30 Wednesday Apr 2014
Tags
Oh! A very good news today!…
Hooray! Marc Jacobs announced that he is launching a beauty line that is set to hit the shelves on August 8. Ah, and our day just got better! The designer?s upcoming makeup line will be made by Sephora and it will come in a seductive and inviting packaging. “I am beyond excited for the l…
Read more: http://bit.ly/12PxRO5
30 Wednesday Apr 2014
Tags
anticellulite, Caudalie, Divine Oil, empties, face mist, fair trade, grape water, hand cream, natural ingredients, review, shampoo, skincare
What a better way to advertise a product than flashing it under your eyes when it is empty?! The Caudalie products that I have to show you will be featured in this post just because I loved them and it is been such a pleasure to use them. And by the way, Caudalie does not sponsor me. Maybe you should, Caudalie! Hehehe!…
But first let me share with you some information meant to justify my love for this brand.
def.: Caudalie n. <kodali> (oenological term): Unit measuring the duration of the wine’s flavor on the palate. For each second the flavor remains, this is a caudalie. The finer a wine is, the more caudalies it has.
The brand has been created in 1992 by Mathilde and Bernard Thomas. It all begun when they first have registered a patent for extracting and establishing grape seed Polyphenols – the most powerful antioxidants in the plant world.
As for the ingredients, the vine and the grape used to create their products come from the vineyards in Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundie. To create the wonderful products organic grape water, grape-seed oils and Vinoleuvre® as well as plant oils which come from fair trade as well as the shea butter, argan oil, borage, evening primerose, hibiscus, sesame sage, camomile, flax seed, avocado, and apricot butters, ginseng, ginger and echinaceea, orange and lemon plant waters, and natural extracts of Indian Hyssop, juniper, broom, geranium, rosemary and fresh peppermint… To all that they add moisturizing active ingredients ( Cassa Augustifolia and Pea ) and natural emulsifiers.
Caudalie has said a big NO to: parabens, plunoxyethanol, mineral oils, genetically modified organisms, paraffin, synthetic artificial colouring, phatalates, animal-derived materials.
And also NO to animal testing.
They use recycled and recyclable papers and plastics; less Co2 emissions, less wastes and reuses wastewater.
The Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream. This is the best hand cream I have ever used. It also comes in the biggest tube ever. The smell is mild and takes you to a walk to the vineyards in bloom every time you use it. Its biggest plus is that it does not leave that greasy feeling on your hands, no matter how much you use.
The Caudalie Grape Water is an 100 % grape infused water toner enriched with moisturizing polysaccharides and mineral salts. It is a lighter, healthier, less drying version of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, which I hate. I hate the smell of it and it dries my skin because of the alcohol in it. And yeah! It will smudge your makeup if it is not waterproof. The Grape water is unscented and the mist that comes out is fine and even.
The Caudalie Divine Oil is a cult product on the Internet. I really do not think that there is a single person with interests in beauty, skincare that has not heard about it. It is a lightweight oil, good for you hair, face and body. The smell is amazing and the biggest plus is that it comes with a spray-pump-thing which diffuses the finest, rich mist.
The Caudalie Contouring Concentrate is an anticellulite product which used regularly and combined with the Caudalie Tea ( … and sports, and diet, and discipline, and moral support, and… you name it! ) it really works. It has the consistency of an oil but when massaged in it leaves no greasy residue. And it smells like ginger.
And the last product featured in this post as an empty is the Caudalie Gentle Conditioning Shampoo. One of the best shampoos I have ever used. There was a good period of time when my hair went so crazy I had no ides what to do to it. Well, this shampoo because it is so conditioning started to make my hair look as healthy, soft and shiny as I knew it. No more tangles and the smell – remember that walk? Yeah!…
So these are the my Caudalie empties for now! Some of them are already repurchased some I will repurchase soon!
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
28 Monday Apr 2014
Here you have part two of the SPA AT HOME mini-series which is entirely dedicated to how I take care of my face. For the other two SPA AT HOME – Body posts, click here and here.
This is going to be my luxury approach and it will be followed by a DIY post featuring natural and affordable products.
