A touch of sheer..

I know, it's absolutely shameless of me to disappear like this, but I've been very busy preparing for the bikini season, hitting the gym hard and trying out some anti cellulite and fat blasting treatments (about which I might blog later on if I'm pleased with results)

So for today I've got two very exciting Korean products that were recommended to me by my very good friend.

LANEIGE Snow BB Essence Balm is a very light cream (that i accidentally pressed and squashed , so there is not going to be a picture of how it looks inside as it is ..erm... squashed, but trust me it didn't make it worse). This balm comes with a sponge and I think it is the easiest way to apply it. It is quite sheer, but evens out the skin tone and makes you looks fresh and dewy.

The other one is IOPE Air Cushion Sunblock EX. Which is quite similar to Laneige ..but...just have a look what's inside!!

So...Inside there is an 'air cushion', a sponge that is soaked with a very light bb cream, it is almost watery. With the package you get two cushions that come separately wrapped , after you insert one of them inside the powder box it is ready to use! It also comes with the sponge that you should press against the cushion to get some product and then apply to skin. It is super light and I think is just great for spring and summer when you don't want to have loads of make up on your face. If you have a slightly oily skin like me, you might want to use a bit of setting powder after as this product is ought to create this dewy skin look. 

I might add the my skin felt moisturised all day and it didn't seem that the product was sitting on top of skin, and was barely noticeable. 

Both products have this very delicate smell that reminds me of green tea scent.

Have you tried these products or something similar?

What did you think?

You Make Me Blush...

On my latest trip to Superdrug store I got my grabby hands on some Sleek products.

I just love the simple packaging and the products themselves are of a very good quality.

Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette is a must-have if you like sculpted and defined face and just need that extra oomph for those killer cheek bones. The brownish shade is to give the definition, but make sure you blend it well for better results. The lightest powder is a very nice highlighter which illuminates skin instantly and just makes it glow. The palette also includes a peachy blush with some bronze shimmer in it. I absolutely loooove this palette. It just makes you look so fresh as if you spent a week somewhere warm and sunny. I think these shades will work well on both pale skin tones and when you get a tan. Oh, almost forgot to say, that I experimented a bit and used these powders as eyeshadow and it looked amazing.

Sleek Blush By 3 is a set of highly pigmented matte blushers. They are quite intense, but in my opinion, if used in moderation and blended well they will make you look very fresh. The palette includes three shades: shocking pink, darker pink one and quite a dark red.

I also recently tried the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in So Pretty. It comes in very cute little bottle like those ones you would have paint in. It's very liquid and thin, so to achieve a more intense and bright effect you might want to apply a couple of layers. It is super fun to use and very easy to blend, I usually just use my fingers to put it on. The shade I have is natural pink with some golden shimmer in it, so it gives a bit of a glow.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

Will you consider getting any of them?

It's all about the hair...

I recently came across the brand called Osmo and kinda went crazy and bought 3 hair products at once. If you are looking for a leave-in conditioner or some spray that will help you straighten your locks, you probably should try these. They are quite affordable with price ranging from £5 to £9 and I got mine from Amazon as I find it very convenient.

Osmo Staighten Up 3 Day Keratin Complex is to be used on wet hair and applied section by section before you start drying and then to reinforce the effect it's suggested to use straightening iron. I'll be completely honest with you and admit that I can not comment whether the straight style stay for 3 days, as I really like washing my hair every morning, but I can definitely say, that when I wake up my hair still smooth and curl-free like it was the night before. I also don't use straightening iron, but the results that I get only   with hairdryer and a brush is quite good.

Osmo Deep Moisturising Hair Repair is leave in treatment that helps to "strengthen and reconstruct hair without weighing them down." It also has Patchouli and Ylang Ylang extracts in it, so it smells absolutely lovely. All you need to do is spray this product evenly over the towel dried hair, brush it and then dry. 

