Musing On Beauty

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-01-28T11:31:00.002+01:00

Is it spring yet? No? Check out the stellar La Roseraie blush from Lancome's Spring 2012 collection at Adorable On Your Vanity - maybe it'll help the flowers bloom.

Beautywoome.com shows you step-by-step how to do the best ballerina bun (aka sock bun) in under two minutes.

Will polish insomniac find a dupe for China Glaze Aquadelic, from the new Electropop collection?

Looking for a great foundation? Jennifer over at Spiced beauty shares herholy grail product!

Fleurissante has tested Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation. Check her impressions.

Save $10 on the nail system that Gouldylox Reviews named the biggest game changer for your digits in 2011.

Jellyminx re-launches her blog with a new look and a bunch of posts including a nail of the day post with approval from OPI's official Twitter!

Finger Paints Special Effects nail polishes changes the polish game. See the newest craze in polish effects on Beauty Info Zone.

Elena from Endless Summer writes a guest post to show readers her Simple Everyday Makeup Tutorial.

This week Madame B Fatale shares her 6 favourite bargain beauty buys!

Fed up of looking for the perfect red lip? Midnight Violets has some great advice, with lip swatches too!

---Hellcandy is 3 yrs old! Tell her what's made you blush recently and you could win one of three Benefit tints! Click here to enter.

Current hair routine with Phyto, and new Cloud 9 straighteners

2012-01-26T12:24:00.003+01:00

My hair has been looking bored to death. It doesn't like Winter more than I do, I guess.
I'm currently due a trim and a color but I'm feeling lazy (might get around doing at least the color next week-end, we'll see), however I thought a little change in routine wouldn't hurt either and decided to turn to a brand I know but never really used much: Phyto.

Phytojoba shampoo for moisture and shine.
This is the intense hydrating shampoo in the range, and I thought it would be good for my dry ends that are looking even drier because of central heating and blowdrys (I just can't wait for my hair to airdry in Winter, it's way too cold!). This smells divine thanks to the coconut oil in it. I wish the bottle had a pump, though, as it's easy to pour too much from the wide bottle neck.
My hair doesn't look super soft like it would with loads of silicons, but is that what we really want? It actually has more body than before and it looks healthy and reasonably soft, so I'm happy to keep on using this and seeing how it improves my hair over time.

Phyto 7 daily hydrating cream for dry hair.

I have reviewed this in the past, and I still like this product very much. I apply it at night after I have blowdried my hair, and it does help relieve the dryness on the ends and make everything feel smoother.

New Cloud 9 straighteners.

My trusty Braun straighteners broke - well they still work but they cut the power every time I use them so it was time to retreat them! I had been considering going for a very good straightener like GHD or Cloud 9 but had decided not to splurge as long as I was happy with my current ones. Now was then the perfect occasion to invest. I chose the regular sized Cloud 9 iron and ordered from the brand website. They arrived in 2 days in a gorgeous box!

Very good points include international voltage, plugs for EU and UK electricity, and a heat protecting thing to put around the tool when it's still hot but you need to transport them.

They heat up in a matter of seconds and you can do a lot of things with them (there's a little how-to guide in the box) from poker straight hair to curls. I haven't done anything much than straightening so far but I can tell they're doing their job very well and leaving my hair soft and shiny :)

Here goes the result (bad lighting, sorry)!

Givenchy Spring FOTD

2012-01-23T01:00:00.000+01:00

Sundays often are my lazy makeup-free days, but this time I had plans for a lunch out and so I thought it would be a perfect occasion to try my new Givenchy goodies and do a Spring look.

The editorial look for the collection was my inspiration, however I didn't buy the eyeshadow quad and am not too keen on the full teal lid with pink crease (remind me that in three months when I tell you it's my new signature look) so I decided to do a much more discrete version, saving the star position for the lips and cheeks. Here's the result!

If only it felt like Spring, instead of that disgusting rainy windy weather, I'd be totally happy, as I absolutely love how this look came out!

Products used:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
Bobbi Brown creamy concealer in Warm Ivory + pale yellow powder
Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Clouds liquid highlighter applied liberally (hum) on cheeks, bridge of the nose, browbone, cupid's bow... you got it, I went a bit crazy with it
Mac Phloof and Wedge, plus UD Deep End (15th Anniversary Palette) for the pop of teal
Chanel Crayon Waterproof liner in Espresso to tightline and YSL Faux-Cils mascara
Givenchy Le Prisme Blush in Bucolic Poppy and Rouge Interdit lipstick in Bucolic Poppy.

I am so satisfied with the look of these products and how the "poppy" theme works for me!

On another note, my beloved Braun hair straighteners broke. Well, they still work, but they make the electricity cut down for the whole house every time I use them. Time for a new device, me think (I've used this one daily for 3 years so it was well loved). As a result, I curled my hair instead with a large barrel curling iron (Braun, too).

The question is: do I repurchase the same straighteners (about 50€), or do I splurge and get a GhD or a Cloud Nine one?

The Givenchy Spring haul, and a Chanel makeover!

2012-01-21T22:50:00.002+01:00

I was at the mall today and, surprise!, between Wednesday and now, all Spring collections have arrived!

Let's start with Givenchy: everything is as gorgeous as I hoped it would be! The only thing I decided not to get was the other blush, the peachy pink one. I found that, once swatched, it looked pinked and glowy and reminded me of Lune Rosee from the Winter collection. So I decided to pass on that one.

I did see and swatch a lot of other things, though. Nothing appealing to me from Dior nor Guerlain, but Chanel did unexpectedly catch my attention, particularly as one of their makeup artists was their for the day to do makeovers.

I had already decided I would get the pretty blusher, and I was also interested in the nailpolishes but even though they were on display, the store hadn't received them yet - that will be for another time.
While I was at it, since I had nothing else on than VitaZings tinted moisturizer and my brows, I asked if the makeup artist could do a look on me with the eyeshadow quad, Eclosion.

This was pretty interesting because I find those Chanel quads very hard to use. We get a baked, dome shaped version of them in Europe that is very different from the other Chanel eyeshadows. The makeup artist told me that the key to working well with them was to not use brush, but rather cotton tip applicators (she insisted on cotton and not sponge). That's what she used to apply the eyeshadows on me.

She also used the new Crayon Waterproof liner in Grenat, which I thought was very pretty. Since this has been my favorite pencil liner for a while (I own Espresso and Ebene), I decided to get it as well.
Other than that, she used their concealer pen, their mascara base under their mascara and the Poudre Universelle Compacte in Jasmin (also part of this collection). On the lips I think it's Rose Coco Paradis, at least it looked like it in the tube but it's not that bright in real life.

I like the way she worked with the liners, mixing Grenat with a bit of Ebene (black) on the outer corners and on the waterline. As for the shadows and their application, though, I have doubts. There is no matte color in the quad, so it's a bit too shimmery all over for my liking. The placement with the little applicators lacks a bit of blending for my liking, even though a sharp application can be a look.

I didn't get the quad (no big negociation with myself there as it was already out of stock anyway) and don't think I will. I can easily dupe that look with eyeshadows in my collection, and the Grenat liner is a key to the look so I'm all set.

So, that should be it for my Spring shopping, excepted for some polishes, as I said.

I'm not sure about May, but I want April and June!

What do you ladies think of these products? What are you looking forward to/getting this Spring?

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

2012-01-20T14:41:00.002+01:00

In one more desperate attempt to cure my Winter dry cheeks skin, I got this a few weeks ago, after having read about it on the blogosphere.
The reason it was mentioned there was that Clarins is apparently relaunching the product in a new packaging, the one that you see above, but when I went and bought it, I got the good old version that looks like this:

...which isn't as practical because it opens to a simple bottle neck. Clumsy hands, beware.

But well, let's go back to the product itself after this packaging interlude.

What the brand says:
Moisture care for Dehydrated Skin. 100% pure plant extracts with no preservatives. This best-selling oil contains extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines.

In the evening, after thorough cleansing and toning, apply a small amount to face and neck still damp with Toning Lotion, avoiding the eye contour. Gently dab face with a soft tissue to remove any excess product.

My opinion on the product:

This natural product has been around since 1965, so that says something about the product's efficiency.

I tried it in a few different ways: on its own on dry skin (you need quite some product for it to rub in), on top of slightly damp skin like recommended by the brand - which I found a bit weird to spread and massage in, and then as a serum, on problem areas and with a layer of my Estee Lauder Double Wear cream on top.

The third method worked the best for me, but even on its own the product worked quite well and I woke up with much softer skin.

The smell is slightly herbal, typically like essential oils, and I was afraid this would bother me but it didn't. It doesn't linger too long and it's not too strong, I would definitely not get a headache from that kind of smell so it works fine for me.

Obviously the old fashioned packaging isn't the most practical, but if you get the new version, it's all sorted out.

My overall conclusion:

An excellent natural product to soothe dehydrated skin and dry patches. I have seen improvement within a couple of nights with this and I would definitely recommed it. I found it more efficient that some so-called "barrier repair" serums that I've tried.

As a side note, Clarins has a few more facial oils in their range for different problematics so if you don't have dehydrated skin but suffer from other issues, there might be one for you too.

Clarins Huile Orchidée Bleue for dehydrated skin, 40 ml - £33 - €36 - USD 50

Impatiently waiting for...

2012-01-19T01:00:00.000+01:00

... Spring makeup collections to launch! (Europe doesn't see the launch of any Spring stuff before February, that's a yearly frustration)

Or, actually, I'm waiting for one collection in particular: Givenchy.

Most upcoming collections for this Spring feature pastel colors: light blues, light pinks, light mints. I don't like those colors too much. They don't really flatter me, I don't enjoy them particularly and so unfortunately, most of the stuff I've seen on the web for this Spring isn't very appealing.
But Givenchy, thankfully, has understood that some people would love to counterbalance the pastel eyeshadows with brighter colors on the cheeks and lips!

Look at these beauties:

On the left Le Prisme Visage (powder) in Bucolic Blossoms.
I talked in the past about how much I love those powders Givenchy brings up regularly and I won't be passing on this one!
On the right: Le Prisme Blush in Bucolic Rose (pink) and Bucolic Poppy (red).
I'm not sure about the pink one, even though the combination of peach and pink looks beautiful, but I will certainly be getting the Poppy one as it's looking so unique!

Now to go with that, there's a gorgeous lipstick:

Rouge Interdit Bucolic Poppy. I smile even at reading the name!

There are a matching lipgloss and nailpolish, but I'm not so keen on those, I wouldn't be using them as much.

My counter told me those products should be available in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait.

What are you looking forward to in the Spring collections?

Foundation Review #32: Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle

2012-01-16T01:00:00.000+01:00

Yes, I'm in a foundation hoarding period again, it's my thing, don't judge. (That mostly happens when Winter makes my skin a hell and my old favorites don't look good on me, though)
This one I have wanted to try for the longest time, but it's a very expensive one and so I waited until I could get a discount code to try it. I was also a bit scared that I wouldn't find a match, even though Zuneta now sells samples of this foundation for you to try out before you commit. I am happy to report that I got this in the shade Almond Milk Parfait, which is the second one on the ladder, a beige with yellow undertones - and that it works well for me.

The packaging:
Luxurious, as with any Rouge Bunny Rouge product! The foundation is packaged in a frozen glass bottle with an airless black pump and a black cap. It comes in this lovely solid cardboard round box, which opens on some kind of holder into which your bottle will stand.
This is, as often, a 30 ml - 1 O.z bottle.

What the brand says:
The dreamily light gel texture blends and moves with the contours of the face like a second skin and minimises imperfections to give the appearance of a flawless complexion whilst allowing your natural beauty to show through.
Packed with skin-saving protectors and botanicals including Detoxyl, a powerful anti-pollution ingredient to keep the world at bay and Bamboo, which conditions, softens and repairs the skin. Shea Butter nourishes; Panthenol imparts long-lasting moisturisation, stimulates cell regeneration and normalises skin. Egyptian Lotus and White Water Lily Extracts protect, soften and fight free radical damage.

Apply our MILK AQUARELLE foundation quickly, using our foundation brush or your fingertips.
Foundation is best applied with a brush as this ensures an even and professional finish. Use light up-and-down strokes on the cheeks to give a natural look. As MILK AQUARELLE has a gel texture, it can be layered to give the coverage you want.

My experience with the product.

The pump delivers quite a lot of product, so one pump is definitely enough to do your whole face.

When I tried this for the first time, I was really afraid that the product would be too olive toned, but was very pleased to see that it mixed quite well with my skin. It might be just a tad bit too dark for my Winter skin, but it's the perfect undertone and so it blends perfectly.
You can apply with brush or fingers, in my experience, fingers give a tad bit more coverage, but for me it's always the quickest way to apply and what I tend to do the most. I found the product very easy to apply and blend with a brush too, though.

If you read the ingredients list below, you'll see that this foundation has a high content in silicones, which can definitely be feeled upon application: the texture is light, almost mousse-like (I didn't find it fet like a gel like announced in the product description) and it feels velvety. It spreads very easily and you don't need much product at all.

