All the Vanity

"Living In Uncertain Times" | Self Care In a Quarantined World

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 14:57:00 +0000

Had you asked a number of people from the past what they imagined would have occured by 2021, I guarantee you a good amount would have said "flying cars" - well, cue major plot twist, no flying cars unfortunately, rather a viral worldwide epidemic instead!

All jokes aside, this novel and initially underestimated Coronavirus stroke far and wide, having amassed a death toll of over 2.2 million people as I'm writing this, while leaving everyone else facing a whole new reality and coping with a slew of difficult, confusing, and often contradictory emotions. Experts, actually, have come up with the term "quarantine fatigue" to describe the exhaustion that many of us are experiencing after almost a year into lockdown, which includes symptoms such as stress, irritability, lack of motivation, withdrawal and a growing desire to defy any COVID-19 related restrictions.

It makes sense: for too long now our daily routines have been disrupted, practising social distancing has kept us away from friends and family, worry about our health/loved ones/work/finances is ever present, and misinformation is spreading faster than the virus itself, with, still, no end point of all this in sight. As you've probably heard already, "we're living in uncertain times", but, are we really? Were times pre-COVID any more certain?

The truthful answer is no. The future is always uncertain, misfortune can knock at our doors without a warning and even the best laid plans can go awry from time to time, so any convictions of certainty are nothing more than illusions. We just love being in control, and as long as things go as we expect them to, we mistake this outcome repetition as certainty and security. This is exactly why even the tiniest mishap can leave us feeling as though the rug has been pulled out from under us, let alone a crisis of a global scale: we're so fixated on our expectations that we've lost the ability to adapt and evolve, and instead of acknowledging adversity as an opportunity, we tend to wallow and look out for ways to numb out any discomfort.

Trust me, I know just how easy it is to switch to alcohol past 7 pm and end up binge watching a Netflix show all night, but we all know this isn't rewarding in the long run, nor will it help us fight the physical, mental and emotional consequences of quarantine - if anything, it holds the door open for them. So, how about we took charge and started taking better care of ourselves? Below is a list of quarantine self care tips I've compiled, which will come in handy in order to cope with the stressful effects of ~~yet another~~ lockdown!

1. Make your space functional and enjoyable
We're spending time indoors now more than ever, so a messy environment is the only environment - but it doesn't have to be! Make sure your kitchen is clean and your desk area tidy before you go to bed, and don't let your laundry pile up: this will save you time and energy as you start your day. If you're up for it, start decluttering and organizing room by room; I promise you will feel so much lighter when you're done! And how about that repair/DIY you've been meaning to get to for while now? Order the necessary supplies, and soon you won't have to keep looking at it every day!

2. Stay active
Try to rebel against the sedentary confinement that is quarantine as much as possible: walk, stretch, try a short workout, and if you're already further into your fitness journey order some new equipment or subscribe to your coach's online class. Incorporating physical activity a few times a week is not only crucial to prevent/reverse the quarantine weight gain, but also to your health: it boosts your immunity, it's a great stress relief and it pumps up the production of neurochemicals (the endorphin theory is up for debate) that cause that euphoric feeling afterwards.

3. Nourish your body
Exercise is only one side of the coin of physical health: the other is nutrition. And while sugary and processed foods can make you feel happy and satiated, they're also the reason why you end up feeling lethargic and lazy. Food is so much more than a means of sustenance: it's the fuel that keeps your engine running and the quality and quantity of it does not only affect your energy levels, but your overall health as well. Changing your diet can be extremely difficult, however, and there's so many aspects to take into account (i.e. your specific health concerns/lifestyle/budget/household members), but start small, perhaps by eliminating junk food and sugar first, and build from there. If you haven't tried meal planning, I strongly suggest you give it a go (it's such a time-saver) and remember to have fun with your food: try out new recipes and cook meals you enjoy!

4. Nourish your mind
Instead of mindlessly consuming news/entertainment/social media, which is not always optimal for your mental health, carve out an hour from your daily schedule and read a book. Reading keeps your brain active, refreshes your language skills and most importantly opens your mind to a world of endless realities and possibities. Be it a self-help book, a biography of someone you look up to, or a fiction novel, reading, also, lowers your heart rate and blood pressure and relaxes your muscles - which is also why it can help you get a good night's sleep as opposed to looking at a screen before bedtime.

5. Learn that one thing you always wanted to
It doesn't have to be something radical like a whole new language (though if you're up for it, more power to you), just one small thing that can make your everyday life easier and that you always kept putting off. For me, it was learning how to make froth milk for a cappuccino: I always believed it was so hard, I ended up buying my coffee and essentially demoting my espresso machine to decor, but as it turns out, it was way easier than I thought.

6. Connect (but unplug if needed)
One of the main repercussions of this pandemic was the big blow it brought upon the foundations of our social lives, as we can no longer meet and greet each other the way we used to. Many of our social interactions now involve phones and technology, and while this experience is a poor substitute for the real deal, it's a helpful tool for staying in touch (figuratively, that is). So, don't neglect to check in with your loved ones, but don't feel the pressure to be constantly online either. I know it's easy to feel the duty to be reachable and available all the time, but this type of sensory overstimulation can often get draining. The same applies for those that live with many family members: sometimes switching off is necessary, so create your own little zone to unwind from cabin fever.

7. Stay grounded
This might be easier said than done when it seems like everything is spiraling out of your control, but it's just another skill to be acquired. Focus your energy inward, calm your thoughts (use simple breathwork and beginner meditation as tools) and remind yourself of who you are deep down. Think of all those challenges that you've overcome, those that looked like insurmountable obstacles at first glance. This too shall pass; until then, accept what you can't control and take clear action on what you can.

8. Plan ahead
I know most of us can't wait until this abnormality is over, until things get back to what they used to, but I have a feeling that this is just wishful thinking: the pandemic has highlighted so many faults in our establishments, that returning to our old ways post-pandemic would be unsustainable. The world will not be the same when this chapter is finally over and neither will you, which is perfectly ok. Like the quote attributed to Socrates in Plato's "Apology", "the unexamined life is not worth living", use the extra time during quarantine as an opportunity to reflect on your life and yourself and review which parts of it are working in favor of your aspirations and which ones are broken or need upgrading.

Disclaimer: I tried to make this guide as inclusive as possible, but everyone's reality is different. If you're an essential worker, then you probably don't even have the time to be reading this and a working single mom will definitely have different needs and priorities compared to a teenager, and I absolutely respect that. This guide is not meant to be a checklist that you must complete in order to "succeed" in quarantine life: just take whatever you feel you need the most and apply it so that it works for your situation. And of course, if you feel like your mental state is beyond tips, consult a mental health professional.

I truly hope you liked this post and that you've found it helpful! I know it's not my typical beauty post, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing it! Let me know how quarantine has be treating you since last spring and how it's affected you in a comment below!

Αν είχατε ρωτήσει μια μερίδα ανθρώπων από το παρελθόν τι φαντάζονταν ότι θα είχε συμβεί μέχρι το 2021, σας εγγυώμαι ότι ένα ικανοποιητικό ποσοστό θα είχε απαντήσει "ιπτάμενα αυτοκίνητα" - ε λοιπόν, ώρα για το plot twist, δεν είχαμε δυστυχώς ιπτάμενα αυτοκίνητα, αλλά μια παγκόσμια επιδημία ενός ιού.

Πέρα από την πλάκα, αυτός ο νέος και αρχικά υποτιμημένος κορονοϊός χτύπησε απ' άκρη σ' άκρη, έχοντας στοιχίσει τη ζωή σε πάνω από 2.2 εκατομμύρια ανθρώπους την ώρα που γράφω αυτό το κείμενο, αφήνοντας όλους τους υπόλοιπους να αντιμετωπίσουν μια εντελώς νέα πραγματικότητα και να ανταπεξέλθουν σε μια σωρεία δύσκολων, συγκεχυμένων και, συχνά, αντιφατικών συναισθημάτων. Οι ειδικοί, μάλιστα, έχουν εισάγει τον όρο "κόπωση της καραντίνας" για να περιγράψουν την εξάντληση που πολλοί από εμάς βιώνουμε μετά από σχεδόν έναν ολόκληρο χρόνο σε lockdown, και η οποία περιλαμβάνει συμπτώματα όπως άγχος, ευερεθιστότητα, έλλειψη κινήτρων, απόσυρση και μια αυξανόμενη επιθυμία να αψηφήσουμε οποιουσδήποτε περιορισμούς σχετίζονται με τον COVID-19.

