Today, I’m sharing my favourites from the past couple months.
Live Clean Cool & Fresh Natural Deodorant – I’ve been using this every day and doing Chloe Ting workouts. I’ve been sweating quite a bit and I can still smell the deodorant. I don’t smell sweat (from my armpits). I love the smell of it, it’s very refreshing.
Jouer Essential Hydrating Lip Oil – This makes your lips glossy without being too sticky. It doesn’t have a scent or taste. It keeps your lips moisturized for a few hours. I wouldn’t put this in my purse though just in case I don’t close it properly. I was taking a picture and put the tube on its side and it started pouring out slowly.
Moom Organic Organic & 100% Natural Hair Remover with Lavender* – I was sent this by the brand and I didn’t know how well it would work. Once I tried it though, it lived up to the claims. It said the hair grows back after two weeks which is accurate. I tried it on my arms and the hair started growing back after 2 weeks. It’s almost been a month now and the hair is sparser. I like that it comes with reusable/washable cotton cloths.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – My dry skin needs a face oil (especially in the winter). I really like this oil. It doesn’t really have a scent and it’s not too greasy.
Extracted from the nuts of the shea tree native to the North Region of Ghana, our unrefined shea butter is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F as well as the essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for smooth healthy moisturized skin and hair.
Benefits include: • Helps cover the look of Acne/Blemishes • Helps Reduce the looks of wrinkles and aging • May help reduce Itchy/Peeling Skin
I put the shea butter into a jar for easier access. I’ve never used shea butter on its own before. One time I got shea butter as a sample from another brand, but the texture was very different – It was hard! This shea butter came in plastic wrap inside of a resealable bag. It has the texture of cookie dough. From the heat of your hands, it melts down making it easy to rub into your skin. I tested it out on my feet as a patch test and they felt so smooth the next day. It can feel a bit tacky and that’s not my favourite feeling since it makes your clothes stick to your skin.
RATING: 4/5
I like to use it on the drier areas of my skin like my feet and elbows. In the winter, I’ll probably use it on my hands with cotton gloves at night. I’ve heard some people use it on their hair. My hair is already oily enough, so I haven’t tried it. I think shea butter is especially great to use during the colder months (which is most of the year in Canada).
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 (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 – 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.
Today, I’m reviewing the Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick. I received this from Topbox to review on their website, but I thought I would do a blog post on it as well.
Clinically proven to help heal dry, damaged skin
TSA-friendly, on-the-go dry stick that you can bring with you everywhere you go
Delivers targeted healing for hard to reach spots
Great for protection against friction and preventing chafing
Can be used on dry skin, stressed skin, and sensitive skin
Non-greasy and mess-free formula, you don’t need to rub in anything
There’s 40g / 1.4 oz in the tube. It retails for $8.49 CAD at the drugstore.
This is a body balm stick, but I’ve been keeping it next to my computer and apply to my lips throughout the day. I like to wipe it down every now and then since I apply straight onto my lips.
I know this is more expensive than the regular tubs of Vaseline, but it’s not as messy and you don’t have to stick your fingers into a tub.
By the end of the tube, I’ll probably need to use a spatula or something to scrape out the remaining Vaseline (like everything else that comes in a tube)
RATING: 4/5
I know they have the lip therapy tins, but I don’t like sticking my finger into a tin especially when I’m out of the house. It would be awesome if they made a tinier version for lips in the tube format.
I would definitely purchase a smaller version if they come out with one. For my own personal use, I probably wouldn’t buy this once I finish my current tube. It’s too big for my purse and I already have tubs of Vaseline that I need to use.
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.
My brow products of choice are pencils and gels. A few times I’ve used an matte shadow as eyebrow powder, but I prefer pencils. I’m not patient or skilled enough to use pomades.
Two years ago, I wrote a similar post reviewing brow products I’ve tried (read my post). I’ve tried quite a few products since then and found some that I like more.
