My FOREO Luna Mini experience

Tags

electric face tools, Foreo, Foreo Luna Mini, grey, review, skincare, sonic technology

In the following posts I will start sharing a couple of things I religiously do to keep my skin in a good state, as I received a lot of compliments on how my skin looks right now and I’ve also been asked to share my skincare routine.

So, as part of my skincare routine and to be completely honest as per usual, I’ve been in and out of using this Foreo Luna Mini face cleansing device for over a year now. And I’m saying “in and out” because after the first weeks of using it daily, I completely hated it because it managed to pull out all the dirt in the deepest layers of my skin and bring it to the surface in the form of some monstrosities…

[ I was literally growing an entire Solar System of awfully painful and ugly to look at pimples, all on my face for everyone to see them! It felt like some of them were big enough to get their own address, number and zip code!… ( pardon me if the description was, oh well!… too descriptive!!! ) ]

… Process which later I acknowledged as “purging” and which was completely new to me, since I haven’t suffered from major breakouts or acne ever in my life… Not even as a teenager!

Imagine the shock?! Imagine the horror!?

Lucky me I have good skin that given the right treatments cures itself in a blink of an eye, so after a while I started using my Foreo Luna Mini again, twice a week this time and being more careful about how I cleaned it and of course, how and where I stored it. So in the end the breakouts weren’t an issue anymore – except for the occasional, hormonal, PMS ones we all ladies have to deal with, unfortunately!

One word on the Foreo Luna Mini now.

As described on their website, the “The LUNA™ mini is a vibrant, palm-sized skincare device that delivers deep yet gentle facial cleansing via innovative T-Sonic™ technology. The ergonomic 3-zone facial brush is designed for all skin types.” It “combines a low-frequency pulsation with soft, silicone brushes to give your skin a daily facial. Perfect for increasing the absorption of skin care products and combating the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines” ( lookfantastic.com ).

Leaving all the “tekkies deets” aside, what I can tell you from my own experience is that this is the softest and most gentle cleansing device I have ever used to cleanse my highly sensitive and reactive skin. A brush cleansing device was often times harsher and did an unsatisfactory job, but with the Foreo Luna Mini I had and still have the most pleasing cleansing experience everytime I use it! It leaves the skin feel so soft and clean, and all the products I use in the following steps of my skincare routine absorb really fast into the skin!

I only recommend using it with foaming cleansers like the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser though, as balm cleansers like the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm or the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm are too dense, they stick to the silicon bristles and they’re a nightmare to clean after every usage. I highly recommend a responsible cleanse after every usage, for all the hygenic reasons, you know what I’m talking about.

What I also love about the Luna Mini is that it has a timer which lets you know with a pause when you have to change the surface on your face you need to clense. So, so easy to use!

I also love it because it is so dinky and cute and it come is such pretty colours! Well, I should’ve got mine in pink, but being the boring person that you all know that I am, I went for this grey, neutral shade. But after all, I’m more interested in the great results I’m getting after using it, than in its aesthetics.

I will definitely share more details from my skincare routine, including products I’m using and other devices and some tips, of course, in the following posts! 

In the meanwhile, please share your favourite cleansing tools, here!… I would love to know about them!

See you soon, Beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

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The affordable goodies from my skincare routine Part 1: the FIRST AID BEAUTY Face Cleanser and the Facial Radiance Pads

Tags

Diptyque, Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, First Aid Beauty, First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, Foreo Luna Mini, review, skincare, Zelens PHA+ Bio-Peel Resurfacing Facial Pads

I already took you step by step throughout my PM Skincare routine ( see picture above ) in last week’s blog post, but now I want to talk to you about two lovely First Aid Beauty products, that make taking care of my face very enjoyable, no matter how tired I am. So here you have the Face Cleanser and the infamous Facial Radiance Pads.

I would like to start by saying that First Aid Beauty products are really affordable and they can also be found in convenient sets. I got mine from feelunique.com, where you can find them periodically discounted too, with free shipping worldwide for orders over 10£.

That aside, let’s get to the actual review!

