Showing posts with label Dior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dior. Show all posts

Spring Beauty


BASE
Spring is time for lighter bases and this one definitely fits the bill. It has a light to medium coverage, in fact in that respect it's very similar to Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, however, the finish is more satin-matte than dewy which will appeal to those whose skin gets a bit shiny during the day. This is my ultimate product for when I'm in a hurry as it takes seconds to apply and blend in with fingers.

Out of all my foundations, BBs and CC creams this has the best finish ever. Again it's similar to Healthy Mix Serum in terms of coverage, but with a more satin finish. This literally looks like skin. It just melts in invisibly and it doesn't settle into lines or pores. To me this is the perfect base, but the lightest shade is too dark for a Snow White like me, so I really wish Bourjois made another lighter shade of this.

BOURJOIS Healthy Mix Serum 
This has been my favourite foundation since its release. It looks incredibly natural and fresh on the skin due to the dewy finish and it's particularly nice for dehydrated skin with dry patches because it's one of the rare foundations that doesn't look odd on such skins. This is a staple in my collection.


 EYES
I love a neutral, defined look in any season, but I think that such a look fits into spring especially well. This is the palette that started my matte neutral-taupe eye look obsession and it made me fall in love with eyeshadows. The shades in it are perfect for an everyday defined eye, but the colours can also be worn in a smokier combination. The quality is fantastic and these are some of the best matte eyeshadows around. 

Basics 2 offers a bit more variety when it comes to medium toned shades and it also contains more cool toned shades. If you find the first version too light for your skin tone, this should work at lot better. The quality is again superb as at the original, so another pack of nicely pigmented and smooth eyeshadows.

 I've raved a lot about this budget friendly palette and I still love it. It's like someone put both Naked Basics palettes together and took only the good shades in it. The quality is really good for the price and all the colours are actually matte.


CHEEKS
BENEFIT Coralista
Coral is the obvious choice for spring cheeks and Coralista is my favourite because it's gorgeous coral shade with an illuminating shimmer/glow. This is the type of shade that makes you look so fresh.

The most classic warm pink shade that brightens the face by giving a cute flush to the cheeks, but without any shimmer. The quality of these blushes in amazing, especially considering the price. 


This is one of those great super perky peaches for pale skins. I prefer this to pink blushes when I want to look healthily flushed, plus the velvet cream texture looks very natural on the skin.

Pop of Pink is a bright warm pink-coral and can be used quite sheer or build up for intensity. The liquid-mousse texture gives the cheeks that lovely natural "of course I'm not faking that flush" finish, especially when paired with a light base. 


LIPS




Nude-ist is a beautiful muted rose shade on me with a nice matte finish and it's one of those fantastic natural shades that give me a bit of colour and definition to lips. 

These are such a fancy replacement for a lip balm due to their comfortable, creamy formula and the divine peachy scent. Rose Melody is a natural-pink my-lip-but-better-shade with a nice glossy finish that is great for any easy everyday look.



This is one of my never-fails default lip colours for most occasions because it manages to brighten up my pale skin tone, but isn't too flashy or too in your face. It's a medium pink-coral or peachy-pink and I really appreciate that there is more pink in it because corals mostly look unflattering orange on me.

The brightest choice in my selection, Sweet Tart is a bright, warm Barbie pink that is very pigmented, which is a pleasant surprise for such a balmy product. 


 Cotton Candy is a warm pink that is similar to MAC's Please Me, so it's a great everyday colour, when you want something neutral, but not completely nude (on condition you have a pale skin tone). The formula is really creamy and yet it manages to cling on longer that for example Essence's pencils, so it's a nice replacement for a lipstick.

This is currently my favourite lip colour as it's one of the nicest light peachy-pinks ever. It's a good pencil that is somewhere between being creamy and hard, so it defines well, but the formula is a drier one, however, the colour makes it all worth it.

NAILS

The rather dully named nail colour, 01 is a a nude with a rose-violet-taupe tone, which is close to my skin tone, but those cool hues keep it from looking like mannequin fingers. The formula is so smooth and surprising easy to apply for an opaque nude nail polish, but what impressed me more is how shiny is the finish.

This is that one fantastic transition shade that can easily be worn from autumn though winter into spring because it's such a nice mix of styles. It's a mix of autumn-winter taupe and spring pastel lilac shades, so it looks very modern on the nails. 

ESSIE Nail Lacquer
Mint Candy Apple
The quintessential mint green nail polish that is closer to pastel blue than green. The formula makes you work for it, but there are plenty of better performing dupes anyway and you can't really have a spring without such a shade at least once on the nails.


I got this hoping it be the perfect nude nail polish, but it turned out to be so much more. It's a pastel light pink-peach shade, so it's somewhat nude but with a cute twist.  

