Probably the best cosmetic sharpener, ever!

Hello my lovelies!

Yes, this post is about cosmetic sharpeners. Not the most thrilling subject you'll ever find on beauty blogging community but still, I find it as important as quality make-up brushes.

I won't go through details explaining why you need a cosmetic sharpener of good quality in your make-up bag; instead, I'll present to you my latest (and probably last!) find in the quest of acquiring the best sharpener on the market (yeah, sometimes I fancy some drama-talk like that XD )

Meet the Kum double sharpener!

Kum is a German brand that produces office supplies and is specialising in sharpeners- apart from the cosmetic ones, Kum carries a sharpener for every single pencil/crayon out there, all in so many fancy styles, as well as sharpeners for the left-handed.

I'm positive that the Kum cosmetic sharpeners are probably the best you can find in the cosmetic industry, for a reasonable price; to give you an idea of how much the company is well respected, Kum has been supplying with their sharpeners brands ranging from the Body Shop and Bourjois to Estee Lauder and Benefit (if I'm correct). But why pay those extra cents credited to those luxury brand tags, when you can have the exact product for a lot less?

It also comes with a protecting plastic cap. Extremely handy when travelling!

Here's what was written on the packaging of the sharpener:

This is the finest quality cosmetic pencil sharpener available today. Designed to suit all brands and sizes of eye, lip and facial pencils.

• First blade enures a precise clean cut.
• The second blade shapes even the softest tip to a fine rounded finish.

If you got puzzled with the aforementioned "second blade", here's the little drawing that explains Kum's Double Blade System:

Damn you, sticky-and-hard-to-remove stickers...

 

I got mine at the greek Hondos Center dep. store for about 3,50 euros. It comes in black, white and transparent pink, along with the plastic cap.

So for me, this product gets 10/10. It's been so long since I was that excited over a cosmetic product!!!

My advice: if you ever come across a Kum sharpener, snatch it with no second thoughts ;)

P.S.: The other night I stayed up until 4 a.m. watching a french documentary on Mark Jacobs. Now, I'm not a huge fashion enthusiast and most of the times, I keep a sceptical approach on fashion designers- but this documentary made me love the man! He was so down to earth, always nice with his staff, a perfectionist in his work, an avid art collector... But what struck me the most is that he would find a way to make a point and ridicule all the irrational craziness and exclusivity of fashion. At least that's how I perceived it ;)

CBSG5861

The Body Shop bronzers

Hello my lovelies!

Long time, no see :(

I've been meaning to make a post on the Body Shop's matte bronzers for quite some time but I've been postponing it; see, the products don't photograph very well and to see a matte bronzing powder is not that exciting...

However, I think they deserve a mention- so here's my review ;)

The Body Shop's compact powder comes in 4 different shades: #1 and #2 are the mattes, while #3 and #4 contain shimmer. This post is focusing on the matte bronzers- I don't own the shimmery versions... yet!

Shade #1 pictured on the left, #2 on the right

As you can see, the shade #1 looks like the colour the milk gets after you mix some chocolate powder in it, if it makes any sense... I can't describe it better! No orange hues whatsoever, it's suitable to light and medium skintones. Works as an all-over bronzer, as well as a contour colour. It also photographs nicely :)

On the other hand, shade #2 is more darker and looks suitable to darker skintones; think of a warm medium brown with almost red undertones. I must add that it can't be used for contouring, as the flash somehow picks all the orange hues in it- not pretty! See for yourself:

Shade #1 on the left, #2 on the right. No flash

Shade #1 on the left, #2 on the right. With flash

I can't imagine this dirt under my cheekbones... Either that, or I'm not using it correctly?

Anyways, shade #2 is currently unavailable or discontinued (if I'm correct), so you're probably not missing much- but #1 is absolutely fantastic! I use it every single day with my Art Deco brush for a softer contoured look.

FIY, the Body Shop makes a variety of different bronzing powders; other than the you can choose between a baked domed marbelized compact...

...a brush with built-in bronzing powder...

...the best-selling Shimmer Waves (which I've reviewed here)...

...a loose mineral powder...

...a deodorant-like bronzing stick for the body...

...and the popular Bronzing Beads, which I own and loooove!

My next purchase is going to be the rest two brozing compacts with the shimmer... And the two baked marbelized powders, they look so pretty!

I guess I can never have enough bronzers... Can you?

