Monday 30 July 2012

Serious haul!

In spite of my apparent interest into makeup I hadn't so far tried the high end brands, solely due to pricing. There was of course an exception or two, like my - still going strong - infatuation on the YSL Glossy stains, or the Clarins liquid blushes that I love.

So, last Saturday, Gallery de Beaute had an one day only 40% sale at some high end brands and I thought I wouldn't find a better occasion to try a few popular items without having to give and arm and a leg!

Without further ado, here's a pretttty picturrrre!


First counter: Chanel!
 
The coveted item was the Bronze Universel but, alas, it was out of stock! So, while I stood fuming over the testers, I had an enlightenment and asked to see the Emerveille cream eyeshadow. I was in love with the color, it's a peachy champaign with a very pretty shine. I think it will be beautiful on, with a couple of coats of mascara.

Then, a blush (unheard of, lol!) caught my attention and as soon as I swatched it I knew it was mine! The shade is In Love #55 and it is a silky soft gorgeous peach with fine golden shimmer, blends like a dream!

Before leaving the counter I decided to take a look at the famous glossimers and I was immediately drawn to a transparent warm pink with gold shimmer in the shade Bonbon. It looks very pretty in the tube, almost duo chrome. It doesn't deliver color on the lips but it looks stunning under sunlight, even worn alone.

In Love, Emerveille, Bonbon (LE)

Next stop, Dior!
 
I was set on getting the Aurora LE palette and a lip product.
I swatched the palette and it was exactly what I was expecting it to be but when the SA said that she had to check if there was any left, I started fuming once more. After a couple of minutes of suspence, she told me that she found the last one and I started the happy dance on the spot!
 
Palette secured, I started browsing the lip products but I decided not to get any (I'm considering a mission to the YSL counter next month to get a couple of fall appropriate Glossy Stains...)
 
Before leaving I saw a very cute pink tube and asked the SA what it was. It was a lip balm and after swatching the shades #2 looked lovely. I was contemplating it for a couple of minutes, but, taking in consideration the 40%, it was now or never for me. So I chose now!
I think I will be sporting this a lot, there are many combinations in this palette.
Last counter I planned on visiting was the YSL one but there was not one...bummer! I don't know why there is no YSL counter in this store....
 
On my way to the cashier I passed by the Clarins counter and I remembered a two toned bronzer (I'm turning into a bronzer "collector" BTW!) I had my eye on some time ago. It is the Bronzing Powder Duo SPF 15 in the light shade and the price after the 40% off was unbeattable, so I got it.

The funny thing is that after taking a closer look at all the items back home, I realized that all the shades are complimentary to each other and also that I will get a lot of use no matter the season since the colors are very versatile.
 
That's my haul, and, although I do buy a couple of items now and then, last time I splurged like this was last October (Mac Make Me Over collection). I have to admit it felt good..
 
Hope you're all well and thriving!

Tuesday 24 July 2012

My complete Inglot palette

When Inglot opened a store in Athens, I knew I had to try the eyeshadows.

After quite a few trips to it, I arranged a palette that seems incohesive colorwise, but these are the eyeshadows that caught my attention. They agree in finish though, since seven of them are pearl, two matte and one is an AMC Shine (don't ask me, I don't know how this happened, lol!)

I also wanted some balance between muted and fun colors, in a few words, something for every mood and occasion.

So, without further ado, here it is!

First row

These are my most favorite of the bunch because they are subtle and muted. They are not boring thought, due to the appealing pearlescent finish.

From left to right:

  • Pearl 454 - silver/grey with a hint of green (well, not pasture green, but you get my point!)
  • Pearl 399 - dusted pink
  • Pearl 420 - taupe with a mauve almost hint
  • Pearl 434 - dark taupe with a mauve hint (I love taupes, obviously!)
  • Matte 344 - brown pink, perfect for blending and for the crease
Second row

Well, being summer and all, I had to try some brights!

From left to right:

  • Pearl 393 - light golden peach, gorgeous highlight!
  • Pearl 431 - light pink, highlight or on the lid, very pretty
  • AMC Shine 17 - light green (the aforementioned pasture!)
  • Peal 413 - blue with a green duochrome
  • Rainbow 102R - warm orange/red/brown. The idea was to use this in the crease in order to tone down the brights a bit. It didn't actually work out because it's quite warm/red for me, so I'm still using my bronzer.
That's my complete Inglot palette, I 'm still in love with it and use it quite often!

Here are my raves after purchasing my first ones!

What's your favorite/favorites Inglot eyeshadows? Any suggestions?

Sunday 8 July 2012

June favorites!

Almost mid July but here are my June favorites!

