Why hello there! Maybelline Cosmetics recently launched what they considered to be their most brilliant lipstick yet – the Shine Compulsion Lipstick which retails for $7.99. It’s basically an oil-in-stick lip product that boasts extreme hydration along with a vibrant color. At first glance, it looks like any other Maybelline lipsticks, but it actually has an ultra-shiny finish with a lightweight comfortable feel. There are about 15 wearable shades available from this line, all having a slight buttery vanilla scent. The Maybelline Shine Compulsion lipstick is pretty much easy to find as it’s in most drugstores and grocery stores everywhere, and it comes at a very affordable price tag. The formula kinda reminds me of the YSL Oil-in-Stick (reviewed HERE) and slightly of the Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Color (seen HERE), as well as the Dior Addict Lacquer Stick (swatched HERE) – all of which are a lot more long-wearing than this Maybelline Shine Compulsion Lipstick, but of course, they’re also pricier.
On the other hand, Maybelline also added some new shades to their popular Shaping Lip Liner ($7.99) which has a creamy and waxy feel that sets well on the lips and doesn’t budge. I love how well this particular lip liner lines the lips and there’s no need to sharpen it. For the price and availability, this is such a good deal.
Shine Compulsion Lipstick
Has a non-sticky buttery feel that melts into the lips easily. It’s so hydrating and richly pigmented with true vivid colors. The dark shades are very staining and very long-wearing, however, the lighter shades may need to be reapplied after 3 to 3.5 hours. This lipstick transfers a lot but the color will still remain on the lips after drinking, but the lighter shades will probably require complete reapplication after eating.
This defines the lips well and goes on smoothly. It tends to set fast and it’s long-wearing, but it’s also easy to correct. The new shades of this lip liner can be tricky to match with some of the shades of the Color Sensational Lipsticks since this tends to pull off slightly darker than it looks once it sets. I find that this matches well with a lipstick that is one or two shades darker.
The Maybelline Shine Compulsion lipstick, as well as the Shaping Lip Liner, are definitely one of the best drugstore lip products I’ve tried. They’re great as everyday affordable and easy to find lip favorites with pretty good pigment and texture, not to mention the hydration and comfort that they offer.
The Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick and the Shaping Lip Liner are currently available at Target, Walgreens, Ulta, and in most drugstores and grocery stores everywhere.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a bag review here in the blog. Well, Summer’s almost over, but Fall is coming and it’s about time to change to a different bag that’s more suitable for this upcoming season. But before I do that, I’d like to talk about my most favorite bag this Summer – the Lady Dior. This iconic bag is named after one of the most famous woman in our history, Lady D, or Lady Diana. She used to carry this purse in several of her appearances, and years later, this bag though had been reimagined or reinterpreted several times, has remained to be as beautiful and as elegant as ever, just like the woman for whom it was named after.
I got this Lady Dior bag when I was in Spain. I’ve been eyeing this bag for a long time, but I didn’t really expect to seriously get it. I’ve looked and tried this bag at different Dior stores but was kind of undecided as to what color to get since most of the shades available were just so beautiful, and that had left me undecided. I sorta had my mind on the smaller Mini Lady Dior with Chain in Lotus Pearly Cannage Lambskin, but that was too small for me and though I love the color, I decided to skip it. Since then, I’ve been thinking about the Lady Dior bag for more than a year, and for some reason, I had the feeling that I may never get this bag after all. However, a year later, I popped into a Dior store in Barcelona and I saw this beautiful Lady Dior in Rose Eclair and I immediately fell in love with it. The size was perfect for me, and I love the light pink color. I chose the patent leather since the color is bright and light, and I didn’t want it to get stained so easily. I’m a fan of patent leathers, and I’ve had good experiences with patent leather bags before, especially the Vernis leather of Louis Vuitton, and I thought the same is true with this Patent Lady Dior Bag.
This bag’s dimension is 9.5 x 4.5 x 8 inches. This size is considered a standard medium like the original Lady Dior. This comes with a narrow removable and adjustable should strap and with a drop of approximately 23 inches. A signature D.I.O.R metallic letters serve as charms attached to the bag, and the bag itself is sporting its signature Cannage topstitching. There is a zipper closure that secures your things, however, the bag’s opening can be quite narrow, which makes it hard to see what’s inside it. It’s also kinda hard to put your hand inside it since the leather is kinda stiff, but it does get better as soon as the leather softens a little bit. Still, you kinda have to rely on your hands and try to feel the items in this bag if you need something. The bag’s handles are rounded, slim, and flat, which is nice because my arm fits through them so easily. The overall size of this bag is perfect for carrying basic necessities and there’s still room for more. Also, its weight is not too heavy and it’s not too light.
