Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara Review

Well it’s safe to say I have finally found my favorite mascara of all time. This is without a doubt the best mascara I have ever used and I have repurchased it non-stop for the past 2 years which says a lot about it since I really like trying out new mascaras. Say hello to the Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara in Radiant Black.

 

Over the past years, Bourjois has slowly but surely made its way to become my favorite drugstore brand and this mascara is the one product that first stole my heart. This product does everything I want from a mascara: it gives great length, holds a curl, separate the lashes and adds volume. I had never been a fan of wands with spiky plastic bristles (I preferred the traditional fiber ones) but this one gives me maximum definition, with all the added benefits stated above, without ever poking my eyes. The tube also comes with a magnifying mirror on the side which allows you to really apply the mascara evenly and to closely see your eyes from every angle. This is an added bonus in my opinion (I would still love the product without it) but it has truly made applying mascara easier.

The radiant black color is a nice deep black and I like that it’s not a pain to remove. It comes of really easily with a cleansing oil and it doesn’t leave you with raccoon eyes while you’re removing it. I also found it to be super long lasting, it never smudged or flaked on me despite not being waterproof (though Bourjois makes a waterproof version). This is all great because my lashes have never looked better, I love that results last all day and that I don’t have to mentally prep for battle before removing it.

The Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara is a must-have for me and I cannot recommend it enough. The results are amazing and I love that it’s super affordable, plus Bourjois is often on offers like 3 for 2 or has great gift with purchase. You can find it in both Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. as well as on Feelunique and Lookfantastic for international delivery.

Drugstore Mascara Roundup: Rimmel, Maybelline and L’Oréal

Over the past few months, I have been trying out loads of new drugstore mascaras because I had not really branched out from my favorite Maybelline ones. Today, I thought I’d round up the most recent three and give you mini reviews of each. I’m not one to wax poetic about mascaras (maybe if I find THE ONE) so I think this format might be more useful than doing individual reviews. Let’s get into it shall we?

First we have the Rimmel Wonder’Lash Lift Me Up Mascara, a lovely option for natural looking lashes. It gives nice volume and quite a bit of length for defined lashes that are fluttery. Because the formula is quite wet to begin with, I found it got better with time as it got drier. One thing I have to say however is that it is quite heavily fragranced with a cucumber scent so you might want to think about it if you have very sensitive eyes (I didn’t have a problem with it though). Overall, a really decent offering from Rimmel at a super affordable price. 

Next we have one of the most recent launches, the Maybelline The Falsies Push Up DramaMascara. Sadly I didn’t get on with this one, the formula was very heavy and dry, but at the same time it was also quite goopy and made my lashes clump together. The really short bristles of the brush did not help either so I was left with clumped lashes, no added length or definition. It also really weighed down my lashes, they couldn’t hold a curl. I was very disappointed by The Falsies Push Up Drama (a shame since Maybelline usually makes such great mascaras) and I suggested you go for the The Falsies Flared or the Mega Plush, both are really great.

Lastly I have the L’Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara, I have been looking at this for years but never picked it up for some reason. Similarly to the Rimmel one, the formula starts off quite wet (typical with L’Oréal mascaras) and it really gets better once it’s dried a little. The brush is great at offering maximum definition and combined with the length-boosting formula, it gives you really great lashes. Even though you won’t get a lot of volume out of this one, it still looks like you have a lot of lashes because of the very defining brush. Another great option from L’Oréal and I might actually try more from the Million Lashes range soon.

I hope you have enjoyed this insight into my most recent mascara buys and have found it helpful. All the products mentioned are available from the drugstore and any store that stocks the brands. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Grand Cru T08

My love for red lips is well documented on the blog, nothing can brighten your face and make you look as put together as red lipstick or a beautiful stain. Even with the most basic makeup (or no makeup at all) a red lip does it all, just have a look at Miranda Kerr if you don’t believe me. During the colder seasons, I like to amp it up and go for a darker and richer color and finding the perfect formula is crucial to make this look low-maintenance. For me, the perfect product has come in the form of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Grand Cru T08.

Basically this is a super long-lasting liquid lipstick that sets to a gorgeous velvet matte finish. The lasting-power on this is just amazing! You can eat and drink with it on and it still looks perfect hours later. This is so great especially if you are going for a darker color like Grand Cru which you would normally assume is very high-maintenance, but it’s actually the most low-maintenance red I own.

