Elf Clear Lip Exfoliator Review | Hot or Not!?

e.l.f. Clear Lip Exfoliator

I heard a lot of hype about how great this Elf lip exfoliator is, so I had to pick one up and see for myself.

My lips are in such bad shape. Between age, dehydration and just having a lot of lines in my lips, I am the perfect candidate to really put this to the test.

Knowing that this product is made with soothing oils and sugar I didn't understand how it could work very well as I imagined that it would be too soft. Not so! It's actually very solid and hard but somehow it is not rough on the lips.

e.l.f. Clear Lip Exfoliator

After dampening my clean lips, I massage the lipstick shaped bullet around my lips for about a minute. I can see it removing the dead skin (I know, gross!).

Before 

After

Above is a photo of my lips after exfoliating with this product. I am not wearing any gloss or lip balm or anything. My lips are left so soft and hydrated from the oils in the product and the dead skin has been removed.

Final Verdict:
This definitely works! It's powerful yet gentle. My dry and dehydrated lips are left soft and supple and most definitely exfoliated.

This product can be purchased here, and here.

Elf is a cruelty-free brand with many Vegan products. 🐰

This product was purchased by me. All opinions are mine. some links are referral links. Thank you if you choose to use them.

New Elf Makeup Haul With First Impressions! #Crueltyfree

I wanted to share my most recent Elf haul and my first impressions with Y'all! Here's a link to my last haul if you'd like to check that out too. 💗

Elf Beautifully Bare Natural Glow Face Palette

Elf  Natural Glow Face Palette (colours have been built up)

Oh, how I fell for this beautiful looking palette. Also, sold by the fact that it has blush, bronzer, and highlight all in one sleek compact.

Natural Glow Face Palette / $8 USD: 
In my opinion, this palette is best for lighter skin tones and/or those who prefer peachy blushes. These blush shades are just not flattering on me and they are not very pigmented. The highlight in here is gorgeous though, and I have transferred it into my Elf Illuminating Palette. The bronzer is a nice shade that is not too warm but for anyone with skin darker than mine, this probably wouldn't show up very much. Not sure if I just got a bad one but the blush in the upper right corner has no pigmentation at all and won't even swatch using my fingers.

I really love the idea of this palette, and I really hope that Elf comes out with more shades!

Elf Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow

in Rose Gold

Molten Liquid Eyeshadow in Rose Gold/ $4 USD:
This Molten Liquid Eyeshadow in Rose Gold is a gorgeous metallic rose gold shade. However, I had problems getting it to stay put on my eyes. It would always kind of cake up in places. Maybe it's just me or my hooded eyes but this just didn't work for me. I really wish it did as the colour is beautiful!

Elf Highlighting Brush

Highlighting Brush / $3 USD:

What more can I say, this is fabulous and you would never know that it's such a budget-friendly product. It's super soft, doesn't shed and picks up and lays down the perfect amount of product. 10 stars!

Elf Baked Eyeshadow Palette in California

Baked Eyeshadow Palette Swatches - No primer / Applied Dry

Baked Eyeshadow Palette in California / $10 USD:
When I first swatched this product I was so disappointed. The shadows were hard and there was no pigmentation at all, even with a finger swatch. Then I used these with a wet synthetic brush and it changed everything! These work beautifully as a light, shimmery wash of colour across the lids. I know that I'll be getting a lot of use out of this palette this summer as it's a quick, easy, and pretty look. No need for a crease shade or a blending shade etc. Just a one-and-done wash of beautiful shimmer on the lids.. perfect for summer!

Elf is a cruelty-free brand. Many of their products are Vegan, too! 🐰

Have you tried any of these? What are your favourites?

*This post is not sponsored. All products were purchased by Moi. Some links are referral links, thank you if you choose to use them!

Instagram Challenge: Finish #7bySpring

In January I decided to join some other beauty junkies on Instagram who were participating in a challenge called #7BySpring. The objective was to finish up 7 beauty products by spring aka today!

