Spring 2013: Collective Fashion Haul!

First of all, Happy Spring!

Some of the following items are recent purchases and others were purchased far back in December or January, but being cold and all, I was not in the mood to show them to you.

So, after the weather changed to a more spring like temperature (hopefully for good!) I thought it was the perfect time.

Enough talk, let's get started!

Zara flat sandals. These have a sort of oriental vibe to me (I don't know why!) but the combination of shiny little things on nude was sending off messages to my unconscious "you need us, you need us" ...

H&M stone beige boots, I got them half price (20€) last Saturday. I have no idea how I'm gonna style them but I couldn't resist!

H&M grey scarf 8€. I'm not a huge fan of animal prints, snake prints, etc but I liked the color combination.

Blanco scarf about the same price. I love the colors, I think that it will be perfect with blue jeans and a plain white top.

River West Emily rose gold watch 25€ on sale. I 've been stalking this watch for a long time on asos but it was never in stock, so I was very surprised when I saw it available during the sales, last January. I get compliments every time I wear it and when I tell them the price they can't believe it!

Accessorize outlet necklace 3€. Such prices do make me reconsider purchasing stuff full price and every time I go to the Factory Outlet I always check out the Accessorize stand. I love how pretty and dainty it is.

Mac Archie's coin purse 29€ (I think). Long story short: I went on the first day the collection launched. I swatched. A lot. I left with the coin purse only because I loved the cuteness of the design!

Now the "collector" in me bangs my head on to the wall yelling at me "you must get a pearlmatte! You must get a pearlmatte!"

On another note, does any one else hears voices or it's just me? LOL!

Blanco black and white scarf. I love it so much because it's simple yet tasteful.

H&M animal print scarf. I've already worn this to shreds. I just love it!

Zara anorak 59€. I didn't plan on paying 59€ for a basic beige anorak but this one filled a hole in my closet, meaning that I was looking for something like that. This one appealed to me a lot because it's sporty but in a chic, urban way and it can be worn with a lot different styles. I also liked the fact that the upper part is cotton and the lower part synthetic, the difference in texture adds a nice detail.

Zara shirt. I found this little gem during the winter sales and I snatched it up on the spot!

Sprider shirt. This one was also purchased during the winter sales and it was very affordable (5€ I think). I love not only the color but the fabric as well, it's buttery soft.

Spider shirt. Purchased at the same time with the above, I think 5€ as well. I'm getting a retro 50's aura here!

Zara trafaluc peach burnished tee 9€. Just a basic t-shirt with an interesting fabric pattern. I liked it so much I got a black one as well.

H&M khaki t-shirt, 8€. I do wear a lot of beige and khaki during spring and summer and this one appealed to me because of the see through upper part.

H&M shirt from the conscious collection, 15€. I love the pattern, the cut, everything!

Zara shirt. One more item I got during the winter sales (15€ I think). I just love it, the background is a lovely dusty mint almost green.

Zara shirt. Purchased with the above, I think at the same price. No paisley fan here but the color combination is very subtle and tasteful and almost bohemian.

Zara blouse. Also purchased with the above but it was from the spring collection, I can't remember the price but I found irresistible the texture and color combo.

Any must haves this spring? Do share your thoughts!

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

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

First ever Nars haul!

I 've been drooling over Nars stuff for ages, but I was always skeptical mainly because:

• they 're quite expensive,
• narscosmetics.eu charge 24€ for delivery (Nars, really???)
• asos.com does not deliver Nars to Greece
• they 're not available elsewhere, apart from hqhair.com, at least to my knowledge.

So, being pricy and not readily available online were the two reasons that turned me off from buying any Nars product.

That changed when they launched the The Happening" LE palette. As soon as I saw it I wanted it. Desperately. LOL!

So, I checked on narscosmetics.eu but there was no way I was going to pay 24€ shipping fee.

Instead, I just gave my email address in order to be included in their mailing list and waited for a free shipping code or something similar.

And, lo and behold, a couple days later I received an email about free shipping if the order was 50€ or more!

Also, there was a code for a free mini Orgasm illuminator for the first purchase.

It goes without saying that I decided not to wait any longer and rushed to the site to make my order.

While browsing the rest of the stuff, I noticed that the American Dream palette was still available (you can see it in my fall 2012 whishlist, here), and (against any reasonable thinking) I decided to fulfill my Nars appetite with this palette too!

Oh well, it's not a big deal to survive the remaining of the month on pasta and ketchup!!!

My experience on buying from Nars: the only really negative is their shipping fee, so, if you 're interested, make sure to be in their mailing list, this way you 'll receive notifications of new products, free shipping, etc.

