Beauty Archives – Page 16 of 16

Worth It? | Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer

July 6, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I realized that all of my beauty reviews so far have been of products that I like and recommend, so I thought I should start doing reviews of some of the products that I don’t like. I first heard of lash primer last year and thought I’d give it a try. I love Tarte products, but I think I just don’t like lash primer in general (it could be the best quality lash primer out there and I still don’t like it).

Tarte’s Opening Act Lash Primer came with a travel sized Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara (which I like). To begin with, I have dark lashes that are fairly full (they are somewhere in the middle- they’re not sparse, but they’re not super thick and luscious either). The lash primer goes on white and then you apply your mascara on top.

I like my everyday mascara to look natural and give a bit of length and volume. I curled my lashes and tried one eye with the lash primer and the other eye without. Then I applied my mascara to see how the two compared. The lash primer is pretty thick and even when I take off the excess product on the side of the tube, it goes on pretty thick.

The primer is supposed to prep, volumize, lengthen, separate, curl, and condition lashes. I did find that the primer lengthened my lashes, but it didn’t separate my lashes. They just ended up looking clumpy and unnatural after one coat of primer and one coat of mascara. I ended up having to use a clean mascara brush to comb out the clumps to make my lashes look good. The primer also makes my lashes feel really heavy and stick together. If you have sparse lashes, I would recommend this for you, but in my opinion, I would rather prime my lashes with some clear mascara or just do a few coats of a regular mascara. The lash primer is an extra step that I can do without on an everyday basis. Plus, if you have a good mascara, it should lengthen and volumize without the need for a lash primer. If I want dramatic lashes for a night out, I’d rather put on some false lashes.

After finishing the tube, I cleaned and kept the wand. Sometimes you buy a mascara where you don’t like the wand, but the mascara itself is good. So for the wands that I like the brush, I keep the wands after finishing the tubes.

RATING: 1/5

I give it a 1/5 because it made my lashes feel so heavy that I felt lightheaded whenever I wore it and it just made my mascara look clumpy.

What are your thoughts on lash primers?

Love,

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Review | Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner

July 4, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend!

I’ve been meaning to write a review for Maybelline’s Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner, but haven’t gotten around to it. I bought it a while ago and here’s my review.

Master Precise Curvy liquid eyeliner with an innovative grip and patent pending curve hugging tip. Now, you control the curve! This liquid eyeliner features an easy grip pen to provide the ultimate control in application. Maybelline’s patent pending tip, hugs lids for a seamless curvy line.

I’ve been using this liquid liner for a while now and I have to say that it’s a great liquid liner to use when you are just starting to learn how to do a winged liner look or cat eye. The tip allows you to create a sharp winged look. At first, I had a bit of trouble holding the tube because it’s fatter than a regular liquid liner pen (similar to a highlighter).

I used to find that a lot of gel and liquid liners would make my eyes feel sticky, but this one isn’t sticky at all! It’s definitely not waterproof, it easily wipes away with micellar water if you need to fix your wing.

RATING: 3/5

I give it a 3/5 because the pen takes some getting used to because it’s fatter than a normal pen and sometimes your liner can go on too thick, but the formula is good and the tip allows you to do a flick. If you’re looking for a super sharp wing, this isn’t the best eyeliner pen to use, but it’s good for learning how to get that flick. I think I will try another Maybelline liquid liner just to see if the pen is really making a difference in my winged eyeliner/cat eye looks.

Read my ‘This or That’ post comparing this eyeliner with Milani’s Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner.

Anyone have any recommendations on drug store liquid liners?

Love,

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Review | Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara

June 23, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I received a complimentary VoxBox from Influenster Canada with the Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara in Blackened Brown (803)!

I prefer using the darkest shade of mascara that they offer. So I would get the black or blackest black mascara from this line. A few times when I looked in the mirror, it almost looked like I had powder on my lashes or in certain lighting, my lashes looked gray because the blackened brown shade is too light for me. This is my first time using a Revlon mascara, but right away I liked the fact that it wasn’t a silicone brush and I liked the shapes of the mascara tube and the brush.

