Reviews and Other Stuff

FASHION & BEAUTY

Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder Review + Swatches

buxom pillowpout creamy plumping lip powder review

 

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.

 

buxom pillowpout lip powder in so spicy and darling dolly

 

buxom pillowpout lip powder

 

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.

 

buxom pillowpout creamy plumping lip powder

 

So Spicy – muted pumpkin spice

Darling Dolly – mauve pink

 

buxom pillowpout lip powder in darling dolly and so spicy swatch

 

buxom pillowpout lip powder so spicy and darling dolly lip swatches

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.

 

buxom wildly whipped lightweight lipstick in instigator, centerfold, and devious dolly

 

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.

 

buxom wildly whipped lightweight lipstick in instigator, devious dolly, and centerfold swatches

 

buxom wildly whipped lightweight lipstick swatches

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.

 

buxom pillowpout lip powder review and swatches

 

The Buxom Pillowpout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder is currently available online at http://www.buxomcosmetics.comย 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.

 

 

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick Review + Swatches

marc jacobs enamored lip gloss

 

I’ve been asked some questions regarding the new Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick (0.074 oz: $28) and nothing excites me more than knowing that there’s a new lip product to investigate, especially the ones that are from MJ Beauty.

 

marc jacobs enamored lip glosses review

The Enamored Lip Gloss is basically a lip gloss in a stick that’s meant to condition and hydrate the lips while delivering a glossy finish. At first glance, the product’s packaging feels really easy on the hands especially with its teardrop-shaped applicator that makes it precise to apply on the lips. The colored caps of each tube seems to accurately match the shade of the lip gloss as well. On the outside, this product looks like a lipstick, that is, until you start applying it on the lips. It feels really emulsifying and it melts on the lips easily like butter. I wouldn’t call it creamy, but it’s more like a lip oil, or pretty much like a very pigmented lip gloss. It does glide effortlessly on the lips and it’s very lightweight as if you didn’t apply anything on. I didn’t notice any sticky feel all throughout my usage of the product, and it’s really comfortable to wear. I love that it has this nice subtle peppermint scent which is really on point this summer and I wish all lipsticks and lip glosses smell like that. Also, this Enamored Lip Gloss is super hydrating from the moment you apply this to your lips and even after it fades away, leaving the lips feeling supple and smooth.

 

Here are five of the eight shades.

 

marc jacobs enamored hydrating lip gloss stick

 

marc jacobs enamored lip gloss swatches

 

Mocha Choco-lata!nude pinky beige, perfect nude for light or light/medium skintones.

 

Uh-Huh Honeybrown sugar shimmer, a very wearable brown sugar tone that’s packed with glitter.

 

One Mauve Timerose mauve, a deeply saturated perfect mauve shade for those with slightly pigmented lips.

 

Black Cherry Babybronze cherry, appears dark red-brown at first glance but it’s actually quite sheer and can be easily worn by anyone with light/medium to deep skin tones. Reminds me a bit of Clinique’s super popular “Black Honey“.

 

Candy Bling red raspberry, a perfect pop of color this summer.

 

marc jacobs enamored lip gloss stick swatches

 

Lasting power for me with this Enamored Lip Gloss is pretty short, about 3 hours to 3.5 hours maximum. It fades away easily after eating or drinking and it’s not staining, so that’s kind of my beef with this. I’m also not keen on taking this outside with the Summer heat, fearing that it might melt easily due to its oily or buttery consistency. Speaking of its consistency, this lip gloss on a stick actually reminds me a lot of the YSL Rouge Voluptรฉ Shine Oil-In-Stick (reviewed HERE) and the rest of the YSL Rouge Voluptรฉ Shine lineup (HERE). Also, it’s quite similar to the Dior Addict Lacquer Stick (swatched HERE). So, there are a lot of products that may seem comparable to this Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss, however, it has a fairly wearable lineup of shades and its scent is something to consider for.

 

marc jacobs enamored hydrating lip gloss review

 

Overall, this is a great hydrating lip product that looks like a lipstick but feels and applies like a lip gloss with a nice shiny effect on the lips. It won’t stay long on the lips, so you’ll need to reapply quite often but it’s comfortable, non-sticky, super lightweight and it comes in cute wearable colors.

