The Adieu: Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque

Do you know that sad, slightly lost feeling when you squeeze out one of your favourite beauty products and the last little bit comes out? I experienced that feeling yesterday night. After getting out of work a little earlier than I had anticipated I decided to have a little pamper night. I cleansed off my makeup and grabbed my trusty Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque and used the last scraps left in the aluminum tube.

It has been in my posession for over a year, having bought it in Paris when I was visiting in November of 2013. I've often sung the praises of this mask as it cleanses deeply and thoroughly, leaving your skin much clearer, but unlike other masks with the same properties isn't too harsh or drying. You could say it is the mother of all masks. I have loved the way this dries in patches and not-so-kindly exposed all the pores on my nose, forehead and chin (shock, horror, they're BIG). I have loved the therapeutic scent that always reminded me of a luxurious spa. Basically, I loved it.

The Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque has done many great things for me and although this much loved tube might be finished, I guarantee I will be replacing it with a brand new twin as soon as I have the opportunity to pick it up at one of my favourite stores in Amsterdam.

The Ones That I Want

When one identifies oneself as a blogger that comes with a certain set of characteristics, one of which is the ever present urge for more. Seven perfect red lipsticks¬? Why not add an eighth to really make sure you have that picture perfect shade. Recently I have found myself lusting after skin care more than makeup. I have my easy beauty routine down pat and don’t want for anything. But skin care, gorgeous creams and lotions, astringent toners and luscious masks and serums. Oh I want it all.

These are the items currently at the top of my wish list. The Aesop Purifying Cream Cleanser. I was provided with a generous sample of this cleanser the last time I visited Skins Cosmetics in Amsterdam and promptly fell in love with the formula. Gentle and soft but leaving the face perfectly clean. The Oskia Renaissance Mask. I saw Lily and Anna mention this in on of their recent Beauty Chat videos. It supposedly improves the skin and makes it brighter and softer, sounds like a dream to me.

The Origins Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment. I’ve always struggled finding a night time treatment and sticking with it. I change my moisturizer about four times a week depending what I feel my skin is asking for. And lastly the Origins GinZing Refreshing Face Mask. Origins is bringing it with their additions to the GinZing line. I already love the moisturizer and the scrub and a refreshing ten minute hydrating treatment sounds like just the thing I should be adding to my collection.

The Easy Does It Face

The days of me wearing tons of makeup are long gone. Before I didn’t leave the house without copious amounts of foundation, layers of concealer, lashings of lashes and a thick wing of black eyeliner. Right now it’s a miracle if I even bother putting the stuff on at all. Don’t get me wrong, I still love makeup and enjoy wearing it, I’m just a lot more comfortable with myself that I don’t feel the need to hide my natural face all the time. Call it growing up or becoming more confident, I prefer an easy barefaced look over a full face of makeup any day.

Not so secret fact about me, I love the Diorskin Nude BB Cream. I first got it last year when I was headed off to Tunisia and have not looked back since. I have tried other bases (like this one from Jouer or the most recent addition from Estee Lauder) but nothing compares to this beauty. It’s easy, it’s beautiful, it’s long lasting and the best part is it’s easy. Or did I already say that? The main reason this wins out from any other lightweight base is because of the lack of effort I need to put into applying this. I don’t even need a brush because this base looks it best when applied with fingers.

The glow it gives is beautiful and natural on its own, but I love to add just a little more. I’ve recently started using the RMS Beauty Living Luminzer and it’s absolutely gorgeous. This little pot of gold is just the prettiest highlighter I have ever seen and when I saw that it only contained four ingredients I was amazed. It looks quite stark but I promise you, none of that will show on the face. It’s subtle and everything a good highlighter is supposed to be. Read: no shimmer or glitter to be detected, just sheen.

To finish off this easy does it kind of face is just a subtle pinch of my favorite lash curler and a swipe or two of the Sisley Phyto Mascara Ultra Stretch, hello long and luscious lashes. And that’s it, that’s all I will put on my face on a daily basis. Or during the weekend, or on date nights. It’s all I ever want to wear, really.

