I realized that I never wrote a dedicated review to the Lancôme L’Absolu Lacquer Lip Gloss.
This innovative lip gloss combines the comfort and shine of a gloss, the pigment of a lipstick and the lasting power of a stain. Our innovative oil in water emulsion is lightweight and non-sticky, providing up to 6H of wear. Enriched with glycerin, lips feel hydrated throughout the day. The high shine finish and vivid colour payoff are buildable from sheer to full coverage in 1-2-3 coats.
1) One coat for a sheer natural look witha dewy shine finish 2) Two coats for an intense look with fresh colour and lacquered shine finish. 3) Three coats for a dramatic look with audacious colour impact & ultra lacquered shine!
Originally, I bought this for my mom. It’s the shade 236 Pour Toujours. We bought it based on the online swatch (see below)- it looked more mauve than it does in real life. My mom tried it and it wasn’t quite her colour, so she gave it to me.
I quickly fell in love with it. This lippie is basically a hybrid of a lipstick and a gloss – pigmented with a glossy sheen. It’s lightweight and doesn’t feel sticky like a gloss. It’s the perfect My Lips But Better Shade for me. I love the flat applicator and the slightly pointy/rounded tip of it.
Top swatch is slightly blended in, bottom swatch is straight from the tube.
RATING: 5/5
The name of this shade is perfect because I think I will have this in my collection ‘Forever’ (Pour Toujours). I would definitely consider trying other shades.
Today, I’ll be reviewing some products from Sdara Skincare. They sent me a rose quartz roller and some eye gel patches! Keep reading to see what I think about these products!
Rose Quartz Roller
Get the glow – Be blown away by a younger and more radiant YOU. Prepare yourself to see even skin tone in the mirror that it might shock you, until you remember that you used our Sdara Skincare Rose Quartz Roller! Slow down aging (if you want to) – Bless yourself with aging gracefully. You’ll think, “Woah! What happened to that wrinkle? Why are my pores so small?” Because that’s the power of collagen reproduction and lymphatic drainage from our little pink miracle worker. Product Penetration – Your products will apply effortlessly with increased absorption! Massage products into your skin for increased effectiveness. Treat Yourself – You’ll want to roll our roller all over your body! That’s what one of our Sdara beauty gurus had to say. It’s the best to soothe irritated skin.
RATING: 5/5
I am loving the Rose Quartz Roller! I love the colour and the coolness of the roller just feels so nice on the skin. It makes your face feel nice, refreshed and ready for your skincare and makeup. The coolness from the roller is also great for those hot summer days. It’s also useful when you’ve already applied your skincare and it helps work it into your skin.
Eye Gel Mask
For days when under-eye concealer just won’t do, (no one has to know you didn’t relax the night away), Sdara Eye Gel Mask acts like a soothing second skin to immediately target and soothe the area. Promoting brighter, plumper, and more youthful-looking skin, preventative ingredients like natural snow mushroom, sodium hyaluronate, peptides, and gold restore natural moisture, boost collagen production, and firm your skin. Puffy, tired-looking eyes, we’re coming for you.
RATING: 3/5
The eye gel patches are also quite nice. They feel cool on the eyelids and undereyes and my skin feels smooth and soft after using it. Although I could do without the glitter that comes off the eye masks.
I am impressed with the products I received from Sdara Skincare. I would be interested in trying the microneedle roller (0.25mm). While I already have one from a different brand that has 0.5mm needles, it would be interesting to try one with smaller needles. Maybe have one for the body and one for the face.
Today, I’m doing a first impressions review of a brand called Purify Soap Co. They reached out to me on Instagram for an honest review and they sent me their Kisameet Clay Balm and Soap Bar. Keep reading to hear my thoughts on these two products!
Mineral Clay Balm
I tried the balm first and I was unsure of how I would like it because it does smell like clay. I put it on my lips and luckily, I couldn’t smell it after I applied it. It felt very moisturizing and kept my lips nourished for a few hours. Let’s move on to the soap bar before I tell you my rating…
Cleansing Soap
Lather in your hands and apply to your face and body (or you can lather directly onto your face and body for more exfoliation), leave for 2 minutes. Wash off, avoiding contact with the eyes. Now, it’s your skin’s time to shine!
