Happy 2014

Before Resolution 'Spend Less'...

I have found some really interesting sales going on:

Selfridges has the cutest Takashi Murakami Collection palette from £60.00 -> £40.00 in both colours. I have found some swaches here & here.

The SA in Holland said that Laura Mercier's baked eyeshadows "Les Petits Bonbons' were a limited edition and really hard to get. Well, it's on sale now over here in the most gorgeous wooden box. 
While you're saleshopping, do not forget Selfridges non-sale-but-really-useful Suqqu range & the hyped Charlotte Tilbury too.

Harrods has a good deal on the pricy Chantecaille range and especially their palettes are tempting: The Bengali Tiger & the Shadow & the Rose palette are half price now. Karla's famous arm shows Bengali over here

Beautybay is having a fair discount on the Le Metier de Beaute range and I already caved and own the gorgeous Carnaby Street Kaleidoscope. Cultblogger Sabrina from TheBeautyLookbook has them swatched here.  BTW, isn't it strange that the so-called 'exclusive' Bloomingdales/Neiman Marcus palettes are often to be found somewhere else? Not that I'm complaining.
Another cult-LMDB is their dewy lip & cheek Fresh Tints.
 Beautybay also has Rouge Bunny Rouge on sale & Edward Bess, but mostly for about 10% discount

Liberty is having the spring-zesty/summery Jovoy Mojito candle on sale with a gorgeous glass bell jar: what a way to tone down your Holiday's alcohol habit and rejoice for summery times & mojitos. If you prefer your room to smell like cake (think Marie Antoinette), they have this candle without the jar.

Also, this Kenzo cosmetic purse is now discounted from £90.00 to £27.00 so you can be fierce about carrying your makeup around.

Xmas Eye: Soft Sequins

For Christmas I went for a more original approach upon the smoky eye. 

I was inspired by the photo on the left as it is a sparkly sequinned eye that looks complicated but has a one-coloured brick base and extended sequins to the eyebrows in a matching shade 

I stuck to the 'rules of maturity of the 30-something woman' that my fave Driveller had scanned in 

-> rule 4 (here): Glossy eyes shall refrain from glossy lips1 (& vv)

Products used...not too difficult:

Edward Bess Dune base

MAC pigment in Jalouse slightly over the crease

Bobbi Brown eyeliner from middle to exaggerated ends

Ciate loose sequins in Miss Sequin in the crease. 

I didn't sequinned up to the eyebrow as the model has: because 

1. she's a face model and I am not 

2. My own age-rule: don't over-sequin!

3. I live in Holland and modesty is key (this was already quite 'OTT' when I went shopping at boxing day)

1. I'd gloss up my lips every day if I feel like non-obeying and I might do so for NYE...

This look is not that complicated and you can actually dose the amount of sequins for a higher impact: so I might repeat this in another colour/accent for NYE.

Balmain Silk Perfume for Hair: a silky luxury

I gotten myself drawn into another luxury/hair hybrid product...

I was not too tempted into buying anything hair & serum-like. However, the salesgirl had the cutest fringe, a fierce ombre bleach at the ends and all her hair looked like really voluminous, healthy and cute. That's often a good sales-perspective and I was curious about [another] story about how this product would change my life hair and make everything better 1 (1 sarcasm embedded in the sidenote).

Her professional eye guided me to this product that is labeled as a 'Hair Perfume' but it functions as a fraganced serum. The normal serum would be "too heavy for my finer hair" and this one has the added bonus of a gorgeous fragance.

Ofcourse, preference in fragance is really subjective so I will describe it as a perfume that reminds me of Balenciaga perfume with the florally notes of Romea D`Ameor Princesses de Venice, quite haute and not your standard Guess perfume notes.

The mister is an added feature that will bring in that extra bit of luxury (and the delightful *pfffshhh* pffshhh* that you will hear later in my Vine).

The clean bottle of the Balmain (we know them from hair-extensions and fashion high-shoulder jackets) seems reminiscent of Marie-Antoinette's laundry chambers...Ofcourse I have never been in Marie-Antoinette's laundry room, but if I would it would probably reminded me of it...

Ingredients are simple which two sorts of silicones. Also, the hyped hair-ingredient Argan oil (no 3), one of my fave hair products Almond Oil (Prunus Dulcis) and a dash of jojoba.

