Reviews and Other Stuff

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New Skincare and Beauty Minis Review

Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Body Cream

 

Hi everybody! There’s been a lot of skincare goodies released recently by several different brands. Most of them are really exciting and really promising. A couple of them have been popping out of Insta, and from what I’ve seen, there’s a lot of raves and buzz about the latest products from Milk Makeup, Laniege, Sulwhasoo, and Supergoop, among other things. Luckily, I got a hold of these latest goodies in mini sizes, and I also got a few beauty minis to review in this post. Do take note though, that since these are in mini sizes, I can only provide a review of my first impression of these products. It’d be interesting to find out how good these beauties will work on my skin with time, and that would mean testing them in full regular sizes. You will know in this review which product warrants a full-size. So, keep on reading.

 

Givenchy Mini Magic Lip Duo Set in Perfect Pink & Noir Rรฉvรฉlateur

 

Givenchy Mini Magic Lip Duo Set (2x: 18 USD) – This mini set is so cute and inside there are two mini moisturizing lipsticks in shades Perfect Pink & Noir Rรฉvรฉlateur. Perfect Pink in natural sheer pink and is perfect for those with fair to light skin tone. Noir Rรฉvรฉlateur is a sheer to deep berry that is perfect for those with light/medium to medium/deep skin tones. These lipsticks adapt to the lips’ pH level, so, they sort of complement and enhance your lip’s natural color. They are definitely both on the sheer side and they are very hydrating like a lip balm. They’re somewhat similar to the Dior Lip Glow.

 

Milk Makeup Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift Set

 

Got this little set from Sephora during my birthday, and I really find this set to be very useful because this contains three of my top picks from Milk Makeup.

 

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

 

Hydro Grip Primer (mini/0.33 oz – 1.52 oz: 15 – 30 USD) – This face primer is really one of the best out there. The feel of this is gripping, lightweight, and this really makes the foundation adhere to the skin. I do have this primer in full-size and I really really like that this doesn’t have that silicone feel.

Kush High Volume Mascara (mini/0.13 oz – 0.34 oz: 12 – 24 USD) – I love the shape and look of this mascara because this has dense heart-shaped bristles that are meant for delivering high impact dramatic lashes. This also has hemp-derived cannabis seed oil that moisturizes the lashes for long wear. The color of this is very black and this really fans out and curls the lashes even without using a lash curler. I find that this sets on the lashes easily and this hasn’t clumped nor smudged on me even during these highly humid temps.

Lip + Cheek in Werk (mini/0.21 oz – 1 oz: 15 – 28 USD) – This creamy lip and blush color reminded me of Nars The Multiple or the Bite Beauty Multistick. This is a multitasking product that can work to add color not only on the lips and cheeks but on the lids as well, to achieve that beautiful monochromatic look. I find this to be so easy to blend, and this feels creamy and hydrating. The overall finish of this is satin and the shade dusty rose seems a little too sheer on my light-medium skin tone, but the deeper tones work really well on my skin.

 

Skincare/Primers/SPF

 

Laneige Hypoallergenic Cica Sleeping Mask

 

Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask (3.4 oz: 45 USD) – There is no question that this mask is full of very good hydrating and nourishing ingredients, however, I do not like the feel of this at all. This clumps and breaks upon application, making this very hard to adhere to the skin, and this makes me look weird after managing to coat this on my face. This turns my skin into something of a yellow-green or yellow-red-orange-green tone (lol), which really makes me look like a half-banana half-avocado hybrid, or better yet, a yellowing cactus, ha! So, definitely not a fan of this mask.

 

Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Body Cream (mini/2.5 – 8.1 oz: 20 – 45 USD) – This makes me yearn for a tropical vacay amidst all this quarantine lifestyle going on nowadays. I love the amazing blend of coconut sugar, coconut oil, and Cupuaรงu Butter in this wonderful nostalgic cream. This really feels hydrating and not heavy on the skin, and I really love the cute packaging as well.

 

Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer (mini/0.53 oz: 1.7 oz – 19 – 38 USD) – I’m really amazed by the texture of this moisturizer, which feels so rich and so thick yet so light on the skin. This has different kinds of vegan milk ingredients, like fig milk, oat milk, and argan milk, etc. To me, this feels non-greasy even though the feel is very rich and very milky. My skin absorbs this easily and I never had any breakout issue with this. I also think that this will work very well for those with dry skin and even for those with sensitive skin types.

