Curiously Carmen

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Loose Finishing Powder

Loose finishing powder is a product that everyone should have in their makeup collection because of how versatile it is. You can use it for its main purpose, which is to set your makeup over your foundation. Or, you could wear it by itself for light coverage.

I also find finishing powder more breathable than liquid foundation, maybe it’s me and I’m just making that up?

Today, I will be talking about Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy ‘Bake, Brighten & Set’ Loose Finishing Powder! I received this along with many other Hard Candy products, which is why you’re seeing an influx of Hard Candy reviews lately.

What it says (Taken from PR release):

Bake, Brighten, and Set your makeup with this multi- functional loose banana baking powder. “Baking” is a makeup artist technique that prevents creasing and gives a natural radiance to your undereye area. Five minutes is all you need for a bright, crease-free undereye that lasts all day!

Application: Application for this was a tad bit messy. The powder was very finely milled, so when i tapped my brush, I got a lot of product and had to gently tap some off. When tapping it off, the powder flew around so I would recommend doing this over the sink.

Wear: I would describe this as a light coverage. It felt comfortable on my face throughout the day, and I forgot that I was wearing it. Since it is a setting powder, I used my L’Oreal True Match foundation under it.

Overall, I did enjoy using this product and would continue using it again for casual days! Since it is a light coverage, I wouldn’t use this as a setting powder if I was going out to a big occasion. It’s also a great price at only $6.98 CAD!

  • Lightweight and comfortable on the skin
  • Great price at $6.98 CAD

  • Hmm… can’t really think of any. I guess if you’re a person who prefers medium-heavy coverage, than this product wouldn’t be for you?

Yay!

Product Empties – Summer 2017(Part 2/2)

After 3.5 years of blogging and not having a single product empty post, I am now back with two in a row! How funny is that =P I would love to write more empty posts, if only I could finish products fast enough. But I will try to motivate myself and write another one in the fall.
 I’ll also link the original review if possible, in case you’re interested in reading more about the product!
Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant: I mentioned in the past empties post that products lose its effect on me after prolonged use, which is why it’s hard for me to write empties often! Anyways, I found this deodorant to be okay… Well, it was good at first but then I got tired of the scent. I only buy deodorant on sale so if this is line is on sale and there aren’t other scents I like more, I’ll get it.

Would I repurchase? Meh… if on sale I would.

Amie Deep Cleansing Mask: This is not a well known product at all, and I don’t even think they sell it in Canada despite saying so, but I LOVE it. It’s great for breakouts! I received it twice as a PR sample, so I actually went through two bottles. Since they don’t sell it in Canada and I loved it that much, I decided to order it online which is rare for me. Anyways, it took over a month but it’s finally here.

Would I repurchase? Yup, already did!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner: Hah! This goes without saying… my go-to liner that will never disappoint me. My absolute makeup staple.

Would I purchase? I lost track of how many times I repurchased this! Actually I repurchased this for the 23423th time last month, except they were out of this one so I tried the new felt tip. No problems at all with the felt tip!
Crabtree & Evelyn Handcream: I really enjoyed this handcream, and will probably keep an eye out for when it goes on sale again!

Would I repurchase? Yup!

Weleda Evening Primrose Body Wash: Surprisingly, I finished this body wash pretty fast! Well maybe not surprisingly, body wash is the easiest to use up because I shower every day…. and I hope you do too! Anyways, I never ended up writing a separate review for this body wash which I kind of regret, because it’s amazing. I wrote a review on their day and night cream which works really well too.

Would I repurchase? Yup!

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Stay tuned for the next empties post… coming to you in another 3.5 years! LOL jk, I am going to make a huge effort to write another one for fall!

Product Empties – Summer 2017 (Part 1/2)

I am so excited and happy to finally be doing an empties post! The first ever on my blog! Well obviously I have finished products before this but there weren’t ever enough at once to write a post about it.

Why am I so excited? Because excluding my daily products of brow pencil and eyeliner, it takes me a super long time to finish products! I’m talking like… a year… or more because I only use my brow pencil & liner everyday, and I like to switch up my face products, foundations, etc.

I find that if I use the same moisturizers, face wash, deodorant, etc.. it slowly minimizes their effect because my skin has gotten used to it. And I know I’m not the only one because I’ve heard about it from Youtubers!

Anyways, enough rambling… Even more great news, I managed to have enough empties to do TWO blog posts! So I will be doing a part 2, because I hate super long blog posts!

