RAVE: “Sephora Favorites” sets!

If you’re hesitant in splurging on full-size items (like me) at Sephora then you will love their “Sephora Favorites” sets! Sephora’s been selling these sets for years now & if you haven’t picked one up yet it’s only a matter of time until you see one you like! These boxes of treasures are awesome because you get a few full-size products along with a handful of deluxe-size products for a pretty reasonable price point! Correct me if I’m wrong, Sephora Favorite sets are sold all year round but around the holidays Sephora releases bigger & better sets exclusively for the holiday shoppers. 🙂

The two sets I picked up last month are the “Superstars: Everyday Must Haves” & the “Lashstash: Mascara Wardrobe.” I’ve purchased a few Sephora Favorites sets in the past for eyeliners & lip products but these two sets are the best yet! After using some of the products for a month now I can finally share my thoughts & first impressions.

The Superstars set are Sephora’s bestsellers. It includes everything for the eyes, lips, & face! I love how this year’s Superstars set comes with the original BeautyBlender since I was about to replace the old one I had anyway. I’ve always wanted to try the hyped-up ABH Brow Wiz, which was one of the full-size products in this box & I can say I’m a fan now! I will always love my ABH Dipbrow pomade but the Brow Wiz is perfect to take along with me in my purse for touch-ups. I already have the UD setting spray, Smashbox Photo Finish primer, & the Hoola bronzer but these deluxe sizes are perfect to pack for traveling! It was my first time using the rest of the lineup & so far I’m really digging the KVD Lock-It setting powder, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear cream shadow stick, & the Marc Jacob gel eye liner. I’m planning to purchase these in full sizes. 🙂

I highly recommend this set for people who are new to makeup because you get a ton of high-end quality products to play with! This set is also a perfect gift for those makeup junkies on your holiday shopping list! Who doesn’t love more new makeup!?!

This set contains:
– 0.003 oz/ 0.085 g Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
– beautyblender® The Original beautyblender®
– 0.1 oz/ 3 g Benefit Hoola Bronzer
– 0.03 oz/ 0.9 g Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink
– 0.19 oz/ 5.4 g Kat Von D Beauty Lock-It Setting Powder
– 0.035 oz/ 1 g MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder
– 0.01 oz/ 0.37 g Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer
– 0.06 oz/ 1.8 g Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella
– 0.5 oz/ 15 mL Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
– 0.13 oz/ 4 mL tarte™ lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara in black
– 0.08 oz/ 2.3 mL Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick in Sell Out
– 1 oz/ 30 mL Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
– 0.08 oz/ 2.5 mL Yves Saint Laurent Touche Èclat Radiant Touch in 2 Luminous Ivory

Rating: 10/10 — Retails for $90 CAD (Total value of $268 CAD)

Up next is the “Lashstash” which includes a pair of Huda Beauty’s famous “Samantha” false lashes! ❤ I already have a few pairs of the Sasha & Samantha falsies but I can never have too many Huda falsies. 😉 I really wish this set included in a lash glue or a lash curler to complete the “lash” look, even if that means it would cost a little more. What I’m more disappointed in is the fact half of the mascaras in this box are as small as the free mascara samples you get during those minimum purchase promos which is hard to justify the price tag of this set. It was my first time using the Sephora LashCraft: Length & Volume mascara & it’s amaaazing BUT it’s also the tiniest one in this set so it was hard to really test it out. It’s smaller than its $6.00 mini size sold at Sephora which I think they might as well packed that in the box instead. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this kit because I’m always finishing up tubes of mascara & this kit allows me to try out a handful of new high-end mascaras. 🙂

This set contains:
– 0.3 oz/ 8.5 g Benefit Cosmetics Rollerlash in Black
– 0.25 oz/7.3 g Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara in Black
– 0.16 oz/ 4.85 mL Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Expert Mascara in Black
– 0.13 oz/ 4 mL Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black
– 0.06 oz/ 2 mL Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Mascara in Asphalt Black
– 0.06 oz/ 2 mL Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara in Black
– 0.14 oz/ 3.9 g Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black
– 0.08 oz/ 2.5 mL MAKE UP FOR EVER Excessive Lash in Black
– 0.094 oz/ 2.8 mL SEPHORA COLLECTION Lashcraft Mascara in Black
– 0.85 oz/ 24 g Huda Beauty Classic Collection Lashes in Samantha #7

Rating: 8/10 — Retails for $58 CAD (Total value of $158 CAD)

Xo, Beans

Do Silisponges Really Work?

