Covergirl TruBlend Foundation | Review

Last month BzzAgent gave me the opportunity to test out a Covergirl foundation for free.  I had a choice between a few different ones, so I picked the TruBlend formula in the colour L2 (and because I am the palest, I could have probably gone with L1, but it looked way too pink for me).

My thoughts on this foundation are quite concise. It is a lovely, thinner texture that covers imperfections with ability the of a much thicker foundation.  Covergirl offers 21 different shades - a true bonus, knowing how hard it is to find a nice matching foundation. I've applied this foundation to my face using my fingers, a beauty blender and a makeup brush - looks pretty sweet every which way you could desire applying this.

This leaves my skin looking AMAZING. Seriously, glowing but not greasy - trust me, my face gets greasy so easily that this is a must. It doesn't cling to dry patches, it sets beautifully and it lasts all day. I am able to cover all of the unsightly things that I need to, without feeling like I'm coating my face.

Bottom line? This is one of the nicest drugstore foundations I've ever used. I'm shocked.
I said I would be concise.

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | July 2015

Another month, another empties post! I've not used as many products this month as usual, mostly due to the fact that I wear fewer products during the summer months. Example, I wear less makeup, thus not only do I use less of those products, but of the products used to remove them! So overall, this will be a shorter post than some months. Samples are marked with an asterisk < * >.

Makeup

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Watermelon - I have four of these...well three now. I love them! They hydrate & leave a little bit of colour behind. This one was great, it was a your lips but better kind of colour & if I ever used up my other ones, I would repurchase this one. It's my favourite one to just leave in my purse because it was a no-fuss way to add a little bit of gloss & colour.

Skincare

Garnier Face wipes - These worked fine & they smelled nice, but I only purchased them because I couldn't find any of my typical wipes. I haven't repurchased any face wipes for the moment because I'm trying to stop being lazy about my skincare, but I'm sure in the future I will buy more. I would buy these if I couldn't find my usual ones (simple or live clean).

Simple Makeup Remover - I switched to this makeup remover from the l'Oreal duo-tone remover because after using a couple bottles of that I realized that it stung my eyes pretty bad.  That's no fun, even though it was a great product in terms of effectiveness.  So I bought some Simple, because I've had pretty good luck with this brand. This works wonderfully & did not once hurt. It also left my eyelids feeling pretty normal & non-greasy - bonus! I will definitely buy this again. Unfortunately I was in a pinch & couldn't find it the other day, but fear not, I will find it again!!

Secret Deodorant in Pasion de tango - This was just alright. In fact I have a difficult time finding a deodorant that I actually enjoy & would repurchase. This falls into that category so I suppose the search continues. It did smell nice though!

Mamonde 7 days project sheet mask - This is only the second sheet mask I've ever tried & trust me, I could get behind the trend! I'm not sure that they do a whole lot for my skin (I also don't use them nearly enough, evidently) but they feel so nice! I love using them when I'm taking a bath. They keep my skin cool & refreshed feeling! I will definitely keep exploring the world of sheet masks.

Swisspers Make-offs cotton rounds - I usually purchase the Swisspers Organics cotton rounds, but I couldn't find them one day so I purchased this version instead. What can I say? They are cotton rounds. They work. I did however relocate my organic ones & will continue with those instead. But Swisspers is a pretty good, affordable brand!

**Not pictured
Lush Rose Jam shower gel - This stuff is my jam (no pun intended)! This is one of my two favourite scents that Lush makes. This product is only released at Christmas & that fact alone makes me sad, but because it does only come once a year, I'm quite happy that it lasted me this long...through frugal use. This smells quite rosy & softens the skin just right. The scent also lingers, which I love because who doesn't want to catch a whiff of themselves hours after you've done your showering & get that instant mood boost. I will absolutely buy this again. LUSH, please make this again!!

Hair

Tresesmme Keratin Smooth Shampoo & Conditiioner* - These were nice & I got a few uses out of these sample packs. I probably wouldn't buy a full size, but I have more sample packs of these & they will get used.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Foam Wash & Creme Rinse* - These were awesome! I loved this duo & it really did work in my favour when trying to achieve some beachy waves. I would definitely consider purchasing these, but I've resisted so far because of the price. Maybe next summer?!