It is my skincare routine at the moment, if you like, since I really wanted to write a blog post about what products I use on a daily basis to take care of my skin, but I always seemed to postpone it without any decent reason.
These are the steps:
First I double cleanse my face with the Diptyque Nourishing Cleansing Balm which is a beautiful and easy-to-use cleansing balm. I have a review on it here if you want to read more in depth about it. I use it with plain water but I also use it combined with the next product from my skincare list: the Diptyque Infused Facial Water. And to remove it I use a muslin cloth. The smell of the products combined with the hot water give me a sensation of relaxation and make me think of a sunny holiday in Bali.
For a deep cleaning I use the Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder for Face an innovative exfoliating product which leaves my skin clean and glowy.
After washing my face with the cleansing balm and using the radiance powder as a gentle exfoliant, I use the Diptyque Infused Facial Water on a cotton pad as a toner to calm and soothe any irritation. I use gentle patting motions all over my face and I bring it down to my neck too.
The next step is hydration. To hydrate my skin I use two amazing products the Ambre Luxurious Oils Blend Vitamins & Fatty Acids Rich Face Serum a lightweight face oil/serum which is suitable for daytime and for nighttime as well. I reviewed it a while ago ( click here to read ). It absorbs so fast into the skin and leaves no greasy residue. On top of that I use a cream. My current daily moisturizer is the Yon-Ka Age Defense Anti-Oxidant Anti Pollution Day Cream, a natural anti-aging product which acts as a barrier between your skin and the pollutant agents in the atmosphere.
Another step is to take care of my eyes. To clear them I use Visine drops. I have photo sensitive eyes so it is easier to get THOSE(!) fine lines… Since I ran out of my Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Serum, I went through my stash and found this long loved but forgotten Melvita Argan Oil and Rose Hip Oil Targeted Roll-on for Wrinkles and started using it again. What I like to do is to apply it on my eye area straight from the fridge, where I keep it. Like this the coldness of the roller ball helps the oil penetrate easier into the skin. And since this is my absolute pamper day, I take my time and apply another layer of the Melvita Eye Oil and put on a Cooling Eye Mask ( The Body Shop ). I wait 10 to 15 minutes then I take off the mask, and gently massage in whatever is left of the product.
Cooling eye masks might not be everyone’s cup of cake but I know that for me they are since they help me a lot with dark circles, wrinkles, making easier to achieve the minimal/natural makeup I like to wear during the days I have to go to work.
The last ones I’m taking care of are my lips. I don’t have the driest, flaky lips ever. So the scrubbing step it is not a necessity. I only like to use a good lip balm, or a lip oil. I absolutely love my By Terry Baume de Rose but right now I can’t apart from my Dior Lipglow. I love the rosy tint it gives my lips and makes them look plumped, natural and very moisturized.
That is it!
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
27 Sunday Apr 2014
It was about time I wrote a proper review on the infamous Diptyque the Nourishing Cleansing Balm for the Face, the product from the new Diptyque skincare rage I was most excited to try and see how it performs on my sensitive skin. I’ve been using it for more than one month now and I have to say I do not regret buying it at all!
As you may already know, Diptyque launched the new skincare range somewhere at the end of January ( 27th ) in all the Diptyque stores around the world and of course I had to have it and test it.
The Diptyque L’Art Du Soin skincare range includes an Infused Facial Water, a Radiance Boosting Powder, a Nourishing Cleaninsing Balm, a Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay and a Protective Moisturising Lotion. The range has been created based on years of thoroughly research into beauty routines and it is aimed to treat your skin’s everyday needs. It can be mixed and matched according to your daily skincare regimen and there’s something in the range that would, for sure, awake the interest of both women and men from different parts of the world, with different skin types and different skin issues.
The DIPTYQUE Nourishing Cleansing Balm for the Face removes all traces of makeup while cleansing and nourishing your skin. Its natural formula is enriched with oils and waxes to soften and cleanse your skin, while vitamins A, C and E give you an extra healthy boost. It also has NO PARABENS which is always a good for your skin!
