Reviews and Other Stuff

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Magnet Lipsticks Review

Hi Guys! OMG!!! Be still my heart… This is gonna be a thrilling review. Finally, here’s my take on the Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Magnet Lipsticks. Oh my, I could die right now, I literally have a defib in my other arm, but not yet, I have to do this review. So anyway, let’s get this thing going.

 

armani lip magnet review

 

There isn’t any other lipsticks that’s in demand right now (specially in Sephora) other than the Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets. I mean, there could be others, but these stuff have always been out of stock, restocked, out of stock again, and then back in stock but not with all colors since the start of their release. I swear I wanted to buy them all at the beginning, but I can’t, and the colors I liked were already gone, so I had to wait for them to be available again, not to mention that they’re really pricey for $38 at 0.13 oz.

 

giorgio armani lip magnet lipsticks

 

My first impressions with these Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets are; First, they don’t have a distinctive scent, in fact, I couldn’t almost smell anything, if there is, it’s just the very very light almost indistinctive fruity-floral scent, but I could hardly smell it all. I also thought it smelled a bit like an alcohol, but very very faintly to none. Second, the triangular wand applicator is just amazingly study and allows for a precise application, but it’s kinda short. Third, these are matte liquid lipsticks, but their textures and formulations are not like most matte lipsticks. They’re very fluid-like, extremely lightweight, have very good pigments, but it takes a while to dry down to a matte texture.

giorgio armani lip magnet lipsticks

giorgio armani lip magnets

 

 


 

 

Giorgio armani lip magnet swatches 403 505403 VibratoRich Brick Red. This looks like a very dark blood-like red in the tube, but it’s dries down to a muted cherry red. There’s a lot of reds in this Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet line starting from the 400 shade, but this 403 color being the darkest is the one that suits my pigmented lips with a medium or warm undertone.

505 Second SkinVibrant Rose. A simple and light shade of pinkish coral that’s great as an everyday lip color. This color is not really my lip’s second skin shade as I find this to be a bit brighter than what I’d like it to be. I didn’t notice the rose shade though, but this color is definitely great for a more natural daytime look.

 

 

Giorgio armani lip magnet swatches 506 507

506 FusionMedium Pink Mauve. This shade is the 505 shade above but more muted since it has a very slight mauve undertone. Being an NC25 to 30, I think I prefer this shade a lot better than 505 for my everyday lip color.

507 GarconneMauve Berry. A lot of people love this shade, specially the ones whose lips have pigments like moi. Simply because these would look like our pigmented lips but better and with a hint of muted pink-berry tone. As for me, this color is like my second skin.

 

 

Giorgio armani lip magnet swatches 600 602

600 Front-RowRich Berry. I wasn’t feeling this shade when I first swatched it on my arm, because it seems a bit too dark or too brown. But I bought it anyway because I’m cray cray, and guess what? I was so surprised by how it looks on my lips. It’s not bad at all. In fact, this mauve and brown-berry shade looks really good on my medium skintone. I would say, this is like the 507 shade but darker and with a bit of brown. L.O.V.E I.T.

602 Night ViperDeep Purple Berry. An extremely pigmented, dark purple and almost-violet-pink shade that is so hard to take off. I’ve already used different waterproof makeup removers to remove this lip magnet, but still, my lips were left with a sort of dark neon-pink shade as a stain. I haven’t seen such pigmented lip color like this particular shade. In fact, the one’s I swatched on my arm took about 2 days and probably a half more to completely fade away. Of all the shades of the Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets reviewed here, this 602 shade is the most pigmented of them all. Hmmm, I may have to soak my lips in waterproof makeup remover for days. Oh no!

giorgio Armani lip magnet lipsticks swatches

In conclusion, I like the lightweight texture of these Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets a lot. Although I wouldn’t mind if these were a bit creamy because these would have helped make the lips look fuller by filling in the lip lines, specially for people with imbalanced lips. But the textures of these Lip Magnets may not allow that because it’s kinda watery thin. Also, some of the color’s textures might be a bit streaky at first application, but applying a second coat will solve the issue. I love the color payoff of these lippies very much, no arguing with that, but they take a while to dry down and it’s not true that once settled on your lips, they won’t budge. They can be easily moved and they definitely don’t last for 8 hours without reapplication. I suggest grabbing the dark colors because they tend to last the longest. Still, these are top of the line high quality matte lipsticks that won’t dry your lips unlike most matte liquid lipsticks nowadays.

 

giorgio armani lip magnet lipsticks review

 

Thanks for reading friends! Bye for now!

 

Follow me on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Coola Rosilliance Organic BB Cream Spf 30 Review

Spring will be here soon and Summer’s not that far away. It’s time to grab your sunscreens and sun protectors! It’s gonna be a hot and humid summer. Times like that call for a very effective sunscreen, but sometimes ordinary sunscreens may give a thin white film on the face that it just doesn’t look natural. On top of that, a lot of sunscreens feel sticky and it gets worse the moment you sweat. I haven’t found a lot of good sunscreens nowadays that won’t make you look too white and won’t feel very sticky.

 

coola rosilliance organic bb cream spf 30 review                    

So instead of sunscreens, I usually opt for BB creams. They not only give good coverage to blur the imperfections on the face, but they also feel lightweight, natural and has Spf. I’m a huge fan of BB Creams because they’re like this all-in-one product that you can use without a fuss. But not all BB creams are created equal, some may have very light coverage, while some may not have enough Spf. Yet there’s one BB Cream that I’ve fallen in love with. It’s the Coola Rosilliance Organic BB Cream with Spf 30. Coola not only have one of the best sunscreens but also their Rosilliance BB Cream is a very good multi-tasker.

