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MyBracelet by Loboda ~ love at first sight

MyBracelet by Loboda

Besides make-up and books, jewelry is one of my weak spots and I find it hard to resist buying it. Frequently, I catch myself looking at women in the street and their jewelry, thinking about the stories behind it. Did they buy it themselves, got it as a gift, perhaps for a special occasion? I think that women absolutely deserve to buy make-up for ourselves as well – after all, we have to be our own best friends first!

MyBracelet by Loboda

I love to support Slovenian brands, especially in the case when they offer such beautiful jewelry as MyBracelet by Loboda. Jewelry Loboda is well known in Slovenian market and the MyBracelet line opens the doors to those who don’t necessarily want to spend few hundred Euro on a single piece of jewelry. In their online store, they constantly offer new bracelets in so many different styles that everyone can find something for themselves. Today, I wanted to show you some of my favorite bracelets.

MyBracelet by Loboda – SOPH GEM bracelets

These bracelets are made out of silver with semi-precious stones – the yellow one is citrite, the blue topaz. These bracelets seem fragile, but the craftsmanship is wonderful – I can confidently wear them throughout the day without worrying that something will happen to them.

MyBracelet by Loboda

MyBracelet by Loboda

MyBracelet by Loboda

These bracelets also come from the SOPH GEM collection and you get to choose the color, perfect for you. One one side, the bracelet is completed by a freshwater pearl and one the other side a semi-precious stone. On the photo we have (from left to right) malachite, aquamarine, onyx and amazonite. You can look at more options *here*.

MyBracelet by Loboda

MyBracelet by Loboda

MyBracelet by Loboda -X/O bracelets

These bracelets totally won my heart, especially the beautiful Starfish bracelets with semi-precious stones and starfish. These bracelets remind me of summer, sun, sea, gin tonic on a warm day, the smell of pine trees… associations that I wouldn’t mind to get during the winter as well! The silver plates on the bracelets can be engraved which I would certainly take advantage of if I was giving the bracelet as a present. You can find more X/O bracelets *here*.

MyBracelet by Loboda

MyBracelet by Loboda

Sometimes I really do wish that my biggest luxury was collecting chewing gum – I think that my bank account would be much more satisfied. But on the other hand, the MyLoboda bracelets are really well priced and that’s exactly the reason I’m even showing them to you. I think that such bracelets, especially from the SOPH and PEARL collections are once-in-a-lifetime pieces of jewelry and it would only be fair that every one of us could be able to afford them.

Which is your favorite bracelet?

Until next time, stay beautiful!

10 PR products I’d buy with my own money

PR products best PR products

On this sunny Monday, I wanted to share a nice upbeat post. I went through my beauty stash and chose 10 PR products which I would  definitely buy myself. Basically, they are all really great products I enjoy using and will continue to use. I will also probably repurchase many of them.

PR product #1: La Roche-Posay Serozinc

PR products La Roche-Posay Serozinc

La Roche-Posay Serozinc has been helping me calm my skin after shaving or going at small pimples on my face. It also works great under make-up. I already almost used up one bottle and I already have a new one in stock. You can read my opinion and opinion of two of my readers about it *here*.

PR product #2: L’Occitane Terre De Lumiere eau de toilette

PR products L'Occitane Terre De Lumiere

L’Occitane Terre De Lumiere line is inspired by morning dawn. Personally, I find this to be a fresh and gentle fragrance very appropriate for upcoming spring and summer days. If you prefer stronger and more exotic fragrances, I suggest you check out the perfume from this Terre De Lumiere line.

PR product #3: Dr. Organic purifying shampoo with activated charcoal

PR products Dr. Organic shampoo with activated charcoal

I recently tested the Dr. Organic shampoo and balm with tea tree oil and really liked it a lot. Right now, I’m testing the entire line of Dr. Organic products with activated charcoal. I’m most impressed with the shampoo that really cleans my hair really well (you know that squeaky feeling that really clean hair get?) and prolongs the time between washes from two to three days.

PR product #4: Vichy Slow Age daily moisturizer

PR products Vichy Slow Age daily moisturizer

The Vichy Slow Age inspires me with the slow life philosophy which tells us to live happy and healthy. At the same time, they say it doesn’t mean we have to look the same at 25 and 45 years, like some other brands try to convince us. With my Slow Age daily moisturizer, I take some me time in the morning, apply it to a clean face and drink my lemon water while I wait for it to absorb. The cream is rich enough to feed and protect my skin during the day and still appropriate to wear under make-up. I won’t even start talking about the jar and the colors – beautiful, right?

PR product #5: Melvita L’Or Bio golden oil

PR products Melvita L'Or Bio golden oil

Melvita L’Or Bio golden oil has been a staple in my beauty routine for quite some time now. I use it on my face, hair, on my dry feet and elbows, to soften up the cuticles… there are almost infinite options of use. Besides the great texture and rich formula with five different oils, it never stops surprising me with the lovely fragrance. You can read more about it *here*.