The finish is slightly luminous, not overly shiny but definitely not matte. You might want to powder your T-Zone if you tend to get shiny on there. The coverage is light-to medium, it will erase redness but you'll still need a bit of concealer on problem areas. You could build up the coverage, however, but then this starts looking less natural in my opinion, and you will look like you're wearing makeup - which is ok but not always what we want.

It lasts pretty well all day, with our without primer, but I like to use my Metamorphoses Mattifying Primer underneath on my T-Zone. This also prevents the enhancing of pores, which can happen with this kind of formula in my experience.

Yes, this is me wearing Milk Aquarelle.

Not sure about the skincare claims, though. It doesn't dry out my skin or break me out , but I can't say much more than that.

My Conclusion.

This foundation retails for £59, which is expensive. You might want to order when there is a discount code available to ease the pain.

However, if you are on the hunt for a high end product with a natural finish and a light-medium coverage, this is an excellent product, definitely one of the best foundations I have tried in a while. It is quite different from my beloved Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, a notch up coverage wise, and a very different texture. But I think Milk Aquarelle is perfect for normal/combination to dry skin, while the Chanel one is more for normal/combination to oily - so they are suitable for different people or different skin conditions through the year. I would also say this is lighter in feel and coverage and more natural than Chanel Perfection Lumiere (which I might not be liking that much after all).

Ingredients list for the science nerds:

AQUA (STERILISED WATER), ISODODECANE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, TRIHYDROXYSTEARIN, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL (PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE), BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, HEXYL LAURATE, CETYL DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL (CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE), SORBITOL, ALUMINA, METHYLPARABEN, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SILICA, NELUMBIUM SPECIOSUM EXTRACT (NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT), NYMPHAEA ALBA ROOT EXTRACT, BAMBUSA VULGARIS EXTRACT, PANTHENOL, BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, TETRASODIUM EDTA, PROPYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, BHT (+/-): CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES)]

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-01-14T12:43:00.002+01:00

Read about the Clarisonic Mia in this Sephora haul post over at Handmade Reviews.

Looking for that perfect peachy-pink easy to wear lipcolor? Pammy Blogs Beauty finds it with Hard Candy's World Balmination Lip Balm in Good Girl. Check out her review!

At Eyelining Obsessions Claire shares some tips for flight safe/ travel friendly makeup packing.

Jude reviews Bioderma Créaline H2O, the make-up remover used by make-up artists.

Time to make way for the new! 10 Mascaras I Am Throwing Away For The New Year by Bun Bun Makeup Tips!

The Beauty Spot finds some affordable Nails Inc Dupes. Check them out!

Addicted to Beauty feels that the Benefit Cosmetics and Diet Coke collaboration is pretty shady.

Check out FabDiva20's MAC lipgloss haul and swatch comparisons of the MAC Iris Aphel Collection Lipsticks!

Makeup Morsels finally picks up an eyeshadow brush (or two), and attempts an EOTD.

Fleurissante picks her favourite products in 2011.

Check out how Krasey Beauty rang in the New Year, face of the day included!

---Cindy over at Prime Beauty achieved her dream of Mega Drag Queen lashes with RevitaLash Lash Conditioner and now you can too. Head on over to Prime Beauty and enter to win a 3 month supply of RevitaLash and mascara!

Enter to win a $100 ShopBop gift card on Beauty Info Zone.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Seas of Illuminations liquid highlighter - Sea of Clouds

2012-01-12T01:00:00.001+01:00

Liquid highlighters can be tricky to use, but when they're used well, they look damn pretty. And often less frosty or shimmery than their powder counterparts.

I used a few liquid highlighters in the past, the most famous being Becca Luminous Skin Perfector, but I couldn't find one that I really liked. That Becca product irritated my skin a bit so I got rid of it. I like their Illuminate Wash better but it's a thicker texture that you can't really mix with foundation because of it's lipgloss-type packaging. I have a lovely Illamasqua one but it's so tinted it almost looks like a blush, and I often forget about it, too.
And so, under peer pressure and using a discount, I decided to try a RBR highlighter.

I went for Sea Of Clouds, which is a white pearly color, as I think it's more versatile than a pinky or peachy version, and also easier to mix with foundation.

Packaging:
Identical to the foundation or primer, this is a glass bottle of 30ml with a black airless pump and cap.

What the brand says:
This multipurpose water-based fluid blends easily with moisturiser, or with foundation, to customise the look - to yours alone. Create an inside-out illumination effect and blend it to a thin, refined wash of pearls. Light fragrance of Cucumber with a touch of Peach Flower will add to your application pleasure. A quartet of shades with Melissa extract to soothe, and Vitamin E to guard against ageing. The highlighting liquid can be used alone or over moisturiser and as a highlighter, over foundation, too.

My experience with the product.

Holy highlighter Batman! This really wears its name well!!

The first time I used it, I put a generous pump on the back of my hand, used my Mac 188 stippling brush, and I honestly think I applied way too much. Even though I kind of liked it. And it did show up well in pictures.

See that lovely glow?

I have now come to learn how to use it properly: try to get less than half a pump out (not always easy with that pump, I'm afraid), start lightly and build up. Using fingers gives a less diffused look but allows more control on where to place it. I am yet to try a blending brush in the style of a Mac 222, I think it would work pretty well.

I love the light scent of this product too, nothing cloying or overpowering, it doesn't last too long either, but it's very fresh and nice - a bit coconutty but in a very understated way.

Again, I can't say too much on the supposed skincare virtues of the ingredients, but I didn't have any skin issues using this.

My conclusion.

This is love. This is seriously my favorite amongst all the liquid highlighters that I have tried, not only in terms of results when applied on the sking, but also in terms of texture, blendability, ease of use and longevity on the skin.

If you can afford only one liquid higlighter and are ready to invest a bit for a great product, this is the one to get.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Illuminations highlighters come in four colors and can be ordered from Zuneta for about £49.

Ingredient list for the science nerds:

AQUA, MICA, CYCLOMETHICONE, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SQUALANE, SODIUM POLYASPARTATE, BEHENETH-30, MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL, HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL GLYCERIDES, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYL DIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ISOHEXADECANE, MELISSA OFFICINALIS, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, PARFUM, HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDES, POLYSORBATE 80, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, XANTHAN GUM, TOCOPHEROL, CELLULOSE GUM, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, FRUCTOSE, GLUCOSE, SUCROSE, UREA, DEXTRIN, ALANINE, GLUTAMIC ACID, ASPARTIC ACID, BENZYL SALICYLATE. (+/-): CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007

A Mirifique FOTD

2012-01-12T01:00:00.000+01:00

I had black smokey envy, yesterday. Even greasy creasy grunge smokey, to be honest. (I blame Killer Colours for that). But well, I wasn't too sure how a creased look would look after 10 hours at work so I decided to go for a safer route and to do it with Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Mirifique, applied over Nars eyeshadow primer with a Mac 217. Too bad the gorgeous shimmer in this shadow doesn't show on pictures.

And yet this creases a bit, my lid is really too deep set!

Other products used:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer Light
Dior Aurora bronzer (LE)
Illamasqua Unrequited blush
Kate brow liner 003
Mac Wedge (crease blending) and Femme Fi (inner corner)
Chanel Le Crayon Waterproof in 10 Ebene along the lashline
YSL Faux Cils
RBR sheer lipsick - Perfume of His Gaze

This, at least, behaved and stayed on all day!

A Rouge Bunny Rouge FOTD

2012-01-10T01:00:00.000+01:00

Trying out some new goodies I got from Zuneta, I decided to do a full face of Rouge Bunny Rouge.
I hope you can see the higlighter on the pictures, I went a bit overboard with it on that purpose :)

What I used.
Oskia Get Up And Glow Serum
Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle foundation in Almond Parfait (review to come)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Light
Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Liquid - Sea of Clouds (review to come)
Rouge Bunny Rouge Original skin blush - Florita
Kate brow liner 003
Rouge Bunny Rouge When The Birds Are Singing e/s - Delicate Hummingbird and Bejeweled Skylark
YSL Faux Cils
Rouge Bunny Rouge Sheer Lipstick - Perfume of His Gaze

Foundation review (sort of) #31: Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

2012-01-09T01:00:00.000+01:00

Does this count as a foundation? I don't know. But I wear it as if it were one, so let's say it does count.

So you have heard me whine about my cheeks being dry, my usual HG foundations not looking right and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum fiasco, I couldn't leave things at that and I went looking for another option.
I usually don't like tinted moisturizers because they can look shiny on my T-zone and they don't cover much, but I had read great reviews on this one, and I must tell you that I'm pleasantly surprised!

The packaging:
A very light plastic tube with a cap. The tube is very flat so it doesn't take up too much space. The product pours through a little nose.

What the brand says:
Smooth on an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting colour. Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free.

6 shades available - All skintypes - Sheer coverage

My opinion on the product:
I got the product in the shade 2, which is the lightest one available here. It looks quite dark and rather peachy, and I was convinced it wouldn't match me at all, but actually it's not that dark at all when you apply, and once it's set, it's looking like a good match.
The product is very liquidy, rather easy to spread but maybe a tad bit sticky. Nothing dramatic, though. I apply it with my hands, like I do most of the time with foundations.

The product being perfume free means that it doesn't smell very good. The truth is, most cosmetics smell pretty bad, which is why they're heavily scented, so if you skip the perfume, there's a chemical smell going on. I used Clinique moisturizers in the past that smelled like this so maybe it's typical for the brand. However the smell doesn't linger at all once the product is applied.

I have been using this on top of my Oskia Get Up And Glow serum, and on my T-Zone I also add the Rouge Bunny Rouge Metamorphoses primer. I add a bit of powder on the T-zone so that I don't get shiny through the day. The product being oil free is definitely an asset.

I was actually very surprised by how much I liked this Tinted Moisturizer. It has a very decent amount of coverage and it doesn't look greasy at all, as you can see on this picture.

Even though I still need to use concealer on my undereyes area and around the nose, this hides the redness of my cheeks incredibly well, I wasn't expecting that at all.

The finish is luminous but not greasy and if you're a bit combination, some powder will definitely solve that for you.

This has been bringing a lot of comfort to my dry cheeks. I don't know if anything else in my routine has influenced my skin at the same time, but I do notice improvement now that I'm using this, so this definitely works better for me at the moment than foundations that may countain alcohol or other ingredients that are too harsh for dryer skin.

My conclusion :

Clinique Moisture Surge TM SPF 15 retails for USD26 - €23 to € 28 (depending on your country).
This is definitely an affordable product with a very good quality.

If you're usually turned off by tinted moisturizers because they're too sheer or too rich in texture, this one might change your opinion!

Could I be a Lipstick Bandit?

2012-01-07T19:24:00.001+01:00

Because, really, how could I not be part of a band of beauty bloggers who declare that red lipstick is not an indulgence, but a necessity?

So I asked my friend Monika at Rocaille Writes what I should do to join. "Wear a mask with red lips", she said.

I'm happy to oblige, in the hope they let me join the club.

Do I look like a bandit, now?

What I used :
Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle foundation in Almond Parfait
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer
Makeup Geek Corrupt eyeshadow
Illamasqua liquid metal in the gold color
Illamasqua Sophie pencil
YSL Faux-Cils
Beauté Masochist liquid lipstick

Lots of Bioderma Crealine H2O to remove it all :) (Yes, alas, I had to remove it before leaving the house).

A now a few more smiling shoots!

So, ladies, can I be a Lipstick Bandit?

Foundation Review #30 : Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

2012-01-06T01:00:00.000+01:00

Believe me, I resisted for a long time before getting this. The original Healthy Mix fiasco wasn't very encouraging, I must say.
But then everyone is raving about this little guy all over the blogosphere, Lisa Eldridge has used it, Pixiwoo sisters have used it... peer pressure, I'm telling you, so I gave in. Not a very expensive purchase, since Bourjois is drugstore here, so I got this 30 ml bottle for about 9€. I got the shade 51, which is the lightest one and has a beige neutral undertone.

The packaging:
This comes in a sleek plastic bottle with a pump. Makes you wonder why some high end products come without one, if you can have one at this price. The bottle is very light.

What the brand says:
16 hour radiance booster, Instant anti-fatigue result! Give your skin a boost of radiance with Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation with a vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula for an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result! Contains 3 anti-oxydants: litchi, goji and pomegranate. Semi-matte finish.

My opinion on the product:
Let me tell you right away that I didn't have any allergy issue with this one, so that's good.
Other than that: I really, really wanted to like it. But I don't. Let me explain.

First of all, this has a very heavy fruity scent. Luckily, it doesn't linger on the skin after you have applied, but while you're applying it's really strong and it's not for everyone, as it is kind of sickly sweet.

When you pour it, the product definitely looks like a liquid more than like a gel, but when you apply you do feel that this is in fact a bit thicker in texture than a regular liquid. I used almost 2 pumps for my whole face, but the pump isn't really precise so it's hard to tell if both pumps were equal.

