Brand rave: Avène

Hello my lovelies!!! How you've all been?
After a short hiatus, I'm back with a pretty lengthy post ;)

These Avene products have been sitting on my bathroom shelf for a couple of months; however, I kept prostoping to write a post about them, as I wanted my initial excitement to die down and feel 100% confident that I'll share with you my true and honest thoughts about them.

So here it is, after three days of scribbling and re-writing;
a chit-chat on Avene, pharmaceutical companies and their products.

Up until now, my experience with Avene was minimal, if not non-existent. I've only tried a couple of products on a whim, and regardless of my satisfaction, I never really cared to give in to the brand as my trust in The Body Shop, Korres and Apivita stood strong. Same story with the rest of the so-called "pharmaceutical" skincare brands: in my eyes, they were boring, lacking in natural ingredients and odd-smelling, which was enough to put me off and stay clear of such products.

Well, after using all these samples, I have reevaluated my views on skincare brands.
But first, here are the separate mini reviews:

Avene Eau Thermale: when it comes to thermal water sprays, I'm not the one to share the rather demeaning "water in a can" claims, but I guess it's something that is up to personal preference. I've had an on-and-off relationship with thermal sprays in the past, including this one; now that I was reminded again of their beneficial properties on the skin, I'm commited to use them as a permanent fixture in my skincare routine.

Now, I know for a fact that Avene was the first at promoting thermal water for healing and soothing sensitive skin, with the rest of companies following Avene's footsteps purely for profit/competitive reasons. However, I still want to try out the Vichy and La Roche-Posay thermal water sprays, just in case there's any detectable differences between them. We shall see!

Avene Micellar lotion: so far, the only experience I've had with micellar lotions has been with the one by Korres. Same as the latter, the Avene Micellar lotion did an amazing job at taking away all face and eye makeup, but it fell short at leaving my lashes 100% clean from mascara- which is no biggie, I wouldn't trade my Avene eye makeup remover for the world. Micellar lotions are fantastic at removing makeup without causing irritation or redness to sensitive skin. Their only flaw? You tend to go through them faster than regular makeup removers :(

Avene Cleanance gel: this cleanser is targeted to oily/blemish-prone skin, and despite my skintype falling under this category, it currently goes through a dehydrated phase that makes choosing skincare products a lot more complicating... That's why I was so happy (and relieved!) that this cleanser didn't strip moisture from my skin, which probably has to do with the fact it's SLS-free. It also left my face smooth to the touch, which made me reconsider my false notion that "only cleansers containing exfoliating beads result into smooth skin". Conclusion: I'm most definitely going to purchase the full size of this one!

Avene Soothing hydrating serum: this little gem is by far the most amazing product of the bunch! No other skincare product I've used before has made me want to touch my face non-stop after applying it, so that says a lot. The label should have read something like "miracle smoothing potion" in the front, because that's exactly what it does! Most importantly, it didn't aggravate my acne- which happens 9 times out of 10 I try out a new skincare product.

Of course, it hydrates the skin and can be worn on its own during hot summer days, but I think it performs its best under makeup as a lightweight primer that hydrates and smooths the skin before applying foundation. Big thumbs up for this serum!

Avene Reflexe Solaire SPF50+: this face sunscreen was launched this summer as an all-round sunblock that offers high protection from both UVB and UVA rays. Because of the packaging's shape, it can be easily slipped inside your handbag, beach bag or in the back pocket of your trousers, if you wish. In terms of texture, it's not fluid like the Clarins sunscreen that I love, however it spreads nicely on the skin without leaving white marks on the face.

_ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _

Overall, this experience with Avene has taught me a couple of things, which you may already know by now; to me, it was a case of "seeing is believing".

First of all, I realised I've been missing out on some amazing products from pharmaceutical brands, purely because of my fixation to lotions and potions with a more "natural" approach- you know the ones I'm talking about... If I can get skincare products from the pharmacy that are affordable and do a better job than their "natural" counterparts, well, I've been a fool to pretend they don't even exist. And they're actually all smelling nice!

