Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer Balm – I’m not usually a fan of rose-scented products, but this one wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t overly sticky and it kept my lips moisturized for hours.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Jouer Essential Hydrating Lip Oil – I started out liking this lip oil because it kept my lips hydrated for a couple hours, but the outside started getting sticky because the oil is so runny.
Repurchase? No.
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara – I bought one of those Sephora Favourites mascara kits with travel-sized mascaras and a coupon to redeem a full size. I redeemed this back in 2019 and never got a chance to use it. Unfortunately, it dried up a bit and I had to declutter it.
Repurchase? Maybe. I enjoyed this mascara, but it is quite expensive.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel – This brow gel was good. It kept the brows in place, but it did feel a little stiff/crunchy. I didn’t really like the size of the brush because it was huge. I would prefer a smaller brush (like the ones they have for their tinted brow gels).
Repurchase? Maybe.
eos Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Vanilla Bean*– This lip balm irritated my lips and it’s not the first time this has happened. In the past, I tried these lip balm spheres and the same thing happened. I decided to try it out again because that was a while back, but they irritated my lips again. My lips felt super dry. I’ve seen some people talk about having an allergic reaction to this where their lips got blistered and crusty from using this balm. I stopped using before it could get to that point, but it did take a while before my lips felt smooth again. I would rather just stick to vaseline.
Repurchase? Absolutely not.
L’Oréal Revitalift Fragrance-Free Moisturizer* – I enjoyed this cream. It wasn’t too thick, but it kept my dry skin moisturized throughout the day. I do prefer serums/creams that come with a pump instead of a pot so I don’t know if I would repurchase this one. Especially since it’s on the more expensive side for a drugstore product.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream – I started using this in mid-January and I’ve already finished two tubes (2x57g) and a tub (539g). I kept a tube beside my desk during the day and I use the tub after showering. I have found that when I moisturize my body with it and then put clothes on, it can transfer onto your clothes. A few times, I’ve worn a black shirt and it had white on it (similar to getting deodorant on your shirt). It has been great during the winter. My skin hasn’t felt dry at all.
Volition Beauty Neroli Complete Crème* – I’ve tried a handful of Volition Beauty products and this one isn’t at the top of my list. I prefer products that come in bottles instead of tubs/pots because it’s more hygienic. It did a good job of keeping my skin feeling moisturized without feeling oily. I liked that my skin didn’t feel tacky after applying it too.
Repurchase? Probably not.
An empty and a newbie.If you have this eye cream, make sure to cut it open because I was able to get almost a week’s worth of cream after cutting it open.
Pixi Retinol Eye Cream* – I liked this eye cream and it lasted a while since most eye creams are 15mL or less. It’s one of the few eye creams I’ve tried that didn’t give my under eyes milia. Unfortunately, I can’t say if it worked well under makeup.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb – This is one of the few eye creams that didn’t give me milia, but it’s not one that stands out. I would prefer one that isn’t scented.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Shampoo & Conditioner – I wanted to try the Briogeo shampoo and conditioner to see what all the hype was about. I decided to try the banana and coconut one even though neither of those are my favourite scents. The shampoo’s scent was fine, but the conditioner smelled more artificial to me. I found that my hair dried faster when I used this conditioner than when I use others.
Repurchase? No, but I might consider trying the Matcha + Apple shampoo and conditioner because I think I’d prefer that scent.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – I bought a mini 3-pack of Smashbox photo finish primers. It came with this primer water and the primerizer (my friend took the original primer). I like that it doesn’t make my face feel greasy, but it adds some hydration.
I finished quite a few skincare products last month.
Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Purifying Gel Cleanser* – When I first started using this, I enjoyed it. I think I was using it too often for my skin because it started making my face feel dry from the salicylic acid. I think if I used it weekly instead of every other day, it would’ve been okay. I think I prefer to use a moisturizer or spot treatment with salicylic acid instead of a cleanser.
Repurchase? No.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream for Normal to Dry Skin – I got a Costco pack that came with a large tub and the tube. So I use the tub for my body, and had the tube beside my desk to keep my hands moisturized throughout the day. They have been smooth and soft ever since I started using the cream daily.
Repurchase? Yes.
