REVIEW | Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

Every morning for the past two weeks, I have been blindly reaching for the same base to help the situation on my face, and that would be the Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. This was one of those iconic products that I had lusted after forever (side-eyeing it after time I passed by their counters), but held off on purchasing due to the hefty price tag. Last Christmas, I decided it was finally time - thank the holidays - to bite the bullet and see just what all the fuss was about.

Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

$670 HKD at Chantecaille HK, Lane Crawford | $72 USD at Chantecaille US, Nordstrom

50g, 1.7oz | 7 Shades

Chantecaille describes this as a lightweight tinted moisturizer that has anti-irritant, antioxidant and antipollution properties to protect the skin from free radicals, smog and the sun. It aims to provide excellent coverage and smooth fine lines while locking in the skin's moisture, and is suitable for sensitive skin. Not going to lie, don't exactly know how all that anti-whatever works (or how to test those claims out) but it all sounds great and dandy! So how good is it really?

First and foremost, I have to say that this has one of, if not the best texture of any base I've ever tried. It's so incredibly creamy and velvety - to the point where it feels more like applying a face cream - and truly blends seamlessly into the skin, perfecting the face without looking like you have anything on. Just skin. To whoever named this product - bravo, you were spot-on. Now, keep in mind that the coverage is sheer to light, so it's definitely catered to those who have quite good skin to begin with, and not for problematic skin or medium to full coverage junkies. The shade I got matched to, Vanilla, oxidizes ever so slightly, but it isn't at all noticeable on the face. This applies smoothly with just the finger tips, while using a brush gives a touch more coverage. I find that this lasts a good five, six hours on my face before starting to fade, but I do get shiny in the T-zone after just two hours, especially with the lovely Hong Kong humidity. 

I picked my tube up at Lane Crawford for $670 HKD (which translates to $86 USD), so it works out to be a tad cheaper if you get it in the states. You do get 1.7oz of product as opposed to the standard 1oz, but still, dang! The ultimate question is, do I think this is worth the splurge?

My answer is.. it really depends! Here's the deal - if you enjoy a creamy, smooth base that offers light coverage and an effortless, luminous finish (and you don't mind treating yo'self) then you will absolutely adore this. For those of you who simply can't justify the eye-watering price tag but want something similar, then might I suggest trying out the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue ($29.5), NARS' Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer ($44) or Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer ($44). Although none of these are able to exactly duplicate the same velvety consistency, all three give a very similar finish - dewy, radiant skin at a considerably cheaper price point. Out of the three, I would say NARS has the most comparable texture, and bareMinerals the most similar, dewy finish. 

And not to keep rambling on - but I'm gonna - there are two issues I have with this. The first is the flat out awful shade range. Eyebrow raise. The second is with the SPF - what in the heck am I going to do with an SPF of 15? That might as well be SPF 0 in my books. But I find that pairing this with my trusty Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ underneath negates the "just skin" effect that it's going for. For now, I've resorted to wearing this around the house or at night (the SPF doesn't seem to give me a white cast as it should in theory). But for the moolah I've shelled out for this baby (and the beautiful finish it gives to the face), I should be able to wear this all day and parade my face around. Sigh.

Swatched | Blended out

So unless you fancy a bit of a splurge and want to experience that creamy texture and naturally radiant, "I-have-amazing-skin-cos-I-drink-eight-cups-of-water-everyday" finish (and you trust all the wonderful skin-benefiting claims), then I would say you could live without this Chantecaille Tinted Moisturizer. Am I happy I bought this? Heck yes. Will I run out and repurchase this when it's finished? For now, probably not. I am more than content with my current collection of tinted moisturizers, but, if you catch me in a spendy mood (which is quite often, unfortunately), I can't guarantee that I won't be spotted lurking by the Chantecaille counters. 

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Sephora

Who's in the mood for a good Sephora haul? I know I am! As promised, here's a look at all the beauty bits I picked up at Sephora while I was in Boston last month. I also did some damage at Target and Colourpop, but I'll share those in a separate post 'cos there's so much goodness here already. Let's dive in!

