February Curated Favorites

Welcome to another edition of my monthly curated favorites. In a nutshell, these are the things that I want to see in a subscription box if I were to release my own. A girl can dream right? But seriously, it's a hodgepodge of new discoveries this month or mainstays that I have been using a lot lately, both of which share a common denominator, they were not given the spotlight they deserve! So here they are, my February must-haves!

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Don't laugh but hair ties especially these ones from Goody made it to my list! But really, no matter how much you load up on hair ties, they just magically disappear like Houdini. And tell me if you can relate, most hair ties aren't properly configured to fit an average woman's hair. Tie once and it's loose, tie twice and it's still loose, tie around three times and it feels like your brain is going to pop, haha! But finally, I found what I call my holy grail because twice the tie is really enough, Ouchless. Now that's what I call truth in advertising. 

Despite my penchant for high-end makeups, I cannot justify spending for a $30-mascara that is formulated the same as a drugstore brand. The ones I have tried in the past (i.e Marc Jacobs, Guerlain, Givenchy) perform just the same so I'd rather divert that moolah to something more covetable! And yes, mascara generally performs better after a week or two of religious use in terms of creating lift and volume. Maybelline Colossal Big Shot is a classic example! If you recall, my lashes became weak and sparse with lash extensions (I already stopped doing it) so while I am waiting for them to grow back to their previous state, I resorted to wearing false lashes in the interim. But in days that I am just too lazy to glam up, I turn to mascara and boy, I am glad to have found this gem! It does make my lashes look quite long and voluminous. Most of all, it's budge-proof! Removing it requires an oil-based product though because it is mighty-tough. But I love it so a repurchase is definitely happening.

Pixi is killing it lately in skincare and their 24K Eye Elixir Energizing Peptide Serum fits the bill! I use this mostly in the morning under eye concealer to prevent a cakey look. As you can see, it has rollerball which feels cool on application. While I don't see it de-puff my under eyes, it does provide commendable hydration. I wonder how much gold is in the product itself but I spotted it in the list of ingredients (buried towards the latter end) so save for gimmickry, I still like it for what it does: moisturization without the greasy feel.

Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Trideceth-10, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 15985, CI 17200), Steareth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Gold, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

Long time readers of this blog know my obsession over liquid lipsticks and matte lipsticks. But see, dry and cracked lips kill the beauty and drama of it all so I find it imperative to hydrate my lips all the time. A recent discovery happens to be Farmacy Lip Bloom (citrus lemongrass). Aside from the invigorating fragrance, the combination of botanical oils give my dry puckers much-needed hydration  especially this time of the year. The texture and formula is akin to a lipgloss sans tackiness. I may pick up two more variants (Vanilla Mint and Honey Ginger) to keep one in the office and the other in my purse.

Ingredients: Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Patented Echinacea Purpurea 'Greenenvytm' Root Extract, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax / Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Flavor, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Behenate/ Eicosadioate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol.

I bought Kai Eau De Parfum last Fall and has used it since, in rotation with other perfumes from my stash. If you love gardenia and exotic scents, then you will love Kai as much as I do. It's feminine and floral but not overpowering. The scent lasts all day, at least based on my personal experience. I will repurchase it for sure together with their lotion for uniformed layering.

My morning skincare is not as elaborate as nighttime. Basically it's just antioxidant serum and moisturizer/sunscreen just so my makeup won't look too dewy. Since I have combination skin, water-based moisturizer works best for me (I will dedicate another post for this). Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel Moisturizer sits well on the skin while providing adequate hydration and perfect base for makeup. It is lightweight and its hint of gold renders a lit-from-within glow which mimics healthy skin. I'm in love so a repurchase is imminent down the line.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Inositol (Rice Extract), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sericin (Silk Extract), Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate (Licorice), Algae Extract, Gold, Hydrogenated Lecithin (Soy Origin), Squalane (Olive Origin), Lecithin, Pistacia Lentiscus (Mastic) Gum, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Mica, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Bispeg- 18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Ammonium Acryloyl Dimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hdi/ Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Peg-400, Bht, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

Here's the usual me when I don't feel like wearing eye makeup and styling my hair. Messy updo and bright lips is my signature look.

Lipstick: Tom Ford Matte Ruby Rush. Hair in a bun using Goody. Lashes volumized by Maybelline Colossal