Surviving the Crisis

When my life came crashing down last summer, I went into my now very familiar Crisis Mode. I was in shock. I was in incredible pain and absolute disbelief. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself or how to get through the day. It occured to me later to write down the things that helped, so that maybe I could share it and help someone else.

This is a picture from right in the middle of that time. It’s raw. It’s difficult for me to look at. I still feel that pain, and I can recognize the heart break and disbelief in my eyes.

I want to be clear, when I talk about the things that got me through this crisis, I’m not talking about the things that “fixed” anything. I’m talking about the little things that kept me afloat when all I wanted to do was drown. I’m still working on getting out of the water.

Mindless Distraction. I needed something to take me out of the moment, especially when I found everything to be really overwhelming. Fluffy silly beach reads, funny shows that I could pick up and drop in a second, youtube makeup tutorials, and one that truly got my head out of the moment, a ridiculous bubble popping phone game app. Bubble Witch 3 was my personal favourite. Requires enough focus to get your mind off of the badness, while being simple and silly enough not to require too much attention or effort. Get it here for Android and here for Apple.

Support System. This is the time to shine that bat signal, call in your girls, your family, whoever you can trust and be honest with. You need to tell someone what’s going on and don’t sugar coat it. You need someone who can check in on you, get you out into the world again, or bring you food when you just want to cry. I also found it to be very empowering to join Single Mom and divorced parents groups on facebook so that I could hear from people who knew what I was going through.

Motivation and Understanding. I found it incredibly helpful to read up on the process, to see related quotations and to listen to podcasts related to what I was going through. I saved a ton of motivational quotations on pinterest (My boards can be found here , here and here). I also completely fell in love with Alone: A Love Story, a CBC podcast. Retweet, share to your stories, post lyrics. Whatever you need to do to feel understood and heard.

Music Soothes the Soul, music has always been a major factor in every single one of my life events, good and bad. This was no different. I found that some days I wanted to sob uncontrollably to the soundtrack of my heartbreak. Other days, I wanted Lizzo to build me back up. Sometimes, I needed hard rock to work through my anger. I got myself a spotify account and made playlists for my needs. I have a Ouch Feels playlist, an Empower playlist, a playlist of soothing faves, an Angsty playlist when I want to scream EFF YOU JERK. It truly helps. I will say that sometimes you need to avoid certain songs to feel ok, and that fine. I still can’t listen to any of “Our Songs”.

It’s Ok to be A Cliche. There are so many cliches about getting through the crisis of a breakup. I lived so many of them. Some of them helped, some of them didn’t, but I found comfort in trying. I got a piercing, I dyed my hair, I got a tattoo, I gained weight and then loss some and then stopped caring, I dated, I had casual fun, I drank, I ate, I did what I wanted, when I wanted. I needed to take some time to spoil myself, to take care of myself and to be reckless for a bit. So long as you have good people around you to keep you from going too far, and you don’t hurt anyone or yourself, have fun. On the other side of the coin, it’s ok to cry, to spend time alone, to be angry, to be sad, to let things go a bit. Just remember that you have a life to live, and as tempting as it is to get lost in the fun or the sad, it will do more harm than good. Moderation, my friends. Moderation.

Alright friends, that’s it for now. I have a kid to play with and some lunch to make. I hope this post helps someone get through the initial crisis so that you can start working towards healing. I have more to add, but perhaps I’ll save that for next time.

Where I’ve Been

It’s crazy to think it’s been 6 months since I last posted. I guess I just didn’t feel like I could post without talking more about what’s been going on and I just wasn’t prepared to do that yet.

Honestly, not much has changed since my last post. The divorce is a slow and painful process. We are no where near done yet. I’m still in the house with my ex, the boys, and my ex’s girlfriend. I don’t recommend this arrangement, but it has been what’s best due to our financial situation. I’ve learned a lot about myself during this year and one of those things is that I don’t respect or enforce my own boundaries, which is something I’m working on. I’ve done some counselling which is helping me to see that I have work to do and why it’s important.

As you can imagine, this hasn’t been a great year for my mental health. Despite being medicated for the last 5 years or so, I have been struggling. There have been some dangerous lows. Again, counselling has helped and the medication has truly been a life saver, but it is still a daily struggle.

Depression is a sneaky lying bastard. One of its many tricks is making you so tired and blah that you lose passion and interest in the things you once loved. I haven’t been bullet journaling, I haven’t been playing with makeup…hell, I haven’t been doing much of anything. I’m really working hard to change this, but it’s a process.

The boys are doing ok, considering everything. They are now aware of our split and are handling it surprisingly well. Mason is 3 and talking up a storm. He’s in Tiny Tigers karate and is obsessed with paw patrol and pj masks. Liam is 7 and loves Steven Universe and youtube, as well as karate.

Looking back at last June, I was living a whole different life. I knew things weren’t ok, but I was too afraid to confront it. I lived in ignorance, by choice. I was hurting, sad and scared. Now I can at least say that I am no longer choosing to live in the dark. My life, from here on out, will exist in the open. I no longer choose to fool myself. Things are hard, but they are honest. They are real. That, in and of itself, is so incredibly freeing.

I am dating and meeting new people. I have a really great set of friends, with the same core of besties (my sister, as well as my sisters from other misters, Sarah and Leigh), and I’ve been forcing myself to get out and do things on my own and really push past my anxiety and comfort zone.

I no longer get Boxycharm or Fab Fit Fun, so I don’t have much regular makeup content to share. Being in the middle of this divorce is expensive and I’m still at home with Mason, so funds are beyond limited. Maybe once I’m settled into a new life and career I’ll come back to it.

For those of you that have stuck around, thank you. I do plan on posting more, sharing tidbits of my life as a single mom, a woman dating in her late 30s, and as someone healing from emotional trauma and divorce.

2019

The new year. A new beginning, full of opportunities.

2018 was intense. So much so in fact that some of it is a blur to me. It was one of the hardest years of my life. I have thought about making a post a thousand times and even now that I’m here, typing, I have no idea what to say or how to start.

At the end of the summer, my marriage ended. It was such a monumental thing that it is still on going. I’m still in the depths of it. I’m not going to discuss the hows and the whys right now, or maybe even ever, but it has shaken me to my very core and I have been trying to put one foot in front of the other ever since. The kids don’t know, and won’t until things are sorted and basically done, which makes it even harder. We are cohabitating by necessity, which as you can imagine, is not an easy thing.

Through all of this, I saw many people leave my life. It’s strange how some friendships can’t survive hardships. On the other hand, I’ve also had some relationships strengthen and become a lifeline for me. I’ve had some friendships renew and become even stronger than ever before. The people who love me and support me through this are truly lifesavers and family to me.

