Unboxing Boxycharm, August 2018

August 20, 2018August 18, 2018 littlebeautyloves3 Comments

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Laura Lee Los Angeles Party Animal Eyeshadow Palette
MSRP: $19.00 USD

This is a six pan pressed pigment palette of really colourful shades. I do have a few palettes of shades that are similar in other palettes and to be honest, I’m not really drawn to the colours here (although online reviews have suggested the palette is good) so I might just pass this one along to someone else.

I would have much preferred receiving the Boss Babe palette which was the six pan everyday neutrals palette, you can see it here. Those colours really speak to me! Also, I really don’t think that I can’t use this as a stand-alone palette, you’d need to set a base up with another palette and then use these as pops of colour. A palette that I think is really colourful but still works well on its own is the Alamar palette I got in my June BoxyCharm. Anyways, the packaging is really pretty though. I like the feel of the case, it has almost that rubbery texture and it feels very sturdy.

House of Lashes in Bambie
MSRP: $12.00 USD

These are really pretty wispy lashes. I like how there are a few lighter lashes mixed with the darker lashes to make them look a touch more natural.

These might be a long but I could definitely wear them to an evening out when I’m getting all done up. I also really love the band on these because it is thin and clear. These lashes are cruelty-free.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Straight Up
MSRP: $24.00 USD

Online this was described as terracotta cream and it’s a really pretty chocolate brown shade. I love brown-nude shades but this is much different than what I have because it looks straight brown on my lips, it totally gives me that 90s vibe.

I think this is going to be amazing to wear in the Fall! I tried this on the lips and it’s super pigmented so one swipe is all you need and it’s also very comfy on the lips. It doesn’t feel like anything which I love.

Bang Beauty Chocolate Eye Liner
MSRP: $22.00 US

A few boxes ago I got an awesome black liner from Pretty Vulgar in my BoxyCharm, this month I was super excited to get a brown liner! I actually LOVE brown liners, I always keep a set of black and brown pencil liners and liquid liners and now I have a set of gel ones! I haven’t tested this to know for sure if it’s good but I am excited to try it. You can use this as eyeliner, an eyeshadow base or to touch up brows. Sounds pretty interesting.

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks
MSRP: $13.00 US

These gold foil eyeshadows are meant to hydrate under the eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles. They have hyaluronic acid, lavender oil and aloe oil which all work together to reduce wrinkles and to cool and soothe your undereye. I can’t wait to test these out!

Adesse Organic Infused Age Defying Nail Treatment Essentials Sweet Almond Cuticle Oil
MSRP: $18.00 US

When I first saw this package I thought it was a nail lacquer because I didn’t read the description on the box and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it was a nail treatment! As you may know, I don’t wear nail polish on my nails, only on my toenails, but I still apply treatments and oils to my cuticle and nail area to keep them strong. The one I currently have is getting old so this will make a good replacement. This is formulated with Vitamin E, Shea, Sweet Almond, and Jojoba Oils that are blended together to create a luxurious treatment that softens the cuticles moisturizes and hydrates the nails (boxycharm.com).

My Thoughts

I think this was an ok box. The last few months I’ve been overly excited about my boxes but this was alright for me. I could do without the palette (even if I have a million neutral palettes, I still prefer them over colourful ones). I’m really happy with everything else, especially the cuticle oil and chocolate gel liner!

Total Value: $108.00 US (141.30 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What was your favourite item?

Lots of love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, July 2018

August 8, 2018August 7, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

July was so beautiful in Toronto! The weather has been spectacular with lots of super hot days and almost no rain! Yay! Some things I’ve done this month include throwing a bridal shower for one of my really good friends, going to the beach and having lots of walks in the parks nearby my home. I’m really lucky that I live right next to the lake so it makes heading to the water super convienient.

I’m looking forward to more fun in August! I’m hoping to make a trip out to the Toronto Islands (they are a 15 min ferry ride off the main land). I’ll be heading to Ottawa/Chelsea for a nice spa bachelorette weekend with my girlfriends. The last two weeks of August is the Canadian Nation Exhibition which I always attend. There are so many exciting things to do!

Now I’m going to share a few items that I used up in July. It’s not too many products, but I have a lot of itens that are almost empty so I’m guessing August might have a lot, especially with it being end of the summer.