I’ve also written a few comparison posts (with swatches), check them out below:
I don’t think they sell the Dior Diorshow BoldBrow anymore, they came out with a new product to replace it.
HITS
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel – My friend recommended this clear gel and it’s my favourite clear gel that I’ve tried. It comes out of the tube white, but dries down clear. It leaves my brows feeling soft and not crunchy at all!
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 5 Deep – One of my favourite tinted brow gels.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (read my review) – This has been one of my favourite brow pencils I’ve tried.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – A great drugstore micro brow pencil. This is a fave of mine as well.
LIKES
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel– This brow gel does get a bit crunchy, but it keeps my brows in place. I just wish the wand wasn’t so huge. It’s like a mascara wand. I would prefer a thinner one.
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil in Soft Black 09(read my review) – I liked this brow pencil, but it felt like a waste to sharpen so much of it away. I prefer retractable pencils that you don’t have to sharpen. This pencil is nice for a natural look.
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette – I wanted to try a different brow pencil, so I grabbed this Kevyn Aucoin one. It’s the first product I’ve tried from the brand. The shade is a good match for me, but it wipes off more easily than other brow products. I wouldn’t repurchase it.
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil in Ash Brown – In my NYX Hits & Misses post, I put this in the HITS, but this is going into the LIKES section for this post. It’s a HIT for the products I’ve tried from NYX, but there’s other brow products I prefer. This is another pencil that I like from NYX. Although I prefer the Micro Brow pencil because it comes with a spoolie. This one comes with a little oval/paddle brush so you can diffuse what you drew on. You get a more filled in look with this pomade pencil.
MISSES
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (read my review) – I don’t know if it was just the sample I got of this, but it was kind of tacky. When you pull the wandout, you would see a string of product from the wand to the tube. It kind of reminded me of clear lash glue in that way.
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color in 5 Deep – I got a deluxe sample of this and it’s just too intense for me.
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill in 5 Deep – I prefer micro pencils so this was too thick for me. I prefer hair-like strokes instead of the filled in look.
Burt’s Bees Natural Brow Pencil in 1610 Brunette* – This only comes in two shades and the darker shade is too light for me. It was too waxy for my liking.
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown – This pencil was way too waxy for my liking and it never sharpened nicely.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brown – I just wanted to try some Charlotte Tilbury products so I bought this during the sale. I love the size of the brush and the colour was nice. It’s a nice product, but I don’t think it’s anything special and it’s the most expensive gel I’ve tried.
Brow Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per gram
# of shades available
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel
7 USD = 8.85 CAD
3.10g
2.2
clear, 4 tinted
Anastasia Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel
29.50
7.85g
3.8
clear
L’Oréal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara
13.49
3.2g
4.2
4 tinted
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel
32
7g
4.6
clear
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel (mini)
12
2,5g
4.8
clear
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (value)
51
6g
8.5
3 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
19
3.5g
5.4
clear
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
32
3g
10.7
10 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
18
1.5g
12.7
10 tinted
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel
30
1.33g
22.6
4 tinted
Brow Pencils/Pomade Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per ounce
# of shades available
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
32
0.1oz
320
8 shades
Burt's Bees Brow Pencil
13.99
0.04oz
349
2 shades
Mini size Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
19
0.05oz
380
3 shades
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil
10.99
0.02oz
550
4 shades on Maybelline,
2 shades on Shoppers Drug Mart site
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil
12.49
0.007oz
1784
8 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill
32
0.01oz
3200
12 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill (mini)
19
0.005oz
3800
3 shades
NYX Micro Brow Pencil
12.49
0.003oz
4163
8 shades
Anastasia Brow Wiz
28
0.003oz
9333
10 shades
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
32
0.003oz
10667
4 shades
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil
35
0.003oz
11667
9 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define
32
0.02oz
16000
12 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define (mini)
19
0.001oz
19000
12 shades
To Try
I have the Anastasia Brow Wiz in my collection, but I haven’t tried it yet. I bought it earlier this year and wanted to finish my Kevyn Aucoin pencil first.
