Sunday 29 December 2013

My 2013 Beauty OMGs Compilation!

During 2013 I "discovered" quite a few beauty gems, new and not so new, products that I purchased in 2013 and used throughout the whole year and I consider them as HG.

The OMG factor is the common ground, meaning that I don't just like them, but reallly really like them, love them, adore them, you get the idea.

Enough talking, let's see together in retrospect the...


Makeup

Guerlain Meteorites: I know, I know, I was not living under a rock but I did use them for the first time in December 2012. Winter or summer, rain or sunshine, a veil of glow is the armour I put on before I face the world. If you aren't by now fiberglasted by my eloquence (lolll), you can read all about my first encounter with these here .



Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains: these and the YSL Glossy Stains are all I wear, I'm feeling sad for the rest of my lip products that stay tucked away in a dark, cold drawer.  Some times I force myself to use them out of pity...poor lipsticks and lip glosses! Here are my thoughts on them.


Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream: The first BB cream I really loved, and the begging of a beautiful "friendship" with the Dior counter (my wallet is trying to brake us apart, no luck so far!).   Here you'll find a little ramble on it.


Nars Orgasm: I've been resisting it for the longest time, mainly because almost everyone on the face of earth was raving about it and I was sick and tired of the noise but now that I got it I can see why it is (was?) so popular. Pretty color, universally flattering, lovely sheen, I wear it year round, especially when I need a little extra oomph, a little extra perkiness (is that a word???) and vitality...and I say no more!



Benefit Rockateur Blush: another blush that is always at arm's reach. Perfect for the colder months, with a lovely bronzy peach tint, it works excellently as a subtle eyeshadow as well. Here is a mini review.



Le Volume de Chanel Mascara: Benefit They're Real is my HG mascara. I have a backup of it at all times. At the same time, during the whole year I was on a mission to find whereas there is a better one out there (does anyone else do the same?). To make a long story short, I ate a lot of mud but I found a gem and that is this mascara. It didn't displace the Benefit one, they're kind of sharing the first place.



Skincare

2013 was definitely the Caroline Hirrons year, a british skincare "expert" (she is undoubtedly a professional) that received huge amounts of popularity after her appearance in a video by the lovely Pixiwoo sisters.
So, this summer we rushed (or should I just say I did!) to get exfoliating toners and moisturising toners and what not, bringing back life to a product that at least for me was a relic of the past.
The sure thing is that the product I loved this year is not a miracle conjuring potion in a posh bottle but plain old...

Coconut oil! There is a saying "for every disease and ailment" and it fits like a glove here because I do use it on hair, face, body (it is virgin, unrefined, edible coconut oil) I also used it in the kitchen a few times and really liked it!). I use it as a moisturiser even under makeup and it doesn't affect it a bit! Love, pure love.



Origins Make a Difference Toner: this is the most OMG of the above mentioned OMGs, it's kind of "where have you been all my life" OMG.
I found it last spring for 9€ a bottle at the Estee Lauder bazaar and I decided to give it a try. Why didn't I purchase 10 bottles???? It feels so soft and soothing and moisturising and refreshing, I'm telling you, OMG!


Hair care

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray: lovely scent, lightweight, my hair feels soft and plush and moisturised, often on offer, love it!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour: I don't use hair masks that often and when I read about this one in a post by Tina I decided to give it a try.
I 'm glad I did because it does feel nourishing and the shine, OMG the shine afterwards, I'm talking golden locks style! Love love love, it smells lovely as well!



Perfume

I 'm closing this obscenely long post with an otherworldly OMG...Diptyque Philosykos.
It was in the first Glowbox and I love it unconditionally, if I could drink it, I would! Here is a legit ramble/rave about it!


Random

Not the Sigma Glove:if you like it but find it overpriced, here's a darn cheap alternative!

That's it for now, I wish you a smooth rest of 2013 and a glorious 2014!

Thursday 28 November 2013

What's in my shower tag!

Dear Tina from all the vanity tagged me, so, here it is!

