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, June 2019

July 8, 2019July 7, 2019 littlebeautyloves1 Comment

June was a great month! The weather got warmer and although there were still a lot of rainy days, whenever there were sunny ones I took advantage of them. I enjoy the warmer months for hanging out with friends on patios and walking around the city which I did a lot of in June. I’m looking forward to doing more of that in July! It’s been pretty hot and humid the last few days in Toronto and I love it!

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. However, I did break my No-Buy to purchase the Alyssa Edwards x Anastasia Hills Palette in June, but I’ve been really good otherwise.

Skincare

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Sensitive Skin Make-Up Wipes. These makeup removing wipes were alright. I found that they started to dry out a lot sooner than other wipes I’ve used in the past. I also found the wipe itself to feel a bit harsh. I won’t be repurchasing these.

Dr. Roebuck’s Pure Moisturizer. I got this with other Products from Dr. Roebucks back when I was still subscribed to Topbox. This moisturizer is extreme, it’s great if you have very dry skin and is made for those who may suffer from eczema. I used this at first for my face when I was feeling extremely dry but then I started using it a lot on my hands because they are always dry and really loved this product. I would repurchase this.

Haircare

Pantene Intense Rescue Shots. I received this treatment mask from Influencer to test out and while I did think the mask itself was good, I was not a fan of the packaging. Each tube is supposed to give you enough product for one use which I think gets to be a little wasteful. I’m on the fence whether I would repurchase this.

Shu Uemura Silk Bloom Restorative Treatment. Another hair mask that I used up this month, I absolutely love and recommend this hair mask. You can read my full review here. I would repurchase this product.

Makeup

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. I love this mascara because it gives me instantly full and dramatic lashes. At first, I would only wear it when going out because it was super bold on me. As it started to dry though I would were this during the day to use it up and loved how it really made my lashes look flared out. This is one of my favourite mascaras to wear and I have a few small samples of this that I’m going to use up. I would repurchase this.

Ciate London Bamboo Bronzer. I shared a review of this bronzer back in March which you can read here. I loved this warm-toned bronzer but it got more and more difficult to use because this pan was too small that it made it really difficult to dip my large bronzer brush into so I figured I might as well just toss this out now since I can’t get it to evenly cover my brushes.

~~~

I’m happy with my empties for this month. I used up some hair, skincare and makeup items. Now that I’m half-way through my no-buy year I feel like I’m making a lot of progress of using up the items in my collection. I’ve also really started to appreciate the makeup and skincare I have without being consumed with the new products that I have been realized. It feels really good to just use up what I have.

What items have you used up for June?

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.

~~~

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

Project Pan Monthly: April Roundup & May Items

May 13, 2019May 11, 2019 littlebeautyloves6 Comments

I think I made good progress with my April Project Pan. A lot of items are easy, everyday products so they were ones I constantly wanted to reach for. One thing I didn’t do was travel with my April products so the last few days of April I didn’t get to make any progress. In total, I used my April Project Pan Products 15/30 days.

Likewise, I did not choose any new items for May until the 6th so I missed about a weeks worth of usage for my May Project Pan products. Anyways I’m not really too concerned. This is all supposed to be fun and just encourage me to use up what I have.

I also wasn’t tempted to do any Sephora VIB Sale shopping and I’m so proud of myself for that! I’m keeping true to my no-buy. Did you get any items during the sale?

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

Project Pan Monthly

Each month I chose 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.)

April Roundup

Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Palette (reviewed here). I used flower child quite a bit and I can start to see a little dip in that. It was a perfect shade to sweep over my whole lid as a base. I then equally used the second column for crease colours and the third and last column for a lid liner or to deepen the crease. I think I used every colour in this palette which is why I really love it.

Bite Beauty Lip Pencil in 020 Beige Nude. I used this way more than I do lipstick which I’m pretty happy about. The colour worked with whatever shade I put on my eyes so I felt like I enjoyed wearing it whenever I was wearing my Tartelette palette. I would use the lip pencil all over my lips and then apply a line gloss on top. I like that it lasted all day and the colour wasn’t super bold. I sharpened this about 2 times so you don’t see a huge difference but for me, wearing anything on my lips for more than a week is huge progress.