I have also been given some amazing opportunities. I was in a commercial for a skincare line I truly love and support. While I struggle with some self-love and body acceptance, I have had trouble celebrating how I look in it, but have decided to share it anyway because I am proud.

Heather sits in a chair in front of a fire place, wearing a dark plum shirt, hair half up and wearing neutral makeup.

Heather sits in a chair against a white backdrop. She is wearing a plum shirt and neutral makeup with her hair half up and long bangs framing her face.

I had a friend who didn’t know about the campaign DM me on instagram asking if I had just been on a commercial on youtube. I think it was pretty surreal for both of us.

Another big thing that 2018 brought was my love for bullet journaling and drawing. I really have tried to use my bujo as a way to bring peace, gratitude, organization, and creativity into my life. If anyone is interested, I have lots of pages and spreads on my instagram. I would also be happy to write a post about BuJo and Art journaling if there is interest. I want to try to get back into reviewing makeup too but I am taking baby steps back into blogging. I hope you all understand.

So, now that you know where I’ve been, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for reading, for visiting my humble little home on the internet and for being patient with me while I try to find my way back to myself and through the journey of being a single mom.

The Review that I almost skipped: February Boxycharm and March Spoiler

*indicates an affiliate link. I appreciate your support by using my link, however it is not required if you would prefer not to. I promise to disclose any affiliate links I share <3 For more information on disclosure and affiliate links, please read my disclosure page.

Hey folks,

How are you doing? Can you believe it’s freaking March already?! I can’t. Honestly, because of how fast time is going, this review almost didn’t happen. Shortly after getting our shipping notification from Boxy last month, I got an email stating that all of the Canadian boxes had been held by customs and that we should expect a delay of about a week. As a result of this, I didn’t get the box until the middle of the third week of February. I normally don’t like to post a review of something you can’t get, so I was planning on skipping February all together.

Buuuuut, I figure that all of these things can be purchased from the brands individually, so even if you can’t get this box itself, if something catches your eye you can still buy it. So, here we go!

Don’t know what Boxycharm* is? Well, it’s the best subscription box out there. For 21USD a month, you get a guaranteed 4-5 full sized or deluxe samples from amazing brands valued at a minimum of 100USD. This post is in no way sponsored. I pay for my own box.

Theme: Galaxy Glow

Naked Cosmetics Holographic Highlight Palette (40USD)

Firstly, as Simply Nailogical has taught us, this is not holo. It is super cute though.

You get 6 different shades of duochrome highlighter in this palette, some being more out there, like green and blue, and others a bit more wearable like the pinks. The quality of these is pretty good. I did find them a tiny bit chunky. They go on pretty sheer and can be built up. Unfortunately though, because I’m so fair and pretty conservative in my highlighter preferences, I don’t really see myself getting much use out of this on my cheeks.

I also tried it on my eyes and found it very pretty. Something in the formula doesn’t like me though, and immediately triggered an eczema flair up on my lid. Sadly, I’ll be passing this on I think

I used a mix of the pinks and purples as my highlight.

Seraphine Botanicals Lemon+Sugar Moisturizing Lip Buffer (24USD)

Sugar scrubs are nice to have this time of year, however I’ve had mix luck with them in the past as they tend to get everywhere and aggravate my eczema. I liked the scent and taste of this buffer, and really loved how moisturized it made my lips, but it really didn’t have enough grit to it to really exfoliate much. I wish it didn’t have any sugar at all and was just a lip oil.

 

Vintage Black Eyeliner (21USD)

I have been pretty curious about this brand, so I was excited to see this in February’s boxycharm. My local winners carries a few items by Vintage and I’ve never had the nerve to pick them up to try. I tend to prefer mechanical style eyeliner pencils, but this is really nice. It goes on smoothly, without tugging. It’s not the blackest black ever, but it’s nice. I did notice that when I wore it on my tightline it did transfer down a bit, so keep that in mind. It’s decent, but not the best. I will keep using it though.

Cover FX – Shimmer Veil in Amethyst (28USD)

I was so excited for this one! I love Cover FX as a brand and I really wanted to try one of these liquid eyeshadow/glitter things. I love how the colour looked in the tube and couldn’t wait to put it on the eyes.

I tried this product two ways. The first way, I wore this was as a bit of a toned down halo eye, with the shimmer veil as a pop in the center of the lid. This was definitely my favourite way to wear this product. It applied to a smaller area really easily and I was able to use my fingers to quickly blend out the edges without much fussing.

The second way, I put it all over the lid as the main colour. I found it a bit difficult to get even colour and shine over a larger area, though I was able to blend out the edges easily without glitter fall out or it chunking off.

I really like this product. It’s pretty, shiny and fun for a pop of brightness. I will definitely use it again.

Crown Brush – Pro Brush Trio (30USD)

I was so happy to find three brushes in this box. Look wise, they remind me a lot of the wet n wild brushes. The bristles are very soft and feels nice on the skin. The two face brushes aren’t my favourites, simply because they aren’t the size and shape I normally go for. The tulip shaped brush is decent for setting under the eyes and the other one worked ok for contour.

The one that I did like was the smallest of the three. The smaller brush was good for applying eyeshadow, and I like it quite a bit for creamy products like the Colourpop shadows or for blending out the edges of the Cover FX Glimmer Veil.

Overall, this was a pretty decent box. I’ll definitely get use out of the Glimmer Veil, the eyeliner and at least one of the brushes. Definitely worth the cost of the box. Also, I think this is the first time that I’ve seen the theme matching the products! Well done Boxycharm*!

I’m extremely excited for this month’s box. I’ve seen a few spoilers and cannot wait to get my hands on it.

From My Subscription Addiction

Also, they’ve removed the waitlist for a limited time!  Now would be a good time to try it out :)

REVIEW: January 2018 Boxycharm

*indicates an affiliate link. I appreciate your support by using my link, however it is not required if you would prefer not to. I promise to disclose any affiliate links I share <3 For more information on disclosure and affiliate links, please read my disclosure page.

Happy New Year everyone! Here is my January Boxycharm review! Don’t know what Boxycharm* is? Well, it’s the best subscription box out there. For 21USD a month, you get a guaranteed 4-5 full sized or deluxe samples from amazing brands valued at a minimum of 100USD. This post is in no way sponsored. I pay for my own box.

Now, on to the box!

Theme: Rock 2018

Grande Cosmetics – GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper in Taro (27 USD)

I wasn’t sure about this product but was more than willing to give it a try. Seeing as how it’s January in Ontario, I welcome anything that promises to hydrate my poor lips. I’m really not sure about the plumping effects as I’ve only recently started using this. It doesn’t hurt to use, but rather just has a mild minty tingle. The glossiness of the product does make your lips look nice and juicy, but I’m not sure it’s any more than that. As for hydration, I do find that this has helped my lips. I was pretty chapped before starting to use this at least twice a day and now my lips are in better shape. I don’t love the colour, It’s a mauvey purple shade, which isn’t super flattering on my pale lips on its own.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizing Primer (38 USD)

Ah, this one is a heart breaker. I really love the way it feels on the skin and how my foundation wears on top of it, but after trying this I had the worst break out of my life. It’s the only new complexion product so I’m pretty sure it’s the culprit. Sadly, I’m not willing to risk that again.

