My August favorites. For the past 8 months I’ve been a huge fan of beauty gurus on Youtube. Every month they do favourites videos, reviewing most used products of the month that just ended. I decided to hop-on-the-wagon and do the same. So, here is my August review of products that I used, loved and didn’t care for.
Favouries:
MAC mineralized skin finish “Soft and Gentle”. Love it! I wear it on my cheekbones, cheek area and sometimes in the eye crease. I feel like a sun goddess, sparkly and glowing.
Fresh “Sugar” eau de parfum. I was sold on the smell, a fresh sugar, lime, verbena scent. It doesn’t linger for long which is OK with me, but now that I am almost over I am a bit tired of the scent.
Nuxe “Reve de Miele” lip balm in a jar. I keep it in my bathroom drawer and apply it in the morning and before going to sleep, it works greats and moisturizes my lips. It might not be to everyone’s taste because the texture is matte with sparse grains of honey.
NARS “Douceur” blush. I use it as a contour for my cheeks and it’s great. It contours my face with a slight blush, and it does not break me out. All other bronzers that I’ve tried I had pretty bad reactions to. Now it is my to go contour and in fall it might become my fav’ blush.
Moroccanoil “Oil treatment”. A gift brought to me from Israel that I love I apply it to my damp hair and it dries as a great moisturezer. I’ve heard that it manages frizz, but I haven’t noticed that. I really like the moisture and the vanilla smell. Also, I’ve been recently applying this to my hands and face (under eyes also) as a moisturizer, and within a minute it soaks up and provides a bit of moisture. I think when I am out I will buy cold pressed moroccan and passionfruit oils and will use them the same way.
Dior “Diorshow extase” mascara. It came in my Dior travel kit, and it is my current mascara. It separates the lashes wonderfully and it’s the first mascara which I enjoy using when applying it to my lower lashes.
Dior creme concealer “Light beige”. Also part of the kit, I’ve been enjoying it immensely. It melts into my fingers and applies nicely. I have noticed that under eyes have to be well moisturized otherwise it doesn’t blend well, leaving marks.
Caudalie “Eau de beaute”. I am hooked on its smell. I am not sure if it actually does anything, but it feels so refreshing and great for travel and long days. I am a lost out and I am buying it again. $15 for a bit of happiness is a small price to pay.
Green beaver “Citrus” deodorant. After I read all the bad things about antiperspirants I’ve decided to try a natural alternative. Well, this doesn’t block the sweat but it helps to mask the somewhat scent. My verdict is that I enjoy using it at home, but when going anywhere public I continue to use ‘the bad’ antiperspirants. PS I have it in Lavender and I don’t like the smell.
Lush “Turkish delight” shower smoothie. Mmm. Heavenly whipped creamy butter perfect for shaving. It makes me feel so spa-like every time I use it. I will repurchase it again and again.
Didn’t care for:
Fresh “Soy cleanser”. It is nice and it cleanses, but I don’t like the smell (it smells herby). So, once I am done with it we will part our ways.
La Roche-Posay “Hydraphase Intense” hydrating care. Got it as a gift for my Bday and I used it since as moisturizer for my face. It is OK, but I didn’t see my skin improving in moisture. So, I’ll continue looking for face cremes that will help me to restore my face from being dry to being normal on regular basis.
Origins “A Perfect World” antioxidant moisturizer. I purchased it as a face moisturizer, it is too rich for my face and with time the smell really annoyed me. So i started using it for shoulders and legs and loved it. But, $60 for a body creme is too much.
Klorane “Camomille” shampoo. decided to give it a go and it was nice shampoo, but it has SLS. When I am out I will go online and purchase an organic camomile shampoo.
Revlon “Sweetheart” balm stain. It’s OK. I apply it lightly and confidently leave the house with pinky lips. But it has tons of chemicals and you don’t want to eat those. This month I am making a switch to all natural lip products and this guy will have to go.
P.S. I took the photos of products myself, I figured it’s best to see that I actually have these products and how they look size-wise in relation to each other.
