CUTECHICPAWS: beauty blogger

As a fan of good fragrances, my small personal collection couldn't be complete without classic, fresh, and elegant masculine scents with a modern twist. My two initial choices were Asad by Lattafa (men's eau de parfum) and To be Green by Police (unisex eau de parfum). However, one of the things that surprised me most about this men's fragrances was discovering how broad the aromatic range of men's perfumes can be, beyond the aroma of sea breeze, powerful woody notes (smokey and non-smoky), incense, and the classic masculine citrus notes, without any hint of sweet aromas (Gourmand).

Personally, when it comes to men's fragrances, I prefer solid and soft aromas, whether sweet or citrus, since it is very difficult to find a good sea breeze aroma these days, and this has been demonstrated by the Light Blue fragrances by Dolce & Gabbana, whose strange fusion of citrus notes, summer, and sea breeze, I still don't fully understand, since it does not evoke the definition of summer at all, no matter how much lemon seasoning they put into their fragrances.

Asad, by LATTAFA.

A long-lasting, soft, and slightly sweet perfume, and one of my first picks & purchases. It's a steady scent with a light to medium projection that can only be appreciated from a short distance. It's warm, very masculine, sexy, and elegant, full of energy. The perfect fragrance for young adults, that can be used at formal and informal events, making it versatile.

Top notes: black pepper, pineapple, and tobacco.
Middle notes: patchouli, coffee, and iris.
Base notes: vanilla, amber, dry wood, labdanum, and benzoin.

To be Green, by POLICE.

Fresh and citrusy, with a medium projection, it is a very attractive definition of a person who has just stepped out of the shower, whose shower gel has a solid fresh citrus scent, leaving the aroma impregnated on every part of its body: like a breath of fresh air.

Top notes: cardamom, lemon, and mandarin.
Middle notes: violet, jasmine, and peony.
Base notes: cedar, vanilla, and sandalwood.

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Spring has arrived, and all nature's colors have started to pop brighter than ever. One of the most beautiful and chaotic seasons of the year, where magic happens and nature becomes more colorful. The same goes for makeup, where we go from cool, matte, and neutral skin, with a more deep and dark color range; to a more luminous or satin skin, full of life, with vibrant colors, highlighting oranges, intense reds, yellows, warm golds, and pastel tones. In short, spring is the synonymous of freshness and bright colors.

Now, is all this luminosity, freshness, and juiciness, suitable for oily or combination-oily skin types?

Yes, and the secret lies in the steps prior to applying makeup, in other words: in skincare. A proper skincare routine, in addition to care and treat the skin, can prevents the excess of sebum production, since the skin is already supplied and has all its needs covered. Therefore, there's no need to seek to satisfy those needs with any product we apply on, like makeup foundation; and it does not have the need to create its own resources, producing more sebum. Therefore, the skincare routine is more important than makeup primer, as the latter complements the skin preparation routine before applying makeup, contributing to the creation of a perfect canvas, making makeup last longer, and easy to apply.

A good skincare routine, combined with the right makeup primer and makeup foundation, is the perfect combination to keep excess sebum production under control. So, once we find our "perfect combo", we can play with the finishes we want to achieve by using the right makeup products, such as a setting spray with a dewy finish.

My essential colors for spring: corals and oranges.

Although coral and orange tones can be used smartly in various types of makeup, regardless of the season of the year, however that doesn't mean that they are not one of the most characteristic colors if the warmer seasons of the year: spring and summer. They give warmth and color to the face, drawing visual attention to it, whether applied to the cheeks, eyes, lips, or all three, appropriately and in the right shade. They are one of the colors of youth, which, when combined with a well-prepared skin, provides a beautiful touch of color that makes the skin look even juicier and more attractive.

Whether you have a light or dark complexion, coral and orange tones never fail. You just have to find the shade that works with your skin tone, within the wide chromatic range that exists within these shades. My favorite options are:

LIPS.

Marygold velvet (Supershine 5011), by FLORMAR.

Soft, creamy, with good pigmentation, full coverage, golden sparkles, but with a medium-low duration on the lips.