 

The Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick is currently available at Sephora, JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, and Net-A-Porter

 

marc jacobs beauty enamored hydrating lip gloss review and swatches

 

 

Natural Clean Haircare with Briogeo

Briogeo Haircare

 

Hey There! Summer’s really here at full force and my hair has been taking a lot of beating lately with all the heat and humidity. It gets oily rather easily not just with the extra leave-in products I’ve been putting on my it, but also due to the extremes of temperatures both inside my house and the outside elements, not to mention the dust and sweat that mixes in. It’s so annoying, and I find myself constantly washing my hair and making sure that it doesn’t get so oily. So far, my haircare products of choice have been holding up well and lately, I discovered some products that seem to solve my hair issues this season – The latest Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Superfoods ($48) which I use in conjunction with the classic Briogeo Donโ€™t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo ($36) and the Rosarco Repair Conditioner ($24). You might be wondering, what’s the difference with each of them? and Why do I use them alternately? Oh, there’s a lot to love with these haircare products.

 

Briogeo Rosarco Repair Conditioner

 

Let’s first talk about the Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo (16 oz: $36). It’s the first Briogeo haircare product I purchased and I really love it. I like its milky fruity coconut-ish scent and it’s really a moisturizing shampoo that won’t weigh your hair down. Its consistency is not thick and it feels really good on the hair. It lathers well and it’s mild to use every day. I also like that it’s nourishing to the hair and it prevents further damage. It’s a great lightweight hydrating shampoo for those who’ve had chemical treatments done on their hair, and also, I really like the fact that it comes in a large easy-to-dispense container which makes it easy and practical for me to use and I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. Next up is the Rosarco Repair Conditioner (8 oz: $24) which was on my wishlist for some time and I’m really glad that I purchased it because just like the Don’t Despair, Repair Shampoo, this conditioner smells great! You could sense the blend of Argan, Rose, and Coconut in this conditioner and it also delivers and restores moisture to the hair without making it oily or heavy. My hair feels smooth and soft with this and I feel like this is such a good everyday hair conditioner for any hair type. It can even make my hair withstand a moderate intensity of heat and humidity without using any leave-in treatments.

 

I could have stopped there and just be completely satisfied with those two Clean-certified Briogeo haircare products above, but with the release of the new Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Superfoods Hair Pack $48 ($56 value), I feel like I’ve got to try it because it also has the Clean seal from Sephora and I’ve been loving some clean haircare products lately especially the ones made by Briogeo. Another reason I wanted to try this pack (or you can purchase the shampoo and conditioner separately) is the fact that the packaging looks cute and who doesn’t love an apple-scented shampoo and conditioner? This haircare pack looks fresh and yummy and I wanted in on my hair. LOL

 

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo

 

When I first tried the Be Gentle Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo (12.5 oz: $28) I was blown away by how good it smells. And yeah, it really does smell like green apple and it has a lightweight consistency, almost like a gel. It cleanses my hair very well without adding any weight. I was actually quite worried that it might leave my hair dry, but nope, it just cleanses it well and it cleanses thoroughly. I love the fact that it’s six free, which means there are no harsh silicons, parabens, etc., and it’s also cruelty-free. The same is true with the Be Gentle Be Kind Kale + Apple Replenishing Superfood Conditioner (12.5 oz: $28) which also has a strong yummy green apple scent. This conditioner feels creamy and it delivers moisture to the hair without making it too hydrated, oily, or heavy no matter how much I put on it. It’s nice to know that it’s rich in vitamins and antioxidants which is really a big help for the hair especially at this season and it’s great for protecting the hair from breakage while nourishing it deep to the strands.

 

If you ask me if there’s a big difference among the Briogeo Clean haircare products reviewed above, I think that the difference is subtle but it matters a lot as to what you want in a haircare product. Personally, I feel like if I’m gonna be staying indoor with a strong AC blasting constantly on my hair, I’m definitely gonna be using the Don’t Despair, Repair Shampoo, along with the Rosarco Conditioner just to keep the moisture on my hair. But if I’m gonna be out and about running errands and walking under the sun, then I’ll reach out for the Be Gentle Be Kind Superfoods Haircare.

 

Overall, I definitely recommend these Briogeo Haircare products and I think they’re great for cleaning the hair every day without being harsh. Check out my hair below. (P.S. I definitely need a haircut, I know, LOL…)

briogeo don't despair repair super moisture shampoo

 

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Kale + Apple Replenishing Superfood Conditioner review

 

The Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Moisture Shampoo, Rosarco Conditioner, and The Be Gentle Be Kind Superfood Haircare are currently available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Revolve, QVC,ย JCPenney, Dermstore, Bloomingdale’s, & Anthropologie

 

 

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Superfoods Hair Pack