Hi guys! I received my Sephora Play! Box and as usual, mine always arrive close to the end of the month. But it’s ok, it’s better to be almost late than not sharing the contents of my box at all. I wonder what you guys have for this month’s contents. I know Sephora calls them their “Fall-ready” beauties, which is timely because we are now officially in the Fall, which means lots of pumpkins, pumpkin cakes, and pumpkin pies. Oh my, I’m excited much for Thanksgiving already, LOL.
Anyhow, I’m not really impressed with my box this month. I think a lot of the products are kinda repeated or has been one of Sephora’s Rewards Bazaar a few weeks ago. I wish there were new or never-been-heard-before stuff because that would have been more fun. But I’m also glad that some stuff are repeated because there are products that I really like and would love to try them again or would like them in travel sizes.
So far, the contents of my box are pretty diverse even though it’s a bit more focused on skin care. There’s also a haircare sample, a Fall-shade lipstick, and stuff for the eyes.
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in Deep (Mini: $12, 0.1 oz: $24) – I’ve used this before and while it does work to make your brows look more prominent and very volumized, it can somehow only work wonders if you already have enough eyebrows. In my case, I have quite a sparse eyebrow situation, so the brush of this tends to stick and stain my skin apart from adhering and volumizing my brow strands, thus making it look unnatural. It also emphasized my already sparse brows because this is basically a brow gel with a tint, and not necessarily volumizing.
Algenist Power Recharging Night Pressed Serum (2 oz: $95) – This is a super concentrated serum that feels like a hydrating cream at first, then it melts into the skin easily and it’s really moisturizing. It also has a nice vanilla scent that’s common to most Algenist products, not to mention the famous Alguronic Acid which is also incorporated in their creams, serums, etc.
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (0.84 oz: $22, 1.68 oz: $38) – I received this cream in my previous Sephora Play box a couple of months ago, and have also received a sample of this a couple of times. This has always been a wonderful cream to have and I’m even planning to purchase this in full size. It’s a very hydrating and cooling gel cream that smells divine, like a fresh blend of herbs and citrus. It hydrates the skin very well no matter what skin type you may be. It’s even better for oily skin gals because it’s oil-free and very lightweight. This cream will give you a spa-like experience whenever you use it.
Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in Amulet (0.17 oz: $18) – Reviewed and swatched HERE. I love the shade of Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks, especially the matte ones, and this Amulet color is really pretty and perfect for Fall. It has micro sparkles that won’t make the lips look flat, while it mattifies on the lips at the same time. What I don’t like about this is the way the lipstick sets on my lips. It doesn’t really settle completely, instead, it feels kinda sticky, which makes me feel a bit uneasy whenever I use it.
Hello Guys! Please bear with me right now as I am currently traveling and I am literally typing this in the plane while trying not to get dizzy, LOL. I am in the first part of my travels and will be in London in a few weeks, as well as in Spain. Also, I’ll be embarking on a trip to Hong Kong and to another place in Asia. Iโm gonna be so jet lagged to the bones.
Anyways, as promised, I want to talk about Rihannaโs Fenty Beauty Makeup. I was so glad that my local Sephora immediately carried them as soon as the official launch of the makeup came out. Well initially, I saw that there were only a few products displayed at the center aisle of my local Sephora store, but as soon as I was halfway inside the store, I saw that there was actually a row full of Fenty Beauty Products. From highlighters to contouring sticks, and to makeup brushes, it was a sight to behold. It was also packed with a lot of people, women young and old, teens, and curious onlookers alike were all there.
There was a lot to try and to like, I was really excited, so I grabbed a few stuff that I thought I might like. First, I picked a highlighter palette in some peachy pink shade, but then I changed my mind and grabbed a more golden peach tone. I also saw the famous golden yellow Killawatt Trophy Wife Highlighter which was used by Rihanna in one of her ad video for this makeup line. To be honest, I kinda laugh when I saw it because I was like โoh my, thatโs a whole lotta highlighters!โ I thought it was a bit too much, and with that highlighting brush, it seems like RiRiโs highlighted cheeks could blind the aliens in the outer space. So I skipped on that shade even though it really looks beautiful. Also, I was really worried that if I use that shade I might cause a traffic accident whenever I get out of the house, oh my. Anyway, enough chatter, I wasnโt sure what Shimmer Skinstick to get, only that I really like the Trippin shade, furthermore, I wasnโt even sure which Matte Skinstick to get either, so I picked up the Match Stix Trio for medium skin tone which came with the Trippin shade. I also picked up a few little brushes which seem really good for traveling. I also bought a blotting powder that looks handy for on the go oil-control of the face.
