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

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

Milk Makeup Hydrating Oil Stick Review

October 24, 2018October 23, 2018 littlebeautyloves8 Comments

I was surprised by this product that I thought I just have to share! I bought the Milk Makeup Hydrating Oild Stick at a Sephora sale and really didn’t think much of it. I was curious about the gel formula and trying something from Milk Makeup since I had not tried anything from the brand. This sat in my unopened collection of makeup and skincare for about 6 months before I finally took it out of my stash and started using it.

What It Is

A face and body oil in stick form for instant moisture and a subtle sheen. Packed with apricot, avocado, calendula, jojoba, and orange peel oils, and housed in a travel-friendly stick. (Sephora.ca)

Price

$29.00 CAD (1 oz). For a moisturizer-like product, I think the cost is not too bad. It’s about mid-range between drugstore and beauty store. Plus, I bought mine at the Sephora VIB Sale so I saved 20% off the price.

Packaging

It’s a large tube which makes it easy to apply all over the face and body, albeit not the most hygienic applicator, but I only use it on myself. I like that it’s twist-up which exposes more product as needed and the lid screws on tight so I don’t have to worry about it drying out. A lot of Milk Makeup products are housed this way which makes them good for quick application.

I don’t know much about Milk Makeup but it just seems like they are a brand that focuses on minimal effort to achieve makeup looks. Most items are in a gel or liquid formula which make it easy to apply onto the skin using your fingers or very few brushes. If you know anything about this brand, let me know! I’d love to learn more!

I like that the packaging is simple. There are no frills, just a simple, sturdy, clear plastic tube with white lettering. I only wish that the lettering was a different colour so I can easily spot this. Sometimes I feel it gets lost among my other products.

Application & Wear

This applies very easily, I just apply it directly to my face (I have not tried this on my body). I have dry skin and this instantly hydrates. After I wash my face and apply serum, I will apply the hydrating oil to the areas of my face that feel the driest and tight. That’s usually my cheeks, forehead and chin. I then follow up with any other moisturizers and blend it all in with my hand. This is slick and it helps to spread any other product I apply. Even though it’s an oil, it does not feel greasy at all, it is more like a gel moisturizer.

I like this underneath makeup as a hydrating primer. It helps my makeup stick and reduces the dry look on my face. I have tried it once over makeup and it’s not bad like that as well. It acts like a makeup setting spray that melts your makeup into place, but much more hydrating and you’re left with a bit of glow. What I did was pat it over my makeup and it instantly brought back a glow.

I am really enjoying this hydrating oil stick. Out of all the moisturizers I’ve been using, this is probably my favourite. My skin feels hydrated and looks healthy. If I want to look glowy without makeup I’ll just apply this guy over my bare face and be on my way.

My Thoughts

For something I threw into my makeup collection and forgot all about I’m pretty bummed I didn’t just open this sooner! It’s a great hydrating product and it has some pretty interesting oil ingredients. I think in the last few weeks my skin has felt great, and I think it might have something to do with this product!

Have you tried the Milk Makeup Hydrating Oil Stick? What are your thoughts? Is there a product that you recently discovered in your own stash of unopened makeup or skincare?

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

Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Vol. 1: Palette Collection Review Series

October 12, 2018 littlebeautyloves5 Comments

I must admit, I was beyond excited when I saw this palette in my BoxyCharm. Then I swatched the colours and was super impressed. This was a palette I wore in the summer and enjoyed all the bright and fun looks I was able to create with this.

What It Is

Eight highly opaque shades, reminiscent of the beauty and culture of Cuba. (alamarcosmetics.com).

Price

$28.00 US, for a palette this good and pigmented the price is just right! Even converted to Canadian it’s $36.00 (11.2g – $2.50/g US ($3.26/g CAD).

Packaging

This packaging is so fun! I can spot this easily in my collection and I love that the palette speaks to the fun colours you are getting inside. It’s a cute cardboard booklet style palette that’s thin. It’s about 4×6 inches in size and I like that the pans are large flat squares – this makes it easy to go in and grab a colour.

