Some new entries: skincare, accessories, and a concert ticket ;)

Hola, beautiful people!

Ahhh, I'm in such a bloody good mood these last few days, so much so that the excitement is killing me! Why, you might ask? Well, you'll see what I'm talking about at the end of this post. But before that, here's my most recent haul ;)

Starting with the skincare bits; are you ready for a bold statement?
Here goes:

I think I've finally found my HG skin saviour.

I'm dead serious, the Avene Cleanance K cream made my skin look practically flawless! Expect to see a whole 'nother post dedicated to this bad boy- I'll give you a little teaser info: it's a gentle chemical exfoliating treatment. I love it to bits!

I was also in need of a new everyday face wash with exfoliating micro-granules, so I opted for the Garnier Pure Active Daily Energising face scrub. This stuff has a fantastic fresh/zingy smell that wakes me up every morning! And then there's a couple of essentials from the Body Shop, namely the Vitamin E cream cleanser + Vitamin E eye cream,

both of which are repurchases. Hey, old habits die hard!

This is a Zara necklace which I bought yesterday, and I really need your help:
is it a keeper, or not?

See, I'm currently loving the "chiffon shirt, skinny jeans and a statement necklace" look, and Zara is the only place with eye-catching necklaces that don't cost the world. Yet, I'm not so sure about this purchase... I'm loving the looks of it, but how many times will I get to wear this mofo? What do you guys think?

La Roche Posay HYDRAPHASE Intense eye cream

I don't know about you, but personally, finding a face moisturiser of top quality seems like a much easier task than discovering that perfect eye cream that does it all...

It was due to this never-ending quest for THE ONE eye cream that tops all eye creams that I tried out the Hydraphase Intense Eyes by La Roche-Posay. Well, it also helped that many of you guys recommended it to me ;)

Just to get things clear, I'm using the term "eye cream" for a lack of a better expression; in reality, this product has the consistency of a light transparent gel.

Since I'm too sceptic when it comes to skincare products that feel lightweight, and yet make big claims of intense moisturisation, you can imagine my disbelief when I first
used it: is that not-so-promising gel really enough to keep my under eye area nice and plump?

As it turns out, you gotta have a little faith-
not as in "raise your hands to the Lord and pray it works" kind of way, but to its ingredients.

The La Roche-Posay Hydraphase range is targeted to all skin types that are in need of some extra moisture. For that purpose, all Hydraphase products contain Hyaluronic Acid fragments, the molecules of which are so tiny that can penetrate the skin deeper, all while holding up moisture more than 200 times of their weight!
[For more info, you can read my review on the Hydraphase Intense face serum]

Products I've used up!

Five months of meticulously using the same products have finally paid off:
I've now collected a bag full of empties to share with you!

Along with the Project-10-Pan, I've committed myself to use up most of my beauty products, i.e. all the junk that has taken over my bathroom, closet, and bookshelves...

Here is the first batch of the products I've used up!

The Body Shop Vitamin E face mist*: I've been familiar with this product before and I've already mentioned why I'm not really loving it. To put it shortly, it benefits dry or dehydrated skin- the conditioning Glycerin and Panthenol aid for that matter. However, what I'm looking for in a facial spray is an overall feeling of refreshment, not some extra moisture on top of my sunscreen or makeup. Would I repurchase it? Probably not.

Avene Thermal Spring Water: this, I love. I truly believe it helps my skin to be healthier and less irritated. I've used up yet another 50ml can and I'm planning to buy the big one (that bares a strong resemblance to hair spray!). Would I repurchase it? Hell yeah!

The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing facial exfoliator: umm, allow me to rant over TBS some more... The Seaweed range is targeted to combination/oily skin and it carries some fantastic products- but, dear TBS, why make a face scrub that feels exactly like the Seaweed face wash with a few added grains? And the latter don't even exfoliate the skin! If I want to amplify my own face wash into a scrub, I'll add some baking soda instead. Would I repurchase it? Never- stay clear of it, people!

The Body Shop Aloe Calming facial cleanser: this, on the other hand, is lovely. Rich in Aloe Vera juice, no parabens, no fragrance, it gently cleanses the skin without stripping its moisture. I like it. Would I repurchase it? Definitely, some time in the future.

Collective haul: La Roche-Posay, Mac, Erre Due, etc.

