• July 2020 Product Empties

    July 2020 Product Empties

    Hi Everyone!

    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.

  • Fave Makeup Primers

    Primers | My Hits & Misses

    Hi Everyone!

    I’m sharing my hits and misses for all primers that I’ve tried (that I can remember).

    Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

    MAKEUP || Foundations | Powders | Concealers | Brows | Mascara

    SKINCARE || Eye Creams

    BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | L’OréalMaybelline | Nude by Nature | NYX | TULA | Volition Beauty

    Before you read this post, please remember that we all have difference preferences and skin types. These are MY hits, misses and likes. You might love something I don’t like or dislike something I love.


    Each primer has a small blurb on why I love, like or didn’t like. Some I’ve grouped together because they were similar to me. First, I’ll start with Hits, then Likes and end with Misses.

    HITS

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This one is great for my dry skin. Before I started using facial oils and drinking more water, my nose was super dry and flaky (ew). It’s still a bit dry and can get flaky at times, but around the nostrils aren’t as bad as they used to be. This primer was the first that would keep my nose moisturized enough by the end of the day. You can also use this as a moisturizer if you’re in a pinch and need some moisture.

    Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer* & Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review) – These are also 2-in-1 primers that can double as moisturizers. I wouldn’t say that these should be used as your only part of your skincare routine, but they can definitely be one of the steps in your morning routine to help prep your skin. The Sonia Roselli Water Balm is more moisturizing than the Good Molecules. I wouldn’t use the Good Molecules as a moisturizer on its own though. I usually pair it with a face oil.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – This is a nice hydrating primer that has a bit of tackiness. You can also use at the end of your makeup routine, but take note that the spray nozzle isn’t the finest so don’t get too close to your face. It has a slightly citrus scent from the Limonene, so if you don’t like citrus, you’ll want to skip this one!

    Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is a nice smoothing/blurring primer that smells really nice. I use it on my cheeks and forehead where my pores are larger.

    Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer (read my review) – This is one of Tati’s fave blurring primers. So I thought I’d give it a try. This is a thicker primer and it’s easy to use too much – Less is more! Sometimes I would get too much on my fingers and then just apply it to areas I didn’t really need it. I would notice my makeup would look more cakey in those areas. That was totally my fault though. This is a great primer if you need to blur those pores. If you do end up trying it, press it into the skin, do not rub.

    Winky Lux Whipped Primer – Tati also tried this one to compare. I can’t recall exactly what she said, but I think she liked it. Although not as much as the Tarte one. This one is a softer texture since it’s whipped – It’s like this one is whipped cream cheese while the Tarte is regular Philly cream cheese. It might be easier for a beginner to try this one first and then upgrade to Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer when you’re ready.

    Mac Strobe Cream (Pink) – I guess this is more of a liquid highlighter than a primer. If you have larger pores, you might want to use a blurring primer before applying this to the face. You can use this underneath foundation, mix it in with foundation or apply as a liquid highlighter. This pink is so pretty to give you that ‘glow from within’ look. The Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7 is also really pretty and I haven’t personally tried it, but the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is so pretty too.

    Makeup Primers
    Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer (bottom), Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer (top)

    LIKES

    Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer – I don’t really like the silicone-y feeling blurring primers, but if you don’t mind them, you’d like this one.

    Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer – This one broke me out, but it blurs really nicely. If it works for you, this is one of the cheaper primers available at Sephora and in this blog post.

    Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primers (Nourishing & Hydrating – These two primers were both really nice, but again didn’t provide my dry skin enough moisture. The Nourishing one is a bit richer in texture while the hydrating one is more of a gel cream texture.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I really loved this primer when I first tried a sample, but once I bought the full size bottle, I didn’t reach for it as often. You could use any facial oil you already have instead of spending money on a primer oil. Also, this isn’t the best smelling facial oil I’ve used either. I ended up having to use it as a facial oil and then ended up decluttering because I had it so long that it started to smell off.

    First Aid Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, Stellar Brilliant Primer & Mac Prep + Prime Natural Radiance – From what I remember, these three primers were illuminating and they had similar textures. They weren’t shimmery or anything, but there was a glow to them. While they were nice, they didn’t provide quite enough hydration for my dry skin. Also, I didn’t like the smells of these primers. I’d rather use a really good hydrating primer and choose to add in some liquid highlighter on my own instead of getting an illuminating primer like these ones.

    makeup Primers
    Makeup Primers

    MISSES

    Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I know some people love this one, but this smells like school glue to me and that just turned me off. I also didn’t notice anything special about it.

    Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer – Similar to the Smashbox pore minimizing primer, this is silicone-y. It’s a good drugstore alternative to the Smashbox one, I believe. I didn’t compare them so I don’t know if Smashbox was better at blurring, but they both have the same texture.

    Make Up for Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer – Redness Correcting & Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer – Redness Correcting (read my review) – I didn’t really find these two primers to work that well at concealing redness. If you need to colour correct, use a colour corrector instead of a primer that corrects.

    L’Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream (Anti-Redness) (read my review) – This smells really bad, but it does work great if you have a slightly darker skin tone than I do. It works well for my mom. It starts out green, but then it turns ‘skin-coloured.’

    Maybelline Facestudio Master Primer Blur + Redness Control Primer – This did nothing to conceal redness OR blur.

    Nude By Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – Even though I rated this a 3/5 in my review, the smell is too sweet. It smells like Rockets (or as the Americans call them ‘Smarties’).

    The Body Shop Moisturizing Primer – I don’t think this is available anymore, but it was basically a moisturizer. It had a similar texture to the First Aid priming moisturizer.

    The Body Shop All-In-1 Blurring Primer – Again, this is silicone-y and one of the first primers I tried.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Under Eye Primer – Originally, I loved this primer because I thought it made my under eyes look illuminated and bright. After a while, I didn’t notice anything. I don’t know if I was just imagining things in the beginning. This was meant to illuminate the under eyes. You don’t need this (even if it did work)…just get a good eye cream that already illuminates. This one has a similar texture to the First Aid/Stellar/MAC illuminating primers.


    If you’ve read this far, thanks for reading!

    You can check out my July 2018 Primer Inventory to see how much my opinion has changed since then.

    I’ve also tried the Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer and Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer in samples. I think the POREfessional was dried out by the time I tried it, but I know a lot of people love it. I think it’s similar to the Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer, so I might give the hydrating version a try. I really liked the Silk Canvas primer and would definitely consider purchasing the mini. I know the full size is more cost effective, but I don’t know if I could get through the full size one fast enough. I’d rather spend a few dollars more per ounce than buy the full size one and end up throwing it out because it expired.

    To Try

    • Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer 
    • Becca Velvet Blurring Primer
    • Benefit The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer
    • Bite Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer (normal to dry skin)
    • Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (This was on my 2020 Beauty Wishlist)
    • Cover FX Gripping Primer
    • Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Blurring 
    • Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating
    • Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer

    In my next Hits & Misses post, I’ll be writing about foundations!

    What are your favourite primers?

    Love,

    Products marked with (*) were gifted to me.

  • november 2019 empties

    November 2019 Product Empties

    Hi Everyone!

    I’ve got quite a few empties this month! Keep reading to find out which ones I’d repurchase.

    Tula Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel – I like this gel. It doesn’t dry out my skin or irritate it like other salicylic acid products. Unfortunately for me, Tula stopped selling outside of the United States.

    Repurchase? I would if I could.

    Dr Paw Paw Original Balm (read my review) – This product was okay, but it didn’t do much more than Vaseline (which is a lot cheaper).

    Repurchase? No.

    Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Grapefruit* (read my review) – I liked this lip balm, but it tasted like artificial grapefruit.

    Repurchase? Yes, in a different flavour.

    Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes* (read my review) – I really enjoyed this eye cream. I didn’t really notice if it brightened my under eyes, but it didn’t have any scent to it and wasn’t too thick. It didn’t cause any reactions under my eyes. It wouldn’t be hydrating enough for Fall/Winter, but I liked it for Spring/Summer.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Exfoliating Cleanser – This was an okay cleanser, but I don’t think it’s worth splurging. It didn’t do anything special compared to cheaper options.

    Repurchase? No.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer – This is one of my favourite primers. I’ve already repurchased one to replace this.

    Repurchase? Absolutely.

    Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer – This is one of Tati’s (GlamLifeGuru) favourite pore-filling primers. It is a great primer, but it comes in a jar and it’s a bit thicker than other pore-filling primers. You also have to make sure to press it into the skin, don’t rub it in or it will pill. If you use too much, it can get cakey. It’s a great pore-filling and blurring primer.

    Repurchase? Probably not since I’ve found others that are easier to use.

    Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge – This was denser than I thought it would be. I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    What did you finish this month?

    Love,

    Products with (*) were gifted to me.

  • physicians formula murmuru butter butter bronzer pan

    August 2019 Product Empties

    Hi Everyone!

    Here are my empties from August. As you can see, I finished my Butter Bronzer. Keep reading to find out what else I finished this month!

    Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer – I think most people have tried this bronzer and love it. I also love it, but I wish it didn’t have fragrance in it. Why does a powder need fragrance?! For this reason, I will be trying out different ones. I may come back to it if I can’t find one that performed as beautifully as this one.

    Repurchase? Maybe. If they came out with an unscented version, I would absolutely buy it!

    Simple Foaming Cleanser – This was an okay cleanser. I used to love foaming cleansers, but I’m starting to prefer cleansing milks, oils and gels now.

    Repurchase? No.

    Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser – This is a great cleanser for a great price (especially at Costco). I use it in the mornings and I sometimes use it for the body.

    Repurchase? Absolutely.

    Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – It was time to declutter this little guy. It’s a great mascara. While it’s not my fave of all time, I would definitely consider getting it in the full-size.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Picture taken when I first got it.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – I really enjoyed this primer water. It was great as a primer and as a setting spray. I don’t know if it necessarily prolonged my makeup, but it helped my powder products blend in with the skin.

    Repurchase? Yes!

    Subi Beauty Perfect Pimple Patches* (read my review) – These were great pimple patches. They’re like the Rael or COSRX Clear Fit ones. It comes in a pack of 18 x 10 mm patches.

    Repurchase? Probably not. As a Canadian, it’s cheaper for me to get the COSRX (from Chuusi.ca) or Rael ones (from Amazon).

    What did you finish this month?

    Love,

    *Products were gifted to me.

  • March/April 2019 Faves

    Hi Everyone!

    Back with another faves post! I have three primers and two lip products for you.

    I am loooooving the Lancôme L’Absolu Lacquer Lip Gloss in 236 Pour Toujours!! For me, it’s a MLBB shade. The lacquer has the pigmentation of a liquid lip, but glossiness of a gloss.

    I love the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (read my review)!! It’s beautifully glossy, so you can even use it during the day as your lip product. I slather it on before bed and then wake up with my lips feeling moisturized. Unlike Vaseline, it takes longer to absorb and keeps my lips hydrated for much longer.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer, Primer Water and Primer Oil. I love all three of these primers. The primerizer and primer oil are amazing for my dry skin. They help hydrate my skin so that the area around my nose doesn’t look dry and flaky after wearing makeup all day.

    I like the primer water. I use it as both a primer and after makeup. The sprayer is great because it has a nice, fine mist. I’ll definitely keep the bottle when I’m finished. I feel like the sprayer has a finer mist than the Mac Fix+ bottle. I like using this and the smashbox primerizer together. I’ll use the primerizer on my t-zone and spray this all over the face. The primer water hydrates my skin and also makes it feel a little tacky so my foundation and concealer stayed on better. I’ve had some great makeup days using this primer. I would repurchase all of these again in the future!

    Love,

  • February 2019 Product Empties

    Hi Everyone!

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

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

    Repurchase? Yes.

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

    Repurchase? No.

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

    Repurchase? No, but I love the MUFE primers.

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

    Repurchase? No.

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

    Repurchase? In the correct shade, yes.

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

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

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

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

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

    Repurchase? Maybe.

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

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Loved this!

    Repurchase? Yes.

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

    Repurchase? Yes.

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

    Repurchase? Yes.

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

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

    Love,

  • September 2018 Product Empties

    Hi Everyone!

    This month I went through a lot of products! So, let’s get started!

    Bioré Blemish Fighting Astringent – This would sometimes sting my skin (even if I didn’t have a pimple. The alcohol content was very high and would make my eyes water.

    Repurchase? No.

    belif bergamot Toner – This was a very nice, gentle toner.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Spectro AcneCare Wash – This was a great acne wash that wasn’t too strong.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – Cannot get enough of these patches, they’re amazing!

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Clinique Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes – These were gentle and removed makeup okay.

    Repurchase? No longer available, I believe.

    The Face Shop Clean Face Clear Away Spot Treatment (read my review) – This wasn’t very strong, I would rather buy the Kate Somerville eradiKate or Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Self-Heating Clay Mask (read my review) – This was interesting. The self-heating factor might be good for body aches (although it would be a bit messy).

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Live Clean Baby Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Cream – This cream definitely smelled like oatmeal. I don’t know if it did anything to help. I was using it when I didn’t have any eczema flare ups.

    Repurchase? Probably not, I would rather get a Cetaphil cream bottle.

    got2be Guardian Angel Gloss Finish Flat Iron Balm – I have only ever tried 2 heat protectant sprays, but this did the job and made my hair look glossy.

    Repurchase? I have.