Tarte Cosmetics Drink of H₂0 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer – My friend had a code to try the FabFitFun starter box, so I jumped at the chance to try. This moisturizer was actually thicker than I thought it’d be. I thought it’d be more of a gel cream, but it’s thicker than others I’ve used. Gel creams that I’ve used would glide onto my skin easily, but this one was more like a cream moisturizer.
Repurchase?I didn’t mind it, but I probably wouldn’t get it again.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Chia Seed Oil – I started using this a few months ago, but it had a smell to it that I wasn’t 100% sure about. I didn’t know if it had gone bad or if that’s how it smells normally. Even if it hadn’t gone bad, I wasn’t crazy about the smell. So instead of using it on my face, I started using it on my feet at night. Unfortunately, I can’t say how it worked on my face, but I think I prefer other facial oils I’ve tried anyway.
Repurchase? No.
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Potent Treatment for Aging Skin* – I can’t seem to find this on their website, I think they’ve renamed it to “Blemish + Age Defense Salicylic Acid ACne Treatment for Aging Skin Prone to Breakouts.” I did notice that my skin looked better while using this and it didn’t make my skin too dry or too oily. Since my skin is already dry, I made sure to use a hydrating serum with it and I only used it on my problem areas instead of using on my whole face (to save product).
Repurchase? While this did work for me, it’s quite expensive.
Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss in 040 Tulip Spring* – This had a nice berry tint to it, but I’m not crazy about the passionfruit scent/taste. I mostly used this just to finish it.
Today, I’m reviewing my expenses for 2020! I bought makeup in January before our first lockdown happened. So I have some unopened makeup sitting in my drawer. The rest of my beauty purchases were all skincare or hair related.
As you can see, I spent just over a quarter of my planned 2020 budget. I only purchased makeup in January and I also spent less on skincare. I’m not exactly sure why the skincare expenses went down too. I am still using skincare on a daily basis whereas I haven’t used my makeup in a year.
My 6 most expensive beauty purchases of 2020 (all products purchased from Sephora during VIB sale at 15% off, prices are approximate):
Volition Beauty Snow Mushroom Water Serum – $75
Volition Beauty Helix AM/PM Eye Gel – $62
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – $52
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Superfoods Shampoo & Conditioner Hair Pack – $53
Out of the products listed above, I would repurchase the Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum, Clinique Even Better Eyes Darck Circle Corrector and Glow Recipe papaya Enzyme Smoothing Cleansing Balm. You can read my review on the Helix AM/PM Eye Gel.
For the Briogeo products, I didn’t like the Scalp Revival Soothing Travel Kit and ended up sending the products to my friends. The Banana + Coconut Superfoods Shampoo & Conditioner are nice, but I’m not the biggest fan of the scent. I might consider trying the Be Gentle, Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo and Kale + Apple Replenishing Superfood Conditioner.
2018 was the year I spent the most on beauty products. I bought a lot of makeup at Winners back then. In 2018, I had 340 makeup items (including nail polish, perfumes and makeup remover). The majority of those were eyeshadows (I counted each pan instead of the number of palettes). I decluttered a bunch of makeup/nail polish by the end of 2018. Since 2019, my makeup inventory has been under 100 items. I’m hoping that I can get my inventory down to 30-50 items by the end of this year. I know it sounds counterintuitive as a beauty blogger, but I’m just not as drawn to new launches as others. When new products launch, I don’t HAVE to have it immediately. I actually prefer to read the reviews on products and wait until the hype has died down to see if others actually like the products and continue to use them in their daily makeup routines.
For 2021, I hope to spend the same amount on beauty products (around $500). I doubt I will buy much makeup this year, but maybe I will buy a few items just so I can have some new reviews on the blog. I know last year, I didn’t write many blog posts and I’d like to get back into it again.
I have a few empties for you this month. I decluttered a few makeup items. I know you can keep some makeup for a while, but I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, so I don’t really want to keep makeup longer than two years.
Good Molecules Rosewater Daily Cleansing Gel* – This cleansing gel was just okay for me. It didn’t really do much more than my Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser which is less expensive.
Repurchase? No.
Skyn Iceland Arctic Repair Cream* – I tried it once as a face moisturizer, but I found it too heavy. I really enjoyed this as a body cream. I would use it after showering and I loved that it wasn’t greasy at all. The container is a 100% recyclable jar made from sugarcane. I found sometimes it was hard to twist the lid on nicely. Since it comes with an insert that holds a spatula. It wasn’t a big issue for me, but I would be worried if I put it in a bag.
