– Page 20 of 27 – JENNIFER CATHERINE

“Hi, I’d like one (man) to go, please!” | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 10

June 8, 2018

Hi Everyone!

So, we are starting to wrap up my online dating chronicles. If you’ve missed previous installments, click below!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Part 5: How You Doin’?

Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!

Part 9: Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone?

I’m not going to rate the different sites because it really depends on what you’re looking for when you use the apps. But, here are some thoughts on each of the dating sites/apps:

Tinder- most likely looking for a hookup, probably only a handful that are looking to meet someone to date long-term.

Bumble- similar to Tinder, but since it’s up to the girl to message first, not the best site for introverts or traditional girls who want guys to make the first move. I didn’t try the networking part of the app, but I did try the Friends version and sort of chatted with a few ladies, but didn’t make any new girlfriends.

POF- You are going to get messaged by a lot of creeps because you don’t have to swipe right on a guy for them to message you. Unless your settings are very restrictive so that only Upgraded members can message you, you will get gross and creepy messages. Then again, upgraded members can be just as bad as the rest. Be careful of catfish, use Google Reverse Image Search, it will be your best friend. It doesn’t pick up pictures if they were taken from an Instagram account, but at least you can find out if he took a stock image somewhere or if he’s using some famous guy’s pics.

OK Cupid- You’re probably using this because you’re a little more serious about meeting someone special (not just for a hookup). I guess the matching can help to find out if a potential match has the same values and thinks the same way you do. I didn’t really like the part where you choose from a drop-down menu to fill out your bio. I didn’t really like that if someone messaged you, you’d only see it when you come across their profile. Sometimes I missed the messages and then there’s no inbox to read them again.

Coffee Meets Bagel- Like I said in the previous post, you probably use this app if you’re a business professional and don’t have a lot of time to swipe through all the guys in your city. It helps narrow down the field for you and it lets you see who is already interested in getting to know you better.

I think if I had to choose the one dating app that I would use again, it would be Bumble. It has a slight edge over Tinder because I like the fact that the girl is the one who has to message first. Since you only have 24 hours to message them after matching and they have 24 hours to reply after you messaged them, then both parties are obviously interested if he replies. On Tinder, I got a few messages 2-3 days after matching with someone) and by that time, I was like meh, whatever (I already assumed he lost interest). I also liked that you could shake your phone and bring back a guy if you accidentally swiped left on him. Once your thumb gets into the motion of swiping left, you go faster and faster and sometimes you make a mistake.

I had a fun time trying out all the different apps and now I know which apps to try out if going out in the real world and trying to meet someone doesn’t work. So, although there were some sparks on Tinder, they fizzled out. I did NOT find the drone to my Queen Bee on Bumble, my lobster on POF, my everything bagel on Coffee Meets Bagel and Cupid must’ve missed when he shot his arrow on OK Cupid. Actually, everything bagel isn’t the best way to describe a potential boyfriend. I don’t even like everything bagels that much. I prefer Cheddar Herb bagels from Great Canadian bagels. I used to get them all the time in high school before they closed their store. Now, there are only a handful of locations and they all close pretty early…no wonder I’m still single. It’s so hard for me to find a BAGEL, never mind a BOYFRIEND. I do eat other bagels though, I’m not just always waiting around to get my cheddar herb bagel. I guess it’s a good analogy for dating; I need to try all these poppyseed, sesame, plain bagels (go on dates) to find that cheddar herb bagel out there.

If only there were some dating site where you go up to a counter and say,

Hi, one (man) to go, please. Between 5’7″ (so I can wear heels and he’ll still be taller) and 6″ (so he’s not too tall when I’m wearing flats). Enjoys watching movies and shows. Housebroken, wants children, non-smoker, doesn’t do drugs, and has all of the following *lists more characteristics and values*

Oh, and it would be a plus if he could pull off different looks: plain tee and jeans, a suit, leather jacket and if he looked good in aviators/wayfarer sunglasses, oh la la!! 😉

It’s not like I expect to marry the next guy I date, but it’s better if anyone I date wants children or is open to having children in the future. Why waste time dating someone who doesn’t want something you know you want? Even if he’s perfect in every other way, if there’s a non-negotiable, then why advance the relationship further?

In the last two installments of these dating chronicles, I’m going to share some of the funny thoughts I had while swiping and also give out some pointers (to the guys). Have a great weekend!

Click here for Part 11

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

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First Impressions with Glow Recipe

June 7, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I recently made a trip to a couple Winners downtown and I scored a mini travel size pack of the Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser.

Both products have AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and it warns you that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to apply that sunscreen!

Check out my review on the Vichy Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion!

Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – It smells so refreshing (it obviously smells like watermelon) and I love that it doesn’t feel sticky on your face after you apply it. A lot of sleeping masks and skincare serums and essence are sometimes tacky after you apply it and it doesn’t go away. After a few minutes, the mask absorbed into my skin and made it feel soft and smooth.

It can be used in two ways: as a sleeping mask or a wash off mask. As a sleeping mask, you apply a layer on your skin as the final step in your skincare routine before bed. Pat gently until it is absorbed into the skin. In the morning, wash it off. As a wash off mask, spread a thick layer on your face and after ten minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water.

The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is a luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask that smoothes and perfects skin, overnight.

This pillow-proof formula acts as a radiance-boosting hybrid hydrator, formulated with soothing, amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and pore refining AHAs that work while you sleep to gently exfoliate and clarify.

