Reviews and Other Stuff

Clé De Peau Beauté Radiant Cushion Foundation Review + Swatch

April 10, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi there! Happy Spring and Happy Almost Summer! In the next few posts to come, I will be doing a roundup review of my favorite cushion foundations of all time, but before that, I would like to specifically talk about the widely-popular Clé De Peau Beauté Radiant Cushion Foundation ($90). This particular foundation will also be featured on that said upcoming roundup review, so stay tuned for that. I will definitely keep you guys posted or you can also follow my Instagram for more sneak peeks and previews.

I’m definitely thrilled to have finally tried this cult-favorite cushion fashion that everyone’s been loving all this time. The Clé De Peau Radiant Cushion is a lightweight glowy finish foundation with a sheer to medium coverage. It is packaged in a sleek gold and black compact with a navy-blue sponge/puff hybrid. There is a nice light floral scent to it with the intent of providing all-day coverage or for on-the-go touchups.

I like the way this foundation blends effortlessly on my skin, blurring my pores and making my skintone appear more even. Also, this does give a natural dewy finish, just like a lit-from-within healthy glow which makes the skin look fresh, radiant, and hydrated sans any creasing. When layered, this foundation still has a luminous yet natural finish.

With those positives mentioned, there are still some drawbacks to this high-end cushion foundation. I mean, there’s no question how good this foundation feels and applies on the skin. It’s really wonderful, but there’s a bunch of things I wish this could have.

First, I wish this foundation had an SPF. I understand that it’s probably due to oxidation reasons (though this has a nano Titanium Dioxide), but most cushion foundations out there do have a certain level of SPF. Second, this doesn’t come with an extra refill. Unlike La Mer’s The Luminous Lifting Cushion reviewed HERE, or Dior’s Capture Dreamskin Cushion, seen HERE, which both have an extra refill that came with the packaging, this Clé De Peau Radiant Cushion, given its price and prestige doesn’t come with any. And that means you won’t be able to reuse its beautiful sleek compact. Next, this may be just me, but the sponge/cushion of this compact feels a lot firmer than most compact foundations I’ve ever tried, so it feels like you’re not getting any product once you dip the sponge applicator on it, but you actually are. You’ll just have to do it light-handedly. It’s not really a problem, it’s just going to take some getting used to. Lastly, I don’t think this stays all day at all, at least not on me. I do have oily skin, so this pretty much lasts 4 hours on me and I’d get too shiny then. But that’s not really a big deal because I just dab a few blotting papers on my skin and that solves the extreme shine. I still recommend this foundation for those with oily skin (perfect for normal to dry skin) because of its second skin-like finish, you just have to remove the excess oil off the face a few hours later or better yet, set this with a setting powder for longer coverage.

For the shade match, I find the O20 Light Ochre to be the perfect match for my skintone. This shade has more of a slight yellow undertone which seems to make my skin look even more radiant. I thought my perfect match would be the B20 Light Beige but that actually looked too pink on me.

Overall, I really like the feeling of this foundation on my skin and it’s definitely one of the best cushions I’ve ever tried. Once you find the right shade of this, you’ll probably fall in love with its next-to-nothing second skin feel. It may not hide all your blemishes and cover all your dark spots very well, but it really enhances your skin tone, making you look healthy, glowy, hydrated, and radiant. Now I know why a lot of folks love this.

Have you tried this already? What do you think?

The Clé De Peau Beauté Radiant Cushion Foundation is currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-A-Porter, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, and Bergdorf Goodman

* Circle bag featured in this post is from The Daily Edited (TDE), primrose color still available at Revolve. Will be reviewing this bag soon.

* Macarons were made by me, see the recipe HERE

* Facial Oil is from Samaya Ayurveda Skincare, read the review HERE

* Blue Eye Cream is from Vii Code, see it HERE

* Body Oil is the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, read the review of my favorite dry body oils of all time HERE

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 & O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray Review

April 8, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi All! I’ve been in the market for some good quality eye creams that could potentially help to hydrate my undereyes which suffered from extreme dryness this last Winter. My skin, lately, seemed to have gone through a lot due to the lack of moisture in the air and that has caused some dry patches and roughness especially around the eye area. So, when VII Code reached out to me to try their eye cream and eye spray, I was totally glad because, to be honest, it’s really kind of hard to find the ideal eye cream for your skin type or for any specific undereye skincare concern. Since I had a good experience with VII Code’s O2M Oxygen Eye Mask for Dark Circles before, which you can read HERE, I had a hunch that I will enjoy their T2 Oxygen Eye Cream and also their latest product, the Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray immediately.

