Avène "Cleanance" Cleansing Water Review

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing a review on a deluxe sample size of Avène's 'Cleanance' Cleansing water. It comes in a cute blue packaging, and it's a perfect size for travel. It doesn't have any fancy opening, it's a screw top with a fairly wide opening- so be careful not to pour the contents out onto a cotton pad. I haven't had any issues with the product other than it slightly stinging my eyes when I used it to remove my eye makeup. This isn't a big deal for me since I usually use a separate eye makeup remover, but for some, this may be a deal breaker.

 The product itself works similarly to your cult micellar waters like Bioderma. Avène is a very good line for sensitive/rosecea prone/acne prone skin- which is why I was surprised it made my eye area sting a bit. 

Overall, I think having a mini micellar water is great for travelling- but I don't think I'd repurchase the full size because it's not sensitive enough and doesn't remove my makeup quite as well as the L'Oreal Sublime Soft micellar water or the Bioderma Sensibo H20 cleansing water. 

I hope you enjoyed this review!

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: Olay's 'Touch of Sun' Self Tanning Lotion

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing about Olay's "Touch of Sun" self tanning lotion, something I have purchased before and used up entirely. It's very moisturizing, gives an even, gradual tan and smells wonderful. This is actually my third bottle of the stuff, and I still love it! I find it quite difficult to track down- but WalMart always has it in stock for under $7.00 usually.

 The packaging is great, nothing too complicated or fancy. It does the job and I have no complaints.

 The cream is an ivory colour, but it isn't dark enough to see where you've applied. Since it's a gradual tanner this isn't too big of a deal, and it's very moisturizing. 

On this occasion I sadly picked up the medium/dark skintone tube (I usually use light/medium) but I'm going to see if it helps the tan develop more quickly, and if so, I will continue to purchase it in this shade.

I hope you enjoyed this review, it's a product I love and will continue to use until/unless I find something better.

Thanks for reading!

Megan

NYX Butter Gloss Review

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing about something I hear people rave about all the time! The NYX glosses are beautiful, I've tried one from almost every line, but the Butter Glosses are the ones that seem to be repeatedly talked about and adored. Here is what I think of the two shades I picked up!

 I think the packaging is great- being able to see what colour you're using makes it easy to plan a look or to find it amongst the hundreds of glosses I already own. 

 I own Strawberry Parfait- I wonderful bright pink with some blue undertones. It's not too bright because the formula is quite wet and glossy (which I love) and I think it's the perfect pink to brighten up a dull makeup look. 

 Tiramisu is a more neutral shade, but still quite cool-toned which I like. It's a perfect nude for my lips because it isn't too pale, and it doesn't give that 'concealer lips' type of look. It's a perfect everyday gloss and wears well with most makeup looks. 

 The glosses come with a nice doe foot applicator, nothing too fancy but it does the job very well. The gloss formula itself smells incredible (very sweet) but isn't anything overpowering or irritating. The formula is very glossy, it almost looks watery sometimes, which I think is nice because it can be very casual or layered on top of another lip product. It lasts for a decent amount of time, and isn't sticky or uncomfortable to wear at all! 

Here are some swatches of the two shades. This makes Tiramisu look a bit peachy (it might look this way on some lips) but on my lips it comes up much cooler toned. 

I hope you enjoyed this review! I loved the glossed and will certainly be purchasing more!

Megan

Making the Most of a Product: Tube Tricks

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing about something that kind of annoys me. Tube products seem to have the best applications in many ways, it's sealed very well, rarely leaks and is convenient for travelling, but when they run out it's hard to use up all the product (or often to even see how much you're wasting) so I decided to experiment and see how much is left in a tube when we think it's done- and how to resolve this issue.

 I cut out the middle section of this tube of Hydraluron. I love this product, and it's not too cheap- so I didn't want to waste anything. 

 It's pretty hard to see- but there was about 4 more applications of Hydraluron in this tube. 

To keep everything relatively airtight, I simply applied the top of the tube back onto what it left over. I think this is a great way to get the most out of your product and out of your money!

I hope this post was helpful! Thanks for reading!

Megan

MAC Studio Finish Concealer Review

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing about one of the best high-coverage concealers I have ever tried. It's MAC's Studio Finish concealer, a potted concealer that coverers blemishes, redness, under eye circles and anything else you may want to conceal. They come in a wide array of shades, with 7 having a yellow undertone and another 7 with a pink undertone. I have two of the pink based shades in NW15 and NW20. This concealer can get a bit cakey, so I recommend using less than you think you need, applying more if you feel you need it, and layering until you get your desired coverage, I find it works better on blemishes than under your eyes, although it can be done. It has been reviewed to crease under the eyes, but I think that's because this concealer is so high coverage. Using a setting powder helps with the longevity of this concealer, but it does last rather well by itself. It also has an SPF of 35 which is really nice in a concealer. I would certainly recommend this to most people I know, I think it is worth the money because it lasts for a very long time and very little product is required to cover any blemishes you may have.

 The packaging is standard MAC, which I find to be very simple but effective and sturdy. I like how you can see the product and it's easy enough to decipher shades and how much you have left. 

