Nivea Aqua Effect Mattifying Day Care Review

Hey Gals, here's my review Nivea Aqua Effect Mattifying Day Care! I was excited to find this new product to try and two lovely gals suggested that I review this product. :))

Packaging

First of all, I love that Nivea came out with a new line for combination and oily skin. I have tried their older combination skin toner (the blue bottle) and it did not work for me...broke me out as usual lol. The Aqua Effect Mattifying Day Care is described as an oil-free moisturizer for the day time that moisturizes the skin and also controls shine.

Front

Back

I've been using this product for about a month, and I would say that it's a decent moisturizer for controlling oily areas of the skin, but does not really moisturize the drier areas of combination skin.

Product - squeezed from tube

Pros:

• It's oil-free and doesn't break me out nor clogs my pores (big plus).
• Does a decent job of controlling shine. My face is noticeably less oily at the the end of the day when I use this moisturizer.
•  Subtle pleasant scent to this moisturizer. It's not the same scent as the Nivea Cream but it smells somewhat flowery.
• Product is in a plastic tube which is more sanitary than in a container.

Cons:

• The matte cream formula feels slightly heavy on combination to oily skin and has somewhat of a powdery finish on the skin. I get that it's supposed to be mattifying but I would have preferred a gel formula.
• Doesn't really moisturize the normal/less oily areas of the skin. It would be a little too drying to use in the eye area.

I got this product for $8.99 at my local drug store, but I've recently seen this for $6.47 which is a pretty good deal for a moisturizer.

Product - spreaded out

Product - blended into skin

Conclusion: I think this is a good moisturizer for mattifying oily areas of the face throughout the day. It would be good to use during the summer when the face gets oily (the shiny t-zone...lol) but it's definitely not moisturizing enough for the colder months. It did not break me out nor clog my pores which is pretty awesome.
Thanks so much for reading my blog. Stay tuned for more reviews. More updates on Twitter and Instagram!

xoxo,
Tina

Collective Haul - April and May

Hey lovelys, I want to share my haul for the past two months. Most of the products are totally new to me and I was really excited to try them.

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania

First off, I got the NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow in White Pearl. It's a really pretty and essential shade that I put on my upper and lower inner corners. I first discovered this on eBay and I was super happy to find that my local drug store actually carried this brand and I got this on clearance for $2 CAD lol.

The Body Shop Shower Gels - Satsuma, Pink Grapefruit, Mango, Strawberry

Next up, I got four shower gels from The Body Shop. I can never get enough shower gels...switching them up make my day more exciting lol.

Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Fine Body Mist

I am totally in love with the Twisted Peppermint line from Bath and Body Works. I know it was from the holiday season but while I was shopping I discovered a Bath and Body Works Outlet and this was 75% off (I believe it was $3.50 CAD).

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub is a product I have repurchased many times. It's non irritating on my skin and it exfoliates really well without making my skin more oily after an hour or so of use. The St. Ives Apricot Scrubs didn't work for me because it was too abrasive but didn't cleanse my oily combination skin properly. I highly recommend this one to try if you found the grains in the Apricot Scrubs were a bit too harsh on your skin.

Nivea Aqua Effect Mattifying Day Care

I have combination skin and my t-zone gets especially oily in the summer. I found this new product at my local drugstore and I thought I'd give it a try. I have yet found my HG moisturizer. A lot of stuff that I have tried just clogs my pores or breaks me out or it simply just doesn't do anything to my skin...

Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit

I saw this while randomly browsing at Shopper's Drug Mart. I haven't seen them carry this product before so I thought I'd give this a try.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation

Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation

Lastly, I got the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in Soft Beige and Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation in 250 Classic Beige. I am trying to find a good drugstore alternative now that I am halfway done Kiehl's Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer and I thought I'd give these a try. I will be doing a comparison of these two foundations. :)

What products are you the most excited to try? If you have any questions about the products ask away! Get updates on my Twitter and Instagram!

xoxo,
Tina

KOJI Dolly Wink Eyebrow Mascara 02 Mocha Review and Swatches

Hey all! It's been a while since I last posted. Okay here's my review of the KOJI Dolly Wink Eyebrow Mascara in 02 Mocha. Let me just say, I love the design of Dolly Wink products. The newer Dolly Wink products seem to have daisy flower prints on the products.

Pros:

• Nice pigmentation
• Does actually lighten my brows from black to brown with hint of gold
• Lovely packaging
• Completely waterproof - when you apply this mascara it dries and become rubbery but still feels natural. It will last all day unless you deliberately rub it off.

Cons:

• The shade is more of a coppery brown than golden brown. It's not going to make your brows look bleach blond but it still looks awesome.

I have been using this for more than 2 months and I have to say coloring your brows really does amp up your look. I have gotten complements on my brows and one of my friends thought I thought I dyed my brows lol. So if you want to lighten your brows for the day, it's definitely worth getting. There's another picture of me wearing this on Instagram.

xoxo,

Tina 

Follow my Twitter and Instagram for more updates! Feel feel to drop me a hello and ask away! :D

November + Black Friday Haul

Hey all! Just wanted to share my haul for this month and some pictures while I was shopping. :D

My Sasa package came and I got The Face Shop HERB DAY 365 Lemon Cleansing Foam (for all skin types) and the Koji Dolly Wink Eyebrow Mascara in 02 Mocha! Can't wait to try these out! Reviews coming up. :D I will attempt to bleach my brows before I use the eyebrow mascara.

I got the MAC Eyeshadow x2 from a good friend of mine from her school's Friends & Family fashion event. It's the MAC Colourizations Pro Palette in Double Feature 1.

I actually went shopping the day before Black Friday but some stores were already rolling out sales. I stopped by H&M and got this really cool pair of jeans for $10 CAD. I really like the wash and fit and great for wearing outside in the winter.

Forever 21 was having 50% off sale items so I two shirts for $6.99 CAD. The one above and another one with navy and orange stripes which I've already started wearing. The sleeves can be adjusted and rolled and buttoned up. ^^

These were taken on Black Friday! I was at my local Wal-Mart and saw these cute Christmas stuffed toys. :) The pony butt in this picture is unexpectedly hilarious :D

Check out the snowman with sunglasses ;D

So did you get anything on Black Friday? What's on your holiday wish list?

Hope everyone is having a great time and stay warm. :D
xoxo,
Tina

KATANI Oil Blotting Paper (Powdered) Review

KATANI Oil Blotting Paper - Powdered, front

Here's my review of the KATANI Oil Blotting Paper (Powdered) with pandas wandering on the packaging. How cute and random? lol

Back

There are 100 sheets in this package. The sheets thin and sort of like thicker version of tissue paper. One side is coated with powder and I didn't really notice any perfume scent with this blotting paper. The packaging is kind of flimsy and I would imagine the paper case might rip if you carry these around in your bag for a long time. ^^; Putting it back in the plastic wrapper should do the trick.

Front

Back

Comparing to Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, the KATANI Oil Blotting Paper (Powdered) sheets are thinner and less powdery. After trying this out I was very happy with the results. The powdered side did a really good job of absorbing the oil. I don't think it works as well as the Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets but it works a lot better than the non-powdered blotting paper I've tried and for only half of the price you get twice as much sheets as the Clean & Clear ones. I got this for 2.7 USD from Sasa.

Pros:

• Absorbs oil well
• Affordable
• Cute packaing

Cons:

• Flimsy packaging

Overall, I think this is a great product and is a good alternative to the Clean & Clear Blotting Paper. I would repurchase this.

-Tina