Repurchase? For the colder months, I would definitely consider purchasing it.
NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner* (read my review) –
Repurchase? I would consider trying a different scent.
Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder in 15 Light – I really liked this powder. Even though it’s a finishing powder, I used it as a foundation for days I wanted light coverage. I wish they had more shades though. The light shade wasn’t the perfect match.
Repurchase? Definitely!
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Light Neutral – I really liked this powder. It was the wrong shade, but it looked really nice on the skin. I know it’s called a full coverage foundation, but if you use a light hand, it won’t look heavy.
Repurchase? In a different shade, yes.
Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7 – I purchased this when I bought the Luminous Silk Powder Foundation for my mom. The fluid sheers were on sale and this was one of the shades they had left. It was a good deal and I really just wanted to try it, so I chose #7 (a pinky pearlescent shade). I used this more like an illuminator mixed in with foundation instead of as a highlighter since it was a pink shade. It made my foundation look glowy. I still would’ve preferred to get a different shade, but I liked it.
Repurchase? I want to try other liquid illuminators from other brands, but if I were to get this again, I would get it in shade #2.
Love,
Products marked with * were sent to me for review.
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.
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.
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I haven’t had much to review lately since I haven’t purchased anything in a few months. I have been trying some skincare products that I’ve been sent and hope to post some reviews on those products next month.
Reveal smooth, glowing skin from the start of your routine and effortlessly dissolve makeup, dirt, and oil with the PEG-free Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm. This balm-to-milky oil harnesses naturally-enzymatic, actively smoothing papaya to satisfy and gently resurface skin, creating the ultimate baby-soft canvas for skincare and makeup. The mix of exfoliating and calming papaya seed oil, papaya enzymes, papaya extract, and antioxidant-packed blueberry, leaves skin clean, bouncy, and glowing.
I like this cleansing balm! I’ve used it a few times now. I think I like it better than the Banila Co Clean It Zero and Heimish All Clean Balm (read my comparison review). I know the Glow Recipe cleansing balm costs more, but it does come in a glass container which you can reuse. I usually don’t like the smell of papaya, but this one has a very pleasant papaya scent. I don’t use waterproof eye makeup so I can’t comment on how well it removes that. It removes makeup easily, I do see what people mean when they feel a bit of a film after, but it shouldn’t be a problem when you’re following up with your second cleanse (which you should be doing anyway).
RATING: 4/5
I’ve only tried a handful of cleansing balms, but I would say this is in my top three.
I haven’t finished many items over the last few months (especially makeup products). I only have two products for the last two months.
Volition Beauty Helix AM/PM Eye Gel (read my review) – I liked this eye gel, it didn’t give me any reactions under my eyes. It made my under eyes feel smooth and it was perfect for summer time, but I need something more moisturizing in the fall and winter.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo – I liked this shampoo and the scent. I would buy it again on sale.
Today I’m reviewing Burt’s Bees products. Out of all the brands I’ve tried, I think Burt’s Bees is now #1 in Most Products Tried with 19 products. I was lucky enough to receive all of these products complimentary from Topbox, but I’m giving my honest opinions on the products. I have a few Hits and Likes, but I’ll be honest and say nothing from the brand has blown me away. I don’t think I would buy any of the products myself.
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
HITS
Blush in 1210 Shy Pink* – It’s really pretty! It’s a subtle pink, but gives you a beautiful, blushed look.
LIKES
The Luminizer Nourishing Highlighter in Star Light* – I like this highlighter for a natural glow/highlight.
Moisturizing Lip Balm in Tropical Pineapple* – It’s like any other lip balm. Keeps my lips moisturized and this one smells like a Piña Colada.
Gloss and Glow Glossy Balm in Winning in Pink* – This is a nice balm that makes the lips look glossy, but not sticky.
Natural Mattifying Powder Foundation in 1115 Sand* – This powder was quite pale on me, I need to get a darker shade. I did a light powdering of it on my t-zone after using the foundation and it instantly mattified my skin.
Natural Eye Liner in 1405 Soft Black – This was a very nice black liner. You can take your makeup look from day to night by applying it on the outer V and smudging it out.
