Beauty Vixen

It has been a while since I last did an empties post, which means it is a great time to show what I used up recently and do some mini reviews.

Skincare:

I don't tend to use up skincare quickly, because I am always trying new things and then forgetting about stuff.

Garnier SkinActive Facial Mist Spray:

This is a great rose based spray, nothing too fancy about it. I liked it about the same as the Trader joe's Rose Water Facial Toner but with a better sprayer.

Clarins Rose Radiance Cream Super Restorative Cream Unisex [sample size]:

This is a surprisingly amazing cream. I really enjoyed using it, I found it very rich and hydrating on my skin. I found myself sad that the sample was so small and that I had used it up so quickly.

BYOMA Cream Moisturizing Gel
I got this in a set I purchased of mini BYOMA products the other holiday season. I liked it and would definitely consider buying a full-size of it. It was pretty light on my skin and absorbed quickly. It was quite soothing on my dry skin.

Clinique 3-Step Clarifying Lotion Face Exfoliator in 3
I have no clue how or when I got this but I am glad I finally used it up. It isn't my favourite toner for exfoliating.

Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer
I got this way back when in a FabFitFun box. I took my time using it up, but I really loved it as a lotion. My skin is always so dry, so it is nice nourishing cream for at night in the winter months. I would buy this again during a sale.

Elizabeth Arden Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules
I picked a two pack of these up months ago at Costco when it was on sale. I really like them, I find them easy to use, remember to use and very rich and hydrating on my skin. I am almost done my second of the bottles, which is really impressive to me.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Eyes Time Complex Capsules
I picked these up at the same time as the face ones. They are nice, but very runny when opened. I find I end up wasting quite a bit every time. I also think if I do manage to use all the product in a capsule, it is way too much for the eyes. I have so much of the second container left, I probably would not rebuy.

Hair and Body Care:

Finesse 2-inp-1 Shampoo + Conditioner
This is Mr. Fox's favourite shampoo. He really likes how it leaves his hair and that it is a 2-in-1 for when he uses at the ice rink or gym. I like that it is about $3, made in Canada and leaves his hair smelling nice

L'Occitane Hand Vanilla Bouquet Hand Cream
This is a fantastic hand cream with 20% shea butter in it and only the slightest hint of vanilla to it. I ended up taking it to work to use it up and finished it in under two weeks.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Wash
Satsuma is probably my favourite of The Body Shop scents that are currently still being made. I usually pick this gigantic bottle up for the hubby, but he recently switched to bar soap. I managed to use the end bit of this bottle up, and have at least one more in my back up closet. I love how when showering with it, the whole top floor of my house smells like Satsuma for an hour or so.

Dr. Teals Pure Epsom Salt Sooth & Sleep
I got this mini bag of lavender scented bath salts during the holidays in a set. I love Dr. Teal's and welcome anytime I can use their products, recently I switched to other brands that are made in Canada.

Vitabath Original Spring Green Gelee
This is my favourite bubble bath ever. A little goes a long way, it fills the entire house with the smell of fresh green bath and it is made in Canada. I use it about 3 times a week and it always makes the best bubbles. I am onto another bottle right now. I love that it is made in Canada.

Makeup:

Clarice Liquid Camouflage 010 Porcelain
I love this concealer, it has an olive undertone and looks so good on me. But Catrice left Canada, and then discontinued it. I may have gone online and ordered of a 3rd party 6 backups of it when this one ran out and I couldn't find a dupe.

Nudestix Tinted Blur Foundation Stick Light 02
This is a perfect match for my skin tone. It works well and blends nicely. I have at least one more backup.

Mehron Barrier Spray
I used this tiny 1 oz bottle up a while back. I definitely want to pick another one up, but am also considering Ben Nye Final Seal...or both. This is 100% a niche pro item that I like to use once and while to set my makeup.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight Stick
I very much love this pretty little highlighter. I had a great shade for me and blended out perfectly every time. I used this one all up and I guess I could have scooped some out, but liked it as a stick.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara [sample size]
This tiny mascara was great, but didn't last long. Estee Lauder makes very good mascara, so I always like a sample of it.

Almay Brow Styler
I had this way too long, but it is a great tinted brow gel.

Sephora Insta-Brow Waxy Brow Pencil
This automatic brow wax was fantastic, my only complaint is how fast I went through it. It had the perfect consistency for styling my long brows without adding any colour. Next time there is a Sephora sale I would buy again.

Annabelle Retractable Eye Liner in Saffron
This seems to be a discounted shade. Mine dried out a bit too much to continue to use.

