Hello you. A couple of weeks ago, I featured the Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipstick (0.05 oz: 26 USD) in one of my Insta Story when I happened to roam around inside Sephora. I’ve always wanted to try that lipstick especially after having a good reviewย of the Shiseido Modern Matte Powder (link HERE). If you’ve read that particular post before, then you’d know by now that I have a serious appreciation for Shiseido lip products and lip colors. While I haven’t tried them all, I do think that Shiseido’s lipsticks are the type that really needs to be in everyone’s holy grail list, despite being quite underrated here in the US.
Since being on my radar for a couple of months now, I was pretty sure that the VisionAiry Lipstick is going to be quite different from the Modern Matte Lipstick but all the while still be very interesting to try. I was also quite certain that the quality and lasting power of it will be just as good if not better than the Modern Matte, which is the type that you’d typically expect from Shiseido’s very good quality of lipsticks.
I remember losing one shade of my Modern Matte Powder Lipstick collection during one of my trips and I felt really bad about it, so I ended up replenishing the shade I lost and collected even a few more colors since then. Yep, once you find the right lipstick/lip color, it’s always a good practice to have a backup just in case it gets discontinued in the future. By the way, the Shiseido Modern Matte Lipstick I lost is the shade 506 Disrobed, it’s a beautiful perfect nude rose for light-medium skintone that looks really nice during the Spring and Summer. My other fave shade from this Shiseido lipstick line is the 508 Semi Nude.
The Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipstick has a very similar packaging to the Allure Best of Beauty Winner 2018 Modern Matte Powder Lipstick, only that it’s on the slimmer side, and it’s also not magnetic compared to the Modern Matte. It doesn’t have any scent and the shades are mostly full-coverage at just one swipe, although some of the lighter ones may need to be swiped a few times in order to get the coverage you want. Upon initial application, I find the lipstick to be extremely weightless, super light, and yes it does feel very airy. It’s basically like a very lightweight gel lipstick that feels like nothing on the lips. It’s an interesting lipstick to look at because it looks very soft and it melts easily on the lips right after a few swipes. For me, it feels too soft and too buttery once it comes in contact with my skin, however, this lipstick did not melt when I took it out in the sun. Its similar texture and feel remind me of the YSL Volupte Shine (reviewed HERE) but that’s not the only thing. I wasn’t quite sure what the finish of this lipstick is going to be. A lot of folks mentioned that it’s going to be satiny, but at first swipe, it actually looks quite glossy.
After 15-20 minutes, this lipstick sets into something completely different than what I thought it would be. It transforms into a satin matte lip color that looks more diffused, blotted, and soft-focused, kind of like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips (seen HERE) in that effect, which honestly looks really really nice. It does feel a bit sticky on the lips, the kind that will remind you of most matte liquid lipsticks and it does transfer quite a bit. But since it’s very pigmented, the color stays mostly on the lips and on me, it lasts about 4-6 hours without reapplication.
The following swatches below show the first few minutes right after the application, followed by several minutes that passed after application. You can see how the texture of this lipstick changed from being glossy to being matte.
First Few Minutes of Application
20 Minutes Later
There are several shades to choose from this weightless Shiseido lipstick line and I would love to get more of them in the future. When compared to the Modern Matte Powder lipsticks, I think I like them both. If you prefer a weightless lip color with the finish of a very pigmented liquid matte lipstick, then you might like the VisionAiry Gel Lipstick. For an overall high-quality and long-lasting matte lipstick, I highly recommend the Shiseido Modern Matte.
Ever since having tried and being impressed at the YTTP Superfood Cleanser, I felt like I needed to check out what other products this brand offers. It seems like Youth To The People (interesting name, huh?) is one of those brands that does clean skincare very very well and is also very innovative at it. Therefore, I decided that the best way to get a first impression of some of their bestsellers is to try their limited edition The Youth Minis Kit (48 USD).
This kit contains five of YTTP’s favorites/bestsellers, and they are made with the concept of being vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free and overall made of clean ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, these products are mostly based on our superfoods, so they’re great for all skin types. Also, the minis in this kit come in clear glass packagings that are recyclable and I love their minimalistic/simplistic design.
