stick Archives

Review | Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick

May 22, 2020
Hi Everyone!
Today, I’m reviewing the Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick. I received this from Topbox to review on their website, but I thought I would do a blog post on it as well.
- Clinically proven to help heal dry, damaged skin
- TSA-friendly, on-the-go dry stick that you can bring with you everywhere you go
- Delivers targeted healing for hard to reach spots
- Great for protection against friction and preventing chafing
- Can be used on dry skin, stressed skin, and sensitive skin
- Non-greasy and mess-free formula, you don’t need to rub in anything
There’s 40g / 1.4 oz in the tube. It retails for $8.49 CAD at the drugstore.

This is a body balm stick, but I’ve been keeping it next to my computer and apply to my lips throughout the day. I like to wipe it down every now and then since I apply straight onto my lips.

I know this is more expensive than the regular tubs of Vaseline, but it’s not as messy and you don’t have to stick your fingers into a tub.

By the end of the tube, I’ll probably need to use a spatula or something to scrape out the remaining Vaseline (like everything else that comes in a tube)
RATING: 4/5

I know they have the lip therapy tins, but I don’t like sticking my finger into a tin especially when I’m out of the house. It would be awesome if they made a tinier version for lips in the tube format.

I would definitely purchase a smaller version if they come out with one. For my own personal use, I probably wouldn’t buy this once I finish my current tube. It’s too big for my purse and I already have tubs of Vaseline that I need to use.
Love,
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Comparing Maybelline Fit Me Foundations

February 27, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to do a comparison post on two of my Maybelline Fit Me Foundations: liquid and stick foundations. I was going to do a This or That post, but it would be more useful to compare the matte liquid foundation with the stick because it’s mattifying. So, I am just comparing the two foundations to see how well the shades match. As we all know, sometimes the shades are called the same thing for different foundations, but the shades are not identical. I remember reading a post on the different Dior Skin foundations and the beauty blogger swatched them to show that even though they had the same name, the shades were slightly different.

I have the Hydrate + Smooth (also known as Dewy + Smooth) liquid and the Shine-Free + Balance stick, both in 130 Buff Beige (both retail for $12.99 CAD). As you can see from the swatches, the Hydrate + Smooth looks a tad more orange than the stick, but once blended out, they are pretty similar.

The stick is mattifying and has lighter coverage, but, in my opinion, it looks more like skin than the Hydrate + Smooth which is dewy and has higher coverage. I think I prefer the stick because it’s easier to travel with and it also doesn’t have a scent.

What’s your fave Maybelline Fit Me product?

Love,

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This or That | Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick vs. Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation

February 4, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing two stick foundations: Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick and Maybelline’s Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation. The Maybelline is obviously a lot cheaper than the Bobbi Brown and normally I would consider it a dupe, but the Bobbi Brown claims to have a natural, skin-like finish while the Maybelline stick has a natural matte finish and an anti-shine powder core that helps to mattify. For this reason, I am doing a This or That comparison instead of considering Maybelline’s stick a dupe for the Bobbi Brown one.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – I got this at the MAC warehouse sale in September. They didn’t have a lot of shades left, I swatched it in the warehouse and it looked pretty close, turns out I was wrong. It is way too light and I need to go up a few shades.

Update: They’ve changed the corresponding numbers of the shades. I don’t know if they’ve reformulated, but I’m assuming Ivory is still the same shade. The corresponding number has changed from 0.75 to C-024.

Designed to look and feel like skin, this award-winning foundation is formulated with a unique transparent base and skin tone correct pigments for the most natural-looking, skin-like finish. A Bobbi Brown original, the innovative formula features Smart Technology for targeted moisturization or oil control depending on what skin needs. Delivers medium to full coverage and comes in a convenient swivel-up stick for at home and on-the-go application.

Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation in 130 Buff Beige – I had the liquid Fit Me foundation in 130 Buff Beige, so I decided to get the stick in the same shade. Even though the liquid is a bit too dark/pink for me, there is a smaller shade selection in the stick foundations.