In all honesty, I am tossing a lot of lip products this month. I chose to clear out one drawer and realized I had a lot of older products I was not using at all.

Bite lipsticks [minis]
I had a lot of mini Bite lipsticks hanging around, and all, well they kind of are old. I never really reach for them and they are sort of waxy. So time to let go of them.

Bite glosses
These are some type of metallic glosses they made, but I never use them.

Nars and Various Glosses.
I never use these, like ever. BYE

Bobbi Brown LUXE LIQUID LIP
I got these at a Chick Advisor event way back when. I really liked them, but I never ever use them.

Hourglass lipsticks

I didn't even know that I had these.

There you go, a bunch of products I used up and some mini reviews on them.

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Mary Kay Canada launched a few new items in the fall and winter of 2025. I thought, since 2026 is just getting rolling, that it would be a good time to look at the new products that are part of their permanent lineup.

Mary Kay Great Heights Waterproof Mascara $21.00

Get ready for out-of-this-world lashes! Mary Kay® Great Heights® Waterproof Mascara combines waterproof strength with next-level length for stellar eye looks that go beyond.

I love a good waterproof mascara, one that dries down without flaking and stays put all day long. This one is a good mascara for everyday wear. It doesn't pack on too much thickness or length, but it does darken my lashes and define them nicely. If you are a fan of the original Great Lengths Mascara, you will probably like this a lot, but it definitely has less payoff in the length department. I haven't had it flake or smear once. I really think that Mary Kay makes some of the best mascaras out there right now, so it is nice to see a waterproof option being added to their lineup, since it is what I wear 95% of the time.

Mary Kay Shimmer Eye Shadow Stick $25.00

Add a swipe of celestial shimmer to every look with this creamy, easy-to-use eye shadow stick. The smooth, buildable formula glides on effortlessly for radiant colour payoff and all-day wear — no brush or blending required. Available in five out-of-this-world shades that dazzle with dimension. Whether you’re bold or keeping it soft, these versatile sticks make eye-catching beauty a breeze.

I love a good eyeshadow stick, something easy to apply that looks good. But one gripe is that if they have shimmer in it, it never stays put. That is not the case with these shimmer eye shadow sticks. They apply like butter and blend out so well, but then set. They set so darn well that I couldn't make the shimmer migrate when I tried.

These sleek sticks come in 5 shades: Midnight Galaxy, Radiant Bronze, Copper Nova, Golden Sunrise, and Pink Prism.

Mary Kay Multi-Benefit Concealer $22.00

This creamy, full-coverage formula helps blur blemishes, dark spots, and redness while remaining lightweight and buildable. Infused with vitamin E and plant-derived glycerin, it nourishes skin while staying crease- and transfer-resistant. Designed to move with your skin, this long-wearing concealer offers sweat- and humidity-resistant coverage in nine versatile shades. Use it alone, under or over foundation, or even as an eye primer for a seamless, all-day look.

Years ago, I got to try out some excellent concealers from Mary Kay; now they have a whole new formula that comes in 9 shades: Light 1, Light 2, Light 3, Medium 1, Medium 2, Medium 3, Dark 1, Dark 2, and Dark 3.

I tried out Light 1 and Light 2.

These concealers are incredibly pigmented; a little goes a very long way! This is defintly a full pigmented concealer. It blends out really easily onto hydrated skin and doesn't look patchy on me at all. I do feel this style of concealer has the tendency to separate, so I like to flip it around after every use, from upside down to right side up, when storing, to keep it mixed together.

Mary Kay Undereye Corrector $22

Tired eyes meet their match with this lightweight, peach-toned corrector that instantly neutralizes dark circles for a refreshed, wide-awake look. Designed to work seamlessly under concealer, the creamy formula blends effortlessly, delivering a smooth, sweat-resistant finish. Available in two shades—Light Peach and Deep Peach—to complement a range of skin tones.
These come in the same packaging and an almost identical formula as the concealers. They come in two shades: Light Peach and Deep Peach.
Both are extremely pigmented, and a tiny dab goes a very long way to cover undereye circles.
I personally had to mix Light 1 with Light Peach to get a good colour for me, but if I were doing more full glam makeup, it would be fantastic for an underlayer of colour correction that would last all day.

Mary Kay Clinical Solutions Barrier Restore 1:1:3 $56.00

Get fast-acting barrier repair and visible redness relief in one single step. If you suffer from skin redness, dryness, itching, rough texture or overall sensitivity, you may be dealing with a compromised skin barrier. Mary Kay Clinical Solutions Barrier Restore 1:1:3 to the rescue! It’s clinically shown to start reinforcing the skin barrier in just three hours, and reduces the appearance of skin redness in two weeks.

