Today, I’ll be reviewing some products from Sdara Skincare. They sent me a rose quartz roller and some eye gel patches! Keep reading to see what I think about these products!
Rose Quartz Roller
Get the glow – Be blown away by a younger and more radiant YOU. Prepare yourself to see even skin tone in the mirror that it might shock you, until you remember that you used our Sdara Skincare Rose Quartz Roller! Slow down aging (if you want to) – Bless yourself with aging gracefully. You’ll think, “Woah! What happened to that wrinkle? Why are my pores so small?” Because that’s the power of collagen reproduction and lymphatic drainage from our little pink miracle worker. Product Penetration – Your products will apply effortlessly with increased absorption! Massage products into your skin for increased effectiveness. Treat Yourself – You’ll want to roll our roller all over your body! That’s what one of our Sdara beauty gurus had to say. It’s the best to soothe irritated skin.
RATING: 5/5
I am loving the Rose Quartz Roller! I love the colour and the coolness of the roller just feels so nice on the skin. It makes your face feel nice, refreshed and ready for your skincare and makeup. The coolness from the roller is also great for those hot summer days. It’s also useful when you’ve already applied your skincare and it helps work it into your skin.
Eye Gel Mask
For days when under-eye concealer just won’t do, (no one has to know you didn’t relax the night away), Sdara Eye Gel Mask acts like a soothing second skin to immediately target and soothe the area. Promoting brighter, plumper, and more youthful-looking skin, preventative ingredients like natural snow mushroom, sodium hyaluronate, peptides, and gold restore natural moisture, boost collagen production, and firm your skin. Puffy, tired-looking eyes, we’re coming for you.
RATING: 3/5
The eye gel patches are also quite nice. They feel cool on the eyelids and undereyes and my skin feels smooth and soft after using it. Although I could do without the glitter that comes off the eye masks.
I am impressed with the products I received from Sdara Skincare. I would be interested in trying the microneedle roller (0.25mm). While I already have one from a different brand that has 0.5mm needles, it would be interesting to try one with smaller needles. Maybe have one for the body and one for the face.
I was very generously sent some of the new summer arrivals for NYX and I’m so excited to share my thoughts on them with you! This is not a sponsored post. Although I did receive these products for free, I was not asked to review them on my blog.
Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
Reveal your freshest self with our new Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil! Simply smooth this weightless formula onto the complexion for light, breathable coverage with a seamless and satiny finish. With 12 forgiving shades formulated to accommodate a wide range of skin tones, each flexible hue feels like a second skin and delivers up to eight hours of hydration.
WHAT IT IS
A lightweight tinted cream with a seamless, satiny finish.
Available in 12 shades, I received Pale Light, Vanilla Nude and True Beige Buff.
I think this is perfect if you already have beautiful skin and want to wear something very light. True Beige Buff is a good shade for me (I could probably go up a shade or maybe mix it with one of the darker shades that’s available). This tinted cream blended out very nicely, but it didn’t cover redness. Comparing this to the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, the coverage isn’t as good, but it still looks really pretty on the skin and you can go in with concealer to cover any redness. The first time I tried this, I applied it on my cheeks and forehead, but didn’t apply on my nose and chin (which is where I have redness). Instead, I just applied concealer in those areas because I was going for a more natural look and didn’t want to have too many layers. After about 7-8 hours, the areas where I applied the Tinted Skin Veil looked good still except it looked a bit cakey where I had bronzer.
Vanilla Nude (left), True Beige Buff
Bare with Me Hydrating Cheek Tint
Keep it real with our limited-edition Bare With Me Hydrating Cheek Tint. Available in three sheer and ultra-lightweight shades, each portable stick gives you that post-workout flush—minus the sweat! The fresh-looking color glides and blends easily onto cheeks for a diffused glow that leaves skin hydrated for up to eight hours. Take your essential aloe and cucumber-infused hue on the go and touch up any where the wind takes you.
WHAT IT IS
A limited-edition cheek tint infused with aloe and cucumber extracts.
Available in 3 shades, I received all 3 in Do Me Right, Creative Cleanse and Detox Me.
RATING: 4/5
A cheek tint is the perfect choice for the summer time. The shade Do Me Right is the perfect berry shade for a naturally flushed look. I apply it directly onto my cheeks and then blend out with my fingers.
