• May 2018 Product Empties

    May 30, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    I finished quite a few products this month, so here are my empties:

    belif Creamy cleansing foam moist – It smelled like plants and I didn’t notice if it really helped to detoxify my skin or help prevent breakouts. It did make my face feel squeaky clean though (like the other The Face Shop cleansers).

    Repurchase? I got a small travel-size one in a kit so I didn’t know how much a full-size tube cost. After seeing the price, I don’t think I’d buy the full-size when The Face Shop has so many other great cleansers for less.

    COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser – This is a great cleanser for a good price. I know it’s safe to use daily, but I use it a few times a week. It also smells planty/botanical, but that’s no big deal since I wash it off.

    Repurchase? Absolutely!

    Danielle Creations Erase Your Face Tea Tree Purifying Cleansing Cloths – I got these at Winners for a really good price. I liked that it had the plastic that you open and close and it snaps in place so you know it’s closed properly. I don’t like the ones where you just rip off the sticky part and then stick it back on when you’ve taken out your wipes. Sometimes I don’t close it properly and my wipes dry out :/

    Repurchase? These were extremely thick, soft and they smelled nice. I would definitely buy these again!

    Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray – I just had the little travel-sized one that I got as a promo from Sephora. Given the price of a full-size, I’m not sure if I would get it.

    Repurchase? It’s a good product, but I want to try out other ones that are cheaper before I consider repurchasing this one.

    Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner – I am terrible at doing winged liner. The shape of this helped me with the flick. I bought a bunch of Milani products on sale (read my review and a swatch of this liner).

    Repurchase? Similar to the setting spray, I want to try out more before I repurchase (not that it’s expensive, but I know there are better liners out there from other drugstore brands).

    Chosungah22 Dong Gong Minn Brow Maker in Black Brown – I picked this up at Winners after I had returned the Benefit Gimme Brow when it was recalled. It was similar to Gimme Brow, but then it had that sponge tip at the end which I found made it difficult to comb through my brows without accidentally getting some gel onto my skin.

    Repurchase? No.

    Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – I really liked this mascara (read my review).

    Repurchase? I did love this mascara, but there are so many great ones from the drugstore and I prefer not to spend more than $15 on a mascara. I will be keeping the wand though because I liked the brush.

    Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer – I haven’t tried a lot of shadow primers, but I think I prefer ones that aren’t so thick.

    Repurchase? I hear the Milani primer is really good and there’s other ones I want to try, so I don’t think I will be buying a new one.

    What were your product empties for May?

    Love,

    jen

    Read More
  • mac lip pencil

    September/October 2017 Faves

    November 3, 2017

    Hi Everyone!

    I’m starting a new blog series for my monthly beauty favourites. Check out September and October’s faves!

    media-20171103.jpgMaybelline Fit Me Concealer

    This is a great concealer! I just wish they had more shade selections (I have 10 Light and 25 Medium). One of my faves from the drugstore!

    23.jpgMilani products- see my haul and swatches. I’m in love with all of these products. I especially love the lipstick. I have the shade 26 Nude Crème for the lipstick and 02 Light for the concealer.

    media-201711033 Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

    This has become a fave acne treatment. It’s great for drying out those big, pesky pimples that hurt. Sometimes it takes a few applications over a few days to get them to shrink down. You don’t want to use it too much in the same place since it’s so strong and very drying on your skin. I still have yet to try the similar Mario Badescu drying lotion which I’ve heard works really well too. I also bought one from The Face Shop, and plan to do a dupe it out since it’s a lot cheaper than the eradiKate.

    20170911_025516Pink Perfection kit from Estee Lauder (no longer sold in stores)

    I’m loving this kit. The eyeshadows are velvety smooth and pigmented and the Pure Color Envy lipstick is so creamy and comfortable.