The First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser is a basic foaming cleanser good to remove any excess oils on your face or even traces of makeup. I love it because it leaves my skin clean without stripping all those “good” face oils off.

How I use it:

– by itself, daily, as a second cleanse and I only need a tiny amount of product to do that. I apply it on my damp face, massage it in – moment that it actually foams up, and more you massage it in, more it transforms into a soft, creamy paste. Then I either rinse everything off with lukewarm water or I clean everything with a muslin cloth.

– every other day – I use it combined with the Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder for a deeper cleanse, also as a second cleanse, only at night

– once or twice a week according to the needs of my skin, I also use it with my Foreo Luna Mini, a cleansing device that I will write an in-depth review on soon.

All in all, the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser is a decent, gentle cleanser that really has the job done at any time, morning and night.

The First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads are “the thing” when it comes to skincare nowadays. Everybody uses them and raves about them all-over the Internet. But what are they anyway?

They are round cotton pads ( made with one of the softest cotton to touch! ) pre-soaked in a mix of lactic and glycolactic acid to use all-over your face as a chemical exfoliator. I have sensitive skin so physical exfoliators aren’t my favourites to use on my face, unless they’re really gentle – like this Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, which I carefully only use once or twice a week at most, anyway.

The First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads are an awesome introductory exfoliator, so if you’ve just started using exfoliating acids I highly recommend these. They’re mild and gentle enough to be used daily ( although I find that a bit too much to handle for my sensitive skin! ) but efficient enough to free your complexion from that superficial layer of dead skin cells, brightening everything up and allowing your skin to easily regenerate and breath again.

You simply take one pad, swipe it all-over your face ( no pressure or rubbing needed ), you turn it the other way around and go on your face once more. I use this before using my toners or face mists, or even instead of those, in the evenings mostly ( they are really also very comfortable to sleep in without the fear of getting irritations or redness ), every other day.

Will I repurchase them? Probably not, but only because next I want to try the more expensive ( crazy expensive that is! ) version of these, the Zelens PHA+ Bio-Peel Resurfacing Facial Pads.

First Aid Beauty products are also great because they don’t have any added fragrance to them, so they are really good for sensitive skins, even though I have to say that the Radiance Pads do have a faint chemical scent to them, nothing that would bother you too much though, or for too long.

As they say on their website:

FAB products are free of harsh chemicals and known allergens, including parabens, phthalates, alcohol, fragrances and artificial dyes. Select products also boast FDA-approved over-the-counter formulations that target specific skin issues such as eczema and acne. The result is true first aid beauty and a collection of products that may be used safely by even the most sensitive skin types.

I definitely recommend First Aid Beauty products for being simple, effective and affordable!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

INTERESTING FACTS & TIPS:

– make sure you know the difference between a face wash and a makeup remover, so that when you’re tempted to use your face wash only when you take your makeup off and you don’t see the results you’re expecting, not to blame the product and use a makeup remover/makeup wipes as a first step in your cleansing routine, as you should!

– ALWAYS double, triple cleanse ( check how I currently triple cleanse in this post here ), because a clean skin is a healthier skin and a smoother canvas for your makeup application… Not to mention that you also use less makeup -> those “good days skin” everybody’s talking about, and some are only wishing for… unfortunately!

– NEVER sleep with your makeup on!

– IF you can, cleanse your face and reapply your makeup as many times a day as possible!

– make sure you keep your most expensive/most packed with nutrients/effective face cleansers the closest to your skin, and use them as the last step in your cleansing routine! Like this you can benefit from all those nutritious ingredients longer and you don’t wash them away completely… and with those, all your sweet money!

PM Skincare routine…

Tags

Balance Me, Diptyque, Elemis, First Aid Beauty, Kielh's, L'Occitane, night time routine, Omorovicza, Oskia, skincare

This is my current nighttime skincare routine step by step!

STEP I:

– TIE HAIR UP – these might seem like a lot of hair ties and pins, but these go missing like crazy, so it’s always a good idea to keep a “few” in hand. Love these ones from Oysho.

STEP II:

– TAKE MAKEUP OFF – I’m a huge fan of cleansing. I firmly believe that a clean skin is a healthy skin… Therefore I double or triple-cleanse! 

