Reviews and Other Stuff

Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Minis Review + Swatches

July 13, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Happy Thursday! I’ve got another lip product review and swatches for you all. Any Huda Beauty fanatics out there? Hey guys! Every time I go to Sephora, I always see Huda’s beauty products, especially her Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipsticks (0.17 oz: $20). Several times I wanted to try her lippies but I just couldn’t bring myself to it.

When her Liquid Matte Lipsticks first came out, there weren’t many good reviews about them. A lot of people mentioned that they’re streaky and watery, which is also what I noticed when I first swatched them on my arm at Sephora. They were really watery and I had my doubts whether they’re gonna settle into true matte finish lipsticks or not, especially because most matte liquid lipsticks in the market are usually creamy. But I dig the shades though, I thought they were really wearable.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw that a couple of Liquid Matte Minis were released and they came out in four different editions. The Pink Edition, The Red Edition, Brown Edition and this Nude Edition ($33) which we’re now reviewing. I thought it was a good idea to try their minis and I love these sizes because they’re great for any jet-setting activities.

I was torn between the Nude Edition and the Pink Edition, but eventually, I settled into the Nude Edition and I couldn’t be any happier. These Liquid Matte Minis are so cute. They’re about 3 inches tall and each tube has a sturdy brush applicator, not to mention a robust frosted thick plastic packaging. The lippies smell like chocolate milkshake and they do feel very watery at the beginning. But! don’t be discouraged, these Minis will definitely dry down to a comfortable matte finish. So comfortable that you won’t even know you’re wearing any lipstick at all. They don’t even settle much into the lip’s fine lines, which is perfect because then they don’t dry the lips, like most matte liquid lipsticks that can feel really drying after a couple of hours.

Here’s some lip action for ya, LOLz.

They might feel slightly sticky at the beginning but they didn’t transfer anywhere, even after eating, drinking, working out or chitchatting. I love the shades of the Nude Edition because most of them are really wearable.

Venus – Deep Taupe Brown. A nice warm nude shade that I can actually wear without making me look very washed-out or ghastly. Great for everyday running errands kind of lip color.

Bombshell – Subtle Pinkish Nude. Just the right kind of warm muted pink which gives a natural pinkish pop on the lips.

Flirt – Cheeky Brown. I’m not usually a fan of grayish-brown shades, but this is one of the few that I can tolerate to wearing even during the day.

Trendsetter – Brown Nude. I love this shade a lot. It has a bit of a terracotta undertone, like a dark alternative of Venus that’s great for medium skin tones.

Bottom line, I’m actually impressed at these Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Minis and I highly recommend them. I love their comforting feel on the lips, I like the choice of shades, I enjoyed the scent and I like the matte effect that it had on my lips. They’re also priced reasonably and I think overall, they are great quality matte liquid lipsticks.

What do you think of these? Have you tried any of them?

The Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Minis are available at Sephora

While the full-size Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipsticks are available at Sephora and Selfridges.

Happy Thursday again! Follow on Insta: @reviewsandotherstuff

Samples of the Week: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation Review + Swatches

July 12, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

What’s Up, Children of the Corn! How’s the weather treating you today? Are your foundations giving you enough coverage? Is it truly covering your age? Hahaha! Hmmm, here’s an interesting foundation that I’ve been wanting to try for a long long time and I bet y’all know this, the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (1.01 oz for $43). Luckily and thankfully, I managed to accumulate a few samples before I’ll completely pull the trigger. You ready to check which shade is my fave? read on.

I’m a true devotee of BB Creams, CC Creams, EE, Double D, C cup creams, lol whatever, but you know what I mean. Any double letter type of foundations? I’m in. Anyway, I still love those and I will always use them regularly, but lately, I wanted to kinda venture into some buildable or full coverage foundations and my mind immediately thought of MUFE’s Ultra HD Foundation. I’ve read an Allure review about it before, saying that it’s the ideal foundation for selfies or against any high-def lenses, be it video or camera, and that’s because this particular foundation will make you look perfectly poreless, sans any filters or exorcisms. Now, that’s a catch!

There’s a lot of shades to choose from in this particular line of foundation. In fact, it’s almost confusing to pick which one’s the right shade for my light to medium complexion. When I first tried it, I was actually surprised that it wasn’t too drying at all, knowing that it’s a medium to full coverage buildable foundation. It has kind of a slightly matte but slightly dewy effect, so it won’t make your face look flat like a chiffon cake or a hot mess. It also felt very lightweight and non-greasy as well. Almost like being naturally airbrushed, but it’s not like it’s gonna completely hide all the blemishes of your skin, I would say that it’s just enough to give you a natural finish and it blends really well with the skin, even though somehow I could still see my pores.

Although I haven’t really taken a selfie or examined my skin through the lens of the camera after trying this MUFE Ultra HD Foundation, I find that this is such an interesting foundation to have. I’ve tried working out with it, sweat with it, and walked through the rain with it and I still had some good coverage going on. Another nice thing is, the color or colors I’ve tried are versatile and they seem to match my skin tone very well.

