Monday, August 28, 2017

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara by LashBlast in Very Black Review


Featured Product
Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara by LashBlast in Very Black - 12ml/ $4.98USD (

About
The Super-Sizer by LashBlast Mascara gives you 400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes. Our amazing Lash Styler transforms even small lashes— just twirl as you apply it to your lashes for an instantly Super Sized lash look. Ophthalmologically tested, suitable for those who wear contact lenses. Hypoallergenic.


The Super-Sizer Mascara features a rubber-like wand that is fairly skinny. It really grips my lashes, making for easy application. I am able to apply multiple coats without experiencing any clumping.

This mascara doesn't smudge or flake on me. And, it gives my lashes both length and volume.

It removes easily at the end of the day, which means I don't lose any lashes! πŸ‘€

Two Coats of Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara In Very Black 
(Top Lashes Only)

Final Verdict
I am really enjoying this mascara. It's definitely one of the top ones from the drugstore that I've tried. I still prefer my Essence Lash Princess (full review linked here), as I get bigger lashes with just one coat, it's also cruelty-free and less expensive. Covergirl's is a close second, though. You may prefer Covergirl if you like more separation in your lashes and/ or prefer to work with a skinnier wand.

What's your favourite affordable mascara?



Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Nip + Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum Review

This post is not sponsored. I received this product free for review purposes. All opinions are honest and my own.



I've been big into skincare since my 20's. I've tried a lot of products and most of the time I'm happy if they provide some hydration and don't cause my skin to breakout or react. It's rare that I see major changes happen, especially very quickly. This has been my experience with the Nip & Fab line. I have seen some of the fastest changes (for the better) to my skin of any products that I've used.

For reference, my skin-type is combo/oily, dehydrated, acne prone, reactive, and aging.

I started out using Nip & Fab's Glycolic line (full review linked here). After that review, I continued using their Glycolic Cleansing Fix and Dragon's Blood Fix Cleansing pads and then I added in their Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum for this review.

Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum 50ml/ £19.95
Lightweight serum delivers an instant shot of moisture to dehydrated skin + leaves skin looking plumper and with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles reduced.

  • Hyaluronic acid hydrates for plumper looking skin
  • Velvet Flower enhances moisturization
  • Dragon's Blood comforts and restores through skin hydration

What is Dragon's Blood!?
Providing the ultimate hydration fix for the skin, our unique dragon’s blood fix range contains sap from the Croton Lechleri tree which acts as a ‘second-skin’ protective shield, helping to protect and soothe the skin and is ideal for those suffering from skin sensitivity and redness.With added hyaluronic acid, the holy grail ingredient for skin hydration, this provides intense moisture to dehydrated skin, leaving it feeling comforted and with a healthy hydrated plump glow.
Suitable for all skin types.





The photos below show my journey since using this brand. From where my skin was right before I started with the Glycolic line + Dragon's Blood Cleansing Pads and my results 2 weeks after. Then showing my skin right before I added in the Plumping serum and my results 2 weeks after.


Before and after using Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix
Photos were taken 2 weeks apart. No filters used. No makeup in before or after. 


Before and after since adding the Plumping Serum
Photos were taken 2 weeks apart. No filters used. No makeup in before or after.

Note that I only used Nip + Fab's glycolic cleanser, cleansing pads, as well as this Plumping Serum in the morning as I use Retin-A at night (I've been using 0.04% Retin-A for years).

The results are remarkable. I've experienced great changes in my skin since starting this brand. All of my active acne is gone, most of my acne scars are gone. My skin looks firmer and younger overall.

Their various lines within the brand seem to work well together, as I'm using products from their glycolic line as well as their Dragon's Blood line with great results.

I'm really impressed and the fact that these products are affordable is just amazing. I've used some very expensive products and not had results like this. 

Nip + Fab's line is extensive. They have something for every skin type. After my experience, I definitely want to try more from this line!


Have you tried any products by Nip + Fab? What do you recommend?