Skincare

Yves Rocher Sebo Vegetal Purifying Micellar Water 2 in 1

Almost every month now I’ve been sharing an empty from Yves Rocher. There was a time when almost all my makeup/skincare was exclusively from them. I really do love this brand and although some things are hits or misses when they are hits they are really amazing! This guy was a hit for me at first but the more I used it the more I found it was really irritating around the eyes. I gues it’s understandable because it is a purifying micellar water. It worked really great around the face but not so much for mascara. I did include this in my Review of Makeup Removers but even then I knew I wouldn’t repurchase it.

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream

I have three of these little mini eye creams sitting in my collection that I’ve been holding on to so I don’t have to splurge on the full size tube just yet. Since I use so little a little sample size such has this lasts me about one and a half months. I still have one sample to use up but after that I will probably buy the full size cream because this has been very effective for me.

Haircare

Garnier Fructis Colour Vibrancy Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask

I got this to review a bit ago but the product is really nice. I used it mostly in place of my conditioner. I’d leave it in my hair for a few minutes then rinse it out and towel dry my hair afterwards. It left me feeling like my hair was less frizzy and super soft. I liked this a lot. I also really liked the scent of it. It smells very much like fresh strawberries. I would repurchase this.

Makeup

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Chihuahua

I LOVE this chocolatey nude lipstick and I really like this formula because it was long wearing on me. This may be the first lipstick I’ve ever really emptied which I’m super proud of myself for. Funny thing is, it’s only the deluxe size. I probably wouldn’t repurchase it only because I don’t wear lipstick so much.

Dermablend Professional Long-Wear Makeup Remover

This deluxe sample was part of an order I made with Beautyboutique a while ago. Although I didn’t like it in the beginning I grew to really love it towards the end. What I would do was massage this over my face and let it soak in while I showered. After that I would wipe some of it off with a cotton pad then wash my face completely with facewash. I felt that by doing that it was really leave my skin makeup free. I still prefer my Urban Decay Makeup Meltdown or my Clinque take the day off balm but I thought it wasn’t too bad.

Samples

Blaq Eye Mask

This might be the very first eye mask that I’ve tested that I’ve actually really enjoyed! It held up on my face really well and didn’t slide off like most eye masks would. I used this on a day I was having trouble waking up and needing an eyemask to hydrate under my eyes. This left the skin under my eyes super hydrated. I really liked this and would repurchase again.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Moisturizing Lotion

I think a product like this is really great because it works for body and face. I really like the formula because it was very gentle on my skin. I tested this duo for both my face and body and thought the cleanser was really nice for the body and face. The lotion was better for my body but I wouldn’t us it on my face because I like more hydration. I would definitely purchase this in the full size because it would be great for traveling.

Well there are all my July empties! I feel like their were some items I discovered in the sample sizes that I would definitely get as full-size products. I really hope that I can finish more items in August!

What was in your empty stash for July?

Lots of love,
Dal

Review, Hightlighter Collection

August 1, 2018August 1, 2018 littlebeautyloves14 Comments

I was going through my makeup box the other day and organizing a lot of it’s contents. Since the time I started sharing my empties each month, I’ve been much more diligent about using up items I have open, rather than just opening new ones. I have quite a lot of highlighters that I haven’t started using and there a select few that I have.

Currently, there are four hightlighters I have in rotation. When you think about how little you need to highlight and how much product a lot of pans hold, I know that these hightlighters will last me a long time. I use highlighter a few times a week and the ones I’m sharing with you below are ones that I really do enjoy.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Glow Palette (Holiday 2015)

This one is an oldie but a goodie! I think this was the first Champagne Pop face collection palette that was released after Champagne Pop first came onto the scene and really put highlighters and Becca Cosmetics on the map in my opinion. I use Pearl (pale white shade) and Champagne Pop (peachy-pinky centre shade) the most, however, I have used Blushed Copper (warm copper/red shade) over the eyes before.

Pearl and Champagne Pop look good on their own on me, but I actually love mixing these two colours together. This highlight is definitely my going-out, in your face highlight combo because it’s very intense for me. Champagne Pop is such a nice highlight on my skin tone and although there have been so many new highlighters that are very similar to it, I still just love using this. It’s very pearl-like on the face. Even though this palette isn’t available for purchase the individual shades are because they are part of the Becca Permanent Line.

CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops in MoonLight

Speaking of in your face highlighter, the Costom Enhancer Drops from CoverFx are soooooo intense! You really need to be careful with how much you apply but with the perfect amount I can get a very silky looking highlight. This little bottle is actually part of my Project Pan for 2018, but I like it so much that I might splurge on a large bottle once this is done.

With dry skin, I always want to look super dewy. What I’ve started to do, thanks to suggestions from stashy and mufavorites is mixing a little drop of this in my foundation and moisturizers. It gives me a really nice all over glow and doesn’t look too sparkly.

Vintage Cosmetics Illuminating Face Highlighter in Rose Gold

When I first received this product in my December BoxyCharm, I was worried that it would be too sparkly. After using it a few times, I found that it wasn’t as sparkly as I thought and find that the glow on this is very subtle. It has a pretty pink colour that I enjoy wearing over my cheeks as a blush topper.

I like the gold shift in this highlighter so if I’m going for a more warm makeup look I find it ties tge look together. I’m so happy to have discovered this through my subscription box!

Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay in Exposed

Another item from my Project Pan, I have a highlighter from Tarte that I both like and dislike. I love the concept of a nude highlight because sometimes I just want my highlight to be barely there but just give me the tiniest glow when light hits my face. This highlight definitely does that which I really love. The only thing is I’m not sure if the product doesn’t stick to my skin very long or if after sometime I stop noticing it, but sometimes after a few hours it feels like it disappears.

It’s one of those highlights that I’ll wear during the day when I don’t want to go full out with my makeup. make my OK highlighter, I don’t hate it but it doesn’t get me as excited as the ones I mentioned above.

Swatches!

Thoughts

Well there you have it! All the highlighters I’m using right niw. One that I missed including but love is my Mary-LouManizer by The Balm.

The colour range of these all fall within the peachy/pinky zone which I like the best on my skin. I think after reviewing these, I might be open to new suggestions. I do have a hightlighter from Wet N’ Wild that I received in my March Topbox that I’m tempted to crack open!

What’s your favourite hightlighter? Have any suggestions for me to try next?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing, Topbox July 2018

July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

Price: $12.00 CAD (plus tax, free shipping) 4 items.

Topbox is a Canadian monthly beauty subscription service. Each month you have the option of getting a surprise box or to swap it for a prive box where all the products are from one brand or fall within a theme and you know what they are. This month I opted for the surprise box!

Prices are in Canadian Dollars.

SKIN&CO Roma Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream
Full Size: $40.00 (150mL), Sample Size: $8.00 (30mL)

It’s been a while since I’ve received a facial cleanser and this one sounds really good! This is a highly concentrated cleanser so a little dollop is all you need to cleanse the face which is made for dry & dull skin. This is formulated with pure Truffle Extract from Italy and Almond Oil, it works gently while providing intense hydration. I love whipped or foamy types of cleansers for my face. One of my favourite whipped formulas is the Origins Checks and Balances face wash, but this Skin&CO one sounds like it will be way more hydrating than that one so I hope it works really well on my skin!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, The Original
Full Size: $29.00 (50mL), $2.90 (5mL)

I absolutely love Elizabeth Arden skincare! I don’t think I’ve ever come across an item I didn’t like. This is one of those all over, do everything type of moisturizers. You can use it to do so much including; shaping brows, soothe dry hands, smooth cuticles etc. I’d probably use this on my elbows, lips, around my eyes and so many other areas of my face and body. I love carrying creams like this to use whenever I need.

Pretty Woman NYC Nail Polish in So Minaj
Full Size: $11.84 (10mL), this is a full-size item

This is a pretty pink frost shimmer nail polish. I put two coats of this on my toenails when I received my topbox about a week ago and they’ve held up really well. This is a thin formula which I prefer because it tends to stick my nails a bit better. These polishes are, Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Phthalates-Free, Petrochemical-Free, GMO-Free, Triclosan-Free, & Vegan.