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The Amsterdam Mini Haul

So I went to Amsterdam yesterday because I just needed to get away from the rut I was in. The weather has taken a turn for the worse, summer is almost over and let’s not even start to think about school starting in just a few weeks. A small distraction in the form of a shopping trip was exactly what I needed. I grabbed my bag, my umbrella and some company and headed for my country's capital.

I love Amsterdam to bits, the architecture, the feel of it and all the lovely stores that aren’t available in my own city. I specifically love the 9 Streets. A collection of streets that are just a short walk away from the main (and incredibily busy) shopping streets. This collection of streets is littered with boutiques, adorable restaurants, coffeeshops (the ones that actually serve coffee) and galleries. My favorite has got to be the Runstraat, because it houses my favorite store, Skins Cosmetics.

Stocked to the brim with gorgeous beauty products, perfumes, skincare and makeup, I can litterelaly spend hours inside this store. Of course I wouldn’t subject my company to this horror so I only went in for a little while and came out with two lovely new additions to my collection.

Always a sucker for a gorgeous glow I couldn’t resist buying the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer. I have passed on getting it for far too long but since I’ve hit pan on both of my MAC Cream Color Bases it was justified, if only just a tiny bit.

I am pretty sure I have a weakness for Aesop. I can never seem to leave the store without one of their products. Whether it’s the pleasant experiences I have had with every single thing I have tried from them, the beautiful apothecary packaging or their lovely scents. I couldn’t let the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser sit on the shelf.

All in all I think I behaved myself quite well, I certainly could have bought a lot more. Guess I’ll just have to go back soon.

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The Estee Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow BB Moisture Makeup

And the award for longest product title goes too.. I truly believe that cosmetics companies spend days holed up in a boardroom determining how many words they can put in a name without it sounding too ridiculous. But I digress, let’s get back to the matter at hand. One of the latest releases from the brand is the Double Wear All-Day Glow BB. Up until now the Double Wear name made me think of high coverage foundations typically used by people that don’t want any of their natural skin showing through, and that’s a little too intense for me.

Those features aren’t usually what I search for in bases. I like them to be light and difficult to detect on the skin, with a bit of coverage to even out imperfections but never fully hide what is underneath. I like to show a little skin, no pun intended. That’s why I initially wrote off this product, but as I read some reviews and people were raving about it, describing this as a BB with just a tad more coverage, my spidey senses started tingling. I felt like I would need to try it. So I went out and got it, as you do.

I would say that the Estee Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow BB is more like a light foundation than it is a typical Western BB cream. Which usually tend to be more glorified tinted moisturizers than anything else. The product comes in eight available shades, an acceptable range but definitely room for improvement if they wish to cater to everyone.

But there are some thing about this product that makes it fully worthy of the must have product indication. First of all it provides a gorgeous lightweight dewy finish. The product sets feeling like a matte finish – dry and not sticky at all - but it looks satin on the skin, and that’s the way I like it, hardly detectable if blended right. The staying power of this is also incredibly impressive, I would say it lasts as long as a light to medium coverage foundation, set it with the Estee Lauder Double Wear powder and it won’t go anywhere until you are ready to remove it. It seems pretty water and sweat proof, always a plus during the hot stuffy weather we seem to be having at the moment. The BB also has added skin care benefits that keep you looking fresh and moisturized during the day and it comes with an SPF of 30. Pretty impressive, right?

I like applying this with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush but it works fine with fingers as well. If you have any persistent imperfections just add a bit of concealer (I like the Maybelline Fit Me concealer) and you’ll be looking perfect but natural. And that’s just the way I like it.

The Estee Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow BB is available now online or at Estee Lauder counters. 

It retails for £29/€39/$38 for 30 ml/1 FL. OZ. -link

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The Everyday Drawer #2

It's been roughly six months since I wrote a post called my 'everyday drawer', and I thought I would write another instalment as some products have been cycled out and replaced by newer and better ones. I don't wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, if I can avoid it all, I do. But when I do put in the effort I like to use the best possible items so I can look a little more put together.

For my base I like using lightweight, natural coverage with a good glow. The newest addition to my makeup collection is from Estée Lauder and its their Doublewear All Day Glow BB cream. This stuff is seriously good. It lasts for hours and provides the prettiest coverage with a slight glow. Not looking like you're sweating your face off, just subtle and perfecting. If I need some extra colour I'll add a good swipe of Chanel Les Beiges powder. I have shade number four, which is definitely too dark as an all over powder. But it's perfect as a bronzer.