The name completely fits this brightened coral-pink shade as it really is cute.The formula of this shade is unbeatable because the application is so smooth and even.

The greener and a bit more muted sibling of Mint Candy Apple, but with a much better performing formula.


FRAGRANCE
Katy Perry Royal Revolution
A sweet, yet fresh scent which still has that depth that also makes it a nice choice for a night out. It reminds me of a very nice smelling shampoo and I love such scents in the spring.

LA RIVE Moon
This is one of those clean, but classy scents that work no matter the occasion or season. It's basically a cheap knock-off of Hugo Boss Nuit Pour Femme and works just as well. It starts with a nice peachy burst, but it quickly settles into a nice expensive fabric softener scent.

The heaviest fragrance out of the three, but still lighter than all those vanilla-cupcake based scents like Fantasy. Fame is a lovely blend of apricot, honey and flower notes, while the depth is created by the smokiness of the incense note.


Have a great day!

Dior Addict Fluid Stick 479 Magique


It's hard to resist a product in a pretty packaging and as shallow as it may sound, I admit that the cool, yet glam tubes of Fluid Sticks played a huge part in why I wanted at least one. These lip gloss/liquid lipsticks just exploded on the market in the past year and though I'm a through and through lipstick person, I'm quite enjoying these new releases and Dior's is certainly one of the most glamorous.


Fluid Stick in Magique is a very pigmented lip gloss with a high shine finish, so it gives the appearance of a lip gloss and lipstick in one if you apply a thick coat, however, it can be worn very subtly, giving the sheer glossy lipstick effect. It's a thick gloss, hence the abundance of pigmentation and it's not sticky, however, it has quite a "wet" feeling on the lips, so it feels a bit pleasantly cooling upon application. 


Magique is a medium pink-coral shade and, for me at least, a very everyday colour that looks very glam due to the shine. I was considering buying Wonderland, just like Sara, but when I was swatching all the shades in the shop, I decided on Magique because it's a colour that is easy to wear and should work with a lot of things.


The scent is nothing special. It has a gentle caramel/vanilla scent, but with a chemical component. It's not strong, so mostly I don't even notice it.

Staying power is better than at most glosses I've tried, which is what I expected from it considering the high price tag. It's not uncommon that it survives a meal, but it depends on what you eat. I believe these promise to leave a stain and I notice that this shade does. It's not a proper stain, but it's more of a lingering lipstick stain - for me that's enough.


As I said the packaging is a complete stunner and the applicator is nice to use. This pretty tube gained a special place on my vanity.

I got mine in Műller for an eye-watering 31.79 €, though I did use a few of their "receipt coupons" to soften the blow. Besides, I had a particularly lousy day, so some pampering was in order - it felt very satisfying holding such a pretty new goody in my hands.


I have a few other lip gloss/liquid lipstick hybrids: L'Oreal's L'Extraordinaire,  Revlon's Moisture Stain, Catrice Made to Stay Smoothing Lip Polish and Makeup Revolution Salvation Intense Lacquer. I think Dior's is the best one, although I admit I have quite a soft spot for L'Extraordinaire because of the divine peach scent, but's not quite as pigmented and long lasting as Dior's (Catrice's wins in terms of staying power - it's pretty awesome). So do I think it's worth the money? If you're a hardcore lip gloss girl, who loves high shine finish, then yes, the quality will appeal to you greatly. Otherwise, I think it's a lovely pampering product, especially nice for a Christmas gift, but whether you want to splurge on a lip gloss, which never lasts as long as a lipstick or a matte liquid lipstick, it's up to you. I don't regret it for a second.

Have a great day!

New in #21


 DIOR Addict Fluid Stick
479 Magique
It has been a really, really long time since I splurged on a high-end make up item, but man is it satisfying. I've been planning to get this since Sara raved about it in her excellent review and I was adamant on getting the same shade as her, but when I was in the shop, the lovely medium pink-coral shade Magique caught my attention because it's the type of shade that can be worn with everything. The formula is super pigmented and glossy, it lasts well for a gloss and even leaves a tiny bit of a stain behind. And just look at the stunning packaging! I'll post swatches. 
Müller, 31.79 €.

REVLON Colorstay Moisture Stain
020 Rio Rush
I had a choice of several colours and this bright pink one immediately caught my attention. Moisture Stains remind me more of liquid lipsticks, but with characteristics of a gloss. They are not like Dior's Fluid Sticks which are very pigmented glosses, rather the formula is somewhere between a mousse and a cream, but has a nice glossy finish. I'll post swatches.
*PR Sample: 10.89 € on Click2Chic


MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo 24HR 
35 On and one Bronze
Permanent Taupe is my favourite cream eyeshadow and I've been planning of getting this shade as well for ages to use as a base under warmer eyeshadow looks. It's a standard shimmery brown-bronzy shade, with a smooth, very pigmented formula that lasts so well on the lids. I still prefer Permanent Taupe due to the fact it's matte, but I'm glad I got this one as well because it works really well with colours like UD YDK and Smog. I'll post swatches.
Müller, 5.59 €.


