July 2018 - Reviews and Other Stuff

Month: July 2018

Sephora Play! July 2018

July 28, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello. As you all know from my review of last month’s Sephora Play!, I was planning to end my subscription with this box. This month is going to be the last time I’ll feature the Sephora Play! box on this site. It’s a pity because I kind of had second thoughts for a while when I received this month’s box since the contents seemed really nice. But, I also thought of a subscription box I wanted to sign up to and thought that that one seems better. But anyway, worry not because I’ll keep checking out other people’s Sephora Play! to see if it’s worth coming back to in the future or not. Anyway, let’s make this review worthwhile and let’s take a closer look at the products I got this month.

The products I received are very useful. You could pretty much do a nice face cleansing, apply a sample moisturizer, and treat yourself to a nice lipstick or lip treatment. So far, there’s no sample fragrance included in my box. There’s usually one every month, but hey, it’s alright with me.

Tarte Color Splash Lipstick, Rainforest of the Sea Collection (0.12 oz: $21) in Salt Lyfe – Described as a mauve gray lipstick, but on my lips, it appears like a nude mauve, which is so pretty and I could wear this color every day. This lipstick has a really cute summer vibe packaging, and it’s one of my most favorite lipstick lines. It applies smoothly on the lips and it has a velvety finish. It’s also very pigmented and long-wearing. More colors reviewed HERE.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush (0.2 oz: $29) in Paaarty – I currently use this blush and this is one of my most favorite blushes of all time because it’s pigmented and it shows on my skin. Its texture is soft and smooth, and it is very easy to blend or layer. The shade Paaarty is just so versatile and natural-looking and it works well on my skintone. I also love that this particular blush comes in several different shades and it stays on my skin for several hours even when there’s heat and humidity.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment (0.15 oz: $26) in Dream – This is a sheer pink lip treatment that can either be worn alone or before any lipstick. Its packaging is so cute and it smells and feels like the original Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen with Spf 15. In fact, I can’t tell the difference between the two. Also, this lip treatment is as moisturizing as the one with the SPF version. But I do feel that this is too moisturizing to use before a lipstick and I was afraid that my lipstick might move or smudge and will look too oily, so, if I have to choose which Fresh Lip Treatment I would use, I’d definitely choose the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with the added Spf, in that way, I get a sun protection for my lips as well.Boscia Matcha Magic Super-Antioxidant Mask (2.6 oz: $38) – Reviewed further HERE. This mask is softening and it doesn’t irritate the skin. I love its ingredients and I love how easy it is to use on the face since it’s not the drying type. Also, this smells like the Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask (reviewed HERE)

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter (1.7 oz: $40) – I have the regular size of this moisturizer in my shelf but I have it with the Juicy Mango scent. This is definitely one of my most favorite facial moisturizers because it’s so creamy and so hydrating to use without making the skin look too oily. I like that this cream gets absorbed my skin easily and it leaves my skin super soft. Also, this has the clean beauty seal of Sephora.

Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel Rainforest of the Sea (5 oz: $25) – This facial cleanser/makeup remover has a nice subtle lavender scent and it has a gel consistency. It does remove all kinds of makeup including the waterproof ones and it doesn’t strip the natural oils of the skin. Instead, this feels moisturizing and softening and it foams really well. I really feel like having this in full size.

That’s about it for this month’s Sephora Play. I’ll be reviewing a different subscription box pretty soon. Stay tuned…

Favorite Facial Toners

July 26, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Facial Toners are probably the skincare product I used to skip a lot. I don’t remember exactly what had gotten me to start using them diligently, it must be that I just really took my skincare rituals seriously since I’m tired of seeing zits and blemishes on my face. I’ve been hooked into Facial Toners for a couple of years now and since then, I noticed a big improvement in my skin. We may not realize it, but toners do play an important role in skincare. I have probably experimented on a lot of Toners in the past, and still, I feel like there’s not really a lot of good Face Toners out there. However, I did find a few that seems to work for my skin. So here now are my favorite Facial Toners, a few of them have been a constant favorite for years, and also, there are some that are current favorites or new discoveries and are definitely holy grail-worthy.

