I received a few products from Nude by Nature for testing purposes and I have the first honest review for you. Today, I’m reviewing the Luminous Sheer Liquid Foundation.
I have previously received the Perfecting Primer from Chick Advisor. I reviewed it on the blog: read my review.
A sheer liquid foundation that delivers light to medium coverage with a dewy radiant finish.
Benefits
Hydrating formula
Skin nourishing ingredients
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants
Helps fight visible signs of ageing
Fragrance-free
I love the frosted glass and rose gold packaging with the pump. I liked the dewy finish and the whipped texture of the foundation, but that’s about it. It just doesn’t work for me; it’s a good match for my ski tone (I received the shade N1 Shell Beige). The coverage is exactly as described: sheer. If you already have perfect skin and just want to add a bit of dewiness, then you might like this. I need something that is more buildable because I have redness under my nose and chin. If I’m wearing foundation, I want it to at least cover up a bit of the redness so that my concealer doesn’t have to do all of the work. I also found that it kind of dried weirdly where it would get patchy. This doesn’t have any added fragrance, so it smelled like paint. Also, since it’s so natural, it washes off really easily with water. Similar to the Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Foundation which also rinses off with water. So, make sure you don’t get caught in the rain or to drench your face in setting spray.
RATING: 2/5
I didn’t even do a wear test because this foundation had barely any coverage, so anything I would be testing would be my concealer or powder.
So, I was gifted this really cool new facial massager. It’s made of surgical grade steel and it’s unlike any facial massager I’ve seen.
I’ve been using the Selfkaire tool for about a month and I really enjoy using it. I’ve mostly been using it on my face since I have an ice roller which is larger and therefore easier to use on the body, but the Selfkaire tool is nice to relieve tension and to use a little more pressure on sore muscles.
You can use it on your face or body, on bare skin or over clothes. It just feels so nice and cooling on the face, especially the under eye area. I think I’ve noticed that my under eye bags aren’t as bad since I’ve been using it. Of course, it greatly depends on how much sleep I’ve had the night before as well. Unlike a jade roller however, I’ve noticed that I need to make sure to apply some type of serum or oil to help it move seamlessly across my face. Since this has no moving parts, it needs a bit of lubrication especially if you’re using it on your face, you don’t want it pulling on your skin.
How to use: As little as 30 seconds per area a day or as much as you would like to recharge your skin and body. Can be used on bare skin, over clothing, face masks, or with your skincare routine. Pair with a serum, cream or facial oil for easy gliding. Remember to stay hydrated while detoxing. To clean, rinse off tool with gentle soap and dry off.
Our IP-protected technology brings you an effective innovation on existing facial rollers. Combined with specially designed pins, our tools target acupressure points to help your body detox efficiently. Our surgical grade steel is great for all skin types, hypoallergenic and cooling on the skin!
Try on:
– Puffiness – After a workout – Problem areas – For some TLC!
Above statements have not been evaluated by Food and Drug Administration. This item is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
RATING: 5/5
It says it’s travel-friendly, but it’s got some weight to it, so I’m not sure I would ever carry it around in a purse or take it on a trip. It is quite expensive, but given that there’s no moving parts like other facial rollers and it’s not made of rose quartz or jade, it won’t break easily and will last a long time. Selfkaire gives you a 90 day return policy (if you don’t love it, you can return it easily) and it has a lifetime warranty.
Today, I’m doing another comparison post on lip scrubs (see the first here). I’m comparing lip scrubs again. This time, it’s elf Lip Exfoliator against the Tarte lip Facial Lip Scrub.
elf Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac
Gently exfoliate lips to remove dry, chapped skin with our Lip Exfoliator! A sweet sugar and smoothing sensation, infused with Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Avocado, Grape and Jojoba Oils to nourish and protect. This Lip Exfoliator treats and smoothes lips for a conditioned and revitalized feel.
