Face Mask Review (Part One)

I'm sure the beauty community has heard about Glow Recipe by now, I think I'm late to the game.  They're famous for their Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (which I can not go without) and now their Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer as well.

I place an order almost two months ago to try out a few sheet and rubber masks, also this life changing watermelon sleeping mask.

Well, I fell in love.

In the past, believing my skin to be oily, I've used mostly clay masks so this whole hydrating mask thing is new to me.

So this most recent purchase I bought one rubber mask, the watermelon mask and so many sheet masks.

I have yet to make it through all these masks but I figured I would do reviews along the way.  The best way for me to keep track of what they do is to write on the packaging as a reminder, so here we go!

Glow Recipe

Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

I use this mask after I cleanse my face in the evening and before I put anything else on my face.

It can tend to settle a bit, so just give it a quick stir until it becomes a jelly again.  I use about a dime size amount for my entire face and I have been using this just about every night unless I use another treatment or face mask that evening.

The next morning my skin always looks more clear and glow-y.

Blossom Jeju

White Camellia Soombi 2-Step Pure Brightening Petal Mask

(shown on the left in white packaging)

I really enjoyed this mask!  So at the bottom there is a little packet (mine is ripped off because I've used it) that contains Jeju Camellia oil and you apply that to your face first then part two the sheet mask.  I did find it pretty brightening, almost a whitening effect and the number on thing? I didn't break out.

Polatam

Pure Cream Mask Firming Radiance

I'm so frustrated about this mask because I do like it but my skin has some issues with it.

First off, it's a cream sheet mask, so it is quite thick which I really liked.  It felt so hydrating and when I took it off I could feel a slight firming effect.

The next morning I woke up with three new zits in different areas of my face, not happy.

I have a second one of these masks, so I will try it again and will let you know in my part two review if the same thing happened.

Make P:rem

Firming Layering Double Mask

I've tried this mask before, and I've ordered it again which is why this one is unopened.  I've only tried a few things but I am so in love with this brand (try the micro tension cream!).  

One of my favorite things about this mask is that it has ear loops to hold it on to your face and it just fits perfectly.  Plus this one really makes you look like a serial killer, I actually scared my boyfriend while wearing this one.  

I could really feel the firming effects around my eyes and mouth after I removed this and maybe it's a placebo effect but it looks like my mouth wrinkle is less noticeable after this mask.

Whamisa

Organic Fruits & Tomato Fermented Hydrogel Sheet Mask

This mask was weird.

Did I like it? Yes

It's a gel like it states, but for some reason I was not expecting that, so you have to be quite careful applying it as I ended up tearing with my nails a few times.

The smell was okay, not the best though.

You're supposed to wear it for twenty minutes, but I found it so hard as it was sliding all over my face.  But I did find it very hydrating and my skin looked, clarified? I think that's the word I want.

Just a heads up that the packaging looks like it has changed from what I have pictured

Polatam

Water Gel Extra Force Moisturizing Sheet Mask

 Another mask from Polatam, so I was a bit nervous after breaking out from the firming one by them.

I love this mask. 

I had no breakouts, it was insanely moisturizing and I love the smell!!  I don't know what the smell actually is but it contains Oak tree sap so I imagine it's that but it reminds of my using my Mom's aloe plant when I was a kid.

I am so happy I purchased two of these.

Wish Formula

Squish-and-Bubble Mesh Mask

This was so cool.

This is actually a cleanser, it comes with a sponge already soaked in solution containing Vitamin C and AHAs.

You squish it and out comes the cleanser all nice and bubbly.

I found it did a great job at cleansing and exfoliating, but I would definitely apply a moisturizer right after so you don't dry out your skin.

On the website it says you can use this up to three times per week, but I was unsure if it was the same sponge or if you'd have to buy a bunch of them.  They do make one for the body too which I really want to try!

I still have seven new masks to try out before I post another review and I'll also update you on any duplicates I have if there is a different reaction.

Have you tried anything from Glow Recipe? 

Let me know in the comments!

[I ended up playing with the font after I published this and now it's super tiny. I am in the process of fixing it.]

The Ordinary's Hyped Foundation

I have another little haul from Deciem.

[From left to right: The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% (I bought two), The Oridinary Colours Serum Foundation Fair Neutral 1.1, The Chemistry Brand Inhibitif Deodorant, The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation Light Neutral 1.2, Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum]

 I am loving everything Deciem makes so far.
 I have yet to try the deodorant but it is supposed to 'fight the look of hair growth', which I was very interested in so I thought why not? I'll do an update on that at a later date.

