Reviews and Other Stuff

Sephora Play! April 2017 Box

April 19, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi Readers! Just got my Sephora Play! subscription box for this month of April and there’s a couple of interesting stuff in there, although they’re not totally impressive in my opinion. I think last month’s box was better since there were new and interesting products to try. This month’s box is themed “Step It Up”. Not sure what that really means, but probably to step up your beauty or skin care regimen. Speaking of skincare, there’s definitely a couple of skin care products thrown in for this month’s box and a few products that we are all too familiar with.

Let’s take a look.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (0.5 oz: $24, 2 oz: $85, 5 oz: $175)– This pine-scented exfoliator has micro particles and it feels sort of mild on the face, even though it’s a clinical-strength product. It has fruit enzymes and an overall great in-home exfoliator. I love it quite a lot, I think it works really well to keep my skin renewed and I didn’t break out so far. I would love to purchase this in large size soon.

Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (1.69 oz: $7.50, 4.2 oz: $11, 6.76 oz: $15)– Very very similar to Clinique Take The Day Off, but a lot oilier. It does remove the eye makeup well but it also kinda burns, unlike Clinique’s. It’s meant to be a waterproof eye makeup remover with lash-strengthening vitamins but it’s hard to love this when it stings on the eyes. However, this is great as an overall waterproof makeup remover (on the face) for anyone with dry skin, and also comes in affordable price tags.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream (1.6 oz: $52) – I really like this moisturizer. It has the right amount of creaminess and it moisturizes my skin very well, even for a long time. I love that it has a combination of two great humectants; ceramides and hyaluronic acid. My face feels really smooth with this and my skin absorbs this easily. Great for use at night time as well.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette (Travel size 0.24 oz: $27, Standard size 1.7 oz; $80, 3.4 oz: $100) – A lot of us are familiar with this particular scent. I, for one loves this specific fragrance. Described as the scent closest to the very popular Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb by others, but for me this MJ Daisy is much fresher and a lot younger. I was never really a fan of the Flowerbomb scent even if I tried to love it several times, I thought it was too heavy, too sweet, and just simply didn’t work for my body chemistry. Daisy is one of my personal fave indeed. I even keep a large bottle in my vanity.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Travel size 0.50 oz: $16, Value size 1.7 oz: $49, Standard size 1.0 oz: $36) – I’m pretty sure most of us have this in our stash, right? The good ol’ legendary Smashbox Primer, always a go to and always a cult-favorite. It keeps our makeup in place and makes it last forever. I love this iconic primer before, and I still love it now. Nuff said.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner (0.04 oz for $21) – Budge-proof? Hell yeah! This eyeliner is great for waterlines, upper lids, and for cat eyes. It can even create a smudged effect but still it won’t transfer once set. I love how easy the formula glides on the skin while being mild and waterproof at the same time. Definitely a new eyeliner worth to try.

Favorites: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner and Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream.

What’s your favorite product in this month’s Sephora Play!?

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Samples of The Week: Fresh, Dior, Tarte, Sunday Riley, Tory Burch & Burberry

April 18, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Good day folks! Here’s another set of samples that I’ve been testing for this week’s review. The products that I’m about to mention are truly great, and most of them are worth having in regular sizes. There’s a lip treatment, a nourishing moisturizer, a scent for men, some lip swatches and a blush. I don’t remember where I got each sample, but I’m pretty sure most of them are from Sephora, and some may be from Nordies, if I’m not mistaken. So, without further ado, let’s start the review.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Perfecting Wand (0.1 oz: $24) – A lip treatment/exfoliator that smells or tastes like mango with lemon. It has loofah oil, cupuaçu and mango butter for moisturization, with black currant and grapeseed oil as antioxidants. This lip treatment has tiny sugar particles that’s meant to scrub and exfoliate the lips with its silicone or rubber-like wand applicator. Great for using every day and also as a lip conditioner at night. Though I didn’t notice much exfoliation with this lip treatment, I love that it keeps my lips moisturized overnight and it prevents my lips from drying even more. The silicon applicator feels great when massaged onto the lips, but it doesn’t necessarily exfoliate. The overall formula is great, it’s thick and it works very well if you are prone to dry chapped lips, though I think there could be some other products that may work just the same for a much lesser price tag.

Dior, Rouge Dior Lipsticks, Matte Finish (0.12 oz: $35 ) – These are a few sample shades of the latest Rouge Dior Matte Lipsticks. The formula is extremely matte and slightly drying, but long wearing for about 6-8 hours. The bubblegum/cotton candy scent can be a hit or a miss for some, but I actually like it a lot. There’s different shades in this particular finish and they seem to be wearable and quite pretty. Out of all the 4 shades swatched below, I like the 772 Classic Matte shade because it’s the most wearable shade of all. Delicate matte is too nude for me, 787 Exuberant Matte is too bright for a pink, more like an electric/neon pink, while 999 Matte is also good, but it’s too bright of a red for me. A fiery red that’s almost red-orange in tone.

Swatches

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paaarty (0.2 oz: $29) – Got this as a birthday gift from Sephora. I love shade of this sun-baked blush. It’s soft and wearable for a natural daytime look. It gives a subtle flush on the cheeks and it stays on for a long time. Don’t worry, this won’t make you look like Pikachu. LOL.

