I compared two mascaras: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara and the Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara.
I really love them both because they look very natural, but they also darken my lashes! I will put up my review at the end of the day, but right after applying them, both eyes looked very similar- curled, lengthened and no clumps. I applied some on my lower lashes and both look very natural and not spidery.
You can check out my full reviews on both mascaras by clicking the links below:
Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast’s patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Instant volume and fullness. Smudge and wear-proof. Hypoallergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Lash Sensational Mascara from Maybelline is the first patented fanning brush with 10 layers of bristles to reveal a full flourish of lashes. Liquid Ink formula coats from all sides for a sensational full fan effect.
WINNER: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
The Maybelline Mascara did a better job at keeping my lashes curled – especially because the wand is curled. Between the two, I think the CoverGirl is great for day time and the Maybelline for night time since it made my lashes look a bit darker and thicker.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara → REVIEW
Diorshow Bold Brow Gel in 002 Dark
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia Eau de Parfum. I’ve had it since 2014, so I’d like to finish it so I can try new ones. It’s still one of my faves, but I’d love to try another one.
This is my last post of 2018! I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year’s Eve!!
I only finished a handful of products this month:
Aussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Shine Spray – I don’t even know how long ago I bought this, but I finally finished it! I thought it smelled nice and it definitely made my hair shiny and not at all sticky or anything. One thing I didn’t like was that I thought the nozzle was weird because it was squirting out instead of misting. I transferred it into another spray bottle and it did the same thing. So, it must’ve been the product. I don’t know why though because it was liquid (looked milky, but it wasn’t thick). Instead of spraying it directly into my hair, I would spray it onto my hand and work it into my hair.
Repurchase? Since it didn’t spray out nicely, I don’t think I would repurchase.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – I love this stuff! Although, I do want to try other cleansing balms to compare. This removes makeup easily and didn’t irritate my skin.
Repurchase? I just started using another mini, but I would definitely purchase a full-size pot when I’m done.
Tula Purifying Cleanser – This was a nice cleanser. I bought the Tula Discovery Kit and I started using this product first to ease into using the Tula skincare. While it cleansed well, I don’t know if it made a huge difference in my skin. I think once I started using the other products, that’s when I noticed my skin was improving.
Repurchase? Probably not. I would rather use a cheaper drugstore cleanser and then splurge on serums, oils and other products that stay on my face for longer than a minute.
The Face Shop Beauty Tools Multi 5 Layer Cotton Pads – I got these for free after spending a certain amount of money at The Face Shop. I like the peelable, multi-layer cotton pads. I use two (layers) a day for my skincare regimen and then to remove my makeup I can use up to 5 layers (1 cotton pad).
Repurchase? Assuming they aren’t too expensive, I would buy them again.
Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel (read my review) – This performed the same as other peeling gels I’ve tried, but I think I prefer other ones because they are cheaper (like the Soo’Ae Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – it has more in the tube and it’s half the price).
Repurchase? No.
Saturday Skin Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist (read my review) – The sprayer on the small bottle was good. The mist would disperse the product onto my face very evenly.
Repurchase? Undecided.
I decided to give the Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream to my sister because I wanted to try the Tula products and lately, the Tarte Maracuja Oil has been helping to keep my under eyes hydrated.
Bio Oil Skincare Oil– I bought this to help with stretch marks on my hips, but when I was using it, I would breakout with bumps on my hips. I’ve used this on other areas like my thighs and knees and I didn’t break out there, but I don’t know if it made a huge difference. I think the only way for stretch marks to fade is with time. I’m not a huge fan of the smell of this oil.
Repurchase? No.
Etude House Eye & Lip Remover – I really liked this makeup remover; while I didn’t have waterproof mascara to test out how well it works, it removed regular eyeshadow and mascara well without leaving behind raccoon eyes.
I can’t believe it’s time for my monthly faves again! ANNND, it’s the last one of the year!
I could’ve sworn that I chose the @narsissist Soft Matte Complete Concealer as a previous feature friday…I checked and I haven’t, so here we are! I am in loooove with this concealer. It blends beautifully into the skin. I haven’t used it as an under eye concealer because the shade I have is a bit too dark to use it as one. I use it as a spot concealer (I have the shade Custard). I’ve been using it for a while now and I’ve barely made a dent in it.
