Hard Candy Sheer Envy Hydrating Primer Mist Review

       I spotted this primer mist at Wal-Mart about three weeks ago and I couldn't resist snatching it up. I know I'm supposed to be on hiatus but there are very few reviews for this primer mist out here on the internet and I just want to quickly share the knowledge with anyone who might want to know how this primer functions on combination oily skin. 

       Claims from the packaging: This lightweight primer mist hydrates skin and revitalizes radiance You will get the benefits of priming, hydrating and refreshing your face. Coconut water infused to boost hydration benefits for up to 12 hours. Leaves skin soft, smooth and supple.

       This product retails for about $9.98CDN which is quite expensive for Hard Candy which has always been an inexpensive brand. It's even more expensive than their setting spray which cost me $6-7CDN when I bought it during the summer.

      The packaging also says you can use this mist as a setting spray in addition to a primer spray.

   

     Here are the ingredients. Hard Candy really impressed me with this ingredients list. They said it was infused with coconut water and that's definitely true. Coconut water is high up on the list as well so they didn't skimp on the active ingredients.

     Coconut oil makes me break out like crazy. I've tried using coconut oil to remove my makeup and the next day I had a cluster of cystic pimples on my cheeks. I don't even like using it on my hair, because it causes me to break out all around my hair line and nape. But coconut water doesn't make me break out which I'm happy for. 

      I've used this primer every day since I've bought it, as the first step before I apply the rest of my makeup. This primer doesn't promise to control oil, and I've noticed it doesn't control oil at all. It doesn't make me greasier than usual, but it doesn't inhibit my oil either.

     The spray nozzle on this bottle is much much better than the Hard Candy setting spray nozzle. That thing would drench my face even if I held it a full arm's length away. The nozzle for this mist is very fine and delivers a light mist of product onto my face.

     The primer didn't smell the way I thought it would. I expected it to have sort of a coconut smell but it smells sweet and faintly spicy. It's not a strong smell and it fades very quickly after application.

     I do notice this primer makes my skin extra soft and makes my makeup slide on extra smoothly. After applying the mist my skin feels really soft and supple, so it delivers on those claims. It does make a great primer as it is slightly sticky, which helps makeup adhere to skin.

     As for the 12 hour wear? Normally, I don't wear my makeup for that long. For the usual eight hours that I do I've noticed this primer doesn't extend the wear of my makeup or inhibit it. It gives my skin a nice hydration boost which is why I really like it, but it doesn't make a difference in the wear of my makeup and that is what a primer is supposed to do. At the same time, Hard Candy doesn't say it's supposed to extend the wear of your makeup; it just says its supposed to "boost hydration benefits for 12 hours" and it delivers on the promise of lasting hydration. 

    In short; I like the hydration without extra greasiness this primer gives me and I really enjoy using it every day. It doesn't affect the wear of my makeup or decrease / increase my oil output. It does keep my skin hydrated which it promises to do. 

Likes:

1. Delivers on it's hydration promises

2. Delivers on it's skin softening promises

3. Mists finely

4. Makes my makeup go on smoothly

5. The coconut water doesn't break me out

6. Doesn't make me oilier

Dislikes:

1. Smells kind of odd

2. Doesn't extend the wear of my makeup
3. Doesn't control oil

A-

Maybelline Baby Lips Winter 2015 Limited Edition Review + Swatches on Dark Skin

 

 

    I spotted these lip balms at Walmart a couple weeks ago in a display and I picked them up. One of my first reviews on this blog covered Maybelline's limited edition baby lips collection for Winter 2014 and I can't believe we've went full circle and come back to this point!

     I picked up this lip balms for $3.97 or so at Walmart. I only picked up Mint Please, Sprinkled Pink and Spice it Up! There's a fourth shade called Cocoa Crush but it was all sold out so I never got a chance to swatch it!

      I'm not going to give an in depth review of Baby Lips because I've done that countless times on this blog so I'm just going to show you what these lip balms look like on someone with NW45 skin.

      Here's Mint Please. It was called Mint Candy in the UK and honestly I like that name better than this one! I love the little earmuffs on the package though. It's almost clear with a pale pink base. I really wanted it to be clear like all the other bloggers said, but it's got a white base in there that shows up on pigmented lips. Mint Please smells faintly of mint but doesn't tingle on the lips like other minty lip balms that I've tried.






















      This pink shade is Sprinkled Pink. It was called Sugar Cookie in the UK. Sprinkled Pink is a cool toned pink with silver shimmer. Sprinkled Pink smells faintly of vanilla.





















