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Loving Right Now. Summer Favorites

September 6, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi guys! A couple of months ago, I did a review of my Spring Favorites in beauty and skincare. I remember mentioning that I will be posting my Summer faves soon but I’ve gotten so busy lately that I almost forgot to post this. Well, since we’re still really in the last few days of Summer until Fall starts at the end of this month, let’s take a look at the beauty, skincare, haircare, and other stuff I’m currently loving this season.

(All products/items mentioned in this post and are seen in the following photos are all linked down below)

SKINCARE

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash (5 oz: 25 USD) – This is a lightweight, green, gel-like, and very gentle face cleanser that doesn’t strip the face of its natural oil. It’s ideal for sensitive to normal skin and can be used every day. The smell is quite earthy and very organic.

Lancome Energie de Vie Water-Infused Cream (1.7 oz: 57 USD) – I got this as a sample and it feels really light on the skin. It’s also very softening and it’s one of the best water creams I’ve tried out there. I Highly recommend this cream especially for those with sensitive, normal or oily skin.

Caudalie Divine Oil (3.3 oz: 49 USD) – This smells nice and luxe, with a hint of something green and fresh. This oil is not only perfect for the body, but it’s also great for the face and hair. It’s non-sticky and it sets into the skin well. You can read more about my favorite dry body oils HERE.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (mini/1.7 oz: 22 USD, 3.2 oz: 34 USD) – This really melts any kind of makeup and it smells nice. I never get bored of using this and a little goes a long way, so this lasts a long time for me. I would love to try the Cherry version soon. Read my other Farmacy faves HERE.

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (mini: 0.84 oz: 22 USD, 1.68 oz: 38 USD, 3.37 oz: 62 USD) – This is going to be my permanent staple when it comes to facial moisturizers. I just love how smooth and soothing this feels on my skin, it’s perfect for my oily-prone skin type because it’s very lightweight and it retains my skin’s natural moisture. The scent also keeps me coming back to this. A little bit is only what you’ll need since this gel feels extremely creamy, plus it doesn’t irritate the skin.

Eve Lom Cleanser (0.7 oz: 24 USD, 3.4 oz: 80 USD, 6.8 oz: 135 USD) – I was a bit disappointed with this cleanser at first because not only was the smell too strong, like too sour and a bit too rancid for me (think vinegar) but also this cleanser feels too thick, too creamy and too oily for my already somewhat oily skin. At first, I thought this wouldn’t work on my skin but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise because this saves me a lot of time especially when I’m tired after a busy day and a face full of makeup. This cleanser also acts as a solid makeup remover and it removes all kinds of makeup while it cleanses the face gently. It does contain mineral oil and lanolin but it did not cause me any breakouts. This also comes with a free muslin cloth for a more thorough cleansing, but I just really use my fingers with this cleanser. I don’t think you need a large container for this because I have the mini size and it’s lasting me a really long time. You only need a little bit of this to work on the skin.

Olehenriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub (3 oz: 28 USD) – This is such a gritty-textured and exfoliating cleanser that smells nice and it makes the skin really smooth. This can be a strong exfoliator, so I only use this once a week. It makes my face really smooth and it feels flawless. It’s perfect to purify the pores and it gets rid of rough skin patches. It also preps the skin for any type of serum, toner, or skincare.

Nuface Toning Device (325 USD) – Got this from the last Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I don’t have wrinkles yet but I bought this for toning purposes. It’s only been a month since I started using this and I really really love it. It tones my upper eye area, my chin, jaw, and it helps to emphasize my cheekbones. I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort when I first started using this. In fact, I didn’t really feel anything at all, LOL, but my face looks like it’s been working out on its own, lol again. My cheekbones look more emphasized and my bone structure seems to show a bit more. I also look more awake and vibrant with this. I will review this further in the following posts to come.

BEAUTY

My foundations of choice this season have to be lightweight, easy to use, and natural-looking just because it’s Summer. So, no thick makeup look for me this season.

Nars PureRadiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Groenland (1.9 oz: 45 USD) – As I mentioned, I didn’t feel like wearing too much makeup this Summer with all the heat and humidity. I wanted to look more carefree and natural, so I opted for this classic Nars favorite and it gives me enough coverage for a nice and easy, lightweight, fuss-free Summer look

I use three face primers this season and it’s a collection of no added SPF and one that has an SPF depending on the occasion and the situation.

