Reviews and Other Stuff

Winter Lip Balm Favorites

February 7, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi there! We have another Winter favorite lip product roundup today. This time, it’s all about my favorite lip balms in this cold harrowing Winter season. Yes, it’s been really cold outside but thank goodness I haven’t had any chapped or cracked lips so far, and I guess it’s because of the lip balms I’ve been using. In fact, I’ve upped my usage of lip balms lately and that has really allowed me to rock my favorite matte lipsticks without some sort of dryness issues at all.

I’m quite picky with my lip balms quite honestly. I don’t like the ones that have a heavy feel on the lips. I like my lip balms to be lightweight, super moisturizing, not extremely oily and shiny, and if they have any flavor/scent, then I’d prefer them to be not as obtrusive to my senses. For these reasons, I tend to stick only to a few lip balms that I’ve tested over time. I mostly use a combination of untinted and tinted lip balms. The untinted ones are my faves at night and they keep my lips hydrated throughout my sleep. The tinted ones are the type that I use mostly everyday or whenever my lips feel dry. I sometimes layer them with my favorite lipstick, but mostly, I use them whenever I feel like not wearing any lipstick at all. They’re my go-tos for a lazy day “no makeup” makeup look.

Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm (0.13 oz: $18) – This is probably the best and one of my most favorite lip balms of all time. This has the perfect formula for being lightweight, untinted, made-of-clean-ingredients, and a super hydrating balm that lasts for several hours. It really protects the lips from drying in this cold Winter season. However, this does have a flaw. While this lip balm may look big due to the fact that it does have a larger tube diameter than most lip balms out there (see more photos HERE), you’ll actually find that there’s really not a lot of product inside its packaging. So this doesn’t really last that long, and for the price, I feel like this is quite a lot for a lip balm.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm (0.15 oz: $18) – This untinted super thick lip balm has a sleek comfy velvety matte packaging that looks very unique and different. It is so moisturizing, but it needs to warm up on the lips first prior to the application. Once it does, it tends to melt easily then, so just take heed. This does a good job of preventing and/or healing dry cracked lips. I love that this has no strong scent as well.

Farmacy Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm (0.12 oz: $10) – Never underestimate the power of this tiny lip balm because this packs a punch. It’s made of clean ingredients and it has Echinacea GreenEnvy honey, beeswax, and Cupuaçu butter that hydrates the lips like no other. This is a very good high-quality untinted lip balm that delivers hydrated moisturized supple lips without making it feel heavy, and I do feel that this is the best alternative to the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm above. In fact, they both have the same simple clean organic scent, and they also both apply and feel the same on the lips. However, this Farmacy one has more products in its tube and it comes with a much cheaper price than the DE Lippe Balm. I love this a lot.

DIOR

There are two tinted lip balms I’ve been using a lot lately, and they’re the Dior Lip Glows. I mean, who doesn’t love Dior Lip Glows, right? They’re great everyday sheer hydrating balms that not only protect my lips this Winter, they also give off a nice stain/tint on the lips that last for hours. You just swipe them on the lips and you’re good to go.

Dior Lip Glow in 008 Ultra-Pink ($34) – sheer bright pink. Every time I see the color of this lip balm, it just makes me happy. It’s got the prettiest perfect popsicle pink tint to it and it brightens the face to a youthful look.

Dior Lip Glow in 006 Berry ($34) – sheer berry. Currently on the list of my favorite lip products this Winter and there’s a reason why (read HERE). This is a beautiful berry-tinted lip balm hands down.

More Dior Lip Glow shades swatched HERE.

GLOSSIER

The Glossier Balm Dotcom is an all-purpose skin and lip balm. Right now, I really like using it as my lip balm at night and it’s so good. It’s not only hydrating to the lips, but it’s also very exfoliating. I’m currently using these two.

Glossier Balm Dotcom in Birthday (0.5 oz: $12) – untinted subtle shimmer. This balm tastes like a real vanilla birthday cake with bits of sugar in it that makes you wanna eat it somehow. It’s very exfoliating in the morning when applied at night on the lips. Try it.

Glossier Balm Dotcom in Mint (0.5 oz: $12) – untinted cooling feel. This is absolutely the best soothing lip balm I’ve ever tried. Its mint scent and flavor is never boring and it’s super tingly and plumping on the lips. I highly recommend this.

More Glossier products reviewed HERE.

