Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths review

Hi there! I'm not much of a makeup wipes person but they are definitely great for those lazy days. I purchased the Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Cleansing Clothes: Oil-Free Pore Refining in the April Sephora 15% off sale. Ole Henriksen has 2 other types of wipes but these are catered more towards combination/oily skin.

Deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and renew pores in one easy step. Uniquely textured cloths exfoliate while glycolic, lactic, and citric acids thoroughly dissolve dead skin cells. Purifying eucalyptus absorb pore-clogging dirt and oil for clarified, fresh-looking skin and AHA's exfoliate, remove dead skin cells, and smooth texture for a refined complexion. 

A great thing about this packaging is that there is a flap top as well as a seal to keep your wipes moist.

These wipes have this sort of medicine-like smell to me, but in a good way. I'm not sure if it's the eucalyptus part of the wipes but I'm fine with it. What makes these wipes different from the other 2 Ole Henriksen wipes is that they have both a smooth side and a textured side for exfoliation.

The plastic beads feel real nice on my skin because it's like a little massage. It exfoliates well and helps remove my flaky skin as well as my makeup. I sometimes alternate in between the textured and the smooth side because the smooth side is more gentle and makes it easier to remove makeup. After using these wipes, I'm left with this tingling sensation on my skin for the next few minutes. It doesn't leave any weird residue or dry out my skin so I feel fine not rinsing it off and immediately following with toner or moisturizer.

I'm really happy with these wipes but they are pricey so I think I will only be purchasing these when I feel like treating myself :P They sell at Sephora for $19 for 30 wipes and $10 for 10 wipes.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion review + swatch

Sorry for the long hiatus! I've been suffering from midterms and multiple group projects/meetings :(

The product I'm reviewing today is yet another mini sized item. It is the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion deluxe sample that I received from my Naked Palette.

Eyeshadow Primer Potion is an ultra-sheer, totally nude base that glides onto the skin. The original, award-winning formula disappears instantly and is the ultimate eye prep for smoother, more vibrant shadow and all-day wear with absolutely no creasing. 

 This comes with a wand applicator but has since been redesigned to be a squeeze tube.

Like the description says, this really does prep eyes for eyeshadow/eyeliner and helps my eye makeup stay on longer. It really helps create a smooth canvas for eyeshadow and make the colours really pop. This nude base provides light coverage so it would also be helpful for anybody that needs to cover any veiny eyelids or minor darkness. I use it taily to make my liquidy eyeliner last lnger but it works great with eyeshadows too.

The only downside is that it does not prevent creasing for me. Even when I just use it for eyeliner, I see that the primer by itself still creases on my eyelid. I'll finish off with a swatch of eyeshadow with the primer vs. without.

Without primer (left), with primer (right)

Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette review + swatch

My favourite part about Christmas coming is that Sephora and other stores start to release their Holiday sets! I really regretted not getting the Tarte Off the Cuff Blush palette last year so as soon as I saw this, I snatched it up right away!

 

An exclusive blush set with five brand-new, Amazonian clay-infused blushes and two wearable hair pins—all encased inside of a Parisian-inspired clutch. 

The packaging isn't the greatest and could definitely be made more sleek, but it's the inside that matters ;) This is my first time trying their famous Amazonian clay blushes and they definitely life up to the hype. They are super pigmented and the clay really does help it last on my face longer than most blushes do. It doesn't really last 12 hours, but I'd say it lasts about 8, which is still pretty awesome. The formulation is good too since it is easy to pick up product on your brush but it also isn't too powdery.

From left to right: Breathless (pinky beige), Embraced (plummy rose), Whimsy (light pink), Bashful (rosy peach), Irreplaceable (mauve rose)

With flash

The colours of this palette are amazing and I can see them working with several different skin tones. Breathless too pale and barely shows up on my skin so that is the only one I have issues with. Irresplaeable seems like the most pigmented blush and I've been guilty by accidentally applying too much haha but the rest are easier to use. All in all, I think this is a wonderful palette, and would make an awesome Christmas gift for anyone :) It's also a great way to get someone started in makeup since they'll have all the colours they need right there.

Left to right: Breathless, Embraced, Whims, Bashfull, Irresplacable

With flash

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask and Pore Purifying Black Strips

Is it possible for posts to get deleted by Blogger? :S I posted this review already but it disappeared so here's my second shot at it! During the Sephora Black Friday Sale last year, I got the Boscia Pore Perfection set which came with 30 g of the Luminizing Black Mask and 3 of the Pore Purifying Black Strips.

