$6 Dupe for Marc Jacobs Shameless Youthful-Look Longwear Foundation!

Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing out as I mostly use very inexpensive makeup products. So I wonder, would I look better if I used high-end products instead?! 🤔 Then I find some fabulous, inexpensive dupes to some high end products and realize that I don't have to spend a lot to get the look for less!

The love for dupes keeps growing and growing because of the sharpness and affordability they bring to the table. I recently came across a Goyard dupe that was absolutely identical to the original.

And then, I also stumbled upon Marc Jacobs Shameless Youthful Look Longwear Foundation at my local Marshall's and it was on clearance for only $7 (Retail approx. $60 for 32ml). The shade I found "light R250" looked like the perfect shade for my skintone, so of course I couldn't leave it at the store!

Note: It was not expired when I purchased it back around March

Marc Jacobs Shameless foundation IS perfect for my dehydrated and aging skin, and the shade "light R250" was a pretty darn good match for my light- medium skintone with neutral undertones. It's available in 29 shade options at this time.

It blends so easily into my skin and is not cakey at all. It's actually quite hydrating and has light-medium coverage with a skin-like finish. This is right up my alley in terms of a base for my face. I've never liked heavy or full coverage foundations. This one has just enough coverage and makes my skin look so healthy by adding a bit of colour, hydration, and dew! 

Months later, I stumbled across Elf Cosmetics BB Cream for only $6 (28.5ml), (which I've also spotted at Marshall's). It too sounded like the type of face product that I like to wear on the daily. It claims to minimize fine lines and also contains hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba, aloe, and cucumber. I purchased the colour Buff, which is a tad darker than my skintone but it blends into my skin no problem and doesn't appear too dark once blended. 

As soon as I applied Elf's BB Cream, it immediately reminded me of the Marc Jacobs one I had been using. So, I decided to test them out by applying each one to half of my face and wore them for an entire day just to see how alike they really are. 

I am happy to report that the texture, formula, and finish are the same for both products! Although, ELF's BB Cream might have a tad bit more coverage. They are both super hydrating and give my skin the same look. And, despite the colour difference in the swatches, once I blend them into my skin, I don't see any difference. Hence why I was able to wear both at the same time with each one on one side of my face.

Elf's BB Cream has SPF 20 and has only 3.5ml less product than Marc Jacobs. While Marc Jacobs has SPF 25. Marc Jacobs BB cream also has "Flashback-free innovation." I didn't see any flashback claims with Elf's.

Other than those minor differences, these products perform the same for me. Both are super easy to blend with light-medium coverage. Both are very hydrating leaving the skin with a youthful look. 

At the time of this writing,  Marc Jacobs comes in 29 shade options, while ELF'S comes in only 7, which may make ELF'S a deal breaker if you can't find your shade.

ELF BB Cream in Buff

Left: ELF in Buff / Right: Marc Jacobs R250

Despite the shade difference in the swatches, they look the same on my skin once blended. 

These are a definite dupe, in my opinion, and I find no reason to spend more. In this case, I don't have to spend a lot of money to get the look of a high end product for much less! Don't get me wrong, there are still times where I prefer something high end, like Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk blush... nothing has compared to that one yet!

Note: You may want to spend more if the flashback technology with Marc Jacob's product is important to your for a special occasion.

You can't go wrong with either one of these as they are both fabulous products, especially for dry or dehydrated, or aging skin!

*Purchase ELF BB Cream here: Elf BB Cream 

*Purchase Marc Jacobs Shameless Foundation here: Marc Jacobs Foundation

PS. Both brands are cruelty-free 🐰 

Elf is also Vegan!

Amy

XO's

#playbeautifully #elf #marcjabocs #beauty #antiaging #beautyover50 #lovemarshalls

*All links are trusted  and used by this site. Some links are referral links. Thank you if you choose to use them. xo

Elf Primer Infused Blush in Always Cheeky Review + Swatches

Elf's Primer Infused Blushes won Allure's 2019 Best of Beauty Award, so for only $6, I had to try it for myself. I also heard a lot of hype over this blush on social media and most were singing the praises of the shade Always Cheeky, so I went with that shade to find out what all the hype is about. 