Right when I was about to check out, a few Sephora salesladies mentioned how good the Fenty Foundation brush is, they’re really in โohsโ and โahsโ about it, but I just decided to stick to my purchase and took note of the brush in my head. A few days later, I saw Jeffree Starโs review about the Fenty beauties and he seemed to really love the Foundation brush, as it gives him a more airbrushed look than the Beautyblender itself. So, I gave in and decided to try the brush myself together with another Shimmer Skinstick that was also stuck in my head. While I was at Sephora, I tried the Unicorn shade and another lighter shade thatโs also very close to it, called Confetti. So, I purchased the Foundation brush and the Confetti shade additionally, and I got a sample of the Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation as well. I heard good things about their foundation, but I decided to skip it for now as I got the samples and I was more curious about their texture and their effect as opposed to their shades. Although I was really eyeing the shade 190, I think Iโll do a review on the latest foundations and I’ll add the Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation in there.
Here are the stuff I got:
Invisimatte Blotting Powder (0.3 oz: $32) โ This is a magnetic translucent blotting powder that partners with the Touchup Brush #130. The nice thing about this powder is that it not only controls oil, but it also acts as a setting powder over foundation or under eyes for a more โwide awakeโ look. Itโs soft finely-milled powder doesn’t leave a white blotchy cast on the face. Itโs also great for traveling or just to be in your purse for a quick retouch. Also, I love the tiny mirror and sponge that came with it.
Match Stix Trio in Medium ($54) โ Shades: Bamboo (light to medium beige), Trippin (golden glazed apricot), and Mocha (deep-medium brown). These sticks magnetize each other which makes them easy to pick up and store. I picked this trio of shades because it seems like the ideal group of shades for medium skin tones and it has the shade โTrippinโ which is a nice peachy tone thatโs subtly shimmery. It can double as either a blush or as a highlighter. The bamboo shade is great to brighten the undereyes and the mocha shade is nice for contouring that’s easy to blend and can be layered. These sticks are not really that creamy, contrary to most makeup sticks out there. While I do feel that the whole Fenty line is made for someone with oily skin, I was actually surprised that even though they may feel a bit drying to the touch, theyโre actually well-pigmented and packed with shimmers, especially when you warm the product against your finger or the palm of your hand. For their price, this trio of sticks has enough product in them to last for quite a long time, also they donโt melt easily which minimize product waste, and theyโre very well-pigmented.
Full-Bodied Foundation Brush 110 ($34) โ Thank God I purchased this brush because this is such a life changer. Yep, itโs true and Iโm not kidding. The salesladies at Sephora were right, this brush is indeed SO good. Itโs easier and faster to use than a Beautyblender, and it makes for a nice airbrush finish on the face with a liquid foundation. The synthetic bristles are very soft and very dense with just the right length for easy maneuverability. Love the muted nude pink color too. This is definitely gonna be my top foundation brush from now on and will take with me on my travels all the time. P.S. Iโve already washed this brush twice and it held up so well without any loose bristles. Hopefully, this brush will last a very long time.
Portable Touchup Brush 130 ($24) โ This is the magnetic brush that can attach to the bottom of the Invisimatte Blotting Powder compact. It is retractable and very soft. I purchased this brush thinking this would really be a nice travel highlighting brush as opposed to the Brush #140, but heck I was wrong. This brush is too pliable and too soft as a travel highlighting/contouring brush. I feel like this is just really great as a quick touch up brush to apply translucent loose powders. But if you really want to use this a highlighter, there might actually be a way with that. Just retract the brush halfway and that would make the bristles stiff, which would then make it easier to use as a highlighter on the cheeks, nose, and brow area.
