Makeup Inventory | Jan 2021

January 20, 2021

Hi Everyone!

It’s time for another makeup inventory update! I bought a few makeup items in January 2020 (which I haven’t even opened yet). I was lucky enough to be sent some makeup and that’s the reason my collection grew a bit last year. I wasn’t able to reach my goal of getting down to 50 items like I wanted.

Makeup inventory posts from previous years:

Dec 2018 | June 2019 | Jan 2020

I’ve done some posts on my Hits & Misses for a few different categories, check out the posts:

Primers | Powders | Foundations | Concealers & Colour Correctors

Brows | Mascara

I’ve also done a few brand Hits & Misses posts:

Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | Maybelline | NYX | Nude by Nature

	July 2018	Dec 2018	June 2019	Jan 2020	Jan 2021
Primers	12	11	7	4	3
Foundations	13	7	6	6	3
Concealers	11	5	6	5	4
Setting Sprays/Powders	11	11	5	7	3
Contour	0	3	1	1	0
Bronzers	6	3	3	1	7
Blushes	14	5	5	2	6
Highlighters	13	9	4	5	9
Brows	3	3	6	3	2
Eyeshadows	129	60	23	17	16
Eyeliners	12	9	2	3	2
Mascara	10	2	3	2	2
Lipstick	28	7	7	4	1
Lip Liners	7	5	4	0	0
Lip Glosses/Tints/Balms	10	4	2	1	4
Makeup Removers	13	1	4	2	4
Perfumes	5	4	5	3	2
Nail Polishes	43	19	7	0	0
Total Items	340	168	100	66	68

Even though I didn’t reach my goal of 50 items, it’s amazing to see that my collection is a fraction of what it was in the summer of 2018.

The bronzer, blush and highlighter categories went up because I decided to count the pans as 1. Before, I used to count 1 palette as 1 blush/highlighter/bronzer. Even if it was a mixed palette, I just chose to count it as 1 bronzer/blush/highlighter.

I haven’t used my perfumes since early last year. I bought 2 of them during a warehouse sale and they were probably older inventory at the time. I’m wondering if I will get to use them up. I stopped using one of my old perfumes because the scent changed after a few years. I still have it on display though because it’s such a pretty bottle.

I haven’t worn nail polish in a couple years now. I would definitely consider buying a neutral colour and maybe a red/wine in the future.

What are your makeup plans for 2021?

Love,

Makeup Inventory | Jan 2020

January 8, 2020

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would do an update on my makeup collection. I’ve gotten my inventory down to a reasonable number. I think it’s reasonable enough that I don’t feel the need to participate in a Project Pan or 20 in 2020 challenge. I’ve also decided not to do a Low/No Buy this year because I think I can control myself now. I don’t really get swept up in new makeup releases. I might get samples at Sephora, but I don’t feel the need to buy the newest product until I’ve read or watched reviews.

In 2017 and 2018, I bought a bunch of products from Winners and the Mac Warehouse Sale. I didn’t even do full reviews on most of the items because they were old or discontinued. I did do quick reviews on some makeup items in my mid-year makeup inventory:

Primers & Foundations | Bronzers | Blushes | Mascaras | Highlighters

Makeup inventory posts from previous years:

Dec 2018 | June 2019

	July 2018	Dec 2018	June 2019	Jan 2020
Primers	12	11	7	4
Foundations	13	7	6	6
Concealers	11	5	6	5
Setting Sprays/Powders	11	11	5	7
Contour	0	3	1	1
Bronzers	6	3	3	1
Blushes	14	5	5	2
Highlighters	13	9	4	5
Brows	3	3	6	3
Eyeshadows	129	60	23	17
Eyeliners	12	9	2	3
Mascara	10	2	3	2
Lipstick	28	7	7	4
Lip Liners	7	5	4	0
Lip Glosses/Tints/Balms	10	4	2	1
Makeup Removers	13	1	4	2
Perfumes	5	4	5	3
Nail Polishes	43	19	7	0
Total Items	340	168	100	66

My plan is to get my collection down to 50 items by the end of the year. It’s shocking to think that I once had 340 makeup items (this number includes individual eyeshadows). It’s even more alarming to think that I paid for most of those items too. While I have been lucky enough to be sent products over the years, I’m sent more skincare products than makeup. Most of those items were impulse purchases because they were on sale or a good deal.

What are your makeup plans for 2020?

Love,

Makeup Inventory | June 2019

June 21, 2019
Hi Everyone!