Here is how a triple cleanse sounds like:

I’m starting with some L’Occitane Cleansing Milk on two large cotton pads to take off most of my makeup. Then I wash my face with an oil cleanser, my pick: the L’Occitane Cleansing Oil and to make sure that there’s no makeup residue whatsoever I also use a tiny bit of the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser combined with the Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder.

On days where I’m not wearing a full-face of makeup, I skip on the L’Occitane Cleansing Oil and go directly to the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser + Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder combination.

STEP III:

– USE A TONER/EXFOLIATING PADS – I spritz some of the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist on a regular cotton pad, then gently, in circular motions I take it all-over my face. Every other day I replace the face mist with one of the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. These are amazing for a gentle acid exfoliation and they also tone and brighten your complexion. More on these coming soon!

STEP IV:

– HYDRATION + MOISTURE – USE A FACE SERUM – the one I’m currently using and loving the effect it has on my skin, is this Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, of which I only use a few drops rubbed between the palm of my hands, then I press it into the skin. This is fast absorbing and doesn’t leave any greasy residue… I already wrote a review on it here!

                                         – USE AN EYE CREAM – I’m was testing for quite a while this Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream a lightweight, yet very hydrating eye cream Alina from Debenhams UK kindly enough to sent it over, along with the Kiehl’s Serum. The review is already up!

                                         – USE A MOISTURIZER – my moisturizer of choice has been lately the Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, an anti-oxidant, rich night cream. But for an extra boost of moisture and hydration I always reach for another First Aid Beauty product, the Ultra Repair Cream – a very, very rich cream that offers intense hydration for dry, parched skin.

                       – USE A LIP BALM – the lip balm I’m still loving at the moment is the Omorovicza Perfecting Lip Balm. I know, I kind of strayed away from my beloved By Terry Baume de Rose, but I felt that the Omorovicza one suited my needs better.

                       – USE A HAND CREAM – don’t forget about your hands! They also need to be moisturized regularly, especially at this time of the year. I still have left some of the Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Hand Cream, that I try to finish up. *Gosh, this smells delicious!* This would be the last hand cream in my stash then I will have to purchase a new one! Any good recommendations?

I would love to know what your PM Skincare Routine consists of, so please kindly share it in the Comments below!

Also keep in mind that this daily routine doesn’t include masks and other treatments I use! These will be featured in a separate post!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

DISCLAIMER here.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream* – Simple Things that simply work!…

Tags

Balance Me, Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, eye cream, natural ingredients, skincare

I was happy to receive another product to test in the comfort of my own home, thanks to the lovely people at Debenhams UK. Thank you once more Alina!

Founded in 2005 by British sisters Clare and Rebecca Hopkins, the Balance Me story begun, as all great stories do, in the kitchen of the family house where the two sisters, using a holistic approach on Chemistry on a base of  naturally active botanicals and pure grade essential oils, came out with amazing “clean” skincare products.

They also state that:

Working to enhance your skins’ natural radiance, whilst effectively cleansing, the luxurious skincare brand boasts multi-award winning products that really work to bring your skin back to life. Offering an infusion of sophisticated textures and aromatherapy-inspired active aromas, Balance Me products really are a treat for skin, and are suitable for all skin types.

… and I can confirm that Balance Me products are definitely a treat for your skin.

The Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is a triple action product: a skin brightening treatment, smoothes away dark shadows and fine lines and hydrates and nourishes your skin.

Made with 99% natural ingredients, the delicate, easily absorbed formula contains calming Roman chamomile, skin-brightening lemon, cucumber oil and witch hazel, hydrating hyaluronic acid, anti-oxidant spruce knot, softening and smoothing virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils. A magic blend of Mother Nature’s best assets for the most relaxing and effective skincare experience.

To be used twice a day after moisturizing.

 

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Although I haven’t really noticed ( yet! ) improvements in the whole “smoothing fine lines” area, I have to admit that the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is a lightweight, fast absorbing moisturizer that feels comfortable on the skin.

Made with non-irritant natural ingredients, I can messily apply it and it won’t hurt my eyes or the sensitive skin around them.

