Tarte Archives – Page 3 of 3

Review | Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

March 13, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’ll be reviewing a Tarte mascara that I got in a rewards set from Sephora. It’s the Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. When I first opened it up, I knew right away that I would like the brush. I think I’ve mentioned that I don’t buy high-end mascaras because I prefer to splurge on primer and foundation instead of spending $30 on a mascara. I always get the deluxe samples from Sephora for high-end mascaras and then keep the wand if I like the brush. I will definitely be keeping this brush after I’ve finished the tube.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara – The mascara made my lashes longer and it gives a natural, non-clumpy look. It’s great for an everyday makeup look. It’s definitely not waterproof.

Boosts thickness, length, & curl with a blend of antioxidants & conditioners while Amazonian clay replenishes without making lashes feel crunchy or heavy. The formula delivers soft, weightless volume while it nourishes for stronger & healthier lashes.

RATING: 4/5

Even though I really like this mascara, it gets a 4/5 because of the price. There are so many drugstore mascaras that are a fraction of the price.

What are your fave mascaras?

Love,

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This or That | Pixi Peel & Polish vs. Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

March 10, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing two exfoliating scrubs: Pixi’s Peel & Polish and Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser.

Peel & Polish

This radiance revealing enzyme peel resurfaces for smoother, softer skin, and a healthy looking glow. Natural fruit enzymes loosen dead skins cells, lactic acid gently exfoliates, cellulose peels & sugar extracts polishes, lifting away dullness revealing brighter skin.

Rainforest of the Sea Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

The hypoallergenic gel stick gently sloughs away dead surface cells & polishes skin as it cleanses to fight dullness & pump up the radiance. Great for all skin types, it can be used on a regular basis without stripping skin’s moisture or left on as a treatment mask to absorb toxins & reveal smooth, sexy, glowing skin.

TIP: You know when you’ve finished a lipstick and you can’t push up anymore, but there’s still a lot of lipstick in the tube? This is the same. I was able to scrape out a full face’s worth of cleanser from my tiny, travel-sized stick.

Peel & Polish (left), Frxxxtion stick (right)

The Frxxxtion stick is more gentle than the Peel & Polish. I think I might use them at the same time; use the Frxxxtion stick on cheeks and forehead and use the Peel & Polish on areas that need more exfoliating. Both don’t have the most pleasant smell. The Peel & Polish almost smells like paint, while the Frxxxtion stick has a scent that I can’t quite put my finger on, but since they’re both scrubs that you wash off after a few minutes, it’s not a big deal.

My face feels super soft after using both of them and the price points are similar so I think the verdict is obvious:

WINNER: It’s a TIE!

What exfoliating scrubs do you use?

Love,

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10 Products to Finish in 2018

February 25, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I thought I’d do something a little different since I haven’t been trying out too much makeup recently. I’ve been refraining from putting on makeup because of a breakout and I don’t want to anger it. I hope to finish the following 10 products before the end of 2018. I chose some products that I’ve had for a while and I want to use them before they go bad or dry out. I tried to pick at least one product from each category: Face (Foundation, Concealer, Bronzer, Blush), Eyes/Brows, Lips.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville – This shade is way too light for me. Of course, it looked fine in the store under the bright lights, but I look like a ghost when I wear it. I mix it with my Maybelline Fit Me Foundation to darken it.

Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Autumn Glow – This was the first non-drugstore blush I bought. It was kind of a pinky-brown shade that looked really nice when blended out.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess – This is a pretty bronzer, but since it was Made in China, I wouldn’t repurchase (read my post: Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?). If I’m spending that much money on a bronzer, I want it to be made elsewhere.

Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Light/Medium – I won’t be repurchasing this concealer. I don’t like the smell of it and I prefer the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer anyway.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light – One of my fave concealers.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – I really like this brow pencil, it fills in the gaps and it’s not too dark.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in Black – I liked this mascara.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – I liked this mascara. I kept the wand.

Too Faced Mini Chocolate Bar – This was redeemed from Sephora Rewards. I like this mini palette, but I’m not a huge fan of the chocolate smell. I don’t really like my powders having scents.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Nude Lipcolor in 370 Jennifer’s Nude – I think this is my favourite lipstick. I bought it when it first came out and fell in love with it. The makeup artist who did our makeup also used it on my sister and me for my sister’s wedding reception in Toronto. This is my go-to and that’s why I sort of want to use it up so that my other lipsticks have a chance of being used.