Hair:

I'm currently trying a few products from the Macadamia line:

  • Rejuvenating Shampoo, great for dry or damaged hair. 
  • Deep Repair Masque, 7 minutes after shampoo mask 
  • Healing Oil Spray, just started using this one, fingers crossed it turns out good!
I recently took a turn to more natural hair products and this is the second brand I try. Sulfates and paraben free, color safe, so far so good, my hair feels soft, lightweight and well hydrated.


Body products:

I'm a huge fan of Korres body products, from the main brand and Kings & Queens as well.

They smell heavenly, feel nourishing and moisturising, are very affordable, natural and greek! What more can I ask?

My favorite fall/winter scent is cinnamon and these Vanilla Cinnamon shower gel and body milk are just divine, I stock up every time I see them on buy one get one free.


For a special occasion or night out, I love these Tom Ford Black Orchid shower gel and body milk because they smell sexy, seductive and luxurious (if that makes sense!) with some dark, vampy vibes. 

I do have them for over a year (I got them at my first ever visit to the Estee Lauder bazaar)  because i forget to use them (lol) but they're in top condition so far and hope they stay this way!


Tools of the trade:

First time ever I purchased a pair of The Body Shop scrub gloves must have been in high school. I got them just for the novelty, I had no idea if I would like them, but they were pink (what else?) and looked so cute and out of the ordinary.

Since then I 've purchased a lot of pairs, in every color available, because it's the only thing I use in my shower, every day.

I am gentle while at it and I do moisture well after use and my skin is baby soft, resulting in many compliments and I have converted quite a few friends and female colleagues into using them.

As for exfoliating, I can't stand grainy products on my body, so, once a week (during spring/summer) or twice a month (during fall/winter) I take an extra step and I exfoliate with a body brush.
This one was actually a gift to my brother who never used it, so I claimed it mine, it also comes with a long handle to reach the back.

It comes with out saying that I follow up with generous quantities of moisturiser and my skin stays silky smooth for days.


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

Sunday 17 November 2013

Fall 2013 favourites!

Lots of favourites, lots of photos, so let's get started!

Base
1. Mac BB Cream: lovely consistency, decent coverage, SPF 35, what more can I ask? I got it in the summer and I chose Light and it is a bit dark for me now, so on the high planes of my face I use a bit of the following item.

2. MAC Prolongwear Concealer: shade NW15 is perfect on my cheeks, forehead, nose chin and under eyes because it is quite light so a tiny bit of this blended ith my foundation works as a charm.

3. Mac Strobe Cream: I mix it up with my foundation or BB cream and it adds a lovely luminosity to my skin because by itself now days it is quite dry and dul.



4. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer:  I got it in the shade Honey in order to use it more as a corrector than a concealer, in the inner corner and under my eyes and it works like a charm.

5. UD 24/7 Concealer Pen: I was debating for a lot time whether I should get this or not (in the never ending quest for the HG concealer, lol!) and I am very happy I did. I chose shade CIA and it is perfect for adding light exactly where I want (inner eye corners mostly). It is very creamy and it stays put pretty well.

6. Benefit Eyebright: its subtle pink tint is ideal to add some life to tired, sleepy eyes! I use it on the inner eye corners, on the waterline, even on my lids.

Cheeks

1. MUA blushes in Milan and New York: I'm not yet ready for toned down cheeks so when I don't use my beloved Benefit Rockateur use these two MUA blushes, they add a pretty tinted sheen to my cheeks.


2. Clarins Bronzing Duo in Light and MUA Barcelona: I love the Clarins because it is light enough to show up and add dimension to my face without warming up my cheeks too much. The MUA has a pretty champaign sheen and I use it in conjunction with matte blushes.



3. Jemma Kidd Iced Gold and Mac Lightscapade highlights: somedays I prefer a cream highlight others a powder, I love them both!


4. Mac Prep+Prime and Guerlain Meteorites Perles in 01 Finishing powders: I use the Mac mainly to set under eye concealer, it is perfect for that. The Guerlain is an everyday staple since I got it, I love it for the lovely glow and brightness it adds to my face.



Eyes

1. UD Naked 2, Naked Basics and Too Faced Summer Eye palettes: what can I say, I've been neglecting my Mac palette over these babies!






