Sigma Paris

Hi everyone.

I have to confess I am a sucker for limited edition products and cute packaging. I try to resist but sometimes I just know I need to add a new item to my make up collection. Especially after seeing numerous positive reviews.

So this time I bought the new limited edition palette from Sigma. It was designed in cooperation with popular youtube beauty gurus like MakeupByTiffanyD or xsparkage. I really admire their work so there was no way I will pass on the Paris Palette.

The packaging is really cute, it looks like a postcard.

And then we get this pretty design...

Onto the best part...The palette consists of 8 eye shadow shades, 2 blushes and a highlighter shade.

It's a really nice mix, perfect for travel. Color selection is good enough for daytime and evening looks. Especially if you like shimmery and sparkly finish on your eyes. Let's have a closer look...

Apart from that you also get two good quality brushes - E55 (eye shading brush) and F40 (blush brush). Really nice choice, sometimes it's all you need to create a quick make up look. 

Paris is available from Sigma website (http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Paris_Makeup_Palette_p/ep004.htm) and it costs $59 + shipping. 

But before you order, look for discount codes under youtube videos of the beauty gurus involved. You can save $10 :)

It's a really fun palette to have and I've already created many creative make up looks with it. Coming soon :)

But for now, take care and stay warm as winter is almost here in Australia :)

In search of super serum

Hi ladies,

Usually I am the one who reviews or recommends products. But today I would like to switch sides and ask for your help.
I am looking for a new facial serum to replace my A'Kin Cellular Radiance. It's been great for me over the years but currently I feel like I need something new, something better if possible.

I did a bit of research and found 5 products that I liked. So if you have tried any of them, please let me know what you think. I would really appreciate your recommendation.

My skin is dry and sometimes very dehydrated so I would love a product that would target that and also work as an early wrinkle weapon as I am slowly approaching 30.

So the finalists are:

Alpha-H Vitamin A+E serum
So far I liked every Alpha-H product that I've tried. This serum is supposed to stimulate cell renewal, collagen production and tissue regeneration. It is also hydrating and protects from UV damage and free radicals.

Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5
I've heard so many good things about retinoids and their benefits. It doesn't seem to have hydrating properties but can be great treatment to target early wrinkles, blotchiness and blemishes. It also stimulates collagen production.

Sophyto Anti-Ageing Antioxidant Serum
If you read my blog you may know that I am a fan of natural products, and this serum is 95% organic. It fights premature ageing (which is common for people with dry skin) and, as the name suggests, is full of anti-oxidants. No silicones, parabens and artificial colorants is a plus as well.

Decleor Aromessence Rose D'Orient Soothing Serum
Another organic product in a stylish bottle. It's a mixture of essential oils developed to soothe and calm sensitive skin. I bet it smells divine too :)

Esthederm Intensif Hyaluronic Concentrated Formula Serum
This one is designed for dehydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is not only moisturising but also helps restore the density of the skin. I am just wondering if it is not too strong for me at the moment...plus the price is rather high.

And since I have your attention (hopefully), I would love to know your thoughts on Alpha-H Liquid Harmony. I've never used AHA treatments and this one is supposed to be a great introductory product.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned? Are they worth the money?

Purple...again

Oh well,

I just love this shade lately :)
This time the look is more daytime appropriate and you can use other color combos if purple is not your shade.

Here's the newest creation :)

Products used:
- Shiseido Perfect Refining Makeup,
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer,
- Priori Finishing Touch Powder,
- Carbo bronzer (Light),
- La Femme Glow On Rouge (Nectar Peach),
- Art Deco eyeshadow base,
- Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked, Buck),
- Yaby eyeshadow (Old Barn),
- Kobo eyeshadows (202, 115),
- Inglot eyeshadows (75, 353,393),
- Sleek Original palette (pink and purple shades),
- Max Factor Eye Pencil (natural glaze),
- Max Factor False Last Effect mascara,
- NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Antwerp).

