I received Vichy’s Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion complimentary of GlamSense and thought I’d write a review on the blog. I’ve never tried any Vichy products before so I was excited to try it.
VICHY introduces its first dry touch, facial sun protection, with a unique powdery texture that mattifies skin, even in the most humid conditions. Long lasting anti-shine effect. 80 minutes water & sweat resistance. Dry touch lotion formulated for an active lifestyle and outdoor activities. Apply generously and evenly, on face, 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every 2 hours, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying.
I was really impressed by this lotion, I love that it dried fast and didn’t feel tacky or oily. The consistency isn’t too thick (it’s like a moisturizer). It went well under my liquid foundation. It smells faintly like sunscreen, but it’s not overpowering like other sunscreens out there. I give it two thumbs up!
RATING: 4/5
It’s quite expensive for a facial sunscreen, but you should always protect your face with SPF and I’m guessing face sunscreen is formulated so that it can go well under makeup and not look too greasy. I’ve tried Neutrogena’s which is half the price, I’ll compare the two in a This or That post.
Have you tried Vichy products? What sunscreens do you use on your face?
I was sent a complimentary tube of the Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer from Chick Advisor. I thought it’d be a good idea to review it on the blog too since the brand is new to Canada. A full-size bottle retails for $32 CAD (the one Chick Advisor sent is half the size of a full-size).
Creates an even, luminous base for make-up application. The untinted formula blends seamlessly into the skin, restoring freshness and helping fight visible signs of ageing, while helping to extend make-up wear and disguising skin imperfections. The primer is composed of active natural ingredients, including the native Australian Kakadu Plum, known for its abundant Vitamin C content, rich antioxidants Vitamins A and E, and Green Tea.
It does have a scent- it kind of smells like candy. From what I remember, it smells like Chiclets gum. After you apply it and start applying foundation and your other products, the smell does go away. Since it’s silicone-free, it looks like a moisturizer- it comes out of the bottle white and then blends beautifully into the skin for a smooth finish.
I wore it for about seven hours and I had also been testing the Lancome Skin Tint Foundation. After about four or five hours, my t-zone started to get oily and you could tell that the makeup had broken up on my chin and on/around my nose. So I don’t really think it extended my makeup’s wear time. It’s the same as any other higher end primer.
RATING: 3/5
The primer itself is okay, so I’m going to give it 3/5. Before putting on foundation, my skin felt smooth and then when I put on the foundation, my foundation blended into my skin beautifully. Personally, I don’t think I will be picking up the full-size because the smell is too sweet. I really want to try Nude by Nature’s Radiant Loose Powder Foundation and maybe some of the other products.
Today, I’m reviewing and swatching the Stila All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten. I picked it up from Winners a while back and I was so excited because I’ve never tried any Stila products.
All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten
Introducing a gorgeous all over shimmer powder with Kitten and a pale iridescent pink. This multi-purpose powder instantly enhances the complexion with a fresh, radiant glow.
Inspired by light, Stila’s All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten creates a luminous, youthful glow. Packaged in a convenient compact with mirror, this powder can be used as an eye shadow, highlighter, cheek color and décolleté.
I use the light one as highlight and the dark one for my eyes. It’s a pretty pop of colour for the inner corners of the eyes, but I don’t use it on the lids. For me, it’s not the right colour for a blush and the darker shade is too bronze for highlight for me.
RATING: 4/5
It was great for the price (less than $15, I believe), but I don’t think I would’ve paid the full price for it. I have swatched Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighters though, and they are absolutely gorgeous. I would buy those at full price because they come in a pretty package and bigger pans.
A while back, I bought a silicone spatula that helps you get every last drop of your makeup products. I got the Every Drop Beauty Spatula on Amazon. When I got it, it was $11, now it’s $13.