    20170911_031542MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish

    Sometimes I don’t want a super pigmented lip product like lipstick and a balm doesn’t always have colour. The patentpolish is like a hybrid of a balm and a lipstick. Kittenish is a mauvey pink shade…wish I bought more of these at the Mac Warehouse sale (I’ll have to get more next time).

    lancome

    Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel

    If it’s not obvious from my #motd posts, I love this cushion foundation. It gives you a natural finish and unlike some liquid foundations, it doesn’t look cakey or make my nose look dry. My nose area tends to be dry and foundation can make it look patchy but this cushion foundation doesn’t do that. Originally, my mom bought it for herself but she didn’t like the feel of liquid foundations even though this is a very sheer formula. She gave this to me since we’re the same shade and she opted for the Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder (25 Beige).

    media-20171103343434Lush Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask

    I am loving this mask. It deeply cleanses pores and buffs dryness to reinvigorate your skin. It’s vegan so it does expire a little faster than a non-vegan one. My face feels super smooth after using this and the coffee grounds aren’t abrasive. Although I don’t drink coffee, I love the smell of it and it makes me feel refreshed and awake after using it. I haven’t used it on my body yet, but I imagine it would have the same effect.

    media-201711034343Buxom Lash Mascara

    This is a deluxe sample (the full-sized one has a silver top). I don’t usually love silicone wands but this keeps my lashes clump-free and my lashes still feel soft after using this. If only the price tag weren’t so high (I usually stick to drug store mascaras since their shelf life isn’t very long). I definitely need to find a dupe for this mascara.

    media-2017110352Garnier’s All-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Water

    This removes waterproof makeup and doesn’t leave my eyes feeling sticky like some eye makeup removers I’ve used. Even though it says you don’t need to rinse, I like to wash my face after using it because it has a slightly greasy feeling (even though there’s no oil in it) after using it. I’ve tried the pink one (not for waterproof makeup) and you don’t have to shake it before using.

    media-23.jpgStep 1 Skin Equalizer Primers from Make Up For Ever

    These are some of my faves. I love these three: Smoothing, Redness Correcting and Hydrating. Sometimes I use them for different parts of my face. When I have some redness around my nose and chin, then the smoothing primer on areas where my pores are more visible and then hydrating everywhere else. I’m not usually one to like scented skincare products, but I love the light scent of these.

    UPDATE: I have recently added the Nourishing primer to my collection and it’s better than the hydrating one.

    What were your faves from September and October?

    Love,

    jen

    Read More

  • This or That | Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner vs. Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

    October 3, 2017

    Hi Everyone!

    I can’t believe it’s already October and Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend, where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday everyone was getting read to go back to school, and now it’s almost midterm time for students. Let’s get started on my first post of this series.

    Today, I’m comparing two drugstore liquid liners: Maybelline vs. Milani Cosmetics. Both liners are innovative, easy to use pens for easy grip.

    Let me start off by saying that I’m terrible at doing winged liner, especially getting the wings even. Anything that’s geared towards helping me get that perfect wing, I’m open to trying. I’ve tried gel liners, but my favourite liners are pencils. I use kohl liners to tightline, so I’ve only bought a handful of liquid liners.

    To compare the two, the Master Precise liner is a lot thicker and the liner itself isn’t as dark. It’s a great liner if you’re going for a thicker, Amy Winehouse look. The Eye Tech liner gives a thinner, sharper wing; the tip is rigid enough that I can get a good flick.

    maybelline.PNGMaybelline Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner

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

    milaniMilani Cosmetics Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

    If you’ve ever struggled with liquid eyeliner before—ever had it skip or smear—the mistake-proof Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner is for you. The high tech, felt-tip tool makes a liquid lined eye a breeze. The non-feathering, water-resistant formula comes in the richest, deepest black available. Use this liquid liner for a long-wearing, intense eye look that’s professionally precise.

    WINNER: Milani Cosmetics Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

    At some point, I’ll have to test a regular Maybelline liquid liner pen and some other drug store brands to see how the felt tips are, but between these two, I award the win to the Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner.

    What are your fave liquid liners?

    Love,

    jen

    Read More