Reviews and Other Stuff

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil

Loving Right Now. Summer 2020 Favorites

The Ordinary Niacinamide

 

Happy summer! Even though this season feels somewhat like a Cruel Summer for me (hello Taylor and hello vid), I will still be sharing with you some of my faves in beauty and skincare. For my picks these warm sunny days, I opt for light foundations with good SPF coverage. I like to let my skin breathe and focus more on good skincare. For me, it’s all about the glow this summer. So, here are my picks this season.

 

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne

 

Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub – Really love this exfoliator because it works very well at removing dead skin cells even with just a little amount. I find this to be so exfoliating that sometimes I don’t even know whether this is exfoliating my face or my hands, or both. I would say that this works even better than the Peter Thomas Roth Firmx in terms of its ability to exfoliate.

 

Kรฉrastase Fresh Affair Refreshing Fine Fragrance Dry Shampoo – This is Kรฉrastase’s take on dry shampoo and I think this is great. Be aware though that this has a strong lemon scent, which may be too much for some. I think this works to refresh the hair for about two days without washing, but I don’t think it can help much if you go beyond that time frame, especially if you tend to have oily strands.

 

The Ordinary Niacinamide – A lot of folks have a hit or miss experience with this. On my end, this works really well for my skin. This may have a slightly strong rubbery smell but it does wonders for my pores. In fact, this is the only product I’ve noticed that seems to have tightened my pores even after a few uses. Also, this seems to aid in oil-control. I think the key to this is to use this product with consistency.ย 

 

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam Makeup Remover – I think I found another holy grail makeup remover in this Sulwhasoo product. In fact, I may never look at any other makeup removing products again (fingers crossed). This feels like a light oil that foams immediately once swirled on the skin. One pump of this can cover the whole face and this cleanses very well while removing any stubborn makeup at the same time. Another best thing about this is the fresh botanical scent that is so heavenly. I highly highly recommend this.

 

Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner – I love how bouncy this toner feels on my skin and this is gentle enough for daily exfoliation. This really helps in giving that natural glow and in keeping the pores from getting clogged.ย 

 

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil – We may be in full-blown sun out there but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to moisturize. I love a good dry body oil like this instead of the typical body lotion because this isn’t sticky and this sets on the skin immediately. Also, the almond scent of this is really nice.

 

Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask – Pimples flaring up this summer? Use Sulfur. This Acne Treatment Mask from PTR has 10% Sulfur that will pull out the bacteria onto the surface, making it easier to extract, thus speeding up the healing process. I love using this on top of zits for a few hours or even overnight. Just be aware that like most Sulfur anti-acne products, this has a strong rubbery rotten egg scent which you may or may not be able to tolerate.

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30

 

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ – Like most of you, I still love this popular tinted creamy moisturizer with SPF. This is definitely a step-up of the typical BB Cream, and when I say tinted, this almost feels like a creamy foundation that sets well and covers all your blemishes without being too oily. Also, this gives a nice natural finish that keeps your skin looking natural and not like wearing a mask.

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – Another fave of mine this season is this lightweight updated version of the beloved original Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. For me, there’s really not much difference between this and the old one except that this updated version seems to be a bit less creamy and slightly more matte than the original. Coverage is about that same, wherein this and the old version are perfect for good-skin days, but not when you have a lot to cover.

 

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint – This one-of-a-kind tinted foundation is SOOO good. I don’t know why I waited so long to have this. From the unique packaging/presentation and texture, down to its ability to give a second-skin finish, I’m really impressed with this product. This is one of those light foundations you can wear everyday and not look like you’re wearing one. Also, the brush applicator that comes with this actually works very well in giving that natural even skintone look.

 

 

bath and body works hand sanitizer review

 

Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel – These are my favorite affordable hand sanitizers to combat the vid. I love the varied scents of these and they feel like a step up from the ordinary hand sanitizers which have very strong alcohol scents.

 

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne

 

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne – This is a really nice and neat summer scent. I love the combination of nectarine and honey in this fragrance, which is not overpowering yet fresh, toned-down, and long-wearing at the same time.ย 

 

e.l.f Primer-Infused Blush in Always Fiery – Got this blush for free and I’m really impressed by how easy this is to blend. Just a slight dab on the cheeks and you’ll have a nice peachy flush (not reddish at all). Also, this lasts a long time and doesn’t slide off.

 

Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Creme in Nude Honey and Barely Blush – Love these affordable plumping lip cremes. These are great as everyday tinted lip moisturizers that somewhat feels like a gloss. I really like the lightweight non-sticky feel of these and I love the shape and look of the tube, which make these so easy to apply. I also think these are a good alternative to the Too Faced Lip Injection because this feels milder, whereas the too faced one can sometimes feel too tingly.ย 

 

Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask

 

Drunk Elephant products are some of my go-to skincare favorites this summer.ย 

I especially love their F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask which really doesn’t feel like a mask, but more like a cooling lightweight moisturizer with some waterburst beads as part of its texture. Perfect as a daily facial hydrator and this feels so calming on the skin, eliminating all dry spots or dry areas. Tip: Put this in your minifridge.

