Project 10 Pan - Update #2

I know it's been a while since I've update but I've made some great progress since my last post.


I've really been neglecting my hand and body cream so I've decided to start keeping it beside my bed so that I hopefully remember to use it. As for the shower gel, I've made considerable progress considering I only pour a few drops on my loofa before using it. At my last update, the body wash was at the first "L" and now it's at the "V".

Bath Retreat- Vanilla Body Wash; Victoria's Secret- Vanilla Body Lotion

The next few items I've been working on and going strong. You can definitely see the progress. My eyeliner is considerably shorter, and you can definitely see a lot more pan on the beige eyeshadow. I've been bending out the air from the face primer, and I've got just under a third left. I will be so happy when it's done. Finally, I'm still working on this god forsaken green face powder. As you can tell, I've definitely been using it, but I'm debating just tossing it. What do you think? It leaves a green cast that I then need to cover with a regular powder.

L'Oreal- HIP Studio Secrets Professional Intense Eyeliner in 320 Dark Sky; L'Oreal- Wear Infinite Studio Secrets Professional Eyeshadow in 801 Sandy Shores; Physician's Formula- Multi-Coloured Corrector in Green; Dr. Brandt- Pores No More Primer

And now for the most exciting part....drum roll please...

Here are the items I've finished!

MAC- Blush in Tenderling; Clarins- Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water; MAC- MatchMaster foundation in 1.0; Maybelline- Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer in Fair 110

I'm happy to see that I'm actually making some progress with these items and with any luck, I should be done by the end of the year.

Are you working on a Project Pan? If so, please link it below!

Project 10 Pan - Update #1

In case you missed it, I've started another project pan. I haven't finished anything yet but I've made some pretty decent progress. Here is my first post so you can see how far I've come in a few weeks.



So I haven't made a ton of progress on my lotion or body wash but you can definitely see that I've been using them. A little bit goes a long way.

Victoria's Secret- Vanilla Body Lotion; Bath Retreat- Vanilla Body Wash

I'm sooo close to finishing this concealer it's killing me. Everyday I'm wondering "Will today be the day?". Well... not yet.

Maybelline- Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer in Fair 110

 I'm ALMOST done both of these! This cleanser and foundation should be done within the next couple of weeks for sure!

MAC- MatchMaster foundation in 1.0; Clarins- Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water

 It's impossible to tell how far I've come with this primer. The container is completely opaque and (I'm hoping) has a ton of air in it. I've been using it for a while now and the pumping is still working like new so I guess I've still got a while to go.

Dr. Brandt- Pores No More Primer

 These products are going to be the death of me. My MAC blush is seeing some pretty decent progress and should be done within the next month. The green powder has been the bane of my existence. I'm obviously exaggerating but it's been really hard to use since is leaves a slight green cast. Regardless, you can definitely see some more pan there.  You can definitely see some more pan on my beige eye shadow but this is probably going to take me the longest to use up. The eyeliner is quite a bit smaller than last time as it's been sharpened a few times.

MAC- Blush in Tenderling;Physician's Formula- Multi-Coloured Corrector in Green; L'Oreal- Wear Infinite Studio Secrets  Professional Eyeshadow in 801 Sandy Shores;L'Oreal- HIP Studio Secrets Professional Intense Eyeliner in 320 Dark Sky

Are you currently working on a project pan? If so, please comment with a link to it so that I can follow along. I've been having a hard time lately trying not to spend money on pretty things. Please help keep me motivated! What are some tips and tricks you do?

Back from Hiatus! Re-Starting Project 10 Pan

It's been quite some time since I've updated this blog but I've returned to start decluttering my stash one again. I went back into a rut while I was experiencing some family problems, health issues, and absolutely dreading going to work. I took my frustrations out on my credit card by purchasing cosmetics.

