August Ipsy Review

Well what do you know, it's another Ipsy review! I swear that I have other posts planned, I won't just do Ipsy reviews lol. One thing I have to say about this months bag is that it was really ugly. I'm usually a fan of the bag itself, but this months feels and looks cheap. The print on it is one thing that I don't hate, but the texture is really weird. It feels like plastic and has a bumpy texture. I don't like it.

The first thing I pulled out of the bag was this Hikari lipgloss in the colour Salsa. The first thing I thought was that the colour and packaging was really nice. Then I remembered that I don't like lipgloss, and that this was not the exception. When I tried it, it had all of the qualities of lipgloss that I don't like: thick, sticky, and hard to put on evenly. I also doesn't smell or taste good, which is something I think everyone should look for in a lip product. As pretty as it is to look at, I won't be getting any use out of this product.

This next item made me super happy because it's a holy grail of mine. Batiste Dry Shampoo in the scent Blush. I have really thin and fine hair, so it gets oily pretty quickly, and washing it too often really dries it out. Dry shampoo has been a bit of a life changer for me and Batiste has been my favourite brand I've used. It makes my hair feel super clean and voluminous, while also making it smell great. One downside is that it does leave some white residue, which is pretty annoying for anyone with dark hair. Here's a tip though: Spray it in your hair right before you go to bed but don't rub it in. You'll look like a granny but who cares. It will absorb more oil while you sleep and you'll wake up with really fresh feeling hair.

The next product I saw was this OZ Naturals Amino Herbal Hydration Mask. I was a little skeptical about this product at first because I have really sensitive skin and a lot of things irritate it. I tried it and I actually really like it. First thing that I love is that its 100% vegan and cruelty free. Second thing I love is that it made my skin feel so clean and fresh while minimizing the look of my pores. SCORE! So what you do it wash and exfoliate your face, then put some of this on. I thought it would be more of a milky white substance, but it's actually a gel with a mild minty scent. I let this sit on my face for about 15 minutes, gently rinsed it off, and applied my usual moisturizer. My face felt so clean and refreshed, I love it.

This next item is the Starlooks Pro Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen. Thats a mouthful. I was kind of excited about this product because I find liquid eyeliner kind of intimidating and most things are better in pen form. Fist thing i'll say about this is that the name is a total lie, it's far from long wearing. About an hour after using it I rubbed my eye and it all came off. Every. Single. Bit. Next time i think i'll layer it over a regal kohl liner and see how that works. Although it doesn't last long, it was really easy to use and I actually game myself a pretty decent cat eye. The tip is really good at making sharp lines and edges. Im determined to find a way to make this last longer. 

Last Item in the bag was the City Color HD Powder. I've been struggling to find a good powder to keep my foundation stay put, but I think I've found a new holy grail item. It's completely sheer and light. I put it on my face and it not only minimized the look of my pores, but made my skin feel super soft and kept my skin from looking super oily. I love this so much. One downside though is that since it is a loose powder, it can be pretty messy. Hopefully one day they can fix the packaging to help that.

Well, thats it for this post. Did you get this in your Ipsy bag? If not, what did you get? Let me know in the comments below!

-Little J

July Ipsy Review

Well, for plenty of girls, it's that time of the month again. IPSY time that is. For those of you who have no idea what Ipsy is, it is a monthly subscription where you're sent a limited edition bag filled with five beauty samples. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll actually get a full sized item. The great thing about this subscription service is that I get to try new brand that i've never even heard f before or haven't tried. What did I get this month? Let's take a look:

First of all, let's talk about the bag. HOW CUTE IS THAT? I haven't been getting Ipsy bags for that long, but some of the bags themselves haven't been too great. This one however, I love. The print is cute and colourful. It's not as "summery" as I thought it would be, but it's still cute. The fabric its self feels like canvass and feels really sturdy. I don't feel like it would rip easily. The size is great too. It's not too big to throw in your purse but it's not too small that you couldn't put anything into it. I'm going to be using this one to put makeup brushes in when I travel. 