It hasn’t a strong scent, like some of the skincare products made with natural ingredients tend to have. It does have a fainted herbaly and earthy scent though, non offensive at all!

I can be easily used under makeup without causing any ungraceful slipping or sliding of your foundation or concealer.

Definitely recommend it if you’re on the marked for a simple moisturizer that… simply works!…

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

*PR Sample. Opinions expressed here are my own. (No affiliate links)

Overview: ELEMIS anti-ageing, pro-collagen skincare

Tags

anti ageing, anti-oxidant, Elemis, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Anti- Ageing, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Anti-Ageing, Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm Anti-Ageing, enzymatic peel, pro-collagen, review, skincare

Winner of Best British Brand at the 2014 CEW (UK) Beauty Awards, ELEMIS is the leading luxury British spa and skincare brand chosen by over 6.5 million spa-goers every year.

Their formulations are designed to dynamically treat the skin with powerful results. The successful combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled ELEMIS to bring some of the most influential anti-ageing products and professional spa-therapies the beauty industry has ever seen.

ELEMIS is now present in one of the most luxurious SPAs worldwide: Dubai, Hong Kong and Miami, to name a few locations…

Here you have a small selection of my favourite products:

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Anti-Ageing

This powerful treatment cleansing balm dissolves make-up and daily grime. It’s a luxurious treatment balm is expertly formulated with a 100% active base of natural oils grown within the UK, to helped your skin feeling softened and soothed, nourished and effectively remove make-up. It’s a versatile product which can be used as a treatment mask also!

Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator – enriched with Hydrating Absolute of Moroccan Rose and smooth micro-spherical Jojoba beads this mild rose scented product gives you a very gentle exfoliation, leaving your skin silky soft to the touch without stripping off your natural face oils. Gentle enough to be used daily, the Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator is ideal for all complexions, including the most sensitive skins like mine. 

 

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm Anti-Ageing Skin Radiance Flash Balm is a “hybrid moisturiser” whose instant skin-flattering qualities are as compelling as its ability to hydrate the skin. Formulated with a powerful vitamin complex that helps protect against moisture loss, whilst exquisite purple orchid, noni and acai help defend against the early signs of skin ageing.

I simply love lightweight skin perfectors like this one and my Omorovicza Complexion Corrector SPF 20 that make my skin look flawless and allow the smoothest makeup aplication.

Elemis Hydra-Nourish Night Cream Anti-Oxidant Rich Night Cream

This anti-oxidant rich night cream helps prevent moisture loss and works to nourish and de-stress tired skin. Persian silk tree extract helps reduce signs of fatigue, whilst hyaluronic acid provides regular hydration. As you sleep, the skin’s ability to absorb active ingredients peaks and skin cells go through a natural regeneration process to repair damage caused throughout the day.

The scent on this one is a bit more strong which might cause irritations for those with sensitive skins. I smells like Dior J’Adore if you know the perfume – an aromatic blend of geranium and ylang ylang meant to also calm and rebalance your skin. The scent fades in a matter of minutes and I, personally, had no reaction to it. But I just wanted to warn you about that aspect too!

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Anti-Ageing Extreme Exfoliante Douceur is a prdoduct I wanted to try for so long! It is enriched with the natural fruit enzymes of exfoliating Papaya and calming Pineapple smooth and clarify the complexion. This rinse-off exfoliating cream contains nourishing Milk Protein, Anti-Oxidant rich Vitamin E and Marine Algae to Moisturise, repair, and Protect Skin. Perfect for complexions which are sensitive or mature. It smells divine and it is one of the best face masks I had the chance to try, right there with my Oskia Renaissance Mask Nutri-Active Brightening & Resurfacing Mask.

ELEMIS has played a fundamental part in the success and the phenomenal growth of professional spa-therapies in the beauty industry and has year on year brought to market new innovations to keep it ahead of the field. Their products are amazing and definitely deliver the results they promise.

Have you tried anything ELEMIS yet?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

INTERESTING FACTS:

– When ELEMIS launched in 1989 in London, UK the professional spa industry was far from the sophisticated and skilled industry it is today. Linda Steiner, the founder had a dream to create a skincare range “as close to nature as possible”, regardless the expenses and for that she teamed up with several specialists and professional therapists.

