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.
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?
Today, I’m revisiting my favourites from 2017. I’ve posted Part 1 of revisiting my Best of 2017 post (read here). There’s some overlap in my monthly favourites and Best of 2017 post, so if they aren’t listed below, they’re in that post.
SEPTEMBER
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – When I used this, I never tried it as an under eye concealer. I need to buy it again and compare it to the Age Rewind Concealer.
Repurchase? Yes.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Crème – I love the shade, but I don’t really like that it smells like a watermelon jolly rancher.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Milani Keep It Sweet Sugar Lip Scrub – Initially, I liked this, but I didn’t really like it after a while. It would just make the dead skin move back and forth and not slough it off.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner – This was a great liner, but I just don’t use liquid liner that much.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Retouch + Erase Light Lifting Concealer – I liked this concealer; it was thick, but it blended nicely.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Estee Lauder Pink Perfection Breast Cancer Awareness Kit – If you’ve read my post on Products I Regret Buying, this kit is on it. The eyeshadows were nice, but the shades they chose weren’t useful for me. I need a transition shade that’s matte and this didn’t have one. I did enjoy the lipstick, but not in the shade that came with it.
Repurchase? Unavailable because it was limited edition. But I wouldn’t if it were still available.
MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish – I really like this lip pencil. It’s a hybrid of a balm and a lipstick.
Repurchase? Yes.
OCTOBER
Garnier All-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Water – Love this!!
Repurchase? Absolutely! I do want to try other ones first to see how they compare.
NOVEMBER
Clean and Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Purifying Cleanser – I really liked this cleanser. It woke me up in the morning with the citrus scent.
Repurchase? I don’t think you can buy this anymore.
Dove Nutritive Solutions Coconut and Hydration Shampoo – So, a few years ago, I got eczema on my hands and legs and I stopped using a bunch of products to rule them out as a cause of the eczema. I stopped using Dove products and haven’t started using them again. I used to use Dove products all the time and had no problems, so I don’t think it was the cause, but I just haven’t purchased anything since I finished this shampoo.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler – I love this!! I wish I had bought this when I first started using lash curlers.
Repurchase? YES!!!
DECEMBER
Tory Burch Perfume (Original) – I love this. It makes me feel grown up, but it’s not old lady-ish.
Repurchase? Yes!
GummiBand Hair Cords – I love these. I use them every day!
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.
Last year, I was tagged in a Best of 2017 Challenge on Instagram. Today, I’m going to be revisiting my picks from last year. Since then, I’ve tested and reviewed a lot of makeup. Like I said last year, it’s hard to choose favourites from each category because different products do different things for you, i.e. a hydrating vs. a smoothing primer or a lengthening mascara vs. a mascara that can keep a curl. I’m still trying to find my holy grail products, but I have found some great products over the last year.
Primer
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primers (hydrating primer and smoothing primer)
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Essence’s I 🖤 Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base
The MUFE smoothing primer is still a fave of mine. The hydrating one wasn’t quite hydrating enough for my dry skin, so I picked up the Nourishing one to see if it’s better. The Smashbox under eye primer does help to slightly illuminate and hydrate my under eyes, but I’m not sure if it actually helps that much. I think you could just replace it with a good eye cream. The Essence eyeshadow base is great for intensifying colour, but it doesn’t really prevent creasing.
Foundation
Lancome Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel
This is definitely still a favourite of mine. I haven’t purchased it since I finished, but I plan to buy it in the future once I’ve finished my Laneige BB Cushion.
Setting Powder/Spray
Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
Cake Beauty’s Everything Powder
The UD setting spray is great, but I want to find one that’s a bit cheaper if I can. The everything powder smooths, sets and mattifies very well, but I just don’t love the smell anymore.
Brow products
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 05 Deep
Too Faced Chocolate Bar (Sephora Rewards mini palette)
At the time, the Winterberry palette and Too Faced mini were the only ones I had. After trying out other brands, these are no longer faves. I still like shades from both palettes, but the Coastal Scents palettes doesn’t have any neutrals in the palette and I no longer have the Too Faced palette.
Blush
Smashbox Soft Lights Duo in Passion/Shimmer
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paaarty
The Smashbox blush was nice, but it was a bit too dark for me (I bought it at Winners). The Tarte blush was a fave of mine, but I didn’t love that it was Made in China (check out my post about Where Your Products Were Made). I still love Tarte blushes, but you just have to be careful to get the full-sized permanent collection ones.
Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil
These were the only two bronzers I had last year and both were from Sephora rewards, so they weren’t in shades that I would’ve chosen. While the Tarte one did work with my skin tone, I didn’t like the sheen on it, and I know they have a matte one, but I’d rather use the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. The Too Faced Bronzer was too dark for me, I needed the Milk Chocolate one, not the Chocolate.
Face Mask
Lush’s Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask
The Face Shop sheet masks
I still agree with these face mask choices. I haven’t bought the Lush one since I finished it, but I would get it again.
Highlighter
Wet N Wild’s MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (read my review)
Maybelline’s Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold
Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in Sin
Still absolutely love these highlighters. I would repurchase the Wet N Wild and Maybelline ones in different shades because both Precious Petals and Molten Gold are a bit too dark for me. The Urban Decay one is nice, but I don’t know if I would purchase the full-sized (I have a mini).
Eyeshadow Singles
Coastal Scents Single Shadow in Jewel Teal (read my review)
Coastal Scents Single Shadow in Teal Green (read my review)
Stila Shadow in Golightly
I still like all three shades of these, but I haven’t actually just worn the Stila shadow to test out the longevity of it. The Coastal Scents ones definitely need a primer. Even with a primer, they sort of faded a bit on me after a few hours. But they are very nicely pigmented and great to practise doing vibrant colours on your eyes. I have bought a few Anastasia eye shadow singles and those are beautiful, although I haven’t tested out the longevity of those either, but if they’re as good as the palettes, I’m sure they are great. I also have some Make Up For Ever shadows that you can buy as singles, I really love those.
I still agree with all of these choices except for the Pearlessence Cucumber Water. A few times, I’ve gotten it on my eyelids and it stung a little. Also, if you accidentally get some in your mouth, it tastes horrible.
Makeup Brushes
Tarte Bronze & Glow Contour Brush
Bella Pierre Powder Dome Brush (this isn’t the exact brush I have, but it’s similar)
Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes (read my review)
Arbonne Angled Blush Brush
Fluffy Powder Brush
Sephora Shadow Brush
I love the Tarte brush and my Bella Pierre brush, although I think it’s time to replace it because the handle’s plastic is chipping off. I enjoy the Simple Glam Girls brushes, but I think oval brushes are a pain to clean because it’s packed so tight. I’ve actually realized that I don’t love angled blush brushes. It’s a lot easier to use a slightly fluffy one to blend. I’m not good at dipping my brush lightly into the pan, so I end up looking like a clown until I blend my blush out. I still agree that a fluffy powder brush is needed to set your face and a shadow brush is great for packing on colour.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Creme (read my review)
Coastal Scents Lipstick in 2
Pixi Mattelustre Lipstick in Plump Pink
MAC Lipstick in Brave (satin finish)
The L’Oréal Colour Riche lipstick is still an absolute fave. The Refined Ruby one is a beautiful shade, but it’s a bit too dark for me. The shade of the Milani one is beautiful, but I’ve realized that I don’t like scented lipsticks that much. The Coastal Scents lipstick…I don’t know what I was thinking putting in my faves. It was patchy and didn’t look good. I don’t really like the Pixi Mattelustre lipstick anymore. The shade wasn’t right and it didn’t smell that nice. The MAC Lipstick is still a fave of mine.
What are your fave products that you discovered this year?
I received the Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint in Naughty Mauve complimentary from Topbox Circle.
• The look of a stain and comfort of a balm. • Infused with coconut oil so lips feel moisturized and smooth. • Pillowy soft cushion tip gives a touch of color and builds for more impact. • Juicy tint with a balm-like finish, dries to a blotted lip look.
It glides on smoothly and feels very moisturizing from the coconut oil. It has a light vanilla scent which I don’t mind. The shade is a bit dark for my personal preference, but it’s a beautiful shade especially for fall.
I don’t love cushion products especially if it’s a lip product. The sponge is always wet because of the tint unless you wipe it off every time, but then you waste a lot of product. I also feel like because you have a sponge, you’re twisting a lot more product out than you need.
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.
I realized I have tried quite a lot of Bobbi Brown products and I thought I would share my hits and misses from the brand. Of course, I might not like something that someone else loves and vice versa, but keep reading to hear my thoughts on the products I’ve purchased over the past year. Surprisingly, I think Bobbi Brown is the brand that I have the most products from (I originally thought it was Tarte, but after doing this post, it’s Bobbi). All products were purchased by me (the majority were purchased at the MAC Warehouse Sale). Let’s start with my favourites!