A groundbreaking, mineral-rich mask that peels off to deliver powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening effects.

This was my first peel off mask so I didn't know what to expect. It is super black, thick, and a bit sticky but is not that hard to apply. It spreads okay but I've heard that a thick layer is required in order to make it peel off well so you can't be too stingy with this mask. Peeling off the mask was difficult but it did come off in large chunks. After peeling off the mask, my face was red and blotchy! I wouldn't consider it to be an allergic reaction because my face did calm down in a few minutes (I also put on some cream to sooth my face). My skin did feel a smoother but unfortunately, it wasn't able to get rid of my blackheads :(

Next up is the Pore Purifying Black Strips.

A pack of peel-off strips that absorb dirt and oil to reduce the appearance of pores and blackheads.

 These pore strips were very similar to the Biore pore strips. They work the same way and appear to have the same results. The only difference is that the Boscia strips don't seem to harden that much, thus making them easier to peel off. I'm not sure if I'm not waiting long enough because it doesn't seem to adhere to my nose that well or get all the blackheads out :(

These products were nice to try but this line just doesn't seem right for my skin. I'll finish using but won't be repurchasing. The Luminizing Black Mask costs $41 for 80g and the Pore Purifying Black strips cost $34 for 12 strips.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder review

After making the transition to liquid foundation, I was on a hunt for a great setting/finishing powder and I settled on the Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder.

This translucent, silky finishing powder keeps makeup in place without ever appearing chalky and mattifies skin by removing excess surface oil. This powder can even be used alone as a treatment to reap all the benefits of Amazonian clay.

It is a white powder that goes on translucent and despite the whiteness, I never see any white cast in flash photography. I’ve heard a lot about Tarte and their Amazonian clay products being awesome for oil control and being long lasting so I finally decided to try this. Amazonian Clay: Acts as a total skin balancer by hydrating all skin types, reducing the appearance of dry, flaky skin, improving clarity and texture, and removing surface oil.

Since using this powder, I have noticed that my skin gets oily less quickly and that my foundation lasts for longer. It also makes my skin feel super smooth especially with the Covergirl Outlast foundation I recently started using. It definitely helps keep makeup on for longer and is my go to setting powder (okay it’s pretty much my only powder). I don’t carry it with me on the go so I have never used it for touch ups but I think that this would be a great powder for after that mid-day blotting session.

 
The packaging is very simple and sleek and is flat topped so you can stack your other products on top if necessary. It dispenses just through a tiny hole in the centre of the lid so it is a bit hard to get out. I find that when I turn it upside down onto the lid and shake the container side to side 2-3 times, I get enough powder. Unfortunately, one of the first few times I did this, the sifter part ended up coming off and a powder exploded everywhere :( I debated exchanging it for another but just ended up super gluing the sifter back on. I’m not sure if it was just mine that was like this, but beware! Make sure to test if the sifter is really stuck in before shaking this container.

I really like this powder and it does not take too much to cover your whole face so I can see it lasting me very long. I purchased this in November and I think I have only used (and lost) less than half of it. I'm going to keep using it until I'm done and am a bit undecided about repurchasing but I think I likely will :) It is sold in 0.32 oz. size at Sephora for $38.

Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes and Whipped Argain Oil Intensive Hand Cream review

Part of my Black Friday Haul was the Josie Maran Argan Hand Healers Set which came with 20 Bear Naked Nail Wipes and a 30 mL tube of their Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream. Although the set is no longer available, the individual products are so here’s my review on them!

First up is the Bear Naked Nail Wipes: These portable three-in-one nail wipes remove nail polish, repair dry cuticles, and promote healthy nails—naturally. Acetone free and grapefruit-scented, Bear Naked Nail Wipes are infused with organic Argan oil to moisturize cuticles and support nail growth. They are small circular wipes that are a little smaller than a cotton pad. They are grapefruit scented which I really love but I remember they had peppermint around Christmas time!

(compared to a cotton round for size)

These wipes seem pretty effective in removing nail polish despite them being acetone free. I don’t use them often but when I do, it only takes one nail wipe to remove all the nail polish from both my hands. I think it takes the same amount of rubbing as acetone nail polish remover does. A downside of it is that I have only used them on dark polish so far and when I do, the polish ends up staining my fingers because I think it gets transferred off the wipes. The stains wash off though and my fingers are still left moisturized from the argan oil. I don’t think I use them often enough to see if it improves nail growth but it has kept my cuticles looking a bit healthier :) They are sold at Sephora for $11 for 20 wipes and 40 wipes for $19.