 

coola rosilliance organic bb cream light medium

 

It has a very good coverage for a BB Cream, and it’s made of natural ingredients. It has validated rose stem cells and botanical stem cell actives that are great for anti-aging, plus Spf 30. The Rosilliance Organic BB Cream is also water resistant for 80 minutes. On my personal test, this BB cream remained water resistant even beyond 80 minutes, especially if there’s less humidity in the area. Basically, this cream stays on your skin for quite a long time. Now that’s a BB Cream.

It’s so ideal if you’re a person on the go and doesn’t have a lot of time do a complete makeup on the face, even more so applying a foundation. Also, my face didn’t have any untoward reaction with this cream, since it’s au-naturel.

 

coola rosilliance organic bb cream

 

The best thing about this BB cream is that it’s ideal for any skin type, whether oily, dry, combination or sensitive. It gives a very natural and luminous tint on the face while keeping it hydrated. I love it a lot because it makes my skin look healthy and glowy, and it can easily replace my medium-coverage foundation while still looking like I’m using one. You may even have to go easy on the contouring because this cream has very very fine shimmers that will definitely highlight the angles of your face. The texture is very lightweight and the rosy-herb scent is very pleasing. The coverage is light to medium but can be buildable.

coola rosilliance organic bb cream swatch review

 

With 1.5 oz for $52, you’ll get a lot of product in an easy to dispense bottle. Speaking of the bottle, the container is made of heavy glass and a sturdy pump, which I really prefer in most beauty products because it prevents any spillage.

coola organic bb cream swatches

If you’re like me who likes wearing lighter and more natural foundations and creams on the face while preferring time-saving products, then this Rosilliance Organic BB Cream by Coola will be beneficial for you. I’ve owned a lot of BB Creams, but there’s not a lot of BB Creams that can give you skincare benefits, very good Spf, hydrating, good coverage, lightweight and makes you look dewy and refreshed at the same time.

 

coola rosilliance organic bb cream swatch photo

 

I definitely can’t wait for summer!

 

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

 

Follow RAOS on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona

Hola Bon Dia!

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been to Barcelona several times. I’m no longer a stranger to the city since it’s one of my European connection and my third home. Every year I visit this city, yet every time I come here it’s always different. There’s always something new and interesting to see in Barcelona. In fact, it seems like this city never runs out of anything new. Oh and I did I mention that there’s always this excitement in the air whenever I come here. It must be sun, or the friendly faces, or it could be just the beauty of this place. But I truly think that it’s all of the above.

 

passeig de gracia Barcelona

                                 

I’ve been to a lot of tourist spots in Barcelona and they’re all breathtaking. Yet there’s one place that I always visit. Can you guess it? Yes, the title says it. Passeig de Gracia, or Paseo de Gracia in Spanish. Take note that Catalans have their own dialect apart from Spanish, but they can definitely understand Spanish as well without a problem. And a lot of people around Passeig de Gracia can speak and understand English perfectly. It’s a very touristic place obviously, and don’t worry, there’s always Starbucks nearby. So if you get lost, just locate the nearest unofficial US Embassy and sanctuary for those who are lost in translation, “Starbucks”. Hahaha!. So back to Paseo de Grace as what I like to call it. (P.S. I know more Spanish than Catalan, so don’t be surprised). It’s the ultimate shopping place in Barcelona. A lot of upscale brands and some local or even Europe-only brands. From Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel to Stradivarius and Zara, this is the place to be if you wanna shop hardcore. Me, I like to look through the windows and glass walls of these shops and literally drool! So what? they don’t know me anyway, LOL. This place is posh and expensive but if you’re non-European, well, you can always get a tax-free. So it kinda soothes the guilt a bit, if it helps, hehehe.

 

shopping passeig de gracia Barcelona

Starbucks passeo de gracia Barcelona
If you get lost, don’t worry, just look for Starbucks. The unofficial US embassy and sanctuary for those who are lost in translation. LOL.

 

Apart from being a shopping haven, Paseo de Grace is full of countless authentic Catalan, Spanish and European Restaurants. Catalans love seafoods, so if you’re a seafood lover like moi, this is the place to be. Of course, there’s always gonna be the everlasting and eternally muy delicioso Jamon Serrano or Pernil. But I really suggest that you try their Crema Catalana for dessert. Oh and don’t forget their Paellas too. The restaurants along Passeig de Gracia can be slightly more expensive because it caters to “tourists”. Although I was hearing a lot of raves about “El Nacional”, an impressive and well-restored building that’s beautifully-designed with lots of different restaurant inside that caters different kinds of foods, whether Italian, Spanish, etc. It’s also frequented by locals, local bloggers and fashionistas-alike for selfie and smizing at their retro-style bathrooms. But there are very good and slightly cheaper-priced restaurants if you’re willing to go a bit farther or away from Paseo de Grace, which aren’t really that far anyway.

 

Barcelona architecture passeig de gracia

passeo de gracia Barcelona

With all the shopping and restaurants that Passeo de Gracia has to offer, I’ve always marveled at the beautiful architecture of this place. It’s grand and majestic, it’s well-designed and well-built. In this long and beautiful street, you’ll see the work of the famous Catalan Architect Gaudi in some of the buildings. I still wonder how he could create those fantasy-like designs and structures on his buildings while having such amazing details.

 

streets passeo de gracia Barcelona

It’s never a boring day at Passeig de Gracia. There’s lots of friendly people, lots of shops, lots of very mind-blowing architectures, lots of sun, and lots of very scrumptious unforgettable foods. I wouldn’t mind chillin’ here all day and all the time. Oh I can’t wait to come back soon.

Barcelona passeig de gracia street

For places to visit and things to do in Barcelona, click HERE.

For the review of El Nacional, click HERE.

 

Adéu moltes gràcies a tots

 

L.

 

For more trips and adventures and makeups, follow me on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff