Using, Used, Gonna Use...

I'm keeping up my "use it up" spirits in the [almost] 5th month of 2013. And even though I am totally au contraire anything that could hint towards "no buy" (I really have to, though): I've picked some investment tools instead:

* [almost] Used: Kiko Instant Perfection Primer:
This is one of the products that is not the most perfect or the most hyped about, and I still love it! Perhaps travel melancholia (buying it in sunny Mediterranean) and perhaps it is not too silicony and feels totally fresh and healthy on the skin.
I'll absolutely repurchase when I get to any of the Kiko selling countries.

*Using: Hakuhodo Brushes
I've jumped the beauty-bandwagon on buying the most popular brushes on the block. A modest haul to start with, mostly eyeliner based (the infamous K005 for tightlining), brow (K016) and that fluffy diffusing J5522BKsl

still "gonna use" over here, my Hakuhodo haul

I've based my collection on the extensive reviews of makeupartist Sweetmakeuptemptations (especially this post), Arsaromatica had a perfect post too, ofcourse TheNonBlonde and my regular read of DrivelaboutFrivol.

Ehm, there will be more brushes...[extends that "no buy" even further into the future]

Gonna Use:
Dior Diorskin Nude Tan in 001 Miel/Honey:

Something to fake the tan with...I picked the lightest shade for it's lack of orangy tones, and because I'm quite light-skinned anyway.

Soothing Stuff

My vocabulary of the title is not that sophisticated for today. I simply wanted to continue on one of the most basic but oh so necessary aspects of skincare: soothing. Mainly, you can aim to target ageing, blemishes, dryness or any of the other unperfectnesses skin can offer us, but if the skin is acting up a tantrum, the main step should be soothing.

I've talked about Tammy Fender Repair Cream in the previous post, so let's take a look at two other potions targeted for soothing:  Dr. Alkaitis Soothing gel (left) & Healgel Intensive (right):

 Of these two the Healgel is the most popular one, and has bettter availability. Dr. Alkaitis is the organic one and can be found in more specific shops online & offline.

This element of the non-organic (and non-natural) can be found in the ingredient list of the Healgel:

 Its prime ingredient is dimeticone which is a silicone-esque derivant. I do not want to give silicones a bad name, as some silicones can be intensely useful in makeup and skincare (Primers anyone?).  However, the extensive list has some nice natural components and some more unnatural components. Personally, I'm no expert but I questioned COSNA and they gave ingredients Phenoxyethanol, Linalool & Linalene the yellow light and Chlorhexidine Digluconate the red light.

That is my sidenote to it. The main concern is that it should work what it is targeted for: SOOTHING.

I think it gave a nice balmy, sort of lighter silicony feel on the skin. However, when I needed it to work really well (that peel) it was not effective enough.

So how about Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel?

list from spiritbeautylounge

 Ok, my unexpertise eye already notices some goody ingredients in it that counteracts redness and are soothing: Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Chamomile, Lavendel and Atlantic Kelp. The experts of that same COSNE site is even more confirming about soothing ingredients (here) and every ingredient gets the green light.

Dr. Alkaitis Gel has a brownish serum consistency that is absorbed in the skin quite fast. It smells slightly herbally. I do recommend an extra (soothing) cream over it to combat possible dehydation.

Ok, I do not want to make a speech about the benefits of organic skincare, so I cut to the case: IT WORKS...or, it's soothes. I didn't use this with the effects of my last peel, but it was really effective during a sunburn of last summer when I forgot to reaply the sunscreen.

Conclusion: For real skincare issues, I prefer the dr. Alkaitis Gel. The Healgel Intensive feels more like a normal skingel or sometimes I use it as a softer primer (because of the dimeticones).

Tammy Felder Intensive Repair Cream

With creams I am never sure if they really help. However, sometimes I get my skin in a situation when I can really see what it does.

This has been the case with Tammy Felder Intensive Repair cream. I already had gotten in a slightly oversensitive winter-skin phase and I felt this little potion felt quite soothing on my skin. However, I still had some blotches and spotty parts on my face I couldn't pinpoint out if they would be worse or less if I stopped using this cream.