The soap bar smells minty and as I lathered it on my skin, I could feel it exfoliating my arms. The next day, unfortunately, I woke up and my lips were a bit inflamed and I had a bit of a breakout on my arms. It’s been three days and the left side of my lip still looks a bit puffy. I must’ve had some sort of reaction to both products which is disappointing because one of the claims is to help with eczema.
I know that coloured bars of soap look pretty, but any soap bar that isn’t white just makes a mess of the sink and shower. Similar to a charcoal bar of soap I recently tried from Woodlot, this one ‘bled’ greenish-gray.
RATING: 2/5
Before I had the reaction, both products seemed very nice and might work for you. I haven’t quite figured out what it was that caused the reaction, but it’s safe to say that I can no longer use the balm. Since I have sensitive skin, I think that I had a very unusual reaction to something in both of the products. If the testimonials on their Instagram account have any truth to them, then it might work to help someone who has psoriasis or eczema. Even if this did work for me, it retails for $28 USD which I think is way too expensive for a bar of soap. As someone with eczema, I would rather just use my Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser (for body and face).
Today, I’m writing about the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I got it during a Family & Friends sale on Kiehls.ca for 20% off.
This nourishing under eye cream offers creamy hydration suitable for all skin types. Formulated with Avocado Oil, this rich treatment smoothes on the eye area for rich hydration. This eye cream features a creamy texture that does not migrate into your eyes.
It retails for $66 (0.95oz/28g) or $42 (0.5oz/14g)
RATING: 2/5
The eye cream has a kind of weird texture that’s kind of sticky like glue, but when you use the right amount (just a small dab), and warm it up on your fingers, it will blend out and feel like water as you apply it to your under eyes.
While potted creams aren’t my favourite because it’s easier for bacteria to get in, this is a great eye cream. It’s kept my under eyes fairly hydrated and it doesn’t have a scent which is a plus for me. It doesn’t do anything for dark circles though. I have sensitive skin and it hasn’t caused any milia, but I do notice that whenever I use it, I get 1-2 red spots under my eyes.
Have you tried Kiehl’s skincare products? What are your faves?
Today, I’m going to be talking about eye creams I’ve tried. I never realized that I’ve tried quite a few and there’s actually only one that I love that made my under eyes feel smooth and didn’t give me milia. Several of the eye creams were just okay for me. I need one that hydrates because I have dry under eyes, but I also want one that helps with dark circles. Usually eye creams are hydrating OR for dark circles. So, maybe I have to find one to use for the day and one for night. I’m still on the hunt for one. While I do have a fave on this list, it’s the most expensive eye cream out of all of them, but you don’t get a lot for the cost.
I’ve written a mini review of each eye cream I’ve tried and also said if I had a reaction to it or not. Keep reading to find out which one is my fave!
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Eyes (read my review)
Unlike the Hydro Boost Cream for the face, this didn’t have a smell and it wasn’t tacky at all, but it just didn’t ‘wow’ me.
Both my mom and I tried this eye renewal serum. We both felt itchy using it and it wasn’t allergies or anything because we were using this in the winter time.
Reaction? No physical reaction, but eyes felt itchy.
Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten(read my review)
I’m not a huge fan of the smell of this. I accidentally bought this instead of another product – I meant to get the Ginzing moisturizer. A little goes a long way and while this does brighten the under eyes, you have to be careful not to use too much or it looks too white. I was using this off and on because I got one spot and I wasn’t sure if it was the eye cream or something else. I stopped using it until it got better and then I used it again and I’ve had a bit of texture under the eyes since. So, I won’t be using this anymore.
Reaction? Got a milium (singular of milia) and also got red bumpy spots
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (read my review)
I’ve been using this for about a while now and I’ve been using it on and off because whenever I use it, I get 1-2 red spots under both eyes. Also, it has a weird texture that’s almost glue-y. If you use too much, it doesn’t blend in very well, but if you use a very small amount, it absorbs into the skin and almost feels like water.
Reaction? Red spots under eyes whenever I used it.
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
I love the metal applicator on this and this is my favourite eye cream I’ve tried so far! It kept my under eyes smooth and hydrated. It also helped with darkness around my eyes for a while, but I stopped seeing results after a while. Maybe it did everything it could or my skin got used to it and stopped working for my dark circles. It still kept my under eyes nice and hydrated though. This is the most expensive eye cream I’ve tried (if you work out cost per mL). I like that it comes in a tube and not a pot which keeps it hygienic.
