• Revisiting My 2018 Favourites | Part 1

    January 4, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    I thought I would do a post revisiting last year’s favourites to see if they were still my favourites. I’ve already done a post for my September to December 2017 favourites.

    Revisiting My 2017 Favourites

    I’m going to split the posts into 2 parts so it’s not too long. Part 1 for January to June and I’ll post the Part 2 in six months’ time for July to December since they’re still fairly recent. These posts are only going to include my beauty favourites.

    JANUARY

    Maybelline FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in 100 Molten Gold – LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

    Repurchase? Yes! I want to get one of the lighter shades (since they’ve expanded their shade range) because this one can be a bit too dark on me.

    Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Love this balm!

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I enjoyed the metal applicator and it kept my under eyes soft and hydrated.

    Repurchase? I would buy it again, but I want to try other products. I’ve only tried a couple eye creams and it’s the best one I’ve tried so far, but I know there are ones that people rave about even more.

    Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush – I haven’t used this in a while, but I still love it. I think I’m just worried the bristles will come off and I’ll have to get a new one.

    Repurchase? Yes, but I would get one with a handle. (UPDATE: I won a giveaway and now I have one with a handle!)

    Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I love the smell of this. I was surprised to read reviews about it smelling too much.

    Repurchase? I’ve already repurchased it.

    MAC Vamplify Gloss in What’s Going On – I loved the applicator of this lip gloss, but I didn’t like this particular shade. The only shades available are bright colours.

    Repurchase? No. If MAC made a lip gloss with this applicator in a shade I liked, I would definitely get it though.

    FEBRUARY

    MAC Strobe Cream – I love the Pinklite!

    Repurchase? Probably.

    Pixi Glow Tonic – LOVE THIS!

    Repurchase? I already have. (UPDATE: I have since realized that I may be allergic to witch hazel which is in the glow tonic).

    Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder – The powder itself is great and I love the puff. I don’t love the smell of the powder though.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    MARCH

    Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette – I enjoyed this, but I feel like I only used a handful of shades. Even at $5, it felt like a waste. Plus, you could tell the quality of the packaging was not great because it was basically just foam that had a piece of plastic material glued onto it. It started to peel.

    Repurchase? No. Shipping to Canada is an extra charge. I’d rather spend the money on the product instead of shipping. I’ve been using a Hard Candy palette that has a fraction of the colours, but I will be able to use all of them.

    LOVE OPI XOXO Mini Nail Lacquer 10 Pack – This pack had 4 colours that I wasn’t a fan of, but it was a good price at Winners.

    Repurchase? I wouldn’t have bought the pack at full price, but I would buy individual shades at full price.

    Dove Advanced Hair Series Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil – It made my hair super smooth, but I think I’d rather use a hair mask.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    APRIL

    Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer – Great bronzer.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink – Pretty cream highlighter.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Soo’Ae Caada Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel – LOVE!

    Repurchase? Yes!

    Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – This is a beautiful foundation!

    Repurchase? Undecided. I want to try other stick foundations to see how they compare. If I do end up buying this again, I need the right shade.

    MAC Pigment in Stardream – It’s a beautiful shade!

    Repurchase? No. Pigments are too messy for me.

    Miniso Flawless Baked Blusher in Rosy Pink – I decided to declutter this. This was a pretty shade, but I didn’t love that it was made in China. If you’re on a budget and you don’t mind where your products are made, this was a really pretty blush.

    Repurchase? No.

    MAY

    Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover – This easily removes eye makeup.

    Repurchase? No. Too expensive for a product that will be on your face for seconds. I’d rather spend money on a moisturizer.

    INGLOT x Jennifer Lopez LipGlossy Lip Gloss in J225 Pinky – I liked the colour of this lip gloss, but I don’t think it’s worth $28. Plus, the smell reminded me of drugstore lip glosses.

    Repurchase? No.

    Cake Beauty (Delectable) The Everything Powder – I used this to set my makeup and it works beautifully. It doesn’t have talc…it’s basically just corn starch! But, it had a smell that was quite powerful (like the Baby All Gone dolls where you feed the baby cherries from a spoon – anyone old enough to know what those are?) This was annoying to use as a setting powder because I had to use an old setting powder container to use it (since this is shaped like a baby powder bottle).

    Repurchase? No.

    Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – This made my hair look shinier and smoother. Although, I’m not a huge fan of the scent of Argan Oil, I didn’t mind this.

    Repurchase? Possibly.

    JUNE

    Clinique Sonic Systems Purifying Brush – I enjoy this brush and the charge lasts a really long time! I got this at the MAC Warehouse Sale for $40 and the brush heads were $10.

    Repurchase? Although I like the brush, I wouldn’t pay full price for the brush heads. If I ever go back to the MAC Warehouse sale, I will pick some up.

    Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (read my review) – I gave it a 5/5, but I’m not sure if it actually helped to clarify and exfoliate my skin. When I wake up the next morning though, my skin does look quite refreshed and hydrated.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – If I wanted to replace the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, I could buy this to use as a makeup remover. I love that they changed the packaging from a tube to a bottle!

    Repurchase? Possibly.

    Clionadh Cosmetics Mother of Pearl Highlighter – This is so pretty!

    Repurchase? Yes, but without the scent.

    The Body Shop Tea Tree Targeted Gel Blemish Stick – I’m so torn. This blemish stick worked well, but it felt unsanitary to stick the wand back in after using it on a pimple. Plus, it’s expensive for a small stick.

    Repurchase? Undecided. But if I do, it has to be on sale.

    The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution – I believe this is no longer available, but it felt like it was the same product as the tea tree oil from The Body Shop.

    Repurchase? Unavailable.

    The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash – This worked okay, I would still get a pimple here and there on my back.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Burt’s Bees Blush in Shy Pink – This is a pretty matte shade, but sometimes I go too heavy-handed and have to really blend it out.

    Repurchase? Probably not. The shade is a bit too pink and I’m not a huge fan of the packaging. Since blush lasts so long, I’d rather pay for a high-end one with nicer packaging.

    Click here for Part 2!

    Did you spot any of your favourites on my list?

    Love,

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  • First Impressions with Inglot X Jennifer Lopez

    May 14, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    For the past few months, I was anxiously awaiting the launch of Jennifer Lopez’s collaboration with Inglot. On April 26th, her collection launched and I quickly ordered a few products. I had to hold myself back from ordering too much, so I decided on the safest products that I could order without swatching: a bronzer, highlighter and lip gloss. I watched a video of a beauty editor swatching different products, but she had different colouring than I did (she was white). I would need to swatch the pressed eyeshadows, pigment eyeshadows, nail polishes and lipsticks to see which shades I’d want.

    Lipglossy Lip Gloss in J225 Pinky

    This lip gloss is beautiful. It has a subtle pink sheen on the lips. When I swatched it, it looks like a peachy pink shade, but when I put it on the lips, it looks more pink. Since it’s a gloss, it is a bit sticky, but it’s not as bad as some I’ve tried where you get that gross trail of lip gloss at the corner of your mouth when you talk.

    Enhance your lips and ensure your kisses are unforgettable with the ultra-shiny LipGlossy. The protective, multi-benefit formula is long-lasting and moisturizing leaving your lips soft and optically smooth. The gloss provides the feeling of regeneration and visually improves firmness, flexibility and tension of your lips. Use alone, or on top of your lipstick for everyday glamour. The final effect depends on the application: touch delicately for a subtle shine or more generously to achieve a magnetic effect of optically enlarged lips.

    RATING: 5/5

    Boogie Down Bronze Freedom System Bronzing Powder in J217 Safari

    This is a beautiful bronzer and it blends nicely. It does hurt a bit that you have to pay $40 CAD for the bronzer and the compact. At least the compact is reusable. I decided to get the non-limited edition compact to save $4 since I already have the highlighter that says Jennifer Lopez on it. The regular compact still has a mirror, but the top is a glossy finish whereas the Jennifer Lopez one is matte with gold lettering.

    Feel fabulous with a natural-looking tan and a sun-kissed glow with Boogie Down Bronze. This sheer, pressed powder leaves your complexion feeling instantly warmer and radiant. The formula allows seamless blending with a powdery, velvet finish that doesn’t smudge. Define your cheekbones by brushing across them lightly to enjoy all-over warmth day and night.

    You have to buy the compact separately from the bronzer, so the first time you buy it, it’s more than $30 to purchase. I didn’t love that you had to do this, but it’s a beautiful bronzer.

    RATING: 4/5

    Livin’ the Highlight Illuminator Face Eyes Body in J201 Radiant

    For highlight, I prefer that wet look that doesn’t have any glitter. This highlight is absolutely beautiful for your IG pics or like the description says “on the stage,” but close-up, I don’t think it looks that good. Since this is a loose powder, it’s a bit more glittery than I like for a highlighter. It’s gorgeous for an eyeshadow or the body. You can mix it with some moisturizer and get a more subtle highlight for your face. Same goes for mixing it with a body lotion to highlight your collarbone or shoulders. I don’t love the container this comes in. It’s geared best for using it as a body highlighter, since it has the puff and you put the container upside down so you can release some product. For eyes, you have to pour some onto the top of the lid so your brush or finger can pick it up. Then the puff gets product on both sides of it which I think is a waste of the product.

    Turn heads with Livin’ the Highlight Illuminator to create a luminous look. Available in two magnetic shades, this loose powder enhances your natural radiance and highlights strategic parts of your face and body for the ultimate glow. The iridescent formula can be effortlessly applied and its stunning effect is perfect for when you’re on the stage or out and about with friends.