From ELF:

2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner!

This long-wear, matte blush is infused with lock on primer powder to ensure a full day of perfectly placed blush. This blush is easy to blend, perfectly pigmented for ease of application, and grips your cheeks like second skin.

-Available in 7 shades

-Retail $6 for 10 grams

The blush comes in a very large 10-gram pan with basic plastic packaging and does not have a mirror. The shade Always Cheeky appears to be a light peachy shade. I've heard a lot of people mention the "pink" in this shade, however, I do not see pink, personally. 

The blush kicks up a lot of powder when I dip my blush brush into it. It's best to tap the excess powder off of the brush before applying for an even application. This shade barely shows up on my light-medium skin tone unless I build up several layers, but then I lose the sheer, natural look as it will become powdery looking. Since I always wear bronzer, it's even less detectable on my skin. 

The formula is nice for aging skin as it is mostly matte, sheer, and doesn't accentuate texture or pores thanks to the built-in primer. Lasting time for me is average but then again, because it's so light on my skin tone, it's hard to even detect. 

ELF Primer Infused Blush in Always Cheeky in natural daylight

Overall, I like this blush. However, it's lacking that wow factor for me, which could be just because it's just the wrong shade for me. I need something a bit darker and something with a bit of pink or rose to it for my neutral (leaning warm), light-medium skin tone.

I would recommend this blush if you choose the right colour for your skin tone. I think that this shade, Always Cheeky, would suit someone with very fair skin. You can't beat the price at $6 for 10 grams!

*** UPDATE: I ended up liking this blush more and it showed up nicely when I switched to a much more dense makeup brush. It's still subtle,  but shows up, even with my bronzer on and I'm liking it. Very natural but present 😊

ELF Cosmetics is Cruelty-Free! 🐰

 Elf Primer Infused Blush $6 for 10 grams.

Have you tried this blush? Do you love it or not so much?

Have a great week ahead! 

Amy 

#playbeautifully #elfcosmetics

Monthly Empties | Health, Beauty, Makeup, Skincare!

Happy November, everyone! I don't know about you but I'm actually glad that November is here. No idea why, maybe new month, new start!? Anyhooo, it's time for another empties post. Sorry for the lighting in the photos, it's been raining all week and the lighting was terrible, to top it off my bottle of Glycine wouldn't cooperate and pose properly for the photos! 😂

As always, I will share links to products in the titles and mini reviews.

Health

PhiNaturals Collagen Complete
I liked this collagen powder as it didn't have any taste, mixed well in my smoothies and it's also non-GMO and grass-fed. However, I have switched to Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate as it is pasture raised and grass fed which is a better choice. I also feed the collagen to my cat for all the same reasons I take it. There are too many benefits to get into here but one Google search will fill you in if you're not familiar with some of the benefits. A few benefits are joint health, gut health, restores bone density, helps with tissue repair and is reported to be good for hair, skin and nails, too!

Repurchase- No (will purchase Great Lakes Collagen)

Now Glycine Pure Protein Powder
I've talked about Glycine a lot on my site recently. Although I purchased this for the reported sleep benefits, I actually found that it helped with daytime stress rather than my sleep. I take 1 heaping tsp in a bottle of water and sip it throughout the day.

From iHerb:
Glycine is the smallest and simplest amino acid, making it versatile for use in a wide range of functions. Glycine is necessary for the production of glutathione, DNA, creatine, bile, hemoglobin, and most proteins. It also helps to promote glycogen storage, thereby making glucose readily available for energy production. Glycine also functions as a calming neurotransmitter in the brain, where it facilitates nerve impulses and is important for the maintenance of healthy sleep patterns.

Repurchase- Already have!

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies
I like to take these for my hair and skin health. I really only notice my nails growing like crazy when I take these, so I know they're doing something! These contain biotin, vitamin c + E. For some reason, biotin on its own makes me breakout but these do not.