I also like the way this is laid out. Although you can mix and match the colours, you can also very easily create a look by separating this into two quads – one orange and one blue.

The doesn’t have a mirror which I’m perfectly fine with because this keeps the palette thin and light.

Colour

Like I said, these colours are bright and fun but still super wearable. I think this is a good palette if you don’t have too many palettes with colours and just one that one palette to add some spice to everyday looks or to create fun looks using all the colours in the palette. Omitting the blue and orange colours, the rest of the palette is pretty wearable if you wanted to keep things looking natural as well.

Application and Wear

Even though the palette has some bold colours, this is one of the easiest palettes I’ve used. I find blending everything is effortless. It’s very pigmented so you get instant colour pay-off right away, which makes application really quick when you are in a rush. The shades have some fallout, which I’m not surprised about so I would recommend applying shadow first then your foundation afterwards so you can clean up any fall-out before moving on to the rest of the face.

You will notice that some shade names have a water droplet next to them and some have a sun next to them. Basically, all the shadows apply well dry but the ones with the water symbol apply more intensely with water. It makes sense that this symbol is next to all the shimmer shades.

I used a makeup base before applying these shadows and found that they did last me quite a few hours of wear. This does fade closer to the 7-8 hour mark but it still has good lasting power.

My Looks

In the look above, I started with Coco-Taxi in the crease then applied Tropico on 3/4th of the lid. On the outer edge of my lid, I applied a little Cafecito just to deepen the look. On the inner quarter of my lid, I applied La Costa to brighten everything up. I finished off with Tropico on the lower lash line.

For this blue look, I again started with Coco-Taxi in the crease. On the outer and inner part of my lid, I blended Celia and deepened it slightly with Varadero. In the centre of my lid, I applied El Malecon and then topped that with La Costa. For the lower lash line, I applied Coco-Taxi to tie it all back together.

My Thoughts

I might not have bought this palette on my own since I’m not sure what the shipping situation is to Canada. However, having received it in my subscription box I’m super happy I have it. When I got this there was so much buzz around it and so many positive reviews and I was excited to follow some tutorials to come up with eye looks for the summer. Now with it transitioning to Fall, I won’t use the palette too often but I might still go for the warmer shades in some Fall looks.

Do you have this palette? What do you think of the Reina Del Caribe Palette?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unboxing BoxyCharm, September 2018

September 18, 2018September 17, 2018 littlebeautyloves12 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 “Wild Flower”.

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Pretty Vulgar Nightingale Smokey Eyeshadow Palette
MSRP: $35.00 USD

Oh yes! An everyday type of palette, this so my style. I love that the colours are cool/neutral rather than warm because I have so many warm palettes in my collection. I was tempted to do swatches for this post but I actually wanted to test the eyeshadow and do a review on it so look out for that soon!

This is described as a highly pigmented shadow, the shades are soft and smooth for easy blending and long-wear. I saw a few first impressions of this online and they look really positive.

Laura Gellar Baked Blush-N-Bright in Tropic Hues
MSRP: $28.00 USD

This baked blush leaves your skin with a glowy flush to the cheeks. It’s very shimmery and lightly pigmented which is great if you like a stuble wash of colour on the cheeks and a little dewy finish.

I love bold cheek colours so for me I might wear this as a cheek topper. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous. This is paraben free and infused with antioxidants.

Alamar Cosmetics Ojitos Brush Set
MSRP: $18.00 USD

I fell head over heals for the Alamar eyeshadow palette that I received in my June BoxyCharm so I’m really excited to see more items from this brand in my box! These brushes are 100% synthetic but are extremely soft.

This three brush set includes;

Flat Pointer Brush, to apply shadow all over the lid. It’s very dense so I think this would be really good for glitter or metallic shadows.

