Beauty Archives – Page 20 of 25

March 2018 Faves

April 2, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Oh my goodness, this year is going by way too fast! How is it 1/4 of the way through 2018 already? Someone needs to tell Mother Nature though, it’s still quite chilly.

This Coastal Scents Eclipse palette is well-loved (read my review). This palette has been great for using as a concealer obviously, but also contouring, colour correcting and highlighting. It’s perfectly creamy and blends easily. I only wish shipping didn’t cost so much to Canada.

LOVE OPI XOXO Mini Nail Lacquer 10 Pack – I have twelve minis in total, and ten are from the LOVE OPI XOXO Mini Nail Lacquer 10 Pack I got from Winners for $19.99. I haven’t tried all the shades in the 10-pack, but I love Tickle My France-y (pictured above) and Eurso Euro. OPI brushes are one of my faves and I love minis because they don’t dry out as quickly as regular-sized bottles.

Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil smells great (read my review), made my hair feel smooth and it’s from the drugstore, need I say more?

What were your faves last month?

Love,

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March 2018 Product Empties

March 31, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I finished quite a lot of products this month and most of them are some of my skincare faves. Here are March’s product empties:

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam – I love the smell of this and it gives you that squeaky clean feeling after using it.

Repurchase? Absolutely! This was my 2nd or 3rd tube of the cleanser.

Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Stick (read my review)- I really liked this. I was recommended it by a friend and I know why she loves it. I compared this to the Pixi Peel & Polish . TIP: You know when you’ve finished a lipstick and you can’t push up anymore, but there’s still a lot of lipstick in the tube? This is the same. I was able to scrape out a full face’s worth of cleanser from my tiny, travel-sized stick.

Repurchase? YES! I would definitely get the full-sized version.

Pixi Glow Tonic – I really liked this. It made my skin look good.

Repurchase? Yes. (UPDATE: I have realized that I am allergic to witch hazel which is in glow tonic).

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Cream (read my review) – I was sent the Coconut Oil products from Palmer’s Canada. Out of the three products I received, this was my least fave. The cream is very thick and good for using before bed on hands, elbows and feet, but I don’t really like how it comes in a tub.

Repurchase? I don’t think I will be repurchasing the cream, but I would get the lotion.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Oil (read my review) – This was another product received by Palmer’s Canada. I really liked using it after showering.

Repurchase? Yes! It made my skin feel as soft as a baby’s bottom!

Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes – I really like these. They are good for sensitive skin and they have a bit of a texture to get makeup off nicely.

Repurchase? I already bought a replacement at Winners for $5.99.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid in Green – I got a sample of this and it did the job, but I don’t think I’d pay for a full-size version. There are colour correcting concealers that are a lot cheaper that you can get from the drugstore.

Repurchase? I would buy the Naked Skin Concealer by Urban Decay, but not a colour correcting one.

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in 030 Medium – This powder was okay. It was too dark for me. I’d rather get the Maybelline Fit Me Powder (I’ve read good reviews on that).

Repurchase? I don’t even know if they sell it in stores anymore. Even if they did, I probably wouldn’t repurchase.

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Sandwash Pink – I don’t think I’d get the full-sized at full price. This was a deluxe sample from Sephora. It was a beautiful colour, but too pink on me. When I was at the MAC Warehouse Sale in December, I picked up the shade Bare Pink (which is more of a peachy-pink) for $10 which I haven’t opened yet. If you want to read about the MAC Warehouse Sale, click here!

Repurchase? No.

Essence Volume Stylist 18h Lash Extension Mascara – I love it and it’s less than $6! Although my tube did dry out fairly quickly, it’s half the price of other drugstore brands and a fraction of designer mascaras.

Repurchase? Maybe.

What were your product empties and what would you repurchase?

Love,

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My Mom’s Everyday Makeup | 2018

March 26, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I thought it’d be cool to do a post on what makeup my mom uses! Before I got into makeup and before my sister’s wedding, most of my mom’s products consisted of Clinique. Over the past few years, my mom’s makeup stash has expanded to higher end products and more diverse in terms of the brands. Now she has MAC, Smashbox, Estee Lauder, etc.

