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November Favourites

November 30, 2014, 5:51 am
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I was already a huge fan of its older sister a.k.a. the original Basics and the second one stole my heart as well. It's a bit more cool toned than its predecessor and there are more medium taupe shades in it, so it's like an expansion of the original. I love taupe matte eyeshadows because they are excellent colours to define the eyes and Urban Decay has some of the best matte eyeshadows - they are very pigmented, silky and they blend so well. It may be an expensive palette, but it's worth it.  

Just like the Naked2 Basics, it's another fantastic matte, neutral palette and even though it's a lot cheaper, the quality is very similar. I find that the collection of shades is something like a mix of both Basics palettes and it includes great base colours, several medium taupes and darker browns. I imagine it should be great for eyebrows as well. It's an amazing palette and I recommend it to everyone.


This was a month of deep burgundy-berry lips for me and the stars of this trend were Grand Cru and Love the Way You Plum liner. Grand Cru is a beautiful matte deep red shade, though I admit the formula is the dud in this line and it's not the easiest to work with, but it sure lasts forever on the lips once it sets, so it's excellent for when you need your lipstick to last. I have the picture of the combination with the lip liner here.



This is just one of the liners I've bough recently, but it's certainly my most worn so far, especially in combination with Grand Cru, but it also works perfectly with Rimmel's 107 and Eclipse. It's a deep plum shade, definitely very purple toned and it gives more depth and a plum undertone to the Grand Cru combination. I must warn you that it's a very fragile liner and should be applied very carefully or it will break off, but it's very inexpensive.

Steering away from the bold burgundies a bit, the peachy-pink liner I Got You Babel is a stark opposite and a nice choice when I wanted to wear something more natural. I wear it on its own, though it's not the most moisturising option, but given that my lips don't tend to be dry, it works out just fine. It's a nice pencil that is somewhere between being creamy and hard, so it defines well, but  is also easy to apply. 


These are so good, especially considering the price. I don't think a day has passed that I haven't used them. These are the perfect size, shape and density for blending concealer under the eyes, applying a base eyeshadow on the lids and setting powder under the eyes. Such great brushes that have pretty much become indispensable to me.



Another brush gained its spot in my favourites, but this one is for blush. It's really soft, softer even than Real Techniques brushes, but still dense enough to pick up enough colour and apply it on the cheeks. I tend to use it sideways, meaning that I use the narrower part of the tapered brush and it works with most blushes, except if they are exceptionally light as it's quite a fluffy brush and in that case it doesn't pick up enough colour. I'm very happy with this brush.

I'll keep this short because it's a recurring product form my previous favourites. It's the only blush I've been wearing the last couple of months and it's fast become my favourite ever shade. Fantastic drugstore find.


I've just spoken about this in my latest review. I must sound like a broken record by now, but Vineyard Peach is by far the best peach scent I've ever tried because it's so much like the real thing. I just adore this, despite poorer lasting power.


I must admit that this grew on me so much in the past year. I rarely speak about it, but I use it a lot because it's so much lighter than dry shampoos (which I don't really need, I just need something to refresh the hair). There is none of that gritty feeling or white powder residue, meaning I can use it liberally without having to need to wash my hair the next day because it feels like there is too much product on it. This also smells so yummy, like raspberry drink. In regards to volume, my hair has a lot of natural volume even on, for example, the fourth day after washing because my hair gets drier not greasier, but this does indeed give it a bit of extra oomph. Basically, this is a dry shampoo for those who hate dry shampoo.

This is one of my favourite shower gels and I was informed by one of my readers that it's being discontinued. It smells sooo good, just like peach bubble gum and it's very affordable. If you're a fan like me, there's not much time left before these completely disappear from the shelves.
I'm getting really tired of this "high innovation" angle that some companies implement, discontinuing everything in their path. Everything seems to be limited edition, so you can't really afford to fall in love with a specific product and it kind of blows.

Have a great day!
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Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser

December 2, 2014, 9:02 am
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Quite a while ago I purchased two budget creamy cleansers, one was Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser and the second was this one. It's the more expensive one of the two, but they are very similar with the main difference being basically just the scent.

The texture is thicker than Good Things' one, but it's still very much the same, so a cream that you apply on the skin, massage it in and remove with water or better with a wet flannel. It leaves a film of product on the skin if it's not wiped off. It cleans ok, though I prefer to use micellar water before using this as I want to make sure my skin is completely clean, but this does help remove the remnants of mascara and other eye makeup. It's a moisturising cleanser and the skin doesn't scream for a dose of moisture afterwards nor are there any dry patches forming. It's a very comfortable cleanser to use, but I can't tell you how suitable it is for sensitive skin, since my skin isn't sensitive at all.


As the name suggest it smells like roses and by that I mean that classic, cheap, granny, floral slightly sharp-ish scent that I genuinely dislike. It's nothing like a real rose scent to me because I love the scent of fresh roses, but I put up with this one nonetheless.  

I've almost reached the end of the tube and this just doesn't work as well on my skin as the Good Things one. The latter one kept my skin in such good condition that I hadn't had a single spot during using it, but with Super Facialist the story was very different. It's not like my skin was super spotty or anything, but it just wasn't as clear and healthy looking. I'm actually looking forward to using it up and moving to the next one. Obviously, that's just how my skin reacted to it and it doesn't mean it will work the same on every one. 

Ingredients:

I'm not a fan of this cleanser. It cleans well and keeps dry patches at bay, but my skin didn't like this as much as the cheaper Good Things one. That one is probably my favourite budget cleanser at the moment purely due to its effect on my skin, but it's still not as good as my all-time favourite Balance Me. Rose Hydrate is still one of the better choices among drugstore cleansers for those who have dry or dehydrated skin.

I bought mine on Boots International for £7.99 (10 €).

Have a great day!
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Catrice Defining Blushes

December 4, 2014, 7:08 am
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You may know that Catrice's Defining Blushes are my favourite ever blushes. They are excellent for the price and boast with a lovely formula, good pigmentation and, most importantly, staying power. My favourite shade is Rose Royce, which is a gorgeous natural rosey colour, while the other, Think Pink, is an adorable and highly pigmented warm cute pink. Since Catrice finally added several new shades to the range, two joined my collection - Pink feat. Coral and Mandy-rine. 
Shades in the first picture are as follows: 020 Rose Royce, 025 Pink feat. Coral, 040 Think Pink and 090 Mandy-rine.


Pink feat. Coral

Pink feat. Coral is a light-medium warm pink shade. There is a lot less coral in it than you'd expect from the name, in fact, it's much closer a baby doll pink colour and has little in common with, for example, Benefit's Coralista. It's a very cute colour on my cheeks, giving that I-just-came-from-the-cold flush, but without the cool undertones, so it doesn't pop as much as for example Makeup Revolution Vivid Blush Lacquer in O'Boy.  The finish is matte. As all Catrice blushes it's pigmented, blends well on the cheeks and last forever on me. A more muted and slightly more coral version among Catrice blushes would be 020 Coral Me Maybe from the Illuminating Blushes range.


 090 Mandy-rine

Mandy-rine is, as the name suggests, a toned down orange or a apricot shade. If I really go to town with it, it does look orange on my skin, like a fluorescent orange no less, so just to be on a save side, a light hand is advised at this shade if you're pale (I imagine it should work great on warm medium skin tones). Applied lightly it works nice, giving a natural-peachy flush, but still I would pair this with nude, red or orange based lipsticks as it will clash with pinks. The finish is matte and the formula akin to the rest of the range.


These cost 3.79 € in drugstores.

 Which is your favourite? Have a great day!
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Christmas Guide to Fragrances

December 6, 2014, 8:59 am
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You may have seen in one of my New In posts that I got a huge amount of fragrance samples (man, I love samples) and I decided there on the spot to do a holiday inspired post about them. Scents are very subjective, but I hope this will help you at least a little bit to steer you into the right direction if you'll face those "giant walls" of fragrances.

Love Story by Chloé
Notes on Fragrantica
This is such a rich floral scent. It's a bouquet of white flowers with orange blossom, neroli, stephanotis (jasmine from Madagascar) and there are also more tame notes of musk and cedar in the base. It's a soapy, clean and elegant scent with a touch of sweetness that reminds me very much of honey, which I love. It a bit like a less sweet, more sophisticated Lady Million. The bottle features a classic Chloe design, but with a twist and it was inspired by love padlocks on the bridge of the Pont des Arts

Just Cavalli by Roberto Cavalli
Notes on Fragrantica
I've got to hand it to Cavallli - he sure knows how to make statement fragrances. Like his eau de parfum this is a fragrance that gets you noticed. It's strong, warm, seductive, floral - there are just three notes in it: Tahitian tiare flower, neroli and rosewood accords in the base, but it smells like there is a ton of them. It reminds me of a more modern, younger Poeme and definitely one of my favourites from this list.

Angel by Thierry Mugler
Notes on Fragrantica
Oh, the familiar scent. But not in the classic way that I think most people know this from, since it's such a popular fragrance, but perhaps surprisingly from my hairspray. Lee Stafford's dry shampoo and hairspray have the same scent. Basically, it's a heavy, rich oriental scent filled with strong notes of chocolate, vanilla, amber, honey, coconut, patchouli, caramel, tonka bean and I could go on, but check the notes yourself on Fragrantica. This is a fragrance for those who want to be noticed and don't care whether they get a positive or negative response. It's certainly not a gentle, unobtrusive, clean scent - no, this is the full deal. It's a complete silage monster. When you decide to wear this, there is no turning back, at least until the shower, however, if you accidentally spray a bit on the clothes, the scent will last for days.

Roberto Cavalli eau de parfum
Notes on Fragrantica
Another shamelessly loud fragrance by Cavalli, but this one is less "safe" than Just Cavalli. The ad campaign features a bronzed-up woman in a revealing animal print dress and that's exactly the kind of woman I imagine this wearing. A daring femme fatale who isn't afraid to be in the centre of attention. It's a very heavy, rich, balmy and strong oriental-floral fragrance with notes of orange blossom, benzoin, vanilla, pink pepper and tonka bean. I've had the Refan version of this for years and I adore it.

Chloé eau de parfum
Notes on Fragrantica
This is one popular fragrance among sales assistants in Müller and there's a good reason for it. It has that universal appeal and actually, I had a bottle of this myself a long, long time ago (I still have the empty one as a decoration). This is foremost a rose fragrance, but not in the cheap, granny type of way, rather it's a powdery rose. It's very modern, clean, elegant and feminine, and it will appeal to many women simply because it's a safe bet, but it's still unique and easily recognizable.

Alien by Thierry Mugler
Notes on Fragrantica
Jasmine, jasmine and more jasmine. But unlike Lush's Lust, it's a softer, less headachy jasmine because of the warm amber and wood notes.  It's like sitting under a jasmine bush on a nice sunny day. There is nothing alien about this fragrance, but a very homey and spring feeling. I think this is the best jasmine scent I've ever smelled and I definitely prefer this to Angel. 



Reveal by Calvin Klein
Notes on Fragrantica
There is so much sexiness in this fragrance. I have a thing for CK fragrances, I haven't encountered one I'd dislike, and this one appealed to me greatly from the first spray. It's spicy and woody, the pepper notes together with salty notes create a classic seductive CK fragrance. My first association was cinnamon mixed with Euphoria, so it's a deep fragrance that you might want to save for a specially night out or cold winter nights.

Cool Water Night Dive by Davidoff
Notes on Fragrantica
This is so much different than the original Cool Water and in a very surprising way. It's very woody, sensual and soft, there is none of that refreshing freshness of the original, though subtle notes of citrus are still present. I'd describe this scent as comforting, soft and classic.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs
Notes on Fragrantica
This smells to me like daisies. There is a meadow of daisies in front of my house and this is exactly how it smells. I know there isn't an actually daisy note in the fragrance, but regardless it mimics it perfectly. There is a slight green-citrusy freshness in it and even the tiniest bit of real strawberries (not the sugary candy kind). In time a touch of vanilla makes an appearance and the fragrance in gets a bit more sweet. I think this is a typical crowd pleaser, a fragrance that is both office and school appropriate meaning it's young, but still classic. And lets not forget about one of the prettiest bottles out there.

Sheer Beauty by Calvin Klein
Notes on Fragrantica
Champagne. That's the first burst - a nice, expensive glass of champagne. Then the warmth and the floral notes starts coming through  - sandalwood, a touch of vanilla, peony and lily. The champagne note is delightful and it's nothing like I've smelled before, yet it's so familiar (it's something from the 90's, so my childhood, but I can't put my finger on it) it's such a wonderfully mixed accord. It's a classic floral fragrance, yet with a twist and at least in first hour of application, I'd make you feel like you're attending a glamorous party wearing a killer little black dress and heels.

Me L'Absolu by Lanvin
Notes on Fragrantica
Such a rich scent. It's very grown up, smooth, floral with jasmine osmathus, citrus, wood. The first burst is very strong giving that first impression of a very expensive fragrance, but it quickly mellows into a soft, comforting woody floral with a touch of citrus. 