Fluffy Blender Brush, to blend colours together. This one is extremely soft and flexible so I think it will work really well to blend out colours. It’s very fluffy. I am most excited about this one.

Flat Tight Liner, well, to do just that line your eyes. I actually really love using brushes like this to apply shadow on my lower eye lids. I know some people like to use brushes like this for their brows too.

I’m pretty excited about this set. I like that the handles are thin making it easy for me to store them and to hold.

Hank & Henry Liquid Lipstick in Petal Pusher
MSRP: $17.00 USD

This smells like icing! OH MY GOODNESS how I find it so delicious! This packing is actually pretty cool too. I thought it was a bullet lipstick in a clear case but when I screwed it open I realized it was a liquid lipstick.

I like the raspberry colour and the pigmentation of this liquid lip is amazing. One sweep and you have bold colour. It’s also very comfortable on. I think the applicator is interesting but useful. It’s got a wider base and comes to a sharp tip which makes it really easy to be precise with application.

Butter London Stroke of Wow Roll On Liner
MSRP: $19.00 USD

I was unimpressed when I saw this item in my box. It’s a liner with a roller tip, kinda like a pizza cutter. It’s supposed to make application much easier but I’ve seen a few youtubers try it with not much success.

I’ll give it a shot and see how I like it. I wear liner a lot but I don’t know if this would be easier than a felt tip. When I did a swatch on my hand I was really impressed with the formula which makes this a lot my disappointing in my opinion, why couldn’t they just make this felt tip!

Swatches!

My Thoughts

Over all I’m pretty happy with this box! Beside the Butter London eyeliner, everything else is an item that I’m pretty excited to try. I’m most excited about the eyeshadow palette and brush set!

Did you receive BoxyCharm this month? What was in your box?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Unfaves From the Boxes

September 6, 2018September 5, 2018 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

I mentioned in my last Faves From the Boxes post that I wanted to share some items that I wasn’t a fan of from my subscription boxes. Usually, if I get an item I know I’m not going to use I pass it along to my friends, family or donate them. Sometimes, I’m intrigued by the item and try it and it doesn’t live up to my expectations. Below are a few that didn’t work out for me.

BareMinerals Face Perfecting Brush
Received in BoxyCharm September 2017

I used this brush quite a bit in the beginning and liked it. I would pump a bit of my foundation into the dip in the centre and blend it over my face. The brush was dense but still soft and I thought it did a good job of applying foundation to my face. That was until I got a bit closer to the mirror and noticed the terrible amount of streak it left. It really just moved product around and I didn’t like the finish it left. The one way I could get it to perform better is if I continued to blend or followed it up with my beauty blender. Now if I’ve got to grab another application tool to make this work, then I’m out!

It’s too bad it didn’t work out for me because the idea behind the brush was really good. I will try this with my mineral foundation and see if it’s better (it is a BareMinerals product after all) but for liquid foundation it’s a no go.

South Mane Beauty Under Eye Gels
Received in BoxyCharm March 2018

The moment I tried these I did not like them! This came in a pack of three so I decided to give it a second shot, but still, it was awful. It has a very uncomfortable tingle and after I removed the gel I felt like it accentuated my dark circles.

Now, there may be an ingredient in this that I’m unaware I’m sensitive to but it just didn’t do what it claims to do on me. If you have sensitive skin, I would not recommend this product.

Laritzy Cosmetics Silicone Makeup Blender
Received in Topbox November 2017

Now I knew I didn’t like these style blenders. I had one from Amazon and it just smeared my foundation everywhere on my face. However, when reading the description of the Laritzy blender they suggested using it to blend skincare products and I thought maybe it could be better for that. I tried it on and off for a few weeks with my skincare and I felt the same way I did about foundation. It really didn’t help spread the skincare and it would just sit on top of my face and didn’t feel like it aided with anything.

I’m much better off using my fingers and gently tapping products in. I also thought this might be good for spreading around clay masks but it was terrible for that, it left everything in a streak. I really don’t know what would be best used for these blenders!