I didn’t finish many products this month, so this will be one of my shortest posts.
Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* – I really enjoyed this moisturizer. While it wasn’t enough during the winter time on its own, it’s a nice moisturizer. I mostly used it as a moisturizer, but the handful of times I used it under makeup, it looked nice.
Repurchase? Yes.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion – This isn’t the most moisturizing lotion ever, but it doesn’t have a scent and it gets the job done. If you have drier skin, you might need something more in the winter,
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
Bare Minerals Barepro Performance Wear Powder Foundation – I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora as a promo. I really enjoyed it AND it was even in the wrong shade, but it was nice on the skin. Would definitely buy a full size.
Bella Pierre Mineral Foundation – This was the first mineral foundation I tried. This woman at a kiosk sucked me into her chair and put this on me. It was beautiful and I ended up buying this powder, a blush and others.
Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact Powder Foundation (read my review) – This is no longer around, but Shiseido still has some gorgeous powders. You just have to hope they don’t discontinue them.
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact – I think this is meant to use as an all-over face powder to illuminate, but I use it as a highlighter. It’s perfect for a subtle glow.
Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder – I really do love this powder, but the shade isn’t right. I wish they had more shades or a translucent option.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – This is my fave translucent setting powder I’ve tried.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation – This powder looks beautiful. I just need to get it in the right shade.
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder – This made my skin look like it had a filter on it. I don’t know if it was just a combo of a good skin day and a nice primer, but it looked really good every time I used it.
LIKES
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder – It’s a beautiful powder, BUT it pans so quickly and there’s only 3 shades. Fair is too light and Medium is too dark.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – I don’t find anything special about this one. I had a deluxe sample and the powder would come out in clumps. I didn’t store it where any moisture could get to it, so I don’t know why it was like that.
Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifiying Powder – This was a good powder from what I remember. I want to try the Rimmel Stay Matte one.
Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder – This was a nice powder, but I didn’t like the scent of it. I don’t think any powder needs to be scented.
Burt’s Bees Natural Mattifying Powder* – I had the wrong shade of this, so it made me look really pale. It was a nice pressed powder that did mattify. I probably wouldn’t repurchase though (even if it was the right shade).
Revlon Nearly Naked Powder – This was a nice powder that felt silky smooth. It doesn’t have the best shade range and it’s fairly expensive for a drugstore powder. I’d rather get a bare minerals powder for the price.
Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation – This felt silky smooth, but the shade I got was way too light, so I can’t say for sure if I really liked it or not. It made my skin look patchy because it was too light.
Nude by Nature Mattifying Pressed Setting Powder* – It mattified and gave nice coverage. It wasn’t my fave setting powder though.
MISSES
Bobbi Brown Nude Finishing Illuminating Setting Powder – If this didn’t have the shimmer in it, it would be a beautiful powder.
KVD Beauty Lock-It Brightening Powder – I bought this at Winners when I wanted to try baking because it was before I knew that baking powder is its own thing. I also mistakenly bought a shade meant for dark skin tones. I tested it out anyway just to see if I liked the consistency, but it was way too heavy for my dry under eyes.
Catrice Light Illusion Loose Powder (Yellow Matt) – I didn’t like this because as I’ve said, I have dry under eyes and it just emphasized it. If you have oily skin, it might work for you.
To Try
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Lancôme Long Time No Shine Setting Powder
Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Custom Finish Powder Foundation
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.
Just a heads up that there are quite a few cult fave foundations that I don’t love as much as everyone else. There are more foundations that I’ve tried samples of, but 1) this post would be way too long and 2) I don’t have a full opinion on them since I only used them a handful of times. This post will only include liquids/creams/cushions/sticks. I will include powder foundations in my Powder Hits & Misses post since I haven’t tried as many. It will also only include foundations that are still available. I’m going to keep my little reviews as short as I can especially if I have a full review of the foundation. I will link them so you can read them if you’d like.
