Reviews and Other Stuff

Chanel le gel coat

Loving Right Now

Hey there wherever you are! It’s frozen cold where I am and it’s only going to get worse, so for the meantime, no trips to Sephora, no lurking at Ulta, and worse, no stalking and daydreaming at Nordies. But anyway, let’s get ourselves distracted and entertained with the beautiful things in life so we can get through these cold lonely nights! Great idea huh?

 

Chanel Le Gel LongWear Top Coat, Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream

 

If you’re wondering what I’ve been loving lately, oh well, there’s a lot to mention, but here are a few skin and beauty products that I’ve taken a huge interest in. Some of these are truly spectacular and I could write home about them, while some are helpful and great to have but not necessarily a useful life-changing product. Read on…

 

Atelier Cologne Bergamote Soleil

 

Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream (250 ml: $22) – Excited to try this body cream/lotion much from Glossier. As you all know, I love Glossier’s products (mentioned HERE) and even until now, I still use this lotion on a day to day basis as I like how smooth it made my skin feels. It’s basically a simple light-scented body cream with soft shimmers that’s great for everyday moisturization and skin softening. The shimmers can be hard to notice on the skin, and while I love that this lotion comes in a huge tube/container, I do feel like Glossier could do better and make the scent even more noticeable and more enticing. Other than that, this is a good non-irritating daily cream.

 

Amika Polished Perfection Mini Straightening Brush ($35) – For months and months, I’ve always wanted this straightener/hairbrush hybrid because it seems really useful, time-saving and simply practical to have. I’ve never tried nor had one like this before, but I kind of stopped myself because I was a bit turned down by the reviews. That is until finally, Amika released the mini version and I decided to try it immediately. One thing I noticed is that this heats up fast and it seems pretty sturdy. However, I didn’t quite get to where and how to start with this device. I felt like I had to comb/brush my hair first with a normal brush, then brush my hair with this device. Anyway, long story short, it worked on my hair but it didn’t really straighten it like most hair straighteners do. That is because my hair is on the fine side and the bristles of this heated brush are way too long or too high. I think this works best if you have some hair volume. But mine is fine and almost flat. Also, there’s no temperature setting on this mini version, but it’s great for traveling (dual voltage) and for quick touch-ups especially when you don’t have the time to straighten your hair thoroughly. It’s just not gonna be a perfect straight sleek look though, but it’s a great brush and go device.

 

Atelier Cologne Bergamote Soleil (1 oz: $70, 3.3 oz: $130, 6.7 oz: $195) – Was looking for another great summer beach vibe scent apart from Clementine California, and I immediately fell in love with this. The smell of fresh Bergamot and something quite floral is not only refreshing but also clean. It seems like this scent might or will be discontinued, which is a pity because I would love to have more of this. However, some people that have smelled this mentioned that it smells a bit like a car air freshener, which is too much and too strong. I did kind of noticed that, but I guess it all sort of depends on your olfactory nerves.

 

Dior Diorific Khol Holiday 2017 Limited Edition in 341 Pure Topaz

 

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (Mini: $15, 4 oz: $32) – I’ve been with different makeup setting sprays in the past, but I keep coming back to this one. This just never fails me. My makeup stays put, never budges, never creases and never cakes. I used this setting spray on my foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, etc. when I was in Hong Kong and PH with extreme heat and humidity and my makeup survived so well throughout the day. That is because this setting spray lowers the temps of makeup which in turn prevents caking, settling, and fading. Now that’s zero-meltdown tolerance right there.

 

Chanel Le Gel LongWear Top Coat (0.4 oz: $28) – Reviewed before HERE. This topcoat is a forever love. The one I always reach for whenever I need long-lasting, strong, and shiny nails for special occasions or in times when I won’t be able to do a manicure for a few weeks. What I like about this is that it dries so fast and it really makes the nail polish last for 2 to 3 weeks without chipping. Think of this as a much better version of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

 

Dior Diorific Khol Holiday 2017 Limited Edition in 341 Pure Topaz ($38) – This limited-edition lipstick caught my eye with its luxe-looking packaging and powdery texture. It looks different, unique, and very elegant. There’s not a lot of colors in this line though, but I fell in love with the Topaz shade. It’s a great everyday pop of color on the lips. I truly love the beautiful shiny gold packaging of this, which is one of a kind, also, the lipstick has a pointed tip like a pen, which makes it look even more different. And while the formula looks powdery on the outside, the real texture/finish of this khol lipstick is actually slightly creamy and velvety. It’s non-drying but it has a slight matte effect, but not necessarily powder-like. It also retains the typical Dior scent/taste that they usually have on their lipsticks.