Now I was expecting a light coverage but this actually doesn't cover anything at all. I mean, it will even out your skintone a bit, but it doesn't cover any redness or anything. I have honestly used tinted moisturizers that had more coverage than this foundation (my Origin Vita Zings covers more, just to name one). That means that you definitely need concealer for your undereye area but also for any redness or discoloration that you would like to hide - unless you have perfect skin there's no way you can get away with this product without doing some extra concealing.

The finish is supposed to be semi-matte, as described on the packaging. I actually looked like I had put a layer of water on my face. I gave it up to a couple of hours to set but it was, if anything, only getting worse. And that wasn't on my T-zone only, but also on my cheeks that are currently as dry as the desert of Gobi. I ended up powdering my face to balance that - which is counterproductive when you have dry patches that you'd rather not powder.

After about an hour, the shine was peeking through the powder again, only in a more subtle way.

I rarely wear makeup for 16 hours straight, so I don't know if that longevity claim is right. I used the product without primer and even though it lasted relatively well (with the powder on top, remember), it kind of disappeared a bit on my nose area.

My conclusion.

I cannot really recommend this. It might work for you if you're normal to dry, with a skin that needs virtually no concealing, and that you love an extremely dewy finish.

This product is available at drugstores in Europe and Canada (as far as I know), or can be ordered from ASOS and delivered anywhere in the world.

Review: SUQQU Reset Cleansing Oil

2012-01-04T01:00:00.000+01:00

Months and months ago, I had ordered this cleansing oil from Ichibankao, because I wanted to give Suqqu (a very fancy high end Japanese brand) a try withouth buying yet another eyeshadow quad or makeup item. But right after that, I got my HG cleansing oil from Shu Uemura in London, so I only got around to using this one a little while ago, after I used up the Shu one.

The Packaging:
This is a 150 ml transparent plastic bottle with a pump. It comes in a white box and all in all, this is looking very clean and almost medical, particularly as the oil itself is transparent.

What the brand says:
Infused with three textured oils, this oil cleanser quickly and effectively removes heavy makeup and any skin impurities, leaving your skin feeling smooth and refreshed.

My experience with the product:
This oil has a slight scent. I don't know what it is, but it's more of an artificial perfume than an herbal scent reminding you of some natural ingredient.
It's very easy to use, not too thick to apply, it emulsifies very easily when you add water and rises off without any issue.
It's very effective at removing all my makeup, but I need to remind you that I remove my eye makeup with Bioderma Crealine H2O prior to using any oil, so I don't know how this performs with mascara (I hate getting oil in the eyes).
So this is definitely a very effective cleanser.

However, I am quite used to the comfort that the Shiseido oil for dry skin brings to my face. With Suqqu, there is only one oil that is supposed to suit any skintype, and you would think that an oil would obviously work for dryer skin. Unfortunately, I have noticed this doesn't help my dry cheeks (courtesy of central heating and Winter weather) and possibly makes them dryer. Every time I stop using this for a few days and get my skin back to more normal, it will get dry again within a couple of days of me using this again.

So I would recommend this oil for normal to combination skin, but in my opinion, this won't work as well if you're dry skinned, and I'm not sure it would be gentle enough for oily skin either, as you don't want to strip an oily skin rom its natural oils too much because that causes more oil production.

Suqqu Reset Cleansing Oil, 150 ml, £37 at Selfridges or around USD50 on various websites.

New Year's Eve Look!

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

When, really, can you go as dramatic as you want if not for New Year's Eve? I had loved loved the black and gold look Emma Watson wore for the last Harry Potter movie premiere, so I decided to recreate that.

I had a lot of fun doing it!

Warning: definitely do the eyes first and the base afterwards when going with this kind of look!!

Here's the breakdown - lots of Illamasqua going on here, what's better for drama?

Illamasqua Matte Primer
Illamasqua RLF 133
EL Double Wear Concealer Light
Illamasqua Brow Cake Thunder
Makeup Geek Corrupt (the blackest black I've ever used!!)
Illamasqua liquid metal in gold
Nars Etrusque
Illamasqua Sophie Pencil
YSL Faux Cils
Illamasqua Unrequited blush
a random lipgloss
Illamasqua Alchemy liner (outer part, on top of the black, instead of gold leaves)

Did you wear a dramatic look for New Year?

Beauty Blog Link Love (2011 Final edition)

2011-12-31T11:56:00.003+01:00

Look back at the top 5 posts on polish insomniac for 2011!

NARS has some beautiful blushers. Kim Porter swatches Exhibit A, Taos, and Taj Mahal. All beautiful, especially on brown skin.

Kimberly reviews Book of Shadows IV, the new palette from Urban Decay. Find out if this palette is worth the hype.

It's been a while, but Krasey Beauty has a brand new FOTD to share, just in time for New Year's!

Gouldylox Reviews picks her Top Three Game Changing Products for Skin from 2011. Are your favorites on the list?

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella launches her battle of the mattifying primers and puts an Illamasqua and a Rouge Bunny Rouge to the test!

Madame B Fatale shows us one of her favourite bright makeup looks!

Kajal Couture shares her methods for beating the winter cold blues.

Phyrra’s Independent Spotlight for Christmas is with Femme Fatale Cosmetics! Learn more about Sophie and her Australian-based makeup company.

Makeup Morsels adds yet another red lipstick to her collection! Head over here to marvel at its sparkling beauty.

L from Beautifully Addicted To shows you lippies from the Autumn/Winter Bourjois Paris Delhi Shanghai collection.

Smashinbeauty shows you how you can achieve a New Year's makeup look with a video tutorial.

Check out all the generosity this holiday season! With the help of some awesome donations, Christina the Glitterholic was able to send out over 30 gift bags filled with makeup to deserving ladies!

What Makeup Means To Me

2011-12-30T16:48:00.002+01:00

The lovely Dain from the Ars Aromatica blog recently wrote on what makeup is to her. That was definitely a very well-written and thought-proving post. It lead to a private conversation between us, even more interesting that we have different views on the topic, and so it got me thinking a little bit more and I decided it would be nice to end this year sharing my view with you all.

Unlike Dain, who owns a very well edited makeup collection with a small amount of things she knows work perfectly for her, I own a lot of makeup. There are several reasons for this. First of all, I love products. I rarely talk about my job on here but I’m a Product Manager (not in the cosmetics industry, mind you!). Conceiving products, looking at what exists, comparing, fine-tuning ingredients list... that’s a part of my job I enjoy a lot, and I realize I love doing the same thing with makeup. New products keep me excited because they mean new concept, new formulation, new colors... the getting them, testing them and reviewing them is probably half of the makeup excitement for me.
I must say, though, that I part very easily with anything that doesn’t look good on me or doesn’t meet my expectations. But since more than often, I do like what I get (I always buy with the intention of wearing and so never purposedly get something I know won’t work for me), my collection has expanded quite a bit over the years. That’s ok, it’s my hobby, it’s where my “fun” money goes, I’m happy with that situation. When I notice that I have too much to remember what I own, I go through everything and get rid of what I never use. It’s not that I don’t like the stuff, it’s just I have other stuff I like more.

But for me, there’s more to makeup than the product aspect.
If you think of it, there are very few things in life that we can do the way we want, or that are virtually free of consequences. Of course, I know my life is easy compared to the life of people who don’t know what they’re going to eat today - let’s compare what is comparable. We might only have “first world problems”, there are a lot of things to swallow in this life. I often feel that the system in which we live wants us all to be square and to fit in. Get up on time, do your job, here’s what you should eat or not, wear or not, look like or not... It takes a lot of strenght to resist that all. It would take even more strength to try and change that. I don’t know if I have that kind of strenght. But with makeup, I have a little space that belongs to me, in which I can be creative and different, and it’s free of consequences because it washes off.
I’ve gone through many things looking like the perfectly square thing I was expected to be, but wearing an accent nailpolish on one finger, or a fuchsia lipstick, I knew that I was still myself inside of that polished image. It was like a breathe of fresh air and freedom inside of the system.

I know it sounds like it’s just an image thing - that’s a topic on which Dain and I disagreed. I think image is important. Not because of others or because of all the power image has been given in this society. But because I think that someone’s image is a projection of their identity. (even when you don't care about your image, that says something about your identity).

Identity is a complex thing, it’s full of paradoxes and weirdness. A life isn’t enough to understand who your self really is, and I think it’s an illusion to believe that you can, at any point in your life, be fully understood by anybody else.
But the image, the image is more simple. It can’t reflect, let alone explain a whole complex identity. But it can project a little part of it. And if you want to, it will show the world a little bit of who you are (they might not understand it, but that’s another story). And I find that this is very easy to do with makeup.

I can wear a red lipstick today just because I feel like I need color in my life, and that just says a little something of my mood for the day.
I can wear the same lipstick tomorrow and pair it with black winged liner, because I feel pin-upish for the day, and that’s another little something said about my self.
And I can wear it again as my war paint if feel I need extra strength on a very tough day. People won’t know, but I will, and that’s all what matters.

I could also write on how makeup is a great confidence booster. In some ways it is, and weirdly makeup helped me learn more about my features and what I liked in me, so now I feel perfectly confident without makeup on. But I don’t see completely makeup as something to rely on to prettify an imperfect face. I can actually chose to try a makeup look that I know won’t do anything for me - just because I like the look of it, or the image it projects. Or more generally, just because I want to try something new without having to deal with any consequence. The worse that can happen is me having to remove it and to do it again.

A recreation of a Brody Dalle makeup tutorial by Pixiwoo.

Not what suits me the best, but interesting to try for the sake of it.

I don’t hide behind makeup - maybe some people do, but that’s not what I’m looking for. And so, even though I know what works for me and what I prefer in terms of textures, colors and finishes, I am still free to decide to go another way and I enjoy that sometimes.

That freedom makeup gives me, it can give everybody. Women, men, young, old, with any kind of body shape, any kind of budget. Makeup is virtually accessible to anybody, so why not enjoy it?

I thought it was interesting to write about this to end the year. Of course, feel free to comment.
Thanks a lot to everyone who’s been reading this, and reading my blog in general - this is very much appreciated.
I wish you all a happy start of 2012.

11 Products in 2011

2011-12-28T01:00:00.000+01:00

I think that last year I came up with my top picks for every category of products and for every brand I use, but this year, really, I'd be saying a lot of the same things again and I don't think it's very interesting.
So instead I'm gonna do the "11 products in 2011" tag that has been floating around, so I can focus on the things I really discovered and like during this year.

Let me introduce, in no particular order...

1. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Best foundation I've used this year - you can find my review here.

2. Japanese brow liquid liner pencils.

Can't live without them anymore, they stay on so much better than powder or pencil!

3. Cleansing Oils and OCM.

Even if I still prefer Bioderma for the eyes, I cannot be without cleansing oil anymore!

4. Origins Vita Zing.

The only tinted moisturizer you'll see me leaving the house wearing :) Review here.

5. Dior Addict Lipsticks.

Comfortable, moisturizing, colorful with just a little bit of shine. The grown up version of a gloss!

6. Chanel Illusion d'Ombre cream shadows

Long lasting, easy to use, great texture and beautiful result - something that really was missing in the High End ranges!

7. Urban Decay 15th Anniversary palette.

UD released quite a lot of palettes this year, but for me this is the most interesting, with its perfect mix of neutrals and brighter colors - definitely the one I've used the most this year!

8. Real Techniques by Samanth Chapman brushes

I absolutely love my Real Techniques brushes, particularly the ones for the face (even though the eyes ones are quite nice as well!) - I think it's fantastic that you can now get a collection of brushes of excellent quality for an affordable price. Review here.

9. Dior Skin Nude Aurora bronzer

For me, the bronzer of the year - too bad it was limited edition.

10. Clinique Gel Liner

Nothing new under the sun but due to limited availability, I had never tried this one before and I do think it's the best gel liner formula on the market!

11. Becca Loose Powder

The best powder I've tried, I haven't looked back since I've had this one, even though I used to empty Mac MSFN's compacts! It gives the perfect amount of coverage and doesn't make your face look cakey or flat matte.

What were your 11 favorite for this year? Feel free to share!

PS : the Christmas manicure

2011-12-26T10:26:00.001+01:00

... that I forgot to show you!

Illamasqua Scarab (2 coats)
Sephora By OPI Nail Polish Only Gold For Me (Glitter Top Coat)

Christmas day FOTD

2011-12-26T01:00:00.000+01:00

I hope all of you who celebrate had a great Christmas day! I was very unsure of what to wear until the last minute and ended up doing this.

Products featured:

Rouge Bunny Rouge mattifying primer
Chanel Vialumiere Aqua - B10 (applied with a Real Techniques angled foundation brush for more coverage)
Bobbi Brown concealer in warm ivory
Guerlain Meteorites #01
Illamasqua Ambition blush
Kate brow liner 002
On the eyes: Urban Decay Wreckage + Hustle

Mac Blacktrack fluidline

Lashes are Eyelure Girls Aloud - Nicola

Lipstick = Mac Fanfare

In case you're wondering, I just set my hair on heat rollers, sprayed it, then pinned up the front part, it took about 2 mins to style after the heat rollers were taken out.