That's it for this month! What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | May & June 2015

It has been a time since posting an empties write-up! I've used up a fair amount of products, still in my quest to downsize on samples, extras & general clutter in hopes of moving. Only now - I have a goal! That's right, we've bought a house! We're moving toward the end of July, thus I have fewer and fewer days left of my de-cluttering. This is also a brief explanation of why I've not posted in ages. Things have been crazy here! (Samples are marked with an asterisk <*> )

Makeup

Too Faced Primed & Poreless - This primer was alright. It took me ages to use completely & I think it's because of the texture, which was very silicone-y.  Instead of repurchasing this primer, I've purchased something different that I like much better.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm - I use this every single night before I go to sleep & I've already started in on a new tube of the stuff. It's awesome!

Urban Decay Primer Potion - This eye shadow primer is the bomb.  I could never figure out what was wrong with my eye shadows until I tried this product. Now I use it everyday & my shadows as well as my liner stays until I remove it. I've already repurchased ages ago!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes* - This was nice. I was NOT a fan at the beginning, but it grew on me. However the price point of this mascara is unappealing & therefore I would probably never purchase it on my own. However if another sample came my way, I would definitely use it!

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black* - I love this so much! It's dark, spicy & right up my alley perfume-wise! I also liked the White (previous empties post), so I'm most likely going to buy the small rollerball set that comes with both!

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid* - Also delicious & spicy. I couldn't get enough of this one & am quite sad that it's gone. I would consider purchasing, but honestly I don't wear a ton of perfume so I feel like buying too many is a waste for me.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce* -  This was just alright. It was fine while I was using it, but it didn't leave a lasting impression. I wouldn't purchase this.


Skincare

Lush Tea Tree Water - I wrote about this toner (& Angels, below) and how much I love it I a post at the very beginning of my blog (find it here). Thus when I run out I always tend to repurchase. Which I have done, even though it took a couple of months. So soothing!

Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave - This was a stocking stuffer, although it also happens to be my favourite shaving cream. It seems to be the only shave cream that actually kind of moisturizes my skin. & I say kind of, because it's still not fantastic, but much better than others. I will eventually buy it again!

Strawberry Yogurt Mask - This mask sample was given to me by a friend, fellow blogger & all around awesome person (find her HERE)  & I really enjoyed this! It smelled delicious & it left my skin feeling soft & moisturized. I would use this again - I actually have another package of it in my cabinet.

Live Clean Facial Towelettes - This was a part of my battle of the face wipes. & It won! That is because they smell so good, remove makeup without too much trouble & stay moist all the way to the bottom of the pack.  How can you go wrong?!

Pure Source Sea Kelp Sheet Mask - This is also a mask that the same friend from above gifted to me. It was my first sheet mask experience & it felt awesome! I loved that rather than heating up on my skin as most masks tend to do (at least a little bit), this actually kept my skin cool & happy. I am way less weirded out by sheet masks now & will totally be using them again.

Angels on Bare Skin - As with the Tea Tree Water, there is a post raving about the merits of this facial cleanser. It might be a bit strange, it might be a bit messy, but it makes my skin so happy! Although I don't currently have any to use, I will be repurchasing.

Jergens Shea Butter Lotion* - This was nice lotion. It smelled like shea butter (makes sense) & it worked as lotion should. If I was in need of lotion, I would consider buying this.


House

I don't generally keep trash relating to the house, but I loved these so much that I just wanted to write a bit about them.  These wax cubes are used in my wax warmer, which I prefer to candles when I have people over. This particular scent blew me away! It smells so fresh & spring-like that it's just so tantalizing. These also last SO long. I used them 3 cubes at a time & each time you can use them over & over & over.

What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | April 2015

Time again for my monthly collection of beauty trash!  I feel like I've used a great variety of things this month. As with last month, I've divided them into categories & marked the samples with an asterisk (*). 

Makeup

Revlon Photoready Pressed Powder - This has been my powder for the last couple times I've needed to replace a powder. I enjoy this & would repurchase, but for a drugstore item it is quite expensive (around $16 CAD) so this time I have chosen to go with something cheaper.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation - This foundation was lovely! It has a wonderful lightweight feel but a surprisingly high coverage finish. It did leave my nose a bit dry, but it's hard to tell whether that was the foundation or the winter. I would definitely repurchase - in the summer - if only to see if it really does cause dryness.

Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait - I love the lip butter formula for quick, on the go uses. This particular shade didn't leave me thrilled simply because it had gold glitter that seemed really gritty after a little bit of wear. I would buy another lip butter, but not in this shade.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara* - I LOVE this mascara & have already ordered a larger size.  If you want volume, this stuff is perfection.

Ultraflesh Mascara* - I received this in a Beauty Box a couple of months ago & this is completely dried up. Hard to test a product if it isn't even usable.

Cartier Baisés Volés Perfume* - This stuff was yummy smelling. It was quite sophisticated while being light and floral.  While I really enjoyed this I don't think this would be one I would buy in full size.


Face & Body

L'Oreal Paris Makeup Remover - This is a lovely eye makeup remover and also a repurchase of mine. As of late I think I have found a makeup remover that I prefer, but this one does an excellent job for drugstore prices.

Secret Clear Gel Deodorant in Ooh-la-la Lavender - I was sent this by BzzAgent to review about 6 months ago. So as far as a product lasting an appropriate amount of time - this was great. It had a nice scent & it did it's job. I'm not sure I'm a convert of the gel deodorants yet though.

EOS (Evolution of Smooth) Hand Lotion in Rose - I purchased this years ago in a set with a lip balm as a breast cancer awareness promotion. It lived in my purse & it has finally kicked the bucket. It wasn't super moisturizing but it functioned well enough in a pinch. I would not repurchase - at least not in this scent.

SoftSoap Body Wash in Tropical Acai Berry - These body washes are absolutely my favourite from the drugstore. They have moisture beads (which - I've checked the ingredients - is not the same as the plastic scrubby beads) that dissolve when rubbed into the skin. This purple gel wash smells divine, but the pomegranate & mango one is really something amazing as well.


Hair

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray - This was acquired during the day of my wedding to tame some flyaways at the last minute. While this can looks tiny you can actually purchase this at the drugstore. It works, but it stinks, so I did not repurchase.

Pantene Smooth & Sleek Shampoo* - This shampoo made my hair feel soooo greasy right out of the gate. I used up this sample, but I would not purchase a large size. If I had very dry hair, this may have worked better without leaving me feeling dirty before day one was even over.


Another month, another 12 items used up. I would like to point out that I'm not trying to « get rid » of products.I'm not using anything in excess, I just like making sure I'm using what I have (& when I have 5 of the same thing this takes time).

What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

L'Oreal Fibralogy | Review

I was chosen to be sent the Canadian VoxBox from Influenster.  This is my first campaign since becoming a member of Influenster back in December. Influenster is a review website where people can go to share their opinions of different products that they use everyday. I've reviewed around 35 different products since joining the site.

About a month ago I was sent a survey & then was lucky enough to be selected to be sent the L'Oreal Fibralogy box absolutely free to review.  In the box there is a shampoo, a conditioner & a special "thickening booster".  These products are touted as being able to create hair that feels thicker as soon as you're done using it the first time & hair that IS thicker after 5 uses.

• First you are supposed to wash & rinse your hair with the shampoo (as you do with shampoo). 
• Then you are supposed to take the thickening booster & apply it in-between the shampoo & the conditioner. 
• Without rinsing the booster, you're supposed to apply the conditioner on top of it, as you normally would. Then you rinse your hair again, taking out the booster & the conditioner.
•  For "intensive treatment" you're supposed to use the booster twice a week, but you're only supposed to use it once per week for "regular use". I assume they wish for you to continue using the shampoo and conditioner portions of this system everyday, with the insertion of the booster once a week. 

Results:

After only one use, it was really hard to tell a difference because I have fairly thick hair to begin with.  After a few uses, my hair started to look a little bit fuller and voluminous. By use number five (Which is supposed to be the magic number), my hair definitely looks thick & shiny. Whether or not it IS thicker is quite hard to discern for me.

I definitely like these products, regardless of the results. My hair feels and looks amazing.  Is it thicker? Well I can't quite tell, but I would purchase this on my own.

Have you tried this product? How did you feel it worked?

Cheers,
Kait 

Empties | March 2015

This month I did some serious cleaning out of samples. We plan on buying a house sometime in the next 6ish months & I really want to try and declutter before that happens. I don't really have any desire to pack up 4371814 samples. I would rather use them all up!

This month, I divided everything into smaller categories. I've also indicated samples with asterisks (*).

Face

Simple Face Wipes - I don't love these, but I certainly don't hate 'em! I would repurchase.

