LIEBSTER AWARD

Tags

award, beauty, blogger, liebster

Might sound like nothing to you. But if you take a closer look “liebster” might come from the German word “liebe”, which – even if my knowledge of German language is poor, that much I know! – means love.

So why not show some love, respect and appreciation to the blogging world and the bloggers in it, right?! 😉 Let’s help promote other great blogs out there!

I was nominate by these two sweetest girls A Girl and her Soapbox and Else from Else Aesthete who passed on a list of rules to follow if you want to do this tag.

P.S.: this is a symbolic award. There is NO material prize.

Here are the rules:

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you and display the award.

2. Answer eleven questions that the blogger gives you.

3. Give eleven random facts about yourself–they can be anything!

4. Nominate 11 new bloggers with 500 followers or less.

5. Let the bloggers know you nominated them.

6. Give them eleven questions to answer.

As for the eleven questions, since there were two girls tagging me I will pick half the questions from one girl ( Else is first ) and the other half from the other one:

1. If you had one piece of advice for your sixteen-year-old self, what would it be?

Stop being a tomboy, girls are the prettiest!

2. What’s your number one health and beauty tip?

Eat healthy, drink water and exercise.

3. If you were going to live in Antarctica, what are the five things you would bring with you?

Nothing in this world, or any other world, could make me live in Antarctica. I refuse even to think about such scenario.

4. What do you think is the most pressing issue for humanity?

It has to be the global warming and everything that comes with it.

5. Do you think that everything happens for a reason?

Absolutely!

6. What is your favourite hair treatment?

Anything with coconut oil in it ( read post )

7. What is the most unflattering lipstick shade on you?

Corals look scary on me. Such a shame though! I pretty much love the colour!

8. Have you ever met any celebrities?

Yes, quite a few during last years.

9. Do you prefer baths or showers?

Baths, absolutely! ( read about my bath routine here and here )

10. What was the last thing you ate?

Some almonds…

11. What is your favourite chip flavour?

“Was”… I quit eating snacks… *stay strong self, stay strong!*

The  eleven random facts about myself:

1. I’m short but tenacious and I like tall men

2.  I workout 5 days a week for almost 2 hours straight

3. I have an old dog. ahh! my old hag…

4. I have a bucket list

5. I would love to have curly hair

6. I have expensive tastes

7. It’s been a month and a half since I’ve started blogging and I’m enjoying it tooooooo much

8. I am a messy person but when I’m in charge of a project I organize my tasks better than anyone else

9. I take my blog pictures with an iPhone 5

10. I’m good with kids; they must think I’m their age or something ( I sure look as if… )

Here are the lucky nominees…

Bronze and Blush

OnceUponABeautyBlogger

splishsplasch

chate

a casual beauty

mirifique beauty

caffe con latte/Antonia

just Jona

Beauty by Daniie B

Judy and Makeup

And the questions for them:

1. What got you into makeup/beauty?

2. What else are you interested in?

3. What is your major? ( university )

4. What is on your makeup/beauty wish list?

5. Were you caught playing with your mom’s lipsticks, eye shadows and heels? Please share the story.

6. What are your expectations from being a beauty blogger?

7. What was your answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

8. And what did you secretly wanted to become? 😉

9. Can you tell us a joke?

10. What do you have on your night stand/table?

11. What book are you currently reading?

If you read this post, you are not nominated and you want to play, consider yourself nominated by me and do it!

Can’t wait to read your answers girls!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

 

SPA AT HOME – DIY 1 – Body

Tags

apricot oil, body, body mask, body scrub, camomile oil, coconut oil, diy, olive oil, santal amyris oil, skincare, SPA

Last week I shared with you my own version of a SPA AT HOME – Luxury Products 1 – Body. For that post I chose the high-end products I use and love at the moment. For my SPA session this Sunday I plan to use only products everyone has at home, that are not that expensive and they are healthy and organic. It is going to be a do-it-yourself kind of post that I am sure anyone can do and enjoy.