Tuesday, August 15, 2017

VII Code Oxygen Eye Mask For Dark Circles Review

This post is not sponsored. I received this product free for review purposes. All opinions are honest and my own.


Featured Product: VII Code Oxygen Eye Mask For Dark Circles.

The box contains 6 packets with 6grams of jelly (2 masks each). Retail $58

From VIICode's Website:
Designed for continuous 8-hour use overnight with a natural, alcohol-free, and non-irritating formula. The individually wrapped O2M Oxygen Eye Mask for dark circles will help nourish the skin under and around your eyes, so you look young, refreshed, and well rested again.

Claims:
  • Helps eliminate dark circles and puffiness effectively.
  • Skin becomes brighter and more even complexion.
  • Minimizes signs of aging and damage.
  • Skin is firming and hydrated.

How To Use:
Cleanse your face and peel off the outer packing.
Stick the eye pads under eye area.
Go to sleep or do anything you need to do.
Use 2 to 3 times a week
Use 3 boxes for a full course treatment for best results.


I was really excited to try these eye masks to try and help with my under-eye issues!



From the back of the box:
"VIIcode Oxygen eye mask provide everything your eye skin needs to be healthy- all the essential vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, botanicals, peptides, and essential fatty acids. Say goodbye to tired eyes, dark circles, and fine lines- now you can always look refreshed, bright-eyed, and lively, soothing eye by VIIcode oxygen eye mask. These pics of cool gel conform to the shape around the eye, infiltrating the entire area in soothing botanical extracts, as well as targeting specific issues."

No filter photos. No eye creams or serums have been applied in the before or the after photos.

I applied the eye patches to my under eyes after cleansing, as per the instructions. These photos were taken after one treatment. The patches adhered fairly well but I found that they would lift a bit so I would have to repress them periodically to make sure they were covering all areas.

As you can see from my before and after photos pictured above, after just one use, my under eyes do look brighter in the after picture but my hereditary under eye bags did not improve. On the box, they don't claim to improve puffiness and bags, but they do on their website as well as on Amazon. Based on my experience, I think these could help you if you suffer from dark circles under your eyes and are looking for some under eye lightening and brightening.

As stated in the "how to use" instructions from their website, they recommend using 3 boxes for a full course treatment for best results.

Have you tried this product? What was your experience?

You can learn more about this product and purchase them here.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Makeup and Skincare Haul | Glo Skin Beauty


If you follow me on IG, you may have already seen this haul.

I was one of Glo Skin Beauty's lucky winners on Instagram. I was really not familiar with the brand but I'm always excited to learn about new brands and test out their products.

I won credit to their site, so everything you see in this haul I picked out myself.

I've only tested out the makeup so far as I just received the package and I am more than ecstatic with this brand so far!

Let's see what I picked out with my credit...




Glo Skin Beauty items I chose:

1. Moisturizing Tint in Light - $59.00CAD
2. Conditioning Hydration Cream - $53.50CAD
3. Eye Shadow Palette in Velvets - $60.50CAD
4. Cream Glaze Crayon in Chiffon - $19.50CAD
5. Finishing Sponge - $7.00CAD


The eyeshadow palette comes in a sleek compact with mirror. It has pretty much everything I've been looking for in an eyeshadow palette.

The shadows are not powdery at all and they are very pigmented. You know when you go into stores like Sephora and swatch all those high-end palettes and even the light colours swatch like "woah!"

I like that Glo Skin Beauty made the two shades that would be used the most in larger sizes!


Swatches of The Velvets Eye Shadow Palette

 All of the above swatches were finger swatches with one swipe (not built up) and no primer used.

I'm also head over heels for the Cream Glaze Lip Crayon in Chiffon. It reminds me of my favourite lip product by Sonia Kashuk featured here in my "If I Could Only Have One, Lip Products" post.

