Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Sponge Tip Eyeshadow Applicators :: Give them some love!
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As I was going through my makeup collection, I found this little box where I store all the little sponge applicators that usually come with the palettes and eye-shadow compacts I buy. I don't know about you, but they drive me crazy every time I open a palette!!! So I tend to store them in this little box I have. I tried to think of ways to use them (apart from the obvious one - to apply eyeshadow!) so that I can give them some love and I get some use out of them.
After some search online, these are the uses I found for them:
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| source: http://www.fashionlady.in |
- Apply lipstick as a stain
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| source: http://articles.lovingyou.com |
- Use it to apply lipgloss over a lipstick
How many times have you applied a light lipgloss over a dark lipstick, only to find out that after you've placed the wand back, you've tinted your lipgloss? I know I've done it before and I wasn't happy!!! In order to avoid this, you can wipe the lipgloss applicator on to the sponge tip applicator and then go on and apply the lipgloss over your lipstick! Easy peasy!
- Apply glitter polish on the nails
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| source: http://www.brit.co |
- Create a gradient manicure
Lastly but not least, you can use the sponge tips to create a gradient manicure. You can do it using 2-3 colours like shown in the picture above, or you can follow the technique shown in the video here:
After all this I definitely have some more uses for my sponge tip applicators! If you have any more tips and uses for them, please leave a comment below!
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Recipe :: Strawberry Jam Muffins
In our family we LOVE muffins! There something about them that we just can't get enough of! They are cute, wrapped in lovely paper and utterly delicious! Today I'll share with you a new recipe that I've tried recently and it was a big hit!
- Strawberry Jam Muffins -
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tbsp. sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place your muffin cups in your muffin pan. In a bowl mix your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. In another bowl combine the milk, vegetable oil and egg and then add them to the flour mixture. Stir gently with a spatula until the ingredients are combined.
- Fill the muffin cups half way with your batter. Then place 1 tsp of the strawberry jam in the center of each cup, and fill them up with the remaining batter.
- In a little bowl combine the 1/2 tsp cinnamon with 1 tbsp sugar, and sprinkle the mixture over each muffin.
- Place in the oven and bake for 12-15mins, until golden.
- Serve warm with a cup of tea for utter deliciousness!
Let me know what you think if you try the recipe! Hope you enjoy! (nom, nom - I'm eating one right now!!!)
Friday, October 04, 2013
Face and Body Foundation by MAC :: The perfect way to apply it!
You all know how much I love the Face and Body foundation by MAC. And if you didn't, you do now!!!
I think it's one of the best foundations that I've tried. It's light and provides a medium coverage, but it is buildable as well. It looks really nice and natural on the face, with a longwearing formula that doesn't break me out. And of course it is quite versatile as it can be used on the body too.
Even though I love this foundation, I have to admit that I struggled a bit at the beginning with it's application. I found that when used with brushes, it can get a bit streaky and it takes a while to dry and set on the skin. Therefore, for me the best way to apply it is with the fingers. However, I came across an amazing makeup artist on YouTube that shows a different way to apply the F&B! Her name is Sharon Farrell and you really have to check her out and subscribe to her channel!!
The way she demonstrates and has made me love this foundation even more, is to apply some on your hands and then rub them together until it gets a bit sticky. At this point you can apply it on your face with your fingers. What this does, is it makes the foundation more opaque and it dries very quickly, giving you a very nice finish. Amazing!!!!
You can check her technique in the following video:
So this is for me the best way to apply the Face and Body foundation! If you try it, let me know what you think in the comments below!
Thursday, October 03, 2013
The Autumn Tag
For Autumn, what is your...
1. Favourite thing about it?
The colours of the leaves, the smell of the rain, wearing cozy warm clothes...
2. Favourite drink?
Hot chocolate and Hazelnut Latte from Starbucks (even though, now that they have the Spiced Pumpkin Late and the Salted Caramel Mocha this could change!!)
3. Favourite scent/candle?
Mountain Lodge by Yankee Candles and anything with a cinnamon scent (I would looove to try the infamous 'Leaves' by Bath and Body Works!)
4. Best lipstick?
My favourite lipstick of all time (regardless the season) is Patisserie by MAC.
5. Go to moisturiser?
The body moisturiser that I love this season is the Moringa Body Butter from The Body Shop!
