Trying Out Apollo Lip Balms and Castor Oil For The First Time

It's been a while since the last time I did a skincare review. Don't get me wrong, I still do my everyday skincare (well, pretty much), but my work just has never been this demanding and it eats up too much of my time and energy. I've always wanted to leave but my slacking won't definitely cover my daily expenses and the family's dream to finally stop living in a rented apartment and move into a new home. 

Yup, for the past months, I've been working hard to save for our home improvement. It's in the making and even if we're done paying off the renovation expenses, there's still a lot of furniture to buy so I gotta work my ass off. Sorry if I am telling you this in a supposed-to-be-skincare post, but my excited fingers just couldn't stop. Anyway, let's just move forward and start with today's agenda.

Apollo Lip Balm in Original

I got all these Apollo products from Sample Room. I'm in a tight budget right now so I guess I'll have to live with free products until maybe the house is done? Just kidding.

I am sure that I don't need to introduce Apollo to most of you - I mean their Petroleum Jellies has been part our household essentials at one point. Price point, efficiency and ease of purchase are probably the primary factors. It's so great to hear that their petroleum business has now expanded to lip balms and beauty oils. I don't know if it's just me, but I love lip balms so much and I can not definitely leave the house without one.

Anyway, these lip balms are the cutest. I mean the idea of the packaging is not really original because there's Vaseline and whatnot, right? But I love that it's so handy and convenient to bring anywhere. I could bring the tiniest of my bag and this would just fits so perfectly. I could even just slip it on my dress' pockets and voíla!

This tiny pot of petroleum jelly never leave my work table, TBH. I always apply it every freakin' time my lips feel so parched and it would instantly provide relief. Moisture last long but given that I unconsciously licks my lips from time to time and I drink quite a lot, the need to reapply is so frequent. I have super dry lips all year round and this product helps the skin to recover. When I accidentally picks on the hanging dead skin and it causes bleeding, I would just apply a generous amount, and the wound would heal quickly.

Apollo Lip Balm in Pretty Pink

Apollo Lip Balms also came in a tinted variant. The formulation is just the same and both feels creamy and smooth, the only difference apart from the color is the strawberry scent of the latter. But probably because of the added chemical, I find it a bit drying when used overtime. My lips has always been sensitive to tinted lip products so I try to limit my use since I am working from home and there's no need to dress up.

However, my mom actually enjoys it. She traded her Vaseline one to this because she said that the Vaseline isn't actually giving her lips some color. She said that she could skip lipstick and just use the Apollo instead because it's enough to give her lips some rosy shade any skin color would look good on. I agree though. I don't suggest trading makeup and skincare products but because we're mom and daughter so no big deal LOL.

Both lips balms are so affordable and a little goes a long way, and they surely did last for a couple of months. I think that it's a great value for money and definitely a must-have.

Apollo 100% Pure Cold-Pressed Castor Oil

For those who believe that using beauty oils, particularly Castor Oil, to lengthen and thicken eye brows and lashes isn't an old myth, yes, Apollo has Castol Oil is here to save your day. It's so cheap and you get a tube that will last forever.

I tried using beauty oils way back when I was younger and though it was an on and off process, I noticed that my lashes became stronger and less prone to damage. There were bald spots in my brows that were soon filled. I stopped because I'm satisfied with the average thickness and length of my lashes. Also, it wasn't convenient and I don't like it when oils smears into the rest of my face. I have oily skin too and I was not comfortable about it especially when it gets inside the eyes.

If you are more patient that I am, using Castor Oil for the brows and lashes would help shape and tame hair overtime. I am sure that all hardwork pays off in the end.

I guess that's pretty much everything. Let me know what are your thoughts about these products, whether you are a believer of these or not. I would love to hear from you. Happy weekends, everyone!

