Venusian*Glow

My Beach Bag

2012-05-28T15:46:00.019+02:00

I'm lucky to have several lakes near my town, one within walking distance. And I love spontaneously spending an afternoon at my neighbourhood lake. As soon as the weather turns warm my "beach bag" takes up residence in my entryway. It's a big tote that contains almost everything I need for a day at the waterside, easy to pick up and go! If you go to a beach /pool / river in the summer, try gettinga beach bag and packing it with the essentials -- this makes it super easy to spontaneously grab everything and go whenever you´re in the mood!
If I'm travelling and I plan to swim, I take a beach bag too. I like to use a mesh pouch since you can throw sandy stuff inside and the sand goes off by the time you're in your hotel.

What's in my beach bag:

* Everyone's swimsuits
* A lightweight picknic blanket
* A tiny towel
* Sunscreen
* An anklet and beaded bracelet (I like to wear accessories with my swimsuit, but I tend to forget to take them with me).
* A coin purse with enough money for drinks and ice-cream, but not enough to worry about.
* Everyone's hats. I love big ones for myself.
* Kids' swim wings.
* Waterbottle (one of my beloved Siggs)
* Sun shades
* Sarong
* Disposable razor (just in case)
* Lip balm with SPF

What I grab in the last minute:

* Whatever book I'm reading at the moment
* My public transport card
* Apples for everyone
* Mobile phone (unless I decide to forget it on purpose)

My beach bag is an oversized round orange straw tote that I picked up at a second-hand store. If you're on a lookout for a cute one, I love this, this, this, this and this one.

Do you have a designated beach bag? What do you pack in yours?

PS Winner of the Baggu Bag giveway is Melita! Congrats!

Weekend Reads 26-05-2012

2012-05-26T19:36:00.000+02:00

How have you been? My week has been uninteresting but now I'm about to have an evening vegetarian grill in my garden with my family. Before I stuff my face with grilled zucchinis filled with feta cheeze and mushrooms, I leave you with a bunch of nice links for your pursual:

* How castor oil saved my hairline. Includes before and after pics!

* Great computer tricks!

* Ever wondered how your speaking voice sounds to others? Try this trick (skip to 1 min.

* Drop-dead gorgeous girls don't have an easy life.

* This woman's style is so inspiring. Wow. I love the way she mixes pieces from completely different cultures and periods into what is almost wearable art.

This video explains how to pose with your face for photographs. I tried it out and I'm amazed at how much better my pictures got:

Wear Nude Bras Under White Tops, Not White Bras!

2012-05-25T16:45:00.001+02:00

As tested by Boux Avenue.

Here is a little public service announcement for the summer: if you are wearing a white top or dress, wear a skin-coloured bra underneath. Not white. Certainly not black. Unless you are going clubbing and want to make a statement. But not as an everyday look, please.
Take a look at the image on the top of the page: the nude bra clearly wins with the white one. If you have a darker skin tone, you might be interested for the "What's Your Nude" campaign,who are pushing for more brown bras.

A white bra under a white top screams "look, here are my boobs, look at them won't ya?". At best, it looks careless and sloppy.

A white shirt + black bra look 'dressed in the dark' at best, and slutty at worst:

     A nude bra stays invisible and brings attention to your figure, not to itself.

     If you haven't got one already, a low-cut nude bra is the best investment for the summer. I suggest getting a plunge to wear with deeper necklines, and a strapless for strapless or strappy stuff. Personally I have a Gossard superboost plunge (unfortunately not produced anymore), and the Ewa Michalak Toffik strapless which is quite pretty and very very supportive.
    Panache, Fantasie, Freya and Ewa Michalak each offeer several different styles of nude bras. If you prefer broader underwires, Panache Porcelain Strapless is probably the best bang for your buck: it is a plunge a strapless (with re-attachable straps) and smoothing! And it's pretty supportive.

     If you are wearing, say, a white top and a black skirt, you should wear a nude bra and black panties. And vice-versa. Which brings me to: every woman should own one of those seamless nude-coloured knickers. If you have even a trace of suspicion that your undies might be visible through your skirt or trousers, change into the 'invisible' pair asap.

     Do you own a nude bra? Any special model you'd like to recommend? What crosses your mind when you see someone wearing a white bra under a black top (or vice versa)?

Konjac Cleansing Sponge

2012-05-21T18:50:00.000+02:00

   Hey everyone, I present to you an interesting little beauty accessory: the Konjac sponge puff. It's a root of a vegetable, and it comes from east asia. It's a great little face cleansing tool.

   I had to get my paws on a Konjac after I read that a beauty blogger prefers it to her microfiber cloths. As you know, I love my microfibre cloths, so a test of the Konjac was in order.

     The Konjac sponge looks white and cute. It's soft and slippery when wet, and rock hard when it dries. It's very pleasant to use: it massages the skin while cleansing, it's a very pleasant sensation. It glides over the skin, and it's gentle enough for skin with fragile capillaries. It's perfect for those who need gentle exfoliation -- whether for scrub-free days (you shouldn't be using scrubs more often than twice a week) or for skin too sensitive for scrubs. The sponge can be used for cleaning babies too. It's completely natural, compostable and eco-friendly.

        The Konjac sponge hasn't replaced my microfiber cloths. While it's great for cleansing bare skin, it's not meant to remove makeup. So it's microfible cloth soaked in oil for the evening cleansing. I use the Konjac sponge in the morning, using it to cleanse my face with orange water -- it removes dead skin flakes (I get a lot of them) and I like the gentle massage.