But most importantly, it is a superthin mist that is suitable for fine hair. Check the micro-ness of the spray in the video:

Ok, seeing a Vine like 4 times in a row is making anyone really simple or slightly *psssst*spssst* in the brain.  So stop or turn of the sound after 3 times, ok?

(Nails: I'm wearing day 24 Ciate Serendipity on a layer of Chanel Red Dream, btw) 

Conclusion: A useful piece of luxury for finer locks that can benefit from a bit of extra gloss and a gorgeous fragance

Merry Xmas

♥... Wishing all my readers a wonderful Christmas ... ♥

 I know it will be Christmas tomorrow as I am on my last nailpolish of the Advent Calender...Well, I'm not that ditsy but I really enjoyed giving myself daily mani's for the month of December. 

Besides of cheating sometimes by the occasional Chanel Red Dream  & I switching days if the colour would not match my outfit, I have been quite faithful to the calender. I've posted a couple of them daily on facebook with their matching story->those I have featured above.

I hope all manicures will be gorgeous, all dishes will succeed, but most of all that the love will be there whatever you do...

De Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil

Autumn is officially over and I'm about to discuss my De Mamiel Autumn oil. I'm still going to because seasons are not always bound to dates, so there you go:

 

 I adore this oil right now in autumn-like weather, but that is not how it started...

When I got this oil, the season-date was offically autumn, but felt like an Indian Summer. I opened it and found the fragance to be too warm, too obtrusive, so I went back to my Bodhi Face Oil.

Then it started to get colder, leaves where falling and the rain kicked in. I tried this oil again and the blend of warming and soothing oils felt like bliss.

I will not elaborate too much about this oil as De Mamiel is already brilliant in that (see here). The ingredient list proves that it is not only a couple of oils blended together: it is a long and beautiful list and it is not merely bound to aromatherapy. 

 

The Flower essences even go deeper into treating a specific target: perhaps Bach Flower Remedies might sound familiar, especially their Rescue Remedy.  For example, they addded "Yerba Santa – helps encourage healthy breathing, helps release trauma and promotes positive thought" & "Snowdrop – helps the mind accept transition". Both healthy breathing (during flu season) and acceptance for the seasonal transition is key for autumn.

Shortly, De Mamiel season oils combine both aromatherapy, beautiful base oils and the flower remedy powers to target the [possible] physical and emotional reaction that is attacted to the season.

I am often slightly cynical about 'the latest thing' but I have to notice that I love using this oil. The blend and the fragance (that I found obtrusive during summer weather) feels like the most harmonic blend at night when weather is autumn-like.

golden oil

Also, "next morning skin"! If my skin gotten sensitive (read: patchy) during the day, this oil has the properties to balance it over night. I wake up with less patches and a dewy & more radiant complexion.

I can't hardly think that De Mamiel Winter oil will be better. However, my curiosity and my almost empty bottle of Autumn made me order Winter too.

The 'Autumn' blend is still on sale at cultbeauty.com & victoriahealth.com. I'm waiting for 'Winter' that I bought from beingcontent, partly because I ordered their sample set (£3) that will include May Lindstrom the Blue Cocoon too.

previous sample set

I'm so curious if that one lives up to the already created hype. 

ps: Happy winter (summer for southern Hemisphere) and happy preparation for Xmas...

Blush-Crush: Michael Kors bronzer in Flush

What does it take to become my latest blush-crush?

Glamour 

Size 

velvet 

softness 
performance

niche 

perfect colour 
the right kind of glow

Glamour:

 

 Michael Kors as a brand stands for Uptown New York glamour so its makeup is on par with the fashion aura of the brand. A white packaging and golden letters, and inside a golden grande compact that could easily been mistaken as a small palette.

Size: 

I was secretly thinking 'how American' to have the blush/bronzer being supersized to this generous compact. My British Burberry is laying on top (still in dominating mode, who said size matters?) but the idea is clear.

All of this gotten me slightly cynic about its performance. I loved the latest launches of Fashionbrands going makeup (waves to Burberry and a nod to uncle Ford) but Michael Kors has never really appealed to my clothing aesthetic. And then the grandeur of it all.

