Project Pan Monthly: July Roundup & August Items

August 6, 2019August 5, 2019 littlebeautyloves2 Comments

I have been keeping my makeup extremely minimal in July since it was a pretty warm month. There were some items in my July Project Pan that I used so much and then there were some items that I hardly touched at all! I think it’s partly because I didn’t anticipate it being as warm so I was really not in the mood to wear a lot of makeup that would melt off. I’ll break it down more in my July Roundup below. All in all, I used my items about 24/31 days.

In case you didn’t know, this is my Project Pan objective;

Project Pan Monthly

Each month I choose 4 items to use, sharing reviews of those products if they aren’t already on the blog. At the end of the month, I’ll share an update of how well I did and then list the items for the next month. The products are chosen from these categories;

One Eyeshadow Palette
One Lip Item (lipstick, lip balm, gloss, etc.)
One Face Item (foundation, highlighter, blush, bronzer)
One Random Item (can be another item from the categories above, or be something else like a mascara, liner, skin care, body care, fragrance, etc.)

July Roundup

Let’s start with the eye makeup items I chose for this month. It was so easy for me to use the three Nudestix products I have in the photo above because they were great as one and done shadows or applying two for a slightly more done up look. The bronze tones were prefect on my slightly tanned skin and went with a lot of my summer outfits.

When it came to the lip item, I used Pulse the most this month. I also used it quite a bit as a blush because it was a nice natural shade on me. As much as I wanted to use the dirty little secret lip liner it just wasn’t something that I was reaching for at all! I think it’s mostly because I was happy with Pulse on it’s own so I always forgot to add lip liner.

Now, as much as I thought the Clinique Powder was going to work perfectly for me in the summer, it just didn’t work on my dry skin. It actually made me feel really dry and itchy and I didn’t like that at all. Even though it was very warm my skin remained super dehydrated so this got immediately tossed to the side in my project pan. I’m tempted to toss this out only because having my skin feel itchy after applying it made me a little nervous about using it.

My August Items

This month I’ve chosen;

One Eyeshadow Palette – Smashbox CoverShot Palette in Ablaze (reviewed here)
One Lip Item – Laritzy Cosmetics Lip Stix in Wafer
One Face Item – Yves Rocher Flawless Skin Foundation
One Random Item – Sephora Blush in Apricot Sheen

I thought I’d stick with a warm palette for August as an ode to summer! I know warm toned orange/red/gold palettes like Ablaze are not as popular as they were two years ago but I still love these colours so I’m sure I’d get good use out of it. (If you want to see the inside of the palette, check out the link here since it seems I totally didn’t upload the photo of the open palette for this post). Same goes for the Sephora blush I’ve included for this month. I bought this blush on sale and I don’t think Sephora carries it anymore but it’s a gorgeous warm blush with little flecks of golden sparkle. It looks really pretty and dewy on and I think with the eye shadow palette it’ll look really good.

For this month’s lip item I decided to include the Laritzy Lip Stix I received in my Topbox. I enjoy the texture of this lip crayon. It’s very smooth and hydrating and the colour is a beautiful nude which will also work with a lot of the looks I want to create using the Ablaze palette. I’ve included my Yves Rocher Foundation since the colour is a bit darker which is working for my complexion now. I mostly use it around my eyes and the centre of my face for a very light amount of coverage.

Here’s hoping I get good use out of these items for August! I have already used these this 3 times since the start of the month so that’s really good so far!

How is your progress been for Project Pan this month? What are you hoping to use up for August?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, July 2019

August 3, 2019August 2, 2019 littlebeautyloves5 Comments

Happy Saturday! I feel like I rarely post on the weekends but I finally got around to taking some photos so I figured why not! Also, happy Civic Long weekend to those who have Monday off! I love long weekends in the summer!

It had been a gorgeous July! The days were hot and beautiful and I enjoyed it so much. I’m really excited for August and enjoying more of this summer especially since there are a few things that happen around the city that I enjoy – Food Festivals, here I come! I didn’t use up too many products this month but I’ve also been changing up my skincare and makeup routine for the summer which meant that a lot of my usual products are on a break.

Now on to what I used up!

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year. If I mention repurchasing an item, it just means that I really liked it and would buy again, just not in 2019.