Her skin type is oily and she uses powder foundations (she tried a cushion one, but ended up giving it to me). She dislikes eye makeup (especially mascara), so she only ever curls her lashes. Although, for my sister’s wedding, I did a bit of a bronze/gold eye to match her dress.

My mom asked the Sephora associate to help her choose a shade for the Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Foundation and out of curiosity, during a different visit to Sephora, I asked the associate to match me for the foundation and she chose the same shade my mom uses.

Primer & Colour Corrector

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer- Pore Minimizing

L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream- Anti-Redness

Check out my review on the BB Cream!

She uses the anti-redness BB cream to cover up redness on her cheeks and around her nose. It’s a cool BB cream that starts out green and then blends into your skin and turns skin-coloured. I liked it too, but I didn’t love the smell of it and it was a bit dark on me.

Foundation

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder in 25 Beige

My mom doesn’t like liquid or cushion foundations, so the only option is powder!

Concealer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium

My mom doesn’t have dark circles to correct, so she just uses this concealer for spot concealing.

Eyes

Tweezerman Lash Curler

She doesn’t wear eyeshadow or mascara.

Blush

MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush in Mocha

Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in 02 Honey Blush

She likes blush shades that aren’t too pink. The MAC one is described as a ‘plum-pink.’

Lips

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in 07 Super Strawberry

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in 411 Pink Berry

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in 06 Deep Rose

My mom loves a mauve lip colour. Some of the ones listed above are more pink, but her fave shade is a mauve-pink-nude. If it has the word ‘mauve’ in the name, chances are she’ll love it.

Makeup she has in her purse to touch-up throughout the day:

Clinique Superpowder Double Face Makeup in Matte Neutral

Vaseline

What do you use for your everyday look?

Love,

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Review | The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution

March 24, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I’ve previously reviewed the Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick from The Body Shop. Since the stick comes in such a small tube, I wanted to try something that I could use in my everyday skincare routine and I chose the daily solution. I decided to go with the daily solution instead of the cleansers because then the solution can soak into my skin throughout the day. It has the same smell as the blemish stick; kind of medicinal and a bit strong, but I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve been using it every night and in the mornings when I’m not leaving the house. I think the scent is quite strong and I don’t want my face smelling like medicine when I go out. After it has time to soak in, my face feels incredibly soft and not at all tacky like some facial products I use.

It comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. I usually drop the solution onto my fingers and then pat onto my face. The consistency is like a toner.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution

A lightweight, pre-serum concentrate that combats blemishes and improves the overall condition of your skin. After 4 weeks, skin looks and feels: purified, clearer, smoother, healthier, clarified, mattified and soothed, with reduced redness and imperfections.

Can be used as a serum for oily skin types

Gentle enough for daily use

Pairs perfectly with our Tea Tree 3-IN-1 Wash Scrub Mask & Tea Tree Oil

Enriched with Community Trade Organic Tea Tree Oil from Kenya

RATING: 5/5

The smell is a bit medicinal, but it has been working wonders for my acne-prone skin. It gets two thumbs up from me!

UPDATE: I was using it everyday until it ran out and my face was relatively clear, although it was a bit dry because I wasn’t mixing it with anything else.

Love,

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Review | Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil

March 23, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I got a little sample size from a LUXEBOX that I had forgotten about until recently. I was trying out a hair colour thing that comes out after a few days which I got from Winners. It made my hair look super dry and a bit gummy from the residual product (my hair looks awful). I won’t bother writing a review on the wash-out hair colour because it’s been discontinued, but it was the Garnier Colour Styler. Hair oil is supposed to help remove the colour and I thought it would help repair the dryness.

I tried the serum and it smells good, made my hair feel softer and look shiny (and not like an oily shine, it’s a healthy shine). I was originally unsure of using a hair oil/serum because I thought it’d just make me feel greasy. For this reason, I didn’t touch the roots of my hair, I started half way down and concentrated the oil on the tips.

Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil

Combines oil’s nourishing power with serum’s restorative qualities
Regenerates properties of healthy hair
Unique formulation delivers strength and manageability with every use
Brings softness and shine to hair that’s been weakened by damage
Fights split ends and breakage
Suitable for even extremely damaged hair

RATING: 4/5

I don’t think I’d purchase the full-size bottle because my hair isn’t terribly damaged. I think a good hair mask and conditioner will do the trick for me., but if you have damaged hair and want to purchase a drugstore brand hair oil/serum, this is a great choice.