I couldn't take a decent outfit pick, but basically I'm wearing black boots, black skinny jeans, a black blouse with lace and black glitter, and that gorgeous taupey purpley velvet jacket that dresses up pretty much anything.

What did you wear for Christmas?

Quick and easy Christmassy look

2011-12-23T11:04:00.001+01:00

I'm not really in the Christmas mood. Correction: I'm not in it at all.
Reason #1 is that I'm burried under work, and it is going to stay this way pretty much till the end of January, so for me Christmas is a regular week-end in the middle of 2 hectic weeks, excepted I have to celebrate it on top of doing the laundry and the grocery shopping. So in the end, it's actually a week-end without the relaxing factor. I lose.
Reason #2 is that the weather is just not so December-like that it doesn't feel like Christmas at all. With 9°C/48°F outside at night time, my Winter coat is actually too warm.

So I decided that, to cheer myself up and putting myself in the right mood for this week-end, I'd do Christmas makeup this whole week at work. Think gold, and glitter. (And you could throw red in the mix if you wanted).
I came up with this one that I particularly liked and thought I'd share with you, because it's pretty easy to do.

The key to this look: using a gold glitter liner on top of a black liner. I used Illamasqua Precision Liner in Alchemy (Winter 2010), but you can find glitter liners in many brands, even drugstore ones (Gosh has a nice selection).

Others product used:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
Bobbi Brown concealer - Warm Ivory
Kate Brow Liner 002
Nars Laguna bronzer
Illamasqua Ambition Blush
Mac Femme-Fi and Mystery on the eyes
Mac Blacktrack fluid line in black
YSL Faux Cils in black
Rouge Bunny Rouge Glassy Gloss - Sweet Excesses in Jungle Fudge* on the lips - but a red lipstick would work really well too

Speaking of gold liners, I also own the Chanel Or one from the current Holiday collection.

There are quite a few differences between these 2 gold liners. The Chanel one is an opaque, solid gold color and the applicator is a very fine brush. There's not glitter in this one.
The Illamasqua Alchemy liner is a mix of gold liquid with lots of gold glitter, and it comes with a felt tip applicator.

The result they give is very different: I find the Illamasqua one much more dramatic, not only because of the glitter, but because the overall payoff is better. I thought the Chanel one, since it's opaque, would have more payoff but when I wear it I find it much more discrete.

Do you have an easy look for the Holidays?

* received for free as a gift.

Battle of the mattifying primers - Review #2: Rouge Bunny Rouge Metmorphoses

2011-12-22T01:00:00.000+01:00

The Product.
Rouge Bunny Rouge Metamorphoses contains 29 ml, almost 1 Oz.
It is sold on Zuneta and costs about USD 69. *

The Packaging.
The product is in a beautiful transparent frozen glass bottle, with a black airless pump and dispenser, and a black cap. It does look and feel very luxurious.

Formula.
This is a bit of a thicker formula but it spreads very easily. It's not really a gel but it feels dryer than a lotion, and is very smooth upon application -almost slightly powdery feeling I would say.
You do feel the difference on your skin right after application, as it is very soft and definitely creates an intermediate layer between your skin and your makeup. I found it worked quite well on smoothing dry areas.
I didn't find this drying at all, which was something I initially feared. It didn't make my dryer areas worse either. However, it did create a really matte base. Not completely flat but well matte.
For those that are sensitive to smells, this product has absolutely none. It does, however, contain silica, to which some people can be sensitive.

Ingredients list.
AQUA, SILICA, NYLON-12, OCTYLDODECANOL, LIMNANTHES ALBA SEED OIL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CERA ALBA, ALLANTOIN, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, CARBOMER, METHYLPARABEN, TETRASODIUM EDTA, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN

The results.
You can find the full testing protocol here.

This is right after application of the primer and of my base.

Here we are a few hours later. I've done grocery shopping, an abs workout (no big sweating involved but that's still some level of activity). Obviously I haven't touched up anything, only added liner, mascara and a tad bit of blush on the back of my cheeks.
We can see a tiny bit of discoloration and natural oil reappearing around my nose but for the rest, the result is still pretty much flawless.

We're now looking at the right side of the picture, and it's quite hard to tell any difference with the other side.
What I did notice in real life is that the other side of my face had a little bit of luminosity reappearing after a few hours while this one hadn't.

Again, my end of the day pic is taken with a daylight lightbulb and no flash.
You can see that my makeup has moved around a bit on the nose and mouth area but the rest is still quite ok after 12 hours of wear.
That is, in fact, the same kind of issue I noticed with the other side of my face.

Conclusions.
An very good product! It is expensive but the packaging is very nice, so this is a bit of a treat (like the whole Rouge Bunny Rouge range is!). Although the difference in result with the Illamasqua primer isn't big at all, I prefer this RBR formula because it feels dryer and smoother upon application. I also enjoy the airless pump. I would say that if you can afford the high price mark, this is definitely a great product.

* I was offered this product by Zuneta for review consideration. I am however not compensated in any way to write this review and this is my honest opinion.

Battle of the mattifying primers - Review #1 : Illamasqua Matt Primer

2011-12-21T01:00:00.000+01:00

The Product.
The Illamasqua Matt Primer contains 1 Oz. / 30 ml and costs £19,50 - USD 30.
It has a SPF of 20.

Packaging.
This is a transparent plastic bottle with a nose that allows an easy pouring of the product. Being plastic, the bottle is quite light. The cap is square and you can store the product on it.

Formula.
This is a rather liquidy product, easy to pour, it makes me think of a lotion. It has the typical Illamasqua vanilla smell (think Mac lipsticks, if you want) but that fades very quickly.
Since it's quite liquidy, it's easy to spread but it does feel a tad bit sticky, unlike a silicone-rich gel formula would be, for example.

Ingredients list.
Aqua (Water), Nylon-12, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmeth-Ane (Avobenzone), Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Allantoin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance).

The results.
You will find my detailed testing protocol here. I was wearing the Illamasqua primer on the right side of my face. Here are a few pictures taken through the day.

This first picture was taken right after application of the primer and of my base. As you can see, when i say I have redness on my cheeks, I'm not lying: this isn't blush!!
Foundation was easy to apply, not as sliding as on a silicon base because of the slight tackyness of the product, but it didn't make my foundation blotchy in anyway.

Here we are after a few hours of wear that included going to run errands and doing and abs workout. Since I got out of the house, I had added liner, mascara and a tad bit of blusher on the back of my cheekbones - but obviously no powder and no base touch-ups at all.
Even if some areas are getting a tad bit oilier (and I'm not even saying oily, just slightly shiny due to natural oils), the overall result is still pretty good.

And as you can see, at this stage, there is no evident difference between this side of my face (on the left of the picture) and the other side. In real life I would say that there was a slight difference, this side being a very tiny bit more luminous (I couldn't even say glowy, let alone oily!) after a few hours, but nothing worrying.

Unfortunately, since the days are currently so short, taking good pictures of my face at the end of the day was quite difficult. So here's one taken without flash but with daylight light bulb directed at my face: that's the best I could get.

We are now a good 12 hours after application. As you can see, redness has started to reappear around my nose area. We can say that my foundation has slightly disappeared around places, wich is hard to avoid after 12 hours. But you can also see that shine is avoided on most of my face - my eyes don't count since I didn't prime that area, but this way they're also a good comparison between primed and unprimed skin!

Conclusions.
I would say that this definitely offers good value for money. It will provide a smooth base for your makeup and increase its longevity, keeping most of the shine at bay. I would totally recommend it!

Battle of the mattifying primers : Rouge Bunny Rouge versus Illamasqua

2011-12-20T01:00:00.000+01:00

You might already know that I'm not using primers on a daily basis. I'm rather a fan of wearing as less layers as I can and I generally put my foundation directly on my skin.

I do, however, like to use a primer under particular circumstances: a night out, an exceptionally long day, a particularly hostile weather when I'm going to be outside, or a skin that isn't agreeing with me and does require some buffering layer between itself and makeup.

I recently got the Rouge Bunny Rouge Metamorphoses Mattifying Primer from Zuneta*, and wanted to test it, but I also have owned the Illamasqua Matt Primer since I went to London in May, and I never really tried it extensively nor reviewed it. So I thought that, beside a review of the two products, you might be interested in having a detailed comparison of both products.

And so I did a little experiment: I wore both primers on the same day, each being used on one side of my face.

On the right of the picture, Rouge Bunny Rouge Metamorphoses, and on the left, Illamasqua Matt Primer.

In order to be accurate in testing how well they both work, I used the same base products that I usually use without any primer: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua on the whole face, a bit of Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation on the cheeks to hide redness, and Bobbi Brown creamy concealer under the eyes.

However, I didn't powder any part of my face, nor did I use Fix+ to set my makeup. This way, I could really see how matte or shiny any area would be with the primer underneath.

On this picture I am not wearing any blush or any other makeup than my base, so you can truly see the effect.

The programme for that day included running errands, doing an abs workout (not the kind where you sweat like crazy, but still, it's a workout) and my regular computer activities. A nap might have happened as well. Normal activity level, I would say.

So, if you're interested, please stay tuned for the detailed reviews of the products, as well as through-the-day comparison pictures.

Find the Illamasqua primer detailed review here!
Find the Rouge Bunny Rouge primer detailed review here!

* This was provided for free for reviewing consideration, but of course that won't impact my opinion and I'm not compensated to review it... bla bla bla, you know the story.

Santa came a bit early

2011-12-18T01:00:00.000+01:00

My girlfriends know me well...

and they also know what's in my bathroom or in my wishlist!

Ok this one is a gift from me to myself. I'm very happy it reunited me
with Instagram, which didn't work so well on my old iPhone 3G.

T-shirt from ThinkGeek

iPhone 4S from... well, Apple

Huge pile of makeup and skincare from her.

Have you received some Christmas presents already?

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-12-17T14:16:00.001+01:00

Miss Beauty Nerd is loving the limited edition holiday makeup for 2011. Nothing says Happy Holidays like Dior!

Addicted to Beauty wants to geek out in the shower with the Portal inspired soap - perhaps the best video game ever!

Still looking for the perfect Christmas present for your sister/bestie/daughter/yourself? Shivani at Adorable On Your Vanity thinks the Too Faced Sweet Dreams Palette will make the perfect gift!

Krasey Beauty shows you Vincent Longo's holiday collection, which looks good enough to eat!

If you love green eyeshadows, Bun Bun Makeup Tips believes you will absolutely love L’Oreal Color Infallible Eyeshadow In Emerald Lamé!

Spotted: the perfect Holiday 2011 palette! Pammy Blogs Beauty reviews the NARS Danmari "All About Cheeks" Palette.

This week Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed is obsessed with an inanimate object that vibrates...get your mind out of the gutter you perv! And check out her ongoing love affair with Clarisonic Opal!

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella experiments with looks that are all about fierce glowy cheeks.

It goes without saying how amazing Burt's Bees Lip Balms are. Beauty Blog of a kind thinks the Ultra Conditioning balm with Kokum Butter is even better!

Have you ever considered getting a keratin hair straightening? Marcia from Beauty Info Zone had Brazilian Blowout done and she’s more than thrilled. Read about her experience.

Madame B Fatale now feature's DIY and shows us how to make an on trend accessory, a turban!

Kajal Couture shows you how to turn loose pigments in to a pressed eyeshadow.

---Win a bottle of Reviva Labs Hyaluronic Acid Serum from polish insomniac!

Jenn at Spiced Beauty is celebrating three years of blogging with amassive giveaway! Check it out.

Win the Elemis FreshSkin range over at The Beauty Scoop!

Evening looks call for red lips!

2011-12-13T13:58:00.001+01:00

I had some work dinner to go to this week, but it was a bit of a challenge on the look front because it was happening right after a very long day of meeting followed by team building outdoors activities, and I wasn't too sure how much time I'd have to switch to a more evening appropriate version of me.

Lucky me, this past week-end, the beautiful Ruth Crilly aka A Model Recommends released a new video on 3 ways to wear red lipstick. You know how much I love my statement lips, and I surely believed that it was an appropriate look for an evening out. But what I found even more interesting was the fact that her look #1 was very simple, easy to do, but still impactfull. So I decided I'd go for that one : an understated neutral face and eye with some liner and the red lip, associated with sleek pulled back hair - an easy look when you don't have the time to wash your hair, let alone give yourself a fancy brushing! The makeup could easily be done by transforming my day makeup if needed - lucky me I had enough time to redo it completely.

And so here's the final result! (in harsh hotel bathroom light, though)

Products in action here:

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm as a primer - lovely stuff
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10 + Illamasqua RLF in 133 also used as concealer
Dior Aurora bronzer
Rouge Bunny Rouge Starina blush (very neutral matte brownish shade).
On the eyes: my beloved Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Waterproof liner in 020 Expresso, on top of a wash of peach and a bit of light brown in the crease. YSL Faux Cils in black.
On the lips, which are the focus point here: Mac Lady Bug applied on top of lipbalm

Of course, with such a strong look and the hair, if you can avoid wearing glasses, that would be nice, so I throwed in contacts for good measure.

