Beauty ponders

Lately I've been buying little beauty stuff... mainly because I'm on overload and I do need to finish a lot. But then again, next week it are sales so most likely I will grab myself something extra * just because I've been so good lately. Last week I bought a few things from Tweezerman, an old familiar and a new item as well.
The old familiar is the BrowMousse which I already reviewed and claimed my love for here (this is my 3rd one I think). New are the brow shaping scissors & brush. Usually I use regular small scissors, but this is going to be much more convenient - or that is the plan at least! You will hear about it either way...!

A few months ago I popped into Rituals & decided it was time for me to cave in the whole fragrance sticks madness that has been wondering around and spreading like some kind of *deliciously scented* disease... After sniffing one after anotherI decided for Vanilla Orchid, because I love me some vanilla! It comes in this cute & big packaging, makes for a nice present too - if you are still searching for something to give these days!
The scent contains Vanilla and also Myrrh which is a herb. The scent is unmistakenly vanilla but the herb gives it a little touch. I chose this over the other scents because some of the other scents reminded me too much of a sauna. They say these things last a couple of months, which I can only confirm. I bought mine at the end of August and I still have between 1/3 and 1/2 left.
However, they do advise to change the sticks for optimal results. I haven't done this yet, but I might do it soon because I noticed it is not giving off much scent anymore - even though there is still plenty in it. The instruction manual also says to rearrange the sticks from time to time & afterwards wash your hands - which is no joke because your fingers smell exactly like it if you touch the sticks!
Overall I'm pleased that I gave in & purchased these fragrance sticks, they cost around 22euros but they do last you a long time and I like the subtle effect it delivers to a room - it's not an overwhelming scent but it's definitely there. in the future I would want to put one in the living room & one in the bedroom. They have different scents available (some change from time to time), so be sure to check your favourite one out of the bunch...!

Todays NOTD is my Christmas polish, which wasn't traditional red - as red would not match my outfit - but nevertheless it was a festive polish infused with sparkles. Christmas & sparkles, great combination! As the name says it is a dark violet colour with golden particles in it. In the bottle it appears to be almost black but when held in the light, you clearly see it is violet. The particles show up nicely, even in the bottle - it is not one of those polishes where you have to search for the particles...
Then on my nails... I used 2 thin layers, as I mostly try to do, and it covers up nicely. One layer gives a bit seethrough and I don't like to use one thick layer, I prefer 2 thinner ones for optimal result. The polish goes on smooth and doesn't leave streaks. Like all Avon polishes I like the brush and it works easy. The colour is very dark and at first glance it appears to be black, but when the light hits in you see the violet - although it is a very dark deep violet. The golden particles are easily visible. These are pictures taken on day 3 of the polish on my nails and you can see a little bit of tipwear, but overall I'm impressed with how this dark polish holds up.
This is indeed a dark polish but suitable for this time of year. It's not my personal favourite, as I do enjoy lighter colours more... But I know a lot of people are crazy about them. I'm quite sure I will use this polish again on a certain occassion when suited, but I would not use it for everyday wear... You may have noticed that I have cut my nails a bit shorter: this is better when using a dark polish - if you have really long nails and use a dark polish on them it reminds me too much of a witch-effect and I don't want to look like one :)

A merry Christmas to all my lovely readers, I hope you all had a great time surrounded by the people you love, 'cause that's what matters most now!

I had a nice Christmas evening and for the rest I had to work a lot, so I'v been quite busy. But the goods news is that finally my camera settings and background are all in place now *jump for joy* - after the whole movement part. I've been able to take some pictures today to bring back more articles to my blog! Sounds like a nice present to me...

In case you've been living under a rock, you may have noticed that Urban Decay has released their Naked 2 palette... Now, I absolutely love, or should I say adore their original Naked palette and I use it a lot. I haven't done a proper review on it, because the web is filled with it & I'm pretty sure I would just be one of the countless raving reviews. Nevertheless, I love most colours as well as the packaging. It isn't cheap, but you get a decent amount of eyeshadow in return - I still haven't hit pan on any of them.

So when I heard about number 2 I immediately began searching for information, etc etc. And yes, I think I need it too... It's a cooler palette than the original but there are some lovely colours in that I deseperately need *all of a sudden.

Here's a good comparison video from TiffanyD:

What are you going to do? Buy or not buy (in case you can get your hands on it)?