So, those are the 10 products I hope to finish by the end of the year. I’ll probably do an update at the end of this year to say if I did finish them.

What’s on your list of products you want to finish before the end of 2018?

Love,

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Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?

February 5, 2018
Hi Everyone!

A few years back, my mom mentioned to me that it’s better to buy products that are made in North America or Europe instead of China, Taiwan, etc. because you never know what they’re putting into the products. Ever since then, I’ve always been a bit conscious about checking where a product is made before purchasing, but sometimes I do slip up and accidentally buy something Made in China.

Do you check the back of cosmetic and skincare products to see where they are made before you purchase them?

There are so many different brands out there that have products that are made in North America or Europe. So, why buy products that are made in China when you don’t know what kind of rules and regulations they have? Especially when it comes to makeup that absorbs through your skin and that you could accidentally ingest from putting on your lips. Even drugstore brands are made in Canada or Germany, so it’s not like you have to splurge on high end products.

For powder products like highlighter or blush, it’s not as bad because I don’t use the same products every day. Same with eyeshadows because the ones I have from China are more vibrant colours that I wouldn’t wear on a day-to-day basis.

For liquid products like foundation and concealer, I am very careful to check that it’s made in North America or Europe because your skin absorbs the product and these are the products that cover the largest area of your face. Same goes for mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and lip gloss. Eye products can easily get into your eyes when you rub them or when you’re removing makeup and lip products are easily ingested.

I went through my makeup stash to see where everything was from and I’ve mapped it out in purple. Most of my products were from the usual countries like the US, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, and then there were a few Made in China. Some products surprised me- I had eye products made in Czech Republic and Mexico.
- North/South America– Canada, USA, Mexico
- Europe– UK, England, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic
- Asia– China (also listed as PRC- People’s Republic of China), Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia
- Mexico
  - Maybelline EyeStudio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown
- Czech Republic
  - L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Grey
  - Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in White
- Poland
  - Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base
- Indonesia
  - Benefit Cosmetics Prima Donna Fake Lashes
Although I do my best not to buy products from China, I have purchased a few here and there. The following are Made in China:
- Coastal Scents products
  - Winterberry palette
  - Eclipse palette
  - Shadow pots
  - Revealed 3 palette and Lipstick don’t say where they’re made and I no longer have the boxes they came in, but I’m assuming China because the lipstick is less than $5 and the Revealed 3 palette goes for $20 (and goes on sale for less).
- Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
- NYX Matte Setting Spray
I went through my makeup collection to see if I had any other products Made in China/PRC and I was shocked to find some Tarte products had been made in China. Here are the products I have:
- Essence Light Up Your Face Luminizer
  - Most of the other Essence products are Made in Europe, i.e. Germany or Luxembourg
- Eyeko Fat Eye Stick (Made in PRC)
- Smashbox Blush Soft Lights Duo
  - other Smashbox products I have are made in US or Belgium
- Tarte products- it really surprised me that my Tarte products are Made in China, however; the Tarteist Lip Paint from the Sephora Birthday Gift is Made in US
  - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paarty (deluxe sample)
  - Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess (deluxe sample)
  - Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
- Wet N Wild Mega Protein Mascara
My friend has multiple full-sized Tarte products and she let me know where they were made and I also went to Sephora to take a look at the full-sizes of the blush and bronzer:
- Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes (full-size)- USA
- Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess- China
- Tartelette Tease Palette- USA
- Shape Tape- Korea
- Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Full Coverage Foundation- USA
- Maracuja Cheek Tint- Formulated in Japan, Made in China
Other things I found when going through my products:
- Milani’s Retouch + Erase Lightlifting Concealer (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
- Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
- Wet N Wild Photofocus Foundation (Foundation Made in USA, Filled in China)
- Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
- Tarte Gifted Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
Although the concealer and foundation from Milani both say Made in US with US & Non-US components, I think that’s just for the liquid products. The Color Statement Lipstick was Made in USA, and the XL All Over Glow Bronzer and Baked Blush were both Made in Italy.

