• March 2019 Product Empties

    March 29, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

    Repurchase? Yes, when they have a darker shade.

    Love,

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  • This or That | Benefit 24 Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel vs. Diorshow BoldBrow

    January 15, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    Do you use brow gel in your brow routine? I’ve tried a few different ones: clear and tinted. I prefer a tinted brow gel because I find that the clear ones I’ve tried make my brows look glossy/shiny in the sunlight? Plus, tinted brow gels give a more natural, filled in look (especially if they have fibers) whereas the clear gels sort of separate my brows and tend to wipe off the brow pencil I used beforehand.

    Benefit Ready, Set, Brow Deluxe Sample of the 24 Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel

    An invisible brow gel that shapes, sets, and locks in brow color for 24 hours. Hold eyebrows in place and keep them perfectly polished all day with this clear setting gel. The custom brush features long bristles that evenly coat brow hairs from root to tip and short bristles to sculpt and shape hairs into place. The flexible, flake-free and quick to dry formula applies easily to brows and locks on makeup for 24 hours.

    Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark

    Update: They no longer sell this and they’ve replaced it with another brow gel.

    A brow mascara to achieve lush, full, and groomed brows immediately. Quickly and easily create a natural brow look that highlights lids and emphasizes the eyes. The formula coats each hair for a strengthening effect, and the mousse-serum format is enriched with microfibers to coat skin and brows for an instant, lush look. The natural shades match any skin tone: Light, Medium, or Dark, while the micro-brush coats each fiber for fuller, perfectly shaped brows.

    I think clear brow gels are great if you just want a 1 step routine and you already have great brows. If you’re someone who has gaps in your brows, then a tinted gel with fibers is really useful.

    I love the Benefit Gimme Brow and the Diorshow Bold Brow gels. I bought the Dior one because it has a little more product in it than the Gimme Brow, but sometimes the shade looks a bit gray-brown. The Gimme Brow expanded their shade range and they have a darker shade that would match my dark brows. Next time, I think I will try the Anastasia and Hourglass ones. I know Essence has one for a fraction of the price, but I feel like the darkest shade will be too light for me. I know Glossier Boy Brow is a fave for many people, so I might give that one a try at some point. Since brow gel is okay to keep longer than mascara (because it doesn’t go close to your eyes), I don’t mind a high end one.

    WINNER: TIE!

    After trying the Colourpop Boss Brow Clear Gel, I’ve changed my mind. Initially, I chose tinted brow gels, but now I love clear gels.

    Between the Diorshow Bold Brow and the Benefit one though, I prefer the Diorshow Bold Brow.

    What brow products do you use?

    Love,

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  • September 2018 Faves

    September 28, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Here are September’s favourites!!

    OPI Nail Lacquer in Step Right UP! – This is a beautiful sheer pink. Perfect for a bride/bridesmaids.

    Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark (read my review)- I really enjoyed this tinted brow gel. You get a bigger tube than Benefit Gimme Brow, but there’s only three shades to choose from and the darkest one is a bit gray (cool toned). If they come out with a shade that’s closer to my brows, I would definitely repurchase it. Until then, I’m trying out other brow gels.

    Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (read my review) – This has become one of my favourites since I received it from Topbox Circle. A good drugstore dupe for it is the NYX Micro Brow Pencil.

    Pixi By Petra + Aspyn Ovard Glow-y Powder in Santorini Sunset – I spotted this at Winners and it’s a beautiful champagne highlighter. Unfortunately, since it’s a collaboration, it’s not available any more.

    What were your favourites this month?

    Love,

    jen

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  • Haul | August 2018 Sephora VIB Rouge Sale

    August 30, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    I picked up some things from the Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciation Sale, mostly skincare because I’m working on finishing products I have in my current collection. I have so many products in my LOVES list that it was hard to refrain from buying more things. I only bought products I need to replace other things I’ve finished. Although, I did make an order from Tarte as well (first time ordering from them).

    If you haven’t bought anything yet, you still have time! It ends September 3rd!

    What do you guys think of the new updates to their Beauty Insider program? It’s awesome if you’re a VIB or ROUGE, but it’s still kind of the same for Beauty Insiders. I guess it makes sense since they want to reward the people who are spending more money. Somehow, last year, I got to ROUGE status and I’m a a bit mortified at how easy it was to do that. I did buy products for my mom, but the majority was for me…Skincare and makeup tools are expensive. As a ROUGE, I plan to take advantage of it while I still can. I will hopefully only make it to VIB in the following years.

    I bought two things for my grandma too. She loves scented hand creams and a Bobbi Brown lipstick.

    Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick in Brocade

    The gold tube is so pretty and you can tell it’s a luxury item. This is a beautiful “bright purple plum” shade and my grandma can really pull off purple lipsticks. It’s definitely very pigmented and has a satin finish.

    A full-coverage, vitamin C and E-infused lipstick that plumps lips, supports natural collagen, and smooths the look of lines and wrinkles.

    L’Occitane Hand Cream in Cherry Blossom

    I almost wrote “Cheryl Blossom” there lol (character from Riverdale). Anyone else ready for shows to start up again? I thought this one smelled nice. I don’t personally like hand creams that are scented, but I don’t mind sniffing them. My grandma loves the L’Occitane Hand Creams. For Christmas one time, we bought her the Roses et Reines (roses), Pivoine Flora (peonies) and Arlésienne Velvet (rose, violet & saffron).

    A collection of luxurious hand creams to help nourish and protect hands. 

    For the things I got for myself, it’s the first time buying all four products. I’ve tried other Clinique Acne Solutions products, but not this one. I was going to pick up the Benefit Gimme Brow, but I realized that the Dior brow gel is actually cheaper (it’s $2 more, but there’s just a little bit more in the tube) and I mean, it’s Dior. Who doesn’t want to own a Dior product and have that signature CD emblem?

    Waso Quick Matte Oil-Free Moisturizer

    Waso is a new brand by Shiseido that’s geared towards Millennials. Similar to the Dior Backstage line, it’s a ‘more affordable’ line from Shiseido. I originally bought this for my mom because she’s looking for a new moisturizer. She decided to go with the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Day Emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF18 which we will pick up on Sept 5th at Hudson’s Bay when they have the Shiseido gift with purchase. I decided to keep the Waso moisturizer for myself.

    An oil-free, oil-balancing gel emulsion to mattify and balance skin with 24-hour hydration. This formula smooths and hydrates skin with a shine-reducing, sebum-absorbing powder to maintain a matte look. The dewy texture feels refreshing and leaves skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and less shiny. 

    Tarte Maracuja Oil

    I’ve tested the Maracuja Oil on my hand and I was amazed at how smooth my hand felt.

    A vegan face oil for a healthy-looking, radiant complexion with no greasy feel.

    Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

    I’ve used the Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam and Cleansing Gel and both worked well for me, but they are kind of pricey. Right now, I’m using a Neutrogena one since it’s a lot cheaper. I prefer to splurge on spot treatments and buy drugstore acne cleansers.

    A daily treatment gel for acne-clearing results equal to a leading topical prescription.

    Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark

    It’d be nice if they had more shades. They only have 3: Light, Medium or Dark. Luckily, I can use dark, but I wouldn’t mind if it was a little darker.

    A brow mascara to achieve lush, full, and groomed brows immediately.

    That’s all I got in the Sephora Haul. I’ll write a post for my Tarte Haul once my order comes in and write reviews on these products once I’ve tested them out.

    Have you tried any of these products? What did you pick up from the Sephora Sale?

    Love,

    jen

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