Beauty | Empties #1

MAC Full Coverage Foundation in NC15

This is the first high-end foundation I ever bought. I wanted something with a little more coverage and in the right colour. So I decided to go to MAC, since they  have a very wide range of colours there.

I first used it as a foundation, but now I use it as an concealer. I do think that it can look a little cakey sometimes. So that’s why I wanted something lighter. The colour is a little bit to light for me, but with some bronzer that problem is solved. This foundation is perfect for when you have acne or scars on your face. I covers them up really well. You can apply it lightly for  medium coverage or heavy for full coverage. It is a very versatile product.

I would repurchase it, but honestly I want to try out the other MAC concealers first. So maybe in a couple of years.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 100 Ivory

I hated this at first. It made me look orange and it just wasn’t something for me. Untill I mixed it with Bourjois Healthy Mix and I fell in love with it. The colour is a bit too dark, but when you blend it down your neck it is not very noticeable. I have repurchased this one already and I would definitely do it again. Unfortunately they don’t sell it in stores anymore. At least I can’t find it. I also see it as a summer foundation, because of the glowy effect. So this will be my go to summer foundation.

Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder

I love this powder a lot. It keeps the shine away for a very long time. I hate to reapply powder so the fact that it does its job is amazing. I also have repurchased this one a lot. Right now I am trying there other matte powder. I have to say I am not a fan,  so right after I’ve finished that one I will buy this powder.

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara in Black Waterproof

This mascara is really really good. I think it holds the curl very well and it stays put for most of the days, since I can end up liking a raccoon with normal mascara. I will definitely repurchase this mascara over and over again.

Charles Worthington Hair Healer

At first I really liked this product. After a while it made the ends of my hair really dry and I stopped using it. A couple of months ago I went through my drawer and found it again. I have used it in combination with a drugstore hair oil and It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray. This really moisturizes my hair. I would not repurchase it again, since I have other hair products that work better.

Bioderma Créaline/Sensibio H20

The hype around this product is definitely worth it. It takes you make-up off very well. I used it more as a toner. Since it takes a lot of cotton pads to take off your foundation. I also had an allergic reaction, because I had to rub my make-up off. But as a toner it works fine. It takes off the make-up that is still left on my face. You can also use it as an eye make-up remover, but I do not really like it to use it for that. I would definitely repurchase it.

IndeedLabs Hydraluron Moisture Booster

This is a serum that I absolutely love. It really puts moisture back in to your skin. If you have dry skin this will be the holy grail product for you. I have combination/oily skin, but in the colder months my skin always tends to be a little bit dryer. Only con: you cannot buy it in The Netherlands. But I would definitely repurchase this product if I could.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser

My holy grail cleanser. I takes of your make-up very well. I do not like to take of my eye make-up with this, but you can use it for that. It leaves my skin feeling very clean and soft. I would definitely repurchase it.

Kiehl's Ultra Oil Free Lotion

Another product that I have bought multiple times. It is a really good all-round moisturizer. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and soft. It leaves your skin a little bit greasy though, but I can live with that. I would definitely repurchase it.

So these were all the empty products I have. I need to have a box where I can put in all my empty products. And of course not forget to put them in there.

 Have you tried any of these products?

Haul | Drugstore Make-up: L'Oréal, Rimmel, Catrice and Essence

Make-up can be really expensive. Especially when you go for the higher brands. Drugstore brands on the other hand are cheaper. But still, for the Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara you pay €16,99, for a foundation from L'Oréal you pay €15,99. I think that it’s really overpriced for drugstore products. Especially when you compare the prices to other countries.

So when a good deal comes around I am there. Last week there was a buy one, get one free deal on all make-up. You got 50% discount on the total amount.

I told myself you do not really need anything. But when you are standing there you just want it all. Since everyone knew about this it was really busy. It was like a day at Primark. So I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I managed to buy everything I wanted, even though I did not really needed everything.

