Amika Archives

First Impressions with BeautySense.ca | Sponsored

November 18, 2022
Hi Everyone!
Today, I’ll be reviewing products I received from BeautySense.ca! This post was sponsored by BeautySense.ca and the products above were sent to me for review, but all opinions are my own. The links below are NOT affiliate links.

Beautysense.ca is a Canadian-owned website that sells beauty and cosmetics products.

We have deep roots within the beauty industry operating successful spas and salons in Canada.

BeautySense.ca was launched in 2013 with a vision of providing Canadians with a trusted and reliable source of beauty products while contributing the same customer service and education found in our spas and salons.

BeautySense.ca currently offers well over 4000 quality products from top Canadian and International brands and we continue to add new brands every month.  We cater to each of you, our customer, to reach a goal of 100% satisfaction.

They sell a wide variety of skincare, home, bath & body, makeup and wellbeing products.

Free shipping on all orders within Canada, no minimum!!

They have promotions every now and then. A free gift with purchase, discounts on certain brands, etc.

I don’t know if they have sales throughout the year, but I have signed up for the newsletter to email me. So I will update this post if I am notified of any sales throughout the year.

They have a loyalty program. Receive 1 point for every $1 you spend

100 pts = $5 | 200 pts = $10 | 500 pts = $25 | 900 pts = $45
BeautySense let me choose the products to try out so I went with a 3 products from brands I’ve never tried before and 2 products from amika (love the scent of their dry shampoo and soulfood nourishing hair mask).

Colorescience: Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Face Shield Flex SPF 50 | $63

A lightweight mineral sunscreen with tinted color coverage immediately evens skin tone for a flawless look. Available in four uniquely flexible shades for a range of skin tones, it features innovative, tone-adapting pigments that offer medium, buildable colour coverage with a natural finish.

This is drier than I thought it would be. I think I could’ve tried the medium shade instead of fair because it’s very white on me. For sunscreen, I usually just squeeze it out onto my hand and then apply to my face, but I think maybe it’s better to do a little at a time for this one. Instead of trying the medium tinted shade, I think I would just try the original (non-tinted) one next time.

Amika: The Wizard Detangling Primer | $34.50

A weightless, multi-benefit priming spray that detangles, cuts blow dry time and protects against thermal and environmental damage. Leaves hair smooth, soft and radiant.

This detangled my hair so quickly and my hair felt smooth and sleek. It looked shiny and smelled really nice. It has the same scent as the normcore conditioner and dry shampoo.

Amika: Normcore Signature Conditioner | $26

Boost hydration, softness and shine daily with this everyday conditioner, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.

I used to love the Perk Up Dry Shampoo, but I stopped buying products with aerosol cans. Since this has the same scent description, I figured this would be the same and it is. At the time, the shampoo was out of stock, but I would definitely get the shampoo. My hair is healthy because I don’t dye it and I don’t use styling tools all the time. So I usually stick to buying shampoos and conditioners from the drugstore. I have bought a few expensive shampoos and conditioners and I use them every couple weeks when I feel like a pick-me-up.
Jane Iredale: PurePressed Blush in Barely Rose | $41

A silky, easy-glide pressed blush that builds like a powder and blends like a cream for seamless, long-lasting color and a fresh, healthy glow.

The blush is a pretty pink shade that looks like a natural blush to my cheeks. I did notice that the blush had faded by the 6 hour mark though. I purposely applied more blush than usual just to see how it wore throughout the day. So, by the 6 hour mark, it was no longer noticeable and by the 9 hour mark, it was definitely gone. I used a cotton pad to wipe the makeup and no blush came off.

Blinc: Ultravolume Tubing Mascara – Black | $32

Whether your daily activities take you from the office, to your sweaty workout then out to dinner, Blinc Tubing Mascara Ultra Volume will make your lashes look as good in the evening as they did when you first applied it in the morning.

I have typical Asian lashes that don’t keep a curl for very long so I was surprised at how well this mascara kept the curl. I was wearing the mascara for about 9 hours and my lashes were still curled. They might’ve gone down a little bit, but they definitely had a curve to them still (not sticking straight down). I did notice a few flakes on my eyelid and under eye by the 9 hour mark. I think I may have touched my eye at some point. The mascara removes easily with warm water. I would say to remove the mascara with warm water before removing the rest of your makeup. So the tubes don’t get all over your face.

