BODY | APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Body Lotion

Press sample provided by YesStyle, Affiliate links.

On this final day of 2025, I am choosing to feature Korean brand APLB ("A plus B") because I have been seeing this brand on my IG feed for awhile now and finally got the opportunity to try one of their brightening products! I have purchased a few APLB sheet masks, but have yet to try them out so this Glutathione Niacinamide Body Lotion is going to be the first of I'm sure many APLB reviews!

NAILS | Poinsettia in Bloom Swatch

Press sample

I honestly thought that I would have the time and energy to blog on my precious days off this month, but on three of the days I had off, Harper was having some litterbox issues so I was coordinating when to take her to the vet and then watching her like a hawk at home for possible crystal blockages. She seems better now, but I think we will need to take her into the vet in the New Year to get a proper urine sample and possibly some bloodwork as she is 7 years old now and hasn't had any of this done. I cannot believe she is 7 now! It feels like 2019 and we just got her, but I blame the pandemic for screwing up my sense of time!

NAILS | Dior Holiday 2025 #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

The Holiday season is kicking my butt. Though my past blog post was seven days ago, I haven't actually sat down to write anything in over two weeks. I have been really hustling at work as I have set a crazy goal for myself this season so we shall see at the end of the month if my efforts have paid off! 

SHEET MASK | Sephora Collection Caramel Macchiato Hydrating Face Mask

Purchased by me. Affiliate links.

I know this month is just going to FLY and already I can feel myself just trying to get through the days until I can have some time off, but I'm really trying to stay present. It seems to get more and more difficult every year. Is it age? Less patience? I really don't know. I have been neglecting my sheet masks a little bit the last two weeks so this week I am trying to get back on the band wagon with this holiday release from Sephora - the Caramel Macchiato Hydrating Face Mask!

SHEET MASK | NO:HJ Golden Collagen Stamping Mask

Press sample

The first week of December is down and we are literally weeks away from the end of 2025 - like what? I feel like I indirectly made a bit of a "resolution" back in October after getting my first winter cold which was to be more present for the blog just for my own personal feelings of accomplishment. I think I have stuck to a schedule of regular posting for the last 1.5 months with a lot of the posts even being SCHEDULED! Like, who am I?! 

SHEET MASK | Erborian BB Shot Mask

Purchased by me

Noooo! How is it that it's DE-freakin-CEMBER now?! One more month of 2025 that, let's face it, will be gone in a flash! What they say is true - that time moves so slowly as a kid and then it just starts whizzing by as you get older. I think this is partly what has caused me to regain a new sense of purpose with the blogging because in just 5 years, I've already noticed my tastes change (*ahem* no more crazy colour cosmetics) so now is the time to talk about what I love, use, hate etc before I just feel indifferent and cannot be bothered to discuss it!

NAILS | Holly Berries #CBBxManiMonday

 

Press samples

Happy December 1st! This is the first holiday season in YEARS that might be the best one yet! Last year, on December 12th, a horrific employee finally disappeared from our lives after two continuous years of making life hell and now the whole time is fairly nice. There are always going to be people that are "meh", but I'd rather have that than someone who is screaming at us or sending malicious emails multiple times a day. I know, I know - the bar is REAL low! It has been deliciously busy with clients, people in the holiday spirit and generally a sense of busyness these last few weeks which I cannot complain about! 

SKINCARE | Anua Brightening and Hyperpigmentation Routine

Press samples

I was SO EXCITED when I saw that I had been selected for a YesStyle x Anua campaign because I had just tried the Anua Peach 70% Niacin Sheet Mask, LOVED it and wanted to try more from this super trendy KBeauty brand! The products featured today are specifically for a routine targeting hyperpigmentation and brightening and while I haven't had the chance to use them long enough to see results, my experience so far has been promising! 

