Bourjois Archives - Vesna en violet

Beauty

September favorites #2017

29. 9. 2017

September is practically over and I have finally time to share my current favorites with all of you! The past few months have been insanely hectic and a good makeup routine was key to get myself ready in 10 minutes and still look presentable.

The most exciting makeup items of this season must have been the two products by Artdeco. I had a few of their items when I was in high school, but then completely lost track of their offer – up until I bought these two around three months ago. The first one is the three toned Ombre Lipstick in shade red fusion (43), a gorgeous lippie with three different shades. You can apply a combination of dark red, peachy middle shade and bright red in three ways – with the brightest shade either on top or at the bottom of your lips or you just apply all of them at the same time to create just one shade. All of them are completely opaque and intense, a perfect way to create a trendy look in a matter of seconds! The formula is very creamy, too, and lasts for hours. You can also intensify the shade with the dark or bright red, or focus on the peachy shade for a more neutral look. The second product is the Hydra Mineral Compact Foundation, a compact powder foundation in shade fresh beige (07) I just use for setting my regular foundation. It has a mattifying finish and holds my makeup in place throughout the whole day, can you imagine that?! An extraordinary product, really! I also love it on the days I only use a BB cream and just want to add a bit more coverage. I got the refill version first as I had to choose the darkest shade available in Slovenia, but will probably buy a lighter one in the silver casing so that it will be nicer to look at during the colder months!

As I was saying, here you will see the major part of my makeup routine where the Sun Stripping Bronzer and High Glow Mineral Highlighting Powder by Catrice were playing a significant role! I already mentioned the bronzer from the Soleil d’Été limited edition here and I can just reaffirm that I love using this product, it matches my complexion perfectly and should without a doubt be part of their standard collection. I also used to finish my look with a baked highlighter that creates a subtle glow on my cheeks. This one is not that intense, but is very buildable if you want to achieve a shiny look.

On my lashes I’ve been using the Bourjouis Volume 1 seconde, a waterproof mascara that I wanted to test out during the summer. Honestly, I didn’t like the mascara at first – it was very runny and has weird plastic balls on the brush (I have no clue what these are for). However, it dried up slightly after a week and it’s been a joy to use ever since. It also worked great during that horrible heat we had this year and there were no black smudges underneath my eyes, mission complete!

Last but not least, my Yankee Candle obsession is real, you guys! I bought this cute rose candle Summer Scoop during summer sales and it’s been reminding me of this year’s summer all the time! I just hope it will last me for a few weeks, I want to preserve this feeling for a few more months…. :)

♥

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Beauty

Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara

12. 2. 2017

A few weeks ago, all of my mascaras suddenly dried up. I immediately decided to try something else than Maybelline or L’Oréal, so I took a more thorough look at the Bourjois counter this time. I acutally haven’t owned a Bourjois mascara since my high school when there were many colorful mascaras available. I was wearing a pink, bright blue or purple mascara every single day, I must have been looking so strange then, haha! So, this time I went for the Bourjois Volume Reveal mascara that I haven’t heard anything about until that day. I quickly read a few reviews online, which were all pretty great, and that really pushed me to try it out myself.

The Volume Reveal mascara has a plastic brush that I love, so nothing new here. When I tried it out for the first time, I was so so impressed! It adds a lot of length to my eyelashes with the first application (and I don’t use any eyelash curler). As you can see below, the second and the third layer add even more volume and a bit of length, but make my lashes much more visible without making them clumpy. In addition, the wear time is great and I can run errands for the whole day and there won’t be any black crumbles below my eyes than it happens with some cheaper mascaras. I usually apply only one or two layers, I rarely go any further for my daily look! All in all, the Bourjois Volume Reveal is an amazing mascara that retails at around € 10 and can be easily compared to the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara.

no-mascara ♥

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Favorites

What I loved in 2015 … (beauty & tea!)

3. 1. 2016

I think the past year was a good year in terms of beauty products. I gradually started (and I’m still working on it, this will be my new year’s resolution!) to become a more conscious buyer – I try to think twice whether I really need a certain product or not. I also started to read the ingredient lists and give more attention to quality rather than quantity. I could easily say that these products have become a staple in my everyday life, so this will be a very general overview with links to other posts as I already wrote about them lots throughout the year.

The Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer (more here) changed my attitude towards concealers completely, it’s so easy to use and provides an insane coverage! I’ve been using it constantly since I bought it and there is still enough product left for a good few months of use. One product that completely surprised me is the Maybelline Superstay Better Skin foundation. The reason why this was such a shock in a positive way is the fact that I was given this foundation as a gift and really didn’t expect the shade to match my skin tone, plus it has a medium to full coverage. It is true that it was a bit too dark at the beginning, but it turned out to be a perfect match for my sun-kissed skin. This was my second bottle in 6 months and you can see that it’s completely empty. I will definitely repurchase it if my new organic foundations disappoint me in the summer! The Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara (more here) is like wine, it gets better with every week! I’m not using it all the time as I have lots of other mascaras to use, but I use this one when my aim is to create as much volume as possible. I love it!

For the cheeks, I’ve been using the L’Oréal Glam Bronze bronzer in the lightest shade 01 Portofino and I usually combine it with the Sephora Coral Flush blush (more here) – it is funny to see that both of them are quite intact, but very little is needed to achieve the effect, especially with the bronzer. And it’s probably needless to say that the Maybelline Color Tattoos (more here and here) are the absolute winner when it comes to eyeshadows, I’ve mentioned them countless times and probably will again in the future!

Ohh, how I love Essie’s Fiji! This must be my favorite nail polish of 2015 (more here). This shade is so flattering and pretty, I could easily wear it every single day. And one of the best finds of this year is the Parisax eyeliner (more here). Because of this little gem, I can finally wear eyeliner on my hooded eyes! It doesn’t smudge and stays put throughout the whole day. To conclude everything up, I couldn’t go without mentioning my love for Clipper teas (more here). These are the first organic teas I have ever tried and I love them all, especially the Organic Detox Infusion, which tastes a-mah-zing!

♥

I wish you all a happy new year! Let it be filled with lots of love, good food and great moments, let 2016 be the best year yet! :)

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Beauty

My opinion about the Bourjois CC cream?

25. 5. 2015

Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a blast these days, summer is around the corner and one thing you have to focus on is a good protection against UV rays. It’s not a secret that too much sun exposure can damage your skin and the one thing I’m looking for are products with at least some protection. Last October, I bought the Bourjois CC cream with SPF 15 in shade Rose Beige 33 and it turned out to be a bit too dark for me at the time. As I’m already quite tanned at the moment, the foundations I used in the past few months just aren’t dark enough any more. So, I pulled this little product out of the drawer and used it a couple of times.

However, I’m not that pleased with this CC cream. It is thought to correct dark circles under the eyes and redness on your skin, but also make your skin look more refreshed. The cream has an unbelievable coverage for a CC cream, very similar to foundations with lighter coverage, and blends in the skin beautifully. And if I like these aspects so much, how come I won’t use it any more, you may ask? Well, I’m sorry to say, but this foundation doesn’t dry on my skin at all. It stays in a form of a thick cream that doesn’t soak into the skin at all and just worsens throughout the day. I also applied the compact powder to set it in, but that didn’t make even a slight difference. And I cannot say how excruciating it was to be around for the whole day and have this strange feeling that I have a whole cake on my face, if you know what I mean.

I’m very sorry I cannot wear it, because it really is a lovely product, the coverage is great and it fits my skin perfectly. And I love the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, its texture is the biggest opposite and I still recommend it to everyone. But I also heard that the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation doesn’t dry at all, probably in the same way than this CC cream. I’m pretty sure I won’t try any foundations from Bourjois for quite some time, I will definitely be trying it out before I purchase it. If I look on the bright side, I gave it to my sister who likes it much more than I do ;)

***

I’m so sorry for the lack of posts recently, my exams are close and I really have to dedicate a lot of my time to studying. Otherwise, I hope you’re having a great time. June (**AND MY BIRTHDAY**) is almost here, *YAYYYY* !! I wish you a wonderful start of the week ♥

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Beauty

Bourjouis Healthy Mix Concealer – Review

15. 4. 2015

If you ask me, concealers are always very useful. But there are times when they come in particularly handy, especially when I use foundations with lighter coverage. I’ve tried quite a few liquid high store concealers, but none of them provided as much coverage as this little gem. After a thoughtful consideration and a thorough research on the Internet, I decided to try out the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in the medium shade 52. I’ve been testing it for a while now and already featured it briefly in my February and March favorites.