Recently, I picked up a few things from Winners & one of the beauty items I got was a Silisponge! (aka Silicone Sponge) I believe the “original” Silisponge was by Molly Cosmetics & it was out of stock for the longest time. -_- But now you can find them almost anywhere in different shapes & sizes by all sorts of beauty & non-beauty brands. I recently saw Milk Makeup & Forever 21 had their own version. The one I purchased was by a brand called “Urban Studio” which I’ve never heard of before but these “sponges” all look & feel the same I assumed. I was curious to try this out since it wasn’t obtainable when Molly Cosmetics introduced it. Also, for $ 5 bucks CAD & I don’t need to wait for shipping & etc., etc. why not?! 🙂

I followed the instructions on the box & put a few drops of liquid foundation ON the dry Silisponge. I wasn’t too impressed with the process to be honest. These “sponges” claim to reduce & save excess product but I feel like I had to use EXTRA product for areas that didn’t get evenly distributed. (Unless I’m using it incorrectly I don’t know???) I find it very difficult to blend with & my skin didn’t absorb the foundation flawlessly as opposed to using a buffing brush or the Beauty Blender. The Silisponge just drags the liquid foundation left & right creating a blotchy mess sitting on my skin. Since it doesn’t really blend, the foundation looked thick & cakey despite how many times I swiped & swirled around my face. I felt like I was causing premature aging to my face from all the tugging & pulling lol! Then I tried the dabbing technique & that didn’t work either, it made stamp-like marks on my face which looked even worse.

 I had watched several YouTube videos for tutorials & was prepared to try this gimmick-y tool myself even though many reviews weren’t very positive but curiosity got the best of me as always haha! I saw YouTubers opting for silicone bra inserts since they’re kinda the same concept, those videos gave me a good laugh in a good way. 🙂 A pro I agree is that the Silisponge is super easy to clean with just some water. You can reuse it right after by simply lightly patting it dry with a towel compared to waiting a day for makeup brushes to air dry & repetitive squeezing the Beauty Blender until it’s in its cleanest state.

My final verdict is I will just stick with my traditional Tarte foundation brushes & my Beauty Blender as those tools actually work best for me. I think using fingers to apply the foundation would have the equivalent result if not better. I will keep this Silisponge on the side & maybe try it out again. Maybe one day I will be able to master the proper techniques & love this little pad of silicone but that future doesn’t seem so bright haha! I’m just glad I didn’t have to pay more than a few bucks on this sponge after knowing it’s “just okay”. I think Silisponge should be spelled Sillysponge, no? 😛 I would love to know if any of you use this & whether you have any tips to share with me! 🙂

Rating: 3/10

Xo, Beans

MARIO BADESCU Skincare – First Impressions/Review

It’s been a minute! 🙂 Today I am back to share my first impressions on a few Mario Badescu skincare products I ordered online from BeautyBay.com! I’ve used these products for a week so I think I can give a brief review with my opinions. 🙂 Mario Badescu is a cruelty-free skincare brand with over 40 years of history & a favourite amongst A-listers. His products are crafted with high quality botanical ingredients that targets every skin type & concerns to bring you outstanding results & complexion! The prices in his brand range between inexpensive to reasonably priced. It’s hard to find high end botanical-rich skincare that won’t break the bank! It’s nearly impossible to purchase Mario Badescu products in Canada *Thank the retail lord for online shopping!* I had to do some intensive researching on the Internet to find an online merchant that carries an extensive range of Mario Badescu products especially with the famous Drying Lotion in stock!

I stumbled upon a online store BeautyBay.com (based in the UK) which sells UK & international brands such as BH Cosmetics, Dose of Colors, Eyeko, Jeffree Star, L.A. Girl, Makeup Geek, Morphe, Ofra, RCMA, & Sigma just to name a few! (Brands that are hard to find/not sold in Canada) They also offer many brands that Sephora carries as well. It’s definitely worth checking out if there’s a beauty brand you’ve been searching for because you just might be able to find it on BeautyBay.com! 🙂 I find most brands priced accurately while there are some brands overpriced than if you were to buy it off directly from their company. So you might want to shop around & do some comparisons before you click the “Add to bag” button. They do offer low international shipping rates & free shipping to Canada on orders of $26.00 CAD+ which persuaded me to decide this website is THE one! 😉

Now let’s get back on track! The first item I want to talk about is Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. I’ve read many great things about this MB facial spray so this was on my shopping list ever since I’ve discovered my obsession for rose-scented facial sprays. My current bottle of Fresh Rose Floral Toner is running low & I was planning to purchase another bottle from Sephora. However, a bottle of the Fresh toner costs a whopping $49.00 CAD for 250 mL meanwhile a large bottle of MB’s facial spray costs $20.30 CAD for 236 mL. (It also comes in a 118 mL bottle for $13.80 CAD) So far, the MB facial spray has been alright. The fragrance is a tad strong for my liking however the scent does fade away within seconds. The packaging isn’t anything fancy as you can see above & kind of too large to comfortably hold in the palm of my hand. I think the smaller version would’ve been more enjoyable. Fresh’s toner has a more subtle scent & the bottle is much easier to use. One thing that MB beats Fresh over is it comes with a secure clear cap & Fresh doesn’t have one. Fresh comes with a screw-on cap which you can switch out the mister for but that’s just a hassle to pack. The MB version is definitely more travel-friendly.

