• L’Oréal Paris | My Hits & Misses

    July 31, 2023

    Hi Everyone!

    It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the blog. It’s also been a while since I’ve done a Hits & Misses post. So here are my thoughts on L’Oréal products. Some of the products I was gifted and marked with a *.

    Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

    MAKEUP || Primers | Foundations | Powders | Concealers | Brows | Mascara

    SKINCARE || Eye Creams

    BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | Maybelline | Nude by Nature | NYX | TULA | Volition Beauty

    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.

    HITS

    Voluminous Original Mascara – This is one of my favourite drugstore mascaras. I like the wand and it’s a good price. 

    Rouge Signature Liquid Lip Colour in I Create 416 – I love this shade and it’s a pretty comfortable matte liquid lipstick. Sometimes I’ll put a bit of gloss on in the middle.

    Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Varnished Rosewood 904 (read my review) – I bought this one for my mom, it’s a really pretty shade and has a nice shine.

    LIKES

    Bambi Eye Mascara* – I liked this mascara, the shape of the tube made it a bit difficult to open. I don’t have dexterity issues, but someone who does might have trouble opening it.

    Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara – This is the gold tube one. It works well for bottom lashes.

    Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara (read my review) – This brow mascara was okay. I liked the small brush, but it made my brows feel crunchy.

    Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness (read my review) – My mom uses this anti-redness bb cream and it works well. I wish it came in different shades because it’s too brown for me. It also doesn’t smell that great.

    Color Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in J Lo’s Nude 370 – I used to looooove this lipstick. I didn’t really love the scent of the lipstick (I think it was the same as the regular Colour Riche lipsticks – either a baby powder scent or a bit floral). I went through 3 tubes of this until I decided to try other products. I prefer lip tints and balms or liquid lipsticks these days.

    Color Riche Oil-Infused Nail Lacquer in 554 Carmin Parisien* – Gorgeous shade and the brush works well. I could do without the rose scent of the polish though. I prefer the regular Color Riche Nail Lacquer (if they still sell that).

    Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Moisturizer Fragrance-Free* – This is the only skincare product I’ve liked from L’Oreal because it’s fragrance-free. It did a good job as a moisturizer too, but it’s almost the same price as a non-drugstore brand. So I’d rather use a serum or moisturizer from another brand. 

    Revitalift Triple Power LZR 7-day Treatment Replumping Ampoules* – These were interesting. I would prefer if they sold it in a bottle because it’s expensive for these 7 capsules.

    Le Colour Clear Toning Gloss* – I haven’t coloured my hair in years, so I can only judge the claims to make your hair shine. It did make my hair look very shiny and healthy.

    Dream Lengths 8-second(es) Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-Out* (read my review) – It detangled hair well, but it didn’t last very long and it was expensive.

    MISSES

    Unfortunately, a lot of the skincare products has a heavy fragrance that gives me a headache, so I was unable to test how well the product actually worked. The serums were all quite tacky which I didn’t love. Here are 3 of their Revitalift serums that were too scented to try: 

    • Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitaminc C, E + Salicylic Acid Face Serum* – smells like that solution to clean the hair tools at a salon
    • Revitalift Hydrating Smoothing Serum* – smells like hairspray from what I remember
    • Revitalift Triple Power LZR 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum* – I may be mistaken, but I could’ve sworn that all of the serums had fragrance in them. Maybe there was another reason I didn’t like this one because it claims to be fragrance-free on the website

    Pure-Sugar Scrub for Oily Skin (Kiwi) – When I first tried this, I liked it, but I don’t really use scrubs on my face anymore because of my sensitive skin.

    Pure Clay Masks (Charcoal Brightening Mask for Dull Skin, Red Pore Minimizing 7 Exfoliating for Rough Skin, Green Mattifying Face Mask for Oily Skin)* – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stopped using face masks as often out of laziness. I prefer to use a mask that I don’t have to clean off. Also, clay masks can make my skin feel dry and tight and I don’t need my skin to be drier (especially in the colder months).