Pacifica Face Wipes - I thought I loved these face wipes. They smell like coconut & they were nice & wet with product but they BURN around my eyes. Not in my eyes, on the skin. I would NOT repurchase these. I have a post on both these & the simple face wipes here.

Purity Made Simple*  - This was a bitty sample, that I used for about 5 days straight. I love this & have already purchased a larger bottle! It smells lovely & it leaves my skin so soft & clean!

Neostrata moisturizer* - This was weird, gelly & ultimately not that impressive. I used it for about 3 nights. I would NOT purchase.

Swisspers Organic Cotton Rounds - These are pretty standard cotton rounds. I like that they are organic, but I dislike that there are only 80 per pack. Overall, these are the ones I usually purchase, so I would most likely repurchase them.


Hair

Fruit Kicks Down Under Hair Spray - This stuff was pretty awesome. It smells like pomegranate & it worked for most things, from taming fly-away hair all the way up to keeping curls & fancy 'dos in check.  For the low cost & how long it lasted (like 2 years), I will definitely repurchase.

Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo & Conditioner* - I've had the full-sized bottles of both of those & while I like them plenty, they aren't what I look for in hair care. They are quite nice & light though (not to mention they smell yummy like grapefruit).

Pantene Sheer Volume Shampoo* - This was BAD for my hair. That's all I have to say about that.

Garnier Nutrisse Conditioner* - I get one of these in every box of at-home hair dye I purchase. I really enjoy using this & I use it around 1-2 times per week. While I can't exactly repurchase the conditioner, I will continue to use it whenever I buy the dye!


Makeup

Lancome Definicils Mascara* - I miss this mascara! I will absolutely not be spending that much money on a mascara in the near future, but based on if it's purchasable - I would in theory buy it. I have a post with a more in-depth review of this product here.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara - I used to think I loved this mascara, but I have now realized that I don't. It's very dry & the brush leaves my lashes very clumpy.  I will not be repurchasing this.

Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Perfume* - This smells very floral & light. It's actually not a scent I've ever worn before, but I'm definitely going to pick up a roller ball of this once my other samples are gone.

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer - I've repurchased this concealer countless times. It actually has a small amount of acne medication within the concealer, which aides to heal, while hiding. I am definitely on my way to repurchasing as soon as my other concealer is used up.

Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer - I like this, but I don't love it. It brightens under the eyes quite nicely, but I find that it settles into my creases pretty quickly. I'm on the fence about this. I may just repurchase on a whim, but I don't have any plans for it right away.


Body

Freeman Cucumber, Melon & Ginseng Body Wash* - This smelled fantastic, but it did nothing for my skin.  In a period of the year where my skin is already kind of dry, this actually dried it out more.  This was a Beauty Box 5 sample, but I will not be purchasing a full bottle of this.

Nivea Lotion* - Although this was a tiny sample, I actually almost exclusively use Nivea lotions for my body. I find them to be incredibly soothing & they have super long-lasting moisture. I will purchase/re-purchase.


Phew! What a ton of samples! I'm so happy to be tossing (& recycling) these items! That's 16 more things that I won't be packing once I find a house to call my own (although let's be honest, samples pour into my life at an alarmingly quick rate)!!

What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

5 Most Worn Products | February 2015

Time to share some of the products that I've not been able to put down during the past month!  Most of these things aren't "normal" makeup products in that they aren't colourful makeup products, but they all have a place in my heart. 

1. Color Whisper in Lust for Blush
This lip product is lovely. It is light, not terribly pigmented and super wearable. I do usually have to wear some sort of balm underneath to make it apply properly, but once it's on - watch out! It is a lavender-esque blush colour. Perfect for the month of love. Not a great wear time, but who cares - it's beautiful!

2. Lush's Tea Tree Water Toner
This toner makes my skin feel amazing. It smells like tea tree & it feels so soothing on my winter-worn face.  I use this twice a day & I have no regrets. Nothing else compares!

3. Elizabeth and James Nirvana White
Confession - I only have samples of this perfume, but I have literally worn this everyday. I adore it. It is perfect to wear during the day & the floral notes make me less sad that there is still a million feet of snow on the ground.  When I run out of samples, this will be purchased post-haste.

4, Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara
Another sample love. I have worn this mascara so much that I've worn it out. I can't wait to go up to the city in a couple of weeks so that I can buy the full-size of this mascara. It makes my lashes look so crazy good, I don't know if anything else compares!

