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FASHION & BEAUTY

Samples of The Week: Tarte, Kat Von D, Giorgio Armani, Algenist, Laura Mercier, Clarins, Too Faced, Becca, Sephora & Josie Maran

August 10, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Whaddup Guys! Here’s another set of samples I’ve been playing and a lot of them are really interesting products to note. If you’re on the market for some new moisturizers, velvety lipsticks, a new signature scent, or even another mask, you may wanna read this.

1. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter Unscented (1.7 oz: $40) – This is a good hydrating cream for those who suffer from dry skin. It also feels weightless and very softening. Has a bit of a milky texture, and it gets absorbed by the skin easily. I love that it doesn’t leave any film after a few hours of application and it also feels non-greasy. The unscented one has a bit of silicon-ish scent, but I’ve sniffed the Juicy Mango scent before and it was good.

2. Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream (1 oz: $75, 2 oz: $112) – I’ve tried this before and it’s one of the best moisturizing cream I’ve ever tried. You may or may not like the scent, but I love it. It’s kinda like vanilla milkshake and it feels really good once applied on the skin. It has a whipped and creamy texture but it’s not oily. It’s rich and very smoothing. So ideal when you have dry patches around the face as this will deliver intense hydration. A little bit goes a long way.

3. Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment (0.35 oz: $38) – Such a perfect thick consistency for an eye cream. I love that it really hydrates the thin skin around the eyes that are prone to dryness. Very rich and also very moisturizing, but it doesn’t pill. It also doesn’t irritate the eyes and has a firming effect. It’s easily spreadable, non-greasy and I love the hint of maracuja or passion fruit scent.

4. Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer in No. 7 Radiant Finish (Travel Size/0.6 oz: $40, 1 oz: $62) – This really goes on sheer but it has very tiny flecks of pink shimmers that is reminiscent of Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. This feels like a strobe cream that adds definition to the face, which I really really love because I can’t seem to wear mattifying foundations well without looking flat. This is great to add with your foundation to achieve that natural dewy finish, or it can be used as a highlighter, blush or even as a bronzer using the darker shades.

5. Sephora Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying (1 oz: $12, 2.03 oz: $20) – This is a fast drying mud mask with zinc and copper that resembles a bit like Glamglow Supermud. But this one has tiny clumps that would make the application a bit challenging. Though it didn’t really bother me as the mask is pretty much easy to wash out. This mask dries into a blue-green color and it has a pretty strong orange peel scent, which I kind of like, but some may find it to be too strong. The thing I like about this is the way it felt on my skin after rinsing it off. It is truly mattifying and it deeply cleanses into my pores. On top of that, this mask is also affordable.

6. Kat Von D

–Saint Eau de Parfum (Travel size/0.34 oz: $22, 1.7 oz: $65, 3.4 oz: $85) – This has a floral scent that’s slightly sweet but also very fresh. You could sense a hint of musky jasmine and a bit of sweet vanilla. This smells light and very summer-like. It’s also long lasting and quite irresistible.

–Sinner Eau de Parfum (Travel size/0.34 oz: $22, 1.7 oz: $65, 3.4 oz: $85) – A more intense version of Saint. It’s woody, earthy, and spicy, but not heady. It’s very long lasting and it’s an ideal scent for Fall or Winter. It has a warm and sultry vibe kind of scent that is unique and seductive.

Note: Both scents remind me of a blend of Estee Lauder and Marc Jacobs perfumes, which are the ones I still use alternately nowadays. Of the two KVD scents, I kinda love the Saint fragrance more because it’s a bit lighter and fresher, and its dry down is still irresistible, though I really like Sinner at the first few spritzes. Overall, they’re quite similar to each other, but they’re just at different intensities.

7. Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate (1 oz: $89, 1.6 oz: $122) – This is a 2-in-1 anti-aging serum that combines the oil & water soluble antioxidants to deliver a radiant smooth skin in just seven days, as per Clarins. While I love that it really moisturizes the skin with its thick oily feel, I saw that my face broke out a bit the next day after using this. Too bad, because I love its slightly powdery-sweet scent and it’s still a lightweight serum that has a plumping effect. Somehow, this made my face soft and moisturized, but this may not be for me.

8. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium-Deep Matte Bronzer (Travel size/0.14 oz: $15, 0.35 oz: $30) – Smells like chocolate milkshake, so delish you could almost eat it. LOL. This goes on as very light and not as well-pigmented especially at first swipe, but it’s pretty much buildable somehow. I use it for contouring and for bronzing at times. I find that with my light to medium skin tone, I would have to really layer this a lot in order to achieve a more contoured effect on the face. The medium to deep shade is more like for lighter complexions than the medium warm ones.

9. Becca Ultimate Coverage Foundation (1.01 oz: $44) – This is supposed to be a full coverage weightless foundation that has the right balance of water and pigments in order to achieve a flawless good coverage without caking. Unfortunately, this was really hard to blend and a little too thick for me. It does seem to cake around and also quite drying, similar to a thick concealer.

10. Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Devotion (0.12 oz: $28) – A perfect dusty rose shade that really has a velvety finish. It goes on like a cream but the effect is satiny matte without drying the lips. I love how well-pigmented this lipstick is, and it lasts even after eating. Most importantly, it feels like nothing on your lips.

11. Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Audrey (0.14 oz: $28) – Described as a neutral red, this has the right texture for a full-coverage lipstick that’s not too creamy and not too matte, with very good color payoff. I like that it feels creamy but it’s not like it’s melting on your lips. It’s also pretty long lasting and lightweight.

Final words, I had a lot of fun trying these products and there’s a lot of them that I really like, but if I have to choose a few that really stood out for me, it would be the; Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream, Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment, Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer, Sephora Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying, Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour & LM Creme Smooth Lip Colour.

Have you tried these? Which ones are you gonna try?

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Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color Matte, Bronze + Glow Review & Swatches

August 8, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

What’s Up There Guys! If you’re following my Instagram, you’d see that I’ve posted a few upcoming sneak peeks of products that will be reviewed soon. Some of them are these Nudestix All Over Face Color Matte and the All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow (0.25 oz for $30).

I’ve always wanted to try these face color sticks since they seem to be really practical to have, especially when I’m traveling and I love that these are so easy to apply because they’re basically just swipe and go. I also love that these come with a brush on the other end for that even application and it eliminates the need to use your fingers, thus making it more hygienic and mess-free.

These Nudestix All Over Face Colors also come in a cute multi-purpose rectangular tin can for easy storage or as carrying case. The top lid even has a mirror in it. The sticks themselves are in a chubby and robust packaging. The brushes that are attached on the other side of the sticks are dense and compact. The Nudies All Over Face Color Mattes have flat rounded brushes that are great for blending the colors on the face either as a blush or as an all-over contour. While the Nudies All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow have angled brushes that define the curves of the face for highlighting or bronzing.

Nudestix All Over Face Color Matte

Naughty N’ Spice – Dusty Rose Nude. This is a creamy blush that is well-pigmented at one swipe. I love the mauve rose tone of this and it spreads easily on the cheeks using the brush on the other end.

Bondi Bae – Bronzed Nude. I use this for contouring and it gives a subtle contour on the face. It’s also creamy, pigmented, and it blends easily. Love the pure matte and mid-tone brown hue of this.

The brushes of these two Face Color Mattes are nice add-ons, and they’re easy to work around the face. They’re also somewhat a bit softer than the angled-brushes of the All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow.

Nudestix All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow

Hey, Honey – Golden Sun-Kiss. A great color as a bronzer or as a highlighter for the lips, cheeks, bridge of the nose, or around the eyes. This has a nice golden subtle shimmer that feels very lightweight and has a very natural effect. It feels a bit oily more than creamy and it can be layered for a dramatic glow.

Illumi-Naughty – Pop of Pearl. This has a subtle dewy finish but can also be layered and it blends easily using its angled brush on the other end. It also feels a bit oily and has a nice soft shimmer to it.