RATING: 5/5

Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – It smells good and it has a gel-like texture that’s similar to a peel off mask before it dries. It makes sense that it’s thicker than other cleansers because it can be used as a wash-off mask. I tried it as a cleanser to remove my makeup since it claims to be ‘makeup-melting’. Similar to a cleansing balm, it removed all of my makeup. It even removed my mascara (which wasn’t waterproof), but I always get raccoon eyes with regular cleansers. When my face was still wet after I took off the makeup, it felt silky and after I patted my face dry, it felt super smooth.

An unexpectedly bouncy makeup eraser + cleanser that deeply hydrates skin, eliminating the need for a hydrating toner.

Blueberry extract delivers antioxidants. Gentle AHA unglues dead skin cells and clarifies. Hydrating suds microfoam, melting makeup and prepping skin to maximize the efficacy of skincare.

It can be used as a cleanser or a wash off mask. As a cleanser, you create a lather and massage gently onto your face and rinse thoroughly. As a wash off mask, you apply a generous layer to your dry skin and rinse off after 5-8 minutes.

RATING: 5/5

Before I tried it, I didn’t think I would consider buying the full size, but after using it, my opinion has changed. There are so many great cleansers that are a fraction of the price, but this one can remove makeup, cleanse your skin and be used as a mask.

Have you tried Glow Recipe products? What are your faves?

Love,

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Who Am I? An Orphan Black Clone? | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 9

June 5, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Here’s the next installment of my online dating chronicles. If you missed any of the previous parts, click the link(s) below!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Part 5: How You Doin’?

Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

Part 8: Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf!

Today, I’ll be writing about how the apps Coffee Meets Bagel and OK Cupid work. So, it’s more of an informational post again like Part 4 was for POF. Both apps had a similar setup where you complete a sentence for your profile. For example, Coffee Meets Bagel said “I appreciate when my date…” and you choose to fill it out. A few guys wrote that they appreciate when their date puts down the phone. I find this sad that they have to say that. I think what most people mean when they say to put the phone away is don’t scroll through Instagram or constantly be checking your phone for texts from your friends to tell them how the date is going. But, out of respect, even when I’m with friends, I rarely have my phone out. Of course, this can be a bad thing too. One time I went to a late movie after work with a friend and we grabbed bubble tea after the movie (which I told my parents, but I guess they didn’t hear me). My parents got worried when I wasn’t replying to their texts and wasn’t home by midnight (I had work early the next day and I was planning to make holiday cookies for my coworkers, so they expected I would be home at a reasonable time). Note to self- get verbal confirmation from parents that they know what’s happening and maybe just check my phone and send a text once it gets late.

Coffee Meets Bagel

I thought this was a funny name. They chose the name because grabbing coffee is an easy first date and then ‘bagel’ because they launched the app in New York. Surprisingly, I came across one of my classmates’ older brothers on the app. I was only on the site for a day so that I could get matches, just to see how it worked.

Coffee Meets Bagel was kind of interesting because you fill out info like you do on Tinder. If you’re a female seeking a male, every day at 12pm, you are sent your ‘daily bagels.’ The daily bagels are guys who have liked you. So, it’s similar to having the paid version of the other apps. It shows you who already likes you and you can decide whether you like them back and if you do, they can message you. So, in a way, Coffee Meets Bagel is a mix of several apps because the girl (like Bumble) is the one to make the decision whether the guy can message you or not. It’s like if you were swiping on Tinder, and you were only shown profiles of the guys who already liked you. The one difference for Coffee Meets Bagel is that you are only shown a handful (about 10 or so?) of guys.

Each day at noon, guys will receive up to 21 quality matches – known as “Bagels”. They are given the option to either LIKE or PASS. Then, Coffee Meets Bagel will curate the best potential matches for women among the men who expressed interest.

Women will choose who gets to talk to them among quality men who already liked them. That’s right. No more guessing games!

Users also earn or can pay for coffee beans, which unlock special features like finding out who the mutual friends of your match (when connected to Facebook) are or giving a match a second chance.

It almost felt like this app was more for professionals. The ones who work a lot and don’t have a lot of downtime to swipe through tons of people.

OK Cupid

For OK Cupid, it was similar to POF where you fill out your info (you choose which ones you want to fill out):
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender
- Height
- Build (Body type)
- Ethnicity
- School
- Religion
- Whether you smoke, drink or do drugs
- If you eat meat or not (i.e. Omnivore)
- whether you have kids/if you want them
- Horoscope Sign
You can also say if you speak a second language and choose whether religion is important.

Then, you fill out a self-summary (bio) and you can choose a selection of drop-down questions to fill out. You know when you have to choose from a drop-down list of questions when you’re filling out security questions for the bank or something and there’s a few choices for each question? That’s how OK Cupid is set up. Some of the questions include:
- What I’m doing with my life
- Favourite book, tv show, movie, music, food
- You should message me if…
- I’m really good at…
- The first thing people notice about me is…
- I spend a lot of time thinking about…
In addition to filling these questions out (whether you choose to or not), you are given a series of questions on different topics and based on your answers, you are matched with people based on whether they answered the questions in the same way. You get a match percentage and an enemy percentage. The enemy percentage is based on how you answered the questions and if they answered slightly different, then your enemy percentage goes up. It doesn’t base the match percentage on your interests, it bases it on how you answered a series of questions that ask you about dating, sex, ethics, politics, etc. I didn’t know this when I signed up, I thought matches were based on interests, but it’s based on the series of questions you answer.

You are asked a question and then you choose what answers you would accept from a potential match. Then, you choose the importance of the question.
- Do spelling mistakes annoy you?
  - Yes
  - No
- Answer I’ll accept:
  - Yes
  - No
- Importance
  - A little
  - Somewhat
  - Very
If you chose both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘answers I’ll accept,’ they mark it as irrelevant and don’t count it in your questionnaire. So, if you chose that spelling mistakes do annoy you and then a potential match said no, then your enemy percentage goes up.