– In 1991, ELEMIS launches into the professional spa environment and face and body treatments were developed to meet this need and during the development stage sturdy relationships were built with highstreet salons and SPAs, waiting for their national launch.

– Years went by and ELEMIS was chosen to be one of the main products and treatments on board of over 100 cruise line SPAs, a true challenge for the brand with worldwide customers using their products. The feedback was amazing!

– One of the highlights in the history of the brand was in 1996 when ELEMIS was acquired by the worlds largest spa service provider SteinerLeisure Group and rated on the NASDAQ stock exchange USA. Products were reformulated, logo was revamped and the packaging was also changed.

– And the rest is history! New product ranges were launched almost every year, new groundbreaking ingredients were discovered and used in new products with amazing results. New facial techniques influenced by practices used in Japan, India and Thailand were used to develop up to 24 new luxury spa-therapies for face and body treatments.

– And when the doors to the first ELEMIS SPA opened in Mayfair, London in 2001 they delivered a service beyond expectations with celebrities instantly adored and became a loyal clientele.

 

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate* – courtesy of Debemhams UK

Tags

Debenhams UK, Kiehl's, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, night serum, skincare

This particular skincare item has been on my wish list ever since I can’t even remember. So, when the lovely Alina from Debenhams UK contacted me via email, with the kind offer to send me a couple of skincare products to try, I was over the Moon as expected!

But what is it?

The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is “a replenishing elixir of pure essential oils and distilled botanicals, to visibly restore the appearance of skin by morning. So it is an overnight treatment serum meant to give you a facelift by morning”.

Does it work?

Let me put it like this: even if you are skeptical about using serum oils on your skin yet your skin shows signs of dullness, enlarged pores and shows signs of aging, this is the perfect weapon for an overnight skin renewal.

You’ll instantly see signs of improvement on your skin thanks to the high concentration of essential oils, Squalane and Evening Primerose that are readily absorbed by the skin and work on it the entire night.

At night, I usually use a serum and a cream, but this concentrate serum is moisturising enough to use on its own and does not leave any oily residue. Love the calming lavender scent too, since I often have troubles sleeping.

It comes in this elegant, apothecary-looking glass bottle provided with a pipette, which deposits in one drop the right amount of product. I use 3-4 drops depending on the needs of my skin that night.

I’ve been using the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for almost two months now and I barely made a dent in it! And I can say that my skin has never felt and looked better, rested, softer, plumper than it does now! I’m not ready to swear on the “reducing the lines” claim yet, but I will definitely use it all and absolutely repurchase it!

My man also loves it, especially after he shaves! He said that the serum made his skin feel soft without any irritation or undesirable ingrown hairs!

This “hard-working” 99,8% natural concentrate is intensely moisturizing and nourishing and it is the perfect step in your skincare routine to say “Good night!” to dull, dry, irritated skin and to minimize those pesky fine signs of aging!

Shop now your own Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate here.

Have you tried this product yet? What else would you recommend to get from Kiehl’s?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

INTERESTING FACT:

– Debenhams UK has occasionally 10% off this product so make sure you check www.debenhams.com periodically not to miss the offer and restock

– for more information about my skin type and other questions related to that, you can find here.

 

 

*PR Sample. Opinions expressed here are my own. (No affiliate links)

#anniesbeauty1yearanniversarygiveaway series! Happy Anniversary with… Sarah Chapman and Odacité!

Tags

#anniesbeauty1yearanniversarygiveaway, giveaway, Odacité, Odacité Jo+L Jojoba Lavender Facial Serum Concentrate, Sarah Chapman, skincare, Skinesis Morning Facial

So, this is it! The final giveaway of annie’s beauty… 1 year anniversary series it’s finally here! It’s been a lovely month and a lovely year and that’s because you made it possible my lovelies!

But enough with the soppy stuff; let’s get down to my last giveaway!

I did a Chanel makeup giveaway, I did a Diptyque body care giveaway, so I think it was only normal to squeeze in a skincare giveaway too!