BEAUTY | October Ipsy Original Bag

Purchased by me

This October Ipsy Original Bag was a bit of an accident as I was actually going into my Ipsy account (on Oct.31st) to reactivate the "MONTHLY" option so that I wouldn't miss out on the December Bag and in doing so, I ended getting the October bag as well! Now, that I have slowed down the beauty spending, I don't mind having some smaller samples of different products around to try. Obviously the October theme was centred around Halloween and Magic though the theme and the products I received seemed somewhat disconnected. I also received an "accommodation package" for some reason and when it arrived, it contained ANOTHER single foundation? October was just kind of confusing month for the Ipsy Original Bag, but let's get on with it!

SHEET MASK | Mad Beauty Looney Tunes Sheet Masks (Tweety and Bugs Bunny)

 

Purchased by me

These Mad Beauty Looney Tunes sheet masks have been seriously nostalgic for me as my sister and I grew up watching these cartoons on Saturday mornings and after school. We knew all the little stories and we both even had Tweety and Tasmanian Devil slippers for YEARS! 

NAILS | Cozy Fall Argyle Sweater Nail Art #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I am super proud of myself for painting my nails every single week this month! It has been a long time since I have been consistent and it has felt really good! This week's manicure is inspired by a manicure on the cutepolish YouTube channel from 2023 that I thought was very cute and went well with my current nail shape - Argyle Sweater Nails!

SHEET MASK | The Creme Shop Be Jawsome, Skin Sheet Mask

Purchased by me

Who can resist a mask with such pure positivity in its name?! And it's a baby shark which automatically makes the "Baby Shark Du Du Du" song run through my head! The Creme Shop is still one of the more accessible sheet mask brands that does printed masks fairly regularly so when I saw this one at Miniso, I had to grab it because of the cuteness factor!

SKINCARE | Laneige Open to Wonder Midnight Minis Holiday Gift Set

Purchased by me. Affiliate links.

OMG, it has been soooo busy at work these last two weeks! Don't get me wrong, I love the client aspect of it, but it is the admin side and the constant worry that I have forgotten something that stresses me out! Plus, I find this is the time of year where because things are frantic, staff get messy, forgetful and their brains stop functioning. I will say that it truly is a skill to keep your brain working under stressful periods. Basic math can go out the window or you suddenly forget how to do things you've known how to do for years. One thing that I have NOT forgotten to do is to hydrate my lips especially overnight! Don't you love my super smooth segue?

SKINCARE | Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence + Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+

Press samples courtesy of Yesstyle

I don't know what happened, but out of the blue in July of this year, I received an email from Yesstyle for a Jumiso gifting campaign that involved posting a review to Instagram about the products I received. I thought sure, why not and then remembered my love for Yesstyle and placed a personal order in August. Since August, I have received three more gifting campaigns all from K-beauty products I have either been super curious about. I don't know why I am suddenly receiving all of this attention despite my slowdown in blogging and the social media space in general, but it actually has been kind of fun now that I don't receive as much PR. 

NAILS | Red Cap Mushrooms #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I just had the dreaded Inventory and thankfully the store was closed and we could just focus on that for 6 hours, but it is such a tiring activity! Then today, I got my Covid shot which has knocked me out with extreme fatigue since noon. I almost didn't get the shot this year (I just got the flu one), but seeing as how I have caught Covid at work every year (even multiple times in one year) since the mask mandates were lifted, I figured I would get it just to minimize the possibility of it getting any more serious!

SHEET MASK | Anua Peach 70% Niacin Serum Mask

 

Purchased by me

It has been awhile since I have featured a sheet mask from a new-to-me brand, but one that I have been seeing all over social media for awhile now - Anua! I don't really know how to describe Anua as many of these newer, TikTokey, Instagrammey Korean beauty brands tend to have the same aesthetic of minimalist packaging and a focus on ingredients, but that's kind of what Anua is! Their ingredients are actually what caught my eye and I am delighted to say that I am now a fan even with just this one single product!

BODY | Naturium Bath and Body Collection

Press samples. Affiliate links.

