Reviews and Other Stuff

Chanel Spring-Summer 2020 Beauty Favorites

February 21, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

As we step closer and closer to Spring, there are some exciting beauty launches that are popping up lately. One of the latest releases is the Spring/Summer 2020 Beauty by Chanel. They’ve been releasing some exciting new beauty goodies and here are my top picks.

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in 354 Warm Memories – I was wavering between this and the Elemental quad, but this particular eyeshadow compact really stole my heart. Something about this fleshy pink, nude-ish, beige monotone quad with a coral gold shade makes me want to stare at it over and over again. I love just how natural the shade looks on my skin and three of the shade are matte, which works really well on my lid. Also, the coral gold shade is microshimmery, so it’s not over the top. This will definitely get a lot of wear during the Spring and Summer.

Illuminating Powder in Éclat Du Désert – What a beautiful highlighter this is! I am actually stunned at the beauty of this and even more so when I swatched this on my skin. This feels so buttery soft and smooth, and it really highlights the high points of the face in a naturally flattering way. I love how you can just dab a bit of this on the cheekbones, temples, nose, chin, and this gives a soft glow. You can also layer this and you can get a blinding look, but I don’t think you can use this as a finishing powder because this seems a bit too glowy for that.

Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme in 132 Endless – This lip color has a very interesting shade. This looks like a red-orange shade with a bricklike tone, but may also have a very slight hint of rosy pink in it. On my lips, the rose pink tone shows a bit, but at first glance, this looks like a deep red with a bit of orange. I do think that this shade varies a lot depending on your natural lip color, and since this shade looks deep, you can definitely pull this off not only during Spring/Summer but during Fall and Winter as well. On the other hand, the pigment and lasting power of this are outstanding because this is a Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme lipstick, which is a high-performing matte lipstick from Chanel. I do think that this color is a deeper version of Pat McGrath’s Beautiful Stranger MatteTrance Lipstick, which I absolutely love. Anyways, see some other shades of the Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme lipsticks here.

Le Vernis in Mirage – I also wanted to try the shade Daydream but I wasn’t sure if it’s going to work on my skintone. This shade is absolutely beautiful and it’s perfect for any season, however, this looks very similar to Smith & Cult’s “A Short Reprise” nail color, so, if you already have that, then you can probably skip this one. I feel like this type of shade is going to be the new nude especially for those who are reluctant to use nude nail colors in the Summer, since those may make the fingers/hands look too washed-out especially if you have a light-medium, medium, or deep complexion.

Are you excited about this latest collection? What are the beauty and skincare products you’re looking forward to this coming Spring/Summer?

These Chanel Spring-Summer 2020 Beauty Collection is currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Chanel.com

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Palo Alto, California

February 18, 2020 / TRAVELS & PLACES / 0 comments

Every year or so, I get a chance to visit Palo Alto. It is absolutely one of the most exciting trips I look forward to out of all the trips I planned because it puts me in a California dreamin’ mood. It’s nice to see palms, pines, and lots of sun again.

On this trip, I stayed at the historic “The Cardinal Hotel”. It is probably the oldest if not one of the oldest hotels in Palo Alto, California. It has a charming old-world vibe with a quaint lobby and a vintage elevator. Entering this hotel will give you a glimpse of what it’s like during the old Palo Alto times. Just outside the hotel, there are lots of restaurants and shops to choose from. It’s what I really love about California, the varieties of things to see, the shops to explore, and the people from all walks of life, busy crossing the streets, just going about their daily lives, not to mention the fresh air in a very sunny yet slightly chilly early Fall. Yes, the Fall in California can still feel like Summer at most times.

Just around The Cardinal Hotel is Bistro Maxine where they have such delicious crepes and hot chocolates. I highly recommend that you try any of their breakfast specials because they’re all so good.

Whenever I’m in Palo Alto, I always make sure to visit the Stanford Shopping Center. This is one of my most favorite places to shop. I just love the whole laid-back vibe of this outdoor mall, and the decor is really beautiful. I could spend the whole day in this mall without getting bored just because some of my favorite shops are here. I love seeing Aesop’s unique store and Madewell has some really interesting styles that I could not find at my local Madewell store. The same is true for Sephora where here they have such a wonderful collection of Pat McGrath products. Also, the Anthropologie store in this mall is very fun to explore. If luxury is your thing, you will find several high-end brands here, and Neiman+Nordy are just around the corner.

A visit to Palo Alto is not complete without a visit to “The Farm” a.k.a Stanford University. As to why it’s called The Farm? just ask google, lol. I love the look of this school. It has a very relaxed unassuming architecture that gives you a sense of prestige nevertheless. Whenever I enter this campus, I think of the great minds that have been here, and also of the minds of the ones who are about to change the world.

