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Review

British Beauty

Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick Review & Swatch 2025

by Lina Clémence July 6, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog

Priced at

Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick Review & Swatch

Let me introduce you to Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick. I’ve been a long-time lover of the Clinique Almost Lipstick range, and like many, I really loved the cult-classic Black Honey. Then I tried the softer, Pink Honey, which I reviewed here. But now… there’s a new contender, and dare I say, it might just be my favourite of them all!

If you’re wondering how it compares to Black Honey and Pink Honey, I’ve got all the swatches, details and comparisons below.

What is Clinique Almost Lipstick?

Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick
Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick

Before we get into the gorgeousness that is Nude Honey, here’s a quick refresher.

Clinique Almost Lipstick is one of the brand’s most iconic formulas. It’s not quite a lipstick, not quite a balm, it’s that perfect hybrid of sheer colour, lightweight texture and a softly sheeny finish.

It’s incredibly flattering, super easy to apply (no mirror needed!), and has a cult following for good reason. If you’ve tried Black Honey, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick – My Review

First Impressions

Clinique Nude Honey
Clinique Nude Honey

As soon as I opened the tube, I knew I was going to love Nude Honey. The bullet looks like a rich, warm nude, almost caramel-toned, but as with all the Almost Lipsticks, the real magic happens when you apply it.

Clinique Nude Honey Swatch
Clinique Nude Honey Swatch

On the lips, Nude Honey transforms into a sheer, peachy-bronze tint that enhances your natural lip colour beautifully. It has that same “your lips but better” effect as Black Honey, but with a softer, more sun-kissed feel.

Texture & Formula

The formula is, as always, dreamy. It glides on effortlessly, giving a sheer wash of colour that builds slightly with each layer. It feels hydrating but not sticky and is like a nourishing lip balm in an elegant lipstick format.

This is the kind of product I can swipe on during the day for a polished, understated look, or pair with bronzy eyes (namely my REESON Lid Elixir in Toasted Cinnamon*) and glowing skin for a summery evening vibe.

Nude Honey vs Black Honey vs Pink Honey

If you managed to catch my previous post you’ll know that Black Honey was a firm favourite. It’s a deep berry tint that somehow suits everyone. Then came Pink Honey, a soft, muted pink that’s perfect for spring.

But now? I truly think Nude Honey is the best of the bunch. It’s the most wearable for every day, and it brings that subtle warmth to the face that just makes you look more alive.

Here’s a quick comparison:

  • Black Honey – rich sheer berry
  • Pink Honey – soft rosy pink
  • Nude Honey – sheer peachy nude

Swatches – Nude Honey, Black Honey & Pink Honey

Here are the swatches so you can really see the difference in tone:

Clinique Nude Honey Swatch
Clinique Nude Honey Swatch
Black Honey & Pink Honey Swatches
Black Honey & Pink Honey Swatches

You can see how Nude Honey has that golden, bronzy warmth. It’s perfect for enhancing a summer tan or giving your complexion a little lift.

Final Thoughts

Black Honey has always been my favourite, but I think Nude Honey has just topped it. If you’re after something low-maintenance, flattering, and a bit different to your usual nude lipstick, this is a must-try.

It’s the kind of lip colour that works with any look, from barely-there makeup to full glam.

Where to Buy Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick

You can find Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick at all major Clinique retailers. It is available now via the links below:


July 6, 2025 0 comments
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Indonesian Beauty

[Review] Produk Lokal untuk Skip-Care : Glow Necessities Replenishing Hydrator

by Lina Clémence July 5, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


Kalau ditanya step skincare-an yang paling favorite , jawabanku pasti pas pake toner dan moisturizer. Aku memang toner-hoarder, selalu cepet habis dan menurutku juga salah satu step essential dalam skincare .

Dan karena memang aku reviewer dan hobi explore skincare, salah satu produk lokal yang menurutku masih underrated tapi memiliki formulasi yang uenak ya ini, Glow Necessities Replenishing Hydrator. Yes, namanya memang “hydrator” bagi pemula terkadang bingung ini sebenernya toner atau essence. Menurutku dengan kata “hydrator” ini semacam membebaskan kalian loh untuk pakai produk ini dislot apa. Bahkan kalau kalian mau pakai dia sekaligus sebagai essence & serum , sangat bisa.

Atau mungkin kalian lebih nyaman pakai dia dislot essence setelah pakai watery toner, BISA JUGA. Produk ini secara tidak langsung mengajak kalian untuk explore kulit kalian sendiri, paling nyaman dipakai di step mana pada skincare routine kamu .

Glow Necessities Replenishing Hydrator ini menurutku juga memiliki kemasan yang simple tapi menarik. Botolnya berbahan plastik sturdy kokoh berwarna putih bersih sehingga kesannya neat dengan font hitam. Sederhana, tapi keliatan mahal banget . Semua penjelasan sudah informative, tertulis lengkap pada botol.

Tutupnya berupa flip-top berwarna putih senada dengan badan botol, dan ter-seal dengan baik ketika datang. Itu difoto bawah sudah aku kelopek baru kefoto soalnya hehe.

Tekstur Glow Necessities Replenishing Hydrator ini tipenya milky sedikit viscous dengan yellow tint, tapi bukan yang thick banget gitu ya karena masih agak runny. Dengan tekstur kayak gini, makanya aku bilang bisa banget kamu pakai dislot essence.

Formulanya gampang banget diratain, nyerepnya juga enak, termasuk tipe yang bisa aku pake banyak-banyak & gak ngambang dikulit kelamaan. All skin types bisa masuk lah menurutku, aman. Tinggal kalian explore sendiri aja mau dipake dislot mana.

Feels on skin nya menurutku emmolient yang cukup rich dan lembabnya nampol. Dia ini mengandung 3% Vitamin C tapi pake Vitamin C ester kok yaitu Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate yang sifatnya stabil dan masih beginner-friendly. Kemudian ada 2% Niacinamide & 0.5% Ferulic Acid. Jadi bisa dilihat ya produk ini tinggi antioxidant untuk menangkal radikal bebas dan untuk efek mencerahkan dia bagus banget.

Untuk efek melembabkan juga enak banget , karena ada kandungan beberapa oil yang membuat lembabnya awet seperti Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane. Dan efek soothing dari Allantoin & Chamomile.

Kalau dilhat dari bahan memang dia padet banget, isinya rich. Makanya kalau kalian mau skip serum, dan mau pake ini sekaligus sebagai essence & serum bisa banget. Dipake pagi-malam bisa ya, kalau dipake pagi kadang aku sudah gak pake vitamin C serum lagi . Sudah pake ini aja cukup kalau cuma ingin maintenance. Efek dikulit memang langsung bikin kenyal & kenyang.

Untuk mencerahkan kulit kusam tentu bisa banget ya, tapi semua balik ke kulit masing-masing. Bagi yang pemula banget pake vitamin C, pake ini bisa jadi cara untuk adaptasi dulu karena termasuk gentle. Untuk kulit acne prone apakah bisa? Bisa pol ! Dia ada Green Tea untuk anti acne dan Niacinamide untuk treat acne. Bisa untuk control sebum juga. Free from fragrance & alcohol.

Dengan harga Rp 468.000 dan isi 150 ml menurutku kalian sudah bisa dapet banyak benefit dalam satu produk. Semacam gak perlu pakai produk banyak-banyak atau untuk metode skip-care ini oke banget. Untuk info dan pembelian bisa langsung ke website Glow Necessities.

Semoga membantu!


July 5, 2025 0 comments
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Indonesian Beauty

Review ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk untuk Kulit Berminyak

by Lina Clémence July 4, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


Banyak yang bilang kalau wajib cobain ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen setidaknya sekali seumur hidup biar nggak penasaran. Apalagi ANESSA punya gelar sebagai sunscreen nomor 1 se-Asia dan di Jepang selama 22 tahun berturut-turut lho. Seperti apa sih performa sunscreen ini di kulit berminyak? Is it worth the hype and the money? Biar nggak penasaran, langsung aja baca review ANESSA Perfect Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA++++

ANESSA, sunscreen terbaik untuk perlindungan maksimal dari sinar matahari

ANESSA adalah brand sunscreen yang berada di bawah Shiseido Group, salah satu nama besar di dunia kecantikan. Anyway, nama ANESSA diambil dari bahasa Jepang “NESSA” yang berarti “pasir panas” atau “hot sand.” 

ANESSA sunscreen nomor satu di Asia dan Jepang

Sejak pertama kali diluncurkan pada tahun 1992, ANESSA hadir dengan visi mulia: mendukung penggunanya untuk tetap bebas beraktivitas di bawah sinar matahari tanpa khawatir, sekaligus menjaga kesehatan kulit untuk saat ini dan masa depan.

Dengan berbagai inovasi terdepan seperti Auto Veil Technology, Auto Booster Technology dan Beauty Sun Essence, ANESSA dinobatkan sebagai sunscreen nomor 1 di Asia dan Jepang selama 22 tahun berturut-turut. What an achievement! 

ANNESA memiliki beberapa seri produk seperti Gold Series, Brightening Series, Mild Series, Serum Sunscreen Series, dan Night Suncare Serum. 

ANESSA: Sunscreen Nomor Satu dengan Berbagai Kelebihan

Apa yang membuat sunscreen ANESSA layak disebut sebagai produk sunscreen nomor satu? Jawabannya ada pada inovasi dan teknologi canggih yang terus dikembangkan untuk memberikan perlindungan terbaik bagi kulit.

Beauty Sun Essence

Sunscreen rasa skincare? Bisa dong karena ANESSA memiliki formula Beauty Sun Essence dengan 50% skincare ingredients. Jadi sunscreen ini tidak hanya sekadar melindungi kulit dari sinar matahari, tetapi juga bisa merawat kulit dari dalam dan menjaga kelembapannya. 

Dengan 50% skincare ingredients, sunscreen ini dapat merawat kulit.
Dengan 50% skincare ingredients, sunscreen ini dapat merawat kulit.