Nourishing Lengthening Mascara in Classic Black* – I like the brush of this mascara. The mascara added length to my lashes, but still looked natural and it wasn’t clumpy. It came off easily with water, so it’s definitely not waterproof.
All Aflutter Multi-Benefit Mascara in Classic Black* – Similar to the nourishing mascara, this is a nice mascara that doesn’t make your lashes clumpy. It also came off easily with water. After wearing it for a day, my lashes were still curled. Between the two mascaras, I think I prefer this one.
MISSES
Sensitive Facial Cleanser* – This one isn’t really a ‘miss,’ but I didn’t like it that much either. It had a creamy texture which I didn’t really like. I prefer a gel cleanser. It leaves your skin with a bit of an oily feel. Not quite a film, but your face isn’t squeaky clean.
Burt’s Bees Renewal Refining Facial Cleanser* – I didn’t like the smell of this one.
Sensitive Gentle Day Lotion* – This also isn’t a ‘miss,’ but I didn’t find it to be anything special. It’s fragrance-free and it has a nice texture, but it didn’t really do anything for my skin.
Hydrating Facial Towelettes with Watermelon* – These are very strong/thick towelettes, but the watermelon scent is so strong that it gave me a headache.
Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation in 1025 Natural Beige* – It covered the redness around my nose and chin, but you definitely need a concealer to cover up acne or dark spots. This is NOT waterproof. It washes off easily with water which I don’t like.
Goodness Glows Tinted Moisturizer in 2025 Natural Beige* – This didn’t cover much for me and just like the liquid foundation, it washes away with water very easily.
Defining Retractable Eyeliner in Mulberry & Onyx* – This eyeliner pulled on my skin as I applied it to my waterline and it smudged so much. I tested it out for a day and after a few hours, the eyeliner was patchy. By the end of the day, the eyeliner had rubbed off. I hadn’t rubbed my eyes at all. I did close my eyes tightly a few times to see if any eyeliner or mascara would transfer. I was also disappointed in the Mulberry shade because it just looks black/brown on the eyes.
Natural Eyeshadow Trio in 1505 Shimmering Nudes* – The eyeshadows were okay. I prefer to have a palette that has at least 1 matte shade.
Natural Brow Pencil in 1610 Brunette* – This was too light for me, it almost looked reddish brown on my brows. I prefer to use a darker pencil. I didn’t love that it was waxy because the hairs would get matted down.
Matte Sticks in Buttery Blush & Liquid Honey* – These are a comfortable matte lipstick that doesn’t feel drying. Although the lipstick can be a bit crumbly. (I used to have these in the LIKES, but they got moldy very quickly).
Glossy Lipstick in Peony Dew* – It’s a sheer lipstick that’s a bit waxy. It’s like a morph of a gloss and lipstick because it’s a bit tacky.
Lip Gloss with Avocado in Tulip Spring* – This lip gloss had a passionfruit scent, I believe. It looked nice and gave a bit of tint to my lips, but I wouldn’t purchase this on my own. It felt moisturizing and wasn’t too sticky which was good, but I prefer a lip gloss with a wand for a more precise application.
Squeezy Tinted Balm in Mandarin Granita* – The shade of this is nice and it does keep my lips moisturized for a bit, but I’m not a huge fan of the scent. Also, when I was sent this, I was told that it’s best to apply with a brush or fingers. If you’re on the go, you don’t really want to use your fingers to apply lip balm. So I find that a bit annoying. I’d rather just use a stick lip balm.
Burt’s Bees is fairly new to the makeup game and they need to expand on their shade ranges. If you are looking for a brand that sells natural products, then this is a great drugstore brand to consider.
I don’t have too many empties this month. I think most of my products are fairly new so my product empties posts will only have a few items every month.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – I started using this as a moisturizer since I have quite a few primers and I know it keeps me moisturized. My skin was having a reaction and this was the only product I had that wasn’t new.
Repurchase? Absolutely! (Note: the travel size is more cost effective than the glass bottle)
Kiehls Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash – This cleanser is meant for normal to oily skin. I have dry skin so it’s not really geared towards my skin type. I really wanted to try it though. It didn’t make my skin feel overly dry either. I purchased the 500mL bottle which was expensive for a cleanser, but it lasted a year. I used one pump every day during my nighttime skincare routine and it lasted more than a year.