Finishing beauty products can be quite the challenge. Products like mascara are easy since we replace them on the regular. I ended up adding a mascara to this challenge as I didn't have anything else that I could come close to finishing up.

These challenges can get tedious as we end up using the same products everyday, which kind of takes the fun out of playing with makeup. But, it's also rewarding to finish products up so we can move on to something new and say goodbye to the old.

For challenges like this, I recommend selecting products that are older and may expire if you don't use them up.

Here is a screenshot of my initial Instagram post, showcasing the items I chose for this challenge. 

And, here we are today on the first day of Spring and the last day of this challenge

I don't remember the last time I finished up a lipstick!

Products I finished:

-Marcelle Sheer Tint Fluid Moisturizer- I have used for years and would repurchase

-Elf Lash and Brow Clear Mascara- I use this all the time and will definitely repurchase

-Jordana Best Lash Extreme- Another product I've used for years and will repurchase

-Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush- I recommend this formula for aging lips as it's very hydrating and doesn't accentuate lines. It's a more sheer formula and I do like it, but I became a little sick of it after using it everyday. I started to mix it with a lipstick I have that is too brown for me and then I wound up with the perfect pinky-brown/ mauve shade! (I liked it so much I did a blog post on it HERE).

Products I did not finish:

-Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Face Powder- I was sooo close to finishing this! I would not repurchase this as I found I became oily quickly with this powder and it was a little heavy and accentuated pores. I would buy other powders by PF like their Youthful Wear powders.

-Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller- This thing just keeps on ticking! It's made it through 2 "empty" challenges and it's still going. I got this on sale for such a good price that I have backups! I just hope they don't expire!

-Essence Eye Shadow Base- This is just like the Garnier Roller above, it doesn't end. It has also survived 2 Instagram "empty" challenges and doesn't seem to be close to being empty. I would buy it again but I have another eye primer that I bought last summer that is still waiting on standby!

I guess 4 out of 7 isn't bad. 

I'm definitely looking forward to using my other products now that this challenge is over! And, I'm also looking forward to some new challenges!  

If you know of any fun challenges, please leave them in the comments or click on my Instagram link at the top of this page and leave me a comment there..

Thanks for stopping by!

Amy

xoxo

iHerb Haul for Y'all: Health, Beauty, Skincare, Makeup, Supplements!

Health and Beauty Haul!

I received a package from iHerb today and thought I'd share my little haul with y'all. Maybe you will get some ideas for things you want to try. I love finding out about new products to try out. Some of these items are repurchases and other are some new discoveries for me.

As usual, I tore into everything right away! Not pictured in the haul pic above is an Elf eyeshadow that arrived as dust. :(

This is Elf's Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow in Lunch Break it's currently on sale for only $2.10! The great thing about iHerb is that they immediately refunded my money and I am reordering this with my next order. I did manage to swatch this and it's BEAUTIFUL! I actually didn't expect it to be such a nice colour from the swatches I found online.

The rest of my items and all the deets:

Rainbow Light Multivitamin

Rainbow Light Just Once Women's Food Based Multi 150 tablets for $32.89- this is a repurchase. I love this multi because it's made from food-based ingredients so our bodies recognize the ingredients more compared to manufactured ingredients and it has some herbs specifically for Women's issues and you only need one a day!

From iHerb's website:
#1 Natural Women's Multivitamin Brand

• • Promotes Bone, Breast, Heart & Skin Health
  • Provides Energy & Stress Support
  • Easy to Digest with Probiotics & Enzymes
  • Gluten Free
  • Soy Free
  • Dietary Supplement

  Naturally nourishes, energizes, and protects the major systems of a woman's body.

  Just one tablet of our food-based Women's One multivitamin goes beyond minimal daily values to deliver clinically researched key nutrients in forms that are easy for your body to absorb.

