I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted a beauty blog. But that’s because for the last little while, I hadn’t been trying new products. I recently got back into the product game and have a few products I feel worthy to share with you guys.
Ever so often, my skin goes through a transformation. What used to work for me, no longer does so I have to go back to the drawing board and find a new skin care routine. I’m in the process of locking that down right now, so when I do, I will share it with you for sure! One thing that I am definitely going to be adding into my routine is the Foreo Luna Facial Brush for Combination Skin.
What is it?
According to Sephora.com, it is a silicone facial brush for combination skin that channels both T-sonic pulsations for deep and gentle cleansing, and lower-frequency pulsations to reduce the signs of aging.
This brush is supposed to remove makeup, dead skin cells and unclog pores. It is supposed to provide deep cleansing action that combats oily skin and dry skin alike. After using this product for about a month, I am sold! I have seen legitimate change in my overall appearance of my skin. Of course, taking care of my body internally ( staying hydrated with lots of water!) has helped as well.
This brush is made out of silicone ( which makes it easier to clean and keep away bacteria) and comes with a two year warranty. This product is rechargeable. It is suggested to not use the Foreo with any grainy, clay based or silcone based cleansers as it may harm to Foreo itself.
Here are my pros and cons for this product:
Pros:
Easy to use
Easy to purchase online or in store
Compact and easy to store. Really awesome to travel with
Rechargeable
Price- its a little on the costly side, but because you do not have to replace brush heads ( like the Clarisonic) it is more cost effective.
Stays charged for a long time
Gentle on the skin while still giving a deep clean.
Cons:( I only have one)
Price. Y’all know I love a bargain and this is not a bargain item lol. However again I stress, It is worth it!
I would definitely recommend this facial brush for all to try! Purchase yours here.
** This blog is not sponsored. All opinions are strictly those of the author.**
**Disclaimer: All products reviewed in this blog were purchased by me. I am not sponsored by any of these companies. The opinions stated in this blog are solely my own.**
Hey y’all!
Back again with another with another beauty blog! Today I am going to talk about drugstore mascaras. Almost as much as I love lipstick, I love to try different mascaras from all different brands and price points. If I see a commercial advertising a new mascara, more than likely at some point I will purchase it and try it! (lol) So I’m going to talk about a few of my favorite drugstore items.
These mascaras are in no particular order,but I will tell you which one(s) are my favorites at the end of this blog!
First up: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in the shade Very Black. This mascara is one of Maybelline’s original mascaras. If im not mistaken, It was probably the first mascara product I ever used way back in the eighth grade ( yes I had to hide and do it because my Jamaican old school mama wasn’t having her 13-year-old wear makeup!! ) I guess that’s why I have such an affinity for it. Let’s discuss the pros and cons:
Pros:
Affordable ( 5-6 dollars Canadian)
Very dark formula. Great to finish off a smoky eye look
Defines your lashes by lifting and separating
Easily removed
Great for bottom lashes as the wand is very small
Cons:
Formula is extremely wet
Can become runny over a short period of time
messy
It is definitely not a mascara that you would reach for if you are looking for extreme length or fullness
Overall I would give this mascara a 3 out of 5 stars. It’s not one I’d reach for first,but If I’m in a rush and I’m doing a simple makeup look, I’d throw this on. 🙂
Next up is a mascara by the same brand and line but in the clear formula. Maybelline Great Lash Clear. The pros and cons for this item are pretty much the same. What I love about this product is that it doubles as an eyebrow gel. I also love to use this product as an eyelash primer. I like to use this mascara with another mascara on top. On days that I don’t want to wear any makeup ( or very minimal) I will just throw this on to give my lashes some definition. I give this formula a 4 out of 5 stars.
Next up is a mascara from Covergirl;. The Covergirl Super Sizer by Lashblast. I’m not the biggest fan of this one. Here are the pros and cons for this product.
Pros:
Affordable ( 6-7 dollars Canadian)
Very dark formula
Long lasting
Cons:
Gives the lashes a “crunchy” feeling
Really have to play around with it to get a clean look
I found it clumped my lashes together
Packaging is awkward and not appealing to me
Doesn’t lengthen lashes like it claims.
