New Favourite Brand – Laneige

I love trying new skincare, and what’s the perfect way to try new products? With a sample kit of course! I saw this little kit from Laneige while strolling through the aisles at Sephora, and I thought it was the perfect way to try out a new brand without any major commitments.

It comes with 5 sample size products:

– 1 oz/ 30 mL Multi-Deep Clean Cleanser
– 0.3 oz/ 10 mL Water Bank Hydro Essence
– 0.3 oz/ 10 mL Water Bank Hydro Gel
– 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Water Sleeping Mask
– 0.1 oz/ 3 g Lip Sleeping Mask

Let’s start with the cleanser. I freaking LOVE this stuff! It smells sooo good, and it’s a thick creamy texture with tiny microbeads that burst as you exfoliate which turns into a super frothy mixture on the face. The more you lather, the whiter it looks, it almost looks like your wearing a full face mask before you rinse it off. I thought that was really interesting since I’ve never tried a cleanser that did this before. When you rinse it off, your skin doesn’t feel completely stripped of its moisture, it leaves the skin feeling comfortable and not super dry. It checks off all my boxes for a cleanser and I am definitely going to buy the full size soon.

Next let’s talk about the Water Bank Hydro Essence. Truthfully this is a step that I am okay skipping, I don’t think it adds all that much value to my routine. It’s just an extra layer of moisture, which I mean is never a bad thing. I just wouldn’t go out of my way to spend my money on the full size. But it was definitely nice to use for the short amount of time that the sample lasted for.

The Water Bank Hydro Gel was a really nice moisturizer for oily skin. Gels and light creams are always the best for oily skin (this kit is geared towards combo/oily skin types after-all). It doesn’t necessarily stand out from other gel moisturizers I have tried, like it does the job and it doesn’t make me too oily. That’s all I really need from a moisturizer, and this does it! I might pick up the full size of this, but for now I’m finishing up my Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream, which is similar to the Laneige one it just feels a little thicker.

Next up we have the Water Sleeping Mask. This is really almost the exact same thing as the hydro gel cream. It smells the same, it feels the same, I think it’s just supposed to be your nighttime moisturizer instead of your daytime one. Or used as an extra layer of moisture on top of the gel cream at night. I like the idea of a daytime and nighttime moisturizer, and I can say that this is 10x better than the Glow Recipe Sleeping Mask. That one just feels like a layer of goop sitting on top of the face, whereas the Laneige one actually sinks into the skin and doesn’t feel greasy at all.

And finally, we have the Lip Sleeping Mask. I was so skeptical about this product when I first heard about it. I was like really…a mask for your lips while you sleep, so like a regular lip balm? And I’m telling you it’s so much more than that. Think about your regular lip balm that you use, now imagine if fairies pissed all over it and made it magical. That’s what this lip mask feels like lmao. I don’t know what makes it so soft, but I’ve never tried a lip balm this soft. And I know it says ‘sleeping mask’ but I really just use it anytime of the day when I feel my lips are dry. I will DEF buy the full size when I run out of my sample.

So far I’m super impressed with Laneige and I will definitely want to check out more of the brand and see what they have to offer.

That’s all I have for now!

xoxo,

Sarah

GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer – Review

Hey all you cool cats and kittens! (*in Carole Baskin voice*)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I guess I’ve had the quarantine blues and have been a super lazy piece of poop. I’m trying to get into a routine but that hasn’t really been happening. I reallllyyyy hope this ends soon, but idk man…

But with all this time spent at home, I’ve had all the time in the world to play with new skincare, and so here we are with another review.

This is the Mega Illuminating Moisturizer from GlamGlow. I received a sample of it with another Sephora purchase, and I immediately fell in love with it. For starters it smells like an orange creamsicle, which I personally love, and it makes you look SO GLOWY. It’s like a lit from within glow, so it’s not too overwhelming as if you were to put a liquid highlighter all over your face. It’s just the right amount pearl that it covers dullness and minimizes dark marks, without looking like a greasy disco ball.

The consistency of it is a light cream, as opposed to a gel or super thick cream. Because it’s on the lighter side it’s perfect for combo/oily skin like mine. I do have to blot with oil absorbing sheets throughout the day but that’s the case with literally any products I use (sigh).