HITS
Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – This shade is too light for me, but I really liked this stick foundation. I really want to try other sticks to compare (like the Hourglass and Lancome ones), but this has a very nice finish and I would sometimes use it as concealer and dab the areas that needed a bit of coverage. Update: They’ve changed the corresponding numbers of the shades. I don’t know if they’ve reformulated, but I’m assuming Ivory is still the same shade. The corresponding number has changed from 0.75 to C-024.
Smokey Eye Mascara – I loved this mascara. The wand was the perfect size and it separated my lashes nicely. It made my lashes look natural, yet added some oomph.
Luxe Lipstick in Brocade – My grandma uses this and it’s her favourite lipstick out of 4 lipsticks that we boughht for her (NARS, Sephora and Urban Decay). It’s a beautiful purple-y pink and it looks really good on her.
Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover – I liked this, but it’s expensive and I’m sure I can get one that performs equally well for a cheaper price.
LIKES
There are a few products that I didn’t mind, but didn’t love either:
Blushes in French Pink and Nectar – They are pretty shades, just not for me.
Bronzing Powder in Medium – Too dark for me.
Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink – This is a really pretty nude-pink shade with a satin finish (it’s described on the website as a beige).
Lip Color in Sandwash Pink – I hear Princess Kate wears this shade. It was a beautiful shade, just not for me.
Tube Tint in Naked – My mom uses this and she really likes it. I think she also likes how it’s a squeeze tube, so it’s easier to keep clean and it’s more hygienic than lip glosses with wands.
Eyeshadows – The eyeshadows are good and blend well, but I think if you’re going to buy a high-end eyeshadow palette, you should get an Urban Decay or Anastasia Beverly Hills one (a brand that’s known for their eyeshadows).
The Bobbi On Trend: Eyes and Cheek Palette – This was an impulse buy. I saw it at the Nordstrom sale for $120 and I had to have it. I didn’t do my research and that was my downfall. Next time I buy a palette, I will be making sure I love it before taking the plunge.
Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink – I am terrible at doing winged liner and I prefer kohl liner, but I got this for free when bought the Bobbi On Trend palette at the Nordstrom sale. I gave it to my friend so she’d get better use out of it. So, this goes in the IN BETWEEN section because I just don’t do wings and if I put liner on my lid, then I usually smoke it out (that’s why pencil liners are better for me). Performance-wise, I think this was an okay liner? I’m not really sure.
Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar 3
MISSES
Long Wear Cream Eye Shadow in Galaxy – This was so patchy and had no pigment. I don’t know if it’s because I bought it at the MAC Warehouse Sale or it got hot and melted or something because it’s so soft. Maybe if you have a different shade, it would do better, but this looked terrible on me. It didn’t blend well and it set fairly quickly, so when you tried to blend, you’d create a bald spot. I tried using this as a base for dark powder shadow, but the powder was not layering over it well.
Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar 3 -This lip gloss has shimmer in it. My mom used this one too and she didn’t like it at all. It was so sticky that her hair would get stuck on her lips. Also, you know when you talk and you get that trail of lip gloss between your lips? It did that.
Intensive Skin Serum Concealer in Warm Ivory – I think this was breaking me out. It’s really weird because when I swatched it, it looked beautiful and blended nicely on my hand, but when I put it under my eyes, it just wasn’t giving me that seamless application I wanted.
Nude Finish Illuminating Powder in Bare – This is a translucent powder with shimmer in it and I don’t like it. It just makes me look like I put highlighter ALL over my face. If this were just a translucent powder, I’d love it because it did look really beautiful without the shimmer.
Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Halo – I don’t like this highlighter. It’s chunky and has glitter in it which gets EVERYWHERE.
Out of all the products, I would consider purchasing the Skin Foundation Stick in my shade. I think that’s the only product I would consider repurchasing. I hope I haven’t offended anyone who is a Bobbi Brown lover and I hope I also didn’t put anyone off the brand. I love Bobbi Brown packaging and they have a lot of great products, but I just don’t think the products work for me.
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:
In February, I selected 10 makeup products to finish before the end of the year and here’s an update! I chose products that I’ve had for a while and I wanted to use them before they went bad or dried out. I tried to pick at least one product from each category: Face (Foundation, Concealer, Bronzer, Blush), Eyes/Brows, Lips.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville – This shade is way too light for me. Of course, it looked fine in the store under the bright lights, but I look like a ghost when I wear it. I mix it with my Maybelline Fit Me Foundation to darken it.