Luckily, you can look at how you both answered the questions to see which questions your answers were different. This is useful because you can see which answers matter to you.

They even had some logic questions like whether the Earth or Sun is bigger and “Half of all policemen are thieves and half are murderers. Does it follow logically that all policemen are criminals?” This type of question is called a syllogism (which I just found out). “A syllogism is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true.” It reminded me of Orphan Black when they ask the Castors and Helena those questions.

All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion: All mangoes are cheap…

Helena: Where are these mangoes?… I would like to see these mangoes.

Haha, gotta love Helena. Always thinking about food. Same, girl.

I feel like OK Cupid is more for people looking for a long-term relationship and you can see if your values and way of thinking is similar by using the questionnaire.

For the last installments of this blog series, I’m going to share my final thoughts on online dating. I’ll let you know which apps to join depending on what you’re looking for, and offer some tips to the guys out there on what would make me swipe right. Also, I’ll share some of the reactions I had while swiping.

Click here for Part 10

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.
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“Dobby Has No Master, Dobby is a Free Elf” | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 8

June 1, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Here’s the latest installment of my online dating chronicles. If you missed any of the previous installments, click below!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Part 5: How You Doin’?

Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

Part 7: Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!!

Most messages that I got were nice messages; I even got a marriage proposal (probably a joke…I think). Out of the 1000 messages, less than 20 were gross, insulting or rude which I think is a pretty good record (98% were nice messages). This is part of what I wrote in my bio:

Probably one of the few girls out there that doesn’t really like flowers…I’d rather be given food 🙂 I love burgers! I may only be 5’3″, but my usual dinner order from A&W (one of my fave fast food places) is a mama burger, teen burger and sweet potato fries (oh, and can’t forget the chipotle mayo!).

One guy made me laugh and wrote, “You probably don’t share your burgers either.” That is correct, sir! Who shares burgers?? Unless you want to try two burgers and you share half of each. One time, after dinner, we went to Richtree Market for dessert and I said to my sister, “I’m too full for a crepe, wanna share two?” lol.

Another guy wrote that there was no way I could eat all of that. If only he knew. Here’s my dinner from the other day. I got two mamas because there was a coupon, but this is all miiiiine!!

Here was an exchange between me and another guy, we’ll call him Mr. Double Oh Zero:
- Him: You will likely be on pof for a long time. You read to be clinically insane. Chipotle mayo.
  - Lol, what’s he got against chipotle mayo?
- Me: Excuse me?!
- Him: You need to make your self description appealing rather than appalling. Just a suggestion
Well, Mr. Double Oh Zero, 999 other men seemed to like my profile, so I don’t have time for people who think I should be locked up in a mental hospital. Byeeee! BLOCKED. (I do applaud him for using ‘than’ instead of ‘then’). In his bio, he wrote that he liked Judge Judy- does he mean the show or the woman? He also wrote that it should be easy to meet people so there’s obviously something wrong with him and likely something wrong with you too. If all of his openers are like that, then I’m guessing he’ll “likely be on POF for a long time.”

For my profession, I put Blogger & Online Shop Owner. I rarely call someone this, but some asshole messaged me: What do you blog about? Being unemployed? What the actual eff? Was it supposed to be a joke? I see why, at 34, he’s divorced, and his longest relationship was under 1 year. I don’t really understand how he’s divorced and it was under a year. Who would have a whirlwind romance with this guy? He has a PhD which makes sense because he’s a Pretty Huge Dickhead.

There were a few messages saying they’d let me dominate them or they wanted to be my slave boy, but there were more men looking for a submissive and some who “like Asian girls.” Is it because I’m Asian that they think I would be a submissive? Well, then let me tell you, “Dobby has no Master. Dobby is a free elf.”

I was talking to this one guy (cute from his one profile pic) and we exchanged a few messages about likes and dislikes. He mentioned that he’s been asked some weird things and he doesn’t get why “people don’t just have a normal conversation” and that some didn’t even say ‘hi’ or ‘hello.” We were hitting it off talking about movies and shows and then out of the blue, he said he’s more of a dominant man type- very respectful, but likes to take charge behind closed doors. Well…we were having a normal conversation until you sprung that on me. That’s not to say that a guy who likes to be dominant isn’t normal or anything (you do your thing and I’ll do mine), but he just kind of sprung that on me after he said Westworld was good. It would have been better if he just opened with that instead of me wasting about 2 hours (on and off) of exchanging messages. Was he using those 2 hours to see if I was normal? It may have been a bit immature of me, but I blocked him right after that message. Yes, I could’ve just messaged him saying, “that’s not my thing” and hopefully that would’ve been the end of the exchange, but it was just easier to block him. He seemed nice enough and I hope he finds a girl who’s into that.

That concludes my fishing adventures, but come back for the next installment to read about my brief time on OKCupid and Coffee Meets Bagel.

Click here for Part 9!

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.
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May 2018 Product Empties

May 30, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I finished quite a few products this month, so here are my empties:

belif Creamy cleansing foam moist – It smelled like plants and I didn’t notice if it really helped to detoxify my skin or help prevent breakouts. It did make my face feel squeaky clean though (like the other The Face Shop cleansers).

Repurchase? I got a small travel-size one in a kit so I didn’t know how much a full-size tube cost. After seeing the price, I don’t think I’d buy the full-size when The Face Shop has so many other great cleansers for less.

COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser – This is a great cleanser for a good price. I know it’s safe to use daily, but I use it a few times a week. It also smells planty/botanical, but that’s no big deal since I wash it off.

Repurchase? Absolutely!