Next, the Whipped Argain Oil Intensive Hand Cream: This rich, never greasy, super hydrating cream keeps hands looking and feeling good. Josie's signature ingredient, argan oil, is spun into a creamy butter to revitalize skin and restore softness while improving skin's texture. Lightly scented with natural essences of vanilla and apricot and infused with shea butter, it's nature's most luxurious moisturizer—hands down. This is labelled as ‘vanilla apricot’ scented but I can only smell the apricot part of it. It was also a somewhat light scent that seemed to disappear after 30 minutes or so.

Unlike the description says, this is a little bit greasy at the beginning but it is quite hydrating so that makes up for it. It is not my favourite hand cream but I think it is still pretty awesome. It was a great deal in the set but on it's own, I would prefer another hand cream for that price. This can only be bought in the 2.37 oz. size and is $26 at Sephora.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser review

Purity Made Simple cleanser really is a ‘simple’ cleanser. I was hesitant to try this cleanser since I am not a fan of Philosophy’s smells but I’m really glad I did try it.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple is a pH-balanced formula that rapidly dissolves dirt and makeup while deep cleaning pores. The bestselling cleanser contains infusions of sage, chamomile, and carrot.

It is a very lightweight yet somewhat creamy cleanser that works up a small lather. You need about a quarter sized dallop of this in order to cover your whole face and neck. This product really does what it claims as since it helps remove any makeup or oil from my face. I always use a toner after cleansing in order to close my pores and I never see any residual makeup left on the cotton pad after using Purity. It even effectively takes off light eye makeup! To go with the lightweight feel of it, Purity also has a very light smell. I smell the chamomile and a bit of sage, but not the carrot of it. This cleanser is great for all skin types since it is so gentle.

I mainly use this cleanser for days of heavy makeup since I already have a daily cleanser to use up. It hasn’t broken me up or caused any dry skin patches so I can see using it as a daily cleanser if necessary. Another great use for this cleanser is as a makeup brush cleaner! You do need a bit more of the product to clean your brushes and work up a richer lather to get in between bristles, but it is great for deep cleaning brushes.

It is very pricey since it is a high-end cleanser but I actually think it is worth it. I purchased this for $12 as yet another Sephora Black Friday deal ;) (regular price is $26). It was actually supposed to be the 12 oz. size but those seemed to be sold out by the time I got there. I also received a few 2 oz. bottles from Hudson's Bay makeup galas. This $12 Purity deal seems to be a recurring deal for either Black Friday or Boxing Day from the blogs I’ve read so remember to stock up on it then, I definitely will!

Laura Mercier Lip Glacé review + swatch

I received this Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in a Sephora 500 point perk several months ago (November I think) but only started using it now. It came as a mini that is 2.8 g/1.0 oz. which is pretty generous considering the full size is 0.15 oz.! I also love the size because it makes it very compact since it is the same length as a chapstick. The point perk came with the shade Rose which is a soft pink shimmer.

This sheer, high-shine gloss can be worn alone or layered over lip color to add a touch of luster to lips.

The first thing I noticed about this gloss is that there is a bit of scent to it. It smells like some sort of vanilla candy to me and although I hate vanilla scents, I don't think that it is too strong and it also doesn't linger for long. This lip gloss is a little bit thick and slightly sticky but still very easy to apply. It comes with the usual doe-foot applicator so it isn't too messy to apply. Once it is on your lips, it feels a bit sticky but not sticky enough to take a strong hold of your hair. The colour is very true to the ‘Rose’ shade and is similar to the fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose. This makes it quite natural looking for my lips since it is a bit sheer.

It looks pretty shimmery in the bottle but is less so when you wear it. The finish is slightly glossy so people that like high shine probably wouldn’t like this gloss. I always apply it on top of a lip balm so I am not sure if this would be moisturizing enough on it's own, but it was not drying to me at all. The wear of this lip gloss is fairly average as the colour seems to fade after 3 hours and the shimmer lasts a bit longer than that. It also stays a little even after eating and drinking. I’m not much of a gloss person but this product has definitely impressed me! The shade and the finish make it a great everyday lip product.

The full size (0.15 oz.) sells for $29 at Sephora.