California Beamin’ Face & Body Bronzer
Here comes the fun: it’s our new California Beamin’ Face & Body Bronzer! This massive bronzer comes in six sun-kissed tones that are gonna turn up the heat. Featuring a creamy texture, our all-over powder delivers a warm faux glow with a flattering satin finish. Each carefully curated shade blends smoothly across the face or body and allows you to create an airbrushed, second-skin effect.
WHAT IT IS
A jumbo bronzer designed to be dusted all over the face and body
Available in 6 shades, I received 3 in Free Spirit, Beach Bum and The OC.
RATING: 4/5
I have mixed feelings about this one. I use the shade Free Spirit which is the lightest of the 6 available shades. I’m still working on my bronzer technique, so I think it has more to do with me than the product. On the other hand, this bronzer has a sheen to it and a bit of shimmer (more of a sheen than Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer). I prefer either matte or satin finish, but I don’t love shimmer in my bronzer. One thing that I do love about this though is that it’s really pretty as an eyeshadow and on the body for a bronzed glow.
Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil
The boyfriend jean of the eyebrow world has arrived! Our new dual-ended Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil features a retractable, teardrop-shaped pomade bullet for shading, plus a micro paddle brush for blending on the flip side. It comes in eight matte colors with a smooth, waxy texture and pigmented finish. Perf for drawing the effortless “boy brow” look and building controllable volume, our arch-styling duo is just what your makeup routine needs to up your brow game.
WHAT IT IS
A first-of-its-kind brow pencil featuring a smooth, waxy pomade for shading, and a tiny paddle brush for fluffing and blending.
Available in 8 shades, I received Ash Brown.
RATING: 4/5
This is a happy medium between pencils and pomades. Instead of a spoolie, this comes with a tiny paddle brush that fluffs out the product. The paddle brush is cool, but it kind of sucks that it doesn’t come with a spoolie to brush my brows into place before I use it. I actually really liked this product because it made my brows look filled, but fluffy and natural at the same time. I just used my Benefit pencil’s spoolie to brush out my brows. I already love the Micro Brow pencil which is a great drugstore alternative to higher end pencils. Since this is a pomade pencil, it was harder to clean off than regular brow pencils.
I still prefer pencils for natural everyday looks, but this is a good one if I wanted to go full glam or take a pic for IG. The perfect combo was using the Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil and then using Colourpop’s Brow Boss Clear Gel to set my brows in place.
Bare With Me Prime. Set. Refresh. Multitasking Spray
Put on a fresh face with Bare With Me Prime. Set. Refresh. Multitasking Spray. Infused with aloe and cucumber extracts, our sensitive skin-friendly spray has your complexion covered every step of the way. Just a few spritzes preps or sets your makeup and perks up any look. This multipurpose mist also gives skin a dewy glow, minimizes the appearance of pores, and provides up to eight hours of hydration.
WHAT IT IS
A multitasking face spray that doesn’t dry out the skin.
WHAT IT DOES
Primes the complexion for makeup application and sets or refreshes your finished look.
RATING: 2/5
I was watching one of Tati’s recent videos and she mentioned that this has salicylic acid in it. I had no idea. I read the ingredients, but my eyes must’ve skipped over it somehow. It also has Alcohol Denat. It has a pleasant smell (like cucumbers, but also sorta smells like hairspray). It sprays a very fine mist (better than MAC Fix+ and UD All Nighter Spray). I don’t really want a setting spray to have salicylic acid in it.
A Bit Jelly Gel Illuminator
Dip right into our new A Bit Jelly Gel Illuminator. Available in three shades swimming in sparkles, this jelly-like formula feels and looks seriously amazing. Just scoop some up with your finger and pat the water-based gel onto the face or body. It slips on like a dream as you smooth it onto the skin, leaving behind a lightweight wash of radiance—that glistens even after it dries down! Gettin’ a bit jelly right now? Same, this dewy glow is lit.
WHAT IT IS
A sparkly gel illuminator that is water-based and lightweight.
Available in 3 shades, I received Luminous.