I definitely would not repurchase this mascara. I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars.
The next mascara I want to talk about is from the Rimmel line. It is the Lash Accelerator Endless in the shade 003 Extreme Black. I have been a long time user of the original Lash Accelerator formula which I love. So when I saw this new formula, you know I had to try it! Here are my pros and cons for this product.
Pros:
Affordable ( 7-10 dollars Canadian)
Awesome brush ( plastic applicator, good size
Lives up to the name “accelerator” by really lengthening your lashes
Allows for a very clean application
Long lasting
Eye catching packaging
Good curling mascara
Cons:
I honestly don’t have any cons!
I give this product 5 out of 5 stars! 🙂
Next up,the Miss Manga Mascara by L’oreal Paris. Love this mascara too! It’s probably one of my favorite drug store mascaras. Here are my pros and cons.
Pros:
Affordable ( 6-8 Canadian dollars)
Lifts and separates lashes
Holds a curl well
Very black
Smooth formula that is not too wet
Good for sensitive eyes ( like my own)
Neat packaging
Cons:
Not a huge fan of the 360 flexor wand. To me it’s too flimsy and can be messy.
Product tends to dry out after a few uses
I give this product a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would definitely repurchase this product.I even purchased one for my best friend and forced her to try it too. I need to ask her what she thought…..:P
Lastly, I have the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara. I absolutely LOVE this mascara. I only have one con with this product. It is a very wet formula so you need a really steady hand to apply and I find it’s not the greatest for lower lashes. But putting all of that aside, I really enjoy this mascara. I find it’s the one I reach for most consistently. I enjoy that the wand is curved as it makes it so easy to apply. ( for me anyway) The formula is very darkly pigmented. I find that it also thickens your lashes, lengthens them and holds a curl well. I give this product a 5 out of 5 stars!!
In conclusion, I guess Id have to say my two favorite drugstore mascaras are the Maybelline Lash Sensational and the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless.
Some tips I find to make applying mascara easier are to look down when applying mascara to your upper lashes and to look up when applying mascara to your bottom lashes. Wipe off excess product on a tissue to prevent clumping. Coat both sides of your lashes for an even thicker appearance. Allow first coat of mascara to dry before applying another coat.
I’m by no means a beauty guru but I hope my tips and opinions will help you find the perfect drugstore brand mascara for you!
I’m back again with another beauty blog! In this blog I am going to discuss my absolute favorite and timeless beauty trend: The Red Lip! The first lipstick I ever purchased with my own money was a red lipstick. I know pretty bold for someone who up until about 2012 NEVER wore anything but lip gloss from Bath and Body Works or EOS lip balm or the tried and true Vaseline (hangs head in shame)
But then one day, I collected six empty containers from MAC ( MAC has a recycling program. If you return 6 empty containers , you can choose a free lipstick!) and I said let me step way out of my comfort zone and try a red lipstick. Growing up with Jamaican Christian parents, big bold lipsticks like the red one I chose was totally out of the question as a teen. But in 2012 as a twenty something year old woman, their opinion no longer mattered LOL.
So, I asked the lady at the counter which red lipstick she would recommend for me and she led me in the direction of the gorgeous and timeless shade of Ruby Woo!!! I fell in love! That started my lipstick junkie journey! I now own over 20 MAC lipsticks 😛 . But, it really started my love affair with red lipstick. I actually don’t own that many, just 3. ( I’m not including MAC Diva because its more of a burgundy/ brown to me even though its classified as a red)
The three red shades I have all come from different companies. I have of course the shade “Ruby Woo” by MAC Cosmetics. I also have “Fiery” from the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Collection and “Outlaw” from the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick”line. Each one of these products has its pros and cons. Let’s go through them together
Let’s begin with Ruby Woo: Ruby Woo is a very pigmented matte red shade with blue undertones. The pros of Ruby Woo are as follows:
Pros:
very long-lasting
super pigmented
fantastic coverage
compliments all complexions
makes your teeth look super white! 😛
However it does have a few cons:
Cons:
Extremely drying formula ( must exfoliate lips well before using this product)
Has a tendency to feather and fade after a few hours of wear. ( nothing that can’t be rectified with a lip liner or lip primer)
Next up “Outlaw” by Kat Von D. Outlaw is a described as a brick-red shade. A true “pin-up” red.