My Project Pan this time around will be a Project 10 Pan, and will include the following:

1. Clarins- Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water
2. Dr. Brandt- Pores No More Primer
3. Maybelline- Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer in Fair 110
4. MAC- MatchMaster foundation in 1.0
5. Physician's Formula- Multi-Coloured Corrector in Green
6. MAC- Blush in Tenderling
7. L'Oreal- Wear Infinite Studio Secrets  Professional Eyeshadow in 801 Sandy Shores
8. L'Oreal- HIP Studio Secrets Professional Intense Eyeliner in 320 Dark Sky
9. Bath Retreat- Vanilla Body Wash
10. Victoria's Secret- Vanilla Body Lotion

My rules include not being able to purchase any items during my project pan unless I am completely out of that type of item. For example, if I finish my Victoria's Secret Vanilla Body Lotion, I will only purchase a new body lotion if I do not have any back-ups in my stash.

I do have a pre-planned cheat... I received a ticket to the L'Oreal Fall Warehouse Sale and will definitely be purchasing some products there. They always have great prices on sunscreen and as a super fair individual who requires daily sunscreen, I don't think I should pass this chance up. I will post everything I purchase. I'm going to put myself on a very specific budget, probably around $100. What do you think would be reasonable? 

I will do my best to post weekly updates on any progress I've made with these items and do a monthly "empties" post that will include items outside of this list.

Wish me luck and help me avoid temptation!

Eighteenth Product Completed: La Roche Posay Lipikar Syndet

Hi everyone. I sort of back but will not be able to pay full attention to my blog. Since my absence I have finished my La Roche Posay Lipikar Syndet Cleansing Body Cream- Gel. This cleanser is great for extremely dry, irritated skin subject to itchiness. I had a few incidents with getting itching fits this past week so I had to use this cleansing gel. Although it's great for stopping itching, it's kinda boring because there is no scent (which makes sense). I really only use this when I need to.

Overall, I would definitely repurchase this product. It has always proven to be an excellent solution during my times of need. If you have extremely sensitive skin, or have an allergic reaction to something, I highly recommend you try this.

Project Pan: Seventeenth Product Completed: Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

Hi everyone. I've kind of disappeared the last few days because I've been quite busy and away for work. I won't be able to catch up to everyone's blogs over the last few days but going forward I will do my best :)

While on my trip I managed to finish my Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner with Tamarind and white nettle. This product claims to eliminate impurities and dull skin, while leaving it smooth, soft and bright. The fruit acids from the tamarind extract are what helps to eliminate the impurities and dead skin cells. It also helps to boost cellular renewal. Meanwhile, the white nettle extract helps to tighten pores.

Overall I think this is a great product for ladies who are a bit too lazy to exfoliate regularly and helps to brighten and even the complexion. This is not a toner you would use consistently but rather an alternative a few times a week. I would repurchase this product.

Only three more products to go!




What is your go-to product for those lazy days?

Project Pan: Sixteenth Product Completed: Oscar Blandi Invisible Voluminzing Dry Shampoo Spray

It's that time again! I finished another product towards my Project 20 Pan. The product I finished was the Oscar Blandi Invisible Voluminzing Dry Shampoo Spray. Oscar Blandi describes this products as being able to cleans the hair without water, instantly boost volume, be great for all hair colours, and spray clear.

I have to admit, it did do most of those. The problem? It didn't cleanse my hair/ my hair still looked oily. I tried repeatedly to get this to work because I wanted to love it but it just didn't get the job done. Needless to say, I will not be repurchasing this product again.



What's your favourite dry shampoo for dark hair?

Project Pan: Fifteenth Product Complected: Vichy Aqualia Antiox Anti- Fatigue Ice- Effect Eye Stick

Good afternoon! It's been quite some time since I finished anything but after the long delay I finally finished my fifteenth product towards my project pan this morning. The product I finished was the Vichy Aqualia Antiox Anti- Fatigue Ice- Effect Eye Stick. Long name, I know. This product claims to reduce dark circles and puffiness and give your eyes a fresher, brighter look. It contains Vitamins C and E, and Citrus Polyphenol.

This is what the product initially looked like:

But after much use and travelling this is how it looks now:

Although I did enjoy how cool and fresh this made my eyes feel in the morning (especially after late nights) I don't think it did much for my dark circles or puffiness. It did soothe my tired eyes though. This product has been discontinued and therefore I would be unable to repurchase this. Regardless, I still probably would not unless I was still studying.