       The red balm is Spice it Up! It's called Sweet Apple in the UK and I love that name! Spice it Up! is a pink red shade. It's much more pigmented than Cherry Me from the original and permanent Baby Lips line. It smells mostly like cinnamon and ginger with a faint apple note in the background.

       So here's a swatch of all the shades side by side.

 

Mint Please swatched on lips. It looks fine in the picture but in real life it looks pale and completely washes me out. 

    

 

Sprinkled Pink swatched on my lips. This shade was a huge no-no. It sinks into all of my lip lines and I can never get an even application with this shade. This one left my lips much drier then the other ones and I'm guessing it's because this one has shimmer in it.

 

Spice it Up! swatched on my lips. Easily my favourite shade on the collection. It applies very evenly and smoothly and looks great on my lips, no sinking into lines or being patchy. It's deeper and more red in real life.

I can't wait to see what shades Maybelline will come out with for the Spring 2016 collection! 



CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Liquid Foundation 320 Soft Sable Review + Swatches

This foundation has been reputed to be a true drugstore gem in the online beauty community. Poor reviews of this foundation are few and far between. That, along with the fact that this foundation retails for a $7.97CDN caught my attention immediately. I'm almost done this tube of foundation and I'm ready to give you my verdict on it.

 Claims from the packaging: One simple step for a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. This formula blends easily to even skin tone and reduce shine all day.

Those claims are true! This foundation is so easy to blend into the skin, I barely have to do any work. Using fingers I can get a great finish, but when I use a blending sponge - like the Quo one I reviewed here - I get a flawless finish.

The left side of the back of my hand has a blended out swatch of the foundation on my hand. The right side of my hand has a drop of foundation, which is a really great match for my skin in the summer and the summer transitioning into fall. Shade 320 Soft Sable is a good colour for my NW45 skin when I've got a bit of a tan. During the winter and the winter transitioning into spring it's just a little bit too dark.

I'm proud of CoverGirl for a while they didn't have Soft Sable in Canada, the darkest shade they had was Tawny and Tawny is much lighter and much more golden. Though they could do better as Soft Sable is the darkest colour they offer and I know there are girls who want foundation who are darker than I am.

This foundation has no detectable smell which is always pleasant, I'm not a fan of scented foundation.

The foundation has a somewhat thick texture but spreads very easily on my skin. After about a minute the foundation sets into a satin matte finish. It's matte, but it's not a flat matte as CoverGirl's 3-in-1 foundation is. It gets dewier as the day wears on, but never gets super greasy.

I find this foundation keeps me matte in all areas aside from my nose which gets oily in two to three hours no matter what I do to it. The longevity of this foundation is really nice. When it fades, it loses its power to mattify and my skin gets dewy but doesn't break up and get patchy.

My skin is combination, slightly sensitive, and acne prone and I've never broken out from this foundation which is really nice.

This foundation feels so weightless on my skin and I love it! I love how this foundation has a thick and creamy texture, yet it feels like absolutely nothing on my skin. This foundation is as comfortable as a moisturizer all throughout the day.

In short, I really like this foundation because of the satin finish, how long it lasts and how weightless it feels. It's honestly one of my the better foundations that I've purchased and I'll repurchase it again, once I finish my grand tour of the foundation world.

I'd recommend this foundation to people who have slightly oily skin. I think it might be a little drying for people with dry skin. People with oily skin will benefit from it, but don't expect it to put a lock down on your oil, it'll keep it at bay but not for an extended period of time.

Likes:

1. Weightless feel on my skin
2. Blends really well
3. Lovely satin matte finish
4. Hasn't broken me out
5. Affordable

Dislikes:

1. I wish it would keep my oily nose under control
2. Needs deeper shades

A+



Milani Eyeshadow Primer Review

 

 

 

Some people don't think shadow primer is necessary. For people like me with oily lids, primer is a must. For a long time I really disliked wearing eye shadow because it would crease and look awful on me really quickly. I tried another eyeshadow primer from Essence - The I Love Stage shadow base - that did nothing to prevent creasing.

 

 

 

The most important thing to me with primer is one that will keep my lids from creasing. The second most important thing is that the primer keeps my eyeshadow from fading. The least important thing to me is having the primer make my eyeshadows more vibrant.

 

 

Here are the claims on the back of the packaging. I bought it for $8.99 from Well.ca. It is sold wherever Milani is sold such as Loblaws, Superstore and select Wal-Marts. It says the shade number is 01 Nude as if it comes in other shades, but it doesn't. Perhaps Milani is planning to release other shades, like a primer with a shimmer finish or dark finishes for smokey eyes. The nude shade is completely invisible on my skin unless I over apply it. 

