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Project pan 2018: Products I want to use up in 2018

Project pan 2018

Here’s the story. I tried project pan last year and failed miserably. Why? Because I chose products I mostly hate. Nobody wants to apply such products to their face every single day, right? So this year, I’m doing it differently. I chose 10 products that I like but which have been in my collection way too long. I’m not including any mascaras, because I have never used up a mascara in my life – I only toss them once they dry out or don’t work properly anymore, which is usually around the six months mark.

Project pan 2018 SHELF LIFE

These days, when every beauty vlogger on YouTube is boasting their huge collections, it’s important to remind ourselves that make-up actually expires and we have to use it up while it’s still good. Expired products can give you skin issues or even cause bigger complications, especially those which are used on the eyes or the mouth.

Five of these will be a piece of cake. Five of these will not. But I will try my best. I’ll update you here after six months and every month or so on Instagram – don’t forget to follow me there. So without further ado, here are my 10 products that I’ll try to use up in 2018. I’ll start with the easiest one and work my way up according to how difficult I feel each product will be.

Project pan 2018 #1: Essence Fresh&Fit primer

Project pan 2018 Essence primer

I use primer on a daily basis and I really like this one, especially for spring and summer as it gives me some extra glow. I normally use up quite a few bottles of primer each year so this one should be a piece of cake.

Project pan 2018 #2: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation

Project pan 2018 Chanel Vitalumiere aqua foundation

This foundation has been in my drawer longer than I care to admit. It’s a lightweight foundation with light coverage so I’ll probably wear it around the weekend. I usually prefer medium coverage for workdays. It’s hard to tell from the bottle, but I think there are about three quarters left in there. Goal for the product: use it up completely.

Project pan 2018 #3: Collection contour kit

Project pan 2018 collection contour kit

I bought the The Collection contour kit in Ireland over two years and it’s getting a bit tired. I don’t care for the highlight, but the contour color is really good because it’s dark and neutral. Goal for this product: use up the entire contour pan. I don’t think it’ll be that hard, to be honest

Project pan 2018 #4: Trend It Up Contour & Glide lip liner  – 400

Project pan 2018 trend it up lip liner

This is one of my go-to lip liners for many of the lipsticks I wear on everyday basis. It’s a great nude color with the tiniest hint of pink undertone. This Trend It Up lip liner doesn’t have the best staying power, but I like to wear it with lippies or alone combined with a lip gloss. I don’t think it will be a problem to use it up entirely in 2018 since it’s quite soft and consequently goes down much quicker then a regular pencil liner.

Project pan 2018 #5: Lancome Juicy Shaker – Mangoes Wild

Project pan 2018 Lancome Juicy Shaker

This juicy shaker is another product I’ve been carrying around for a while now. I feel like I’ve used it quite a bit, but when looking at the level in the bottle, I’ve actually used only about a tenth. Consequently, I’m not buying the matte shaker until I’ve used this one up. And I really want the matte Juicy Shaker, so that’s the deal I’m making with myself. Goal: use the entire bottle. View Post

Wishlist #1 January 2018 ~ skincare and make-up

beauty wishlist january 2018

Today, you’ll be reading the first of 12 wish lists I will post in 2018. I get a lot of PR e-mails and follow many brands, meaning I’m usually lusting after quite a few products. It doesn’t mean that I’ll necessarily buy everything on the list, but a girl can dream, right?

beauty wishlist january 2018

1 Bobbi Brown Extra Repair serum promises to refresh and calm the skin, giving it the extra hydration our skin needs in these cold days with the dry air. Apparently, it also helps with redness, dry spots and breakouts – issues that I know too well. It’s super expensive, but based on all of the reviews I’ve read so far it’s worth the money.

2 The Body Shop Metal Liquid Lipstick – Russet Copper. I’ve tested The Body Shop matte liquid lipsticks (review is waiting for you *here*) and now, I’ve got my eye on the metal liquid lipsticks. They are available in six shades and this one in Russet Copper is my absolute favorite of the bunch.