Lkins Skincare Coconut & Honey Aloe Cleanser (read my review) – I didn’t love the smell of this (like coconuts and almond oil), but it was a very gentle cleanser that didn’t strip the natural oils on my face.
Repurchase? No.
Lkins Skincare Hydrating Toner (read my review) – This was also a nice and gentle toner, but I didn’t love that it came in a spray bottle because it didn’t mist nicely since it’s a thicker product.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel (read my review) – This didn’t hydrate my dry under eyes enough, but it was very gentle and light on the under eyes.
Repurchase? Probably not.
No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant (read my review) – I liked that this was all natural and didn’t have aluminium or baking soda, but I didn’t love that I had to use my hands to apply it. I’d rather use a roll-on type of deodorant where I don’t have to touch it.
Repurchase? No.
TULA Aqua Infusion Oil-Free Gel Cream – This was a nice and light gel cream and I liked it as much as the TULA Hydrating Day & Night Cream. However, I don’t think I would purchase the full-sized.
I haven’t tried a lot of products from Almay. I was sent 10 Almay products to review (5 different products with two different shades of each). While that was very generous and all of the products look really pretty, not all of the shades are ones I would personally choose and if I opened them, I would just end up wasting them. So, I’m going to review the products that I’ve decided to keep for myself and I will be putting the unopened products in a future giveaway.
Several of the products have that iridescent, unicorn vibe – especially the Jelly highlighters and glosses. These products are greatt for a fun makeup look, festival or Halloween…they would’ve been perfect to use for Coachella.
I received 020 Smoldering Embers and 030 Coppery Blaze.
When you swatch the shadows with your fingers, they’re not the most pigmented. When you apply them though, they are very nice. For the Smoldering Embers palette, the shimmery bone shade is perfect to highlight the brow bone and I really love the brown shade because it’s smoky, but also perfect for an everyday look (this shade swatched the best out of the three shadows). You can add a bit more smoke by adding the purple shade.
From top: Smoky Eye Trio Eyeshadow in Smoldering Embers (top to bottom), Shadow Squad Eyeshadow in 160 Thrill Seekers (swatches are clockwise from top left)
Shadow Squad Eyeshadow
Your favorite shades, in each of four finishes: matte, satin, metallic, glitter
Mix it up in monochrome
Soft texture for beautiful color payoff
I received 160 Thrill Seekers and 100 Unicorn.
The Unicorn shades are either not going to show up or look weird on my skin tone, so I will be giving that one away. The Thrill Seekers teal shades are more my style anyway. Again, swatching them, they’re not the most pigmented shades. If you want to add some more pigment, apply it on top of the Velvet Foil Shadow (the Lunar Disco shade is the perfect shade) or make sure to use a shadow primer that will brighten it up.
I prefer the bottom two shades from this palette. I usually prefer if my brightly coloured shadows are metallic or glittery because I’m not exactly going to use a matte green or teal as a transition shade. The matte shade was also a bit patchy.
Velvet Foil Cream Shadow
Wear each shade individually or combine for a dramatic customized eye look. Quick and easy application – apply with fingertips or an eyeshadow brush. No shadow fall-out during application.
Long wear formula – up to 24 Hour wear
High intensity color
Crease-proof, smudge-proof, fade-proof all day
Infused with Vitamin E and a botanical blend of ingredients
I received 070 Astro Girl and 060 Lunar Disco
I first swatched this on my hand (see below- it looks kind of black in that lighting, but it is more blue) and found it very difficult to wash off. It made me worry how hard it would be to remove from my eyes. I don’t have waterproof makeup remover, if you do, you’re probably fine, but it took me a bit more effort to remove it. Astro Girl is a white shade so that won’t really look good on my skin tone. I opened up Lunar Disco which is a blue shade. I tend to go for more neutral shadows, but this looks nice when you pair it with the Shadow Squad Eyeshadow in Thrill Seekers.
Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite 24K Dreams, Unicorn Light, Velvet Foil Cream Shadow in Lunar Disco
Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite
Jelly highlighter that illuminates and shimmers, giving you a celestial glow.
Iridescent glitter sheen complements all skin tones
Instantly illuminates and adds moisture to skin
Buildable highlight for customized level of radiance
As always, hypoallergenic & fragrance free
Pro Tips!