They have a number of brands that I’ve never tried, so I’d be interested in buying those in the future and reviewing them on my blog.

Some products I have on my wishlist:
- Amika: Normcore Signature Shampoo
- Joico: Moisture Recovery Shampoo
- Joico: Moisture Recovery Conditioner
- Colorescience: Sunforgettable EnviroScreen Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50
- Colorescience: Sunforgettable Total protection Face Shield SPF 50-Original
Love,
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Feb-Mar-Apr 2022 Product Empties

May 10, 2022

Hi Everyone!
Live Clean Cool and Fresh Deodorant – I liked this deodorant, it smelled fresh. I had to declutter since I had it for too long though.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? Don’t know, I had to declutter it since it dried out.

The Beauty of Eczema Skin Wash* – Sometimes the body wash had random globs of product (similar to when paint dries in a bottle). This body wash was a bit runny so I think I used more than I needed to use.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? The 200mL tube lasted two months.

The Beauty of Eczema Bathing Oil* – I used it once a week to relax. I don’t know if I used a lot. Once I found out how much it cost, I made sure to use less. You can either pour it into a running bath or apply directly to your skin and then rinse it off. I think the best way to figure out how much to use is to apply it to your body. When I first read the words ‘oil,’ I was a bit unsure about it, but when I read the directions, I found out it turns into a milk.

Repurchase? Maybe.

How long does it last? The 200mL bottle lasted two months (about 10 uses).

Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask – I love the scent of this hair mask. I don’t use it too often though since it’s expensive.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? I had it for a year because I kept forgetting about it. I started using more of it later on. I recorded that I used it 20 times, but that could probably be doubled. I think I was using a lot.

Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner Alcohol-Free* (read my review) – I found the petals in the toner unnecessary. I did notice that I didn’t have as much redness when I used this, but I don’t know if it was just because of the toner or if it was other products I used too.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? I had some compressed, dry sheet masks lying around, so I started using them with the toner. I think I used this toner quite generously. I will add a few uses to mine. I would say this 250mL bottle would last about 6 months.

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Anti-Aging Serum* (read my review) – This serum was too scented. I got a headache from it, so I started using it on my feet. I would apply it after a shower and then put socks on. My feet did feel smooth while using it.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? I can’t say how long it would last since I didn’t use on my face.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M Eco Tube* (read my review) – I wasn’t a fan of the smell (it smelled like school glue). I also used it up quickly.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? The 200mL tube lasted for a month of daily use (full body). I cut it open when nothing came out after squeezing the tube, I got a few days’ worth of product.

The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser* – I didn’t find anything special about this cleanser. I would rather use the more affordable Cetaphil or Cerave cleanser that comes with a pump.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? This cleanser was more fluid than others (Cerave, Cetaphil), I feel like I tend to waste more when it’s fluid. Especially when it’s in a bottle with a cap that you turn sideways/upside down, it just flows out easily. This 150mL bottle lasted about 4 months.

What have you finished lately?
Love,
Products marked with * were sent to me to try.

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Mini Haul | August 2020 Sephora Sale

August 21, 2020

Hi Everyone!
I’m sharing what I bought from the Welcome Back Sephora Canada sale. If you spend $100, you get $20 off and if you spend $75, you get $15 off. Unlimited times for in-store and one time use online. For online, use code WELCOME BACK. The sale is on until August 23rd, 2020!

I didn’t buy any new makeup since I haven’t been wearing any and have quite a bit of makeup to get through first. I chose 2 items I have been wanting to try and repurchased another one that I’ve reviewed before.

Bite Beauty Agave+ Nighttime Vegan Lip Therapy (1st time trying) – A hydrating lip sleeping mask in a decadent, balm-to-oil formula, with a dreamy chamomile-bergamot scent, for more supple lips overnight.

