Featuring: Lashem Measurable Difference Lash Gel Serum

I am a lash and lash-growth junkie so I was extremely excited when I stumbled upon this product. Not only is it all natural products (and hence, does not need the FDA approval), I've seen some great before and after photos. Even though this is a bit pricey compared to say Urban Decay's Lush Lash System, Rimmel's Lash Accelerator, or what have you, it is about the same price as the "real deals" like RapidLash or Latisse. It was definitely a “it's-meant-to-be” moment because they were having an Easter promo when I stumbled across this. With that promo, I received 20% off my order. Shipping to Canada is at a reasonable flat price at $8. They shipped using FedEx and I did not get charged customs on it.

The material of the box reminds me of the material of the NARS powders. The tube itself is a long, grey-chrome tube. Very sleek. The girls at Lashem also has a YouTube channel. They have a little commerical on there that you should check it out. It's pretty funny! Give their website a look if you are interested in a new lash growth product. This one seems promising. I will update you guys later (I am currently still using my Talika Lipocils).

XO Nicole

Sephora Haul (Clarisonic, Shiseido, Josie Maran)

I placed this order because I was running low on my Cover Fx Pressed Mineral Foundation powder. Although I love that Cover Fx provides great coverage without being cakey and the shade matches me amazingly, I was ready to try a new powder. The reviews on this powder are nothing but great so I had to try it out. 

Shiseido The Makeup Powdery Foundation (in shades O20 & O40) - What is cool about this product is that the powder is sold separately from the compact itself (although I believe a lot of Shiseido (powder) products are sold like this). I really like Shiseido for doing this; not only it is more eco-friendly, and I think it just goes to show how confident they are in their products to believe that customers will keep repurchasing. The case is sold separately for $8 CAD. I did not buy the case just yet because I wanted to make sure that I did like the powder enough to repurchase it in the future.

I bought two shades because I was not sure how I matched – this is an online only product so I had no way of swatching and seeing it in person. 

Cleansing Brush Head Value Pack (TYPE: Acne- excellent for acne-prone skin types) I am down to my last Clarisonic brush head so I was happy to see that they offer this value pack of 4 brushes for $75 . Of course, I chose the acne brush heads. This is a great deal because one brush head is $29 CAD (and a twin pack is $48) .

When I placed this order (prior to the Sephora ChicWeek sale), they had a promo for a deluxe sample of the new Josie Maran Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil. I have been so curious about her products so I thought this was a great opportunity to try a product of hers.

Having made this haul, I controlled myself and skipped the Sephora ChicWeek sale, which is fine with me since I didn't have much that I wanted and needed to get. (Random fragrance rant ahead!) The only real thing I need is a new spring/summer fragrance. Last year, it was Marc Jacob's Lola. I was thinking about LaVanila Pure Vanilla but it does not lasts on me and I barely smell it throughout the day. I am really falling for Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb. I love the bottle (hello, it's a pink grenade!) but at the same time, every girl out there wears it! I'm quite torn! 

XO Nicole

Maybelline Color Whisper by Color Sensational Review, Photo, Swatch

Maybelline Color Whisper by Color Sensational is a fairly new line of lip products. The concept of this line is that there is less wax yet the colour payoff and the gloss factor is still to be amazing. I am not much of a lip product person so it did take me a while to try these out. I purchased these three when they were on sale for $6.99 CAD and on a buy 2 get 1 free promo. London Drugs (a Canadian drugstore) had only a limited selection so I had a bit of a hard time deciding which ones to choose. A lot of them were the red shades so I had to stick with the nudes and a mauvey pink one. I picked up Lust for Blush 25, Some Like it Taupe 15 and Petal Rebel 60. I intended to pick up Bare to be Bold 10 but I accidently got Some Like it Taupe instead. I have since exchanged Petal Rebel for it.

I rarely use Some Like it Taupe because it is a bit too brown and orange for me but Lust for Blush is the one I keep in my purse and is a lip product (besides lip balm) that I actually use.

I prefer my lip products to slightly blank out my lips and I perfer them to be not be super glossy and shimmery (ie. With glitter – which is a problem I find with the Revlon lip butters and L'Oreal's Colour Riche Balms and Colour Caresse).

