Today, I’m doing a first impressions review for two OUAI products I picked up at Sephora: Texturizing Hair Spray and the Wave Spray. When I first heard of the brand, I thought it was pronounced Ou-Ai…anyone else?? I’ve been searching for a texture spray that helps my hair from looking frizzy and gives me volume. I bought the texturizing hair spray in a Sephora favourites kit and I thought I would give the OUAI wave spray a try as well. Let’s get started on the reviews!
Texturizing Hair Spray
Like dry shampoo and hair spray had a baby—this ultra-lightweight hair spray builds incredible volume and texture. Packed with volcanic minerals to absorb oil and refresh hair.
Wave Spray
A weightless texture mist for effortlessly chic, undone hair. Infused with rice protein to add hold and memory for that “just got out of the ocean and my hair dried perfectly” look.
Both sprays have the same mix of fragrances listed:North Bondi: Bergamot, Italian Lemon, Rose De Mai, Magnolia, Lily, Blackberry, Violet, Cedar-wood, Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and White Musk.
I prefer the Wave Spray to the Texturizing Spray since it comes in a plastic bottle instead of an aerosol can.
RATING: 3/5
I’m rating them both the same. They both work well to texturize and give some volume, but I had to dock off points for the fragrance. They’re a bit too perfume-y for me, so unfortunately, I will be giving the texturizing hair spray to my friend and returning the wave spray.
Amika Nourishing Mask – I got this on Amazon, so this is the old packaging. The new one looks pretty much the same (design-wise), but the font is a bit bigger. This mask made my hair smooth and shiny.
Repurchase? Maybe. I did really enjoy it, but I think I would rather get a hair mask from the drugstore because I really enjoyed the Garnier ones I’ve tried.
Sephora Yuzu Micellar Cleansing Water – The lemon scent makes me think of dish soap. While it does the job to remove makeup, it kind of makes my eyelids tingle. I gave it to my mom (who doesn’t have sensitive skin) and she noticed that when she used it, her face would be red after removing her makeup. She rarely has reactions from products, so it was weird. I used what was left in the bottle to clean my makeup sponge.
Repurchase? I don’t think they sell it anymore. Even if they did, I would not repurchase.
Tarte Maracuja Oil– I love this oil! I use it as a moisturizer and a primer.
Repurchase? I already repurchased a supersize bottle! The supersize is available on Tarte and it’s $22 more than the regular size, but twice the size. I got it during the Black Friday sale when it was 20% off!
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Redness Correcting)– I love the MUFE primers, but this one is kind of useless. If you want to colour correct redness, get an actual concealer that corrects instead of a primer. I’ve written a This or That post comparing this to the Smashbox primer. While this one performs better than the Smashbox one, it still doesn’t do as much as an actual colour corrector.
Repurchase? Not the redness correcting primer, but I have already repurchased other MUFE Step 1 Equalizer Primers.
The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub (read my review) – The gel texture of this made me use it faster because it was easy to just scoop some out with my hand and get too much.
Repurchase? No.
BCL SPA Lavender + Mint Dead Sea Salt Soak – I enjoyed this a lot and it made me feel very relaxed.
Repurchase? Probably not.
BCL SPA Lavender + Mint Sugar Scrub (not pictured) (read my review) – I loooved this; it smells amazing and makes your skin feel baby smooth. I’m sad I used it up so quickly because it’s so expensive.
Repurchase? Probably not. I just can’t justify the price tag, but I will try to duplicate it with a DIY sugar scrub or find one that’s more accessible and affordable.
Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner (conditioner is not pictured) – I liked the smell of this and it made my hair feel soft.
Repurchase? Possibly.
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo – I used this to clean my makeup brushes and sponges.
Repurchase? Yes.
Lady Speed Stick Invisible in Cool & Fresh – The smell is very nice, but after a while, it started to smell different; not as fresh. I want to start using natural deodorants that don’t have aluminum.
Repurchase? No.
Delectable by Cake Beauty The Everything Powder – When I first tried it, I loved it. It doesn’t have talc and it was great to use as a setting powder, but I just don’t love the smell that much. I’ve said it multiple times, but it smells like this toy that my cousin had. It was a baby that comes with a bottle and spoon and you put the spoon in the bottle and it ‘fills’ up with cherries and you feed the baby and the cherries disappear.
Repurchase? No.
Delectable by Cake Beauty The Everything Balm – I enjoyed this when I got a little tube from a Topbox, so I bought a full-sized bottle. The full size comes with a pump, but the pump sucks. It doesn’t dispense the product and it smells a bit different from when I used the small tube.
Repurchase? No.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – I love these. They’re amazing.
Repurchase? YES!!
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel Cream (read my review) – This didn’t hydrate my eyes as much as other eye products I’ve tried which was disappointing because it’s a good price for an eye cream.
Repurchase? No.
Essence The False Lashes Extreme Volume & Curl Mascara (read my review) – This mascara held the curl of my lashes well, but it was quite flaky.
Repurchase? No.
Rimmel Moisture Renew Universal Transparent Lip Liner in 001 Universal – This is a clear lip liner that you can use for any lipstick. The only problem with it was that I could see where I was drawing on my lips. Also, it’s retractable and I prefer a pencil that you can sharpen so I can get a more defined line.
Repurchase? No.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 855 Berry Smoothie – This was a gorgeous shade, but I just didn’t like it on me. It looked like my lips were stained from eating berries and I always wore it with Vaseline on top or underneath to sheer it out.