Repurchase? No, but I would try something for dry skin from Kiehls.
Nanacoco Cleansing Oil* – This was a good cleansing oil. It had a floral fragrance to it which I didn’t mind. However, I would prefer a cleansing oil without a fragrance since I have sensitive skin.
Repurchase? No.
Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel – This acne gel works great as a spot treatment. It will help dry up a pimple that has a whitehead. It won’t be immediate, but if you use it for a couple days, you should see your blemish go down. This little bottle lasted a long time since I only used it as a spot treatment.
Repurchase? Probably not.
What did you finish this month?
Love,
Products marked with (*) were sent to me for review.
I have two makeup empties for this month. I don’t think I’ll be finishing any other makeup any time soon.
Lancôme L’Absolu Lacquer Lip Gloss in 236 Pour Toujours (read my review) – I used this up the best I could and then cleaned the tube. I absolutely loved this gloss and would definitely buy it in this shade and others. It’s actually more of a tint/stain than a gloss. It’s not matte, but it’s not super glossy either.
Repurchase? YES!
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder – This powder panned sooo quickly! Also, there are only 3 shades which is unacceptable. All brands need work to be more inclusive in their shade range, but especially luxury brands. Like anything, the powder can look cakey if you apply too much. If you do a light dusting with a fluffy brush, it looked very nice. I just didn’t find it that amazing especially with the price tag and how fast it panned. I prefer my Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder which I’ve had for twice as long and still haven’t finished.
Today, I’m sharing my favourites from the past couple months.
Live Clean Cool & Fresh Natural Deodorant – I’ve been using this every day and doing Chloe Ting workouts. I’ve been sweating quite a bit and I can still smell the deodorant. I don’t smell sweat (from my armpits). I love the smell of it, it’s very refreshing.
Jouer Essential Hydrating Lip Oil – This makes your lips glossy without being too sticky. It doesn’t have a scent or taste. It keeps your lips moisturized for a few hours. I wouldn’t put this in my purse though just in case I don’t close it properly. I was taking a picture and put the tube on its side and it started pouring out slowly.
Moom Organic Organic & 100% Natural Hair Remover with Lavender* – I was sent this by the brand and I didn’t know how well it would work. Once I tried it though, it lived up to the claims. It said the hair grows back after two weeks which is accurate. I tried it on my arms and the hair started growing back after 2 weeks. It’s almost been a month now and the hair is sparser. I like that it comes with reusable/washable cotton cloths.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – My dry skin needs a face oil (especially in the winter). I really like this oil. It doesn’t really have a scent and it’s not too greasy.
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
HITS
Buxom Lash Mascara – I really loved this mascara when I tried it and seeing the cost per ounce, it’s actually a better price than other high end ones.
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara – This is an expensive one, but I bought one of those Sephora Favorites kits and redeemed a full size tube of this mascara. The mini size had such a short wand, so I look forward to using the full size wand.
L’Oréal Voluminous Original Mascara – This was one of the first drugstore mascaras I tried. I know the first mascara for everyone would probably be the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, but I skipped straight to trying this one. It’s still one of my faves.
Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara – Here’s another mascara that I tried a mini of, but the curve of the wand made it easy for me to apply to my lashes. I would purchase the full size of this one.
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara – I really loved the wand of this mascara and it separated my lashes nicely for a natural look (but with an extra oomph). However, this is the most expensive mascara on this list (cost per ounce).
Essence Volume Stylist 18 hr Lash Extension Mascara – I tried this one out because Tati recommended it. If Tati, someone who tries out tons of mascaras, likes this then you know it’s a pretty good one.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara (read my review) – This is a great mascara that lifts the lashes. I tried the washable one, but I’m sure the waterproof one would be even better.
Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara (read my review) – I know there are probably better fiber mascaras out there, but this is one that I’ve tried and enjoyed. It easily washes off with warm water.
LIKES
Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara – I tried this mascara before I started reviewing products. From what I remember, this was a great mascara. I’d have to try it again to see if it would get bumped up to my HITS list.
Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara – Maybelline mascaras are some of my faves. This one isn’t my fave out of the ones I’ve tried, but it’s still a good mascara.