2025 was a terrible year for my skin; it seems my barrier is incredibly messed up. This lotion could not have come at a better time. I found that since using it, my skin has had zero reactions to it. My skin feels hydrated after using it and is generally less red.

I haven't used it enough to see differences in texture, but overall, my skin is much happier, and I know it is a safe product to use, as I am not having any reactions to it.

Overall:

I love these products. I love the Shimmer Sticks the most. I have been wearing them almost daily, and they really don't budge. I had a coworker comment on my swatches on my arm from 2 days prior. They are that good. I love the shades too. I look forward to the possibility of Mary Kay expanding the shade range or even having some matte ones in the future. I can hope. The waterproof mascara holds its own in situations that usually cause my mascara to run. The barrier restore 1:1:3 is soothing my skin more and more every day. The concealers and correctors are incredibly pigmented and have been great for my redness.

You can purchase Mary Kay products at MaryKay.ca or through your Independent Beauty Consultant.

*Porodcuts sent for review purposes, all opinions and views are my own.

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I am so excited to share with you the one thing in all the years that has finally gotten me to be able to actually style my hair, and no, it is not the Dyson Airwrap that I got last year, it is my Infinitipro by Conair Digitalaire Hot Air Multi Styler.

Basically, if you knew me in person, you'd know I am not known for well-styled hair, this seems to be the one thing I have always struggled with, and while there have been great tools over the years that have helped tame my hair into something I enjoy wearing, there has not been one tool to cover all my needs.

The Conair Digitaire Multi Styler is a hairdryer with a long handle and a bunch of attachments: a Paddle Brush, Curling Wand, 1 ¼ Round Brush, and a Drying Nozzle. It has three heat settings, cold, warm and hot, and two speed settings, high and low. It even has a 6-foot-long cord, so I don't get all caught up in myself. All the attachments are ceramic-coated for an even delivery of heat, too.

What have I been using on it and why do I love it? Well, basically, I have been using it as a hair dryer with the nozzle attachment to quick dry my hair most mornings now, and then when my hair is almost dry, I start using the paddle brush.

The paddle brush has a great curve to it, and even in the centre, it has a curve, so I can dry the hair along my head a lot easier. It also helps create a bit of a wave if I want to; either way, it looks great when I am done. If I really want to smooth out my hair and/or add waves to it, I will use the barrel brush.

While I am not the best at this yet, I really love how quickly I can smooth out the flyaways and kinks that are in my hair and create a great wave.

Start to end, it takes about 10 minutes with my hair soaking wet. I love that I don't have to spend a lot of time on it either.

As for the curler, I like it and it works well if your hair is still a little damp, but the barrel brush works so well, I rarely use it.

The attachments snap into place easily; you just have to turn a band to lock it into place.

Do I like this more than my Dyson AirWrap? Yes, I kind of wish I had not spent all the money on the Dyson. It is great, but this is just as good, and I am reaching for it almost every day now, and rarely my Dyson.

The only thing I wish it had was a diffuser or the option to buy one. I have wavy hair that I may just want to dry curly, and I have to dig out another hair dryer to do that (since my Dyson also doesn't have a diffuser). I would love to buy one for it in the future.

Pros:

4 great attachments for most of my needs:

Paddle Brush
Curling Wand
1 ¼ Round Brush,
Drying Nozzle

3 heat settings

cold
warm
hot

2 power settings

low
high

Ceramic-coated attachments for even heat
Internal ionic generator to reduce frizz
6-foot cord
Sells for $110 at Walmart (so much less expensive than other brands) and up $220 elsewhere.

Cons:

There is no diffuser or option to buy one.

Overall, I love this tool! I feel so much more put together and confident when I use it. It is relatively light and easy to maneuver; the attachments are easy to swap and use. I can get my hair done quickly and get on with my day. It also costs soooooo incredibly much less than other tools; it seems like a great option to have around anyway.

Infinitipro by Conair Digitalaire Hot Air Multi Styler is available at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Amazon.ca

*This product was provided for review; all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

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Cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges is a necessary but tedious task. I know a lot of people put it off, reuse dirty brushes or just don't clean them. I met a few people who don't clean them because they don't know how to. So today I am going to give a review of my latest cleaner from EcoTools and a little tutorial on how to clean them properly. Because honestly, I just can't handle seeing people submerge their whole brushes in video anymore, or people use crusty, dirty brushes.