Danielle Creations Erase Your Face Tea Tree Purifying Cleansing Cloths – I got these at Winners for a really good price. I liked that it had the plastic that you open and close and it snaps in place so you know it’s closed properly. I don’t like the ones where you just rip off the sticky part and then stick it back on when you’ve taken out your wipes. Sometimes I don’t close it properly and my wipes dry out :/

Repurchase? These were extremely thick, soft and they smelled nice. I would definitely buy these again!

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray – I just had the little travel-sized one that I got as a promo from Sephora. Given the price of a full-size, I’m not sure if I would get it.

Repurchase? It’s a good product, but I want to try out other ones that are cheaper before I consider repurchasing this one.

Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner – I am terrible at doing winged liner. The shape of this helped me with the flick. I bought a bunch of Milani products on sale (read my review and a swatch of this liner).

Repurchase? Similar to the setting spray, I want to try out more before I repurchase (not that it’s expensive, but I know there are better liners out there from other drugstore brands).

Chosungah22 Dong Gong Minn Brow Maker in Black Brown – I picked this up at Winners after I had returned the Benefit Gimme Brow when it was recalled. It was similar to Gimme Brow, but then it had that sponge tip at the end which I found made it difficult to comb through my brows without accidentally getting some gel onto my skin.

Repurchase? No.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – I really liked this mascara (read my review).

Repurchase? I did love this mascara, but there are so many great ones from the drugstore and I prefer not to spend more than $15 on a mascara. I will be keeping the wand though because I liked the brush.

Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer – I haven’t tried a lot of shadow primers, but I think I prefer ones that aren’t so thick.

Repurchase? I hear the Milani primer is really good and there’s other ones I want to try, so I don’t think I will be buying a new one.

What were your product empties for May?

Love,

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Heeere, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy! | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 7

May 29, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here’s Part 7 of my online dating chronicles!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Part 5: How You Doin’?

Part 6: There’s Something Fishy Going On…

A while back, my sister and I were talking about something and she brought up something from Sesame Street. I never watched it when I was a kid, but she did and I was like what are you talking about? So, she found the video and showed me. Since I’m talking about Plenty of FISH, I thought it was funny to include. Ernie catches fish with his special fish call. He doesn’t need a fishing pole to reel in the fish, he just yells, “Heeere, fishy, fishy, fishy!” and they jump right into the boat.

A lot of guys had their bio blank and it said to just message them if you want to get to know them. I think you should at least put a few sentences in your bio because then a girl is just messaging you based on her attraction to you and not a mutual interest. You don’t have to put your whole life story, but put a hobby or two just to get a conversation going!

When I was researching POF, I looked up how many messages (on average) guys get each month. It’s hard to gauge since it depends on attractiveness and what’s in their bio, but I think guys are lucky if they receive 10 messages a month. Not a lot of girls make the first move. I messaged a few first and they replied back, but I may have scared some off by telling them I was doing a blog series on online dating. I wanted to be upfront about it because if there was any spark, I didn’t want them to think I was interested just for the blog post. It was a double-edged sword- if I didn’t tell them, they could possibly find out later on, but if I tell them right away, I scare them off. Oh well, if any of them had been the right guy, it wouldn’t have scared them off.

If you do message someone first, please make sure autocorrect hasn’t fixed anything. You want to make a good first impression, right? I got one message saying: Hi !!! You seem very amazing 🙂 I really want to kiss you under the stars sometime and hold your jams how’s that sound ? Hahahaha! Hold my jams??? I hope that was supposed to say hands.

I made first contact with one guy (his pic looked like some webcam pic and he was wearing a button-down shirt and tie). We were messaging back and forth and he asked if I had snapchat because he wanted to show me his body (umm, no thank you). I told him if he’s looking for a hookup, I’m not that type of girl and he said, “well this was a waste of time lol.” You and me both, buddy.

I caught a lot of fish like Ernie, but I had to throw a lot of them back into the water. I think online dating has its pros and cons. On a site like Plenty of Fish where it lists things like the highest level of education, if you have a car, if you’re ambitious, if you want children, you nitpick more than you might if you had met someone at work or through mutual friends. I found myself looking at profiles and saw that a lot of the guys had high school as their highest level of education. I know that tons of people are successful and didn’t attend college or university, but as someone who was lucky enough to attend and graduate from university, I would prefer to date someone who is also university or college educated. I don’t care whether he has a car or not. I don’t have a license, so taking the subway isn’t a problem. Quite a few of the guys chose Prefer Not to Say or Undecided on having children which is perfectly fine. They don’t want to tell all these random strangers if they want children. If someone chose Does Not Want Children, I instantly exited their profile; I know I want to have children, so why waste each other’s time?

Another thing is you’re basing your attraction to them based on their physical attractiveness. Some people aren’t photogenic. If you meet someone in person, your attraction to them can grow even if you don’t find them good looking. Maybe they’re funny and there’s that special something about them that makes them attractive. That can’t happen online- you just swipe left or don’t reply to their message if you don’t find them good looking. Unfortunately, I was guilty of doing this and I was more so doing this for research. As my mom said, you should try going out first before you skip to online dating which is true. What are the chances I’m like Rapunzel and my Flynn Rider will just pop up on my doorstep? Probably 0.000001% which means I need to leave the house more often. When our mailman rings the doorbell, I don’t even answer the door, so that percentage is probably even lower. People usually use online dating sites like Plenty of Fish or OKCupid as a last resort. I have to get outside more before I give online dating a real try.

In the next installment, more from my fishing adventures on Plenty of Fish!

Click here for Part 8!

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.

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Review | Milk Makeup Liquid Strobe Highlighter

May 28, 2018

Hi Everyone!

