Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or

It's no secret that I love the original Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. I've been using it every day for almost two years as a face moisturiser. I gives my skin that extra bust of radiance and most importantly it makes it incredibly soft. I tell you, it's a cult product for a reason. In my review, I stated that I will probably never get the shimmery version as it would most likely look ridiculous on my milky skin. I admit I was wrong, read on to find out why.

Ever since I saw it on Passing Fancy's favourites of 2012 list, I wanted it too. She's very fair and I reasoned that if it works for her, than it should work for me as well. I finally got my hands on a 50ml version, which was given to me as a very generous birthday gift by my cousin.

It is a bronze shimmery dry oil. It feels much drier than the normal version and it's not as moisturising. I thought that either there isn't going to be any colour and just shimmer, or perhaps it will be too orange. Well I was wrong. It is a fantastic colour that actually gives my milky skin a subtle believable tan. Who would have though? I doubt though that it would show on anyone darker than me. The shimmer is more discreet and  softer than I expected. You don't end up looking like a disco ball that's for sure. It's a dry oil, so it doesn't leave your skin greasy, but it does give you that Victoria Secret sexy glow. This works fantastic with a tan, especially if you use it to highlight your collar bone and down the center of your legs.

The scent is the same as at regular version. It's such a nice soft sweet beachy-summery scent. Oh, I love it so much.

I mostly use it for my hair to give it shine and a touch of shimmer. I took it with me to the pool and applied it generously on my hair. I swear it helped enormously to protect it from drying out because of the chlorine. I usually come from the pool with the worst dried up curly mess on my head, but this time they actually looked presentable and the curls looked really nice. Even my fringe wasn't as unruly as usual. It is dry enough not to make your hair greasy. I think you could use it even on oilier hair, but don't hold me to that. My hair is very dry and I have no experience with oily hair.

Subtle tan on my Snow White skin (NC15, Healthy Mix 51). Shimmer is a bit more pronounced than is visible in the picture:

The packaging is the same as at non-shimmery version, a classy glass bottle. 50ml version has just a hole for dispensing the product, which is too small and I have to shake the bottle a lot to get the product out. Now that I had both versions, I prefer the spray applicator, but it's only on 100ml bottle.

50ml bottle cost 24.60€ in a local pharmacy and UK customers can also get it here online.

Thanks for reading!

Valentine's Mani

Inspired by some pins on Pinterest. It's quite simple really. Well obviously, since even I was able to do it -  I'm no nail art genius. Link to the tutorial: click. I just saw on Pinterest that Katja did the same thing, just better than me on her blog: click.

The red polish is Depend 036 and the gold heart is made from S-He 317, Alessandro 297 and Essence 67 Make it Golden.

Changes

If you are a regular on my blog, you will notice some changes. The most obvious one is, of course, the colour of the template. As much as I loved the dark background, I just felt it needed a fresh look. Also the width of the blog is expanded, the reason being that the average monitor size has gone up in the last three years since I started this blog. So let me know what you think, comment bellow if you think it's too wide now or you preferred the dark version. I kept the banner and just expanded it.

Thought this is the most recent change, I have in fact been doing a lot more gradual changes in the past months. The page list on the top is probably the most obvious and I have pointed it out before. I added a list of all Slovene beauty bloggers I know under Blogs I heart. If you ever commented on this blog and you have a beauty blog, then you are on list (sorry if I missed anyone). Those who are Slovene beauty bloggers and are not yet on the list can comment bellow that list with a link and I will add you. But please no "I follow you, follow me back" comments, it just makes you sound desperate and it's not cool. Whoever wishes to copy it and post it on their blog can do so. You know sharing is caring. 

You can find some basic things about me under About, the list of favourite products and important links are under All-Time favourites, and I've already talked about Swatch Gallery, but basically it's a collection of all lipsticks, lipgloss and lipliners ever posted on this blog (updated regularly). Disclaimer is pretty basic, though even though it is there, I found several of my pictures on eBay and absent of my watermark. The nerve of some people.

