefer something where I don’t pay more for shipping than the product.
Have you tried cream concealers/colour correcting concealers? What are your faves?
I was contacted by Palmer’s Canada to see if I was interested in writing a review for three of their new products from their Coconut Oil Formula line. I was sent the Body Cream, Lotion and Oil. I received these products for free, but my review is my honest opinions on the products. I’ve also been given the opportunity to hold a giveaway where 3 winners will win the same products I received: Coconut Oil Body Lotion, Cream and Oil.
Nature’s best kept secret for superior skin hydration is raw, natural Coconut Oil. Palmer’s new Coconut Oil Formula products drench your skin with decadently rich moisture for dewy, radiant skin that looks lit from within.
Quick Facts
Free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Gluten and Dyes
Provides 24-Hour Moisture
Contains Ethically and Sustainably Sourced Ingredients
Drenches skin with decadent moisture for a dewy, glowing, allover healthy radiance
Key Ingredients:
Raw Coconut Oil – Sourced from South East Asia this super ingredient is antioxidant rich and has inherent antibacterial properties. Loaded with naturally occurring skin health Lauric Acid, Proteins, and Vitamin E
Tahitian Monoï – From the ancient Polynesian word for “scented oil” the native star-shaped Tiaré flowers are harvested for their delicately perfumed petals and then soaked in unrefined coconut oil for days
Sweet Almond Oil – Collected in small cooperatives in Spain, the almonds are harvested in summer and pressed for their rich oil. Almond oil naturally soothes skin irritation and detoxifies
Vitamin E – This antioxidant powerhouse combats free radical damage, keeping skin looking youthful and rejuvenated
Coconut Oil Body Lotion
The bottle’s cap is a bit difficult to open, I don’t know if it’s just me (I guess it’s a good thing that it seals so tightly). I can definitely smell the coconut milk. I hope they decide to come out with a larger size and a pump like their Cocoa Butter Formula.
Contains rich, skin-conditioning coconut oil and coconut milk that infuse skin with deeply penetrating moisture and an instant hydration boost. Natural Oils and botanical extracts immediately begin rehydrating depleted skin on contact, creating a breathable barrier that locks in moisture for long-lasting softness. Use as an all-over-body lotion after shower everyday.
RATING: 4.5/5
Coconut Oil Body Cream
This moisturizes really well, but I don’t personally love it because it’s so thick and I don’t love products that come in tubs. I understand it has to come in a tub because it’s too thick, but I prefer products where I don’t have to stick my hand into a jar to use.
Contains Raw Coconut Oil and a blend of rich, natural butters including Mango, Shea, Macadamia and Cocoa to drench skin with deep-penetrating moisture and rehydrate even the toughest, driest skin. This indulgently creamy formula is perfect for at-home spa pedicures, revitalizing moisture thirsty elbows or maintaining soft, supple skin all throughout the dry weather months. Apply Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Cream after shower everyday.
RATING: 4/5
Coconut Oil Body Oil
It absorbed into the skin pretty quickly and it didn’t give my clothes any oil stains. I’ve used Vaseline to moisturize and it stained some clothes and bedsheets with the oiliness.
Instantly boosts hydration and gives skin an overall healthy-looking glow. Raw Coconut Oil and a blend of precious, natural oils including Grape Seed, Macadamia and Argan Oil deeply penetrate and immediately begin rehydrating depleted skin on contact, creating a breathable barrier that locks in moisture for long-lasting radiance. Apply Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Oil after shower everyday.
RATING: 5/5
Comparison of the Body Lotion (top) and Body Cream (bottom)
I am very sensitive to smells especially when it comes to lotions. I don’t like using scented lotions on my hands because I can get nauseous. I had this one shea butter body butter that was quite strong and I applied it after my shower and it was so strong that I could smell it on my bed sheets the next day.
I like the smell of coconut, but any heavily scented product could make me feel nauseous. When I first smelled each of the Palmer’s products, they had a very strong scent in the jar/bottles. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stand it, especially since it says to use it after a shower (I shower at night). When you smell the products out of the jar/bottles, they have a strong coconut and slight floral scent from the Tahitian Monoï (or maybe it’s the sweet almond), but once it absorbs into the skin, the scent fades leaving a faint scent.
I decided to try the body lotion and the body cream on my hands and feet to start. On the first night, I put the body lotion on my hands and put on some cotton gloves. I woke up and my hands were incredibly smooth. The tops of my hands are usually okay, and my fingers tend to be dry, but when I woke up that morning, it was like a baby’s bottom! That night, I decided to try the body cream on my hands and feet. I then put on my cotton gloves again and put some socks on. I woke up the next morning and my feet felt very smooth. Since both products did amazing things for my hands and feet, I decided to try the body oil on my whole body. I admit, I’m a little wary of using oils because I’ve used Bio Oil before and my skin reacted badly (at least I think it was from the Bio Oil). After using the Palmer’s body oil, my skin feels super soft.
Out of the three, I think the body cream is my least favourite because it’s so thick, but I will use it on my hands, feet and elbows as it suggests. I think the oil is actually my favourite because it has the lightest scent of the three and it’s great when the steam of your shower keeps your pores open and helps the product absorb into the skin better.
If you love coconut, I definitely recommend the Palmer’s Coconut Oil line. I’m interested in trying out their other lines since coconut isn’t my favourite scent: Cocoa Butter, Shea and Olive Oil.
Have you tried Palmer’s products before?
GIVEAWAY CLOSED
Winners have been announced on Instagram and contacted via DM.
Open to Canadian residents only
Palmer’s has been generous enough to let me run a giveaway. Three lucky winners will be selected and each of the three winners will receive all three products (Coconut Oil Body Lotion, Cream and Oil)! Giveaway ends at 12:00 AM EST on February 15th, 2018. Winners will be announced the next day on this post, Instagram and contacted by email.