 

The directions on the back of the package are right; apply it to clean dry lids. I've tried applying cream under the primer and that compromised the wear of the primer. If I apply cream I wait until my lids are dry. 

What I love love LOVE about this primer is the fact that its a squeeze tube primer! When shadow primer has a doe foot I absolutely hate it. For me it always ends up applying way too much onto my lids. I hope Milani never changes the packaging on this like certain other brands that will remain nameless *cough Urban Decay cough*. 

 

 

Here's a dot of primer on my hand (much larger then what I would actually use for both eyes). On the right side of the dot is a completely blended in dollop of primer. It's basically sheer with the slightest hint of beige.

 

I've had this primer for several months now and I absolutely love it. Whenever I use eyeshadow, this is the first step in my routine. The shadow proved it's worth to me this August. I wore it for eight hours and during that time I was out in the heat, I was sweating, and when I came home I was amazed to see my eyeshadow was still uncreased. If I hadn't been wearing the eyeshadow primer, it would've been faded, and badly creased. After wearing the shadow for ten hours I noticed there was light creasing. My shadows don't fade when I use this primer!

 

Caveats with this primer: When I apply too much primer it makes my lids look ashy. In addition to that it makes my shadows difficult to blend because they just stick in place and won't want to budge.

 

All in all; I absolutely LOVE this primer. It works incredibly well and the price is lovely. I love using it and I love how well it works.

 

Likes:

 

1. Keeps my eyeshadow from creasing

2. Keeps my eyeshadow from fading

3. Dries invisibly on my lids

4. Doesn't irritate my lids

5. Has a squeeze tube!

6. Affordable!

 

Dislikes:

 

1. If I apply too much I get a white cast and it's difficult to blend but that's my own fault

 

A+

Quo Blending Sponge Review

So I wanted to buy a beauty blender but of course I didn't want to buy something for nearly $30 ($26CDN without tax, so with tax it'll even out to $29.38CDN) if I didn't like it. I've seen this cute little purple guy hiding out in the aisles at Shopper's Drug Mart so I decided to give it a try. And for $5CDN how bad could it be?

This sponge revolutionized my life. Okay, I'm exaggerating but only exaggerating slightly. I will never apply liquid foundation any other way. tt

So this sponge works the same way as the Beauty blender. You soak it with water, squeeze out the excess and use the tool to apply and blend makeup.

Here is a picture of the sponge but it's drying, it gets much smaller then this once it's fully dry. I've read reviews online about people buying knock off beauty blenders and hating them because those sponges don't expand when they're wet. Thankfully this one does. It swells up and gets really large and soft.

Also I've never experienced any bleeding of colour with this sponge.

When I bounce it against my skin it feels really soft and . . .well . . . bouncy! I think bouncing this sponge on my face is the most enjoyable way to apply foundation. In addition to feeling soft - it's not scratchy at all - and providing a little enjoyment this thing does a fantastic job at blending foundation onto my skin.

And applying foundation doesn't take as long as I thought it would. Once this sponge is full of water its surface area expands and I can cover a large area of my skin with my face.

Also this bouncing method is extra refreshing in the summer. The coolness of the damp sponge on my skin is lovely.

Sometimes I squeeze a dollop of foundation onto the back of my hand and then dip the sponge into it and bounce it onto my face. I find when I do that, I end up applying more foundation when I need. What I do is dot the foundation all over my face and then blend with the sponge. The result? The most natural looking, perfectly blended finish. At first my skin looks a little wet but once the foundation sets, my skin looks incredible. My skin looks as flawless as a doll's. I was amazed. My mind was blown at how well this sponge could blend foundation.

With brushes or my fingers I can get a nice finish but it never looks as perfect as when I use this sponge.

Cleaning this sponge is a breeze, especially if I wash it directly after use. I pour baby shampoo into my hand, and form a lather, then rub and squeeze the sponge, and then rinse. I don't apply shampoo directly to the sponge.

 Using the method above I can get my sponge stain free which is incredible as my makeup is dark. Once all the product is out I prop it up sideways on one of my BBW Fine Mist lids to air dry. The sponge shrinks back down to it's original size after about 48 hours of drying indoors. It sounds difficult, but trust me it's easier and quicker then washing brushes, well to me it is LOL!

