Colour Changing Lip Balm Battle: Which is worth the HYPE?

Hi darlings!

I've been obsessing myself with lip balms lately and I've been specifically obsessing with the Dior Addict lip Glow.

Disclaimer: Photo not mine. Grabbed from E-bay for sample purposes only.

I've been seeing it everywhere! (Update: I have already purchase it last June 2018).

Instagram makes me want to purchase it but I' am dwelling the over the top price tag. I know there are a lot of good lip balms out there so I thought I need to search the internet for the closest dupe that I can find.

I heard somewhere that the Sephora Collection Color Adapting Lip Balm is the closest dupe for the Dior Addict Lip Glow.

First off. Let's talk about the Price Tag:

Sephora Collection Color Adapting Lip Balm is £18.60 *Amazon UK price (Php 871.00 *Sephora Ph price).

Dior Addict lip Glow is £26.00 *Boots UK price (Php 2,200.00 *Make Up Pro website price - at least almost £8.00 difference and almost Php 1300.00 in comparison to Philippine peso price (that is really a HUGE difference).!

Due to the fact that some make up products are not readily available in the Philippines - hence the excessive price range, online stores plummet their prices. Also there is only one Dior flagship store in the Philippines and it is located in SM Makati (update: They have a booth in SM Aura and that's where I got my Dior Lip Glow last June 2018 price is P1870.00).

Our country is compose of Island so it's somehow difficult to just jump on a plane to buy one make up in the metro, that's why people end up buying online and just bite the bullet.

Sephora has opened it's online shopping portal for Filipinos - that being so the make up junkies here has finally managed to get their hands on some items that aren't found locally.

So let's go to the Packaging:

Dior comes in a really chic packaging. The lip balm is cased in a pink packaging with  a silver button that has the "CD" initials on it. So classy and fancy looking.

Sephora comes in a sleek black case as you can see on my photo above. It has a pink lip icon which shows what the shade of the balm inside is.

And let's go to the most important thing - the FORMULATON:

Both balms when applied on the lips shows as clear and then changes to pinkish colour - depending on the pH level of your lips. The Sephora when applied to my lips is more tinted. But the Dior just shows a nice pink hue on my lips but not pale-ish (*take note I have a purple undertone and looks pale-ish whenever I don't wear any tinted lip balms).

The Dior addict lip glow has a vanilla-y scent while the Sephora Collection Color Adapting Lip Balm has a subtle honey scent but not really that noticeable compare to the Dior Addict Lip Glow.

Comparing on how it looks on my lips, there's a very minimal difference. Sometimes it looks like I have only used one lip balm.

And when it comes to APPLICATION:

Both lip balms glides on smoothly without tugging.

Which one is LONG WEARING?

Dior Addict Lip Glow is definitely long wearing compare to Sephora Collection Color Adapting Lip Balm.

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It is really so obvious that my heart belongs to Dior Addict Lip Glow but the price tag is over the top. Although you are paying for the quality of course and I mean look at that chic packaging.

While for the Sephora Collection Color Adapting Lip Balm which is only a little cheaper from Dior is also a good buy and a good day to day use lip balm. To be honest though a Nivea lip balm is worth every penny but if you are on a "splurging fabulous packaging spree" for a lip balm then go for Dior. If you want a dupe as close as Dior and doesn't want to cash out your hard earned money then get the Sephora. Both has it's own pros and cons.

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Okay so there you have it. You know where my heart belongs but practicality wise I'll get the dupe.

How about you? What are your insights of colour changing lip balms? Are they worth the hype?

Share your thoughts down below :)

Thank you and Ciao Bellas!

xoxo

PS: Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed today's little insight. If you want to be updated of what I' am up to on a daily basis, head on to my Instagram account @awomansmodedevie  https://www.instagram.com/ and give it a little love :)

YSL Pure Chromatic 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadows - My Oldest & Most Loved Eye Shadow

Hello lovelies!

How are you all doing? I hope you're having a fab time.

Before I start rambling about my favourite eye shadow, don't we all just have that on make up that we can't live without. Like a favourite lipstick, or a favourite foundation, a lip balm or a highlighter! Well for me it will be my quad eye shadow from YSL.

This quad eye shadow is the YSL Pure Chromatic Eye Shadows which was launched way back 2011! And no, I did't have this way that time. I've only managed to get this around 2014 and this was on sale! Yup, I said it SALE! I mean when I see SALE I don't think twice but I just rush straight away (silly me).

I spotted this baby in our local Debenhams and yes I purchased it straight away.

So let's now go to business.

What is YSL Pure Chromatic 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadow?

YSL Pure Chromatic 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadow was launched in 2011 and is said to be the must have colours for Summer 2011, this embodies the unexpected intensity of a summer in Paris where everything is just possible.

This quad eye shadow has a metallic appearance. The formulation is creamy and it can give an intense metallic look or a subtle look, depending on your preference.

