Reviews and Other Stuff

chanel beauty

Samples of The Week: Kerastase, Tatcha, Aveda, Philosophy, Sisley Paris, Acqua Di Parma & Chanel

Samples of The Week: Kerastase Bain architecte Bain magistral, Tatcha the water cream, Aveda hand relief cream, Philosophy 3 in 1 face eye Cleanser makeup remover, Sisley Paris Black Rose cream mask, Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mirto Di Panarea Chanel hydra beauty

 

It’s Friday again guys and here are some products that you may want to hunt over the weekend. A lot of these samples are really interesting and some of them are the products I’ve been eyeing for quite a while now, but I wasn’t exactly sure if they’re worth it. Thank God for samples, now I know more or less which product I may want to test.ย 

 

Tatcha The Water Cream

 

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Magistral (80 ml: $20.50, 250 ml: $41) – A Glamour-awarded shampoo for dry to severely dry hair. It’s meant to make the hair smooth, supple and shiny. Also, it promises to remove impurities and nourish the hair from within. I find this shampoo to be very moisturizing but if your hair is on the fine/straight side, and you don’t wash your hair the next day, well, this might weigh it down. It’s really great if you tend to have dry hair or even dry scalp because this shampoo will make it look shiny and healthy. I also love that the scent is non-irritating and it smells like iris and sunflower seed.

Tatcha The Water Cream (1.7 oz $68) – I’m so excited to try this newly-released gel cream from Tatcha since I love Tatcha beauty and skincare products. They have such innovative and interesting products that will really spark your interest. They also make their packaging look sophisticated and pretty like this moisturizer, which is SO good. It feels really light but it moisturizes very well. The moment I applied this, I felt like all the stress, pain, arthritis, and even the evil spirits went away, lol. This feels cool on the face and the light floral scent is just divine.

Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask (2.1 oz $162) – Been dying to try this mask since this is basically a 5-star cult-favorite in France and in the US. Lots of people are raving about it even if it has a steep price. Even Emma Stone’s makeup artist used this on her when she attended and won the Oscar for Best Actress. I managed to score a sample at my local Nordstrom Sisley Paris counter and immediately tried it upon arriving home. I have mixed feelings about this mask. It doesn’t seem like a mask to me, instead, it’s more like a moisturizer since it’s really creamy. It’s meant to be used on the skin for 2-3 times a week, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes, wiping off excess product thereafter. In my experience, it’s true that my skin did absorb this quickly and there’s not even any excess. It’s really hard to treat this as a mask, but it’s easy to see this as a moisturizer instead, even though Sisley Paris has recently introduced the moisturizer version of this, seen HERE. So I used this as a moisturizer and left this on my skin overnight. My skin indeed looked luminous and well-hydrated, but I feel like any good moisturizer could do that. Even La Mer could do that, and compared to La Mer’s scent, this Sisley Paris Black Rose Mask has a strong rose stem/cucumber scent. A little too much for me. I don’t know, but I feel like it’s kind of hard to be so impressed by this, especially upon seeing how small the regular size is with respect to its price. I do feel like this cream mask is good for traveling or when your face had gone through extremes temperatures and harsh elements because this is really very hydrating.

 

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Creme review

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Creme (1.7 oz $98) – Here’s a gel cream that feels great and smells great. It so lightweight that it feels like slightly thickened water and it hydrates the skin like no other. It kept my face hydrated overnight and even the whole day. I also love the Camellia scent which is fresh and very irresistible. This would have been perfect, but the only caveat is the price.

 

Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme

Kerastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte (80 ml: $20.50, 250 ml: $41, 500 ml: $60) – A reconstructing and repairing shampoo for brittle and damaged hair. This hair care product is meant to rebuild every strand starting from the roots, and it’s supposed to prevent the hair from breakage and split ends. This shampoo lathers very well and it smells like citronella with a bit of tamarind. I love it.

Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme (1.4 oz: $9.50, 4.2 oz: $24) – This hand cream truly delivers what it’s meant to be, an intense therapy cream for those with seriously dry hands. This really made my hands look like human hands and not Neanderthal’s, lol. The only thing that sort of bothers me is the strong sweet citrus/grapefruit scent. Other than that, this is a great handcream.

Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mirto Di Panarea Eau de Toilette Spray (2.5 oz: $105, 5 oz: $160) – This scent smells really great at first, like a fresh burst of lemon and bergamot with the smell of the ocean, but it dries into something slightly musky for me and I could sense the faint traces of basil. I definitely think that this is more masculine even though it’s meant to be unisex. I like it though because it reminds me of the sea even if it doesn’t last long.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple, 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face & Eyes a.k.aย  Philosophy Eye Cleansing Gel & Makeup Remover (7.5 oz $23) – This is a mild gel cleanser for the eyes and face. It doesn’t irritate and it feels very gentle. I don’t think this completely removes all my makeup, but this seems good as a daily cleanser because this won’t dry your skin, although I feel like I have to wash my face twice with this whenever my skin feels too oily.

 

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Creme

 

What do you think of these? Is there anything here that sparks your interest?

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

 

Follow me on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Chanel Mules Slides Review

Hello There! Itโ€™s almost weekend, right? Letโ€™s end this week with an exciting review dedicated to all shoe lovers, shoe-aholics and fashionistas out there. I know we all love shoes, if itโ€™s not bags, not jewelries, itโ€™s definitely the shoes! Who doesnโ€™t get crazy when it comes to shoes or footwear? I know I do, and I canโ€™t help it. Like the famous quote in the movie โ€œIn Her Shoesโ€ Rose (Toni Collette) told her sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz) these lines โ€œWhen I feel bad, I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good. Food just makes me fatter. Shoes always fitโ€. Yes, the shoes always fit, no matter what. Even coming from the mouth of the worldโ€™s most famous shoe collector and the wife of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Mrs. Imelda Marcos once said โ€œThey went to into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes!โ€ Oh! Isnโ€™t that something? I wish I could say the same for my closet, hahaha! But most likely, itโ€™s probably filled with some boring shoes and lots of dusts, and who knows, there might even be a skeleton in there, LOL! Just kiddingโ€ฆ Anyway, without further ado, this review is all about the Chanel Mules, or commonly known as the Chanel Slides. I have searched far and wide for this pair of slides, in fact, Iโ€™ve crossed countries for it, and finally got it. Oh, excited much? Keep readingโ€ฆ.

 

Chanel Mules

 

Almost exactly a year ago, I was having lunch and I saw this email from Chanel that linked to a video about their Cruise 2016/2017 collection that was held in Cuba. I was so excited that I immediately watched the whole show online and was mesmerized at the whole ambience and beauty of the place and the entire collection. The clothes were so colorful, the bags were vibrant and the entire Cuban vibe looked very muy caliente! Yet I was transfixed to a specific accessory. Those slides! Theyโ€™re beautiful, theyโ€™re different, and theyโ€™re so me. Oh my, here we go again. Whenever I say those words, I get into trouble, LOL! So, the models kept coming back, waking back and forth with those beautiful and colorful slides. Their skinny feet looking casual chic into these chain-adorned sandals. I knew I wanted those Slides right then and there.

From then on, I embarked into these whirlwind Chanel Slides hunting and had my series of ups and downs. Never knew looking for something as simple as slides or mules can be so tedious and frustrating at times. But itโ€™s not like most mules you know. I first decided which color I like, and knew I had to get the dark ones, but the ones shown in the fashion show were all colorful. I remember seeing the previous yearโ€™s slides, which was the first time the Chanel slides were unveiled, I think sometime in 2015, and they were made of tweed upper, which I really really like, but I was sure I couldnโ€™t get my hand on those anymore. Yet I wasnโ€™t so sure about the Cuba Collectionโ€™s colors either. Since I was traveling at that time, I decided to drop by at a Chanel boutique in New York and asked if they have one. They said, they werenโ€™t available in their store yet, but itโ€™s coming soon, and they were kind enough to add me in their waiting list. Oh you have no idea how excited I was. Fast forward, a few months later, I received a call from them, the person I talked to in the phone had a very weird attitude. He was so in a hurry to sell without even showing me all the sample pictures and didnโ€™t even care which color I like or wanted to buy. He told me thereโ€™s a navy shade, but was not willing to show me the pictures, so I thought, how could I buy something that I havenโ€™t seen? So I just let it pass. What a bummer. I really wanted those Chanel Slides, I thought. Oh well, too bad.