Now… This was the most difficult one, because this past year it’s been like an amazing journey for my skin, where I got to try so many amazing skincare products! And if you’re curious to see what I mean, simply check out my first photos here on annie’s beauty… and you’ll notice the dramatic difference!

I had to chose the absolute best products that made a significant change in the aspect of my skin! Luckily, I managed to narrow it down to two serums!…

So here is YOUR PRIZE:

– one Sarah Chapman Skinesis Morning Facial Serum

– one Odacité Jo+L Jojoba Lavender Facial Serum Concentrate

The first one is maybe the best face serum I’ve tried this far that it will completely revolutionize whatever you might be thinking about serums! It’s one of the most famous Sarah Chapman skincare products – the Skinesis Morning Facial. Still using it, still loving it! But more about this precious serum here.

The Odacité Jo+L Jojoba Lavender Facial Serum Concentrate is more of a nighttime serum that aims to combat sebum blockages and clean skin impurities, helping me clean those unaesthetic clogged and enlarged pores and combat redness at the same time. It’s one of those underrated products that actually do what they claim. A review on this product will be up soon!

Then you have MY GIVEAWAY RULES:

– the giveaway starts the moment this post will be up, which is Tuesday, 24 February 2015 midnight, EET and it will end on Sunday, 1st March 2015, EET.

– you can enter this giveaway if you’re a subscriber of annie’s beauty… blog ( if not you can subscribe by clicking the Follow button on my main page or via email ) and write me a comment about whatever you like, as long as it’s decent. Also by following annie0ne on Instagram and by re-posting the giveaway official image and tag it with the #anniesbeauty1yearanniversarygiveaway. Or if you follow me on Bloglovin but make sure you like this post! Or if you like my Facebook page, like and share the official giveaway photo with the official tag. Or if you follow my Twitter account and also re-post the same giveaway image under the same hashtag, #anniesbeauty1yearanniversarygiveaway

– strictly ONE ( 1 ) entry per person will count

– NO business accounts, NO private profiles, NO fake accounts or giveaway accounts, PLEASE! Such entries will be immediately disqualified. This is only for personal, active accounts!

– giveaway opened internationally

– strictly ONE ( 1 ) Winner will be picked using random.org and announced no later than Monday, 2nd March 2015 .

– MY decision will be final. MY giveaway, MY rules!

– PLEASE FOLLOW THE GIVEAWAY RULES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR IT

Good luck, beautiful and see you soon!

xx, Annie

 

LAURA MERCIER’s hand saviours: Crème brûlée and Fresh Fig

Tags

Crème brûlée, Fresh Fig, hand cream, Laura Mercier, Laura Mercier Hand Crèmes, saviour, skincare, winter

I have to admit that I’m not the biggest hand cream lover!

Therefore if I can avoid applying it regularly I’m the happiest!… Which never happens during the cold winter months when, even I have to recognise that a good hand cream really does wonders!

I’m not a big fan of hand creams mainly because I hate that sticky, sweaty and cold sensation they often leave on the skin after the application ( anyone with me?! nope!? just me?!?? ). And on my perpetual cold hands that’s the least I want to feel at -15º Celsius!

Which brings me to the fact that I am very, very picky when it comes to choosing a “good” hand cream for myself! It has to absorb fast and never leave a greasy or, knock on wood!, a sticky film on my hands! The scent doesn’t have to be offensive! The smaller the packaging the better; a big packaging always discourages me from using it!

In the colder months I feel drawn towards gourmand scents: vanilla, crème brûlée, honey, coconut and pistache while during the warmer seasons I prefer lighter, barely there floral scents.

The ones that fall in all the categories above are the Laura Mercier Hand Crèmes and the fact that I repurchased them for the second winter in a row, that makes them a extraordinary… at least in my books!

My first choice is Crème brûlée – a warm and decadent combination of gourmand ingredients with a list which includes delicious notes of warm caramel, spun sugar, and French vanilla bean. Simply delicious and mouth-watering and the most gourmand scent on a skin care! If you ever had the chance to set foot in a French pâtisserie, that’s the right aura and the aroma of this hand cream.

