Friday 29 April 2011

Skincare & fashion haul

Today a haul of my last 2 weeks purchase in the city. With the spring coming/being here I was in the mood for new stuff and realised I also needed some more sun care to be fully prepared...

I bought another copy of my Bioderma solution = love. I just like to have a spare one in my closset, it's not like I go through a bottle a month or anything. It lasts me several months. I bought 2 things from Avène: an aftersunsoother and an SPF50 for the face (I've used this one in the past and liked it). As a new thing I bought the Louis Widmer deo spray, I read some good things about it - it won't cause any discoloration on lighter colours from sweating, because I'm into white in the summer this is an absolute must for me. So far I haven't found the perfect deo, but who knows this may be the one!!

This lovely t-shirt was on discount: it's a bit seethrough but once you're wearing it it covers up everything. I really fell for this one, a very special t-shirt. It's also from a little shop that doesn't carry many items, so I probably won't catch someone else wearing it, which is always a plus to me.



When I play competition with my dog I like to wear things from Jack Wolfskin, I love the paw-design they often have on their products. Downside is the price range, but once in a while I can splurge... So I got these 2 tops: reddish pink (more pink in real life) and teal, both with a lovely paw on the back. I don't know why the picture shows up blurry on the left side, it's fine on my computer...?


And I also got a soft fleece, also in reddish pink... Ohw, I love how soft this is, almost makes me want to crawl underneath it... And once again, a lovely design on the back featuring little paws - cute!


Have you already bought some sun care for the summer
or
some summer clothing?

Thursday 28 April 2011

Never again: I love strawberries & milkshake shower smoothie

I love sweet scents and I love red fruit, hence I love all shower/bath stuff that smells even remotely like it... So, when I ran into this new line and heard it featured a strawberryscent I had to try it - after sniffing and approving off course. I bought it while I was in the Netherlands for 6euros, but you can get it in a Di-shop in Belgium as well.

Squeeze me generously into the palm of your hand, rub me all over your wet skin to buff, moisturise and smooth skin to a gorgeous shine. Rinse me off when you've had enough fun to leave your skin super smooth and smelling fabulous.

Note: on the back of the packaging it reads " warning: I am not a food, please do not swallow me"

-> hilarious or what?

Packaging is adorable, with the little hearts on it and I like the small poemy thing as well. The smells reminds me most of overly mature strawberries, the scent is also very strong - honestly, it's a bit too much for me. The product is a thick shower gel with little particles in it. It's also quite creamy and feels really moisturizing. Now, it's intented to be used on wet skin only so I did and used it as stated above. My skin did indeed feel smooth. But after drying my skin, I got red dots all over, like a bit of a rash. I decided to give the product a few more chances and tried it alone as well, but that didn't help at all. My sensitive skin clearly can't bear this product. When I checked the ingredient list I noticed SLS and perfume were very high on it, so that's probably the cause of it.

I'm quite disappointed in this product. It shouldn't matter that much that I have sensitive skin, a shower gel shouldn't irritate at all. Due to this product I'm not very keen on trying other things from their line. I wouldn't recommend this at all, if something works irritating it's best to avoid it all at once...

Do you have any experience with this line?

Wednesday 27 April 2011

My daily makeup routine

Lately I've been using a lot of products for day (weeks) in a row. This is my current favourite routine, which I've been using the last few weeks and which I really enjoy/suits spring.

I put all my daily stuff in this little purple box ^^cute eh - I bought it at Hema. For my eyes I always grab my Naked palette and switch colours to my liking, I think everyone knows this palet so I'm not going to explain it more, if you like nudes you MUST have this in your collection, it's pure love. Most of these products already have a review on them, just check the link, and the reviews of other products will surely follow!


  • First up, I begin with a base that I apply with my hands. Right now I'm using Clarins Eclat Minute. I've found that when using a decent base my foundation/TM looks less cakey. And it helps my blush stay on practically all day. Plus it also smells nice :)

  • As a mascara I'm using Supermagnify by Avon, a really special and very good one which you'll read about soon. I'm already ordering another copy of this one. Great pricequality!

  • Under my eyes I put a bit of YSL Touche Eclat in shade 2, I dab/blend this with my fingers.

