Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 Rose Tender

It's no secret that Bourjois cream blushes are my favourite formula. I'm a proud owner of the shade 01 Nude Velvet, which is on my cheeks on most days because I also wear it as a base so that powder blushes on top last longer. Since I was so impressed by the velvet cream formula, I picked up another shade, this time a pinker version called 03 Rose Tender.

Rose Tender is a neutral pink on me and it gives that I-just-came-from-the-cold kind of flush. It's actually almost identical on the cheeks to Maybelline's Dream Touch Blusher in Berry. It's a cute colour, but somehow I much prefer 01 for my skin tone, it's just such a fantastic shade for me. The pigmentation is nice for me, but keep in mind that I'm very pale.

Formula is the same velvety cream as at shade 01. It blends so well and has a matte-satin finish on the cheeks. It's very siliconey compared to other cream blushes meaning it feels drier to the touch and because of that doesn't leave that dewy finish. The velvety-silicone texture also allows that I can apply a powder blush on top without the fear that it will stick to the cream blush, so it's a fantastic base if you want to get the best out of your powder blush. I love these especially when I'm in a hurry because I can just quickly apply it with fingers. 

Packaging of these is brilliant. These are small and compact, very travel friendly and the added mirror is a nice touch. 

I highly recommend you give these a go. They are wonderful cream blushes and deserve all the praise. I got mine on Feel Unique for 10.39 €, since despite having Bourjois in Slovenia, apparently we aren't entitled to have cream blushes.

Have a great day!

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Wateproof

I feel like I've written this sentence a million times, but here it is again: I use waterproof mascaras on a daily basis because they keep the lashes curled, since my straight eyelashes drop like a stone if I use a regular formula (picture of my natural lashes here). Normally I reach for high-end mascaras as they actually perform like I expect them to, but I set upon finding a more affordable waterproof option that would hold the curl well. Volume 1 Seconde was on my wishlist since its release and now I've been using it for about 1-2 months. Honestly, I find it average, even now that the formula got a bit drier. 

The brush is a plastic one with small dense bristles and between them are small balls that I have no idea to what purpose they serve. In terms of formula and performance, I'd say it's a classic mascara with a plastic wand meaning it defines very well and gives length, while volume is not exactly its forte, however, for me it's enough. You can layer it, which obviously results in more volume, but I don't do that as more product on my lashes just weighs them down. As far as holding the curl is concerned, it's no where near my favourite Hypnôse, it's actually quite poor in that department. Sometimes it holds the curl for several hours, but the lashes drop slowly and sometimes the lashes just drop like a rock soon after application making me look like I have a lazy eye. 

All in all it's a pretty average mascara meaning it's good, but not amazing. It's lengthening and separates the lashes nicely, but if you're looking for a lot of volume, maybe try something else with a classic brush. Its curl holding capabilities aren't something to write home about and if it weren't for that I'd rate it as a good mascara. I won't even address the 1 second claim because it's utterly ridiculous.

I bought my tube in Müller for 14.25 €, which is not exactly cheap for a drugstore mascara.

Have a great day!

Wishlist #14

1. ZOEVA 223 Petite Eye Blender Brush

 Zoeva brushes are highly praised and honestly, I wouldn't mind owning a whole set of their brushes if I didn't find them such a big investment, however, I'd love to own at least one. I've owned the Coastal Scents Round Crease brush forever now and it's the only brush that I truly love for using in the "crease" of my hooded eyes both for applying and blending eyeshadow, so I'd like something similar, but of great quality and this Zoeva one appeals to me greatly.

Zoeva, 7.80 €. 

2. ECOTOOLS Tapered Blush Brush

Another brush that caught my attention. Currently I'm using an Artdeco blush brush that is again ancient and is getting scratchier with every wash, so I need a new one. All Ecotools brushes I own are great quality and affordable, so their blush brush is the next on my list also because of great reviews on Makeup Alley. 

iHerb, $6.99.

3. TWEEZERMAN Mini Slanted Tweezers

After my recent tweezers disappointment (Ebeline's ones), I'm splurging for a highly praised Tweezerman ones. I want them to be as small as possible because I need them to be really precise and able to pluck any hair. These minis look like they're able to do the job and they are mint green - my favourite colour.

