All the Vanity...

The unsung Revlon heroes...

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000

Bit late to the party, I know.

But you know how it often goes with nail polish: you see it on some blog/site, you look it up on ebay and next thing you know, you're getting an... email confirmation from Paypal. Time goes by, you forget you have it and you don't (re)discover it until months later. Or at least, that's my version of the nail polish story.

And this is exactly what happened to these Revlon nail polishes - I'm only recently showing them some proper love:

Bet you've recognised most of them, if not all! So, let's take a closer look:

Facets of Fuchsia (kind thanks to neverenoughgloss) is a purple micro and hexagonal glitter in a black base. Unfortunately, this needed a good 3 coats to show up like this - the blackened base is way too sheer (OPI Suzi Skies in the Pyrenees anyone?), so it takes a bit to built it up. Other than that, it's a beautiful eye-catching shade, for when you feel like lifting your mood with some extra glitter! :)

Copper Penny is just adorable. The shade is copper, but not too bronzey, more on the rose gold side I'd say, and is shot with silver micro shimmer. The formula is like most metallic shades: applies opaque with the first coat (but I always add another one) and has that feeling of molten metal. Personally, I really enjoy this and think that it would suit all skintones - beware though, that as a metallic nail polish, it tends to chip easily.

Finally, Carbonite, the notorious Chanel Graphite dupe (or so they say), is a gunmetal grey with the same silver micro shimmer as Copper Penny. The formula and application are identical, too - the only thing that changes here is the colour, which reminds me a lot of Chanel Epatant eyeshadow. If you're a fan of metallic nail polishes, this is definitely one to try - I know I'll be using this one a lot myself! :)

That was it for now!

Hope you're all doing well and battling the cold temperatures! And because it's easy to feel blue with the weather and everything else, I thought I'd share with you this (can't-go-any-cuter) pic from petsugar!

So, do you often forget about bought nail polish? Any Revlon favourites?
What's on your nails right now?

(Beauty) Shopping the Sales...

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:26:00 +0000

As I mentioned in my previous post, I engaged in some beauty shopping recently: I've been wanting to get my hands on a fair share of products and the sales were the perfect opportunity for me to stock up!

Curious as to what I bought? Well...

First stop was the drugstore floor. The damage here was fairly small:

I got the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Frizz Remedy to use as a regular conditioner, mainly because it's been too long since I've tried any Aussie stuff and my hair lately seems to have missed them. What's funny about Aussie is that, contrary to popular belief, it's not actually an Australian brand, but regardless of that, they make good-quality, delicious-smelling hair products. Not too happy about the full price reaching 9 euros though - thankfully, this was on sale.

I also picked up Maybelline's Salon Manicure Protecting Base as a base coat. I'll admit that I'm no base coat expert, but I'm very happy with the ones Maybelline makes and I've never considered straying from them so far.

The next stop was the high-end section:

It was about time to grab a YSL lippie, so YSL Rouge Pur Couture in #10 Beige Tribute (a basic nude shade, yet dissimilar to the ones I already own), was the obvious choice for me (I quickly decided against #24 Blond Ingenu due to its coral undertones and slight sheen).

Chanel Inimitable Mascara was a bit of an impromptu purchase, but by that time I was so defeated by hearing the news about my beloved Exceptionnel, so I was like "ok, gimme whatever".

Finally, the MAC stuffs:

Dervish Lip Pencil (one of the very popular lip liners used on YT and, well, seeing it on a Pixiwoo vid is a bit of a selling point in itself, isn't it?) and a back up of my (tried, tested and) trusted Cleanse Off Oil.

Excuse the lack of swatches this time, but I do plan on reviewing/showing the makeup products on future posts anyways!

Any of these sitting in your beauty stashes too? Have you been shopping the sales as well?

February In's & Out's and Spring 2012 Beauty Wishlist!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Hello again my lovely readers!

Apologies for the small break, but I fear that finals are getting the best of me at the moment!

And because I can hardly find the time to write a full blown review these days, I thought I'd share with you what's on my mind instead (mostly beauty related), in the classic "in's & out's" form:

February In's& Out's

In's

1. Checking out the spring releases from all the high-end beauty brands (in an effort to forget about the snow temperatures outside). I'm mostly excited about YSL this season (I mean look at that gorgeous visual with Ginta Lapina) and Lancome, seeing as they're coming out with their new "Rouge in Love" lipstick range - very eager to try these and hope that they don't fall short where the "L' Absolu Nu" ones did in my book.

2. Taking advantage of the sales and hauling some long coveted beauty products. Expect a small beauty haul post soon! ;)

3. Large planners. Forget about those teenie tiny ones that fit the whole week in 2 pages. I'm talking about one page per day here: that gives you enough space to jot down your to-do lists, your notes and anything else you might want to put in writing!

Out's

1. L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. It seems to me that every country got a different set of colours. Which doesn't even match said country's online selection (I counted 17 shades in store, while only 8 are listed on the Greek website)! Sort it out L'oreal!

2. Chanel discontinuing the Exceptionnel mascara in the black shade, aka one of the best mascaras out there (2 coats and you had some serious lashes). Before I could buy any back-ups *insert sob*.

3. Chanel, again, not providing adequate stock for the Illusion D' Ombre eyeshadows. I'm in a freaking waiting list (yeah, you read that right) for Illusoire since October. And with their prices, I shouldn't be. Generally speaking, Chanel is nothing but disappointing for me at the moment.

Despite those few disappointments, however, I did manage to gather some beauty items that I can't wait to try this season (not all are spring releases, but they're quite fitting in my opinion):

We have an OPI nail polish via Nicki Minaj, a few Bobbi Brown products from the gorgeous "Nudes and Neons" collection (which had me ogling their website forever, and yes, I'm thinking that this orange lipgloss will be the one of the two that I'm allowing myself for 2012) and a YSL nail polish duo.

And that's all that's buzzing inside my head for now!

Do let me know what you're most looking forward to this season in terms of makeup in the comment section below! Do you have your wishlists ready?

Chanel Lumière Sculptée Highlighting Powder Review!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000

The next few weeks are going to be a little tough here: finals are coming up very soon and there's no excuse for any second waisted. But, because, I don't want to neglect the blog altogether (not to mention I need to keep my sanity somehow), I've thought that a few more shorter posts would be the best way to go!

So, this will be a review of the Lumière Sculptée De Chanel Highlighting Powder, a beautiful item, that caught my attention well prior to its release.

I mean, look at that gorgeous sculpted detailing (apparently inspired by a belt buckle worn by Coco Chanel), isn't that a little work of art by itself?