The shipping itself took 7 working days, mainly because there was a delay in Italy due to weather conditions.

They also provide full tracking, meaning that you can check the status and the whereabouts of your order.

Packaging: very slim and tight (no bulky boxes), very well padded, everything safe and sound!

Enough said, let's move on tho the haul!

Orgasm mini illuminator:

This is a mini, 8ml deluxe sample. It can be used on the cheekbones etc as a highlighter or mixed with the foundation for a little "afterglow" result (insert naughty laughter).

Being on the pale side I'm a little afraid to use it in the middle of winter, although I think it will be ok mixed with my foundation.

If you have it, please let me know how you use it!

American Dream palette:

For 49€ you get 9 grams of product in 6 eyeshadows, that means almost 8€ for 1,5 grams per eyeshadow. In Mac terms it would cost 90€. Even in pan form, they cost 10€ each (if I'm not mistaken), so the total cost would be 60€. My point is that they 're not that expensive (at least in comparison to Mac eyeshadows).

Isn't it prrrreeeeettttyyyyy?

I think that apart from the lovely colors, this is a well thought of palette because you get your highlights, midtones and dark colors, as well as a matte, perfect for the crease. So, with this little tool you can accomplish quite a few different looks.

I love them all with Galapagos (the dark brown on the low left corner) being the most favorite, because of the gold shimmer.

There 's actually nothing not to like about them as far as pigmentation, blendability and texture are concerned.

The only issue I have is with Silk Road (the pink on the top right corner) because it has a few chunky particles, but it is a gorgeous color nonetheless.

The swatches are on bare skin, no primer underneath them.

Bellissima, Alhambra, Silk Road

Galapagos, Bali, Tzarine

The Happening Eyes and Cheeks palette:

It includes two iconic Nars products (Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer) and for this reason alone I think this is not an item for the Nars loyal fans, but, on the other hand I think this is the ideal introduction to a Nars "virgin", like myself!

 

Orgasm blush is a pretty peach/coral shade with a gorgeous gold shimmer duo chrome, better suited for spring and summer.

 

Laguna is a lovely bronzer with fine shimmer, ideal for fair and light skin tones.

 

It also includes four eyeshadows: Night Star, Gstaad, Kuala Lumpur and Coconut Grove. I don't find them to be unique or outstanding in any way, but they do compliment beautifully the color scheme of the palette.

 

I think that it is the perfect travel companion because of its small size, it fits perfectly even into my purse.

Swatches on bare hand (with no primer underneath).

Orgasm in comparison to Benefit's Bella Bamba, Mac's Flower Fantasy and Mac's Legendary

Laguna in comparison to Nude on Board, Lush-Light Bronze, Equillibrium and Pressed Amber (all by Mac).

Here are some photos to give you an idea of the size.

In comparison to a Mac palette

In comparison to UD Naked 2 palette

In comparison to an Inglot palette

Have you tried a Nars product? Any recommendations?

 

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

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Shiseido Camelia blush

I can't remember exactly how I first saw this blush but it was love at first sight! I googled it, read a few blogposts about it and then I was on my way to my nearest beauty store!

A little info: the Shiseido Camelia Compact is a limited edition blush that was launched a few months ago in order to commemorate Shiseido's 140 years of history.

Packaging: sleek, chic and luxurious without being fussy or over the top, adorned with the camelia flower.

The product: in a few words it's a glorious 3 in 1 blush.

When I first opened the compact at home, I discovered that the whole pan was covered by a layer of glitter. I'm not talking about shimmer or iridescent particles or anything fine and sweet, I'm talking about straight on glitter!

 

So, after skipping a couple of heartbeats, thinking that maybe this was a different product (lol!) I decided to try and see if I could get rid of this shitload of shattered disco ball. I took it over the sink and brushed the top with a big powder brush.

TG it was just a loose overspray so it took only a couple of gentle swipes and my blush was finally there (it goes without saying that my sink was sooo pretty, sparkly and festive afterward!)

What you get is two blushes and a highlight:

• the higlight is almost matte and very close to white, so it adds dimension without texture, I really love it!
• the pink blush is very pretty alone but also very handy to tone down the next blush
• which is a pigmented, vibrant poppy red

In application, I don't swirl my brush in it because I want to keep the shades separate and in pristine condition. Also, with swirling the brush picks up too much pigment.

 

So, I tap it in the red shade, tap it once on my hand and then I tap it lightly on my cheeks (tap tap tap is the way!). This way I get the much talked of "flush" on my cheeks and it looks very pretty and fresh.

I also wear the pink shade alone, or I apply ioften combination with the red shade, on the high planes of my cheeks, when I'm after a more sculpted look.