1. Fight aging. One of the reasons why we age is that old skin cells pile up creating a firm layer of old skin. To fight this natural process you can exfoliate weekly or use deep peeling. March is the last month when deep peeling is recommended because in April sun can be too damaging for such procedures. For an at home deep peel you can use mud masks, deep peeling creme, or a chemical peel. Some of these peels are DIY and can be made from scratch.
2. Creme with vitamin A. Use of creme with vitamin A (retinol) will speed up the separation of old skin cells from your skin and will fight blemishes. So, to have young and pigment free skin use such creme daily. Important tip, when checking the ingredient list of your creme, vitamin A should be within the first 7 of ingredients listed.
3. Three flaws of beauty. Bangs, eyeliner and lipliner.
Bangs. Bangs change the proportions of your face, by making your face appear shorter than it is. By adding bags you visually eliminate 1/3 of your face thus making your face appear disproportionate. Avoid bangs if you can.
Thick eyeliner (lining upper and lower lash). When you line your eyes with a thick application of the liner, instead of looking beautiful you end up looking like a racoon. Make sure that towards inner eye corners the line gets thin, and towards outer corners the liner line gets thicker. Tip, when applying eyeliner line upper lash line only.
Lipliner. Avoid lipliner if you are starting to see wrinkles around your lips, as liner will attract more attention to your age. When picking a lipliner make sure that it matches the shade of your lipstick - not a darker or lighter shade. Quick tip, to make your lipstick last longer, instead of lining your lips, fill in the entire lip area with the lip liner, then apply lipstick.
Stay beautiful!
Diana ♥
Bombshell Style. When a girl’s or a woman’s style is bombshell no person can pass her by without noticing her. During World War II, “Bombshell Girl” referred to the pinup girls who were painted onto the sides of planes, bombers, and their bombs. Now, the bombshell style is a loud look which is rocked by the modern confident woman who wants to look sexy. It is important to balance this look, making sure that you won’t look vulgar. Think about balancing but not looking natural. Looking natural should be avoided, it is a complete opposite of this style. Here are the key elements that define the bombshell look:
Clothing: Animal prints, chiffon blouses, bright colours, red, corals, leather elements, flirty skirts, body hugging clothes, V necks, deep round necks, faux fur, and suggestively unbuttoned button up shirts. And a must - high heel shoes!
Accessories: Bold, large, and shiny.
Colours: Black, white, orange, yellow, red, purple, khaki, gold, and grey.
Makeup & beauty: Red lip, cat eye, smoky eye, full bodied hair style, beautiful hair curls, bronzed blush, red nails, sparkly nail polish, richly applied black mascara or false lashes.
Celebrity Inspirations: Kim Kardashian, Brigitte Bardot, Megan Fox, Madonna in 80’s, Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson
Diana ♥
Spring is here! And it is all about pastels. Spring is always all about pastels. Why? Probably has a lot to do with pastels being Easter colours. So let’s stay within the canon and enjoy these beautiful subtle colours.
Holland. OPI came out with Holland collection for this spring. The colours are wonderful and break away from pastels by having grey undertones and in some cases shimmer. My favourite colours are: Did you ‘ear about Van Gogh?, Kiss Me on My Tulips, Dutch ‘Ya Just Love OPI?, and Thanks A WindMillion.
Natural. All-natural looks are always in and with pastels you can only look natural. Create a wonderful natural look with subtle pastel/beige eyeshadow, pinky blush, nude lipstick and your favourite mascara. My suggestions: lipstick Please Me by MAC, marble mineral powder in Pink by Pur Minerals, and two eyeshadows by Urban Decay, for brow bone Virgin and Sin for full lid. For a bit of spice line your eyes with pastel shades of green, lavender, silver or soft baby blues.
Refresh. Refresh your skin with a weekly gentle face mask and a body scrub. My current loves are Chocomania body scrub by Body Shop, and Fresh mask with lemon zest by Yves Rocher.