Kandungan Beauty Sun Essence menggunakan ekstrak tumbuhan dan buah pilihan yang kaya akan manfaat, yaitu: 

  • Ekstrak kulit Unshiu Citrus, sebagai antioksidan dan antiinflamasi melawan radikal bebas, meredakan peradangan, serta melembapkan dan mencerahkan kulit.
  • Ekstrak Purple Tea dan Green Tea, dengan antioksidan tinggi untuk melindungi kulit dari radikal bebas dan polusi.
  • Ekstrak akar Potentilla Erecta, sebagai anti-photoaging atau mencegah penuaan dini. Kandungan ini juga dapat menenangkan kulit yang meradang, mengurangi kemerahan, serta membantu mengatasi berbagai masalah kulit seperti jerawat dan iritasi. 

Sunscreen ini juga memiliki formula tambahan seperti seperti collagen dan hyaluronic acid yang dapat menjaga kelembapan kulit dan cocok untuk semua jenis kulit. 

Auto Veil Technology

Tahu nggak kalau ekspresi wajah seperti tersenyum, berkedip, tertawa, atau cemberut dapat membuat otot wajah meregang? Gerakan ini ternyata bisa mengurangi perlindungan sunscreen yang sudah diaplikasikan lho.

Anessa punya Auto Veil Technolofy untuk meratakan gorean dan lecet yang terbentuk pada lapisan sunscreen
Auto Veil Technology mampu memperbaiki dan meratakan lapisan sunscreen.

Pada Maret 2024, ANESSA menghadirkan inovasi terbaru mereka: Auto Veil Technology atau dikenal juga sebagai Auto Repair. Teknologi canggih ini memungkinkan sunscreen ANESSA untuk memperbaiki dan meratakan kembali lapisan perlindungan sunscreen yang terganggu oleh pergerakan otot wajah hanya dalam waktu 5 menit.

Auto Repair Technology memungkinan sunscreen untuk memperbaiki lapisan yang rusak atau hilang akibat gesekan, air, atau keringat
Hasil riset Auto Repair Technology yang dilakukan oleh RND Anessa

Dengan teknologi ini, kulit akan tetap terlindungi secara optimal dan kita bisa bebas berekspresi.

Auto Booster Technology

Auto Booster Technology dari ANESSA adalah inovasi pertama di dunia yang dirancang untuk memberikan perlindungan kuat bahkan saat kulit terpapar panas, kelembapan, air, atau keringat. Teknologi ini menggabungkan empat formula canggih: Humidity Protection, Thermo Booster Technology, Aqua EX Booster Technology, dan Super Waterproof.

auto booster technology dan auto repair technology memberikan perlindungan maksimal dari sinar UV
  • Humidity Protection: Memperkuat dan meratakan lapisan pelindung UV saat kulit terpapar kelembapan.
  • Thermo Booster Technology: Menjaga perlindungan UV tetap optimal meskipun kulit terkena panas.
  • Aqua EX Booster Technology: Memastikan lapisan pelindung UV tetap merata meski terpapar air atau keringat.
  • Super Waterproof: Formula tahan air dan keringat yang telah terbukti melalui water bath test selama 80 menit.

Dengan teknologi ini, sunscreen ANESSA adalah sunscreen waterproof yang bagus untuk wajah dan badan yang membuat kulitmu tetap terlindungi sempurna di segala kondisi, bahkan saat aktivitas outdoor paling intens sekalipun. 

Review ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA++++

ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA++++
Nama produk ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA++++
Berat 60 ml
Nomor BPOM NA22231700025
Harga retail IDR400.000 (60ml) *harga dapat berbeda

Desain dan kemasan

ANESSA Perfect UV Skincare Milk dikemas dalam botol emas dengan ukuran 60 ml. Sunscreen ini juga tersedia dalam ukuran 20 ml. Surprisingly, botol ukuran 60ml ini tetap compact meskipun ukurannya cukup besar untuk standar ukuran sunscreen. Jadi praktis kalau dibawa ke mana saja. Tutupnya juga rapat dengan model ulir, menghindari risiko tumpah atau bocor. 

Desain dan kemasan ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
Desain dan kemasan ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk

Sunscreen ini datang dalam kemasan dus berwarna biru dengan keterangan produk yang ditulis dalam bahasa Jepang. Tapi jangan kuatir, ada keterangan produk dalam bahasa Indonesia juga kok. 

Baik dalam kemasan dus maupun botol, aku tidak bisa menemukan informasi kedaluwarsa (expiry date). Jangan panik dulu karena ini adalah hal yang biasa untuk produk asal Jepang karena memang badan POM di sana tuh nggak mewajibkan perusahaan untuk mencantumkan expiry date. 

Kalian bisa menggunakan informasi masa PAO (Period After Opening) yang tercantum pada kemasan sebagai patokan ya. Sunscreen ANESSA ini punya masa PAO 18M yang artinya sunscreen bisa digunakan selama 1,5 tahun sejak kemasannya dibuka. 

UPDATE:

Ternyata informasi expiry date-nya ada di kemasan ya teman-teman. Bentuknya seperti sticker dan ada QR code-nya juga. Sebelumnya aku nggak ngeh karena aku pikir itu bukan tanggal kedaluwarsanya.

Tekstur, warna, dan wangi

Tekstur sunscreen ini ringan, mudah diratakan dan cepat meresap di kulit tanpa meninggalkan white cast. Warnanya putih pekat, seperti susu. Menurut keterangan di kemasan dus, sunscreen ini tidak mengandung colorant alias tanpa penambahan warna.

Tekstur sunscreen watery mudah dibaurkan dan cepat meresap
Tekstur sunscreen watery, mudah dibaurkan dan cepat meresap

Sunscreen ANESSA juga tidak meninggalkan rasa lengket setelah diaplikasikan di wajah. Terbukti nih ketika aku coba kasih pasir di tangan yang sudah aku aplikasikan sunscreen, pasirnya bisa dibersihkan dengan mudah dan tidak ada yang tertinggal di kulit.

Sunscreen ANESSA terbukti tidak lengket dan memberikan hasil matte
Sunscreen ANESSA terbukti tidak lengket dan memberikan hasil matte

Untuk aromanya, sunscreen ini memiliki wangi khas sunscreen dan sedikit citrusy. Namun wanginya lembut dan tidak menyengat kok, cocok untuk pengguna yang sensitif terhadap parfum.

ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk Ingredients

Berikut ini adalah komposisi dari sunscreen ANESSA: 

Dimethicone, Water (Aqua), Zinc Oxide, Alcohol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isododecane, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Talc, Silica, Isopropyl Myristate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dextrin Palmitate, Glycerin, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Triazone,Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Disteardimonium Hectorite,  PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane,Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-6, Fragrance, Tocopherol, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lauryl Betaine, Soluble Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate.

Dari ingredients-nya, sunscreen ANESSA termasuk kategori hybrid sunscreen karena mengandung kombinasi mineral/physical sunscreen dan chemical sunscreen. 

Biar nggak bingung jenis sunscreen yang kalian pakai, artikel cara membedakan sunscreen physical, chemical, dan hybrid ini bisa membantu.

Cara pakai sunscreen ANESSA

  1. Kocok produk terlebih dahulu sebelum digunakan.
  2. Tuang sunscreen sebanyak 2 jari dan aplikasikan merata ke seluruh wajah dan leher.
  3. Tunggu hingga meresap sebelum menggunakan makeup. 
  4. Aplikasikan sunscreen 15 menit sebelum keluar rumah.
  5. Reapply setiap 2-3 jam untuk perlindungan maksimal, terutama setelah berenang atau berkeringat.

Review jujur pengalaman menggunakan ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk untuk kulit berminyak

Jujur deh, sampai sekarang aku masih suka bingung sama penamaan produk skincare dari Jepang. Awalnya aku sempat panik, kepikiran, “Duh, jangan-jangan aku salah beli produk nih!” Soalnya aku pakai sunscreen ANESSA yang varian Milk. 

Tapi setelah aku cek lagi di website resminya dan baca keterangan produknya dengan teliti, ternyata pilihanku sudah tepat! ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk ini memang diformulasikan khusus untuk kulit berminyak. Eh, ternyata justru yang varian Gel itu formulanya untuk kulit kering. Jadi lega deh. 

Sunscreen ANESSA punya tekstur watery. Dari semua sunscreen yang pernah aku coba, sunscreen ini yang paling gampang di-blend. Bener-bener effortless! Bisa dibilang ini adalah sunscreen terbaik untuk kulit kombinasi dan berminyak karena formulanya non-comedogenic dan water based. Cepat meresap dan nggak lengket sama sekali. Feel-nya juga ringan di kulit, seperti nggak pakai produk apapun.  

Tekstur sunscreen cepat meresap dan tidak lengket di kulit
Tekstur sunscreen cepat meresap, tidak lengket, dan sangat ringan.

Oya, sunscreen ANESSA juga memberikan efek tone up setelah di-blend. Tapi lama kelamaan warnanya akan menyatu dengan kulit dan jadi bagus banget. Bikin kulit wajah terlihat lebih cerah. Finish-nya matte tapi tetap melembapkan kulit.

Hasil pemakaian sunscreen ANESSA pada kulit berminyak membuat glowing
Hasil pemakaian sunscreen ANESSA pada kulit berminyak. Memberikan efek tone up dan glowing.

Aku juga coba pakai makeup dan sesuai dengan klaim-nya, sunscreen ANESSA ini bisa jadi makeup primer. Makeup awet dan nempel. Nggak ada drama pilling ketika ditimpa dengan foundation ataupun bedak TWC. 

Karena teksturnya yang cair, aku bisa reapply dengan mudah dengan cara langsung ditimpa di atas makeup. Kalau mau lebih praktis, bisa pakai sunscreen spray dari ANESSA. 

IMPORTANT INFO!!

Ternyata takaran sunscreen yang teksturnya watery seperti ANESSA ini bukan dengan menggunakan 2 jari, melainkan dengan ukuran diameter lingkaran.

Untuk area wajah, tuang sunscreen seukuran 20 mm untuk setiap titik wajah, dahi, hidung, pipi, dan dagu.