Repurchase? I would consider repurchasing a Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick, but not in this shade.
Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara (read my review) – This was an interesting mascara, but if I were to spend over $20 on a mascara, I would get one from Sephora that I like better.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Crème – I loved this shade. It was a “My Lips But Better” shade, but I didn’t love the watermelon scent of the lipstick.
We’re starting this month with something a little different from my usual favourites. I think everyone is always on a quest to make their skin look healthy. Last year, I took spin classes for two weeks with my friends and I was drinking a lot of water then. My skin was probably the best it ever looked because I was staying hydrated. In October, I decided that I should make it a goal to drink the recommended daily intake of water (8 x 8 mL = about 2L).
Drinking from a bottle or cold cup with a straw has definitely helped me increase my water intake. (I’m using up the rest of our plastic straws right now, but will definitely be switching to reusable or paper straws in the future). I’ve also been cutting down on sugary drinks. I haven’t bought any 2L bottles of pop or juice in a long time. I mostly drink just water throughout the day and have one cup of tea. If I’m going out for dinner, I usually just get water, but occasionally, I will order a ginger ale or coke.
Last month, I downloaded an app called Water Drink Reminder to help me keep track of my water intake and I think it’s helped my skin a lot. I just chose the first Water Tracker app that I liked the interface. I tried this plant one that had a cute plant and this other one, but both had spelling mistakes which drove me crazy. Apart from the horrible breakout I had at the beginning of this month, my skin is a lot more hydrated and not as dry.
So far I’m loving this Kopari Coconut Deodorant. I haven’t done a rigorous workout with it, but I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty. I was wearing it for a whole day and I did notice that the scent had faded and I could start to smell a bit of sweat. So, I don’t think this would be good for a rigorous workout and you would definitely have to reapply during a hot day. It is a bit pricey, but deodorant lasts a while, so I think it will be worth it.
The Etude House Lip & Eye Remover is awesome at taking off eye makeup. I use a cotton pad and it took off the majority of my eye makeup in one swipe. I don’t have waterproof mascara, so I don’t know how well it takes it off, but it’s great for regular, non-waterproof makeup.
I can see why everyone loves the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer. I have the shade Light and it’s the perfect shade for my under eyes. It brightens and has a beautiful, natural finish. I took off the sponge because I just don’t think it’s hygienic. One twist is enough for both of my eyes now that the sponge is gone.
Lately, I’ve been using the Tula Purifying Cleanser, Illuminating Face Serum and the Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel. I was slowly incorporating the Tula products to my routine (just in case I have a reaction to one of the products). I still have to add the Pro-Glycolic Resurfacing Gel (which is a toner) and the Hydrating Day & Night Cream to the routine. I am very impressed by the acne gel because it’s one of the few salicylic acid products that hasn’t made my face red, irritated or puffy. Yay!! Usually, my face is fine with salicylic acid cleansers because it’s not on my face for very long. With salicylic acid products that you leave on overnight or during the day, I haven’t been so lucky. That’s why I was using tea tree oil products for a while. I still love my Body Shop tea tree oil products, but the smell is just so strong. So far, I am liking the Tula products I’ve tried. I will write a full review once I’ve started using the other 2 products.
I did a bit of spending on Friday and Saturday. I bought quite a few things, but none were huge purchases (didn’t buy a coat or TV or something). Here’s what I purchased during the Black Friday Sale!
Tarte Maracuja Oil (supersize) – purchased online
I love the Maracuja Oil, and it’s much cheaper to buy the super size version. It’s twice the size, but only $20 more! It’s an especially good deal when it’s on sale!!
UPDATE (Jan 15/19): I still haven’t received the Mighty Mugs! I’ve emailed them twice and got a reply saying there was a delay with DHL. Stay tuned for second reply (if it comes).
2nd UPDATE (Jan 18/19): I was issued a full refund, they also offered to give me the BOGO deal if I wanted to repurchase in the future. They mentioned that Canadians could be charged duties upon arrival, so if you’re Canadian, don’t order from them.
The first travel mug that doesn’t fall over is now available in Stainless Steel. This vacuum-insulated, spill-free travel mug truly stands up to all others. Using Smartgrip Technology, this mug takes hold on any flat surface and won’t knock over if bumped into making it ideal for car trips and on-the-go coffee sips.
Sephora – purchased in-store
Smashbox Holidaze Photo Finish Primer Mini Trio
The Original Photo Finish Smooth + Blur Primer
Photo Finish Primerizer
Photo Finish Primer Water
I split the set with my friend; she took the smooth + blur primer. I haven’t tried the primerizer or the primer water, so I will write a review once I’ve tested them out.
Steve Madden Elouise Slip-on Sneakers – purchased in-store
I’ve always liked the slip-on sneakers and I found one that I liked.
For an easy-breezy sneaker, look no further than ELOUISE! A perforated upper provides this classic slip-on with fresh surface interest, as well as comfortable ventilation.
Reitmans- purchased in-store
A striped Cashmere blend sweater and a striped midi dress
Hollister – purchased online
Ribbed Sweater Dress, Faux Leather Skirt, Low-Rise Jeggings (in black and denim) and a PJ set
I returned the Faux Leather Skirt because it didn’t sit right on my hips – there was too much material where I could fold it over to fit me better. I also returned the denim jeggings because for some reason they were really tight (even though they were the same size as the black ones). I went in store to try on a larger size and even went up a few sizes, and they still felt super tight. So, maybe that’s how those ones fit, but I didn’t want something so tight.