STATUS: Finished!
Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Autumn Glow – This was the first non-drugstore blush I bought. It was kind of a pinky-brown shade that looked really nice when blended out.
STATUS: Decluttered
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess – This is a pretty bronzer, but since it was Made in China, I wouldn’t repurchase (read my post: Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?). If I’m spending that much money on a bronzer, I want it to be made elsewhere.
STATUS: Finished!
Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Light/Medium – I won’t be repurchasing this concealer. I don’t like the smell of it and I prefer the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer anyway.
STATUS: Finished!
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light – One of my fave concealers.
STATUS: Finished!
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – I really like this brow pencil, it fills in the gaps and it’s not too dark.
STATUS: Finished!
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – I liked this mascara. The brush was good and it gave me very natural looking lashes.
STATUS: Finished!
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – I liked this mascara. I kept the wand.
STATUS: Finished! (I must’ve forgotten to include this in a Product Empties post)
Too Faced Mini Chocolate Bar – This was redeemed from Sephora Rewards. I love this mini palette, the champagne truffle shade is beautiful.
STATUS: Decluttered (the shadows and bronzer were starting to smell off)
L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Nude Lipcolor in 370 Jennifer’s Nude – I think this is my favourite lipstick. I bought it when it first came out and fell in love with it. The makeup artist who did our makeup also used it on my sister and me for my sister’s wedding reception in Toronto. This is my go-to and that’s why I sort of want to use it up so that my other lipsticks have a chance of being used.
STATUS: Finished!
What’s on your list of products you want to finish before the end of 2018?
I finished some makeup products which brings me one step closer to streamlining my makeup collection! Yay for progress! → Check out my makeup goals
Pearlessence Cucumber Water – I bought this at Winners for $10. I liked that it was in a glass bottle, but the mist would sting my eyes. I got it in my mouth a few times and it tasted horrible.
Repurchase? No.
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer in 01 Creamy Vanilla – If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ll know that I am planning to only purchase high-end foundations from now on. This was a very thick foundation/concealer, if you used a beauty sponge to blend it, it could sheer out a bit. It looked nice, but it was way too full coverage for me. I’d rather use a sheer, dewy foundation and then use a spot concealer on areas that need covering up. I would’ve used this more as a concealer, but the shade I bought was a tad too yellow for me. So, if I didn’t use it all over the face, I would have random yellow splotches on my face. It had a bit of a perfume-y scent to it that I didn’t really like. I didn’t really give this a proper wear test (as a foundation). I mostly used it when I took pictures for Instagram and practised applying my makeup.
Repurchase? No.
The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream Colour-Adapting Tinted Cream (read my review) – I gave this a 5/5 in my review, but since then, I have tried the Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation which I really love (read my review).
L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in 370 Jennifer’s Nude – This is one of my fave lipsticks! It’s interesting because when I swatch it on my arm, it’s like a sheer peachy-pink, but when it’s on my lips, it’s a beautiful pinky-nude.
Repurchase? I bought another tube a few months after purchasing the first one because I thought it was going to be limited edition. I think I will wait until I’ve used up some other lipsticks before breaking out the new tube though.
GOSH Click’N Conceal Pen in 01 Light (read my review) – I liked this concealer, but they no longer sell it at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Repurchase? Unavailable.
Repurchase? Probably not. I really like it, but I looove the Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation.
Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Restorative Shampoo – I don’t love the smell of this one, but it does make my hair look shiny and feel soft.
Repurchase? Not this particular Live Clean shampoo.
Live Clean Apple Cider Ultra Light Conditioner – Like the shampoo, this conditioner smells like apple juice to me. It doesn’t make my hair feel as soft as the other ones.
Repurchase? Not this particular Live Clean conditioner.
The Ordinary “Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum (read my review) – After my initial first impressions review, I realized just how tacky it made my face feel. I want a skincare product that doesn’t feel tacky or cause my makeup to pill.
I love a lot of different makeup products, but surprisingly I’ve only repurchased a small number of products and most of them are skincare. There are so many amazing products out there that I want to try and I only really started getting into makeup a few years ago. I mean I’ve always liked makeup, but I’m still learning and hearing about new brands and products.