It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil (24 USD)

I first tried this pencil way back in 2015 and was surprised at how much I loved it. I still really enjoy it, though there are a few draw backs. I’m not convinced that this is truly a universal shade. I really only wear it when I want a bolder brow as it is definitely more brown than taupe/blonde. I do enjoy the cool tone of it, and how smoothly it applies. The shade of the lead itself makes it easy to do thin strokes as well as quick filling in. The spoolie is great too. The thing that bugs me about it is that no matter if I retract the “lead” it gets stuck on the lid and falls out. It has happened with a couple of these now, so it’s an issue with the product.

PUR Cosmetics Bronze and Brighten Cheek Palette (34 USD)

I was excited about this palette in theory but a unsure when I opened it up. Each shade is shimmery and intense looking, which isn’t what I go for with my bronzer or blushes generally. I was pleasantly surprised to find that with a careful hand, these wear beautifully. The blush is intense so I prefer using a really feathery stippling brush with a tiny bit of product. The bronzer is similar, but when sheered out, it’s lovely and warm. The highlight is a show stopper. It is STUNNING. A beautiful warm golden high light while still being reflective and light enough to glow on my fair skin. These honestly swatch more like eyeshadows and I would say are the most pigmented things I’ve swatched from this box…

Crown Pro Glam Metals Palette (25USD)

ANOTHER PALETTE?! Damn Boxycharm, you are on a roll. I was intrigued when I saw pictures of this palette online in spoilers. Something a lot of people were commenting on was how six of the shades seemed to have twins. By that, I mean that there are three repeated shades here, which is pretty substantial in a palette of only 9 shades.

I was pretty excited about the green and the gold shades which have been my jam lately. While the colours are pretty, I find that they have really poor lasting power. They fade quite a bit within an hour or two of wear. Also, even with super careful application, finger or brush, they have LOTS of fall out so be sure to use them before doing your face or with shadow guards.

As you can see, the silvery blues are very similar and all of those warm tones are pretty close too. The black is super sheer and more of a charcoal.

Overall Impression: I enjoyed this box, I really liked the lip plumper, eyebrow pencil and the face palette. The eyeshadows and primer will be passed on to someone else, but I still feel like I got my money’s worth.

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REVIEW: December 2017 Boxycharm

*indicates an affiliate link. I appreciate your support by using my link, however it is not required if you would prefer not to. I promise to disclose any affiliate links I share <3 For more information on disclosure and affiliate links, please read my disclosure page. 

Happy Holidays everyone! I am so happy that Boxycharm sent out my box a bit earlier than normal so that I’ve had time to try everything before posting. Don’t know what Boxycharm* is? Well, it’s the best subscription box out there. For 21USD a month, you get a guaranteed 4-5 full sized or deluxe samples from amazing brands valued at a minimum of 100USD.

Theme: Glitz and Glam, definitely appropriate for the holidays. Makes me think of glitter and metallics! Which, in typical boxycharm fashion, is completely unrelated to the contents of the box.

From what I understand, there were a few different versions of the box this month (which doesn’t happen often here in Canada, normally Canadian subscribers all get the same variation). My box variation is #1 (found on the bottom right corner of your box description card). So, here’s what I got this month.

Real Her Blush Kit (32USD)

This is a cute baked blush trio in a cute white box. The tones are nice, with one being rosy (but glittery), a peach and one that’s sort of bronzy. They all have a sheen so if matte blushes are your thing, you will not be for you. Because these blushes are baked, they have a pretty dry texture. I don’t mind, but I know I’ve heard some people are not loving it. I found that I didn’t need to be super careful with these are they aren’t super pigmented. Again, I’m fine with this because I don’t love blushes that are intense. I’d much rather layer to get the payoff I want. While I liked these, I don’t love how the shimmer made my pores stand out and I find the price really high for this product, especially when I love my essence or wet n wild blushes more, at a fraction of the price.  Overall, it’s fine, and I’ll use it, but I wouldn’t buy it at it’s asking price. 

Bellapierre Pro Concealer Palette (29.99USD)

Ok, I would call this a colour correcting palette, as no one is going to use this as just concealer. I was not happy to get this. I don’t use colour correctors anymore and these palettes tend to either be really dry or really greasy. The colours themselves seemed really dark and intense, which doesn’t really work for a fair skinned girl like me. On first touch, this was definitely on the greasier side of things. Thankfully, though, it wasn’t a thick formula and I was really able to control the amount of product I picked up on my finger. I used the orange colour under my eyes, the purple on my cheeks and chin and the green on my breakouts. I blended it out a bit and then layered foundation on top. Here’s what I found:

The orange actually worked really well to deal with my dark circles. I was amazed. I didn’t use any concealer on top and didn’t feel like I needed it. The green was meh. It toned down some of the redness but didn’t last long, especially on the blemishes that were a bit more raised and angry. The purple was also meh. I have some sallowness on my shin and cheeks from medication I used to use for my eczema. It brightened it a bit but didn’t eliminate it all together. Over all, I’m still not excited about this product. I’m glad that it’s a mineral rich formula that’s good for the skin, but I don’t see myself reaching for it. Again, I wouldn’t buy it on my own, outside from Boxycharm.

Pretty Vulgar My Lips are Sealed Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Weeping Willow. (24USD)

When I saw I was getting this shade I was annoyed. I seem to be getting a lot of the brown shades, which isn’t exactly my typical go to colour. In swatch photos online, it seemed to be a grey brown metallic with a silver shimmer. I was pleasantly surprised when the box arrived to find that it was actually more of a bronze colour, which is way more wearable and flattering on my skin tone. The formula is creamy and not at all drying, but it isn’t a matte lippie and is definitely not smudge proof. I did find that it lasted a while. I’m not sure I would wear this on it’s own, but I think it is pretty as lip topper in the center of the lip to add some juiciness.

The one thing I did notice is that there was some wierd… I dunno, pulling? Gooping?  between your top and bottom lip when you open your mouth while wearing this. It looks gross, though I didn’t notice it feeling heavy, over applied or sticky.

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara (23USD)

Ah, my saving grace. This mascara made the whole box worth it. I received a sample of this a while back and fell in love. I was thrilled to receive a full size in this month’s box. Honestly, I would buy this on my own and seeing as how this was basically the cost of the box, I’m happy. I find this mascara gives me good length and volume and works well on both the top and bottom lashes.

