15 Beauty Favourites of 2015

           I have been watching "Best of 2015", "2015 Favourites" and "Top 2015 Products" on YouTube nonstop. I easily picked out my top 15 beauty products of the past year so I thought I would do up a quick overview of items I discovered in 2015 and share them with you. In no particular order we have:

Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil

           I think this was technically a 2014 discovery but I rediscovered and really fell in love with it this year. I have quite oily skin and I avoided any cleaning oils for a long time, this came in a Julep Maven box and I am so glad I forgot to skip that month. It just melts my makeup off,even if I do have to scrub at waterproof eye makeup there is no stinging or irritation. To help balance oil production I use this at night instead of a more harsh cleanser. I apply once to remove makeup and then again to make sure everything has been removed. I already have one as a back up and as soon as I open that one I will add another to my next Maven box.

 

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer 

            I originally got a sample of this in a Sample Source package and honestly did not expect much. So wrong. I do not moisturize nearly as much as I should but this makes it so easy. While you are still warm from the shower, before drying off you put this on like normal lotion and then pat dry. I have a full size in my shower and use it everyday, it takes seconds and has really helped keep my skin soft in these winter months. 

 

Clinique Acne Solutions 

            While I no longer use this regularly I will always suggest this to someone struggling with blemishes. I have never been acne prone but for a good portion of this year I could not get my skin to clear up. I decided to try this three step system and before I had to repurchase my skin was clear. Like I said, I do not use this regularly since my skin has returned to its original state but I plan on continuing to keep it at hand for when my skin rebels or I go too many nights without removing my make up.

 

Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner 

           I have always loved Redken products and used many over the years. I have hair that is dry, thin but easily weighed down and prone to get oily very quickly. This set gives my ends the moisture I need without leaving behind greasy build up.

 

 

Urban Decay B6 Complexion Prep Spray

          I live in a small, East Coast, Canadian city so high end makeup is pretty hard to find anywhere but online so when I saw the Urban Decay display at Shoppers I went a little overboard. (Review to come!) One of the items I picked up was this spray. I love what it has done for my skin, my pores are smaller, redness around my nose has been reduced and my skin is becoming less oily. If I have to go right from work to somewhere else I spray this over my makeup for a refresh, powder and go.

 

Crown Brush C476 Crease/Shadow Brush
          This is the perfect eyeshadow brush. Just look at it, what else do I need to say? It is all you need. I have another one coming from Hautelook right now.

 

Straight up stole this photo from tonyatalksbeauty.blogspot.ca. Go check her blog out so it makes it ok.

 

Marcelle Soothing Cleansing Water
          I think this was a Winners find and I use it pretty much everyday. It takes off the most stubborn waterproof makeup without any irritation, redness or leaving any residue. It is also alcohol free and recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association.

 

 

Revlon Color Stay Gel Envy
           This product was a serious game changer for me. I had converted to exclusively gel polish manicures, even have my own little pink lamp, but it was starting to damage my nails. I mean pealing the polish rather than soaking didn't help but moving on... I decided to give my nails a break and after reading some great reviews I picked up a couple colours, I now have seven or eight and rarely use my actual gel polish anymore. It does not last on me for two full weeks without chipping like some say but I can wear it for two weeks with minimal chips.

 

Covergirl Pop Balm
          I believe I have the entire Pop Balm collection and a couple from the Nude Balm collection as well. I love tinted balms and Covergirl has a great colour range. Check out this post out for a more in-depth review.

 

 

Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder in 01 Stay Buff (VF)
         I have a few Clinique products and have never really been disappointed with the brand. I love this powder, it has light coverage and helps set my makeup and keeps it from looking oily for a little longer through out the day, I have hit pan but will likely be purchasing it again once I use up all my setting powders. If you have oily skin give this powder a shot.

 

Acure Unscented Argon Oil Towelettes 
          I can honestly say these are the best face wipes I have ever used. The came in an Ipsy bag in 2015 and I fell in love. Not only did they remove all my makeup but my face actually felt like I had removed my makeup and used cleanser. I never thought I would get a deep clean from makeup wipes but these were amazing, I might have to break down and order a bunch online.

 

LOC Ultimate Collection 
           I cannot rave enough about this launch from Birchbox and Tati Westbrook. Both the eyeshadow sticks and lip colours have seriously impressive staying power. If you want to hear more click here.
          

 

Beauty Blender 
           I was a little late to the Beauty Blender obsession but now I use it everyday and have a backup waiting for when mine needs to be replaced. With most foundations it leaves a more natural finish, lasts longer and blends seamlessly. Bonus: it is way easier to clean than a brush full of foundation.

