Hello you, miss me? Please excuse my long absence, my life has been filled with what seemed like an endless traveling lately; jet lag after jet lag, and massive sensory overload, lol. But, I’m glad that I’m mostly done with traveling this year. The fun part is that I went to the Pacific and had a great time to unwind. More details about that trip coming soon. For sure, a lot of things have happened and there will be more coming my way. I sure do hope for better days ahead. Anyway, as of the moment, I am so thrilled to be back talking about beauty and other stuff :-).ย
I was going to post this review a few weeks prior to my Pacific trip, but I ran out of time. Anyways, I’ve always wanted to talk about Kaja Beauty ever since it was released by Sephora. It all first started with the Kaja Wink Stamp Wing Eyeliner Stamp & Pen (25 USD) which I was quite reluctant to buy at first, but I knew I needed something that would make my cat eye application a lot easier and a lot faster since I’ve been doing a lot of errands and traveling lately. The Kaja Wink Stamp is a double-ended wing stamp pen with an accompanying liquid liner that creates a foolproof cat eye. You just have to stamp on each outer corner of the eye, connect it with the smudge-proof/waterproof felt-tip liquid liner, and you’re good to go. You got a nice, neat, and balanced cat eye in just a matter of seconds. Additionally, I surprisingly love the liquid liner because it definitely doesn’t smudge and it works very well with my oily lids even when in a hot and humid weather like in the tropics. Its firm felt tip makes for an easy straight almost accurate line. This and the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen are my fave reliable eyeliners of all time. The Wink Stamp duo is also free of parabens, phthalates, and cruelty-free.
Since I love the Kaja Wink Stamp so much, I decided to try more of the Kaja beauty items. So, to get a good test of most of Kaja Beauty’s bestsellers, I decided to try the Kaja Lookin’ Like A Snack Must-Haves Collection which retails for 39 USD, yet it has an 82 USD value of products. This collection is in a gift-size pack and it consists of full-size Kaja bestsellers; 1 Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio, 1 Cheeky Stamp Blendable Blush, 1 Mochi Glow Bouncy Highlighter, and 1 Cushy Vibe High-Pigment Lip Stain. All products are cruelty-free and also free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
SHOP THIS POST
Beauty Bento Orange Blossom Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio (21 USD) – The packaging of this is just so cute and so unique. I love the idea of stacked eyeshadows to save storage and it makes them very compact. However, I’m not quite a fan of these Orange Blossom shades, which has the shades: Sandy Peach (light peach shimmer), Sun-KissedTan (warm peach gold shimmer), and Baked Cinnamon (golden shimmery bronze). The texture of these is quite similar to the Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Color (the powder part) but these are way too blinding and too glittery for my taste. The TF ones are micro shimmery and are quite natural, but these are just a little too much for my taste. But hey, if you love the shining shimmering splendid type of eye makeup, then you will most likely fall in love with this. I would love to try the matte ones of this Kaja beauty eyeshadow as those would probably fit the bill for me.
Mochi Glow Bouncy Highlighter in 01 Toy Alien (0.15 oz: 19 USD) – This highlighter does give a slightly bouncy feel to the touch and it feels a bit gel-like. Though it’s nowhere near as bouncy and creamy as the Allure Awarded Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter, this still gives an outstanding highlight that can go from being natural to dramatic. I would say this feels very light and airy upon application, and then it becomes powdery once you blend it on the skin.
Cheeky Stamp Blendable Blush in 02 Saucy (0.17 oz: 24 USD) – A blush packed as a cushion-type and with a heart-shaped applicator, this product is just too cute, and it’s very easy to blend on the cheeks. The effect is really a natural and gorgeous flush on the cheeks which I love a lot. To use, just twist the top to release the heart-shaped applicator sponge, then dip/press it into the fluid cushion compact color and press it on the apples of the cheeks. Blend and enjoy.
Cushy Vibe High-Pigment Lip Stain in 05 Chiffon (0.19 oz: 18 USD, currently on sale for $9 each) – I love love this cushiony and super pigmented liquid lip stain. At first, I wasn’t quite sure how this lip product would turn out to be, because it feels a bit too creamy upon application, but once it settles, it becomes this beautiful blotted matte lip color that just looks gorgeous on the lips. It is also very light, comfortable, and long-lasting, which really blew me away. Because I love this lip stain so much, I will be reviewing and swatching most of its shades here in the blog soon, so stay tuned for that.