The actual powder is a very pale ivory (almost white) highlighter, that adds a unique luminosity thanks to its gorgeous iridescence (infused in the actual product, the silver sheen you see here is just an overlay). Chanel describes the iridescence as "golden and pearly", on my skin however, it leaned more towards a pale pink, definitely more on the cool-toned end.

The texture puzzled me for a bit: swatched on my hand it seems a little chalky and not as finely-milled as one would hope from Chanel, but upon application I can't detect that at all. In fact, it adds the most wonderful definition on the cheeks, I wouldn't describe it as a glow, but more as if I had an actual halo light above my face, highlighting my features with every move.

And before you ask me the expected question, "How does it compare to Dior Amber Diamond?", take a look at the pic below (Amber Diamond on the left):

As you can see, they're very different from one another. Amber Diamond is known for its fine texture, warmth and subtle golden sheen, traits that make it an excellent highlighter for every skin tone (and almost any cheek combination); Lumière Sculptée on the other hand is a lot whiter, certainly more obvious and the effect it gives is that of a white silken fabric's reflection - and I'm not exaggerating people, that's the effect I'm seeing!

That said, I do have a feeling that it wouldn't be the best match for those of you with darker skintones - it might look a little too obvious (so perhaps Amber Diamond would suit you better). Personally, I'm extremely glad that I decided to go for it, it's super flattering on my skin, very different from any other highlighter I own and in the end, worth the (hefty) amount I paid for it (taking the sculpted design into account and all that).

Have you tried any of these two highlighters? What highlighters are you currently using and what's on your wishlist? :)

Bodycare: A Moisturiser Crash-Test!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

It's pretty cold here at the moment and it's about to get even colder; apparently there's another... coldwave coming up this week, meaning that my dry skin will probably get a little more temperamental than usual.

Thankfully, my cabinet is fully stocked with a variety of moisturisers ready to tackle the task at hand, so, if you're at all bodycare-curious, you might find this somewhat interesting!

Now, let's take a closer look at my little selection and see how each performs:

1. Korres Coconut Milk body milk: An amazing product, equally as good as their more popular body butters, if not better. This body milk has a lovely lightweight formula, and gets absorbed within a few minutes, without leaving any sticky or greasy residue on the skin. This makes it ideal if you're in a hurry and want to get dressed straight away! I find it also pleasantly cooling in the summer months - my skin welcomes it after having roasted in the sun for a while. Scent-wise, I wouldn't say this is particularly coconut-y or exotic, it's more of a milk&honey type of scent in my opinion. Extra points for the ingredients: 92% natural, including almond oil, active aloe, provitamin B5 and shea butter, and excluding mineral oils, silicones, parabens and all the other similar gross stuffs.

2. Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Repairing body lotion with Shea Butter: Given my skin's needs, my choice from Garnier's 7 Days body lotion range was this one with shea butter, aimed towards extra-dry skin. Now, I'm not sure if picking another one would have made a difference, this one, however, is a little bit tacky and it takes a while to sink in. It is fairly moisturising, but it still leaves me with the impression that it does not nourish and feed my skin enough if that makes sense. The scent is also pretty generic. All that said, the low price makes it a great product for frequent reapplication, or when you're on a budget.

3. The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter: I'm sure you're all familiar with the TBS body butters, so I'll keep it simple. They do a nice job in moisturising the skin, particularly in the winter months or for the drier skintypes. The scent range is what they do best, each one smells yummier than the other, and the coconut one is delicious and highly addictive! I do have a bone to pick with them, though: the formula is way too thick, even for a body butter. It takes ages to get absorbed and the tackiness never quite goes away. Realistically speaking, the product itself could have been better and I feel that if they suddenly made their body butters unscented, noone would really purchase them for the formula alone.

4. Sephora Super Supreme Body Butter: Lastly, a product that I never expected to purchase, but fell in love with ever since I did. First of all, mark the amount: 470ml of product, twice as much as the rest, and if you're lucky to get it with a discount (I think I got it around 12-13 euros), you'll be buying one of the most affordable products of the market per ml. And one of the best might I add: this is a very moisturising product, that feels light (lighter than any body butter I've tried) and spreads easily. No waxy texture like TBS here; this feels just like any regular thick cream. Gorgeous scent too: think fresh-floral, but not too strong. Contains shea, mango and illipe butter, as well as coconut oil and is formulated without parabens and sulfates. Pretty blown away by Sephora once again, more brands should take note!

To sum it up: Sephora is the best, as well as the best value for money, Korres is the lightest, The Body Shop is great for scent junkies and Garnier makes for a nice bargain buy.
Ones I'm gonna repurchase: Korres and Sephora, far more superior than the other two!

So, do spill: which is the best body moisturiser you've ever purchased? Do you feel that the scent alone can sell you a product?

How to look like a Victoria's Secret Angel!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:54:00 +0000

(Note: go to the first video, pause it, then scroll back up here - or the autoplay will drive you insane!)

The title says it all.

Now, before some of you start to think "yeah, right, like there's any other trick apart from having those gorgeous model genes", let me assure you that that isn't the case: even the prettiest of them get a little help from a team of experts (with a few aces up their sleeves) in order to achieve that elusive siren look the rest of us are left to admire (naturally the genes are a given, but let's not focus on that too much now, shall we?)!

The VS Angels' look is almost always a variation of the same theme: glowing, sexy, natural and youthful makeup, that accentuates the girls' beautiful features. So, after watching many a VS fashion show, I thought I'd put together a small list of the key aspects of that look:

Tips & Tricks on looking like a VS Angel

1. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. All of the girls have lovely skin and I think that skin is one of the criteria defining whether a girl makes the cut or not; think about it: it would be impossible to make a dry and dull skin achieve that "lit-from-within" glow, regardless of the products used! So, remember to drink plenty of water, exfoliate often and moisturise your skin daily.

2. Get a tan. All of the VS Angels sport a good few layers of a golden tan. Now, as we're not models posing for some calendar in Mauritius or wherever 90% of our time, a bottle- or a spray-tan is the next best thing to get that radiant "Californian beach babe" glow, that the Angels are known for.

3. Keep it neutral. I've yet to see a VS model with a dark vampy lip or a vibrant purple eyeshadow. The colour palette is neutral and the focus of the look is the eyes and the healthy looking complexion.

- Face: Bronzer and highlighter are obviously essential, and more important than blush. And as we're speaking of blush, I've noticed that in all of the VS looks lately (runway and ads) the blush is always a light pink toned one - unlike the peachy corals one would expect.

- Eyes: A bronzed look or a subtle smokey eye is usually what the Angels have on. I believe that any girl that owns a couple of basic neutral eyeshadows and an eye kohl can easily duplicate their look; don't forget to curl your lashes and add plenty layers of mascara!

