make-up Archives – Maša M blog

My top 5 Catrice

Lately, I’ve been noticing I’m being really unfair to the products I use all the time and love the most. These mostly only come up in my monthly or yearly favorites and in empties, but they never really get the same spotlight the new products do. So today, I’m going to rectify this injustice by writing about my top 5 products from one of my favorite brands, Catrice.

My top 5 #1: Catrice Prime and fine Make-up Transformer drops – lightening drops

My top 5 Catrice Prime&Fine transforming drops posvetlitvene kapljice

Lightening drops are a must for all of us who use SPF throughout the year. In Slovenia, we also seldomly get the lightest shades of foundations so some mixing is often necessary. These Catrice Prime and Fine drops have a yellow undertone so you probably won’t like them if you have a pink undertone. You will need quite a lot of them to really transform the shade completely, but I prefer that to having a liquid foundation slowly dying in my drawers because it’s too dark.

My top 5 #2: Catrice HD Liquid Coverage foundation (010 – Light Beige)

My top 5 Catrice HD Liquid Coverage

This HD Liquid Coverage foundation is a typical example of a foundation I wouldn’t be able to use without lightening drops. It makes a lovely matte finish on the skin but is not too heavy and doesn’t give the skin that cakey look. It’s applied with a dropper, which I can appreciate, and you’ll be getting a ton of foundation for your money. On the other side, there are only four shades available and they do oxidise to a certain extent, so make sure to try it out first before you buy it. Still, the perfect finish on the skin makes it one of my favorite foundations of all times.

My top 5 #3: Catrice Ultimate Matte lipstick (From Rose with Love)

My top 5 Catrice ultimate matte šminka

Before trying the Ultimate Matte Catrice lipsticks I’d easily say that I’ll always choose a liquid lipstick over a classic lipstick. Well, now I have changed my opinion. The formula of this lipsticks is light on the lips, really opaque, has a 100 % matte finish and really good staying power for a classic lip. It wears down evenly but needs to be refreshed once every while like every other lipstick does. All further applications are not an issue as the formula wears down very evenly over the lips.

My top 5 #4: Catrice Soleil D’Ete bronzer

My top 5 Catrice Soleil D'ete bronzer

Do I feel guilty for including a limited edition item into my favorites? Yes, I do, but I have a good reason for doing so. I’m simply including this bronzer as a tip that you definitely should look through powder face products if you’re ever near a Catrice stand. This bronzer is super pigmented so it will probably last me for years to come. The shade is perfect for everyday bronzing if you’re not too tan, because it’s not too orange. Personally, I find it a close dupe for Tarte Park Avenue Princess bronzer.

My top 5 #5: Catrice Prime and Fine Smoothing refiner

My top 5 Catrice Prime and fine primer

Catrice Prime and Fine Smoothing refiner is a silicone primer. I have about ten of these in my drawers but this one is special because it really fills in the small imperfections and textures. This is especially important on the cheekbones when I apply a heavier blush or a liquid highlighter that draw out imperfections even more. It makes a lovely satin finish and the liquid foundation applies like a dream. Not convinced yet? Perhaps you will be by the fact that this is my third jar of this primer and I have three back-ups on hand (just in case).

I could go on an on about products I love with catrice: the IcoNails nail polishes (review *here*), blushes and mascaras (*read more here*), eyeshadow palettes that are super affordable and so forth. But these top 5 products are really the ones I would continue buying over and over again. What’s your favorite Catrice product? Tell me in the comments below and also don’t forget to mention other brands you’d like me to do this Top 5 post on. Until next time, stay beautiful!

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

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!

Paese brow products

You all know my dislike for the “I can see it’s fake from the airplane” Instagram brows a.k.a. Instabrows. But the other day, a girl in the local supermarket had brows like that and I couldn’t stop staring at her. Only later I realized why – because I rarely, if ever, see brows like that in real life. They are reserved for social media, to attract audience, to show off your make-up skills. They’re not really meant for everyday life.

Nevertheless, I decided that for the first time in my life, I’ll actually attempt to do a proper Instagram eyebrow and compare it to my regular eyebrow routine. You can decide which one you prefer – and naturally, let me know in the comments below.

Paese brow products brow couture pomade

The products I’m using to show you my brow routine and to attempt an Instabrow are all by Paese Cosmetics. I’ve grown to love most of the products they offer and I really appreciate the quality. The prices are mid-range, meaning that you won’t find products for a couple of Euro, but you also won’t be living on crumbs if you purchase a make-up item from them here and there. In Slovenia, we can buy their products online *here* or in a single store in BTC City.

