L’Oréal Paris | My Hits & Misses

July 31, 2023
Hi Everyone!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the blog. It’s also been a while since I’ve done a Hits & Misses post. So here are my thoughts on L’Oréal products. Some of the products I was gifted and marked with a *.

Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

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

SKINCARE || Eye Creams

BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | Maybelline | 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.

HITS

Voluminous Original Mascara – This is one of my favourite drugstore mascaras. I like the wand and it’s a good price.

Rouge Signature Liquid Lip Colour in I Create 416 – I love this shade and it’s a pretty comfortable matte liquid lipstick. Sometimes I’ll put a bit of gloss on in the middle.

Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Varnished Rosewood 904 (read my review) – I bought this one for my mom, it’s a really pretty shade and has a nice shine.

LIKES

Bambi Eye Mascara* – I liked this mascara, the shape of the tube made it a bit difficult to open. I don’t have dexterity issues, but someone who does might have trouble opening it.

Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara – This is the gold tube one. It works well for bottom lashes.

Brow Stylist Boost & Set Volumizing Brow Mascara (read my review) – This brow mascara was okay. I liked the small brush, but it made my brows feel crunchy.

Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness (read my review) – My mom uses this anti-redness bb cream and it works well. I wish it came in different shades because it’s too brown for me. It also doesn’t smell that great.

Color Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in J Lo’s Nude 370 – I used to looooove this lipstick. I didn’t really love the scent of the lipstick (I think it was the same as the regular Colour Riche lipsticks – either a baby powder scent or a bit floral). I went through 3 tubes of this until I decided to try other products. I prefer lip tints and balms or liquid lipsticks these days.

Color Riche Oil-Infused Nail Lacquer in 554 Carmin Parisien* – Gorgeous shade and the brush works well. I could do without the rose scent of the polish though. I prefer the regular Color Riche Nail Lacquer (if they still sell that).

Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Moisturizer Fragrance-Free* – This is the only skincare product I’ve liked from L’Oreal because it’s fragrance-free. It did a good job as a moisturizer too, but it’s almost the same price as a non-drugstore brand. So I’d rather use a serum or moisturizer from another brand.

Revitalift Triple Power LZR 7-day Treatment Replumping Ampoules* – These were interesting. I would prefer if they sold it in a bottle because it’s expensive for these 7 capsules.

Le Colour Clear Toning Gloss* – I haven’t coloured my hair in years, so I can only judge the claims to make your hair shine. It did make my hair look very shiny and healthy.

Dream Lengths 8-second(es) Wonder Water Lamellar Rinse-Out* (read my review) – It detangled hair well, but it didn’t last very long and it was expensive.

MISSES

Unfortunately, a lot of the skincare products has a heavy fragrance that gives me a headache, so I was unable to test how well the product actually worked. The serums were all quite tacky which I didn’t love. Here are 3 of their Revitalift serums that were too scented to try:
- Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitaminc C, E + Salicylic Acid Face Serum* – smells like that solution to clean the hair tools at a salon
- Revitalift Hydrating Smoothing Serum* – smells like hairspray from what I remember
- Revitalift Triple Power LZR 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum* – I may be mistaken, but I could’ve sworn that all of the serums had fragrance in them. Maybe there was another reason I didn’t like this one because it claims to be fragrance-free on the website
Pure-Sugar Scrub for Oily Skin (Kiwi) – When I first tried this, I liked it, but I don’t really use scrubs on my face anymore because of my sensitive skin.

Pure Clay Masks (Charcoal Brightening Mask for Dull Skin, Red Pore Minimizing 7 Exfoliating for Rough Skin, Green Mattifying Face Mask for Oily Skin)* – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stopped using face masks as often out of laziness. I prefer to use a mask that I don’t have to clean off. Also, clay masks can make my skin feel dry and tight and I don’t need my skin to be drier (especially in the colder months).

Concealer Infallible Full Wear, One-Swipe Complete Coverage Matte Finish – This one is too thick for my liking and just made my under eyes look cakey.

Colour Riche Ultra Matte Lipstick* (read my review) – These were a bit too matte for my liking. I probably could’ve added a gloss or balm on top, but the shades I tried weren’t ones I would’ve personally chosen. So maybe if I had tried a shade that I like, I would like them better.

Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – This is going to be a surprise for some people, but I do not like this mascara’s wand shape. I need a more cone-shaped wand or one that’s wider in the middle, not thinner.