My next option is Fresh Fig. Different from the crème brûlée vanillary scent, Fresh Fig is still a sweet, fresh and almost intoxicating gourmand scent. The main ingredients include the indulgent essence of the most fresh Celeste figs, to which there were added fruit bouquets of apricot nectar and ylang ylang. This particular scent has a smooth and sweet creamy base which blends in with green, earthy elements creating an unique and sensuous, very appealing scent. This is the one that sits on my desk at work, that I received so many compliments wearing it!

Inspired by her French heritage, Laura Mercier decided to create these decadent, delicious and at the same time sophisticated hand care formulas which are unbelievably hydrating and penetrate deep into the layers of your skin to comfort and soothe your hands, the result being a thoroughly moisturized and velvety soft skin and an amazing general mood.

Now that I shared mine, what are your hand saviours during winter?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

My 2014 Favourite… Brands

Tags

2014 favourites, Burberry, By Terry, Charlotte Tilbury, dior, Hourglass, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, makeup, skincare, Tom Ford

To realise that I’m writing the last post I will publish on 2014 is literally overwhelming and equally exciting! My initial plan was to write the usual round up of my Annual Favourite Products post but since I wasn’t able to decide on a decent amount ( hence the flow of pictures in this post! ), it was somehow mandatory to go for a 2014 Favourite Brands instead!

As many of you might know, if you followed me for a while, I am the ultimate makeup snob with obvious tendencies of hoarding, and the brands I’m the most attracted to are mostly high end and luxury, for the most frivolous of reasons… Lovely packaging, limited edition items, scent and lastly the quality of such products which rarely fails me!

So, I also guess it won’t come as a surprise the fact that I will open my post talking about Dior.

Dior has been THE brand of the year for me! If not for other reasons, only for the fact that I repeatedly splurged on some products which instantly became favourites! I love theirnewly reformulated nail polishes, their Christmas limited edition items are like a fairy tale… not to mention the new makeup bits they released this year – the “infamous” Star foundation, the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks, the new reforulated eye shadows…

Those were the reasons I decided to share my Dior favourites with you in this Dior Christmas Giveaway! Have you entered yet?

Oh! And one of the main reasons I love Dior this much it’s also a person, Peter Philips – the Creative and Image Director of Dior Makeup! The man is a makeup genius, his ideas are so innovative and compliment so well, Raf Simons’ creations! I have a few posts about his amazing work here, here and here if you’re interested in the work of this invincible duo!

My next favourite brand had to be, of course, Tom Ford. I love their crazy expensive makeup brushes ( review here and here ) and I use them every single day; almost religiously! I also love the quality of their makeup and their entire perfume range! So to make me choose, would be definitely the hardest thing ever! Here you have some of my favourite Tom Ford lipsticks, I already wrote some reviews on ( links here, here and here ).

And thanks to my lovely friend and blogger Serene, who kindly let me know that Selfridges has a huuuuge Sale going on I finished my year in glory, obviously with another Tom Ford splurge! HAD to!

Now let’s have a little talk about Burberry, shall we?! I love this brand; from the makeup bits, the gorgeous iconic trenches ( Santa was beyond generous this Christmas, if you know what I’m saying!? ), and the softest cashmere scarves everything about this brand screams luxury!

Here you have a few of my beauty favourites: a stack of eyeshadows ( which doubled its amount from the time I took this picture! Uuuupps! ) and two my most used blushes this year: Tangerine and Cameo. I also love their lipsticks formula ( check some reviews here and here )… In fact, as a sneaky preview, I’m going to tell you that I will open my next blogging year precisely with a review on a gorgeous gorgeous lipstick from Burberry, which has become an obsession in a matter of minutes… So make sure you check that out!

My best 2014 makeup discovery was without a doubt Charlotte Tilbury! I got my first product at the beginning of this year and I was hooked ever since! Her eye makeup palettes are easily comparable with my favourite Tom Ford eyeshadows, her blushes give your cheeks the most beautiful flush of colour and a subtle healthy glow, and the formula of her lipsticks, especially the matte ones, is like nothing I have tried before…

You will definitely see more Charlotte Tilbury product reviews in the upcoming months!

