Five Eye Brushes I use A Lot!

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019 littlebeautyloves5 Comments

I own quite a lot of brushes. I’m sure that is a statement that a lot of us can agree to! LOL!

I’m sure we’ve all gone through so many brushes, ones that we bought thinking they would be perfect only to end up switching them for something else. It took me a long time to build the collection I have and although I’m happy with them I’m always trying new ones to see how they might make my makeup application better or easier.

I decided for this post to pull out five eye brushes that I enjoy using and share them. I have a few posts on brushes in my collection that I’ve reviewed and you can read them here and here. I still use all those brushes but since my collection is large I figured why not share more!

Here are five eye brushes that I use a lot!

Quo Eye Shadow Smudger Brush

This is the first smudger style brush that I ever bought and I’ve purchased more smudger brushes ever since! I think Shoppers was having a sale on Quo brushes at the time so it was the perfect opportunity to grab one and see how I liked this style brush. I love using this to apply shadow to my lower and upper lash line because it gives a nice smokey effect.

The bristles on this brush are short and dense which helps keep everything close to the lash line but the brush itself is really soft. I like that I can get really close to my lash line to frame my eyes. I also like that the ends are rounded so that I can move the brush around the curve of my eyes.

Sephora Pro Featherweight Crease Brush

I use this brush a lot for my crease because I find that it’s soft but not so fluffy so it keeps product from blending out too much around my eyes. It keeps the look precise but still creates a seemless blend. I own a lot of blending brushes but I really like this one when I want to take time to blend out my eyeshadow.

What I love about this brush is that after so much use it continues to hold it’s shape. I love the domed tip which makes it really comfortable to use in the crease. I’m a bit bummed that this is no longer at Sephora and if I knew it was going to be discontinued I might have bought another one.

Artdeco Blending Brush

I featured this brush before on the blog in the post focusing on the brushes in my One Look, One Week Review Series. I mentioned that this brush is quite versatile and it continues to be a well loved and highly used brush. Recently, I’ve been using it a lot for cream shadows I have (ie. the Nudestix shadows) to blend out any rough edges. The brush is dense so it really blends out cream perfectly.

What I love about this brush is that one side is wide, while the other side is flat.

This allows me to use this to lightly blend out shadow in my crease using the flat side or to sweep shadow on my lid using the wider side. It’s even been used as a liner smudger and to blend shadow on my lower lid. It does everything I want a brush to do. Whenever I travel I take this brush with me because I can use it in a variety of ways. I plan on purchasing more of these types of brushes.

Inglot Large Eyeshadow Brush, 28 PO (I think?)

This brush has a special place in my heart because it was one of the first professional style brushes that I ever purchased and it’s held up all these years. I don’t think at the time Inglot had put the brush numbers on their brushes so I’m guessing it’s the 28PO based on their description online. I purchased this brush to help clean around the edges of my eyeshadow because it’s a super big and dense brush.

If ever my eyeshahow is starting to blend out a little too far on my eye and I want to blend out the colours I’ll take this brush to help clean it all up. The brush is also perfect as a shadow brush because it’s so big that I can definitly use it as a one sweep brush and be done with eyeshadow. I don’t use this too often because it is so big, but whenever I need a brush like this I’m also so happy I have it.

Luxie 111 Mini Flat Angled Brush

I received this brush in my November BoxyCharm as part of a four-pack brush set. I use all the brushes in that set but this one is one that I use most out of all of them and I use it specifically to apply eyeshadow to my lower lashes.

Because the brush is angled, it fits perfectly under my lower lashes and applies shadow really close to my lower lash. By being able to apply a thin shadow under my lashes I keep my shadow looking sleek. I really enjoy this brush. I don’t think I would have thought to purchase this on my own, but after receiving it and trying it out, it has really improved my eyeshadow application.