Beauty Bay, 12.70 €.

4. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Copehagen

I'm a fan of NYX matte lip creams and of burgundy shades, so this immediately caught my attention. I actually already ordered it, but I still have to wait 3 weeks for it too arrive.

eBay, $5.40 (+ shipping).

5. Bumble and Bumble Suft Spray

50ml

I don't even know why I want this. I'm kind of thinking it'd be great for third-fourth day hair when I put it in a bun overnight to revive the curls. I'll settle for the travel size first.

Look Fantastic, €12.35. 

6. RIMMEL Lasting Finish Nude Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain

Since I just used up my Match Perfection foundation in the same shade, I desperately need a new light pink toned foundation for mixing, but instead of repurchasing MP, which I never really liked, I'd like to try this one. It's supposed to be a lightweight medium coverage foundation, a sibling of the original Lasting Finish and I hope it'll sit nicer on my skin than Match Perfection .

Feel Unique, 10.39€. 

7. KÉRASTASE Discipline Range 

Fluidissime, Bain Fluidealiste, Maskeratine

Kérastase is my favourite hair brand and they recently launched the Discipline range designed for unruly frizzy hair, which sounds right up my alley. The first reviews sound amazing, so I'm itching to get my hands on it.

All Beauty, 16.33-26.41€. 

Another wishlist I already posted long ago on social media. My fragrance wishlist is getting a bit out of control, but I love fragrances and I just used up quite a few, so I'd like to treat myself a bit. 

Fantasy The Nice Remix by Britney Spears

A fruitier version of the original, but still a lovely, warm scent for these colder months. Notes on Fragrantica. 

 All Beauty, 25.60 €; Salma, 25.25 € (100 ml).

Boss Ma Vie Pour Femme by Hugo Boss

It reminds me of a shampoo with a slightly tropical scent and to me it smells very soft, modern and feminine. A great everyday scent. Notes on Fragrantica. 

Műller, 49.79 - 69.99 €.

Royal Revolution by Katty Perry 

How awesome is the bottle? It's quite unusual for a celebrity scent meaning it's more sophisticated and not the typical fruity vanilla scent. Notes on Fragrantica

All Beauty 21.05 - 34.49 €; Salma 19.20 - 26.20 €.

Reveal by Calvin Klein

It smells so sexy and deep. I mostly get cinnamon mixed with their Euphoria fragrance. Notes on Fragrantica

Müller, Salma 57.90 - 64.20 €.

Volare by Oriflame

I shallowly admit I want it purely for the gorgeous bottle. Apparently it smells similar to Tresor. Notes on Fragrantica

Oriflame 27.9 € (50 ml).

Can Can Burlesque by Paris Hilton

I'm a huge fan of the original and the new one supposedly smells similar, but woodier. Notes on Fragrantica.
Salma, 27.90 € (100 ml).

Just Cavalli by Roberto Cavalli
I adore this scent. It's similar to Lâncome's Poeme, which to me means very 90's, since my mother wore that fragrance. It's creamy, sexy and cosy. Notes on Fragrantica.
All Beauty, 37.05 - 49.85 €; Salma, 30.90 - 46.90 €.

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Mist

Vineyard Peach is my favourite ever scent and I want this so bad, but I just can't get this anywhere online, at least not for a decent price. 

I already posted this on Facebook, but Ebeline (DM brand) included quite a few hair brushes in their range and I hope these reach Slovenia. I'm temped by most of them, especially by the Teasing brush (2.95 €), Shampoo and scalp massage brush (2.95 €) as well as the Keratin brush (6.95 €). If you know German, you can find more information here and here. 

Have a great day!

Empties #11

SOAP & GLORY Flake Away Body Scrub

My favourite scrub so far. I was so frugal with it just so it would last me longer because I can't get this brand anywhere else than on eBay. It's a very harsh sugar scrub, just the way I like it and it has a very moisturising, oily formula meaning there is no need for moisturisers afterwards. It smells like a gentler version of Miss Dior Cherie.

Repurchase: Yes.

