I’ve been revisiting Diptyque’s offering for sometime now, have had a number of actual wearings and finally, a “mmmm…maybe”. Ilio by Diptyque. Prickly Pear and a layer of Iris? 4 notes only? intriguing. But honestly, I bought this because the bottle’s artwork is calling my name. I have to have it.😆
𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙩, 𝙟𝙖𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙨
Iris accord in perfumes may have different presentations and I’m not sure what prickly pear smells like exactly🌵. Diptyque’s Ilio had me at its optimistic pick me up vibe. It’s a smile-inducing scent!
It reminds me a lot of being young.
Imagine clean, watery, delicious, fresh, juicy but not fruity juicy and then later on becomes creamy (Iris) on the drydown. It’s not complex but is a very likable scent.
I agree how this should be an EDT instead of EDP. Generally, EDTs don’t stay very close to the skin and Ilio will perform best radiating farther out, creating a scent cloud. I like smelling this on the air than on my skin. Do note that it’s a feminine leaning scent.
I skipped the 2023 Limited Edition Ilio and opted for this 2021 Ilio version instead. Same formulation but I prefer the 2021 bottle’s artwork & colorful illustrations by artist Luke Edward Hall.
Honestly, I find most of Penhaligon’s fragrances a bit of a heavy-hitter and overpowering. So far, Artemisia is the only one from their collection that spoke to my nose. It is quietly beautiful but with the painful price tag to match (my wallet is still crying).
No complex intermingling of notes
Penhaligon’s Artemisia opens up with a burst of creamy nectarines. Unlike most perfumes, it’s a straightforward scent that I don’t particularly notice certain notes emerging at different stages of the dry down. Perhaps it’s meant to be super well-blended and intentionally simple.
When it comes to performance, projection is weak to moderate and longevity is about 2-3 hours before it settles into a skin scent. Sillage-wise, it’s intimate and leaves a very faint trace of soft vanilla. The best I can describe its dry drown would be: soft, milky, musky and powdery.
Christmas and Self-care in a bottle
I like scents that are polite, approachable and fairly subtle. And to my nose, this is reminiscent of Christmas too – something that can be both enticing and comforting, merry and warm. I normally prefer wearing this on rainy days but in order to wrap yourself up in it, you might need to go heavy on the trigger.
I personally don’t find this too sweet nor too floral. Like every fragrance in my collection, this has a refined, airy, powdery feel to it. It’s like a perfect muted company for slow and lazy afternoons in bed that soothes the wearer and gives off an overall smell of “self-care”.
I wonder why there’s not much rave about this perfume (yet). Could it be that Perfume Lalaland find this too simple for it’s price? Nevertheless, Penhaligon’s Artemisia warrants a review from someone with sensory obsessions.
If you’re into fragrances that captures the feeling of calmness and doesn’t induce olfactory migraine, you might want to consider adding Penhaligon’s Artemisia in your perfume wardrobe. This perfume currently occupies a spot on my list of Top 10 Favorite/Signature Perfumes.
Composition as detailed on fragrantica.com:
Notes of Nectarine are mixed with Violet, Vanilla, Lily of the valley, Jasmine and Green apple. Base notes are a perfect blend of Musk, Sandalwood, Oakmoss and Amber.
Hope you find this review useful. I can say that this perfume is not likely to turn anyone off and it’s a good place to start if you’re exploring the ocean of minimal scents or looking for a nice change from strong-performing perfumes.
The world of skincare is massive it’s nearly impossible to choose our favorites. In this blog, I will be sharing with you the reliable standbys in my skincare cabinet that best meet my skincare needs and desired results. The products listed here are from Wishtrend.com (not all of their products agree with my skin) and even before I became an ambassador, I was already a huge fan (especially of Dear Klairs) for the main reason that their skincare products really work.
I use this after toner and before any serum. I find this light weight essence very soothing and it’s especially useful when I have hormonal zits looming over me as it’s packed with complex ingredients that have effective anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. When it comes to hormonal zits, less is more. And this essence combined with Polyphenols in Propolis are the most effective products to address adult breakouts…true story!
I also love how it sinks in within the skin instantly due to the watery texture, it is almost traceless and doesn’t leave any sticky feeling.
This is the reason I got hooked into using Dear Klairs skin care products. Apart from the anti-aging benefits, this serum also helps calm down redness or an irritated skin. This quick absorbing serum makes it easy to commit to a routine too! Consistency is very watery which is a huge plus because aside from it absorbs really quickly, it is non-sticky.
Try this and I’m sure you’ll be totally blue-wn away by the noticeable difference in your skin. You can find a dedicated review of this serum here.
I use this after serums to lock in the nutrients. The texture gently melts and absorbs into the skin. It seems simple but the perfect moisturizer should not only help restore and fortify the skin’s natural moisture barrier but also not cause any irritation, which is why Rich Moist Soothing Cream by Dear, Klairs and Rovectin Lotus Water Cream are my current favorite facial moisturizers.
The search is truly over. This is the perfect sunscreen for my skin tone, type and preference. I apply this sunscreen after moisturizer or over my makeup (even if my makeup has SPF). Trust me, this deserves a coveted spot in your skin-care routine. Find my dedicated review here
☀️impressively lightweight on the skin ☀️UV protection index SPF50+ and PA++++ (*) ☀️doesn’t leave a white, chalky residue ☀️the formula glides on like a dream and sits well under makeup ☀️cruelty free and vegan friendly
Ah finally a cleansing balm that is both gentle and powerful enough to remove makeup and impurities. This one is vegan-friendly consisting of Fig and Oil Water with a sherbet-like texture. You can finally say goodbye to harsh scrubbing and grime at the same time.
This is the first step to my morning skincare routine. True to its name, it absorbs super quickly just like water. The toner contains 45% of green tea water. My skin normally has a minor reaction to products made of green tea but this one is gentle enough on my sensitive skin.
My skin definitely loves the overall experience of using this product.Another amazing vegan-friendly and cruelty-free skincare gem from Dear, Klairs. And as with anything skincare, if you want to see visible results, consistency is key.
Please bring back the bb cream craze! This is simply the perfect natural coverage I need for my face. And I love that its not just a blemish cream that blends in well to the skin but also a multi-functional skincare providing SPF40 PA+++ coverage, protecting the skin from sun damage.
Exfoliation – ah! the unsung hero of any skincare routine. If we don’t exfoliate, our skin will make us look older (faster) because as we age, dead skin cells take longer time to shed from the surface of the skin. That’s where exfoliation comes in.
I always go back to Mandelic Acid 5% by Wishtrend because of its gentle formula. There is no risk of redness at all. It also helps fade away marks caused by hormonal breakouts.
My skin has always benefited from Vitamin C and this Pure Vitamin C from Element (elmt) is definitely something I’d reach for over and over again. It does have some warm sensation upon application. To minimize that, I normally use this after a water-based toner or the Midnight Blue youth activating serum then finish off with moisturizer. Ascorbic acid activates with water, so Wishtrend recommends applying this on damp skin for optimal efficacy.
The only sugar scrub I use because it is gentle enough for my sensitive skin. This multifunctional, non-irritating wash-off mask has the added benefit of being a physical exfoliant. It is rich with antioxidants from grapefruit and raspberry that help combat signs of aging. I use once to twice a week on wet skin and avoding sensitive skin around the eyes.
Good skin begins with a good skincare routine. Different skin types will react to different formulas differently so my advice is to make sure to test if the active ingredients agree with your skin just fine and if the product can meet your skincare needs. As for me, every time I get curious to try out a new skincare product, I always find myself coming back to this simple list.
Should you wish to purchase these products from Wishtrend.com, you can enjoy 15% off your total order by using my code BREACHELLE15.
You’ve likely heard or been told time and time again about the necessity of using sunscreen especially on your face. Yes, it can’t be said enough: Wear sunscreen. But not just any sunscreen.☝️
Sunscreen protects our skin against damaging UVA and UVB rays and the rule of thumb is to go for SPF of 30 or higher, and re-applying it every two hours or sooner if you’re perspiring.
I have been chosen to review the newly launched Klairs All-day Airy Sunscreen and I am extremely satisfied for the following reasons:
☀️impressively lightweight on the skin ☀️UV protection index SPF50+ and PA++++ (*) ☀️doesn’t leave a white, chalky residue ☀️the formula glides on like a dream and sits well under makeup ☀️cruelty free and vegan friendly
This formula also has additional skin-care benefits beyond sun protection. It contains adenosine and niacinamide components that help improve wrinkles. Now that’s a smart sunscreen.
It has a universal tint that easily blends across a range of skin tones and has a transparent finish.
Light as Air, Strong Against the Sun
It makes wearing sunscreen on a daily basis an enjoyable experience!😎⛱️
This sunscreen was sold out in only three weeks post-launch, taking back its throne as the best Korean sunscreen brand.☀️🥂
Always remember, sunscreen isn’t just for hot summer days. If you don’t shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, no amount of washing or moisturizing will help. Do yourself a favor, slather up Klairs All-day Airy Sunscreen to safeguard your skin. Don’t leave home without it! Get it from @wishtrend
Here comes the sun😎⛱️
*𝐒𝐏𝐅𝟓𝟎+
The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of a sunscreen is a measure of how well it protects the skin from sunburn. SPF50+ filters out 98% of UVB radiation.
