• Revisiting My 2018 Favourites | Part 2

    May 17, 2019

    Hi Everyone!
    It’s been almost six months since Part 1 of Revisiting My 2018 Favourites. So, here’s Part 2! This post is for July to December’s beauty faves.

    Click here if you missed Part 1!

    JULY

    BCL Spa Sugar Scrub Lavender + Mint – I absolutely loved this. It smelled amazing and the scrub made my skin feel so soft and smell good.

    Repurchase? If I could find it for cheaper than $40 somewhere, I would! I’ll have to check salons in Toronto to see if they sell in-store. I’ve only found the brand on Amazon for $50+ or on wholesale sites.

    BCL Spa Dead Sea Salt Soak Lavender + Mint – As much as I loved this, I probably wouldn’t buy it again since it’s so expensive. I would rather buy the sugar scrub.

    Repurchase? No.

    Sonia Roselli Water Balm – Loved this!! It was a great moisturizer and primer, I will definitely get this again!

    Repurchase? Yes!

    Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit – I liked this, but I need to find a shade that’s more my style.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Colors by Llarowe Nail Polish in The Deep End – This is a pretty mermaid-y shade.

    Repurchase? I would repurchase from the brand, but I probably wouldn’t buy a similar shade. I want to streamline my nail polishes and purchase shades that don’t have shimmer (neutrals, reds, wines, etc.)

    AUGUST

    Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge -I love the flat side of this sponge.

    Repurchase? Yes! It would be great if I can find a 4-pack for $20 again!

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I enjoyed the little deluxe sample I had!

    Repurchase? YES!

    Soo’Ae Juice Mango Glow Mask – No offense to face masks, but I feel like (for the most part), they all feel the same. Unless one is specifically meant for something like drawing out impurities, the hydrating, brightening, plumping sheet masks all make my face feel the same.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    elf Studio Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose -This lipstick felt nice for a matte lip colour. This specific shade did not look good on me. It looked okay once I topped it with gloss though.

    Repurchase? No, I prefer satin finish lipsticks.

    Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50 – As someone who deals with acne, I can’t just use this product. I need something with a bit more coverage. This is a very nice and affordable product, but I need something with a bit more coverage than what this offers.

    Repurchase? Possibly (when my skin is clear and when they have a better shade range). Although the scent is quite strong.

    SEPTEMBER

    Benefit Precisely, My Brow Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 – LOVE THIS!

    Repurchase? Absolutely!

    Diorshow Bold Brow in 002 Dark – I love this, but won’t repurchase until they expand the shades (if that ever happens). The shade 002 Dark is the darkest and it leans gray.

    Repurchase? I would if they had a darker shade.

    OPI Nail Lacquer in Step Right Up! – I love this shade! It’s a beautiful sheer pink.

    Repurchase? If It’s still available when I finish my current bottle, I would definitely repurchase.

    Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel – This gel works well, but since it has salicylic acid, it can make my face a bit itchy and/or red.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Pixi Aspyn Ovard Glow-y Powder in Santorini Sunset – This is a beautiful champagne highlighter.

    Repurchase? No longer available.

    OCTOBER

    Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light-Neutral – Loooove this powder! I think I need a lighter shade though.

    Repurchase? Yes!!

    Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Cucumber Toner – I think I’m allergic to witch hazel (or at least, I can’t tolerate a heavy concentration of it).

    Repurchase? No.

    The Face Shop Multi-Layer Cotton Pads – I love these! They are much stronger than the Muji Peelable Cotton Pads.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Unknown Brand of Cotton Swabs (flat end and pointy end) – These are really useful! I like that it has a pointy end.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer – I love this primer.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    NOVEMBER

    Kopari Coconut Deodorant – It’s aluminum-free! It also smells really nice when you sniff it from the tube, but it can sometimes be too much for me (especially since I don’t looooove coconut). Also, since it’s got a strong scent, I feel like I shouldn’t wear my perfume when I do wear it because it will clash.

    Repurchase? Yes, I would try one of the other scents (or even unscented).

    Etude House Lip & Eye Remover – This is great for removing my makeup.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Light – Really love this concealer.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    TULA Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel – When I first got this, I was using it twice a day and then I stopped for a bit and realized that while it does work, my face was so dry because of the salicylic acid. I’ve cut down to using it only when I feel a pimple coming (like a spot treatment) instead of using it all over.

    Repurchase? I would.

    DECEMBER

    NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer – This concealer is awesome for spot concealing and I would definitely purchase in a lighter shade as an under eye concealer.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    The Body Shop Aloe Calming Foaming Wash – This was very gentle and I love foaming cleansers.

