Bye Bye Empties, November 2018

November 29, 2018November 28, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

I’m so happy with the number of products I was able to empty this month.

Yay me!

November has been pretty chilly, but I’m embracing the cold weather by bundling up and keeping cozy by the fireplace. I finally upgraded my coffee machine (thank you Nespresso black Friday deals) so I’m really going to be getting cozy with a hot drink under a comfy throw watching lots of Netflix (or Prime)! I’ve been watching a lot of Parks and Rec lately.

I also put up my holiday decorations two weeks ago which definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! Does anyone else put up their decorations in mid-November or do you wait until December?

Now on to what I was able to use up;

Skincare

Ole Henrikson Nurture Me Moisturizing Cream. I shared a review of this not too long ago when I tested Ole Henrikson but in a nutshell, I really like this product! It’s a thick moisturizing cream that I enjoyed applying onto my skin in the evenings. It also smells like an orange creamsicle! I would repurchase this.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum. I applied this every evening around my eye area for about three weeks. I’m impressed that this little sample lasted that long. It’s a really nice light serum that absorbs into the skin quickly and left my eye area looking bright! I think I have the full-size of this in my collection, but I’m currently testing out the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix so I’ll hold off opening it until that is used up.

Dermovia Lace A Peel Black Bamboo Charcoal Peel Off Mask. I received this in my October Boxycharm. So many people who got BoxyCharm that month were reviewing this item and a lot of them felt it was very painful to peel off. Knowing that I only applied the charcoal to target areas on my face to reduce the pain. I found that the lace did help when it came to peeling off the mask but it was pretty painful to remove. My skin was very clean afterwards but it’s not something I would repurchase.

Body Care

Yves Rocher 3 in 1 Nourishing Lotion. I was in love with this product when I first got it but after trying so many other creams since then I find I don’t reach for this as often. I was able to use this all up and although this is nourishing and smells really good, there are other products I like better. I won’t be repurchasing this item.

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream. I’m obsessed with this cream, I make everyone I know smell it! I love it not only because of the smell but because it absorbs into my skin really quickly and leaves me feeling hydrated. I especially enjoy this after I shave my legs because it helps to calm any irritation I get from my razor. I’ve put this on my Christmas list 🙂

Haircare

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. If you didn’t know, my hair is naturally curly and frizzy. I’ve always struggled with it being extremely dry. I enjoy the frizz ease line by John Freida so when I got these products I had a feeling they would be good. This leaves my hair very hydrated and silky. If I left it to air dry, it did minimize my frizz by a bit, but I mostly loved how smooth it made my hair whenever I would heat style it. I won’t be repurchasing this only because I have other hair care products I need to get through and also because recently I’ve been applying a hair mask after I shampoo rather than a conditioner.

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask. Speaking of hair masks, I really enjoy this one from Briogeo. It’s not as good as the Shu Uemura Hair Mask I reviewed a while ago, but it’s still pretty good. I think I have a few samples of this that I’ll get through, but right now I’m in the mode of testing hair masks so I won’t be repurchasing this just yet.

Makeup

Benefit Browvo! Conditioning Primer. Usually, I like Benefit brow products, but I just think this particular item just isn’t for me. This would make my brows feel heavy and thick and it would pill-up on me. I won’t be purchasing this.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner. This is my favourite high-end felt-tip liner. It’s a nice intense black and the formula is really easy to work with. It’s not too liquidy that it bleeds on me and it’s not too dry that I don’t have time to create a wing before it sets. Currently, I have a few eyeliners that I’m using up (a lot are from subscription boxes I want to test) so I’m going to hold off on repurchasing this for a little while.

Tarte Tartiest Mascara. I like this mascara quite a bit. I like that it has a rubber applicator which brushes out my lashes and coats them evenly, leaving me with fanned out lashes. I would repurchase this.

Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer. I received this in my Topbox and although I really liked this and included it in my favourites from the boxes back in January, the formula got old and dried out. I think it’s because I was using other concealers rather than trying to just use this one up. I need to use up what I have before I repurchase this.

Beauty Blender Sponge. Well, another blender coming up to its 6 month mark! Haha! Although I could have tried to stretch out the life of this blender another month or so, I’m trying to be more hygienic with these types of sponges. Since discovering the L’Oreal Infallible Sponge (which is way cheaper than the blender) I don’t feel like I need to stay attached to a sponge. I did have another Beauty Blender that I unpackaged for use and I noticed something interesting.