This lightweight gel foundation has an exclusive anti-shine powder core that instantly dissolves excess oil. Pores look minimized and skin stays shine-free for ten hours. This oil-absorbing foundation stick goes on creamy and blends into a natural matte finish. Medium coverage. Dermatologist tested. Allergy tested. Non-comedogenic. Suitable for sensitive skin. Fragrance-free.

I used my Make Up For Ever Step 1 Hydrating Primer and I didn’t apply any powder to test the wearability. Both of the sticks set to a velvety smooth finish. If you get an oily t-zone, I suggest powdering because both foundations started to break up on my forehead and chin, and my nose was super shiny by the second hour.

Both foundations are buttery and easily glide on your skin. The Bobbi Brown covered up more of the redness around my nose, but still gave a natural, skin-looking finish. The Maybelline stick didn’t cover up as much redness and I could still see blemishes coming through, but a good concealer can easily fix that.

WINNER (Higher Coverage, Natural Finish): Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

WINNER (More Budget-Friendly, Natural Matte Finish): Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Balance Stick Foundation

The Bobbi Brown stick has a more natural finish, yet offers more coverage than the Maybelline stick. The Bobbi Brown stick is also more buildable which makes sense because it claims to offer medium-full coverage while the Maybelline stick says medium coverage. The Maybelline stick evened out my skin tone, but didn’t cover up dark spots from blemishes.

I think the Maybelline is a good everyday foundation for those who just want a natural matte finish and you can pair it with a good concealer (Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer is a great drugstore option if you can find a match for your skin tone). I think it would also be good for summer because it looks natural, but mattifies at the same time. Since the Bobbi Brown stick is more expensive, I would save it for evenings (dinners or special occasions) because it did give a very beautiful finish.

Have you tried stick foundations? What are your fave brands?

Love,

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Review | The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick

January 16, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I read that tea tree products are good for acne-prone skin, so I thought I’d try the products from The Body Shop since they always have those specials (buy 2 or 3 and get 1 or 2 free). I decided to try something small just in case my skin reacted to the tea tree oil, so I got the Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick.

I use the stick when I feel a pimple coming or after it’s already popped up. The spot treatment works the same way as the Kate Somerville EradiKate. It dries out the blemish without drying out the surrounding skin. I think I like it better than the EradiKate because it can’t be too good for your face to always put sulfur on it whenever you have a breakout.

Our Tea Tree Targeted Gel is designed for on-the-go targeted care. Enriched with organic Community Trade tea tree oil, our blemish stick is ideal for blemished skin. With a handbag-friendly wand-applicator, this quick drying gel can be applied directly onto skin, to see you through any skin emergency, mess-free.
- A handbag essential
- Ideal for blemished skin
- Soothes and instantly cools targeted area without over-drying skin
- Gives clearer-looking skin
I’ve been using it whenever I get hormonal acne…you know, the kind that hurts, but it doesn’t have a whitehead. I used it on three pimples (two on my chin and one under my nose) that I got recently and it reduced the size of all of them, and dried two of the pimples out and brought the whitehead to the surface. All three of the pimples were quite painful, and after using the blemish stick, the pain went away. The one under my nose hurts if I accidentally touch it, but now at least it doesn’t hurt when I move my face.

Even though it says “handbag essential,” I don’t think I’d ever use it on the go because it has a very strong smell. It’s a bit medicinal (not sure what tea tree oil actually smells like) and reminds me of Chinese herbal medicine, although it does beat the sulfur smell from the EradiKate.

After seeing how well the blemish stick performed, I’m definitely interested in trying out the other tea tree oil products that The Body Shop sells: toner, cleansers, etc. I know that the blemish stick is probably more potent since it’s a spot treatment, but maybe the toners and cleansers can help to prevent breakouts.

RATING: 4/5

It’s a bit expensive for a small tube, but it works really well for me. Also, I wish it came packaged differently. Maybe a squeeze bottle or something similar to the EradiKate bottle so that I can use a clean q-tip each time I use it. It can’t be too hygienic to use the sponge tip applicator on a pimple and then put it back into the container.

Check out my review for The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution

What products do you use for acne?

