Burt's Bees Gloss and Glow Glossy Balms Review + Swatches

Are you more of a lipstick or lip balm kind of person? I've always been more of a tinted lip balm kind of gal. Maybe it's because my lips are always dehydrated, plus I like the natural look that they give me. 

These new Burt's Bees Gloss and Glow Glossy Balms are right up my alley. They are super hydrating and offer my lips a beautiful, semi-sheer tint. They are loaded with wonderful hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, and mango butter.

The packaging is super cute and also sleek, which makes them easy to travel with. You can throw them in your purse or pocket for on-the-go use. The packaging contains 17% post-consumer plastic, so they are eco-friendly, too. The balms also offer a light and floral scent to them which does fade once applied. 

Left-right: Winning in Pink, Eat Drink and be Cherry, Wine Wednesday.

I am featuring 3 of the 4 shades here. Each shade offers hydration plus a beautiful, youthful glow without shimmer or glitter, which is something that's important to me when choosing a lip product. 

Winning in Pink is the sheerest colour, it adds hydration and a touch of pink with a beautiful glow. Eat, Drink and be Cherry is a sheer red/pink shade and is described as a vibrant red. While, Wine Wednesday, is a darker pink/mauve shade and is described as deep red. 

You can make them very sheer with a quick swipe or build them up for more impact, with the exception of the lightest shade which stays very sheer. The fourth shade is called Chai Time. Unfortunately, I don't have that one to swatch, but it's described as a rosy beige, which is probably a shade I would love! I'm glad that Burt's Bees designed these shades to work on all skin tones, and I truly believe that they would.

 

I'm loving how these tinted balms smooth and soften my lips and help make them appear more youthful thanks to their super-hydrating formula. I think that no matter what your age, a hydrated-looking pout is an easy way to appear more youthful and healthy. 

I find that I reach for the lightest shade (Winning in Pink) most often, while Wine Wednesday is the one I reach for second-most, as I love the mauve-y shade against my skin tone. I definitely need to pick up the shade Chai Time, too, as it sounds like my jam!

These gorgeous Gloss Balms feature a 100% natural origin formula and are cruelty-free. 🐰

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Amazon.com, London Drugs, and well.ca, Amazon.ca

PR samples kindly gifted for review consideration.

Best New Discovery For A Youthful Summer Glow | Peach Bums Blush

I had to share this gem of a find with y'all! It's Peach Bums Mega Glo blush by Wet n Wild. It's a new addition to my makeup collection and I can't stop wearing it! 

I have read some compare this blush to Nars Orgasm blush, which I have tried but am not really a fan of due to the super gold sheen that I find it leaves on my cheeks. This blush is better in my opinion. and it's only $3.99 USD! 

I don't always go for peachy shades as I tend to suit pinks more but I have to say, this blush leaves the most beautiful flush of colour on my cheeks and imparts the most beautiful glow! It actually gives me the illusion of a cheek lift, so to speak. 

One caveat, Peach Bums does have some micro glitter which I am not a fan of, but I have not found anything else that can replace this beautiful shade, glow, and instant cheek lift that Peach Bums gives me, so I'll take it, glitter and all! Keep in mind that the glitter only shows up in certain lighting.

This is THE perfect blush for Summertime and it's also amazing for aging skin despite the micro glitter! Keep scrolling for swatches and more...

Wet N Wild Mega Glo Blush in Peach Bums

Swatches of Peach Bums from various angles as it has many dimensions to it!

Above: Peach Bums close up

Above:  Peach Bums blended out

Note: No filters have been used. Just different angles and lighting varies

Peach Bums is a multi-dimensional blush. It's kind of hard to describe. It's kind of of a peach, kind of coral, and kind of like a rose gold. It has a beautiful sheen on the skin, so you don't need to wear a highlighter.

This beautiful coral coloured blush is super easy to apply. With a few swipes straight from the tube to my cheeks and a little blending with ELF's small synthetic brush and I'm done! No need for a highlighter or anything else. The glow and the flush from this cream blush is just amazing! My cheeks look lifted and the staying power is great. It's easy to just throw in your purse for touch-ups if you want as well.

I love to use cream products on my aging skin as they can impart a more youthful and dewy look to the skin vs. some powders that can look cakey and/or aging on the skin, especially in natural daylight. I am also loving cream products more and more in the Summertime. It started off with Wet N Wild's cream bronzer in Oak's on You just a month ago. I've enjoyed using that bronzer so much now that the warmer weather is here so I had to try this blush out. Am I ever glad that I did! I just might have to try more from Wet n Wild's Mega Glo Cream product line. 

Wet N Wild Peach Bums Cream Blush has 6 grams of product and is cruelty-free. At only $3.99, I wouldn't pass this little gem up!

I purchased mine on Amazon (linked here and here for Canada. 