It’s been amazing for getting ‘every last drop’ because it’s silicone, it scrapes the sides of the bottle well. I remember the first time I used a silicone spatula when I was baking and I was like OMG, I can make another cupcake with all of the batter I scraped off. Well, similar to baking, the spatula can probably get one or two more uses out of your products. Unfortunately some bottles just aren’t shaped right to get all of it, there’s only so much you get angle the spatula to get the top part. It was easy to scrape off the Maybelline Fit Me foundation, but I could only go half way up on the NARS Sheer Glow foundation bottle.
Couldn’t reach a few spots, but look how clean!!
The triangular shape of the spatula is great for getting the top of a bottle. They also sell one that’s shaped like a scalpel (for $9), but that’s better for lip gloss or concealer tubes. The other end of the spatula is like a bulb, either can be used to mix any makeup product.
UPDATE: I was trying to get the last bit from a concealer tube and the plastic stopper was being stubborn and wouldn’t come off. I put the spatula in because similar to an arrow, it’s fine going in, but pulling it out, it catches on the sides. The silicone part came off the stick and now I no longer have the spatula any more. So, if you plan to purchase this, make sure the plastic stopper of your tubes can come off easily before sticking it into the tube.
RATING: 4/5
Although the price has gone up, I would definitely recommend getting one. You’ll save some money in the long run by scraping off that last little bit of your high-end foundation or concealer.
I finally got the chance to go to Miniso Canada the other day and I picked up a few things. I got a blush, two lipsticks and an eyeshadow pen.
I got the Flawless Baked Blusher in 02 Rosy Pink for $2.99! It was Made in Taiwan, but that’s okay since I probably won’t be using this every day and I mean, $2.99?? Check out my blog post: Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?
Flawless Baked Blusher in 02 Rosy Pink
Richly pigmented and highly buildable, the beautiful matte and shimmery shades of baked blusher are the perfect cheeky pop of colour for every skin tone.
RATING: 5/5
If you’re a regular reader, you may have noticed that I rarely give ratings of 5/5. This is a beautiful, subtle pink and it was such an amazing price, so it gets two thumbs up and a 5/5 from me! They also had a baked bronzer that was beautiful too, but it wasn’t matte. It could probably make a really pretty eyeshadow though!
Magic Eyeshadow Pen in 01 Shimmer Brown – I got the eyeshadow pen for $4.99. At the store, the tester was much more pigmented.
It’s really interesting because the sponge applicator is just an applicator and it dips into a pot that’s in the lid. It has a spring action so you pump the shadow onto the sponge applicator. It’s a bit disappointing because you don’t get a lot of product. Other eyeshadow pens that you sharpen or twist up give you a lot more product.
I tried dipping a brush into it. It’s like a really small pot of cream eyeshadow. A very small concealer brush or an eyeliner brush works. It looks great as an eyeliner.
You could probably use this as a highlight too. The sponge applicator gives a very subtle swipe of the product and you can blend it out with a brush.
As you can tell from the swatch on the left, the sponge may have absorbed too much or I didn’t pump it long enough to pick up a good amount of product and the swatch is very subtle. On the right swatch, I used an eyeliner brush which was much more pigmented. So, depending on the look you’re going for, you can use the sponge on your eyelids and then line your waterline with a brush.
Obviously, the staying power isn’t amazing because it’s a name brand. It easily smudged off my hand, so I don’t have high hopes for when I use it on the eyes. Hopefully using a primer underneath and setting it with some powder on top will help.
RATING: 3/5
Since you don’t get a lot of product for $4.99, I’m going to have to give this a 3/5. Also, the fact that it’s a sponge applicator turns me off because you have to constantly clean it to prevent bacteria and especially since this is an eye product, you have to be even more cautious. I don’t think I would repurchase this, but it was cool to try out!
Colour Revival Lipstick in 02 Sakura Pink – For the lipsticks, one is more like a light pink tinted balm and the other is more full coverage. Both have no scent.
Colour Revival Lipstick in 02 Sakura Pink for $2.99. This is interesting because you click the bottom to get more (like a YSL Touche Éclat pen). The only problem is that you have to be careful not to click it too much because you can’t push it back down.
High-pigmented formula. Moisturizing and long-lasting. Enhance the lips and bring out their natural colour. Leaves lips fresh, full and radiant.
