Beauty Review: 360 Skincare DMAE Firming Serum in Lavender Mint

In my January Glymm Box I received a sample of this product. It smells divine. The texture is thick like a body butter consistency if not thicker. I didn't expect serums to be this thick.

6AM
On first application, I found it hard to maneuver out of the jar on to my eye area. It was chunky, but to my surprise it melted away as I lightly massaged around my eyes in a circular motion. I thought it would be greasy due to the consistency. But surprisingly it was cooling due to the mint and lavender properties. Also my skin just soaked up the serum quickly. The serum leaves no sheen behind. It is a matte finish. On this first try I will apply makeup without primer to the eyelids and see how that goes.

12PM
At noon it has gotten a little greasy but my eye makeup hasn't smudged or creased.

4PM
My mascara was slightly smudged below my lower lashes. But that is typical for the beyond 12hr wear.

Overall I find this product to useful as a simple eyelid primer and eye cream in one. It doesn't sting my oh so sensitive eyes. I would definitely purchase this product when I run out of this sample from my January Glymm Box.

TaTa for now :)

Beauty Review: December 2012 Glymm Box/Bag

Hello Beauties,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Sorry this post is so late, please excuse the holiday postal service disruption. I'm pleased to say that I like everything I received this month. They are all products that I would use. At first when I picked up my box at the PO I realized that the box was not sealed. It looked like someone had opened it. Usually the box closure tab is sealed with the Glymm monogrammed tape. This box closure tab was not sealed. It looked like the tape was torn off. I panicked for nothing, everything was safe and sound in it's packaging.

This month's products include:

Suncoat Peelable Water-based Nail Polish 8mL, I can't seem to find a name for the colour only #26 is embossed on the bottom of the bottle. I believe this is the colour Majestic Purple, I found it on their website at SunCoatGirl.com. It is a deep plum with micro shimmers. This is a full size product and it retails for $7.99.

Glamorous Long Stay Lipstick in #07 Sunblind (it doesn't tell you the name on the package, but I looked it up on GlamorousCosmetics.com). What a shame, I opened this lipstick only to find that it was broken. The lipstick itself was detached from it's casing and smashed inside the lid. It's too bad, as the colour was nice. A nice rosy pink/red colour., I think I might be able to save it and depot into my palette this weekend. This is full size product and it retails for $8.00.

Lashem Eyelash & Brow Enhancing Serum, I've always wanted to try one of the brands on the market. But have never got around to purchasing one. What better than to have a sample of this one to try out. I'll let you know how I like it in a future beauty review. I received a little vial of this product, I'm guessing about 2 mL which would be equivalent to approximately $35. The full sized product is 4.2 mL and retails for $69.99. Oh look this same sample is available for free on an Asian beauty store. To my surprise the full size product retails for a lot cheaper in Asia, almost a $30 difference. http://web1.sasa.com/SasaWeb/eng/product/searchProduct.jspa?brandId=14074

Last but not least, one pair of falsies by Lashem. Just in time for NYE yay! Even a bonus that the first time use, these lashes do not require glue. Because I just ran out of glue last month. Can't wait to try these lashes. They look full and beautiful. This is a full sized product and it retails for $5.00.

Thank you Glymm :)

Happy Holidays to All~

Vivian from MayDayDesigns

Beauty Review: November 2012 Glymm Box/Bag

Sorry for being so late with my review of the November Glymm Box/Bag. I was away on holidays most of November. I'm currently writing a blog about where I went on vacation. Hence I won't be elaborating on the topic on this post.

Moving on, the November Glymm subscription has kept the sample quality up this time around. Although I don't really like receiving little perfume samples in a vial. The other product samples make up for that mishap. And hurray! Glymm does listen, I got my info card back. I missed them dearly. I usually get my boxes delivered late in the month and by the time I receive my box I have to dig through a hundred emails to find the link to the product info. And who knows if I deleted it or not. So yay Glymm! The info card saves me the hassle.

This month we received a coconut based shampoo and an argan oil based conditioner by a Canadian brand named Lys Parisien Professional. The full size retails for $24.00 (500mL) each. Our samples were 60mL each. Approximate value of $6.00 combined. They both have a thick golden yellow creamy consistency as well as a light herbal scent.

We also received a slice of Scintallating soap by Villaness Soaps. I love the smell of peppermint and vanilla. It is Cruelty Free, which is great for our furry friends. This soap makes me think of the Christmas Story, if only soap tasted as good as it smells. Hehehe. The full size retails for $5.50 (3.5oz). I'm guessing this slice is approximately 1/3 of a full size soap bar as it is not marked on the package. Approximate value of $1.85.