Milk Makeup Kush Lip Balm (0.10 oz: $16) – described as a clear finish balm, yet in reality, this actually has a slight green tinge that is not really that visible once applied on the lips, so no worries. This balm has a minty scent and taste and it’s very moisturizing, lightweight and fresh. I haven’t tried the Kush Lip Glaze yet that was also released together with this particular product but I heard that it’s also good, so I will investigate that pretty soon. I like this lip balm a lot, and nope, this won’t make you feel high. The Hemp-Derived Cannabis Sativa in it is only for hydration purposes. Overall, I love the robust packaging of this balm and it looks really unique.

And there goes my favorite lip balms this Winter. What’s yours? Happy Almost Weekend!

*2018-2019 I Am Very Busy Planner is from Ban.do, available HERE

*Peonies Book by Jane Eastoe is available HERE

*Veranda Decorating Book is also available HERE

*Rose Book seen with the Glossier Balm Dotcom photo is still available HERE

YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick Review & Swatches

February 5, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Kung Hei Fat Choy everyone! How’s your Astrology this year? 🙂 Mine? It’s forecasted that there will be more lipstick hoarding this year, LOL. Speaking of lipsticks, here goes another Yves Saint Laurent lip product to love, the YSL Rouge Pure Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick ($39). When I first saw this product both online and in-store, I was like “Nooooo, please stay away from me, in heaven’s name….” Haha! Oh well, fast forward, a couple of weeks later, I’ve been fangirling this lipstick a lot and I think, this should definitely be included in the list of lipsticks that sparked joy for me this Winter (see the list HERE).

You guys know that I’m a big fan of YSL lipsticks and I review them a lot here in the blog, Whenever I see a new YSL lipstick, I get weak in the knees, LOL. They’re pretty much my Achilles heel, and with the new Slim Matte, I feel like I found another matte lipstick to obsess about. Lord help my soul… 🙂

The new YSL The Slim Matte lipstick as the name says is a slim square/diamond-shaped lipstick with a true-matte texture. It is extremely pigmented on the lips with just one swipe and it has a nice soft cushiony feel. It pretty much feels like nothing on the lips, totally weightless and super comfortable. I never noticed my lips feeling dry whenever I wear it. I find that the color stays on my lips for almost the whole day and it still remains on my lips after eating and drinking. I only noticed a very minimal to almost zero transfer and this lipstick doesn’t bleed or feather. I find the slim design to be really easy to toss inside one of my mini bags and it looks luxe, minimalist, and sleek. However, that same design may be tricky to apply on the lips at first because of its many angles, but once you get the hang of it (tip: use one of the angles to line your lips) then you’d find that this lipstick does and has it all.

I love all the shades available in this lipstick, but I decided on a few nudes since they’re super saturated. I think I spotted a nice wine-red color (my fave) but I skipped on that one because I have too many of those shades already. I did see a lot of bold colors in the lineup, like deep reds, saturated plums and different variations of pinks and corals.

11 Ambiguous Beige – nude coral rose

12 Nu Incongru – nude antique rose

17 Nude Antonym – nude rose mauve, my most favorite among the three. Will be wearing this a lot from now on. I think it’s a perfect universal nude for everybody.

The YSL Slim Matte Lipstick still has the same mango-ish scent/flavor that you’d come to know with most YSL lip products. When comparing it to some other similar matte lipsticks that have been released recently, two products came to mind. One is the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme Lipstick (reviewed HERE) and the other one is the Rouge d’Armani Matte Lipstick (swatched HERE). The Chanel Velvet Extreme feels a bit drier than the YSL Slim Matte, while the Rouge d’Armani Matte may be just a tad drier as well since the YSL Slim Matte has a bit more cushion it, but it’s almost hard to tell the difference between the two. I feel like they’re so neck and neck with each other, although the YSL Slim Matte (I think) has better color range in the lineup since you’ll find more wearable nudes and reds, but the Rouge d’Armani Matte is only limited to 102 Androgino as its universally flattering nude shade, and some of its shades look totally different when applied on the lips, read the review HERE.

Now, you’re probably wondering, how is this lipstick different at least formula-wise with the original YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mats Lipstick? (reviewed HERE). The YSL “The Mats” have a bit of shine to it compared to this YSL The Slim lipstick which is totally just plain matte.

Overall, I find this lipstick to be one of the best matte lipsticks I’ve ever tried. It’s right on point with its wear time, it looks beautiful, luxurious, easy to store/carry, and the shades are absolutely beautiful.

Have you tried this already?

The YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick is currently available at Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s, Harrods, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and yslbeautyus.com

Winter Lipstick Favorites

February 1, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi guys, I am back from a momentary pause. My website experienced a downtime a few days ago, but I am here now, still alive and kicking. So, what have I been doing lately? Apart from going through the whole #snowpocalypse saga, I binge-watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo in Netflix and I suddenly got an idea. Meet me, Marie Apartment (LOL) and I am here to talk to you about the lipsticks that spark joy for me this Winter. And nope, I didn’t throw away my other lipsticks that didn’t spark joy. I still keep them, and I will always keep them all because, in all honesty, these lipsticks always give me joy. But for this Winter, I’m rounding up my faves in liquid lipsticks, balms, lip pencils and lipsticks. This is kind of an exhaustive roundup so grab your favorite drinks and chill. Take note that since I’m a lover of matte lipsticks, almost all the lipsticks here are mostly matte.

I use these lipsticks mostly in rotation, and also, depending on my activity for the day, I tend to pick the shade that would look best and appropriate on me for that occasion. And if I’m undecided, I would just pick the shade that’s giving me all the feels (LOL), unless of course, I have no feels on that day (LOL again), then that’s another story.

Excited to see which lipsticks made the cut? Keep reading (You’ve been warned :-)).

CHARLOTTE TILBURY/SHISEIDO/BITE BEAUTY/FENTY BEAUTY

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips Liquid Lipstick in Show Girl (0.24 oz: $34) – warm deep berry. Always and will be in love with this shade. I love the thick whipped formula of this liquid lipstick and it sets into a velvety matte that won’t emphasize the lip lines. Lip swatch HERE.

Shiseido Modern Matte Powder Lipstick in 508 Semi Nude (0.14 oz: $26) – cinnamon. My most unforgettable lipstick ever. One of the most beautiful things that happened lately in my life happened when I wore this lipstick, so this totally sparks a thousand joy for me. This shade is not exactly semi-nude, but more like a muted cinnamon, and the tube of this lipstick is heavy and magnetic. For more of this lipstick, click HERE.

Bite Beauty Multistick in Mascarpone (0.17oz: $24) – deep salmon. I love Bite Beauty’s Multistick (seen HERE) and I like that this is so versatile. You can absolutely do a monochromatic look with just this shade. Just swipe a bit on the lids, lips, and cheeks, and voila! Lagertha (Vikings) is that you? LOL.

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé (0.05 oz: $24) – dusty mauve. My favorite shade from the Bite Lip Crayon, this color is so versatile and the formula is creamy and comfortable, not to mention the irresistible flavor that this lip product has. More details HERE.

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Thicc (0.06 oz: $18) – sultry mauve. One of the newest shades from the Mattemoiselle Plush line. This is such a pretty shade that can work with almost any skin tone and the lasting power of this lipstick is just amazing. Also, this feels comfy on the lips given that this is matte. More Fenty Beauty review HERE.

BURBERRY/DIOR

There are two Burberry lipsticks that I love in my life and they’re both from the Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet Line. One is Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet in Fawn No. 5 (0.2 oz: $34) and the other is Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet in Dark Rosewood No. 17 (0.2 oz: $34), seen HERE. These shades may not be available in Sephora anymore, but they’re still available at Nordstrom or at Saks Fifth Avenue. I just love how soft and natural-looking these velvety matte liquid lipsticks appeal on the lips, and they’re so moisturizing as well. You can never go wrong with these.

Dior Lip Glow in Berry (0.12 oz: $34) – sheer berry balm. This is probably the Dior Lip Glow shade that complements my skin tone very well since this has a mauve tone that adjusts beautifully to my lips’ natural color. More Dior Lip Glow shades and swatches HERE.

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick in 420 Underground (0.11 oz: $37) – pink nude. This is one of my favorites when it comes to natural or nude lipstick colors. It’s nude but kinda like a warm mid-tone nude with a bit of pink that is enough to complement and add some color to the lips. Great for everyday wear. See the lip swatch HERE.

Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge Lipstick in 843 Ultra Crave ($37) – terracotta pink. This lipstick is so long-wearing and very comfortable to wear. The Ultra-Crave shade really makes you wanna crave for more of this type of lipstick, and of course, the Dior red packaging is so elegant and sleek. Complete review HERE.

YSL

YSL Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in 23 Singular Taupe (0.20 oz: $37) – deep nude. An Allure Award Winner and no doubt one of the best lip stains I’ve ever tried. I really like this shade a lot. It’s perfect for daytime wear and even to a nighttime formal affair. See the other shades HERE.