Και είναι λογικό: για πολύ καιρό τώρα οι καθημερινές μας ρουτίνες έχουν διαταραχθεί, η κοινωνική αποστασιοποίηση μας έχει κρατήσει μακριά από φίλους και οικογένεια, η ανησυχία για την υγεία/τους αγαπημένους μας/την εργασία/τα οικονομικά μας είναι πάντα παρούσα και η παραπληροφόρηση εξαπλώνεται ταχύτερα από τον ίδιο τον ιό, με, μέχρι στιγμής να μην διαφαίνεται το φως στην άκρη του τούνελ για τίποτα από όλα αυτά. Όπως μάλλον θα έχετε ακούσει ήδη, "ζούμε σε αβέβαιους καιρούς", είναι όμως πράγματι έτσι; Ήταν πιο βέβαιοι οι καιροί προ COVID;

Η ειλικρινής απάντηση είναι όχι. Το μέλλον είναι πάντα αβέβαιο, η κακοτυχία μπορεί να μας χτυπήσει την πόρτα χωρίς προειδοποίηση και ακόμη και τα πιο καλά καταρτισμένα σχέδια μπορούν ενίοτε να στραβώσουν, συνεπώς όποια πεποίθηση βεβαιότητας δεν είναι τίποτα άλλο από μια πλάνη. Απλώς λατρεύουμε να έχουμε τον έλεγχο, και όσο τα πράγματα πάνε όπως τα περιμένουμε, θεωρούμε αυτή την επανάληψη των αποτελεσμάτων ως βεβαιότητα και ασφάλεια. Αυτός είναι κι ακριβώς ο λόγος για τον οποίο ακόμη και η παραμικρή αναποδιά μπορεί να μας κάνει να αισθανόμαστε σαν να μας έχουν τραβήξει το χαλί κάτω απ' τα πόδια, πόσω μάλλον μια κρίση παγκοσμίου επιπέδου: είμαστε τόσο προσκολλημένοι στις προσδοκίες μας που έχουμε χάσει την ικανότητα να προσαρμοζόμαστε και να εξελισσόμαστε, και αντί να αναγνωρίζουμε τις αντιξοότητες ως ευκαιρίες, τείνουμε να βυθιζόμαστε και να αναζητούμε τρόπους να αμβλύνουμε κάθε δυσφορία.

Πιστέψτε με, ξέρω πόσο εύκολο είναι να το γυρίσεις στο αλκοόλ μετά τις 7μ.μ. και να καταλήξεις να βλέπεις μια σειρά στο Netflix όλη νύχτα, αλλά όλοι μας ξέρουμε ότι αυτές οι συνήθειες δεν αποφέρουν τίποτα μακροπρόθεσμα, ούτε θα μας βοηθήσουν να καταπολεμήσουμε τις σωματικές, νοητικές και συναισθηματικές συνέπειες της καραντίνας - αν μη τι άλλο, τους κρατούν την πόρτα ανοιχτή. Τι θα λέγατε λοιπόν να αναλάβουμε πρωτοβουλία και να αρχίσουμε να φροντίζουμε καλύτερα τον εαυτό μας; Παρακάτω ακολουθεί μια λίστα με συμβουλές self care για την περίοδο της καραντίνας, οι οποίες πιστεύω θα σας φανούν χρήσιμες στην αντιμετώπιση των στρεσογόνων επιπτώσεων ενός ~~ακόμη~~ lockdown!

1. Κάντε τον χώρο σας λειτουργικό κι ευχάριστο
Περνάμε τον χρόνο μας κλεισμένοι μέσα αυτό το διάστημα περισσότερο από ποτέ, συνεπώς ένα ακατάστατο περιβάλλον είναι και το μόνο περιβάλλον - όμως δεν χρειάζεται να είναι έτσι! Βεβαιωθείτε ότι η κουζίνα σας είναι καθαρή και το γραφείο σας τακτοποιημένο πριν πάτε για ύπνο και μην αφήνετε τα ρουχα να μαζεύονται σε στοίβες: αυτό θα σας εξοικονομήσει χρόνο και ενέργεια καθώς ξεκινάτε τη μέρα σας. Αν έχετε την διάθεση, ξεκινήστε να... ξεσαβουριάζετε και να οργανώνετε το σπίτι σας, δωμάτιο προς δωμάτιο - σας υπόσχομαι ότι θα αισθανθείτε πολύ πιο ανάλαφροι όταν τελειώσετε! Και τι γίνεται με εκείνη την επισκευή/DIY που λέτε ότι θα κάνετε εδώ και πόσο καιρό; Παραγγείλετε τα απαραίτητα σύνεργα και σύντομα δεν θα χρειάζεται να το βλέπετε πια κάθε μέρα.

2. Μείνετε δραστήριοι
Προσπαθήστε να επαναστατήσετε στον καθιστικό περιορισμό που είναι η καραντίνα όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο: περπατήστε, κάντε διατάσεις, δοκιμάστε μια σύντομη προπόνηση και αν είστε ήδη πιο προχωρημένοι σε επίπεδο φυσικής κατάστασης παραγγείλτε κάποιο νέο εξοπλισμό ή εγγραφείτε στα online τμήματα του προπονητή σας. Η ενσωμάτωση της σωματικής δραστηριότητας μερικές φορές την εβδομάδα δεν είναι μόνο ζωτικής σημασίας για την πρόληψη/αναστροφή της πρόσληψης των κιλών της καραντίνας, αλλά και για την υγεία σας: ενισχύει την ανοσία, ανακουφίζει από το stress και επάγει την παραγωγή νευροχημικών (η θεωρία των ενδορφινών είναι υπό αίρεση) που προκαλούν αυτό το αίσθημα ευφορίας μετά.

3. Θρέψτε το σώμα σας
Η άσκηση είναι η μία μόνο πλευρά του νομίσματος της σωματικής υγείας: η άλλη είναι η διατροφή. Κι ενώ η ζάχαρη και οι επεξεργασμένες τροφές μας κάνουν να αισθανόμαστε χαρούμενοι και κορεσμένοι, είναι επίσης ο λόγος για τον οποίο καταλήγουμε να νιώθουμε νωθροί και ληθαργικοί. Το φαγητό είναι πολύ περισσότερο από μέσο συντήρησης: είναι το καύσιμο που κρατά τη μηχανή σε λειτουργία και η ποιότητα και ποσότητά του δεν επηρεάζουν μόνο τα επίπεδα ενέργειάς μας, αλλά και τη συνολική μας υγεία. Το να αλλάξει κανείς τη διατροφή του, ωστόσο, μπορεί να είναι αρκετά δύσκολο και πρέπει να ληφθούν πολλές παράμετροι υπόψιν (δηλ. συγκεκριμένα προβλήματα υγείας/τρόπος ζωής/χρήματα/άλλα μέλη του σπιτιού), ξεκινήστε όμως με μικρά βήματα, αφαιρώντας για αρχή το junk food και τη ζάχαρη και χτίστε τη σταδιακά. Αν δεν έχετε δοκιμάσει το meal planning σας το προτείνω (είναι τεράστια εξοικονόμηση χρόνου) και μην ξεχνάτε να περνάτε καλά με το φαγητό σας: δοκιμάστε νέες συνταγές και μαγειρέψτε τα πιάτα που απολαμβάνετε!