Portable Highlighting Brush 140 ($24) โ I was skeptical about this brush at first because of the reviews that mentioned the bristles being prone to fall out, but when I got it, I was actually impressed at its ability to pick up the amount of product to highlight the face. It did highlight my face well, given that itโs small, but itโs a nice and handy little brush. Great for traveling and it magnetizes well the Match Stix Trio.
Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby ($34) โ I originally wanted the Girl Next Door/Chic Phreak which is a duo of soft pink and peachy pink tone of highlighters, but I decided on this duo compact instead, because I love the peachy pink champagne shimmer on them. There are two shades in this compact, while some only have one shade in it (Trophy Wife being one for example). The Mean Money shade almost doesnโt show on the skin, which is a bit disappointing, but the Hu$tla Baby is a beautiful peachy pink champagne shimmer that really makes you glow from within. It reminds me a lot of Beccaโs Champagne Pop.
Match Stix Shimmer Skin Stick in Confetti (0.25 oz: $25) โ I really love this fun shade, and itโs not so out of this world to use that you start reflecting those aliens from outer space. I saw the Unicorn shade but I thought that was too violet-ish for me, so I picked up this one which is a light violet opal effect shimmer and itโs the closest to a mythical creature as I can get. Definitely unicorn enough for me. I love that itโs easy to swipe and still has a natural effect.
Pro Filtโr Instant Retouch Primer (1.08 oz: $32) โ A mattifying primer that is lightweight and oil-free. This primer is meant to smooth away the pores, even the skin’s texture, and blurs imperfections. While this is indeed comfortable to wear and it makes the foundation last longer with a nice matte effect, in my experience this particular primer is pretty much like all other primers that feel cushiony and slightly blurring, which means that it does help but I could still see my pores and blemishes underneath it, though not so much, but yeah, theyโre still there. However, this feels like a really good quality primer that is on par with some other popular brands.
Pro Filtโr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (1.08 oz: $34) โ This foundation is really nice because it indeed has a soft matte effect and it doesnโt get cakey. It comes in tons of shades and theyโre long-lasting. Their coverage is medium to full and they oxidize a bit, but itโs hard to notice. The nice thing about this foundation is that itโs really lightweight that it almost feels like thereโs nothing on your face. Its soft matte effect makes for a natural look and itโs kinda sweat-proof. I like that itโs oil-free and my face didnโt look so shiny for a long time, even beyond 6 hours. Amazing. This is for sure one of the best mattifying foundations Iโve ever tried.
That concludes my Fenty Beauty review, but oh wait! Thereโs one more because I really enjoyed RiRiโs makeup products, I also have here the…
Cheek-Hugging Highlight Brush 120 ($32) โ I really thought that I donโt need this brush at all, and I usually just use a fan brush to highlight my nose, cheeks, cupids bow, etc., but sometimes I need my highlighter to really pop out, and this brush does the job. Itโs a fool-proof brush on how to apply a highlighter 101. I love its chiseled sides which hug and highlight the cheeks and all other high points of the face precisely. Also, it feels really soft and ergonomic. Itโs definitely one of those unique game-changing brushes that you thought you donโt need, but itโll actually prove you wrong.
Overall, I love Fenty’s beauty products and I like that they have shades for every skintone, which I think truly matters a lot in makeup. That’s it for me guys, I hope you enjoyed this very detailed review and my apologies for making it too long.
The Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is available at Sephora
Hello Everyone! There’s only a few days left of Summer and Fall’s just around the corner, oh my, how time goes by so fast. Yet from where I am, the sun is still shining brightly and though I could feel the temperature slowly dipping 1 digit down, it’s still pretty much Summer in here, no doubt. So before we reach the official start of Fall, I’d like to wrap up some sunscreens that I’ve used this Summer and even from the previous ones. Since I haven’t really done an official sunscreen roundup review on this blog, let’s do a recap of some of the sunscreen’s I’ve tried. Some of these products were a hit for me, while some were also a miss.
Let’s find out, shall we?