In no particular order, here are my Hits, Likes and Misses:
Hits
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick (read my review) – This might be my favourite stick foundation I’ve tried to date. I even had the wrong shade. It was perfect for a girls trip. I packed this to use as foundation/concealer. This is one of my favourite Bobbi Brown items (Bobbi Brown Hits & Misses). I bought it at the MAC Warehouse Sale and would definitely pay full price for it.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick SPF21 – This would be my 2nd favourite stick foundation.
Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation (read my review) – Love this. Even though it’s labelled as a foundation, it’s more like a tinted moisturizer. If only they had more shades available (I’m in between shades).
Lancôme Miracle Cushion Foundation – I need to find the right shade because the one I was using is too pink for me.
Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer – I feel like this has a little more coverage than what I’d consider a tinted moisturizer. It’s a great product though.
Likes
Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Foundation – Beautiful foundation and one of the closest matches I’ve ever had. It does have fragrance in it and oddly enough, it doesn’t smell that great. I would rather try the self-refreshing one that doesn’t have any fragrance in it.
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation (read my review) – While this was a beautiful foundation, it just didn’t last long on me. I don’t know if the primers I tried were just too slippy or something. It looked beautiful on the skin, but I just couldn’t find the right shade match. It was either too pink or too orange.
Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50* (read my review) – Nice cushion foundation, but I’m between shades.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation – Can’t find a good shade match, but this is a nice foundation.
Maybelline Fit Me Hydrate + Smooth Foundation (read my review) – I wish this had a pump. I’m also not crazy about the scent of this. Not my fave foundation.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick (read my review) – I liked it, but didn’t love this enough. It was just too full coverage for me (even when I used a very thin layer).
Hera Black Cushion Foundation – My sister got this for me in Korea. I just picked a shade that I thought would be okay based on pictures. Even though I’m quite light, the shade is too light for me. Plus, this is very fragranced (like a lot of K-Beauty products). The foundation itself is nice, but the fragrance is just too much for me. Plus, it’s hard for me to get in Canada. If it is available, it’s more than I’m willing to spend. So, I’d rather spend the money on something else.
The Ordinary Serum Foundation (read my review) – not my fave, but not my least fave.
The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream (read my review) – At the time I wrote the review for this, I really enjoyed it. Since then, I’ve tried other products I prefer more.
Perricone MD No Foundation Serum Broad Spectrum SPF30 (read my review) – Nice foundation that looks natural and provides sheer coverage.
Misses
For the foundation misses, there are ones that either just didn’t impress me much, didn’t provide enough coverage or had too much coverage.
Almay Clear Complexion Make Myself Clear Makeup* – I don’t really want makeup that has salicylic acid.
NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil* (read my review) – not my shade and coverage was too light for me.
Bali Body BB Cream (read my review) – This provided no coverage whatsoever.
NYX HD Studio Photogenic Foundation – Broke me out and smelled like plastic.
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer – Was way too thick for me and shade range wasn’t great.
Garnier BB Cream – Shade range is terrible and it made my eyes water. Too much alcohol in it??
Nars Velvet Matte Foundation Stick – I bought this at the Shiseido Warehouse Sale and it just didn’t wow me. It sounds kind of mean, but there’s a reason that this is rarely on lists of Fave Stick Foundations.
Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation – Washed off easily with water and looked patchy on dry spots. What would happen if I wore this when it’s raining or went on a Maid of the Mist boat tour??
Nude by Nature Luminous Sheer Liquid Foundation* (read my review) – Not enough coverage.
Nude by Nature BB Cream* (read my review) – Not enough coverage.
Wet N Wild Photofocus Foundation – Shade was wrong, too matte for me. I know they came out with a dewy version, but I also didn’t like the smell or the fact that it used a spatula instead of a pump.
The following foundations are ones I can’t give a definitive opinion on:
Becca Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation – I think I had the wrong shade and also knew nothing about applying it. I ended up throwing this out despite not using it very often.