RATING: 2.5/5
This is a champagne shade with blue glitter. Jelly highlighters are interesting, but they’re not great for every day use since the shimmer is a bit chunky (for my liking). I would say this jelly is good for a festival/unicorn/halloween look. This is a water-based product which washes away easily with water (which makes me think it might just melt down your face if you sweat). I would suggest spraying any setting spray before applying this highlighter. The texture of it is nice – when I dip my finger into it, it doesn’t separate or become chunky. It’s almost like a putty because it moves with my finger which is a good thing because then you don’t get any jelly chunks on your face when you apply it. The swatch above isn’t the best representation of what it looks like in person. In the picture, it just look a bit like shimmery Vaseline or something.
After wearing a full face of these new NYX products, I had a huge pimple under my nose that wasn’t there when I first put my makeup on and I also had a few whiteheads pop up on my nose and chin. I think it was caused by the spray because I had used it the day before as well. I haven’t had a lot of luck with NYX complexion products in the past (their HD Foundation broke me out), but it couldn’t have been the Tinted Skin Veil because I didn’t even apply it on those areas. I think the salicylic acid from the spray may have brought some pre-existing blemishes to the surface.
Despite the huge pimple, I am really impressed with the new arrivals! I enjoyed the majority of the products I tried. While I received more than 1 of the different products, I didn’t swatch all of them because some of the shades aren’t my style or are too light/dark. I will be putting the ones I haven’t touched into a future giveaway, so stay tuned on Instagram!
I finished a few masks and scrubs this month! Keep reading to find out what I would repurchase.
Oceà Natural Skincare Ocean Mineral Complex Masque (read my review) – I don’t really know if this did anything for me. While it felt nice and cooling, I don’t know if it brought out any impurities or did anything special.
Repurchase? Probably not.
L’Oréal Pure Sugar Scrub (Kiwi) – As much as I enjoyed this sugar scrub, I could make this myself and there wouldn’t be kiwi seeds going down the drain.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask(read my review) – This was way too rough on my sensitive skin. Even using it on the body felt quite rough.
Repurchase? No.
Tula Kefir Cleansing Oil – I really enjoyed this cleansing oil. It didn’t break me out and it lasted a while.
Repurchase? Yes.
Tula Dual-Phase Skin Reviving Treatment Pads – This was an interesting exfoliating product. You use one side to disperse some serum and flip it over and then use the exfoliating side.
Repurchase? It has witch hazel which I think I am allergic to, but if it didn’t have it, I would consider repurchasing.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Night Mask– This mask has a strong smell. While tea tree does work to prevent and improve acne, it’s just such a strong smell. I feel like the tea tree blemish stick (read my review) worked better for me as a spot treatment. I don’t think I used this enough for it to work really well.
Repurchase? No.
Benefit 24-Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel– I got a deluxe sample of this and I did like the brush of this, but I didn’t love the gel itself. It was sticky like glue. Once it started to dry out, it was flaky like when glue dries. It did make my brows look very natural when combined with a pencil.
Today, I’m doing a first impressions review of a brand called Purify Soap Co. They reached out to me on Instagram for an honest review and they sent me their Kisameet Clay Balm and Soap Bar. Keep reading to hear my thoughts on these two products!
Mineral Clay Balm
I tried the balm first and I was unsure of how I would like it because it does smell like clay. I put it on my lips and luckily, I couldn’t smell it after I applied it. It felt very moisturizing and kept my lips nourished for a few hours. Let’s move on to the soap bar before I tell you my rating…
Cleansing Soap
Lather in your hands and apply to your face and body (or you can lather directly onto your face and body for more exfoliation), leave for 2 minutes. Wash off, avoiding contact with the eyes. Now, it’s your skin’s time to shine!
The soap bar smells minty and as I lathered it on my skin, I could feel it exfoliating my arms. The next day, unfortunately, I woke up and my lips were a bit inflamed and I had a bit of a breakout on my arms. It’s been three days and the left side of my lip still looks a bit puffy. I must’ve had some sort of reaction to both products which is disappointing because one of the claims is to help with eczema.
I know that coloured bars of soap look pretty, but any soap bar that isn’t white just makes a mess of the sink and shower. Similar to a charcoal bar of soap I recently tried from Woodlot, this one ‘bled’ greenish-gray.
RATING: 2/5
Before I had the reaction, both products seemed very nice and might work for you. I haven’t quite figured out what it was that caused the reaction, but it’s safe to say that I can no longer use the balm. Since I have sensitive skin, I think that I had a very unusual reaction to something in both of the products. If the testimonials on their Instagram account have any truth to them, then it might work to help someone who has psoriasis or eczema. Even if this did work for me, it retails for $28 USD which I think is way too expensive for a bar of soap. As someone with eczema, I would rather just use my Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser (for body and face).
