9/18/2023

They Always End So Quickly...Bath & Body Works Endless Weekend

This Monday is Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday, which means we're in for a three-day weekend! yay!

September, along with other transitional months, can be a bit challenging to adjust to. You're eager to immerse yourself in the color schemes and scents of the upcoming season, even though the weather hasn't quite caught up with the proverbial changing of the guard, and is clinging onto the climate of the former.

Originally, I had a new shower gel lined up for September. However, the current hot and humid weather rendered its fragrance intolerable (the post of that shower gel coming later). This is where Bath & Body Works Endless Weekend shower gel comes in.

Endless Weekend's fragrance notes are Summer Mandarin, Blue Coconut Water, and Vanilla Sandalwood. Although not listed on the back of the bottle, I also pick up scents of raspberry, lychee, apple, and a hint of floral.

The shower gel lathers up beautifully, leaving the skin feeling clean, refreshed, and lightly scented. I'm not sure if I need to continue to mention this bit, but I just feel incomplete if I don't. Also, this has nothing to do with performance and is strictly cosmetic, but I love it when shower gels are tinted. They're just pleasing to look at, and the turquoise shade of Endless Weekend is no exception.

Endless Weekend's invigorating fruity (and slightly floral) scent is a great remedy for those reluctant to let go of summer, as well as for those of us (me) who are ready to leave the season in our rearview mirror, but still have to deal with the lag in temperature.

9/16/2023

She Walks Around With A Pink Balloon

Globophobia - Ever heard of it? It's the fear of balloons, often stemming from the anticipation of a balloon popping, which can prompt a strong fear response.

Now, if you're someone for whom the mere sight of a balloon makes you a tad uneasy, Orly's 'Don't Pop My Balloon can hopefully help ease that tension.

Originally released in the Summer of 2022 as part of Orly's homage to the Pop art era, the POP! Collection, 'Don't Pop My Balloon' is a pearl-shimmer fashion fuchsia with an understated gold-to-green shift. While the shift is more noticeable in the bottle than on the nails, from certain contorted angles, you can catch glimpses of its barely-there allure.

Be mindful during application, as Don't Pop My Balloon's shimmer-pearlized finish may show brush strokes if overworked. Apply it in smooth, straight strokes. On the plus side, its wear time is impressive; it stayed chip-free for five days before I removed it. The photo above features two coats of Don't Pop My Balloon.

7/06/2023

You're My Firecracker...Bath & Body Works' Firecracker Fizz Gentle Foaming Hand Soap

Hot off the FedEx truck, Bath & Body Works' Firecracker collection! I've posted on the Foaming Hand Soap, but I don't think I've written about the shower gel or candle; those posts will be up soon.

Again, I posted about the hand soap last year, but I love the design of this year's collection, and I wanted to showcase it.

In case you haven't read the first entry, here is a recap of the scent notes and my description:

The fragrance notes are: red cherry, fresh citrus, and juicy berry. During lather, and after rinse, the scent I get from Firecracker Fizz is a mixture of sweet cherry and Hawaiian Punch. The fragrance lingers on the hands for several hours; not in a noxious way, but in a pleasant, refreshing way. Also, the handwash lathers and cleans the hands nicely without leaving them feeling dry.

Every year, I repurchase Bath & Body Works' Firecracker products and will continue to do so.

7/05/2023

'Til The Liberty Belle Rings...Painted Polish

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." -Leviticus 25:10

Regrettably, I've never been to Philadelphia, one of the most historical cities in the States. I'm a huge history buff, and one day, I plan on visiting all the historical landmarks of the city.

Liberty Belle is a creamy, white crelly base, with red and cobalt blue color-shifting metallic flakies.

The first coat applies smoothly, yet is somewhat sheer. I am able to get complete coverage in two coats, but I prefer the look of the flakies after the third. The flakies distribute evenly, and dry without any jagged surface texture. Additionally, for those who may be wondering, removal is a cinch.

Even though I only wore Liberty Belle for a day, I have worn it several times in the past, And, if I remember correctly, it wears for about 4 to 5 days.

10/31/2022

Lady in the Pumpkin Mask...Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask Enzymatic Dermal Resurfacer

Peter Thomas Roth's Pumpkin Enzyme Mask Enzymatic Dermal Resurfacer is a product I look forward to adding to my skincare lineup during Autumn.