Before 2013, I never wore foundation or primers. My first foundation was the Becca Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation. I rarely wore it because it was so expensive and I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know primer was a thing back then and I told the Sephora lady that I wanted full coverage and I liked matte. She told me to buy a flat liquid foundation brush because it’s better for applying full coverage. I learned about using sponges years later and even then, I didn’t know it was supposed to be damp. *idea pops into head*…maybe I’ll do a blog post on things I’ve learned over the past few years. It could help someone who’s just getting into makeup. Watching videos on YouTube and reading other blogs has helped me a lot. There have been so many times where I was like “OOOHHH!!!! that makes so much more sense!!!” Anyway, the Becca foundation went bad before I even finished it (it oxidized- I had no idea what ‘oxidizing’ was back then. I just knew that the foundation had turned orange). Before 2016, I had never worn bronzer or highlighter and didn’t like wearing lipstick; I mostly wore lip balm, vaseline or gloss.
I have yet to find a lot of my holy grail products. I have a lot of favourites, but I don’t have products in each category that I could safely say, “I only need to buy this mascara/concealer/foundation from now on!” In my favourites list, I have a lot of products that I am planning to repurchase, I just haven’t had the chance to do so. I want to finish up other products I have first (as you’ll know from my mid-year makeup inventory). Since doing my makeup inventory, I’ve decluttered a lot of things.
Here are the 15 products I’ve repurchased (I’m sure there’s more, but these are the ones I could think of so far):
L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara – This was a favourite of mine in high school and I decided to get it again. It’s still a fave of mine- I wouldn’t say it gives amazing volume, but it helps my lashes.
L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in 370 Jennifer’s Nude – I’ve probably talked about this lipstick so much that you’re tired of it by now, but it’s such a beautiful pinky-peachy-nude (it’s peachy when I swatch it, but not on my lips).
NYX Micro Brow Pencil – I love this brow pencil. It’s a great pencil for the price, but recently, I have been loving the Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil.
Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser (read my review) – I really like this cleanser and the fact that it removes makeup is a plus. I’ve been buying the tiny travel-sized ones from Winners because it’s hard to get Glow Recipe in Canada (their website ships to Canada, but I’m worried I’ll get charged duties- anyone order from Glow Recipe and know if there’s any duties?)
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (read my review) – This sleeping mask smells so good and when I wake up in the morning, my face feels hydrated.
Garnier Micellar Water – I love this micellar water. I feel like I should try a different brand just to compare it. Maybe I’ll do that once I’ve finished the bottles I have.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick (read my review) – I bought more of these on sale, but I think I will purchase something else for spot treatments. I don’t really like how it’s like a concealer where you use a doefoot applicator to apply it and then put it back into the tube.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution (read my review) – I used this everyday until I finished the bottle. As a test, I stopped using it for a few weeks and then started applying it again and my face cleared up. Of course, I still have the dark spots from the acne, but it flattened them out which makes it easier to apply makeup.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – These things are great. If you haven’t tried acne patches, you should!
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Rice Bran Foaming Cleanser, The Face Shop Phyto Charcoal Cleanser & The Face Shop 365 Spearmint Cleanser – I’ve bought these cleansers multiple times. I would use them every day when I showered (rotating between the two that I had in the bathroom). I think these cleansers were so good that they were making my face dry because I ran out of these cleansers a while ago and I’ve noticed my face hasn’t been as dry (still dry in some areas, but not as bad). When I buy these cleansers again, I’ll only buy one at a time and use it once or twice a week instead of daily.
Simple Makeup Wipes – I’ve been buying these at Winners because they’re cheaper there. I really like these makeup wipes and they’re great on the go, but since I’ve been using them, I haven’t been using my micellar water as much. Once I finish my current pack, I’ll go back to micellar water.
Soo’Ae Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel (read my review) – This peeling gel is awesome. It’s disgusting how your skin exfoliates off in little balls, but it works so well.
Pixi Glow Tonic – When I was using the little bottle of this from a holiday kit, my face looked brighter and clearer.
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.
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.
Every now and then when I post a pic on Instagram, I’ll ask my Instagram followers for beauty recommendations and sometimes when I post about a new blog post, someone who recommend a brand they like that has a similar product. Here’s a list of products recommended by my fellow beauty Instagrammers. I provided links to the Instagram accounts of the ladies who recommended the products too.
As you know, I like The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil products. Check out my reviews of two of their products below!
After posting about the Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, I was recommended a similar product. This is the only recommendation where I hadn’t heard of the brand before. It’s always nice to learn about new brands.