What did you get during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales?
Today, I’m going to share some of the makeup and skincare products that I’ve regretted buying over the past couple years. Most of the products were impulsive and ever since writing my post on how I want to streamline my makeup collection (read it here), I’ve done my best to cut down on the impulse buying (especially for the blog).
Bobbi Brown Bobbi On Trend Eyes & Cheek Palette
While it’s a beautiful palette, the eyeshadows don’t wow me. Bobbi Brown isn’t necessarily known for amazing eyeshadows (like Urban Decay). The blushes and bronzer aren’t the right shade for me. The illuminating bronzer is chunky.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville
While I can’t say 100% if I liked or didn’t like this foundation, I know the shade was a terrible choice that made me look pale as a ghost. Because of the bad shade choice, I think it made me not like the foundation. I didn’t like that it had no pump. If I’m paying that much for a product, I want a pump
Thayers Witch Hazel Toners
Everyone loves this, so I thought I would too. I did like that they had unscented ones and I like that the spout on the lid wasn’t like other toners. Unfortunately, this made my skin breakout even more because of the witch hazel. I tried the Cucumber one and also bought the Unscented one. After using the Cucumber one though, I won’t even try the Unscented because I don’t want another breakout.
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara
I knew it was like a dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex and I just don’t like that mascara. It dries out too quickly and I don’t like the brush.
The Estee Edit products
I bought 3 different products: a blush, eyeshadow sticks and an illuminator. The shadow sticks are nice, but the blush I got was way too bright and the illuminator was no good.
Formula X Polish The Twenty-Two Limited Edition Set
It was just such a good deal, but I ended up giving away half of the shades and I never liked how skinny and round the brushes are; I prefer fat, flat ones.
I also regret buying most of the products from the MAC Warehouse Sale when I first went. At least the products weren’t full price. I did my best to use up the products (even when I didn’t like them). Most of the products I purchased were the wrong shade, but it was a good way for me to find out if I like the formulas/applicators. I bought a lot of lipsticks because they were only $7.50 and at the time, the shades looked good. Most of the lip products I bought were way too coral/pink for me.
Estee Lauder Pink Perfection Kit for Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
The blush is too pink and it’s shimmery
The eyeshadow shades are nice, but they didn’t have a nice transition matte in the quad
The lipstick- love the formula, not a good shade for me
GLAMGLOW THIRSTYCLEANSE Daily Hydrating Cleanser
Estee Lauder Double Wear Makeup To Go Liquid Compact in 1N2 Ecru
this one was accidental. I picked it up to look at it and I must’ve thrown it into my shopping bag when I was deciding and forgot about it.
MAC Lip Glass
I bought three different types of lip glosses by MAC and I didn’t like the doefoot applicator on this particular one. I do like the applicators on the Mineralize Glass and the Cremesheen glasses.
Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick
While I regret buying the shades I got, I did like the formula of the Estee Lauder lipsticks
MAC Huggable Lipcolours
These are similar to the Benefit Lip Balms. I liked the formula of the lip balm, but did not like the shades I chose
MAC x Helmut Netwon Point ‘n’ Shoot
I was so mad that I bought one of these because it ended up being in the $20 charity bag (and you get two of them)
I didn’t like the shades, they were too cool for me
Mac x Star Trek Luna Luster Trip the Light Fantastic Powder
This was a bit chunky for my liking.
Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation
I can’t even say whether I liked the formula of this powder because the shade I bought was too light. I can’t give it a fair review unless I bought the correct shade
The powder did feel very smooth though
I’ve come to the realization that I don’t like palettes that have everything, i.e. blush, eyeshadows, bronzers, highlighters. Especially if the bronzer or blush is matte and then you get the shimmer from the highlighter on the matte blush/bronzer.
I’ve been trying out a lot of mascaras lately. I’m on the hunt for a drugstore mascara that lengthens my lashes and holds a curl (if it also volumizes too, that would be great).
Get a blast of bold, volumizing mascaras! COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Mascara gives you full and voluminous lashes. LashBlast’s patented volume-boosting hypoallergenic mascara formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big-lash look. This amazing volume mascara is now available in waterproof, too!
I find the tube a bit slippery to open. Especially since the top is slanted, so there’s less surface area to open…is it just me?
I love the silicone wand on this, it separates my lashes nicely. From what I remember about the Buxom Lash Mascara, this one could be a dupe for it. Although, I don’t have the Buxom one to do a side-by-side comparison, so I’m not 100% sure.
There’s no clumps and my lashes look natural and don’t feel too stiff. The wand is good for my bottom lashes too, it darkens my bottom lashes without making them look spidery.
My lashes looked so natural that when I asked my mom if she could tell I was wearing mascara, she said she didn’t notice until I mentioned it. The mascara makes them look natural, but darkens my lashes. I have the shade Very Black.
Some time after the 4th hour mark, the mascara had transferred onto my eyelid. Hopefully, if you get the waterproof version, it won’t do that.
Weirdly enough, I was wearing this on a different day during Black Friday weekend. I was at the mall most of the day, I got hot and sweaty from wearing my coat and it was raining (spitting, not heavy downpour), my mascara didn’t smudge at all.