This time last year, I had 340 makeup products (check out my post). By December of last year, I decluttered a lot and finished quite a few products (check out my post). I cut my collection in half and now my collection is down to 100! I hope to continue streamlining my collection. Maybe next year, I’ll have 50-75 products.
Primers: 7 (I had 11 in December)

Setting/Finishing Powders: 5 (8 in Dec)

Illuminating Powders/Creams: 0 (3 in Dec)

Foundations: 6 (7 in Dec)

Concealers/Colour Correctors: 6 (5 in Dec)

Contour: 1 (3 in Dec)

Bronzers: 3 (3 in Dec)

Blushes: 5 (5 in Dec)

Highlighters: 4 (9 in Dec)

Brows: 6 (3 in Dec)

Eyeshadow Pans/Sticks/Creams: 23 (60 in Dec)

Eyeliners: 2 (9 in Dec)

Mascaras: 3 (2 in Dec)

Lipsticks: 7 (7 in Dec)

Lip Liners: 4 (5 in Dec)

Lip Glosses/Tints: 2 (4 in Dec)

Makeup Removers: 4 (1 in Dec)

Perfume: 5 (4 in Dec)

Nail Polish: 7 (19 in Dec)

TOTAL: 100 (170 in Dec)

How many products are in your collection?

Love,
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Project Pan Update | 2019

February 8, 2019
Hi Everyone!

It’s been a month since I posted my Project Pan 2019 post. It turns out I was pretty close to finishing some of my products, so here’s an update.

I am very close to finishing the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer and I’ve finished the Smashbox Under Eye Primer, MAC Radiant Primer, and Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick. I decluttered the Essence Eyeshadow Base because it was older than I thought. I also decided to declutter the Burt’s Bees Blush because I was just using it to finish it and not because I loved it. It’s a gorgeous shade, but I have a love-hate relationship with blush. I either apply too little or too much and making that mistake with a pink blush is not good. I don’t want to look like a clown. Anyway, I have been leaning towards the peachy/nude/coral shades lately instead of bright pink.

Since I finished so many products already, I added some more:
- Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Bare Pink
- MAC Cremesheen Glass in It’s A Strike
- Marcelle Velvet Gel Lip Liner in Rosy Nude
- MAC Patentpolish in Kittenish
- TheBalm Batter Up Eyeshadow Sticks in Dugout and Shutout (read my review)
- Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation in 01N Nude Vanilla (read my review)
What products are in your Project Pan?

Love,
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Project Pan | 2019

January 8, 2019
Hi Everyone!

I’ve chosen ten products that I want to finish for my Project Pan:
- Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer – Hydrating
- Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eyes Primer
- Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base
- MAC Radiant Primer (mini)
- MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite
- Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation (Contour) in Fawn
- Burt’s Bees Blush in Shy Pink
- Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighter in Molten Gold
- Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink
Here are a few products that I will probably finish before July or declutter:
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Light
- NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black
- Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
- Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50 in No. 23 Sand → REVIEW
- Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder
- Urban Decay Primer Potion (mini)
- CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara → REVIEW
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara → REVIEW
- Diorshow Bold Brow Gel in 002 Dark
- Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia Eau de Parfum. I’ve had it since 2014, so I’d like to finish it so I can try new ones. It’s still one of my faves, but I’d love to try another one.
What do you hope to finish this year?

Love,
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Makeup Inventory | Dec 2018

December 21, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m checking in with my makeup inventory to show you how much progress I’ve made since my Mid-Year Makeup Inventories (click the links below):

Primers & Foundations | Bronzers | Blushes | Mascaras | Highlighters

I finished and decluttered half of the items I had in July; mostly decluttered.

CURRENT MAKEUP INVENTORY

Primers: 11

Setting/Finishing Powders: 8

Illuminating Powders/Creams: 3

Foundations: 7

Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5

Contour: 3

Bronzers: 3

Blushes: 5

Highlighters: 9

Brows: 3

Eyeshadow Pans/Sticks/Creams: 60

Eyeliners: 9

Mascaras: 2

Lipstick: 7

Lip Liners: 5

Lip Glosses/Tints: 4

Makeup Removers: 1

Perfume: 4

Nail Polish: 19

TOTAL: 168 (started with 340 – I finished and decluttered 172 items in the past 5 months)

I haven’t bought any new products in the following categories since taking Inventory of my collection in July:
- Blush
- Bronzer
- Highlighter (I have a new one, but I didn’t buy it for myself…so it doesn’t count)
- Illuminating Powders
- Eyeshadows
- Lip products (lipstick, balm, gloss, tint, liners)
- Makeup Remover
- Perfume
- Nail Polish
MAKEUP INVENTORY GOALS