Tarte lip Facial Lip Scrub
Pamper & perfect your pout with this at-home lippie facial that exfoliates & treats dry, cracked lips & provides instant hydration, all in one easy-to-use pencil. The 2-in-1 lip scrub sloughs away dead surface cells, allowing moisturizing ingredients to penetrate deeply thanks to micro-fine sugar granules suspended in a conditioning treatment balm. The raw sugar acts as a natural exfoliator, gently rolling over surface imperfections to polish & improve lip texture.
This felt so rough, my lips did not like this one. I tested it out by swatching on my hand to see if it was just in my head, but it actually made my hand red from applying it on my hand (not wiping it off). I would rather make my own sugar lip scrub than by this. Thank goodness I got this for free.
WINNER: elf Lip Exfoliator
Again, the elf one wins because it’s just so affordable and the Tarte one just felt so rough and abrasive on the lips.
Here are this month’s empties! Can’t believe it’s already the end of the month. I probably say that each month, but January really went by so quickly!
Tula Pro-Glycolic 10% pH Resurfacing Gel– I really liked this toner, it didn’t cause any irritation or additional redness to the areas of my face (nose and chin) that are already red.
Repurchase? Yes! I want to use up my Pixi Glow Tonic before I repurchase this though.
Tula Illuminating Face Serum – LOOOVE THIS! It was light and it helped lighten some dark spots on my face!
Repurchase? Already did!
Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream – Although this is fairly light in texture, it’s a bit too heavy for my personal liking. Also, I prefer a tube or bottle instead of a pot for hygienic reasons. I’m going to try the gel products from Tula to see if I prefer those.
Repurchase? Maybe. If I find a gel product I like better, I would prefer to buy that instead.
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil – I don’t know why, but the smell of this oil reminded me of a fruit roll up? I have no idea why. I decided not to use this on my face because I love the Tarte Maracuja Oil so much and it’s been working. I didn’t really want to try a new product and possibly have a reaction. I used it on my hands and feet since they’re so dry from the winter air.
Repurchase? Probably not.
The Body Shop Aloe Vera Gentle Foaming Wash – This is exactly what it says in the title: gentle, foamy and aloe.
Repurchase? Yes, on sale.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (mini) – Love this.
Repurchase? Would definitely purchase a full-size pot.
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay (mini) – I liked this, but I wouldn’t say I loved it (probably because I don’t love rose-scented products). It did make my skin feel very soft after using it.
Repurchase? Probably not, but I would try other Origins masks.
Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder – This powder was great at mattifying the t-zone, but it did make my undereyes looks quite dry when I set my concealer.
Repurchase? No. I wasn’t a huge fan of the minty-herbal scent of it.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – On a whim, I decided to try this brow pencil and ended up loving it. This was my second time purchasing it and I will definitely pick it up again.
Repurchase? Eventually. I think I will try the second darkest shade since the Black can be a bit too dark (even on my dark brows). I want to try other brow products before circling back to it though.
Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base – I barely used this because I don’t really wear colourful eyeshadows to begin with. Although I did test this and it did make shadows more vibrant; I’m not sure about longevity though. You would probably need to use this with a primer if you wanted to extend the wear time of your shadows.
Repurchase? No. I don’t need it.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (mini) – I have no idea when I got this, so it’s good I finished it :/
Repurchase? I think so.
The Estée Edit The Edgiest Kohl ShadowStick in 03 Guilt – This was okay, it wasn’t the best shadow stick I’ve ever used. I still have an extra that I bought in the same shade.
Repurchase? Brand is no longer available in stores.
Flower Beauty On Your Mark Liquid Eye Liner in Black – I don’t know why I bought this because I don’t really wear liquid liner. I just saw Flower Beauty at Winners and got excited to try something from the line.
Repurchase? No.
Clio Kill Black Calligraphy Liner in 01 Black – Again, I made an impulse purchase at Winners because I wanted to try a brand that I’d never used before. I had also heard a few YouTubers talk about the Kill Black Liner, but this wasn’t the one. The Clio Kill Black Waterproof Pen Liner is the that people like.
I’m on a no buy/low buy this year, but it doesn’t mean I can’t window shop and get a bunch of samples to test out until I find my HG (holy grail) products.