For my SPA at home I am going to need some basic ingredients: natural essential oils ( Camomile and Santal Amyris oils ), cold pressed apricot oil, coconut oil ( review here ), olive oil, sea salt, brown sugar, coffee, honey, yogurt, cornflour, barley flakes… You are allowed to use whatever ingredients are good for your skin that you can find in your kitchen.

First of all, same as I did in my previous SPA post, I like to prepare my bathroom. I light some candles, some oils. I fill my bath top with hot water, I add simple sea salt, some oatmeal and I also add a few drops of Camomile and Santal oils. The Camomile Oil ( Anthemis Nobilis ) is a calming and relaxing  pure essential oil which helps reduce  stress and chronic insomnia, muscular tensions, skin allergies, helps healing eczema and scars. The Santal Amyris ( Amyris Balsamifera ) is a pure essential oil that helps decongest the lymphatic and the circulatory systems but it also helps reducing the cellulite. The sea salt helps detox the skin and relax your muscles and the barley flakes can be used to heal skin affections.

To clean my skin I use a scrub I make myself out of: coffee, sea salt, brown sugar, olive oil, apricot oil and a few drops of camomile oil. I rub my skin gently to remove any dead skin cells then I clean my skin with warm water.

After that I often use a body mask. That is right! You can also use masks for your body not only for your face and neck! We often forget to take deep care of our body’s skin. We don’t exfoliate enough, we don’t give our bodies the moisture it often needs. Me included… But when I do, this is what I use: I mix in a bowl one cup of cornflour, one cup of Greek yogurt and three tablespoons of organic honey from my grandfather’s bees. I apply that mixture all over my body and go on with my routine for another few minutes, then I rinse it off.

After the scrub and the mask my skin feels so soft and smooth that I don’t even need to apply a body lotion. Nonetheless, I like to apply an oil to be sure my skin feels moisturised for a long time. And for that I use cold pressed coconut oil, that I gently massage into my skin insisting on my very dry areas: elbows, knees, hands and feet.

I usually prepare enough scrub and body mask for a one-time-usage. But sometimes I happen to do more, so whatever is left I like to keep it in a dark colored glass jar with a lid that seals the recipient for safe keeping. I am careful not to keep the product too long though because since it is made out of natural ingredients without preservatives, it can easily go bad.

This is my SPA at home affordable DIY version. I like natural ingredients and I like mixing them.

But tell me, do you like such natural remedies? Do you use any of these? Please share with us some of your “recipes”!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

Dior Nail Polish #349 Rose Boa – Let there be Spring!

Tags

beauty, color, dior, nails, pink, review, Rose Boa, spring, swatches

I’ve been looking for the perfect pink nail polish for a little while now. Yeah! I’m in a “pink everything” phase, as you can see… Rosy coloured blushes ( hence my previous posts on: Dior Rosy Glow blush, Chanel Rose Initiale blush, my signature lip colour for this season ), pink macaroons, pink nails…

What I wanted to add to my nail polish collection was YSL’s La Laque Couture nail polish, in # 48 Rose Scabiosa released with the Spring 2014 collection ( *click on the link to see the review on this one, from an amazingly talented blogger that I love and always get inspiration from ). Just can’t describe how amazing this nail polish looks. Everyone on Instagram went crazy about it when the collection was released…

But I couldn’t find it anywhere! And believe me! I must have checked every YSL counter in my city…

 – Dior nail polish #349 Rose Boa two coats, daylight

What did I do? I decided to shop my stash instead. I went carefully through all the pink nail polishes I already own and I chose the one that I thought it was close to my ideal pink shade. This was how I rediscovered an old favourite: Dior Nail Polish # 349, Rose Boa or Rose Fanfreluche. 

It was a limited edition shade, released with the Dior Gris Montagne Spring 2011 Collection as a complementary shade for their top product which was the Dior nail polish #707 Gris Montaigne, from “Gris City” Collection.