Corals. Add some coral into your life with coral lips, cheeks or nail polish. Personally I will be rocking corals with Chilli Tingle lip stain by Lush.
Gold. Dragging on from fall and winter gold trend shifts from clothes to makeup. If you love gold, wear it, this time as your eyeshadow. Try Sephora Collection eyeshadows ($15), MAC’s pigments, or if you own a Naked Palette look no further.
Classics. Classics stay with us this spring: the red lip, cat eye and smokey eye. Sigh, how boring. I would recommend adding some life to these looks by trying out different colour combinations. For example: replace black eyeliner with green or light blue. No need to buy a new eyeliner. Just use an angled brush and dampen existing eyeshadow colour with water.
Hairstyle. Based on NYC’s fashion week this spring we are into some hair! Reported hair styles are: slicked back, hair wraps, centre part, side part, top knots and retro. I’d love to try the top knots once my hair grows out a bit more.
For me buying new shoes is a real ordeal. Shoe shopping is time consuming, brain hurting and it is expensive. It can take me up to a month until I find something that I like which fits my budget, personality and my feet. I wish I could just grab an 8.5 size pair and go home, but not all sizes are the same. Also a size just determines the length of the shoe, some shoes are just too narrow or too wide. And some have impossible high heels, shoe rims that pierce into your skin or zippers that just don’t zip up. Here is my shoe shopping saga on how I go about when searching for that perfect shoe.
1. Window shopping. When in need of new shoes I am on a prowl, hunting for those shoes that I want and need. I decide what type of shoe (flat, pumps, boots, sandals) I am looking for, and then I spend weeks window shopping. Selectively remembering which brands, stores, and looks appealed most.
2. Price. Everyone has a budget. So what is your maximum? Are you willing to pay $300 for a pair of shoes that will last you 2 seasons tops, or is a $100 your cut off line. Decide your maximum and look at the shoes that you are thinking about buying. If they are over your budget say goodbye and carry on.
3. Inspect the shoes. Think of a store where you saw most variety of shoes that you liked. Go into that store and inspect all shoes that you liked. Touch them. Look at them. And smell them if needed. If the stitching looks good, shoes don’t smell like glue, they can stand on their own without falling, the leather is nice and soft, and there are no rough edges proceed to the next step. If shoes have any obvious defects don’t even think about trying them on.
4. Try them on. Ask for your size and + half size. This will save you time. Then once you have the shoes, try both of them on. When they are on go for a stroll inside the store. Are they falling off? Is one shoe a bit too snug? Can you balance your walk? Is there any discomfort at all? If they are not comfy, give them back.
5. Inspect the shoes. If you like these shoes and they are comfortable (i.e. you can wear them in your daily routine and by the end of the day you won’t have any pain) don’t rush into buying them. Take off the shoes and inspect them for defects: scratches, stains, glue marks, bad stitching, etc. If all is well take them home.
I hope my suggestions will help you out when shoe shopping and will save you a buck. I am currently in a process of shoe shopping for spring shoes, so if interested keep posted on my progress and other shoe related blog posts.
Diana ♥
Well here goes my post about all the Vday gifts *drags and drops a photoshop file to the trash bin*. I’ve been extremely busy with my work lately so I haven’t had the time to blog as much, for which I am deeply sorry. Wishing everyone an amazing and heart warming Vday. If you are not celebrating with a lover, you can still celebrate with with a loved one, a friend or a relative. Instead of having a fancy dinner and a drink, spread the love to the animal and homeless shelters. Here is a great youtube video on that *Click Here*.
You are loved!
Diana ♥
For me February is all about love and Ventine’s. For some Valentine’s is lonesome holiday. Remember, you are never alone! Celebrate the month of February with colour and passion. And on the 14th go out with your single girlfriend or guy friends. Buy a new dress or that new red lipstick. Put on those fake lashes or 50’s bold wing tips. Go to a party, bar or restaurant. And say “Goodbye!” to that nagging feeling of loneliness. Remember, don’t rush into a relationship, keep an eye out for that perfect one and weed out all the “Mr. Right Now” guys.