Also, the consistent quality that runs through each Avene product I've tried, in relation to their small-ish but consistent range of products, can only be described as quality over quantity. Up until now, I had lower expectations with all the new skincare products I've tried, and took for granted that they wouldn't perform as stellar as the label reads. But that's not a way to build a trusty skincare routine for that flawless skin; if a product claims it does wonders, it better do so! Am I right?

So, from now on, expect to see more pharmaceutical brands featured in this blog. I'm determined to expand my knowledge in Avene and the likes, and already preparing my first wishlist!

Phew, that's it! I hope you made it this far, kudos to you mighty reader!
What's your experience with Avene? Do share ;)

* The Avene samples were given to me for free. I'm only featuring them on this blog because they're worth it. Sharing my honest opinions, as always; my loyalty is to my lovely readers.

Evi   xx

Avène Gentle Eye Makeup Remover: a possible HG

A review on an eye makeup remover is not as exciting as a makeup product, isn't it? But there's a good reason I'm making this post:

If you haven't found "the One" eye makeup remover that sums it all -gentle on the eyes, effective cleansing, removing all mascara traces-, then you might find your match on gel-based formulas such as this one by Avène.

"Ummm, gel-based??? I don't know any gel-based formulas!", I hear you might say.
Well, lemme tell you a bit more about my history with eye makeup removers:

Water-based removers don't cut it for me; they may be gentle on the eyes and lashes, but I find they don't remove mascara properly. I've also tried many of those oily bi-phase removers that claim to do a better job at removing eye makeup and I liked them... until I've found out (the hard way) that oily makeup removers cause milia around my eyes.
[So if you do suffer from milia, please check if it's your eye makeup remover that causes them!]

That's where gel-based eye makeup removers fall into the story! They are oil-free and gentle on the eyes, though their beauty lies elsewhere: the gel texture allows the product to sit on the lashes so as to emulsify/break down the mascara. The result? 100% clean lashes with a single swipe of a cotton pad!

Onto this eye makeup remover by Avène:

Since gel-based removers are so uncommon among beauty brands, this one is the easiest to get holf of and one of the most affordable options, priced at around €10. Now, here's a good proof that Avène takes sensitive eyes seriously: I have accidentally poked my eye with cotton balls infused with this stuff numerous times, and I didn't feel a thing! No itching, no stinging, nothing- nada! It also removes eyeshadows and mascara with ease, however, somehow it doesn't perform that great when it comes to eye pencils- no idea why!

To conclude: this Avène eye makeup remover is a keeper; that is, until I find another product that is equally as gentle on my eyes but does a better job at removing all traces of eye pencils.

If you're not yet satisfied with any eye makeup remover you've tried so far, I urge you to give gel-based products a try! Other than Avène, some other brands that make such removers are: Bliss, Decleor, Dermalogica, L'Occitane, Lierac, Makeup For Ever, Mario Badescu and Mavala.

So, have you settled into a HG eye makeup remover?
Do tell!

Evi   xx

A Winter haul

No need to justify myself for the following purchases-
but if someone asks, they were mere necessities!

Mac Russian Red lipstick: there would be no Christmas for me this year without a nice red lipstick in my collection! What more can I say, I'm sure you're already accustomed with this shade from Youtube and beauty blogs... This is going to be my lipstick for new Year's Eve!

Tweezers by Elegant Touch: clearly an upgrade from my previous tweezers- which I've lost somewhere!!! Can't believe my forgetfulness,
I never lose things! *insert grumpy face*


TBS Shimmer Cubes palette #21: ever since my friend Tina suggested this palette looked similar to Chanel Regard Perle eyeshadow palette, I had to have it. Now I don't have the Chanel quad to compare it with, but I'm quite happy with my purchase. The top right champagne shade has a pink duochrome in it, so pretty!

Skincare wise, my purchases were equally as planned:

Avene gentle eye makeup remover: I'm a believer in gel eye makeup removers, as they can coat the lashes and dissolve all traces of mascara; and after my trusty Yves Rocher gel eye makeup remover got sadly discontinued (sob sob!), I had to look around and find a replacement. We'll see how this one performs...