Follow options are is the sidebar. Under the basic GFC is also RSS feed, Bloglovin', Pinterest (which I love and pin regularly), Hellocotton (haven't really bonded with it) and follow by email. The last round icon with a letter is a direct link to my email address (which is my personally address, so please don't abuse it).

So that's it. I hope you like it and thanks for taking an interest in my little blog.

Product of the Week #3

Ok, I'm cheating here because it's not a single product but a product line. Balea (brand sold in DM's) always manages make some super cool products and they did it again. Sweet Wonderland is their current LE that smells like a cup of Nesquick cocoa. Yummy! Unfortunately, for some reason they don't sell the shower gel in Slovenia  (I got mine in Austria), but mini deodorant and lip balm are available in our DMs. If you love chocolate scented products this will be right up your alley. Too bad it's LE. By the way, it is the same scent as at Balea's Bademomente Sinnesfroh bath salt in Kakao.

Bourjois BB Cream

This BB was one of my very rare impulse buys. What got me was the packaging which is one of the most functional ones I've seen. It's a very new product on the market, but just one of the many western attempts at BB creams. I was very self-tanned when I bought it, so naturally the shade is very dark, what's the problem is that it is the lightest in the range.

Packaging: I was swayed by the packaging. I'm one of those, who is drawn to the functionality rather than prettiness. It's a compact BB cream with a huge mirror that swivels 360° degrees. I really wanted it just to keep it in my make up bag as a foundation/concealer on the go. Because it's a shiny black plastic it doesn't stay clean for long, you can see every fingerprint and smudge on it. It really is great on the go because the compact is thin and not too big, not to mention how awesome is the mirror.

Product: It claims to be 8-in-1, but most of the things on their list is just Captain Obvious stuff from my perspective. It has an SPF of 20. It's is very creamy and soft, but not as soft as Max Factor Miracle Illusion. It blends so well, it just melts into the skin. The finish is very natural, just like skin, not too matte and not dewy. I really like the finish, it's like you have nothing on, even from looking really close you can't tell you're wearing anything. I like the application with fingers most, I tried using a brush but it ended up too uneven. Because my skin is currently very dry, I use one of my oils as a base and this helps the BB to look even better. The coverage is light-medium, my darker freckles are still visible and it doesn't completely cover the redness around the nose and under the eyes. I find this clings to patches if I don't use an oil. I didn't even realize how small the amount of product actually is when I was buying it. It's only 6g and I've been using it about a week and I already hit the pan! I'm not the one to cake on foundation, in fact, I always use quite small amount, but this is just insane. Staying power is quite good, it lasts over 8 hours and it fades nicely in terms that it doesn't get ugly patchy and keeps oiliness any at bay (at least with my skin).

Shade Range: The biggest flop by Bourjois. There are only four shades available and two of them, 21 and 23, are almost identical. I've always relied on them to have the lightest foundations for us Snow Whites. They basically lost a huge cut of the market, it's like they forgot it's sold in Europe. The lightest shade called 21 Vanilla is just a smidgen lighter than Flower Perfection 53. Just like most of the western companies they completely disappointed me by creating a BB cream that doesn't even carry a light shade. I can only wear it if I'm self-tanning and I do that on rare occasions when I want a change (plus coral lipsticks look so much better on me when I'm tan).

Verdict: I love the packaging and I like the finish. But the amount of product is way to small for a 15€ price tag. The most disappointing thing is the shade range. If they had two lighter shades I'd be probably raving about it. I'd say it's good for oilier/combination/normal skin and it's not the best for dry skin without a heavy, moisturising base underneath.

Thanks for reading!