L’Oréal Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara – My friend recommended the telescopic mascara, but I bought the wrong one. I think she likes the black one and I bought the gold tube. This one has a nice, thin wand that’s great for bottom lashes.
Essence The False Lashes Mascara (read my review) – This mascara is not my favourite. While I rated it 3.5/5 in my review, I probably wouldn’t purchase it again. Even at its low price.
Essence Get BIG! Triple Black Lashes Mascara (read my review) – This brush is too fat for my lashes.
Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (read my review) – While I liked this mascara, I would prefer if the wand was a bit more tapered. It’s quite a fat wand and my lashes aren’t that long.
Clinique High Impact Mascara – I think this was one of the first mascaras I tried. My mom used to buy mostly Clinique makeup and she would buy the makeup during the bonus makeup bag at Hudson’s Bay. The ones that come with eyeshadow, lipstick, perfume and mascara.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Smart Gifted Mascara (read my review) – This is a great mascara for a natural look.
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – I liked this mascara, but I probably wouldn’t buy the full size. There are ones I prefer more.
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara – The makeup artist for my sister’s wedding used this one. If a makeup artist uses this, then you know it’s a good one.
Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara – Benefit mascaras and brow products are some of the best. I enjoyed this mascara and would get it again.
Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara – I’d say this one is my least fave of the Benefit mascaras, but it’s still a good mascara.
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – This makes your lashes look darker and not clumpy at all. This is one of the few mascaras where I’ve tried a mini that has a fairly long wand.
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara – I was excited to try this one because I know a few people who really like it. It wasn’t anything special for me. I’d rather buy a drugstore one that I like more.
Bourjois Twist Up The Volume Mascara (read my review) – This one is cool because you can get two different looks by twisting the brush. It’s not my favourite though.
MISSES
L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (read my review) – I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t like the shape of the wand. I need a cone-shaped/smaller wand because I don’t have long lashes.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (read my review) – This mascara dries out too quickly (the tubes I’ve tried at least) and I don’t like the shape of the wand.Covergirl Total Tease Mascara (read my review) – While I did like this mascara, I didn’t like the tip of the wand.
Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara – I didn’t love the smell of this one (not that it really makes a difference because you can’t smell it on your eyes). The brush was quite hard and there are better mascaras for a similar price.
I’ve got quite a few empties for you this month. I love trying travel-sized products to test things out. I know they’re not the most cost effective, but I’ve found a fair share of products that I don’t like. So I’m glad I didn’t buy the full size versions right away.
Amorepacific Purify & Polish Set (includes Treatment Cleansing Foam and Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder) – Both of these cleansers are so strongly fragranced. I have dry skin and I feel like the cleansing foam was too drying for me.
Repurchase? No. They’re both quite expensive and too fragranced for my liking.
Tosowoong Repair Sleeping Hair Pack* – At first, I enjoyed this because it was a rinse free hair mask and it smelled pretty good. But once it dried, it felt like I had left product in my hair and forgot to wash it out.
Repurchase? No.
Institut Esthederm Cellular Water Gel* – I liked the consistency of this, but it was very fragranced. It reminded me a lot of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel (read my review).
Repurchase? No.
Tatcha The Water Cream – I didn’t want to like this cream because of the price, but it’s quite nice for the warmer weather. It’s very similar to the Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review).
Repurchase? Yes.
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer – I’ve had this concealer for almost 2 years and I thought it was time to declutter it. I really loved it for spot concealing.
Repurchase? Absolutely!
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brow – I loved the size of this brush. I don’t really have any complaints about it, but I think I slightly prefer the Benefit Gimme Brow because of the selection of shades.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner – This did a good job of cleaning my brushes, but the vanilla scent started to get to me. I originally put this in my July/August 2019 faves post, but I’ve changed my mind. The scent would linger on the brushes and make my room smell like the scent.
Repurchase? No.
What products did you finish this month?
Love,
Products marked with (*) were sent to me for review.
Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.
My brow products of choice are pencils and gels. A few times I’ve used an matte shadow as eyebrow powder, but I prefer pencils. I’m not patient or skilled enough to use pomades.
Two years ago, I wrote a similar post reviewing brow products I’ve tried (read my post). I’ve tried quite a few products since then and found some that I like more.