Kalau ngomongin soal teknologi, Jepang emang nggak ada lawan sih. No debat. Begitu juga dengan teknologi pada sunscreen ANESSA. Selama menggunakan produk ini, nggak ada drama wajah sumuk atau makeup luntur. Diajak panas-panasan pun nggak bikin kulit gosong. Terbukti memang waterproof dan sweatproof. 

Wear Test sunscreen ANESSA di kulit berminyak
Wear Test sunscreen ANESSA di kulit berminyak

Karena sunscreen ANESSA ini punya Auto Veil Technology dan Auto Booster Technology yang membuat produk ini tahan air dan gesekan, tentu saja produk ini tidak wudhu friendly ya. Jadi untuk teman-teman muslim yang menggunakan sunscreen ini, sebaiknya dihapus dulu menggunakan cleansing oil/balm sebelum beribadah. 

Apakah ini jadi kekurangan dari sunscreen ANESSA? Ini kembali ke sudut pandang masing-masing. Kalau kalian tidak merasa repot harus bolak balik hapus dan reapply sunscreen, menurut aku hal ini tidak bisa dibilang sebagai kekurangan ya. 

Buat aku pribadi, ini bukan masalah besar. Yang penting, proteksi kulit tetap juara. Jadi, kalau harus repot sedikit buat menghapus sunscreen, ya nggak apa-apa. Toh, yang paling penting adalah wajah tetap terlindungi secara maksimal dari efek buruk sinar matahari. Iya, kan? 

Pendapat aku tentang sunscreen ANESSA

So what’s the final verdict? Ini dia pendapat jujur aku setelah menggunakan sunscreen ANESSA

Aku suka sunscreen ini karena: 

  • Teksturnya nyaman banget untuk kulit berminyak
  • Perlindungan maksimal SPF 50+ dan PA++++
  • Bisa dipakai untuk wajah dan badan
  • Ringan dan nggak lengket di kulit
  • Bagus untuk base makeup
  • Tahan air dan keringat
  • Ada efek tone up

Aku kurang suka sunscreen ini karena:

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 

Kesimpulan

Sesuai dengan namanya, ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk memang se-perfect itu! Sunscreen ini nggak cuma memberikan perlindungan maksimal dari sinar UVA dan UVB, tapi juga dilengkapi dengan formula skincare yang menjaga kesehatan kulitmu. Dengan teknologi mutakhir seperti Auto Veil dan Auto Booster, ANESSA benar-benar paham kebutuhan kulit yang sering terpapar sinar matahari, panas, dan keringat.

Sunscreen ANESSA melindungi kulit dari sinar matahari Auto Veil Technology dan Auto Booster Technology
Sunscreen ANESSA melindungi kulit dari sinar matahari Auto Veil Technology dan Auto Booster Technology

Nggak heran kalau sunscreen ini dinobatkan sebagai sunscreen nomor 1 di Asia dan Jepang selama 22 tahun berturut-turut. Prestasi ini jelas bukan tanpa alasan, mengingat kualitas dan inovasi yang selalu mereka bawa di setiap produknya.

Memang sih, harga ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk terbilang premium dibandingkan sunscreen lain. Tapi ingat, dengan harga tersebut, kamu nggak hanya mendapatkan perlindungan dari sinar matahari, melainkan juga manfaat skincare merawat kulit.

Kalau kamu masih bingung memilih sunscreen yang bisa diandalkan untuk semua aktivitas, dari yang santai sampai outdoor, ANESSA adalah jawabannya. Yuk, jangan ragu untuk cobain ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk dan buktiin sendiri perlindungannya di kulitmu.


July 4, 2025 0 comments
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Cosmetics

the raeviewer – a premier blog for skin care and cosmetics from an esthetician’s point of view: REVIEW

by Lina Clémence July 4, 2025
written by Lina Clémence




As I shared recently, I have moved back to San Diego and have been settling in. I have made it my mission since going back to esthetician school to discover the best in affordable skin care and beauty because I want you to know that beautiful skin is achievable regardless of budget. I have worked with dermatologists (professionally and personally) so here I’ll be weighing in on the budget buys that are actually worth the money. And yes, I purchased all these products myself




Sometimes people ask me if I use anything affordable and it makes me laugh. Not because I’m being snooty, but because I realized I should probably talk about my budget beauty staples more often! I’ve partnered with Walmart to share my go-to products, especially because they offer next day delivery so I don’t even have to go to the store. I keep my beauty stash stocked with these essentials and have repurchased them again and again::

  1. Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel-Cream was recommended by my dermatologist Dr. Chiu for use after she gave me the most intense (and most effective) chemical peel I’ve ever experienced. My skin was basically raw. Since it was so fresh, sensitive, fragile, and easily irritated, she told me I needed something gentle and simple, without any actives, to soothe and calm. I only like the Gel-Cream from the HydroBoost line because it feels the most comfortable on my skin. I still use this any time my skin is freaking out and also before going to the gym since it doesn’t clog my pores.   
  2. Differin Adapalene 0.01% Acne Treatment is a product that was once RX only, but now it’s available at Walmart for the lowest price I could find at $10.88 on rollback. My dermatologist had prescribed me a different big brand name adapalene topical treatment, and I paid an arm and a leg, even with my insurance. The Differen works almost as well for a fraction of the cost! Since my break outs are usually limited to period week, I tend to use the Differin as a spot treatment instead of all over the face. It works really well on wrinkles and fine lines as well, so it is a great multi-tasking skin care booster that you can treat as a serum.   
  3. Clean and Clear Night Relaxing Cleansing Wipes smell heavenly, a hint of lavender. I have been using these for two years, and my dermatologist gave me the green light to keep using them. No break outs, even when I fall asleep without rinsing after on those very rare drunken nights. These wipes are so thick and fully saturated but not dripping wet. I find a lot of wipes too dry or too greasy. These are just right! Although they’re oil free, they are able remove all traces of waterproof mascara without stinging my eyes.   

                                          

  4. Dove Body Wash Mousse with Rose Oil is something I decided to try because my friend Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book raved about it. I have extremely dry body skin so I normally stay away from foaming products, but I find this hydrating. The whipped formula is fun to use, quite plush and velvety which makes it a convenient double for shaving cream. It smells like a heavenly rose garden. This is, by far, the best affordable body cleansing product that I’ve ever tried! I plan to try the Argan Oil one next.      
  5. L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara is the best mascara under $10. Since it holds curl, lengthens, and doesn’t clump, I hoard this and use this on all my brides and bridesmaids. A lot of waterproof mascaras tend to flake off after drying, but this one does not. I test a lot of mascaras, but this is the best on the market for the price! I actually wear the regular (non-waterproof) on my lower lashes every day in the wintertime, but now that it’s summer I stick to the waterproof one.      
  6. Beautyblender Micro Mini Sponges were a surprise find! I had no idea that Walmart carried them, so I was thrilled to get these discounted. I think these tiny ones are underrated because they are versatile and much easier to keep clean than the full-sized one. I use them for concealer, foundation, and contour. Once I received my order and was sure the quality was the same as all the other Beautyblender minis in my collection, I ordered a few more sets to keep in bridal kit. They’re way easier to keep clean and I find the size, when damp, expands to the perfect size for smaller faces.    
  7. Eylure False Lashes are some of the very best in the business. I like all their natural styles and keep them well stocked in my kit, but their bigger layered styles suit my eye shape best. These Vegas Nay by Eylure Grand Glamour false eyelashes are only $4 which I think are quite a steal, making them my go-to pair for day to day wear. They’re light enough where I can wear them all day, but pretty enough where I can wear them alone or with eyeshadow.

The following products are new to my collection but they earned a two thumbs up: 

  1. L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Les Macarons Scented Liquid Lipsticks in Mon Caramel, Guava Crush, and Praline de Paris. I don’t recommend drinking or eating while wearing these, but I absolutely LOVE the way they look on. I slowly build three layers, using my middle finger to firmly press the formula into my lips as it dries down. It helps the color adhere to the lips, creating texture and volume in a way that looks natural (without having to draw outside the lip lines).
  2. L’Oreal Infallible Waterproof Full Coverage Concealer is something I keep in my bridal kit lately. I use it like a foundation, since it is waterproof, and blend it out thoroughly on top of the Hydroboost Gel-Cream in addition to a hydrating primer if necessary. It works really well as a cream contour as well. I am highly impressed by this concealer and use it on myself! It reminds me of Tarte’s Shape Tape, but it blends out just as well and doesn’t oxidize whatsoever and is significantly more affordable. I mix shades Vanilla and Cashew with my Micro Mini Sponges by Beautyblender to create a seamless blend.
  3. Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Makeup Set is raved about by everyone online, so I finally caved. I use them mostly for cream products like foundation, concealer, and highlighter blush. Normally I find that synthetic brushes are a pain to wash, but these were a breeze. I really enjoy the largest fluffy brush for layering on base products and the smaller powder brush for concealer or highlighter. The construction of the brushes is top notch for the price and will be purchasing more in the future!
  4. Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sheer Fantasy was a random splurge. Since I am an esthetician and touch people’s faces and skin, I no longer get acrylic nails and do my own manicures at home. I now prefer sheers since they are easy to apply and remove. Two thin coats of Sheer Fantasy exceeded all my expectations. The color is a slightly milky pale pink-nude, softening the appearance of my rather stark nail line. My nails look polished with minimal effort!
  5. Essie Gel Couture Platinum Grade Top Coat caught my eye while browsing through the gel polish colors. I wasn’t going to bother with the top coat since I change my polish every four days now to keep my nails short and pristine, but wow, it is an excellent dupe for the Chanel Gel Top Coat! I’m super impressed!! It dries quickly and it looks glossy without feeling thick or goopy. The glossy effect fades noticeably after four days, but I wash my hands constantly and use chalk when during my barbell work outs. 
  6. Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Peach is another beauty buy that was influenced by Sabrina. I am not sure I love this as a highlighter but it does make for a beautiful eyeshadow! There are some larger silver shimmer particles that make it pop on my lids. I put it on my lower lash lines in my Best of Budget Beauty Buys Video for a brightening effect.
  7. EcoTools Bristle Bath Brush is my latest bath time essential because it keeps my back acne at bay. The summer skin struggle is real! I really enjoy backless tops, but racebacks and sports bras tend to trap sweat and clog pores. The bristles of this brush are soft but exfoliate the skin well so I use it every day now. My shoulder mobility is somewhat limited from sleeping on my right shoulder, so the long handle of the brush helps me reach the areas of my upper back that are difficult to scrub with a handheld loofa.  

