Lkins Skincare Coconut & Honey Aloe Cleanser (read my review) – I didn’t love the smell of this (like coconuts and almond oil), but it was a very gentle cleanser that didn’t strip the natural oils on my face.
Repurchase? No.
Lkins Skincare Hydrating Toner (read my review) – This was also a nice and gentle toner, but I didn’t love that it came in a spray bottle because it didn’t mist nicely since it’s a thicker product.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel (read my review) – This didn’t hydrate my dry under eyes enough, but it was very gentle and light on the under eyes.
Repurchase? Probably not.
No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant (read my review) – I liked that this was all natural and didn’t have aluminium or baking soda, but I didn’t love that I had to use my hands to apply it. I’d rather use a roll-on type of deodorant where I don’t have to touch it.
Repurchase? No.
TULA Aqua Infusion Oil-Free Gel Cream – This was a nice and light gel cream and I liked it as much as the TULA Hydrating Day & Night Cream. However, I don’t think I would purchase the full-sized.
I haven’t tried a lot of products from Almay. I was sent 10 Almay products to review (5 different products with two different shades of each). While that was very generous and all of the products look really pretty, not all of the shades are ones I would personally choose and if I opened them, I would just end up wasting them. So, I’m going to review the products that I’ve decided to keep for myself and I will be putting the unopened products in a future giveaway.
Several of the products have that iridescent, unicorn vibe – especially the Jelly highlighters and glosses. These products are greatt for a fun makeup look, festival or Halloween…they would’ve been perfect to use for Coachella.
I received 020 Smoldering Embers and 030 Coppery Blaze.
When you swatch the shadows with your fingers, they’re not the most pigmented. When you apply them though, they are very nice. For the Smoldering Embers palette, the shimmery bone shade is perfect to highlight the brow bone and I really love the brown shade because it’s smoky, but also perfect for an everyday look (this shade swatched the best out of the three shadows). You can add a bit more smoke by adding the purple shade.
From top: Smoky Eye Trio Eyeshadow in Smoldering Embers (top to bottom), Shadow Squad Eyeshadow in 160 Thrill Seekers (swatches are clockwise from top left)
Shadow Squad Eyeshadow
Your favorite shades, in each of four finishes: matte, satin, metallic, glitter
Mix it up in monochrome
Soft texture for beautiful color payoff
I received 160 Thrill Seekers and 100 Unicorn.
The Unicorn shades are either not going to show up or look weird on my skin tone, so I will be giving that one away. The Thrill Seekers teal shades are more my style anyway. Again, swatching them, they’re not the most pigmented shades. If you want to add some more pigment, apply it on top of the Velvet Foil Shadow (the Lunar Disco shade is the perfect shade) or make sure to use a shadow primer that will brighten it up.
I prefer the bottom two shades from this palette. I usually prefer if my brightly coloured shadows are metallic or glittery because I’m not exactly going to use a matte green or teal as a transition shade. The matte shade was also a bit patchy.
Velvet Foil Cream Shadow
Wear each shade individually or combine for a dramatic customized eye look. Quick and easy application – apply with fingertips or an eyeshadow brush. No shadow fall-out during application.
Long wear formula – up to 24 Hour wear
High intensity color
Crease-proof, smudge-proof, fade-proof all day
Infused with Vitamin E and a botanical blend of ingredients
I received 070 Astro Girl and 060 Lunar Disco
I first swatched this on my hand (see below- it looks kind of black in that lighting, but it is more blue) and found it very difficult to wash off. It made me worry how hard it would be to remove from my eyes. I don’t have waterproof makeup remover, if you do, you’re probably fine, but it took me a bit more effort to remove it. Astro Girl is a white shade so that won’t really look good on my skin tone. I opened up Lunar Disco which is a blue shade. I tend to go for more neutral shadows, but this looks nice when you pair it with the Shadow Squad Eyeshadow in Thrill Seekers.
Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite 24K Dreams, Unicorn Light, Velvet Foil Cream Shadow in Lunar Disco
Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite
Jelly highlighter that illuminates and shimmers, giving you a celestial glow.