It took me a while to really get the hang of using this sponge but once I learned how to wash it and how to use it to get the best finish I was in complete and total love. I don't think I could ever go back to applying foundation with a brush or my fingers and even if I could I don't want to LOL! And the fact that this thing is $5CDN? I'm head over heels.

Likes:

1. Gives my skin a flawless finish
2. Blends foundation quickly
3. Expands to a large size when damp
4. Feels very soft on skin
5. Is very fun to use
6. Easier to clean then a brush

Dislikes:

None! I'd be nit-picking! Maybe I'd like to see it come in other colours? That would be real cute!

A+

Blistex Soft & Lush Lip Balm Review

 

 

I was browsing Walmart as I am wont to do and I spotted this cute little tube. It called to me immediately. Maybe it was the soft cherry blossoms on the packaging, or the pearly pink tube or the fact that I promised me a "creamy smooth texture for supple, kissable lips", maybe it was all of the above.

Claims from the packaging: Blistex Soft & Lush brings lips to a deeper level of softness for the ultimate in soft, kissable lips. A smooth, rich, blend of moisturizers and conditioners for unparalleled softness. The super lush, ceramide-enhanced formula helps lips retain moisture leaving them supple and deeply hydrated. Plus SPF sun protection. This lip balm retails for about $3.67.

If you've been following my blog for some time you'll know that I abhor greasy, thin lip balms and love thick creamy lip balms. This lip balm doesn't disappoint. While it isn't as creamy as a Nivea lip butter, it's wonderfully creamy and feels so comforting on my lips.

The hydration on this lip balm is fantastic. I feel like this lip balm is sinking into my lips and hydrating them, not just sitting on the upper layer.

Soft & Lush is clear with no hints of whiteness which certainly is impressive considering the fact that this lip balm has an SPF of 15. I remember I bought Nivea's Sun Protection lip balm and that thing was like applying white lipstick to my lips, no word of a lie! So Soft & Lush certainly impressed me.

The smell of this lip balm was a surprise as well. I was expecting it to be scentless or softly floral but this balm had a totally different smell. It smells so good! Literally like a French Vanilla from Tim Hortons. Or like a coffee cake drizzled with vanilla icing. It's really a delicious smell. It's sweet and delectable without being cloying.

It tastes pretty inoffensive too if you happen to taste a little of it. It's mostly tasteless with a slight sweetness from the saccharin.

In short I really like this lip balm and I actually reach for this more then my Holy Grail Nivea Essential lip balm.

Likes:
1. Creamy, rich texture
2. Hydration
3. SPF without whiteness
4. Delicious smell
5. Affordable price

Dislikes:

None, I'd be nitpicking.

A

Farleyco.ca September 2015 Gifts with Purchase Review

   In August I made a purchase from Farleyco.ca and these were the two gifts I received for free with my purchase. No minimum. If you order from Farleyco.ca you will received these as well, no minimum purchase needed until October 31st 2015.

    X3 Coconut Burst Lip Balm claims: X3 Coconut Burst 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil lip balm is formulated to help moisturize, heal and protect dry, chapped lips. Nourished with Pure Argan Oil and Cocoa Butter, Coconut Burst softens and conditions to help protect even the driest lips.
 
    This lip balm retails for $2.99CDN. I didn't take a picture of the back of the package to show you the ingredients but this lip balm had a high concentration of coconut oil. Not only does coconut oil break me out but it feels so greasy on my lips so I knew I wasn't going to be too pleased with this lip balm. It smells incredible - exactly like pina coladas - but it was greasier then Maybelline's Baby Lips lip balm. My lips felt slathered in oil that was just slipping around on the surface and not penetrating to moisturize. Needless to say I didn't like this lip balm and I'm glad I got it for free. I definitely wouldn't repurchase it.

   Inecto Naturals Coconut Hand & Nail Cream claims: This intensive little hand and nail cream is a must-have. It conditions your nails, softens your cuticles and protects your hands leaving your skin looking bright and radiant all day. A little saviour for dry hands, this lightweight non-greasy cream will provide much needed relief. Infused with Pure Organic Coconut Oil your hands will be beautifully moisturised and silky smooth.

     This hand cream retails for $3.99CDN. This hand cream is really lovely. It's got a runnier texture then most of the hand creams that I've tried but it absorbs into my hands and cuticles so easily! My skin feels so hydrated after I use this cream. There's no fragrance in this cream but it still manages to smell so lovely. It doesn't smell at all like coconuts but smells more like vanilla cupcakes.
   
   There's coconut oil in it but there's something about the formula that manages to keep it from being greasy and slippery. I am in love with this hand cream and I find myself reaching for it all the time.
 