5. Lotions - various
With winter on the East Coast of Canada comes dry, scaly, unflattering skin. I can't even speak to a specific lotion that I've been using because I've been using many different ones. Particularly, Nivea lotions have many good formulas & scents that I enjoy (but I've used Olay, EOS, Aveeno, Jergens...as well this month).

Do you have anything that you've been unable to quit this month? I'd love to hear about them (& probably try them)!

Cheers,
Kait

Beating the Winter Blahs

Are you ready for Winter to turn itself over to Springtime? I sure am. As much as I do love Winter, my town is currently buried under about 3 feet of snow, it's hard not to get discouraged even leaving the house in the morning. I've rounded up some things that keep my spirits high & my sights set on Spring.


Floral, Fruity Skincare
Some yummy skincare can certainly perk up even the dreariest day. Here I have a Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap in Caribbean Escape, Pacifica Facial Towelettes & Softsoap Body Wash in Acai Berry. Even the colours scream Spring on these products & each of them are very affordable.

Fun colours
A pink scarf, a fun nail colour, a pretty lippy. It doesn't take much to punch up an outfit and perk up a mood.

Flowers & Candles
Candles are the key to my heart. This Luau Party Yankee Candle is a bright fruity delight. Flowers, real or fake are a way to brighten up a space, whether it be a work desk or a living room.

Here are just a few fun, easy ways to brighten up the dreary days of February.

What things make you think of Spring?

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | February 2015

Sephora Blotting Papers in Soothing Lavender 
I love having blotting papers at my disposal & I generally have a pack in my desk at work, as well as in my purse. I've used up 2 packs of these this month & while I've purchased a different kind for now (still Sephora brand), I would definitely buy the Lavender ones again!

L'Oreal waterproof makeup remover 
Shake well, pour on a cotton round & swipe away the day's makeup & grime. What's not to love? This formula is very gentle but effective, affordable and I have already repurchased.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm 
I just wrote about this beauty in my 5 most worn things January 2015 post, and the fact that it is now empty is proof of just how much I did wear it. Trust me, I have backups & maybe even backups for my backups. This stuff is a permanent fixture in my home.

Lush's Bûche de Noël 
This face wash is just okay. I've mentioned before that Lush's Angels on Bare Skin is truly my favourite of their line of cleansers. This one is limited edition and part of their Christmas line & I had tried it in the past. The only reason I purchased this was because I live 3 hours from a Lush store & at the time that I was there in December, they were all out of AOBS & I hate to leave without some sort of cleanser. I would maybe buy this again if I were stuck & it happened to be during the Christmas season.

Live Clean's Exotic Shine Bali Oil Conditioner
This conditioner smells like summertime. It is nourishing without weighing down the hair & it is 98% plant-based. If you have major conditioning needs, this may not be the one for you, as it is a little on the light side. I would repurchase.

Olay Fresh Effects Out of this Swirled Deep Pore Cleanse
Lovely standard little cleanser. I wouldn't call it "deep pore"face wash, but it works for basic cleansing purposes. I would repurchase, I enjoyed it as a nighttime wash up.

Hello Mouthwash
Maybe it's weird to include a mouthwash, but this one is different than your run of the mill brands. Fomulated without alcohol, this adds freshness without burning. The grapefruit mint flavour might be a bit strange, but enjoyable all the same. For the less adventurous, it also comes in a normal mint flavour (& a mojito one as well). Would repurchase, yum!

These are some of the things I have been using up lately, what have you been using? Have you found something you love? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

Sally Hansen Salon Effects | Trial & Review

A few weeks ago I received some French Mani Salon Effects nail polish strips in my Beauty Box. Since I am having an at home date night tonight for Valentine's day, I decided that it would be fun to test them out.

 Here's how they work:

First you have to "prep" your nails. I did this using my Butter London Scrubbers. They are 2-in-1 prep & remover pads (p.s. I love these!). I swiped each nail to make sure there was no oil or lotion or gunk on them.

