Opinion – C. Militar Writes

I tried this TikTok-famous lip gloss – is it worth the hype?

Anyone who has a TikTok account might be familiar with the US cosmetics brand Kikiz Cosmeticz.

Created by Makena Quesada, this brand creates lip glosses that are supposedly “long-wearing, hydrating, and non-sticky” and advertises them through many video streaming platforms.

Since its creation in 2020, this brand has gained popularity amongst the younger generation, amassing over one million followers on TikTok and around 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube. And whether it be through their lip gloss pouring videos or their lip gloss making clips, you can’t help but be drawn in by the product and what it offers.

Like many online users, I too was intrigued by their lip products; so last year, when I traveled to the US, I decided to buy one of their lip glosses online.

Here are my thoughts about it:

The packaging was well-designed and well-thought of

The outside packaging is a shiny, pink bubble mailer that contains the phrase, “Self love looks good on you,” along with the brand’s social media pages. What I like about this is that Kikiz Cosmeticz even extended its branding on the outside, teasing customers on what goodies lie inside.

The reason I mention the external packaging is because not all brands do this, especially because there is an added cost to customising packaging. So, I appreciated the extra effort Kikiz Cosmeticz did to extend its branding to the outside.

Inside the mailer, there contains a thank you card with the brand’s social media pages (so we know where to tag them when we use their products) and a piece of candy (which is a very welcome treat for us, sweet tooths!).

The lip gloss is also safely packaged in a box that contains the full list of ingredients.

From a marketing standpoint and from my opinion as an advertising graduate, I applaud the company for its consistent branding throughout the whole package. Because of this, customers, who receive their orders, will surely remember the brand, especially when they start sharing stories and reviews about it online.

You all have to try Starlight

The lip gloss comes in a 6mL tube with a pink cover (I purchased it last year before they changed their covers to the purple one) and a thick lip gloss wand.

I like the thick lip gloss wand, in particular, because it allows you to get a large amount of product with just one swipe on the lips.

As for the lip gloss variant, I chose Starlight, which according to the website, is a “lemon-lime flavored, long wearing, non-sticky lip gloss that has a color-shifting shade with blue and gold glitters.”

Upon application, the gloss does have a thick consistency but it’s not that sticky, which is great for everyday wear. And even though it has glitters, the gloss doesn’t feel chunky on the lips and works great when applied over a matte lipstick.

As for its color-shifting feature, I see a bit of it when I move my head from side-to-side. It gives off a different colored shine when light hits it at a certain angle.

Starlight also has a fizzy scent (think of Sprite or 7-Up), which I like, given that I am a soda drinker. But it may not be for everyone, so keep that in mind if ever you’re considering buying the lip gloss.

Overall, I am very happy with how it looks. It gives the lips a very finished look on its own, without it looking over-the-top.

The lip gloss delivers on its promises

The Kikiz Cosmeticz lip glosses boasts of a hydrating, nourishing, and long-wearing formula; and for me, the brand delivers on its promises.

Since applying the lip gloss on my lips, it doesn’t feel drying and it kept my lips moist throughout the day.

Also, after 2-3 hours of wear, the product is still shiny on my lips. This required me only one additional application to wear it for the rest of my night. So, I definitely recommend giving their lip gloss a try!

It can be a bit expensive so save up first if you want to buy it

For a third world citizen like myself, the lip gloss can be a bit pricey, with one lip gloss amounting to 567.53 PHP (without shipping). It’s best to keep that in mind when you’re considering buying at least one of their lip glosses in the shop.

Finally, you’re probably wondering, is it worth the hype? In my opinion, it is.

Based on my experience using the Starlight lip gloss, the product lives up to its expectation and provides a long-wearing and shiny look on the lips. It’s also very sweet-smelling, which makes both the wearing and application process that more enjoyable.

Kikiz Cosmeticz offers other lip gloss variants, which I have yet to try of; so, my opinion might change if I ever get to try the other lip gloss shades. But for now, I am very satisfied with the product and am eager to get to try more of what the brand has to offer!

If you’re interested in knowing more about this US-based makeup brand, you can visit their website, kikizcosmeticz.shop. Happy shopping!

*NOTE: This is not a branded post, but an honest review of the brand and its product. All the items used for this review was purchased with my own money and was not sponsored by the brand.

