Reviews and Other Stuff

FabFitFun Winter 2018 Box

fab fit fun winter 2018

 

Hello guys, I’m back in the atmosphere (with drops of Jupiter in my hair… lol). How are you? How am I? I am well my friends. Back from my occasional gallivanting and ready to get back to blogging this 2019. Lots of things coming soon for the blog, so stay tuned.

 

fabfitfun winter 2018 unboxing

 

Anyway, been meaning to post this long overdue review of what’s inside my FabFitFun Winter 2018 Box. So without further ado, here they are guys.

 

Anthropologie x Mer-Sea & Co. Sea Whip Body Cream in Coconut Sugar, Ahava Hydration Cream Mask

 

Anthropologie x Mer-Sea & Co. Sea Whip Body Cream in “Coconut Sugar” ($24) – This body cream smells like toasted coconut heaven inside a unicorn-ish vibe packaging. This really hydrates the skin and leaves it smelling delicious like you bathe in a ton of coconuts in the tropics. However, there’s not a lot of product inside the tube, so if you’re the type that likes to slather on lotions and creams, this product won’t last for more than two or three weeks.

 

This Works Evening Detox Spray-On Exfoliant ($52) – This is a really nice detoxifying antibacterial and anti-inflammatory toner that has Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel which penetrate into the pores and combat pimples and blemishes. You can spray this on a cotton ball or a cotton pad and then pat this lightly on the skin for a nice exfoliating and refreshing feel. I like this product a lot and it does a good job of preventing my face from looking too oily.

 

Ahava Hydration Cream Mask ($33) – This super hydrating cream/mask has Mineral Spring Water, Vitamin E, and Shea Butter. This smells really nice and is perfect for this cold dry season since this pretty much packs on hydration on the skin. I use this a lot lately even though I tend to have an oily skin type and I love that this has a nice softening effect that lasts for almost the whole day.

 

Fabfitfun Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener in "Stella"

 

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener in "Stella" swatch

 

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener in “Stella” ($24) – This is my fave inner-eye highlighter/brightener of the moment and this has never irritated my eyes because this is made of vegan ingredients. Also, this product is 100% cruelty-free and I love the philosophy behind this brand since they support women. This eye-highlighter goes on creamy and long-wearing (waterproof). On top of that, I’m happy that this came with a sharpener attached on the other end.

 

Blaq Hydrogel Eye Mask With Hyaluronic Acid

 

Blaq Hydrogel Eye Mask With Hyaluronic Acid ($29) – A refreshing activated charcoal eye mask with a clean scent and a gel consistency that doesn’t irritate the eyes. This is meant to be applied along the undereyes for 10-15 minutes but I usually leave mine longer and I really like its hydrating effect on my skin. I feel like this actually depuffs while keeping the thin skin around the eye area moist.

 

H Halston Jewelry Portfolio

 

H Halston Jewelry Portfolio ($48) – This is a convenient jewelry organizer that is perfect if you’re always on the go or even when you’re traveling. Since this is flat, this doesn’t occupy much space inside your luggage or you can toss this in your tote. You can store some rings, bracelets, necklaces and even loose studs inside its smaller zipper pocket and though a bit flimsy, this gets the job done at storing and organizing your valuables.

 

Mark & Graham Colorblock Throw in Gray/Ivory

 

Mark & Graham Colorblock Throw in Gray/Ivory ($49) – At first, this blanket/throw felt a little plasticky and super thin with a weird smell. However, after washing, this became so soft and so warm to the touch that this is now my favorite throw in my living room. This is really cozy and perfect for this Winter. I love the fringe detailing and the stripe/colorblock design which gives a nice lived-in feel.

Bearpaw Combo Set: Headband And Pop-Top Glove Duo

 

Bearpaw Pop-Top Glove Duo review

 

Bearpaw Combo Set: Headband And Pop-Top Glove Duo ($45) – Just what I need in this cold Winter. I love this set so much, especially the cute sherpa-lined headband which not only adds warmth, but it’s also very chic. The gloves are also very useful and practical for just about any activities. For me, this set is such a good deal.

 

pur be your selfie eyeshadow palette

 

pur be your selfie eyeshadow palette

 

Pur Be Your Selfie Eyeshadow Palette ($36) – This palette has four velvet matte shades and five shimmers. I love the color scheme of this a lot since all the shades are so wearable, however, you won’t get as much pigment out of this eyeshadow palette when applied with a brush. I find that this packs on more pigment/color whenever I use my finger to apply them on my lids. If your lids tend to get oily, better to really use an eyeshadow primer before using this palette. Similar product HERE.

 

What do I think of this Winter’s Box? I love it! Just like the Fall 2018 Box (seen HERE), I’m smitten with the stuff inside, even though there was an item that was supposed to be there but the FFF team replaced it with something else that seems to be a lot better and is of a much better value.

 

fabfitfun winter 2018 box

 

What about you guys? What’s did you get in your FabFitFun Winter 2018 Box?

 

 

Favorite Essie Gel Couture Nail Colors

favorite essie gel couture nail polish

 

Hello! Happy Holidays to each and everyone! I hope you guys are having a great time this holiday season. Me? I’ve been spending a lot of time with my family and friends. In fact, I’ve reunited with some friends I haven’t seen in years! I miss them a lot and there hasn’t been a day where I stopped thinking about them, yet for some reason, life has its uncanny ways of drawing distance and when you finally see each other, it’s like you’ve never really been apart for so long. OMG! I just love reunions and I wish it won’t take me a very long time to see these friends again.

 

Anyhow, even though I’ve been busy with all the events for the holidays, I managed to finally sort out my top favorite shades of the Essie Gel Couture nail polish. In my previous Essie nail color roundup review (seen HERE), I posted my favorite Essie colors in Enamel and Gel formulation. However, in that post, I was just starting to try out some of the Essie Gel colors, but I haven’t really made up my mind when it comes to my top fave shades until recently. So, finally, in this post, I’ll be talking about my personal favorite colors in the Essie Gel Couture line. Now, keep in mind that this particular Essie Nail Color line still doesn’t have a lot of color varieties. As much as I love the lasting power and overall formula of this gel lacquer, I find that the shade range is still quite basic – reds, pinks, some blues, greens, and purples.

 

I’m a big red nail polish lover because that’s what looks good on me, so you’re still gonna be seeing a lot of reds here, but I also have a few nudes, a dark violet/purple hue, as well as a few bright pinks, along with my opinion of the Essie Top Coat and how it compares to some other top coats in the market.

 

 

Reds

 

essie gala-vanting

 

Paint The Gown Red – ruby red

Spiked With Style – wine red

Bubbles Only – cream burgundy

Gala-Vanting – deep maroon red

 

Nudes

 

Take Me To Thread – plush taupe, looks greige with a nude mauve undertone, reminds me a lot of Chanel Particuliere (HERE)

Pinned Up – nude pink rose

Sew Me – cream caramel

All Dressed Up – swatched HERE, medium rose pink

 

essie signature smile

 

Pinks

 

Signature Smile – bright coral pink

Stitch By Stitch – light nude pink

 

Purple

 

essie turn 'n' pose, essie model clicks

 

Turn ‘N’ Pose – deep plum/purple

Model Clicks – wine purplish red

 

essie top coat

 

Top Coat – I’m really amazed at how good this top coat is. It sets not only the gel nail polishes but also the enamel ones, at least in my experience, and it does set fast. It keeps the nails hard as a rock, chip-free, and without any tip wear for at least two weeks and a bit more. It also has a flat wide brush just like the Essie Gel Couture nail colors. When compared to the other Top Coats out there, I find this particular Top Coat to be way better than Seche Vite, and it’s neck and neck with Chanel Le Gel Top Coat as well as the Smith & Cult Above It All Top Coat. Speaking of brushes, I am definitely in love with the Essie Gel Couture line because the brush itself is just so easy and quick to use. See the comparison of the original Essie Enamel brush versus the new Gel Couture brush HERE.

 

essie gel couture nail polish review

 

Bottom line, these Essie Gel Couture nail colors are as good as the high-end brands. I noticed that there’s barely any chipping on my nails after almost two weeks of wear, and the colors remained vivid. I hope that Essie will play with some trendy shades to add on this Gel Couture line soon.

