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Showing posts with label beauty blender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty blender. Show all posts

Saturday, May 27, 2017

May Empties | 2017

Hey everyone! It is time for another month of empties and here are all the products that I have used up for the month of May!


Face
beautyblender pro - I absolutely love this makeup sponge and although it is on the more expensive side, it is certainly worth every penny! It helps blend out your makeup flawlessly and I can’t tell you when the last time was when I used a foundation brush! I also use it to apply my: cream contour, highlight, blush and I even use it to apply powder when I’m baking my face!

Citrus Orange Scented Cleansing Wipes (25 count) - I purchased these at Michaels awhile back and I purchased 4 packs for under $5. These are great for removing swatches off my arms, but are not my personal favourite for removing makeup off my face. You definitely get what you pay for and these are not bad because they do a decent job, they just aren’t the best cleaning wipes on the market.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (8 count) - I always have Biore pore strips on me at all times and these once were effective, but my favourite ones of all time are the pore strips for the face.



Bath & Body Works
Coconut Pumpkin Latte Nourishing Hand Soap (8 fl oz/236 ml) - I loved the scent of this hand soap and I smelled more coconut than pumpkin! It is a good one and I was actually sad to run out of it! It is described on the side of the bottle as, “a nourishing hand soap with pumpkin butter!” My hands felt soft and clean after using it!

Sea Island Cotton Deep Cleansing Hand Soap (8 fl oz/236 ml) - This is definitely a classic Bath & Body Works scent and I have repurchased it in different forms before (lotions, soaps, etc.) This is a very fresh and clean scent that reminds me of laundry.

Peach Bellini Gentle Foaming Hand Soap (8.75 fl oz/259 ml) - This is a scent that I have been using for many years having no intention of stopping any time soon! It is described as a, 'juicy peach, white apricot and fresh mango' scent. It is definitely one of their classic scents and I have also used the Scentportable of this particular scent in the past! It smelled great in my car and I highly recommend it to everyone! 

Cedar & Sage Gentle Foaming Hand Soap (8.75 fl oz/259 ml) - This has to be one of my favourite masculine scents of all time from Bath & Body Works! This reminds me of a fragrance that I had when I was in high school and I think it was Diesel Green but I could be wrong!

Island Margarita Scentportable Fragrance Refill (0.2 fl oz/6 ml) - This is definitely one of my go-to scents from Bath & Body Works during the summer. This scent never gets old to me and it’s definitely one that I look forward to use each season! 

Caribbean Escape Scentportable Fragrance Refill (0.2 fl oz/6 ml) - This is a classic summer scent by Bath & Body Works that has been around for a few years now. I prefer Island Margarita over this scent but it is definitely nostalgic to me!



Body
Gilette Satin Care Shave Gel with Shea Butter for Dry Skin (198 g/7 oz) - I have very oily skin on my face but the rest of my body is dry and that’s why I decided to pick up this product. It didn’t do anything out of the ordinary and I would still need to slather myself in body lotion. It was a very standard shave gel and it definitely wasn’t one of my favourites. 

Teeth
Oral B Healthy Clean Medium Toothbrush - I actually featured this in my March Empties and after using another one of these toothbrushes, I can say that I really don't like the medium kind. I much prefer a soft bristle toothbrush and will no longer be purchasing that type anymore. Don’t get me wrong, Oral B is an amazing brand and makes my favourite toothbrushes, I just prefer the soft bristle ones! I only bought the medium kind because there were no soft ones and I was in a pinch! 



Samples/Promo

Face/Body
Caudalie Resveratrol (Lift) Face Lifting Soft Cream (0.5 fl oz/15 ml) - This was definitely too greasy and oily for me to wear in the day time especially if I was going to be wearing a full face of makeup that day. I did enjoy using it at night and using it in conjunction with a facial oil. My face felt hydrated the following morning. I wouldn’t purchase this because it does feel greasy on the skin and I know that your skincare isn’t supposed to smell good, but there is a scent to it that I can’t describe. It isn’t foul smelling but it isn’t the most pleasant either so keep that in mind when you are purchasing.

Avene TriXera Nutri-Fluid Balm (0.3 fl oz/10 ml) - This was a deluxe sample that was included in my Beauty Boutique order. This is fragrance-free and is for both the face as well as the body. I liked using it on my body but felt that it made my face too oily and would not use it on my face again. This is targeted for those with dry to very dry sensitive skin. I have dry skin on my body but it is not sensitive and it did a great job at hydrating the skin on my body. It is also hypoallergenic (unlikely to cause an allergic reaction) and non-comedogenic (it will not cause blocked pores.) It was a very standard lotion though and it didn’t stand out from the rest but it did make my skin very smooth as well as soft. 