The hotel we were staying at was located right next to a huge shopping complex, which - unfortunately for my wallet - included a very well-stocked Sephora. So naturally, I had to go in for a little peek. I take full responsibility for what happened next.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop | First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy: Brighten, Depuff and Smooth in Fair/Medium | Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer in Light Warm | Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 | Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

I finally caved - after months and months of telling myself that I didn't need it in my life - and picked up the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, and wow. It is the most stunning peachy gold shade and I've been wearing it all day, e'ery day. It is truly all it's hyped up to be and more. The First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy: Brighten, Depuff and Smooth in Fair/Medium has become one of my favorite products to use in the morning - the applicator feels so cool and refreshing under my eyes and it truly does seem to depuff and brighten - but I still think the price ($36USD) is a bit steep for the amount you get. I wasn't that eager to try the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer, only because the Nars Creamy Concealer in Custard has been my ride-or-die high-end concealer, but I must say I am pleasantly surprised - the consistency is lighter without sacrificing coverage, and the shade I got in Light Warm is much more suited for brightening the under eyes and highlighting the face. I picked up the Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 without even researching about it because I love the brand that much and trust the quality of their products. So far, I've only used it once on the face and lips and it's worked really well - it's not greasy and smells like brown sugar and citrus! I got a backup of the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, which I don't find absolutely essential for everyday, but is rather nice to have around for special occasions.

Sephora Collection Instant Nail Polish Remover + 14 Travel Size Wipes | Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush Head Refill | BeautyBlender | Sephora Collection Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5 | Sephora Collection The Natural: Citrus Brush Cleaner

I've been on the hunt for the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover for years - you know, the one in the tub where you dip your fingers in - and have not been able to find it anywhere! So when I saw that this Sephora Collection Instant Nail Polish Remover + 14 Travel Size Wipes was only $7USD and was in the same tub format, I snapped up two sets. Such a good deal! I purchased the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush about two years ago (which I would not recommend btw, since only the handle vibrates and not the brush head itself) and stopped using it after just a few months. I picked up a Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush Head Refill so that I could give it another shot, and Clinique recommends replacing the brush head every three months. As I've mentioned before, I always get a backup of my favorite BeautyBlender in every Sephora haul, it's the absolute best. The Sephora Collection Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5 is a completely unnecessary purchase - I already have the full-sized version in #45 which I love - but this was just way too cute to pass up. When it comes to cleaning brushes, I've been on the hunt for something fast and effective, so cue the Sephora Collection The Natural: Citrus Brush Cleaner. I tried it in store on a dirty display brush and it worked like a charm, dried super fast and also smells like oranges. At just $6USD, highly recommend!

Sephora Favorites Eau So Luxe Perfume Sampler | Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rollerball | Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita

I have no willpower when it comes to picking up Sephora sample perfume sets - this one is the Sephora Favorites Eau So Luxe Perfume Sampler - because it's just too good of a deal to pass up. It's $25USD and you get six samples, but also a voucher that lets you pick up a full-sized rollerball of whichever sample you fancy most. So essentially, you're getting a free rollerball. Uh, yes please! I ended up using the voucher to get the Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rollerball, which I think every girl and her mother has tried and loves. What's funny is I distinctly remember disliking the scent when I tried it on a year ago - it was a bit too musky and spicy for my taste - but it has definitely grown on me. Hands down, the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita has been the hardest lip product for me to track down. Anyone else? It took me, no joke, over a year to finally find it in stores, and it's so surreal to now have it sitting in my makeup bag. I tried it on the second I got back to my room and it did not disappoint. I am and will forever be obsessed.