I have an Excel sheet of products I’ve tried and whether I would repurchase them or not. I have a few L’Oreal products that I said I wouldn’t repurchase, but unfortunately, I didn’t write why lol, so these fall into that category:
- Voluminous Original Primer – I could’ve sworn I tried this, but I can’t find it in my records anywhere. I know I tried a mascara primer, but I didn’t want to splurge on one, so I got this one. I remember not liking it because it made my lashes feel so heavy once I put mascara on. It was either this or the Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer.
- Excellence Crème – I’m pretty sure I’ve used one of their hair colours. I don’t dye my hair often, but I tried a few box dyes a few years ago. So I don’t really have a reference for which ones are good
- Dream Lengths Shampoo with Keratin and Castor Oil & Dream Lengths Conditioner* – All I wrote in my Excel sheet was “scent was too sweet”
- Extraordinary Oil Shampoo Fine Coconut Oil – I’m guessing that I didn’t like the oil in it or I didn’t like the coconut scent.
- EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner* – I usually stick to regular drugstore shampoo brands in bottles (sometimes I will occasionally buy an expensive one and use it for special occasions). I think I didn’t love the scent of this and it was expensive
- Stylista #BeachWaves Texturizing Mist – I don’t like the feeling of a hair texturizer
- Stylista #Curls Defining Spray – I remember this being quite fragranced
I’ve tried a few discontinued products as well:
- Sublime Soft Micellar Gelee Eye Makeup Remover (read my review)
- Infallible Pro Contour Palette – This was the first contour palette I tried. I didn’t know what I was doing back then lol. I do remember the contour shade being a good ‘shadow’ shade though
- Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in 337 Refined Ruby – This was a pretty red (blue-red, not an orange-red), very shiny too
While I’ve tried quite a bit from the brand, it also doesn’t seem like a lot once I’ve written it all down. I haven’t tried much of their face makeup, but I don’t feel tempted to try much from the brand. I have considered trying their foundations, but then I just end up trying other brands. Especially since drugstore prices have gone up and they’re comparable to brands at retail stores.

Love,
Read More

This or That | Cleansing Balms

November 3, 2022

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing the eight cleansing balms I’ve tried so far. I have tried two others, but they are no longer available.

Previous posts on cleansing balms:

This or That | Banila Co vs Heimish

This or That | Clinique vs Pixi (no longer available)

Glow Recipe

These are the cleansing balms I will be comparing (in alphabetical order):

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)
belif Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm*
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm
Heimish All Clean Balm
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm*
Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm*
Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm*

Ingredients for the cleansing balms:

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate/IPDI Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Methoxy PEG-15 Methacrylate Copolymer

belif Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm*

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Methylpropanediol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Oleate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Polyethylene, Aqua/Water/Eau, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Papain, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Levulinic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite

Heimish All Clean Balm

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Rose Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus (Daffodil) Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral, Linalool

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm*

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera (Cire de candelilla), Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Aqua (Water/Eau), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm*

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax
Polysorbate 85, Fermented Japanese Pearl Barley (Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Water, Butylene Glycol

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm*

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Water/Aqua/Eau, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Stem Extract*, Aristotelia Chilensis (Maqui Berry) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Leaf Extract, Opuntia Tuna (Prickly Pear) Flower/Stem Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower (Neem) Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Holy Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae) Extract, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene. *Certified Organic Ingredient

For me, they all performed about the same. I don’t wear waterproof mascara or eyeliner, so I can’t say how well these cleansing balms work for those. I cleanse with a regular cleanser after using the cleansing balms, so I don’t mind if there’s a film from the cleansing balm.

Texture

Youth to the People (YTTP)’s cleanser is the most crumbly and it’s not as emollient as the others. Due to the texture being more crumbly, it didn’t remove my makeup as well. I had to work it in longer than the others. The Inkey List one comes in a tube, so it’s a more runny texture. I have to make sure to massage the tube first before squeezing any out. I was sent the Juno & Co cleansing balm and it came melted . They sent me a new one, but I’m worried about how easily it melted.

Comparing the textures to food: The YTTP one is like mashed potatoes (with nothing added in). The melted Juno & Co one was like melted butter that had cooled down a bit (still runny, but not completely liquid). The new tub I was sent still wasn’t as solid as the other ones.

Packaging

The K-beauty cleansing balms come with spatulas, while most of the others don’t come with one. Glow Recipe wins for best packaging since it comes in a glass jar that closes nicely. I wish the spatula could fit inside the jar, but I understand why they have a larger one since the jar is quite deep. I keep all of my spatulas in a little glass container, but it’d be nice to have it in the jar if you travel. The Youth to the People one also comes in a glass jar, but when I unscrew the lid, it doesn’t feel as smooth as the Glow Recipe. The Clinique, Heimish and Banila Co. cleansing balms come in sturdy, plastic containers. When you open the lids of the Heimish and Banila Co balms, there is a spatula inside. The Juno & Co one is a cheaper container that I sometimes have trouble closing if the inner lid isn’t perfectly aligned. The Inkey List one comes in a tube. This is my least favourite packaging since the cleansing balm is already more emollient than the others. I would not travel with the Inkey List or Juno & Co ones. A few times, I’ve had to wash off both of them because the products got onto the packaging.