 EBELINE Nagellack - Entferner Express
Nail Polish Remover
I've been loyal to the original Bourjois' version for years now, but I picked up this one instead based on Petra's recommendation to see if it's as good. These nail polish removing pots are by far the best invention in the nail cosmetics department, they make everything so easy and fast. Bourjois' version leaves an oily layer behind, which at times I find annoying, but it does nourish the skin around the nails. Well, Ebeline's version is just a regular nail polish remover and I actually prefer it because it means I don't have to run to wash my hands straight after removal while avoiding touching anything so it won't be greasy. It has the same sponge with a hole inside, so you just pop the finger inside, swish it around a few times and it's done. Brilliant.
DM, 1.99 €.


CATRICE Defining Blush
090 Mandy-rine
New Catrice stuff finally arrived and admittedly I raided the new shiny stands a bit. This is just one of the new blush shades that I've been patiently waiting for. Defining blushes are my favourite blush formula, but the shade range was small up to now. Mandy-rine is a matte, natural-apricot shade. I'll post swatches.
DM, 3.79 €

CATRICE Defining Blush
025 Pink feat. Coral
Another new shade and the one I've been anticipating the most. As you've probably gathered from the name it's a peachy-pink shade, though more pink and with only a hint of warm peachy tones. 
Müller, 3.79 €.


CATRICE Illuminating Blush
020 Coral me Maybe
When I swatched this in the shop it appeared that it has the weakest pigmentation of the three shades available, however, when I tried it at home it performed a lot better. Coral me Maybe is a proper coral, the perfect mix of pink and peach/orange with a yellow-golden sheen. It's a colour I really like in the pan, however, I'm not so sure about it when it's on the cheeks. That yellowish sheen clashes a bit with my skin tone, but the base colour is adorable and gives that cute, baby doll cheeks effect. I've only worn it yesterday and it lasted all day. By the way, the other two shades are gorgeous.
Müller, 5.29 €.


CATRICE Ultimate Stay Lipstick
120 Looks Like Coral
This is such a lovely everyday shade. It a very wearable coral that is not too bright on the lips, but still gives a nice punch on colour and it's one of the rare coral lipstick that doesn't turn orange on me.
Müller, 5.29 €.


CATRICE Ultimate Colour Lipstick
360 MATTraction
I love this shade. It's a deep rose colour, a shade that is a mix of red and pink - my favourite type of colours because they look so glam, yet fun and I feel most comfortable when I wear such shades. The formula is classified as matte, but to me it's a more creamy matte, which also means it feels very comfortable on the lips.
Müller, 4.29 €.


 KARDASHIAN BEAUTY Deeply Felt 
Precision Tip Eyeliner 125 Midnight Black
I adore this. Seriously. I think I like it more than L'Oreal's. It's a felt tip eyeliner with a super black formula and a slightly smaller, even more precise nib that L'Oreal, but what impressed me most is that the formula is more liquid than at other felt tip liners I tried, so the application is incredibly smooth and flawless. It dries in seconds and it doesn't transfer anywhere. I love it, but I shall see how long it'll take to dry out. I'll do a review.
*PR Sample: 15.54 € on Feel Unique.


KARDASHIAN BEAUTY Whip Lash
Curl & Nourish 401 Coal Black
This is a mascara that also supposedly nourishes the lashes and makes it longer, healthier as well as darker in time. It's a non-waterproof mascara, so I didn't expect much from it, since my lashes drop like a stone if I use a regular mascara and the brush as well as the packaging look straight from the 99 cent shop, but I was actually kind of impressed and the "Great-Lash" type of brush works well. It's a very decent mascara, I actually like it more and more the more I use it. I'll do a review after about a month of use because I'd like to see if it really helps the lashes be healthier.
*PR Sample: 14.95 € on Click2Chic, 15.45 € on Feel Unique.


KARDASHIAN BEAUTY Nail Polish 
Perfection 806
Just a basic coral-apricot shade. I haven't worn it yet, but I'll post swatches.
*PR Sample: 9.96 € on Click2Chic.


ESSIE Nail Lacquer
Sole Mate
A gift from my cousin for my Name Day (thank you). I wanted a deep red/berry/purple/bordeaux shade that is similar to Chanel Rouge Noir and I hope this is it. I can't wait to wear it, it looks like the perfect autumnal colour.
9.90 € in DM.