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Honeybee Gardens Lip Balm in Vanilla Pie Review

Honeybee Gardens Lip Balm in Vanilla Pie

Bought for: Free with points | SRP: P195/4.5g

Bought from: Sample Room

Hey, there! I still have a shift later at work but I'm gonna be blogging about a lip product that I discovered from Sample Room just because I cannot make my eyes and my brain shut down. Don't you worry because this will be very quick. Today, we'll talk about this lip balm from the brand - Honeybee Gardens which is an international brand. It's new to me, I don't know about you.

CLAIMS

Never waxy, not greasy but lasts for hours! Contains jojoba oil to protect and moisturize your lips. Each flavor comes in a convenient twist-up tube. Gluten-free.

INGREDIENTS

Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Jojoba, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E, Natural Flavor. The list of ingredients are very basic and I'm sure we're all aware that these are probably the basics of a lip balm - it just depends on the concentration, I guess. Anyway, that's good to know as there are none of those unnecessary chemicals.

PACKAGING

There's nothing really special on the packaging but I gotta say that it's so travel-friendly and I've always liked retractable packaging for lip balms. I appreciate that claims and ingredients are printed on the design so you can easily go through it whenever you feel like. It also has a safety seal. Always a reminder - don't accept if seal is broken. :D

The balm is white, almost opaque in color. It has a very subtle vanilla-ish scent (and I kind of forget that the flavor is Vanilla Pie lol). It's nothing strong so that's good, right?

Anyway, one  thing I noticed is that the balm easily melts upon contact with warm skin. That seems to be a good news in a way that it goes on the lips smoothly. I love the silky and creamy formulation. Could have its cons too because it loses its shape very easily. Good thing, it doesn't melt on its own unless, perhaps,  if the weather is terribly hot and humid. Make sure to keep it in cool, dry places to lengthen its shelf life.

The texture of it reminds me of Petroleum Jellies. It's very light on the lips and is non-sticky. No waxy feeling at all. It keeps my puckers hydrated for a long time too. Other lip balms just emphasize dryness and make it severe but this one did not.

Overall, Honeybee Gardens Lip Balm in Vanilla Pie is really a good all-natural product to buy if you have the money. Personally though, I'm contemplating whether or not to get one because first, this is a product that is hard to find and I've only seen this in Amazon, and on its official website that's based abroad. Also, it's quite expensive for a lip balm when I could've bought a 50ml petroleum jelly for only P50 and both works the same.

If money isn't an issue, go get yourself a Honeybee Gardens Lip Balm and you will not regret it. It works like how it's supposed to! Sorry if I made this blog longer than expected. Anyway, I'm off now. Happy blogging!

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Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tint Swatches and Review

Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tint (4.5ml)

Price: P940/set | P260/piece

Bought from: Althea Korea

I am so excited to share with you my review for these Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints! It's been a while since I stopped using tints because if you read my previous blogs, I'm very particular to lip products. I always get chapped, dry puckers from using such and it's even worse with lip tints. But then, we, girls, cannot resist beautiful things, don't you agree? So today, I am sharing with you my thoughts on these Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints which I already talked about during a makeup tutorial I did last February. I only had snippets back then so it's now time to make a full review dedicated only to this particular set.

CLAIMS

Get deliciously juicy lips with Althea's Watercolor Cream Tints! These pretty tubes give you the best of all worlds with the pigmentation of a lipstick, the long-wearing power of a stain and the moisturizing formula of a gloss. Bold, pigmented and equipped with a pretty sheen, these lippies contain hyaluronic acid and squalene to prevent chapped lips from flaking, perfect for stashing in your purse for easy touch-ups and comfortable wear. Pick from 4 different shades to suit your mood!

PACKAGING

It comes in black cardboard box and has information written only in Korean. I really do hope they will start revamping it as I don't read Korean. The tints itself looks really cute. It comes in a matte black cap and a transparent plastic material so you can see the actual color from the inside. The rectangle shape appears even more interesting and unique than those in tubing. These are travel-friendly and I also like the doe foot applicator as its functional and hygienic.

Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints come in four (4) shades namely: Plum Cream, Strawberry Cream, Peach Cream and Marron Cream - all sounds so delicious and yummy! They smell like candies too!

From top to bottom: #01 Plum, #02 Strawberry, #03 Peach, #04 Marron Cream

TEXTURE, PIGMENTATION AND EASE OF APPLICATION

These tints have watery consistency and is quite jelly-like because of the sheen finish. Despite the thin consistency, it leaves a very strong color payoff. In fact, one dot is enough to give the entire lips a pop of color. That is safe to say that a little goes a long way. A few more can give a pigmentation of a lipstick. After moderate drinking and eating, I'm amazed how there's still a strong stain of tint left. These tints last for hours and I swear by it.

PERFORMANCE

I've never tried a tint before that's so cheap at P260 a piece and but works so great. It can be drying but nothing a good lip balm can fix. The good news? You can use the code BFFTINTS when you shop at ph.althea.kr to get two (2) tints for the price of one! 

I truly love these products and it's a proof that Althea Korea never disappoints. It's very easy to do ombre effects with these tints because they settle on the lips quite fast and is very buildable. I just don't think it will make a good cheek tint because again, the color payoff is really strong and they settle quite fast when in contact with the skin, giving you minimum time to blend. I hate to be bias but my favorite among all 4 is the Plum Cream and it's what I always carry in my purse. Nonetheless, the other shades are great too!

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Shiseido Maquillage Watery Rouge in RD 388 Review

Shiseido Maquillage Watery Rouge in RD 388

Bought for: Free with points | SRP: P1150/6g

Bought from: Sample Room

Here's a quick review on a luxury product I got from the brand Shiseido. I have this product for quite a while now but I never thought of blogging about it just now. It was a hit and miss with this product so I'm quite excited to share my thoughts with you.

CLAIMS

A touch of stain that blends instantly. A tint-type rouge with a water-based 3-layer separation technology that creates a look with a natural luster and color that appear to emanate from within. It moisturizes and softens lips while giving a long-wearing color and luster for up to 6 hours.

HOW TO USE

The diagonal tip functions as a blender for an airy, light finish. Gently tap the applicator tip on the lips, starting at the center to spread with a smear over the entire lip. When both lips are rubbed together, a natural luster emanates as the color stains the lips, prolonging wear.

PACKAGING

The overall shimmery casing is really looking grand and glamorous. It definitely looks good from a distance. I also like the slanted doe foot applicator and stuff too. The thing is, the packaging weighs so light and the casing feels cheap as it's just made of plastic coated with some sleek paint.

TEXTURE AND EASE OF APPLICATION

This is claimed to be as an ultra hydrating lip tint so I kind of predicted that it won't be as matte as the usual which added to my excitement. This has the consistency of a lip gloss but with an opaque color. I hate those drying lip tints that make my puckers crack, peel and bleed. True enough, this has a creamy, soft formula that glides on the lips so easily and is very hydrating. It's lightweight too, non-sticky and doesn't wear uncomfortably on the lips. On the other hand, the product does not settle completely on the lips as what I expect with lip products that has the consistency of a lip gloss. It easily transfers but you lips will still be left soft and smooth for hours.

PIGMENTATION

The pigmentation sucks, at least for this shade in RD 388. It's a muted pink in shade and is supposed to tint the lips while providing luster. As suggested, you have to stick your lips together to blend during application to prolong the wear. It does it's job in providing a pinkish glow but once you drink, lick or accidentally wipe your lips, the color comes off too. I would disagree if others say that this is long-lasting. Take a look at my swatch down below. There's barely a percent of color that's left after wiping the product ONCE with pure cotton pad.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

Just like what I've mentioned, it's a hit and miss with Shiseido Maquillage Watery Rouge. Still, I find myself bringing it with me everywhere because it's very simple and natural-looking on the lips. I also love that it makes my lips look plumper and healthier. I have super dry lips and I badly needed a lip product that would instantly soothe and calm it while also providing a bit of color. I'd prefer it over drying tints even though the price is on the steeper side.