According to the packaging, apricot extract provides radiance while raspberry extract activates the microcirculation. I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea whether my skin is radiant or starts to microcirculate after I apply it, but the Healthy Mix concealer provides exactly what I need: an instant high coverage that lasts for the whole day. I have a bit visible under eye dark circles that were practically impossible to cover with any cream concealer – until now! The peachy undertone perfectly neutralizes a slightly blue shade under my eyes and some natural redness on my cheeks. It also takes care of any other imperfections on my skin and blends in great even when the foundation has a bit different shade.

As for the use, be aware that I’m not an expert in any way, this is just my preferable way to use it when it comes to an under eye area ;) I apply small dots under my eyes in a V-shape and then blend it well with a flat Jessup brush … basically all over that part and even over the upper part of the cheeks. If necessary, I add another layer. I can definitely see a difference in the after picture. Besides covering the black circles, the concealer evened out a slightly red area above the cheeks. Quite impressive!

All in all, this concealer is perfect for those with normal to mixed skin, because it can be a bit drying. This doesn’t bother me, but those with very dry skin would probably feel some tension in those parts. Anyway, the tube of 10 ml costs around € 7 and will, at least for me, last for quite some time. Do you use any other concealer with similar coverage? If you do, please let me know, I’m always interested in testing out new products! :)

Take care ♥

Vesna

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Beauty

January favorites ◊ 2015

4. 2. 2015

February is here and it’s time to share my January favorites! These are the products that I’ve been using a lot in January, there are some make up bits, some pamper products … Everything I need for a productive day and a bit more relaxed evening! I don’t feel like wearing smoky eyes or having my face contoured like it’s summer lately, but I love to combine a simple, subtle makeup with bright lips.

The first product is one of my favorite lipsticks at the moment, it’s the Deborah Milano lipstick in shade 9 with SPF 15. I have actually never tried any of their products before, I do go through every time I’m in the drugstore but usually nothing steps out in particular. Except for this lipstick, obviously. I have to mention that my camera doesn’t seem to distinguish between red and pink lipsticks, this causes me problems every single time!! Well, the shade is somewhere between cherry red and pink, it seems like it has both pink and red pigments as one thin layer makes my lips completely pink, whereas a bit thicker layer makes them quite red. It is surprisingly long lasting, but I have to apply a lip balm or the lipstick after a few hours, just to make it even again.

Next are the eyes! For the base, I’ve been using the Maybelline Color Tattoo in shade Pink Gold. I got it in December from my best friend, she always knows what to get me! I immediately fell in love and as with any other Color Tattoo eyeshadow, you can use it as a base or by itself, I’ve been using it both ways. When I feel like adding a bit more color in the crease or just wish to accentuate the whole look, I add a bit of the Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio Eyeshadow in shade Rose Vintage. Its applicator is still intact, I don’t even try applying anything with these smaller-than-ever applicator brushes. Instead, I’ve been using the e. l. f. professional Blending Eye Brush and this is an insanely good low budget eye brush that perfectly blends the eyeshadow in the crease.

I almost forgot to mention my favorite nude nail polish at the moment, the China Glaze nail lacquer in shade Diva Bride. It contains some nail hardeners, but I haven’t noticed any difference in the longevity. On the plus side, even the second coat is quite transparent, which comes in handy if your nail polish is chipped off and you don’t have the time/are too lazy to paint your nails again (meaning: you have to be extremely attentive to see those chipped parts!).

As soon as I realised I’m going to run out of my Tea Tree Pore Minimiser from the Body Shop at the end of December, I had to find a new one immediately. I found a perfect replacement, the Alverde Mineral Make-up Base Gel and I’ve been using it all the time! The one thing I expect from primers is to mattify the skin and this one does the job very well. It’s in a nude gel-like consistency and a little goes a long way. The next product completely changed my perspective towards medium coverage foundations. I’ve been obsessed with high coverage foundations for years and now I feel I don’t need to hide every little imperfection from the world. I’m glad I stepped out from my comfort zone and started using the Maybelline Affinimat perfecting and mattifying foundation in shade Golden beige 24. This is quite a runny foundation, but nevertheless provides a good medium coverage that builds up with every additional layer if necessary. It’s intended for oily to combination skin, and although mine is a bit oily in the T-zone, this one makes a very good job – It’s not sticky and doesn’t smudge throughout the day.

