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

New Bits and Bobs from July – review


It’s that time of the month again. The day of verdict when I can tell you what I thought about the new products I bought or received in the month of July.

I must say that I really like the Biobaza make-up remover. I only need a single pump to remove the non waterproof make-up and another pump for the face. I also think this bottle will last me about a year, so the value is amazing.

The Verde Vera hand cream is nothing special, to be honest. It’s not very nourishing, it doesn’t smell that great – basically, it’s the kind of product you forget you own all the time.

I have used the Avon Sun Light Spray during the vacation, but as my hair is currently going through some kind of hormonal meltdown, I can hardly be an honest judge of it. I can say that it smells wonderfully, though.

I promised myself I would save this Victoria’s Secret Exotic Fragrance Lotion until next summer, but I cracked under pressure. It’s another great product, smells great, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin nice and soft. Not something I’d write home about, but a really good product nonetheless.

The same can be said for the Bath&Bodyworks PocketBac sanitizers. They are now evenly distributed throughout my purses and I’m set for at least one year. I am partial to the Cool Coconut colada, simply because… coconut!

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Minty is one of my favorite nail polishes of all times – and I feel quite certain in saying that. It’s well pigmented, doesn’t chip very quickly and I’m absolutely in love with the shade. I can’t say the same for the Deborah Gel Effect polish which unfortunately doesn’t agree with my skin tone. I am also on the fence about the Kiss Vita base coat since it doesn’t seem to a) make my nails any stronger or b) prolong the lifespan of my manicure. I’ll have to find something better – if you have a good suggestion for a base coat, please let me know in the comments!


Now for make-up. First, there is the famous Benefit Cheekathon palette – you can read the review *here*.

I also wrote individual reviews about the Nabla bronzer in Cameo (*click here* to read it – it’s a great bronzer!), the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops (the review can be found *here* – it’s one of my all time favorite products) and the Golden Rose Longstay Liquid lipstick (the review is *here* – I wasn’t a fan). I also had a go at my Laura Mercier translucent powder which is quite OK, but the real test will come in the winter when the foundation and concealer get heavier and are more likely to crease. The Beautyblender is still waiting to be used, but I reviewed that so many times already that I probably won’t do it again. Last but not least is the Nabla lip liner which I totally missed the color – it’s much lighter than any of my nude lipsticks so I’m still thinking of ways to use it.

And that concludes the short reviews of the products I bought or received last month. If you want more information about any of the products, let me know in the comments below.

Until next time, stay beautiful!

Nabla Shade&Glow Contour Bronzer

I always get super excited when new brands enter our little market and when I first heard of Nabla cosmetics being sold by Licila.si, my excitement was just as big as with every other more known brand. So yes, I went and spent some money because – why not!

A couple of things about the brand, before we kick of the actual review. Nabla is an Italian brand, not a huge one, but the variety of products is there. All of their products are cruelty free (like really cruelty free, they don’t test or commission the tests to be done by others and even more cool, they don’t sell to countries where testing on animals is mandatory!) and vegan. They offer a wide range of their staples as well as some limited edition collections, which we always like to see. But today, let’s talk about one of the classics – a bronzer.

You know I’m obsessed with bronzers. I collect them like the sun will disappear and bronzers will be my last hope of looking like a human being. But sadly, many bronzers look great in the packaging and then fall flat when I actually use them on my face – patchy, poor pigmentation, too orange, crumbly – you name it, it’s happened to me. After all, I am a veteran. View Post

New brands: Nabla and L.O.V.

Today, I want to talk very quickly about two new brands that have become available to us beauty junkies in Slovenia and Europe. There is never enough of a good thing, right?

The first brand is Nabla. Currently, they are offered by Licila.si (*click*) or via their webpage (*click*).

I must say I’m liking what I see. There seems to be a good variety of products, colors and even some limited edition collections, like the Mermaid collection below.

I will try a few products to see if they live up to the hype. I’m particularly interested in the bronzers (obviously), I really need a nude lip liner and I’ll probably add a concealer to the mix. View Post