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm (1st time trying) – A PEG-free cleansing balm that smooths the look of skin with natural papaya enzymes, while melting away stubborn makeup, dirt, oil, and SPF.

amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask (repurchase) – A daily or weekly luxurious, deep conditioning treatment that completely restores and repairs dry, damaged hair.
I also redeemed some points. Both were 100 points:

Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder (1st time trying) – A weightless setting powder that refreshes and cools the skin with all-day moisture.

belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb (1st time trying) – A lightweight, refreshing eye cream that smooths fine lines with a 26-hour burst of moisture, boosts elasticity, and increases the resilience of the skin for flawless makeup application.
Love,
*Descriptions taken from Sephora website.

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Revisiting My 2018 Favourites | Part 1

January 4, 2019

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would do a post revisiting last year’s favourites to see if they were still my favourites. I’ve already done a post for my September to December 2017 favourites.

Revisiting My 2017 Favourites

I’m going to split the posts into 2 parts so it’s not too long. Part 1 for January to June and I’ll post the Part 2 in six months’ time for July to December since they’re still fairly recent. These posts are only going to include my beauty favourites.

JANUARY

Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in 100 Molten Gold – LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

Repurchase? Yes! I want to get one of the lighter shades (since they’ve expanded their shade range) because this one can be a bit too dark on me.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Love this balm!

Repurchase? Yes.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I enjoyed the metal applicator and it kept my under eyes soft and hydrated.

Repurchase? I would buy it again, but I want to try other products. I’ve only tried a couple eye creams and it’s the best one I’ve tried so far, but I know there are ones that people rave about even more.

Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush – I haven’t used this in a while, but I still love it. I think I’m just worried the bristles will come off and I’ll have to get a new one.

Repurchase? Yes, but I would get one with a handle. (UPDATE: I won a giveaway and now I have one with a handle!)

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I love the smell of this. I was surprised to read reviews about it smelling too much.

Repurchase? I’ve already repurchased it.

MAC Vamplify Gloss in What’s Going On – I loved the applicator of this lip gloss, but I didn’t like this particular shade. The only shades available are bright colours.

Repurchase? No. If MAC made a lip gloss with this applicator in a shade I liked, I would definitely get it though.

FEBRUARY

MAC Strobe Cream – I love the Pinklite!

Repurchase? Probably.

Pixi Glow Tonic – LOVE THIS!

Repurchase? I already have. (UPDATE: I have since realized that I may be allergic to witch hazel which is in the glow tonic).

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder – The powder itself is great and I love the puff. I don’t love the smell of the powder though.

Repurchase? Probably not.

MARCH

Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette – I enjoyed this, but I feel like I only used a handful of shades. Even at $5, it felt like a waste. Plus, you could tell the quality of the packaging was not great because it was basically just foam that had a piece of plastic material glued onto it. It started to peel.

Repurchase? No. Shipping to Canada is an extra charge. I’d rather spend the money on the product instead of shipping. I’ve been using a Hard Candy palette that has a fraction of the colours, but I will be able to use all of them.

LOVE OPI XOXO Mini Nail Lacquer 10 Pack – This pack had 4 colours that I wasn’t a fan of, but it was a good price at Winners.

Repurchase? I wouldn’t have bought the pack at full price, but I would buy individual shades at full price.

Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil – It made my hair super smooth, but I think I’d rather use a hair mask.

Repurchase? Probably not.

APRIL

Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer – Great bronzer.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink – Pretty cream highlighter.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Soo’Ae Caada Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – LOVE!

Repurchase? Yes!

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – This is a beautiful foundation!

Repurchase? Undecided. I want to try other stick foundations to see how they compare. If I do end up buying this again, I need the right shade.

MAC Pigment in Stardream – It’s a beautiful shade!

Repurchase? No. Pigments are too messy for me.

Miniso Flawless Baked Blusher in Rosy Pink – I decided to declutter this. This was a pretty shade, but I didn’t love that it was made in China. If you’re on a budget and you don’t mind where your products are made, this was a really pretty blush.

Repurchase? No.

MAY

Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover – This easily removes eye makeup.

Repurchase? No. Too expensive for a product that will be on your face for seconds. I’d rather spend money on a moisturizer.

INGLOT x Jennifer Lopez LipGlossy Lip Gloss in J225 Pinky – I liked the colour of this lip gloss, but I don’t think it’s worth $28. Plus, the smell reminded me of drugstore lip glosses.

