• black friday sales

    Haul | 2022 Black Friday and Holiday Sales

    December 8, 2022

    Hi everyone!

    Today, I’m sharing what I got from Black Friday and Holiday sales! In the past two years, it seems like I do the most damage in October and November because I just can’t resist a Black Friday sale!

    I’m not going to put the prices up because I’d rather not see the grand total of what I spent during the sales, but I will include the discount.

    Sephora – 20% off

    • First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA
    • bareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF15 in Light

    Shiseido – 30% off when you spend $200

    • Eyelash Curler (comes with replacement pad)
    • 2 x Eyelash Curler Pads (2 replacement pads per pack, so I got 4 in total lol)
    • Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer in 202 Light
    • Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer in 203 Light
    • Overnight Wrinkle Resisting Cream (for my mom)

    Kiehl’s – 25% off

    • Centella Sensitive Facial Cleanser
    • 2 x Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
    Bottom left is Blondo, middle is Skechers

    Mejuri – 20% off when you spend $150 (I believe this is the only sale they have throughout the year)

    • Twist Ring in 14k White Gold
    • 2x Single Mini Hoop in 14k White Gold

    Last year, I bought the Single Mini Hoops and I’ve been wearing them ever since. I decided to get 2 more for my second piercings. To bump it up to $150, I also got the Twist ring. Last year, I got the Braided ring. I haven’t worn it much though, because it looked a bit plain on its own. So now I have the twist one to stack. Their diamond huggies are super cute too.

    Old Navy – 50% off code for being a Navyist Rewards Member

    • Creaseless Hair Clips 4-pack (Tortoise shell/Coral pink)
    • Dynamic Fleece Pullover Hoodie in Icelandic Mineral
    • Vintage Long-Sleeve Sweatshirt in Inkwell
    • Printed Flannel Pajama Pants in Red Fair Isle

    La Vie En Rose – 2 for 1

    • Soft plush Robe in Lilac Cloud
    • Soft Plush Robe in Black Buffalo Plaid

    Naturalizer – 30% off

    • Blondo Skylar Waterproof Combat Boot in Black Suede (wide)

    I have wide feet unfortunately and I’ve realized it’s ridiculous to put bandaids on my pinky toes when I wear my winter boots. I was on the hunt for a nice pair. I got these Blondo boots in wide. I read a few reviews, but it’s hard to decide based on a few website reviews, so I just decided to try them. They were definitely not wide. I know Blondo is known for having a narrow fit, but I thought maybe these would be okay. These were probably what would be considered a regular fit for other brands. I was wearing regular, thin socks and while my foot fit into them, they would be super uncomfortable. You could also see the shape of my foot in the boot and it just didn’t look nice. Unfortunately, they only accept returns online which means they charge $8 to ship it back to them (taking it off your refund).

    The Shoe Company – 30% off?

    • Skechers On-The-Go Glacial Ultra-Woodlands Wide Winter Boot in Black Suede

    Skechers is a brand that I own quite a few running shoes from. Even with their regular fit, they’re very comfortable. I recently purchased a wide fit sneaker and they are super comfy for me. So I got these knowing that Skechers is a brand that I like.

    Spanx – 20% off for regular priced items, I think. I got something from the sale section, so it was 50% off

    • Spotlight on Lace Regular Waist Brief in Vintage Rose
    Clockwise from top left (gray): ribbed cotton, cotton cable lace, pointelle high cut, cotton eyelash lace, period underwear

    Aerie online order – 30% off sale or something

    • AerieREAL Period Underwear (I will be posting a review on this once I’ve tried it out)
    • AF Super Cropped Scoop Neck Cami in Black
    • Wrap One Piece Swimsuit in Black
    • High Neck Henley Tank Top in White

    I bought the swimsuit because I realized I sold all of my swimsuits on Poshmark. Even though I haven’t gone swimming/to the beach in 6 years lol, I thought it’d be good to have one just in case. I was disappointed when I tried it on and ended up returning it. I don’t think I have a particularly long torso, but the body was so short (it was cutting into my butt). I can’t imagine a taller person wearing it. Even though you can adjust the straps to make it a bit longer, it would make the bust lower and the wrap part just wasn’t flattering to begin with…It wasn’t giving any lift to the girls. When I was thinking about buying it, I was a bit worried about whether it would stretch from wrapping it all the time, but I wanted to try it anyway since they have free returns. Back to the drawing board for this one. 