6. Go to colours for eyes?
The eyeshadows I tend to reach for this season are Patina, Satin Taupe, Sable, Woodwinked, Carbonized, Twinks, Mulch and Tempting, all by MAC.
7. Favourite music or band/singer to listen to?
Anything from Dido especially the 'No Angel' album, and I also like the song Wake me up when September ends by Green Day.
8. Favourite outfit to wear (i.e. boots and a scarf combo)?
I usually like to wear boots, my jeans and a cosy top with a scarf. Very typical outfit for me!
9. Autumn treat? (i.e. a new scarf or a bag you have your eye on?)
I want the Christy Tumbled Leather Stretch boots by Tory Burch in black (check them out here)!
10. Favourite place to be?
Going for walks in the mountains with my family and walking over the fallen leaves.
If you decide to do the 'Autumn Tag' in your blog, leave me the link to your blog in the comments below!
Image Source: http://miriadna.com
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Review :: John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo
I'll start by saying that my hair has not been very happy for the past year or so... It looks dehydrated and dull, with very dry and coarse ends and breaks very easily. And of course I'm the one to blame... I've been neglecting it, using heat almost every single day, putting it up in a messy bun all the time (it's so hot in Cyprus in the summer I can't stand letting my hair down!). And the sun, the sea and the chemicals in the swimming pools make things even worse!
For the past few months I've been trying various different shampoos and hair products in general, in an attempt to restore the situation. However, I didn't see any results and nothing made an impression on me or my hair!
I've purchased some John Frieda products in the past. More specifically I have tried the shampoo and conditioner from the Sheer Blonde Line (way back, when my hair was lighter and had highlights) and I really liked them. So I had high hopes for this shampoo!
The John Frieda Full Repair is a new line of products that aim to restore and repair overworked and damaged hair. It contains Incha Inch Oil - a natural oil that is high in Omega -3 and -6.
It has a very nice and subtle smell that I really like - nothing too overpowering that lingers on your hair all day! The shampoo itself has a thin and silky consistency, and lathers nicely. You don't need much, so it is quite economical as well. It gives my hair a nice clean without making it feeling stripped, and it doesn't leave any residue.
This shampoo makes my hair feel really light, soft and moisturised, without weighing it down. My hair looks healthy and shiny, and I've noticed less breakage too! I just love it! I've been using it for the past 3 weeks now and I highly highly recommend it!!!
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You can find the John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo at feelunique.com for £5.89 with free delivery worldwide.
Have you tried any products from the John Frieda Full Repair Line?
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Monthly Favourites :: September 2013
September is always one of the busiest months of the year for me. We're coming back from the holidays, I have to get the house clean and ready for autumn, the kids start school and all their after-school activities, and the list goes on and on! But I love September! Apart from the fact that my little Natalia was born in September and therefore it holds a special place in my heart, I believe that this month is perfect for starting new things, getting yourself organised and re-focused!
So, with all these things that were happening this month, my makeup routine got very basic I'm afraid, since I didn't have enough time in the morning.
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| OC Eight Mattifying Gel |
One product that stood out for me and saved me from looking like a grease ball this month was the OC Eight Mattifying Gel. I've already wrote a review on this product raving about it if you want to check it out! I highly recommend it!
For my eye makeup, most of the month I used Patina - one of the best eyeshadows from MAC that I've got. It is such an amazing colour - taupe brown with golden pearl! I was applying it all over the lid with a bit of mascara and it was just the perfect everyday look! If you don't have Patina, I suggest you check it out next time you're at a MAC store!
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| The Rocket Volume Express mascara by Maybelline |
As for the mascara I was using this month, I decided to try the Rocket Volume Express by Maybelline, to see what the fuss is all about! And even though I don't usually like the Maybelline mascaras that much, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this one! It gave me volume and length and held the curl pretty well throughout the day! I plan to write a more detailed review for it really soon! ;)
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| Pink Cadillac Pout Polish by Sleek |
Moving on to the lips, I think that I used the Pout Polish by Sleek in Pink Cadillac almost everyday this month! It's an amazing pink colour that makes your lips look really nice and juicy without being sticky! And it's so easy to apply! Perfect for those days that you are in a hurry and you don't have a mirror! I also used it as a blush some of the days and it was really nice as well!
