The Body Shop Sharpeners

Hello my lovelies!

This is a quick post about sharpeners. Oh yes, they deserve their own post!

As you may have learned from experience, owning a sharpener specifically made for cosmetic products is essential- I can't tell you how many eye pencils I've ruined by sharpeing them with normal sharpeners; their tip would break and I would sharpen them again and again, thinking that it's the pencil's poor quality that is to blame for, when all along it was the use of the wrong sharpener.


Recently I bought a large sharpener from the Body Shop [shown above] to use with my new favourite Concealer, as I couldn't bother searching around for a big, massive sharpener. It has the same quality as the old Body Shop double sharpener that I loved, but I lost that one recently... So I went back to the Body Shop to purchase it again. Sadly, it was discontinued- in its place the Body Shop has brought another sharpener with a lid and in bigger size.


My previous double sharpener and the large sharpener that I own at the moment are of excellent quality; they are manufactured for the Body Shop by a company named Kum, a german brand specializing in cosmetic sharpeners, rulers, triangles, other drawing instruments, etc.. I repeat myself- they are of EXCELLENT quality, a "made in Germany" quality.



This new sharpener with the lid is made in Korea- that alone would probably justify my dissapointment... The material is different from the Kum ones- it feels light and cheap. It may be convenient to carry around in trips as you won't ever ruin your make-up bag with its secure lid, but it takes so much space compared to a regular sharpener. It works ok but it doesn't feel as rock-hard as the Kum sharpeners do.

One possible reason for the Body Shop changing its manufacturer would be the low-cost of producing a stock of a product in countries such as Korea. But the funny thing is that the large sharpener made by Kum and the new sharpener with the lid made in Korea have the same price... I just hope they don't change the manufacturers of their other make-up products- I certainly wouldn't want to see any "made in China" or "made in Thailand" stickers on eyeshadows or blushers instead of the current "made in Italy" or "made in UK", while keeping the same price tag- if not raising it, at the worst scenario possible!

Anyway, enough with the rambling...
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Seventeen #79 nail polish

Hello my lovelies!

I know, winter seems to draw to an end as warmer days keep coming, but I had to show you this little beauty find ;) Hopefully the weather will turn colder soon because I want to benefit from this dark nail colour as much as possible!


This is a nail polish from the popular and affordable greek brand Seventeen. Addressing to greek girls; how many of you that started experimenting with nail colour in your teen years discovered Seventeen's "cult" packaging of nail varnish and sticked with it ever since? To me, it seems that their range of nail polishes is the most popular between the rest of their products. With big variety of colours and finishes and a dirt-cheap price tag... it is reasonably justified!


This colour is shade #79, a creamy, very dark burgundy to brown colour. I've been searching all over for this kind of shade and didn't think that I would find it at the Seventeen counter... I'm really happy that I came across that colour; it's dark (which somehow is more comfortable for me to wear than pastels), it's not as harsh as black, it's pretty long-lasting and it's not streaky at all- with two coats I get a perfect seamless colour.


Searching through Seventeen's website, this particular shade is the first on the list of their creamy nail varnishes, which suggests that it is a pigment combination that was put together a long, long time ago but it managed to stay on until today. By the way, the swatches on the site are of excellent accuracy, if you're interested in choosing a Seventeen nail colour I would suggest checking it out before going to a store.

Are there any Seventeen nail polish fans out there? Do share your favourites!
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

"Going Green"... not quite ;)

Hello my lovelies!

After reading efi's post about her new Chuck Taylors, I had to blog about mine!

My previous All-Star shoes were a grey, high-top version with white laces. I had been wearing them for over three years and eventually they got worn off... So it was time for me to get a new pair. My choice? I decided to go "bold" and picked a dark green, low-top version with white laces and sole.


Now you may think that green is not a "bold" choice of colour. But for me, I find that green is the most difficult colour to incorporate in my outfits. Neutral colours, black and white, reds-blues-yellows, no problems with them. But, green- that's another story... After a series of numerous green skirts and tops that I wore only two times each, I decided that if I was going to "go green", that would be reflected on my accessories, shoes or bags- not on my clothes.


Another little accessory that I adore! This is an old scarf from Pull&Bear. It mimics the classic Burberry pattern, but I like it! I pair it with my chaki trenchcoat over a pair of jeans and a white tee, occasionaly with a hot pink cardigan for a bit of contrast.

What is your most difficult colour/combination incorporating to your outfit? Please leave a comment and let me know ;)
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Apivita travel-friendly products

Hello my lovelies!

I hope I'm not the only one around going crazy about travel-friendly packaging... Wherever I see mini versions of products I like, I'm all for it!

See, I'm on my way to becoming the NOF [Next Organizing Freak]- I can't help it, it just comes from within naturally!


