Reviews and Other Stuff

aesop skincare

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Mask, The Silk Canvas, And The Pearl Review

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer

Hello! Happy Friyay! There are some new Tatcha products in town and I can’t wait to discuss them with you guys today. As you all know, I’m in love with almost every Tatcha products, I mean, who doesn’t? I think their products are just high quality and are really made to work. Their skincare stuff are usually the ones I always seem to use and they never disappoint. Lately, I saw that they seem to be gearing towards not only making skincare products but also making something that’s a cross between makeup and skincare. Well, how exciting is that? So check out these three new releases from them.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mask Review

Luminous Dewy Skin Mask (1 x 0.68 oz: $12, 4 x 0.68 oz: $45) – This facial mask has that slight signature Tatcha scent and is very soaked with the serum to the point that it’s almost dripping right out of the package. The mask sheet doesn’t feel too thick and not too thin. It feels cooling and refreshing once applied to the face and it gives a nice calming and relaxing sensation. A few minutes into its usage, I noticed my skin feeling soft and very hydrated. You’re supposed to leave this mask on the face for 15 minutes, but I like to keep mine on a little bit longer until the sheet starts to feel a bit dry – that took about a whole 30 something minutes for me. Tatcha advises to massage the remaining serum on the face after taking off the mask, which I did, and my skin really feels drenched, super moisturized and truly dewy. This is definitely a very good facial mask and one that I definitely recommend whether you’re just starting into masks or are a true die-hard face mask fan. I actually think that this mask is one of the best I’ve tried out there and it definitely ranks higher than the ones made by Sephora. Also, it’s the next best thing compared to the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask, my other favorite. The SK-II Mask has a thicker sheet and is extremely drenched with the Pitera serum. It doesn’t dry out immediately but it’s also quite more expensive than this Tatcha Dewy Skin Mask. Anyhow, whichever mask you’d choose, you’re definitely going to like any of them.

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer Review

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer

 

The Silk Canvas Protective Primer (0.7 oz: $52) – I was so curious about this primer. The packaging looks really sleek and simply beautiful and I thought it would be more like a compact when you open it, but you actually have to twist it and you need to use its complimentary round spatula in order to scrape a small amount of product. That’s because this isn’t your typical liquid primer, this is a solid silky luxe facial primer that has a nice intense signature Tatcha scent that’s common to most Tatcha products. I mean, this primer smells very good. It’s like finally! a primer that smells divine, sans any silicone scent. My face literally smells so nice and I couldn’t help but notice it all the time. This primer feels silky to the touch and it also makes my face feel silky smooth once applied. Don’t worry about its creamy white color, it won’t leave a white cast on the face. My foundations (liquids, creams, and a few powders) go on easily and not look splotchy. My pores appear blurred and it gives a natural finish whenever I use a luminous type of foundation. Also, it doesn’t make my face look dry whenever I use a mattifying one. I find that this primer does a good job at holding my foundation for several hours (6 or more ). Now, do I think I could find another primer that could do the same job? Yes sure. Do I also think this product is worth it? Yes, this is a luxurious primer that not only does an overall good job at priming the face, lips, and eyes, using this is also quite a sensorial experience. The only thing that kind of irks me about this is how you have to twist the container in order to open it, and it can be quite slippery to the touch sometimes. Also, you’re really gonna need the scraper that it came with because using the fingers alone won’t allow you to grab enough product.

 

Tatcha The Pearl Tinted Eye Illuminating Treatment

Tatcha The Pearl Tinted Eye Illuminating Treatment in Softlight

 

The Pearl Tinted Eye Illuminating Treatment in Softlight (0.4 oz: $48) – In what probably could be the best packaging I’ve ever seen for an eye cream product, this Tatcha The Pearl Eye Treatment is absolutely beautiful and enchanting with its, of course, pearl-like container. This hybrid of an eye treatment and makeup-in-one is very intriguing. You can use this as a tinted eye treatment/moisturizer, or as a concealer. It feels very lightweight yet very creamy. It’s also non-sticky and is extremely pigmented. You only need a tiny bit of product and it’s good enough to cover your whole undereye situation. LOL. I suggest that you don’t swipe this across the undereye immediately because it will look patchy, especially if your skin is kind of dry. Just try to dab it on the skin to sorta warm it up and it will blend in well. I was actually quite unsure about my shade match when I purchased this product. I thought the medium shade or the Softlight might look too dark for me because it looks quite brownish on the picture and in the packaging. Also, the light shade (Moonlight) looks too bright for me as well. So I decided on the medium shade and boy I was right. This color tends to get lighter and brighter as soon as you apply it. It illuminates the eyes and gives this kind of naturally awake look. The formula itself has Akoya Pearls, Silk Powder, and Botanical Extracts that are meant to reduce dark circles and brighten the eye area. While it remains to be proven whether pearls actually has skincare benefits, I feel like there’s a lot to love with this Tatcha Eye Treatment. It really brightens the undereye area just like a concealer and you won’t even need one. Although, you could perfectly layer your favorite concealer with this, but personally, I could get by just by using this eye treatment. Some mentioned that the packaging is really small for its price and yes it does look like there’s not a lot of product in it, but actually there is because this is so pigmented that all you really need is a rice amount to get a full coverage on the undereyes. This product has been recently released, so I will keep testing this to see if this really has a brightening effect over time.