Now for the finish, the Rouge Edition Velvet has a true velvety finish, it is matte but there is a luminosity to it that prevent it from being flat or making your lips look smaller. I don’t find it drying at all, something quite rare for a matte lip product. The lightweight cream applies like a dream and it is so pigmented you only need a thin layer to get full impact. As for the color, it is gorgeous and super chic! A dark rich burgundy color that instantly makes your skin look brighter and it works well on different skin tones. The swatches really don’t do it justice (the color is a lot richer) because it applies much better on the lips than on your hands. If I can only recommend one lip product for this holiday season, the Grand Cru Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick is it. Bourjois does offer 11 shades in this range if you prefer something more natural or a nice pink. In my opinion this is one of the best and most affordable lip products available on the market. 

You can get the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Grand Cru T08 from Feelunique and any stores that sell Bourjois. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo

On days when you don’t have time to think about your hair, much less wash and blow dry it, dry shampoo is a lifesaver. I talked about my love for the Colab one here and while it is great for a quick refresh or average days, sometimes you need a little more. It is when that happens that I bring out the big guns and turn to my trusty Batiste Dry Shampoo.

This is probably the quintessential dry shampoo: it works great, comes in tons of different scents and is super affordable. It takes away oil like nothing else and will transform greasy hair into clean one almost instantly. To me this is a real heavy duty product for those random days when your hair looks particularly dirty for some unknown reason. Its cleansing power is amazing, but you should know that this will not give you lots of volume like other popular products on the market however, it does add a bit of texture and grip if you want to do a quick ponytail.

The powder itself is white and you do have to be careful not to spray it too close to the hair or you will end up with a white or grey tint. You can rub/brush it away but it’s best to avoid in case you miss a spot. No point in ageing ourselves prematurely right?

Now for the fun part, Batiste dry shampoos come in a wide variety of scents that refreshes your hair and makes it pleasant to use. In Canada we are quite limited with the scent options so I usually go for the original one, but in England the selection is amazing. I particularly like the cherry one, it is deliciously fruity and does not smell like typical hair products.

Batiste dry shampoos are available in many drugstores, their website lists official retailers just make sure you have the right website for your country. 

Tanya Burr Lip Glosses: Aurora and Berry Picking

Hello everyone today I bring you a review on one of my favorite affordable lip glosses. I just love finding a high quality product at a great price which is exactly what the Tanya Burr Lip Glosses are. I currently own two: Aurora and Berry Picking, but you can be sure my collection will increase in the future.

These lip glosses come in a nice looking tube, nothing fancy but it looks classic and not cheap at all. The two shades I own have a lovely creamy formula that glides on the lips offering moisture and lots of shine. The pigmentation level is great, they are not opaque but the color still packs a punch. You can also build up the intensity by layering it and worry not, it never feels sticky. The texture is actually very smooth on the lips, which is quite pleasant. They wear for a few hours easily and the shine and color fade evenly so you don’t end up with patchy looking lips. Another thing I love is their sweet fruity scent, it is delicious!

As for the actual colors, Aurora is a cute medium pink color, on me it looks a bit brighter and darker than in the tube. Honestly it does not suit my complexion the best but the formula is so great I like wearing it anyway. Berry Picking is my favorite of the two, it’s a real berry color with gold shimmer that’s a bit sheerer than Aurora, but it adds gorgeous dimension to your lips. It’s not too dark or too red so you can easily wear on its own during the daytime and it is also lovely over a stain. I was just blown away by these glosses, the quality is truly incredible for the price.

There are quite a few colors I plan on picking up next (I’m looking at you I Found Nemo). You can get the Tanya Burr Lip Glosses in select Superdrug and they are also available on their website and on Feelunique (ships internationally).

  

Summer Sun Care: L'Oréal Paris Sublime Sun Range

I have always been super diligent with wearing sunscreen on my face every day, rain or shine. However, now that summer is finally here I needed to up my sun protection for the rest of my body. Like most I don’t enjoy slathering on thick sunscreen in sweltering heat, but this summer, the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Sun range has me covered.