Today, I’m writing about the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I got it during a Family & Friends sale on Kiehls.ca for 20% off.
This nourishing under eye cream offers creamy hydration suitable for all skin types. Formulated with Avocado Oil, this rich treatment smoothes on the eye area for rich hydration. This eye cream features a creamy texture that does not migrate into your eyes.
It retails for $66 (0.95oz/28g) or $42 (0.5oz/14g)
RATING: 2/5
The eye cream has a kind of weird texture that’s kind of sticky like glue, but when you use the right amount (just a small dab), and warm it up on your fingers, it will blend out and feel like water as you apply it to your under eyes.
While potted creams aren’t my favourite because it’s easier for bacteria to get in, this is a great eye cream. It’s kept my under eyes fairly hydrated and it doesn’t have a scent which is a plus for me. It doesn’t do anything for dark circles though. I have sensitive skin and it hasn’t caused any milia, but I do notice that whenever I use it, I get 1-2 red spots under my eyes.
Have you tried Kiehl’s skincare products? What are your faves?
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.
I’ve put each of the products I’ve tried into three different categories: Hits, Misses and Likes (not my faves, but would consider repurchasing).
I’ve tried quite a few different products from TULA. I purchased all products myself and am not affiliated with them in anyway. So, when I first tried the brand, I decided to buy the Discovery Kit and then when I finished that, I tried the other kit and also purchased some of the full-sized versions of the products I enjoyed in the Discovery Kit.
HITS
Illuminating Face Serum – I think this has to be my favourite from TULA. I bought the full size of this after trying it in the discovery kit. It targets dark spots and I had a spot on my cheek from a blemish that just wouldn’t go away. I thought I would have the dark spot for years, but I think this has helped it slowly disappear.
Kefir Replenishing Cleansing Oil – I liked this cleansing oil a lot and it lasted a long time for me.
Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel – I used to use this twice a day and it was drying my skin out. Now I use it as more of a spot treatment when I see some blemishes emerging.
LIKES
A lot of the products are in between for me. While I enjoyed using them, I wouldn’t say I NEED them in my life.
Exfoliating Treatment Mask – While I like this mask, but it is pretty expensive for a mask that you wash off. I would rather spend more on a sleeping mask or serum.
Dual-Phase Skin Reviving Treatment Pads– The exfoliating pads came in one of the kits I tried and while they were interesting and made my face feel smooth, they are so expensive (16 pads for $75 CAD).
Purifying Cleanser – This is a nice cleanser that makes your face feel clean, but not stripped of its oils, but there are cleansers that are cheaper that work the same.
Pro-Glycolic 10% PH Resurfacing Gel – This resurfacing toner gel is great. It’s nice and gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin, but it’s so expensive compared to other toners.
Aqua Infusion Oil-Free Gel Cream – I would use in combination with the illuminating face serum. As someone with dry skin, I don’t think it was hydrating enough to use on its own, but it was a very nice and light gel cream if that’s what you’re looking for.
Hydrating Day & Night Cream – I liked this cream, but I didn’t love that it came in a pot. I prefer the illuminating serum because it comes in a bottle with a pump.
Have you tried TULA products? What were your faves?
MISSES
There’s only one product that was a miss for me and that was the eye cream.
Multi-Spectrum Eye Renewal Serum – Both my mom and I tried this and it made our under eyes itchy.
Hi Everyone! It’s been almost six months since Part 1 of Revisiting My 2018 Favourites. So, here’s Part 2! This post is for July to December’s beauty faves.
BCL Spa Sugar Scrub Lavender + Mint – I absolutely loved this. It smelled amazing and the scrub made my skin feel so soft and smell good.
Repurchase? If I could find it for cheaper than $40 somewhere, I would! I’ll have to check salons in Toronto to see if they sell in-store. I’ve only found the brand on Amazon for $50+ or on wholesale sites.
BCL Spa Dead Sea Salt Soak Lavender + Mint – As much as I loved this, I probably wouldn’t buy it again since it’s so expensive. I would rather buy the sugar scrub.
Repurchase? No.
Sonia Roselli Water Balm – Loved this!! It was a great moisturizer and primer, I will definitely get this again!