 

Chanel La Creme Main Hand Cream review

 

Chanel La Creme Main Hand Cream (1.7 oz: $50) – A uniquely-packaged hand cream that not only hydrates but it also protects, brightens, and improves nail strength. All that without a sticky residue. This innovative hand cream from Chanel got everyone going in a mad dash. It’s practically sold out in some places and with the cold temps right now, oh my, why am I not surprised? but that’s not the only reason, this hand cream is amazeballs, it’s packaging is like an egg. Cute, simple, handy, and designed by NASA? hmmm. You may wonder if it’s slippery to the touch or to use, but nope, it’s not really. It’s actually pretty squeezable and flexible, so it’s easy to open. It is pricey, yeah and I wish it came in a larger packaging, but it’s Chanel, you know. What I also love about this is the light and delightful floral scent. It’s the perfect scent for a hand cream and the texture is velvety smooth. It truly doesn’t leave a sticky residue feeling and my skin absorbs every bit of this quickly without having to reapply often. I LOVE THIS Aย  LOT.

 

chanel hand cream

 

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Cleanser

 

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Cleanser (8.5 oz: $20) – The body cleanser that you’d find in most Hilton Hotels. A spa and sense-awakening body wash, I was crazy about this the moment I’ve tried this at, of course, the Hilton Hotels. I couldn’t get enough of the scent of this gel cleanser. It smells like freshly-picked Clementine oranges, so yummy, so addicting and so fresh. I Lilly Lilly Love It. For its price, it does feel like a splurge, even more so because the formula doesn’t lather as much compared to most body cleansers out there. So I recommend using a loofah or any scrub on this one. But yeah, I wouldn’t mind splurging on this from time to time. P.S. The scent of this trails around even after you shower, it’s irresistible.

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Hybrid Foundation in Medium Light swatch

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Hybrid Foundation in Medium Light (1.3 oz: $36) – This was never a planned purchase for me. I bought this as a gift for a friend who lives on the other side of the world which I haven’t seen in ages. Because of that, I purchased the wrong shade for her and I kind of tried this on my face. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed the texture and effect of this on my skin. It’s like a BB cream/light foundation/tinted moisturizer to the tune of Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (reviewed HERE), Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (seen HERE), Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (seen HERE), and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (also HERE). I like that it gives a good sheer to medium coverage, could be buildable, lightweight, non-cakey, and it gives a natural to a dewy effect on the face, plus the added Spf 20. The only thing that bothers me a bit is the packaging. The pump doesn’t work very well at times, and I feel like there’s not enough product in it. Other than that, this is perfect for everyday use. As to what happened to my friend’s foundation? oh well, I got her a different shade.

 

One more look at the very cute Chanel La Creme Main Hand Cream

 

Chanel La Creme Main Hand Cream

 

That’s all for this roundup guys. So far, I am really enjoying these beauts, but stay tuned for more because there will be another roundup of interesting beauty finds to be reviewed soon.

 

Dior Diorific Khol Holiday 2017 Limited Edition in 341 Pure Topaz

 

Have you tried any of these before?

 

Happy Friday!

 

Follow my makeup adventures and other reviews on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Dior Vernis Review

Dior Vernis review

 

This is my first time trying out the Dior Nail Polish and I honestly can say that I love their nail colors so much already. Iโ€™ve always been using Chanel for most of my high-end nail lacquers (reviewed HERE), supplemented by a bunch of OPI, Essie, and China Glaze. This time Iโ€™m venturing into other nail polishes to see if the grass is really always greener on the other side. Well, Iโ€™m happy to say that yeah, perhaps, it almost always is, except for a few caveats.

 

The Dior Vernis nail colors are all in a gel formula, just like the new Chanel Le Vernis. It goes on smoothly and feels very rich and creamy while fast-drying at the same time. The brush applicator is wide and very precise, which Iโ€™m really impressed at. Also, the scent of this particular nail polish is not as strong as the other nail polishes Iโ€™ve tried before, even slightly less than Chanelโ€™s. The very best thing about the Dior Vernis Gel Shine is that the colors are extremely versatile, wearable, very classic and well-pigmented. I noticed that I seem to like most of their shades and would want to wear them all.

 


 

dior vernis incognito 257

  • Incognito (257) โ€“ Definitely the best nail color if you want something subtle yet sophisticated. Itโ€™s a very corporate shade and also very casual. The best definition would be that this nail color is very versatile for everyday use. The perfect nude nail color, even more so for medium skin tones.

 

dior vernis cosmopolite 785

  • Cosmopolite (785) โ€“ Iโ€™d like to call this a vintage, retro-ish, washed-out red, or more of a brick rose-red. Itโ€™s classic but not boring and has an old-world feel. A muted red that is also very versatile. Great for when youโ€™re bored of red nails or that red nails may be a bit too much for the occasion. This is definitely a unique red tone shade.

