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 skin saviour: Avène CLEANANCE K

I rarely feel compelled to write rave reviews on skincare products,
though today I must give credit where credit is due.

It's rare to come across a skincare product that meets all criteria for an A+ rate; one that is comparable to high-end skin treatments but without the hefty price tag, with top-notch ingredients that actually WORK. For me, the Avène Cleanance K lotion is one of them.

Note: I want to stress that this is my personal experience with the product. Not everyone is going to get the miracle results that I did, so please keep an open mind while reading this review; unless you share the same skin problems that I used to have, in which case you might find it pretty helpful ;)

So, what was my skin like?

In short- oily and prone to blemishes by nature, and yet dehydrated, with awful dry patches that any foundation would accentuate them even more, making my face look just nasty. I tried every trick in the book to get rid of those dry patches, including rich moisturisers and hydrating masks, strong face scrubs and exfoliating pads- nothing seemed to work...

That all changed when I started watching DermTV, the Youtube channel by dr Schultz who is a famous dermatologist from New York (thank you Dimitra for the suggestion!). He always goes on and on about how beneficial glycolic acid can be on nearly every skin type, and rightfully so.

Here's a little wiki info on glycolic acid: it belongs to the α-hydroxy acids family (AHAs), and it's a chemical exfoliator which "loosens" the glue that holds the dead skin cells clinged the surface of the skin. It thus improves the appearance and texture of the skin, while it can also reduce wrinkles, acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. It was first used during in-office treatments by dermatologists, though now one can find over-the-counter skincare products that contain glycolic acid (with a lower percentage that should make the product safe to use at home).

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.

Mum's verdict: Regenerist hit the spot

One of the greatest joys of being a beauty aficionado is when you discover some drugstore gems that don't lack in quality when compared to their high-end counterparts!

Case study: Olay's new moisturisers which are part of the Regenerist line. Regenerist products are targeted to mature skin that requires effective anti-wrinkle protection, as well as an instant "lifting" effect to make those lines look smoother in under a minute.

Since it would be unfair to use them on my skin (I don't fall under the "mature skin" target group yet), I let my mum put them to the test ;)

* FYI, mama has a long experience with Olay products; I remember her always having a milk cleanser&toner with the name of Oil of Olaz (as it was called back when I was a kid!), and she buys Olay face creams from time to time... *

On the left we have the wow product of Olay's Regenerist range, the Wrinke Relaxing Complex, which can be used on its own or on top of moisturiser. On the right is the
3-Point Treatment Cream, a fragrance-free moisturiser. Here's a closer look a each one:

Olay Regenerist 3-Point Treatment Cream, fragrance-free: this is Olay's anti-ageing and lifting moisturiser that caters to those who prefer fragrance-free products. You could say that it's thoughtful of a brand to take into consideration the few clients that don't want fragrance in their skincare, but that wasn't what made me respect the brand:

This is not one of your average glycerin+silicone drugstore moisturisers that claim a lot and ultimately do nothing in terms of skincare benefits. There's a lot of science involved behind the creation of this cream and honestly, it baffles me why it's not eminent in the tv spots or magazine ads.

I've deliberately inserted a photo of its ingredients list, so you can see what I'm talking about. Here's the break-down of the ingredients:

• Powerful moisturising agents [Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen- hello!]
• Some ever so welcome antioxidants [Panthenol (Pro-Vit B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Citric acid (Vit C)]
• Healing and smoothing ingredients [Elastin, Allantoin]
• A few extracts of natural origin [Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (green tea)]
• Peptides* [Niacinamide, Carnosine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide]

* Peptides are one of the latest trends in skincare and can be found in high-end skincare products. Basically, peptides are tiny fragments of protein molecules that help allow the natural production of collagen.

There's also a few silicones and parabens in the ingredients- but I can live with that ;)

Clinique 3-Step: my experience

Alright, time came for me to share my thoughts on a subject that is controversial among customers, aestheticians and beauty bloggers alike...