L'Oréal True Match Foundation in R1 C1 Rose Ivory, from €15,99 for €8,00

This foundation was my holy grail product when I was about 15 years old. I’ve used this one for years and years, until I wanted a little bit more coverage. I wanted to try it out again. Since I am very pale, it is really hard to find a drugstore foundation that matches my skin. I  use Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation right now, but I cannot find it any more in stores. I also wanted something that was less illuminating. So I am excited to try this one out.

Essence Fancy Lashes, from €2,59 for €1,30

I never really wear false lashes. I bought a pair of Primark lashes once and they made me look hideous, so I’ve never worn them. This pair however looks very natural but dramatic. I cannot wait to wear these on Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 120 Cutting Edge, from €8,99 for €4,50

Since I don’t have enough lipsticks already, I bought another one. A friend of mine has this and it looked so amazing that I also needed to add this to my lipstick stash. The formula is not drying and the color payoff is amazing. It is a pinky purple and I will wear this a lot this fall and winter.

Catrice All Matt Plus Shine Control Powder in 010 Transparent, from €3,59 for €1,80

I have a really oily t-zone so I need to powder my face. My other powder ran out, so I decided to try this one. I bought it in the lightest color. I already tried it a couple of times and I do not really like it. After a couple of hours my face gets really shiny. I have had other powders that kept my face matt for a long time. Even after that time it did not look as shiny. But I will give it some time and if I do not like it then, it’s just not for me.

Catrice Made To Stay Inside Eye Highlighter Pen in 010 In The Mood For Nude, from €2,89 for €1,45

Lately you see a lot of waterline highlighters. You put a white or flesh colored eye pencil on your waterline and it gives you an instant wide awake look. I already bought a white one, but I also wanted to try this one out. It is very long lasting and the color payoff is great. I do think I like the white one better. It makes them more awake than the other one.

Catrice Eye Liner Pen in 010 Black, from €2,99 for €1,50

I love a black line above my eyes. I already discovered that gel liner is nothing for me. It always creases and I never get that thin line. Eyeliner pens are amazing because I can get a precise thin line. Although not every pen is the best. It runs out very quickly or black isn’t black, if you know what I mean.

This one belongs in both categories. The color isn’t very black. When I draw a line I need to go over that line five times before there is an actual ’’black’’ line. Because of that I feel like there isn’t a lot of product in there. The plus point is that it is very long lasting. I will keep looking for that perfect eyeliner.

So these were all the items I bought. I know I didn’t buy a lot, but I actually didn’t really needed anything. Only foundation and powder, and then all these other bits went in my basket. I cannot wait to create a look with all the items!

Have you bought any make-up products recently?

Review | It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin

I am always on the hunt for good haircare products. I have really long straight hair, so that needs a lot of care to keep it in a good condition.

I wanted to get this for a while. I was contemplating if my friend in America should bring it back with her. Then in London I went to TK Maxx and they had it there. I was contemplating, but decided to get it. 

The It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray was £14,99/ 120 ml

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin Amino Acids, Cyclopentasiloxane, Fragrance, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Panthenol, Quaternium 80, Silk Amino Acids, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3 Cylcohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropianal, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methychloroisothiazolinone

It is called It's a 10 because it says it does 10 things for you hair.

1. Maintenance of keratin straightening treatments.
2. Increases styling & manageability
3. Perfect for all hair types
4. Replaces lost protein
5. Protects the natural keratin in hair
6. Protects against heat
7. Restores hydration balance
8. Detangles, defrizzes & adds shine
9. Strengthens hair structure
10. Seals cuticles for extra silky hair

I do not know if it really does all that, but what I can tell you is how my hair looks after using it.

The bottle has a spray pump which I don't find very handy. Also I do not really see it as a spray but more as a cream, because of the thick creamy consistency.
I spray a couple of pumps in my hand and massage that in my hair. The next morning my hair feels really soft and looks healthy and shiny.The only con about this product is the scent. I just do not really like it, but I am getting used to it.