The mascara tube is sort of almond shaped, so it’s easy to open (unlike the round ones which can be hard to grip). The top part with the wand is shiny while the bottom part is a matte black and feels a bit textured.

My lashes look natural and there are no clumps. I like slightly tapered brushes that aren’t silicone for my top lashes. This is a great brush and I would definitely keep it to apply other mascaras. Since this is a (fiber) mascara that coats your lashes with tubes, I can definitely feel that there is something on my lashes.

I prefer non-fiber mascaras for my everyday makeup look, but the fiber ones are good for some extra oomph for a night out.

Are the claims true? Let’s see!

Flake-free? I ran my finger along my lashes and no flakes or residue on my finger! (It does flake if you rub your eye, but if unprovoked, it shouldn’t flake just from blinking)

Smudge-proof? I rubbed my eye and nothing smudged, although a few fiber flakes came off on my finger.

Water Resistant? It doesn’t claim to be waterproof, but if you get caught outside when it starts raining lightly, you should be okay. As long as it’s dry, it won’t smudge if you use a setting spray. I splashed some cold water on my face and squeezed my eyes shut to see if any mascara would come off, it didn’t smudge. I splashed some more on my face and this time it smudged a bit, but easily came off with a qtip.

Removes easily with warm water? No eye makeup remover needed! Using warm water, it came off with little effort and unlike other mascaras, I didn’t get raccoon eyes trying to wash it off. I would avoid hot tubs or anywhere with steam.

Plump and extend lashes for mega volume and extreme length? My lashes aren’t very long to begin with, but I can definitely tell that this mascara has added length and volume. Would I say MEGA volume and EXTREME length? No, but it’s definitely noticeable (the only way I will have long enough lashes to be noticeable in pics is if I wear false lashes).

RATING: 5/5

I give it a perfect score because it’s easy to take off and I love the brush. I just need to buy the darkest shade and I will love it even more!

Thoughts: I really like this mascara! I like that it doesn’t flake and that you don’t need to use makeup remover to get it all off (I hate when I thought I took off all of my mascara and then after a shower, I find that I have raccoon eyes!)

I always like to have a mix of high-end and drugstore products. I prefer to spend more on the skincare products like primers, moisturizers, toners, foundations and concealers. Since mascara can dry out fairly quickly and you’re not supposed to keep them for too long, I prefer to buy drugstore brands for mascaras. I tend to like drugstore brand mascara more anyways and this way I can buy a few for the same price as one designer brand. I only have high end mascaras because they were deluxe samples or a birthday present. Two of my favourite mascara brands are Maybelline and L’Oreal and it looks like I’ve just added Revlon to the mix!

What are your fave brands of mascara? Do you prefer high-end or drugstore brand mascaras?

Thanks to Influenster Canada for sending me this Revlon VoxBox!

Have a great weekend!

Love,

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Review | CoverGirl Total Tease Mascara & Katy Kat Eyeliner

April 10, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I received a complimentary VoxBox from Influenster Canada which had CoverGirl’s Total Tease Mascara in Very Black and CoverGirl’s Katy Kat Eyeliner in Kitty Katdabra (KP04- black shimmer). I wore the mascara and eyeliner for a little over 8 hours yesterday and here’s my review of both products:

I’ve tried the mascara twice now and I quite like it. The mascara tube is nice and big, it has ridges at the top, so it’s easy to open. The mascara comes with a silicone brush and has a tip at the end of the wand that you use to define your lashes even more. The Total Tease mascara makes my lashes feel natural (not stiff like some mascaras I’ve tried). It’s like I’m not wearing anything on them. The first time I tried the mascara, it was a bit clumpy, but that was my mistake. It was easily remedied by using a clean brush to comb out the clumps. My lashes still look natural, but just with an extra bit of oomph, especially for my bottom lashes. My bottom lashes aren’t super dark, but with the mascara, they were definitely more noticeable. For me, I prefer non-silicone brushes for my top lashes and silicone brush mascaras for my bottom lashes. I will give an exception for mascaras that I really like and would recommend…Total Tease is one of these. The Total Tease adds length and volume while looking natural.