As for the brush I use with it, I find the elf studio blush brush exremely handy because it has the right size so as to pick up only the shade I choose.

Here's a hand swatch, I tried to blend the three together but it didn't work because I picked a bit too much of the red shade!

I also find it very handy for these days when I'm going out straight after work and want to have a kind of day to night touch up on the go.

 

Do you like multitasking products? If yes, what's your favorite?

 

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

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Guerlain Meteorites: Perles du Dragon and Teint Rose 01

I decided to kick off 2013 with a spectacular product and I'm wishing you all to have a spectacular year!

Meteorites Perles: created by Guerlain, they're supposed to create an even, flawless and radiant complexion due to light manipulation "technology".

They can be used as a highlight on the high planes of the cheeks etc, or as a setting powder for all over glow.

They also come in various formats (compact, in loose form, with more or less fine shimmer) and color combinations.

It's a fact that I've been lusting over the Meteorites by Guerlain for a very long time but never actually visited a Guerlain counter to even see them in person, mainly because:

• I thought they were exuberantly expensive and also because
• I was very skeptical about the actual result of this product, thinking that it probably was just the emperor's new clothes.

But, life works in mysterious ways and now I'm happy to own not one but two of these little containers of mirth.

Meteorites Perles du Dragon: I came across these online, while browsing the new (holiday 2012) collections and I immediately loved the black tin with the brushed gold rosette on top. But that was about it.

A few days later, at work, we exchanged christmas gifts with my immediate colleagues the way we do it for a few years now: we collect money all year long (delivery change etc) and coming Christmas we add a little sum and each one of us gets an "unexpected" Christmas present, usually something fun and totally unnecessary!

So imagine my surprise when I opened a little sephora bag and saw this! I did the happy dance on the spot! After a second I started complaining that they shouldn't gift me something so expensive but the colleague that actually went to the store reassured me that it wasn't that expensive because there was a 35% off sales!

The biggest surprise came later on, when I actually used it all over my face: I was smitten!

Although I couldn't see anything (apart from a sparse extra tiny soft iridescence in very close inspection, like 2 cm from the mirror) my face looked like it was lit, like I was in the shadow and stepped into the light! It looked brighter, fresher, softer, my (moderate) imperfections were somehow blurred, it worked in a way that I had never seen before, with any product.

It goes without saying that I was mightily impressed and I wore it every night during the holidays, either for family gatherings or for going out and regardless the occasion, I got more compliments than before!

The facts: Perles du Dragon are from the holiday 2012 LE Liu collection by Guerlain. The actual product is named after the current chinese year of the dragon. The whole collection was inspired by Liu, a famous oriental fragrance by Guerlain.

Meteorites Perles in 01 Teint Rose: it took me just one day (after receiving the Perles du Dragon) to run to the store and buy the "everyday" form (meaning less iridescent and more appropriate for daylight) of the Meteorites. I was lucky to find them still on 35% off sales, so I (think) i paid 36€. It's definitely not cheap but I still believe this is the best makeup splurge of my life (so far, lol!).

The effect is the same as with the Perles du Dragon but more subtle and undetectable to the eye. It's like a transparent veil of light, blurring imperfections, softening lines and giving a fresh radiance and glow to my - otherwise - dull complexion. It also works perfectly as a setting powder and I also think that it keeps my makeup from oxidizing, even during long working days (8+ hours).

 

The facts: Meteorites Perles come it three shade variations:

• 01 Teint Rose is the lightest one and it is supposed to brighten the complexion,
• 02 Teint Beige is supposed to give a warm glow to the skin and
• 03 Teint Dore is supposed to brighten golden complexions

The tin comes with 30g of product, meaning that they will last for years, even with everyday use.

How I use it: I turn it once upside down (with the lid on of course, lol!) so that any loose powder will come on top of the beads. Then I take a large brush and swirl it into them and I dust the powder all over my face. I repeat once more (or twice), it never gets cakey although my skin is dry. I use it on top of liquid foundation, on top of powder foundation, on bare skin, it works any way. I also use it to set my under eye concealer.It doesn't fade, it doesn't oxidize or alter in any way, it just stays put all day long.

One last thing: inside the tin there is a latex sponge. It's there so as to keep the beads snugly into the tin. I don't use it to apply the powder on my face not only because it would be unsanitary but also because it will compromise the product in the long run.

To me this is a very impressive product. Be cautious though because what works for one person may not work for another. So, in case you got tempted, before you spend your money on it, got to a Guerlain counter and ask the SA to apply it on you. Don't decide on the spot. Continue with your day plan, just check yourself in the mirror a few times (lol!). If you like what you see, in sunlight, in the shadow, in store lights, then this product is for you!

 

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

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy