Reviews and Other Stuff

FASHION & BEAUTY

Sephora Play! April 2018

sephora play april 2018 box

 

What’s Up! Before the month of May hits, let’s talk about this month’s Sephora Play! Finally, after some product misses with my previous Play! boxes, it looks like here’s one box with some very interesting stuff in it. This month’s theme is called “Insta Beauty” the kind of products that will give you that selfie-ready face. So ready to check out what I got for this April?

 

Peter Thomas Roth Skin to Die For, No- Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector

 

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector Skin Tint Foundation SPF 25 in shade #08 (1.01 oz: $36) – I’ve tried this in-store before and I really love the consistency. It has a lightweight, kind of sheer but buildable texture, and it feels breathable on the skin, at least when I swatched it. I don’t really know why I didn’t purchase one on the spot, I must have have been distracted at that time, but I was so excited when I saw this mini inside my Sephora Play box this month. However, Sephora sent me the wrong color, which looks too dark for my skin tone, and obviously, I couldn’t wear it, but I really love how it feels on the skin. It feels like a skin tint or a tinted bb cream and it seems perfect for this coming Summer since it has an Spf 25.

 

Peter Thomas Roth Skin to Die For, No- Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector (1 oz: $28) – This feels cushiony and light, like the Benefit Porefessional Primer, but a bit more hydrating, in my opinion. I love that this feels creamy and this really blurs the pores and mattifies. It makes the makeup look non-shiny and not dry at the same time. Before, I could care less about mattifying primers, but this one does the job well, and it works even on a hot sunny day. Love it!

 

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer (4.7 oz: $25) – A simple lightweight moisturizer that feels very hydrating. It has vitamins and antioxidants and it smooths the skin very well. It has a nice fresh clean scent and I love that it spreads evenly across the face without feeling like I put too much. This also feels quite calming upon application and as with most Philosophy products, this is definitely worth a try.

 

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in shade SPL

 

Elizabeth And James Nirvana White Eau de Parfum (mino/0.34 oz: $28, 1 oz: $68, 1.7 oz: $85, 3.4 oz: $110) – This a very light feminine scent that smells like light cotton or a white fresh linen. It’s kinda hard to notice its notes because it’s very subtle. Something about this fragrance seems very crisp and clean. A nice new scent for the summer.

 

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in shade SPL (0.23 oz: $20) – A holographic candy pink with iridescent sparkle. It’s super pretty and sparkly, which kinda reminds me of the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Holo Purple (swatches here). Also, it smells like yummy menthol and it feels very hydrating. It’s doesn’t feel that oily and not that sticky either, so it pretty much feels like a balm. It can be worn alone or as a lip topper. I noticed some plumping effect and it lasts about 4 hours on me, give or take, including eating and drinking.

 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask

 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask (mini/1 oz: $25, 3.3 oz: $62) – This mask smells like strong rose extract plus seaweed. It’s very moisturizing and softening on the skin but it can be pretty hard to wash off since it’s very creamy and very concentrated. But don’t worry because it’s all worth it. Your skin will literally feel pampered and very smooth. You can even see and feel what looked like seaweed particles and they make for an exfoliating effect.

 

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in shade SPL swatch

 

To sum it up, I think this month’s Sephora play is a hit for me. I almost love all the products they sent me and they’re something that I could readily use. I only wish that in the future Sephora will make an effort to send the right match/shade for my skin tone whenever they’d decide to include a foundation mini inside my box. So, there you go guys, that’s what I got for this month’s Sephora Play.

 

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in shade SPL

 

What stuff did you get this month? Did you like them?

 

 

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture And Anti-Frizz Shampoo + Conditioner Review

Hey guys! I’ve got a new haircare brand to love and I’m excited to tell you about it. I’ve known about Alterna Haircare for quite some time since you always see their products being displayed in one of Sephora’s or Ulta’s counters. But for some reason, I just didn’t bother to explore this brand at all. I thought it might be just another one of those fad haircare brands that are pricey and will probably just fade away after a couple of years, only to be replaced by another fad haircare brand. Oh well, my point of view changed when I got a sample of their Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner which was inside my Sephora Play! Box and it was love at first wash. LOL.