The whole look of the Lady Dior bag is just absolutely stunning and a definite head-turner. The design is gorgeous, sleek, and minimal but beautiful. A kind of bag that is very versatile and can withstand the test of time. The stitching is well done and the bag overall looks well-made. You can wear it as a shoulder bag, a handbag or as a crossbody.
Price-wise, this bag is expensive, but you’re paying for the name and the timeless yet classic elegant style. For the color, I’ve always wanted my own Lady Dior bag to be something bright since I envisioned myself to be carrying this bag for most of the Summer, and the Rose Eclair shade is just perfect for that. However, in the future, I would also like to have this bag in black which is so perfect for Fall and Winter. Oh, how I wish. Anyway, there are different colors and sizes for this bag. There’s one called “Les Larges” which obviously is a larger version of the bag in this review, another one called “Mini Lady Dior” which has a chain for a shoulder strap, and the other one is “My Lady Dior” which you can customize with badges. For me, the best size is this medium standard Lady Dior, which is not too big and not too small, and it can fit several things without looking overstuffed or feeling too heavy.
Here are the things I could fit inside this bag, also, these are the items I’ve been carrying throughout this Summer.
Parker Pen – you’ll never know when you need to sign or write something or when somebody needs a pen, oh, and this pen writes smoothly (once a girl scout, always a girl scout, LOL)
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm – favorite hand and body moisturizer, mostly use this for my hands, and can’t get enough of the scent (Aesop products reviewed HERE)
Tom Ford Illuminating Powder in 01 Translucent– my current on the go blotting powder to illuminate my dark undereyes and reduce shine off my face. Been testing this for a few weeks now and will review this thoroughly soon.
Pop up Folding Pocket Hair Brush with Mirror – I cannot emphasize how convenient and important this is and it’s very easy to toss inside your purse, also, this doesn’t occupy much space.ย
Compeed – used to hoard packs of this when it was only available in Europe, thank goodness this is now available here in the USA. This is literally the best blister cushion/plaster in the market. Love this because this is a lot thicker than most blister plasters I’ve ever tried, and guess what, I still hoard several packs of this even to this day because this is so useful.
I really love this Lady Dior bag and it’s one of the most beautiful bags I’ve ever owned, however, this beauty requires extreme care; First, I find the patent leather to be too delicate, compared to LV’s Vernis leather. This seems prone to color transfer especially when it gets wet or when it comes in contact with darker colors. Since this bag is in light patent leather, I have to be careful not to put this close to any dark clothing, especially dark jackets, sweaters, jeans, or coats. But it can be easy to clean with a damp cloth if the color transfer hasn’t saturated that much on the leather. Second, the patent leather can get easily scratched, so you have to be really careful when carrying this bag. For those reasons, I almost decided to sell the bag since I was doubting myself whether I could really take care of such delicate purse. I contemplated for a while, but the bag is just too beautiful to get away, so I talked to some S.A.s at Dior and followed their advice to buy a Dior Mitzah with my initials and wrap it around one of the bag’s handles in order to protect it from wear and tear, as well as from the color or moisture transfer from either my clothing or from my hand. Also, I just really have to be extra careful when handling this bag. Speaking of Mitzahs, the first Dior Mitzah I bought with my initial “L” on it has an animal print of white and green with purple and blue trees. I love it and it reminds me of Hermes Twilly only with a letter written on the end. Later on, I decided to buy another Dior Mitzah with the same ABCDior style. I was told that they now have some new designs of the Dior Mitzahs ABCDior which are inspired by the work of the French Poet and Surrealist Artist Jean Cocteau. I bought one, and though I’m not a fan of the scarf’s shade which is a little too neutral for me and too close to my bag’s color, I fell in love with its message and its very symbolic and very touching illustration, which is a woman crying inside a cage (literally the scarf has a word “Cage” on it) but then was freed and had found freedom and happiness. As of the moment, Dior also carries different colors of Mitzahs without initials, and they only carry the updated ABCDior Mitzah designs online, which are inspired by Jean Cocteau’s work. You might still be able to find the older Mitzah designs/colors in select Dior Stores.
Overall, this beautiful iconic bag is one of the easiest purses for me to carry. It’s versatile and comfortable, and it’s not too heavy and not too light. You can carry this purse in several different ways, and it matches with any outfit. This is definitely the perfect bag for a petite frame and will also look good in just about any body type, size, or height. This bag not only elevates one’s look but can also make one appear elegant and polished. A true classic that won’t go out of style.
The Lady Dior Bag, as well as the Dior Mitzahs, are currently available at Dior Boutiques or in-store at select department stores.