As most of greek girls know, Apivita is one of the biggest Greek skincare brands- I would say that it comes second in popularity, after Korres obviously! The company aims at creating simple and natural formulas with the least amount of preservatives and additives, while inspired by propolis, an ingredient that is evident in most (if not all, I'm not sure) of their products.

Most importantly, Apivita carries a special line that consists of travel-friendly products: their face mask sachets are the most popular! [Below is shown the old and the new packaging of the face mask sachets]



My favourites from this "Express" line are two products that are a staple in my travel cosmetic bag. I usually throw in a face mask sachet but I don't have a specific that I keep buying, I just alternate between the range.


1. the Everyday Face Scrub with Apricot [old packaging shown above]- it's a double sachet with 10ml of product in each, a nice and effective face wash that wakes up my skin and makes it so soft and glowing! I can't get enough of the smell of it and the little orange beads that exfoliate my skin, I love it! It's my baby... Each Apricot sachet lasts me for 7-8 washes (14-16 in total), AND is takes up so little space in my cosmetic bag, AND I don't have to carry a bottle with my exfoliating lotion plus the cotton pads to apply it with because this scrub sachet does all the exfoliating I need!


2. the Cleansing Tissues 3 in 1 with chamomile [old packaging shown above]- each sachet contains a super moist and soft cleansing tissue that smells as sweet as baby wipes and is pretty good at removing the day's makeup. They are so convenient for my short trips, it means that I don't have to carry with me a big package of make-up wipes when I would only need to use 2 or 3 wipes, not to mention the fact that the big package's wipes eventually dry out.


Recently, Apivita changed (for yet another time!) their "Aromatherapy" line (the basic line with face and body products based on aromatherapy), while at the same time supplying some central shopping corners with mini versions of some "Aromatherapy" products. What a better way to test them out! Yesterday I got this new face wash with propolis (of course...) and citrus which is suitable for oily skin. So far, so good- it cleanses and leaves a squeaky clean face! I'll be probably getting the rest of these mini little products, they're so cute...

Oh! and another thing; if, by any chance, an Apivita salesperson or employee is reading this little post, please please please, spread the word to any of your superiors to refresh Apivita's website with the new products! It's just ridiculus, there are so many new products from Apivita that I'd like to read about and they cannot be found anywhere in the web! Please, refresh your website ;)

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Art Deco eyeshadows, a mini haul

Hello my lovelies!

Last week I went to my local drugstore-ish department store and got three Art Deco eyeshadows. They can be stored in the so called "magnet boxes", for which I have blogged about in this post.




As you can see from the pictures above, every pan has a sliding lid with the number of the eyeshadow, which is also written on a tiny sticker on the side of the pan, so that you can easily replace it with the same colour if it runs out. The back of the pan has the magnet and a sticker with the serial code of the product.




218: a cool, shimmery taupe colour with a purple undertone that is most friendly with my brown eyes! It looks so beautiful as a wash all over the lid with a black kohl pencil smudged around the eye. Love it!!!


524: a standard, matte dark brown. Looks ok, no red undertones -again, friendly with my brown eyes-, smudges easily... and that's it. The only reason I bought it is because it's so hard to find matte eyeshadows from the drugstore, so whenever I find one I grab it asap! Needless to say, I like it a lot- especially when smudged over a black kohl pencil, it gives a softer definition than a black eyeshadow.


503: a soft, matte black. It is a bit more intense than the Body Shop's "soft black" eyeshadow but probably more muted than Mac's "carbon"... I would say that it's a good-quality black eyeshadow for beginners. I like it too ;)


Overall, I'm pretty content with the Art Deco eyeshadows- they have a soft, almost buttery texture, they come in a variety of colours and finishes (pearl, duochrome, matte, glitter), they can be stored in palettes (which is great news if you are sloppy like me), and they're cheap! (I think I paid 4.2 euros for each one? not 100% sure)

So this is my take on the Art Deco eyeshadows. If you are interested, you can check them out here.
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Korres Materia Herba; my experience

Hello my lovelies!


As you may already know, Korres has released an organic skincare line called "Materia Herba". This is what the Korres website refers to:

An organic certified skincare line Based on the Korres pharmacy experience and the extensive knowledge of

herbs, we have developed all our formulas based on a

clinically proven, highly efficacious combination of

actives, oils, extracts, distillates and concentrates, from

natural origin.

• the formulae composition is 95-100% natural. The

remaining 0-5% synthetic content adheres to an extremely restrictive standards list with no parabens or harsh

chemicals.

• product efficacy is based on the action of organic certified ingredients, in the form of advanced formulas suitable for different skin types.

• each development/ production stage - from ingredients

and raw materials, processing, packaging, labelling,

transportation and storage to energy and waste – is

ECOCERT approved.