Sephora VIB Sale 2014 15% off

For those other Sephora VIBs out there, today is the start of the VIB Early Access Event where all in store and online purchases are 15% off! Today is also the only day to get the limited-edition cosmetic bag (in-store) :)

VIBs should have gotten an email a few days ago so check that one to get your in-store coupon, or use the promo code VIBTICKET for online orders. The offer is good April 3 - 11th. I'm not sure if this is replacing the usual 'Chic Week' but I really hope not and that they will have the sale later on for regular Beauty Insiders. I think VIBs can also bring a friend so make sure to share the love with other beauty lovers out there :D

I've been anticipating this sale for a while so I already have a wishlist compiled ;)

- Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

- Ole Henriksen Cleansing Clothes: Oil-Free Pore Refining

- Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo or Perfect Brow Pencil

- Benefit Cosmetics Posietint

- Ole Henriksen Walnut Complextion Scrub

- Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

Has anyone tried any of these products before and if so, how did you like them? What's on your wishlist for this sale? :)

bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream review + swatch

I first bought this body butter as a filler item for my Sephora order last year and bought it again in one of my most recent orders. It was $7 for 50 mL the first time but the price has since been raised to $10. It also comes in a 200 mL size for $35 but I have seen the 'super size' which is 414 mL for around $30 at Winners!! Very tempted to buy it whenever I see it.

"A maximum-moisture, best-selling cream with a luxuriously rich texture."

My favourite thing about this is the smell! I really love lemony and fresh smelling things so this scent is perfect for me. The sage definitely makes it seem different and helps to tune down the lemon a bit. This is also more of a light lemon smell and does not smell super sweet. The smell lingers for around 30 mins - 1 hour on your skin but even then, it is not as strong as when you first apply it.

The texture of this cream is also light; it is not as thick as other body butters but also not too runny so it is very easy to spread. It is thick enough that it won't drip off you when you squeeze it on your skin and not so thin that it is like a runny lotion. When applied It isn't too greasy and really absorbs into the skin quickly. Since it isn't so thick, it is also good for hand cream and the 50 mL size makes it very portable as well.

In terms of the moisturizing, I'd have to say that it is also light and not 'maximum moisture' like they claim. It is sufficient for my dry skin but it does not make my skin feel as smooth as other body butters do. The feeling is probably equivalent to how your skin is when it is wet? It is fine for my skin in the winter but I prefer it more for summer since I need some light moisturizing then.

I really like this body butter for the summer so I will probably keep buying it if I ever need filler items. Similar to the Tony Moly Peach Anti-Aging Hand Cream, the performance isn't as great as some would expect but the smell is worth it for me ;)

Urban Decay Naked Flushed review + swatch

The Urban Decay's Naked Flushed Palette is a bronzer/highlighter/blush trio (which I received as a birthday gift this year). These type of trios seem to be very in right now and I can see why since they are quite multi-purpose! I'm not really sure which company came up with this idea first but the first one I heard of was Benefit Cosmetic's Fine One One stick. I'm more of a powder girl so when my birthday came up, I asked someone to get me the Urban Decay palette.
 
The packaging of this palette is very similar to the Naked Basics palette; it made out of plastic and has a full size mirror. The mirror is sufficient enough for me to see about half my face so it is great to use for touch-ups. It does not have any latches and is just a magnetic closure. This makes it very easy to open and close while still being secure enough to just pop in your makeup bag.

"Use these pressed powders individually or blend them together to create just the right effect—and let this seemingly straight-laced trio morph into a tangled color love-fest. Then bask in the radiant glow and let people wonder what you’ve been up to."

All the powders in this are full size, similar to how Urban Decay's eyeshadow palettes are. The great thing about this palette is that the colours can applied either separately or you can mix the colours together. My favourite way is to mix the blush with a bit of highlighter and apply bronzer separately. They are also super pigmented but have a very powdery formula so you definitely need to tap your brush to get off excess powder.

Bronzer - "a medium bronze satin" which is fairly pigmented but it may show up as slightly orange on some skin tones. It seems like a colour that is better for light skin tones and some medium tones because it may not show up on darker skin. It would be great all over bronze but doesn't show up enough to work for contouring for me. 

Highlighter - "a soft pink champagne shimmer" that is more pigmented than the bronzer and you will be able to get full colour with just one swipe. It is very shimmery and slightly pinked tone but seems like an okay highlighter for cheekbones. I'm not a highlighter person since I have oily skin anyways but I do occasionally mix it with the blush.

Blush - this "dusty rose satin with a hint of shimmer" is extremely pigmented and it is easy to go a bit overboard when applying. It is a very pink blush so it is not one that I wear everyday but it is still one I will use from time to time. The pigmentation allows it to last throughout the majority of the day so it is quite a long-wearing blush.

Swatch without flash

  Swatch with flash

My favourite part of this trio is definitely the blush since it is so pigmented so whenever Urban Decay blushes start to appear more in Canada, I would like to try one in another shade!