If any of you have been wondering what shade of nail polish to wear in the autumn, you cannot go wrong with deep burgundy, brown or purple nails. Actually any color that resembles falling leaves, if you ask me :) I was sent this Sally Hansen nail polish in shade Exotic Açai in the summer, but I knew that this would be my shade to go as the months go by. This nail polish is very glossy and opaque, but I always apply two coats so that its deep violet with brown undertones comes through. As for longevity, it performs well on my brittle nails – at least two days without any touch ups and a chipped-off part here and there, nothing unusual for my brittle nails. The thing is, it doesn’t matter how high-quality the brand, they all perform quite similarly. Now I just have to find out where Sally Hansen nail polishes are sold, I would love to go through their other shades and spot my other favorites! :)
I’ve accumulated so many beauty favorites over the past 6 months that I don’t even know to start! This time I closed my eyes and decided to discuss the best skincare and beauty products that come to my mind, so here’s that. Let’s hope I’ll become more organised in that respect and keep you posted about my favorites more often because I have a lot to talk about! :)
The first item I should’ve discussed way sooner is this pricey Alpha-H Beauty Sleep Power Peel, the best overnight treatment I’ve ever tried. Retinol (0.5), glycolic acid and Vitamin A are just some of its amazing ingredients that exfoliate your skin overnight, waking up to a perfect complexion. I follow my normal evening routine and apply some serums before I finish with Beauty Sleep once or twice a week. But please don’t forget to use a good 30–50 SPF in the morning so that you won’t create more damage than you tried to fix! It has a hefty price tag of €63, but have in mind that this Alpha-H overnight mask is sometimes offered in 1 + 1 discounts (me and my sis got ours here) so you can team up with a friend or get two for yourself (who wouldn’t want that!).
We’re one week into October and I still have to go through the September Lookfantastic Beauty Box! I’m waiting for the new one to arrive the next week, as far as I sneak-peeked it on the Instagram, it’s really nice! The September edition celebrated the 4th birthday of the LF beauty box with 6 beauty treats. Let’s go through!
My most anticipated item was the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil. I’ve only heard amazing things about these shower oils, but they are really pricey and retail at whopping €50. And now I understand why so many people are willing to invest that much into a shower oil, this thing is incredible! Packed with neroli, grapefruit, juniper berry and rosemary essential oils, it creates an intense aromatherapy session straight in the morning. I already love it, almost used it up and am pretty sure I’ll buy a full version at one point. Another product that sounded interesting is the Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask. My hopes for this mask were high too, but there was so little product inside that I really can’t say anything in particular. There was enough for two uses, but I would gladly trade this cute glass pot for a less luxurious one and more mask. It did dry up nicely (way prettier than any other mud masks I’ve tried so far), but that’s it.
The Mane’n Tail Original Hoof Maker Hand & Nail Cream is a fast-absorbing cream that also nourishes and strengthens nails. Although I hate its packaging, it does absorb quickly leaving a nice feeling on the skin. I also like the Lord & Berry Strobing Pencil in a pretty champagne shade. Years have passed since I had a highlighting pencil and I forgot how handy they are! I love applying it in the inner corner of my eyes and under the eyebrows.
Then there are two products that I haven’t tested yet, the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer and the Eve Lom cleanser. The Elasticizer is supposed to make hair more soft, stretchy and strong. The cleanser, however, exfoliates, decongests, softens and removes makeup (even waterproof one!). I’m interested to see how both of these perform, but they will have to wait because it’s impossible to use that many items at the same time. :)
I have to admit that I was really pleasantly surprised with this beauty box, there are several incredible products that really caught my attention months ago and I finally got the opportunity to try them out. Lookfantastic already started selling their Advent Calendar and as far as I saw, the products cycle between beauty boxes and advent calendars. So if your don’t want to commit to a subscription, this calendar would be a smart choice!
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Is anyone else excited by the fact that autumn is truly here? We’ve entered October, which only means that the new releases and limited editions by Catrice are now available to purchase! This time I chose three products to test out, all of which are quite delicate in their own way.
The Goodbye Pores is their new primer with a blur effect. It’s supposed to even out the complexion and provide a good base for the foundation. Only a small amount is needed for the entire face, otherwise it starts forming tiny clumps. While I do like its effect on the skin, it doesn’t seem to prolong the wear-time of my makeup. I honestly never see any difference, even when I use a sample of the Urban Decay primer. I’m quite indifferent, so I cannot say that this primer will change how the makeup wears throughout the day, but it probably cannot hurt if you feel that your makeup usually fades over time :)
I also went for The Little Black One waterproof volume mascara and I’m glad I did because it’s incredible! It beautifully lengthens and curls my lashes and gives them gorgeous volume. I’ve been using it religiously ever since I got it, although I have several new mascaras that were supposed to be more intriguing. Some bloggers don’t like it that much, but I honestly couldn’t ask for more. Retailing at less than € 5, this cutie will not only stay put until the evening, it also won’t smudge underneath my eyes! I couldn’t help myself and purchased the regular version as well, but I have to say that the waterproof formula is much better. And it’s easily removed with a micellar water, no need for special waterproof cleansers!
Lastly, I chose the Glow highlighter because it seemed very interesting with its swirly texture. Unfortunately, I’m not that fond of its violet/blue sheen. It’s quite intense and has a white base, so I cannot build it like I usually would. I feel this one will suit those with fairer skin tone more than me.