It starts off as a sheer pink colour, but as I was wearing it, it started to get brighter and tinted my lips to a Barbie pink. Even after taking it off with a makeup wipe, my lips were reddish-pink. I can’t imagine what the darker shades do since this was the lightest one I saw at the store.
RATING: 2/5
Silky Soft Lipstick in 05 Berry Red
This lipstick you twist the bottom to get more. It’s a nice tube because it’s black and quilted- it sort of looks like a nice pen. It does have the feel of a matte lipstick. When you first apply it, it has a satin finish, but then as you wear it, it has a matte finish. It’s definitely not transfer proof.
Effortless application. Matte texture and lightweight feel. Formula with Vitamin E to prevent colour fading or smudging. Deeply nourishes and moisturizes lips.
RATING: 3.5/5
This one gets a higher rating because it didn’t stain my lips like the other one.
Here are swatches of the two lipsticks.
Top: Sakura Pink, Bottom: Berry Red
They’re both very pretty shades, but I think I’d rather pay a bit more for a drugstore brand. The problem with lipsticks from Asian brands is that they rarely have a nude lipstick, usually they have lip tints or lipsticks that are pink, coral or orange-red. I prefer nudes and nude-pinks instead of bright pinks.
I’ve previously reviewed the Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick from The Body Shop. Since the stick comes in such a small tube, I wanted to try something that I could use in my everyday skincare routine and I chose the daily solution. I decided to go with the daily solution instead of the cleansers because then the solution can soak into my skin throughout the day. It has the same smell as the blemish stick; kind of medicinal and a bit strong, but I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve been using it every night and in the mornings when I’m not leaving the house. I think the scent is quite strong and I don’t want my face smelling like medicine when I go out. After it has time to soak in, my face feels incredibly soft and not at all tacky like some facial products I use.
It comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. I usually drop the solution onto my fingers and then pat onto my face. The consistency is like a toner.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution
A lightweight, pre-serum concentrate that combats blemishes and improves the overall condition of your skin. After 4 weeks, skin looks and feels: purified, clearer, smoother, healthier, clarified, mattified and soothed, with reduced redness and imperfections.
Can be used as a serum for oily skin types
Gentle enough for daily use
Pairs perfectly with our Tea Tree 3-IN-1 Wash Scrub Mask & Tea Tree Oil
Enriched with Community Trade Organic Tea Tree Oil from Kenya
RATING: 5/5
The smell is a bit medicinal, but it has been working wonders for my acne-prone skin. It gets two thumbs up from me!
UPDATE: I was using it everyday until it ran out and my face was relatively clear, although it was a bit dry because I wasn’t mixing it with anything else.
I got a little sample size from a LUXEBOX that I had forgotten about until recently. I was trying out a hair colour thing that comes out after a few days which I got from Winners. It made my hair look super dry and a bit gummy from the residual product (my hair looks awful). I won’t bother writing a review on the wash-out hair colour because it’s been discontinued, but it was the Garnier Colour Styler. Hair oil is supposed to help remove the colour and I thought it would help repair the dryness.
I tried the serum and it smells good, made my hair feel softer and look shiny (and not like an oily shine, it’s a healthy shine). I was originally unsure of using a hair oil/serum because I thought it’d just make me feel greasy. For this reason, I didn’t touch the roots of my hair, I started half way down and concentrated the oil on the tips.
Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil
Combines oil’s nourishing power with serum’s restorative qualities Regenerates properties of healthy hair Unique formulation delivers strength and manageability with every use Brings softness and shine to hair that’s been weakened by damage Fights split ends and breakage Suitable for even extremely damaged hair
RATING: 4/5
I don’t think I’d purchase the full-size bottle because my hair isn’t terribly damaged. I think a good hair mask and conditioner will do the trick for me., but if you have damaged hair and want to purchase a drugstore brand hair oil/serum, this is a great choice.
