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!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends! Are you doing any Boxing Day shopping today? I’m definitely not in the mood to fight the crowds this year, but I might check out the sales online (no makeup though). I might replenish my Tula products if there’s a good sale since I’m almost finished the Discovery Kit (review to come).
Before I get started, I would like to thank everyone for reading my blog and for your love and support!
SOCIAL MEDIA
This has been a really good year for the blog and my Instagram. I started posting more frequently and regularly on the blog which really helped. I’ve been posting Mon-Wed-Fri in the mornings. For 2019, I’ve decided to post Tuesdays & Fridays at 8 am EST/EDT. Since I’m doing my best to cut down on impulse purchases and doing a Makeup Buying Ban until the Spring Sephora Sale, I won’t have as many products to review.
For my beauty Instagram, I did my best to post at least 1 picture every day. If I missed a day, I would try to make up for it with a few the next day. I can’t believe I made it to 3.5k followers on Instagram! I will have another giveaway once I reach 4k.
MAKEUP & SKINCARE
This year, I was very generously sent products from a few different brands. While I don’t write reviews or have a blog just to receive free products, it’s always nice to know that a brand has found my page and wants my opinions on their products.
I’ve tried a lot of makeup and skincare this year and along the way, I’ve found some favourites which I’m really happy about.
Unfortunately, there were also quite a few misses. A couple of cult favourites just didn’t work out for me. I think I will write a dedicated blog post on those products.
MY SKIN & EXERCISE
Back in October, I started using an app to track my water intake. My skin has always been on the drier side and I think it’s because I’ve never drank the daily amount that you’re supposed to drink. While I don’t always reach my goal, I am definitely drinking more water than I did before. My skin is still dry, but it’s better than it used to be (especially since I’ve been using the Tarte Maracuja Oil, one of my new skincare faves). My skin is also clearer than it’s been in months. I still have dark spots from when I was bad and squeezed at my pimples. I’m doing my best not to touch them, even though it’s so tempting to pop them. I realized that I used to rest my chin on my hand a lot which may or may not have contributed to acne. I try not to touch my face throughout the day too.
I think my skin has also been better because I’m not drinking juice as often. Back when I was in university and a bit after, I would drink a glass or two of juice/pop every day. If I do drink juice/soda, I keep it to once a day.
In addition to drinking more water, I’ve been doing arm, leg and ab exercises – crunches, leg raises, bicep curls, etc. I’m trying to do some exercise every day because as someone who blogs, I’m in front of the computer, sitting, a lot.
ETSY SHOP
For my Etsy shop, Prints by JenCat, I started the Etsy shop in July and I’m happy to say that I reached my goal – I was hoping that I would get at least 1 sale each month. I am so thankful for my family and friends who have supported me.
PERSONAL LIFE
LOL, what dating life? This one’s on me. I’ve been focusing more on jobs than trying to find a boyfriend.
I rarely go out, so unless someone were to knock on my door, there’s 0% chance of me finding one until I make the effort to go out. Not everyone can be like Rapunzel from Tangled. Although, if someone just climbed through my window, I wouldn’t just hit them in the head with a frying pan, I would call the police.
lol, I love Anna Kendrick. I just got her book Scrappy Little Nobody for Christmas!
I have Resting Bitch Face (which also looks sad too), so I doubt anyone would come up to me while I was just out and about.
TRAVEL
I didn’t go anywhere this year. The farthest I went was Montréal with my friends. Maybe next year, I’ll go somewhere.
I feel like that pretty much sums up this year for me. It was a pretty good year that went by so fast once it was Summer/Fall. I can’t believe so much happened this year: Royal Wedding, Olympics (did I even watch them this year? I couldn’t even remember were they were held – PyeongChang), Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War came out (I finally watched them this month).
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.
You’ll remember from my Makeup Goals post, that I set a number for each category of what I should aim for and I said that I wanted to cut my collection in half (which I did!). I hope to continue decreasing the number of items on my collection and maybe reach 100 items by the end of 2019.
Primers: 8-10
Foundations: 6
Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5
Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists: 5
Illuminating Powders/Creams: 2
Bronzers: 2
Blushes: 3
Highlighters: 6
Brows: 3
Eyeshadows: 3 palettes
Eyeliners: 5
Mascaras: 3
Lipstick/Balms: 10
Lip Liners: 2
Lip Glosses/Tints: 3
Makeup Removers: 3
Perfumes: 3
Nail Polish: 5
Have you set any makeup goals for yourself or resolutions for the new year?
Today, I’m going to share with you my new beauty budget for 2019 that I’ve calculated for myself. After reviewing, my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses. I’ve spent about the same amount each year (about $2000). I’m going to aim for $1800 for beauty expenses for 2019. If I get to the end of the year under $1800, then that’s even better! I’ve looked up how much the average woman spends on makeup and skincare each year and most articles said about $3000-5000. I think those numbers include things like manicures, haircuts, waxing and other treatments. I usually only get my haircut once a year and I rarely get manicures.
If you read my posts on my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses, you’ll know that I spent $2000 (give or take). I am aiming to cut it down by $200 and hopefully as the years progress, I can get my beauty expenses down to $1000! One thing I want to change about my spending is WHERE I spend it. In 2017 and 2018, I bought a lot of products from drugstores and Winners. Discount prices from Winners are great, but they tend to be impulse buys. Also, if I don’t like the product, I can’t return it and although it’s cheaper than a high end product, it still adds up. When I make purchases from Sephora, I can easily return things. A lot of my impulse purchases are ones I’ve regretted (read my post on Products I Regret Buying).
Right now, my expenses are high because I’m trying out different products to find what I like and what works for me. I’ve found a few products that have become favourites, but obviously, your favourites can change and you find new products you love even more.
I’ve created a breakdown of how I think I will spend the $1800 budget. This is a rough estimate of what the different categories might cost. I think giving myself an overall budget for beauty is easier than doing the $25/month for my monthly blog allowance. I feel like I end up blogging about most of my products anyway.
Skincare products – $600
This category gets the most because I need acne products, eye creams, day/night products and toners
Primers – $120
Most primers that I buy are about $40-50, I should probably be good until June for primers
Foundations/Powders – $120
If anything, I will need to get a powder. I already bought a bunch of foundations last year
Concealer – $100
Eyeliners – $60
Brows – $100
It takes me a while to finish a brow pencil, so this budget is probably more for my brow gel
Mascara – $100
I only buy drugstore mascaras and I replace them every 3 months
Miscellaneous – $600
Makeup brushes and sponges
Products to review for the blog
Products that I don’t necessarily NEED, but WANT, i.e. a new lipstick or eyeshadow palette
I didn’t include a section for eyeshadows, lip products, blushes, bronzers, nail polish or hair because I already have a lot of things that I should finish before buying new products in those categories. I didn’t include a perfume category, but whenever I need to buy one, I could probably include it in the miscellaneous section. Usually, I only have one or two at a time and I just bought one last year at the MAC Warehouse Sale.
Today, I’m sharing some lipstick swatches with you! I was so excited to receive some products from L’Oréal. I received 4 shades of the Ultra Matte Lipstick and 3 of the Shine Lipsticks. All of them are gorgeous shades. Let’s start with the Ultra Mattes:
Find your perfect nude lipstick shade with intense hydration and a super matte finish. Color Riche Ultra Matte is a highly pigmented, ultra-rich matte collection curated with lip tone nude shades to enhance your natural hue. The end result, your rich nude lips but better. In one stroke, experience rich lip color and comfortable wear.
According to the website, they have 16 shades in this collection. The ones I received are the more nude shades.