BODY
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Broad Spectrum Spf 60 Water-Lotion Sunscreen (150 ml: $35.99) – A fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, great for sensitive skin sunscreen that has a light water-like texture. It’s great for face and body with added antioxidant protection and water resistant for 80 minutes. Though this was described as cooling and refreshing water-lotion, this didn’t really feel cooling for me, but others whom I’ve also asked to try claimed that they felt a bit of a cooling sensation upon applying it. So it might be just me being insensitive, LOL. The nice thing about this Sunscreen is that it’s not greasy, it’s super lightweight, my skin absorbs this easily and has no discerning scent. This also prevents me from getting sunburned and it’s not sticky while I sweat or stay under the sun. Definitely a great sunscreen if you have a sensitive skin, or if you just want an all-around good sunscreen that won’t irritate your nose. It’s kinda pricey for a sunscreen though, but you can tell that it’s good quality.
Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum Spf 50 (3.4 oz: $19; 7.1 oz: $34) – A very different sunscreen that comes out as a mousse which spreads really well on the skin. It’s extremely lightweight and has a bit of a cooling or refreshing feel. It also has a nice light floral scent with antioxidants and is also water-resistant. The dispenser can be a bit tricky or difficult to use, and even though the mousse/foam, which feels like a shaving cream, was very spreadable, it kinda feels a bit greasy, but it disappears and melts into the skin easily. I usually use this for the body, but a lot of people also use this on their face. This gives me good coverage under the sun while it’s also fun to apply. The only problem is that because its packaging is pressurized, you’re not gonna be able to carry this when you travel.
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30 in Aloe Vera (4 oz: $6.50) – I’ve always enjoyed this organic and water-resistant affordable sunscreen, plus, it’s pretty much easy to find. I like that this feels like a moisturizing lotion and it melts into my skin very well without leaving a white cast and it’s non-greasy. This scent can be a bit too sweet, like sweet lemons, but it’s not a bad fruity scent. It reminds me of Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream’s scent, but this one is great for sensitive skin with no parabens, no harsh sulfates, and made of 100% vegetarian ingredients. It’s a cheap but effective suncare.
Coola Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 50 in Guava Mango & Spf 30 in Citrus Mimosa (3.4 oz: $24, 8 oz: $36) – Probably one of the best (if not the best) scented spray sunscreens I’ve ever tried. Made of organic ingredients, antioxidant-infused, and water resistant for 80 minutes. These sunscreens are ideal for just about any activity you want to do under the sun. I use this for running, hiking, and gardening. It doesn’t feel sticky even after I sweat a lot. I also never get sunburned with this, and it gets absorbed by my skin rather easily, plus it leaves no white residue whatsoever. In addition to that, the sprayer sprays evenly and finely onto the skin making it easy to spread and apply all over the arms and legs. Further reviewed HERE.
Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 70 (6 oz: $8.99) – One of the first ever sport sunscreen I’ve ever used, and it’s supposed to be made of high-performance formulations-antioxidants, water-resistant for 80 minutes, supposed to stay on your skin even after you sweat, and won’t run into your eyes and sting. Oh well, if I had not tried other sport sunscreens, I would have thought that all sunscreens are as sticky and strong-smelling as this. This particular sunscreen feels a bit thick and greasy upon application, and it gets even greasier once you start sweating with it. It almost feels gross, like your skin cannot breathe and it feels a bit hot. The nice thing about this is that it has a very high Spf, otherwise, there’s definitely other sunscreens that are better than this.
Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 30 (5 oz: $36) – This was a hit for me the moment I first sprayed this on my skin. That powdery-floral scent could last for a good 4-6 hours and I never get tired of it. This spray has a very “summer on the beach” vibe, and it’s also great to spray on your hair to protect it from drying when exposed to a lot of sun and also from salt water. This is definitely my favorite suncare oil spray because it’s not greasy, it disappears into the skin easily, it leaves no white cast, and it protects me from the sun. I wish it has a higher Spf, but so far, I never had a sunburn or redness with this.
Top Care Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum Spf 50 (8 oz: $5.99) – Found this at my local supermarket when I was in sudden need of a sunscreen. This may be hard to find online nowadays, but I’m pretty sure you might find this in your local grocery stores. This was an impulse buy for me and I picked this not knowing anything about this particular product or brand at all. Of course, I had other choices, like Coppertone and Neutrogena, but after my experience with Coppertone’s Sport Continuous Spray, I felt like, Nah, I’m gonna have to pass. Also, I love Neutrogena products, but their sunscreens are too thick and too sticky for me. They also leave a white cast on my face and skin to the point that I looked like Casper. LOL. So, I picked this Top Care sunscreen and much to my surprise, I actually love it. It’s very moisturizing and it goes through my skin easily. I also love the delightful clean scent. It feels just like a lightweight lotion and it’s not greasy. I really like this a lot.