While I was at Winners, I picked up the Milk Makeup Liquid Strobe Highlighter in Beam for $10! It is a shimmering liquid highlighter and beam is a gold shade. It has interesting packaging because you click the bottom to dispense it (like the YSL Touche Éclat pen) and it’s a rollerball.

Swipe along cheekbones, eyes, collarbone, or wherever for shimmering dimension and shine. Goes on easy with a rollerball as quick and on point as you. Crushed pearl elixir-infused formula gives a long-wear effect.

It has coconut and avocado oil and it’s vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, oil-free and talc-free. I don’t smell any coconut though.

RATING: 2/5

I wouldn’t pay full price for this liquid strobe highlight. If it was just the gold illuminating highlight, I would give it a 4/5 because then you could mix it with foundation to give you a beautiful glow. Unfortunately, it has glitter which gets chunky (so if you mixed with foundation, your face would be glittery) and that doesn’t look good as a highlight. When you go to blend it into the skin, your finger absorbs the gold illuminating part and you’re left with the glitter. So, if you do use your finger to blend it out, be very light with your hand (use your ring finger). It dries down tacky too. Similar to the Livin’ the Highlight from the Jennifer Lopez x Inglot collaboration, this would be better as a body highlight since it’s a bit chunky.

Love,

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There’s Something Fishy Going On… | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 6

May 25, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I’m back with another installment of my online dating chronicles. If you missed a previous installment, click below!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Part 5: How You Doin’?

I came across several catfish using pictures of a good looking model, a personal trainer, an actor, and a blogger. Some of the pictures, I have to admit, looked legit because they were blurry or it made sense based on their profession that they would have a professional picture. One guy messaged me and I actually thought his pics were real because he was a personal trainer (or that’s what it said in the Profession). It seemed plausible that the one professionally taken pic could be real and the other two pics he had were taken by him. I did a Google Reverse Image search as I was talking to him and a result came up on one of the pics. He had taken a personal trainer’s pics from his Instagram, I guess? The problem with Google Reverse Image is that Instagram pics don’t show up. I tried doing one of my Instagram pics that I’ve posted and nothing came up. He even mentioned that he wanted to take me out for dinner…what was his plan when I didn’t see the guy from the pics? Swoop in on a girl that’s just been stood up?

I wonder what reasons lead someone to catfish people? I’ve read stories about women who have been catfished for YEARS. If I was investing that much time in an online relationship, I would make sure he’s who he says he is by asking him to send me an unusual pic, i.e. send me a pic of you holding an apple in your left hand or holding up a sign with a random combo of letters/numbers.

These are the reasons I can think of that a person would catfish someone:
- Trying to trick some poor girl that they have something real with who they think is a tall, gorgeous guy
- Trying to get money
- For entertainment purposes
- Trying to get back at someone
- Practising talking to girls online and getting more confidence
- “Some men just want to watch the world burn” – haha, sorry, I had to put that quote from Alfred in The Dark Knight!
- This next one is very unlikely, but I’m sure it’s a possibility- he’s a serial killer and he’s using some guys pics to lure a girl to a restaurant and then when she shows up, he can kidnap her…am I just being paranoid? I think I watch too many crime shows. Thanks a lot, Criminal Minds.
I found an article saying that POF is the most dangerous dating site in Britain. It may be paranoid, but if you ever meet up with anyone in person, it’s always good to send his/her profile pics and bio to friends and let them know where you’re going and when you’re planning to be home. If the date is going well and you decide to stay out longer with him/her, send a text to your friend to let them know.

Some of the catfish were quite smart using pics of guys who aren’t too famous. This one guy used Nick Bateman’s pics (actor/model), Serkan Cayoglu’s pics (Turkish actor) and another used Adam Gallagher’s pics (blogger: I AM GALLA). One guy’s pics confused me: he had 2-3 pics of himself (or some guy) and then one of Joe Jonas. The pics below are not necessarily the ones used in the profile pics, but this is what the guys look like:

From left: Nick Bateman, Serkan Cayoglu, Adam Gallagher

I mean…why would any of them be on Plenty of Fish? Even if they were the shy, quiet type, tons of girls would be throwing themselves at them. If they’re looking for a hookup, I think Tinder would be a better app to use since you just swipe through the profiles. On POF, you’d have to go through the profiles and it’s a bit more time-consuming.

Similar to the swiping dating apps, POF does have that “Meet Me” feature where it’s similar to Tinder and you swipe ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if you want to meet someone. There’s four options: No, Maybe, Yes and Super Yes. Super Yes is like the Superlike or Daily Extend. It’s dumb though because if you choose ‘maybe,’ you would think it puts those guys onto a list for you and you can review them later. It doesn’t. It counts it as a ‘yes,’ so if you said maybe and the guy said yes/maybe, you get matched up. Like Tinder, there’s a tab (Mutual Match) that has a list of the people you matched with. The only problem with it is that you need to have an upgraded account to see the people who do want to Meet You. In your notifications, you can see a small thumbnail of their profile pic so you can keep an eye out when you’re swiping, but it’s not the best.

Another feature is the “Favorites” where someone can favourite your profile. It’s kind of funny because you can unfavourite yourself from their list. In a few guys’ bios, they wrote that if they ‘favourite’ you, it’s because he’s used his daily number of messages and can’t message you when he comes across your profile. I found out that there’s a daily limit to the number of first messages you can send in 24 hours. You can only send 55 first messages a day- if you’ve already messaged someone, there’s no limit. It’s only the first contact that is included in the 55.

In no way am I trying to brag and say, “This many men want to meet me or I got messaged by this number.” I want to let you know as a reference (and I’m rounding the numbers). By the time the 1000 men messaged me, it said that 2600 wanted to Meet Me. Percentage-wise, a third of the guys messaged me and it’s unknown how many of the 2600 were ones who also messaged me. So, what I’m saying is if you are on POF and you are interested in someone, then message them! The worst that can happen is they don’t reply or maybe block you, but you can still message 54 other people and one of them is bound to reply!