GARNIER Oil Beauty Nourishing Scrub

Such a wonderful shower product. It's has quite a unique gel-oil texture that transforms into luxurious creamy foam. The scrubby particles aren't too harsh, so I used it as a regular shower gel. It also smells lovely, kind of sweet nutty-floral.  

Repurchase: Yes.

GARNIER Body Ultimate Beauty Oil

A fantastic dry oil in a spray that is so easy to apply. It literally takes seconds and you're done. It has the same scent as the scrub.

Repurchase: Yes.

XEN-TAN Transform Daily Self-Tan

This is my favourite gradual self tanner. Even from one application I get a decent amount of colour, but it's after three that people start asking where have I been sunbathing. I loved using this for my face because it is more moisturising than the Clarins lotion which I used before. I've actually stopped self tanning or at least I don't do it particularly often, since everyone has made it their mission to inform me of how pale I am, so I like to annoy them by being the human counterpart of Snow White, as it appears they can't wrap their heads around the fact that people with fair skin do exist and they like being pale (in their minds it's almost criminal). Therefore this tan is very old and as it's expected by now it does develop that classic self-tan scent by the morning, but when it was new, the scent was barely detectable and it had a melon-citrus scent upon application.

Repurchase: Yes.

GOOD THINGS Manuka Honey Cream Cleanser

Though it's a creamy cleanser that I had trouble adjusting to, since it doesn't feel quite as luxurious as a balm or cleansing oil, my skin adored this. In those three months that I've been using it, my skin looked so healthy and there wasn't a blemish in sight, even though I skipped AHA products during the summer (I didn't want to risk sun damage, which is ironic considering there were about three sunny days in total this summer). Only Balance Me kept my skin in such good condition. I know I said I find it unremarkable, but now I think it's bloody brilliant. I did use it up quite fast, however, it's inexpensive, so I don't mind.

Repurchase: Yes.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse

One of my HG items, I pretty much can't be without it for a day, so I always buy a spare well before the previous one runs out. I've been using it as a face moisturiser for three years now and my skin is in such good condition, it looks healthy and is super soft. I adore this stuff and one bottle lasts me ages.

Repurchase: Already did.

KÉRASTASE Elixir Ultime shampoo

A nice shampoo that does its job, but that's it. It leaves the hair "too clean" for my liking, by that I mean too stripped, which is something that an an individual with dry hair don't particularly like. It's ok, but not exceptional enough to justify the price and I much prefer the Oleo-Relax. It smells lovely just like the oil, maybe a bit more masculine.

Repurchase: Not likely.

 MACADAMIA NATURAL OIL Healing Oil Treatment

I've tried quite a few of these salon brands silicone-oils and this one along with Orofluido are my absolute favourites. I find it's the best one for dry hair and has great frizz reducing capabilities. The scent is a love-it-or-hate-it one, to me it smells like my grandfathers cologne, so masculine, but I've heard some say it reminds them of vanilla and sandalwood. I sometimes loved the scent and then sometimes not so much, but it definitely slowly grew on me. 

Repurchase: Yes.

REFAN fragrances 

I used a bunch of Refan fragrances, all 15 ml that I've had for a really long time. I love these, but I just want to warn you that these do go a bit off after three years, which is a period most people use up their fragrances already, but I'm obviously not such a person. By off I mean that the scent changes a bit, mostly it gets more alcohol smelling and more bland from the start, but it develops the same, so clearly the top notes are the first to go. 

N.023 imitation of Bvlgari Omnia Coral

A tropical hibiscus scent: floral, clean and a bit juicy. When you smell it, it's like - yeah that's what coral colour would smell like if it had a scent. Actually, it smells similar to Kérastase Chroma Sensitive Cleansing Balm, but it was never my favourite. 

Repurchase: No.

N.110 Laura Biagotti Venecia

A creamy, woody fragrance with some vanilla. I hear others notice a strong plum note, but it doesn't develop on me. To me it lacked something that would make it special.

Repurchase: I'm not sure they sell it anymore. 

N.156 Bruno Banani Magic Woman

A sweet, fruity, yet a warm scent that has quite a lot of silage. I get strawberries and other berries with some musk and violets. I liked it, but I got bored with it after a while.

Repurchase: I'm not sure.

N.178 Emporio Armani for Her

The wood, floral notes and musk combined create a simple, fresh, clean and classic scent that is slightly bitter and unisex. This is very highly rated on Make up Alley, but I just never really got it. It's not bad, just a bit odd for my liking and no one liked it on me.

Repurchase: No.

YVES ROCHER Yellow Peach Eau de Toilette

I'm a huge fan of peach scents and The Body Shop's version is my favourite, but this YR version doesn't even remotely resemble anything peach. It is quite a strange scent, like it's not even fruity, but completely artificial. I used it as a room scent to get rid of it. If you want to try any of these Les Plaisirs Nature scents, go for coconut or vanilla, because they are awesome and the scents are true to their name.

Repurchase: No.

Have a great day!

Empties #10

 ESSENCE Match2Cover

What a terrible concealer. I've disliked it since the first time I tried it, but I just kept it in my drawer for no particular reason, gave it a few more tries and still hated it. It's waxy, doesn't apply nicely, looks patchy on the skin and doesn't even cover well. The only bright side is that the light shade is very light, however, the time has come to toss it in the garbage.

Repurchase: No.

BOURJOIS 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream

As I suspected, this didn't last me long, but I was still surprised when it ran out. I can honestly say, I've never used up a concealer so fast as this one, but since it has only 1.5 ml of product inside, it's almost like a tester - just for a full price. Even though the coverage was about medium, this concealer really grew on me. It looks incredibly natural due to a light, thin consistency and the shade is wonderful because it has a neutral undertone. It's become one of my favourite drugstore concealers for under the eyes, but the amount you get for the price is a complete joke.

Repurchase: Yes, despite the stingy amount.

RIMMEL Match Perfection Foundation

I was never a fan of this foundation as it just never looked right on my skin and it leaves that awful greasy feeling like it never truly sets. However, the lightest shade 010 Light Porcelain is one of the best matches for my pale skin and I loved using this for mixing with other more yellow or darker foundations to get the absolute perfect match for my neutral skin tone. I talked about mixing foundations recently in this post. 

Repurchase: I would purely for the need to mix it with other shades, however, I have found that there is another Rimmel foundation that is as light as this and I'm going to try that one first.

LANCÔME Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume Waterproof Mascara

My HG mascara. It does everything I want - gives plenty of length, volume, it defines, it's super black and most importantly it holds the curl all day. Fantastic stuff. It costs an arm and a leg, though. 

Repurchase: Yes.

MAJOLICA MAJORKA Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara

This mascara is so tricky to use, but it produces some wonderful results. The brush is just a thin weird plastic comb, which doesn't really make the application easy, I would definitely prefer a standard wand with this formula. The formula is the blackest one I've ever tried to date and it's also quite thick due to the fibres in it. The fibres itself didn't make my lashes look any longer, they did however, ruin my contact lenses when a fibre crumbled off the lashes and fell into my eye attaching itself on the lens (it was so adorable *sarcasm off*). The fibres drop during the day landing under the eyes and on the cheeks, but the lashes keep curled all day. Basically, it's a mascara that gives a lot of volume and is intensely black, but the fibres are annoying as is the brush/comb thingie.

Repurchase: No. 

L'OREAL Super Liner Carbon Gloss eyeliner

This was my favourite eyeliner before I discovered felt tip versions. It's really black with a glossy finish and lasts well on the lids. The applicator is precise, but needs to be re-dipped in the product during application if you want an intense line as the product on the applicator doesn't suffice for one eye.

Repurchase: No, although it is really good.

L'OREAL Super Liner Perfect Slim

This is and was my favourite eyeliner, though currently Kardashian's version is kind of kicking its ass. These felt tip liners are the bomb for non-liner savvy kids like me because due to the thin, precise applicator, drawing a line on the top lash line is so simple and precise. This product made me fall in love with eyeliner after years of thinking that I just can't wear it due to my hooded eye shape. It's super black and on me it lasts all day. The nib stays saturated for several months of regular use, however, the tip doesn't get as much colour after a while, so drawing flicks is a bit more difficult once it's older.