In my opinion, this in addition to a black outfit was definitely polished enough for the occasion, and really not too much work nor time to achieve.

I really recommend (no pun intented) that you check amodelrecommends'video on the red lipstick topic, as now is the season to wear your red proudly!

FOTD experiment of this past week (Asian inspired)

2011-12-10T17:00:00.001+01:00

So not too long ago, my friend Kate (aka The Driveller) posted this picture on our favorite makeup forum.

Kate and I share a love for anything bold, so a look consisting mainly and a heavy application of lavenderish pink blush and nothing else wasn't even that scary to us.

I decided I needed to try it and adapt it to myself so I could wear it to work - no less.
Turns out that a/ I really liked it, b/ it's fast and easy to do so c/ I ended up wearing it all week (so much for telling you about my makeup rut in a previous post: I left it behind but I'm sure it will be back soon).
However, and that's my d/, this look is super hard to photograph because the light washes out the cheek color a lot and leaves you looking like a corpse when really, in real life, it's just so pretty.

But with several attempts and a bit of photoshop, I think I now have enough material to demonstrate.

Version 1 : pretty in pink - that's directly inspired from that pic.

How to get the look?

Absolutely flawless skin is a must since there won't be much color to bring the attention elsewhere! You want to look dewy and airbrushed, there's no other way to say it. I'm not a fan of using primers all the time but here you definitely need to prep your skin, at least with a good moisturizer.
I used Nars Sheer Glow in Gobi, Illamasqua RLF 133 everywhere I needed to hide redness or pigmentation and Bobbi Brown concealer in Warm Ivory under the eyes.
At this stage, you just look dead. Don't be scared, go on.
If you need to do anything to your brows, do it now. I used Integrate brow liner in 002.
Bring definition to the eyes but make sure they look like you used nothing on them. I like doing that by using a champagne cream shadow all over the lid (here it is a Shiseido one in H1, now discontinued) and a bit of light brown matte shadow above the crease to create depth - I used Rouge Bunny Rouge in Solstice Halcyon, it's barely there but it does the job.
Make sure you tightline (= line between your upper lashes) or your lashes will look miserable with this pale background. I used Mac Sense of Style khol (LE), then added my YSL Faux-Cils mascara.
Now is time for the blush. I like to think that a slightly transparent but very glowy one is easier to wear than a full color like they used on the editorial picture. Since the color is more sheer and diffuses the light, you can get along with a heavy and large application. I used Givenchy Prisme Glow Blush in Lune Rosee (LE, current season) applied in round motions with a Mac 109.
Add a glossy pink lip (matte won't work with this look): Dior Addict in It Pink

And voilà:

Version 2 : Pretty in Apricot.

Since I can only get along with such a cool pale pink look in gloomy cool Winter light. Comes Spring, this will be unwearable for me. So I tried a warmer version that could be more suitable for warm skintones.

Everything is identical but I used Mac Rubenesque as a lid color, Dior Addict in Miss Dior on the lips, and the star blush in this look is Mac Stereo Rose MSF.

You can see the glow pretty well in this picture, but I can assure you it doesn't look too glowy nor greasy in real life.

I would say that this is an easy look to put on: it's fast (only the base can take a bit of time to ensure flawless face), it doesn't require many products, and any Mac MSF or Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or similar stuff will work to achieve the cheek effect.

It's cute for daytime, it might even look natural and polished enough for a day date and it's definitely work appropriate.

On the other hand, it's actually not the easiest look to wear. If you have problematic skin, concealing will be a nightmare. If you're under harsh light, like work neons, you will look sick. At night time, you'd be completely washed out unless you'd add liner and a more vibrant lip.

For me, I will definitely keep this in my arsenal of looks for days where I am lazy or late, or need to look very natural.

Sunday Night Rambling

2011-12-04T20:32:00.001+01:00

In no particular order...

1. Attended a congress with lots of great speakers and heard a fantastic talk by Dan Ariely on how our brain tricks us all the time and how our decisions are made by the context in which the choice is presented. That is worth for very important life decisions as well as for purchasing decisions. I know, it sounds nerdy, but it's really fascinating. More about his book Predictably Irrational on here.

2. I dropped my beloved MacBook. First time it happens to me in 8 years of owning MacBooks. The Apple gods weren't with me to give a "free of consequence pass" just for this once : my screen is broken (some areas of it, at least) and it's the most expensive part to replace. If any of you have experience in DIY screen replacement, I'm all ears.

3. I finally found a fitness blog that doesn't spread nutritional nonsense, so go read it, it's the Fitnessista. I am very upset about all the bulls**t that can be found on the internet when it comes to fitness and nutrition. No, you shouldn't do 3-4 liters of water a day, because that will damage your kidneys, I know because my doctor freaked out and screamed when I told him about that. And yes you do need sugar. Real sweet sugar. It's the only fuel that your brain accepts, cutting on it completely is irresponsible. Do I need to go on? Anyway, hop over the Fitnessista for real smart advice.

4. Heaving heard that Google Connect wouldn't allow us anymore to follow blogs that aren't hosted by Blogger, I added a BlogLovin button on the bottom bar of the blog - just in case you want to follow me through another system than Google.

5. Laura posted about Makeup Ruts, right when I noticed being in a makeup rut myself. Not that this is a bad thing, it's just that it gets harder to post interesting FOTD pictures on here when all I do is a variation of the same look composed with one of the 3.876 similar eyeshadows that I own and rotate.

But that's ok, there's nothing wrong with makeup ruts, actually a lot of people love them - just have a look at the comments on Laura's post to get convinced and... get new lemmings from the other's ruts :)

Happy Sunday!

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-12-03T14:46:00.001+01:00

The auctions are now open! Head over to this year's BeautyBloggers.org auctions to bid on everything from classic perfumes to the one-of-a-kind (and once in a lifetime) Ultimate Neiman Marcus Experience.

Make your house smell like a cozy campfire with a Bath & Body Works Marshmallow Fireside Candle as reviewed by My Lips But Better.

A monthly "giftbox" subscription for nail polish lovers? Pammy Blogs Beauty checks out Julep Maven and the "Sneak Peek Box".

Gouldylox discovers that LASHEM Double Trouble Mascara does an amazing job at giving you naturally amazing looking lashes, thanks to itty-bitty cotton fibers and two special brushes.

Have to rush out of the house but want to look polish? Mariella at Musing on Beauty shares her tips and tricks for a quick full face that will save you lots of time.

At Love, Lust, and Fairy Dust, Jude has a gift idea for Beauty Bloggers that risk burnt legs from spending so much time on their laptops: Kico Lap Top Trays.

Fleurissante has tested Dior Airflash foundation. Click to see her impressions.

Smashinbeauty reviewed the new Sigma Beauty, the Cities London Limited Edition Travel Collection Brushes. Is it worth the money?

Kajal Couture fills you in on two cream eyeshadows that are perfect for the Holiday Season.

Looking for a more purse friendly version of the Urban Decay 24/7 liners? Midnight Violets has found a great comparable product for you!

Read up on the Sigma Make Me Up Travel Edition at Handmade Reviews to see if this new Sigma Beauty release is a hit or miss!

Donuts for your hair? Sounds crazy, but MadameB Fatale shows us her tutorial on how to do a braided bunwith a hair donut!

It's not even Christmas yet and Anita has already reviewed a few products from Guerlain's Spring 2012 Collection including the gorgeous Cruel Gardenia highlighter! Check the reviews and swatches out over at Pleasureflush!

Read on to see what Makeup, Beauty and More has to say about the much raved about Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter.

---Beauty Info Zone has an amazing Zuca Pro Artist Makeup Case for their latest giveaway. This is a makeup lover’s dream. Open to US and Canada through Dec. 11, 2011.

Canadians, want to win a sold out December Top Box? Then head over to Adorable On Your Vanity and try your luck!

November Favorites

2011-12-01T01:00:00.000+01:00

Oh My Goodness, the year is almost over, I can't even believe that!
Even though the weather is generally gloomy and sometimes cold, this Fall has really behaved like one, instead of blasting us with snow in October already, like it did last year. Which means that for once, I got to really enjoy Fall clothes, colors and products for the whole month.

Lierac Hydra-Chrono balm, it does not completely healing my skin these days, as the central heating really makes it dehydrated and sore, but it's the best I have for now and it helps a lot already.

Illamasqua Ambition. It goes with everything, it just looks perfect, it's the kind of blush that you could pick if you had to chose just one.

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Mirifique, because it makes a gorgeous sparkly black liner that is also very easy to apply.

Body Brushing - maybe it's all in my head but I've been using this for months and I swear it makes a difference, so I thought I'd mention it again.

Dior Aurora bronzer is just perfect to give a tiny bit of warmth to my now extremely pale face.

Chanel Vitalumière Aqua: brace yourself ladies: I'm reaching the bottom of the bottle! Yes, me, the girl who never finishes a foundation!!

Nuxe Reve de Miel handcream: my hands haven't been too damaged yet but so far this keeps them smooth and soft!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Deliquescence Cleanser: I reviewed this here and told you I was keeping it for special occasions. Well I have decided that dark cold Winter nights were enough of a good reason to enjoy this more often.

Pan Am : Loving this series, it started slowly but it's getting better and better.

Blog : Ars Aromatica : this is a bit of a UFO in the beauty blogosphere and I absolutely love it. It's actually held by a team of bloggers, which allows us to read about different skins, colors, likings and interests. It's extremely well written and sometimes thought-provoking. If you don't know it, go check it out.

How to: look polished when you're in a hurry.

2011-11-30T09:33:00.001+01:00

A while ago I was talking with one of my good friends about how hard it can be to find time to put on makeup when you're a busy woman. She's a wife, a mommy of two, a full-time working director in a large company... but she loves makeup and she wants to be able to put on some before she hits the road in the morning.
I must say that even for my child-free self, this can be a problem sometimes too. When you have to leave the house at 6 in the morning for a far-away meeting where you need to look fresh, skipping makeup is not an option, but getting up even earlier to put it on doesn't sound too good either.

That's why I developped fast makeup strategies, that I shared with my friend and am now going to share with you.

Rule #1 : Base can be quickly done.
I love spending lots of time on my base but if I'm in a hurry, I want to be able to take care of it in less than 5 minutes. What you need to do is use as little as you can. Use a long lasting-concealer where needed and a lot of times, that's really all you'll need. Add a tinted moisturizer if you want, as this will kill 2 birds with one stone, evening out complexion and moisturizing your skin. If you really need foundation, applying with hands will be faster than using tools.

Rule #2 : Eyes don't require a lot of work.
My friend loves spending a lot of times on her eyes creating complex looks, but clearly in this situation, it's a luxury she can't afford. A wash of a pale color to brighten up the eye and some mascara really are all you need.
For me, since my eyes are a bit hooded, what I'll do is just use a bit of light brown cream shadow above the crease, just quickly blended with a finger, to create depth.
Alternatively, just even curl the lashes and add a bit of mascara, and nothing else at all on the lids: this will make you look more awake.
Keep the eye makeup for when you have time!

Rule #3: be strategic with color.
Since you're not playing up the eyes, you need to use color as a way to look polished without having much makeup on. That means that you cannot skip blush! I find that both cream and powder apply very well but if you have a long day ahead of you, cream might last longer (unless you're oily) and is easily apply with fingers so go for that.
Now the star in this quick makeup is the lip! Be it a gloss or a lipstick, pick a product that will give color to the whole face in combination with the blush. Make sure those 2 are in the same color family if you want to be sure that you make no mistake (rules are meant to be broken but exeperimentation isn't a good idea when you're in a rush).

Rule #4: what can be done outside of the house should be done outside of the house.
Keep a compact powder and a puff in your purse so you can powder in your car or on your way rather than in your bathroom. Apply lip product in the car, too, that's what I do EVERY single morning.
Hey, that's only 2 mins, but there's no small gain!
If you can't do that during your commuting, work bathrooms work as well for those little operations.

And so here's the result, as I'm following my own advice today:

Ok, I spent an extra couple of minutes on the brows but really, that's a matter of personal preference and that's a little obsession of mine.

With this strategy, you can look fresh, awake and polished in less than 10 minutes - that has been tested and approved by my friend!

Lipstick featured: Illamasqua Maneater. Blush : Illamasqua Unrequited.

Bioderma Hydrabio Mask

2011-11-28T01:00:00.000+01:00

Always hunting for the mask that will help my skin going through Winter with minimal dehydration issues, I've recently been trying this Bioderma Hydrabio hydrating mask.
I actually got this one for free last Summer when I purchased several other Bioderma products and so it had been hiding in a drawer since then, but now is the right time to experiment!

What the brand says:

Hydrabio Mask provides deep-down, long-lasting moisture during periods of extreme dehydration. The skin thus regains its comfort, softness, suppleness and radiance.
Patented Aquagenium® biological complex stimulates the skins cellular capabilities, re-training it to generate in depth, and to lock in on the surface, the moisture essential for its balance.
Smooth and wrapping texture leaves a pleasant feeling of softness and protection.
Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.