Here are some swatches:

Of all the shades in this review, Y225 (Marble) and Y245 (Soft Sand) are too bright for me, I thought I looked like Samara from The Ring. LOL. The best shades for me are either Y315 (Sand) or Y335 (Dark Sand) because they add a bit of warmth to my complexion, and my skin, in general, has a more yellow golden undertone. Y505 (Cognac) looks really great for contouring though.

Finale, I think the MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation is nice to have as a first medium to full-coverage foundation. It has a natural finish and it feels like nothing. I also like that it’s long wearing and it applies well with either a brush, a beauty blender or by hand. Now, where’s the Spf version of this?

The MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation is available at Sephora

Ciao now!

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SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, Clear Lotion, Cleanser, & Mask Review

July 11, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 1 Comment

When it comes to skincare, there is one brand that I keep coming back for, and that’s SK-II. Though I’ve never really tried all their products, I find that their basic lines like the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, and the Facial Treatment Cleanser have really worked wonders on my skin. Some people may disagree on this, but there is just something really magical about this whole Pitera thing.

If you know the whole story of this cult-favorite Japanese skincare brand, then you’d be amazed. As per Wikipedia, “a group of Japanese scientists had observed the sake brewery workers to have smooth young-looking hands after years of submerging them in fermented yeasts even though their faces obviously showed their age.” After further research, the particular naturally-occurring yeast was isolated for use, thus the birth of Pitera.

Much has been said and disputed about Pitera. Some experts said it doesn’t really work or that it’s not worth it, or even that there’s not much proof of its benefit and effectiveness, while some also said that Pitera is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which improves the skin’s renewal process, thus making it youthful and glowing. As for me, I do not know if it is a placebo or for real, but ever since I’ve been using these SK-II products, I know my skin started looking fantabulous, no kidding.

My skin is pretty resilient but it gets crazy whenever I subject it to stressful environments or situations, like going to another planet, I mean traveling. Also, it tends to breakout whenever life’s stresses happen. I have tried different products but none of them really sort of prevented my skin from getting confused. Enter SK-II and I could not be happier. I do not know when exactly I started noticing the difference, I think perhaps a month, and my face does not seem to act out as much, no matter the situation or the condition I am in, be it hormones, pollution or dryness. I may have small bumps from time to time but it does not go into full-blown cystic calamity anymore. It is like my skin is more resilient and better protected. Also, my face looks glowy and my skin’s texture looks smooth and even.

If you have read my previous comment about SK-II before, (seen HERE), I mentioned that my best skin happens whenever I use SK-II. That is true even until now. Since trying them a few years ago, I have never really gone astray, I have been a loyal customer and had been using SK-II products as my daily skincare routine despite the steep price (I know, right?) The products you will see below are the ones I always use daily as my foolproof skincare go-tos regardless of any situation.

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser (3.6 oz: $75) – Has a nice rosy scent that is gentle and great for sensitive skin. It’s creamy, non-abrasive, foamy, and non-drying. It feels luxe and it comes in a decent hefty-size container that will last a long time. A great all around facial wash for any skin care type or if you have any skin care concerns. Oh, and great to use with Foreo too.

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (5.4 oz: $76) – The toner of my life! What am I going to do without you? Yep, that is how much I love and adore this toner. I have repurchased this countless times and this has helped my skin a lot. This may smell and feel like nothing, but it does make a difference. I love that this seems mild but this is a hardworker by cleaning every remaining trace of makeup and calms the pores. The full size heavy frosted glass bottle usually lasts 2 months on me while using a cotton pad.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Travel Size, 2.5 oz: $99, Standard Size, 5.4 oz: $179, Value sizes: 7.8 oz, $229 and 11 oz: $290) – This face essence, or what I would call and use as a serum, is SK-II’s bestselling product because this has more than 90% Pitera that is ready to get your skin glowing. This is basically the product to get if you want to experience your first dose of SK-II miracle and Pitera goodness. Its consistency is slightly thicker than the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion and its scent is somewhat stronger and could get funkier with time. Some may complain about the scent to be a little fishy, but it’s not so bad, really. I just use my hands to apply the product as I do not want to waste any. This thing is already expensive even for the travel size, but it usually lasts 5 months on me. So it is a great deal. It is even a greater deal if you could find the whole Pitera Essence Set, which comes with the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Travel Size, plus a Facial Treatment Mask and a mini (1 oz) Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, which is great wherever you go.

Last but not the least, SK-II Facial Treatment Mask (1 Mask: $17, 6 Masks: $95, 10 Masks: $135) – This mask is super drenched with Pitera goodness, oozing with moisturization and hydration. This has no discerning scent and this feels cool, soothing, and nourishing. This makes my skin feel smooth and soft, although it is very pricey. But, totally worth the money and this is the most luxurious, most moist, and most non-greasy mask I have ever tried. So great to take with you during traveling or even on the plane.

Whether you are an SK-II fan or not, what matters is you are satisfied with your current skincare and that you take good care of your skin. We only have one face to take on the world. So, put your best face forward!

The SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, Clear Lotion, Cleanser, and Mask is available in Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Dermstore, QVC, Bloomingdales, Violet Grey, Revolve & Macy’s

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