These Bronze + Glow Face Colors have a somewhat oily consistency instead of being creamy like the All Over Face Color Mattes, though they glide very well on the cheeks. Their brushes feel kinda stiff at the beginning which therefore has a tendency to move your foundation around, especially if you’re kinda heavy-handed. I suggest doing a stipple application and be light-handed in order to prevent this.

These Nudestix All Over Face Color Matte and Bronze + Glow are handy and portable even though their brushes might be a bit stiff and that they feel kinda sticky on the face right after application. They give a natural glow on the face, but they can also be layered for a more dramatic look and they’re pretty much easy to blend. They’re also multi-purpose which makes them the ideal travel companions.

What’s your favorite highlighter, blush, and bronzer for traveling?

The Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color Matte & Bronze + Glow is available at Sephora, Macy’s, QVC, Urban Outfitters and Ulta

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Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner & Nourishing Styling Cream Review

August 4, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Whenever it’s summer it’s always a good idea to have a haircare that controls frizz and tames those annoying flyaways. I’ve always been a fan of Kerastase Fluidealiste Smooth-in-Motion products and the Serum Oleo-Relax (reviewed HERE), those really seem to handle my frizz quite well, however, I wanted to venture into something easier to find and much more affordable. The Living Proof brand of haircare seems to be promising, and today, I’m reviewing their No Frizz lines.

This line of No Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner, and Nourishing Styling Cream by Living Proof is meant to keep frizz at bay. They’re sulfate-free and is designed to block the humidity weightlessly. What I like about these products is that they come in different sizes so that you can try them and see if they work for the kind of hair that you have. I purchased the small sizes to see if these products really control my frizz as what it claimed to be.

My hair has always been on the straight side, but not necessarily fine. It’s pretty much thick and it has a tendency to get wavy. My biggest struggles are the flyaways and baby hairs that are so annoying especially during the summer, or whenever there’s humidity. Most of the time, if I’m at home, it tends to behave fairly well, but whenever I’m outside, it rebels and every strand seems to be standing up like I’ve been electrocuted, Haha! True, that’s why I always seek the help of a heating tool somehow. But it can’t always be healthy, you know, so I resort into creams, leave-ons, oils, etc… Some works, while some don’t

The Living Proof No “Frizz” line seems like something I could definitely use, and when I first got them, I didn’t try them all together and I find that my hair was still kinda frizzy, but using them together sort of made a difference. These didn’t weigh my hair down, which is thank God, but you really need to do the 3-step process in order to get the result. While I can’t speak for others who have coarser hair than mine, I definitely think that if your hair is fine to wavy with frizz, then this could work for you, even on a hot summer day.

Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo (2 oz: $10, 8 oz: $25, 24 oz: $59) – This shampoo has a light consistency and not so thick. It lathers fairly well and it has a lemon scent, which is sort of strong. This really cleans my hair well and it’s great to use everyday since it’s Sulfate-Fee.

Living Proof No Frizz Conditioner (2 oz: $10, 8 oz: $25, 24 oz: $59) – Has a slightly thicker formulation than the No Frizz shampoo but not overly thick, and it also has the same lemon scent. This feels moisturizing on the hair after shampooing yet it doesn’t weigh it down.

Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream (2 oz: $15, 4 oz: $27, 8 oz: $37) – This cream needs to be applied right after toweling the hair or while it’s still damp. You can either air dry the hair or just blow dry thereafter. The result is a tamed hair from roots to tips. Don’t be alarmed if your hair still looks frizzy after a few minutes of applying this, you have to let the hair dry completely in order to see the result.

Bottom line, I think these products work, but you really need to use them together as a step by step process. Using either one or two of them will defeat the purpose, thus making your hair still frizzy and otherworldly. I wouldn’t say that these “perfectly” tame the frizz like the way flat irons do, but these does a good job at calming the flyaways and frizziness.

The Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner, and Nourishing Styling Cream is available at Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, QVC, Target, Birchbox, Saks Fifth Avenue & Walgreens

Happy Weekend!

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