Tag: Review

Book, Book Reviews, Review

Book Review: The Woods Are Always Watching

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! It’s been a while but I’m back with a book review, this is one of the few I’ve read in the past year. A thriller/horror book written by Stephanie Perkins and released in 2021.

Summary from GoodReads

Bears aren’t the only predators in these woods.

Best friends Neena and Josie spent high school as outsiders, but at least they had each other. Now, with college and a two-thousand-mile separation looming on the horizon, they have one last chance to be together—a three-day hike deep into the woods of the Pisgah National Forest.

Simmering tensions lead to a detour off the trail and straight into a waking nightmare; and then into something far worse. Something that will test them in horrifying ways.

The book is written in a viewpoint narrative, where we know the main character’s thoughts and feelings. I had a hard time reading the book because it’s slow-paced but picks up speed mid-book. Even though I found the main characters well-developed and explained, as far as their actions, feelings, and thoughts go. There was a love/hate feeling because there was no way I was always agreeing with either of them. It also had an open ending which I’m not a fan of.

I liked the book enough to finish reading it, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’m kind of disappointed. Any book you recommend that’s amazing? Let me know in the comments.

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Makeup, Review

the Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re having a great week so far, today I have a mascara review for you. It’s a fairly new product from Maybelline and I’ve liked it so far, but it’s not my favorite.

Colossal Curl Bounce turns up the volume. Now big volume meets bouncy curl. Its Curl ’N’ Bounce brush separates and curls lashes while its Memory-Curl formula gives curl that lasts. This long wearing mascara delivers lasting bouncy lashes. Defies clumps. Defies smudging. Defies flaking. Up to 24HR wear.

According to Maybelline’s site
  • Pros
    • Packaging is good-looking and slick.
    • Formula doesn’t stay wet for long, it dries fast.
    • Color is intense.
    • Doesn’t transfer.
    • Makes my lashes look curly.
  • Cons
    • Smudges on my lower lash line.
    • Somewhat hard to remove.
Here you can see the difference this mascara makes on my sad, droopy, non-existant lashes.
Both eyes with 2 coats of mascara.

Overall, it’s a great mascara but it doesn’t quite agree with the high heat/humidity of Puerto Rico. I tend to apply two to three coats without waiting in between (one eye at a time). With that many coats, it takes some effort to remove the product entirely. I’ll continue to use this mascara, just not for work where I’m in fluctuating temperatures.

Let me know in the comments, what’s your favorite waterproof mascara that won’t smudge or transfer.

Book, Book Reviews

Book Review: The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter

Stephanie Román

Hello guys! Welcome back to the blog, today I have a book review. I finished reading this book last month and started reading another one (but that’s for another time). When searching for the book’s synopsis, I found there are at least three books with the same title. Those other books are on my ”To Read” list. Here’s the synopsis for the novel by Karin Slaughter.

Atlanta, Georgia. Present day. A young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead. The police investigate but the trail goes cold. Until a chance assignment takes GBI investigator Will Trent to the state penitentiary, and to a prisoner who says he recognizes the MO. The attack looks identical to the one he was accused of eight years earlier. The prisoner’s always insisted that he was innocent, and now he’s sure he has proof. The killer is still out there.  

As Will digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the original case in order to reach the truth. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear. And now he needs medical examiner Sara Linton to help him hunt down a ruthless murderer. But when the past and present collide, everything Will values is at stake.

synopsis from author’s website

My thoughts on the book are the following:

  • The chapters are written in the past and present tense, I guess to recall all the details needed to understand the story.
  • The pace is a bit slow for me, so it took me a few months to finish reading this book.
  • I had to stop reading for a while and then continue reading.
  • After the book’s first half, the story got interesting enough for me that I had to finish it.
  • There are hints throughout the book pointing to who the killer is and at the end it all makes sense.
  • Love the main character, Will Trent, it’s a very relatable one.

It’s a really good book, even though it has a slow-paced narrative when you start connecting the dots between past and present the book gets interesting. If you like a psychological thriller and don’t mind the back and forth, this book will be great for you.

If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments.

Makeup, Review

Review-Maybelline Cheek Heat Blush

Stephanie Román

Hi! Welcome back. Hope you’re doing good. Today I’m sharing a review of Maybelline’s Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush. It retails for around $7.99 and comes in six shades. // ¡Hola! Bienvenidos nuevamente. Espero que estén bien. Hoy estaré compartiendo una reseña del rubor Cheek Heat Gel-Cream de Maybelline. Cuesta alrededor de $7.99 y hay seis tonos.