Cost

In the table below, I’ve calculated the cost per mL for the cleansing balms I’ve tried. I also added others that are available on Sephora and K-beauty ones I want to try.

	Price (CAD)	Size	Cost per mL	Packaging
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original) - 100mL	25	100mL	0.25	plastic with spatula
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original) - 180mL	37	180mL	0.206	plastic with spatula
Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm	24	100mL	0.24	plastic with spatula
belif Aqua Bomb Cleansing Balm	48	100mL	0.48	plastic with spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (mini)	17	30mL	0.567	plastic, no spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm	47	125mL	0.376	plastic, no spatula
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (value)	62	200mL	0.31	plastic, no spatula
Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser	45	110g (110mL)	0.409	plastic with spatula
Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm (mini)	30	50mL	0.6	plastic, mini probably doesn't come with a spatula
Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm	46	100mL	0.46	plastic with spatula
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (mini)	30	50mL	0.6	plastic, mini probably doesn't come with a spatula
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm	46	100mL	0.46	plastic with spatula
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm	42	100mL	0.42	glass jar with spatula
Heimish All Clean Balm	25	120mL	0.208	plastic with spatula
I'm From Fig Cleansing Balm	40	100mL	0.40	plastic with spatula
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (mini)	5.69	50mL	0.114	squeeze tube
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm	13.99	150mL	0.093	squeeze tube
Juno & Co (Juno Skin) Clean 10 Cleansing Balm	21	85g (85mL)	0.247	plastic with spatula
Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm	45	100mL	0.45	glass jar, no spatula

Looking at the cost per mL, I was surprised which ones were more expensive. The Drunk Elephant one actually isn’t the most expensive one on the list.

The Clinique one was the first one I tried. I finished it before trying other ones, so I wasn’t able to compare them side by side. I liked it a lot because it doesn’t have a scent and I don’t remember it having a filmy feeling after using it. I will buy it again once I’ve finished my current ones and update this post with a final verdict. For now, I will exclude it from the ranking. My favourite is the Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm. It is on the more expensive end, so for the lower range, I would pick the Heimish All Clean Balm. It doesn’t have any added fragrances and you get more in the tub (120mL vs 100mL for most of the other brands).

Have you tried these cleansing balms? Which is your fave?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

Eye Creams | My Hits & Misses

July 19, 2022

Hi Everyone!

This is basically a repost of the blog post I wrote in May 2019, but I’ve added added new eye creams I’ve tried since then and also organized them into Hits, Likes and Misses. I’ve written a mini review of each eye cream I’ve tried and also said if I had a reaction to it or not.

Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

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

BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | L’Oréal | Maybelline | 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.

HITS

DearKlairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter – I like this eye cream. Based on the name, I thought it would be a bit creamier/heavier, but it’s a bit like a gel cream. At first, I was on the fence about repurchasing it since the Cerave Eye Repair Cream is a bit similar (and Cerave is a bit easier for me to purchase). After checking the cost per mL though, this one is actually cheaper because there’s more in the tube. So I think I would get this one instead. I’ve already been using it for about 8 months (once daily) and there’s still quite a bit left in the tube. I was using this one as my PM eye cream, but I think I would prefer using it as an AM and using one of the thicker ones at night. At the time, I was using the Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum which is a bit tacky, so I preferred using that one during the day, so naturally, this one became a part of my night routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Cerave Eye Repair Cream with Hyaluronic Acid & 3 Ceramides – When I first started using this, I was a bit underwhelmed. I thought it would moisturize my under eyes more. I’ve finished the tube now and I changed my opinion about it. I liked this eye cream.

Reaction? No reaction.

Youth to the People Dream Eye Cream with Vitamin C and Ceramides – I’ve been enjoying using this eye cream. I have been using it at night, while I used the Cerave Eye Repair Cream during my morning routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Pixi Retinol Eye Cream* – I enjoyed this one and my under eyes didn’t feel dry after using it. The tube also lasted a long time (8 months of using it twice daily).

Reaction? No reaction.

Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum* – If you like a more gel-like eye cream, this one is quite nice. If you prefer a cream, the retinol one is good. It is a little bit tacky, so I liked to use this one for AM.

Reaction? No reaction.

LIKES

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment – If I remember correctly, this one was similar to the Youth to the People one in terms of how thickness. It was a good one for my night routine.