I am late to the Naturium body care party, but after enjoying the skincare (down to the last drop for certain products), I wanted to give the body products a try mainly because I like the idea of an AHA in my bodycare. There are SO MANY products within the body care collection now that since I have taken so long to review these products, I will probably need another two posts to cover the rest!

MAKEUP | E.L.F. Cosmetics Lash XTNDR Mascara

Purchased by me (via Ipsy Bag). Affiliate links.

I know singular product reviews are "sooo early 2010s", but I have come to realize that for my own personal organization purposes, I love having one post dedicated to a product that we can do a deep dive on. From an SEO perspective, of course the singular product review works best and that's actually how I personally still search for product reviews. If anything, I wish there were more product reviews that were written so that I don't have to contend with going on Instagram and having to watch a reel! Basically, I am doing these singular product reviews for people like me! 

NAILS | Fall Leaves with Biosculpture #CBBxManiMonday

Press samples

I am so proud of myself for getting my nails done on time again! The motivation to paint and blog is real and this week I had fall on the brain as it is well into November and we are in the double digits for temperature! All the leaves are still on the trees so we can still see shades of red, yellow and orange every day. I'm sure at some point the rain will start washing everything away, but for now I really cannot complain! 

SHEET MASK | d'Alba White Truffle Nourishing Treatment Mask

Purchased by me

As I am writing this, it is the first Sunday in November and I have been up since 6:30am thanks to DST which for this one day makes me feel incredibly efficient! I was more familar with the brand d'Alba for its First Spray Serum, but while I was in a cute little Kbeauty store at Pacific Centre, I saw singles of the White Truffle Nourishing Treatment Mask and wanted to try it out! Having loved the scent of the First Spray Serum, I had every hope that the sheet mask would have the same scent!

SKINCARE | Live Tinted Superhue® Brightening Eye Cream

Purchased by me. Affiliate links.

I have a new rule. If I am going to buy a new beauty product, I need to talk about it here and/or on social media in more than just a Story. While I know that doesn't necessarily justify the spend, I feel like if I spend money on a product, I should at least do it AND my wallet justice by talking about it. It also forces me to not leave things unopened and forgotten which is currently what I am noticing now with my Sephora VIB purchases from the last 2-3 years. Starting with something I picked up from my Sephora VIB Rouge haul, here's to stickin' to my new rule with new-to-me brand Live Tinted!

BEAUTY | September 2025 Ipsy Original (Glam) Bag

 

Purchased by me

We are now officially caught up with the Ipsy Bags (for anyone who still enjoys these things) and though I know subscription services aren't what they used to be, I like Ipsy because it brings back a sense of nostalgia to when beauty blogging was at its peak in the 2010s. It's when Michelle Phan first started Ipsy and was a true icon of an era of consuming beauty content in a completely novel way. I don't really like her content now, but she will always have a special place in my heart. 

NAILS | Pumpkin Spice Latte Nail Art #CBBxManiMonday

Some press samples

After months of not feeling motivated to do my nails or blog or do beauty things, in the last two weeks, I have slowly felt like I have gotten my act together with MULTIPLE scheduled posts and sticking to my to do lists. I have also been going to bed earlier (before 1am) as I have always been such a night owl, but I know that going to bed late and not getting a the proper amount of sleep is unhealthy and I am starting to really feel those days where I don't sleep well! 40 year old Jayne cannot get by on what 30 year old Jayne used to do!

SHEET MASK | Mad Beauty Winnie the Pooh Piglet Peach Face Mask

Purchased by me

I wish I had more scary printed masks for Halloween to showcase, but everything I have is just too cute! Today we turn back to Mad Beauty and Piglet from Winnie the Pooh who maybe should have been saved for Valentine's Day because the mask looks and smells so sweet!

NAILS | Sally Hansen x Stranger Things "Missing" Crackle

 

Purchased by me

Happy Halloween! When I first started my nail polish journey in the 2010s, crackle polishes were VERY popular! They came in all sorts of colours and I think I even have a crackle polish that crackles into a crocodile print from BarryM! Then they disappeared for 10 years and have recently come back (since we are all into nostalgia now ) and I could not be happier!