Product of the Week #2

My skin went bonkers this week. It just dried up like a Sahara. The tops of my cheekbones and the center of my forehead could be used as a sandpaper and the skin is ridiculously flaky there. The only moisturising enough foundation/BB I own is Holika Holika Peach Girl BB cream and it works like a treat on such skin. As much as it was to heavy for usage in the Summer, it's great for Winter months. It doesn't emphasise any dryness, but it creates a smooth canvas to work on. I use a heavy moisturiser underneath, usually one of my oils that I use for my night routine. The coverage is pretty flawless, but it doesn't scream I'm wearing a heavy foundation. It does leave your skin tacky for quite a while, though. The lasting power is very good, it lasts all day on my skin. Original review here.

Thanks for reading!

Orofluido Update

I ordered a new bottle of Orofluido and as I opened the box I immediately noticed that the colour is more amber than it just to be. I checked the ingredients and they did in fact change them. Argan oil is now the third ingredient on the list, which is a positive change from before. Basically, they reduced the amount of silicones in favour of argan oil. However, they did add Benzophenone-3 also known as Oxybenzone (8. place on the list) which functions as a photostabiliser and sunscreen. There is a bit of controversy surrounding this ingredient, but since it's in a hair product I'm not concerned. I don't apply it on the skin anyway.

Old ingredient list:

New ingredient list:

As for the texture, scent and results, there is little difference, but it is slightly improved. I compared the new and the old formula of which I still have a few drops left and they feel and smell the same. However, I find that my hair stays moisturised longer than with the old formula. The rest is pretty much the same. You can read the review here.

This is one of my favourite hair products, hence why I repurchased it even after testing other (more) popular hair treatments (even though Elixir Ultime is growing on me, but that's just because of the gorgeous scent, the formula is way too light for me). Oh, and if you're wondering why I purchased it now, when I still have so many other mini sized bottles of other treatments, it's because it had a nice discount on cheapsmells and I paid 14€ for it + 3€ for shipping.

Here is kind of a bonus pic of my first acceptable attempt of a four strand braid. It's a month old picture and the braid is a bit messy. Honestly, it took me way too long to learn it. I watched a few how-to youtube videos, but they only left me more confused. Only when I wasn't concentrating at all where each stand should go, I finally did it. And I've been doing these braids a lot last month. They are a nice change from my usual fishbraids and normal braids. Here is my original inspiration and a tutorial.

Thanks for reading!

Some News about Bourjois Healthy Mix

I've heard some nasty rumours that one of my favourite foundations will be discontinued. I shuddered at the mere thought of that and I had to check if there is any truth to it. Healthy Mix foundation is currently 50% off in DM's, which I thought was suspicious. However, I checked on their UK Facebook page and they stated in a response to another fan's question: 

"You will be pleased to know that the Healthy mix foundation is not being discontinued, it is just being repackaged around April time this year. The formula is staying exactly the same though!"

What a relief! I was seriously doubting anyway that they would just discontinue one of their most popular products (that's more L'Occitane's territory). I hope they will fix the pump. It got stuck countless times on my bottle and I find that extremely irritating.

In other news, Bourjois launched a new addition to their brand, namely their version of a BB cream. I did in fact purchase it and I will post a review in the future. My first impressions are good, but the shade range is very disappointing. There are only four shades. I got the lightest called 21 Vanilla and it's very dark, somewhere between Healthy Mix 52 and 53. I can only use it if I'm self-tanning. 

Thanks for reading!

MAC Lipstick Samples from TheBodyNeeds

Some genius at thebodyneeds had an idea to sell Mac lipstick samples. There is not a lot of opportunities for us Slovenes to see Mac lippies in person, let alone test them, and since they are not the cheapest, especially if you're not from Canada or USA, the decision to buy one unseen and based just on online swatches doesn't come lightly. I sure have made some fail purchases in the past. I got Viva Glam V and Honeylove, which turned out to be a complete miss for me. I saw in Mariounaud, Gradz that they currently retail about 19€. Madness, I tell you. Anyway, thebodyneeds had a sale on 12/12/12 with an offer for 36% off entire purchase. Naturally, couldn't let it pass and I got 9 of them. On the first picture from left to right are: Shy Girl, Overtime, Please Me, Coral Bliss, Impassioned, Lady Danger, Russian Red, Ruby Woo and Mac Red. Isn't it a pretty collection?