You’ll remember from my Makeup Goals post, that I set a number for each category of what I should aim for and I said that I wanted to cut my collection in half (which I did!). I hope to continue decreasing the number of items on my collection and maybe reach 100 items by the end of 2019.
- Primers: 8-10
- Foundations: 6
- Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5
- Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists: 5
- Illuminating Powders/Creams: 2
- Bronzers: 2
- Blushes: 3
- Highlighters: 6
- Brows: 3
- Eyeshadows: 3 palettes
- Eyeliners: 5
- Mascaras: 3
- Lipstick/Balms: 10
- Lip Liners: 2
- Lip Glosses/Tints: 3
- Makeup Removers: 3
- Perfumes: 3
- Nail Polish: 5
Have you set any makeup goals for yourself or resolutions for the new year?

Love,
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November 2018 Product Empties

December 3, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here are last month’s product empties:

Amika Nourishing Mask – I got this on Amazon, so this is the old packaging. The new one looks pretty much the same (design-wise), but the font is a bit bigger. This mask made my hair smooth and shiny.

Repurchase? Maybe. I did really enjoy it, but I think I would rather get a hair mask from the drugstore because I really enjoyed the Garnier ones I’ve tried.

Sephora Yuzu Micellar Cleansing Water – The lemon scent makes me think of dish soap. While it does the job to remove makeup, it kind of makes my eyelids tingle. I gave it to my mom (who doesn’t have sensitive skin) and she noticed that when she used it, her face would be red after removing her makeup. She rarely has reactions from products, so it was weird. I used what was left in the bottle to clean my makeup sponge.

Repurchase? I don’t think they sell it anymore. Even if they did, I would not repurchase.

Tarte Maracuja Oil – I love this oil! I use it as a moisturizer and a primer.

Repurchase? I already repurchased a supersize bottle! The supersize is available on Tarte and it’s $22 more than the regular size, but twice the size. I got it during the Black Friday sale when it was 20% off!

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Redness Correcting) – I love the MUFE primers, but this one is kind of useless. If you want to colour correct redness, get an actual concealer that corrects instead of a primer. I’ve written a This or That post comparing this to the Smashbox primer. While this one performs better than the Smashbox one, it still doesn’t do as much as an actual colour corrector.

Repurchase? Not the redness correcting primer, but I have already repurchased other MUFE Step 1 Equalizer Primers.

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub (read my review) – The gel texture of this made me use it faster because it was easy to just scoop some out with my hand and get too much.

Repurchase? No.

BCL SPA Lavender + Mint Dead Sea Salt Soak – I enjoyed this a lot and it made me feel very relaxed.

Repurchase? Probably not.

BCL SPA Lavender + Mint Sugar Scrub (not pictured) (read my review) – I loooved this; it smells amazing and makes your skin feel baby smooth. I’m sad I used it up so quickly because it’s so expensive.

Repurchase? Probably not. I just can’t justify the price tag, but I will try to duplicate it with a DIY sugar scrub or find one that’s more accessible and affordable.

Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner (conditioner is not pictured) – I liked the smell of this and it made my hair feel soft.

Repurchase? Possibly.

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo – I used this to clean my makeup brushes and sponges.

Repurchase? Yes.

Lady Speed Stick Invisible in Cool & Fresh – The smell is very nice, but after a while, it started to smell different; not as fresh. I want to start using natural deodorants that don’t have aluminum.

Repurchase? No.

Delectable by Cake Beauty The Everything Powder – When I first tried it, I loved it. It doesn’t have talc and it was great to use as a setting powder, but I just don’t love the smell that much. I’ve said it multiple times, but it smells like this toy that my cousin had. It was a baby that comes with a bottle and spoon and you put the spoon in the bottle and it ‘fills’ up with cherries and you feed the baby and the cherries disappear.

Repurchase? No.

Delectable by Cake Beauty The Everything Balm – I enjoyed this when I got a little tube from a Topbox, so I bought a full-sized bottle. The full size comes with a pump, but the pump sucks. It doesn’t dispense the product and it smells a bit different from when I used the small tube.

Repurchase? No.

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – I love these. They’re amazing.

Repurchase? YES!!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel Cream (read my review) – This didn’t hydrate my eyes as much as other eye products I’ve tried which was disappointing because it’s a good price for an eye cream.

Repurchase? No.

