Tag: Beauty Products

Bye Bye Empties, September 2019

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I seriously don’t know where September went! It was a strange feeling to have it turn to October so quickly!

I am looking forward to October since it’ll be Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween! The weather is getting cooler but I’m still holding on that we will have a nice long Fall season and some sunny and mild days!

On to what I used up in September!

*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

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Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. I have a review of this lip scrub on the blog that you can check out here. I have owned this particular tub for a while so I think it’s time I threw it out. I have a polish from Bite Beauty and one from Lush that I wanted to use so I won’t be repurchasing this for some time.

Garnier Ombrelle 60 SPF Tinted Lotion. This is maybe my third bottle of this sunscreen that I’ve used up. You can read my review of this product here. What I like about this is that it’s a mineral sunscreen so it doesn’t absorb into the skin but rather sits on top of the skin and reflects UVA/UVB rays. I like the light coverage which I have really been enjoying lately. I am going to repurchase this.

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FAB Pure Skin Face Cleanser. It wasn’t too long ago that I was raving about this face cleanser on the blog which you can read here. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cleanser. It’s gentle, creamy, and effective. It leaves my skin feeling clean and hydrated. It’s perfect at removing tough makeup and great as a daily cleanser. I have a few other face cleansers that I need to get through so I won’t be repurchasing this one just yet!

Quo Miceller Water Facial Wipes. I received these wipes at an event and thought they were OK. They might be fine for everyday but since I like to wear mascara and liner I need my facial wipes to remove that easily. Unfortunately, I felt this was a bit too harsh for me and while I was able to use up all the wipes in this pack I won’t be purchasing another one myself.

Body Care

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Bath and Body Works Sheer Cotton & Lemonade Shower Gel. A tried and true body product. I love BBW shower gels and this was great! I really enjoy the scent and it lathered up nicely (I like a lot of suds in my shower gels). It also worked nicely for bubble bath. I would repurchase this.

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SOOOOOO I didn’t use up too many items in September but there were a couple of makeup items that I could have added to this month’s empties but I decided to use them up as much as I could for October.

What items made it to your empties in September?

Lots of Love,
Dal

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Bye Bye Empties, August 2019

littlebeautyloves4 Comments

It feels like August flew by so quickly! There was so much that was going on that it really felt like all my days were filled with time spent with family and friends. At the beginning of the month I celebrated a friend’s engagement which was a lot of fun. I also had family visit from out of town so I spent a lot of time with them. I also went twice to the CNE! The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is put on the last two weeks of August. It’s a large fair with carnival rides, games and a lot of food! Since it’s close to my home I love going to walk around and take in all the sights.

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The only sad part is that it means summer is coming to end and school is around the corner for a lot of students. So far September has been much cooler so it really feels like Autumn is not too far away which I’m not upset about because I love Autumn and I’m looking forward to bringing out my sweaters and boots!

On to what I used up in August!

*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

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The Face Shop Nutriganics Foaming Facial Wash. I absolutely love this face wash because it’s so gentle on the skin and effective at removing makeup and dirt from my face. If you want to see a full review of this, you can read it here. I have a lot of face washes that I need to get through but I would definitely repurchase this.

Yves Rocher Elixier. This serum is meant to help fight off the effects of environmental aggressors. I like this because it’s light and was great for my skin. I generally enjoy Yves Rocher skin care items and this is definitely one I would repurchase.

Body Care & Makeup Samples

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Fresh Sugar Eau de Parfum. This is a sample I got from Sephora a while ago and I had used it after my shower. I enjoy this scent because it’s fresh and sweet. I don’t think I’d purchase a full size of this but I’m happy I got to try it.

Benefit Gimme Brow +. You know what’s funny? I have never purchased a full size of this product! I always seem to receive samples of this in monthly boxes or with purchases of Benefit products. I always use this when I want to quickly do my brows so I know I would purchase a full size if I ever needed to. I currently have another sample of this open so hopefully I won’t need to purchase one until the end of my no-buy

Lipsticks

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The other day I went through my makeup collection and pulled out a bunch of lipsticks that I’ve opened and are more than two years old. Since they aren’t empty I didn’t think it was necessary to write down each one. A couple that I really enjoyed include Too Faced Sweet Peach gloss and the Estee Lauder Lipstick (in the center).

