Reviews and Other Stuff

Month: April 2019

You Are a Badass Book/Audiobook Review

you are a badass book by jen sincero, pink lady dior bag, pink iphone x review

 

“If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done before” – Jen Sincero, success coach, author of You Are a Badass.

 

I don’t remember exactly where I heard about this book. It must have been recommended to me, or that I must have read somewhere that a lot of bloggers have read it, raved about it, or got inspired by it. I also seem to remember seeing a pile of it at Urban Outfitters looking like it’s the must-read of the moment. Regardless of how I’ve come to know about the book sassily entitled as You Are a Badass, I knew it got me curious and I had to read it at some point in time. Since I love listening to audiobooks while doing my daily activities, I decided to listen to this book via Audible. If you’ve read my previous book reviews, you’d know that I’m not a big fan of self-help books, not because I don’t need help, lol, it’s just that I’m quite picky about them. I gave this book a chance because it seems to be just everywhere, and it looks really interesting.

 

The Audible version of this book is read by the author herself, Ms. Jen Sincero. I liked the way she narrated the book. It was fast-paced and her tone of voice was very engaging. The book or audiobook itself is really all about improving oneself or life and on how to be awesome. As blissful and at times shallow that word may be, the author emphasizes for us to recognize that it’s very important to feel good about ourselves. Immediately you could tell that this book is all about self-positivity and self-affirmation, though I must admit that learning to be awesome can be quite a lot especially in today’s day and age.

 

you are a badass book by jen sincero, pink lady dior bag, pink iphone x

 

This book tells no-nonsense advice about achieving your best potential and living the life you’ve always wanted. Which means, being the “you” you’ve always wanted to be. It gives a lot of words of encouragement on following your dreams by getting things done and not sabotaging yourself. It’s like motivating yourself to act and hit the ground running while also loving and believing in who you are. In other words, this is a book not just for the go-getters but also for those who tend to procrastinate and want some push with practical advice and positive affirmation. Think Sophia Amoruso of Nasty Gal with her Girlboss vibe, and you can already imagine what listening to this book must be like.

 

While I find this book to be encouraging and motivating at the same time, especially when the author talked about following your dreams and understanding your limitations, as well as accepting the things that cannot be changed, or in how you can react to the things/situations that you can’t control, I feel like there are some parts of the book that I couldn’t understand. The author talked about source energy and the universe, and that just seemed a little too farfetched for me, but it didn’t bother me much. I’d like to think that I am more pragmatic in that sense, but perhaps I just didn’t listen to her explanation enough about these things because I was doing some chores while listening to the book. ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Since this book has a very modern voice/approach, expect to hear or read some swear words from the author, which honestly is not really a big deal for me. As for the condescending/arrogant tone that the author gives off with some of her advice, (mentioned by some readers) well, there is definitely a feisty tone to them, and at times they kinda sounded tough, but there is some humor to them as well. So, I just took the positive vibes/advice that I could get out of this book and decided not to judge on the questionable ones. I definitely think that the author should have delved more on some pointers on how to be awesome, and not just on encouraging and motivating the readers to get up and get going.

 

you are a badass, lady dior bag

 

Bottom line, I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it because of its tell-it-like-it-is approach to motivation, but I also wish that it should have been more open-minded to every individual’s specific situations and daily struggles. But anyhow, the next time you’re feeling low, or you’re feeling like you’re under the weather and needs an extra push or a shot of motivation, you may want to consider adding this book to your list of pick-me-up items to buy.

 

This book is currently available in Amazon

The Audible version is available HERE

 

  • Lip Gloss is from Cle de Peau
  • Fragrance is from Viktor & Rolf’s Magic Collection – Sparkling Secret, available HERE and reviewed HERE

 

Have you read this book before? Did you like it?

 

 

Ouai Haircare Review

ouai haircare

 

Hi there! Summer’s coming up and I am bracing for frizzy strands, annoying flyaways, and some other hair issues that could come up anytime during this hot season. As much as I love Summer, I know my hair could take a beating around that time, so, to better prepare myself, I’ve investigated a few haircare brands that I think could help prevent my hair from looking like a bird’s nest this Summer, LOL. One of the brands I’ve investigated is Ouai Haircare. I must admit that at first, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting out of this brand. I did find their lineup of products to be quite confusing and even more so redundant. But, I got curious anyway, so, over the course of time, I tested a few popular Ouai haircare products and here’s what I found.

 

ouai leave-in conditioner review

 

Air Dry Foam (4 oz: $28) – This is the first Ouai product I purchased and I was really impressed at how good it made my hair feel. First, you apply this non-sticky foam on your damp hair (about two pumps on my long hair) and scrunch it softly on your strands. Then let your hair air dry and voila! you’ve got soft smooth manageable hair. I know this is meant for wavy or curly hair types, but honestly, this works very well for my fine hair and I love this a lot. I mostly air dry my hair (because I usually don’t have the time for blowouts or styling) and this product helps a lot. This has a nice light perfumey musky scent that goes away within a few seconds, and this pretty much leaves the hair frizz-free and zero flyway even up to the next day.