Crown Brush Deluxe Blush Brush (12USD)

I really like this brush. I love the handle and the divots for your fingers and how soft the bristles are. I wouldn’t use it for blush, myself, but I think it would be great for contour or blending out creams. I find it too dense for powder blushes. I look forward to playing with this more.

Overall Impression:

Feeling kind of meh about most of the stuff in the box. Most of it I wouldn’t have purchased on my own. Glad that the brush and mascara were there to make it worth while.

Before any product, aside from moisturizer and primer:

After, wearing CC but no concealer

After, wearing CC but no concealer

REVIEW: November 2017 Boxycharm

*indicates an affiliate link. I appreciate your support by using my link, however it is not required if you would prefer not to. I promise to disclose any affiliate links I share <3

Hi everyone!

I have a lot of thoughts about Boxycharm* this month. Don’t know what Boxycharm* is? Well, it’s the best subscription box out there. For 21USD a month, you get a guaranteed 4-5 full sized or deluxe samples from amazing brands valued at a minimum of 100USD. Yep. It’s pretty rad.

So,  let’s start with the November box and then go from there.

The theme this month: Sweater Weather

 

Luxie Beauty Quad Eye Travel Set (32USD)

Oh man, I was excited for this. I had received a Luxie brush in an ipsy bag a couple years ago and still love it. This is a travel set, so while the brushes themselves are full sizes, the handles are shorter than normal, so it does take some getting used to. The bristles are super soft and each brush does a great job. I can’t believe they gave us four brushes! Exciting!

Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray (31USD)

Another item I’m excited about. With my dry skin, I am always drawn to illuminating products. This is especially well timed because I just ran out of my current favourite setting spray by Pixi. The spray is incredibly fine. You can barely feel it it’s so fine. There is a very itty bitty fine glitter in this spray, so be sure to really shake this baby really well. If you don’t, you may find you end up with big glitter chunks on your cheek. It gets rid of any powdery look you may have and really sets everything down. I haven’t played with it enough to tell if it really helps make my makeup last but I’ll report back if I do notice anything significant. I love the glow it leaves, though I can see some people not being into the glitter. For me, I really have to get up close and in there to see anything, but this may not be your setting spray if the idea of spraying glitter on your face is horrifying.

 

KNC Beauty Collagen Lip Mask (15USD for 3)

Ok, so, I’m one of those people that love the whole masking experience but aren’t really sure there is much real benefit to doing them. This is especially the case for weird masks like this one. I have insanely dry lips with eczema around them. I didn’t think this lip mask was going to do much for me, and I was right. While it was fun to use, it did sting while it was on. The serum is really runny and wet, so I ended up dumping it everywhere when I opened the package. Because it’s so thin, it didn’t feel like it really stayed where it was supposed to be long enough to really be effective. Will I use the rest of these? Sure. Do I expect any results? No.

 

LAQ A &CO Cloud lips in Storm (17USD)

I was intrigued by this when I pulled it out of the box. I ended up with the darker wine shade and was fine with that. I’ve been digging the moody dark colours lately. The item is described as long wearing and matte, so I had high hopes. Sadly, this was just a mess. It applied very sheer and patchy, almost like a balm. Because of the shape and size, I found it really difficult to get a precise application, which is a pain in the butt with such a dark colour. I really had to layer it up to get decent coverage and found it never set down in any way. It moved around and even after blotting, it transferred quite a bit. I didn’t find it matte at all, and don’t see myself reaching for this.

 

Winky Lux Kitten Palette (25USD)

A palette. Another freaking palette!!! I am so pleased by this. Firstly, the colours are really pretty and perfect for winter. Secondly, the packaging is super cute though it does lack a mirror. I’m fine with that considering how affordable this is. I did a couple of looks with the palette and then swatched it, so I have a pretty solid impression of it now. First, here are the swatches I did:

So, off the bat, I’ll say I’m impressed with the formula, especially considering how affordable this palette is. The mattes aren’t too sheer or chalky, and they apply pretty smoothly. The shimmers are pretty but I will say that they get chunky easily and may need some work for blending. You can really see the chunks in the browny bronze and gold shades. I like the colours that were included here. There’s a light matte, a transition shade, and a couple of darker colours for deepening. The shimmers are pretty and make this palette pretty versatile.

And now for the looks:

I had to play with the gorgeous gold shade, so it is the colour on the lid here. Next tme I would use it wet and put it on a glitter glue I think, as I found it didn’t have the umph I was expecting. Definitely use your fingers or a wet brush with the shimmers.

The shimmery pink shade on the top row was a nice surprise. It gave a really cool inner corner glow that I didn’t expect. Dipping into these colours, I saw a lot of fallout. The palette got dirty pretty quickly. When applying, I ended up with quite a bit of fallout on my cheekbones and undereyes, especially with the darker mattes. Keep this in mind and maybe do your eyes first when using this.

I was really excited to do this second look, especially after watching the Boxycharm instagram live using this palette. For this one, the star of the show was the gorgeous duochrome pink/mint shade in the middle row. I used this all over the lid and LOVE it. One thing I noticed here, however, was that when I really packed that shade on, I ended up with literal chunks on my eyelid. I really had to blend things out to get them smooth again. BTW, I’m wearing the LAQ A & Co Cloud lip here.

Overall, I would be happy paying 25 for this palette, so I have to say I am super pleased with this month’s box. A definite win, Boxy!

Now, on to something that I’m not happy about. Some of you may have heard about something new Boxycharm was going to try out. They were talking about it a lot on their social media and that seemed to get the hype going. I’m talking about their winter limited edition box.

So, where as the normal box offers 4-5 products worth a minimum of 100USD for 21USD, the Limited Edition box promised 8 items from prestige brands at a value of 200USD for 45USD. Boxy decided to do a preorder. They intended on sending out a link with tracking for the November box but the link got posted online early. Despite not knowing what was going to be included, and at a complete shock to Boxycharm, people went NUTS when this was released. The site crashed and the box sold out immediately.

People were pissed, many people freaked out because non-members were able to purchase and a lot of people ended up with multiple boxes by accident due to site glitches and on purpose because no limits were set.

So, my reaction to this was “Well, it’s a good deal but at the end of the day, it’s just makeup. Hopefully Boxy is better prepared next time.” Unfortunately, a lot of people disagreed and felt personally let down by Boxy because…I just don’t know. In the interest of full disclosure, my sister bought herself and me a box. We were both super excited that she was able to get through.

Anyway, we have all just found out through this notice that the company had a plan to deal with this.

THIS I have an issue with. I don’t really care so much about my box, though now I won’t be able to review those products for the blog.