My experience with the product:

The product is a white rather unscented lotion, not a thick cream. It applies easily and on very dehydrated areas, it can tingle a bit. You can apply a thick layer and wait for 10 minutes, then wipe off the excess with a tissue and go to sleep. You'll find that it forms a kind of film on the skin, and personally I haven't had anything to wipe off as my skin has absorbed most of the stuff.

You can use this daily for a week when you first start, so you can restore good skin, then use it twice a week.

I do agree that this does nourish the skin and is very well absorbed. However this won't heal your skin overnight - and mine wasn't even that damaged, I have gone through times where it was way worse than that. So you will definitely need to use it for several days to feel improvement.

The wrapping / film creating texture feels a bit weird but it makes your skin smoother when you wake up in the morning.

What I'm not too sure about, though, is te "re-training skin to generate moisture" thingy. As soon as I don't use this for a few days, my skin starts feeling tight again and dry patches reappear.

My conclusion:

I do think this is a very good product for sensitive, allergy-prone skins. On this level, I'd recommend it over Lierac Hydra Bio, for example. Same thing if you don't like scented products and want something really neutral.

It's also very easy to apply and not sticky, unlike the Lierac product. It feels much more "medical" on all aspects where Lierac feels very luxurious.

In terms of effectiveness, I would say it's quite good as long as you keep using it as often as you feel the need. It's no miracle solution that will heal your skin once and for all, but it's quite easy to use on a daily basis.

Bioderma Hydrabio Mask, 75ml, 38$ - 12€ (bad conversion factor strikes against US, this time).

And of course, the ingredient list for the science nerds:

WATER (AQUA), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PETROLATUM, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, POLYETHYLENE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), SALICYLIC ACID, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, XYLITOL, MANNITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, LAMINARIA OCHROLEUCA EXTRACT, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM CETEARYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, XANTHAN GUM, NIACINAMIDE, HEXYLDECANOL, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)

If you don't have it, fake it.

2011-11-24T13:36:00.001+01:00

Sometimes, I tend to act reasonable. Like, right now, mostly because of The Big Secret Project you cannot know about.

And so when I'm reasonable, I focus on not expanding my makeup collection any more.

However, it's always when I plan on not buying that I come across things that I desperately want: enters the current lemming, Guerlain Les Gris eyeshadow palette.

(NB: I stole this picture from my friend Martha over at Planet Martha - go visit and subscribe because she's beautiful and she has the prettiest makeup collection! And she has swatches of this gorgeous palette too!)

I have swatched this in store about a dozen times now. The blue is just gorgeous, and the silvery color on the left is one of the most beautiful and complex shades I have seen. (I do find all the shades were looking warmer on me than the do in the pictures, though.) Serious lemming here! BUT... I'm being reasonable. And so I haven't bought it (yet?) and I'm trying to dupe it with things that I already own.
Here goes:

Featured here: Nars Rajasthan (both colors, obviously) on the lid, and Mac Satin Taupe in the crease. Very fine liner line was drawn with Gosh pencil in Majestic Sea.

Oops, blurry!

Fellow makeup addicts have told me that this is duping Les Gris perfectly, and I try to go by the rule that if only I can see the difference between 2 eyeshadows when it's applied, then I don't need both. That means that the lemming is killed... for now at least.

Other products featured:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10+Illamasqua RLF in 133 on the cheeks
Illamasqua Ambition blush
Integrate brow liner in 002
YSL Faux-Cils mascara
Mac Fanfare lipstick

Lost Week-End FOTD

2011-11-22T01:00:00.000+01:00

Taking a FOTD picture seems impossible these days. Not enough light, too much sunrise light, polluting artificial light... I just despise this season for this reason (amongst others, I don't enjoy being frozen either...).
Anyway, I more or less managed to photoshop enough of above's picture to give you a general idea of my face of the day.
Below picture is unretouched and natural light, though, and so you can see my Becca Lost Week-End palette (ha! how perfect is that for a Monday morning) in action!

Those eyeshadows are just so easy to apply, blend and wear!

Other products featured:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10 + Illamasqua Rich Liquid 133
Bobbi Brown creamy concealer in Warm Ivory under the eyes
Integrate brow liner in 002
Illamasqua Lover blush
Guerlain Les Perles Meteorites in 01
Chanel Le Crayon Waterproof in 20 Expresso
YSL Faux Cils in black
Dior Addict lipstick in MissDior

And for some reason, this look put me in a good mood - always a bonus on Mondays! :)

Nuxe Nirvanesque Eye Cream

2011-11-21T01:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of months ago I was out of eye cream and decided to give a try to a new one for some change. You know how much I love Nuxe products and so I decided to get their Creme Nirvanesque.

This claims to "Address the first signs of aging in the eye contour area. Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles as well as works to diminish the appearance of dark circles. Eye contour is visibly more radiant. For all skin types."
I have very few fine lines around the eyes, but I want to keep them away and that's why I rely on eye creams. And of course I'm always happy if a product can diminish the appearance of my dark circles - so I thought this might be it for me.

The cream is lightweight, really non greasy and not sticky at all, but it's still a cream and not a gel. It's unscented, white, and it sinks in quickly after application. I can use it night and morning, before makeup, without any issue.

Now as for the effect: I don't know what effect it has or has not on fine lines. I haven't noticed any improvement but then again I don't have real issues, and it's impossible to know how much worse they would be if I wasn't using a product on them.
Regarding the dark circles, I unfortunately can't report any effect. The product description said that Corrective Pigments in the formula would visibly improve them but I don't notice anything.

So, all in all, it's a nice eye cream - no miracle, nothing extraordinary, but it does the job of a regular eye cream.

As usual, the ingredient list for the science nerds:

AQUA/WATER, ROSA MOSCHATA SEED OIL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, HYDROXYETHYL UREA, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PROPANEDIOL, PROPYLHEPTYL CAPRYLATE, TOCOPHEROL, CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, MICA, CITRIC ACID, CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, ALLANTOIN, POLYDODECANAMIDEAMINIUM TRIAZADIPHENYLETHENESULFONATE, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, 10-HYDROXYDECANOIC ACID, SEBACIC ACID, 1,10-DECANEDIOL, ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT, LAURETH-3, NYMPHAEA COERULEA SEED EXTRACT, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, POLYVINYLALCOHOL CROSSPOLYMER, ACETYL DIPEPTIDE-1 CETYL ESTER, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS SEED EXTRACT, PAPAVER RHOEAS SEED EXTRACT [N0604/A].

Nuxe Nirvanesque Eye Cream: € 19 - USD 29.

Blogsales

2011-11-20T16:51:00.001+01:00

Blog Sales has been updated with new items and price for older items have been lowered.
Please go and have a look at it! It's all here!

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-11-19T11:36:00.001+01:00

Have you heard of Beauty Bloggers for Charity? Tune into BeautyBloggers.org between Nov. 28th and Dec. 12th to bid on some awesome products. The auctions will be open internationally and all proceeds will go to Doctors Without Boarders, so don’t miss it!

Gouldylox Reviews tells you why you need these shadow sticks right now.

Jen vamps it up with her own OCC Lip Tar custom mix on My Funny Valentine.

Is Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed confused about what season it is or can she not help but be sucked in by the lure of Chanel? Take a look at the Chanel spring 2012 collection and decide for yourself!

At Eyelining Obsessions, Claire shares her favourite gold/bronze eyeshadows.

NOTD from L at Beautifully Addicted to featuring Beauty UK in Slate.

Phyrra's Independent Spotlight with Concrete Minerals is one to be thankful for!

Looking for the perfect holiday beauty gift? Well, Krasey Beauty wants to show you this must-have from Votre Vu!

Jenn over at Spiced Beauty has some gorgeous Revlon nude swatches over at her blog. Guess what? They were only $6.00!

We’re already thinking about holiday gifts at Beauty Info Zone and one we highly recommend is Votre Vu’s It Kit. Everything from Votre Vu is gift-worthy yet the It Kit stands out above the rest.
Midnight Violets shares some of her favourite autumn lip colours - all at great prices, too!

Pay it forward this holiday season with Christina the Glitterholic and her awesome makeup up filled gift bags!!

Makeup, Beauty, and More shares her favourite holiday kit from Tarte that she thinks every makeup lover should have!

Jude shows you how to zap that cellulite for good in the comfort of your own home with Cellu Smooth from The Beauty Works.

---Get clear skin for the holidays by entering Kim Porter's Holiday Beauty Stocking Stuffer Giveaway!
Makeup Morsels recounts her recent hair care adventure, and throws in a giveaway for good measure! Head over to her blog for your chance to win some magical Yuko Repair Through spray (US only, but there's a virtual cupcake for international readers).

Head over to Beauty In The Mirror for a rave review of Cetaphil's Gentle Cleanser & for a chance to win one!

Is the cold weather making you dry? Well, be sure to enter Pammy Blogs Beauty's Carmex Healing Skincare Giveaway!!!

The one where I try on 2 new products but my FOTD ends up being a huge fail

2011-11-18T09:05:00.001+01:00

... so stay tuned, you might actually learn something from my experience!

First of all, you know how I loved my Bare Minerals High Shine in Glisten that I told you about yesterday. Well, I actually got another one at the same time, called Vapor, that I wanted to use today.

Well, first of all, from what I had seen online, I was hoping for it to be a greyish blue. Bummer, on me its blue blue, but then even blacks turn blue on me, so what was I hoping?

Secondly, I thought I could go and apply like I had done with Glisten: use applicator, put on lid while you hold a tissue on your cheek, blend and you're done.
HUGE mistake. My blending brush was already saturated in one swipe, and despite the tissue, this went everywhere. And once it's there, it doesn't leave, it just spreads. Don't even think about swiping with your finger, because you'll just make it worse and your finger will get very derty and spread the damage even more.

And so, for the first time in years, I've had to grab cottons, q-tips and Bioderma, and try and clean my mess with successive layers of makeup remover and concealer/foundation. Actually, if I hadn't been running late already, I would have redone my base entierly - I even wonder if that wouldn't have been easier.

So here I am with very bright blue eyes, hoping I don't look too 80's (but since a male colleague just noticed my makeup, I'm seriously worried...)... and of course ALL THE PICS I TOOK ARE DARK AND CRAPPY. When you fail, fail well and fast.

But wait... there's MORE!

I am also using a new mascara on these pics (not that you can see...)
I keep trying mascaras and keep telling you that nothing beats YSL Faux-Cils (click on the mascara tag in the side bar if you want proofs), yet I can't help but trying others just in case.
Subject of the current experiment: Bare Escentuals Magic Wand.

This is call a magic wand because it really is a wand, there's no brush. That made me really curious. The wand has little indents in it that coat your lashes with the product, but you need to work horizontally (parallel to lashes) without wiggling the wand, and you also need to coat the top side of the lashes. Curling is mandatory in my opinion, since this won't give any curled form to your lashes on its own like brushes generally do for me.

My opinion on this... the formula is nice, stays well, doesn't flake, removes easily. The color is very black, which is always good.
But this can seriously clump your lashes unless you use a spoolie to separate them. And, if you use a spoolie... IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF NOT USING A MASCARA BRUSH!
And so, once again, this definitely doesn't compete with YSL Faux Cils, even by far.

So that's it for today, and it's probably a good thing that the week-end starts tonight.

(NB: both products were purchased from BeautyBay for 14£ each)

FOTD with Bare Minerals High Shine - Glisten

2011-11-17T09:47:00.001+01:00

There are some brands that I always swatch in store, always look at on websites and then never buy anything from. Bare Minerals is one of them. Until recently I had never tried any product at all from the brand.
However, seeing blog reviews on their new High Shine eyeshadows made me want to give those gorgeous products a try. I got 2 of them, and the one I am trying on today is Glisten.

The thing that made me get this product is the fact that, despite the lose form, it's supposedly less messy than a lose eyeshadow in a pot form, thanks to the little applicator. And indeed I found this quite easy to apply, providing you do put a tissue on your cheeks while you do because there will be fall out.

Glisten is a gorgeous complex color. It looks like a gold with a rose undertone when you see it in the pot, but once applied it's even more complex than that - it makes me think of Max Vex on crack.
The shine factor obviously comes from the very shimmery (not glittery) formula so I would say that this might enhance fine lines on the lid, which can be a problem for some people.
I would also recommend you use a primer or base underneath so this lose powder has something to stick to - I used my beloved Nars primer.
I used Glisten all over the lid with Mac Plumage on the outer corners.

BM Glisten + Mac Plumage

As you can see, this can settle in lines/crease a bit but it's gorgeous nevertheless!

I think this kind of eyeshadow can easily be worn on its own with liner, thanks to its complexity. That's something I need to try, too!