P.S.: The reason behind my lack of posts is, well... an online multi-player game called Farmerama. I'm so hooked I cannot believe it! For the past week, 100% of the time I spend in front of my computer screen is dedicated in watching my plants grow, selling my crops at the open market, building stables, etc. It's so crazy but I don't seem to get bored of it... By the way, if you're playing Farmerama too, feel free to add me as your neighbour- my nickname is no other than cbsg5861.

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Another Art Deco haul

Hello my lovelies!

Don't mind the quirky picture introduction; I was browsing a fancy book about Beauty and well, this is beautiful to me ;)

You like?

Last week I popped into Hondos Center (legendary cosmetics shop! you gotta love it) for a quick shopping "fix".

The Art Deco counter caught my eye -again!- and I ended up with one lipstick and a liquid eyeliner.

 The lipstick: it's the Longlasting Lip Stylo in shade #46, which the website describes as a "nude rose cream". The way I see it, it's more like a shade close to the lips' natural colour, probably around the same family as Mac's Viva Glam V that everyone seems to rave about. I used it a couple of times and I can already admit that I don't feel comfortable when wearing it! I'll try layering it with a pinky lipgloss. Hopefully it works.

 

The liquid eyeliner: it's the Liquid Star Eyeliner in black. The reason I chose this one over the Bourjois liner is because it resembles a lot to Mac's Superslick Liquid Eye Liner that was launched with Fabulous Felines.

Everything about the two (except the typewriting) looks identical: the packaging, the same ml contents, the water resistant formula, the jet black shade, the shape of the sponge tip applicator... If anyone owns Mac's version, please let me know where it's made- the Art Deco one is made in Germany. I'll die of curiosity, whether the two are made in the same factory!

Have you bought anything from Art Deco recently? Share it below ;)

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Afraid of green nail polish? Go with shimmer ;)

Hello my lovelies!

This post is about my favourite nail colour of the moment ;)

See, I was on the look-out for a dark green nail polish but I wasn't sure if that colour would suit my skintone, so I chose a shimmering version of it.

I'm talking about the gorgeous green nail polish from Erre Due's Fall Winter collection 2010-2011 (#246).

It has a forest green base with lots of gold shimmer!

I find it so pretty that I can't stop admiring my nails, lol!

Has it ever happened to you, looking at your nails with awe?

2 coats were enough for a decent coverage, maybe a 3rd coat would darken up the colour? I still love it as it is!

with flash

 

no flash

I took the above pictures right after I painted my nails last night; the green base looked dark and vampy, which made a beautiful contrast with the gold shimmer shining through where the flash of the camera hit my nails.

Although when I woke up today, the colour seemed much different- a less shiny lighter green, probably because of the different light reflection during daytime.

So, this is my advice: if you want to follow the latest trends in nail colours but are not sure if they look good on you, opt for the shimmering version- it's more likely to look pretty on you. That simple!

Have you bought any other nail polishes from Erre Due's collection? I've spotted a creamy petrol shade, a metallic dark blue and a shimmering brown, let's see which ones I'm going to pick for Christmas ;)

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Lanvin for H&M lipsticks? Count me in!!!

Hello my lovelies!

Quick post today, as I couldn't wait to let you all know (well, at least those of you who haven't heard it already) that the Lanvin collection for H&M includes four shades of lipstick in the cutest packaging ever!!!

It's the first time an H&M designer collection incorporates an (admittedly short) line of make-up products, as it's also the first time Lanvin puts his brand name on cosmetics.



Aren't they irresistible or what?
The shades are "Parisian-inspired" and their names are (from left to right) Red, Old Rose, Hot Pink and Bordeaux.

I'm tempted you guys, big time!!!

On the other hand, I'm also making a mental picture of all the long waiting hours in front of the store at their opening on 20th of November, the hungry-for-Lanvin girls pushing each other to get everything from their well-planned shopping lists, the boring queues at the counters...

And I'm thinking: is it really worth it?

I'd love to read your opinions on this:
Would you snatch a couple of lipsticks, considering all the discomfort you're about to experience, or you're not interested at all?

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

CBSG5861 tips for voluminous hair

Hello my lovelies!

This post is about what I personally do to get the most volume for my hair without damaging it.