Coconut was the fragrance of the month and in particular:

  • Coconut shower gel TBS
  • Coconut shimmering (ooohhh!) body butter TBS
  • Sweet Milk cologne by Jo Malone (sooo unhappy that it was a limited edition!)
The Annemarrie Borlind self tanning lotion is not a June favorite because I got it on the first of July, so let's say it's a July favorites preview!

It has become a favorite item because it gives me a natural tan, check here for more info.

For the face, I religiously used:

  • La Roche Posay Anthelios 50spf sunblock (not pictured here because I'm sure you've seen it a million times by now!
  • Mac Fix+ (surprise!), I'm sure you're sick to death to see it every month, so no pic today!
  • Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, I really like this one because it's lightweight and evens out any discolorations. I would say it offers medium coverage but it can be used lightly or in layers.
  • Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer because it is full coverage and it takes just a tiny tiny bit.
  • Mac Lush-Light Bronze powder (from last year's Surf Baby collection). I use this lightly all over my face and neck because the foundation is in my winter shade and the bronzer gives me a lightly sun kissed look.
  • Elf blush brush. I rediscovered this brush in my stash and I use it with a little powder to set under eye concealer and a little bit on the T-zone. It's perfect because I can deposit powder exactly where I want it.
Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation and concealer, Mac Lush-Light Bronze

For the eyes, I did some naked eye but usually I didn't stray from my favorite teal/brown combos, with a little peach in between:

  • Mac Expensive Pink, Steamy, Club, Carbonized
  • Inglot pearl in # 393 and #413
Inglot #413 and Mac Steamy look similar but Steamy leans green and #413 is more blue.

As for lips, although I haven't been unfaithful to my beloved YSL Glossy Stains, I took advantage of a promo in my local Inglot store and while purchasing a few things for presents, I got two lipglosses for free!

  • Inglot Sleeks Cream #107 - a vibrant coral/pink, it's perfect to spice up a minimal face look
  • Inglot Sleeks VLC #73, my first nude lip product, pink/beige with a little shimmer, I used it mostly when I wanted to keep the focus on the eyes.
Last but not least, nails!

  • Mac Play Day, I can't have enough of this color!
  • Korres Vert Amande, lovely light green/aqua
These were my June favorites, I wish you're all well and thriving!

Sunday 1 July 2012

First Impressions: Self tan lotion!

Already midsummer (happy July btw) but I was still struggling to get rid of the white-pale as dead-color. It's not that I don't get tanned, it just that for me it requires too many hours under the sun. Being pale I used to think that it would be easy to tan, but actually it's not because i have to wear a very high spf and although I like the sun, I can't stand it for too long.

So, almost every summer I am my friends' joke because I am almost white as snow. That being said, I've also tried various self tan lotions through the years, but I ended up being my friends' joke once more because I would turn into a funny orange, or sickly yellow, or whatever, lol!

Yesterday, I felt brave enough to try once more because I couldn't stand my whiteness, so I paid my local Hondos Center a visit.

Imagine my surprise when none of the mainstream brands (Garnier, Dove, L'Oreal etc) had any self tan products available! I don't know what happened this summer, but the shelves were all about sunscreen and that's it!

So, I asked a SA and she shown me a couple of unknown (at least to me) brands and finally she proposed me the Annemarie Borlind Sunless Bronze lotion. While she was talking to me I was thinking "well, keep yapping, I'm not going to spend my money on a product by an Annemarie something," etc etc.

And then a weird thing happened: I started to actually pay attention to what she was saying and in particular about providing a natural tan, without streaking and funny coloring. She also mentioned that it could be used on face and body as well, and she even opened the bottle to show me that it had a not offensive smell.

So, I thought to try this out anyway, although the price seemed a little steep to me for a product that could end in the garbage (19€ for 75ml, with the 25% off i paid about 13€).

Coming home the first thing I did was to test a little bit on my thigh, just to see the color. Today I noticed that that part seemed a little tanned but I was surprised to see that it really did look very natural, not yellow or orange.

It goes without saying that I felt my hopes surging and could't wait to properly try it!

So, I went the whole nine yards, meaning, meticulously exfoliating and hydrating, applying the product, waiting for it to dry to the touch, etc.

At first I couldn't see any difference but after a few hours I started seeing it and I so far I am so happy with the result because at last I found something that really looks like me after hours (or should I say days) under the sun!

Now, don't get me wrong, when I say tanned I don't mean JLo tan, I mean a couple shades darker than fair, and that for someone that has a quite pale and light skin tone, is a great deal!

I was so impressed that I applied a tiny bit on my face too and the result is really nice and natural.

So far it has surpassed my expectations and the next critical point is how it will fade as well as how it will look in a few days when I 'll repeat the application.

That's it for now, I hope you're all well and thriving!

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