MODELS OWN Scented Nail Polish Gumballs
NP217
I've only tried one scented nail polish so far, Revlon's, and it was a bust, but this actually does smell like gumballs. I love that scent, it smells of childhood. The scent lasts about a day and that's enough for me. The colour is an adorable Barbie pink.
*PR Sample: 5.95 € on Click2Chic.

MODELS OWN Scented Nail Polish Fizzy Cola Bottles
NP215
A taupe shade with gold shimmer. This one smells exactly like cinnamon on the nails - I love cinnamon!. I'll post swatches.
*PR Sample: 5.95 € on Click2Chic.


My staple top coat, I can't live without it. It dries the nail polish super fast and that what's most important to me.
6.01 €, Destination Pretty


SECHE RESTORE Thinner
My old Seche Vite thickened in to a complete mess, so I bought this to save it. I don't find it works particularly well or my Seche Vite is just too far gone. I tried adding it gradually, a few drops at a time and it's still thick no matter how much thinner I added. What am I doing wrong?
6.55 €, Destination Pretty


DOVE Damage Solutions Intensive Repair Regenerating Treatment Mask
This is a self heating hair mask that has two components: 15 ml of hair mask in a satchel and 5 ml of self heating liquid/gel. You're meant to apply the mask first and then add the self heating liquid later. 15 ml was a bit little for my hair but I made it work. The thermo part heats up between the hands during application and it is kind of cool for those 5 seconds until it cools, so I don't quite get it. It didn't feel particularly special. It was good, but not exceptional for a special treatment that wasn't exactly cheap for one application. My hair felt well nourished, but it didn't last long, however, I did feel it helped a bit with the damage. In general, I don't think it worth those 2€ for one application.
Müller, 2 €.


10 Spiral Hair Pins
I recently found one of my spiral hair pins that I bought ages ago in Műller, where a pack of two costs 5 €. You basically screw them into your bun and two should hold it securely all day. However, on my thick, long hair, two aren't enough, so I bought a pack of ten on eBay for a ridiculously small price. These aren't as good as those from Müller as the ends are very scratchy due to not being filled well, so they can damage the hair, but for one euro they're fine.  
eBay, 1.07 €.

And last but not least (as if there aren't enough pictures in this post already), I sneakily took a few pictures of the newly set-up Catrice stand a.k.a. my new personal heaven. I'd just look at it all day. 


 Have a great day!

Products worth the splurge #2

I am a fan of bases that give that skin-like finish and Dior's BB does exactly that. The coverage is light and it looks like you have no foundation on your skin, but it still blurs imperfections as well as somewhat diminishes the circles. My favourite bit is that it's immediately dry to the touch meaning it sets super fast to a semi-matte finish. It goes on so smoothly and blends so well that it's one of the best products to apply in hurry. Rather surprisingly the lightest colour is actually pale enough for me, which is a rarity especially when it comes to shades selection in my country, although 001 is pink toned. Basically, this just is the best BB I've tried.

Snow Whites like me know how ridiculously hard it is to find pale shades of foundation and concealers. Chantilly is the lightest shade I ever found and it's actually neutral, so it fits me perfectly when I'm at my palest. The formula is super creamy and the coverage is almost full, so it can be used under the eyes as well as on spots. It's no wonder it's one of my favourite concealers.

Whatever is in this stuff is just amazing, since out of all cleansers I've tried so far, this is the one that makes my skin look its best. Since I started using it, I had zero dry patches and before they were my perpetual nemesis. It's a balm cleanser, but one with small oatmeal scrub particles that provide gentle exfoliation, and it removes all but "industrial strength" waterproof mascara while leaving my skin feeling clean yet moisturised.  I'm currently trying some more affordable cleansers and I'm already missing this one.

This was the first silicone-oil that I tried and despite trying loads of the competition, it still remains firmly at the top of my favourites. What I love about it is that the texture is quite thick, which really works well for my thick, dry, coarse hair and I need to use only a small amount, so the bottle lasts me ages. I use it on damp as well as on dry hair and it tames flyaways, gives shine and in general makes the hair more manageable. It also smells bloody amazing, I'd describe it as a rich oriental vanilla-amber scent, but I have notes of the fragrance posted in my original review.

 THE BODY SHOP Body Butters
My love for TBS body butters began at 16 when I visited the shop for the first time during my stay in Berlin. I remember feeling very overwhelmed at the bountiful selection of differently scented products and I quickly grabbed one of the premade gifts for Christmas that included bits from the Shea butter line. Since then I may have developed a sort of an addiction and I've tried quite a few scents. They really are so good. I haven't come across a scent I wouldn't like, the texture of them is so lovely (though it depends on the version) and they are so moisturising. My favourite is Vineyard Peach, which I bang on about all the time. Also currently in my stash is the one from the Honeymania collection, which has a spectacular texture. I highly recommend you try one the next time you're around their shop.


Have a great day!