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These are some of my favourite eye shadow brushes. I plan to share more of my favourite brushes for my eyes and face on the blog since I have so many that I really like and I’m curious to know what are some of your favourite brushes too!

Let me know what brushes you use a lot for your eye shadow application.

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review, Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Exfoliator

July 10, 2019July 10, 2019 littlebeautylovesLeave a comment

A few weeks ago I shared a review of the First Aid Beauty cleanser that I have been enjoying as my gentle daily cleanser. You can read it here. I mentioned that every few days or so I also use an exfoliating cleanser for a deep cleanse and today I’m going to be sharing that review. Currently, I’ve been using Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten-Up Exfoliator.

Vasanti Cosmetics reached out to me back in April to try out their Vasanti Brighten-Up Trio and I was very excited to test them out. I had used other items from Vasanti before and I’m always happy to support Canadian brands. I’ve been using the product ever since receiving them two months ago.

What It Is

An exfoliator with micro-crystals. This papaya and aloe enriched exfoliator will remove dead skin, reveal a radiant complexion and fight common skin concerns like dull skin, dark spots, acne scars, wrinkles & more. (vasanticosmetics.com)

Price

$29.00 CAD (70g) I use a very small pea-sized amount of this product so I think it’ll last me a while.

Application

I took this on vacation with me to use with the moisturizer and serum booster (more on them in a little bit). I still used an everyday cleanser but every third evening or so I would use this to wash my face. I lathered a pea-sized amount between my hands and gently massaged this over my face. Since this has micro crystals I always ensured that I was gently applying this. I also found that the more water I used to dilute the product the better it worked on my skin. More water helped to loosen the formula and convert the dense cleanser into a soft and liquid cream which helped glide the crystals over my face.

The texture of the crystals is very fine and sand like but if you aren’t careful I can definitely imagine it irritating the skin because the crystals are very gritty. This is also why I used it every few days rather than every day. I have always loved physical exfoliators but if you don’t then this product is definitely not for you. I also don’t think it would be good for sensitive skin. I don’t have sensitive skin, but I was still very careful with how I applied this product. Since I mostly use physical exfoliating cleansers, it’s how I’ve always been with those types of products.

I mostly focused around my nose since that’s where I find my skin needs the most attention. I would then massage this over my forehead and chin and spread whatever remained over my cheeks. I find that starting from the middle of my face and moving outwards is the best cleansing method for me.

Since this is a physical exfoliant, I always made sure I thoroughly rinsed my skin. Nothing is worse than putting on moisturizer with leftover crystals (ouch!). After rinsing my skin I applied the Boosting Serum and then the Moisturizer.

After a couple weeks, I started to notice a difference in my skin. It wasn’t as dull and looked a lot more clear. My nose area especially was clear. I usually have a hard time reducing the appearance of blackheads on my nose, but this really helped to diminish their appearance. My skin felt really soft and I found that it was much smoother. I hardly break out in the first place but it just felt like my skin was looking a lot more vibrant.

Glow-Boosting Serum and Amplify Moisturizer

While using the Brighten-Up Exfoliator I also made sure that I was testing out the Glow-Boosting Serum and Amplify Moisturizer, all are part of the Brighten-Up line. I think that the combination of the three really made a difference on my skin so I wanted to talk about them as well as they are part of my skin care routine.

Glow-Boosting Serum

The serum is supposed to help give you glowy skin. After cleansing, I would shake the bottle to the oil and serum together and place one or two drops on my hands and massage it over my skin. It has Arbutin which has anti-oxidant and anti-ageing ingredients to help reduce dark spots and shadows. It also has Abyssinian oil to hydrate the skin and aloe vera to soothe the skin. For my dry skin, this serum is a dream because it’s pretty moisturizing. Sometimes I just wear this and it’s enough for me. Serums that I’ve used in the past can be more gel-like so they quickly dry onto my skin but I don’t feel like they do much. This guy, however, leaves me feeling moisturized all day. It’s a pretty thick serum.