Here now are my thoughts about these products.Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser: This cleanser is the first I’ve tried from YTTP. I’ve got several samples of this a couple of months ago and had enjoyed it so much. It’s one of those cleansers that you know you’re going to keep as soon as you first lather it on your face. One of my first impressions of it was the fact that it smells soooo good, so clean, and it just feels so nice. It’s got a good blend of kale and spinach that smells vegan and fresh. It’s so lightweight and it foams well, so it feels overall clean on the skin. It won’t strip any of the natural oil on the face, so no worries about being very drying at all. My oily-prone skin loves this and I’m sure anybody can use this. I think this cleanser should be a keeper.
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil: This oil also smells divine. Like fresh sweet berries you just can’t get enough of. It isn’t sticky and it doesn’t feel heavy on the face. It actually feels more like a dry oil and just a few drops of this can give you that instant glow from within. Also, this doesn’t irritate my skin and I love to apply this either at night or in the morning to lock in skin moisture.
Superfood Hyaluronic Acid (Air-Whip) Moisturizer: This has a nice, fresh, light scent that is quite similar to the YTTP Superfood Cleanser. This moisturizer may be light but it packs on moisture. My skin absorbs this easily and it keeps it moisturized all throughout the day. I never had any irritation issue with this so far, like some reviewers mentioned. I do think that this is a very nice option as an everyday face moisturizer.
Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream: With Ashwagandha and Reishi as some of its ingredients, this cream is meant to calm and soothe sensitive or irritated skin, while delivering intense moisture at the same time. Upon my first impression, I did notice that this cream does not have any scent and it does feel very creamy on the skin. I feel like I could also use this cream everyday or I could use this whenever my skin suffers a breakout or any irritation.
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask:ย This is probably my second or could be third (Glow Oil) favorite product from YTTP. This mask contains antioxidants and Vitamin C as some of its main ingredients and it smells really really good, apart from being so creamy and moisturizing. This coats the skin and makes it feel smooth, well-hydrated, and plump. This works best if used overnight and I must tell you, this yellow-toned moisture-rich cream is so addicting to use.
Overall, I feel like I could switch most of my favorite skincare products to this line. YTTP really makes clean skincare products that work great for all skin types, and since clean skincare seems to be the thing nowadays (which is really what we should all be going for hopefully), I believe you guys should really try something from this brand, if you haven’t already.
Are you into clean skincare as well?
This Youth to the People Minis Kit is currently available at Sephora
Hi guys! A couple of months ago, I did a review of my Spring Favorites in beauty and skincare. I remember mentioning that I will be posting my Summer faves soon but I’ve gotten so busy lately that I almost forgot to post this. Well, since we’re still really in the last few days of Summer until Fall starts at the end of this month, let’s take a look at the beauty, skincare, haircare, and other stuff I’m currently loving this season.ย
(All products/items mentioned in this post and are seen in the following photos are all linked down below)
SKINCARE
Elemis Superfood Facial Wash (5 oz: 25 USD) – This is a lightweight, green, gel-like, and very gentle face cleanser that doesn’t strip the face of its natural oil. It’s ideal for sensitive to normal skin and can be used every day. The smell is quite earthy and very organic.
Lancome Energie de Vie Water-Infused Cream (1.7 oz: 57 USD) – I got this as a sample and it feels really light on the skin. It’s also very softening and it’s one of the best water creams I’ve tried out there. I Highly recommend this cream especially for those with sensitive, normal or oily skin.
Caudalie Divine Oil (3.3 oz: 49 USD) – This smells nice and luxe, with a hint of something green and fresh. This oil is not only perfect for the body, but it’s also great for the face and hair. It’s non-sticky and it sets into the skin well. You can read more about my favorite dry body oils HERE.
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (mini: 0.84 oz: 22 USD, 1.68 oz: 38 USD, 3.37 oz: 62 USD) – This is going to be my permanent staple when it comes to facial moisturizers. I just love how smooth and soothing this feels on my skin, it’s perfect for my oily-prone skin type because it’s very lightweight and it retains my skin’s natural moisture. The scent also keeps me coming back to this. A little bit is only what you’ll need since this gel feels extremely creamy, plus it doesn’t irritate the skin.