I’m really loving this EcoTools shading brush. It’s the perfect brush for applying the base shadow. It’s super soft and blends beautifully. I also like how the handle is tapered which makes it nice and easy to hold.
Foaming face washes are my fave. I love this The Body Shop Aloe Calming Foaming Wash. As it says on the bottle, it’s very gentle on sensitive skin. I use it every day and I got it in September which means it lasts about 3 months. Although, sometimes I have used more than 1 pump, so I could probably stretch it to 4 next time. It is a bit pricey, so I suggest waiting for a sale if you plan to pick this up.
I know Kat von D is controversial at the moment and people are boycotting the brand because of her personal choice to not vaccinate her child. I also know that so many people love this palette that I decided to put aside whatever conflicting views I may have with her own personal views and try the Shade + Light Contour Palette.
While I haven’t had the chance to try all of the shades, I love the shade sombre for my contour (true taupe contour). It’s the perfect one for my skin tone. The others look a bit dark, but I can use those as eyeshadow or maybe use them for when I just take Instagram selfies so that you can actually see the contour in pictures. I would definitely consider buying the shade sombre when I finish this one or maybe I can find a dupe from another brand.
I made these brown sugar cookies for Christmas and they are so yummy. Especially when you use them after they’ve cooled down enough to make ice cream sandwiches. I just used vanilla ice cream because we had some for apple pie, but since the cookies are plain, you could use any ice cream!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends! Are you doing any Boxing Day shopping today? I’m definitely not in the mood to fight the crowds this year, but I might check out the sales online (no makeup though). I might replenish my Tula products if there’s a good sale since I’m almost finished the Discovery Kit (review to come).
Before I get started, I would like to thank everyone for reading my blog and for your love and support!
SOCIAL MEDIA
This has been a really good year for the blog and my Instagram. I started posting more frequently and regularly on the blog which really helped. I’ve been posting Mon-Wed-Fri in the mornings. For 2019, I’ve decided to post Tuesdays & Fridays at 8 am EST/EDT. Since I’m doing my best to cut down on impulse purchases and doing a Makeup Buying Ban until the Spring Sephora Sale, I won’t have as many products to review.
For my beauty Instagram, I did my best to post at least 1 picture every day. If I missed a day, I would try to make up for it with a few the next day. I can’t believe I made it to 3.5k followers on Instagram! I will have another giveaway once I reach 4k.
MAKEUP & SKINCARE
This year, I was very generously sent products from a few different brands. While I don’t write reviews or have a blog just to receive free products, it’s always nice to know that a brand has found my page and wants my opinions on their products.
I’ve tried a lot of makeup and skincare this year and along the way, I’ve found some favourites which I’m really happy about.
Unfortunately, there were also quite a few misses. A couple of cult favourites just didn’t work out for me. I think I will write a dedicated blog post on those products.
MY SKIN & EXERCISE
Back in October, I started using an app to track my water intake. My skin has always been on the drier side and I think it’s because I’ve never drank the daily amount that you’re supposed to drink. While I don’t always reach my goal, I am definitely drinking more water than I did before. My skin is still dry, but it’s better than it used to be (especially since I’ve been using the Tarte Maracuja Oil, one of my new skincare faves). My skin is also clearer than it’s been in months. I still have dark spots from when I was bad and squeezed at my pimples. I’m doing my best not to touch them, even though it’s so tempting to pop them. I realized that I used to rest my chin on my hand a lot which may or may not have contributed to acne. I try not to touch my face throughout the day too.
I think my skin has also been better because I’m not drinking juice as often. Back when I was in university and a bit after, I would drink a glass or two of juice/pop every day. If I do drink juice/soda, I keep it to once a day.
In addition to drinking more water, I’ve been doing arm, leg and ab exercises – crunches, leg raises, bicep curls, etc. I’m trying to do some exercise every day because as someone who blogs, I’m in front of the computer, sitting, a lot.
ETSY SHOP
For my Etsy shop, Prints by JenCat, I started the Etsy shop in July and I’m happy to say that I reached my goal – I was hoping that I would get at least 1 sale each month. I am so thankful for my family and friends who have supported me.
PERSONAL LIFE
LOL, what dating life? This one’s on me. I’ve been focusing more on jobs than trying to find a boyfriend.