 I kinda stopped this cream during a springbreak citytrip (warmer area) and actually liked how my skin looked. Normally, my skin gets better during trips to warmer countries so I couldn't pinpoint down if that was due to using or not using the cream: my skin just feels better when I get medium warm weather.

The Real test was when I had to test it out for its real aim:

"healing post-operative and traumatized skin"

This would be a long story if I wouldn't make it more concise (and I will make it a long story in another post). I did a rather invasive peel that my skin didn't feel happy about: it reacted to the ingredients used and the given after-treatment as well.

Step in Tammy Fender Intensive Repair Cream:

For more information or a clearer list of the ingredients, see here.

This little potion has been that balmy soothingness on my flaking, bloating and generally upset post-peel skin

It contains my beloved Helichrysum (immortelle) that I have discussed frequently and have encountered in various products I have been quite enthousiastic about.

It is made of a yellowish and sorta syrupy consistency that turns into a gooyey facecream when being warmed against skin:

a breath of fresh air or the water that puts the fire out

The downside is that I am on my last bit of healing/soothing putty and it will take a while before it will land on my doorstep again.

In the meanwhile I still have some Avene Cicalfate that has been made with the same purpose of soothing smaller post-dermatologist treatments, but I like my organic & holistic blend a bit better.

You can buy it from the direct site or from cultbeauty (discount BEAUTY10 for £10 of <£70).

Newbies

Chanel 42 Seduction:
I succumbed for the new, despite my vigorous attempts to like, rediscover, swatch and sometimes diss (see my last post) the older palettes I have.
I am not the greatest Chanel eyeshadow lover but the neutral composition was totally alluring. Also the spokesmodel/face for Chanel, Giselle, embodies this natural-esque beauty I really like and relate to.

Givenchy Le Rouge:
The leather case made me buy this...the stud too.

Fasio Mascara Ultra Curl lock volume:
One word= Drivellerkate (or one image: Drivellerskate's lashes)

Palette Swatch Project: Givenchy Travel (older version)

Travel palettes on Airports are those alluring boxes that can either be a treasure box or a total lure-a-crappy. Excuse my not-so-French but they stare at you in the Duty-free shops and they look like everything and more you have ever wanted in a palette: all colours, textures for different facial parts and...ofcourse...that flashy designer logo that looks so haute when you tediously apply your makeup in the airplane.

But let's face it...some can be really bad. How often can you really swatch a palette in that Duty free shop and how clear-minded are you at that time being? Meh, right? You're either into pre-holiday haze or business-stressness.

Enter Givenchy (read Pink Sith's article of how to pronounce it: here and lust over their latest lipstick). I think I have it for a couple of years now, but it looks hardly used: for a reason, this time.

  So we have a thicker palette with a double layers...me like me some double layers...So how is the treasure box doing so far?

 On first glance: it's doing well. It's versatile with many fun & neutral colours for eyes.

 A handy powder and a slightly brick-toned blush for the cheeks.

Some flesh, peach & reddish brown coloured lipsticks...
So it's "craptasticness" is not about the colours: I totally love the mixture of neutrals with a bit of sparkly blue for the eyes. And it's paintedness is good too: you have almost all of the face featured. This time it is texture/durability

Good test, the eyeshadows:

This is also a premium example of HOW GOOD Edward Bess Eyeshadow Primer in Suede works -stripe in the middle-: it totally makes craptastic eyeshadows do the thing they were supposed to do: show up and give colour. The rest of the faded out parts beyond that fleshy-browned stripe in the middle is the exact same amount of eyeshadow as in the middle: so do we see anything of that? Big Meh!

The lipsticks show up better:

 Only this time its texture: they are that oldfashioned lipstick fraganced quality that was good when there weren't newer formulas.

The blush isn't that fantastic either: texture-wise (see swatch).
The powder...ehm, let's say it's neutrally useless.

Last but not least: the Mascara. Parad'eyes is one of their older versions.
Basically, it was too dried up when I tried to use it so I cannot review this one.