Holika Holika Gudetama Photo Ready Cushion Foundation – wrong shade. Wasn’t my fave cushion though.
Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation – This was one of the first liquid foundations from the drugstore that I bought. It smells like chemicals, but I remember it being nice (I had the wrong shade though).
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation – I can’t say if I like or hate this because I bought the wrong shade. I bought this before I knew what I wanted in a foundation. I never fully tested it out. I would prefer a foundation that has a pump (instead of buying one separately and NARS has nice foundations that come with a pump).
To Try
Bite Changemaker Micellar Foundation
L’Oréal Infallible 24Hr Freshwear Foundation
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation
What are your fave foundations?
Love,
Products marked with (*) were sent to me for review.
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.
Each primer has a small blurb on why I love, like or didn’t like. Some I’ve grouped together because they were similar to me. First, I’ll start with Hits, then Likes and end with Misses.
HITS
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This one is great for my dry skin. Before I started using facial oils and drinking more water, my nose was super dry and flaky (ew). It’s still a bit dry and can get flaky at times, but around the nostrils aren’t as bad as they used to be. This primer was the first that would keep my nose moisturized enough by the end of the day. You can also use this as a moisturizer if you’re in a pinch and need some moisture.
Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* & Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review) – These are also 2-in-1 primers that can double as moisturizers. I wouldn’t say that these should be used as your only part of your skincare routine, but they can definitely be one of the steps in your morning routine to help prep your skin. The Sonia Roselli Water Balm is more moisturizing than the Good Molecules. I wouldn’t use the Good Molecules as a moisturizer on its own though. I usually pair it with a face oil.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – This is a nice hydrating primer that has a bit of tackiness. You can also use at the end of your makeup routine, but take note that the spray nozzle isn’t the finest so don’t get too close to your face. It has a slightly citrus scent from the Limonene, so if you don’t like citrus, you’ll want to skip this one!
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is a nice smoothing/blurring primer that smells really nice. I use it on my cheeks and forehead where my pores are larger.
Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer (read my review) – This is one of Tati’s fave blurring primers. So I thought I’d give it a try. This is a thicker primer and it’s easy to use too much – Less is more! Sometimes I would get too much on my fingers and then just apply it to areas I didn’t really need it. I would notice my makeup would look more cakey in those areas. That was totally my fault though. This is a great primer if you need to blur those pores. If you do end up trying it, press it into the skin, do not rub.
Winky Lux Whipped Primer – Tati also tried this one to compare. I can’t recall exactly what she said, but I think she liked it. Although not as much as the Tarte one. This one is a softer texture since it’s whipped – It’s like this one is whipped cream cheese while the Tarte is regular Philly cream cheese. It might be easier for a beginner to try this one first and then upgrade to Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer when you’re ready.
Mac Strobe Cream (Pink) – I guess this is more of a liquid highlighter than a primer. If you have larger pores, you might want to use a blurring primer before applying this to the face. You can use this underneath foundation, mix it in with foundation or apply as a liquid highlighter. This pink is so pretty to give you that ‘glow from within’ look. The Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7 is also really pretty and I haven’t personally tried it, but the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is so pretty too.
LIKES
Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer – I don’t really like the silicone-y feeling blurring primers, but if you don’t mind them, you’d like this one.
Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer – This one broke me out, but it blurs really nicely. If it works for you, this is one of the cheaper primers available at Sephora and in this blog post.
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primers (Nourishing & Hydrating – These two primers were both really nice, but again didn’t provide my dry skin enough moisture. The Nourishing one is a bit richer in texture while the hydrating one is more of a gel cream texture.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I really loved this primer when I first tried a sample, but once I bought the full size bottle, I didn’t reach for it as often. You could use any facial oil you already have instead of spending money on a primer oil. Also, this isn’t the best smelling facial oil I’ve used either. I ended up having to use it as a facial oil and then ended up decluttering because I had it so long that it started to smell off.