Some time ago I got a coupon code in the mail from one of my favourite stores, IU, for a 15% off on skincare. Next time I went shopping I did a stop and picked up a few goodies... 'cause it's been a while since I hauled...!
I picked up the Nuxe Crème Fraiche serum, which I read a few good things about. In the past I've tried their Creme Fraiche cream and I liked it, but because of the jar packaging I did not repurchase. This serum however, comes in a glass pump - and is quite heavy. Next to it is La Roche Posays Hydraphase UV riche, this is actually a back-up. I've been using this cream for the last 2-3 months and I'm really loving it, one of my favourite day creams with SPF for dry skin (but a review is on its way, for full information). Lastly is a soothing cream by Bio Beauté Nuxe - which like the name states - is the Bio range from Nuxe. The Bio range only offers a few products, but I'm eager to compare it to their regular range. Plus I do love that this cream comes in a tube packaging instead of a jar - which is normally Nuxe's style.
Have you used this coupon code from IU or have you recently bought some new skincare?

Me & serums... we have a love/hate-relationship. Sometimes I use them religiously 2 times a day, other days pass by without me using them. Come to think of it, the more I like a serum, the more I tend to use it. A serum is a little bit of extra for your skin that becomes more & more necessary with age. Hence my reason for using it - occasionally - I'm not that old * yet!
I bought this because of several good reviews, good packaging and not too expensive (in case you haven't seen it, serums aren't cheap - concentrated stuff). The packaging is sleek & simple, Paula's Choice really is no-nonsense skin care. It comes in a tube with an easy dispenser, just a little squeak and you get enough product. It contains 30ml, average amount but ok considering the pricing around 25euros. Sadly, again, only available in her webshop...
The product is a see-through gel which feels very greasy and thick. It's also siliconebased as dimeticone is one of the main ingredients. This helps lifting wrinkles and forms a nice base for your make-up. The retinol in this should help diminish fine lines over time, but honestly, I didn't see anything during my time of usage. There is no fragrance in it, so this product has no disturbing scent - a big plus. The downside is the texture of this product... Even with my dry skin it is too greasy and takes long to sink in. I don't like spreading it onto my face - which doesn't go too well-, it feels just too greasy - repeating myself here a bit too much... I thought that in time I would get used to it and would benefit from the results but neither of them worked out. I'm almost through it, but I don't see an improvement in my skin - sadly.
The goods: packaging, no fragrance, price

The bads: greasy, doesn't sink in, no visual improvement

To sum it up, I think you see this one coming by far -  I won't repurchase it. I just don't like the texture and it didn't do anything to my skin, which is a shame. I cannot believe people have positive results with this... Comes to see that skin varies from person to person. If you want to try this, do choose a tester because I can imagine a lot of people having the same opinion about the greasy texture!

While I was in the middle of moving I snapped some pictures of my stash & wanted to share it with you all! Off course, this was then and now I'm replacing everything because I now have zero space, but I'll make it fit somehow.... And because I love watching other peoples stash, why not show mine?
The whole gang together... I store it in Ikea white boxes, they come in a variety pack with different sizes. Very convenient and fits their drawers perfectly!
Left: foundations, primers, tinted moisturizers & correctors. Featuring some Laura Mercier & Chanel! On the right: eyeshadows (mostly Catrice) & bases, cream sticks and so on.
Left: blushes & highlighters & bronzers, my most loved products probably... I always seem to find new loved ones, crazy about blushes - that's me! On the right top: eye & lip liners, mostly Avon! And underneath are lip balms and scrubs... but most of my balms are in my purses!
The last boxes feature lip glosses (Avon & Nuxe) and on the right lipsticks (Avon & MAC). At the left bottom is also a little box with a few nail products but nothing fancy at all^^

Keep in mind this was just a flash... My palettes & brushes & some products in usage are not in here! When I've sorted everything out I'm going to do an in depth-stash-article. Anything you think I should start with?

As I told a couple of days ago I had compiled a nice expensive list... And yes, it has already happened, I bought something! I wanted to wait, but then I hit a coupon code & free delivery, so I gave in & trying to tell myself it is THE perfect Christmas scent also helps :)

I bought the Serge Lutens "Un bois de vanille" which is a rich wooden scent with vanille & there's also some coconut in it. I have almost run out of my tester & I just need the scent, I'm so into it... Downside to Serge Lutens is that they are expensive & hard to come by. I bought this one for 68euros, shipping included and it contains 50ml. Honestly, some branded perfumes *no names* are as expensive or even more... So I decided to treat myself! A review will follow, but expect it to be positive!

Do you know Serge Lutens? Which is your favourite scent by him?

I compiled a wishlist... Something that I hardly ever do, but now with the holidays coming up I decided to put up my luxury item wishlist of the moment. It's not the longest list, but it is a darn expensive one!!

1) SUQQU eye brushes (L/M/F): I already have the cheek & face brush, what can I say? I love them so much... and me wanting their other 3 brushes shows my love perfectly! The only hard part is that they aren't easy to get, but I'm patient and willing to wait untill they restock! If you're willing to spend money on brushes, they are the finest of them all...