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I didn’t use up very many items in August, however, I did clear out some old lipsticks. I feel like I need to go through my makeup collection more often and de-clutter a lot of the old stuff.

What items made it to your empties in August?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, August 2019

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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 “totally”. It feels like a nod to the ’90s for me.

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Becca’s Hydra Mist & Refresher Powder
MSRP: $39.00 US

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This powder sets and refreshes makeup. It creates a mist-like sensation on the skin because it’s 50 percent water and glycerin. I’m actually really excited to try this powder because I’m really hoping it’ll work on my dry skin.

Wander Beauty Glow Ahead Illuminating Oil
MSRP: $42.00 US

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This is a beauty elixir that is formulated to deeply nourish and prime the skin before makeup and to refresh while on-the-go. It has age-defying oils helps to restore skin’s moisture barrier while you a youthful glow. I’m interested in this primer/oil type of product and look forward to testing it out!

Tarte Cosmetics Big Ego Mascara
MSRP: $23.00 US

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This is an ultra-black, vegan mascara that lifts your lashes and delivers a fully-loaded flutter for up to 16 hours. I’ve tried multiple mascaras from Tarte including the Tartiest Lash Paint Mascara and the Lights, Camera, Splashes Mascara that I absolutely love them. This had really good reviews on BoxyCharm website so I’ve got high hopes that it’ll give me a lot of volume.

Ace Beute Glimmer Shadow Duo in Cotton Candy and Iced Latte
MSRP: $25.00 US

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These are described as high pigmented shadows with a creamy texture. They provide bold colour in one swipe without fallout, creasing or fading. I think the shades are really pretty but I was turned off by the packaging because it just looks like makeup I would get at Claire’s. Either way, it’s the product that counts so I’ll see how they work!

Steve Laurant Lip Liner in Uptown
MSRP: $15.00 US

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This lip liner matches closely to the colour of my lips which will allow me to re-shape, re-size & re-define my pout like it’s described it will do and last up to 7 hours. I really like more natural lip liners so I’m happy to have one that isn’t a red or pink tone. I am actually really excited to give this a try!

My Thoughts

This month’s box has a lot of great items that I’m looking forward to trying especially since the face products are made for dry skin. I’m excited about the lip liner and the mascara as well since they are products I use quite a bit.

Total Value: $144.00 US ($191.86 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What did you enjoy from your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Project Pan Monthly: July Roundup & August Items

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

Review, Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Exfoliator

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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: June Roundup & July Items

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Another month, another monthly project pan to discuss on the blog today! I feel like I was consistent with all my products in June not just with one or two of them as I find I have been the last few months. I even got good use out of my lip product which I’m so happy about. I break down my usage below, but I used my products about 27/30 days!

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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.)

June Round-Up

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Starting with the eye products I chose for June. In the warmer months, I love keeping my makeup really simple and quick and the Lid Lingerie and Jumbo Eye Pencils from NYX were perfect for that. I would usually just pick one colour and sweep it over the lid, add a black or brown eyeliner, mascara and then be out the door. They lasted really long on me too which is great during a hot day. I rediscovered how much I love these products and got really good use out of them this month.

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For June, I opted to use this IBY Contour and Highlight Palette because it had been a while since I used it. I did share this in one of the Favourites from the Boxes Post but since then I stored it in my makeup box and only used it once in a while so it felt really good to bring this palette back out and use it again. You can tell that the pans are still full which is just because this is pretty pigmented and I didn’t need a lot to highlight or contour my face. I also used these as eye shadow which was great for days I wanted a more matte look. I used this every single time I wore makeup in June which is pretty awesome.

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You can’t really tell that any of this VS Body spray was used, but I have made it up to where it says “love me” on the packaging. I sprayed 3-4 sprits every morning during June and I think I brought the bottle down about 10-15 mL. Perfumes and body sprays do take a bit longer to use up, but I’ll continue to use this and hopefully re-introduce it another month in my Project Pan this year.

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The biggest surprise to me is how often I ended up using the Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump XXL Lip Plumping Gloss! I actually used this everyday, and sometimes a few times a day! You can’t tell because, but I think I got through 1/4 of the product! I had no idea I would enjoy plumping lip gloss as much as I did. I kept this in my purse and used it a lot! I really like it.