The three key ingredients (and some of their benefits) are:

Pumpkin Enzyme: helps to remove dry skin cells, hydrates and softens the skin, boosts collagen production, helps pigmentation issues, and treats dull complexions.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA): chemically exfoliates dead skin cells, smooths skin texture, promotes radiance, reduces fine lines and wrinkles to enhance a more youthful appearance.

Aluminum Oxide Crystals: a microdermabrasion exfoliation to smooth, refine, clarify uneven discoloration and resurface the skin.

Suitable for all skin types, the mask has a thicker, gel-like consistency, and the granules are extremely refined. I use the product as directed by the brand. I apply a layer on clean skin, and gently massage in circular motions with wet fingertips. Leave the mask on for about 7 minutes, rinse, and repeat one to two times a week. There is a mild burning sensation on the skin, but that doesn't bother me.

Not only is this mask great for my normal/dry skin, but it also smells divine, I want to eat it! A delicious, warm, cinnamon, pumpkin scent makes me crave pumpkin pie, which is another reason I like to use it during fall.

10/26/2022

I've Been Seeing Rainbows All Day...Jreine Fall Rainbows

Of all the seasons, I believe Fall offers the most strikingly beautiful spectrum of colors of the year.

A September 2020 The Charity Box purchase, Jreine's Fall Rainbows is inspired by its namesake.

I don't know the actual visual inspiration for the polish, but I feel the fall foliage landscape photo above captures the autumnal magic in the bottle.

Fall Rainbows is a blue-tinged, tarnished silver linear holographic polish, with murky flashes of bronzed orange, brassy yellow, and withered green as well as bits of copper orange flakes.

The formulation is fantastic, and goes on very well. Almost a one-coat polish, it needed two coats to reach full opacity (and to satisfy my greed for more flakes on each nail).

The fusion between the base's grungy undertones and the murky reflective shifts, combined with the coppery-orange flakes which resemble crushed-up autumn leaves makes Fall Rainbows a lovely linear holographic polish for the season.

8/26/2022

Written in the Stars...Rebel Rouge Labs Cheeky Hybrid

Some time ago on Instagram, I mentioned doing an exposé on the unscrupulous operations, and abhorrent customer service of beauty brands (mainly, indie brands). However, that day is not today. Instead, I want to give recognition, and praise the indie beauty brand, Rebel Rouge Labs.

I don't recall how I discovered the brand. However, I checked, and saw my first purchase was back in 2018 when they had their Etsy store.

Maryann, the owner of Rebel Rouge Labs, is just as wonderful as her brand. I adore her creativity in illustrating and showcasing her love of art, music, and film, and how she infuses them into the themes of the collaged imagaery of the exterior packaging; the colorstory of the products, and their shade names. All of it is sublimely executed, even down to the companion stickers for every palette, I love everything about RRL.

Maryann's attention to detail is always a fun treat for me. The labels on the back of the compacts have graphics of the animals that derives from ancient greek (I.e., Cygnus [swan] and Serpens [Serpent]).

From left to right: Cygnus and Serpens.

The baked marbelized mineral powders have a soft, smooth texture. They are pigmented, yet blend seamlessly to deliver a beautiful, luminous, glowing wash of color.

The Cheeky Hybrids come in 2 shades: Cygnus and Serpens, which are named after constellations of the same namesake.

From left to right: Cygnus, Serpens, and both shades mixed together.

Cygnus: a warm, yellow-based carnation pink.

Serpens: a warm, bronzed-peach.

Both shades can be used as a blush, but Serpens can also be used as a bronzer. Also, I like to mix Cygnus and Serpens together; I think the shade they create is very pretty (included in the swatch photo).

I really enjoy everything about the Cheeky Hybrids, and I wish Rebel Rouge Labs would come out with more shades because I would defintely like to add more to my collection!

I own all of their eyeshadow palettes, blushes, and the setting powder. I have yet to try the lipsticks, but I'm waiting for September 2nd to roll around to order some (if not all), along with preordering their newest Labyrinth inspired palette <3

If this is your first introduction to Rebel Rouge Labs, I highly recommend you check the brand out!