Soft rouge (410), by MANHATTAN COSMETICS.

Beautifully glossy, with a delicious formula that leaves lips feeling juicy. More than a traditional lipstick, it's more like a tinted lip gloss with a long-lasting finish.

Tangerine Tango (51), by JORDANA.

Highly pigmented and beautifully matte, it lasts perfectly on the lips all day long. As always, Jordana's lipsticks are full of color, and rich.

CHEEKBONES.

232, by 3INA.

Intensely pigmented, with a matte finish, it has a slight reddish undertone that makes its coral tone more reddish (in a good way).

Orion, by W7.

Intense, attractive, and warm coral tone, with a satin finish, but with a high pigmentation that requires care when applying it to modulate its intensity.

Life's a Peach (922), by SLEEK.

Although it looks very light, it leaves a subtle and beautiful matte finish on the cheeks. It doesn't have the intense pigmentation like the previous ones have; instead, is made to gradually build up the desired intensity.

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We are currently witnessing a reality where the whole world is in turmoil due to the discovery that China has been the world's factory since always, producing for all types of national and international brands and companies, from low-cost to large luxury brands. However, there are people who always knew what was going on and decided to immerse themselves in the Chinese market, starting to test different types of Chinese brands from different sectors, discovering a completely new world that has gradually opened our eyes, positively changing our way of thinking about the country, as well as the products and services they create and offer, discovering brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei, TCL, or Cubot (electronics and IT); Jessup, Docolor, Beili, Bioaqua, Herborist, Proya, Flower Knows, Catkin, Chando, Judydoll or Florasis (Beauty).

And once you open your mind to a new world, full of opportunities and possibilities, you begin to expand your spectrum, discovering new products, companies, and ancient stories that go beyond the Western world. In my case, I started with electronic and computer brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei, and Cubot, and after seeing how well they worked, I began to investigate more about the Chinese market, discovering a whole multi-sector world, which pushed me to open up to the Asian beauty and fashion market, using Aliexpress and social networks in each of these stages to reach those companies and influencers who created, showed, and offered those products, showing their quality, proving that China does not only create products for dollar stores.

China has been making watches since the 1st century (Zhang Heng - Han Dynasty), nowadays, the provinces that are known by their ancient history related with clock production are: Guangdong, Shenzhen, Zhejiang, and Hong Kong. Berny, is a watch brand based in Shenzhen in the early 90s by Fred Chu, which currently has two official stores, one in Aliexpress, and the other one on its website.

This watch model by Berny is the 2766L-SRG, bicolor, chronograph, with a Hattori VJ45 movement (analog movement), produced by Seiko, the mechanism is quartz powered by a Renata R364 364/SR621SW battery, that last up to 36 months (3 years). A sleek design that seamlessly integrates into professional and casual settings, with a precision complemented by a striking design that catches the eye.

This model, built in highly resistant stainless steel, waterproof to 4.30M (3ATM), weighing 80 grams, combines two shades that make it stand out visually more than other combinations: silver and rose gold, a combination that is easily integrated with most everyday combinations, being especially perfect for lovers of neutral or soft shades for their daily clothing looks. Finally, the icing on the cake is the butterfly clasp on the watch band, which elegantly and securely prevents the design from being disrupted.

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Mid-April, and I already have finished some hair products which have left me with a slightly bittersweet taste. On one side, the Kativa Argan Oil shampoo, and on the other side, the multi-tasker L'oreal Dream Long Curls hair mask.

Argan Oil shampoo, by KATIVA.

After the success with the Kativa's hair mask, I was very curious about how their shampoos will work on my hair, since their hair mask were a complety success, that left my hair very soft and nourished.

The Kativa Argan Oil shampoo promise to leave the hair clean, soft, and shiny; but in my case, only the first promise was fulfilled, leaving my scalp clean, but my hair tight and dry, making it impossible to comb it. Interestingly, this has not happened to me with other brands like Syoss or L'oreal, whose shampoos also promise the same, or similar, but contrary, they left my scalp clean, and easy to comb, softening my hair without any difficulty, not leaving all the work to the hair mask.

