Worth It? Archives – Page 3 of 3

First Impressions with No Pong All Natural Deodorant

March 19, 2019

Hi Everyone!

I was sent two deodorants from No Pong, an Australian brand. Here’s a little info from the website:

“pong” is an Australian/British term for an extremely strong, unpleasant smell.

No Pong is an extremely effective, All Natural Deodorant

Made from delicious, all natural ingredients, blended together to create a ridiculously effective, sweat resistant, all day deodorant that does exactly what it says on the tin!

Guaranteed to be 100% paraben, aluminium, cruelty and plastic free.

No Pong is simple to apply, just like a lotion or a sunscreen. Just take a dab on your fingertip, and apply to your armpit.

They currently sell two: one with baking soda and one without. I decided to try the low fragrance one without baking soda. The consistency is similar to a sunscreen; it’s thicker than a lotion, but not waxy like a balm. Based on how it looked before I touched it (like the top one in the picture), I thought it would feel more balmy, so I was surprised when it felt creamy.

It’s great that their deodorants have a gender-neutral scent. For me, I mostly smell the lemongrass which I’m not a huge fan of, but the deodorant works well and the scent is subtle enough that you can’t smell it (unless you apply too much). Obviously it’s not going to be like an anti-perspirant that will counteract sweat from a rigorous workout. But, I have sweated a little while wearing the deodorant and it help up well.

I noticed that when I accidentally used too much of it, I got that white residue under my arms (like when you wear anti-perspirant). You really only need a small amount.

RATING: 3.5/5

I like how compact it is and that there’s no aluminium, it’s affordable and there’s no added fragrance (only essential oil). I also like how there’s a no baking soda option because I have sensitive skin. I’m not a huge fan of the lemongrass scent and I don’t love that you need to use your finger to apply it. I always have to wash my hands after and before I apply it whereas a deodorant stick is easy to pop on without having the need to wash my hands before and after.

I’ve put the Original one into my 5K Instagram Giveaway because I already have another natural deodorant and didn’t want the ununsed one to go to waste before I got a chance to use it.

What’s your fave natural deodorant? Have you tried No Pong?

Love,

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Nude by Nature | My Hits & Misses

February 15, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Here are my Hits and Misses from Nude by Nature. Check out my other Hits & Misses posts on other brands:

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 | 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.

So, I received 6 products from Topbox Circle and I’ve tried them all out and here are my thoughts. First of all, I love the rose gold packaging of the products. The frosted glass of the foundation bottle is also beautiful.

HITS

Mattifying Pressed Setting Powder* – This mattifies and provides coverage nicely. It’s great to throw in the purse to touch up throughout the day.

Matte Pressed Bronzer* – I was intimidated by the shade of this, but if you use the right brush, it will diffuse and blend it out beautifully.

MISSES

Sheer Glow BB Cream* – Similar to the foundation, this provided no coverage and just made me look very dewy.

Luminous Sheer Liquid Foundation* (read my review) – This provided no coverage for me at all. It was like the BB Cream.

Sheer Glow Colour Balm* – This was patchy and I don’t like the taste/smell of this on my lips.

LIKES

Perfecting Primer* (read my review) – This primer was okay. It wasn’t the worst, but also wasn’t the best.

Liquid Foundation Brush* – I prefer using sponges, but this is a very nice brush and I would consider getting other brushes from Nude by Nature.

If I were to buy anything, I would get some of the Nude by Nature brushes, and I would get the powder products again. I will be giving the liquid foundation and BB cream to a friend who likes sheer coverage.

Have you tried Nude by Nature? What are your faves?

Love,

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

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This or That | elf Lip Exfoliator vs. Tarte Lip Facial Lip Scrub

February 1, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m doing another comparison post on lip scrubs (see the first here). I’m comparing lip scrubs again. This time, it’s elf Lip Exfoliator against the Tarte lip Facial Lip Scrub.

elf Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac

Gently exfoliate lips to remove dry, chapped skin with our Lip Exfoliator! A sweet sugar and smoothing sensation, infused with Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Avocado, Grape and Jojoba Oils to nourish and protect. This Lip Exfoliator treats and smoothes lips for a conditioned and revitalized feel.