Forbidden Euphoria by Calvin Klein
Notes on Fragrantica
I'm a big fan of the original Euphoria, in fact, I have three Euphorias and its flankers in my collection. Forbidden Euphoria is completely different than the original. It's fresher, fruitier, a bit tart, more floral and playful.  There is none of that darkness, creaminess and sexiness of the original, nor would anyone consider this an unisex fragrance and that's why I find it more fun and appropriate as a daytime scent  in any season. There are juicy notes of sweet raspberry, citrus, peach blossom, jasmine, tiger orchid, peony, patchouli, musk and wood. 


Have you tried any of these scents? Any favourites? I hope this was helpful and have a great day!
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Essence Effect Nail Polishes

December 10, 2014, 9:42 am
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Sparkle Sand Top Coat

I admit I'm not a fan of these toppers that give texture to the nails. It's just so odd to me because it feels so bumpy/uneven on the nails, though, this one does look quite pretty in person and my pictures don't do it justice, but hey I'm taking pictures with a smartphone and that's the best my three-year-old Galaxy can do. It looks very similar to the Hypnôse Star mascara packaging, so it's a silver sand effect. I think it looks quite glam, but there are other toppers that are prettier (yes, I'm talking about Icy Fairy). The removal process isn't too laborious if you're using a pot remover, but it's still a lot more difficult than at regular nail polishes. I applied three coats on the ring finger.

Here is another picture of on a nail wheel over Catrice First Glass Grape and it actually looks prettier.

It costs 2.49 € in drugstores, but I'm not sure if these toppers are available only on the large Essence stands or on small ones as well.



I <3 Magic

I <3 Magic is a silver holographic top coat which is quite good in terms of effect. I applied three coats on the ring finger and if I had a silver base under it, it could look like a proper holographic nail polish. It's very difficult to capture the holographic effect, especially with a smartphone, so I'm including a blurry picture which shows better the extend of the holographic effect. The removal process is easy.



21 Icy Fairy

I've talked loads about this topper already, so I'm sure you know the gist - despite the wintery name, it's galaxy effect topper and performs best over black because it has a duo chrome navy-purple base that gives that deep space effect. It's an absolute stunner and has captured my heart, which is quite an achievement, since I'm not a huge fan of toppers, shimmer and the like as I just like my nails in a uniform colour with a creamy finish (I do have a soft spot for stamping and pretty nail art, I just can't do it myself). It's not the easiest nail polish to remove mostly because of the big glitter particles that get stuck on the nails like they were glued on with super glue, but it's all worth it.


And a close-up, but as you can see I took a picture after wearing it for about five day and my nails already grew.

Both of these Effect nail polishes cost 1.49 €.

 Have a great day!
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Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Lightweight Conditioning Spray

December 12, 2014, 9:06 am
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I bought this so long ago and I gave it a fair shot, but things aren't going well between us. I'm a fan of the 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep, not so much of the Miracle Moist shampoo, though it's not a complete miss, but I feel that this leave-in just isn't cutting it. In fact the only thing saving it, is the fantastic bubblegum scent which is identical as at the other two before mentioned products.


Here is why I'm just not impressed by it - it just doesn't really do anything. It was designed with weak, distressed hair in mind and promises to protect against damage and to detangle, so Aussie isn't outrageously bold in their claims, but I still wish it performed better.

I've tried it on dry and damp hair, tested it on my as well as on other people's hair and it's just blah. On damp hair it's doesn't really inject any additional moisture nor does it have any frizz control. It's also not a heat protectant, so spraying it on the hair before drying it, just doesn't do much of anything apart from making it smell nice and even that doesn't last particularly long. Maybe it makes the hair easier to comb, but the brush usually just glides through my hair after washing, so I can't asses that function of it. As far as protecting against damage is concerned, I haven't noticed my hair getting any stronger and the hair still breaks at the "usual level".  But it's the effect on dry hair that I have a real issue with it. Again I feel not much moisture is added to the hair, it just dampens the hair, which wouldn't be a bad thing as I'd still use it like I do many other leave-ins - to make my hair a bit damp before putting it in a high bun so I have nice waves in the morning. However, it does make my hair noticeable laden with product. It's not sticky or anything, but kind of heavy or even a bit dirty feeling and I feel like I need to wash my hair soon. This only happens when used on dry hair, while on damp hair I can spray it very liberally, however, it's not as lightweight as it claims to be.  


I'm really not impressed by this leave-in. It smells fantastic, but that's it. My HG still remains the phenomenal Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave in Conditioner(could it possibly have an even longer name?) without which I just can't imagine being even for a single wash. 

I got this leave-in in a Croatian DM and I haven't seen it in our Műllers. It was 5-6 €.

Have a great day!
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New in #25

December 13, 2014, 6:22 am
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RIMMEL Velvet Matte 
014 Sumptuous Red
I'm so disappointed with this shade. On online swatches it looks perfect - a lovely mix of purple with a bit of pink and it does look like that on the nail wheel, however, on my nails it's a bland, cool toned dark purple. I have exactly the same issue with Catrice's First Class Up-Grape, so I'm 100% sure the problem is my skin tone. The finish is matte and it dries fast, but the formula is an odd one. It's pigmented enough, but it's so hard to get an even application. I needed three, on some nails even four coats.
Boots International, £4.49

A repurchase of one of my favourite concealers. This has such a high level of coverage and it's similar to the much more expensive NARS' Radiant Creamy Concealer except it's not as creamy. 
Boots International, £4.19

MAYBELLINE Color Drama Lipstick
Berry Much
This is the problem with buying things online - the shade is nothing like I imagined based on online swatches. It's very purple toned and not much burgundy on me. Purples don't suit me well. The texture is wonderful, though. It's so pigmented and creamy, it applies without dragging, really the quality is absolutely superb. The lasting power impressed me as well and it wears off into this lovely even stain. I so wish I could exchange this for Red Essential, but what's done is done. These are already available in Croatia, so I hope they reach Slovenia because I'd like some more shades. 
I got another shade called In with Coral as a gift for someone and it's a much prettier shade (picture at the end of the post).
Boots International, £4.99


BOURJOIS Healthy Mix Serum
51 Light Vanilla
Another repurchase. This literally run out in the morning and I repurchased it the same day. It's my favourite foundation and it has been for years. It looks incredibly natural on the skin and gives a light-medium coverage. The shade is very yellow, but it still blends well in my skin tone. I'm on my third or forth bottle.
Müller, 15.19 € (the price has gone up)

ESSENCE Silky Blush 
70 Kissable
My first plum blush. I can't believe I missed this shade at the event, but I got the other new shade for autumn called Autumn Peach. Kissable is quite a deep shade compared to most of my blushes and it's a nice deep pink-plum colour with gold shimmer. It's super, super pigmented, I barely need to touch the surface of the blush to get enough pay-off for me. It needs a bit more effort when it comes to blending because it's such a strong shade on me and it gives a touch of illuminating effect due to the shimmer. A cute autumn/winter colour.  
Műller, 2.79 €

L'OREAL Infalible Eyeshadow 
033 Tender Caramel
I'm a huge fan of these and I have quite a collection already. I've never seen this shade here before, but I guess I never looked close enough. It's a taupe-brown shade that is similar to Satin Taupe, but with a lot more shimmery, glamorous finish. The formula is akin to the rest of the range - super, super pigmented and long lasting. I apply these with fingers.
DM, 8.45 €.


CATRICE ViennART LE Baked Eyeshadow
C03 Lovely Lace
Holy mother of eyeshadows this is so gorgeous. It may just be that after years of searching for the perfect gold eyeshadow, which wouldn't turn orange on me, I've finally found it. It needs some layering, but you can get close to metallic finish and it blends well as it is buttery soft. The lace embossing is absolutely stunning as well. What a beauty!
DM, 4.29 €.


Emma Hardie 4 Piece Starter Kit
This is way better than I ever expected. The excessive hype and the high prices put me off purchasing this for a long time, but this set is already at a more acceptable price range, so I took the plunge. The texture of this is like a dream, it's actually very, very similar to Balm Balm Frankincense Cleansing Balm, so it's like a solid oil that melts at body temperature. It removes everything, even waterproof mascara and leaves the skin clean, comfortable and moisturised. It smells very natural and a bit like mandarins, which is nice enough. Another star in this set is the cloth - it's amazing. There are two sides, a micro fibre one and muslin one. I want more of them ASAP, though I need to see how these survive frequent washing. The Age Support cream is very thick, but still suits my skin. 
The set includes: Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm (50ml),  Amazing Face Age Support Cream (15ml), Amazing Face Dual Action Professional Cleansing Cloth and Wash Bag. 
Feel Unique, €27.30. 


L'OREAL Color Riché Pure Reds Collection Exclusive 
Laetitia
I got it as gift for Miklavž/St. Nicholas from my cousin (hence the cute  chocolate decorations) after coveting it so badly. It's one of my favourite lipstick that I got this year and exactly what I wanted that Maybelline pencil to be. You may know how much I love Rimmel's 107 lipstick and that I wear it a lot. Well this is a prettier version of that lipstick. It's a deep red with no brown undertones and very little purple undertones, which I appreciate a lot. I adore this colour on me, it's just so striking. The texture is pleasantly creamy and more waxy or perhaps siliconey than most lipsticks I tried, but it glides on the lips like a dream and isn't drying at all despite the semi-matte finish. Swatch here.
These cost 13-14 € depends on where you buy them, but so far I find that in Müller they are cheapest.

BOURJOIS Contour Edition Lip Pencil
02 Cotton Candy
The second part of my gift and another thing I really wanted to have (by the way, my gifts for other people are at the end of the post if you're curious). It's a light warm pink that is similar to MAC's Please Me and it's such a great everyday colour. I think it makes my eyes more blue and pop out if I wear it on its own (which I do and will). The texture is a lot more creamy than the old pencil I own (Rouge Soyeaux), so it's almost like a lipstick, but it's still waxy, so it has a very decent staying power especially for a light shade. 
About 6€ in drugstores.


*BATH COSMETICS Chilly Wily Bath Bomb 
How adorable is this! I don't even want to use it because it's so darn cute and also because it makes my bedroom smell nice. Bath Cosmetics is clearly duping Lush's bath bombs, but they are more affordable and some designs are much prettier. This snowman bath bombs is supposed to smell like cinnamon, but I find it's not just that. It has a more masculine note as well, which distances it from gourmand scents. I don't know how it smells once it's in the bath, nor do I know yet if it has any cool effects, so I'll see that later because currently I have it as decoration. Check out other products from bath cosmetics here.
Bath Cosmetics so na voljo na Click2Chic. 
Click2Chic, 2,93 €.


*MODELS OWN Disco Pants LE
Copacabana
This is one of those metallic/frost shades that is great for the season. It's is an interesting one as it's somewhere between gold, silver and light green. The formula is thick, but it behaves like a regular frosty nail polish. 
Click2Chic, 5.95 €.


*MODELS OWN Diamond Luxe LE
Heart Red
This is the most Christmasy nail polish I've ever seen. It's a nice ruby red with tiny gold shimmer that looks bright red when it's on the nails. I've worn it twice already and it will be included in my upcoming December inspired post that I've been working on for a while.
Click2Chic, 5.95 €.


I LOVE… Honey Almond Nourishing Shower Gel
This is going to sound a bit pathetic, but where I live (NM) we don't have Tuš Drogerija. In fact, the nearest is in Kočevje and the road there from our side of the "hill" is just torture, so I don't go there often. Hence why I was a bit overexcited when I visited one after years in Kranj, even though they sell essentially the same stuff as all the rest. I had no idea they had I Love… there and two shower gels immediately caught my attention, this one and the chocolate one (which smells so good!). I adore honey scents and this one seemed very nice, so it went home with me. The scent is lovely, exactly what it says on the bottle - honey and almond, so it's a very comforting, sweet and yummy scent. However, the texture, oh my… it's basically a liquid. I can't even foam it up in my hands because it just runs off. It takes a bit of improvising under the shower, maybe a sponge should help, I'm still in the testing phase, but we'll see. So that's unfortunate, but it does smells delightful
Tuš Drogerija, 3 €

LA RIVE Moon
I wanted this for ages, but couldn't find it anywhere except online. I finally stumbled upon it in Tuš Drogerija and it had a 50 % discount - is that a lucky coincidence or what? It's a cheap imitation of my beloved Hugo Boss Nuit pour Femme and it does smell uncannily similar (ok, it's pretty much the same). I utterly adore this scent even though it's so unremarkable. It smells like peaches from the start and then turns into an expensive fabric softener scent. So it's a clean, but a sophisticated scent. I sprayed this on my wrist in the shop and it lasted all day, but now that I have it and I'm spraying it on my neck, I don't' think it lasts as long, but it certainly has nice lasting power. Either way, it's a wonderful scent for 4 € and I'm so happy I got it. Even the bottle is pretty, however, not as pretty as the Boss'.
Tuš Drogerija, with discount 4 €, otherwise 9 €; Interspar regular price 6 €