Other products used:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer
Integrate brow pen in brown
Nars Penny Lane blush + Mac Stereo Rose MSF on top
Mac Brule on the brow bone
YSL Faux-Cils mascara in black
Dior Addict lipstick in 332 Stunning Beige

Bed Head Colour Control - Colour Goddess shampoo : a review

2011-11-15T01:00:00.000+01:00

You will have noticed in my recent FOTD pictures that I have changed my color for Fall, going for a much richer copper shade (if you're wondering, that's L'Oreal Professionel Richesse in 6.40, Copper). I love those rich shades but they have the disadvantage that they get stripped off your hair with every single wash, and fade away really quickly, ending up looking dull and not very well groomed.

Now I am a bit obsessed with washing the day off my hair every night, even though everybody knows it's not a good idea, but I just can't get rid of that habit and when I don't wash my hair, I just feel like I should go hide in a corner the next morning and dry shampoo just doesn't cut it. So yeah, about 6 shampoos a week, that doesn't make my red color happy.

So when I went to my supplies store to get a tube of my color, I decided to pick a shampoo that would help it last longer and decided to go for this one.

What the brand says:

Colour Goddess Shampoo - Therapy for Racy Red Heads or Bodacious Brunettes. Battles Dulling & Fading Dryness.
Keep those rich caramel brown and spicy red hues as delicious as the day you put them in! Colour LockDown Technology protects colour vibrancy longer as it shields hair from untimely colour loss. The sulfate-free formula smoothes and imparts shine like no other while helping to protect against UV damage. A Toffee Heaven scent leaves hair smelling deliciously mouth-watering.

What I have to say:

The consistency is a sheer taupe colored gel like formula that comes from a tube. A formula that is sulfate free is a good thing for colored hair, as those damn sulfates are contributing in the fading issue. However I had noticed with other sulfate free products that the lack of foam was making them hard to spread, and that my scalp didn't always agree with them. Now I haven't experienced any of these issues with this shampoo: despite the lack of sulfate, it still creates quite a lot of foam and is easy to spread all over my long hair. I haven't experienced any irritation nor flat sad hair with it.

The smell is absolutely heavenly! I would have described it as Crème Brulée, but I guess Toffee works too. I love it, as it's nice but not overpowering. It won't linger for too long once your hair is dry but if you use hot tools like a flat iron, it will be reactivated.

Now I am using the shampoo alone and not the conditioner, and I am usure about the "battles dryness" part. This shampoo does NOT make my roots or my scalp dry at all, but my ends, which were already dry , don't get much moisture from this shampoo alone. I will need to try the conditioner at some point but for now I can do with the moisturizing masks that I have at home.

As far as the color is concerned, I can say that usually, you do lose quite a lot of vibrancy after the 2-3 first shampoos as the dye will sometimes keep bleeding from your hair. That's the reason why I usually dye my hair with a color darker than what I really want: I know that after a few days it's faded to what I want to get and then stays quite the same for a few weeks (or the time it takes you to do 20 shampoos, if you're braver than me). With this shampoo, I still haven't noticed any loss of color or vibrancy after several shampoo, so I'm absolutely thrilled and I know already that the life of my color is going to be expanded - I just don't know by how much yet.

As a conclusion, I definitely recommend this product! If you're a blonde, there's a Color Combat range for you alled "Dumb Blonde - Therapy for Highlighted or Bleached Blonde Babes", not the nicest name, but if it works as well as the Colour Goddess, it's worth a try!

Bed Head Colour Combat Shampoo - 250ml tube - around €12 - $12.50

Perfume review: Serge Lutens Vitriol d'Oeillet

2011-11-14T01:00:00.001+01:00

I recently stopped by the Serge Lutens counter to get back-ups of my beloved Bois Vanille and Five O'Clock, and the lady gave me a couple of samples of the new and much awaited fragrance release, Vitriol d'Oeillet.

Talk about a name, vitriolic Carnation. To me this sounded dark, possibly violent, and at the same time quite old-fashioned. Frankly, when was the last time you saw a carnation? You get the point.
Actually, launching a Carnation based perfume nowadays is quite a daring gesture, as there are IFRA restrictions on a lot of the ingredients that are needed to create the Carnation smell, so Mr Lutens is facing a big challenge here.
What he wanted to do with this fragrance was recreate a fragrance that would evoke 19th century dandies in a woody spicy way, and would be wearable for both men and women. He also wanted this Carnation to be angry, hence the vitriolic atmosphere.

When I first sprayed it on, my first reaction was: "Wow. Wow, wow, wow!" and you should read that in a claustrophobic tone, because I was actually feeling invaded and overwhelmed by the fragrance. These were the top notes, full of clove and all kinds of peppers, jumping at me in a quite agressive way.
That lady Carnation, she's not a femme fatale: she's wearing war paint with her stilettos, her teeth are deadly sharp and she's a killer. She's probably the cousin of another Lutens perfume called Tubereuse Criminelle (criminal tuberose).

The clove and pepper never disappear, but quite fast, the dry down reveals a subtle flowery note made of wallflower, lily and ylang-ylang. That's the most interesting moment for me, as the scent is complex and you have to stay focused to distinguish the flower behind the pepper but it's there, and it's beautiful.

And then? Well, to my disappointment, nothing. I was expecting Vitriol d'Oeillet to linger on my skin for a long time but it just disappeared after a few hours. Sad conclusion.

So, my overall opinion on this... The name is justified by the opening, but those top notes don't stay violent for more than a few minutes. The dry-down is less old-fashioned than I expected, as this fragrance never fully turns into a floral and stays a strong woody spicy one till the end because it is loaded with black pepper, pink pepper, pimento and clove that will just not go away. But there are lovely flower notes somewhere behind them, and they're not as old-fashioned as I expected them to be. And, that is an important point for me, I don't think Vitriol d'Oeillet would be bothering to the people around you as it's not strong to the point that it invades the whole room.

If this fragrance weren't disappearing so fast on me, I would consider it as a special occasion/ evening out perfume. I think it would also be beautiful on women layered with something more floral, and I definitely think that this is a great fragrance for men when worn on its own.

Random Sunday In's & Out's

2011-11-13T12:55:00.001+01:00

I have not shared ins and outs for such a long time, I thought it might be good to write an updated one this week end.

IN'S

My cognac boots, I have been wearing them non stop for the past month.

Red hair. It's high maintenance and I'm not sure I'll keep up with that for more than a few months, but that's a bit of a statement color in those gloomy Fall days and I like that!

Good skin days. As the cold hasn't striked too much yet, my skin hasn't freaked out so far this Fall, or then only for a couple of days, and I'm enjoying good skin and very light coverage bases - providing I get enough hours of sleep, of course.

Fringe. I LOVE that kind of mystery-sci-fi genre, I discovered the series last Summer, watched all the first three seasons on DVD and now wait impatiently for every new episode of season 4 to be available on the internet every Saturday. Plus, Anna Torv is beautiful and Joshua Jackson is serious eye candy, that doesn't hurt either.

The Secret Project. I won't tell you more about this before it really starts and that's not before next Spring, but until then, I have to seriously cut down the spendings and will have less fancy novelties to review on here. But that's for the best! And since two of my BFF's are involved in the same project, they're on the same low-buy boat and we're trying to support each other in not spending too much! It's hard being a makeup addict :)

OUT's

The serious lack of daylight, particularly in the morning when I have the opportunity to take FOTD pictures. And then when I leave work, night has fallen already - not my favorite time of the year, I can tell.

Finding outfits. As days get colder, I find it harder to create new outfits everyday that will be a/ in style, b/fitting my mood, c/work appropriate and d/keeping me warm! It's a daily morning dilemma that strikes back every year and that I really don't enjoy.

The lack of energy that goes with shorter days. As soon as it gets dark, your body produces melatonin, which tells your brain that it's time to go to bed. Apparently my melatonin production is hyperactive because these days I'd love to go to bed at 7PM, and finding the motivation and energy that is necessary to work out several times a week is really, really difficult. Eating, on the other hand, is very appealing. No wonder it's that time of the year where I always put on a few unwanted pounds (and that's a big OUT too!). So now is the time to keep up with the good working out resolutions and the healthy diet!

What are your current in's and out's? Please share in the comments!

Looks of the week - variations around the same theme

2011-11-12T13:16:00.001+01:00

Fall is really there now, most days this week were gloomy, foggy and generally grey, which just makes me crave for some warmth and color. I have mostly been wandering around bronzy or gold shades all weeks, often with a lip variation.

Day 1 : gold and bronze from the UD 15th Anniversary palette (that's Chase and Deeper combined) and my Illamasqua Precision Liner in Alchemy (gold) under the lower lashline.

Here I kept the lip toned down, wearing an old favorite, Mac Charismatic.

Day two: gold, brown and winged liner with a red lip.

Yes, I'm that awfully pale, especially in cool Wintery light.

I used my UD Naked Palette this time, Half Baked on the lid and Buck in the crease, with Mac Blaktrack fluidline. Lipstick is Guerlain Rouge G in Geisha.

Day 3: I wanted to keep the eye quite similar to the day before (I just added a bit of Creep to make the crease a bit cooler), but change the lip to a much cooler shade, that is my favorite fuchsia lipstick, Mac Girl About Town.

Different weather makes my skintone look completely different too.

I have also re-dyed my hair copper, which I love, but is quite high maintenance as the red tones fade away rather quickly. I need to tell you about a new shampoo I'm using to keep the color vibrant, though, so expect that review for next week.

Happy week-end, ladies!

30-30: the final one, #30

2011-11-10T01:00:00.001+01:00

30. Pictures of yourself with and without wearing makeup.

Brace yourself, ladies, here's me sans makeup!

See, color wise, my own face doesn't match my own neck?!

I know, I can't complain too much - a bit of uneven skin tones, dark circles, some pores - no big deal.
I'll admit that this pic was taken on a week-end, though, so my dark circles aren't as bad as during the week since I've had enough sleep!

And well, you've seen me with makeup on a million times! :-)

That's all, folks!

30-30 #29

2011-11-10T01:00:00.000+01:00

29. Do you like wearing liquid liner? If so, what's your favorite?

As I said on question #25, I prefer gel liner.
I have lots of liquid liners, from Gosh, Mac, Lancôme... The one I prefer, if I use liquid, is the Estee Lauder Pure Color as the formula is nice and very long lasting, and the tip is nice for precise application.

30-30 #28

2011-11-08T01:00:00.002+01:00

28. Favourite makeup remover?

I don't even need words to answer this one.

Eyes:

Face?

30-30 #27

2011-11-08T01:00:00.001+01:00

27. Favourite powder?

I rarely powder my face, actually, I am totally over the 100% matte skin and prefer some dewyness. If I powder it, it's either because I wear a very dewy foundation (like Becca Luminous Skin Perfector) or I'll just put a light dusting on the T-zone on an oily day. I then love Becca Fine Lose Finishing Powder, which I wear in Sesame.

However, for touch-ups or travelling, a compact product is easier and I have been using Mac Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (in LIght-Medium) for years on that purpose.

30-30 # 26

2011-11-08T01:00:00.000+01:00

26. Do you wear makeup everyday?

Not every day, but most days. Usually on week-ends I spend one day without nothing on my skin so it gets a break. Well, I don't know if my skin gets a break, it's actually me who gets to be lazy and not care :)
Other than that, yes, I wear a full face of makeup 5-6 days a week, purely because I enjoy putting it on.

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-11-05T12:49:00.000+01:00

Shivani at Adorable On Your Vanity ponders if NARS Taos Blush is too bright or just right?

Want a metallic eye look that's perfect for Fall/Winter? Musicalhouses checks out the Sleek Molten Metal in Steel and Ash!

Amazing what makeup can do! Smashinbeauty writes about how Dermablend concealed Zombie Boy.

Daily Polish shows off why she thinks that Nails Inc Magnetic Polish is so amazing!

Mariella at Musing on Beauty discovers premium brand Esthederm and shares her review of their legendary Cellular Water: once you have tried it, you can't live without it anymore!

This volumizer from Ozzie super-stylist Kevin Murphy gives Goudylox's hair a lot of extra oomph, and extra time between washes.

Addicted to Beauty can't decide which is her favourite Princess Ariel mermaid costume - and yes, she knows Halloween has passed!

Phyrra hears all the juicy gossip about Rockeresque Beauty Co. from Issanna!

Visit Handmade Reviews to read about the newest Sigma Beauty collections and coupons.

Glitter nails are great for this upcoming party season. Dolce Vanity have a metallic and geometric shape nail tutorial, to sparkle up the nails to give you a fun effect.

Jude discovers 8 hours sleep and a facial in a tube thanks to Aromatherapy Associates Overnight Repair Mask.

Kajal Couture shares her must have fall lipstick for dark lip newbies and addicts alike.

Fancy longer, fuller eyelashes? Anita has put RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum to the test, see how she got on with it!

Everyone needs a good brown eyeliner. Check out Makeup, Beauty and More's top picks!
---Vesna is celebrating her 27th birthday so she has a cute giveaway - a cake ring! Celebrate with her!

30-30 # 25

2011-11-04T01:00:00.002+01:00

25. Favourite eyeliner?

Definitely gel liner! I love the Bobbi Brown ones but the best formula I have used so far is Clinique, which unfortunately isn't available in my country (but I'll find ways!).

