The Review: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel

My simple makeup routine demands for the focus on a specific feature, my eyes. Lashings of mascara are applied every single day to frame my dark brown eyes. I have a big love for a drugstore mascara from L'Oreal, which I have mentioned countless times on this blog. But I am always looking for great new mascaras. And I've tested a new one, Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel mascara in Noir.

Once every couple of months a perfumery chain from the Netherlands (think Sephora, but twenty times less extensive) has their mascaras on special offer. Forty percent off on all mascaras, even those of high end brands. Last time this offer was on I purchased Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils, and I am hanging on to the last little bits of it.

This Chanel mascara comes in a sleek black tube (the little one was a sample in an older issue of Dutch Vogue) that looks so much more chic on a dressing table than one of those loud orange bulky tubes that Rimmel does. Even though those are pretty good performance wise. Let's see what Chanel has to say about their newest gem.

This high-precision mascara achieves instant volume and intensely lush colour in a single stroke. Its innovative formula expands, plumping lashes to their fullest. The exclusive new ‘Snowflakes’ brush combines long and short bristles to deliver an extreme, eye-opening effect.

The brush is made out of plastic, which makes it quite easy to apply too much, because you can't wipe off the brush on a cotton pad without pulling the pad to bits. You have to be really careful, but if you take your time you can pull off long voluminous lashes. It's a good mascara, and the brush is fantastic.

It doesn't smudge during the day but one drop of water and the floodgates are open, mascara running down the cheeks. I had a bit of a scare earlier this week, my dad was stuck in traffic when another driver wasn't paying attention and slammed into his car. Thankfully my dad was okay and didn't have any serious injuries, but getting that call really sent me into a state. There was mascara everywhere and I completely ruined my friend's sweater. Sorry Mitch!

I have worn this mascara every day last week. First I give my lashes a curl with the Shu Uemura curler and a careful coat of Chanel mascara and your lashes will last all day. I'm glad I bought it, and I will lovingly use it until it's finished. 

DIY Drippy Chanel Logo t-shirt

Hey hey, lovelies!

I saw this amazing and super easy DIY on one of my favorite blogs The Londoner, you should definitely go check it out. She has the best recipes on there! I'm actually making her grilled chicken wraps for Easter.

This DIY is a Chanel drip logo t-shirt, or tank top, which is what I did. It's super easy, you can go fetch the .jpeg off of that amazing blog. Go on.. do it. Besides the print you will need

- transfer paper

- a light colored t-shirt or tanktop

- scissors

- iron and ironing board

STEP 1: Print out the logo onto your transfer paper

STEP 2: Cut out your logo with space left on the edges, this is to protect your logo from fraying once it is transfered onto your fabric.

STEP 3: Follow the transfer paper instructions and use your iron to transfer the image onto your fabric. Peel off the backing paper and let the image dry.

Once you are done, your shirt should look something like this! So fun right? A drippy Chanel logo all over your boobies! I can't wait to wear this baby around town. I think it would look great with some skintight dark blue jeans and a pair of killer heels. Watch out clubs, Kelly is on her way.

Best of...

Top 11 of 2011

I know it sounds cheesy and like everybody says it… but it really feels like 2011 has flown by. In less than a week I am celebrating my nineteenth birthday and I honestly feel like six months ago I was still a naïve little fifteen year old. But let’s get down to business.

2011 is the year where my love for fashion and beauty really blossomed and turned into somewhat of an obsession. Every time I come home with a bag from the drugstore my mother sighs and says ‘Don’t you think you have enough now?’. My usual answer is no, I will never have enough of the things I love.

I’m going to list my favorite beauty products of 2011, with a miniature review of the items that have not been seen on the blog before. I hope you enjoy and I tag everyone who reads this to do the same. Leave a link to your post in the comments and if you do not write your own blog, make the list in the comment. I’m curious as to what your favorite items of 2011 are.

1. Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick in #77 Jersey Rose

My first ever Chanel lipstick, one swipe of this baby and I fell in love. It’s such a perfect ‘my lips but better’ color. It’s creamy and gorgeous and goes with pretty much every single make-up look.

2. Charles Worthington Heat Protection Spray

An absolute must when you use heat tools on your hair. I’ve started using curlers on my hair quite a lot in the second half of this year, and to protect your lovely tresses from the drying heat, you really need to protect your hair.

3. Remington Pearl Curling Wand

As mentioned in the previous favorite, I’ve started using a lot more hair styling toos, and this is my new go to curler. It’s a clipless curling wand. Because it doesn’t have a clip it doesn’t clamp down your hair which makes for softer more natural looking curls. But be careful and use your heat protection glove, because I’ve got the burns on my hands to prove how hot it gets.

4. L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara in extra black.

This. Mascara. Is. Amazing. Enough said.

5. MNY blush in 301

This is such a perfect peach color. It has gorgeous gold shimmer in it. It provides a perfect glow to my cheeks. I’m sure it works on a lot of skintones. And I believe it comes pretty close to Nars’ Orgasm blush.

6. OPI’s Nail Lacquer in Russian Navy

This year my love for OPI has grown and grown. The formulas and finishes of their nail lacquers is so amazing. I’m starting to mind the 14 euro price tag less and less every single time I paint my nails.

7. Lee Stafford’s Treatment for hair that never grows past a certain length

I’m a bit of a cheat with this one. Because I only purchased this treatment last week. But I can say, hands down, that my hair hasn’t looked this good and healthy for the entire year of 2011. A more in depth review of this is coming in the new year, because I want to be using for a while before I voice my opinion.

8. Sigma Cleanse and Polish tool

This tool changed my skin. I used to get regular breakouts all over my face. Since using this tool in combination with the Obagi and Dermalogica products my skin has never looked this good. My pores have shrunk, my complexion is more even and my breakouts happen far less frequent. I’m so happy my brother bought me this for graduation high school.

9. MAC’s paintpot in Painterly

One of my first purchases at MAC was this paintpot. The color is really close to my skintone and I often just use this on its own to even out my lid color, just add a bit of jetblack eyeliner and some lipbalm and you’re ready to go. Also, as a base, this works perfectly. It makes eyeshadows look more vibrant and it helps them stay all day. A real wonder product.

10. Urban Decay’s Naked Palette

I bought this in The Hague this summer, and I’ve used it at least once a week ever since. This palette has the most amazing collection of neutral shades, and the golds in the palette are just to die for. The pigmentation and duration of each and every shade is amazing and I truly believe everyone needs to own this palette.

2012 is on its way, and it’s fast approaching. For 2012 I have some nice things planned. And… I have a little announcement to make. Starting the first Friday of 2012, Vera, one of my classmates and the demo model in my Remington Pearl Curling Wand review video, will write her own little article for secondhandspring. She’s going to try something new every single week, whether it’s beauty, fashion or lifestyle related, and document her experiences and thoughts for all of you. So keep your eyes out for Vera’s first introductory post that will be published soon!

Also, do you have favorite products for 2011? If you do, write a post about it and leave the link in the comments. Or if you don’t have your own blog, make a little list in the comments. I would love to know which products were your favorites for this past year!