Lust for Blush is perfect because it is a mauve pink so it's not like a bubblegum pink like Petal Rebel and I can just tap it onto my lips if I don't want a full out pink lip and if I don't want too much of a gloss. I love how it looks on my lips because it blanks out my lips just a little bit without making me look dead. I never thought about using pinks to blank out my lips but I really love the look I get with this product.

XO Jenny Nicole

Drugstore/Whole Foods Haul

Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner 

Heritage Products Rose Petals Rosewater Spray

Calgon Ageless Bath: Exfoliating Mineral Scrub and Soak -  Exfoliating your body is key to achieving a more realistic and seemless tan with gradual tanning lotion, which is my method for a sun-kissed glow in the summer. This scrub sounded like it would be really pleasant - "scrub and soak" - and it's a really large tub and it was on sale; I couldn't say no.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation - I searched high and low for Bourjois' Healthy Mix Foundation, specifically in SDMs because they are the only ones that carry Bourjois here in Canada, but it seems that they only have the serum version. I was desperate for a new foundation so I purchased this one anyway. I got this in the shade 52 Vanilla. Hopefully, the shade matches and that it won't turn out to be a hot mess on my oily skin. 

I am aware that Asos.com sells this in addition to the original/non-serum version but they are all out of my shade at this time. I contacted Asos about restocking the shades but they told me that they don't restock their items. I believe it was an automatic reply because I don't think that this is true for beauty products so I will be keeping my eye on the product page. This cost me $27 CAD whereas it only costs $19 ($17 for non-serum version) on ASOS and they ship for free.

XO Jenny

Drugstore Haul (Spring Empties Follow Up)

This shopping trip was well needed to replace most of the "necessities" that I have used up (see previous posts). Some stuff were extra but nevertheless, justifiable. Most of these items were purchased at Walmart with an exception to a couple things that were purchased from London Drugs.

Goody Classics Mini Claw Clips - I love these mini claw clips and must have them with me at all times. Needless to say, I break these easily and even though I can do with one missing claw, it always bothers me, I don't know why. I am glad that Walmart had these again (for a period of time, I couldn't find them anywhere or they were too expensive). This pack costs $4 CAD and comes with 9 clips.

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - The two organic lip balms that I finished up  during last semester left me wanting something more exciting. While people may not think Burt's Bee is exciting, I was really looking forward to trying their lip balms because I have never done so. London Drugs was having a Buy 1 Get 1 promo on this duo pack so I decided that it was a sign for me to finally try them. Of course, I get tired easily and need something new so I am not anticipating that I will use all four chapsticks by myself, unless they're life changing - which I am doubtful.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Face Powder in Translucent Light - I've gone through 2 Dream Matte Powders (by Maybelline) and so I was ready for a change. I decided to try this powder because it had good reviews (on MakeupAlley) and because it is made by PF, I thought it would have good ingredients. Though I have never really tried PF products before (because it is quite pricey for a drugstore brand) but I was under the assumption that they had this kind of a philosphy. However, this product contains parabens (as does the Dream Matte powders), but every powder that I have looked at (that are also affordable/from the drugstores) contains some kind of paraben so I guess I will have to live with it. I also wanted to try Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder but that does not come with a puff or a mirror. The puff and the mirror is essential for me in a pressed powder because it's the one face product that I am most likely to bring with me so I want it to have dual-function.

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Expert Face Brush - I got overly excited when I saw that London Drugs now carries the individual brushes (both LD and Walmart initially only carried the collection sets). We all know that I do not need anymore brushes, especially buffing/synthethic foundation brushes because not only do I have my Sigma brushes waiting for me to use but also because I don't even wear foundation on a day to day basis - though I have recently been longing to buy a new foundation. I guess this was a sign of my itch to start wearing foundation again.

Aveeno Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer - This was crazy expensive for a drugstore moisturizer but because I have been breaking out for some unknown reason, I wanted a moisturizer that would help with my breakouts. This moisturizer has salicylic acid in it.

Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening System - Trying a new whitening system/impulse buy (I was initially going to buy Crest Whitestrips but this was on sale so I took that as a sign...)

XO Jenny