The Beauty Crop FABULOUS FLOCKING LASHES MASCARA
Full Size: $25.00 (8ml), Sample Size: $13.48 (4mL)

I’m not sure if what we received are the Beauty Crop mascaras before they were reformulated or if this is just the tube that they put the sample size mascara into. The one online looks like a new tube style packaging, but, what we received is a volume size that is similar to a lot of my deluxe size mascaras so I am a bit confused. You can see what I’m talking about here. I, unfortunately, can’t find them on CheckFresh.com to see if it is indeed the other version.

Anyways, the packaging on this is super cute! I love the pink tube and the little flamingos. I this the Beauty Crop has adorable packaging. The wand isn’t exactly the style I wear a lot of but I could possibly use it for my lower lashline. I do like that this is a waterproof mascara and I love the addition of argan oil and jojoba.

BONUS! Dove Exfoliating Body Polish in Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk

I’m really excited about this bonus item! I have a jar of the new Dove Exfoliating Body Polish in the kiwi seeds and cool aloe scent and love it so much because it smells so fruity and fresh. I love macadamia, so I’m sure this is going to smell like a delicious dessert. The exfoliating bits in this polish feel like sand, they are really small and feel like you’re at the beach. I really love it! I think I will get two uses out of this sample and I will use it to prep my legs before shaving or apply tanning lotion

My Thoughts

Again, Topbox has another great bag! The items I received are ones that I look forward to using. I’m most excited about the whipped facial cleanser! Total Value of my box; $36.22 (bonus sample not included)

Did you receive Topbox this month? What items did you get?

Lots of love,
Dal

Unboxing, BoxyCharm July 2018

July 19, 2018July 18, 2018 littlebeautyloves14 Comments

Price: $21.00 USD (+$5.00 shipping to Canada)
Number of items: 4-5 full-size items

Boxycharm is a monthly subscription box of full-size makeup, skincare and beauty tools. The theme for this month is “Roadtrippin”. Being in the middle of summer and it being absolutely gorgeous and warm weather I have been wanting to plan a fun summer road trip.

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Farmacy Beauty Bright On Mask (made exclusively for BoxyCharm)
MSRP: $38.00 USD

OH WOW! I’ve always wanted to try Farmacy Beauty but their products are so expensive! Luckily I get to test it out now with this mask. This is a vitamin C clay mask that turns from purple to green. This helps to remove impurities and buildup while improving skin’s brightness. I’ve been needing something like this for my skin because I have been breaking out lately.

Crown Brush Fuego Eyeshadow Collection
MSRP: $29.99 USD

The pan sizes of this palette are pretty large and it does carry some weight (it’s 20g Net). Now, I’ll be honest, as someone who has a lot of palettes this one isn’t too exciting for me.

The warm tones are beautiful and I did see some positive reviews for the palette but it’s not exciting for me. It would be something I would save to gift a friend who I know doesn’t have the same amount of makeup as I do.

Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume and Curl Mascara
MSRP: $24.00 USD

I love mascaras with curved wands because they work the best on my lashes. I actually like the tube style packaging because then I can get to all the product inside.

This has ingredients to condition and moisturize the lash. It’s also supposed to be clump-free, flake-free, smudge-proof finish and won’t dry out. I can’t wait to test it out!

Note Cosmetics Luminous Silk Compact Blusher
MSRP: $11.99 USD

This is designed to work for all skin types, it’s a luminous, paraben free blush. This is a really nice compact. It comes with a cute little brush. This has argan oil.

I do really like the colour of this blush. It’s a pretty rose shade that I think will look very nice on.

Chella Beauty Eyebrow Cream in Tantalizing Taupe
MSRP: $26.00 USD

I am loving this compact packaging. This is as big as a lip gloss but inside is a brush and eyebrow cream. It’s actually great for on the go.

I think this colour will work really well with my hair colour because it is a bit more cool tone. I usually don’t use eyebrow creams but ever since trying Clinque’s Pretty Easy Powder Brow product and liking it, I’m open to trying new formulas. You can see my review of Clinque’s Brow Product here.

My Thoughts

Except for the eyeshadow palette which I will save for someone else, I’m so excited for everything in this box especially the Farmacy Mask because my skin needs it. I think the brow cream will be great for travelling and The blush could really work on my skin tone.

Did you BoxyCharm this month? What was in your box?