 Thus: colour, performance & velvety texture:

Flush was my colour of choice after hearing it being described as a sister of NARS Deep Throat. Honestly, they are more distant cousins but I liked the few swatches online enough to indulge.

I picked up some other bl-onzers (blush/bronzers) that could have been siblings:

I omitted Bobbi Brown Antigua (too pink) & Maquillage (too much mixing) from the next swatches. I also mixed the 2 shimmery shades of the Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope & the two topshades of NARS Soulshine.

Swatch winter-daylight (3 pm)

 

 At first glance:

•  No twins out there.
• Banila Co Copacabana is the closest match, only slightly paler & a bit more mauve
• Michael Kors has the most delightful & complicated shimmer of them all
• NARS Soulshine & Le Metier de Beaute have a pinkish hue when mixed
• Sofina Aube & Armani Sheer bronzer 2 are reddish compared to MK
• NARS Soulshine & Le Metier de Beaute are quite similar when mixing them in the right amount.

And now for the shimmer time: *FLASH*:

• my blush-crush is totally justified: look at the delicacy of the glow of Michael Kors...is it cool? Is it warm? Not sure, but it is gloooowy
• Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope also flashes up in a complicated glowiness
• Banila Co. Copacabana has been a favourite for a long time, and for a good reason
• I sure love bl-onzers a lot!

Conclusion: Can you justify a crush? Yes, I just did...

Rouge Bunny Rouge Genesis Primer (& Metamorphosis)

I'm a prime suspect! 
...

Or I suspect I prime? 

Ok, enough dodgy wordplay for someone in the prime of her life...

Speaking about life and ageing: Rouge Bunny Rouge has issued their latest primer aimed for maturing skin. I can discuss all the beautiful explaination and butterfly words that RBR attacted to this products: "If only men came with these wonderful & beautiful wordisms too". But I will leave that up to the skilled word-poets on the RBR website

They call it the Original Skin Primer and also the bibical reference to the beginning: Genesis. Our cult-fans already know that it is not their first primer...Their mattifying Metamorphosis & their moisturizing primer Prelude in the Clouds.

This would be my first introduction to both the cult (Metamorphosis) & the new (Genesis).

The keywords of the information is that they amped up the *special polymers that act as fillers* in Genesis. Also, *Evermat* as THE wonderpotion that is claimed to have "medicinal properties, reduces pores and shine, refines skin texture and reduces sebum secretion"

RBR provided a generous sample that was filled to the brim.:

As you can see: it is a bit past-like, au contraire the thinner & lotiony substance of Metamorphosis:

:

And blended: 

Genesis gives a white cast over my (faux-tan) skin. Metamorphosis is almost skin-like

I have been testing it for a couple of days:

day 1 I had Genesis on my left part & Metamorphosis on the right part of my face
day 2 I had it the other way around
day 3 I had a whole day of Genesis alone
same day 4
day 5 I went to Metamorphosis again

day 6 Metamorphosis- whole face & wrinkles- Genesis

Day 7 (well, most of you know the story): makeup-free day

 Verdict:

• Genesis feels slightly silicony
• Metamorphosis feels wonderfully absent
• both primers hold up the makeup for the whole day equally!
• Genesis diffuses wrinkles & scars a bit better than Metamorphosis
• However, Metamorphosis feels better on the skin
• Metamorphosis is better in absorbing oils
• Genesis leaves out a slight white cast on NW25 skin whereas Metamorphosis is almost sheer
• I cannot say anything about the anti-wrinkle & other properties due to short testing
• it does not cause any outbreaks on me

*

In general,  my skin is still young enough to reach for the thinner consistency of Metamorphosis. Moreover, I prefer Metamorphosis for the thinner and almost absent feel without compromising on its longevity. I think sampling would be the best option if you can. For the moment I use my sample of Genesis on the parts that need more 'filling' and the rest of my face will be 'Metamorphosis'.

*

Availability:

Rougebunnyrouge.com still provides samples of Genesis as a freebie and the full-size is available over here. PeriliouslyPale still has a code going one (a onetimer: RBR-PERILOUSLYPALE) that will last until 31-12-13.

Nourish Relax Hydrating Peptide Serum

Budget & curiosity led me to a new serum: Nourish Relax Peptide Serum

 

Budget because I gotten a bit tired of spending fortunes on serums. Curiosity as I needed a soother for the winter that could still multitask as an anti-ager...