The tip of the old blender is a lot pointier than the new one. Could it be they changed the design slightly, or I just happened upon a less pointy sponge? This may not be a big deal to some, but I like using this to blend out my concealer and I really like having a pointy tip.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipgloss and Lippie Stix. Believe it or not but I’ve owned these for about 2 and a half years! They are beyond old and I hardly ever used them so I’m just going to toss them out. As much as I like Colourpop lippies I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing them any time soon.

Well, that’s all the items that I used up in November! What product did you add to your empties stash this month?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing Topbox, November 2018

November 22, 2018November 19, 2018 littlebeautyloves7 Comments

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

Topbox is a Canadian monthly beauty subscription service. Each month you have the option of getting a surprise box or to swap it for a prive box where all the products are from one brand or fall within a theme and you know what they are. This month Rexall was offering 3 different prive boxes. I opted for one of them and got it!

All prices in Canadian Dollars.

Physicians Formula Spotlight Illuminating Primer
Full Size: $14.95 (30mL), Sample Size: $4.19 (8.4mL)

This is a universally flattering illuminating primer that blurs, corrects, and protects leaving you with a glow. I love illuminating primers because it makes my dry skin look radiant and I always enjoy the look of dewy skin. I might do a comparison of this with other primers I have that are meant to do the same thing.

Iman Cosmetics Luxury Lipstick in Scandalous
Full Size: $10.00 (3.7g), this is a full-size item

This is a creamy, semi-matte lip colour that offers full coverage and long-lasting smooth finish. The formula is creamy but not super smooth when I first applied it to my lips. I felt it drag a bit but it did offer full coverage. Once it was on it did feel really creamy. I’m the worst at applying lipstick straight from the tube, especially when it’s very opaque. Next time I will try it with a brush.

I love that this is bold red shade though, it will be perfect to wear around the holidays.

Almay Goddess Gloss in Rainbow
Full Size: 10.49 (0.96 oz), this is a full-size item

When I first saw this in the box I was a bit intimidated by the colour, it’s a very bright fuschia with iridescent silver glitter. I really wasn’t sure I was going to like this. When I applied it to my lips, it was a lot more wearable. It’s bright, yes, but not crazy bold. The base of the gloss looks a lot more sheer on the lips so you get a bit of the bright pink and the sparkles are a lot more subtle and just add sine.

You can wear this on it’s own or even on top of other lipsticks. I actually tried it on top of the Iman red lipstick and thought it looked pretty good. It has an interesting smell though. Almost like hot chocolate but a bit more on the sweet side. This is very comfortable on the lips. Usually glitter can feel gritty, but this one does not.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Original
Sample Size: $5.99 (50ml)

Having dry hair, I don’t use dry shampoo all the time but that doesn’t mean I don’t like keeping a bottle around for when I do need it. Batiste dry shampoo is a staple in my vanity. I like always having one in my collection of hair products.

Earthsafe Hand & Body Lotion
Full Size: $7.99 (400mL), Sample Size: $0.90 (60mL)

Here’s a cold weather staple for me, hand and body lotion! My hands get really dry this time of year, so I always collect new hand lotions. When I saw that this was offered in the Prive box, I definitely wanted it because it saves me from having to purchase a large container and I’ll have the opportunity to test this out. This is formulated with a natural blend of essential oils that will leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.

Swatches

My Thoughts

This is a good selection of products! I really enjoy the Rexall curated boxes because then I can try items from the drug store that I normally wouldn’t imagine myself picking up, like the Almay lip gloss. The other items I know I will definitely use, such as the illuminating primer from Physician’s Formula, dry shampoo from Batiste and lotion from Earthsafe.

Total Value: $31.57

Did you get Topbox this month? What did you think of the November box?

Lots of Love
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, November 2018

November 20, 2018November 19, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 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 “Goal Digger”. It’s a really fun play on gold digger and I love how all the products have gold packaging or gold theme. I’m super excited about what is inside.

All Prices in USD converted to Canadian at the end.

CoverFX Glitter Drops in Nova
MSRP: $44.00 USD

How about this for gold! I have always drooled over the CoverFX Glitters and I’m so happy to get this in my box. It’s a very intensely pigmented product. I think this would make a really pretty body glitter or used as a highlight on the cheeks or eyes. I think I can find a lot of use for this.

