Reviews and Other Stuff

Sephora Beauty Insider Spring Bonus 2019 Wishlist + Recs

May 2, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

The Sephora Beauty Insider Event is still ongoing and I would like to share my wishlist and recommendations for this Spring 2019 sale. For those who are Rouge Members, you’ll get 20% OFF which already started last April 26 and will last ’till May 6th. VIB Members will get 15% OFF starting today May 2nd until May 6th. BI Members will also get 10%OFF today until the 6th of May. The sale is valid both in-store and online purchases with the code HEYROUGE (Rouge Members), HEY VIB (VIB), or HEYINSIDER (Insider Members).

For this season’s sale, I couldn’t make up my mind completely as to which products I’m interested in. I know I have a folder for my beauty and skincare wishlist but honestly, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been quite ready for this sale. Also, I feel like I still need some time to decide which products I really want. Anyhow, I eventually picked up some items from my wishlist folder and I’m sharing them with you guys today. I’m also recommending you some products that I love and have been loving lately in my recs list below. If any product/products will come to my mind before this sale is over, I will update this list and will keep you guys posted.

Here now are some of the items on my wishlist.

1. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation (1 oz: $47) – I know I’ve used this foundation before and really loved it, but I kinda got distracted with my other foundations lately that I’ve forgotten how good this product is. So, when I got a sample of this a few weeks ago, I then realized that this is such an amazing foundation to have. However, I still don’t quite know which shade of this truly matches my skintone, so I will have to try this in-store.

2. Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser (2 oz: $10, 8 oz: $36, 16 oz: $54) – I already tried a sample of this lately and I really loved it. It’s got a nice fresh, light, earthy scent and it doesn’t irritate the skin because it’s made of clean ingredients. It also foams and cleanses well.

3. Ouai Treatment Masque (3.4 oz: $32) – I’ve been obsessed with Ouai haircare lately (read the review HERE) and have been curious about this product, as well as the Finishing Creme ever since loving the Ouai Air Dry Foam which really made my hair soft. I heard good things about this product which also makes the hair smooth and easy to manage. Will definitely be trying this.

4. Tocca Capri Candle (10 oz: $42) – I smelled this at my local Sephora and its light grapefruit melon scent registered to me. It also has a nice Mediterranean scent vibe to it which is really interesting.

5. Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette ($44) – I was planning to skip this palette as I’ve been feeling like most Urban Decay palettes haven’t been that pigmented lately. After already trying some other eyeshadow palettes, I felt like there were eyeshadow options out there that could give a nice color payoff to the lids compared to this UD one, especially if you invest in high-end products like the Pat McGrath Bronze Seduction eyeshadow (reviewed HERE), or the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 (swatched HERE). Yet after seeing this particular palette in-store, I thought the color scheme is really beautiful and perfect for this Spring and Summer season. And since I’m a sucker for beautiful neutral eyeshadows, I caved in. Let’s see whether I’ll like this or not. Will keep you posted.

6. Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray (1.6 oz: $11, 5.4 oz: $28) – I have a serious obsession with texturizing hair sprays lately and I’ve heard good things about this product, especially its amazing scent. So we’ll see.

7. Farmacy Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm (0.12 oz: $10) – This is the next best thing (if not the same) to the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm which I absolutely love but it’s too costly for its size. I love this a lot and it lasts a long time compared to the DE one. It’s also very moisturizing while being lightweight and non-sticky at the same time, and it doesn’t cost as much as the DE Lippe Balm. I just purchased several of this to stock in my vanity.

8. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo (2 oz: $13, 5.4 oz: $28) – I’ve been looking for an alternative to my Pantene Charcoal Haircare (reviewed HERE) and this caught my eye. I’ve been wondering if this is better than the Pantene ones or not. It’s always a good practice to rid your hair of product buildup at least once a week, so a clarifying shampoo like this would definitely be a good help. I will let you guys know whether this will work for me or not.

9. Milk Make Hydro Grip Primer (0.33 oz: $15, 1.52 oz: $30) – This product got my curiosity, although I’m still not quite sure whether I should change my primer now or not. I do know that I am considering trying a more lightweight primer and I’m wondering if this fits the bill. We shall see.

The products I’m recommending below are some of the items I’ve been loving lately, although, I will be publishing a separate post soon featuring the makeup and skincare products I’ve been loving and using as of the moment, so stay tuned for that. Here now are the ones I recommend to you guys.

1. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips Liquid Lipstick (0.24 oz: $34) – If you want your lips to look full and your lip lines filled, then you’ve got to try this mattifying liquid lipstick (some swatches HERE). I love this product a lot even nowadays and I’m planning to get another shade soon called “Too Bad I’m Bad”. So this is not just a rec item, it’s also part of my wishlist.

2. Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 (5 x 0.08 oz: $48) – Love this for the lasting pigment and the versatility of the shades. Try the #2 palette for an everyday warm rosy neutral look. Some other shades were reviewed and swatched HERE

3. SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner (5.4 oz: $76) – Summer’s almost here and there’s a trend to look lit-from-within. This always gives a nice natural radiant glow, and it’s very gentle and very nourishing to the skin. The effect of this toner might take a while, but once it does, you’ll definitely love the skin you’re in.

4. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Body Builder (2.8 oz: $15, 7.3 oz: $29) – Love this for that mega volume effect on the hair. It works for just about any hair type, and it definitely works for my fine hair. I don’t know what else is in this product but it works wonders and it adds customizable drama to the hair, you just have to twist the nozzle accordingly to your volume preference.

5. Giorgio Armani Neo Nude Fusion Powder (0.12 oz: $58) – This is an absolutely wonderful radiant setting powder, and it sets any type of foundation especially the matte ones so they won’t look so cakey and dry. This gives a nice subtle glow to the skin and can be worn alone or as a setting powder. Read the detailed review HERE.

6. Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara (0.27 oz: $28) – This literally gave me a love at first application experience. It truly lengthens and volumizes every lash strand even if you don’t have a lot of lashes to begin with. It gives your eye makeup some drama, definition, and it won’t smudge. This will be featured in my loving right now products soon. So, stay tuned for it.

7. Ouai Air Dry Foam (4 oz: $28) – I raved about this in my previous Ouai Haircare review, seen HERE. This is my most beloved Ouai Haircare product so far, and I love how this softens my hair whenever I air dry it. The scent is light and it really conditions and manages my hair beautifully.

8. Viktor&Rolf Magic Liquid Diamonds (0.30 oz: $34, 2.5 oz: $145) – I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over the wonderful dreamy scent of this. Some folks say this smells like Clean Fresh Laundry, but I think this is way better than Clean Fresh Laundry, and if this smells like fresh laundry, then this is the best fresh laundry scent I’ve ever sniffed and tried. This has several fresh floral notes that take its scent to a whole different level. Read more about this fragrance HERE.

9. Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion (1.7 oz: $42) – This is still my go-to for acne treatment and prevention, especially when my pimples threaten to wreak havoc on my skin. This has 5% Benzoyl Peroxide which really works to prevent and treat zits, and it doesn’t dry the skin, unlike some other Benzoyl Peroxide creams I’ve tried before. Also, this sets onto the skin immediately and it leaves no sticky residue.

Are you shopping the Sephora Spring Bonus Beauty Insider Event? What’s on your list? Any products you want to recommend?

You Are a Badass Book/Audiobook Review

April 26, 2019 / OTHER STUFF / 0 comments

“If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done before” – Jen Sincero, success coach, author of You Are a Badass.

I don’t remember exactly where I heard about this book. It must have been recommended to me, or that I must have read somewhere that a lot of bloggers have read it, raved about it, or got inspired by it. I also seem to remember seeing a pile of it at Urban Outfitters looking like it’s the must-read of the moment. Regardless of how I’ve come to know about the book sassily entitled as You Are a Badass, I knew it got me curious and I had to read it at some point in time. Since I love listening to audiobooks while doing my daily activities, I decided to listen to this book via Audible. If you’ve read my previous book reviews, you’d know that I’m not a big fan of self-help books, not because I don’t need help, lol, it’s just that I’m quite picky about them. I gave this book a chance because it seems to be just everywhere, and it looks really interesting.

The Audible version of this book is read by the author herself, Ms. Jen Sincero. I liked the way she narrated the book. It was fast-paced and her tone of voice was very engaging. The book or audiobook itself is really all about improving oneself or life and on how to be awesome. As blissful and at times shallow that word may be, the author emphasizes for us to recognize that it’s very important to feel good about ourselves. Immediately you could tell that this book is all about self-positivity and self-affirmation, though I must admit that learning to be awesome can be quite a lot especially in today’s day and age.

This book tells no-nonsense advice about achieving your best potential and living the life you’ve always wanted. Which means, being the “you” you’ve always wanted to be. It gives a lot of words of encouragement on following your dreams by getting things done and not sabotaging yourself. It’s like motivating yourself to act and hit the ground running while also loving and believing in who you are. In other words, this is a book not just for the go-getters but also for those who tend to procrastinate and want some push with practical advice and positive affirmation. Think Sophia Amoruso of Nasty Gal with her Girlboss vibe, and you can already imagine what listening to this book must be like.

While I find this book to be encouraging and motivating at the same time, especially when the author talked about following your dreams and understanding your limitations, as well as accepting the things that cannot be changed, or in how you can react to the things/situations that you can’t control, I feel like there are some parts of the book that I couldn’t understand. The author talked about source energy and the universe, and that just seemed a little too farfetched for me, but it didn’t bother me much. I’d like to think that I am more pragmatic in that sense, but perhaps I just didn’t listen to her explanation enough about these things because I was doing some chores while listening to the book. 🙂

Since this book has a very modern voice/approach, expect to hear or read some swear words from the author, which honestly is not really a big deal for me. As for the condescending/arrogant tone that the author gives off with some of her advice, (mentioned by some readers) well, there is definitely a feisty tone to them, and at times they kinda sounded tough, but there is some humor to them as well. So, I just took the positive vibes/advice that I could get out of this book and decided not to judge on the questionable ones. I definitely think that the author should have delved more on some pointers on how to be awesome, and not just on encouraging and motivating the readers to get up and get going.