      As for the care of the sponge: I wash mine in hot water, I hear you can boil them if you want to disinfect it. I like the string that goes through mine: I can hang it behind my mirror and it dries fast.

   Final verdict: it's a great little cleansing tool, but by no means a must-have.

    I got my Konjac sponge from Kiko, which happens to have a store in my town, and it set me back by 5,90 €. From what I've heard the ones from Konjac Sponge Company are the best -- and they have some with added charcoal or clay.

   Have you every tried the Konjac sponge? Does anyone have one with clay or charcoal? Also, got any tricks for exfoliating sensitive skin?

Spring Giveway!

2012-05-18T13:37:00.103+02:00

Hey everyone!

I've got a lovely giveway for you! Can you guess what it is? ^hint^

Baggu bags have been on my radar ever since I've seen them on A Cup Of Jo and Design Sponge. There is a lovely variety of styles and colours to choose from! There are cute grocery bags (which you can also use to wrap a gift), pouches, zipper bags, and a backpack that folds into its own pocket. My personal favourite would be the duck bag -- it would carry everything from my books and camera, to the kids's stuff, to quinoa and organic cucumbers.

And here is the lovely part:

You can win any bag (or bags) up to the worth of 25$ from baggu bags!

How to enter:

Mandatory: Read Carefully! Subscribe to Venusian*Glow (RSS feed or Blogloving or GFC -- its your choice) and comment with your email address + an answer to this question:

"What's your favorite color and type of bag to wear with ladies dresses this summer?"

Personally, I love medium across-the-shoulder bags because they are so comfortable to carry, in cobalt blue -- because half of my stuff is blue.

For extra entries (each of these counts as one entry)

Follow Venusian*Glow on twitter and comment telling me you did
Tweet about this giveway and comment saying that you did.
Blog about this giveway on Facebook and comment saying that you did.
Post about this giveway on Facebook and comment saying that you did.
Like Venusian*Glow on facebook and comment saying that you did.

Rules:

Giveway is open worldwide
Entries without a valid email address are invalid.
Winners will be picked on the 26th of May!
Winners will be chosen via Random.org

Good luck!

This review has been kindly sponsored by Daxon

British Girl Seeks Small Bras + The Little Bra Company -- Reader Question

2012-05-16T15:05:00.002+02:00

Recently this question popped into my mailbox, from reader C (measurements 28/32)

I wear a 32A as it's the smallest size I can ever find, and it doesn't fit at all: the band is too large, and the cup size too small - I fit in depth, but I spill out the sides. I'm not entirely sure if my breasts are far apart, but I don't fill much in the middle, so I wanted to buy a push up bra that would give me lift and any possible cleavage for when I wear lower cut dresses etc. However, I think it's best I try a simple t-shirt bra so I know my true size first.

   I want to buy from The Little Bra Company, and I'm worried about getting the wrong size; I know sizes change depending on what brand you buy, the style you buy, etc, but I need to get it as close as possible as the bra itself is $60/£30 and then the postage is $45/£27.90; also, I can't try bras in the UK, as I've been unable to find a 28 or 30 band, and when I have, the cup size has been AAA.

   I emailed TLBC company and they recommended I +4, making my bra size 32AA, and then said they didn't carry AA, so I should just buy 32A. This irritated me considering their whole ethos is to ensure women have the correct fitting bra! I'd be much better suited for a 30B or 28C surely?

   If I do buy a 28C will the cup be the same depth as my 32A cup, will I spill out the sides again, or not? Do I in fact need a 28D or a 30C? This still worries me as it sounds so large, and I am so tiny, but I remind myself that that's not the case and that I have outdated ideas of what a D cup looks like!

     Hi C, thanks from writing in.

      Firstly, boo to the Little Bra Company for trying to fit you wrongly and for not even offering a good choice of sizes. And kudos to you for not accepting their BS.

       Here is the great news: actually, UK is the second best place in the world to find great bras in "unusual" sizes. I recommend online stores like Figleaves and Bravissimo, and of course Brastop which has great prices. In these stores you will find a nice selection of affordable bras in 28 and 30 bands, from brands like Freya, Panache, Fantasie, Curvy Kate and more.
       Here is a map of offline bra stores with a big size range, maybe you'll even find something near where you live. I know it's in Polish, but if you click on the pin you can get the name of the store and the address. Something like "biustonosze: 28-40 D-KK" means that the bras available in these stores are in the 28-40 D-KK size range.
       A non-UK brand that I personally like is Ewa Michalak, (worldwide shipping costs 7€). Be sure to measure yourself according to the guide on that site, since theis bands are pretty snug and you'll probably need a different size in their brand.

       I'd recommend a soft underwired bra as a first bra. It adjusts itself to the breasts, whereas T-shirt bras mould the breasts to their shape. In my opinion T-shirt bras as well as push-ups should be worn only when necessary, for everyday use soft bras or lightly padded ones are best, as they help the breasts to maintain their shape and firmness.
     Before you order, I'd recommend reading up on narrow and broad underwires. If you're not sure which you need, try something like Fantasie which has medium underwires.
   My calculator suggests a 30C for you (of course the calculator is just a starting point, not the verdict). However I'd also try neighbouring sizes, especially 30D. You can see my before and after photos if you'd like to see how a 30d looks like.
         If you buy online and have a bit of money to invest temporarily, I really recommend ordering at least 10 bras in several different styles and sizes, and keeping only few ones that fit best (and returning the rest). This tactic is actually much more frugal then ordering two bras and keeping them because they "kinda, almost" fit, and getting dissatisfied with them very soon.
           I wish you good bra hunting!