 NW20 matches my skin pretty perfectly- and somehow works all year round. 

 NW15 is much lighter, but makes for a great highlight and works on my most pale days.

 This is NW20

 And this is NW20 (above) compared to NW15 (below). You can see I've used quite a bit more of NW20, but this product really does last a very long time.

 In regular lighting this is NW15 compared to NW20

 In natural lighting this is NW15 compared to NW20

And with flash photography this is NW15 compared to NW20

I hope you enjoyed this review! I thought it would be nice to review something I've loved for so long, even if it isn't a new product!

Thanks for reading!

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum

Hey everyone,

This week I'm raving about a product that lasted me months and made my skins texture improve dramatically! The Vitamin E Serum by The Body Shop is a gel textured serum which I apply before my moisturizer and after my toner. It's relatively inexpensive and can be found pretty easily in North America (at any Body Shop!). It's travel friendly, lightweight and works wonders. Something I'm so glad I found and I'm sure I will buy again and again!

 I like to take a picture of the empty and the full bottle just so you know I'm not lying and have repurchased! (Now I can finally throw the empty away!)

 The packaging isn't anything special, but I really like it because it's durable and does the job well. It's sturdy and I've never had an issue with leaking. 

The pump is perfect because I find exactly one pump does the job and gives enough serum to apply to my entire face. 

I love this product and I hope you enjoyed the review! Have you tried The Body Shop's Vitamin E range? What did you think?

Thanks for reading!

Megan

LUSH Creamy Candy Bubble Bar Review

Hi everyone,

Today I'm reviewing LUSH's "Creamy Candy" Bubble Bar. It's designed to be crumbled underneath the running water and creates a bath full of bubbles. I really enjoyed this product because it made the water smell delicious and it was really soft, I found this made my skin feel nice and moisturized afterwards. I only have one complaint (and this is sort of my own fault) but be sure to rinse this product off thoroughly. I was laying in the bath and although I rinsed most of the bubbles off of my body, I think I had some around the back of my neck which I had missed and woke up with a bit of a rash in the morning. Now this may not be due to the product (plus everyone's skin is different) but I think it may have been the cause- so just be extra careful. Other than that slight downside, I thought the product was really nice!

 First reason for loving LUSH ^

 The Bubble Bar is really cute, bright pink with a little flower stamped into the top.

 It's a fair size (and good for two baths!)

 Half of the Bubble Bar created a huge amount of bubbles.

 It smelled delicious and sweet, LUSH describe it:

 "Lay back into sweet, frothy, and fluffy bubbles that smell like delicate vanilla candies and cotton candy. In fact, you’ll feel like you were bathing in your favorite sweet shop. Our sweetest bubble selection, Creamy Candy is for those who love their bubbles bright pink and delightfully sugary."

Lots of bubbles for a moisturizing, yummy smelling bath!

I hope you enjoyed this review!

Megan

The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing about a product I was convinced into buying after watching Amelia from Amelia Liana on YouTube rave about how great it was. It's the Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing Oil. I've used and loved the Camomile Cleansing Butter, so I thought I would enjoy this too. I was right!

 It comes in great packaging which shows how much you have left and includes a pump. I think this is great because you don't waste product, and 1 pump is enough for my entire face (2 if I'm removing heavy makeup).

 I pump the oil into my hands, rub them together and then work the oil into my dry skin. It helps to break down all the makeup and you get a bonus facial massage which works wonders for brightening and plumping the skin!

 Here I am with a very oily face.

 I then use a wash cloth with warm water to take off the oil. It removes really well with very little residue. I tend to scrub my face pretty hard with the washcloth- I find this does an amazing job of removing any dead skin or dry patches.

Because it's an oil, it actually leaves my skin feeling comfortable and moisturized. I don't get that dry, tight skin feeling after using it which is really nice. I've used it for long enough to know that it doesn't break me out and works well in combination with my other skin care essentials. 

I would highly recommend this product, and I'd certainly repurchase! 

Thanks for reading,

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: Tarte's 'Lights, Camera, Splashes!' Mascara

Hey everyone,

I'm a pretty big fan of high-end mascara but I have such a hard time justifying the purchase. Being a Beauty Insider (it's free!) I find I can try lots of great travel size mascaras from loads of brands, Bobbi Brown, MakeUpForever, Dior, Benefit and more! I was lucky enough to sample what might be my favourite mascara from Tarte, and when I went to the states a few weeks ago I decided to just go ahead and purchase it. It's not crazy expensive, I believe I paid $20.00, but since the sample lasted for such a long time I have no doubt that the full sized version will too!

 I know lots of people think the packaging is great... but honestly I wish it was just a plain tube. I think Tarte were trying to be unique with the design but I find it to be a bit annoying, probably my only downside for the product. 

 It's a waterproof formula which lengthens and volumizes my lashes. I find it lasts through anything and works really well. The formula is really wet but I know from using the sample that it dries out quite nicely and makes it a little bit easier to use. 

The brush is great too- It's a classic brush with bristles and I think it coats each lash evenly. 