My Thoughts

I know not everything will always work for me and I did try to make the items above work. I’m sure someone is probably really enjoying these products and that’s good because I’m sure it’s what the brands intended.

Have you tried any of the items above? If you get subscription boxes what are some items you’ve received that you did not enjoy?

Lots of love,
Dal

Unboxing Boxycharm, August 2018

August 20, 2018August 18, 2018 littlebeautyloves6 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 “Life of the Party”.

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Laura Lee Los Angeles Party Animal Eyeshadow Palette
MSRP: $19.00 USD

This is a six pan pressed pigment palette of really colourful shades. I do have a few palettes of shades that are similar in other palettes and to be honest, I’m not really drawn to the colours here (although online reviews have suggested the palette is good) so I might just pass this one along to someone else.

I would have much preferred receiving the Boss Babe palette which was the six pan everyday neutrals palette, you can see it here. Those colours really speak to me! Also, I really don’t think that I can’t use this as a stand-alone palette, you’d need to set a base up with another palette and then use these as pops of colour. A palette that I think is really colourful but still works well on its own is the Alamar palette I got in my June BoxyCharm. Anyways, the packaging is really pretty though. I like the feel of the case, it has almost that rubbery texture and it feels very sturdy.

House of Lashes in Bambie
MSRP: $12.00 USD

These are really pretty wispy lashes. I like how there are a few lighter lashes mixed with the darker lashes to make them look a touch more natural.

These might be a long but I could definitely wear them to an evening out when I’m getting all done up. I also really love the band on these because it is thin and clear. These lashes are cruelty-free.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Straight Up
MSRP: $24.00 USD

Online this was described as terracotta cream and it’s a really pretty chocolate brown shade. I love brown-nude shades but this is much different than what I have because it looks straight brown on my lips, it totally gives me that 90s vibe.

I think this is going to be amazing to wear in the Fall! I tried this on the lips and it’s super pigmented so one swipe is all you need and it’s also very comfy on the lips. It doesn’t feel like anything which I love.

Bang Beauty Chocolate Eye Liner
MSRP: $22.00 US

A few boxes ago I got an awesome black liner from Pretty Vulgar in my BoxyCharm, this month I was super excited to get a brown liner! I actually LOVE brown liners, I always keep a set of black and brown pencil liners and liquid liners and now I have a set of gel ones! I haven’t tested this to know for sure if it’s good but I am excited to try it. You can use this as eyeliner, an eyeshadow base or to touch up brows. Sounds pretty interesting.

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks
MSRP: $13.00 US

These gold foil eyeshadows are meant to hydrate under the eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles. They have hyaluronic acid, lavender oil and aloe oil which all work together to reduce wrinkles and to cool and soothe your undereye. I can’t wait to test these out!

Adesse Organic Infused Age Defying Nail Treatment Essentials Sweet Almond Cuticle Oil
MSRP: $18.00 US

When I first saw this package I thought it was a nail lacquer because I didn’t read the description on the box and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it was a nail treatment! As you may know, I don’t wear nail polish on my nails, only on my toenails, but I still apply treatments and oils to my cuticle and nail area to keep them strong. The one I currently have is getting old so this will make a good replacement. This is formulated with Vitamin E, Shea, Sweet Almond, and Jojoba Oils that are blended together to create a luxurious treatment that softens the cuticles moisturizes and hydrates the nails (boxycharm.com).

My Thoughts

I think this was an ok box. The last few months I’ve been overly excited about my boxes but this was alright for me. I could do without the palette (even if I have a million neutral palettes, I still prefer them over colourful ones). I’m really happy with everything else, especially the cuticle oil and chocolate gel liner!

Total Value: $108.00 US (141.30 CAD)

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What was your favourite item?