    My one criticism of this hand cream is the screw lid because after you've got this hand cream on your hands, it's difficult to close. It's not deeply moisturizing (if you have really dry hands you'll need something thicker) but my hands are in a good state right now so I don't mind. Aside from that I adore this hand cream.

   Out of these two I could only recommend the Inecto Naturals Coconut hand and nail cream because of how outstanding it is. I'm a definite fan!

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Diamond Mineral Rinse Review

 

 

Freeman has been knocking it out of the park with their fantastic face masks. Totally curious I picked up the Diamond Mineral rinse to see how well it would work for my skin. And I had never experienced a mineral rinse so I was excited to see how that would go as well. The mask claimed it had diamonds in it and true enough diamond powder is listed in the ingredients!

Claims from the website: Dazzling skin is a girl’s best friend! Our delightfully indulgent mask with Sparkleberry Extract helps fight off environmental assaults to enhance skin’s look and feel over time. Dazzling Diamond Dust flecks glisten as you wear this clarifying clay mask…plus, they polish away dullness to reveal multi-faceted radiance! Unique mask rinses clean for a lasting, super-cool finish. Perfect for all skin types.

This mask trial size packet retails $1.99. You can squeeze two to four uses out of this mask if you store it well which makes it a good value. I've only used it once and I believe I have enough for one to two more uses.

This mask is a creamy white. It's a little softer then the usually stiff, paste like Freeman masks and has scrubbing granules in the mask. Going on the mask feels very cooling and minty. It pairs nicely with the scrubbing action. It's got a berry scent with a slightly artificial lean to it but it's not unpleasant.

When the mask was dry I could see the diamond dust specks glittering on my face. After rinsing I noticed that the mask had a good exfoliation, comparable to an actual mask. It's not too rough so it doesn't make my skin red, it just leaves me with soft skin. It's less abrasive then Freeman's charcoal and black sugar mask (which totally obliterated the clogged pores in my nose).

I wouldn't recommend using this mask before going anywhere, unless you like having random specks of diamond dust on your skin. It's not like I turn into a discoball, but when I turn my head the light will catch a piece of glitter and I'll get annoyed.

In short; I like this mask. I like the minty fresh tingle, the exfoliation, how soft it and fresh it leaves my skin feeling. I feel like this mask is the first successful two in one mask from Freeman. With the clay and pumice in this mask, it functions both as a mask and a scrub whereas with the other two in one mask was more suited to one function (In my opinion, the charcoal and black sugar mask was best suited for scrubbing). While this mask doesn't replace a scrub or a clay mask, it's a nice weekly treatment on it's own merits.

Likes:

1. How soft and fresh it leaves my skin
2. Moderate scrubbing action
3. Says it has diamonds in it and it really does
4. Combines the function of a scrub and a clay mask

Dislikes:

1. Diamond specks are difficult to remove

A

Maybelline Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder in Translucent Review

   My new daily makeup regimen involves translucent powder and after finishing an Essence one which didn't really leave me totally satisfied I decided to try a pressed powder from Maybelline.

Claims from the packaging: For normal to oily skin. Natural poreless-looking finish. Up to 12 hour wear. Long lasting shine control.

This powder retails for $7.96CDN at Wal-Mart and has 8.5g of product in the package. This powder says translucent put the powder in there has a slight yellow peachy tone to it and that got me scared. My old pressed powder was completely white in the compact but translucent on the skin.

The package feels very sturdy and not likely to break. Inside the compact, the powder lifts up to reveal a mirror and a sponge. I have an old Maybelline Fit Me powder (360 Mocha which I think has been discontinued up here in Canada) and that powder came with a powder puff, not a sponge. Both are totally useless at any rate.

The powder is finely milled and devoid of sparkle. It is more pigmented then other translucent powder I've tried. It has some pigmentation to it. Applying the powder with the sponge was a complete disaster. It caked the powder on and made me look like I was dusty in the most literal sense of the word. If you're very pale, applying with the sponge may do you some good as it will add some coverage along with this powder.

If you're not pale, don't use the sponge. I used a brush and I achieved a translucent dusting of powder without the pigment. It looked translucent in artificial light as well as sunlight, so I was covered on all bases.

The powder does completely mattify my skin upon application and leaves it looking soft and perfected. My pores didn't look as emphasized as it did before.

The texture of his powder is rather dry and thin. There's no creaminess to this powder.