          Hey ladies, what do you think of The Little Bra Company? What advice would you give C?

How I Discovered My Skin Tone Is Warm (Which I Always Thought Was Cool)

2012-05-11T15:02:00.003+02:00

      I'm not very good with colours. I can't see undertones and have always been terrible at matching shades of makeup to my skin tone. For this very reason I really wanted to know whether my skin tone is cool or warm -- I knew this would help me in choosing makeup and clothing colours.
        Now, all the skin-tone advice on the internet wasn't helpful to me. I squinted at my veins, trying to figure out whether they are more blue or green. And my hair -- I swear the undertones change with the light. I held up pink and orange fabric to my face, and couldnt decide which of these two colours I dislike more (I don't "do" pink or orange, my wardrobe is basically all red, white and blue, with touches of violet, green and grey.) In the end I decided my skin tone is cool, because of the undeniable pinkish cast to it.
         Then one day I found out I wasn't cool at all --- it was the visible capillaries that made my face look pink. The rest of the skin is slightly yellowish. Moral: ignore the redness around your nose and cheeks, and look for capillary-free skin (temples, jaw line) when determining your shade.

      And how did I discover my skin tone? I wanted to buy mineral foundation, and got several samples from Lumiere Cosmetics. Every shade of their foundation comes in cool, warm, golden (very warm) as well as neutral and beige (both are between cool and warm, with beige being much more saturated). My skin tone is somewhere between beige and warm. Both tones suit me but I prefer warm because it cancels the redness a bit.
    I really recommend trying out makeup samples if you want to determine your skin tone. I choose Lumiere because their samples are dirt cheap (0.05$ for five), and they have easy-to understand names like "medium beige" and "medium warm". Also, under every foundation colour is a list of matching blush and lip shades --- I ordered those too and almost all look really good on me. Since then, I've become better at picking out makeup shades for me, yay! Another thing I learned: there is such a thing as a neutral skin tone.

My patented way to test out mineral foundation samples:

Swatch all of them on your cheeks or forehead (paint short stripes) -- I prefer the forehead because its less likely to have visible capillaries. The foundation shade that blends in the most (is least visible) will be the best one for you. If you cannot decide between two shades, do each half of your face with a different shade and see which side you like best -- or ask a friend for her opinion!

Are you cool or warm or in-between? Can you intuitively pick out colours that make you look great, or is it a trial-and-error thing?

A Small Warning About Pore Minimizing Products

2012-05-09T15:15:00.000+02:00

Pore cleansing and minimising are a big topic for me since my genes threaten to make my nose look like these pretty fruit above. While browsing through products that promise to diminish pores, I found that there are generally two kinds of them: those based on silicones and those based on salicylic acid.

If you have been reading Venusian*Glow for a while, you´ll know my distaste for silicones in skin care. In short: silicones might temporarily smooth over your pores, but long-term they might block your pores. Silicones don´t moisturise or nourish the skin, and might even form a film on the skin that prevents other beneficial ingredients from getting to your skin. In short, silicone is a faker ingredient.
Salicylic Acid (aka BHA) does actually unblock pores and is anti-inflammatory. Pore-minimising products that contain salicylic acid are actually effective, and also do other things like evening out the skin tone (obviously, this also depends of how much salicylic acid is in the product). The caveat is that salicylic acid makes the skin sensitive to UV rays, so a good sunscreen is a must -- unless you want to get skin discolourations.

Of course there are pore minimizing products based on other ingredients. I will be trying out some stuff soon, and of course I´ll share the results with you. Stay tuned!

Crocodile Clips: The Most Underrated Hair Accessory

2012-05-07T15:46:00.000+02:00

This sentence that I read somewhere changed my thinking about crocodile clips: "they will hold even very long hair, if you use it right." This really works: don't try to grab all of the hair at once, just coil it up and pin a not-too-thick part. This is one of the many possibilities.

Since then I have grown addicted to my crocodile clip, and almost always have one on me -- either on my head, or on the strap of my handbag.

Here is what I use my crocodile clip for:

* A half-ponytail-- my favourite hairdo
* Wearing my hair up
* Pinning my hair on top of my head for when I want to wake up with curls
* Pinning freshly washed hair on my crown in a big "pouf" for a root lift as it dries
* Pinning sections of hair I'm not working on out of the way, when making a more elaborate updo

How to choose a crocodile clip:

* The best ones have teeth, that gives them a much better grip than the toothless ones.
* I prefer plastic to metal, I feel that the metal ones grip too tightly and may break the hair.
* Smooth crocodile clips are best for everyday use, since any kind of embellishment may snag hair.

Do you like crocodile clips? Or do they have a different name in your country? Do you match yours with your hair colour? I do.

Weekend Reads 06-05-2012

2012-05-05T15:00:00.000+02:00

Banksy on advertising

Hi everyone, how did your week go? I had a crappy one, with an injured foot, a cold, and a broken computer. Hope yours was better!

Here are some great posts you should persue:

* Cute: How city kids run their sidewalk lemonade stands

* Smarts: 7 Commonly Corrected Grammar Errors (That Aren't Mistakes)

* Breath taking: the Eiffel tower and yesterday's supermoon.