*KONJAC Sponge with French Pink Clay
I must admit, I wasn't really familiar with these sponges before being offered to try one, but I remembered Jana raving about them, so I agreed to trial one. It's so fun to use because it's all squishy and jelly like, I like it. It's hard when it's dry, but  when water it added it turns into a proper sponge. No soap is required with this, unless you are wearing makeup, but I use this in the morning and it's so fast and easy. It feels like it has a layer of something on it and it gently exfoliates the skin, so it feels silky to the touch after use and there is like a gentle moisturising layer on the skin. I was very apprehensive about this sponge, but I like it. There are several of these to suit different skin types and I got the one for sensitive skin.
These particular ones have are cruelty free, vegan and comply to the highest EU regulations, which sets them apart from other similar products.
Več informacij tukaj skupaj s seznamom prodajnih mest, 11.99 €


Another repurchase - yes it's been a month of repurchases for me. This is one of the best shower products I've had the fortune to try. It a gentle scrub with an unique oil-turns-to-luxurious-foam type of texture and it smells so lovely. It's bound to be repurchased many times.
Müller, 4.99€


BALEA 50's Forever Pflegecreme mit Kirsch-Duft
Universal cream with cheery scent
I was patiently waiting for this to arrive in our DM's and I wasn't disappointed. It looks so darn cute in person and I adore the retro design. This one smells like cherry soda and has a type of texture that is similar to Nivea, but a lot lighter. I think I'll be keeping this in my bag or near the computer as I love using it as a hand cream since it sinks in so fast. By the way, it can be used on the body, face and lips. Love this.
DM, 1.19€ (30 ml)


Another repurchase. I recently talked about this in my favourites and I said that it's a dry shampoo for people who don't like dry shampoo. It's a volumising spray that feels like nothing on the hair, so no powder residue nor any of that hairspray-ish texture. It smells lovely like raspberries, refreshes the hair, makes it more airy and manages to give a bit of volume. Nice stuff for what basically feels like a can of nice smelling air.
Tuš, 4 €

CHARLES WORTHINGTON Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray
This is very, very similar to the VO5 Dry Texturising Spray. It's something like a dry salt spray meaning it gives a bit of grip, texture and hold, and yes it does make your hair a bit "hairspray stiff" if you use a lot, however, if you use a small amount it feels like nothing is on your hair. It smells fruity, maybe like grapes with watermelon. I like both this one and VO5, they are way better than the L'Oreal's one because these two do not make the hair sticky. I'm liking this more and more.
Boots International, £6.99


L'ORÉAL Elvital Glatt-Intense Pflege-Shampoo
a.k.a. L'ORÉAL Elvive Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Shampoo
Polona from Uniqapoly talked about how she likes Fibrology line from L'Oreal and she made me realize that I have never tried anything from L'Oreal Elvital/Elvive shampoo/conditioners selection. Since it is a drugstore "sister (cousin?)" brand of Kérastase, I thought it was worth a try and after some googling I decided to get this highly rated shampoo for dry hair. I really, really like this and you don't hear that often from me when it comes to drugstore shampoos. I love the Kérastase Oleo-Relax shampooand this promises the same things and it is like a less effective version of that shampoo, but it's still very good. It has a similar effect in terms that it feels like some conditioner was added in it and the hair feels a bit silky when you're rinsing it off (but not as much as Oleo-Relax, that stuff is perfection in a bottle). It doesn't leave my hair so squeaky clean that's it's dried out and it smells nicer than Oleo-Relax.   
Müller, 2.89 €

L'ORÉAL Elvital Total Repair 5 Intensiv Maske mit Reparatűr Serum
L'ORÉAL Paris Elvive Full Restore 5
This was in the best drugstore hair treatments post by Allure, at least I think it's this one, since things in USA have a completely different packaging than here. First thing I noticed is how the texture is identical to the Kérastase Maskeintense Epais-Thick, so it's the same pudding-slightly jelly consistency. I used both the L'Oreal's shampoo and this mask together and I got an insane amount of volume, even for me. The hair was nicely nourished, however, again as at all drugstore masks it dried out after a couple of days, so I had to use oils to fix it. But in general, I like this. It also smells lovely.
Müller, 6.39 €


BALEA Totes Meer Salz Duche Pfirsich-Mango Duft
I guess they released this to kind of replace the nectarine one, but it's very different. It smells so juicy, like a nice tropical drink. I don't really get a lot of peach in it, the emphasis is more on mango, but it's a nice scent. In terms of being more moisturising, I actually don't notice any difference between their regular shower gels, which aren't the most moisturising shower gels, and this (go for Dove if you need that).
DM, 0.99€.


I can't believe they are discontinuing this. That's so mean. However, there are plenty still left in our DM's and I bought several to last me a while. At a euro per bottle, it's a complete bargain for one of the best smelling shower gel ever (but scents are subjective). It smells like peach bubble-gum and I utterly adore it.
DM, 0.99€.


My favourite stick deodorant. Never in history have I repurchased a deodorant three times in a row, but I think that after years of searching, I have found an absolute favourite. This time I accidentally picked up a different scent called Clear Aqua. It's a very clean, I-just-came-from-the-shower/I'm-wearing-freshly-washed-clothes scent/Nivea cream. I like it, but I still prefer the pink one (Clear Pure) in terms of scent, but this performs the same. 
Tuš, 2.69 €


Funny story about this one. I'm a fan of this spray deodorant, in fact, it's my favourite in such form, but last time it had run out, I purchased a different Nivea one, because this one was out of stock. Nivea then contacted me, saying they read on my blog about how I purchased the wrong one and offered to send me my favourite. Kind of adorable, right? I really love this deodorant, together with Rexona one they create a powerful and effective combination, keeping BO at bay. It smells so good, so feminine, soft and powdery, I just love it. 
2.99 €


PROFISSIMO Parfüm-öl Zimt
Cinnamon perfume oil
I adore the scent of cinnamon and I've been planning on buying a cinnamon scented oil for a while, but I feared it'd smell too artificial. I'm sorry to report that this one isn't a proper cinnamon scent either as it does have a herbal-artificial note in it, but people really, really like the scent when they come into the house. 
Any recs for a true cinnamon scent, apart from baking cookies or strudel every day?
DM, 1.29 € 

YANKEE CANDLE Tart Wax Melt 
Soft Blanket
This smells sooo good! I can't really describe it well, but it's like baby powder and fabric softener. It's soft, warm and cosy, it invites images of a warm home and snuggling under a freshly washed blanket. I adore this so much and I wouldn't mind having a proper candle, but they are so damn expensive for something that basically burns away in hours. This is the first time I bought one of these wax melts and I'm wondering whether they are meant to melt/evaporate so loud or am I doing something wrong? All the crackling and sizzling, it's very distracting, but it does smell strong which I like.
Müller, 1.79 €

H&M Gold Bobby Pins
Just classic bobby pins, but one that are gold. I should be known as the queen of bobby pins, since I may or may not have more of them than a factory produces in a year, however, I use them almost every day as I love to experiment with hairstyles, but I only have black ones and this time I wanted something more glam as I've seen some nice inspiring images on Pinterest. I really like H&M pins, they are so much better than for example Ebeline's since the paint chips on those super fast and the tips don't fall off.
H&M, 1.95 €


I've also done a bit of gift shopping, so here are the bits some lucky girls got for Miklavž / St. Nicholas.
SLEEK Contour Kit Light
SLEEK blush in Suede
RIMMEL ScandalEYES Waterproof Khol Kajal in Nude
MAYBELLINE Color Drama Lipstick in In With Coral
JOHN FRIEDA Full Repair Flyaway Tamer (I'm really wondering how this performs. I wouldn't mind having it myself)


A quick comparison of NYX blush in Taupe and Sleek Contour Kit in Light. These are completely different shades. Taupe has strong grey tones, while Sleeks is much warmer, browner and darker in terms of pigmentation.

I hope you managed to get through this epic post. Have a great day!

*Products were gifted to me.
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Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation 010 Light Porcelain plus NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Siberia

December 14, 2014, 9:51 am
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It's been a bumpy ride with this foundation. I bought it a couple of months ago as a replacement for Match Perfection in the same shade, which was another foundation I wasn't too fond of as far as texture is concerned, but I used it nonetheless every day to mix it with other foundations because the shade of it was perfect. I've heard so many positive reviews for this foundation before and after I purchased it, but I'm a lot less enthusiastic about and yet, just like Match Perfection, I use it every day and have used up quite a lot of it already.


Texture: This is a much thicker foundation than Match Perfection or for example Healthy Mix Serum, but it's still fluid enough that is slowly runs off the back of the hand when you squeeze it out of a pump. Blending is the issue with this foundation. I always first try applying the foundation with my fingers and though it was going in the right direction, it just looked wrong on my face after a while. It settles into pores and lines and I just can't get this foundation to look nice on my nose. I don't know what's the deal with it, but sometimes there are just some weird unblended-looking and even reddish patches on my nose after a while. 
I later tried to apply it with all of my foundation brushes and Real Techniques brushes such as the expert brush, buffing brush and the stippling brush do not work at all. The best brushes I found are theE.l.f. Powder Brush and Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush, but only if I use one pump of product and don't try to layer it. So super fluffy brushes and a small amount of foundation works adequately, but any more and I end up with a cakey mess. A flippin' mine field, I tell you. 
So using it alone is not the best option as far as my skin is concerned and that's why I mix it with other, better foundations. Best to mix it with in my experience are Bourjois foundations, such as their CC Cream and Healthy Mix Serum. It also works very well with Catrice's Nude Illusion, I've even had a few compliments on my skin when I wore that combination.

Shade: This very close to perfect for me, especially when it's blended into the skin.  That's why it makes me even more sad that the formula by itself doesn't perform all that well. 010 Light Porcelain is a true super light/fair/porcelain shade with a pink undertone and I think it's basically the same shade as at Match Perfection as well as the pink counterpart of Nars' Siberia (another set of swatches below). Mixing it with a yellow foundation creates a perfect neutral match for me.


Coverage and finish: This could easily be a medium to full coverage foundation if it worked in a "normal" quantity on my skin. I can only doa light layer before "tragedy strikes", so it's light-medium(that's how much I applied it for the before/after picture). Layering it makes a terrible cakey mess, especially on my nose. I had my cousins say when I wore it the first day when I applied it liberally with fingers that it looks like I have a Band-Aid on my nose and that is something you just don't want to hear. Ever. On my skin this has a kind of a matte finish, but not a draining one, it's more on a natural side. Under no circumstances can I use mattifying powder over it because it makes it look horrible, the only thing that does work is a very light dusting of Java Poudre de Riz powder by Bourjois. 
I always keep the images quite large and if you want a closer look, click on it.

Staying power: Naming it Lasting Finish should indicate some exceptional staying power, but at the end of the day there are only traces of foundation on the cotton pad when I'm taking my makeup off with micellar water. In short, it's average, so in the Bourjois range.


Packaging: A glass bottle with a good pump. As far as the functionality of the packaging goes, I have no complaints. The white cap is what differentiates it from the "regular" Lasting Finish foundation.

Price and availability: I got mine on Look Fantastic for €10.39.

So I've been using this for a couple of months now and after a very rough start, we are at a much better place now since I found with which foundations should I mix it to get the best result. I have no idea why it doesn't work on its own on me if I use any more than a thin layer and how it starts to look on the nose after a while is a particular issue I have with it. I adore the shade of this, it's simply fantastic for me, so I'm sending a virtual hug to Rimmel for having such a shade in their lines of foundations, though I wish they had better formulas. What I want to point out is that there is a huge possibility that this foundation just doesn't work well with my skin as I've heard a lot of positive opinions about it, so don't let my review discourage you if you want to try it, but perhaps try to get a sample first. However honestly, I wore Bourjois CC Cream the last time and I swear it's just a gazillion times better when it comes to "invisible foundation/base finish". 


NARS Sheer Glow
Siberia


Since one of my readers sent me a very generous sample of Sheer Glow in the lightest shade Siberia (thanks again Tamara. You're made of pure awesome!) that I've been wearing for a while now and I though I might include my impressions here as well as include some swatches that some may find helpful.

Texture: It feels quite light and it reminds me of Healthy Mix Serum, but of a version with more coverage. It blends out so well with a brush because it has this type of a light silicone texture and you can really buff it in. I have to say that I expected a lot from this foundation and it certainly delivered as far as other people's comments go. Everyone I've asked said that it look perfect on the skin, like it's my skin but better and that's it's invisible, especially as far as the colour match is concerned. If I look closely, I actually think that it is a noticeable foundation, but others said otherwise and I value their opinion (though they checked after a few hours of wear). It blends nicely over pores and doesn't sit in them like most drugstore foundations, but it still settles into this two lines I have on the sides of my lips, however, less horribly than Rimmel's foundation.  

Shade: Siberia is very light, though not as light asChantilly (their Radiant Creamy Concealer). As I said before in the Rimmel's review, this is a yellow version of 010 Light Porcelain, but I have to say that I was quite shocked when I first saw just how yellow it is. The yellow tone is even stronger than in Bourjois foundations, however, it blends well into my skin, in fact, it starts to look a bit more neutral after a while, so I consider this a very nice match for my skin as also confirmed by my cousins.

The girl, who sent me the sample, Tamara, also did some super helpful swatches and I really wanted to include them here as well. Tamara, I hope you don't mind. Obviously these were taken in different conditions than mine, hence why Siberia looks less yellow, but trust me it's super yellow in person.


