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FASHION & BEAUTY

Loving Right Now. Summer Favorites

best summer beauty products

 

Hi guys! A couple of months ago, I did a review of my Spring Favorites in beauty and skincare. I remember mentioning that I will be posting my Summer faves soon but I’ve gotten so busy lately that I almost forgot to post this. Well, since we’re still really in the last few days of Summer until Fall starts at the end of this month, let’s take a look at the beauty, skincare, haircare, and other stuff I’m currently loving this season.ย 

 

(All products/items mentioned in this post and are seen in the following photos are all linked down below)

 

SKINCARE

 

Eve Lom Cleanser review

 

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash (5 oz: 25 USD) – This is a lightweight, green, gel-like, and very gentle face cleanser that doesn’t strip the face of its natural oil. It’s ideal for sensitive to normal skin and can be used every day. The smell is quite earthy and very organic.

 

Lancome Energie de Vie Water-Infused Cream (1.7 oz: 57 USD) – I got this as a sample and it feels really light on the skin. It’s also very softening and it’s one of the best water creams I’ve tried out there. I Highly recommend this cream especially for those with sensitive, normal or oily skin.

 

Caudalie Divine Oil (3.3 oz: 49 USD) – This smells nice and luxe, with a hint of something green and fresh. This oil is not only perfect for the body, but it’s also great for the face and hair. It’s non-sticky and it sets into the skin well. You can read more about my favorite dry body oils HERE.

 

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (mini/1.7 oz: 22 USD, 3.2 oz: 34 USD) – This really melts any kind of makeup and it smells nice. I never get bored of using this and a little goes a long way, so this lasts a long time for me. I would love to try the Cherry version soon. Read my other Farmacy faves HERE.

 

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (mini: 0.84 oz: 22 USD, 1.68 oz: 38 USD, 3.37 oz: 62 USD) – This is going to be my permanent staple when it comes to facial moisturizers. I just love how smooth and soothing this feels on my skin, it’s perfect for my oily-prone skin type because it’s very lightweight and it retains my skin’s natural moisture. The scent also keeps me coming back to this. A little bit is only what you’ll need since this gel feels extremely creamy, plus it doesn’t irritate the skin.

 

Eve Lom Cleanser (0.7 oz: 24 USD, 3.4 oz: 80 USD, 6.8 oz: 135 USD) – I was a bit disappointed with this cleanser at first because not only was the smell too strong, like too sour and a bit too rancid for me (think vinegar) but also this cleanser feels too thick, too creamy and too oily for my already somewhat oily skin. At first, I thought this wouldn’t work on my skin but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise because this saves me a lot of time especially when I’m tired after a busy day and a face full of makeup. This cleanser also acts as a solid makeup remover and it removes all kinds of makeup while it cleanses the face gently. It does contain mineral oil and lanolin but it did not cause me any breakouts. This also comes with a free muslin cloth for a more thorough cleansing, but I just really use my fingers with this cleanser. I don’t think you need a large container for this because I have the mini size and it’s lasting me a really long time. You only need a little bit of this to work on the skin.

 

Olehenriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub (3 oz: 28 USD) – This is such a gritty-textured and exfoliating cleanser that smells nice and it makes the skin really smooth. This can be a strong exfoliator, so I only use this once a week. It makes my face really smooth and it feels flawless. It’s perfect to purify the pores and it gets rid of rough skin patches. It also preps the skin for any type of serum, toner, or skincare.ย 

 

Nuface Toning Device (325 USD) – Got this from the last Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I don’t have wrinkles yet but I bought this for toning purposes. It’s only been a month since I started using this and I really really love it. It tones my upper eye area, my chin, jaw, and it helps to emphasize my cheekbones. I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort when I first started using this. In fact, I didn’t really feel anything at all, LOL, but my face looks like it’s been working out on its own, lol again. My cheekbones look more emphasized and my bone structure seems to show a bit more. I also look more awake and vibrant with this. I will review this further in the following posts to come.ย 

 

 

BEAUTY

 

Olehenriksen Banana Bright Face Primer

 

My foundations of choice this season have to be lightweight, easy to use, and natural-looking just because it’s Summer. So, no thick makeup look for me this season.