Let me know what you think of it :)
m.

NVEY ECO eyeshadows

Hi Ladies,

Today I have a quick review for you. Some time ago I received an eyeshadow palette from Nvey Eco. If you are not familiar with the brand, Nvey Eco is an organic make up line, launched in 2005. All their products are developed without nasty chemicals, like parabens, pertrochemicals or synthetic fragrances. And of course they are not tested on animals either.

So if you are interested in organic makeup, keep on reading :)

The palette I received contains 5 neutral shades, perfect for autumn and winter months. There are three palettes available, and the one I got was number 6.

Let's have a closer look at each shade in the palette...

There is a charcoal grey with a hint of olive green and gold sparkle.
The perfect shade to enhance our crease or to be applied all over the lid for a smoky effect.

Next is a purple color, great to make green eyes pop. I was hoping it would be a bit more vibrant, but it will be more suitable for a subtle wash of color on the lid.

Then we have this pretty champagne shade with a hint of peach. I like to apply it all over the lid to brighten up the eye. Great to use when you want to look more awake :)

Right next to it we have another light shade - it is a sandy-grey shade. Great to blend the edges of darker shades or apply alone for a subtle, daytime appropriate look.

And last but not least we have this pretty olive green with gold sparkle. My favorite shade in the palette. Such a great color for autumn.






Nvey Eco shadows are enriched with jojoba oil, chamomile and vitamins C & E. That makes them perfect for sensitive and dry skin types. I haven't experienced any allergic reactions even when my skin was going through a difficult time.

Applied over an eyeshadow base they last all day and stay vibrant until you remove your makeup. They are very creamy and easy to apply or blend together. While using darker shades make sure you tap the excess shadow off the brush before application, because there can be a bit of fallout.
I would definitely recommend them for mature women as they don't emphasize lines or dryness on the lids.

So how do they look on the lids? Here are some looks I created using Nvey Eco palette.

The first one is very subtle. I was going for a daytime, brightening look. I used champagne and purple shades with a hint of green on the lower lashline.

Then I wanted to use all the shades together...

And here's my favorite look - green smoky eye. I used the darkest shades in the palette and green cream shadow as a base to enhance the colors even more.

Overall I think it's a nice palette for both - everyday and evening looks. The colors are not extremely vibrant (comparing to Inglot or Sleek) but hey, not everyone is game enough to pull on acid green or bright pink :)

If you are a fan of subtle looks, this palette is for you. And if you are looking for organic makeup, you should definitely give Nvey Eco a try.

RRP: 79.95
Availability: http://www.nveyeco.com

To sum up...

Pros:

• all the products are organic and free from nasty chemicals,
• you get five subtle shades to choose from,
• ideal for everyday and evening make up creations,
• good staying power (when used with a primer),
• creamy formula that makes them easy to apply and blend,
• nice sturdy packaging with a mirror and two sponge applicators, 
• travel friendly.

Cons:

• shades are not very vibrant,
• some of them take a couple of layers to show up on the lids (I've experienced it mostly with the purple shade),
• price.

Have you tried Nvey Eco eyeshadows? Let me know what your experiences with the brand are...

Take care,

M.

Nvey Eco Palette was provided for me by the company for consideration. I am not being compensated for this post and the opinions are 100% honest.

Peacock makeup

Hi all,

Time for another make up look. This time I was inspired by peacock feathers. I love incorporating shades of blue, green and purple into my makeup. They look really nice with my eye shade and my complexion.

Hope you like my creation :)

Now for the rest of the face you don't have to add much. Eyes are the most important in this look so I skipped blush and just enhanced my cheekbones with bronzer and highlighter. On the lips you can go nude, but I decided to add a bit more color and added bright coral lipstick.

