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?

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.

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

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

Apivita Personal Cleansing Milk

Hello my lovelies!

I'd like to share with you something "personal"... My Apivita milk cleanser!


I was getting sick of my make-up wipes; yes, they're easy to use but eventually I felt they dried out my oily skin. So this time I opted for a milk cleanser for taking off my make-up (I cleanse my face morning/night with this fabulous Body Shop gel cleanser).

Apivita's Personal range consists of seven fragrance-free basic formulas rich in natural composition to a level of 96%. Isn't that amazing? They are:

- Moisturising day cream SPF10
- Day&night cream
- Cleansing milk
- Tonic lotion
- Gentle shower gel
- Moisturising body milk
- Moisturising body cream



They can be used as they are, or you can add a choice of Apivita's organic essential oils according to your skintype or your current mood- hence the "personal" tag.

So I went to Apivita's counter at Hondos Center; you should see it, they have a special working area where they mix the formulas with an array of 24 essential oils! I wasn't allowed to take a picture, though :(


The sales assistant asked for my skintype, looked at my skin and fixed me the milk cleanser. My recipe? 8 drops of geranium and 6 drops of lemon.

At this point I should warn you: as the products are fragrance-free, they get the scent from the added essential oils. And I'm not talking about artificial scent, it's the real thing in all its heady glory! Surprisingly, this milk cleanser's composition smells like a turkish delight- and it's so intense that it almost gives me a headache! As for its cleansing properties, it's ok- a bit "runny" for my taste but nevertheless it performs well.

So, what do you think? Have you bought anything from Apivita's Personal range? Would you consider the addition of essential oils as a novelty or an unnecessary step?

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