TBS Aloe calming facial cleanser: I know I'm repeating myself, but I have to point out once again that the Aloe range from the Body Shop is so underestimated. The formulas are very gentle so they won't aggravate your skin, plus they contain the least amount of preservatives so they have a shorter shelf life. Let alone that they are rich in aloe vera gel, as it always comes first or second in the products' ingredients list ;)

Vaseline petroleum jelly: isn't it so glamorous, to browse the Hondos Center isles trying to locate that tube of petroleum jelly- I even had some strange looks by some shop assistants :/ But I had to get it, my skin wasn't getting any better since my overexfoliating experience and I was in need of a good heavy-duty barrier.

Anything you bought recently? Do share!
xx

CBSG5861

Mac Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

When it comes to eye makeup cleansers, I'm the last person to appreciate the virtues of oil based bi-phase liquids; they claim to take off all traces of eye makeup fast and easy, but you can't avoid the oily residue afterwards. So naturally, I was expecting to loathe this product.

As a matter of fact, I wasn't impressed when I first used it, as it didn't do much at leaving my lashes mascara-free. Well, it turns out that it wasn't the cleanser the one to blame but the mascara itself- the formula was almost waterproof and as such, it was a pain in the **s to properly remove it! Now that I've switched mascaras, I can write up my honest thoughts on this Mac cleanser:

I love this product. Since it's oil based, it takes off all eyeshadow traces with a single swipe! Regular mascara, no problem- easily removed with a few strokes. Excellent performance, I'll tell you that...

You may now add that hey, all bi-phase removers work exactly the same, both drugstore and high-end ones! But let me explain what it is that most cheap eye makeup cleansers fall short of:

When you shake the Mac eye makeup remover, water and oil mix to produce a semi-white liquid. The X factor lies on the fact that it actually takes some time for the two formulas to separate, and that I think is what sets apart a drugstore and a pricier eye makeup cleanser. Cause if oil and water separate within two seconds, you end up with traces of water here and some oil there on your cotton pad... Oh no, the liquid has to be unified until it reaches the cotton pad!

To conclude, would I repurchase this product?
Very likely so, although I'm more keen on my trusty Yves Rocher cleanser that takes everything off without leaving an oily film.

So, what's your favourite eye makeup remover?
What are your experiences with oil-based products?

CBSG5861

Yet another Mac haul ;)

Hiya everyone!
How's my greek girls doing in this summer-heat political craziness?

Anyhoo, last week I popped into Mac to get me a couple of essentials:

Gently Off Eye&Lip Makeup Remover: this is going to be my last dive into bi-phase eye makeup removers, just in case I have misjudged them and they actually suit my habits.
That, and the fact that it's eligible for back-2-Mac! he he he

Paintpot in Painterly: nope, I couldn't stand any longer my Prep+Prime Eye and was bored of using cream eyeshadows as a base, so here it is!!!
My precious... I've read some recent comments that the UDPP is far superior than this one- I have some reservations about this statement but, we shall see how Painterly performs!

Have you tried these products before?
If so, let me know your experiences!

Hint-Hint: the shimmering dry oil from the Body Shop's summer collection is selling like hot cakes! A new batch arrived in greek stores just a couple of days ago- so if you're interested in this product, hurry up to your nearest Body Shop asap!

CBSG5861

Mac Pro eye makeup remover review

I'll be blunt on this review:

This products is great.

Eyeshadows? All gone with a swipe!
Mascara? After you've soaked a cotton pad with this solution and let it sit on your lashes for a while, 90% of all mascara is gone- which is a pretty good job for an oil-free eye makeup remover!

I also love that it doesn't contain glycerine-
instead, it lists Cucumis Sativus (cucumber extract) in its short ingredients lists, much like Fix+.
Full ingredients: water, Peg-32, butylene glycol, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, Peg-6, Cucumis Sativus, trisodium edta, phenoxyethanol

The hole in the bottle's opening ensures that the product comes out in droplets.
No oily residue, as well ;)

In fact, the Mac Pro eye makeup remover belongs among the best
water-based eye makeup removers in the market, IMO.