I think that when you use this product every day for a long period of time it will actually make your hair healthier from the inside. I do think it is an amazing product. My hair feels really soft and it looks healthy. I do find it is a little bit overpriced for what you get. It is also not available everywhere. There are products out there that also make your hair soft, shiny and healthy and are way cheaper.

So for me it is not worth the hype. I will just finish up my bottle and look for something new. I already set my eyes on the Bumble & Bumble Texture Creme. Do any of you know if this is good?

What is your favourite haircare product?

Review | Lush Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

Lush always has the best bath products. I love to take a look in there shop and just smell everything. Especially with Christmas they have some special limited edition goodies. Last year they came out with Golden Wonder. A bath bomb that looks like a golden present. If you shake it you can hear there is also something inside the bath bomb. Once it is in the bath it changes from colour, I think that is so cool. (I never use that word, but I think it's the perfect word to describe this bath bomb).

But anyway, I bought this last year and wanted to use it for a special occasion. Since this bath bomb is pretty special. Almost a year has gone by and I still have not used it, until this week. I just had to use it. It has been in my drawer for ages and I can buy a new one if I like it. Since all the Christmas products are already in Lush.

How Lush describes Golden Wonder:

''This bath bomb is like a pass the parcel gift – each layer has something different to offer. This is not for a quick bath because it takes its time, this bath bomb. Its layers of golden lustre, dazzling colours and soluble gold stars are a wonder to behold.''

''We loved this ballistic so much, we decided to put one of our most popular perfumes in it, so that lots of people will enjoy bathing in it. Long standing customers will recognise the smell of Snowshowers shower jelly. Newer customers might like to know that the smell is of a light fizzing champagne cocktail, and contains sweet orange oil, cognac oil and lime oil.''

Ingredients:

Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Sweet Orange Oil, Cognac Oil, Lime Oil, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Gardenia Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Colour 15510, Colour 45350, Colour 45410, Colour 42090, Edible Golden Stars, Golden Lustre, Golden Lustre Spray.

Now on to the bath bomb. It changes from colour: yellow, green and blue. There is a sort of golden layer on top of your water. I actually noticed that when I got out of the bad and there was still some gold glitter left in the tub. However I do not notice this on my skin. After a while some stars appear in your bath and suddenly they are all gone. The smell is amazing. I wont try to describe it, because I am not very good at that. :p

I really enjoyed my bath with this bath bomb. I will definitely repurchase it. Two weeks ago I also bought a few new bath products from Lush. They are from the Halloween/Christmas collection. So keep your eyes open for that! I promise I will not wait a year before using them!

What bath products do you use?

Favourites | October 2013

Beauty Favourites

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips: Custom Eye in Nude
I always go for a nude eye, but since it is fall I wanted to go for a more dark smokey eye. The darker colours in this pallet are really good for that. The pigmentation is not amazing, but you can build it up very easily. Unfortunately it got smashed when I was travelling to London, but I can still use it. It had a good wide range of colours, so everyone can use it.


Sleek Face Form in Light
I absolutely have been loving this product in October. I think it is so handy that you have a contour powder, a highlighter and a blush in one kit. I have other bronzers that I use for contouring, but they always look a bit orange on me. This one however leaves a perfect contoured face. The highlighter is beautiful as well. It gives me a nice glow. The blush itself is beautiful. it reminds me a lot of Nars Orgasm. When I need to go away I always bring this product with me. Now I just need one product instead of three.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight
I was looking for a new nude in my life and I found it! I saw this in a couple of YouTube videos and decided to buy it. It is a beautiful colour. It really moisturises my lips and it goes with everything.