Amplify Moisturizer

I really like this as an everyday moisturizer and I use it with both my everyday cleanser as well as the Vasanti Exfoliator. This is infused with aloe, vitamin C, and arbutin from bearberry leaves to keep your skin hydrated and protected. It’s very light-weight too which is why I enjoy this for every day. Even during the day if my skin is feeling extra dry I will apply this to re-hydrate it. Since it’s really thin I don’t feel like I’m wearing a lot of products if I then add my sunscreen over it. It works very well on top of the Glow-Boosting Serum, so I do enjoy wearing these two products together.

My Thoughts

Since I love physical exfoliators I know that I’m probably going to repurchase this product myself when the time comes. I feel like I see a difference in my skin and I like that this has been working really well for me.

Have you tried this product? Do you use physical exfoliators?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

May 27, 2019May 25, 2019 littlebeautyloves13 Comments

I keep two types of cleansers on my vanity. One is always a gentle, every day type cleanser. The other is a gritty, exfoliating deep cleansing one. Throughout the week I’ll switch through them. Most days I use a gentle cleanser and then I’ll use my exfoliating cleanser a few times a week inbetween. Then, on lazy days I just use micellar water or a makeup wipe and call it a day! Hehe!

If you wanted to read my makeup remover post you can here.

Next week I’ll share a review of my Vasanti Cosmetics Exfoliating Cleanser but today I wanted to share a review of the gentle cleanser I’ve been enjoying. My First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser.

What It Is

A fragrance-free, gentle cleanser that effectively removes makeup, dirt, and grime, leaving skin soft and supple. (Sephora.ca)

I read that this is good for dryness and redness. I suffer from dry skin so I always love cleansers that are designed to be hydrating. This has aloe and glycerin which nourishes, and hydrates the skin and FAB Antioxidant Booster to help with environmental agressors.

This is Allergy-Tested, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Oil-Free, Soy-Free, Suitable for Sensitive Skin, Vegan, Nano-Free. (FirstAidBeauty.com)

Price

$14.00 CAD (2oz). This is pretty reasonably priced especially since you need very little when washing your face. A pea-sized amount is enough for me.

Application

This is a very creamy cleanser that doesn’t foam up too much. The texture reminds me of Origin’s Checks & Balances cleanser because it’s a thicker consistency. Whenever I use it I find that it feels more like cleanser/moisturizer hybrid. It feels very good.

I think it’s super effective at removing makeup. Like, really effective. It might be one of the best makeup removing cleansers I’ve ever tried. It’s very gentle and doesn’t sting my eyes which makes it a dream for removing makeup around my eyes and lashes which is where I tend to wear the heaviest makeup. Even if a little gets in my eyes, it won’t sting them like other cleansers have in the past. It leaves my skin feeling super clean, when I rinse it off. I dry my face with a white towel and a rarely get makeup residue on it. I don’t even need to use a makeup wipe before or after, it’s really good on its own.

My skin always feels really clean, but unlike a harsh cleanser, it still leaves it feeling supple. I find that my skin just feels good and clear and I usually just apply a serum or moisturizer afterwards and call it a day.

My Thoughts

I’ve tried sample packets of this cleanser and liked it but this is my first time using a whole tube of it consistently over the last few weeks. Generally, my skin doesn’t feel tight or dry and it hasn’t been irritated by this product. It’s very good. I would wholeheartedly recommend this! If you are looking for a good every day, gentle cleanser, this is the one!

Have you tried the First Aid Beauty Cleanser? What are your thoughts? Have you tried anything else from this brand?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review, Shiseido Ibuki Smart Filtering Smoother (discontinued)

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

I love Shiseido products so I was very excited to receive their Ibuki Smart Filtering Smoother through Influenster. I thought it was a primer to wear under the skin at first and was excited about the “smoothing” part of it, but it’s actually a product you wear to help cover shine.