- Lips: Never the focus, they're always toned down, but with a bit of definition. No nude lips here, think a "my-lips-but-better-shade" with a light pink lipgloss on top.

4. Body Glow. The girls use many products to help them get that airbrushed look (including body makeup); all you'll need is a shimmering body lotion (or any product to that effect) to do the trick!

5. Don't forget the hair. Hair masks and oils are essential to make your coif look silky-shiny. A few subtle highlights would also dupe some sun-kissed locks, depending on your initial hair colour. As for the actual styling, use any volumising product that works well with your hair, before you pull out the big guns (aka rollers and curling irons).

6. Lastly... EXERCISE!!! I mean, come on, you didn't think you could fake Adriana's abs with some bronzer, now did you? The closer I "study" the Angels, the more I find that they all must be closeted workout junkies (I was surprised to find out that Adriana boxes and that Doutzen was a speed skater). For the laziest of us, I've added this short 10 min full body workout video from Heidi Klum's instructor (from popsugar.com), in an effort to motivate you all (as well as myself)! It's just 10 minutes girls!

I'll leave you with a little peek into this year's actual runway look - enjoy!

So, did this post come in handy for you? Share your thoughts below, as well as any other tips you might have!
Let me know if you'd like to see similar celeb-inspired posts in the future!

My Winter Nails: MAC Ice Parade Mini Nail Lacquer Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:37:00 +0000

A belated New Year's present to me, that I only recently received (thanks to the otherwordly delays in the domestic post this past holiday season), was something I've been eyeing for quite some time now: the Dazzlespheres Mini Nail Lacquer Kit from this year's Ice Parade/Holiday 2011 collection.

Now, in theory (and in reality), I have enough nail polish to last me well over a decade, but this little selection of shades made my pupils dilate each time I came across them; so, naturally, I needed them in my life! The shades are (as shown from l to r): Style Tip, Much Adored, Dark Angel and Mistletoe.

Let's take a closer look:

Style Tip is one of those cream "mannequin nails" shades, a soft, muted beige-pink shade. Those particular shades are the hardest to suit my skintone, since I find they often look "dirty" on my nails - this, however works lovely! Style Tip required 2 to 3 coats to achieve an opaque finish (depending on thickness and steadiness of your hands during the application).

Much Adored is a beautiful shimmery milky white, shot with the prettiest golden pink shimmer! If you know me by now, you've probably figured out that I don't usually go for "girly" or "princessy" shades, when it comes to my makeup, but this is exactly how I'd describe it and I don't mind it all; I love the "polished" effect it gives (swatch is taken after 2 coats)!

Dark Angel is a deep, dark violet shade, in a cream finish, despite it being labeled as a frost (god knows why). Beautiful dark shade, but the formula wasn't the best: this one definitely needed 3 coats to achieve that bottle opacity.

Finally, there's Mistletoe, what sold me to this set in the first place: a rich, uber metallic greenish gold. I adore this one! I knew all along that Chanel Peridot wouldn't work for me (I found the greenish iridiscence a little too much for my skintone), so this was the next best thing. One coat would have sufficed, but I added a second one. As I'm typing this, I can't help but smile looking at my statement metallic nails! :)

By the way, this set marks my first experience with MAC nail polish; my thoughts on it: so far, so good. I wasn't 100% wowed by all the shades, but then again I rarely ever am by any nail polish brand. To be honest, the application was probably better than I expected, given the frequent backlash that MAC gets when it comes to their nail polishes.

One thing I would have preferred though is for the bottles to have been a little bigger: each "mini" is about 2.66 ml, which is too little to be considered a "mini" in my book - "teenie tiny" is more like it. Buuut, I do love these shades and they're the only ones I can imagine wearing this season, they really lift my spirits in this super cold (maximum today is -1, yeehaw) and stressed (upcoming exams) time of the year!

Now, I know this is a totally unfair post to you all, since it was a LE/sold out item and all that jazz, but I thought it was worth a mention. I promise the next one will be something more...contemporary!

So, what are you wearing on your nails this time of the year? Do you pick your nail polish depending on the weather?

And the winners are...

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:10:00 +0000

Time to announce the three lucky winners of my Sudocrem giveaway!!!

And the winners, according to random.org are...

Rafaella, Blushingloves Irene Greece and YulyaShenka!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

You will all be contacted until tomorrow night for shipping details (unless you beat me to it at allthevanityblog@yahoo.com).

The rest of you, don't worry, there's always a chance next time (and there will be a next time soon)! ;)

Blog Sale Alert!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Seeing as I've got a few things that I'm rarely touching these days, I thought it was about time to part with them & give someone else the chance to show them some love!

If you're interested, click on the link below:
Blog Sale

Good luck! :)

Chanel, Fake Lashes and some New Year's presents!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:24:00 +0000

This New Year's Eve was one of the most relaxing ones I've had in the past few years; definitely not as exciting or adventurous as previous ones, but surely equally, if not even more important, since I got the chance to spend it with my family.

But, not going out certainly doesn't mean that we can look unpolished, right? It is NYE after all and the way it finds you sticks with you for the whole year (or so they say)! So, I thought I should put a bit of an effort:

Starting off with the eyes, I kinda went all out and added even more drama to the sparkling look, with some fake lashes (scary eye closeup to follow):

The eyeshadow I used was Chanel Epatant, one of my most prized makeup possessions.
Epatant is a beautiful shimmery silver khaki with flecks of silver and micro rainbow glitter and, as the rest of the Illusion D' Ombre eyeshadows comes in a spongey whipped texture, that doesn't crease or budge (nor should it at its pricepoint).

I didn't want to spoil the look by adding a crease shade or darkening it with a smokey eye, so I just opted for some eyeliner and some fake lashes.

The ones I used where the A166 by the Korean brand ES. These were definitely more dramatic than what I've previously tried, but I really enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone.

The A166's are ideal for adding volume and major length to your lashes, and they still don't look extremely over the top (call me #towie). This time the band was black and thicker instead of the clear one I'm used to from ES lashes, but still bendable and easy to work with. The look is quite natural too, despite the drama (you know how I hate glossy, black, plastic looking lashes).

On my nails, I applied 3 coats of Chanel Quartz, a light metallic taupe shade, shot with the tiniest multicoloured glitter. The colour itself is lovely and elegant, but it really required 3 coats to show properly in all its glory. Nevertheless, it was worth it, and it's still going strong as I'm typing this, 4 days later.

That was it for the makeup portion of the post.
Next up are some of the presents I got for New Year's (here in Greece, we exchange presents on New Year's day, but our family tradition is to open them right after we ring in the new year):

A faux fur vest (that I'd been wanting for a while now) by More&More, and a wonderful piece of fine jewellery: a dainty sun-shaped pendant necklace. I'm gonna try and wear the vest soon and hopefully make an OOTD of it too! ;)

I didn't receive as many presents as I had in the past few years (austerity and all) and certainly nothing like the extravagant christmas haul videos on YT, but I'm honestly happier than I ever was, because this time they were more thoughtful and personal.