Not only does it make your skin look good, but the ingredients in it are actually super beneficial for your skin health (it’s also vegan). These are the key ingredients highlighted on the Sephora website.

– Hyaluronic Acid: Provides hydration.
– Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, and Ceramides: Help restore moisture balance.
– Green Tea: Helps energize skin.

I use this moisturizer on my no-makeup days because the glow helps hide minor marks and imperfections and makes my skin look super healthy without makeup. Some days for extra glow I will use the Smashbox ‘Blendable Lip and Cheek Color’ in  the shade “Hollywood & Highlight” just on the top of my cheekbones for an extra pop.

That’s all I have for now!

xoxo

Sarah

My Turkish Bath Experience

My mom and I went to the spa the other day for a special treat since our trip to California got cancelled due to the Coronavirus… We went to the Hammam Spa by Céla at Bayview Village in North York, Toronto and it was so relaxing and gorgeous that I just had to share my experience! Below is a picture of the tea lounge.

I got a custom facial for my first treatment which was pretty standard and and felt super nice, and then my second treatment was something called a ‘Turkish Bath’. This is the description of the treatment on the Hammam Spa website:

“Cleanse your body and soothe your spirit with this purifying and refreshing ceremony, modelled on one of the world’s oldest cleansing traditions. Center yourself in our steam room before heading to our calming Turkish suites. Lay on a heated marble table while hot and cool water treatments stimulate your senses. Feel renewed as you are exfoliated with a Céla exfoliating mitt, then experience deep cleansing as layer upon layer of moisturizing bubbles are gently placed on your skin, leaving you softer than silk. The treatment concludes with a final cleanse with stimulating eucalyptus black soap. To finish, unwind in the tea lounge with warm tea, baklava, and Turkish delight — a perfectly sweet ending to this ethereal experience.”

So basically you start in their steam room for 15 minutes to get all your pores open and ready for cleansing. This steam room was SO cool. It is a big room with gorgeous Mediterranean looking tiling and a big pole in the middle where the steam generates. It gets SO steamy in there it was kind of hard to breathe in there sometimes (but I liked it hehe), and you could only see about 1 metre in front of you. It had cool LED lights that changed colours and really soothing music playing. It was so trippy in there it felt like a mild LSD trip with the combination of steam, lights and music LOL.

Then I went into this gorgeous marble room with a marble table that I lay on. They give you disposable underwear to put on and a small towel to cover your boobs, so you’re basically naked. It starts with the splashes of warm and cold water, and when I say ‘splashes’ it’s literally an entire bucket of water poured all over different parts of your body. It’s mostly the hot water that is used but you also get a few cold splashes of water on the top of your head, back of your neck, and all over at the very end of the treatment (but the water really isn’t that cold, more refreshing). After the first few splashes, she then takes an exfoliating mitt and work on my whole body from head to toe. My skin was SO soft after, not a trace of dead skin was left.

The next part was my favourite. Your whole body gets covered in bubbles!!! Legit you look like the Michelin Man, your body is completely covered and you can feel them dissolving over your body it and it actually feels really nice. When the bubbles are still on you, they will take a black soap and cleanse your entire body with it as it mixes with the bubbles. It feels SO soft on your skin and they kind of massage your body as they do this. After that they splash you with more water to rinse, and have you lie on your stomach so they can do it all over again for your back. And as I mentioned before, the treatment concludes with a final splash of cold water on your front and back. After the treatment, I went into the steam room for one last steam.

This was unlike anything I’ve heard of before and it was such a unique experience. It’s not something I would do all the time (it really is just a glorified shower) but it’s definitely a luxurious treat from time to time. The next time I go I want to try a clay wrap!

I definitely recommend the Hammam Spa for any of you Toronto readers. It’s a little pricey but definitely worth it for a day of luxury!

That’s all I have for now!

xoxo,

Sarah

 

The Mask of Magnaminty by Lush

I have never tried a Lush face mask before despite wanting to for years! I have no idea why it took me so long but nevertheless, here we are with my first Lush mask review.

