A spring-ish kind of haul!

Thank goodness, the weather got finally warmer! Just the perfect excuse to start making excessive spring and summer shopping lists, am I right? I know, shopping won't buy you happiness, but it sure does help to put a smile in your face! Non?

This is my first batch of spring essentials!

   Here's the break-down:

H&M eyelashes: I think I came one step closer to rock the Louis Vuitton makeup trend for this spring! Now I need to put these to the test- someone ask me out somewhere fancy so I can wear ma falsies!!!
TBS Tea Tree concealer: despite feeling 100% satisfied with my old concealer, it was time to try something new. My girl Athina raves about this one, so I have a feeling I'm gonna love it ;)
Kiehl's Lip Balm #1: one of the most popular lip balms ever! Full review to come.
TBS Baked-to-Last eyeshadow in #04-Quartz: for the record, I only bought it for the gorgeous burgundy shade on the right... Expect a detailed post on all baked eyeshadows from TBS within the month!

Korres Pomegranate tonic lotion: you might have noticed that Korres has recently revamped all of their skincare range. I'm glad to see they've expanded the Pomegranate range to cater for combination to oily skintypes! My only gripe- this tonic lotion contains alcohol.
H&M makeup bag: I purposedly wanted to buy a teensy-tiny makeup bag so as to motivate myself to pack less makeup when I'm traveling. Thought it would be nice to feel like a "normal" person every once in a while ;)

Also, now that I grew accustomed to tinted moisturisers thanks to the Garnier BB cream, I've been thinking of getting a new one- any recommendations? Oh, and if your local TBS  has in stock their gorgeous Baked-to-Last blush, please do let me know! I've been dying to get my hands on it way before Christmas and I can't find it anywhere!!!

Anything you've shopped recently?
Do share!

Evi   xx

Tiny Elf giveaway!

As promised, here's my little giveaway on some of my favourite products from Elf!

The winner will receive the 3 items shown in my previous top 3 Elf products post:
- a Luscious Liquid lipstick in "Baby Lips"
- a Natural Radiance blusher in "Shy", and
- an empty eyeshadow palette.

As always, the "rules" are dead simple:

* You have to be a follower of my blog through GFC. I hope you understand that this giveaway is open to my readers only. If you've not yet followed my blog, it's easy! Just click the "Join this site" button on the right column!
* Leave me a comment on this post with your GFC name (the name you're following my blog) and your email address, so I can contact you in case you win. And, that's it!

The giveaway is open internationally until the 14th of March;
then I'll pick a random winner through randomizer.org

Good luck to everyone who enters this giveaway!

Evi   xx

My TOP 3: Elf products, part 1

Hello my lovelies! How you've been?

I decided to start a new top 3 series, where each time I'll be displaying three of my most loved makeup products from every brand or product category.

In this case, I'm going to show you my favourite Elf products from their dirt-cheap "Essentials" range. Out of the 10 Elf products in this price tag that I've tried so far, these 3 are the only ones I would 100% recommend to anyone!



#3: Luscious Liquid Lipstick, shade "Baby Lips"
We all keep in our makeup bag a sheer gloss with the sole purpose of layering it on top of less shiny lipsticks. This gloss does just that, but it does so in a lovely way: it's not sticky, the unique sponge applicator feels so nice on the lips, while the mild mint tingling is actally fun! You can't go wrong with this, as long as you keep in mind it's not the most pigmented lipgloss Elf makes. Full review here

#2: Natural Radiance Blusher, shade "Shy"
When it comes to cheap blushes, it's easy for makeup companies to come up with shimmery versions of pinks, peaches and bronzes. But what about matte shades? Shy blush swatches as a matte, baby pink shade that flatters all skintones and is particularly guy-friendly, guaranteed! I haven't yet found a similar blush shade by other affordable makeup brands; so for that alone, Shy is a great introduction to matte baby pink blushes without spending much. Full review here

#1: Empty eyeshadow palette
I absolutely love these! You can utilize them in so many ways: put all your eyeshadow pans in one place, create a quad for travelling, melt lipsticks, press your own eyeshadows- or you can even remove the plastic divider to fit eyeshadows with different pan shapes! This is a must-have Elf product, I can assure you it's adequately sturdy for the price. The only downside is that it's not magnetic, but who cares? See how I organised 2 palettes here and how I depotted my eyeshadows here

A last note on Elf cosmetics:
Now that it's been a year since my first Elf purchase, I noticed that some of the products I ordered at the time have started to harden- which is an indication they may have been expired. So keep that in mind during your next Elf order- shop wisely and enjoy wearing the products while they're still new!

Have you tried these Elf products?
What would be your top 3 out of the "Essentials" range?

Evi   xx

December 2011 favourites!