One of the first and my most favorite Facial Toner of all time is the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner (5.4 oz: $76). This toner is gentle and calming to use. It doesn’t leave any residue on the skin and it’s non-drying. There’s almost no scent and it gives a refreshing feel. Its main ingredients are AHA and Pitera – which is rich in amino acids. With that being said, this toner gives a youthful glow over time, and it pretty much balances my skin tone and it also improves and evens my skin texture. My skin used to look dull and tired-looking, but after using this toner for more than 2 years now, my skin has been looking radiant. It also seemed to control my hormonal breakouts, and it brightens and heals whatever zits I have, which is amazing because it usually takes a while for my blemishes to go away. I usually use this Toner right after washing my face, and I soak a cotton pad full of it and just dab it deeply into my open pores and it preps my skin for any serum or moisturizer. It usually takes a while to see this Toner’s effect, but with time, you’ll notice the difference. As with almost all of my reviews talking about SK-II products, I definitely feel like my good skin days always happen whenever I use SK-II. My face overall just looks smooth, glowy, and my oily T-zone seems less likely so. Because of that, I also use their Facial Treatment Essence, which is also great at making my skin look its best. The only drawback with this Toner and as with most SK-II products are the prices. This is definitely a pricey toner even though its packaging is large enough to last me about 2 months. I do try to use it conservatively though as much as I can. But yeah, by now, you know that I really love SK-II products and I highly recommend them.

Probably the closest dupe to the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion is the Son & Park Beauty Water (11.49 oz: $30). It comes in a really large plastic square bottle and you could find it right now at Sephora. It is a K-beauty favorite and has really good reviews online. I’ve also heard about the popular K-beauty brand Missha as having a similar ingredient/toner to the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, it’s called Time Revolution Toner, but I haven’t tried it yet. Anyway, back to this Beauty Water by Son & Park. I usually purchased this Toner whenever I don’t have a budget for the SK-II one. It’s not exactly alike, but it’s similar enough. It’s also a very mild Toner with faint fruity ginger scent, kinda like the scent of the Belif True Cream Aqua Bomb. All throughout my use of this, I noticed that it’s good at removing some remaining makeup residues and it doesn’t dry my skin. It made my skintone look more even and it also feels very calming and so refreshing. I even use this as a face mist and it leaves my skin supple.

This Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner (8.4 oz: $44) is an Allure Best of Beauty Winner 2017 and I was surprised to have fallen in love with this at first try. I thought this would be too harsh for my skin, but it’s not. This is actually so refreshing and so calming that I literally zone out every time I use this. LOL. Also, this toner’s packaging is too cute to use and is simply pretty to look at. Although I’ve heard some people say that it looks like one of those jars in their chemistry labs filled with some experimental stuff, LOL again. But anyway, this toner is definitely gentle and I can attest to this since this is pretty much alcohol-free, non-drying and this seems to moisturize a bit. For me, this has all the bells and whistles of a perfect Face Toner like removing debris and purifying the pores, as well as removing extra makeup residue left. But what I love about this is how it really helps soothe my face during breakouts. I just love using this Toner whenever I get those raging hormonal zits and it seems to calm it down, leaving my breakouts reduced in size and almost cured the next day. So, for me, this toner has a therapeutic effect which helped my skin a lot. The packaging is pretty large too, so you can use this for some time.

Next thing is the Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion (6.7 oz: $34), which is a Toner that got the clean skincare seal from Sephora and is fairly new to me. I’ve only been testing this for a couple of weeks now and who knew mushroom skincare can be so good for the skin? This is literally a very gentle toner even though the scent may not be so gentle, but it’s not bad. It has an aromatic herb-like scent which is soothing of course at least for me, but for some, it may be too much (but I doubt it). I haven’t noticed any dramatic results or improvement of this Toner on my skin yet, but what I do notice is that it never broke me out, I mean, it’s expected because it’s made of clean ingredients like reishi mushroom (anti-inflammatory) and probiotics among other things. It also seems very calming on the skin and it pretty much relieved my skin’s redness.

Last but not the least is the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (1-3.4 oz: $18-49). This is also a new discovery for me, but from the moment I tried this, I literally was like “Where have this toner been all my life?” Apparently, this product has a cult following and I wasn’t a follower of it? Hmmm… I don’t know what kind of sorcery is in here but I was really impressed the moment I sprayed this on my face. It literally made my face smooth and soft and my pores didn’t feel so rough at all. It actually kinda tightened it and my skin looks glowy. Furthermore, it feels soothing with its rosemary, mint, and rose scent. It also has some orange flower water. I usually use this prior to applying a serum or moisturizer during the day and also as a face mist to refresh my face during the afternoon and evening. It’s also great as a setting spray for makeup and it really evens it out, reducing any chances of cakiness. This is definitely on my holy grail list now and it’s definitely worthy of being called a beauty elixir.