First Aid Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, Stellar Brilliant Primer & Mac Prep + Prime Natural Radiance – From what I remember, these three primers were illuminating and they had similar textures. They weren’t shimmery or anything, but there was a glow to them. While they were nice, they didn’t provide quite enough hydration for my dry skin. Also, I didn’t like the smells of these primers. I’d rather use a really good hydrating primer and choose to add in some liquid highlighter on my own instead of getting an illuminating primer like these ones.
MISSES
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I know some people love this one, but this smells like school glue to me and that just turned me off. I also didn’t notice anything special about it.
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer – Similar to the Smashbox pore minimizing primer, this is silicone-y. It’s a good drugstore alternative to the Smashbox one, I believe. I didn’t compare them so I don’t know if Smashbox was better at blurring, but they both have the same texture.
Make Up for Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer – Redness Correcting & Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer – Redness Correcting(read my review) – I didn’t really find these two primers to work that well at concealing redness. If you need to colour correct, use a colour corrector instead of a primer that corrects.
L’Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream (Anti-Redness) (read my review) – This smells really bad, but it does work great if you have a slightly darker skin tone than I do. It works well for my mom. It starts out green, but then it turns ‘skin-coloured.’
Maybelline Facestudio Master Primer Blur + Redness Control Primer – This did nothing to conceal redness OR blur.
Nude By Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – Even though I rated this a 3/5 in my review, the smell is too sweet. It smells like Rockets (or as the Americans call them ‘Smarties’).
The Body Shop Moisturizing Primer – I don’t think this is available anymore, but it was basically a moisturizer. It had a similar texture to the First Aid priming moisturizer.
The Body Shop All-In-1 Blurring Primer – Again, this is silicone-y and one of the first primers I tried.
Smashbox Photo Finish Under Eye Primer – Originally, I loved this primer because I thought it made my under eyes look illuminated and bright. After a while, I didn’t notice anything. I don’t know if I was just imagining things in the beginning. This was meant to illuminate the under eyes. You don’t need this (even if it did work)…just get a good eye cream that already illuminates. This one has a similar texture to the First Aid/Stellar/MAC illuminating primers.
I’ve also tried the Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer and Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer in samples. I think the POREfessional was dried out by the time I tried it, but I know a lot of people love it. I think it’s similar to the Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer, so I might give the hydrating version a try. I really liked the Silk Canvas primer and would definitely consider purchasing the mini. I know the full size is more cost effective, but I don’t know if I could get through the full size one fast enough. I’d rather spend a few dollars more per ounce than buy the full size one and end up throwing it out because it expired.
To Try
Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer
Becca Velvet Blurring Primer
Benefit The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer
Bite Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer (normal to dry skin)
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (This was on my 2020 Beauty Wishlist)
Cover FX Gripping Primer
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Blurring
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating
Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer
In my next Hits & Misses post, I’ll be writing about foundations!
Daiso Razors – I like these for shaving the face. They come with a plastic protector for storage.
Repurchase? Yes.
Tarte Maracuja Eye Treatment – This cream is quite thick and I finished it a lot faster than I finished other products with the same amount.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Good Molecules Pure Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil* – really liked this oil.
Repurchase? Yes.
Kopari Coconut Deodorant (read my review) – I had to declutter this because my underarms got a reaction when I would use it. I think it’s the coconut. It smells nice, but it didn’t do the best job when I would work out. Of course, it is a deodorant and not an anti-perspirant.
Repurchase? No.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser – This is a good cleanser for me to use in the morning. I sometimes use it on the body as well.
Repurchase? Yes.
Rael Miracle Patches (read my review) – LOVE THESE! If you haven’t tried hydrocolloid patches for your acne, you need to try them! It doesn’t have to be these specific ones, but these and the COSRX ones are favourites of mine.
Repurchase? I purchase mine from Amazon (4 packs of 24). This is my second time buying 4 packs. It took me about a 8-12 months to finish all 4 packs.
Moom Aromatherapy Foot Spa Cream* – Why are all foot creams mint-scented? Not that I’m complaining. This was a nice foot cream, but I didn’t notice a huge difference in how smooth my feet felt.