 

ouai air dry foam review

 

Leave-In Conditioner (4.7 oz: $26) – A Ouai bestseller, a lot of folks really love this non-sticky lightweight leave-in conditioner. This has the same light floral musky scent that most Ouai haircare products have and this definitely eliminates hair frizzies and flyaways by just a few spritzes on the strands. On top of that, this also acts as a heat protectant prior to any hair styling. So, this product is pretty much a multitasker, which means fewer products piled on the hair and less time-consuming application. For my hair, this doesn’t soften as much as the Air Dry Foam above, but this adds a nice volume and it makes my hair behave well – looking smooth and shiny for the whole day and also the next.

 

ouai texturizing hair spray review

 

Texturizing Hair Spray (mini/1.4 oz: $12, 4.5 oz: $26) – This would have been the perfect texturizing hair spray for me ever because this doesn’t have a very annoying obtrusive scent and it really adds volume and texture to my fine long layered stands without leaving any residue, but there are few things that bothered me about this product. First, its spray nozzle could freeze up, making it difficult to use. Second, using this may kinda want you to wear a gas mask, LOL. Seriously, this texturizing spray is way too powdery and way too foggy to use. Expect to see a lot of smoke when using this, so you may want to use this while in a large room or else this could impede your breathing.

 

ouai dry texture foam review

 

Dry Texture Foam (5.8 oz: $28) – This product confused me at first because I thought this would be just like the Air Dry Foam above, but actually, this is quite a bit different, especially in terms of application. Though the effects of the Ouai Air Dry Foam and this are quite the same, this Dry Texture Foam needs to be applied on a dry hair, kinda like a pomade or a styling cream. This is definitely not meant to replace a dry shampoo, but it’s more like a foamy non-sticky texturizing shampoo, which of course definitely adds texture and vibrance to the hair, making it more volumized, frizz-free, and ready to be styled. I like this a lot because it’s perfect for whenever I miss out on applying the Ouai Air Dry Foam or the Leave-In Conditioner and I had to style my hair asap.

 

ouai wave spray review

 

Wave Spray (mini/1.7 oz: $12, 5 oz: $26) – This is probably my least favorite of all the Ouai haircare products reviewed here because this pretty much feels like a flexible hold spray. Unlike most wave sprays I’ve tried in the past, this scrunches my hair so much that it just feels dry. It does add texture to it but it’s way too drying for my fine hair. Perhaps, this could work better for those with wavy hair, but definitely not on my strands. I do love the scent of this though, but thank goodness I got this as a sample because I will be skipping this next time.

 

ouai review

 

Overall, if you’re new to Ouai haircare, I suggest you carefully read their products’ descriptions and see what they’re meant for. They may seem redundant and confusing at first because they do have several items that address each specific haircare concern. With that being said, I appreciate what this brand had done and I think their products will definitely help my hair this coming Summer. If you ask me what Ouai haircare product/products should you buy at first, I’d definitely say that you try their Air Dry Foam (my most fave), and their Leave-In Conditioner or their Dry Texture Foam.

 

Have you tried any Ouai haircare products already? What do you think?

 

These Ouai Haircare products are currently available at Sephora, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Revolve, Selfridges, Urban Outfitters, and SpaceNK

 

 

Samples of The Week

Cartier L'Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum

 

This week, I’m again featuring some samples that’s been sitting on my desk waiting to be tried. Been curious about these minis but I didn’t have the time to test them, until recently. Some of these are the ones I’ve always wanted to buy but for some reason, they kind of had given me some mixed feelings. So, let’s check out these samples once and for all and see which of them are worth having.

 

Marc Jacobs Shameless Youthful-Look 24H Foundation SPF 25

 

lancome click & glow highlighting skin fluid

 

Lancome Click & Glow Highlighting Skin Fluid ($23) – I really love how subtle these highlighters are. I thought they’d be just like any other highlighters out there, and I also thought that they won’t really show on my face, but actually, they do. Their effect is so natural and yet very buildable. I really like that they give such a nice healthy glow without looking too dewy.

 

marc jacobs shameless foundation

 

 

Marc Jacobs Shameless Youthful-Look 24H Foundation SPF 25 (1.08 oz: $46) – I had high hopes for this foundation, but on my skin, it just looks horrible. It feels really drying and it emphasizes my pores. No matter how I moisturize my skin prior to applying this foundation or even after applying its Under(cover) Coconut Primer, this stuff just looks cakey and weird on me.