Repurchase- Yes

Jarrow Max DHA
These have been my favourite fish oil caps for a long time. I try others but always come back to this one. The gel caps are small and I don't get fishy burps. Plus, I get a higher dose of DHA which is the predominant fatty acid in the brain, nervous system and retina of humans and also supports neurological function. 

Repurchase- Already have

Schuessler Tissue Salts- Nerve Tonic
It's been years since I took tissue salts. I was introduced to them when I developed my severe insomnia and discovered homoeopathy while looking for help with my sleep issues. I saw these in the store and decided to give them another try since it has been so long (since about 2002). I didn't really notice anything though. Tissue salts come in single remedy form or compositions such as this one.

About Tissue Salts:
Tissue Salts are specially prepared micro-doses of the body’s 12 essential minerals. These minerals are important for the functioning and health of the body; if deficiency or imbalance occurs, common ailments or illness may result. With today’s reliance on highly processed foods, keeping a healthy balance of minerals in the body is often difficult.

Repurchase- At some point. Perhaps the next one will be a single remedy tissue salt

Bach Rescue Remedy Night
Bach flowers are another form of homoeopathy. I had taken the very popular Rescue Remedy drops before the night version was available and unfortunately, it didn't do anything for me. However, I do find the Rescue Night formula helps my sleep somewhat. I take it before bed and if I wake too early it often helps me fall back asleep. The other great thing about homoeopathic remedies is that there are no contraindications with medications. Note: I find the actions are very subtle. I don't feel sleepy after I take this but it does help with my sleep somewhat.

Repurchase- Already have

Beauty

Prescription Retin-A 0.04% (RX only)
I've been using this Retin-A for years. It's Retin-A Mirco 0.04%. It has never been harsh nor irritated my skin, I didn't even need an adjustment period when I started it. The only time I needed an adjustment period was when I started using it on my neck, and even then it was minimal. If you've had a hard time adjusting to typical Retin-A, ask your Doctor about this one.

Repurchase- Yes

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
This was a great mask for pulling impurities out of my skin and getting a little exfoliation in as well. My skin really did glow when I used this. Whenever I use a mask like this one, I like to follow it up with something very hydrating- either a hydrating mask or Essence followed by my serum, moisturizer, and sometimes oils. This product is Vegan.

Repurchase- Possibly, I have so many other to use up first and I'd like to try some of the other ones from this line.

Elf Perfect Finish HD Face Powder
I purchased this with one of my iHerb orders. It was a steal and lasted for a long time. It definitely blurred my pores and killed the shine on my face, I'm pretty oily. It is a white powder though, so a light dusting is all you need, probably why it lasted so long! This product is cruelty-free!

Repurchase- I would but I have SO many others to use up first

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray (Sample)
I loved this product and it was my first experience with Living Proof products. I get the feeling that this brand will work really well for my hair type, so I am eager to try more from them. I have naturally super frizzy hair, plus it's damaged hair from bleach and this spray did a great job at smoothing my frizz without weighing my hair down. I was impressed!

Repurchase- Yes

Anbber Beauty Sponge 6 pc
I ordered these makeup sponges from Amazon on a whim many months ago. I was blown away by the quality! These are my HG sponges! They are super soft, they don't absorb your product, they blend makeup really well (I use them damp), there's no funky smell, and none of mine have developed mold like some name brands sponges that I've used. I use each sponge for 3 months and then throw them out, even though they still look fine and have no tears or mold.

Repurchase- Yes

Sonia Kashuk Lipstick in Sheer Pink Lust
My HG lipstick of all times! This had such an anti-aging effect on my lips and the colour was so perfect! But, sadly Sonia Kashuk is no longer selling makeup. :(

Repurchase- No. Discontinued

Ecotools Mask Mates / Cleansing Sponge
I cannot rave enough about this sponge and the brush the came with it! At first, I thought these were just some gimmick to get us to purchase more unnecessary items to add to our beauty routines. These are NO gimmick at all. The brush (included in the kit but not shown) is wonderful and actually makes masking less messy and just easier and more enjoyable. The sponge is made from the same materials (natural pulp) that they use in high-end spas! It makes mask removal easier and less messy, plus you can use them daily with your cleanser. They really help to remove every trace of makeup while gently exfoliating the skin. I adore these!