Lots of love,
Dal

Review, L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge

July 17, 2018July 16, 2018 littlebeautyloves16 Comments

For the most part, I don’t stray away from using my Beauty Blender to apply foundation. I do at times use a foundation brush, which I will share soon but I gravitate more towards my sponge. What I like to do is pump foundation on to the back of my hand, then dot it over my face with my fingers. I then use a sponge to blend out the foundation.

I have tried a few other makeup sponges in the past that I have enjoyed including the Real Techniques Makeup Sponges and Sephora’s Makeup Sponges but I always go back to the Beauty Blender. I am always interested in trying new sponges because I don’t like spending close to $30 every time I need a new Beauty Blender.

I was shopping in Walmart when I saw the L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge and I figured I would try it out. I put my Beauty Blender to the side and tested out the L’Oreal sponge exclusively for the last three weeks

What it is

A non- disposable, makeup sponge applicator with an exclusive plush material. Designed to be used for liquid and cream foundations it has an easy to grip shape and rounded edges for guaranteed effortless blending (amazon.ca)

Price

This is on Amazon.ca for $13.99 but I’m sure when I got it from Walmart it was about $10.00-11.00 CAD. This is about half of the cost of a Beauty Blender and I’m all about that!

Application

If I compare the texture of this sponge to ones I’ve tried, I’d say it’s very close to the Beauty Blender. It’s very plush-like and porous which makes application of foundation very even. But unlike the Beauty Blender, it doesn’t appear to absorb too much of my liquid foundation and I get more mileage from one pump.

As far as size goes, it’s about the same as my Beauty Blender Pro when dry. It expands a lot more than the Beauty Blender does when wet. Granted the pro blender that I’m comparing this to is a bit different from the original pink blender, but for side-by-side comparisons, I figured it was worth sharing. I think this makes it quicker for applying foundation because the surface area is greater.

Now comparing the bounciness of the sponge, the L’Oreal sponge is not as squishy as the Beauty Blender but it’s soft enough that it bounces on my skin. I’ve tried sponges in the past that are just so hard you feel like your punching yourself with it. Not the case with this one, there is just enough give that it feels really comfortable when applying foundation.

One thing I really like about the L’Oreal sponge is that the sides are indented. This makes it easy to grip and control. The tip of this is small enough that when I squeeze the top of the sponge I can get it to blend out foundation or concealer under my eyes.

It’s a bit too fat to get a sharp contour or highlight, but if you’re like me and prefer a more subtle or blurred-out look it’s great for that. I use my Beauty Blender in the same way so it’s not so different here.

My Thoughts

I’m pretty surprised at how much I like this sponge. I didn’t do any research before buying it so I didn’t know if this was going to be good or not. For the cost, I would feel comfortable buying this again. This is probably the best alternative to the Beauty Blender that I’ve tried so far and I might start to use this more than my Beauty Blender (at least switching the sponges back and forth so that I’m cleaning one sponge daily).

What beauty sponges are you enjoying lately? What recommendations for sponges do you have?

Lots of love,
Dal

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #2

July 10, 2018July 9, 2018 littlebeautyloves13 Comments

We are over half-way through 2018 and I’m here to share an update on my Project Pan. I meant to post this in June but as you probably know from my previous posts, it was a really busy month. Well, I’m here now and ready to share some updates! I will break down the items that have had the heaviest usage to the lowest.

If you wanted to read my original post you can here, and you can read my three-month update here.

Emptied Item!

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation. Hurray! I was able to empty this guy back in May! I even unscrewed this and started picking any product on the side and bottom that hadn’t pumped out.
Was 1/4 full, now empty!

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

MAC Powder Blush in Fleur Power. I really enjoy the colour of this blush and how it looks on me. I have been using other blush colours in between as I like more corals for summer but I still reach for this guy when I don’t want to think about it.
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Physicians Formula Super BB InstaReady Bronzer. I continue to work my way through this and I do notice a difference between the beginning of the year and now. I have used other bronzers in between since I do like a bit of a darker bronze in the summer.
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in 220 Powerful (deluxe size). I threw this guy in my purse in the springtime and wore it every morning. I think I made a little dent but wow can I not seem to go through lipsticks!
Was 1/2 full, now 3/8 full