The pros and cons for this product are as follows:
Pros:
super long-lasting ( I mean it takes divine intervention to remove these!)
extremely pigmented
non-transferable
compliments all if not most complexions
Cons:
very drying formula ( easily rectified with a lip scrub/vaseline primer prior to application. If you don’t moisturize your lips beforehand, it will show every crack and crevice on your lips.
You need a very steady hand to apply because if you make a mistake, you will have to start all over. It will stain your face too lol
really need a lip liner to help keep this from feathering
Will rub off if eating something especially greasy.
Lastly, “Fiery”from the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick line. The pros and cons are as follows:
Pros:
Long lasting
very pigmented
feels very light on the lips
Doesnt need a lip liner
Cons:
fades easily if eating food that is greasy
will stain if not applied with a steady hand.
Okay now that I’ve laid out my pros and cons for these products let me rank them from least favorite to most favorite. Drum roll please ( insert drum-roll lol)
3. My least favorite is “Outlaw” . I’ve tried to manipulate it by using lip liners and a lip primer but I just don’t like the formula of this particular Kat Von D Shade. ( all the others I own I absolutely love) I would probably never repurchase this lip product. I give it a 2 out of 5 stars.
2. The one that lands right in the middle is “Fiery”. I love the way it feels so light on my lips. I love that is super pigmented. I guess i’m just kind of indifferent towards this shade. I wouldn’t lose any sleep if this shade was discontinued,but I would reach for it randomly if it was around 🙂 4 out of 5 stars.
1. That of course leaves my beloved Ruby Woo! I love everything about this lipstick. I love that I can wear this as a stand alone or I can pair it with a brown or plum lip liner and change the appearance. Ruby Woo is a lipstick my makeup kit can never be without. As long as the shade is in production , I will own it. Ruby Woo is fierce! Fantastic! 5 out of 5 stars.
You may stray away but you always come back to your first love! Ruby Woo, you my boo!! 😛
**Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by this company. All products mentioned were purchased by me. This review is solely my opinion.**
Hi guys!
I’m back again with another beauty review! By now you all know I’m a lipstick junkie. ( see my blog post: Confessions of a Lipstick Junkie)
I used to stick to my Mac lipsticks and a few drugstore brands. Then I ventured into the world of Kat Von D liquid lipsticks and I was sold on the whole liquid lipstick phenomenon! Now, I’m a person, when I find a brand I love, I wear the heck out of the brand. But with Kat Von D, I think I have purchased all the shades that I know I will wear and wear well! Being the YouTube addict that I am, ( lol) I do watch a lot of beauty vloggers and it appears that everybody (and their mama) had something to say about the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks. Some were positive reviews and some not so positive. I’m the kind of person who likes to try something and form my own opinions. So recently, I went out and purchased three of the Stila liquid lipsticks to try. Before I share my opinions, lets discuss the product itself. (These details were found on the Sephora.com website.)
What is It:
A highly pigmented, liquid lipstick that’s weightless on the lips and delivers long-lasting coverage.
What it does:
This creamy, full-coverage lip color provides intense hydration with bold, long-lasting pigment that stays put for up to six hours of continuous wear. Featuring an array of matte and shimmer shades, this lip formula imparts a comfortable texture that feels lightweight on lips, and its color-rich formula does not bleed or transfer. Enriched with vitamin E and avocado oil, Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick hydrates and softens lips so they look and feel beautiful.
What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates
What’s is also cool about this product is that they are free of synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, GMOs, and triclosan!
