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FASHION & BEAUTY

Sephora Play! March 2018

sephora play box march 2018 review

 

Hello Makeup Junkies! Curious about what came in my Sephora Play! Box this month? It’s been a pretty interesting bunch of some stuff I surprisingly liked and some stuff that I had mixed emotions with. There were also some minis that I’ve already tried before and have reviewed here on the blog, so without further ado, let’s take a look.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game

 

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Spray (5 oz: $20) โ€“ I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a Briogeo product before. Their stuff always smells good and is always a delight to use. This volumizing spray is no different for sure. In fact, it’s so good and it’s one of my fave in this month’s box. This totally tamed my frizzes away while giving that neatly volumized look. I’ve used this after towel drying my hair and also during the day to keep my hair well-behaved, and OMG it works and I lurve it. I normally don’t use hair sprays as they tend to be sticky, especially when the weather is warm, but this? it’s light, non-sticky, and it makes my hair look shiny and in place. Totally a keeper.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game (0.04 oz: $10) – This is a shimmery metallic taupe eyeliner that glides fairly easily on the lids. It’s easy to apply and smooth to use, and it has a very good staying power despite the heat, sweat, and humidity. It is also affordable and has other shades and finishes to choose from. It’s a great reliable eyeliner if you’re on a budget.

 

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara wand

 

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara (0.22 oz: $27.50) – This is one of the best lengthening mascaras I’ve ever tried, but the “s” or “infinity” shape of the wand doesn’t help as much in curling the lashes, however, the formula is long lasting and it doesn’t smudge. See the whole review HERE.

 

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm Spf 45 in 01 Light Medium

 

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 35 Bohemian Purple (0.169 oz: $14) – This has always been a very good quality matte liquid lipstick and thumbs up to Sephora for creating this very good line. The texture and finish of this are very similar to most high-end matte liquid lipsticks available at Sephora and in other stores. This lipstick sets quite immediately, it is long lasting, non-smudging, lightweight and comfortable with a slight vanilla scent. However, I’m not a fan of the shade that they sent me, it’s too violet/purple-ish for my taste. For more shades, check out the review that I did previously about this lipstick.

 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 15 Flirting Game swatch

 

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm Spf 45 in 01 Light Medium (1.5 oz: $39) – This is some sort of a tinted moisturizer with a light to medium coverage. On my skin, the 01 Light Medium shade kinda appears too beige at first, but it blends on my skin easily and it then matched my skin tone, making it very wearable. The formula is soft, blendable and it covers any blemishes, imperfections, and redness. The coverage lasts throughout the day and it doesn’t have any annoying scent. I like that it comes with a good Spf number too.

 

marajo hair care Nourishing Cleansing Creme

 

Marajo Hair Care:

ย Nourishing Cleansing Creme (8.5 oz: $29) โ€“ I was really disappointed with this shampoo. On my hair, it didnโ€™t lather at all, and it made my hair very oily the next day. I kinda liked the way it smells somehow, like almond butter. However, this shampoo just didnโ€™t work for me, so I don’t recommend it.

 

ย Deep Treatment Butter (5.3 oz: $29) โ€“ This is supposed to be the conditioner in partner with the Marajo Nourishing Cleansing Creme above, but this has a rancid smell. My hair didn’t feel silky at all once I applied the product on. It feels just a thick cream but it didn’t necessarily condition my hair. I still feel like my hair was not cleaned after rinsing like there was some weird soapy residue. Totally dislike.

 

sephora play march 2018

 

Overall, as I said before, this month’s samplers have been a very mixed one. I definitely like the Briogeo Volumizing Spray, the Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil, and the Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm, but I wasn’t feeling the Marajo Hair Care samples.

 

Any Sephora Play! minis you like this month?