My issue comes from from my extensive background in customer service and retail. I understand how this was a really tough situation to be in, however this reaction is not cool to me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, unless you clearly set a preorder limit of one box per customer or Boxy subscribers only, it doesn’t really seem to fair to impose those limitations AFTER the fact because you sold out quicker than you expected.

Selling out is good. Look at the trends of limited edition items in the beauty industry right now. Look at Kylie. Limited access is a thing, and selling out is the goal. If you want EVERY charmer to have one, then don’t make a limited edition box.

They always have a wait list going, so I don’t think losing a few subscribers would do any significant harm. Especially when these unsubscribers are likely to freak out over something else down the line and unsubscribe then anyway. Boxycharm responded very politely and very well on social media, so I don’t think anyone with any ounce of logic or chill would still be so upset as to dump the box now.

There are people out there who bought extras as a gift for friends or family and this would have been a great way to introduce boxy to new clients. I get being afraid of losing subscribers, but they are running that risk now by altering orders now and risk losing those potential new customers as well.

I dunno, the whole thing is nuts. I’m just shaking my head and hoping that all this drama calms down because I just want to try out awesome products and write about them. What are your thoughts about the limited edition box insanity? Do you agree with boxy’s solution?

 

REVIEW: October 2017 Boxycharm

Happy autumn everyone!! I am so in love with this weather we’ve been having. Sunny skies, cool breezes and this basic witch is living in her layers and drinking all of the hot beverages.

I am also loving this month’s boxycharm*! Let me tell you about it!

Theme: Spellbound

A quick note on the theme. I honestly think that they don’t really try to match the products with the theme at all, which seems a little pointless to me. Like, why bother having a theme at all if nothing is related? Meh.

SO EXCITED. I mean, right away you can see this month had a freaking bomb box. Let’s get into what made it so awesome.

ncLA “Nailed It” toolkit (18USD)

Ok, so this isn’t exactly the best thing in the box this month, but I’m still pleased with it. Who doesn’t need a cute little nail kit for their purse or for back up? I will keep this in my diaper bag for those out and about nail breaks that usually result in me chewing my nail down to the quick.

Jonteblu Lip Liner in Brown Sugar (5USD)

When I first pulled this out of the box I was a little disappointed. I thought it was going to be way too brown and dark for me, and that it didn’t make sense paired with the lippie (spoiler!). I was wrong, and I’m not afraid to admit it. This is such a perfect warm chocolatey colour that is sooooo great for this time of year. It is a bit drying,  but it goes on smoothly and does an ok job of sticking around. The colour has made this a favourite in my lip collection. Going to be wearing this a lot!

 

Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Paint in Homeslice (20USD).

I was so excited to pull this lippie out of the box. The colour looked cute and different from my typical mauvey rosey nudes that I gravitate towards and collect. The formula itself feels quite nice going on and I like the curve in the applicator which hugs the lips nicely. I wish the tip of the applicator was a bit more narrow for a cleaner, more crisp application, but it’s not bad. It goes on smoothly and pretty opaque with no streakiness. It dries very quickly (which was to be expected with that name) and does feel pretty matte and drying. Not my favourite formula this time of year with my really dry lips, but it’s not the most drying liquid lip I’ve tried. It has ok lasting power, but definitely not the best. I got about 3 hours out of it this morning.

The colour ended up being a bit more orangey than I expected, but it’s cute and pretty nice for this time of year. I’m more adventurous with my lip colours these days so I don’t mind it, though I’m not sure it’s super flattering on me. It is very easily influenced by whatever you have underneath, so I have worn it darker and lighter depending on if I pair it with a liner or not. Overall, a decent lippie but not my favourite in the world. I’d rather reach for an Ofra or a Colorpop Ultra Satin.

 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Prosecco Pop (38USD)

You guys, when I saw this in the box I couldn’t believe it. Thanks to Jaclyn Hill and the rest of Youtube, Becca is KNOWN for their highlights. In fact, speaking of Jaclyn, this shade is one of her collabs with Becca (originally limited edition, now permanent). I was pleased to receive the pressed powder version, rather than the liquid, as I don’t tend to use much liquid highlight these days.

The formula is buttery and smooth, with a beautiful wet looking sheen. This one is a bit more subdued than other Becca highlights I’ve tried (Champagne Pop, for instance, is BLINDING. This one? Not so much). I was worried the shade was going to be too dark and yellow for me, but I think after trying it that I can still pull it off (at least during the summer). It definitely isn’t my favourite shade of highlight, but it is still pretty. It applied quite sheer and was buildable, which I like. Overall, the shade is really the only meh for me. I would definitely buy this formula again, maybe in Opal or Moonstone.

Dr. Brandt PoreDemabrasion (58USD)

I love getting skincare in my boxycharm because I am always looking to fight the signs of aging but can’t afford to spend much money on it. This gives me the opportunity to try new things without breaking the bank. This is a perfect example of that. Dr. Brandt is an amazing brand that I just can’t afford. I really like this product. The exfoliators are extremely fine and not too abrasive for my sensitive dry skin. It has a lovely smooth creamy texture and a really nice minty scent. I really enjoy using this in the shower, a couple times a week. Haven’t had it long enough to see any difference, but I’ll report back if I do see a big change in my skin.

And that’s it! I can’t wait for this month’s box! Let me know if you guys are interested in seeing spoilers for the next box because I have them!

September 2017 BoxyCharm – Boxy Baddies

I am so excited to be receiving Boxycharm* again. Huge hugs and love to my amazing sister, Tracy, for making that happen. They are running the show when it comes to beauty subscription boxes. They are the Beyonce, the Adele. I don’t know how they are able to get all these amazing products into our boxes for such an affordable price,  but I love it and I want more. So, without further ado, here is the September Box.

The Theme for this Month’s Box: Boxy Baddies

Briogeo “Don’t Despair Repair!” Hair Mask, 20USD

As a member of the curly hair club, I have heard great things about this brand (specifically, Kathleen Lights talks about them quite a bit) and have tried a couple of their products. I was thrilled to get this mask in a very generous sample size. I like to use masks at least once a week to keep my locks hydrated and in good condition (hurr hurr… I’m so punny). This stuff smells amazing, doesn’t feel too heavy and leaves my hair feeling kitten soft.

Face Perfecting Brush by Bare Minerals 28USD

When I first heard we were getting this brush, I was excited. My brush collection is entirely made up of ebay, amazon and drugstore brushes. Any opportunity to add a highend brush to that makes me very happy. I was a little confused when I pulled it out of the box, though. It’s smaller than I was expecting. Using it for the first time, I found its size to be a bit of a pain. I’m used to much bigger brushes and sponges which seem to cover my big ol’ face quickly. Also, they recommend swirling from the inside of the face outward, after applying your product to the weird little divot in the center. Well, I’m more of a stippling fan, rather than sweeping and swirling, so it felt a bit awkward. I also found that without stippling, the product would kind of get stuck in the divot. Once I threw caution to the wind and started using the brush the way I wanted to, I did enjoy it. I especially found it handy for quick concealing blending when I didn’t feel like wetting my sponge. Is it my favourite foundation brush? No. I’ll make it work in my collection though.