RATING: 4/5
I would prefer if the wand was a bit more tapered so I could get the inner corners of my eyes a bit better. So, I don’t think this is my new, absolute fave mascara, but it definitely goes into the top 5 drugstore mascaras I’ve tried.
I definitely prefer this mascara over the CoverGirl Total Tease (read my review).
If you have any drugstore mascara recommendations, I’d love to hear them! I’ve already tried the L’Oréal Lash Paradise one, and it’s not one of my faves.
Today, I’m going to be taking a look at my expenses from last year. So, it’s going to get a little analytical and I have pie charts!! Earlier THIS year, I went through my receipts and I started an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my beauty purchases.
As you may have read before, I have an allowance of $25/month to spend on products to review for my blog. This allowance started this year. I didn’t really have an allowance last year. I think it’s a reasonable amount since I can buy 2-3, maybe even 4 products from the drugstore. I prefer doing drugstore products because it’s more accessible (financially) for everyone. The higher end products that I have reviewed are mostly products that I wanted to try myself, i.e. Lancome Skin Feels Good Foundation, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation stick, etc.
With my receipts and some guessing, I logged all of my makeup, skincare and hair purchases from last year and this year. For some products, I just rounded up to the nearest 0 or 5. So, my total 2017 expense could be lower than what I actually recorded.
In the excel sheet, I am only including makeup, makeup tools (brushes, sponges), skincare for my face and extra hair products (like masks and styling sprays).
I did NOT include things like soap, body wash, toothpaste, mouthwash, body cream, cost for hair cuts, eyebrow waxing, manicures, etc. I didn’t include essentials like bathroom essentials because those are necessary for good hygiene. I didn’t include things like hair cuts, waxing or manicures because I don’t do them often enough to need to track them. For hair cuts, I get one once a year (if that) and I haven’t gotten a manicure since last year for my sister’s wedding reception in Toronto because I mostly get my nails done for special occasions only.
In 2017, I spent a little over $1900 on makeup items and skincare. I am going to round it up to $2000 because there could be products I missed in my tracker or maybe I underestimated a price of something.
I’m pretty proud that I haven’t spent that much on a single item. My most expensive individual items are about $50. My 6 most expensive purchases were:
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation Kit – around $80
You receive the foundation, primer and a foundation brush
Foundation retails for $52
Tory Burch Eau de Parfum kit (had a full-sized perfume, a mini perfume and a bottle of hand cream) – $80 (at MAC Warehouse Sale)
Sephora Brush Kit (3 brushes) – $60
Laneige Water Bank Serum – $46
I gave it to my sister, because my skin reacted to it
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Redness Correcting) – $45
Tarte Bronze & Glow Double-Ended Contour Brush – $41
I have no idea why I paid full price for this when I could’ve waited for a sale!!
I was going to do my top 5 most expensive items, but I wanted to add the Tarte brush to mention how dumb it was to pay full price for a brush.
I split up the costs to see how much was spent on makeup and how much spent on skincare.
I spent about $450 on skincare, $250 on makeup tools (brushes, sponges, makeup wipes), which means I spent about $1300 on makeup. If you’ve read my MAC Warehouse Sale haul, you’ll know I spent almost $400 in September and then I went again in December and spent about $200, I think. So, almost half of my makeup expenses were from the MAC Warehouse Sale. I’ve decluttered quite a few of the products I bought at the sale because I just went so crazy buying lipsticks and I came home and realized the shades weren’t the same as when I swatched them. I’ve learned my lesson since then…the swatches will look very different from the actual shade because it’s hot in the warehouse and tons of people are touching them. Most of the shades looked more sheer when I swatched them. I bought a lot of shades that were too coral for me. Luckily, I could Back to MAC the lipstick tubes to get a full sized one (after returning 6 empties).
I bought 135 items in 2017. Only 29 of those purchases were (21%) planned purchases. After seeing this, I was shocked. When I say ‘planned purchases,’ I mean it was something I had wanted for a while and actually read reviews on it. That means the other 79% of my purchases were impulse buys where I was at the drugstore/Winners/MAC Warehouse Sale and decided, “I’m going to get this.”
Here’s a breakdown of where I bought the products:
It’s really interesting and eye-opening to track your beauty purchases. I know I can definitely cut down on the impulse buys. The makeup goals I set for myself have helped me a lot. When I was adding things to my cart for the Sephora sales, I went through and reviewed the products asking myself, “Do I really need this?” and “Let’s check out the reviews for this.”
Today, I’m reviewing the Kopari deodorant. I was previously using Lady Speed Stick ones from the drugstore, but I wanted to start using a deodorant without aluminum. I decided to try out this Kopari one.
The clean, non-toxic deodorant that really works! This aluminum and baking soda-free deodorant works with your body’s natural functions to aid in odor reduction. This invisible formula glides on smooth and will outlast your longest days. It’s guaranteed to leave you smelling like fresh coconut milk.
No Aluminum. No Baking Soda. No Parabens. No Silicone. No Phthalates. No Kidding.
I don’t do super rigorous workouts, so this deodorant works for me. I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty. I’m interested to see how well this deodorant performs in hot summer weather. I will definitely try it out when the weather gets warm again.
RATING: 3/5
At $18 CAD, it’s pricey for a deodorant, especially when I’m used to paying about $5 at the drugstore. If you stock up during a sale, it’s a little more reasonable. I do want to try other natural deodorants out there, but I really like this one and would definitely buy it again (during a sale). I’ve gotten a few recommendations from fellow beauty lovers and I’m interested in trying those brands once I finish this one.
