Category Archives for Hauls
Rare Beauty: What to Get and What to Skip
So: Rare Beauty launched at the beginning of September, and despite the initial assumption that this would be just another cash grab by a celebrity slapping their name on some mediocre makeup products (catered to preteens), it turned out to be pretty awesome and very fairly priced. I’ve gotta hand it to Selena Gomez and her team – I didn’t think I’d be purchasing anything from this launch, but after watching a bunch of Youtuber reviews, well, here we are. I’ve taken just over a week to test everything out myself, including wearing the products for a whole day to see how they last.
Some of these items I’m keeping, and some are getting returned. So let’s break down the good, the bad, and the…meh of Rare Beauty. (more…)
Korean Skincare Haul: Klairs + COSRX
It happened. I finally got into Korean skincare. Like many other people, I decided to use this time in lockdown to finally figure out my skincare routine. I’ve struggled with sensitive, acne-prone dry(ish) skin my whole adult life, and I’d like to get clear, glowing skin – once and for all. Plus, my thirties are just around the corner, and I’d like to have an effective and complete skincare routine sorted before then. (more…)
Sephora Sale Haul: My 5 Must-Haves
Sephora recently had their VIB sale, meaning 15% off everything for all VIBs and 20% off for VIB Rouge members. High-end beauty products are an expensive habit, so I try not to buy anything full price if I can help it. Especially when I know I’ll need to repurchase certain products again and again anyway. (more…)
Lash Stash: Koko Lashes Haul + Review
If you’ve been a longtime reader of my blog, you might remember my last lash haul from back in December of 2015. I bought 5 pairs from House of Lashes, and have been wearing them for costumes, cosplays, and special occasions (sometimes cut up, sometimes whole) ever since. Since I don’t wear lashes on a daily basis, they last me a long time. And lashes last even longer if you invest in better quality ones, and take good care of them.
(Don’t put mascara on them and make them all clumpy! Remove the glue from the strip at the end of the night! Be gentle putting them on and taking them off! Don’t pull and bend them all out of shape! Store them properly so they stay protected!!!)
That’s why I haven’t needed to buy new lashes for almost FOUR YEARS. But I finally used them up, so here we are. (more…)
Does Charcoal Powder Whiten Teeth?
In today’s instalment of “Sara tests things from the internet”, I went to the dark side…literally. I had to know if charcoal powder toothpaste really worked for teeth whitening. In short, the answer is kind of – but it’s really annoying. Here’s the good, the bad, and the messy. (more…)
What I Bought in the Sephora Sale
A couple of weeks ago, Sephora had their semi-annual VIB event, which meant Beauty Insiders got 10% off their total purchase, VIBs got 15% off, and VIB Rouges got 20% off their purchase. I always try to wait for this sale to stock up on products I’ve run low on and need to repurchase. Plus it’s a good excuse to splurge on that luxury beauty item you’ve been eyeing. “But it’s discounted now! I’d be stupid not to buy it!!”
Since I’m a deeply curious person who always wants to know what other people grabbed during this sale, here’s what I picked up. (more…)
Does Tati’s Halo Beauty Really Work?
If you spend any time on Youtube, you’ll know that the beauty community went very Game of Thrones these last ten days. The betrayals! The alliances! The takedowns! The plotting! I have whiplash.
I had planned to wait to review Tati’s Halo Beauty Kiwi Seed Booster skin supplements once my full two month trial elapsed, but given all the current interest in her Halo Beauty supplements, I thought I’d better do it now, and save all you millennials and Gen Z-ers your hard-earned money. Money that would be better spent on, you know, avocado toast or something. (more…)
Sephora Haul: Skincare Hits & Misses
Have I been online shopping too much lately? Yes. But Flint still doesn’t have clean water, fascism is on the rise again, an orange sock puppet is the head of the most powerful nation in the world, and we’ve caused irreparable damage to the only habitable planet we have. So you gotta get your kicks where you can, ya know?
While I don’t have much control over any of those horrible things, I do have total control over my skincare. Anything to ward off the creeping existential dread, right?
So anyway, here’s my review of some overpriced skincare products I’ve put to the test recently. (I am the “This is fine” meme.) (more…)
An Honest Glossier Review + Swatches
This Glossier review would have been called “I Spent All My Money on Glossier So You Don’t Have To“, but SEO doesn’t want me to be cute. When I shared on my insta stories that I bought some goodies from Glossier (yes, your girl fell for yet another Instagram ad), many of you reached out to ask for my review. I’ve thoroughly tested out all these Glossier products for about a month, so that I could give each a really fair chance. And I have a lot to say.
Some of the products I loved, some I found massively overhyped. So if you’ve been considering making a purchase at Glossier, you’ll want to read this first. And use my link to get 10% off your order! (more…)
Summer Scalloped Style Haul
lilac tote bag | scalloped flats | studded pumps
Happy first day of summer! This is the happiest I’ve been on a Monday for a while, because I’ve taken a vacation day, and thus have my own, private long weekend. (So #blessed.) I’m happily still lazing about in bed, snacking on grapes and watching a few Youtube videos on my iPad while I put together this blog post. (more…)
Retro White Dress Outfit + Tobi Haul
White dress c/o Tobi | Aldo kitten heels | Sole Society ‘Vivian’ sunglasses
This spring I’ve been doing something more brave than usual: I’m wearing white. I love the way white looks in an outfit, but when you’re as much of a hazard to yourself as I am, wearing it is a big risk. (more…)
Spring Style Haul: F21, Zara, + Mendocino
So, I meant to post this spring style haul weeks earlier, when spring in Toronto had really just begun. Temperatures were finally warming, meaning Canadians were tentatively peeling off their parkas and poking their heads out the door. Trees were shaking off memories of snow and starting to bloom, lifting everyone’s spirits.
Cut to: today – the weather is gorgeous, and it’s just about summer. I’m running around in dresses most days! But until June 22nd, it’s still technically spring. So onwards with this (delayed) spring haul. (more…)
My 10 Holy Grail Beauty Products
While I like trying out new makeup brands and products as much as the next femme, when it comes to my daily beauty routine, I have a few staple makeup products that I refuse to go without. In fact, I’m so attached to these 10 beauty products that as soon as one starts running low, I run and buy a back-up!
I’ve re-purchased most of these products over and over, and they’ve all reigned supreme over any competition, achieving “holy grail” status. (more…)
Loving Lately: Spring Finds + Favorites
I’ve been a little off the grid the last few months (though you can always find me on Instagram), but I thought I’d return to the blogosphere to share a few of my favourite things, ranging from beauty, to fashion and tech. (more…)
Kate Spade Home & Stationary Haul
If you’ve been following my blog or Instagram for a while, you know all about my love affair with Kate Spade, and things with gold dots. Naturally, so do my friends and family. Which is why when it came time for my birthday and Christmas gift giving, it was a very Kate Spade haul-iday for me – which I couldn’t be more pleased about. (more…)