These drops offer multi-dimensional glitter that create a high impact, reflective finish. You can use this alone, under or over makeup or mixed into foundation.

I can imagine this product lasting me a really long time. I think it would be really pretty over the shoulder for a cute little holiday party.

Ace Beauty Grandoise Palette
MSRP: $24.99 USD

Whenever I come across a brand that I’m not familiar with, I always like to look them up and get more information on them. Ace Beauty started in 2016 and mostly sold lashes. Since then, they have gone completely cruelty-free, replacing their mink lashes with faux-lashes and expanding their range into colour cosmetics and tools like brushes.

This palette features 4 shimmers and 4 mattes to create a variety of eye looks. I wasn’t planning on using this palette because I recently bought a new one at the Sephora VIP sale BUT the colours in here are so pretty that I could not help but want to swatch it!

I’m also really loving the packaging. Although this has no mirror, it does have a very interesting gold pattern. I love the sleek cardboard packaging. I’ll be sure to create a few looks with this and share them on Instagram or the blog!

Luxie Luminous Eye Set
MSRP: $21.00 USD

When I first looked at this I thought about saving them for friends/family since I have a lot of brushes in my collection but the packaging and size of these brushes are different from what I currently have so I’m going to use them myself. I love the glittery gold barrels. This came packed exclusively for BoxyCharm and I think it’s cute if you wanted to give these as a gift because they make a nice set. The brushes themselves are super soft!

The 121 mini tapered allows you to blend in the crease. The 131 mini angled can be used for adding highlight to the brow bone or to precisely add colour to the crease. The 141 mini round can be used to smudge or smoke our the upper or lower lash line. The 111 mini flat angled can be used to blend out harsh lines or pack cream products on the lid.

Farah Galaxy Gold Tweezers
MRSP: $12.00 USD

This is an interesting dual-ended tweezer. I’ve never seen or used something like this before! Again, I love that this has gold splatter on it which really goes with the over all theme of the box! Plus, I like when we get other useful beauty tools inside of our boxes. This really goes along with the eye shadow palette and eye brushes.

This thin side is used to remove really fine or short hairs. The flat side is good for removing really coarse hair.

I would have thought that because this was dual-ended that it would be very stiff and difficult to use. That’s not the case at all. This bends very easily and tweezes out the hair without snapping it.

Bodyography Makeup Brush Cleaner
MSRP: $12.00 USD

Another really useful beauty tool to have around! For a quick clean, you can use a spray of this on your brushes and wipe them on a towel. If you want a deep clean, you work the cleanser into the brush and rinse it out. This is made from natural orange peel and gentle cleansers.

I did a quick read of the website and Bodyography is a brand based out of the US that offers cruelty-free, mineral-based makeup with clean ingredients that are infused with skincare benefits. They have a full line or makeup, skincare, tools, etc. I’m excited to try something from this brand!

My Thoughts

I am absolutely in love and excited to try everything in this box. This is probably one of the most well-thought out boxes I’ve received from any subscription box. Everything went with the theme, I got some fum makeup items, new brushes and tools that I’ll actually use!

Total Value: $113.99 USD ($150.21 CAD!)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What was in your box? What did you think of this month’s box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Favourites from the Boxes, November 2018

November 13, 2018November 11, 2018 littlebeautyloves6 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve shared some favourites from my subscription boxes. I have so many items currently open in my collection that I need to get through so it’s been difficult to try products right as I get them every month. That being said, the items below are ones that I have been able to test and use over the last few weeks.

Pretty Vulgar Eye Liner
Received in Boxycharm May 2018

It has been a long time since I’ve used a gel liner and I’ve forgotten how much I really like them until I received this in my BoxyCharm. Before I became good at applying liquid liner I used gel all the time.

This one from Pretty Vulgar is a super deep black that dries matte fairly quickly. It’s very creamy and easy to apply. I really love this for creating a wing and for my waterline. I love this packaging! It looks like an old ink jar which is adorable.

Everything Balm by Cake Beauty
Received in Topbox September 2016

I’m so happy that this hasn’t gone bad! I got this a long time ago in Topbox, but it wasn’t until the weather started getting colder that I finally cracked it open. This is an everything balm, which you can use on your lips, cuticles, cracked skin, eyebrows, split ends, etc. It’s pretty emollient which makes it easy to spread over the areas you want to hydrate.