    Concealer Infallible Full Wear, One-Swipe Complete Coverage Matte Finish – This one is too thick for my liking and just made my under eyes look cakey.

    Colour Riche Ultra Matte Lipstick* (read my review) – These were a bit too matte for my liking. I probably could’ve added a gloss or balm on top, but the shades I tried weren’t ones I would’ve personally chosen. So maybe if I had tried a shade that I like, I would like them better.

    Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – This is going to be a surprise for some people, but I do not like this mascara’s wand shape. I need a more cone-shaped wand or one that’s wider in the middle, not thinner. 

    I have an Excel sheet of products I’ve tried and whether I would repurchase them or not. I have a few L’Oreal products that I said I wouldn’t repurchase, but unfortunately, I didn’t write why lol, so these fall into that category:

    • Voluminous Original Primer – I could’ve sworn I tried this, but I can’t find it in my records anywhere. I know I tried a mascara primer, but I didn’t want to splurge on one, so I got this one. I remember not liking it because it made my lashes feel so heavy once I put mascara on. It was either this or the Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer.
    • Excellence Crème – I’m pretty sure I’ve used one of their hair colours. I don’t dye my hair often, but I tried a few box dyes a few years ago. So I don’t really have a reference for which ones are good
    • Dream Lengths Shampoo with Keratin and Castor Oil & Dream Lengths Conditioner* – All I wrote in my Excel sheet was “scent was too sweet”
    • Extraordinary Oil Shampoo Fine Coconut Oil – I’m guessing that I didn’t like the oil in it or I didn’t like the coconut scent.
    • EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner* – I usually stick to regular drugstore shampoo brands in bottles (sometimes I will occasionally buy an expensive one and use it for special occasions). I think I didn’t love the scent of this and it was expensive
    • Stylista #BeachWaves Texturizing Mist – I don’t like the feeling of a hair texturizer
    • Stylista #Curls Defining Spray – I remember this being quite fragranced

    I’ve tried a few discontinued products as well:

    • Sublime Soft Micellar Gelee Eye Makeup Remover (read my review)
    • Infallible Pro Contour Palette – This was the first contour palette I tried. I didn’t know what I was doing back then lol. I do remember the contour shade being a good ‘shadow’ shade though
    • Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in 337 Refined Ruby – This was a pretty red (blue-red, not an orange-red), very shiny too

    While I’ve tried quite a bit from the brand, it also doesn’t seem like a lot once I’ve written it all down. I haven’t tried much of their face makeup, but I don’t feel tempted to try much from the brand. I have considered trying their foundations, but then I just end up trying other brands. Especially since drugstore prices have gone up and they’re comparable to brands at retail stores.

    Love,

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  • thekshop.ca k-beauty haul

    Haul | K-Beauty Skincare from thekshop.ca

    June 29, 2022

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m sharing a K-beauty haul! I made an order from thekshop.ca…even though I have a lot of skincare to try already. Here’s what I ended up ordering:

    • Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser | $18.99
    • Nacific Holiday-Edition Special Bundle (Cica) – NACIFIC X Stray Kids | $99
      • Fresh Cica Plus Clear Toner | $23.99
      • Fresh Cica Plus Clear Serum | $24.99
      • Fresh Cica Plus Clear Cream | $25.99
      • Vitamin C Newpair Cream (Spot Treatment) | $16.99
      • 2 x Fresh Herb Origin Clear Spot Patches (18 per pack) | $5.99 x 2 = $11.98
      • 8 Stray Kids Christmas Photocards
      • 8 Stray Kids The Comeback of Hologram Photocards
    • Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter | $31.99
    • samples: 3 x Iunik Black Snail Restore Serum
    The photocards on the top are the holographic ones. That’s why there’s a rainbow across some of their faces.