Iridescent glitter sheen complements all skin tones
Instantly illuminates and adds moisture to skin
Buildable highlight for customized level of radiance
As always, hypoallergenic & fragrance free
Pro Tips!
Brush onto cheekbones and the bridge of your nose for an iridescent gleam
Apply to collarbones and shoulders to make them pop
Mix with moisturizer or primer for an all-over glow
Add to foundation for customized radiance
I received 003 Unicorn Light and 004 24K Dreams
These jelly highlighters dry down a bit tacky. In the pro tips, it says to apply to bridge of nose, I think it’s a bit too chunky to do that, it’ll look like you had some fallout from an eyeshadow get onto your nose. Similar to the Inglot x Jennifer Lopez Livin’ the Highlight, this is a bit more chunky than I prefer my face highlighters to be. I prefer a wet look instead of shimmery chunks, so I think this would be best as a body highlighter for the collarbone and shoulders.
I’ve compared these to the NYX Jelly Illuminator, check out my post (swatches included).
Goddess Gloss
A spectrum of prismatic lip glosses with holographic effects. Designed to be worn solo, mixed or layered.
Gives lips a holographic, iridescent glow
Lips feel moisturized and smooth, never sticky
Made with pomegranate, grape and raspberry oils
Available in 8 sheer, easy to wear, high-shine shades
As always, hypoallergenic & fragrance free
Pro Tips!
Rock it solo for an iridescent glow on lips
Mix & match shades to create infinite ombré looks
Layer over lipstick for a transformative holographic effect
I received 930 Dreamy and 900 Gilded
These lip glosses really aren’t my style. I don’t really like iridescent lip sticks, but if that’s your style, I think these would look really good.
This Almay collection is very fun and iridescent. I personally prefer a neutral look with a glowy highlighter so my favourite out of all of the products was the Smoldering Embers Smoky Eye Trio…boring, I know. As you may know, I’ve been trying to streamline my makeup collection. While fun shades and products are cool to try out, I don’t think I would’ve bought anything from this collection because I want to have products in my collection that are timeless and neutral (with maybe a nice pop of colour here and there).
Have you tried Almay products? What were your thoughts?
Back with another faves post! I have three primers and two lip products for you.
I am loooooving the Lancôme L’Absolu Lacquer Lip Gloss in 236 Pour Toujours!! For me, it’s a MLBB shade. The lacquer has the pigmentation of a liquid lip, but glossiness of a gloss.
I love the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (read my review)!! It’s beautifully glossy, so you can even use it during the day as your lip product. I slather it on before bed and then wake up with my lips feeling moisturized. Unlike Vaseline, it takes longer to absorb and keeps my lips hydrated for much longer.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer, Primer Water and Primer Oil. I love all three of these primers. The primerizer and primer oil are amazing for my dry skin. They help hydrate my skin so that the area around my nose doesn’t look dry and flaky after wearing makeup all day.
I like the primer water. I use it as both a primer and after makeup. The sprayer is great because it has a nice, fine mist. I’ll definitely keep the bottle when I’m finished. I feel like the sprayer has a finer mist than the Mac Fix+ bottle. I like using this and the smashbox primerizer together. I’ll use the primerizer on my t-zone and spray this all over the face. The primer water hydrates my skin and also makes it feel a little tacky so my foundation and concealer stayed on better. I’ve had some great makeup days using this primer. I would repurchase all of these again in the future!
Today, I have a first impressions review for Woodlot products. It’s a Canadian brand that was founded in 2014. They generously sent me three products from their collection: two soaps and a body lotion.
Natural Recharge Soap
A simple antidote to stress and fatigue. Soothing aromas of rosemary + peppermint.
This one smells really nice. I love the peppermint in it.
Natural Wildwoods Soap
Embrace the power of detoxifying bamboo charcoal. Blended with nourishing butters, soothing balsam oil, crisp fir oil, and warming clove oil, this cleansing bar is brimming with benefits.
This one has a nice scent as well, but products with trees tend to smell more manly to me. The one thing I don’t love about this one is the activated charcoal. While it’s great that it detoxifies, it can get quite messy with the charcoal bleeding when it gets wet.
RATING: 4/5
While these are nice soaps, $10 is a bit expensive for one bar.
