Ipsy - January 2015

           Mechanical Eye Pencil by Hikari cosmetics

           In Storm (slate gray) $13

           

           Originally I was quite excited to receive this item, I do not have any gray eyeliner and you can never have too many eyeliners. You just can not. The formula is not the best, it takes a pretty heavy hand to really build any color. I would not recommend this, especially not to anyone with sensitive eyes. I will continue to use it because once I finally got some color from the eyeliner it was a nice gray color without being a sparkly silver.

         Be Good. Good Day, Day Moisturizer by LA Fresh Eco-Beauty.

         Full size 1.7oz $40, received 0.5oz $11.60

         Not a super exciting product but I love getting lotions and moisturizers. This one came in a little packet but had the lovely feature of still having a twist off cap. I have used it a couple times and it has not rocked my world but it is a good moisturizer, it absorbs quickly and does not feel heavy on my face. 

       Mojito Lip Balm by Malin+Goetz

       7g $12

       This was the product I was most excited about. It was featured in a previous bag but I did not receive it. Seeing as it is $12 I was not willing to purchase. This lip balm is a savior for dry and cracked winter lips. It absorbed quickly and moisturized for hours. I am a fan but I can't see myself paying $12 for a rather small tube.

       Sheer Glo by Manna Kadar Cosmetics 

       Full size 1oz $29, received 0.27oz $7.83

       This is not a product I will use. At all. I have oily skin so the dewy look is just a no go for me. I do not like to add any shimmer as it just looks horrible by the end of the day. Not a bad product for some and a decent sample size, I just have no use for it.

       Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow by Pacifica in Treasure

       Sold only in larger palettes $14, single shadow approx. $4.67

       I had gotten an eyeshadow from Pacifica before and the color payoff was not that great but this swatches out exactly as it looks in the compact. It also blends out smoothly to a beautiful bronzed shimmer. I see myself using this often and combining it both with the Be a Bombshell Base from a previous bag and my Urban Decay Naked3 palette.

BONUS ITEM

benefit Posie Balm 250 points

      I hate this product, I am especially disappointed because after I redeemed my points the Ayers lotion I LOVED was available for the same amount of points. To be honest I did not even put it on, it reeks of roses and the smells turned me off so completely that I put it back in the bag immediately. It had such promise. A cute little mini pink, tinted lip balm? Perfect for my purse, I just can not deal with the scent.

       Overall not the best bag for me, especially compared to my last few. Hopefully this is not a sign of what is to come in 2015. The total value of my bag was close to $50 so it was not that it had bad products, just a couple disappointing ones. For me the eyeshadow and lip balm make it worth it.

Like, comment and share!

A.

Empties #1 January 2015

 

          Go grab a coffee, this will be a long one. Will out any ado whatsoever here we go: 

          Get used to seeing candles, Bath and Body Works has the most amazing candles and room sprays. I have so many back ups of this candle, burning one right now actually. When I got this scent I went all out, no joke, I have the candles, room spray, body wash, plug in bulbs, and lip gloss. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin is the ultimate fall smell. 

          Apparently I took a photo of the French side but this is an olive oil and aloe body wash, I originally was introduced to this when an ex left it begind in the shower and I'm so glad he did. It just smells so clean, like I'm in Italy and about to walk through the countryside during the olive harvest. It rinses clean, moisturizes and the scent lingers just slightly. 

          This came in an Ipsy bag and is one of my favourite things I have received from Ipsy. The Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion was AMAZING, I have an unnatural love of exfoliating and this fed my sick obsession. The little scrubby bits were so tiny and they were so concentrated that I really felt like all the dead skin was banished from my face. The tube is so nasty looking because a. I'm too lazy to wash it off for you. 2. I left it in my shower for so long because I was in denial that I had used it all up. If it wasn't so pricey I would have purchased it in bulk. 

          Speaking of an obsession with exfoliating, I used a discount code from Ipsy for 50% off to get little sample tubes of this exfoliant, a moisturizer and face wash. It was a great deal since I think the three pack was only three or four dollars. I ordered some extra to send to the woman's shelter. They were all decent products but the exfoliant was for sure the best, again little granuals. I mixed it with the face wash to get a deep clean. 