Have you tried hair oils?

Love,

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Review | L’Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness

March 21, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing a L’Oréal BB Cream that corrects redness. Like The Body Shop BB Cream, it adjusts the colour to match your skin tone. My mom uses this in her everyday makeup to get rid of redness on her cheeks. Check out my post for her everyday makeup! I used it for a bit, but I wasn’t crazy about the smell and since I would use it around my nose, I could smell it all day. It smells kind of like plastic. It’s a great colour corrector though, so if you’re not sensitive to smell or if you don’t put it near your nose, you should be good.

L’Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness

Our Magic Anti-Redness BB cream is formulated with Beautifying Beads, encapsulated, color-transforming pigments that counteract redness. This multi-tasking, ultra-light lotion delivers 4 beautifying actions in 1: neutralizes the look of redness, evens skin tone, hydrates and perfects. It instantly transforms to your perfect shade for a flawless, bare skin finish.

A little goes a long way- as you can see from the pea-sized dot, it covers my hand, so if you only have a bit of redness, I suggest a dab of it. It’s quite liquid (similar to the Body Shop BB Cream), the consistency is like a serum.

RATING: 4/5

It’s great if you have light to medium skin, but I don’t know how well it would do with fair and darker skin tones.

Love,

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First Impressions with REMAY Shave Gel Bars

March 19, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I was contacted by REMAY, a company that sells shave gel bars. Their mission is to ‘make shaving quicker and more enjoyable.’ They designed a shave gel bar that easily glides on your skin by adding water. It says you can use it on your legs, under arms, bikini area, head and face. You wet the gel with warm water and it will create a “translucent micro-barrier to protect your skin from the razor.” It’s Made in Canada too which is a plus for me.

Shave Gel Bars

Protects the skin from nicks, bumps and razor burn

Allows for a quick application with no mess

Contains real coconut and tea-tree oil

Paraben-free and sulfate-free

Vegan and cruelty-free

Works with any 3, 4 or 5 blade razor

RATING: 4/5

It made my skin feel incredibly smooth and it smells really nice (like coconut). It’s like a bar version of those strips that come on fancier razors that help to protect your skin. It’s great because it’s travel-friendly and more eco-friendly compared to shaving creams that come in cans. It is a bit expensive, but if it prevents nicks, bumps and razor burn, I think it’s worth it. They gave me a discount code for my lovely readers. Use code JEN20 to get 20% off your order!

Have you tried shave gel bars?

Love,

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Nails | OPI Tickle My France-y

March 16, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I love the shade Tickle My France-y. It’s like a mauve pink and under certain lighting, it can look purple or brown.
Tickle My France-y

What are your fave nail polish shades?

Love,
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New Products I Want to Try

March 15, 2018
Hi Everyone!

There are so many products on my wishlist, here are some relatively new products that I hope to try:
- Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF 15
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Youthful-Look 24H Foundation
- NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
- Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick SPF 21
- Boscia Charcoal Imperfection Corrector
- ColourPop Lux Lipstick
- Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel
- CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara
- Ardell Magnetic Lashes
- OPI Chrome Powders
What’s on your wishlist?

Love,
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Review | Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

March 13, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’ll be reviewing a Tarte mascara that I got in a rewards set from Sephora. It’s the Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. When I first opened it up, I knew right away that I would like the brush. I think I’ve mentioned that I don’t buy high-end mascaras because I prefer to splurge on primer and foundation instead of spending $30 on a mascara. I always get the deluxe samples from Sephora for high-end mascaras and then keep the wand if I like the brush. I will definitely be keeping this brush after I’ve finished the tube.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – The mascara made my lashes longer and it gives a natural, non-clumpy look. It’s great for an everyday makeup look. It’s definitely not waterproof.

Boosts thickness, length, & curl with a blend of antioxidants & conditioners while Amazonian clay replenishes without making lashes feel crunchy or heavy. The formula delivers soft, weightless volume while it nourishes for stronger & healthier lashes.

RATING: 4/5

Even though I really like this mascara, it gets a 4/5 because of the price. There are so many drugstore mascaras that are a fraction of the price.