Repurchase- Yes!

Misc.

Kirkland Face Wipes
I love to stock up on these. You get a huge box and it even contains a few packs of wipes for travel. The wipes are huge, nicely saturated and very gentle on my skin. I use one every night to remove my makeup before cleansing.

Repurchase- Yes

Himalayan Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste
I really enjoyed this toothpaste and loved the cinnamon taste. It checks off all the boxes that I look for in a natural toothpaste, it's free of SLS, fluoride, carrageenan, and gluten. However, after one tube of it, I can't say that I'm converted from my favourite Now Foods Xyliwhite cinnamon toothpaste. Although I love my Xyliwhite, I always love trying out other natural toothpaste.

Repurchase- I've already gone back to my Now Foods Xyliwhite

Sleep

Homeocan Insomnia Homeopathic Remedy
This product didn't fit into my photo of health products, and I figured that it deserves a spotlight all on its own. I've used a ton of homoeopathic remedies over the years. Some single remedies, some compositions and I've had some success with many of them. I think my body got used to many of them and they no longer worked for me. I came across this one by Homeocan which I had never tried before, so I figured I had nothing to lose. It really helped with my sleep issues and I've sadly run out and need to get some more asap!

Repurchase- ASAP!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this month's empties and hopefully, you found some of the information helpful.

Here's to a new month! May it be a happy and healthy one!

Always consult with your Doctor before beginning new supplements

Not sponsored. Some links are referral. Thank you if you choose to use them

Makeup Declutter | Eyeshadows + Lipsticks!

Searching for dupes of my favourite expired products

After reading an article called "What Happens to Your Face When You Use Expired Makeup" the other day (linked here), it freaked me out a bit. It definitely opened my eyes and I'm SO ready to let go of my old makeup now! 

Although I had always been cognisant about tossing cream products and mascaras when they expired, I never paid much attention to powder ones. I adopted the policy that if a powder product changed in consistency or scent, I would toss it.

We cannot always see what may be lurking in our products, especially powder ones, they often don't show signs like cream products can, but they too can be full of bacteria that we do not see. I have bumps on parts of my face (not acne), that look like milia or maybe it's from using such old products that possibly contain bacteria and such that I cannot see. We have to be especially careful with eye products though, as we definitey don't need to get an eye infection!

Decluttering makeup that I love is never easy, but after reading that article and opening my eyes up to how old some of my favourite products actually are, this task became easier. This declutter wasn't about whether or not I liked a product, it was about how old they were and it became a necessity to discard them. 

I've had been hanging onto some of my makeup like its life or death! The truth is that some of these products are up to 10 years old, if not more!

In this post, I'm just tackling my eyeshadows and lipsticks. Let's see what I got rid of, but first I'm sharing a chart that has some general guidelines of eyeshadow and other makeup expiration timelines. There are many different opinions on makeup expiry dates, a quick google and you'll see, so I take this chart with a grain of salt. For example, I cannot imagine tossing eyeshadow every 6-12 months and I noticed that my Essence eyeliners have a 36 month expiry. So make sure to check your products for the little expiry icon that indicates the expiry from the date of opening the product.

Source: Google

ONTO THE DECLUTTER....

Small Palettes (one single slipped in here :)

• Annabelle Nympheas- This was so eye-brightening. I will miss it. Didn't find a dupe. I would repurchase but I don't believe it's available anymore.
• Sally Beauty eyeshadow single- An okay basic satin shadow. I purchased this one to keep in my purse. Probably would not repurchase.
• Aloette -(I think)- this is so old there is no writing on the package. It was my absolute favourite. I loved it so much that I didn't want to use it very often... so silly and such a waste! It's so old, that I have no idea when I got it (probably 2008 or earlier)! I would repurchase but don't think it's available.
• Brian Bailey Foundation duo in Medium -this is a face powder that made the nicest eyeshadow. Discontinued.
• Wet N Wild Vanity Palette -This was an infamous palette. Luckily, I have a lot of these shades in other palettes. Discontinued.