 

 

Random Lipstick Favorites

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in #62 Libre

 

Whaddup guys! As you may know in my Insta lately, I recently went to NOLA and I had a fabulous time. A review of my trip there will be out very soon. When I decided to go there, I packed some lipsticks with me for the trip. Theyโ€™re not necessarily new-releases, but just a bunch of what I discovered lately, and Iโ€™ve been testing them before, during, and after my trip. Excited to see which random lipstick favorites traveled with me to The Big Easy?

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces

 

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in #119 Bourgeoisie (0.19 oz: $30) โ€“ Iโ€™ve been so stoked by the Chanel Glosses since my last lipstick review that I decided to add another one to my stash. I picked this shade because I like that it has some shimmers and it’s on the dusty rose side, which is more like the type of color I tend to gravitate towards. Since my lips have some pigments, this color looked more like a nude gloss on me. So, I’ve been using this as my wear-alone gloss, especially when I don’t feel like wearing any lip color and just wants to moisturize and add shimmer to my lips throughout the day. Itโ€™s also an ideal topcoat for any lip color which I did pair with the Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick that I also brought with me to NOLA. That particular LM lipstick is reviewed below.

 

Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Lip Balm in #2 Baby ($50) – I’ve been so curious about this balm+lipstick hybrid from Sisley Paris. It’s supposed to make the lips supple, moisturized, smoothed, and plumped with every use. It’s also an easy to apply kind of lipstick since it is housed in an XXL pencil with a twist-release type. I definitely love the ease of using this lip product, it is practical and easy to apply. The formula is certainly hydrating, just like a balm, and the pigment is pretty good. On my lips, this #2 Baby shade just gives me that right baby pink color which is perfect for everyday wear. I love everything about this lipstick+lip balm-in-one product because it is moisturizing and pigmented and was perfect during my flight to NOLA. However, this definitely requires some reapplication especially after wining and dining. Also, due to its price, it’ll be kinda hard to collect some colors.

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces (0.15 oz: $26) – When I heard that Bite was releasing their limited-edition Astrology Amuse Bouche lipsticks, I was thrilled. I love the texture of their Amuse Bouche lippies a lot and when my own zodiac was out, Pisces, I immediately purchased one for myself. Now, this shade is pretty difficult to pull off. It’s like a mix of muted orange and pumpkin, and I just don’t see the “sea or ocean” vibe in this, but it’s Pisces, so the shade should closely resemble to the fish, but by being a fish shade, does that mean looking like a crawfish+amphibian love child? LOL, because that’s kind of the deal I’m getting with this lipstick. I still took this shade to NOLA, but I didn’t wear this though. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around this color. I feel like I can’t wear this without looking like a character for The Shape Of Water Sequel. LOLz, anyhow, I really like the texture of this lipstick so much, and it smells amazing. I realized that I could still pull this off by dabbing a bit of it on my lips and then try not to overdo it. Anyway, this color is no longer available, and Bite Beauty had already released their Aries shade, which seems to also closely resemble this Pisces lipstick. On top of that, it’s also already sold out. I wonder what will be the color of Taurus? I hope it’s gonna be a pretty one.

 

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Vibe

 

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Vibe (0.035 oz: $28) –ย Medium beige nude. I’ve tried another shade of this Laura Mercier lipstick line before and it’s called Fresh (reviewed HERE). While I like that shade quite a lot, I wanted something that is a little bit fit for an everyday wear, so I bought the Vibe shade and I surprisingly liked it a lot. I kinda hesitated for a while before buying this though, because I thought it would be too light for my skin tone and it might make me look washed-out. Fortunately, I really like the way this color looks on my lips. It gives a nice subtle flush of pale pinkish mid-beige nude and it looks really great if you have a dramatic eye makeup. It still feels kinda drying still, but I usually dab a balm on my lips before putting this on, or I apply a lip gloss immediately after putting this. Overall, this shade is very long lasting and was very reliable during my trip to The Big Easy.