This has a creamy formula as the name implies, almost like a gel formula. It feels AMAZING on my dry lips and is the most beautiful nude shade. It really improves the look of my aging, dehydrated lips. I am really in love with this!

Swatch: Cream Glaze Lip Crayon in Chiffon

I can't wait to try out the Tinted Moisturizer and Conditioning Hydration Cream. Look out for some reviews on these in the future.

I feel so lucky and grateful to have won these products! I've truly discovered some new favourites.

Glo Skin Beauty is a cruelty-free brand.

Have you tried anything by Glo Skin Beauty? Let me know what you love!




*not sponsored. 

Thursday, August 10, 2017

If I Could Only Have One | Lip Products


I  have been planning on doing this post for some time now. As the name implies, the premise of this post is based on if I could only have one of a certain product, which would I choose.

Initially, I was going to do this in one post, but as I thought about all of the products that I would select, I realized that it would make for a very lengthy post. So, I decided to break it down by category. This way I can do swatches of most products and the posts will be shorter and hopefully sweeter.

Picking just one from each category definitely isn't easy but these are my true choices at this time. If I am ever out of a product that I would choose for one of my future posts, I will just use a stock photo as these choices are very authentic and I will never choose a product just for the sake of it.

Today's post is all about lip products. Let's see what I would choose and why, if I could only have one! πŸ’„πŸ’„πŸ’„πŸ‘„πŸ‘„πŸ‘„


Lipstick
Sonia Kashuk's lipstick in Sheer Pink Lust. This was a no-brainer for me. This lipstick forever lives in my purse and it's my 2nd or 3rd tube of it. I have to make a trip to Target and pick up another one as I don't want to be without it. I even gave one of these away in one of my giveaways with some of my favourite products. This is fantastic if you have aging, dry and dehydrated lips like mine. It adds the most beautiful hint of pink/nude to the lips with a bit of glossiness. It's more of a sheer formula rather than a cream formula like most lipsticks. I find that cream formulas aren't as forgiving for dry and lined lips. This has anti-aging ingredients, is hydrating, and gives the most flattering look! Sonia Kashuk is cruelty-free. Retail approx $15

Matte Lipstick
Milani's Matte Naked. My lips don't do well with matte lipsticks. This is the best one I have found so far for my lined and dehydrated lips. I do wear a light layer of balm underneath as I do with any matte lip product. The colour is a gorgeous nude brown with a hint of pink. It's very forgiving for a matte lipstick and pretty much the only matte lipstick that I reach for. Milani is cruelty-free. Retail approx $6.

Lip Gloss
Too Faced Sweet Peach Lip Gloss in "Pure Peach." I did a full review with lip swatches (linked here). I find this to be very brightening for my face, it's not sticky, and although it looks neon when swatched, it doesn't show up that way on my lips. It shows up peachy-pink on me. It's so hydrating as it's full of wonderful oils.. very nourishing for the lips. And, it doesn't slide around despite being full of these beneficial oils. Too Faced is cruelty-free. Retail approx. $24

Lip Balm
Baby Lips tinted lip balm in Berry Soft. This one is from their Dr. Rescue line which is a medicated formula. I would choose any of the tinted Baby Lips, they all work so well. This one is definitely a favourite and lives in my purse at all times. I can apply it without a mirror, and it hydrates with a hint of colour and has SPF.  Retail approx. $6

Lip Liner 
Essence lip liner "In The Nude." This is the perfect nude for me. It seems to go with any lip product. Although I don't wear colours like red, it does go with pretty much everything else. It's a very creamy formula, super affordable, and cruelty-free. Retail approx. $4


Swatches

Left to right: Sonia Kashuk Sheer Pink Lust , Milani Matte Naked, Too Faced Sweet Peach Gloss, Baby Lips in Berry Soft, Essence Lip Liner In The Nude.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my first post in this series. I'm looking forward to posting all my other If I Could Only Have One products. There will be many categories to come.

xoxo



Not Sponsored.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick Review + Swatches #THELIQUIFIEDLIPSTICK


I recently received Bite Beauty's new Liquified Lipsticks from Influenster for review purposes. #THELIQUIFIEDLIPSTICK

I received 3 shades from their new Liquified Lipstick line as well as their Lip Primer (the long tube pictured).