This the is the Hylamide SubQ Eye Serum.  This can be applied in the am and pm, which I am a fan of, and it is supposed to improve fine lines, puffiness and dark circles.  Lately I've been noticing the fine lines under my eyes, definitely some dark circles happening as well and I only suffer from puffiness when I've had too much salt in my diet.  So far I've noticed that it does help hydrate my under eye area and while it's too soon to tell if it's helping my fine lines I find that it has almost a firming feeling a little while after applied.  While my under eyes are looking brighter, I still suffer from dark circles after a sleepless night but that's only a problem concealer can fix.
So far a thumbs up!

I love the idea of applying a retinoid on my skin, so of course I had to scoop up two of these.
I have never applied retinoids on my skin before but I have heard plenty of good things!
This is a 2% retinoid, it is supposed to help with signs of anti-aging (yes please!) and you only apply it in the evening.
I don't know why but I thought this would have some sort of smell to it, but nothing.  Actually I've never had any scent issues with any of their products so far.
I've been using this for a few days but I notice my skin is clearing up which I'm not sure if that's an effect of using this but I'll take it!

The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation, the reason my order took so long to get here.
The wait list for this foundation was huge and the brand was sending out emails apologizing for the delay, which I think is awesome customer service.  I love getting a heads up when something won't be arriving when I thought it would and what the reasoning is.
I am not a foundation girl, which is why I ordered the serum instead of the coverage foundation.
I ordered the shades Fair Neutral 1.1 and Light Neutral 1.2.
I find the 1.1 Fair Neutral to be a great pale shade for me and when swatching the 1.2 Light Neutral I thought it would be way too orange on me, but it actually blended in quite nicely.
1.2 Light Neutral might be an okay shade for me while I'm tan but I still might need a darker shade....luckily the shade range is huge!!

[1.1 Fair Neutral/1.2 Light Neutral]

Feel free to let me know in the comments which products you've tried or which ones you're are curious about! 
There's still lots for me to try but so far I'm loving the routine I have going.

Just a Little Sephora Haul

I didn't take advantage of the Sephora VIB Rouge sale, as much as I normally do, this year, I do tend to spend a little more during the one in the latter half of the year.
I mostly did a little restocking this time and also wanted to try a couple little things.
First let me just introduce the one thing I bought a week before the sale because I was completely out of eye cream and was waiting to repurchase my more expensive one during the sale.

 Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer

I actually accepted the help of a girl at Sephora that day (which I never do) while I was stuck between two different Origins eye creams.  I told her I wanted it to be moisturizing and she suggested this one and said it was super brightening too.  I've been using it for a couple weeks and I really love it, definitely a favorite now.

 

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream

 This is probably my favorite eye cream ever, but with a seventy dollar (Canadian) price tag I'll only purchase it when there is a sale or with Shopper's Drug Mart points.  It is so hydrating, and I notice a difference in the fine lines around my eyes ever since I started using it last year.

L’Occitane Oil Make-Up Remover

 Funny story about this product, I bought the wrong thing.  I meant to buy the Shea Cleansing Oil, which is fabulous and almost ten dollars cheaper for the same amount of product.  I am hoping this works similar or better.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla

I was dying to try this concealer ever since it came out but I was too chicken because the drugstore concealers I use are awesome and I was nervous about shade matching.  Luckily the shade is perfect for how pale I am and a little product goes a long way.  Quite a few reviews say this is drying under the eyes, which I agree, but I find as long as you use an eye cream before and don't slather on the concealer you're fine.  

Lancôme Miracle CC Cushion - Color Correcting Primer in Pinky Peach

I already own this but I had to purchase a new one during the sale because I found I cannot live without this.  I would love to try the others but for now this one is working for me.  It brightens under my eyes like crazy and makes me look so awake (which I need).  Out of everything I purchased this is one product I would highly recommend getting.

 

Dior Diorshow Pump‘N’Volume Mascara and CLINIQUE Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen

I am a fan of the Dior mascaras I've tried in the past so I to give this odd packaging a try, but I have yet to test it out.  I did however quickly test the eyeliner, I was surprised how easy it actually was, like what?  How does that work?  Plus it's super black, which is a must.

 Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

And the star of the show! I love the Hourglass powders, and with diffused light being my favorite I had to try the bronzer. I don't know how to explain this powder, but it's just such a natural glow/bronze to my skin.  I'd love to get the luminous bronze for Summer when I'm a bit more tan.  Next on my list from Hourglass is a blush!