4. Θρέψτε το μυαλό σας
Αντί να καταναλώνετε άσκοπα ψυχαγωγικά μέσα, κοινωνικά μέσα και μέσα ενημέρωσης, τα οποία δεν είναι συχνά τα καλύτερα για την πνευματική υγεία, αφιερώστε μια ώρα από το καθημερινό σας πρόγραμμα και διαβάστε ένα βιβλίο. Η ανάγνωση διατηρεί τον εγκέφαλο ενεργό, ανανεώνει τις γλωσσικές δεξιότητες και, το πιο σημαντικό, ανοίγει το μυαλό σε έναν κόσμο από ατέλειωτες πραγματικότητες και πιθανότητες. Είτε πρόκειται για έναν οδηγό αυτοβοήθειας, μια βιογραφία ενός προσώπου που θαυμάζετε ή ένα μυθιστόρημα φαντασίας, η ανάγνωση μειώνει, επίσης, τον καρδιακό ρυθμό και την αρτηριακή πίεση και χαλαρώνει τους μυς - γι' αυτό και μπορεί να σας βοηθήσει να κάνετε έναν πιο ποιοτικό ύπνο σε αντίθεση με το συνεχόμενο κοίταγμα μιας οθόνης πριν κοιμηθείτε.

5. Μάθετε εκείνο το ένα πράγμα που πάντα θέλατε
Δεν χρειάζεται να είναι κάτι ριζοσπαστικό όπως μια ξένη γλώσσα (αν βέβαια αυτό επιλέξατε, μπράβο σας), αρκεί κάτι μικρό, το οποίο όμως μπορεί να κάνει την καθημερινότητά σας ευκολότερη και που πάντα αναβάλατε. Για μένα, αυτό ήταν να μάθω να φτιάχνω αφρόγαλα για τον καπουτσίνο: πάντα πίστευα ότι ήταν δύσκολο και κατέληγα να παίρνω καφέ απ' έξω, μετατρέποντας την μηχανή του εσπρέσσο σε διακοσμητικό αντικείμενο, αλλά όπως αποδεικνύεται, ήταν πολύ πιο εύκολο απ' όσο νόμιζα.

6. Συνδεθείτε (αλλά αποσυνδεθείτε αν χρειαστεί)
Μία από τις βασικές επιπτώσεις αυτής της πανδημίας ήταν το μεγάλο χτύπημα που έφερε στα θεμέλια της κοινωνικής μας ζωής, καθώς δεν μπορούμε πλέον να συναντιόμαστε και να χαιρετιόμαστε όπως παλιότερα. Πολλές από τις κοινωνικές μας αλληλεπιδράσεις εξαρτώνται πια από τα τηλέφωνα και την τεχνολογία κι ενώ αυτή η εμπειρία είναι ένα φτωχό υποκατάστατο της πραγματικής επαφής, είναι ένα χρήσιμο εργαλείο για να κρατήσουμε επικοινωνία. Συνεπώς μην παραμελείτε να μιλάτε με τους αγαπημένους σας, μην αισθάνεστε όμως και την πίεση να είστε συνεχώς online. Ξέρω ότι είναι εύκολο να το αισθανθεί κανείς ως καθήκον να είναι προσβάσιμος και διαθέσιμος όλη την ώρα, αυτός όμως ο τύπος αισθητηριακής υπερδιέγερσης μπορεί συχνά να μας εξαντλήσει. Το ίδιο ισχύει και για εκείνους που ζουν με πολλά μέλη της οικογένειας: μερικές φορές το να "κατεβάσεις διακόπτες" είναι απαραίτητο, δημιουργήστε λοιπόν τη δική σας ζώνη απομόνωσης για να χαλαρώσετε από τον πυρετό της καμπίνας.

7. Διατηρήστε την ισορροπία σας
Αυτό μπορεί να είναι ευκολότερο στα λόγια παρά στην πράξη, ειδικά όταν όλα φαίνεται ότι βαίνουν εκτός ελέγχου, δεν είναι τίποτα άλλο όμως παρά μια ακόμα δεξιότητα που μαθαίνεται. Εστιάστε την ενέργειά σας προς τα μέσα, ηρεμήστε τις σκέψεις σας (χρησιμοποιήστε απλές ασκήσεις αναπνοής και διαλογισμούς αρχαρίων ως εργαλεία), και θυμηθείτε ποιοί είστε κατά βάθος. Σκεφτείτε όλες εκείνες τις προκλήσεις που έχετε ξεπεράσει, εκείνες που στην αρχή έμοιαζαν με ανυπέρβλητα εμπόδια. "Και αυτό θα περάσει", μέχρι τότε, αποδεχτείτε εκείνα που δεν μπορείτε να ελέγξετε και αναλάβετε σαφή δράση σε εκείνα που μπορείτε.

8. Κοιτάξτε μπροστά
Ξέρω πως οι περισσότεροι από μας ανυπομονούμε να επιστρέψουμε σε συνθήκες κανονικότητας, όμως έχω την εντύπωση πως αυτό είναι απλώς ένας ευσεβής πόθος: η πανδημία έχει επισημάνει ένα σωρό ψεγάδια σε πολλά κατεστημένα, τόσο που η επιστροφή στους παλιούς μας (προ πανδημίας) τρόπους δεν θα ήταν βιώσιμη. Ο κόσμος δεν θα είναι ο ίδιος όταν θα κλείσει κάποια στιγμή αυτό το κεφάλαιο, και ούτε κι εσείς, κι αυτό είναι φυσιολογικό. Και καθώς λέει και το ρητό που αποδίδεται στον Σωκράτη στην Απολογία του Πλάτωνα, "ο ανεξέταστος βίος ου βιωτός ανθρώπω", χρησιμοποιήστε τον επιπλέον χρόνο κατά την διάρκεια της καραντίνας σαν ευκαιρία να σκεφτείτε για τη ζωή και τον εαυτό σας και να αναθεωρήσετε ποιά στοιχεία τους λειτουργούν υπέρ των προσδοκιών σας και ποιά είναι χαλασμένα ή χρειάζονται αναβάθμιση.

Disclaimer: Προσπάθησα να κάνω αυτόν τον οδηγό όσο πιο inclusive μπορούσα, όμως η πραγματικότητα του καθενός είναι διαφορετική. Ένας εργαζόμενος πρώτης γραμμής πιθανότατα δεν έχει καν τον χρόνο να διαβάσει το συγκεκριμένο άρθρο και μια εργαζόμενη ανύπαντρη μητέρα θα έχει σίγουρα διαφορετικές ανάγκες και προτεραιότητες σε σύγκριση με έναν έφηβο και το σέβομαι απολύτως. Μην θεωρήσετε αυτόν τον οδηγό σαν μια to-do list: απλώς πάρτε ό,τι αισθάνεστε ότι χρειάζεστε περισσότερο και εφαρμόστε το έτσι ώστε να λειτουργεί στη δική σας περίπτωση. Και φυσικά, αν αισθάνεστε ότι η κάτάσταση της ψυχικής σας υγείας είναι πέρα από tips, συμβουλευτείτε έναν επαγγελματία του χώρου ψυχικής υγείας.

Ελπίζω πραγματικά να σας άρεσε αυτό το post (αν και διαφέρει από τα συνηθισμένα μου) και να το βρήκατε χρήσιμο! Θα ήθελα πολύ να μου γράψετε πώς αντιμετωπίζετε την καραντίνα από την περασμένη άνοιξη και πώς σας έχει επηρεάσει σε ένα σχόλιο παρακάτω!

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So, Is The Bum Bum Cream Really Worth The Hype? | Sol De Janeiro Products Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:53:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure that Sol de Janeiro is a brand that needs no introduction: if the colorful packaging has failed to catch your attention during a trip to Sephora, I bet that you've heard about it on YouTube, since almost every youtuber that covers bodycare has waxed lyrical about the mispronounced Bum Bum Cream over the past couple of years (it's actually pronounced boom boom apparently).

Admittedly I was intrigued, and when I saw it being sold as a set with a few other popular products by the brand, I knew it was time to finally try it out.