  • Bone, breast, heart, skin & immune health

  Vitamins B, C, D3, E, K • 2:1 calcium : magnesium ratio • antioxidants • whole foods

  • Energy, mood & stress management

  Women's Nourishing Blend • potent B complex

  • Brain & nervous system health

  B6 & B12 • choline

  • Easy to digest: can be taken on an empty stomach

  Fast-acting probiotics • plant-source enzymes 

Country Life Coenzyme B-Complex

Country Life, Gluten Free Coenzyme B Complex Caps, Veggie Caps 60 caps for $11.99 or 120 caps for $17.99- this is a new purchase for me. It's supposed to be easier for our bodies to absorb because of the Coenzyme formula.  

From Iherb's website: "Coenzyme B-Complex contains essential B vitamins in its active, "coenzymated" form. This complex that you've known and loved for over 15 years now includes Methylfolate (Quatrefolic) - the most advanced form currently available. And as always, you don't need to worry about the typical vitamin B taste or odor."

Reviva Labs Rosewater Facial Spray

Reviva Labs, Rosewater Facial Spray  8oz for $6.51- this is another new purchase. I love my facial sprays and I'm so excited to try this one, it has great reviews on iHerb`s website. 

From iHerb's website: With Aloe, Herbs, Minerals & Hyaluronic Acid, Refresh Skin & Set Makeup, Spray Away Perspiration, Moisturize Skin & Hair in Dry Weather, Use as a Sensitive-Skin Tonic. "Natural extract of roses makes this Facial Spray very refreshing and stimulating. Helps moisturizers and night creams have better effects in making skin look better with makeup, or "setting" makeup; you'll find dozens of other uses. For male and female athletes, this mist is a great refresher and cleansing aid."

Now Foods XyliWhite Neem & Tea Tree Toothpaste

Now Foods, XyliWhite Neem & Tea Tree Toothpaste 6.4oz for $4.57- This is another new product that I'm trying. I usually use this product in the regular XyliWhite cinnamon flavoured toothpaste and have had great results. Once I saw this formula with Neem and Tea Tree I had to get it. 

From iHerb's website: XyliWhite is a remarkable fluoride-free toothpaste gel that uses natural Xylitol as its main ingredient.

• Formulated with the purest ingredients
• Free of SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)
• Vegetarian/vegan ingredients
• Cool, minty, refreshing taste
• White, stronger teeth
• Contains 25% Xylitol, one of the highest contents available
• For adults and children

Healthy Origins 5-HTP

Healthy Origins 5-HTP Veggie Caps 50mg/ 120 veggie caps for $10.98- This is another new product that I'm excited to try. It has great reviews and I'm hoping it will help with sleep and mood etc.

From iHerb's website: 

• Economy Size
• Naturally Sourced
• Non-GMO
• Soy Free
• Supports a Positive Mood
• Vegetarian Formula
• Dietary Supplement

``Healthy Origins 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seeds of the Griffonia Simplicifolia plant. 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin which is a vital neurotransmitter in the body. Serotonin is one of the primary neurotransmitters which supports healthy mood, appetite, and sleep.``

Healthy Origins 5-HTP is guaranteed to be free of "peak x" contaminant.

California Gold Curcumin C3

California Gold Nutrition, Curcumin C3 Complex 30 Veggie Caps (at the time I purchased they were on a trial special for .90cents) iHerb always has super specials and trial specials going on, you just have to click on those links on their site. I have taken curcumin before but not by this brand. Curcurmin has so many purported health benefits. Info on Curcumin.

I love shopping at iHerb. The products are much cheaper than if I were to buy them in retail stores and they have superb customer service (eg. it took me about 3 minutes on their live chat today to tell them about my broken eye shadow and they quickly refunded me.) They operate out of California and because I`m in Canada I use international shipping. Even with international shipping, this entire order cost me a flat $5.34 USD for shipping. Depending on the weight I often get shipping for a lighter order for just $2! Everyone will receive a discount on orders over $40 and if you`ve never shopped with them before, they will give you $5-$10 off your order by using this iHerb coupon code  . I`ve shopped around and always find they have the lowest prices and lowest shipping charges. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing all the new products I purchased. I know I`m excited to try all of the new ones! If you have any questions or would like any reviews on any of the products please let me know. 

Click here for $5-$10 off your first iHerb order

Xo Amy