Skincare

Victoria Secret Shea & Vitamin E Shower Gel. VS have some nice smelling shower gels and I really like them. The scent Cabana Breeze has an ocean/vacation scent and whenever I used it I would be taken back to my trip to Jamaica. They lather up quite a bit which makes taking a shower feel like a standing bath. I also love using them in my bubble bath because they do make so much thick bubbles! I would definitely repurchase these shower gels over and over again.

L’Occitane Almond Shower Gel. I used to be into this shower gel but after a while, I got bored with it. I really like super sudsy shower gels and this isn’t like that, or at least it stopped being that way after a while. It just doesn’t get super foamy. It’s weird but I almost feel like the formula started getting old and it wasn’t as nice as it was for the first couple of months I had this. I still enjoyed it for prepping my legs before shaving, but as a shower gel on its own, it lost its lustre for me. If you want to read my original review of this product you can here. I don’t think I’d repurchase this product.

NeoStrata Glycolic Renewal Smoothing Lotion. I included this product with a short review in a haul I had back in March 2018. You can read it here. Although I really enjoyed this product it’s been over a year that I’ve had it so I’m sure it’s time I just toss it out since I don’t think it’s as effective as it once was. I used this about half-way. I’m not sure I’d repurchase this.

Haircare

Head & Shoulders Conditioner in Smooth & Silky. Every few months I add another Head & Shoulders product into my empties. If there is one product that I repurchase over and over again it’s this. I really enjoy how well it cleans my hair.

Makeup

Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil. This product got old before I used it up but it’s because I haven’t been using pencil liners for quite a while now. Lately, I’ve been using either eye shadow or my Nudestix Crayons to create a smokey liner on my eyes rather than a sharp line or wing. This guy is ok, it is a deep intense black and I like that it’s a twist up liner. I used this a lot in my waterline which is another reason I am throwing it out since I want to get into the habit of using new items for delicate areas such as my eyes. I won’t be repurchasing this anytime soon.

Cover FX PowerPlay Foundation (sample). I love picking up sample foundations to test out before I commit to a new foundation. I got about four applications from this foundation and I really liked how it looked. It feels really light on my face but provides a good amount of coverage. I would purchase a full-size of this.

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Like I mentioned above, I didn’t use up too many items for this month but I did clear out some things that were old or weren’t getting a lot of use in my collection of stuff.

What have you used up for July?

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

Project Pan Monthly: May Roundup & June Items

June 7, 2019 littlebeautyloves13 Comments

Before it gets so much later into June I wanted to share my Project Pan Monthly update for May and share the items I’m going to focus on for June. I feel like except for the first week of May I was very consistent with using my items. I had used my items 24/31 days by the end of the month.

In case you didn’t know, this is my Project Pan objective;

Project Pan Monthly

One Eyeshadow Palette
One Lip Item (lipstick, lip balm, gloss, etc.)
One Face Item (foundation, highlighter, blush, bronzer)
One Random Item (can be another item from the categories above, or be something else like a mascara, liner, skin care, body care, fragrance, etc.)

May Round-Up

I used the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol. II Palette so much this month, especially the lighter shades which I wore a lot for work. I even would do one sweep of certain colours for really easy looks. You can see that I used conch and marina the most. It’s a very crumbly shadow formula so that’s why it looks like chunks are missing, but it does go on the eyes smoothly.

I also used the Vintage Cosmetics Illuminating Face Highlighter pretty often. I used it for highlighter and as a blush topper. There is so much of this product but you can start to see a little dip in the pan.

I finished up my Bad gal Bang! Mascara which was pretty easy given that this is a deluxe sample. Still, I’m happy I was able to use it up. I didn’t use the Bobbi Brown lip gloss as much as I wanted to but I did try to use it every day even if I didn’t re-apply it throughout the day. I think I used up about one third of the product inside this little sample so I’m happy with that.

My June Items

This month I’ve chosen;

One Eyeshadow Palette – NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils & Eye Lingerie (reviewed here)
One Lip Item – Soap & Glory’s Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump XXL Lip Plumping Gloss
One Face Item – IBY Beauty Highlight & Contour Palette (reviewed here)
One Random Item – Victoria’s Secret Noir Love Me Body Mist

Instead of having an eye shadow palette this month, I decided to use some other eye items and do a Face Palette. I also wanted to use up another fragrance this month.