Essence The False Lashes Extreme Volume & Curl Mascara (read my review) – This mascara held the curl of my lashes well, but it was quite flaky.

Repurchase? No.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Universal Transparent Lip Liner in 001 Universal – This is a clear lip liner that you can use for any lipstick. The only problem with it was that I could see where I was drawing on my lips. Also, it’s retractable and I prefer a pencil that you can sharpen so I can get a more defined line.

Repurchase? No.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 855 Berry Smoothie – This was a gorgeous shade, but I just didn’t like it on me. It looked like my lips were stained from eating berries and I always wore it with Vaseline on top or underneath to sheer it out.

Repurchase? I would consider repurchasing a Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick, but not in this shade.

Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara (read my review) – This was an interesting mascara, but if I were to spend over $20 on a mascara, I would get one from Sephora that I like better.

Repurchase? No.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Crème – I loved this shade. It was a “My Lips But Better” shade, but I didn’t love the watermelon scent of the lipstick.

Repurchase? Maybe.

Check out my Black Friday Haul!

What did you finish last month?

Love,

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Beauty Brands I Want to Try

September 17, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Whenever I’m scrolling through Instagram, I always see all these pretty flat lays with gold, black and silver packaging. High end products have such pretty packaging! A lot of drugstore brands’ packaging are getting prettier too, but there’s something about the look of a YSL or Dior lipstick tube that just makes you go “oooohhh!” As I became more obsessed with makeup, I bought more drugstore products to blog about because they’re more affordable. Ever since I wrote the post about streamlining my makeup, I’ve been decluttering makeup that I don’t use and doing my best not to buy new makeup. My plan is to find high-end favourites so that I have 1 or 2 holy grail items in each category (foundation, concealer, blush, etc.) and then, for the blog, I’ll buy drugstore products to review.

(items in bold have been purchased since this post was published)

There are so many brands out there that I want to try:
- Charlotte Tilbury
  - lipstick, lip cheat, blush, airbrush flawless finish powder
- YSL
  - lipstick, lip stain/tint, primer
- CND Nails
  - nail polish
- RMS Beauty
  - concealer
- Laura Mercier
  - foundation, caviar stick eye colour, blush
- Laura Geller
  - highlighter
- Jouer
  - highlighter, blush
- Hourglass
  - stick foundation, highlighter, translucent powder
- Marc Jacobs
  - lip gloss stick, nail polish
- Burberry
  - highlighter, luminous base, lipstick, eyeshadow sticks
- Huda Beauty
  - liquid lipstick
- Fenty Beauty
  - highlighter
- Becca
  - highlighter, primer
- Colourpop
  - super shock shadows, highlighter
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
  - eyeshadows, brow wiz
- LORAC
  - eyeshadows
- Chanel
  - nail polish, lip gloss
- Cover FX
  - custom drops
- Skindinavia
  - makeup setting spray
There are a lot more products I want to try, but those are the ones that I could think of off the top of my head.

Below are some brands that I’ve bought 1-2 products that I love and plan to try other products from the brand:
- Lancome- I really like the Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation (read my review)
  - concealer, foundation, highlighter drops
- Dior
  - foundation, highlighter, nail polish, lip glow, lipstick
- NARS
  - blush, tinted moisturizer, single shadows, radiant creamy concealer, eyeshadow primer
- Make Up For Ever
  - single shadows, concealer
- Tarte- I’ve pretty much loved everything I’ve purchased from Tarte
  - eyeshadows
- Smashbox
  - Primerizer, primer water, eyeshadow primer
- Urban Decay
  - concealer
- MAC
  - blush, highlighter, foundation, brushes
- Bare Minerals
  - blush, eyeshadow primer
Love,
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What I’ve Learned Over The Years

August 17, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Here are some beauty lessons I’ve learned over the past few years. I’ve learned a lot from reading blogs and watching videos. I’ve had a lot of beauty epiphanies and I know I will continue learning as I watch and read more videos and blogs.
- *Watching a Tati video*
- Tati: It has a doefoot applicator
- Me: what’s a do-fa applicator?
- *looks up ‘dofa’ and nothing comes up that applies to makeup*
- *looks up ‘dofa makeup’*
- first google result: Beauty Dictionary: Doe Foot | Beauty Blitz
  - “Makeup artists and packaging manufacturers use the term “doe foot” to describe the type of spongy-tipped wands found in tubes of lip glosses and concealers”
- *doesn’t really think about the shape of it and assumes all spongy-tipped wands are called doefoot applicators*
- *reads a beauty blog post* and it says something like, “It has a flat sponge applicator, not a doefoot”
- Ohhh!! Doefoot only refers to the ones that have an angle. Hence, doe foot. Duh!!
- So, the Colourpop No Filter Concealer and Sephora Bright Future Gel Color Corrector don’t have doefoot applicators. Below, doefoot on left.
- I’m glad I’m not alone. I watched a recent Tati video where she mentioned that when she was starting her channel, she thought it was dofa too.
Primer is important! Before 2015, I didn’t know what primer was; I had never heard of it. I didn’t use face primer or eye primer until a few years ago.