Bite Beauty's Line & Define Lip Primer (shown above) contains ingredients to nourish, prevent feathering and aid in colour retention. Just a few of these ingredients are resveratrol, jojoba oil, and argan oil. This primer can be used in conjunction with any lip product. I've been wearing this under most of my lippies to prime my lips and make my lip products last longer. (1.5grams / $25CAD).


Bite Beauty's Liquified Lipsticks come in a sleek black tube and have a doe-foot applicator, which makes it easy to get precise application. The colour indicator on the end of each tube is quite handy, especially if you are a makeup collector.

Pictured above: 
Line + Define Lip Primer, The Liquified Lipstick in; Flambe (red), Eclair (pink), and Demi-Glace (brown).

The Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick is Bite Beauty's most nourishing lipstick in a liquid form. These lipsticks are silicone free and made with Monoi butter and coconut oil.

The super creamy formula is very pigmented and applies smoothly and evenly, and one coat gives me full opacity. I find them very long lasting. These are unlike any lip product that I've tried. It's not a drying liquid lipstick formula, it doesn't dry down and it's not matte either. I find the formula very hydrating and comfortable on my lips. Best of all, they do not accentuate the lines in my lips or the dryness, which is quite the feat for my dry, and aging lips.



Above: Applying the shade Demi-Glace.

These have a slightly glossy finish. If you want more of a matte look, you can apply, then blot your lips for a more matte finish. Easy-peasy.


Swatches (top to bottom): Eclair (pink), Demi-Glace (brown), Flambe (red).


Eclair is described as "Soft Rose." Demi-Glace is described as "Chocolate Mauve." And, Flambe is described as a "Vivid Poppy."

Final Verdict: 
My lips are in horrible shape; dry, aging, and full of lines. The fact that these products hide all of that is quite amazing. The comfort, hydration and fact that they are long-lasting also make them winners in my books!

Bite Beauty's Liquified Lipsticks come in 12 shades, so there is something for everyone. They retail for $28CAD for .25oz/ 7.15 grams.

Bite Beauty is all natural. Their products are even edible although I don't recommend that you eat them. They are also a cruelty-free brand. 🐰

These products are available at Sephora.com

If you'd like to join Influenster and get free products to test and review, feel free to use this link and skip the wait!

Have you tried the new Liquified Lipstick? What are your thoughts?



These products were provided free for testing purposes. All opinion are my own. Not sponsored. #gotitfree

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Monthly Empties | Haircare, Skincare, Beauty, Health + Makeup Declutter!

I'm trying to keep up with my monthly empties post so I don't end up with an overwhelming amount of products in the post. Here's what I've finished up in July with mini reviews! Links to products provided where possible.

 Beauty

Goldwell Topchic Hair Colour in 10P (Pastel Pearl Blonde)
This is the product that my hair stylist uses to tone my highlights and also slightly lighten my base colour so the difference in my natural colour is not so harsh against my highlights. I also use this product at home 2 months after I get my highlights done to slightly lighten my roots between highlights. Full DIY on how I do this is linked here.

Repurchase- YES!

Miracle 10 Cleanser 1
I didn't find anything special about this cleanser. I much prefer my Live Clean cleansers to this one.

Repurchase- No

Soft & Dry Aluminum Free Deodorant
I purchased this only because I ran out of my aluminium free go-to deodorant by Coty/Adidas, and the store didn't have my Coty/Adidas one in stock. This was the only aluminium free one I could find, so I grabbed it. This lasted so long I couldn't believe it! It seemed like it was never going to end. Not really a bad thing, but since l prefer my Coty/Adidas deodorant I was dying to go back to it.