On another note, my life has been crazy busy lately and I've been really tired and stressed out. This is what was delivered to my office Friday. It was a nice surprise.

Everyone was asking if it was my birthday, anniversary, etc. Truth is, it wasn't. My boyfriend is just a sweet heart :)



What's your favourite way to soothe tired eyes?

Project Pan: Fourteenth Product Completed: Natural Instincts Color Treat Conditioner

Hello! This morning I finished my fourteenth product towards my project pan. While taking a shower this morning I finished another conditioner. Normally it takes me forever for me to finish a conditioner. The conditioner I finished was the Natural Instincts Color Treat. This is always the conditioner I use the first few times I wash my hair when I first dye it. The colour lasts and my hair feels nice and soft. It also smells nice :)

The only problem with this conditioner is you can't buy it separately! It comes in the pack with the dye (when I've been brave enough to do it myself). I would repurchase this again if it was sold separately otherwise I'll just have to wait until I dye my hair again. Luckily I do still have another one :)


What's your favourite product to keep hair colour?

Project Pan: Thirteenth Product Completed: Bikini Zone Anti-Bumps Shave Gel

Good morning! Today I finished my thirteenth product towards my project pan. I finished my Bikini Zone Anti-Bumps Shave Gel. I seem to be finished a lot of bath products this time around for project pan. This product was a decent shaving gel but I don't necessarily agree that it helped or prevented bumps or irritation more so than any other shaving gel. Personally I prefer a cream.

This product was very inexpensive and convenient to find, however I don't think I would repurchase this again. It really wasn't anything special. If you're just looking for a cheap, basic shave gel this is fine but it's just not right for me.

Project Pan: Eleventh and Twelfth Product Completed: Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky Shampoo and Conditioner

Good evening everyone. I'm not sure how I managed this but I completed both my eleventh and twelfth product towards my project pan. I finished a shampoo and conditioner from the same set!! I know! What are the odds? The products I finished were the Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky Shampoo and the Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky Conditioner.

Shampoo: I liked the smell of this shampoo and the way it lathers in the shower. I gets rid of all the grit from my hair products and still gets rid of my dandruff. It leaves my hair soft all for a great price!

Conditioner: Again, this smelled nice and spread well in my thick hair. Every time I go to the hairdressers I get my hair thinned out. So to have a product that actually glides through it when it's thick from growing back  I'm happy. This did make my hair a bit smoother and it helped to detangle. This was also reasonably priced.

Would I purchase these again? Probably not. Only because I like trying out new shampoos and conditioners all the time.

What's your favourite shampoo and conditioner?

Project Pan: Tenth Product Completed: Biotherm Biocils Lash Optimizer

I haven't had a lot of time to make any posts lately due to work being really busy. However, two nights ago (I know, I know) I finished my tenth product for my project pan. While removing my eye make-up I finished my Biotherm Biocils Lash Optimizer. I have already reviewed this product in my post called Reviews and Dupes from My Most Expensive Face- Skincare Edition.

Basically, it was a fairly good waterproof eye makeup remover but I don't know how well it "conditions" my lashes exactly. It's dual phased meaning you have to shake it before you use it. It was slightly oily but I always wash my face after anyways so it wasn't a big deal for me. For $31 I would not repurchase this product simply because there are cheaper options that are just as good.

I'm half way done my project 20 pan! Only 10 more items to go!



Have you tried this eye makeup remover before? Did you find that it helped your lashes?

Project Pan: Ninth Product Completed: Zeno Hot Spot Blemish Clearing Device

I seem to be on a roll. Last night I tried to use my Zeno Hot Spot Blemish Clearing Device only to find out that I had already completely used it up. You're probably thinking "How did you not know it was done?". Well that's because it's a device and not a cream or lotion. You only get 80 uses out of it, so it's hard to keep track. I was pretty disappointed to see this go as it was quite expensive. It's regular price is $50, but I got it for $39.99 (still not cheap!). This product claims to use heat to kill bacteria that causes blemishes and yet still be gentle on the skin. It only claims to work on break outs and not cystic acne, so be weary.