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| Stripdown Lip Pencil by MAC |
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| Viva Glam V lipstick by MAC |
The days that I didn't use the Pink Cadillac, I went for my favourite MAC lip combo: Stripdown lip pencil and Viva Glam V lipstick! It's the perfect nude-type combination for me, because I can't do the really nude lipsticks - I need a bit of colour on my lips otherwise I look a bit ... dead! Very versatile lip pencil as well. Can be used with many lipsticks and I think that it suits a lot of people.
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| Intrigue by Jessica and Paradoxal by Chanel |
For my nails I definitely chose some autumn colours this month, even though it doesn't feel like autumn here in Cyprus yet. For my toes I used the Chanel Paradoxal and for my hands I used the Intrigue by Jessica.
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| 'My Coconut Island' by TreacleMoon |
Lastly, my body butter in 'My Coconut Island' by TreacleMoon was definitely one of my favourite products this month! The smell is amazing! And it makes my body feel so, so soft! I love it!!! For a more detailed review and more ohhs and ahhs from me about this product, you can take a look here!
So these were my favourite products for this September! I hope October brings some amazing moments to all of you!
What were your favourite products this month?
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Review :: REN Face Masks
I'm very into my skincare lately, and of course no skincare routine would be complete without a face mask... or two! The ones I'm going to talk about today are both by the brand REN. REN is a brand that launched in 2000 and since then has become one of the top skincare brands. They use only 100% plant and mineral derived actives and their products are free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients.
So, let's see the masks I'm currently using:
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
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| Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask by REN |
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| Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask by REN |
It has a very nice fruity smell as it contains natural fruit acids from Passion Fruit, Lemon, Grape and Pineapple. It's consistency is like gel and applies really nicely on the skin. Also it's easy to use like all masks: you just apply a generous amount onto clean skin over your face and neck, making sure to avoid the eye area. You leave it on for 10 minutes and then you dampen the muslin cloth that is included in the packaging (how cool is that!) to wipe it off. And you're done!
On the packaging it says that you might experience a slight tingling sensation, but I didn't notice anything like that. It also says that it's not recommended for sensitive skins, but mine is extra sensitive and I had no problems whatsoever!
I have to say that this is one of a few face masks that I can actually see immediate results on my face! It's like a radiance booster! It leaves my skin fresh, soft and glowing!!! PERFECT!!! I use it once a week, usually on Sunday nights when I pamper myself a bit! When I wake up in the morning my skin feels so soft and looks so clean and plump! I love it!
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You can find the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask by REN at Lookfantastic for £30 (which is around $49), with free worldwide delivery.
REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask
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| Invisible Pores Detox Mask by REN |
The second mask from REN that I'm using is the Invisible Pores Detox Mask. It is a clay mask that is supposed to minimize the appearance of pores and remove blackheads, living the skin smooth and toned. Well I'm up for anything that can make my pores smaller!
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| Invisible Pores Detox Mask by REN |
It has a herbal smell which I really like. It's consistency is like all clay masks: thick and creamy. The instructions state that you should apply a generous amount on clean skin, let it dry until the mask can be removed by gently rubbing the skin with your fingertips (usually between 15-20 minutes). Well, I don't really like the feeling of rubbing the mask on my face when it's dry, so what I do is I wait until the mask is completely dry (when it's so dry that you can't move your mouth and your husband decides to make jokes and you can't even laugh - that stage!), and then I use a dampen muslin cloth and remove it like that. I also find it's less messy this way, because if you try to rub it, all the flakes and stuff goes everywhere! You can also try and have a shower after, and remove it with the water.
This mask is nice. I don't see the amazing immediate results like with the Glycolactic one, but my face does feel fresh and my pores do look cleaner. So it does work. However, this mask tends to irritate my eyes! It's the first mask that I had such a reaction to. I am very careful and I avoid the eye area, but my eyes still get a bit watery every time I use it. It feels like when you go to smell some Vicks Vapor and the tub gets a bit closer to your eyes and you get that fresh feeling but your eyes get watery... that's exactly how this makes me feel.
I like the results I get with it and so the way I use it in order to avoid this problem is to lie down, after I put in on, close my eyes and apply two slices of cucumber on my lids. That way I can treat my under eye circles and do my clay mask at the same time! During that time I usually meditate, or listen to my favourite podcasts and so turn the 20 minutes that the mask takes to dry into a relaxing break for me!
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You can find the Invisible Pores Detox Mask by REN at Liberty for £18 or at Amazon for $26.45.
I have to say that I really like the REN products and I do want to try some more!
Have you tried any REN products? Which one is your favourite?
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