I’ve applied this on my lips and cuticles to help them from drying out. Usually, items from Cake Beauty are strongly scented, but not this guy. It has a nice cream scent that is not overbearing. This is a gem for the colder months! It reminds me a lot of my favourite ointment, the Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm but this one by Cake Beauty is a lot more creamy and I can easily find this at my local Shoppers Drug Mart Store.

Aesthetica P12 Face Brush
Received in BoxyCharm May 2018

This super fluffy domed brush is one that I have been using whenever I want to lightly dust powder all over my face. This could also work perfectly for blush.

I love that the bristles are long, flexible and soft and the dome shape helps disperse powder evenly. I use this way more than I did my other powder brushes so I know it’s good.

Well, there they are! Some of the items from my beauty boxes that have really been standing out to me. Have you been enjoying any items from your subscription boxes?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Ole Henrikson SkinCare Review

October 29, 2018October 28, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing some items from Ole Henrikson. Whenever I’m on Sephora searching for skincare, this brand always seemed to pop up with a lot of positive reviews. I thought why not give it a try and bought one of the skincare favourites pack to test out. I also received an item to try as well so I figured why not test it all at the same time.

Cold Plunge Pore Mask

I used this cooling clay mask about once or twice a week when I was looking too deeply clean and exfoliate my skin. It has a nice cooling effect which feels really good, especially after a long day. I would apply this all over my face and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, using a little bit of water I would work this into a lather and wash it off. A lot of clay masks can be a bit messy to take off but I found that this rinsed off easily. Even though I have dry skin this still worked really well for me.

This is a bright blue mask with different ingredients to aid in skin care. I’ll include all the active ingredients of each of these products and what they are meant to do for the skin. Note that I got this information off Sephora.ca.

Clay: Aids in purifying pores.
Snow Lotus and Alpine Willow Herb Extracts: Rich in antioxidants to help nourish and condition skin.
Green Fusion Complex™: A proprietary blend of potent active botanicals—including green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp), and Irish moss extracts—with natural antiseptic properties to absorb excess oil and refine pores.
Lactic Acid (AHA) and Salicylic Acid (BHA): Help lift and loosen dead skin cells that clog pores.

The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser

I love foaming cleansers. I think since this was a deluxe sample size one pump didn’t give me my desired amount of cleanser so I would pump this 3 times to get a nice dollop. It is very creamy and bubbly and smells like fresh oranges. It’s gentle on my skin and I have been using it every day with no signs of irritation. I’ve been using this since the beginning of October and about three quarters of the way through the bottle so I think the size I have (50mL) should last 4-6 weeks. I think it’s good if you want to test the product out.

One downside to this product is that it does sting my eyes so I couldn’t use this to remove my eye makeup. That’s a huge drawback for me. I would use this in the morning to prep my skin before applying makeup. I don’t think I would repurchase this cleanser again since I can’t use it to remove my eye makeup.

African Red Tea Extract: Helps invigorate skin with antioxidants.
Vitamin C: Helps brighten skin.
Carrot Seed, Orange, and Grapefruit Peel Oils: Help cleanse without stripping or drying skin.
Pumpkin Fruit and Chamomile Extracts: Help condition and soften skin.

The Truth Serum

Before applying any moisturizer I would pump a little pea-sized amount of this all over my skin. I think of all the items I’ve tested from Ole Henrikson, this is my favourite. After using it for the past few weeks, it looks as if this has brightened my skin. My skin also feels plumper, areas such as my smile lines seem to be less pronounced which could be due to the collagen in this formula. The serum is a thin oil consistancy that melts into the skin fairly quickly. Even if I’m using a different moisturizer that day, I made sure I would always use this serum in the morning and evening as part of my skincare routine.

The pump itself isn’t the best as the product tends to squirt out from it, but that could be the flaw of just the deluxe sample.

True-C Complex: Helps brighten the skin and fight visible signs of aging; also delivers antioxidants.
Collagen: Improves skin’s youthful elasticity.
Orange and Green Tea Extracts: Nourish skin.
Aloe Juice: Softens and conditions skin.

Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer

During the day I like applying moisturizers that are thinner and lighter in consistancy because I layer on foundation and don’t like thick-feeling creams. This has a whipped-like feel and no scent which I like for during the day.