I couldn't recommend this product enough- for a truly waterproof formula it also comes off very easily with a cleanser.

I hope you enjoyed this review! Have a great day!

Megan

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Hand Cream

Hey guys,

Today I'm writing about a hand cream that smells incredible and really works well to soften your hands. This summer my hands have felt the driest they have ever been. I think this is due to a number of reasons, but mainly because I sometimes work with chemicals that dry out my knuckles and the palm of my hand. To combat this I tried Crabtree & Evelyn's "Citron" hand cream, a product that has a zesty citrus (lemon) scent, with honey and coriander.

 The box is super cute and I think it would make a good gift.

 The consistency itself is gel-like, it absorbs quickly and I notice quite a huge difference in how my hands feel for a while after using the product. They have both full size tubes and handbag sized tubes, making it very versatile and easy for travelling or on the go.

I think the tube itself is really simple and classic, but the design is really eyecatching. I think it looks quite elegant. One downside is the opening is quite wide, and if you squeeze even a little too hard you end up with way more hand cream than is necessary. (Although if this happens, use it on your elbows and forearms!)

I really like this handcream, it's a nice treat, and although it's a bit more expensive than your average handcream, I think it does a better job at moisturizing and smells amazing.

Thanks for reading!

Megan 

LUSH "Twilight" Bath Bomb Review

Hey everyone!

Today I'm writing about a LUSH bath bomb that is a repurchase for me. I've tried a few in my time, some are too herbally, some make too much of a mess, but the sweet, sugary ones make me very, very happy. Twilight is a bath bomb which first of all smells incredible!

"Recreate the magic of a starry night in your bath water with clouds of lavender and tonka absolute to fight the demons of insomnia and soothe your stressed out body and mind. Our most relaxing Bath Bomb yet, Twilight is our gentle, reassuring hug for the bath to transform you from worn out to warm and fuzzy. It changes color like the sky at dusk, from pinks to purples and darker still. Lay back in the comforting herbal waters to soak your troubles far, far away."

The bath bomb retails for $6.25 CDN, is vegan and something I find to be inexpensive for a night of total relaxation. If you're on a budget and are looking for something to help you sleep, soothe any aches and pains or simply want to pamper yourself this is definitely a product for you.

 It fizzes up from a pink ball into purple and blue, and when I saw it look like this I couldn't resist but send a snapchat. This bath bomb had me beaming from ear to ear too!

Here's what it looks like before melting away in the tub, it's a fair size and smells divine even before it hits the water. (I bought it and didn't use it for about two weeks because it made my room smell delicious!)

Here's the bath bomb fizzing away!

I found this bath bomb to be very moisturizing also! It leaves your skin feeling very soft and smooth, which I must admit, surprises me every time I use this product.

I hope you enjoyed this review!

Have a great day!

Megan

Jo Malone 'English Pear and Freesia' Fragrance Review

Hey everyone,

So as many fragrance lovers will know, Jo Malone is probably one of the most sophisticated perfume brands to exist. My Dad very kindly purchased a few Jo Malone products when visiting the UK and gave them to my Mum as a gift. She doesn't use them too often, but keeps them looking beautiful in their packaging and she told me I could borrow them and write some reviews. Today I'm writing about "English Pear and Freesia".

"Jo Malone London, the renowned British fragrance house, celebrates British style with unexpected fragrances and the elegant art of gift giving. Acquired by The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. in 1999, today the brand is available in 33 countries worldwide and continues to inspire a loyal following."

Top notes: King William Pear, Heart note: Freesia, Base note: Patchouli

 All of Jo Malones bottles are the same, classic design. (With exceptions of limited edition fragrances) I think the bottle is very simple and perfect for any manner of dressers, vanities or bathroom sinks.

 The size is 30ml, and retails for $60.00 (...jeeze) I think the scent is quite floral, but has a warmer fruity tone to it, something that makes it easy to wear. I think all Jo Malone scents are sophisticated, but this one is a really nice, fresh fragrance I think a younger person would be suitable for. (of course anyone could wear it!) 

 It came in a beautiful box set with French Lime Blossom, but sadly I was not a fan.

And here's a picture of the beautiful packaging!

I hope you've enjoyed this post, let me know if you'd like to see anything similar!! 

Thanks for reading,

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: The Body Shop Cleansing Butter

Hey guys!

Today I'm writing about a product I have recently repurchased. It's The Body Shop's 'Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter', a cleansing balm that I have ranked over the beloved Clinique version for a few reasons; because it works better, is more affordable and doesn't leave a film on my skin.

 I find the packaging to be quite sturdy, I've never had an issue with denting or anything- but the great thing is that the balm is solid and won't leak unless it's in very high temperatures. It's also great for travelling because it doesn't count towards the limitations when you fly and can be kept outside of the ziplock bag they provide.

 Here is the old one, totally used up!

 And the brand new one!

Overall, I find the cleansing butter to be really gentle, effective and affordable. It removes all traces of makeup (even waterproof) and leaves you skin feeling refreshed, clean and moisturized. I would certainly repurchase again!

Have a great day!

Megan