Eve Lom Cleanser (0.7 oz: 24 USD, 3.4 oz: 80 USD, 6.8 oz: 135 USD) – I was a bit disappointed with this cleanser at first because not only was the smell too strong, like too sour and a bit too rancid for me (think vinegar) but also this cleanser feels too thick, too creamy and too oily for my already somewhat oily skin. At first, I thought this wouldn’t work on my skin but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise because this saves me a lot of time especially when I’m tired after a busy day and a face full of makeup. This cleanser also acts as a solid makeup remover and it removes all kinds of makeup while it cleanses the face gently. It does contain mineral oil and lanolin but it did not cause me any breakouts. This also comes with a free muslin cloth for a more thorough cleansing, but I just really use my fingers with this cleanser. I don’t think you need a large container for this because I have the mini size and it’s lasting me a really long time. You only need a little bit of this to work on the skin.
Olehenriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub (3 oz: 28 USD) – This is such a gritty-textured and exfoliating cleanser that smells nice and it makes the skin really smooth. This can be a strong exfoliator, so I only use this once a week. It makes my face really smooth and it feels flawless. It’s perfect to purify the pores and it gets rid of rough skin patches. It also preps the skin for any type of serum, toner, or skincare.ย
Nuface Toning Device (325 USD) – Got this from the last Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I don’t have wrinkles yet but I bought this for toning purposes. It’s only been a month since I started using this and I really really love it. It tones my upper eye area, my chin, jaw, and it helps to emphasize my cheekbones. I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort when I first started using this. In fact, I didn’t really feel anything at all, LOL, but my face looks like it’s been working out on its own, lol again. My cheekbones look more emphasized and my bone structure seems to show a bit more. I also look more awake and vibrant with this. I will review this further in the following posts to come.ย
BEAUTY
My foundations of choice this season have to be lightweight, easy to use, and natural-looking just because it’s Summer. So, no thick makeup look for me this season.
Nars PureRadiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Groenland (1.9 oz: 45 USD) – As I mentioned, I didn’t feel like wearing too much makeup this Summer with all the heat and humidity. I wanted to look more carefree and natural, so I opted for this classic Nars favorite and it gives me enough coverage for a nice and easy, lightweight, fuss-free Summer look
I use three face primers this season and it’s a collection of no added SPF and one that has an SPF depending on the occasion and the situation.
Olehenriksen Banana Bright Face Primer (1 oz: 36 USD) – A Vitamin C and E primer that smells just like the Banana Bright Eye Cream. This feels more like a skincare and primer-in-one. What I love about this is that it blurs the pores in an easy, non-sticky, lightweight manner and it smells really nice. This is a good creamy primer to use in the Summer or be it at any season.
Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder in shade #1 (0.3 oz: $38) – I bought this to try and see if it’s a good alternative to the Armani Neo Nude which I love (reviewed HERE). This one feels and looks baked with a silky feel. It’s not as loose and powdery as the Neo Nude but it’s still finely-milled. This does set the foundation well and it gives a nice radiant soft-focus finish. It looks naturally glowy and it’s the next best thing to the Armani Neo Nude.
YSL Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen in shade #3 Luminous Peach (1 oz: 35 USD) – I use this for daily touch-ups especially around the undereye area and I can just blend this using my finger. This feels very creamy, mess-free, quick, and clean to use. It won’t hide very dark blemishes because of its sheer coverage, but this does help to brighten the undereyes very well and it’s creamy, so it doesn’t cake.
There are two more eyeliners I’m loving this season apart from the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen I reviewed at the beginning of this Spring. I like the ones that are micro-tip or has very fine tip/lines for a more natural daily look. Also, fine eyeliners are great for small eyes and for those that don’t have a lot of lid space.
Sephora Collection Fine Line Felt Tip Eyeliner (0.017 oz: 14 USD) – This doesn’t smudge and it has a fine yet stiff felt tip. I would say that this is the next best thing to the Stila eyeliner above, although this is not as thin as Stila’s, but still, this gets the job done and it can apply an accurate line on the lid. It’s very thin enough and it’s perfect for tightlining, plus the felt tip feels pretty solid.