Repurchase: Yes.

BOURJOIS Magic Nail Polish Remover

I've been loyal to these since their launch. These are the best invention ever - you just pop the finger inside the pot, swish it around for a few seconds and the nail polish is gone. The formula of this one is oily, which means that it moisturises the skin around the nails and it also smells lovely like forest fruits and vanilla. However, that oiliness was a bit off-putting because I needed to wash my hands right away. I'm currently using Ebeline's version, which is really good.

Repurchase: I think I might switch to Ebeline's, but I'd love to try that purple version for hands and toes.

SECHE Vite Top Coat

I know it looks tragic that there is a third left, but once this thickens it's useless.  I bough the Seche Restore, but it didn't help, I'm guessing it's just too far gone. Despite that, this is my absolute favourite top coat because as a woman of little patience when it comes to nail polish application, I truly appreciate how this dries the nail polish in under a minute. Great stuff.

Repurchase: Already did.

Limited editions and discontinued products

SUNDANCE Transparentes Sonnenspray mit Tropicduft SPF 30 

The can lasted about three days on my holiday and you get drunk just by inhaling the alcohol vapours in it, plus it's greasy which is really "handy" when your trying to hold the can, though the application is a breeze due to it being in aerosol form. There wasn't a sunburn in sight, so it works very well. It smells like papaya and oranges, so sourly-juicy sweet or for anyone that's familiar, it smells really close to Balea's LE Mango Mambo shower gel (or last year's Brazil Mango). 

Repurchase: No.

ESSENCE My Base Illuminating Makeup Base

This is one of those liquid highlighters that are quite subtle and can be used as a base, mixed with foundation or/and on top of foundation just like L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Primer. Mine was the pink toned version and it was a lovely product, however, L'Oreal's is better. Curently, Essence has a cream highlighter instead of this.

Repurchase:It was discontinued about a year ago.

YVES ROCHER Vanilla Collect'OR Light Shimmering Lotion 

Technically this was a limited edition, however, as far as I'm aware it's the same formula and scent as the regular Vanilla line, it just contains gold shimmer. Texture-wise it's a light lotion that is very average in terms of moisturisation and the scent was not as lovely or intense as at the shower gel (it's a vanilla extract for baking type of scent), but the gold shimmer was nice and gave that "glow" to the skin that looks nice when you're tan.

Repurchase: No.

ESSENCE Gel Eyeliner 01

I've only owned two pot gel eyeliners in my life, MAC's and this one. Both seemed exactly the same in terms of formula. It was super black, applied nicely and lasted well on the lids. Mine dried out, but I really liked it. Catrice's might be similar since it's made in the same factory.

Repurchase: It's discontinued, but I would.

I have thirteen more empties to talk about, so part 2 a.k.a Empties #11 with fragrance, body and hair care products will follow soon.

Have a great day!

BeautyUK Eden Palette

Just look at this palette - doesn't it look like the perfect collection of nude shades? I certainly think so and though, eyeshadows seldom grab my attention in shops, it was love at first sight. I was so looking forward to using it, but then I hit a wall of disappointment - the pigmentation. 

There are 10 eyeshadows in the palette, pretty much the collection of colours that appeal to me the most. They are all neutral shades, two are matte and the rest have a shimmery-satin finish. 

 In the top (1.) row there are 

1. a shimmery  light beige-rose shade (similar to Sin from the Naked palette) - poor pigmentation, I tend to apply it with fingers for intensity.

2. a perfect cool matte brown (similar to Mac's Wedge or Naked Palette's Naked) - the worst pigmentation in the palette, I barely get it to show up on me and I'm very pale.

3. a satin cream shade - just a classic highlight shade. I'm not a fan of such light shades in general, I prefer something warmer or pink.

4. a shimmery copper shade - best pigmentation in the palette and a nice shade for blue eyes.

5. a beautiful matte taupe-purple-brown - another poorly performing matte, though due to being a darker shade, better than the other matte one. I tend to use it in the crease a lot.

 And in the bottom (2.) row

1. a shimmery old green brown shade - besides the coppery shade, the other best performing shade in the palette.