  – Dior nail polish #349 Rose Boa, after 6 days

It dries fast and  I also love the milky matte finish it gives to the nails. On the pictures above you can see that applied in two coats it is slightly see-through, which I personally like. But you can add more layers if you want to. The lasting power on this one is as good as the other Dior nail varnishes I own. I took it down after almost a week, when it was still looking decent.

Even though it is slightly different from YLS’s Rose Scabiosa, which has a lot more purple, blue-ish undertones, Rose Boa is the prettiest milky pink colour that you would want to wear in Spring. At least I do…

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

New in… Alorée Chlorocosmétic “detox scrub” facial kit – Review

Tags

aloree, CHC, chlorophyll, detox, face mask, natural, organic, skincare, skinmagia.ro

Alorée Chlorocosmétic is an organic French brand which proposes natural skincare products based on active chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is extracted from barley sprouts using an eco certificate procedure (more about here  ECOCERT and  COSMEBIO ).

The CHC (Chlorophyllin Hordeum Complex) is an active phyto-complex rich in chlorophyll, polyphenols, natural oils and Omega 3. All these elements help with the cellular metabolism of your skin and protects it from premature aging.

All the ingredients are 100% natural and  come from France, Provence of  Languedoc Roussillion. The actual products contain NO parabens, NO preservatives, NO artificial perfume, NO allergens.

My kit contains a 100% natural powder made of organic alfalfa seeds and olive kernels which are know for their detoxifying and brightening properties, a small dish and a handy spatula.

You can use the powder in a mask, as I actually did, or/and as a gentle scrub for a more often usage. It also came with a sample of the Chloro Vitae Radiant Mask, an antioxidant and detoxifying mask.

So, what I did was mixing the content of that mask sample with some organic powder, applied it on my freshly cleansed skin ( but only in the areas where my skin needed some brightening and detox action: forehead, around my nose and chin area ). I let it work its magic for 5 minutes then I massaged it into my skin, for a gentle exfoliation. Then I cleaned my face with some lukewarm water and a soft cloth.

Except for a bit of redness I got on my cheeks which disappeared in a few minutes anyway, my skin felt amazing. It was clean, bright, soft and smooth. A good thing is that it has no particular smell. I can sense though a scent of grass ( ?! ) if that is even possible.

I plan do apply this mask once a week as I did with my REN Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask, which unfortunately is gone. I will try the product as a scrub more often too just to see how it performs.

I got mine here.

Hope this was helpful!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

FOTD – Smiling at the Spring Sun

Tags

By Terry, by terry hyaluronic-hydra powder, dior, Dior Trianon 2014 Spring Collection, fotd, high end, makeup, review, rose, Rosy Glow, spring

This time I wanted to do a different type of blog post… So I gathered all my courage and did a face of the day, centered on my favourite lipstick at the moment –  the Dior Trianon Spring 2014 Collection #744 Allégresse.

The photo was taken a few days ago, before I went to work. It was a cold, windy, gloomy day… I thought that if at least my makeup was a bit happier, the sun might see it and decided to show up… And it worked!!!!!…

I used NO foundation. Just a bit of that Bourgeois Healthy Mix Concealer, in #52 Medium Radiance for under my eyes and to cover the areas I have redness or discolouration on ( it is the lightest shade I think ). Then I dusted a bit of By Terry Hyaluronic-Hydra Powder ( review here ) on my t-zone.

On the cheeks I slightly applied a bit of the Dior Rosy Glow 001 Blush ( review here ), for a healthy flush of color.

On the eyes, I used as a base a Sephora brand eyeshadow in Strawberry Macaroon # 42. Then I added a bit of MAC‘s Wedge in the crease, darken it with a bit of Satin Taupe and blended everything really well. To finish up the look I put a bit of Diorshow Mono Wet & Dry Backstage Eyeshadow #826 Bikini in the center of the lid to brighten up the eye. Then I lined my mobile lid with a dark brown eyeliner from Clarins in #2 Brown, just at the base of the eyelashes to create definition to the eye and to make the lashes look fuller.