 

Tatcha The Pearl Tinted Eye Illuminating Treatment in Softlight Swatch

 

Apart from these three Tatcha new releases, they’ve also released their Deep Cleanse facial cleanser (reviewed here) which is one of the best face cleansers I’ve ever tried, both by scent and by formula. Overall, it’s another job well-done by Tatcha for these amazing products, and I highly recommend them. They feel so pampering on the skin and I love that some of their stuff are not just great as skincare, but also great as makeup.

 

The Tatcha Silk Primer, Luminous Dewy Mask, and The Pearl are currently available atย Sephora andย JCPenney,ย 

 

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish Review

dove exfoliating body polish

 

Hey All! I have recently discovered an exciting product from Dove, and there’s a lot to love about it. The Dove Exfoliating Body Polish (10.5 oz for $5.89) is one body scrub you canโ€™t ignore. Ever since I saw it in a magazine, I knew I have to check it out as soon as possible, simply because I had a feeling that it’s gonna be great. Well, true to my hunch, this new body polish from Dove is really high-quality. I know I had blogged about pricey body scrubs before, but this product from Dove cannot be underestimated, and it’s a force to be reckoned with.

 

First of all, the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish is super affordable and you can find it anywhere, be it at your local grocery store, Target, or at your local Pharmacy. Second, the scrub comes in a hefty jar, so itโ€™ll last for several washes. Third, its formula is whipped, lightweight, and really gritty, which means you’re really getting a good thorough scrub with it. Fourth, this body scrub comes in three scents or ingredients and they all smell divine. You can either choose an energizing refreshing scent, an enriching one, or a yummy one. Lastly, it leaves the skin feeling soft and well-cleaned right after washing. You can even follow it up with any kinds of soap or body wash or just use it as it is. This body polish won’t dry your skin, instead, it leaves an invigorating feeling that makes the skin supple and ready for any kind of body lotion or moisturizer.

 

dove body scrub review

 

You can use the Dove Exfoliating Body Polish three to four times a week, or once a week if you have sensitive skin, then you can gradually increase the frequency as you wish.

 

dove crushed macadamia and rice milk body scrub review

 

Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk (10.5 oz: $5.89) โ€“ This literally smells like milk and all its indulgence. Using this particular scrub feels really nourishing and relaxing on the skin and youโ€™re gonna feel like Cleopatra every time you shower with it.

 

dove pomegranate seeds and shea butter body scrub review

 

Pomegranate Seeds & Shea Butter (10.5 oz: $5.99) – This body scrub smells yummy and invigorating like a fresh pomegranate. Of all the three Dove Body Polishes, this is my most favorite in terms of scents and ingredients, simply because the scent of this is just irresistible and energizing. I also love that you can feel the bits and pieces of pomegranate while scrubbing this on your body.

 

dove kiwi seeds and cool aloe body scrub review

 

Kiwi Seeds & Cool Aloe (10.5 oz: $5.89) – This has a light fresh green scent that sort of reminds me of the Dove Go Fresh Cool Moisture Body Wash in Cucumber and Green Tea. I feel like this is a great scent for those who prefer very light scents in their body scrubs or for those with sensitive skin. This also feels great to use during the summer because it’s very refreshing to the senses.

 

dove body scrub

 

Overall, I think Dove did a very good job with these body scrubs. They feel like high-quality and I think they could pretty much compete with most high-end body scrubs out there, especially when knowing that each of the scrubs is really affordable and is almost available everywhere. Personally, I love these Body Polishes so much that I’ll make sure there will be at least one in my shower caddy all the time.

 

Have you tried these already? If you haven’t, you really should.