Repurchase? No.
Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo – I like this shampoo. I wouldn’t say it’s my fave, but I haven’t gotten any reactions (when I was using a Pantene shampoo, I noticed I was getting breakouts along my hairline and I don’t use many other hair products so it was easy to narrow it down).
Repurchase? Only on sale.
Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Face Tonic* (read my review) – I enjoy tea tree oil for my acne-prone skin.
Repurchase? I would purchase more products in their Tea Tree collection (like the body wash).
Tula Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel – This is a nice salicylic acid acne gel. When I first got it, I would use it every day which I realized was too often and the reason my skin was a bit red. Once I cut down to using it less frequently, it was better and still kept my skin fairly clear.
Repurchase? Tula no longer ships to Canada, but I’m sure I can find a similar acne gel with salicylic acid.
Grounded Sage Pure Amore Gel Facial Cleanser* – I didn’t love this cleanser mainly because it came I a glass jar. I prefer a pump because I don’t want to stick my wet hand into the jar and I also tend to use more.
Repurchase? No.
Nars Velvet Matte Foundation Stick in Fiji – This wasn’t my favourite stick foundation I’ve used.
Repurchase? No.
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in 09 Red Berry Glam – I wanted to try this lip oil and I won it in a giveaway. It wasn’t the shade I wanted, but I got to see if I liked the formula. I was expecting it to be more of an oil, but it’s basically like a gloss (quite sticky).
Repurchase? Maybe, but in a different shade.
Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara – I like that this is a fiber mascara. You just have to wash it off with warm water and you don’t get raccoon eyes. Unfortunately that means it’s not waterproof if that’s what you’re after.
Repurchase? Yes.
Sephora Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner – This is a nice little thing to travel with and it comes with a little silicone pad to help get a deeper clean.
I haven’t tried many new products since my last favourites post. I have a few products that I’m enjoying at the moment, but need to test them out more before I add them to a favourites post.
Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer* (read my review) – While there are adjustments I’d make to the design (making the handle a bit smaller), this is a great brush to dry hair and get some volume.
Wet Detangling Brushes – It doesn’t have to be a specific brand. I have a Tangle Teezer and another brand that’s not as well known. Wet detangling brushes with handles are awesome.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer in 202 Light – This is a beautiful, medium coverage concealer that looks natural.
Blume Meltdown Acne & Blemish Oil* – This has been great for those breakouts that hurt during that time of the month. I use it as a spot treatment and the next day, the pimple doesn’t hurt (or it’s not as bad as the day before). It does have a strong (natural) scent to it.
Tea Tree Oil prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted bacteria while nourishing the skin. The face tonic restores the skin’s natural moisture balance and helps prevent skin problems by deep cleansing. It contains extract of Kakadu Plum which has a high level of antioxidant properties. The natural Tea Tree Oil prevents bacteria from clinging to the skin.
I’ve been using the Face Tonic for a few weeks now and I’m enjoying it. It’s better than The Body Shop one because it doesn’t have alcohol or witch hazel in it (I think I’m allergic to witch hazel – read my blog post about it here). Instead of using it as a toner, I use it before my shower as a pre-cleanse because I’m not a huge fan of tea tree smell. I know I’m supposed to use it after cleansing, but it seems to be working for me. I’ve actually been using it on my face AND back because I’m unfortunately prone to bacne as well. It’s helped dry out my active breakouts on my back.
I would definitely consider trying their Tea Tree Oil Body Wash. I’ve used The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil Body Wash and that worked really well to keep my back clear.
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!)
Today, I’m sharing makeup and skincare products that have become favourites of mine. Either I already have repurchased or plan to repurchase in the future.
In no particular order, here are 15 of my beauty favourites:
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – I love this primer water so much, that I actually bought 3 during a sale on Smashbox.ca! It’s one of the few products that I’ve bought backups.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define* – Love this brow pencil. Benefit is one of the few brands that carries brow products with more than 3 shades and also different undertones.