Coverage: The coverage is impressive, I'd say medium or even medium-full and it can certainly be layered with no issues. It covers a lot, as you can see most of the freckles are covered as is the redness on the sides of the nose, but I still need to use concealer on spots (it sort of slides off from those) and a bit under the eyes. Radiant Creamy Concealer works very well with this foundation formula, it's like they were made to be used together.

Finish: It reminds me of Catrice's Nude Illusion in a way that it gives that healthy luminous finish, but it's not super dewy, rather leaning more to matte, however, it gets dewier with time. 


Staying power: This wears so well on the skin and looks better with time. I think that it melts into the skin and looks less foundation-ey after a few hours and at the end of the day it looks pretty good. 

My final verdict - I would love to have a bottle of this foundation. I wasn't completely sure from the first use because I was always looking close at my skin, but comments from other people convinced me that this is absolutely the right choice for me. Now I just need to find a place to buy this with a pump. The official EU NARS website sells both, but their shipping is insane. I might just have to settle with a pump-less bottle from HqHair.

I hope this was helpful and have a great day!
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December Inspired Beauty

December 16, 2014, 6:11 am
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Christmas lights, glitter, red lips and cocoa with cinnamon - that's what December is all about to me. I so enjoyed doing my Autumn Picks post, so I'm doing another similar one inspired by the holiday season.


LIPS
CATRICE Ultimate Colour 350 MATTador
Even if you're not a red lipstick girl, the holiday season beckons for some ruby red on the lips. MATTador is a warm toned red with a creamy-matte finish. 

To make it a bit different, MATTraction is not a classic red, but a deep rose-pink-red shade that is super pretty on the lips and it's a fun colour, but at the same time very glamorous.

 
L'OREAL Color Riché Pure Reds Collection Exclusive Blake
An incredible ruby/cherry red with a blue undertone that is the most classic shade in my selection. The finish is matte and the formula just spectacular. Here is a comparison with Ruby Woo and Russian Red.

L'OREAL Color Riché Pure Reds Collection Exclusive Laetitia
The berry-burgundy season hasn't passed yet, so I can't let such a shade out of this selection. Laetitia is a proper deep red with some purples tones and it looks so striking on the lips.
Pure Reds are currently 25% cheaper in Müllers.

For more red lipsticks check my Swatch Gallery


EYES
URBAN DECAY Naked Palette 
Sin, Half Baked, Smog & Toasted
There is hardy a more appropriate palette for the season. The lovely shimmery finish of some shades looks very festive, but still every day appropriate, not to mention the slew of combinations and different looks that can be created with this palette. My personal favourites for this time of the year are shimmery light pink Sin, warm gold Half Baked, fantastic bronze Smog and medium cool pink Toasted. 

002 Hourglass Beige, 015 Flashback Silver, 021 Sahara Treasure, 024 Bronze Goddess and 033 Tender Caramel
I say go all out with shimmer on holidays and these have some of the best shimmery-metallic finish paired with excellent pigmentation. My absolute favourite in this whole bunch is Sahara Treasure, a shimmery medium brown-gold that looks über glam on the eyes. Other shades are a light gold Hourglass Beige, lavender-silver Flashback Silver, gorgeous green-gold Bronze Goddess and my newest addition- a taupe version of Sahara Treasure - Tender Caramel. 
All of these shades can still be found in DM and I was told that Tuš has them for 3 €. If you still can't find them, try Fragrance Direct or Salma.

CATRICE ViennART LE Baked Eyeshadow
C03 Lovely Lace
By far the best gold eyeshadow I've found so far for my pale skin tone as it doesn't look orange. It's a limited edition, so hurry up if you want it.


BARRY M Dazzle Dust Old Gold
No one talks about Dazzle Dusts anymore. If you're looking for super sparkly eyeshadows, look no further. Old Gold is a greenish gold with lots of shimmer. I like using this over other eyeshadows to give the look some extra sparkle.

MAC Patina
A neutral classic, but a nice way to wear some understated gold on the eyes. 

I actually knew this was discontinued before I decided what to include in this post, but it's so damn pretty it'd be a crime not to put it here. It's a proper gold shade that on me turns a bit orangey because of my skin tone, but it' gorgeous nonetheless and it's incredibly pigmented. 
I set upon finding more drugstore gold eyeshadows to mention here and I found it in Catrice's Absolute Mono Eyeshadow 420 Talk Like An Egyptian and L'Oreal L'Ombre Pure 500 Gold Mania (or Lumiere).


All of those shimmery eyeshadows will need a base and On and on Bronze is an excellent choice for the job. It's a nice neutral bronze shade with a metallic finish. Of course, you can just wear it on its own, as I have almost all December.

Two more liquid/cream eyeshadows with a metallic/shimmery finish that can be used on their own or as a base. Brazil's Sunset is a beige-gold, while UK's Stonehenge is a taupe cool toned brown.

To define those eyes some eyeliner on the top lash line always does the trick. Felt Tip eyeliners are super simple to use and this particular one has a very pigmented black and long lasting formula.


A copper gold eyeliner that costs just a pound. Bargain

I didn't know that this was discontinued, but it's one of the best gold eyeliners especially for the price. I searched for another similar gold eyeliner in our drugstores and found Catrice's Liquid Gold Gel Eye Pencil 030 You’re So Gold Fashioned!.

Stash is an interesting mix of gold and green, and it's dark enough to define the eyes, but still give it that something special. I love using this on my lower lash line and even in the waterline as it defines, but doesn't look as stark as black.

There is no better time to wear falsies and Demi Wispies are without a doubt some of the prettiest lashes I've ever seen. They are slightly tapered at the outer corner giving that elongated eye effect and don't overpower the eye makeup because they still look natural enough. Not to mention how comfortable they are to wear. To help you with the lash application, Catrice has a nifty Lash Applicator.


CHEEKS 
No matter what makeup you're wearing, this blush will work with it. It's such a gorgeous natural, slightly pinkish warm shade. I just adore it

ESSENCE Silky Blush 70 Kissable
It is the season for deeper blushes and this plum one fits the bill perfectly. It's super pigmented, therefore great if you have a medium skin tone and it also has gold shimmer that gives that glow to the cheeks.

NARS Blush Orgasm
The good old classic that suits pale skin tones so well (those with deeper skin tones go for Deep Throat). It's the quintessential peachy-pink shade with gold shimmer. You can't go wrong with it on any occasion.


Designed as a primer to give some extra subtle luminosity to the skin, it can be used under foundation, mixed with foundation or just on the highpoints of the face over makeup. I really love this because it's subtle, warm toned and feels super light.

MAKEUP REVOLUTION Vivid Baked Highlighter 
Peach Lights
Though the name suggests a warm toned highlighter, the shimmer in it is actually cool pink. It's a baked highlighter that I find is still more on the subtle side, especially compared to the cream Essence one. Petra The Awesome (yes, that's how I renamed her) gave me this because it didn't suit her warm colouring, but it suits my neutral complexion very well. Here is her review.

A cream highlighter with a pink based shimmer and one that is similar to Benefit's High Beam. It's super glowy and very creamy, almost like it's melted when touched,  however, on the skin it feels kind of dry to the touch.

Highlighting pen brings some extra light to the face and helps hide dark circles as well as lifts the complexion. It's a subtle effect, but it does so much.

As if there isn't enough highlighting going on in this post, there is also this little gem. I use this as a setting powder and I swear it makes the foundation look so much better. There are some scary big glitter particles inside, but they don't translate on the face, however, what you're left with is a lovely, fresh complexion.


NAILS
Why mess why the good old classic and not just wear the chic nude manicure. It should look particularly lovely if paired with some glitter either as an accent nail, ombre effect or just the simple all-over glitter effect. 
Though this shade was a part of a LE, there are still places where you can get them, but Maja did a nice post about nude nail polishes if you need more recommendations and I'm also adding Essence Candy Love (Katja's swatch) as well as Deborah Smalto Gel Effect 01 (Zlatana's swatch) as possible suggestions.

Though I have a soft spot for proper bright red shades (such as Essie's Really Red), I picked something deeper. I adore such shades because they look vampy, yet so glamorous on the nails.


MODELS OWN Diamond Luxe Heart Red
I swear this is the most Christmassy nail polish ever. It's a classic red with gold shimmer that looks like bright red shimmer once it's on the nails. My picture does not do it justice as the shimmer is much more visible in person under light.

MODELS OWN Disco Pants Copacabana
If dread the glitter removal from your nails, Copacabana is a simpler, but still a glamorous enough choice to wear on the nails. It's a complex mix of gold, silver and even some green with a frosty-metallic finish that gives quite a lovely effect on the nails


ESSENCE Metal Glam TE Topper Steel-ing the Scene
Basically any gold glitter topper could take the spot here and there are so many. I've seen one from L'Oreal, Essie (newest collection) as well as an Essence one from the one of the current TE's. Taya did a comparison of gold glitter toppers from Essence here.

My favourite glitter nail polish ever. It's like diamonds on the nails and looks phenomenally glamorous. There are many dupes for this nail polish, I know about at least two: Illamasqua Trilliant (Maja's swatch) and P2 Sand Style polish 070 Pretty (Polona's swatch)


Time for some serious shimmer and Catrice delivers with it's Luxury Lacquers. My choice is It's Showtime, a proper, glamourous silver that is just perfect for the season. If only the removal process weren't so laborious.

Does anyone else feel like this is the best nail polish choice for New Year's Eve? What better to wear on the nails while sipping champagne and watching the fireworks than a galaxy effect topper. Just wear it over black for best result.


BODY
The post need some more shimmer and this body oil contains just that. You can apply it on the skin or hair for a subtle gold glistening effect.

Though this is more like water than a cream, it does smells so good. It's a warm, sweet and yummy scent, basically just as it say on the bottle - honey and almond. Great scent for cold winter night.

The cutest bath bomb ever, little Chilly Willy snowman smells (roughly) like cinnamon and will brighten your bath pampering experience.

Luxury in a bottle - there is no better phrase to describe this. It smells divine and it's super nourishing which excellent for winter dry skin.


DIY Cinnamon Scrub
This is in one word yummy. I love the scent of cinnamon and this smells amazing. It's super easy to make: just combine sugar, olive oil (or whichever oil you prefer), cinnamon and I also add a bit of vanilla extract. It does make a mess in the shower, so make sure you use a shower gel to get any brown cinnamon traces off the skin, but works a treat. 


HAIR
Festive Hair Accessories
What better way to decorate your updo with a sparkly hair accessory. Be it gold, silver or with rhinestones, anything goes for the holiday season. I went for glitter hair ties that I got form O'Twist (Tally Weijl also has a couple), sparkly hair bands and gold bobby pins (H&M). There are tons in shops that sell accessories, mine are mostly old from New Yorker, H&M and Tally Weijl, but check Asos and New Look for more. 

I don't think any other hair product screams Christmas as much as this one. It smells like cinnamon, clove and cookies, so it's a bit of an aromatherapy session while you take care of your hair.

A brilliant affordable shampoo for dry hair.

Not merely a light heat protectant and a serum-type of product in one, this also contains tiny shimmer that actually makes the hair more shiny, but not in a super obvious way.


Low Messy Bun Decorated with Jewellery
You can use a head band for this, but just wear it so it's on the back of your head. I used a necklace from New Yorker that I got a few months ago, so it might still be sold. Pin the necklace on the hair first because it's easier to hide the ends under the hair before all the twisting. Do a very, very loose fishtail braid using large chunks of hair and then twist it into a low bun. Use a lot of pins, so it will hold all day. I can't link you a tutorial to this, since it's of my design, but if you don't know how to do a fishtail braid, I learned from this video years ago.

Fishtail Halo Braid with a Glitter Head Band
If you're using an elastic band, lift and pin half of the hair up first, then put on the head band and unclip the top part of the hair, so it falls over and hides the lower part of the band. Then split the hair into two parts, left and right, and begin braiding the hair into fishtails. Since my hair is really long, I cross them in the back, but if your hair is shorter don't do that or they braids will be too short. Pin the braids in a way that hides the ends, so one under another. Tutorial by Miss Sue here.

Bouncy Voluminous Curly High Pony Tail with a Glitter Hair Tie
Curl the hair with a 2.5 cm barrel curler and brush out the curls with fingers. Apply a texturising spray and a hair spray to achieve great hold. Pull the hair up and tie it with a fancy hair tie. My gold one is from O'Twist and some shops have these as well, or you can just order glitter 15 mm fold-over elastic on eBay and check out my tutorial on how to make a hair tie. I'm sure you don't need a tutorial for this, but it's one of my favourite as well as most worn hair styles.

Hair Bow
I love this hair style so much, but you need a lot of hair to do it and it takes many tries to get it right. Tie the top part of the hair with a hair tie that is as inconspicuous as it can be (I use thin black ones). Pull a bit of the hair from the hair tie to form a loop. Split the loop into two parts, left and right, and then form a bow using bobby pins. Take a small strand from under the middle of the bow and cross it over the vertical centre of the bow tucking it behind the bow from above and pin it in place. 
Mimi's Tutorial here. 