That’s all I have for today’s post. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out Part 7 on Tuesday!

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.
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May 2018 Faves

May 25, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here are this month’s fave products!

This Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover is amazing. I wish it weren’t so pricey, but it easily takes off my dark eye makeup. I only use it for my eyes and use my micellar water for the rest of my face makeup so I can save what I can.

I’m sure it’s no surprise that the J Lo x Inglot LipGlossy Lip Gloss is in my monthly faves. This is the shade J225 Pinky. Check out my haul from the J Lo x INGLOT collection!

I have been using The Everything Powder by Delectable to set my makeup and I love it. I put some into an easier to use container so I could have a lid to pour the product out nicely. It has 21+ uses and I’ve tried it as a dry shampoo, like baby powder to absorb sweat and it works, but my fave use for it is as a setting powder so far. It mattifies my makeup and it makes my under eyes feel so smooth! It’s basically corn starch (and talc-free), so it’s very fine, but it also has a scent to it. Anyone remember those Baby All Gone dolls that you could feed them cherries on a spoon from a jar? It smells like the cherries!

I have been using the Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner that I won in Prairie Beauty Love’s giveaway. It has made my hair look shinier and feel smoother. I love that it’s natural, plant-based and eco-friendly. Once I’ve tried out the others, I would definitely buy the bigger size so that it comes with a pump. As soon as I got them in the mail, I smelled them and I think that the coconut scent is my fave (just from smelling from bottles- I’ll update once I’ve actually tried them all).

What were your faves this month?

Love,

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“How You Doin’?” | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 5

May 22, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I’m back with another installment of my online dating chronicles!

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Part 4: Dipping My Toe In The Water

Even though I was on Tinder and Bumble for two weeks and POF for only one, I obviously got more messages on POF because you don’t need to match to get a message. Like I said in Part 4, I had it set so that Males in Canada (aged 23-35) could message me. I received several messages as I was setting up my profile. I wrote a more lengthy ‘About Me’ and came up with a headline (a sentence to get people to click on your profile).

On a dating site set up like POF where anyone can message you (unless you have restrictions on your mail settings), you’ll obviously get a variety of messages: creepy ones, gross ones, funny ones, nice ones, sweet ones, etc.

I wrote that I loved action movies, liked burgers and that I’m probably one of the few girls who would prefer to be given food instead of flowers. A lot of the guys that messaged me were excited to find a girl who liked action movies. One said he had never met a girl who liked the Lord of the Rings trilogy and would never even consider watching the extended versions. I told him he wasn’t meeting the right girls lol. A few made a joke that they’d bring me a bouquet of burgers. It was cute when the first guy messaged me saying that, but then when several others said the same thing, it obviously wasn’t as funny/original.

There were a few lines that seemed original and were pretty funny, but I don’t want to ruin it for the guy if that’s his pick-up line for every girl he messages. Here are some of the funny/cheesy ones that aren’t exactly original (these are verbatim, so excuse the grammar and/or wording):
- Can I follow you? My mom told me to always follow my dreams.
- Excuse me, Mademoiselle, could you give me directions to your heart? I seem to have lost myself in your eyes…
- There’s a strange feel in my stomach either I’m hungry or I’m in love and the only way to find out by asking you for lunch
One guy wrote ‘looking for committed girlfriend’ in his About Me. I laughed at it because it should probably say ‘committed relationship’ or ‘serious girlfriend.’ A ‘committed girlfriend’ makes me think he wants a girl from a psychiatric hospital. Another guy wrote that he liked my profile and I “sound like a really ‘cool girl’ if you know what I mean.” Why was ‘cool girl’ in quotes and why did he write ‘if you know what I mean?’ Well, I didn’t know what he meant, so I asked him and he said that he thought I sounded cool. I have no idea why he put it in quotes and said ‘if you know what I mean’…He could’ve just said “You sound like a cool girl.” *shrugs* moving on…

I got a few messages that I should’ve probably felt offended, but was flattered. One guy messaged me saying, “Hey, would you ever consider playing on cam for $? No offense intended.” It was gross, but I felt flattered that he wrote it. Another guy messaged me calling me a catfish and I messaged him back saying that I was real and he said he didn’t mean any offense by it. I felt flattered that he thought I would be a catfish. Either he liked my bio and thought it sounded good or liked my pics. Another guy, we’ll call him ~~Mr.~~ Captain Jack Sparrow. He said, “Reallyyy Jennifer? Your profile seems TOO good to be true so I think you should respond to me vs. the other 500 messages so that at least I can verify that you are real :p” I replied and we exchanged a few messages. He was a perfect gentleman and it proved to me that there are nice, not creepy, normal guys on POF- you just have to weed out the ones that are creeps and jerks.

After a few days, I decided to get rid of the age limitations and allow any age to message me. I wanted to see if guys a lot younger/older would message me. I waited until I received 1000 messages so I could get a proper sample size. The majority were closest to my age with a few here and there that were a lot younger or older. A few of the men had listed their age as 25 or something and then they’d put it in their About Me or in their first message that they were actually 40 or something. I assume it’s because most girls will probably set their age restrictions close to the age they are.

Using the 1000 messages, I took the time to sort the messages into two different categories. Based on approximate percentages, this was the break-down:
- 70% would say Hi, Hello, What’s Up, make a comment about my appearance (smile, eyes, attractiveness) or use a pick-up line
- 30% would make a direct reference to something in my About Me section or comment on one of my secondary pictures (proving that they looked at my other pictures and didn’t just message me after seeing the first one)
It was alarming how many of the guys wrote ‘your’ instead of ‘you’re.’ *face palm* It was flattering to get messages saying that I’m beautiful, but if you spelled it ‘your,’ it just made me cringe.