Here’s a couple of lipsticks and lip colors I’m loving this season and they’re mostly matte.ย
Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Take Me Home and Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: 27 USD) – These are beautiful shades to rock this season, with the Dolce Vita being a bright dusty rose tone, and the Take Me Home shade as a terracotta lip color. I will swatch these when I review my favorite shades of the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencils soon, so, stay tuned for that.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Granite (0.003 oz: 21 USD) – I recently added the granite shade to my collection of this cult-favorite brow product. I have been using varying tones of brown for my brows a lot and though they fit me well, this time, I wanted to try something more dramatic and darker, so I picked the granite color which is a good match for my brunette hair.
Anastasia Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette (42 USD) – I recently started using this more because of the soft natural look that I can get with this palette. I love the brown tones of this especially the matte ones and the shades are really pigmented. You can see the swatches of this palette HERE.
Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette in Lightgasm (75 USD) – See the swatches HERE. I can understand why some people don’t like this because this can be so tricky to pull off especially with the Lightgasm palette. It isn’t a soft powdery type and can be hard to blend. It’s also not that pigmented and it only tends to show to those with fair to light skintone. For my light-medium skintone, I have to use a stiff brush and dab it several times on the palette before this could give off some color on my skin.
La Mer Cushion The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 (120 USD) – Apart from being quick, easy, lightweight, and mess-free to use, this cushion feels like a second skin and it gives a natural glassy glow. It also smells nice and I love that this comes with a nice SPF and a free refill. This sets on the skin well and it doesn’t slide. See my favorite cushion foundations HERE.
Beautyblender Blender Defender Protective Case (12 USD) – This where I keep my beautyblender whenever I travel. This case can fit two dry or damp beautyblenders and it has a breathable design that allows a damp sponge to dry while inside. This is very flexible so you don’t have to worry about this shattering at all.
HAIRCARE
Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo (8 oz: 24 USD, 33.8 oz: 58 USD) – This is my latest fave shampoo from Briogeo. I like this even better than the Don’t Despair, Repair line, I love the nice light citrus/orange, ginger, coconut, and grapefruit scent. This shampoo is light on the hair and it cleanses well without adding residue. It also volumizes and this makes my hair bouncy. See my other Briogeo haircare faves HERE.
Ouai Leave-In Conditioner (4.7 oz: 26 USD) – This works to tame my frizz and a little bit of this goes a long way. I love its musky lemon rose scent. My hair feels really nice and soft with this, and since this is also a thermal protector, I use this a lot together with my Harry Josh Hair Dryer. See my other Ouai haircare faves HERE.
Swissco Hair Comb – Found this handmade wide-tooth comb at Amazon for a very cheap price and it’s very flat, so it can fit anywhere on any purse or satchel. It works great as a detangler for my strands.
SUNCARE
There are two Clarins products I’m loving for body suncare as well as for the face.
Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 (5 oz: 36 USD) – This is still one of my sunscreen of choice this Summer because this smells nice and very lightweight since this is a dry body oil with an added SPF. I like that this sets on my skin without the greasy feel that most sunscreens have. I’ve lost count of how many bottles of this I’ve consumed, all I know is I’ve been keeping some backups of this in my vanity.
Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection SPF 50 (1.7 oz: 43 USD) – I’m finishing this up and it’s a pity that this is getting more and more difficult to find because this is really nice and light on the face. This doesn’t irritate my skin and it doesn’t leave an annoying white cast. This works very well in protecting my skin from getting sunburned. See my favorite body and face sunscreens HERE
Supergoop Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (3.4 oz: 19 USD) – I’m also finishing this up, and this is my sunscreen of choice for when I’m on the go. I like this a lot because it’s fast and easy to use. Its whipped texture gives a lightweight non-sticky feel and it’s not messy to use. This has no scent and it spreads evenly on the skin without leaving any white cast.
Isdin Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50 (1.6 oz: 39.99 USD) – This is quite similar to the Clarins UV Face Sunscreen above and this is currently in my purse. I love its tiny size and I love that this doesn’t sting the eyes. It feels very fluid and light on the skin and it has a nice SPF level. It’s a pity that this is still very limited here in the US. This was given to me by a relative from Europe.
These are all the products I’ve been loving this Summer and will still be loving all throughout the beginning of Fall. Stay tuned for my Fall favorites soon.
What are the beauty, skincare, and haircare products you’re currently loving season?