Hello. I’ve been testing and using some recent releases in loose setting powders, as well as some cult favorites to set my makeup and I’m happy to report that a lot of the loose setting powders nowadays really live up to the expectation. You can find different setting powders that are good multitaskers; be it to set the foundation or simply to mattify the skin and reduce shine. I mostly use my loose powders for these reasons, although I admit that in the past, I didn’t really care much about them, but since noticing my liquid foundations sliding easily off my face, I felt like it’s about time I need to start looking into some really good setting powders to help keep my makeup stay put on my face.
Most of the time, I tend to use loose setting powders if I’m not in a hurry to apply my makeup or if I’m applying makeup from home, also, I tend to buy them in smaller packaging just in case I might need them for travel. However, when I’m in a hurry, traveling, or at work, I tend to use pressed powders since they’re not messy to use. There’s nothing worse than baking or setting your makeup while being in a constrained space and in a rush. Chances are, you’d probably knock down some products and spill your beloved loose powder in the process. Yep, story of my life, LOL.
Anyway, here are my current loose setting powder favorites. A separate review of some of my preferred pressed powders will be posted here in the blog soon.
Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre (1 oz: $52) – This is one of the first loose powders I ever purchased and now I’m down to my fifth. I’ve repurchased this in either Naturel (30) or Dorรฉ (40) shades, depending on my current skintone situation. Right now, I’m using Naturel, which is pretty much the perfect natural shade for my complexion – not too light and not too deep. The Dorรฉ shade was perfect when I had a bit of tan, but it seems like I’ll be sticking to the Natural shade from now on probably a long time. What I like about this loose powder is that it comes in a huge tub with a big puff inside, and that means that you won’t run out of this product so easily. Applying this is super convenient if you use the puff, but using a brush can be a challenge, as the powders can be hard to dispense especially since they’re so fine, but it’s not much of a big deal. The finish of this powder is natural, sheer, and it does set the makeup well for hours, and also, there’s no flashback. This also does a good job or reducing oil on the face.
Laura Mercier
Translucent Loose Setting Powder (Mini 0.33 oz: $23, Standard 1 oz: $38) – Oldie but goodie, this cult-favorite loose setting is the one that started it all, and is still loved by many, including yours truly. I love this for its natural finish and soft sheer coverage. This appears ivory white and may sorta leave a very slight white cast on a darker complexion, but it’s super easy to blend. On my skin, this goes quite transparent, and I have not noticed any flashbacks while using this. However, this can emphasize dryness or accentuate the dry patchy areas of the skin, especially around the eyes. So this requires a pretty good technique in strobing, baking, and blending. Also, this may as well require a face mist to sort of soften the dryness of the powder. Apart from that, this does a good job of keeping my makeup on for hours and hours, and it keeps the oiliness at bay,
Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow (Mini: $23, Standard: $38) – This is kinda like the popular Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder above, but with a radiant finish. I kinda like this one better than the original formula because this is not as mattifying and doesn’t emphasize any kinds of dryness. It does have some fine shimmers which add a subtle glow to the face and I like that because then my face won’t look too flat or too matte, so I don’t have to use a face mist right after my makeup. Also, the micro shimmers of this have a warming shade that complements my light-medium skintone.
Marc Jacobs Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder (0.28 oz: $44) – This is probably my most favorite loose setting powder as of the moment. Though this is supposed to have a natural finish, this actually has a soft-matte effect right after application, and it transforms into something creamy when it blends onto the foundation and gets warmed by the skin. I like that I don’t have to use a face mist right after applying my makeup when using this powder, and this pretty much blurs my pores, making my skin look flawless and filtered. This powder smells like coconut and also has cocoa butter, which makes it a bit heavier than most loose setting powders, but also has the creamiest most beautiful effect on my skin. Another thing I love about this is the easy-to-use packaging. I like that this has a mesh opening because it makes it so easy for the brush to pick up the product, and I don’t have to tap it or shake it several times. This definitely doesn’t cake and has no flashbacks, and the finish is very natural, sheer and creamy.
Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder (Mini 0.19 oz: $15, Standard 0.67 oz: $30) – This setting powder reminds me a lot of Laura Mercier’s, which has a natural finish and with a sheer coverage that doesn’t have flashbacks, but unlike Laura Mercier’s, this doesn’t emphasize dryness and it’s not as chalky. This loose powder truly is great for baking and contouring without having to worry for the dreaded white cast, and it’s great at keeping your makeup on for hours or for simply reducing shine off the skin. Basically, this powder locks-in and sets your look.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (Mini 0.07 oz: $18, Standard 0.36 oz: $46) – Also with a natural finish, this very light and very refined loose powder is infused with diamond powder and it works really well at not just controlling the shine off the face, but it also goes invisible and doesn’t emphasize the fine lines or the dry areas. This passed the flashback test for me and truly does keep my makeup stay on longer while giving me that sort of filtered skin look, sans cakiness or chalkiness.
Are you a fan of these powders? What’s your favorite loose setting powder?
