Showing posts with label Givenchy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Givenchy. Show all posts

Monday, May 13, 2013

Tried, Tested, Returned

I find these posts helpful because you get to read someone else's criticism on a product you have seen or heard of. I tried a variety of products while I was in the US and these were some that just didn't quite do it for me. I'll be using the same pictures I used when I first wrote about these products on my blog. 

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask 




Not necessarily a "bad" product, in my opinion, but I was looking for something with a little more "umph!", if that makes sense. Something a little stronger. This mask has a thick consistency and it is completely black in color. You're supposed to leave it on for 10-15 minutes until it dries, then you peel it off. I was told that some people felt discomfort at the "peeling" stage. I didn't. But it kind of feels like a lighter version of waxing. Though it wasn't a painful experience for me, I know it was to some. So if you have ultra-sensitive skin, I wouldn't recommend this to you. Why did I return it? After using it four about four times, I didn't notice any major improvement, and I exchanged it for a stronger one.  











Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel
I had previously used this on a 500-perk Sephora kit I got last year, and I liked it at the time. This time I was looking for a cleanser that would lather when using it with my Clarisonic, so I grabbed it. I noticed it was drying out my skin-- it would feel too tight afterwards and my skin became dehydrated as days went by. I started getting dry patches on my chin and my skin was looking dull, despite the fact that this is an exfoliating cleanser. I'm pretty sure it didn't work for me because I was using it everyday. I was told by a Sephora Beauty Advisor that this cleanser is  more for those with extremely oily skin-- those are the customers who love this. I ended up exchanging this for a lighter cleanser without any chemicals.










Kate Somerville Eradi-Kate
I loved this at first. I even mentioned it in one of my YouTube videos. It was a favorite. But then the biggest con got to me-- alcohol is one of its main ingredients. Overtime, I couldn't bear the strong smell of alcohol and I started feeling guilty that I was using it all over my pimples. Alcohol just leads to irritation. Not good! I exchanged it and bought Tea Tree Oil instead. 

wen by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Healthy Hair Kit
I gave in. I needed to try it. I wanted to. The fact the first time I heard about Chaz Dean and his products were in infomercials really made my beauty-junkiness develop feelings of rejections towards his products. His philosophy basically states that one single product can do it all. Yes. One. This kit included a huge bottle of conditioner, a deep conditioner and a hair...perfume? You're supposed to use about 20-30 pumps depending on your hair length, massage it on each strand for about 5 minutes, repeat the process if necessary then rinse. I'm a patient person when it comes to beauty. I like to follow instructions, take my time and do things properly. So I didn't mind the massaging process. After rinsing it out, you're supposed to towel-dry your hair and let it air dry or you can blow dry it if desired. If you decide to let it air dry, you can use a little bit of the conditioner as a leave in conditioner. 

Hey, I gave it a shot. Some people love it, some people hate it. I hated it. After a few days, my hair felt dirty. Heavy. My scalp was craving shampoo. I also didn't understand why you even get a deep conditioner in the kit if the cleansing conditioner is already super thick. The hair spray smelled good but it was just a bottle with essential oils which you can make yourself. This product was useless to me. 

The next couple of products I don't have pictures of, but I did speak about them in videos and mentioned how much I loved them, til now. 

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick shade Muse
I really, really loved this color. It's a little brighter than Mac's Ablaze. Unfortunately, the formula was too drying for me. I always apply a moisturizing lip balm prior to lip stain applications, but even that wasn't enough. The color would chip and accentuate the creases on my lips. Aside from that, you get so little product-- 0.10oz for $28. 

Givenchy Mister Radiant
This is a gel with little bubbles of brownish pigments that are supposed to give your skin a healthy glow. I didn't really understand this product. Initially, I purchased it because I wanted to mix it with my Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, but the Sensual Skin Enhancer is a thick cream, and the Givenchy Mister Radiant is a gel. Both elements just didn't make such a great combo. The reason why I returned it was because of the price-- I wanted to get something else instead for the money. This little tube cost me $38! I exchanged it for an Hourglass Foundation. 


Have you tried any products recently you've been disappointed with? If so, feel free to share! 


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Happy Birthday, Mami!

Hi my beauties!

Today (April 27) was my mom's 60th birthday... 

She's the reason why I'm obsessed with skin care, and she's one of the sweetest people on Earth. I've got a few pictures for you aside from, of course, my makeup.

My sister wasn't home on her birthday, which was on April 7th, so we celebrated both birthdays. It was very intimate-- only our closest relatives came over, but we had a beautiful day.