Final step for the eyes was mascara. I used Dior Diorshow 090 New Look Black and applied it generously.

Since it was a daytime look, I didn’t went for a bold brow. Just brushed and fixed them in place with a clear gel.

And now my favourite part: the lips. On the lips I used the Dior Trianon Spring 2014 Collection, #744 Allégresse – a beautiful bright pink lipstick, so soft and creamy ( see review here ). It made my lips look smooth and sensual. (  Yeah! I am bold like that, sometimes!… )

Here is the complete look! I hope you like it!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

SPA AT HOME – Luxury Products 1 – Body

Tags

Ambre, body lotion, body scrub, Diptyque, eco oils, luxury, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, perfume, salts, skincare, soap, SPA

Once a week, on Saturdays usually, I keep the day all for myself and I like to have a SPA session in my own bathroom, to relax and to pamper myself. To get ready for the week that is ahead of me…

It is the only day I like to take long, relaxing baths with oils, salts… just like in a SPA. It is my own, personal SPA at home. So in this post I’m going to show you what I do when I want to get fancy. It is a Luxury SPA option I very much enjoy!

So, first of all I like to prepare my bathroom – to make it a bit more SPA-like. And I do that with candles, solid perfume, oils and even with incense paper – my personal favourite. All those scents are complementary and they will create a cosy atmosphere. And let me tell you that my entire house smells ah-mazing! I add some soothing music and some dim light and the decor is ready!

Now it is time to take the long-awaited bath. Under the running water I pour some bath oils, I add some bath salts to help me relax and in I go! After a couple of minutes I scrub my whole body with a gentle body scrub then I like to wash my skin with a moisturizing soap, to remove any excess oil from the scrub.

After washing myself I use a good body lotion. What I like to do is to apply it on damp skin and work it in, giving my whole body a good relaxing massage at the same time.

I never forget about my hands, since at this time of year they tend to get particularly dry.

Here you have a list of my favourite luxury products I like to use at the moment:

– Maison Francis Kurkdjian – APOM Incense Paper  ( link )

– Ambre – Rosemary, Thyme and Mint Invigorating Bath Oil – review

– Ambre – Herbal Garden Body Scrub – review

– Ambre – Costa del Azahar Warming and Moisturizing Soap – review

– Diptyque –  Eau Rose Body Veil

– Diptyque – Eau Rose Hand Cream ( click here for a poetic review )

This is how I treat my body in my own LUXURY improvised SPA, in my own home! And so can you!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

LANCÔME IN LOVE vernis à ongles #280N COSMOPOLITAN KAKI review

Tags

#280N, cosmopolitan kaki, France, kaki, Lancome, nail polish, nails, review

I decided to buy this Lancôme In Love nail polish in #280 Cosmopolitan Kaki the instance I saw it online two years ago, when Lancôme threw into the world the Autumn-Winter 2012 Collection, called Midnight Roses ( so exquisitely poetical! ).

I have to admit though that I wasn’t a big fan of this particular colour and I haven’t used it that too often. I very much preferred the other one, Lancôme In Love nail polish in #220 Joli Matins from the same collection. I love a nice, clean, pinky-beige nude on my nails ay any moment!

But with this year’s never ending winter,  this dark shade was the one I’ve reached for more.

– two coats, daylight

I did a bit of research before writing this post and I realized that there isn’t too much hype around these products. And I really don’t understand why…

It is true, they are not on the same lever of quality as my Dior or YSL nail polishes but they certainly are way better than my Chanel ones.

They are opaque in only two coats. The shine you see in the pictures does not come from any top coat, it is their own. They only chipped after three or four days ( unlike my Chanel ones that chip even on day two?! ). I find the brush a bit tiny but that’s because I got used to the Dior brush, which is the widest brush I’ve ever seen on a nail polish. As for the selection of colours – is not going to blow you away but I think it is pretty decent.

– day 5, daylight

Now that Spring is finally here and the sun is up, I won’t be using the Cosmopolitan Kaki as much. I need happy colours on my nails to celebrate the new season. But I am sure that when fall will be here, again, I will start enjoying it again.

