Claims (from the Macy's website)

Product Name: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lip Shine Shade: 116 Mighty Made in France Net wt.: 0.1 oz of product Life Span: 18 months after opening

Top swatch: 1 layer Bottom swatch: Multiple layers

Before

After

 My experience with this product is quite a hit-and-miss. There would be days when it would just glide on smoothly and leave me with hydrated lips. Then, there would also be days when this would just ball up and emphasize my dry, flaky lips. While this is indeed moisturizing,  it will emphasize flakiness so it's better to exfoliate first before using this.

The color itself is quite tricky to wear too. I can only apply a layer or two for it to work on my skintone; more than that and my skin will start to look sallow.

Color payoff is great, considering this is a sheer lipstick. I find that it lasts for 3-4 hours on me before I find the need to reapply again - I really don't mind considering it is a shiny lipstick. It does leave off a natural-looking stain though, which I really like. It will definitely wear off after eating but reapplication is a breeze (unless, again, you have flaky lips, which then the lipstick will probably emphasize them).

Overall...

Would I repurchase? Probably not in the near future.

Rating: 3/5

Official Description 

This tingly, minty face and body mask was formulated to be intensely cleansing but never harsh or abrasive. Kaolin clay and peppermint oil rid your pores of debris, giving you a delightfully tingly clean sensation. We add loads of ground aduki beans to exfoliate flaky or dry skin, vanilla absolute to calm redness and honey to soothe and moisturize.

Ingredients (from the Lush website)

Bentone Gel , Kaolin , Honey , Talc , Ground Aduki Beans (Phaseolus Angularis) , Glycerine , Evening Primrose Seeds (Oenothera biennis) , Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita) , African Marigold Oil (Tagetes erecta) , Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia) , *Limonene , Fragrance , Methylparaben , Chlorophyllin . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

The ingredients really caught my attention. It's not all the time that I'd see bentone, kaolin and honey mixed together in a clay mask because the first two are mattifying and the latter moisturizing - although I do believe all have purifying properties. I love any cooling sensation when it comes to my face and that is the main reason why I bought this. The two ingredients I particularly wasn't very fond of were talc and methylparaben - if you guys know what these ingredients are for, please let me know!

Storage 

Just like the name suggests, this product need not be stored in a fridge even though it is a fresh face mask. If you want that super cooling sensation (like me!), store it in your fridge. Doing so could actually prolong the life of the product.

How to use

Smooth mask all over your skin. Leave on for 15 minutes then rinse off with warm water, massaging as you go. (from the Lush website)

Application

The product has a really thick consistency, and the aduki beans do not help with spreading the product evenly. The consistency is probably from the honey, which is the first ingredient in the list. I find that application is easier with clean hands rather than with a brush.

Experience

When you first open the tub, the smell of mint or toothpaste will immediately hit you. It lives up to its name, Magnaminty. Php 425 may seem like a steep price for a face mask that expires fast but I don't mind since I don't really need a lot to begin with - I could actually see myself getting more than 20 uses out of the tub that I have if it will be used in the face alone.

The mint gives a tingly sensation, but it isn't overpowering; it actually feels nice on the face. I find that it doesn't dry up completely or crack like my Indian healing clay mask, and so I don't really know how long to leave it on for - for safe measure, I usually leave it on for 15-30 minutes.
It easily washes off with warm water and before completely doing so, I exfoliate my face with the aduki beans - I love that it's not super abrasive but still does the job. The Lush website suggests you use a face towel when removing the mask if you want more exfoliation, but I find that using my fingers is enough. But most of all, I love that it washes off easily and doesn't leave gunks of clay on my sink.

Result

I expected this mask to leave me with dry, reddish skin - and boy was I so wrong. It actually left my face feeling clean yet moisturized; my skin felt softer and noticeably brighter. It's not as hardcore as my Indian Aztecs Secret Healing Clay which dries out pimples in an instant, but it nevertheless removes the gunky feeling from my pores. The minty sensation is something I really enjoy whenever I use this. If you want the feeling of clean skin without feeling like your face is raw from trying to remove it afterwards, this is probably the product for you.