How is your progress been for Project Pan this month? Have you noticed a difference in your products?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, May 2019

May 31, 2019May 30, 2019 littlebeautyloves2 Comments

May was such a fun month! The first few days of the month I was in Jamaica so that was fun and when I got back I have been enjoying catching up with friends and walking around walking around the city. One of my best friends had a baby in April and I got to meet him this month which was so fun for me!

The weather had been rainy and mild but there have been a few warm and sunny days that I have been taking advantage of. I am so excited for the summer and looking forward to lots of beautiful days in the city.

Now on to what I used up!

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year. If I mention repurchasing an item, it just means that I really liked it and would buy again, just not in 2019.

Skincare

Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath Super Moisturizer Avocado Oil. I enjoy these foaming baths but usually, I get the Himalayan Salt version which creates a lot more bubbles compared to the avocado oil. I would not repurchase this particular one but I would repurchase the Himalayan Salt type.

Kiss My Face Active Life Fragrance-Free Deodorant. I shared a review of my favourite deodorants on the blog which you can read here and this deodorant was one of them. I really like this for every day because it keeps me feeling fresh through the warmer months. I already have another one of these open.

Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer. This deluxe sample came in the Sephora Favorites Clean Beauty Set that I purchased last year. I enjoyed the texture of this moisturizer and I’m starting to realize that I’m into gel moisturizers. This is designed to hydrate, brighten and balance skin. It’s very hydrating. I would repurchase this.

REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask. When my skin is feeling extra dry I love using this mask to help bring it back to life. You apply a generous amount and leave it on for 10 to 15 mins. Afterwards, you wipe off the excess. I love using this before I go to bed. It has a lavender scent which I really enjoy as well. I would repurchase this.

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar. I did a re-review of this product a few years ago that you can read here. Basically, when I first tried this I was not in love with it, but I started using this without a cotton pad and just splashing it on my face and now it’s one of my most favourite micellar waters. I like this little size because I can take it on the go and use it when on trips and I used this on my vacation. The only downside is that it’s not refillable so unfortunately, I have to recycle the packaging when I would much prefer to refill using one of my larger bottles. I will not repurchase this size of Bioderma.

Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water. This is a deluxe sample of micellar water that I got in a Caudalie Best Sellers set from Sephora. I’ve been using this micellar water for a long time because I tend to take it with me on trips because it’s a nice small size. I really enjoy this micellar water and I would get another deluxe sample size to take with me whenever I go.

Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydra-Charged Complexion Prep Priming Spray. I used this every time I applied makeup over the last month or so trying to use up this priming spray because, to be honest, I usually don’t apply primer before I do makeup. I did like this but I don’t think I’d repurchase it.

Makeup

Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Foundation. I try quite a lot of different foundations but I must say that this one is still a go-to of mine. I had been using other foundations for the last year which is why it’s taken me a while to use it up. If you wanted to read my review of this foundation you can here. I would repurchase this product.

Tarte Lifted Sweatproof Mascara. I took this mascara on my trip because I thought it was great for the hot weather. It’s a brown mascara which I really like to wear every day. It was generally sweatproof because it held up in the Jamaican heat BUT don’t wear it into a salted pool! It started coming off onto my face and I ended up having to remove it, haha! I would repurchase this.

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I feel like I used up a lot of skincare items this month which I’m super happy about! Most items were deluxe sizes but even those can take me a long time to use up so I’m always excited when they empty!

What items have you used up for May?

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

Unboxing BoxyCharm, May 2019

May 20, 2019May 19, 2019 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

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

First off, Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canadians!

Boxycharm is a monthly subscription box of full-size makeup, skincare and beauty tools. The theme for this month is “Make Waves”. I am getting so excited with this summer themed boxes, I can’t wait for the weather to get warmer! It has still been pretty cold and rainy in Toronto! Come on SUMMER!!!

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Glamglow GentleBubble Cleanser
MSRP: $28.00 US

I was super excited when I saw this was in my BoxyCharm. This gel cleanser is made for all skin types and is vegan. It has oat amino acids, apple extract, vitamin E and green tea extract. I think the packaging is really fun and I love that it’s a large size tube! I’m pretty impressed! I love GlamGlow masks so I’m really excited to give this a try.