Bite Beauty Multi-Stick in Almond (deluxe size) I switched to using this exclusively on my cheeks. At times I wear all cream products and I find this makes a beautiful blush.
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight (deluxe sample) In my Update #1 post I received a few suggestions to mix the drops with my foundation and I did. I really enjoyed the overall glow it gave my skin so I used it a few times. I also started using this more for a highlight on the cheeks and over the eyes so I think I’m making progress!
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Yves Rocher Youthful Glow Powder in 100 Teint tres Clair. I continue to use this powder to set my undereye or over an eye primer. I think the logo is completely gone now but it still feels like there is so much even with regular use.
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay in Exposed (deluxe sample) Since I’m using the Cover FX drops as a highlight, I’ve neglected to use this as much. When I do use it, I tend to put it on all the high points of my face for an overall glow.
Was full, now 7/8 full

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I started using my mini blender to blend this under my eyes and I like it only slightly better but it’s still not my favourite formula so it’s difficult to use this.
Was 2/3 full, now 3/4 full

Marc Jacobs Black Liner (deluxe size). Another item I don’t really enjoy but am trying to use up. I have put this in my waterline and as eyeliner to try and use this up. I think I’m making some progress.
Was 1/3 full, now 1/2 full

Smashbox Covershot in Golden Hour. I continue to see the three lightest shades get more and more empty since they are the ones I use the most often. The gold one is becoming my summer go-to colour.
Was 3/4 full, now 3/4 full

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Candy (deluxe size) I wore this once just to check on the formula. I think it’s old so I’m not going to use it anymore.
Was 1/2 full, now 1/2 full

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (deluxe size) I use this once a week when I’m pampering my skin to exfoliate my lips.
Was 2/3 full, now 2/3 full

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 611 Yogurt. In April I was using this a little more frequently, but lately, I haven’t been wearing this at all. I’m going to try to be more conscious of that and wear this more!
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

Colourpop Lippie Pencil in Aquarius. I don’t wear enough lipstick to wear this lip pencil as often. I love the colour so sometimes I will wear it when I’m wearing my lipgloss.
Was 2/3 full, now 2/3 full

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Glace. I wore this once after my last post and I broke out around my lips. I think this guy is old which is a shame.
Was full, now full

Teeez Cosmetics Material Girl Lipstick in Hyped Taupe. I love this colour but it’s a bit deep for summer, so it’s being put on hold for now.
Was 7/8 full, now 7/8 full

Lost Item

Too Cool for School Dinoplatz Lip Balm in Spilled Wine. I threw this in my purse and used it all the time but somehow this went missing in mid-May! I’m pretty sad because I really love this product and would have likely made good progress.
Was 2/3 full, now lost 😦

Thoughts

I continue to work through my products and think I’m making OK progress. I guess I’ll never underestimate the size of a lot of makeup products because even with daily use it’s very difficult for me to get through anything.

Are you doing a Project Pan? What is your progress been so far?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, June 2018

July 3, 2018July 3, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

It is finally summer! Woohoo! The last few days in Toronto have been HOT and I love it! I’m naturally always cold so I enjoy being really warm. It’s been a busy month for work, but now that our move is done I can go back to focusing on more personal items. I have some fun stuff planned for July and depending on what I end up doing I might share some of them on the blog.

Last month I used up so many products that I wasn’t surprised I only had 5 empties for June. I still wanted to share them because then I can let you know my thoughts and I personally like to keep a record of it for myself too!

Skincare

L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Lotion. Last month I used up the brightening daily pads and this month I’ve used up day lotion. I’m sure next month I’ll use up the night cream and daily scrub that came in this range I received from Influenster. This has 30 SPF which isn’t high, but was still good for at least the winter and early spring when I was using this the most. Unlike a lot of creams I own this one didn’t absorb into my skin as quickly as others I’ve used, but it was really mositurizing and I did like the added sun protection. I do have other daily lotions I enjoy so I wouldn’t repurchase this one.

Yves Rocher Sebo Specific Ultra Clean Purifying Cream Cleanser. I used this maybe once a week whenever I wanted to deep clean my skin. It has a clay-like consistancy with little micro-exfoliants. I really did enjoy this so I would repurchase it.

