Make Up For Ever | HD Foundation in #120 and Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral with Swatches

More than a year ago, I was introduced to Make Up For Ever’s Pro Finish Powder Foundation and raved about it, but what I failed to realize at the time was that MUFE is more widely known for its liquid foundations with two in particular that I keep hearing about - the HD Foundation ($49.00) and Mat Velvet Foundation ($42.00). I am generally more comfortable with medium coverage as opposed to full coverage so I decided to try something new and go with the HD Foundation! Foundation is SUCH a scary thing to change! I also paired the foundation with a classic Make Up For Ever Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral ($39.00).

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Soap & Glory | Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Crayons with Swatches

I have a thing for chubby lip crayons and combine that love with the words “limited edition” and I get VERY excited. Just released this month and a limited time, Soap & Glory has added the Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Crayons ($16.00) to their already stellar product line-up. These collagen-boosting gloss crayons come in three lip-enhancing shades: Nudist, Plum Jam and Fuchsia-Ristic.

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Nailed Kit | Review and Pastel Galaxy Space Nail Art

You all know that I am a HUGE fan of nail decals to jazz up any manicure, not to mention that they are oddly kind of fun to use even at my current ripe old age of 30! I have been eyeing the Nailed Kit Waterslide Nail Decals ($8.00) for eons because of their fun, whimsical patterns that are specially designed by a select group of artists, and apparent ease of use. Let’s see how I did with them, shall we?

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Revlon | Colorstay Shadowlinks in Gunmetal and Lime with EOTD

Palette customization has gotten more and more important to me now that my makeup collection has grown. Ready made palettes always look so inviting, but when it comes to down practicality, there is always a lone shadow or two that rarely gets used while I’m pretty much hitting pan on just one! Revlon Colorstay Shadowlinks allow you to customize a palette that is perfect for YOU and comes in 4 finishes and 30 eye shadow shades. There is definitely a colour for everyone!

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Topbox | March 2014

March’s edition of Topbox was alright, maybe not the most exciting as past ones due to some familiar faces, but it’s not that the faces were bad. I think I just have so much that it’s hard to find something I haven’t tried before so I’m going to try to be more objective in these unboxings and try to be more like the Jayne of 2011 when beauty boxes were only just in their infancy.

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Spa Week by WaySpa.com is Back!

If you haven’t heard, get ready to indulge in complete luxury for just $50 this week until April 27th! Spa Week by WaySpa.com is a chance for consumers to experience some pretty awesome spa treatments that would normally cost quite a bit for the ultra reasonable price of $50!  This event is held across Canada in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and this year also in Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa so that Canadians from coast to coast will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

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How to Participate:

1. Explore WaySpa.com/SPAWEEK and find your perfect $50 treatment

2. Purchase your $50 Spa Week treatment voucher

3. Book an appointment with the spa of your choice – book early!

4. Enjoy a relaxing day at the spa.

And you’re done!

I’ve been looking for a “mini-moon” option ever since I got married last Fall and this will be PERFECT!

Totally Cool Nails by Catherine Rodgers | Book Review and Balloon Nail Art!

Today I have another book review (with bonus nail art!) to share with you that is written by someone who I can totally relate to! Totally Cool Nails is written by Catherine Rodgers and the creator of the popular nail art YouTube channel TotallyCoolNails. She is a self-taught nail art designer who loves coming up with unique and creative designs which is why I feel I can relate as I am self-taught as well. What makes Totally Cool Nails different is that it’s for KIDS! The designs that Catherine has come up with for little hands are absolutely adorable and the book is full of easy to read instructions and pictures of little nails!

Adobe Photoshop PDF

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Glam Nail Studio by Amber-Elizabeth Stores | Book Review and Nautical Nail Art!

Today I bring you all a bit of a first for me and that is a BOOK REVIEW about nails! Glam Nail Studio ($28.00 CDN) is by celebrity manicurist Amber-Elizabeth Stores (aka “The Queen of Shellac”) who is known for manicures and pedicures with some MAJOR style. She uses rhinestones, airbrush effects, intricate nail art and acrylic treatments to create nail art that even Nicki Minaj approves of! (Seriously, Nicki Minaj is one of her clients!) Stores is also manicurist to Ashley Green and Florence Welch.

