Quo Beauty Glowy Lip Balm Review

January 25, 2022 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m reviewing the Glowy Lip Balm from Quo Beauty – one of Shopper’s Drug Mart’s / Pharmaprix’s in-house beauty brands. If you follow me on InstaGram, you will have seen that this was part of a mini haul that I did earlier this month. [info in italics taken from the Shopper’s website]

Treat your lips to a sheer natural lip colour. Formulated with moisturizing rosehip seed oil & hyaluronic acid to help plump your lips over time. The formula reacts to your unique chemistry to provide your perfect shade.

I’m a lip balm addict as you probably know. And with mask wearing, I’ve barely work lipstick, but I always wear lip balm, and have been loving tinted lip balms lately. The Glowy Lip Balm is available in three shades: Blush 03, Coral 10 and Punch 27. I purchased the shade Punch, which turns into a pretty pinky shade on my lips. It is hydrating and very mildly plumping without the tingle.

The packaging is reminiscent of the Dior Addict Lip Glow – who am I kidding, it is a very much a knock-off of the Dior which has more shades, and costs $44 CAD versus $10 for the Quo Beauty version. I haven’t tried the Dior one, so I can’t comment on how they compare formula-wise.

Have you tried the Quo Beauty Glowy Lip Balm? Or the Dior Addict Lip Glow?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure – I purchased this!

e.l.f. Cosmetics Wow Brow Tinted Brow Gel Review

October 26, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m reviewing the e.l.f. Cosmetics Wow Tinted Brow Gel. I purchased it a few weeks ago, and have been wearing it daily ever since. [info in italics taken from the e.l.f. Cosmetics website]

What is it? A buildable, fiber-infused tinted brow gel that makes your natural brows look fuller.

Why we love:

Buildable wax-gel formula with brush
Gives you full, voluminous-looking brows
Available in 5 easy-match shades

Natural eyebrows that wow! This buildable wax-gel hybrid is enriched with Kaolin Clay and hair-like fibers that adhere to and enhance your brows. Brush and shape the tinted gel into place and your brows will immediately appear voluminous, fuller, and naturally filled in. Can be used on its own or as a topcoat over brow powder or pencil.

This is a fantastic tinted brow gel – it looks great on its own, or paired with an eye pencil for a more defined and dramatic look. I chose the shade Deep Brown and I think that it is a perfect match for me as I prefer my browns to be dark (but not black). It adds volume and control but doesn’t make my brows look or feel “crunchy”. The small spoolie brush makes it easy to apply to the tails of my brows (where I need it the most).

A great budget friendly brow option in my opinion.

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

Essence Cosmetics Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara Review

October 18, 2021January 26, 2022 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I have a review of the Essence Cosmetics Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara – I purchased it recently and have been testing it out daily. [info in italics taken from the Essence website]

say bye bye to those panda eyes and hello to clean volume and defined lashes! this mascara is made to last all day without smudging or clumping with our tubular formula. plus its easy to remove with just warm water. vegan. paraben free. oil free. perfume free. alcohol free.

Based on the description of the Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Smudge-proof Volumizing and Defining Mascara, this sounds like a great mascara for me. If you’ve been reading abrashattitude.com for awhile, you will know that I am very very picky about mascara. I have long, super stick-straight lashes that are quite light in colour considering my natural hair colour is dark brown. I use a lash curler and I need a mascara will hold a curl. My eyes are sensitive, and water easily so any mascara that I use must be smudge proof, and water resistant. I’m trying not to use waterproof mascara these days.

I have seven requirements for a mascara, and I’ll comment on each requirement and score each point. So how did the Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara measure up?

1. waterproof / water resistant +1 surprisingly water resistant, yet easy to remove

2. smudge-proof +1 no panda eyes for me!

3. non-flaking / non-clumping +1

4. must be DARK black (not blackish, not brown black, and definitely not grey black) +1 Super dark black!

5. volumizing +1/2 not as volumizing as I had hoped, gives beautiful length though

6. must hold a curl +3/4 It holds a curl ok, wish it was a better hold

7. non-irritating to my sensitive eyes +1 no itchy eyes!

Overall I would give this mascara a 6.25 out of 7. I like it a lot, and I hope that as it dries out, that the curl holding power and volume will increase.

Have you tried this mascara, did you like it?

Thanks for reading,

Disclosure: In case you missed it at the beginning of the post, I purchased this!

Pixi Correction Concentrate (Colour Correcting Concealer) Review

October 5, 2021October 4, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Pixi Correction Concentrate - Colour Correcting Concealer

Today I’m reviewing the Pixi Beauty Correction Concentrate Colour Correcting Concealer that I bought last week and have been testing out daily. It is supposed to be a drugstore dupe for my well-loved Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Corrector that I’ve been purchasing (and re-purchasing) since 2016. I was looking for a dupe because Becca Cosmetics had announced that they were closing in Fall 2021. Smashbox just announced that they will be releasing both the Under Eye Corrector and the Shimmering Skin Perfector in October. [info in italics taken from the Shoppers Beauty website]

Highly pigmented, this correction concealer instantly erases darkness, softens and blurs lines. Skin immediately looks fresh, rested, bright and youthful. This ultimate ‘good night’s sleep in a jar’ camouflage cream is correction perfection in a pot.