Olehenriksen Banana Bright Face Primer (1 oz: 36 USD) – A Vitamin C and E primer that smells just like the Banana Bright Eye Cream. This feels more like a skincare and primer-in-one. What I love about this is that it blurs the pores in an easy, non-sticky, lightweight manner and it smells really nice. This is a good creamy primer to use in the Summer or be it at any season.

Nars Smooth & Protect Primer SPF 50 (1 oz: 36 USD) – This feels very silicon-ish and it blurs the pores very well. This does feel like the original beloved Make Up For Ever Primer but with the added SPF. I like to use this just in case I’d forgotten or got too lazy to use my facial SPF.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer (mini/0.33 oz: 15 USD, 1.52 oz: 30 USD) – I really like this primer a lot because it’s light and it doesn’t feel very silicon-ish. It’s actually quite hydrating and it blurs the pores just as good as the silicone-based ones. This is quite similar and a cheaper option to the very pricey Sisley Paris Double Tenseur Moisturizing Gel Primer.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder in shade #1 (0.3 oz: $38) – I bought this to try and see if it’s a good alternative to the Armani Neo Nude which I love (reviewed HERE). This one feels and looks baked with a silky feel. It’s not as loose and powdery as the Neo Nude but it’s still finely-milled. This does set the foundation well and it gives a nice radiant soft-focus finish. It looks naturally glowy and it’s the next best thing to the Armani Neo Nude.

YSL Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen in shade #3 Luminous Peach (1 oz: 35 USD) – I use this for daily touch-ups especially around the undereye area and I can just blend this using my finger. This feels very creamy, mess-free, quick, and clean to use. It won’t hide very dark blemishes because of its sheer coverage, but this does help to brighten the undereyes very well and it’s creamy, so it doesn’t cake.

There are two more eyeliners I’m loving this season apart from the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen I reviewed at the beginning of this Spring. I like the ones that are micro-tip or has very fine tip/lines for a more natural daily look. Also, fine eyeliners are great for small eyes and for those that don’t have a lot of lid space.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner-Micro Tip (0.016 oz: 22 USD) – The tip of this is really fine and it’s probably the finest eyeliner tip I’ve ever tried. This is perfect for those that have very narrow lids or for those with hooded eyes.

Sephora Collection Fine Line Felt Tip Eyeliner (0.017 oz: 14 USD) – This doesn’t smudge and it has a fine yet stiff felt tip. I would say that this is the next best thing to the Stila eyeliner above, although this is not as thin as Stila’s, but still, this gets the job done and it can apply an accurate line on the lid. It’s very thin enough and it’s perfect for tightlining, plus the felt tip feels pretty solid.

Here’s a couple of lipsticks and lip colors I’m loving this season and they’re mostly matte.

Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Take Me Home and Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: 27 USD) – These are beautiful shades to rock this season, with the Dolce Vita being a bright dusty rose tone, and the Take Me Home shade as a terracotta lip color. I will swatch these when I review my favorite shades of the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencils soon, so, stay tuned for that.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Granite (0.003 oz: 21 USD) – I recently added the granite shade to my collection of this cult-favorite brow product. I have been using varying tones of brown for my brows a lot and though they fit me well, this time, I wanted to try something more dramatic and darker, so I picked the granite color which is a good match for my brunette hair.

Too Faced Peach Puff Long-Wearing Matte Lip Color (0.07 oz: 19 USD) – Reviewed HERE.

Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Waterproof Mascara (0.21 oz: 32 USD) – This is one of my favorite reliable waterproof volumizing mascara and it’s perfect to hold the curls in high humidity.

Nyx Powder Puff Lippie (0.4 oz: 6.37 USD) – This is similar to the Too Faced Peach Puff but without the peachy scent and at a much affordable price. See the swatches HERE.

Anastasia Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette (42 USD) – I recently started using this more because of the soft natural look that I can get with this palette. I love the brown tones of this especially the matte ones and the shades are really pigmented. You can see the swatches of this palette HERE.

Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette in Lightgasm (75 USD) – See the swatches HERE. I can understand why some people don’t like this because this can be so tricky to pull off especially with the Lightgasm palette. It isn’t a soft powdery type and can be hard to blend. It’s also not that pigmented and it only tends to show to those with fair to light skintone. For my light-medium skintone, I have to use a stiff brush and dab it several times on the palette before this could give off some color on my skin.