I am a fan of Friends (if that wasn’t evident by two of the titles for this blog series), so I thought it would be funny to write this in my bio:

Wanted: …non-smoker, non-ugly. ← If you know what that’s from, make a reference to the show 🙂

I wasn’t sure if everyone would get the reference, so I made it clear that it’s from a show and that I wasn’t the one saying it.

Here were some of the first messages I got:
- *looks down and up* How you doin’?
- “Could that BE any more obvious” jk lool (in chandlers voice in case that made no sense xD)
- “Could I be wearing any more clothes???”
Click here for Part 6!

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.
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Review | Sephora Collection Bright Future Color Corrector

May 21, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I bought the Sephora Bright Future Color Corrector (02 Yellow) because it was on sale for $9 and I thought I’d give it a try. I got the yellow colour correcting one to cover dark circles under my eyes.

Ideal for the under-eye area, blemishes, and areas around the nose and mouth, these gel-serum color correctors are feather light and buildable depending on your concern. Pineapple extract helps to improve the appearance of skin texture and add brightness, while the cotton swab-like applicator provides the perfect amount of product every time. Just dip, dot, and blend to neutralize before you conceal.

It has an applicator that isn’t very spongey. It’s really hard and it doesn’t bend. It barely picks up any concealer (or the concealer is wiped off when it comes through the top).

RATING: 2/5

It was so sheer that it didn’t cover anything. It might be buildable, but you have to keep dipping the wand back into the tube because it doesn’t pick up a lot.

I’d rather get a drugstore brand colour correcting concealer or use the yellow or purple shades from the Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review).

Have you tried Sephora’s concealers? What were your thoughts on them?

Love,

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Review | Vichy Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion SPF60

May 20, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I received Vichy’s Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion complimentary of GlamSense and thought I’d write a review on the blog. I’ve never tried any Vichy products before so I was excited to try it.

VICHY introduces its first dry touch, facial sun protection, with a unique powdery texture that mattifies skin, even in the most humid conditions. Long lasting anti-shine effect. 80 minutes water & sweat resistance. Dry touch lotion formulated for an active lifestyle and outdoor activities. Apply generously and evenly, on face, 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every 2 hours, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying.

I was really impressed by this lotion, I love that it dried fast and didn’t feel tacky or oily. The consistency isn’t too thick (it’s like a moisturizer). It went well under my liquid foundation. It smells faintly like sunscreen, but it’s not overpowering like other sunscreens out there. I give it two thumbs up!

RATING: 4/5

It’s quite expensive for a facial sunscreen, but you should always protect your face with SPF and I’m guessing face sunscreen is formulated so that it can go well under makeup and not look too greasy. I’ve tried Neutrogena’s which is half the price, I’ll compare the two in a This or That post.

Have you tried Vichy products? What sunscreens do you use on your face?

Love,

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First Impressions with b.liv Bio-Cellulose Sheet Masks

May 18, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I was contacted by b.liv skin to write a review for their bio-cellulose sheet masks. I was sent three masks: Hydrate Away, Age Eraser and Soothe Me Now.

The masks retail for $35 US for a pack of 4 masks.

Bio-cellulose is a specialized nano scale fiber structure that fits perfectly like your second skin. It serves as a high volume serum reservoir i.e. holds moisture while allowing air to transfer freely and skin can breathe better. Its 30 nanometers fiber increases extra contact surface area for crevices and wrinkles ; maximizing the absorption of effective essence.

The masks were folded between two pieces of net-like material to make it easier to unfold. The bio-cellulose material was very soft and although it was thin, it’s strong.

I loved these masks! They made my skin feel hydrated and it didn’t leave that tacky feeling after I took it off. It also didn’t have a strong smell. I loved that the remaining essence in the pouch was thicker than the usual watery liquid that I get from other sheet masks. I used it on my legs and arms and my skin feels so smooth. Sometimes sheet masks dry out after wearing them for the 15-20 minutes, but this one was still hydrated. I used the excess essence on the mask on my arms. My face feels incredibly smooth (except for one dry patch I have, but the rest of my face feels really soft after using it).

The first mask I tried was the Hydrate Away. It didn’t really have a scent. The Soothe Me Now mask had a slightly medicinal scent. I used the remaining essence after my shower and it was great.

Hydrate Away

Refresh yourself with an instant infusion of moisture and revitalizing nutrients. Made from Organic Spirulina, a deep sea blue-green algae, this moisturizing bio-cellulose mask is power-packed with minerals and amino acids to hydrate, repair amd clarify skin. In addition, it helps protect skin from free radical damage.

Benefits: Moisturizing + Revitalizing + Hydrating

Age Eraser

Turn back the clock and restore skin to its original youthful radiance. Thanks to a unique formulation of Multipeptide, this youth preserving bio-cellulose mask reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while preventing premature skin aging. The result is maximum skin regeneration and a firming effect.

Benefits: Youth preserving + firming + fine line reducing

Soothe Me Now

Allow the power of flower to bless your skin with a calming touch. Deeply infused with Organic Immortelle Flower Extract which has wonderful restorative properties, this soothing bio-cellulose mask effectively helps repair and rejuvenate skin.

Benefits: Soothing + Repair + Rejuvenating

RATING: 5/5

I would definitely repurchase these and I’m interested in trying other products b.liv sells. Since these are bio-cellulose masks and are on the more expensive side of sheet masks, I would probably use them once a month at the most.

Have you tried b.liv skincare?