 

Nars PureRadiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Groenland (1.9 oz: 45 USD) – As I mentioned, I didn’t feel like wearing too much makeup this Summer with all the heat and humidity. I wanted to look more carefree and natural, so I opted for this classic Nars favorite and it gives me enough coverage for a nice and easy, lightweight, fuss-free Summer look

 

I use three face primers this season and it’s a collection of no added SPF and one that has an SPF depending on the occasion and the situation.

 

Olehenriksen Banana Bright Face Primer (1 oz: 36 USD) – A Vitamin C and E primer that smells just like the Banana Bright Eye Cream. This feels more like a skincare and primer-in-one. What I love about this is that it blurs the pores in an easy, non-sticky, lightweight manner and it smells really nice. This is a good creamy primer to use in the Summer or be it at any season.

 

Nars Smooth & Protect Primer SPF 50 (1 oz: 36 USD) – This feels very silicon-ish and it blurs the pores very well. This does feel like the original beloved Make Up For Ever Primer but with the added SPF. I like to use this just in case I’d forgotten or got too lazy to use my facial SPF.ย 

 

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer (mini/0.33 oz: 15 USD, 1.52 oz: 30 USD) – I really like this primer a lot because it’s light and it doesn’t feel very silicon-ish. It’s actually quite hydrating and it blurs the pores just as good as the silicone-based ones. This is quite similar and a cheaper option to the very pricey Sisley Paris Double Tenseur Moisturizing Gel Primer.

 

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder in shade #1 (0.3 oz: $38) – I bought this to try and see if it’s a good alternative to the Armani Neo Nude which I love (reviewed HERE). This one feels and looks baked with a silky feel. It’s not as loose and powdery as the Neo Nude but it’s still finely-milled. This does set the foundation well and it gives a nice radiant soft-focus finish. It looks naturally glowy and it’s the next best thing to the Armani Neo Nude.

 

YSL Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen in shade #3 Luminous Peach (1 oz: 35 USD) – I use this for daily touch-ups especially around the undereye area and I can just blend this using my finger. This feels very creamy, mess-free, quick, and clean to use. It won’t hide very dark blemishes because of its sheer coverage, but this does help to brighten the undereyes very well and it’s creamy, so it doesn’t cake.

 

 

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner-Micro Tip

 

 

There are two more eyeliners I’m loving this season apart from the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen I reviewed at the beginning of this Spring. I like the ones that are micro-tip or has very fine tip/lines for a more natural daily look. Also, fine eyeliners are great for small eyes and for those that don’t have a lot of lid space.

 

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner-Micro Tip (0.016 oz: 22 USD) – The tip of this is really fine and it’s probably the finest eyeliner tip I’ve ever tried. This is perfect for those that have very narrow lids or for those with hooded eyes.

 

Sephora Collection Fine Line Felt Tip Eyeliner (0.017 oz: 14 USD) – This doesn’t smudge and it has a fine yet stiff felt tip. I would say that this is the next best thing to the Stila eyeliner above, although this is not as thin as Stila’s, but still, this gets the job done and it can apply an accurate line on the lid. It’s very thin enough and it’s perfect for tightlining, plus the felt tip feels pretty solid.

 

Here’s a couple of lipsticks and lip colors I’m loving this season and they’re mostly matte.ย 

 

Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Take Me Home and Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: 27 USD) – These are beautiful shades to rock this season, with the Dolce Vita being a bright dusty rose tone, and the Take Me Home shade as a terracotta lip color. I will swatch these when I review my favorite shades of the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencils soon, so, stay tuned for that.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Granite (0.003 oz: 21 USD) – I recently added the granite shade to my collection of this cult-favorite brow product. I have been using varying tones of brown for my brows a lot and though they fit me well, this time, I wanted to try something more dramatic and darker, so I picked the granite color which is a good match for my brunette hair.

 

Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Matte Lip Color (0.07 oz: 19 USD) – Reviewed HERE.

 

Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Waterproof Mascara (0.21 oz: 32 USD) – This is one of my favorite reliable waterproof volumizing mascara and it’s perfect to hold the curls in high humidity.

 

Nyx Powder Puff Lippie (0.4 oz: 6.37 USD) – This is similar to the Too Faced Peach Puff but without the peachy scent and at a much affordable price. See the swatches HERE.