When you use eye primer, you should set it with translucent powder or a light, all-over the lid shade. This prevents the darker shades from getting patchy.

You can use eye primer on blemishes to help concealer last longer.

Set your makeup with powder to prevent it from looking oily in the t-zone.

I used a BB cream a few summers ago and I didn’t know you should set it. I was super shiny.

Setting powder and finishing powder are different (finishing powder is more finely milled).

Use a damp sponge to apply foundation (unless you want fuller coverage). Bounce the sponge, don’t drag it.

When applying makeup, blend upwards, not down. Blending down can cause wrinkles.

When applying eye cream, tap it onto your under eye area with your ring finger.

When applying a pore minimizing/filling primer, press it into the skin, don’t rub it in. Rubbing it can cause it to pill.

If you get that oily residue on powder products, use scotch tape to get rid of it. Instead of scraping off a layer and losing a bunch of product, get a piece of tape and stick it to the spot that has that oily residue. Smooth the tape over and then peel it off. Your powder product should be good as new.

Apply concealer AFTER foundation. Colour correct AFTER foundation. First, apply foundation to see what spots need more coverage, then apply colour corrector if needed and then concealer. If you’re applying colour corrector before foundation, then you might be applying more than you need because the foundation covers up some of the darkness/redness/dullness.

Bronzing and contouring products are different. Bronzer is to help you look tanned/sunkissed and applied on high points of face where the sun would hit it. Contour is usually a grayish shade to mimic the look of a shadow and used to enhance what you already have. Contouring with a bronzer can make your face look muddy if it’s too brown/orange.

Lip liner is useful for helping lipstick stay in the lines and it’s also easier for overlining the lips because it’s more precise.

You can use Vaseline to remove dark lipstick- using a qtip, dip it in the vaseline jar and apply a generous amount on top of your lipstick. Let it sit for a minute and then carefully wipe off with a cotton pad. It probably won’t take off all the lipstick, but it will help.

Set the eyeliner on your lower lashline/waterline with a powder eyeshadow.

Tap off excess eyeshadow before applying on your eyes.

Use windshield wiper motions to blend eye shadow and when you want more pigment, use patting motions.

When applying shimmery eyeshadow shades, use your finger or spray your brush with setting spray to make it more pigmented.

When applying false lashes, tilt your mirror up and look down at the mirror as you apply them.

Don’t get hair products (like dry shampoo and hair spray) on your face. It can cause acne on the forehead because hair products are meant to cling to your hair and clogs up your pores.

When you exfoliate your body, go up and down, not in circular motions. Going in circular motions can ‘confuse’ the hair and make it grow in different directions.

What have you learned over the years?

Love,
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Beauty Products | Save or Splurge?

July 23, 2018

Hi Everyone!

If you’ve been reading my recent posts, you’ll know I’ve been doing inventory of my beauty products. Check out the recent posts below!

Primers & Foundations | Bronzers | Blushes | Mascaras | Highlighters

Makeup Goals: A Streamlined Collection

I’ve decided to compile a list of what beauty products I personally plan to SAVE or SPLURGE on. I’ll also have some products where I’ll be IN BETWEEN– which means I’ll either buy a mix of both high-end and drugstore or I’ll buy products that aren’t super expensive, but not super cheap either.

Skincare- IN BETWEEN

I was reading articles on which beauty products to save and splurge on and a few said to save on skincare. I think I will mostly save because there are some great products found at the drugstore. If I want some luxe items, I can always get samples from Sephora and Nordstrom without breaking the bank. I do love the Sonia Roselli Water Balm though (read my review), so I will continue to splurge on that because it’s a multi-use product.

Primers- SPLURGE

You need a good base for your makeup and that starts with primer.

Foundations- SPLURGE

More expensive foundations just look and smell better than drugstore ones (for the most part).

Concealers/Colour Correctors- IN BETWEEN

I think splurge on a good spot concealer I can wear without foundation. There are some good under eye concealers from the drugstore.

Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists- IN BETWEEN

I think a mix of both is okay.

Makeup Brushes- SPLURGE

When I first started getting into makeup, I didn’t want to spend a lot on brushes, so I bought some on Amazon. They’re very soft and performed pretty well, but once I bought better quality ones, I could see the difference in my makeup application.

Makeup Sponges- SAVE

I think it’s kind of crazy to buy a $20 sponge. I have never bought a beauty blender, so I don’t know if it performs better than a cheaper sponge, but I feel like they’re all quite similar; some may be denser than others, but they all blend the same, don’t they?

Bronzers- SAVE

I love the Physician’s Formula one and it blends even better than the high end ones I’ve tried.

Blushes- IN BETWEEN

I think I might splurge on a good, matte blush I can use every day because blushes last so long. I love the Milani ones that have shimmer and I really want to try a Physician’s Formula one.

Highlighters- IN BETWEEN

Similar to blushes, I might splurge on 1 high end highlighter and then the rest of the collection will be drugstore brands. For the ones I own, the drugstore ones look prettier than my higher end ones (without having to wet them).

Brows- IN BETWEEN

I’m kind of torn because I like the NYX Micro Brow pencil, but that pencil lasted so long that maybe it’s worth it to splurge on a brow pencil. I will definitely splurge on brow gel though and get the Benefit Gimme Brow.

Eyeshadows- SPLURGE

I’ve noticed a difference in how my eyeshadow looks when using higher end ones especially with the fallout. I think I will invest in a few high end palettes- that have a good selection of neutral mattes and shimmery shades.

Eyeliners- IN BETWEEN

Similar to blushes, eyeliner lasts me a long time (I prefer pencil liners), so maybe I should splurge.

Mascara- SAVE

As much as I love some of the high-end deluxe samples of mascaras, there are so many drugstore ones I love that are a fraction of the price. Especially when you should dispose of it after using for a few months, it’s not worth it to pay $30 (unless you only own 1 mascara, then maybe it’s worth it, but I like to have several).

Lipsticks, Liners and Glosses/Tints- IN BETWEEN

I think I’ll get 1 or 2 for each of the 3 types (lipstick, liner, gloss/tint), but save on the rest.

Makeup Removers- IN BETWEEN

I like Simple makeup wipes and Garnier Micellar Water, but I really like Clinique’s Cleansing Balm. So, a mix of both.

Perfumes- SPLURGE

When I was in high school, I used to use body sprays from Victoria’s Secret, but no more of that. I have two signature scents at the moment (1 for spring/summer, 1 for fall/winter) and I also have one that’s a bit more spicy that I don’t wear daily.

Nail Polish- IN BETWEEN

I think I’ll find a good, wine red and a neutral to splurge on, but buy brands like OPI and Essie for the rest of my collection.

What products do you splurge on?

Love,

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Makeup Goals | A Streamlined Makeup Collection

July 20, 2018
Hi Everyone!

When I was doing my mid-year makeup inventory, I realized just how much makeup I had. It’s kind of ridiculous how much makeup I’ve accumulated in the past two years. 2016 was when I got more into makeup and it was only last year that started buying products like highlighter and bronzer. I went through my collection and counted how much I have of each type of product. I didn’t want to do a mid-year makeup inventory on all of them because let’s be honest, it would’ve taken a long time to swatch and write a mini review for each one. Especially when I don’t necessarily love all of the products I own.

I’ve decided to set some goals for myself in terms of buying makeup going forward. As I was doing my makeup inventory, I decluttered a few products that were past their expiry date and/or I just wasn’t using (basically just taking up space). Here are some goals that I have decided to apply:

Goal #1 | For primers, foundations, eyeshadows and makeup brushes – only buy high end ones
- Foundations
  - Find a few favourite ones with different finishes (powder, cushion, sheer coverage, medium coverage)
  - For liquid foundations- I need to have sampled it a few times and put it through a testing period (like I did with the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation- read my review) before I take the plunge and buy it.
  - Test them out in-store and see how they look in natural lighting and how it wears for the day
For the other makeup products, I feel like a mix of high end and drugstore are acceptable. There are some amazing drugstore products that I absolutely love and drugstore foundations are great, but I have trouble finding shade matches and there aren’t always testers in store.

Goal #2 | Cut down on impulse buying

I’ll admit that 50% of the time, I am an impulse buyer (especially if there’s a sale). Luckily, most of the items I’ve bought on impulse were okay.