How I use it:
I scoop a tiny bit of product – about a pea size is enough for my whole face – with the little spatula that comes inside the box. I warm up the product between my hands until the waxy texture it has at first transforms into an oil, or I add a few pumps of the Infused Facial Water to emulsify it and give it a milky texture. Then I apply it onto damp face. I carefully massage it in with circular motions. Then all it is left to do is to rinse it off but what I usually do is use a muslin cloth to remove it!
I like to repeat the whole process not because I feel like it doesn’t work from the first shot but because I’m used to do so ( maybe a little OCD… ) with every cleansing product. It is just my little routine! The result is a silky smooth baby-like skin, very hydrated an elastic. No redness, no dry patches, no flaky skin…
As for the scent, like ALL Diptyque fragrances, this balm will transport you to an “exotic destination which is over taken by the most precious, fragrant, flowers known to man, floating by on a gentle breeze”.
Have you tried this product yet? What are your thoughts on it?
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
INTERESTING FACT:
TIP: You can use this cleansing balm as a hydrating mask too. You apply it evenly on your face, wait 10 to 15 minutes then you clean it off. I used it as an overnight mask and it worked as well.
25 Friday Apr 2014
Tags
#560 Radiant Pink Serum, #760 Raspberry Serum, #855 Carmine Crystal, dior, Dior Rouge Serum, lips, lipstick, makeup, review
Dior Sérum de Rouge is described as an elixir of youth for your lips with a beautiful radiance. An alliance between skincare and color benefits.
It comes in the shape of a feminine high-precision clicky pen design and it is excellent for an impeccable application, used for treatment and color results at the same time.
The palette of elegant, vivid shades instantly illuminates the lips with youthfulness. The colours are translucent and rich but not deeply pigmented. It is very hydrating, smooth and has a decent color payoff. It feels like a balm, and I do need to reapply after a meal.
I only have three shades: #560 Radiant Pink Serum, #760 Raspberry Serum and #855 Carmine Crystal.
#560 Radiant Pink Serum – is a semi-opaque medium rose pink. It’s not too milky, it’s not too bright and it doesn’t appear too bold on my lips. It just colours them in a nice natural, soft pink with bonus a natural sheen.
#760 Raspberry Serum – is a darkened, raspberry pink with reddish undertones. It has very fine, discreet shimmer particles you can only see on a close up. I would have expected a darker transfer on my lips but I guess it is the fault of the excessive creaminess of the product.
#855 Carmine Crystal – is the closest to an actual red shade, which is the reason I even bought it. Again, I would’ve wanted a more pigmented transfer on my lips… I already had the other two and felt that my collection was incomplete. Not anymore!
The formula has 10 times more concentrated skincare ingredients, provides moisture, volume and smoothing benefits for your lips, immediately upon application, and day after day. A non-sticky, sheer, non-scented formula that plumps up lips and gives them smooth, natural transclucent color. It is light, delicate, and glows from within.
– swatches of #560 Radiant Pink Serum, #855 Carmine Crystal #760 Raspberry Serum, in direct sunlight.
The only downside to these products is their lasting power.
Fair warning!
They DO NOT last too long – under two hours from application… On my lips, at least. I really need to reapply the product too often for my taste.
How to use it: For optimal use, turn the pen with a single click then apply on the lips to obtain the perfect look.
What do you think about these Dior Rouge Serums? Have you tried them?
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
23 Wednesday Apr 2014
Posted in lifestyle
– photo courtesy of blushnglow.com
This is really mind blowing! I got nominated for my second Liebster Award the next week I posted my first one! O.0 And it was possible only thanks to these two beautiful girls Jacquie Navarro and Fashion by Leia, who you should absolutely check out!
Then life got in the way. Easter came… So I got to spend some quality time with my family and almost forgot I got nominated. Until another two gorgeous bloggers reminded me: everythingbeautyforyou and Liv from blushnglow. You know what to do, right?! Follow them too! If not you have no idea what you are missing!
But now I’m back and here I am doing this post… finally!
Long story short! The Liebster Award is a way to make more popular some blogs which otherwise may not be given too much credit/attention, even if they are really awesome! Even if I really think you should know the rules by now here is what you should do:
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.