La Mer Cushion The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 (120 USD) – Apart from being quick, easy, lightweight, and mess-free to use, this cushion feels like a second skin and it gives a natural glassy glow. It also smells nice and I love that this comes with a nice SPF and a free refill. This sets on the skin well and it doesn’t slide. See my favorite cushion foundations HERE.

I found two very nice blotting papers from Amazon which are super affordable and they work just as well as the ones you’d find at Sephora, Ulta or at any drugstore. These are Natural Bamboo Charcoal Oil Absorbing Tissue (100 sheets: 6.95 USD) and the Palladio Rice Paper Tissue (40 sheets: 4.30 USD).

Beautyblender Blender Defender Protective Case (12 USD) – This where I keep my beautyblender whenever I travel. This case can fit two dry or damp beautyblenders and it has a breathable design that allows a damp sponge to dry while inside. This is very flexible so you don’t have to worry about this shattering at all.

HAIRCARE

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo (8 oz: 24 USD, 33.8 oz: 58 USD) – This is my latest fave shampoo from Briogeo. I like this even better than the Don’t Despair, Repair line, I love the nice light citrus/orange, ginger, coconut, and grapefruit scent. This shampoo is light on the hair and it cleanses well without adding residue. It also volumizes and this makes my hair bouncy. See my other Briogeo haircare faves HERE.

Ouai Leave-In Conditioner (4.7 oz: 26 USD) – This works to tame my frizz and a little bit of this goes a long way. I love its musky lemon rose scent. My hair feels really nice and soft with this, and since this is also a thermal protector, I use this a lot together with my Harry Josh Hair Dryer. See my other Ouai haircare faves HERE.

Bumble and Bumble Bb. Don’t Blow It Fine (H)air Styler (mini/2 oz: 16 USD, 5 oz: 31 USD) – This is still my hair cream of choice for whenever I don’t blow dry my hair. Lately, I’ve been so busy that I just really air dry my hair, so, I use this a lot and it holds my hair down, tames it, and it keeps the frizz at bay.

Swissco Hair Comb – Found this handmade wide-tooth comb at Amazon for a very cheap price and it’s very flat, so it can fit anywhere on any purse or satchel. It works great as a detangler for my strands.

SUNCARE

There are two Clarins products I’m loving for body suncare as well as for the face.

Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 (5 oz: 36 USD) – This is still one of my sunscreen of choice this Summer because this smells nice and very lightweight since this is a dry body oil with an added SPF. I like that this sets on my skin without the greasy feel that most sunscreens have. I’ve lost count of how many bottles of this I’ve consumed, all I know is I’ve been keeping some backups of this in my vanity.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection SPF 50 (1.7 oz: 43 USD) – I’m finishing this up and it’s a pity that this is getting more and more difficult to find because this is really nice and light on the face. This doesn’t irritate my skin and it doesn’t leave an annoying white cast. This works very well in protecting my skin from getting sunburned. See my favorite body and face sunscreens HERE

Supergoop Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (3.4 oz: 19 USD) – I’m also finishing this up, and this is my sunscreen of choice for when I’m on the go. I like this a lot because it’s fast and easy to use. Its whipped texture gives a lightweight non-sticky feel and it’s not messy to use. This has no scent and it spreads evenly on the skin without leaving any white cast.

Isdin Fotoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50 (1.6 oz: 39.99 USD) – This is quite similar to the Clarins UV Face Sunscreen above and this is currently in my purse. I love its tiny size and I love that this doesn’t sting the eyes. It feels very fluid and light on the skin and it has a nice SPF level. It’s a pity that this is still very limited here in the US. This was given to me by a relative from Europe.

These are all the products I’ve been loving this Summer and will still be loving all throughout the beginning of Fall. Stay tuned for my Fall favorites soon.

What are the beauty, skincare, and haircare products you’re currently loving season?

Loving Right Now

June 27, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey There! Happy Summer Everybody. Let me just update you on the latest products I’m loving right now. It’s been a while since I posted some of my recent favorite beauty and skincare finds, and I have a bunch of really interesting stuff that a lot of you may find great as well. Some of the products that I’ll be talking about are very holy grail-worthy and might put you in that vacation-ready vibe, after all, Summer is already here, right? So without further ado, check out these roundup of my latest product faves.