  • Then I use By Terry Lumière Veloutée in colour 2 on my cheeks and nose, the places I need a more evened out tone and a bit of coverage. I use my Sigma F80 (top of picture) to apply and blend.

  • As a -liquid- highlighter I'm using Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl and this product is amazing. I love it so much, it's the best highlighter I've ever used and it looks stunning, very natural. I apply this in dabbing motions with the Sigma Round Top F82 or the N7 foundaton brush.

  • My brows are filled in with Anastasia brow powder in Medium Ash with the help of the Sigma SS266/E65, I mainly use the powder at the beginning of my brow and on a few gaps in between. Afterwards I apply Tweezerman Browmousse so they stay in place^^I don't like my brows to be wandering around the place...

  • Then, when my highlighter has sunk into my skin, I'm ready to apply blush. I use Benefits Dandelion, a pretty pale pink blush that gives you that little bit of glow without being too much, very subtle but you need a decent amount of it to obtain the glow I'm talking about. I use my Shu Uemura 20 pony brush to apply this - one of my softest brushes. I sometimes switch and use another blush, but lately I'm always coming back to Dandelion, it's got me hooked I guess...

  • Lastly, I apply Laura Mercier Loose setting powder in Translucent over my cheeks and lightly over my chin and nose with the Sigma F30 large powder brush, this really helps my makeup to stay on longer and doesn't dry out my skin as much as other powders do.


  • How is your makeup routine, does it change a lot or do you stick with a few things that you absolutely adore?!

    Tuesday 26 April 2011

    NOTD Catrice Am I Blue or Green?

    Since I bought a lot of Catrice polishes, it's all I've been wearing lately. If I get a new polish I want to try it as soon as possible off course and enjoy it. This week I was in the mood for a bit of colour and chose this special one that isn't green or blue but is both...

    I used 2 layers of this polish, as described on the top and it has a nice coverage. You don't need to layer it on very thick, two small/regular coats are enough. It has a nice creme finish and doesn't streak. As all Catrice polishes it shows tipwear after a day or 2 but nothing serious.


    -a very different colour depending on the lighting-

    The colour is indeed very tricky, sometimes it appears more green and other times it appears more blue. I love how versatile it is, it's a very pretty colour - perfect for spring and summer. It reminds me a lot of the Tiffany colour, but in real life the polish is a bit more blue than the box, nevertheless it resembles it a lot... To sum it up: a lovely polish to wear now, especially if you like pastels and softer colours!!
    Sunday 24 April 2011

    Happy easter!

    Just wanted to wish you all a happy easter, enjoy the weekend and the day off! Because on Tuesday, we're back on beautychatting...


    Friday 22 April 2011

    You and me

    Once in a while you come across a song that you find very special and just have to share, at least when you know who sings it. Lately I ran into such a song, called "You and me", a really simple and down-to-earth-song. The first person I wanted to share it with was off course my bf. He had a lot of prejudices about the singer, but after all loved the song. Now everytime I - or he - hears it we think about each other and just smile *cute, I know*.

    The song is by Milow about his loved one, below is the video which is also special since it was taken in one shot. I particularly love the ending where she crawls into his heart... Ohw, I love romance...




    Do you have such a song, then please share!
    Thursday 21 April 2011

    Celeb Looks: Leighton Meester

    Leighton Meester is such a beautifull girl and I really love some of her looks (and also the show Gossip Girl, off course,- actually I like Blair more than I like Serena, but that's besides the point). She often looks very natural and on the other hand she enjoys experimenting a lot. Here's a compalation of my favourite looks:

    Gorgeous peachy cheeks and small smokey eyes, I love it! Her skin always looks like it's glowing!

    A very subtle look, the whole packaging: eyes - cheeks - lips is just perfect - my favourite look of hers. The eyes are probably the best here, subtle but they still draw attention.

    A heavier smokey eye with a little twist, works really inspiring for me to try when going out.

    She went blonde as well, it looks really sweet on her, especially without the eye makeup being noticeable. But I still prefer her with darker hair.

    And lastly, another gorgeous summer look. Her face and cheeks makeup scream "beach / sunkissed".