3 Catrice California in a box bronzer & blush palette. This brand has a big launch coming in January as a preview of their permanent collection for the SS 2018. I think that after years of matte, matte and matte, it will be fun to dive into metals, holographics and shimmers. I love the idea of being able to use all of the products matte or simply top them off with some shimmer for added BAM!

4 Natura Siberica Northern Soap for Deep Facial Cleansing. When I first saw this product, my jaw dropped. I’m currently using (and loving!) the Natura Siberica Moisturizing Foam Eye Make Up Remover – I promise the post is coming really soon. As I’m really trying to make a nice transition to natural brands, I’m always on the hunt for something new. Northern Soap is made with active charcoal and promises, among other things, to increase elasticity. It’s also a natural antiseptic and toner. So basically, you’re getting 3-1 for the same price.

5 Avon Mark Concealer. As a big fan of the Avon Mark line, I’m always on the hunt for new products from the line. It’s secretly one of my goals in life to own enough Avon Mark products to be able to do a full face of make-up only with those. So adding a concealer is a step in the right direction. View Post

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid (review & swatches)

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid

The Body Shop finally made it to Slovenia which means that we can get to know more of the brand over here as well. I’ve tried a lot of their skincare before, but I’ve never tried any make-up. Consequently, I was really excited to receive my first matte lip liquid (for all purposes, a liquid matte lipstick) at the Beautiful Bloggers Conference. I wore it throughout November and December and I really liked it.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid

Then, I received another package from The Body Shop Slovenia as a X-mas gift – their House of Holland set with another three lippies – all of which you can find sold separately as a part of their regular line as well. Here are my thoughts and opinions on them.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – shade range and price

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid

There are currently 13 shades available in Slovenia, but looking at foreign online stores, the number of shades can vary from country to country. The shade range is great – it covers everything from complete nudes, to pinks, reds and deeper tones. I think that everyone can find a shade for them in the range.

In Slovenia, each of the matte lip liquids costs 8,90 € which is comparable to many other drugstore brands like Bourjois or Maybelline. You can usually get some discount or promo code if you follow The Body Shop on Facebook or sign up for their newsletter.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – packaging

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid

Each matte lip liquid comes in a simple tube with a matte cap, which is a nice touch. I really like when brands separate their matte and regular lipsticks by doing this. The cap has a velvety feel to it, sort of like NARS packaging. Each lipstick contains 8mg of products, which is plenty. They expire 18 months after opening, which is a reasonable time frame to get through a lipstick that you like. The name is written on the top of the bottle along with the code.

The applicator is simple doe foot, small enough for precise application. It is a bit fluffy, but nothing like the Avon Mark Lip Lacquer applicator which drove me crazy. I can get a really nice application with this lipstick.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – formula

I really, really like the formula of these matte lip liquids. It’s a bit sheer which comes across more with the darker shades, but you can simply give it a swipe more to make it opaque. It also reapplies nicely, isn’t patchy at all. It does take a bit longer to dry down completely matte – I would say you’ll have to give it about five minutes. But after that, you’re good to go.

On the lips, they are super comfortable and not drying at all. They feel sort of like a satin lip, but have that complete matte finish which I love about them.

They have an interesting scent to them, almost flowery. It’s not too strong, but if you really don’t like your lipstick to smell like anything, you best stay away from these. The scent does linger for almost 30 minutes after application – at least I can still smell it. The smell is probably not a coincidence, since all of the shade names are connected to different flowers.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – Windsor Rose (032)

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Windsor Rose

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Windsor Rose

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Windsor Rose

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Windsor Rose is a completely nude shade without any undertones. It looks nice on people with light complexion but if you’re a bit on the dark side, it might match you face. In that case, I’d stay away from this one.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – Nairobi Camellia (034)

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Nairobi Camelia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Nairobi Camelia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Nairobi Camelia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Nairobi Camellia is a light pink shade with a bit of mauve in there, which is perfect for everyday wear. I think it would look nice on everyone, as it’s that perfect your lips but better shade. It also gives you the look of fuller lips.