But, here's the problem:

As I'm very diligent at removing my eye makeup, I ended up using a lot of product each time- thus I went through the whole bottle in a month!
It costs 19E for 100 ml of product (14,50E with the 25% sale, he he),
which I find a lot to spend on an eye makeup remover.

To conclude, I'd buy this product again and again every month,
if I could afford it;
currently, I'd much rather spend my money on a nice lipstick!

                Impassioned, you'll be mine this summer!!!

So now I might go back to my trusty Yves Rocher gel cleanser, as I find the gel formulas to be the most efficient in getting rid of ALL mascara traces...

Still, I'm curious to try out the Mac dual-phased remover in the red bottle-
heck, at least it's eligible for back-to-Mac!

What is your favoutite eye makeup remover?
Do share!

CBSG5861

Spring haul

Over the past few days I did some spring-appropriate make-up shopping!
Here's what I got:

Mac pro eye makeup remover: I opted for this water-based solution, since my previous dual-phase remover by Bourjois made my eyelashes fall in triplets! AND it caused me some nasty milia spots...

TBS Moisture Foundation SPF 15: I couldn't tolerate any longer my oil-free foundation by TBS, so it was a good chance to try out a different formula. This one promises light to medium coverage with a dewy finish. We shall se how it performs on my combination skin ;)

Radiant lip pencil in 06-Salmon: I'm in LOVE with this shade! A bright lemonade pink, that's how I would describe it- not exactly coral, not thoroughly pink... Am I making any sense here? I pair it with Elf's Hypershine gloss on top and it instantly brighens up my complexion! Oh, and it glides beautifully on the lips. I highly recommend it!

TBS Metallic eye definer in Glowing Amethyst: I was partly dissapointed in this eye pencil; the colour is gorgeous but sadly it doesn't show up on the waterline, if worn alone. However, I can make it work on top of a black kohl pencil.

TBS Baked eye colour in Jade: these two shades are a combination of green with blue hues and let me tell you, if you're brown eyed like me, these colours are bound to make your eyes pop! I can see myself using it a lot during summer...

Have you done any spring make-up shopping recently?

Oh and by the way, does anyone know whether Mac skincare items are eligible for the Back-2-Mac programme?

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

New! Korres 3 in 1 Cleansing Water and some guests

If you're anxious about who's the guests, scroll down the bottom of this post and you'll be amazed!

I hope ;)

 

If you've read my previous post, then you already know that I've been loving this product during last month.

 

It's the new little sister of the best-selling White Tea fluid gel, it falls under the "cleanser" category and it claims to take away all grime, face make-up (including the eyes!), while toning the skin in one step.

Let's break it down:

Packaging: the standard semi-transparent Korres bottle, feels so soft to the touch! The typewriting has changed, though- the big letters describing the product in English, French and Greek serve as an adornment, too. The lid has also changed- much better than the regular screw-on cap. The bottle is packaged in the typical cardboard box that I fancy a lot. Good job, Korres team!

The product: it's a liquid with the same fluidity as water, so it's probably low in glycerine. Contains organic white tea extract and hamamelis. Free of soap, alcohol and a bunch of other synthetic ingredients, as you can see below:

Scent: same as the White Tea fluid gel, I dare say it's a fresh masculine scent. No problems with that- I'm all for it!

Effectiveness: Korres says that "...the use of natural cleansing agents ensures excellent compatibility with the eyes and skin", and I have to agree! I don't know what's in it that makes it perform so well, but it does! My face make-up and eyeshadows, all gone with a single swipe of a cotton pad. As for mascara, it took a small effort to be completely removed, but to Korres defence I've yet to find a liquid eye make-up remover that easily takes away all mascara traces.

Any negatives? Well, it goes through very fast- considering how frequently I use it, it's going to last me for 3 months tops.

Would I repurchase it? Probably yes! It's a pleasure to use, takes shorter time to cleanse my face than using 3 different products (milk cleanser, eye make-up remover, toner) and it smells fantastic! Let alone the fact that it's perfect for travel, when I'm in need of multi-tasking products.