Loose Blush by Studio Makeup 35USD

I was intrigued by the idea of a loose blush. I assumed that it wouldn’t be too crazy pigmented because, well, that would be a recipe for disaster wouldn’t it? Yes. Yes it would be. Yes it is. This blush is not for the beginner, or for those who don’t like blush. You need the tiniest amount, which is tough with a loose product (although this does have a cap to contain the mess, but I still found it clunky to get the right amount). The colour is lovely if you are into peachy orange shades and eventually blends out beautifully, but it is REALLY easy to go too heavy with this stuff. I like it, and will probably keep using it, but I can’t imagine paying 35USD for this and certainly wouldn’t buy it to replace this (not that I would ever need to, there is enough product here to last a lifetime)

Eyebrows by MAC Cosmetics in Lingering 18USD

A MAC product in a box?! Man, I am excited about this. MAC has always been in my mind as an up there brand, ever since high school. I was super excited to try this. I love how fine the tip of this pencil is, however the shape makes it a little difficult to be truly precise. The colour, Lingering, is a little too red toned for my taste. I like my eyebrows to be ~Cooooool~, but that’s just personal taste. The product itself needs to warm up a bit, otherwise it’s a bit tuggy. Once it warms up, it glides on nicely but I find it doesn’t set down the way I want it to. When I blend it in with a spoolie, I ended up with weird bald patches. It just seemed to move around too much. I have other pencils that I like better, but will use it til it’s done because it’s not that bad. Meh.

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lips in Mess Around 6USD

I know everyone and their mom has tried colorpop, so this doesn’t seem THAT exciting…but for me, I was thrilled. I don’t have a credit card, and I live in Canada, which makes it that much more difficult to get my hands on online-only items, like colorpop lippies. So, even though the colour wasn’t really my thang, I was really happy to try the formula of the ultra satin lip. So, firstly, let’s start with that colour. While I can see it being interesting for the fall, it just doesn’t do much for me. Maybe with a cool toned blue eye look? I dunno, but I have yet to wear a look where I’m like “Yes, that lip would be perfect”. It’s a very grey greeny brown. Like, kind of a grey poop-y brown. I’m not sure I can pull it off, but whatever. I’m going to try.

So, as for the formula itself, I was excited to try something that wasn’t entirely matte. My poor lips are so dry these days and matte lips make my mouth look like a butthole. It feels very thin going on, and because this colour is pretty dark, I needed to layer up because it was sheer. Despite having to apply layers, it didn’t get crumbly or gross. It felt super light and comfortable on, and did a good job staying on my lips. I really want to try a colour that I’m more into to see how long it wears.

Soiree Diaries Eyeshadow Palette by PUR Cosmetics 34USD

Guys. YOU GUYS. A palette from PUR Cosmetics. A freaking PALETTE. HOW?! I am so freaking excited about this. To start off, Pur has a good reputation for their eyeshadows. Next, the colour story here is beautiful. Each row can be used for a look OR you can mix and match. This is great for every day and for events. There is a really good balance of mattes and shimmery shades. My only complaint is that I was a little surprised that the shimmers were all darker shades. I would have liked a shimmery inner eye/brow bone colour, and maybe just a black matte shade (though the deep brown works fine for the same purposes). Aside from that, I really like the colours they chose here. LOOK AT THOSE FREAKING SWATCHES. I especially love the taupey slightly purpley shades. They are my jam.

Now, how do they perform on the lid? Really nicely actually. They aren’t the best shadows I ever touched (Viseart, Tarte Pro, Natasha Denona, I’m looking at you), but they are still pigmented, smooth and pretty. They blend nicely without disappearing, skipping or getting muddy. I was able to create a couple of different looks with this already. I have been leaving this out on my vanity as my every day quick palette.

Seriously, this is what I mean when I say Boxycharm has upped the ante. This is awesome. I can’t wait for next month!!

Overall Impression:

This box was bomb. Seriously. The value is insane and I got to try a bunch of really great products from some really great brands, which is what these boxes are all about for me. I can’t wait to see what we are getting in October!

Spring YAYs & NAYs – Skincare and Beauty Favourites

Hello my dears,

It has been so long. I am not going to get into the whys and whatnots. Instead, let’s just pick up where we left off and get right into some fun. Today I want to start doing a new series of regular monthly posts. I want to share with you my favourite products for the month, as well as a few sad trombone products (because we all love to dish the tea).

In the future I would also like to do a monthly video of me using my favourites, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I receive compensation for your clicks or purchases. Feel free to not use my links if that makes you uncomfortable. More information about my affiliations and compensation can be found here on my disclosure page. Affiliate links, or links for which I would receive compensation, will be marked with a *.

My Favourite Makeup

Primer: *Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer Lift & Firm ($9-16CAD)

After hearing Emily Noel talk about the Hard Candy Primers, I had to try them. I rushed in to Walmart and saw that the hydrating primer was sold out so I grabbed this one instead. It feels light weight on, and I like the way my makeup applies over top. I’m not sure about the lifting and firming claims, but I do enjoy the way I look when I wear it.

Foundation: *GOSH CC Cream Illuminating Foundation in 02 Ivory (Also Available *here) (16-25CAD)

This was a totally random buy for me. I haven’t had much luck with GOSH products in the past, but I saw this on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart (5CAD! I had to!) and couldn’t refuse a cheap illuminating foundation. I am so in love with it! The coverage is way better than I anticipated from a CC Cream, somewhere around medium. I love how moisturizing this feels and the glow it gives my skin. This is a perfect product for a natural looking makeup day or a day that you want to just throw something on without needing a brush or beauty blender. One pretty major negative I see here is that there are only 8 shades available. I also would suggest that people with oily skin skip this one as it is VERY moisturizing.

Concealer: Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Skintone Adapting Concealer and Highlighter (Available *here, *here and *here) ($7-15CAD)

I got into makeup because of my dark circles. I have extremely pale skin that is very thin around my eyes. Add to that, I don’t get enough water or enough sleep and you get some serious panda eyes. As a result, I am a big fan of concealers and very particular about what I like. This Rimmel concealer is a little thick, but it blends out easily (I prefer using a beauty blender with this product). It’s pigmented enough to get the job done and even does great on blemishes. It’s highlighting without any shimmer, glitter or shine. It doesn’t dry out my undereyes and it feels nice. It does have a tendency to settle into lines, so you do need to set it pretty quickly, but I am ok with that. It is also a great product for carving out your brows, touching up your wing or your lipstick. Love it!