Sephora Favorites Paint It Pink

And perhaps the most exciting part of this haul is the Sephora Favorites Paint It Pink set that I picked up at the very last minute. Valued at $122USD, it was priced at just $40USD - which is an absolute steal considering a BeautyBlender is already $20USD, like what - and features eight beauty products, three which are full-sized, in everyone's favorite shade! The set includes a BeautyBlender (which I swear by), Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold (who doesn't love rose gold?), Benefit Roller Lash Mascara (this is my current everyday mascara), Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Baby Love (definitely my kind of color), Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in French Kiss (a bubblegum pink shade that's too bright for me but has a nice formula), Make Up For Ever Artist Pexi-Gloss #202 (super shiny but also super sticky), Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blissful (love this range and this color), and Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Scratch (a really soft and buttery rose gold). This set is currently out of stock on Sephora's website - hmm, I wonder why - but if you ever happen to come across this, snatch it up and don't think twice!

Phew, that was long. I feel like I need to go lie down now. 

Hope you enjoyed this Sephora haul and was inspired to make some beauty purchases of your own! I'll be posting part two of my Boston beauty haul soon which includes goodies from Target and Colourpop. Don't miss it!

TRAVEL | April 2016 Part IV | Boston

Hope you guys aren't sick of reading about my travel adventures yet, because this is a recap of the last - and arguably the best - part of my trip. Boston, baby!

Beacon Hill

So what was I doing in Boston, you might ask, when clearly I was just in Rotterdam for my dad's marathon, and partying it up (not really) in Amsterdam? Well - thanks for asking - we flew from Amsterdam to Boston because my dad also qualified for the 120th Boston Marathon. My dad is a prime example of age being just a number - he's over sixty years old and runs marathons and 100km ultra-trail races like they're nothing. Just two years ago, he and I traveled around Europe together for a month because he decided he wanted to run a marathon every week. Four marathons in four weeks - Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and London. Such a badass.

Anyway, I've always loved visiting Boston - I spent two of my four college thanksgivings there with my closest pals who all went to school in the area (whereas I studied in Washington DC). Being back in Beantown was quite a nostalgic occurrence, and I enjoyed every second of it. It was my first time being a part of the crowd at the Boston Marathon, and the city - especially the finish line - was buzzing with so much energy and excitement that it was hard not to feel like a huge interconnected community. Our family friends also came down from Toronto to support my dad - they have both known me since I was a baby - and it was amazing to be together again after all these years.

Boarding in Amsterdam to Boston

Pinkberry!

Boston Marathon Expo

My dad's name on the "wall of runners"

#Boston2016 #RunBold

Beacon Hill

Chinatown

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Inside Quincy Market

The central atrium

Sunrise on race day

Race day at Boston Common

Daddy Sit near the finish line

The 120th Boston Marathon finisher medal

Celebratory dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House inside Boston's Old City Hall

That's a wrap, guys - my adventures in Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Amsterdam and Boston! These two weeks have been an absolute blast, and I am so happy and proud to be able to support my dad and also see the world together!

I'm actually thinking about doing a few travel posts recapping all the places and adventures I got up to with my dad on all his previous marathon trips. Hopefully you guys will see that soon.

Stay tuned for a massive makeup and beauty haul - I'm talking Sephora, Colourpop and more! Meanwhile, check out my previous Rituals and Kiko haul if you haven't already!

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Kiko Milano

Alright guys, don't judge, but up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea that Kiko was an Italian brand. I had always thought, assumed, that it was Japanese (I didn't know the full brand name was Kiko Milano), and thought to myself, ain't nobody got time to hunt around for those! Then cue my trip to Amsterdam, when I chanced upon one of their glorious stores near Dam Square.

I've only heard positive things about this brand, so naturally I took full advantage and tested out pretty much every single thing they carried in the store. After two hours, I walked out of the store with just six products - that shows restraint and discipline, my friends. Trust me, I could've filled my entire backpack with Kiko products.