Today, I’m reviewing a L’Oréal BB Cream that corrects redness. Like The Body Shop BB Cream, it adjusts the colour to match your skin tone. My mom uses this in her everyday makeup to get rid of redness on her cheeks. Check out my post for her everyday makeup! I used it for a bit, but I wasn’t crazy about the smell and since I would use it around my nose, I could smell it all day. It smells kind of like plastic. It’s a great colour corrector though, so if you’re not sensitive to smell or if you don’t put it near your nose, you should be good.
Our Magic Anti-Redness BB cream is formulated with Beautifying Beads, encapsulated, color-transforming pigments that counteract redness. This multi-tasking, ultra-light lotion delivers 4 beautifying actions in 1: neutralizes the look of redness, evens skin tone, hydrates and perfects. It instantly transforms to your perfect shade for a flawless, bare skin finish.
A little goes a long way- as you can see from the pea-sized dot, it covers my hand, so if you only have a bit of redness, I suggest a dab of it. It’s quite liquid (similar to the Body Shop BB Cream), the consistency is like a serum.
RATING: 4/5
It’s great if you have light to medium skin, but I don’t know how well it would do with fair and darker skin tones.
I was contacted by REMAY, a company that sells shave gel bars. Their mission is to ‘make shaving quicker and more enjoyable.’ They designed a shave gel bar that easily glides on your skin by adding water. It says you can use it on your legs, under arms, bikini area, head and face. You wet the gel with warm water and it will create a “translucent micro-barrier to protect your skin from the razor.” It’s Made in Canada too which is a plus for me.
Shave Gel Bars
Protects the skin from nicks, bumps and razor burn
Allows for a quick application with no mess
Contains real coconut and tea-tree oil
Paraben-free and sulfate-free
Vegan and cruelty-free
Works with any 3, 4 or 5 blade razor
RATING: 4/5
It made my skin feel incredibly smooth and it smells really nice (like coconut). It’s like a bar version of those strips that come on fancier razors that help to protect your skin. It’s great because it’s travel-friendly and more eco-friendly compared to shaving creams that come in cans. It is a bit expensive, but if it prevents nicks, bumps and razor burn, I think it’s worth it. They gave me a discount code for my lovely readers. Use code JEN20 to get 20% off your order!
Today, I’ll be reviewing a Tarte mascara that I got in a rewards set from Sephora. It’s the Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. When I first opened it up, I knew right away that I would like the brush. I think I’ve mentioned that I don’t buy high-end mascaras because I prefer to splurge on primer and foundation instead of spending $30 on a mascara. I always get the deluxe samples from Sephora for high-end mascaras and then keep the wand if I like the brush. I will definitely be keeping this brush after I’ve finished the tube.
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – The mascara made my lashes longer and it gives a natural, non-clumpy look. It’s great for an everyday makeup look. It’s definitely not waterproof.
Boosts thickness, length, & curl with a blend of antioxidants & conditioners while Amazonian clay replenishes without making lashes feel crunchy or heavy. The formula delivers soft, weightless volume while it nourishes for stronger & healthier lashes.
RATING: 4/5
Even though I really like this mascara, it gets a 4/5 because of the price. There are so many drugstore mascaras that are a fraction of the price.
I’ve always seen 3-step fiber mascaras and one of my friends bought one off Amazon and her lashes looked amazing, so I thought I’d try it out myself. I’ve seen the fiber mascaras at the drugstore, I got mine from Amazon, but it’s no longer available. For unknown reasons, it’s no longer available on the brand’s website either. Most 3-step fiber mascaras retail for $15-20 CAD. I’ve seen one on sale at Rexall or Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.
In this post, I will be sharing my thoughts on whether 3-step mascaras in general are worth it, I won’t be reviewing the specific brand or mascara that I bought because let’s be honest, they’re all kind of the same- there aren’t any name brands that have 3-step mascaras out there.
Sealing Gel- Steps 1 & 3, Natural Fibers- Step 2
Step 1- Curl lashes and apply generous amount of the mascara
Step 2- Immediately apply natural fibers to lashes
Step 3- finish with a second coat of the mascara to seal the fibers to your lashes
For best results, do one eye at a time to prevent Step 1 from drying before fiber application.