    Do you like Leightons looks? Which is your favourite picture among these?
    Wednesday 20 April 2011

    Hairdresser time!

    Tomorrow or actually today I'm going to the hairdresser and for summer I want ombre hair... It's gorgeous and well - all summery... Here are a few examples, my favourite is the first picture. What are your thoughts on it?



    Tuesday 19 April 2011

    NOTD ELF Innocent

    Not too long ago I told you about my ELF hauling and I was also curious to their polishes, especially since they are priced at 1euros - yes I love. I bought only one, to check it out and got this new nude colour called "Innocent".

    I used 2 coats here, the first coat was a bit sheer but the second provides enough coverage. The brush reminds me a lot of an Essie brush, it's also quite small / tiny. Applying goes easily and it doesn't leave any streaks. Afterwards I used a top coat, drying time was as usual. The colour is a gorgeous nude that I will definitely wear quite often, especially now in spring when I tend to grab my nudes all the time, it's a bit darker than my OPI nudes - it's more Essie-style.

    After 2-3 days I began noticing a little tipwear and I also had a few tiny chips. The lasting time of this polish is less than more high end brands such as OPI, which lasts me a week easily. But nevertheless, for its price you can paint your nails 2 times a week :). This won't be my last ELF polish, it's worth ordering a few if you're planning an order as it's only available online.
    Monday 18 April 2011

    Review Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner

    Over the last few months I've purchased some Paula's Choice products, fullsize / samples, and told you about my experiences. Today is a product of her new line called Resist, which is intented for aging skin to fight wrinkles etc - you can see the promises below. I've used it for 2-3 months and my thoughts are...


    RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner is our most state-of-the-art toner. Everything about it is designed to provide superior benefits to aging skin. From the first application your skin is smoother, softer, and visibly radiant. See redness and signs of irritation vanish, and with ongoing use, you will see fewer wrinkles and a beautifully healthy skin tone.


    The second step in your RESIST antiaging skin-care routine Unlike any other toner you may have experienced Antioxidant-rich formula nourishes your skin with its rich, milky texture Helps restore and protect your skin’s healthy barrier function Leaves your skin feeling unbelievably silky with a gorgeous glow Restores essential elements aging skin needs to produce healthy collagen and reduce wrinkles Instantly calms your skin and reduces redness Works beautifully to remove last traces of makeup Formulated for all skin types but best for normal to very dry skin pH 5.5–6.0


    I like the packaging, a lot more than her other packaging. This one looks more luxurious, I like the blue and the grey. The bottle contains 118ml and costs 21,5euros - which is a lot in my opinion. For reference, my previous Estee Lauder toner costed around 50euros and was 250ml. Paula claims that her products aren't expensive and has labeled this Estee Lauder toner as expensive on her reviewsite, but in comparison her toner is as expensive as the EL one. Being honest much?

    You can turn the cap easily off and I put a little bit of the toner on a cotton pad, then sweep it gentle on my face. The texture is thicker than other tones I've used in the past but not as thick as a lotion, there's no scent to it since there's no fragrance in it. I can feel it being hydrating on my skin and it leaves a little glow *love*, therefor it's more suited for normal to dry skins. I've used it for several months and not once has this toner irritated my skin in any way, lovely! I have a few fine dry lines and with continued use of this toner they didn't become less than before, but I kinda knew this promise would go unfulfilled. The toner also claims to reduce redness, which I didn't notice. If my skin was a bit red / irritated this toner didn't take the colour away but on the other hand it didn't make it worse either, I did feel it worked calming on my skin.



    The goods: no fragrance, doesn't irritate, hydrating, leaves a glow

    The bads: expensive, doesn't reduce wrinkles, doesn't reduce redness

    Overall I think this is a good product, the goods make up for the bads. I've enjoyed using it and may repurchase it in the future. I just wish she would release a bigger version of this toner, a 250 or 300ml with a better pricing. If used daily or twice a day, 118ml doesn't last that long. Don't expect wonders from this product, it won't fade your wrinkles - nothing can - but it does have good ingredients in it to prevent future damage and that's what's important!
    Friday 15 April 2011

    Avon & Ici Paris hauling

    I did some little shopping: makeup, skincare and perfume... My Avon came in and I also had a 30% discount coupon for IciParis.

