My summer BEAUTY favourites! #2

Be patient with me guys,
this is the last "summery" post until next year- promise!

The following are some pretty amazing budget-friendly products that I discovered the past few months and been meaning to share them with you, so here they are!

I have to admit, the (already popular) micellar lotion by L'Oreal excited me the most. If anything, it's a clear example of a good marketing strategy; if companies like L'Oreal can produce good-quality formulas that were otherwise only sold in pharmacies, while offering them at a dirt-cheap price, I think this is something to write home about.

Needless to say, this micellar lotion is fantastic at removing makeup and works like a charm at removing all mascara bits too- I'm already hooked on it and I've also turned sis into a convert! Hence the back-ups you see in the above pic ;)

My face sunscreen lotion of choice was the Vichy Capital Soleil SPF 50, which has a

dry touch formula and is suitable to oily/combination skin that needs products with a matte finish. It's a brilliant sunscreen, although it gives the inevitable white cast to the face (nothing that a tinted moisturiser or a lightweight foundation can't cover).

The non-spf moisturiser I've been loving to use during summer was the Garnier Hydra Match for dull complexions; it has a gorgeous texture that almost feels like high-end moisturisers do (in fact, it reminds me a lot of the Biotherm Aquasource that was once my holy-grail face cream).

Now, technically my hair can't count as a "favourite" per se, but do allow me to show you the ombre job I did a couple of months ago- which if may I say so, it looks fabulous:

My summer BEAUTY favourites! #1

Better late than never, right?

Alright, time to roll up my sleeves and get down to (blogging) business: these are all the beauty products I've been loving to use during past summer!

Starting with the makeup bits:

The only bronzer I've been reaching for was (surprise!) the Soleil Tan de Chanel- aka Bronze Universel. Honestly, I can't fault it- it has a lovely texture and its colour matches my tanned skintone to the T. For my eye makeup, I've been solely relying on Groundwork Paintpot by Mac, a new entry in my makeup bag. It swatches one shade darker than my skin and achieves that off-the-runway soft haze around the eyes... So pretty!

As for my go-to lipsticks, my most used bright lippie was Maybelline's Vivid lipstick in 902-Fuchsia Flash*. For all you bright lipstick lovers out there, you must! check out Maybelline's Vivids range; some of them are actually brighter than what Mac has to offer! As for my nude lip of choice, it was Altered Beige by Mac which was part of the summer Temperature Rising collection. It's a no-fuss, easy to wear nude that gives some dimension to the lips thanks to its subtle sheen.

Another new product that I (over)used during summer was the #79 neon red nail polish by Marel. Lemme tell you this, it's the brightest -and prettiest- neon red nail polish you'll ever come across with a €3 price tag! I would urge you all to go buy it but alas, we're already past the beginning of autumn... The one I've been wearing on my toes is the Max Factor mini nail polish in 49-Fuchsia Salsa*. Although purples and violets aren't normally my thing, this little guy would definitely fit in my top 10 nail polish list!

Quite an achievement for a purple nail polish, if you ask me ;)

A little GARNIER lovin'!

When was the last time you've fallen in love with a beauty brand?
That's me now, falling head over heels with yet another L'Oreal sister company...

It's no news that Garnier is quickly evolving into the #1 best-selling brand of the mass market; their products are affordable, innovative and deliver their claims, all while the name tag "Garnier" echoes vibes of sunshine, happiness and lots of smiles!

Personally, I'll go as far as to say that Garnier has grown into one of my most loved beauty brands- not only for the reasons mentioned above, but also because their products keep up with the latest customer demands that call for more natural ingredients and less controversial substances like parabens.
[In case you haven't noticed, all new Garnier products contain no parabens.]

But enough with the blab, here are my current Garnier favourites!

First things first, the Garnier Miraculous Oil* has been my go-to hair treatment to use right before blow drying. Up until now I didn't have much faith in hair oils to be honest; but then I met this guy, we "clicked", and since then me and him go together like peas and carrots! Seriously though, give it a try and you'll love it as much as I do: it's rich in pure Argan oil that nouriches and protects the hair with a weightless, non-oily veil of moisture. You get shiny, smooth hair in a matter of seconds, what's not to love about it?

A hot AUSSIE makeover...

* I'm warning you guys, you're about to witness an awful lot of my mug!
  Guess my camera spared me this time and captured me in a presentable state ;) *

Right, back to the point of this entry. As the title suggests,
a couple of months ago me and some fellow bloggers took part in a fun meet-up held by Aussie, including a hot yoga class and a hair makeover. Needless to say, my transformation gets an A+: it was frumpy hair turned to sexy locks in a matter of minutes!

So, the event took place in Hot Yoga Athens, an out-of-the-ordinary workout place where you can attend hot yoga or hot pilates classes. I should inform you though, the "hot" aspect of the story is not referable to the instructors' looks (heck, they might be hot but I can't confirm it!); it merely indicates that the classes are practised in a heated room
of 40C. It's said that the hot, humid air during a hot yoga class helps the body to release more toxins and heal its injuries faster- which is great news, right?