Goal #3 | Read or watch 3 (or more) positive reviews before making a purchase

I know this isn’t the best way to tell if I will like something because I might not like something that someone else loves, but it will help cut down the impulse buying too. I’ve bought a few duds (that were planned purchases) because YouTube or Instagram made me buy it (*cough* L’Oréal Lash Paradise *cough*). Before buying a product from now on (especially a drugstore item because you can’t return it once it’s been opened), I will check out some reviews online. Usually, I look at Influenster to see what it’s rating out of 5 is and if it’s rated on their list (i.e. Lash Paradise, the non-waterproof one, is rated #1 in mascaras and 4.56/5). Personally, it’s not my #1 mascara, but I don’t hate it.

Goal #4 | Keep Track of My Makeup Purchases and Set an Annual Makeup Budget

This sounds kind of scary, but I think I should set one. Last year, I became a VIB Rouge member at Sephora and I have no idea how that happened. The majority was skincare or makeup tools, but there was a fair share of makeup which is surprising because a lot of my makeup is from the drugstore or Winners. For a lot of products (like makeup brushes or foundation), they may seem expensive, but they last a long time. The initial cost may sting, but once you have it, you don’t need to buy more for a while.

For my blog, I have a monthly budget ($25) to spend on products that I buy for the blog. I prefer to get drugstore products because that’s the most accssible to everyone. I mean, there are tons of beauty lovers who are students- they can’t necessarily afford to get a Dior foundation or a high end palette.

GOAL #5 | A Streamlined Makeup Collection

I was going to plan on a Minimalist Makeup Collection, but after writing the numbers down, I wouldn’t consider what I plan to be a Minimalist Collection. So, we’ll go with a streamlined collection of what I have now. I want to find some favourites that I can always rely on so that I can just buy good, high end products (foundations, concealers, etc.) and not worry about buying all these different products to see what works with my skin type.

I’ve already shared some of my makeup collection in my mid-year makeup inventory. So, I thought I’d share the numbers with you for the rest of my products. Some of my numbers in this list may be different than the mid-year makeup inventory. This is because I was only counting the products that I had opened at the time. Since then, I have opened a few things and gotten a few deluxe samples. Please keep in mind that not all products are full-sized, but I still counted them as ‘1’. So, here are the inventories for each category:
- Primers: 12 (includes an under eye primer and eyeshadow primers)
- Foundations: 13
- Concealers/Colour Correctors: 11
- Setting/Finishing Powders & Face Mists: 5
- Illuminating Powders/Creams: 4
- Bronzers: 4
- Blushes: 13
- Highlighters: 14
- Brow pencils: 3
- Eyeshadows: 37
- Eyeliners: 12
- Mascaras: 6
- Lipstick: 25
- Lip Liners: 7
- Lip Glosses/Tints: 10
- Makeup Removers: 10
I know these aren’t makeup, but I’m going to include them too:
- Perfume: 5
- Nail Polish: 43
I was going to total the whole number of products, but some are double-counted i.e. Bobbi Brown palette has blush, highlighter, bronzer and eyeshadow. Give or take, there are 200 items.

NEW MAKEUP GOALS & FAVOURITES

I want to streamline my makeup so that I don’t have 200 items in my drawers. I only have so much space in my room if you include makeup, skincare, hair and nail products. The following numbers are what I hope my collection will go down to once I find favourites in each. Under each category, I have included favourites that I think will be included in my Minimalist Collection.
- Primers: it’s hard to say a number for this one because you want different primers for different uses (mattifying, illuminating, hydrating, eyeshadow, etc.). I’ll say less than 10 for sure!
- Foundations: 6 at the most (that should be enough for different finishes and coverage)
- Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5
- Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists: 5
- Illuminating Powders/Creams: 2
- Bronzers: 2
- Blushes: 3 (1 with shimmer, 1 peachy, 1 pink)
- Highlighters: This is hard to decide because there are so many amazing highlighters out there that are different shades and they can double as eyeshadows (6?)
- Brows: 3 (2 pencils, 1 gel)
- Eyeshadows: This is hard to decide too because singles count as 1. I will say that I want at least 2-3 good palettes with matte neutral shades and shimmery shades and I like cream shadows and sticks, so maybe 4-5 of those.
- Eyeliners: 5
- Mascaras: 3
- Lipstick: 10
- Lip Liners: 2
- Lip Glosses/Tints: 3
- Makeup Removers: 3
- Perfumes: 3
- Nail Polish: 5
For all of the categories, they’re estimates of what I think I should own and adding all of those up, it’s about 80 products. So, my goal for next year is to cut my collection in half and maybe I can aim for an even smaller collection for 2020.