    Avon released a new lipstick called the Ultra colour Riche Moisture Seduction in 10 shades, I ordered 3 colours: Nude Perfection, Silky Peach and Red Kiss. The lipsticks have white ribbons in them that provide the moisture, they look gorgeous and also have a citrus scent. I hope they can deliver, but I've already read some good things about them (hence why I bought 3 shades). Then a lipgloss from the Dazzle line in Pink Radiance, it doesn't look very different from their other line of lipglosses but we'll see. And to finish the make-up 2 eyeliners, just regular Glimmersticks (not the one from yesterday's post so without the shimmer) in Cosmic Brown and Starry Night Blue.

    Body care: 2 body lotions in Vanilla and Pomegrenate&Mango, both 200ml. And a perfume -eau de toilette- called Tahitian Holiday in 50ml, supposedly a dupe for Estee Lauders Bronze Goddess.

    And lastly my IciParis stuff that I got at 30% off: their own line Nail Polish Remover, Rosebud Minted Rose (I really like mint!) and a mask from Estee Lauder called Resilience Lift Extreme - it isn't going to do any lifting but I heard it contained a very good amount of antioxidants and can easily be used as a night cream.


    If you did some recent shopping, share...

    Wednesday 13 April 2011

    Product Praise Budget Avon Glimmerstick Diamonds eye liner

    I'm not a big eyeliner fan and I don't wear it daily - I just prefer a more clean natural eye. And, honestly, a whole eyelined eye doesn't suit me at all, it makes me look a bit spooky like I'm from another planet or something like that... So I only wear a bit of eyeliner on my lower lashline, depending on my mood. Nevertheless I do have a good amount of eyeliners in my stash and this one, Glimmerstick Diamonds by Avon is -by far- my favourite of all... I bet you're all curious why??


    Each eyeliner comes in a different box with the colour written on the outside. The pens have their colour on the bottom lined & written which makes it easier to grab the one you need. I have 4 of the 6 available colours which are (top to bottom): black ice, brown sugar, smokey diamond (grey), sugar plum. The other 2 colours which I don't have are emerald glow (a green) and twilight sparkle (a blue). They are called "Diamonds" because there are some tiny shimmers in it that are perfect for everyday use and leave the colour softer. If the liners are in discount you pay around 3-4euros for one, a price that I love!


    Gorgeously soft and creamy pencil adds a sparkling line to your eyes.
    Glides on smoothly, won’t pull or tug skin.

    This eyeliner isn't one that needs sharpening, if you don't have enough product you just need to twist it a little bit to get more out of it. If you have too much you can just twist it back - really convenient. Tiny downside is that after having used the tip a lot it doesn't stay pointy and you get a more round tip to work with. This isn't difficult because the pencils are very small and leave a fine line which can be build into a more intense bigger one if you prefer that.


    Left to right: black ice, brown sugar, smokey diamond, sugar plum.
    Black ice is the one from above with the pointy tip, the other ones are rounded tips.
    Click on the pictures for a close-up where you can see the shimmer a bit better.

    I mostly use Brown Sugar and Smokey Diamond but if I have to pick one I would go for Brown Sugar, I'm just a fan of brown eyeliners - black often looks too harsh for everyday. These pencils give a fine line and are easy in usage. After a working day they are still as present as before. The tiny shimmers aren't too much, it really depends on the lighting. Overall a very nice product without any downsides, will continue to purchase this - so please Avon, don't discontinue this!

    Budget Perfume Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature in raspberry

    I love sweet scents and when I was in school and on a budget I really liked this Eau de toilette from Yves Rocher. A couple of months ago when I went to their store I decided to grab a copy of it just for occasional wear and for old times :). The scent immediately brought back memories...

    A sweet and tender fragrance!A luscious eau de toilette with the mild and tangy smell of freshly picked raspberries. It leaves an irresistible scent and wraps you in exquisite fragrance. Yves Rocher has chosen organic raspberry with a sweet and tender fragrance. Its mild and joyful scent gives the skin an optimistic and stimulating smell.