MAKEUP | Christian Louboutin Rouge Stiletto Slimstick in Rosewood Love

Purchased by me

In addition to the absolutely LOVELY Louboutin foundation (review) I picked up a few weeks ago, I also picked up a new lippie as I have really been into rosewood and nude shades. I know I have more than enough, but every brand has slightly different tones that make having multiple ones totally justifiable! 

NAILS | Jack O' Lanterns #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

It feels like an eternity since I have done my nails, let alone nail ANY nail art! I couldn't even find my nail art brush so now I have to buy new ones from Amazon because I have looked everywhere! I felt incredibly rusty trying to draw so these warped Jack O' Lanterns are as good as they are gonna get!

SHEET MASK | The Masque Bar Pretty Animalz Toucan Mask

Purchased by me 

Still slightly sick over here and realizing that now that I am in my 40s, I also seem to recover more slowly from illness which is sad. I am still stuffed up and only beginning to smell and taste again so I am really hoping that after this week, I will be better so that I can get my flu shot! Having had the flu before, it is so much more awful than a regular cold so I would rather avoid the fever, chills and brutal cough if I can! I was feeling significantly better this past Thursday, on my day off, so I decided to finally take photos of the sheet masks that have been piling up over the last two months! I had to set a timer of 40 minutes because I wanted to be laser focused and get this task done!

BEAUTY | July 2025 Ipsy Glam Bag

Purchased by me

Heyyyyy, we are now in July for our Glam Bags (renamed IPSY Original) and then after this, I just have September to share with you all and then we are all caught up for the holidays! Though some of the previous bags I have shared had products that seemed appropriate for throughout the year, this one definitely feels more geared towards the summer so if that bums you out, I apologize!

MAKEUP | Christian Louboutin Le Fluide Sublimating Fluid Foundation (With Before and After Video)

Purchased by me

Foundation is still one of my most favourite makeup products to try and even though I have slowed down on other types of makeup products, a new foundation always peaks my interest. The Christian Loubotin Le Fluide Sublimating Fluid Foundation has been on my wishlist since its release last year and I finally picked it up a few weeks ago!  

SHEET MASK | The Creme Shop x Miffy Dewy Dreams Hydrating Animated Essence Sheet Mask

 

Purchased by me

I got sick this past Wednesday and five days in, I think I am on the tail end of things, but I'm still very congested and coughing. I don't know WHERE I managed to catch this as no one at work is sick AND I have been on my own at home for the past two weeks as my husband has been traveling. I drive to work and don't take transit so the only place left is the handful of clients I have interacted with over the last 2 weeks which seems unlikely, but I suppose not impossible. I have been suffering a little on my own and I am glad to see some light at the end of the tunnel!

BEAUTY | September 2025 Favourites

Press samples

I realize that the last time I did a favourites post, it was for September 2024...this is almost like an anniversary! As my poor nails need to grow back in order to paint them (I sadly did not have any backup posts), I thought doing a cozy little favourites post would be nice to launch the Fall season!

SHEET MASK | Mad Beauty True Loves Kiss Face Mask

Purchased by me

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all of my fellow Canadians! I am working this long weekend so we kept our festivities to a minimum by just having a family brunch today and then taking it easy for the rest of the day which felt very needed. I still feel like I need a break, but I don't think I am going to get it this month or next which takes up to December where I will be exhausted from retail life. I haven't figured out how to replenish my energy stores yet. I feel like I am still at the peak of life so feeling this tired all the time just doesn't seem like a good use of my days off! Someone tell me what you do to stay energized!

NAILS | Dior #908 Bold Black Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

Easing into the Halloween spirit with some dramatic nails and with this new nail shape, they look extra spooky! Can you believe it is October already? Here in Vancouver, it feels like Fall in the morning and Summer in the afternoons! I'm sure the rains will come soon, but I whipped out my first turtleneck dress last week and I realized that I love autumn/winter work clothing way more than summer work clothes because I'm just always hot in the summer, but you still have to cover your arms and legs in a professional environment so I just never really know what to wear.