Next up, we received a vegan nail polish by the brand The New Black. My colour is Gold Grenade? Hmmm somehow this orangy red doesn't seem to match that name. I think the colour is beautiful and two coats is all I need. I believe this is a full size item. These polishes are sold in sets of 3-5 for $15.00-$24.00. Approximate value of $5.00.

We also received a 0.7mL vial of perfume by The Beehive. The scent I received was Honey Blossom. I don't like the strong scent of this perfume. Also I don't think this should be considered a deluxe sample either. Perfume samples of this sort are usually free at department stores and Sephora. The full size retails for $35.00 (100mL). Approximate value is under $0.35.

Last but never the least, this month's Glymm bag is a semi matte embossed snake print. It has a brown and gold GLYMM logo. A black zipper with gold hardware. This is the full size bag and it retails for $12.00. As much as I like changing my makeup bags. I can only use so many in a given year.

I wish Glymm would go back to a box type service and give us something more useful. Perhaps something we can collect. I was thinking along the lines of foldable cardboard or recycled plastic makeup organizers or brush holders. Change it up a little. It could be fun. There are some other beauty boxes out there that send you little crystals. And some that send you a treat like a mini jar of jelly beans.

Happy Holidays :)

Have a Jolly Blogmas!

Beauty Review: Femme Couture Lightning Lash Mascara

This product was a part of my October 2012 Glymm Box samples.

When I first saw the brush on this mascara wand I was reluctant to try it. Maybe just because it looked so different than what I've used in the past. I've never used short rubbery bristled mascaras before.

But I decided to try it anyways. I was surprised that I actually like this brush. It has a very smooth even application and it does not clump. My lashes are defined nicely.

The only bad thing is that it's not waterproof and it flakes. I would probably still use this for my daytime office looks. But if this mascara comes in a waterproof formula then I would definitely give it a whirl.

Happy Movember :)

Beauty Review: NuMe Clipless Curling Wand

I am enjoying this curling iron after only a few days use. Comes in a slide out cardboard box with a heat resistant glove. I was debating whether to buy the 1/2" barrel or 1" barrel, I went with the 1/2" as I find it to be more versatile. 1/2" barrels can make tight or loose curls depending on how tight you wrap your hair around the barrel. And how much hair you wrap around the barrel. Definitely easy to use, quicker and easier than a clip style curling iron. The only downfall is that it doesn't have temperature gauge or even a little light to let you know it's on. This curling wand heats up quickly and has a long swivel cord. All in all, I would recommend this product to a friend or purchase it as a gift for someone.

Beauty Haul & Review: July/August

Freeman Single Use Masks
...Clay Mask in Mint & Lemon
This helps soak up oil and unclogs my pores.
...Anti-Stress Mask with Dead Sea Minerals
This hydrates and makes my skin so soft.

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails
...230 Heart of Stone
A beautiful cotton candy pink
...160 Hard-core Party
A pretty pale pink for every day wear

Aussie
...Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner
This moisturizes my dry ends without weighing down my fine hair. It smells like coconuts and sweets.
...Catch the Wave Mousse
This helps hold my heatless waves without sacrificing movement and flexibility in my hair. Although this mousse doesn't smell half as good as the Hair Insurance. I still like it.

Maybelline
...Dream Fresh BB Cream in Medium/Deep is a fast drying, light weight and non greasy formula. Great for my sensitive oily & acne prone skin.
...Baby Lips in Cherry Me
I love the smell of cherries and the sheer red tint this lip balm gives. Good for the girls that like the natural makeup look.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. I've been looking for a gradual tan moisturizer for my face. This one is non greasy and is a lot less smelly than most self tanners.

Bath and Body Works
...Coconut Lime Breeze shower gel reminds me of lime slushies on a blazing hot day. Smells delicious and light.
...Pink Chiffon fragrance mist is fruity and sweet. It's light weight scent is great for every day use.

Beauty Review: Rimmel London Vinyl Gloss Mirror Shine Lipgloss

I recently re-discovered my long time favourite lipgloss in Eastend Snob. This ironically funny name has made me giggle every time I re-purchase this Steal!

It is the perfect pearly nude shade that brightens up every look. I've been using this lipgloss for possibly five years plus. I own this line of gloss in many shades. It's non sticky formula glides on smooth and it is moisturizing for the lips. Pigmentation for these glosses will vary depending on the shade and finish.

Overall, I give this product a 5 out of 5 and I will definitely be re-purchasing this product as long as it is on the market.

Beauty Review: Vitamine & Sea Perfect Skin Solution

Ingredients: sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, olive oil, hazelnut oil, borage seed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, vitamin E, d-alpha- tocopherol, evening primrose oil, geranium essential oil, jasmine essential oil, carrot seed essential oil.

No dyes, no fragrances, no synthetics, no sulfates, no parabens, no silicones, no petro-chemicals

Review of a perfume sample vial sized product received in my June Glymm Box.