Repurchase- Only if in a pinch

Retin-A Micro Gel 0.04%
I need a prescription to get this here in Canada. With this formula, I have never experienced any irritation like I did with the formulas that I used in my 20's. I'm thinking of bumping up to a higher percentage to see if I can get more results.

Repurchase- Yep!

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream SPF 30
I love Olay! I used to use Olay exclusively when I was in my 20's and everyone always asked what skincare I used. I have very acne prone skin and Olay products never cause me to breakout or have any irritation. I just wish they were a cruelty-free brand!

Repurchase- Possibly, but I will choose cruelty-free brands over this

Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark -Circle Roller
I only purchased this because I ran out of my favourite eye cream and this was on sale at the drugstore for such a low price. I like this product, it's like an eye cream and highlight/concealer in one. It brightens my under eyes and provides light coverage. I used this daily and thought it would never end, it must have been going for 1.5-2 years, just crazy!

Repurchase- No (I bought 2 more because the sale was so cheap and I had no idea these would last so long!)

Health

Madre Labs Cococeps Instant Dark Cocoa Beverage
Many of you have probably seen this appear on my site before. It's my favourite cocoa powder to use in my protein shakes. It doesn't contain sweeteners, it's organic, and contains immune boosting cordyceps and reishi mushroom powders. This is the only way I can get the health benefits of mushrooms into my diet since I cannot eat them. No- you cannot taste the mushrooms!

Repurchase- Always

Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg
Another staple in my health care regimen. I've been taking this ever since I was diagnosed with heart issues. I recently had an ultrasound to check on my heart conditions and to my delight, one of my heart conditions has improved. My MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse) to be specific, has somehow repaired itself. The Doctors couldn't tell me what caused my heart to repair itself.  All I know is that I've been taking this CoQ10 and Fish oil capsules since I was diagnosed with my heart issues.

Repurchase- Always!

Declutter

If you follow me on my Instagram, you may have seen these already. I've been trying to get rid of products that don't work for me or just sit there and never get used for one reason or another. These have all been passed on to homes where I hope they will get the love that they deserve (minus the mascara since that wouldn't be sanitary!). 😊

Prestige Baked Mineral Blush in Natural
This didn't show up on my skin. To get it to show up, I had to pile it on. This made my pores and skin look horrible. I think this would work well on skin-tones that are lighter or darker than mine. It would work well as a highlight for darker skin-tones for sure!

Essence Mosaic Blush in All You Need Is Pink
Essence makes some of my favourite blushes of all times! Their old Silky Touch blushes and their more recent Satin Touch blushes are all 5-star products! The colour of this one was so gorgeous that I had to have it, but sadly it was so powdery and went on very patchy!

Revlon's new Mega Multiplier Mascara
This is a brand new mascara to the market. I've seen so many rave reviews for it but it just didn't work for me. I like big lashes and this gave me very wimpy lashes. If you like more natural looking lashes you may love this product.

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette
This is a great palette. It has almost every colour you could ever want. I never thought that I'd get rid of it. But, the truth is that I've had it for years and I NEVER reach for it. I had to store this palette in the back of a drawer because it's so large. From now on I will stick to smaller palettes that I can keep within reach so they get used. I do recommend this palette if you don't mind the size and you'll use it!

Nyx Eyeshadow and Blush Palette (not sure of the name)
The quality of these shadows is really amazing! It has a pull-out tray with blush and lip colours as well. I never thought that I'd get rid of it. It was that one palette that I said I'd keep because it not only had neutrals but if I ever had the urge or the need, it also had bright colours. But, because it's quite bulky and also got stored away in the back of my drawer, it never got used. This has gone to another home to get the love that it deserves.

I am slowly learning the hard way what to buy and what not to buy, so my products get used up. I am much more particular about what I add to my collection now and it's working well for me so far.

I haven't missed one of these items since I passed them on either.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I used up this month. Let me know in the comments what you've been loving, not loving or decluttering this month. πŸ’“



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