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Beauty | Why Gluten May Be Your Skin’s Worst Enemy

Tags

body, gluten, healthy, intolerance, simptoms, skin, skin care

– this is a picture I took the liberty to copy from area414 blog post and paste it here

This is a post I found on area414‘s blog. It is about gluten intolerance. How does it feel when you have it, what you should do to try to limit its effects as much as you can… Bottom line to live a normal life and most of all to enjoy it!

This is for all of you gluten intolerant people out there!

Beauty | Why Gluten May Be Your Skin’s Worst Enemy.

Stay healthy!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Favourite Lip Combo – Dior Addict #525 Vintge and Clarins Lip Perfector #6

Tags

clarins, cosmetics, dior, high end, lipgloss, lips, lipstick makeup, review, swatches

I am always on a hunt for the perfect lip. This next one has been my go-to perfect lip combination, until Miss Spring decided to show herself again to the mere mortals. When that finally happened, I went for colourful, bright, happier colours.

But let me tell you more…

I bought the Dior Addict Lipstick a while ago because I needed a nude lip for an everyday use. It is in the colour #525 Vintage. In store, I only swatched it on the back of my hand  because I was in a rush and when I came home and put it on, I decided that it was not what I wanted. So typical me!

Although I was pleased with the formula, the darkness the product showed in the bullet scared me. At that time it crossed my mind that it looked like an old lady lipstick. So I put it away and forgot about it for a while.

The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is in #6. I bought it because everyone loved it and praised it so much… So I decided to give it a try. It is a good product. Creamy, glossy, non-sticky, smells like vanilla and caramel cookies ( yuuum! )… But I have to say that it dries my lips a bit and it doesn’t last too long. That’s why I decided to use it as a final touch in lip combinations – on top of a lipstick or over a lip liner to add some shine and definition.

In the picture above you can see the result of the two combined. It is a my-lips-but-better colour. Not dark at all right?! It is not too much for an everyday use. And you can easily reapply it when it wears off, even without a mirror or if you are on the go.

What are your go-to lip combos? Please let me know!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

CHANEL VITALUMIÈRE AQUA

Tags

aqua, buildable, chanel, foundation, high end, makeup, review, rose, sheer, spring, vitalumière aqua

I sure was a Chanel fanatic! Still am!

Anything Chanel used to be like a little trap for me. Now things are worst… Next to the Chanel addiction, I developed other few brand obsessions: Burberry, Dior, Diptyque, Annik Goutal… I have used the words “fanatic’, “addiction” and “obsession” all in 4 lines… Is that bad?!…But that is another blog post! Now I want to tell you about my all time favourite face base.

I bought my first Chanel Vitalumière Aqua several years ago and repurchased it a few times already. And even if I’m always trying new foundations, I seem to go back to this one. It just is so easy to apply, easy to blend… A light feeling foundation that I find myself reaching for more and more.

Mine is in colour B30 and it matches my skin perfectly! It’s almost like a second skin!

It is light to medium in terms of coverage and the lasting power is not that of a heavy duty foundation. But, again, with a product that has kind of dewy, glowy finish to it you will never have hours of wear. A good thing is that the packaging is so small and compact, that you can put it in your purse and reapply, if you need to.

It has a fluid consistency and you have to shake it well before you put it on. I used to massage it into my skin with my fingers, but then I discovered that buffing it in with a flat kabuki-type brush helps with the dewy, awake effect I want on my skin.

If you have an oily skin, I am sorry, but I don’t think this will work for you.  You know, anything dewy on your skin will make it look greasier. Unless you use powder and blotting sheets. Also, I would not recommend it if you have acne issues. By itself, this base would never cover enough! You can make it work by using a good concealer!

I’m about to finish the 30 ml bottle I currently use, and I already have another one on stand by.

Right now, I am actually lusting over another base product – the Dior Nude BB Cream… What can I do?! I love me some healthy looking, glowing base! Especially for spring and summer…

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie