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6 April 2014

SOAP & GLORY LID STUFF "WHAT'S NUDE"





 
I don't know about you and your make up routine but I usually tend to wear the same thing for couple of days or weeks straight and cannot imagine I would use anything different at that moment in time. These items varies from a foundation to a blush but currently I'm obsessed with a certain eyeshadow quad.

The quad I cherish at the moment is the Soap & Glory Lid Stuff in "What's Nude". If you are a lover of neutral eyeshadow and haven't tried this one yet I urge you to go to your nearest drugstore and pick it up. It's one of those fantastic products that everyone should have in their make up collection if only for the travelling purposes.

The quad contains every colour you need for your everyday look including three mattes and one satin shade. All of the shades are really buttery and easy to work with. The white shade "Vanilla" is a little bit on the chalky side but it's not that bad that it would stop me from using it. I still think it's a very nice colour and I find the colour pay off is better than my MAC Vanilla (is that a coincidence they have the same name or what?). I can't say much about the lasting power because I always use my NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base due to my oily lids and so everything last for hours and hours. If I apply it at 8am the eyeshadow is still intact at 9pm. Love it!

To create an everyday light smokey eye I start with applying "Pink T" shade all over my lid as it's a perfect pinky shade to even out my skin tone and it's completely matte. It's the one with the S&G embossing on. You can't see it on the pictures because I use mine a lot and so the text is long gone. I always feel sad when that happens but there's nothing you can do about it if you want to use the palette to its full potential. Next, I reach for the only shade with the satin finish called "Aubersheen" and apply it on two thirds of my eyelids starting on the outside corner of my eye. Btw. this colour is a great dupe for MAC Satin Taupe....just saying :-). Now, let me introduce you to my favourite shade from the whole palette called "Mudhoney". You might think it's a boring colour and it looks like that in the pan but I just cannot express enough how much I adore it! It's the perfect cool toned brown/grey colour for blending in my crease. "Mudhoney" has just the right amount of brown and grey colour that suits my skin tone perfectly. I even read some people use this shade for filling in their eyebrows but I am yet to try it. I will keep you posted. After I'm done with blending "Mudhoney" into the crease I apply "Vanilla" to the tear drop and under my brow bone for a matte highlighting effect and there you have it - a perfect daytime smokey eye. Depending on what I'm doing that day I add a brown or black eyeliner, a touch or two of mascara and I'm ready to go. Simple!

What I also love about this palette is that S&G didn't include any useless foam applicators so the palette is as compact as it can be and as I said at the beginning it's the perfect travel companion if you need to pack lightly. I really can't say enough good things about this palette, it has been my go to eyeshadow palette for the past month.

You can get it for example at Boots during their 3 for 2 offer they run very often.

Have you tried any of the S&G eyeshadow quads yourself? I would love to try more of their products so please don't forget to share your recommendation in the comments section :-)

19 February 2014

YANKEE CANDLE IN PINK SLIPPER LADY




Yankee Candle Pink Lady Slipper, 354 g

"A wonderfully soft and sweet spring bouquet, reminiscent of lovely rose petals, jasmine and violets."

I love this floral scent! I am not usually keen on floral scents as I much prefer citrus essences so this was a surprise to me. Yankee Candle in Pink Lady Slipper/Escarpin Rose has a beautifully baby pink colour that you cannot appreciate from the photos as I forgot to take a picture before I used it up. Sorry!

Describing scents is not something that comes easily to me so you might as well have to live with the Yankee Candle description above as I can only describe it as a light floral scent, nothing too intense just as I like it. When you light the candle up you won't notice the fragrance at first, you have to wait several minutes until the scent slowly distributes throughout your flat and then you can enjoy the unobtrusive fragrance. As I said, the scent is not too strong and some might find it even too weak but I prefer it this way. I like my flat to smell after the candle pleasantly and I don't appreciate it to be too overwhelming.

It claims to burn for 40-50 hours which I can neither confirm nor confute. However, I can honestly say it requires countless of long evenings to burn this lovely candle down.

The only negative I found is that you cannot burn the candle down completely. As you see from the photo above there is still quite a lot of wax left and it breaks my heart I cannot use it. The wicks are that big you use them up and there is still wax left at the bottom of the tumbler below their level. It is such a shame because I can see the wax lasting for couple more hours.

If you are into floral scents that are not too sweet or heavily scented this one is for you. I can highly recommend it for the upcoming spring season.

15 February 2014

NEW IN #1





I am starting first of my planned series called "NEW IN" where I am going to show you my new purchases and the reasoning behind the purchase of each product. As you can tell, it will not be a review in a sense of sharing my opinion on the performance of each product but just to make you aware of the future reviews coming.

Today, it will be more hair related post as I think they need a lot of love and care due to the drastic change I am going through currently.

1. REDKEN Extreme Strength Builder (250ml)
This is a product which was highly recommended by Kate from gh0stparties. She bleached her virgin hair to white blonde few weeks ago (or is it months already?!) and says that it really saved her hair. Since I am in a phase of going back to my natural colour from a very dark red, I need to incorporate as much as help to my hair routine as possible and this seemed just like the right product. The fact is I am also just about to run out of Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme (review is already in the works) and this seemed like a good option.