All in all, it may seem that I’m not that impressed with these items. But please bear in mind that these products are an amazing value for money and can be compared with many way more expensive items. And it’s not all that bad, I adore The Little Black One mascara and rest assured that it will be repurchased as soon as this one is used up. Thank you so much for letting me try your new products, Catrice Slovenia! It’s always a pleasure :)
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August was over almost two weeks ago, but I still have to show you what was inside the Lookfantastic Beauty Box of the month. The whole theme was about regaining confidence in our beauty regime and be our best selves! There are many skincare brands that I haven’t heard of before and it’s so nice to explore and test some products that would otherwise never find their way to my skincare routine. I managed to test some of them and already have a basic idea about what I like, so let’s dive in!
My first favorite item is a full-sized Mio Boob Tube, what a name! This is basically a neck and bust cream rich in Coenzyme Q10 with a very captivating scent – this is why I always look forward to using it in the morning or evening! It sinks into the skin quickly, but I’ll have to use it for a longer period of time to see whether it has any effect. For now I really like it. Next is a gel-like toner Hydraphel Skin Supplement for dry skin by Erno Laszlo that comes in a cute square box. It’s supposed to retain moisture, eliminate dullness and help with tissue repair, but I haven’t noticed anything in particular. I apply it with my hands just like I would any other gel formula before the rest of my skincare routine. It feels very hydrating and is alcohol-free, but it does contain fragrance, which can be irritating for some people.
This beauty box once again contained a face cleanser, i.e. the Pure Skin Face Wash by Balance Me. This one is thought to cleanse the skin without stripping moisture and refresh the skin with Grapefruit, Frankincense and Roman Chamomile oils. I haven’t tried it yet because I have so many cleansers to go through before I open a new one! Another item I was looking forward to but disappointed me a bit is the Molton Brown Bath and Shower Gel that came in different scents. I received Gingerlily, which doesn’t have any special scent to it. Very basic, so I’ll keep it and take on a vacation or give it to a friend.
Then there are two makeup products, finally! The best of the two is without a doubt the Mini Brow Build mascara in shade Indian Chocolate by Blink Brow Bar. This shade is very dark, so I feel for all the blondes who received it! Nevertheless, the color suits me to a T and it’s so easy to create thicker and fuller brows. But I have to be careful and not work with too much product on the mascara otherwise it gets extremely messy very quickly. Last but not least, we received an INC.redible Blazin Over Lipgloss by Nails INC., once again in different shades. A typical lip gloss, nothing special here – I received a pink one and my sister a brown/nude shade, but we swapped them because we thought that the brown shade would be more suitable for my skin tone. Well, I was wrong and it makes me look so sick … and the lip gloss just slides around and builds up on the inner side of the lips. A very disappointing product that I really don’t need in my life. Well, I’ll help find it a new owner, I hope some of my friends will be willing to give it a go! :)
All in all, this Lookfantastic Beauty Box had some really amazing products that I already love, but also some items that will only take up my space. A spoiler alert: the September Beauty Box is much more interesting, so I’ll try to test as many of them as I can and write a review soon. Until then, have a nice Sunday and a wonderful week!
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If you’re cacao lover but hate artificial chocolate scents in body products, the Dr. Organic Cocoa Butter will be perfect for you! Because of its gentle cacao scent and nourishing textures, the Body Scrub, Body Wash, Body Butter and Wonder Oil will not leave you disappointed. They leave an incredible feeling on the skin and oh my, the scent is to die for! However, I’m not particularly keen on using the Day and Night Creams on my face. I have combination skin on my face and although I tried the two on many occasions, they just aren’t suitable for me. Nonetheless, I would advise them to all who struggle with very dry skin and enjoy using natural, organic face creams on a regular basis. I would just recommend using a serum with hyaluronic acid beforehand, so that you really keep your skin moisturized day and night. An incredible range that definitely deserves more attention!
I like testing highlighters in all shapes and forms. Although I’ve always been a fan of pressed formulas, I’m more and more into creamy and liquid textures. I particularly love this Sleek Barekissed Illuminator in shade Monaco, a gorgeous liquid/jelly highlighter with tiny shimmer and a rose&silver finish. This little gem can be used in a number of ways:
- as a highlighter on your cheekbones and tip of the nose,
- as an illuminator all over your face before applying your foundation,
- as a highlighter on your collarbones.
I usually pump a small amount on the back of my hand, dab it out and apply it seamlessly on my cheekbones with the RT Miracle Sculpting Sponge. It is, however, too liquidy to be used with a brush. And when I’ve had days when I wanted a more natural, dewy glow, I just applied it all over my face, particularly under my eyes, and then applied my foundation on top. A beautiful combination, let me tell you! I’m sure it will look just perfect in the autumn …
On the last photo you can see some swatches compared to my favorite highlighters. The first stripe is obviously the Barekissed Illuminator, followed by the Mary Lou Manizer, which has a golden sheen. The last two are the third and the fourth creamy highlighters from my Makeup Revolution Pro Amplified Highlighting and Strobe palette. As you can see, the third swatch is a nice dupe of the Barekissed Illuminator, whereas the fourth swatch is a nice creamy version of the Mary Lou Manizer. The MUR palette is obviously very versatile, but applying such a thick highlighter all over my face would be way more messy!
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