After they are prepped, you begin with the tips. Since these are French Mani strips, they have an extra step, in order to give you that look. Mine are gold glitter tips.  This step was easy enough. Peel, stick, file the excess. Once you do a couple nails, this goes pretty quickly. I was left with something that looked like this:

The last step is where I got in trouble. There are clear strips that go over your entire nail, to protect the tip & subsequently give the "french manicure" look. These strips would NOT stay on. Now, I admit that I didn't realize that these were like window cling material & not actual stickers.  I tried applying them two or three different ways, on several different nails - all with the same result. In the end, I had to haul out my clear polish & paint over the tips so they won't peel off!

Verdict - While my nails look super cute, I don't think these strips work as promised & are probably not worth the $9.99. I would perhaps buy them for a special occasion, because admittedly they give a french manicured effect without too much hassle...but not really reasonable for everyday use.

**Update:  These lasted for around 7 days on me before they started to look weird/ peel off. 

What do you think of nail polish strips? Did I do something wrong? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

Valentine's Day Ideas for ALL the Single Ladies

All alone this Valentine's Day? Think the day is a drag, a scam or a money-grab? I have been there, my friend. But I have some fun at-home ways to get the most out of a day that bombards you with love and romance & might remind you of past relationships or of the fact that you are forever alone.

1. Treat yo' self 

Does this not look super decadent and wonderful? It's also meant for one, so how can you go wrong! Indulge your sweet tooth without having to leave the house. Check out the recipe at Completely Delicious.

2. Mix up a Drink

I am a fan of having a drink on the weekend & since Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year, a drink (or three) is fair game!  Here we have a simple, yummy drink dubbed an Anti-Valentine's drink - Valentine's Day on the Rocks.

1.5 oz. Cherry Vodka

4 oz. Ginger Ale

Splash of Grenadine

Cherry to top (optional) 

If vodka isn't your style, there's always wine. My personal favourite white is Casasole, an Italian Orvieto ($14.99 CAD). 

3. Have a soak 

Grab yourself a fun bath item or two and jump right in! I personally LOVE Lush bath products and they have some great Valentine's offerings like the Lonely Heart (pictured above). If Lush isn't an option, every drugstore has a great selection of bath bombs, bubble baths & essential oils - for whatever your taste may be!  

4. A Gift? Why Not!

Gifts are not always for others, they can be given to yourself!  Some fun ideas might be a new face mask, if you're into beauty things, a new outfit for a fashionista or a new read for a book lover! & if you're feeling especially like treating yourself, why not all three? A book or a mask will go well with a cozy night in with yourself, and so will an outfit if it's a new Pj set!



No matter whether you choose some of my ideas or if you have ideas of your own, it's fun to spend a night alone once in a while and really learn how to enjoy your own company. If being alone really isn't going to fly this year, round up some girl friends and go check out the new 50 Shades of Gray movie...that's sure to be entertaining, or awkward.

What will you be doing this Valentine's Day? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

5 Most Worn Products | January 2015

Just thought I would share some of the things I have been wearing CONSTANTLY this month!  Some of these things I'm wearing because I'm actively trying to use up, some I just use because I love them and choose to include.

5. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This is my absolute go-to lip balm for the winter. It's 100% affordable at around $4.99 CAD & it heals even my most chapped, rough lips. Some people find this lip balm to be too waxy, but for me it is the perfect consistency for healing. I mostly wear it at night, but on no makeup days I slather it on many, many times. I like the original peppermint one the best, but the pomegranate flavour is pretty magical as well.

4. Revlon Photoready setting powder in 010 fair/light
This stuff is NOT great. I am truthfully just trying to use it up, but it does the job. I just find it to be too heavy & it leaves my makeup looking a little too powdery, especially for the dead of winter. I much prefer a translucent powder that it a little more finely milled.

3. Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum
This is a love it or hate it type product. It's a cream-to-powder blush that came out a few years back & I just couldn't help myself. At first I disliked it, just like everyone else. Now, I pretty much love it! I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but this stuff is the bomb. I was finding my powder blushes were starting to be too powdery & if my eyes water (it's really cold in Canada), it leaves streaks clear through the powder. With the bouncy blush, little oopsy moments like that are easy to fix with a little finger blending at a red light.

2. Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in West
This is probably the only liner I've worn all month. It's a deep brown with a slight shimmer. It was in a limited edition set last Christmas (2013), but it is similar to Corrupt, which is a part of the permanent line. It's perfect!

1. Urban Decay shadows in Virgin & Sin
Both of these are found in the original Naked palette. Virgin is the perfect browbone + inner corner shade. Sin has been my go-to all over shade. It's light, pinky goodness is the perfect colour to wear to work without looking like a try-hard.