Osmo Wonder: 10 Effects Leave-in Treatment. Just like his brothers this spray should be applied on to wet hair before drying, but sometimes when I feel it was not enough I add some more on the ends when I'm done with drying my hair. This leave-in treatment promises to achieve 10 effects: repair dry hair, nourish and protect for radiant shine, give thermal protection from styling tools, deliver soft and silky manageable results, help to protect colour, help to create body and movement, detangles your hair, aids in prevention of static, conditions, smoothes split ends and controls frizz!

Wow what a multi- tasker! Yes to this!

What I really like about all of this products is that they really don't weigh the hair down and make it appear greasy. My hair looks very full,voluminous and shiny , yet all the frizz is gone and the ends are smooth. No matter how you wear your hair up or down, it just makes hair more manageable and smooth, which is always nice.

So the bottom line is, these products definitely worth trying!Just pick the one to meet your needs.

Have you heard of Osmo before? HAve you tried their products? What are your thoughts?

There is never enough palettes..

Seems like eternity since the last time I posted something here, but now when all exams are behind and university days are over I can finally do what I like the most!

I seem to have this weird obsession with eye palettes..I have quite a big collection of those and it is never enough. 

So during my last trip to Superdrug store I couldn't hold myself together when my eyes spotted the new MUA Undress Me Too eye palette, that consists of 12 gorgeous shades. It's my 3rd Mua eye palette and I just can't get enough of them and for only £4 per palette it's a great value for money. The quality Mua products , in my opinion, is amazing, considering the price.

Undress Me Too has a selection of matte and shimmery brown, beige and bronzy shades and also includes a black eye shadow , so it makes this palette perfect for creating both everyday looks and some darker smoky eye. 

I also got a Barry M Kohl Pencil in a rich gold shade, I was looking for one for quite a long time but others I've tried never were the right colour. This kohl is quite creamy and soft which make it easy to smudge and blend and I think looks great when applied on the lower eye lid and instantly brightens up the eyes and makes you look fresh.

Do you have any Mua palette? Which one is your favourite? 

Bright Blue? Deep Purple!

Even though I promised myself to write here regularly, but nevertheless I just didn't have time to share anything here (busy university days are to blame, but soon it's gonna be over..eh..)

Anyway, I've got something super exciting last week and couldn't wait to try it!

I got pretty bored with all my gels lately and was searching for something new and interesting. So a friend of mine told she tried this amazing colour changing gel.

Needless to say that I turned to my old friend Amazon the same evening in hope to get something similar!And oh how lucky I was to come across Bluesky Gel Nail Polish (shade 024 on the pictures).
They have quite a few interesting colour combinations like hot pin and white, beige and brown and other check out Bluesky gels to choose your shade!The gel changes colour depending on the temperature.

To be honest when my gel arrived I was quite worried to try it, as the formula seemed to be super thick and I was afraid I might have some problems drying and applying it.
When I finally got some courage to try it and prepared myself for the worst I was very pleasantly surprised how easy it was to use. I needed 3 coats of colour and it dried very quickly, didn't go bubbly or wrinkly at all.
I find it very intrertaining watching my nails change colour!When warm my nails are bright blue, when cold deep purple. But there are a few shades in-between..from darker blue to deep blue, and sometimes they can be gradient. I guess the effect is even better on longer nails.
My gel has some silvery white glitter of different sized which I find looks very pretty!

What are your thoughts? Would you like to try?

Sally Hansen InstaGel Strips

I have probably never been more excited about any product!Since my friend gave me Sally Hansen InstaGel Strips as a present after her visit to America I just couldn't wait to try them, but I had to wait a couple of weeks until one of nail broken nails would grow off...oh those were the two longest weeks of my life. I had to hide a box, so it wouldn't remind me about itself everyday.

And finally today after a thorough inspection I have decided that my defective nail is back on track and can handle some new product testing.

So you can get this product in two options. Option one is the starter kit which includes 16 strips, nail file, nail cleanser, orange stick, gel top coat and a mini LED lamp. Option two includes the same minus the LED lamp. So I had a second kit, because I'm and experienced gel user and already have a lamp!Yay!

So first of all, this product is absolutely fool proof. I just couldn't believe how easy it was to use.