          This mask was a couple bucks from Target and I really enjoyed it. It was the first sheet mask I've tried and I didn't think I would like that but I'm glad I tried it. It was a good mask, my skin felt refreshed and the smell was very relaxing. A great bubble bath companion. 

         I have many items from The Body Shop's Tea Tree collection and do find it works well for oily skin and blemishes but these I did not like. Especially for the price. They were sort of dry right after I opened them, didn't remove makeup any better than my $3 baby wipes. I will not repurchase these. 

          This is the Mary Kay Oil Free Makeup Remover, I got this through a co-worker and loved it. It was very effective without stinging or leaving any residue behind. The only reason I didn't repurchase this on the sad day I used the last drop is because I don't have a Mary Kay lady and I avoid human interaction. 

          This was either the first or second primer I ever tried. I honestly can't remember how well it worked. I feel like it wasn't that great as I repurchased once then moved on to the Julep primer. 

     I've had a couple of the samples of the Porefessional pore minimizer and always use them up fairly quickly. Not a product I would buy but I always like receiving them in sample bags, it really does make my pores look much smaller and my makeup go on smoother. 

          This is the Victoria Jackson foundation duo compact. Also featured is my giraffe that lives on my desk. I got this free quite a while ago with a coupon code from Ipsy which was awesome. I used this product frequently, kept it in my purse for touch ups and really got some use out of it. The latch broke so I stopped using it as much then my cat knocked it over and laid on it so it's full of fuzzies and cat hair. Time for that to go. 

     For a long time I was obsessed with Julep's Glycolic Hand Scrub. When I first started painting my nails regularly I was horrendous at it so this was great for getting polish off the skin around my nails without damaging the polish. It really does feel like a facial for your hands. I repurchased this when it went on sale or in combo packs from Julep. Lately the company has had some bad press but I never had a bad experience with them. I haven't gotten anything from them recently as I've moved onto using gel polishes the beauty products are not exactly cheap. 

          This was another Ipsy sample I loved. It was a creamy lotion that just smelled like summer. I read online that you can buy this at Target and I found the brand but not this specific product. 

          I received these in the Her Fitness Box I reviewed in a previous post. They made my hands smell like a barn, and actual moo cow, hay and grain barn. I emptied into a container I had laying around and still use it periodically because it really does give an intense amount of moisture without sitting on your hands, I mean it smells like a clean barn so that's ok right? If I got this in another sample box I wouldn't even give it to anyone, I would just toss it. 

          Again, an Ipsy sample. I didn't like this originally, it didn't seem to do much for my hair beyond make it smell amazing. A month or so later I started using it before braiding my hair at night and I noticed it really did help fix my split ends or at least make them less noticeable. If this company makes a perfume with this same spicy scent I would snatch that up in a heartbeat. I amay keep this tube just so I can smell it because I have problems. 

          I picked this up at Sally Beauty for an at home spa day and wasn't overly impressed. It seemed to weigh my hair down an make it greasy. It may be a good product for someone with severely dry and damaged hair but it was too much for me. 

         Lastly I used up a few things of boring old cotton rounds from Costco. 

Thanks for reading! 

A. 

Little Life Box - January 2015

     Little Life Box is a Canadian subscription box focused on healthy alternatives to products you use daily. I saw this for the first time in a video by Ashley Elizabeth and I decided to try it for two reasons: I wanted to try a Canadian subscription box and I wanted to get back into a healthier mindset. The box is $19.99, free shipping. I got an email notifying me that my box shipped on Monday and it was delivered Thursday! So that is super impressive. 

          The packaging is adorable and I guess each box comes with a little post card which is a nice touch. 

           When I pulled back the packaging it looks like a pretty full box. I just started pulling things out and I was very pleased with this box. Here we go: 

Shapes Crisps - Lightly Salted by Harvest Snaps  21g 

          Anyone who is reading this and actually knows me get ready to be shocked. These are delicious. They didn't last until I was finished unpacking the box. These we a crispy, salty snack that I didn't have to feel bad about eating! I would eat these instead of chips while watching a movie, so good. 

Organic and Natural Feminine Hygine Products by Natracare

          These look a little sketchy, I will throw them under my bathroom sink in case of emergency but I doubt I will be using them. 