Would you ever streamline your makeup collection?

Love,
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Review | Marcelle CC Concealer + Corrector

August 8, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought Marcelle’s CC Concealer + Corrector from Shoppers Drug Mart. I got the shade Light/Medium and it costs $12.95 CAD. I wanted to give a stick concealer a try, and I needed to spend $50 for free shipping, so I added it to my cart. It comes in a nice and sleek, white tube with a clear top. It was the winner of the 2015 Beauty Grand Prix by Elle for BEST CONCEALER UNDER $20. There are three reviews on the website giving it 5 stars saying that it’s hydrating and doesn’t crease. So I put the concealer to the test!

Conceals dark circles and corrects dark spots, all in one step!

Are the claims true?

As a concealer, it conceals dark circles, undereye puffiness, age spots and redness. It did conceal dark circles, but I feel like there are other concealers that do a better job.

As a corrector, it corrects and prevents the appearance of dark spots. I didn’t really try this to colour correct, but it did sort of conceal dark circles under my eyes. I only used it once, so I can’t say anything about preventing the appearance of dark spots. Unfortunately, it caused creasing under my eyes because it’s a dry formula.

I’m very sensitive to smell when it comes to beauty products. I can’t use scented lotions or hand sanitizers unless they have a fresh, fruity smell (and even then, there are times I have to draw the line). I tend to just avoid scented creams if I can. I also don’t like if a foundation or any makeup has a chemical smell. All makeup will have some sort of chemical smell, but sometimes there’s makeup that I can’t even use because I don’t like the smell. Whenever I’m at Sephora looking for a new foundation or concealer, I always give it a sniff to see if I can stand it. I was immediately turned off by the smell of the CC Concealer + Corrector. It smells like plastic, but that’s what happens when you order something online without seeing it in person first. Even then, Shoppers and Rexall don’t always have testers for the products.

In addition to the smell, the product looked kind of dry too, but appearances can be deceiving so I swatched it on my hand. Unfortunately, I was right, it didn’t run very smoothly against my skin (see below for pictures). I have Cover FX’s Correct Click Color Corrector, and it feels like a lipstick. It’s very smooth and blends nicely. The Marcelle concealer, on the other hand, feels gritty against your skin, I don’t know if I accidentally got some dirt in it, but I’ve wiped it a few times and it almost makes it look worse. I even swatched it on my parents to see if they felt it too and I wasn’t just imagining things. They agreed that it felt gritty. It almost feels like Tarte’s FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (which I absolutely love, thanks to one of my best friend’s for introducing it to me). This is bad because this product is for the under eye area and that’s one of the most sensitive areas on your face. Regardless of the grittiness, I tried it out yesterday and noticed that it was creating creases under my eyes where I don’t have any.

RATING: 0/5

I give it a 0/5 because I didn’t like the smell or the fact that it was dry, but on top of that, I woke up this morning with a bit of a breakout. I basically exfoliated under my eyes yesterday and now my face is reacting to it. My mom said my eyes looked a bit puffy too, but that could be due to lack of sleep.

Thoughts: I’m an optimist, so I’d like to think that maybe there’s a chance I got an old one that dried out or it was faulty somehow, but this was a fail for me. I wouldn’t recommend this product especially with the fact that it’s for under your eyes and it feels so gritty. I don’t understand how this was rated the Best Concealer under $20 in 2015. Someone with oilier skin might like this product, but mine tends to be on the drier side. You could maybe mix this with an oil product to create a creamier consistency, but I am steering clear of stick foundations for the under eyes. I might give them a try for colour correcting though.

Marcelle is a Canadian company, so I want to support it as a fellow Canadian. This product is a pass for me, but I like their Velvet Gel Waterproof Lip Liner in Rosy Nude and the Rouge Xpression Lipstick in 901 Amour (it won the 2016 Beauty Grand Prix for BEST LIPSTICK UNDER $12).

I’ve heard good things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer and I have a colour-correcting concealer from Cover FX that runs smoothly, so I would assume that the Cover Click Concealer + Foundation is the same formula. Both the Tarte and Cover FX Concealers are a little more expensive.

My skin is more dry than oily (especially around my nose), so stick concealers aren’t the best for me, but the CC part of the Marcelle Concealer + Corrector interested me so I thought I would give it a try. I’ve heard rave reviews about the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Tarte Shape Tape, so I might give those a try.

What are your fave concealers?

Love,

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