Brush onto cheekbones and the bridge of your nose for an iridescent gleam
Apply to collarbones and shoulders to make them pop
Mix with moisturizer or primer for an all-over glow
Add to foundation for customized radiance
I received 003 Unicorn Light and 004 24K Dreams
These jelly highlighters dry down a bit tacky. In the pro tips, it says to apply to bridge of nose, I think it’s a bit too chunky to do that, it’ll look like you had some fallout from an eyeshadow get onto your nose. Similar to the Inglot x Jennifer Lopez Livin’ the Highlight, this is a bit more chunky than I prefer my face highlighters to be. I prefer a wet look instead of shimmery chunks, so I think this would be best as a body highlighter for the collarbone and shoulders.
I’ve compared these to the NYX Jelly Illuminator, check out my post (swatches included).
Goddess Gloss
A spectrum of prismatic lip glosses with holographic effects. Designed to be worn solo, mixed or layered.
Gives lips a holographic, iridescent glow
Lips feel moisturized and smooth, never sticky
Made with pomegranate, grape and raspberry oils
Available in 8 sheer, easy to wear, high-shine shades
As always, hypoallergenic & fragrance free
Pro Tips!
Rock it solo for an iridescent glow on lips
Mix & match shades to create infinite ombré looks
Layer over lipstick for a transformative holographic effect
I received 930 Dreamy and 900 Gilded
These lip glosses really aren’t my style. I don’t really like iridescent lip sticks, but if that’s your style, I think these would look really good.
This Almay collection is very fun and iridescent. I personally prefer a neutral look with a glowy highlighter so my favourite out of all of the products was the Smoldering Embers Smoky Eye Trio…boring, I know. As you may know, I’ve been trying to streamline my makeup collection. While fun shades and products are cool to try out, I don’t think I would’ve bought anything from this collection because I want to have products in my collection that are timeless and neutral (with maybe a nice pop of colour here and there).
Have you tried Almay products? What were your thoughts?
Today, I have a first impressions review for Woodlot products. It’s a Canadian brand that was founded in 2014. They generously sent me three products from their collection: two soaps and a body lotion.
Natural Recharge Soap
A simple antidote to stress and fatigue. Soothing aromas of rosemary + peppermint.
This one smells really nice. I love the peppermint in it.
Natural Wildwoods Soap
Embrace the power of detoxifying bamboo charcoal. Blended with nourishing butters, soothing balsam oil, crisp fir oil, and warming clove oil, this cleansing bar is brimming with benefits.
This one has a nice scent as well, but products with trees tend to smell more manly to me. The one thing I don’t love about this one is the activated charcoal. While it’s great that it detoxifies, it can get quite messy with the charcoal bleeding when it gets wet.
RATING: 4/5
While these are nice soaps, $10 is a bit expensive for one bar.
Amour Nourishing Body Lotion
Scents of floral palmarosa, fragrant rose damask, and spicy black pepper oil make this nourishing and lightweight lotion a romantic treat for your skin.
This lotion made my hands feel very soft, but the black pepper is a little overwhelming for me. I don’t usually use scented lotions because I have sensitive skin and a sensitive nose. I get headaches from scented products easily.
RATING: 3/5
My favourite of the three is the Recharge soap. It smells so good (and I don’t usually like Rosemary), but the mint makes it refreshing.
They gave me a discount code. Use the code JENCAT-XO at checkout to get 15% off!
I’ve tried out the Rael Hydrocolloid Acne Healing Patches (name has been changed to Miracle Patches) and compared it to my beloved COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) and here are my thoughts:
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches
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!
24 patches per pack (3 sizes):
10 x 7mm
5 x 10mm
9 x 12mm
The COSRX are the first patches I tried and I’ve compared them to the Nexcare ones which I didn’t like (read my review). I buy the COSRX patches on Chuusi.ca for $4.50 each.
Rael Miracle Patches
Our high-grade absorbent hydrocolloid extracts impurities and provides a protective barrier that guards your skin from bacteria and irritants. These super-effective patches reduce inflammation and also prevent potential acne scarring.
24 patches per pack (2 sizes):
12 x 10mm
12 x 12mm
I bought these on Amazon.ca and got 4 packages for $24.46 which means 1 pack is $6.12
The Rael ones remind me of the COSRX Clear Fit Master Patches (read my review) because they are tapered on the edges, but the COSRX Clear Fit only comes with 18 patches in 10mm size.