PR product #6: L.O.V powder brush

PR products L.O.V make-up brush

This L.O.V powder brush convinced me at the moment we met. Not only does it look beautiful (which is less important but I still like looking at pretty products first thing in the morning), it’s also really soft and great at picking out any powder product. It’s large enough to use all over the face but I also occasionally use it for bronzer or blush.

PR product #7: Paese mattifying make-up base

PR products Paese mattifying primer

Paese mattifying base for about six months now and I’m slowly running out. With all the primers in my collection, this is another proff of how special this product really is. When applied, it creates a soft, velvety feeling to the skin and works great with almost all foundations. I apply the majority of the product on my forehead where I get the most oily. This primer does a great job of controling that.

PR product #8: Avon Mark Magix HD finishing powder

PR products Avon Mark Magiq HD powder

Avon Mark Magiq HD finishing powder is one of those products that have become a staple in my beauty collection. The formula is very light, clings well to the brush, mattifies the skin and doesn’t leave a white cast like some other finishing powders. It gets extra points for not having any smeel. I get quite artistic when applying my finishing powder and with the dust flying everywhere, this is an important topic for me.

PR product #9: Max Factor Lash Crown mascara

PR products Max Factor Lash Crown mascara

Today, I’m showing you this particular Max Factor Lash Crown mascara for the last time. It’s been six months since I started using it so it’s time to throw it away and go buy a new one. I think it’s the first mascara I ever completely used up before it dried up. This innovative brush makes sure that I don’t apply too much formula. The small brush on the other side makes it easy to coat the bottom lashes and the smaller lashes in the inner corner. You can read more about it *here*.

PR product #10: L.O.V Lipaffair Color&Care Brave Nudes lipstick (Angelina’s belief)

PR products L.O.V Brave Nudes Angelina's Belief

It’s only April but I already suspect that the L.O.V Color&Care Brave Nudes lipstick in the shade Angelina’s Belief will end up being my favorite bullet lipstick of 2018. It’s a strongly pigmented lipstick that feels very light on the lips. It has good staying power for a classical lipstick but doesn’t dry up the lips at all. This shade is pink with a slight coral undertone. I think it would look good with any skin tone.

These are the 10 PR products that impressed me so much I would happily buy them myself. Did you try any of them already? Until next time, stay beautiful!

Blogmas 2017 #11: Simple hair care routine and best products of 2017

simple hair care routine

My bathroom and cabinet are filled with skincare and make-up but for some reason, I manage to keep my haircare products in check. I don’t have a very sensitive scalp or any particular hair issues so I can afford the luxury of constantly trying out new products that enter the market.

Simple hair care routine – shampoo and conditioner

simple hair care routine L'Oreal Elseve L'Occitane

I always start with shampoo and continue with conditioner. For a while, people were saying to apply conditioner beforehand and I tried that a couple of times. Honestly, I didn’t see any difference. I try to wash my hair with lukewarm water whenever possible. This year, my #1 choice of shampoo and conditioner was the L’Oreal Elseve Extraordinary Clay purifying shampoo and conditioner. I’ve gone through three bottles of each and couldn’t bring myself to use many other shampoos instead of these. They have a great smell, the shampoo really felt purifying and the conditioner left my hair super soft and less frizzy.

Once every few weeks, I also apply the L’Occitane revitalizing fresh cleansing scrub – I wrote a whole post about it *here* for those of you who want to know more. In short, it’s a cleansing shampoo to really get rid of all the build-up on your hair. I’d definitely recommend the investment since you’ll be hard pressed to use this 150ml bottle in 12 months.

Simple hair care routine – hair luxuries

simple hair care routine Avon leave in conditioner

My all-time favorite hair-care product is the Avon Advanced Techniques Quick Touch leave-in conditioner. I swear that I have been using about 3 bottles of this for the past five years at least, perhaps more. It’s definitely not the most luxurious product based on ingredients (perfume and alcohol are very high up there) but for some reason, this makes my hair look like silk. I can apply it all over my hair and scalp without having to worry about any greasiness or weighed down hair. A product I absolutely adore and costs next to nothing.

simple hair care routine L'Oreal

Another product I discovered this year (year of oils, remember?) is the L’Oreal Professionel Mythic Oil. This is a mixture of silicones and oils and, when applied sparingly to the roots, makes your hair look soft and silky. I use it on my ends whenever I’m late with a hairdresser appointment and it really masks the fact that my ends are already split.