* Beauty: this girl discovered that hair removal creams work as cuticle removers.

* Yum: These sound so delicious!

* The I am a ___ ask me anything subreddit is amazing. Includes threads by celebs, people in awesome / crazy professions and the Blogger and Google Maps teams!

How To Make Oil Absorb Better And Feel Less Greasy

2012-05-04T19:30:00.000+02:00

     Here is what I found out recently: oil absorbs better when its mixed with water. No idea why, maybe someone could explain how it works on a molecular level? Anyway, I found that if I applied my usual grapeseed oil on a wet face, it absorbed quicker that when I apply it on dry skin. Oil as body moisturiser works best after a shower or bath. This method can be used for oil-based moisturisers, serums or sunscreen.

       This also works for oil-conditioning the hair: my favourite hair guru Anwen oils her hair by dipping it into a bowl full of water and oil, and finds that it works much better than oiling dry hair. She also patented the lazy-girl version of the method: transfer some oil into a spray bottle and spray onto moist hair. I do the laziest-girl method: my husband makes a bath-oil mixture and pours it into the bathtub, and I luxuriate in the bathtub, having dipped my hair in the oily water.
      Of course you're supposed to shampoo the oil out at the end. A lot of girls for whom "normal" oiling hasn't worked will love this. The hair feels softer and less sticky after a "wet" oiling session.

     Do you prefer wet oiling or dry oiling? Any idea why water makes the skin absorb the oil better?

Products I'm Excited About (Rossmann, Dm, Müller)

2012-04-30T15:19:00.000+02:00

I'm having a crappy week: my computer, vacuum cleaner and MP3 player are all not working, and I managed to injure a foot and get my finger smashed by a door. Craptastic!
To take my mind off thing, I have been doing a bit of window shopping, testing recent buys and planning cosmetic purchases for this month. Those of you who have Rossman, Müller and DM in your country, here is some stuff I am excited about: (the rest of you: do come and visit!)

All Natural Perfume Stick from Denim Delight from P2 (DM drogerie)

I was really excited to find a natural perfume that a) smells sophisticated and not like a bunch of essential oils and b) I can actually afford. Perfumes are the most toxic cosmetics of all so I don't buy conventional any more. Not that I would want to: I developed a very keen sense of smell since I was pregnant and the chemical undertones of most conventional perfumes are unpleasant for me.
The All Natural Perfume Stick from P2 is flowery-fruity with a hint of a powdery scent that Kenzo perfumes have. Ok, I know I'm terrible at describing scent so I'll stop. I like the scent since it's not overpowering, and besides that a solid perfume is something every girl should have in her handbag. This product is limited-edition, so hurry if you want one.

Sunscreen from Eco Cosmetics

This is the only nano-free mineral sunscreen in Germany. They seem to have two wearable sunscreen products for the face: a gel (which is actually more like an oil) and a toned cream. These two products are new, so I can't decide which I should order. Help!

Hopefully less toxic nail polish:

I have started paining my nails again (the last time I did that was in school!) and I have been looking for affordable and less toxic brands. I found out that nail Polish from Rival de Loop and Essence both got best notes from Öko test. Rossman also announced the first ever BDIH-certified natural nail topcoat (I can't remember the brand, but probably its also Rival de Loop).

Nail Polish Remover from Isana (Rossman)

Great to remove the Hopefully Less Toxic Nail Polish. This got a "very good" from Öko Test, so I will be buying it after my current (crappy) product runs out.

Eyeshadow Primer from Rival de Loop (Rossman)

The cheapest of the four best eyeshadow primers available here (those from Urban Decay, Art Deco, Zoeva and Rival de Loop). Different reviews favour different ones of these fours, but the one from Rival de Loop has the advantages of being dirt cheap and only lightly sparkly. Oh, and it doesn't dry out in the container, unlike the base from Zoeva and Art Deco. I have been using the Rival de Loop base since two weeks, and it's great so long as you remember to use small amounts (as you should). I just wish it was completely matt, I have hooded eyes and shimmer in the wrong places isn't flattering).

Concealer from Terra Naturi (Müller)

I'm talking about the one that comes in a twist-up tube. I tried it out at the store and loved the way it's slippery-smooth, almost silicon-y. Not too wet or creamy. I will probably buy this, unless the cream-to-powder one from Alverde (DM) turns out to be better.

I have been thinking to write a small natural cosmetic shopping guide to Germany, aimed at travellers. I often want to buy beauty products when I travel, but I never know where to start, especially with a limited time and budget! What do you think?

Weekend Reads 28-04-2012

2012-04-28T15:40:00.000+02:00

Hi ladies, how did your week go? I spent a lovely morning browsing through a flea market, and my favourite find was a tiny pocket mirror from the 20's. It's old and the corners are blackened, but amazingly the quality of the mirror is way better than the pocket mirrors in stores today. Other than that, I have been saving bumblebees (refueling them with honey), gardening like crazy and exploring Munich!
Anyway, here are some lovely links to persue:

* Style: I loved this piece about Oudh, the intoxicating perfume of Quatar. I really want to get my hands on a sample!

* Family: How to Raise a Child “Green” with the Power of Words

* Bras: I had to lol at 12 Problems That Only Busty Girls Have. Can you spot which can be solved with a well-fitting bra? BTW the messenger bag strap is not just problematic for the more endowed.

* Beauty: What I Know About Beauty Now That I'm In My 30s.