Alamar Colorette Blushe Trio
MSRP: $22.00 US

This is a pretty blush trio and if it’s anything like the Alamar eyeshadow powder it is probably a good formula. This is described as highly pigmented & completely vegan formula to deliver a sun-kissed flush.

I think the colours are really pretty, I’m most excited for Paraiso since I love pink but Scorcher could be a fun golden summer shade for me too. I got the fair-light palette which is perfect for me. BoxyCharm was also including the medium/tan and dark/rich palette in other variations of this box.

Ciate London Eye Lustre Creme Eyeshadow
MSRP: $22.00 US

This is a pretty cream eye shadow. I saw a review of this and it looks to be a lot sheerer than it is in the package. I actually prefer to try something sheerer since I have more glittery shadows for when I really want to wear a dramatic eye look. I think it’ll look really pretty over my lids and I look forward to wearing it every day.

Dose of Colors
MSRP: $18.00 US

I’ve never tried anything from Dose of Colors but I’ve been curious to especially since a lot of YouTubers I follow have collaborated with this brand. This is a liquid matte lipstick with long-wearing colour. Reading the description, this applies liquid but dries down to a comfortable matte finish. The colour is pretty bright for my liking but I would try the formula and who knows, it might become my summer colour!

Mellow Brow Definer
MSRP: $18.00 US

I’m happy to get a new eyebrow product. I’m always open to trying new ones and I like ones similar to the Mellow style which are thicker pencil-like eyebrow applicators. This one is great because it has a triangular tip and a spooly on the other end.

My Thoughts

This is such a great box! I like all the items in it and am really excited to start using. I’m most excited for the Brow Definer and the Glamglow cleanser.

Total Value: $108 US ($147 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What is in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, April 2019

May 9, 2019May 8, 2019 littlebeautyloves8 Comments

Soooo….. This is being posted later than I usually upload my empties but I was away at the end of April and I’ve been in vacation mode even after I got back! haha!

April was such a fun month for me. Earlier in the month, I travelled to Quebec to my favourite spa for a super relaxing weekend and at the end of the month, I took a trip to Jamaica for an unplugged week in the beautiful sun! If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen photos and stories of my time there. April was all about shifting the focus onto myself and just hitting reset. I have more fun planned for May so I’m just excited to have this year rolling!

What are your personal highlights from April?

Now on to what I used up!

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year. If I mention repurchasing an item, it just means that I really liked it and would buy again, just not in 2019.

Body Care

Bath & Body Works Forever Sunshine Shower Gel. I love summer scents from Bath & Body Works so this one is definitely a favourite of mine. These body washes lather up so nicely and are great for cleansing the skin. I am on a no-buy BUT I think I’m going to need body wash soon which is perfect timing for me to get new B&BW shower gels in summer scents!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50. I used this up on my trip to Jamaica and let me say that it is amazing! I wish it came in a large tube because it really is all I need for the summer. The gel formula blends into my skin quickly and left me hydrated without that greasy feel that I usually experience with sunscreen. It also has a pleasant scent which I greatly enjoy. I think I have another half-full bottle of this that I can use up. I currently have enough sunscreens for this year that I won’t need to purchase a new one but I would repurchase this and totally recommend it if you have dry skin like me.

Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme. This is a good hand cream, especially if you like them a little bit thicker like I do. It’s a sample size tube so I can easily carry it with me in the winter months to apply on the go. I used this a lot during the last few months and I was impressed by how long this lasted. I have a lot of hand creams so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum. This is a really hydrating serum. Sometimes, I would apply just this product and skip moisturizer because it’s that good. It has a concentration of the Vichy Thermal Spa Water and hyaluronic acid which is perfect for my dry skin. I would repurchase this.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Again, I’ve used up another one of these cleansers. It’s one of my favourite every-day cleansers that is so gentle on my skin but super effective at clearing it of makeup and impurities. I think I have another one to use up but right now I have other cleansers that I’m enjoying and need to use up before I open another one. I would definitely repurchase this.

L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Cleansing Scrub. I always keep a daily cleanser and scrub available for use on my vanity because I love to alternate between to two so that I can ensure every few days I give my skin a deep skin but also give it a break by using products without exfoliators. This one from L’Oreal is great because it has large granules and glycolic acid. I would repurchase this.