Now I don't expect any powder to mattify my skin, I've been dissapointed too many times. The best powders can only keep my extremely shiny nose under control for an hour before succumbing to the oil. I've fared better with primers then powders, so I had really low expectations for this powder.

This powder keeps the rest of my face matte, but my nose continues to shine through after an hour or two of wear. So this powder has the same wear time as my old essence one but with added negatives; a steeper price and less translucence.

So all in all, I didn't really like Maybelline's matte + poreless translucent powder. It works well as a finishing powder but I bought it to keep me mattified throughout the day and it doesn't live up to that claim. It works well as a setting powder but it doesn't succeed at it's intended purpose which is being a mattifying powder.

Likes:

1. Sturdy packaging
2. Affordable price tag
3. Mattifies upon application
4. Works well to set makeup
5. Included mirror

Dislikes:

1. Doesn't mattify for 12 hours like the packaging claims
2. Texture is dry and thin
3. Has some pigmentation and is supposed to be translucent

C

Maybelline Baby Lips Gloss Lilac Lumi Review

 

 

   As soon as I heard Maybelline was going to release lip gloss counterparts to their baby lips glosses I was very excited. I love moisturizing lip glosses so trying out these glosses was a definite must.

Claims from the Maybelline.com website: Kiss off sticky gloss! Color + shine meets serious care. 0% sticky: a new no sticky to shine. 100% creamy shine: creamy comfort and Vitamin E. 4HR moisture; caring oils moisturize, smooth & soften for four hours so lips never feel dry.

I bought this gloss online at Well.ca for $5.99. I picked up the colour lilac lumi because I heard it was the most pigmented shade and from reading the reviews I heard that lilac lumi lasts the longest. At the time of writing this post, Well.ca only has three shades available one from each shade grouping; Pink-A-Boo from the creams, Lilac Lumi from the shimmers and Fab & Fuchsia from the jellies.

Lilac lumi is a sheer purple gloss with violet and blue shimmer. On my lips it gives my lips a soft hint of lilac. The shimmers aren't very evident on my lips. The colour barely shows up on my pigmented lips. I get just a slight hint of colour. Two dips of the wand yields this soft wash of purple on my lips. I don't really mind at all, as glosses are rarely incredibly pigmented and I do prefer sheer and semi-sheer products. In addition to that, I only bought this gloss to use on those days when I wanted something hydrating comfy on my lips and didn't want to reach for something very pigmented.

The feel of this gloss is really nice. I actually like the way this lip gloss feels much better then the baby lips lip balm! This gloss feels creamy and smooth whereas the baby lips balm can feel thin and greasy (Maybelline got that creamy comfort line right!). I can feel a bit of the shimmer - similar to the texture of the baby lips crystal lip balm - but it's barely recognizable over the creamy feel of the gloss.

The wand doesn't grab a lot of product and I find I have to double and triple dip to get enough product on my lips. The tip of the doe foot is rather small and only the tip gets a little dollop of gloss for every dip you do.

The smell of this lip balm is similar to the original Quenched baby lips. It's lemony and sweet and slightly artificial. For me it doesn't linger too long and I'm glad because it's a scent I don't like.

I find this gloss lasts for about three hours which is pretty close to Maybelline's claims. While this gloss is on it does feel hydrating. It feels tackier later on in the wear but I find that's standard with a lot of glosses.

In short; I like the texture of this gloss better then Maybelline's baby lips balm and I'm eagerly awaiting their local drugstore release so I can get another shade. I wouldn't get more then one from each grouping as these glosses are sheer so they probably all look the same once on my lips.

Likes:

1. Creamy feel
2. Nice hydration
3. Not sticky
4. Balmy shine

Dislikes:

1. Doe foot is small
2. Smell is very synthetic

B+

Freeman Bare Foot Vanilla + Jasmine Butter Cream Review

 

 

 

 

Confession time: my feet are often the most neglected part of my body. They get the bare minimum attention. So I decided to stop neglecting my poor soles and bought this tube of foot cream.

 

Claims from the packaging: This ultra nourishing, non-greasy, butter cream with Vanilla, Jasmine and Shea butter provides all-over skin conditioning. Sweep over rough, dry, skin and release the benefits of conditioning ingredients that soften and restore skin.

 

This retailed for $3.78 at my local Wal-Mart which is a fantastic price. It comes in three fragrances; Vanilla + Jasmine, Eucalyptus + Fig and Coconut + Lime. I picked the Vanilla + Jasmine flavour because I wanted to smell those delicate jasmine notes. Sadly I didn't smell a lot of jasmine, but it smells strongly of warm vanilla. It smells exactly like Bath and Body Work's Warm Vanilla Sugar body butter smelt way back in 2009. If it was a hand cream I'd find the smell intolerable but it's bearable and even pleasant on my feet.