Well well well, it's been four months since my last haul post;
that's quite an achievement!

If you know me, you'll be surprised by how little I've been shopping lately, cosmetics-wise. To be honest, I kinda enjoy it: it feels as if I've tamed my addiction and turned into a "normal" consumer. Seriously, this is EVERYTHING I bought during the last couple of months!

It's a mixture of some essentials, a couple of toiletries-
and a little makeup to sweeten the pot ;)

La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes: to everyone that commented on my eye cream post, thank you for making me come to my senses! I admit I was inclined towards Retinoids and eye roll-ons at first, though after reading your comments I realised that a good-quality moisturising eye cream was the best bet. I chose this one purely because of its ingredients: Caffeine and Hyaluronic Acid fractions? Swell, count me in! Paid: €18,10

Syoss Anti-Grease Dry Shampoo: isn't it a shame there's only three or four dry shampoos available in our stores? Booo... Rather than saving my hair from washing, I bought it in order to infuse some volume at the roots of the hair. By the way, if you happen to know any tips&tricks on the application of dry shampoo, do share! Paid: €4,80

Choosing an eye cream: I need your help!

Time for some serious talk on Lipstick Wardrobe.
No, really.

After what seemed like forever, I finally used up my Elderflower eye gel. So this time, instead of settling for yet another eye cream from the Body Shop, I spent the last couple of days browsing online for a nicer alternative. And whad'ya know, there's so many good ones to choose from!

That's why I need your help:
I've narrowed below a few eye creams that sound promising- and because I value your feedback, I'd love us to have a little chat on what to look for in an eye treatment.

To make things easier, I've divided them in 4 groups:

1. The first ones that came to mind were the usual suspects: Kiehl's Avocado eye treatment, Clinique All About Eyes and Origins GinZing. With the exception of the latter which promises to brighten and depuff eyes, the rest couple of eye creams are pretty humble in their claims, talking only about providing enough moisture for the under-eye area. Which I don't count as a con; in fact, the less the claims, the more likely it is for the product to do what it's supposed to!

Getting my skin sorted at Kiehl's

Time for a cruel assessment of my knowledge on skincare:
...
...
...

Basically, I have none! From now on, I'm considering myself a skincare noob. It only took 10'' for me to realise my utter incopetence on skincare issues and that instead, I should leave it to the experts...

I'm referring to the skin consultation that Kiehl's offers at its clients. Granted, I was invited because of my "beauty blogger" identity and yes, it did make me feel extra special and spoilt, but please note that this is not a bloggers' exclusive thing: anyone can have a skin consultation at Kiehl's- free of charge, no shopping obligations.

So, what is this skin consultation?
It's a quick & easy, 10'' business that calculates your accurate skintype. The Kiehl's sales assistant takes two specific pieces of paper and places one in your forehead (the area where skin gets oily) and the other on the cheeks (which are usually drier than the T-zone). You hold these little cards on your face for 10'' so that they can collect data, so to speak, and then you compare the results with a little diagram that shows the amount of nutrients that are evident in all skintypes: Oily, Normal to Oily, Normal, Normal to Dry, and Dry.

Why is it important to take this test?
I'll speak from my experience: imagine a skin that's dehydrated, flaky and uneven in texture. How would you describe it? Dry? Normal to Dry, I hear you say? Yep, that's what I thought too... However, as the consultation test proved, my skin falls under the Normal category. *making a (mental) happy-dance 'cause Kiehl's tells me I have the best skin possible!!!* That means: no more heavy moisturisers that can clog up my pores, yes to mild exfoliators to heal the flaky areas on my cheeks.

See?
Had I not taken this test, I would have carried on loading my skin with oily treatments and skipping exfoliators altogether- because you know, dry skin doesn't do well with exfoliators... Or, so I thought!

After my skintype profile, I was presented with the Kiehl's products that my skin currently needs to look its best; the highlights being the Overnight Biological Peel, which looks like a transparent mask that you're supposed to sleep on and then wake up with glowing skin, and the intriguing Midnight Recover Concentrate that is all ages/ skintypes appropriate that also works over-night to repair skin from within.

And of course, I got to test the uber popular among beauty blogs, the Kiehl's Avocado Eye Treatment- all I can say is, now I see why this eye cream is being raved about over and over again! Think of a luxuriously rich, but easily absorbed formula that helps to brighten the area under the eyes due to the green tint... This one, I have to make it mine!