I will pick some random questions from each girl who nominated me:
Jakie‘s questions:
1. What inspires you?
Everything… Everyone…
2. What is your dream job?
Beauty editor for an important magazine 😉
3. What is your must have beauty item?
I will not be fully confident without my favourite perfume.
Leia‘s questions:
4. Wo kaufst du am liebsten Klamotten ein? / Your favorite store to buy clothes?
Most of my clothes are from Zara.
5. Wohin würdest du am liebsten reisen? / What is your favorite place to travel to?
Rome, Italy is where my heart will always be and where I will always go back to.
6. Lipgloss oder Lippenstift? /lipgloss or lipstick?
Lipstick all the way!
Liv‘s questions:
7. What is the one thing you would put on your bucket list?
To have ride on a bicycle through the fields of green tea in South Korea. Any South Korean reader willing to help?! Hehe…
8. What makes you follow certain blogs, what is that you like to see and read?
I will always follow a blog with beautiful pictures and with posts which reflect my own passions.
9. What is the best meal you have ever had?
I had the most amazing meal in Bulgaria, in Dalboka on a mussel farm. Click on link for all the details.
everythingbeautyforyou‘s questions:
10. Where would be your ideal place to live?
London, baby!
11. What made you start your blog up?
I have all the details in my first post… So click here!
11+1. What is the main focus of your blog?
As you can easily see – if you care to take a quick look, it is a beauty and skincare blog – the snob version! Lol
For the 11 facts about me you should go and check my first Liebster Award post ( link here ). Same goes for the 11 questions the blogs I nominated have to answer. You can find them on the same post!
Now my nominees are these amazing blogs I found mostly on the Reader page here on WordPress and followed immediately, thing you should do too!
To the girls I have nominated. This is a small gesture to repay all the hard work you put into your every post. I hope for a positive reaction from you and to read great answers to my silly questions! Good luck and…
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
PS.: my darling talkerblogger! this is your official nominee for the Liebster Award! I hope to read your post soon! kisses and hugs
20 Sunday Apr 2014
Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have a good time!
Therefore I would like to use this opportunity to thank WordPress and you bloggers for the love and support you have shown me since day one. Two months ago when I published my first post I had no idea there was such a beautiful community full with amazing people who share common interests and pleasures. Thank you for keeping me writing about what I love, for your huge support and patience!
A big thank you to Harsh Reality the first blogger who followed me! Thank you OM! ( Follow him guys! )
Then a special thank you to all the girls who support my passion everyday. The beauty bloggers: Libby from SplishSplasch and V from sayhellotogorgeous always an inspiration. The talkerblogger, the blushnglow blog, Else from elseaesthete, acasualbeauty, beautybydaniieb, Antonia from caffeconlatte, Judy from judyandmakeup… Thank you for all the comments, suggestions, likes, shares, views, follows… You and your blog posts always inspire me… and my purchases!!! Hehe!…
Then there are the talented writer Susanne from THE DEAD GAME by Susane Leist and the amazing photography blog Emerald Wake. It is always a pleasure to read your posts!
And now that my little Oscar-like speech is over…
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
19 Saturday Apr 2014
Ah! The Rose… The Queen of all flowers!
A flower with as many facets as a diamond. But beside its beauty it also has multiple uses discovered during the centuries: as a tonic to revitalize your skin, as an essential oil for a good bath, or for you to take delight in drinking a cup of calming tea.
Diptyque chose the rose scent to wrap your hands up in a luxurious floral scent. The main notes are Rosa Centifolia and Damascus Rose mixed with bergamot, blackcurrant, musk, cedar and honey. The Eau Rose Émulsion Pour les Mains is a light weight hand lotion which penetrates your skin in just few seconds, hydrates it and protects it at the same time thanks to a blend of macadamia oil and calming aloe vera oil.
The scent is quite strong and sharp, the bergamot, blackcurrant, and cedar giving it an extra kick and making it different from your traditional rose scent.
The packaging is so poetic that needs to be decoded to be understood. An intricate black on white design with roses placed on a small and delicate white English yard, where only the flower itself focuses your eye with a subtle off-rose colour…
The actual product comes in a 50 g squeezing tube with the same beautiful floral design on the front.