 

alterna haircare caviar anti-aging anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner review

 

I know I raved about my other two favorite haircare products before: The Living Proof No Frizz Haircare Line and the Kerastase Aura Botanica, both which I still use even to this day. However, I’d like to expand my choices and also look for some other alternatives just in case Sephora or Ulta will run out or stop carrying one of my favorite haircare products. Speaking of these two favorite hair products, as you notice, both of them are sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalates-free, and I like my shampoo and conditioner that way. I like them with clean and natural ingredients that won’t weigh the hair down. I also love a hair product that works to tame those horrible frizzies. My hair tends to get oily fairly easily, so I prefer something that cleanses well and adds bounce. I’ve tried looking for a cheaper alternative before, like the L’oreal Everpure Sulfate-Free line but I couldn’t seem to love those. They made my hair really oily and heavy the next day and my hair didn’t look as shiny compared to using the stuff from Living Proof and Kerastase. Another thing I wanna point out is that it’s very important for me to have an easy access or easy reordering of my favorite haircare products, but that has been quite a challenge lately especially with Kerastase. If I don’t plan to reorder them on their website ahead of time, I would typically get them at my local hair salons. Oh well, that proved to be quite annoying because some salons will try to sell you some other stuff that you don’t really need, and I don’t like being bothered like that. I just want my favorite Kerastase stuff. Ya know what I mean? So yeah, I need to look for some other alternative haircare holy grails.

 

Ever since I stumbled into Alterna’s Caviar Haircare line, I feel like OMG, this is it! The smell and feel of their shampoo and conditioner kinda remind me of Kerastase and Living Proof, but they have a very interesting bunch of ingredients. First of all, they have caviar extracts from France and vitamins A, C, and D which they infused in this particular line, thus the name “Caviar Anti-Aging”. They also added a blend of seasilk to moisturize the hair. Second, their product’s style of packaging is really pretty and unique with an easy to twist bottle, although there’s one caveat with it which I’m gonna talk about in the next few paragraphs towards the end of this review. Lastly, you can find the Alterna Caviar line in just about any Sephora or Ulta locations everywhere, and lately, they added their new Anti-Frizz collection to this line as well.

 

Replenishing Moisture

 

alterna haircare caviar anti-aging replenishing moisture conditioner

 

Replenishing Moisture Shampoo (mini/1.35 oz: $10, 8.5 oz: $34, value size/16.5 oz: $52) – This shampoo doesn’t feel too thick and not too thin either, yet it seems very concentrated. It doesn’t lather immediately upon application and it needs to be mixed well with water, but once it starts to foam, then it cleanses thoroughly. You may need to rewash with this if your hair is extra oily or if it’s on the oily type. Personally, I find this to be a moisturizing shampoo and I like that it makes my hair smell fresh and clean without making it heavy.

 

Replenishing Moisture Conditioner (mini/1.35 oz: $10, 8.5 oz: $34, value/16.5 oz: $52) – This conditioner feels a bit thicker than most regular conditioners and it has a light sort of vinegar scent that washes off immediately and won’t really bother your nostrils. What I love about this conditioner is that I don’t need to use a lot of it and it keeps my hair feeling moisturized and relaxed. Unlike most regular conditioners where my hair tends to look and feel dry after a couple of hours and oily the next day, this particular Caviar Anti-Aging Conditioner from Alterna keeps my hair looking hydrated, healthy, and silky. It even keeps it that way the following day without looking like I drenched my hair in oil.

 

Anti-Frizz

 

alterna haircare caviar anti-aging anti-frizz shampoo review

 

Anti-Frizz Shampoo (8.5 oz: $34) – This particular shampoo feels a bit thicker than the Replenishing Moisture Shampoo above, and it lathers pretty well at first use. It also feels to be a lot more moisturizing and has a fruitier scent than the Anti-Aging shampoo above. I like this a lot and I also love the way it keeps moisture on my oily-prone hair, which actually didn’t get so oily lately because this particular shampoo sorta regulated it.

 

Anti-Frizz Conditioner (8.5 oz: $34) – This feels really thick, even a lot thicker than the Anti-Aging Replenishing Conditioner above and it’s pretty obvious why. This conditioner is meant to tame frizzies, combat hair dryness, and restore moisture not just for people with fine hair, but also for those with medium to thick hair. You don’t need a lot to actually use this product and it works really well so far. As we’re approaching the summer heat and humidity, I’ve noticed that I haven’t had any frizzy strands somehow, and mind you, my biggest hair problem is fighting those annoying frizzies. I will continue to use this as we dip into the coming high temperatures and see if this Anti-Frizz haircare line will live up to its promise. So far, I’m really loving this not just for its anti-frizz benefit, but also, I love the way my hair looks. It’s as if I straightened it and it looks really healthy and shiny. I have yet to try their Anti Frizz Blowout Butter which seems really good, but it’s on my wishlist so that hopefully I could put it to the test and update you guys soon.

 

alterna haircare caviar anti-aging shampoo and conditioner

 

I truly recommend that you give these Caviar Anti-Aging and Anti-Frizz Shampoo + Conditioner a try. I think they’re awesome, even though they can be pricey, but they also come in a travel size. The only thing that bothers me about these is their packaging. I appreciate their unique twist and squeeze type of bottle which looks luxe, pretty, and almost spill-proof, but for that same reason, they’re also a challenge to dispense, especially for the conditioners because they have such thick consistency. So halfway throughout your usage, you’re basically going to be squeezing and squeezing the bottle until it releases the product. Then imagine doing that with slippery foamy hands. It can be quite annoying. What I usually do is, I just keep the bottle close and turn it upside down – ready for the next use. Oh well, I hope Alterna will improve their packaging soon.