Reaction? No reaction.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – In my 2019 blog post, I said this was my favourite eye cream I’ve tried so far. I’ve tried several sine then and this one has been bumped from its top spot. Although it made my under eyes feel smooth, it didn’t really hydrate as well as other eye creams. When I initially purchased this, I had bought it from a warehouse sale for about $20-25 (15mL tube). I purchased it during the Sephora sale more recently and not only have they raised the price, they’ve also made the tube smaller (8.5mL). While I used the new tube, I found that I didn’t have the same love for it as I did four years ago. Also, I can no longer justify the price, especially when I don’t love it as much as I once did.

Reaction? No reaction.

Volition Beauty Helix AM/PM Eye Gel (read my review) – I think I would’ve liked this more if I had tried it in the summer time. It’s more of a smoothing eye gel than a hydrating or moisturizing one. They’ve also changed the packaging. I tried it in a pot, but now they have it in a bottle with a pump.

Reaction? No reaction.

belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb – I had a sample of this one and I enjoyed it. Although I’m not crazy about the slight scent to it (natural fragrance, it’s not scented).

Reaction? No reaction.

Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel* (read my review) – Even though I gave this a pretty high rating in my review, I found that my eye would twitch occasionally when I would use this so I had to stop using it. I also didn’t love the tackiness of it.

Reaction? Occasional eye twitching from caffeine.

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate* – I received this from Calissa.com when I was receiving boxes from them. While I did like this eye cream, it’s not really as accessible to me as the other eye creams I’ve tried. I don’t know if it would cost an arm and a leg to pay for shipping or duties. It was a nice eye cream, but it wouldn’t be worth it for me.

Reaction? No reaction.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Eyes (read my review) – Unlike the Hydro Boost Cream for the face, this didn’t have a smell and it wasn’t tacky at all, but it just didn’t ‘wow’ me.

Reaction? No reaction.

Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel* (read my review) – This was a nice gel texture, but it just wasn’t hydrating enough. I have really dry under eyes.

Reaction? No reaction.

Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream (read my review) – This one didn’t do much for me. It didn’t hydrate my under eyes as much as I needed it to and I didn’t get any reaction from it.

Reaction? No reaction.

OLE HENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème – I liked this eye cream, but after hearing about the lawsuit for allergic reactions for this eye cream, I decided not to risk re-purchasing it.

Reaction? No reaction after using the travel-sized pot.

MISSES

Tula Multi-Spectrum Eye Renewal Serum (read my review) – It seems like they’ve renamed a lot of their products. I believe this was renamed: Instant De-Puff Eye Renewal Serum. Both my mom and I tried this eye renewal serum. We both felt itchy using it and it wasn’t allergies or anything because we were using this in the winter time.

Reaction? No physical reaction (appearance-wise), but eyes felt itchy.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten (read my review)

I’m not a huge fan of the smell of this. I accidentally bought this instead of another product – I meant to get the Ginzing moisturizer. A little goes a long way and while this does brighten the under eyes, you have to be careful not to use too much or it looks too white. I was using this off and on because I got one spot and I wasn’t sure if it was the eye cream or something else. I stopped using it until it got better and then I used it again and I’ve had a bit of texture under the eyes since. So, I won’t be using this anymore.

Reaction? Got a milium (singular of milia) and also got red bumpy spots

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (read my review) – I’ve been using this for about a while now and I’ve been using it on and off because whenever I use it, I get 1-2 red spots under both eyes. Also, it has a weird texture that’s almost glue-y. If you use too much, it doesn’t blend in very well, but if you use a very small amount, it absorbs into the skin and almost feels like water.

Reaction? Red spots under eyes whenever I used it.

Kiehl’s Eye Fuel* – After my reaction to the Creamy Eye Treatment, Kiehl’s messaged me asking if I would like to try a different product and I chose the Eye Fuel. THIS MADE ONE OF MY EYES TWITCH SO MUCH.

Reaction? Eye was twitching like crazy.

	Price (CAD)	Size (mL)	Cost per mL
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Eyes	26.99	14mL	1.93
Lkins Skincare Vitamin C Eye Gel	22.99 USD ~ 30 CAD	15mL	2
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream	25 USD ~ 32 CAD	15mL	2.13
Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream	46 USD ~ 60 CAD	30mL	2
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado	70	28g ~ 28mL	2.5
mini Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado	44	14g ~ 14mL	3.14
Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten	44	15mL	2.93
mini Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream to Depuff and Brighten	36	10mL	3.6
belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb	60	25mL	2.4
Cerave Eye Repair Cream	27.99	14.2 g ~ 14.2mL	1.97
Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector	59	8.5mL	6.94
Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate	55 USD ~ 71 CAD	15mL	4.73
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wakeup Eye Gel	8	15mL	0.53
Volition Helix AM/PM Eye Gel	70	15mL	4.67
Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye treatment	51	10mL	5.1
Youth to the People Dream Eye Cream	62	15mL	4.13
Tula Instant De-Puff Eye Renewal Serum	76	15mL	5.07
Pixi Botanical Collagen Eye Serum	34	25mL	1.36
Dear, Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter	31	20g ~ 20mL	1.55

Here are some eye creams that I want to try:

Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Eye Serum
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
I’m From Ginseng Eye Cream
PURITO Centella Green Level Eye Cream

I’ve been looking for eye creams that don’t have caffeine because my right eye keeps twitching whenever I use eye creams with caffeine.