THE MAKEUP



You wouldn't believe it after seeing a bunch of products organized together, but I only had about 15 minutes to do my makeup today-- which is nothing to me, since I usually take a long 40ish minutes. 

I used the Make Up For Ever Aqua cream in the shade 15 as a base, which I applied with my ring finger. I have mentioned before how it's important to work with one eye at a time when using Aqua Creams, because they're completely waterproof and once they set, they set. Moving on to eyeshadows, I used the shades in the Givenchy Travel Palette, blending the darker colors into an outer V. I skipped gel liner today and just used a black kohl liner on the waterline-- Rimmel London Scandel Eyes in the shade "Black". After curling my lashes, I applied two coats of Benefit They're Real Mascara. I filled in any gaps on my already super dark eyebrows using the Clinique Super Fine Liner for Brows in the shsade "Soft Brown". 

I then moved to my face, which I primed with Smashbox Photo Finish Light. I mixed a dot of Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in the shade SX 08 with a drop of Fresh Seaberry Face Oil, blended both together on the back of my hand and then applied it on my face using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. To conceal my dark circles, I used the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in the shade "53 Dark Radiance", and then I set everything in place with the Face Powder in the Givenchy palette. I then sculpted my face with MAC Sculpting Cream in the shade "Richly Honed", applied the blush from the Givenchy palette, and highlighted the top of my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow with Benefit's Watts Up. 

I had already moisturized my lips using Lush Whip Stick Lip Balm prior to doing my makeup so they would be smooth by the time I applied lipstick. I used Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade "Dolce Vita".

PS: My nose was peeling due to a mask I had used the night before, and I didn't have time to exfoliate this morning, hence the flaky skin on my nose! If you already know about my OCDness, you then already know that, yes, the flakes are gone by now. 



MY FAMILY
My mom, Zulay, and my sister, Paola


That's it for tonight! Keep your eyes open for tons of reviews this week...

Thanks for reading! Have a lovely night and a lovely morning to my sweet followers on the other side of the world! XOXO

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Duty Free Lovin': Givenchy Travel Exclusive

Hi dolls! I'm home and it feels great to be back!

One of my favorite things about travelling is checking out Duty Free goodies. There are always tons of exclusive travel collections. If you ever happen to be at the Miami International Airport near gate D20, check out their Duty Free. It is ahhhh-mazing. You'll find high-end brands like Chanel, Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, La Praire, Sisley, and drugstore brands like Revlon and L'oreal. There is something for everyone. As I said before, Duty Frees have exclusive makeup "travel" collections.

I went for this lovely Givenchy "Givenchy Le-Makeup Must-Haves". I apologize in advance for the crappy lighting. I will take proper pictures during day-light and swatch the entire palette for you soon.



The palette is sturdy yet lightweight. Very travel friendly, I would say.



I think the value is pretty good, considering this palette cost me $50 and it comes with: a blush (3g), a face powder (8g), two lipsticks (2 x 1g: dark rose, pink), four eyeshadows (4 x 0.9g: sparkly black, lilac, soft brown and a shimmery white), a black kohl pencil (0.21g) and two applicators (blush and eyeshadow).

I did get to swatch these at the Duty Free, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. The pigmentation convinced me. Again, I will swatch these for you during daylight. 


I'm very excited to be back and to catch up with all of your blogs. Much love to everyone! XOXO

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Huge Beauty Haul

Hi dolls!

I have made a video for you about my haul. Initially, it was going to be a blog post, but I felt like making a video. 

Products I didn't mention in the video are the Koh Gen Do Cleanser, just because I have not used it yet and I bought it because I forgot to bring my Bioderma Sensibio. I'm using something else at the moment to remove my makeup, but I got a small bottle of the Koh Gen Do cleansing water to correct any mistakes while I am doing my makeup and my family's makeup for my brother's wedding. 

I also didn't include my new Mac Palette. I got mostly neutrals. I have to depot the ones I have at home when I get back. 

Shades in no particular order: Wedge, Ricepaper, Shroom, Saddle, Soft Brown, Samoa Silk, Beautiful Iris, Stars and Rockets

Onto the video now:

MAC Ablaze Matte Lipstick Limited Edition Review + FOTD

Hola!

Not much to say of this lipstick other than...GO GET IT! It is beautiful!

I have a picture of a swatch compared to other lipsticks and I wore it on my lips today to show it to you.

It has a matte finish, yet it feels creamy. Much creamier than both the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick and the Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick.



Interested? Keep reading!