 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: $27) – Dusty Rose. I find this shade to be so pretty and I think this would work for any skin tone. It’s not only a dusty rose color, but there’s also a subtle red hue to it. Probably, of all the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils I have, this is my most favorite shade and it is long-wearing too. It makes the face look a bit bright and spring-ready, just like the weather in New Orleans, and it’s not an over-the-top kind of brightness since the matte texture makes the shade muted and very wearable. However, the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is not so practical to have unless you’re always carrying a sharpener. This Lip Pencil does not come with a built-in sharpener and it isn’t a twist-release type. So Nars, please improve the packaging.

 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in #62 Libre (0.12 oz: $37) – I have no idea what took me so long to buy this lipstick in this specific color. This is one of the most perfect lipsticks I’ve ever tried. First, I really love this shade, it’s the perfect warm rosy nude for me. It flatters my skin tone very well, and it’s about 2 shades darker than my natural lip color. The closest dupe I could think of is the MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond (swatched HERE), and perhaps the YSL #66 Bois De Rose (seen HERE), both of which are my holy grail. Lasting power for this lipstick is awesome, I get about 6 to 8 hours of wear with some eating, snacking, and drinking while I was in NOLA. The second thing I love about this lipstick is the texture. It’s velvety matte but it’s soft and light on the lips, and it’s definitely non-drying. You can swipe it lightly on the lips for a nice flush of color, or it can be very buildable. Lastly, I quite like the packaging of this particular lipstick line, easy to pop open and easy to close. Love it!

 

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in #119 Bourgeoisie

 

Have you tried any of these lipsticks already?

 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

 

Latest Moisturizers, Cleanser & Eye Creams

The weather is slowly warming up and there’s a bunch of new summer-ready moisturizers, eye creams, and cleansers in town. I’ve been testing a few them via some samples and some that I’ve actually purchased in regular size as I feel like they’re so good that they’re worth keeping as part of my skincare routine.

 

latest summer moisturizers

 

If you’re into gel or water-like moisturizers like Tatcha’s The Water Cream (reviewed HERE) or Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb, then you’re gonna find this review very helpful since you will find several options to choose from apart from these two creams mentioned. Also, if your skin is in the normal to oily, sensitive, or slightly dry range, these lightweight creams and gels are the ideal choice if you’re gonna be out and about in this coming warm and humid season.

 

Moisturizers & Cleanser:

 

Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Moisturizer

 

Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Moisturizer (1.7 oz: $58) – This is a lightweight cream that goes into the skin easily, and it has a slightly earthy scent to it. It isn’t sticky and it makes the skin feel supple right upon application. It’s a great cream if you have a normal to oily skin, it’s also the perfect cream if your face tends to get slightly dry during the day, but this isn’t the most moisturizing if you’re super dry. I’ve used this for several weeks now and I have not noticed any skin irritations, which is great.

 

Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel (1.7 oz: $60) – A must-have for oily skin type, the texture of this is very similar to Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. It’s is a lightweight, cushiony, water-gel that hydrates the skin very well and it’s also non-sticky. There is a mild floral scent to it, and it’s a great all day moisturizer and to layer under makeup. I like this a lot and it feels like nothing on my face once applied. This isn’t for the ones with really dry skin, but if you have dry patches or if you have normal to sensitive skin, then this is a great moisturizer to try.

 

Glamglow Waterburst Hydrated Glow Moisturizer

 

Glamglow Waterburst Hydrated Glow Moisturizer (1.7 oz: $49) – OMG! I LOVE This Cream SO much. It smells like Oreo cream filling and it feels like Tatcha The Water Cream. It’s a very light cream-gel that turns into water, and it hydrates the skin for the whole day. It’s so good and it works for any skin type, just not for the super dry ones though, but this is definitely worth taking a shot. For me, this is one of the best scented lightweight moisturizers that actually works to moisturize the skin and keeps it hydrated for a long time without feeling heavy or greasy. A must-have and a holy grail. Oh, and I love that it comes in a decent-sized packaging and the price is not over-the-top.