 That's it for this haul, let me know what you picked up during the sale!

Summer Essentials

Long time no see?
I feel like when I write I need to have a refreshing beverage or coffee in hand, good tunes and have had a good work day.
Today was good and I have a cider in hand, so I am happy.

I hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend! Even though it was not sunny or hot here it felt like the beginning of Summer, therefore I needed to compile my list of Summer essentials.

This will mostly likely differ from my Summer favorites that will come in September but this the overall plan.  Enjoy and a let me know your Summer essentials in the comments!

 BareMinerals Complexion rescue, Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment Sugar in Rose, 'We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson, L'oreal Magic BB Cream, maison martin margiela Replica 'Beach Walk' perfume, Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer by Chanel

1. Tinted moisturizer/BB Cream.  I usually go lightweight with my skin for any time of year but definitely for Summer. 
2. A lip treatment.  My go to is Vaseline which I feel like I talk about in every essentials/favorites post, but I do like the Fresh treatments as well and thought I'd sneak that in there this time.
3. A good book.  I hope to do a book post this Summer as I have been getting back into reading again as I now have the time to.
4. A Summer scent.  There are scents that smell like Summer and then there are scents that remind you of Summer (watermelon, a boy's cologne, bbq hot dogs, the ocean etc)
5. A go to bronzer, one that enhances your Summer tan or just makes you look like you were at the beach all day even though you were slathered in your SPF like me.

 L'oreal EverSleek Precious Oil Treatment, Essence All About Sunrise Eyeshadow, Stila Aqua Glow Serum Concealer, The Lumineers 'Cleopatra', TooFaced Hangoverx,Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara

6. A good hair product to keep your hair feeling smooth and silky after all those UV rays. 
7. Summer-y, shimmery eyeshadows for those days or nights you feeling like looking like a mermaid.
8. Lightweight concealers.  I tend to tan pretty well in Summer, so I do need to go a shade darker but at the same time I rarely need concealer so I stick to light coverage ones that will just make me look more awake.
9. Awesome tunes! A Summer playlist is a must-have for me and has been for years.  Let me know your Summer songs in the comments, I would love to know!
10. A primer, specifically a hydrating one.  I tend to ignore the fact that I have dry skin in the Summer as I am already looking oily from the hot days, but you shouldn't ignore your skin type even if you are a sweaty mess.
11. Natural looking mascara that will have people questioning if those are your natural lashes, oh why yes they are!

Maybelline Better Skin Concealer, Tarte Cosmetics Rainforest of the Sea palette, Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration Sunscreen, Stila Aqua Glow Cushion Blush in Rosewater, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer

 
12. SPF.  Sunscreen is a must for me.  It wasn't in the past, but as I near thirty I've realized the importance of it the last few years.  No more of that 4SPF tanning oil for me, okay well maybe but only because it smells so good and then I'll slather something more on over top.
13. I love having rosy cheeks, so a cushion or cream blush is perfect for the Summer. It looks natural and feels light on the cheeks.
14. Moisturizer.  Something to hydrate your skin before hitting the heat, as well as something for your skin to drink up at the end of the day.

So, go on let me know what you tend to reach for in the Summer months.

I hope you have a great week and I hope to talk to you soon!

A Fun Weekend

Where is the time going?
It's been a couple weeks hasn't it?
Life has been lazy.
I really wanted to say busy and say that I've been working out everyday and filming for my youtube channel. . .but that's just not the case.
Nathan has been working away from home so that's been hard.  Basically from Friday night to Monday morning I am awol.
Friday nights he's my everything, Saturday I work for half a day and after that my time is devoted to looking at his face.
Sunday nights I drive him to the ferry and cry on the way home.
Mondays I clean, try to edit/blog.
It's been interesting, definitely a different way of living for me.

This past weekend was awesome.
I didn't have to work Saturday so I stayed over at Nathan's parent's house and his mom and I drank wine and painted rocks.
Sounds weird right?
There's this trail that someone has placed a bunch of painted rocks on and we wanted to add to them.

 

I like the idea of brightening someone's day seeing these rocks (None of these rocks are the ones we painted but pictures are coming soon).

 Then Saturday morning my mom and I headed across the border.

The Canadian dollar sucks right now but you know what? It's nice to get away and see something different.

I bought some makeup items that we don't get here and some cheeky sweets.

It was a fun weekend but I am in desperate need of a cleanse after all of the naughty food I consumed.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and talk to you soon!