Beauty ponders

My last toner was one by Estée Lauder, but wasn't worth repurchasing so I looked for something else. I ordered the new toner from Paula's Choice Resist line, which you could see in one of my latest hauls. Along with that I also ordered a sample of this recovery toner. At the time of ordering I was doubting between those two toners, but opted for the Resist one as it was new released, looked fancier and has such nice promises - but those results will turn up in another review. Meanwhile I've been able to test this toner to get a quick glance.

Now, who doesn't want smooth radiant skin? Lift your hand if you do... I've been able to use the sample for 2days. The product itself wasn't watery and looked a bit like a lotion before it sunk into my cotton pad. It is fragrance-free and has no scent at all. While using, it didn't irritate my skin in any way, I could even use it around my eye area. It didn't leave it tight, my skin felt soft and a bit moistened after usage. So far, I'm loving it - no, wait, rewind, that's MCDonalds. On the other parts I can't really comment as I haven't used it long enough.

This toner costs around 18-19euros for 177ml and -sadly- is only available through her webshop online. This is definitely a product I'm keeping my eye on to purchase as my next toner.

I've made some petit changes to my blog and added a few things to the left side bar, to make everything more viewer-friendly...

I also added "popular posts", because it's interesting to see what my readers like the most.

First up I ordered the Sigmax line, ever since they were released in October I've been wanting them. I already bought the F80 in the past, review, as it was released sooner, and am still really fond of it so it would only make sense that I would like these other brushes as well. I bought the set, so I would have another copy of the F80, because when cleaned with shampoo it takes quite some time to dry. This way I can alternate between my two copies.

Last fall I purchased a whole set of Trind goodies and used them quite a long time, you can read my thoughts on them here. Among the other products in the set was a hand cream, yet another thing of which I own too many - I'm trying to finish them before purchasing new ones, but hand creams seem to last a long time. The last month I've been carrying this one by Trind with me, it's a 75ml, a good purse-size.

I like the packaging, it's a matte white with golden letters of Trind on it, there's a brown dop on it and well, that's it... Nothing fancy, but decent enough. The dop is very solid, I've been carrying it in my purse for more than a month and it doesn't leak or opens up - which I've heard before from other creams, the horror! It does contain perfume, parabens and mineral oil - which may be a no-go for some people.

The cream has a more lotion-like-texture and spreads out easily. When squeezing the product out of the tube the perfume immediately hits in, it's quite a strong scent that's hard to define - it's best described as floral. It sinks in fast and doesn't leave your hands with a greasy film/feeling. Afterwards my hands feel moist and soft. Sadly enough the moisturizing feeling dissapears soon, and my hands return to their dry state. When using more product to get an optimized effect, it leaves a greasy film so that's not an option. I've been using it often, because I have to use it more than other -more- moisturizing hand creams I've used in the past. At the cost of 15euros for this tube, when bought seperately, it's too pricey for its poor effect...

The goods: sinks in fast, no greasy film

Becca is one of those "under the radar brands" that not many know about, but do offer great quality and should be more acknowledged. I first heard of the brand from Lisa Eldridge in this video, where she discusses everyday makeup and uses the eye tint. Sadly enough Becca isn't available where I live, but a few months after having watched the video, I paid a visit to London and had a look at their range. I immediately fell in love with a few of their products, I bought the Eye Tint as that one was on top of my list.



I like the packaging, it looks simple but sophisticated at the same time. It comes in a tube, which is very hygienic and easy in usage (I don't like jar creamshadows). The ingredients are also very interesting: it doesn't contain perfume, there are silicones in it to smoothen your skin around the eye area and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Apart from that it's also water-proof.


When you're finished spreading it, it leaves a goldenbrownish glow that looks very subtle and has a more satin finish (keep in mind that on darker skin tones the colour will blend more in your own skin tone). Depending on the lighting the colour varies a bit. The product is easy in usage, spreads and blends easily. Just be carefull you don't use too much in the beginning, that was my problem. It doesn't crease and stays put all day. The tiny downside to this is its price, I paid 17£ for it, which is about 20-25euros, but according to me it was totally worth it. I often use this when I'm not in the mood or don't have time to put on regular eyeshadow and honestly, with a bit of inner corner lighting - this looks just as good!!

The goods: easy in usage, no creasing, nice glowing colour, decent ingredients

The bads: price?!, less noticeable on darker skin tones

Becca also offers this product in other colours and I might purchase a few of them in the future. I don't mind the price tag, you get a good amount of product for it in return and a little goes a long way, I've been using mine for months and it's still quite full. I just wish they a counter in my country. A very nice product, that I recommend to try and buy...

I'm a sweetie pie, literally... Everything that smells like candy and cupcakes I basically adore and want or should I say crave for, but that's overdoing it I guess... Same story goes for this scent from Avon, strawberry & guava, I could tell by the names I would love this so I bought the whole package, which was a shower gel, body lotion and this body spray, each product was priced at 3euros.


The main ingredient of this spray is alcohol denatol?! Which makes it impossible to use as a body spray, technically not but no sane person would spray alcohol on themselves? It will only harm your skin. Now, I can gladly say that Avon is changing the name of these body sprays to Linnen spray, a much better purpose. I mainly use this spray as a room refresher or on my pillow or on my clothes. The spray itself distributes enough product.

When spraying it, you're first aware of the alcohol - very strong - and then it fades leaving you with a sweet scent that is adorable. It's not too strong, but present enough. If you feel like perfumes are too heavy for you, these sprays are a good and light alternative. I mostly smell the guava in it and not too much of the strawberries, but most sweet-scent-lovers will like this one as much as I do.

When I go shopping and buy make-up or skin care, I always like to receive samples of skin care. I'm not much a fan of perfume samples. Some time ago when I bought my LRP Miccelar, I got this one as a freebie along with it, I had been meaning to buy it in the near future so I was glad I was able to try it. Overall I like most LRP products, they are really gentle on your skin which is very important to me.

The product is white, creamy and quite thick. It has no smell (no fragrance) and feels very soothing on your skin. It removes make-up easily, without irritating. However if you are wearing a lot of make-up I would recommend cleansing 2 times to get it thouroughly done. After cleansing my skin feels refreshed. I like that it doesn't leave my skin feeling overly cleansed or tight. So far I'm a fan of this product and this is defintely my next-cleanser-to-purchase, curious to how it turns out in the long run...

Available in pharmacies and drugstores: 200ml for 12euros, 400ml for 14euros.

A couple of months ago I placed a Nyx order, shamefully I didn't have any of their products and bought a whole bunch - 'cause it's very budgetproof. Nyx is more known in the United States and gets quite the praise there. I've come to realise that pricequalitywise their products are indeed worth while. Today I'll be talking about one of their most sought after items, being the jumbo eye pencils.

I bought 4 colours, but these 2 are the ones I've used the most so far. It's 608 Cottage Cheese and 604 Milk. Both colours can be used for various purposes: it can help intensify another eyeshadow when used as a base, it can be used as a highlighter on your browbone or as an inner corner.

Cottage Cheese - inner corner

Conclusion: Nyx's jumbo pencils are a good product that I recommend, especially considering its price. If I had to pick one, I would go for Cottage Cheese, I love shimmers. The pencils can be bought online on various websites, I bought mine at nonpareil, they also regularly have discounts.

Everyone has their own type of deodorant: some like sprays, other sticks and other others roll-ons. Myself, I'm a roll-on kind of girl. I've tried them all in the past but sprays were often too drying or irritating on me, sticks I find repulsive so I'm left with this last option and this is the one I like. Roll-ons are sparing, as they often last me a couple of months and they don't irritate my skin. They are refreshing enough and preserve the scent very well. The last month I've been using this new one by Avon:

Stay cool as a cucumber with this 24 hour deoderant*. The non-staining, non-stinging formula, containing cucumber and melon extracts, glides on smoothly, helps to stop odour and helps eliminate perspiration all day. 50ml

Honestly, I bought it because it was low priced and I'm always in for budget items... I paid 2euros for it and got the scent "cucumber & melon", another scent "lavender" is also available, a scent I totally dislike but my mum for instance loves it. The scent is a bit vegetable-like and fresh at the same time, I feel quite "green" while using it. It glides on easily, doesn't irritate and works a bit moisturizing. I can't really comment on how well it works on the sweating part, since it's winter but I'm guessing it will be average - as usual. I didn't notice any stains on my clothes, so another plus. Tiny downside was opening the product for the first time: the top was also wrapped with plastic and I couldn't get it open, luckily after some severe trying my boyfriend managed to open it - you know he would never let it pass that he could NOT open a beauty product. I'd never imagined I would ask him to open one for me...

The goods: fresh scent, low price, non-irritating, no stains

The bads: opening it :)

I will enjoy using this roll-on as I like the scent of it. I hardly ever repurchase a deodorant because there are so many out there and I like to switch since I only use about 3 roll-ons a year. But if you're looking for a cheap and decent one, this deserves a shot...

My Cetaphil cleanser that I've fallen in love with: this time the big bottle of 500ml for 20euros, a very good price. I mainly use this in the morning and my skin loves it! Recommendable for sensitive skin.

Dior... for me one of the more luxurious brands that I always keep lemming on, but don't buy often. Most of the time there are cheaper and just as good alternatives, but girls will be girls and Dior has that sparkle to it which we can't resist. After a workshop in IciParis I got this sample mascara in black, the Diorshow Iconic, and I was able to use it a couple of months even though it's so tiny...

High Definition Lash Curling Mascara
A Dior exclusive innovation: a revolutionary oblique brush. The incredibly soft elastomer brush features slanted bristles to capture each lash one by one. Enriched with a unique lifting formula, Diorshow Iconic sculpts, stretches and curls the lashes with extreme hold and high definition.

The brush is indeed quite innovative and has many bristles that are close to each other, yet still seperated. When taking the brush out, there aren't any chunks on it and it's ready to use...

my lashes without anything on them

The mascara applies easily and seperates lashes without any trouble or without any clogging. Even after 2-3 layers still no clogging and your lashes look perfect. Compared to other mascaras I often have problems with the second or third layer, results are spider legs. That's not the case with this one, the result stays natural. The claims are surely true: this mascara gives you a nice curl (I didn't use a curler) and a beautifull length. It doesn't give a lot of volume, but that's not the goal of this mascara.

The goods: no clogging, natural effect, applies easily, gives length & curl

When I was in the Netherlands I ran into Etos, a drugstore, and noticed they had a promotion going on on their own line so I bought a couple of things to try, including this scrub. My pet peeve is shower gels so I try to work around it and lately I've been buying more scrubs - which is something totally different off course-! In sale this costed me 3euros for 200ml, if I recall correct, it wasn't much.