To keep my skin protected I purchased a few sunscreens and since my lovely drugstore had a promotion going, I managed to get the after sun lotion for free. I haven’t used these products for long, but I thought I could give you a quick first impressions on them. I also really want to encourage you to go pick up some new sun care products, because after a year they are not really effective anymore. So using last summer’s SPF will not offer you the protection you need to keep sunburns and sun damage at bay.

First I got the Sublime Sun Silky Sheer SPF50 Lotion (here), this was the one thing I originally wanted because lotion and creams offer a much more even coverage than sprays do. I mean, a fine mist usually gets caught in the wind and can leave some spots unprotected. To me this is more of a cream than a lotion but it is not greasy and absorbs really quickly. I love that after a few seconds you can’t feel it on your skin and it doesn’t have a strong fragrance. The tube is small, but personally I never go through bigger bottles and always feel guilty about wasting it. At least with this I don’t think that will happen and if I run out, it is very affordable so I can easily get a new one without breaking the bank.

Next is the Invisible Protect SPF30 Dry Oil Spray (here), now let me say that using an oil in the sun just seems counter intuitive to me. I can still remember everyone at the pool covering themselves in oil before laying out in the sun to cook like turkeys. Now this has a high SPF but I wouldn’t feel comfortable using this as my sole protection all summer long. The reason I did buy it however, is that I think it will be great to use before going for a swim. I’m assuming it will not come off as quickly as a cream and so far I can say that it feels lovely on. It doesn’t leave you feeling oily, dries quickly and it makes your skin look great with a slight sheen.

Lastly I was lucky enough to get the Sublime Sun After Sun (here), this is a light gel cream that you can use to moisturize and sooth your skin after being in the sun all day. The light texture and scent are refreshing, making it great to use to cool down after spending a day outside or by the pool. It leaves no residue behind and offers a nice dose of hydration without feeling heavy. This turned out to be quite lovely and while it is not a must-have for me, I will enjoy using it for sure.

Sun rays are one of the primary causes of signs of age so taking the time to protect your skin against it is an easy way to ensure your skin will stay looking young as the years go by. As far as sun care goes, I think the L’Oréal Sublime Sun range is great and its price makes it accessible to many. Be sun-smart this summer and don’t forget your SPF. You can find all the products mentioned above and more (including mousses and sprays) from most drugstores and L’Oréal retailers. 

John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray

I haven’t dabbled into sea salt sprays for years. I know most people love them, but they generally don’t do anything for me. I have very long hair and lots of it so it usually ways down any efforts made to style naturals waves simply using products. However, after reading about the John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray on a few blogs and seeing it on offer in my local drugstore, I decided to give it a go.

Using this alone on wet hair did not improve the natural waves I get, but it did add a bit of texture without drying out the hair or making it sticky. This made it easier for me to style my hair into a bun or a braid. I think it might help hold on to the waves a little but honestly it wasn’t anything significant. Also it has a slight coconut scent which I am not a fan of (I just don’t love coconut scents) but thankfully it didn’t linger in my hair.

Now for the good stuff, as you can probably tell I was not blown away at first, but I found a way to make this product work for me. When my hair is still a bit damp from washing it, I brush and spray the sea salt spray evenly in my hair. Then, I separate my hair into two sections, gently twisting them around each other and tying the end with a hair tie before going to bed. The next morning I woke up with gorgeous natural looking waves and compared to when I do this without the spray, the waves were more defined and lasted longer.

All in all, this is a decent product, I don’t think it is amazing but as far as sea salt sprays go I think it is very nice for the price. The John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray is available from most drugstores and you can also get it on Feelunique. 

The Perfect Classic Red Lip: L’Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Red Passion

I love a red lip, I have quite the collection of glosses, sheer lipsticks and stains in all shades of red. That being said, I did not have a classic red lipstick. You know that beautiful old Hollywood color with a creamy finish and the perfect balance between cool and warm tones. Well I finally found it so let’s all bask in the beauty that is the L’Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Red Passion.

I first saw it during the Cannes Film Festival, Doutzen Kroes was wearing the most flattering shade of red lipstick and a little search on the L’Oréal Instagram reveal that she was wearing a lipstick in Red Passion. Doutzen Kroes can pretty much sell me anything, so I went to the drugstore and I am now the proud owner of this gorgeous lip product.