You just need to shape your nails first and choose the strip which will fit your nail. After you've done that, just peel off the protective seal and place the patterned film on your nail. The film is very thin and has a sticky surface that goes on the nail, but it's surprisingly easy to apply, once you've spread the strip over the nail and made sure there are n creases, just file off all the excess. It's very similar to nail wraps, but easier to apply!

After all the nails got their strip, just put the gel top coat as you would a normal nail polish and dry it for a couple of minutes in the LED or UV lamp. And you are done!!That easy!

To take it off just use acetone remover.

The manicure should last for up two weeks.

I'm not quite sure if you can get them in UK yet, but you can have a look at Sally Hansen  website they have quite a big selection of fun colour options!

Have you heard of Sally Hansen InstaGel Strips? Are you tempted to try? 

Shampoo update

If you are like me looking for a shampoo that makes your hair squeak when you are washing it, then you might be interested in trying these shampoo and conditioner.

Sacha Juan Volume Shampoo and Conditioner are on my favourites list now , because I'm kind of obsessed with shampoos that make your hair squeaky clean and do not leave a slimy residue. I like that they feel very light , even the conditioner doesn't weigh down the hair, yet they leave your locks very shiny, voluminous, moisturised and smelling so fresh and nice.

If you're interested check out their website Sacha Juan, they have haircare catering to different needs such as dry, normal or coloured hair and a great range of styling products

Have you tried any of Sacha Juan products?

Hair

There are two hair products that I was quite excited to try, but still can't make my mind about how I feel about them.

Phyto Huile D'Ales is a hydrating oil treatment for dry hair. The box included 5 ampules with the treatment solution, little white plastic cap that you can see in the picture is for breaking the ampules safely and a little bottle where you can pour the solution and spray over the hair. The formula of this product is not oily at all and it's water soluble so it makes it pretty easy to wash off. It smells very nice, but gets very sticky, so you can not comb the hair after you sprayed the solution over the hair. The instruction tells to keep on the hair for up to 30 minutes and then shampoo your hair as usual. Hm.. I can not say I was really impressed with the results... My hair felt conditioned, but still a bit dry..Maybe I was expecting too much or maybe it's just my hair that is that badly damaged.

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask. I seriously could not wait for it to arrive after I ordered it from Cult Beauty. This American brand uses rahua oil that has been a secret of women of Amazon forest for centuries , it is known to make hair lustrous, thick and flowing.

It says to squeeze a generous amount and keep it for 10-15 minutes. I should admit that I experience a little (but very annoying) problem every time as to get a sufficient amount for my quite long hair I need to press the pump a million times and if you are doing it in the shower the bottle gets very slippery and it just turns into the battle. I really wish it was in a simpler bottle with the lid that you can unscrew.

I find it very confusing and still can not form an opinion about this hair mask as my hair feels different after each time I use it. Sometimes it's perfectly shiny and moisturised, sometimes it's dry and frizzy. Hm..maybe it's again my hair??

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

Skin Saviours

Probably like many others I suffer with very dry skin, especially in winter, when it's cold and windy. My elbows get super dry and at times I'm just scared to look at my hands- they are so red and sore.

I've tried so many different creams and lotions, but they seem to only work when they are still on the skin- as soon as you wash it off, you are back at square one. I should say that taking vitamin E helps tremendously, but I also have some secret weapon.

FSC Vitamin E Cream with Calendula is very rich cream that almost doesn't smell of anything. It's very calming and soothing, moisturises perfectly. I should say it's one of my favourites and I only have a tiny bit left and definitely going to restock, it's pretty cheap and a great value for money.

Egyptian Magic is an all purpose cream as it says on the packaging, but do not believe it, it's not a cream, it is more like a wax, you really need just a tiny bit as it is very rich, it instantly melts onto the skin, leaving it super smooth. It contains olive oil, beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis extract therefore it has very strong healing properties.