What’s your fave eye cream?

Love,

Last updated Aug 2023

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

Volition Beauty | My Hits & Misses

May 26, 2022

Hi Everyone!

I’ve actually enjoyed all of the products that I’ve tried from Volition Beauty. So, I don’t really have any for MISSES. Although I’ve been sent a lot of the Volition products, I plan to repurchase some of them in the future.

Check out my other Hits & Misses posts!

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

SKINCARE || Eye Creams

BRANDS || Bobbi Brown | Burt’s Bees | L’Oréal | Maybelline | Nude by Nature | NYX | TULA

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

Strawberry-C Brightening Serum* (read my review) – I really liked this serum. My skin looked dewy and fresh after applying this serum.

How long does it last? 1oz bottle – about 120 uses (half pump per use) = 4 months, once daily OR 2 months, twice daily

Snow Mushroom Water Serum – I really liked this serum too. It does have a slight smell to it that I can’t really describe. It’s not strong and doesn’t linger though.

How long does it last? 1oz bottle – about 10 uses (half pump per use) = 4 months, once daily OR 2 months, twice daily

Unspottable Hibiscus Correcting Oil* – I really enjoyed this oil and it lasted about a year of daily use (twice a day). I think it did help fade a dark spot I had on my nose too.

How long does it last? 1.1oz bottle – about 320 uses (1-2 drops per use) = 10 months (twice daily = about 4 drops daily). Drops are a single droplet, not a full dropper’s worth.

Skin Rhythm Balancing & Clearing Serum* – This is a great product, but I think they should put it in a bottle with a pump. The product is so thick that the dropper mechanism is harder to use (comparing it to the unspottable hibiscus correcting oil’s dropper, it sticks more). I had a painful pimple on my chin and I used this for two days and it was no longer painful and angry. It also didn’t feel dry or itchy.

How long does it last? 1.1oz bottle – I’m still using this one, but it’ll probably last a while. The consistency of this serum is different from the oil and I use it as more of a spot treatment to target the areas with hormonal acne and acne scars

LIKES

Yaupon Tea Glow-Awakening Moisturizer* – This moisturizer has been perfect for the spring weather. I’ve been keeping my morning routine fairly simple with this moisturizer, the Skin Rhythm Balancing & Clearing Serum and an eye cream. It has this gel cream texture that makes it bouncy.

How long does it last? 2oz pot – I’m still using this one, but using the other products’ calculations, it should last 3-4 months.

Neroli Complete Crème* – I think this one is meant for oily and/or aging skin. While it was nice and it had a pleasant scent, I prefer the serums from the brand more.

How long does it last? 1.7oz pot – Since it comes in a pot, it’s easier to use more or less each time. I used it once a day. It took me about 2-3 months to use.

Celery Green Cream* (read my review) – This is more geared toward oily skin so it didn’t quite give me the hydration that I need for my dry skin.

How long does it last? 1.7oz pot – Since it comes in a pot, it’s easier to use more or less each time. I think I used it once a day. It took me about 2-3 months to use.

Helix AM/PM Eye Gel (read my review) – I didn’t dislike this, but it was more of a silicone/smoothing eye cream than a hydrating or moisturizing one. I didn’t get to try it under makeup which I wish I had. For a while, I only used this eye cream for morning and night. I think if I used a different eye cream during night time, this might’ve worked for me. Also, I probably should’ve tried it during a warmer season because my under eyes get dry in the winter and this eye gel did nothing to help it. I previously purchased this eye gel when they sold it in a pot. They now sell it in a bottle with a pump.

How long does it last? 0.5oz pot – For a couple months, I used this in the morning and night and then I added another eye cream. So it lasted about 4 months. It could probably be stretched to 5 or 6 if you only use it once a day.

I don’t really have any products on my wishlist. I’ve tried all the ones I wanted so far. The Orangesicle Balancing Daily Cleanser sounds nice, but lately I prefer using a cleansing balm as my first cleanse and the Cetaphil or Cerave cleansers for my second. I don’t really want to spend more than $20 on a daily cleanser.

Love,

Products marked with * were gifted to me. Illustrations on featured image by me.

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Feb-Mar-Apr 2022 Product Empties

May 10, 2022

Hi Everyone!