Once applied, it has a slight tackiness that goes away after a few minutes once absorbed into my skin. I then like to apply my makeup on top of this. It’s also very hydrating and you only need a small amount to feel it moisturize the face. This antioxidant moisturizer is formulated with multi-fruit acids, licorice and pea extracts to help gently refine uneven skin tone and texture (sephora.ca)

Nurture Me Moisturizing Cream

In the evening once I’ve removed my makeup and applied my serum I would apply this generously over my face. The Nurture me cream is pretty thick but unlike other moisturizers this didn’t feel like it just sat on my face. It melted right into my skin and is extremely hydrated.

Multivitamin Blend (Vitamins A, B5, C and E): Nurtures and soothes skin.
Sunflower and Rosehip Fruit Oils: Provide rich hydration.

This has an orange creamsicle scent which I completely love.

My Thoughts

All together, I enjoy using the Ole Henrikson line and feel like over the past month it has helped to hydrate and brighten my skin and has even improved the appearance of any fine line on my skin. I am most in love with the truth serum and the moisturizers for my skin and what I’m looking for. I think I would repurchase all of the items I’ve tried, except for the cleanser because they work really well together and on my skin.

Have you tried anything from Ole Henrikson? What is your favourite skincare line?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing Topbox, October 2018

October 19, 2018 littlebeautyloves8 Comments

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

This box only has one item but I really, really wanted to try this so I couldn’t resist opting for it. I saw Tati on Youtube rave about this and I trust a lot of her recommendations. I’m not the biggest fan of cushion foundation, it’s very expensive for so little product and you have to be very careful you don’t leave this unopened or else it will dry. However, I like that the formula is thinner and lighter which works for everyday minimal makeup looks.

The Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF 50 it’s infused with Melacrusher™ to brighten skin and double-coated pigments to brighten and hydrate (Sephora.ca). This is exclusively sold on Sephora, you can’t find it on the Laneige website for Canada.

I like the packaging. It’s a sturdy plastic case in white that looks very elegant and I enjoy the silver detail. The box came with two cushion compacts so you have a backup when the foundation runs out.

I love that it’s broadspectrum SPF 50, one of the higher SPF’s of all the foundations I own.

I opted for the colour No.11 Porcelain (fair porcelain skin with neutral tones). I thought it looked a lot darker in the online swatch but it’s pretty light. It will work for me since the undertone is right and I can match it to my skin tone better using some bronzer. I would definitely recommend swatching these in store to determine your shade. There are only 6 shades in this range and if mine is any indication of them, they all will be lighter than they look online.

I have used this a few times now, even for my friend’s wedding and I think the coverage is good. It is light so you will need to build it up which is very easy to do because the formula is really thin. On me, I can get this to medium coverage which is how I prefer my makeup.

For the wedding, I used the Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance after primer, but then went in with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation to build up the coverage (I really love this foundation, see my review of it here). This combo stayed in place all day and really kept my skin looking hydrated and natural.

I’m super happy I received this in my Topbox this month! I say this time and time again but I love that with Topbox I can opt to switch my surprise box for a prive option. Getting this full-size foundation for a quarter of the cost is well worth it to me, especially when I want to test it out.

Total Value: $49.00 CAD!

Did you get Topbox this month? Have you opted for any of the Prive boxes? What are your thoughts on the Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance Foundation?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, October 2018

October 18, 2018October 17, 2018 littlebeautyloves7 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 “Alter Ego”. I think it’s a great theme for October, especially since Halloween is a time to be someone/something else!

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
MSRP: $24.00 USD

I’ve heard lots of positive reviews on this mascara so I’m really excited to try it. This claims to be lengthening, volume boosting and ultra-conditioning. All sounds good to me!

I also think that the packaging is really cute. This has an Elastic Stretch Technology (not sure what the means – marketing!) and ultra-black tint to give you the thickest and most defined lashes.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Balm
MSRP: $22.00 USD

If you’ve read my review on makeup removers I’ve tried, you’ll know I love balms. I use a balm when I’m wearing a lot of heavy makeup since it just helps it glide right off. This bottle claims to remove long wear makeup while still being nourishing to the skin.

Farmacy is a brand that uses natural ingredients, is cruelty-free, synthetic fragrance-free, and paraben free amongst other things. I can feel good about using this on my skin.