***Suitable for: All Skin Types*** Rating: 7/10

Next up, I want to talk about the “Cucumber Make-Up Remover Cream” which sounded interesting when I saw it online. I’ve used face cleansing gels, oils, & wipes but never in a “cream” form. The thought of using cream makeup remover sounds messy but I was wrong! It looks, feels, & smells like your typical body lotion but this bad boy takes off ALL your makeup effortlessly & effectively with a cotton round! I didn’t feel any tugging & it wasn’t greasy at all as I had expected. On the packaging it doesn’t indicate anywhere whether it’s for removing any makeup but it does state for removing eye makeup. It still works great removing my face makeup so whatever, right?! The gentle formula is tailored for dry and/or sensitive skin so it’s non-irritable & moisturizing. The refreshing cucumber extract creates a cooling & soothing effect on the skin after usage. The one thing I don’t like is how it doesn’t come with a spoon/scoop to extract the cream onto a cotton round, so make sure your fingers are super clean! I bought this for $19.50 CAD. 🙂

***Skin Types: Dry & Sensitive*** Rating: 9/10

Here, I have the “Eye Make-Up Remover Gel Non-Oily” which was another great find! As titled, it’s a non-sticky eye make-up remover. I would’t call it a “gel” but it’s not totally a cream either. It’s like a thin slippery cream??? Again, no tugging & no irritation with this remover on my eyes. My lids felt soft & moisturized, & there was no makeup residue left on my eyes. The best part is this formula claims you can reapply makeup immediately after using! :O For $13.90 CAD I wish this 59 mL squeeze bottle came with more in a bigger size. 😦 I feel like I will finish this sucker in no time because I love it so much! 🙂 This bottle is perfect for traveling because it’s small & comes with a “flip tip” that prevents unwanted spills!

***Suitable for: All Skin Types*** Rating: 10/10

Saving the best for last is the famous Mario Badescu Drying Lotion!!! 😀 In the image above it’s shaken up because I literally took a picture right after I unboxed the package. The formula is suppose to stand upright with the pink portion sunk to the bottom & the clear liquid sitting above it. To apply, you simply stick a clean cotton swap to the end of the bottle & dab the pink substance onto those stubborn pimples! I let mine sit on my skin for a few minutes before going to bed to avoid smearing it all over my pillowcases & I was able to see results the next morning!  The size of the pimple had flattened & shrunk, it also appears less red. It’s a pretty magical product & I’ve seen Kate Somerville sells a near identical version at Sephora. I purchased the MB plastic bottle version because it was recommended over their traditional glass bottle. Many reviewers prefer this plastic version because it features a wider opening making the application process less tricky & messy. The weight is significantly lighter & easier to travel with since it won’t shatter! I purchased this for $25.80 CAD which is pretty on par with most online retailers I found.

***Suitable for: All Skin Types*** Rating: 10/10

The best part with this first purchase experience was the amazing freebie! Who doesn’t love free stuff!? During the time, there was a promotion where when you spend $35.00+ on MB productions, you are eligible to receive this handy MB-themed faux leather pouch filled with 3 deluxe samples (Super Rich Olive Body Lotion, A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap, & Seaweed Bubble Bath & Shower Gel ) & a compact mirror. The pouch & the mirror don’t look or feel cheap since most free stuff are. The size of the bottles are slightly bigger than the ones you get at the hotels but the scents do remind me of hotel soaps haha!

I’m very happy with this purchase & I will definitely shop on BeautyBay.com again for more MB products & other beauty brands they have to offer. I only wish I found this website sooner & heard of MB’s flawless creations earlier! I think the prices are fair due to its utmost simple packaging yet traveller-friendly designs. I hope to see more products to be released by MB! 🙂

Xo, Beans

SPOILERS! 🙊 – What to expect in my upcoming posts 😉

HI! If you have been following my blog you might notice a few changes with my page setup now. I had some free time last night to tweak my blog & give it a mini facelift because the previous layout was a tad too simple & boring for my liking. I hope you guys are digging this new theme I found on WordPress as much as I do, feedbacks are welcome. 😅 I’m still a noob trying to figure out how all these bells & whistles work *Good thing there’s Google!* 🙏🏻 I’m still in the process of learning more about WordPress but so far it’s been really cool seeing everybody else’s inspirational work & dedication on here!

There are so many “imaginary blog posts” on my mind that I want to upload but I’ve been super busy with work & life that I’ve been putting it off. 🙍🏻 *Sorry guys!* Trust me, I want to keep my blog as active as possible, too bad I don’t have any volunteer ghostwriters. 😝

In the meantime, I’ve created a ongoing to-do-list to remind myself of what to upload in the near future & I promise there will be a LOT of reviews, swatches, & ratings that I will be sharing. Just to name a few topics, I will be discussing about drugstore favorites, skincare, nail polish, haul from Daiso, & much MUCH more! 👏🏻

Just this past weekend, I did some compulsive-impulse online shopping & I’m too excited to not drop spoilers! I am expecting packages from Forever 21 (clothing), QUAY Australia (Sunglasses), ColourPop makeup), Mario Badescu (skincare), & Kaitlyn Pan (shoes). I will be uploading all of the hauls once I receive the items so please stay tuned to my page & hit that “Follow” button if you haven’t yet! 💁🏻

Have a great day & thank you bunches for visiting my page! 👋🏻