So the first shade I purchased was Patina. Patina is one of the most popular shades that Stila has. It is always sold out online and when my local Sephora carried the Stila brand ( they now do not 😦 ) it was always sold out there do. However,my local Shopper’s Drug Mart ( that’s a Canadian drug store similar to a CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid for my American subscribers) has a beauty boutique inside and alas my beloved Patina was there! Score!
Patina is described as a dusty rose shade with a matte finish. I must say on all the beauty blogs this shade attracted me the most as I saw many women of colour ( similar to my complexion) wearing this colour and rocking it! I swatched it on my arm and loved it… then I put it on my lips with no liner and my lord was it AWFUL! So I tried it again, lining and filling in my lips with MACs chestnut lip liner and voila! I was in love! This shade is similar to Kat Von D’s “Lolita” but where Lolita has more of a brown undertone, Patina has more of a pinky mauve undertone. Both are equally gorgeous.
Patina
The next shade I purchased was “Fiery”. Fiery is described as a deep red shade. I struggled with choosing this shade because there is another shade called “Beso” which is described as a “true red”. Upon some discussion with my awesome Beauty consultant Kat, we decided that Fiery would suit me better. Again I lined my lips with my chestnut liner and was pleased! I found that this shade had a little more of an orange undertone, but I do believe if I line my lips with Mac’s cherry lip liner or with the Ruby Woo lip liner, this lip would be perfect! I do think I would like to try Beso at some point 🙂
Fiery
Finally the last shade I purchased was totally on a whim! Stila recently released five new summer shades and one of those shades was a BEAUTIFUL violet shade called “Como”. Now you all know,I am a sucker for a purple lip! When Kat swatched that on my hand I was sold! This shade reminds me of an even more pigmented version of Mac’s Heroine lipstick. ( Yes I know all of my references are Mac! What can I say, I’m a Mac girl at heart!) It’s also, really similar to Kat Von D ‘s L.U.V. . I’ve worn this shade twice already! Once I paired this with Mac’s Nightmoth lip liner and I also wore as a stand alone! Love it! I do reckon I’ll be wearing this shade for most of the summer! 😛
ComoComo on the top, LUV on the bottom…
Now that I’ve shared which colours I picked up, I would like to share the pros and cons of the product.
Pros
– super pigmented
– formula is not too drying
– easy to apply because of the doe foot applicator
– long-lasting to an extent ( meaning if you are not eating anything greasy lol)
– true to colour ( what you see in the tube is actually pretty accurate to the colour of the product).
Cons:
– stains easily ( if you mess up, you will have to start over)
– if you lips are not moisturized prior to using them, they show every imperfection and your lips will flake.
– expensive ( Canadian Dollars $29)
-Stila stay all day is actually more like Stila stay until you eat pizza 😦 or drink from a straw 😦
– Takes quite awhile to dry
Bottom line:I’m not super in love with these lip stains. Perhaps I didn’t let them dry enough before I tested their durability. Maybe I’m just partial to the Kat Von D formula which I find can literally last through anything, greasy pizza and all lol! I do love how pigmented they are and I also love that the formula is a little less drying than Kat Von D’s formula. I do love Como though, But other than that, I’m not super in love with them. Would I purchase them again…. meh…. LOL! I do want to try Beso though, I feel like that shade is the perfect red lipstick that I have been looking for! 🙂
Beso
Have you guys tried the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks? What do you think? Let me know!
So this is just a quick product review on my absolute favorite drugstore foundation. It is the Covergirl “Ready, Set Gorgeous ” Foundation in the shade 320. I absolutely love this foundation. Here are the pros and cons of this product:
Pros:
Oil free: Great for dry skin and even for combination/oily skin like I have . It does not add extra oil to the skin at all.
It blends easily.
Does not clog your pores.
Quite a bit of product in the tube
Eye-catching packaging
Easily resealable
Very inexpensive ( 8-10 dollars )
Feels very light on the skin
Cons:
You have to use quite a bit of product to achieve full coverage. This is a minimum to medium coverage product
Limited colour selection ( only 12 shades)
How I Apply:
First I begin with a primer. I usually stick to the “Baby Skin” primer by Maybelline.