I'm finishing off with my favourite treats for the season - hot cocoa with cinnamon, cream, chocolate syrup and rum plus the super yummy cinnamon stars that I embarrassingly only discovered this year (but man are they good!)

I hope you enjoyed this post and have a great day!
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Rimmel Velvet Matte 014 Sumptuous Red

December 20, 2014, 3:58 am
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This is one of those nails polishes that I expected to wow me based on other people's swatches (*insert a Google search*), but I was very underwhelmed. I expected a perfect mix of purple and pink, so a warm Tyrian purple colour and it does look like that on the swatch wheel, but unfortunately, just as at First Class Up-Grape, due to (I'm strongly suspecting) my undertone, this looks just boring cool-toned purple on me. It's not a bad colour at all, but less unique and darker than I expected. The finish is a velvet matte, which honestly looks less spectacular than on my pictures in person, especially with prolonged wear as the oils from the environment make it just a bit greasy looking (check the final picture that was taken after four days). But you can easy just put a top coat on it and have a regular creamy finish look nail polish. 


The formula is an odd ball. It's very difficult to get this even looking as during application it's pretty much impossible to get the coat even, instead it's a very patchy looking affair. I needed three and on some nails even four coats to create an even fully opaque looking base. The problem is that it dries very fast to a matte finish, so unlike most nail polishes it just sticks to the patch where you applied it meaning it doesn't level out by itself like a lot nail polishes do. Due to that the final effect doesn't look as smooth and piling on additional coats only makes it worse. 


The brush is one of those wide ones and I do like it, the fault for the uneven application lies mainly in the formula and not the brush. Staying power is not as good as at regular nail polishes, but on my nails it still lasts well, but it did peel off the nail wheel, just to warn you.


It only occurred to me to take another picture of the nails polish with a shiny top coat after four days of wearing it already, but it still looks decent, right? I applied Seche Vite on top, only the ring finger is top coat free (see how non matte it is compared to the first pictures?).


This didn't meet my expectations at all. For one the colour is completely different on me than in the bottle or on the nail wheel and the formula is difficult to work with, but I forgive that since it's a matte nail polish.

Have a great day!
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Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat UV Protective Primer

December 22, 2014, 10:06 am
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I expected a lot from this. It's a high end product, which has gained some great reviews, though granted mostly from people who were sent the product, but I still trust most of them. However, I'm just not as impressed by it. My hair requires a great deal more care than an average individual's, so I'm sure this kind of product suits a lot of people, but still for the price I was expecting something exceptional, so in the rank of Kérastase products, but this isn't even close. 

First, I'd like to praise the ease of use. It's super simple to just spray this on the hair and have everything from heat and UV protection, an extra boost of moisture and pre-styling element of hair care sorted. Judging from the name as well as the claims, I expected something similar to Orofluido Sahara, but this is a completely different product. It's closer to a light milky lotion and it has none of the oil-like qualities. Due to that, you have to be mindful of how much you apply on dry hair as it does make the hair wet, so that means you shouldn't really go straight to curling or straightening your hair, but let it dry for a moment. Also on dry hair it has a tendency to get a bit heavy or maybe I should say that you notice a layer of product on the hair. But my real issue is not with its performance on dry hair, but on damp. It just doesn't deliver. Sure it provides heat protection, but that's it. There is no frizz control nor do I think that it's as effective as the much cheaper Sexy Healthy Hair leave-in when it comes to adding and sealing moisture into the hair. Even the scent is unremarkable and bland - as I've described it before, it's like a classic soap scent mixed with porcini mushrooms (SLO jurčki) and cream. Basically, it's the most simple heat protecting spray, but that's it. Though, the ingredients do look fantastic, since it contains grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia oil, coconut oil, argan oil and safflower oil as well as some proteins. So I'm a bit surprised that it performs so averagely when it comes to seriously nourishing the hair.


I know I may seem harsh in my hair care reviews at times, but I seek only brilliance and I'm not satisfied with run of the mill products. And this is the latter, which is a bit sad considering the price. If your hair is super dry as mine, I'd again like to recommend Kérastase Nectar Thermique or if you prefer to use heat protection on dry hair, I really love Tigi's S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender for the job. But if your hair isn't as problematic as mine, you should still give this a go if it interests you, but Tigi's Catwalk Sleek Mystique Blow Out Balm is lovely and in my opinion better, though admittedly more expensive if you look at the price per ml (but no per bottle). Of course, I will use this up and I do use it a lot because it's so easy to use, however, I doubt I will repurchase it. Still the bottle is big with 250 ml of product, so I may change my mind about it when it'll be on its last legs.

Have a great day!
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Models Own Disco Pants Copacabana and Diamond Luxe Heart Red

December 24, 2014, 9:28 am
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I already featured both of these in my December Inspired Beauty post, so you've probably already seen the swatches there, but now here is a proper review of both so they're more in focus and described in detail.

Diamond Luxe LE Heart Red

Heart Red is a classic warm-ish red with gold shimmer that looks like bright red shimmer once it's on the nails. The shimmer is much more visible in person than on my pictures and it gives a nice effect under the light, though from far away it just looks like a regular red nail colour. 

The formula is not my favourite red, especially compared to something from Essie, but it's still easy to apply. I needed two coats for full opacity and an even finish. The brush is a classic one and it works just fine. The removal process reveals the amount of gold shimmer than is on the nails and it needs an additional swipe in the pot remover or with a cotton pad to remove it completely.


I've already worn this shade twice, though I must admit I'm still not convicted if I love it, but  it's definitely different from what I normally wear due to the shimmer and I can't deny that's pretty to look at under light. It's  a very festive shade that much is obvious.


Heart Red je klasičen rdeč lak z rahlim toplim podtonom in drobnimi zlatimi bleščicami, ki pod plastjo laka izgledajo svetlo rdeče, ter se lepo bleščijo pod močno svetlobo. Kar se formule tiče ni moj najljubši rdeči lak in priznajmo si, rdeče lake pa res skoraj vsaka znamka naredi dobre, ampak je nanos tega laka še vedno dovolj enostaven. Za polno prekrivnost in enakomeren nanos sta bili potrebni dve plasti. Čopič je klasičen kar se tiče velikosti in omogoča normalen nanos. Pri odstranjevanju laka se pokaže koliko je dejansko zlatih bleščic in zato je potrebno malo več truda pri odstranjevanju, vseeno pa ni niti približno problematičen kar se tega tiče. Glede obstojnosti nisem opazila nobene razlike med vsemi ostalimi laki. Kot sem že velikokrat pojasnila, na meni pač vsi laki zdržijo zelo dolgo in to velja tudi za naslednji odtenek.
Lak sem že nosila dvakrat, pa čeprav nisem še popolnoma prepričana glede tega odtenka. Je lep in prazničen, ampak mogoče mi samo na meni ni prekrasen. Sicer pa barve so pravzaprav popolnoma subjektivna zadeva.


Disco Pants LE Copacabana

Copacabana is a gold-silver-green with a frosty metallic finish. I wish that it were more gold because then it'd be a bit more special,  but I can't have everything, can I? The formula is quite thick and theoretically it could be a one coater if you're lucky with the application, but mostly it looks a bit streaky, so a second coat is needed to fix it. Actually, it behaves like a classic frosty finish nail polish. Like the previous shade, this one has the same brush which works just fine. Removal process is as easy as it gets.


Copacabana je zlato-srebrn-zelen odtenek, za katerega si sicer želim, da bi bil bolj zlat, ker se mi zdi, da bi bil tako malo bolj poseben, ampak to bo ostala le neizpolnjena želja. Formula je kar gosta in teoretično bi lahko potrebovala samo eno plast, saj je dovolj prekriven, ampak je zelo težko ustvariti enakomeren nanos, ker se obnaša kot tipičen frosty lak, torej pušča črte. Dve plasti poskrbijo za enakomeren videz. Čopič je spet klasičen in kar se tiče odstranjevanja ni nobenih posebnosti.


Oba laka Models Own, Copacabana in Heart Red, lahko najdete na Click2Chic za 5,95 €.


I wish all a merry Christmas and enjoy the festivities in the following days. I'm currently preparing my traditional Best Buys and 2014 in Retrospect post that should go up before the 31.

*products were sent to me to review.
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Best Buys in 2014: Makeup

December 26, 2014, 10:21 am
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As my yearly tradition dictates, here is the first part of my favourite buys in 2014. The second one will feature nail polishes skincare, hair products and fragrances. You can find posts from previous years here: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Part 1 (make up) and Part 2 (skincare, hair and fragrance). 


I've never been much of a primer person because they always flaked on me until I discovered this. It's very lightweight and has none of that almost greasy-like silicone finish like for example Garnier's Perfect Blur, rather it feels like nothing on the skin and yet it keeps the makeup in place all day including light coverage dewy foundations. I also love using this as an eyeshadow primer and it does its job admirably. The added SPF 20 is another bonus as is the great packaging with a pump.

Another little helper when it comes to prolonging the staying power of makeup, but this one is used after the makeup is applied to seal everything in place. It's like a hairspray for the face and it feels super light, not sticky, basically you can't feel it on the face once it dries. It's a great product when you need your makeup to last as long as possible, especially in combination with the Max Factor Primer.  


Man, does Bourjois have the skin-like finish down or what? This is without a doubt the most undetectable base, it literally looks like your skin and it's very hard to see that you're even wearing anything. The coverage is light-medium, but more on the light side, which  is enough for me. However, unfortunately the colour range excludes really pale shades, which is annoying, so I mostly need to mix it with a lighter foundation, but I really appreciate that the lightest shade isn't as yellow as at Heathy Mix Serum. 

This was my first ever Catrice foundation and boy was it a hit. Unlike my previous foundation choices, this has a matte finish, but it's a long way from the draining, heavy caked-up matte finish. This is actually, just as described, a luminous matte effect, so the skin looks radiant, but without the creamy-dewy shine and it actually keeps the oils at bay. The level of coverage is medium, which is enough for me - as long as it doesn't look obvious on the skin I'm a happy camper. The shade is a bit disappointing, since the really fair people have been left out again, but it is comforting to know that the lightest shade is neutral.

My last year's birthday gift (from me to myself, lol), but it was an instant hit. It's actually very similar to the Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer, maybe it's a bit creamier, but I honestly don't notice much of a difference. The real reason why I love this is the shade. Finding a proper neutral light shade is pretty much impossible, not to mention expensive, but I found it in Chantilly. The coverage is fantastic, almost full and it still looks nice enough to not describe it as heavy and cakey.


I don't have this any more, since it was one of the products that ran out ridiculously fast, so that's the bad side of it, but all the rest is great. I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of this concealer from the start and the fact that it only contains 1.5 ml was the main reason. I also wasn't impressed by the medium coverage, but my opinion changed dramatically with use and now I consider it one of the most natural looking concealers I've ever found and that's a feature I value a lot. It's very similar to the CC Cream with that awesome my-skin-but-better finish, but the shade is far better for me because it's lighter and again neutral, so it suits me so well. I really need to repurchase it.


It's no surprise this is here. After last year's success with the Naked Basics, the second one was bound to be a winner as well. It's a collection of taupe-brown shades that are excellent for neutral looks which I tend to wear every day. It has a larger variation of medium toned shades instead of pale bases and dark shades as well as it's more cool toned than the original, so it's the perfect complement to the previous palette and definitely different enough to justify owning both. The quality of the eyeshadows is again amazing - they are smooth, super pigmented and blend well. 

A budget palette that completely blew me away. I've said in my original review that as far as I'm concerned, the quality is very similar to the UD's Naked Palettes. The eyeshadows are just a bit "dustier" and the shades are like a Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics were merged together bringing the best of both into one palette, the only thing missing is the pitch black shade. It's a fantastic palette for 5 €.


It's been a year of felt tip eyeliners for me and they literally changed my life if I'm being a bit dramatic, or at least my makeup routine. I was given this by an online shop I used to work at, since I admit my prejudice would put me off from ever trying it, but it's probably the best liner I've tried so far. The formula is so smooth and the applicator allows very precise creations and flicks. It's super pigmented, very black and lasts all day on my normal lids. The only thing is that it dries out faster than L'Oreal's or at least the fluid doesn't saturate the nib through and through, but its performance when it's new is almost addictive. However, I will try some more liners and Stila's is the next I want to try. 

Yet another felt tip liner and this was my first ever, which remained my favourite for a long time and I also repurchased it. It's similar to the Kardashian one, so again super precise, pigmented and long-lasting, only less fluid meaning less liquid liner like and the tip doesn't stay saturated as long as at the other one, however, the base of the nib stays saturated with the product longer. I really love both liners and I would repurchase them, maybe this one faster because it's cheapest of the two.  

Essence created a nice eyeliner? Did I accidentally enter a parallel universe? But in all seriousness, this is brilliant. Everything works so well at this liner- the slightly pinky brightening colour, the creamy smooth formula that transfers so well on the waterline and can be used in the inner corner or under the brow. Even the staying power is nice. It completely replaced my old faithful Max Factor Khol in 090 Natural Glaze. Well done Essence!