First up, parts of the brush. There are three basic parts to every brush: the bristles, the handle and in between the ferrule. The ferrule is the metal part that holds the bristles together and to the brush (there is also the crimp, which is where the ferrule is pressed tight). That being said, it is filled with glue to get that job done. The number one thing to know is that you do not want to get water into the ferrule. If you do that glue will dissolve over time, and your brush bristles will fall out. It is not good.

SOOO....Don't submerge your brushes in a bowl; just dip the bristles in the water and soap.

Steps to clean your brushes

Hold brush bristles downward to prevent water from seeping into the ferrule (metal part).
Wet only the bristles with lukewarm water — avoid soaking the handle or ferrule.
Apply brush cleanser or gentle soap to a cleaning mat or your palm.
Swirl the brush gently to loosen makeup and oils.
Rinse bristles downward under running water until water runs clear.
Gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel.

Reshape the bristles while damp.

Dry brushes with bristles facing down — use a brush rack or prop them at an angle to keep water out of the ferrule (I like to use a towel that I have rolled one side up to create a slope) or flat (but downward is better).

Space them out so air can circulate around each brush.

Let them air dry completely before storing or using again.

EcoTools Makeup Cleaner For Brushes, Brush and Sponge Cleansing Shampoo

Ingredients: WATER (AQUA, EAU), DECYL GLUCOSIDE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM PHYTATE, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE

Ok, on to the review. I have tried a lot of cleaners, and this one is really nice. It foamed up a bit, but not too much. The products on my brushes cleaned up with little effort, and they rinsed quite easily. In the end, I needed much less product than I usually do to clean my brushes, which was fantastic, because cleaner brushes with less product means less rinsing and scrubbing.

I also found it really great at getting my sponges clean. I often struggle to get foundation out of sponges, but it made the job slightly better, which is a win for me.

The formula is Fragrance-Free, Vegan, and free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates, and petroleum-based ingredients.

My brushes felt great once they dried., I have tried other shampoos (the very famous baby one) that left any natural brushes I had feeling dry.

Pros:

Cleans brushes well
Rinses well
Fragrance-free
Uses less product
Under $20 CAD

Cons:

None

Overall:

I have countless brushes in my possession. I tend to use them and put them aside to be cleaned and wait until my pile is a gigantic bin full (seriously, I have not counted my brushes, but I suspect I have over 300 of them). All this means I have cleaned a lot of brushes in my day, and I still hate it, but a good cleaner makes it quicker and easier to do while keeping your brushes in the best shape possible, and that is exactly what this shampoo does.

Ecotools products can be found in Canada at Walmart and Amazon.ca

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The last few weeks, a lot of time has been spent on the patio, in the pool or just outside in general. Which can only mean one thing...SUNSCREEN! Specifically, I get to try out a new sunscreen.

My mother-in-law just wrapped up a two-week visit with us. She loves to sit on our patio, which we just gave a mini makeover. Power washed the stones, new lights, new furniture and a new BBQ. It is all quite nice. But with all this time outside, I thought it was the perfect time to try out some new Blue Lizard Sunscreens.

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50

Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays with Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Spray. Developed specifically for sensitive skin, this easy-to-apply spray dries clear and is enriched with soothing organic Aloe. It offers mineral sun protection and 80 minutes of water resistance without fragrances or harsh chemical active ingredients that might irritate your skin.

Now my mother-in-law is really sensitive to skincare, specifically fragrance, even on other people, which is why I tried out Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 first. I love the cream version of this, but was really excited to try out a mineral spray SPF without common irritants.

The spray is even, went on really nicely, and when rubbed into my skin felt smooth, soft and hydrated, just like if I applied a spray lotion. It took maybe 15 minutes to fully dry down, but my skin felt nice all day.

The initial application goes on a bit white, but blends into the skin easily and without a white cast. Compared to other spray mineral sunscreens I have used, it feels softer on the skin with far less white cast. I think the addition of aloe vera really makes it feel soft on the skin without being heavy or greasy.

Pros:

High SPF mineral-based spray sunscreen
Fine Spray
No white cast/ dries clear
Leaves skin soft and hydrated
Fragrance Free
Reef Safe
No titanium dioxide, Oxybenzone or Octinoxate

Cons:

Took 15 mins to dry down, but not really a big deal

Overall: This is a love. I would buy this every time I wanted a new sunscreen in a spray. I went on easily, didn't feel greasy, and it had no white cast. I did a fantastic job when I went swimming of protecting my skin for the advertised 80 minutes of water resistance, and reapplying was easy as well.