         Botanical Energy Formula by Volta 65ml

         This was a product I was interested in trying. It tasted like berries, much better than most of these type of products. I drank it before a shift at work and I did feel like it gave me more energy without making me feel jittery but I don't think it lasted 8 hours. 

Cleansing Make-up Removal Wipe by Natracare 

          Another product from Natracare. I used this after work and it worked well, took off my waterproof mascara and my skin felt clean and refreshed after. I would certainly suggest this for someone with sensitive skin. 

Night Facial Creams by Idoine Bio 7g

         This is an interesting product, I love moisturizers and face creams. Only used this once so I can't speak to how effective it is for the long term but when I woke up the next morning my face felt well moisturized without feeling like it was greasy or the cream was sitting on it. It smelled very natural but the smell wasn't overwhelming. The description mentions that Idoine means "suits you perfectly" and that the product is made with natural, organic ingredients including oil from the Moringa tree. It is supposed to promote production of natural collagen, regulate facial pH, reduce the loss of vitamins, stimulate cell renewal, restore dry and irritated skin, improve elasticity, provide a natural facial glow, as well as stimulate anti-wrinkle and anti-aging functions. So wow to all of that. I will try to remember to put this on before bed, if nothing else it is simply a nice overnight moisturizer. 

Lip Balm in French Vanilla by Woods Body Goods. 

        When I first saw this I thought "ok cool a lip balm, decent" This may look like a cheap lip balm but it is really quite moisturizing and has a great smell/flavour. I didn't get to use it much when I first got it as Beast took it to work with him. Since I got it back I've been using it everyday. It just soaks right in while leaving a thin layer that moisturizes for hours. 

Hemp Hearts by Manitoba Harvest 15g

         I've bought these before so I will eat these for sure. They make a great topping for salads, yogurt, or just by themselves. Hemp hearts contain omegas, digestible proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's an easy way to add some things you may be missing from your diet. I am going to stash these in my desk at work and add them to rice or a salad. 

Pink Andean Cooking Salt by GoGo Quinoa 250g

          Ok. First: it's pink so I love it. This is a pretty big sample size and I'm looking forward to using this in my cooking. This salt is harvested at 3000 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains. It's delishous, the pink color comes from minerals found in the ancient sea salt deposits. Pretty neat. 

Organic Roasted Coconut Loose Tea by Naked Teas

          This is probably my favourite item out of the box, I've had three cups and I have enough left for at least one more of not two. It's just so yummy! A lot of flavoured teas taste a little bit off but this just tastes like coconut and almonds. I will be looking into ordering some more as soon as I can afford it. I 100% recommend this. 

Quinoa and Vegetable Soup by GoGo Quinoa 65g

          This turned out pretty good, I did add chicken which makes it slightly less vegetarian I suppose. I will look for this when I get groceries but use it as a base and add carrots, potatoes and chicken. It is a simple, quick soup that really tastes like homemade. 

Hazelnut Milk Chocolate by Camino 100g

       It's chocolate. What's not to love? It was yummy. 

          At the bottom there were various cards, coupons, information and a code for 25% off your first box if you subscribe. I am seriously considering subscribing for the year, I was really impressed with the variety of products, most of which I have used.  

Overall I am really impressed and it only helps that it is a Canadian subscription box that included many Canadian products. 

Thanks for reading!

A.

          

Top Five December 2015

          I've decided that instead of "favorites" posts I am going to post a "Top 5" each month or two. I have was too many products that I love so I have decided to limit it to five. These will be products I am loving or using frequently. 

Bioré Self Heating One Minute Mask. 

4 masks for about $7

         I can not exclaim about how much I love this product without googling religions and taking every deity's name in vain. Between the various stresses of December and being lazy about taking off my makeup before bed my skin is rebelling and my face is a wreck. This magical product takes all the yuckies out of my skin deep down, I feel like my soul is cleaner. My face has not been this clean and fresh since the nurse wiped the placenta off my face. The mask comes in little individual use packets, you massage on your clean, damp face for one minute before rinsing off. Afterwards my face felt tingly, fresh and clean. I also used an astringent after and it really felt that it could get into my pores to clean out even more yuckies. I loved this so much that I went out to buy the cleanser from the same line as soon as I could. 

Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser 

200ml for $7.99

          Just like the masks this cleanser cleans more deeply than anything else I have used. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and tingly just like the masks without drying my skin out. After I finish this post I am going to use both back to back and I am actually giddy about it. 

             UPDATE: It was amazing, I almost could not handle how clean my face felt. Go buy this cleanser.

GNC Vitamin E, A and D Moisturizing Cream

57g tube for 1.99 regular/1.44 member price

         I originally got this as a hand and body cream for dry winter skin, on the back it says you can use it as a makeup base. I figured I would give it a try not expecting much and I ended up liking it so much better than the far more expensive primers and bases I have tried. It is such a nice moisturizer and works so well as a base, my makeup stayed on all day while working in a restaurant. I figure a vitamin cream has got to be better for your skin than whatever is in primers right? I feel like that's a thing. I'm going with it. Also it is not tested on animals so that's a plus. I actually forced my mother to buy some yesterday. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Full sized $23

          I got a deluxe sample of this in the Mystery Tin, check out that post to drool over what else I received. The volume and length I get from this mascara is unreal. I have used this almost every day since I received it and I absolutely love it. This will last all day without flaking whatsoever, I love it so much that I am considering buying the full sized version next time I make a Sephora or Ulta order. 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette 

$54 

          I received this for Christmas and I love it, the shadows go on so smoothly and are so pigmented yet will not crease even by the end of a 12 hour day. It is no secret that the Urban Decay Naked Palettes are pretty much the end all be all of neutral palettes and I am jumping right on the band wagon with that one, hell I will drive it. 

        I swear by all of these products and if they don't work for 96% of you I will be shocked. 

Thank you for reading! Like, share and comment. 

A. 

Too Faced Mystery Tin

          This is the one thing I bought on Cyber Monday. For whatever foolish reason they don't ship to Canada so Mrs. G's PO box saved the day again. The Mystery Tin was $35 and included $150 worth of product. I was happy with what I got and would purchase it again next year.

          The makeup came in an actual tin which is pretty cute. I've used it to put my makeup in while traveling and it's helping organize my desk at the moment. Ok, let's get right to the contents. 

          A set of the Teddy Bear brushes and this are beautiful. Very soft and each of them have made it into my frequently used brush jar. 

          Just look at that color, it goes on exactly that color and is so creamy. The staying power isn't the best but it is so moisturizing and smooth that I do not mind reapplying. It is in the color Believe. 

          This is the Chocolate Soleil bronzer in Milk Chocolate. I am one very pasty Canadian so it is too dark for my winter lack of pigment but is great for contouring and I've used it as blush a few times. It is likely going to work in the summer if I actually get a tan. It stays put all day and I am excited to be able to use it to its full potential. Why bronzer needs to smell like chocolate I don't know but it really does smell good enough to eat. 

          All of the yes. This is a deluxe sample of their Better Than Sex mascara and I've used it nearly everyday. The volume and length I get from this magic in a tube amazes me every time. So much so that I am considering paying for the full sized version. 

          I was so excited to receive an eye-shadow palette. It wouldn't have mattered which one because they are all beautiful. I was already looking at different palettes, I wouldn't have bought this one as I thought it would be too dark but it is perfect for a night time smokey eye or a more subdued daytime look. The shadows are pigmented and smooth with no creasing all day. If you look at the Up in Smoke pan in the top right you can see that there is a chunk out of it. It came like that and was such a mess to clean up. There was no damage to the box during shipping, I emailed The company so hopefully they make it right as almost half of the shadow is gone.   

UPDATE: After several emails I heard absolutely nothing from Too Faced.

          

          This Beauty Balm was one of the two samples I chose, not a huge fan. It is too dark for me and does not really seem to do anything for me.

          This eyeliner was the second sample and I am in love. It is called Perfect Eyes for a reason, it does on smoother than any of the hundreds of eyeliners I have tried. I was actually shocked when I put it on the first time. It is waterproof and stays on all day. I've even cried with this on and it barely budged. 

           Overall I am happy I took the risk because for $35 I got to try products I couldn't justify spending the money on and found new favorites. If you see this offer in the future snatch it up because they go fast and it is certainly worth it. The eye-shadow alone makes it worth it as it is $36 just by itself. 

          Thanks for reading! Like, comment and share.  

A.