I have been very faithful to my Tana eyelash curler for years and I actually owned two, but I wanted to see if the grass was greener on the high-end side and I wasn't disappointed. I often complain around here about my stupidly stubborn lashes that are ridiculously hard to curl, so eyelash curler is an essential tool in my life. Compared to Tana's Shiseido's are a bit bigger, flatter, feel lighter and they fit my eye shape a bit better, so I don't accidentally pinch myself in the corners if I'm being careless. Another plus is that refill pads are very easy to find.  


Let me present to you (again) the best eyeshadow I ever tried in terms of formula. And it's matte. I know, madness. It's a classic taupe shade that is excellent in the crease as well as on the lids and it has a soft, smooth and pigmented formula that blends so well. 

I put off buying this for so long, even though I knew it's brilliant as I already owned and love Permanent Taupe. I wasn't too sure about the shade at the beginning, but now I wear it every day either on its own or mostly as a base. It's such a gorgeous neutral bronze shade with a metallic finish that is easy to apply, blends well using fingers and has a great staying power. This has been one of the stars in December for me and a part of my every day makeup.

I'm a huge fan of these and I have quite a collection already. They convinced me with their superb pigmentation, shimmery-metallic finish and staying power. Tender Caramel is a taupe-brown shade that is similar to Satin Taupe, but with a lot more shimmery, glamorous finish and it's a cool toned version of my favourite shade from the Infallible Sahara Treasure. I've been wearing this shade basically every day since I got it over On and on Bronze and I always apply it with fingers for best effect.


I adore this blush. I've been wearing it pretty much non-stop since I got it a few months ago, especially when I need to look good because I know this shade works for me. It's a natural - pink shade that just looks amazing on the skin, way better than any coral blush could ever on me and best of all it goes with any look. It's not particularly illuminating, but I don't mind.

Before I'm Nuts About You there was Rose Royce. These are similar shades, though Rose Royce is a tiny bit more pink, but it's again a natural-rose shade that goes with everything. The quality of Defining blushes is spectacular, these are my favourite blushes ever and they convinced me with their excellent pigmentation, staying power and easy-to-work-with formula.

A product that has renewed my faith in powders, though it's more like a super sheer highlighter than a powder. For years I put up with the cakey finish of powders in the name of keeping the makeup in place and shine at bay, but this powder actually makes the foundation look better. It works like a light blurring tool, fixing the weird looking parts of the foundation and setting the makeup in place, while giving a super subtle radiance to the skin. 


Words cannot describe how good these two are. The formula is outstanding with an excellent pigmentation, creamy-matte finish and staying power. Blake is an incredible ruby/cherry red with a blue undertone that to me is prettier than Ruby Woo and has better formula, so it became my favourite red ever. Laetitia is shade I wanted to find to years as it's as proper deep red with very little purple tones, so it actually looks dark red on my lips - such a striking shade. 
Here is a comparison of both with Ruby Woo, Russian Red and Rimmel's 107. I'm wearing Laetitiahere.

This is such a me colour and I was so pleasantly surprised when I first put it on the lips as it look completely different in the tube than on the lips. It's a warm deep pink-red, a colour that is close to my heart and I just adore this shade. The pigmentation, staying power and finish is great as well, actually better than the other shade they released at the same time - MATTador. This is one of those lipsticks I just instinctively grab when I'm in a hurry because I know I'll look good with it, so it's no surprise it's one of my most worn shades. A fabulous drugstore lipstick.


2014 is the year that when one of my favourite brands finally released their version of matte lip creams. Being a huge fan of such products I was elated at the news of the launch of Velvets and grabbed the darkest Grand Cru the moment I saw them. Though the formula of this shade is difficult to work with, I was gobsmacked at the final result as it has the most perfect velvet matte finish ever. The staying power is spectacular as well and it's the most long lasting lip product I own because it survives everything, even teeth brushing. I latter bought two more shades - the absolutely stunningly gorgeous rose-red-pink Frambourjoise, which became one of my favourite shades ever and Olé Flamingo a warm super bright pink. The formula of the latter is the best out of these and in general excellent, while Frambourjoise also has a much better formula than Grand Cru. They need a bit more work because the first layer isn't fully opaque, but the final result is stunning once it dries. 


The packaging is just drop dead gorgeous, isn't it? Despite the slightly deceiving advertising, it's a very pigmented lip gloss, so it's not like Apocalips, which is an actual liquid lipstick, but closer to L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick, just even more pigmented and a bit better quality. The colour is a very wearable coral-pink with a very glossy finish, so looks quite glamorous on the lips. 

I picked a true winner when I bought this shade. It still remains the lip colour choice when I need something that is less bold than my usual choices or when I want to give my lips a bit of a break from matte finishes. Basically, I wear it a lot, also because it such a stunning shade that suits my complexion and I feel that it makes my eyes appear more blue. I even love the glossy finish of it and I'm a true lipstick girl through and through. I also need to mention the delightfully peach scent, which is divine and just up my alley.  

Catrice decided to shamelessly copy Clarins' Instant Lip Perfector and we should all be grateful that they did because they nailed it. This is without a doubt the most comfortable lip product ever. I described it as a cushion for the lips and I think it's way better than a lip balm when it comes to soothing the lips. This was my choice to treat my poor lips when I was ill once this year. All the shades are very similar and provide very little colour, but mine is a nude peachy shade and it smells gently sweet.

As a massive fan of peach scented products, this lip balm was bound to end up in my shopping basket and I was not disappointed as this has one of the best peach scents out there. It has a nice light natural peach tint, however, as far as the quality and moisturisation goes, this one is as average as it gets, but my lips are almost never dry and I don't need intensive care.

I hope you enjoyed reading part one and part two with nail polishes, skincare, haircare and tools will follow soon.
Have a great day!
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Best Buys in 2014: Nail Polish, Skincare, Haircare and Tools

December 28, 2014, 1:58 am
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I've dealt with the makeup bits in the first part and now it's time for all the rest. You can find posts from previous years here: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Part 1 (make up) and Part 2 (skincare, hair and fragrance). 


This is without a doubt one of my favourite shades ever in my entire nail polish stash. I love such dark vampy colour especially in colder months. Sole Mate is a beautiful plum-bordeaux shade (supposedly a dupe for Chanel's Rouge Noire) with an amazing quality formula and that fabulous Essie brush. In general Essie's have been knocking my socks off time and time again this year.

You have no idea how long I've been searching for a fully opaque nude shade that would suit my complexion. I think I started looking for it when I was fourteen and there have been many missed purchases in these years until I found this perfection in a bottle. Spin the Bottle is the perfect peachy nude nail polish and the formula is just spectacular. You wouldn't believe you're applying a pastel-like nail polish, in fact it behaves almost like a crelly red or something similar. Such a shame this is a limited edition because I've been wearing it loads and I fear the day it will run out. 

A classic red that I've been wearing a whole lot this year simply because people around me love it when I wear red on my nails. The formula is again amazing and even though all nail polishes last ages on me, I do notice that Essies perform better than cheaper ones.


Firstly I'd like to say that I'm a simple girl who doesn't like to stray away from the classic creamy or jelly finish when it comes to nail polish, so for a glittery nail polish to impress me it needs to be truly spectacular to justify the lengthy removal process. And Aurora is exactly that - spectacular. It's a rose gold/light pink glitter polish with densely packed differently sized glitter. I love the effect on the nails as it looks so glamorous and pretty, almost like crushed diamonds on the nails. 

Obviously this was going to be in here, I have, after all, been talking almost non-stop about it since I got it. This has an amazing galaxy effect on the nails. It has a duo chrome blue-purple base that turns the black nail polish into a navy blue and here are also different sizes of glitter and flakes that give a starry sky effect. For some reason that I can't fathom, Essence decided to discontinue this in their newest line revamp, so if you want it, be quick about it.

I know, it's a regular black nail polish, so what? But there is a good reason it gained its place in this post and it is all due to the formula. It's really, really good and miles away from that rubbish Essence's black nail polish I owned years ago. The formula is super smooth with a crelly finish and opaque with two easy coats. The shine of these is amazing even without a top coat. I must say Essence really did a great job with these.


I've finally found the perfect morning cleaner and for a ridiculously cheap price (it's 1.51 €!). It looks like those whipped creams in a can and the mousse actually resembles whipped cream a bit due to the super dense texture. The fluffy mousse feels so lovely on the skin and I find it not at all drying, which is a rarity since most mousses cause dry patches on my skin. I also adore the scent of it, which is a big plus for me.

The best moisturiser I've had the pleasure to use so far and it really is so good. It's light, yet properly moisturising and it sinks in super fast leaving behind a velvet semi-matte finish making it an excellent base for makeup. The skin looks so healthy after using this and in general the skin improves over time in terms of hydration levels. The only "problem" , besides the eye watering price of course, is that it's stored in a pot and I feel a tube would be more hygienic. My pot is all but empty and I will miss this so much.

As a frequent waterproof mascara wearer, a good remover that would do the job as quickly and effectively as possible is something I highly covet. This removes my eye makeup with such ease and what I really appreciate is that it doesn't make my vision foggy nor does it leave my skin quite as greasy like every other duo-phase remover does. Unlike most other cheap ones I've tried, when I shake this so the two parts mix, the lighter part actually stays suspended and both fluids are mixed meaning they don't just separate after a second as most do. If only it weren't so expensive, but at least my sample size has been going strong for quite a while, as due to effectiveness, I get to use a lot less than other removers.

This is the perfect sunscreen as far as my preferences go. It's incredibly light, not at all sticky or gross feeling on the skin and due to the sheer neutral-toned light tint, there is no white cast whatsoever. It also protect really well. It's a fantastic product, but I fear they won't re-release it next year as it was this year' LE (I've still seen some bottles in certain DMs).


Though I was initial unimpressed by this cleanser, its long term effect won me over. In those months that I've been using it, my skin looked so healthy and there wasn't a blemish in sight. Only Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm kept my skin in such good condition. As the name suggests it's a creamy cleanser, so great for skin that is prone to dry patches like mine.


My favourite shower discovery of the year, even though I'm not amazed by its scrubbing abilities (I like mine harsh). It's the texture that sold me, since it's something quite unexpected for a product that is so affordable. For me this is a luxurious-feeling every day body wash and it starts off as a gel with sparse scrubby particles which then transforms into an oil-creamy foam. So basically it feels lovely to use, smells great and it's affordable. 

I've never before actually used up a deodorant before it stopped working on me, let alone repurchase one, rather I kept swapping them very frequently for years. However, much to my astonishment I'm already using my third Rexona stick deodorant and it's still doing its job. I think I've found my HG. The only bad thing are the white marks, however, I can forgive that.

I always double my deodorant meaning I use a stick or a roll-on one and then a spray on top. It's my technique to make sure that deodorant don't lose their mojo on me too fast and it keeps me fresh longer. Pearl & Beauty is my absolute favourite spray deodorant for two reasons - 1. it actually works because there is some sort of a powder added in it, so it absorbs moisture and 2. it smells so lovely - powdery floral and just very feminine. I really like it and it works fantastically in combination with Rexona as it keeps me dry (enough) and fresh super long. By the way, this one leaves white marks as well if you spray too much.


Universal cream with cheery scent
This is one of the best cheap thrills (1.17 €) I discovered this year and definitely one with the cutest packaging featuring a retro design. Though it's a universal cream, which brings associations of thick, greasy creams, this is actually very light, fast absorbent and yet still very moisturising. Due to the fact it sinks in within a minute, I use this as a hand cream and I'm a person who dislikes hand creams, therefore avoid using them. It smells like cherry cola and can be used on the body, face or lips. Love this.

Jana from Small Bits of Loveliness hooked me on this whole body brushing business. I actually bought it for one purpose and that is to exfoliate the skin as I have a huge problem with ingrown hairs on my legs. The brushing "massage" is almost a bit addictive because it just feels so nice. It exfoliates the skin, assists in improving vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, but you should google it you want to read more about it because that is all I know. I really love this particular brush because it's the smallest I could find and it fits into my child-size hands well, not to mention how soft (but not too soft) the bristles are.


a.k.a. L'ORÉAL Elvive Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Shampoo
I always get excited when I find a good drugstore shampoo and I think this one beats all of them, even some high-end shampoos I've tried. It's like a cousin shampoo to my beloved Kérastase Oleo-Relax, it also promises the same things as that one and it does indeed have  a similar effect in terms of that it feels like some conditioner was added in it and the hair feels a bit silky when you're rinsing it off. It doesn't leave my hair so squeaky clean that's it's dried out and it smells nicer than Oleo-Relax. I'm really enjoying using this.

I bought this just for fun and didn't expect to like it a lot, since my hair hardly needs any additional texture due to dryness and coarseness. And yet it was love from first spray. I really like to use it just after curling the hair as it just makes the curls look a bit better. It's like a dry shampoo on steroids, meaning it gives a lot of grip and a bit of hold, so it's like a dry shampoo-light hairspray hybrid or a dry version of a salt spray (it does have sea salt in it). I used it on my profile picture on the right. 

This is a very similar product to the VO5 Dry Texturising spray, I don't even know if I really notice a difference between the two, but maybe this one gives a bit more hold. Again it's like a dry salt spray mixed with a light hold hairspray meaning it gives a bit of grip, texture and hold, and yes it does make your hair a bit "hairspray stiff" if you use a lot, however, if you use a small amount it feels like nothing is on your hair. In combination with a hairspray it helps a lot the curls to last longer. I used it here.