It is an amazing product in its own unique way. But then… Diptyque always spoiled us with such distinctive, luxurious products!
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
PS.: Can you tell I have a rose anything addiction?!
16 Wednesday Apr 2014
Tags
Ambre, Cup&Candle, dior, Diptyque, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, makeup, perfume, Rancé, skincare
This is my very first favourites post. That’s why I’m trying to be a bit more organized than usual – and not to write only with my heart, and classify my items according to how much I used them and how much I liked them. So…
1. I will start with my absolute, absolute favourite this month: Rancé – Rose de Rose Eau de Parfum Très Riche – a perfume of which I got a free sample in January ( post here ) and started to wear constantly at the begining of March, when I bought the full size bottle. *Constantly really means every single day.
2. Makeup. In terms of makeup March was dominated by this one lipstick that, if you follow my blog there will be no surprise… It is the Dior Rouge Dior from the Trianon Spring 2014 Collection, in #744 Allégresse and not another single word about that. You can read posts here, here and here, instead.
3. Skin care. This moth and a half I had the chance to try the new Diptyque skincare range which, I must admit, is pretty amazing. Another favourite was the Ambre Luxurious Oils Blend Vitamins & Fatty Acids Rich Face Serum read blog post here ). And to moisturize my body I used the Diptyque Eau Rose body lotion and hand cream most of the time.
4. Hair care: the natural products by Rampal Latour ( read post here ) and lots of DIY – but the star of the show is the coconut oil.
5. Fashion: flowy materials in pastel colours: H&M skirt and these Il Passo shoes you can buy here.
6. Random: blogging like crazy, my home scents by Maison Francis Kurkdjian and my latest little finding I absolutely adore – my gracious Cup&Candle lilac scented candle in a cup ( read post here ).
See you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
14 Monday Apr 2014
There is no secret in how much I love By Terry products ( link posts here, here and here ). So you can imagine my excitement when I entered their website last night looking for some random info. And the info I got was beyond my expectations!
This month By Terry launched the new Summer 2014 Collection, called suggestively French Riviera. Now what else would that name make you think of but hot summer days on a yacht “sur la Côte d’Azur”?!
The By Terry makeup is always very innovative and with each collection they bring out new products or improve the existing ones by reformulating them. This time they came with a new theme: watercolour stains. On the website, Terry de Gunzburg says about her latest release that the formulations are 100% water, 100% care and 100% colour and they came to life thanks to the “visionary waters” extracted from the best fruits. The products are stimulating and protective, revitalizing or replumping. Then thanks to the “know-how” of the By Terry Laboratories these products will borrow to your skin their own “virtues” giving a sublime, untouchable glow to it.
The Collection contains four major products:
– Aqua Print Eyeshadow Aqua Stain Eyeshadow Anti-Free Radical Colour and Treatment an 100% treatment waterproof pen eyeshadow, which intensifies the eye contour definition and colours the eyelids with magnetic and vibrant shades, for a 16h hold and smudge-proof.
– Tint to Lip Water Colour Lipstain Kiss Proof Double Glow an 100% treatment aqua lip tint in a syrup-like texture. A biphased formula for a result of a tattoo finish. No transfer and no heaviness.
– TEA to TAN Water Colour Bronzer Instant Double Glow an Aqua Bronzer formulated with Native Active Water from a few types of tea. Gives a watercolour effect, without transfer, budge, smudge and without self-tanning agent.
– Cheek to Cheek Water Color Blush Sheer Stain Double Glow is a new syrup blusher with pure Cherry water, a versatile pomegranate shade, a “red berry sheer” texture for flirty cheeks and an energized healthy glow.
The product I am the most intrigued by and intent to purchase is the TEA to TAN Water colour Bronzer Instant Double Glow. It is something I have never seen or tried before.
More reasons for me to wait impatiently for By Terry’s French Riviera 2014 Collection to land in Madison Perfumery Bucharest.
For now the products are available for purchase online, on By Terry’s website and in some selected Sephora Shops like the one from Champs-Élysées in Paris, France.
The products have a retail price between 27 and 42 €.
Happy shopping spree and see you soon, beautiful!
xx, Annie
Mami și Zâna 