 

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

 

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser (3.38 oz: $34) – A blueberry-scented mild cleanser with actual blueberry bits and skin suspended in it. This cleanser not only cleanses the face, it also removes makeup. I’d say that this is a great everyday mild cleanser for normal, sensitive, or dry skin. If you’re the oily type, you may need something stronger or something that foams better than this, because this doesn’t seem to foam that much, and if you have too much makeup on, it’s gonna take some rubbing to completely take it all off.

 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (1 oz: $22, 2.7 oz: $45) – This cooling moisturizer/mask has a true fresh watermelon scent that is extremely refreshing to the senses. This is a very light gel texture-wise, and you can use it as a wash-off mask or as an overnight one. Since this gel is very light, it goes into the skin easily and it keeps it moisturized. However, I feel like this is great as a 10-minute wash-off mask only, as for its overnight moisturizing ability, well, I find this to be quite weak, especially if you tend to have dry skin or has some dry patches. I wouldn’t suggest this as an overnight mask even during the dry winter season either. A regular thick moisturizer would probably do a much better job.

 

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

 

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (1.69 oz: $68) – Meet my other holy grail moisturizer. This lightweight cream may seem plain and boring at first, but it’s not, and it’s the reason why I’m starting to believe in Drunk Elephant’s skin care products. Know why? this cream is very unassuming but it packs a punch. Its texture is not too thick and not too thin, which makes it ideal for almost all skin types. It doesn’t even have any captivating scent to it, and if it does, it’s just so plain, but the ingredients and its packaging are so worth it. It has peptides and amino acids which made a difference in my skin’s appearance and elasticity. I noticed a more radiant and renewed glow on my face like I’ve got baby smooth skin on. I never had any irritations with this cream so far, and it also works as an overnight moisturizer for me as well. On top of that, I really love the easy-to-dispense packaging since it’s so easy to release the right amount of product without having to dip your fingers in the tub, which makes it very hygienic.

 

Eye Creams:

 

OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Crรจme

 

OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Crรจme (0.5 oz: $38) – This eye cream can be tricky to find nowadays because it’s almost always sold out at least at my local Sephora and also online. There’s a reason for it, and it’s because this is probably one of the best eye creams you can buy. It smells great, it performs great, and the ingredients are also great. Though I’m not entirely sure if there’s banana into it, but this eye cream is inspired by the banana powder that some makeup artists used in order to brighten the under eyes. What I did notice is the nice sweet orange scent that is both captivating and invigorating the moment you apply this on the skin, and its scent stays on even after a couple of hours. Because of its orange scent, expect Vitamin C as one of its main ingredients, which is awesome as I’ve always wanted to incorporate this skin brightening ingredient to the dark areas of my face, like my undereye circles which have not seen the light of day for ages. The cream itself is creamy, kind of mid-weight type of creamy, it’s not so crazy thick that it’s sticky, but it’s not very thin either. I haven’t seen the brightening effect on my undereye yet, but this has a slight almost-invisible sheen on the skin once applied, however, the slight sheen goes away immediately but this cream keeps the area around the areas super hydrated even throughout the next day. This also goes well under concealers and foundations, and there’s ample product inside its bright orange packaging. This eye cream is definitely a must.

 

Chanel Blue Serum Eye Revitalizing Serum (0.5 oz: $70) – The latest eye serum released by Chanel and it’s worth giving a try. It’s a lightweight creamy serum with a barely noticeable clean scent. It goes into the skin easily and it makes it supple, smooth, and hydrated. It has green coffee and olives as some of its ingredients. Since I’ve started testing this, I feel like my eyes look well-rested, and a little depuffed. I definitely prefer this over the Le Lift Eye Cream.

 

Summer is fast-approaching so expect more lightweight creams and gel moisturizers to be released soon apart from the ones mentioned above. Bottom line, I still love and recommend Tatcha’s The Water Cream, Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb and Tarte’s Drink of H20. However, I also suggest that you give some of those products above a try. You may wanna start with Glamglow Waterburst Moisturizer, Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel, or DE’s Protini Polypeptide Cream. For the eyes, the Banana Bright Eye Cream by OleHenriksen is worth a shot.