If I need to bring in some light I will use L'Oreal's Lumi Magique concealer. Just a few clicks and it will bring brightness to my tired eyes. And it's dirt cheap, such a miracle product. And any other bits of redness that pop through my base are obliterated by Bobbi Brown's Creamy Corrector.

The eyes are incredibly basic, just a couple of pumps from my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and then a coat or two from Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel mascara and I'm good to go. This mascara and I had a love/hate relationship when I first got it. But we have gotten over our initial issues and we are now deeply and fully in love. If I want to make my eyes pop a little more I just add a bit of MAC All That Glitters and some nude eyeliner.

Peach is pretty much the only shade I ever wear on my cheeks these days. Wether it's in the form of Stila's Convertible Color in Lilium or Clarins' Multi Blush in Candy. And a quick pat of the MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl, and then the face is complete.

But when, you know, I want to go all out, I add a little bit of jazz to my lips. The Topshop Lip Pencils are lovely and the two shades that have taken residency in my top drawer are Clueless and Powder Room. Both pink and both super sweet.

That's it, those are the items that are most used. I like to invest in quality items that guarantee a put together look whenever you apply them. I'd rather have two great items than twenty low quality ones. What are your favourite everyday items?

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The Magic Skincare Duo

Some would say that binge watching YouTube on a rainy day isn’t a very good idea, but I do not agree with those people. Because from binge watching YouTube I get great tips from other people as addicted to beauty products as I am. Some time ago I watched a collaboration of Amelia and Suzie who were listing their top 10 favorite skincare products. In this video Suzie expressed her love for a particular mix of serum and oil, and I couldn't help but follow her lead.

I own both the Pai Rosehip oil and the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair but had never thought to combine the two for a nightly application. It has always been an either/or kind of situation for me. And while I was pleased with the effects they have on my skin, I wasn’t over the moon in love with either of them.

But heeding Suzie’s advice I started combining these two skincare products before I settled into bed at night and I have to say I was more than a little impressed. I wake up with radiant, plump and perfectly moisturized skin. It’s a lovely feeling looking into the mirror in the morning and looking rested for the first time in a while.

I like to mix two drops of ANR with three drops of the Pai Rosehip oil and then gently pressing it into my skin rather than rubbing it in. Once I’m propped up against my abundance of pillows I take the Body Shop Facial Massager and roll it over my skin until all the product is soaked in.

It’s quite an expensive duo, but the effects are truly magnificent on my skin. If you have dry, often lackluster looking skin than it might just be a perfect duo for you as well.

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The Summer Wishlist

When I first saw the Estee Lauder Doublewear All Day Glow BB Cream appearing on the blog I immediately told myself that I need to have this. After some research and enquiring I found out that it won’t be launched in the Netherlands until later in the spring. This is supposedly the perfect BB cream for summer. It offers a light glowing kind of coverage but has the staying power of the other double wear foundations from the brand. I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

An eyeliner that acts like Sharpie and won’t come off until it is doused in waterproof eye makeup remover, sign me up for that. The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner has been praised by so many and I want to get my hands on it. While I love my L’Oreal Superslim eye liner it lacks in staying power. With those hot summer nights we’re all wishing for, this Stila liner will be a girl’s best friend.

I’m still lusting after those perfectly wavy ‘I spent the day at the beach’-waves. They seem difficult to achieve with my heavy and thick hair, but where the sea salt sprays of Lee Stafford and Toni & Guy have failed maybe Sachajuan will succeed. Plus I’m a sucker for clean packaging and this brand has that down to a tee.

My brows have never looked as good as they do when I use my Anastasia Brow Wiz. The success of this product makes me want to try more products from this brand. And with of the approaching summer a product that is rumoured to stay in place no matter sounds like it will be just right for me. I have to admit that the Dipbrow Pomade has been sitting on my wishlist since Suzie from Hello Octorber wrote a review on it.

The gorgeous peachy coral shade of nail varnished pictured up top has the perfect name for someone like me; serial shopper. It’s a bright summery shade without being too in your face. And you can never have too many nail polishes, right?