Clinque Super City Block 40 SPF. Over the past few years I’ve been wearing this under my makeup to protect it in the sun. If you’re interested in a full review of this product you can read it here. The consistancy was a bit thick so I would mix a little bit of my moisturizer in this. Since first testing this product I’ve tried many other daily moisturizing sunscreens that I prefer, including one from Garnier which you can read about here. I won’t be repurchasing this.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. According to Shiseido’s website this strengthens skin against daily damage and visible signs of aging for skin that’s 28% stronger in just 1 week. I always just think of it as a magical skincare product because it just works so well on my skin to enhance the effects of whatever moisturizer I wear. I feel like my skin feels a lot firmer whenever I use this. It’s a very nice serum. It’s a pretty expensive product, but I’ve been collecting little sample sizes of this so I still have a few more before I run out. One of these tiny 10ml bottles actually lasts me about two months because you don’t need to use to much.

Oral Care

Marvis Toothpaste. For my birthday a few months back I asked for Marvis toothpaste and my cousins were sweet enough to get me a trial set of their different flavours (my pack had licorice, ginger, lavendar and various mint flavours). My first empty of this line is the Ginger Mint which I thought was really tasty! I don’t really like a lot of toothpastes because the mint in them can be harsh, but the mint taste in the Marvis toothpaste is stuble and the ginger flavour isn’t overbearing or spicy which I liked a lot. It leaves me with fresh breath and super clean feeling teeth. If you dislike most drugstore toothpaste you might enjoy these. I’m currently testing other flavours but I think I’m hooked for life and would continue to repurchase these.

So that’s it! Only five empties to share for the month, but I have a feeling I’ll have more for next month. What products did you use up in June? Ever have a month where you don’t use up as many items as you hoped?

Lots of love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, June 2018

June 30, 2018 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

It is gorgeous outside as I write this but it is so warm in Toronto! I love it! Although I received my BoxyCharm about a week and a half ago, I’ve been pretty busy so I finally made time to post this unboxing!

Price: $21.00 USD (+$5.00 shipping to Canada)
Number of items: 4-5 full-size items

Boxycharm is a monthly subscription box of full-size makeup, skincare and beauty tools. The theme for this month is “Caribbean Queen”. The products are very Caribbean inspired and makes me feel summer vibes!

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Palette
MSRP: $28.00 USD

I am so in love with the packaging of this palette! It has 8 intensely pigmented shades, with colours that are inspired by Cuban beauty and culture. I swatched a few colours and thought they were so pretty and bold! I really can’t wait to start using this on my eyes.

I’ll have to share a look on Insta when I do. Beside each shade, name is either a sun or water droplet symbol. All of them can be used dry, but the ones with a water symbol can be used with a wet brush.

Battington Monroe Silk Lashes
MSRP: $28.00 USD

These are handmade 100% silk lashes which explains why they are so pricey. I probably would never pick them up, but I’m willing to try them since they came in my BoxyCharm. I think the packing is really nice on this too. The lashes themselves are really soft and look very natural looking.

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
MSRP: $10.00 USD

I LOVE this cream! I have a large tub of this in my bathroom that I love using it all over my body. It leaves me feeling really hydrated. This contains a tiny amount of mica that when applied over the body gives a little glow (it looks like micro-sparkle). The scent of pistachio caramel is soooooo good! I love this little tub because I can take this with me when travelling!

Luxie 3 Piece Flawless Complexion
MSRP: $42.00 USD

I love Luxie brushes and I’m really excited to receive them in this month’s box! The 660 Precision Foundation Brush has less bristle density that makes it good for applying powder and liquid foundation to create a soft, diffused look. The 522 Tapered Highlighting Brush is really fluffy to apply highlight on the high points on the face. The 516 Duo Fiber Powder Brush is good for applying cream or powder products for a softer diffused look. Although the 522 and 516 look the same, the 516 does feel denser which is good for applying cream products. If I used cream blush I might like this more. I have a mineral foundation that I want to try the 660 brush with and I actually want to use the 516 to buff out eyeshadow to give me a softer look. I wish at least one brush was a bit larger to make it more suited for foundation application.

Jonteblu Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil
MSRP: $5.00 USD

I love brown eyeliners and as I use up the one I currently have, I’m glad to have a new one ready as a backup. This is 100% vegan and waterproof.

Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Verona
MSRP: $21.00 USD

With the bright eyeshadow that came in the palette, I can understand that BoxyCharm decided to add a nude lip colour. I like getting Ofra items because I would not necessarily buy anything from them although I hear really good things about their products. I think it’s because I’d rather go into a store and buy their products to test out and they don’t sell in any store I know of.