I call this my ultimate frizz taming little helper. It really makes a noticeable difference on rebellious hair and helps tame it, but it's light enough that you don't feel in on the hair. It's also a pretty good leave-in conditioner and it helps the hair fight off dryness for longer.


These are so awesome! I could never find decent sectioning clips for a reasonable price here, so I ordered these from eBay and they are so good. They feel so professional and well made with the matte rubberised texture, you'd never think they were so cheap. I use them all the time when I blow-dry my hair to clip the hair out of the way or to create volume or curls - just brilliant stuff. 


I'm a huge fan of Hugo Boss Nuit pour Femme and this is a cheap dupe for it. To me it smells pretty much the same and I utterly adore this scent even though it's so unremarkable. It smells like peaches from the start and then turns into an expensive fabric softener scent. So it's a clean, but a sophisticated scent. Considering the price (I actually paid just 4 €) the staying power is very decent.  

Vineyard Peach is my favourite scent ever, so I was exhilarated when I heard about the launch of the body mist in this scent. It took a lot of effort to finally track it down, but I couldn't be more pleased. It smells so much like the real ripe peaches mixed with just a bit of peach yoghurt, but since it's a body mist the lasting power is poor. 

Oh, me and my penchant for Refan fragrances. This is a wonderful scent for someone with a sweet tooth like me. It smells like an expensive box of pralines with a fruity filling, but not completely gourmand because of the floral notes and patchouli. These imitations don't really differ from the originals as far as I can tell and I've had tons of them, but they do go bad after three years.


These are so good, especially considering the price (5 €). They are the perfect size, shape and density for blending concealer under the eyes, applying a base eyeshadow on the lids and setting powder under the eyes. They especially shine at concealer blending as they perform so much better than foundation brushes or even fingers.

I never expected such a brilliant brush for such an affordable price (3 €). It's an excellent super soft blending brush that I use also for applying a gentle wash of colour in the crease or on the lids, but it obviously performs best at blending and softening the eyeshadows. 


This brush is ridiculously soft, softer even than Real Techniques brushes, but still dense enough to pick up enough colour and apply it on the cheeks. I tend to use it sideways, meaning that I use the narrower part of the tapered brush and it works with most blushes, except if they are exceptionally light as it's quite a fluffy brush and in that case it doesn't pick up enough colour.

This became my powder brush that I use for applyingBourjois Pudre the Riz. I never liked finishing powders because they made my foundation look so cakey and obvious, but this brush is so soft and fluffy that it deposits the perfect thin veil of product. It also works great for applying a touch of bronzer (especially if you're pale and fear you'll over-apply) and pigmented blushes.


This just may be one of the niftiest and innovative beauty tools there is. I'm still over the moon that I got this from the people at Glossy (thank you again). It's so handy and it protects the brushes from getting ruined because it makes sure that all the water drains off vertically and makes sure that it doesn't stagnate in the ferrule where it may dissolve the glue. It holds 14 brushes, but I can easy put two or even three into some of the bigger openings. It's collapsible, so it doesn't take a lot of space and you can keep it stored in a drawer or some place else and can be quickly assembled together. 


I tackled my problem with stubborn straight lashes head on and shelled out for this little wand. It really only works after the lashes have already been curled and mascara was applied, so it only makes a slightly better curl, but more importantly it makes it last longer. I find it really helps to give the outer lashes that fluttery look since it lifts and combs them so they point outwards (these are the lashes that are squashed on the edge when using a regular eyelash curler). It also fixes all of those stray lashes that the eyelash curler didn't catch. It heats up in about a minute and its not that hot, at least I never got burned and I just place it on the lashes, wait three seconds as merely combing doesn't do anything and it just perfects the curls a bit more and makes it last longer. I should warn you that this drains batteries like nobody's business (it uses AA ones).


Have a great day!
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2014 in Retrospect: Popular Posts and My Favourite Bloggers

December 29, 2014, 9:41 am
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It's been a great blogging year for me and enjoyed every moment of it. It's been the most prolific so far, my blog reached 1 million views in July and perhaps the biggest surprise to me has been that my followers numbers have almost doubled, which I greatly appreciate, so thank you all who read me regularly. Thanks for every comment, save on Bloglovin', pin on Pinterest and like on Facebook as well as Instagram - you're all awesome!
All images bellow are links to reviews, so feel free to click away and if anyone is interested in last year's post you can find it here.

Top 5 Most Read Posts






My Favourite Top 5 Posts


 Beauty Blog Photography on a Budget Series: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3




Top Search Entries
(all time)


Some of my favourite posts and bloggers in 2014

You can find more of my favourite posts on Pinterest and under my likes on Bloglovin', while the bloggers are under the Blog I Heart Page.

 I wish you all the best in 2014!
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L'Oréal Color Riché Pure Reds Collection Exclusive Blake and Laetitia

January 2, 2015, 8:38 am
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I've been raving about these two a lot so far, they've even been in my Best Buys in 2014 post, so here's a proper review to start off the new year. I wanted these so badly, swatched them every time I went to the shop, then the right people took the hint, gifted me both the shades that caught my eye and I couldn't be happier about it. These two lipsticks have been on my lips pretty much every day since I got them and Blake got the honour of being my New Year's Eve choice, while Laetitia is more of my everyday choice.


The texture of both of these is so smooth and they glide on the lips like a dream. The pigmentation of both is fantastic and they need just one coat for a fully opaque, crisp colour, while the finish is matte, or creamy-matte just like at Catrice's MATTraction. My lips are almost never dry, so I don't want to mislead you into thinking that these aren't drying because I can't assess that properly, but I did notice that after several hours of wear, Laetita is a touch drying (nothing tragic, though), while Blake is ok. 

Staying power of both of these is fantastic. Obviously it helps that they are darker colours as well as that they are matte, but even so just swatching them on the hand left me with a stain that could not be removed just with soap. These last a long time on the lips, thought they do fade if you eat or drink, but don't completely disappear. 

The packaging of these is different than regular Colour Riche range as they have a sort of a leather design that makes them look a bit more expensive.

Blake

Blake is probably the most popular colour in this collection, also because unlike Laetitia it's available everywhere. It's a ruby cherry red with a blue undertone, so it's a very classic red, but I have nothing similar in my collection. I think that the matte finish makes it even more striking and because the formula isn't drying as well as it's smoother, I prefer it to Ruby Woo, though the shade of the latter is brighter and not as blue toned (comparison at the end). 



Laetitia

Laetitia is the darkest shade in this collection and for some reason not sold everywhere (this may just be one of those impossible situations where Slovenes are the lucky ones). I'm a huge fan of Rimmel's Matte Lipstick in 107, but this is even better, especially regarding staying power. It's a proper deep red with some purple tones that are not as apparent as in 107 when on my lips. It's a striking shade and I have been wearing it on most days since I got it.


Laetitia vs. Rimmel's 107


It's strange how Laetitia looks so different in the bullet than on the lips. In the bullet is almost like an unappealing dark brownish red, but on the lips that purple tone shows up and it's a classic burgundy shade.


Pure Reds lipsticks cost 13-14 € depends on where you buy them, but so far I find that in Müller they are cheapest.

I adore both of these, everything from the colour to the formula and staying power is amazing. Their only fault is the high price, which is ridiculously high for drugstore, but I can't say that they are not worth it, since they are better than some MAC and high-end lipsticks in my opinion.

Do you have any favourites in the Pure Reds collection? Have a great day! 
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Bourjois Lévres Contour Edition 02 Cotton Candy

January 5, 2015, 9:24 am
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2014 was the year when lip liners stole the spotlight (well, at least two MAC shades) and even my previously very humble, rarely used collection expanded significantly with the latest addition being this Bourjois one that I got as a gift from my cousin, who loves a more 90's kind of shade called 01 Nude Wav (thank you). I own another Bourjois pencil that I bought years ago, in the shade Rouge Soyeux, which is a pretty good dupe/match for MAC's Ruby Woo, however, it appears that the formula has been changed, since this new pencil performs much better because it's less drying.


Texture and staying power: These new pencils are very different from the other shade I own, Rouge Soyeux, which has a drier formula that won't appeal to many, but I don't mind it because I can get a very precise line with it. The new formula is very, very creamy, but still waxy, so it feels like a lipstick in a pencil form, though it's not overly creamy like Essence pencils. It's also a lot creamier than both versions of Catrice lip pencils I own and due to the comfortable creamy formula, I have no problems wearing it on its on. Of course, creaminess has a downside - you have to sharpen it very frequently, so I imagine it can't last long if used every day.Usually creaminess means that staying power has been sacrificed for comfort, but this pencil is actually very long lasting considering the type of formula. I don't check the time when testing lip products because I have better things to do, but it was still going strong in the middle of the day after being applied in the morning.


Colour and finish: Cotton Candy is a light-medium warm pink on me, but on most it'll be a classic nude shade. It's similar to MAC's Please me, only a bit lighter, however, on the lips these differences are almost invisible. I've Got you Babel by Catrice is a slightly warmer and peachier version of this shade. The finish of this pencil is creamy-matte and not completely matte as the previous version, however, it's that type of formula that despite being creamy, emphasises little wrinkles on the lips, which if you don't intend to wear this on its own, doesn't really matter.  


Price and availability: I believe these are around 5-6 €. I'm not sure if these are replacing the old ones or not, but they haven't been released everywhere yet.

The new formula will appeal to all who like very creamy pencils and don't mind frequent sharpening. Due to being such soft pencils, it of course means it gets dull almost immediately, so precision it not its forte. I actually love wearing this pencil on its own because it's such a comfortable formula to wear and I like the colour on me.

Have a great day!
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Essence Lash Princess Mascara

January 8, 2015, 12:38 am
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It's difficult for me to properly review mascaras with a regular formula because when I use them, my lashes drop like a rock and I've just basically wasted some mascara, while it still looks like I have no lashes if you look straight on (but not from sideways, obviously. Pic of my natural lashes here). So even if the mascara is absolutely amazing in terms of volume, if it's a regular formula, it does very little for me. This mascara is precisely such a case. It's a really, really good volumising mascara, seriously top notch and it gives pretty much the false lash effect on my lashes (I have been asked once if I'm wearing falsies, but this mascara was applied over a waterproof formula one), unfortunately once the lashes drop it's very hard to see all the volume. For this reason my pictures of the lashes don't look even close to the real effect and they look a lot shorter than in real life, so you'll just have to trust me when I say that the effect of this mascara is just phenomenal when it comes to volume, it's just that the rest is not ideal for my needs. 


The brush is an interesting curvy shape that deposits a lot of product onto the lashes, but still keeps them separated enough, though I still like to comb through with an old mascara wand just to give it a more defined look. The wand is a bit long for my taste and it does make the application a bit clumsier. The formula is very black and very wet. I've had mine for a couple of months now and it's holding quite well and is only a bit dry, which is a stark opposite of that Kardashian Beauty mascara I reviewed a while back, which is now almost completely dry (I got them a couple of weeks apart, both were given to me to review, hence why they are regular formulas.). 


Despite it not being a waterproof formula, I do use it on my lower lashes since I don't have a problem with smudging nor do I need them to stay curled, but it creates the doll eyes effect and it just makes the removal a bit easier. I use it often over several coats of waterproof mascara (that average performing Bourjois 1 Second one) on top lashes and it gives a lot more volume, but it does make the lashes drop faster despite being merely "a final top coat".


This is one of the most volumising mascaras I've tried so far, though I actually think that the I <3 Extreme and L'Oréal Paris Voluminous in Carbon Black are actually very, very similar. It's also very lengthening, so it's a very glamorous looking effect mascara with the huge lashes, at least on me. However, due to being a regular formula and so wet, my lashes drop within seconds and the effect on me is barely visible when looking straight on. If you don't have such stubborn lashes like me, give it a go, for one it's better that Kardashian Beauty mascara when it comes to volume, but it just doesn't hold the curl one bit and if you have trouble with that like me, this isn't for you.

Have a great day!
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My Birthday Wishlist

January 11, 2015, 5:53 am
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My birthday is at the end of the month and the only fairly exciting thing in these cold, after-holidays boring days of January is picking up what to splurge on as a treat.  

1. JOHN FRIEDA Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer
You may remember that I bought this as a gift for someone in December. Well, I had the chance to try it on her hair and it's bloody amazing. With one swipe all the frizz was completely gone, it looked even better than using a straightener. My precise words after the first try where: "Holly mother of God, I need this!". And the hair looked so shiny, it just looked like someone photoshopped it, except for a tiny strand where too much of the product was applied (note: wipe the wand before application). I've been dreaming about this ever since. The catch is that I can only find it on Boots International and that 10 € shipping fee is painful if you don't buy several items. Perhaps I should try some sort of a clear mascara available here first?

2. L'OREAL True Match Foundation 
N1
So many people included this in their 2014 favourites and I almost bought it several times last year, but changed my mind at the last second. With the help of one my readers I established that I probably need shade N1, which is one of the shades not sold in Slovene drugstores (a round of applause for the importers *sarcasm off*), so I've got no other choice than to order online (with a nice discount code, I'll get it cheaper than here anyway).