I rarely go out, so unless someone were to knock on my door, there’s 0% chance of me finding one until I make the effort to go out. Not everyone can be like Rapunzel from Tangled. Although, if someone just climbed through my window, I wouldn’t just hit them in the head with a frying pan, I would call the police.
lol, I love Anna Kendrick. I just got her book Scrappy Little Nobody for Christmas!
I have Resting Bitch Face (which also looks sad too), so I doubt anyone would come up to me while I was just out and about.
TRAVEL
I didn’t go anywhere this year. The farthest I went was Montréal with my friends. Maybe next year, I’ll go somewhere.
I feel like that pretty much sums up this year for me. It was a pretty good year that went by so fast once it was Summer/Fall. I can’t believe so much happened this year: Royal Wedding, Olympics (did I even watch them this year? I couldn’t even remember were they were held – PyeongChang), Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War came out (I finally watched them this month).
Today, I’m doing a review of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I got a sample of the very popular Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I have been seeing it everywhere on IG.
Lip Sleeping Mask has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants, its Berry Mix Complex™ offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to indulge the senses. Its exclusive Moisture Wrap™ technology boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients. A generous layer of this soothing mask at bedtime helps reduce flakiness so you can wake up to lips that feel refreshed, supple, and soft to the touch.
RATING: 5/5
I can see why people love it so much; unlike Vaseline, it doesn’t absorb into your lips after a few hours. It has the consistency and smell of a balm (made me think of Lip Smackers lip balms), but the look of a gloss (without the stickiness). It made my lips look smooth and plump from the shine and even though it’s scented, it doesn’t taste like anything. I put it on a few hours before I went to bed, so I was wearing it for about 12 hours and when I woke up, I could still feel a bit of the balm on my lips. I could probably get 3-4 uses out of the little sample, so, depending on the frequency of use, I assume the pot will last a very long time and make it worth the price.
Doing a bit of math…I got 7 uses out of the sample size, but I probably could’ve stretched it out to 10 if I used less. The full size pot is about 25 times as much as the sample, therefore the pot would last about 175-250 uses depending on how much you use each time. If you use this once a day, it should last at least 5 months (by my calculations…again, depends on how much you use).
Update: I’ve had the tub for a year now and I’ve barely made a dent. I don’t use it every single day. There was also a month or two where I didn’t use it because I was trying other products.
You’ll remember from my Makeup Goals post, that I set a number for each category of what I should aim for and I said that I wanted to cut my collection in half (which I did!). I hope to continue decreasing the number of items on my collection and maybe reach 100 items by the end of 2019.
Primers: 8-10
Foundations: 6
Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5
Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists: 5
Illuminating Powders/Creams: 2
Bronzers: 2
Blushes: 3
Highlighters: 6
Brows: 3
Eyeshadows: 3 palettes
Eyeliners: 5
Mascaras: 3
Lipstick/Balms: 10
Lip Liners: 2
Lip Glosses/Tints: 3
Makeup Removers: 3
Perfumes: 3
Nail Polish: 5
Have you set any makeup goals for yourself or resolutions for the new year?
Today, I’m going to share with you my new beauty budget for 2019 that I’ve calculated for myself. After reviewing, my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses. I’ve spent about the same amount each year (about $2000). I’m going to aim for $1800 for beauty expenses for 2019. If I get to the end of the year under $1800, then that’s even better! I’ve looked up how much the average woman spends on makeup and skincare each year and most articles said about $3000-5000. I think those numbers include things like manicures, haircuts, waxing and other treatments. I usually only get my haircut once a year and I rarely get manicures.
If you read my posts on my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses, you’ll know that I spent $2000 (give or take). I am aiming to cut it down by $200 and hopefully as the years progress, I can get my beauty expenses down to $1000! One thing I want to change about my spending is WHERE I spend it. In 2017 and 2018, I bought a lot of products from drugstores and Winners. Discount prices from Winners are great, but they tend to be impulse buys. Also, if I don’t like the product, I can’t return it and although it’s cheaper than a high end product, it still adds up. When I make purchases from Sephora, I can easily return things. A lot of my impulse purchases are ones I’ve regretted (read my post on Products I Regret Buying).