First things first: the scent, "Cheirosa '62"! With top notes of pistachio and almond, middle notes of heliotrope and jasmine and base notes of vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood, the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is every bit as sultry and exotic as you'd imagine. I can immediately tell why this is a massive crowd pleaser: it's warm and nutty, but infused with a spicy, just-stepped-out-of-the-shower freshness. The consistency is rich and luxurious: thicker than a lotion but thinner than a body butter, it spreads easily, moisturizes very effectively (thanks to ingredients such as Cupuaçu butter, Açai, Coconut and Brazil Nut oils) and leaves no sticky residue behind (a big plus in my book). | That same scent, however doesn't translate as well in the Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel, and while I enjoyed its moisturizing lather (sulfate-free, might I add), it's one of those products I can definitely interchange with something else. | The Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter, however, took me by surprise: it's a traditional lip balm stick that keeps my lips soft, nourished and plump, a must-have for the winter months and for those that prefer to use those drying liquid lipsticks. This one smells really nutty, and the scent lingers for a while, so if your nose is sensitive to such scents, you might opt for something else.

My set also included two products from their Coco Cabana range, both scented with their "Cheirosa '39" fragrance, which consists of coconut cream for the top notes, warm vanilla and tropical orchid for the middle, and creamy sandalwood and toasted praline for the base. I have mixed feelings for the Coco Cabana Cream: while the scent is guaranteed to satisfy any coconut lover out there, the texture left my legs a little tacky to the touch post-application, despite its more watery consistency than the Bum Bum one (a comparative look at both ingredient lists explains why: Coco Cabana has a higher oil concentration with Coconut Oil being the first, while Bum Bum lists Cupuaçu and Guarana extracts higher than the oils). Perhaps not a deal-breaker, but definitely not a product I would rush to repurchase. | The best, I saved for last: the Coco Cabana Body Fragrance Mist absolutely steals the show! Mind you, it's not for the faint-hearted: it's a strong mix of coconut, vanilla and sweet roasted nuts and it undoubtedly commands the attention. Sillage is pretty strong too, which is why I've had people compliment me on it, even at a not-so close distance. Hands down, my go-to summer scent!

So, is the Bum Bum Cream overhyped? Does it combat cellulite? And final thoughts

While heavily marketed, I wouldn't say that it's necessarily overhyped, but it's definitely overpriced. Let's be real here, we are talking about bodycare products that will be washed off eventually (skincare, on the other hand is a different discussion alltogether). You can find good and nice smelling moisturizing products for a fraction of the cost, but if you enjoy a splurge every now and then and are curious to try a more sophisticated formulation, I don't think you'd be disappointed. As for the skin firming claims I'd take that with a grain of salt: yes, Bum Bum does contain the high-in-caffeine Guarana extract which does help with circulation, but I doubt the concentration will make any noticeable difference on those more problematic areas.

There you have it! I hope you found this review helpful! Please make sure to follow my social media for upcoming posts!

Είμαι σίγουρη πως η Sol de Janeiro είναι μια εταιρεία που δεν χρειάζεται συστάσεις: αν οι χρωματιστές συσκευασίες δεν κατάφεραν να τραβήξουν την προσοχή σας σε κάποια επίσκεψή σας στα Sephora, στοιχηματίζω ότι την έχετε ακούσει στο YouTube, καθώς σχεδόν κάθε youtuber που έχει μιλήσει για προϊόντα περιποίησης σώματος τα τελευταία δύο χρόνια, έχει εκθειάσει την Bum Bum Cream, που μάλιστα την προφέρουμε λάθος (η σωστή προφορά τελικά είναι boom boom απ' ότι μαθαίνουμε).

Να πω την αλήθεια, μου είχε κινήσει την περιέργεια και όταν την είδα να πωλείται ως σετ με μερικά ακόμα δημοφιλή προϊόντα της ίδιας μάρκας, ήξερα ότι ήρθε η ώρα πια να τη δοκιμάσω.

Καταρχάς, το άρωμα, "Cheirosa '62"! Με νότες κορυφής φυστικιού και αμυγδάλου, μεσαίες ηλιοτρόπιου και γιασεμιού και βάσης βανίλιας, αλατισμένης καραμέλας και σανδαλόξυλου, η Brazilian Bum Bum Cream είναι όσο αισθησιακή και εξωτική μπορείτε να φανταστείτε. Μπορώ εύκολα να καταλάβω την μαζική αποδοχή της: είναι ζεστή, θυμίζει ξηρούς καρπούς, αλλά εμπεριέχει και μια πικάντικη φρεσκάδα, σαν να έχεις μόλις βγει από το ντους. Η υφή της είναι πλούσια και πολυτελής: πυκνότερη από μια lotion, αλλά πιο αραιή από ένα body butter, απλώνεται εύκολα, ενυδατώνει πολύ αποτελεσματικά (χάρη σε συστατικά όπως το βούτυρο Cupuaçu και τα έλαια Açai, Καρύδας και Brazil Nut) και δεν αφήνει κανένα κατάλοιπο λιπαρότητας (ένα μεγάλο συν κατά τη γνώμη μου). | Η ίδια μυρωδιά, ωστόσο δεν αποδίδεται το ίδιο καλά στο Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel, κι ενώ μου άρεσε ο ενυδατικός αφρός του (sulfate-free να προσθέσω), είναι ένα από τα προϊόντα που σίγουρα θα μπορούσα να αντικαταστήσω με κάποιο άλλο. | Το Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter, όμως, με εξέπληξε ευχάριστα: είναι ένα κλασικό "βούτυρο-κακάο" που διατηρεί τα χείλη μου απαλά, ενυδατωμένα και ζουμερά, ένα must-have για τους χειμερινούς μήνες και για όσους προτιμούν να χρησιμοποιούν αυτά τα πιο ξηρά liquid lipsticks. Η μυρωδιά του συγκεκριμένου θυμίζει πολύ έντονα καρύδι/καρπούς και παραμένει για αρκετή ώρα, οπότε αν η μύτη σας είναι ευαίσθητη σε τέτοιες μυρωδιές, καλύτερα να επιλέξετε κάτι άλλο.

Το σετ μου περιλάμβανε επίσης δύο προϊόντα από τη σειρά Coco Cabana - και τα δύο με το άρωμα "Cheirosa '39", που αποτελείται από κρέμα καρύδας για τις νότες κορυφής, ζεστή βανίλια και τροπική ορχιδέα για τις μεσαίες και κρεμώδες σανδαλόξυλο και καβουρδισμένη πραλίνα για τις νότες βάσης. Έχω ανάμικτα συναισθήματα για την Coco Cabana Cream: ενώ η μυρωδιά εγγυημένα θα ικανοποιήσει κάθε λάτρη καρύδας εκεί εξω, η υφή της έκανε κάπως τα πόδια μου να κολλάνε αφού την έβαλα, παρά την πιο υδαρή (σαν gel cream) σύστασή της από την Bum Bum (μια συγκριτική ματιά στις δύο λίστες συστατικών εξηγεί γιατί: η Coco Cabana έχει υψηλότερη συγκέντρωση σε έλαια, με το λάδι καρύδας να έρχεται πρώτο σε σειρά, ενώ η Bum Bum παραθέτει τα εκχυλίσματα Cupuaçu και Guarana πριν από τα έλαια). Ίσως και να μην είναι καθοριστικό όλο αυτό για να μην την ξαναδοκιμάσω, αλλά σίγουρα όχι ένα προϊόν που θα έτρεχα να ξανα-αγοράσω. | Το καλύτερο, το άφησα για το τέλος: To Coco Cabana Body Fragrance Mist κλέβει απόλυτα την παράσταση! Υπόψιν, δεν είναι για τους ντροπαλούς: είναι ένας δυνατός συνδυασμός καρύδας, βανίλιας και γλυκών καβουρδισμένων καρυδιών και αναμφίβολα τραβάει την προσοχή. Αφήνει ένα πολύ δυνατό ίχνος πίσω του επίσης, γι' αυτό και μου έχουν κάνει κομπλιμέντα για το συγκεκριμένο άρωμα ακόμα και άτομα από μια κάποια απόσταση. Μακράν το αγαπημένο μου καλοκαιρινό άρωμα!