Love,

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Dipping My Toe in the Water | Online Dating Chronicles: Part 4

May 18, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Have you missed previous installments of my online dating chronicles?

Part 1: It Started One Night At A Bar Named ‘Darling’…

Part 2: The One Where Jen Swiped Right

Part 3: Play The Game, Playa

Moving on from Tinder and Bumble, this post is mostly talking about the process of setting up a POF profile. I didn’t really talk about the process for Tinder and Bumble because it’s easy. You set it up with your Facebook account or email and then add pics, write a bio and you start swiping. On Plenty of Fish, it’s straightforward, but requires a bit more time setting it up. You don’t match with people and anyone can message you (unless your mail settings are restrictive). I set the mail settings so that only Men in Canada aged 23-35 could message me.

By the one week mark, I was on three dating sites and I came across several guys on multiple ones. I have a good memory, so I remembered their pictures. One guy said he was a surgeon on Bumble and was a Stock Trader on POF…hmmm, wonder which job is his actual occupation. Obviously, he was only on Bumble for hookups because then it’d be like in Sex and the City when Miranda said she was a flight attendant and she dated the ‘ER Doctor’ (played by Clark Gregg aka Agent Phil Coulson) and he was squeamish around the sight of her bleeding finger.

On Plenty of Fish, there’s a different process. Instead of just adding profile pics and a bio, you also fill in other things:
- hair colour, height, body type
- education, profession
- if you want children
- if you smoke, drink or do drugs
- religion
- if you have pets
- longest relationship you’ve had (under 1 year, over 1 year, over 2 years and so on)
The list goes on, but those are some of the things that are listed. Some of them had the option to choose “Prefer Not to Say.” I found this interesting especially when it was Prefer Not to Say Body Type or Children: Prefer Not to Say. These are kind of obvious because no one would choose “prefer not to say” if they didn’t have kids, so obviously a ‘prefer not to say’ has kids. As for body type, ‘prefer not to say’ probably means they have a few extra pounds. Or maybe it’s someone who’s actually ripped, but doesn’t want that to be the reason a guy/girl likes them. I found the ‘body type’ option kind of dumb to be honest because it’s subjective. A guy could list himself as ‘athletic,’ but there’s different types of athletic; think Ryan Gosling vs. Chris Hemsworth vs. The Rock. Also, depends on their height too. Personally, I prefer lean athletic because I’m a tiny, little woman and if a guy’s arm is bigger than my head that scares me. It was hard for me to choose a body type for myself because I’m petite, but it’s not like I’m in awesome shape- there are days where I’ve got a food baby and other days where the tummy is flat. I chose ‘Thin’ because athletic or average wouldn’t really be accurate.

It also asks you to choose your personality in one word from a drop-down list. There’s a lot of options including: Chef, adventurer, athletic, gamer, geek, homebody, hopeless romantic, fashionista, film/tv junkie, professional, night owl. I chose Film/TV junkie for myself.

It also asked you to choose your intent and these were the options:
- I want to date, but nothing serious
- I want a relationship
- I am putting serious effort into finding someone
- I am serious and want to find someone to marry
I wasn’t sure about the last option. I mean, it’s similar to putting in serious effort to find someone because you’d want to find someone to date which would lead to marriage. I mean, it’d be a good to date a few people before I find the person I end up with to see what’s out there, but I would be ready to get married if I found the right guy.

It was interesting because it also asked you to fill in other things that wouldn’t show up on your profile, but it would help you find people who you’d be a good fit. For example, it asked for your income and birth order (if you’re the oldest or youngest). It also asked if your birth parents are married, divorced, not together, one passed away or both passed away. It asked if you would date someone with kids or not and if you’d date someone who has a few extra pounds.

You also fill out a 70+ question personality test that measures your Self-Confidence, Family Orientation, Self-Control, Openness and Easygoingness. You can fill out other ones that measure your Relationship needs and other things.

Come back for the next installment to read some of the funny messages I got on POF.

Love,

*This blog series is not affiliated or associated with any of the online dating sites/apps mentioned. It is also not meant to discourage any person from using these sites. This was just something I thought would be a fun topic to write about and let you know about my experiences with online dating.
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Review | Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer

May 16, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I was sent a complimentary tube of the Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer from Chick Advisor. I thought it’d be a good idea to review it on the blog too since the brand is new to Canada. A full-size bottle retails for $32 CAD (the one Chick Advisor sent is half the size of a full-size).

Creates an even, luminous base for make-up application. The untinted formula blends seamlessly into the skin, restoring freshness and helping fight visible signs of ageing, while helping to extend make-up wear and disguising skin imperfections. The primer is composed of active natural ingredients, including the native Australian Kakadu Plum, known for its abundant Vitamin C content, rich antioxidants Vitamins A and E, and Green Tea.

It does have a scent- it kind of smells like candy. From what I remember, it smells like Chiclets gum. After you apply it and start applying foundation and your other products, the smell does go away. Since it’s silicone-free, it looks like a moisturizer- it comes out of the bottle white and then blends beautifully into the skin for a smooth finish.

I wore it for about seven hours and I had also been testing the Lancome Skin Tint Foundation. After about four or five hours, my t-zone started to get oily and you could tell that the makeup had broken up on my chin and on/around my nose. So I don’t really think it extended my makeup’s wear time. It’s the same as any other higher end primer.

RATING: 3/5

The primer itself is okay, so I’m going to give it 3/5. Before putting on foundation, my skin felt smooth and then when I put on the foundation, my foundation blended into my skin beautifully. Personally, I don’t think I will be picking up the full-size because the smell is too sweet. I really want to try Nude by Nature’s Radiant Loose Powder Foundation and maybe some of the other products.

Love,

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