    Remay Shave Gel Bar – I received this for free and while it smelled nice and was very nice to shave with, I probably wouldn’t purchase it.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I got this in a Topbox and I knew it was expensive so I kept not using this little bottle. I love the smell of this dry shampoo and I got compliments twice when using it that I smelled nice.

    Repurchase? I finally splurged and bought a new one. I got a mini because the big size was out of stock.

    Live Clean Mineral Clay Rebalancing Shampoo + Conditioner – I liked this shampoo and conditioner.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review) – This is a good concealer palette if you’re just starting out and don’t want to splurge. You can use it to colour correct, conceal and contour.

    Repurchase? No, because Coastal Scents charges shipping to Canada.

    Colourpop No Filter Concealer in Light 20 – This concealer was bought before they added more shades, so there’s no longer a shade called Light 20. This concealer was okay for me. It oxidized really quickly. I would rather get Maybelline Fit Me Concealer since that’s easier for me to pick up.

    Repurchase? No.

    Milani Retouch + Erase Light-Lifting Concealer in 02 Light – This is a thick concealer that blends out nicely. I wasn’t sure if I would like it because I thought it might cause creasing under my eyes, but I wore it for over 8 hours and it didn’t crease 

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Colour Correcting- Adjust) (read my review) – This did nothing to cover redness.

    Repurchase? No.

    Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – This was an okay primer, I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it.

    Repurchase? No.

    Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is one of my fave smoothing primers.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y245 – This was a great foundation, but the shade was too yellow. I think I’d need to mix two shades with different undertones to get the right match.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation in 1025 Natural Beige (read my review) – Because this foundation is very natural, it washed away easily with water. I didn’t like the smell of it either and it lingered after applying it.

    Repurchase? No.

    Fenty Pro’Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 150 – This was too matte for me. While it was beautiful, I prefer something more luminous and natural.

    Repurchase? No.

    Coastal Scents Revealed3 Palette (read my review) – These had some great neutral colours if you’re starting out with eyeshadows.

    Repurchase? No.

    Urban Decay troublemaker Mascara – This deluxe sample was hard to judge the full-sized because it was such a short stick, I couldn’t apply the mascara very well to my lashes.

    Repurchase? No.

    Bella Pierre Cheek Stain in Coral – It was pretty, but I feel like I never gave it a fair shot. I think I’d prefer a cheek stain that twists up or in a pan instead of a pot.

    Repurchase? No.

    Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara – While this was easy to wash off, it didn’t do much for my lashes.

    Repurchase? No.

    bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in Tutu – It was a pretty pink shade, but a bit too pale pink on me. I might consider buying a different shade.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Dior Addict Lipstick in 983 Insoumise – My mom bought this for my sister’s wedding, but it was way too pink for her and had shimmer in it, so she gave it to me. It’s a beautiful pink shade, but it’s a bit too pink for me too. I would sort of do an ombré lip with this on top of a nude/pink lipstick and it added the perfect amount of shine and pink.

    Repurchase? Not this shade, but I loved how hydrating this lipstick was, so I would definitely consider getting the Dior Addict Lip Glow or purchasing a different shade.

    What products did you finish this month?

    Love,

    jen

  • August 2018 Faves

    Hi Everyone!

    Here are August’s favourites! I was a little behind the game trying the Real Techniques sponges, but I am loving them. I got a 4 pack on sale at Winners.

    20180803_154232

    Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (read my review) – This little guy is going in the favourites for this month!! I picked up a pack of 4 for $20 at Winners!!

    elf Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose – I got this free for review and I liked the pencil, but the shade wasn’t me.

    LANEIGE BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF50 (read my review) – This is a really nice cushion foundation if you have nice skin already since it’s sheer coverage. I wish it came in more shades though.

    Soo’Ae Juicy Mango Glow Mask (read my review) – This one is a light orange-coloured microfiber one and it’s so soft. It smells like mangoes, but not too overpowering. There was a lot of essence in the pack (definitely juicy), I used it on my arms and legs- It is a bit tacky after using it though. Most of the other masks say what they’re meant to do, i.e. nourish, hydrate, brighten. This one is just called the juicy mango glow mask, so you assume it just makes you glow, but it made my face feel soft and plump too.

    20180607_145249

    Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I use this on my chin, nose and around the nose to hydrate my dry skin. It prevents my foundation from showing the dry, flaky skin on my nose. It looks beautiful with both powder and liquid foundations. I will definitely be purchasing a full-sized bottle.

