I became very curious about the LA Splash Smitten Liptint Mousse after seeing it being offered by a number of sellers on Instagram. I don...

Review and lip swatch: LA Splash Smitten Liptint Mousse in Hermione

6:31 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

I became very curious about the LA Splash Smitten Liptint Mousse after seeing it being offered by a number of sellers on Instagram. I don't know anyone who's tried it yet, but online reviews seemed good overall, so I went for it.

I got mine in the shade Hermione, a medium pink I felt was wearable for my corporate office. Yes, Hermione as in Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, as the brand came out with a collection dedicated to our beloved characters from Hogwarts.

LA Splash Smitten Liptint Mousse in Hermione


The packaging includes a slanted doe foot applicator. I find this picks up quite a bit of product so I have to press off the excess on the inside of the tube.



The product has quite a thick and sticky feel to me upon application. It can go on a little streaky, so blend well.

The product sets in a few seconds and dries very matte. It gave me a sort of tight feeling on the lips, similar to the tight feeling you get on your skin if you've used too harsh a facial wash. Not the most comfortable, but at least it doesn't crack the lips even if it's drying.



This lasts after eating but gets a little patchy, so I reapplied after having lunch. Some of it came off on my tumbler while drinking.

Overall, this isn't a bad lip product, and it does last the whole day. I definitely like not having to keep checking my lip color while thinking about dozens of other things at work. I do really like the color for everyday, since it brightens up my face without being too in your face. You can wear this with more pared down looks or a bit more dramatic eye.

However, I am not a fan of the less than comfortable feel, so this is not going to be something I'll repurchase or get in different colors.

For a similar effect with a more comfortable feel at half the price, I would go for NYX Soft Matte lip cream instead. I bought the LA Splash Liptint Mousse for P600, while you can get the NYX Soft Matte lip creams between P250-P370 online or at NYX stores.

If you're still on an allowance, or if spending money on cosmetics is not a priority to you, not to worry. There are products out there...

Beauty buys under P300

12:12 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

If you're still on an allowance, or if spending money on cosmetics is not a priority to you, not to worry. There are products out there that prettify without costing a pretty penny. Here are five products under P300 that have worked well for me and most people I’ve heard of who have tried them out. You don’t have to worry about scouring dozens of online shops to find these. These are all products that are available right now in Watsons or the department store. (Please forgive me if the prices aren’t all exact, as I bought most of these months ago.)

Maybelline Baby Lips tinted lip balmThis is perfect for anyone who loves a decent amount of color in a lip balm formula. I have it in the shade Neon Rose, which despite the name, adds just a pretty reddish pink tint that is very wearable during the day, and is really not too neon at all for work or for school. It’s also moisturizing without feeling too sticky. Price: P119.
Ever Bilena lip pencilThere are a few brands offering affordable lip pencils, but some of them hardly last. The lip pencils by Ever Bilena offer amazing pigmentation and staying power. I like that they are all matte, because unless you have the exact lipstick to wear with a frosty lip liner, the contrasting effect is going to be too 90s in a bad way. The Ever Bilena pencils are not too soft that they wear down with every use, but also not too hard and don’t scratch or tug during application. The only down side is the color selection is quite limited with only a couple of natural colors, but I can deal with it. Price: P100.
Ever Bilena matte lipstickThis is one of my favorite budget finds, and it’s a popular product for good reason. The finish is matte but the product still feels satiny on the lips. It does not dry out my lips like some other matte lipsticks can, and applies smoothly on its own without having to put on lip balm first. Shade range is very good and seems to really have been considered for Asian skin, whether you’re morena, chinita or mestiza looking for a subtle or trendy color (no oranges or purples, though). Price: P165.
Nichido tinted brow gelIf, like me, you use brow gel every day, using a high-end brand can get quite expensive. Honestly, most of them seem to do the same thing, but the wand matters a lot in not clumping on the product, and staying power varies. I have this in two colors, but the shade Ash Blonde suits me better. Be warned that this product does not last the whole day. If you have an oily T-zone like me, it will be pretty much gone after six hours. Price: P238.
LA Girl Pro Conceal concealerIf you follow a lot of beauty accounts on Instagram or YouTube, you’ll notice this is one of the most hyped-about complexion products this year. It’s a liquid concealer that’s very blendable even though the consistency is quite thick. It offers medium to full coverage depending on how much you use. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, or too much product is going to come out. Price: P299, although I think I may have gotten mine on discount. The regular price could be around P330.

A version of this post was published in SunStar Cebu on November 20, 2015, and can also be found on the SunStar website.

For years, I have been obsessed with casual curls. I already own two curling irons, but my one-inch Watson's one doesn't heat up, an...

Review: Nova Easy Curl curling iron

3:14 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

For years, I have been obsessed with casual curls. I already own two curling irons, but my one-inch Watson's one doesn't heat up, and the curls it creates don't last long. My Conair one at 1.25 inches is too big for my currently mid-length hair.

I am loving the Nova Easy Curl curling iron for my curly-haired ambitions!


It has this plastic outer shell with slats that fit your hair while you're winding strands around the wand. It also has a clip towards the bottom, but I don't use this; it kind of makes me nervous thinking my hair will somehow get tangled in it and burn off. Eek!



Take note that the plugs are rounded. Our electrical sockets at home are flat, but I have an adaptor, so this was no problem.

To use, press the power button and give it 5-10 minutes to heat up. Make sure it's hot enough so that it will actually create a curl; otherwise you'll just be applying heat to your hair without results.

I wind sections of my hair around the wand, hold it in place for 10 seconds, then let go. The plastic shell really helps prevent burns. I can't count the number of times I've gotten (mildly) burnt from a bare curling wand. I'm also really glad this is not a heavy wand. Doing curls on yourself does require some arm strength, holding the iron with one hand while winding hair with the other!


Casual curls made easy!

To achieve different-sized curls, just use bigger or smaller sections of hair. This makes the overall look less fussy and more relaxed. Don't forget to alternate directions when winding the hair; doing them all in one direction will make it look too perfect and doll-like. Nothing casual about that!

My hair is thick and has a combination of natural textures - straighter on the top layers and wavier on the bottom. It unfortunately doesn't hold curls very well. While testing this, it was really important for me to see how long the curl would hold. Surprisingly, although the curls loosened after a couple of hours, my waves were still there 12 hours after curling! This was with second-day hair, no styling products used.

The Nova easy curl is available for P465 at @theainstashop on Instagram; less than what I spent for my other two curling irons. It was sent to me for my review. I do not review sponsored items that I do not like because I don't want to say something bad about a free item; this one, I love! This is a styling tool that's easy to use even for beginners, and impressive especially at this price.
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