To remove the mascara, you just use warm water and it comes off easily. Make sure not to open your eye until it’s completely off because the fibers can get into your eye.
RATING: 4/5
It does make my lashes look longer and fuller. To be honest, the sealing gel by itself makes my lashes longer. For me, I just think it takes too much time to do the 3 steps and I could do the same with a regular mascara or a fiber mascara like the Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara (read my review). Also, I don’t like how you use the sealant after using the fibers because then the natural fibers get into the other tube.
I got the Sheer Mattifying Compact Foundation refill from Winners for $8.99 and OMG, it’s amazing!! I got B60 Natural Deep Beige.
It’s long-lasting, buildable and has a natural matte finish. I wore it for almost 12 hours and only had to touch up once because I was getting a bit shiny on my t-zone. I would assume that it’s good for oily skin since it’s a mattifying foundation. It didn’t look dry or break up around my nose which is always a problem with powders for me and sometimes even liquid foundations.
Unfortunately, Shiseido has discontinued the Sheer Mattifying powder and they’re only selling what’s left in stock on their website. Although they don’t have an exact replacement, the Powdery Foundation is an alternative. If it’s anything like this powder, I definitely want to try it!
RATING: 5/5
I hope they don’t discontinue the powdery foundation once I get my hands on it!
Back when H&M first came out with makeup, I bought a contour powder palette and a BB cream because I wanted to try their makeup. I think I bought a shade that was too dark for the BB cream, but the powder was pretty good. I think it was $14.99 for the contour palette, and about the same for the BB cream. The contour palette had four shades (2 light, 2 dark) and the bb cream had a selection of 2-3 shades. Since then, H&M has come out with a lot more makeup: foundations, eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliners, nail polish, etc.
I bought the shimmery shades of eyeshadow because I have so many browns and taupes already and I wanted to get some more shimmery ones. The shadows are soft and buttery. I got the shades Paradise Lost (rose gold) and Over the Moon (silver). These are kind of glittery, it’s very easy to get it all over your face and might take a few swipes to remove it with your makeup remover. It reminds me of a pressed version of MAC pigments because of how much can fall onto your cheeks. If you use these, I would definitely suggest doing your eyes before foundation because you can wipe it off if it gets on your cheeks. I swatched the matte shades and those were beautiful and velvety too. The best way to apply is with your fingers.
The highlighter powder is a baked highlighter and it’s beautiful, but it is a bit powdery if you swatch with your fingers. Also, the swatch doesn’t look as pigmented as the eyeshadows, but in person, it’s a nice peachy pink highlight. It might seem expensive for a non-designer brand, but it’s huge and since it’s baked, there’s even more than what you’d get in a regular pressed highlighter. Since it is a bit powdery, I think the best way to apply is with a fan brush and lightly swipe your brush, don’t swirl your brush or the product will get all over your desk.
Spotlight Glow Powder Sheer Coverage Radiant Shimmer in Sumptuous Peach
Infinite Impact Eye Colour in Paradise Lost & Over the Moon
RATING: 4.5/5
I think the shimmery eyeshadow shades I bought will be pretty for a party or night out and I would definitely use the highlighter for every day makeup to give a pretty peachy glow.
Have you tried H&M makeup products? What are your faves?
Lately, I’ve been frequenting Winners because they have name brand products for really good prices. Sure, the products might be discontinued and older, but they’re still good. A lot of people open up the packages to see what the shades look like (I’m guilty of this), but I don’t swatch them like some people do. I’ve seen eyeshadows, blushes and powders with a finger smudge in them…gross! As a rule, I don’t buy anything that’s liquid (mascara, lip gloss, liquid lipstick, etc.) because you don’t know if people have tried them on. The only time I will buy any liquid products is if it’s clearly packaged up in plastic or if it’s in a security container (the higher end products are stored in these to prevent people from opening up the boxes). I haven’t found any shades that I like for lipsticks, but I would only buy if it’s untouched. I’ve seen some really high end brands for $10-20- Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, etc.