Repurchase? No.

Cake Beauty (Delectable) The Everything Powder – I used this to set my makeup and it works beautifully. It doesn’t have talc…it’s basically just corn starch! But, it had a smell that was quite powerful (like the Baby All Gone dolls where you feed the baby cherries from a spoon – anyone old enough to know what those are?) This was annoying to use as a setting powder because I had to use an old setting powder container to use it (since this is shaped like a baby powder bottle).

Repurchase? No.

Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – This made my hair look shinier and smoother. Although, I’m not a huge fan of the scent of Argan Oil, I didn’t mind this.

Repurchase? Possibly.

JUNE

Clinique Sonic Systems Purifying Brush – I enjoy this brush and the charge lasts a really long time! I got this at the MAC Warehouse Sale for $40 and the brush heads were $10.

Repurchase? Although I like the brush, I wouldn’t pay full price for the brush heads. If I ever go back to the MAC Warehouse sale, I will pick some up.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (read my review) – I gave it a 5/5, but I’m not sure if it actually helped to clarify and exfoliate my skin. When I wake up the next morning though, my skin does look quite refreshed and hydrated.

Repurchase? Yes.

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – If I wanted to replace the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, I could buy this to use as a makeup remover. I love that they changed the packaging from a tube to a bottle!

Repurchase? Possibly.

Clionadh Cosmetics Mother of Pearl Highlighter – This is so pretty!

Repurchase? Yes, but without the scent.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Targeted Gel Blemish Stick – I’m so torn. This blemish stick worked well, but it felt unsanitary to stick the wand back in after using it on a pimple. Plus, it’s expensive for a small stick.

Repurchase? Undecided. But if I do, it has to be on sale.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution – I believe this is no longer available, but it felt like it was the same product as the tea tree oil from The Body Shop.

Repurchase? Unavailable.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash – This worked okay, I would still get a pimple here and there on my back.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Burt’s Bees Blush in Shy Pink – This is a pretty matte shade, but sometimes I go too heavy-handed and have to really blend it out.

Repurchase? Probably not. The shade is a bit too pink and I’m not a huge fan of the packaging. Since blush lasts so long, I’d rather pay for a high-end one with nicer packaging.

Click here for Part 2!

Did you spot any of your favourites on my list?

Love,

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November 2018 Product Empties

December 3, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here are last month’s product empties:

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.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Check out my Black Friday Haul!

What did you finish last month?

Love,

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Haul | October 2018 Sephora VIB Rouge Sale

November 2, 2018
Hi Everyone!

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!

Love,
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Sephora 2018 Wishlist

October 22, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I decided to do No Buy October (no makeup or skincare products) in preparation for the Sephora sales. I didn’t realize there would be a sale so soon! I think I will spread out my purchases across the upcoming sales. I will buy the things I NEED during the first one and then things I WANT later.

I have quite a few products on my wishlist. I probably won’t buy everything on the list during the sale. Whatever I don’t buy, I will pick up during the sales next year. I have some favourites that I want to repurchase, but most of the products on the list are ones that I haven’t tried/purchased before.

I am on the fence about purchasing a Charlotte Tilbury product. I know I want to own Charlotte Tilbury products (lip cheat, lipstick, blush and airbrush powder), I just don’t know if I should purchase now or wait until my current makeup inventory has gone down.

…I think I will wait because I have a feeling that I will love the products I purchase and I won’t want to use anything else.

PRODUCTS I LOVE

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I looove the smell of this! I got two compliments from my sister and aunt when I used it.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I originally got this at the MAC Warehouse Sale, and I really liked it. The metal applicator felt very cooling when I applied it and it helped my under eyes feel moisturized.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion – This is a great eye shadow primer. If I’m finished my current one, I will replenish my stock.

PRODUCTS TO TRY

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector – I want an under eye product that brightens and doesn’t emphasize my dry under eyes.

Kopari Coconut Deodorant – I want to try a deodorant without aluminum and I’ve read some good reviews on it.

Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel – I’ve used the Kate Somerville EradiKate and I wanted to try this one.