Bottom line, I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it because of its tell-it-like-it-is approach to motivation, but I also wish that it should have been more open-minded to every individual’s specific situations and daily struggles. But anyhow, the next time you’re feeling low, or you’re feeling like you’re under the weather and needs an extra push or a shot of motivation, you may want to consider adding this book to your list of pick-me-up items to buy.

This book is currently available in Amazon

The Audible version is available HERE

Lip Gloss is from Cle de Peau
Fragrance is from Viktor & Rolf’s Magic Collection – Sparkling Secret, available HERE and reviewed HERE

Have you read this book before? Did you like it?

Ouai Haircare Review

April 24, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi there! Summer’s coming up and I am bracing for frizzy strands, annoying flyaways, and some other hair issues that could come up anytime during this hot season. As much as I love Summer, I know my hair could take a beating around that time, so, to better prepare myself, I’ve investigated a few haircare brands that I think could help prevent my hair from looking like a bird’s nest this Summer, LOL. One of the brands I’ve investigated is Ouai Haircare. I must admit that at first, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting out of this brand. I did find their lineup of products to be quite confusing and even more so redundant. But, I got curious anyway, so, over the course of time, I tested a few popular Ouai haircare products and here’s what I found.

Air Dry Foam (4 oz: $28) – This is the first Ouai product I purchased and I was really impressed at how good it made my hair feel. First, you apply this non-sticky foam on your damp hair (about two pumps on my long hair) and scrunch it softly on your strands. Then let your hair air dry and voila! you’ve got soft smooth manageable hair. I know this is meant for wavy or curly hair types, but honestly, this works very well for my fine hair and I love this a lot. I mostly air dry my hair (because I usually don’t have the time for blowouts or styling) and this product helps a lot. This has a nice light perfumey musky scent that goes away within a few seconds, and this pretty much leaves the hair frizz-free and zero flyway even up to the next day.

Leave-In Conditioner (4.7 oz: $26) – A Ouai bestseller, a lot of folks really love this non-sticky lightweight leave-in conditioner. This has the same light floral musky scent that most Ouai haircare products have and this definitely eliminates hair frizzies and flyaways by just a few spritzes on the strands. On top of that, this also acts as a heat protectant prior to any hair styling. So, this product is pretty much a multitasker, which means fewer products piled on the hair and less time-consuming application. For my hair, this doesn’t soften as much as the Air Dry Foam above, but this adds a nice volume and it makes my hair behave well – looking smooth and shiny for the whole day and also the next.

Texturizing Hair Spray (mini/1.4 oz: $12, 4.5 oz: $26) – This would have been the perfect texturizing hair spray for me ever because this doesn’t have a very annoying obtrusive scent and it really adds volume and texture to my fine long layered stands without leaving any residue, but there are few things that bothered me about this product. First, its spray nozzle could freeze up, making it difficult to use. Second, using this may kinda want you to wear a gas mask, LOL. Seriously, this texturizing spray is way too powdery and way too foggy to use. Expect to see a lot of smoke when using this, so you may want to use this while in a large room or else this could impede your breathing.

Dry Texture Foam (5.8 oz: $28) – This product confused me at first because I thought this would be just like the Air Dry Foam above, but actually, this is quite a bit different, especially in terms of application. Though the effects of the Ouai Air Dry Foam and this are quite the same, this Dry Texture Foam needs to be applied on a dry hair, kinda like a pomade or a styling cream. This is definitely not meant to replace a dry shampoo, but it’s more like a foamy non-sticky texturizing shampoo, which of course definitely adds texture and vibrance to the hair, making it more volumized, frizz-free, and ready to be styled. I like this a lot because it’s perfect for whenever I miss out on applying the Ouai Air Dry Foam or the Leave-In Conditioner and I had to style my hair asap.

Wave Spray (mini/1.7 oz: $12, 5 oz: $26) – This is probably my least favorite of all the Ouai haircare products reviewed here because this pretty much feels like a flexible hold spray. Unlike most wave sprays I’ve tried in the past, this scrunches my hair so much that it just feels dry. It does add texture to it but it’s way too drying for my fine hair. Perhaps, this could work better for those with wavy hair, but definitely not on my strands. I do love the scent of this though, but thank goodness I got this as a sample because I will be skipping this next time.

Overall, if you’re new to Ouai haircare, I suggest you carefully read their products’ descriptions and see what they’re meant for. They may seem redundant and confusing at first because they do have several items that address each specific haircare concern. With that being said, I appreciate what this brand had done and I think their products will definitely help my hair this coming Summer. If you ask me what Ouai haircare product/products should you buy at first, I’d definitely say that you try their Air Dry Foam (my most fave), and their Leave-In Conditioner or their Dry Texture Foam.

Have you tried any Ouai haircare products already? What do you think?

These Ouai Haircare products are currently available at Sephora, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Revolve, Selfridges, Urban Outfitters, and SpaceNK