Up first is the Herbivore Rose Quartz Illuminating Body Oil (4 oz: ($48). This millennial pink-looking body oil will not only induce you for that long overdue summer vacay, it will really put you in the mood for it. The beauty of this and the overall packaging of this oil is very Instagram-worthy, complete with its silvery smooth shimmer that is so at this moment. Its heavy glass packaging and robust sprayer are perfect for any weekend or week-long getaways. On my skin, the pinkish tinge of the oil disappears and it leaves a nice subtle shimmer that leaves my skin glistening when it gets exposed to the sun. Its glow can be blinding if you put too much but it’s a beautiful blinding and commanding glow. It may kinda feel sticky though since it’s practically a shimmery oil, but that doesn’t bother me much. There’s just one thing though, it’s the smell. It’s has a weird rosy smell, but not like a rose flower type of scent, but more like a rose branch cutting which is way too strong and might be too much for some.

For this summer, I am fan-loving the Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask (3.4 oz: $39) which truly smells invigorating and soothing. I love the look of this mask a lot, it looks yummy and it feels really calming and hydrating on the face. It has this rich consistency along with some cranberry seeds which leaves the skin feeling supple and smooth after rinsing. The cranberry seeds might be quite a challenge to wash off but it never really bothered me since this mask is full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory effects due to the turmeric extract present in it.

I scored this Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (3.8 oz: $29.50) from the last Sephora VIB Event as a restock because this makeup remover has always been my go-to for removing any kinds of makeup, and it doesn’t have any discerning scent. It’s an original favorite of mine and it always works. I just need to put a little bit of the balm on my face and my makeup melts off easily including some stubborn eye makeup. This is great for sensitive skin and it saves you a ton of cotton pads. Also, it comes in a big tub packaging which lasts a long time.

Two of my favorite scents this Summer are made by Nest and Chloe. I’ve been eyeing the Nest Citrine Eau de Parfum Rollerball (0.27 oz: $27) for some time, but I was also drawn to the Nest Wisteria Blue, which is still on my wishlist. Eventually, I decided to get the Citrine scent because it has this Summer-fresh sweet citrus fragrance, and I’m a sucker for anything citrusy or orangey. This scent is very irresistible, very beach-ready, and very long lasting. I just love Nest fragrances! On the other hand, the Chloe Nomade Eau de Parfum Travel Spray (0.33 oz: $28) is my signature travel scent of the moment. It is definitely one of the most unique Chloe scents I’ve tried so far and it’s just mind-blowing. It’s a blend of something woodsy, fresh, and warm floral. There is a mix of oakmoss and freesia which makes this scent nostalgia-inducing and quite complicated as well. Sometimes, it reminds me a bit of a fresh version of the YSL Black Opium – a scent invoking a dreamy escape.

There are two Dior products I’m loving lately, and the first one is the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Perfect Skin Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 in 020 Light/Neutral (0.5 oz: $82). It’s a pricey sheer-coverage cushion foundation that’s perfect for oily skin. It’s similar to the Iope Air Cushion which is a K-beauty favorite, but this Dior one seems to last longer on me, especially when compared to some other cushions I’ve tried. This has a really lovely light floral scent and it sets immediately on my skin, leaving a poreless, matte, luminous, and glassy Kpop Idol skin effect. I tend to use this cushion for almost all of my travels as it leaves my skin looking young and fresh all the time. It also seems like there’s a lot of product in its packaging as opposed to most cushion foundations looking like they’d dry up so easily. Another Dior fave lately is the Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer in 031 Sand: Light to Medium with Warm Yellow Undertone ($34). This concealer works very well to conceal blemishes and other imperfections, but it’s also quite similar to the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in terms of its texture and pigment. So if you already have the Nars concealer, you might as well skip this, unless of course, you’re loyal to Dior, LOL. I like this concealer a lot for everyday use and it doesn’t cake on me. It may not adhere very well on my face compared to the Nars Concealer, but the difference between the two is very subtle. Also, if you compare this Dior Concealer to the Tarte Shape Tape, I think the Tarte one is more pigmented. And, as with most concealers, this Dior Forever Undercover still needs to be set with a setting powder.