I chose this one because it is one of their best sellers and probably one of the most talked about in the beauty world, so I thought it was a safe bet. The texture is really thick like a clay or mud mask, and then it has chunks of ground up beans for an added exfoliation property. Since it has mint in it, it obviously feels super cooling and tingly when you put it on which I always love in skin products. This mask uses Kaolin clay however it doesn’t completely dry on the face like other clay masks, it dries to semi-dried sticky consistency.

This is the description of the product on the Lush Canada website:

“This tingly, minty face and body mask was formulated to be intensely cleansing but never harsh or abrasive. Kaolin clay and peppermint oil rid your pores of debris, giving you a delightfully tingly clean sensation. We add loads of ground aduki beans to exfoliate flaky or dry skin, vanilla absolute to calm redness and honey to soothe and moisturize.”

So from this it claims to unclog pores, exfoliate, relieve redness and moisturize. I’ve noticed that it definitely helps unclog pores because of the physical exfoliation that I get when I wash it off. I went for a facial the other day and my lady said that the best thing I can do for my skin is to use physical exfoliators along with chemical exfoliators since I had so many clogged pores. I think this has definitely been helping with that. I don’t have too many issues with redness so I can’t really speak to that, and it definitely feels moisturizing as my skin doesn’t feel tight after I rinse it off like it does with some other masks.

What I love about Lush is that all the ingredients are natural and the packaging is super eco-friendly, but because it’s all so fresh the product expires a little quicker than other brands that aren’t all natural.

I’m excited to try more Lush skincare in the future, I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!

That’s it for now,

xoxo

Sarah

I Tried 3 Setting Sprays To Get Rid of Shine – By Marisa Chiorello

When I was younger and first started using makeup, my staples included: Foundation, pressed powder, blush, and black eyeliner (the darkest I could find, actually). Over the years, my staples changed somewhat, as I began experimenting with different trends. Recently, I’ve noticed that my face tends to appear shiny very quickly. This shine mainly occurs in my T zone. I’m more of a matte type of girl, so I researched some products that could help me solve my shine problem. So, now, I’ve added setting spray to my makeup staples. I’ve tried three separate setting sprays; bye, bye shine!

NYX Professional Makeup Setting Spray, $6.89.

I’m definitely a sucker for drugstore makeup, because you can’t beat the price and it’s still high quality. At first, I was a bit apprehensive while purchasing the NYX setting spray. The bottle is pretty small, and I was worried it wouldn’t last me more than a few weeks. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This setting spray lasted 3 months! You’re definitely getting more than you’d expect.

Overall this setting spray was nice, lightweight, and it didn’t have an unpleasant odor. It promised a matte finish, which is exactly what I was looking for. However, it didn’t last all day. Within a handful of hours, I noticed that my face was shiny again. I’d touch up with pressed powder and spray some more on my face.

I do love the fact that this setting spray is cruelty-free, and vegan. Will I purchase this setting spray again? Yes, I find that it works well!

 E.l. f. Cosmetics Matte Magic Mist & Set Spray, $5.00-$7.00.

                

I really love e.l.f.’s plumping lip gloss, so I decided to go with this brand for my second setting spray. This setting spray comes in two sizes, small, and large. The prices are still very reasonable regardless of which size you choose. I went with the large bottle, since the NYX setting spray was small. Much like NYX, e.l.f.’s setting spray is cruelty-free. It also didn’t have an unpleasant odor.

This setting spray definitely took the shine out of my T zone. It also lasted longer than NYX, but I still found myself having to reapply. It moisturized my face when I used it, because it contains aloe, green tea, cucumber, and vitamins A, C, and E.  So, not only did it keep me shine-free, it was also really good for my skin! I would definitely purchase this one again!

You can find e.l.f’s setting spray on their website or at your local drugstore.

Morphe Setting Spray, $16.00.

This is BY FAR my favorite setting spray! I am so in love! Actually, obsessed! Although it is a bit pricy, compared to the other setting sprays, it is SO worth it! I didn’t have to reapply any makeup or setting spray after using Morphe. My face stayed perfectly shine free! Also, the bottle is pretty large, and since I only need to use it once a day, I expect this spray will last me a long time.

Do you want to get rid of that shine? Let me know which setting spray you choose?