Τελικά, δικαιολογείται ο ντόρος για την Bum Bum Cream; Καταπολεμά την κυτταρίτιδα; Και τελικές σκέψεις

Αν και έχει πέσει δυνατό marketing, δεν θα έλεγα ότι ο ντόρος είναι απαραίτητα υπερβολικός, είναι όμως σίγουρα ένα κυριολεκτικά υπερτιμημένο προϊόν. Ας είμαστε ειλικρινείς, μιλάμε για προϊοντα περιποίησης σώματος, που κάποια στιγμή θα ξεπλυθούν (τα skincare προϊόντα είναι άλλη συζήτηση). Μπορείτε να βρείτε αποτελεσματικά προϊόντα που μυρίζουν όμορφα σε πολύ χαμηλότερη τιμή, αν όμως απολαμβάνετε μια ασωτία μια στο τόσο και είστε περίεργοι να δοκιμάσετε μια πιο εκλεπτυσμένη σύνθεση, πιστεύω πως δεν θα απογοητευτείτε. Όσον αφορά τους ισχυρισμούς περί σύσφιξης: πράγματι, η Bum Bum Cream περιέχει το υψηλής περιεκτικότητας σε καφεΐνη εκχύλισμα Guarana, που βοηθά στην κυκλοφορία, όμως αμφιβάλλω πως η συγκέντρωσή του στην κρέμα είναι ικανή να φέρει κάποιο εμφανές αποτέλεσμα σε εκείνες τις πιο προβληματικές περιοχές.

Αυτό ήταν το review! Eλπίζω να το βρήκατε χρήσιμο! Φροντίστε να με ακολουθείτε στα παρακάτω links για να βλέπετε τα επόμενα posts!

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Add Some Fragrance To Your Home | The Body Shop Salted Caramel & Vanilla Reed Diffuser Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:39:00 +0000

Hello my dear readers and welcome (back)! Since this is not only the first post of 2021, but also the first after a very long time, allow me to preface my blogging comeback by wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year, in the hope that you are healthy, centered and working towards bringing your goals to fruition!

Like many of you, I, too, find myself in (another round of) lockdown (is it No. 2? No. 3? Who knows at this point), spending way too much time indoors, and in an effort to make my living situation a little less... claustrophobic, I decided to make a couple of adjustments, in order to turn my home into a more relaxing and enjoyable space. So, on top of keeping my place clean and clutter-free, I thought I'd add some home fragrance, in the form of a reed diffuser.

Why a reed diffuser and what do I need to know about it?

Well, a reed diffuser is by far the easiest way to make any area smelling good: the essential oil is soaked up by reed sticks that disperse it into the air with a consistent and subtle reach. It's completely hassle free: no lighters or plugs involved, you can leave it unattended and there is no need to ventilate the room afterwards (as you would after burning incense or putting out candles). You can also make the fragrance stronger by turning some or all of the sticks upside down every so often (once a week is recommended), and it doubles as a luxurious little addition to your home decor.

I tried The Body Shop Salted Caramel & Vanilla Reed Diffuser: it contains notes of salted caramel, praline and vanilla, and while that sounds like a heavy gourmand scent, the actual result feels more like high-end perfume. Now, I've yet to turn the sticks upside down, but I keep this on top of a radiator at the far corner of my living room, so the evaporation keeps being enhanced on the daily, making my living room and hallway smell lovely and discreetly. The glass jar contains 125ml of oil and after three months of use it's only a little over 1/3 of the way empty, so I expect this to last me all throughout spring into early summer. You can find more scents on their website, at €22 each.

I hope you found this review helpful! Feel free to drop me a comment below! Xx

Γεια σας αγαπητοί αναγνώστες και καλώς ήρθατε (πίσω)! Δεδομένου ότι αυτή δεν είναι μόνο η πρώτη ανάρτηση για το 2021, αλλά και η πρώτη μετά από πολύ καιρό, επιτρέψτε μου να προλογίσω το blogging comeback μου ευχόμενη σε όλους μια καλή και ευημερούσα χρονιά, με την ελπίδα να είστε υγιείς, ισορροπημένοι και σε διαδικασία εκπλήρωσης των στόχων σας!

Όπως πολλοί από εσάς, έτσι κι εγώ βρίσκομαι σε (ακόμα ένα γύρο) lockdown (Είναι το 2ο; 3o; Ποιός ξέρει εδώ που φτάσαμε), περνώντας πάρα πολύ χρόνο μέσα και σε μια προσπάθεια να κάνω την κατάσταση διαβίωσής μου λίγο λιγότερο... κλειστοφοβική, αποφάσισα να κάνω μερικές προσαρμογές, προκειμένου να μετατρέψω το σπίτι μου σε έναν χαλαρωτικό και ευχάριστο χώρο. Έτσι, πέραν του να το διατηρώ καθαρό και όσο το δυνατόν λιγότερο ακατάστατο, σκέφτηκα να προσθέσω λίγο άρωμα στο σπίτι με την μορφή ενός αρωματικού χώρου με στικ.

Γιατί ένα αρωματικό χώρου με στικ και τι πρέπει να ξέρω γι' αυτό;

Ένα αρωματικό χώρου με στικ, λοιπόν, είναι μακράν ο ευκολότερος τρόπος να κάνει οποιονδήποτε χώρο να μυρίζει ευχάριστα: το αιθέριο έλαιο απορροφάται από ξύλινα στικ τα οποία το διασκορπίζουν στον αέρα με μια συνεχή και διακριτική ροή. Δεν αποτελεί καθόλου μπελά: δεν χρειάζεστε αναπτήρες και πρίζες, μπορείτε να το αφήσετε χωρίς επίβλεψη και δεν χρειάζεται να αερίσετε το δωμάτιο μετά (για να διώξετε τον καπνό από τα στικάκια ή αυτόν που δημιουργείται όταν σβήνετε κεριά). Μπορείτε επίσης να κάνετε το άρωμα ισχυρότερο γυρνώντας μερικά ή όλα από τα ξυλάκια ανάποδα μια στο τόσο (συνιστάται μία φορά την εβδομάδα), και, τέλος αποτελεί και μια μικρή πολυτελή προσθήκη στη διακόσμηση του σπιτιού σας.

Δοκίμασα το The Body Shop Salted Caramel & Vanilla Reed Diffuser: περιέχει νότες αλατισμένης καραμέλας, πραλίνας και βανίλιας κι ενώ αυτό ακούγεται σαν μια έντονη γκουρμέ μυρωδιά, το αποτέλεσμα θυμίζει περισσότερο επώνυμο άρωμα. Τώρα, δεν έχω γυρίσει ακόμα τα στικς, το έχω όμως πάνω σε ένα καλοριφέρ στην άκρη του σαλονιού μου, οπότε ο ρυθμός εξάτμισης ενισχύεται καθημερινά, κάνοντας το σαλόνι και το χωλ μου να μυρίζουν υπέροχα και διακριτικά. Το γυάλινο βάζο περιέχει 125ml ελαίου και μετά από τρεις μήνες χρήσης, έχει αδειάσει μόλις κάτι παραπάνω από το 1/3, οπότε περιμένω να μου κρατήσει όλη την άνοιξη, έως τις αρχές του καλοκαιριού. Μπορείτε να βρείτε περισσότερα αρώματα στο site, στα €22 το καθένα.

Ελπίζω να σας φάνηκε χρήσιμο αυτό το review! Mη διστάσετε να μου αφήσετε ένα σχόλιο παρακάτω! Xx

Disclaimer: Product was purchased.