 

Aromatherapy Collection from Bath and Body Works
            I am all about the Stress Relief bubble bath from BBW. I also have the candle in the same scent, the Sensual bubble bath and the Sleep Pillow Mist. When I use the candle and bubble bath together I practically go catatonic, for an anxiety case like me it is amazing to be able to let go of all the constant stress and just relax. I have repurchased this many times and will continue to do so. (When it is on sale)

 

 

Aveeno Dry Shampoo
           I have decided that I am going to "train" my hair to need washed less often. This is not going to be easy since I religiously wash my hair everyday. I have tried a number of dry shampoos and for the most part thought they did nothing but make my hair feel gross. My sister used this on my hair over the holidays and while it still felt like I had dry shampoo in my hair I did not feel disgusted every time I touched it and my hair looked great.


          There you have it, 15 of my favourite beauty products from 2015. I hope everyone had a great year and wish you health and happiness in 2016.

Thanks for reading!

A.

 

@dirty_cupcake



Haul Winter 2015

          This is a collective haul I have been sitting on for a while and naturally I have lost the paper I have all my notes on, including the prices. We have some new loves and some items I have already passed on. Let's go:

Mally Beauty Lip Gloss

          I got these off Hautlook and while they are not a bad product I just have others I prefer and I will be passing them on to my cousin without really using them.

Nars Lip Crayons

         I got these as a birthday gift from Sephora as a beauty insider perk. Nars is just one of those cult beauty brands and I was thrilled to receive these. The red is a matte finish and it is beautiful, non-drying and long lasting. The pink is a satin finish and not as long lasting but a beautiful, subtle colour. 

Julep Lipgloss

         I have had a couple Julep lip glosses and am a big fan, I can not find this gloss to save my life and it breaks my heart. It is pretty close to being the perfect red gloss, it has enough colour without being so pigmented that if it gets messed up you look like a crazy person.

Julep Break the Ice Full Coverage Creme Lipstick Mini Trio 

          I really enjoy Julep lip products and I truly believe all lip colours should come in mini sizes. How often do you really use a whole lipstick? Plus it fits on your purse or pockets so much better.  The shades are mingle, primp and charm, all perfect for the season. The little box they came in is also super handy as it is magnetic so it stays shut in your purse or travel bag. 

Kat Von D Lock-it Featherweight Primer + Base

           I had such high hopes for this primer but I was pretty underwhelmed, I have not completely given up on it but I was not immediately wowed. I also suspect that it made my foundation oxidize but more research is required for that one. The packaging is on point though. 

Hard Candy Sheer Glow Illuminator

          I really do not know why I bought this, seriously. Not a clue. My only guess is that I was looking at it and Beast hurried me along so I tossed it in my basket instead of putting it back. I have used it a couple time as a liquid highlighter as well as on my arms and chest for Christmas parties. 

Mally Beauty Liquid Face Defender

From the Mally Beauty website- Shaded Liquid Face Defender is a new art technology and formula that takes your makeup routine to the next level. It mattifies the skin on contact, and can be worn under or over your regular foundation. This innovative formula not only blends beautifully to match your skin tone, but it protects your makeup from fading, creasing, and settling into those pesky lines and wrinkles that seem to love to absorb all that gorgeous makeup you put on!

           Well with a description like that how can you go wrong? I do find this helps my makeup blend very easily. I will also wear it under powder on errand days.I don't know that I would purchase it again, maybe if it was on Hautelook again.

Hard Candy 1000 Lashes Fiberized Lash Weave Mascara

          I am all about mascara and have been trying to find one to replace my love, the Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I did really like this mascara but I have to wear my make up for up to 16 hours and this mascara started to bother me around hour 8, not a bad product but I would only use it on days that I wont have to wear my makeup for such a long period of time.

Marcelle XTRENSION PLUS + PROLASH Growlash Complex

           This mascara, however, I do really like; mostly because of the brush. One set of bristles are longer than the rest so they are perfect for separating and defining lashes. I have not noticed much in terms of growth but I am not losing many eyelashes so maybe it is working.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara
           I have a problem, I know this. I do not think I have ever been disappointed with a Rimmel mascara, this one gives great volume and curl. I am not sure what about it makes me think this but I feel it gives a great retro vibe.

Redken Diamond Oil Bulletproof shine, Intense

           Normally I do not use hair oil but I wanted something I could put in my hair as an overnight treatment or the occasional hot oil treatment. This is a lovely product, it has helped repair my damaged ends and smells amazing. I have also used on persistent dry skin patches. In 17 years when I use this up I will repurchase the light version so I could use it during the day as well without it being too heavy.

Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer

          Love. Love. Love. This product smoothes my hair, helps it dry faster and protects from heat damage. I will repurchase this as long as they make it.

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Ace of Spades, Checkmate, and Hold 'em
          I occasionally have to work in a restaurant setting and I think there are not many things that look worse than someone serving your food with chipped nail polish. When I was in the restaurant on a regular basis I discovered gel polish and all other nail polish was ruined for me. It was just so durable and did not chip. Unfortunately I have an awful habit of peeling off my gel manicure rather than soaking it off so my nails got pretty haggard. I decided to give Revlon a shot, not expecting much. Then I fell in love. This product was a life changer, it is the ease of regular nail polish with the look of gel and is quite durable.

Thanks for reading!

A

Check out my last haul

@dirty_cupcake

Top 5 July 2015

          Better late than never? I actually had quite a difficult time picking my Top 5 this month. I tried a bunch of new products and while most of them were decent I had such high expectations that I was not overly impressed by many of them.

Marcelle Soothing Cleansing Water 

          This was an impulse purchase from Winners. It is easily the best makeup remover I have ever used. It takes every bit of waterproof, 24 hour, apocalypse proof make up off but is so gentle that I could (and have) put it right in my eye and it does not sting. This size is apparently an "exclusive size" and it is clearly going to last me a while but I will be looking for more once I use it up. 

Flower Cosmetics Powder Up Loose Powder in Light

                I had been looking at the line by Drew Barrymore trying to decide what product I wanted to try and I am so glad I went with this one. It is triple milled so it is very fine and doesn't leave you looking powdery. I find it does an excellent job of controlling oil throughout the day plus it looks super cute sitting in my desk. My only complaint is that it only comes in the three basic shades of light, medium and dark. I could use something even lighter than this and would love if there was a translucent option.

NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Creamy Mauve and Coralista 

          Let me be clear, these are not the most amazing lipsticks ever but I do like buying them to try out new shades since they are under $3. The formula itself isn't bad, it just won't last as long as something a little more pricey. I pick one of these up if it's a shade I haven't tried before, see how it looks and then use that as a reference when finding a similar shade in another brand. Also a good way to get your new lipstick fix for $2.69. 

Lancôme Super-Enhancing Mascara Base 

          This was a 100 point perk from Sephora and I love it. It is just a primer for your lashes before your mascara and it really does make a difference. I was skeptical at first but figured it would be an interesting product to try. My lashes were thicker, longer and held a curl for longer. One of my male friends who would not normally notice my mascara stopped mid conversation to mention that my eyelashes looked amazing. I haven't looked up the cost of this because I am sure it will break my heart.

Nicka K New York Eye Shadow Quad

          This was an item from Ipsy this month and since I received it I haven't used any other eyeshadow. For around $5 these eyeshadows are amazing. The colours blend beautifully together and are perfect for my dark brown eyes. In the pan they look a little crumbly but that is not how they go on. Day or night this is my go to eyeshadow. 

Check out last month's Top 5

Thanks for reading!

A. 

@dirty_cupcake

Haul - Hautelook, drugstore, and Winners June 2015

          I am trying to curb my spending on beauty products with mild success at best, here are a few things I have picked up here and there.

Walmart

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hydrating Sulfate Free Body Wash  $4.98

          To say I like the Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco line would be a huge understatement. Every time I wash  my hair I wish I had a body wash in the same scent. I was walking through Wal-mart when I saw this and it literally stopped me in my tracks. Besides argan oil it has a lot of moisturizing and soothing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and vitamin E. You can also add it to running water for "an invigorating spa bath soak". I am way too excited over the body wash; unfortunately I have so many body washes that I am forcing myself to put it away until I use up some of my stash. I will be attempting my very first project pan and this will be my motivation and reward.

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory  $16.96

          I am still on a mission to try every foundation there is, starting at the drugstore brands and working my way up, until I find my perfect match. This is a demi-matte, 24 hour, medium coverage foundation and my oily skin defeated it within six hours. Based on the description online "The micro-sponge technology absorbs excess oil and shine to create a dimensional matte finish without the need for a heavy or caked-on look" I thought this would be a good place to continue my quest but no such luck. It does go on very nicely for a smooth and natural skin finish but it did nothing to absorb oil or shine. I will continue to use this but only on days that are not very hot, with a setting spray and keep powder close. I will not repurchase.