I understand that shampoo's purpose is to clean the scalp, however that doesn't mean that it have to leave the hair dry and tight. Instead, it should make hair cleansing a pleasant process.

Dream long curls, by L’OREAL.

Being currently in a intermittent period of hair-rest, where I am not doing any low-manipulation hairstyles, hair masks play a fundamental role in my hair care routine, which currently due to its recent growth, has two different textures: 4C afro on roots, and relaxed on the rest of my hair. So, although it can be used in a variety of ways, I personally prefered to use this hair mask in the traditional way, after shampoo, letting it sit on my hair longer than indicated to maximize its benefits, and it has really worked out very well.

After the continued use, I can confirm that the L'oreal Dream Long Curls hair mask, it's truly a great help for hair types that are undergoing an intermittent resting period and has two textures, or for hair that's in a transition period toward the desired texture (eliminating relaxed hair), since it leaves hair soft, easy to style, flexible, shiny, and without breakage, strengthening the hair fiber.

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As I said in my Instagram, usually, if I like several products from a brand, I will continue trying more products from the brand, whether they are new or not. Recently, I had the opportunity to try two more products from Byphasse's sensitive skin line: the face scrub & the face mask. In general, I'm happy with both products, but what surprised me most was some of their key ingredients: Pumice stone? Titanium dioxide?

Both products have some ingredients in common, such as thermal water, rich in minerals and trace elements, as well as rosehip oil. According to Byrdie, rosehip oil is known for regenerating and soothing the skin, fight free radicals, increasing collagen levels in the skin, calming inflammation, combating acne, and reducing hyperpigmentation, among other benefits. On the other hand, the BCN Institute confirms that trace elements reduce the signs of skin malnutrition, balance the skin, and have healing properties. Finally, according to the University of Oregon (Linus Pauling Institute), minerals play a vital role in protecting the skin from sun damage, stabilizing cell membranes, and protecting against free radicals, among other skin benefits.

Exfoliant douceur, home spa experience, by BYPHASSE.

What surprised me most was one of its main ingredients: pumice, whose formulation is reminiscent of the Holika Holika's Soda Pore Cleansing Deep Cleansing Foam, which contains sodium bicarbonate as one of its key ingredients. On the other hand, the Byphasse's facial scrub, also have ingredients like glycolic acid, lactic acid, Laminaria Orchroleuca extract, and Bisabolol.

One of the things I liked the most was its fine and effective exfoliating grain, because I can feel how it deeply cleanses my skin without irritating it. When I rinsed the products off, it feels like a fusion between two skincare products, an emollient cleansing milk, combined with a gentle physical exfoliant. This type of combination is not common in low-cost skincare products that are under 4 euros, making this product stand out among others low-cost face scrubs.

Masque douceur, home spa experience, by BYPHASSE.

One of the best low-cost face masks for sensitive skin I've tried, after the green clay face mask from Le Petite Oliver. It soothes and conditions irritated skin, and when rinsed off, it leaves a skin-enhancing effect that protects the skin and prepares it for the next steps in the daily skincare routine. It has some ingredients in common with the face scrub from the same line, however, it stands out for two key ingredients: Titanium Dioxide and seawater.

Titanium Dioxide, according to Paula's Choice, protects the skin from sun damage, is the perfect key ingredient for sensitives, redness-prone, and acne skin types. In short, among its skin care properties are:

UV protection.
Gentle on skin.
Non-comedogenic.
Antimicrobial.

Besides, Seawater as skincare ingredient according to Foreo: detoxify the skin, removes impurities, unclogs pores, improves acne breakouts, soothes the skin, calms irritations, and have healing properties.

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Asian skincare brands are good and highly attractive for various reasons such as their ingredients, their innovative formulas, the packaging design, prices, etc.; adding a very important factor, their recent and successful internationalization, opening up to the global cosmetics market, being able to grow successfully through constructive criticism, transforming it into an opportunity for growth, being a clear example of this effect Tir-Tir, a Korean makeup and skincare brand, famous for its "mask fit red cushion", that thanks to the constructive criticism of Miss Darcei, they were able to implement the necessary changes to their brand in general, and to their flagship product in particular, allowing them to make the leap into the global cosmetics market, becoming a benchmark as one of the first brands of South Korea origin to expand the range of shades and undertones in their cushion-format makeup foundation.