I’m also loving their T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask for that immediate overnight glow. I love how this exfoliates and renews the skin, making it glowy and soft. This may have a slight tingly feel upon application, but this is all worth it.

 

Holly Golightly eye mask

 

Silk Eye Masks available HERE and HERE – Whenever I need a quick shut-eye, I grab these. These are so perfect for power naps because the soft satin textile is very conducive for relaxing or recharging. Also, the cute designs are very Holly Golightly-ish.

 

Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask

 

And those are my faves this summer. What’s yours? Stay tuned for my Fall picks.

 

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Favorite Body Cleansers And Body Scrubs

favorite body wash and shower gels

 

Hi guys, I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas soon and I’ve been busy prepping my home and doing some last minute gift wrapping for my friends and families. This year, I’m playing Santa so I’ve got several presents to hand to. Oh, the joys of the holidays! Anyhow, as promised on my Insta, I’m sharing you now my personal favorites in body scrubs, cleansers and shower gels.

 

This post is a continuation of my roundup review of some of my favorite body lotions and body butters, seen HERE, as well as my fave dry body oils, HERE.

 

I love body cleansers and body scrubs. I always look forward to using them everytime I shower instead of the using the good ‘ol soap bars which are kinda messy to use. I not only like the convenience of using shower gels, but I also love to buy them in different scents so I could alternately use them depending on my mood, the season, or what my skin currently needs.

 

These are my faves so far.

 

Korres Shower Gel review

 

Korres Shower Gel (13.53 oz: $21 Korres site, $38 Amazon) – These have been my favorite go-tos because they come in several scents and they remind me of that nice fresh Mediterranean shower. My favorite scent so far is the Japanese Rose, Cassis Fig, Yogurt, and I still want to try the Guava one. These shower gels don’t foam as much but each bottle is large enough and can last a month or two. I love how these don’t dry my skin and it’s great to use everyday.

 

Philosophy Falling In Love Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel (16 oz: $26) – My newest love from Philosophy and it has a sweet warm vanilla scent. The bottle is huge and the cleanser itself has a light lavender shade which looks cute with its message of Falling in Love with yourself. This lathers well and it leaves my skin thoroughly cleansed.

 

Philosophy Falling In Love Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel, Kiehl's Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-To-Foam Body Cleanser

 

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-To-Foam Body Cleanser (2.5 oz: $12.50, 8.4 oz: $29) – If you love the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil reviewed HERE, then you’re gonna enjoy this unique body wash. It first starts as oil then it transforms into a foamy body cleanser as soon as you rub it a few times on the skin. It is so moisturizing and perfect for those with dry skin. I tend to use this around this cold winter season to protect my skin from dryness.

 

Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel (10 oz: $20) – This is one of my most favorite body washes of all time. This smells so fresh, so invigorating and just so good. I also have the body lotion version of this cleanser, reviewed HERE. I like using this shower gel all year round even though this has a Summer-vibe scent. I just love how this awakens the senses and it’s definitely foamy, energizing and just perfect in every way.

 

Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Cleanser (8.5 oz: $20) –ย  Another personal fave of mine and one of the first few body washes I’ve ever loved and even keep using up to this day. This smells like fresh bursts of oranges and clementines. The only drawback is that this doesn’t foam much, so it’s costly to use without using a scrub or a loofah.

 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash

 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash (18 oz: $8.99) – My favorite drugstore body wash along with the other Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Yogurt Body Wash with Apricot & Honey. This is inexpensive, easy to find anywhere and this has a nice clean mild scent that lathers well. The texture of this is gel-like and it’s super moisturizing for daily use.

 

Scrubs

 

I haven’t experimented on several body scrubs since I tend to use them once or twice a week at most just so my skin won’t dry as much. Currently, there’s only two that I keep coming back to and these are from Aesop and Dove.

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

 

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub (6.1 oz: $35) – This is a pricey body scrub that is super grainy and totally exfoliating. I love the fresh green scent of this that’s just spa-like and it leaves the skin soft and smooth after every wash. Further reviewed HERE.

 

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish (10.5 oz: $5.99) – A well-made inexpensive body scrub that is loaded with moisturizing ingredients and it leaves the skin supple with a nice variety of fruity milky scents. My fave one is pomegranate. See some of the other scents reviewed HERE.

 

 

Have you tried any of these body cleansers yet? What’s your go-to body wash?

 

 

Favorite Body Oils

top dry body oil

 

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

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil review, Darphin Soleil Plaisir Sultry Shimmering Oil

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.

 

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, Sol De Janeiro Glow Oil in Ipanema Sunset swatch

 

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

Fresh Fresh LifeBody Oil

 

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.

Nars Monoi Body Glow II, Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil review

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.

 

dry body oil review

 

Overall, I love dry body oils. They’re just so easy and so quick to use. I love that they set fast into the skin and that unlike most body lotions, I no longer have to worry if they’ll transfer to my clothes, or whether they’d feel sticky, greasy, or too warm. If I have to choose my top 3 of all the oils reviewed here, it would be first – the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, second- the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil and the Sunscreen Care Oil SPF 30, and third would be the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Dry Body Oil or the Caudalie or the Moroccan body oil.

 

What’s your fave dry body oil?