Place a dime size amount of product on your my finger and dab it on to face and upper neck area.
Next, I use a flat top brush or a stippling brush and blend it using short staccato motions followed by circular motions to completely allow product to be evenly distributed.
Lastly, If it is going to be a particularly high activity day, I will set it with a translucent powder.
I highly recommend this product for anyone who is looking for an inexpensive foundation, or even for beginners who are looking for a product to start on their foundation journey! Till next time….
I’m back with another beauty blog. It’s been awhile! I have been trying out some new drugstore products. Now if I’m being perfectly honest, I’m not the one to deviate and jump from product to product. If I find a product I like, I stick with it for eternity! ( lol) However, my skin is pretty weird and it reacts differently to products at certain times of the month (-_____-) or once my skin becomes accustomed to it, it no longer is effective. So every so often I like to try new things out. This blog also includes a hair product and a makeup product.
During this recent trial, I found some products that I really like and I found a few products that I will probably never purchase again. So Lets jump right into it!
First, I purchased a foundation that I used last summer that I loved. They’ve revamped it and brought it back with a new formula. This product is the “Fit Me Foundation”from Maybelline in the new Matte/Poreless formula. I thought this formula would be great for me, as I have combination/oily skin and a product that minimized my pores and would help reduce my shine would prove beneficial. Not the case at all. Let me tell you all, this foundation broke the heck out of my face. I’m lucky. I have been blessed with pretty clear skin( the odd blemish here or there) and after I used this foundation, my face looked like a breeding ground for pimples…. and not just your ordinary pimple,large painful ones. I was so upset. It literally took almost a week to calm my skin down. I also didn’t see the results of what it said it was going to do, and the colour selection was very minimal. So, yeah, I give this product two thumbs down. I am interested to see if the old formula will break me out. I’m going to take the risk and try it. I’ll let you now how that works out.
Another product that I will probably never use again comes from the Organix line ( which I love). The Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream. I thought I would like it because I have used the shampoo and conditioner in the past and I loved it, but that was not the case. I found that this product( which was supposed to define my curls) really matted my hair and made my hair stiff and dry. It did nothing for my hair. Two thumbs down. I will not be repurchasing.
The next product I wasn’t a huge fan of was the NYX matte black liner. This is part of the Collection Noir. Let me first put a disclaimer here: I am a eyeliner snob ( lol) ever since I’ve started using the Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in the shade Onyx, nothing can compare, even high-end liners don’t compare! Yet, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try a new liner and I must say I wasn’t impressed. I found that this product smudged , and clumped and it didn’t give me the intense black definition I was looking for. I won’t count this one out though. I think once I play around with it, I may be able to make it work. I’m still on the fence. 🙂
Two products that I am loving right now are: The Nivea Pure and Natural CleansingTonerand the Simple Micellar Cleansing Water.
Let’s start with the Nivea product:
What is it: A product used to tone and revitalize the skin .With the combination of argan oil and aloe vera, it helps maintain the natural balance of the skin.
Pros:
It is free from parabens, silicones, artificial colours and mineral oils.
Light on the face
Fresh scent
Cost effective ( ranges from 6-9 Canadian dollars)
Non-drying
Cons:
You have to use quite a bit of product to see results.
They test on animals 😦
Simple Micellar Cleansing Water:
What is it:A product that is a non-rinse cleansing product.
Pros:
Perfect for late nights, people on the go, travellers: a quick and efficient way to remove your makeup and cleanse your face
Fragrance free
Great for sensitive skin
Inexpensive ( approximately 10 Canadian dollars)
Cons:
I find that it left my face a little sticky to the touch.
They test on animals
Unfortunately both of these products test on animals. I’m in no way an animal rights activist, but I also don’t see the need in testing products on things that will never use the product. It’s highly unlikely that Ronnie the Rat will be using a micellar water anytime soon 😛
So those are the latest drugstore products that I have been trying. Some were fails and others are now a part of my beauty regimen! All of these products can be purchased at your local Walmart or Shoppers Drugmart. What are some products that you guys have been trying? What should I try next? Till next time…