Clinique 3-Step has a long history, with its launch dating back during the '60s. It was conceived as a personalised skincare regimen to cater the needs of the new working force that could afford a bit of spending on themselves. 

But, here's the big question: is it really drying on the skin?
Some say the alcohol in the Clarifying Lotion shouldn't be there in the first place.
Also, many reviewers have mentioned their skin got worse after using it, so is there any truth in all that?

My experience: I used Clinique 3-Step Type III in tubes of 30ml each, which lasted me for approximately 4 weeks. There's some particular science involved behind each product, though I feel the main focus right from the start has been the Clarifying Lotion; the soap+moisturiser seem to have been developed around it, if it makes sense.

To be frank, there's not much character in the Liquid Facial Soap (too mild, indifferent list of ingredients) or the -moutful- Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel (not adequate moisture, needs layering of another cream on top). However, there's a lot to talk about the toner. Which isn't really a toner, more like a brilliant exfoliating little helper!

Let me get started:

September '12 favourites.

Oh man, I can't believe it's October already;
that means we're only 2 months away from Christmas time- the "C" word, damn!!!

September wasn't as exciting in regards to the "beauty front", hence the lack of cool and fancy products featuring on this post. Still, it all reflects my recent tendency to concentrate more on my skincare, along with opting for the "no makeup" makeup.

Starting with Clinique 3-Step, the past month's skincare entry:

These mini 30ml tubes lasted me for 4 weeks, used twice per day. Contrary to what I expected from the reviews I had read online, my personal experience with the 3-Step was positive overall: there's noticeably less acne and my pores have become smaller in size.
Now, I can understand why there's a lot of confusion/misconception about this trio, but the main thing to remember is to take it as a cleansing regime- not as a complete skincare routine. More about that on a separate review ;)

As for the makeup products I loved during September...

August '12 favourites.

Wowza! That's the 250th blog post on Lipstick Wardrobe, woohoo!!!
Allow me to do a happy dance in the style of Chandler Bing :D

Right, onto the subject: as I'm currently sick of my HUGE makeup collection that has gotten out of hand (post to follow), last month I switched my focus to skincare products- and jewelry. 'Twas about time I started wearing the bargains I got during the sales!

So, grab yourselves a cuppa tea (or an ice-cold frappe, if you like) and enjoy!

To be frank, I'm not entirely satisfied with each and every product in my skincare routine. Habit won over prudent and considerate buying, so I've ended up with some bits that although nice, they didn't quite cut it for my current skin concerns. But, enough with the nagging; let me give praise to a few products that have stood out from the rest:

Mac Strobe cream, a review

You asked for it, so here it is!

Without a doubt, Mac Strobe Cream has grown into a makeup favourite of mine. I can finally achieve that "dewy" skin that everyone speaks of, without having to change my normal foundation!

But this is definitely not the only virtue of Strobe Cream.
Let me explain:

First of all, Mac categorizes this product under skincare, since it offers some moisturising action while carrying lots of antioxidants. Now, its moisture is not adequate for Strobe Cream to be worn on its own with no other face cream underneath- however, it doesn't make the skin look drier than it is, which some highlighters do.

There are many ways to use Strobe Cream; I've tried wearing it under/over foundation, though my favourite way to use it is by mixing it with my foundation. The finish it gives to the skin is like an opalescent glow, nothing like a shiny/sweaty layer: it has a sheen rather than shimmer (let alone frost or glitter), and because its glowing particles are pink/purple based, Strobe Cream does wonders to dull complexions, making them look brighter and healthier.

Below I've taken photos of some swatches, so you can see how it translates on the skin:

You may fear that since Strobe Cream is fairly cool-toned, it won't be appropriate on warm-toned complexions. I don't think that's the case: once it's mixed with foundation, it ceases to look "pinky". I would also assume its fine glowing particles don't make the pores on the skin look larger, but as we're dealing with a moisturising highlighter, it probably isn't the best match for oily skin.