 

Laneige Hypoallergenic Cica Sleeping Mask (34 USD) – If you like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair cream, then you’re going to like this new Cica Mask from Laneige. The feel of this very somewhat gel-like yet very creamy and very cushiony. I do love the feeling of this cream/mask on my hands, and on my skin, this feels so moisturizing and so light. But what I really love about this is the fact that just like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair, this helps to soothe the redness and irritation on the face. This has fermented forest yeast extract and is supposed to be much better than the usual Cica products. I don’t only use this as a sleeping mask, I also use this as a daily moisturizer, which works really well for my skin. I definitely recommend that you get this in full-size.

 

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream (2.02 oz: 240 USD) – This very very luxurious K-beauty cream has a very strong ginseng scent. Also blended with retinol, this cream has anti-aging properties and is meant to enhance moisture. I find this to be very lightweight but has a bit of an oily feel, which really doesn’t bother my skin. This actually makes my skin look and feel smooth given the short amount of time that I’ve used the product. However, due to the price, I’m not quite sure if this is worth having in its regular size. The packaging is really really cute though.

 

Dr. Jart+ V7 Priming Moisturizer review

 

Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 (1.7 oz: 36 USD) – Finally! I have been waiting for a glowy shimmery sunscreen like this. I’ve seen this item popping out of Instagramy lately and there’s a reason why. This sunscreen will be your ultimate Summer vibe because you can wear this alone for that natural and dewy sun-protected look, or you can use this as a primer to enhance the glow of your makeup. This has fine microshimmers and a nice SPF level enough to protect the skin and make it look healthy this warm season. Kinda like you quarantined yourself in a nice tropical island, with all that sun, and with all that glow. Hmmm, imagine that :-).

 

Dr. Jart+ V7 Priming Moisturizer (1.69 oz: 48 USD) – Not quite a fan of this primer+moisturizer hybrid. I like the idea of it, but the feel and the scent are just off. This feels like a silicone primer and the scent is too strong and too weird. Applying this is not an amazing experience. The product sits on top of the face and my skin doesn’t feel moisturized at all.

 

Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer (1 oz: 39 USD) – This may be marketed as a face primer just like most of Smashbox’s popular primer products, but with added Vitamins, like Vitamins B, C, and E. However, this feels more like a moisturizer/primer hybrid than the Dr. Jart+ product above. To me, this feels really creamy and nice on the skin, and my foundation stays on with this. I also like the nice orange scent. So, I definitely recommend that you get this in full-size.

 

milk makeup Lip Cheek in Werk

 

Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer

 

Long story short, I really like and recommend the Sol de Janeiro Coco Cabana Body Cream, the Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer, the Laneige Hypoallergenic Cica Sleeping Mask, the Supergoop! Glowscreen, the Smashbox Vitamin Glow Primer, and the Milk Makeup products mentioned in this post. They are worth having in full-sizes.

 

Have you tried any of these yet?

 

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Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot vs Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Review

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots vs Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch

 

If you have struggled from zits before or are currently going through one, then you’ll definitely be able to relate to this post. As someone with an oily skin that is prone to pimples and blemishes, I’ve had my fair share of horrible breakouts and dark spots, especially when I was a teenager. At this age, my skin is still not completely out of the woods, LOL. It’s very hormonal, which means I’d get those pesky painful zits from time to time, and the annoying part is that they’d turn into dark spots. And by dark spots, I mean, really really dark. It would take several weeks before they’d completely disappear, and on top of that, they’re really a challenge to get rid of. Also, they’re kind of embarrassing to have especially if they’re on the prominent areas of the face that for sure everyone could notice and see. Oh, the horror of talking to someone or going somewhere glam and all you could see are the eyes of some folks focused on the annoying UFOs on your face. Yes, those things can make us self-conscious, for real.