The first item I pulled out of the bag was this Tarte Amazonian Clay bronzer in the colour Park Avenue Princess. I've always wanted to try Tarte products, so I was beyond thrilled to find this in my bag. The packaging is pretty cute with the faux alligator leather motif on the front. The quality on the other hand feels a little cheap. I don't know if it's because it's just a sample, but it just feels like really cheap plastic. Thats is really my only complaint about this product. What's inside you ask? 

I'm really sorry that I couldn't get a better picture of the bronzer itself, pictures just don't do it justice. You can't tell from this picture but it has a beautiful satin finish. I was so excited to try this but was really disappointed when I swatched it on my hand. It felt great but wasn't very pigmented. I realized that my hands are pretty tan at the moment, which is SO rare as I am usually the pastiest person alive.  I tried it again today, this time on my face, and I absolutely LOVE it. It looks so natural and really warmed up my skin without leaving it looking orange or super shimmery. What's the best part of this bronzer? It's waterproof, yep, that's right. So if you're out in the sun sweating the rest of your makeup off, at least you'll still have a nice warm glow!

The next item I saw was this Jor'el Parker Classico Perfume. Now, I'm not a huge fan of fragrances due to the fact that I tend to be sensitive to strong smells, but I don't mind this one. Im horrible at describing scents so forgive me, but it's a mixture of fresh, warm, floral, and sweet...? Basically, I like it. I also like the packaging. It's simple and I love that it's a roller ball application. The bottle is also glass so it feels sturdy. 

I love this next product. It's a Vanilla Coconut Cream Anti-Aging Conditioner by Jersey Shore Sun. It doesn't smell as good as I thought it would, it's not horrible, but it's not great. The consistency is super smooth and creamy, which feels super moisturizing. What makes this even better is that it is USDA Organic Certified made with sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, vanilla flavour, mongongo oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, rosemary extract, and calendula extract. Not only is it good for your lips but it's good for the environment. Win win. 

The next item was another lip product. P.I.N.K Lipstick by Bellapierre Cosmetics. At first I was a little put off from it because there was lipstick all over the outside of it. Not too sure how that happened but the lipstick itself seemed to be just fine. The packaging is cute and the colour of the lipstick is really pretty. It's not too bright and not too pink, yet not a nude. It has just enough shimmer in it that it shines but isn't over the top. What I love about it is that it glides on smooth and isn't drying. The only bad thing about it is that it doesn't wear for long, so you have to apply it pretty often. 

Last but not least, Eyetini Swizzle Stick Eyeling in the colour Blue Hawaiian. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one. My makeup routine usually consists of a lot of nude/natural shades, so I don't think I will be getting much use out of this. Besides the colour being a little too bright for my taste, the application of it isn't that great. I applied some to the back of my hand and I could feel some drag. you really have to apply some pressure in order to get really good pigmentation. This isn't a horrible product by any means, it's just not my cup of tea. It's also a full size product, which would be really great if it were in a different colour.

Well guys, thats it for this review. Do you subscribe to Ipsy? If so, what was you favourite item you got this month? For those of you who don't, what's the best new item you've tried lately? Leave you comments down below!

-Little J.

Recent Favorites

Hey guys! It's been a while since I've posted, I know, but i'm really going to make a better effort from now on. Promise!

ANYWAY, I thought I'd take some time an tell you what I've been loving lately. I'm always trying out new products so here's what I'm using right now. First on the docket:

719 Walnut Avenue: Peppermint Mocha Candle

I am in LOVE with this candle and so sad that it's almost all gone, since this is a seasonal one. Whenever the holiday roll around, I'm always on the lookout for a winer scent but am very disappointed by my options. I don't know about you, but I feel like i'm the only girl who doesn't like the typical "Holiday scents". You know the ones: Ginger Bread, Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Stick, Etc. I'm just not into it, I prefer the sweeter winter scents, so I was beyond excited to find this one. It's a subtle a mixture of sweetness and mint. Almost like you had been making some sort of mint cookies.

*OMG Thin Mints... drool*

Anyways, it smells amazing and burns really nicely. Unfortunately, I don't believe you can find them anymore since the holidays are over (so sad), but you can always check your local Walmart to see. If not, I highly suggest trying out any of their other scents.