    RATING: 3.5/5

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    Top to bottom: Lip gloss, bronzer, highlight

    I went to the store to pick up the compact for the bronzer and swatched some of the other products in the collection. I’m glad I didn’t end up getting a lipstick because when I swatched them on my hand, they all seemed a little too peachy for me (although it might be a different story on the lips). The lipsticks and the glosses both smell fruity. The red lipstick (Besame) was absolutely beautiful, but I don’t really wear red lipstick that often and I don’t see myself paying more than $15 for a red. I’ve found a few pretty reds at the drugstore. The loose pigment shadows looked nice, but it was also quite chunky. The mascara wand looked really nice and it’d be good for both top and bottom lashes since it’s skinny.

    20180513_145841I think I chose the right products to get and I think if I picked up new products from the line, I would try the mascara, lip gloss in J223 Goldilips and maybe one of the blushes.

    What did you pick up from the collaboration?

    Love,

    jen

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  • soo'ae purifying brightening peeling gel

    April 2018 Faves

    April 27, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Here are my April favourites!

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    I am absolutely loving the Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Butter Bronzer in Deep Bronzer and the Butter Highlighter in Pink.

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    I got the deep bronzer because it was either that or the sunkissed which was too orange. I could probably use the light bronzer or bronzer shades. I just need to make sure I really blend out the deep bronzer or it will look like I have a bruise. The highlight is gorgeous! It’s a cream-to-powder and I love it. I got the pink one and it gives a beautiful glow!

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    I loved this Soo’Ae Canada Purifying Brightening Peeling Gel so much that I decided to pick it up at Walmart! It’s a peeling gel that gently exfoliates your skin. It made my skin feel like a baby’s bottom!!

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    I really need to get the right shade in this Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick. Right now, I have it in Ivory, but I’m more Warm Ivory I think. I’ve really been loving this foundation stick as both a foundation and a concealer. It’s compact and easy to carry around in your purse. I got it at the MAC Warehouse sale for $21, but I would definitely pay the full price. It glides on effortlessly and blends beautiful with a damp sponge.

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    I pressed some MAC pigment in Stardream into an old Becca pot and OMG it’s absolutely gorgeous! The pigment was part of the Nutcracker set of Pigments. It’s a beautiful coppery bronze for my eyes. It’s a bit too dark for a highlight on my skintone, but it has that wet, metallic look that I love in shimmery shades!!

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    This Miniso Flawless Baked Blusher in Rosy Pink is just so pretty. It gives you a rosy glow since it has shimmer in it. I can’t believe it was only $2.99!

    What were your faves this month?

    Love,

    jen

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  • the body shop all-in-one bb cream colour adapting cream

    Review | The Body Shop Colour Adapting BB Cream

    January 27, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    In my search for BB and CC Creams, I came across the Erborian CC Creme High Definition Radiance Face Cream. I thought it was so cool because then you don’t have to get a horrible colour match from a store (where you always get one that’s too light because you’re under all these bright lights instead of natural sunlight). Of course, it’s popular and it’s hard to get in Canada. They have the Erborian Pink Perfect Creme at Sephora for $51. It has a floral scent which I’m not a fan of and I’m sure the CC Creme also has a similar scent. So I looked to see if any other brands had a colour-adapting CC Cream and I found The Body Shop’s All-In-One BB Cream- Colour Adapting Tinted Cream. It comes in 5 shades and it’s half the price of the Erborian one. I chose the shade 01 Lighter Skin Tones. It has the typical BB/CC Cream scent. When I got it, it was $23 CAD. Right now they’re having a sitewide 40% deal, so it’s $13.80 at the moment.

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    When you’ve got no time to spare, our award-winning All-in-One BB Cream is a must-have beauty product for super-speedy results. Enriched with 24hr hydration, our hardworking, multi-tasking BB cream does it all, leaving your skin gloriously glowing and (almost) picture perfect. Pigment-filled capsules burst when applied to the skin, releasing the colour inside. Just blend for a perfect match and an even, undetectable finish.

    • Non-clogging
    • Offers light to medium coverage
    • Illuminates and evens appearance of skin tone
    • Enriched with Community Trade organic aloe vera

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    As you can see in the pic on the right, the bb cream is white with little specks (the pigment-capsules that burst when you apply it).

    I don’t know about the 24 hour hydration because no one would be wearing it that long. It’s definitely light-medium coverage, but it gives your skin a nice, dewy finish. I add a bit of powder on my t-zone so that I don’t look shiny (keep in mind that I have normal/dry skin). I don’t know how well this would perform on oily skin.

    RATING: 5/5

    I really like it for days where I don’t want to put on a full face of makeup, but I want to even out my skin. I love how it has a natural finish and it doesn’t FEEL overly oily, but it can make you LOOK shiny if you don’t powder.

    What are your fave BB/CC Creams?

    Love,

    jen

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