Other things to mention: it looks amazing when worn in photos, as it gives that needed dimension to the face without looking greasy or shiny. And a word of notice: mixing Strobe Cream with your foundation may slightly lighten its tone, so you may have to consider mixing in a tiny blob of a darker foundation to bring it back to normal.

I should finally stress out that if you want to give Strobe Cream a go, skip the full-size 50ml version: it's made of a hard plastic that makes it difficult for the product to come out of the nozzle! Instead, opt for the squeezable 30ml travel size, and save yourselves those extra €€€.

So, have you tried Strobe Cream?
Feel free to share your favourite liquid highlighters in the comments below!

Evi   xx

May '12 favourites.

Surprise, surprise! Hear this:

There will be no makeup products featured in this monthly favourites post- purely because I don't want to bore you with how much I enjoy using Bronze Universel, the Shimmer Cubes or my Mac lipsticks.

For a change, this post contains only bodycare products with a bit of skincare.
Enjoy!

The Vaseline Aloe Fresh body lotion was my favourite rediscovery during May: this has got be my most "bought over again" body lotion! I love everything about it: its fresh scent, the light-feeling hydration it offers, plus its price-to-quality ratio is unbeatable. I'll probably do a post on summer body lotions and show you some of my favourites ;)

I also tried the Bioten Cellufight Drainage gel* and lemme tell you this: it works! Sure, it won't help if you don't exfoliate the areas with cellulite, or you don't eat healthily/ drink enough water, but it does help that little extra. Everything counts at taming the cellulite beast! If you're interested in the Bioten Cellufight range, I've done a full review on this article at Beautytalk.gr.

If you're Greek, you'll recognise the last item in the above pic: that's right, one of past month's favourites was the cult Myrto Lemon cologne! I wasn't planning on featuring this product at all, until ladyd made a post about it so I thought "screw pretences, I like it and I'm gonna give it some blog love"! Now, don't get me wrong- as much as I love citrus colognes, I don't go out and about wearing this thing; I only put it on after shower and the scent quickly evaporates.

You might remember that I desperately wanted a nice city sunscreen; that's why I picked out this Clarins Day Screen. I must write a full review on this; it definitely made me feel safer to step out in the sunlight with this potion on my face! Mac Strobe cream was a permanent fixture in my makeup routine during May, I think it deserves its own post as well! Let me know which review would you like to see tomorrow- the Clarins sunscreen or the Strobe cream?

On another note...

...I decided to sell my Mac 130 brush.
As much as I tried to love it, I simply can't. It would be a shame to keep it in my collection and let it collect dust, when someone else might find it usable. So, before this baby finds its way to ebay, I'm presenting it here: if anyone is interested in buying this, please contact me at lipstickwardrobe@gmail.com ;)

So, which review should be up next? Clarins or Mac?
Are there any Myrto cologne fans out there?

* The Bioten Cellufight gel was provided by the company for free. I'm not affiliated with Bioten and I wasn't compensated for mentioning it on this blog. The only reason I'm showing it is because I like it! Sharing my honest opinions, as always. My loyalty is to my readers ;)

Evi   xx

Clinique 3-Step giveaway!

Time for another mini giveaway for my lovely readers ;)

This time, I'll be giving away one mini Clinique 3-Step System (type 3), along with a
Clinique Vit C Lip Smoothie that I bought from the Beauty Bazaar last week.

The obligatory "rules":

* You have to be a public follower of this blog through GFC (Google Friend Connect). This giveaway is targeted to my readers only; if you want to follow my blog, you can click on the "Join this site" blue button on the right column!
* Leave 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. Simple as that!