Right now, my expenses are high because I’m trying out different products to find what I like and what works for me. I’ve found a few products that have become favourites, but obviously, your favourites can change and you find new products you love even more.
I’ve created a breakdown of how I think I will spend the $1800 budget. This is a rough estimate of what the different categories might cost. I think giving myself an overall budget for beauty is easier than doing the $25/month for my monthly blog allowance. I feel like I end up blogging about most of my products anyway.
Skincare products – $600
This category gets the most because I need acne products, eye creams, day/night products and toners
Primers – $120
Most primers that I buy are about $40-50, I should probably be good until June for primers
Foundations/Powders – $120
If anything, I will need to get a powder. I already bought a bunch of foundations last year
Concealer – $100
Eyeliners – $60
Brows – $100
It takes me a while to finish a brow pencil, so this budget is probably more for my brow gel
Mascara – $100
I only buy drugstore mascaras and I replace them every 3 months
Miscellaneous – $600
Makeup brushes and sponges
Products to review for the blog
Products that I don’t necessarily NEED, but WANT, i.e. a new lipstick or eyeshadow palette
I didn’t include a section for eyeshadows, lip products, blushes, bronzers, nail polish or hair because I already have a lot of things that I should finish before buying new products in those categories. I didn’t include a perfume category, but whenever I need to buy one, I could probably include it in the miscellaneous section. Usually, I only have one or two at a time and I just bought one last year at the MAC Warehouse Sale.
Today, I’m reviewing another mascara! The Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara. I decided to pick it up because I’ve seen so many amazing reviews and I heard that Meghan Markle uses the Luscious one from the Lash Sensational collection (that will be next on my list).
It separates lashes really well giving the “full fan effect” and darkens my lashes. I applied the mascara to my lower lashes and they looked very natural (not spidery at all). If I run my finger under my lashes, you can definitely feel that you’re wearing mascara because the lashes are stiff. The mascara flaked a little bit when I rubbed my lashes.
I like that the brush is curved, it helps lift my lashes. I used to not like silicone wands, but I’m coming around to them. This mascara and the CoverGirl LashBlast have made me like silicone wands more. I think I will do a This or That post comparing this mascara to the CoverGirl one.
I have the washable mascara and it did not hold up after crying a bit. I was re-watching the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies and cried (obviously). I actually forgot I was wearing mascara and wiped away the tears. Later, I went to the bathroom and thought, “OMG! Why does it look like I have a black eye?” (That’s probably a bit dramatic; it didn’t really look like I had a black eye, maybe super bad dark circles). Then I remembered that I had mascara on. My lashes still kept the curl (I used my Shu Uemura lash curler before applying the mascara) despite getting damp from my tears.
To test how well it curls and maintains a curl, I curled the lashes on my left eye and didn’t curl the right eyelashes. After 6 hours, the left lashes were still curled and even the right look like I had curled them because the mascara lifted them. When I was checking them, I did notice a few mascara flakes on my right lid. After 10 hours of wear, it had definitely smudged onto my under eye area and flaked off a bit.
RATING: 5/5
I can see why everyone loves this mascara so much! It has definitely been added to my faves list! I would be interested in trying the Luscious one because it says it makes your lashes feel soft. I think I also want to try the Total Temptation one with Coconut Oil.
Today, I’m doing a first impressions review for two OUAI products I picked up at Sephora: Texturizing Hair Spray and the Wave Spray. When I first heard of the brand, I thought it was pronounced Ou-Ai…anyone else?? I’ve been searching for a texture spray that helps my hair from looking frizzy and gives me volume. I bought the texturizing hair spray in a Sephora favourites kit and I thought I would give the OUAI wave spray a try as well. Let’s get started on the reviews!
Texturizing Hair Spray
Like dry shampoo and hair spray had a baby—this ultra-lightweight hair spray builds incredible volume and texture. Packed with volcanic minerals to absorb oil and refresh hair.
Wave Spray
A weightless texture mist for effortlessly chic, undone hair. Infused with rice protein to add hold and memory for that “just got out of the ocean and my hair dried perfectly” look.
Both sprays have the same mix of fragrances listed:North Bondi: Bergamot, Italian Lemon, Rose De Mai, Magnolia, Lily, Blackberry, Violet, Cedar-wood, Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and White Musk.