 

Dior Vernis mirage 338

  • Mirage (338) โ€“ If youโ€™re a fan of purples, magentas, plums, or violet-pinks like me, then youโ€™ll love this shade. Itโ€™s quite similar to OPI Dim Sum Plum or Essie Big Spender, but with slightly more lasting power than the other two.

 

dior vernis Massaรฏ 853

  • Massaรฏ (853) โ€“ My most favorite shade of the entire Dior Vernis by far, and one of the most perfect red nail color Iโ€™ve ever seen. Itโ€™s definitely a rich deep red and slightly vampy like blood. Thereโ€™s no black tone nor orange tone. Itโ€™s more of a blue-toned red and the formula goes on smoothly into the nails. This nail polish definitely complements all skin tones because of its perfect beauty.

 

dior vernis nuit 1947 970

  • Nuit 1947 (970) โ€“ I love vampy shades and this one is also perfect for me. Itโ€™s a deep vampy red like wine but looks almost black in low light. Itโ€™s similar to Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Noir than Vamp. No shimmers, just plain reddish-black nail color.

 

dior gel coat review

  • Gel Coat โ€“ This is the topcoat of choice for the Dior Vernis Gel Shine. It is meant to make the gel nail colors dry fast and to make them long-wearing. Which I think is definitely true on the fast-drying ability of this topcoat, but Iโ€™m not sure about this top coatโ€™s long-wear potential. My nail color starts chipping on the side during the 5th day, which doesnโ€™t happen with me whenever I use the Chanel Le Gel Coat with the Chanel Le Vernis. I donโ€™t know if itโ€™s this topcoat or the Dior Vernis in general, but I find this topcoat to be not as long-wearing as what itโ€™s supposed to be. A lot of people prefer the Top Coat Abricot more than this Gel Coat, which I havenโ€™t tried yet, but will definitely give it a go-to compare them side by side pretty soon.

 

Dior Vernis swatches

 

Verdict: I love the Dior Vernisย and will definitely recommend it to you all. The colors are great and the formula is also wonderful. I love that the scent is not too strong and it disappears quickly, and I also love the wide brush applicator for a more even application better than Chanelโ€™s. Also, the nail colors dry very fast with the help of the designated Gel Top Coat, but itโ€™s not as long-lasting as the Chanel Le Gel Coat (reviewed HERE). I probably get a good 7 days of wear with these Dior nail polishes, while I get almost 2 weeks from the Chanel Le Vernis. In addition to that, Chanel has a lot of colors to choose from, yet Dior Vernisโ€™ well-pigmented pretty colors are to die for.

 

– The Dior Vernis retails for $27 in Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Saks, &ย Neiman Marcus.

– The Dior Gel Coat is also $27 in these following retailers: Sephora, Nordstrom, Macysย &ย Saks

– While the Chanel Le Vernis nail polishes are also available atย Nordstromย 

Have a great day friends, stay tuned for more reviewsโ€ฆ

 

Follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

Chanel Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat Review

chanel le gel coat top coat review

 

What’s up coconuts? For a long long time I’ve never really bought the Chanel Top Coats because I thought they’llย never be like my favorite holy grail top coat (clue: 2 words, starts with letter S and V). Well tahday, that belief proved me wrong. I think I’ve found my new HG top coat, at least for my gel nail polishes, specially for the new Chanel Le Vernis which was reformulated in gel form not a long time ago. It’s the newest Chanel Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat. It’s created to enhance and extend the life of the new Chanel Le Vernis, and is meant to create a glossy and strong nail polish that will last for 7 days. Now that’s what I want!

 

chanel le gel topcoat

 

The moment I applied this, I knew it’s going to be a keeper. The top coat itself has a slight strong odor but it fades away immediately. It has a nice wide brush which was surprising for me because the brushes found in the Chanel Le Vernis are usually thin and rounded, which makes them kinda tricky to apply. But this Chanel Le Gel Coat is so easy to apply and the formula spreads evenly aroundย the nail polish. Best thing about it, is that it driesย immediately upon application. I highly recommend this.

 

chanel le gel top coat long wear

 

When I was thinking whether I should purchase the old Chanel Top Coat or this new Chanel Le Gel Coat, the S.A. at the Chanel beauty counter said without hesitation that the Le Gel is the better choice to buy, and yes, she’s definitely right.

So, I really really recommend this Chanel Le Gel Top Coat. I get a real 7 days of wear on this with minimal chipping and tip wear, while my nails stayed glossy and rock hard. I suggest using this with your favorite New Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour (reviewed HERE) or any gel nail polishes. Not sure whether this top coat will work with the non-gel polish, haven’t really tried. But to be safe, just use it with your favorite gel nail polish. For the non-gel ones, I still like to use Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, which is also loved by a lot of beauty junkies.

 

To purchase this top coat, click HERE.ย For my review of the new Chanel Le Vernis, click HERE, and to purchase the new Chanel Le Vernis, please click HERE as well.

 

Happy Nail Painting!

 

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