After posting my This or That post on Cleansing Balms (comparing Clinique’s and Pixi’s), someone said the It Cosmetics balm was good. I can’t find the comment now, so I don’t know who recommended it.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Balm
I was asking for recommendations for favourite CC Creams and tinted moisturizers, I was recommended two:
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF50+
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF30
I love facial mists, I have the Cucumber Water Hydrating Face Mist from Pearlessence that I got from Winners and the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist (Read my review).
I finally got the chance to go to Miniso Canada the other day and I picked up a few things. I got a blush, two lipsticks and an eyeshadow pen.
I got the Flawless Baked Blusher in 02 Rosy Pink for $2.99! It was Made in Taiwan, but that’s okay since I probably won’t be using this every day and I mean, $2.99?? Check out my blog post: Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?
Flawless Baked Blusher in 02 Rosy Pink
Richly pigmented and highly buildable, the beautiful matte and shimmery shades of baked blusher are the perfect cheeky pop of colour for every skin tone.
RATING: 5/5
If you’re a regular reader, you may have noticed that I rarely give ratings of 5/5. This is a beautiful, subtle pink and it was such an amazing price, so it gets two thumbs up and a 5/5 from me! They also had a baked bronzer that was beautiful too, but it wasn’t matte. It could probably make a really pretty eyeshadow though!
Magic Eyeshadow Pen in 01 Shimmer Brown – I got the eyeshadow pen for $4.99. At the store, the tester was much more pigmented.
It’s really interesting because the sponge applicator is just an applicator and it dips into a pot that’s in the lid. It has a spring action so you pump the shadow onto the sponge applicator. It’s a bit disappointing because you don’t get a lot of product. Other eyeshadow pens that you sharpen or twist up give you a lot more product.
I tried dipping a brush into it. It’s like a really small pot of cream eyeshadow. A very small concealer brush or an eyeliner brush works. It looks great as an eyeliner.
You could probably use this as a highlight too. The sponge applicator gives a very subtle swipe of the product and you can blend it out with a brush.
As you can tell from the swatch on the left, the sponge may have absorbed too much or I didn’t pump it long enough to pick up a good amount of product and the swatch is very subtle. On the right swatch, I used an eyeliner brush which was much more pigmented. So, depending on the look you’re going for, you can use the sponge on your eyelids and then line your waterline with a brush.
Obviously, the staying power isn’t amazing because it’s a name brand. It easily smudged off my hand, so I don’t have high hopes for when I use it on the eyes. Hopefully using a primer underneath and setting it with some powder on top will help.
RATING: 3/5
Since you don’t get a lot of product for $4.99, I’m going to have to give this a 3/5. Also, the fact that it’s a sponge applicator turns me off because you have to constantly clean it to prevent bacteria and especially since this is an eye product, you have to be even more cautious. I don’t think I would repurchase this, but it was cool to try out!
Colour Revival Lipstick in 02 Sakura Pink – For the lipsticks, one is more like a light pink tinted balm and the other is more full coverage. Both have no scent.
Colour Revival Lipstick in 02 Sakura Pink for $2.99. This is interesting because you click the bottom to get more (like a YSL Touche Éclat pen). The only problem is that you have to be careful not to click it too much because you can’t push it back down.
High-pigmented formula. Moisturizing and long-lasting. Enhance the lips and bring out their natural colour. Leaves lips fresh, full and radiant.
It starts off as a sheer pink colour, but as I was wearing it, it started to get brighter and tinted my lips to a Barbie pink. Even after taking it off with a makeup wipe, my lips were reddish-pink. I can’t imagine what the darker shades do since this was the lightest one I saw at the store.
RATING: 2/5
Silky Soft Lipstick in 05 Berry Red
This lipstick you twist the bottom to get more. It’s a nice tube because it’s black and quilted- it sort of looks like a nice pen. It does have the feel of a matte lipstick. When you first apply it, it has a satin finish, but then as you wear it, it has a matte finish. It’s definitely not transfer proof.
Effortless application. Matte texture and lightweight feel. Formula with Vitamin E to prevent colour fading or smudging. Deeply nourishes and moisturizes lips.
RATING: 3.5/5
This one gets a higher rating because it didn’t stain my lips like the other one.
Here are swatches of the two lipsticks.
Top: Sakura Pink, Bottom: Berry Red
They’re both very pretty shades, but I think I’d rather pay a bit more for a drugstore brand. The problem with lipsticks from Asian brands is that they rarely have a nude lipstick, usually they have lip tints or lipsticks that are pink, coral or orange-red. I prefer nudes and nude-pinks instead of bright pinks.