I have quite a few primer/foundation/concealer products on my wishlist since I want to have a selection of different things, i.e. different formulations (liquid, powder, cream), different coverages (sheer, medium), mattifying vs. smoothing vs. hydrating…the list goes on!
Also, as a beauty blogger, I want to keep trying new things (even if I’ve found something I love). Maybe I will find something else even better!
I have some new products on the list and I have some cult faves that I want to try (I’m slow to the game, I know!):
Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer
RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Milk Makeup Flex Concealer
Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder
Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick
Here are some products that I’m planning to get samples of:
Dior Forever Skin Glow 24h Wear Radiant Perfection Skin-Caring Foundation
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation
Today, I’m reviewing products that I ordered from TULA skincare. I had been seeing TULA products all over Instagram and wanted to give them a try. The products are cruelty-free and they are formulated with probiotics. Now, I’m not a scientist and all I really know about probiotics is that it’s sometimes in yogurt and cheese. I know that it provides health benefits and help with digestive problems.
Pictures taken from TULA website
I purchased the Discovery Kit to start out. The products are all travel-sized and meant to last about a month. I also decided to buy the Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel as well.
Since I had 5 new products, I wanted
to ease into using it just in case I had a reaction. I started with the
Purifying Cleanser, two weeks later, I started the Illuminating Face Serum,
Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel. A few days later, I started the Pro-Glycolic
Resurfacing Gel and then a week after that, I started the Hydrating Day &
Night Cream.
Originally, I was using just the Tula
products, but since I started using the Hydrating Day & Night Cream last,
my face still felt fairly dry. So, I incorporated a few drops of the Tarte
Maracuja Oil to the routine.
For the Face Serum, Acne Gel and Resurfacing Gel, I use 1 pump for each application and just a dab of the Day & Night Cream. I used all products every day (AM & PM) until I finished them. They all lasted a little over a month.
When I started using the products, I had
a cluster of dark spots from clogged pores on my cheek. After I finished 3/5 of
the products, the dark spots were almost gone. My NARS Soft Matte Complete
Concealer used to be unable to cover them, but now, my foundation can conceal
what’s left. I don’t know if it was a result of the serum or the acne gel, but
I was very impressed. I expected that I’d have the dark spots for months until
they faded.
Purifying Face Cleanser $35
This refreshing probiotic gel cleanser goes deep into pores to remove impurities and helps condition skin, without stripping or over-drying.
RATING: 4.5/5
Hydrating Day & Night Cream $65
Delivers deep hydration to help revive dull skin. This nourishing cream, full of naturally derived probiotics and superfoods, reveals an even, glowing, youthful-looking complexion.
RATING: 4.5/5
Pro-Glycolic 10% pH Resurfacing Gel $42
This alcohol-free toner uses probiotics, glycolic acid, and beetroot extract to gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it looking smooth, hydrated and more even.
RATING: 5/5
Illuminating Face Serum $98
This lightweight serum expertly targets the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation and dull skin, revealing a youthful glow and brightened complexion.
RATING: 5/5
Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel $36
Clear skin, zero irritation. Our acne gel contains 2% salicylic acid to clear up acne, prevent breakouts & brighten marks left by past acne.
RATING: 5/5
I think out of all the products, the Hydrating Day & Night Cream is my least fave. Even though the texture is actually quite light, I think it’s a bit heavy for my skin. I also don’t love creams that come in pots; I would prefer a tube or bottle with a pump. I am going to try their gel creams to replace it.
I’ve finished all of the products from the Discovery Kit. I’ve reordered the Illuminating Face Serum and I also bought the Kefir Replenishing Cleansing Oil, Anti-Aging Discovery Kit. I want to slowly try all of the products that interest me. I didn’t repurchase the Pro-Glycolic 10% Resurfacing Gel because I still have 2/3 of my Pixi Glow Tonic left. Once I finish that, I will buy the Resurfacing Gel.
Once I’ve tried out the new products, I will write a new review.
Today, I’m reviewing a cult favourite: The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick! This is the first Hourglass product I’ve purchased, but I definitely have other Hourglass products on my wishlist!