Until next time,

Marisa  

$300 Worth of Tatcha Skincare! A Review

My sister bought these Tatcha products for herself a little while back but she said that they broke her out, she even waited to see if it was just an initial breakout like you get with some products. Unfortunately after a couple months of use she was still breaking out so she decided it was due to these products and that maybe they would work better for my skin type. I was definitely interested in giving it a try and I knew Tatcha was an expensive brand so I was kind of excited that I didn’t have to pay!

The first item is called ‘The Essence Plumping Skin Softener’ and it retails for $124 CAD. This has an extremely thin and watery texture so initially I thought it was a toner. It actually is quite different and still requires a toner before hand. After toner, I apply this to my face by quite literally pouring it right out of the bottle onto my face because it is that thin, and any other method risks losing product (people actually advise against using a cotton pad with this). This is supposed to boost the effectiveness of all your other products that you use, and has ingredients in it that help target aging (never too early to start) and uneven texture and dullness (that’s me!). It definitely makes my skin feel hydrated but I truthfully haven’t seen any crazy or drastic differences after the few months I’ve been using it for. However, I do like the idea that it makes my other products sink in better, I feel like I spend less time patting in products when I use this because it helps things sink in rather than just sitting on the surface.

The next item is the ‘Violet C Brightening Serum’ which retails for $114 CAD. This is a high intensity vitamin C serum which has 20% vitamin c and 10% AHA. Vitamin C is known to reduce the appearance of dark darks and uneven skin. I’ve always incorporated some type of vitamin C into my skin routine and while this stuff is good, I can’t say that it is any better than anything I’ve used in the past and all of those are about a third of the price! I would honestly save your money on this one as there are vitamin c products that are way cheaper and work just as good. You can get these ingredients from the ordinary for like $5 bucks a pop.

All in all, I like the stuff for sure but I definitely don’t think it should be worth $300! I will use the products until the end but I won’t repurchase them on my own, it’s just not worth the price to me! But it was fun to try and it’s fun to use luxury products every once in while.

That’s it for now!

xoxo

Sarah

I Tried Three Facemasks Celebrities Swear By – By Marisa Chiorello

Hey there beautiful souls!

If you’ve read some other posts from me, you know that I love sharing my makeup tips with you! I believe that makeup is a form of self-expression and I enjoy transforming myself with the products I use. I’m not a beauty guru per se, but I do love makeup.

Another thing I love is skin care. After all, skin care is super important. If you don’t take care of your skin, it can become dry, rough, and dull. Additionally, you can experience an increase in acne. So, I focus on my skin just as much as I focus on the makeup products I place on my skin. Recently, I tried three facemasks that celebrities swear by. Here were my results!

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Super Hydrating Sheet Mask, 3.99

 The first mask I tried was the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Super Hydrating Sheet Mask. I’d like to send a special thanks to Mandy Moore, who recommended this mask on her Instagram. It’s super affordable too, thanks Mandy!

Now, I typically shy away from sheet masks because the last time I used one, it irritated my skin. However, this one felt amazing! This Garnier sheet mask is safe for sensitive skin and contains hyaluronic acid, green tea, and products found naturally on the skin.

If your skin is dry, or you have enlarged pores, this is the mask for you. My skin was extremely moisturized, calm, and soft in a matter of minutes! I felt refreshed and my skin certainly thanked me. I could even feel a difference in my skin the following day.

How To Use: This sheet mask is easy to use. First, make sure that your skin is clean. I used my daily facial cleanser and then dried my skin. Next, apply the mask with the blue side on top. Then, peel off the blue film. After that, smooth the sheet over your face, so it covers it completely, and contours to your face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Once 15 minutes is up, take off the mask and smooth any excess product into the skin.

You can find this sheet mask at Ulta, Walmart, and your local drugstore.

 

Clean & Clear Night Relaxing Jelly Eye Sheet Face Mask, $2.50

This second mask is another affordable one. This isn’t a full-face mask and I realized that once I opened the package. This mask covers half your face, almost like a superhero, haha. But, this is because it targets your eyes. I definitely needed this mask because I fall victim to puffy under eyes, especially when I’m really tired.