The formula is super creamy and goes on smoothly on the lips, leaving them with intense color and a chic sating finish. In the bullet, you can see small shimmer particles, but don’t worry you cannot feel them on the lips and they don’t make the lipstick shimmery because they don’t show up on the lips. Instead the particles add a luminous finish that makes your lips look plumper. The formula simply catches the light beautifully.

Shade wise, this is the perfect classic red, it’s not cool toned but doesn’t pull orange either. It’s the perfect balance of colors that brighten your complexion and looks chic no matter what time of the day you are wearing it. If you have fair skin you need this in your life. Obviously, red lips are more high maintenance but applying a clear lip pencil around your lip line goes a long to prevent feathering. It will fade if you eat or drink, but it’s easy to touch up because the bullet has a very sharp tip that allows you to easily follow the contour of your lips and cupid’s bow. Also, it doesn’t fade patchily, it looks more like a stain as it wears off.

To me this is the perfect red lipstick and I love that it is amazing as well as being super affordable. You can find the L’Oréal Colour Riche Lipstick in Red Passion at any drugstores and L’Oréal retailers.   

How to Get a Brighter Smile

Who does not wish to have a bright set of pearly whites? Having a nice white smile is something most of us aspire to, however using whitening strips or getting your teeth professionally whiten will not do much in the long run if you don’t take care or your smile. Today I thought I’d round up my favorite products to keep my smile radiant and give me more confidence.

First of all you need a good toothbrush. Please ditch your old/frayed toothbrush and get yourself a GUM Technique Deep Clean Toothbrush. This is what your teeth have been dreaming of, a toothbrush with super fine and tapered bristles that allow you to get to hard to reach areas. I have never used anything like it, my teeth have been cleaner and even my dentist noticed a difference since I switched to this.

Now for your second most important tool: toothpaste. I have been loving the Crest Pro-Health Sensitive and Enamel Shield Gel Toothpaste in Soothing Smooth Mint for the last two years. It’s a gel toothpaste with little particles that really deep-cleans your teeth and mouth. It creates a finer foam than traditional toothpastes and my mouth always feels fresher after I use it. Unlike other products, it never made my teeth sensitive and the soothing smooth mint flavor is refreshing but not too strong.

Next is the bane of any routine, yes I’m talking about floss. I used to hate flossing, don’t get me wrong I still don’t like it now, but the Oral-B Glide 3D White Floss makes it more bearable. Unlike other floss, this is not a string that hurts your gums, it is a thin flat ribbon that smoothly goes between your teeth. This floss is never uncomfortable to use and the minty flavor does not burn but instead leaves a nice taste in your mouth.

Lastly is something that I don’t consider a must-have, nonetheless I like to use it from time to time. In the past, I could not use mouthwash because I found them too strong, the Crest 3D White Glamorous White Rinse Mouthwash was the perfect solution. I can now enjoy the feel of a super clean mouth without the burn of alcohol/mint. I don’t use this every time I brush my teeth, but it is nice to use after flossing or before going to bed. 

I hope you find this post helpful and that it will inspire you take better care of your teeth. You can find all these products in most drugstore and they are all affordable. Do you have any favorite products or tips to get a whiter smile? I would love to hear from you?

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Let’s talk about mascara shall we? Recently, I have been trying to go through my stash of mascaras and I thought it was about time I gave the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara a go. My love for Maybelline mascaras is well documented on here so let’s see if this one can hold up to the others.

This latest offering from the brand promises a “full fan effect” with the help of 10 layers of bristle on a curved wand. The wand follows the contour of the eyes really well and the longer bristles at the end do give your lashes a more fanned out effect. In the length and volume department, you get a decent amount of both, but this mascara focuses more on defining and curling your lashes. The wand allows you to get between your lashes and separate them, making your eyes look more open. The overall effect is quite impressive, especially for such and affordable product.

The formula itself is great too, the color is very intense and it does not smudge or flake off. I did not purchase the waterproof version but once it dries, the mascara really sets and holds the curl. The Lash Sensational is one of the best mascaras I have tried for holding a curl, my lashes were in fact still perfectly curled at the end of the day. However all these amazing results come at a price, I find it very hard to remove. To me this is a big drawback because I removing my eye makeup is my least favorite part of my skincare routine. Even with a cleansing oil, I need to scrub quite a bit and still found some residue and smudges afterwards.  This does not stop the mascara from being amazing but it is important to consider when using it. If you know you’ll be coming home late you might when to use something else because it will be hard to remove and no one wants to mess around with makeup remover when they are tired. 