Ciate London Bamboo Bronzer (reviewed here). Do you see that pan! I’m so happy with how much I used up! I think this will be empty by the summer with the amount of wear I’m getting out of it.

Shiseido Ibuki Smart Filtering Smoother (reviewed here). I used this item the least, maybe about 10/30 days in the month because it’s just not made from my skin type. It may work better for me in the summer so I’ll try it again then.

My May Items

This month I’ve chosen;

One Eyeshadow Palette – Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol. II Palette (reviewed here)
One Lip Item – Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Bare Sparkle
One Face Item – Vintage Cosmetics Illuminating Face Highlighter in Rose Gold (reviewed here)
One Random Item – Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara (reviewed here)

I wasn’t planning on putting in another Tarte Palette into my Project Pan Monthly, but since I had been using it anyway this month I thought why not. These items are ones that I find I’m reaching for a lot in May so far. I’m hoping I can make some dent in the Vintage Cosmetics Highlighter and I hope to use up the Benefit Mascara.

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, March 2019

April 1, 2019March 30, 2019 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

Spring is officially here in Toronto! It’s slowly getting warmer and although there are some rainy days it’s been equally sunny and I love it! The days are getting longer, and soon it’ll be patio season! I’ve had some ups and downs this month, but I’m looking forward to what April has in store. The last two months I’ve had quite a lot of empties so I’m not surprised I don’t have as many items in March because a lot of my current items are recently opened.

*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

L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power LZR (Sample). The texture of this face cream is interesting. It’s like a hybrid between a gel and cream and it feels so good on the skin. It blends in so easily and it was good at leaving my skin moisturized. The sample lasted about 3 uses so I can’t say that I noticed a brightening effect but I did really like the texture so I might be interested in picking this up in a full-size.

L’Oreal Micellar Water Complete Cleanser. I thought this micellar water is alright. I think the big test for me is how well a micellar water can break down my eye makeup and mascara. This one did a good job but it did leave behind some residue for some of my more stubborn makeup (waterproof mascara). I did like it as a precleanse for before I washed my face. I have quite a few micellar waters to use up so I’m not sure I would repurchase this one until I’ve tested the other new ones I’m currently using.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Gel Cream (Sample). I received this sample in my July 2018 Topbox. Once I finally got around to opening this I used it up after 5 uses, I enjoyed it so much. This is a great everyday moisturizer that leaves my skin super hydrated but is also really light in texture. I would definitely repurchase this.

Shiseido Facial Cotton. This is an item that I’ve shared in an empties post before. Whenever I there is a spend your points event through Shoppers Drug Mart I always pick up a pack of these. I actually have two packs of the MUJI Cut Cotton pads which are practically dupes of these guys so I won’t be repurchasing these any time soon.

Makeup

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil. I picked this up when I was shopping online on the Tarte website a few months ago because I needed a brow pencil and I figured I would test this out. I got the shade medium brown which works with my brows. I like this formula because it’s creamy but not so much that I’m afraid it’s going to rub off my eyebrows so quickly, but it does apply easily. I really like it and I would repurchase this.