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From ‘boob mugs’ to makeup, here’s a review of my most recent online purchases

Just like many millennials nowadays, I like to look through online shopping websites for new items or accessories. Most of the time, what I buy are necessities like toiletries or stuff for my dog (and yes, I do classify those items as essential). But this time around, I was lured by the much-awaited payday deals of these local, online platforms–and I (inevitably) ended up giving in and checking out some items.

Here’s my review of those purchases:

Boob Mug

I’ve been eyeing the boob mugs of peek a boob ph ever since I saw them on Instagram. They were cute and quirky; and they celebrated the feminine body in all its imperfect glory.

They even stated in one of their posts, “Our boob mugs are meant to express the value of women in our lives–how individuals, represented in boob form obviously, are perfect in all shapes and sizes.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PEEKABOOB (@peekaboobph)

Given this, I was excited to get one of these mugs… and as luck would have it, the store offered a 10% discount on some of their on-hand items. Through this month-end sale, I was able to purchase a medium-sized Birthday Sprinkles Boob Mug for only 630 PHP (original price was 700 PHP).

The ceramic mug measured at around 4 inches tall with a diameter of 3.5 inches. According to the brand’s post, it can hold 300 mL of liquid.

What I liked about it was that you can clearly tell it was handmade. It had a large handle that drooped down and a pair of sculpted breasts that were not 100% symmetrical (just as most boobs are). But it’s this rustic look that makes it that much more unique and special.

I also liked how it was handcrafted by Filipino artisans. This just goes to show how innovative and creative many of our artists are.

I’ve been drinking from this mug for a few days now and I enjoy it’s size and its colorful appearance–it really does make my morning coffee sessions that much more enjoyable!

2. Benefit lip tints

I’ve been a fan of Benefit Cosmetics ever since I tried their eyebrow gel in 2017. Although I absolutely love their products, any makeup enthusiast would tell you that their items are NOT cheap.

Thankfully, National Lipstick Day happened and with it, came an awesome deal for their lip tints. Because for the price of 1,190 PHP (and free shipping), I was able to receive (1) 6.0 mL BeneTint, one (1) 2.0 mL ChaCha Tint, and one (1) 2.0 mL Love Tint.

These lip tints all came safely in a colorful Benefit box.

I first tried BeneTint, which had a see through, light red hue to it. What I liked about this product is that since it’s water-based, you can easily build color by dabbing some more of the liquid on your lips and cheeks.

It’s also long-lasting–I barely had to reapply throughout the day–and it has an addicting rose scent to it.

I highly recommend this product for those looking for natural-looking and buildable lip and cheek stains for their virtual meetings.

Next, I sampled the Cha Cha Tint from the package. It had a light orange hue and was much thicker in consistency than the BeneTint.

It also had a pleasant mango smell and when applied, it gave your lips a subtle peach color.

This item is definitely for people like me, who like to rock the subtle makeup look.

Lastly, I tried the Love Tint. This lip and cheek tint had a thick, dark red color to it and definitely gave your lips a striking scarlet look.

Personally, it’s not my favorite color out of the three; but it is very pigmented and easily buildable when worn both as a lip tint and blush.

Overall, I am very happy with the Benefit products I received and will surely use them during many of my virtual meetings.

Here’s to hoping my next shopping haul can be as nice and awesome as this one!

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Holiday royal romance movies are cheesy and predictable–but that’s what makes them so fun to watch

Almost all of my family and friends know that I am a sucker for this subgenre of romance movies. For years, I have watched a lot of these kinds of films from Hallmark and most recently, Netflix.

So, when my good friend Niña came across this video of YouTuber Jack Douglass discussing the “terrifying world of ‘Princess Christmas’ movies,” she knew I had some thoughts on this matter.

First off, I actually agree with everything Douglass had to say about these movies, especially on the following points:

– These kinds of movies revolve around three plots, namely the “ordinary woman becomes a princess,” “a princess pretends to be an ordinary woman,” and “a princess and an ordinary woman swap places.”

– The names of these movies sound similar (if not the same).

– All of the royal romances take place in imaginary countries that all sound the same–citing examples like “Belgravia,” “Aldovia,” and “Maldovia.”

– The Prince always seems to have a “pronounced english accent.”

– How these kinds of movies use the same actors and actresses in other films that feature the same plot.