I am a creature of habit, but I keep an open mind and am always willing to try new products, especially skin care now that my complexion is calm and clear. I’d love to know any budget beauty buys that you can’t live without, so please let me know what you think I should try next in the comments!


Sponsored by Walmart. As always all opinions are my own.


July 4, 2025 0 comments
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Indonesian Beauty

Rainbowdorable by Auzola | Indonesian Beauty Blogger: (Bahasa Indonesia) Review YOU Amino Low pH Cleansing Mousse, Facial Wash Gentle Cocok untuk Kulit Sensitif!

by Lina Clémence July 2, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


Hey pretty babe!

     Back to basic, kali ini aku mau share facial wash yang lagi aku gunakan, yaitu YOU Amino Low pH Cleansing Mousse! Udah beberapa bulan belakangan ini aku lagi suka pakai facial wash yang bentuknya mousse/foam gini dan sekarang aku lagi pakai cleansing mousse dari YOU ini. Bagus ngga sih? Yuk baca dulu reviewnya buat kalian yang lagi nyari pembersih muka!

Blog Label: yellow label

Brand : YOU

Nama : Amino Low pH Cleansing Mousse

Isi: 150ml

Harga : sekitar IDR 115k 

Harga berdasarkan toko di Indonesia.    

     Pasti kalian udah familiar banget kan ya sama brand ini! YOU merupakan produk kecantikkan yang berdiri di tahun 2018. Saat ini YOU memiliki 3 produk kategori yaitu makeup, skincare dan daily care. YOU memiliki brand value yang memadukan bahan-bahan natural dan juga teknologi yang canggih untuk menghasilkan produk-produk yang berkualitas. 

     Aku sendiri udah beberapa kali menggunakan produk YOU, tapi yang pernah aku coba sebelumnya itu yang rangkaian makeupnya (bisa baca DI SINI untuk review lengkapnya), jadi baru kali ini nih nyobain skincare nya! 

KEMASAN & KEGUNAAN

      Kemasannya sendiri seperti ini:

review you amino low ph cleansing mousse
you cleansing mousse

     Kemasannya simple aja dengan dominan warna putih dan biru. Kemasannya dari plastik cukup tebal dan sturdy, serta memiliki bentuk pump. Pump nya cukup lancar jadi gampang mengeluarkan produk tanpa tersendat. Terus dilengkapi juga dengan lock untuk pumpnya, jadi kalau lagi dibawa-bawa ngga akan kepencet karena cukup secure.

Tentang Produk:

     Facial wash dengan tesktur mousse yang memiliki pH rendah, diperkaya dengan Japanse Amino Acid Complex, 5x Ceramides dan Centella Asiatica Korea untuk membersihkan kulit dengan lembut, menyegarkan dan melembabkan kulit.

  • Low pH Amino Acid Complex: diformulasi dengan 28% Amino Acid Complex yang berfungsi untuk membersihkan pori-pori secara mendalam dan efektif, serta tidak membuat kulit iritasi.
  • Mengandung 5x Ceramides (1,2,3,4,6) yang dapat memperkuat skin barrier yang dapat melindungi kulit dan juga mengunci kelembapan kulit.
  • Mengandung Centella Asiatica Korea yang memiliki formula extra soothing, yang membantu kulit lebih tenang, sehat dan fresh.
  • Tidak mengandung: alkohol, paraben, mineral oil, benzophenone, BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)/BHT, Phthalates, Triclosan, Formaldehyde, PABA, Homosalate, Fragrance, SLS/SLES.

     Sekilas tentang Amino Facial Wash; asam amino merupakan bahan dasar pembentuk protein di mana protein (elastin, collagen, etc) di dalam kulit mengandung rantai asam amino. Selain itu asam amino juga membantu melembabkan kulit karena merupakan faktor pelembab alami (Natural Moisturizing Factors / NMF). Terdapat sekitar 40% asam amino dalam NMF yang berperan penting untuk melembabkan kulit.

Bedanya dengan facial wash pada umumnya?

  • YOU Amino facial wash ini memiliki kandungan utama yaitu asam amino dan dengan pH yang mendekati kulit normal manusia (pH 4.5-5.5), membuat produk ini lebih lembut dan aman untuk kulit dibanding facial wash pada umumnya (yang biasanya memiliki angka pH lebih tinggi sekitar 7-8).
  • Amino facial wash lebih gentle pada kulit dibanding facial wash pada umumnya yang bisa memiliki lebih banyak kandungan alkaline (lebih basa) yang lama kelamaan bisa merusak barrier kulit.
  • Amino facial wash juga lebih lembut dan menutrisi sehingga mengurangi rasa tidak nyaman setelah pemakaian dibanding facial wash umumnya yang biasanya memiliki sensasi kering atau kulit terasa tertarik setelah penggunaan.
  • Lebih cocok dan aman untuk yang memiliki kulit sensitif atau berjerawat karena lebih gentle dan lembut formulanya bagi kulit, dibanding facial wash pada umumnya.

Ingredients:

Water, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Cocoate, Coconut Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dihydroxypropyl Ariginine HCl, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hyrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Ceramide NS/Ceramide NG, Ceramide AS, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP

Cara pakai:

Aplikasikan 1-2 pump pada wajah yang lembab. Pijat lembut dengan gerakan melingkar dan bilas hingga bersih. Gunakan setiap hari, pagi dan malam.

tekstur you amino low ph cleansing mousse

foam cleanser you amino low ph

     Teksturnya foam lembut gitu dan wangiii. Aku sampai mikir awalnya apa ada fragrancenya, ternyata kaya wangi natural citrus gitu yang seger banget! Suka deh aku sama wanginya, karena ngga lebay dihidung. Foamnya juga mudah banget diusap pada keseluruhan kulit, tinggal di usap-usap secara melingkar selama beberapa saat (wajah basah), terus bilas deh!

hasil penggunaan you amino low ph cleansing mouse

     Hasilnya setelah bilas bener-bener ngga ada rasa gak nyaman. Kulit rasanya lembut, segar, dan gak ada rasa ketariknya, lebih cerah juga a little (mungkin karena bersih jadi ada efek cerah). Aku suka deh sama facial wash yang ngga bikin ketarik gini, karena ngga bikin kulitku jadi berasa kering. Setelah cuci muka wajah langsung berasa cukup lembab, sampai aku cobain ngga pakai moisturizer pun kulit tetap berasa cukup aman, alias ngga kering (tapi baiknya tetap pakai moisturizer ya guyyyss, aku cuma trial tanpa tambahan skincare biar reviewnya makin detail aja hehe).

     Aku udah pakai ini lebih dari satu minggu dan itu pemakaiannya hampir setiap hari untuk pagi dan malam. Beberapa hari tidak aku mix sama skincare lainnya sama sekali buat liat performa facial washnya, dan so far aku satisfied karena ngga bikin kulit kering atau iritasi. Nyaman banget rasanya di kulitku yang oily dan acne prone. Bahkan aman di bagian hidungku yang agak lecet karena pilek. So far i really like it!

REVIEW KESELURUHAN

    Sejauh ini aku suka banget! Lembut banget rasanya dikulit ku dan sangat-sangat mengurangi iritasi kalau kulit lagi break out. Nyaman banget dikulit!

Pro:

+ foam lembut di kulit

+ walaupun tanpa fragrance tapi wangi natural citrus segar gitu

+ lembut banget rasanya dikulit

+ tidak mengiritasi kulitku

+ aman digunakan saat kulitku lagi break out

+ aman di kulit hidungku yang kering dan lecet saat pilek

+ Makainya cukup 1-2 pump juga udah cukup

+ tidak bikin kulit terasa kering atau ketarik

+ setelah dibilas kulit rasanya segar dan bersih

+ so far cocok sama kulitku yang oily dan acne prone

+ ada lock yang secure untuk pumpnya, jadi kalau dibawa-bawa ngga akan keluar isinya

Cons:

– belum ada yang mengganggu sih so far

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

—

     I really like this product! Like dari first impressionnya aku juga udah suka banget. Rasanya nyaman banget kulit setiap bilas pakai facial wash ini. Plus dia melembabkan juga, i guess cocok buat semua kulit. Buat kalian yang lagi nyari facial wash tipe foam, cobain ini deh, busanya juga lembut! Bisa beli DI SINI yaa! For more info kalian bisa cek langsung ke social medianya YOU.

     Sekarang jadi kepo deh sama skincare YOU yang lainnya hehe. Nanti kapan-kapan kalau aku cobain produk skincare lainnya, bakalan aku share lagi di blog! See you guys for now!

Love,

Auzola

 




July 2, 2025 0 comments
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Luxury Fashion

Authentic Amalfi Coast escape: Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano tour & review

by Lina Clémence July 1, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


Last Updated on June 30, 2025 by Eve Dawes

Where to stay in Praiano on the Amalfi Coast

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano on the Amalfi Coast was the hotel we ended up staying at after days of searching for the best hotel in Praiano. We’d narrowed the town down to Praiano for it’s size, how unspoiled it still is, the amazing views, sea access and small-town atmosphere. The best hotel is subjective as we all have different priorities, likes and dislikes. Let’s just say we are thorough when choosing! We even have spreadsheets with ratings, amenities and pricing, etc. We chose this hotel as it had great reviews, a water taxi service (charges apply) and we got a great deal booking on our Capital One credit card. Here’s my honest, unsponsored Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano review and hotel tour.

This article is not sponsored, we paid in full, but it does contain affiliate links.