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Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil | Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 16:41:00 +0000

Tons of virtual ink has been spilled over facial oils over the past few years, which comes as no surprise seeing as it's that type of product that has polarized the skincare world unlike any other. Now, if your skintype is mostly dry, you probably already love (or even, swear by) them, but if you fall somewhere under the oily/acne-prone spectrum, there's a good chance you avoid them like the plague. Still, I encourage you to keep on reading.

The "Fight Oil With Oil" principle and its caveat
Although most of you are familiar with it, allow me for a quick recap: Harsh ingredients aimed at oily skin, such as excessively foaming cleansers, astringent (i.e. usually alcohol based) toners or overly drying face masks etc, effective as they may be for removing the unwanted oiliness for a short amount of time, end up completely stripping your skin of its natural oils, causing it to overcompensate in sebum production to counteract that dryness. This never ending cycle can be broken with the use of facial oils: they keep the skin moisturized, reduce the need to produce excess sebum, and ultimately help diminish those nasty acne symptoms.

The problem with that principle?
Well, not all facial oils are created equal (which may explain why the "Fight Oil With Oil" principle hasn't worked for you)! Some oils rank high in comedogenicity, specifically oils rich in oleic fatty acids, while those with linoleic fatty acids are generally considered to be safe. I won't go into more detail, as that would defeat the purpose of this post - I just wanted to point out that it's the formula and the ingredients more than anything that you should take into consideration.

Which is how I ended up trying the Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Balancing Facial Oil, although to be fair the sleek packaging and the prevalence of the cruelty-free brand on my IG feed may have had something to do with it as well!
Lapis, as stated on the brand's website is aimed at combination, oily and blemish-prone skintypes or any skin in need of balancing hydration.
What's striking at first glance is its deep blue/blue-green color, all thanks to the
~ Blue Tansy leaf oil it contains. Blue Tansy oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-histamene and anti-bacterial properties, as well as an overall soothing effect. Other ingredients include:
~ Squalane oil (plant derived), a highly stable, non comedogenic oil, that moisturizes and protects from oxidative damage,
~ Jojoba oil, another stable oil, highly recommended for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory benefits, and
~ Kukui Nut oil, an oil rich in linoleic acids, which help enhance the skin's barrier function, on top of absorbing quickly into the skin and having antibacterial benefits.
The formula also contains Vitamin E, and Fractionated Coconut oil, worth mentioning, as it's a chemically altered form of coconut oil that's more stable and lower in comedogenicity (in fact all of the ingredients rank on the lower end of the comedogenic spectrum, 0-2).

So, how did it work for me?
First of all, I love the scent: herbal and highly relaxing! I usually apply it as the last step of my nighttime routine, and wake up to a lovely moisturized and supple skin. I can attest to its soothing abilities: it takes down the redness within a few minutes after application, which is why I often use it after my diy facials that include pore extraction and depilation and leave my skin hella aggravated! I personally wouldn't use it during the day: I don't find it to be a particularly "dry" oil and it takes a while to absorb on my skin, so any makeup application afterwards would be pointless for me.

All in all, I really enjoyed using it! If you're looking for a product, that tackles redness and is suitable for your acneic concerns, give this one a go! Just be warned, it's on the pricier side ($72 for the full size - though I rarely buy anything full size these days)!

Full Ingredients List: Amaranthus Squalane Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Capric Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Nut Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Leaf Oil, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute, Rosa Damascena (Moroccan Rose) Absolute.

Disclaimer: Product purchased by yours truly.

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Beauty Favorites | January 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 12:48:00 +0000

January was a slow month for me on the beauty front, and seeing as I'm mostly dedicated to decluttering and using up my current stash before I invest in new goodies, there hasn't been much room to test out and, subsequently, be wowed by that many products - enough, to call them "favorites", at least.

Cue the three that made the cut: a facial oil, a moisturiser and a highlighter. And if your deductive skills led you to the conclusion that there must have been some dullness and dehydration going on, well... you'd be hella right on the money.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil. The beginning of 2019 greeted us with a couple of surprise bouts of snow here, so not only did my dry/combo skin feel drier than usual, I also experienced some very persistent flaking around the nose which my regular routine just couldn't handle. This type of situation is exactly what Clarins Blue Orchid oil caters to: it rectified my yucky flakiness only after a few uses on top of deeply nourishing my skin. I kid you not, I woke up to visibly plumper, "younger" skin after letting it do its magic overnight. Things to take note of: it has quite a strong scent (that I could do without), it's not a dry oil, meaning it will take a while to absorb and it's best suited for very dry or dehydrated skintypes.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. My only experience with the Moisture Surge range up until this point was a face mask of my mother's during my post-Roaccutane days that I remember distinctly detesting. Still a little weary and certainly not expecting much, I gave this little sample jar a go, and boy, was I surprised! Its lightweight watery gel texture spreads super easily and evenly and leaves the skin feeling silky soft for hours (I suspect the silicones in the formula are the culprits, hence why it also works great under makeup). I won't go into too much detail on here regarding ingredients - I'll save that for an upcoming post.

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Hu$tla Baby. You know when a makeup product wows you upon first applying it? Well, this was one such case: it's a finely milled shimmer highlighter, that blends smoothly, layers beautifully to your desired effect and becomes one with the skin instead of just sitting atop of it (which is where the Too Faced Prismatic Highlighter formula disappointed me big time). Shade wise, Hu$tla Baby is an easy to wear peachy gold, one that should work with most skintones.

And that was it folks, short and sweet this time! Feel free to hit me up with your recent beauty picks!

Disclaimer: All products purchased by yours truly.

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OOTD | Slime Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:00:00 +0000

Right at the beginning of a new fashion season magazines and fashion websites alike tend to shower us with trends' lists for the weeks to come and, admittedly, these do come in pretty handy for us non-fashion professionals that lack the time to review every single look from every single show, yet still wish to look fresh and up to date. And while most of these lists agree on the mega trends ("plaid", "oversized outerwear", "mini bags" etc), there's the oddball that few, if any, can envision getting traction.

Lime green is a prime example: it may have first entered our radar along with the rest of the fluorescent brights during the Spring and Fall 2018 catwalks, but it wasn't until the Kardashian-Jenner family wore the shade last summer that it became a covetable trend. And, as I'm sure most of you have noticed through your IG feeds by now, this electric hue, reminiscent of Nickelodeon slime, that ranges between neon yellow/green and bright chartreuse, has expanded big time, so much so that the experts are deeming it one of the hottest trends for 2019.

Now, unless you know me or have ever met me in person, you wouldn't be able to tell how out-of-character wearing a neon shade is for me: trust me when I say that 90% of my outfits are a combination of black, grey, denim blue, neutrals and the occasional white. Yet, somehow, lime green drew me in: it has that cool early 90's vibe, as well as the ability to brighten up the gloomiest and dreariest of days.

The sweater dress I'm wearing today is by Femme Luxe, and although I wouldn't wear it on its own without the risk of revealing way too much, I love its layering potential. I decided to pair it with some simple flared trousers, but I'm also looking forward to wear it over a midi skirt or just some skinny jeans with a belt to accentuate the waist. And since I'm making an effort to up my fashion game this year, I wanted to avoid a total black canvas - hence, the edgier details: shiny vinyl, exposed zippers and my recently acquired white western boots, which I figured matched the level of the neon brightness without outshining it (pun intended).

I'll admit I expected a chunkier knit at first, but on second thought I'm glad it isn't so I can get a lot more wear out of it all throughout spring (perhaps with cycling shorts anyone?). Sizing is also true to size: I ordered the SM (8/10) and it fits comfortably on my UK 8 figure, without any unwanted tightness, tugging or pulling. And if this particular style of lime isn't cutting it for you, trust me, there's a few more to pick from, here.

All in all, I was very pleased with my first experience with Femme Luxe and I would easily recommend them if you're looking to update your wardrobe with some trendy (and equally as instagrammable) pieces.

High Neck Knit Dress: Femme Luxe "Tara" in Lime*

Trousers: Pink Woman

Jacket: Pimkie

Bum Bag: Troublemaker.gr

Western Boots: Bershka

*Ad: clothing item(s) were provided by the brand for review/showcase purposes. Links are not affiliate.