 

La Mer Cushion The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 review

 

Anastasia Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette (42 USD) – I recently started using this more because of the soft natural look that I can get with this palette. I love the brown tones of this especially the matte ones and the shades are really pigmented. You can see the swatches of this palette HERE.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette in Lightgasm (75 USD) – See the swatches HERE. I can understand why some people don’t like this because this can be so tricky to pull off especially with the Lightgasm palette. It isn’t a soft powdery type and can be hard to blend. It’s also not that pigmented and it only tends to show to those with fair to light skintone. For my light-medium skintone, I have to use a stiff brush and dab it several times on the palette before this could give off some color on my skin.

 

La Mer Cushion The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 (120 USD) – Apart from being quick, easy, lightweight, and mess-free to use, this cushion feels like a second skin and it gives a natural glassy glow. It also smells nice and I love that this comes with a nice SPF and a free refill. This sets on the skin well and it doesn’t slide. See my favorite cushion foundations HERE.

 

I found two very nice blotting papers from Amazon which are super affordable and they work just as well as the ones you’d find at Sephora, Ulta or at any drugstore. These are Natural Bamboo Charcoal Oil Absorbing Tissue (100 sheets: 6.95 USD) and the Palladio Rice Paper Tissue (40 sheets: 4.30 USD).

 

beautyblender protective case

 

 

Beautyblender Blender Defender Protective Case (12 USD) – This where I keep my beautyblender whenever I travel. This case can fit two dry or damp beautyblenders and it has a breathable design that allows a damp sponge to dry while inside. This is very flexible so you don’t have to worry about this shattering at all.

 

HAIRCARE

 

 Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo

 

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo (8 oz: 24 USD, 33.8 oz: 58 USD) – This is my latest fave shampoo from Briogeo. I like this even better than the Don’t Despair, Repair line, I love the nice light citrus/orange, ginger, coconut, and grapefruit scent. This shampoo is light on the hair and it cleanses well without adding residue. It also volumizes and this makes my hair bouncy. See my other Briogeo haircare faves HERE.

 

Ouai Leave-In Conditioner (4.7 oz: 26 USD) – This works to tame my frizz and a little bit of this goes a long way. I love its musky lemon rose scent. My hair feels really nice and soft with this, and since this is also a thermal protector, I use this a lot together with my Harry Josh Hair Dryer. See my other Ouai haircare faves HERE.

 

Bumble and Bumble Bb. Donโ€™t Blow It Fine (H)air Styler (mini/2 oz: 16 USD, 5 oz: 31 USD) – This is still my hair cream of choice for whenever I don’t blow dry my hair. Lately, I’ve been so busy that I just really air dry my hair, so, I use this a lot and it holds my hair down, tames it, and it keeps the frizz at bay.

 

Swissco Hair Comb – Found this handmade wide-tooth comb at Amazon for a very cheap price and it’s very flat, so it can fit anywhere on any purse or satchel. It works great as a detangler for my strands.

 

 

SUNCARE

 

Isdin Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50

 

There are two Clarins products I’m loving for body suncare as well as for the face.

 

Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 (5 oz: 36 USD) – This is still one of my sunscreen of choice this Summer because this smells nice and very lightweight since this is a dry body oil with an added SPF. I like that this sets on my skin without the greasy feel that most sunscreens have. I’ve lost count of how many bottles of this I’ve consumed, all I know is I’ve been keeping some backups of this in my vanity.

 

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection SPF 50 (1.7 oz: 43 USD) – I’m finishing this up and it’s a pity that this is getting more and more difficult to find because this is really nice and light on the face. This doesn’t irritate my skin and it doesn’t leave an annoying white cast. This works very well in protecting my skin from getting sunburned. See my favorite body and face sunscreens HERE

 

Supergoop Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (3.4 oz: 19 USD) – I’m also finishing this up, and this is my sunscreen of choice for when I’m on the go. I like this a lot because it’s fast and easy to use. Its whipped texture gives a lightweight non-sticky feel and it’s not messy to use. This has no scent and it spreads evenly on the skin without leaving any white cast.

 

Isdin Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50 (1.6 oz: 39.99 USD) – This is quite similar to the Clarins UV Face Sunscreen above and this is currently in my purse. I love its tiny size and I love that this doesn’t sting the eyes. It feels very fluid and light on the skin and it has a nice SPF level. It’s a pity that this is still very limited here in the US. This was given to me by a relative from Europe.

 

 

best beauty and skincare products for the summer

 

These are all the products I’ve been loving this Summer and will still be loving all throughout the beginning of Fall. Stay tuned for my Fall favorites soon.

 

What are the beauty, skincare, and haircare products you’re currently loving season?