Natural brows with Paese products

Paese brow products natural brow

First, let’s look at my natural brow routine. There are two ways I go about this, depending on how much time I actually have in the morning. First option includes the Paese Brow Couture Gel (mine in the shade Brunette, 12€) and the Paese Brow Couture pencil (shade Brunette, 9,50€). After combing through my lashes with an eyebrow gel (currently, I’m using Pixi), I’ll use the Brow Couture Gel to add some color to my brows and then just fill in the blanks with the pencil. The Paese pencil is two-sided and comes with a spoolie at the other and meaning I can easily and quickly comb through the brows after I’m done. This is a really natural look and I like it a lot.

Paese brow products Paese brow couture pencil

I already mentioned the Paese Brow Couture Pencil as my favorite eyebrow pencil of 2017. I think that the formula is beautiful – creamy enough so you don’t have to press too hard. At the same time, the pencil is not to soft so it won’t break with some more pressure and won’t leave chunks in your brows. I really appreciate the sleek look and the added spoolie brush which makes it a great 2-in-1 product. It’s available in three different shades.

Paese brow products Paese brow couture gel

The Paese Brow Couture Gel was a new product for me and the first few times, things didn’t go well. When you rotate the bottom, the gel will leak out of the spoolie and can be applied to the brows. Be advised – don’t rotate more then once or twice as you only need one or two drops per each brow. I also suggest you start of where your brows are the thickest and then brush the product out toward the beginning and the tail. This is not a product for precision, but to add color. It comes in three different shades.

Paese brow products natural brow

The second natural brow option combines the Paese Brow Couture Pomade (shade Brunette, 13€) and the already mentioned Paese Brow Couture pencil. I use a precise angled brow to carve out the bottom and upper border of the brow with the pomade and then fill the brow in with the pencil. In doing so, I’m always careful to use a light hand at the start of the brow and then gradually add more brow strokes toward the tail. This kind of brow is a bit more out there in terms of everyday wear.

Paese brow products Paese brow couture pomade

Paese brow products swatches

The Paese Brow Couture Pomade comes in four different shades. The formula is interesting since it’s not very creamy, but more waxy. I prefer it this way, because I have more control over how much product I actually pick up. If you’re new to using a pomade on your brows, I definitely recommend applying some on the back on your hand first and picking it up with the brush as you go. This way, you’ll warm up the product and at the same time have more control over the application. Pomades are the trickiest to make look natural and there is some practice needed. In the Paese pomade, you’ll get 4,5g of product, meaning it will last you ages to get through it since it’s very pigmented and you only need the tiniest bit on a daily basis.

Now, for the Instabrow. View Post

new beauty products january 2018

In the blog about 2017 and plans for 2018, I promised a New In each final Friday of the month. Naturally, I also receive some packages in the final days of the month, but these will be included in the post of the following month. I’ll include a short review wherever I can, but in most cases, you’ll have to wait a little while longer for any real evaluation of the products. If there’s something you’re really interested in, let me know in the comments below and I’ll try my best to review that product for you. Now, let’s go ahead and get started. All the products I bought on my own are marked with a * for full disclosure.

new beauty products Vichy

Vichy kindly sent me a gorgeous suede make-up bag, Vichy Nutrilogie 2 Intense cream for very dy skin, cute notebook and Vichy Slow Age Eyes, targeted care for developing signs of ageing with anti oxidant baicalin, bifidus and gingko. It’s meant to help reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.

new beauty products Nabla

If you didn’t know, I’m a moderator for a Slovenian group about cosmetics. Every once in a while, all of us gather and have a little party and this time, we also got some presents! I got the cutest set with Nabla Velvetine long-lasting lip pencil in the shade Grace and Nabla metallic liquid lipstick in the same shade. They are absolutely gorgeous and I’ve been wearing them a lot lately.

new beauty products Derma.E

At the same moderator meet-up, I also received Derma E Essentials – Microdermabrasion scrub from Beautybottled that blends away dullness and smooths the fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars. I’ve used it a couple of times so far, gently massaging it into my face for about three minutes before I rinse it of. It’s a microdermabrasion scrub that shouldn’t be used too often in order not to damage the skin, but once a week or so seems just right for my skin. I really like it so far and I’m happy to add another eco product to my stash.

new beauty products Dr.Organic

Dr. Organic is a new brand to Slovenia and I was excited to try their products. They sent me the Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner, Hemp oil Body Wash and Virgin Coconut Oil deodorant. The latter is formulated without aluminium, SLS, paraben and alcohol, which is perfect for our sensitive skin and prevents any clogging of the pores. I’ve got a full post about these coming next week so stay tuned for that.

new beauty products Essence

Essence is celebrating their 15th Birthday this year and apparently, it means gifts for everyone (think Oprah). I was sent the stunning Ready, set, glow holographic make-up bag, Essence Be my highlight eyeshadow palette, Make me special lipstick topper and a gorgeous eyeshadow blending brush.