Waso Fresh Jelly Lotion – I tried this out in store and it smells nice and I love the texture of it.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation – I’ve heard amazing things about this and I really want to compare it to the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick. I know they’re different finishes and coverage, but it’d be interesting to see how they compare.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation Stick – Before I wanted to get the Hourglass stick, I really wanted to try this because it’s a soft matte finish that feels so smooth when I swatch it on my hand. I’m thinking of getting both sticks to compare them with the Bobbi Brown one.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer – I want to get this in the same shade as my foundation because then I don’t have to try and colour match a different brand’s concealer with my foundation.

Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil – I haven’t seen a lot of reviews for this and I was at Sephora and swatched this. The strokes are even finer than the Benefit Precisely, My Brow, so I thought I’d give it a try.

WISHLIST FOR A FUTURE SEPHORA SALE

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder – I’ve heard amazing things about this powder. If it’s in stock, I’m going to grab this.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat – Again, if this is in stock, I will get it in Pillow Talk.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation – Lancôme foundations are beautiful and I wanted to get this one after trying a sample.

Click here to see what I got during the sale!

What’s on your wishlist?

Love,

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September 2018 Product Empties

October 1, 2018

Hi Everyone!

This month I went through a lot of products! So, let’s get started!
Bioré Blemish Fighting Astringent – This would sometimes sting my skin (even if I didn’t have a pimple. The alcohol content was very high and would make my eyes water.

Repurchase? No.

belif bergamot Toner – This was a very nice, gentle toner.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Spectro AcneCare Wash – This was a great acne wash that wasn’t too strong.

Repurchase? Yes.

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – Cannot get enough of these patches, they’re amazing!

Repurchase? Yes.

Clinique Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes – These were gentle and removed makeup okay.

Repurchase? No longer available, I believe.

The Face Shop Clean Face Clear Away Spot Treatment (read my review) – This wasn’t very strong, I would rather buy the Kate Somerville eradiKate or Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

Repurchase? Probably not.

The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Self-Heating Clay Mask (read my review) – This was interesting. The self-heating factor might be good for body aches (although it would be a bit messy).

Repurchase? Probably not.
Live Clean Baby Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Cream – This cream definitely smelled like oatmeal. I don’t know if it did anything to help. I was using it when I didn’t have any eczema flare ups.

Repurchase? Probably not, I would rather get a Cetaphil cream bottle.

got2be Guardian Angel Gloss Finish Flat Iron Balm – I have only ever tried 2 heat protectant sprays, but this did the job and made my hair look glossy.

Repurchase? I have.

Remay Shave Gel Bar – I received this for free and while it smelled nice and was very nice to shave with, I probably wouldn’t purchase it.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I got this in a Topbox and I knew it was expensive so I kept not using this little bottle. I love the smell of this dry shampoo and I got compliments twice when using it that I smelled nice.

Repurchase? I finally splurged and bought a new one. I got a mini because the big size was out of stock.

Live Clean Mineral Clay Rebalancing Shampoo + Conditioner – I liked this shampoo and conditioner.

Repurchase? Maybe.
Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review) – This is a good concealer palette if you’re just starting out and don’t want to splurge. You can use it to colour correct, conceal and contour.

Repurchase? No, because Coastal Scents charges shipping to Canada.

Colourpop No Filter Concealer in Light 20 – This concealer was bought before they added more shades, so there’s no longer a shade called Light 20. This concealer was okay for me. It oxidized really quickly. I would rather get Maybelline Fit Me Concealer since that’s easier for me to pick up.

Repurchase? No.

Milani Retouch + Erase Light-Lifting Concealer in 02 Light – This is a thick concealer that blends out nicely. I wasn’t sure if I would like it because I thought it might cause creasing under my eyes, but I wore it for over 8 hours and it didn’t crease

Repurchase? Maybe.
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Colour Correcting- Adjust) (read my review) – This did nothing to cover redness.

Repurchase? No.

Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – This was an okay primer, I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it.

Repurchase? No.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is one of my fave smoothing primers.