Our room is the closest to the sea with the parasol up

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano Deluxe Sea View room

We booked the deluxe room, which is 215 sq ft and built literally on the rock. Which means the access is from the outside not the inside. A huge perk of this room Is it’s own private terrace. Be prepared for lots of steps! Even if you’re in the main building you’ll have to use them to get down to the pool or to the water taxi. To give you an idea, there were 58 stairs to our room from the elevator and breakfast, and there’s 181 steps from the last floor the elevator stops at down to the water.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano deluxe sea view room bedroom terrace
Hotel Villa Maria Pia amalfi coast fridge safe
authentic hotel amalfi coast Villa Maria Pia Praiano bathroom

Room amenities:

  • Toiletries
  • Bathrobe & slippers
  • Bidet, toilet, bath or shower (this room had a shower)
  • Towels
  • Hairdryer
  • Vanity mirror
  • Private terrace with loungers, table and 2 chairs and parasol
  • Air conditioning and heating
  • Safety deposit box
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Desk
  • Soundproofing (we didn’t find this effective)
  • Private exterior entrance
  • Flat-screen TV with Satellite channels
  • It says there is a mosquito net but we never found it
  • Telephone
  • Tea/Coffee maker
  • Minibar
  • Wake-up service
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Carbon monoxide detector

Is Hotel Villa Maria Pia, Praiano a good location

Location wise we thought Hotel Villa Maria Pia was ideal. We loved Praiano as it’s not as big and busy as some of the other Amalfi coast towns and it feels authentic. While still having several restaurants and bars like Il Pino, Costa Diva and Il Pirata in walking distance. Just don’t try to do them in heels. Most of the Amalfi Coast is not heel friendly!

There’s also a small mini mart a few minutes walk away. Just make a left out of the hotel and walk past the next hotel. As well as a couple of beach clubs. When they call them beach clubs on the Amalfi Coast, they use that term lightly. Most are rock slabs with water access with no beach in sight.

one fire beach club praiano
One Fire Beach Club Praiano

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano review | Pros and cons

Let’s start with the pros, which there are a lot of.

There is a small pool and I mean small. The private pool in our suite in the last hotel was bigger. The pool tended to be quieter in the morning and busier in the afternoon. So if you’re wanting to snag one of the 2 loungers, get there early. Otherwise, there are a couple of other areas to sunbathe and you can just walk down to the pool whenever you want to cool off.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia small pool
amalfi coast hotel pool Villa Maria Pia
pool Hotel Villa Maria Pia amalfi coast
sun loungers terrace Villa Maria Pia Amalfi Coast hotel

The views are stunning from pretty much everywhere at Hotel Villa Maria Pia in Praiano. Whether that’s on the breakfast terrace, sunbathing terrace, the pool or your room if you book a sea view room.

best amalfi coast hotel outdoor gym

They were installing a brand new outside gym while we were there. This is a cool feature as long as you don’t mind getting a good sweat on!

Hotel Villa Maria Pia outdoor gym
Book Villa Maria Pia hotel

Hotel Villa Maria Pia, Praiano has it’s own dock for a convenient water taxi pick up and for jumping off into sea to swim to the cave or cool off. Just be prepared for all of those steps down and back up! Unfortunately there is no other way down besides the stairs and no wheelchair access. When looking at Amalfi Coast hotels, this is something definitely worth taking into account as a lot are like this.

I’m a cat lover so the cats were a big plus, and they’re super cute and friendly. The hotel offers a free shuttle when it’s available around Praiano. They also managed to get us good table reservations at the local restaurants.

cat Hotel Villa Maria Pia amalfi coast

The hotel and our room was kept spotless. Lastly, it seems like such a small thing but the pegs and clothes line to dry your handwashing, swimwear and towels etc was a thoughtful and useful touch.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano | The cons 

There’s lots of positives and reasons to choose this hotel and I hate to be negative but when you’re spending your hard earned money I have to be honest.

bar Villa Maria Pia Amalfi Coast hotel

The AC didn’t work the 1st day and half of the 2nd day and it was 26 degrees in the room according to the AC unit. Now things break, that wasn’t the issue, it was how it was resolved. To cut a long story short, we had to ask 3 times over 2 days to get it fixed as messages weren’t getting passed on between them. The response we got wasn’t sorry, but that we were lucky it wasn’t July and 32 degrees! It finally got fixed but they also turned the AC off everyday in our room when they came to clean. So when we came back it was always over 26 degrees and we left the card in the slot specifically so it didn’t go off.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia steps

There are other loungers on other decks but there are only 2 by the pool and like I said there’s a lot of steps. So if you have a leg injury or need an ADA compliant hotel, I don’t think Hotel Villa Maria Pia is going to be ideal for you.

I’m not sure what the other room types are like but the Deluxe Sea View rooms say they are soundproofed but they are loud as they’re tiled. We could hear the people dragging furniture around and walking over the floor above and next door. So definitely bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia, Praiano review | Breakfast and dining

I don’t know if we were just early but there was no service or coffee offered at breakfast on any of the mornings. We always had to go and find someone to ask. There was a lack of warm service in general, besides a couple of exceptions like the friendly man working on installing the gym and one of the young men in the day at the bar.

bar breakfast Hotel Villa Maria Pia praiano

It’s a basic continental breakfast that’s offered. Which includes cereal, fresh pastries and bread, cheeses, meats, yogurt, boiled eggs, fruit and juices. It’s nothing special but it does the job and the views!!! I could stare at them for hours.

continental breakfast Hotel Villa Maria Pia amalfi coast

They don’t have a restaurant for dinner but there are a few fabulous restaurants in walking distance that we loved.

Dinner in Praiano

I’ll do a separate, more in depth article on where to eat lunch and dinner but just quickly:

See Also

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You need to take a taxi or the hotel shuttle to Il Pino in Praiano but it’s a fun spot with friendly staff. It’s inside so they don’t have the best views unless you snag one of the tables by the windows. Be sure to save room for the Ferrero Rocher dessert as that was the best dessert we had all vacation.

Costa Diva is walking distance and another friendly scenic spot with fabulous views under lemon vines. They’re also open for lunch.

Il Pirata is a beautiful restaurant on the water that’s scenic, romantic and has great food. Order the sesame crusted Ahi tuna, this was outstanding.

Water taxis VS taxis

My advice is to book water taxis for the day or when you’re casual and coming back in good time, and to book a taxi for when you’re dressier, going out for dinner or coming back a bit later. Because yes the water taxi is quick, cheaper (50 Euro to Positano vs 70 Euro for a taxi), scenic and easy. However, you’ll flash if you’re wearing a dress or skirt and it will mess up your hair as it’s windy when you’re sailing along. There is also no shade and make sure you have shoes that won’t fall off when you’re getting on and off the boat.

water taxi amalfi coast

We also struggled to get a water taxi back to the hotel. The hotel had told us to call when we were done and they’d be there in 5 minutes. However, when we tried calling at 8:45pm no one answered so we had to find a taxi and pay more. It’s much easier to book a taxi in advance than to find one and taxis are very expensive. 

water taxi praiano positano

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano, Amalfi Coast review & tour

Join me for a review and tour Hotel Villa Maria Pia in Praiano on the Amalfi Coast! This authentic Italian hotel offers breathtaking waterfront views, a cozy small pool, and true Amalfi charm. In this video, I give you an honest review and a full hotel tour, sharing what it’s really like to stay at one of the most authentic hotels on the Amalfi Coast.

Hotel Villa Maria Pia Praiano review

Tips for staying in Praiano and getting around the Amalfi Coast

You really want to stay in the town you’re staying in as much as possible or book tours. As water taxis and taxis will add up quickly and we don’t recommend hiring a car and trying to drive here. The roads are very narrow, windy and there is very limited parking. If you do want to explore, I’d recommend hiring a driver for the day like we did.

Pack or buy mosquito repellant as there are quite a lot of mosquitoes.

Don’t bother packing heels unless you’re not planning on leaving your hotel or resort. There’s lots of steps and cobblestones. I wore my slide sandals all vacation. Even my espadrilles wedges only got worn once.

Book Hotel Villa Maria Pia

Overall, I’d still recommend this hotel in Praiano as it is a great location, they have their own dock for water taxis and swimming, it’s very clean, the shuttle around Praiano is convenient and the views are beautiful.


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July 1, 2025 0 comments
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THE SEAFOOD GUY NOTTINGHAM REVIEW — Nancy Whittington-Coates
Plus Size Fashion

THE SEAFOOD GUY NOTTINGHAM REVIEW — Nancy Whittington-Coates

by Lina Clémence July 1, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


This meal was gifted in exchange for my review (which is always honest and as unbiased as my brain allows)

Food TV has always been a huge part of my life, from watching the old BBC food and wine shows with my parents to the formative experience of stumbling across Nigella Bites when I was twelve years old and having my life changed forever. A lot has changed in tv cookery since then, but my delight in sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine watching people whip up dishes that get me salivating sure hasn’t – it’s just that now a lot of the content I consume is people travelling the world trying regional things I’ve never seen before.

One of the places that I will never skip a video on is Hong Kong, with such an interesting and diverse range of cultures in the region you get such variety, especially in the street food scene. Being so different to here in the UK where street stalls are pretty rarely seen other than at special events, having a whole world of different super quick food options on my doorstep seems like a bit of a dream. That’s why I was so thrilled to hear about The Seafood Guy. 

When it first opened in my home town of Loughborough under the name 1998 Cafe, I had been intrigued but never ended up going, partly out of nerves as the content I saw online was in Chinese and I didn’t want to roll in and be a nightmare of a customer for the staff, needing them to guide me through every step of the order. Well, after speaking to Jonny the owner, I now understand this completely – in a rare and I feel very clever move, they purposefully started out this way so they could fine tune making their dishes authentically in a new country with access to different produce and also get used to how the English dine out – which as it turns out is more different from Hong Kong than I ever understood. We’re not really used to vast menus here and we expect a different kind of service. We also tend to drink alcohol with our meals which is a big no-no in China where you can’t have even a drop of booze before driving a car.