2. a satin medium warm brown - disappointingly poor pigmentation for such a shade. 

3. a shimmery smoky silver

4. a shimmery white-silver (Mac's Vex like)

5. a shimmery purple-brown - not the best pigmentation, but can be used to deepen the crease and outer corners.

Pigmentation is, oh, it's so disappointingly poor on most shades, particularly on those that are my favourites. These eyeshadows feel in general quite dry and hard. Mattes perform especially poor, the second one in the top row for example, but shimmery shadows are a bit better, though again the light shades aren't impressive (like the first one in the top row). The only shades that are relatively soft and pigmented are the cooper shade in the top row and the old gold shade in the bottom row. I tried primer under it, but the vibrancy just isn't there at some shades, more expensive brushes don't help either, you just have to build up the colour, which takes a lot of time. You can create a natural look with it, but it's very difficult to get the same result that you might get from the Naked palette. 

These blend ok, however, due to poor pigmentation, the eyeshadows quickly start to look very similar when blended.
I'm wearing a simple look with these in this post.

Honestly, that L'Oreal L'Ombre Pure eyeshadow I have that costs 9€ is miles better than this in terms of quality. I know it's a bad comparison and yes, it's more expensive, but I'm enjoying it a 100% more than I ever did this palette. I do try to use it at least for softer looks. Sleek palettes have a better pigmentation for a similar price and despite the fact that their eyeshadows have fall down if you want something good on a budget, I think they are a better choice. Eden palette is not by any means the worst palette I've tried, but it is clearly budget quality and has left me disappointed. Eyeshadows last me forever, so I'm willing to pay more to get great quality, this palette just proved me that I'm right.

I got my palette in Kozmo (Croatia) for 49.99 kn (about 6.5 €).

Have you tried it? Have a great day!

Mixing Foundations: How to get a Neutral Undertone

I'm one of those "unlucky" women that has a neutral undertone as well as the fact that I'm super pale. Why do I say unlucky? Well, although I'm fond of my undertone, pretty much every company that makes foundations (especially the drugstore ones), makes them either yellow or pink, but almost no one does a neutral undertone, which is a crying shame. So even if you find a nice match in terms of how light the foundation is, the wrong undertone still makes the foundation look off.

So what do I do? The most obvious thing in the word - I mix one of my yellow foundations with a pink one and I get a perfect match for my skin. It's rather amazing when you find your perfect match for the first time, it looks astonishingly natural.
By the way, I find the easiest way to determine ones undertone is to look at the colour on veins on your wrist. Blue veins indicate a pink a.k.a. cool undertone and green indicate a yellow a.k.a. warm undertone. Mine are blue-green, therefore I have neutral undertone, but you can really tell what is your proper undertone the more foundations you try.

So here are my pale foundations according to their undertones (swatches and comparisons are in the reviews).

The yellow one:
BOURJOIS Healthy Mix Serum 51
Bourjois in general makes very yellow light foundations.

The yellow-neutral one (darkest in the bunch):
BOURJOIS 123 Perfect CC Cream 31 Ivory

The neutral one, but with a slight greyish tint:
MISSHA M Signature Complete BB cream #13
It's the palest shade I ever found and my best match.

The pink ones:
DIOR Diorskin Nude BB Creme 001

RIMMEL Match Perfection Foundation 010 Light Porcelain

I use Rimmel's Match Perfection in most combinations because due to a pink undertone, it makes the yellow foundation neutral as well as it's a super light foundation, so it also lightens the foundation (by the way, there are a few Rimmel foundations in 010 Light Porcelain shade). Even though, texture-wise it was never a foundation I liked, I've finished a bottle of it faster than any foundation before. The neutral Missha BB also helps the yellow foundation to be more neutral. Catrice's Nude Illusion in the lightest shade 010 Nude Ivory is another neutral foundation, however, it is darker and I have to mix it with a lighter shade.

My favourite combinations for my skin tone are Healthy Mix Serum with either Rimmel Match Perfection or Dior Nude BB Creme. The first combination creates a dewy foundation and the second a satin one. I also love the combination of Bourjois CC cream with Rimmel Match Perfection. 

Do you mix your foundations? Have a great day!