    Aerie in-store purchase – 10 for $40

    • Pointelle High Cut Bikini Underwear (high cut, peek of cheek)
    • Cotton Cable Lace Boybrief Underwear (regular rise, no cheek peek)
    • Cotton Eyelash Lace Boybrief Underwear (low rise, no cheek peek)
    • Ribbed Cotton Boybrief Underwear (low rise, no cheek peek)

    I have previously purchased Aerie underwear a few years back and the boybrief underwear were really stretchy and too big. I got the same size in all of the underwear I bought and it just didn’t fit right. I’ve had time to try all of the underwear I bought and they all fit nicely. The Cotton Cable Lace ones are my favourite. A lot of my underwear are low rise and I’ve realized how much I like a regular rise.

    With all of the online orders, I managed to get about $20 cashback from Rakuten.

    (not sponsored or anything, but this is a referral link to sign up. You get $30 if you use the link and I will too).

    Did you pick up anything during the Black Friday sales?

    Love,

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  • Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser

    Review | Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser

    July 2, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Today I’m reviewing Bubble’s Fresh Start Gel Cleanser.

    “Bubble is the first skincare brand made for Gen-Z.” Even though it has Gen-Z in mind, people of all ages can use it.

    • Science-driven products that are sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free
    • What you won’t find: harsh chemicals, additives, fillers or fragrances
    • Partnered with Better Help to offer 50% off of online therapy with each initial purchase
    • Donate 1% of their profits to organizations that support teens facing mental health difficulties

    Our everyday cleanser purifies skin without drying it out. This gel-based formula cleanses away pore-clogging impurities while simultaneously soothing skin—and without any harsh ingredients that can strip it of essential moisture. The end result: A complexion that feels fresh, clean, and balanced.

    Price: $16 USD for 4.2 FL OZ 125 mL

    • For all skin types
    • Free of denatured alcohols, parabens, artificial color & added fragrance materials
    • Made in the USA

    Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

    The packaging is cute. I like the baby blue and the fact that it comes in a pump. There are two things I don’t love about the packaging:

    1. When you push the pump, it dispenses onto the side of bottle if you keep it upright. So I need to tilt the bottle (90°) to make sure it dispenses onto my hand.
    2. I don’t know if I’m just not strong enough, but it’d be nice if the bottle could open so that when I’m closer to finishing it, I can see how much is left.

    RATING: 3.5/5

    I like that it’s a gel cleanser. There’s no added fragrance, the natural scent isn’t my favourite, but since it’s a cleanser, it’s not a big deal. I have dry skin and I tried using it out every day for a week. It didn’t make my skin feel dry. Since it has PHA (polyhydroxy acid) which is an exfoliant, I like to use it a few times a week as my night cleanser. I use about 2-3 pumps each time, So I will keep track of how often I use it to see how long it takes to finish up.

    Back in high school, I had no idea what BHAs or AHAs were. I don’t even remember what I used as a cleanser, I might’ve just used bar soap and water. Just thinking about it makes me cringe. I barely had a skincare routine. I would use the same moisturizer as my mom (she has oily skin and I have dry). I wish I had been more interested in skincare when I was a teen. I only knew about drugstore brands like Clean & Clear and Neutrogena. Even then, I barely used anything.

    Have you heard of Bubble?

    Love,

    *This product was sent to me to try out.

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  • Jan 2021 product empties

    January 2021 Product Empties

    January 29, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    I have a few empties for you this month. I decluttered a few makeup items. I know you can keep some makeup for a while, but I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, so I don’t really want to keep makeup longer than two years.

    Good Molecules Rosewater Daily Cleansing Gel* – This cleansing gel was just okay for me. It didn’t really do much more than my Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser which is less expensive.

    Repurchase? No.

    Skyn Iceland Arctic Repair Cream* – I tried it once as a face moisturizer, but I found it too heavy. I really enjoyed this as a body cream. I would use it after showering and I loved that it wasn’t greasy at all. The container is a 100% recyclable jar made from sugarcane. I found sometimes it was hard to twist the lid on nicely. Since it comes with an insert that holds a spatula. It wasn’t a big issue for me, but I would be worried if I put it in a bag.

    Repurchase? For the colder months, I would definitely consider purchasing it.

    NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner* (read my review) –

    Repurchase? I would consider trying a different scent.

    Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder in 15 Light – I really liked this powder. Even though it’s a finishing powder, I used it as a foundation for days I wanted light coverage. I wish they had more shades though. The light shade wasn’t the perfect match.

    Repurchase? Definitely!

    Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light Neutral – I really liked this powder. It was the wrong shade, but it looked really nice on the skin. I know it’s called a full coverage foundation, but if you use a light hand, it won’t look heavy.

    Repurchase? In a different shade, yes.

    Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7 – I purchased this when I bought the Luminous Silk Powder Foundation for my mom. The fluid sheers were on sale and this was one of the shades they had left. It was a good deal and I really just wanted to try it, so I chose #7 (a pinky pearlescent shade). I used this more like an illuminator mixed in with foundation instead of as a highlighter since it was a pink shade. It made my foundation look glowy. I still would’ve preferred to get a different shade, but I liked it.

    Repurchase? I want to try other liquid illuminators from other brands, but if I were to get this again, I would get it in shade #2.

    Love,

    Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

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  • glow recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm

    Review | Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm

    November 19, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I haven’t had much to review lately since I haven’t purchased anything in a few months. I have been trying some skincare products that I’ve been sent and hope to post some reviews on those products next month.

    Reveal smooth, glowing skin from the start of your routine and effortlessly dissolve makeup, dirt, and oil with the PEG-free Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm. This balm-to-milky oil harnesses naturally-enzymatic, actively smoothing papaya to satisfy and gently resurface skin, creating the ultimate baby-soft canvas for skincare and makeup. The mix of exfoliating and calming papaya seed oil, papaya enzymes, papaya extract, and antioxidant-packed blueberry, leaves skin clean, bouncy, and glowing.

    Ingredients: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Oleate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Polyethylene, Aqua/Water/Eau, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Papain, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Levulinic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite 

    I like this cleansing balm! I’ve used it a few times now. I think I like it better than the Banila Co Clean It Zero and Heimish All Clean Balm (read my comparison review). I know the Glow Recipe cleansing balm costs more, but it does come in a glass container which you can reuse. I usually don’t like the smell of papaya, but this one has a very pleasant papaya scent. I don’t use waterproof eye makeup so I can’t comment on how well it removes that. It removes makeup easily, I do see what people mean when they feel a bit of a film after, but it shouldn’t be a problem when you’re following up with your second cleanse (which you should be doing anyway).

    RATING: 4/5

    I’ve only tried a handful of cleansing balms, but I would say this is in my top three.

    Check out my review on other Glow Recipe products!

    Love,

    *Description and ingredient list taken from Glow Recipe website.

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  • sephora vib sale haul 2019

    Haul | August 2019 Sephora VIB Sale

    September 16, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    Here’s what I bought from the Sephora VIB Sale last month. I made two separate orders:

    Laneige Multi Cleanser – A cleanser with Papaya Enzymes that removes makeup and impurities
     
    Amorepacific Purify & Polish Set – A daily, cleansing and exfoliating duo to reveal visibly smoother, refreshed skin
    • 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Treatment Cleansing Foam
    • 0.53 oz/ 15 g Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder
     
    Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder in 2 – A multipurpose, modern pressed powder sets, perfects, and finishes, leaving skin with a diffused, luminous glow
     
    Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation in G20 – A talc-free powder foundation that provides buildable coverage, a weightless matte finish, and shine control with kaolin clay
    Samples:
    • Tarte Creaseless Concealer
    • Stellar Limitless Foundation

    I bought the two powders for my mom. G20 was a bit light and golden, so I exchanged it for N30. I don’t think we’ve found her shade match in the Cover FX Powder yet.

    bareMinerals Beautiful Finish Foundation Brush – A finishing brush with synthetic fibers for sheer-to-full coverage of Original and Matte foundations
     
    Sephora Collection Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner Mini – A gentle, solid sponge and brush cleanser featuring argan oil and a warm Moroccan fragrance
     
    Sephora Collection PRO Featherweight Powder Brush #91 – A lightweight powder brush to apply powder foundation and translucent powder to the face and body
     
    Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – A weightless, alcohol-free setting spray that locks in makeup for up to 12-hour wear while imparting a dewy, hydrated look
     
    Samples:
    • Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation
    • Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla, Custard, Hazelnut, Caramel

    Except for the solid brush cleaner, it’s the first time buying the products above. I haven’t opened the bareMinerals brush yet, but the Sephora PRO brush is soooo soft!! The brush has a tapered end that’s really skinny, so it’s a bit top heavy. I would recommend a different brush that has a more even weight distribution if you buff/swirl powder on.

    What did you pick up from the sale?

    Love,

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  • Haul | March 2019 Korean Skincare

    March 15, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    It’s been a while since I did a haul blog post and because I’ve been on a low buy, there’s been no reason to do one. I’ve almost run out of my current cleanser (KORAI Cloud Cleanser – read my review) and my COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review), so I decided to order a bunch of different ones to try. Hopefully, these will last a while because I bought so many. I purchased the products from Chuusi.ca (a Canadian online shop that sells Korean beauty and skincare). I’ve previously bought from them and they ship things out really quickly. Last time, I ordered and then received a notification 3 hours later. This time, it was the next day since I ordered on a weekend. I’m really excited to try the products I ordered:

    • 3x COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches
    • 2x Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Mask Pack
    • Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera Foam Cleanser
    • COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
    • Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash
    • Heimish All Clean Balm
    • Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)
    • Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel
    • NEOGEN Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling (Green Tea)
    • Tony Moly Shiny Foot Super Peeling Liquid.