2) Serge Lutens - Un bois de Vanille: I bought my first Serge Lutens fragrance about 2 months ago, being "Un Lys" (lilly-scent, obviously) and there was a sample of this scent included and I'm really liking it. I sprayed it today and couldn't stop sniffing myself... Maybe this will be my Christmas treat to myself, but honestly I have enough fragrance... maybe I should buy something else? Decisions...

3&4) Both Guerlain make-up items with one being their famous meteorites, which I've been eyeing for a long time now & still haven't purchased... I'm awaiting the right moment, don't know when it will be. And secondly an eyeshadow palette called Rue de passy, filled with neutrals and of good pigmentation, I feel like I need it...!! (almost like I don't have any eyeshadow at all without this one... do you know the feeling??)

5) Becca - Lost weekend palette: I got the last palette from theirs called Enigma a year ago and I love their eyeshadows, so soft - easy to blend etc. This one would fit nicely in my other neutral palettes... but I'm hoping it will go on sale soon, then I will snatch it :)

Hope you enjoyed my list, which luxury item have you been eyeing lately??

And as I said, here it is... I've put everything on a seperate page which you can view HERE, I may add a bit in the following days.

When interested in something, follow the instruction! Happy shopping!

As I promised a little while ago... my new blogsale will be put up this weekend, most likely on Sunday so be sure to check in as first come, first served!


Because I'm in the middle of moving I have a good overview of all my stuff... I have too much! All details (email, payment, shipping) will also be put up then!

It's time for another comparison article, it's been a long time since I've done one... The 2 products I've chosen today, 2 brushes, are amongst my favourites and I use them daily. Surely worth a little comparison then!
Starting with the ferrule, it's obvious that the A'Squirrel one is much larger, but both of them are quite small. The SUQQU one looks and feels luxurious but still light. The Squirrel one is also light but looks a bit cheap, a bit too much to my likings. It's a blush and a powder brush, but this article is mainly to compare the type of hair and my experience with it. And off course then there is the big price difference where the SUQQU costs 3 times as much as the Squirrel one :).
Both of them look very fluffy & soft, and, yes so they are... (both made of squirrel hair, but on the other hand, I know squirrel haired brushes that aren't this soft). When stroking this brush over your hand or face it's as light & soft as a feather. I haven't experienced any softer brushes than these two. They are both divine in usage! Now then... what's the difference if it isn't in the softness? It's in the density: the SUQQU is soft & dense making it easy to control and perfect for application. The A'Squirrel one doesn't have much density and can only be used for a light application of bronzer/finishing powder. It's not suited for buffing in...
Nevertheless I found it worth comparing these two to each other. If you're looking for a softer than soft brush for finishing application & don't want to spend much money, the A'Squirrel is perfect! There are brushes just as soft as SUQQU ones out there, you just need to find them. And oh yeah my SUQQU brush wins heads down favourite blush brush ever, will do a seperate in-depth review soon...

My Avon order was quite small this time although I splurged on eye creams, at 5euros a piece... couldn't do much harm and I always love trying out new ones. And look at the convenient packaging, much appreciated!


And secondly: 2 foot items being a cream and a bath in Cinnamon Orange, hmmm lovely scent and perfect for the winter. At the top is a mascara with golden glitters, I thought it would be nice for parties/holidays? That's it for now... my first haul in quite a long time, still proud of myself :)

The last couple of months I've been able to finish a lot of products, hooray for me! I always get this feeling of pride when I finish something, just like giving a kid a candystick... And the best part is that I haven't been buying that much new stuff, I'm such a good girl *pets on the back*

• MD Formulations moisture defense spray:  I enjoyed using this and it lasts such a long time - great value for money-, a good refreshing toner with antioxidants and I might repurchase it

• La Roche Posay Toleriane dermo-cleanser: a big bottle of milk cleanser that suits dry sensitive skin perfectly, I'm loving this product and will definitely repurchase it! A must-have & HG for me!

• Avon Anew clinical eye lift: an eye cream that I got along with a few products, it was ok to use it but I won't repurchase it because it's a jar and it's not that great

• Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm: I got this a long time ago and since then it's been sitting on my night table, I used this almost every night before going to bed, it's a lovely balm and it works nice on dry lips - next time I'm going to try the stick-form which will probably be more convenient (jars & me aren't a succes)
  
  
• Avon Supershock mascara waterproof: I got this one as I used Avon's supershock in the past & loved it, so I figured this would go the same way - boy was I wrong, this mascara is a spiderleg alert and I have only used it a few times. I just couldn't apply my mascara in a decent way with it, horrible product. I don't get the massive difference in the regular & waterproof version...?!

• Avon Superenchant mascara: my latest mascarareview and a new loved one. This one will surely be repurchased, I love the effect it has on my lashes. One of the best mascaras I've ever used and with a good price.

I hope you've been finishing a lot of stuff too... Gives us, girls & boys, a reason to buy more new stuff you know!