Glam Nail Studio is all about teaching any one of us the ABCs of bringing a salon manicure right into our own homes with step by step guides and 200 colour photos. Of the 50 nail art designs featured, I forced myself to choose just one to share with you all as there are quite a number that would be fun to try and wear. Say hello to “Nautical Themed!”

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*Earth Day* Smith Farms | Hair and Body Oil

Today I have a product that I really enjoy using in the warmer summer months as I like to keep my moisturizing and hair care routines as simple and let’s face it, lazy as possible! What am I talking about? I’m talking about the Smith Farms Hair and Body Oil ($19.99) made by a wonderful Canadian family-run and owned company in Quebec. I have spoken highly of this company in the past with most recently reviews of their Vitamin Rich Hand Cream and Marshmallow Face Cream. On top of being organic, natural and just plain good for you, Smith Farms also has wonderful customer service!

One third each jojoba, sweet almond and sunflower oil this light and fast absorbing oil is as good for your hair as it is for your skin. Enriched with vitamin E and honeysuckle essential oil, this multipurpose oil is as decadent as it is hardworking.

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This is like an all-purpose oil as in addition to the hair and body, it can be added to bathwater as well for one of the most fragrant baths ever! You can see from the ingredients that there is not one scary ingredient in this oil with 98% of the ingredients being truly organic. The scent of this oil is sweet like sweet almond, but lightly floral because of the honeysuckle flower extract. It actually smells quite similar to Lise Watier’s Sensationelle Dry Oil.

Final Verdict: This oil is hydrating and yet so incredibly light on the skin and hair. I do not use this on my skin in the winter as it is not quite enough for me, but this is wonderful on my hair as a moisture treatment or for some extra shine. It smells so wonderful that I feel like I have to hoard it, but I really should just learn to be liberal and enjoy it!

Some other favourites from Smith Farms include their Beer Soap and Moisture Lotion!

*Earth Day* Crawford Street Skincare | Lemon Deodorant Cream

I first discovered Crawford Street Skincare thorough the Seasonsbox subscription service and was pleased to find out that 1) this company is based right in Toronto, Ontario and 2) all products are free of petrochemical derivatives, such as mineral oil and petroleum, parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, artificial dyes and fragrances. One of my favourite products from Crawford Street Skincare is one of their top sellers and is the Lemon Deodorant Cream ($12.00).

This citrus scented cream deodorant is completely natural and it works! It includes over ten essential oils that are deodorizing, antibacterial and antifungal. No aluminum, no parabens, no yellow shirt stains!

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Trind | Red Shimmer Nail Lacquer with Bow Water Decals

Today I have another Trind nail lacquer to share with you in the form of a super shiny red called Red Shimmer ($13.00). The moment I applied Red Shimmer I knew that I had found the perfect festive red for Christmas. It has a beautiful shine and is wonderfully opaque in two easy coats. The colour literally glows when it’s on your nails!

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Beauty Box 5 | January 2014

This is the first of the last three of my Beauty Box 5 boxes. I was subscribed to BB5 for almost 2 years and even though they are one of my favourite boxes both for product selection and price, I have decided not to renew my subscription for now. I have a lot of product to go through and although I’m sure I will miss whatever shows up in these boxes, I REALLY need to get through what I have!

I have no product card in this box for some reason and I really don’t feel like hunting each of these products down so I will just show pictures and share my excitement or lack thereof for each product!

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The Body Shop | Color Crush Eyeshadow in Grape Expectations and Lipstick in #320 Berry in Love Review and FOTD

The last time I wore makeup from The Body Shop was a blush back in 2002. I don’t really know why I never went back for more, but I really should have as there have been a number of cult classics that we have The Body Shop to thank – *ahem* Shimmer Cubes! The new Color Crush Makeup line is the newest in makeup at The Body Shop and is filled with happy brights to usher in the Spring season. 

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Montagne Jeunesse Masque Challenge | Week 3: Virgin Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Masque

Welcome to the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Montagne Jeunesse Masque Challenge!

It is the third week of the CBB Mask Off sponsored by FarleyCo Beauty so if you’ve missed the other weeks, check out Week 1 and 2! This week, the Virgin Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Masque ($1.99) up on the testing block and like all Montagne Jeunesse masques is vegan-friendly and paraben-free.

Nourish with our cold pressed Virgin Olive Oil mud masque for soft and supple skin. We’ve added ultra-moisturising rich Shea & Cocoa butter to leave your skin super smooth and deeply cleansed.

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*Earth Day* Kiss My Face | Peppermint Foot Scrub

So far, I’ve talked about earth-friendly products for your lips, underarms, kitchens and teeth, but we can’t forget about our beloved feet! My feet probably stand to take the most abuse and I tend to forget about them because I cover them up with slippers and socks and it’s out of sight, out of mind!

I started using Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Scrub ($8.95) a couple of weeks ago to see how my feet would respond to some extra TLC and low and behold, I think I might be ready for sandal season!

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Ipsy | February 2014 “The Look of Love”

I won’t even apologize. Just expect these beauty box posts to be a little late! There have just been too many awesome products to share with you all over the last couple of weeks! February’s Ipsy was pretty cool so I won’t keep you all in suspense!

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*Earth Day* Tom’s of Maine | Cavity Protection Spearmint Toothpaste

Toothpaste seems like a bit of an odd thing to talk about on a nail art and beauty blog, but our teeth are an incredibly important part of our bodies and we need love too! I have a crazy obsession with toothpaste and always have at least two tubes hanging around just in case. Oral hygiene goodies tend to excite me and with Earth Day just around the corner, why not introduce an eco-friendly toothpaste to keep our smiles cavity-free and pearly white?

Tom’s of Maine Cavity Protection Toothpaste ($5.99) is an ACTUAL toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association so it’s not just some random household toothpaste. It actually does work to prevent and reduce tooth decay while naturally sourced fluoride acts to remineralize soft areas in teeth before they can turn into cavities. Overtime, this toothpaste promises to strengthen tooth structure and make enamel more resistant to decay.

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Lush | Easter 2014 Bunch of Carrots Bubble Bar Review

You all have seen that I am huge supporter of reusable products and this Easter, Lush has come out with a reusable bubble bar with the Bunch of Carrots ($12.95)! At first it seems like $12.95 is a lot to spend on bubbles, but when you realize that you can get at least 7 baths out of this trio (there really are three carrots, but I have used up two!), it seems well worth the money.

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*Earth Day* Kiss My Face | Liquid Rock Roll-On in Lavender

I am extremely particular about my deodorants as I am very selective about how they smell. While I may love sweet scents in my moisturizers and perfumes, I absolutely despise them in deodorants! I always feel an incredible aversion towards the end of every stick and because of that started using crystal or salt sticks which have no fragrance. I also prefer not to use antiperspirant as I feel like as human beings, we are meant to perspire (even if it can be incredibly inconvenient or just downright embarrassing!)

I have been using Kiss my Face Liquid Rock Roll-On in Lavender ($5.99) for the past month straight and have been enjoying both its odour-absorbing abilities as its all-natural ingredients that have kept me scentless all working day!

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Guest Post | Jenn from Scarlet Beauty Reviews the Quo Bent Eyeliner Bush!

Let’s say hello to Jenn from Scarlet Beauty who will be sharing with all of you today her favourite eyeliner brush! I have only just gotten to know Jenn through the Canadian Beauty Bloggers, but her makeup photos are truly pieces of art! Have you seen her Instagram? Her product placement makes me want to buy everything she shows! Now, let’s take it away Jenn!

Let’s rewind to many years ago when I was first getting into makeup, shall we? It didn't take me too long to discover how much of a difference getting quality brushes made. Face it – the brushes and applicators that usually come with your makeup aren't the greatest.

Enter Quo brushes. I soon became hooked on the brand, and gained a fair collection of brushes that I still keep in regular rotation.

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Nicole by OPI | Roughles Collection and Easter Nail Art!

