Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer & Refreshing Eye Cream - Review

I am BACK with another skincare review. I've been into skincare a lot lately so I've been trying out new products.

I have always wanted to try out the origins skincare line and I have two face masks from them which I love. So as always, since my skin is sensitive to new products, I got a sample of these two one day when I was shopping at Sephora (again as always haha) and lucky enough at the checkout I had more than enough points to get their big reward and it was a box with different origin products including these two. So i had these two pretty big jars AND the samples haha so I had more that enough of these two to try out and have an opinion on them and of course write a review for you all.

I really like the face moisturizer. It`s light weight with a gel like consistency. It doesn't feel greasy and it absorbs quickly. It moisturizes really well and smells and feels refreshing on the skin. I actually really like it. I just feel like it didn't do anything spectacular for my skin for it to stand out compared to other moisturizers I have tried before. Don't get me wrong, it is a really nice moisturizer and it was nice to try it out and get the feel for the product, but I just don't think I would pay over thirty bucks for it.

Now the eye cream I LOVE! I've seen actual change when using this product and I was really impressed. It has sort of pink-ish salmon sort of tint to it but it doesn't cover anything like concealer so let's not get carried away haha. It also has a slight shimmer or glow.. whatever you want to call it. It`s not glitter or anything that obvious but it definitely helps to brighten my under eye a little bit.

I know I said I've seen actual change with this eye cream and I absolutely have. It was one of the not so many mornings where I woke up with red puffy eyes because I had cried the night before. I did my "morning ritual" and used this eye cream under my eyes and also on my eyelids. I didn't really think about this until I looked into the mirror again and my eyes looked normal. Like I had dreamed about my eyes looking puffy. I was really shocked and also impressed. Now I don't know how long it took for it to work because I wasn't really expecting anything but the result was pretty amazing.

The ingredients include coffee beans so I'm pretty sure the caffeine is what energized and helped the puffiness and redness.

Overall, I really enjoyed both of these products. The face moisturizer I probably wont repurchase. The eye cream is a definite repurchase from me. It's actually on my next Sephora shopping list.

Have you tried anything from Origins? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
♥

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque - Review

Today I'm doing a quick review of the Mint Julep mask by Queen Helene which I'm sure a lot of you know about. I had my eye on this for a long time which was about 2 years ago to be exact? so I searched and couldn't find it anywhere that sold it in Toronto. So lucky me, when I was in Buffalo, New York for vacation, I was able to go to Walgreens and I found this there so I was really happy about that. But now I have mixed opinions on the product you guys... sort of a like/ dislike relationship. I don't say love/hate because I don't love it nor hate it. My feelings are not that strong to use that term. 

It applies on the skin pretty smoothly as long as my skin is damp or even wet. If my skin is dry and I use this, it just clings to one area and not cover the skin easily. It gives my face a cooling sensation and it smells like mint which is good. It removes easily with warm water. My skin feels smooth after and I actually like it. Now the part I don't really enjoy about this is that it's REALLY hard to squeeze this product and get some out. It hasn't dried or anything but jeez I practically have to set it on the counter and squeeze this with both hands and put some weight on it to get some product out. That is just ridiculous. Now I don't know if it's the packaging or what and if it's just me or if anyone else has this issue but it's just not acceptable. I wouldn't repurchase this product just because of this whole issue... I don't care if I like the mask and how it makes my skin feel...

Well... looks at that, this was not such a quick little review after all. It just shows I can't talk a little about a product. I just have to include everything. Well that's me!! you gotta love it I'm sure hahahah

Have you ever tried this mask? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
♥

Sephora Collection Jumbo Liner 12HR wear Waterproof - Review & Swatches

10 Green, 04 Taupe, 11 Turquoise

Today I am reviewing the Sephora Jumbo Liners which are actually some of my favourites. In summer I tend to tone down my makeup a lot and most days I'm just without anything on my face except Sunscreen!! But there are days that I like to look more put together whether it's for work or just hanging out with friends or whatever is going on. So my go to eye look is usually a natural matte cream shade on the lids, warm brown or like a grey brown matte shade in the crease and one of these liners on the top lash line just like you would do with a black eyeliner. Some times I go for a thin line and sometimes I do it thick. 

These jumbo liners are just what the name says JUMBO! haha but I make it work both ways. It needs to be sharpened so I sharpen the tip for a thin line or use the side for a thicker look. They go on very smoothly and effortlessly. It's creamy but it doesn't slide off either. Doesn't tug on the eye and it is very pigmented and also true to the colour of the packaging. It's just perfect. they set quickly once you`re finished applying it. When they set it doesn't go ANYWHERE!! In my opinion these are smudge proof, waterproof, even tear proof if you ask me! But the good thing is that it removes easily with eye makeup remover. I don't have to tug on my eyes or rub that hard...it just comes off effortlessly.. SCORE!! haha 

10 Green, 04 Taupe, 11 Turquoise

Here I did big swatches for you guys so you can see how pigmented they are, how true to the colour of the packaging it goes on the skin and also these come in shimmer and no shimmer? I'm not sure if they are matte so don't hold me on that but the three I've got have sort of shimmer but not really? I don't know.. well they reflect light but there's no glitter either so yea...moving on.