Now, onto the Katy Kat Eyeliner in Kitty Katdabra. I can’t find the shade on the CoverGirl website, I don’t think it has been released yet. The Kitty Katdabra is a black liner with a bit of shimmer. It claims to be a high pigment formula with effortless application and lasts 8 hours. All three claims definitely held up for me. I wore it from 2pm to around 10pm yesterday. It is a pencil liner with a rubber smudge tip (I’m used to a foam smudge tip, so trying a rubber one was interesting). The liner glides on easily and helped create a smokey and slightly shimmery look that would be great for a night out. I did a cat eye on my lid and lined my waterline. I don’t really like the rubber smudge tip because the rubber didn’t glide across my lid as nicely as a foam tip would’ve. I just used a brush to smudge the eyeliner which worked well. The swatch below looks a bit brown/bronze under the lighting. I didn’t use any primer underneath.

On one eye, I put Smashbox’s Shadow Primer, and the other eye I left bare. The primer definitely made a difference, so if you plan to apply it to your lids, make sure you don’t forget the primer! After 3 hours, the lid without primer was creased and I had to reapply the liner. The lid with shadow primer looked exactly like when I first applied it. The liner that was on my waterline was perfectly intact. By the 8th hour, the eyeliner was holding up well, it was a bit smudged under my eye, but that’s to be expected for wearing it so long. It looked like I had created that smokey look so it wasn’t smudged so much that it looked like raccoon or panda eyes. I would definitely buy this eyeliner, especially if it came in a brown or nude.

RATING: 4/5

I give both products 4/5 because the special tip at the end of the comb sometimes gets in my way. I feel like it doesn’t do much for my lashes and I’ve almost poked myself in the eye a few times. For the liner, I would prefer if it was a matte black instead of a glittery black. Glitter is hard to wash off and I’d only wear glittery eyeliner if I’m going out for the night.

Love,

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Review | CUCNZN Blackhead Remover Suction Black Peeling Mask

March 4, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought the CUCNZN suction black mask (the one I bought is currently unavailable, so I found a new link that sells two bottles instead of one, which I think is a good deal) from Amazon.ca and I must say, wow! It works much better than any nose strip I’ve ever used, but, man, does it hurt to peel it off. I did a full face mask the first time I used it and it pulled out some hairs and quite a few whiteheads. I used it a second time just on my nose area (like a blackhead strip) and it definitely pulled out more the second time because I steamed my face with some hot water before using it. Make sure your face is dry after steaming it, because the mask won’t dry as well. And also make sure that when you apply the mask, don’t get too close to your eyebrows or hairline (put on a hairband) because it will rip off any hairs in its wake!

The best way to apply this is with a disposable makeup sponge. Even though your fingers will give you a more even layer, this sticks to your hands like tar and it just spreads around when it’s wet and it will take a while to get it off your fingers and under your nails. So definitely don’t use a nice makeup brush to apply this because it will be ruined. The easiest way is to use one of those triangular sponges or cheaper round sponges you can get at Walmart or a drugstore.

Before peeling the mask off, check that the mask is completely dry because otherwise, you will have to scrub it off your face if it’s still sticky and your face may get a bit red and irritated from the scrubbing. Don’t leave it on any longer than you have to since it’s basically like putting glue on your face, your skin isn’t getting a chance to breathe. When you peel off the mask, do it slowly, I know it’s painful and you would think it hurts less to peel it off like a bandaid, but if you do it too quickly, it won’t grab those whiteheads and blackheads. If you need to, pause for a bit and then continue when you’re ready. I know my eyes have teared up a bit, and I had to stop for a second to catch my breath. Even from peeling off the mask, my face gets a bit red after.

ORIGINAL RATING: 4/5

UPDATED RATING: 2/5

This is not worth the money! Get a peel off mask instead or use something long-term like AHAs or BHAs to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads.

If you do decide to buy this, avoid your hair and make sure you don’t have any spots that can drip down. Make sure you apply a thin, even layer that will dry and peel off easily.

Love,

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Review | COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches

January 17, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I recently found the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches on Amazon and read some reviews about how good they are, so I thought I’d give them a try. I also picked up the Clear Fit Patches which is a thinner version. The Acne Pimple Master Patches were $6.65 CAD (free shipping) on Amazon.ca for 24 patches (3 different sizes). To be honest, I would prefer if they sold it by size. I don’t really use the small ones that often.