I love Easter nail art even a little bit more than Valentine’s and Christmas nail art so when the opportunity arose to incorporate the Spring Nicole by OPI – Roughles Collection into some Easter nail art, how could I refuse? The colours are perfectly fitting and it gives me a chance to create a textured bunny!

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From L-R: “Rock the Look”, “I’m Stucco On You”, “Sand in My Shoe” and “On What Grounds?”

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To draw the rabbit, chick and egg patterns, I used a small nail art brush and some acrylic paint with the exception of the pink in the rabbit’s ears as I wanted to use “Rock the Look”.

Textured polish application is always a little different because I find that I have to pick up A LOT more polish than normal as the formula can be on the drier side. Application was fairly easy though and dry time very quick. I was able to do one whole hand complete with nail art in the space of 40 minutes which doesn’t happen very often! While I don’t think the Roughles Collection will be for everyone, they are certainly fun with my favourite colours being “On What Grounds?” and “I’m Stucco On You”.

Any of you going to be sporting some Easter manicures this week?

PR samples sent for review.

Lush | Easter 2014 Golden Egg Review

I know there is a serious reason for the Easter holiday, but for the sake of this post I am just going to focus on the cute, bunny side of Easter business starting with the first of my Lush Easter goodies – the Golden Egg ($8.95)! This little “oeuf d’or” smells just like the Lush cult classic soap “Honey, I Washed the Kids” which is a honey-toffee fragrance good enough to eat!

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Montagne Jeunesse Masque Challenge | Week 2: Green Tea Squeezed Lemon Peel Off Detox & Pore Cleansing Masque

Welcome to the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Montagne Jeunesse Masque Challenge!

It is the second week of the CBB Mask Off sponsored by FarleyCo Beauty so if you’ve missed the first week, check out it here! This week’s theme is “peel-off” and I received the Green Tea Squeezed Lemon Peel Off Detox & Pore Cleansing Masque ($1.99) which is vegan-friendly and paraben-free.

Montagne Jeunesse Squeezed Lemon, Green Tea & Ginger Masque. Detox & Pore Cleanse with our new Green Tea Peel Off Masque for a deep cleansed, toned complexion. Experience the well being of natural minerals, young Green Tea, root Ginger and reviving properties of squeezed Lemon to uplift and refresh skin.

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I feel like this mask is suitable for most skin types as there is no clay in it which is usually what aggravates dry/sensitive skin. It does have fresh lemon in it though that the ingredient list actually says was “squeezed from fruit” so if you think you might react to citrus then this mask might not be for you. The scent, it smelled more floral to me than of either lemon or green tea.

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*Earth Day* Abeego Beeswax Wraps and Carebags Reusable Produce Bags

Although this is not a beauty post, these are two products that I wanted to share with you all in honour of upcoming Earth Day. I really despise using Saran Wrap and/or those plastic bags at the grocery store that we need to put apples, broccoli or other produce in because they are not easy to reuse and end up getting thrown out after one use. I started looking for Saran Wrap alternatives and didn’t need to look far as there was was an eco-friendly alternative right in Victoria and Vancouver, BC with Abeego and Carebags!

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Trind | Caring Color in Calm Purple with Bonus Nail Art!

When I was in the beginning stages of my nail polish love affair, Trind was one of the first brands I came across because it was more about having healthy nails as opposed to fashion forward ones. That’s not to say that the colours offered by Trind aren’t anything short of gorgeous, but what makes Trind polishes different is the unique polish formulation that balances both strength and moisture, resulting in stronger, more resilient nails. One thing that was disappointing was the lack of availability as I had never seen Trind nail polishes in stores/spas, but now I don’t have to worry because Obsessed Canada (by Nail Polish Canada) carries them and ships within Canada FOR FREE!

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Dove Advanced Hair Care Series| Pure Care Dry Oil

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but this season along with dry skin comes dry hair. My hair is a bit funny thanks to my somewhat mixed Asian heritage. Most Orientals have thick, straight hair and lots of it. I have thick, wavy hair, but not very much of it which often leads to a crazy amount of flyaways and frizziness when lacking in moisture. I feel like I have been living with bobby pins and hairspray in my hair for the last couple of months just because my flyaways are forming a “fuzz halo” around my head! Thank goodness for the Dove Pure Care Dry Oil Line which has managed to tame my frizziness and dryness while making my hair smell incredibly luxurious.