Lipstick is another one of those products that I just can’t seem to stop buying. Always on the hunt for that perfect shade that will have everybody asking you what you’re wearing. After reading a bunch of reviews on the YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush I am convinced that I need at least several of these shades in my life. Poor bank balance.

The Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes are arguably the best powder blushes I have ever used. The pigmentation and staying power is beyond amazing and the color selection is brilliant. Therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of their blushes is always on my wishlist. Up top is ‘Tipsy’ a beautiful coral shade that will do wonders for your skin.

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The Disappointing Products

I've always had an aversion to speaking negatively on this blog. I'd rather not put time and effort into an article that in my eyes isn't very helpful. Earlier this week I posed a question in the beauty bloggers tag on Twitter and the unanimous answer was that people really do enjoy reading these 'products that disappoint' posts because it can sometimes help them prevent wasting money on things they otherwise would have bought.

The (self-inflicted) responsibility of a beauty blogger is trying lots of products and then reporting back to the internet what your opinion on the matter is. All in all that leads to me buying legions of products, and while there are absolute gems among my purchases, there are also items that just don't live up to the expections.

A little disclaimer beforehand, everyone is different. Something that didn't work for me might be amazing for you.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
I've reviewed this puppy before and even compared it to the cult Bioderma micallar water and already concluded that it just wasn't the same. That however did not make it a bad product. I kept it in my skincare basket and have used it whenever I needed to quickly take off makeup to reapply something new. Never as a cleanser. Performance wise this is a good product, but I despise the packaging. No matter how careful I am I cannot use this without making a huge mess. I always get too much product, and the weird rectangular shape of the bottle makes it that the product goes everywhere.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum
Remember the advert for this product line? Pixel perfect your skin. What does that even mean? Skin isn't a computer, it doesn't have pixels. Brilliant marketing on L'Oreals end of the line, there. But all in all this serum didn't work for me. I didn't have any bad reactions or breakouts or anything. It just did nothing for me. My skin didn't feel silky soft, pores weren't refined and my tone didn't look more even. It was just an extra layer on my skin, sitting there, hanging around. It also has alcohol and perfume included. Ingredients I'd rather not have in my skincare.

Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm
I wanted to love this, I really did. But upon applying this the feeling of this strange scented thick balm just felt suffocating on my skin. And after removing it I could still feel the thick film it left behind, and that just makes my stomach roll. May I remind you that I go to town with a flannel, I don't just rinse. And still it's very noticeable on my face. When I used this I started breaking out and it just didn't work for me.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This balm is hard, difficult to apply to the lips and the added peppermint can be quite irritating. And besides that, it does nothing to moisturize my lips. It dries them out even more! Now that certainly isn't something a lip balm should be doing. Some people recommended I try the chap-stick form, which is more hygienic and maybe a bit more moisturizing. But right now I just feel like the Burt's Bees ship has sailed for me.

Lee Stafford Dark Dry Shampoo
A dry shampoo that doesn't leave a white wash on the hair, sign me up. I picked this up believing it would be the perfect thing for me as I love the texture that dry shampoo gives to my heavy straight locks. But it didn't do anything. It doesn't absorb the oil, it doesn't add extra body, it doesn't even give that lovely texture. The only thing it does successfully is not show up in my roots. But it's a bit of a waste to spend on it just for that.

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The Monday Manicure #20

Do you, like me, sometimes buy yourself a pack of mini nail polishes from a special collection, use it maybe once or twice and it disappears into the back of your storage? Well, once in a while I like to clean up around the good ol' room and then I come across those mini sets. I stumbled upon the OPI Germany Collection on Saturday and saw 'Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok fine!' and may have fallen a bit in love with it.

This is of course a bad thing, because this limited edition is long gone and miniature nail polish bottles don't last very long. But that does not take away from the gorgeousness of this shade. It's mysterious and dark. I tried to put a label on it but the longer I looked at it the more colors I saw in it. I've seen a few nail blogs call it a blue based dark grey creme. But I would say there are definitely hints of green in it as well.

It lacquers beautifully in just two coats, drying in a shiney creme finish, my favorite. It matches with my predominantly monochromatic wardrobe easily and has people asking about what you are wearing. I'm a fan. Now, I'm off to eBay to hunt down a full size of this...