 

 The tube is smaller then the other Bare Foot lotions, but this butter cream is thick compared to a runny lotion. You'll need less of this cream to get the same results you would get from a squeeze of lotion.

 

The butter cream comes in a squeeze tube. Because the cream is so thick I've got to apply a fair bit of pressure to get the product out. The butter cream has the texture of cold butter cream frosting. It's stiff but still soft and melts easily into my soles.

My feet looked immediately better after applying the cream. My feet feel soft and look so much more hydrated compared to before using the cream. And it really isn't greasy! You can apply it and then walk around bare foot (as I love to do) and you won't be slipping and sliding around the house. I find the hydration in this tube really great for my feet because it's more moisturizing then a lotion without being greasy or feeling heavy. That's a difficult line to balance on, but this foot cream toes that line effortlessly at an inexpensive price point.

My feet have visibly improved since I've started to use this cream. My feet look less dry, and continue to feel soft, even after the cream wears off.

Overall this butter cream is a fantastic buy and I love using it on my feet after a shower or a soak to keep my feet in good condition! I'm glad I decided to try stuff from Freeman's Bare Foot line.

Likes:

1. Creamy, buttery texture
2. Lasting hydration
3. How soft it makes my soles
4. The pleasant, non-cloying vanilla scent
5. Great price for the product value
6. Shea butter is high up in the ingredients list

Dislikes:

1. Scent is a little too warm

A



Kiss My Face Pure Coconut Milk Soap Review

So my foray into the world of bar soaps that aren't from Dove continues! This time I spotted a delectable sounding bar soap from Kiss My Face which is the pure coconut milk soap. I love coconuts and the nourishing properties of coconut milk so I couldn't wait to lather up with this soap!

Claims from the packaging: Cleanse and indulge your skin with 86% pure Coconut Milk soap known for its hydrating benefits. Perfect for all skin types!

I bought this bar soap online at Well.ca for $4.49. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it so I just purchased one bar for reviewing purposes.

Here's the ingredients list and sure enough there is a lot of coconut in this soap! Coconut oil, glycerin from coconuts and of course coconut milk. I was intrigued at the fact that sea salt was in there as well as fragrance.

It doesn't smell like coconuts. It actually smells a lot more like lime with a hint of creamy softness. The smell is very soft, not at all overwhelming. It's not very strong which is what I expected from a naturally sourced fragrance. I like it!

Here's the bar in my hand so you can see how large it is. It's pretty big! A lot bigger then the largest of my Dove soaps.

It lathers really well. You're left with big, fluffy, creamy clouds of lather. It feels incredible on my skin. Creamy and hydrating and very nourishing. The sad part comes once I wash it off. It gives my skin that same feeling of squeaky tightness! I know that might not be a deal breaker for some, but it's important to me. I like my bar soaps to be like solid slabs of body wash, I expect them to leave my skin with that same feeling of creaminess after I rinse myself clean.

Likes:

1. It's a large bar!
2. It smells really nice!
3. It's full of coconut milk and coconut oil
4. Affordable

Dislikes:

1. The feeling of squeaky tightness it leaves my skin with!

C

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Mauve Review + Swatches

So I've been hunting around for a rose gold highlighter (something along the lines of Becca's Blushed Copper) but I'm definitely not trying to shell out money for a product at that price. So I did a little research and I found out about this gorgeous blush from Maybelline's Face Studio Master Hi-Light line.

After much deliberation I picked the shade that I thought would be deep enough to give me some colour but still had the rose gold undertones I was looking for. And that was 40 Mauve.

Claims from the packaging: Our multi-tonal blush palette highlights skin and softly contours cheeks for an instantly defined glow.

Claims from the website: Light- diffusing blush and bronzer formulas have an expert balance of shade + shimmer illuminator for natural glow. Skin goes soft-lit with zero glitz.

This blush retails for about $12.96 at Wal-Mart.

The powder lifts up to reveal a mirror and a little brush. This brush is softer then the usual included brushes (The brush from the Fit Me blushes is super scratchy!) but I still wouldn't use it.

This blush is made up of interlocking powder shades. One is a deeper plummy purple, the other is a deep cranberry pink, another is a pale pink toned champagne shimmer and another is a champagne shimmer. All swirled together the blush comes off this gorgeous deep rose gold.

