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Winter Lipstick Favorites

February 1, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi guys, I am back from a momentary pause. My website experienced a downtime a few days ago, but I am here now, still alive and kicking. So, what have I been doing lately? Apart from going through the whole #snowpocalypse saga, I binge-watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo in Netflix and I suddenly got an idea. Meet me, Marie Apartment (LOL) and I am here to talk to you about the lipsticks that spark joy for me this Winter. And nope, I didn’t throw away my other lipsticks that didn’t spark joy. I still keep them, and I will always keep them all because, in all honesty, these lipsticks always give me joy. But for this Winter, I’m rounding up my faves in liquid lipsticks, balms, lip pencils and lipsticks. This is kind of an exhaustive roundup so grab your favorite drinks and chill. Take note that since I’m a lover of matte lipsticks, almost all the lipsticks here are mostly matte.

I use these lipsticks mostly in rotation, and also, depending on my activity for the day, I tend to pick the shade that would look best and appropriate on me for that occasion. And if I’m undecided, I would just pick the shade that’s giving me all the feels (LOL), unless of course, I have no feels on that day (LOL again), then that’s another story.

Excited to see which lipsticks made the cut? Keep reading (You’ve been warned :-)).

CHARLOTTE TILBURY/SHISEIDO/BITE BEAUTY/FENTY BEAUTY

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips Liquid Lipstick in Show Girl (0.24 oz: $34) – warm deep berry. Always and will be in love with this shade. I love the thick whipped formula of this liquid lipstick and it sets into a velvety matte that won’t emphasize the lip lines. Lip swatch HERE.

Shiseido Modern Matte Powder Lipstick in 508 Semi Nude (0.14 oz: $26) – cinnamon. My most unforgettable lipstick ever. One of the most beautiful things that happened lately in my life happened when I wore this lipstick, so this totally sparks a thousand joy for me. This shade is not exactly semi-nude, but more like a muted cinnamon, and the tube of this lipstick is heavy and magnetic. For more of this lipstick, click HERE.

Bite Beauty Multistick in Mascarpone (0.17oz: $24) – deep salmon. I love Bite Beauty’s Multistick (seen HERE) and I like that this is so versatile. You can absolutely do a monochromatic look with just this shade. Just swipe a bit on the lids, lips, and cheeks, and voila! Lagertha (Vikings) is that you? LOL.

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé (0.05 oz: $24) – dusty mauve. My favorite shade from the Bite Lip Crayon, this color is so versatile and the formula is creamy and comfortable, not to mention the irresistible flavor that this lip product has. More details HERE.

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Thicc (0.06 oz: $18) – sultry mauve. One of the newest shades from the Mattemoiselle Plush line. This is such a pretty shade that can work with almost any skin tone and the lasting power of this lipstick is just amazing. Also, this feels comfy on the lips given that this is matte. More Fenty Beauty review HERE.

BURBERRY/DIOR

There are two Burberry lipsticks that I love in my life and they’re both from the Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet Line. One is Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet in Fawn No. 5 (0.2 oz: $34) and the other is Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet in Dark Rosewood No. 17 (0.2 oz: $34), seen HERE. These shades may not be available in Sephora anymore, but they’re still available at Nordstrom or at Saks Fifth Avenue. I just love how soft and natural-looking these velvety matte liquid lipsticks appeal on the lips, and they’re so moisturizing as well. You can never go wrong with these.

Dior Lip Glow in Berry (0.12 oz: $34) – sheer berry balm. This is probably the Dior Lip Glow shade that complements my skin tone very well since this has a mauve tone that adjusts beautifully to my lips’ natural color. More Dior Lip Glow shades and swatches HERE.

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick in 420 Underground (0.11 oz: $37) – pink nude. This is one of my favorites when it comes to natural or nude lipstick colors. It’s nude but kinda like a warm mid-tone nude with a bit of pink that is enough to complement and add some color to the lips. Great for everyday wear. See the lip swatch HERE.

Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge Lipstick in 843 Ultra Crave ($37) – terracotta pink. This lipstick is so long-wearing and very comfortable to wear. The Ultra-Crave shade really makes you wanna crave for more of this type of lipstick, and of course, the Dior red packaging is so elegant and sleek. Complete review HERE.