3. IT'S A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product
As a hair care junkie and I can't avoid the hype surrounding this. Just as Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-in Conditioner this is a highly praised product especially on MUA and since HSH leave-in is the bomb.com, I have high hopes this is good as well.  It promises to repair dry damaged hair, add shine, smooth & control frizz, seal & protect hair colour, to detangle, stop hair breakage and protect against heat damage. Basically it contains keratin and proteins, while it's a nourishing leave-in conditioner and a thermal protector. I'm heading to order this right now (on eBay from the USA), so it will hopefully arrive on my door step before/on my birthday.

4. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation 
Siberia
I know, I know, I included this in a couple wishlists already, but it's hard to part from so much money. I did promise myself last year after I bought Radiant Creamy concealer that next year I'll get this for my birthday. The thing is that the damn shipping costs are so high on NARS EU website (20 €!?) if I don't order over 50 € and the foundation plus the pump costs below that mark. The reason why I want to order from there is that it's the only place which has the pump for a reasonable price, otherwise I'd just order the foundation from HqHair. First world problem here. One of my readers Tamara sent me a sample of Siberia and it's a nice match for me plus it looks a lot nicer on the skin than my other paler foundation Rimmel's Lasting Finish Nude, which tends to settles in my pores and just looks a bit off. Though I admit, Sheer Glow does get a bit patchy at the end of day (that's my only complaint), I love the coverage and the finish, plus I got a lot of compliments wearing it (especially regarding the colour match).

5. HOURGLASS Ambient Lighting Powder 
Diffused Light
I so wish I could try one of these or their blushes (the trio palette is gorgeous), but I think that for now this will truly just remain merely a wish. I could order it from Urban Retreat Boutique, but together with shipping (10 €) it would put a serious dent in my purse, which I find hard to justify. It's a finishing powder/highlighter hybrid, so similar to Guerlain Meteorites, but in pressed form. I have Bourjois Java Poudre de Riz powder, which I think is similar and I adore it, however, I always wonder if the grass is greener on the high-end side.  


6. BALEA Bodybutter Nuss
Sara (Passing Fancy) caused the lemming for this one with her wonderful Nuts about Nuts & Cocoa post. This body butter looks like a nice cheap thrill and I always love such products. Sara says it smells like Monte (hazelnut-chocolate-milky dessert), which in my books can't be bad at all. Though, I should try to use up one of my body butters before buying this. 

7. Katy Perry Royal Revolution
I always love it when the bottles look like a decoration in the room and this one is beautiful. I included this fragrance on one of my previous wishlists, but I think it's time I finally take the plunge, I have, after all, used up several of my fragrances and I keep spraying this in the shop. It's very different from the vanilla sweet Killer Queen, which didn't completely appeal to me, rather Royal Revolution is not as strong and vanillary, but more toned down, yet still sweet. Notes.

8. Britney Spears Fantasy the Naughty Remix
I'm getting pathetic with putting this on so many of my wishlists - just get it already, right? As a huge fan of the original Fantasy, I find that this is the best flanker so far because it's just a fruitier version of the original, but still a lovely, warm scent for these colder months. Notes on Fragrantica. 

9. Aqualina Pink Sugar
A year or so ago, I ordered a sample of this and I was so underwhelmed that I just put in in my purse as a "just-in-case/backup fragrance" (I have a few in there. I'm aware I'm odd, but I feel naked without a fragrance) and forgot about it. I sprayed it one day when I was bored out of my mind waiting for someone and I just loved it so much. I'm a huge fan of candy, sweet fragrances and this is exactly it. It's so cosy and sugary, like a warm hug, but I think it's not completely gourmand like Fantasy. I smell a mix of caramel and liquorice notes, but mostly cotton candy and there are also some fruity notes in the background. 

10. RED CHERRY Eyelashes
Not long ago I wore Ardell's Demi Wispies again and I loved it so much. I know I don't really need falsies, but they look so pretty and eye-catching. I should get the Ardells again, but I'd also like to give these a go. Dizzy Brunette talked about ordering a pack of six from this seller in this post.


I love the colour and it's not too expensive, not to mention I happen to be the skater dress/skirt queen as I wear them throughout all year (I find trousers so restrictive, like little legs prison). I'm just not sure about the fit of this dress. I ordered two of their dresses and I had to fix them, though the quality is great. 

I don't pay much for jewellery as you will see. I think this ring looks cool and it's adjustable, which is always appreciated if you have slim fingers like me.

I've wanted to have this for ages, this and a dainty bow ring, but as someone with slim fingers my choices are limited. This one is supposedly 16 mm wide, which is exactly what I need. I'd love to have the infinity necklace from H&M as well. I just love dainty jewellery.

I haven't had a chance to tell you that I got a new phone and this is the case I chose to keep it in. By the way, from now on the pictures on the blog will be taken with Samsung Galaxy S5.

I'd like to have some more glamorous or metal headbands and the leaves motive appeals to me. This one from H&M is gorgeous as well

Another leaves inspired hair accessory. I just think it looks so pretty. I love the bees version as well

Another gold headband. I've seen a prettier one in H&M in rose gold, but it was 5€, which is a bit much for just a simple hair accessory (I'm one cheap bastard, aren't I?). 

ASOS Petite brand fits me like a glove, which is a rarity, since I'm a short stick of nothing (I get (to me hurtful) comments about my size pretty much daily). It's a really expensive dress for what I usually pay for clothes, but the material looks nice and I really like the colour.

Wallet Case for Smartphone
I like these, though I think it makes it easier to lose everything valuable at once if someone nicks it, but I can't deny it's not damn practical. My wallet is quite big and sometimes I don't want to carry everything with me, so I'm getting one of these. I just can't decide which one. There are so many pretty ones, but I really like these because they have a mirror. Some of my other choices:  1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Which one do you like best?

So I'm off doing a bit of online shopping. Have a great day!
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New In #26

January 12, 2015, 10:05 am
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L'OREAL Super Liner So Couture
Words cannot express how disappointed I am about this product. I was originally going to repurchase that fab Kardashian Beauty one, but decided to try this one before, since it's sold in our drugstores. Not so funny story about this one -I grabbed one at the back of the stand like I always do, since I know how ill-mannered some women are (there is a special place for you lot) and when I came home it was completely dry. People at DM replaced it for me without any issues (and put mine back on the stand *awkward cricket sound*), but I'm still peeved. The nib is smaller than at the Super Liner Perfect Slim, which I actually find to be not such a good thing, while the formula is definitely not as good because it's not as black and it dries up before I have the chance to do both eyes. I must shake it constantly to get the nib saturated with product and sometimes it's so dry I can't do anything. I regret not sticking to the plan, it was really stupid of me because now I have no decent liner to use.
DM, 9.99 €


ESSIE Nail Lacquer
Bahama Mama
I wanted this for ages, but only recently splurged for it. When I say splurged I mean I bought it when it was 50 % off. Man, am I happy I got this. It is exactly what I wanted - Tyrian purple, so a deep berry or the perfect mix between purple and pink-rose, which is my second favourite colour after mint green.The formula is spectacular as most Essie's meaning it's really smooth as well as easy to apply evenly and it's fully opaque with two coats.
DM, 9.90 € (regular price)
ESSIE Nail Lacquer
Watermelon
Another shade I was considering buying for at least a year and it was totally worth it. It's a warm medium pink and has an even better formula than Bahama Mama. If you have Cute as a Button shade you know what kind of formula I'm referring to. It's super pigmented, basically a one coater and you can easily get it right with one swipe of the brush due to a smooth formula. Excellent quality nail polish.
DM, 9.90 €


ESSENCE Colour & Go
167 Candy Love
Thanks to Katja from Viva La Vida for this recommendation. Candy Love is a warm, peachy nude with barely-there silver shimmer. The formula is like at classic pastel polishes, so quite a thick and streaky one, but two carefully applied coats should work just fine. I noticed that even with Seche Vite on top, it doesn't shine much. 
Müller, 1.69 €

ESSENCE Colour & Go 
175 Be Berry Now
This is Bahama Mama's lighter, rosier sister. It's a beautiful colour on the nails, even better than in the bottle. I couldn't stop looking at my nails when I wore it.
DM, 1.69 €


DEBORAH Smalto Gel Effect 
01
I saw this on Makeup and More blog and immediately fell in love with it. I actually expected it to look warmer, but it's a nude with a strong rose-violet-taupe tone and I just love it on my nails. The formula is so smooth, especially for a nude and it feels like such a nice quality  nail polish. It performs so much better than Essence's Candy Love and it's super shiny. I'm currently wearing this on my nails and it's definitely one of my favourite nail colours at the moment.
DM, 5.59 €

MAX FACTOR Glossfinity 
155 Burgundy Crush
In the bottle this looks like a slightly redder Bahama Mama, so another variation of my beloved warm purple-red colour, however, on the nails it's much more mundane and it's a classic bordeaux colour, so it's basically a deep red, but it does have that purple hue in it (again it's a nail colour that looks different on the nail wheel than on my nails). The formula is thick, in fact it reminds me of pastel nail polishes, but due to the darkness of the shade it performs less streaky than for example a mint green nail polish might. It's a one coater that's how intense the formula is. It's still a touch streaky on some nails, so I do a second coat purely because I'm used to, but I could easily leave it at just one. The brush is one of those stone age thin ones.
6.99 €



BALEA My Golden Twenties Pflegecreme mit Rosen-Lavendel Duft
Universal cream with rose-lavender scent
Since I love the 50's Forever cherry version, I got the other one as well. These are fantastic. Seriously. I use them as hand creams because they absorb so fast, yet do the job well and I even started using them on my face, since I ran out of my moisturiser and they are great. Ha, I just found a face cream for a euro. Score! This version has, as the name suggest, a rose-lavender scent, however to me it smells a bit like honey mixed with lavender, so I love it. 
DM, 1.19 €


YVES ROCHER Pear Caramel Shower Cream
Last year's Christmas collection by Yver Rocher was very fruity inspired and I was super lucky to win this in a giveaway they organised (I never win anything!). I really like this, it's actually my favourite shower product at the moment. It smells exactly like pears and I mean exactly like it. It feels like an expensive shower product and it is pleasantly creamy while it still foams very well. My only complaint is the packaging. It's just a simple bottle with a screw off lid, so the content just run out of the bottle, but it looks so pretty in the bathroom. This thing needs a pump.
Yves Rocher, 6.60 € (400 ml)


GOT2B Volumania Volumising Hairspray
I have the whole Volumania range now. I'm a fan of the mousse and the styling powder is a lovely product as well, so I took a leap of faith and I grabbed this without researching, since I had a 50% off and I couldn't find my favourite Lee Stafford one. I hate to say this, but this is the dud in the line. It's wet once applied, therefore sticky and it leaves the hair too stiff. I'll probably end up using it next year to spray the Christmas tree so it stays fresh for weeks becuase on the hair it's just to noticeable.
DM, 5.89 €


LE PETITE MARSEILLIAIS Huile Elixir Karité & Argan
I saw this pre-wash treatment in E.Leclerc and it intrigued me instantly because it's a nice combination of oils without silicones (soy oil, argan oil, shea butter oil and a couple of vitamins. Ingredients here.). My hair is super dry at the moment (central heating and using mostly drugstore masks is just bad for my hair), so I'll take anything to make my hair not dry out the second day after washing. This oil is in spray form, but the nozzle is rubbish, so it's better to spray a bit in the hand and then apply it.  I've applied this very generously overnight and it's fantastic. My hair hasn't felt this nourished since summer and it didn't dry out for several days. I must say, so far I'm impressed. I've tried using it on the ends of the hair on second and later day hair to cope with the dryness, but it's very, very greasy so even I have to apply it very moderately. The scent is kind of a nutty one, but it's not the best.
E. Leclerc, 5-6 €


LEE STAFFORD Hold Tight Hair Spray
Oh, how happy I was to see this in Celje's Műller, it's long gone in my town. I didn't hesitate to grab it and run to the register with it. This is hands down the best hair spray I've tried so far. No stickiness, wetness, stiffness, it's like nothing is in your hair and yet it holds so well. The Angel-like scent is not my favourite, but I will gladly put up with it, just so I have this in my life
Müller, 4 €. (Original price probably around 8 €. If you can't find it anywhere, since I know DM sells only shampoos and conditioners, it's on Boots International)


EBELINE Nagellack -Entferner Express
Nail Polish Remover
I bought the second one of these, though I have noticed that it dries my nails and the previous one got "dirty/coloured" way quicker than Bourjois one. It's cheap that's why I got it. The one thing that it is better than at the Bourjois one is that the foam is softer and feels better quality. 
DM,1.99 €

EBELINE Polishing Nail File
This is one of those files that is designed to polish the whole nail. I haven't polished my nails in a while, so they desperately need it and I really like how glossy they look after polishing, almost like I used a clear nail polish. I used to own the Essence version a long time ago, but Ebeline's one has only three different textures compared to four at Essence's file. 
DM, 1.59 €

Have a great day!
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