Tarte lip Facial Lip Scrub

Pamper & perfect your pout with this at-home lippie facial that exfoliates & treats dry, cracked lips & provides instant hydration, all in one easy-to-use pencil. The 2-in-1 lip scrub sloughs away dead surface cells, allowing moisturizing ingredients to penetrate deeply thanks to micro-fine sugar granules suspended in a conditioning treatment balm. The raw sugar acts as a natural exfoliator, gently rolling over surface imperfections to polish & improve lip texture.

This felt so rough, my lips did not like this one. I tested it out by swatching on my hand to see if it was just in my head, but it actually made my hand red from applying it on my hand (not wiping it off). I would rather make my own sugar lip scrub than by this. Thank goodness I got this for free.

WINNER: elf Lip Exfoliator

Again, the elf one wins because it’s just so affordable and the Tarte one just felt so rough and abrasive on the lips.

Love,

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Review | Kopari Coconut Deodorant

November 16, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing the Kopari deodorant. I was previously using Lady Speed Stick ones from the drugstore, but I wanted to start using a deodorant without aluminum. I decided to try out this Kopari one.

The clean, non-toxic deodorant that really works! This aluminum and baking soda-free deodorant works with your body’s natural functions to aid in odor reduction. This invisible formula glides on smooth and will outlast your longest days. It’s guaranteed to leave you smelling like fresh coconut milk.

No Aluminum. No Baking Soda. No Parabens. No Silicone. No Phthalates. No Kidding.

I don’t do super rigorous workouts, so this deodorant works for me. I did some exercises to work up a sweat and it still smelled nice and coconut-ty. I’m interested to see how well this deodorant performs in hot summer weather. I will definitely try it out when the weather gets warm again.

RATING: 3/5

At $18 CAD, it’s pricey for a deodorant, especially when I’m used to paying about $5 at the drugstore. If you stock up during a sale, it’s a little more reasonable. I do want to try other natural deodorants out there, but I really like this one and would definitely buy it again (during a sale). I’ve gotten a few recommendations from fellow beauty lovers and I’m interested in trying those brands once I finish this one.

Love,

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Worth It? | Microfiber Hair Turban Towels

October 26, 2018
Hi Everyone!

I bought a 2-pack of Hair Turbans from Winners for $10. They’re from a brand called Tru Spa. I thought I’d give it a try because my hair is long and I dry my hair all the time. I don’t do much else to my hair, so it’s okay for me to dry it all the time.

Gently dry hair faster with extra-absorbent TRU SPA Turban Hair Towels. Soft microfiber absorbs moisture to cut down on blow drying, while keeping hair up and away from face.
- easy to use
- one size fits all
- perfect for all hair types
- reduces blow drying time
- simply twist, flip and button
- for use at home, gym & more
As I was looking up hair turbans online for this post, I realized I’m an idiot and I was using them BACKWARDS! I had been putting the button in the front. I used it twice and each time I was like, “this is so difficult…this must be better for people with shorter hair”…nope, just using it wrong.

Lol, you would think that it would’ve occurred to me that when you do a hair turban with a regular towel, the twist is in the FRONT. But, no, this did not occur to me. I did notice that it did absorb a lot of water from my hair (even when I was using it wrong). In my defense, I have seen pictures of hair turbans where the button is in the front. The hair turban is about 10x lighter than a regular bath towel. It’s probably better for my hair line too because I’ve worried my heavy towel has been pulling at my hair and changing how my hair lies on my head. I already have a fairly large forehead, I can’t afford to have a receding hair line.

Once I started using it correctly, it did dry my hair a lot faster because it wasn’t bunched up into a ball on top of my head. It works well if you come out your hair before putting the turban on.