Getting to Stanford University is a whole lotta walking especially if you came from shopping at the Stanford Shopping Center. However, the long walk is worth it because you get to stroll along and enjoy the view of the very scenic Palm Drive, which will remind you that life indeed, can be a peach. 🙂

Walking inside and around campus is like walking through a bunch of gardens, vintage corridors, and passing through bicycles after bicycles. Students bike a lot here because the campus is very vast. I would not have been able to survive walking around here if it wasn’t for my comfy APL sneakers that didn’t need breaking in and can withstand hours of walking in different terrains. The nice thing about this campus is that there are plenty of seats to relax upon and chill.

I concluded the end of my trip to Palo Alto with a nice dinner at my favorite spot along University Avenue which serves delicious Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Food. The restaurant is called Gyros Gyros and I highly recommend this place, but you have to come here with an empty stomach. 🙂

Have you been to Palo Alto before? What are the favorite spots you like to visit in California?

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The Briogeo Scalp Revival Experience

February 12, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello there! Suffering from hair and scalp issues this Winter? This is going to be an exciting review because I teamed up with Briogeo to feature their full Scalp Revival Line. During this cold and dry season, our hair and scalp can suffer a lot. They can go awry due to fluctuating temps and unpredictable weather conditions. Which means they could overreact in different ways. For example, our scalp may get very dry, flaky, and itchy, while our hair could get very oily and sticky, sending our sebaceous glands in overwork mode.

Briogeo, a brand known for its clean natural haircare and scalp care, has some products to address the hair and scalp issues I mentioned above. Let’s take a look at them below.

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo (8 oz: 42 USD) – This charcoal and coconut exfoliating shampoo is one-of-a-kind. First of all, I love the amazing peppermint scent of this that awakens my senses every time I use this on my hair. Second, this is a charcoal shampoo that detoxifies and removes excess oil from the hair without making the strands dry because this has coconut oil in it. Third, this is micro-exfoliating, which means this isn’t very gritty on the strands and on the scalp, and that helps to prevent extra dryness. This shampoo is not just a shampoo, this is also a treatment to restore the health of hair by removing product buildup, delivering hydration, and soothing the scalp. I find that this works really well in combination with the Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager below in order to remove scalp flakiness and restore normal hair and scalp health. This product is made of clean ingredients and is an Allure Best of Beauty winner.

Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager (16 USD) – This massager is great for any hair type and this works really well for my straight hair without pulling any strands. This can be used on dry scalp or wet scalp and this helps to increase circulation on the roots, thus, making the entire scalp and hair more healthy in the long run. On top of that, the soft spiky rubber tips feel really relaxing on the head. I find that this scalp massager can be used with just about any haircare products, but this works really well in partner with Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo for that complete relaxing hair and scalp treatment experience. Tip: When using this, try not to make large circular massage motions as you could tangle your hair. Just massage with medium pressure using semi-circular strokes especially if you have long hair.

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment (1 oz: 32 USD) – This vegan, cruelty-free, silicon-free scalp oil treatment is another awarded product from Briogeo which aims to sooth dry itchy flaky and irritated scalp by delivering hydration and restoring normal scalp health. The ingredients herein are tea tree oil, peppermint/spearmint oil, witch hazel, aloe, and biotin among other things. This aims to soothe irritated dry scalp, normalize its oil production, and promote healthy hair follicles. This scalp treatment is great for all hair types and the scent is not overwhelming. I use this by parting my damp hair in sections and adding a few drops of this treatment to my scalp and roots. I noticed a slight tingling sensation at first, followed by a slight cooling effect on my scalp. Then I massage (using my fingers or the Briogeo scalp massager above) my scalp with this treatment (do not rinse) and so far, I haven’t noticed any flakiness or dryness on my roots at all. Also, this didn’t weigh my hair down, and even though this is an oil treatment, this doesn’t feel very oily at all, and my hair didn’t look greasy as well, not even the following day.

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo (1.7 oz: 24 USD) – This non-aerosolized dry shampoo is very interesting to use and has a very pleasing scent. I love that this has charcoal, clay, tapioca, and rice starch that absorb excess oil and draw out impurities from the roots, thus, making the hair look more refreshed and clean. This also has witch hazel to soothe the scalp and biotin to promote healthy hair follicles. To use this, just shake the bottle first, then twist the cap to open. Aim it at least 5 inches away from your roots, and gently squeeze it to release the powder. Try not to squeeze too fast and too soon or else this product will release too much powder and smoke. I usually let this dry shampoo sit on my roots for about a minute or two before slightly massaging and brushing my hair until the powdery residue is gone. At first, this dry shampoo may look like this will leave a whitish residue on the hair, but once you let this settle and massage this on the roots, then the residue will go away easily. I love the slight lifting effect that this gives on my roots and the way this makes my hair look clean. This product is also made of clean ingredients and is great for all hair types.

These Briogeo Scalp Revival products really deliver to what they’re supposed to. I love all the products featured in this review and I think they will help in soothing any dry, flaky, and irritated scalp this season. I also love that these products not only try to repair hair and scalp issues, these also promote, restore, and maintain our optimal hair and scalp health.

Do you have any hair/scalp issues this season? What are your current remedies? Have you tried any of these Briogeo Scalp Revival products before?

*Lots of thanks to Briogeo for providing me these products.

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