Amour Nourishing Body Lotion
Scents of floral palmarosa, fragrant rose damask, and spicy black pepper oil make this nourishing and lightweight lotion a romantic treat for your skin.
This lotion made my hands feel very soft, but the black pepper is a little overwhelming for me. I don’t usually use scented lotions because I have sensitive skin and a sensitive nose. I get headaches from scented products easily.
RATING: 3/5
My favourite of the three is the Recharge soap. It smells so good (and I don’t usually like Rosemary), but the mint makes it refreshing.
They gave me a discount code. Use the code JENCAT-XO at checkout to get 15% off!
I’ve tried out the Rael Hydrocolloid Acne Healing Patches (name has been changed to Miracle Patches) and compared it to my beloved COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) and here are my thoughts:
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches
The thin clear hydrocolloid patch feels similar to a hydrogel sheet mask in texture, adhering your skin strongly. It’ll stay on through showering and washing! It treats breakouts by eliminating infection and bacteria, which is what causes them in the first place. It’s able to breakdown debris from blackheads and absorb gunk from whiteheads overnight, so you won’t experience a harsh dry patch from using this. It even helps flatten and heal cystic acne faster!
24 patches per pack (3 sizes):
10 x 7mm
5 x 10mm
9 x 12mm
The COSRX are the first patches I tried and I’ve compared them to the Nexcare ones which I didn’t like (read my review). I buy the COSRX patches on Chuusi.ca for $4.50 each.
Rael Miracle Patches
Our high-grade absorbent hydrocolloid extracts impurities and provides a protective barrier that guards your skin from bacteria and irritants. These super-effective patches reduce inflammation and also prevent potential acne scarring.
24 patches per pack (2 sizes):
12 x 10mm
12 x 12mm
I bought these on Amazon.ca and got 4 packages for $24.46 which means 1 pack is $6.12
The Rael ones remind me of the COSRX Clear Fit Master Patches (read my review) because they are tapered on the edges, but the COSRX Clear Fit only comes with 18 patches in 10mm size.
Rael costs a little more, but they are better if you are wearing them out of the house. COSRX are cheaper, but they’re a little more noticeable (especially if it’s somewhere obvious like your cheek). COSRX comes with 10 of the small sized patches and I mostly use the medium and large patches. Sometimes when I peel off the COSRX ones, it folds over onto itself (like when you’re opening a bandaid and it sticks to itself and you can’t unstick it). The Rael (and the COSRX Clear Fit) patches are easier to peel off because the sheets are perforated.
I think that since the COSRX ones aren’t tapered, they can absorb more. From now on, I will buy both and use the Rael ones if I need to wear one out of the house and use the COSRX for home.
UPDATE: I’ve started to love the Rael patches more because I get pimples on my face where there’s curves (nose, jaw, chin). It’s easier for the Rael ones to stick since they’re thinner. I have noticed that if you wear the Rael ones for too long and there’s a lot of stuff to absorb, they will get gummy (for lack of a better word). The COSRX ones, since they’re thicker, they don’t get gummy.
Have you tried acne patches? What’s your fave brand?
Thank you to Freon Collective for these reusable 100% organic cotton rounds!
I wanted to find a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton rounds like the Shiseido and Quo ones because let’s face it, those aren’t cheap! Having reusable cotton rounds will be so much more affordable and eco-friendly.
These 100% organic cotton rounds come in sets of 15 and there are 9 different designs. I chose the Grey Marble ones. They come in a mesh bag so you can throw it into the laundry without losing any of them.
They do absorb a little bit more liquid than regular cotton pads and they aren’t quite as soft either, but they are still gentle. After using half of them, I’ll throw the used ones into the laundry so that I have enough to last a few days while the used ones are washed and air-dried.
RATING: 4/5
I still have quite a few packages of one-use cotton rounds in my drawers so I will finish those and then move to the reusable ones. I think I will use my makeup eraser cloths to remove makeup and use these for toners and other skincare products because I don’t want them to get dirty too quickly.
If you want to make the move to be more eco-friendly, they generously gave me a discount code to share with you guys! It’s not an affiliate code, just a 10% discount for my lovely followers! Use the code JEN10 at checkout!