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid – Mauritius Dahlia (017)

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Mauritius Dahlia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Mauritius Dahlia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid Mauritius Dahlia

The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Mauritius Dahlia is a deep burgundy shade. I usually steer clear from shades like this but I gave i a go for one of the Christmas parties and got so many compliments I might just consider such shades more in the future. It looks stunning paired with darker eye make-up as well.

So these are my thoughts on these lipsticks. I must say that this was a really good introduction to The Body Shop make-up and I’m really excited to try more stuff out from them. What would you like to see a review on next? Let me know in the comments below! 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 #4: DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards + getting personal

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

Today, I want to share a personal story while at the same time showing you how to make DIY Make-Up Christmas cards with things you already probably have at home. I still write Christmas cards and I used to write many, many more ~ which is what I want to share with you today.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

To make the cards, you will need: some paper, make-up sponges, eye liners and/or lip liners and nail polish. You could use any paper, but I used a thicker version so that the nail polish didn’t bleed through. It only took me about 10 minutes per card so I think you could do a lot if you want to and still have them ready in time.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

For this first card, I used a make-up sponge to create an ombre effect with three different colors of nail polish. I then used a white eye liner pen to ink in the stars. You could also dab some glittery eyeshadow on the stars, but in that case I suggest you fix it with a transparent top coat nail polish.

For many many years now, I used to write Christmas cards for my grandmother. She had shaky hands and didn’t pride herself in her handwriting so I did it for her. I used to buy Christmas cards, go to her house and we would decide on the text together. Then, I would write and write until my hands got sore. But we drank coffee and gossiped and the time flew by.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

For this DIY Make-Up Christmas card, I used a precisely cut make-up sponge shaped like a triangle and tried to create some poinsettias. I am definitely not an artist but I think you can still tell what I was trying to do there and I personally think it looks cute. I then used some silver nail polish to fill in the blank spaces.

Every year, we had a little “fight” over who she is going to send the cards to. She was very frugal when it came to herself (but was always incredibly generous when it came to other people) and as she didn’t want to waste money, she wanted to drop people from the list and I didn’t let her. At the end of the day, I always lied to her about how much the cards and the stamps cost because she already have at least 50€ ready to reimburse me for my “costs”. When I told her that was way too much, she would stuff that 50€ in my pocket and tell me to “buy myself something nice”. She gave me allowance well into my 30’s. That’s the kind of person she was. Always thinking of others, putting others first, loving everyone.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

This card was made with eye liner for the strings and different nail polishes for the ornaments. I think you could use a thinner brush to create some designs on the ornaments as well. I finished everything off with two golden borders which tie everything together nicely.

On April 11th, my grandmother passed away after a sudden illness. We almost lost her to a series of unfortunate events 20 years ago and I was incredibly lucky to have these additional decades with her. She taught me so much about life. But still, I wasn’t ready. And after more then six months, I’m still crying when I’m writing these lines. She was one of my best friends and I could always, always count on her. I loved her so much and I miss her every single day. At the end on the night when he’s already fast asleep, baby M always gets a big kiss from his mum and I also give him one for my grandmother who’s looking out after us from a place far, far away. I’m happy she had at least one year with him and at the same time sad, she isn’t here to see him grow up.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

This last card was made with nail polish only. Again, I used the blue nail polish to create a background and a green one with a diamond shaped make-up sponge to draw the tree. I then did some simple  decorations on the tree as well.

So today, these cards were made in memory of my grandmother. I used the time I would spend with her to create them and I was thinking of her with every brush stroke and every line. Mama Ana, I miss you so much. These cards are for you and for our special bond that will never go away.

DIY Make-Up Christmas Cards

Until next time, stay beautiful. And hug those close to you especially tight today.