I'm not sure if it's all in my head but I feel like this helped to reduce my pimples caused by every woman's favourite time of the month. I felt it reduced healing time. When using this product be sure you follow the instructions that indicate only using it every 3 hours. I made the mistake of trying to do one treatment right after I had just finished and I had a mark for a while. Do I think this is a miracle product? No. Would I buy this again? Probably. Mostly because I've never found anything else to help reduce my time of the month break-outs quite the same.


What's your favourite way to reduce break-outs?

Project Pan: Eighth Product Completed: Olay Silk Whimsy Moisturizing Body Wash

Last night I took a shower and finished my eighth product. The product I finished was the Olay Silk Wimsy Moisturizing Body Wash. It has a light floral scent (rose) that made me feel super feminine. I actually like to top this body wash with my Chanel Chance Eau Tendre eau de toilette. Not only was is a good moisturizing cleanser, it was great for shaving and as a bubble bath.

I like to use this body wash in the winter as it is super hydrating. We can thank the almond oil extract (rich in Vitamin E) for that. In the summer I prefer the shower gel (with the same scent) just because I find it fresher. I would definitely repurchase this product again.



What's your favourite body wash?

Project Pan: Seventh Product Completed: Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Anti-Ageing Mattifying Lotion

Good afternoon everyone! I want to start off by apologizing for my lack of attentiveness the last little while. This time of year is always a bit hectic for me. On another note, this morning I finished my Dr. Brant's Pores No More Anti-Ageing Mattifying Lotion that I recently reviewed in my Reviews and Dupes from My Most Expensive Face- Skincare Edition.

To summarize, I found that this oil-free product helped to reduce my pore size and helps to reduce redness in my skin. I found the retinol in this product to be quite gentle on my skin and helps it to remain smooth. I would definitely repurchase this product again.



What is your favourite mattifying lotion?

Project Pan: Sixth Product Completed: The Body Shop's Tea Tree Shampoo

It's been a while but I finally completed another product. This Project Pan has proven to be a struggle considering the time of year with all the sales. This proves that I can stick through it. I finished the Body Shop's Tea Tree Shampoo for Oily Hair and Scalp. I found that this shampoo was not only great for my oily hair but also good for dandruff this time of year. The scent, however, was not fantastic. It didn't smell bad, but it didn't smell good either. It was just kinda there.

Although I would repurchase this product again, I cannot as it has been discontinued. Luckily I still have another full bottle that I bought as back-up. This has proven to get the job done when nothing else could. It will be hard to find a replacement for this product.



What's your favourite anti-dandruff shampoo?

Lush Bath Bomb: Father Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I received some bath bombs for Christmas and decided to use one today. I used Father Christmas. Unfortunately it had already broken by the time I opened it but this is what it's supposed to look like:

Lush describes it as "This is the one you'll want to use on cold, dark winter nights to relax in the tub. Spicy clove bud oil, vanilla absolute and a dash of brandy combine to comfort and warm your skin and mind. A dash of red glitter lights up on the water, the shell melts away, and that's when you discover the inside of the bomb is bright green. How festive!"

 It had a nice powdery, cherry smell that left the water green with purple sparkles. I definitely enjoyed my bath.

What's your favourite LUSH Bath Bomb?

POLL: "WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TYPE OF CLEANSER TO REMOVE MAKEUP?" RESULTS

Friday night marked the last day my poll for "What's your favourite type of cleanser to remove makeup?" was open. Results are in and the verdict is......

Cleansing Wipes

Cleansing wipes won with a total of 30%. This was followed by Cleansing Water, Cleansing Oil, and Other.

So this leads me to ask all of you, what's your favourite Cleansing Wipe?

My Bucket List TAG

I was tagged by Annabelle at Beauty & Lifestyle to do the Bucket List TAG. I have to admit that there isn't really anything too interesting on my list.

My Bucket List:

1. I want to go sky diving. I already have the tickets.

2. I want to buy a house. My boyfriend and I are currently saving up but putting 20% down is proving to be a challenge.

3. I want to learn how to bake. I can cook, I just don't have the precision to bake. I like to throw things in, not measure.