I prefer the Wave Spray to the Texturizing Spray since it comes in a plastic bottle instead of an aerosol can.
RATING: 3/5
I’m rating them both the same. They both work well to texturize and give some volume, but I had to dock off points for the fragrance. They’re a bit too perfume-y for me, so unfortunately, I will be giving the texturizing hair spray to my friend and returning the wave spray.
We’re starting this month with something a little different from my usual favourites. I think everyone is always on a quest to make their skin look healthy. Last year, I took spin classes for two weeks with my friends and I was drinking a lot of water then. My skin was probably the best it ever looked because I was staying hydrated. In October, I decided that I should make it a goal to drink the recommended daily intake of water (8 x 8 mL = about 2L).
Drinking from a bottle or cold cup with a straw has definitely helped me increase my water intake. (I’m using up the rest of our plastic straws right now, but will definitely be switching to reusable or paper straws in the future). I’ve also been cutting down on sugary drinks. I haven’t bought any 2L bottles of pop or juice in a long time. I mostly drink just water throughout the day and have one cup of tea. If I’m going out for dinner, I usually just get water, but occasionally, I will order a ginger ale or coke.
Last month, I downloaded an app called Water Drink Reminder to help me keep track of my water intake and I think it’s helped my skin a lot. I just chose the first Water Tracker app that I liked the interface. I tried this plant one that had a cute plant and this other one, but both had spelling mistakes which drove me crazy. Apart from the horrible breakout I had at the beginning of this month, my skin is a lot more hydrated and not as dry.
So far I’m loving this Kopari Coconut Deodorant. I haven’t done a rigorous workout with it, but I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty. I was wearing it for a whole day and I did notice that the scent had faded and I could start to smell a bit of sweat. So, I don’t think this would be good for a rigorous workout and you would definitely have to reapply during a hot day. It is a bit pricey, but deodorant lasts a while, so I think it will be worth it.
The Etude House Lip & Eye Remover is awesome at taking off eye makeup. I use a cotton pad and it took off the majority of my eye makeup in one swipe. I don’t have waterproof mascara, so I don’t know how well it takes it off, but it’s great for regular, non-waterproof makeup.
I can see why everyone loves the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer. I have the shade Light and it’s the perfect shade for my under eyes. It brightens and has a beautiful, natural finish. I took off the sponge because I just don’t think it’s hygienic. One twist is enough for both of my eyes now that the sponge is gone.
Lately, I’ve been using the Tula Purifying Cleanser, Illuminating Face Serum and the Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel. I was slowly incorporating the Tula products to my routine (just in case I have a reaction to one of the products). I still have to add the Pro-Glycolic Resurfacing Gel (which is a toner) and the Hydrating Day & Night Cream to the routine. I am very impressed by the acne gel because it’s one of the few salicylic acid products that hasn’t made my face red, irritated or puffy. Yay!! Usually, my face is fine with salicylic acid cleansers because it’s not on my face for very long. With salicylic acid products that you leave on overnight or during the day, I haven’t been so lucky. That’s why I was using tea tree oil products for a while. I still love my Body Shop tea tree oil products, but the smell is just so strong. So far, I am liking the Tula products I’ve tried. I will write a full review once I’ve started using the other 2 products.
I’ve been trying out a lot of mascaras lately. I’m on the hunt for a drugstore mascara that lengthens my lashes and holds a curl (if it also volumizes too, that would be great).
Get a blast of bold, volumizing mascaras! COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Mascara gives you full and voluminous lashes. LashBlast’s patented volume-boosting hypoallergenic mascara formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big-lash look. This amazing volume mascara is now available in waterproof, too!
I find the tube a bit slippery to open. Especially since the top is slanted, so there’s less surface area to open…is it just me?
I love the silicone wand on this, it separates my lashes nicely. From what I remember about the Buxom Lash Mascara, this one could be a dupe for it. Although, I don’t have the Buxom one to do a side-by-side comparison, so I’m not 100% sure.
There’s no clumps and my lashes look natural and don’t feel too stiff. The wand is good for my bottom lashes too, it darkens my bottom lashes without making them look spidery.
My lashes looked so natural that when I asked my mom if she could tell I was wearing mascara, she said she didn’t notice until I mentioned it. The mascara makes them look natural, but darkens my lashes. I have the shade Very Black.