Benefit Dew the Hoola Bronzer (Sample). This is a bronzer I got at the Benefit booth at GenBeauty 3 years ago. When I first started using this I didn’t really like it until I found a method that worked for me which was to use my beauty blender to blend this into my skin and then I was using this all the time. I was pretty sad when I used this up so I know when I’m done my no-buy for this year I’m going to pick up a full size of this!

~~~

There you have it! My empties for March. There isn’t that many items, but I’m glad I used up some items that I’ve had in my stash for some time.

What items have you used up for March?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing Topbox, March 2019

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

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

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

March will be my last Topbox for 2019. Until I end my no-buy for this year I’m going to put this hold for now.

ALL PRICES IN CANADIAN DOLLARS.

Chapstick Total Hydration Lip Balm in Vanilla
$4.97 (3.5 g), this is a full size item

I’ve been using lip balm quite a bit the last few months and I’m happy I have this new one to open once my current chapstick is used up! This has advocado oil, coconut oil and shea butter. I think it’s supposed to smell and taste like Vanilla. The only thing I would have liked better was to get one of the tinted balms, but I’m really happy to have this.

MesmorEyes Lashes
$5.99, this is a full size item\

Topbox had asked if I would want to try lashes when I was completing their monthly survey before receiving the box. I said yes because I always like to keep a pair of lashes on hand. I don’t wear lashes often, only during special occasions. These are designed to fit the shape of your eye which is great if you have issues with lashes cooperating to fit.

The style I have is 220 and is designed to fit almond, monolid, and hooded eyes. Since I have almond eyes I’m excited to try lashes designed to fit me. The style is natural but full so it will look really nice when I wear them out. I’m excited to give these a try.

Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Blue
$22.00, this is a full size item

I’m happy I got a blue liner to wear as we roll into spring! Spring is always a time I’m into wearing brighter and more colourful makeup.

I would wear this in my waterline or as a winged liner. The blue is really pigmented and the formula seems really good. It glides on easily and doesn’t smudge. The Liner is long wearing and waterproof.

Delia Organics Nail & Cuticle Oil
$11.99 (10mL), this is a full size item

Another item I enjoy, cuticle oil! I received a nail & cuticle oil in my BoxyCharm some time ago and I use it quite a bit. Since I don’t actually paint my fingernails, I like keeping the nail and cuticle area healthy and shiny with these oils, they also help with preventing cracked skin around the nail. This has sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, rosehip oil, to name a few ingredients.

Manna Kadar Beauty Miracle Balm
$25.28 (6.5mL), this is a full size item

This is designed to be an all over balm that you can use on your lips, nails, and other areas of the body to rehydrate. It’s enriched with Argan Oil, Vitamin A & Vitamin E. I have received balms like this before from Cake Beauty and Dr. Lipp and I absolutely love them because I just keep them at work or in my pocket and use as needed.

My Thoughts

Overall, this is a really great box. I’m so happy with every item and know I’m going to use them right away. I’m most excited about the eyeliner and the chapstick. I’m also impressed that this is the first time I’ve received all full-size items in Topbox!

Total Value: $70.23 (I think this is the highest value I’ve ever received in a Topbox)

Did you get Topbox this month? What was in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing Topbox, February 2019

February 28, 2019February 26, 2019 littlebeautyloves2 Comments

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

Last month I mentioned that I would be cancelling my Topbox. I missed the deadline to cancel this before the March box shipped so I have one coming in March. I’m cancelling it afterwards for the rest of the year. This is to keep in line with my no-buy (exception BoxyCharm) for 2019.

ALL PRICES IN CANADIAN DOLLARS.

Laritzy Cosmetics Lip Stix in Wafer
Full Size: $20.00 (3.6g), this is a full size item

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a lip crayon. The outer packaging had me thinking it was another lip gloss and I honestly didn’t want another one of those. Lip crayon though, I’m excited to get! I really love lip crayons because it makes application so much easier. I love the nude colour and this feels really creamy. I’m definitely going to be using it.

Nova Scotia Fisherman Extreme Skin Care Canadian Maple Lip Balm
Full Size: $8.95 (10.4g), Small Size: $4.48 (5.2g)

I love Nova Scotia Fisherman lip balms! I actually discovered this brand through Topbox over 4 years ago and I continue to enjoy them. I love the taste of maple syrup so I’m really looking forward to this agave sweetened lip balm. I find these lip balms the best during the winter months because they are super hydrating.

VDL Cosmetics Perfect Lasting Foundation in V01
Full Size: $37.00 (30mL), Sample Size: $6.17 (5mL)

VDL Cosmetics is a newer brand to me. They are a Korean brand that I think recently started selling in Canada, with a flagship store in Downtown Toronto. I’ve been wanting to visit the store and explore what they offer since it’s very close to where I work. I’m really excited to be testing out the foundation. So far it looks to be very light and liquid but I’m not sure what the coverage will be like. I’m hoping it’s closer to light coverage as that it what I prefer and the shade that I have V01 which is a bit light on me.

VDL Cosmetics Lumilayer Primer
Full Size: $34.00 (30mL), Sample Size $5.67 (5mL)

What better way to test out the foundation, then to also use the primer from the brand as well. I’m happy that Topbox included two items from the same brand that can be used together (or on their own) it’s just a good way to test out more items from VDL. This has a violet pigment to brighten the skin. I’m really excited to try this since I love items that brighten or add some glow.

Manna Kadar Goddess Palette Split Pan Eye shadow
Full Size: $49.00 (palette), Split Pan duo: Price unknown

I did some digging online and it looks like these two shades are actually part of a bigger palette called the Goddess Palette, see it here. The colours I have are Venus (blush colour), and Iris (shimmery golden highlight shade). The pans are a bit too small to use as blush and highlight but I can definitely use this on the eyes (which is why Topbox is calling this a split pan eye shadow). The formula is super creamy and crumbly so you just need to be careful with application but it looks so pretty.

Swatches

My Thoughts

This is a really good box with a nice mix of different products that I could wear all together. I’m excited to try the items from VDL and I’m super happy to get a lip balm from Nova Scotia Fisherman. I also like that I received a split pan eye shadow, and a lip crayon in colours that I think will work nicely together!

Total Value: $36.25 – I wasn’t able to find the price of the Manna Kadar item so it’s not included here.

Did you get Topbox this month? What was in you box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, February 2019

February 19, 2019February 18, 2019 littlebeautyloves3 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 “’After Glow”.

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream
MSRP: $20.00 US

I love the original Bum Bum Cream so I was really excited to see the new Coco Cabana Cream in my box! It’s an oil-in-water gel cream with a blend of fermented sugar and coconut oil to moisture for up to 72 hours. The scent is a mix of coconut, toasted praline and warm vanilla latte. I love the original Bum Bum formula because it smells so good and is really hydrating and I’m hoping that the formula of the Coco Cabana is the same.

touch in SOL No Problem Primer
MSRP: $18.00 US

I’ve never tried anything from touch in SOL so I’ve happy to have an item to test out in my box. I don’t usually wear primer unless I’m wearing makeup for a long night out or special event, still, I like having a good primer on hand. This has green tea and collagen to act as adhesive and help your makeup last for many hours.

Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan Highlighter
MSRP: $32.00 US

I’m slowly building a nice collection of Pretty Vulgar Makeup thanks to BoxyCharm! I love the pearl-shade of this highlighter and I’m really excited to give this formula a try.

Looking at some of the reviews online, this is described as a subtle highlight which is exactly the time of highlight I love!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
MSRP: $24.00 US

Ok, so I might be one of the very few makeup-obsessed people who has not tried Better Than Sex mascara. I might have had a sample when this first came out, but I honestly don’t remember. I’m really excited to give this a try and see if it lives up to all the hype. It has Acacia Senegal Tree extract to set volume while film-forming polymers lock in curl.

NudeStix Magnetic Luminous Eye Color in Copper Foil
MSRP: $24.00 US

Yes! Yes! Yes! Finally, NudeStix is getting some much-needed circulation through BoxyCharm! I absolutely love this brand for easy everyday looks. After receiving this in my box, I’m really motivated to post more reviews because I really think NudeStix deserves more recognition.

I already have the Copper Foil stick so I’m saving the one in my box for my mom because I know she will love it. This is a super long-wearing eyeshadow pencil that is easy to blend with your fingers or a brush as an eyeshadow or can be used to as an eyeliner.

My Thoughts

What an awesome box! I’m happy with every single item I received.

Total Value: $118.00 US ($156.30 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What did you receive in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Review: Nudestix Gel Color Lip & Cheek Balm in Pulse

January 9, 2019January 8, 2019 littlebeautyloves11 Comments

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

Nudestix checks off all these boxes for me!

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

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

Price

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

Packaging

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

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

Application & Wear

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

Lots of Love,
Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Tag: Reviews

Project Pan Monthly: July Roundup & August Items

Project Pan Monthly

July Roundup

My August Items

Bye Bye Empties, June 2019

Skincare

Haircare

Makeup

Project Pan Monthly: May Roundup & June Items

Project Pan Monthly

May Round-Up

My June Items

Bye Bye Empties, May 2019

Skincare

Makeup

Project Pan Monthly: April Roundup & May Items

Project Pan Monthly

April Roundup

My May Items

Bye Bye Empties, March 2019

Skincare

Makeup

Unboxing Topbox, March 2019

ALL PRICES IN CANADIAN DOLLARS.

Unboxing Topbox, February 2019

ALL PRICES IN CANADIAN DOLLARS.

Unboxing BoxyCharm, February 2019

PRICES ARE IN USD, CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Review: Nudestix Gel Color Lip & Cheek Balm in Pulse