I remember I had a Bella Pierre Mineral Foundation and Mineral Blush that I bought from a mall kiosk and they were made in the US. But, I have seen kits at Winners for $14.99 that have smaller sizes of the foundation, bronzer, illuminator and concealer. I checked the back of one and it was made in PRC, but there was another kit with other products and it was made in the US. So, make sure you check where kits are made. Even if full-sized products are made in the US, the smaller, trial-sized ones could be made elsewhere.

Do you avoid buying products depending on where they’re made? Are you more cautious with certain types of products?

Love,
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November/December 2017 Faves

January 19, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Here are November & December’s faves:

Clean 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.

I 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.

I 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.

I 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.

Smashbox’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!

I 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.

I 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.

I’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,

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10 Products I Want to Try/Buy

October 10, 2017
Hi Everyone!

I haven’t been posting as regularly as I’d like because I’m trying out new products. I’m going to try my best to do more posts each week. I think I will try to post more frequently and write shorter posts rather than the long posts I’ve been doing.

Ever since I went to the MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale, I’ve put myself on a self-imposed makeup ban until the end of the year (maybe longer). I know, a girl can never have too much makeup, but I have more makeup and skincare products than I can store. Plus, I don’t want things to go bad because I’ve neglected them. The only products I’m allowed to buy are products I have finished and need to replace.

Since I’m still trying out some products, I thought I’d do a post about what products I hope to try and eventually buy in the future. These are a handful of products that I know are really popular and everyone loves. I know I’m behind on the times for some of these. They have been cult favourites for years.
1. MAC Prep and Prime Fix +
2. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
3. Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette
4. Pixi Beauty Hydrating Milky Mist
5. Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal)
6. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer
7. Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Color Changing Lipstick
8. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
9. Erborian CC Crème High Definition Radiance Face Cream Skin Perfector
10. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
UPDATE: I’ve purchased and reviewed the L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist.

Dupe It Out | L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara vs. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

First Impressions with Glow Recipe

Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist Review

What are some products that you want to try? Are any of the ones I listed above your holy grail products?

Love,

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Finding the Right Foundation Shade

August 16, 2017
Hi Everyone!

I am on the hunt for a new foundation and it’s taking me a while to find a shade that matches me (most of the ones I’ve been colour matched with are too light). I researched a few foundations beforehand to see which ones suit my skin type and which are highly recommended and rated. I usually walk around the store and swatch the foundations on my hand to see if I like the consistency and scent before I ask an associate to colour match me and get a sample. I’ve learned my lesson from previous times where I got colour matched on the spot and purchased that shade right away. The shades looked fine in the store, but once I went in natural lighting or dimmer lighting, it looked too pale.

I decided to put Sephora and Mac associates to the test- I wanted to see if the different associates would colour match me with the same shades. I went to multiple MACs and Sephoras. The lighting in Sephora is so bright that even a shade that’s actually too light looks like it matches you. In store, it looks like you’ve found a perfect match, but then you go somewhere with dimmer lighting and you look like a ghost. I know I can always warm up my foundation with some bronzer or a darker powder, but if I’m going to spend about $50-70 on a foundation, I want it to be a good match where I don’t have to darken it with powder.

Click here to see other foundation/concealer matches

Here are my findings:

MAC- I went to 3 MAC stores
- Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation ($41 CAD)
  - Colour Match: NC20
  - All 3 ladies matched me with NC20. At 2 of the stores, they matched the foundation on my hand and at the 3rd store, the lady matched the foundation on my jawline and neck.
Sephora- I went to several Sephoras (one store I went twice, but on a different day)

