Reviews and Other Stuff

Coola Sport Continuous Spray Spf 50, Classic Face Sport Spf 50 White Tea Moisturizer & Liplux Spf 30 Review

August 11, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello Friyay! Planning on hitting the beach? A long hike? Or just a nice short stroll somewhere? Whatever your plans may be, it’s always good to have a nice handy sunscreen in hand, and I’ve got just the right products for ya. As you all know, I’m a huge fan of Coola suncare products. You can read it my previous post here and here. They’re pretty much the only sun protection I use (sunblocks to BB creams) because I like that they’re really innovative with their sunblock formulations and they seem to put their customer’s preference in mind. Also, they have such well-scented products.

I have three products to recommend in today’s post. These are really useful when you expose yourself to the sun, or even if it’s overcast because it’s always good to protect yourself from the harsh UV rays, no matter what.

Coola Sport Continuous Spray Spf 50 in Guava Mango (3.4 oz: $24, 8 oz: 36) – I’ve reviewed the Spf 30 Citrus Mimosa version before, found here. This sunscreen sprays on smoothly and it’s non-sticky. It’s also organic, water-resistant for 80 minutes, has antioxidant properties, and hypoallergenic. This feels pretty much lightweight and it won’t feel tacky even after you sweat. I like going on a hiking trip and this is mostly what I use. I’ve never had any issue with this, no sunburn and no dark spots noticed on my skin. On top of that, I really love the fresh sweet mango and fruit punch scent. Glad to have a sunscreen like this.

Coola Classic Face Sport Spf 50 Moisturizer in White Tea (1.7 oz: $32) – This is my first time trying this sunscreen/moisturizer and I couldn’t be happier. I usually use a moisturizer with an added Spf that is a lot lower than this during the day. While that helped, I was always hoping for a moisturizer with Spf that could do more. Well, I’m glad that I found this product from Coola because I love that this has an even higher Spf and it feels really moisturizing on the face while not being greasy. This is a great moisturizer to layer under any foundation, and it gives a natural hint of dewiness. Also a lightweight product, this feels soothing and doesn’t leave a white cast on the face, like most regular sunblocks do. It has a bit of a silky feel and it’s basically organic, antioxidant-infused, great for sensitive skin, and water-resistant for 80 minutes. In addition to that, this also has a great blend of fresh sweet floral scent that’s hard to resist.

Coola Liplux Spf 30 (0.15 oz: $12) – A lot of us may have forgotten that our lips need to be protected from the sun as well. I, for one, is guilty of that, not just because I simply forgot, but also because I haven’t really found the right sunscreen balm that suits my needs. Well, first, there’s not really a lot of sunscreen balms out there, or even lipsticks with added Spfs, to say the least. Second, the sunscreen balms I’ve used in the past tend to be sticky, kinda heavy on the lips, and has a weird aftertaste. Guess what, this Coola Liplux is not like those. This balm feels light on the lips, it doesn’t make it look too shiny, in fact, it has a sort of matte finish, and it moisturizes and heals dry chapped lips very well. This smells amazing the moment you open the tube, like a fresh burst of yummy berries without any aftertaste. I will definitely be using this a lot as I think I may have found the perfect sunscreen balm, and I truly recommend this product. Plus, this organic balm has broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, hypoallergenic, water-resistant (80 minutes), and with added vitamins and antioxidants.

These products are such wonderful twists compared to what most normal sunscreens are. Gone were the days when sunblocks are just obligatory stuff you need to apply. Nowadays, applying any of this Coola suncare feels more like a treat.

The Coola Sport Continuous Spray Spf 50, Classic Face Sport Spf 50 Moisturizer in White Tea, and Coola Liplux Spf 30 is available at Sephora, Ulta, Anthropologie, Birchbox, Dermstore, Free People, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or http://www.coolasuncare.com

Happy Sunblocking!

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(Disclosure: Product samples provided by Coola. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely mine)

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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Wild Blue Yonder Rose

August 9, 2017 / HOME & GARDEN / 0 comments

Heya Rosarians! It’s been a while since I featured a rose from my very own yard and this summer has really made my garden look very vibrant and full of life. Part of that because I have this reliable bloomer in my yard, the Wild Blue Yonder Rose.

This AARS winner has been growing in my yard for 4 years now and it has gotten really tall at almost 5 ft. It’s hard not to notice this Grandiflora because its beauty is simply mesmerizing. Its camellia-like petals and form have a vintage feel and it has a moderate citrus scent. It also has multifaceted colors that start with purple-lavender buds, as well as the center, then it goes into reddish purple once in full bloom.

The blooms are in clusters which make them a yard showstoppers, and they repeatedly bloom throughout the season. It’s a vigorous rose that doesn’t get sick easily, even if I’d miss its regular fertilization and mildew prevention treatment. It also has a bushy form and can grow really tall at 4 to 5 ft, but it adapts well to regular trimming.

The Wild Blue Yonder rose is hardy in zone 6 and up, it requires deep regular watering and regular fertilization with treatments from molds and aphids. Other than that, this is a beautiful non-fussy rose with different tones of reddish-purple-lavender in each bloom that grows in clusters. The saturated color of this rose will truly enhance the beauty of every yard.

The Wild Blue Yonder Rose is available at Regan Nursery

For more roses and other stuff, check out jacksonandperkins.com or heirloomroses.com

Happy Wednesday Rosarians!

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