Haircare

Novex Bamboo Sprout Leave-In Conditioner. I got this in my November 2016 Topbox which is a pretty long time to be holding on to a product. I got four uses out of this product because I was really trying to use it up. I thought it was alright, it doesn’t leave my hair has silky soft and hydrated as other Leave In Conditioners I’ve tried so I won’t be purchasing this.

Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray. Thanks to BoxyCharm and Ipsy, I’ve been able to build a nice little collection of Briogeo products and I’m not mad at that. I love their products! What I really love about a leave-in spray verse a cream like the Novex one is that I can use this AFTER I get out of the shower. What I do is apply this to my hair when it’s damp and then style it. Even when I don’t style my hair I like applying this because it really rehydrates my hair. I would repurchase this.

Fragrance

Marc Jacobs Daisy. If you want my thoughts on this you can read my review here. I still have a full-size of this so I won’t be repurchasing this anytime soon, but I always love having a fresh scent like this around.

Gucci Gucci Premier. I love these little samples because then I get to test out a scent and they are so perfect for travelling. I brought this and my sample of Daisy above to my trip to Jamaica and they were perfect sizes for a one-week trip. This scent is sweet but still has a very fresh element. It has top notes of orange blossom (I love this scent) and Bergamot. I had never tried it before but I really love the smell so I would definitely repurchase.

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Compared to last month, I used up more items which I’m really happy with. It’s mostly due to me taking a lot of the items above on vacation so I ended up only using those items whereas at home I’m always using different things! haha!

What items have you used up for April?

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

Unboxing BoxyCharm, April 2019

April 18, 2019April 17, 2019 littlebeautyloves11 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 “Peace, Love & Boxy”. The theme is very in-line with Coachella and summer festivals.

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

PUR Cosmetics Complexion Authority Festival Palette
MSRP: $36.00 US

This is a limited edition 12 pan pressed pigment palette. It’s full of really pretty colours and although I would totally use this myself because I like the PUR formula I’m going to save this to gift to someone else. I’ve included a photo from the PUR website of all the shades in the palette.

The palette is cruelty-free and is infused with skin-loving ingredients such as ginseng, green tea and vitamin B.

Luxie The Summer Daze 3 pc Brush Set
MSRP: $28.00 US

I love the packaging these brushes came in and I also like how the barrel is a bright pink that fades into a gold. From top to bottom in my photo above, the 512 small contouring brush is to sculpt and define your cheekbones (I actually thought this might work well as a blush brush), the 245 small shader brush to brush on shadow, and the 209 large shader brush to pat on and blend out an eye look. I always enjoy receiving new brushes!

Artist Couture Diamond Glow Powder in Purple Dream
MSRP: $27.00 US

This is an all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free powder. When I read the shade name I was worried it was actually going to be purple but it’s a pretty peach with a slight purple shift.

I didn’t want to open this because loose powder can be messy but you can see through the packaging the peachy-purple glow.

Appeal Cosmetics Holographic Lip Gloss
MSRP: $21.00 US

I’m not the biggest fan of glitter lip gloss so I wasn’t the most excited to receive this. I will pass this along to a friend that I think will like it. This gloss works well on its own or on top of another lipstick.

Bodyography Eye Pencil in Bali Bronze
MSRP: $14.00 US

I am soooo happy I received this in my box. The formula is really creamy and glides on seamlessly. I love the shade and think it will look really nice for the summer when I want to wear something that is less intense. This can be worn as liner or smudge to create a smokey eye look.

My Thoughts

All in all, this is a really good box. A few of the items will be saved as gifts for friends and family which is great because I love having items at the ready for gifts. I am excited to use the eye pencil and the brush set.

Total Value: $126.00 US ($168.28 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What is in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Tag: Beauty Blogger

Project Pan Monthly: July Roundup & August Items

Project Pan Monthly

July Roundup

My August Items

Bye Bye Empties, July 2019

Skincare

Haircare

Makeup

Review, Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Exfoliator

Project Pan Monthly: May Roundup & June Items

Project Pan Monthly

May Round-Up

My June Items

Bye Bye Empties, May 2019

Skincare

Makeup

Review: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

Unboxing BoxyCharm, May 2019

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Bye Bye Empties, April 2019

Body Care

Haircare

Fragrance

Review, Shiseido Ibuki Smart Filtering Smoother (discontinued)

Unboxing BoxyCharm, April 2019

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END