    All the products in the Holiday bundle add up to $103.94 if you buy them separately. They also threw in the Nacific Salicylic Acid Clarifying Mask Pack ($3.99) which was a nice little bonus. They packaged the products individually, instead of sending them in the holiday box as pictured on their website. I was fine with this because it would be silly to pack a box in another box. Especially when each product also comes in boxes.  The photocards come in plastic sleeves to protect them. One thing I was worried about though was that they put an elastic around the cards to secure them. It creased the edges of the plastic sleeves a bit, but the photocards were fine. I think it would’ve been better to package the cards into a larger sleeve/bag to keep them together. You don’t want the photocards to get damaged, especially if you’re buying the skincare set just for the 16 photocards.

    I haven’t tried any of the products yet, but I look forward to trying all of them. I wanted to try Cica because I’ve read that it’s good for redness and irritation. My face has gotten clearer lately, but I still have redness around my nose.   

    Other skincare products I want to try in the future:

    • Beauty of Joseon Serums
    • Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm
    • Dear, Klairs – Midnight Blue Calming Cream
    • KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief
    • KraveBeauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA
    • KraveBeauty Oat So Simple Water Cream

    I also wanted to get a lip product, but they didn’t have any of the shades in stock:

    • rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint
    • rom&nd Zero Velvet Tint
    • Peripera Ink Mood Matte Tint
    • Etude House Fixing Tint

    Love,

    *All prices are in Canadian.

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  • volition beauty products

    Volition Beauty | My Hits & Misses

    May 26, 2022

    Hi Everyone!

    I’ve actually enjoyed all of the products that I’ve tried from Volition Beauty. So, I don’t really have any for MISSES. Although I’ve been sent a lot of the Volition products, I plan to repurchase some of them in the future.

    Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

    MAKEUP || Primers | Foundations | Powders | Concealers | Brows | Mascara

    SKINCARE || Eye Creams

    BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | L’Oréal | Maybelline | Nude by Nature | NYX | TULA

    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.

    HITS

    Strawberry-C Brightening Serum* (read my review) – I really liked this serum. My skin looked dewy and fresh after applying this serum.

    How long does it last? 1oz bottle – about 120 uses (half pump per use) = 4 months, once daily OR 2 months, twice daily

    Snow Mushroom Water Serum – I really liked this serum too. It does have a slight smell to it that I can’t really describe. It’s not strong and doesn’t linger though.

    How long does it last? 1oz bottle – about 10 uses (half pump per use) = 4 months, once daily OR 2 months, twice daily

    Unspottable Hibiscus Correcting Oil* – I really enjoyed this oil and it lasted about a year of daily use (twice a day). I think it did help fade a dark spot I had on my nose too.

    How long does it last? 1.1oz bottle – about 320 uses (1-2 drops per use) = 10 months (twice daily = about 4 drops daily). Drops are a single droplet, not a full dropper’s worth.

    Skin Rhythm Balancing & Clearing Serum* – This is a great product, but I think they should put it in a bottle with a pump. The product is so thick that the dropper mechanism is harder to use (comparing it to the unspottable hibiscus correcting oil’s dropper, it sticks more). I had a painful pimple on my chin and I used this for two days and it was no longer painful and angry. It also didn’t feel dry or itchy.

    How long does it last? 1.1oz bottle – I’m still using this one, but it’ll probably last a while. The consistency of this serum is different from the oil and I use it as more of a spot treatment to target the areas with hormonal acne and acne scars

     

    LIKES

    Yaupon Tea Glow-Awakening Moisturizer* – This moisturizer has been perfect for the spring weather. I’ve been keeping my morning routine fairly simple with this moisturizer, the Skin Rhythm Balancing & Clearing Serum and an eye cream. It has this gel cream texture that makes it bouncy.

    How long does it last? 2oz pot – I’m still using this one, but using the other products’ calculations, it should last 3-4 months.

    Neroli Complete Crème* – I think this one is meant for oily and/or aging skin. While it was nice and it had a pleasant scent, I prefer the serums from the brand more.

    How long does it last? 1.7oz pot – Since it comes in a pot, it’s easier to use more or less each time. I used it once a day. It took me about 2-3 months to use.

    Celery Green Cream* (read my review) – This is more geared toward oily skin so it didn’t quite give me the hydration that I need for my dry skin.