30-30 #24

2011-11-04T01:00:00.001+01:00

24. Which do you like: cream, matte, powder, sheer, or shimmer eye shadows?

I love them ALL! Cream is easy for quick looks, powder is great to create blended smokey looks... I do like matte a lot but I find them hard to wear them on their own, so I always combine with a bit of shimmer.
The only things I don't like about an eye shadow is: a sheer pigmentation and chuncky glitter that falls out. I much prefer to have enough pigmentation and apply sparingly and blend, than to have to add tons to build up color. And the glitter is a nightmare, I just can't stand all the Midnight Cowboy series from Urban Decay, for example - every time I tried using them, I could still find glitter in all my brushes 2 days later. Not good.

30-30 #23

2011-11-04T01:00:00.000+01:00

23. Favourite eye shadow palette and blush palette?

I think it's a very cruel question to ask to a girl who owns hundreds of eyeshadows. I am tempted to say that my favorite palette would be my custom made Mac neutrals palette but I guess that's not the spirit of the question. So the one palette I take with me when I go away always being UD Naked, I guess it's the answer. I have the version that comes with the double liner, which is helpful too, so I only need to take a separate mascara and I'm good.

I don't own any blush palette, if I had to pick just a few blushes to take along, I would pick Illamasqua Lover and Unrequited.

News from the exercising front

2011-11-03T01:00:00.000+01:00

A few months ago, I told you about my favorite exercising DVD's and videos.
Since the month of September, I have however lacked time and haven't been exercising as much as I should. I have been keeping up with the Bollywood workouts during the week-ends but I was feeling like I needed something new and maybe a bit more challenging.

That's how I came across Tracy Anderson DVD's.
Now, if you google reviews on Tracy Anderson methods, you'll find opposite opinions, and I would like to explain which workouts I like and what I like about them.

First of all, a bit of background. Tracy is a dancer, she's very petite, and she says she had the hardest time getting the right body when she was studying dance because she couldn't get rid easily of her extra pounds, and when she would work out a lot, she would just get very muscular and that's not the kind of looks that a dancer is expected to have. So she did a lot of research and came up with her own method, that consists of cardio workouts and specific workouts with repetitions of quite unconventional moves.

I actually like the way she looks, e.g. not like a body builder but like a very fit and lean woman. That's the kind of body I want, I don't care for fitness competition looks.

Tracy says her workouts are meant to create lean defined bodies while avoiding bulk. That is also why when you do use weights in her workouts, they're never heavier than 3 pounds.

Now, Tracy has a whole lot of DVD's available but the main complain lots of people have about them is that she doesn't give a lot of instructions (Tracy says you stayed focused better if you aren't listening to someone at the same time) or doesn't deconstruct the moves. That can make things very difficult for a beginner. However, some or her DVD's are very well explained and these are the ones I use.

First part of the method consists in cardio workouts. I use the Dance Cardio DVD. I like this one because it's in 3 parts: first Tracy explains step by step all the choreographies, in a very detailed manners and at a slower tempo. Then you see her dance all the choreography from the front, and then again from the back, as if you were behind her in a dance class. That is great for someone like me who can barely tell the right from the left :)
This is extremely fast and intense, but the musics are nice and dancing is probably the only kind of cardio that can keep me interested for 45 min on a regular basis (well, I can't do the whole 45 min yet but you see what I mean).

Second part of the method is the Mat Workout. Here you will do repetitions of various exercises for your arms, legs and abs. There are standing exercises and others you do laying on a yoga mat.
I find the legs and arms exercises very effective (some of the arms exercises are done with a 3 pounds weight), this DVD seriously caused me to feel pain in muscles I didn't know existed.

There aren't lots of instructions given on here but since there are a lot of repetitions, watching the video is pretty self-explanatory.

You can buy these 2 DVD's, as well as a third one with more cardio, in a box set or separately like I did.

However, browsing through reviews on the web, I read about another DVD that is supposed to be a very good one, and it's the Post Pregnancy workout.

Nope, I haven't had a secret baby, but this DVD is a killer for abdominals! 20 minutes out of the 45 are pure abdominals, then there are some butt/legs exercise that will also engage your abs, and then some arm exercises that are very similar to the ones in the Mat Workout.

The atmosphere of this DVD is very soft, the background music is actually a selection of well-known classical pieces and I find that really relaxing and it's really helping when you're trying to focus on doing your crunches properly! So I actually prefer this one to the Mat Workout since it's more focused on the abs. It's also rather easy to follow despite minimal instructions.

Now in all honesty I don't know how a young mom can keep up with that routine since I do find it very hard myself, but it does work incredibly well and you will definitely feel it in your body the next day!

Tracy recommends doing both the cardio and the mat 4 to 6 times a week, which in all honesty I don't know how I would fit that in my daily routine, especially as, if I work after 7PM, it totally messes with my sleeping schedule.

But my plan is to go through Winter with these workouts so I can do them integrally by Spring - it's probably better than being a potato couch from November to March then panicking when it's time to put on my Summer skirts again! We'll see how that goes...

Note: you can watch demos, workouts and tips on the Go Tracy youtube channel.

30-30 #22

2011-11-02T01:00:00.001+01:00

22. Favourite toner?

I rarely use toner, if I do then it's with a Japanese sheet mask to do a lotion mask. In this case, I use the La Roche Posay Physiological Soothing Toner. It smells very fresh, a bit like cucumber, and it's not sticky at all. It really leaves my skin plumped and hydrated. It's a bit on the expensive side compared to drugstore products (a 200ml bottle is about 10€) but I can go several months with one bottle, so that's ok. My skin really loves it!

30-30 #21

2011-11-02T01:00:00.000+01:00

21. Where do you buy your makeup at?

I do a lot of makeup shopping online. In my country we have all the luxury brands at the department stores (Chanel, Dior, Guerlain...) but we don't have Sephora and all the sort of mid-end brands that you usually find there are unavailable here (Urban Decay, Benefit, Too Faced, Nars, Bare Minerals... also no Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, almost no Armani...) so I either buy that online, mostly from BeautyBay or HQHair, or from the brands' websites, or I travel to France so I can go to Sephora and have access to everything.

October Favorites

2011-11-01T01:00:00.000+01:00

Good weather
- hence I'm still wearing real Fall clothes instead of switching directly from Summer to Winter, as we usually do here, and I haven't had too many skin issues compared to a regular month of October.

Chanel Perfection Lumière.
Although I'm not wearing it every day (I tend to grab Vitalumière Aqua more), this has been perfect for very long days and to hide local redness, I absolutely love the natural finish and good coverage.

UD 15th Anniversary Palette

I must admit that I wear the same colors a lot (mainly Chase, Deeper, Mia) and that some of them are still untouched (like Junkshow) but this has been my go-to palette of the month for quick and easy looks!

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof (20 - brown)
This is the best wateproof liner pencil I have used (well, ok, it's tight with Nars Larger Than Life): easy to apply, very pigmented, will not move nor smudge nor budge whatever you do! So easy to put on when you're in a rush and can't fool around with liquid or gel. And it goes perfectly with the UD shades I mentioned above.

Clinique Black Honey - Gel Liner, and Almost Lipstick.
I got my hands on this thanks to my BFF Lambda as, for some reason, Clinique seasonal collections are never released here. I have to say that this is the easiest gel liner to apply EVER, it glides so easily that you're done in a matter of seconds. The black honey liner is a brown with purple undertones and glitter in it, while the lipstick is a sheer dark wine color that looks very sexy on the lips.
If you can get these while they're still available, run and go get them!

What were your favorites for this month?

30-30 #20

2011-10-31T10:41:00.002+01:00

20. Favourite eyeshadow primer?

Nars Smudgeproof eyeshadow primer. I've tried them all, it's the best: it lasts all day and it doesn't make blending more difficult, unlike UD Primer Potion does. The formula stays stable, unlike the Too Faced Shadow Insurance one. I go about 8 months with a tube, and I have been using nothing else but this since it first came out, so I'm down a couple of tubes already.

30-30 #19

2011-10-31T10:07:00.003+01:00

19. Favourite concealer?

Busy as I was with work, I totally forgot about this for the whole month of October. Shame on me!
But I'm going to finish this series, I swear!

My favorite concealer... I have 2, one is the most effective, and one is the most effective I can get when I'm lazy :)

The best is definitely Bobbi Brown creamy concealer.

This really hides everything and once it's set with the pale yellow powder that comes with it, it doesn't move around and it doesn't look cakey either.

Now if I am in a hurry, the next best thing is Estee Lauder Double Wear.

You need the tiniest amount as this is super pigmented and a bit thick in texture. It's a bit more drying than the Bobbi Brown cream, and you don't need to powder it. It's not perfect but it does a really good job too.

Cool Toned FOTD - yay, or nay?

2011-10-30T10:11:00.004+01:00

I don't know what it is with the daylight these days, but I either look washed out on these car pics, or I look like a bunny trapped in a truck's lights. (No, you don't see those pics on here).

Anyway, I wanted to give a completely cool toned look a try this week-end, and so I grabbed my Nars Melusine duo.

I'm still hesitant on this one. I put it up for sales at some point, then it didn't go and I thought that meant I should give it another chance. I particularly like the light lilac side. But on the other hand I always feel weird when I look at myself wearing a very cool-toned look.

The blush is Givenchy Prisme Glow in Lune Rosée, applied with a heavy hand (since it's very transparent) and definitely very cool toned as you can see in the picture above. Lipstick is Mac Fanfare, a new favorite of mine.
Maybe the foundation I used (Becca LSC in Nude combined with Becca foundation stick in Praline) was too golden toned to go well with the rest? Maybe cool tones are just not for me, or maybe only when I warm them up with peachy cheeks and lips...
And so, I remain uncertain about this eyeshadow duo and this whole look...

Institut Esthederm Cellular Water - a review

2011-10-28T11:49:00.003+02:00

Esthederm is definitely not the most hyped brand on the market, as they don't communicate much about their products. They do, however, have a pool of loyal customers who keep coming back to the products for their excellence. Word of mouth is key here, and that's how I first heard about the Cellular Water.

Esthederm philosophy.
For Esthederm, your skin is an eco-system. It interacts with your environment, your general physical state, and it evolves and changes over time. With their products, Esthederm aims at reconciling your skin and its requirement with these other factors.

The Cellular Water.
This is one of the most important products of the range. It was created in 1999 and is supposed to mimic the water that your skin contains. All the Esthederm cares and routines are based on this water, which is also used as an active ingredient in some of the skincare products of the brand.

The product we're talking about it is the pure water in its spray bottle. It contains lots of minerals and revitalizes your skin - you can use it on the face or on the body, and spray it on before applying skincare, or makeup, or even during the day on top of your makeup, as often as you want. It will revitalize dull and dehydrated skin, and help it regain natural balance and look healthy and glowy again.

Where regular thermal waters like Avene work great for people with particular skin conditions (eczema etc...), Esthederm Cellular Water works best at restoring the optimal condition of a normal health that has gone unbalanced or dehydrated.

My experience with the product.

I trusted my friend who recommended it but I didn't expect it to work that good and that fast. This water literally soothed and calmed a few irritations I had on the neck after just one spritz, and it repaired the dry patches that were appearing on my cheeks after just a few sprays (used in combination with an appropriate skincare routine of course, but adding this really made a difference in the results!)

Let's put it this way: if I could marry that stuff, I would.

The Cellular Water comes in spray bottles of 100ml or 200ml. It is not cheap, the 100ml being priced at £14, €20 and I found the 200ml for USD 38.00 on the web.
However it works, so I'm ready to commit to the investment.

New things and old things FOTD

2011-10-27T10:56:00.002+02:00

First FOTD pics in my new car, so new black and grey background, and I'm also featuring lots of new products from recent hauls.

First of all, Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation is my base of the day, so now you can see it in real action!

Then on the eyes, we have 3 Urban Decay shadows from the Mariposa palette: Money, Mushroom and Gunmetal. I added a tad bit of skimp in the inner corner but you barely see it here.

I guess I really can't resist a new Urban Decay palette, can I? Well I am not getting the new Book of Shadows, I much prefer this one and its neutral or not too bright colors.

Then on the lips we have Mac Fanfare. It's a nice rosy color, not exactly "my lips but better", a tad bit darker than that but I find it very pretty.
(And now I know why I never do lip swatching, I just hate seeing a close up of my mouth on picture)

For information, I'm wearing a tad bit of Dior Aurora bronzer, and a layering of Illamasqua Unrequited and Lover blushes on the cheeks - probably my favorite blush combination in the whole world!

Finally, for the nails, we're digging up an old color from last Winter: it's OPI Diva of Geneva. I saw it on Pinterest yesterday and had to wear it immediately! Good thing it didn't take me too much time to find it, considering the mess that my nailpolish stash is.

That's all, Folks! I hope I can keep taking FOTD pics for a bit but I'm seriously starting to lack daylight at that time of the day, right before I get to work.