Today, I am reviewing a few Saturday Skin products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I got the No Bad Days kit ($48 CAD) that includes 4 travel-sized products:
Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
I’ve seen this brand on Instagram and I wanted to try it. I love the pink packaging that they use. Although, it can be quite tricky to photograph without washing out the pink or making the SATURDAY SKIN labels illegible.
Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
Hit refresh. Concentrated extracts of kiwi and grape quench and nourish, drenching skin in a veil of moisture.
RATING: 4/5
It’s a 2-in-1 product – a toner and an essence. I like that it’s not scented. With the travel-sized bottle, it disperses the liquid so well that you could spray your whole face in one spritz. Originally, when I saw the price for the full-sized bottle, I thought it was expensive, but it’s almost the same as MAC Fix+ or the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist. It even comes in a larger bottle than those two mists.
Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
Brighten up. Date Seed extract illuminates and refreshes the area around the eyes.
RATING: 4/5
I like the consistency of this eye cream and I like that it doesn’t smell like anything. It feels a little bit tacky after you’ve applied it, but it’s not as bad as another eye cream I tried once. My under eye area can get dry sometimes and this has helped to keep them smooth.
This lightweight formula still packs a punch. Avocado protein extract strengthens skin’s own moisture barrier, sealing in hydration to protect and soften skin.
DERMATOLOGIST TESTED. NO PARABENS, SULFATES, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE OR SYNTHETIC COLOR.
RATING: 3/5
I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my face feel greasy or tacky. I don’t like the smell of this cream; it’s not scented, but it has this plastic smell. I don’t know if it’s from the tub it comes in or if it’s the product itself. I’ve seen other reviews that mention the smell, so it’s not just me.
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
Start over by gently rubbing dullness away. Natural cellulose lifts impurities from the skin and aloe extract soothes skin. Packed with papaya and bromelain (pineapple) to help remove impurities.
RATING: 4/5
This product made my face feel nice and smooth. While I did like it, there are similar products on the market that are cheaper. I prefer to spend more on skincare products that stay on my face. Since this product is a peel, I’d rather save some money.
I’m glad I got this kit to try a handful of Saturday Skin products. Although if I had bought the individual items, I’d be able to return them easily. I’m not sure how it works with returning a kit…are you even allowed to return kits?
Since this is a first impressions review, I will continue to use these products and update you on any changes. Based on my initial thoughts, I would repurchase 2 products from this kit: the Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist.
Have you tried Saturday Skin products? What were your thoughts on them?
Last year, I was tagged in a Best of 2017 Challenge on Instagram. Today, I’m going to be revisiting my picks from last year. Since then, I’ve tested and reviewed a lot of makeup. Like I said last year, it’s hard to choose favourites from each category because different products do different things for you, i.e. a hydrating vs. a smoothing primer or a lengthening mascara vs. a mascara that can keep a curl. I’m still trying to find my holy grail products, but I have found some great products over the last year.
Primer
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primers (hydrating primer and smoothing primer)
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Essence’s I 🖤 Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base
The MUFE smoothing primer is still a fave of mine. The hydrating one wasn’t quite hydrating enough for my dry skin, so I picked up the Nourishing one to see if it’s better. The Smashbox under eye primer does help to slightly illuminate and hydrate my under eyes, but I’m not sure if it actually helps that much. I think you could just replace it with a good eye cream. The Essence eyeshadow base is great for intensifying colour, but it doesn’t really prevent creasing.
Foundation
Lancome Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel
This is definitely still a favourite of mine. I haven’t purchased it since I finished, but I plan to buy it in the future once I’ve finished my Laneige BB Cushion.
Setting Powder/Spray
Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
Cake Beauty’s Everything Powder
The UD setting spray is great, but I want to find one that’s a bit cheaper if I can. The everything powder smooths, sets and mattifies very well, but I just don’t love the smell anymore.
Brow products
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 05 Deep
Too Faced Chocolate Bar (Sephora Rewards mini palette)
At the time, the Winterberry palette and Too Faced mini were the only ones I had. After trying out other brands, these are no longer faves. I still like shades from both palettes, but the Coastal Scents palettes doesn’t have any neutrals in the palette and I no longer have the Too Faced palette.
Blush
Smashbox Soft Lights Duo in Passion/Shimmer
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paaarty
The Smashbox blush was nice, but it was a bit too dark for me (I bought it at Winners). The Tarte blush was a fave of mine, but I didn’t love that it was Made in China (check out my post about Where Your Products Were Made). I still love Tarte blushes, but you just have to be careful to get the full-sized permanent collection ones.
Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil
These were the only two bronzers I had last year and both were from Sephora rewards, so they weren’t in shades that I would’ve chosen. While the Tarte one did work with my skin tone, I didn’t like the sheen on it, and I know they have a matte one, but I’d rather use the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. The Too Faced Bronzer was too dark for me, I needed the Milk Chocolate one, not the Chocolate.
Face Mask
Lush’s Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask
The Face Shop sheet masks
I still agree with these face mask choices. I haven’t bought the Lush one since I finished it, but I would get it again.
Highlighter
Wet N Wild’s MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (read my review)
Maybelline’s Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold
Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in Sin
Still absolutely love these highlighters. I would repurchase the Wet N Wild and Maybelline ones in different shades because both Precious Petals and Molten Gold are a bit too dark for me. The Urban Decay one is nice, but I don’t know if I would purchase the full-sized (I have a mini).