Live Clean Cool and Fresh Deodorant – I liked this deodorant, it smelled fresh. I had to declutter since I had it for too long though.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? Don’t know, I had to declutter it since it dried out.

The Beauty of Eczema Skin Wash* – Sometimes the body wash had random globs of product (similar to when paint dries in a bottle). This body wash was a bit runny so I think I used more than I needed to use.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? The 200mL tube lasted two months.

The Beauty of Eczema Bathing Oil* – I used it once a week to relax. I don’t know if I used a lot. Once I found out how much it cost, I made sure to use less. You can either pour it into a running bath or apply directly to your skin and then rinse it off. I think the best way to figure out how much to use is to apply it to your body. When I first read the words ‘oil,’ I was a bit unsure about it, but when I read the directions, I found out it turns into a milk.

Repurchase? Maybe.

How long does it last? The 200mL bottle lasted two months (about 10 uses).

Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask – I love the scent of this hair mask. I don’t use it too often though since it’s expensive.

Repurchase? Yes.

How long does it last? I had it for a year because I kept forgetting about it. I started using more of it later on. I recorded that I used it 20 times, but that could probably be doubled. I think I was using a lot.

Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner Alcohol-Free* (read my review) – I found the petals in the toner unnecessary. I did notice that I didn’t have as much redness when I used this, but I don’t know if it was just because of the toner or if it was other products I used too.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? I had some compressed, dry sheet masks lying around, so I started using them with the toner. I think I used this toner quite generously. I will add a few uses to mine. I would say this 250mL bottle would last about 6 months.

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Anti-Aging Serum* (read my review) – This serum was too scented. I got a headache from it, so I started using it on my feet. I would apply it after a shower and then put socks on. My feet did feel smooth while using it.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? I can’t say how long it would last since I didn’t use on my face.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M Eco Tube* (read my review) – I wasn’t a fan of the smell (it smelled like school glue). I also used it up quickly.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? The 200mL tube lasted for a month of daily use (full body). I cut it open when nothing came out after squeezing the tube, I got a few days’ worth of product.

The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser* – I didn’t find anything special about this cleanser. I would rather use the more affordable Cetaphil or Cerave cleanser that comes with a pump.

Repurchase? No.

How long does it last? This cleanser was more fluid than others (Cerave, Cetaphil), I feel like I tend to waste more when it’s fluid. Especially when it’s in a bottle with a cap that you turn sideways/upside down, it just flows out easily. This 150mL bottle lasted about 4 months.

What have you finished lately?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me to try.

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First Impressions with SkinCeuticals

October 4, 2021

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing two products I received from SkinCeuticals. I know I included these in my empties posts, but I thought I would do a separate review. I received the Blemish + Age Defense Potent Treatment for Aging Skin and Phlorectin CF. I had heard of @skinceuticalsca before, but didn’t know a lot about the brand. Their mission is to “provide advanced skincare backed by science.” Thanks to @bnation_bicom and @skinceuticalsca I get to try these two products out.

Their products come in simple packaging which I don’t mind. While it’s fun to take pictures of pretty skincare bottles, I’d rather spend my money on effective products than pretty pink/blue/purple packaging.

SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Potent Treatment for Aging Skin

Skin Type: Oily, Combination

Skin Concern: Acne, Aging

Blemish + Age Defense is an oil-free, targeted approach for aging and blemished-prone skin. This first-to-market acid blend uniquely combines 2% dioic acid with an optimal alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid formulation to reduce the formation of acne and clogged pores, while improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone.

Ingredients

Active: Salicylic Acid 1.5%.

Inactive: Alcohol Denat., Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Diisopropyl Adipate, Octadecenedioic Acid, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-10

Retails for $112 CAD on the SkinCeuticals.ca website

RATING: 4/5

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).

I used a couple of drops morning and night. I like that it doesn’t have a scent. When you first put it on, you can smell the Alcohol in it (that’s the ingredient that’s listed first), but the alcohol smell dissipates after applying it. Unlike some other acne care products, this treatment doesn’t feel as tacky as other products I’ve tried and I like that. It’s one of the few products I’ve tried that has salicylic acid that hasn’t made my face red and/or itchy after using it. I can’t say how well it works for anti-aging since I don’t have wrinkles or fine lines. Before using this product, I have had a bit of texture on my forehead, I don’t know if it was from products I was testing out or diet (or maybe a bit of both). While I used this product, my forehead cleared up.

Skinceuticals Phlorectin CF

Phloretin CF features a patented unique combination of 2% phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), and 0.5% ferulic acid for enhanced protection against atmospheric skin aging – environmental stressor damage and premature signs of aging caused by free radicals from infrared radiation (IRA), UVA/UVB, and ozone pollution (O3). In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, Phloretin CF visibly enhances the appearance of discoloration, reduces fine lines and uneven skin tone.

