I get a lot of skincare items.

Although I love most of the items I get in, I do get very excited when certain brands show up on my doorstep, especially ones that I have been using since even before I started blogging.

Anyways, I do have a lot of skincare items that I will be talking about on here in upcoming posts, but I am really excited to chat about these items since they are from brands that I really like and enjoy.

If you are on the hunt for a new toner, cleanser, serum, or setting spray, then keep reading for some new picks to try out this summer.

Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Cleanser and Daily Refining Milk-Peel Toner

Although I don’t partake in cannabis culture, I do really love it when beauty brands use ingredients from cannabis in their products. I know how beneficial cannabis ingredients can be to your health and mental health and I am all for it when brands add this stuff to their formulas.

So that brings me to one of Kiehl’s newest products, the Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Cleanser (C$35). This face wash is formulated with 96 per cent naturally derived ingredients, including cannabis sativa seed and green oregano oil.  The gel texture feels really nice on the skin and gently foams up to help with lifting away impurities, leaving your face feeling calm, fresh, and healthy.

Pair the new cleanser with their new toner, the Daily Refining Milk-Peel Toner (C$76), which is an exfoliating toner that helps to dissolve impurities while replenishing the skin’s moisture levels.  It contains Lipo Hydroxy Acid and 23 per cent emollients, including almond milk.

Use this toner morning and night after your cleanser to remove any left over makeup, dirt, or oil.  It helps with smoothing and brightening your skin and is safe for all skin types. Kiehl’s does say this is a low-level peel, but it’s fine to use twice a day. This would be good for rough or dry skin as it will help to improve the skin’s condition.

YSL Pure Shots Light Up Serum

I love YSL makeup, but I have yet to try any of their skincare products.

The luxury beauty brand recently sent me their YSL Pure Shots Light Up Serum (C$120), which is one of many serums in their Pure Shots line with this one focusing on brightening the skin.  This serum helps to diminish the look of dark spots and discolouration, as well as redness for a more luminous complexion.

This product is ideal for combination skin and feels very lightweight on the skin. The formula includes Vitamin Cg to help reduce the look of yellowness and dark spots to brighten the skin, as well as marshmallow flower, which delivers essential vitamins and helps to soothe the look of irritation and redness. The serum also helps to fight against pollution, environmental stressors, and effects of free radicals.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray+

When I saw that IT Cosmetics released a new setting spray, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

Okay, so technically this isn’t a true skincare product, however, it does have skin-loving ingredients in it and in addition to setting your makeup, you can also use it as a facial spray as well.

The IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray+ (C$38) is a setting spray that is designed to extend the life of your makeup and also soothe skin.  It is infused with a blend of long-wear polymers that provide an all-day hold, as well as magnifying powders to absorb excess oil and hold your makeup in place.  It is suitable for all skin types and the hyaluronic acid, coconut water, and aloe vera extract help to hydrate and replenish your skin.

Spray this on once you’re done your makeup to hold it for 16 hours of wear, in addition to keeping it hydrated and comfortable.

I can’t wait to fully dive into these products and incorporate them more into my skincare routine.  I have been a big fan of all of these brands for years now so I’m very excited to see when they release new items in their use arsenal of products.

Have you tried any of these new releases from Kiehl’s, IT Cosmetics, and YSL Beauty?

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When it comes to mascaras, I’ve always been a fan of Lancome’s mascaras.

I still remember when they released the original Hypnose mascara and although that one is still my fave from the line, there have been many other new ones in that family that have also been great.

A Lancome mascara line that I haven’t tried is Monsieur Big, which came out a few years ago, and promises 12-times more volume in the lashes and intense pigment in colour.  I recently received the Monsieur Big Extreme Big mascara (C$33), which is the same formula as the original but with a darker pigment.

The mascara promises Lancome’s most intense black pigment yet for stunning lashes that stand out. This mascara promises 12-times more volume on the lashes, just like the original formula, and a pigment that is 10 per cent blacker than the original Monsieur Big mascara.

The first thing I noticed when I applied this mascara was how noticeable it made my lashes look. The formula glides on the lashes and the brush makes it super easy to coat every single lash easily.  I found it was a comfortable wear and it elongated my lashes, making them very noticeable. Although I did wear some eye makeup in the swatches photos, I do think that by itself, it would really make your eyes pop and give you that false lash look.

Overall I really liked this mascara and I think I will like it even more once it starts to dry out a bit. I find that when you first start using mascaras and the formula is a little more watery and fresh it doesn’t work as well as about one month in. This one was great and I imagine that it will only get better with age.

If you are between this one and the original, they are the same price and sound pretty much the same, just this one has a darker formula. I mean, if you are going to use mascara anyways, you might as well make it noticeable, so I would go with this formula.

Do you like Lancome’s Monsieur Big mascara?

Please note, products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.

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When it comes to lip products, I prefer them to be on the matte side, however, every now and then I’ll apply something with a little shine.

For those looking for a lip product that packs a punch in colour, moisture, and some shine, then take a look at Armani Beauty’s new Ecstasy Mirror Lip Lacquers (C$49).

These new lip lacquers from Armani Beauty are a take on their original Ecstasy Mirror Lip
Glosses, but provide more pigment to the lips. These are designed to give you intense colour with a single stroke and supposed to leave your lips feeling hydrated for up to 10 hours.

Available in 10 shades, these products feature a Light Feel System Technology, which means that once applied they are very lightweight on the lips. You apply them via a pointed-tip applicator so you can outline your lips first and then fill them in.

Armani Beauty sent me four of the 10 to try out, 101 Beyond (beige), 400 Four Hundred (red), 402 Ecstasy (dark red), and 502 Culmination (pink). I actually was quite happy with the colour selection and the fact that it wasn’t a collection of all reds (you guys know I love a good nude).

I will say that these go on very pigmented and feel very comfortable on the lips. The colour does last a fair amount of time, but you do feel them once applied since they have a bit of a tacky texture, and they wouldn’t do very well under a mask (because we have to think about these things now lol). If you are going somewhere where you don’t have to sport a mask, then I would look into applying these (or apply them when you get to somewhere where you can take the mask off).

I really like the texture of these and especially how they are super moisturizing. At $49 a pop, they are very expensive, however it’s Armani Beauty we are talking about here, so I feel like the price justifies the brand. They do feel very luxe and I would say they are a special occasion lip product and would look into picking up one or two up if you are looking for a new treat.

Will you try out the new Armani Beauty Ecstasy Mirror Lip Lacquers?

Please note, products supplied by PR. All opinions are my own.

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