Kudos if you made it this far!

So, what makeup did you have on on NYE? Any presents you were extremely happy to receive this holiday season?

Disclaimer: the ES A166 lashes were sent to me for consideration of review. My thoughts and opinions on them are an honest reflection of my experience.

New Year, New Beauty Goals!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:57:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope that 2012 found you healthy and happy and that it will fill your lives with joy, creativity, strength and prosperity each and every day of it!

Since this is my first post of the year, I thought I'd share with you my beauty goals for 2012, my resolutions if you will.

So, for this year, I want to:

1. Continue project Glossout in 2012.
Yes, I'm still going strong on Glossout 2011 (having not bought any new ones and using up what I've got - post to come in the future), but since I still have a lot of lipgloss to go through, I think it's only sensible to keep going. I will allow myself, however, to purchase two new shades this year, if I think they're special enough; after all, a 2yr ban can be a bit tiring and restraining.

2. Stop buying dupes.
A pretty self-explanatory resolution. There's no need for yet another peachy pink blush or a dark brown eyeshadow, especially since I'm not making any dents to those I already own. For 2012 I plan to check with my collection first, before I pledge to buy anything new.

3. Get rid of all the unflattering shades.
Saint Germain lipstick, I'm looking at you! In the past few years, I bought a fair number of products simply because they were the "it" colours that everyone was wearing and talking about. Nevermind if they made me look like a corpse or an oompah loompah. So, in 2012, I want to give away (or even host a blog sale if you were interested) all of those items that realistically don't suit my colours. Instead, I want to:

4. Find out exactly what works for me.
Because so far I only know that cooler tones work better on me and that's as far as it goes. I'd like to experiment more with colour and finally nail the combinations that enhance my features. Hopefully by this time next year I'll be able to report more than "I look good with a pink blush and an ashy brown smokey eye".

5. Shop Greek.
Korres, Apivita, Mastic Spa, Fresh Line, Seventeen and Erre Due, to name a few, are all Greek based beauty and makeup brands that make wonderful products. It's a real shame that, despite being a Greek beauty blogger, I haven't explored these in depth, so in the new year I want to become more knowledgeable of them, while supporting our local economy.

6. Get more technical.
Last year I wanted to master the application of fake lashes, and, to an extent, I achieved it. For 2012 I want to get even more technical when it comes to makeup, ie layer different formulas, find out which brush works best with what product, learn more eyeshadow application techniques etc. You got the idea. No, I'm not saying I want to become a makeup artist, but since my makeup collection is...collecting dust at the moment (pun intended), I might as well put it to good use!

And there you have my 2012 beauty resolutions! Pretty ambitious, but I'd rather aim high than low!

What are your beauty resolutions for 2012? What do you want to change or improve?

Glitter Topcoats for NYE!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:42:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but it's almost New Year's Eve (where did 2011 go?) and all I can think about beauty-wise is glitter. Lots and lots of glitter!

Glitter for the eyes (still undecided if I'm going for Sephora or Chanel eyeshadows tomorrow night) and glitter for the nails, naturally. And because a little glitter top coat inspiration might come in handy before we ring in 2012, I thought I'd share with you my small contribution to the matter:

From left to right, we have:
1. Shu Uemura Glitter, the most "Gaga" of the bunch, thanks to its mega- and micro- holographic glitter particles,
2. OPI Glitter Bit of Music, a subtle gold microglitter top coat,
3. Nubar 2010, which despite its name is so not last years' news and adds a gorgeous multidimensional layer of red, gold and green iridescent flakes to your nails (dupes include Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure and the more recent Essie Shine of the Times), and
4. Maybelline Flash Cosmic, a blue/teal iridescent duochrome flakie in a clear base (kind thanks to LionLovingTiger for this one).

The swatches are in the same order:

Sadly, I could not get these to photograph as crisp and true-to-life as I'd like (perhaps I should add "get yourself a DSLR" to my resolutions for the new year), but hopefully you got a rough idea. I'd strongly recommend anyone interested in the two flakie ones to look for a few more images of them online.
PS: The base I used is Essie Material Girl, probably not the most fortunate of choices.

So, did I whet your appetite for some glittery nails for tomorrow night? :)

What manicure will you be sporting on New Year's Eve?

A staple repackaged: Sudocrem review & Giveaway (closed)!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:37:00 +0000

I have a confession to make: I ate too much too turkey this Christmas. And some fatty ribs a couple of nights before that. And plenty of chocolate. Needless to say, my face has looked better; I'm now left to battle a couple of small breakouts on my chin and forehead.

And this is where a...nappy rash cream comes in!

Now, I'm sure that most of you are no strangers to using Sudocrem as an acne/breakout treatment. There are plenty of ways to use it, however my preferred method includes slathering the white paste on my breakouts, as well as my inflamed areas and leave it overnight. The next morning, I wash it off to reveal a calmer face, with pimples that are disctinctly dried down. Please take note that this style of application can be on the drying side, so I wouldn't advise it as a daily routine treatment.

Sudocrem however wasn't all that praised for its packaging up until a few months ago. The old jar container wasn't ideal to travel with, not to mention that dipping your fingers in the product could be quite unhygienic. That was until they repackaged it: the new 30g tubes are much safer to carry around and travel with.

The formula, as far as I can tell, is the same: I didn't notice any difference upon comparison and the classic lavender scent is the same. The only thing I could pick up from an ingredients' list comparison, was the absence of sodium benzoate (used as a preservative) in the new packaging.

And now to the exciting part:

With the help of Sudocrem, I'm hosting a little giveaway for 3 of these new tubes. Please pay close attention to the rules below:

For an eligible entry, you need to:

1. Be a follower or a subscriber of my blog, or a fan of my facebook page.

2. You need to state in the comment section which platform you're using to follow my blog (GFC, bloglovin, feedburner, facebook) and also if you have different usernames on those platforms.

3. You need to include your contact info in case you win.

Comment entries that fail to include any of those will be deleted upon moderation. The giveaway will be open worldwide until January, 6th, 12pm Eastern European Time and the winners will be chosen via random.org.

Good luck to all! :)

If you're familiar with Sudocrem, what's your application style like? How often do you use it?

A few recent favourites!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas with plenty of food and wonderful presents! :)

It's been a while since I've done one of these "favourites" posts, so I figured it was about time to show you a few recent regulars of my daily beauty routine:

Let's take a closer look:

1. Sephora by OPI - Metro Chic. The most popular muddy taupe shade (and the one that started the trend), Metro Chic has been my nail polish of choice for the past few months. I'm nore than halfway through it and it's still a nice one to work with: it hasn't gone too gloopy and it delivers an opaque finish after 2 coats.