2. Le Volume de Chanel mascara in Prune: OMG! Definitely a HG mascara but I say no more because this baby deserves a proper review!


3. Benefit Gimme Brow: when I got it I wasn't impressed because I was using it the wrong way! Now I drag it on my brows and it is the easiest, quickest way to achieve full, natural brows. 

Lips

Mac lipsticks in:
Pure Zen, Haute Altitude, Cockney and Oh Oh Oh. I decided to show some love to my Mac lippies because the Revlon Colorburst Balm Stains were all I wore for spring and summer!




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

Monday 28 October 2013

What's in my bag!

It's been almost a year since my last "what's in my bag" post, so here's an update!

I have this bag for almost two months now and I absolutely love it because it is spacious but not overwhelming, meaning that it holds everything I want but it doesn't look bigger than me and I can carry it easily because it is very lightweight.

The funny part is that I was looking everywhere for a pink bag or one with pink accents and when I saw this one it was love at first sight!

It is a coated DKNY tote and I got it at the Nine West outlet at Factory Outlet.

Without further ado, here it is!


Here 's a look inside

 

I have also attached a little hand antibacterial at the back for easy access


Makeup bag, wallet, a pink pouch for my mobiles, car and home keys, car papers, tissue paper, lighter, lipbalm and chewing gum. 


Here's what I currently keep in my makeup bag.



  • EOS hand cream
  • Mac Cockney lipstick
  • A Hondos Center wet tissue (life saviour!)
  • Clarins lipbalm
  • Two Revlon Kissable Balm Stains in Lovesick and Rendezvous
  • Mac mini blush brush
  • Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer
  • YSL mini black eye pencil
  • Bourjois brow pencil
  • Travalo atomiser containing a B&BW body mist
  • Mac Hibiscus Kiss blush/bronzer
  • Folding hair brush
  • Mini Mac Fix +
That's my current handbag configuration and I 'm going to keep it like this for a while because I do enjoy it very much.

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

Sunday 20 October 2013

Benefit mini haul!

A few weeks ago a Sephora 35% off sales gave me the opportunity to try a few brand new Benefit items and here they are along with my thoughts on them.



Rockateur blush: everyone is raving about this blush so it was the first item on my wishlist. As soon as I swatched on my hand it went straight into my basket because it is a lovely peachy/pink/bronzy shade with a very pretty sheen and it is ideal for all seasons more so for fall and winter. It is the kind of shade that can be the star of a no makeup look, or can be the best - shy but still there - friend of a smokey eye or red lip, it all depends on application. 

I've also used it as an eyeshadow all over the lid and up to the crease, it defines beautifully the eyes.

Shadewise it does remind me a tiny bit of Sunbasque by Mac but less pigmented and more caramel.  

The only thing I really dislike about it is the packaging, I find it very tacky and cheap looking.

Here is a swatch as well as one next to Sunbasque (on the left)





Stay Flawless 15h primer: face products have a hard time trying (unsuccessfully) not to slide off my face after the first couple of hours.  So I thought I should give it a try and I am very happy I did because it definitely works!

According to Benefit you're supposed to apply it one section of the face, follow up quickly with foundation, then cover another section of the face, follow up with foundation, etc.

Well, I'm a little impatient so I slap it on all over my face and then I quickly put some bb cream on my hands and massage it thoroughly all over my face. Then I go over with a brush so as to blend everything perfectly.

It really feels like putting stick glue all over my face and in essence that's what it does. It acts like a medium to adhere the foundation on the skin and if I overdo it it certainly feels tacky but the feeling goes away as soon as I put on the foundation.

As for color, it is clear although in the stick it looks quite beige.

The only thing I'm concerned about is that it may dry out quickly so I always put on the internal lid and then the large lid.

Gimme Brow in light/medium: this is the only product I am still on the fence about. I've tried it alone on my sparse brows but it took a lot of work to achieve the desired result, it is much easier and faster with a pencil or eyeshadow. Maybe it's the tiny brush or just the fact that it is something new.
On the other hand the tiny brush makes it perfect for detailed work, it's just that I am not that patient.
I love it though after I've done my brows because it really makes them stay in place all day.