You can find the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara on their website and on Feelunique as well as in most drugstores. 

L'Oréal Paris Arginine Resist X3 Shampoo and Conditioner

In an effort to save the last drops of my beloved Kérastase shampoo, I went shopping for a new affordable shampoo and conditioner set. I really enjoy L’Oréal Paris haircare products as they always deliver good results and smell great. This time, I decided to go for something a bit different from the usual moisturizing/shine inducing products and purchased the Arginine Resist X3 Shampoo and Conditioner.

Both products come in large bottles and have a creamy formula that is easy to apply and rinse out. Scent-wise the fragrance is very classic L’Oréal, it just smells clean like a salon product which I really enjoy because it feels like you are pampering yourself when you use it.

Now for the actual results: this line is designed to reinforce your hair to help prevent hair loss and strengthen them so you are left with nourished and stronger hair. From my experience all the claims are true, my hair did feel more nourished and strangely it felt stronger too. It is very hard to explain but when I hold it feels like there is more to it than normal. When I brushed my hair, I did noticed less hair were left behind on the brush, but I cannot say for sure yet if this is solely due to the use of these products.

The L’Oréal Paris Arginine Resist X3 Shampoo and Conditioner have proved to be lovely drugstore products that I can recommend to everyone. You can find them in most drugstores and L’Oréal retailers for a very affordable price.   

Clear Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Even though I have already sung my love of Kérastase hair products (here), it does not stop me from trying products from more affordable brands. When Miranda Kerr was made a spokesperson for Clear Scalp and Hair, I knew right away I needed to try something from the brand. I know… this is not the best reason to buy something, but what can I say I just love Miranda Kerr. So to the store I went and came back with the Clear Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner. 

As it turned out, these are some of the best hair products I have ever used. Both the shampoo and conditioner promise smooth hair with shine and body and they deliver on all claims. Every time I use them, my hair feels nourished, moisturised and has great shine. I would not call them volumizing but they do not leave my hair flat and frizz is replaced by smoothness.

Clear really focuses on the health of the scalp and not just the actual hair, making it great if you have a sensitive scalp like mine because each use left it feeling well-balance. I have been through about 4 bottles of each and I every time I go back to it I’m impressed by the result. I can’t quite put my finger on it but my hair just looks great and my scalp feels better. Drugstore shampoos and conditioners don’t always live up to their claims but this dreamy duo could easily pass for a high-end product, it is that good.

Clear offers a wide variety of affordable haircare products and you can find the Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner in most drugstores as well as a list of online retailers on their website. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

As much as having the sun shining feels lovely after the winter, the heat can have not so fun effects on your skin i.e. excess shine. For this, having a great setting powder can help your makeup stay on longer and control how much of a glow you want. Today I bring you my all-time favorite, the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

I first tried it out after seeing Tanya Burr rave about it in multiple videos and boy was she right. This is a sheer powder that does not offer coverage (I use the translucent) which prevents it from looking cakey even if you reapply throughout the day. A light dusting of the powder will take away any excess shine and help your makeup last longer. Rimmel promises 12 hours of shine control and I think this is quite accurate depending on the weather (I rarely needed to touch it up).

What makes the Stay Matte powder so unique in my opinion is its ability to remove the shine but not the glow. The name can be scary and conjure up images of overly powdered, unnatural skin, when it fact it keep it looking luminous and fresh. It’s perfect to combine with a very dewy foundation and it’s a must-have if your skin is on the oilier side. I really cannot emphasize enough how amazing this powder is, especially considering that it is super affordable and from the drugstore. 

You can find the Rimmel Stay Matter Powder in most drugstores, it is readily available almost everywhere and you can also get it online from Feelunique. 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry

Spring is usually all about pastel colors for nails and as much as I love the trend, sometimes it just does not feel appropriate. I know we are almost at the end of April, but I can still see patches of snow trying to hold on outside. This is why I turned to one of my favorite transitional nail polishes: Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry.

I love wearing this in the fall, but I realized it is also perfect for spring when the weather is still cool. Blackberry is a gorgeous inky blue shade and I find it quite unique because it does not have any purple undertones at all. It’s a perfect in between shade, not too light or too dark and the cream finish makes it super chic.