 

stila stay all day foundation concealer

 

Stila Stay All Day Foundation + Concealer ($40) – I’m so surprised to have fallen in love with this. I really like the way this is formulated, kinda like a foundation/concealer hybrid that really covers blemishes, dark spots, dark circles, and any other imperfection on the skin. This doesn’t cake and this lasts a long time. I definitely need this foundation in its full size.

 

nars radiant creamy concealer

 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (0.22 oz: $30) – Always a favorite and one of the best concealers out there. This blends well into the skin because of its nice smooth creamy consistency that doesn’t cake or move around even when you sweat. Custard is my shade.

 

Sephora Collection Lipstick – These lipsticks have different finishes and I think they’re all good. I love their formulation and they’re really pigmented. Some of the colors may no longer be available now, but I do believe that Sephora got these lipsticks right especially in terms of lasting power, texture, and scent. My favorites are Rebel Chic and Enchanting Blush.

 

sephora rouge creme belly dancing, sephora rouge baume enchanting blush swatch

 

 

 

Dr. Brandt Needles No More 3-D LIP PLUMPFIX Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover Dissolving Spray (mini/1 oz: $12, 3.38 oz: $26) – I like the concept of this spray-on makeup remover, however, it is kinda messy to apply, and it does feel oily or it has a silicon feel to it even though it says it doesn’t. It does remove the makeup well, including the eye makeup but it kinda left my face feeling oily. So, I think I’ll just stick to my favorite makeup remover for now.

 

Dr. Brandt Needles No More 3-D LIP PLUMPFIX ($39) – This lip cream has two formulas – one for AM and one for PM. The AM one has a nice fruity lemon scent that gives a tingling sensation on the lips, thus making it look and feel plump. While the PM one just feels creamy (like a lotion) and did nothing to my lips. I don’t find these to be extremely moisturizing, so I think it’s better to stick to my favorite lip balms, as those will probably do a much better job than these 2-in-1 lip creme/conditioner.

 

Giorgio Armani Neo Nude Ecstasy Balm (0.10 oz: $34) – This untinted lip balm has a fruity scent and it feels lightweight on the lips, however, it’s not really moisturizing. I expected a lot from this balm, especially because I love Armani Beauty, but I think I won’t be changing my favorite lip balms any moment soon.

First Aid Beauty Coconut Water Cream

 

Patchology FlashPatch Night Restoring Eye Gels (5 ct: $20, 30 ct: $60) – These are so fun to use and I love the earthy scent. The patches are soft, gel-like, and are super-drenched which really moisturize the undereye. Not sure if they melt afterward or not, but mine did disappear overnight. I’m pretty sure they weren’t on my pillowcase either.

Patchology FlashPatch Night Restoring Eye Gels review

Pinrose Pillowtalk Poet Eau de Parfum (1.7 oz: $65) – I like the light powdery musky scent of this towelette sample, but the scent is a bit too light and it does disappear within a few minutes of wear on me.

 

Cartier L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum (1.6 oz: $90.00 – 2.7 oz: $115.00) – This masculine scent comes off as way too strong and kind of overpowering at first, especially because of its intense musk and alcohol scent. However, its dry down is really romantic and overall irresistible and seductive.

 

First Aid Beauty Coconut Water Cream (1.7 oz: $34) – This is such a nice lightweight moisturizer that is perfect for any skin type, especially for those with sensitive skin. This moisturizes well and it has a nice mild scent to it.

 

Erborian CC Crรจme High Definition Radiance Skin Perfector in Clair (1.5 oz: $44) – I really like this two-tone CC cream which goes on white at first, then it transforms into some kind of a creamy beige shade that surprisingly blurs the pores very well. It makes the skin look really even, smooth, and young-looking. I feel like I could use this on good skin days (doesn’t cover the dark spots completely) and just set it with a very good setting powder as an everyday foundation.

 

Korres Greek Yoghurt Smoothie Priming Moisturiser (1.01 oz: $42) – This smells just like its Yoghurt Cream Cleanser which I love, reviewed HERE. It does seem to be doing a good job as a moisturizer/primer hybrid because it holds my foundation well and it also moisturizes my skin, not to mention, saving you the time of applying a separate primer on your face.

 

Sisley Paris Double Tenseur Moisturizing Gel (1 oz: $192) – Dubbed as the Rolls Royce of all face primers, I could tell there’s a lot to love about this product. This feels light and gel-like, almost like a lightweight cream/gel moisturizer, and it preps/smooths the skin well for just about any type of foundation. It isn’t super sticky but it holds the makeup nicely for the whole day, preventing any cakeyness. The result is a glowy fresh face. The only caveat really for this is the price.

 

Korres Greek Yoghurt Smoothie Priming Moisturiser

 

 

Have you tried any of these items before?