To enter the giveaway, you must be 18+ and a Canadian resident. If you are under 18, please get a parent/guardian’s permission. Winners will be randomly selected. Once announced, the winners have 24 hours to respond and you must have a Canadian address or another winner will be chosen at random.
For additional entries, enter the giveaway on my Instagram!
A few years back, my mom mentioned to me that it’s better to buy products that are made in North America or Europe instead of China, Taiwan, etc. because you never know what they’re putting into the products. Ever since then, I’ve always been a bit conscious about checking where a product is made before purchasing, but sometimes I do slip up and accidentally buy something Made in China.
Do you check the back of cosmetic and skincare products to see where they are made before you purchase them?
There are so many different brands out there that have products that are made in North America or Europe. So, why buy products that are made in China when you don’t know what kind of rules and regulations they have? Especially when it comes to makeup that absorbs through your skin and that you could accidentally ingest from putting on your lips. Even drugstore brands are made in Canada or Germany, so it’s not like you have to splurge on high end products.
For powder products like highlighter or blush, it’s not as bad because I don’t use the same products every day. Same with eyeshadows because the ones I have from China are more vibrant colours that I wouldn’t wear on a day-to-day basis.
For liquid products like foundation and concealer, I am very careful to check that it’s made in North America or Europe because your skin absorbs the product and these are the products that cover the largest area of your face. Same goes for mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and lip gloss. Eye products can easily get into your eyes when you rub them or when you’re removing makeup and lip products are easily ingested.
I went through my makeup stash to see where everything was from and I’ve mapped it out in purple. Most of my products were from the usual countries like the US, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, and then there were a few Made in China. Some products surprised me- I had eye products made in Czech Republic and Mexico.
Asia– China (also listed as PRC- People’s Republic of China), Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia
Mexico
Maybelline EyeStudio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown
Czech Republic
L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Grey
Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in White
Poland
Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base
Indonesia
Benefit Cosmetics Prima Donna Fake Lashes
Although I do my best not to buy products from China, I have purchased a few here and there. The following are Made in China:
Coastal Scents products
Winterberry palette
Eclipse palette
Shadow pots
Revealed 3 palette and Lipstick don’t say where they’re made and I no longer have the boxes they came in, but I’m assuming China because the lipstick is less than $5 and the Revealed 3 palette goes for $20 (and goes on sale for less).
Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
NYX Matte Setting Spray
I went through my makeup collection to see if I had any other products Made in China/PRC and I was shocked to find some Tarte products had been made in China. Here are the products I have:
Essence Light Up Your Face Luminizer
Most of the other Essence products are Made in Europe, i.e. Germany or Luxembourg
Eyeko Fat Eye Stick (Made in PRC)
Smashbox Blush Soft Lights Duo
other Smashbox products I have are made in US or Belgium
Tarte products- it really surprised me that my Tarte products are Made in China, however; the Tarteist Lip Paint from the Sephora Birthday Gift is Made in US
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paarty (deluxe sample)
Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess (deluxe sample)
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
Wet N Wild Mega Protein Mascara
My friend has multiple full-sized Tarte products and she let me know where they were made and I also went to Sephora to take a look at the full-sizes of the blush and bronzer:
Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes (full-size)- USA
Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess- China
Tartelette Tease Palette- USA
Shape Tape- Korea
Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Full Coverage Foundation- USA
Maracuja Cheek Tint- Formulated in Japan, Made in China
Other things I found when going through my products:
Milani’s Retouch + Erase Lightlifting Concealer (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
Wet N Wild Photofocus Foundation (Foundation Made in USA, Filled in China)
Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
Tarte Gifted Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
Although the concealer and foundation from Milani both say Made in US with US & Non-US components, I think that’s just for the liquid products. The Color Statement Lipstick was Made in USA, and the XL All Over Glow Bronzer and Baked Blush were both Made in Italy.
I remember I had a Bella Pierre Mineral Foundation and Mineral Blush that I bought from a mall kiosk and they were made in the US. But, I have seen kits at Winners for $14.99 that have smaller sizes of the foundation, bronzer, illuminator and concealer. I checked the back of one and it was made in PRC, but there was another kit with other products and it was made in the US. So, make sure you check where kits are made. Even if full-sized products are made in the US, the smaller, trial-sized ones could be made elsewhere.
Do you avoid buying products depending on where they’re made? Are you more cautious with certain types of products?
I wanted to do a comparison post on two of my Maybelline Fit Me Foundations: liquid and stick foundations. I was going to do a This or That post, but it would be more useful to compare the matte liquid foundation with the stick because it’s mattifying. So, I am just comparing the two foundations to see how well the shades match. As we all know, sometimes the shades are called the same thing for different foundations, but the shades are not identical. I remember reading a post on the different Dior Skin foundations and the beauty blogger swatched them to show that even though they had the same name, the shades were slightly different.
Hi Everyone!
I mostly bought the Clear Fit patches because I wanted to see how well they were disguised under makeup. If you want to know how well the patches work, go to my 
Serum Foundation in 2.0N – I decided to get the shade 2.0 N (Light Medium Neutral). Usually for foundations that have different shades for each undertone, I’m either yellow or neutral. I think that neutral suits me better because yellow can sometimes be a bit too yellow. They were sold out of 2.0 N at Hudson’s Bay (they had plenty of stock at the Queen Street location, but, of course they’re sold out of my shade…just my luck). My sister was able to pick it up at the Abnormal Beauty Company store downtown.
Coconut Oil Body Lotion
Coconut Oil Body Cream
Coconut Oil Body Oil
