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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!

Have you tried any of these lipsticks already?

MAC Liptensity Lipstick Review

February 1, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Mama Mia MAC! Hi to all the Mac fanatics out there! I’m pretty sure you all know what I’m gonna talk about today. It’s the MAC Liptensity Lipsticks and mind you, they’re great. I’m not really sure what caught my attention when I purchased these lipsticks. Perhaps it’s the different-looking packaging. There’s something interesting, odd and futuristic about it. They just don’t look like your ordinary lipstick. At the beginning, I wasn’t really sure what they were, I thought they’re some kind of a lip stain/lip balm hybrid. But nope, they’re lipsticks, and they’re not like most lipsticks.

These MAC Lipstensities are probably one of the most pigmented lipsticks I’ve ever tried. Such intensity that the color/stain remains on your lips even after taking the lipstick off. The darker shades being the ones that tend to stain more. The colors are very flattering, and I think there are more dark tones than lighter ones (in my opinion), which is quite the opposite of what I usually see in most range of lipstick colors.

Even though I like the range of colors of this MAC liptensities, somehow I found myself having trouble of choosing a few for myself. I mean, don’t get me wrong, these are one of the best lipsticks out there, and the best in pigment so far, but I noticed that since these lippies were so oozing with pigments, their shades from their tubes don’t translate well once applied and swatched, and they tend to look slightly neon-ish. For example, the shade Dionysus above or below looks more like a deep brown shade, but it’s actually a deep reddish plum. Even the shade Smoked Almond didn’t look quite like a bright rose brown. It’s more of a warm medium nude on me. On top of that, the pinks and corals tend to be quite bright.

I suggest you try these MAC liptensities in person, take time to swatch them carefully, then think and look again whether it’s the right shade for you. Personally, I really like the shades that I reviewed here. I think the Smoke Almond shade is extremely wearable for everyday look, and the Dionysus shade is great for a night out or for some exquisite dinner. Agree?

Apart from the amazing pigment that these liptensities have, I also like the way they feel on my lips. They’re exremely lightweight and has a satiny finish. Though they still transfer but the color remains, and they don’t feel very sticky. Lurve it.

What d’ya think of these MAC Lipstensity Lipsticks?

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Favorite Compact Powder Foundations

September 29, 2016 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey All! Today I’ll be reviewing about my top 3 Favorite Compact or Loose Powder Foundation which I’m currently using in conjunction with my favorite liquid foundations.

These compacts are so good at absorbing oil from your skin and giving you that mattifying or slightly silky finish. Some of them come with Spf while one can be used wet or dry. I’ve repurchased a few of them simply because they’re so good, while a few are the ones I’m currently testing and loving. I must admit that I don’t have a lot of powder foundations given that I have an oily skin. I really should have, but my issue is, once I fell in love with one specific powder foundation, I tend to hoard them while forgetting to venture and try some other ones out there. I’m kind of a product/brand loyal once I’ve found the right or compatible product for my skin, and that’s because in the past, I’ve had issues with powder foundations looking cakey on me, plus I’m also loving the liquid matte foundations that’s been popular lately.

Powder Foundations are really great for the summer when your skin is prone to sweating and humidity, but I still think that you should go to where you’re most comfortable with and what works well for you. I like using liquid foundations during the cold months because my skin tends to be drier and liquid foundations give that extra moisture on my skin.

Anyways, you ready for my top 3?

MAC Mineralize Spf 15 Foundation/Loose (Medium Plus) : Had this for some time and is currently being discontinued by MAC. The closest product I could find is this. What I like a lot about this foundation is its overall packaging and formulation. I love mineral makeups, but my skin tends to break out with them. Yet this foundation is mild and it works really well in making my skin looking oil-free. I also love its quick easy to apply buff/sponge.

Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte Powder Foundation (Warm 100) : L.O.V.E. I am totally crazy about this foundation. My absolute favorite and hands down one of the best powder foundations I’ve tried. I know a lot of people that swear by this and have repurchased this several times. What I like about it? There’s a lot to like about it for sure. Besides from creating a very natural look, it can be used wet or dry and it has such a fine and smooth formulation that mattifies my skin for several hours without any annoying scent and no breakouts later. My skin does not look completely flat like a flatbread, (LOL) but more silky or velvety. I also love its gorgeous packaging and it comes with a nice sponge. I’ve repurchased this several times now because I’m afraid of D&G discontinuing this, plus this particular product tends to run out easily. Another great thing about this product is that the shade Warm 100 is really spot on my skin color. Just a few drawbacks though, first, the price. It’s $61, so better use it down to its last grain. And lastly, there’s no Spf. Might as well make good use of moisturizers and primers with sunblocking capabilities. I recommend Murad Oil-Control Mattifier and Smashbox Photofinish Primers since they both have SPF.

Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Flawless Compact Foundation Spf 15 (30 Beige) : A great all-in-one compact that answers to your oily skin issues. It produces a matte effect but it also has a natural and flawless finish. Extremely buildable and comes with a sponge applicator and with the typical yet subtle Chanel foundation scent, just like the Vitalumiere Aqua and the Perfection Lumiere Velvet. The shade 30 Beige is also a true match to my skin tone just like D&G Perfect Matte Foundation in Warm 100 reviewed above. Actually, these two powder foundations mentioned are almost neck and neck with each other. I can’t tell which one I preferred more. I just had this Chanel Le Teint Ultrawear Compact Foundation but I’m already liking its soft and well-refined formulation that is very very similar to D&G Perfect Matte Foundation as well. Plus it has an Spf 15 and it’s also $1 less.

As you can see in the swatches below, the shades from Chanel Le Teint Ultrawear Compact Foundation in 30 Beige and D&G Perfect Matte Foundations in Warm 100 are almost invisible on my NC30 skin. As with the most effective way of choosing your foundation, the shades should match and disappear on your skin tone quite well.

Any recommendations for a good mattifying powder foundation? What are the ones you swear by?

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