Although this item is discontinued, I’m going to share a review since this is part of my Project Pan Monthly for April.

What It Is

Skin-blurring filter for smooth, picture-perfect skin. I liken it to blotting paper but in liquid form.

Price

$29.00 CAD (20 mL) This is pricey for such a tiny little product. You don’t need much so at least it lasts long.

Application

The Smart Filtering Primer is very liquid so it spreads easily over the skin. I’ve tried it both over makeup and under makeup. Since it’s designed to reduce shine it does dry out my skin which partly why I don’t use it too often.

When I’ve worn it under makeup I found that it helps to smooth my skin, especially on my cheeks or forehead. It’s not the best on my nose which is the driest part of my face because I find it accentuated the dryness and made my foundation crack.

I know when I first received this I used it a lot in the summer to help keep my skin dry during the hot months. I am traveling at the end of this month so I’ll be taking this with me to help reduce sweat and shine on my face.

Over the last month, I’ve been wearing this over my makeup to help blend everything together and reduce some of the shine on my dewy foundations. I put a little drop onto my finger tips and then pat it over my cheeks and forehead.

This really isn’t for my dry skin but I have it so I will use it. I think if I had normal-oily skin I would enjoy this more.

My Thoughts

I don’t absolutely hate this, it just wasn’t made for me and my skin type. I’m using it for my Project Pan and trying it in the areas of my skin that do have more shine. I’ve also been applying it over my makeup to make it more matte. All in all, I think this is mostly just going to be best used in the summer.

Have you ever tried this product or something like it? What are your thoughts? Any ideas on how I might enjoy a product like this more? Let me know!

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bronze it Up! My Current Bronzer Collection

March 30, 2019 littlebeautyloves12 Comments

I love wearing bronzers to give dimension and glow to my face. I was going through my collection and noticed I had four in my current rotation. I thought I’d go through some of the bronzers, especially since I have one of them in my Project Pan for March.

Physicians Formula Super BB Instaready Bronzer

I picked this up at GenBeauty 3 years ago and the bronzer is still going strong! This was part of my Project Pan in 2018 which you can read the round-up of here. I did hit pan with this item but it’s so dry that it ended up crumbling and I had to press it back together, hence the pan looking quite bumpy.

I like this bronzer because it gives a really sutble hint of colour. Just enough that it’s noticeable on my skin, which is great because when I’m in a rush out the door I don’t have to worry about blending it out too much. If I wear contour, I tend to prefer to blend that out with this bronzer because it’s very cool toned and helps everything look smooth.

Ciate London Bamboo Bronzer (Sample)

This guy is in my current Project Pan for March so I definitely wanted to include a little review of it here. The formula is very smooth so it looks really pretty on the skin. It is a lot more pigmented in comparison to the Physicians Formula bronzer so I do have to be careful that I don’t over apply it and make sure that I blend this out very well.

This is warm-toned so I prefer to wear this when I’m wearing warmed toned eyeshadow and blush or else it can look muddy on me. I’ve been diligent about using this so I have hit pan which I’m very excited about. I love wearing this in my crease as well, so it has doubled as an eyeshadow for me.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzing Powder (mini size)

I must say that I’m always repurchasing this particular bronzer because when it comes to shade, pigmentation and formula I’m most comfortable using this. It’s as pigmented as the Ciate London Bronzer but the cool shade is a better match for my skin tone so it looks a lot more natural on me. This formula really blends into the skin rather than sits on top so overall it does look more flattering on me.

My one qualm with this palette is that I’m not into the box packaging. If I had room in my magnetic palette I would de-pot this. I don’t think you’d have the same issue with the regular size, but my bronzer brush hardly fits in the mini size so it never picks up product equally. I know this is the Benefit style packaging, but it’s pretty bulky.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Volume 4 Bronzer in Filtered Bronze Light

I originally wasn’t going to include this bronzer because the palette is no longer available and I couldn’t find this colour in the single style compact but I am loving the formula and you can get other shades in this range from Hourglass.