According to Maybelline’s website, this product is a “water-based gel cream infused with colorful pigments that create a buildable, natural looking blush”. // Según la página web de Maybelline, este producto es una “crema de gel a base de agua infundida con pigmentos coloridos que crean un rubor de aspecto natural edificable”.

I like this product because is an easy to blend formula with sheer but buildable coverage (as it claims). I think is perfect for beginners just for that reason. Best application method is with the fingers. If I want a bit more color, I just apply some powder blush on top. // Me gusta este producto porque es una fórmula fácil de difuminar con una cobertura clara pero edificable. Pienso que es perfecto para principiantes por esa razón. El mejor método de aplicación es con los dedos. Si quiero un poco más de color, simplemente aplico encima un poco de rubor en polvo.

Makeup, Review

Speed Reviews // Reseñas rápidas

Stephanie Román

Welcome to the blog! Hope your day is good so far. Today I’m going to share quick reviews of four makeup products. Let’s start with some primers. // ¡Bienvenidos al blog! Espero que hasta ahora su día vaya bien. Hoy estaré compartiendo unas reseñas rápidas de cuatro productos de maquillaje. Comencemos con “primers”.

Both primers are from Covergirl, TruBlend Base Business Skin Primer in Mattifying and the Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer. The skin primer has a lightweight, non-greasy formula. But I didn’t noticed a difference in the longevity of my foundation or in my skin’s oiliness. As for the eyeshadow primer, it helps my eyeshadow to stay in place and blend better. Also has little coverage. // Ambos “primers” son de Covergirl, para la piel TruBlend Base Business en Matificante y para los ojos el Lid Lock Up. El “primer” para la piel tiene una fórmula ligera y no grasosa. Pero no noté diferencia alguna en el control de mi piel grasa y la longevidad de mi base. En cuanto el “primer” para ojos, ayudó a que mis sombras permanecieran en su lugar y se difuminaran mejor. También tiene un poco de cobertura.

Now, the L’oreal Micro Ink Pen by Brow Stylist has surprised me. It’s available in five shades. The first time I used it, was a bad day for my brows. This product’s pigmentation depends on the pressure applied while using it. For a seamless blend, you have to work in sections and blend as you go. It stays on all day long. // Ahora, el Micro Ink Pen por Brow Stylist de L’oreal me sorprendió. Está disponible en cinco tonos. La primera vez que lo utilicé, fue un mal día para mis cejas. La pigmentación de este producto depende de la presión que se le aplique al utilizarlo. Para que se difumine perfectamente, hay que trabajar en secciones y difuminar constantemente. Permanece en su lugar todo el día.

Lastly, the Wonder’full 24HR Brow Mascara by Rimmel is available on three shades. It has a lightweight formula that stays on but the pigmentation isn’t enough to wear it alone. At least for me with my sparse brows. // Por último, el Wonder’full 24HR Brow Mascara por Rimmel está disponible en tres tonos. Tiene una fórmula ligera que permanece en su lugar pero la pigmentación no es suficiente para utilizarlo solo. Por lo menos para con mis escasas cejas.

Makeup

L’oreal Bambi Eye Mascara vs Maybelline the Falsies Lash Lift Mascara

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re safe and doing good. Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Today we’re going to talk about two mascaras I’ve been using for a few months. Both claim to give length and volume to the lashes.

L’oreal Bambi Eye mascara has a retail price of $10.99 and a “velvety washable formula glides on smoothly for lifted, elongated lashes, without clumps”.
Maybelline the Falsies Lash Lift mascara also retails for $10.99 and “delivers a dramatic volume and long, lifted lashes.

In my experience, both mascaras give good volume and length. I find that the L’oreal Bambi Eye mascara is a bit faster to get clumpy, if too many layers applied. Maybelline the Falsies Lash Lift mascara has a more thin formula, which helps the clump-free claim. But if you let it dry between coats, you’ll get clumps and it will be difficult to apply it.

Photo’s left side: L’oreal Bambi Eye.
Photo’s right side: Maybelline the falsies Lash Lift.

As you can see in the photo above, the left side looks more pigmented and together. As for the right side, the Maybelline mascara separated my lashes more. The length and volume seems to be the same.

I like both mascaras, they’re good and don’t transfer (after letting them dry) or flake. Preference over one or another will depend on the eye makeup I’m wearing.