Dermovia Lace a Peal Black Bamboo Charcoal Peel Off Mask
MSRP: $30.00 USD

Now I love a good charcoal mask, but I’m not sure what the lace is meant to do here. Supposedly, the lace provides compression to give you spa-like extraction results. I guess I’ll see if that does anything. This comes with two masks which is great to truly test out the product. I think it’ll mostly just be fun.

What you do is apply the peel off mask first from the tube, then you apply the lace and leave it on your skin for 15-20 mins. I did check their website and this has some positive reviews. Now, tell me the mask itself does not look creepy!!! hehe!

PUR Cosmetics The Complexion Authority Midnight Masquerade Palette
MSRP: $38.00 USD

I received the PUR The Complexion Authority Eyeshadow Palette in my March 2018 BoxyCharm and I really like it. I used it so much during the spring and enjoy a lot of the colours as base colours to build on other looks. It’s got great pigmentation and lasting colour. I’m sure this palette will be the same.

The colours are super pretty and though I think it’s missing a crease colour, this would make a perfect gift for someone who might enjoy an all-in-one palette so I’m going to save this as a gift to use over the holidays for a friend I think would enjoy this.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick
MSRP: $20.00 USD

I’ve heard really great things about this formula and I would love to give this a try. The colour is like a cool purply mauve so it might work really well for the cooler vibes I’ve been feeling this Fall.

This formula is described as highly pigmented, vegan and cruelty-free that coats your lips in one swipe. It’s infused with vitamin E and sunflower seed oil to moisturize. That’s very interesting to me!

My Thoughts

There is a little bit of everything in this box, some makeup, some skincare. That’s always something I enjoy! I’m most excited for the IT Cosmetics mascara and Farmacy cleansing balm which together more than makes up the cost of the box itself. I will be trying out the face mask soon so look out for my thoughts in my October empties!

Total Value: $134.00 USD ($174.56 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? Anything you’ve been enjoying in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Stila’s Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Kitten Karma Review

October 9, 2018October 8, 2018 littlebeautyloves12 Comments

I don’t wear glitter eyeshadow all the time, but I do enjoy them whenever I have an event or wedding to attend and I want to add sparkle to my eyes. I used to keep a bunch of loose glitter in my collection, but I find that they can be too messy for me, so I like the formula of Stila’s Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadows because it’s glitter dispersed in a liquid which makes it easier to apply.

What It Is

Dazzling, long-wearing liquid, sparkle eyeshadow. The perfect mix of pearl and glitter adorns eyes with incredible lustre and shimmer. (Stila.ca)

Price

$31.00 CAD (4.5 mL) This is a pretty pricey, to be honest. However, when I want glitter, I’m always glad I have this in my collection

Colour

I have the shade Kitten Karma, which is a champagne shade with silver and copper glitters, it gives off a pink tone which is pretty on the eyes. I like this shade because I feel like it goes with the majority of my eye looks and a lot of the outfits I tend to wear. The glitter is very intense which is perfect for when you want bold-looking eyes.

Packaging

I think the tube is very practical. I like that you can see the colour and glitter inside which is useful if you have a few of these guys laying around. It’s also designed in a way that contains any access product inside, so it doesn’t get messing (I’m thinking of my loose glitter jars that would almost explode glitter everytime I opened them). The applicator is flat which makes sweeping this on the eyelids pretty easy. I still prefer to use my fingers to apply this though.

Application & Wear

Although I would say this is easier to apply compared to loose glitter, it still does have some fallout so you need to be careful when blending it with a brush. I find that it’s easier applying my eyeshadow first, then doing the rest of my face because I can clean up any glitter fallout. Once it’s dried down though, it locks onto my eyes and will last an entire night.

The base of these glitters is quite sheer as you can see in my photo above where I’ve blended it out. I really like that because you can change the way this looks depending on what colour eyeshadow you wear underneath and if you just want a wash of glitter on the eyes, you can apply a bit over your bare lide.

In the look above, I took some warm shades into the crease but kept my lid fairly bare. I then just placed a few layers of glitter all over my lid and blended it out slightly. I didn’t wait for it to completely dry which is why you see a little transfer on my crease. Either way, you can see that it adds quite an impact.

It’s extremely comfortable on the eyes too. It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing chunky glitter and once it’s dried down it really doesn’t budge so even after a long night, I don’t see it moving onto the rest of my face.