Instantly erases dark circles & blends magically into skin tone. Concentrated correction cream instantly neutralizes darkness around eyes or anywhere that needs brightening. Contains vitamins A, C & E and rose hip extract. Paraben free. Not tested on animals.

On the package it says that this is for medium skintones – I didn’t notice this until I got home, and was a little nervous as I’m on the light end of the skintone spectrum! The Pixi Correction Concentrate is a similar peachy salmon shade as the Becca Brightening Corrector, and it works well to blend away my dark circles.

It isn’t as creamy as the Becca, but I always wear eye cream, so it isn’t a problem for me, and I haven’t had any issues with creasing or dryness. I’ve tried applying and blending it out using my fingers, a sponge, with a concealer brush and with a foundation brush – it works well with all application methods that I’ve tried. I think that it is a good budget friendly dupe!

Have you tried this one?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane Review

August 20, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m reviewing the Retinol 1% in Squalane from The Ordinary. I’ve been using it for several weeks now, and I purchased this to replace Press Restart – Gentle Retinol Serum from Versed. [info in italics taken from Deciem’s website]

This water-free solution contains 1% pure Retinol, an ingredient that can reduce the appearances of fine lines, of photo damage and of general skin aging. While Retinol has been studied extensively, it is irritating to the skin and newer technologies exist that mimic the visible effects of Retinol without causing skin irritation.

Retinol can cause significant irritation, redness and peeling, especially around the eyes and mouth, in the early stages of treatment while skin builds tolerance. If you have not used high-strength retinol formulas in the past, we strongly recommend that you start your retinol regimen with our Retinol 0.2% in Squalane and adjust to higher strengths of Retinol 0.5% in Squalane and Retinol 1% in Squalane as your skin builds tolerance. You will achieve the same end results without the unpleasant redness and peeling along the way.

The Ordinary has several different Retinol based serums, ranging in strength and irritation risk levels. I’ve previously used and loved their Advanced Retinoid 2% Emulsion, which later became the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (moderate strength, low to no irritation). The Retinol 1% in Squalane is their highest retinol formula (high strength, and very high irritation risk)!

Wait a minute, high irritation risk? Don’t I have sensitive skin – I know, I know! I did my patch tests – first on my wrist, and then on my neck and chest, before trying it on my face. This retinol does not irritate my skin! I think that the squalane actually works to counteract the irritation risk, and my skin is quite used to retinoids / retinols.

I like this one, I feel that it does help with fine lines, and my skin has not been prone to redness, irritation or peeling after using several nights a week (for several weeks), I only skip using it if I’m using an acid formula. My skin seems to be far less sensitive these days – I guess that my current skincare routine is making my skin very happy!

If you are new to retinoids / retinol or have super sensitive skin – this is not the product for you, I’d recommend starting with either the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion or the Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane, and using every couple of nights until your skin adjusts before moving onto the stronger Retinol formulas. As always, retinol should be used at night, and always followed by sunscreen in the daytime as retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You should be wearing SPF daily anyway!

Have you tried this one?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% Review

August 17, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m reviewing the Pycnogenol 5% serum from The Ordinary. I purchased it several weeks ago because it was a new to me ingredient that I was curious about! [info in italics taken from The Ordinary website].

Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract derived from the pine bark of French maritime pine trees. It contains procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids that work in synergy to rejuvenate the skin, with the aim of enhancing skin hydration and elasticity. With the ability to selectively bind to collagen and elastin, Pycnogenol® protects these proteins from degradation, helping to nourish the skin from the inside out. Being a unique and powerful antioxidant, Pycnogenol® scavenges for free radicals before they cause damage by oxidative stress. It can also recycle oxidized Vitamin C to restore its activity. The Ordinary Pycnogenol® 5% is free of artificial colours. The formula’s deep red colour is due to the high procyanidin content in Pycnogenol®. After application, please wash hands and avoid product contact with light coloured fabric as it may stain.

So in a nutshell, it provides: Antioxidant Support, Enhances Skin Hydration, Rebuilds Skin Elasticity

This serum / solution has such an interesting colour! It can be mixed with other serums and creams to give them boost, but I’ve mostly been just applying it on its own or layering it with other serums (which also boosts the performance of whatever it is combined with). I feel that it really does help increase skin hydration. And I love that it can be used both day and night.

