Review: Bench Organics Moroccan Argan Oil

I'm sure we're all aware of the craze that's been going on for a while now over argan oil, dubbed as the "thousand year old beauty secret". In Hollywood, it's adored by celebrities such as Eva Mendes and Marian Cotillard, and in demand hairstylists like Orlando Pita use the wonder product to bring life and shine to tired hair (1).

But what is argan oil and why is it in so demand by everyone from the average Jane to Hollywood A-listers? I actually had to write a piece about this for a college project, so here's a snippet from my essay...

The Argan tree (scientific name: Argania spinosa) is known as the “Tree of Life” among the people of the Moroccan Berber community and its oil, extracted from the kernels, is now considered one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the world. Though used by women living in the harsh and arid environment of Morocco for hundreds of years to protect and nourish their skin and hair, it has recently gained popularity in the West and dubbed as a “miracle ingredient”. With its high levels of Vitamin E and composed of more than 80% fatty acids, it is used for everything from healing skin ailments to preventing premature aging. It is also now being utilized as a safer alternative for caring for baby’s skin or for those with extremely sensitive skin.

Pure argan oil, a powerful product that delivers so many benefits, does not come cheap as you may expect. I've seen tiny bottles that can literally fit in the palm of your hand go for over $100 each. Sadly, many of us simply cannot afford to shell out that much even for such a great product that will certainly yield positive results.

However, Bench has given us a great and affordable alternative with their Moroccan Argan Oil from their Bench Organics line!

Though not made of pure Argan oil, which is why it's affordable in the first place, the product claims to still deliver a number of positive skin care benefits. It is completely multi-purpose and can be used for your face, hair, and entire body.

The oil is housed in a conveniently sized plastic, tinted bottle. There's actually a reason that argan oil is stored in tinted bottles in the same way olive oil or even most beers are - the tint helps to block or minimize ultraviolet light which may deteriorate the liquid inside.

The product is dispensed via a flip-top opening. Though the hole appears a little large, it actually releases a very controlled amount so you won't end up pouring too much out by accident. The cap is also quite secure and doesn't open too easily so I can deem this as safe enough to bring along with you in your bag if you need to.

Review: Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in "PK002 Cherry Hot Pink"

I love cherries and cherry themed products. I also love the color pink. Combine both and you definitely have a winning combination for me, so here's one of my most favorite products from Etude House, their Fresh Cherry Tint lip tint in the shade "PK002 Cherry Hot Pink".

Product description:

Tint promotes moist & shiny cherry lips with a creamy, smooth texture.

L: old Fresh Cherry Tint ad, R: newer Fresh Cherry Tint ad

What I have is the old packaging of the Fresh Cherry Tint line. As far as I know, the shades are still the same or very similar, it's just the packaging that's changed, and in the newer line they removed one of the shades so there's now three instead of four.

Personally I find the older packaging cuter. It's unique looking with its curved shape whereas the new one looks a lot more ordinary and emphasizes the whole cherry theme less.

Review: BYS Matte Lipstick in "Celebrity Status"

When it comes to what finish I love most in a lipstick, it's matte. When it comes to what shades I love, it's definitely pinks and reds. Dark, almost vampy, reds are my ultimate favorite, and yes, I'll even wear them during the day! So you can imagine how happy I was when I found this particular lipstick from BYS that seemed to perfectly combine both my preferred finish and shade.

BYS, which is an acronym for 'Be Yourself', is an Australian cosmetics brand that arrived in the Philippines earlier this year and so far they've been a big hit.

I've seen bloggers raving about a variety of their products since then, especially their lipsticks which come in a wide range of types from lipstick-lipgloss duos to even color change ones! But BYS' Matte Lipstick and Longwear Lipstick lines are without a doubt two of the most popular.

The one I chose, from their Matte Lipstick line, comes in a sleek, black tube with a semi-matte finish. The cap is clear, allowing you to see just how much product you still have left every time.

However, the lipstick doesn't disappear into the tube completely (until it's nearly used up) so you have to be extra careful whenever you replace the cap!

I asked the SA for their darkest red shade amongst the matte lipsticks and she recommended "Celebrity Status" to me.

The product ingredients and other info are printed on an attached sticker which keeps the tube sealed. I recommend not removing the sticker entirely because it's a nightmare trying to remove the sticky residue after! Cutting a slit through the sticker just below the cap to allow it to be removed and replaced freely is best.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

I've seen this particular tag being posted around a number of blogs quite recently and I decided to hop on board as well. Yes, I just tagged myself!

It'll be another nice break from product reviews anyway, right?

1. GREED - What is your most expensive beauty item?

Image from: Amazon

I'd have to say my Philips Satinelle Epilator HP6512. This counts as a beauty item, doesn't it? I shelled out PHP5,000 (almost $120) for this baby because I got sick of the pains (literally) and frustration of shaving and waxing. I'm glad I decided to splurge on it though because I love it!

2. WRATH - What beauty item do you have a love/hate relationship with?

Image from: Indian Beauty Central

Concealer. Though a necessary product for most women, including me, I struggle with concealer a lot of the time and so far, I haven't yet found one that I've been very happy with. It's either too drying, cakes too easily, sinks into the fine lines under my eyes, or simply doesn't provide enough coverage. I've tried all kinds too, from sticks, to creams, to liquids. Finding the perfect shade is also an added nightmare for me! However, despite my love/hate relationship with it, it's still something I need on a daily basis so I do my best to work around the problems I face with it.

Review: Eyelash Clip (Daiso Japan)

As much as I'd like to, I don't wear false lashes on a daily basis, simply because I either don't have the time or I'm just too lazy to even bother putting them on. I also have very deep set and 'curved' eyes, so though I'm quite experienced with putting on lashes, it's still a pain sometimes to do because even with a good quality glue, the lashes initially have a hard time conforming to my eye's shape no matter how much I press down.

Like many, I would use a handy pair of ordinary tweezers to put the lashes on. They help me see what I'm doing better without my fingers being in the way. But then I stumbled upon this little tool from Saizen recently...

Unable to read Japanese, I can't tell you much other than the fact that it's what's called an eyelash clip that's supposed to help you both grip and apply your false lashes easier, and it's produced by the familiar Daiso Japan brand.

Now a tool like this is nothing new. I've seen false eyelash brands like Ardell and DUO even include a free eyelash clip with some of their lashes. They only really differ in terms of design and brand, but the purpose and concept remains the same.

The illustration on the packaging already gives you a better idea on how to use it if you're not sure.