Simple hair care routine – new products for 2018

simple hair care routine Olaplex

In the following year, I’m very excited to try out some new products. First is the Olaplex #3 for home use. I always get Olaplex full treatment in my hair salon, but I’ve actually never tried their products on my own. Somehow, the idea of Olaplex always seemed super professional to me and therefore something that you cannot attempt on your own. Turns out, it’s really as simple as any other conditioner, so I can’t wait to give it a proper go!

simple hair care routine Vichy Dercos Densi-Solutions

I’m also really excited to try the new Vichy Dercos Densi Solutions thickening balm, shampoo and concentrate. This new Vichy line is promising visibly stronger and denser looking hair that also looks softer. I’m excited to see how it will work for my hair.

What were your hair care favorites of 2017? I’ll be happy to find out about them and perhaps add some more to my wishlist! Until next time, stay beautiful!

Blogmas #8: best make-up 2017

The post you’ve been asking for over the last couple of weeks – best make-up of 2017! This year, it’s exclusively drugstore (although some prices are pushing over to the high-end side) and to be honest, I’m really happy about that. I don’t think that things we enjoy should cost and arm and a leg so I’m happy if I can find inexpensive products that are awesome. Enjoy (and also, get yourself some wine and popcorn, because it’s a long one).

Best make-up 2017 – great base

best make-up 2017 foundation

It was easy to choose my favorite foundation for the year 2017. It’s Paese Liquid Powder Double Skin Aqua – lightweight and moisturizing foundation (mine in the shade 20A). Their foundations have 4 squares on the side. This particular foundation has 3 filled up which means medium coverage, so I’m guessing all four would mean full coverage. Easy way to find the foundation you’re looking for. The application with the doe-foot applicator is easy and although it tends to oxidize on me the tiniest bit, it’s nothing compared to other foundations. I’d say this one would be great for almost any skin type.

best make-up 2017 foundation Paese

It’s primer galore in my house and I’ve tried many great primers this year, but again, I have to go for the same brand. Paese mattifying make-up base (for oily and combination skin). It’s a silicone primer which will make your foundation look beautiful. I don’t think it would do any favors to super oily skin though – silicones tend to slide right off it. In combination with the foundation mentioned above, it looks stunning.

I’m not a big believer in  BB creams but Vipera BB Cream (02 natural) that reduces redness and evens out the complexion totally changed the game for me. To be quite honest, I don’t even see it as a BB cream but a medium-coverage foundation which covers up all imperfections quite well. I enjoy using it when I don’t want to worry too much about my foundation. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re still on the hunt for a good BB cream.

I’ve tried perhaps a dozen concealers this year – both high-end and drugstore – and haven’t been impressed at all until I bumped into Catrice Liquid Camouflage high-coverage concealer. My first one – I don’t know how I’ve never come across it before. I don’t apply it directly on my under-eye circles directly because it’s quite fair and would make them stand out even more. First, i cover them up with a concealer closer to my skin tone and then I apply this concealer to brighten up the area. Also use it to carve out my eyebrow when I feel like it. Great full coverage concealer for less then 5€? Sold!

best make-up 2017 finishing powder

For finishing powder with some extra coverage, I can’t say enough good words about Bell Hypoallergenic Mat Powder (I think 04 – I’m a bit annoyed it doesn’t say anywhere on the packaging itself). I’m on my second one, and I’ve got a back-up as well. It’s not exactly lightweight, but applied over a light weight foundation, it gives you that extra coverage and makes your skin look beautiful. Low Maintenance Beauty approved! Read more about it *here*.

best make-up 2017 finishing powder

2017 was definitely a year of translucent powders. Out of all I tried, the price-performance ratio was the best with Avon Mark Magix HD Finishing powder. Why yes, I do also pay attention to the price. If I’m going to recommend something for 40€, it better be  worth it (which it usually isn’t in my opinion) and the same way around – if I’m going to find a powder for a couple of Euro that works (almost) just as well as the one for 30€, I’ll recommend it to you. The Avon Mark magix powder is very finely mild and will definitely keep the shine at bay! You can read more about it *here*.

Best make-up 2017 – adding some color to the face

best make-up 2017 contouring

 

Powder highlighters are my nemesis as I’m drawn to them like a moth to a flame. My absolute favorite this year has been Essence Cubanita Jumbo Highlighter
(unfortunately, LE but perhaps you can still find it somewhere). A beautiful golden shade and powdery formula, this highlighter is super simple to work with. The size promises at least a couple of years of use so I’m in love.

Liquid highlights are also tempting, but I’m hard pressed to find ones that show up well and are at the same time not difficult to blend out. L.O.V LOVglow Highlighting drops meet both criteria. I like that they aren’t too difficult to work it and not over-pigmented, so I can easily control the level of shine on my face. They come with a great easy to use dropper which is perfect for liquid products. Don’t forget to always apply liquid products before you set your face, otherwise it will look unnatural! I did some swatches *here*.

best make-up 2017 contouring View Post

BLOGMAS 2017 #3 Best skincare products 2017

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas

This Blogmas is not exactly off to a flying start, so today you’ll be enjoying more… artistic photos. But hey, we’re here to discuss skincare, not just look at it, right? Anyway, I apologize in advance ~ if it bothers you terribly, you can always click out of the post. If not, stick around and check out my top products in facial skincare in the past year. I’ll also link any previous related posts so you can catch up on any products you find more interesting.