After a few years they decided to make the move to Nottingham to a bigger space where they now reside on Castle Boulevard, and having made the changes they felt were needed are promoting to locals like me – and let me tell you, we are very lucky to have them here!

We arrived on a soggy Friday night and were very lucky to get a parking space just across the road, kicking the piles of Autumn leaves aside as we headed towards the welcoming black and yellow exterior. As you walk in you enter the shop part of the business – shelves of sake and snacks and ingredients are in front of you as well as racks of sparkling mementos, jewellery and other goodies. But I’ll be back to peruse those later. We’re welcomed by one of the team and taken up a little step and around a corner to our table. The main focal point is a faux plant wall with a bright neon sign, showering you in light as you sit and stare around at the other artwork on the walls and the books along the back of the banquettes. 

Menus are brought to us and this is when we meet Jonny, the very lovely owner who runs the place with his family. In fact, there are children sat doing homework and playing Minecraft at a table by the waiters station and it gives the place a cosy, homely feel. Jonny guides us through the menu pointing out their star dishes, the things you really don’t tend to see anywhere else, and explains that the tv screen in the corner is showing videos by creators that came from China over to the UK to visit them to showcase their team of chefs. It’s an all star cast apparently, with famous cooks from the different regions of Hong Kong who have brought with them the quintessential dishes from their area. For example the omelette is from Kowloon Bay and the Hong Kong French Toast originated in the cha chaan tengs found in the inner city during the British colonial era. Both of these things I’m ecstatic to see on offer after watching many a YouTuber expound about their deliciousness. 

We grab a bottle of beer to sip while choosing what to order, which is a feat even after they’ve shrunk the menu down as everything sounds like a blooming delight, and Jonny takes our order before bringing over a bottle of sake for us to try with him. They’ve recently expanded their alcohol offering in the shop and they do indeed have a great array of bottles to try, a lot of which I’ve never seen before despite my haunting Asian supermarkets and restaurants for years. We try a junmai sake made from rice that has been polished down to 40% of its original size, done to ensure correct fermentation and change the flavour of the final drink. It’s absolutely delicious, soft and super smooth on your tongue but with the familiar warmth and strength of a good sake. What a treat!

Our first order arrives and it’s the one I’ve been waiting for – the fried oyster omelette. Each one has fifteen oysters and is deep fried in special pans to create an delightful crispy exterior and ethereally fluffy inside. Honestly, this is on my list as one of the best bites in the city right now – a real must try. There are other additions in there with the oysters like green onion, but when you get a bit with a whole oyster boy is it good – not overcooked at all, giving it a delicate lovely chew and filling your mouth with salt and sweet. 

On the side are little dishes of Hong Kong style sriracha and fish sauce to add heat and more salt if you wish. I do wish, and they make each bite even more heavenly. This is a big boy dish too – the omelette itself about the size of a good dinner plate – but despite this it disappears quickly as it’s so light and incredibly moreish. 

Next is my second most anticipated plate, the Hong Kong style french toast. It looks just stunning glistening with melted butter and honey and Jonny shows us the proper way to eat it – grab a knife and poke lots of holes so the butter soaks into the bread even more. My husband later said he thought I was a bit mad for ordering this as a starter, but he soon changed his tune when he tasted it. Fluffy yet crispy bread filled with peanut butter and topped with buttery honey? What’s not to like?! It was actually a great thing to have on the side for the whole meal as shockingly it wasn’t overly sweet – a lovely foil to the umami of the other plates. Another definite must try!

Our final starter was the Japanese street food, takoyaki. These are crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside balls of tender dough, filled with a piece of octopus and topped with mayo, savoury bulldog sauce and bonito flakes – sometimes other toppings too. I love a takoyaki and these were no exception, perfectly cooked and a real journey of flavours as you eat one and taste the different sauces intermingled with a smokey fishy hit from the bonito calmed by the mellow soft batter.

We were also brought a small portion of rice to try (which I was thrilled about as a self confessed rice fiend) and it really was wonderful. A Japanese variety that they chose carefully, cooked perfectly so it’s a little sticky while still allowing you to see and enjoy the texture of each grain. Beautiful stuff.

The first main dish to arrive was the beef and potatoes in honey pepper sauce. This was both familiar but different – reminiscent of the stir fried beef dishes you are used to but undoubtedly elevated with excellent quality meat and a superbly balanced sauce. The potatoes were tender, the peppers left a little crisp and the meat was in satisfying sized chunks that fell apart as you ate them. Again what could have been an overly sweet dish wasn’t, with the honey perfectly complemented by big chunks of black pepper and that salty note that only soy sauce brings. A bite of this with some of the glorious rice was indeed a perfect mouthful of food.

And then my prawns arrived, golden and glistening. Batter and fried in their shells (minus heads and legs!) then tossed in a salted egg yolk butter. Salted egg yolk – another flavour I’d been desperate to try for myself and one I’ll definitely go back for. These babies were just, well, wonderful. 

I’m sure we’ve all experienced the disappointment of a deep fried prawn that has just lost all of its tenderness, but these were absolutely not that. Huge, juicy prawns in a light batter, so satisfying to bite through with the cooked thin shell that almost shattered before your teeth hit the tender meat. Your mouth is filled with the sweet prawny juice and then the salted egg hits and takes it to another level. Use some rice to mop up the buttery eggy sauce that’s left and then basque in the glow of a fabulous meal.

We were sadly too full for dessert (although I’ll be back for black sesame ice cream soon for sure) but I’m never too full for a browse of a food shop and came away with a nice little selection of ingredients, a new sake to try and some intensely cute stocking fillers for my friends. A good dinner and a chance to shop? What an absolute dream.

If you’re on the lookout for a new dining experience in Nottingham I think The Seafood Guy really is the one right now. Bring some friends, drink some beers, fill your belly and have a wonderful evening!

The Seafood Guy
1 Castle Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 1FE

Open from Thursday to Monday from midday to 9pm (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday)

xxx




July 1, 2025 0 comments
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Asian Beauty

Summer edition Wishtrend review | Stay Pretty and be Happy

by Lina Clémence July 1, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


Hi all,

Hope you are all enjoying the summertime right now!

Let me share some products I was able to try and test these past few months which I received from Wishtrend!

Are you curious?

So as usual, Wishtrend is super generous with their longtime Wishtrenders and I was able to receive 5 products for review.

So let’s start the reviews!

Dear Klairs Daily comfort hand sanitizer gel

This product came out after Covid so it makes sense why Klairs released this type of product.

It might seem odd since they are more a  skincare oriented brand, but they did expand in offering body care and I’m glad they did.

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I like that this comes in a pump bottle so it’s easy and hygienic to use.

I left this close to the entrance so I use it when I come home, or each time I feel the need to clean my hands a bit.

During Covid, it became a habit for people to use hand sanitizer. Some were horrible and left this sticky feeling or just smelled so strong that it made me sneeze.

Luckily this hand sanitizer is one of the good ones!

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It’s unscented and doesn’t have that strong alcohol scent to it.

The texture is like jelly and watery at the same time, it’s easy to spread on your hands to cleansd them. The best part is that there is no sticky finish at the end and it leaves your hands so soft to the touch.

I sometimes skip my hand cream and just use this when I want my hands to be soft!

Even if Covid is over,knocks on wood, it is still important to keep your hands clean!

This is a great hand sanitizer if you are looking for one!

Dear Klairs Daily Comfort Hand Cream

So this one came out around the same time as the hand sanitizer.

It’s a really nice complementary product to use after the hand sanitizer!

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This comes in the same type of pump bottle but this one is darker so you can differentiate the products.

This hand cream feels quite thick and rich but once you start applying it, it’s not greasy and just like the hand sanitizer it’s not sticky after.

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This is a big bottle and honestly I just skip this since the hand sanitizer is really nice on the hands .

I can’t carry this around, but there is a smaller format of this hand cream which is good.

This is unscented so it’s great for anyone just looking for a basic hand cream with a non greasy and sticky finish.

This is also a good product, but I just really like their hand sanitizer more.

Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Charging Serum

This was Klairs answer to provide a more stable Vitamin C based serum.

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As per the bottle this is a vitamin c derivative serum so this is more stable than a vitamin c serum only.

This comes in a pump bottle and the bottle is completely opaque to protect the product.

The product itself feels a bit oily but it doesn’t feel oily once you start applying it.

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It glides easily on the skin so it’s easy to use. I am still a bit weary of using vitamin c product so I didn’t use this regularly and mostly used it at night.

But when I used this , thankfully my skin did not react badly. There was no warm/ burning feeling.

My skin did not seem to be more sensitive after using this.

This should help in getting brighter skin, but I didn’t see much change since I didn’t use it too regularly.

By Wishtrend Blue Oasis Aloe Hydrating serum

This is a renewed version of the serum. The packaging is different as it follows the same line as other By Wishtrend serums .

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Just like the old version this was a nice serum to use to give an extra layer of hydration to your skin.

I think this is still perfect to use during warmer days. It’s not heavy, it feels watery and preps your skin for the next step.

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I do feel this has a bit more body as it’s less watery than before but it still slides on the skin nicely.

There really isn’t much to say for this product, it just do what it promises just like it’s name.

So if you are looking for a no fuss serum, this could be for you!

By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Milky Foaming Wash

This is another version of their enzyme wash but this is more for people with sensitive skin.

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This is great to use to for a gentle exfoliation.

If you don’t like using powder enzyme, this is a great alternative as it already comes in a liquid version.

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A pump to 2 is enough for your whole face. It looks a bit like cream, you then massage it and add water to make it lather.

Your skin will feel nice and soft afterwards. But like any exfoliator, you shouldn’t use it everyday.

This is indeed not drying after use, which is great!

I still do prefer the powder enzyme as I like the feeling of the powder scrubbing on my skin.

This version is more practical though as you don’t have powder flying around, making you sneeze!

Conclusion

This was another great set of products to try. The one I was more surprised and loved to use was the hand sanitizer.

I just love how soft and clean my hands are after using it.