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The Easter Chick Nails

With Easter just one sleep away, I thought it was more than appropriate to put together a little something to celebrate what the holiday is about for me. Pastel, chicks, eggs and a little too much chocolate. Easter seems to carry around this image of complete cuteness, and I thought this nail design was fitting.

I put together a short and sweet nail tutorial, as this design is incredibly easy, everyone can do it. I mean, if I can, anyone can. The shades I have used are between the brackets but of course you are free to substitute these for any other shades you own or prefer.



1. Paint one of your nails an opaque yellow shade (NYC Lexington Yellow) 2. Grab a white polish and a nail brush, or a white nail art pen/striper (Essie Blanc) 3. Create a zig zag edge on the yellow nail and fill it in with the white shade, this creates the resemblance of a cracked egg 4. Take a good opaque orange and a relatively small dotting tool 5. Create a small triangle as the chick's beak 6. With a black polish and another dotting tool create the chick's eyes. And then you're done.

You can repeat this on the rest of your nails or do like me and use a few springtime appropriate shades. A few simple dots in a contrasting color up the cuteness even further, if that's your thing. That's all, super easy and ridiculously cute. I'm ready for a big breakfast and a nice weekend with friends and family.

Happy easter everyone!

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The Weekly Favorites #12

This installment has been missing for a little while, but today I thought the time was ripe to show some of my recent favorite products. There is a number of items that I find myself reaching for every single day in the last two weeks, and therefore they deserve a little lovin' in the form of a feature in this category.

Mentioned last week in my new skincare additions post, this new gel cleanser from Mario Badescu I have been trialing has been blooming fantastic. From the inventive lid that squeezes out just the right amount of product to the way it thoroughly cleans my skin without stripping it. It's all really good. It smells fresh and leaves my face looking and feeling radiant. This Enzyme Cleansing Gel is a winner, and it's only fifteen euros.

Earlier this week I wrote about my obsession with neutral toned polishes, and the above pictured Essie shade Master Plan is the crown and glory of my collection. I'm rapidly going through the bottle I own and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be repurchasing when this one runs out.

The Origins GinZing moisturizer has been seen quite a few times on here, and with right. I'm nearing the end of my little tub and I'm still considering whether or not I'm going to get another one. I like the way this really picks up the skin, it brightens it and injects a good amount of hydration. But sometimes I feel like it isn't enough, so maybe I'll get on the market looking for something with extra moisture.

A few weeks ago I walked into my favorite beauty store and treated myself to an Anastasia Brow Treatment. My crazy caterpillar brows got waxed and tweezed back into shape and after testing a few products in the store I decided to get the Brow Wiz pencil so I can fill in my brows on a daily basis. It's super thin and easy to use. It creates a really natural effect in the brow and even the little comb on the end is brilliant. I adore it.

My skin has been behaving so much better over the last few weeks. I only wear a thin layer of foundation on days I'm going out. Any little red spots or marked are easily concealed by the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. The shading in this range is a little off, but this one works for me. It also lasts hours and hours, but nevertheless I always chuck it in my bag for any touch ups during the day.

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The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks

You’d think with spring and summer on our doorsteps the beauty world would be focusing on lightweight, sheer items. But that does not seem to be the case, brand after brand is coming out with their version of matte lipsticks, lacquers, crayons and what not. As did Bourjois, late March they debuted their new line of Rouge Edition lip colors, this time in a liquid velvet form.

They promise a matte velvet look without the discomfort or dryness other products of the same finish often cause. I was intrigued by the color range and the amazing names, and because I have expressed multiple times that matte is my all-time favorite finish.

I got two out of the eight shade range, the gorgeous orange toned red called ‘Hot Pepper’ and the vibrant hot pink ‘Pink Pong’. I would’ve gotten more if their price was a little lower, €13,99/£8,99 each is a little steep. I would have gotten Frambourjoise as well, which is a gorgeous mix between pink and red.

Pictured first is Pink Pong, a hot pink with a blue tone to it. Blue toned pinks are usually the best way to go as they do wonders for your teeth. I was a little surprised that this wasn’t opaque on first swipe, as it did when I swatched it on the back of my hand. It seemed a little patchy but a second swipe makes it opaque.