Overall...

I highly recommend this product to people who have combination to oily skin. It cleans without stripping you of moisture. It's perfect for people who live in tropical countries and washing it off is an easy task. It can be used for your face and neck. It's also cruelty-free. While it does contain alarm-raising ingredients (ehem, talc and methylparaben), the other skin-saving ingredients overpower it. Overall, for the price, I think it's pretty worth it considering how much you can get out of it.

Would I repurchase it? Definitely, yes!

Rating: 5/5

Here are the 16 things I've learned in 2016:

1. Makeup makes me happy.

For so long, I have felt uninspired to do the things that once made me happy (i.e. photography, baking, writing, etc.) I thought maybe this was it; maybe I don't really have a hobby I will ever excel at. But then, I discovered makeup and since then, it has allowed me to feel the passion I once had for doing the things I love. Not only am I able to express myself in a unique way but it has also allowed me to integrate my love for writing and photography through this blog. I am no expert in these three hobbies of mine but hopefully with time, I can improve on them.

Also, nothing feels more satisfying than seeing your eyebrows on fleek and your lashes curled up to the ceiling. There's such a strong stigma against makeup about girls (and guys) using it to satiate insecurities and impress other people, but the truth is, many of us use makeup because it makes us happy! I don't see people reacting badly to calligraphy or painting - aren't they forms of expression as well? Makeup is basically an art form done on a human canvas.

So next time someone tries to bring you down for loving makeup, keep your head up high. Not everyone will understand you but as long as you do makeup for your own happiness and not to conform to someone else's standards, then carry on!

2. I am surrounded by people who care about me.

I was never really one to show what I feel - if anything, I'm that friend who always doesn't have a lot to say about herself. But 2016 really took quite a toll on me, and in my lowest moments, I discovered that I am surrounded by people who only wish the best for me and is always there to lessen the burden that I am carrying. Even though I keep things to myself sometimes, I always feel thankful when friends and family reach out to me when they sense there's something wrong and it reminds me that I'm blessed.

3. Let go of people who bring negativity into your life; you're better off without them.

Friendships end, and it's okay. Sooner or later, you'll realize that maybe losing someone isn't that big of a deal; that maybe, some relationships are just not worth saving anymore. It's much better to have a small circle of friends than hold on to someone who only knows how to bring out the worst in you.

4. It's okay to cry your heart out when everything is a mess.

Again, I am not an overly emotional person but there's just something about 2016 that has turned me into one big, soppy mess. We all have our bad days and we just have to accept it. I learned that crying doesn't make one weak and it's okay to cry if the world is being too harsh on you.

5. A little kindness can turn someone's day around.

I try to be a nice person most days. I remember reading a story wherein a girl battling depression and is suicidal would push back ending her life because of the kind actions that she would receive. This always reminds me to be understanding of people, because they are fighting their own battles and adding more to their burden when it is unnecessary is just nonsensical.

6. Get some sleep whenever you can!

As much as you think checking your social media for 30 minutes before sleeping is okay, think again. Get as much as sleep while you can because college will surprise you with days where you feel like sleeping is a crime to be committed with all the school work that you have yet to finish.

7. Always check your e-mail!

I like checking my e-mails. As much as possible, I want the inbox to contain only necessary information so I make sure to check it on a daily basis and delete e-mails as needed. Ironically, the week where I didn't open them at all was the week where I received a life-changing opportunity and I missed my chance.

I could've become an intern now for the makeup artist that I admire and use it as a stepping stone to get a peek inside the beauty industry, but alas, stupid me missed it all. Lesson learned - no matter how busy I am, always spare some time for checking mail!

8. Seeing old places with a renewed perspective is life-changing.

Be creative. You don't have to ride an airplane or sit on a bus chair for 6 hours just to see and be amazed by new places. Sometimes, seeing old places with a fresh set of eyes is enough. At least, this is what I do. Even though I go to the same places all the time, I always try to find something that I can do - like pet a friendly dog strolling through the park, or try out a new cafe. You just have to look around and go where your feet takes you.