• Review | CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

    November 21, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

    Love,

    jen

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  • kopari coconut deodorant

    Review | Kopari Coconut Deodorant

    November 16, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

    Love,

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  • First Impressions with Saturday Skin

    November 14, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

    Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream

    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?

    Love,

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  • First Impressions with Waso Quick Matte Moisturizer Oil-Free

    October 19, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing the Waso Quick Matte Moisturizer Oil-Free. After finishing the Water Balm (read my review) from Sonia Roselli, I started using the Waso moisturizer. If you want to see what else is in my skincare rotation, click here!

    I bought it during the Sephora Beauty Appreciation Sale a while back. Originally, I bought this for my mom. Even though the brand is geared toward Millennials like me, I thought I would get it for her because she has oily skin. She decided to go with the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Day Emulsion instead.

    Waso is a line from Shiseido. Since it’s geared toward people in their 20s and 30s, Waso’s products are less expensive than Shiseido’s. It’s similar to Dior BACKSTAGE being slightly more affordable than the main Dior brand.

    I like the packaging; it’s a translucent light green bottle that reminds me of jade. I don’t really know why the lid has the hole in the packaging (like a water bottle). I feel like it’s a bit unnecessary; it’s not like I’m going to be carrying my moisturizer around, carrying it by the loop like I do with my water bottles. I like that it comes with a pump and the packaging is very simple, yet classic.

    My skin is on the drier side, so I’m probably not the best to review this product based on how well it mattifies my skin. When I use this, my skin does look matte, but not dry. It dries down a bit tacky.

    I love the gel consistency of this moisturizer, but the scent is a bit too floral for me. When I was at Sephora, I tested out another product from the Waso line, the Fresh Jelly Lotion. I can’t remember what the scent was like, but I would be interested in trying that if the scent isn’t as strong.

    An oil-free, oil-balancing gel emulsion to instantly mattify and balance skin with 24-hour hydration. Smooths and hydrates skin with a shine-reducing, sebum-absorbing powder to maintain a matte look. The dewy texture feels refreshing and leaves skin feeling smooth, hydrated and less shiny. Formulated with whole Loquat Leaf Cells, which are carefully extracted to keep their wholeness harnessed for an anti-oxidant effect and to help balance skin’s oil levels. Loquat Leaf has an antioxidant effect that is known to help suppress sebum breakdown.

    For dry, oily, normal, combination and sensitive skin. Dermatologist-tested. Non-comedogenic. Paraben-free. Oil-free.

    • PhytoResist System+ uses the power of botanicals to help heighten skin’s resistance to internal and external stressors while also infusing rich moisture.
    • Sebum Absorbing Powder helps absorb excess sebum for smooth, non-oily skin, while minimizing visible pores.

    RATING: 4/5

    Have you tried anything from Waso?

    Love,

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  • Review | Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara

    October 8, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!! I have another mascara review for you today! This was my first time trying a Bourjois product. My friend gave it to me and I assume she got it as a free gift with purchase or something.

    It’s really interesting because you twist the top and the wand can go from long and straight to shorter and coiled like DNA ← this is probably the extent of ‘science-y talk’ that I will have on my blog.

    Twist Up The Volume Mascara in Ultra Black

    1 TRANSFORMABLE BRUSH WITH 2 RESULTS: DEFINED LENGTH + OVERSIZED VOLUME Two transformable brushes in one! Use position 1 to lengthen and separate lashes. Use position 2 to volumize and intensify lashes. Its ultra black formula quickly builds full coverage and volume on every single lash.

    It’s kind of funny. The fact that you can twist the top part so that the wand is straight or coiled makes me think of going to the eye doctor. Is it a 1 or a 2…1 or a 2? The mascara coats the lashes nicely and it doesn’t look clumpy. The mascara will transfer a bit if you rub your lashes. When I applied the mascara, my lashes were curled. After a few hours, the lashes on my left eye were straight and the lashes on my right eye were a bit curled, but not as much as when I initially applied it. For some reason, the lashes on my right eye can hold a curl better.

    The wand definitely give you two different results. When it’s in position 1 (straight), it separates the lashes and makes them look very natural. In position 2 (coiled), you can definitely tell that it intensifies the lashes and gives you a thicker coat of mascara. So, you can get a natural look or smokey look with just one mascara. I think I prefer the natural look on myself. I don’t like when it looks like I’m wearing mascara or when I can feel the mascara weighing my lashes down.

    RATING: 4/5

    I like the silicone brush and I like the fact that you can get two different looks in one mascara. I think this would be worth splurging on because it’s the same as buying two cheaper drugstore brand mascaras.

    Have you tried Bourjois products?

    Love,

    jen

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