Eyeshadow Singles
Coastal Scents Single Shadow in Jewel Teal (read my review)
Coastal Scents Single Shadow in Teal Green (read my review)
Stila Shadow in Golightly
I still like all three shades of these, but I haven’t actually just worn the Stila shadow to test out the longevity of it. The Coastal Scents ones definitely need a primer. Even with a primer, they sort of faded a bit on me after a few hours. But they are very nicely pigmented and great to practise doing vibrant colours on your eyes. I have bought a few Anastasia eye shadow singles and those are beautiful, although I haven’t tested out the longevity of those either, but if they’re as good as the palettes, I’m sure they are great. I also have some Make Up For Ever shadows that you can buy as singles, I really love those.
I still agree with all of these choices except for the Pearlessence Cucumber Water. A few times, I’ve gotten it on my eyelids and it stung a little. Also, if you accidentally get some in your mouth, it tastes horrible.
Makeup Brushes
Tarte Bronze & Glow Contour Brush
Bella Pierre Powder Dome Brush (this isn’t the exact brush I have, but it’s similar)
Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes (read my review)
Arbonne Angled Blush Brush
Fluffy Powder Brush
Sephora Shadow Brush
I love the Tarte brush and my Bella Pierre brush, although I think it’s time to replace it because the handle’s plastic is chipping off. I enjoy the Simple Glam Girls brushes, but I think oval brushes are a pain to clean because it’s packed so tight. I’ve actually realized that I don’t love angled blush brushes. It’s a lot easier to use a slightly fluffy one to blend. I’m not good at dipping my brush lightly into the pan, so I end up looking like a clown until I blend my blush out. I still agree that a fluffy powder brush is needed to set your face and a shadow brush is great for packing on colour.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Creme (read my review)
Coastal Scents Lipstick in 2
Pixi Mattelustre Lipstick in Plump Pink
MAC Lipstick in Brave (satin finish)
The L’Oréal Colour Riche lipstick is still an absolute fave. The Refined Ruby one is a beautiful shade, but it’s a bit too dark for me. The shade of the Milani one is beautiful, but I’ve realized that I don’t like scented lipsticks that much. The Coastal Scents lipstick…I don’t know what I was thinking putting in my faves. It was patchy and didn’t look good. I don’t really like the Pixi Mattelustre lipstick anymore. The shade wasn’t right and it didn’t smell that nice. The MAC Lipstick is still a fave of mine.
What are your fave products that you discovered this year?
This is a first impressions review for the LIVING PROOF Full Dry Volume Blast from the Sephora Favorites Party Hair Kit.
Here’s the description of the product on Sephora:
An instant, long-lasting volume and texture spray designed with lightweight ingredients that won’t weigh hair down.
This product contains patent-pending “expandable, textured-aero-spheres,” called ETAs. They are lighter and bigger than industry-standard ingredients, so they deliver big volume and texture without weighing hair down.
How to Use: Section the hair. Holding the canister 10 inches away, lift and spray from roots to ends. For a desired root lift, you may also spray just the roots. Repeat until the imagined style is achieved, making sure to shake the can between each spray. Tousle the hair with your fingers, then spray onto the finished style for added texture and hold.
I’m going to start by saying that I’ve only used this once. I would’ve liked to have tried this a few times before giving my first impressions review, but the scent of this is so strong, it gave me a really bad headache. I tried this out on a fairly cold day, so I can’t say how well this performs on a hot day. I also have thick, long hair, so I can’t say how it performs on thin hair. The day before using this, I slept with braids in my hair. I used the spray to add some volume and boy, did it add volume. My hair looked like Hermione’s in the first Harry Potter movie. It gave my hair texture without feeling tacky or gritty. It has no parabens, sulfates or phthalates. The product itself was great, but the smell is way too scented for me. It smells like perfume and was starting to give me a headache, so I put my hair in a bun to keep it away from my face and when I took out my Gummiband hair cord, my hair felt really soft and smooth.
RATING: 3/5 The night I used it, I washed my hair because it gave me such a terrible headache. The next day, I could still smell it in my hair. For me, it loses 2 points for having such a strong smell. Plus, it kind of worries me that it says the product is extremely flammable on the Sephora website and it has Butane in the ingredients list. I will be giving this to my friend because I won’t be using this again.
Have you tried this styling spray? What did you think of it?
Today, I’m reviewing another mascara! I also have two more mascaras that I haven’t opened yet. Here’s my review for another Essence mascara!
Extra volume, extra curl! Essence’s The False Lashes Mascara Extreme Volume & Curl fiber brush ensures maximum volume and curved lashes with a false lash look.
My lashes feel very soft after using one coat and when I lightly rub my lashes with my finger, nothing transfers. It removes easily with micellar water without giving the raccoon eyes.
After about 3 hours, it was getting a bit smudgy on my under eye and I only applied the mascara to the top lashes. After 4 hours, the my left eye was definitely smudged and flaky. I don’t know why it was just my left eye…do I blink harder on that eye? Did I accidentally rub it without noticing? My right eye was a little smudged, but not as bad. While it did smudge pretty badly, it managed to keep the curl of my lashes better than other mascaras I’ve tried. I won’t be repurchasing this mascara because of the flaking.
RATING: 3.5/5
Comparing this to my review of the Get BIG! Lashes Triple Black Mascara, I think I prefer this one for the brush, but I prefer the other one for the formula.