Single Eyeshadows: 

• 13 eyeshadows (Mixed variety: Mac, Stila, Quo, Nyx, Pixi, Elf)
• 2 Jordana blushes 

All of the above were pulled from my Z palette. I don't even want to think about the total value of all of these singles! I should have included the Sally Girl eyeshadow single in this category but it was not in my Z palette.

Large Eyeshadow Palettes:

• Quo Back to Basics (UD Naked Dupe)- I would absolutely repurchase this if I could!
• Pacifica Natural Minerals- I would repurchase if I was looking for some all natural eyeshadows and I didn't have such a large collection.

Front of Quo's Back to Basics LE palette

This Back to Basics eyeshadow palette by Quo was very difficult to part with of because it has all of the shades that I love for my everyday eye look. Granted, I did only use the first 6 shades in the palette (the lighter ones). This palette was supposed to be a dupe for Urban Decay's Naked 1 which is also discontinued now.

Change in texture = product turned. Best not to continue to use it.

I received the above Pacifica palette in 2016, so it's not very old but the texture has changed which is a sign that it's gone bad. I wouldn't have decluttered this palette if it wasn't for signs that it has gone bad.

I used different criteria for purging my lipsticks. Anything 3 years or older had to go. And, I know, lipsticks probably expire long before 3 years but I do sanitize my products and rotate them since I own quite a few.

All of the lip products that were decluttered here are ones that I would purchase again.

Lipstick Declutter:

• L'oreal Fairest Nude -one of my favourite nudes, next to JLo's Nude by L'oreal.
• Sonia Kashuk Nude Pink (discontinued)
• Rimmel Kate #45 - a gorgeous and hydrating nude
• Essence Cool Nude - a beautiful deeper nude, also hydrating
• Elf Matte Lip Colour in Natural - one of the very few non-drying mattes that is great for aging lips too!
• Jordana Easyliner in Tawny- a beautiful MLBB liner.

I know that these aren't part of either of the makeup categories featured in this declutter, but I came across them right after tossing the other items and decided to add them to this declutter. These Essence concealers have a 6-month expiry on the packaging and I've had them for about 3 years. I rarely used them as I prefer my LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealers, which have an 18-month expiry stamped on them.

Total decluttered:

• 14 eyeshadow singles
• 6 eyeshadow palettes
• 2 blushes
• 6 lip products
• 2 concealers

A grand total of 30 items decluttered!

I am now labelling all of my products so I know exactly how old they are. I just used some address labels and cut to size.

This was definitely eye-opening in terms of paying more attention to my products and their lifespan, and also in terms of the horrible amount of unnecessary waste of money and products! This is one reason that I lean towards purchasing less expensive products; since they do have a lifespan and there is no way I can use up all of my makeup because I'm constantly trying out new products.

I hope you found this post helpful or maybe it inspired you to let go of old, expired products, too.

Empties | Makeup, Skincare, Health, Beauty!

I wasn't able to get this empties post up at the end of October, so this is now a month and a half worth of empties!

I was able to finish up quite a bit of product so I will be brief with my reviews and link to products where possible in the headings.

Skincare

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Cleansing Face and Body Bar
This cleansing bar is great for troubled skin. It lasts forever so I gave some away as I wouldn't have been able to use them before the expiry date. All natural and Excellent for travel, too!

Repurchase- Yes

NeoStrata Night Repair Cream
For all skin types, lack of radiance. I think I waited too long to begin using this product as I had so much skincare to get through before I was able to get to this product. It was very hydrating yet light and I didn't experience any irritation or breakouts but I feel that the product lost its efficacy.

Repurchase- Not since I discovered Robin McGraw's Revelation line, that's my new holy grail!

Pure + Simple Collagen Elastin Plus
This stuff is pricey but oh so worth it! It's a VERY thin consistency, not much thicker than water, but It's the most hydrating serum that I've ever tried. Fabulous to use all year round but especially important in the winter.. figures that I'd run out now.  Note: I only use this at night because it is so costly.