Yet, it didn't lure the exercise hater in me to give it a try (too hardcore, man!), so I shamefully stayed outside watching the rest of the girls stretching and posing to yoga postures :(

     The heated room. You can tell it's hot in there by the foggy windows!

     Practising hot yoga...

Bring on the heat... A sizzling AUSSIE giveaway!

I'm so delighted about this awesome giveaway that I'm sharing with you today;
I'm literally jumping around with excitement!

Here's the deal: Aussie is giving away one invitation to a lucky reader of Lipstick Wardrobe, to join me at Hot Yoga Athens for an exclusive Hot Yoga class! And if that wasn't enough, we'll both get a chance to have a proper hair styling session, courtesy of the Aussie pros!

Sounds like good fun, innit?
I'm so over the moon for getting to meet one of you guys for this amazing experience, woohoo!!!

   * Details:
The event will take place on Saturday, January 26. We'll both participate in a Hot Yoga class, i.e. a series of yoga postures that take place in a heated studio. All you need to bring with you is your workout gear; then we can have a lil' chit-chat together while we'll be offered a hair styling of our choice, with the help of the new Aussie TAKE THE HEAT products which are specifically designed to be used with hot tools!

   * Who can enter:
Anyone who reads this blog, be it a public follower of Lipstick Wardrobe or an Anonymous user, although I would appreciate it if you were following my blog through GFC: just click the Join this site button on the right column! You also must be able to make it to Psychiko the next Saturday, so I guess there's no point entering this giveaway if you live too far away :(

   * How to enter:
Just write "enter me!" in the comments section below, along with your name and email, so I can contact you in case you win. Easy-peasy!

The giveaway will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 23/1.
Then I'll pick a random winner through randomizer.org.

Good luck to everyone who enters this giveaway!
I'm really, really excited- eeeek!

Edit: the winner has been drown, it's Andreana! Thank you everyone for your entries!

Evi   xx

Requested review: SYOSS dry shampoo

As so many of you asked me about the dry shampoo I featured on my latest haul,
I thought of uploading a little review for you ;)

Using dry shampoo as a quick fix instead of washing your hair is no news, though it's new to me. Judging from the poor variety of dry shampoos in our stores, you can tell it's a type of product that hasn't fully bloomed as it has in the UK; seeing no better alternatives (i.e. Batiste or Tresemme), I settled to Syoss.

I must confess that I was sooo excited to start using a dry shampoo on my hair, since everyone on Youtube and blogs kept raving about it. However, after 2 months of use, my feelings are mixed.

You see, I initially thought that I could finally! be able to slacken up on the frequency
I wash my hair (it's so time-consuming and I hate it), but no. I imagined it would give me some colossal volume at the roots- again, not the case. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a nice little helper when you have to rush out the door but don't have time to do the whole shampooing-detangling-drying-styling shebang. It does freshen up the hair and gives the roots a bit of lift, but nothing too spectacular as I expected.
It sure can't beat freshly washed hair!

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

Kerastase Elixir Ultime review

...An extraordinary blend of beautifying oils for ultimate softness and shine...

So last month I was sent*** this cult beauty product to try out, and these are my thoughts on it!

First off, let's get a couple of things out of the way before we get to the actual synthesis of the product:

For this intricate ottoman-esque pattern on the packaging, Kerastase collaborated with designer brand YAZBUKEY- aka two sisters from Egypt with a flair for unique and funky jewelry. It's the first time Elixir Ultime is dressed up in a Limited Edition bottle- and righty so, because such hair oils that have been used by women in all Eastern civilizations for centuries are back in fashion, so this new arabesque design gives the product a more "down to the roots" feel.
And you know me, I'm the last person to favour anything LE- but, since the product inside is the same as it's always been, I sure don't mind a mere change on the label!

As for the scent, OMG... Think of an expensive amber floral perfume, that's what is smells like! Honestly, if there is a proper perfume on the market that smells like Elixir Ultime, it shall go straight to my wishlist!

Now, for the actual formula inside:

Kerastase markets Elixir Ultime as a multi-tasking product that can be used on all hair types, wet or dry hair, etc.; and if you look at the ingredients list, you can see why:

Containing both oils and silicone, you get the best of both worlds- the nutritive values of 4 oils (Argan, Camelia, Maize, Pracaxi) with the lightweight texture of silicone.
While on the subject, I don't see any problem applying makeup or hair products containing silicone- as long as they're used in moderation.

So, which are the ways to apply it?

Before shampooing: tried that method and wasn't impressed, purely because all its gorgeous scent got vanished after I washed my hair...
After shampooing: leaves my hair conditioned, shiny and smelling fantastic!
Before styling: makes my hair straighteners glide like a dream! Needless to say, Elixir Ultime has become an indispensable product in my styling routine. That is, when I actually decide to style my hair...
As a finishing touch: so as to give emphasis to some locks and make them shinier.
Throughout the day: I can imagine this method working a treat on dry/coloured hair, but mine are fairly healthy so I omit this application, too.

In the end, would I recommend Elixir Ultime?