    How long does it last? 1.7oz pot – Since it comes in a pot, it’s easier to use more or less each time. I think I used it once a day. It took me about 2-3 months to use.

    Helix AM/PM Eye Gel (read my review) – I didn’t dislike this, but it was more of a silicone/smoothing eye cream than a hydrating or moisturizing one. I didn’t get to try it under makeup which I wish I had. For a while, I only used this eye cream for morning and night. I think if I used a different eye cream during night time, this might’ve worked for me. Also, I probably should’ve tried it during a warmer season because my under eyes get dry in the winter and this eye gel did nothing to help it. I previously purchased this eye gel when they sold it in a pot. They now sell it in a bottle with a pump.

    How long does it last? 0.5oz pot – For a couple months, I used this in the morning and night and then I added another eye cream. So it lasted about 4 months. It could probably be stretched to 5 or 6 if you only use it once a day.

    I don’t really have any products on my wishlist. I’ve tried all the ones I wanted so far. The Orangesicle Balancing Daily Cleanser sounds nice, but lately I prefer using a cleansing balm as my first cleanse and the Cetaphil or Cerave cleansers for my second. I don’t really want to spend more than $20 on a daily cleanser. 

    Love,

    Products marked with * were gifted to me. Illustrations on featured image by me.

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  • Nov-Dec 2021-Jan 2022 Product Empties

    January 31, 2022

    Hi Everyone!

    I mostly finished skincare products in the past few months and I also decluttered a few things.

    Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser – I’ve used a few bottles of this already. I use it as a cleanser in the morning since it’s very gentle.

    Repurchase? Purchased bottles in bulk from Costco.

    Cerave Moisturizing Cream – Love this body lotion during the colder months. It keeps my skin feeling moisturized.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    How long does it last? 3 months – used once a day on full body.

    Boscia Plant Stem Cell and Ceramide Barrier-Defense Moisturizer* – This was an okay moisturizer. I probably should’ve tried it in the spring/summer because it definitely isn’t enough on its own for my dry skin.

    Repurchase? Maybe in the summer time.

    How long does it last? About 100 uses (took 1.5 months) two times a day. I used a generous amount to moisturize my face and neck.

    Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I had this as my fave eye cream in the past, but the size of it is getting smaller and the price is going up. I feel like there are eye creams that are more hydrating than this one. I know that hydration isn’t the target for this, but it does keep my under eyes pretty smooth.

    Repurchase? Undecided.

    How long does it last? 6 months, used two times a day.

    Volition Beauty Hibiscus Unspottable Correcting Oil* – I really enjoyed this oil. I also noticed that a dark-ish spot on my nose got lighter as I used it.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    How long does it last? Almost a year (about 11 months)! I used 2 drops per use, two times a day.

    Decluttered

    Oh K! Soothing Face Lotion* – I used this for a while, but didn’t notice any improvements in my skin.

    Repurchase? No.

    The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum* – I didn’t like this. I found this product too tacky for my liking. I think I don’t like Hyaluronic Acid when it’s on its own. I prefer it with other ingredients. I also didn’t like the bottle this came in. The serum would often get on the top and dry.

    Repurchase? No.

    L’Oreal Ever Pure Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner* – I had to give this to a friend. At first, I thought the scent of it was really nice and fresh when I smelled it from the tube. But once I actually used it, it was way too powerful for me.

    Repurchase? No.

    Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Primer* – I did not like this primer. It just sat on my skin and when I tried rubbing it in, it would pill.

    Repurchase? No.

    What products did you finish lately?

    Love,

    Products marked with * were sent to me for review or gifted.

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  • may 2020 empties

    May 2020 Product Empties

    May 29, 2020

    Hi Everyone!

    I’ve got quite a few empties for you this month. I love trying travel-sized products to test things out. I know they’re not the most cost effective, but I’ve found a fair share of products that I don’t like. So I’m glad I didn’t buy the full size versions right away.