I purchased Goe Oil last week from Liberty and since I've tried it all I can do is rave about how good it is. This balm is an impressive blend of such oils and butters as monoi tiare oil, grape seed butter, jojoba butter  and kukuinut oil just to name a few. It comes out of the tube quite thick, but it's enough to warm it up between your palms to liquify the oil, it smells absolutely gorgeous and gets absorbed immediately. 

A great thing about this product that it has a million uses, you can even use it on the hair as a mask or a smoothing serum.

What are your skin saviours?

Molton Brown

Hey guys!

Just a quick one for today!

Replenished my shower gel strategic reserve and wanted to spread my excitement.

They are both from Molton Brown, the purple is one of my favourites Relaxing Yuan Zhi, it kind of reminds me of Escada perfumes, it's very fruity, warm and with a hint of spice.

And the green one is Warming Eucalyptus , which has very herbal and fresh scent.

What is your favourite Molton Brown scent?

Illuminating powders

Hello, beauties!

I almost always use some illuminating powder to set my make-up and add some radiance.

So here are an old favourite and a new friend

The one on the left is my favourite Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish by M.A.C that I got a long while ago and have been in love with it ever since . It gives a very subtle hardly noticeable bronze tint, it leaves skin amazingly radiant and looking absolutely flawless. Thanks to the microscopic shimmer it evens out the skin tone and hides all the imperfections. Love love love this product and just can't get enough of it!

The multicoloured newcomer is Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder in Porcelain Pearl. To be completely honest at first I didn't like it at all, but after using it a few times, I am actually growing  to love it. It's less obvious then the one by M.A.C and much lighter as well, but if you are looking for something slightly darker Bobbi Brown also makes it in Brightening Nudes , check it out here.

So, back to the Porcelain Pearl, when all the pastels mix when you brush them on, they instantly lift and freshen up your face; the skin just has this inner glow that is very attractive.

Have you tried Bobbi Brown Brightening Powder yet? 

Or maybe you tried the one by MAC or other brand? What are your thoughts?

Bobbi Brown and One Very Strange Product

Hey hey hey!

I recently purchased a lovely Bobbi Brown eye shadow in Black Chocolate that I wanted to share with you!

When I was flicking through pages online I saw that sparkly brown shadow that just caught my eye..and all I could think about : I must have one!It must have hypnotised me.

Very rich chocolate brown with bronze shimmer. It is a bit dry and because it has large shimmer particles it doesn't stick to skin as good as your regular eye shadows, so you need to really work it in and apply a few layers. But I think it's such a gorgeous shade and I can't wait to use it to create a stunning smokey eye. 

So, I also wanted to tell you about the weirdest product that I've ever tried, haha.

Meet the Balm

Basically, this balm is more like a wax (really similar to the one you would use on your hair) but it is made to remove make up. I should say I have never had that much fun removing my make up and my bf said I looked "freaky". First of all I absolutely love the packaging, it is so retro and pretty. You need to scoop up some of this wax with your finger, close your eye (don't open it all the way through, otherwise you gonna be left with some grease on your contacts , if you wear them), and spread it over your eye lid and massage it in a bit until the make up breaks down and then just wipe it off with the cotton pad! Easy and fun! Removes make up really well, it doesn't have any scent and is very delicate on the tender skin around the eyes.

Do you have your favourite Bobbi Brown shade? 

What's your favourite product to remove make up?

Dior Skincare

Little post on an awesome trio that I got from my bf a few weeks ago.

These are three Dior skincare products  that include Gentle Cleansing Milk, Gentle Toning Lotion and Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum.

I really like that the cleansing milk has a pump, so it's easy to squeeze it on the cotton pad and you just get the right amount, instead of ending up with crazy loads of the product that you don't know what to do with. It's really gentle but removes make up really well , even my thick eyeliner.

The toning lotion leaves skin very fresh and energised  and doesn't have a sticky residue like some other toner do. 

Lastly, the serum that moisturises very well and feels very pleasant on the face without tightening it. I can not to talk about the wonderful scent it  has, it is so delicate and opens up when you apply it to the skin. It smells of roses and some other flowers and it is so nostalgic as it reminds me the scent of my grandma's cream when I was a child..so it brings back pleasant memories every time I use it!