Additionally, through the introduction of FORMULA

FACTS table on the packaging of each product, we aim to

make extended reference to the formula itself and its

contents of natural origin, while also addressing

frequently asked questions on health and environmental

topics.

Materia Herba benefits:

• Restructuring action through anti-ageing benefits
• Advanced moisturising action
• Maximum compatibility with the skin

Ecocert certification / High quality standards:
Materia Herba product line carries the seal of the

independent certification organization ECOCERT, which ensures the use of organic materials and production

processes that respect the environment and care for

sustainable development.

The Materia Herba line consists of two products for cleansing (foam and emulsion), two moisturisers (one for combination and one for normal/dry skin type), two anti-ageing moisturisers (again, different formulas for each skin type), two eye creams (a moisturising and an anti-ageing) and a nourishing anti-ageing night cream for all skin types. This is my review on the products I've tried so far.


Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam


It is a liquid packaged in a bottle with a special pump that turns it into a fluffy and silky foam. Did I like it? Actually, I like the convenience of a "ready-made" foam, but it doesn't work for my skin type. I have a combination to oily skin that needs deep cleansing, this product didn't do that. But it is very gentle and fun to use, so I reckon that it can be used on sensitive skin with no worries of irritations.

Materia Herba 3 in 1 Cleansing Emulsion


A milky cleanser for cleansing, toning and removing make-up for both face and eyes, it can also be removed with water. What makes it different from the average cream cleanser is that it has a "runny" texture- while it can be spread easily on the face, it can be easily absorbed as well! What happened with me is that, the minute I applied it on my face to remove my make-up, I would have to immediately work it on the skin and then remove it with a cotton pad, otherwise my skin would absorb it along with the day's make-up to make a horrific mask on my face... Overall, it is a product of good quality, because of its absorbing properties it would work excellent for dry skin before the application of moisturiser.

Materia Herba Moisturising Eye Cream


A standard moisturising eye cream, it has almost a rich texture but it absorbs quickly. I didn't notice any major improvement on my dark circles or the fine lines around the eye area, but then again few -so, so few!- eye creams actually deliver what they claim! I believe that moisturising the skin under the eyes helps to prevent the formation of NEW fine lines- dark circles and existing lines, they're here to stay... I'm just happy when an eye cream is moisturising and not showing through concealer. This is a nice product that I would repurchase.

Materia Herba Moisturizing cream, normal to fry skin


This is the only product that survived for picture purposes ;) It is a brilliant moisturiser but a bit heavy for my skin type. I thought that due to winter I could use a rich cream on my face, but no... When the tube is finished, I'm going to purchase the Materia Herba moisturiser for combination skin. Don't get me wrong, it is a lovely product- I would recommend it to anyone with normal to dry skin!


Overall, I found the Materia Herba line very interesting as a whole; wherever I read labels such as "organic" or "minimum synthetic content", I'm instantly converted! The packaging is minimalistic and hip as always, most of the Materia Herba products are scent-free, they have gentle and mild formulas...

The thing that puts me off is the price tag- I'm reluctant to spend 20 euros on a cleansing foam or 28 euros on a moisturiser- a KORRES moisturiser, that is! The Body Shop has released an organic skincare line but the products' prices are pretty much the same with the rest of their skincare lines. Oh well, the things you do to satisfy your consumeristic appetites...

Oh, and another thing; to me, choosing organic products over the regular ones mostly reflects the support in organic cultivation rather than choosing something more effective. I think that the actual percentage of natural extracts, both in organic or regular formulas, is so little that it makes no difference on the effectiveness of the final product.

Have you tried any of the Materia Herba products? I'd love to know your opinion on organic skincare in general.
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Art Deco Eyeshadow Base

Hello my lovelies!


This is the Art Deco Eyeshadow Base.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with eyeshadow primers, if not with the particular product. They all claim to prevent eyeshadow from creasing, lasting eye make-up, etc... But, do they deliver?



It is a pot filled with a beige, slighly shimmery cream with a hard texture. I like that because it means that it won't melt under the high mediterranean temperatures! It has a strong scent, I would describe it as a men's cologne (!) - it doesn't bother me, though! Contains 5 ml of product.



This is a heavy application on my hand- notice the shimmer on the second photo where it is blended into the skin? That is probably the only downside, apart from that it holds my eyeshadow in place for a long, long time. I have to point out that eventually, all eyeshadows crease regardless of applying eyeshadow primer or not - especially when they are applied on hooded eyes like mine... No eyeshadow can last for up to 12 hours and still looking intact!

This product performs very well. When I return home and look myself in the mirror (I do that, I have to remove my make-up in front of a mirror, see? it's not vanity, no it's not), the eye make-up looks pretty decent- it's not the best option when I want to play with matte eyeshadows, but I'll manage ;)

What are your thoughts on this product? Have you tried any other eyeshadow primers?
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Skiing? Not yet...