Another favourite brand this year was By Terry. I’m loving her makeup makeup products, and our “love story” went on for years now!

But what I love the most this year were the Ombré Blackstars and the Tea to Tan, an innovative bronzer so easy to work with. It kind of made me forget about my favourite Guerlain Terracotta bronzers for a while!

Hourglass oh, Hourglass! I’ve been wanting to try their products for such a long time but it was impossible fro me to reach them because of their shipping policy! Then I discovered the SpaceNK website, and the doors to Heaven opened for me! Here you have probably my most handsome makeup items in my entire collection and that Mood Exposure in the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette is my most used blush in the past months… Also the highlighting shade in the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette, Incandescent Light is my most used highlighter ever!

Maison Francis Kurkdjian was my favourite House of Perfume this year. I loved everything from them from home scents like their scented candles and incense paper to Amyris, my favourite perfume of the year! It’s the most luxurious treat you can offer yourself and to your loved ones! Besides that, my search for a perfume to represent me and my personality ended once I put on Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Oud! I am happy to admit that I now have a signature scent which is so intimate, particular and different from everything around me!

As for my favourite skincare brand the one I enjoyed the most was Omorovicza, an amazing Hungarian brand with solutions for every skin issues! 

Here is the most amazing lip balm I have tried lately! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favourites and I would love to read about yours!

Since this is my last post on 2014, and the beginning of 2015 is a only couple of hours far, I would love to thank you once more for your constant support throughout my first blogging months, for your beautiful friendship, for the lovely conversations and the inspiration I get from you everyday!

Cheers to a new amazing year together, Beautiful!

Lots of xx,

Annie

 

 

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AM skincare routine…

Tags

Foreo, Luna Mini, morning routine, Omorovicza, Oskia, Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, Paula's Choice, Queen of Hungary Mist, Resist Barrier Moisturizer with Retinol, Sarah Chapman, skincare, Skinesis Morning Facial

After a couple of weeks when I posted reviews of some of my skincare staples at the moment ( maybe I should say “skin saviors”! ), I think it’s just about the right time to put them together in a post and tell you how I make them work for me. So this is my Morning skincare routine…

What my skin needs especially during this colder months is deep hydration and calming the eventual vascular lesions, the main cause of my rosacea.

Next I will share with you the products I use and the actual steps of my morning skincare routine.

Step 1: I take one pump of my Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel and massage it into my dry face. Then, for a deeper cleanse, I wet my Foreo Luna Mini ( review coming soon ) and massage my face for at least one minute. This device is so clever that it will tell you when to stop and when you need to move to another area. After that I clean my face from any residue with a muslin cloth and move on to…

Step 2 which is cleansing my face with a few spritzes of Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Face Mist on a cotton pad. This roses and minerals infused water leaves the skin clean but at the same time soft and hydrated.

Step 3 is to apply my morning serum. Now I’m using and loving the results from Sarah Chapman Skinesis Morning Facial. This is an amazing serum/oil, beautiful for a day wear. It absorbs instantly and doesn’t leave any oily residue. Read the complete review here.

Then Step 4, my daily moisturizer which at the moment is  Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Moisturizer with Retinol. Great moisturizer, made with natural ingredients, suitable for all skin types. Using this moisturizer there’s no need to add an eye cream because it is a multitasking product… But you can read more on that here.

Step 5 is to moisturize my lips, especially during the colder seasons my lips need extra care. So, I think that the Omorovicza Lip Perfector does an amazing job at hydrating and nourishing my lips. 

The final Step, 6th in my skincare routine is to apply SPF. The product I fell in love with lately is another Omorovicza one, the Complexion Corrector SPF 20. As the name suggests it’s a complexion corrector which helps me reduce the appearance of red cheeks and diminishes imperfections. The SPF 20 comes as a very much welcomed bonus. I wear it under my makeup and it works amazing as a primer as well. I prefer it mainly on days where I don’t have to wear makeup though, as a final step in my skincare routine.

And I’m good to go! 

What are your skincare favourites/saviours at the moment? Please share!

See you soon, beautiful! 

xx, Annie