In today’s mask-wearing world, it is pretty much common sense not to wear any lip gloss. Anything that is shiny and sticky on the lips is a no-no, because it will not only attract hair strands but will also stick and stain any face mask. In fact, even some sticky and heavy lip balms can cause such disaster.
Currently, I am using some lightweight, non-sticky, and staining lip balms like the ones from Dior and Nars. I l also like the ones from Laneige and Glossier for very sheer lip colors, and they are reviewed HERE and HERE. Also, I am investigating some matte tinted lip balms and will report to you soon.
In my quest for that perfect pandemic lip balm :-), I discovered these fantastic lip stains from Clarins, and though these are not new releases, I find that these are perfect lip products to use for constant virtual meetings. Yes, I have been living my life in Zoom after Zoom like a lot of us, and I prefer the look of sheer lip products instead of full-shade lipsticks just because the sheer ones give an au-naturel look.
These Clarins Water Lip Stain are probably some of the best lip stains I have ever tried, and I have tried my luck on several staining lip products before, but I always end up getting disappointed. These lip stains do feel like water and have fruity scents. On the outside, these may look like Merthiolate (lol, if you know what that is, then you know some serious vintage medicine ๏), but once applied, you will find that these products really do stain the lips very well. In fact, these are so staining that it is a challenge to get rid of the stain, especially the darker shades.
One thing to note is that these products tend to stain the innermost part of the lips, which also has the thinnest skin. So, these will give you that ombrรฉ lip effect, or that K-pop lips. I think that these are perfect for layering, and you will not feel any stickiness from these products. The colors are also beautiful, vibrant, and very long-wearing. Even the whole tube will most likely last a long time because a little bit of the product can stain the entire lips.
I highly recommend these, especially when you are out and social distancing. These won’t interfere with your face mask and will not dry your lips. These are also perfect for Zooming.
Have you tried these before? What are your favorite lip stains?
One of my favorite part in my skincare regimen is washing my face. There’s just something exciting and relieving of finally cleaning my face and getting rid of the day’s makeup, dirt, and excess oil. A clean face makes the skin breathe and be ready for nourishment. When it comes to cleansing my face, I tend to be very picky about the products I choose. I mostly do double-cleansing to get rid of my makeup, and that means using a cleansing oil or sometimes a cleansing wipe at first, then I would proceed to use either cream or gel facial cleansers, depending on my skin condition at that time or sometimes depending on my mood. LOL. Facial cleansers are so important for me because they’re basically one of the first steps to start the skin care routine and I like my facial cleansers to either jumpstart my day or calm me down at night. With that being said, I like some good well-scented facial washes that can awaken the senses or calm the nerves, the type that won’t make me get so bored after using them several times. I usually gravitate towards the citrusy or orange-scented ones, since they’re invigorating, or the ones with mild lavender or rose scents for the calming effect. I use the facial cleansers reviewed on this blog on a case to case basis. There are days when I reach out for mild cleansers, and there are also those days when I reach out for stronger more therapeutic ones. These are my favorite facial cleansers of all time.
Murad Essential-C Cleanser (6.5 oz: $39) – One of the first cleansers I fell in love with. This has antioxidants with vitamins A, C, and E. It has a nice fresh citrus-orange scent that will capture the senses and it also has little exfoliating beads. This cleanser is great for all skin types, and also does well with acne-prone skin or stressed skin and it doesn’t leave it dry. This cleanses thoroughly, takes out excess oil, and it leaves the skin soft.
Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser (Mini 2.54 oz: $14, Standard 5.07 oz: $26) – This cleanser smells milky and has a creamy and luxurious feel. The scent is divine and it’s kinda relaxing. The texture is soft yet it lathers very well, so no need to use a lot. This is a great facial wash for any skin type and it’s mild enough for those with very sensitive skin. I love how this cleanser truly cleanses my face and it has a nice softening effect. Thumbs up to Korres for creating this.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser (5 oz: $20.50) – LOVE this so much. This is one of the most invigorating facial washes I’ve ever tried. The true orange scent of this will definitely wake you up and this has nice soft scrubbing beads that are gentle enough for daily exfoliation. This cleanser is perfect for anyone with oily skin since it has a gel-like consistency and it doesn’t dry the skin. This could also work for those with sensitive skin to use a few times a week. This is one of my holy grail face cleansers and this leaves my skin squeaky clean. If you haven’t tried this particular cleanser yet, oh well, I think that you really should.
SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser (3.6 oz: $75) – This gotta be the priciest face cleanser I’ve ever tried and I like its soothing rose scent that calms me down at night. Like with most SK-II products, this particular cleanser has Pitera – a signature SK-II ingredient that is rich in amino acids and other minerals. This cleanser feels really mild and it has a very soft creamy texture which foams well and I usually use this on good skin days.
Olehenriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser (1.7 oz: $10, 7 oz: $30) – One of the easiest face washes to use, thanks to its really practical packaging. This cleanser is probably the one I tend to reach out for when I’m in a hurry since this dispenses a nice foam that’s ready to use for the face. I love the refreshing citrusy scent of this, and the ingredients are brightening yet mild, also, this really cleanses the face thoroughly, and it removes excess oil and dirt like a charm. A little foam goes a long way and that means this cleanser can last a long time. Love this a lot.
Dermadoctor Ain’t Misbehavin’ Medicated AHA/BHA Acne Cleanser (7.1 oz: $30) – This is my fave cleanser for bad skin days. That is, whenever I have any breakouts that need care. This has Glycolic and Salicylic acids which are beneficial for acne-prone skin, and this cleanser can also be added for any acne skin care regimen. With that being said, this cleanser can reduce excess oil, and it helps to control zits. I like that this feels creamy and it’s one of those acne cleansers that my skin can tolerate since this isn’t so drying and this is soap-free, oil-free, and fragrance-free.
Face Reality Ultra Gentle Cleanser (6 oz: $21) – This cleanser was recommended by my Aesthetician. This has a nice soothing lavender scent and has a gel formulation that’s meant for oily-prone or oily skin type. This is a great very mild cleanser to use when you’re on an acne treatment regimen, or when going through an extreme breakout that requires a super gentle cleanser that won’t harm or hurt the skin.
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed (4.4 oz: $26) – This cleanser is just really good. It smells like clean cotton and it’s really invigorating. The texture is so creamy and it foams so well with only a little bit of product. It cleanses so thoroughly, taking off excess oil while softening and calming the skin. This is a really great cleanser for all skin types and the one I also highly recommend. Another amazing cleanser from Clarins and also a personal fave of mine is the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract, which has a nice exfoliating capability. Reviewed HERE. I believe Clarins makes some of the best facial cleansers that are worth looking into.
Tatcha The Deep Cleanse (5 oz: $38) – Another Tatcha holy grail. I love the scent and overall texture of this cleanser. It has a gentle refreshing scent with a lightweight gel form. It’s mild on the skin yet it cleanses well, which makes it ideal for any skin type, be it for sensitive skin. It’s also lightly exfoliating with loofah fruit fibers, which takes off excess oil and dirt. This cleanser has the clean seal of Sephora, so it’s perfect for daily use without worries. The packaging needs improvement though since it’s kind of hard to control the amount of product that comes out of its squeezable bottle.
Bottom line, cleansing the face is a necessary step in every skincare regimen. Regardless of what type of facial cleansers to use, the important thing is to let the skin breathe and be free of excess oil and germs.
Hey All! One of my latest skincare obsessions are the dry body oils. I’ve been crazy about them that I pretty much hoarded every single body oils I could find, LOL. I tested several and a lot of them are really good, but I do have some personal favorites that we will be talking about today.
A lot of these dry body oils are great for the summer and are also perfect for the coming Fall and Winter. They’re not the typical oils you commonly associate with massage oils or some other oils that are wet, shiny, greasy, and sits on top of the skin. Dry body oils are different, they’re very lightweight, quick-absorbing, non-greasy, and they moisturize the skin very well, even better than most body lotions. Some of them can be also used as hair oils. They’re basically ideal for those who cannot stand the feeling of using body creams and lotions on their skin. Speaking of body creams, check out a review my favorite body creams, lotions, and body butters HERE.
Back to dry body oils, they’re relatively a new trend though they’ve been out for quite some time. A lot of them have been popping out lately in several different packaging and ingredients, and they’ve been well-received by the general public. So for this review, let’s take a closer look at the dry body oils I absolutely adored.