The thin clear hydrocolloid patch feels similar to a hydrogel sheet mask in texture, adhering your skin strongly. It’ll stay on through showering and washing! It treats breakouts by eliminating infection and bacteria, which is what causes them in the first place. It’s able to breakdown debris from blackheads and absorb gunk from whiteheads overnight, so you won’t experience a harsh dry patch from using this. It even helps flatten and heal cystic acne faster!

I had an underground pimple, you know, the ones that hurt but haven’t reached the surface yet, so I put a small-sized patch on the spot after I washed my face and went to bed. When I woke up, I noticed the patch had turned cloudy (it starts off a bit translucent). I peeled it off and it was no longer an underground pimple. The pimple had come to the surface and the patch had absorbed some of the pus. It left a small hole where the pimple had been, but it healed within a few days (less healing time than if I had aggravated it by squeezing it out).

To my surprise, the patches stick really well (make sure the area is clean and dry before putting it on). I read that people sleep with the patches on and I wondered how they would stay, but once you place it on, you can barely feel it and they stay in place.

RATING: 5/5

I give these a 5/5 because they are amazing and actually suck up all the liquid from your pimple. I will definitely be buying these again!

Check out my This or That posts comparing the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches to other acne patches:

COSRX vs. Rael | COSRX vs. Nexcare

I’ve also tried out the COSRX Clear Fit Patches, click here to read my review.

Have you tried acne patches? What’s your fave brand?

Love,

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Review | Tangle Teezer The Original Detangling Hairbrush

November 15, 2016

Hi Everyone!

I’ve previously posted about a detangling brush that I got from Claire’s which I accidentally got too close to a hair dryer and melted…and I also had a brush from Forever21, but hadn’t tried it yet. Since that post, I tried the one from Forever21 and it was so hard that it hurt to comb my hair with it. The one from Claire’s wasn’t as hard and didn’t hurt when I combed my hair. However, the Claire’s detangler was quite small and didn’t have any grip to it, so I dropped it a few times.

I got a Tangle Teezer brush for my birthday. It’s the original detangling hair brush for $20. I asked for the black one since I didn’t like the colour combos of the other brushes. Originally, I thought these were too expensive, but I have to confess that I like it.

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The Original can be used on wet or dry hair and is suitable for all hair types and textures. It banishes tangles, knots and helps prevent breakage and damage thanks to its unique two-tiered system technology – the long teeth detangle and the short teeth smooth the hair cuticle for healthier-looking, glossy hair.

It’s a lot bigger than I thought it’d be, but that’s a good thing because it is ergonomically shaped to fit in the palm of your hand. I like to use it to detangle my hair after a shower to get out the knots and then I use a regular paddle brush to dry my hair (don’t want another melted detangler on my hands…especially at these prices). I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is willing to splurge a bit. Just remember not to get it too close to the heat!

RATING: 4.5/5

I give it a 4.5 because even though it’s shaped to fit your hand, it’d be better with a handle (they now have combs with handles too).

UPDATE: They come with handles now and I won two in a giveaway! I am absolutely loving it and would rate them 5/5!

Love,

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Review | Holika Holika Natural False Lashes

May 24, 2016

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought some false lashes from Holika Holika (a Korean beauty store). I have to say that getting natural ones made such a big difference! I bought ones at Forever21 and the bands weren’t flexible and the lashes looked unnatural. The ones I got this time were great- although you couldn’t tell a huge difference with them on, it added volume and a little bit of length to my lashes. In pictures, it was hardly noticeable, but in person, you could tell it added a bit of length if you compare one side with no lashes. Here’s a picture of what they look like in the packaging:

They were $4 and I figured that a Korean store would have lashes that would look better with Asian eyes because I don’t want the super long ones that look fake, but I just want to add a bit of length and volume, which these did. The band size of these lashes were so much more comfortable than the other ones. I think I would prefer the individual lashes or the accent lashes (where you put them at the outer edge of your eye) because I felt the band poking me in the eye even after I cut them to size. I think I will have to cut them a little more so that it doesn’t do this. I have the Shu Uemura lash adhesive from my sister.