    Morning Glamour Aqua Satin Pillowcase – I’ve heard that you should switch to a silk/satin pillowcase because cotton ones damage your hair and cause wrinkles. Since silk ones seem a bit expensive and I didn’t want to splurge on something that doesn’t actually make a difference, I picked this satin one up at Winners for $10. In the description of the pillowcase, it says that cotton absorbs your skincare products. I have noticed that I don’t wake up with bed head (usually my hair sticks up at the back or something) and my face does feel more hydrated. I was worried that my head would slide around, but it didn’t. The one thing about this particular pillowcase is that you don’t slide it in like a regular pillowcase, it has flaps so that it stays put. Therefore, you can only use one side of the pillowcase because the other side has a line/seam down the middle. So, if you like flipping your pillow over, find one that doesn’t have the flaps. I would consider getting a silk one in the future.

    Love,

    jen

  • November/December 2017 Faves

    Hi Everyone!

    Here are November & December’s faves:

    media-20171117Clean and Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Purifying Cleanser is my fave to use in the morning. There are strawberry seeds in it that gently exfoliate. It may not give me that squeaky clean feel like cleansers from The Face Shop, but the refreshing citrus scent helps me wake up in the morning.

    sss.jpgI love the Dove Nutritive Solutions Coconut and Hydration Shampoo. It smells good and makes my hair feel smooth and moisturized. It’s scented with coconut water and sweet lime. I’ve used a few other Dove shampoos, but I think this one smells the best so far out of the ones I’ve tried: Energize, Daily Moisture and Cool Moisture.

    20171115_195053.jpgI bought the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler during the Sephora sale (check out my haul here!) and I must say that I am loving it! I got it for $25 CAD. It just works so much better than the other ones I’ve used and I don’t have to worry about it pinching my eyelid by accident. I’ve used several other curlers, I still have a Tweezerman and a Sephora one. The Tweezerman is a pretty good dupe in terms of how the curler looks, but you can feel the difference when you squeeze the curler to curl your lashes. The shu is almost springy whereas the Tweezerman opens really wide. It’s hard to describe unless you have both and you’re trying them out. I have a purple Sephora one and it’s definitely not suited for Asian/hooded eyes (especially if your lashes are short). I don’t think any of the Sephora ones would be good for Asians (even though they might be $5 cheaper or around the same price, I’d rather spend $25 on the shu. For the Sephora one, I have to hold it at an angle just to get the curler to line up with my lashes.

    media-20180129ee-e1517269390787.jpgI only wish they sold replacement pads separately (it comes with one replacement in the box), but then you need to buy a new curler. I’ve heard the Shiseido ones fit in the curler, but they’re just a tad shorter than the shu ones and Sephora sells replacements for $8 CAD. It’s a bit ridiculous because on the box it says that a rubber pad will last about 3 months and you should replace the whole curler once the refill pad has worn down. I don’t use my eyelash curler daily, but my other eyelash curlers’ pads have lasted longer than 3 months. I wish they sold replacement pads separately. I think it’s too expensive to have to shell out another $25 every six months according to the box.

    media-20180301jjj.jpgSmashbox’s Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer and Essence’s I 🖤 Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base. The Smashbox helps brighten my under eyes and the Essence eyeshadow base makes my shadow colours even more vibrant and it’s less than $6!

    media-20171209ddI love both of these powder bronzers that I got as deluxe samples from Sephora. I would definitely buy the full-sized versions. I have loved everything I’ve tried that’s from Tarte (except for the Opening Act Lash Primer), so it’s no surprise I love this bronzer. I have Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep Matte. Both blend well and are great for contouring.

    cI am loving this original Tory Burch perfume…it’s a mix of citrus and floral and great for winter and fall. I use Giorgio Armani’s Acqua Di Gioia in the spring and summer because it’s got that acquatic, fresh smell. I love the bottle of the Tory Burch perfume and it makes me feel more grown up. It has neroli, grapefruit and peony to name a few notes.

    sdaI’m loving the GummiBand hair cords. They don’t make my hair crease after wearing my hair up for hours and they don’t tug on my hair like regular hair bands. I love the colour variety and they’re a Canadian brand!

    Read my review and get a coupon code for the GummiBand hair cords!

     

    Everyone loves a red lip for the holidays. This L’Oreal Infallible Le Rouge lipstick in 337 Refined Ruby is a beautiful satiny blue-red. I don’t wear red that often so finding a beautiful red at a drugstore price was my goal.

    What were your faves from November and December?

    Check out my other monthly favourites:
    2017
     Sept/Oct

    Love,

    jen