BEAUTY | May 2025 Ipsy Glam Bag

 

Purchased by me

I know, I know. I really should stop this subscription, but I do love the surprise of the products and so far, I have been enjoying most of the products in my Ipsy bags. I do every other month now just to slow down the influx of products as well as save a little bit of money. I am about to catch up though with my Ipsy bag reviews as I would like to keep all the 2025 Glam Bag reviews actually WITHIN the year 2025! Firstly, I will start off by saying that I enjoyed the design of May's bag as this blue and white canvas print really makes me feel like it's summer (which I now know is technically over).

NAILS | Dior Shocking Pink #580 Swatch #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

I had to make a bit of a nail shape change as one side of my nail broke, but luckily when you have longer nails, breakages just mean different nail shapes so in this case we went from square to stiletto! As this last #CBBxManiMonday of September, let's just enjoy this new Dior shade from the Miss Dior Fall Collection!

SHEET MASK | JNN-II Cooling and Aqua Moisture Masks

Press samples

Omigoodness what a week! I feel like I have been super busy with work and having to either come in early or stay late which after a few days just makes the day feel extra long. Even with having Friday off, I stayed out late on Thursday for work reasons and then had a Dior facial planned for Friday morning. While you would think that a facial would be ultra relaxing, I'm still driving downtown and then fighting traffic on the way back so by the time I get home, I am hungry and then after I eat I inevitably have to have a nap. I tried to stay awake on Friday for as long as I could, but I started feeling "sick sleepy" so I took a 1.5h nap and then went for a 5k walk afterwards with my husband which actually ended up being a nice way to end the evening!

NAILS | Essie Expressie Power Moves Swatch #MidWeekMani

 

Press sample

Ashamedly, I used to judge people who only posted nail swatches and no nail art, but now I know why. They are tired. I have not had the energy to do anything remotely creative these last few months so I have just been happy with having something on my nails. I was feeling like I needed a bit of a pick me up, so I went to my favourite colour family - the magentas!

SHEET MASK | 23 Years Old Cocoon Willow Silky Mask

Purchased by me 

I am a sleepy girl this morning. I can no longer sleep in past 8am as my kitty Buster will wake me up promptly at 7am for food. He sleeps all through the night and then right at 7am, awakens from between my legs and just starts walking all over me and chatting away. I should be grateful that I have cats that let me sleep until a decent hour! I would like to think that Buster "keeps me honest" when it comes to getting up at a reasonable hour. Does he do this to my husband? NOPE. Just to me. I was a bit cold last night which was a nice change so I found that I didn't sleep all that well last night because I was only wearing a tank top and no sleeves.

NAILS | Dior Wild Beige #321 #CBBxManiMonday

 

Purchased by me

I think I may only be doing swatches for awhile as the effort of doing nail art in the last few months has really felt like too much! Honestly, my nights have been filled with watching Succession and then Pixyling until it's time to go to bed. I know, I'm such a nerd, but that's how things have been the last little while and I am not hating it! I did pick up all of the Fall polish releases from Dior though so at least I have some new things to share with all of you this month!

SHEET MASK | JMsolution Pokemon Stamp In Panthenol Mask (Horsea)

 

Purchased by me

The first Sunday of September and the temperature has cooled off significantly and the sky is dark. Fall has come to Vancouver with a vengeance and while I cannot wait for sweater dress season, saying goodbye to summer and hello to 8 months of rain fills me with a bit a dread as I am not quite ready to embrace it yet. Hopefully September will be kind to us and we will get some more sun. 

BODY | L'Occitane Almond Hair and Body Mist

 

Provided by This is Butterly. Affiliate links.

I honestly cannot get enough of L'Occitane's Amande (almond) scent! The Almond Hair and Body Mist is safe to spray on clothing and is a gourmand scent of bergamot, vanilla and fresh almonds. Though this leans more towards a summer scent for me, the vanilla is warm enough that I can see myself wearing this well into the Fall and Winter season as well. 