I’ve also written a few comparison posts (with swatches), check them out below:
I don’t think they sell the Dior Diorshow BoldBrow anymore, they came out with a new product to replace it.
HITS
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel – My friend recommended this clear gel and it’s my favourite clear gel that I’ve tried. It comes out of the tube white, but dries down clear. It leaves my brows feeling soft and not crunchy at all!
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 5 Deep – One of my favourite tinted brow gels.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6 (read my review) – This has been one of my favourite brow pencils I’ve tried.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – A great drugstore micro brow pencil. This is a fave of mine as well.
LIKES
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel– This brow gel does get a bit crunchy, but it keeps my brows in place. I just wish the wand wasn’t so huge. It’s like a mascara wand. I would prefer a thinner one.
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil in Soft Black 09(read my review) – I liked this brow pencil, but it felt like a waste to sharpen so much of it away. I prefer retractable pencils that you don’t have to sharpen. This pencil is nice for a natural look.
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette – I wanted to try a different brow pencil, so I grabbed this Kevyn Aucoin one. It’s the first product I’ve tried from the brand. The shade is a good match for me, but it wipes off more easily than other brow products. I wouldn’t repurchase it.
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil in Ash Brown – In my NYX Hits & Misses post, I put this in the HITS, but this is going into the LIKES section for this post. It’s a HIT for the products I’ve tried from NYX, but there’s other brow products I prefer. This is another pencil that I like from NYX. Although I prefer the Micro Brow pencil because it comes with a spoolie. This one comes with a little oval/paddle brush so you can diffuse what you drew on. You get a more filled in look with this pomade pencil.
MISSES
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (read my review) – I don’t know if it was just the sample I got of this, but it was kind of tacky. When you pull the wandout, you would see a string of product from the wand to the tube. It kind of reminded me of clear lash glue in that way.
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color in 5 Deep – I got a deluxe sample of this and it’s just too intense for me.
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill in 5 Deep – I prefer micro pencils so this was too thick for me. I prefer hair-like strokes instead of the filled in look.
Burt’s Bees Natural Brow Pencil in 1610 Brunette* – This only comes in two shades and the darker shade is too light for me. It was too waxy for my liking.
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown – This pencil was way too waxy for my liking and it never sharpened nicely.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brown – I just wanted to try some Charlotte Tilbury products so I bought this during the sale. I love the size of the brush and the colour was nice. It’s a nice product, but I don’t think it’s anything special and it’s the most expensive gel I’ve tried.
Brow Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per gram
# of shades available
Colourpop Brow Boss Clear Gel
7 USD = 8.85 CAD
3.10g
2.2
clear, 4 tinted
Anastasia Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel
29.50
7.85g
3.8
clear
L’Oréal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara
13.49
3.2g
4.2
4 tinted
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel
32
7g
4.6
clear
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel (mini)
12
2,5g
4.8
clear
Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel (value)
51
6g
8.5
3 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
19
3.5g
5.4
clear
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
32
3g
10.7
10 tinted
Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (mini)
18
1.5g
12.7
10 tinted
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel
30
1.33g
22.6
4 tinted
Brow Pencils/Pomade Gels
Product
Price in CAD
Size
Cost per ounce
# of shades available
Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
32
0.1oz
320
8 shades
Burt's Bees Brow Pencil
13.99
0.04oz
349
2 shades
Mini size Benefit ka-BROW! Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
19
0.05oz
380
3 shades
Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil
10.99
0.02oz
550
4 shades on Maybelline,
2 shades on Shoppers Drug Mart site
NYX Fill & Fluff Pomade Pencil
12.49
0.007oz
1784
8 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill
32
0.01oz
3200
12 shades
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill (mini)
19
0.005oz
3800
3 shades
NYX Micro Brow Pencil
12.49
0.003oz
4163
8 shades
Anastasia Brow Wiz
28
0.003oz
9333
10 shades
Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
32
0.003oz
10667
4 shades
Lancôme Brow Shaping Powdery Pencil
35
0.003oz
11667
9 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define
32
0.02oz
16000
12 shades
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define (mini)
19
0.001oz
19000
12 shades
To Try
I have the Anastasia Brow Wiz in my collection, but I haven’t tried it yet. I bought it earlier this year and wanted to finish my Kevyn Aucoin pencil first.