4. I want to try surfing. Living in Canada proves to make this a difficult task.

5. I want to go to Japan. I love the culture (and the anime), so I want to experience it first hand.

6. I'd like to climb a mountain. I used to go rock climbing, but only indoors.

7. Get my Master's degree. I have a bachelor's in Business and as such, if I want to continue to get my Master's in Business I need to have 2 years of related work experience before I can even apply. Truth is, I have no desire to start writing essays again.

8. Learn French. I know a BIT of French, but not enough that would qualify to be able to put it on a resume.

9. Visit a volcano. While in Sicily I saw one, but did not make the effort into climbing and looking down.

10. Ride a camel to to pyramids in Egypt.

11. Learn archery and fencing. I love the whole medieval era.



Now I TAG you! Leave a comment below telling me something on your bucket list, or post a link to where you have done this tag.

As Requested: Reviews and Dupes from My Most Expensive Face- Skincare Edition

I was requested to do reviews and dupes for some of the products from My Most Expensive Face- Skin Care Edition. This is going to prove to be quite difficult for me because I haven't tried a lot of drug store brands, so I might cheat and just use some less expensive alternatives.

Eye makeup remover: 
Biotherm Biocils Lash Optimizer- $31
This dual phased product is supposed to removed stubborn eye makeup and condition lashes. I agree that this is a fantastic eye makeup remover, but I don't know how well it "conditions" my lashes. This expensive eye makeup remover could easily be replaced with:
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover that's only $6.99

Toner: 
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner- $34
This product is an exfoliating toner so there isn't much to compare it to. It uses fruit acids from tamarind to exfoliate and white nettle to tighten pores. It's very gentle on the skin so I can even use it when I have a cold and my noses is sore and full of dead skin. The only thing I can compare this to, but do not prefer, is the Clinique Clarifying Lotion in Level 3 for $16. It has a lot more chemicals in it and is definitely not as gentle.

Day Cream: 
Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Anti-Ageing Mattifying Lotion- $60
This lotion contains apple stem cells to fight signs of ageing and retinol to stimulate cell turnover and keep lines at bay. It also helps to reduce pores and keep the skin mattified throughout the day. I also like the yellow colouring of the product to instantly reduce some redness. What's a cheaper alternative? The Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol and the entire set is only $40. The set includes the cleanser, toner, and lotion. This product uses Salicyclic acid to fight breakout and Ginseng to fight lines. I personally find retinol to be more effective ingredient but if you are sensitive to that, try Olay.

Night Serum: 
Neostrata's Skin Brightener - $72.50
This intensive serum contains 20% Vitamin C. This helps to fight discolorations in the skin but is VERY strong on the skin and you will see a vast improvement after the first couple of nights. This product is not for anyone with sensitive skin. A cheaper alternative to this is the Body Shop's Vitamin C Skin Booster- $26. It uses Vitamin C and E to brighten and soften the skin, as well as brazil nut oil to hydrate the skin. If you have sensitive, dry skin, choose the Body Shop option, if you want to see results fast, use Neostrata.

I have to admit, this was a tough challenge for me. Some of the products on the list I bought because I found them unique. These were the best dupes I could give as I have at least tried all these.


Are there any other products that you want me to find a dupe for?

Project Pan: Fifth Product Completed: Clarins Daily Energizer Lotion with SPF 15

So far it's been a fantastic morning. I woke up right away from my alarm (and didn't hit the snooze button once), I'm having a good hair day, I have left-overs saved for lunch, and the roads weren't packed with traffic this morning. On top of all that, I completed my fifth product for my project pan. I finished the Clarins Daily Energizer Lotion with SPF 15. Now, this isn't a huge accomplishment considering it's only 30 ml but none the less. I originally purchased this product in the summer because it was inexpensive ($25), small enough for travel, had SOME SPF, it's oil-free and smells like oranges.

Although Clarins claims this product is mattifying, I disagree. No, it didn't give me extra luminosity, but it still wasn't matte. I did enjoy this moisturizer. It was hydrating enough but I didn't feel like it did anything special for my skin. Don't get me wrong, I didn't break out from it and it wasn't over drying, it's just that I want to use anti-ageing products and/or products for my pores.

I will definitely repurchase this next summer while traveling.