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Throwing Out The Trash | 2018 Empties Vol. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 11:59:00 +0000

Keeping up with the whole decluttering trend that's so in at the moment (partially thanks to Marie Kondo and partially due to people wanting to lead a simpler lifestyle in 2019), I figured it was once again time to empty my beauty bin. Naturally, not before I shared with you all what I managed to finish up during the past few weeks!

As usual, I divided them into categories, for your convenience (and mine)!

Skincare
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser. This gentle foam that doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight has been a frequent repurchase. I use this as a second cleanser after...
The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, another product I keep going back to. It's hardly news that anyone who wears ~~layers of~~ makeup and/or SPF should be double cleansing, so an oil based cleanser is essential. I personally prefer butters to liquids: less messy to use and way more travel-friendly.
Apivita Hydration Natural Serum with Aloe & Hyaluronic Acid. A really old bottle that probably belonged in the bin a long time ago. I would only recommend this to someone looking to simultaneously add moisture and calm down a sensitized skin - if hydration is your sole concern, then there's far better HA formulas out there.
Bioderma Cotton Pads. Confession time: I loved these! Come to think of it, I should have kept at least one to show you, so now my description will have to suffice: think of them as little plush duvets for removing makeup, with a really high thread count duvet cover on the outside. Yes, they're that good.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water. This hasn't reached Holy Grail status without good reason: it does a wonderful job at removing makeup and it's the most soothing to your skin among all of them. If you wish to go into a little more detail as to why it does so, I've dug up an old review here.
Fresh Line Vanilla Soothing Lip Therapy. Lovely lip balm that keeps your lips soft and nourished. I've reviewed this, along with a couple more from the range here.
Omorovicza Illuminating Moisturiser. This is from a travel sized sample kit they did a while back. In all honesty, I really enjoyed its texture: lovely & lightweight, it provided my skin with more than adequate hydration, but at €110 for the full size, there's no chance I'll be returning. Granted, it contains ruby crystals for that radiant effect, and I know some people swear by it, I just didn't feel the results on my skin justify a repeat purchase.

Bodycare
Nivea Invisible Antiperspirant. Not much to say about it, other than that I enjoyed using it and that I found the scent quite pleasant. I'd probably repurchase.
Nivea Protect & Care Antiperspirant Roll-On. I really liked this: it's alcohol-free and from what I can recall it didn't stain my clothes, but being a roll-on means you need to let it dry before you get dressed - and nobody got time for that, especially in the winter!
Noxzema Classic Antiperspirant Spray. Omg, I hate this with a passion! There's something so offensive in the formula, that made me cough every time I used it! As if I sprayed it in my mouth instead of my pits! Worst deodorant ever!
Sephora Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist. Another one bites the dust, no surprise here!
Sephora Monoi Creamy Body Wash. I finally finished this up! It smells delicious, but for me it's a very summery scent and once the weather gets colder, I go more gourmand than floral in the shower.
Ventus Beaute Hydrating Tropical Body Scrub. Very similar to the Palmer's Cocoa Body Scrub, it's one of the most affordable ones on the Greek market. If you know me by now, you probably remember that The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub is my absolute favorite, and this works in a pretty similar fashion.
Fresh Line Dione Soothing & Nurturing Body Souffle. A rich body butter with a very gentle fresh scent (think high-end soap). This one is marketed towards sensitive skin types, as it has a higher percentage of natural ingredients (94.4% to be specific), and although natural doesn't always mean "free from irritation", I think this would suit virtually everyone.
Fresh Line Pistachio & Almond Body Milk. Praise the heavens for this scent: rich, sweet, gourmand, ideal to make your body pampering sesh extra cozy and relaxing! You're gonna read about it again on here. Bet.

Haircare
Kerastase Aura Botanica Shampoo and Conditioner. Worth the splurge in my opinion! I gave them a shout out on my last empties' post, here.
Fresh Line Cleo Sensitive Scalp Hair Wash. Once again, a pretty good all-around shampoo, with the same formula as the rest of the Fresh Line hair wash range. Unfortunately, I found this particular scent to be a little more medicinal than my stomach could handle, so Cleo gets a no from me.
Olaplex No.3. Brace yourselves people, a review is in the works (but until I post it, maybe you can order yourselves a bottle or two and beat me to it)!
Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Exceptional Cream. An unexpected miss from a brand that rarely disappoints: while it did protect my strands from the heat during styling, it felt too heavy for my fine hair. Furthermore, I found the scent too old ladylike for my taste.
L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo. This is everything that Batiste isn't! On that note, I vow to never purchase Batiste again, when people start to think you went lighter in tone after using it, you know that product is crap. Try this one instead!

Makeup
Missha Perfect Cover B.B. Cream (shade #13). For me, Korean brands are unparalleled when it comes to B.B. creams, I mean, after all, they only invented them! If you're looking for something with high SPF (42), medium/high medium buildable coverage and long lasting results, you may want to give this one a try. Personally, I'd classify this more as a foundation than a B.B. cream, because you can tell and feel that you're wearing a base product. I got the lightest shade, which has a slight grey undertone, although I don't think this is at all noticeable to others.
L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24H-Matte Foundation. Although I don't wear this during the daytime, it's my go-to pick for nights out: it provides high medium coverage, it's relatively transfer resistant, and although it's not completely matte so as to make my already dry skin look dull and dreary, it's matte enough (ok, it's closer to a satin) to allow me to play around with my highlighters. I have a backup tube already.
L'Oreal Paris Paradise Extatic Mascara. I mean, it's good, better than Maybelline Total Temptation, but once again, another case of overhype. I liked its bristle brush though, which is similar to that of the...
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. At least with this one, I can understand the hype: if you enjoy a full-on, voluminous lash, you'll get along well with it. Not sure if it lives up to its name, however, or, if any beauty product should live up to that name for that matter!
CND Vinylux Nail Polish in Lilac Eclipse, and
Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Vanilla. Apparently, I went through a mauve phase without even realising it and managed to finish not one, but two bottles?! Yes, the mini size still counts!
Essence Stay Matt Lip Cream. Probably the first matte liquid lipstick I ever tried, it's now long discontinued. Too bad, as it wasn't drying at all, and the shade (I think I had #3) complimented my skin tone beautifully.

All in all, 28 beauty products, and if you add those to the 36 from Vol. 1, then you get a whooping grand total of 64!!! Not bad at all *pats self on the back*!!!

Have you tried any of these products? Are you in a decluttering mode too for the new year?

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Is Metallic The New Matte? | ΒΗ Cosmetics Metallic Liquid Lipstick Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:09:00 +0000

It's hard to argue that matte liquid lipstick hasn't reigned over all things makeup over the past few years: ever since Kylie Jenner launched her first lip kits, matte lips took the world by storm and if you're a true makeup gal, then you undoubtedly have at least a couple of them in your current makeup collection (unless you're more like me and 25 is closer to your number!).

Matte, however, hasn't been the only trending lip out there: for a short while oils had their moment, lip gloss is possibly making its comeback, but what I'm mostly interested in is a product category that despite having occupied certain space in the beauty pages, is still overlooked for the most part. If you haven't gathered so by now, today we'll be talking about metallic lips.

Being unsure if I would even enjoy metallic lipstick on myself (I mean, I'm no Rihanna to be able to pull everything off, clearly), I thought I'd test the waters with a more affordable version. At first I had my eye set on a particular shade by NYX, but it seemed to be forever sold out, so a quick browse online led me to the BH Cosmetics website, a brand that I had never tried before. I opted for their Metallic Liquid Lipsticks in Lovey and Lucy.

Lovey, the lightest shade, is a light dusty pink that doesn't lean neither too warm nor too cool. I found this very easy to wear with most eye looks, but the formula was really disappointing: little dried up globs of product came out with every application, meaning I had to slough them away so I wouldn't look as if I had flaky lips when I didn't. I've kept using it though, in fact I'm half way done at this point and the glob situation is a much rarer occurrence - but still a little annoying when it happens.