If you'd like to earn some extra entries, you could also do the following (optional) steps:

* Tweet about this giveaway with a link to this post, and state your Twitter username in your comment. +1 entry
* Publish a link of this giveaway on your Facebook wall, and state your Facebook username in your comment. +1 entry

The giveaway is open internationally until the 3rd of June;
then I'll pick a random winner through randomizer.org, as always.

Good luck to everyone that enters this giveaway!!!

Evi   xx

Beauty Bazaar; a small haul and my thoughts

Yep- I've been there too...
Amidst all the craziness that was going on and the long waiting hours, me and my sister managed to make a decent little haul at the Beauty Bazaar that is currently being held at the Estee Lauder central offices at Halandri (click! for more info).

All in all, it was a pretty tiresome experience; you couldn't get in if you didn't have that "special ticket" that you could only get between 8:00-11:00 am. So naturally, me and my sister as "newbies" had to wait outside for more that 2 hours, until the guys at the front door pitied the ticket-less ladies and let us all in at the end...

     Estee Lauder nail polish- €6. Mac Circa Plum pigment- €7. Pupa lipgloss- €6

So, what did we find there? First of all, lots and lots of Carroten, Str8 and B.U. eau de toilettes and gift sets at ridiculously cheap prices. But we were hungry for the Mac and Estee Lauder counters, so we headed further on to the good stuff!

Now, I should probably have guessed beforehand that there would only be old-ish/ discontinued/ gift sets/ limited-edition products available at the bazaar, but silly old me thought I could get any Mac product my heart wished in a fraction of the retail price... Nope, not in this case. Besides that, all the good ones were gone by the time we went in, so we had to make do with whatever was still in stock.

     Clinique mini 3-Step system with a free lipgloss- €5

Notes on the products we got:
the Estee Lauder nail polish is THE most perfect colour for a french manicure. About the Mac Circa Plum pigment- boy we were lucky to find it, must have been a leftover from Daphne Guiness collection! The Pupa lipgloss was my sister's all-time favourite lipgloss, so happy she finally found a back-up! And of course, the mini Clinique 3-Step system was hard to pass by... I'll let you know how I get on with it ;)

Would I suggest you going at the Estee Lauder Beauty Bazaar? Well, if you can endure a little discomfort for some bargains - namely: long waiting hours outside the venue, having to encounter women in "shop-to-survive" mode and then waiting again at the cashier line for an hour- then yes, by all means go for it! As for me, I'm not entirely sure if I'll make it again next year...

Now, raise hands: who has been (or is planning to go) at the Beauty Bazzar?
The next post is going to be on a mini giveaway, so keep an eye for it ;)

Evi   xx

April '12 favourites.

Alright, I don't think I can make a new intro for this month's favourites post- so, straight to the products it is!

The Garnier Ultra Lift Cream+Serum* served me well as my go-to moisturiser during April. You might ask, do I need an anti-wrinkle/lifting face cream? Obviousy not, but I tested it out anyway and I'm happy to report that the Ultra Lift range has been improved a lot over the years (guess who used all the available magazine samples when she was 20!). This one needed a good massage to get fully absorbed, but when it did, my skin was softer and visibly smoother in texture. Now, would I recommend this product to a friend? Hmm, only if you're looking for an affordable moisturiser for mature skin. My views on skincare have started to change, so personally I think I would be willing to pay a little extra to get maximum results from a lifting cream- when I'll get at that age group! *brrr, shivers*

For my daily eye makeup, I rekindled my love affair with The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes #06- such an  oldie, but goodie! The bottom two shades are my favourites, although I've started to experiment with the rest copper-bronzey shades (worn with a silver base underneath to counteract with the shadows' orange hues). This is most likely going to be my quad of choice for this summer! As for my going-out makeup, I've been loving the Baked-Eye-Colour in #04-Quartz; I'm telling you, this duo is THE BOMB!!! Take it from a person who loathes pink eyeshadow: this combo is a must-have, burgundy combined with pink make for one of the prettiest eyeshadow looks I've ever seen. For real!
I've already swatched it for an upcoming post on all baked eyeshadows from TBS, watch out for that if you're interested ;)

Lastly, I finally found out the best way to use the Elf Studio Warm bronzer: wearing each colour separately, rather than swirling a brush onto every colour. Oh, can you see I scratched the surface? Yeah, no product would come out if I didn't... The Elf expiry dates must be pretty accurate, so use your Elf products while they're new!