That's all folks! Everything else has changed, been on rotation or not stood out enough to mention. These are the staples of January.

What are your most-worn products of the month? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait 

Beauty Box 5 | January 2015

So in light of the new year, I've decided to test out something new & subscribe to a box! I chose beauty box 5 because it's affordable ($12/month) & it usually has an interesting selection of products.

1. Ultraflesh Panthera Mascara ($20.00 for full-sized)
Claims dramatic, thicker lashes & at $20.00 I would consider this to be in the realm of high-end mascaras.

2. Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner in Sushi ($5.00 for full-sized)
Claims a creamy liner with powerful pigment. While this is an unusual, bluey-purple shade, it could be fun to play around with during the summer months.

3. Sally Hansen Salon Effects in French Mani ($9.99 for full-sized)
Claims a perfect manicure for up to 10 days. I'm looking forward to trying these because they seem like an interesting concept. I also lucked into a very wearable gold-tipped french manicure pack, so the style is very wearable.

4. Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash ($8.00 for full-sized)
Claims to contain vitamin E to hydrate & omegas 3 and 6 to retain moisture. Smells pretty good & is in the perfect size to travel with for a few days. Will be packed in my next overnight bag!

5. Hard Candy Baked Eye Shadow in 261 Make Believe ($6.00 for full-sized) 
Claims to be highly pigmented wet-dry eye colour. While I received colours that I don't wear on a regular basis, they do seem very creamy & easy to blend. My next smokey eye will certainly be attempted with these shadows.

My box included 3 full-sized products (Liner, Shadow & Nail strips) & two samples. All in all, my box is worth around $30.00 CAD, which is quite wonderful considering they are $12.00 boxes & $3.00 shipping. Of the products I received, I am most definitely going to be using the mascara, the nail strips & the body wash. I will also play around with the eye liner & shadow on occasion.

Verdict? Month One was a success!
Do you subscribe to any boxes? I'd love to hear about different ones!

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | January 2015

I love empties! I love reading blog empties, watching Youtube empties & all kinds of other people's trash.  Here's mine from recent days.

1. Secret Fresh Effects in Fresh Water Orchid 
I love the smell of this deodorant, but I HATE using it. It is definitely not invisible. It is white & cakey, even when I barely use any at all. So glad to be tossing this one (I did finish it though, painfully)!

2. Lush Bath Bomb in Sparkler Bath Salts 
This was a limited edition bath bomb this fall & I just used it over the weekend. It was lovely. It turned the water a golden sunshine colour & it smelled like a citrusy dream. Perfect for a Saturday morning bath! I would definitely buy this again if they were to bring it back.

3. Organix Argan oil of Morocco
This stuff really is weightless. It was wonderful & easy to use. The spray bottle formula made it easy to apply & it smelled lovely. A drugstore product definitely worth the hype! I would buy this again, but I have other oils to get through first.

4. Burt's Bees Facial Towelettes
I've already reviewed these, in my battle of the facial towelettes. You can read that here. Needless to say, I won't be repurchasing these.

5. Sally Hansen Nail Polish Remover
This took me forever to use up, but it works just as well or better than other nail polish removers I've used in the past. I would buy it again, & I probably will when I get through some other nail products.

6. Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo (sample)
While this was a sample, I have used an entire normal sized bottle of this as well.  It's nice. It's nothing special, but it has a pleasant scent & it does the trick.  If I didn't know what else to choose, I would buy this, but I would rather test out some other shampoos, especially at the drugstore.

7. Maybelline's Define-a-brow in Medium Brown
I have bought this eyebrow pencil probably 4 times now, and I have already repurchased since finishing this one.  I think it's the perfect drugstore choice for my brows.

8. Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap in A Walk in the Woods 
Oh my goshhhh, this soap smells amazing! I bought this way back in September when the fall collection came out. It literally smells like walking outside in the fall. I love it & if it is released again next fall I will definitely buy it again!!

What products have you been using up lately?

Cheers,
Kait

Revlon Multi-Care Base + Top Coat | Review

I picked up this seemingly awesome idea about 6 months ago, after I had used up my current base & top coats (which were two different products). I thought "hey, if I can save money & get two uses out of one product, why not?!" Boy was I wrong.