Have you tried Essence mascaras? Which is your fave?
I received a sample of the Juicy Couture OUI Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum from Topbox Circle.
Get hooked right from the start with the tart freshness from a fusion of watermelon and lemon in a special water lemon note. The chic sophistication of jasmine absolute paired with provocative wild tuberose creates an iconic duo, while a modern sense of addiction is born through sleek techno woods. Just say OUI to addictive energy and movement that don’t stop.
Top notes: watermelon, acai berry, tea and pear
middle notes: jasmine, tuberose and honeysuckle
base notes: woodsy note, amber and musk
When I test perfumes, I like to test it in different ways:
Longevity
Scent
How it smells after a few hours on my skin (after reacting with my body oils)
How the bottle looks (this isn’t super important, but it’s a plus. If a perfume smelled amazing and lasted long, I would still purchase even if I didn’t love the bottle).
I did one spray of this perfume in the morning and I went to the dentist and went shopping. I asked my mom how it smelled and she said she couldn’t smell it when she was sitting right beside me (only an hour after spritzing it on). With my two signature perfumes, she can always smell them sitting beside me.
I love a fruity perfume, especially if it’s a bit aquatic and similar to my Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia perfume, the OUI perfume has jasmine. I don’t know what it is about the OUI perfume, but it has something (possibly the musk) that makes it smell like a more mature woman would wear (no offense to anyone who’s younger that likes this perfume). You know how there’s certain scents that older ladies usually wear? Like Chanel No. 5? The OUI perfume has something that makes it smell a bit too mature for me.
After wearing the OUI perfume for 6-8 hours, I couldn’t smell it at all. I tried rubbing my sweater on the spot I sprayed it and sniffing it, but I couldn’t smell anything. I even asked my mom to sniff me again and she said she didn’t smell anything. Usually with my Armani perfume, I can still smell it after a whole day and sometimes it still lingers after I’ve showered.
I think the bottle is a bit gaudy. I would’ve liked it a lot better if they had chosen either pink OR red (not both) and if they hadn’t added the gold chain that says ‘OUI.’ To be completely honest, I’ve never liked any of the Juicy Couture perfume bottles. If I were to buy the full size of a perfume, I want it to smell good, last long and come in a pretty bottle that I can display. I love the simplicity of the Jo Malone perfumes, but I find all of the scents a bit too strong for me.
I went a little crazy during the Sephora Sale! This is the most I’ve spent at Sephora in one go. I always saw these massive Sephora Hauls and thought, “Wow! This person bought so much!” But, those people are smart because there are usually 3 or more sales each year. So, if you buy everything you’ll need/want during a sale, you’ll be good for the next six months until the next sale. Over the years, I’ve been buying things during the sales AND also buying things throughout the year at full price! WHAT A DUMMY! From now on, I am only going to make purchases during the sales. This will also help me cut down on impulse buying because if I have to wait for the next sale, I can properly test things out and research reviews.
If you read my wishlist, you’ll know that I didn’t pick up some things and I bought some things that weren’t on the wishlist.
I didn’t pick up the MAC Fix+, Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector or the Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion, but I bought a Saturday Skin facial spray and eye cream, and I picked up the NARS Eyeshadow Base. I still have half a bottle of the Mac Fix+ and I’ve been using my Thayers Witch Hazel Toner as a spray as well, so I can probably replenish during the next Sephora sale.
I didn’t get a chance to go in store to get a sample of the Waso Fresh Jelly Lotion, so I decided to pass on it this time. I still have my Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel, so I didn’t get the Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. I think I will skip on getting those types of spot treatments from now on because they have alcohol in them and tea tree oil has been working so far. I still have a concealer and colour corrector for under eyes, so I skipped the Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I have two brow pencils at the moment, so I didn’t get the Lancome Brow Pencil.
All of my purchases were skincare, hair or makeup bases. I didn’t buy any eye, cheek or lip products because I’m trying to finish some of the products I already own before purchasing more. Everything is new to me; I haven’t previously purchased anything on the list. So, here’s what I purchased online during last week’s ROUGE sale.
Saturday Skin No Bad Days Set
Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream
I’ve heard of Saturday Skin, but never tried anything. The brand is only available online for Sephora Canada. Although, sometimes I see things that are ‘online only’ in store, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Saturday Skin in store. If I end up liking the products, I will pick up the full size bottles in the next sale.
Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner
I bought this years ago and it worked well, so I thought I would get it again. Although, it smells different than it used to (it used to be more perfume-y).
KOPARI Coconut Deodorant
I want to start using deodorant that doesn’t have aluminum in it and I’ve see good reviews on this and it smells really good.
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation Stick SPF21 in 260 Bisque N
I know a lot of people love the Hourglass stick, but I wanted to try this one and review it first. I will eventually get my hands on the Hourglass stick. I’m planning to test this one out and see if I like it enough to keep it.
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer in 260 Bisque N
I bought this concealer to match the foundation since they have the same shade names and I swatched them and it matches. Although, I think the foundation blends out a little better, so we’ll see if this is too dark for me.
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
The larger size wasn’t available, so I went with the travel size one.
NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base in Medium
I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews on their old eyeshadow base and a lot of people commented saying it should be tinted and now they’ve come out with a tinted one. I wanted to get an eyeshadow base that’s not as thick as others I’ve tried.