* Makeup: a cool way to store makeup brushes.

* Rescue: 13 Simple Steps To Get You Through A Rough Day

* Women: My Own Mexican Revolution talks about catcalls and machismo culture, and Let’s Make Ending Street Harassment Go Viral is a call to arms. Zero street harassment is one of the perks of living in Germany, but I have vivid (and scarring) memories of it from my time in India, so I say: lets support this!

My Sunscreen Dilemma

2012-04-27T15:30:00.000+02:00

I am pretty much at my wit's end. I realised that almost all natural sunscreens in Germany contain nano-particles (due to new laws, which you can read about here). I had already thrown in the towel last year, deciding not to wear sunscreen that is probably worse for my health than UV rays. But then I started getting discolourations above my lip. That didn't look too pretty, so I went back to looking for sunscreen, tail between my legs. That's when I realised that the sunscreen I'm looking for doesn't exist.

What I want from a sunscreen:

* Free from nano-particles (non-negotiable)

Nano-particles go through all our tissues and enter the bloodstream. Also, chemicals behave very differently when nano-sized, as compared to what they do in their "normal" size. There are too few studies so far about the effects of nano-particles on the body, and I don't want to be part of the guinea-pig generation.

* Free from chemical filters

These are toxic to the body and often not even photostable. Chemical sunscreen is probably even more likely to give me skin cancer than UV rays. Ever wondered why skin cancer rates are rising, even though people are wearing more sunscreen that ever?

* Non-whitening and not very greasy

Or at least only slightly whitening.

* Free from parabens and other crap.

* Free from alcohol and perfume

These aren't exactly good for my capillaries. I'm probably asking for too much? I guess this is negotiable, because it's easier to conceal spider veins than wrinkles and pigmentation.

Now that I have my priorities clear, here are the options left to me:

My options:

* No sunscreen:

I probably won't get skin cancer, but I will get discolourations and extra wrinkles.

* Chemical sunscreen:

   My skin won't age, but I will get an extra dose of hormone-imitating chemicals.

* You guys tell me about an amazing, natural, nano-free sunscreen that doesn't make me look like a geisha.

   You will notice that sunscreen with nano-particles isn't an option for me. And neither is a greasy, white product. I tried, I really tried to bite my lips and rock the geisha look while concentrating on how good my skin will still look when I'm older. But after concerned questions and strange looks from people I gave up. Hell, I want to look good right in the present too.

    Do I have another option? Does anyone know of a sunscreen that is free of chemical filters, nano-particles and won't make me look like a ghost? Help!

Sleeping In Supportive Camis

2012-04-25T15:39:00.000+02:00

   Remember when I talked about sleeping in a bra? Well, I wasn't exactly practicing what I was preaching, because I didn't feel comfortable in a bra at night. I have some quirks about what I wear to bed: I can't sleep with a watch, earrings or even watch.
     When I got the camisole with the built-in bra, I realised it would be perfect for sleeping in. It's not very snug, and I love the satiny fabric. I have been wearing it to sleep since several months, and recently have moved on to older, stretched-out bras.
   I like having my boobs close to me in bed, and I feel that my bust looks better when I wake up. And hey, if Marilyn Monroe did it, it's good enough for me.

    My biggest inspiration was from a lovely reader who wrote in a mail to me:

I would like to say that wearing a bra to sleep in is an excellent idea. I have always worn a bra and at my age I still have a bust of a young woman. In fact as a young woman I was given the advice "never leave your bra except for seduction".

This lady is almost 70.

Can You Use Moisturiser As Under-Eye Cream?

2012-04-23T22:00:00.000+02:00

    The short answer is yes, though you do need to check the ingredients of said moisturiser first (cheat-sheet below). The skin under the eyes isn't so much different from the rest of our face, except that it's more senitive and unlikely to have problems like acne.

     Ever wondered what is the difference between under eye products and creams or moisturisers meant for the face? Surprisingly, under-eye products are usually watered-down versions of moisturiser. They contain moisturising ingredients and anti-oxidants like most facial products, but less of anything that might dry out or irritate the skin.
    Under-eye product make a lot of money for companies since they are marketed as highly specialised and potent products, and sold in teeny containers.

      You can use your moisturiser on the under-eye area if it doesn't contain drying and irritating ingredients, such as alcohol, mineral oil / paraffin, perfume (synthetic), AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, mandelic acid.), BHAs (salicylic acid), Benzoyl Peroxide, etc.
      Generally, any cream or moisturiser that is meant for dry, sensitive or normal skin is more likely to be ok for undereye area. Products meant for oily or acne-prone skin most likely to contain drying or irritating ingredients.

     I have started to use Weleda Skin Food under my eyes, it's very moisturising and soothing. Of course, very often I just dab a bit of grapeseed oil or whatever oil I happen to be using on my face.

     Do you use moisturiser as under-eye cream or do you prefer a separate product? Also, stay tuned for more under-eye posts :)

Do You Wear More Makeup When You're Feeling Down?

2012-04-20T18:46:00.000+02:00

     I noticed that during the most happiest times of my life, I barely wore any makeup at all. I was pretty much convinced that a swipe of kohl was all that I needed to be stunning. Ok, I didn't really think that, but I didn't need more to feel beautiful. I tend to focus much more on cosmetics when I'm either down or restless.
    On days where I'm down and wallowing in self-pity, I will sometimes do my nails to cheer myself up. On days that I get restless and dissatisfied, I often decide to "fix" my skin or nails, probably because it's the easiest and least challenging step on the way to becoming that confident, interesting and awesome person I want to be. I spend time to research the next amazing beauty trick that will solve all my woes, and I obsess about finding the "right" colours and shades, even though I might already own several pretty ones.