Now tell me, what have you been loving during April?

*Product was provided by Garnier. I'm not affiliated with the brand and I wasn't compensated in any way- heck, I wasn't asked to publish a review on it! Sharing my honest opinions, as always; my loyalty is to my readers.

Evi   xx

My Spring/Summer wishlist: part 2

Oh God, I've finally come to that stage where I'm putting together wishlists with high-end products only; THE END IS NEAR!!! Seriously now, it seems I'm having a €€€ kick lately, I'm hoping it's just a phase- otherwise my wallet will mutiny against me and I won't blame it!

To be fair though, this is more like a this or that list.
So, not all hope is lost! lol

You might remember from my previous wishlist that I had my eye on the Vit C Daily Moisturiser with spf 30 by the Body Shop. Thank goodness I checked the tester before purchasing it- as soon as I applied a tiny amount on my hand, it rubbed off in pieces! Enough is enough, I'm done with crappy day creams; I've decided to finally invest in a proper, well thought and technologically up-to-date daily sunscreen. After a little search online, I came up with two options: the Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector is brand new and sounds very promising: it's water resistant (so it's going to hold well during the hot summer weather), it's invisible on the skin and has a broad spectrum of 42 PA+++. The Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection has more or less the same claims as the Shiseido one, but I'd rather go with the pebble-like packaging of Shiseido than that of Clarins!

I've been also tempted by some purrrty eyeshadows- namely the Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Pale Barley and the Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire. About the latter, I'll test it in-store; if it swatches too purpley for my liking, I'll be saving myself the €30+. The Pale Barley eyeshadow, omg... I need this in my life! 'Nuff said ;)

And of course, the biggest temptation of the moment: high-end lip products. Sigh, where do I start? I want a YSL lippie so bad- don't know whether it's going to be a Rouge Volupte or the new Vernis a Levres but I'm so getting one! Lipgloss-wise, I've been eyeing the lovely Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors that have that spongey applicator like my beloved Elf Luscious Liquid lipstick! And lastly, gimmicky or not, the Dior Lip Glow is my current lip balm crush!

So, what have you been lusting over lately?
Do share your spring/summer wishists, I'd love to read 'em!

Evi   xx

My Spring/Summer wishlist: part 1

I'm still not over the fact we spent the Easter holidays with the worst possible weather ever!!! In an attempt to cheer up my mood, I decided to "think Spring" and start compiling lists of everything I'd like to own till warmer days arrive. (Can't help it really, it's the little list-making geek inside me that kicks in!)

Naturally, my first Spring/Summer wishlist is TBS-exclusive!
Old habits die hard...

1. Limited-Edition Summer Fragrances: Ahhh, they all sound lush: Love Etc... Sun Kiss holds a blend of jasmine and nectarine, Dreams Unlimited Sun Fresh contains notes of neroli blossom and watermelon, and White Musk Sun Glow blends together peony, peach and lemon. As with all perfumes from TBS, they come in a travel-friendly size and at a reasonable price. I think I'm gonna have a trouble picking just one!

2. Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask: ever since I saw that Bubzbeauty vid where Lindy said she used oatmeal alone to cleanse her face, I've been intrigued to try out this Honey & Oat multi-purpose mask. I bet it smells amazing, too!

3. Vit C Daily Moisturiser spf 30: after some recent tiny little moles that were brought up on my face, I realised that a mere spf 15 is not enough for everyday use under the mediterranean sun. Fingers crossed this Vit C moisturiser won't leave a white cast on my face like the Korres sunscreen did :(

4, 5. Shimmer Cubes #22-Green, #23-Purple: you know me, I love my Shimmer Cubes! These are the last ones I've yet to own...