RATING: 4/5

I give it a high rating because it does work well, but do I think they’re worth it? No. I think it would be better to just buy some microfiber material at a fabric store and maybe make them yourself or buy microfiber towels. At $5 a turban, I don’t think these are worth it.

Love,
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Worth It? | Makeup Brush Cleaner & Dryer

September 24, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I was at Winners the other day and I picked up a few things. I kept seeing this Zoe Ayla Makeup Brush Cleaner & Dryer, but the boxes were always destroyed. I know it didn’t really matter as long as everything was inside, but they just always looked so dirty. I finally spotted a few boxes that were in perfect condition and picked one up for $29.99. I don’t think there’s any specific brand name one that’s better than the others, but here’s a link to one I found on Amazon- Makeup Brush Cleaner & Dryer.

This revolutionary electronic tool magically cleanses you brushes in seconds and allows you to dry them in seconds without creating any mess or hassle. Professionals strongly recommend cleaning your makeup brushes every few weeks, but traditional cleaning methods are messy, time-costly and often leave brushes wet and unusable for up to 24 hours.

You just attach any makeup brush using one of eight collars, before dunking it for 10 seconds, spinning for another 10 seconds and then drying for 5-10 seconds.

It comes with a bowl, 8 silicone collars to fit different brush sizes, a plastic stand to hold the collars, 2 spindles to connect the collars to the device and the device to spin the brushes. The device takes 2 AA bateries and you press a button to spin it.

A lot of my Sephora brushes don’t really fit properly in the collars. The best eye brushes that work with the collars are ones that have a tapered end. I found that half of my brushes don’t fit comfortably in the collars and obviously double-ended brushes aren’t going to work. I either have to shove the brush into a smaller collar or I will need to wrap something around the brush for it to fit into a bigger collar.

Obviously when you clean an eye brush, it spins really fast because it’s so small and when you clean a powder brush, it spins a little slower because it’s heavier. Because a powder brush is heavier, the spindle has fallen out once or twice while I’m spinning the brush. I don’t know if I’m just not pushing the spindle in all the way or if it’s as far as it goes. I think I’m supposed to put more pressure, but I’m worried I’ll break it if I push too hard.

This product works best for brushes you use for powder products. For liquid products, it doesn’t get in between the bristles and therefore doesn’t clean it properly.

For liquid products, I use a cleaning mat that I got from Saks Off Fifth. I lightly swirl my brushes to make sure the inner bristles are cleaned.

After my brush is clean, I like to run the brush under the tap to rinse off the soap and then I spin it to dry it. I wouldn’t say that this completely dries the brushes, but it does cut down on the drying time. Usually, I lightly swirl it on a clean towel to get rid of the excess water.

The device fans out the brushes a lot, so I put it back into it’s normal shape before I hang it on my drying rack. I wouldn’t use this on more expensive brushes just in case it ruins the shape of it or something.

RATING: 3.5/5

I think $20-30 is still a bit expensive, I definitely wouldn’t pay more than that. This product is a bit gimmicky, but it does dry brushes really fast. Although I rated it fairly high, I don’t think I would recommend it. One thing for drying makeup brushes that I would recommend is a makeup brush drying rack. This isn’t the specific one I bought, but it looks exactly the same.

Have you tried a brush cleaner and dryer?

Love,

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Review | Sonia Roselli Water Balm

July 13, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I was asked to review the Sonia Roselli Water Balm by the hair stylist & makeup artist who did my sister’s and my makeup (for my sister’s Toronto Wedding Reception). Vicki from vlmakeup (check out her website and Instagram) wanted to know how the product worked on my skin type. I have acne prone skin that’s normal on my cheeks and forehead, but dry on and around my nose and chin (probably because of acne clearing products) and every now and then, I get dry patches around the mouth and under eye area. Even though my skin is dry, I get an oily t-zone and need to powder to prevent foundation from breaking up in that area.