Here's a swatch of all the colours blended together. You can see the sheen and then the soft hint of colour. I wouldn't rely on it for contouring though. I use it mostly as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and I love it for that purpose. I also use it as a blush by focusing a small stippling brush on the cranberry and plum shades and then blending that on the apples of my cheeks. Focused on the blush shades, this product adds a luminous burst of healthy colour. Swirling your brush in all the shades it adds a lovely glow with slight colour to your cheeks.

Here's the blush at another angle where you can see the more of the colour and less of the sheen.

The powder itself has a great formula. It's remarkably soft and silky, it's so finely milled it feels like a cream on the fingers. It's incredibly easy to pick up with a brush. The shimmery shades do kick up a fair bit of powder but it's really not that messy or difficult to deal with and the product doesn't get all over the place.

This blush has great lasting power. It lasts about eight hours before fading slightly.

Also I feel like up close the powder highlights the imperfections in my skin but from a normal standing distance those imperfections aren't noticed. This product is pigmented, you will need a light hand and you will need to blend well!

But overall I love it. I like how it illuminates my skin, my bone structure and how easy it is to apply because of how pigmented and creamy the product is. It's easier to use then a liquid highlighter and I adore that. And the colour is lovely!

Likes:

1. Absolutely beautiful, unique colour
2. Affordable price tag
3. Soft, finely milled texture
4. Sturdy packaging
5. Bonus mirror
6. Long lasting
7. Easy to blend

Dislikes:

1. Scratchy brush
2. Can highlight imperfections
3. A bit of powder kicks up when swirling a brush in it

A-

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Sweet-Tea and Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask

This mask allured me on the premise alone. A peel off clay mask? How could that possibly work? As soon as I saw it in stores I snatched up a tube just to see what it would be like and it's easily become one of my favourite Freeman masks.

Claims from the Freeman website: Charm skin with a little southern comfort in the form of Sweet Tea spritzed with a squeeze of refreshing Lemon! Our peel-away clay mask delivers the cleansing, oil-absorbing benefits you expect from clay…plus the all-over toning and refining perks of an easy-to-peel-off mask! Antioxidant-rich Tea and Lemon Fruit Extract calm for the ultimate in toning and soothing benefits. Perfect for normal to combination skin.
This mask retailed for about $4.29 at Wal-Mart. Thankfully this mask unlike the Honeydew and Chamomile sleeping mask made it into stores.

What I love about this mask is that its a hybrid of a clay mask and a peel off mask. You get the oil absorption of a clay with the more tightening of a clay mask. It is really and truly a hybrid of both with a high concentration of Bentonite clay.

The mask smells really nice. It's got a very subtle iced tea fragrance with a hint of lemon. It's not strong but it's very pleasant. At first this mask smelt exactly like the Cucumber peel off mask but the more I smell it the more I realize it's got a scent all it's own.

The mask is a creamy orange colour. Unlike Freeman's peel off masks, this one has clay in it and it shows. The mask is very runny but also thick a bit like glue in consistency. It makes it a little difficult to apply and spread but the thickness insures the mask doesn't run all over the place once you apply it. This makes it very easy to target specific spots.

As with most clay masks, I don't apply it all over my face. I just apply it where I feel I get especially oily - my nose and forehead - along with my cheeks which have large pores. On the face the mask feels wonderfully cool. No stinging. As the mask dries it hardens a little which reminds me a bit of clay masks but not as tight. When the mask is ready for removal, the edges lift up a bit and then you pull gently from there. There were a few little spots where the mask didn't peel away but that came off when I rinsed my face with warm water.

Heads up: this mask hurts a little when you pull it off. Considerably more so then the Cucumber Peel off mask Freeman offers. I think it might be due to the clay. But it's not enough to bother me or to make my skin red so I'm fine with it. I find that when I apply a thicker layer it comes off with less pain but the caveat there is that I have to wait longer for it to dry.

The results are worth the slight pain. When I peel off the mask my skin looks mattified, smooth and poreless. I love how velvety my skin looks and feels after this mask.

I like this mask more then I like traditional clay masks because I feel like clay masks leave my skin much drier then this peel off mask does. In addition to that, I have to rinse so much longer to make sure I get all of the clay off of my skin.

I really enjoy using this mask and I can see it's going to become a weekly staple in my skincare regime. I definitely would repurchase this mask!

Likes:

1. How easy this mask it to apply and remove
2. The matte, soft and poreless look this mask gives my skin
3. How innovative this mask is
4. How affordable this mask is

Dislikes:

1. It's a little painful to remove

A