T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 (5 ml: $99) – This anti-aging eye cream comes in a beautiful blue packaging that looks unique and sleek. I love looking at its decorative shape that sort of stands out in my sea of skincare products. Upon initial testing, this eye cream has a nice floral scent that goes away after a few minutes of application. It feels really silky and creamy but not sticky and it goes on smooth on my undereyes. My skin absorbs this easily without any residue. The following day, I noticed immediate hydration on my undereye area. It no longer feels rough and it didn’t look very dry. My concealer and foundation adhere well with this eye cream without emphasizing any dry areas. Another thing I love about this is the fact that this is great for my sensitive eyes. I never noticed any burns or stings no matter how much I applied this product close to my eyes. Also, this eye cream comes with its Crescent Activation Strip which doubles as a spatula and as an eye massager. I love it because it conforms to the shape of the eyes and it sorts of stimulates the blood flow around that area.

You can use this eye cream in the evening after cleansing your face, or you can also use this in the morning before applying your makeup. For maximum hydration, you can also supplement this eye cream with VII Code’s Oxygen Eye Mask, available HERE.

Per VII Code’s website, these are the following ingredients of this particular eye cream.

Elderberries: Anti-oxidant content maintains the skin cells, leaving you with glowing, younger skin.

Jojoba Oil: Not only firms and keeps your skin hydrated, but also useful in lessening the appearance of skin wrinkles. Rich in antioxidants, which help regenerate the skin cells.

Evening Primrose: Boosts blood circulation, which is helpful to treat tired skin and eyes and is especially effective in removing wrinkles.

O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray (5 ml: $23) – This is VII Code’s latest eye product and yes you read it right, it’s an eye spray and it has several interesting ingredients that promote undereye skin hydration and nutrition like: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Glycerin, Red Algae Extract, and an active marine ingredient from the Mediterranean Sea.

Will all those ingredients, I find this eye spray to be very mild, very fluid, clear, non-sticky, and unscented. Therefore, this is great for those with sensitive skin and sensitive eyes. I personally like this a lot because this product does not only maintain undereye hydration, it also feels rejuvenating around the eyes, kinda like an eye/face mist. To use: You can spray this immediately to the eye area (with eyes closed) for a distance of about 15 cm and gently pat the mist around your undereyes for full absorption. Also, you can spray this on a cotton pad and gently press it on your eye area for a very refreshing feel.

Overall, I had a great experience testing these VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream and the O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray. I find these to be beneficial undereye products that suit sensitive skin and with a spa-level feel. These addressed my undereye skincare concern and for that, I’m really grateful.

For more information about these eye products, check out viicode.com (they offer Free Shipping) or you can also purchase these at Amazon

(Disclosure: Sponsored by VII Code. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely mine)

Samaya Ayurvedic Skincare Review

April 5, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi guys, today’s post is an exciting one because we’ll talk about clean skincare, and it’s not just all about clean and natural skincare products, it’s also about a skincare brand based on Ayurvedic principles. Isn’t that cool? I mean, with all the different skincare items spurting every minute nowadays, I feel like it’s about time that we really take a closer look at the ingredients that we put on our skin. While it’s true that there’s a been a huge buzz of using and promoting clean and all-natural skincare ingredients, I feel like there’s this one particular brand that has put a lot of emphasis on quality ingredients when it comes to skincare. If you haven’t heard about them before, then take a closer look at this London-based skincare brand called Samaya.

Samaya is an all-natural skincare brand that is based on the principles of Ayurveda. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “Life Knowledge” or “Science of Life”, and this principle promotes a holistic approach when it comes to achieving a balance to our bodily system. One way of achieving that is to pay attention to our lifestyle in general. Having a sound mind and sound body requires regular exercise, nourishing diet, enough sleep, adequate relaxation and of course, proper self-care. If those things aren’t balanced, then chances are our stress levels go high and our skin will suffer. I, for one, can attest to that.