Oh, and it cost me around 10-11 euros ;)

Now it's time for the post's guests... Are you ready?

It's about Korres' second take on fragrances!

Once again, spices, fruits, flowers and aromatic woods come together in unique scents that capture the Korres identity.

Sadly, the old Rosewood scent is discontinued (sniff!) but the two best-sellers with Saffron/Cardamon and Pepper/Jasmine are still on the market, albeit in a 50ml bottle.

The 6 new formulations are:

* Heliotrope/ Ylang Ylang/ Citron

* Vetiver root/ Green Tea/ Cedarwood

* White Tea/ Bergamot/ Freesia

* Iris/ Lily of the Valley/ Cotton

* Vanilla/ Freesia/ Lyche

* Paeonia/ Vanilla/ Amber Pear

All formulas are phthalates, polycyclic-musk compounds (PCM) and nitro-musks free, while containing Rosmarinus Officinalis as a natural preservative.

Are you excited? I know I am!

Can't wait for the new perfumes to hit the market and sniff them all!

CBSG5861

Eye Make-up Remover Update #2

Hello my lovelies!


Over the last couple of days my left eye was puffy and sore, so yesterday I went to see my ophthalmologist. The good news: it is a minor eye infection that can be cured in a period of two weeks with some eye drops and a topical ointment. The bad news: I guess I must avoid eye make-up until my eye is completely cured (damn!), and maybe I should start taking some extra effort disinfecting my brushes and eyeshadows...

Before I left, I asked him about those oil-based lotions for removing eye make-up. Should I be using them, are they nice and gentle to my eyes? His answer was a clear "no". To make things worse, he mercilessly continued by saying I should avoid lining my water-line with pencils, because this is the most common case of causing eye infections. WHAT?!? No sir, I'm sorry but me can't do that...

Anyway, I've decided not to purchase oil-based eye make-up removers ever again- I'm a bit dissapointed because those tough guys remove eye make-up so easily! Oh well, what can you do... Now I'll have to switch back to my Yves Rocher cleanser. As for lining my waterline, I will continue to do so. I can't help it. My eyes are demanding that kind of definition. The best thing to do is sharpening my pencils before each use.

So, this is my take on eye make-up removers: water or gel-based formulas from now on.
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Eye Make-up Remover Update

Hello my lovelies!


If you've read my "best of 2009" list, then you already know that my personal favourite product that eliminates ALL traces of eye make-up is (so far) the Yves Rocher Bio-specifique Active Sensitive, which has a gel-based formula. But, due to my compulsive-buyer syndrom, I'm constantly switching products- whether I like them or not. Yeah, that's me...



Currently I'm using the Immortelle Eye Make-up Remover from l'Occitane (by the way, if anyone knows how to pronounce "Occitane" correctly, please let me know!), which works o.k., I guess... It is a dual-phase liquid, meaning that one part is water-based and the other oil-based, and the principle behind this is to shake them together, thus removing any kind of eye make-up.

Well, the impressive thing about it is that it takes quite some time for the liquid to separate, which is good if you don't like shaking the bottle every now and then- me, I like ;)
But... that's about it, I wasn't impressed with it.

Now comes the "fun" part; a couple of days ago, I came accross this post by BritishBeautyBlogger, where it stated that "...oils cause the lash bond to deteriorate".

And then it hit me, bam! (instant beauty alert)

That must be why I've been losing so many eyelashes lately.

As a matter of fact, I've previously had a small research on the web for the appropriateness of oils used in the eye area, and the opinions I read were ambiguous, to say the least.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting to stay away from oil-based eye make-up removers, since there isn't any scientific evidence on the subject. Personally, I will probably skip the l'Occitane cleanser and try a water-based one. I was thinking of Kiehl's, we'll see...

Recommendations are always welcome :))
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Best of 2009; CBSG5861 edition

Hello my lovelies!
Yep, this is my "Best-of" list for 2009.
Enjoy!