I was skeptical of trying this product just because it is an oil based product. Some of you that follow this blog will know I have acne prone, oily & sensitive skin. This product did give my skin a nice glow after a week of usage.

But I did find it to be too oily for my skin and it gave me little whiteheads around my Tzone. I think this product would be more suitable for normal/dry skin types rather than skin like mine.

I am not fond of the earthy musty smell either. Overall I would rate this item 2 out of 5, and I won't be purchasing this product in the full size.

Beauty Review: COOLA Mineral Face Sunblock Matte Finish Cucumber

Description on my sample: Hypoallergenic, paraben free, perfect primer. Natural mineral sun-care. SPF30. COOLA has perfected the art of blending organic and natural ingredients. Zinc and titanium dioxide are evenly dispersed to maximize coverage and to minimize white residue. COOLA natural mineral SPF formulas provide superior sun protection with a transparent application. Enjoy!

My thoughts on this product sample from my Glymm Box, I didn't know you had to shake the product before you used it as my sample was separated. Not knowing any better I used the top layer of this sunblock on my face and had a chalky white film on my face. The separated layer of product had a smooth mousse like consistency. It dried quickly and blended well. Only the fact is my skin is a lot darker than this pale white sunblock. Hence it leaves a white veil over my skin which looks rather odd. Also the matte finish dried out my skin, which wasn't too pleasant.

Overall, I don't think I would purchase this product in the full size version. But I might want to try a sample of the tinted sunblock just to compare the two. My score for this product is 1 out of 5.

Beauty & Lifestyle: Meet Me at IMATS Vancouver 2012

Hello All:

Just wanted to let you know that I will be attending the Vancouver IMATS this year on Saturday July 21st. I will be reporting back to you about what I thought of the event and share my haul with all you makeup junkies out there. See you all there :)

Beauty Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in Black

 

I've been searching high and low budget mascaras for a perfect match to what I am looking for in a mascara.

Smudge proof

Waterproof

Clump free

Lasting volume & curl

Thickening

All of you might think that is impossible to find in 1 mascara. I've become sick and tired of layer different mascaras together to achieve the look that I want. I just want to carry one tube of mascara or at least minimize it to just 2. 

My skin and my eye area is quite oily, although I do use primer on a daily basis as my makeup tends to slide right off my face, especially on hot sweaty days in the summer. Mascara tends to melt into the oils of my skin and give me raccoon eyes. Hence, I cannot live with a mascara that smudges the slightest. 

I put this mascara to the test in a 90 minute infrared hot yoga class. After sweating buckets this mascara did not smudge and the waterproof capabilities did hold up to the test.

I find this wand does need to be cleaned off with a tissue or wet wipe before application, this way the old mascara is wiped off and the fresh mascara won't clump.

The volume and curl, thickness does last when your eyelashes are curled with an eyelash curler prior to application. However, the volume and curl doesn't last through a 90 minute infrared hot yoga class, but the lashes still have thickness.

Overall I rate this mascara 4 out of 5. I will definitely repurchase this mascara.

Beauty Review: E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner in Black

I used the black cream eyeliner after applying an eyelid primer. I find the staying power to be excellent, this cream eyeliner is quite smudge proof and dries quickly after application. I also used the mini eyeliner brush that came with the eyeliner pot. But I don't really like the brush as I find the bristles to be a little to flimsy, I prefer a brush to be a little more sturdy that way I have more control and can draw a more precise line.

I like to set this cream eyeliner with black eyeshadow and this also intensifies the colour. This eyeliner has a subtle but natural looking finish, I can use this to line my upper and lower eyelids. I haven't tried using this on my waterline yet, as I have extremely sensitive eyes I didn't want risk it. 

Overall I rate this product 4 out of 5 stars and I will definitely purchase this again and I would purchase it in multiple colours.

Beauty Review: Palladio Herbal Foundation Primer

This review is based on my Skin Type: Oily/Acne Prone, Fair/Medium, Age 25-30.

I read a lot of great reviews about this face primer and finally decided to pick it up at Sally Beauty Supply while I was in Seattle. I have always had trouble with keeping my makeup from sliding off my face and I thought I would give this primer a go. 

Thoughts on the first use, it feels like an oily film on my skin, it makes my skin feel smooth but it doesn't stop my skin from flaking on the cheeks where my skin has some dry patches. I use it under my eyes prior to applying concealer and this prevents my concealer from creasing. This primer did minimize the size of my pores around my nose area. I don't think this primer smooths the bumpy acne t-zone, however, I do find it reduces my oiliness with touch-ups through out the day.

Overall I score this product a 3 out of 5 stars for the quality and staying power. I don't believe I will purchase this product again. I don't enjoy the oily film feeling on my skin.