The last two products are more of a pampering nature, I’m currently in the middle of exams and I need a bit of relaxation every few days. You can imagine that my face routine is not the best at the moment, so I try to moisturize my skin in the evening, usually with the L’Occitane Instant Hydration Mask with organic Angelica water and essential oil. My skin feels so refreshed and nourished after I use it, a real skin saver! And when I fancy a bit of aromatherapy, I add a few drops of the Eucalyptus essential oil that I bought in DM a while ago. It feels like the air in the room is much cleaner and fresher. I believe I’ll repeat these two pamper steps today! :)

Winter is having a blast here, we’re expecting up to 50 cm of fresh snow or even more this Friday! I love watching snow swirling from the sky, with a cup of chai latte and a good book in my hands … or rather a pile of notes ;) Have lots of fun ♥

Vesna

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Beauty

My favorite 2014 beauty products!

7. 1. 2015

It’s time to share my top ten beauty products of 2014 with you! :) This was a very hard task, especially because I love so many products I started using in the summer and later in the autumn. This is why I included some products I bought the middle of the year just because I’ve been pretty obsessed with them and probably will be until I find something even better :) Let’s go! ♥

I wrote about The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing powder a while ago and it’s still my favorite bronzer. This one is in the shade medium matte (03) and it’s quite fair, but still dark enough to contour the face. As I predicted, it is much more visible on my skin now than it was in the summer. On the plus side, it has a perfect mirror which is great if you carry it in your handbag. ♦ If we stay in the cheek area, I always like to complement the bronzer with a bit of a blush. The one I’ve been using the most is the Bourjois blusher in the shade Frosted Rose (54). The packaging is so darn cute, and the color! It is very pigmented and a bit shimmery, which is great because you don’t need to apply additional highlighter. However, the blusher is literally hard as a rock and it’s nearly impossible to apply it with a soft Real Techniques blush brush. This is probably why the enclosed little brush is so harsh, because almost none of my brushes is suitable :D I still love it, it leaves a lovely finish. ♦ The next one is my life savior when my skin gets crazy (which is happening right now!), it’s the Catrice Camouflage Cream in the shade Light Beige. I even hit pan last week which must be the best proof that I use it a lot. The coverage is insane for such an affordable concealer, and although I’ve been using it quite regularly over the year, the pot will surely last for another few months. ♦ As far as eye shadows are concerned, I use lots of eye palettes, but this product is the one I use as a base or just by itself throughout the whole year. It’s the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade Permanent Taupe (40). It’s so pigmented, long lasting and doesn’t smudge and although I use it practically every day, the majority of the product is still there. A wonderful product, big thanks to my best friend who gave it to me as a gift. Thank you, Anita! ♦ The last one from this series is the Rimmel Stay Matte long lasting pressed powder in the shade Silky Beige (005). Nothing special to say here, obviously a great mattifying and setting powder I use every single day.

I have two favorite nail polishes this time, the first one is the Essie nail polish in the shade Bahama Mama. I’ve used quite a lot of it, and how wouldn’t I when the shade is so gorgeous! The rich and deep plum color makes it perfect for autumn and winter, but I love to use it in warmer months too ;) Love! ♦ The next one is the Rimmel nail polish in the shade White Hot Love (703). I never cared about white nail polishes, but this one just does the trick! It really steps out in summer when my skin gets darker. ♦ The next one is my favorite lip stick ever, it’s the Revlon Colorburst lipstick in the shade Fuschsia (030). I used it in every season, it’s such a long lasting lip product in bright pink. ♦ I have to mention another lip product, the Alverde lip balm. I don’t completely understand in which scent it is, the packaging says Cranberry in English and Kirsche (Eng: cherry) in German, let’s just say it has cherry scent. It is great at moisturizing the lips and prevents them from chapping. I also adore the one with vanilla and orange, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere, it was probably a limited edition. Anyway, this must be my fourth or fifth lip balm so far, I can’t stop using it! You can get it in DM. ♦ Last but not least, we have the Catrice Liquid Metal Gel Eye Pencil in the shade Leaf The World Behind (040). It is in a bit smudgy form, but is nevertheless very long lasting. I use it instead of an eye liner and although it’s in dark green, it goes great together with almost any make up look!

These are my beauty picks of 2014, have you tried any of them? :) Take care,

Vesna

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