While this product has a nice brush and a thin, even application, it doesn't dry that way. As a base, it sets your nails up to be bubbly, streaky & just plain terrible looking. As a top coat it fairs a little bit better, but one wrong move & it's bubbled up on top of a fresh coat of colour, ruining your DIY manicure before you've even had a chance to get out of the house.

If you manage to get it to work enough as a top coat that the bubbles are few and the majority of your nails look passable, it does keep your polish from chipping for a couple days longer than colour alone, but is all of that really worth it? I would rather paint my nails more often & not have to deal with all this frustration.

Bottom line? While this product is cheap and convenient, it's not worth the time. Spend your money elsewhere & enjoy the benefits of a better product than this one on your nails.

Do you use a base or a top coat? What ones?

Cheers,
Kait

Battle of | The Cleansing Cloths

I'm starting a new series on this blog in which once a month I compare 3-5 products in the same category and decide which ones I enjoy the most on a specific criteria. That way for you it becomes a giant review of a bunch of things & maybe a starting point - or a new product or 2 to try. 

For the first round, I decided to do cleansing cloths/wipes. I chose the 4 following brands to try:

   Simple , Live Clean, Pacifica & Burt's Bees.

   All four of these brands sell their wipes for around the $10 or less price mark (Canadian).

I gave each 10 days worth of use (not necessarily in a row). Usually I use facial cleansing wipes when I'm too tired to care (Friday nights) ... but for this I used them a little bit more frequently, so that I actually got to the end of this experiment. Mostly, I used them after work to remove the bulk of my makeup before exercising.

 I judged them on:

•  overall moisture upon first opening the package
•  moisture still remaining after 10 uses (more than 10 days)
•  effectiveness - does it actually remove face makeup 
•  pleasantness to use (this includes whether or not it's nice on the skin, smell, etc.). 

Simple Cleansing Wipes
For sensitive skin. 25 wipes in a package for around $8.27 ($0.33/wipe)

No artificial perfumes or dyes.

The moisture at the start was good. Not sopping wet, but enough to be pleasant and not rough.  These do remove makeup pretty well with a little bit of effort. They feel nice on the skin and they don't smell like a whole lot of anything. They are also a little bit bigger than the others.  92%

Live Clean Fresh Face Refreshing Facial Wipes 
30 wipes in a package for around $9.99 ($0.33/wipe)
97% plant derived, SLS/sulfate-free, paraben free & phthalate free

The moisture on these babies is great! They are soft and pleasant to use.  They do smell quite strongly of flowers - botanical orchid in fact - so if scent is something that is not great for you this might be a deal breaker.  I actually enjoyed the scent & it didn't seem to bother my skin any. They do, despite the smell, remove makeup like a dream, even waterproof eye makeup! They also have a hard-top with a snap closure, which keeps the moisture locked and loaded & of course best of all (for me) is that they are fairly natural & made with better ingredients for the same relative price as all the rest! 94%

Burt's Bees Facial Towelettes with White Tea Extract 

30 wipes in a package for around $10.29 ($0.34/wipe)

Natural Fabric & natural fragrance. 

Moisture at the start was alright. I found these wipes to be rough and the scent to be a little bit overpowering - especially at night. They were soft, but they left a tingly-stingy sensation. They did remove makeup though, without trying. 67%

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes 
30 wipes in a package for around $8.00 ($0.27/wipe)
100% vegan, petroleum, phthalates, SLS/sulfate & paraben free, biodegradable towelettes
&& A portion of proceeds support clean water

So these aren't the most moist (ew) of the face wipes in this battle, but they still have a lot going for them! They are doing great in the natural skincare department, they support a good cause, the packaging is adorable & features, like the live clean ones, a snap closure to seal in what moisture was to be found. They also smell lightly of coconuts..yummo! They are also (as already noted) the cheapest choice per towelette! 75%


Ready for a conclusion??
So you may have noticed that I graded each one (teacher that I am). I graded each out of 16 - 4 points for each of the 4 criterion. Then I converted them into percentages so that people actually understood my madness. I am totally happy with the one that worked out with the highest score - the Live Clean Fresh Refreshing Facial Wipes. I would definitely buy those over & over again. I did however enjoy the Pacifica ones almost equally, even if they weren't the most soaked in product, they were nice and natural. I would definitely buy those two again. The others? Not so much.

What are your favourite wipes? Do you have any criteria when you pick out products like these?

Cheers,
Kait