Loose Powder: bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (available *here, *here and here) ($27CAD)

I picked up this powder from Sephora a year ago, for my birthday. I was excited to try a hydrating powder, especially because my skin had been very very dry due to our new air conditioner. My first impression of it wasn’t great. I found the tint of the powder too dark for my skin tone (I’m very fair) and I felt it was heavy feeling. I’m not sure what changed, but I pulled this out of my collection to give it another shot and I LOVE it now. The colour isn’t perfect (I wish it was transparent or translucent), but it works well with my summer skin tone. In fact, this is my new favourite summer powder. It doesn’t feel heavy, but it doesn’t dry me out like regular setting powders. I don’t recommend it for under the eyes, at least for dry skin or fair tones, as it’s too dark and does emphasize lines and dryness. It sets my foundation perfectly without a powdery look.

Under Eye Setting Powder: Elf Illuminating Palette (available *here, *here and *here) ($8CAD)

I’m sure you are a little confused by the category that I’ve put this in. An illuminating palette to set under the eyes? Yep. I first saw this on youtube (can’t remember who it was…maybe thataylaa?) and decided I had to try it. I’ve heard these powders are comparable to the hourglass ambient light powders. I would have to agree. They aren’t as dry in texture, but their look as a setting powder is similar. I don’t find these powders glittery or shimmery at all, which is why they work for me under my eyes. They are smooth and lovely on the skin. I use a combination of the top two powders to either wipe away my bake or to set under the eye, and the bottom two for elsewhere on the face if I want a more glowy finish. I use a sheer amount so as to not end up with patches of highlight on the skin. You can certainly build these up and use them as intended as highlights, but for me, they are amazing for setting.

Pressed Powder: CoverGirl Advanced Radiance Pressed Powder Compact (available *here, and here) ($8CAD)

This was a Tati youtube recommendation. I wanted to pick up a new luminous powder to try and when I saw Tati loved this one, I knew I had to give it a shot. I enjoy the way it sets my makeup and keeps it in place all day. I enjoy that this powder isn’t heavy and doesn’t make the skin matte. It’s not glittery or too glowy. It just gives my skin a more skin like look. It is very fair and has a white cast, so I wouldn’t recommend it for deeper skin tones, but it works for me (I am very fair). I don’t use this one under the eyes unless it’s just to wipe away a bake.

Bronzer: Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Light Bronzer (available *here, and here) ($20CAD)

This bronzer is a fair skinned girl’s best friend. It is the perfect shade to give the face warmth without turning you into an oompa loompa. I have seen people use it to contour and it looked good (it’s still a little too warm for me to use it that way, but to each their own). I love how this applies. It’s pigmented enough to go on easily, but not so much that you have to be careful. It blends out like a dream and gives the skin such a beautiful natural glow. I love the pina colada scent, however I would caution those who are scent sensitive that this is definitely a highly fragranced product. I wish physician’s formula would release a special unscented version for those who need it, as this product should be enjoyed by everyone.

Blush: Wet N Wild Pearlescent Pink (available *here , *here, and here) ($5-10CAD)

This blush is a drugstore cult favourite and I can totally see why. It reminds me very much of NARS orgasm, but it’s exactly the same. It is a beautiful bright peachy golden blush that is just perfect for the summer time. The formula is pigmented so be careful applying it. It doesn’t last forever on my skin, but I can forgive that due to the low price tag. It goes on smoothly, blends nicely and leaves a really pretty golden glow.

Highlighter: Smashbox Spotlight Palette in Pearl (available *here, *here, and here) ($40CAD)

I am a huge fan of Casey Holmes and feel pretty strongly about supporting creators in whatever way I can. When I saw that Casey was collabing with Smashbox, I was thrilled. When I saw what she was making, I couldn’t wait until these beauties were released! Because of my cool tones and fair skin, I was attracted to the Pearl palette. Both palettes come with two highlighters and one glitter topper, which is a great concept. When I swatched this in store, I was blown away by how smooth and creamy these powders are. They are beautiful on the skin, and can go on as a beautiful sheer wash or can easily be built up for a blinding glow. I’ve been wearing these every time I do a full face and love using them as my inner corner highlight for my eyes and the glitter topper is gorgeous on the lid too!

Eyeshadow: Tarteist pro to go (available *here and here) ($30CAD)

I grabbed this as an opportunity to try out tarte shadows without committing to a full palette. I have been eyeing the full *Tarteist pro Amazonian Clay palette since I first saw it on snapchat and trendmood. I love the idea of beautiful matte shades with a couple of intense foiled/metallic/glittery shadows. As I am no longer 20 and definitely have some texture on my eyelids, I find myself gravitating more towards mattes, and also appreciating a more well made foiled shadow. This small palette was exactly what I wanted. It let me play with the Tarte amazonian clay formulas without making a huge cash commitment. I absolutely love the feel of these shadows. They are insanely pigmented and so very soft. They do have a fair bit of kick up, but I am fine with that. The gold shade, hype, is absolutely freaking STUNNING. Seriously. It has surpassed *Urban Decay’s Half Baked as my all time favourite gold shadow. The mattes are smooth and blend beautifully and both foiled shades steal my magpie heart. I also love how trendy the colours are. Warm tones are in, folks, and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. This is a great way to try them out.

L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow pot in 892 Amber Rush (available *here and here) ($8-12CAD)

I picked this colour up after hearing about it from several influencers on youtube and am so glad that I did. It is the perfect warm rose gold shade that everyone is super into right now. The infallible eyeshadows have a really interesting creamy formula that apply best with a finger (I blend it out with a synthetic brush). This shade is beautifully reflective and is fantastic for a middle of the lid pop or a super quick single eyeshadow look (which is what I’ve been doing lately). They last a long time and don’t crease on me. Keep the lids shut tight though, as they do dry out if you don’t.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayon in Barely Beige and Bronze Truffle (available *here and *here) ($7-12CAD)

As much as I love the warmth and the sunshine that comes with spring time, I have a really hard time with this season. I have allergies which cause my eyes to water like mad. My eyeshadow almost always gets creased or washed away as a result, which is incredibly frustrating and not at all attractive. These have been my saviour. I’ve been using these as either a base for my other shadows or as the main colour itself. They are waterproof and really do stick around. I especially enjoy using Barely Beige on the inner part of my lid, near the inner corner, as it brightens up any look and locks down in the area where I get the most tears. They are super easy to use and give good colour pay off. They set quickly though, so blend out (with your finger or a synthetic brush) not long after application.