 

The best thing to hide the zits is obviously, to use a very good full-coverage concealer, but that can sort of make your makeup look weird, especially if you pack it on your zits and they would look like several shades brighter than your foundation, LOL. Or, your zits could crack through the concealer and they’ll look even weirder. OMG, I know the feeling, believe me. Been there, done that. I even did the whole “cover your zits with your hands or handkerchief thing”, or the “just keep your head down, ok?” tactic, hahaha! Anyway, I’ve heard about these dark spot brightening dots lately and I wanted to try them asap. I feel like I’ve been waiting for these products my whole life and I can’t wait to put them to test.

 

The items featured for this review are the two that’s been out recently at Sephora and have been receiving a lot of buzz from reviews and ads.

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots review

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots (12 Microneedling Dots: $28) – This is the first dark spot brightening dot that caught my attention. It’s meant to simulate the microneedling technique with its textured pointy tips that can help lighten the dark spots, redness, or dullness of the skin. Its ingredients are Niacinamide, Licorice Extract, and Tranexamic Acid. It’s also free from sulfates, parabens, hydroquinone, triclosan, SLS, etc, and it’s ideal for any skin type. You can place the dot, with its pointy/textured-side down, and gently press it on the dark spot. It is advisable to use it overnight or at least for a minimum of six hours twice a week for at least two consecutive weeks to get better results.

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot test

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot

 

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch review

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch (6 patches: $18) – This is also another brightening dot in which the pointy/textured tips melt into the skin for a microneedling effect that sort of help in targeting the dark spot. Its main ingredients are Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. It also suits any skin type. Like the Peace Out Brightening Dots above, this Dr. Jart+ Focuspot is also free from SLS, parabens, formaldehyde, triclosan, etc. Using this is also pretty much the same as Peace Out’s, where you press the dot with its pointy tips down on the dark spot right after cleansing your face, and you use it every other day. It is required to use this for at least two hours, or overnight for a maximum effect.

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch

 

My Two Cents.

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot review

 

Application-wise and appearance-wise, they’re pretty much the same.ย  There is no question to their adhesiveness because they do stick on the skin unless your put creams or oils prior to applying this. But their ingredients do matter, as well as their effectiveness on my skin. At the time of my test of these products, I’ve been nursing several dark spots on my face, specifically on my chin. I had horrible several breakouts a few weeks before that and I applied the Peace Out Microneedling Dot on my most prominent dark spot, while the Dr. Jart+ Focuspot was applied to a less horrible dark spot that is just beside the prominent one. I applied them both overnight and the following day, I noticed my less prominent dark spot (treated with Dr. Jart+ Focuspot) to be almost gone, while the more obvious and more prominent dark spot (the one with Peace Out) was still there. I continued testing, and I find that the Dr. Jart+ Focuspot works quite well, at least on my skin, even if I don’t use it every other day as advised. I tested it on my most prominent dark spot (the one with Peace Out) and it did help to lessen its pigment, though still not completely. Whereas the Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot didn’t really do much for me. I think it must be the ingredients of the Dr. Jart+ that seem to work better (Vitamin C, etc.) because we all know that the way to help brighten the dark spot is to apply Retinol or Vitamin C on it.

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch vs Peace Out Microneedling dark spot comparison result

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch vs Peace Out Microneedling dark spot comparison

 

Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch vs Peace Out Microneedling dark spot test

 

I feel like these brightening dark spots are great for emergency use only, especially if you need to go somewhere special or important and has to lessen the dark spots asap. Although I still think these dots won’t make much of a difference if used within a short period of time, or especially if your dark spots are really stubborn. It also doesn’t help that they’re pricey for just a few dots. For me, at least, during my test, I had several dark spots so I had to use them a lot. I literally could just get a one-week use of them, and I still feel like I needed more in order to at least lessens the dark pigments. I still suggest that we’re probably better off using a scar gel, or a cream or serum with some Vitamin C or Retinol in it as these usually work over time and will mostly be cost-effective as well. If you’re going to be using these dots, then be prepared to buy more of them. With that being said, if I have to buy these again, I would probably buy the Dr. Jart+ Focuspot because it’s a bit cheaper than the Peace Out (at least, per pack), and it works better because it has slightly better ingredients.

 

Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots compare to Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Dark Spot Micro Tip Patch review

 

Have you tried these before? Which one’s your fave?

 

The Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot and the Dr. Jart+ Focuspot are currently available at Sephora