I had never heard of the brand before, so I looked into it and read some reviews before I took the plunge and purchased the product. Sonia Roselli has been a makeup artist for over 20 years. In 2015, she decided to start her own line of products. The brand sells mostly skincare products, but they also sell makeup brushes and individual lashes. Since I bought the Water Balm, they’re coming out with more products that you can pre-order. After trying this product out, I am definitely interested in trying other products.

The question is, is this product worth it? ABSOLUTELY! Read on to see what I have to say about the Water Balm!

Japanese “Water Bead” technology allows you to use as a toner, serum, day cream, night cream, eye cream and makeup primer all in one. Water Balm is an innovative skin care product that keeps your face hydrated for hours.

It plumps fine lines and wrinkles, allowing your makeup to look fresh, radiant and youthful.

Water Balm is not vegan- it contains a small amount of silk, egg, soy and citrus.

Japanese Spring Water, Japanese Organic Rice, Silk, Soya Milk, Green Tea, Japanese Plum, Soybean

Formulated without:
Chemical color, fragrance, parabens and alcohol

Made in Japan

As a primer: Place a nickel size amount in the palm of your fingers. Tap together and lightly tap all over the face, then rub in evenly. Tapping breaks open the Water Beads and all the goodness is on your face. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before applying makeup. Apply makeup as usual.

As a moisturizer: Apply Water Balm as your final step.

I think it’s so cool because when you apply this, it feels like you’re applying silky water to your face. You can see the water beads once you’ve tapped it onto your skin. Depending on the weather, it can feel a bit tack after, but it mostly dries down after a few minutes. I’m not sure how well this would perform on someone with oily skin since mine tends to be dry. It keeps my face hydrated for hours after applying it. I don’t know about using this as an eye cream; yes, it’s hydrating, but it won’t help get rid of dark circles or puffiness, so maybe keep your eye cream in rotation.

I tested this with the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation and it looked absolutely flawless (read my review)!

RATING: 5/5

This product gets top marks in my books! It’s not too expensive considering it’s multi-purpose. Right now, I have a few moisturizers and serums to go through, but once I’ve finished those, I think I will only be purchasing this product for moisturizer. I will keep it on rotation in my primers, but I will continue to buy other primers because other brands like Make Up For ever, Smashbox, etc. have primers that cater to different things- redness correcting, smoothing, etc. The Water Balm will be my new hydrating primer though. I have the MUFE Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer- Hydrating, so once it’s finished, I won’t repurchase that particular one. I wrote a series of posts on my makeup inventory, if you want to see what primers I like, check out the post on primers and foundations (click here).

Have you heard of Sonia Roselli products?

Love,

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Worth It? | GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser

December 7, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Back in September, I bought the GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser at the MAC Warehouse Sale. All the hauls I watched from previous sales, the ladies bought this cleanser and raved about it because it’s half price at the sale ($17.20 CAD for 150g). I bought two because I’ve tried the GlamGlow mud masks and like them, so I thought the cleansers would be good.

It’s a mud to foam cleanser that claims to hydrate, restore moisture, replenish and calm your skin. Here’s the description on the back of the bottle:

ThirstyCleanse is a revolutionary Mud to Foam daily cleanser that transforms from mud into a moisture-rich foaming lather to gently & effectively rinse away makeup, dirt & impurities while deeply moisturizing your skin for a hydrated, silky & dewy fresh complexion. For men & women of all ages and all skin types.

I started using it shortly after purchasing in September, and I have to say I was disappointed. It didn’t give me that squeaky clean feeling I get when I use The Face Shop cleansers (read my review). With a cleanser from The Face Shop, my face feels clean and refreshed (I only use them 2-3 times a week to prevent overcleansing).

They used to sell it at Sephora, but now I don’t see it in their inventory or on the GlamGlow website. I think it retailed for $35 CAD and I don’t think it’s worth the price even at 50%.

RATING: 2/5

I give the ThirstyCleanse a 2/5 because it doesn’t give me that fresh, cleaned feeling and it didn’t hydrate my skin that well (I still got dry patches). I’d rather spend $12-15 on a cleanser from The Face Shop.

Love,

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HITS

MISSES

LIKES