6. Colourglide Shine Lip Colour: I have a feeling the Body Shop got it right this time! The previous Delipscious lipsticks were such a failure, I'm glad they were replaced by the Colourglide Shine range. You guessed it- I'm planning to get ALL shades as well!

7. Baked-to-Last Blush: I've been hunting this baby way before Christmas; thankfully, my blog-friend and fellow TBS-addict Mariza (<3 you girl!) informed me about a store that still stocks this blush, so now I'll have to get my butt over at Marousi area and finally purchase it!

I'll be posting a couple more wishlists with non-TBS items soon ;)
Will you be getting anything from the Body Shop for this summer?

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

The Body Shop NEW shimmer cubes! palette #21. Oh, and a little haul ;)

This is the second palette I've acquired from the Body Shop's new Shimmer Cubes collection (here's the post on my previous purchase), and it ranks 4th in my Shimmer Cubes collection ;)

I won't get into much detail about the pros and cons of Shimmer Cubes, I'm sure you're already familiar with these. Having tried so many makeup products from the Body Shop, I've been let down by some- but never with Shimmer Cubes. Even if you're new to the Body Shop's makeup line, these are definitely worth the investment.

This particular #21 palette consists of an interesting combination of pinks with a silvery grey eyeshadow and a white. For me, a makeup look with pink and grey eyeshadows is way out of my comfort zone (!), however these ones are so beautifully made that they've taken away all of my hesitations.

Swatches from left to right:
Velvet Pink (a pretty girly light pink),
Soft Pink (the most interesting shade from the bunch, it's a light creamy
               shade with pink duochrome!),
Stardust Grey (a high shimmer silvery grey), and
Pearly White (your usual white inner corner highlight).

Then, just before leaving for my Christmas vacations, I took notice of an offer where you'd get a free Candied Ginger hand cream with purchases over 35E. Inevitably, it became impossible for me to pass over this lovely opportunity, so here's my (kind of) impromptu haulage at the Body Shop:

My sister got the Love etc... perfume- such a lovely warm fragrance, it's even approved by Katie Puckrik! For me, I purchased the Liquid Eyeliner in brown -yet another underestimated product from the Body Shop!- and the brown Carbon Eye Definer... Notice a "brown kitten flick" theme going on? I also got the Aloe Soothing night cream for my winter moisturiser, as I 100% trust their Aloe skincare line.

So that's it, my latest possessions from the Body Shop!
Have you hauled anything recently? xx

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Kiehl's: some product reviews and an extra announcement...

For today's post, I thought of putting together some short reviews on the samples I got from Kiehl's two months ago ;)

Starting from my least favourite product and going up to my favourite...



Yerba Mate Tea lotion: please don't get me wrong, it's a lovely moisturiser for oily skin- it didn't break me out and it provided just as much moisture without my skin feeling greasy or tight. However, I can't find it on Kiehl's website so it might be discontinued, hence it's getting the first place of this countdown :(

Over-Night Biological Peel: I remember Lisa Eldridge mentioned in her skincare video that she loathes face exfoliants with scrubbing beads and that she herself uses an over-night exofiant with lactic acid from Dermalogica. This Biological Peel by Kiehl's is on the same line. It's meant to be used before bedtime and you're supposed to sleep with this on your face- but I guarantee you won't feel any itching or tugging or any kind of discomfort. This 5ml sachet lasted me for 10 generous applications and when I was through with it, my skin was a lot calmer and even in tone- plus I noticed a significant difference on my pores' size!

Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped body butter: omg, that's pure lush... I can't think of a better way to describe it! Its texture is really whipped, you can see the air bubbles in the jar! It applies so rich and silky on the skin- and its scent, oh goodness... Just addicting! The 226 g jar may be pretty expensive for a body moisturiser, though the "you get what you pay for" quote couldn't be more appropriate: this body butter feels expensive and smells expensive. In a good way, obviously ;)

Now for a special announcement:

I've been informed that Kiehl's is going to host a Christmas party at Hondos Center Kolonaki where all proceeds from sales will be going to charity! Yes, all proceeds; in this case, Kiehl's will be donating the raised sales' fund to the "Eliza" Society for the prevention of cruelty to children. AND the sales assistants of this event will be no other than hip personas like Giorgos Karamichos, Dimitris Skarmoutsos, Eleni Psychouli and my fave- Alex Kavvadias!!! AND if this wasn't enough, there's even going to be a choco-fountain!!! *drools and searches kitchen cupboard for leftover chocolate*

          Click to enlarge for more info!

I'm so gutted I won't be able to make it as I'm taking an early Christmas vacation (hehe), I'm depending on your feedback from this event! And if you do get to see Alex Kavvadias, please take some extra pictures for my behalf ;)

So, who's planning on going to Kiehl's Christmas party?
Are there any products from Kiehl's you'd recommend? Do share!

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The "meeeh!" products of the moment

...where "meeeh!" refers to those I've been recently trying out and don't fit under my "best of" or "worst ever" list of beauty products.
Yeah, I keep doing lists like that... No, I'm not an organizing freak. No I'm not, no I'm not, no I'm not... 

Korres Wild Rose moisturiser: please don't hate me for saying this, but the only positive I can find about this product is the "formula facts" list where it's stated than it contains no petrochemicals, parabens, etc. Other than that: it takes time for the cream to be fully absorbed on the skin, otherwise you run the risk of those nasty white marks all over your face... Oh, and don't get me started on the pathetic SPF6. I mean, really? SPF6 and it claims to be an all-round moisturiser? Please...

TBS Vitamin E face mist: you can definitely smell the rosewater in this moisturising spritz (as it turns out, I'm all for hardcore synthetic rose blends rather than the real thing, but I digress). The main issue I have with this product is that upon application, it's not that refreshing... Heck, plain tap water feels definitely more refreshing than that! Although I must point out that it does moisturise your face, as it claims to do- but I think my oily skin could be without this extra layer of moisture :/

TBS Moisture foundation: ok, so I don't 100% hate this foundation, it's just that my skin needs a bit more coverage than what this product has to offer. However, I'm not giving up the hunt for a low coverage foundation; my next choices would be Mac's face&body or the popular Bourjois 10-hour sleep effect foundation. Or a nice tinted moisturiser? Or even a BB cream? Ah, I could go on forever, the list is endless!

Anyone want to share her current "meeeh!" products?

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Korres haul

So yesterday I was strolling around Hondos Center-

and naturally enough, I couldn't leave the place without doing some little shopping to cheer up my moods ;)

This time, I headed to Korres:

Wild Rose face cream: after feeling terribly bad for not using a daily moisturiser with SPF, I thought of making a nice and mild introduction to SPF with this moisturiser, which has an SPF 6. As you can see, the packaging has changed- for the better, IMO. What do you girls think?

Mandarin lip butter in Purple: having now tried all 13 lip butters by Korres, I can conclude to my favourites: Jasmine in the pot, Pink and Peach in the tube form ;)



Thyme Honey cleansing scrub+mask: after using a couple of products marketed to normal/dry skin and liking them a lot, it was a nice opportunity to make a little break from my Apivita olive scrub and express masks with this duo... We'll see how they work on my combination skin!

Honeysuckle hand cream: this was a rather impulse buy; it reminisced of the aroma of honeysuckle flowers that my dad used to bring us every week when I was little... <3 <3 <3

It all cost me around 30E-
heck, brands like Mac may be pricier in Greece,
but we always have good ol' Korres to splurge on without guilts!!!

So, have you tried any of these products?
Which are your favourites from Korres?

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