Some time after the 4th hour mark, the mascara had transferred onto my eyelid. Hopefully, if you get the waterproof version, it won’t do that.
Weirdly enough, I was wearing this on a different day during Black Friday weekend. I was at the mall most of the day, I got hot and sweaty from wearing my coat and it was raining (spitting, not heavy downpour), my mascara didn’t smudge at all.
RATING: 4/5
I would prefer if the wand was a bit more tapered so I could get the inner corners of my eyes a bit better. So, I don’t think this is my new, absolute fave mascara, but it definitely goes into the top 5 drugstore mascaras I’ve tried.
I definitely prefer this mascara over the CoverGirl Total Tease (read my review).
If you have any drugstore mascara recommendations, I’d love to hear them! I’ve already tried the L’Oréal Lash Paradise one, and it’s not one of my faves.
Today, I’m going to be taking a look at my expenses from last year. So, it’s going to get a little analytical and I have pie charts!! Earlier THIS year, I went through my receipts and I started an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my beauty purchases.
As you may have read before, I have an allowance of $25/month to spend on products to review for my blog. This allowance started this year. I didn’t really have an allowance last year. I think it’s a reasonable amount since I can buy 2-3, maybe even 4 products from the drugstore. I prefer doing drugstore products because it’s more accessible (financially) for everyone. The higher end products that I have reviewed are mostly products that I wanted to try myself, i.e. Lancome Skin Feels Good Foundation, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation stick, etc.
With my receipts and some guessing, I logged all of my makeup, skincare and hair purchases from last year and this year. For some products, I just rounded up to the nearest 0 or 5. So, my total 2017 expense could be lower than what I actually recorded.
In the excel sheet, I am only including makeup, makeup tools (brushes, sponges), skincare for my face and extra hair products (like masks and styling sprays).
I did NOT include things like soap, body wash, toothpaste, mouthwash, body cream, cost for hair cuts, eyebrow waxing, manicures, etc. I didn’t include essentials like bathroom essentials because those are necessary for good hygiene. I didn’t include things like hair cuts, waxing or manicures because I don’t do them often enough to need to track them. For hair cuts, I get one once a year (if that) and I haven’t gotten a manicure since last year for my sister’s wedding reception in Toronto because I mostly get my nails done for special occasions only.
In 2017, I spent a little over $1900 on makeup items and skincare. I am going to round it up to $2000 because there could be products I missed in my tracker or maybe I underestimated a price of something.
I’m pretty proud that I haven’t spent that much on a single item. My most expensive individual items are about $50. My 6 most expensive purchases were:
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation Kit – around $80
You receive the foundation, primer and a foundation brush
Foundation retails for $52
Tory Burch Eau de Parfum kit (had a full-sized perfume, a mini perfume and a bottle of hand cream) – $80 (at MAC Warehouse Sale)
Sephora Brush Kit (3 brushes) – $60
Laneige Water Bank Serum – $46
I gave it to my sister, because my skin reacted to it
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Redness Correcting) – $45
Tarte Bronze & Glow Double-Ended Contour Brush – $41
I have no idea why I paid full price for this when I could’ve waited for a sale!!
I was going to do my top 5 most expensive items, but I wanted to add the Tarte brush to mention how dumb it was to pay full price for a brush.
I split up the costs to see how much was spent on makeup and how much spent on skincare.
I spent about $450 on skincare, $250 on makeup tools (brushes, sponges, makeup wipes), which means I spent about $1300 on makeup. If you’ve read my MAC Warehouse Sale haul, you’ll know I spent almost $400 in September and then I went again in December and spent about $200, I think. So, almost half of my makeup expenses were from the MAC Warehouse Sale. I’ve decluttered quite a few of the products I bought at the sale because I just went so crazy buying lipsticks and I came home and realized the shades weren’t the same as when I swatched them. I’ve learned my lesson since then…the swatches will look very different from the actual shade because it’s hot in the warehouse and tons of people are touching them. Most of the shades looked more sheer when I swatched them. I bought a lot of shades that were too coral for me. Luckily, I could Back to MAC the lipstick tubes to get a full sized one (after returning 6 empties).