2. Physicians Formula "Baked Sands" Trio. This was a tough one to hunt down online, and with good reason, since it's a very flattering neutral palette. As you can see from the swatches below, the colours are nicely pigmented and ideal for fall. I can see this working for a large variety of skintones, from the very fair to the darker medium ones. Great value for money too (as it seems to be the case with many PF products).

3. Peggy Sage lipgloss - "Shiny Praline". Another fall colour choice of mine (can you see the autumnal leaves palette I was trying to recreate?), Shiny Praline is a chocolate rose shade with a creme finish. Being not too familiar with this brand (thank you Blushingloves), I'm happy to share that their lipglosses aren't sticky at all. I would have preferred it though if the formula was a bit thicker and not as watery.

4. Luminess Air "Boost-it!" complexion enhancer. I came across this product completely by accident: it was an extra thrown in in a MUA swap. Despite having not heard of its existence before, the description intrigued me: "a complexion enhancer that instantly tightens and brightens the appearance of skin". And it does exactly that: I apply it prior to my foundation (as recommended - I found that mixing it with the foundation doesn't deliver quite the same results) and it gives a lovely subtle glow to my complexion. This was extremely hard to photograph and I'm afraid that the swatch gives the wrongful impression of a more frosted finish. I've been looking for a liquid illuminator for a while now and this one definitely covers my needs. If you're familiar with this product pls drop me a comment below, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

5. The Body Shop Coconut Oil Hair Shine. The last product is a bit of a paradox: a favourite, that isn't really a favourite. I feel that this product is largely overhyped: I still fail to see if it nourishes my hair in the slightest bit. It is winter however, and my Hei Poa oils have gone solid, which means that warming them up to make them usable requires an effort - not happening when you're in a hurry. So, this has been the next best choice when you just need a little something to keep your hair in check after a blow-out. It's a nice alternative to those silicone drops (the extended use of which actually dries your hair out even more), but by no means expect any miraculous results from it.

So, those were the products lurking inside my makeup bag recently.

Any ones you've tried yourselves? What are you currently using on a daily basis?
(PS: Stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway! ;) )

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser Review!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:33:00 +0000

As promised a few posts back, this one will be a review of a cleanser by Kiehl's, namely from their "Ultra Facial Oil-Free" range.

I've been meaning to post this a lot sooner, but, in this case, being behind actually proved to be beneficial: I was able to test how this cleanser performed in pretty much every weather condition you can think of.

My verdict: score!!! Allow me to justify:

The first time I used this was a few months back, in fact it was right after a summer heatwave. I must say, I wasn't wowed by it - my skin was just starting to recover from the dry mess that my previous cleanser had created (horrendous L'oreal Perfect Clean) and the heat wasn't helping either. The first few uses left me with the impression that it was too drying for my skin - so I put it aside for a few weeks, in fear of further exacerbating my dryness.

When I came back to it to give it a proper trial, I noticed that even a very small amount of its mousse-like formula would create a lather capable of removing the leftover makeup & dirt. This quantity, below, would in fact be considered too much:

Cutting back on the amount of product I squeezed out of the tube is how I made this cleanser work for me. I didn't feel my skin overly dry and haven't noticed any flakiness over the past few months, which to me is fairly new. In fact, I've cleansed my face with it a little over an hour ago before I sat down to write this and despite not using a moisturiser on my skin since, it doesn't feel tight at all.

Mind you, my skintype is dry for the most part anyways, and it is winter after all. If this works for me, then I'm sure that it would definitely be a bigger hit with those with normal or oilier skintypes. A few more pros: it's sulfate/paraben/silicone/oil- and fragrance-free. Which means: hello new staple cleanser for me!

Disclaimer: this product was sent to me for consideration of review. My thoughts and opinions on it are an honest reflection of my experience. I'd happily have paid for this item, and in fact plan do to so, once I run out.

So, what's your favourite facial cleanser?
Have you found the one to suit your skin's needs? Do you only use one all year long?

So who won the TBS Sweet Lemon Body Butter and the Korres eyeshadow...?

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:44:00 +0000

No excuses or apologies for my recent long hiatus from blogger; this time there were real reasons behind it, like, the important stuff.

Needless to say that reading and talking about beauty products got automatically moved to the bottom of my priorities' list... and things aren't stellar at the moment either, but at least I've thankfully passed the point of constant shaking.

I won't go into further detail, as it's really not my own personal detail to openly share. However, I really need to thank some close friends on Twitter for their support: Suka And Spice, Arietta, CBSG5861, Tali, Blushingloves, and Never_e_gloss, as well as those who put a smile on my face by remembering me in their #followfriday's. Thank you guys, you helped calm me down more than you know.

So, on to the exciting stuff!!!!

The winner of my giveaway is....

...peggyilia!!!

Congratulations girl! The Sweet Lemon Body Butter and a Korres eyeshadow of your choice will be shipped to you just as soon as we sort the details! :)

To those of you that didn't win, don't worry, there will be at least one more giveaway on here before Christmas, so keep your eyes peeled! ;)

Take care everyone until I pop up with some beauty chatter next time!

Giveaways, news and my holiday wishlist! (Closed)

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:24:00 +0000

The title says it all: there's a little bit of everything thrown in this post - hopefully though all of it will speak to your inner beauty junkie, so I might as well get to it!

The exciting things first: the giveaway(s)!!!

This time it's a small one, in celebration of my birthday (that was already a couple of weeks ago, so no wishes neccessary - I've just been very behind with posts):

The winner will receive:

- a full sized Sweet Lemon Body Butter from The Body Shop, and

- a Korres eyeshadow of their own choice.

The rules are simple:

1. You must be a non anonymous/non private follower of my blog on GFC,

2. You must state in your comment below that you'd like to be entered, and

3. You must include your email, so that I can contact you if you win.

Simple as that!

I'll ship worldwide and the winner will be selected via random.org after the giveaway closes on Saturday, the 5th of November, 23:59 pm, GMT. Good luck to everyone!!!

Now, on my last giveaway, I didn't ask for your contact info, which is why the lovely necklace remained unclaimed: Sabrielle never contacted me to receive it, but seeing as it's been quite a long time now, I feel I should pick another winner!

The new winner is....

.....Endre!!!! Congratulations girl!!! :)

I'll contact you myself this time too, hope I hear back from you in the next week (if not, I'm afraid I'll have to pick someone else again)!

Ok, on to the news section of the post: have you guys checked out the new Autumn 2011 edition of Makeup4All Online Beauty Magazine?