Estee Lauder DayWear Matte cream: I have been using this on and off due to trying and testing new moisturizers. But when I don’t have any new ones to try, I can always rely on this to moisturize my skin! This cream is more of a gel and feels very light weight.

Would I repurchase? Yes!

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion: I talked about this product three months ago. It is a bit odd that I can finish a moisturizer in three months, but this thing is super tiny! It is a very gentle moisturizer, with a hint of almond scent. Here is my original review on it.

Would I repurchase? Yes!

Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner: This product has been tossed around from makeup area to various makeup bags, traveling, etc… that the print is completely gone and the smudge tip is long gone. It wasn’t one of my favourite eyeliners because it smudged easily. By the end of the work day, I would have a bit of a raccoon eye. Honestly don’t know why I kept using it, but at least it’s finally done.

Would I repurchase? Nope!

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser: I received this as a present 2 Christmases ago, and I finally finished it! I LOVED this cleanser. It’s very gentle, but also removed my full makeup looks effortlessly. As well, it never dried out my skin. I liked to “save” this for occasions when I wear a full face of makeup because it’s $15 for a travel size. Although now that I think about it, that’s cheap compared to other face products at Sephora. Here is my original review on it.

Would I repurchase? Yup,  in fact I bought another one two weeks ago!

St. Ives Apricot Scrub: Okay, this is like a washroom staple… I say this because I’ve seen many homes carry this product (Yes, I notice what products people use when I go to their washrooms LOL). Plus, it’s a very affordable price and works really well! I started off using this scrub on my face, but over the years, my skin became slightly more sensitive and this was too harsh.

So, I ended up using this as an exfoliator for my body to prevent ingrowns, pimples, etc.

Would I repurchase? Yup, I ended up buying it in a jar format because it’s easier to use in the shower. As well, in high school, I bought this many times so you could say it’s definitely a staple for me!

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Stay tuned for part 2 of my empties! On a side note, I didn’t know that talking about empties was considered a weird thing to people who aren’t interested in beauty. In one of the Facebook groups I’m in, one blogger joked how we like to take pictures of our garbage and share it with others who love to see our garbage. LOL!!!

Hard Candy Stroke of Gorgeous Eyeliner Duo

I wasn’t sure what to title this post because the packaging had many different names on it. I ended up following what was labelled on the product itself. I have been trying out Hard Candy products this summer, so keep your eyes out on more Hard Candy reviews! This Hard Candy product is a double tipped eyeliner.

What it says (Taken from PR release):

This dual-ended eyeliner equips you with both a soft kajal eyeliner and an ultra-black long-wearing liquid
liner: everything you need for perfect eyeliner every time. Glide on the soft kohl kajal along the lash line’s inner rim and smudge to fade around the edges. Then, line top lash line with the blackest black, precision tip liquid liner for eye-popping drama.

Application: The application was one of the things I enjoyed most about the eyeliner! The overall feel of the liner reminded me of a felt marker in elementary school! So cute! The size is about the same as well.

Since there are two applicator tips, I will start with the felt tip. The felt tip was thicker than I was used to, but it wasn’t a problem. I wasn’t able to get a tight, precise line so I only used the felt time for winging out my liner. For the pencil/kajal (I’m describing it as a pencil because some people might not know what a kajal tip is), it was thinner so I used that to tightline and line the rest of my eyes.

Wear: Both tips were intensely black! I normally wear the blackest liner so this was right up my alley. However, I was quite disappointed with the wear. Within a couple hours, the liner started to crease and smudge. Overall, it did not look good or fresh anymore.

– Beautiful, intense black
-Both tips were easy to apply, colour glided on smoothly
-Good price at $7.98 CAD

-Lasted only two hours on me before it started to crease & smudge

Nay…

30 Beauty Questions Tag

I have some reviews in store this month, but I wanted to do more of a chatty, get to know me type beauty post. I found this one off The Beauty Section so all credits to their website!

30 Beauty Questions Tag

1 // Do you remember your first makeup item?

Hmm…. probably something from Claire’s! How I used to love Claire’s growing up! I loved their eye shadow palette and remembering using it before the school dances LOLOL.

2 // Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

I am very picky about mascara… and it’s not by choice, either. Mascaras tend to clump on me and I don’t even know why. In fact, I didn’t do a mascara review for 3 years because all mascaras I tried were the same! Until I found the Maybelline Lash Sensation. You can read my review here.

I just realized the answer didn’t really relate to the question… so my specifications would be one that lengthens, does not smear, and does not clump.

3 // What kind of coverage do you prefer from foundation?