With Shimmers
Darphin Soleil Plaisir Sultry Shimmering Oil (1.7 oz: $55.00) – This body oil gives a nice subtle shimmer that makes your skin glow. It has a soothing floral scent like a rose and something herb-like. The kind that makes you imagine you’re in a spa. This oil sets well on the skin and it hydrates well. It’s not greasy and it’s not sticky. The packaging is small enough to fit inside a purse, but for its price, it’s a little too small. However, you don’t really need to use a lot.ย
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil (3.4 oz: $100) – What can I say? this is one sexy and sultry body oil. I love the shimmers of this and it’s really hard not to notice it. It makes the skin glow and sparkle in a gorgeous way. The formula doesn’t feel sticky, it’s quick absorbing, and it’s also not greasy. The scent is alluring like a warm beachy tropical fragrance. On top of that, this body oil’s bottle looks so luxurious and so pretty, you can’t help but stare at it all the time. There is also the Rose Gold version/shade of this which has been recently released, and I can’t wait to try it.
Sol De Janeiro Glow Oil in Ipanema Sunset (2.5 oz: $35) – This body oil will definitely give you that extreme glow and sheen, and it has a nice scent that lingers for several hours up to the next day. The scent is similar to the Bum Bum Cream, only it’s a lot stronger and kinda pungent at first. I love this body oil for its massive amounts of micro shimmers, but it can feel a bit sticky and thick if you use a lot, and it may transfer and stain the clothes as well. However, if you apply just enough product on the skin, then this oil can moisturize and sinks in the skin quite well. Apart from the pungent scent, I think the packaging could be improved by using a pump so that it’ll be easier to control the amount of product dispensed from the tube.
Without Shimmers
Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 for Skin & Hair (5 oz: $36) – I love this oil especially when I spend a lot of time outdoors and whenever I don’t feel like wearing the usual sunscreens or even the cream ones that tend to get sticky on my skin. This is one of the few body oils with added SPF that doesn’t feel sticky and greasy on the skin even after hours of staying under the sun. There’s not a lot of this type of body oil formulation nowadays, and this one sets on the skin immediately and it can also be used for the hair. It also smells amazing. I have a lot of love for this body oil and this is my fourth bottle already since last Summer.
Fresh. Fresh LifeBody Oil (3.3 oz: $48) – This oil is probably the thickest and warmest oil of all the body oils mentioned in this review. This also doesn’t feel so “dry”, but a bit sticky and it takes a while for it to set on the skin. This has a nice sweet lemon scent that moisturizes the skin but its formula is a little too moisturizing for this Summer. This is more like a made-for-Winter type of body oil. Additionally, this has a nice beautiful heavy glass packaging that looks sleek and simply pretty, especially the marbleized cap.
Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil (3.4 oz: $64) – This is the body oil my preggo friends swear by. They said this basically tones the skin and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. You’re supposed to apply this while in the shower and then rinse thereafter, but with me, I apply this right after showering while my skin is still damp and this oil feels so soothing and relaxing since it smells like lavender. I haven’t noticed any improvement on my stretch marks yet, but I did notice the firming and toning effect on my skin, which is amazing.
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil (2.5-5.9 oz: $17.50-$34) – This has got to be one of the best-scented body oils I’ve ever tried. It has vanilla and something else I cannot quite discern, but it’s good. The performance of this body oil is just perfect, from its non-sticky, non-greasy, and lightweight formulation, to its hydrating ability, I cannot say anything off about this. I love its easy-to-apply packaging, it’s quick-absorbing texture, and I can only wish that it comes in a shimmery formula as well.
Nars Monoi Body Glow II (2.5 oz: $59) – I was so curious about this body oil before trying it, and when I finally did, I felt like I didn’t really like its strong gardenia/jasmine-like scent. However, after a few hours of using it, I seem to like its drydown, which became something like a light floral tone that stays on the skin and to the clothes even up to the next day. The oil itself doesn’t feel greasy or sticky and it moisturizes my skin excellently. Also, its packaging looks simple yet unique and beautiful.
Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil (1.7 oz-3.4 oz: $29-$48) – This body oil is as good as Kiehl’s and it has argan, avocado, and olive oil. The scent is kinda fruity and floral and this pretty much sinks into the skin immediately. It’s a very good body oil that doesn’t feel heavy, sticky, or too shiny. Instead, this has a nice silky texture that leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day.
Caudalie Divine Oil (3.3 oz: $49) – This is another great body oil with grape, sesame, hibiscus, and argan oil, plus antioxidants. I love its floral fruity and woody fragrance. The bottle of this feels really robust and it has a sprayer that throws a very fine mist of oil, perfect for a more controlled application. I love that this is fast-absorbing, light, non-greasy, as well as non-sticky. This is even great for the hair.