This palette is recent to my collection so I haven’t used it too often, but whenever I have I am always so happy with how it looks on my skin. The bronzer is so finely milled and so soft that it really melts into the skin. It’s lightly pigmented like my Physicians Formula bronzer which again I like because I can quickly apply it and be out the door. This, however, has a slight sheen to it which really makes my skin glow.

Mix it with the other face powders in this palette and my skin looks so nice and healthy which is a happy change for me compared it looking really dry. The only downside is that the pan is pretty small and my bronzing brush is large so I find I have to be careful I don’t mix in the other colours.

Swatches

There you have it, my little collection of current bronzers that I rotate through on a daily basis. What bronzers are in your collection? What bronzer do you love the most and why?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review, Nudestix!

March 8, 2019March 9, 2019 littlebeautyloves16 Comments

This post has been a long time coming because I truly enjoy Nudestix! I’ve mentioned them here and there and I did a review of the Nudestix Gel Lip & Cheek Balm when I included it in my Project Pan Monthly for January, but I really wanted to devote a post to the products that I have.

I have two Nude(art)ist sets; the Jet Setter Set and the Rose Gold Set that I’ll be sharing in this post.

The Jetsetter Set is a mix of eye and lip crayons as well as a Nudies All over Face Stick. The Rose Gold Set is a collection of eye crayons.

What it is

First off, Nudestix is a Canadian brand started by two sisters and their mom. Their crayons for the face, eyes and lips add a touch of colour to enhance your natural look. Their products are vegan and cruelty-free.

The Jetsetter Set is a limited edition exclusive palette curated by celebrity make-up artist Mary Phillips. With a collection of warm bronzy tones from nude to deep, for anyone looking for the perfect travel makeup essentials. (nudestix.com)

The Rose Gold Set is bubbly pink and gold magnetic nudes for an elevated natural look. (nudestix.com)

Price

The Jetsetter Set – $75.00 CAD (includes 6 makeup crayons for the eyes and lips, and a Nudies stick)

The Rose Gold Set – $65.00 CAD (includes 6 makeup crayons for the eyes)

Regularly, one lip or eye crayon is $28.00 CAD and the Nudies All Over Face Stick is $33.00 CAD each, so you save over $100 by buying them in the sets. Also, the Jetsetter set came with a zippered pouch which would increase its value. If you’re going to get Nudestix products, I suggest you buy them in sets like this.

Packaging

Each Nudestix item purchased comes in a mirrored metal tin with a sharpener. The sharpener can double as a lid so you can take a stick on the go if you wished.

The Nudies All Over Face Stick is a bit different. It has a twist up applicator so you don’t need a sharpener. One side is the produce and the other side has a brush. The brush is a bit stiff so I prefer to use another brush to blend it out but it does work if you’re in a pinch, as long as you use it with light pressure. You can always use your fingers too, which is what I like to do too.

I really think the packaging is cute. The tins help keep the sticks steady inside my makeup box at home and if I take them on the go I know they’ll be protected. The only downside is that the tins are the perfect size for just the 6 sticks so I can’t put the two sets together if I wanted.

Colours

The shades in all the Nudestix eyes, lip or cheek items fall into more of the natural or everyday makeup category. They don’t have really bold or bright colours (although thinking of it now, could really work in their formula).

The Jetsetter Set

This set includes items for eyes, lips & cheecks. I can easily put together a pretty look for the day or use some of the darker and bronzy shades to create a nice sultry evening look. The eye sticks can be worn as shadows or as eyeliner. The two lipsicks can be worn on the lips or cheeks. I’ve worn Pulse numerous times as blush and like using Posh as a blush topper when I want an extra glow.