The blue oasis aloe hydrating serum is still nice to use during summer, so it’s still a winner to me!

You can get these products on Wishtrend and use my code  CFA553EA for a discount.

Thank you Wishtrend for this opportunity!


July 1, 2025 0 comments
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British Beauty

The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself This Year? An End of Year Review…

by Lina Clémence June 30, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


This is a guest post written by Iti Malken, Self-Development Expert and the Creator of Level Up by Iti. 

Often at this time of year you are likely to be thinking about what the new year will bring and you might find that you are already filling up your calendar with events and plans. But before you start focusing on 2023, it’s important to close out the old year with intention. 

Iti Malken self-development expert and the creator of the Level Up by Iti method says, “By the end of the year, we can forget a lot that happened. We might think that the year didn’t go so well. However, after writing up our annual review, we soon realise that we had many more successes than we originally remembered”.

Sitting down to do an annual review takes time, patience, and can feel a little uncomfortable and confronting. Why spend time doing this when you could be watching that festive Netflix movie you might ask? 

Reflecting on the year is a powerful way to understand the patterns of your life and if you are moving in circles. This allows you to find new and better ways over the usual pathways and take note of the wins and losses of your life. Celebrate the wins and be compassionate with the things that did not go that well. What is important here: the clarity you get is the basis to new ideas and positive change.

It’s actually the perfect antidote to the Christmas chaos giving you some much-needed time to reflect and give you a head start on the year ahead, your goals and vision.

Iti Malken, a self-development expert, says “Your annual review really is the best gift you can give yourself at the end of each year and will give you strong foundations upon which to set and achieve your goals. For me it has become an essential part of my own personal development journey and can be even more powerful than creating a vision board. 

Overview

Often, we are so focused on what our new year goals are we forget to appreciate the achievements from the last 12 months. With 2023 just around the corner, now is a great time to pause and reflect on the past twelve months by writing your end of year personal review. 

This exercise will help to set you up for success in January by reflecting on what you achieved during the year, what obstacles you faced and overcame and most importantly the lessons you learnt. Think of it as taking an honest look at the year and what went well, your achievements and the things that perhaps didn’t go so well.

An annual review isn’t easy. But when you commit to taking an honest look at your year— your highs, your lows, your actions, your mindset — you shift your life’s trajectory.

The Things You Will Need To Do Your Review

Plan around two hours of uninterrupted time where you can be on your own. Think of it as a mini retreat and create a comfortable environment where you can relax. You can use a desk or spread out on the floor. Grab a cup of tea, light a candle or do whatever you need to feel nourished and get the creativity flowing. Try to turn your phone and notifications off. 

You will need some large blank sheets of paper and pens and ideally your journals, notebooks and diaries from the year so you can review everything. If you use the notes app on your phone and you tend to store things digitally then you can use your phone, just make sure it is in flight mode for part one.

How To Get started

You can review your year in a way that feels good to you and you can review it based on your own criteria. You might want to do a straight review of the goals you set in 2022. Which ones did you meet and which ones are you perhaps rolling over into 2023?

You might want to go back through your old journals and notebooks from the year and do a month-by-month review. Remember there isn’t just one way of doing this and if you personalise the process you are more likely to enjoy it and then it can become a yearly ritual that you begin to look forward to. 

The simplest strategy is to split the review into two sections. You will find a series of questions below which will give you both a snapshot of where you are right now and also dig deeper into the different areas of life and shine a light on where you might want to make changes.

Once you have got settled in your space with everything you need you can do a short 10-minute meditation to come into the present moment.

Then take some time to free-write in your journal. How are you feeling right now? What emotions are coming up? Don’t judge what you are writing – it might just be keywords that are coming up or even ideas. There is no judgement.

Now it’s time to start jotting down the answers to some questions that will help you to organise your thoughts and feelings. Again, there is no right or wrong way to do this. Just allow yourself to answer them freely and without judgement. Some might feel more relevant than others.

General Review Questions

What were your key highlights of the year?

What are you most proud of?

What went well? What didn’t go well?

What was the biggest lesson (or lessons) you learned this year?

What new skills did you learn this year?

What was most challenging for you, and how did it make you feel?

What were your three biggest work accomplishments? What contributed to them?

Are there any other goals apart from the work you achieved that you are proud of?

Have you developed any healthy habits you want to keep?

What was the best decision you made all year? What did you learn from it?

People And Relationships

How has your relationship with yourself changed this year?

Which people in your life are you most grateful for?

Which person has inspired you the most this year and how? 

Which person had the biggest negative impact on your life? Why?

What new relationships enhanced your life? Who? How?

The Year Ahead 

Now you have reflected on the past 12 months, it’s time to start thinking ahead to 2023. You should now have clarity on what you want to work and your aspirations so you can start the strategic planning part.

To get started, answer the following questions 

What would a dream year look like for you in 2023?

What does success in 2023 mean for you?

What three big goals will you accomplish next year?

How do your goals for 2023 translate into actionable habits and processes?

What habits, behaviours, or attitudes will you need to develop or adopt next year?

What habits and behaviours do you need to change?

Try to dig deeper into the questions and answer them fully, really identifying your why and the reason behind wanting to achieve each goal.

Put Your Dreams Into Actionable Goals 

You’ve already mastered the deep work of your annual review. What’s left is a plan that helps you move towards your desired 2023 outcome.

Once you’ve broken down your dreams into actionable processes, summarise your reflections on one sheet. This summary will be your foundation for 2023. Place it somewhere where you can see it each day like on a mirror.

The recommendation with this would be to break each goal down into manageable steps with each goal having a monthly progress check in. In order to keep the momentum going it’s crucial to check in on where you are at so that any problems or red flags can be dealt with. 

For best results do this review every 3 months or so, review previously set goals and add new ones if needed.

Setting Yourself Up For Success 

Remember that once you have put your goal setting in place and you have a clear roadmap to navigate you that you need to let go of your vision. Remember you can only control so much of the process and that is your mindset and input. There will of course be some bumps in the road and you will need to course correct, or perhaps you decide that something you previously planned out you are no longer in alignment with. The only thing you need to focus on at any given time is the next tangible step.

I hope these questions help you as you draw up goals for the new year, and I also hope they help you to honour yourself and your achievements. 




June 30, 2025 0 comments
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Canadian Beauty

MERIT Beauty Review: The 7 Best Products to Try (And What Might Not Work for You)

by Lina Clémence June 29, 2025
written by Lina Clémence


For some people, makeup is all about creativity and self-expression. For others, it’s about looking polished with as little effort—and as few products—as possible.

If you fall into the second camp, MERIT Beauty might be your perfect match.

This minimalist makeup brand aims to streamline your routine with a tight edit of goof-proof essentials. The focus is on sheer finishes, wearable shades and sleek packaging, all designed for getting ready in five minutes or less.

But does less really mean more? I put the line to the test to find out. Keep reading for the best MERIT products to try—and the ones that might not be for everyone.


Love beauty? Subscribe now to get the latest reviews and routines delivered straight to your inbox!


Brand Overview

Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo

MERIT Beauty is a minimalist makeup brand that promises to simplify your daily routine with clean, easy-to-use essentials.

How the Brand Started

MERIT was founded in 2021 by Katherine Power, a serial entrepreneur who also created the skincare line Versed, the organic wine brand Avaline, and the editorial website Who What Wear. 

It all started when an Instagram post about her five-minute makeup routine went viral. She soon realized there was a gap in the market for a simple but luxurious makeup line that would enhance natural beauty without requiring too many products or steps.

“I realized there were many people just like me—busy individuals who want to look polished and pulled together in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee,” she told Forbes. “I am not a makeup artist. I haven’t spent hours consuming beauty how-tos on YouTube, but I like makeup, and I want to enjoy it through a ‘less is more’ approach.”1

What They Stand For

MERIT’s approach is modern minimalism: a small, tightly edited collection of makeup staples designed to be intuitive, buildable, and (as they put it) “impossible to mess up.” Every product is meant to streamline your routine, whether you’re after a five-minute face or a soft, polished look that still lets your skin show through.

Inside the Formulas

MERIT falls into the clean beauty category, with EU-compliant formulas that are vegan, cruelty-free and Sephora Clean. Products include both natural and synthetic ingredients, with a focus on avoiding known irritants and potentially harmful compounds. The brand’s internal blacklist includes parabens, artificial fragrance and over 1,300 other ingredients. 

They’ve also teamed up with celebrity facialist Biba de Sousa on several complexion products, incorporating her own list of 73 additional ingredients to avoid—many of which are technically clean but potentially inflammatory or pore-clogging.

The Best MERIT Beauty Products

MERIT Flush Balm Cheek Color

MERIT

MERIT Flush Balm Cheek Color is the brand’s number two bestseller, and for good reason. This is a cream blush with a lightweight, easy-to-blend texture and satin finish.

The dome shape is a big part of its appeal, because you don’t have to use a brush—you can swipe it directly onto your skin and then blend it out with your fingers. (Fun fact: Guerlain used to have a dome-shaped blush exactly like this back in the day, but it got discontinued. Big mistake. Huge! 😂)

Another reason you’ll love this blush is because of the formula: a sheer balm. It melts into your skin to give you a transparent veil of colour that looks like a realistic flush. It’s buildable, but never cakey. 

Just be aware that it is not acne-safe. Otherwise, they nailed this formula!

The range of 13 shades includes neutrals, brights and classic pinks. My top pick and one of the most versatile shades is Beverly Hills, a soft peachy pink.

View the original article to see embedded media.

MERIT Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick

MERIT

Traditional lipstick can look and feel heavy, but not MERIT Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick. This product is designed to give you a slick of lightweight colour that doesn’t even feel like anything is on your lips.

I’ve tried literally hundreds of lipsticks over the years as a beauty editor, and I have to say—this one lives up to its claims. It’s super comfy, non-drying and not too sheer or opaque. It feels like a lip balm but wears almost like a soft, creamy stain. The formula reminds me a bit of Glossier Generation G, but not quite as sheer or blurred.