Skin Type: Normal, Oily, Combination

Skin Concern: Discoloration, Acne, Aging

Ingredients: Aqua/water/eau, dipropylene glycol, alcohol denat., ascorbic acid, butylene glycol, triethyl citrate, phloretin, ferulic acid

Retails for $190 CAD on the Skinceuticals.ca website

RATING: 2/5

This product isn’t really geared towards my skin type since I have dry skin. I didn’t like the smell of this one. It smelled sweet like brown sugar. It also made my face feel tacky the whole day and I didn’t notice a huge difference in my skin either. Even if this was a more reasonable price (it’s $190 CAD for 30 mL), I wouldn’t purchase because of the scent.

I think I would consider using SkinCeuticals products when I’m a bit older since they are quite expensive. I might consider repurchasing the Blemish + Age Defense serum again.

Have you tried SkinCeuticals products? Did you think they were worth the high price?

Love,

*Products were sent to me for review. Ingredients and descriptions in Italics were taken from the SkinCeuticals.ca website.

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March 2021 Product Empties

March 31, 2021

Hi Everyone!

I have a few skincare empties this month!

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.

Repurchase? Maybe.

What products did you finish this month?

Love,

Products marked with (*) were sent to me.

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October/November 2020 Product Empties

December 14, 2020

Hi Everyone!

I know it’s been a while since my last post. I know I’ve already said this, but I haven’t bought many new products this year, so I don’t have a lot to review. Here are my empties for the last 2 months. I decluttered the makeup items since I’ve had them for a while.

Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle Ampoule* – I really liked this product. I was sent it to try, but would repurchase it in the future. It comes in a huge bottle which lasted a long time. When I used this at night, I noticed that it calmed down the redness on my face. The redness wasn’t completely gone, but it didn’t look as bad as the day before.

Repurchase? Yes.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – This lip mask lasts so long. I wish it came in a tube to make it a little more hygienic since it took so long to finish. I would wake up with my lips feeling moisturized.

Repurchase? Probably.

Burt’s Bees All Aflutter Volumizing Mascara* – The Burt’s Bees Mascaras are nice and natural. They don’t look clumpy at all. While it was a nice mascara, it’s a bit more expensive than other mascaras I like better.

Repurchase? No.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 65 Seductress – I really liked this lipstick and would definitely repurchase in the future and consider other shades as well. It was a comfortable matte lipstick, but it was time to declutter it.

Repurchase? Yes. I would try other shades too.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel (read my review) – It was a good cleanser, but it’s expensive and it didn’t do much more than my Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser which is a fraction of the price.

Repurchase? No.

Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Eye Patches – They felt cooling to use, but I didn’t really notice a difference after using them.

Repurchase? No.

What have you finished lately?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me for review or gifted.

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My Makeup Routine | Fall 2019

September 23, 2019
Hi Everyone!

I thought I’d share my makeup routine lately. My skin has been getting better so I’ve been doing more No Foundation looks when I go out. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that my Makeup Of The Day posts all look the same because I keep using the same products. I’m trying to finish some of my current collection before buying any more.

Below is a list of most of the products in my makeup collection. Some products aren’t included (like eyeshadows and my contour palette because I don’t use them every day). Any product that was sent to me will have a (*) after the name:

PRIMER/SPRAY
- Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer
- Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer
- Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer
- Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizing Primer (Nourishing)
- Nars Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base in Medium (if I’m wearing eye makeup)
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (didn’t use in Summer, but will use in Fall and Winter)
- Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water
- Cover FX Dewy Setting Spray
For primers, I might use a mix of two (hydrating and blurring). I’m enjoying the Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer and Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer.

FOUNDATION
- Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Foundation in Golden 3
- Nars Velvet matte Foundation Stick in Fiji
- Lancome Teint Idole Longwear Foundation Stick SPF21 in 260 Bisque N
- Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Full Coverage Powder Foundation in Light Neutral
CONCEALER
- RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up in 11
- Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Custard
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer in 21 Cinnamon
Sometimes I might just use concealer and pop on some Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder to mattify.

POWDER
- Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder in 15 Light
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder in 2 Medium
- Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
BRONZER
- Inglot x Jennifer Lopez Boogie Down Bronzing Powder in J217 Safari
- NYX California Beamin’ Face & Body Bronzer in Free Spirit
BLUSH
- Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink
- Nars Liquid Blush in Luster
- Bare Minerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho
HIGHLIGHTER
- theBalm Mary Dew-Manizer (mini)
- theBalm Cindy Dew-Manizer (mini)
- Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlight
- Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #7
Sometimes I’ll use my bronzer or highlighter as my eyeshadow. The NYX California Beamin’ Bronzer has a bit of a sheen, so it’s really pretty on the eyes.