December was a month of rediscovering some long forgotten makeup products that I'd left unused for quite some time- or rather "shopping my stash", to quote Lollipop26 ;)

Guilts (of owning too much makeup) aside, I very much enjoyed this whole process of going through my collection, swatching this and that, and picking up a few products to add them to my everyday makeup basket! It almost felt as if I was in a cosmetics store shopping for new makeup acquisitions... But I digress.

Having a pink kick lately, no doubt!
This is the 4th customised Elf palette that I've filled with eyeshadows from the Body Shop- can't stress enough how much I love these! Wearing pink eyeshadow still feels a bit uncomfortable (wouldn't want to look like "girly girl" any time soon) but I'm getting there! Another rediscovery during past month was the pink Shimmer Waves compact by TBS; I've been loving to wear it as a highlighter or on its own, its shimmer is so fine and non obtrusive. Yet another underestimated product by the Body Shop!

I also got one step closer to the perfect lip combo for smokey eyes:
Mac Creme d' Nude lipstick topped with Au Naturale mineral lipgloss by Elf. To me, Creme d' Nude screams to be worn with lipgloss on top; this lipglass clone by Elf warms it up and gives it some dimension. Now I need a coordinating lip liner for some definition, recommendations are welcome ;)

Skincare wise, I've been wearing the Garnier BB cream* almost daily- given that it provides very low coverage and my skin is far from being flawless, I'm surprised that I've been opting for this one instead of my usual liquid foundation. Hmm, that's clearly an indicator to get a new one! The Aloe night cream by TBS healed my skin from some dry patches- finally, thank God! Now I'm thinking of purchasing the Aloe moisturiser with SPF to wear during the day.

I'll end this post with my boyfriend's gift for Christmas- a white gold necklace that can be worn in two ways. I like it, I'll wear it, I'm so grateful for Kostis who's spoiling me like this, but... I wish it was something I had chosen myself. Is it lame to ask him for a specific jewelry piece on my birthday in March? Answer me with a "no", please!

*Edit: forgot to mention the Garnier BB cream was sent to me for free. Oops!

So, what have you been loving during December?
It could be anything, be random!

Evi   xx

My TOP 11 for 2011!

I've been tagged by my girl Irene and fellow greek bloggers Argyrousa, ladyD and beautyincrisis to come up with my favourite products for 2011.

Narrowing them down to just 11 was the hardest part!
But, I digress ;)

Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base: my precious!!! This is absolutely worth all the hype, I tell you that... It gives a gorgeous caramel glow that I haven't come across in any other bronzer. However, I don't think it's appropriate as a contour shade- but that's just me.
Elf Studio Blush&Bronzer compact: I don't care much about the blush, but I know I can rely on its bronzer side for when I want contour my cheeks. A staple!

Mac Hue lipstick: my most worn lipstick during 2011. Whenever I was in a hurry or wasn't sure of what colour to wear on my lips, Hue came to the rescue. Highly recommended!
Mac Pink Nouveau lipstick: it's fun, youthful, optimistic and I love it. Pink Nouveau introduced me to the world of bright lipsticks and it still remains my favourite for a quick&easy striking makeup look.
Elf Luscious Liquid lipstick: more like lipgloss, actually... I love its sponge applicator and the tiny hint of minty tingle you get on your lips! I only use it on top of lipstick though, as it's almost clear :(

Elf palette with TBS eyeshadows: another staple. I'm sure you've seen this palette many times on my blog; I've now switched the previous top right shade with a satin pink- another makeup revelation for 2011:
pink eyeshadow can look so good!
TBS Moonstone baked eye colour: the sparkly vanilla shade has become my everyday inner corner highlight. The glittery grey will be a perfect match with Mac's Violetta- which I'm soo getting once I return from my holidays!
Mac Painterly Paintpot: HG HG HG!!! Ok, either this one- or Soft Ochre (its yellow undertones might suit me better). Paintpots are so lovely for crease-proof eye makeup, nothing more to add here...

Mac 130 brush: used solely with the Chanel Bronzing makeup base; I love the precision of this brush! The only problem I'm experiencing with it is that it leaks some black dye on the white hair after I've washed it-
if you happen to know a remedy about this issue, do let me know ;)
Elf Studio Powder brush: seriously, everyone should own this brush! For its price, it's a very-very well made handy tool and a great multitasker. Get. It. ASAP.
Eyelash curlers: I was so late on discovering the virtues of eyelash curlers... These ones didn't cost me much but they do the trick- though once their white spongey things fall apart, I'm gonna invest in some Shus!

My fellow beauty bloggers, you're all tagged!

Even if you don't have a blog, I'd love to read your favourite products for 2011! Just include them in the comments section below so that we can have a little chat ;)

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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

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How I depot my eyeshadows

Someone had asked me how I depot my Body Shop eyeshadows into the Elf quads; so now that I had an extra empty palette from my last Elf order, I thought of taking some pics to show you how it's done!

     List of products used: 4 eyeshadows, an empty palette and a crooked
     hair pin ;)

     First off, I removed the sticker from the back of the eyeshadows... 

