Arbonne Mineral Powder Foundation Review + Swatches

Hi again!

I have found the perfect powder to layer over light coverage foundations or BB creams to cover any blemishes or redness. This is a powder foundation but I wouldn’t use it alone, I prefer to use this to set my foundation and to get rid of some redness on my cheeks without using a heavy foundation. This review is on the shade Ivory.

The packaging is good, it has a twist on lid, which I like since it wont open if it falls or when I’m carrying it in my bag. It also has a fabric sifter which helps keep most of product inside however, I find that it isn’t as effective as a plastic sifter with smaller holes which you have to shake the product out.

The powder itself has a unpleasant scent but as soon as you apply it on your skin the smell goes away. It blends very nicely on my skin and settles well; I have tried a few powder foundations and they end up sitting on my skin and looking dry. It has a light to medium coverage but it can completely cover a pimple if you concentrate the powder on the spot. It also lasts for a very good amount of time and I find that it controls my oils very well during the day as I’m not left with a shiny t-zone after 4 hours. This powder works well with a big fluffy loose brush rather than a tightly packed brush (which is better for a liquid product) and it will not look cake-y.

The shade is a touch light for me but it isn’t very noticeable on my face.

Overall, I really like this powder to add some coverage and to cover any spots since it lasts much longer than most cream concealers. This also has SPF 15 which is great but I do not think that it is sufficient enough to prevent sunburn. Arbonne products do not contain: talc, parabens, mineral oil, etc.

Click here to purchase.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.  

e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter Review + Swatches

Hello again!

This is a two-in-one product which contains a concealer on one side and a highlighter on the other side. Both sides have a doe-foot applicator which is my favourite for concealer since you can place it exactly where you want it and control the amount of product. This review is on the shade Fair/Glow.

The concealer has a very thin consistency; almost a liquid but not quite. It blends out very easily and provides little coverage. It doesn’t crease much throughout the day if set with powder right after application. This is the lightest shade and it is a good color for porcelain-light skin tones. (Swatches below)

The highlight end is a white shade with the same consistency as the concealer. It contains very fine silver shimmer which can only be seen if you are looking at it up close. The highlight end confuses me since I would not put a glittery, stark white shade under my eyes. Even when it is blended out, it remains white; leaving a white cast so I would not apply it to my cheekbones either.

The highlight is on the top and concealer on the bottom swiped with the applicator twice.

This is after blending it out completely. (enlarge pic to see shimmer)

Overall, I would not recommend this because the highlighter end is unusable for most and there are so many other concealers that work better than this.

Have you tried this concealer? Also, Click here to see my review on the e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer!

Click here to purchase.

FACE Atelier Ultra Foundation Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

This foundation has a unique formula; it is silicon-based and that means it works better without a primer. It is a liquid foundation but the coverage is amazing; it has a satin, almost matte finish that looks very skin-like. This review is on the shade 2-Ivory.

The bottle is made of glass and has a pump on it which is great since it is a liquid formula that can be quite messy. It has 30mL of product in it which I’d say is the average amount. The bottle is not likely to break if dropped but I definitely wouldn’t say that it is travel-friendly either.

The coverage is about medium but can easily be built to full; it does not looks cake-y when built up. I have an oily t-zone and I thought this lasted a good amount of time on my face, keeping in mind that I always set my foundation with a powder. It is not extremely long-lasting but it easily lasts a full work/school day without much fading.

The bottom is the product pumped out and the top I slightly blended it in, it has a glow because it wasn’t dried fully.

This shade has a warm (yellow) undertone which I prefer over pink. It blends in very well with a flat top brush that has tightly packed hairs (since it is liquid). This brand is vegan and cruelty-free.

Click here to purchase.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics Review + Swatches

This brand interested me because their products are vegan and they are paraben, gluten, fragrance, and cruelty-free. The World Burn Congress, Cancer Wards, and the Medical Community recognize Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics.

Starting off with the foundation (Island Goddess Prep, Prime & Powder), I found the formula to be very unique – it is more so liquid than cream and it quickly turns to powder once blended on the skin. I have combination-oily skin and thought this worked great because it set quickly and did not move around. You wouldn’t even need to set this with powder. It sits beautifully on the skin; it has a matte finish. It has medium coverage but can be built to full coverage. It comes in a glass bottle which is not ideal (no pump) but it is fairly easy to pour out.

This is in the lightest shade; Ocean Surf, which is described as an ivory shade with warm undertones. This was light enough for me but it did have a slight pink (cool) undertone which is not what I usually reach for since I have a neutral undertone. Blended out on top and poured on the bottom.

This brand also has a cream foundation (Skin Care Cover Foundation) and it comes in a tin packaging. I tried to use this as a concealer but it was too thick and cake-y for under my eyes. I instead used this on blemishes and scars and I really liked the full coverage that it gave. It is a thick cream consistency.

The shade I got is “Bronzed Bodies” and it is the lightest shade available as well.  