Conclusion: Don't get tempted by every palette on the field! Especially when hitting Duty-free shops...(or buy some Edward Bess eyeprimer to make it work for eyes and carry it around like your newborn baby)

Inglot Eyeliner gel 95

*Cosmetic newbie*

This week I picked up something from Inglot's newer line.

They have these nifty eyeliner pots that I once had in orange: *yes*, really orange...it looks poppin' on green eyes.

However, I am supposed to act more mature as I seem to get to a certain age [space with *blahdiblah* how-women-close-to-40-need-to0-change-their-makeup-routine nonsense: why not have fun & be yourself] -> so that's not the real reason: It's just that the office space often is not too enthousiastic about raver-orange (in Holland: QueensKings-day orange or Soccer-orange).

So I picked up some golden hues:

Swatch on goosebumped arm [outside, no sun, really cold]

It is not your warm gold: it is absolutely a cooler gold mixed with some platinum or a tad of green. However, it is vibrant and I love the greenish hue for complementing the green in my eyes. It has a perfect endurance level, and it will only get off when I whip up the eye-remover (the slightly oil based one).

Conclusion:
A gorgeous and original greenish gold that looks office appropriate without being too boring neutral. Or perhaps that perfect bit of colour fun that the maturing sophisticated woman can wear on her eyes without being seen as a neo-hippy. Also good for young 'uns.

This week's Rediscovery

The glowy & sparkly Eye Fantasist of Beaute De Kose for that neutral-with-an-extra.

Melvita Anti-Pollution Cleansing Mousse

Mmm, good marketing: an Anti-Pollution Cleanser...Especially when most of the inhabitant on this planet live in big, polluted cities.

I had finished the Melvita Micellar Cleansing water and I liked it a lot. I also wanted to replace my latest mousse cleanser after finding the chemical scent a bit too strong (Kanebo Naive).  I remembered liking my more natural Nuxe cleansing mousse and was willing to try another French Natural brand to see if they would be similar-> I went for the Melvita version.

 

Melvita has various stamps upon the box being Cosmetique Bio certified or being an Organic Cosmetic brand. I attach a certain value on this tag, as I find most Organic brands to be friendlier to my (often sensitive) skin. 

The first thing that I noticed that the bottle was quite small. My earlier Melvita Micellar Water was of a 200 ml bottle and my previous Nuxe 3 roses Mousse was a 150 ml. This 50 ml one is a baby.

However, that makes it travel-friendlier and that can be important too. Especially since a Mousse cleanser is impossible to decant into smaller travel bottles, right?

Ingredients:

I think Blackcurrant water, Anise water and Olive extract are the most beneficial ingredients in here. I personally like the Moringa too: I've seen it in a Kerastase Elixir Ultime Moringa here and I know Kerastase does a ton of research before they claim an ingredient to be the most important!

I do not expect a lot of beneficial help from a cleanser, btw. Products that you rinse off do not need a really large dose of superingredients as they do not have the time (or properties) to absorb into the skin. However, some ingredients can help the soothing effect. Funnily, it is exactly the moment you notice this the most when you use a cleanser that has ingredients inside that your skin doesn't agree with.

Melvita Anti-Pollution Mousse is a soft mousse. It feels a bit watery, though, but I had a similar feel with the Nuxe 3 Roses Micellaire Mousse.

• scent: a faint citrus (orangy) that is refreshing at mornings.

• Cleansing: Soft but effective. In terms of hydratation I almost do not have to use moisturizer afterwards, but with the heating & cold weather I still need some.

• Anti-pollution/Deep Cleansing? I had been experiencing more blackheads lately. The mousse does not remove blackheads by itself, only deep cleansing by peels/extraction/steam/masks will do, but after a deep cleanse I feel that there are fewer blackheads appearing when I use this mousse. 
• Softening/Anti Ageing/Brightening? I bought this as a softer alternative for the Kose Naive or an alternative to my earlier Nuxe 3 Roses miscelaire and in both cases it is a softer cleanser that feels gentle on the skin. The cleanser does not claim to target anti-ageing or brightening, but includes ingredients such like blackcurrant has a high vitamine C level (brightening & anti-ageing) and anise (brightening).

CONCLUSION:
 Small but effective in cleansing the skin in a soft but effective way.

