Reviews and Other Stuff

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick Review + Swatches

June 5, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Oh, Hi There! Ever since I reviewed the Dior Addict Lacquer Plump (HERE), I began to wonder what its solid lipstick counterpart was like – the Dior Addict Lacquer Stick (0.11 oz: $37). Upon the description, it’s meant to be a hybrid lip lacquer shine and a lip balm all rolled into one, while the Dior Addict Lacquer Plump, on the other hand, is supposed to be a lip plumping lacquer complete with all its hydrating effect and shine. While I do like the Dior Addict Lacquer Plump due to its comforting effect on the lips, as well as its beautiful shades, I didn’t think it was plumping at all, or at least I didn’t really notice it. But with the Dior Addict Lacquer Stick, it’s a completely different experience.

I remember skipping on these lipsticks before when they were released, (which I shouldn’t have) thinking that it would just be like any other Dior lipsticks. But since purchasing the three shades which I’m about to review below, I felt like I really I should have bought some before since there weren’t a lot of colors left anymore at my local Dior counters or even at my local Department Stores or Sephora. Upon initial test, in my opinion, I think this Lacquer Stick is a lot better than the Dior Addict Lacquer Plump. With this, the application is smooth and you’ll really get a good coverage with just one swipe. By smooth, I mean buttery smooth, kinda like those YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in texture and comfort. The Lacquer stick is also very hydrating and super lightweight on the lips, so you won’t feel like wearing anything at all. There are two finishes available as of the moment: the limited-edition Glitter finish and the Satin finish.

Glitter Finish

627 Rising Star – Glittery Nude. I fell in love with this holographic shimmery nude immediately. I love that it’s a medium taupe shade that complements my lips’ undertone and that nice multi-faceted soft shimmer is so pretty yet not too uncomfortably blinding. It’s a great every nude lip color with wearable shimmers.

Satin Finish:

420 Underground – Pink Nude. This color is one of those perfect everyday lipstick no matter what complexion you’re in. It’s a “hard to come by” shade even though there’s a ton of nude lipsticks nowadays. Yet this shade seems to adapt to any inherent color that’s already on the lips. It isn’t a show-off shade, instead, it’s more of wearable warm nude with a tiny bit of pink.

570 L.A. Pink – Rosewood. A very beautiful, (like bee-you-tiful!) mauve rose that looks a bit like the Underground shade above but has a bit more pink in it. For me, this is such a very wearable warm pinky rosewood because its undertones are muted so it’s not flashy even though its finish is quite shiny.

There is a slight floral scent to these lipsticks, but it’s not as strong compared to the scent of most Dior Addict Lipsticks. I actually find the scent to be pleasing. The packaging, on the other hand, is sleek but it’s a bit annoying because the names of the lipsticks are on the tube cover and not on the product’s tube itself. So there’s a huge possibility of mislabeling the lipsticks. Other than that, this Dior Addict Lacquer Stick is almost perfect. It feels light on the lips, it’s indeed comforting and hydrating like a lip balm, its pigments are superb and gives good coverage, while it has a nice shiny finish but not over the top like a vinyl effect. It lasts a good three hours on me after eating, but a solid 4 to 5 hours with minimal snacking or just sipping coffee, juice or tea.

The Dior Addict Lacquer Stick is currently available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Selfridges, Harrods, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, and Dillard’s

Sephora Play! May 2018

May 30, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello Everybody! It’s time again for a review of what’s inside my Sephora Play! this month of May. As expected, there are some repeat products and a few new ones that I haven’t tried before. But it’s no surprise because this month is all about product roundups that became so popular and have achieved cult status as a celebration of Sephora Play’s 2nd year Anniversary.

Let’s take a closer look at the products I got this month…

Buxom Lash Mascara (0.37 oz: $20) – I didn’t expect much from this mascara at first, but when I applied it on my lashes, I then realize that I actually love it. It curls and separates the lashes well and it doesn’t smudge. It has a volumizing and lengthening effect and it keeps the lashes looking glam and dramatic for a long time. I also have not noticed any eye irritations. So this is a big hit for me.

Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Absolue Pure Perfume (0.37 oz-6.7 oz: $26-$195) – Probably the most popular scent from Atelier Cologne and one of the best-scented colognes ever, I wouldn’t be surprised if this fresh Clementine Orange fragrance has achieved cult status. It’s one of the most perfect summer signature scents to have, and that’s why you may keep finding this in your Sephora Play box as it does for me.

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer (0.25 oz-1.5 oz: $12-$49) – This is one of the best face primers ever and you will never be disappointed when using this. It keeps the makeup stay longer and it blurs the pores. I also keep receiving this on my Sephora Play and have purchased several small sizes of this for traveling. It’s worth stocking up on and it’s perfect for my oily-prone skin.

Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction (2.5 oz-5.1 oz: $26-$42) – Got so excited when I saw this in this month’s box. I’m a huge Alterna Haircare fan, and this is such a nice little deal. I love the scent of this which is very similar to the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Shampoo and Conditioner (reviewed HERE). This cream is the extension of that haircare mentioned, and it’s a versatile leave-in conditioner treatment that helps the hair in a lot of ways; such as making it shiny, preventing it from constant breaking, protecting it from extreme heat or styling, and making it more manageable, to mention a few. A little bit goes a long with this, and so far, what I noticed is that it really relaxes the strands of my hair and it tames frizzes and flyaways even for the next day. It’s also very reliable for this summer heat.

Bareminerals Mineral Veil Setting Powder (0.3 oz: $23) – This powder is very fine-milled, so soft and it controls oil and shine. It sets the foundation well and I noticed that it kept my oily-prone skin from being oily too soon. It actually comes in different finishes, but what I got is the sheer version which is so light and it doesn’t leave a white cast on my face. I was a bit weary before testing this since I tend to react on some Bareminerals powder foundations, but so far, this one seems ok.

Sephora Collection Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying (1.0 oz-2.03 oz: $10-$20) – One of my most favorite mud masks of all time, and it works very well. For me, this is the next best thing to Glamglow Supermud Mask (HERE) because this also controls oil or excess sebum and it clarifies the skin. It cleanses deep into the pores yet it comes at a much more affordable price. I also think that this has a slightly better scent because even though this is also quite earthy like the Supermud, I find that this has a bit of a fresher note. Though this doesn’t set as well as Glamglow because it has some clumps (which doesn’t really bother me), I find that this mask is still a very good deal.

Bottom line, this month’s Sephora Play has been quite useful for me, even though some products were already repeated but at least they’re one of my favorites. Did you like the stuff you got this month?

Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick in Gold + Champagne Flash Review + Swatches

May 28, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Happy Monday Everybody. Since I was almost running out of my favorite highlighters, including the sticks which are so practical to use for me especially when I’m on the go, I got these two new beautiful Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks (0.21 oz for $42) that I recently scored at a discounted price at Sephora during their last VIB Sale weeks ago. As a fanatic of Highlighters, I’ve always wanted to get my hands on these because I seem to always have positive experiences with Hourglass products.

You know how some Highlighters or Highlighter Sticks tend to be to too sheer or not blinding enough? well, this Hourglass one is the complete opposite. With just one swipe, you’ll get a ton of shimmers compared to some other facial strobing products. The shimmers of these Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks are soft focus, natural, non-sticky and non-oily, yet they reflect. I love that you can layer the intensity of the glow – from a slight subtle shimmer to a super-blinding one.

When it comes to its pigments, I find that the Gold Flash and Champagne Flash shades (seen below) can look quite similar to each other, although the Champagne Flash looks a bit more natural and more suited to my skintone because of its peachy undertone. The Gold Flash can be so blinding if you’re not careful with the application, but other than that, they’re both beautiful high-quality shimmers for fair, light, light/medium, and warm medium skintones, not to mention that they really highlight the high points of the face.

Gold Flash – A golden soft focus easy to layer shimmer that reflects light and highlights the face very well. It’s super packed with shimmer and overall super pigmented that it’s better to be light-handed when applying this, or else it can be too much.

Champagne Flash – A peachy shimmer that can look a bit like the Gold Flash above but with a more peachy undertone. It’s can also be very blinding, but its effects can be more subtle compared to the Gold Flash due to its peachy undertone being closer to most skintones. I love this as an everyday face illuminator with or without makeup.

I noticed that these Highlighters are really lightweight on the skin, given the fact that they’re the stick type of Highlighters. And most stick Highlighters can be oily or a bit sticky, and they tend to slide off the face after a few hours, not to mention that they can disrupt the foundation. These Hourglass Highlighters, on the other hand, don’t exhibit any of those potential issues. Aside from being lightweight and non-sticky, they’re also very long lasting. I’d use mine in the morning, and they’re still on at night. My face may get oily but these highlighters are still on point. I love that they’re so easy to use with just a swipe and go, and I could use them with any kind of foundation. I also like the fact that they’re so pigmented, so one swipe will do the job and if I want more drama, I’d just swipe a bit more then blend. Speaking of blending, the texture of these Highlighting sticks are soft and a bit creamy yet not overly so, and they set well on the face. I love its packaging and its twist-type release, which makes for an easy on-the-go use. There’s also no discernible scent and there’s enough product in its decent-sized chubby triangular container.

Overall, these Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks are true to what they’re described to be. They live up to Hourglass’s quality and sleek luxurious packaging of products. The Highlighting you’d get out of this is not only beautiful and breathtaking but also very customizable depending on your application. That is why I consider this as one of the best Highlighters I’ve ever tried, and for me, this has the best formula for a Highlighter Stick.

The Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks are available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, SpaceNK, and Selfridges