So, there is my updated review on false lashes. It’s best to get the lashes that are more suited for your natural lashes. If you’re going for a natural look, the wispy ones are good, but if you’re going for a glam look, then you can get the super long ones to add length to your lashes. I have to say my opinion has greatly changed with the new set of lashes, and although I wouldn’t do it everyday like some people, I would consider getting false lashes for special occasions.

Update: April 21, 2017

Like I said above, the Holika Holika ones don’t really add anything to my lashes. My lashes are full, but not long. So the natural ones pictured above would be good if you want a natural look and have sparse lashes. I’ve tried the Ardell lashes, I went with the Natural Multipack 110 (4 sets). I think if I bought new ones, I’d get the accent ones or one of the glamour styles instead of the natural ones.

RATING: 4/5

I give it a 4/5 because they are super natural and flexible, but they didn’t add any length to my lashes. They’d be good for anyone whose lashes are sparse (mine are fairly full, so I need length more than volume).

Love,

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Review | The Original Makeup Eraser

April 29, 2016

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought the makeup eraser cloth from Amazon for $18.99 CAD. It’s a super soft reusable cloth that contains no chemicals- you just need to add warm water and it removes makeup. I watched a Buzzfeed video where the ladies tried it out and decided I wanted to try it out for myself. I bought mine on Amazon. I was too lazy to go out and get one at Sephora and I was making an order on Amazon anyway. I ordered the pink one, but they have black and blue ones too.

#1 reusable makeup removal system in the world. Erase all your makeup with The Original MakeUp Eraser and water! Erases all makeup including waterproof mascara, eyeliner, foundation, blush and more. The MakeUp Eraser is also reusable, machine washable and will last you 3-5 years.

I put on a full face of makeup including foundation, concealer, waterproof mascara, eyeshadow and some waterproof eyeliner from Sephora (the eyeliner I have is quite hard to wash off, even with makeup remover). So I ran the plush cloth under the tap and began wiping my makeup off. Like the ladies in the Buzzfeed video, I was surprised at how well it worked taking off my makeup. It did not remove the Sephora eyeliner and all my mascara, but everything else wiped off easily. It’s probably great for travel when you don’t want to bring too much makeup remover and don’t have too much eye makeup on. To clean the cloth after, I just used some soap and the makeup washed off and I threw it in the laundry with my clothes. For the darker eye makeup stains, I had to use a dab of makeup remover. For me, I think I will only use it when I’m just wearing foundation, concealer and light eye makeup because even though it removed some of the mascara, it didn’t get all of it off, so when I have dark makeup on my eyes, I would need to use makeup remover too.

RATING: 4.5/5

I give it a 4.5 because even though it claims to remove waterproof makeup, it requires a bit of rubbing and I’d rather just use the cloth to remove my face makeup and use eye remover makeup instead of rubbing at my eyes. It does cut down on the amount of makeup remover you need though. I love using the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Brush after using it because it removes the makeup that I missed with the cloth.

Check out my Pros/Cons post on Different Makeup Removers!

Check out my Dupe It Out Review where I compared this cloth with a dupe!

Love,

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Face Masks and Cleansers

April 25, 2016

Hi Everyone!

Korean face masks and make up products have become increasingly popular in the past couple years. I haven’t tried a lot of Korean make up products yet, but I absolutely love the charcoal sheet masks which I bought from a kiosk and cleansers from The Face Shop: Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam, Herb Day Cleanser 365 Spearmint Cleanser (for Men) and Phyto Powder Foam Cleanser- Charcoal.

I alternate between the two cleansers everyday with a facial brush and my skin feels refreshed and squeaky clean after. As for the sheet masks, you look like Hannibal Lecter for about 20 minutes, but they are great in bringing out impurities and cleansing pores. They are affordable and good for my skin because I get break outs every now and then. I like to use the charcoal sheet masks every couple weeks. The character (animal) ones from the Face Shop creep me out, I scared myself in the mirror when using the pig one. Even though they creep me out and I got it for free, it did a good job moisturizing my skin.

Love,

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