Listed below are products that I like and plan to purchase in the future, so I got multiple samples of each:
- Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream ($37 CAD)
  - Colour Matches: Vanilla 02 (for light skin with neutral tones) and Bamboo 5.5 (light to medium skin golden tone)
  - 2 ladies matched me with Vanilla and 1 matched me with the Bamboo. Since this is a tinted cream, the shades weren’t completely off even though there are 4 shades between Vanilla and Bamboo. I think Vanilla matches better though because the Bamboo made my skin look a bit more yellow.
- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation ($51 CAD)
  - Colour Matches: Fair Neutral (fair skin with yellow and pink undertones) and Fair-Light Neutral (fair to light skin with yellow and pink undertones)
  - I got 2 samples of this foundation and one lady matched me with Fair Neutral and the other with Fair-Light Neutral. I think Fair-Light Neutral looks slightly better, the Fair neutral is a bit light.
The following foundations are colour matches by associates from Sephora, Nordstrom and Hudson’s Bay:
- Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiance Awakening Foundation ($65 CAD)
  - Colour Match: BD10 Warm Porcelain
- Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation ($65 CAD)
  - Colour Match: No. 22 Rose
- Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($68 CAD)
  - Colour Match: 4
- Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 ($50 CAD)
  - Colour Match: Light
The following shades are ones I tried at the store and looked like a pretty close match:
- Burberry Fresh Glow Fluid Foundation ($62 CAD) OR Burberry Cashmere Foundation Fluid ($62 CAD)
  - Shade: Porcelain No. 11 or Ochre Nude No. 12
- Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($59 CAD)
  - Shade: Fiji
I just bought a foundation and BB cream from Shoppers and The Body Shop:
- Maybelline Fit Me Foundation- Hydrate + Smooth ($5.99 CAD on sale at Shoppers)
  - 130 Buff Beige (I love how natural this foundation looks, but the undertone is a bit too pink for me)
- The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream- Colour Adapting Tinted Cream ($23 CAD)
  - 01 (Lighter Skin Tones)
Foundations I currently own:
- Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($59 CAD)
  - Deauville (way too light)
- Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation ($50 CAD)
  - 025 Beige Naturel (a pretty good match)
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($52 CAD)
  - 120 = Y245 Soft Sand (a bit too light, but the next shade up, Y255, is too dark)
Thoughts: Before you spend $50-70 on a foundation, get 3 samples from Sephora from different people to see if different people match you with the same shade. Even one shade lighter or darker can make a huge difference.

Tip: For those of you looking for higher end makeup or skincare products. Go to Nordstrom!! They have sample containers and you can pump out or spoon out your own samples without asking an associate to help you! Make sure you close the lid tightly and properly. I recommend bringing a ziploc sandwich bag to put the samples in your purse. Mine exploded and by bringing a sandwich bag, I saved my Longchamp tote and all my things in my purse from getting ruined! You can even get your own samples of fragrances too!

See my other foundation matches and concealer shades.

What are your foundation recommendations (drugstore or designer)? I have normal/dry skin (dry nose area), I’d love to hear any suggestions if you have the same skin type!

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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Worth It? | Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer

July 6, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I realized that all of my beauty reviews so far have been of products that I like and recommend, so I thought I should start doing reviews of some of the products that I don’t like. I first heard of lash primer last year and thought I’d give it a try. I love Tarte products, but I think I just don’t like lash primer in general (it could be the best quality lash primer out there and I still don’t like it).

Tarte’s Opening Act Lash Primer came with a travel sized Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara (which I like). To begin with, I have dark lashes that are fairly full (they are somewhere in the middle- they’re not sparse, but they’re not super thick and luscious either). The lash primer goes on white and then you apply your mascara on top.

I like my everyday mascara to look natural and give a bit of length and volume. I curled my lashes and tried one eye with the lash primer and the other eye without. Then I applied my mascara to see how the two compared. The lash primer is pretty thick and even when I take off the excess product on the side of the tube, it goes on pretty thick.

The primer is supposed to prep, volumize, lengthen, separate, curl, and condition lashes. I did find that the primer lengthened my lashes, but it didn’t separate my lashes. They just ended up looking clumpy and unnatural after one coat of primer and one coat of mascara. I ended up having to use a clean mascara brush to comb out the clumps to make my lashes look good. The primer also makes my lashes feel really heavy and stick together. If you have sparse lashes, I would recommend this for you, but in my opinion, I would rather prime my lashes with some clear mascara or just do a few coats of a regular mascara. The lash primer is an extra step that I can do without on an everyday basis. Plus, if you have a good mascara, it should lengthen and volumize without the need for a lash primer. If I want dramatic lashes for a night out, I’d rather put on some false lashes.

After finishing the tube, I cleaned and kept the wand. Sometimes you buy a mascara where you don’t like the wand, but the mascara itself is good. So for the wands that I like the brush, I keep the wands after finishing the tubes.

RATING: 1/5

I give it a 1/5 because it made my lashes feel so heavy that I felt lightheaded whenever I wore it and it just made my mascara look clumpy.

What are your thoughts on lash primers?

Love,

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Check out my other monthly favourites:

2017