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Intense Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Corrective Care (0.1 fl oz/3 ml) - This is targeted to those with normal to combination skin. There is a light scent that I quite enjoy and the formula is thicker than I thought it would be which is another plus. It is white in colour but it completely blends out leaving no residue. It did not break me out and I would definitely consider purchasing the full sized version!

L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream (4 ml) - I received this free in a gift trio that I received from L’Occitane. I really did enjoy using this cream, it is on the thick side and I would use it before bed. There is a floral scent to it and the jar is very beautiful. It made my skin soft and supple. 

Time In A Bottle 100% In-Control (3 ml) - You pour the activator into the serum, shake for 20 seconds and that will result in the formula turning a light pink. You can use this both in the morning and at night. It was rather messy to use and there was no sticky feeling left behind after you rubbed the product in to your skin fully. This does have a nice scent to it and the full sized version (1.35 oz) retails at Ulta for $76 USD. 

Nivea In-Shower Body Milk (80 ml) - This is targeted to those with dry to very skin skin and it claims to be nourishing, lasting up to 24 hours or more. It contains almond oil and it is supposed to cleanse your skin as well as hydrate it. I have very dry skin on my body right now and this product didn’t help with it. I had tried a smaller sample of this in the past and after trying a larger sample more recently, I still don’t care for this product to be honest with you.



Hands
L’Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream with 20% Shea (10 ml) - I actually received this as part of the L’Occitane Free Gift Trio that I have an entire post dedicated to. I have used this hand cream before and I really like it! It is definitely unisex and does a great job at nourishing your hands. My hands did not feel greasy after applying this to them and they felt very soft!

Fragrance
Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum Spray (.05 fl oz/1.5 ml) - The notes are described as: “Viva la Juicy combines delicious wild berries with creamy vanilla and bright jasmine.” This is designed for the glamorous girl who is the life of the party. This is a great daytime scent that you can feel good about wearing. It smells great but my only complaint is that it is not lasting and wears off within a few hours before you need to reapply. 

Downy Unstopables In-Wash Scent Booster in Fresh - I heard about a DIY from Ciaobella on Youtube and it’s where you pour some of these beads into a mesh bag. You then secure it shut and you can put it in any drawer or in your car or even in your laundry room! I love the scent of these and it definitely freshened up my entire drawer! I do the same exact thing with dried lavender and have been doing that for as long as I can remember! 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased all these products myself unless it falls in the promo/sample category and all prices are in CAD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinksI use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Thursday, February 9, 2017

12 Essential Makeup Must-Haves

Hey everyone! There is a lot of makeup currently on the market and I wanted to share with you 12 items that are needed in your makeup repertoire. Of course, you can always substitute certain items for others and you don't have to use the exact brands that are shown if you don't want to. I just want to show you the types of products that I find myself reaching for most often on a day-to-day basis.


Items Needed:
ELF Makeup Mist & Set
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 Fair
COVERGIRL TruBlend Liquid Foundation in L5
MAC Studio CareBlend Pressed Powder in Light
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Medium/Deep
ColourPop Super Shock Cheek in Lunch Money
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
Maybelline Matte Lipstick in #665 in Lust For Blush
COVERGIRL So Lashy! Blast PRO Mascara in Extreme Black
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
beauty blender pro Sponge
Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens

The ELF Makeup Mist & Set can double for a primer as well as a setting spray. The Maybelline lipstick can be used both on the lips as well as on the cheeks for a nice blush colour. You can use the bronzer in your crease and the ColourPop highlighter can be used on the lids to give the illusion of a shimmery eyeshadow. The blotting sheets from Boscia can be used to keep your oils in-check throughout the day and you can just add it into your purse or clutch.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate. 

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Hope's: Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Monday, September 5, 2016

Most Used & Favourite Makeup Brushes & Tools

Hey everyone! I have used many brushes and makeup tools over the years. I felt that it was time for me to write a blog post about all of my favourites and what has been working for me!


Brushes
ELF Studio Kabuki Face Brush - I have owned this brush for many years and it has lasted many washes. There are many uses for this brush as you can apply powder, bronzer or many other things with it. How I like to use it is to blend out my blush, highlight and bronzer/contour with it.

Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush - I purchased mine in a trio at Wal-Mart awhile ago and I adore this brush! I especially like it to apply highlighter onto my cheekbones, cupids bow, chin and right above my eyebrows. I feel that it is the perfect size for me and it does a lot of the work for you.

The Classic Shadow Brush (#6) in the 11 piece Pink-A-Dot Brush Set by BH Cosmetics - I love this for packing on colour onto my lids. It is a flat shader brush and I love the fun pink polka dots on the black brush handle!

BH Cosmetics #4 Dome Fluffy Brush - Unfortunately, I couldn't find this set on the web site but I love how soft this brush is! It is my go-to brush for apply blush onto the apples of my cheeks!


Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush F40 - This is a brush (pictured above,) that I have been using for many years for bronzing up my face. I feel like it is perfect for applying bronzer to any face shape really.


EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush - I found about this brush a while back from the YouTuber Love MelisaMichelle. I bought mine at Wal-Mart and I found it pretty hard to come across. I suggest that if you see it in stores, to pick it up right away! I love this for setting my face with powder on days that I am not baking and need to set my foundation & concealer. You can use it to apply bronzer but I like to use it as a powder brush. The bristles are densely packed and the head of the brush is rounded. The handle is made out of sustainable bamboo, the ferrule is recycled aluminum and they use cruelty-free synthetic bristles. 

Morphe E46 Mini Angled Buffer Brush - I like using to this brush to: clean up underneath my contour and bronzer, to set the under eye area and to press powder into the sides of my nose. I feel like I need to buy another one of these brushes because it works so well! 

Sigma Tapered Blending Brush E40 - This is by far my favourite blending brush in my crease area when I do not want something defined or precise. If I am not depositing a specific colour in a certain place and just want to blend away, I automatically reach for this! It is has been my favourite for years and will be hard to find another blending brush that I like more than this one.

BH Cosmetics Angled Brush #10 - This is from the same set as the domed fluffy brush that I had previously mentioned and I love using this on my brows. I use this to map out my brows when I am using the Brow Pow Eyebrow Powder in Dark Brown from The Balm. 

Sigma Small Angle Brush E65 - I use this brush to apply the gel stain from IT Cosmetics onto my brows. I also use it when I apply the Anastasia Dipbrow in Dark Brown. It is more stiff than the other angled brush and works very well for this purpose.

Eco Luxe 10 Piece Brush Set from BH Cosmetics - This flat shadow brush is smaller in size and I always use it to apply shimmer to my inner corners as well as under the brow bone. It is the perfect size to apply product to smaller areas. I have even used it to apply highlighter down the bridge of my nose! 

Tools

Tweezerman Slant Tweezers - I have owned mine for a few years now and the writing has actually rubbed off. These tweezers are very easy to use and the tip is stainless steel. The slanted shape of the tip makes it easy for removing multiple hairs at once. I have used many different brands as well as styles of tweezers and I can say that these are the best! I purchased mine at Sephora. The blades are sharp yet ultra thin and I love the ergonomic design!

Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors - I bought mine at Sally’s Beauty Supply and these are amazing! I don’t know what I was doing without these before! It makes trimming your brows very easy and it is stainless steel. 

MAC Small Pencil Sharpener - I have owned this sharpener for over 10 years and it is by far my favourite. It perfectly sharpeners all my pencils (not just MAC pencils,) and it is very easy to empty out as well as clean.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - I have tried a wide range of curlers and this makes my lashes look incredible! I had an ELF eyelash curler for years before that fell apart on me (literally.) This is what I reach for on a regular basis and I do not need to apply much pressure to give my lashes that perfect curl.

beautyblender pro - I absolutely love this sponge because it is bouncy and blends out creams as well as liquids beautifully. I even use this sponge to apply powders when I decide to bake my face. 


Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

beautyblender pro VS. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Hey everyone! There is a lot of talk about makeup sponges in the beauty community and I wanted to compare both a more expensive makeup sponge to a less expensive one to see which one is better all around!



 You can see that the beauty blender is slightly smaller than the Real Techniques makeup sponge. That gives you more control and precision when applying your makeup. I would say that the beauty blender is softer and more bouncy when dabbing out your product(s) on your face. I also felt that it gave me an overall more flawless finish after fully blending out all the products. It is also very easy to use and to clean. 


The Real Techniques makeup sponge is dual ended and has one more pointed end as well as a more flat side. Due to its size and the fact that it holds more water, I was using more foundation as well as more product in general than when I would use the beauty blender. It also absorbs more water and is harder to clean than its competitor.

The Verdict
My vote for the winner of this showdown is hands down the beauty blender. It is worth the investment because you will most likely get your money's worth out of it and it is just so convenient to use! It has definitely saved me time when applying my makeup and I enjoy using it! Don't get me wrong though, the Real Techniques sponge is a great alternative for someone who is just started out with makeup or someone is on a budget. It can also be for someone who enjoys using the flat side to get in all those corners!

Makeup Sponge Gone Wrong!
I tried the Studio 35 makeup sponge from Walgreens a while ago and it was AWFUL! It was hard even after wetting it and squeezing all the water out. I tried it several times and could not get used to the rock hard texture of it. I ended up throwing it out and that sponge doesn't hold a candle in the wind to these two!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED AND I BOUGHT THESE SPONGES WITH MY OWN MONEY. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue
Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!