      Of course, in the parts of my life when I feel on top of the world, I'm too busy being happy and doing nice stuff to worry too much about the "flaws" my appearance; whereas on miserable days I look at myself critically and my appearance seems like the easiest thing to fix (also, I feel it's my duty to the world to appear halfway human, even though I feel like a wrung-out sponge).

     But I also instinctively feel that when I'm feeling great, I radiate happiness -- which makes every human beautiful. And I recognise it on other people too --- they make everything they do and wear look great.

I do have a streamlined beauty regime that I more or less follow irregardless of my moods -- but it's focused on skin and hair care. Makeup is not a must-wear for me, indeed most of my life I have worn very little, so it is often dependant on my emotions. That is not to say that if you see me wear lip gloss I'm depressed --- I might be happy and enjoying said lip gloss. In this scenario I swipe it on and smile at my mirror, feeling stunning.

   I'd love to know about your take on cosmetics and happiness --- do you tend to obsess over your hair and skin when you want more control over your life? Or is beauty care separate from your emotional life? Do you reward yourself with products? Do share!

Breast Care During Weight Loss

2012-04-19T15:10:00.000+02:00

So you're losing weight (or planning to) and you are worried about your breasts? It's hard to predict exactly how many cup sizes you will lose and how your breasts will look after you have lost weight. Some girls lose fast from the breasts right at the beginning of weight loss, some at the very end -- this varies from person to person.
It's important to make sure the skin on the breasts stays supple, so that it shrinks together with the breasts and stays taut. Here are some tips for preventing damage:

* ALWAYS wear a correctly fitting bra during weight loss. Depending on how fast you are losing weigth, you may need to own one or more well-fitting bras at a time. Do measure yourself regularly! If you have a bra that is just slightly too big, you can "cheat" by wearing it on the tightest hook and tightening the straps --- this is however only an emergency solution.

* Sleeping in a bra is also very important during weight loss. Your breasts need all the support they can get.

* Do moisturise your breast skin with an oil or cream. Avoid the nipples. If you don't want to loose too much breast fat, don't use creams with coffeine, which burns fat.

* Massage the breasts slightly while applying moisturiser, this keeps the skin taut. Use circular and upward movements.

* A good diet makes the skin more elastic. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, veggies, nuts and seeds to give your skin all the nutrients it needs! If a strict dies is your thing, look for one that allows you to get plenty of vitamins, minerals and protein.

* Cold showers or compresses are great for keeping the skin taut. Hot water is bad for the skin.

* If you are exercising, wear a good sports bra, and get a new one if your cup size drops.

If I could sum up the advice it would be: I know that buying new bras as your size changes is a bummer, but it's really worth it. When it comes to breasts, prevention of breast damage is way cheaper and easier than the cure.

I'm curious: what are your experiences with weight gain / loss and breast tone? Mine are pregnancy-related so they won't be relevant to those gaining or losing weight for other reasons. Also, got any tips for breast care during weight loss?

Mascara Tips: How To Make Your Lashes Look Their Best

2012-04-16T20:10:00.001+02:00

Here are some mascara tips and tricks for you:

* There is no single perfect mascara, because everyone´s lashes are different.

* Testers in the stores are often dried out and will not give you a true idea of what the mascara works like. So it´s a good idea to try a friend´s mascara and read online reviews.

* When it comes to mascaras, the more expensive ones are not necessarily better than the cheap ones.

* Your perfect mascara is one where both the formula and the wand are compatible with your lash type.

* If someone recommends you mascara, take a closer look at her lashes. The best advice will come from someone with lashes similar to yours.

* What are your lashes like? Do you need more length, thickness or curl? (All? Now now, don´t be greedy).

* Try using different mascaras for your upper and lower lashes. You might want lengthening / thickening mascara for your upper lashes, but a ´natural look´ mascara looks best for most lower lashes.

* Comb your lashes with a lash comb or a clean mascara brush before you apply mascara. It makes a difference!

* Mascaras with a comb slightly glue the lashes together, so it doesn´t work for sparse lashes. Same goes for big wands with wide-set spokes. Hard spokes separate the lashes better than soft ones. Here is a nice guide to different mascara wands and what they do.

* If you love a certain mascara, save the brush when you've used it up, to try out with other mascara brands.

* Slight clumps are best combed out with a clean mascara brush.

* The "insect leg effect", where the mascara leaves clumps on the lashes, is extremely unesthetic. Please don´t leave the house looking like that, it reminds me of... insect legs. Search for "flylashes" at your own risk.

* Here is how to cleanse mascara without tugging the delicate skin around the eyes.

At the moment I am using and liking Alverde Schwung + Präzision mascara, which I just now discovered comes also in blue (gotta try!). I want to try out Lavera mascaras after this one. Dr Hauschka's mascaras made my eyes itch.
I have naturally full and long lashes, so I look for mascaras that give a natural effect (and which have natural ingredients since I don't want to mess with my lashes). Sometimes I just use a transparent mascara, mainly to get rid of the mineral foundation and eyeshadow that has settled on my lashes.