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04 | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

The first thing I gravitated towards were the lipsticks - look at that packaging! The pictures don't do them justice, guys. You press the button on top and the lipstick bullet comes out of the casing, you then twist and apply, and snap it back into the casing until you hear that satisfying click. Ugh, so gorgeous, I can't get over it.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | €10.90 
This was the first color I swatched on my hands, a pretty mauve pink - boring, I know - but I'm a sucker for these neutral shades. All these lipsticks are super creamy and apply like a dream, and smell a bit like vanilla cupcakes. Mmmm.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | €10.90
Now this shade just screams my name, but I had to resist and instead picked this up for my sister. As someone who doesn't own too much makeup, I thought this would be a flattering and wearable berry shade to have in her collection. The more I look at it, the more I wish I had picked up one for myself too. Sigh. 

Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose | €10.90 
As soon as I saw the word glossy in the name, I knew my mom would prefer this formula over the other ones - she loves lipsticks with a bit of moisture and shine. This is quite similar in color to my shade 107, but glossier (duh) and a bit more sheer.  

And because two of these were gifts for my mom and sister, I actually thought ahead and swatched the testers in the store instead of having to swatch their gifts. Give yourself a pat on the back, Shirley. Well done.

107 Mocaccino | 109 Amaranth | 204 Warm Rose

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | €8.90 

I distinctly remember Kathleen from KathleenLights (gorgeous human being, btw) raving about this because she declared it her favorite mascara of all time. That's huge! I've tried it a handful of times so far, and unfortunately I can't say the same for myself. The biggest gripe I have about this is the size of the wand - it's massive. I can't apply mascara without getting it on my eyelids, but maybe that's just an issue with my eye shape. Formula-wise, it's nice and buildable, and my lashes do end up looking quite voluminous. However, it does smudge on me by the end of the day, so I would suggest going for the waterproof version if you want to give it a try. 

Long Lasting Stick in 38 Golden Taupe | €6.90 
These long lasting eyeshadow sticks were calling out to me in the store, and I tried really hard to venture out with a shade that I didn't already own. I failed. This shade is a gorgeous taupe-y brown with flecks of shimmer, and I wore it out to dinner that very night after the haul and there was no creasing and smudging whatsoever. A winner.

Natural Concealer 04 | €5.50
Since color correcting has been all the rage lately, I decided to try this green concealer to help with the minor redness around my nose and to cover up blemishes. I'm happy to report that it's working great so far! I dab a bit on my problem areas, slightly blend it out, then apply foundation on top of it. Flawless.

Long Lasting Stick 38 Swatched | Blended out | Natural Concealer 04 Swatched | Blended out

Wait, I'm not finished! While playing around with the Golden Taupe eyeshadow stick, I found that it looked suspiciously similar to the Urban Decay 24 Hour Eyeshadow Pencils in Juju and Rehab that I had just mentioned in my April Favorites. Lo and behold, they are 99.9% exact dupes (which confirms I did indeed fail, miserably). Golden Taupe can look exactly like Juju or Rehab, depending on the light. In fact, the best way to put it would be if Juju and Rehab had a baby, it would be Golden Taupe. Everything from the shimmery finish to the lasting power is the exact same. Can I get a woot-woot?! I love discovering dupes!

Urban Decay JuJu | Kiko Golden Taupe 38 | Urban Decay Rehab

Hope you enjoyed this haul! Let me know what your favorite Kiko Milano products are!

PS. Just found out, after writing this post, that Kiko Milano is available in Hong Kong. Oops. So if you also live here and want to give these a try, there are stores in Time Square and Harbour City!

MONTHLY FAVORITES | April 2016

Finally, my first monthly favorites post!

Let's press pause on all the travel chatter and talk about my beauty favorites this month, aka the products I decided to bring with me on my two week trip. You know I absolutely love these if I handpicked them from my entire makeup collection. You'll see that most of them are products that are easy to apply but look super effortless. Winning.

Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Instant Infusion Treatment Toner | 

Fresh is one of my all-time favorite skin care brands ever, and this toner is incredible. I got a sample size of this as a gift with purchase and immediately went out and bought the full size when I was done. This has a blend of black tea, blackberry leaf extra and lychee seed extract, and smells super fresh (dangit!) and soothing. I remember how amazing my skin felt the first time I tried it, and I've been obsessed ever since. I use this both in the morning and night after washing my face. Two thumbs up!

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Buttercream 03 | 
I talked about this previously in my Sephora haul, but this is, by far, the easiest and most effortless base to apply on the go - I can either use my hands or a brush - and it melts into the skin flawlessly and gives a healthy, dewy, natural everyday complexion. Also has SPF 30!

Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ |
My face got burnt the day after we arrived in the Netherlands (that Dutch sun, man), and I am so proud of myself (hehe) for deciding to throw this in my makeup bag last minute. This sits really nicely under makeup, and the high SPF ensures that my face is well protected - my dad even used this for his race! The price is a bit steep - I got the 30ml bottle for $325HKD, which is a little over $40USD - but sun protection is crucial, and I haven't been able to find another sunscreen product that sits as well under makeup.

Sephora Pro Flawless Airbrush #56 | 
Okay, the long handle on this brush makes it not the friendliest option for travel, but I love, love, lurve how this brush flawlessly buffs in foundation. It's also super versatile - I can use it to buff in my concealer, apply my contour, blush and even highlighter. One brush to rule them all. It should be called Sephora Pro Flawless Everythanggg #1. You need this in yo life, peeps.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light 10 |
My absolute favorite concealer from the drugstore - amazing texture and coverage, super blendable, and works great for both the face and the under eyes. It's also a very close dupe for NARS' Creamy Concealer, at close to one fourth of the price! The shade range is a little lacking, I have to say, but a must-have if you do find a suitable shade.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer |
I usually don't have time to contour and chisel out my (nonexistent) cheekbones while on holiday - sorry Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour palette, I still love you - so this old favorite was the obvious choice for a warm, natural bronzer for everyday. 

Urban Decay 24 Hour Eye Shadow Pencil in Juju and Rehab |
My favorite easy, no-fuss eyeshadow combo. Apply, blend, wham-bam done. These are beautiful and don't budge or smudge once they set. I use Juju all over the lid, and Rehab to darken along the lash line. Easy, breezy, beautiful, shadow pencils. 

Benefit Roller Lash Super Curling & Lifting Mascara |
I've been using this mascara every single day since I hauled it a few months ago. Yes, it really does curl (yay!) and lift (yipee!) my lashes and also hasn't smudged on me (yet) which is a huge plus. 

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk |
I bought this a few months ago after giving into the hype, and it's been my number one go-to lip product - it's super creamy, and the perfect my-lips-but-better shade to make them look poutier and more perfected. I can wear it with any makeup look, by itself or under lipstick. So in love!

Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit Eau de Parfum |
Just look at how cute and tiny this bottle is! -squeals- I got this in a limited edition Fresh perfume set from Nordstrom last year. It smells super citrus-y and fresh (dangit! Not again), like you drenched yourself in a mixture of oranges, lemons and grapefruit. That might sound off-putting to some of you, but I really dig it. The lasting power is not the best, but the bottle is so cute and small that I don't mind just throwing it in my purse and reapplying whenever. Go check it out in stores! My ultimate favorite is still the Sugar Lychee scent. So. Good.

Origins Super Spot Remover |
This product is a life-saver and an old favorite since high school. You can apply the gel straight onto your blemish using a cotton bud, and you should start feeling it tingle and sting straight away, which I find super satisfying. My blemishes are much less inflamed the next morning and usually dry up within two, three days with continuous application, morning and night. Can't live without it.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in Buttercream 03 | Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light 10 | Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen | Benefit Hoola Bronzer | Urban Decay 24 Hour Eye Shadow Pencil in Juju | Urban Decay 24 Hour Eye Shadow Pencil in Rehab | Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk

I would love to know your April beauty favorites, and I hope you enjoyed seeing mine!