Lucy is a berry purple shade that works extremely well with my skin tone. Just be warned that you need a good two layers to build up the color, as one single swipe ends up being too sheer and somewhat patchy. No trace of dried up bits in this one though, thankfully.

The brand describes the formula as long lasting, and smudge-, budge- and transfer free. I say that this is true, but what also needs to be said, is that this is a rather drying product and that despite the finish being a true metallic, BH Cosmetics needs to reformulate, in terms of texture (globby bits be gone!), even pigmentation across all shades and better hydration, so that you can enjoy them for more than a few hours of wear.

I can't say I was too bummed out by my purchases though - Ι mean they were really affordable (they're on sale for $6.30 on their website atm), and given the fact that I still haven't fully warmed up to the metallic lip trend yet, they do the job. When I do run out, however, I'll most likely be heading to another brand.

What is your take on the metallic lip trend? Have you tried anything BH Cosmetics?

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Throwing Out The Trash | 2018 Empties Vol. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 21:38:00 +0000

Dear readers, meet Tina, the paradoxical creature that's been watching "decluttering" and "minimalism" themed videos on You Tube, whilst still hoarding a bag of empties since... July (oh hai!). I have no excuse for this, and if my empties bin wasn't already filled with another batch (that would be Vol. 2), I would probably still be keeping this hoard as a permanent feature of my desk decor (hmm, come to think of it, maybe a plant would be nice, but I digress).

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Witchy Beauty and the Wellness Conundrum!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 03:26:00 +0000

Not too long ago it came to my attention that Sephora plans to release a "witchy" themed perfume set, just in time for Halloween. The $42 "Starter Witch Kit", as it's so called, made by perfume brand Pinrose, includes 9 perfume samples, as well as a rose quartz crystal, a sage smudge stick, and a tarot deck, and has caused quite a bit of controversy among social media users over the last few days.

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New Entries For Summer | Collective Beauty Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 19:33:00 +0000

Happy August everyone, may it be as productive or as relaxing as you wish it to be!

This summer has caught me in quite a transformational mode, and my beauty stash was no exception. Out with the old, in with the new, literally as well as metaphorically. And since I still need to summon up the courage to photograph what is probably going to be the lengthiest "Empties" post in history, I thought a beauty haul would be a nice alternative. Plus, it sure seems like a much better theme to kick-start August with!
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OOTD | The Frill Hem Pants: Repeat Offender!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 23:32:00 +0000

First things first: please excuse the pose. I promise I'm not giving you guys any attitude, it's just that my posing skills, compared to my outfit styling ones are majorly lacking.

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Beauty Favorites 2018 | The staples so far...

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 21:38:00 +0000

I have a confession to make: most of my 2018 so far has been dedicated to decluttering my beauty stash, so I haven't really had the chance to experiment with that many new products. I did, however, find myself relying on a few items over and over again, and they definitely deserve a mention!

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My €6 Manicure | H&M Press On Nails Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 19:11:00 +0000

Here's the thing: being a beauty addict is not the best news for your bank account, especially if you take into consideration the myriads of products released every season. So, a girl's gotta cut corners somehow and, my way of doing that is by skipping the nail salon.

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OOTD | The Frill Hem Pants

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 15:39:00 +0000

As much as I love, and practically live in, my jeans almost all year round, I can't help but think jeans have become a little too uniform and, especially as I grow older I enjoy exploring more styles and ways of dressing. Which is how I ended up picking up a piece I would have never thought it would work for me - but it does!

Soft Lips for Winter | Fresh Line Lip Balms

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:22:00 +0000

Happy 2018 everyone!!! I sincerely hope it is a year of expansion and fulfillment to each and every one of you, and that you get to experience and practice more love, kindness and compassion towards yourselves, as well as the rest of the world!!!

I had the pleasure of spending the holidays in a very warm, if not spring-like Athenian climate, which I know is not the case for many of you, but it's still winter season and all precautions against the cold must be taken.

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Spring Drugstore Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:16:00 +0000

Bye Bye Dead Skin! | My favourite body scrubs

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 21:01:00 +0000

CND ART VANDAL & GIVEAWAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 20:12:00 +0000

Shoe Haul and a new post every day!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:36:00 +0000

The Comeback Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:39:00 +0000

A backpack to bag!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:09:00 +0000

Up until recently, I used to avoid backpacks like the plague: they always reminded me of my (heavily loaded) high school days, and I just didn't believe I could pull them off in any way that was remotely cool or stylish looking. Over the last couple of years, however, backpacks seem to have developed into this massive trend here, and seeing so many girls wear them gradually caused me to reconsider.

Μέχρι πρότινος, συνήθιζα να αποφεύγω τις τσάντες πλάτης όπως ο διάολος το λιβάνι: μου θύμιζαν πάντα τις (υπερφορτωμένες) σχολικές μου εποχές, και απλά δεν πίστευα ότι θα μπορούσα να τις φορέσω με οποιονδήποτε έστω και στο ελάχιστο cool ή στυλάτο τρόπο. Τα τελευταία δύο χρόνια, ωστόσο, τα backpacks έχουν αναδειχθεί σε απίστευτο trend εδώ, και βλέποντας τόσες πολλές κοπέλες να τα φοράνε, σταδιακά με έκανε να αναθεωρήσω.

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August Beauty Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 18:08:00 +0000

August was another slow month for me, spent mostly in a contemplative mood and my beauty routine reflected that to a fault: the makeup was kept pretty basic (aka neutral) all month long, while the focus was placed to skincare and bodycare. Allow me to prove this with my August favorites:

Ο Αύγουστος ήταν άλλος ένας "αργός" μήνας για μένα, που πέρασε ως επί το πλείστον με μια στοχαστική διάθεση, κάτι που αντανακλάται στη ρουτίνα ομορφιάς μου απόλυτα: το μακιγιάζ ήταν πολύ βασικό (aka ουδέτερο) όλον το μήνα, ενώ η έμφαση δόθηκε στην περιποίηση προσώπου και σώματος. Επιτρέψτε μου να το αποδείξω με τα αγαπημένα του Αυγούστου:

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Summer Beauty Haul | Backups, Replacements and New Releases!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 01:35:00 +0000

For some reason I tend to be a little hesitant about making these "haul" posts: I would hate to promote pointless consumerism, especially in times when the majority is struggling for far more basic goods. I do, however, think that the way one shops reveals a lot about one's character, so if you care to find out the reasoning behind my choices over the past few weeks, then feel free to continue after the jump!

Για κάποιον λόγο τείνω να είμαι διστακτική στο να κάνω τέτοια "haul" ποστ: δεν θέλω να προωθώ τον άσκοπο καταναλωτισμό, ειδικά σε τέτοιους καιρούς κατά τους οποίους η πλειοψηφία ζορίζεται για πολύ πιο βασικά αγαθά. Πιστεύω όμως, ότι ο τρόπος που ψωνίζει κάποιος δηλώνει πολλά για τον χαρακτήρα του, οπότε αν θέλετε να μάθετε το σκεπτικό μου πίσω απ' τις επιλογές που έκανα τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες, τότε ακολουθήστε με μετά το άλμα!

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July Beauty Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Tina A.) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:46:00 +0000

July was kind of a slow and uneventful month for the most part and one during which my beauty routine thrived in its monotony. Not that I would consider doing anything elaborate at those scorching July temperatures anyway. So, let's see what made the cut:

O Ιούλιος ήταν ένας σχετικά αργός και ήσυχος μήνας κατά το μεγαλύτερο κομμάτι του και ένας κατά τον οποίο η ρουτίνα ομορφιάς μου άνθισε στη μονοτονία της. Όχι πως θα σκεφτόμουν να κάνω οτιδήποτε πολύπλοκο υπό τις ανυπόφορες θερμοκρασίες του περασμένου Ιουλίου ούτως ή άλλως. Ας δούμε, λοιπόν, τι έπιασε τη βάση:

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