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Loving Right Now

January 5, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

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?

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…

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.

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 (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 A LOT.

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 (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

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.

Have you tried any of these before?

Happy Friday!

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

Samples of The Week: Lancome, Tata Harper, Algenist, Dior, Jo Malone, Fresh & Hourglass

June 9, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Aloha folks! It’s about time for some first impressions and fresh takes on some samples that I’ve been testing this week. I’ve chosen a few skincare minis, some scents, and a few makeup samples. A lot of you may have tried them already but it would be really interesting to know what you think about the following products that I’m about to review.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne (1 oz $65, 3.4 oz $130) – I’d like to think that this is a unisex cologne with a beachy earthy tone. This scent has a salty aquatic vibe to it but only when you don’t spray a lot. It’s refreshing to the senses but it really doesn’t last long. Perhaps it’s only good for about an hour. Spraying more would bring out the strong herb-like scent of sage which can be overpowering.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask (1 oz $58) – A mask that promises to deliver instant glow, minimizes the appearance of pores, evens the skin’s texture and with all-natural ingredients. It sounds really promising, however, I can’t seem to love this mask. I’ve tried it several times already but it just didn’t seem to make a difference on my skin. I like the scent though. It smells like beet, clay, lemon, and something herb-like.

Fresh Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream (0.5 oz $41) – There’s something really interesting about this eye cream. I didn’t expect it to be so creamy and luxuriously smooth to the touch. Because of that, it really hydrates my eye area and it doesn’t irritate it. While it didn’t really illuminate my dark circles since the desired effect remains to be seen with time, I love how it felt cool and soothing which calmed down some of my puffiness. I’m not crazy about its strong cucumber-rose scent though.

Dior J’adore Eau Lumiere, Eau de Toilette (1.7 oz $94, 3.4 oz $124, 5 oz $155) – The captivating scent of Dior J’adore continues with its Eau Lumiere edition. This lighter version is still sexy, alluring, romantic, and fresh. This is one of the most beautiful floral scents I’ve ever tried. I love the perfect blend of Blood Orange, Neroli, and Damask Rose. It smells a bit like a bunch of gardenias with something soapy and musky at the same time. Definitely very dramatically fresh.

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm (0.5 oz $68) – Ask me what my favorite eye cream is and I will tell you that this is one of them. In fact, there aren’t that many eye creams out there that I like, but this Eye Renewal Balm from Algenist is something I’d like to recommend. I have already started using the regular jar and I’m really in love with it. It has alguronic acid, vitamin C, caffeine, aloe, green tea, etc., and the scent has a very light vanilla hint, similar to most Algenist skincare products but a bit more subtle. I love how this moisturizes my dry and sort of puffy undereyes and its hydrating effect lasts for the rest of the day.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation In Shades; 310 Bisque C, 320 Bisque W, 360 Bisque N (1 oz $47) – Hmmm, I think I found another beautiful foundation. It’s very lightweight and very natural, which reminded me of Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (reviewed HERE), Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (reviewed HERE), Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (HERE) and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (also reviewed HERE). The nice thing is that this particular foundation is oil-free, has SPF 15, and with buildable coverage that is long lasting. The regular bottle’s size is not heavy on the pocket too. I also love that there are tons of shades to choose from with this foundation and I adore the satin-matte effect that it gives on the face.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (0.31 oz $19, 1 oz $54, 2 oz $75) – Another great primer to have because of its added SPF 15 and it’s oil-free. But somehow, it felt slightly greasy and silky at the same time. Although some have complained that their makeup was sliding off their faces whenever they use this, that hasn’t really occurred to me. I like that this primer makes the skin very smooth with no trace of pilling nor redness. With that, it makes the foundation look even more natural and flawless, and it also makes it last longer. A similar product would be the Nars Pore & Shine Control Primer, but this one has no discerning scent and doesn’t feel as cushiony as the Nars one.

When it comes to choosing which ones are my faves, I’d say, I really like the Algenist Eye Renewal Balm a lot, followed by the scent of Dior J’adore Eau Lumiere, Then I’d like to have a full size of the Lancome Teint Idole Foundation and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

Have you tried any of these before? Which ones do you prefer?

Happy Friyay guys! take care,

X0X0

Follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review + Swatches

June 5, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Why hello there, today let’s feature another favorite foundation of mine and probably yours as well. The award-winning Luminous Silk Foundation by Giorgio Armani Beauty (1.0z: $64, 0.6: oz $42). This isn’t a matte finish foundation but it’s on the dewy luminous side as what its name suggests. It’s very fluid with a light to medium coverage that could be easily layered and blended. This feels lightweight and the effect is seamless, flawless and very natural.

There are tons of colors to choose from to suit your complexion. I settled on the shades #3.5 (light to medium with warm undertone) and #5 (light to medium with neutral undertone). Both are slightly similar shades but the #3.5 is slightly more towards the yellow side. Once blended, it gives a slight warmth on my skin tone, especially during the summer. The #5 shade is my perfect all-around everyday shade. Anything above #5 like #5.5 will make the kids in my neighborhood to start running away, lol.

I love how my skin looks perfectly smooth with this Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. It’s like my pores went incognito and I have filters on my face. Haha! It is definitely one of the best out there with similarities like Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (reviewed HERE), Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation (HERE), and Chanel Vitalumière Aqua (reviewed HERE). But the scent of the Luminous Silk Foundation is way better than the other three foundations mentioned above. It has a much pleasing light powdery/perfumey scent that is not typically what you’d smell in most facial foundations.

If I’m not mistaken there are about 24 shades in this particular foundation, ranging from fair to light, light-medium, medium tan, to deep and very deep complexions. Not to mention the different undertones that came with each skin tones. It can be overwhelming to choose the right shade for you since there’s a lot to choose from with this line of foundation, so I suggest testing it in your local Sephora or trying a sample at your favorite store that carries Giorgio Armani Beauty products.

This foundation can be pricey as well, but you can always purchase the smaller size at 0.6 oz for $42 and it’s even more ideal for traveling since it could fit in any small makeup bag. It also lasts a long time because you don’t really need to apply a lot. This foundation is also oil-free so this is good news to all my oily sisters out there. It even makes you look naturally young with facial features that look well-defined.

Apart from its price and overwhelming shades to choose from, I highly recommend this foundation a lot, especially if you’re a fan of dewy or luminous finish foundations with oily-prone skin. It gives a natural and lasting luminosity on the face that feels like you’re not wearing any foundation at all.

The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is available at Sephora, Barneys NY, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges, Violet Gray, Nordstrom and Giorgio Armani Beauty.

For more, follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff, see you there!