For me, I always love to apply it subtly. The colours are so gorgeous and you can use them day or night. My daytime colours will be the pink, the taupe and the white. The pink shade may look intense but it is actually champagne-y. You can always blend it in to achieve the desired richness or intensity.  I like combining the pink with the taupe shade. I use white as my base. This combo is a daytime appropriate look but you can also pull this look on "going out on a dinner date look'. You know how men loves less make up (wink).

The darkest shade in the group is definitely for a smokey eye or let's party sultry eye look. I actually love using the darkest shade during the winter season especially because it gets dark really early.

These eye shadows can also be applied wet. I haven't tried that though. I always apply it dry. I just love how creamy the formulation.  It doesn't leave any residues on your under eye. And with a good base it can actually last you for hours. 

Since this is a quad eye shadow, this can also be a good make up to pack with when you travel. You have all the colours that you need. Day look to night look appropriate colours. This is really handy, not heavy and is easy to reach on. 

This is definitely a winner for me as I don't like bringing a massive eye shadow whenever I travel or  even to bring with you to work on a daily basis. 

I had this baby for almost four years now and it's still amazing, I still choose this every time I go out, even if it's just going for errands or brunching with friends.

The taupe shade is well dented (only shows how much I've been using it). I' am not sure if YSL is still selling this or if this is in their permanent range. I heard they have discontinued it, but I' am not really sure. I'd definitely love to get myself another one though (I mean if they still have it). 

How about you? What's your oldest but most loved make up?

Share it down below in the comments section :)

Enjoy reading!

Thank you.

PS: If you love reading my blog, you can also check out what I'm up to on a daily basis in my Instgram: @awomansmodedevie

Ciao Bellas!

Shawill Perfect Lip Liner Pencil - Is it Up in the Lip Liner Game?

Hi lovelies!

Welcome back to my blog again.

Today I thought I'll talk about lip liners and how they change the lipstick game.

Who doesn’t want that full voluptous lips that Angelina Jolie have? I think all of us wants that bold full looking lips same as those women celebrity crushes that we swoon to.

If you know the lip liner game and how it helps enhances your lips, then  you are here for a treat.

I discovered this Shawill product when I watched one youtuber organising a massive haul of this brand. I've never heard of this brand before plus I wasn't really interested in local make up brands as  I' am into internarional brands may it be drugstore most especially high end.

Anyway I went to our local Watson’s (our version of Boots/Superdrug if you’re from the UK). And was checking out on some moisturisers and I spotted these lip liners. I swatched one shade which was Sienna and I fell in love with the shade straight away. I swatched two more shades and straight away decided on purchasing them. No questions asked.

The shades that I picked up are Sienna, Dark Salmon and Indian Red - all are pinky nude shade and the formulation is creamy upon swatching it on my hand. The shades are really beautiful and will definitely suite all skin colours.

Upon applying it on my lips I noticed how light it is compare to when you swatch it on your hand. I applied it a few more times to achieve the colour that I was trying to aim. So far so good. Aside from the fact that it gets a bit dry while on your lips - which is a bit weird as it seems creamy when I swatched it on my hand. (a video of the swatches are found on the highlight section in my instagram page: @awomansmodedevie)

A closer look. The two on both sides are almost the same in colour but they are totally different. 

And the swatches: L-R: 04 Indian Red, 05 Sienna, 06 Dark Salmon 

For the price tag of P59.00 (less than a £1.00) I would say it's totally worth the buy. If you are a lip liner lass then head down to your local Watson's and grab all the shade and experiment. I still need to do a wear test on these babies. Also I want to see on how this works on a  newly exfoliated lips. I bet it will give a much more decent job compare to your normal lip day. Anyhow, the packaging, the price tag, the value for money, the shade and the formulation are all good. So I recommend for you guys to try and add this on your lip liner stash. 

How to apply? You can  either over line your lips (which is what I do whenever I wear a matte lipstick or sometimes just put it as it is by lining and covering the whole lips with it). It gives your lipstick a lasting power. 

So I think that's all that I need to report on you guys. I hope you like my simple review.

Thank you so much for reading. Don't forget to check on my Instagram account @awomansmodedevie for the latest updates and for what I've been up to :)

How about you? What is your favourite drugstore lip liner that ticks all the box? 

Don't hesitate to comment down below :)

Ciao Bellas! 

Becca Highlighter - Is it a Miss or a Hit?

Hi again lovelies!

I' am back to give a quick review on my new highlighters that was kindly given to me by my dear cousin from the states.

 I have always wanted to try out the Becca highlighters for a long time. Youtubers was raving about the Becca x Jaclyn Hill champagne pop highlighter way back 2015, and I have been so curious about it. That was the first time I heard of the Becca cosmetics.

I thought back then that I won't be reaching for it that much. I already have blushers which has shimmer so I thought that it won't have much use, plus I don't see it ideal putting it above my blush on - I don't  know why but I really find it so weird back then.


So heading on to today's time - which is HIGHLIGHTER is Life (lol) it became a necessity for me to have one in my stash.