 

Are you an Essie fan? What’s your fave nail polish brand? Do you also prefer the Gel formulas over the Enamel ones?

 

The Essie Gel Couture Nail Colors are currently available at most drugstores and grocery stores nationwide and atย Amazon, Ulta, Target, Walgreens, andย Macy’s

 

Merry Christmas Again and Have a Prosperous New Year!

 

 

Favorite Body Cleansers And Body Scrubs

favorite body wash and shower gels

 

Hi guys, I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas soon and I’ve been busy prepping my home and doing some last minute gift wrapping for my friends and families. This year, I’m playing Santa so I’ve got several presents to hand to. Oh, the joys of the holidays! Anyhow, as promised on my Insta, I’m sharing you now my personal favorites in body scrubs, cleansers and shower gels.

 

This post is a continuation of my roundup review of some of my favorite body lotions and body butters, seen HERE, as well as my fave dry body oils, HERE.

 

I love body cleansers and body scrubs. I always look forward to using them everytime I shower instead of the using the good ‘ol soap bars which are kinda messy to use. I not only like the convenience of using shower gels, but I also love to buy them in different scents so I could alternately use them depending on my mood, the season, or what my skin currently needs.

 

These are my faves so far.

 

Korres Shower Gel review

 

Korres Shower Gel (13.53 oz: $21 Korres site, $38 Amazon) – These have been my favorite go-tos because they come in several scents and they remind me of that nice fresh Mediterranean shower. My favorite scent so far is the Japanese Rose, Cassis Fig, Yogurt, and I still want to try the Guava one. These shower gels don’t foam as much but each bottle is large enough and can last a month or two. I love how these don’t dry my skin and it’s great to use everyday.

 

Philosophy Falling In Love Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel (16 oz: $26) – My newest love from Philosophy and it has a sweet warm vanilla scent. The bottle is huge and the cleanser itself has a light lavender shade which looks cute with its message of Falling in Love with yourself. This lathers well and it leaves my skin thoroughly cleansed.

 

Philosophy Falling In Love Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel, Kiehl's Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-To-Foam Body Cleanser

 

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-To-Foam Body Cleanser (2.5 oz: $12.50, 8.4 oz: $29) – If you love the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil reviewed HERE, then you’re gonna enjoy this unique body wash. It first starts as oil then it transforms into a foamy body cleanser as soon as you rub it a few times on the skin. It is so moisturizing and perfect for those with dry skin. I tend to use this around this cold winter season to protect my skin from dryness.

 

Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel (10 oz: $20) – This is one of my most favorite body washes of all time. This smells so fresh, so invigorating and just so good. I also have the body lotion version of this cleanser, reviewed HERE. I like using this shower gel all year round even though this has a Summer-vibe scent. I just love how this awakens the senses and it’s definitely foamy, energizing and just perfect in every way.

 

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Cleanser (8.5 oz: $20) –ย  Another personal fave of mine and one of the first few body washes I’ve ever loved and even keep using up to this day. This smells like fresh bursts of oranges and clementines. The only drawback is that this doesn’t foam much, so it’s costly to use without using a scrub or a loofah.

 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash

 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash (18 oz: $8.99) – My favorite drugstore body wash along with the other Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Yogurt Body Wash with Apricot & Honey. This is inexpensive, easy to find anywhere and this has a nice clean mild scent that lathers well. The texture of this is gel-like and it’s super moisturizing for daily use.

 

Scrubs

 

I haven’t experimented on several body scrubs since I tend to use them once or twice a week at most just so my skin won’t dry as much. Currently, there’s only two that I keep coming back to and these are from Aesop and Dove.

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub (6.1 oz: $35) – This is a pricey body scrub that is super grainy and totally exfoliating. I love the fresh green scent of this that’s just spa-like and it leaves the skin soft and smooth after every wash. Further reviewed HERE.

 

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish (10.5 oz: $5.99) – A well-made inexpensive body scrub that is loaded with moisturizing ingredients and it leaves the skin supple with a nice variety of fruity milky scents. My fave one is pomegranate. See some of the other scents reviewed HERE.

 

 

Have you tried any of these body cleansers yet? What’s your go-to body wash?