Next, is a light/translucent powder (Hawaiian Highlight) which is a very finely milled pressed powder. I love using this all over to set my face and it does not look cake-y at all. It does not contain any shimmer or glitter; it mattifies very well.  There is only one shade of this “highlight” named Sky. There is no swatch for this since it is translucent.

This eyeshadow duo (Seaside Mineral Dual Jewels) is extremely pigmented and buttery; I love the formula of this.

They have many different shades, this duo is named “Jelly Fish”. They both contain shimmer.

Lastly, is a lipstick (Hawaiian Petals Lip Plumping Lip Shade) which claims to be plumping however, I did not notice much of that. It is very creamy and moisturizing; does not drag on my lips.

The shade “Coral Reef” is a peachy, nude shade that is a touch frosty. I love the shade but the frosty aspect is not my favourite.

Overall, I like these products and other than the shades/colors I thought the formula of all of them was amazing. The liquid foundation really has a unique formula and I would imagine that those with an oily skin type will love it. The eyeshadow also has a nice buttery formula; I would love to try more shades. The pressed powder is also great for carrying in my purse to touch up since it is extremely light, it does not cake-up.

Click here to purchase.

Disclaimer: I received these products for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

Wet n Wild ColorIcon Bronzer SPF 15 (Reserve Your Cabana) Review + Swatches

Hello again!

I have seen and heard many people comparing this highlighter to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in “Dim Light” and so I had to pick it up. This is labelled as a bronzer but it is definitely a highlighter even for extremely fair skin tones. There are 2 other shades which are much darker and can be used as a bronzer. This review is on the shade “Reserve Your Cabana”.

The formula is very smooth, buttery, and very pigmented. It does not contain glitter or shimmer but gives a beautiful glow and reflects light which instantly brightens. It has an average wear time, it will last a whole school/work day. It also contains SPF 15 but I don’t think that is effective against sunburn.

I love using this for highlighting my nose and cupid’s bow because it is so subtle. This can be used all over the face, even under the eyes however, this powder can tend to settle into fine lines so it is not suitable for everyone. It can be used as an eyeshadow, it actually makes a nice subtle under brow highlight. I would describe this as a brightening powder rather than a highlight.

This is a great powder overall for brightening and for a natural highlight which I prefer on a daily basis. I highly recommend this, especially since it is only a couple dollars.

Have you tried this highlighter?

Click here to purchase.

Chella Eyebrow Color Kit (Tantalizing Taupe) Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

This kit is amazing because it covers everything you would need to achieve the perfect brow. It contains an eyebrow pencil, eyebrow gel, highlighter pencil, and a sharpener. This review is on the shade “tantalizing taupe”, which is suppose to be a universal shade.

Firstly, the brow pencil is a twist up waxy formula that makes it impossible to accidentally draw a harsh line. It is light in color but can be built up to a darker shade. The shade will cover many different hair colors except for those that prefer a warm (red, orange-toned) brow. It is an ashy shade which looks very flattering on me since my natural brows are cool-toned. It is not waterproof and fades when it is rubbed but I don’t touch my eyebrows during the day and they stay exactly the same by the end of the day – no smudges or fading.

I liked the eyebrow gel as it is clear in color and held my eyebrows in place without making them feel stiff or “crunchy”. The brush is slightly too big but since this is a clear gel, it was not a big deal. I liked the bristles on the brush because they grabbed onto my brow hairs and brushed them into place.

The highlighter pencil is amazing; it takes a few seconds to draw a line under my brows to clean them up instead of applying concealer which sometimes gets on my eyebrows. It is very creamy and blends easily. The highlighter pencil is in the shade “Ivory Lace”, which is the lightest shade. Please keep in mind that this kit comes with the highlighter shade “Latte” but I had asked for this one instead.

They also include a sharpener that you can use for the highlighter pencil and it has a closed lid that will hold the shavings until you empty it.

The highlighter shade is on top, under that is the eyebrow pencil swept once and the bottom swatch is multiple swipes of the eyebrow pencil.

I highly recommend this kit; I have only been using this for my brows since I received it! I have no complaints on any of these products.

Click here to purchase

Disclaimer: I received these products for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

Manna Kadar Lip Locked (Pinot Noir) Review + Swatches

Hello again!

This shade is perfect for autumn, It is for those that don’t like the dark vampy lip but want to try darker berry tones. This is unlike a liquid lipstick or lip gloss; It has a very unique formula.

It is a true liquid that feels extremely light on the lips, it does not dry down like a liquid lipstick. It does not look like a gloss either; it has a sheen/shine but it is not glossy. It is very moisturizing but it does not slip or bleed outside of the lips, which can happen with very moisturizing lip products.

It lasts like an average lipstick if you do not eat or drink but as soon as you do, it will wipe away leaving a light berry stain. The stain will last for hours on the lips afterwards; it will wipe off if you use a makeup wipe. This contains Vitamins A, E, and berry extract to keeps lips moisturized.