NAILS | #77 Hermes Rouge Grenade #CBBxManiMonday

Purchased by me

Happy September 1st! I love the summer vibe, but there is something productive-feeling about the month of September. I just organized my shoe collection yesterday into some stackable clear bins and I think I am finally ready to let go of the press samples that have been cluttering my life! Unfortunately, my poor nails have still been suffering and at time of this nail painting, my cuticle area was also sadly involved.

BEAUTY | March 2025 Ipsy Glam Bag

Purchased by me

So, this is the March Ipsy Bag. I know we are practically in September, but I feel like now that I do Ipsy every other month I don't have as much to catch up on! I also feel like I took a bit of a summer break the last month just enjoying being lazy AF and doing other hobbies that bring me joy. Soon, the rain and cold will come and all I will want to do is stay inside so much of the blogging has gone to the wayside this month. It has been fairly warm for Vancouver these last two weeks and it is expected to be very warm next week which I am not looking forward to. Heat and getting older definitely don't agree with me! Let's move on to the beauty stuff, shall we?

SHEET MASK | Benton Fermentation Mask Pack

Purchased by me

It has taken me far too long to try this cult classic of a sheet mask from Benton and I think it's because it is so understated in terms of packaging and letting people know just how good it is. No fanfare needed, just good old fashion ingredients and a mask material that does the job!  

SHEET MASK | The Creme Shop x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Pure Destiny and Guardian Charm Masks

Purchased by me

I was strolling through Miniso a few weeks ago on my lunch break and saw that they started carrying a few Creme Shop sheet masks. While I have ordered directly from Creme Shop before, it was in USD and with the exchange now and the last couple of years really, it hasn't been fun to order from so when I see them locally, I go for it! When I saw these Sailor Moon masks, I did not hesitate as my childhood rushed back to me!

MAKEUP | Dioriviera Summer 2025 Collection

Purchased by me

Now, that we are more than halfway through summer, I realized that I should really get on sharing with you all the items I picked up from the Dior Riviera Summer 2025 Collection! Now, that I do not receive Dior press samples, I am extremely selective about what I buy from each Dior collection and rightly so! The collection was much larger than the items I picked up, but truthfully I didn't want more lip oils so I stuck to, what I think, are the prettiest pieces in the collection.

NAILS | Just Purple #CBBxManiMonday

Press sample

My nails are still itty bitty compared to what the normally are after a 4 week nail polish hiatus, but they definitely are looking better than before! I don't know what it was, but they were SO dry that even my good photo hand was breaking and splitting. My right hand is still nubbin-like, but we will get there because I want to have long nails for Halloween nail art! 

SHEET MASK | Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Mask Pack

 

Purchased by me

You know, it's not like I've had a lot going on my life this month so I don't know why I have only posted here twice! I generally prefer to write on my days off and looking back, I have been out every single one of my days off so I just haven't had the time, but summer is about enjoying the outside weather especially in Vancouver when the rain starts in the Fall and just does not stop! I have an extra day off this week so we shall see if I can find a way to catch up, but I won't beat myself up if it doesn't work out.

SHEET MASK | Petitfee Artichoke Soothing Hydrogel Face Mask

 

Gifted with Bellbees order

I did not intend to take a week long break from writing, but here we are! Even though it was a relatively chill week, my boss was away on vacation so I suppose I was tired from being "the only senior manager"? It was also the first summer without that horrid beast of an employee and usually when my boss would go away, the shenanigans would begin on Day 1 and every day she would either piss off myself or someone else and it would ultimately mean me being involved anyway because she was so careless and would bait management for a reaction. She would take people's sales, complain incessantly about the temperature, the homeless people on the street outside, it just never ended! To not have that for the first time in years has been SO REFRESHING! Finally, we can carry on business as usual without such time-wasting garbage. As you can see, I'm still very angry about all of this considering HR and the higher ups could have taken care of this years ago, but it's all still relatively new and I know that over time she will become a distant memory.