The Nudies stick is a nice natural rose, it’s described as a neutral nude. This is almost like a blush/bronzer hybrid so I find that I can put this over my cheeks and a bit around my temples and it gives me a healthy glow. I love this shade! It’s very natural, true skin-tone type of blush. You can even wear it on the eyes or lips, I think it looks so pretty as a crease shade so I’ve used it for that so many times.

The Rose Gold Set

These are all eye shadow sticks. Although the colours are similar the tones are different enough that wearing one versus the other does change my overall makeup look. I like that these are light and shimmery which makes them great for day time and I think it really compliments a lot of the darker shades in the Jetsetter Set.

I like colours like Angel and Gilt because they double as highlight. Although there is only one dark matte shade, Fig, it works perfectly as eyeliner or as an eyeshadow to help deepen the look.

Application & Wear

These are so creamy and easy to blend and the formula is consistent across the board. I love a nice everyday look and it’s so easy for me to put one together fairly quickly using only these sticks. I also find the wear time to be pretty good, especially on the eyeshadow sticks (last about 6-7 hours). I usually don’t apply primer, but if I did, I know they’d last longer. What’s nice is that it just gives me a natural look, so even as it fades out it doesn’t look like I was wearing a lot of makeup, to begin with.

The lipsticks are pigmented and apply bold on the lips. Since this is in a crayon form I find them easy to apply and they are super comfortable to wear. When applying them on my cheeks I dot a bit of colour on the apple of my cheek and along my cheekbone and then blend it with my fingers.

The eye sticks are easy to just sweep over the eyes directly from the stick or I can apply it with my finger for a more natural look. They easily blend with the fingers but sometimes I go in with a brush just because it’s quicker.

One thing I have found with Nudestix is that less is more. Usually using 1 to 2 shades gives me the best results vs layering more and more colours. Because they are creamy shades, the more that you put on your lids, the higher chance it will crease or wear out.

My Look

From the Rose Gold Set I used Fig in the crease and the lower lash line. I then took Rustique from The Jetsetter Set and put it all over the lid. I then used Cocoa on the outer edge of my lid, keeping it close to my lid. Going back to the Rose Gold Set, I added Nudity as an inner corner highlight and Spirit in the inner half of my lid.

My Thoughts

If you’ve ever thought about trying Nudestix I definitely think they are worth checking out, especially if you like natural, easy-to-apply makeup. The formula and pigmentation are really good and it’s so easy to take these where ever you go. I personally like that a lot of the sticks can be used for multiple things so if I don’t want to use a million different products that day I don’t have to.

Have you tried Nudestix? What’s your favourite item from the brand? What do you think of makeup in a stick form?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Let’s Glow! Wet N’ Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder Review

February 14, 2019February 13, 2019 littlebeautyloves5 Comments

When it comes to highlight, I’m really into a natural, lit from within type of look. I always find that bold highlights don’t really work for my style. When I got this in my Topbox back in March I was really happy to see they sent me a shade I’d wear.

What It Is

Infused with ultra-reflective and micro-fine pearl pigments, this baked powder is everything you need to shine radiantly from the inside out. (Wetnwild.com)

Price

$6.99 CAD. Surprisingly, Amazon & Walmart Canada has these listed for $12.00-$13.00. I found them on Well.ca for $6.99 so that’s the price I’m using here.

Colour

This is a pearl/rose shade that is really light and shimmery. My cheeks are pretty rosy and I enjoy wearing a pink or peach blush so I find a highlighter that works with my blush is what I gravitate too.

Packaging

The packing is very simple but I do like it. It is square with a clear cover so you can see the colour inside. I love the little flower imprint on the powder itself, it’s a nice touch.

Application & Wear

First looking at this highlighter I thought it might be grainy and make my skin look like it had a lot of texture but it looks super smooth on the skin and it feels really creamy. I really enjoy this highlight for everyday because it’s not super intense on initial application. You can layer it if you wanted it to be bolder, but for me I like keeping it on the light side. One time I even put this on top of my lips to add some shine to my lipstick and I thought it looked really pretty like that.