What are your fave mascaras?

Love,

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I Recreated My Prom Look

March 12, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I know it’s still a few months away, but I thought I would do a post on recreating my prom look. It was a number of years ago, so I don’t have the same products I did then, but I decided to do two looks: 1) Recreating the look with makeup I have now and 2) creating a prom look that I would do today (with the makeup knowledge I have today).

Back then, I didn’t know what primer was, I didn’t use foundation, and I didn’t know anything about setting your makeup. So, I recreated the look based on what I would use today if I had done the same look. Instead of using the clamp in my curling iron, I used it like a wand and wrapped my hair around the barrel to create beachy waves instead of the curls I had at prom.

Read about my prom experience!

Products Used for Original Look:

Concealer: Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer in Moderately Fair

Eyeliner: Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hour Wear Waterproof in Electric Blue

Mascara: not sure if I’m even wearing any? Maybe just curled my lashes

Lips: Vaseline?? possibly lip gloss/balm (that pic was taken at our table, so I might’ve re-applied lip balm by then

Products Used for Both New Looks:

Primers: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primers (Smoothing & Colour Correcting)

Foundation: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y245

Concealer: Milani Retouch + Erase in Light, Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette

Setting Powder: Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder

Contour: Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (darker shades), Too Faced Chocolate Soleil

Blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty

Highlighter: H&M Spotlight Glow Powder Sheer Coverage Radiant Shimmer in Sumptuous Peach

Brows: NYX Micro Brow Pencil

Mascara: Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

Lips: Sephora Lip Gloss in 11 Cherry Blossom

Products that were Different:

Look #1
- Eye Primer: Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base
- Eyeliner: Annabelle Kohl Liner in White
- Eyeshadow: Art Deco Eyeshadow in 68 (Pearly Cloud Dancer), Coastal Scents Shadow Pot in Indigo Dream
Look #2
- Eye Primer: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
- Eyeshadow: Coastal Scents Revealed 3 palette (see shades marked below), Art Deco Eyeshadow in 68 (Pearly Cloud Dancer), Too Faced Champagne Truffle for inner eye
- Eyeliner (Tightline, Waterline): Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Demolition
- Lashes: Benefit False Lashes in Prima Donna
- Lipstick: Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Creme
What did you do for your prom? What would you do differently?

Love,
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This or That | Pixi Peel & Polish vs. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

March 10, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing two exfoliating scrubs: Pixi’s Peel & Polish and Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser.

Peel & Polish

This radiance revealing enzyme peel resurfaces for smoother, softer skin, and a healthy looking glow. Natural fruit enzymes loosen dead skins cells, lactic acid gently exfoliates, cellulose peels & sugar extracts polishes, lifting away dullness revealing brighter skin.

Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

The hypoallergenic gel stick gently sloughs away dead surface cells & polishes skin as it cleanses to fight dullness & pump up the radiance. Great for all skin types, it can be used on a regular basis without stripping skin’s moisture or left on as a treatment mask to absorb toxins & reveal smooth, sexy, glowing skin.

TIP: You know when you’ve finished a lipstick and you can’t push up anymore, but there’s still a lot of lipstick in the tube? This is the same. I was able to scrape out a full face’s worth of cleanser from my tiny, travel-sized stick.

Peel & Polish (left), Frxxxtion stick (right)

The Frxxxtion stick is more gentle than the Peel & Polish. I think I might use them at the same time; use the Frxxxtion stick on cheeks and forehead and use the Peel & Polish on areas that need more exfoliating. Both don’t have the most pleasant smell. The Peel & Polish almost smells like paint, while the Frxxxtion stick has a scent that I can’t quite put my finger on, but since they’re both scrubs that you wash off after a few minutes, it’s not a big deal.

My face feels super soft after using both of them and the price points are similar so I think the verdict is obvious:

WINNER: It’s a TIE!

What exfoliating scrubs do you use?

Love,

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Worth It? | 3-Step Fiber Mascaras

March 8, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I’ve always seen 3-step fiber mascaras and one of my friends bought one off Amazon and her lashes looked amazing, so I thought I’d try it out myself. I’ve seen the fiber mascaras at the drugstore, I got mine from Amazon, but it’s no longer available. For unknown reasons, it’s no longer available on the brand’s website either. Most 3-step fiber mascaras retail for $15-20 CAD. I’ve seen one on sale at Rexall or Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.