I was contacted by Eileen from LKins SkinCare and very generously sent three products to review.
After purchasing products from local stores and buying the most expensive products from high end department stores she wanted to create her own set of products that she would be proud to use and that would leave her skin hydrated and feeling youthful but most importantly be chemical free.
She has dry, pale and sensitive skin and realized her skin was changing even more like so many others at this age and she wanted to protect it as much as possible. Her products contain natural and organic ingredients such as: vitamin c, aloe, coconut and honey.
Vitamin C Eye Gel
Helps revitalize, soothe and refresh the look of your eye area
Helps diminish the appearance of dark circles and puffiness
This doesn’t have a strong smell, but it does have a familiar scent that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps it has the same smell as another skincare product I’ve swatched at Sephora. It feels tacky after using, so I think I’d prefer to use this during the day.
RATING: 3.5/5
I like that it’s not strongly scented and comes with a pump instead of a pot like other eye creams, but I find that it’s not hydrating enough for my very dry under eyes.
Hydrating Toner
Rids the skin of impurities, dirt, and dulling dead cells. Revitalizes and soothes skin, leaving it silky smooth, satin-soft, and with a pleasant fresh feeling.
The toner is very gentle and works for my sensitive skin. It doesn’t have much of a scent which is nice. I don’t love the container it comes in because it’s a spray bottle which is kind of unusual for a toner. It kind of spurts out instead of sprays since it’s more viscous than a facial mist. I transferred it over to a glass bottle with a dropper which is working well for me.
RATING: 4/5
Coconut & Honey Aloe Cleanser
This wonderful cleanser is made with aloe and coconut oil and Manuka Honey. An opaque, light gel; it gently foams while it cleanses and moisturizes the skin.
The Coconut & Honey Aloe Cleanser is very a gentle cleanser. My face doesn’t feel dry/stripped of its natural oils after using it. It has a very light scent (I mostly smell the almond, which isn’t a bad thing, I just don’t really smell the honey or coconut), but for a cleanser, that’s not a big deal for me since you wash your face and then rinse it off. It does have fragrance in it which I’m trying to get away from for my skincare products, but otherwise it’s a great product that works with my sensitive skin.
Today, I’m comparing two Korean cleansing balms: Banila Co. Clean It Zero (Original) and Heimish All Clean Balm. I’ve previously compared the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm and the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm (read my review).
The two balms are the same price, but the All Clean Balm has 120mL while the Clean It Zero has 100mL.
The All Clean Balm doesn’t have fragrance while the Clean It Zero does.
I like the packaging of both, the Clean It Zero’s line of products are really pretty (pink, purple, etc.), but obviously I’m not going to choose one or the other based on packaging.
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Original
This sherbet-textured cleansing balm melts onto your skin to dissolve away sebum, pore-clogging impurities, and waterproof makeup in one simple step! This best-selling cleanser from Banila Co. has a mild formulation that is gentle yet effective, leaving behind zero residue. This oil-based cleanser deeply cleanses and mildly exfoliates without stripping the skin dry, so your skin stays happily hydrated after cleansing!
Heimish All Clean Balm
The Heimish All Clean Balm melts effortlessly into a smooth oil to dissolve away heavy makeup, impurities, and excess sebum. The oil emulsifies into a milky solution upon contact with water, leaving your skin clean without stripping away the skin’s natural oils. Shea butter, lime extract, and tea tree oil nourish and protect the skin during cleansing. Available in a solid balm texture, this cleanser is is all clean and no mess, making it easy to use and super travel-friendly!
WINNER: It’s a tie!
They perform the same to me. If you want the cheaper option, the Heimish is the way to go.
Have you tried these cleansing balms? Which did you prefer?
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
Surprisingly, I haven’t tried a whole bunch of products from Maybelline even though it’s an affordable drugstore brand. I think I have a lot of difficulty finding my shade match with their complexion products. I haven’t tried any of their blushes or eyeshadow palettes and only tried one lipstick so far, but here’s my list:
HITS
Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment Concealer – This is a great concealer for me, I love how natural it looks. The shade Light might be a bit too light, I’ve gotten a recommendation to try the Neutralizer, so I might try that.
Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder – I love this powder, but the shade 15 Light is a bit pink on me. Maybe it will be better during the summer time.
Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light – Great drugstore concealer!
Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation in 130 Buff Beige (read my review) – I actually really loved this, even in the summer time. I don’t think it’s available any more though.
Face Studio Master Chrome Highlighter – I love this highlighter, although for me, 100 Molten Gold is a bit too coppery gold for my skintone, but I would definitely repurchase in a different shade.
Color Show Kohl Liner – I loved the nude shade they used to have in this, but they don’t have it anymore. I used to put it on my lower waterline and it would instantly brighten my eyes.
Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara Washable (read my review) – This is a great mascara, I definitely want to try the waterproof to see if it holds a curl better
Great Lash Mascara (Black or Clear) – This is a classic. The clear one is great for using as brow gel too.
Volum’ Express The Falsies Big Eyes – From what I remember, this is a great mascara.
Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara – Loved this mascara, need to try it again at some point to compare it to others.
SuperStay 24 Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in 65 Seductress – A Toronto makeup artist posted a pic of her bride and I commented on it saying her lip colour was beautiful, she replied back saying it was this liquid lipstick mixed with a lipliner and gloss. I see why everyone loves this liquid lippie! I’m not one for matte lipsticks, but this one is super long-wearing and you can top with a gloss in the middle to give that 3D effect.
LIKES
Hydrate & Smooth Fit Me Foundation – The shade I chose in this isn’t right, so that’s probably why I didn’t love it. It was way too orange. I also don’t love that this has no pump.
Matte & Poreless Fit Me Foundation – Same deal as the Hydrate & Smooth one.
Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Eye Shadow in Barely Branded – I am still debating whether I like cream shadows. I think I prefer sticks when it has shimmer. So, I might like one that’s matte.
Total Temptation Washable Volumizing Mascara – This is one mascara that I’m not crazy about. It’s okay, but I prefer the others.
Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner (read my review) – This doesn’t have a really precise tip and it’s not super black, so if that’s what you’re looking for, skip this one.
MISSES
Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser – I didn’t like the silicone feel of this.
Master Prime Blur + Redness Control Primer – This didn’t do anything to correct my redness.
Eye Studio Brow Precise Pencil – I didn’t like the waxy feel of this pencil.
Color Show Nail Lacquer – I prefer a fat brush, this has a round skinny brush. For me, I prefer fat because it’s less likely to be streaky since I’m no expert at applying nail polish.
There’s a few products that I tried a long long time ago before I knew a lot about makeup…before using primer. So, here’s what I remember about them:
Baby Lips Lip Balm – I think it was okay, it wasn’t anything special.
SuperStay Better Skin Foundation – I used this a while back before I knew I was supposed to use primer. I don’t even know if I used to use a damp sponge when applying this. The shade I got was way off. I remember it being okay, but I’m not curious enough to to try it out again.
SuperStay Better Skin Concealer + Corrector – I remember it being pretty good, but didn’t love the chemical smell of it (Fit Me doesn’t have that smell). I don’t think the shade was right either.
Today, I have a review for a clay masque. I was generously sent the Ocean Mineral Complex Masque by Oceà Natural Skincare.
At Oceà we have one very simple goal: to shift the skin care industry to natural, safe, and effective ingredients that eliminate the need for harsh chemicals.
The masque comes in a glass pot and the masque itself has a whipped texture. It doesn’t have much of a smell, if anything it smells faintly of clay.
Deeply healing clays of Kaolin are infused with detoxifying ocean minerals to naturally clarify and exfoliate your skin.
Seaweed, Kelp, Irish Moss and Spirulina naturally restore your skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Safflower, Sweet Almond, Rice Brand and Grapeseed oils then provide the deep hydration your skin deserves!
This natural and organic product is gentle enough for all skin types and can be used several times per week.
RATING: 3/5
Since I have dry skin, I liked that this clay masque didn’t make my face feel dry after. My face felt nice and soft after using it, but I don’t know if it did anything to be honest. It didn’t exfoliate or bring out impurities like some clay masks I’ve tried. I like that it comes in a glass jar so I can re-use it after I finish the masque.