FACE
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream Broad Spectrum Spt 50+ Wetforce For Face (1.2 oz: $22, 2 oz: $36) – This sunscreen smells so good and a little bit goes a long way when it comes to its application. A tiny dot is pretty much all you need for your face because this feels very concentrated and thick for a facial lotion. It also tends to leave a bit of white cast on the face, but it goes away after a few minutes, still, you’re gonna have to go easy on this. I like that this is hydrating and very lightweight. Also, this sunscreen kinda makes my face a bit luminous or slightly dewy. It’s also water-activated, so this becomes even more effective when exposed to water or sweat. So far, I also never get a sunburn or even a tan from this. Another big hit for me.
EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum Spf 46 (1.7 oz: $32.50) – A sunscreen that’s ideal for people with sensitive skin, especially to those who are acne-prone, has rosacea or even has discolorations or hyperpigmentations. While this claimed to not leave any residue, I still somehow noticed a bit of a white cast on my face. Also, this sunscreen tends to pill with time, but it’s very lightweight and fragrance-free. With that being said, this sunscreen has a very strong Spf scent that you could smell like it for the entire day, which can be really overwhelming on the nose. However, this never gave me any breakouts, and it is indeed great for sensitive skin. I also never had a sunburn while using this, perhaps, just a bit of tan, but this can feel a bit sticky when you sweat. You also need to reapply this a lot whenever you’re in a hot and humid place, or even when you’re sweating in your face a lot. I also find this to be too pricey for its Spf and for its packaging size, but I like its silky texture and it could almost look dewy on the face.
Coola Classic Face Sport Broad Spectrum Spf 50 in White Tea (1.7 oz: $32) – With a nice and clean tea-floral scent that’s ideal for any skin types. It’s water-resistant for 80 minutes, super lightweight, and non-greasy. This organic suncare and moisturizer don’t leave a white residue on the face, and it almost has a gel-like texture. It goes onto the skin easily and I never felt any greasiness nor stickiness. This even goes well with any foundation and it’s hydrating on the face. Also, this feels soothing, and it’s meant to reduce redness and balance the skin tone. To me, this is a great overall Spf moisturizer that truly delivers what it’s supposed to do. Further reviewed HERE.
Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid Spf 50 (1 oz: $28) – This is a lightweight sheer fluid that spreads easily on the skin and you don’t need to apply a lot of it. It also has Alguronic acid and antioxidants with an oil-free formulation that’s supposed to give a matte finish upon application. While I like this a lot when I tried this in-store and thought that it also had a pleasing vanilla-ish scent, Oh well, when I finally tried this at home, I was surprised by its strong awful glue-like smell. I almost couldn’t stand it and wanted to throw it away, but as I spread it all over my face, the scent sort of disseminated and became bearable. This also feels greasy but it settled on my skin somehow and though it didn’t really look mattifying on the face, it’s still ok under foundation. I think you could for sure find other face sunscreens that are much better than this.
Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Non-Tinted (1.7 oz: $43) – This is one of the best facial sunscreens I’ve ever tried. I just love that mild, clean, and irresistible scent. This goes on smoothly on my skin and it doesn’t feel greasy because it’s oil-free. It’s hydrating but not so dewy, and it’s great to go under makeup. I also noticed a mattifying effect on my skin, regardless of what foundation I use. I love that this fights free radicals and shields the skin from pollution. Also, this feels extremely lightweight, doesn’t leave a white cast on the face, and it doesn’t sting the eyes.
There you go guys! that’s a wrap for all the sunscreens I’ve tried this summer and in the previous ones. I’ve tried other sunscreens before that are not included in this review, but those didn’t register much to me. Hopefully, there will be more breakthroughs in sunscreen products for the next summer soon…
Bye Bye Summah! Hello Fall!
More reviews to come soon, including a couple of Travel Diaries (which I’m currently up to) and some more beauty stuff. Stay tuned…
Song of the week: Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey.
*Coola Products provided courtesy of Coola Suncare