     Notice the little holes that reveal part of the eyeshadow metal pan?

     Then I popped all eyeshadows in the oven at around 100°C for 10',
     so that the glue that holds the metal pan together with the plastic
     container gets loosed up...

     Then I just take the hair pin and poke the metal pan through the
     tiny hole, and...

     ...ta-da! Eyeshadow pan removed from the plastic pot!

     There was some left over glue at the back of the pans so they
     sticked nicely into the quad.

Dead-simple, right?

Apart from the Body Shop, these palettes hold eyeshadows by Mac, l'Oreal, Urban Decay, etc. Also, the plastic divider can be removed so that you can pop in eyeshadow pans of any size! Although I have to point out that the metal base is not magnetised but still, for 1,70E I'm more than contempt with my purchase! Made my eyeshadow stash A LOT more organised- so thank you Elf!

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Oops! Yet another Elf haul

    Sometimes I just can't help myself...

    My third Elf loot!

    What I got this time:

    Plumping lip glaze in Peach Passion
    Studio matte lip color in Natural
    Waterproof eyeliner pen in Midnight
    Shimmering facial whip in Lilac Petal
    Studio blush in Gotta Glow
    Mineral eyeshadow in Celebrity

I also got another empty eyeshadow palette, as my previous depotting experience was pretty successful, and 2 Studio eyeshadow brushes- the angled to use with my brow powder and the contour brush as an extra blending tool.

And in case you want to see some more Elf haulin',
here's my first and second orders at eyeslipsface.co.uk!

Have you shopped recently any Elf products?

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What's in my summer makeup bag?

As I will soon be leaving for my summer vacations,

I had to sort out my makeup and pick out "the besties" to take with me while I'm away...

I don't know about you girls, but this little "project" took me like a week

to put together!

So here's what I collected for my summer makeup bag:

    Far from packing light, eh? lol

    Wrinkly skarf: H&M

    Detailed info:

    TBS Moisture foundation, TBS pressed powder, Mac Painterly Paintpot,

    Art Deco Perfect Teint illuminator- love this stuff!, TBS concealer pen

    TBS Bronze shimmer waves, Erre Due blush #410, Elf Warm bronzer,

    TBS blush #04, TBS Honey matte bronzer #02

    Eye products: Elf quad with TBS eyeshadows, TBS shimmer cubes warm,

    TBS Baked eyeshadow #07, TBS Eye shimmer #08,

    TBS brow set #02, Biotherm liquid eyeshadow,

    Art Deco mineral kajal liner #98, TBS shimmer pencil #10,

    Art Deco liquid eyeliner, TBS Carbon black pencil, TBS mascara,

    TBS brow gel, Elf Coffee cream eyeliner, TBS single eyeshadow #07,

    Elf cream eyeshadow duo in black licorice

    Elf Luscious Liquid lipstick in Baby lips- cause it's minty and cooling!,

    Mac Suntint from Surf Baby LE collection, Elf lipstick in Runway pink,

    Mac lipsticks in Hue and Impassioned

    Make-up brushes and tools: Elf powder brush, TBS blush brush,

    TBS blending brush, TBS brow/lash comb, Art Deco duo fibre brush,

    TBS travel blush brush, TBS tweezers, sharpeners by Kum and TBS,

    lash curlers by Elegant Touch (aka Eylure)

A notable absence from Chanel Bronze Universel&Mac 130 brush-

too bulky, still haven't got the hang of it, too complicated to mess with...

Wishing you the best summer holidays ever, girls!

Lots of hugs and kisses xx

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Makeup storage life-savers: Elf empty eyeshadow palettes!

Ah finally, my makeup stash is getting tidier by the month!

It was long before I made my second Elf order that I had visualised a couple of potential eyeshadow combinations to store in these empty palettes;

as soon as I got my hands on these babies, I started depotting my single eyeshadows from the Body Shop, and here's the finished result!

The first quad consists of everyday neutral colours or "the essentials", as I like to call them; the taupe brown shade on the bottom left is my absolute favourite eyeshadow, so frustrated it's now discontinued :(

In the second palette I popped in my favourite blue shades, so as to push myself to wear colourful eyeshadows more often ;)

More info about the Elf empty eyeshadow palettes:

* for the price (1,70E each), they're a hell of a value-for-money product!
* compared to some other Elf products from the Essentials line, they don't feel that cheap.
* they fit eyeshadows by Mac, the Body Shop, l'Oreal, Milani, etc.
* the palettes are not magnetised, but personally I didn't have any problems with that- the pans had some leftover glue from the plastic pot, so they sticked nicely into the palettes ;)

Overall, I highly recommend these palettes! If you don't care much about the Elf logo or the white packaging (I'd love it if they came in black!), these won't fail you a bit.

    I mean, wouldn't you rather be without this clutter?

What about you girls, have you ventured into depotting eyeshadows?

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