    Repurchase? Yes, but on sale.

    EcoTools Shading Brush – Love this brush. It’s so soft!!

    Repurchase? I would definitely buy more EcoTools brushes.

    Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette – I really just wanted to try this once to see why everyone loved it so much. I’m glad that they offer a duo now instead of having to get all six shades.

    Repurchase? I love the sombre shade for contouring, but I would rather buy another brand for obvious reasons.

    Do you still love your favourites from last year?

    Love,

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  • February 2019 Product Empties

    February 26, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    I finished quite a few makeup products this month. Check out my monthly empties:

    MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite – This is a great product to put on before foundation to give you that glow from within.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer – When I got a sample of this, it worked well. I could tell that it illuminated my under eyes. After buying the full size tube, I don’t know, it didn’t really do that much to illuminate and I don’t think it’s that different from other hydrating primers.

    Repurchase? No.

    Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer (Hydrating) Primer – I enjoyed this product, but I tried the nourishing primer and it hydrates better because it’s for dry skin.

    Repurchase? No, but I love the MUFE primers.

    MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance – If I wanted to get a glowy look, I would use the strobe cream.

    Repurchase? No.

    Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in 0.75 Ivory (read my review) – This was beautiful. I really liked it even though I had the wrong shade.

    Repurchase? In the correct shade, yes.

    CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara (read my review) – I liked this mascara a lot.

    Repurchase? I want to try others and there’s so many to try. I did enjoy this though, so I definitely would consider repurchasing.

    Tarte Amazonian Clay Smooth Operator Finishing Powder – This made it look like I had a filter on my face. It instantly blurred pores.

    Repurchase? I want to try others, but I definitely would repurchase.

    elf Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac (read my review) – I chose this exfoliator as the winner in both of my This or That lip scrubs.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Soo’ae Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – This gel sloughs off dry skin. It makes your face feel so soft after using it.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Loved this!

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Light – This is a pretty good concealer (if you are wondering, I took off the sponge). I think this shade was a bit too brightening on me, I might try the Neutralizer shade next time.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Tarte Maracuja Oil – I bought the supersize bottle of this (which is twice the size of the regular one) and I poured half of it into the regular bottle because I was worried I would be clumsy and knock it over and then I’d have a huge mess to clean up.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    TULA Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel – This is a great acne gel with salicylic acid that doesn’t irritate my skin. This bottle lasts 3 months using 1 pump night AND day. If you only used it during the day OR night, it could last 6 months. I think I will cut down to just using it at night because it’s probably not good to use it as often as I have been.

    Repurchase? I already bought two replacements. It sells out quickly, so I thought I would stock up on 2 bottles.

    Love,

    Read More

  • My Beauty Faves of 2018

    January 1, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    It’s my first post of 2019!!!

    From now on, I will be posting on Tuesdays & Fridays. Posting Mon-Wed-Fri was getting to be too much for me, so I think cutting down to twice a week will be okay for now.

    Here are 19 beauty faves that I will definitely repurchase once I’ve finished these:

    • Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette – UPDATE: I no longer plan to repurchase this palette or any products from the brand. I do want to find a similar contour shade to sombre from this palette though
    • Tula Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel
    • Tula Discovery Kit
      • Purifying Cleanser
      • Pro-Glycolic Resurfacing Gel
      • Illuminating Face Serum
      • Hydrating Day & Night Cream
    • Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
    • Kopari Coconut Deodorant
    • L’Oréal Skin Pure Sugar Scrub (Kiwi)
    • Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer in Deep
    • Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink
    • Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick in 260 Bisque N
    • Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer
    • Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light Neutral
    • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment Concealer in Light
    • Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
    • NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Custard
    • Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
    • Make Up For Ever Lustrous Palette (Limited Edition, but the shadows are available in singles) – I love the transition and shimmery shades in this palette. I need to work on using the darker shades more. I took these shadows out of this palette and put them into an empty MAC palette. The black part surrounding the shadows was made of foam. Every time I opened the palette, I would get a whiff of plastic/foam. Luckily, I was able to take the shadows out since it was just glued onto another layer of foam.
    Make Up For Ever Lustrous Palette

    What were your faves of 2018?

    Love,

    jen
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  • November 2018 Faves

    November 30, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    We’re starting this month with something a little different from my usual favourites. I think everyone is always on a quest to make their skin look healthy. Last year, I took spin classes for two weeks with my friends and I was drinking a lot of water then. My skin was probably the best it ever looked because I was staying hydrated. In October, I decided that I should make it a goal to drink the recommended daily intake of water (8 x 8 mL = about 2L).