Most of all, this experience made me realise the significance of knowing your skin and treating it with the proper skincare rut it needs. It's such a simple, almost cliche statement, but of the utmost importance!

I was also given a goodie bag at the end of my appointment with a few Kiehl's samples to try out- and I did a little shopping myself! So, expect to see more of the brand in my following posts ;)

If you do get a skin consultation at Kiehl's, which in fact I urge you to do, let me know about your experience as well!

Evi   xx

September 2011 favourites

Time for a monthly favourites post!

In all honesty, I didn't wear that much makeup in September, as this transitional period is far from makeup-friendly: golden shimmer and bronzers look so "off", and then the weather is not that wintery yet to wear intense smokey eyes or red lipsticks with ease!
Hence these safe colours...

Elf Natural Radiance blusher in Shy: this product caused me a makeup enlightenment- baby pink blush+olive skin= perfect combo!

Nothing more to add, you can see my review here

Elf Mineral lipstick in Runway Pink: this was my most reached lipstick during September, always accompanied with Shy blusher! Cause you know when sometimes you wear a pink cheek with a pink lip but somehow their undertones don't match? Well, these two products were meant to be worn together!

TBS Shimmer Cubes #20: my new favourite eyeshadow palette! The Body Shop has introduced 4 new shimmer cubes to their permanent makeup line, weeeee!!! I've been using all 4 shades to create a soft smokey eye and I even got compliments from a male friend who's against the philosophy of makeup :P

H&M nail colour: I'm so cheap when it comes to nail polishes; and since I really don't care and go out in public with chipped nails, I don't see any reason to invest in a big bottle of Chanel nail colour- knowing that I would never use it up... This one by H&M is just perfect- 7 ml of burgundy red for that autumn feel, only for 0.95 euros :)

TBS elderflower gel: it's a cooling gel that only offers basic moisture to the under eye area; however it gets absorbed in no time leaving no traces behind to interfere with concealer! Yeah, I've been there- courtesy of a Korres eye cream :(

On another note:

During past month I fancied some light read to get my mind off the stressful everyday things, so I bought an Agatha Christie novel. What a terribly cunning woman she must have been! Her writing style is always to-the-point, with no elaborate (but superfluous) depictions of landscapes or buildings.

FIY, the plot in all Agatha Christie novels is standard and goes like this: a dead body is found by an unfamiliar person, in a completely irrelevant place with zero or very few witnesses... And when you've read half of the book and you've formed a faint idea of who's the murderer, there's another killing to mess things up. So predictable but still, it manages to get you hooked till the end...

Oh! and another thing: whenever did my little blog gained 200 followers?
*blushes*

I can't express how grateful I am for you, my lovely readers, in that you spare a little of your time to read my everyday ramblings-
so as a "thank you", I'm planning to do a couple of small giveaways!
:* :* :*

What were your most used products during September?

CBSG5861

1/9/2011 haul; and I found a new hobby!

It was a hot and humid day, today.
And what better way to keep my spirits high than beauty hauling!

Seriously now, I don't need any excuses to shop on beauty products...
Just thought that ANY introduction than the meaningless "hey, look what I got" is always nicer!
No? Didn't work? Eh well, I'm still working on my English writing skills :P

Garnier 7-days body lotion with Aloe Vera: I'm so glad Garnier improved their bodycare line and came up with this! Anything with aloe vera "hits a nerve" on me, so naturally I was sold the minute I saw it on the shelves...

TBS Elderflower eye gel: back in my teens, I would dream of becoming older so as to be eligible to use this particular product! That's right, the Body Shop got me hooked in their skincare so early in age... I've read mixed reviews about it though :/

Apivita Bee Princess bio-eco lip care: tres, tres cute! I finally spotted it on my closest Hondos Center, as it was sold out in all pharmacies near my place. Specially packaged for little princesses, like myself! lol

Korres Mandarin lip butter in Pink: a repurchase! Mentioned it before and I'll say it once again: I simply adore the new revamped packaging of the Korres lip butters in the stick form. I'd also love to see a similar pattern on Jasmine lip butter...

TBS Seaweed face scrub: hmmm... Not that it's crap, but it seems that it has the same liquid base as the regular Seaweed cleanser with the sole addition of Jojoba stones... Not very thoughtful, if you ask me!