Hello my lovelies!


As I mentioned in my previous post, this weekend I had made a promise to myself to make my first attempt on skiing...

Well, let's just say that the weather was on the side of my "chickened out" self- as it turned out, I'll have to postpone my rendez-vous with the skiing equipment yet another time!

The weather on Saturday was so windy and foggy, it was impossible for me to endure such a bad experience. So I thought "hey, let's wait for tomorrow- no big deal". Unfortunately on Sunday, the ski resort was closed... It was a bit of a relief to some extent, but I'm not giving up- I'm hoping I'll have my first impressions on skiing before the end of winter. Gee, sometimes I can be such a baby!

Have you got any tricks for potent skiers? I'd love to know ;)
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

I'm going skiing!!!

Hello my lovelies!

Oh yes, after years of postponing my encounter with the skiing equipment, I've finally decided to give it a try this time. For real!

See, I have never been into sports (apart from some spare months at the gym - but that doesn't count, right?), I'd much rather sit beside the warmth and cosiness of the fireplace and read a book or watch a documentary on tv. But I really wanted to try skiing before completely rejecting it. We'll see what happens...


Other than that, I've been preparing my skin to stand the cold and low humidity levels of extreme low temperatures. For the last three days, I've been using this Korres face mask with yoghurt. Preferably, I would apply it before I went to bed and sleep on it, but as I'm a sloppy sleeper it would end up all over my pillow and my hair... After it is rinsed off, it leaves my skin moisturised and soft with no signs of greasiness, as it is meant for oily and dehydrated skin.

Wish me luck on my ventures ;)
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Eye Shadows

Hello my lovelies!


First of all, let me explain myself: these make-up items were purchased with my own money. Most girls go crazy about Mac -and I can totally sympahise!-, but my current love affair is with The Body Shop make-up. This is not a post to show off my stuff, I'm just sharing my passion having solely self-therapeutic purposes, and if I could actually help some of you that are considering buying the products shown in this blog, well... It would make me so so happy!

Nature's Minerals is the Body Shop's mineral line, and it consists of a foundaion, 2 bronzers, 4 blushes, the eyeshadows and 3 make-up brushes. Below are shown all the eyeshadows -- except of a golden shade that is not available in Greece :( -- under different lighting. P.S.: I tried my best to make the colours and swatches appear as they are in real life!



[From left to right, first row: 01-platinum silver, 02-radiant graphite, 03-golden emerald, 04-pink opal. Second row: 05-bronzed amber, 06-molten brown, 08-vivid amethyst, 09-deep jade]



01-PLATINUM SILVER: a sparkly shimmery silver shade with a blue undertone. For me, it doesn't work as an all-over-lid colour, but as an inner corner highlight is perfect- especially combined with a blue eyeshadow on the lid (Note: the US site is offering this eyeshadow on sale, so it could be discontinued in the future)



02-RADIANT GRAPHITE: I thought that this would be my favourite eyeshadow, a warm shade of taupe with gold shimmer... that, until I applied it on my eyelids- it seemed that the coloured powder and the gold shimmer separated on application! Tried it on top of an eyeshadow base, the same happened. It's such a nice colour, though... (Note: the US site is offering this eyeshadow on sale, so it could be discontinued in the future)



03-GOLDEN EMERALD: a light green shade with gold glitter. Actually, when applied alone, it seems more like a gold shade than a light green. But I don't mind ;)



04-PINK OPAL: a pale pink shade with the least shimmer. It looks ok on my hand, but if I apply it on my lids it makes me look ill... It might work as a blush! (Note: the US site is offering this eyeshadow on sale, so it could be discontinued in the future)



05-BRONZED AMBER: a bronze shade with little shimmer and a red undertone, works wonders with blue or green eyes!



06-MOLTEN BROWN: My absolute favourite!!! The pic doesn't do it justice, it is a very dark brown with gold shimmer. Its undertone... well it is not red, it must be on the green side- which is a good thing for my brown eyes. If you are brown-eyed like me, you might have noticed that it is hard to find a brown eyeshadow that won't work against your iris colour. This is one of the few and it shows best over a dark base, such as black eyeliner all over the lid or Mac's paintpot. I highly suggest it!



08-VIVID AMETHYST: a flat, violet shade with little shimmer. It looked so sparkly on the store, but when I applied it on my lids, it seemed to be almost matte. But I guess it would work fantastic on the crease for a subtle definition.



09-DEEP JADE: my second favourite, it is a very dark forest green with gold shimmer. When worn alone it can look almost as black, so I would suggest applying it over a green base.


What are your thoughts on these eyeshadows? Are you a fan of mineral make-up in general?
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861