10 Green, 04 Taupe, 11 Turquoise

A while back I did another review on some other waterproof eyeliners I had and I did the same test with them so I decided to do it again for this one. I put my hand under warm running water and actually rubbed them a little, honestly nothing changed but the fact that the skin of my hand kind of hurt because I was trying to somehow smudge them or remove them and nothing would do. I removed it with eye makeup remover in the end... see my point? these are absolutely amazing!!

The only thing I could say that some people might be a little put off is that it needs sharpening. It is not retractable so that can be the only negative but then I have never had issues with sharpening this. Yes there are other eyeliners I've tried in the past that are creamy and needs sharpening and it's a mess... It gets stuck in the sharpener, then the pencil breaks and just a headache... BUT I honestly have never had any issues with this getting stuck in the sharpener or anything. When I sharpen them, the actual wood thing of the pencil and the eyeliner stick together so I was really impressed when my sharpener was clean after using it.

I am looking forward to look for more colours next time I'm in the Sephora store. maybe expect a swatch post? we'll see ;)

Yeah, well I can go on and on about these eyeliners but I'm going stop my rambling. 

Have you tried any of these eyeliners? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
♥

Tarte Double Detox Amazonian Clay Exfoliating Facial Mask - Review

I'm all about face masks. I want to try them all and find the best for my skin. Today, I am talking about the only mask that Tarte has in their line. I got a sample of it a while back and liked it so I purchased the full size and I have to say, I really enjoy this product. You could say I am a Tarte junkie? because I want everything they have in their line and I have a good amount of products from them. (reviews to come in the near future..yay)

It has a not too thick not too thin pasty consistency with exfoliating beads. A little goes a long way with this stuff. I use about a pea size or so and it covers my whole face pretty much. The beads do mild exfoliation and they are not harsh at all. If you are looking for a "harsher" exfoliate this is not for you but then this is a mask so I don't count it as an exfoliating product anyways so yea that's that!

I usually put this mask on my face for about 15-20 minutes because let's be honest, the first 5-10 minutes of it I just forget all about the mask until it's dry and I can feel it tighten on my skin which by then it's time to wash it off. I use warm water to remove this mask. It makes my skin smooth afterwards and does not irritate my skin at all. Also, my sensitive skin doesn't have any weird reactions to it which I am very happy about so far. I have a few masks to finish first, but as soon as those are done I will definitely buy this again!

Have you tried this mask? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
♥

Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Foundation & Concealer - Review

Soooooooo I'm BACK!! It's been a long time I know but life happens and all that so lets move on and get to this blog post. I have a lot and I mean A LOT of new makeup and other goodies and I am so excited to review them and tell you my opinion.

Today I'm reviewing the first Physicians Formula foundation I have ever tried. I actually really like how the packaging looks. It does have a dropper applicator which is interesting and I have no problem using it but I suggest being careful with it otherwise I assume it can get messy.

It has SPF 15, the foundation feels light on the skin and it also held up great throughout the day. It has a scent that I'm not sure how to describe but it doesn't smell bad what-so-ever and it doesn't linger on the skin after you have applied it. It has light coverage, looks natural and it also gives a natural glow AND it doesn't accentuate any dry areas on my face, so I say it's great for dry skin types .

Also the foundation serum comes with a tiny brush which don't even let me get started on that... because it just doesn't work at all! it's too tiny and takes for ever to do the whole face and it's just a no go foundation brush...

The concealer that sort of comes with the foundation hence the packaging and all, it's a good concealer for the under eye area but as in covering dark spots on the face.. it's just too thin for that. but I think it does a nice job with brightening the under eye area. This also has SPF 15 like the foundation. 

I have the foundation in Medium and the concealer in Light/Medium. The shade selection is really small or it is in my drugstore. For the foundation there was only Light and Medium. For the concealer there was Light and Light/Medium. So the shade selection in my opinion is pretty bad. It wont match a lot of people I'm sure. I was lucky or fortunate or whatever to be able to get a shade to match me.

So overall, I think I have said everything I had to say about these two. I do like the foundation. It actually is one of my favourites from the drugstore and that is a big deal because everything I try somehow I just don't like it. The concealer is okay. It's not the best I've tried but I can make it work.

Have you tried anything from Physicians Formula? What are your thoughts on it?

Lots of love,
Dina
♥