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

Thursday 17 October 2013

Clay Masks: Ren Detox & Glamglow

Face masks is a relatively new idea to me because I discovered how beneficiary and fun they are only a few months ago.

I have normal to dry (in the colder months) dehydrated skin and I wanted a weekly step towards really cleaning my skin because I do live in a city, commuting every, so I was looking for something more.

So, today 's post is about clay or "mud" masks. But, first of all, what does a clay mask do?

  • Deep clean the skin, pulling away all dirt, grime etc that's been building up, especially if you're living in places with high pollution etc.
  • Getting rid of dead cells
  • Stimulate blood flow
  • So you end up with fresh "baby" skin
They're primarly marketed towards combination/oily/acne prone skins but it doesn't mean they can't be used by other skin types, it just takes a little extra care:

I don't let it fully dry before washing it off because if I let it totally dry my skin feels parched afterwards. 

How I use them: 

Once a week, I apply a moderate amount all over my face, neck and on the upper part of my hands, leave it on for 6-7 minutes and then rinse off. I always follow up with a hydrating mask. 



Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask:

I got this one out of pure curiosity, with a hefty discount on some online store, I think about 17€ final price.

It claims to:
  • Reduce the appearance of pore size and blackheads
  • Draw out impurities
  • Leave the skin purified, smooth and toned
Does it deliver?

I don't have blackheads so I can't tell you about that but it does all the rest. 

What I love about it:
  • Brilliantly designed package with an little stopper attached to the pump so that it stays shut, keeping the product sanitary and the pump from clogging at the same time.
  • Creamy, smooth consistency that spreads very easily
  • Doesn't irritate my skin, doesn't feel weird on.
  • Easy to wash off.
  • Leaves my skin baby soft and fresh
  • Parabens, sulfates, mineral oil etc free

What I don't love about it: 

At first I used to remove it by rubbing it off while dry and then I washed it off. This way my skin was extra smooth but the sink etc was covered by a fine powder (the dry product I rubbed off my face), very messy to clean!

Glamglow Youthmud Treatment

This is a hyped product and I got it on a whim, when I saw it 35% off at my local Sephora (I think 30+€)

It claims to:
  • Leave the skin radiant and glowing
  • Activate moisturising collagen synthesis
  • Exfoliate
  • Tighten skin texture and pores
  • Leave skin smoother brighter, softer and more youthful looking
  • Absorb impurities without removing natural oils
  • Help to protect against free radical damage

Does it deliver?

Well, as it happens some times when a product is so much praised, it didn't wow me.

My bait was the "radiant and glowing" aspect of this miracle in a jar.

I know that this is a gimmicky way to lure consumers and I should know better but deep down I did hope it will give my dull, tired complexion a little boost, like a mini exotic holidays in a bottle (no, I'm not 5 years old, just a gemini that when reason doesn't prevail I get a liiiitle tiny bit carried away with expectations!)

Leaving the glow mishap aside, it is a very good clay mask, doing more or less the same thing my Ren Detox mask does. It is also paraben free.

What (other) I don't love about it:

  • The consistency! I have never seen anything like it. It is a thick paste (you have to shake it up before use, I don't just shake it up, I put it in the washing machine, lol).
  • It is difficult to spread it out evenly. 
  • It has some leaves in it that hang off and make my face look like a salad bowl after lunch. 
  • It doesn't want to come off and I don't want to use extra pressure because it isn't smooth and I don't want to scratch my face by accident. 
  • I don't like jars (in general) I find them unsanitary and more chances for the product to go bad faster.

I don't count as a negative the strong tingling sensation because I don't mind nor do I have sensitive skin. 

Bottom line: I will definitely use it up but I will not repurchase. Out of the two I definitely prefer the Ren one.

Glamglow on the left, Ren Detox on the right








Word of notice: when you use a product for the first tine, skincare more so, always test it on your arm before use. You never now if there is something in it that will irritate your skin.

What's your favorite mask?

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

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