Overall, I like this because of the moisturizing formula and the stain it leaves on afterwards. The color is a gorgeous wine, berry/purple, burgundy shade that is my favourite for fall time!

Click here to purchase.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow Review + Swatches

Hello again!

Firstly, I want to thank all of you; I recently reached 2000 followers! I appreciate each of your follows, likes, and comments!

Now, onto the review: I got these shadows in a holiday set, they are my only eye shadows from Lancome because they weren’t that great to purchase more of. They come in a variety of different shades and finishes.

Starting from the left, “clock strikes 12” is a dark grey shade that has a matte finish. You will see in the swatches below that the pigmentation from this shade is lacking. It blends well but you can never build it on your eyes to look like it does in the pan. It is good for slightly darkening the outer-V of the eyes but you will need a lot of product to achieve a smokey look.

The middle shade in the picture above is “off the rack” and it is a frosty light pink. It has a metallic finish and is very buttery and has a better formula overall then “clock strikes 12”. It is fairly pigmented with just one swipe and lasts very well on the eyelids throughout the day. I did not have any fallout with this and the grey shade.

The purple shade on the right is “drama” and it is a shimmer finish. It has a slight blue tone to it when the light hits it. This shade is very powdery and chalky. It also lacks pigmentation but it can be built up with a few swipes. This one has some fallout due to it’s powdery formula.

Left to right: “off the rack”, “drama”, and “clock strikes 12”

Overall I would not recommend these Lancome eyeshadows, I didn’t think they were worth the price at all. The light pink shade had a good formula and was pigmented but I’m disappointed in the other two.

Have you tried any Lancome eyeshadows?

Click here to purchase/see all shades.

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

This is the best black eyeliner for the waterline, it actually stays on for many hours! It has been the only one I’ve been using because I know it will not smudge or smear under my eyes. I have many black liners and this beats all of them, even the high-end ones!

The formula is extremely creamy and it will not tug at all on your eyes. This was a surprise to me because this is a regular pencil, which needs to be sharpened and those usually have a dry formula. You have about 1-2 minutes to blend or smudge it before it sets. After it sets, this eyeliner will not smudge at all even when you rub your finger over it. It lasts very well on the waterline, it does not gather in the corners of my eyes.

This liner will easily last the entire day with some fading on the outer half of my waterline after about 6+ hours. I don’t like to line my waterline with a black liner for the daytime but when I do at nighttime, this has never faded completely on it’s own, I’ve always had to remove it with a makeup wipe. This also claims to be waterproof but I would say it is more so water-resistant because it did fade when I rubbed my hand under the running water.

The shade is a very deep black, hence the name “Deepest Black”.

Click here to visit their website.

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me. 

Amie Skincare Mask, Moisturizer, and Facial Wash Review

I had never heard of this skincare line and I’m so glad that I discovered it! My skin is the softest it has ever been with using these for a couple of weeks now.

Starting with the purifying facial wash; it claims to be a moisturizing face wash that clears (contains mayblossom and elderflower, which controls oiliness and prevents blemishes) and softens skin (contains orangeblossom and raspberry which tones and refreshes). It is not a foaming face wash but rather a creamy consistency that leaves my skin extremely soft immediately after washing it off. My skin type is oily (t-zone) with dry patches and this face wash is perfect for the mornings to prep my skin for foundation as it hydrates and I don’t notice my foundation clinging to my dry patches. This is perfect for the winter time or for those that suffer with dry skin year-round.

The deep cleansing mask has been extremely useful for me lately because I have had a few breakouts and it is seriously effective on pimples and blemishes. I have used it all over my face a few times and I must warn you that this has a peppermint and lime scent that will make your eyes water if it is placed around the eyes. As soon as I wash the mask off after about 10 minutes, my skin is silky soft and I notice that it cleared out most of my pores. I mostly use this for spot treatments on the pimples that I have been getting recently and the day after I use this the pimple looks much smaller and the redness is almost gone! This mask is very effective on breakouts without drying out my skin.

Lastly, the hydrating daily moisturiser is a good everyday moisturizer that looks good under makeup. I usually like to use a matifying moisturizer because of my oily t-zone but I can definitely see myself reaching for this more often in the winter because it moisturizes without being greasy and it also smells like rose, which I enjoy. It contains rose extract, rose hip oil and mallow. This also makes my skin ridiculously soft.

Left to right: Purifying Facial Wash, Hydrating Daily Moisturiser, Deep Cleansing Mask.

I highly recommend these products because they do as they say and they are dermatologically tested, pH balanced, and suitable for vegans. They are also free from parabens, mineral oils, petrochemicals, and animal extracts. I will definitely be repurchasing when these run out and I would love to try more; I’m very impressed with these!

Click here to see their entire line. Amie Skincare is also available at Shopper Drug Mart for Canadians!

Disclaimer: I received these products for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.