As for the formula, I love the Gelly Hi Shine line, the polish is opaque in two coats, the finish is super glossy and the dry time is minimal. The polish also wears really well, it lasted several days on me without chipping even though I did a lot of manual that normally destroys my nail polish. Barry M created a solid line with great quality products at a super affordable price. I highly recommend this nail polish and I think a few other colors will make their way to my collection in the future.

The Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry is available in the U.K. from Boots and Superdrugand you can also find it on the Barry M website. 

L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive: Doutzen's Nude

When it comes to models, everyone has their favorites and for me Doutzen Kroes easily makes the top 3. I mean she is just so gorgeous! So when L’Oréal released a lipstick named after her I was intrigued. The L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive is a line of lipsticks and nail polishes inspired by the brands spokeswomen. As much as I love Doutzen, I was not too sure about her shade, but in the end I caved and you can read my thoughts on it today.

The Doutzen’s Nude lipstick comes in a pale bubble-gum pink color that has a lot of frost to it. Personally, I’m more of a berry/bright lip colour kind of girl, I feel like it complements my fair skin better and since my lips are quite pigmented, pale lip colours tend to look odd on me. From the ads I think this would look great if you had a bit of a tan or similar coloring to Doutzen. I can’t wait to test it out once I breakout my self-tanner and get a bit of color. This is definitely not a universally flattering shade. If I go for a full layer, it looks too frosted and pale, but when you simply dab it on straight from the bullet, it looks quite natural. Applied this way, the frost makes the lips a bit fuller, adding dimension and the color highlights the lips beautifully.

While this is not my favorite shade I am still really happy with my purchase. The effect I get is similar to that of a great lip balm: plump, soft lips with a hint of colour. The formula is also quite long-lasting and creamy, making it easy to apply. On a side note, I really like the packaging of the Collection Exclusive line, it looks really chic and more expensive than it really is.

You can find the L’Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive lipstick in Doutzen’s Nude in most drugstores and L’Oréal retailers. The whole line contains six shades of nudes in total to match most skin tone, so if this particular shade is not for you I still recommend having a look at the rest of the line since this is a great lipstick. 

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream

I’m finally back, my posts have not been very consistent the last few weeks... There was the Easter break and I have been working on a new design for the blog, which took a little while but I’m very happy with the results. I’ll let you know more about the whole process in a later post and don’t be surprised if things change a bit more as I’m still trying out new ideas. To get back in the swing of things, I bring you a review on the Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream.

I was pretty intrigued by the idea of a BB cream for your body and bought this in the two available shades. As far as body lotions go, this one makes pretty big claims, stating that its use will hydrate, illuminate, even, firm and correct your skin/skin tone. After 5 days of use, you should see all these results, but I have to say that after weeks of use I did not notice any firming or correcting effects.

Nonetheless, it hydrated my skin well and did even out and illuminate my skin. The thing is though, the evenness and illumination part don’t last very long. As soon as you apply it you can see the difference but the tint of the cream quickly disappears as it sinks in so it does not do much in the end. Your skin will look more luminous for a while after but I think that is mostly due to the fact that it is well hydrated.

The lotion comes in two colors, the lightest one illuminates more and has a more yellow tone and the darker one leaves a pinkish glow to the skin. I was expecting the color to show up more, but the effect is quite subtle. While this BB body cream does not live up to its claims, it is a nice light moisturizer that would be great for the summer and I will gladly use up my two tubes. It penetrates very quickly and does not leave any sticky residue. If your skin is very dry I don’t think this will provide enough moisture but it makes for a nice finishing product before going out.

You can find the Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream in most drugstores and I saw on the Jergens website that they also offer a version with SPF15 which would be great for daily protection when the weather starts to warm up. 

L’Oréal Hair Expertise Oleo Therapy Oil Infused Shampoo

Hello everyone, today I’m back with a new review. I have been doing some spring cleaning and realized I had a tone of pictures of products I had not reviewed yet. Over the last few weeks I made a lot of efforts to spring clean my bathroom cabinet and finish up as many products as possible so I can move on to others. Since I have super long hair, shampoos and conditioners were the easiest to go through which leads me to today’s review of the L’Oréal Hair Expertise Oleo Therapy Oil Infused Shampoo.