Sephora Favorites Party Hair Kit
IGK Beach Club Texture Spray
Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast
Amika Un.Done Volume & Texture Spray
Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1
Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray
Verb Sea Spray
I wanted to try out some texturizing sprays, so I thought a Sephora Favorites Kit would be the best way to sample different brands since you get 6 travel-sized bottles.
So, that’s all I bought online for this sale. Once I’ve properly tested out the products, I will review them on the blog and on Instagram.
Spot any favourites from my haul?What did you purchase during the sale? If you wrote a post on your haul, link it down below!
Happy Hallowe’en! Here are this month’s product empties.
Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil (read my review) – I don’t do a lot of things to my hair, so it’s in pretty good shape. I don’t think I really need a hair oil, but I think every now and then I’d use a hair mask. This did make my hair feel soft, so if you need something to help smooth and soften your hair, I’d recommend this.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I got a little sample of this and it lasted a long time (probably because I liked it and I was saving it until I bought another). I mostly used it on and around my nose to moisturize those areas. It could sometimes look cakey in those areas after a few hours of wearing foundation. So, I learned to be light-handed with it and make sure it absorbed before applying my makeup on top.
Repurchase? Absolutely. Although, right now, I’m using the Tarte Maracuja Oil instead (it’s cheaper because it has more in the bottle for the price).
Milani Keep It Sweet Sugar Scrub (read my review) – Initially, I really liked it, but I realized it was kind of just moving the loose skin on my lips back and forth instead of actually scrubbing it off. I would rather use a warm, wet cloth to exfoliate or use the elf lip scrub.
Repurchase? No.
Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review) – When I first got this, I used way too much of it. I learned that a smaller scoop went a long way because when you rub your hands together, it turns to water beads.
Repurchase? Absolutely!
Bobbi Brown Intensive Long Wear Makeup Remover – This was a really good makeup remover, but there are tons of drugstore brands that are more affordable. I only had this because I got it free when I purchased a palette from Nordstrom.
Repurchase? No.
First Aid Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer – I don’t really love the smell of this. I’d rather get the Sonia Roselli Water Balm if I’m going to get a 2-in-1 moisturizer and primer.
Repurchase? No.
Live Clean Biotin Extra Body Shampoo & Conditioner – This shampoo says it thickens and volumizes. While I could use some volume in my hair, it definitely doesn’t need to be thicker. I liked the smell of this shampoo and conditioner. I didn’t really notice if it did, in fact, thicken and volumize my hair. I noticed that this conditioner was the thickest of the Live Clean conditioners I tried.
Repurchase? No, my hair is already thick.
Garnier Skin Active Micellar Water (Waterproof) – This micellar water is great to remove makeup. Although, it does have an oily feeling. So, if you prefer not to have that feeling, get the pink one that’s not for removing waterproof makeup.
Repurchase? Absolutely, but I want to try other micellar waters.
Shiseido Benefiance Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam – This had some type of bead in it which I didn’t like. If I’m using a foamy cleanser, I want it to be nice and smooth. This was very fragranced and I’m not sure if my skin had a reaction from it.
Repurchase? No.
Earth Therapeutics Purifying Foot Scrub – I bought this a loooong time ago at Winners. It’s a good scrub and it made my feet and hands feel smooth, but I don’t know if they still sell it. One thing that I didn’t like is that it was really hard to squeeze out product, I don’t know if it was a flaw in the design or something, but I always had to use both hands to squeeze out the scrub.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub – I think this was an old formula, so it still had the plastic beads to exfoliate. I was using it every day which was too much for me. If I use it a few times a week, I think it would’ve been okay. I didn’t really love this product.
Repurchase? Probably not.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash – This product worked well. It concerned me that it said not to use on the face though- how much stronger is it than their other tea tree products?
Repurchase? Possibly.
Essence Get BIG! Lashes Triple Black Mascara (read my review) – This mascara does darken and volumize my lashes…and it’s a great price! The brush is just too big for my lashes.
Repurchase? No.
Inglot x Jennifer Lopez Lipglossy Lip Gloss in Pinky (read my review) – This is a beautiful lip gloss shade, but it’s so expensive and I don’t really like that it’s scented.
Repurchase? No.
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer in Warm Ivory – I did not like this concealer. I would rather get a drugstore one than use this one. I got a bit of a reaction from using this concealer under my eyes. When I swatched on my hand and blended it out, it would look beautiful, but when I used it under my eyes, it would just look terrible. I’m glad I didn’t pay full price for this (bought it at the MAC Warehouse Sale).
Repurchase? NO.
Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Balance Stick Foundation in 130 Buff Beige (read my review) – I actually really loved this foundation (I think I preferred it to the liquid Fit Me). It lasted throughout the day on hot summer days. Of course, I would still get shiny in the t-zone, but it still looked really good after 8 hours of wear. I don’t know how it would do on someone with oily skin, but it worked great on my normal-dry skin. I’ve compared it to the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation stick (read my review).
Repurchase? If I were going to continue buying drugstore foundations, I would definitely buy this again.
bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation in Cashmere – This was a sample size and I really liked using it to pop in my purse (because of the size of the sample) for spot conceal touch-ups. I also liked using it to clean up my brows.
Repurchase? I prefer loose powder foundations, but I would definitely consider bareMinerals.
OPI Mini Nail Lacquer in Tickle My France-y – I love this colour, it’s a pinky-purple shade. I have to declutter this mini because the polish was starting to get really thick when I painted it onto my nails.