Products used:

- Make Up For Ever HD foundation,

- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer,

- Priori Finishing Touch Powder,

- Kiko Face Contouring Sculpting Duo (01 Flawless Highlighting Gold),

- Joko Universe blush/highlighter (J393),

- Art Deco eyeshadow base,

- Avon Super Shock black pencil liner,

- Inglot shadows (428, 414, 446, 117)

- Foxy & Blackout shades from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette,

- Naked Cosmetics pigment,

- Kobo eye shadows (202, 101),

- kredka Max Factor flesh-toned pencil (Natural Glaze),

- Physicians Formula gel liner,

- Max Factor False Lash Effect & Masterpiece Max mascaras,

- Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick (Coral In Love).

Would you wear a look like that?

Purple Rain

Hi everyone,

I have another make up look for you today. This time I wanted something more dramatic and creative. So I reached for my Wet'N'Wild palette in Lust and created this...

I love purple on my eyes, it brings out green tones in my eyes. If you want to go for dramatic eye look, don't go too crazy on the rest of your face. Neutral blush (or bronzer) and lip is enough. Warmer hues will compliment the look without looking too pinky or monochromatic.

Products used:
- Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation,
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer,
- Kobo Ideal Cover Makeup (405 Suntanned) as bronzer,
- MAC blush (Immortal Flower),
- Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder (Champagne),
- Art Deco eyeshadow base,
- Inglot Soft Precision Eyeliner (42),
- Wet'n'Wild Palette (Lust),
- pink eyeshadow from Yaby (Soft Lotus),
- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (Milk),
- NYX eyeshadow (Platinum Pink),
- Kobo eyeshadow (101 Coconut),
- black pen liner from Paese,
- Maybelline eye pencil,
- Max Factor Masterpiece Max mascara,
- Ardell false lashes (318),
- Clarins Rouge Prodige lipstick (105 Peach Sorbet),
- Smashbox lip gloss (Candid).

Hope you'll like the look,
Take care,
m.

My Evening Face Routine

Welcome back :)

Time for part two of my face routine. This time I will share my evening ritual that has been working amazingly well for me over the last few months. My battle against breakouts is almost over - it took nearly 6 months but it's great to know that my face is getting back to normal.

So here are my basic steps in the evening face routine.

1. Cleansing, of course

 I wear makeup almost every day so I need to make sure my face is clear before going to bed. My go to makeup remover is from Garnier Clean Sensitive range. 2 in 1 Gentle Make Up remover does exactly what it claims to do - gets rid of makeup quickly, gently and effectively. I've been using it for more than a year now.

Next step changes depending on my skin needs on a day. Sometimes I use my Clarisonic Mia (sensitive brush), other days when I want something more gentle, I go for Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser.

By using two products I make sure all the makeup is gone. It was extremely important when I had breakouts all over my forehead and I didn't want to congest my skin even more.

2. Exfoliating

My go to product in this category is Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. It's very gentle so I can use it every day. It has powdery consistency that changes into a creamy formula when mixed with water. I was using it while having eczema on my face and never had any issues with extra irritation or redness. The price tag on this product is quite heavy but I only use a tiny amount (half a teaspoon) so it will last pretty long.

3. Toning

I did mention two toners in the previous skincare post. Since then I finished the Gaia one and decided to try something new. Having great results with Avene Cleanser I decided to go for the same brand and ended up with Avene Gentle Toner. It is suitable for dry and very dry skin and to be honest, it's the best one I've tried so far.

Some toners can leave my face tight and uncomfortable, but this one is almost hydrating. After using it, my face feels soft and supple - ready for the next step.

4. Nourishing

Since I use a moisturising cream in the morning, at night I prefer something nourishing. Again I don't use just one product - most of the times I reach for the Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream. It's very rich and really helps my skin to regenerate overnight. Other days I like to alternate and use either Kosmea Replenishing Moisture Cream (for those days when my skin still feels dehydrated) or Burt's Bees Natural Radiance Night Cream with Royal Jelly (when I need glowing complexion the next day).

Pretty long post, huh? Hopefully you got to this point :)
Have you got any great skincare gems?