I bought 135 items in 2017. Only 29 of those purchases were (21%) planned purchases. After seeing this, I was shocked. When I say ‘planned purchases,’ I mean it was something I had wanted for a while and actually read reviews on it. That means the other 79% of my purchases were impulse buys where I was at the drugstore/Winners/MAC Warehouse Sale and decided, “I’m going to get this.”
Here’s a breakdown of where I bought the products:
It’s really interesting and eye-opening to track your beauty purchases. I know I can definitely cut down on the impulse buys. The makeup goals I set for myself have helped me a lot. When I was adding things to my cart for the Sephora sales, I went through and reviewed the products asking myself, “Do I really need this?” and “Let’s check out the reviews for this.”
Today, I’m reviewing the Kopari deodorant. I was previously using Lady Speed Stick ones from the drugstore, but I wanted to start using a deodorant without aluminum. I decided to try out this Kopari one.
The clean, non-toxic deodorant that really works! This aluminum and baking soda-free deodorant works with your body’s natural functions to aid in odor reduction. This invisible formula glides on smooth and will outlast your longest days. It’s guaranteed to leave you smelling like fresh coconut milk.
No Aluminum. No Baking Soda. No Parabens. No Silicone. No Phthalates. No Kidding.
I don’t do super rigorous workouts, so this deodorant works for me. I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty. I’m interested to see how well this deodorant performs in hot summer weather. I will definitely try it out when the weather gets warm again.
RATING: 3/5
At $18 CAD, it’s pricey for a deodorant, especially when I’m used to paying about $5 at the drugstore. If you stock up during a sale, it’s a little more reasonable. I do want to try other natural deodorants out there, but I really like this one and would definitely buy it again (during a sale). I’ve gotten a few recommendations from fellow beauty lovers and I’m interested in trying those brands once I finish this one.
Today, I am reviewing a few Saturday Skin products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I got the No Bad Days kit ($48 CAD) that includes 4 travel-sized products:
Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
I’ve seen this brand on Instagram and I wanted to try it. I love the pink packaging that they use. Although, it can be quite tricky to photograph without washing out the pink or making the SATURDAY SKIN labels illegible.
Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
Hit refresh. Concentrated extracts of kiwi and grape quench and nourish, drenching skin in a veil of moisture.
RATING: 4/5
It’s a 2-in-1 product – a toner and an essence. I like that it’s not scented. With the travel-sized bottle, it disperses the liquid so well that you could spray your whole face in one spritz. Originally, when I saw the price for the full-sized bottle, I thought it was expensive, but it’s almost the same as MAC Fix+ or the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist. It even comes in a larger bottle than those two mists.
Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
Brighten up. Date Seed extract illuminates and refreshes the area around the eyes.
RATING: 4/5
I like the consistency of this eye cream and I like that it doesn’t smell like anything. It feels a little bit tacky after you’ve applied it, but it’s not as bad as another eye cream I tried once. My under eye area can get dry sometimes and this has helped to keep them smooth.
This lightweight formula still packs a punch. Avocado protein extract strengthens skin’s own moisture barrier, sealing in hydration to protect and soften skin.
DERMATOLOGIST TESTED. NO PARABENS, SULFATES, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE OR SYNTHETIC COLOR.
RATING: 3/5
I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my face feel greasy or tacky. I don’t like the smell of this cream; it’s not scented, but it has this plastic smell. I don’t know if it’s from the tub it comes in or if it’s the product itself. I’ve seen other reviews that mention the smell, so it’s not just me.
Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel
Start over by gently rubbing dullness away. Natural cellulose lifts impurities from the skin and aloe extract soothes skin. Packed with papaya and bromelain (pineapple) to help remove impurities.
RATING: 4/5
This product made my face feel nice and smooth. While I did like it, there are similar products on the market that are cheaper. I prefer to spend more on skincare products that stay on my face. Since this product is a peel, I’d rather save some money.
I’m glad I got this kit to try a handful of Saturday Skin products. Although if I had bought the individual items, I’d be able to return them easily. I’m not sure how it works with returning a kit…are you even allowed to return kits?
Since this is a first impressions review, I will continue to use these products and update you on any changes. Based on my initial thoughts, I would repurchase 2 products from this kit: the Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist.
Have you tried Saturday Skin products? What were your thoughts on them?