Have you tried this budget friendly serum?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

Garnier Whole Blends Curl Care Shampoo + Conditioner Review

July 14, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m reviewing the Garnier Whole Blends Curl Care Sulfate Free Shampoo + Conditioner with Royal Hibiscus and Shea Butter. Since Garnier recently became a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free brand, I’ve been trying out a few things. [info in italics taken from the Garnier Canada website]

Garnier Whole Blends Curl Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Experience up to 72 hours of deep care for curly hair. Blend in royal hibiscus to define curls and blend out sulfates and parabens. Sustainably sourced ingredients and bottle is made of 100% PCR and is recyclable. Blended for you. Blended for the environment.

The Curl Care Shampoo lathers really well considering that it is sulfate free. It hydrates my hair and makes it feel super clean and easier to manage.

The 5-in-1 Curl Conditioner can be used in several different ways – 1. Pre-Wash Treatment, 2. Co-Wash, 3. Conditioner, 4. Combing Cream and 5. Leave-In Conditioner. I’ve only been using it as a traditional conditioner so far, and it leaves my hair feeling soft, less tangled, and hydrated without feeling weighed down or heavy. The conditioner is thick and rich.

The scent is beautiful, and not overpowering, the shea butter scent is stronger to my nose than the hibiscus, but they’re both there. I also love that both the shampoo and conditioner have pump bottles, so much easier to deal with in the shower!

A great budget-friendly, drugstore option for wavy to curly hair!

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

FLOWER Beauty Bitten Lip Stain Swatching – Tempt

July 12, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I’m swatching the Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain in the shade Tempt. After trying and reviewing the shade Coy, I went ahead and purchased another one from well.ca [info in italics taken from the Flower Beauty website]

The new Bitten Lip Stain gives you stay-all-day color with an innovative hydrating formula.

Our unique water-based, hydration-packed, and gluten-free formula has gentle staining pigments that apply like a gloss and stays put like a stain with non-feathering wear. The lightweight gel-like texture moisturizes lips upon application and then dries down to a long-lasting comfortable tint. Apply with the plush doe foot applicator to luxuriously cushion and coat lips.

These lip stains come in six different shades: Saucy (hot pink), Play (magenta purple), Coy (coral pink), Sass (violet pink), Sweet (pink) and Tempt (dark magenta). This time I purchased Tempt, and I absolutely love it. This one doesn’t feel as watery as Coy did, but it has the same long wearing finish and manages to still feel hydrating when it dries down. And it doesn’t smudge underneath a mask!

And yeah, I’ll probably order another shade the next time I’m ordering something from well.ca.

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: In case you missed it at the beginning, I purchased this! And I’ll probably do it again!

Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara Review

June 22, 2021 | jodi - a brash attitude

Hello, hello – welcome to / welcome back to A Brash Attitude!

Today I have a review of the Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara – I purchased it in my last mini haul from well.ca. [info in italics taken from the Flower Beauty website]

LASHES GO ROYAL with soft, fanned-out volume and lavish lift. Our exclusive royal hourglass brush lifts and coats every lash from root to tip for silky, luscious lashes. Our buildable, clump free formula thickens, curls and volumizes for a full coverage lash look fit for a princess. One coveted shade, rich and hyper pigmented sets a new standard in darkness.
100% saw lush, thick lashes*
+112% soft, fanned-out volume*

Based on the description of the Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara, this sounds perfect for me. If you’ve been reading abrashattitude.com for awhile, you will know that I am admittedly so mega picky about mascara. I have long, super stick-straight lashes that are quite light in colour considering my natural hair colour is dark brown. I use a lash curler and I need a mascara will hold a curl. My eyes are sensitive, and water easily so any mascara that I use must be smudge proof, and water-resistant.

I do like the hourglass brush, it works well with my eye shape, and allows me to get all my lashes coated, even the tiny ones.

I have seven requirements for a mascara, and I’ll comment on each requirement and score each point. So how did the Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara measure up?

1. waterproof / water resistant +1 Not waterproof, but it withstood my watery eyes, so quite water-resistant

2. smudge-proof +1 Not a waterproof formulation, but no smudging!

3. non-flaking / non-clumping +1

4. must be DARK black (not blackish, not brown black, and definitely not grey black) +1 Super dark black!

5. volumizing +1/2 I was disappointed that it did not give my lashes better volume

6. must hold a curl +3/4 It held a curl, but not amazingly well

7. non-irritating to my sensitive eyes +1

Overall I would give this mascara a 6.25 out of 7. If it held a curl better and had better volume, I would have scored it higher. I like it, but it’s not a holy grail mascara for me.

Have you tried this mascara, did you like it?

Thanks for reading,

Disclosure: In case you missed it at the beginning of the post, I purchased this!

a brash attitude

Have a beautiful day!

Budget friendly

Quo Beauty Glowy Lip Balm Review

e.l.f. Cosmetics Wow Brow Tinted Brow Gel Review

Essence Cosmetics Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara Review

Pixi Correction Concentrate (Colour Correcting Concealer) Review

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane Review

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% Review

Garnier Whole Blends Curl Care Shampoo + Conditioner Review

FLOWER Beauty Bitten Lip Stain Swatching – Tempt

Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara Review

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