Have you tried any of these products from Wet N Wild's Mega Glo line? Are there any others that I need to check out?

Some links are referral links and healthandbeautygirl may earn a small commission which helps to keep this site going. They are trusted links that I would use myself.  Thank you if you choose to use them. #notsponsored #peachbums #glow #summerglow #summertime

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation & Camouflage Concealer Review + Swatches Shade 010

I'm ecstatic that Catrice Cosmetics has finally arrived in Canada! They have some amazing products at super affordable prices AND they are Cruelty-free! I was so happy to receive their HD Liquid Coverage Foundation and Camouflage Concealer for testing and review consideration.

I had a look at their shade chart (see below) and decided that shade 010 in both the foundation and concealer would probably be the best match for my light-medium skin with neutral undertones.

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation Shade 010

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation 30ml/ $13.99 CAD

From Catrice:

• Ultra-light, high coverage foundation for a natural-looking finish
• Covers imperfections and mattifies the skin creating a smooth and even complexion for up to 24 hours
• Features a unique dropper applicator
• Scroll down to our shade finder to find your perfect match
• Vegan

The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a dropper style dispenser. 

The shade 010 was a good match for my skin tone when I don't have a tan. It oxidizes very slightly but not in an orange way, it just gets very slightly darker, so keep this in mind when selecting a shade. I could actually use a slightly darker shade because I prefer my foundation to be just a bit darker on me as I like to add some colour to my face. However, I can also add the extra colour to my face with some bronzer etc. 

This foundation has great coverage and gives you the option of lighter or heavier coverage depending on how much you apply and your application method. Most days, I prefer a lighter coverage, so I use a damp beauty sponge for this type of coverage. I can achieve more coverage by using a brush instead. Note that very little product is needed and I would always start off with less and build from there. 

I didn't find this foundation to be cakey at all and it did not settle into my lines either. It's actually very suitable for my aging skin. I cannot speak for 24 hour staying power as I wash it off before bed, but hey, there are always those times you might want 24-hour staying power (hello, my younger days!) The staying power is great though and I did not become oily throughout the day which is pretty much unheard of for me!

Catrice Camouflage Concealer in Shade 010

Catrice Liquid Camoflouge High Coverage Conclear 5 ml/ $7.99

From Catrice:

• Long lasting, liquid concealer for weightless coverage
• Highly pigmented and waterproof formula instantly hides dark circles, imperfections and redness
• Flock tip applicator for precise application

The Camouflage concealer was also a good match for me in the shade 010. It's lighter than the foundation but has a more pink undertone to it which is great for brightening the under eyes.

The concealer worked well for both my under eyes, redness, and blemishes. I have been wearing this concealer often for lighter makeup days. I just apply some of this concealer where needed and then apply some powder, bronzer, lipgloss and I'm good to go. If I want more coverage for conference calls etc, I add in the foundation so I can look more polished.

I love that this concealer isn't detectable on the skin and that it doesn't settle into fine lines. It states that it's waterproof. I haven't tested out that claim but I have used it on days that I've worked out and it sure stood up to sweat, so I don't doubt that it's waterproof.

A little also goes a long way with this product also, so very little is needed and I start with less and add more as needed. I appreciate that it is not cakey or drying on my combination, dehydrated, and aging skin.

Top: Foundation shade 010

Bottom: Concealer shade 010

I'm so happy with both of these products and think that they stand up to high-end products at such affordable prices!

Catrice has a large selection of shades to choose from, so there should something for everyone. At the time of this post, there are 23 foundation shades to choose from and 17 concealer shades.

I really appreciate that Catrice makes inclusive products that work for all generations including those with aging skin!

These products are cruelty-free, gluten-free, alcohol-free, and oil-free.

Available online at Shoppers Drug Mart.ca

Happy Sunday, everyone!

PR samples kindly provided by Catrice for review consideration. No referral links and this post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own :)

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm Review with Swatches!

Nars Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm $28 USD/ 3 Grams

True to other Nars Orgasm products, this lip balm is described as a sheer, peachy pink with golden shimmer. The Afterglow Lip Balm is available in 8 shades.

Described as moisturizing lip balm infused with a blend of antioxidants to condition and protect lips.

Details:

• Sheer coverage
• High shine colour
• Contains Monoï Oil for long-lasting hydration
• Fragrance-free
• Alcohol-free

As I get older, my lips get more and more dehydrated and lined. So I tend to look for hydrating lip products that add a hint of colour and this lippie seemed to tick off all of my boxes. And, with the Nars Orgasm name behind this shade, I was expecting something really special!

I have to admit that the rose gold packaging is stunning! I find the lip balm to be hydrating and it provides a sheer wash of colour to my lips. However, for the price, I was expecting it to have a wow factor. Don't get me wrong, I do really like it and enjoy using it but the wow factor just isn't there for me. I fee that I can get the same look from a lot of tinted lip balms.