Overall, these sets are perfect for gifting especially for those who are simply curious or are just beginning to discover this whimsical Kaja Beauty brand. Also, if you’re into K-beauty, you really need to try these. Additionally, these sets can give you a full-face makeup look at a value price and top quality. So, they’re definitely worth it.
The Kaja Beauty Wink Stamp and the Kaja Lookin’ Like A Snack Must-Haves Collection are currently available at Sephoraย
Have you tried anything from this brand already? What are your favorite K-beauty brands/products?
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.ย
(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.
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.ย
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.ย
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.
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.
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.ย
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.
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.
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.
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?
Hi Everyone! As promised, here’s part two of my Sephora Holiday Bonus Event Wishlist (part one HERE), together with a few recommendations that you may wanna check out whenever you shop online or in-store today and over the weekend. This weekend’s sale is for Insiders or Non-Beauty Insider Members and you can get 15% OFF starting today November 16 up to the 19th with the code BIBONUS. Also, VIB and Rouge Members have an extended 20% OFF this weekend with the code ENJOY. So hurry up and get those items you missed from last week’s sale.
Here’s what’s on my lists
Recommendations
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (1 oz: $44) – This is a perfect add-on for your foundation for that subtle lit-from-within glow. This also can be used as a natural-looking highlight for the cheekbones and other high points of the face. Reviewed further HERE.
Briogeo Rosarco Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Crรจme (4oz: $24) – This is my current favorite heat protectant product and I love that this is not sticky or greasy and it doesn’t weigh my straight hair down. Also, you only need a pea-sized amount and this lasts a long time.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighter (0.4 oz: $48) – A perfect fusion of blush and highlighter in one. This adds a nice flush and glow to the face and it’s multifaceted. Highly recommend this to each and everyone. See the swatches HERE.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen (0.03 oz: $58) – This is pretty much the only liquid eyeliner that works for me nowadays and it doesn’t disappoint. This eyeliner delivers, meaning – it doesn’t budge, never smudge, and it stays true black in color.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser (5 oz: $20.50) – One of the best-scented facial cleansers ever hands down, and I love its gentle exfoliation. I look forward to using this cleanser everyday because it’s so invigorating. Read more about this product HERE.
Dior Rouge Dior Ultra Rouge Lipstick ($37) – A satiny matte lipstick that delivers strong pigments and can last for several hours. This lipstick is not only gorgeous on the outside, but its formulation is also impressive and it’s one of the best lipsticks I’ve ever tried this season. See some of the swatches HERE.
Shiseido Modern Matte Powder Lipstick (0.14 oz: $26) – Another favorite matte lipstick of mine this season. I like how light this lipstick feels on the lips and it’s very well-pigmented. Also, this is very long-wearing and the shade range is TDF. See some of the swatches HERE
Wishlist
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo (0.56 oz: $68) – I’ve been curious about this since seeing this on Candice Swanepoel’s 10 Minute Guide to Fake Natural Makeup in youtube. It looks like a very beautiful bronzer/highlighter duo and I wanna try it in Fair/Medium.
Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eye Shadow (0.12 oz: $29) – This individual eyeshadow seems very pigmented and creamy. I heard very good things about it and I’m curious as to how it would wear on me. I love how glittery and bold the colors look online.
Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow (0.153 oz: $24) – I already own a few shades of this and I need to collect more. This is an easy to wear liquid eyeshadow that requires a good technique upon application, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll love how easy and nice this looks on the lid and this sets fast but also allows you enough time to blend.
Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 (5 x 0.08 oz: $48) – I’ve always wanted to try ND’s eyeshadows. They’re so pigmented whenever I swatch them in store, yet I just couldn’t seem to justify the price tag (like Pat McG) but the pigment of these palettes is totally mind-blowing. Not really sure which one I should get though. I’m gearing towards the Camel Palette, Palette #2 and Palette #4.
That comprises my Wishlist and Recommendations for this year’s Sephora Holiday Bonus Beauty Insider Event. Have you ever tried any of these products already? What’s in your Wishlist? Any Recs?