2. Dr. Rewinn's Renunail Nail Strengthener (30ml)
My nails are in desperate need of some strengthener and since O.P.I. Nail Envy Original did not seem to help much in this department I decided to try this HG of all beauty bloggers. I expect it will transform my nails from weak and brittle to super strong and healthy...which just reminds me I should do something about my diet too to make it more healthier in order to help my nails. What do you think I should start eating/drinking? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

3. KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Creme (125ml)
After seeing Rosie's Blow Out tutorial on her lifestyle blog The Londoner last year I knew I had to give it a go as I always envied her hair. The hair is picture perfect on each and every photo of her. How does she do it?! Well, the answer is in the blog post and even though I have not quite mastered the blow out technique yet I have added the taming creme to my beauty cabinet to help it a little bit. It claims to smooth out frizz, flyaways and protect the hair from the heat. I am excited to try it.

4. REDKEN Extreme Anti-Snap (250ml)
Yet another hair product recommended by Kate from gh0stparties. This time it's a product that should prevent breakage, split ends and should keep the hair healthy. I hope this product will help me to grow my locks longer even though I am still destroying it by all the bleach and colour.

26 January 2014

DR. LIPP ORIGINAL NIPPLE BALM FOR LIPS

Dr.Lipp_Original_Nipple_Balm_for_lips

From one of my previous posts you know I am constantly on a hunt for 'the' lip balm. I tried various drugstore lip balms and even though I liked them they were not exactly what I was looking for. My lips are on the dry side most of the time and that is why I hardly ever wear a lipstick or any lip colour for that matter unless it's a coloured lip balm/lip butter type of product. Last year, I decided to invest in a couple of more high end and hyped products to see if they will be any different.

First up is the Dr. Lipp original nipple balm for lips which falls in the category of multipurpose balms. I am sure most of you have already tried or at least heard about this product. It is very popular in the blogosphere and also between the make up artists. It is 100% natural and as it says on the tube made of one ingredient only (Medical Grade Lanolin, in case you are interested).

It claims to be odourless but I can smell that typical scent of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. Unfortunately, it is not the scent I am very fond of. The product itself is a yellow balm that comes out a bit thicker than I expected and I do not recommend using it outside in the winter as it gets even thicker and is very difficult to squeeze out of the tube.

It does stay on the lips longer than a regular lip balm but it feels too sticky for my liking. If you have chapped and dry lips like me you will not enjoy applying this due to its thick consistency. Therefore, I save this for overnight use only as I do not want to accentuate my dry lips even more. I cannot say I would be blown away by the results. To me, it feels like it just stays on the surface and does nothing in the long run and so my hunt for the perfect lip balm continues.



12 January 2014

KIKO SMOKEY DEFINER EYE BRUSH NO.212


KIKO_Smokey_Definer_Eye_Brush_no.212
KIKO_Smokey_Definer_Eye_Brush_no.212

During a long weekend in Milano last July, I popped into the KIKO Make Up Milano shop as it was completely new to me and since I love all things make up related it was almost compulsory to pay the shop a visit and of course, I did not leave empty handed!
 
I bought a fantastic quality cream eyeshadow and two make up brushes and you are going to get to know the first one today.
 
The full name is KIKO Smokey Definer Eye Brush No. 212 and is made of natural hair that does not shed. It has very short but dense hair and is very lovely to work with as it is not too harsh on the eyes. If you have sensitive eyes (like I do) you do not have to worry. It softly glides over your eyelids and does not do any damage like some of its cheaper pals. 
 
As the name suggests, it is great for defining the smokey eye look and that is also the way I use it. Yes, sometimes I use brushes for different jobs than what they were actually created for. I am guilty but I am sure I am not the only one out there or am I? When I create a smokey eye look I do not opt for a black gel/liquid liner to line my upper and lower lash line lately but reach for a black eyeshadow instead. It is more suble in my opinion and I love it at the moment. What is your favourite way of wearing a smokey eye look? I would like to know.
 
Overall, I think this is a great brush and you cannot beat it for the price of £10.90 and since KIKO is slowly opening its shops around Europe it is also becoming easier to get hold of. If you do not have a shop near you can always shop online at kikocosmetics.co.uk

3 January 2014

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES TRIPLE RENEWING MOISTURIZER



Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturizer

Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturizer
 
Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturizer 50 ml (£54)
 
In 2012, my friend was lucky to receive an offer of two facials for the price of one from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Prague. As you can imagine having a facial done at the Spa of the Mandarin Oriental is a luxury experience and therefore, is also very expensive. However, due to this offer we were able to afford it. Yes, we would be able to afford it even without this offer but I would never get my head around paying £100 for an hour of facial. I rather spend money on a thing or experience I can benefit from for longer than one hour or a day.
 
Thanks to this wonderful offer, I have found the best moisturizer I have ever used! At that time, Mandarin Oriental Prague was only using Aromatherapy Associates brand products for their spa treatments and it is where I got introduce to this brand and this moisturizer in particular.
 
Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturizer is part of the Essential skincare range. Aromatherapy Associates is not a 100% natural or organic brand but their products do not contain parabens, SLS, petrolatum and mineral oil. The only dissapointing fact for some might be that alcohol is the second listed ingredient on their website of this product. Despite this fact, I love this product!
 
Before I started using this moisturizer I only used products from the drugstore. I want to state that I have nothing against drugstore moisturizers, however, my skin did not like them very much. I have an acne prone, oily and dehydrated skin that just needs more. And Triple Rose Renewing Moisturizer delivers. I use it morning and night and my skin was never happier before. It makes it smooth, soft and hydrated. It is great for night as it has more time to work its wonders but I also like to use it in the morning as it is a fantastic moisturizer to put under your foundation.
 
The packaging is lightweight and travel friendly. It's a plastic tube with a pump so it is very easy to get the amount you need without wasting the product. There is nothing not to love about this product for me.
 
If you fancy giving it a go, it is currently on sale at beautybay.com for £45.90. I might need to buy a bottle myself as my third bottle is slowly running out. 
 





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