Repurchase? Yes!
Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit – I liked this, but I need to find a shade that’s more my style.
Repurchase? Yes.
Colors by Llarowe Nail Polish in The Deep End – This is a pretty mermaid-y shade.
Repurchase? I would repurchase from the brand, but I probably wouldn’t buy a similar shade. I want to streamline my nail polishes and purchase shades that don’t have shimmer (neutrals, reds, wines, etc.)
AUGUST
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge -I love the flat side of this sponge.
Repurchase? Yes! It would be great if I can find a 4-pack for $20 again!
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I enjoyed the little deluxe sample I had!
Repurchase? YES!
Soo’Ae Juice Mango Glow Mask – No offense to face masks, but I feel like (for the most part), they all feel the same. Unless one is specifically meant for something like drawing out impurities, the hydrating, brightening, plumping sheet masks all make my face feel the same.
Repurchase? Yes.
elf Studio Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose -This lipstick felt nice for a matte lip colour. This specific shade did not look good on me. It looked okay once I topped it with gloss though.
Repurchase? No, I prefer satin finish lipsticks.
Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50 – As someone who deals with acne, I can’t just use this product. I need something with a bit more coverage. This is a very nice and affordable product, but I need something with a bit more coverage than what this offers.
Repurchase? Possibly (when my skin is clear and when they have a better shade range). Although the scent is quite strong.
SEPTEMBER
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 – LOVE THIS!
Repurchase? Absolutely!
Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark – I love this, but won’t repurchase until they expand the shades (if that ever happens). The shade 002 Dark is the darkest and it leans gray.
Repurchase? I would if they had a darker shade.
OPI Nail Lacquer in Step Right Up! – I love this shade! It’s a beautiful sheer pink.
Repurchase? If It’s still available when I finish my current bottle, I would definitely repurchase.
Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel– This gel works well, but since it has salicylic acid, it can make my face a bit itchy and/or red.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Pixi Aspyn Ovard Glow-y Powder in Santorini Sunset – This is a beautiful champagne highlighter.
Repurchase? No longer available.
OCTOBER
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light-Neutral – Loooove this powder! I think I need a lighter shade though.
Repurchase? Yes!!
Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Cucumber Toner – I think I’m allergic to witch hazel (or at least, I can’t tolerate a heavy concentration of it).
Repurchase? No.
The Face Shop Multi-Layer Cotton Pads – I love these! They are much stronger than the Muji Peelable Cotton Pads.
Repurchase? Yes.
Unknown Brand of Cotton Swabs (flat end and pointy end) – These are really useful! I like that it has a pointy end.
Repurchase? Yes.
Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer – I love this primer.
Repurchase? Yes.
NOVEMBER
Kopari Coconut Deodorant – It’s aluminum-free! It also smells really nice when you sniff it from the tube, but it can sometimes be too much for me (especially since I don’t looooove coconut). Also, since it’s got a strong scent, I feel like I shouldn’t wear my perfume when I do wear it because it will clash.
Repurchase? Yes, I would try one of the other scents (or even unscented).
Etude House Lip & Eye Remover – This is great for removing my makeup.
Repurchase? Yes.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Light – Really love this concealer.
Repurchase? Yes.
TULA Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel– When I first got this, I was using it twice a day and then I stopped for a bit and realized that while it does work, my face was so dry because of the salicylic acid. I’ve cut down to using it only when I feel a pimple coming (like a spot treatment) instead of using it all over.
Repurchase? I would.
DECEMBER
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer – This concealer is awesome for spot concealing and I would definitely purchase in a lighter shade as an under eye concealer.
Repurchase? Yes.
The Body Shop Aloe Calming Foaming Wash – This was very gentle and I love foaming cleansers.
Repurchase? Yes, but on sale.
EcoTools Shading Brush – Love this brush. It’s so soft!!
Repurchase? I would definitely buy more EcoTools brushes.
Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette – I really just wanted to try this once to see why everyone loved it so much. I’m glad that they offer a duo now instead of having to get all six shades.
Repurchase? I love the sombre shade for contouring, but I would rather buy another brand for obvious reasons.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I used to buy stuff from Sephora throughout the year at full price. I used to see Sephora hauls and wonder why people bought so much during the sale (10 or more products at a time) and would also buy backups of products. Now I know why! They’re stocking up in case they run out before the next sale! From now on, I will only buy makeup and skincare whenever there’s a sale. I made my biggest haul from Sephora and I split my purchases into three orders so that if it were to get lost or stolen, I wouldn’t lose all of the products.
Some of the products that I bought were on my wishlist in January and October I bought enough products that I shouldn’t need to buy anything until the next sale comes around and to be honest, I am pretty close to my yearly budget already.
Over the weekend, I went to the Shiseido Warehouse Sale in Markham. Thanks to my friend who let me know about it, I was able to score some goodies. They have a lot of high end brands like NARS, Bare Minerals, Buxom, Laura Mercier, Clé de Peau, obviously Shiseido and other hair and fragrance brands.
It’s a three day sale starting Friday for VIPs who have tickets and then on Saturday and Sunday, it’s open to the public (no ticket needed). It’s located at 303 All State Parkway in Markham.
If you’ve seen my haul from the MAC Warehouse Sale from 2017, then you’ll know that I went crazy buying stuff (especially lipsticks) back in 2017. This time, I had more self control (it was also because I just spent a lot of money during the Sephora sale. My Sephora haul will be up on the blog on Friday! For the MAC Sale, you need a ticket to get in for all three days and my sister got me tickets in September and December 2017. For the Shiseido sale, you don’t need a ticket for Saturday and Sunday, so it’s more accessible and I don’t have to rely on my sister to get it from work.
At the MAC sale, the first time I went, I probably bought over 20 products. At the Shiseido sale, I only bought 9 products while my mom bought quite a few skincare products because she loves Shiseido’s Benefiance WrinkleResist line. I’ve banned myself from buying any eyeshadows until I hit pan/finish a few shades first. Maybe I can get some next year.
I was pleasantly surprised that they had so many products left. While I’m sure there was a much bigger selection of complexion products on Friday and Saturday, they still had my shades in two of the products I wanted to try.
Buxom Full-On Lipstick in Dolly | $10
I couldn’t pass on this deal and the shade is so beautiful. It’s my kind of nude-pink lipstick!
NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer in Santo Domingo | $12 (not pictured because I accidentally missed it)
This is a pretty shade and I wanted to try a lip lacquer.
NARS Liquid Blush in Luster | $15
This is such a pretty shade, I had to get it. I also want to get more cream and liquid products because they’re easier to blend and won’t look powdery.
NARS Velvet Matte Foundation Stick in Fiji | $18
I have been wanting to try the NARS foundation stick for a while to compare it to my others.
Clé de Peau Concealer in Beige | $55
I’ve heard good things about this concealer, but it retails for $95 in Canada and I’m not about to spend that much for a concealer stick. While $55 is still quite expensive, I wanted to try it and they had a shade that matched me pretty closely.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Foundation in Golden 3 | $18
I was so excited to see that they had my shade in this foundation. My mom said this was the shade that has been the closest shade match to my skin out of all the foundations I’ve been testing out lately.
Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Lotion for Face/Body SPF50+ (For Sensitive Skin & Children) | $20
I thought I’d give this a try since it was more than half off the retail price.
Dolce & Gabbana 3 L’Imperatrice Pour Femme | $35
I liked this perfume a few years back and I had a sample of it. While it’s more floral than I usually prefer, I still really like it and it was $35 so I had to get it.
Joico Moisture Recovery Conditioner | $10
I know Joico is a higher end brand of hair products at the drugstore so I wanted to try it.
I would definitely go again next year and we probably will be going so my mom can stock up on her Shiseido products. I think I would go on a Saturday, but it’s nice to know they have so much stuff left after the two days. They did have a lot of complexion products sold out (especially NARS foundations), but they still had some really nice products left over.
Today, I’m reviewing the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff. This one and the Ole Henriksen are super popular brightening eye creams. I thought I’d give this one a try first.
A refreshing eye cream that visibly brightens the eye area by diminishing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.
It does illuminate the under eye because of the peachy tint. When I first started using it, I used too much and it brightened my under eyes too much. It would also dry down quickly and wouldn’t blend out well. Now that I know how much to use, it does brighten the under eye nicely. I don’t love the smell of this and I think I had a reaction to it because I got a milium (singular of milia since I only got one).
RATING: 3/5
I need a more hydrating under eye cream because my skin is so dry. I won’t be repurchasing this one.
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.
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!
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.