My July Items

This month I’ve chosen;

  • One Eyeshadow Palette – Nudestix Jetsetter Nude(Art)ist Box Eye Crayons (reviewed here)
  • One Lip Item – Jetsetter Nude(Art)ist Box Lip Crayons & Dirty Little Secret Lip Pencil
  • One Face Item – Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup Powder
  • One Random Item – Using the Jetsetter Box as a highlight, eyeliner and blush

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This month I wanted to do something a little different. Since my Jetsetter Palette is full of items that I can create a full-face with I figured I would focus on using it. I also wanted to continue my theme of cream makeup since I enjoy wearing that more in the summer months.

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I’ve raved about Nudestix before, whether on my Instagram or here on the blog so I figured I would dedicate a month to using their products. Instead of an eyeshadow palette, I’m going to use the above eyesticks to create eye looks with. Plus, as part of my random item, I can use Gilt as a highlighter on my cheeks.

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I’m going to attempt to incorporate three lip items this month into my Project Pan Monthly. I found myself using lip liner a lot the last time I included it in a project pan so I’ve got a new one for this month. I can also use the Lip crayons from Nudestix on my cheeks, I hope I can get more use out of them by doing that.

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The last item I’m including in my Project Pan is this Powder from Clinique. I think they’ve since updated the packaging, so this is clearly in need of some good usage. Now, I usually keep my dry skin away from powders but with July generally hot and humid I think it’s the perfect time to use this on my face. I wore this the other day I really enjoyed how it looked on my face and how long it lasted.

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

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, June 2019

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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 “Getaway”. The items in this box really fit the theme since they are items to get you ready for a getaway and to take with you.

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Tarte Cosmetics Be You Naturally Eyeshadow Palette
MSRP: $36.00 US

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You can never go wrong with a palette in my books. Whether I use them myself or give them away as gifts a new palette is always exciting for me to recieve. I enjoy Tarte palettes, I own quite a few in my collection so I’m excited to recieve another one in my box. This has that same delicious vanilla scent that my Tartelette In Bloom palette so I’m really hoping the formula is the same because I love that palette.

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Although this is a neutral palette I love the layout and colours in this palette. This has 4 shimmer shades and 4 mattes.

Touch In Sol No Poreblem Prime Essence
MSRP: $23.00 US

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I thought this was a primer to wear before makeup but reading the packaging you can use it as the last step of your skincare routine. It’s infused with Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to tighten pores and keep your skin smooth. I received The Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer and I absolutely love it so I’m excited to try another product in this line. The essence will come in handy during the summer heat.

Dominque Cosmetics Lemonade Lipgloss in Pink Lemonade
MSRP: $17.00 US

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This lip gloss is supposed to add hydration, shine and fullness to your lips. I’m not sure I’m into this colour but if it is hydrating I will give it a try. A lot of reviews on BoxyCharm website have been positive so I hope it’s got a nice formula.

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
MSRP: $24.50 US

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I have a couple of these little St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse so I really didn’t care to get another one. Not to say that this is a bad product but I have enough self-tanners in my collection. I appreciate that it came with a mitt which is super helpful for application. I might pass this along to a friend.

Dirty Little Secret Lip Liner in Rosie Posie
MSRP: $15.00 US

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I find that I prefer to wear lipliner with a gloss or balm on top vs a lipstick or colourful gloss so I’m pretty happy to have a lip liner in my collection. I already started wearing this item and I think it’s great! It has a dark nude colour which looks really nice with my bronze eyeshadow. The formula is dry but still smooth over the lips. It’s the kind I prefer for this kind of lip liner.

My Thoughts

I’m pretty happy with this month’s box. It really aligns with the theme and I’m very excited about a lot of the items, especially the Tarte eyeshadow palette and the DLS lip liner. I’m also really curious about the Touch In Sol primer essence. We will see how well that works on my skin.

Total Value: $115.50 US ($152.40 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What was in your box? What did you enjoy or not?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Project Pan Monthly: May Roundup & June Items

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

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.)

May Round-Up

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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.

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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.

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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.

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My June Items

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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