Repurchase- Yes, but I'll wait for the 50% off sale 😉

Nip + Fab Hydrate Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum
I did a full review on several products from this brand (linked here). I used several products from this brand in conjunction and they did wonders clearing up my skin from some existing breakouts that I had from some other skincare that I was testing out prior to this.

Repurchase- Yes! If I experience any breakout issues I will reach for this brand

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum
As above, this product in conjunction with some other Nip + Fab products cleared my skin of some horrible breakouts that I was experiencing. (full review linked here). I find the Nip + Fab products very effective yet they are very affordable.

Repurchase- Yes, especially for breakouts

Robin McGraw Revelation Triple Action Brightening Serum
I have a full review coming on this line. I used this line for a month and my skin changed for the better very quickly. Although I already use great skincare, I had incredible results from this line. I noticed a huge difference, I looked younger overall, and others noticed too as I kept receiving compliments!

Repurchase- YES! If I could afford to get rid of all of my existing skincare and replace it all with this line, I would do so in a heartbeat!

Robin McGraw Revelation Triple Action Brightening Night Cream
I used this along with the serum above. I don't think I've ever experienced such amazing results from any other skincare. I know this line is marketed as brightening but I'd say the biggest changes to my skin were firming. I looked younger overall and the changes came quickly.

These products are dye free, SLS free, paraben free, mineral oil free, and cruelty-free!

Repurchase- YES! As above, I would replace all of my existing skincare with this line if I could afford to!

Makeup

Jordana Quick Shine Topcoat
This product did dry my nails really quickly, however, they also began peeling within a day!

Repurchase- Nope

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light
This product just doesn't work for me. I always end up with the product all over my eye area no matter how careful I am. I prefer Essence Make Me Brow (bonus, it's a lot cheaper). I have a comparison of the two linked here.

Repurchase- No

ELF HD Lifting Concealer in Brightening
This product is very brightening, however, it also gets cakey under my eyes no matter how I apply it. Maybe it's user error or maybe my aging skin... if any of you know how to make this product work without it getting patchy/cakey, please let me know!

Repurchase- No

Maybelline Cover Stick in Medium Beige
This product is so old that I can barely read the label and I have NO idea when I got it. I did manage to finish it up though. It did the job (for my face not my under eyes), the colour is a great match for my skin tone, and it's quick and easy to use. But, I believe there are better products out there these days that I would like to try.

Repurchase- No

Health

Now Foods Eve Superior Women's Multi
This product has many great ingredients for us women. However, this product requires that you take 3 a day to get the nutritional values on the label. I never took more than 1 a day. I should have known better and have gone back to a one a day multi.

Repurchase- No

SBT Seabuckthorn Wellness Matcha
This product is made from Seabuckthorn leaves that are organically grown in the Canadian Prairies. Claims are that recent research has determined that the leaves contain 10 times the heart-healthy flavonols of the berries. I add this to smoothies or make a matcha latte.

From SBT: Our Seabuckthorn Wellness Matcha is a powerful anti-inflammatory that is also caffeine free, packed with protein (24%), and rich in antioxidants, vitamins, & minerals. A recent study has shown that Seabuckthorn leaves contain 10x more flavonols than the Seabuckthorn berry - flavonols are powerful anti-inflammatories that support heart, brain, bone, skin, digestive, & overall health. Its antioxidant properties also aid in preventing oxidative cell damage (aging). Overall Seabuckthorn Wellness Matcha helps to promote heart, skin, mobility, & liver health while increasing energy (naturally & without caffeine), and aiding in weight control. 

100% Canadian product (from farm to table) 24% Protein Non GMO, Vegan, Wild crafted & Organic Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free & Cruelty Free Sustainable ingredients Recyclable packaging Contains 80 grams (almost 100 servings) Caffeine free Boosts energy naturally

Repurchase- Already have

Modern Era Naturals Lipo-Capsulated Vitamin C
This product is much better absorbed than traditional supplements. This product along with other supplements from the same brand did wonders for me when I was going through a bout of vertigo. These products are pricey but really worth it if you can afford it.