Repurchase? Yes.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y245 – This was a great foundation, but the shade was too yellow. I think I’d need to mix two shades with different undertones to get the right match.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation in 1025 Natural Beige (read my review) – Because this foundation is very natural, it washed away easily with water. I didn’t like the smell of it either and it lingered after applying it.

Repurchase? No.

Fenty Pro’Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 150 – This was too matte for me. While it was beautiful, I prefer something more luminous and natural.

Repurchase? No.
Coastal Scents Revealed3 Palette (read my review) – These had some great neutral colours if you’re starting out with eyeshadows.

Repurchase? No.

Urban Decay troublemaker Mascara – This deluxe sample was hard to judge the full-sized because it was such a short stick, I couldn’t apply the mascara very well to my lashes.

Repurchase? No.

Bella Pierre Cheek Stain in Coral – It was pretty, but I feel like I never gave it a fair shot. I think I’d prefer a cheek stain that twists up or in a pan instead of a pot.

Repurchase? No.

Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara – While this was easy to wash off, it didn’t do much for my lashes.

Repurchase? No.

bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in Tutu – It was a pretty pink shade, but a bit too pale pink on me. I might consider buying a different shade.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Dior Addict Lipstick in 983 Insoumise – My mom bought this for my sister’s wedding, but it was way too pink for her and had shimmer in it, so she gave it to me. It’s a beautiful pink shade, but it’s a bit too pink for me too. I would sort of do an ombré lip with this on top of a nude/pink lipstick and it added the perfect amount of shine and pink.

Repurchase? Not this shade, but I loved how hydrating this lipstick was, so I would definitely consider getting the Dior Addict Lip Glow or purchasing a different shade.

What products did you finish this month?

Love,

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January 2018 Faves

February 2, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here are my January favourites!

If you love the Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder (read my review), you’ll love the Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in 100 Molten Gold. It’s absolutely beautiful! I originally thought it might be too dark on me since champagne/opalescent highlighters look better on my skintone…boy, was I wrong! When highlighters are too peachy or bronze, it can look like I just have a sparkly bruise.

I love that highlighters are dual-purpose, you can use it as it’s intended (highlight your cheekbones, bridge of the nose, brow bone, cupid’s bow), but you can also use it as a shimmery eyeshadow or just put on the inner corner of the eyes.

Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is awesome! You get a small dab on your finger and rub it into your skin and it easily takes off your makeup without having to rub at your eyes. It starts off looking similar to coconut oil and then it melts as you put it onto your face. It doesn’t make your face feel sticky or oily and I love that it’s not liquid so you don’t have to worry about it leaking when you travel!

My only wish is that it wasn’t so expensive. I’m going to save it for eyes and lips only because those are the areas that take a bit longer to remove my makeup. I love the Garnier Micellar water for removing makeup too, but it doesn’t always clean my eye makeup.

I’ve been using Clinique’s Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector for a month. I got it from December’s MAC warehouse sale as part of a pack with Clinique’s dark spot corrector for $30. After the first week, I saw a difference. My dark circles were getting better, but then I had a few late nights and they started to show up again. With a good night’s sleep and staying hydrated, I do notice that the dark circles aren’t as bad and my under eye area is softer and more hydrated than before. I also like the metal applicator, it feels nice and cool under my eyes. At $55 (the normal retail price), I don’t know if I’d buy full price and I’m sure there are cheaper other creams that do just as well, but for less than $30 at the sale, this was a great deal.

I’ve talked about the Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush twice before (read my review) and my post comparing it to a Claire’s dupe. I also really love the amika perk up dry shampoo. It smells amazing, refreshes your hair and gives you some volume when you need it.

At the MAC Warehouse Sale in December, I got a very vibrant pink lip gloss in the charity bag. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it because it’s described as a Hot Intense Fuchsia and it has a bit of shimmer. It’s the Vamplify Lip Gloss in What’s Going On. It’s on sale on the Canadian MAC website for $14.40. It’s a longer tube than a regular lip gloss- it has a similar size to the YSL Touche Eclat pen. I also like how the applicator is angled a bit, flat and longer than most doe foot applicators I’ve used. It might just be me, but the smell reminds me of vanilla extract. If you want a pop of hot pink gloss, this is a great option! It’s so bright, you can put it on and then wipe it off after a few minutes and it gives you berry stained lips.