    Amorepacific Purify & Polish Set

    Amorepacific Purify & Polish Set (includes Treatment Cleansing Foam and Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder) – Both of these cleansers are so strongly fragranced. I have dry skin and I feel like the cleansing foam was too drying for me.  

    Repurchase? No. They’re both quite expensive and too fragranced for my liking.

    Tosowoong Repair Sleeping Hair Pack* – At first, I enjoyed this because it was a rinse free hair mask and it smelled pretty good. But once it dried, it felt like I had left product in my hair and forgot to wash it out. 

    Repurchase? No.

    Institut Esthederm Cellular Water Gel* – I liked the consistency of this, but it was very fragranced. It reminded me a lot of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel (read my review).

    Repurchase? No.

    tatcha the water cream

    Tatcha The Water Cream – I didn’t want to like this cream because of the price, but it’s quite nice for the warmer weather. It’s very similar to the Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review).

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer – I’ve had this concealer for almost 2 years and I thought it was time to declutter it. I really loved it for spot concealing.

    Repurchase? Absolutely!

    Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brow – I loved the size of this brush. I don’t really have any complaints about it, but I think I slightly prefer the Benefit Gimme Brow because of the selection of shades.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner – This did a good job of cleaning my brushes, but the vanilla scent started to get to me. I originally put this in my July/August 2019 faves post, but I’ve changed my mind. The scent would linger on the brushes and make my room smell like the scent.

    Repurchase? No.

    What products did you finish this month?

    Love,

    Products marked with (*) were sent to me for review.

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  • Review | Dr. Jackson’s Night Cream

    October 16, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing Dr. Jackson’s Night Cream. A product I received from Calissa.

    Overloaded with leading botanical ingredients, Dr Jackson’s 02 Night Cream is intensely moisturising in order to hydrate and soften your skin. The calming aroma will help you to gradually drift off as your skin is enriched whilst you sleep.
     
    The replenishing combination of baobab seed oil, mango seed butter, kigelia fruit extract and frankincense tree resin in Dr Jackson’s 02 Night Cream 30ml helps to give you a rejuvenated, glowing complexion. Kigelia fruit extract helps to firm, soothe and brighten the complexion and even out skin tone. Baobab seed oil helps to improve skin firmness and strength and to diminish the look of fine lines to reveal radiant skin. Frankincense resin calms and soothes the skin and is often recommended for the treatment of blemishes. Mango seed extract helps to protect the skin against environmental aggressors.

    It comes in a black opaque glass jar and comes with a little spatula. It smells a bit woodsy and also reminds me a bit of Vick’s. It’s nowhere near as strongly scented, but just has a hint of that scent. The cream itself is quite thick – a little goes a long way.

    For me, I think night creams are a bit too thick to use every day. My face has a bit of a freak out if I use a cream that’s too thick. I would prefer to use a mask a couple times a week instead of using a daily night cream that’s too heavy.

    RATING: 3/5

    This would be a great cream for men (especially since a lot of men’s products come in black packaging).

    If you would like to make a purchase on Calissa.com, use code 10FRIENDSOFCALISSA to get 10% off! (This is not an affiliate code, just a code for you to get a discount!)

    Check out my other posts on products I’ve received from Calissa!

    Love,

    *I was sent this product by the team at Calissa. All opinions are my own.

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  • volition beauty celery green cream hyaluronic acid + peptides

    Review | Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides

    August 26, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I am reviewing the Celery Green Cream from Volition Beauty. In collaboration with Nastia Liukin, a gold medal gymnast, they created this cream.

    Volition Beauty is a really cool, innovative brand. Customers submit an idea for a product, then the community votes on which ones they want to be made.

    For those who dare to ask “what if?”…we listen. We believe that new beauty products should be created by real people with real beauty problems: people like you. Together, the Volition community—and that includes you—creates the next big things in beauty.

    What it is: An oil-free, celery-powered moisturizer that purifies and helps improve hydration retention for poreless, healthier-looking skin.

    Skin Type: Oily

    Skincare Concerns: Fine Lines and Wrinkles, Pores, and Oiliness

    Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Calcium Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Bismuth Oxychloride, Chromium Oxide Greens, Citric Acid, Mica, Potassium Sorbate.

    I love that it’s clean at Sephora which means there’s no sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and other fillers. This cream doesn’t have any added fragrance, but it smells fresh and fruity (not like celery at all). It feels cool and refreshing and it’s lightweight.

    Personally, I wouldn’t get it again when I finish this one. It says it’s meant for oily skin types. I would say I’m combo, leaning toward dry. So this cream isn’t meant for me. If I did use it, I would need to mix it with an oil or something to give me the hydration I need. I’d rather spend the money on a product that’s meant for my skin type.

    RATING: 4/5

    I give it a high rating because I think that someone with oily skin would really love this cream.

    I think Volition Beauty is a really cool brand and I want to try their strawberry-c brightening serum since that’s targeted toward my skin type.

    Update: I have tried the strawberry-c brightening serum (read my review).

    Have you tried Volition Beauty?

    Love,

    *I was gifted this product by Volition Beauty.

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  • First Impressions with Saturday Skin

    November 14, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I am reviewing a few Saturday Skin products that I purchased during the Sephora sale. I got the No Bad Days kit ($48 CAD) that includes 4 travel-sized products:

    • Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist
    • Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream
    • Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream
    • Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel

    I’ve seen this brand on Instagram and I wanted to try it. I love the pink packaging that they use. Although, it can be quite tricky to photograph without washing out the pink or making the SATURDAY SKIN labels illegible.

    Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist

    Hit refresh. Concentrated extracts of kiwi and grape quench and nourish, drenching skin in a veil of moisture.

    RATING: 4/5

    It’s a 2-in-1 product – a toner and an essence. I like that it’s not scented. With the travel-sized bottle, it disperses the liquid so well that you could spray your whole face in one spritz. Originally, when I saw the price for the full-sized bottle, I thought it was expensive, but it’s almost the same as MAC Fix+ or the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist. It even comes in a larger bottle than those two mists.

    Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

    Brighten up. Date Seed extract illuminates and refreshes the area around the eyes.

    RATING: 4/5

    I like the consistency of this eye cream and I like that it doesn’t smell like anything. It feels a little bit tacky after you’ve applied it, but it’s not as bad as another eye cream I tried once. My under eye area can get dry sometimes and this has helped to keep them smooth.

    Featherweight Daily Moisturizing Cream

    This lightweight formula still packs a punch. Avocado protein extract strengthens skin’s own moisture barrier, sealing in hydration to protect and soften skin.

    DERMATOLOGIST TESTED. NO PARABENS, SULFATES, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE OR SYNTHETIC COLOR.

    RATING: 3/5

    I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my face feel greasy or tacky. I don’t like the smell of this cream; it’s not scented, but it has this plastic smell. I don’t know if it’s from the tub it comes in or if it’s the product itself. I’ve seen other reviews that mention the smell, so it’s not just me.

    Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel

    Start over by gently rubbing dullness away. Natural cellulose lifts impurities from the skin and aloe extract soothes skin. Packed with papaya and bromelain (pineapple) to help remove impurities.

    RATING: 4/5

    This product made my face feel nice and smooth. While I did like it, there are similar products on the market that are cheaper. I prefer to spend more on skincare products that stay on my face. Since this product is a peel, I’d rather save some money.

    I’m glad I got this kit to try a handful of Saturday Skin products. Although if I had bought the individual items, I’d be able to return them easily. I’m not sure how it works with returning a kit…are you even allowed to return kits?

    Since this is a first impressions review, I will continue to use these products and update you on any changes. Based on my initial thoughts, I would repurchase 2 products from this kit: the Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream and the Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist.

    Have you tried Saturday Skin products? What were your thoughts on them?

    Love,

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  • Review | TheBalm Batter Up Eyeshadow Sticks

    February 17, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

    media-20180216asaqs.jpg

    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.

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    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.

    the balm batter up sticks swatchese

    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?

    Love,

    jen

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