Reviews and Other Stuff

New Skincare and Beauty Minis Review

June 22, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi everybody! There’s been a lot of skincare goodies released recently by several different brands. Most of them are really exciting and really promising. A couple of them have been popping out of Insta, and from what I’ve seen, there’s a lot of raves and buzz about the latest products from Milk Makeup, Laniege, Sulwhasoo, and Supergoop, among other things. Luckily, I got a hold of these latest goodies in mini sizes, and I also got a few beauty minis to review in this post. Do take note though, that since these are in mini sizes, I can only provide a review of my first impression of these products. It’d be interesting to find out how good these beauties will work on my skin with time, and that would mean testing them in full regular sizes. You will know in this review which product warrants a full-size. So, keep on reading.

Givenchy Mini Magic Lip Duo Set (2x: 18 USD) – This mini set is so cute and inside there are two mini moisturizing lipsticks in shades Perfect Pink & Noir Révélateur. Perfect Pink in natural sheer pink and is perfect for those with fair to light skin tone. Noir Révélateur is a sheer to deep berry that is perfect for those with light/medium to medium/deep skin tones. These lipsticks adapt to the lips’ pH level, so, they sort of complement and enhance your lip’s natural color. They are definitely both on the sheer side and they are very hydrating like a lip balm. They’re somewhat similar to the Dior Lip Glow.

Milk Makeup Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift Set

Got this little set from Sephora during my birthday, and I really find this set to be very useful because this contains three of my top picks from Milk Makeup.

Hydro Grip Primer (mini/0.33 oz – 1.52 oz: 15 – 30 USD) – This face primer is really one of the best out there. The feel of this is gripping, lightweight, and this really makes the foundation adhere to the skin. I do have this primer in full-size and I really really like that this doesn’t have that silicone feel.

Kush High Volume Mascara (mini/0.13 oz – 0.34 oz: 12 – 24 USD) – I love the shape and look of this mascara because this has dense heart-shaped bristles that are meant for delivering high impact dramatic lashes. This also has hemp-derived cannabis seed oil that moisturizes the lashes for long wear. The color of this is very black and this really fans out and curls the lashes even without using a lash curler. I find that this sets on the lashes easily and this hasn’t clumped nor smudged on me even during these highly humid temps.

Lip + Cheek in Werk (mini/0.21 oz – 1 oz: 15 – 28 USD) – This creamy lip and blush color reminded me of Nars The Multiple or the Bite Beauty Multistick. This is a multitasking product that can work to add color not only on the lips and cheeks but on the lids as well, to achieve that beautiful monochromatic look. I find this to be so easy to blend, and this feels creamy and hydrating. The overall finish of this is satin and the shade dusty rose seems a little too sheer on my light-medium skin tone, but the deeper tones work really well on my skin.

Skincare/Primers/SPF

Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask (3.4 oz: 45 USD) – There is no question that this mask is full of very good hydrating and nourishing ingredients, however, I do not like the feel of this at all. This clumps and breaks upon application, making this very hard to adhere to the skin, and this makes me look weird after managing to coat this on my face. This turns my skin into something of a yellow-green or yellow-red-orange-green tone (lol), which really makes me look like a half-banana half-avocado hybrid, or better yet, a yellowing cactus, ha! So, definitely not a fan of this mask.

Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Body Cream (mini/2.5 – 8.1 oz: 20 – 45 USD) – This makes me yearn for a tropical vacay amidst all this quarantine lifestyle going on nowadays. I love the amazing blend of coconut sugar, coconut oil, and Cupuaçu Butter in this wonderful nostalgic cream. This really feels hydrating and not heavy on the skin, and I really love the cute packaging as well.

Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer (mini/0.53 oz: 1.7 oz – 19 – 38 USD) – I’m really amazed by the texture of this moisturizer, which feels so rich and so thick yet so light on the skin. This has different kinds of vegan milk ingredients, like fig milk, oat milk, and argan milk, etc. To me, this feels non-greasy even though the feel is very rich and very milky. My skin absorbs this easily and I never had any breakout issue with this. I also think that this will work very well for those with dry skin and even for those with sensitive skin types.

Laneige Hypoallergenic Cica Sleeping Mask (34 USD) – If you like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair cream, then you’re going to like this new Cica Mask from Laneige. The feel of this very somewhat gel-like yet very creamy and very cushiony. I do love the feeling of this cream/mask on my hands, and on my skin, this feels so moisturizing and so light. But what I really love about this is the fact that just like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair, this helps to soothe the redness and irritation on the face. This has fermented forest yeast extract and is supposed to be much better than the usual Cica products. I don’t only use this as a sleeping mask, I also use this as a daily moisturizer, which works really well for my skin. I definitely recommend that you get this in full-size.