 

The Dove Exfoliating Body Polish is currently available at Target, Amazon, andย Walgreens

 

 

Aesop Skincare Review

aesop skincare review

 

As a skincare junkie, my attention naturally turned towards trying and testing Aesop products, mainly for curiosity’s sake and also to see if the brand could fill the void of some of my skincare needs. Aesop is an Aussie skincare brand owned by a Brazilian company. It is known for its simple and straightforward design of its packaging with emphasis on plant-based and sensory-invoking formulations that are very much spa-like. I’ve never been to an Aesop store before, and I also have not seen any of their signature concept spaces in some department stores. I’ve heard and read that each of their stores is unique and that the interiors are well-designed. I hope to set foot in one of them someday. Anyway, I got my Aesop fix from Nordstrom.comย and Saksfifthavenue.comย which made it so convenient especially if you don’t have an Aesop store nearby. So here some Aesop goodies that I’ve tried and tested lately.

 

Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask

 

Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask (2.1 oz: $45) – This is a lightweight face mask with antioxidants and aloe vera. It has a blend of clay and herbaceous scent with a bit of something fresh and floral. The consistency is smooth and creamy and its color is a light brown clay that transforms into something of a pale white shade once it dries. The instruction says to use this twice weekly for 15 minutes, which I did. It has a calming effect on the skin and it’s good in keeping moisture on the face. It is a great mask if you have a normal, sensitive or dry skin, but definitely, it’s not for oily skin like yours truly here. On my skin, this doesn’t feel like it goes deep into cleansing my pores or that it takes off excess oil. I definitely need something stronger than this like Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple Pore Extractor which actually smells and feels very similar to this Aesop Parsley Seed Mask. Also, the Pore Extractor Mask from Philosophy works better and it’s also cheaper.

Rind Concentrate Body Balm

Rind Concentrate Body Balm (4.2 oz: $35, 17 oz: $97) – If you love the way your hands smell after eating a citrus fruit, then you’re surely to going to love this scent. This versatile cream totally smells like 100% citrus, orange, and lemon skin. It is so good and so irresistible that I practically got addicted to its scent. This is definitely the best Aesop product I’ve tried so far, and its consistency does not disappoint. It’s a smooth mid-weight cream that is not too thin and not too thick. It’s also non-sticky and it goes through the skin easily. Truly a great body and hand moisturizer, and because I love this so much, I’ll be repurchasing this in its largest size, simply because this is unbelievably good, and I highly recommend this to all of you guys.

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub swatch

 

Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

 

Geranium Leaf Body Scrub (6.1 oz: $35) – This is a very invigorating gel body scrub with pumice, bamboo stem, and geranium leaf. A little bit of this works really well to exfoliate the body because this scrub is so gritty and it foams nicely, but at the same time, it’s also gentle on the skin. You definitely need to rinse this off thoroughly and try to use it once or twice a week. This surprisingly leaves the skin smooth and soft, refreshed, and very well-cleansed. I love its unisex green and fresh scent that almost feels like you’re having a spa. I just wish Aesop will make this in a much larger container in the future.

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser

 

Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (6.8 oz: $25, 16.9 oz: $45) – This is another gel body cleanser that smells fresh and green just like the Geranium Leaf Body Scrub above but without the pumice. It lathers really well and it also leaves the skin feeling thoroughly cleaned and soft. I also found this to be gentle on the skin and you also don’t need to use a lot of the product. I believe this a great alternative for those who don’t want the super-exfoliating Geranium Scrub version and just wants an everyday gentle body cleanser, but this is also a great partner together with the scrub if you want that extra cleansing and polishing.

 

Aesop fabulous face cleanser review

 

Fabulous Face Cleanser (3.4 oz: $33, 6.8 oz: $49) – What a fabulous name for a facial cleanser eh? I wanted to check how fab this cleanser would be, and I find that this actually has a mild herb-like scent that’s great for everyday use. It works pretty well for normal, combination, dry, and sensitive skin types especially during the winter, and it foams quite ok. It cleanses gently so a lot of folks will surely love this, however, if you’re the oily-skin type, you might need something more potent than this just so you can get rid of excess oil and shine.

 

Bottom line, I like Aesops’ concept of organic simple skincare products that actually smells relaxing and luxurious. I find their formulas to be very well-thought-out but they’re pricey and hard to find. Because of that, I feel like I’d probably limit myself to theย Geranium Leaf Body Scrub because it’s such a very good exfoliator with a fresh herbaceous and spa-like scent that’s kind of hard to come by nowadays. And of course, I am definitely in love and will definitely hoard the Rind Concentrate Body Balm. Not sure about the Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask though, I prefer the Philosophy Pore Extractor more. I will probably skip the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser from time to time, and will not repurchase the Fabulous Face Cleanser in the future, yet I will continue to discover more Aesop products because they are such awesome treats once in a while.

 

aesop skin care

 

The Aesop Skincare products are currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys NY, Net-A-Porter & Selfridges