It's very sheer, as it claims to be, but adds a decent amount of pink to my lips (this will vary for each person depending on how pigmented your lips are to begin with). It does swatch quite light and I didn't expect it to show up as much as it does on my lips based on that. It's described as a peachy pink with golden shimmer. It shows up as a sheer, shiny pink on my lips, however, I do not see any golden shimmer.

It is quite hydrating, as it should be. I find that the lasting power is average for a balm. Considering the price tag, I was expecting more here as well. After about 30 minutes, the colour, shine, and hydration start to wear off and I feel the need to reapply. However, if I do not reapply, I find that it does leave a very slight pink tint to my lips that does last as does a little bit of hydration.

Below are swatches from various angles during a dreary day, some with overhead lighting and some without.

As you can see, it is quite sheer against my pale skin. Of course, the effect will be different on your lips since they will have more pigmentation.

Here are a few comparisons of Nars Afterglow LipBalm in Orgasm beside ELF's Bare Kiss Lip Balm and Burt's Bees Lip Balm in Pink Blossom.

I read on a very reputable website that ELF's Bare Kiss was a DUPE for Nars Afterglow in Orgasm, so I purchased it right away. As you can see, they are not even close to each other. The formulas are also completely different (ELF is waxy and dry, Nars is sheer and hydrating).

Top: Nars Afterglow in Orgasm, Middle: ELF Bare Kiss, 

Bottom: Burt's Bees Pink Blossom

Below is right after application

30 minutes after application in the car

Overall, I do love this product even though it didn't have that wow factor that I was expecting. But, I also feel that I can get the same effect from many tinted lip balms. I would definitely repurchase this product if the price tag was around $10. But, at over $30 here in Canada, I would say it is very overpriced for what it is. However, I do think it would make a nice gift for someone who likes tinted lip balms as it comes in such beautiful packaging and it is very pretty. It's just not something I can justify repurchasing at its current price.

In hindsight, I would probably purchase the mini Afterglow Lip Balm that comes with the corresponding blush (linked here), and probably will when I finish this balm. 😊

$28 USD (Shop Now)

Once I find a DUPE for this product, I will be sharing with y'all as soon as I find it!

Let me know what your favourite coloured lip product is for aging lips in the comments below!

Not sponsored. Contain referral links. Thank you if you choose to use them!

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Swish and Glow Blush in Pillow Talk Review + Swatches

Featured Product:

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Swish and Glow Blusher in Pillow Talk - 8 grams/ SRP $50.00

After hearing so much about Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk line, I became so intrigued that I just had to try it for myself. 

The Pillow Talk line includes this blush, a lip liner, lipstick, and eyeshadow quad. Because of the high price tags, I just wanted to start with one item and see if it lives up to the hype, so I went with the blush.

From Charlotte Tilbury:

Cheek to Chic in Pillow Talk is a two-tone powder blusher in a dusky pink and champagne shimmer shade that will add a kiss of colour to your cheeks.

With luminous gold flecks in each shade, this blush will add an instant healthy sheen to your complexion for a gorgeous glow! Complete your iconic Pillow Talk love story look with this blush, perfectly paired with the new luxury palette, award-winning lip liner and matte lipstick.

WHAT MAKES CHEEK TO CHIC MAGIC:

• Light Flex Technology creates the appearance of capturing light & re-emitting it for a luminous-looking complexion.

• Colour-rich pigments are rolled into finely crushed pearls to create smoother-looking skin with excellent blendability & perfect colour uniformity.

• The secrets to a glowing, just-kissed blush are de-coded into a two-step “SWISH & GLOW” ritual for a flawless looking finish every time

• The formula is buildable for the perfect, healthy, even glow

• Universally-flattering shade suits everyone aged 18-80

• Paraben-free

When I first received the Pillow Talk blush, I thought that it just looked like a bronzer and wasn't sure what to expect. I actually felt a little disappointed by the shade in the pan as it looked quite basic. Well, I was all wrong! This blush really is magical! Read on and I'll share my reasons why...

Although this two-toned blush is described as pink and champagne, I would describe the outer shade as a beautiful rosy bronze shade, while the centre shade appears more peachy on my skin tone. Just one of the great features of this blush is that it would look fabulous on a wide range of skin tones.

The two shades can be worn separately to really sculpt and highlight the face, or you can swirl them together for a beautiful flush and glow. I find that this blush can make you look like a bronze goddess or a natural beauty or both if you choose. Because this blush is in the nude colour family, it goes with any makeup look! The texture is unlike any blush that I've used before. It's not powdery at all, it's sheer yet pigmented and buildable. It isn't glittery either, it just provides a beautiful sheen to the cheeks.