I used this eye mask before bed. It contains seaweed extract, which is known to de-stress and relax the skin. I placed the mask on and began to feel a cooling sensation. It was pleasant, not irritating. I left the mask on for 15 minutes and was pleasantly surprised with my results. After using this mask, my skin felt softer, particularly under my eyes. They were still a bit puffy, but as I continued to use the mask every night, I saw a difference in the puffiness under my eyes.

If your eyes need extra moisture, I recommend this eye mask.

Thanks to Kate Hudson, I found this one! You can pick it up at Walmart.

 

Glamglow’s Supermud Clearing Treatment, $59.00

This last facemask was the most expensive, but totally worth it. I heard of this facemask a while ago, thanks to Vanessa Hudgens. This mask is for you if you experience acne and oily skin. It contains Kaolin clay, activated-x charcoal, and the Super Six Acid Blend. All of these ingredients help with clogged pores and dead skin build-up. After using this mask, my skin didn’t feel moisturized like with the others. Instead, I noticed that my face looked clearer and my pores were diminished. I will definitely use this mask when my skin begins to break out, and I need to fight those pesky pimples!

You can find this mask at Sephora or on Glamglow’s official site.

Until next time,

Marisa

The Body Shop Haul

I have an unhealthy obsession with body products that make you smell good…

If you read my last body shop haul you know that the Tahitian Tiare hand soap is one of the best smells in the world in my opinion. It was probably sent from the gods, it’s that good. It is one of my favourite smells ever and I found out that it comes in a body wash too, so I knew I had to get it.

And naturally when I was in the store I got distracted with face masks, and I picked up two more. The first one I picked up is the ‘British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask’ This is a gel like consistency with real rose flakes in it. It’s super hydrating and it smells really good (like roses obviously). I would say it’s a dupe for the Peter Thompson Roth Rose Stem Cell Repair Gel Mask. It’s nice for when my skin is feeling super tight and needs an extra boost of hydration before I carry on with the rest of my skincare routine.

The next one I picked up is the ‘Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask’. This mask is white and has the consistency of cottage cheese with some oats in it (appetizing I know…). The first thing I noticed about it is the smell SUCKS. The scent is not my jam but I wanted to try it to see if it did good things for my skin. It dries all the way like a clay mask would, and when you wash it off the grains in it exfoliate your skin to remove any dead skin. I did notice that my skin was pretty smooth after! However I don’t know if the smell is worth it since I have other polishing masks that pretty much do the same thing.

I love the body shop because the quality of ingredients is pretty solid and it’s a lot less expensive than going to Sephora for one. These sell for $28 CAD plus HST which is pretty good considering the average mask at Sephora is anywhere from $60-$80 depending on the brand.

I can’t wait to see what else the body shop has in store!

That’s all I have for now!

xoxo

Sarah

Pixi Tonic Waters

Hello again lovely readers!

I was in need of a new Glow Tonic from Pixi, so I went to Shoppers Drug Mart to pick it up, and then I saw this little value pack of minis that includes two others types of tonics. I thought this would be a fun and easy way to try the other ones without breaking the bank.

Each bottle contains 1.35 fl oz and it costs $33.00 CAD plus tax. I knew I loved the glow tonic so I was excited to try the other two. I wanted to give a mini review of each and explain how they do different things for my skin.

Glow Tonic: This is a 5% Glycolic Acid toner which is meant to chemically exfoliate all the dead skin off so you wake up with super smooth skin. The exfoliating properties also help to lighten dark marks. Truthfully sometimes I use this stuff instead of a face cleanser when I haven’t worn makeup all day, and I feel like it gets the dirt out of my face and I don’t wake up with pimples. It does sting a little bit when you first put it on, but that quickly subsides and eventually the redness does too. This is why I recommend to use this only at night, and use a strong SPF during the day.

Vitamin C Tonic: This tonic is infused with Vitamin C which helps to brighten the skin by reducing dark marks, and it also contains Aloe Vera and various fruit extracts to help hydrate the skin. It smells like lemons and it feels really hydrating on the skin. Vitamin C is a natural exfoliant so this also has exfoliating properties but without the burning sensation the glycolic acid gives you. After a few hours of putting this tonic on, I noticed my skin was a lot less red, the dark marks somehow magically looked less dark, and the rest of my skin just looked much whiter and brighter. I really like this tonic for the morning time, especially on days where I don’t wear makeup.