After that we have Hot Pepper. A bright red shade with a slightly orange tint to it. The shade was a bit similar to MAC’s Lady Danger. This one is opaque in one go, and it looks beautiful and classic. A lovely one to pair with a good winged liner. There is just something magic about red lips and winged liner, isn’t there?

But the best parts are definitely the finish and formula. They are really comfortable to wear, drying after a few hours but nowhere near as quickly as other matte lip products I have tried before. It’s extremely lightweight and you barely notice it on your lips at all. It takes a couple minutes before it dries down to a fully matte finish, but when it does it is there to stay. It lasts hours and hours. I wore Hot Pepper the other day and had dinner and then went to have some drinks with a friend and it was still going strong when I got home at night.

And you see those swatches on my hand? They’re still there. And I’ve since done the dishes a few times, had two showers and was caught in a rainstorm. They have hardcore staying power. However, they are no match for my favorite two makeup removers. Clarins Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover and The Body Shop Chamomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover.

These are definitely worth a try. Especially if you want a low maintenance, high performing matte lip product. That is if you can get over the slightly steep price tag. If they were priced a little lower I would definitely get some more shades.

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The New Skincare Additions

I've been keeping the makeup buying on the down-low, as weird as that might seem for a beauty blogger. But after a good cleaning out of my makeup collection I have come to a shocking conclusion. I think I have enough. Admittedly, the same could probably apply to my skincare stash, but I'm still grasping for that seemingly mythical 'perfect skin'.

The latest two purchases were really influenced by other beauty bloggers. The Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel was heavily influenced by the praising words of Sophie from Private Life Of A Girl, who has mentioned it a couple of times on her blog. I haven't tried it yet, but I definitely will tonight. I'll be reporting back as soon as possible with a full review.

About two weeks ago Kate from Gh0stparties wrote a detailed review about all the wondrous things the Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil had done for her skin and right after finishing the article I immediately went over to Beautybay to add my very own to my shopping bag. This stuff supposedly restores balance to the skin, fades scars and marks and even clears up spots. An oil that clears up spots? Count me in for that one.

Since I've only been using the oil for about three days I can't pass any judgement at the moment, that simply woudn't be a very good review. So expect a report back after I have given it a fair trial period. But for now I'm going to sign off with the links to where you can get these seemingly amazing skincare products. The Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel can be found here and Pai Skincare Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend is right here.

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The Monday Manicure #18

There is this thing that I call the 'Three S and an F'-factor when buying nail polishes. If a polish is sweet, soft, sheer and feminine you can bet your bottom dollar I am going to buy it. And although today's shade has been seen on here before, I hope you'll like it just as much as I do. Pictured up top is Essie's Sugar Daddy, the prettiest softest pink in my collection to date.

It requires at least two coats to cover the way I like it, although you could very well wear it as sheer as it is with just one coat. I can imagine this also being a perfect wedding shade. No worries, I'm not walking down any aisles yet.

I've started a new period at school and we're focusing on short documentaries which means I'm putting in a lot more hours coming up with ideas and translating them into scripts and treatments. It's a lot of fun but also a lot work, why did I choose to go to journalism school again?


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The Monday Manicure #18

A Monday Manicure that doesn't show my nails decked out in some gorgeous shade? No, today I'm shining a light on my favorite shades to wear during the warmer seasons. Where the last few months I have pretty much worn a mix of black, grey, navy blue and nude shades. But now that the temperatures are rising (I had bare legs yesterday, first time in forever) it is definitely time to start wearing more appropriate shades.

As you may already notice from reading this blog, I have a soft spot for Essie nail varnishes. Her shades and formulas are the best and I really like lining up all the colorful bottles with their white caps. For the new season I have picked five shades that will bring sunshine to your nails, and have people asking about what shade you are wearing, I guarantee it.

All the way in the back we have the red shade Snap Happy, the orange Fear or Desire, the gorgeous lilac Cascade Cool, the dark pink Watermelon (a must have shade for every woman) and the gorgeous bright pink Lights. Some of these were part of previous collections so if you have any difficulty finding them I direct you to my little friend eBay. The magic place where previous editions are pretty easy to find.