If not, then I suggest you click HERE and do so straight away!!! Marina from Makeup4All has outdone herself again and this issue is everything you expect and more: you'll find interviews from renowned professionals of the beauty industry, you'll get the chance to learn more about what's on the minds of your favourite beauty bloggers (...I'm in there somewhere too, if anyone would care to read), and, of course, you'll learn all about the new collections and products for the season!!!

If anything, it will inspire you to compile your Holiday wishlists at the very least!

Mine is ready, although I'm afraid it's quite a ... greedy one:

A MAC brush set, TBS and Hourglass palettes, a Dior nail polish, some (drool worthy) Chanel goodies... a girl can dream right? :)

So, what's on your minds beauty wise? Do you have your holiday wishlists ready (I know many fellow bloggers have)?

Don't forget about the giveaway! :D

Kiehl's "Save the Donkeys" event!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:11:00 +0000

Guess who lost their blogging mojo lately... yep, that would be me - but I can assure you ladies that this blogger is back in full swing, and attending events while she's at it!!!

So, last night Kiehl's put together a lovely event at Hondos Center in Glifada, launching their new "Save the Donkeys" campaign! Kiehl's is a brand, that's quite well known for their humanitarian and eco-friendly initiatives in the countries that they are active in and this event was a prime example. Along with ΕΣΠΙ (Hellenic Society for Equine Welfare), they are raising awareness of the abuse that these lovely creatures are often subject to in our country.

A beauty brand for a good cause? No reason not to attend, right?

Especially when I learned that two lovely fellow bloggers, Evi from CBSG5861 and Arietta from Stripes and Scarlets were also going to attend! :)

The event was really fun, the girls and I strolled around, joked about the event model, Mr. Skeleton (who's wearing a t-shirt designed by Orsalia Parthenis for the event - Deux Hommes also contributed their designs) and... hit the buffet, where there were tasty carrot-based "Donkita" cocktails and carrot cupcakes to be had!

From a beauty bloggers' point of view... omg, it wasn't far from heaven: we learned about a ton of products, had the chance to try them on and even left with a couple of custom-chosen samples; all thanks to Giota, who was more than willing to help us out and answer all of our questions!!! I can now say that I left even more intrigued by this brand, seeing what goes into their products and familiarising myself with their philosophy.

Me and Evi in front of what should be our...natural habitat!

Me, Arietta and Evi.

Before I close this, let me mention a couple of words about the cause. Donkeys and small horses have long taken part in our agricultural history as patient animals, more than helpful in everyday life. Nowadays, their population has drastically decreased, and often the remaining animals are destined to be killed for their meat or abused in a number of tourist attractions. It's important to put a stop to this abuse and care for their living conditions. If you'd like to learn about ways you can help, you can visit EΣΠΙ's site: www.greekhorseprotection.gr.

All in all, we had a wonderful time!!! For more pics and celebrity sightings, as well as our...OOTD's, you can check out Patricia's blog, Fashion &Art, as well as Evi's and Arietta's posts!!!

***A huge thank you to Arietta for kindly sharing her pics with us, I really appreciate that doll!

See you all soon!

Jewellery shopping: the usual boho...and a touch of glam!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Admit it! You too are guilty of the spontaneous accessory shopping spree, right? And why wouldn't you be, especially when that's in the form of affordable jewellery!

Well, as you can see, I should be found guilty on multiple occassions. But I can't help it. In the words of Miranda, cynic extraordinaire: "I love it. It's my thing. Let it go".

And what have I been shopping? Well, knowing me, there had to be some of the usual boho oriented bits&bobs:

Accessorize multicoloured bracelet. I found this one on sale and it was the closest I came this summer to the bright (call me neon) bracelet trend. Works well as an accent on simpler looks!
House of Harlow 1960 14ct yellow gold plated thin bangle. My very first HoH piece (and most certainly not the last)! It's wonderful on its own or paired with other bracelets! I'll surely get a lot of wear out of this!
Angel wing necklace with faceted glass stone. Simple and cute, purchased on etsy (seller's name is bluevelvetdesigns).
Decenarios rosary bracelets. I got these on ebay, for dirt-cheap. These rosary bracelets have been quite a big trend over the past year and are used as good luck charms. Naturally, as a closeted superstitious person, I had to indulge!

But this time around, I decided to make a couple of more glamorous and elegant purchases too:

Beaded bracelets from a local accessories shop. Their light reflecting properties is what caught my attention! I love that they look a lot more expensive than they are (2 euros each! Shhhhh!) - hey, maybe Accessorize can take a few notes as far as pricing goes!
However overpriced Accessorize is though, I do like their sterling silver line and that's where this crystal encrusted ring is from (big yay for rings that don't turn your fingers blue)!
Lastly, 3 little pairs of simple crystal stud earrings. I'll be getting another pair of earlobe piercings soon, and I wanted the 3 different sized studs. Again, from a local accessories shop (these are sterling silver too).

Bottom line: there's always cute and affordable options around!

So, have you been doing any jewellery shopping lately?

What is on your wishlists?

Skincare Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:06:00 +0000

So, autumn is officially here, and what better excuse than a new season to turn the focus to skincare, right? :)

Now, I'm sure that I'm not alone in this: I bet many of you are exploring your options and making adjustments to your skincare routines in an effort to prep your skin for the colder months! Well, if that's the case, we can do so together - the upcoming 2-3 weeks on here will be mostly skincare based, so if you're a skincare junkie, tune in for my reviews and ramblings!

Yes, from what you can tell, things have become a little more complicated since my last skincare post, partly due to my curiosity for new products and partly due to some neccessary changes that had to be made.

But, before I get on with the breakdown, let me just remind you that my skintype is combination meets acne prone meets slightly sensitive and that this is what works for me for the time being.

Like last time, I'll start off with cleansing:

- I still rely on MAC Cleanse Off Oil to remove my makeup for the day. It works wonders and removes the slap without a lot of effort. It's truly an amazing product that I rarely go without (I part with it only when I'm traveling, in which case makeup remover wipes take its place).

- I also still use the Garnier Essentials Eye Makeup Remover for my eyes, but I feel it's not cutting for me no more: I do appreciate that it's gentle to my eyes and that it doesn't leave an oily film afterwards, but I wish it did a better job at actually removing those persistent mascara layers! I'll definitely be looking into other eye makeup removers from now on!

- After most of the makeup has been removed, I'll complete the cleansing phase with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Cleanser. This is fairly new to my routine and an extremely pleasant surprise! It really removes the remaining impurities and oiliness, without being too harsh or too drying! Expect a review soon, as it deserves an entry of its own!