1. Blogging (obviously)


Where was I? I can't even remember how I stumbled upon this blogosphere- but man, I was missing so much all this time! Gone are the days when I was buying heaps of magazines, just to get informed about fashion and make-up. Nah, not for me anymore; what I appreciate the most is that whatever is written in a blog is probably more honest than what is published through magazines (hope I'm not being harsh with magazines, though...). Plus it's free (cheers!) and you get to meet all those lovely people.


2. "Comfort" Make-up


I'm so glad I've finally come up with a small array of products that do the trick of the "natural" make-up (well, as "natural" as my features allow it to get...) that boost my confidence levels to the limit. I'm telling you, there's nothing better than a "safe" look that will untie your hands on days when you don't have time to decide which products to choose from the bunch, or you just think that nothing suits you at the moment. I guess that it's the "make-up equivalent" of the "little black dress" ;)

3. Make-up Revelations; Eyeshadow Base, Brow Colour



Yeah, I was late on these... I have oily lids, and the old method of applying concealer with some loose powder lead to a lot of creasing. After the "Eyeshadow Primer Revelation", my eye make-up stays put for up to 8 hours with no touch-ups.
As for my brows, I never thought that colouring them with an eyeshadow was necessary- that, until I started testing it out. Now I can't leave the front door with my brows bare, it's officially a staple on my make-up routine! Currently I'm using the Art Deco Eyeshadow Base and The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit (both seen above).


4. Gel Eye Make-up Remover


I'm so proud of this beauty-related "discovery"! People, spread the word; the only product that can get rid of every-single-strand-of-any-stubborn-mascara is a gel-based one. So far, I've only tried the Yves Rocher Bio-spécific Active Sensitive (seen above), and currently I'm in search of a different brand manufacturing a product of this kind. Because you know, I don't stick to products, even if they possess a "Holy-Grail" quality- I'm obsessed trying to test every single product out there! But that's another story...


5. Matte Eyeshadows
After watching many "beauty gurus" on youtube who swear by matte eyeshadows, I started to recognise their virtues. Again, it was a revelation to me! The trick of accentuating your best features and correcting your not-so-great can never be achieved with shimmer, and this applies to the eyes, too. The only downfall is that the application requires some practise and brushes of good quality to blend the color evenly on the eyelid. Shimmering eyeshadows can forgive a novice hand!

6. Soaps!



I don't know how I got seriously into this. I mean, I was always using soap to cleanse my hands, but it was until recently that I came to worship it. Sounds freaky, eh... I love this retro feeling about soap; liquid hand soaps, shower gels, for me they don't stand a chance against this "je ne sais quoi" quality of a chunky bar of soap. Whether it is sold at drugstores or the high-street market, it has become one of my favourite everyday rituals. If a kind friend is reading this and is considering to buy me a present for any occasion, I'm begging you dear friend, get me some soap!


7. Candles in a Glass

Big, big fan of those. They hold a nice flame, spread a nice aroma and- most importantly- you don't have to place them on a special surface or having constantly your eye over them for preventing ruining your furniture. My mum went to ikea and bought 4(!) sets of these Tindra candles (shown above)- the white for cinammon, the light brown for caramel and the dark brown one for... well, brownies scent! Although excited at first, now I'm sick of them. Any suggestions?


8. Pull & Bear Scarf


I love wearing scarves, they add sth interesting on your bust area without exposing your chest to the freezing temperatures of winter! This one is my favourite, in my head it matches every single outfit- plus it has a light fabric that wraps around my neck nice and loosely.


9. David Gray


Oh, how I love this man... I was introduced to his music 5-6 years ago with the song "Babylon"- the meaningful lyrics, the calming melody, his unique voice... just divine. I got so excited with his new album release in 2009, called "Draw The Line". He seems to have evolved in a more mature way, both in terms of music and style- by the way, doesn't he look irresistible in that suit and that glance? Or is it just me? Anyway, please check him out on "Fugitive", which I still can't get enough- love it! To those interested, check his interview on Big Think.


10. Tommy Hilfiger watch


This was a Christmas gift from my boyfriend.
Need I say more? Apart from the fact that it instantly took a special place in my heart...
So, that's it with this list. Phew...
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CGSG5861