What were your faves this month?

Love,

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Review | Colab Sheer + Invisible Dry Shampoo

July 18, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Last year, I got a travel-sized Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo in my 1st TopBox. It smells absolutely amazing and I wanted to save it because a full-size can of the shampoo is expensive (about $30 CAD for a 5.3 oz can). So I thought I would try a different dry shampoo. I went to Winners and to giveaway as prizes for C’s wedding shower, I bought a three-pack of Colab Sheer+Invisible Dry Shampoo Rio Tropical. I saw a full-sized can at Rexall on clearance for less than $4, so I bought a full-sized one too.

RATING: 4/5

I give it a 4/5 because it’s a good price and does what it’s supposed to do, but I just didn’t like the smell of this one. Maybe I will try a different scent next time. I did like that it is invisible when you spray it on. If I missed a spot when I was massaging it into my hair, it wouldn’t look like I have white hair or I was recently snowed on. It did what it was supposed to do, made my hair look less oily and gave it a bit of volume.

I might try a powder one next since aerosol cans aren’t good for the environment. I know batiste is said to be a good brand for dry shampoos, so I might give that a try too.

Any suggestions? I’d love to hear your thoughts on dry shampoos (aerosol or powder).

Love,

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Topbox | July 2016

July 26, 2016
Hi Everyone!

I got my first Topbox in the mail and enough time has passed that everyone should have received theirs, so I wouldn’t be ruining what’s inside for anyone. Topbox sends a spoiler alert email anyway saying what’s inside the box, but since Canada Post was possibly going on strike and the delivery of the boxes may have been delayed, Topbox was sweet enough to include a bonus item as a thank you for waiting. I must say, the container that the makeup comes in is so cute. I even like the pattern. As soon as I opened the box, I could smell the hand cream’s scent.

The contents of July’s box were:
- The Face Shop Character Face mask (Pig-moisturizing)
- Be Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream (coconut and cream)
- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
- Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (Sea Buckthorn Berry- Obliphica)
- Starlooks Gem Pencil Eyeliner (GP5B- Ultra Turquoise)
I’ve used TheFaceShop’s character face masks (pig- moisturizing) before, so that one wasn’t a big deal for me. They’re moisturizing and my face feels soft after using them.

The hand cream has shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera. I’ve used shea butter hand cream before and I find that it smells really nice in the bottle, but once I use it, it smells different. Maybe because my body oils and chemicals are changing the smell, or it’s just how it smells once it’s outside of the bottle, but either way, it always smells nicer in the bottle.

I’ve heard of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, but I never pay more than $15 for mascara because I would prefer to have multiple mascaras for different uses (lengthening, volumizing, etc.) than only have one mascara. Since I usually stick to drug store brand mascaras like Maybelline and L’Oreal, this mascara was a treat for me, even if it is a travel size one. I compared it with another mascara I have (right now, I actually have about 6 mascaras and most of them were free- I got them from Sephora promos and Beauty Insider points). I believe I used Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Extravagant mascara on one eye and the Better Than Sex Mascara on the other. What a difference! I liked the Too Faced Mascara much better because 1) it didn’t look clumpy 2) my lashes felt super soft 3) When I used my finger to feel the lashes, no mascara came off on my finger (it did for the Make Up For Ever mascara). I probably wouldn’t splurge on the Too Faced mascara, but I definitely see why people love it.

This was my first time trying dry shampoo, so I read up on how to use it. I absolutely love the smell of the shampoo and the little can it came in is adorable. It’s great for travelling and you want to freshen up a bit after a long drive or something. Given the normal price tag, I would never buy it, but, similar to the Too Faced mascara, I see why it’s popular.

I got a bonus eyeliner in ultra turquoise. It has a bit of sparkle to it. It’s really pretty on and great for a night out. It’s not waterproof, so the colour smudges easily, but the sparkles stay on your skin. I was cleaning the swatch off my hand and the colour smudged off easily, but the sparkles went all over my hand where I had rubbed it off. There’s still a few sparkles that I missed with the soap on my wrist right now.

I can’t wait to see what’s in next month’s box!

What beauty subscription boxes have you tried?

Love,

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