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 #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

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics eyeshadow palette ~ best holiday palette yet?

LOV cosmetics devoted to metallics open palette

Metallic eyeshadows are not something I normally associate with my everyday make-up. But after wearing only eyeshadows from the L.O.V. Devoted to metallics eyeshadow palette for a weeks straight and having nobody comment on my “different make-up”, I think I can safely say that this palette is unique – because it’s safe and daring at the same time.

Packaging

 

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics closed palette

 

The palette itself is quite thick, thicker than you might expect. It’s dressed in some smooth plastic material which feels really pleasant and you can get a good grasp on the palette. Downside – it does get dirty quite quickly. Upside – it’s also very easy to clean up with a wet wipe, unlike some suede or velvet palettes out there that just stain and get difficult to look at.  As an extra bonus, you’ll also find a huge mirror which definitely comes in handy.

Shades

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics colors

In the L.O.V. Devoted to metallics palette, there are 5 shades which comes down to about 3€ per shadow – if you’ll use all of them, this is definitely a great deal. In the lighter shades, you get a white, pink and gold shade which you can pair with a lighter brown and a black.

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics swatches

All of the shades are incredibly pigmented. The far left and far shade shade are a bit less shimmery so it’s easy to create everyday looks with this palette as well.  For the look below, I used the far right shade in the crease, the far left shade to deepen things out in the outer V and the golden shade all over my lid. Simple, quick and stunning!

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics look

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics eyeshadow look

Besides being super pigmented, the shadows are also very easy to blend – as goes for most L.O.V shadows I’ve tried so far. That means that even creating more complicated looks shouldn’t be that difficult. If you want some extra pop with the lighter shades, I’d suggest using a damp brush so you get that extra metallic feel to the color.

Verdict

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics eyeshadow look gold brown

This will definitely be my go-to palette in the holiday season – and all other seasons in the year. The colors are absolutely gorgeous, the palette compact and sturdy which also makes it great for traveling. I think, we found another contender for the best eyeshadow palette of 2017.

L.O.V. Devoted to metallics

Have you tried anything from the new L.O.V releases yet? What do you think of this palette? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time, stay beautiful!

New L.O.V products – Summer 2017: liquid lipstick and highlighting drops

L.O.V Summer 2017

L.O.V is a sister brand of Essence and Catrice and a brand right up my alley – luxurious, elegant and sophisticated. It’s true that not every product sits well with me, but that is true for most brands – I think it would be weird if I just liked everything, don’t you? This time, I had a lucky hand and got to test two really good products.

LOVglow highlighting drops

L.O.V Summer 2017 glow highlighting drops

The first one immediately caught my eye and I knew that I had to test it right away. LOVglow highlighting drops (Muller, 10,99 € for 9ml) are available in two shades – pink-gold Moonlight dreams and gold Sunlight glow which I tested myself. The bottle looks stunning with the golden webbing, but I’m even more impressed by the dropper. It’s incredibly precise so you won’t waste any product when applying.

L.O.V Summer 2017 glow highligter drops

The drops can be applied as a regular highlighter to the cheekbones, mixed into liquid foundation or primer, but personally I liked them the most applied over the primer and before liquid foundation. As you can see from the swatch, the drops become almost invisible once blended, so they’re very appropriate to give the effect of a healthy and glowing skin all over the face. If you only want to highlight certain parts of the face, you should blend them out with your fingers rather than with a sponge – you’ll waste less product that way. I would highly recommend them as a good alternative to powder highlights.

View Post

Summer makeup routine 2017

summer makeup routine

I hate nothing more than the feeling of my make-up sliding up and down my face in warm summer days. Unfortunately, this feeling is often confirmed once I take a look in the mirror, but this only happens when I don’t do my summer makeup routine when applying make-up. Today, I’m introducing a couple of tricks on how you can make your make-up last longer throughout the day, regardless of the heat!

summer makeup routine The Ordinary high adherence silicone primer

I won’t go on and on about moisturizing the skin and applying a layer of SPF – surely, you’ve memorized the importance of that by now. I start my routine with a primer. I get so many questions about The Ordinary high-adherence silicone primer (which I already wrote about *here*) that I thought I’d show it to you one more time. In short, it’s not my favorite primer, but it does make for a good base before foundation application and somewhat prolongs its wear time. If you choose a primer without silicone, your make-up will last that much longer. I also apply an eyelid primer – currently I’m using the Avon primer which is quite soft and can be blended easily all over the eyelid. It also covers up discoloration and minor imperfections at the same time.

summer makeup routine Bell Hypoalergenic liquid foundation

I follow the primer with Bell Hypoallergenic Mat & Soft liquid foundation (more about it *here*). My skin has been looking better for the past couple of weeks meaning I don’t need a full coverage foundation. I like Bell liquid foundation because of the slightly matte finish  – if I want my skin to look more dewy, I can apply highlighter or liquid illuminator later on. Time permitting, I apply the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye waterproof concealer. The formula is thick and quite dry so I need more time to blend it properly without any visible transitions, but I know that it. will. not. budge the entire day.

summer makeup routine L.O.V perfectitude 3in1 prime and fix spray

Naturally, you then apply all other make-up products such as bronzer, blush, maskara and so forth, but don’t forget to lock your foundation to prolong the wear time! For the past few weeks, I’ve been reaching for Paese transparent powder focusing the most on the under-eye area since the concealer tends to sink into my fine lines. It’s a really great product, very soft and fine which means it blends out nicely, not leaving a gray hue over the face as some other powders do. After completing my look, I give my face a couple of spritzes with L.O.V Perfectitude 3in1 Prime & Fix spray (more about it *here*) which really makes my make-up stay in place. For a cheaper alternative, I can also recommend Avon Mark fixing spray.

Sometimes, even all of these steps won’t help and you’ll need to freshen up your make-up during the day. I tend to blot my face with some blotting sheets (the best and cheapest are made by Essence) and then apply a new layer of a translucent powder that’s always in my purse. My favorite is the Rimmel Stay Matte which you can find in any drugstore. I hope this post helps and your make-up will look great all summer long thanks to this summer makeup routine. Until next time, stay beautiful!