I think I am not the only person who likes their skincare to multitask. 

Thus, the promise:

Also, the tripeptides sounded interesting:

Thus, not only promises this serum to sooth the skin, but it plumps up by Hyaluronic acid and the Carrot extract will lighten up hyperpigmentation.

That's a three-step multitasker.

a lovely sturdy plastic bottle with easy pump applicator

The Relax serum is composed of 85% organic ingredients.

As for the ingredients:

 Highly listed is the Carrot Root Powder.  I never knew that Carrot Root Powder would be a natural lightener. When I googled it I found some information on Carrot Oil and that is supposed to be an antioxidant, calming on irritated skin and anti-ageing due to the carotenes and Vitamin A (source).

The box-mentioned Tripeptide or Palmitoy tripeptide-5 is to stimulate "tissue growth factor that stimulate the collagen in the skin" (source).

Lavender is a natural antiseptant that also is a soothing component in aromatherapy.

Result:

I have been using up a whole bottle during month of November and I really like it. My skin behaved quite good without getting its normal over-sensitivity under Autumn weather conditions. Now is this not my only tool to try to keep my skin calm: I eat various superfoods lately, including extra omega oils & taking more MSM-supplements. Also, I have been tuning in with precious oils for the skin -> De Mamiel Autumn Oil I will discuss soon. 

Then again, the application of the serum should be good and not-irritating at first touch. It really feels like a soft serum and absorbs quickly. The scent is as good as neutral with a slight hint of lavender: important for the sensitive ones. And yes, my skin is more soothed than normally.

As for anti-ageing: I think it makes my face smoother and some beginning lines less pronounced. I really missed it when I finished it (I reordered quite fast). 

I do not have that much hyper-pigmentation anymore so I cannot say it really lightened it or if winter and lack of sunshine stepped in. Still, my skin looks brighter and more even.

Moreover, it collaborates really nice with my other skincare (even not from the same range) so its not only a multitasker, also a co-worker.

Conclusion:

It tackles no 1 on the priority list (soothing) and multitasks it way to step 2 (anti-ageing) and 3 (hyperpigmentation). And that for about €20...

Availability:

I bought mine on naturissimo and you can also buy it on their website

Kanebo Kate lash Maximizer Eyelash Plus base (vs older formula Kate Lash Base)

The Queen is dead: Long live the new Queen!

really?

Let's read on...

Plump & lenght is what I needed: Or,  since I've been in post-eyelash-extension Limbo of really short eyelashes for a couple of weeks. 

Kate Mascara base (old version, shorter name) has been my saviour for the last time I went real-lashes again. Naturally I wanted to try out their newestestestest version too: Kate Lash Maximizer Eyelash Plus.

In the first place it was Tomato/Tomato: what's the difference?

Ahh, Fibers...Like fibers in my bread I actually think they can benefit the health looks of a person. But not all fibers have the same fiber-ness so let's discuss Kate's Eyelash Plus (New) for this.

The key to a good eyelash product with fiber is that they

1. should adher right WITHOUT mid-day flaking
2. should lenghten the lashes in a similar direction (no droopiness, and do not have a dirty mind over this remark)
3. Not too long nor too short (or thick)
4. No irritation from wearing them
5. adher quite coherently to most lashes

And Kanebo Kate also added a version that has a black fiber on a whitish base: Brilliant.

Does it work (or do 1-5 apply?)

First I think the white base in both primers are exactly the same: that's a good think as I really like the formula to keep the curl, add length and thickness too.

1. Yes, perhaps because of the white base or the mandatory normal mascara on top, but it stays (and I've been having crumbly fiber symptoms with MM Lash Meister, blah)
2. Sorta, I pre-curl my lashes and it follows the upward movement, only with a tiny droop. Now you can say that I'm too perfectionist and nobody else would notice...but then I'm a beautyblogger so I do notice.
3. Yes, quite miniscule that gives about 1 mm extra
4. Irritant-free
5. Somewhat, it misses some lashes and it is not that easy to focus on each lash because they are so miniscule. 

Do I prefer the new formula (with fibers) over the old?