    View this post on Instagram

    F E A T U R E F R I D A Y // Something a little different from my usual feature friday posts. Drinking enough water makes your skin look and feel hydrated. Drinking from a bottle or cold cup with a straw has really been helping me to take sips throughout the day and increase my water intake. (I'm using up the rest of our plastic straws right now, but will definitely be switching to reusable or paper straws in the future). Last month, I downloaded an app to help me keep track of my water intake and I think it's helped my skin a lot. Apart from the horrible breakout I'm healing from right now, my skin is a lot more hydrated and not as dry. #hydrate #water #featurefriday #friyay #tgif #discoverunder5k #skincare

    A post shared by Jen (@jencatbeauty) on

    Drinking from a bottle or cold cup with a straw has definitely helped me increase my water intake. (I’m using up the rest of our plastic straws right now, but will definitely be switching to reusable or paper straws in the future). I’ve also been cutting down on sugary drinks. I haven’t bought any 2L bottles of pop or juice in a long time. I mostly drink just water throughout the day and have one cup of tea. If I’m going out for dinner, I usually just get water, but occasionally, I will order a ginger ale or coke.

    Last month, I downloaded an app called Water Drink Reminder to help me keep track of my water intake and I think it’s helped my skin a lot. I just chose the first Water Tracker app that I liked the interface. I tried this plant one that had a cute plant and this other one, but both had spelling mistakes which drove me crazy. Apart from the horrible breakout I had at the beginning of this month, my skin is a lot more hydrated and not as dry.

    So far I’m loving this Kopari Coconut Deodorant. I haven’t done a rigorous workout with it, but I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty.  I was wearing it for a whole day and I did notice that the scent had faded and I could start to smell a bit of sweat. So, I don’t think this would be good for a rigorous workout and you would definitely have to reapply during a hot day. It is a bit pricey, but deodorant lasts a while, so I think it will be worth it.

    Check out my full review

    The Etude House Lip & Eye Remover is awesome at taking off eye makeup. I use a cotton pad and it took off the majority of my eye makeup in one swipe. I don’t have waterproof mascara, so I don’t know how well it takes it off, but it’s great for regular, non-waterproof makeup.

    I can see why everyone loves the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer. I have the shade Light and it’s the perfect shade for my under eyes. It brightens and has a beautiful, natural finish. I took off the sponge because I just don’t think it’s hygienic. One twist is enough for both of my eyes now that the sponge is gone.

    Lately, I’ve been using the Tula Purifying Cleanser, Illuminating Face Serum and the Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel. I was slowly incorporating the Tula products to my routine (just in case I have a reaction to one of the products). I still have to add the Pro-Glycolic Resurfacing Gel (which is a toner) and the Hydrating Day & Night Cream to the routine. I am very impressed by the acne gel because it’s one of the few salicylic acid products that hasn’t made my face red, irritated or puffy. Yay!! Usually, my face is fine with salicylic acid cleansers because it’s not on my face for very long. With salicylic acid products that you leave on overnight or during the day, I haven’t been so lucky. That’s why I was using tea tree oil products for a while. I still love my Body Shop tea tree oil products, but the smell is just so strong. So far, I am liking the Tula products I’ve tried. I will write a full review once I’ve started using the other 2 products.

    What were your fave this month?

    Love,

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  • 10 Products I Want to Try/Buy

    October 10, 2017

    Hi Everyone!

    I haven’t been posting as regularly as I’d like because I’m trying out new products. I’m going to try my best to do more posts each week. I think I will try to post more frequently and write shorter posts rather than the long posts I’ve been doing.

    Ever since I went to the MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale, I’ve put myself on a self-imposed makeup ban until the end of the year (maybe longer). I know, a girl can never have too much makeup, but I have more makeup and skincare products than I can store. Plus, I don’t want things to go bad because I’ve neglected them. The only products I’m allowed to buy are products I have finished and need to replace.

    Since I’m still trying out some products, I thought I’d do a post about what products I hope to try and eventually buy in the future. These are a handful of products that I know are really popular and everyone loves. I know I’m behind on the times for some of these. They have been cult favourites for years.

    1. MAC Prep and Prime Fix +
    2. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
    3. Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette
    4. Pixi Beauty Hydrating Milky Mist
    5. Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal)
    6. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer
    7. Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Color Changing Lipstick
    8. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
    9. Erborian CC Crème High Definition Radiance Face Cream Skin Perfector
    10. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

    UPDATE: I’ve purchased and reviewed the L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist.

    Dupe It Out | L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara vs. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

    First Impressions with Glow Recipe

    Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist Review

    What are some products that you want to try? Are any of the ones I listed above your holy grail products?

    Love,

    jen

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