    I’d love to try other acne patch brands. So far I’ve only tried COSRX and Nexcare ones (read my This or That post comparing them)

    Update: Click here to read my review comparing the two cleansing balms.

    Have you tried any of these products? What are your fave K-beauty products?

    Love,

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  • clinique take the day off cleansing balm vs pixi nourhsing cleansing balm

    This or That | Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm vs. Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm

    June 22, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    As you all know by now, I love Winners. I spotted the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm and thought I’d give it a try. I already had the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, so I thought I’d compare the two.

    Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm – You massage this onto your dry face and wash off with warm water.

    Lightweight makeup remover quickly dissolves tenacious eye and face makeups, sunscreens. Transforms from a solid balm into a silky oil upon application. Cleans thoroughly, rinses off completely. Gently helps remove the stress of pollution so skin looks younger, longer. Non-greasy. Non-drying.

    Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm – Like the Clinique balm, you apply it to a dry face, but you have to use a damp wash cloth to remove it. I tried washing it off with just water, but you need the face cloth to wipe off the balm or else it will just feel greasy and you’ll never get it off.

    A gentle cleansing balm that removes all traces of makeup as it nourishes, leaving skin silky-soft.

    WINNER: Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

    Originally, I thought the Clinique one was more expensive, but there’s actually more in the jar than the Pixi one (according to the Sephora website) and it worked out to be cheaper. But, then I was on the Clinique site and the amount in the jar was different- I would assume Clinique’s is more accurate which makes the Clinique one a little more expensive per mL. Either way, Clinique wins in my book. I like it better because you don’t need a damp wash cloth to wipe it off and it rinses off easily with water. I also don’t love the smell of the Pixi one- it has sweet almond oil in it.

    Love,

    jen

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  • First Impressions with Glow Recipe

    June 7, 2018

    20180606_140652~2

    Hi Everyone!

    I recently made a trip to a couple Winners downtown and I scored a mini travel size pack of the Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser.

    Both products have AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and it warns you that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to apply that sunscreen!

    Check out my review on the Vichy Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion!

    20180606_213635.jpgWatermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – It smells so refreshing (it obviously smells like watermelon) and I love that it doesn’t feel sticky on your face after you apply it. A lot of sleeping masks and skincare serums and essence are sometimes tacky after you apply it and it doesn’t go away. After a few minutes, the mask absorbed into my skin and made it feel soft and smooth.

    It can be used in two ways: as a sleeping mask or a wash off mask. As a sleeping mask, you apply a layer on your skin as the final step in your skincare routine before bed. Pat gently until it is absorbed into the skin. In the morning, wash it off. As a wash off mask, spread a thick layer on your face and after ten minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water.

    The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is a luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask that smoothes and perfects skin, overnight.

    This pillow-proof formula acts as a radiance-boosting hybrid hydrator, formulated with soothing, amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and pore refining AHAs that work while you sleep to gently exfoliate and clarify.

    RATING: 5/5

    20180606_213809Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – It smells good and it has a gel-like texture that’s similar to a peel off mask before it dries. It makes sense that it’s thicker than other cleansers because it can be used as a wash-off mask. I tried it as a cleanser to remove my makeup since it claims to be ‘makeup-melting’. Similar to a cleansing balm, it removed all of my makeup. It even removed my mascara (which wasn’t waterproof), but I always get raccoon eyes with regular cleansers. When my face was still wet after I took off the makeup, it felt silky and after I patted my face dry, it felt super smooth.

    An unexpectedly bouncy makeup eraser + cleanser that deeply hydrates skin, eliminating the need for a hydrating toner.

    Blueberry extract delivers antioxidants. Gentle AHA unglues dead skin cells and clarifies. Hydrating suds microfoam, melting makeup and prepping skin to maximize the efficacy of skincare.

    It can be used as a cleanser or a wash off mask. As a cleanser, you create a lather and massage gently onto your face and rinse thoroughly. As a wash off mask, you apply a generous layer to your dry skin and rinse off after 5-8 minutes.

    RATING: 5/5

    Before I tried it, I didn’t think I would consider buying the full size, but after using it, my opinion has changed. There are so many great cleansers that are a fraction of the price, but this one can remove makeup, cleanse your skin and be used as a mask.

    Have you tried Glow Recipe products? What are your faves?

    Love,

    jen

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