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream (2.02 oz: 240 USD) – This very very luxurious K-beauty cream has a very strong ginseng scent. Also blended with retinol, this cream has anti-aging properties and is meant to enhance moisture. I find this to be very lightweight but has a bit of an oily feel, which really doesn’t bother my skin. This actually makes my skin look and feel smooth given the short amount of time that I’ve used the product. However, due to the price, I’m not quite sure if this is worth having in its regular size. The packaging is really really cute though.

Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 (1.7 oz: 36 USD) – Finally! I have been waiting for a glowy shimmery sunscreen like this. I’ve seen this item popping out of Instagramy lately and there’s a reason why. This sunscreen will be your ultimate Summer vibe because you can wear this alone for that natural and dewy sun-protected look, or you can use this as a primer to enhance the glow of your makeup. This has fine microshimmers and a nice SPF level enough to protect the skin and make it look healthy this warm season. Kinda like you quarantined yourself in a nice tropical island, with all that sun, and with all that glow. Hmmm, imagine that :-).

Dr. Jart+ V7 Priming Moisturizer (1.69 oz: 48 USD) – Not quite a fan of this primer+moisturizer hybrid. I like the idea of it, but the feel and the scent are just off. This feels like a silicone primer and the scent is too strong and too weird. Applying this is not an amazing experience. The product sits on top of the face and my skin doesn’t feel moisturized at all.

Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer (1 oz: 39 USD) – This may be marketed as a face primer just like most of Smashbox’s popular primer products, but with added Vitamins, like Vitamins B, C, and E. However, this feels more like a moisturizer/primer hybrid than the Dr. Jart+ product above. To me, this feels really creamy and nice on the skin, and my foundation stays on with this. I also like the nice orange scent. So, I definitely recommend that you get this in full-size.

Long story short, I really like and recommend the Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Body Cream, the Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer, the Laneige Hypoallergenic Cica Sleeping Mask, the Supergoop! Glowscreen, the Smashbox Vitamin Glow Primer, and the Milk Makeup products mentioned in this post. They are worth having in full-sizes.

Have you tried any of these yet?

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Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo, Conditioner, Bond Smoother & Bonding Oil Review

June 16, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

It has been a few years since I reviewed the original Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 (reviewed HERE). It was the product that started it all. Since then, Olaplex has released a couple of exciting hair care products that are meant to be restorative on the hair. As for me, I’m a loyal fan of the Hair Perfector and I use it regularly. It does help to keep my hair strands strong and less prone to breakage. However, I did wonder if I could fortify my strands further with the other products that Olaplex now has. So here’s my experience with their shampoo, conditioner, styling creme, and hair oil.

No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo (mini/3.3 – 8.5 oz: 14 – 28 USD) – I’m so glad that Olaplex released this. I’ve been wondering how their shampoo will be like, prior to them releasing this, and I think they’ve done a really good job with this product. I totally love the nice refreshing citrus/orange scent of this and I also love that this shampoo has a good weight to it. Not too watery, not too thick, and this doesn’t leave the hair too dry that it will feel stripped, nor does this leave the hair too heavy that it won’t have any volume. This is a shampoo for any hair type and is safe for hair that is color-treated. Also, this is made of clean ingredients.

No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (mini/3.3 – 8.5 oz: 14 – 28 USD) – Just like the Bond Maintenance Shampoo, the fresh citrus/orange scent of this is totally a sensorial experience. I also love the consistency of this conditioner, which is not too thin and not too thick. Although I still only put a small amount of this on my hair, I still think that this conditioner is not the type that weighs the hair down. Most importantly, I really that this tames the frizzies and this makes the hair look shiny and healthy. On top of that, this conditioner is for all hair types and is color-safe.

No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme (3.3 oz: 28 USD) – With just the size of the mini version of the shampoo and conditioner above, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of this leave-in styling creme until I’ve actually applied it on my hair. Like the products above, this has a very strong citrus/orange scent which I love and the texture of this is so thick. You only have to apply a pea size of this on the hair, or else your hair will look heavy and oily. Right after application, I felt my hair strands feeling a bit dry, I think because this a bit of alcohol in it, but after a few hours, my hair felt soft, looks totally well-tamed, healthy, shiny, and totally frizz-free even after walking outside with high humidity.

This product is Sulfate-free, Paraben-free, and cruelty-free, among other things. This also works for any hair type and can be used prior to blow-drying.