I’ve tried a few different foundation sticks at this point: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, Maybelline Fit Me Stick and the Lancome Teint Idole Foundation Stick. I bought the Lancome one at the same time as the Hourglass one and I’ve been testing both of them out. I asked my IG followers which one to review first and the majority chose the Hourglass. I really love foundation sticks, they’re so easy to pop into your bag and they can double as a concealer! I really loved the Maybelline Fit Me Stick and the Bobbi Brown stick is beautiful, but I don’t have the right shade match. After I’ve reviewed both the Lancome and Hourglass, I will compare them to see which I prefer.
The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick is full coverage with a natural finish. For me, it looks more like a matte finish. I have the shade Ivory which is described as a light medium, cool undertone. It’s a very good shade match for me.
The whole tube is so shiny, it’s kind of a pain to wipe off your fingerprints on the outer part and when you take the lid off, but let’s see if the foundation itself is worth it!
A revolutionary foundation stick with the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid, and the weightlessness of a powder in a long-wearing waterproof formula for undetectable full coverage. The unprecedented concentration of pigment in this foundation provides maximum coverage with minimum product, concealing all discoloration and imperfections for flawless skin with a seamless finish.
Hourglass advises you to do the following when applying it: Dot 3 triangular dots in the center of both sides of the face – 3 dots on the chin, 3 dots on the tops of the cheekbones and 3 dots on the forehead.
It would be interesting to see if the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Brush makes a huge difference in how it applies since it’s meant for it, but I don’t really want to splurge on a brush especially when I prefer using sponges over brushes.
Test #1
Base: Tarte Maracuja Oil, Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing)
Application: Damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Setting Powder: Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder on t-zone and under eyes
After 3 hours, it was getting a bit shiny on my t-zone. My cheeks and forehead still looked really good, but my nose area and chin were breaking up and looking a bit cakey.
Test #2
Base: Tarte Maracuja Oil (applied as moisturizer), Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Hydrating), MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite
Colour Correction: used Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance to cover up some redness around nose
Application: used a dry cushion puff
Concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer in Light
Setting Powder/Spray: Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder on t-zone and under eyes, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
After a couple hours, it was breaking up, it looked dry and cakey. From far away, it looked flawless, but when you got up close and personal, it looked pretty bad.
Test #3
Base: Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream (as moisturizer), half side of face Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer, other half Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer
Application: Damp Sponge
Concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer in Light
Setting Powder/Spray: None
Upon close inspection, both sides of my face look the same (The Tatcha and Tarte primers both smooth out the skin for the foundation). Similar to Test #2, it looks flawless from a distance, but up close you can definitely tell I’m wearing makeup. It looks a bit cakey. Feels a bit tacky in the areas that don’t have any powder products. I contoured, bronzed and applied blush and highlighter. I used the Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette to sculpt (sombre) and to set under eyes (lucid). I feel like both primers performed the same.
After two hours, the redness on my chin and under my nose were peeking through.
RATING: 4/5
I was planning to test this out a few more times, but I think I already know what my opinion of this foundation is: I like it, but don’t love it. I will continue to experiment with it and let you know if I find a combo of products that I like.
I’m not a full coverage girl, I prefer sheer or medium coverage with a dewy finish because my skin is dry. I like it enough to finish it, but I do have to make sure to use an illuminating primer/highlighter underneath or maybe mix it with a dewy foundation or moisturizer. Maybe I will use it as more of a concealer.
Have you tried this foundation stick? What did you think about it?
I compared two mascaras: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara and the Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara.
I really love them both because they look very natural, but they also darken my lashes! I will put up my review at the end of the day, but right after applying them, both eyes looked very similar- curled, lengthened and no clumps. I applied some on my lower lashes and both look very natural and not spidery.
You can check out my full reviews on both mascaras by clicking the links below:
Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast’s patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Instant volume and fullness. Smudge and wear-proof. Hypoallergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Lash Sensational Mascara from Maybelline is the first patented fanning brush with 10 layers of bristles to reveal a full flourish of lashes. Liquid Ink formula coats from all sides for a sensational full fan effect.
WINNER: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
The Maybelline Mascara did a better job at keeping my lashes curled – especially because the wand is curled. Between the two, I think the CoverGirl is great for day time and the Maybelline for night time since it made my lashes look a bit darker and thicker.
Originally, I featured the Thayers Witch Hazel Cucumber Toner in my October 2018 Favourites.
Excerpt from October Favourites post:
I’m really liking this Thayers Witch Hazel Cucumber Toner! It smells refreshing and I’ve been using it in the morning. I’m so glad I spotted this at Winners last month. I’ve poured some into a spray bottle so I can use it as a facial spray. I checked the Thayers website and both the toner and the facial spray have the exact same ingredients, so I’m assuming that it’s the same product in a different bottle.
After using it for a while, I noticed I was breaking out worse than I had in a long time.
Chapter 1
Oct 31/17: The Thayers Witch Hazel Toner was added to this list in early October. I’m sad to say that I don’t think I can use the Thayers Witch Hazel (Cucumber) anymore. I’ve been using it for a little over a month and I’ve noticed I’ve been getting acne on my forehead and cheeks and chin. I usually get hormonal acne on my chin, so that’s no surprise, and my face has been relatively clear (with the occasional pimple here and there). I’ve been drinking a lot of water this month which has helped me in the past to keep my skin clear. In the past two weeks, my face has broken out so badly, it feels like I’m in high school again. I haven’t put any makeup on because I don’t want to aggravate it more. This is the worst it has been in a long time. Usually, if I get a breakout, it’s confined to one spot: the chin (when I’m expecting my period). Right now, I have a couple blemishes on my forehead, between the eyes, a breakout on both cheeks and on my chin. I haven’t been eating anything out of the ordinary and I’ve cut down on sugary drinks. I will have one cup of tea and then water for the rest of the day.
I read somewhere that said Witch Hazel is a natural astringent which dries out your skin. I already have dry skin, so I don’t think Witch Hazel is a good product for me anyway. It’s such a shame because I’ve heard such good things about it. I am not 100% sure if the Witch Hazel Toner is the culprit, so I’ve stopped using it for now and we’ll see what happens.
Chapter 2
UPDATE Jan 8, 2019: I was reading a review on the Pixi Glow Tonic and saw that it has witch hazel in it! Now, it’s making me rethink whether the Thayers Witch Hazel Toner was the cause of my breakout or if it was just a coincidence. It’s possible the mix of ingredients didn’t agree with my face, or the amount of witch hazel? Or maybe I broke out from something else and I just attributed the breakout to the witch hazel.
I’m kind of scared to try the Thayers Witch Hazel Toner again, but maybe I should give it another shot and just use it less frequently? I’m searching for the culprit, I’m not on a witch hunt…lol, sorry, I couldn’t not put that pun in there. I have two bottles of it: Cucumber and Unscented. I know a lot of people have the Rose one and love it. I am not a fan of rose-scented things, so I chose the lighter scents thinking it’d be safe. Maybe I will use the toners on the body or something.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara → REVIEW
Diorshow Bold Brow Gel in 002 Dark
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia Eau de Parfum. I’ve had it since 2014, so I’d like to finish it so I can try new ones. It’s still one of my faves, but I’d love to try another one.
I thought I would do a post revisiting last year’s favourites to see if they were still my favourites. I’ve already done a post for my September to December 2017 favourites.
I’m going to split the posts into 2 parts so it’s not too long. Part 1 for January to June and I’ll post the Part 2 in six months’ time for July to December since they’re still fairly recent. These posts are only going to include my beauty favourites.
JANUARY
Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in 100 Molten Gold – LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Repurchase? Yes! I want to get one of the lighter shades (since they’ve expanded their shade range) because this one can be a bit too dark on me.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Love this balm!
Repurchase? Yes.
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I enjoyed the metal applicator and it kept my under eyes soft and hydrated.
Repurchase? I would buy it again, but I want to try other products. I’ve only tried a couple eye creams and it’s the best one I’ve tried so far, but I know there are ones that people rave about even more.
Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush – I haven’t used this in a while, but I still love it. I think I’m just worried the bristles will come off and I’ll have to get a new one.
Repurchase? Yes, but I would get one with a handle. (UPDATE: I won a giveaway and now I have one with a handle!)
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I love the smell of this. I was surprised to read reviews about it smelling too much.
Repurchase? I’ve already repurchased it.
MAC Vamplify Gloss in What’s Going On – I loved the applicator of this lip gloss, but I didn’t like this particular shade. The only shades available are bright colours.
Repurchase? No. If MAC made a lip gloss with this applicator in a shade I liked, I would definitely get it though.
FEBRUARY
MAC Strobe Cream – I love the Pinklite!
Repurchase? Probably.
Pixi Glow Tonic – LOVE THIS!
Repurchase? I already have. (UPDATE: I have since realized that I may be allergic to witch hazel which is in the glow tonic).
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder – The powder itself is great and I love the puff. I don’t love the smell of the powder though.
Repurchase? Probably not.
MARCH
Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette – I enjoyed this, but I feel like I only used a handful of shades. Even at $5, it felt like a waste. Plus, you could tell the quality of the packaging was not great because it was basically just foam that had a piece of plastic material glued onto it. It started to peel.
Repurchase? No. Shipping to Canada is an extra charge. I’d rather spend the money on the product instead of shipping. I’ve been using a Hard Candy palette that has a fraction of the colours, but I will be able to use all of them.
LOVE OPI XOXO Mini Nail Lacquer 10 Pack – This pack had 4 colours that I wasn’t a fan of, but it was a good price at Winners.
Repurchase? I wouldn’t have bought the pack at full price, but I would buy individual shades at full price.
Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil – It made my hair super smooth, but I think I’d rather use a hair mask.
Repurchase? Probably not.
APRIL
Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer – Great bronzer.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink – Pretty cream highlighter.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Soo’Ae Caada Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – LOVE!
Repurchase? Yes!
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – This is a beautiful foundation!
Repurchase? Undecided. I want to try other stick foundations to see how they compare. If I do end up buying this again, I need the right shade.
MAC Pigment in Stardream – It’s a beautiful shade!
Repurchase? No. Pigments are too messy for me.
Miniso Flawless Baked Blusher in Rosy Pink – I decided to declutter this. This was a pretty shade, but I didn’t love that it was made in China. If you’re on a budget and you don’t mind where your products are made, this was a really pretty blush.
Repurchase? No.
MAY
Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover – This easily removes eye makeup.
Repurchase? No. Too expensive for a product that will be on your face for seconds. I’d rather spend money on a moisturizer.
INGLOT x Jennifer Lopez LipGlossy Lip Gloss in J225 Pinky – I liked the colour of this lip gloss, but I don’t think it’s worth $28. Plus, the smell reminded me of drugstore lip glosses.
Repurchase? No.
Cake Beauty (Delectable) The Everything Powder – I used this to set my makeup and it works beautifully. It doesn’t have talc…it’s basically just corn starch! But, it had a smell that was quite powerful (like the Baby All Gone dolls where you feed the baby cherries from a spoon – anyone old enough to know what those are?) This was annoying to use as a setting powder because I had to use an old setting powder container to use it (since this is shaped like a baby powder bottle).
Repurchase? No.
Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – This made my hair look shinier and smoother. Although, I’m not a huge fan of the scent of Argan Oil, I didn’t mind this.
Repurchase? Possibly.
JUNE
Clinique Sonic Systems Purifying Brush– I enjoy this brush and the charge lasts a really long time! I got this at the MAC Warehouse Sale for $40 and the brush heads were $10.
Repurchase? Although I like the brush, I wouldn’t pay full price for the brush heads. If I ever go back to the MAC Warehouse sale, I will pick some up.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (read my review) – I gave it a 5/5, but I’m not sure if it actually helped to clarify and exfoliate my skin. When I wake up the next morning though, my skin does look quite refreshed and hydrated.
Repurchase? Yes.
Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – If I wanted to replace the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, I could buy this to use as a makeup remover. I love that they changed the packaging from a tube to a bottle!
Repurchase? Possibly.