Edit: You can find five more shades here (Peach Blossom, Sunny Seoul, Full Speed, Relentlessly Red and Dangerous).

One sample costs 3.79$ (normal price) and you get 0.5g of lipstick. Considering that a full size Mac lippie is 3g, it's not such a small amount. If we take the prices in Austria, one 1g is 6,33€, while 1g at thebodyneeds is 5,6€, which is not that bad. Of course, if we compare it to US/Canadian prices, it's a completely different story.

Now on to the swatches (just for reference, I'm very pale, NC15 or Healthy Mix 51):

Please Me, Overtime and Shy Girl:

Shy Girl (cremesheen) - a peachy nude. I see it as a peach equivalent to Hue.

Coral Bliss (cremesheen + pearl) - light coral pink gorgeousness. My absolute favourite. I need this in full size.

Overtime (pro longwear lip cream) - light baby pink. The formula is very opaque and a bit sticky. It's incredibly beautifull in person. I like it a lot more than Creme Cup, which people say it's a dupe, but for me they aren't that close. The finish is matte.

Please Me (matte) - pink rose. Looks quite dark on me, but it's a nice everyday colour.

Impassioned and Coral Bliss:

Impassioned (amplified) - bright fuchsia. I tried to find dupes in my collection. Kiss Kiss Hibiskus from Catrice is the closest, but the formula is different (glossier) and the colour is brighter and a hint more coral/watermelon. 

Beauty UK Passion, Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Shocking Coral, Catrice Ultimate Shine Kiss Kiss Hibiskus compared to Impassioned:

These are more like cousins than dupes. A dupe for me is if the colour is exactly the same. Kiss kiss Hibiskus comes closest on my on the lips, but I wouldn't call it a dupe. Beauty UK has a similar formula, but it's slightly darker and more of a true fuchsia. Maybelline Shocking Coral is a lot lighter.

Lady Danger, Russian Red, Mac Red, Ruby Woo:

Lady Danger (matte) - vivid orange red. Not as matte as Ruby Woo, it's more creamy.

Ruby Woo (matte) - bright true blue based red. Very matte. So beautiful and bright  in person. I wouldn't mind having a full size lipstick in my collection.

Mac Red (satin) - blue based red, but more of a burgundy red.

Russian Red (matte) - blue based red. Creamier than Ruby Woo, with a similar texture as like Lady Danger. It looks quite dark on my lips, but very beautiful nonetheless.

Comparison swatches an potential dupes:

For Russian Red, I find Manhattan Soft Matte Lip Cream in 45H to be very close, almost a dupe. Ruby Woo's closest dupe is Bourjois Lip pencil in 20 Rouge Soyeux. As for Lady Danger, Lobster Love from Catrice (discontinued, sorry) is close, but lighter, less opaque, glossier or more creamy.

I'm very happy with the purchase and they even wrote a little thank you in Slovene (Hvala vam) on the invoice. I will order some more, especially now that I've had a bit of luck and I got a 5$ voucher in a little competition on their Facebook page.
Thanks for reading!

Product of the Week #1

This Ombia Botanica Argan oil (100% pure oil, 30ml) was 45% off in Müller and it had to come with me. You can't tell from the picture, but I've used a lot already and I only bought it a week ago. I use it for everything: mixed in my home-made pre-wash treatment, on my dry ends and as a face moisturiser (in combination with Ombia Hylaruron gel and Nuxe dry oil). It doesn't have any particular scent. I quite like it so far and my skin looks a bit nicer, but will see how it performs long-term.

What is product of the week? It's a post featuring a product I either loved, just bought, rediscovered or was simply impressed by it recently, but I don't feel like it needs or it's to early for a whole review. I'll probably do more than one such post on some weeks.