Rael costs a little more, but they are better if you are wearing them out of the house. COSRX are cheaper, but they’re a little more noticeable (especially if it’s somewhere obvious like your cheek). COSRX comes with 10 of the small sized patches and I mostly use the medium and large patches. Sometimes when I peel off the COSRX ones, it folds over onto itself (like when you’re opening a bandaid and it sticks to itself and you can’t unstick it). The Rael (and the COSRX Clear Fit) patches are easier to peel off because the sheets are perforated.
I think that since the COSRX ones aren’t tapered, they can absorb more. From now on, I will buy both and use the Rael ones if I need to wear one out of the house and use the COSRX for home.
UPDATE: I’ve started to love the Rael patches more because I get pimples on my face where there’s curves (nose, jaw, chin). It’s easier for the Rael ones to stick since they’re thinner. I have noticed that if you wear the Rael ones for too long and there’s a lot of stuff to absorb, they will get gummy (for lack of a better word). The COSRX ones, since they’re thicker, they don’t get gummy.
Have you tried acne patches? What’s your fave brand?
Thank you to Freon Collective for these reusable 100% organic cotton rounds!
I wanted to find a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton rounds like the Shiseido and Quo ones because let’s face it, those aren’t cheap! Having reusable cotton rounds will be so much more affordable and eco-friendly.
These 100% organic cotton rounds come in sets of 15 and there are 9 different designs. I chose the Grey Marble ones. They come in a mesh bag so you can throw it into the laundry without losing any of them.
They do absorb a little bit more liquid than regular cotton pads and they aren’t quite as soft either, but they are still gentle. After using half of them, I’ll throw the used ones into the laundry so that I have enough to last a few days while the used ones are washed and air-dried.
RATING: 4/5
I still have quite a few packages of one-use cotton rounds in my drawers so I will finish those and then move to the reusable ones. I think I will use my makeup eraser cloths to remove makeup and use these for toners and other skincare products because I don’t want them to get dirty too quickly.
If you want to make the move to be more eco-friendly, they generously gave me a discount code to share with you guys! It’s not an affiliate code, just a 10% discount for my lovely followers! Use the code JEN10 at checkout!
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
Surprisingly, I haven’t tried a whole bunch of products from Maybelline even though it’s an affordable drugstore brand. I think I have a lot of difficulty finding my shade match with their complexion products. I haven’t tried any of their blushes or eyeshadow palettes and only tried one lipstick so far, but here’s my list:
HITS
Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment Concealer – This is a great concealer for me, I love how natural it looks. The shade Light might be a bit too light, I’ve gotten a recommendation to try the Neutralizer, so I might try that.
Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder – I love this powder, but the shade 15 Light is a bit pink on me. Maybe it will be better during the summer time.
Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light – Great drugstore concealer!
Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation in 130 Buff Beige (read my review) – I actually really loved this, even in the summer time. I don’t think it’s available any more though.
Face Studio Master Chrome Highlighter – I love this highlighter, although for me, 100 Molten Gold is a bit too coppery gold for my skintone, but I would definitely repurchase in a different shade.
Color Show Kohl Liner – I loved the nude shade they used to have in this, but they don’t have it anymore. I used to put it on my lower waterline and it would instantly brighten my eyes.
Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara Washable (read my review) – This is a great mascara, I definitely want to try the waterproof to see if it holds a curl better
Great Lash Mascara (Black or Clear) – This is a classic. The clear one is great for using as brow gel too.
Volum’ Express The Falsies Big Eyes – From what I remember, this is a great mascara.
Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara – Loved this mascara, need to try it again at some point to compare it to others.
SuperStay 24 Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in 65 Seductress – A Toronto makeup artist posted a pic of her bride and I commented on it saying her lip colour was beautiful, she replied back saying it was this liquid lipstick mixed with a lipliner and gloss. I see why everyone loves this liquid lippie! I’m not one for matte lipsticks, but this one is super long-wearing and you can top with a gloss in the middle to give that 3D effect.
LIKES
Hydrate & Smooth Fit Me Foundation – The shade I chose in this isn’t right, so that’s probably why I didn’t love it. It was way too orange. I also don’t love that this has no pump.