Rose Tonic: This tonic is infused with rose extracts which is known to hydrate and nourish the skin. Rose extract also has redness reducing properties because of the calming effect it has on the skin. I like this toner for when my skin feels extra tight after washing my face and I feel like I need an extra boost of hydration.

I love Pixi products and I really want to try more of them when I run out of all my other skincare items.

That’s all I have for now!

xoxo,

Sarah

I Tried Affordable Products Celebrities Swear By – By Marisa Chiorello

Hey beautiful souls!

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with trying different brands and types of makeup. For me, personally, makeup is just one of the many ways I express myself. So, I definitely do not wear makeup for other people, only for myself. If you’ve read my previous posts, you know that my makeup consists of liquid foundation, concealer, loose powder, bronzer, blush, mascara, highlighter, and a pop of colour on the lips. Recently, I ran out of some of my makeup staples, but I decided to do something different. Instead of purchasing my usual brands, I purchased some drugstore makeup and products that celebrities swear by. Yes, some celebrities are just like us! I couldn’t wait to try these affordable goodies.

L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara ($9)

The first product I purchased was L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara. The celebrity who swears by this drugstore mascara is Vanessa Hudgens. I thought it was fitting to begin with this actress and singer because many people say I look like her. According to Vanessa, “you can really layer [this mascara] on for tons of volume and length.” She was right about this! I used three coats of this mascara and loved how long and thick my lashes looked. They almost looked like fake lashes! I also love how affordable this mascara is and the fact that it’s waterproof. Thanks to Vanessa, I’ll be using this mascara everyday and purchasing more once I run out.

L’Oréal Paris Enchanted Paradise Blush, $13

I stayed with L’Oréal for my blush. The celebrity who uses this blush is Camila Cabello. I chose Camila because we have similar skin tones so I knew this product would look great on my skin. It sure did! I loved this blush because it’s easy to apply and really complimented my skin tone.  It wasn’t too pink, or too bright so I didn’t look like a clown, haha. Not to mention, it smells delicious!

 

Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick, $9

Recently, I’ve been using plumping gloss, butter gloss, and Kylie Cosmetics gloss in Cinnamon. However, I miss my lipstick, so I decided to pick one up. I went with Covergirl’s matte lipstick. The celebrity who uses this lipstick is Lorde. I’m not sure what shade Lorde uses, but I opted for Pink Paws. This lipstick is so worth it, especially for the price. It glides on smoothly and easily. I love the colour, the fact that it’s long lasting, and it’s comfortable. It doesn’t dry out your lips or become clumpy after wearing it for hours. The pop of colour was magical, too.

 

Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes, $5

The next product I purchased was makeup-removing wipes. Ariana Grande swears by these wipes and uses them everyday as part of her facial cleansing routine. I was very pleased with these makeup-removing wipes. They took off all of my makeup without making my face feel dry. Also, my face didn’t burn which is what normally happens with makeup-removing wipes. These wipes even smelled delicious.

 

Eco Style Gel Olive Oil, $3

 

I’ve recently been using Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Defining Lotion, but I noticed that this lotion does not fight against my curl’s frizz that well. Actress and activist, Yara Shahidi loves this gel. She said it’s “the most efficient,” gel and what helps her get her amazing curls. Not only is this gel super affordable, but also it’s lightweight and doesn’t make my curls hard and stiff. Instead, it fights frizz, hydrates my hair, and makes my curls soft. I have my best hair days with this gel!

 

Pacifica Super Green Detox Kale & Charcoal Detox Facial Mask, $4

Self-care is super important, and that includes taking care of your skin. When I think about skin care, I don’t think of just washing and moisturizing my face, I think of facemasks, too! I picked up a kale and charcoal detox facial mask. The celebrity who loves this mask is actress and singer, Lea Michele. After trying this mask, my face felt lighter, smooth, and moisturized. I love how affordable this mask is. It’s also cruelty-free and uses a lot of ingredients that are good for your skin, such as Vitamin C and Green tea.

Let me know which celebrity staple you want to try!

Until next time,

Marisa