Riri for MAC Lipstick in Riri Woo
I knew that when the Rihanna for MAC Collection came out I had to have at least something. Everything looked so pretty. I had my eyes on the lipstick Talk that Talk, a gorgeous dark purple lipstick. Unfortunately it was sold out everywhere. The lipstick Riri Woo was also hard to find, but I managed to get my hands on it. The colour is beautiful. It is really pigmented. Because it is a matte lipstick, the lasting power is amazing. It can be a bit drying though, but with some lipbalm you should cover that problem.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant
I have had this one for ages. I have used it for a while, but went back to my all-time favourite Purol. It is a Dutch product, so I don't think you can get it everywhere. But this is a good dupe for it. Or maybe the Purol is a good dupe, because it is like €3 when the Eight Hour Cream products are way more expensive. But I decided to use this product again, because my Purol ran out. And as a lipbalm junkie that I am, I decided to use up some products before I started buying new ones. 
It moisturises my lips very well. It is a great product although I have one con and that is the packaging. You have to be really careful with opening and closing the lid. I have another one of these and I can't open it anymore because the lid is stuck. So beware!

Syoss Volume Dry Shampoo 
I love the textured hair trend that is going on right now. I would love to use the Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, but since it is really expensive and I have to order it from the UK I decided to find one that was cheap and a little bit closer to home.
This one is really good, I try not to wash my hair everyday anymore. I know that it is bad but I just love the feeling of freshly washed hair. This one comes in really handy in the second day when my  hair starts to get a little bit greasy. It is great for adding more volume. I absolutely love this product!

Face Brush
I bought this product probably about two years ago. I wanted a Clarisonic, but since it is expensive I wanted to try out a cheaper version. I used it to much I think, because my skin got red and irritated. Since then I have never used it. But last month I decided to use it just at night and very gentle. I have to say, this product is amazing! My skin feels so soft and clean. I cannot believe I stopped using it after one bad experience. I you want the Clarisonic but you're not sure yet, just try out this ''dupe''.

Non beauty

Songs:

Little Mix - Move
This song is so catchy and it's been on repeat for about three weeks right know. I can't wait to hear there new album!

Ariana Grande - Yours Truly Album
I love every song on this album. I still have some favourites though. I love Honeymoon Avenue, Right There, Lovin' it and Piano. I think she has an amazing voice. It is also really exciting that she will be backstage at the MTV EMA'S in Amsterdam. Unfortunately I didn't get tickets, so I will watch the show in front of the tv. :(

TV Shows:

Glee
I was a huge Glee addict, but when season four came I suddenly did not watch it anymore. You had to wait like a month for a new episode and I just stopped watching it. At the beginning of October I really wanted to get into it again. I love the fact that Demi Lovato is in Glee and I really wanted to see the tribute episode to Cory. I loved every episode and I will be catching up with every episode from now on.

PLL/ Ravenswood
How amazing was the Halloween episode right. I was like OMG all the time. I won't spoil a thing so you have to watch it for yourself. Now we have to wait till January for a new PLL, but we still have an episode of Ravenswood every week. I really like the show. It is a bit creepy and scary sometimes, at least for me, but I find everything scary. I do find that the storyline of Caleb is sort of created for the show. I don't know but why would he stay with Miranda? He just met her on the bus, isn't that weird. Well we see how the show develops.

What are your October favourites?

Fashion | Jewellery: The Statement Earring

So back when I was twelve I used to have an earring obsession. I got my piercing at that age, so it was pretty exciting. I bought them in all colours and sizes and wore them everyday. After a while I stopped wearing them and when I did wear them it looked weird.

I haven't worn earrings for about two years, but I want to get into it again. I have seen a lot of statement jewellery lately. I own a lot of statement necklaces, I think they really give an extra spark to your outfit. So I knew that I wanted some statement earrings, since I am not really going for the small eardrop.

Six jewelry - Earrings - EUR 4,95

I had my eyes on these for a long time. But every time I said to myself: you are not an earring kind of girl, at least not any more. I went to Amsterdam yesterday and saw them again. I really fell in love with them and decided to breathe new life into my earring obsession.

They are gold with black and red stones and some gold arrows hanging at the bottom. They pretty comfortable to wear, because they are not that heavy. Of course it had to get used to it. They are pretty out in the open, if you know what I mean. But I love them and I will be on the hunt for more statement earrings. 

What is your favourite jewellery at the moment?