Clionadh Cosmetics Mother of Pearl Highlighter – This is so pretty!
Repurchase? Yes, but without the scent.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Targeted Gel Blemish Stick – I’m so torn. This blemish stick worked well, but it felt unsanitary to stick the wand back in after using it on a pimple. Plus, it’s expensive for a small stick.
Repurchase? Undecided. But if I do, it has to be on sale.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution – I believe this is no longer available, but it felt like it was the same product as the tea tree oil from The Body Shop.
Repurchase? Unavailable.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash – This worked okay, I would still get a pimple here and there on my back.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Burt’s Bees Blush in Shy Pink– This is a pretty matte shade, but sometimes I go too heavy-handed and have to really blend it out.
Repurchase? Probably not. The shade is a bit too pink and I’m not a huge fan of the packaging. Since blush lasts so long, I’d rather pay for a high-end one with nicer packaging.
From now on, I will be posting on Tuesdays & Fridays. Posting Mon-Wed-Fri was getting to be too much for me, so I think cutting down to twice a week will be okay for now.
Here are 19 beauty faves that I will definitely repurchase once I’ve finished these:
Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette – UPDATE: I no longer plan to repurchase this palette or any products from the brand. I do want to find a similar contour shade to sombre from this palette though
Tula Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel
Tula Discovery Kit
Purifying Cleanser
Pro-Glycolic Resurfacing Gel
Illuminating Face Serum
Hydrating Day & Night Cream
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Kopari Coconut Deodorant
L’Oréal Skin Pure Sugar Scrub (Kiwi)
Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer in Deep
Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick in 260 Bisque N
Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light Neutral
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment Concealer in Light
Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Custard
Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
Make Up For Ever Lustrous Palette (Limited Edition, but the shadows are available in singles) – I love the transition and shimmery shades in this palette. I need to work on using the darker shades more. I took these shadows out of this palette and put them into an empty MAC palette. The black part surrounding the shadows was made of foam. Every time I opened the palette, I would get a whiff of plastic/foam. Luckily, I was able to take the shadows out since it was just glued onto another layer of foam.
This is my last post of 2018! I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year’s Eve!!
I only finished a handful of products this month:
Aussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Shine Spray – I don’t even know how long ago I bought this, but I finally finished it! I thought it smelled nice and it definitely made my hair shiny and not at all sticky or anything. One thing I didn’t like was that I thought the nozzle was weird because it was squirting out instead of misting. I transferred it into another spray bottle and it did the same thing. So, it must’ve been the product. I don’t know why though because it was liquid (looked milky, but it wasn’t thick). Instead of spraying it directly into my hair, I would spray it onto my hand and work it into my hair.
Repurchase? Since it didn’t spray out nicely, I don’t think I would repurchase.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – I love this stuff! Although, I do want to try other cleansing balms to compare. This removes makeup easily and didn’t irritate my skin.
Repurchase? I just started using another mini, but I would definitely purchase a full-size pot when I’m done.
Tula Purifying Cleanser – This was a nice cleanser. I bought the Tula Discovery Kit and I started using this product first to ease into using the Tula skincare. While it cleansed well, I don’t know if it made a huge difference in my skin. I think once I started using the other products, that’s when I noticed my skin was improving.
Repurchase? Probably not. I would rather use a cheaper drugstore cleanser and then splurge on serums, oils and other products that stay on my face for longer than a minute.
The Face Shop Beauty Tools Multi 5 Layer Cotton Pads – I got these for free after spending a certain amount of money at The Face Shop. I like the peelable, multi-layer cotton pads. I use two (layers) a day for my skincare regimen and then to remove my makeup I can use up to 5 layers (1 cotton pad).
Repurchase? Assuming they aren’t too expensive, I would buy them again.
Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel (read my review) – This performed the same as other peeling gels I’ve tried, but I think I prefer other ones because they are cheaper (like the Soo’Ae Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – it has more in the tube and it’s half the price).
Repurchase? No.
Saturday Skin Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist (read my review) – The sprayer on the small bottle was good. The mist would disperse the product onto my face very evenly.