Love,
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Review | Marcelle CC Concealer + Corrector

August 8, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought Marcelle’s CC Concealer + Corrector from Shoppers Drug Mart. I got the shade Light/Medium and it costs $12.95 CAD. I wanted to give a stick concealer a try, and I needed to spend $50 for free shipping, so I added it to my cart. It comes in a nice and sleek, white tube with a clear top. It was the winner of the 2015 Beauty Grand Prix by Elle for BEST CONCEALER UNDER $20. There are three reviews on the website giving it 5 stars saying that it’s hydrating and doesn’t crease. So I put the concealer to the test!

Conceals dark circles and corrects dark spots, all in one step!

Are the claims true?

As a concealer, it conceals dark circles, undereye puffiness, age spots and redness. It did conceal dark circles, but I feel like there are other concealers that do a better job.

As a corrector, it corrects and prevents the appearance of dark spots. I didn’t really try this to colour correct, but it did sort of conceal dark circles under my eyes. I only used it once, so I can’t say anything about preventing the appearance of dark spots. Unfortunately, it caused creasing under my eyes because it’s a dry formula.

I’m very sensitive to smell when it comes to beauty products. I can’t use scented lotions or hand sanitizers unless they have a fresh, fruity smell (and even then, there are times I have to draw the line). I tend to just avoid scented creams if I can. I also don’t like if a foundation or any makeup has a chemical smell. All makeup will have some sort of chemical smell, but sometimes there’s makeup that I can’t even use because I don’t like the smell. Whenever I’m at Sephora looking for a new foundation or concealer, I always give it a sniff to see if I can stand it. I was immediately turned off by the smell of the CC Concealer + Corrector. It smells like plastic, but that’s what happens when you order something online without seeing it in person first. Even then, Shoppers and Rexall don’t always have testers for the products.

In addition to the smell, the product looked kind of dry too, but appearances can be deceiving so I swatched it on my hand. Unfortunately, I was right, it didn’t run very smoothly against my skin (see below for pictures). I have Cover FX’s Correct Click Color Corrector, and it feels like a lipstick. It’s very smooth and blends nicely. The Marcelle concealer, on the other hand, feels gritty against your skin, I don’t know if I accidentally got some dirt in it, but I’ve wiped it a few times and it almost makes it look worse. I even swatched it on my parents to see if they felt it too and I wasn’t just imagining things. They agreed that it felt gritty. It almost feels like Tarte’s FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (which I absolutely love, thanks to one of my best friend’s for introducing it to me). This is bad because this product is for the under eye area and that’s one of the most sensitive areas on your face. Regardless of the grittiness, I tried it out yesterday and noticed that it was creating creases under my eyes where I don’t have any.

RATING: 0/5

I give it a 0/5 because I didn’t like the smell or the fact that it was dry, but on top of that, I woke up this morning with a bit of a breakout. I basically exfoliated under my eyes yesterday and now my face is reacting to it. My mom said my eyes looked a bit puffy too, but that could be due to lack of sleep.

Thoughts: I’m an optimist, so I’d like to think that maybe there’s a chance I got an old one that dried out or it was faulty somehow, but this was a fail for me. I wouldn’t recommend this product especially with the fact that it’s for under your eyes and it feels so gritty. I don’t understand how this was rated the Best Concealer under $20 in 2015. Someone with oilier skin might like this product, but mine tends to be on the drier side. You could maybe mix this with an oil product to create a creamier consistency, but I am steering clear of stick foundations for the under eyes. I might give them a try for colour correcting though.

Marcelle is a Canadian company, so I want to support it as a fellow Canadian. This product is a pass for me, but I like their Velvet Gel Waterproof Lip Liner in Rosy Nude and the Rouge Xpression Lipstick in 901 Amour (it won the 2016 Beauty Grand Prix for BEST LIPSTICK UNDER $12).

I’ve heard good things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer and I have a colour-correcting concealer from Cover FX that runs smoothly, so I would assume that the Cover Click Concealer + Foundation is the same formula. Both the Tarte and Cover FX Concealers are a little more expensive.

My skin is more dry than oily (especially around my nose), so stick concealers aren’t the best for me, but the CC part of the Marcelle Concealer + Corrector interested me so I thought I would give it a try. I’ve heard rave reviews about the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Tarte Shape Tape, so I might give those a try.

What are your fave concealers?

Love,

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