L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray $14.96

          I had been walking past this in Wal-mart for some time and finally caved. I normally use Model in a Bottle from Made You Blush which may be a local company but I am not sure. Model in a Bottle works wonderfully,I could go to war and emerge from my hiding spot with minimal makeup damage, my only complaint is that it has a very strong smell somewhere between perfume and medical alcohol. The L'Oreal spray is much lighter, without much of a scent and just feels like you are spraying a fine mist of water on your face. Unfortunately it is so much less effective than Model in a Bottle. It is like Model in a Bottle is for special events while L'Oreal is more of an everyday setting spray. I will use it up but I likely will not be repurchasing it. 

Hautelook

Skyn Iceland White Cloud Spot Corrector with Pigment Lightening Complex 

Regular Price: $45.00

Hautelook Price: $19.00

           First of all what a deal! I love Hautelook, if you don't know it is a flash sale website and you can get amazing discounts on everything from home items, makeup, or men's and women's clothing. I got a $600 watch set for Beast and paid about $60 for it. I had been looking into products to reduce redness and acne scars, I have not had a lot of issues with acne but since I am so fair skinned I mark up easily and they do not go away for some time. This comes out as a medium thickness white lotion that is supposed to fight dark patches, age spots, acne scares and uneaven skin tone in about six weeks. You are meant to use this morning and night after cleansing and before moisturizing.  I was noticing some slight differences but not going to lie I sort of forgot to use it for a couple days/weeks so I will not swear by the results I may have seen but I will get back into the habit of using it. I would pick it up if I saw it on Hautelook again but I would not pay full price for it. 

Skyn Iceland Anti-Blemish Gel with Willow Bark

Regular Price: $15.00

Hautelook Price: $7.00

          Another good deal from Hautelook. There is not a lot to say about zit cream but this stuff does seem to work. I have a hard time judging if this type of product is working on myself but Beast had a beast sized blemish and after the first application it was reduced to half its size, after three it was all but gone. I will repurchase this again when it runs out and I would pay full price for it. Luckily Ipsy frequently send out Skyn Iceland products and that usually means a discount code of some sort.

Hautelook

BH Cosmetics 11 Pcs Pink-A-Dot Brush Set

Regular Price: $28.95

Hautelook Price: $19.00

Sale on BH Cosmetics as of June 4th 2015: $14

          How cute are these brushes? I am not even mad that I just found them for a better price. I have been looking at buying a couple brushes but it is just so expensive to buy even just the specific brushes not to mention a decent set. I have tried makeup from BH cosmetics before and liked it so I decided to add these to my Hautelook order. If nothing else they are super cute, happily I have ended up really liking these brushes. The brushes are extremely soft and have not shed a single bristle since I opened them. The set includes a deluxe fan brush, powder brush, angled blush brush, classic foundation brush, tapered shadow blending brush, classic shadow brush, angled shadow brush, small smudge brush, tapered eye liner brush, and a lip brush all in a snap closure hard shell travel case. I use both the top and bottom of the case to store brushes on my desk.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory to Fair $17.99

          I picked this up at the Superstore only because it was 50% off and ended up really liking it. This is 100% free of harsh chemicals, parabens and preservatives and 100% natural origin. Being a tinted moisturizer there is not much in the way of coverage but combined with my usual powder, Maybelline Dream Wonder, it gives enough coverage for a casual day. I would consider purchasing this again. It does smell kind of like celery which is a little strange but the smell does not stay long after application.

Winners

Ever notice that you can only ever find anything at Winners if you either have no money or at least should not be spending money? Every time.

Marcelle Soothing Cleansing Water

Regular Price: $17.95

Winners Price: $7.99

          Now, I had convinced myself that I did not need fancy water to cleanse my face but as I was setting it back down Princess said that she has it and loves it. I will admit here on the internet for everyone to read that my sister was right. This is so gentle but removes makeup better than any other makeup remover I have tried. Even after a face oil and cleanser it still picked up foundation when I thought my face was perfectly clean. This product is paraben, oil, alcohol and perfume free. It also works to tone your skin and removes even my strongest waterproof makeup but afterwards there is no irritation or residue. I think this will become my new makeup remover.

Lise Watier Lip Kiss Crayon Gloss in Pink Jelly

Regular Price: $18.00

Winners Price: $7.99

          I need another lip product like I need a hole in my head but there was no passing this up. I have wanted to try Lise Watier products for sometime but was avoiding splurging, I was missing out. This goes on as almost a light dusty rose but as it fades it leaves behind a bright pink stain. It it truly a moisturizing gloss and I am in love, it is not sticky, does not feather and has serious lasting power. My only complaint is that it has to be sharpened. I have not yet had to do so but hopefully it sharpens without any trouble.

Lise Watier Lip Kiss Crayon Gloss in Pink Jelly

Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake.

Looking to go down the rabbit hole? Here is another haul post.