In this post, I will be sharing my thoughts on whether 3-step mascaras in general are worth it, I won’t be reviewing the specific brand or mascara that I bought because let’s be honest, they’re all kind of the same- there aren’t any name brands that have 3-step mascaras out there.

Sealing Gel- Steps 1 & 3, Natural Fibers- Step 2

Step 1- Curl lashes and apply generous amount of the mascara

Step 2- Immediately apply natural fibers to lashes

Step 3- finish with a second coat of the mascara to seal the fibers to your lashes

For best results, do one eye at a time to prevent Step 1 from drying before fiber application.

To remove the mascara, you just use warm water and it comes off easily. Make sure not to open your eye until it’s completely off because the fibers can get into your eye.

RATING: 4/5

It does make my lashes look longer and fuller. To be honest, the sealing gel by itself makes my lashes longer. For me, I just think it takes too much time to do the 3 steps and I could do the same with a regular mascara or a fiber mascara like the Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara (read my review). Also, I don’t like how you use the sealant after using the fibers because then the natural fibers get into the other tube.

Have you tried 3-step fiber mascaras?

Love,

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Review | Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact Foundation

March 7, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I got the Sheer Mattifying Compact Foundation refill from Winners for $8.99 and OMG, it’s amazing!! I got B60 Natural Deep Beige.

It’s long-lasting, buildable and has a natural matte finish. I wore it for almost 12 hours and only had to touch up once because I was getting a bit shiny on my t-zone. I would assume that it’s good for oily skin since it’s a mattifying foundation. It didn’t look dry or break up around my nose which is always a problem with powders for me and sometimes even liquid foundations.

Unfortunately, Shiseido has discontinued the Sheer Mattifying powder and they’re only selling what’s left in stock on their website. Although they don’t have an exact replacement, the Powdery Foundation is an alternative. If it’s anything like this powder, I definitely want to try it!

RATING: 5/5

I hope they don’t discontinue the powdery foundation once I get my hands on it!

What’s your favourite powder foundation?

Love,

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First Impressions with H&M Makeup

February 28, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Back when H&M first came out with makeup, I bought a contour powder palette and a BB cream because I wanted to try their makeup. I think I bought a shade that was too dark for the BB cream, but the powder was pretty good. I think it was $14.99 for the contour palette, and about the same for the BB cream. The contour palette had four shades (2 light, 2 dark) and the bb cream had a selection of 2-3 shades. Since then, H&M has come out with a lot more makeup: foundations, eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliners, nail polish, etc.

I bought the shimmery shades of eyeshadow because I have so many browns and taupes already and I wanted to get some more shimmery ones. The shadows are soft and buttery. I got the shades Paradise Lost (rose gold) and Over the Moon (silver). These are kind of glittery, it’s very easy to get it all over your face and might take a few swipes to remove it with your makeup remover. It reminds me of a pressed version of MAC pigments because of how much can fall onto your cheeks. If you use these, I would definitely suggest doing your eyes before foundation because you can wipe it off if it gets on your cheeks. I swatched the matte shades and those were beautiful and velvety too. The best way to apply is with your fingers.

The highlighter powder is a baked highlighter and it’s beautiful, but it is a bit powdery if you swatch with your fingers. Also, the swatch doesn’t look as pigmented as the eyeshadows, but in person, it’s a nice peachy pink highlight. It might seem expensive for a non-designer brand, but it’s huge and since it’s baked, there’s even more than what you’d get in a regular pressed highlighter. Since it is a bit powdery, I think the best way to apply is with a fan brush and lightly swipe your brush, don’t swirl your brush or the product will get all over your desk.

Spotlight Glow Powder Sheer Coverage Radiant Shimmer in Sumptuous Peach

Infinite Impact Eye Colour in Paradise Lost & Over the Moon

RATING: 4.5/5

I think the shimmery eyeshadow shades I bought will be pretty for a party or night out and I would definitely use the highlighter for every day makeup to give a pretty peachy glow.

Have you tried H&M makeup products? What are your faves?

Love,

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Primer & Colour Corrector

Foundation

Concealer

Eyes

Blush

Lips