- Whenever I feel that my skin needs an extra polish and while being inbetween scrubbing sessions, I'll use this Clinique face brush combined with my cleanser and dare I say, I think it works just as well, if not better! Probably something to do with the fact that it stimulates my skin, on top of gently removing the dead cells! I found this as a part of an old GWP bag that my mum had completely forgotten and decided to put it to good use.

As for my daytime routine, it's quite simple:

- I prep my skin with the Lancaster 365 Cellular Elixir serum first. I only use 3 small pumps for my whole face, since it's very liquidy. I know I was initially let down by it, but that's because I was probably using it for the wrong reasons: while it doesn't really remove any fine lines (and if it does, it's only minimal and takes numerous weeks to do so), it helps quite a lot with blemishes and uneveness (in conjuction to the Effaclar Duo I use at nighttime). I mostly use this as an extra protective layer against the daily damage from the atmosphere.

- My moisturiser follows: the Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer. Extremely happy with this one! I know it's not my trusted YSL Hydra Feel, but it's pretty darn close - minus the plumping abilities. It still moisturises effectively for a long period of time, it absorbs quickly and it doesn't interfere with foundation application. In fact, it's probably superior to the YSL one, in that it's over double the amount for half the money!!!

- Sunscreen always follows these 2 steps, but that goes without saying, right? ;)

For nighttime, things haven't changed that much:

- The Effaclar Duo Anti Imperfection treatment is a staple. I apply it on current breakouts or fading ones, depending on my needs. I need to say though, that it's the combination of this product with the Lancaster serum that I find tackles the breakouts quickly and effectively. On its own, I wasn't all that wowed!

- Then, I use the Korres Quercetin & Oak Night Cream. I love this product and it actually delivers its anti-wrinkling claims. I don't use it every single night though, for fear of it being too heavy on my skin. It's more of an every 2 nights thing, or whenever I feel I need sth more than my Malin+Goetz moisturiser.

- As for the eyes, I'm about to finish the Garnier Eye Roll On. The only thing I'm convinced it does, is battle the puffiness and that alone. However, I need sth for my dark circles too and this is definitely not it! Yet another aspect of my skincare that needs looking into!

As far as weekly treatments go, such as masks, scrubs etc, I'll explore them on a future post. I wanted to focus on the core of my skincare on this one. As you can see, I've made a few changes since a few months ago, and while it seems more complicated, I feel it's more of a well-rounded routine right now, something not so easy for someone like me that has to deal with acne issues, as well as protective and anti-ageing aspects!

But if I've understood a couple of things so far, it's that you have to:

a. look for products that you can layer on top of each other (allowing each layer to absorb in order to get the most of its ingredients each time of course), and

b. adjust quickly to your skin's needs: you don't have to follow the same exact routine every day and every night. Maybe you need to skip a step if you're too oily or add a step if you're too dry or you're breaking out more! Don't be afraid to mix things up!

So, how do you figure out your skincare routine?

What products do you use for your specific needs?

Also, do you have any requests for future skincare posts?

And the winner is...

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:29:00 +0000

Apologies for the late announcement guys, but things are truly insane around here these days! Although I'll stop with that right now, since I'm sure that's not what you came here to read...

...so, without further ado, the lucky winner of the "Jewels by Peggy" necklace is...

Sabrielle!!!

Congratulations dear!!! Please drop me an email with your info, so I can send it to you as soon as possible!!!

And for the rest of you guys, who didn't win this time around, don't worry: there's a few giveaways coming up soon, so, who knows, you might have better luck next time! ;)

OOTD and Jewels by Peggy Necklace Giveaway (CLOSED)!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:58:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Hope you're having a great Sunday so far!

This will be a very short and sweet one, just to share with you a recent OOTD, but also to announce a very exciting giveaway!!! Read on for more info! ;)

This is just a simple everyday outfit, easy and comfortable enough for running errands and such!

Wearing: Zara top/basic white tank top underneath/Boohoo khaki jeggings/Bershka clog sandals/bag from ebay.

(*ps: nope, I don't have multicoloured nails, that would be the camera's "red-eye effect" setting's doing!)

Let's take a closer look at the accessories, shall we?

On my left arm&wrist: multirow leather cuff bracelet with beads (I got it absolute ages ago from a gift shop)/white watch (present from my mum)/One of a Kind hamsa red string bracelet

The necklace that I'm wearing is a beautiful design by Peggy -a very talented girl that makes her own jewellery, that I rarely take off these days! I really enjoy wearing it on its own, as well as layered with other necklaces: the simple crystal type pendant matches any style and outfit!

And now for the exciting part of the post: the giveaway!!!

For a chance to win this lovely *Jewels* by Peggy necklace, here's what you have to do:

1. Be a follower of my blog,

2. Be a follower of Peggy's blog, Jewels by Peggy,

3. Write enter me in the comment section, or any comment to that effect!

The giveaway will run until next Sunday 11/9, 12:59 pm GMT and is open internationally! Good luck everyone!

What are your current accessories' or jewellery obsessions at the moment?

Current favourites and In's & Out's!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Cue music: "Guess who's back... back again..."!
Ok, I'm not going to.. direct this entry any further, you get the picture!

After a pretty full and relaxing summer month, it's time for me to report back!

And where better to start than to share with you this past month's beauty essentials?

1. Neal's Yard Frankincense Hydrating Facial Mist.
You know me, I cannot resist a good facial water spray! And this is probably the best I've ever tried: it's extremely refreshing and hydrating and the effect does last for quite a while! Apart from being an excellent toner, it also contains essential oils and herbal extracts with anti-oxidant and collagen stimulating properties (score!) For all you vegans out there, this is definitely one to check out (it's made with 98% organic ingredients), but beware of its rather strong scent (it fades quickly though, but be warned).

2. Bourjois blush in 03 Brun Cuivre.
Featured in one of my recent hauls, this has been a go-to product ever since! It compliments a variety of looks really well and blends with my bronzer flawlessly, giving a lovely bronzey effect, without being over the top!

3. NARS Kitty eyeliner pencil.
A great eyeliner to work with, applies super easily and gives the most gorgeous bright blue accent when used! I use it on my waterline whenever I'm in the mood for some colour, and it looks pretty even against my greyish/green eyes - no doubt, it would work wonders for those of you with blue or brown eyes!

4. Essie Van D' Go.
You can see swatches of it a couple of posts below. Yes, its a lovely colour, but the application is so streaky, it can drive you insane! The sole reason it's featured on this list, is because I've been using this almost exclusively this month, in an effort to try and finish it (hopefully I won't have to deal with it for more than another 2-3 weeks)!

5. Smashbox Pout lipgloss.
Probably the most popular Smashbox lipgloss shade, Pout is a pale, cool-toned (leaning blue that is) pink creme, with o% stickiness! Lovely with a smokey eye, but it's definitely more versatile than that! Been using it this past month for almost all of my evenings out!