Colourpop Boss Brow Clear Gel – My friend recommended this brow gel and I love it. It doesn’t make your brows feel crunchy at all!
Bioderma Sensibio H₂0 Make Up Removing Micelle Solution – The Garnier and Bioderma Micellar Waters are my favourites. The Garnier one is cheaper, so I repurchase it more, but I do see why everyone loves the Bioderma one too.
Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes* – I think this would be a great eye cream for the spring/summer time for me. It was very nice and light, but wasn’t quite hydrating enough for Canadian winters.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This is one of my favourite primers that keeps my dry skin hydrated throughout the day.
Good Molecules Pure Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil* – I have been loving facial oils for my dry skin and this one is a great one from Good Molecules.
Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* – I love that brands are coming out with primers without silicones. This one is a great 2-in-1 product.
Gummiband Hair Cords – I was originally gifted some hair cords, but I have since purchased more because I love them. Also, they’re a Canadian brand.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – This is a beautiful powder to set your makeup.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – This is the only lip mask I’ve tried, so I can’t say it’s my favourite. It is a great lip mask that keeps my lips hydrated at night.
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer – A favourite concealer of mine for spot concealing. It blends beautifully into the skin.
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I really enjoyed this eye cream. It made my under eyes feel smooth and hydrated. I also loved the metal applicator.
Rael Miracle Patches (read my review) – Love these patches!
Volition Strawberry-C Brightening Serum* (read my review) – Loved this serum!
Today, I’ll be reviewing a product I received from Calissa. It’s the No Foundation Serum from Perricone MD.
Perricone MD’s No Foundation Serum instantly softens imperfections and minimises the appearance of wrinkles and pores with Neuropeptides without settling into fine lines. A luxurious fluid texture leaves a semi-matte suede finish with a breathable second skin effect.
It’s really nice, the only thing about the one sold at Calissa is that it comes in 1 universal shade. The Perricone website has multiple shades, but it’s SPF20. I don’t know if the formulation is different or if it’s just a slightly lower SPF.
RATING: 3.5/5
It wore well and it looked like skin. It has a nice, soft matte finish. By hour six, it was breaking up a little bit. I set it with the Charlotte Tilbury powder. It’s really good for someone who has dry skin like me. I don’t know how it would work on someone with oily skin. It would probably start to break up a lot sooner. I have mostly dry skin, but I do get an oily t-zone. It didn’t look cakey around my nose which was great. I prefer a more dewy look which can be achieved by mixing in a liquid highlighter. I give this specific “universal” broad spectrum serum a lower rating. If I tried a shade that matched me, I might give a higher rating.
Perricone MD replied to my Instagram review saying: We have another formula, No Makeup Foundation (vs. Foundation Serum) that we think you may like better based upon this feedback!
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!)
This best-selling body gel contains Rosemary, Black Pepper, Lavender and Ginger essential oils. After a long day at work, or an intense workout, give your aching muscles the love they need. De-Stress Body Gel instantly cools aches and pains, then warms muscles over time leaving them feeling soothed.
Apply generously and massage directly over muscles and joints before and after physical activity. Use up to twice daily. Can be used in flight to maintain circulation in ankles and legs. For optimum results follow with De-Stress Body Oil to give your body some extra TLC. TOP TIP: If you suffer with tension headaches, apply muscle gel to the back of your neck whilst at work, or on the go.
I’ve used it a few times now and it’s really good. Usually I use something like Voltaren on my sore muscles. My arm was sore and throbbing one day, so I applied it and it has this cool feeling. At some point in the next couple hours the throbbing stopped. It still stinks like any muscle gel (I smell the rosemary and black pepper the most I think), but it works!! Luckily, the scent doesn’t linger. You can still smell it if you sniff your arm or wherever you applied it, but you can’t smell it from a distance. I probably wouldn’t use it on a flight. I wouldn’t want to be THAT person on the airplane.
RATING: 4/5
It’s great, but it is on the more expensive side.
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!)