I don’t wear foundation on a daily basis, probably occasionally now… but I have drastically cut back this year. My skin went through a sensitive stage in the winter and I’m trying not to wear much face products to make it flare up again.

However, when I do wear foundation, I prefer medium to full coverage. Since I don’t wear it often, go big or go home! I much prefer to stay home (and Netflix).

4 // Favorite high end brand?

Urban Decay 🙂 I don’t think I’ve tried a product from UD that I haven’t liked yet, and I’ve tried a lot! See what I’ve reviewed from UD here.

5 //What cosmetic brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

Deciem! Heard so many great things about the brand in the blogosphere.

6 // Favorite drugstore brand?

ELF and Maybelline!

7 // Do you wear fake eyelashes?

I wear glasses everyday, which makes it hard to. But I do sometimes when I wear contacts. They’re so fun!

8 // Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

I leave the house sometimes with no makeup… so no? But if I didn’t, it would have to be my eyebrows.

9 // What is your most cherised beauty product?

My Kat Von D liner! It’s my holy grail liner and I’ve repurchased it more times than I can count.

10 // How often do you shop for makeup? Do you like to pick up an item here and there or get lots of goodies at once?

Surprisingly, I don’t shop for make up often. I like to browse when I’m shopping, but I’ll only buy something if it’s either really cheap, or I’ve done research. Rarely do I spontaneously buy a high end product for no reason.

11 // Do you have a “beauty budget” or you spend freely? 

Since I don’t buy makeup often (my last purchase was 7 months ago), I would say I spend freely. If I was to buy products more often, such as once a week, then I would definitely have a beauty budget.

12 // Do you utilize coupons, rewards cards and sales when you shop for cosmetics?

If it’s online shopping, then yes. I only buy online if there’s free shipping codes.

13 // What type of product do you buy the most of?

Well I use my essence eyebrow pencil every day… so I go through that quickly! Second would be Kat Von D tattoo liner. Pictured below with some other essence products!

14 // Is there a brand that you absolutely can’t stand?

Haha!!! Hmm…. Let me think… I don’t think so actually. There have been brands with disappointing products, but none that I absolutely can’t stand.

15 // Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics like parabens or sulfates?

Nope

16 // Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Sephora!

17 // Do you like trying new skincare products or do you keep a certain routine?

I enjoy trying new skincare products so that I have reviews to share on my blog, but my skin is also quite sensitive these days which is why I try to limit the amount of new skin products I expose them to. When I’m not reviewing skincare products, I stick to a routine of my trusted moisturizers.

18 // Favorite bath and body brand?

Right now, it’s definitely Weleda! I discovered them through blogging last month and can’t get enough of their Evening Primose body wash. I only reviewed the Evening Primose day and night cream, but here is a picture of what the line looks like. The body wash has the same packaging but in a larger size.

19 // If you could only buy from one brand, which brand would you choose?

Kind of similar to question 4! Urban Decay hands down. I’ve tried many of their products, and have yet to be disappointed. I can definitely trust them to come out with reliable products.

20 // What brand do you think has the best packaging?

Cutest packaging award goes to Paul & Joe for sure!

21 // Which celebrity always has great makeup?

I don’t really follow celebrity make up trends or looks… but if I was to pick, the first that comes to mind is Kylie Jenner. Her makeup snaps are gorgeous and her Kylie products are great too!

22 // Do you belong to any online makeup communities?

Hmm… does Instagram count? Yes, I’m going to say it does. Apart from Instagram, the Canadian Beauty Bloggers Network, and some other Facebook blogging groups but they aren’t make up related.

23 // 5 Favorite Beauty Gurus

I don’t watch beauty gurus much so I can’t give you five! I only watch Weylie regularly 🙂

24 // Do you like multifunctional products like lip and cheek stains?

Yes! Why not? It’s a better value. Pictured below is one of my favourite beauty products ever. The Korres wild rose oil moisturizes my skin really well. When mixed in with a foundation, it gives my skin a beautiful, non-cakey dewy look!

25 // Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Nope

26 // Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Yes, always. My eyes get pretty oily.

27 // How many hair products do you use on a typical day?

On a typical day, I don’t use hair products. I’m boring. But I use Batiste dry shampoo sometimes!

28 // What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Concealer!

29 // Do you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Nope.

30 // What do you love about makeup?

I love that there are so many options and styles you can choose from, depending on your mood and preference. I also love that it gives me something to write about, because I love writing. It’s also a good conversation piece.

Again, credits to The Beauty Section for this fun tag. I would love to see your version as well, so let me know if you do this tag too.