Bottom line, it’s good to use Face Toners regardless of what brand you’re using or planning to use. I personally think that you shouldn’t skip on this skincare ritual since it’s very important to prep the skin after washing the face. Also, Facial Toners remove extra residues of makeup and dirt that may not have been removed by usual face cleaning, even after double cleansing. On top of that, Facial Toners are very beneficial in purifying the pores. The only downside about Toners is that they get used up a lot, so it’s always a good idea to purchase them in the largest packaging possible, even though most of them are already housed in large containers. So yeah, there goes my favorite Toners of all time, I hope it helps you in finding a favorite one as well.

Wishing you good skin days all of the time. Muah!

xx.

Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder Review + Swatches

July 24, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

This Summer is definitely a season to discover some new lipsticks, especially some new lipstick trends. One of the most beautiful lip products I discovered recently is the Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder ($22). It isn’t your typical or conventional kind of lip product and it’s not really a lipstick. Many of us may have heard of lip powders before although I, myself is barely familiar with them. So, I think that it’s about time that we talk about this amazing gem of a lip product especially now with the release of the new Buxom Pillowpout Lip Powder.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from this product when I first learned about it. I have never tried any Lip Powders before even though I’ve read that Sephora has one and I think Lorac released one as well. I just never really paid that much attention, that is, until, I finally tried this Buxom Pillowpout and I’m just utterly in love. If you’re wondering what this product is all about or what is a Lip Powder anyway? Well, it’s definitely a new lip product trend that I think first started in Korea, and it’s just now slowly making waves to us here in the West. It’s not exactly like applying powder to the lips, but its effect looks blotted, matte or semi-matte, and a bit powdery on the lips. Think of it as a lip stain – perfect for creating that popsicle or ombre lips. The kind that makes every lip colors wearable due to its toned-down texture that looks more natural and easy on the lips.

With this Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder, you not only get vivid rich colors that look semi-matte on the lips, you will also notice that it feels really lightweight and it has that plumping tingly feel. It doesn’t have any annoying scent and it’s pretty much easy to apply. You just have to swipe the sponge-tip applicator on the lips (which is pretty accurate) and you’re good to go. One coat is enough to get that ombre lip effect or two coats for that full-on lip coverage. You can always dab or twist the cap back on the sponge to get more products, it’s easy peasy.

So Spicy – muted pumpkin spice

Darling Dolly – mauve pink

Unlike most matte liquid lipsticks, this Pillowpout Lip Powder never feels tight, uncomfortable, or dry. It also doesn’t seem to emphasize the lip lines that much and it just feels like nothing on the lips. I didn’t even have to exfoliate or prep my lips prior to applying this lip product and my lips did not lose any moisture all throughout my usage. Another thing I wanna point out is the fact that it has very very minimal transfer, it’s pretty much smudge-proof and it lasts a really long time, about 6-8 hours on me, and it leaves a nice stain on the lips even after eating, which is good news because then I don’t have to reapply that much.

There are a lot of beautiful shades from this lineup and they’re all so pretty. There’s definitely a shade for everyone and with a natural texture like a lip powder, I bet that almost all the shades from this Buxom Pillowpout will be very wearable. Speaking of wearable Buxom shades, I am so glad that Buxom added another great lip product line with their newest Lip Powders since I have always been a big fan of their lip products. It all started with their Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Lipstick ($21) (further reviewed HERE) which I still use up to this day and I absolutely love the shades of this lipstick and of course the creamy and comfortable semi-matte formula that it has. For me, Buxom seems to always nail it when it comes to selecting the colors for their lip products.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for that innovative and reliable lip product that delivers rich color while having that natural lip stain effect, you won’t be disappointed with this Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder. It is comfortable, lightweight, non-drying, non-smudging, and it lasts a long time. It’s definitely the most exciting lip product I’ve tried this Summer.

The Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder is currently available online at http://www.buxomcosmetics.com It will be available in Sephora and Ulta on July 26th, and will also be available in store at a later date.

*The Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder was sent by Buxom Cosmetics. The Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Lipsticks were purchased by me. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely by me, the Editor.