EYES
- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
- Art Deco Eyeshadow Single in Off White (to set eyeshadow primer)
- Make Up For Ever Artist Color Eye Shadow in M549 Dark Taupe
- Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 502 Infinite Sand
- Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 100 Whatever Black
- Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara
- Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara*
- Benefit BADgal BANG Volumizing Mascara
BROWS
- Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette
- Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define in 6*
- Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brow
- Colourpop Boss Brow Clear Gel
I haven’t been doing a lot on the eyes lately. I might just put a light brown and blend or use my bronzer. I’ll use a nude eyeliner along the lower waterline to brighten the eyes. Then I might tightline the upper lashline with a brown/black. For brows, I’ll either use just the Charlotte Tilbury eyebrow gel or use one of the pencils and follow up with one of the gels.

LIPS
- Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer Balm
- Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Grapefruit*
- Dr. Paw Paw Original Clear Balm
- Perricone MD No Lip Gloss Lip Gloss*
- Pixi On-The-Glow Multi-Use Moisture Stick*
I have been preferring lip balms/glosses over lipsticks lately. Just adding a bit of gloss to the lips leaves them looking plump and moisturized.

What products are in your makeup routine?

Love,
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Review | L’Oréal Colour Riche Ultra Matte & Colour Riche Shine Lipsticks

December 17, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m sharing some lipstick swatches with you! I was so excited to receive some products from L’Oréal. I received 4 shades of the Ultra Matte Lipstick and 3 of the Shine Lipsticks. All of them are gorgeous shades. Let’s start with the Ultra Mattes:

Find your perfect nude lipstick shade with intense hydration and a super matte finish. Color Riche Ultra Matte is a highly pigmented, ultra-rich matte collection curated with lip tone nude shades to enhance your natural hue. The end result, your rich nude lips but better. In one stroke, experience rich lip color and comfortable wear.

According to the website, they have 16 shades in this collection. The ones I received are the more nude shades.

Colour Riche Ultra Matte are formulated with silky oils providing intense hydration for all day comfort and wear, while feeling light on lips. A luxurious lipstick formulated with a light diffusing gel that brings a soft-focus focus effect on the lips, making lips appear smooth and matte without a dry look. From warm pink shades to skin flattering nudes, find the perfect nude hue.

974 Full-Blown Fawn, 978 All Out Pout, 981 Cutting Edge Cork, 983 Utmost Taupe

Personally, I prefer lipsticks with a bit of shine. I often have chapped lips, and as we all know, matte lipsticks emphasize how dry they already are. I did give the lipstick a try and it didn’t feel dry on the lips; drier than I prefer, but it felt like a comfortable matte lipstick. Obviously, since it’s not a liquid lipstick, it did transfer. To me, the lipsticks kind of smell the same as my J Lo one, but other people have said it smells different to the regular L’Oréal lipstick scent. So, if you don’t like the usual scent, give the testers a whiff before buying.

As much as I love L’Oréal lipsticks, I don’t think the Ultra Mattes are for me. So, let’s move onto a formula that I prefer: the Colour Riche Shine Lipstick.

916 Luminous Coral, 920 Lacquered Strawberry, 926 Glassy Garnet

These lipsticks are like a very pigmented balm. They are very hydrating and shiny. Similar to the Benefit Benebalm or the Dior Addict Lipstick. I actually think that the Colour Riche Shine Lipsticks could be a dupe for the Dior Addict Lipstick. The lipsticks have a slightly sweet scent that I can’t quite place (almost like candy).

Ultra-rich, ultra-radiant lipstick with glossy finish. Oil-infused formula for comfortable wear. In just one stroke, experience a hydrating and lasting shine effect, with rich colour pay-off.

916 Luminous Coral, 920 Lacquered Strawberry, 926 Glassy Garnet

I love the packaging of both lipsticks. The Ultra Mattes come in a soft matte nude tube. The texture is similar to NARS products where it feels super smooth. The packaging on the Shine lipsticks are my favourite L’Oréal lipstick tubes I think. The clear plastic has this quilted look that I just love.

Once I finish some of my current lipsticks, I will be picking up a Colour Riche Shine Lipstick. Varnished Rosewood, Glossy Fawn and Shining Peach look beautiful. After seeing Tati review the lipsticks, I loved those shades. I’ll have to swatch them at the drugstore to see which one actually suits me.

Have you tried the Colour Riche Lipsticks? What’s your fave shade?

Love,

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HITS

LIKES

MISSES

Previous posts on cleansing balms:

Texture

Packaging

Cost

HITS

LIKES

MISSES

HITS

LIKES

PRIMER/SPRAY

FOUNDATION

CONCEALER

POWDER

BRONZER

BLUSH

HIGHLIGHTER

EYES

BROWS

LIPS