Eyeliner: Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kajal in 005 Nude (available *here and here) ($7CAD)

Thanks to the never ending germ parade of junior kindergarten, the kids have been sick since the fall. No, really. It’s been brutal. As a result, I haven’t been getting much sleep at all. Add to that those aforementioned allergies and my eyes have been looking ROUGH lately. One of the ways I make my eyes look more awake and less desperate is by using a nude liner on my waterline to cancel out the redness. I’ve tried a few different ones, but the Rimmel Scandaleyes nude liner is my favourite. It goes on without tugging, cancels out the red and stays put.

Physican’s Formula Eye Booster 2 in 1 Liquid Liner and Serum in Ultra Black (available *here and here) ($15CAD)

Taylor from thataylaa on youtube talks about this liner all the time, so I decided to give it a shot. I am in love! It is by far my favourite liquid liner. I only wish it was waterproof, as I can’t wear this when my allergies are flaring up without ending up looking like a hot mess. The brush is long and thin, making it easy to lay down flat to cheat on my lines, and gives a nice precise wing. It’s super black and pigmented, which means I don’t need to go over my lines and risk ending up with massive wings of my goth days of high school. I enjoy that the formula has a built in lash serum, though I will say I haven’t noticed any difference in my lashes so far.

 

Eyebrows: NYX micro brow pencil in Ash Brown (available *here, *here, and here) ($17CAD)

I was very reluctant to get on the brow love train. I just didn’t want to spend the time or the energy on getting my brows just right. Somehow, over the past year, I have been changing my ways and now it’s difficult for me to go out without something on my brows. When I’m looking to really go in and do my brows, this pencil is my favourite method. I love how fine it is. I’m able to create really thin hair like lines that blend in to my natural brows perfectly. The formula is stiff enough that it doesn’t just melt and smear all over the place, while being creamy enough that I’m not having to work too hard. I especially enjoy this colour as it is nice and cool toned without being too gray. As an added bonus, the attached spoolie is fantastic and really grabs those hairs to make blending easy.

Liquid Lipstick: Wet N Wild Liquid Catsuit in Rebel Rose (available *here and *here) ($5-11CAD)

Another trend that I’ve been slow to has been matte liquid lipsticks. I have SUPER dry lips. It doesn’t matter how much I exfoliate, how I prep or prime them, these babies flake and crack every single day. Despite that, I have fallen for these incredibly affordable liquid lipsticks by Wet N Wild. The shade Rebel Rose is pigmented and smooth. I don’t need to layer it a bunch to get an opaque application, which means I am able to avoid the crumbles that sometimes comes with cheap liquid lipsticks. I don’t find it drying at all. It it very matte and lasts a while without falling apart on me. This specific shade is GORGEOUS and is my current fave for a really pretty rosey natural look.

Setting Spray: Pixi Skintreats Hydrating Milky Mist (available *here, here and here) ($20-30CAD)

I think I’ve been using facial mists and sprays for longer than most other makeup items. I used to be obsessed with this honey based one out of a small independent shoppe in Calgary. Since then, I’ve been on the hunt for an equally moisturizing spray that didn’t grease me up or ruin my makeup. I have finally found it! I use this as a makeup setting spray as a way to add just a little bit of moisture, make my highlight pop and to get rid of any powdery residue. It doesn’t really make my makeup last any longer, but that’s ok. I also like using this at night to lock in my night time routine.

OTHER

Delectable skin perfecting body bronzing lotion (available *here, *here, and here) ($10-20CAD)

I haven’t had much luck with many other Delectable or Cake products, so I was a little unsure about trying this. The reviews were really great so I decided to give it a shot. It is such a nice body makeup that also doubles as a lotion. It gives a really nice warm bronzing and glow to the body. It does have glitter in it, but I don’t find that it translates as anything more than shimmer on the skin. I love using this on my arms, legs and shoulders this time of year when I want to fake a bit of sun kissed skin.

L’oreal Infallible Blend Artist Sponge (available *here and here) ($10CAD)

I love my beauty blender and Real Techniques sponge so I didn’t think I’d enjoy this as much as I did. It becomes GIANT when you wet it. It’s super soft and feels great on the skin. It doesn’t suck up a ton of product and really does a great job of blending foundation. No complaints here!

Aveda be curly curl enhancer (available *here , here and here) ($30-40CAD)

After my attempt at the curly girl method of hair care, I’ve decided to go back to my old routine. This is a staple of my curly hair routine. It’s a really lovely curl cream that helps fight frizz, gives me soft definition without crunch. I love the whole aveda be curly line and highly recommend it to everyone with curls or waves.

SKIN CARE

Etival Hydra boost serum (available only in store)

This was another Shoppers deal. Usually in the $30+ range, I snagged this for $5! It’s a really lovely hydrating serum that I use at night. I’ve noticed my skin has been feeling plumper and my dry patches are way less common. I wish I could find it online for you, but I fear this is being discontinued :/

Benefit Puff Off Instant Eye Gel (available *here and *here) ($CAD)

With my allergies and lack of sleep, my undereyes can sometimes be super puffy and unhappy. This great gel and applicator really help reduce the puffiness and make makeup glide on. I love it even more when I remember to store it in the fridge for extra coolness.

Bioderma Sebium Gel Moussant Purifying cleansing foaming gel (available here and here) ($10-20CAD)

This time of year my skin goes more on the combination side of things, so while I love my usual cleansers, I like to mix this in to my routine to  help deal with my oiliness and the heaviness of my sunscreen. It cleans my face beautifully without stripping the skin.

The Before…

The After…

NAYS

The disclaimer: These are products that just didn’t work out for me. If you love them, please don’t be insulted. Our skin, colouring and tastes are different. Different tastes is what makes the world so interesting :) Also, just because I don’t like a specific product doesn’t mean I don’t like the brand.

Benefit Gimme Brow in shade 1. I thought I loved this for a long time. Unfortunately, I see now that it just don’t have the hold that I need from a brow gel and it doesn’t do enough filling to make it a good quick and easy stand alone product.

Maybelline Master Fix Setting Spray: I wanted to love this. I am a drugstore girl at heart. That said, I don’t enjoy the spray (camel spit, very wet). I haven’t noticed it extending my makeup. There are just better options out there.

Benefit Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer: I snagged this at Shopper’s Drug Mart for a crazy discounted price (under 5$), so I really shouldn’t complain..but here we are. I just don’t see this primer doing anything for me. My makeup doesn’t stick around any longer, doesn’t apply any smoother and my skin doesn’t look any better. Womp womp.

Say Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Wipes: I’m trying to be better to my skin and give up using baby wipes to remove my makeup. I grabbed these are they are marketed as being ideal for sensitive skin. Well, firstly I didn’t find them soothing. They sting my skin and my eyes, and they are heavily scented. Also, they aren’t great at removing make up at all. Not a fan.

Ok everyone, that’s it for now! I hope you enjoyed checking out all of my faves from the last few months! Comment below what you love for this warmer weather!