Availability:
On Melvita.com or  Naturisimo.com

New Read & trial

A couple of weeks ago I received an email about reading a book and perhaps host a giveaway. Normally, I am not about promotion at all. I'm no biggy on the beauty-blogosphere so the offers aren't that much. But most importantly because I like my writing and reviews to be honest and getting products for free often makes you feel guilty to totally write off something if it wouldn't be that good.

This book sounded too tempting to pass: a book about a "Bootcamp for beautiful skin"? Bring on the "workouts".

It works on the premises of 'beauty from the inside': that means food & health. Also, the importance of various peels to get the skin sorted out for a new[er] start:

I have tried this company in the past and they had a wonderful peel called Lactic 50% Peel which I liked: it is one of their milder peels. So perhaps it's not too much promotative that I agreed upon reading the book.

The only thing that I am not too sure about is that the letter refers to me "agreeing into promoting". I didn't say that in the email: I said I would read the book and consider the giveaway if I think it would benefit my readers. However, I'm not too worried as most letters are pre-written by bulk and I can still try/read for myself before I will give my readers a chance to try as well.

Anyway, I will read the book soon and keep you updated. I'll try to be on the honest site, ofcourse ;-).

Caviar & Icecream

Mmm, you've probably seen these before with some other brand (hint: it also starts with a C) but Catrice has done a gorgeous nail collection:

Pretty pearlies for nails

But I couldn't go for Caviar alone, so I went for Ice cream too:

Catrice C01 I scream Ice cream!

I fell in love with the pretty pink glow inside of the pale lavendel colour...

Meal for the day for the nails: Caviar & Icecream

L'óreal Serie Nature Abondance de Cacao shampoo

I don't think shampoos are the most exiting things to review on beauty blogs, but I still like to have a look at a recent [LIKE] of mine .

My last L'óreal Serie Nature mini-review was not too positive, however,  I am mostly content about their products: They are effective for the aim you use them without using too many chemical enhancers (read about their guiding principles here). Not that L'Oreal Serie Nature is the most organic brand ever, au contraire, but they are often soft enough for my sensitive scalp.

L'Oreal Nature Abondance de Cacao

*Abondance* means abundance or overflow in french. Shortly, they promote an abundance of cacao and most girls like their chocolate (and not getting fat) which brings in a fantastic concept. But Cacao is not only that delightful thing that soothes the soul and palates: it also can be used to create volume in finer hair. Hence we feed the hair chocolate so the hair can get fat voluptious!

That is something I need.

I have been discussing my recent lack of volume (here) and I believe a gentle, non-SLS shampoo is the first step into reconstructing the hair. And not just that: A shampoo without SLS, parabens or other chemical elements is better when the skin around the hair is eczematic or has other sensitivities. People often forget about this, but notice their skin flares up after showering: well, that could be it, that your shampoo (conditioner) is too harsh for you.

chocolaty liquid: No worries, it rinses out

I actually have some scalp sensitivity during winter weather. This shampoo is easily tolerated and I feel it does not irritate or aggraviate my sensitivities.

Then the chocolate element. How does it smell? Wow, it is quite a wonderful and cacao-y scent that reminds me slightly of a mixture of cacao butter with some warm chocolate mixed through it.

The volume aspect? Ok, I have difficult hair so I see a tiny bit of result, but no shampoo has had that amazing effect on me yet. Ok, some of the volumising shampoos have some effect but leave hair really crispy dry or fluffy unmanagable and this one keeps everything soft but slightly more bouffant [=volumized].

I love this in conjuction with the L'óreal Nature Abondance de Cacao hairmask which has the same delicious scent and is really good at taming down frizzies and moisturizing dryness.

Conclusion:
A delicious fraganced shampoo that is really gentle for hair, scalp and surrounding skin. It has a bit of volumizing effect but I actually like it for it's smoothing (frizz) qualities. Best thing of L'Oreal Nature lines is that they are almost as cheap as most drugstore line, only made with higher quality ingredients made for the expertise of hairdressers.

Availability:
It's on lookfantastic.com (here) and Dutch people can get it over here. Also in hairsaloons that sell this range (see lorealprofessionel.com)