What about my summer you may ask?
Well, here's the condensed version, in "in's & out's" form:

July+August In's & Out's

In's
1. Seeing Kevin Spacey's brilliant performance as Richard III in Epidavros. Pretty mindblowing experience.

2. Being able to blog with my new Toshiba, as the old (well, not so old really) Vaio died it's... true death.
3. Enjoying my short summer vacations and soaking up as much sun as I could!

Out's
1. Being the basic meal for mosquitos everywhere. Who here counted 10 new bites a night? That would be me.
2. Getting rid of all my YSL Rouge Volupte's. The slippery feeling just wasn't doing it for me anymore.
3. Dealing with uninformed and rude sales' assistants. I got told they didn't carry a specific product when it was in public display one floor above!

So, how have you guys been?
How has your summer been, makeup or general wise? :)

Dr Hauschka Skincare reviews, Beautyworks shopping and a...beauty haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:14:00 +0000

As promised from a few posts ago, I'll be sharing with you my thoughts on a couple of skincare items that I purchased fairly recently, both from Dr. Hauschka.

If you're not familiar with this brand yet, let me just outline the basics for you: Dr. Hauschka is a German brand, that creates skincare products, which aim to nurture the skin and bring balance to specific skin conditions (or skintypes), while ensuring that their methods are environmentally friendly. What's striking to me, is that this brand actually grows plants to later use their ingredients in their products, meaning that their "holistic approach" claims are actually well-founded.

The products that I was mostly curious about lately were their body oils, and taking advantage of a recent "buy one, get one as a gift" promo from Beautyworks (a greek online store, details in a sec), I decided it was time to pick one.

I opted for the Dr Hauschka Almond St. John'swort Body Oil, one that's suited to dry and sensitive skin, like my own.

This is a "dry" body oil, that absorbs easily into the skin, leaving it silky and supple. You only need a few drops of this to cover a larger area, so don't go overboard. I enjoy that it leaves my skin moisturised for many hours, without any annoying greasiness. I also love that it really calms my skin down, now I don't suffer from eczema, but if my skin gets itchy or irritated for any reason, this product does sooth it instantly. What I could have done without, is the scent: while I initially liked the bitter almond part, everyone around me seemed to hate it for being too.."oily", and after repeated use, I can see where they're coming from.

The second product-slash-gift that came with my order was the Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Clay Mask. What that is, is basically a jar of clay in powder form. You prepare the mask yourself by mixing it with water to a creamy consistency. What you end up with, is actually...mud and once you've applied it, it looks like you fell flat on your face into a mud pile after the rain: same color, same scent. When you rinse it off though, you're left with soft, clean skin. The feeling is kind of hard to explain, it's unlike any other mask or cleanser I've ever tried. More like a cleansing treatment if that makes sense. It contains witch hazel and Indian cress, and claims to exfoliate the skin and reduce the appearance of blackheads and blemishes, but I can't say that I noticed any of that - the skin though does feel nurtured, clean and smooth afterwards.

All in all, I'm very pleased with both items and will be repurchasing. Well, the body oil, I'll try it in a different scent and the clay mask, while it's not a must-have item (more like a special pampering product), I enjoyed using it and would like to see if it benefits my skin some more over time.

Beautyworks online shopping experience

As pleased as I was though with my items, I cannot say the same for the store from which I purchased them. For starters, I asked if I could pick the gift product myself, an email which never got replied, either with a yes or a no. The product I was sent was completely their choice, but the annoying part is that they sent me an item they were trying to get rid of: the clay mask expires in August, as in 2 months after I placed the order!!!

Now, I'd like to believe that an online store that takes pride in being a niche product retailer, would actually know better than to leave emails unanswered and to just push leftover stock, but apparently that is wishful thinking.

They did however send a crapload of samples to make it up (for everything else?), which was generous, but not exactly the service I was looking for:

And to close this post on a different note, let me just share with you my small beauty haul. I'll be off for a few days on a beach vacation soon and I needed a couple of stuff:

1. Mascara, because I've run out of a black one,

2. Nail polish (Art Deco 225) - Ok, I didn't need that, but the shimmery metallic olive green with a hint of a blue duochrome looked too pretty to pass on, and

3. a shimmery oil, like the Hei Poa one, a little miracle in a bottle, that will double as a hair-end moisturiser and a leg skin enhancer on those nights out! ;)

I'm grateful to you if you've made it this far!

So, do let me know, have you tried Dr. Hauschka? Any bad online shopping experiences?

And what beauty items have you added to your collection?

Luxury Nailcare: Mont Bleu Glass Nail Files

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:48:00 +0000

My first encounter with a glass nail file occured a little while back: I was perusing the nail product isles in one of my frequent beauty shopping trips and I spotted some mini Bourjois glass nail files sitting in a corner.

I figured Bourjois is a respectable brand, so, naturally, I picked one, only to find out that I had made one of the worst beauty purchases ever: the nail file lost the roughness of its filing surfaces after only 3 (!) uses. I threw it to the bin and swore off glass nail files there and then.

But when a Czech company called Mont Bleu contacted me to review their glass nail files, I thought I'd give them another chance - I was still curious as to why so many people were recommending glass nail files instead of the regular emery ones, on twitter and other beauty sites. Perhaps they knew something I didn't?

Apparently they did, because after a few weeks of testing out this product, I only have the best things to say about it!

For starters, the filing surfaces have remained intact after all this time - I inspect them closely after each use, but they're still as good as new! It's biggest advantage though is how gentle it is to my nail: the filing is sharp and precise and the tip of the nail feels a lot stronger afterwards in comparison to a classic emery board. I've also noticed that it benefits my brittlest nails too, since the peeling hasn't progressed any further as it normally would! Score!

Yep, this little item is a regular in my nailcare routine and I'd be mildly devastated if I dropped it or mishandled it in any way (the site claims that they're almost unbreakable, but I wouldn't wanna find out regardless)!

But I wouldn't be doing it justice if I didn't talk about its lovely design, now, would I?

I'm sure you've noticed the beautiful Swarovski detailing on one end: it screams "luxury"! The design of my file is the W-M no. 5 but if you take a look through their online store, I'm sure you'll spot many designs to suit your taste!

What's more, Mont Bleu states that the polishing surfaces have a life-long guarantee, without you having to take any special care of them: you can clean them by washing them, putting them under a uv lamp, even boiling them!

Overall impression?

A beautiful product of excellent quality, what more can you ask for? It would make a lovely little present too imo, since I don't think Swarovski encrusted nail files are that easy to come by!

So, have you tried glass nail files yet and what do you think of them? :)