Philosophy: Sugar Chick

Do you like multi-use items? Do you like stuff that smells good? Perfect! Then this is for you! I'm pretty crazy about this stuff. You can use it as not only a bubble bath, but as a shower gel and shampoo as well. I have yet to use it as a shampoo, but as a shower gel and bubble bath, it's great. At first I was a little worried about all the shimmer pieces and how they would affect my skin, since I have eczema, but everything turned out just fine! It's not drying on the skin and it doesn't leave you looking like a walking disco ball. I mostly use this as a bubble bath and I love it. You don't really need to use too much of it and you get a lot of nice bubbles and it makes your bath smell SO good. I will say that it does leaves behind some gold shimmer in your bathtub, which is not always a bad thing, tubs are usually boring anyways. I got mine at Marshalls but I'm sure you can find this on Amazon.

*Bonus: The bottle has a recipe to make marshmallows at home. Sweet! See what I did there??

Bioderma

 This stuff has changed my life. Ok, a little dramatic, but I LOVE this. How many of you use makeup remover wipes? I was one of you until I tried Bioderma. What it is? Fancy makeup removing water. All you do is put some on a cotton pad and use it to wipe off your makeup. It gets off all of my makeup (even waterproof) faster and better than a face wipe. Also, it doesn't leave your skin feeling tight or oily. It's pretty much perfect. I got the smallest size for around $5.00. It's small but it has lasted for quite some time. Once I finish this bottle, I'm going to purchase the next size up and use the small one for travelling, it's the perfect size.

Nivea: Gentle Toner

I don't really have much to say about this other than I love it. I use it right after washing my face and before using moisturizer. It's gentle on the skin and leaves it feeling super clean and fresh. It's now a staple in the skin care routine.

Maybelline: Baby Lips

For those of you that don't know, I live in Canada. Living in Canada means long and harsh winters, which means dry skin. Theres nothing worse than cracked and dry lips, so this is a lifesaver. It feels so smooth and moisturizing. I just love it.

Urban Decay: Naked Basics 2 Pallet

I am a huge fan of all the Naked pallets, but I use the Naked Basics religiously. The first Naked Basics pallet was something that I used everyday so I was super pumped when they came out with the second one. It's kind of pricey but totally worth the money. The shadows are nicely pigmented, you can build up the colours, and they blend so nicely. I'm going to say that the shadows in the Naked Basics 2 pallet have more of a warm undertone, but they work really nicely with the original pallet. Not only are these pallets great for everyday use, but they're great for travelling. First of all, the packaging is nice and small, with the added bonus of a good size mirror. Another benefit is that it comes with all the shades you need to create the look you want; natural, day time, night time, and smokey looks. I wonder (and hope) they come out with a third one. Could you imagine?? 

*fingers crossed* 

Benefit: They're Real Mascara

I know tons of people have already talked about this but there's a reason why, IT'S AMAZING. I was a lover of the Falsies mascara for a long time, so I was hesitant to spend that kind of cash on this product. I'm glad I took the leap, this mascara is so great! Not only does it make my lashes look fantastic but they also look way more natural than any other mascara could make them look. It's not clumpy and it stays on all day. No raccoon eyes at the end of the day! YAY!

Elizabeth and James: Nirvana Black & White

Ok, ok, so I didn't actually purchase these, they came as my sample from a Sephora purchase. However, I did want these for a while. I've never been a perfume-wearing kind of gal, but these changed my mind once I caught a whiff of them in the store. They both smell great but my favourite one is the Nirvana Black. It's a little more masculine than the White but it's not too overpowering. I'm really bad at describing scents, can't you tell? All I can say is that they smell freaking amazing, ok?! Although they smell great, they are super pricey, so I was pretty pumped to get these as a sample. The  sample sizes are great though and will definitely last me for a bit. However, once I finish the samples, I WILL be purchasing the rollerballs. You can get theses at Sephora for around $20 (rollerball). I believe the actual bottle is around $80, I could be wrong though. Nice research Jordan.....  *Sorry*

Well folks, that's all I have to tell you about right now but I hope you saw something you'd like to try!

What are your favourites at the moment? Will you be trying any of these?

- Little J