Reviews and Other Stuff

laura mercier candleglow foundation

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

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review + Swatches

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:ย $64,ย 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.

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review

 

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.

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 3.5 and 5

 

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 Vitalumiรจre 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.

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review

 

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.

 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

 

The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is available at Sephora,ย 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!

 

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation Review

Hey Everybody! Guess what, I have found another favorite and holy grail foundation. The Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation. Iโ€™ve read good reviews about this foundation because itโ€™s ideal for those who wants a sheer or natural coverage with a dewy look or finish. My kind of foundation, even though my skin tends to be on the oily side. But in this cold winter days, I need all the moisturization and dewiness I could get.

laura mercier candleglow soft luminous foundation review

 

This particular foundation is quite similar to the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 20 which Iโ€™m still very much in love at. Yet this LM Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundationย probably has a bit more coverage but does not have any Spf, which is a sigh, but you can always add a separate Spf, or make sure that your favorite moisturizer has an added Spf. Though quite similar, this foundation is on the sheer to medium coverage, but can be quite buildable. It follows the same scent as the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Mega Moisturizer Spf 15, but only subtly. Even though it lacks Spf, it compensates for how it makes the skin look natural, flawless and almost-perfect. It has a dewy or glowy finish but not to the extreme. The fine pearl-mica is the one responsible for this foundationโ€™s luminous effect on the skin. Yet, the luminous-effect is very very subtle and indeed almost candle-lit.

 

laura mercier candleglow soft luminous foundation honey
Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation in Honey

 

 

A lot people love this foundation, but a lot may say that it doesnโ€™t give enough coverage and it makes the skin look oily, which isnโ€™t really ideal for anyone with an oily skin. Well, those are true observations, but it all boils down to your skinโ€™s current condition, and of course the weather. For my wide angle ciabatta bread face ????ย , matte foundations wonโ€™t add definition to my face, no matter the amount of contouring I use. So I always opt for dewy or luminous finishes in my foundations. Sometimes, specially in the summer, I mix my dewy foundations with a few of my matte foundations, just to not get so oily after a while. So I suggest this Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation if you want a natural finish that also allows for the natural definition of your face to show through. Though buildable, itโ€™s true that this foundation is quite sheer, but itโ€™s enough to cover the redness of my cheeks and some other blemishes. But if your face has a lot of stuff going on, then you may have to use full-coverage foundations. Also, this foundation has emollient oils that may make the skin look very oily in the summer. I wouldnโ€™t advise to use this in the summer, specially for those with oily skin. But from where I live, where itโ€™s really bone-chilling right now, oh well, this didnโ€™t make my skin look oily at all. Just dewy and I could probably get a good 4-6 hours of wear with this before I start looking for oil-blotting sheets.

 

laura mercier candleglow soft luminous foundation in honey shade
Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation in Honey – blended

 

There are 24 shades available in this foundation. My shade is Honey, which is a light to medium shade with a neutral undertone. However, I find that some shades like Buff, Macadamia, Dune, Golden, Butterscotch, Linen and even Vanille seem to also blend really well on my NC25-30 skin, since this foundation is quite sheer.

 

laura mercier candleglow soft luminous foundation review and swatches

 

Sans Spf, but with a natural dewy finish with added Vitamin C & E derivatives. If not perfect, this Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation is the next best thing.

 

 

FYI:ย Nail color is Splash of Grenadine by Essie.

 

 

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