FLARE Beauty Box by TOPBOX in Fearless & Classic Beauty // #FLAREBEAUTYBOX

This season's makeup, hair, and skincare essentials all in one box - the FLARE Beauty Boxes by TOPBOX ($9 each including shipping & handling to Canada only) include goodies from Olay, CoverGirl, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Vidal Sassoon and Clairol (aka P&G Beauty). There are two versions of the box - the Fearless Beauty and Classic Beauty. I received BOTH boxes to share with you. Let's see what's inside: 

FLARE Fearless Beauty Box

PRODUCTS INSIDE: 

- CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in 295 Succulent Cherry (Garnet Flame reviewed - here)

- CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara by LashBlast (review)

- Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash (mini)

- Olay Fresh Effects Clear Skin Swirled Mattifier (samples x 2) 

- Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Shampoo & Conditioner (mini)

- Vidal Sassoon Salonist Hair Colour (freebie coupon)

FLARE Classic Beauty Box

PRODUCTS INSIDE: 

- CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in 250 Sultry Sienna (Garnet Flame reviewed - here)

- CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast (review)

- Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash (mini)

- Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex (samples x 2) 

- Pantene Expert Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser (mini)

- Clairol Nice n' Easy (freebie coupon)

So it's probably obvious to you already but I'll write it out loud. These boxes are worth WAY more than $9 each. The hair dye coupons are already $16.99 and with the addition of the lipstick (~$7) and the mascara (~$8) you're well over double the $9 you put in. 

I could probably enjoy either box (with the exception of the Wrinkle Revolution samples). The Fearless Beauty Box contains a beautiful red lipstick but the Classic Beauty Box includes my fave mascara... so I'm really on the fence. 

Interested? Pick one up here.

Which FLARE Beauty Box would you choose? Fearless or Classic? 

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

NEW THINGS: CoverGirl & Olay 2015 Launches + GIVEAWAY

P&G Beauty has recently come out with a slew of new products. Here's three new things that I've been trying (and loving). 

// Olay Regenerist Luminous Overnight Mask Gel Moisturizer ($32.99)

As of late, overnight masks have been all the rage. It's 100% easier than wash off masks because it contains all sorts of fun extracts that get work done while you sleep. The water-based gel formula is quite light in texture. It sits on the skin for ~20 minutes before the slimy mask texture dissipates. So, you don't actually have to use this as an overnight mask if you've got 20 minutes to spare. I haven't been using this long enough to see the look of dark spots disappear but the mask leaves my skin feeling plump, hydrated, and refreshed. 

// Olay Fresh Effects {Spot Zinger} 2-in-1 Salicylic Acne Spot Treatment ($12.99)

Since I began #nomakeupmarch, I've been turning to a topical acne spot treatment instead of concealer. It's thanks to the {Spot Zinger} that I've avoided picking at my skin. Formulated with 2% Salicylic acid, the Olay claims that this stuff improves the look of blemishes in just 10 minutes. Maybe not 10 minutes for me but I put this on before bed and when I wake up in the morning, the vast majority of a potentially bad situation has cleared up. BONUS: It's got citrus and mint, so it's the only acne treatment that I've ever used that smells good. 

// CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in 300 Garnet Flame ($8.49)

The reformulated and repackaged version of the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks. CoverGirl has released new shades and has also split them up into four easy-to-navigate colour families - nudes, pinks, reds, and plums. "New and improved" really doesn't apply here - these look, feel, and smell the same as the Lip Perfection Lipsticks. They're still good. The colour is rich and pigmented in one layer, the product doesn't bleed and lasts on me for up to 5 hours. Garnet Flame is a pink-leaning red. 

HERE'S THE GIVEAWAY PART. To win my P&G faves, follow me on Instagram @stephh_lau, find the first photo in this post and give it a like. For an extra entry, tag a friend or regram the photo! Open to residents of Canada only. Ends March 30, 2015. Best of luck! 

Have you tried any new things from CoverGirl or Olay? 