Formulated with precious African Macadamia Oil, Dove Pure Care Dry Oil offers nourishment in every drop. The line contains pressed oil droplets that are carefully extracted from precious natural ingredients, and contains no parabens – just the finest pure oil.

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Both the Pure Care Dry Oil Shampoo & Conditioner ($6.97) are infused with African Macadamia Oil and are silicone-free. They both have a sweet, almost musky scent that might be a bit strong for some. I quite enjoy the scent, but someone like my husband was not used to it.

Jamberry | Nail Wraps Review and First Impressions

Ladies and gentlemen, I have found THE solution to my nail wrap issues – Jamberry Nails Wraps ($17.00 CDN). You have all seen my struggles with nail wraps over the last year, first with NCLA, then with Incoco which were the best ones so far and finally last Christmas with Kiss Nail Dress Strips. Now there is Jamberry and I will admit that I was pretty jaded about trying them, but then the lovely Katharine, a Canadian Jamberry Consultant, offered to let me have a go at them and insisted they would work for me. Well, they did and I was shaking I was so impressed!

What makes Jamberry nail wraps DIFFERENT? HEAT. You need a hair dryer or some form of hot air blowing on the nail wraps to soften them for about 5 seconds. At first, this sounded like WAY more work than was necessary, but it’s the heat that gives that creaseless finish. See a crease? Heat it up and smooth away. Heat and pressure are key to giving yourself the perfect “Jammicure”.

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*Earth Friendly* Lush | Emotional Brilliance EOTD with “Sophisticated” and “Control”

Why is Lush earth-friendly? Well, the recycling program is definitely one of my favourite aspects of the company as well as the cruelty-free and vegan products! Today I will be showing a quick eye look with Lush Emotional Brilliance Cream Eye Shadow in Sophisticated ($18.95) and Liquid Eyeliner in Control ($18.95), both of which are created with a soothing base of rose petal and almond oil for colour that lasts all day. Don’t you just love the names of the colours? I feel like I could save the whole world being “sophisticated” and “in control”!

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FRAAS | The Scarf Company Review and Pics of BOTH Myself and the Hubby!

I have a ridiculous collection of scarves, but I always forget to wear them and have the nerve to still complain about being cold! I was recently given the opportunity to review a Cashmink Classic Scarf from FRAAS which is German company whose speciality is mufflers and shawls. If head on over to their website, there are so many beautiful designs to choose from, for every occasion and season imaginable!

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Revlon | Sun Candy–Celestial Shine with Spring Water Decals

I am in love. It’s as simple as that. I had high hopes for the newest Revlon nail polish Sun Candy duos and the first one I tried totally lived up to my expectations! Today I have Celestial Shine ($8.99) which is a peachy creme polish that didn’t look great on its own with my skin tone, but then, one coat of “candy” and it is transformed into shimmering amazingness!

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Empties | March 2014

I was in the zone this month and really focused on a some samples that I had as well some full-sized items that I have been working on for awhile. What I love about the beginning of every month is the chance to see what I have “accomplished” in terms of empties and of course choosing some new items to work on!

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1. L’Occitane | Shaping Delight (8mL)Thumbs down

Obviously, I won’t be able to feel the effects of “shaping” with an 8mL sample, but it has a similar consistency to the Amande Milk Concentrate. I’ll pass on this product for now as its purpose does not appeal to me.

2. Too Cool for School | Pumpkin Sleeping Pack (5mL)Thumbs up

Sleeping masks cannot be sticky for me and this one was pleasantly wearable. I woke up with very hydrated skin so I would totally recommend this for anyone with dry skin or if you are looking for a mega blast of moisture without your face sticking to the pillow while you sleep.

3. Better Botanicals | Apricot Eye Therapy (1.5mL)Thumbs down

This will be a no for me as I felt a slight burning every time I used it. It went away within a few seconds, but since I have the luxury of choosing what goes on my undereyes, I will have to pass on this even though I loved this company’s shampoo and conditioner.