Basically, this shampoo contains a blend of six different flower oils (along with others like coconut oil) to nourish and moisturize your hair, leaving it silky and smooth. The first thing I noticed when I used it was the texture, it’s very thick and reminded me of honey, but don’t worry it’s not sticky. However, your hair needs to be very wet to allow you to distribute it properly and adding a bit of water to your hands will also help the process. Because it is a sulfate-free shampoo, this does not latter a lot, but my hair felt very clean afterwards and it was very easy to rinse out (the texture had me worried at first).

After use, my hair felt super soft and smooth, it also looked very shiny and healthy. I think this is a great and affordable oil-infused shampoo, it delivered on all its claims and feels luxurious to use. Another thing I loved about it was the scent, it’s a lovely clean floral fragrance that smelt natural and expensive. I will definitely have a look at the other products from the range soon, the hot-oil treatment and mask sound very promising for some TLC after a day by the pool.

You can find the L’Oréal Hair Expertise Oleo Therapy Oil Infused Shampoo in most drugstores and L’Oréal retailers. 

Simple Facial Cleansing Wipes

For all the makeup wipes lovers out there, I have a review of the much raved about Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. But first, let me start this by saying that I am not a fan of using wipes to remove makeup or cleanse the skin, I just feel they are not thorough enough. That being said, these wipes were not all that bad.

The Simple facial cleansing wipes, are free of many ingredients that can irritate your skin such as: alcohol and fragrance, so we are already off to a better start. I used the wipes to remove my face makeup before going to the gym and they did a great job. The cotton was soft and did not pull on my skin. As for the formula, it removed all my makeup gently and there was enough to really soak the wipe. Unlike other wipes, these did not leave any residue on my face and they were not drying.

For me, the one down side was when I tried to remove my eye makeup with these. While the wipes have enough solution to remove face makeup, they are not wet enough to remove my mascara properly and I don’t wear waterproof mascara. My other pet peeve was how the cotton felt rough against my eyes and all the scrubbing necessary to remove my makeup left them a bit red.

All in all I don’t love this product and I will stick to a mini bottle of Bioderma to get ready before the gym. However, they are better than most wipes and if you simply want to remove your foundation, they get the job done nicely and can come in quite handy.

You can find the Simple Facial Cleansing Wipes in many drugstores or have a look online to find your closest retailer.

Have you tried these wipes before? Are you a fan of cleansing wipes?

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

These days, I’ve been favoring a more natural eye look to get into the spring spirit. A light champagne shadow, some mascara and I’m good to go. To achieve pretty and natural looking lashes, I love the Maybelline Mega Plush mascara. This has replaced my beloved but sadly discontinued (in Canada) Maybelline Full and Soft mascara.

This has a gel formula that’s quite dry, which I prefer, and builds natural volume and length. It opens up the eyes by defining your lashes with a very black formula and medium-sized round brush, but it does it without being clumpy or extravagant. I think it would be very appropriate for someone that’s just getting into makeup or is still young.

One other thing I love about this product is how easy it is to remove, there’s no need for intense rubbing here, a simple cleansing oil does the job in seconds. Another thing to note however is that since the formula is quite dry to begin with, this mascara does dry out more quickly than other. I personally have no issues with this because I like to change my mascaras regularly and being a drugstore product, it is super affordable and often on sale for about 4$. 

You can find the Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara from any drugstore and it is regularly priced at around 7$. 

L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion

Having a great day-to-night lipstick is essential to any busy girl. I’m always carrying tons of lip products around, but there are days when I enjoy simply having one lipstick that can give me different looks. One of my favorites is the L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion. 

This is a creamy berry shade that’s perfectly balanced, it’s not too red or too pink and it doesn’t pull purple on me. You can pat it on for a nice stain or apply it straight from the bullet for a more intense finish. The formula is super pigmented and creamy, it doesn’t drag on the lips and you don’t need to apply multiple layers to get great color payoff. It’s a fantastic product that does not disappoint and the gold packaging looks really chic.  

        

                               

Saving the best for last, the L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion is super affordable and you can easily find it at the drugstore. Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. often have it on offer. This specific color seems to only be available in Europe but the Color Riche line has a great color selection that’s definitely worth checking out.