 

Summer Sandal Favorites 2019

best sandals for the summer

 

Hi there! Summer will be almost over soon and I am definitely not quite over it. It’s still blazing heat, sun, and sweat from where I am. Although, I have a feeling that it’s all going to change soon. Anyway, let’s take a break from beauty talks for now. I’ve been meaning to share with you some of my favorite sandals this Summer. I’m planning to make this post a two-part (hopefully, if the weather permits) especially because I’ve got some lovely footwear to feature. For this post, I’m featuring some of the sandals I’m currently loving this season. I’m hoping that I will get the second part of this post done soon, and it’s all going to be about my favorite espadrilles.

 

So without further ado, let’s get this review going. Just a little FYI and overview, the following sandals that I’m going to feature are all flats, and they all have a similar minimalist functional style. I’ve collected them since last year and as you will see, they’re mostly either in neutral, black, or white colors, just because they work well in coherence with my wardrobe. For reference, I’m a true size 7 in almost all shoes/brands, my feet tend to be a tad wide on the front part but I usually fit a normal width. I’m also on the short side at 5’3, and my skintone is light-medium, although my legs tend to be lighter than my arms. So, here they are, check out my favorite sandals this season.

 

Dolce Vita

Found these beautiful minimalist, comfortable, and easy-to-wear sandals/slides when I was wandering inside Saks Off Fifth. They were on sale at the time I bought them and they’re still on sale now.

 

dolce vita chantel ring tab slides review

 

 

Chantel Ring-Tab Slides (29.99 USD) – This sandal is so comfy, so easy to wear, and they make my feet look cute. I love that I can slip this on my feet and go about my daily errands like a breeze.

 

dolce vita cain sandal slides review

 

Cain Sandals (29.99 USD) – Didn’t know I would be a big fan of crossover sandals because at first, it looks a little too dated. But, there’s a reason why this style keeps being on-trend. Simply because it does make the feet look slim.

 

tory burch miller flip flop

 

Tory Burch Miller Flip Flop (198 USD) – Ah, Tory, I have skipped your cult-favorite sandal/flip flops for a very long time. But this year, I pulled the trigger on this because even though I’m not much of a flip flop fan anymore, I do see the need for an elegant easy to wear slipper this Summer. This Tory Burch Miller is a beautiful step up to my usual comfy flip flops. I feel like I could go to a Summer business gathering with this.

 

givenchy logo slides

 

Givenchy Logo Slide (295 USD) – This fancy-schmancy slide puts a capital C in Comfort. Also, its minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design look very chic and very put together even on days when I go very casual. It simply elevates the look even when you don’t really care about what you’re wearing. You just put this on and you’d feel very relaxed and very carefree. This pair of slides may feel a bit wide at first, but this is perfect for when my feet start to swell from standing or even sitting all day and I had to slide into something really comfortable.

 

Madewell

This is my first time wearing Madewell sandals and I really don’t know why I haven’t tried them before. I really love their lace-up sandals this year and they work really well with just about any outfit, plus they add drama to the feet.

 

madewell the boardwalk laceup sandal review

 

The Boardwalk Lace-Up Sandal (On sale 35.70 USD) – This Grecian/Gladiator-style sandal makes me feel Iike I wish I was born in the time of Cleopatra or Jesus. (Ha! feelin’ like in the wrong time period, eh?). Yes, this beautiful pair of sandals really does make you feel like you’re traveling back in time but in a very chic way. It’s got the perfect balance of leather laces crisscrossing all over your feet and ankles. It goes well with cropped pants, jeans, mini skirts, and in this photo, with my favorite polka dot Mia skirt from Reformation in petite size.

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madewell the boardwalk woven lace up sandal review

 

The Boardwalk Woven Lace-Up Sandal (Also on sale 35.70 USD) – A bit similar to the sandal above, but this one has a woven front that you can slip on and it has leather lace-ups all over the ankles. If you’re not much into the Grecian footwear style, then this beautiful minimalist pair of sandals might suit your fancy especially because this also goes well with any outfit and it has a bit of a slimming effect on the feet.

aldo campodoro shoes

Aldo Campodoro Sandals (49.98 – 60 USD) – I’ve been a fan of Aldo shoes for as long as I can remember. I love their affordable shoes and they even get more affordable especially when they’re on sale, and yes, they’re almost always on sale. I got their Campodoro sandals in Gold and Black as a replacement for my old sandals that I’ve worn for years. These sandals have a classic minimal-strap style and they seem to wear very well. I’ve got mine since the beginning of Summer last year and they still look great even at this time.

hermes oran sandals review

Hermes Oran Sandals (650 USD) – I have never stopped loving this sandal since the day I first had it. It goes well with almost all of my outfits and it’s very comfortable. The design is unique and minimalist, and the fit gets better with time. The leather tends to mold to the feet and it feels buttery. It also slims the feet and it goes well with cropped/ankle pants and long skirts. Reviewed further here.