 

alterna review

 

To sum it up. I think the Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture line is great for anyone who needs to restore or keep moisture in their hair and for those who tends to have oily hair that needs to be regulated. They’re great as everyday hydrating haircare products. On the other hand, the Anti-Frizz collection is great for those hot and humid months when you want your hair to behave, and it’ll work for just about any hair type, not just for medium to thick hair.

 

Have you tried these already? What are your favorite hair care products? Any recs for frizzies?

 

The Alterna Haircare is currently available at Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, Nordstrom, QVC, Zulily and Saks Fifth Avenue

 

Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Review + Swatches

tom ford lip lacquer

 

The Tom Ford Lip Lacquers ($54) are the newest line of liquid lip products from Tom Ford Beauty. They come in three different finishes; Matte, Metallic, and Patent or High Shine. Some of these lipsticks are liquid versions of some of Tom Ford’s famous lip colors.

 

tom ford lip lacquers

 

I am so excited that finally, Tom Ford released some liquid lipsticks this time because I’m really curious how they would fare compared to some other popular liquid lipsticks that have been hitting the market. For starters, I picked one shade that I like from each finish and tested them. The Mattes are really good formula-wise. They are so lightweight and they’re quite similar to the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigments in texture and overall consistency, which is more of a liquid feel as opposed to being creamy. It sets on the lips after a few seconds and it won’t smudge or crease. It’s pretty much waterproof and you can eat or drink with it and the color will still stay put on the lips. There is a slight vanilla scent on all three finishes, and even though the Mattes set on the lips well, they’re not as drying compared to most matte lipsticks. For the Metallic Finish, I think these lipsticks have such smooth metallic glassy particles that really creates a holographic definition on the lips. I find the shimmers to be fine and very beautiful that they’re so wearable as opposed to just looking like you smacked glitter on your lips, like most metallic liquid lipsticks. They are also creamy and non-sticky. The colors can last for several hours even after eating and drinking. The Patent Finish is wonderful as well even though like most high shine lipsticks – you have to be careful because anything can stick to them, like your hair, but I still love how moisturizing the Tom Ford Liquid Patent formula feels. They’re just light, creamy, comforting, and the colors are staining, vivid, and vibrant. Such intense shades with intense shine.

 

tom ford lip lacquer review

 

Pussycat – a muted rose color which is also a popular shade of the Tom Ford Lip Color Matte (reviewed HERE). However, I find this color to look quite muted in its Liquid Matte Finish compared to its solid matte lipstick form. I also think that this is such a beautiful color, and probably the best and most wearable shade of all the TF Liquid Mattes.

 

Pink Sabre – a metallic rose that is so pretty but you won’t even know how pretty it is until you actually wear it. Its combination of rosy and metallic finish make this shade wearable, and I love the smooth soft flecks of rosy pink shimmers which give you an edgy feminine look. Oh, and it’s a pretty hydrating shade too, not to mention that it gives an extra pout. I also think that this particular lipstick is a great topper for the Pussycat Liquid Matte Finish above.

 

Ravageur – a bright red high-shine vinyl. It’s glossy, it’s intense, it’s beautiful, and it’s sexy. This is a hard-not-to-notice type of liquid lipstick, and you can tell by just looking at its swatch below. The Ravageur shade already existed in the Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color line, and it’s almost always out of stock or truly sold-out. Such a love for this beautiful intense bright red shade.

 

tom ford lip lacquer swatches

 

tom ford lip lacquer swatches

I love these Tom Ford Lip Lacquers a lot, not only for its beautiful shades but also for its neat and pretty packaging. I love the well-made brush applicator and it applies precisely on the lips. To sum it all up, I think the Liquid Mattes are very well-done especially when it comes to their waterproof formulation that lasts a long time. They are certainly one of the top liquid matte lipsticks that I’ve tried and I highly recommend them. For the Metallics, I think they’re great to wear alone or as toppers for the Matte Finishes, and as for the Patent ones, almost all the shades in this lineup are so pretty. Lasting power for the Metallic and Patent Finishes is about 4-6 hours on me. The color may fade at the middle portion of the lips after eating and drinking but most of it stays put. Speaking of colors, I only wish that there should have been more versions of different nude colors in each finish as opposed to having different hues of the red ones. In other words, there should have been more shade options for these fab Lip Lacquers, after all, these liquid lipsticks are worth the splurge.

 

The Tom Ford Lip Lacquers are currently available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Orchard Mile andย Bergdorf Goodman.

 

tom ford lip lacquer