Colour Riche Ultra Matte are formulated with silky oils providing intense hydration for all day comfort and wear, while feeling light on lips. A luxurious lipstick formulated with a light diffusing gel that brings a soft-focus focus effect on the lips, making lips appear smooth and matte without a dry look. From warm pink shades to skin flattering nudes, find the perfect nude hue.
974 Full-Blown Fawn, 978 All Out Pout, 981 Cutting Edge Cork, 983 Utmost Taupe
Personally, I prefer lipsticks with a bit of shine. I often have chapped lips, and as we all know, matte lipsticks emphasize how dry they already are. I did give the lipstick a try and it didn’t feel dry on the lips; drier than I prefer, but it felt like a comfortable matte lipstick. Obviously, since it’s not a liquid lipstick, it did transfer. To me, the lipsticks kind of smell the same as my J Lo one, but other people have said it smells different to the regular L’Oréal lipstick scent. So, if you don’t like the usual scent, give the testers a whiff before buying.
As much as I love L’Oréal lipsticks, I don’t think the Ultra Mattes are for me. So, let’s move onto a formula that I prefer: the Colour Riche Shine Lipstick.
These lipsticks are like a very pigmented balm. They are very hydrating and shiny. Similar to the Benefit Benebalm or the Dior Addict Lipstick. I actually think that the Colour Riche Shine Lipsticks could be a dupe for the Dior Addict Lipstick. The lipsticks have a slightly sweet scent that I can’t quite place (almost like candy).
Ultra-rich, ultra-radiant lipstick with glossy finish. Oil-infused formula for comfortable wear. In just one stroke, experience a hydrating and lasting shine effect, with rich colour pay-off.
I love the packaging of both lipsticks. The Ultra Mattes come in a soft matte nude tube. The texture is similar to NARS products where it feels super smooth. The packaging on the Shine lipsticks are my favourite L’Oréal lipstick tubes I think. The clear plastic has this quilted look that I just love.
Once I finish some of my current lipsticks, I will be picking up a Colour Riche Shine Lipstick. Varnished Rosewood, Glossy Fawn and Shining Peach look beautiful. After seeing Tati review the lipsticks, I loved those shades. I’ll have to swatch them at the drugstore to see which one actually suits me.
Have you tried the Colour Riche Lipsticks? What’s your fave shade?
Today, I’m reviewing another mascara! The Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara. I decided to pick it up because I’ve seen so many amazing reviews and I heard that Meghan Markle uses the Luscious one from the Lash Sensational collection (that will be next on my list).
It separates lashes really well giving the “full fan effect” and darkens my lashes. I applied the mascara to my lower lashes and they looked very natural (not spidery at all). If I run my finger under my lashes, you can definitely feel that you’re wearing mascara because the lashes are stiff. The mascara flaked a little bit when I rubbed my lashes.
I like that the brush is curved, it helps lift my lashes. I used to not like silicone wands, but I’m coming around to them. This mascara and the CoverGirl LashBlast have made me like silicone wands more. I think I will do a This or That post comparing this mascara to the CoverGirl one.
I have the washable mascara and it did not hold up after crying a bit. I was re-watching the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies and cried (obviously). I actually forgot I was wearing mascara and wiped away the tears. Later, I went to the bathroom and thought, “OMG! Why does it look like I have a black eye?” (That’s probably a bit dramatic; it didn’t really look like I had a black eye, maybe super bad dark circles). Then I remembered that I had mascara on. My lashes still kept the curl (I used my Shu Uemura lash curler before applying the mascara) despite getting damp from my tears.
To test how well it curls and maintains a curl, I curled the lashes on my left eye and didn’t curl the right eyelashes. After 6 hours, the left lashes were still curled and even the right look like I had curled them because the mascara lifted them. When I was checking them, I did notice a few mascara flakes on my right lid. After 10 hours of wear, it had definitely smudged onto my under eye area and flaked off a bit.