Repurchase? Undecided.
I decided to give the Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream to my sister because I wanted to try the Tula products and lately, the Tarte Maracuja Oil has been helping to keep my under eyes hydrated.
Bio Oil Skincare Oil– I bought this to help with stretch marks on my hips, but when I was using it, I would breakout with bumps on my hips. I’ve used this on other areas like my thighs and knees and I didn’t break out there, but I don’t know if it made a huge difference. I think the only way for stretch marks to fade is with time. I’m not a huge fan of the smell of this oil.
Repurchase? No.
Etude House Eye & Lip Remover – I really liked this makeup remover; while I didn’t have waterproof mascara to test out how well it works, it removed regular eyeshadow and mascara well without leaving behind raccoon eyes.
I can’t believe it’s time for my monthly faves again! ANNND, it’s the last one of the year!
I could’ve sworn that I chose the @narsissist Soft Matte Complete Concealer as a previous feature friday…I checked and I haven’t, so here we are! I am in loooove with this concealer. It blends beautifully into the skin. I haven’t used it as an under eye concealer because the shade I have is a bit too dark to use it as one. I use it as a spot concealer (I have the shade Custard). I’ve been using it for a while now and I’ve barely made a dent in it.
I’m really loving this EcoTools shading brush. It’s the perfect brush for applying the base shadow. It’s super soft and blends beautifully. I also like how the handle is tapered which makes it nice and easy to hold.
Foaming face washes are my fave. I love this The Body Shop Aloe Calming Foaming Wash. As it says on the bottle, it’s very gentle on sensitive skin. I use it every day and I got it in September which means it lasts about 3 months. Although, sometimes I have used more than 1 pump, so I could probably stretch it to 4 next time. It is a bit pricey, so I suggest waiting for a sale if you plan to pick this up.
I know Kat von D is controversial at the moment and people are boycotting the brand because of her personal choice to not vaccinate her child. I also know that so many people love this palette that I decided to put aside whatever conflicting views I may have with her own personal views and try the Shade + Light Contour Palette.
While I haven’t had the chance to try all of the shades, I love the shade sombre for my contour (true taupe contour). It’s the perfect one for my skin tone. The others look a bit dark, but I can use those as eyeshadow or maybe use them for when I just take Instagram selfies so that you can actually see the contour in pictures. I would definitely consider buying the shade sombre when I finish this one or maybe I can find a dupe from another brand.
I made these brown sugar cookies for Christmas and they are so yummy. Especially when you use them after they’ve cooled down enough to make ice cream sandwiches. I just used vanilla ice cream because we had some for apple pie, but since the cookies are plain, you could use any ice cream!
Today, I’m doing a review of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I got a sample of the very popular Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I have been seeing it everywhere on IG.
Lip Sleeping Mask has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants, its Berry Mix Complex™ offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to indulge the senses. Its exclusive Moisture Wrap™ technology boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients. A generous layer of this soothing mask at bedtime helps reduce flakiness so you can wake up to lips that feel refreshed, supple, and soft to the touch.
RATING: 5/5
I can see why people love it so much; unlike Vaseline, it doesn’t absorb into your lips after a few hours. It has the consistency and smell of a balm (made me think of Lip Smackers lip balms), but the look of a gloss (without the stickiness). It made my lips look smooth and plump from the shine and even though it’s scented, it doesn’t taste like anything. I put it on a few hours before I went to bed, so I was wearing it for about 12 hours and when I woke up, I could still feel a bit of the balm on my lips. I could probably get 3-4 uses out of the little sample, so, depending on the frequency of use, I assume the pot will last a very long time and make it worth the price.
Doing a bit of math…I got 7 uses out of the sample size, but I probably could’ve stretched it out to 10 if I used less. The full size pot is about 25 times as much as the sample, therefore the pot would last about 175-250 uses depending on how much you use each time. If you use this once a day, it should last at least 5 months (by my calculations…again, depends on how much you use).
Update: I’ve had the tub for a year now and I’ve barely made a dent. I don’t use it every single day. There was also a month or two where I didn’t use it because I was trying other products.