Swatch

Sunday Riley C.E.O, C+E Antioxidant Protect + Repair Moisturizer (1.7 oz: $65) – Never tried any Sunday Riley products before, and I could say that this long-named moisturizer is heavenly. With a superior and highly potent form of Vitamin C and some added antioxidants, this moisturizer is luxurious and it smells good, like an orange tart or an orange cream. It goes into the skin smoothly and it keeps it hydrated for a long time. A little too oily or too thick for my taste though, specially in this warming weather. Since this moisturizer has no Spf, I’d probably use this at night. Otherwise, I love this cream a lot and I could see this working well, because we all know that Vitamin C is really good for the skin.

Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Lavande (6ml Rollerball: $29, 50 ml: $95, 100 ml: $125) – A light scent of lavender with hints of magnolia and bergamot. It’s on the powdery floral side and is soothing and refreshing at the same time. Very long lasting as the scent could still be noticed the following day. It’s ideal for spring and has a nice and clean dry down.

Burberry, Mr. Burberry Eau de Toilette (1.0 oz: $55, 1.6 oz: $68, 3.3 oz: $88, 5.0 oz: $115) – A scent for the modern man, it’s casual, it’s sensual and smart. With grapefruit and Guaiacwood, this scent is simply pleasing to the senses. It’s not musky, but more of a refreshing long lasting scent. I usually love men’s perfumes or colognes and this one is really good. Slightly similar to Hugo Boss Perfumes, but this one is more irresistible.

Verdict: I love this week’s samples a lot. If I have to buy them in full sizes, I’d say, I’ll probably purchase the Sunday Riley C.E.O Moisturizer, Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Lavande, Mr. Burberry Eau de Toilette para mi esposo, a couple of Rouge Dior Matte Lipsticks in shades of my choosing, and perhaps a few of Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Blushes.

Whatcha Think?

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Too Cool For School, Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Paper Review

April 16, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Anybody with an oily-prone skin knows that it’s crucial to have a blotting paper in your purse no matter where you go. It’s one of those necessities if you want to look fresh and not like you drowned in Crisco cooking oil. Hahaha. Trust me, it’s so hard to look shiny and greasy all the time. I’m not talking about the highlighted or strobed kind of look, but more like when the sun shines literally from your T-zone, blinding everyone around you. Oh my…

All blotting papers are created for the same purpose of blotting away oils from your face, but not all of them are created equal. Though they’re all made of paper, there are actually different kinds of paper out there and some are uniquely designed with additional bells and whistles. Gone were the days when blotting papers just came in tiny cardboard packs or having your fingers getting oily from rubbing the sheets to your face. Now, I’d like to introduce you to Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Papers, by Too Cool For School.

As to why the name is quirky and unique? No, it’s not because it’s meant for oily Dinosaurs like us, LOL, it’s just how the brand came up with the name when they collaborated with a Japanese artist for this specific product line. Yep, they’re really Too Cool For School and too cool to come up with such eccentric and catchy name for their blotting papers. Speaking of these blotting papers, there are 3 kinds; the Mulberry blotting paper, Green Tea and the Mattifying Charcoal. Each came in a cute and convenient carrycase complete with a mirror and a sponge/puff with adhesive to grip each blotting paper in order to blot them easily on the face while not disturbing the makeup, great idea isn’t it? Additionally, there are 50 pieces of blotting papers in each case and they’re all naturally made.

Mulberry – Made of Korean Mulberry paper, each sheet absorbs oil instantly without the need for rubbing it on your skin. Just use the sticky sponge and tap-tap to see the difference. You could see that the paper is clearly saturated with oil.

Mattifying Charcoal – Made of Chinese Yam Paper and infused with charcoal to detoxify the pores and mattify the skin. This feels a bit cool on the face and also absorbs oil fairly easily, though due to the color of the paper, it’s slightly difficult to see whether the oils have already transferred on the paper or not.

Green Tea – Also made with Chinese Yam Paper, this one is infused with antioxidants to soothe the skin and is ideal for problematic skin type. This type of blotting paper also absorbs oil from the face and doesn’t cause any irritation.

If you ask me which type I prefer among the three, I can definitely tell you that it doesn’t really matter, they all kinda work the same and I couldn’t really tell the difference among them. But if you really really ask me on which one I might prefer, I think I sort of like the one made with Korean Mulberry Paper because it seems to absorb the oil faster than the others. But it could be just me, you know. Compared to most blotting papers, The Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Papers are definitely my favorite blotting papers so far. It eliminates the need to rub and swipe the blotting paper on your face using your fingers, thus there’s no tugging on your precious makeup. I always keep one in my purse because it’s very practical to have. I love the handy, lightweight and multipurpose carrying case. The design is cute and I love having the mirror and the sticky puff which you can reuse for other purposes. The sponge may lose the adherences of its adhesive tape with time, but you can peel it off to reveal more layers of adhesives. Additionally, there’s also available refills that you can purchase for when you run out of these blotting sheets. Awesome!

Whether you choose the Dinoplatz Charcoal, Green Tea or Mulberry, you know you’re keeping your oils at bay while having your makeup uninterrupted. These Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Papers by Too Cool For School are truly an oily girl’s best friend.

You can find these blotting papers at Sephora

Happy Easter!

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