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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Garnier BB cream: 10 FAQ

As you may have already noticed, Garnier is offering greek beauty bloggers with prereleases of their new and anticipated BB cream, so here's my take on it***. I decided to compose my review in a 10 FAQ format, so you can skip the parts you're already familiar with ;)

1. What is a BB cream?
BB cream stands for Blemish Balm; it was first formulated by German dermatologist Dr Christine Schrammek during the '60s and was first marketed as a post laser surgery treatment to protect and soothe the patients' skin, while offering light coverage on acne and surgery scars. In recent years, BB cream gained popularity in the Asian markets, after it was renamed as the Korean actresses' secret to flawless skin. Western markets are now following the trend, with high-end brands like Mac, Lancome and Clinique releasing their versions of BB cream.

2. What are the Garnier BB cream claims?
"Miracle Skin Perfector. Daily all-in-one BB cream.
Immediately perfected skin:
* Evens tone + boosts glow
* Blurs imperfections
* Smoothes fine lines
* 24hr hydration
* SPF 15 UV protection"

3. What it really offers for my skin?
These two thick-looking, intimidately dark blob of creams spread out incredibly easy, leaving skin plumped and moisturised. Its mineral pigments cling on the skin, providing a natural tint that brightens and evens out any shallow areas. The finish is quite dewy, which makes it an excellent dry/dull skin enhancer. The fruity-floral Garnier scent is there, but in a more subdued way.
In short: your skin, but better.

4. How much coverage it provides?
Coverage is very sheer- it won't hide blemishes and acne scars as the photo on the cardboard box suggests. However, it does an excellent job at evening out the skintone, thus aiding in a healthier appearance.

5. I have oily skin. Is this product for me?
It depends. Bear in mind that this product can't replace your everyday foundation, in the sense that you can't rely on the Garnier BB cream to wear it for 10-hours straight at work while still looking nice and neat; you'll end up with a greasy, blotchy mess. However, it is lovely for a natural and low-key makeup look.

6. Which shade should I go for?
If you're fair-skinned, opt for shade 02-Light. For deeper skintones or tanned skin, shade 03-Medium is best. Don't be alarmed by my heavy swatches, I can assure you both shades are extremely blendable; compared to my olive skin, my mum has an almost porcelain skintone and yet the 02-Light shade is a perfect match for both of us. Although sometimes I cheat a bit and wear the 03-Medium shade for a warmer caramel glow (along with a scarf worn tight on my pale neck, ha!)

7. How is it meant to be used?
As it's sufficiently moisturising, it's best to be used on its own rather than on top of a face cream. You can apply a little powder on top, if you want to take away some of the shine. You can apply more layers if you wish, or you can blend it with your foundation to sheer it out- the list is endless.

8. Is the Garnier BB crean comparable to Korean BB creams?
Well I can't answer this issue with certainty, as I haven't tried a proper Korean BB cream. The main difference between the two is that the latter offer a higher SPF and skin-brightening pigments the Asian customers are after. Coverage varies among Korean BB creams, though I've seen some beauty gurus replacing their medium-to-full coverage foundations with BB creams. To me, the Garnier BB cream looks more like the new-generation "5in1" tinted moisturiser rather than a western blemish balm replica.

9. Where can I get it?
The Garnier BB cream is currently available in Hondos Center stores located at Ermou str., Omonoia square, Maroussi and Piraeus. But don't you worry, it will soon be available in all HC stores across Greece ;)

10. How much does it cost?
Retailing price is 9,99E in the aforementioned greek cosmetic stores.

To conclude my review, I 100% recommend you to try out the new Garnier BB cream. I appreciate more than anything the fact that it's
so affordable and easily accessible- saves us european girls from shopping online for those premium Asian brands!

As long as you keep in mind that you're dealing with a "5in1" tinted moisturiser that will improve the appearance of your skin but it won't make for a flawless blemish-free face, you won't be dissapointed by this product.

Back to you: have you tried any Korean Blemish Balms?
Are you intrigued to get the Garnier version of BB cream?

***Products were provided by Garnier for review purposes. I'm not affiliated with the brand and I wasn't compensated for this review. These are my honest opinions; my loyalty is to my lovely readers!

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Elf review: Studio Blush and Bronzer Compact

This is one of the few Elf products that have reached an almost "cult" quality on beauty blogs; so much so that I had to get it in my 1st Elf order. And I did.

I'll first go by saying that, as much hype as there's going on about the Elf Studio blush&bronzer duo, this product is not suited to everyone's skintone/preference/taste. That doesn't stop me from loving it though, but more on that in the end of this post ;)

Starting with the blush side, we're dealing with an orange-peachy shade with a hint of gold glitter.

     Pros:
* other than that it's a nice colour to enhance a tan, there's nothing really exciting to write home about...
     Cons:
* as with the Elf Studio blushes, it swatches a little powdery
* the gold glitter is not that flattering

As for the bronzer side, it's a dark caramel brown shade with a tiny amount of soft shimmer.

     Pros:
* not an orange bronzer- hit!
* its shimmer doesn't translate on the skin, making it perfect for contouring!
     Cons:
* way too dark to be used on pale skin
* it's also not that easy to blend, thus requiring a good quality fluffy brush if you want to use it as an all-over bronzing powder

    Swatches, heavily applied  

    Swatches, blended

In the end, would I recommend this product? Yes, but only to those with a fairly darker skintone that are looking for a product to enhance their tan or for contouring. This handy "2in1" compact will save up some space in your travel makeup bag, as well ;)
For my fair-skinned readers, this product will most likely fail you.

Personally, the bronzer enabled me to (finally!) contour my cheeks in an affordable way; so for that alone, I value highly this product- in fact, it has already grown into a staple. I could do without the blush side, although I would definitely use it on my cheeks if there was no other blush at hand.

Now, let me see your hands:
who's a fan of the Elf Studio blush&bronzer compact? ;)

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