There are 17 shades to choose from, divided into nine satins and eight mattes. Most of the colours are very “your lips, only better” (think subtle pinks and browns). So far, my favourite is Millennial, the classic pink. It’s so pretty!

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MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara

MERIT

If you hate mascara that smudges (and don’t we all?), MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara is for you. This is a tubing mascara that adds length, lift and definition, but won’t ever give you raccoon eyes.

If you’re not familiar with tubing formulas, they wrap each lash in a thin “tube” of polymers instead of just pigment—which means they don’t smudge and remove easily with just water. No makeup remover required!

I consider myself a tubing mascara connoisseur, and this formula is truly one of my all-time favourites. It gives surprisingly good volume and definition, doesn’t clump, and stays put all day long. 

It comes in just the one shade, Perfect Black… which is a fitting name for the perfect mascara. I said what I said!

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MERIT Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade

MERIT

For adding colour, shape and volume to your brows, MERIT Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade is one of the best products I’ve found. Yes, I like this tinted brow gel better than Boy Brow and all the rest.

To be clear, it’s not for the person who needs strong hold from their brow gel. (That’s me and I usually just use Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter, which is clear, to shape my brows.) But if you’re someone with sparse brows that lack definition, this product is magic. 

All you do is swipe it back and forth using a “windshield wiper” technique, and it gives you the most gorgeous, fluffy, defined-looking brows. The results are so good, most people probably won’t even need to use a brow pencil with it. It never deposits clumps, and it leaves your brows soft instead of crunchy.

There are four natural-looking shades (I wear Taupe). Since my brows are already full, this is something I’d reach for on a night out to make them even bolder.

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MERIT Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil

MERIT

Lip oil has basically replaced lip gloss, and MERIT Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil is one of the best versions to try. Think of it as a hybrid between a gloss and a balm, with sheer colour, high shine, and a moisturizing feel.

I have no notes on the formula—it’s very soft and buttery, without any greasy or sticky feeling. It doesn’t migrate off my lips, and stays put for a decent amount of time (a few hours, unless you have something to eat or drink). 

I’m also pleasantly surprised by how much pigment you get from most of the shades. There are 12 in all, including classic glossy finishes, pearly shimmers, and sheers with pH-adjusting pigments. My favourites are Marrakech, a universally flattering soft peach, and Twin Set, a mauve.

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MERIT Signature Lip Liner Sheer Liner

MERIT

MERIT Signature Lip Liner Sheer Liner is one of the newest products in the line, and it’s a winner. This is an extremely hydrating, buildable lip pencil that you can use to define your lips or fill them in all-over.

So it’s just another lip liner? Well, no. It glides on far more easily and smoothly, with a creamy, lightweight gel texture that looks softer and more natural on the edges of your lips. The trade-off is that it’s not as long-lasting as waxier lip liners, but personally I’m okay with that. 

There are eight shades, and just like the lip colours, they’re all quite neutral and designed to match natural lip tones. For me, Coupe (cool pink) is perfection. It’s so pretty that I don’t want to wear any other lip liners now!

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MERIT Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil

MERIT

When it comes to brow pencils, you want something with a tiny tip that can draw hair-like strokes. MERIT Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil does just that. 

This is a soft gel formula—softer than most—so it’s quick and easy to fill in any gaps in your brows without tugging or pulling. But it sets quickly, so you also don’t need to worry about it smearing on you. It’s very similar to the Dior Brow Styler, a longtime favourite of mine… but this is cheaper!

This one comes in four shades, which match the Brow 1990 brow gel shades. (I wear Taupe in both.)

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What Might Not Work for Everyone

MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

MERIT

MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick is the brand’s bestseller—a two-in-one foundation and concealer stick that gives you light-to-medium coverage.

The reason I say this won’t work for everyone is because it’s not designed to be used all over the face, like a liquid foundation. It’s a product you swipe on only where you need it—like around your nose and eye area—and then blend out with your fingers or a brush. Blending well is key, because I’ve found that even with a light application, it has the tendency to look a bit cakey up-close (more so than Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick, the closest “dupe”).

The other caution is if you have acne-prone skin. It contains some ingredients that could clog pores (synthetic wax and sorbitan isostearate), especially if you’re applying it to areas like the nose, forehead and chin. 

But if those aren’t dealbreakers for you, it’s a great product—and ideal to keep in your handbag for on-the-go touchups. I love having a “one and done” complexion stick, and the coverage level is excellent. 

View the original article to see embedded media.

MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer

MERIT

MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer is a sheer, creamy bronzer in stick form, designed for a natural, sun-kissed effect. You can also use it as a subtle contour.

I gave this a pass for two reasons. One, it contains some potential pore-cloggers, just like the foundation stick. 

The other problem is that the lighter shades, Quince and Clay, are way too orange. If you have cool undertones, it’s just not going to work. Now, obviously I get that bronzer by nature is warm-toned. But here’s the secret: It also needs to have some red pigment to look realistic. (The only brand I know that understands this is RMS Beauty—try the Buriti Bronzer and you’ll see what I mean.)

The three darker shades do appear more balanced, so if you have a medium to deep skin tone, this could work for you. 

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MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm

MERIT

MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm is an oil-based highlighter that gives your skin a glow without looking sparkly or glittery. 

This may not be the best choice for acne-prone skin, since it’s high in olive oil, which can clog pores.

Personally, I prefer a more dewy, glassy finish than you can get with this highlighter. Compared to RMS Beauty Living Luminizer and Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlighter Stick, it has a denser concentration of shimmer particles, so the effect isn’t as natural-looking. The four shades all lean warm, too—even the lightest one, Champagne, is more golden than pearly.

Still, it’s very subtle, so most skin tones should be able to make it work. I also appreciate the stick format, which makes it quick and easy to apply. You don’t need a brush; you just swipe it on and blend it out with your fingers.

One more reason you might want to try this product: It has a better price point than RMS Beauty and Westman Atelier.

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MERIT Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color

MERIT

MERIT Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color is a cream-to-powder eyeshadow with a matte finish. Since it’s sheer but buildable, you can either apply it with your fingers or an eyeshadow brush for more precision.

I didn’t end up trying this product because the shades and texture are not my jam. How crazy is it that I couldn’t see a single shade that I thought could work for me? There are eight in all—four neutrals and four “statement” colours—but everything is either too warm, too dark or too pink for me.

I’m also not crazy about the matte finish. I think a bit of shimmer and dewiness is generally more flattering (not to mention more forgiving when you’re applying with your fingers). I’d probably be more on board if these came in packaging like ILIA’s Liquid Powder Eye Tints, which makes the application easier to control.

But that’s just my personal preference. If you’re a matte girlie, and the colours are in your wheelhouse, this could be worth a shot.

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MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum

MERIT

MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum is a “bi-phase” serum, which means that it has both an oil layer and a water layer. You need to shake it to mix them, and together, they’ll give your skin a dewy glow under makeup.

Unfortunately, the formula contains a potential irritant (isononyl isononanoate) as well as low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which is inflammatory. It’s also not very hydrating, as it’s lacking essential ingredients to properly support the skin barrier. 

What it does do well is the “glow” part—and I will admit, the effect is gorgeous. If you have oily skin, you may find it too greasy, but drier skin types will drink this right up. If you give it a try, make sure to layer a more supportive serum underneath it.

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MERIT Great Skin Priming Moisturizer

MERIT

MERIT Great Skin Priming Moisturizer is a lightweight, silicone-free moisturizer that doubles as a makeup primer.

This is another product to avoid if you’re acne-prone. It contains several potential triggers, including jojoba butter, stearic acid, algae and sorbitan isostearate. It’s also missing skin-supportive ceramides and cholesterol, so it’s not the most balanced moisturizer.

The other problem I detected in my testing is that it tends to pill if you apply it on its own—even with nothing underneath. You really need to layer it on top of the Instant Glow Serum in order to make it work. 

If you’re willing to do that, it does make a nice primer under The Minimalist, and it doesn’t feel greasy on the skin. 

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MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45

MERIT

MERIT The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 is the brand’s latest launch, a mineral sunscreen with a sheer, buildable tint that comes in 15 shades.

Unfortunately, with only 15% zinc oxide, it’s slightly low on protection. (Sunscreens need at least 20% zinc to be truly broad-spectrum.) It also contains an SPF booster, butyloctyl salicylate, which is a modified form of octisalate that brands use to artificially increase their SPF ratings. 

The third potential problem is that it’s formulated with multiple comedogenic ingredients, including lauroyl lysine—one of the worst triggers for breakouts.

If you’re not acne-prone, and you don’t mind that it’s not 100% mineral, I’d suggest treating this like makeup and layering it over a more protective sunscreen.

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Is MERIT Beauty Worth It?

Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo

Here’s what I love about MERIT Beauty:

  • Simple and streamlined: You don’t need a ton of products, which takes the guesswork out of your makeup routine.
  • Foolproof application: Most items are swipe-and-blend—no fancy brushes or advanced techniques required.
  • Flattering, wearable shades: Everything is “you, only better.” There’s nothing wild or overly trendy, just subtle colours that enhance your natural beauty.
  • Lightweight textures: You get a natural finish that doesn’t look overdone.
  • Luxe but accessible: The formulas feel luxe and the packaging is chic, but the pricing is lower than many comparable brands.
  • Clean ingredients: They meet EU standards and avoid common irritants.

But here’s why this brand might not work for you:

  • Limited product range: This is a tight edit—not a full line of options like you’d find from a pro makeup brand (no powders, eyeliners, etc.).
  • Light coverage only: If you prefer full-coverage or matte finishes, these sheer, dewy formulas may not deliver enough.
  • Neutral, warm-leaning shade range: You won’t find bold colours or unconventional shades here—the focus is on subtle, wearable tones. Most shades lean warm, which may be limiting if you have cool-toned skin.
  • Potentially comedogenic: Despite partnering with Biba de Sousa to avoid acne triggers, some products still contain ingredients that could clog pores.

Where to Buy MERIT Beauty

If you’re ready to give this brand a try, you can find it at Sephora and the official MERIT Beauty website.

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June 29, 2025 0 comments
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