On a related note: be careful with eyelash extensions. My neighbour had them done and loved her new lashes for half a year... till her real eyelashes started falling off. She was devastated and it took quite a bit of time and care to make them grow back. When I looked this up on the internet I saw this wasn't a rare case. I haven't researched what exactly makes the lashes fall off (the glue? the weight of the extra lashes?), but do inform yourself if you are thinking of getting eyelash extensions.

Now over to you: do share your mascara tips! Also, any good or bad experiences with eyelash extensions?

Camisoles With Support

2012-04-13T17:00:00.001+02:00

So today I want to talk a bit about camis with bra support. I do think that a bra + camisole or tank top is acceptable to wear, still it's nice to have a camisole with proper support so that I'm wearing just one thing instead of two. I like to wear such camisoles under a dress that needs extra coverage, or to sleep in.

So the first rule to camis with support is that if it doesn't come in a cup and a band size, it won't support much.

Here are two camis from Marks & Spencers in 28DD, both with band support. Both from Ebay. Both are underwired. Here is what they look like from the front:

Wondering how does it work with the band support? This is how the red cami looks from the back:

It's basically a bra band, with the back attached to it. Simple and smart. This particular band isn't very tight, so I use it to sleep in, especially as the cups are extremely unflattering (the horizontal seam bang in the center gives duck-beak boobs). The bottom part of the cami is free-flowing. I originally bought one in black and silver, but they turned out to be out of stock.

And now the white one:

I love this hook and eye closure, even if it's a bit hard to do it up myself. However I feel that this gives quite a bit of support. It also makes the cami perfectly smooth and stops it from a) rolling up and b) my belly rolls from showing, which gives a great smooth line under clothes. The boning is quite soft so the whole cami is very comfortable to wear. I guess this cami is technically a basque?

Unfortunately the cups are a whole size too small, so I will not be keeping it, which is a pity since it's gorgeous. If any of you wants it, click over to the Venusian*Bazaar!

Beauty Routine And Your Guy: To Hide Or Not To Hide?

2012-04-10T15:15:00.000+02:00

Once I read tips from women dating from ancient Greece, one of them was to never ever let your guy see you primping. The only thing you could allow your man to see was you doing you hair (but only if you had nice hair).
I believe in keeping a bit of mystery when it comes to beauty routines. I think of beauty care and makeup a bit like magic, and I feel that magic works best if the magician doesn't reveal all his secrets.
I wouldn't go so far as locking myself in the bathroom every time I moisturise, but there are a couple of beauty routines I do in privacy. These are: walking around in any kind of hair or face masks and removing body hair (includes tweezing my eyebrows). I also prefer to apply concealer and foundation in privacy, although I have no such qualms about eyeliner, lipgloss and the like. Obviously, my husband knows that that I wan't born with hair-free legs and that I pluck my eyebrows, but this doesn't mean he actually has to watch me doing that. Because nobody looks as good shaving as the lady on the pic above.

Do you feel the same way about certain beauty routines, or do you have no such inhibitions? Would you wax/bleach/tweeze your 'stache with your significant other around? What about makeup? Also, I wonder if this is different in a same-sex relationship, girls having a different approach to beauty care and all?

Lavera Sun Sensitiv Self-Tanning Lotion Review

2012-04-09T15:22:00.001+02:00

I like my skin when it's slightly tanned, and in the cooler half of the year I rely on self-tanners for this. A couple of months back I bought the Lavera self-tanning lotion on a whim, and it proved to be an amazing product. So I decided to write a little bit about it for you.

Ease of use:

The tube has an opening at the bottom, which makes the Lavera self-tanner easy to get out. The product is nicely creamy, neither too thick or too runny, and pretty easy to apply. The self-tanner doesn't dry extremely fast, so I have enough time to blend everything in, though I do have to be pretty quick about it. I like to apply it on moist skin, that makes the blending easier.
I put on my clothes after a couple of minutes, and I never had them stain from the self-tanner.

Effect:

The Lavera self-tanning lotion gives me a golden brown tone. (I don't use soap on my body before self-tanning, so that I don't mess up the pH levels). The colour is on the subtle site so it takes a couple of applications to build up a darker tone. For me this is a plus, since several applications means an evener tan and less chances of missed spots. Sometimes I get patches that are slightly darker than others, but the difference is usually pretty slight. I never got streaks or blotches from the Lavera self-tanning lotion. The colour lasts for a couple of days, pretty much as long as any average self tanner.

Great for sensitive skin:

The Lavera self tanning lotion is very gentle, and is a BDIH certified natural product. (also, Lavera was ranked #1 in a study on safe cosmetics conducted by Öko-Test Magazine). From friends with very sensitive body skin I hear that this is one of the very few self tanners that doesn't irritate their skin. I use the Lavera self-tanner on my face sometimes, and so far it has been gentle on my skin.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycine Soja Oil, DHA, Grain Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Erythrulose, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera Gel, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Nut Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Damask Rose Water, Camelia Oleifera Extract, Lavender Water, Tocopherol, Vitamin C, Fragrance (natural essential oils), Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citranello, Citral, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol

So as you see there's only good stuff there: no toxic crap. The Lavera self tanner doesn't dry up my skin, and it doesn't moisturise my skin either (but I don't expect a self-tanner to do that).

Scent:

A pretty nice smell for a self-tanner. Reminds me a bit of peaches. The scent lingers lightly on the skin, I find it quite nice.