This does fade a little by the end of the day, there is still a little glow. I’m sure if I layered this more it would last longer, but since I’d rather keep it natural I’m good with it fading a little after 4 or 5 hours.

All in all, this is a great highlighter and the price is even better. It works as well as any of the high end highlighters I reviewed on my blog (see that post here). I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Laline Review, My Little at Home Spa

January 28, 2019January 26, 2019 littlebeautyloves10 Comments

I love having a spa day at home every once in a while. I set aside some time to draw up a nice bath, play music, drink tea or a healthy smoothy and pamper myself with nice body care and face masks. It’s pure magic!

At Christmas, I received a few body care items from Laline and I instantly wanted to try them out the next time I had a spa day at home.

Laline is brand from Tel Aviv that focuses on invoking pampering through scent. They have a range of body, face, fragrance and tools in a variety of scents to help you leave behind the every day and enter a world of pampering and tranquillity.

I’m not sure how long they’ve been in Canada but I noticed their store at the mall nearest me a few months ago and decided to take a look at what they offered. The stores are very elegant and make you feel like you are stepping into a spa. I love it! And yes, the various fragrances are just amazing!

I instantly fell in love with the scent Musk. Now, I know that musk usually brings to mind men’s cologne but this is not like that. It’s very soft, sweet, kind of nutty, and very delicate. Fragrance notes include; vetiver root, musk, lily of the valley and ylang.

I guess Santa noticed I had been eyeing their items and decided to gift them to me 😉

I love that Laline also has a list of values they want their products to invoke. One of their values is The greatest pleasures are the ones that you create for yourself. I agree so much with that. You make your own happiness and pleasures, like setting aside personal me time when I have a spa day at home.

I started my spa day with a bubble bath and tried out the Body Scrub. This has dead sea salt to deeply cleanse the skin with natural minerals, and it nourishes with avocado and grape seed oils. Having dry skin I appreciate the oils because they are very nourishing. When you first apply the scrub it feels oily, however, it quickly absorbs into the skin.

The scrub itself is a bit gritty because they use salt grains so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have sensitive skin. I find a little under a tablespoon scoop is perfect for my whole body. It leaves my skin feeling super exfoliated.

After my bath, I applied the Body Cream and Hand Cream. These are both thick and creamy which I absolutely love. They are enriched with Aloe Vera extract, Jojoba, Calendula and Borage oils.

I definitely feel like I’m pampering my skin when I put them on and they leave me feeling hydrated.

To end off my pampering session, I spritzed myself with the Body Mist. I love this because it’s soft and subtle so I can enjoy it all day. Usually, when I’m just relaxing at home, I like to keep my scent light as I feel like it envokes a sense of calm for me. I don’t like anything that is too sweet or harsh, just really clean and barely there.

I feel like the ingredients in these products are so nice and really do remind me of products that you might get at a spa. My skin is left smooth and hydrated and the scent is oh-so-good.

Have you tried any items from Laline? How do you like to pamper yourself?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review, Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Paaarty

January 14, 2019January 13, 2019 littlebeautyloves8 Comments

Today I’m going to review another item in my Project Pan Monthly for January. If you’re curious what items I’ve put in my project pan for this month you can do that here.

What it is

I’ve reviewed the Tarte Amazonian Clay Formula before when I took a look at their holiday Blush Bazaar palette here. In a nutshell, I generally like this formula.

The Amazonian clay formula is said to control oil and infuse moisture into the skin. I have dry skin so I can’t speak to the oil controlling part, but I don’t really notice any moisturizing. I just find that it leaves a nice finish on my skin. It doesn’t look very powdery and I enjoy that.

Price

The regular price of the full-size pan is $38.00 CAD (0.2 oz), this is the deluxe size (0.05 oz) that I received as a beauty insider birthday gift from Sephora with a lip gloss.