Well, Elixir Ultime is valued as a cult product in the haircare market and if you do spend much time on your hair, you have to try it out. Personally, I hadn't used any oils/silicones before as I thought it was unnecessary, but now I seem to keep reaching for this one all the time! It might make it to a permanent fixture in my haircare routine, we'll see...

What are your thoughts on Elixir Ultime?
Have you tried any Kerastase products?

***I was contacted to receive this product by Kerastase. I wasn't asked to write a review and I wasn't compensated for it. These are my honest opinions; my loyalty is to my lovely readers!

CBSG5861

My new haircut

I hate negleting my blog...

Lately, it seems I've been busy with all kinds of stuff that left me feeling like a wreck, unwilling to make a little post of happy-happy subjects like lipsticks and blushes!

Things are pretty hectic this time of year... And I hate that.
%X&#Q$@&!!!  --------> yeah, this is cursing... Heavy cursing, indeed! lol

So among other errands that occupied my time, last week I had an appointment at a hair salon. Cause it must have been about 2 years (!!!) since I last had my hair cut by a professional. And I've been feeling like I couldn't step out of the house with my ever-so-messy cut, so it was about time my hair had a major fix.

Long and messy, which was cool but I couldn't maintain it properly...

I wanted a low-cut voluminous bob with a fringe, something sophisticated like Alexa Chung's hair. Yeah, Alexa's hairdo was what i had in mind...

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Instead, I got Jessie J.

I don't know what went wrong- probably I was over-confident with my directions and the hairdresser took it to a whole new level! It will take some time till I get used to it, sob sob...

So, do you have any hairdresser's disasters to share?

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

Korres; New product releases

Hello my lovelies!

As most of greek girls out there, I'm a huge fan of Korres. Yep, what a surprise... I love everything about the brand- the eco-friendly packaging, the natural approach on formulas, the effectiveness of some products, the list is endless! And I'm always in search of their new products to come. So, here I'm sharing with you what I found from my last web research:


1) Korres Mandarin Lip Butter Stick





The best-selling Korres lip butters, now in a stick form! Ooooh, I'm so so excited to try them out... I find sticks more hydrating and hygienic to use than the lip butters in a pot. The range consists of 4 sticks with SPF 15 and a hint of colour [shown above: Peach, Pink, Purple, Rose], and 2 colourless sticks- one with SPF 15 and the other SPF-free.


2) Korres Myrrh and Oligo-elements Nail Colour







Available in 16 shades [shown above: 05- baby pink, 06- pastel peach, 23- cyclamen, 27- purple, 53- pure red, 69- dark brown], I reckon it's going to be a best-seller, too. The colours look gorgeous, the packaging is perfect, the formula is long-lasting... I can't wait to get my hands on them!


3) Korres Make-up Brushes






When it comes to make-up brushes, I'm a little sceptical. Sure, the Korres ones look nice, plus each carton packaging of these has an inspiring design (I couldn't fing a picture big enough to show you)- but for me, make-up brushes are meant to be tested in-store before purchasing. These are not available in stores yet, so I'll have to wait for them to arrive before jumping to conclusions [shown above: powder brush, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, angled eyeshadow brush, lip brush]


4) Korres Herb Gloss Colorant


Ammonia, paraben, silicone, mineral oil, resorcinol and heavy metals FREE permanent hair colourant, covers grey hair, provides a glossy finish, works in 20 minutes, available in 32 shades... If only I dyed my hair, this would be the way to go! [shade shown above: 5.34 Light Chestnut Chocolate]


5) Korres Compound Creams








[shown above: Arnica For Bruises & Pain, Hypericum for Skin Irritations, Hamamelis for Varicose Veins, Ruta for Soothing] With these 12 miracle tubes, it feels that Korres has returned to its homeopathic pharmacy roots! Each compound cream contains natural ingredients that can aid to a specific skin issue. My eyes are on the Echinacea Compound Cream for Acne-Prone Skin that can be used locally to eliminate pimples.


So, what are your thoughts on these new products? Would you consider buying any of the above? I will definitely be trying some of them out, and I'll keep you informed of how they performed.
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861

Layering... hair products, too?

Hello my lovelies!


That's right, layering your hair products will actually help building up volume.
Obviously, I'm not talking about layering shampoos, conditioners- that would be silly, but I had to clear this out :)

What I've found out from experimenting is that if you put some mousse on wet hair, then blow-drying it as usual, and then styling and spraying it with some hairspray, the volume achieved is so much more than using plain hairspray, and it's more likely for the hair to stay "big" for hours.

What probably happens is that the hairspray, after the mousse application, has some kind of a base to stick to, rather than clinging on fresh and crisp hair.

Currently I'm using a cheap Palette hairspray and a Got2B mousse- nothing special, except from the fact that the mousse smells of orange- hence the orange bottle ;) By the way, every Got2B product has a scent+packaging colour match- the red mousse has a strawberry scent, the pink hairspray smells of watermelon and the yellow maximum hold hairspray is matched with a citrus scent. Cute...

So, yeah... Layering does not always address on clothes!
Happy blogging and reading and commenting to everyone!

CBSG5861