The colour palette for February and Valentine’s does not have to be all red, look for beautiful cremes, blushes, black&gold combinations and even mint colours.
1. Wing tip. Retro is in this season, and what says retro better than a wing tip eye look. Merlin Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn and many more gorgeous women rocked this look. You can do it too ;) Wear this makeup icon daily, experiment with liquid liner, pencil, smudge eyeshadows or eyeliner markers.
2. A red lip. Everyone knows that a red lip is a classic. Also many women are fearful of the red lips and I fully understand their fear. Until recently I believed that red lips are impossible to apply evenly. That is when I discovered the art of staining. Instead of smudging the lip colour on, stain your lips with red. Apply a lip balm before hand to provide a rich moisture foundation. This way the colour will last longer.
3. Blush colours. Blush is a beautiful colour, a light touch of pink that makes me think of tea roses and Paris. And when thinking about Paris and makeup Chanel comes to mind. Oh… Chanel. I love their oh-so-classy makeup and packaging. I just saw their spring 2012 LE items and was glad to see wonderful fresh light pinks. My favourite products so far are blush in glowing harmony, nail polish in May, or a hydrating lip colour in Chalys. Also, I found their MUA tutorials elegant, inspiring and a great idea for V-day looks.
4. Artsy Appliques. I have been using these for years now in my photo shoots (I was so glad to see that this technique is getting lots of attention this winter). A fancy name of appliqués is just any cut out shape or glitter which is applied to your face, lips, eyebrows or an eyeshadow substitute. I would suggest going to your local dollar store, buy glitter shaped as stars, hearts or flakes and apply those to your face using an eyelash glue. Any evening and party look can be spiced up using an appliques, the most important part is not to overdo it.
5. Retro hairstyles. Retro is the theme and hairstyles are not to be neglected. Especially if you are looking go get inspiration for unique hairstyles. Need help? Look at the cast of PanAm TV series, the actresses are diverse and have amazing hair in each episode. Take these look ideas and turn them into your reality.
Stay beautiful!
Diana ♥
Hot trends of winter 2012: Style
1. Seductive lace. Lace has a rich history tracing back to Europe in the 1500’s and China. 19th century women’s fashion boosted demand for lace. So why not now? Get yourself a dress, skirt or a blouse executed in lace. Go for neutral colours, making this one piece a classic addition to your wardrobe. In the picture: Body suite by Antonio Berardi executed in French lace.
2. Gold accessories. Gold accessories carry on their spotlight from fall to this winter. Enjoy wearing these accessories while you can! In the picture: Necklace by Roberto Cavalli.
3. Black + Gold. Why not wear Coco Chanel’s favourite colour in combination to all time representation of wealth and riches - gold? The simplicity of black combined with the richness of gold helps to create a look that will make people turn their heads. In the picture: Earrings by Dolce & Gabanna.
4. Nude. Nude clothes are super hot and are a classic item which is sure to reignite or start a fire. Need a date for Valentine’s? Stroll down the street in a dress executed in nude, and that perfect date will come running after you. In the picture: Dress Marc by Marc Jacob.
5. Decorated flats. Decorate your flats with statement jewels, feathers, bow or a buckle. Check your local shoe store for these fancy decorations. Spotted at Aldo & Town Shoes. In the picture: Roger vizier (black) and Nina Ricci (forest green).
6. Floppy hats. Hats are a great way to accessorize during winter by adding a touch of colour to an outfit or just to keep those flying hairs under control! For a touch of warmth try cherry red or burnt orange. Or go cool with forest green or deep blue. In the picture: Turquoise hat by Gucci.
Huge trend!!! I have been dying to get this nail look for ages now! And here is a step-by-step insanely easy way how to pull it off. I would suggest doing the second “dark” layer when the 1st layer of colour is 100% dry. Great tip: Reversing the light and dark colours will add that extra oomph to the look ;)
Diana ♥
(via makeup-creations)