Sometimes I take my time and use the darker shade as kind of a contour/blush and use the centre shade as a highlight on my cheekbones. But, most days, I swirl them together and apply all over my cheek area. I find that this blush serves as my bronzer, blush and highlight, which is amazing for days when I don't want to fuss with multiple products.

This product is fabulous for aging skin as it doesn't accentuate pores or texture and it really gives a lifted look to the face! This alone makes it worth the hefty price tag for me as I age and my face is going south. For this reason, I think CT should update the description of this product from ages 18-80 to 18-100+!

The product does fade slightly throughout the day but I would say the lasting time is excellent!

Swatches in natural daylight:

Pillow Talk Blush Swatches

Left: Outer shade, Centre: middle shade, Right: blended together

#nofilter 

Trying to capture the sculpt and glow that this gorgeous blush gives

Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk blush is totally worth the hype in my opinion. The only thing I would change is the name, I would call it "sculpt and glow."

If you are looking to treat someone special in your life or even to treat yourself, I highly recommend this blush!

Now I really want to try the eyeshadow in Pillow Talk, too. 😄

Some links are referral.

Milani Berry Amore Baked Blush VS. Luminoso with Swatches!

Featured Product: 
Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore 3.5 g / prices vary (Usually under $10)

I recently picked up @milanicosmetics Baked Blush in Berry Amore. 🍓 It had been on my wishlist for a while but it wasn't the easiest to track down. 

I love the formula of Milani's baked blushes. They are smooth, not powdery at all and blend well. Although the shade Berry Amore appears pink with some brown, and gold shimmers in the pan, it swatches more peachy bronze. It's a very warm shade and I don't see the pink once it's swatched.

Berry Amore definitely gives my skin that healthy glow I was looking for, especially in certain lighting. 🌟 I also find that it gives my cheeks a bit of a lifted look. When I wear this shade, I forgo highlighter and bronzer.. It's kind of an all-in-one for me.

My favourite way to wear it (besides as a blush) is to add a bit of the blush above whatever eyeshadows I'm wearing with a fluffy blush to make the blush and eye look blend seamlessly. Try this if you haven't already, the look may surprise you!

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore

If anyone was curious about how my new @milanicosmetics blush in Berry Amore compares to Milani's blush in Luminoso, I snapped a pic of them swatched side by side in natural light before the sun went down. Berry Amore is almost like a darker version of Luminoso. 😍  Both shades contain micro-glitter that can only be detected in certain lighting. 

I find that Berry Amore is a tad dark for my fair skin and therefore I must take the time to blend it before leaving the house or else I run the risk of looking like that crazy blush lady! Most days, I don't have the time to blend, I want to just slap something on and go. Although, the look once blended is quite gorgeous and side note: blending always makes makeup look better, whether it's face or eye makeup etc. I definitely need to take the time to blend more often! 

I think this shade is best suited to medium to darker skin tones unless you don't mind blending. If you have very fair skin, I'd recommend Luminoso.

I find that Berry Amore provides a beautiful colour + flush + healthy glow 🙆 

You can purchase Milani's Berry Amore here 

and Luminoso here.

Milani is #crueltyfree too! 🐰

This post is not sponsored. Contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support if you choose to use them.

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. 

New! Wet N Wild AU NATUREL Nude Awakening Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

When I saw that Wet N Wild brought their Au Naturel eyeshadow palettes to Canada, I had to pick one up! For just over $5 for 10 shades, you can't really go wrong.  And, they are cruelty free! 🐰

The Au Naturel palette comes in 2 shades; Nude Awakening (the one I purchased), and Bare Necessities. The Nude Awakenings one was calling my name!

There are 5 matte shades in the palette which include an ivory, mid tone crease shade, and some darker shades. These are what really sold me on the palette, that plus the oh-so-amazing and unique burgundy shade in here! 3 of the lighter shimmer shades are great everyday lid colours. Personally, I would only use the last 3 darker shades as liners.

As you can see, I didn't sugarcoat the swatches. Although some of the shades are rather dry and crumbly, they apply rather well to the lids with a primer. There is fall-out but if you tap off your brush it's all good. These swatches are 2 swipes of each shade over a primer (since I always use an eye primer).

The lighter shades are not very pigmented but for that very reason, I find them great for everyday looks. The darker shades are pigmented, but some go on a bit patchy and can difficult to blend, so I apply the matte ivory all over which helps them blend more easily.

Here is a simple look using the very beautiful and unique burgundy shade that's in the palette. This shade blended more easily than the darker shades in the palette.

I find myself reaching for this palette daily since I purchased it and am really enjoying the looks that I'm creating with it

Have you tried this one of these new WNW palettes? What are your thoughts?

You can purchase this palette here,.