Packaging

There isn’t anything super special about this packaging since it is a deluxe sample item but it’s still a nice size compact size and sturdy plastic. I like that the pan size is wide making it easy to use with a fluffy brush.

Colour

Paaarty is described as a nude shade blush. To me it looks more like a natural peachy tone. I tend to prefer really bold blushes but this one sheerer so I find I have to layer it on a bit. I guess that means I use up a little more of the pan, but I do like my blush to show up on my face.

Application & Wear

Unlike the shades in the Blush Bazaar palette in the link above, the colour of this blush is a lot more muted so I don’t need to be as careful with the application. I love putting a lot of this on! The wear time is alright. I find that I do find it fades a lot quicker than the palette shades but those ones are a lot more vibrant to begin with. By the end of the day, I notice it’s still there but not as strong.

Overall, I like the blush formula itself, but I wouldn’t pick up this particular shade again. I’m happy I got it as a gift to try. Hopefully I can put a good tent in it during this month. I feel like I can start to see the pan underneath!

Have you tried the Amazonian Clay formula or this blush? Let me know your thoughts on it!

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review: Nudestix Gel Color Lip & Cheek Balm in Pulse

January 9, 2019January 8, 2019 littlebeautyloves11 Comments

I love easy makeup. I like items that you can apply and blend out quickly and be on your way that doesn’t look too overdone. Of course every once in a while I like to spend over an hour perfecting a makeup look, but usually, I like being put together and natural. I like items that are one and done types of products that can be used in multiple ways.

Nudestix checks off all these boxes for me!

If you’ve never heard of Nudestix, they are a company that focuses on natural looking makeup. Started by two sisters and their mom, they sell sticks or crayons for the face, eyes and lips that add a touch of colour to enhance your natural look. Their products are vegan and cruelty-free. Plus they are Canadian!

I’ve been using Nudestix for so many years now, but I’ve never reviewed their products. Today, I figured why not review this lip & cheek balm since it’s in my project pan for January.

Price

When I bought this it came in a pack of 3 mini sticks in similar nude tones for $28.00 CAD, you can find it on their website here. The three pack had three different finishes, a matte, a cream, and a gel. I’ll be focusing on the gel balm in Pulse.

Packaging

Whenever you buy a nudestix item, they usually come in a metal tin with a sharpener. I love the little tin because you can easily keep all the products together. The tin also has a mirror which is great of you want to take these on the go.

The sharpener itself also doubles a lid for the stix, so if you like to keep one in your purse, you’d have the sharpener too. Just super clever and sleek packaging.

Application & Wear

I Immediately fell in love with Pulse because I love the gel formula. It’s super creamy and hydrating without being greasy on the lips. The colour is natural and just enhances my own lip colour. I love wearing a lip like this whenever I’m rocking a warm eye shadow. It almost feels like a gloss and has so much shine without the stickiness.

I have actually tried this formula on my cheeks as well and it applies and blends really well as blush. Even though this is gel formula, I think on me it leaves a nice dewy finish. With dry skin, I tend to like this type of look a lot. I love wearing this when I’m doing a minimal or no makeup look because it looks very flattering on my natural skin. It does apply well over foundation too.

The only downside is it’s not very long lasting. I might be able to get away with an hour of wear before it starts to fade away. Because it’s close to my lip colour, I don’t mind it so much but if I’m wearing this out, I do find that I re-apply pretty often. Note though that the matte and cream formulas are longer lasting in comparison.

My Thoughts

Overall, I really love this formula because as someone who doesn’t wear lip products often I mostly prefer that they are more balm-like. I love the packaging and the brand overall. I’ll have to share my thoughts on the Nudestix eye crayons soon because those are AMAZING!

Have you tried Nudestix before? What are your thoughts on the brand and products?

Lots of Love,
Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Category: Reviews

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Review: Nudestix Gel Color Lip & Cheek Balm in Pulse