Overall, I really enjoy using this skincare range: it's light, yet moisturises well and is definitely good for the summer when it's hot!

Are you using any Dior skincare products?

Eyes!

Happy Saturday!

Eye shadow update!

These ones are from the &Other Stories.. beauty basket that I got on my bday from my lovely girls.

Linen Beige Naquet was quite tricky to capture, as it is almost the same colour as my skin but with a bit of shimmer. It is definitely my favourite, there is a similar shade in my MUA palette that I've been using every day , so there is hardly anything left of it. So I'm glad I have a great replacement for it. 

Stockinette Nude is a very pale matte shadow, which I think is good to use under the brow or in the middle of the upper eye lid to give it some definition.

Foularde Marrakech is a highly pigmented matte purple..it reminded me of summer and figs..I love figs by the way.

And the last one is loose shimmery eye shadow which comes in a little tub with an applicator similar to those ones you get with lip gloss..it' s a bit tricky to apply as everything seems to stick to the applicator, so I find it is easier to put some on the back of your hand and then apply with the brush to eyes. I think it is a bit of a multitasker, it's great for highlighting the corners of the eyes, under the brow, or just dabbing a bit on your cheek bones for some radiance.

And these colours go together pretty well creating a smokey eye.

Have you tried any &Other Stories eye shadows?

Eyebrows!

Hello, beauties!

I thought I haven't done a post on eyebrows yet..what a shame!

I think eyebrows is the most important thing on the face (apart from the mouth, coz how would you eat otherwise?)

Eyebrows frame the face, give it an expression and a finished groomed look.

So here are my favourites!

I've been in love with Paul & Joe in 02 for a few months now. The thing I absolutely adore about it is that it comes in the plastic retractable case, so you just twist it to get some more of the pencil, so that means no pencil sharpener, which is great, as I can never find mine, plus your pencil always stays sharp.

Sadly, I almost used it all and when I wanted to re-order it from ASOS , it appeared that it was out of stock, so I was kinda forced to look for alternatives.

And this is when I came across NARS Ipanema, you can tell by the picture that it is almost identical to Paul & Joe one, but slightly browner and darker.

Both of this pencils are of a brownish-grey shade, which in opinion, looks much more natural and nicer than a usual chocolate or dark brown pencil, which is very obvious in the natural light.

I also like that these pencils are quite hard, so you need to apply them in firm strokes. I am not a big fan of softer pencils as I find that they smudge very easily (sometimes they do it while you don't see, so you have a surprise when you pop down to the lady's room and you have a monobrow)

The last but not the least is the ColorSport Eyebrow Definer, I got it from Boots while ago, it is like a thin marker, the formula is quite watery, but if you wish for a more intense colour you can apply a few layers. I find it is generally good for filling in any gaps in your brows, it looks natural and stays put amazingly well.

What are your favourite eyebrow pencils?

Duty Free Haul

I went to Moscow last weekend and on my way back before leaving snowy and cold Russia (and sitting 7 hours on the plane and not even flying anywhere at the end) I managed to spoil myself and went a bit crazy in duty free shop...so I ended up with 3 sets of make up by Lancome, Clinique and Estee Lauder.

So first things first ..as if I didn't have a 1000 and 1 lipstick already I got another three beauties from Estee Lauder. 

I dont know if you can tell by the picture, but the colour is quite sheer, but I love the shades- great for spring and summer. The formula of these lipsticks is very moisturising and feels like a balm on the lips. And as you might know Estee Lauder's lipsticks smell absolutely amazing, kind of fruity. Love that! Can't wait to start wearing them!

Next is Clinique set, which includes a compact powder and a lipstick again.

I absolutely love the packaging, it looks very sleek and stylish and I can't get enough of how the lipstick sinks into the powder case, very handy as it wont get lost in your purse. Oh and if you look close at the second picture you can notice Mr Darcy's reflection in the mirror, such a poser.

I almost finished my favourite powder Total Finish by Kanebo, so I decided to try that one , I should say I'm really impressed , it's hardly noticeable on the skin and leaves a silky matte finish.