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

CoverGirl + Olay FaceLift Effect Firming Makeup and the De-Puffer Concealer in 340 Light/Medium

Not that I'll actually need a facelift anytime time soon (I'm only 20, gosh darn it!) but it's always interesting to try makeup products that claim to do so. The CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup (foundation) ($16.99-18.99) claims to provide "luxurious, flawless coverage combined with the powerful hydrating effects of a night cream". Alongside the foundation, I've been testing out a product that's a little more age appropriate, the CoverGirl + Olay The De-Puffer. 

The packaging? For the foundation - a glass-tic (looks like glass...is actually plastic) pot that I highly dislike, as it leaves me with one of two options: (1) get foundation all up in your nails (2) purchase a foundation spoon. The concealer is housed in a hygienic tube with a cooling tip applicator (I'm going to dare to compare the tip to the likes of the Marc Jacobs Remedy Concealer Pen...). 

The CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup comes in 4 shades (fair, light, light/medium, medium) and the Covergirl + Olay the De-Puffer Concealer is available in 6 (fair, fair/light, light, light/medium/medium, medium/deep). 

< CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup // Light/Medium >

The Facelift Effect Firming Makeup provides a natural, glowy finish. The product contains "skin brighteners", light-reflecting pearls that create a warming effect and luminosity to the skin. I can definitely see the brightening effect come through. Lasting power is average at 5 hours of wear-time, though it wears away nicely (no weird patches). The colour match is a little light but nothing that can't be fixed with a little bronzer. As for the skincare and "facelift" benefits, this product is too hydrating for my skin. I don't typically break out from face products but after two days of wear, I broke out on my cheeks.

< CoverGirl + Olay the De-Puffer Concealer // 340 Light/Medium >

I'm already in love with this concealer because of the applicator. It reminds me of one of those rollerball metal eye cream applicators that help to de-puff your eyes. This is part of the Power of 3 that CoverGirl/Olay claims in terms of this product. The other two aspects are a serum containing cucumber extract to soothe the undereyes and a slightly warmer shade (compared to a foundation) to counteract dark circles. I can't confirm the former but I agree with the latter (see swatches below!). The concealer is very thin and light coverage and dries down to a semi-matte finish. Staying power is comparable to that of the Firming Makeup at 5 hours. Due to lack of coverage that this product provides, I would only suggest this product for the eyes, as that's the area that it targets. 

Left to Right: CoverGirl + Olay FaceLift Firming Makeup; the De-Puffer Concealer in 340 Light/Medium 

Overall, I love the effect that both these products provide. It's such a shame that the firming makeup broke me out but I'll continue to use the CoverGirl + Olay the De-Puffer for the awesome cooling metal tip! 

Do you use products that aren't targeted to your age group? 

Press samples featured

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram

5 Products, 5 Minutes || #GottaTurnItUp Challenge #2

It seems like I'm always in a rush. While I love taking my time with makeup application in the mornings, life isn't always willing to provide me with those few extra minutes to get ready. Enter the five products in five minutes. 

< one >  Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream 

The best thing about BB cream is that you can haphazardly slap it on your face and run. There's no time to wait for the product to sink in and you'll never have to worry about streak marks. It has the tiniest bit of coverage that gives you that "I-woke-up-like-this" kind of look. 

< two >  CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Concealer 

But let's be real. Those fun little pimples and dark circles need a little more love than some BB Cream. That's where concealer comes in. The new CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous concealer provides natural looking coverage to cover up my itty bitty imperfections. 

< three > CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara

No need for much explanation, this is my all time favourite mascara. No smudges and no clumps in sight. Check out my original review here. 

< four > CoverGirl LipPerfection in Eternal 

The best way for people to forget that your hair is gross and you're not wearing any pants is if you distract them with a bold lip (Jenn @ A Beautiful Zen will agree) . See a few more colour options from the line here. 

< five > Pantene Pro V Original Fresh Dry Shampoo 

It might sound gross to some, but I try to wash my hair as little as possible, the only issue being that it gets gross and oily by day #2. Dry shampoo works wonders and adds some much needed volume to flat hair. And if I don't have time to brush it all out, a simple side braid ties everything together. 

How do you get ready with only 5 minutes?

Press samples featured 

Facebook || Twitter || Bloglovin || Instagram