Best skincare products 2017 – face cleansers

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas Pixi + Caroline Hirons Natura Siberica

I was always the one to try and save money on face cleansers and in early 2017 I said – no more. My biggest investment so far was the Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse and let me tell you, it was worth every cent. I’m totally buying this again! It’s a two sided cleanser with solid cleansing oil (which I use to remove the make-up) and a cleansing cream (used for second cleaning) in one. You only need a tiny amount of each as this jar lasted me almost four months. It doesn’t sting my eyes, removes all the make-up perfectly and is overall fantastic. A definite winner of 2017. Another winner is the Natura Siberica Moisturizing Foam Eye Make-up remover. This was my first time trying out Natura Siberica product and I was very pleasantly surprised. This cleanser will remove most of your make-up (but not a waterproof mascara), will not sting your eyes (99 % natural) and will leave your face nice and clean. I really like that it comes out as a foam which is easily distributed all over my face. I need to do a proper post on this product but again, an absolute favorite.

Best skincare products 2017 – toning and serums

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas The Ordinary

Our face is now clean, so let’s balance out the PH levels with the Bocassy Clean&Tone Tonic. This is my third bottle and I absolutely love it ~ you can read more about it *here*. Next, we need to give our skin some extra help to make it look young and beautiful. I use all kinds of serums, acids and so forth, but I really want to mention just a few that really work really well for me. First is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2 % + B5 ~read more about it * here*. I don’t think skincare comes any less expensive then this. I’m sure you’ll be able to find better hyaluronic acids out there, but for just over 5 €, this works great for me. From The Ordinary, I also really enjoy their Salicylic Acid 2 % Solution. I apply this over any breakouts happening on my face and I swear that the healing process is a bit shorter then usual. Last The Ordinary product I want to talk about is the 100 % Plant-derived squalene. It creates a nice barrier on my skin, giving me that extra hydration I really need throughout the night. Along with these, I also enjoy my L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew. It’s an eye serum which has a cold metal applicator used to massage the serum into the skin. I don’t know what works better – the serum or the applicator, but on the nights I remember to use it, my under-eye area definitely looks plumper and less sad the next morning.

Best skincare products 2017 – oils and moisturizers

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas L'Oreal Revitalift

My fave oil remains Yanumi ~ read more about it *here*. It’s cold pressed, 100 % organic and Slovenian, which I’ll always support. For moisturizers, I’m going back and forth between two of them. For daytime, I really like the La Roche-Posay Hydreane Riche moisturizer for sensitive skin. It doesn’t leave a film on my face and absorbs really quickly. That cannot be said for the L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew which is a really heavy night-time cream. And that’s exactly why I like it. I really want my face to be hydrated to maximum before I hit the sack and that’s one way to do it. This Revitalift cream has an interesting gel texture that is really pleasant on the face as well.

Best skincare products 2017 – mask, SPF and skin prep

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas L'Oreal Mask Yanumi

I’m really partial to sheet masks right now, but I talk about them all the time, so this time, I wanted to mention the only “normal” mask in a jar that I really enjoy using. This is my second jar of L’Oreal Pure Clay Exfo Mask. It’s intended to exfoliate the skin and improve skin texture. I only apply it on the parts of my face where I can afford some more serious skin exfoliation and avoid the really dry areas, like the one around my nose and between my eyebrows. I can really see a difference after using this mask.

Best skincare products 2017 Blogmas Serozinc Mommy UV Gel

Best SPF of the year goes to Mommy! UV mild Gel SPF 30 which is alcohol-free, silicone-free and sinks into my skin effortlessly regardless of the moisturizer I’m wearing underneath. I really like the weightless feeling and the fact I don’t need to wait 10 minutes for it to dry enough for me to apply my make-up. Another winner in my book. Last but not least, I have to mention the La Roche-Posay Serozinc that I’ve been loving for the past month or so. It really makes a beautiful base for my make-up and I cannot imagine my life without it. You can read more about it *here*.

Overall, these are all products I’d highly recommend and I am really happy that I found them in 2017. I’ll continue using them until I get new products I need to try out, but I’m happy to know that I can fall back on these anytime if I’m experiencing skin issues and want to get my facial skincare in check.

Now, as the last order of business ~ I owe you the winner of the 10 products in my DIY advent calendar. The lucky winner who will receive 10 great Essence products is:  PATRICIJA VIDMAR. Patricija, congratulations, please send me your information. The rest, thank you for participating. New Blogmas giveaway is coming very, very soon! Until then, stay beautiful!