Matte & Poreless Fit Me Foundation – Same deal as the Hydrate & Smooth one.
Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Eye Shadow in Barely Branded – I am still debating whether I like cream shadows. I think I prefer sticks when it has shimmer. So, I might like one that’s matte.
Total Temptation Washable Volumizing Mascara – This is one mascara that I’m not crazy about. It’s okay, but I prefer the others.
Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner (read my review) – This doesn’t have a really precise tip and it’s not super black, so if that’s what you’re looking for, skip this one.
MISSES
Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser – I didn’t like the silicone feel of this.
Master Prime Blur + Redness Control Primer – This didn’t do anything to correct my redness.
Eye Studio Brow Precise Pencil – I didn’t like the waxy feel of this pencil.
Color Show Nail Lacquer – I prefer a fat brush, this has a round skinny brush. For me, I prefer fat because it’s less likely to be streaky since I’m no expert at applying nail polish.
There’s a few products that I tried a long long time ago before I knew a lot about makeup…before using primer. So, here’s what I remember about them:
Baby Lips Lip Balm – I think it was okay, it wasn’t anything special.
SuperStay Better Skin Foundation – I used this a while back before I knew I was supposed to use primer. I don’t even know if I used to use a damp sponge when applying this. The shade I got was way off. I remember it being okay, but I’m not curious enough to to try it out again.
SuperStay Better Skin Concealer + Corrector – I remember it being pretty good, but didn’t love the chemical smell of it (Fit Me doesn’t have that smell). I don’t think the shade was right either.
Today, I have a review for a clay masque. I was generously sent the Ocean Mineral Complex Masque by Oceà Natural Skincare.
At Oceà we have one very simple goal: to shift the skin care industry to natural, safe, and effective ingredients that eliminate the need for harsh chemicals.
The masque comes in a glass pot and the masque itself has a whipped texture. It doesn’t have much of a smell, if anything it smells faintly of clay.
Deeply healing clays of Kaolin are infused with detoxifying ocean minerals to naturally clarify and exfoliate your skin.
Seaweed, Kelp, Irish Moss and Spirulina naturally restore your skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Safflower, Sweet Almond, Rice Brand and Grapeseed oils then provide the deep hydration your skin deserves!
This natural and organic product is gentle enough for all skin types and can be used several times per week.
RATING: 3/5
Since I have dry skin, I liked that this clay masque didn’t make my face feel dry after. My face felt nice and soft after using it, but I don’t know if it did anything to be honest. It didn’t exfoliate or bring out impurities like some clay masks I’ve tried. I like that it comes in a glass jar so I can re-use it after I finish the masque.
I finished quite a few things this month (including some products from my Project Pan) and also retired a few eye/brow products. Keep reading to see what I would repurchase!
Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream(travel size) – This is a great cream. It doesn’t feel oily or too heavy. I used it both AM & PM like the name suggests. I don’t love that it comes in a pot. I prefer squeeze tubes or pumps.
Repurchase? Probably not (because it’s in a pot).
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly – I finally finished a huuuuge tub of Vaseline. I used it all over. I would put tons on my hands and feet before bed and wear cotton gloves and socks to bed.
Repurchase? Obviously. Doesn’t everyone always have some form of vaseline in their house? Whether it’s a huge tub or a squeeze tube.
KORAI Cloud Cleanser(read my review) – I enjoyed this cleanser, it has Black Soap, Shea Butter and it was very gentle.
Repurchase? Yes.
KORAI Amber Oil (read my review) – I also enjoyed the Amber Oil. It didn’t break me out and my skin felt very hydrated.
Repurchase? Yes.
Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in 100 Molten Gold – Beautiful highlighter, but not the best shade for my skin tone.
Repurchase? In a different shade, absolutely!
Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink – Similar to the Maybelline Master Chrome, beautiful highlighter, but would get in a different shade since pink doesn’t look that natural as a highlight. It was nice as an eyeshadow though.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Picture was taken before I finished the Lancôme Skin Feels Good Foundation. I took the picture before cutting it open and scraping out the rest.
Ariul Glam Mood Maker Mist (read my review) – While this is a really cute, compact facial mist, I think it’s quite expensive for such a little amount. I kept it beside my computer and would spray my face when I needed a little refresh and I finished it fairly quickly.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation in 01N Nude Vanilla (read my review) – This is a great light coverage foundation. It’s hydrating and looks like skin, but the only thing I don’t like is the shade range! This shade is too light and the next shades up are too warm. I had to mix it a lot and lost a lot of product by doing that which is probably the reason I finished it so quickly.