Book Reviews

Book Review-The Surgeon: The Luke Titan Chronicles #1

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re all doing good. Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

During this quarantine I thought I’ll be reading more, but that hasn’t quite worked out. Although, I’ve been doing other things instead of sitting down to read. I’ve finished two books and here is one of them.

The Surgeon is the first book of The Luke Titan Chronicles series by David Beers. Here’s the book’s description on Amazon:

I really enjoyed reading this book, the story is intriguing and the characters are well thought. It’s a gruesome triller, it gives you details of the crimes so run the other way if you’re not up to that.

I was hooked from the beginning and read it quite fast. I love that you can “hear” some characters’ thoughts and kinda see the reason behind their actions. The story reminded me of the TV show Hannibal. If you enjoyed that show, you’ll like this book.

All that’s left to say is that I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Makeup, Review

Review-L’oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re doing good. Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Today I’m going to be reviewing and sharing a wear test on the Infallible Fresh Wear foundation from L’oreal. It retails for $14.99 and has a range of 30 shades. The brand’s website describes this product as a “long lasting foundation with our most lightweight, breathable texture. Waterproof, transfer-resistant and sweat-resistant.” Provides medium to full buildable coverage and it’s suitable for all skin types.

But is it really suitable for extremely oily skin and Puerto Rico’s tropical weather? Keep reading and you’ll find out.

This foundation looks quite natural with medium to full coverage (using a makeup sponge to apply). It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin but it’s not me I’ll use for all-day wear. Finished applying my makeup by 8:40am and started my day of running around doing stuff.

At 2:20pm, the foundation was rubbing off my nose/cheek area; which is quite normal because of my eyeglasses. Also, my forehead was looking oily.

By 5pm, the foundation was breaking down on my forehead/chin area. And by 8pm, it was completely rubbed off my cheeks and had build-up on my nose where my eyeglasses are.

I could wear it to work an 8-hour shift and that’s by blotting and applying powder on oily areas. But if I need my makeup to last all day, this definitely isn’t my go-to choice.

In my opinion, it would work better for normal to dry skin people, less warm weather and maybe non-glasses wearers.

Review

Review-imPRESS Press-On Manicure

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re having a great day. Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Inside the beauty realm, there are many categories and subcategories. So today, we’re going to talk about nails. I’ve seen a few people rave about imPRESS nails and always thought it couldn’t be possible for press-on nails to actually last. For me, glue-on nails were more reliable (back when I used artificial nails).

After years of using just nail polish, I hate going to the salon, I wanted to try this popular press-on nails. So, I went to Walgreens a few weeks back and bought two for combining purposes.

They’re easy to apply and the length is fine (I’m used to my longer natural nails). Had them on for a week until I ripped them off. I did my regular tasks as always and I gave my dog a bath without any casualties. Although, open packaged products was a bit dangerous as I felt the nails kinda detaching. They even survived an entire work shift (most nail polish chip-off). But the cool, metallic design on my index finger starting chipping on the third day of wearing them. So I think you have to choose carefully the designs if you want them to last.

I took them off because after a week of washing hands, doing stuff, showering, washing my hair, etc. The artificial nails started to feel a bit detached from my natural nails. I was having trouble doing a ponytail, my hair would get randomly trapped between the artificial nail and my natural nail.

Overall, I liked them and found them not difficult to work with. I will try the again to see if they last more time.

Review, Skincare

Review-Garnier SkinActive Black Peel-Off Mask

Stephanie Román

Hi guys! Hope you’re having a great day. Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Today I’m stepping back from makeup reviews and I’m going to tell you my experience with a Peel-Off Mask with charcoal from Garnier. It’s targeted for all skin types, has no parabens, oil or silicones. The claims are:

Visibly removes deep pore impurities and reduces the appearance of pore size to reveal a fresh, healthy-looking complexion.

I’ve used it four times already and I must say it hasn’t impressed me. The instructions say to “apply a thick, opaque layer” which takes more than 20 minutes to dry entirely. When it’s finally dry, I don’t get visibly pore size reduction.

Every time I’ve used this mask, my eyes get a little irritated when applying but stops quickly after finishing application. It feels kind of cooling while drying, it doesn’t hurt when taking off (unless it catches a hair) and the face feels soft but tight afterwards.

I will continue to use it but right now I feel like nose strips work so much better to remove impurities (at least for me). Maybe the mask is more of a gradual result rather than immediate. Will keep you updated.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what’s your favorite face mask.