From Modern Era Naturals: All of our ultra-absorbable liposomal supplements offer a whopping 90% better absorption rate than traditional supplements.  This means more of the nutrients you need, delivered directly to your cells.  All of our products are gluten-free, allergy-free, vegan, and offer a money-back guarantee. 

Repurchase- Yes

BHI ( Heel) Calming Homeopathic Tablets 
Claims: For Nervous Tension, Irritability, Sleeplessness. This homeopathic complex has been one of my go-to products for sleep for years now. It's usually the one homeopathic remedy that will work and send me over the edge into sleep when I need it.

Repurchase- Yes

Hyland's Calms Forte Sleep Aid
I've had this for so long and haven't really used it as I prefer the BHI one (above) for my sleep issues. However, this one can be helpful and does have a subtle calming action. I like to take this one occasionally as needed during the daytime.

Repurchase- Possibly

BHI Exhaustion Homeopathic Tablets
Claims: For fatigue, stress, overexertion, stress, insomnia. Unfortunately, this one doesn't work for me. I will stick to the BHI Calming tablets (above) which work much better for me.

Repurchase- No. Looks like it's discontinued anyway. 😋

There you have it, another trip through my trash. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about what I loved and not so much.

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!

Annabelle CC Colour Control Pressed Powder #Review

I just discovered this Annabelle CC Colour Control Pressed Powder and feel it deserves a mention.

Annabelle is one of my favourite drugstore lines. They are cruelty-free and make high quality products.

I've had this in my "backup stash" for a little while and was going to open it once I finished my Essence All About Matt powder. 

In a way, I'm glad that this happened.....

I dropped my Essence powder in the sink and the powder broke and went down the drain. woops! I do like this powder but it does have a hint of white when applied (which later disappears).

Anyhow, back to my new Annabelle powder....

Product Claims: -Controls skin colour by neutralizing redness, dull and uneven complexion.

-Corrects by reducing appearance of pores + fine lines

-Sets makeup and leaves a flawless anti-shine finish.

Paraben-free and perfume-free

I got the colour Light/Medium

This is a beautiful powder with a silky smooth texture. It is not powdery or cakey, and it's a nice skin tone colour for light-medium skin tones.

The compact has a nice mirror and a brush which is handy for touch ups on-the-go. Although, I found that with this brush it did kick up some powder, with my own brush it did not ( I used the Elf Complexion Brush).

Above swatch is all 3 colours in the compact swirled together.

Here they are swatched separately and together for comparison. 

From the top (starting with my index finger): 

Top finger- Upper left corner of pan is sheer.

Middle- White line in pan is sheer with a glow.

Ring- Largest part of pan, more concentrated colour, less sheer.

Pinky- All colours swirled together

I don't think anyone would use these colours separately but I guess you could with a small brush. I did use a small brush in the white strip that is glowy and applied it to my cheek bones but I found it too subtle.

Once swirled together, you get a beautiful satin/matte finish that does not settle into lines or pores and it does not cling to dry patches. This gets huge points for me as I have lines, large pores, and dry patches!

Benefits: 

-evens skintone

-satin/matte finish

-doesn't accentuate pores

-doesn't accentuate dry patches

-anti-aging

-light- medium coverge

-neutralizes red tones

-buildable

-doesn't break down

-shine free for hours

-imparts a healthy glow

-not powdery or cakey

-paraben-free

-perfume-free

My skin passed the car mirror test. My pores are barely visible and the overall look is natural and healthy.

I had some shine breaking through after a few hours but I have oily skin so I get that with any powder. It was easily touched up without looking cakey.

I think this powder would be great for any skin type, but I can definitely speak on behalf of aging skin and say that this is a winner!

I use this over my BB cream. I use a light layer by pressing it into my skin with my powder brush. 

It comes in a generous 8 gram pan.

I purchased mine at Shoppers Drug Mart but I've also seen this line at Walmart. Annabelle also sells their products on their website.

Amy

xoxo