No. 7 Bonding Oil (1 oz: 28 USD) – What a cute hair care product this is, and this also smells really really good like the Olaplex products above, The orange/citrus scent of this is not too strong and not artificial. I also like that this is packaged in a sleek clear acrylic container. This may feel and look very small, but the overall design and aesthetic of this product are simply very stunning and very beautiful, which makes this a good decor in the vanity area as well.

Even though this may be small for its price, you only need a few drops of this oil to coat your hair and this doesn’t feel sticky nor does this add any weight to the hair. I actually find this to be ultra-lightweight, like the dry oil type, and per Olaplex, this protects the hair for up to 450°F/ 230°C. For me, this also tames the frizz, adds shine, and this provides nourishment. Additionally, this is also perfect for any hair type and is vegan, cruelty-free, and also gluten-free.

I really like Olaplex’s concept of restoring the hair’s natural vitality, which can be achieved by re-linking the broken bonds, and by adding extra nourishment on the strands. I also love that their hair care products can be used by any hair type, texture, or even if you’ve had hair treatments done. Our hair goes through a lot of stresses in life every day, which can manifest in split ends, frizzies, or even dryness and oiliness. It’s good to have some hair care products like these from Olaplex. I, personally, have noticed that my hair strands are slowly becoming thicker, stronger, and less prone to breakage.

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and the rest of Olaplex products

Home Nail Care Routine

June 11, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

The world might be reopening right now, yet a lot of us are still in quarantine mode and are practicing social distancing because we aren’t totally out of the woods yet. You know what they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, right? From where I’m at, a lot of stores and services are still close. Getting a haircut or a mani-pedi is still quite a challenge. Speaking of nail care, I haven’t been worried about it because I have been doing my nails for a very long time. I find the joy of applying nail colors to be somewhat of a time to disconnect and reflect, even though I’m not much of a fan of the scent of these products.

In this post, I will be sharing with you how I do my manicure at home, and if you have tips on how to do home nail care, please do so in the comment section below.

Nail Cleaning/Prep

First things first, I wipe off old nail polish using a textured cotton square. I like the ones from CVS. For the nail polish remover, I’m a big fan of the Zoya Remove Plus because I can pretty much tolerate its scent. It also removes nail polish very easily, it doesn’t dry the nails, and I really like its easy to dispense pump packaging.

I tend to cut my nails in a squoval shape. That is, a hybrid between square and oval. To do this, I cut my nails using a toenail clipper/cutter. I like this particular cutter because it is wide and makes for a square cut on the nails. Then, I apply a cuticle remover using the one from Sally Hansen. I love this product a lot because it softens the cuticles within seconds, which makes it easy for the cuticle pusher and nipper to do their job. After that, I file my nails, especially the edges, to achieve that sort of oval trim.

For the next part, I brush my nails lightly with a wooden nail brush to dust off any loose cuticles and to have a smoother nail surface. I then apply the OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener in Original Formula and let it set for 3 minutes. Without this amazing base coat, my nails would go brittle and would chip easily after a few days of manicure. There are other types of Nail Envy Strengthener that OPI released nowadays, but the one in the Original Formula is my most fave.

Nail Coloring

After letting the base coat set for a few minutes, I then proceed to apply the nail color. Tip: In order to achieve a smooth nail color application, make sure that the nail color brush is parallel to the nail bed. In this post, and lately, I have been obsessed with the new Spring-released Chanel Le Vernis in Daydream. This color is a surprise love for me, and a great neutral nude nail color option for those can’t pull off the shade “Particulière”.

I let the nail color set for about 5 minutes, and then I apply a top coat. Depending on the type of nail color I use (gel vs regular), it’s always a good practice to use an appropriate top coat that matches each type. Since the new Chanel Le Vernis in Daydream is a gel formula, I use a matching gel top coat from Seche Vite (the one in blue bottle). I also usually use the Chanel Le Gel Coat, but I ran out of it. The Seche Vite one isn’t the most perfect, because it tends to peel after a week or so, but it really dries fast and it sets your nail polish in seconds, which is amazing.

To clean up mistakes or excess nail colors that had spread and stained the skin, I just use a cotton tip dipped in nail polish remover. After that, I let my nails set for another 5 minutes and I try not to touch or do anything.

And there you go! My nails are set for two weeks. The whole process can take about 20 minutes, more or less, depending on how elaborate you want your nails to be prepped, or how fast you can apply your nail polish.

To maintain the health of my nails and cuticles, I’ve been using the OPI Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil, which is now called OPI Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil To Go.

Lastly, don’t forget to take a #Nailfie 🙂

Take care my darlings! What’s on your nails today?

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