Lots of love,
Dal

Review, L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge

July 17, 2018July 16, 2018 littlebeautyloves16 Comments

For the most part, I don’t stray away from using my Beauty Blender to apply foundation. I do at times use a foundation brush, which I will share soon but I gravitate more towards my sponge. What I like to do is pump foundation on to the back of my hand, then dot it over my face with my fingers. I then use a sponge to blend out the foundation.

I have tried a few other makeup sponges in the past that I have enjoyed including the Real Techniques Makeup Sponges and Sephora’s Makeup Sponges but I always go back to the Beauty Blender. I am always interested in trying new sponges because I don’t like spending close to $30 every time I need a new Beauty Blender.

I was shopping in Walmart when I saw the L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge and I figured I would try it out. I put my Beauty Blender to the side and tested out the L’Oreal sponge exclusively for the last three weeks

What it is

A non- disposable, makeup sponge applicator with an exclusive plush material. Designed to be used for liquid and cream foundations it has an easy to grip shape and rounded edges for guaranteed effortless blending (amazon.ca)

Price

This is on Amazon.ca for $13.99 but I’m sure when I got it from Walmart it was about $10.00-11.00 CAD. This is about half of the cost of a Beauty Blender and I’m all about that!

Application

If I compare the texture of this sponge to ones I’ve tried, I’d say it’s very close to the Beauty Blender. It’s very plush-like and porous which makes application of foundation very even. But unlike the Beauty Blender, it doesn’t appear to absorb too much of my liquid foundation and I get more mileage from one pump.

As far as size goes, it’s about the same as my Beauty Blender Pro when dry. It expands a lot more than the Beauty Blender does when wet. Granted the pro blender that I’m comparing this to is a bit different from the original pink blender, but for side-by-side comparisons, I figured it was worth sharing. I think this makes it quicker for applying foundation because the surface area is greater.

Now comparing the bounciness of the sponge, the L’Oreal sponge is not as squishy as the Beauty Blender but it’s soft enough that it bounces on my skin. I’ve tried sponges in the past that are just so hard you feel like your punching yourself with it. Not the case with this one, there is just enough give that it feels really comfortable when applying foundation.

One thing I really like about the L’Oreal sponge is that the sides are indented. This makes it easy to grip and control. The tip of this is small enough that when I squeeze the top of the sponge I can get it to blend out foundation or concealer under my eyes.

It’s a bit too fat to get a sharp contour or highlight, but if you’re like me and prefer a more subtle or blurred-out look it’s great for that. I use my Beauty Blender in the same way so it’s not so different here.

My Thoughts

I’m pretty surprised at how much I like this sponge. I didn’t do any research before buying it so I didn’t know if this was going to be good or not. For the cost, I would feel comfortable buying this again. This is probably the best alternative to the Beauty Blender that I’ve tried so far and I might start to use this more than my Beauty Blender (at least switching the sponges back and forth so that I’m cleaning one sponge daily).

What beauty sponges are you enjoying lately? What recommendations for sponges do you have?

Lots of love,
Dal

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #2

July 10, 2018July 9, 2018 littlebeautyloves13 Comments

We are over half-way through 2018 and I’m here to share an update on my Project Pan. I meant to post this in June but as you probably know from my previous posts, it was a really busy month. Well, I’m here now and ready to share some updates! I will break down the items that have had the heaviest usage to the lowest.

If you wanted to read my original post you can here, and you can read my three-month update here.

Emptied Item!

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation. Hurray! I was able to empty this guy back in May! I even unscrewed this and started picking any product on the side and bottom that hadn’t pumped out.
Was 1/4 full, now empty!