Now, some of you may be familiar with the following tips, while others may even disagree with my routine- nevertheless, I'm putting it out there for your consideration, obviously we don't have the same hair and what works for me might not work for you, etc etc... Anyway, off we go:

1. Light formula shampoo: Ok, this is no big news- a shampoo for fine hair doesn't necessarily mean that you'll rinse it off and immediately get big "hair", but rather that it doesn't contain moisturising agents that tend to weigh it down. I always opt for gel formulas and stay away from creamy shampoos! Currently I'm using the Syoss Volume Lift shampoo, I like it a lot ;)



2. No conditioner: yep, not a single drop of it! I've tried lots of conditioners that claim to detangle the hair without weighing it down, and none worked- so I'm skipping it. You might wonder how I comb my hair? Well... read the next tip, please ;)

3. No combing! Except the bangles and the front bits of my hair, I leave the rest uncombed. I feel that the motion of the hairbrush actually straightens the hair, thus aiding in their loss of volume. Please note that I follow this tip only when I'm not straightening/curling my hair with a flat iron, that job requires perfectly detangled hair!

4. No blow-drying: It thins down the diameter of the hair strand. Period. During summer, I stay away from my blowdryer; now that it's winter, I roll my hair in 2-3 towels so that they absorb most of the , and then I blow-dry my hair only for 1 minute, tops!

5. Highest hold hairspray: I don't know why, but all sales assistants were giving me medium hold hairsprays "because you have thin hair". Gee, thanks a lot! My hair needs strong products that can hold some volume, heloooo! I'm currently using a Palette hairspray (ozone layer-friendly, too) in the strongest hold available.

6. Teasing: again, this isn't a new thing but I thought I mentioned it. I still haven't mastered the teasing technique, so if you have any tips please share them below ;)

7. No cream styling products: that includes waxes, styling pastes, taming creams... Again, I'm repeating myself but they weigh the hair down.

I'd love to read your tips for voluminous hair! Post away ;)
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

October favourites!

Hello my lovelies!

How was your October?
Me, I got sick and was stuck indoors for almost a week :(

Anyways, this is my October favourites post- hope you enjoy!

Korres Body Butter in Quince: As I've posted a month ago, my skin was so horribly dry; funnily enough, the Korres body milk actually worsened the situation... I was ready to give up on Korres until I decided to give the brand another try with this body butter, and I'm so happy I did! This stuff is magic: all flakiness is gone and my skin is back to normal again. Oh, and the fruity smell lingers on the skin for a long time, too ;)

Atrix hand cream: a staple since my childhood; there's always a tin with Atrix hand cream around the house. It's probably one of the best affordable hand creams on the market!

The Body Shop Bronzing Powder in shade #1: I wish I could describe its colour... Think of a light milk chocolate colour- no orange hues whatsoever, and it's matte! It's so hard finding a matte bronzer in the high street, don't you think? I apply it on the hollows of my cheeks with the...

Art Deco Duo fibre brush: Up until now, I only used this brush for foundation. After seeing Pixi2woo's videos where she applied bronzer with the Mac 187 brush for a softer effect, I did the same with this Art Deco brush and now I'm a convert!

Spare blush brushes: Have a crappy brush that comes with the blush compact? Don't throw it away!You can use it do dust off the eyeshadow fallout, as such a job requires a stiff brush.

Apivita face mask with orange: I got this sachet after a recommendation from a lovely reader of my blog- it contains some orange beads that dissolve when you rub the mask on your face... It's so fun to use! Very refreshing, and smells of orange. Perfect for me ;)

Mac lipstick in Hue: Oh, how I love this lipstick... I've worn it continuously during day&night! In my opinion, this should be Mac's all-time best seller lipstick, on top of Creme d' Nude and Angel.

Old-Biotherm-jumbo-lip-pen-in-a-raspberry-colour: I've come to realise that blue-toned lipsticks are friendly to olive/mediterranean skin, so I started to use up the old ones from my collection.

The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes: I simply adore this palette, not only because it contains one of my favourite eyeshadows (the taupe shade at the bottom right) but because it's so easy to travel with! It's quite pricey but you're getting 4x4 gr of baked product. I won't ever run out of it, ever!

Bourjois concealer/ highlighter pen: I used this product as an under eye concealer, but during October I tried it as a highlighter on any dark areas on my face or to highlight my cheekbones. The difference is noticeable but this product is undetectable!

What are your October favourites? Share them below ;)

Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861