The two classic YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks I love are the YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 28 Rose Boheme (0.13 oz: $38) and the 66 Bois De Rose (0.13 oz: $38). 28 Rose Boheme is a purplish pink that seems difficult to locate nowadays, but it’s still one of my fave purple pink lip colors. See lip swatch HERE. You can definitely find some other similar shades of this particular lipstick, like the 09 rose stiletto (lighter) or the matte version called 212 alternative plum (darker). The YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 66 Bois De Rose is my all-time favorite YSL lipstick color. It is pinky nude and it goes well with everything.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Oil-In-Stick in 48 Smoking Plum (0.15 oz: $38) – further reviewed HERE. This is a perfect Plum shade that is so great for this Winter. The formula of this is so hydrating like it melts into the lips. The coverage is medium and it has a nice shine to it.

YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain in 409 Burgundy Vibes (0.18 oz: $37) – This is a full coverage high impact dramatic burgundy shade. Perfect for a night out or for an ultra-glam event. I promise you will never be forgotten after wearing this lipstick, LOL. See the lip swatch HERE.

NARS

I’m obsessed with two Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencils in Bahama (0.086 oz: $27) and Walkyrie (0.086 oz: $27). Bahama is pink brown and perfect for a warm nude everyday lip color, while Walkyrie is warm coral red creme that’s great for a date night lewk.

Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman (0.18 oz: $26) – chestnut rose. From the name of this liquid lipstick, down to its shade, plus its comfortable matte formula, you can’t resist the charm.

ARMANI BEAUTY

The Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet Liquid Lipsticks in 507 Garconne (0.13 oz: $38) and 600 Front Row (0.13 oz: $38) are two of my staple liquid lipstick/lip stain hybrid. I always love the formula of these since they’re somewhat creamy and definitely comfortable. On top of that, they set into a satiny matte. Also, the wear of these is really good. 507 Garconne is a mauve berry. A perfect mid-tone mauve, while 600 Front Row is a rich brownish berry. You can’t help but stare at how beautiful this shade is. It’s one of those enigmatic berry shade that everyone could pull off. Lip swatch HERE

I haven’t gotten over my love for the Armani Lip Magnets, and here goes the new Giorgio Armani Rouge D’Armani Matte in 102 Androgino (0.14 oz: $38) and 201 Nightberry (0.14 oz: $38). Androgino is an antique rose and my latest favorite nude lipstick. This really works well for my light/medium skin tone and my pigmented lips. I also think that this is a very universally flattering shade because this has a versatile sort of androgynous undertone. On the other hand, 201 Nightberry is scarlet red. This shade is just to-die-for. It’s the perfect wine-red berry shade with a comfortable creamy matte formula that lasts for hours and hours. Not really sure if I’ll be able to get over the beauty of this lipstick, probably not, so I hope it’s forever. LOL. Lip swatches HERE

CHANEL

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme in 118 Eternel (0.12 oz: $37) – Part of Chanel’s Fall ’18 releases, this new “extreme matte” formula is amazing. It’s super pigmented and it stays on the lips without the drying effect. The shade Eternel is the perfect nude pink from this line and I love it. Further swatched HERE.

Before the Velvet Extreme lipsticks, I’ve been a fan and will always be a fan of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 69 Abstrait (0.12 oz: $37) and 58 Rouge Vie (0.12 oz: $37). I also love the Libre shade, but that’s for the Summer. The 69 Abstrait color is a new addition from Chanel and it has a coral nude tone. It is a wonderful shade to moderately brighten the pout with a very comfortable original non-drying velvety matte formula. 58 Rouge Vie is a luminous matte red. It’s hard for me to pull off a true red lip color, but this one has a muted brick-like tone and with a comfortable matte texture, so this works for me since it flatters my skin tone. Lip swatch for Abstrait can be seen HERE.

Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder in 960 Avant-Gardiste (0.3 oz: $30.00) – seen HERE. This is a red berry shade. I absolutely love the unique formula of this. It’s powdery, it’s staining, and it’s long-wearing. Perfect for that ombre lip effect.

Chanel Jumbo Longwear Matte Lip Crayon in 267 Impulsion (0.04 oz: $37) – A deep blue-toned red with a smooth and creamy lip crayon formula. It’s so pigmented that it’ll stain the lips for the whole day. A little bit goes a long way. Further swatched HERE.

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in 174 Melancholia (0.2 oz: $37) – deep berry. Also a very staining lip color and you don’t need to apply a lot. It’s so lightweight on the lips and it’s non-drying. See the lip swatch HERE.

That comprises my Winter lipstick favorites. Did these lipsticks also spark you some joy? LOL, I mean, what are the lipsticks that spark joy on you lately? And what are your favorite lip colors for the Winter?