    The packaging is really simple, which you can expect for this pricerange (about 3,5 euros for 20ml and 8,5euros for 100ml). The small bottle is really purseproof and this is easy because reapplying is necessary as it doesn't last long at all. It's a very sweet and young scent, when spraying you smell a bit of alcohol but this fades quickly. After that you get a basic candy scent and this is how it stays, it doesn't contain mysterious notes - just plain simple sweet - perfect for teens. A huge downside is that it doesn't last long. But I enjoyed using this when I was younger and I still like spraying it from time to time. However, in regards to wearing fragrance, I now have more sophisticated perfumes in my stash... This is a good budget perfume if you like a basic sweet scent. It's also available in other scents such as Vanille, Peach etc... but I haven't tried those.

    Which is your bring-back-memories-perfume?
    Tuesday 12 April 2011

    Product Praise Bioderma Solution Micellaire

    I've talked about this product in the past once in this article, but -honestly- this has become a big HG for me and it really deserves its own review or praise because I love this product so much, I will continue to repurchase this forever...!

    At the cutting edge of innovation, BIODERMA has pioneered micellar solutions. Specially formulated for sensitive, normal to dry skins, the Sensibio H2O micelle solution gently cleanses face and eyes. It removes water-resistant make-up. The micelles contained in its formula effectively micro-emulsify impurities while maintaining the skin’s balance (soap-free, physiological pH). Soothing and decongesting active ingredients prevent the feelings of irritation often caused by cleansing.

    Ingredients

    WATER (AQUA), PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE

    A micellar solution can be used in various ways, depending on your likings. I mainly use this as a make-up remover and sometimes as a cleanser when I'm really not in the mood for a deeper cleanse. It's fragrance-free but at the same time there's a little fresh scent to it, probably the extracts in it. When I wear eye makeup I put a good amount of this on a cotton pad, put it onto my eye, gentle pat it and then gently wipe it off. What's so amazing about this product is that practically all of your eye make-up has been removed. This takes away so much, without any irritation. Using this on your eyes/face causes NO irritation at all, not even when my skin is at its worst. After removing all of my makeup my skin feels refreshed and even a bit hydrated because this solution doesn't dry out your skin. That's why I also like using it as a cleanser (when I don't have makeup on and have little time), it instantly refreshes your skin.

    The goods: price, scent, non-irritating, hydrating

    There isn't a negative comment I can put on this product, it's the best out there and I'm sure you'll agree with me once you've tried it. You can buy it in IU-stores or on Newpharma (a Dutch website) in Belgium, for a bottle of 500ml I pay around 15-16 euros which is an affordable price. I just can't stress enough how much I love this product!!
    Monday 11 April 2011

    NOTD Catrice Moulin Rouge Light

    Last week I bought all the new Ultimate Nude Catrice polishes with a good discount and off course, I just had to try one of them. I chose Moulin Rouge Light, because this colour looks quite intense in the bottle, like it would provide a decent coverage.

    I used 2 layers of the polish, one is a bit sheer and 2 is perfect (on the back of the bottle it also recommends 2 for coverage). I put Catrice's own topcoat over it which explains the tiny bumps you can spot, I'm going to give the topcoat a few more chances before I put down my review on it - but for now not impressed.

    The colour is a peachy pink and I really like it. It's a perfect spring colour that suits any outfit and any occasion. After a few days the polish starts showing a little tipwear but not as much as my other Catrice polishes, maybe they changed the formula a bit, I don't mind. If you like nudes, get this one, it's lovely!!

    Have you already tried one of their new polishes, which one?
    Friday 8 April 2011

    Some spring shirts/tops, love!

    Now with the sun shining most of/all the time, I'm really in the mood for spring shopping and shirts and tops... This is what's been catching my eye lately and will -probably- be purchased, all by Esprit. The pinkish colour underneath is one of my favourite colours in summer, along with beige and white...


    Have you already bought some spring shirts/tops/dresses?

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    Evelien
    Belgian twenty-something year old blogger who adores all things beautywise and loves to share her knowledge... This blog reflects my thoughts on products I've personally used and random things that cross my mind. If you have a request for a review or want to ask me something etc..., you can contact me at beautyponder@hotmail.com.
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