 

Chanel Mules Slides Review

 

Another fast forward, a few months later, I found myself strolling inside Neiman Marcus King of Prussia shoe salon and my heart skipped a beat, I thought I was gonna have an arrhythmia, and there it was, a pair of Chanel Slides in navy color shown on display. The slides of my dreams, the chain detail looks very luxurious and shiny against the rich dark navy footbed and upper satin fabric. I could buy it right now, but something was holding me back, I know, right? Crazy of me, but I thought about my upcoming trip to Europe, and I decided to buy it there since Iโ€™ll be able to get it tax-free. So I let it pass again.

Weeks later, I visited a Chanel boutique in Barcelona and immediately asked for a pair of Chanel Slides in Navy. Right away they said theyโ€™re gone and that theyโ€™re gone almost everywhere in Europe. My heart sank 6 feet below the ground. In fact, they only have one color in my size, and itโ€™s pink. Oh what a cruel world. They never care to leave at least one navy shade in size 7 for me. I then had a flashback of all the chances where I almost got the slides and I wanted to go berserk! Hehehe, that serious, eh?

So, with empty hands, I tried calling the Chanel boutique in Tysons Galleria and was politely told that they donโ€™t have it either. Theyโ€™re basically sold out in all Chanel boutiques, and I was beginning to lose hope. But thereโ€™s only one more place to call, the place where I first saw the Chanel Slides in Navy. Yes, Neiman Marcus has it, yes! And itโ€™s the only one theyโ€™ve got in size 7. I was like โ€œare you sure itโ€™s navy? In size 7? Like the Chanel slides in navy size 7 for real?โ€ The answers were all YES.

Finally, I got my one and only available pair of Chanel slides in Navy size 7. It was as beautiful as I first laid my eyes on it. In fact, I think itโ€™s more beautiful than the first slides released by Chanel that were made of tweed upper, and itโ€™s definitely more beautiful than the Givenchy Slides, which I was also eyeing at first. I love the chain details of it that shines luxuriously when hit by the light, and the navy shade is almost black and looks very versatile. Itโ€™s a gorgeous take on a simple slide. Itโ€™s casual but elegant, itโ€™s pretty and comfortable. Itโ€™s not too heavy and not too light, and it can elevate any outfit, be it formal or street-style. Though I wouldnโ€™t wanna submerge it on the water, itโ€™s still a great sandal for strolling along beach. Just be mindful that the upper is made of satin and not rubber. The slides come in different colors like; bright blue, pink, yellow and green. I advise that you call the boutique directly to see if they have one available right now or when the next batch of stocks will arrive. If not, try the high-end department stores. Chanel just released another version of these slides for their Spring-Summer 2017 Collection, and the upper is made of tweed with flower on it. Meanwhile, the Cruise 2016/2017 is still listed online for reference. Both are priced at $700.

 

Iโ€™m definitely editing my shoes and outfits for this coming summer, and I have a lot of plans for this pair of Chanel slides. I mean of course, who wouldnโ€™t want to wear the shoes that almost got away?

 

Chanel Slides Navy

 

Thanks for reading guys,

 

Enjoy the weekend.

 

Follow me on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Review

chanel le crayon eye definer coffee bean

 

Apart from the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner that I so love, (reviewed HERE), here’s another Chanel eyeliner that blends easily and is so practical to use. The Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer comes in handy when you need to to create different eye looks, from a naturalย daywear to a smoldering smoky eye. Though the formulation is not exactly waterproof, it’s still quite long lasting and its blending power is just amazing. It’s very creamy and it glides easily on the lid without being streaky. It’s so great for tightlining in order to make your eyes bigger. Lurve it!

 

chanel le crayon yeux precision eye definer review

 

When I said that this Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Eyeliner is practical, well it really is. It comes with a built-in smudger on one side of the pencil for easy blending and an eye crayon on the other side. There’s even a free sharpener that came with the packaging. I wish all eyeliners were made like this. ๐Ÿ™‚

 

chanel le crayon yeux review

 

The shade that I picked for this particular Chanel eyeliner is the shade in Coffee Bean, which is a deep dark brown that is almost slightly black. It looks very natural on the eyes specially when smudged and blended. You can purchase this eyeliner or checkout its array of colors HERE.

 

Are you an eyeliner fan? what’s your favorite eyeliner of all time?

 

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