*𝐏𝐀++++
The PA grading system is meant to inform users of the level of protection from UVA rays. PA+ means your sunscreen provides some protection against UVA rays, PA++ provides moderate protection, and PA++++ offers the best protection.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission.
And here we are with a fragrance post because it’s almost new year and I want to spritz happy, uplifting feeling here on my space on the internet with notes from my No. 1 favorite “nose”, Daniela Roche Andrier. And I’m almost sure fragrance has a way of making you feel good too. If you’re here for the first time (assuming this post made it to Google page 1), and if you’re needing advice on navigating which amongst the ocean of perfumes to get for yourself or a loved one, or if you’re just starting to be interested in the ephemeral Les Infusions de Prada line, I can guarantee that Infusion d’Amande will be a love at first sniff.
Back in 2016, I made a blog post about My Top Ten Favorite Perfumes and a dedicated post about my first signature perfume Prada Infusion d’ Homme. In fact, Infusion d’Homme had set the standard for my buying decisions related to scent – from linen, to room sprays or even soap. And I’d like to think of Les Infusions de Prada line as a designer fragrance house from which you can discover one-of-a-kind scent that would speak to you without even trying.
That’s how I would describe my first encounter with Infusion d’Amande. It has a soft to moderate projection and leaves behind a very lovely sillage, I’ve been asked what I was wearing several times. This perfume didn’t even try to explain itself it just won me over at first spray. I could imagine if heaven has a scent, this would be it. Wearing this perfume is like hugging your favorite person. It is so comforting, uncomplicated, delicate, polite, clean, it wraps you with calming almond sweetness and fluffy clouds. It is lovely. It is quiet. This is hard not to love.
Daniela Andrier made this so excellently that there’s no hint of synthetic smell on the drydown, it settles to a clean, powdery blend (must be the Heliotrope) – plus there’s a perfume DNA of Infusions de Prada line. This is one rare perfume you can blind buy or buy on the spot. The lasting power is about 4-5 hours on my skin and clothes. It’s perfect for office scent, bedtime or quiet moments with a good book. If you’re into perfumes that don’t scream yet make lasting impressions and get you compliments, put this on your top 3 list.
Notes Composition: Italian Mandarin and Bitter Almond, Star Anise and Heliotrope, Tonka Bean and Musk
And just like that, it’s love at first sniff once again.
My fascination with Lithops a.k.a “living stones” began during the long circuit breaker period in Singapore and (I started weighing more than our refrigerator)succulents are taking over our social media feeds once again. While I thought succulents are always a pretty sight to have indoors, I never really was into collecting these lovely plants because of the attention needed to devote to their care. Plus, I can’t be the reason they’d eventually die 🙂
But hey, the long stay at home period afforded me so much time to finally give the idea a whirl. The very first succulents I collected were the Anacampseros “Sunrise” Rufescens that are too gorgeous to ignore. I was looking into collecting the rare ones and that’s when I stumbled unto Lithops. Ahh Lithops…too cute for words, it makes me cry. Tiny living stones yet they make great statement pieces when grouped together. I have bought my Lithops from different local growers and collectors in Singapore (adults, babies and seeds). I am also planning to buy directly from Africa and Korea once the dust settles.
Before I share with you my experiences of growing Lithops from seeds and its results, let me first share what I understand so far based on my readings online and what has worked for my collection.
My Tiny Lithops Wonderland (all photos are mine)
Lithops are succulents native to Southern Africa. The scientific name Lithops is both singular and plural. It stems from lithos (rock) and opsis (similar to).
They are usually found in the driest regions with little to no rain. They have adapted to these environments so well that their ability to conserve water through their leaves is superb. The entire plant is devoted to this function.
In their natural habitat, only the very top part of Lithops is visible above the ground and gets sunlight. The flat, top surface have cells that act as windows to allow light to penetrate deep into the plant and reach more chlorophyll. Continue Reading
We have to admit, plants are antidote to our quarantine anxiety.
Pretty much everybody’s quarantheme has got to do with indoor gardening or back-to-basic slow living…all of a sudden, succulents are taking over our Facebook feed. It’s amazing how people are taking a pause and turning to nature to find a sense of balance while Mother Nature herself is undergoing a great deal of healing.
As for me, I’ve been grateful to be in one place long enough to watch some of my indoor plants thrive and grow, and for the first time, I was motivated to finally give succulents a try.
What’s the lure? Anacampseros Sunrise is
Look at them looking gorgeous without even trying….
This breed is said to have originated in South Africa.