4. Benefit Cosmetics | Fake Up (2mL)Thumbs up

I have the full size of this and I like it because it covers up my dark circles while hydrating my undereyes at the same time.

5. L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil (3.5mL)Thinking smile

I received this through my last swap with Sian from the UK as nice as it was, I didn’t feel like it was any different than a lot of the hair oils out there. It was not as heavy as Moroccanoil, and did smooth any flyaways, but I prefer what I have already.

6. MaskerAide | All Nighter Mask (1 sheet)Thumbs up

Love! MaskerAide masks are always in my empties so it’s obvious I would repurchase. I haven’t bought any for awhile because I bulked up like crazy last year!

7. 8. & 9. L’Occitane | Amande Milk Concentrate (6mL)Thumbs up

I have purchased the full size of this before mainly because I love the almond scent. It does leave a bit of sticky finish on your skin which bothered me after awhile so I don’t think I will go back to this just yet, but I definitely enjoy this product in bursts.

10. L’Occitane | Milk Concentrate (8mL)Thumbs up

This is the same product as above, but I guess was an older sample since there is an extra 2mL of product in this one!

11. L’Occitane | Angelica Exfoliating Gel  (5mL)Thumbs up

Very refreshing scent and I liked the way the beads felt on my skin. It was gentle enough to use at least every other day and I definitely think I’d buy it for reals!

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12. Onyx Professional | 100% Pure Acetone (473mL)Thumbs up

This is pure acetone. It works, it’s easy for me to find and it’s inexpensive so I’ll definitely be picking it up again!

13. Lancome | High Resolution Refill 3x (15g)Thinking smile

I have received SO MANY of these in GWPs that I’m starting to think this moisturizer isn’t worth buying at full price as I know I can get it as a bonus gift, but I actually do like it. It’s fairly thick and hydrating while also having an SPF of 15.

14. Bioderma | Micelle Solution (250mL)Thumbs up

This is a wonderful product. It is so gentle and you honestly feel like you’re just wiping water all over your face and YET it’s cleaning your waterproof eye makeup! I already have a a new bottle waiting for me and I will keep purchasing this even though it’s on the pricier side. It’s just amazing!

15. Fortune Cookie Soap | Whipped Cream Body Lotion (15g)Thumbs up

Very thick and hydrating and smelled like marshmallows! I loved it, but I wish the shipping from FCS wasn’t so expensive :(

16. Benefit Cosmetics | Total Moisture Facial Cream (8.9g)Thumbs up

I have listed this as a favourite before and it has been wonderful for my dry skin. It might be too much for me in the summer, but right now and for the last couple of months I have really enjoyed using it.

17. Vichy | Neovadiol Magistral (3mL)Thumbs up

This is for very dry, mature skin and is so thick that the 3mL lasted me almost 5 days! It’s very greasy so a little goes a long way!

18. Tarte Cosmetics | Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara (7mL)Thinking smile

I liked this mascara, but I didn’t love it. My lashes are so light and thin that I need a formula that bulks them up a bit and I didn’t find that this did very much for them. If you have lashes already, you’ll probably really enjoy this, but I will just leave it as a maybe for now.

19. Bella Pelle | Chiara Polish Sugar Powered Scrub (32mL)Thumbs up

I just received this from a Petit Vour box and I loved the smell. It is hard to describe, but it smells creamy and yet…fizzy? Great body exfoliator, although it can be used on the face I found the granules a little bit harsh to use.

20. The Body Shop | Peppermint Smoothing Pumice Foot Scrub (98g)Thumbs up

I love this stuff for it’s jelly-like texture and ultra refreshing scent, but alas I cannot find it in stores or online anymore! Noooo!

21. OPI | Avoplex Revitalizing Hand and Body Scrub (50mL)Thumbs up

Did not think I would like this, but it smelled quite good and actually left my skin feeling hydrated after use! I barely had to moisturize as the scrub just melted right into my skin!

Whew! And we’re done! Until next time!