Blue Lizard Sport Mineral SPF 50 Spray

Blue Lizard Sport Mineral SPF 50 Spray offers broad-spectrum protection, ideal for athletes. This easy-to-apply spray dries clear and is enriched with skin-energizing Electrolytes. It provides maximum water resistance (80 minutes). Vegan, fragrance-free, paraben free and free from chemical sunscreen active ingredients.

With me loving the Sensitive version, I could not wait to try the Sport spray. I do like their sport cream version, last year I used it while swimming at pool parties, and I held up really well.

This spray went on just as clear as the Sensitive version, so that was a great start. The texture on my skin was a little different. I expected it to feel dry when applied, but it felt a bit more hydrating and almost greasier than expected. I realized at this point, Blue Lizard's idea of a sport sunscreen is long-lasting, but not that dry feeling other brands have. It lasted all day at a pool party, with me sweating, swimming and sitting around. It worked incredibly well.

Pros:

High SPF mineral-based spray sunscreen
Fine Spray
No white cast/ dries clear
Leaves skin soft and hydrated
Fragrance Free
Reef Safe
No titanium dioxide, Oxybenzone or Octinoxate

Cons:

Took 15 minutes to dry down and felt a little heavier on the skin.

Overall: I really like this version and would gladly buy it when I run out. I just like the sensitive a bit more (like a lot vs. love). It held up at the pool and heat, was easy to reapply, but I like the feeling of the other one better.

Blue Lizard Mineral SPF 15 Lip Balm

Nourish and protect your lips from the sun with Blue Lizard Mineral SPF 15 Lip Balm. This vegan lip balm with a natural coconut flavor offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and moisturizes with 8 natural oils.

I have never really loved SPF lip balms, but this one impressed me. It felt and tasted like a regular lip balm, which was great.

It has Vitamin C as well as 8 oils in it (shea, coconut, soybean, sunflower, tea tree, olive, avocado, sweet almond, and jojoba) to help hydrate lips and keep them feeling soft and smooth. It has a mild coconut flavour without having added fragrances to it.

Pros:

8 oils to hydrate lips
Feels nice on the lips
Light coconut scent
Fragrance Free
Reef Safe
No titanium dioxide, Oxybenzone or Octinoxate

Cons:

Only SPF 15, I wish it were higher.

Overall: Great lip balm, feels great on the lips, and it has SPF to it, so it is all together great. No complaints, just a good product.

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick

Powerful mineral sun protection is just one swipe away with Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen Stick. This Zinc Oxide-based SPF 50 formula was designed with sensitive skin in mind. It glides on easily, rubs in clear, and dries smooth. Throw it into your bag, backpack, or pocket for on-the-go broad-spectrum protection. This sunscreen stick is formulated with 100% mineral active ingredients. It is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and free from potentially harsh chemical sunscreen active ingredients that might irritate sensitive skin. Pocket-sized and TSA-friendly, this is the perfect travel companion to our sunscreen lotions.

I reviewed this last year, and newsflash, I loved it then and I love it now. The only change is the packaging's look.

I love how convent it is to have this stick with me for touchups, it feels great, and it gets my hubby to use his sunscreen. I still like it as a lip balm, but it is great for any place I want to get coverage.

Pros:

Convenient stick format
SPF 50
Fragrance Free
Reef Safe
No titanium dioxide, Oxybenzone or Octinoxate

Cons:

None!

Overall: This remains my favourite sun protectant lip product. It is fantastic to swipe on the lips and get a good amount of protection. The creamy formula is also great for the face, and my dry skin just loves it. Perfect for touch-ups, too.

So what do I think of all the items I got to try out? They are excellent, and I am going to continue to use them until there is no more, then I will rebuy the Sensitive spray and the stick at the very least.

Blue Lizard has proven to me time and again that their products work and they work well. I had a few people message me on Instagram when I posted about their Sensitive Spray saying how much they too loved it, which made me feel great that I was not alone in this opinion.

You can pick up Blue Lizard products at Well.ca, Rexall, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Amazon.ca.

*Some products featured were kindly provided for review. All opinions expressed are completely my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my blog!

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Skincare:

Hair and Body Care:

Makeup:

Mary Kay Great Heights Waterproof Mascara $21.00

Mary Kay Shimmer Eye Shadow Stick $25.00

Mary Kay Multi-Benefit Concealer $22.00

Mary Kay Undereye Corrector $22

Mary Kay Clinical Solutions Barrier Restore 1:1:3 $56.00

Steps to clean your brushes

EcoTools Makeup Cleaner For Brushes, Brush and Sponge Cleansing Shampoo

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50

Blue Lizard Sport Mineral SPF 50 Spray

Blue Lizard Mineral SPF 15 Lip Balm

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick

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