For a long-lasting pinkish glow, dab some tint onto your lips and top it off with Shiseido Maquillage Watery Rouge for an enhanced glow and luster. That works best for me!

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WithMe Signal Velvet Lip Master in 25 Brick Signal Review

WithMe Signal Velvet Lip Master

Bought for: Free | SRP: $11.99 (approximately P650)

From: Charis Celeb

Hey, guys! Tonight, I'll be talking about another product I discovered from Charis. Almost 90% of the products I got from their website are absolutely adorable and products I swear by. When they opened up a new item ready for review, I couldn't tame my excitement because...what's it gonna be this time?

I haven't read any blogs about this yet so it's an honor to be writing this before (probably) anyone else does. I don't usually read reviews prior to writing a post because I don't want them messing up with my own experience but this time is different. WithMe is a brand that's very new to me and I'm entangled to a love and hate relationship with this lip velvet. I wanted to know if everyone else felt the same way.

CLAIMS

It is a matte-type lip tint keeping the color vivid for a long time by sticking smooth velvet mousse to your lips thin and lightly as if you put on nothing.

CAUTIONS

INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE

PACKAGING

Product comes in a khaki-colored cardboard box and has all necessary information like claims, directions, ingredients and manufacturing/expiry dates. Overall packaging is really nice. I like the color block idea and that the middle part is transparent so you can take a look on what's on the inside or what shade you're having.

The doe-foot applicator is useful too and the slanted angle makes it easier to apply the product onto the lips and follow the lip line.

SHADE, TEXTURE AND PIGMENTATION

I actually love the shade which is vampy and it makes me look more matured. It's an awesome Fall shade--not that we have it in the Philippines but it just reminds me of that particular season I wish we have. It's a brick red in shade with a cool undertone and I think it's the kind of red that would be more fitting to people with lighter complexions. With that shade and undertone, it gives a slight brightening effect to the teeth and I feel like I can do toothy grins whenever I want to.

Texture-wise, you'll get a creamy, thick and intense pigmentation with just one swipe. One dip can already give your lips a full color. A slight dab can already give your face some color. It's very easy to apply especially with that slight angled tip. It takes a few minutes for it to completely dry, on during those moments, formula is a little tacky. Your lips will tend to stick together but not in an uncomfortable way. It sets and looks matte but still with a little bit of hydration. ***not sure if I'm making any sense lol***

LONGEVITY AND PERFORMANCE

WithMe Signal Velvet Lip Master applies and blends like a dream. It has good color payoff but I would suggest you layer first with a lip balm or moisturizer if you have dry lips like mine. It tends to crack during midday and will leave your lips looking dehydrated. It also has the tendency to emphasize dryness of the lips. MATTE LIPSTICKS. After the first hour, I notice that product has been building up on my lip lines looking all patchy and flaky. This is why a good lip balm is necessary. To be fair, most liquid lipsticks I have tried before do the same. The only things I do to combat these are scrub and moisturize prior to usage.

This product has a pretty decent staying power and can withstand light snacks and drinking with only the inner part fading. It stays good almost all throughout the day and the maximum times I do retouch is about once or twice, pretty much after lunch and when going home. You know, sometimes, you just wanna face the world completely made up haha. Oh, by the way, it's not a pain to remove. I use my CLINIQUE TAKE THE DAY OFF MAKE UP REMOVER and voila, all traces gone.

If you are interested in getting this product, you may do so by visiting my charis celeb shop to get this for a discounted price! Click HERE to shop for WithMe Signal Velvet Lip Master  or visit MY CHARIS SHOP for all the items tested and recommended by yours truly. Until next, happy blogging!

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