Repurchase? When they have a shade that matches me better.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara (read my review) – I liked this mascara, and I would consider trying the waterproof one because it might hold a curl better. I’m still on the hunt for my Holy Grail mascara, but it’s a great drugstore one. Maybelline has some of the best drugstore mascaras I’ve tried.
Repurchase? Yes.
Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark – I love this brow gel, but the shade was just a little too gray for my liking. The currently have 3 shades in the Bold Brow.
Today, I’m comparing two facial cotton pads: Shiseido’s cult fave vs. Quo Luxury Facial Cotton Pads (the dupe). Quo is the brand by Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada.
So, I’ve tested these two different facial cottons and love both of them. Both come with 165 cottons and based on the look of the packaging, the Quo is obviously a dupe of the Shiseido cottons. The Quo cotton pads sell for $7.50 and Shiseido cottons sell for $11.
One thing about the packaging: the Quo package has a pre-made tear, so you don’t need scissors to open and it closes like a ziploc bag. The Shiseido package needs scissors and does not have a slider.
I got my mom to do a blind test to see which one she likes. She preferred the Quo ones because they were softer (and also they were fatter – more layers). I tested them out and agree that the Quo ones are actually softer, but the Shiseido ones are stronger. When you try to tear them, it takes more force to pull the Shiseido ones apart and are therefore better to use for eye makeup (especially waterproof makeup). If you’re only wearing face makeup, the Quo ones are a great way to save some money. You can use the Quo ones for toner and removing face makeup, and buy the Shiseido ones for eye makeup.
WINNER: Quo Luxury Facial Cotton Pads
If you wear eye makeup and use micellar water instead of cleansing oils/balms, you will probably prefer the Shiseido ones since they are harder to rip and less likely to curl up on you. If you love the Shiseido ones and you live in Canada, I think it’s worth it to give the Quo ones a shot.
For me, the Shiseido ones are very nice and I see why so many people love them. I don’t wear heavy or waterproof eye makeup very often and when I do, I use a cleansing oil or balm to remove makeup instead of a cotton pad. I’d rather save $4.50 to spend on something else.
I was sent two deodorants from No Pong, an Australian brand. Here’s a little info from the website:
“pong” is an Australian/British term for an extremely strong, unpleasant smell.
No Pong is an extremely effective, All Natural Deodorant
Made from delicious, all natural ingredients, blended together to create a ridiculously effective, sweat resistant, all day deodorant that does exactly what it says on the tin!
Guaranteed to be 100% paraben, aluminium, cruelty and plastic free.
No Pong is simple to apply, just like a lotion or a sunscreen. Just take a dab on your fingertip, and apply to your armpit.
They currently sell two: one with baking soda and one without. I decided to try the low fragrance one without baking soda. The consistency is similar to a sunscreen; it’s thicker than a lotion, but not waxy like a balm. Based on how it looked before I touched it (like the top one in the picture), I thought it would feel more balmy, so I was surprised when it felt creamy.
It’s great that their deodorants have a gender-neutral scent. For me, I mostly smell the lemongrass which I’m not a huge fan of, but the deodorant works well and the scent is subtle enough that you can’t smell it (unless you apply too much). Obviously it’s not going to be like an anti-perspirant that will counteract sweat from a rigorous workout. But, I have sweated a little while wearing the deodorant and it help up well.
I noticed that when I accidentally used too much of it, I got that white residue under my arms (like when you wear anti-perspirant). You really only need a small amount.
RATING: 3.5/5
I like how compact it is and that there’s no aluminium, it’s affordable and there’s no added fragrance (only essential oil). I also like how there’s a no baking soda option because I have sensitive skin. I’m not a huge fan of the lemongrass scent and I don’t love that you need to use your finger to apply it. I always have to wash my hands after and before I apply it whereas a deodorant stick is easy to pop on without having the need to wash my hands before and after.
I’ve put the Original one into my 5K Instagram Giveaway because I already have another natural deodorant and didn’t want the ununsed one to go to waste before I got a chance to use it.
What’s your fave natural deodorant? Have you tried No Pong?