I picked up several things during my last shopping trip, but today’s review is on The Balm’s Batter Up Eyeshadow sticks. I picked up a 2-pack at Winners for $9.99! The shades are Dugout and Shutout. According to The Balm’s website, they go for $17 each and I’m guessing that’s in USD, not CAD.
Introducing Batter Up, the long-wearing cream shadow sticks from theBalm Cosmetics! These high-pigment shadow and base multi-taskers come in eight blendable and buildable shades.
Dugout is a metallic brown shade while Shutout is a gold shade (both are shimmery). Both the shades are beautiful on their own, but I like them together too. I’ve tried them doing gradient looks where Shutout is on the inner corner and Dugout on outer and Dugout smudged along my lashline and Shutout above. They glide easily and they’re very blendable.
I was wearing both shades yesterday. I used the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer, then used powder to set the primer. I applied Dugout along my lashline and blended with my fingers, then applied Shutout above it and blended that with my fingers. It created a very nice gradient look. I was wearing them for about 8 hours and the shadow didn’t crease at all.
Below are swatches of Dugout and Shutout swatched straight from stick, and then the bottom swatches are Dugout and Shutout applied from stick and then blended with a brush. I didn’t use an eyeshadow primer/base under the swatches. As you can see, Dugout is a brown shade, but when blended, its a bronze shade. Shutout is a gold shade, but when blended, it’s like a champagne shade.
RATING: 4/5
I really like these and they are so beautiful. It’s like each stick gives you a 2-in-1 shadow because you can apply directly without blending or achieve a lighter eye look by smudging them out.
I hope everyone has a great long weekend!
Have you tried cream shadow sticks? What are your fave brands?
I love using micellar water to remove my makeup, you may have seen my post: Pros and Cons to Different Types of Makeup Removers. Micellar water is very gentle and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. When I was at Winners, I bought a few things and this was one of them. So, I wanted to see if micellar gelee worked as well or better than micellar water. I got it for $6.99 at Winners, but it retails for $16.49 at Rexall.
The micellar gelee doesn’t have a scent and the consistency is similar to spectro gel (just a tad more fluid). I would compare the gelee to a morph of micellar water and cleansing balm. Like a cleansing balm, you need to be in a bathroom or somewhere with access to water because it removes the makeup, but you need water or a face cloth to wipe off the dissolved makeup and you need to rinse your face after. It’s similar to micellar water because it’s not oily and if you accidentally get some in your eye, it won’t cloud your vision.
Ensures an ultra efficient makeup removal experience without irritations.
I tried several different ways to remove my makeup with the gelee: cotton pad, fingers, and face cloth. If you pour a small pea-sized amount, it takes off your eye makeup well, but you need to wash your hands because they get a bit sticky from the gelee. I tried the micellar gelee using my hands (like I do with cleansing balms), but you need water to rinse off the makeup. I don’t know about you, but when I need to wash my face at my bathroom sink, the water runs down my arms and gets all over the place. I tried using a face cloth and poured some gelee onto it; it easily wiped off the makeup without getting water all over the sink. I think using a face cloth or makeup remover cloth is the best way to use the gelee. The micellar gelee plus a makeup remover cloth will ensure all of your eye makeup is removed- I don’t know about you, but sometimes a makeup remover cloth doesn’t always get all of my eye makeup off.
RATING: 4/5
If you like cleansing balms, but hate when it accidentally gets in your eye and makes your vision cloudy, micellar gelee is a great alternative and it’s cheaper too. Personally, I think I still prefer micellar water as my main method of makeup removal. This was an interesting product to try, but it’s more expensive than micellar water and you get less product.
What do you use to remove your makeup? Have you tried micellar gelee?
Unfortunately, Shiseido has discontinued the Sheer Mattifying powder and they’re only selling what’s left in stock on their website. Although they don’t have an exact replacement, the Powdery Foundation is an alternative. If it’s anything like this powder, I definitely want to try it!