Price:

From what I remember I paid around 8€ for the 150ml bottle (it was many months back, so I don't remember the exact price). It isn't the cheapest self tanner around, but it's still affordable, and one tube lasts for a pretty long time. And I know I'm forking over for a product that works well and won't harm my health, not for advertising campaigns and the brand name.

To sum it up:

Certified natural, non-irritating self-tanner that doesn't streak, stink or stain. Also, not tested on animals. What else could I want? I give the Lavera self tanning lotion a 5/5 and will be definitely rebuying it.

This self tanner makes me want to test out other Lavera products. Any recommendations for me? Also, what is your favourite self-tanner? Or do you prefer porcelain-pale skin?

Bra Band See-Saw Effect

2012-04-02T20:00:00.001+02:00

When the band is too loose it rides up at the back and hangs too low in the front. I loved how this article called it the see-saw effect. I am going to use that term from now on. However when I clicked on the size calculator on that link, I couldn't figure it out at all. They didn't have the option of a 30 band, let alone 28. And I really dislike linking bra size to clothes size. In my first pregnancy I went up roughly 5 cup sizes, but went up just one clothes size -- I found that it was the cut, not the size of the top which mattered.

Interestingly, when I randomly look at Yahoo Answers bra problems, I see that a lot of women think a bra band riding up means it is too small. If you think about that it doesn't make any sense: if anything a too small band would ride down, because our waist are almost always smaller or at least more compressible) than our upper back. (Ok, in reality too small bands don't go anywhere, they just squeeze you like an anaconda, even when tried on backwards to make sure it's not the cups or underwires that are the culprits.)
The right sized (snug) band stays even and doesn't allow the straps to pull it up; and the fullest part of the breasts is midway between the elbow and shoulder.

When I see bedroom scenes in movies, I often spoil the atmosphere by yelling "BUT HER BAND IS TOTALLY RIDING UP!" Do any of you do that too, or is it just me? Also, am I right in noticing that TV people from UK seem to be better fitted?

Weekend Reads 01-04-2012

2012-04-01T11:36:00.000+02:00

Hi ladies, did you have a nice week? I had a fun & busy one: we got our bike frames professionally powder-coated (mine is a love colour and I can't wait to ride it!), baked a ladybird cake, had a birthday party for my 5-year old (and lived to tell the tale). Oh, and toured my city's sewage treatment, which was surprisingly interesting: did you know that enormous quantities of bacteria do a big chunk of the purifying? The main thing I learned: never throw q-tips into the toilet, these suckers manage to get through most of the filters.

* Style: How to Create Color Mixes in Your Outfits

* Think: how to get “wabi sabi” with it

* Bras: want to actually do something about crappy bras and crappy fitting methods? Braless In Brazil breaks down what you can do.

* Body: How To Talk To Busty Women About Their Boobs. Read and practice, boys and girls.

* Food: An Englishman’s Guide to Perfect Iced Tea

* Beauty: rethinking tans. Are you going to tan / fake tan this summer or do you prefer your natural skin colour?

* Also, have you already voted on Star In A Bra?

* Also: Check out the Really Advanced Search :-)

Have a great day and watch out for the pranks!

Lumiere Minerals Haul

2012-03-30T15:31:00.070+02:00

My order from Lumiere cosmetics finally came! It always takes ages because the customs office loves to take a peek inside.
So what did I get? First, the bronzer: I love Ambrozia because it is the perfect for my medium warm summer skin. The shimmery particles are so delicate that I didn't notice them at first. I have been using it since over a year to contour my face (cheekbones, under the jaws, and the temples).

And the brushes: both are synthetic and very very soft. Even softer than the pink range. I have great experiences with Lumiere brushes: they are luxuriously soft, well constructed and inexpensive. And yes, although I am a rookie when it comes to makeup, I notice the difference in doing my face with a good brush and a bad brush. It's like painting with a proper craft-store brush as opposed to the 10-brushes-for-2-€ set you bought for your kids.
The Dome Blush Brush I plan to use for highlighter. Yes, I finally got to the point where I mastered contouring with bronzer, and I love to add a touch of highlighter to strategic points. I didn't have the right brush for it, since the kabuki is slightly too big and the blush brush is loaded with blush and bronzer. The dome blush is nicely sculpted on the sides (I don't know the proper word for this, but this brush is not flat, not rounded, but has two angled surfaces).
The eye buki is something I also felt the need for since a few months. I have only a flat eyeshadow brush and the crease brush, and I wanted something with which was round and fluffy.

The little bowl will hopefully make using mineral makeup easier when I'm travelling. Also, it's cute.

Then the samples, you can choose any five packets for 0.01cad and I always use this offer to test out new stuff. The nude is my favourite bronzer for the winter, when my skin turns a shade lighter. The ... is a base / finishing powder I want to test. And the Light Medium Beige and Light medium Cool are for "research purposes". You see, I always thought my skin was cool, because of the pinkish tint from the spider veins. However some really nice girls on a really nice makeup forum told me I was a beige or a warm, and they were spot on. I did want to see how a cool base looks like (answer -- too pink). The beige fits my skin well, but I find that the warm is more flattering because it cancels out the pink veins. BTW the camera hasn't rendered the colours accurately, so you need to go to the Lumiere website to see more accurate photos.

The prices of Lumiere are in Canadian dollars, which have a great exchange rate to euro. Also, I took advantage in a 25% off code that they gave out in their newsletter, so the whole thing set me off by $13.57 without shipping, which is slightly over 10€.