The one in the photos are the:

1. BECCA  Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in shade Opal (tube) - this is a liquid highlighter. Very easy to use. I put it straight from the wand and dab it on the upper part of my cheeks plus this shade is really gorgeous. For me this is the perfect bare face just highlighter glow beach look. Yes, I said beach as this is just so ideal when you are on the beach with your nude face and just this highlighter as your make up. Indeed perfect for summer on the beach to have that amazing glow.

 Also you can use it as your day to day highlighter. I use this as like my base highlighter then top it up with the 2. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in shade Moonstone (this is a creamy formula once put on your face it becomes powdery but gives you a really nice glow with these two combined. Also dabbing this on your lips on top of  your lip balm gives your lips that ummpphh and gives it a nice shine. I tried it yesterday and I love it!

The third one is the 3. BECCA Light Chaser Highlighter in shade Opal Flashes Jade - this you can use as an eyeshadow too! It has an amazing silvery flash and it definitely catches so much light giving your face an amazing glow. I like this so much but make sure not to put a lot as it can really go intense.

Here is a closer look of the products:

And the swatches:

  

I hope you all liked my quick review of the BECCA highlighters that I own. I still need to get my hand on their newest launch, so hopefully when I get one I'll post my review straight away :)

How about you? What is your go to or your most favourite highlighter of all time?

Write down yours below in the comment section. Also you can follow me and be updated on what I am currently up to in my Instagram @awomansmodedevie 

Until then. Ciao Bellas! 

 

Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk - What's the hype all about?

Hello again lovelies!

People online, youtubers, bloggers, vloggers has all been talking about Charlottle Tilbury's new matte revolution lipstick Pillow Talk. Charlottle Tilbury has launched a lipliner of this colour and it was definitely a winner. Aside from what they said it to be a universal nude - which will suite every woman of different colour or race, it also is in a matte formulation. Women nowadays tend to love a lipstick that is nude and is also matte.

So because people has been crazily raving about this online, I thought why don't I jump in the new bandwagon and try this out. And Yes I definitely did! Since I am currently in the Philippines and Charlottle Tilbury doesn't have a counter accessible here, it made it a tad difficult for me contemplating whether I should really get it without trying or swatching it on first. But the more I contemplate about it the more I wanted to buy it, and lo and behold I did! Lol. Cheeky me. So here is the review.

The very first time I tried it on my lips (no exfoliating, no lip balm no lip liner no nothing) it turned out really brown on me. I think it's because I have a purple undertone which make the colour a bit deeper for me. It glides on smoothly because of it's creamy formulation. I also love the subtle vanilla-y smell on it which I think I like about a lipstick. I didn't like how it looks on me though. I think  ladies with lighter lip undertone (like the model in their website) suites it very well, and also because they have a lighter skin complexion. I just didn't get that excitement with Pillow Talk the way I did with Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G range Bitch Perfect - this I love so much and it was my first lipstick from her range. Although they are of course two different lipstick with different formulation, still I just can't seem to understand what the fuss is all about.

So I tried using it again with a lip liner (not Charlotte Tilbury's) just to see if it will give me that beautiful colour that I saw on other bloggers and youtubers (I used the L'Oréal Infallible lip liner in
Pink, and the Max Factor 02 Pink Petal) I used it one at a time of course. With the L'Oréal lip liner it gave me the mauvey colour that I was looking for but just about. With the Max Factor the brown was still overpowering. I still need to try this with a gloss on top of it and see if it will achieve the colour that I was aiming for it to be. Also, maybe I need to purchase the lip liner in Pillow Talk so I can give the lipstick some sort of justice lol.

I exfoliated my lips properly and put on the lipstick on its own with no lip balm or what so ever. So this is how it looks like on me with a properly exfoliated lips.

I have naturally full looking lips so sometimes I don't need lip liner to make a statement.

As you can see it still looks a bit brown-ish. It might look like it has a bit of a pink undertone but in real life I still find it on the really brown side. I need to experiment more on this lipstick as I don't want it to go to waste.

Here is a swatch of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow

 Talk. Photos all taken in natural lighting. 

Overall rating:

Packaging - 👍🏻 (no girl would say no to a rose gold packaging) 

Creaminess - 👍🏻 (as it just glides on smoothly without tugging and doesn't leave your lips dry and chalky) 

Colour - 👎🏻 (only because it didn't suit me well, probably because of my purple undertone, and also I have seen and used a lot of nude-y type of lipstick some are even drugstore and I reach for It a lot) 

Price - 👎🏻 (Because it's not good for the wallet (lols). These high end lipstick are just so overpriced! I mean talking about the literal "high-end")

Also if you're all wondering if the lipstick is smudge proof then no it isn't. Because of it's creamy formulation, it easily smears and transfers when you drink on a cup  or when you eat. Putting a lip liner underneath will make it last longer. But will need reapplication after say four to 5 hours.  I say give your lips a good exfoliation. Dab a thin layer of balm on top of it then the lip liner of your choice , dab the beauty blender that you just used with your foundation then apply the lipstick. It will give a good colour and won't ssmudge  that much and will last for a good few hours. 

So there you go. That's the Charlottle Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk 

Thanks for reading guys and I hope you like my simple review. 

Check me out on Instagram for latest and up to date post.

See you again soon 😊