Yesterday there was a lovely coupon code on Groupon, a Belgian discount site. They were offering these Shambala bracelets in different colours... I immediately recognized it, 'cause someone at work has been wearing on lately & I've been meaning to ask where she'd get it from. So I was thrilled they showed up and I bought these two, the white and black one. Can't wait for them to arrive, they are so stunning irl!

Do you know it or do you have one?

A couple of days ago I ran into this lovely site called "The Beauty Investigator" where the owner investigates commercials, promo pictures, artwork and so on for likewise images through the years/brands... And they are found a lot, everything is apparantely very repetetive...


Quite surprising, but after all - I wouldn't want to be a marketeer and look for innovative ways to promote something... A lovely site to browse a bit :)

iHerb is an online shop which specialises in organic, natural skincare. They offer a wide range of brands & products. Off course, my main goal there is skincare. They have a good customer service and good/inexpensive shipping. But, their items are often out of stock, regular checking in is needed.

Yesterday I got a mailing from them to distribute a discount code to my readers "VIJ020"which will get you a 5$ off your first purchase. Always nice :) so enjoy!

A couple of months ago I did a Pai order after I had seen it on Amodelrecommends and there was a coupon code which got you a free eye cream. Pai is an organic luxurious skin care brand, oh how I love these... So far I have only tried this moisturizer from the things I've ordered - my stash is too big, I desperately need to finish some things *you may have noticed I'm hauling a lot less, yeah that's why*.
It comes in a simple paper box and the product has been put in a jar with a pump. I like the packaging: the glass is not too heavy and pumps always have my preference (although I've noticed that a bit of product seems to dry up in the pump, it's a waste). It's seethrough, this is good for noticing how much you have left but it's a bit worse for the ingredients as light exposure diminishes active ingredients. But then again, this is not as bad as a jar... so I can definitely live with it. It's 30ml which is a fair amount, personally I prefer bigger ones of 50ml. Pricing is expensive at 32 euros, so it'd better deliver!

The cream has a floral scent -rose- and is quite thick. It spreads out easily and sinks fast into my dry skin. But afterwards it feels a bit sticky and it takes a while before it has completely sunk in. Afterwards my skin feels very nourished. This is indeed a rich cream and it has been working out fine on my sensitive skin, although I'm not that sure with the amount of fragance in it. They can skip it for me. I use about 1-2 pumps for my entire face and have been using this as a night cream. I have been able to use it for a few months and am now gathering the last bits so it lasts some time. It has been taking good care of my skin -especially now that fall / winter is upon us-, but I haven't seen a massive improvement in it either... This is a decent rich night cream, but a tad too expensive compared to its effects... I expected more from it, to be honest.
The goods: pump, nice scent, thick cream, nourishing, can be used by sensitive skin

The bads: price, fragrance, feels sticky after application, product dries up in pump (=waste!)

To sum it up... Yes, this is a good product for dry sensitive skin and I enjoyed using it. Is it something special or a must-try? No, it is not. I can think of likewise creams at a better price (Paula hydrating treatment cream for instance). Personally, I will not repurchase it but if you'd like to try it and the price isn't an obstacle to you - go ahead!

Yes... it is. Today is my birthday - which is Halloween and has a creepy sidenote to it while tomorrow is the 1st of November.
But, nevertheless, I plan on trying to enjoy this day and have a look at the positive things in my life...

A new round of articles in which I'll share my favourite blogs / newly found blogs. The one today is called Front Row Beauty and I stumbled upon it while searching for Becca reviews / information & I immediately loved it and read everything she wrote in the past...
She reviews high end brands & a lot of Chinese/Japanese brands so if you're into luxury, you'll love it as well. I also love her pictures and their quality, which is important to a blog. Definitely worth checking out.

Have you recently got to know a nice blog?

Mascara is one of those make-up items that's a must for me. Without it, my eyes feel very naked. If I could choose one make-up item to wear, this would be the one. The last couple of months I've been using this Enchant mascara by Avon, which they released half a year ago or something like that and I must admit, I'm really loving it.
The packaging is sleek, black, with purplepink letters on it. Nothing too fancy, just the way I like it. The bristles have an odd curved shape to deliver a good curl at the outside of your lashes. The mascara doesn't look smudgy.

Here you can see a little before & after. The mascara definitely delivers curl, a bit of length and a bit of volume. It doesn't give you spider leges and it looks natural enough for me. It's easy in usage & doesn't smudge. I only find it a bit impractical for the lower lashes due to the curved shape. Depending how you use the bristles you get a more curled or more volumenized effect. Underneath more pictures with mascara & eyeshadow, where the volume is a bit more visible.
I have been able to use this mascara for about/more than 3 months without smudging and that's quite something. It also has a lovely price, around 7euros and is definitely amongst my favourite ones ever - well done Avon for delivering such a lovely mascara. I will surely repurchase this one, so, don't discontinue it :).