For this Summer’s glow, I love the Marc Jacobs Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator in Spotlight (0.49 oz: $42). It has the most flattering universal glow that can be buildable, and it’s super easy to use. It looks like a deodorant, LOL, and it feels a bit oily texture-wise yet it’s so easy to blend out for a more natural soft-focus luminosity. Be aware though that its silvery shimmer can also be blinding depending on how much you apply on your skin. Overall, no matter how you want your glow to be, this highlighter will always make you look stunning and radiant-looking.

My favorite red lipstick of the moment is the Gucci Audacious Color-Intense Lipstick in Ardent ($39). It has the right kind of red that’s perfect for my skintone this Summer – not too intense and not too bright. It’s usually hard for me to pull off a really bright red lipstick especially during this season, but this kind of red works. It’s the ideal everyday red with medium amounts of shimmer so that it doesn’t look too metallic, and it’s great for that Ombre lip effect as well.

When it comes to foundations, there are two that I’ve been testing lately, first is the Sunday Riley The Influencer Clean Long Wear Foundation in 170 light-medium with warm beige undertone (1.08 oz: 42). This foundation is meant to have a matte finish and has some skincare benefits. I was torn between the 180 and the 170 shade, but in the end, the 170 seemed to fit me really well because it’s not as golden and not as warm as the 180. I love the texture of this foundation even though it has more of a natural finish on me, instead of being matte. The only thing that I’m kind of disappointed about this is the fact that it seems to emphasize and settle on my pores after a few hours. However, the issue is not that severe though. Another foundation that seems to be better than the Sunday Riley Influencer is the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow in B30 Cool Almond (1.01 oz: $48). Though it shares the same type and shape of packaging as the Sunday Riley Influencer, this particular YSL tinted moisturizer is quite the opposite with its subtle dewy finish. It makes for a perfect everyday foundation, and it gives a nice sheer to medium flawless coverage that makes the skin look youthful and soft-looking. I like that it has the added Spf, and though it could melt off during the Summer, it’s the perfect foundation when you’re the type that likes to stay indoors with the AC blasting.

Last but not the least are the two lip balms that I’ve been loving. The Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 (0.5 oz: $9.50) is probably one of the most popular lip balms ever and it has a lot of fan-based because it simply works. By that, I mean it really repairs dry chapped lips overnight and it keeps lips hydrated for several hours. It is so moisturizing that it feels heavy and really oily on the lips to the point that it may be uncomfortable for some. I suggest using only a little bit of this so that it won’t attract your own hair or any kind of lints. My other favorite lip balm and is one that I just recently discovered and I think it’s slightly better than Kiehl’s – the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm (0.13 oz: $18). This is probably one of the most lightweight lip balms I’ve ever tried as it feels like nothing on the lips. The packaging is cute with its large tube reminiscent of those Elmer’s Giant Glue Sticks, however, there seems to be not enough product in its packaging considering its price. But the formula of this is superb and it has no annoying scent. You can pretty much wear this all day without looking like you dipped your lips in olive oil. It is very reparative and soothing without the extra weight that most lip balms have.

Bottom line, there’s a lot of holy grail-potential in these roundup of products. I for one is crazy about the Kiehl’s Turmeric and Cranberry Mask, the Nest Citrine and Chloe Nomade Scents, the YSL Touche Eclat All-One-Glow, as well as the Gucci Audacious Lipstick in Ardent. Of course, the Dior Capture Totale Perfect Cushion is wonderful too, and you gotta try the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm.

Random Lipstick Favorites

March 23, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Whaddup guys! As you may know in my Insta lately, I recently went to NOLA and I had a fabulous time. A review of my trip there will be out very soon. When I decided to go there, I packed some lipsticks with me for the trip. They’re not necessarily new-releases, but just a bunch of what I discovered lately, and I’ve been testing them before, during, and after my trip. Excited to see which random lipstick favorites traveled with me to The Big Easy?

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in #119 Bourgeoisie (0.19 oz: $30) – I’ve been so stoked by the Chanel Glosses since my last lipstick review that I decided to add another one to my stash. I picked this shade because I like that it has some shimmers and it’s on the dusty rose side, which is more like the type of color I tend to gravitate towards. Since my lips have some pigments, this color looked more like a nude gloss on me. So, I’ve been using this as my wear-alone gloss, especially when I don’t feel like wearing any lip color and just wants to moisturize and add shimmer to my lips throughout the day. It’s also an ideal topcoat for any lip color which I did pair with the Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick that I also brought with me to NOLA. That particular LM lipstick is reviewed below.

Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Lip Balm in #2 Baby ($50) – I’ve been so curious about this balm+lipstick hybrid from Sisley Paris. It’s supposed to make the lips supple, moisturized, smoothed, and plumped with every use. It’s also an easy to apply kind of lipstick since it is housed in an XXL pencil with a twist-release type. I definitely love the ease of using this lip product, it is practical and easy to apply. The formula is certainly hydrating, just like a balm, and the pigment is pretty good. On my lips, this #2 Baby shade just gives me that right baby pink color which is perfect for everyday wear. I love everything about this lipstick+lip balm-in-one product because it is moisturizing and pigmented and was perfect during my flight to NOLA. However, this definitely requires some reapplication especially after wining and dining. Also, due to its price, it’ll be kinda hard to collect some colors.

Astrology by Bite Limited Edition Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pisces (0.15 oz: $26) – When I heard that Bite was releasing their limited-edition Astrology Amuse Bouche lipsticks, I was thrilled. I love the texture of their Amuse Bouche lippies a lot and when my own zodiac was out, Pisces, I immediately purchased one for myself. Now, this shade is pretty difficult to pull off. It’s like a mix of muted orange and pumpkin, and I just don’t see the “sea or ocean” vibe in this, but it’s Pisces, so the shade should closely resemble to the fish, but by being a fish shade, does that mean looking like a crawfish+amphibian love child? LOL, because that’s kind of the deal I’m getting with this lipstick. I still took this shade to NOLA, but I didn’t wear this though. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around this color. I feel like I can’t wear this without looking like a character for The Shape Of Water Sequel. LOLz, anyhow, I really like the texture of this lipstick so much, and it smells amazing. I realized that I could still pull this off by dabbing a bit of it on my lips and then try not to overdo it. Anyway, this color is no longer available, and Bite Beauty had already released their Aries shade, which seems to also closely resemble this Pisces lipstick. On top of that, it’s also already sold out. I wonder what will be the color of Taurus? I hope it’s gonna be a pretty one.

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Vibe (0.035 oz: $28) – Medium beige nude. I’ve tried another shade of this Laura Mercier lipstick line before and it’s called Fresh (reviewed HERE). While I like that shade quite a lot, I wanted something that is a little bit fit for an everyday wear, so I bought the Vibe shade and I surprisingly liked it a lot. I kinda hesitated for a while before buying this though, because I thought it would be too light for my skin tone and it might make me look washed-out. Fortunately, I really like the way this color looks on my lips. It gives a nice subtle flush of pale pinkish mid-beige nude and it looks really great if you have a dramatic eye makeup. It still feels kinda drying still, but I usually dab a balm on my lips before putting this on, or I apply a lip gloss immediately after putting this. Overall, this shade is very long lasting and was very reliable during my trip to The Big Easy.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita (0.086 oz: $27) – Dusty Rose. I find this shade to be so pretty and I think this would work for any skin tone. It’s not only a dusty rose color, but there’s also a subtle red hue to it. Probably, of all the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils I have, this is my most favorite shade and it is long-wearing too. It makes the face look a bit bright and spring-ready, just like the weather in New Orleans, and it’s not an over-the-top kind of brightness since the matte texture makes the shade muted and very wearable. However, the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is not so practical to have unless you’re always carrying a sharpener. This Lip Pencil does not come with a built-in sharpener and it isn’t a twist-release type. So Nars, please improve the packaging.

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in #62 Libre (0.12 oz: $37) – I have no idea what took me so long to buy this lipstick in this specific color. This is one of the most perfect lipsticks I’ve ever tried. First, I really love this shade, it’s the perfect warm rosy nude for me. It flatters my skin tone very well, and it’s about 2 shades darker than my natural lip color. The closest dupe I could think of is the MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond (swatched HERE), and perhaps the YSL #66 Bois De Rose (seen HERE), both of which are my holy grail. Lasting power for this lipstick is awesome, I get about 6 to 8 hours of wear with some eating, snacking, and drinking while I was in NOLA. The second thing I love about this lipstick is the texture. It’s velvety matte but it’s soft and light on the lips, and it’s definitely non-drying. You can swipe it lightly on the lips for a nice flush of color, or it can be very buildable. Lastly, I quite like the packaging of this particular lipstick line, easy to pop open and easy to close. Love it!