new beauty products La Roche-Posay

I’m always excited for new LRP products, especially since I’ve started my love affair with Serozinc. I was sent La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mineral compact powder with SPF 25 (Sand beige) and the Eau Micellaire ultra, micelar water for sensitive skin.

new beauty products e.l.f.

i did a little bit of shopping myself. I bought the e.l.f. powder brush* and Blush&bronzer duo in St.Lucia*. Both of these are repuchases and i got them from iHerb. Sadly, they changed the shades in the St. Lucia compact and I think both will be far too light for my skin tone. View Post

Urban Decay products

In the past year, quite a few new beauty brands entered Slovenian market. Brands, we’ve lusted for, shopped online and generally tried every trick in the book to get our hands on them. Now, we’re finally getting Urban Decay into Muller stores and personally, I’m very excited. Today, I want to show you some of my favorite Urban Decay products that I use most often.

Urban Decay Naked palette

urban decay Naked palette

Let’s start with the cult classic – Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette (or, as it’s known on the streets, Naked 1). I don’t think there are many women out there who haven’t heard of this palette yet. Soft, almost creamy shadows with great pigmentation offer countless options and combinations. You can create a simple daytime look or an evening smokey eye. In the entire palete, my favorite shades are Gunpowder and Smog, but I use almost all equally, meaning it was a good purchase.

urban decay Naked palette

For around 50€, you’ll be getting a quality palette with a decent mirror, a very good two-sided brush and 12 pans of eyeshadows.

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics eyeshadow palette

Urban Decay ultimate basics palette

This palette is somewhat different since it’s all matte eyeshadows. I bought it in 2016 when we were riding high on the matte trend wave, but I still use it to this day in combination with some shimmers from other palettes. Compared to the Naked palette, you’ll find a few more cool toned eyeshadows in here, but I’m really excited about the large selection of transition shades. It’s definitely an unique palette, worth the purchase. My favorite color in the palette is the burnt orange Extra bitter that goes great together with golden shades.

Urban Decay ultimate basics palette open

This palette is a bit more expensive, so around 55€. besides the great palette with a huge mirror, you’ll also be getting a two sided brush as well.

Urban Decay Comfort Matte Vice lipstick

urband decay vice lipstick 1973

Lipsticks that offer total comfort an the lip and a matte finish at the same time are hard to come by. Urban Decay Vice Comfort matte lipsticks are definitely one of those. They have a wonderful matte finish, wear beautifully, have quite a good staying powder and are available in 29 great shades. This was also the first lipstick I ever used up completely – a lovely shade Hideaway. Now, I have a new comfort matte in the shade 1993 – a nice warm brown color.

urband decay vice lipstick 1973 portrait

Besides the matte formula, Urban Decay lipsticks also come in mega matte, metal, cream, sheer and sheer shimmer formula as classic bullet lipsticks. You can also find a great range of liquid Vice lipsticks in the collection. Prices go around 15 to 20€. For that, you’ll be getting about 3g of lipstick and a gorgeous bullet that will be the talk of the town. I appreciate Urban Decay’s move to put a colored sticker on the bottom of the bullet – this way, I know exactly what I’m reaching for in the morning.

Urban Decay De-Slick setting spray

urban decay de-slick make-up setting spray

I wrote a whole post about Urban Decay De-slick oil control setting spray a couple of years ago. You can find it that *here* so I won’t be repeating myself too much. It’s a unique formula that makes your make-up last longer by influencing its temperature – quite an interesting idea, to say the least. Since my skin got more dry during pregnancy, I’ve been using it less in the place of a fixing spray. Now, I use it more when I apply a lot of products on my face and get that slightly cakey look. The de-slick setting spray really settles everything down into the skin and gives it a more natural appearance.

I’m currently on my third bottle and the packaging has been revamped since I last bought it. There are a few more finishing sprays in the line (All-nighter and Chill) and also some prepping sprays with different ingredients, such as collagen or vitamin B6. Prices range between 25 and 35€ and there are travel sizes available, if you want to test it out first.

What’s on my wishlist?

You can imagine I have more then one thing on my wishlist. I’ve been eyeing the cream Vice lipstick in the shade Crisis for a while now. I also never played around with their liquid face products before so I’m excited to try the All-nighter waterproof concealer and invest in the liquid foundation if I’m happy with it. I’m definitely also going to grab an Urban Decay Velvetizer powder that can be mixed into any liquid foundation to get a wonderful satin finish. I used to use the 24/7 Glide-on pencil in Zero and now I see that a matte version called perversion is also available. I think it will be perfect for tightlining my eyes. Last but not least – I haven’t had a new high-end bronzer in forever, so I’m adding the Urban Decay Beach Bronzer in the shade Bronzed to the mix.

What’s your all time favorite Urban decay Product? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, stay beautiful!

My top 5 beauty products: Catrice