My Thoughts

Overall, I think that the Stila Glitters make a great addition to any makeup collection. Even if you don’t wear a lot of eye makeup, swiping this all over the lid instantly transforms any look into a glam one. I recently picked up another one of these (diamond dust – which is a silver glitter with colourful reflects) because I just like the formula and how easy this is to use!

Have you tried any of the Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadows? What shade is your favourite?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, September 2018

October 1, 2018September 30, 2018 littlebeautyloves2 Comments

It’s officially Fall! Hurray! I have actually been enjoying the transition to the cooler weather, I just need to rummage through my closest for my sweaters!

September was a fantastic month for doing things about in the city. It was the Toronto International Film Festival and I saw three great films! I also took a couple of really nice walks in the parks/paths near my home. I’m excited for October because one of my closest friends is getting married and I’m in her bridal party. If I have the chance, I’ll try to share some of it on my Instagram.

On to what I used up in the month!

Skincare

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Mask. I received three of these in my August BoxyCharm to reduce wrinkles while hydrating and cooling under the eyes. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid, lavender oil and aloe oil. I didn’t notice anything amazing happen but it was hydrating under the eyes and wasn’t uncomfortable to wear. Unlike other eye masks, this actually stuck to my skin. I wouldn’t purchase these but I do have 2 others to enjoy.

The Face Shop Collagen Pomegranate Pack Masque. I got this in my May 2016 Topbox and then shared it in a Faves From the Boxes in October 2016. I didn’t wear this too often, but every once in a while I would use a pea-sized amount all over my face before I went to bed. It is a good moisturizer and left my skin very hydrated. I won’t be repurchasing this too soon as I have other moisturizers but it is a really good one I would get again.

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream. This is maybe the first Drunk Elephant product I’ve tried and I must be honest, I wasn’t impressed. The formula wasn’t whipped and actually looked dry in the tub. I’m not sure if maybe this particular product dried out quickly or if it’s supposed to be like this. Either way, with the full-size being $75.00 CAD I’d want it to be much, much better than this. I won’t be purchasing this.

Body Care

Yves Rocher Cotton Pads For Makeup Removal. I wish I kept the last round cotton pad so that you could see what it looked like but it’s just a very normal cotton pad. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t like a crazy great cotton pad. I won’t be repurchasing this – I’d rather get ones from Shiseido and Muji 😛

Aveeno Calming Body Wash in Lavender Chamomile + ylang-ylang. I love the scent of this body wash. It’s really calming and relaxing which is great when showering before bed. This creates a nice lather and cleans my skin very well. It also doesn’t leave my skin fairly moisturized. I like this as an everyday body wash. I would repurchase this.

Marvis Toothpaste in Whitening Mint. I shared this in my June Empties if you wanted to read my thoughts on the Ginger Flavour. Like I mentioned before, Marvis toothpaste doesn’t have a harsh mint flavour which makes it really easy for me to use to brush my teeth. I have another open right now!

Samples

Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths. I used this sample cloth in the morning and it left my skin feeling clean before I applied my makeup. It even removed mascara residue I didn’t even know was still there! I like that the cloth is biodegradable so I was able to throw it in my organics bin. I’ve already put in an order for these on Amazon.

Philosophy Time in a Bottle. I picked up this sample from Sephora because I always like trying anti-ageing products. The sample lasted me 3 days and it was really hydrating on the skin. I like it, so next time I’m in need of a new moisturizer I’ll take a look at the ingredients and see if a full size is worth picking up!

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation. Although I have a little packet emptied here for this post, I also have a little tub sample of this moisturizer that I’m currently testing out. I do hope to do a post solely devoted to Ole Henriksen on the blog but so far I’m really liking this moisturizer. It has a light formula that is slightly sticky when you first apply it but that goes away. It’s perfect for application before I put on makeup.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This little sample was good for 4 nights to use. I didn’t notice it do anything dramatic to my skin. I’m not sure I would repurchase this but I guess right now I’m in a serum testing phase while I decide whether I repurchase my Peter Thomas Roth serum that I emptied last month. Check out my review of the PTR serum here.

At last, these are all the products I was able to use up in September. I am actually pretty happy with the number of items I was able to use up.

What items are in your empties collection for September?

Lot’s of Love,
Dal

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #3

September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

Last time I did an update I had emptied one item! My Shiseido Foundation. I really hoped I could empty at least one more item but as the year comes closer to the end I feel like I won’t be able to.