My Thoughts

I am so happy with this box! It really stuck to the theme, offering items that remind me of the Caribbean. I also like that I can create a look using the items offered. It was a really well thought out box! Total Value $134.00 ($176.29 CAD!)

Did you receive BoxyCharm this month? What was your favourite item from this box?

Lots of love,
Dal

Tarte Cosmetics Blush Bazaar Palette: Palette Collection Review Series

June 26, 2018June 26, 2018 littlebeautyloves18 Comments

Although I really love blush I never had a variety of shades in my collection. I was getting tired of using the same two blushes (MAC’s Fleur Power Blush and Benefit’s Daisy Blush) so when Tarte Cosmetics put this holiday palette on sale I instantly picked it up.

Even if this limited edition holiday palette is no longer available, I know it won’t be long before Tarte releases another similar palette. Since this is the same Amazonian Clay formula as their full-size blushes, I figured it would also be a good way for me to review my thoughts on Tarte blushes as a whole.

What it is

A ten-pan cheek palette (8 blushes and 2 highlighters) in a mix of warm and cool tones. This includes the Amazonian clay formula which the brand claims to increase longevity.

Price

This was originally $57.00 CAD, but I got it on sale for Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) for $19.58 CAD. When it comes to Tarte, I definitely suggest waiting until items go on sale because the discount is worth it. This has 0.84 oz of product. The pan diameter seems to be about the same as the deluxe size blush.

Packaging

I love the Moroccan style theme that was part of the 2017 Holiday collection from Tarte. The pattern is so pretty. This is a circular palette that is about 4.5″ diameter, just slightly larger than the Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow palettes. It is a nice plastic packaging in reflective gold.

There is a plastic sheet that separates the two sides of the palette. I like this packaging because when I open it up I can see all the different colours laid out in front of me.

Colour

I’m not crazy about blush colours being too wild so I like the variety of shades in this palette. There are bright corals and pinks but there are also subtle nudes and peaches as well.

I really love the highlight colour whimsical as an inner corner highlight for the eyes.

My favourite shade to wear is fortunate because the orange shade looks really pretty with any peach colour I wear on my eyes. I also like dainty because it comes out very natural on my cheeks. Even though some shades look really similar in the pan, they look different on the cheeks.

Application & Wear

You really need to be careful with the application of these blushes because the pigmentation is very strong and it can be patchy if you don’t build them up slowly, especially with the brighter or darker shades. This happens to me with colours like endless. I use a very light hand with this palette and a really fluffy brush because I’d rather put a little and add more. Lighter shades like angelic are a bit more forgiving. When blended out well, these look so pretty on the cheeks. As they warm up against the skin, they seem to melt it so beautifully. It’s a very dry formula that can look powdery on the cheeks if you don’t take the time to blend it in. I like the way this applies on the cheeks though and I can see why so many people rave about the Tarte blushes.

This wears very well on me, even better than my MAC blushes. I’ll notice at the end of a workday that this is still going strong.

The Breakdown

The Pros

natural looking shades
long lasting

The Cons

can be patchy if don’t build up slowly

My Thoughts

I’m happy that I have this palette because it gives me a variety of shades to choose from that work with the majority of looks I like to wear. It’s even better that I got this palette for such a good deal.

I was asking myself if I would get more blushes from Tarte now that I’ve tested out the formula. I don’t know I will. I’ve honestly got more blushes than I possibly need now and the formula on the cheeks didn’t completely blow me away that I would rush out to get more blushes.

Have you tried any Tarte blush products? What do you think of them?

Lots of love,
Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Author: littlebeautyloves

Unboxing Boxycharm, August 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Bye Bye Empties, July 2018

Skincare

Haircare

Makeup

Samples

Review, Hightlighter Collection

Unboxing, Topbox July 2018

Prices are in Canadian Dollars.

Unboxing, BoxyCharm July 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Review, L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #2

Emptied Item!

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Lost Item

Thoughts

Bye Bye Empties, June 2018

Skincare

Oral Care

Unboxing BoxyCharm, June 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Tarte Cosmetics Blush Bazaar Palette: Palette Collection Review Series