Samaya’s top quality all-natural Ayurvedic ingredients in skincare are really something that will also help us achieve healthy and balanced skin. They offer a curated approach by providing a personalized skincare range, that is, according to your skin type and skincare needs. The goal is to help you achieve your “Samadosha” or to achieve “a perfect balance in our lives” starting with your skin.

To achieve your Samadosha, Samaya provides an online quiz (click HERE) to determine your Dosha type. Doshas are the energies that govern each individual, kinda like their characters. There are primarily three types: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Vata – Energetic and creative in balance, but worried, tired and indecisive when out of balance. Often of slender build and suffers from cold hands and feet. Tends to have delicate dry skin and hair, which may need extra moisturizing and nourishment to keep it glowing and healthy.

Pitta – Well-proportioned and compact build, with a focused mind and a love of order. Confident and passionate, enjoying challenges. Prone to anger and impatience when out of balance. Benefits from gentle skincare as the skin can be sensitive and irritable, susceptible to wrinkles, sunburn, and inflammation.

Kapha – Laidback and easy-going with a stable, steady energy level. Often has a strong physical frame but can be lethargic or apathetic if out of balance. Takes a relaxed, reasonable approach to life and can be compassionate, gentle and kind. Skin is usually thick and pale, can be radiant and glowing, but with clogged pores or excess oil when out-of-balance.

As you can guess, my Dosha is definitely Kapha. I do have clogged pores and I tend to have excess oil on my skin. Samaya sent me two of the products from their Kapha range to try and here’s what I think…

Kapha Anti-Ageing Treatment Oil (30 ml: £94.80) – This lightweight facial oil has a concentrated blend of Ayurvedic botanicals and it has a very relaxing earthy scent. Its key ingredients are Sandalwood oil, Frankincense oil, Vetivert Oil, Gotu Kola Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Turmeric Root, and Ashwagandha Root Extract to mention a few. It’s also free from Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, synthetic color/fragrance, mineral oils, silicones and more. I normally avoid using facial oils on my face but this particular oil actually makes my skin smooth. My skin had gone through a lot this Winter and it has some dry patches that I’ve been trying to hydrate. Luckily, with this facial oil, my face has been very moisturized and it feels really soft. It’s non-sticky and I only need one pump to cover my entire face and I massage it gently on my skin for a very relaxing feel. It has a very rejuvenating effect and it makes the face look plump and healthy. You can use this oil right after cleansing and moisturizing the face. On me, I use this as a substitute for my moisturizer.

Kapha Renewing Exfoliant (50 ml: £70.80) – This is a very interesting enzyme exfoliant because, upon application, this doesn’t feel gritty or scratchy at all. Instead, this actually feels very creamy like a very hydrating facial mask. After washing this off, my face feels really smooth and soft, almost like baby skin. I find that the exfoliating action of this is very gentle but its effect is definitely obvious, and I did notice my skintone looking more radiant and more glowy after every use. I also like the relaxing earthy scent of this exfoliant, and it has Pineapple enzymes, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Leaf, Jojoba, Vitamin E, Avocado and powerful Ayurvedic ingredients such as Amla, Gotu Kola, Vetivert, Sandalwood, Turmeric, Neem, and Ashwagandha, etc. You can use this exfoliating cream every other day and apply this like a face mask, massage gently, and wait 20 minutes before rinsing this off. For deeper exfoliation, leave this on overnight.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this brand and for those of my readers who live in the UK, you guys should check out Samaya’s all-natural Ayurvedic ingredients in skincare. I love their holistic approach to taking care of the skin and the fact that they tailor their products according to your specific skincare needs. Because, after all, if the mind, body, and soul are in perfect harmony then our skin will reflect that from within.

For more information and to order these products online, you can check out

samayaayurveda.com. They currently ship only to countries in the European Union and to the U.S.

Have you tried these before? What’s your Dosha?

(Disclosure: Product samples provided by Samaya. The reviews and opinions herein are solely mine).