 

best summer sandals

 

That sums up my favorite sandals this Summer and hopefully, I could sneak in my favorite espadrilles this season here on the blog. Cross my fingers, cross my feet, and cross my heart, lol.

 

Here’s to wishing more sun in this last few days of Summer. Cheers!

 

Denim and pants shown here are from Gap and/or J.Crew, the Midi Polka Dot skirt is from Reformation, all linked down below.

 

 

 

What are the sandals you’re loving this Summer?

 

 

Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Diffused Matte Lip Color

Too Faced Peach Puff

 

Hi guys! The Sephora Summer Bonus Event for VIB and Rouge Members is still ongoing, but it’s only until tomorrow August 27th. (Use code SUMMERSAVE instore and online to get 20% OFF for Rouge Members, and 15 % OFF for VIB). Tbh, I haven’t bought much for this sale, but I will be sharing with you the few items I did purchase soon here on the blog. If you’re shopping the current Sephora sale, I do have a new lip product to recommend to you in this post. It’s funny because I didn’t really like this particular lip color at first, but I gave it a second chance and I am now totally in love with it.

 

The Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Matte Lip Color (0.07 oz: 19 USD) is the lip color that almost got away. Simply because it felt really drying upon my initial swatch at Sephora. I thought it seemed kind of a fad and it didn’t seem to be very pigmented at all. However, looking back, I think I just didn’t know how to properly use the product at first, and I think I got a very used-up tester when I tried it.

 

Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Diffused Matte Lip Color review

 

During my last stroll at Sephora, I wanted to give this particular lip color a second chance especially after trying the Nyx Powder Puff Lippie Lip Cream which I reviewed recently HERE. I really wanted to compare this latest Too Faced lip release to the affordable and totally high-quality Nyx Powder Puff. I was still a bit hesitant when I bought three of the Too Faced Peach Puff (I must say that several of the shades seem nice) but I had a really good time swatching them on my arm the second time around so my hesitation definitely almost went away.

 

The Too Faced Peach Puff Diffused Matte Lip Color is a twist-release pen-type lip color with a smooth puffy applicator. It’s reminiscent of Too Faced’s Melted liquid lipsticks. There is a scent to this lip product, which is a strong peachy scent. It’s very easy to apply on the lips and quite accurate too. The puff feels very plush and the formula feels very cushiony. At first application, it feels very creamy and it sets into a diffused matte look. Also, you can apply this lightly for a more natural look or you can opt for more product and more pigments on the lips.

 

Each shade is so pigmented that they stain on my arm. It actually took me a while to remove them and still had a stain on my skin the next day. The formula feels very lightweight, super comfortable, and it doesn’t feather or bleed. When comparing to Nyx Powder Puff Lip Cream, this Too Faced Peach Puff feels more mattifying and it sets into a matte formula quite easily than Nyx’s.

 

Too Faced Peach Puff swatch

 

Day Drinking– soft rose mauve. The mauve tone looks very natural on me because of my lips’ natural mauve pigment.

 

Boy Bye – looks like a soft vintage coral rose

 

Velvet Rope – soft Bordeaux, a true wine-red

 

Too Faced Peach Puff lip swatch

 

In summary, I like this latest Too Faced Peach Puff lip color a lot and I’m glad that I took a second look at it. I highly recommend it especially if you’re into comfortable non-drying matte lip shades. If you don’t mind the strong peachy scent, you will definitely love this one, but if you prefer the non-scented one, then the Nyx Powder Puff might be your thing, and it’s also cheaper. For the high-end one, the Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder (swatched HERE) is also a very very good option for a soft matte blurred look.

 

Too Faced Peach Puff swatch

 

The Too Faced Peach Puff Diffused Matte Lip Color is currently available at Sephora

 

Have you tried this already? What’s your favorite matte lipstick/lip color?

 

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