RATING: 5/5
I can see why everyone loves this mascara so much! It has definitely been added to my faves list! I would be interested in trying the Luscious one because it says it makes your lashes feel soft. I think I also want to try the Total Temptation one with Coconut Oil.
Today, I will be reviewing my 2018 beauty expenses. Last month, I reviewed my 2017 expenses and it was eye-opening. I was originally going to post this later in the month (closer to the new year), but I think I’ve spent enough money on makeup and skincare this year and I have all of the products I need. Last week, I started my self-imposed ban on buying makeup until next year. My goal is to not buy any makeup or skincare products until the next Sephora sale (the one they usually have in April).
In comparison to my beauty expenses, I was curious to see how much I spent on clothing this year. I spent about $1200 on clothing, accessories and shoes (I think a good percentage of that was spent at La Senza – buying bras and underwear). My most expensive single purchase was my Michael Kors Daniela Large Crossbody Purse (almost $200 including tax- purchased on sale).
I spent about $500 on skincare, $100 on makeup tools and $1600 on makeup for a total of about $2200. I bought a few foundations and primers this year, so I probably won’t be NEEDING any next year. I might be tempted to buy the Lancome Teint Miracle foundation next year, but I definitely don’t need any more primers.
So, last year, 79% of my purchases were impulsive and only 21% were planned. This year, I did much better and planned vs. impulse purchases were 50/50.
Here’s a breakdown of WHERE I purchased my products this year. Last year, I purchased most of my products from the drugstore and the MAC Warehouse Sale. I didn’t go to the Warehouse Sale this year, but I have been purchasing more products from other websites/stores, i.e. Tarte, Tula and The Body Shop.
Today, I’m revisiting my favourites from 2017. I’ve posted Part 1 of revisiting my Best of 2017 post (read here). There’s some overlap in my monthly favourites and Best of 2017 post, so if they aren’t listed below, they’re in that post.
SEPTEMBER
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – When I used this, I never tried it as an under eye concealer. I need to buy it again and compare it to the Age Rewind Concealer.
Repurchase? Yes.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Crème – I love the shade, but I don’t really like that it smells like a watermelon jolly rancher.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Milani Keep It Sweet Sugar Lip Scrub – Initially, I liked this, but I didn’t really like it after a while. It would just make the dead skin move back and forth and not slough it off.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner – This was a great liner, but I just don’t use liquid liner that much.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Retouch + Erase Light Lifting Concealer – I liked this concealer; it was thick, but it blended nicely.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Estee Lauder Pink Perfection Breast Cancer Awareness Kit – If you’ve read my post on Products I Regret Buying, this kit is on it. The eyeshadows were nice, but the shades they chose weren’t useful for me. I need a transition shade that’s matte and this didn’t have one. I did enjoy the lipstick, but not in the shade that came with it.
Repurchase? Unavailable because it was limited edition. But I wouldn’t if it were still available.
MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish – I really like this lip pencil. It’s a hybrid of a balm and a lipstick.
Repurchase? Yes.
OCTOBER
Garnier All-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Water – Love this!!
Repurchase? Absolutely! I do want to try other ones first to see how they compare.
NOVEMBER
Clean and Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Purifying Cleanser – I really liked this cleanser. It woke me up in the morning with the citrus scent.
Repurchase? I don’t think you can buy this anymore.
Dove Nutritive Solutions Coconut and Hydration Shampoo – So, a few years ago, I got eczema on my hands and legs and I stopped using a bunch of products to rule them out as a cause of the eczema. I stopped using Dove products and haven’t started using them again. I used to use Dove products all the time and had no problems, so I don’t think it was the cause, but I just haven’t purchased anything since I finished this shampoo.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler – I love this!! I wish I had bought this when I first started using lash curlers.
Repurchase? YES!!!
DECEMBER
Tory Burch Perfume (Original) – I love this. It makes me feel grown up, but it’s not old lady-ish.
Repurchase? Yes!
GummiBand Hair Cords – I love these. I use them every day!