I’ll toss out a lot of the lipstick items because they are definitely getting old! I am also still missing one item in my project pan, it’s the Too Cool for School tinted lip balm I mentioned before. So I’ll only have 16 items to update.

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

MAC Powder Blush in Fleur Power. I have been wearing other blushes every once in a while but I enjoy the colour of this blush for every day. Over the summer I did wear more coral/orange blushes but now that we into Fall I will likely stick with this. Even though I wear it every day I feel like I haven’t made much progress since last time.
Was 3/4 full, no change

Physicians Formula Super BB InstaReady Bronzer. I can start to see the edge of the pan which is a good sign for me. I’ve been using this so much over the last few months and because it’s really light I have been very generous with my application.
Was 5/8 full, now 1/2 full

Smashbox Covershot in Golden Hour. Can you see a dent in the golden shade Hotline? I’ve been using this for much of the summer. The next shade I’ve been wearing the most is Turned Up which is the pink shade right next to it. Both of these are easy, one sweep shades that I’ve been wearing over the eyelid with Dope, the cool brown shade, as a transition colour in my crease.
Was 3/4 full, no change

Yves Rocher Youthful Glow Powder in 100 Teint tres Clair. I have only been using this under my eyes to set my concealer, especially if I’m wearing the Becca Concealer I mention below.
Was 3/4 full, now 1/2 full

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I will wear this under my concealer to help brighten under my eyes. Since this is a sticky formula it helps my concealer stay in place.
Was 3/4 full, now1/2 full

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 611 Yogurt. I wasn’t using this product too much until I made a recent purchase from Nudestix. Since I’ve started wearing those cream products on my eyes I am reaching for this to add a little brightness to those eye looks. This does make a really good inner corner highlight so I’m going to try to use this more often.
Was 5/8 full, no change

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (deluxe size) I continue to use this every week or so and I feel like I’m starting to see a difference in the product amount. If I can use this a little more frequently I might be able to empty this.
Was 2/3 full, now 1/2 full

CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight (deluxe sample) I have been mixing this in my foundation almost every day since the beginning of September. I wasn’t using this so much in the summer. I don’t imagine there is too much product left, but since I only use about half a dropper it is emptying slowly.
Was 3/4 full, now 1/4 full

Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay in Exposed (deluxe sample) I am using this every once in a while as an all over highlight. I’m not using any other highlight in my collection at the moment. Still, it doesn’t seem to have changed much over the last few months.
Was 7/8 full, no change

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Marc Jacobs Black Liner (deluxe size). I feel like this is getting to a point where it might be unsafe to continue use. I’ve had this for quite a while now. I did use it a few times in the summer but the more I use it, the more I realize I don’t like the formula.
Was 1/2 full, no change

Colourpop Lippie Pencil in Aquarius. I don’t wear lipstick too often, but this colour matches my natural lip colour so well that I will wear it under a lot of my lipsticks when I do wear them. Otherwise, I never use this!
Was 2/3 full, now 2/3 full

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in 220 Powerful (deluxe size). Of all the lipsticks I originally put in my project pan, this is the only one I actually use every once in a while. I haven’t made a dent in it since the last update but wow am I really loving this formula!
Was 3/8 full, no change

Unused Items

I haven’t used the items below at all! Now they are lipsticks and I think they are just getting old that I don’t want to chance to wear them and then breaking out around my mouth.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Candy (deluxe size)
Was 1/2 full, now retired

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Glace
Was full, now retired

Teeez Cosmetics Material Girl Lipstick in Hyped Taupe
Was 7/8 full, now retired

Well that’s my Project Pan nine months in! We will see how much more progress I can make before the end of the year!

Are you doing a Project Pan this year? How many items have you been able to empty? Any items you’ve stopped using?

Lots of love,

Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Tag: Canadian Blogger

Bye Bye Empties, November 2018

Skincare

Body Care

Haircare

Makeup

Unboxing Topbox, November 2018

All prices in Canadian Dollars.

Unboxing BoxyCharm, November 2018

Favourites from the Boxes, November 2018

Ole Henrikson SkinCare Review

Unboxing Topbox, October 2018

Unboxing BoxyCharm, October 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Stila’s Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Kitten Karma Review

Bye Bye Empties, September 2018

Skincare

Body Care

Samples

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #3

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Unused Items