The lipstick will join its brothers in the Nude Army that I'm hiding in one of the beauty bags. The shade is called Blushing Nude. It's a bit of a darker nude, it's quite creamy and I think it's a kind of colour that looks good on any skin tone.

The last but not the least, is the Lancome palette...oh I just seem to have developed this obsession with palettes lately, I just can't resist one..especially when it's a double-decker (yes yes it has two levels of goodness)

Isn't that exciting? The first level has two shades of concealers, little mascara,  a very nice rosy blush, tinted balms of three different pink shades and a 6-colour palette of eye shadow perfect for creating a smokey eye make up. The second level slides out to the side to uncover the black eye pencil, lip liner in nude, little compact powder with a sponge, small blusher brush and two differently shaped eye shadow brushes!

What a multitasker!

So if you are traveling soon watch out for these beauty sets!

Do you have any duty free finds?

What are they?

BB Cream

Another day, another product.

Today it's all about BB Creme light by Erborian 5-in-1 "Total Sheer" make up care cream 

"Baby Skin" effect.

This product marked with "Consumers Choice BT Awards Paris" sticker and I totally understand why: it's the best BB cream that I've tried. The texture is light and it's very easy to apply, it gives a great coverage, yet it's hardly noticeable on the skin, leaving it glowing and imperfection  free. I think this BB cream is the great choice for those who have a combination type of skin like me, oily in some parts, but dry in other areas. It does not leave skin looking too dewy, neither it does look cakey and dry, it just has this great balance of properties that allows you to have a velvety finish. 

More over this wonder BB cream is hypoallergenic and has SPF 25 and it comes in quite a big tub which will last you a long time as you do not need much of this product.

If you are looking for a BB cream , this is the one you should not neglect and give it a go!

Nails

Hello, beauties!!

A very quick update on my new manicure: It's a soak off gel polish by Artistic Colour Gloss in Mocha Chino, a very nice pastel coffee brown colour that goes pretty well with everything and just looks cool I think))

What do you think: Yay or Nay?

Giant Beauty Basket

Hello, beauties!!

I'm now back to normality (diet,gym, blogging) after bday weekend! I can't thank enough my dear friends and family who made my bday so special!Thank you so much, guys!

And of course no one knows better than my bf and friends that the best present for obsessed moi is smth beauty related!!And oh dear God!I've got so so so so many beauty products to try now and then report on them to you!Yay!!

Look at that massive basket with all the goodies from the new store by H&M called &Other Stories! Aaaa I'm so excited!

Soooo, the first thing I did when I got home with all this goodness , I jumped in the shower with the Body Scrub Shinjuku Bloom , it has quite a thick texture but once mixed with a bit of water it becomes quite foamy. It is a sugar scrub (and oh did try it and it was sweet), the exfoliating particles reminded me of beads, they are rounded and not harsh on the skin. I think it's great as it works as both: scrub and shower gel. And did I mention that it smells like a japanese garden?

Lemon Daydream Body Souffle just melts on the skin and gets absorbed in a matter of seconds, it is very light, yet moisturising . It leaves the skin super soft and has a very delicate fresh fragrance.

Another product is Sleep Dream Cream by ThisWorks. Girls have been telling that everyone who tried that miracle cream slept really good. To be honest, I was quite skeptical : how can a cream make you sleep better. But after last night I can say "it DOES work" haha it's quite creepy but I do not remember when was the last time when I slept THAT deep! I just massaged into my feet, hands and neck and literally 3 minutes later after my head touched my lovely Tempur pillow I was gone to the Kingdom of Wonderful Dreams. This cream is packed with essential oils of provancal lavender, vetivert, camomile blended with crambre and mysterious Gold of pleasure oils. It kind of reminded me the smell of Faith in Nature Ylang-Ylang shower gel. Very light, sensual scent that makes you relaxed, if you have a good imagination you can close your eyes and picture yourself in a spa. Great product!Loved it! It is going to live on my night stand:)

Have you checked out the &Other Stories collection yet?What did you get?