Reviews and Other Stuff

FASHION & BEAUTY

Sephora Play January 2017 Box Review

whats in sephora play january 2017

 

Hey it’s January 2017 and it’sย Sephora Play time! This first month of the year’s box is hands down probably the best Sephora Play box I’ve ever received, and I’ve heard that others are also singing the same tune.

What I like about this month’s items are the fact thatย they’re completely new to me and that the products came in decent sizes. They also seem to be unique and exciting to try. With this month’s theme: Sweat Is Just Another Way To Glow, this January 2017 Sephora Play contents are meant to freshen you up pre or post workout. Yet the products can also be very versatile for anybody who’s always on the go.

 

 sephora play january 2017 box review

 

  1. Tarte Frxxxtion Stick: A very interesting and unique cleanser stick with a dark purple/charcoal-like color. It has a gel-like grainy consistencyย that you can swipe directly onto wet/damp skin, then massage, lather and rinse the face for that well-cleaned skin. You can even use it as a facial mask. Don’t worry, the clayish color will completely wash away after thorough cleansing. Ain’t that a keeper?
  2. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Spf 50+ (Medium): A medium to full coverage makeup foundationย with broad spectrum Spf plus some skin-loving ingredients. It can be used as a moisturizer, a serum or even as a tinted sunscreen. Personally, I find this to be quite similar to Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, especiallyย the scent. This cc cream indeed has very good coverage, very moisturizing, and doesn’t settle into fine lines. It also makes the skin look glowy and the medium shade is the exact match for my skin tone. Will definitely be buying this in a full size.
  3. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream: This whipped-consistency moisturizer is made of 6 African oils. It is very hydrating but it smells a bit likeย the noodle in ramen noodle, sans seasoning.
  4. Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Perfume: A floral scent that you can’t get enough of. It is flirty, fun, feminine, fresh and tender. It has slight traces of patchouli and some other stuff, but why do I feel like I’ve sniffed this type of scent before? Perhaps Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb?
  5. Ouai Treatment Masque: A completely unique hair mask that you need to apply and leave on your hair for 5-10 minutes before showering. It restores moisture and is meant to prevent future hair damage. The problem is, judging from the size of the container I got and the amount of contents inside it, I couldn’t really tell the difference. There is about 1/4 of productย inside the container and its consistency feels somewhat watery. On top of that, my hair is very long, but this mask worked decently on me. My hair was neither too oily nor too dry.
  6. Clinique Almost Lipstick (Black Honey): Almost a lipstick but not quite like itย yet. It’s more of a lip sheer or a tinted lip balm, reminiscent of YSL Rouge Volupte Oil in Stickย 48 Smoking Plum, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur and Dior Rouge Baume. I really like the texture of this “almost lipstick” because it feels smooth on the lips and is also very lightweight. P.S. I love the Black Honey shade.ย 

 

sephora play january 2017 contents

 

I really wish that next month’s box will be just as good as these. Fingers crossed. How ’bout you? Have you gotten your Sephora Play box already? What’s in it? Spill…

 

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Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Review

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

 

Heya! We’ve reviewed my favorite concealer (seen HERE), now it’s time talk about my favorite loose/setting powder that I cannot live without. If the Nars Radiant Creamy concealer has been makingย me look awake, this Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder has definitely made me look very awake. I cannot imagine my face without thisย ๐Ÿ™‚ย 

Actually, there’s a lot of us that have fallen in love with this loose setting powder. Its consistency is soft and transparent, yet it flatters almost all skin tones. It has a sheer coverage that’s buildable and gives a very natural effect. Apart from being able to absorb excess oil and mattifying the skin, the best thing about this is that it sets your makeup or concealer and you’re ready to go to town.ย 

 

laura mercier loose setting powder

 

Right after applying my favorite Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (Custard shade) around my undereye circles, I then apply this Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (using a beauty blender) to setย it and let it cook or bake while I’m doing other stuff on my face. Yes, this setting powder is the secret to every contouring, conjuring, baking, strobing, stuffing and cooking out there. ๐Ÿ™‚ Once you’re done baking, you can thenย brush off the excess powder on your face and make sure that it looks normal and natural, not overdone or overcooked.ย 

 

Anyways, I definitely recommend this Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder very mucho, together with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. But if you have another favorite concealer or even another favorite loose powder, well, as long it sets your makeup, it covers your facial landmines, it makes you look pwetty, then you’re on the right track to looking radiant, glowy, awake and alive!

 

Ciao now!

 

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Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour Review & Swatches, Part 2

chanel le vernis longwear nail colour reviews swatches

 

Hey guys and gurlz, since this month has been a month of adding additional products or colors to my collection of holy grail beauty products, and Chanel has been adding more shades to their newly-reformulated Chanel Le Vernis, I have also added a few more colors to my stash. The first part of this review can be seen HERE.

The new formulation of the Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polishes have been really amazing for me because of all the nail polishes I’ve tried lately, these new Chanel Le Vernis seem to last the longest on me. Around 2 weeks and a bit more. They have minimal chipping and the colors stay rich, especially if you use the Le Gel Top Coat (reviewed HERE) that is recommended with it.

I really like red nail polishes or vampy nail colors. There’s something just something about them that makes my hands/fingers look gorge. I guess because they make suchย a huge contrast against my medium skin tone, so each dark colors really pop out.ย 

I purchased the Rouge Essentiel, Rouge Puissant first because I had my eyes on them from the moment I saw them online. Then I added Pirate and Rouge Noir because I have always been a fan of these two from the previous formulation, and I wanted to still have them in this newly-reformulated Chanel Le Vernis. And also becauseย this new Le Vernis is much more long wearing than the previous one.

Take note that all the three reds in this review are so difficult to photograph because their colors are so close to each other. Theyย ranged from bright red toย a blue-toned dark red. In fact, you almost couldn’tย tell the difference.ย 

chanel le venis longwear nail colour rouge essentiel

Rouge Essentiel – A true bright red color that has a very creamy consistency. One coat will do the job, but two coats will give extra richness to theย shade. This is definitely an essential red for all seasons and for all skin colors.

 

 

chanel le venis longwear nail colour rouge puissant

 

Rouge PuissantMid-Red with a slight blue undertone. This color is so close (slightly lighter) to the Pirate shade that you almost can’t distinguish the subtle difference between the two. The only big difference is that this shade has a creamier consistency than Pirate. Actually, if you already have the Pirate shade, then you probably don’t need this. But if you find the Pirate shade to be a bit too dark, then you’ll probably be happy with this.

 

 

chanel le vernis longwear nail colour rouge noir

 

Rouge NoirBloody Mary Vampire-Red. It’s like Vamp but without the glitter. One of my favorite Chanel Le Vernis shades of all time. Yes, I prefer this over Vamp. This has a very rich deep dark red that is almost brown or black, but it actually looks like wine once applied. Though the first coat of this newly-reformulated shade seems a bit streaky, the second coat will make it perfect.

 

 

chanel le vernis longwear nail colour pirate

 

PirateBlue -toned deep red. Another classic deep red shade that I like the most from Chanel. This red is the ideal dark red that is not super vampy and not super bright either. It complements any skin tone and though it has always been streaky in both formulations, this shade isย buildable and long lasting.

 

chanel le vernis swatches

 

Have you tried them already? If not, you should, at least one.

Now, Dear Chanel, more colors please!

 

 

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