He even makes a valid point in saying how strange it is to know that even though these movies follow the same formula, they manage to become franchises–citing the Christmas Prince films as an example.

With all of this in mind, you, as a viewer of his video, would even start to wonder, why would anyone want to watch these films after knowing this?

Now, I can’t speak for everyone… but as someone who has seen many of these holiday royal romance movies (and would probably continue to watch them in the future), what entices me is its predictability, overall feel-good vibe, and Christmas spirit.

From the get go, I can already tell many of the things that are going to happen in these kinds of movies. For instance, I know there will almost always be some grand ball wherein the prince will be left in awe over the girl’s appearance or that the prince will always choose the “normal girl” over his betrothed.

But it’s this cliched storyline that keeps me interested because there is a certainty that it will always end in a “happily ever after.” And in this world where anything can go wrong, it’s nice to watch something that promises a happy ending.

Moreover, these are the kind of feel-good movies that won’t leave you stressed or worried about the characters. Since it’s predictable, you won’t have to agonize about the girl not getting the guy or of someone dying during the course of the film. It’s almost like the ideal kind of thing to watch when you are tired from work or household errands and you just want to relax.

Lastly, it features a picture-perfect version of the holidays, where everyone is happy and together. And I am guessing this is almost everyone’s ideal scenario when it comes to Christmas.

So, before you write off holiday royal romance films, I recommend you try watching a few of them first. You never know, you might even end up actually enjoying them!

When it comes to Disney sidekicks, Charlotte deserves more recognition

Through the years, Disney has created some endearing sidekicks to our favorite animated princesses. From Snow White’s seven dwarves to Elsa and Anna’s silly snowman Olaf, we, viewers, have enjoyed their antics and overall lovable personalities.

But in this lineup of side characters, there is one that doesn’t get enough recognition as the rest–and that’s Charlotte La Bouff from the Princess and the Frog.

Unlike other members of the Disney sidekick group, Charlotte doesn’t get talked about as much. And despite her hilarious personality and selfless nature, she doesn’t even get a spinoff short film like that of Olaf (and she rightfully deserves one!).

So, in honor of one of the most lovable characters in the Disney cinematic universe, I am listing down three reasons why Charlotte deserves the title of “everyone’s favorite sidekick”.

She is one of the funniest characters in the film

Just from the start of the movie, you could already tell that she was a quirky character. And her overdramatic demeanor and crazy responses to events gave the film its much-needed comic relief.

One of her funniest moments was her reaction to seeing Prince Naveen for the first time. In the scene, she immediately stopped crying, touched up her makeup, and went down the staircase like the queen she truly is.

And sure, Louis was entertaining but Charlotte was the one that gave viewers all the laughs in the film.

She treated Tiana like her equal

Charlotte and Tiana obviously came from two different social classes. Charlotte was the daughter of a sugar baron and could buy almost anything she wanted, while Tiana’s family worked hard just to make ends meet. And yet despite their differences, Charlotte always treated Tiana as her friend and her equal.

In fact, when Tiana’s dress got ruined at the party, Charlotte generously lent Tiana one of her dresses. She even completed the look by placing a tiara on Tiana’s head–prompting Prince Naveen to think Tiana was a princess.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/PrincessandtheFrog

Now, I know some people have wondered why didn’t she just give Tiana the money to start her restaurant. To explain this, I found a video from YouTuber Story Diver that explains how Charlotte and her father may have possibly offered Tiana the money. However, given Tiana’s can-do attitude and belief that to get what she wants, she must work hard for it, Tiana must have denied the offer and chose to save up for her dream restaurant.

I believe this theory is highly probable considering Charlotte’s final act of kindness in the film (which I will talk about in the next section).

She selflessly gave up her dream of marrying a prince to help a friend

When Charlotte finds out about Tiana’s true feelings for Naveen, she immediately gives up her dream of marrying the prince and without hesitation, kisses Naveen in an effort to break the curse. This is evidenced in the movie when she tells Tiana, “I’ll kiss him for you, honey. No marriage required.”

This selfless act of friendship on her part shows that she is more than just the “spoiled, rich girl” that everyone makes her out to be. She has a heart of gold and she is one that deeply cares for her loved ones.

All of these reasons put together is what makes Charlotte such a great character. And I hope you will include her in your list of favorite sidekicks!