Now, what's happening in Europe? Which low-cost brands have been revolutionizing the European cosmetics market, putting higher-priced brands on edge? Among the main countries that stand out within the European and global cosmetics market are France, Italy, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain (which has always had very good cosmetics brands, but its global presence has only recently begun to be noticed with brands like Byphasse, Biovène, La Cabine), and Poland. France, a major global leader in the cosmetics market, have brands such as Lancôme, La Roche Posay, Avéne, Nuxe, L'occitane, Clarins, Filorga, Yves Rocher, Klorane, and Darphin. They also have excellent low-cost brands such as, Evoluderm, Le Petit Marseillais, and Le Petit Oliver.

For a few years now, I've been trying specifically three brands: Evoluderm, Byphasse, and Le Petit Oliver; and honestly, each of them has such good products that they've become an essential part of my vanity. That's why this post is about Byphasse, a brand I consider very complete and that, to date, hasn't disappointed me with any of its products. Although I do like some products more than others, overall, I don't have any negative reviews for any of their products.

Byphasse is a Spanish cruelty-free skincare brand whose products have been made in Spanish, French, and Italian laboratories, and the majority of them with vegan formulations. After years of using several of their products, I've noticed that they're a brand focused on offering high-quality skincare products at the best price, focusing on ingredients, formulations, and effectiveness, contributing to the democratization of the beauty industry.

Their product range extends from facial and body care to hair care, covering the essential aspects of hygiene and personal care. However, one of the things I like most about this brand is that none of its products have caused me any kind of skin reaction. Having sensitive and combination to oily skin on my face, as well as sensitive and dry skin on the rest of my body, doesn't allow me to use any type of product on my skin. Which is honestly a relief, because their shower gels are a very attractive budget option. Among my current favorites facial skin care products are:

Cleansing milk & Cleansing oil.

Both products dissolve makeup (even waterproof) easily, emulsify beautifully with water (so there's no need for cotton pads or cleansing wipes), and leave skin soft and free of impurities, making them the perfect first step in a daily cleansing routine. But, the cleansing oil is the best option for sensitive skin, as the cleansing milk can sting slightly around the eyes area, which can be a bit unpleasant.

Micellar water for sensitive skin & Micellar water for waterproof makeup.

A good micellar water needs to be a quick solution, a one I can turn to on those occasions when I don't have the time or inclination to use a cleansing balm or oil. That's why I need to be able to use it all over my face, including the eye area, and for it to be gentle on the skin while being highly effective removing makeup and impurities. After Garnier's Biphasic Micellar Water for sensitive skin and eyes, both micellar waters from Byphasse are good options that effectively remove makeup and impurities from skin, with an odorless formula, that doesn't make the eye area sting.

Rose water face toner & Thermal water.

Even if I don't expect miracles from a toner that costs less than 4 euros, I am only expecting a decent product that can refresh and rebalance my skin, and after the Revuele coconut face toner, the Byphasse rose water face toner has left me speechless! It slightly moisturizes the skin, gradually evens out the skin tone, leaving the skin soft and full of life. On the other hand, the thermal water works very well to instantly soothe the skin.

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CUTECHICPAWS

Asad, by LATTAFA.

To be Green, by POLICE.

Now, is all this luminosity, freshness, and juiciness, suitable for oily or combination-oily skin types?

My essential colors for spring: corals and oranges.

Argan Oil shampoo, by KATIVA.

Dream long curls, by L’OREAL.

Exfoliant douceur, home spa experience, by BYPHASSE.

Masque douceur, home spa experience, by BYPHASSE.

LONG-LASTING EYE LINERS AS LIP LINERS.

LONG-LASTING & NON-STICKY LIP GLOSS (LIP OIL).

Cleansing milk & Cleansing oil.

Micellar water for sensitive skin & Micellar water for waterproof makeup.

Rose water face toner & Thermal water.

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