Apivita face mask sachets with Prickly Pear: what can I say, I'm hooked to Apivita's express masks! No further explanations here...

And to justify the latter half of this post's title:

Ta-daaa!!!

It's a pocket-size sketchers' box filled with 12 water colours.
Yep, I'm gonna start playin' all smart and sophisticated, strolling around the city and capturing the moment with my charming drawings...
*pukes from excessive cheesiness*

Ok, it's not as exciting as bungee-jumping but suits me fine!
I'm the extreme opposite of a thrill-seeker at heart ;)

What are your hobbies, old and new ones?
I'd love to know!

CBSG5861

Current Skincare

Hi lovelies,

During past month I've switched my skincare routine because I can't stop feeling some kind of bitterness towards some products I previously used-

I'm looking at you, Korres Materia Herba moisturizer:
you've been a great match but I don't fell like scooping out 35 euros just for your sake >:(

So these are the products I'm currently testing out:

Korres 3 in 1 Cleansing Water: love this, wrote about it in my previous post.
The Body Shop Nutriganics face wash & toner: hmm, both average- not harsh but they seem to do nothing on my skin. Won't repurchase those...
Apivita Aloe mask: what can I say, I'm amazed by Apivita's little sachets- I've yet to find one that doesn't live up to my standards!
Apivita Aqua Vita eye cream: a nice moisturiser for under the eyes, although I'll definitely buy a different product once I'm through with this one.
The Body Shop Tea Tree oil & blemish gel: I'll probably write another post about these two treatments when I've tested them long enough to see if they work... or not.
The Body Shop Aloe day cream: I like this moisturiser a lot, much like the whole Aloe range by the Body Shop- all products are high in aloe juice (it always comes first in the ingredients list) and they contain the least amount of preservatives (so they have a shorter shelf life). Mild formulas, excellent for my combination and sensitive skin. Thumbs up for aloe! 
Apivita face scrub with Lavender and Olive: another favourite, this is probably one of the best face scrubs I've tried so far! It contains crushed olive stones, salicylic acid and menthol- hence the cooling effect when you wash it off ;)

So, any of you tried these products? What's your skincare routine?

P.S.: Today was a marvellous day which called for celebration: we had snowflakes in Athens, yay!!! During past week, the weather was awfully hot for December standards; so at last, winter is officially here and I'm over the moon about it! If you read my blog long enough, you'll probably know I'm more into chilly days than the hot and humid summer season. Too bad there was no wine and biscuits in the cupboard for a proper little fiest :(

CBSG5861

Two eye masks and one eye cream by Apivita

Hello my lovelies!

Just recently, after removing my makeup, I discovered a few fine lines around my eyes. Big deal, you might think. Well, as a solid sign of growing older, it was terrifying...

So I decided to pay a little more attention looking after the under eye area, while trying out some different product formulas available in the market.

Having used two eye creams from Korres and not being satisfied, I headed to the Apivita counter.

First off, I purchased two eye masks; and this was because I couldn't decide which one to get! You see, they are a lot different.

The first one is the anti-fatigue eye patches with rose extract.

Usage: You peel them off from the transparent paper, place it under the eyes, relax for 15 minutes and take them off.

Did I see any improvements on dark circles/puffiness/fine lines? No, for sure.

The second sachet is an anti-ageing eye mask with grape.

Usage: you take a small amount and spread it under your eyes right before you go to bed, sleep with it, and rinse it off in the morning.

Again: results? None! Plus I woke up every day to see a ghostly me in the mirror...

So then I bought the Aqua Vita eye cream, same brand. And finally, I'm satisfied!

It has 95% natural origin; it's a pleasure to use; feels moisturising but not greasy at all; makes my concealer spread like a dream on top of it; my fine lines seem to deminish because of the moisturising texture of this cream... I love it!

So, concluding this post:

If you're looking for an "instant fix" for dark circles/puffiness/fine lines around the eyes, you probably won't find a miracle cure. Instead, invest in a good eye cream- in the long term, the skin around the eyes will feel much more comfortable and look "rested"... And this is priceless!

Speaking of which, this Apivita eye cream cost me around 20 euros.

Anyways, please let me know if you've tried anything of the brand- or share your favourite eye cream ;)

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