YSL

YSL Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in 23 Singular Taupe (0.20 oz: $37) – deep nude. An Allure Award Winner and no doubt one of the best lip stains I’ve ever tried. I really like this shade a lot. It’s perfect for daytime wear and even to a nighttime formal affair. See the other shades HERE.

The two classic YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks I love are the YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 28 Rose Boheme (0.13 oz: $38) and the 66 Bois De Rose (0.13 oz: $38). 28 Rose Boheme is a purplish pink that seems difficult to locate nowadays, but it’s still one of my fave purple pink lip colors. See lip swatch HERE. You can definitely find some other similar shades of this particular lipstick, like the 09 rose stiletto (lighter) or the matte version called 212 alternative plum (darker). The YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 66 Bois De Rose is my all-time favorite YSL lipstick color. It is pinky nude and it goes well with everything.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Oil-In-Stick in 48 Smoking Plum (0.15 oz: $38) – further reviewed HERE. This is a perfect Plum shade that is so great for this Winter. The formula of this is so hydrating like it melts into the lips. The coverage is medium and it has a nice shine to it.

YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain in 409 Burgundy Vibes (0.18 oz: $37) – This is a full coverage high impact dramatic burgundy shade. Perfect for a night out or for an ultra-glam event. I promise you will never be forgotten after wearing this lipstick, LOL. See the lip swatch HERE.

NARS

I’m obsessed with two Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencils in Bahama (0.086 oz: $27) and Walkyrie (0.086 oz: $27). Bahama is pink brown and perfect for a warm nude everyday lip color, while Walkyrie is warm coral red creme that’s great for a date night lewk.

Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman (0.18 oz: $26) – chestnut rose. From the name of this liquid lipstick, down to its shade, plus its comfortable matte formula, you can’t resist the charm.

ARMANI BEAUTY

The Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet Liquid Lipsticks in 507 Garconne (0.13 oz: $38) and 600 Front Row (0.13 oz: $38) are two of my staple liquid lipstick/lip stain hybrid. I always love the formula of these since they’re somewhat creamy and definitely comfortable. On top of that, they set into a satiny matte. Also, the wear of these is really good. 507 Garconne is a mauve berry. A perfect mid-tone mauve, while 600 Front Row is a rich brownish berry. You can’t help but stare at how beautiful this shade is. It’s one of those enigmatic berry shade that everyone could pull off. Lip swatch HERE

I haven’t gotten over my love for the Armani Lip Magnets, and here goes the new Giorgio Armani Rouge D’Armani Matte in 102 Androgino (0.14 oz: $38) and 201 Nightberry (0.14 oz: $38). Androgino is an antique rose and my latest favorite nude lipstick. This really works well for my light/medium skin tone and my pigmented lips. I also think that this is a very universally flattering shade because this has a versatile sort of androgynous undertone. On the other hand, 201 Nightberry is scarlet red. This shade is just to-die-for. It’s the perfect wine-red berry shade with a comfortable creamy matte formula that lasts for hours and hours. Not really sure if I’ll be able to get over the beauty of this lipstick, probably not, so I hope it’s forever. LOL. Lip swatches HERE

CHANEL

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme in 118 Eternel (0.12 oz: $37) – Part of Chanel’s Fall ’18 releases, this new “extreme matte” formula is amazing. It’s super pigmented and it stays on the lips without the drying effect. The shade Eternel is the perfect nude pink from this line and I love it. Further swatched HERE.

Before the Velvet Extreme lipsticks, I’ve been a fan and will always be a fan of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 69 Abstrait (0.12 oz: $37) and 58 Rouge Vie (0.12 oz: $37). I also love the Libre shade, but that’s for the Summer. The 69 Abstrait color is a new addition from Chanel and it has a coral nude tone. It is a wonderful shade to moderately brighten the pout with a very comfortable original non-drying velvety matte formula. 58 Rouge Vie is a luminous matte red. It’s hard for me to pull off a true red lip color, but this one has a muted brick-like tone and with a comfortable matte texture, so this works for me since it flatters my skin tone. Lip swatch for Abstrait can be seen HERE.

Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder in 960 Avant-Gardiste (0.3 oz: $30.00) – seen HERE. This is a red berry shade. I absolutely love the unique formula of this. It’s powdery, it’s staining, and it’s long-wearing. Perfect for that ombre lip effect.

Chanel Jumbo Longwear Matte Lip Crayon in 267 Impulsion (0.04 oz: $37) – A deep blue-toned red with a smooth and creamy lip crayon formula. It’s so pigmented that it’ll stain the lips for the whole day. A little bit goes a long way. Further swatched HERE.

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in 174 Melancholia (0.2 oz: $37) – deep berry. Also a very staining lip color and you don’t need to apply a lot. It’s so lightweight on the lips and it’s non-drying. See the lip swatch HERE.

That comprises my Winter lipstick favorites. Did these lipsticks also spark you some joy? LOL, I mean, what are the lipsticks that spark joy on you lately? And what are your favorite lip colors for the Winter?

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighter Review & Swatches

September 10, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey there. Ever since falling in love with the Bobbi Brown Mini Glow Set that I got from the last Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which contains the mini Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Sunset Pink and the mini Face Blender Brush (seen HERE), I knew right then and there that I’ve got to have more of the Shimmer Brick Highlighters especially in their full sizes. I may be late in the game of liking these amazing blush-highlighter hybrids, but I just wanna take a moment to tell you how good these beauties are.

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighters (standard size 0.4 oz: $48, mini 0.14 oz: $25) are the iconic face highlighters loved by a lot of people and is also an Allure Best of Beauty Winner. If you’ve never tried these compacts before and are wondering what’s so special about them, well there’s definitely a lot to love. For starters, these are meant to be as all-over face highlighters that deliver soft-focus color and lit-from-within glow, the kind that is natural and one that gives a subtle shimmer finish. Each compact delivers a glow that can be rosy, bronze-gold, lush coral, or metallic pink, and since there are five shades in one compact, the colors are multidimensional and forever changing once they get hit by the light. The pigments are good in these and they can be layered easily. Blending them is such a breeze and you can never go wrong if you put too much of the product since the colors have a soft-focus effect.

I mostly use these as highlighting blushes and these literally made me fall in love with face blushes all over again. I haven’t been a fan of blushes in a long time and it’s a beauty product I normally shy away from because I already have “somewhat prominent” cheeks and I did not want to emphasize them further. Literally, the only two face blushes I could tolerate are the Tarte Paaarty and the Nars Orgasm (or Goulue, but it’s currently sold out). Never knew I could love a multifaced highlighter/blush hybrid like these Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compacts.

Bronze – deep bronzy glow. True to its description, this is a golden glowy blush/highlighter/bronzer.

Nectar – soft, coral glow. Adds a nice coral-pink shimmer flush on the face.

Pink Quartz – soft, warm pink glow. Appears like a metallic pinkish-pearlized highlighter on me.

Rose – soft, rosy glow. Very subtle rosy pink with a very slight shimmer.

Sunset Pink – Nordstrom Exclusive and is still available at BobbiBrown.com. Has a nice complex blend of rosy golden-bronze shimmer. At first glance, it looks like a combination of some of the shades from Bronze and Pink Quartz, but upon application, the closest shade it matches with is Bronze. Swatched HERE.

These compacts are so long-wearing that they’d still be on my face for a full day and they definitely elevate my makeup look. Also, they can be used as eyeshadows if you’re traveling and they can literally make you look well put together in a few minutes. Just brush a light stroke of these on the cheeks, add an eyeliner, emphasize the brows, a little lip color and you’re good to go. Oh, and add some hair flip drama, LOL.

Another thing I really like about these Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighters is the fact that they’re not orangey or too pinkish, instead, their glow is very natural, versatile, and healthy-looking. You could pretty much wear them beyond Spring/ Summer and the radiance they have on the skin can still be wearable even if you’ve already applied too much product. They’re not super blinding, though they can be if you want a more dramatic effect. They’re just slightly shimmery and they have a nice glowy flush that adds warmth and directs light to the high points of the face. These are definitely my most favorite Bobbi Brown products and the ones I highly recommend.

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighter is currently available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Harrods, Macy’s, Net-A-Porter, Violet Grey, and BobbiBrown.com

Favorite Body Oils

August 17, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?