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

MAC Powder Blush in Fleur Power. I really enjoy the colour of this blush and how it looks on me. I have been using other blush colours in between as I like more corals for summer but I still reach for this guy when I don’t want to think about it.
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Physicians Formula Super BB InstaReady Bronzer. I continue to work my way through this and I do notice a difference between the beginning of the year and now. I have used other bronzers in between since I do like a bit of a darker bronze in the summer.
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in 220 Powerful (deluxe size). I threw this guy in my purse in the springtime and wore it every morning. I think I made a little dent but wow can I not seem to go through lipsticks!
Was 1/2 full, now 3/8 full

Bite Beauty Multi-Stick in Almond (deluxe size) I switched to using this exclusively on my cheeks. At times I wear all cream products and I find this makes a beautiful blush.
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight (deluxe sample) In my Update #1 post I received a few suggestions to mix the drops with my foundation and I did. I really enjoyed the overall glow it gave my skin so I used it a few times. I also started using this more for a highlight on the cheeks and over the eyes so I think I’m making progress!
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Yves Rocher Youthful Glow Powder in 100 Teint tres Clair. I continue to use this powder to set my undereye or over an eye primer. I think the logo is completely gone now but it still feels like there is so much even with regular use.
Was 7/8 full, now 3/4 full

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay in Exposed (deluxe sample) Since I’m using the Cover FX drops as a highlight, I’ve neglected to use this as much. When I do use it, I tend to put it on all the high points of my face for an overall glow.
Was full, now 7/8 full

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I started using my mini blender to blend this under my eyes and I like it only slightly better but it’s still not my favourite formula so it’s difficult to use this.
Was 2/3 full, now 3/4 full

Marc Jacobs Black Liner (deluxe size). Another item I don’t really enjoy but am trying to use up. I have put this in my waterline and as eyeliner to try and use this up. I think I’m making some progress.
Was 1/3 full, now 1/2 full

Smashbox Covershot in Golden Hour. I continue to see the three lightest shades get more and more empty since they are the ones I use the most often. The gold one is becoming my summer go-to colour.
Was 3/4 full, now 3/4 full

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Candy (deluxe size) I wore this once just to check on the formula. I think it’s old so I’m not going to use it anymore.
Was 1/2 full, now 1/2 full

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (deluxe size) I use this once a week when I’m pampering my skin to exfoliate my lips.
Was 2/3 full, now 2/3 full

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 611 Yogurt. In April I was using this a little more frequently, but lately, I haven’t been wearing this at all. I’m going to try to be more conscious of that and wear this more!
Was 3/4 full, now 5/8 full

Colourpop Lippie Pencil in Aquarius. I don’t wear enough lipstick to wear this lip pencil as often. I love the colour so sometimes I will wear it when I’m wearing my lipgloss.
Was 2/3 full, now 2/3 full

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Glace. I wore this once after my last post and I broke out around my lips. I think this guy is old which is a shame.
Was full, now full

Teeez Cosmetics Material Girl Lipstick in Hyped Taupe. I love this colour but it’s a bit deep for summer, so it’s being put on hold for now.
Was 7/8 full, now 7/8 full

Lost Item

Too Cool for School Dinoplatz Lip Balm in Spilled Wine. I threw this in my purse and used it all the time but somehow this went missing in mid-May! I’m pretty sad because I really love this product and would have likely made good progress.
Was 2/3 full, now lost 😦

Thoughts

I continue to work through my products and think I’m making OK progress. I guess I’ll never underestimate the size of a lot of makeup products because even with daily use it’s very difficult for me to get through anything.

Are you doing a Project Pan? What is your progress been so far?

Lots of Love,
Dal

littlebeautyloves

I like Makeup and I blog about it!

Tag: Reviews

Unboxing BoxyCharm, November 2018

Ole Henrikson SkinCare Review

Milk Makeup Hydrating Oil Stick Review

Unboxing BoxyCharm, October 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Vol. 1: Palette Collection Review Series

Unboxing BoxyCharm, September 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Unfaves From the Boxes

Unboxing Boxycharm, August 2018

ALL PRICES IN USD CONVERTED TO CAD AT THE END

Review, L’Oreal Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender Sponge

Project Pan: 18 for 2018 Update #2

Emptied Item!

Most Used Items (5-7 days a week)

Medium Use Items (2-4 days a week)

Least Used Items (0-1 days a week)

Lost Item

Thoughts