Yes & No

The new formula with fibers does add more lenght than the older formula: For the time being I needed extra lenght to compensate for the eyelash-extension breakage. The lenght that the eyelashes give is not dramatic but just enough to have longer eyelashes. However, seen in step 1-5 I do not think the lashes give the most perfect extension as they are 1. slightly droopy and 2. do not adher to every single lash by themselves: and manipulating them by tweezer is almost impossible. 

Thus when my eyelashes are their original length again I prefer the older formula Kate lash base: The white formula is already quite lenghtening & thickening and keep the curl like no other base I encountered. Minus the possible irregularity of the fibers.

Conclusion:

I will stick to the older formula when my lashes are their original length again, but it still makes a reasonable alternative to lengthen & plump your eyelashes when they are on the shorter side.

Availability:
I bought both on Adambeauty: The new Lash Maximizer formula over here & the older lash base over here

Tom Ford Lipsticks & Private Blend Perfumes in Holland

Beauty-fans in Holland can finally see/swatch/buy their Tom Ford lippies:

..test t nailpolishes and sniff the perfumes too.

This line has been installed in the Bijenkorf Amsterdam since December the 4th.  I was really surprised stumbling upon it as I had no idea.

I already ventured on Tom Ford on a London visit of 1 1/2 year ago: bottom-right, my beloved Violet Fatale 17! Lipstick-lovers would shout "blasphemy" for having rudely cut-off the top, however, it was in the sake of decanting for travel. I couldn't risk loosing the whole Ford: it could be ordered online but the shipping fee would make it a decadence beyond its already exuberant pricetag.

Speaking of pricetag: the Bijenkorf's cardholders will get a discount of 10%, making it still worthy to throw away the receipt for the Significant Other*, who-already-thinks-another-lipstick-is-unneccesary-because-you-already-earned-his-love (?)...Or perhaps he wants to buy his lady that perfectly decadent lipstick because he loves her (hint hint!). *Also applicable on family and friends...

Some December Newbies

December often makes me feel more (self-) indulgent than normally:

 I finally ordered my first Charlotte Tilbury! I've read some mixed reviews but couldn't resist the name "Golden Goddess" and it's stunning hues:

The Golden Goddess upclose

I absolutely like the effect of the colours in the dictated suggested Tilbury colour scheme. However, I have some brilliant primers (hello mr. Bess) so I do not feel the need to overlayer. I received the compliment "wow, nice eyeshadows" from a makeup expert so I guess I put it on in a kinda right way too? Oh jolly!

However, I do not feel like glam shimmer & flecks on everyday base even though Charlotte T thinks everyone can benefit from that (can't remember where I read that but her line proves she likes shimmer). But I rarely have a standard eyelook anyway so I like this addition to my bronzy stash.

Relaxing in times of pre-Holiday tension is not only an indulgence: you'll be a much nicer person towards others and get some more focussed gifts as well. I think a bath is relaxing but most importantly warming when temperatures drop.

I've bought a bottle of Tisserand De-stress bathoil based on a good & detailed rave on naturisimo (here): I agree! I've really think its an awesome blend and it really outdoes it pricetag. I've had samples of Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath & shower oil and this is quite similar, only a whole lot more afforable: and that's relaxing as well

And yes, you can use it as a shower-oil as well!

 Kate = Queen...
whether it is the Dutchess of Cambridge, the ubermodel Moss or our Driveller-guru. So when she declared Suqqu M eyebrush to be a superior choice over mr. Ford (review)... I added it instantly to my Selfridges cart.

Thanks to its superior quality my blending skills have gotten better. Also, I have been rediscovering older infatuations such as Sienna Orchid.

 I've become more curious about natural and personalised blends so I ordered a couple of samples from Pollen & Wax: Among it their Peridot Cleansing Oil:

The Peridot Cleansing oil really smells refreshing, more like a Spanish Cava than a Peridot but I'm hardly the wine connoisseur. Most importantly, it cleanses the more profound makeup with the most gentle and beneficial of ingredients (listed here)

The Gold Petal facial serum (=oil) is indeed of a golden colour and smells more neutral. It is made for "{sensitive, ruddy, inflamed, combination, dry, irritated skin types}" so the amount of fraganced essential oils is not too strong. I detect the rose geranium.

Both have been really lovely. They last about 2 times and I do think I need a bit more to give out a good conclusion.