Have a lovely Monday, girls!

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The Monday Manicure #17

       

       

Another Monday, another manicure. I'm back at school and work this week and feel a bit more pressured into looking like I have my stuff together. A manicure is part of that, and even if my nails are super short and still on the thin side, they need a little TLC every now and again. 

This week I went for a simple but interesting design. One coat of the incredibly shiny and opaque black from American Apparel, with some subtle striping work done with Essie Blanc. I used a thin brush that I got in a set off eBay. 

At school we're doing a radio talk show this week, which basically means I'm up to my ears in prep work. Along with my physical therapy and shifts at the movie theatre, posts might be a little slow this week. I really want to get back into some sort of schedule, but it is proving to be a challenge. 

I hope you are having a wonderful Monday, if that is even possible. 

The Body Shop Facial Massager

I've always been a little hesitant when it came to beauty tools. I remember browsing a Dutch beauty blog when I was younger and coming across this article that featured many horrific beauty tools that people actually used! Think face rollers with spikes on them, now those will certainly increase blood flow. But since falling in love with Isabelle Bellis' facial cleansing routine and her 'pianotage' I've been gaining more and more interest in facial massage and its included benefits.

Cue the hype around The Body Shop Facial Massager, a simple roller that gently massages oils and moisturizers into the skin. It's easy and fun to use, and I can really tell the difference when I use it. The products I have applied absorb much quicker and my face feels plump and treated. Like I've just been treated to a spa visit.

You roll it over from the center of your face and along the jawline towards the lymphatic areas - your ears, right under the jaw and down the neck - this literally pushes the crap from your face. Pardon my French. The little pamphlet that comes with it says to use it at night, but I actually quite like using it when I'm sat at my desk as well.

If you want something simple and fun to use that happens to have skin benefits as well, then I guess The Body Shop Facial Massager is perfect for you. It's also a lot cheaper than that hyped jade one from Cult Beauty...

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The Facial Sun Protectors

Looking at the weather forecast for the coming week I am seeing sunny days, higher temperatures and hardly any chances of precipitation. Girls, spring is most definitely on its way. Now I know sun protection is probably one of the least sexy subjects within the cosmetics world, but it’s an important one. Protecting your precious skin from the sun’s harmful UV-rays comes with a lot of benefits. Besides saving you from a higher chance of developing skin cancer, it can also prevent the development of skin discoloration and it helps reduce blotchiness. Plus people that spend a lot of time in the sun unprotected age up to 80% faster. Yes you read that right, eighty flipping percent.

After a lot of trial and error I’ve fallen for two sunscreens aimed specifically for the face, and they each have their unique selling points.Let's dive right in.

First up is the City Block Sheer SPF 25 from Clinique. This sunblock has been designed to be worn by itself or underneath your makeup. It has a slight tint to it but you shouldn’t be put off as it doesn’t actually leave any color on the skin, maybe just a little bit of extra glow. The best part of this is that it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin at all, you can barely feel it, while most of the SPF’s I have tested feel thick and heavy.

Besides protecting from the sun, City Block also protects you from, well, the city. The dirt, grime, smog, pollution that floats around all day. It’s oil free so it won’t turn you into a glowworm and I haven’t noticed any flashbacks in photography either. It’s the perfect everyday sun protectant for your face.

But wearing an SPF of 25 on holiday or during the stronger summer days simply doesn’t cut it. I also have some redhead genes so I burn quite easily, something that has to be prevented. That’s where the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Extreme Tinted Fluid comes in. It doesn’t just win the prize for longest product name ever, it is also my favorite sunscreen ever. As it says it’s an extremely fluid product, it is literally undetectable once on the skin. It has the slightest tint that wasn’t extremely noticeable on my pale skin.

It has a very high SPF and it protects you even in the strongest sun. I took it with me to Tunesia last summer and I didn’t burn once, something very unusual for me. It’s also extremely waterproof so no need to reapply ever single time you take a dip in the refreshing ocean. It’s that must-have barrier between your skin and those lovely, but dangerous rays.

So stop pretending like you don’t need it. If you don’t want to age a lot faster than people who regularly use a sun block, you’re going to have to start applying SPF. Do you wear a sunblock regularly, let me know!



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