The NARS Trinity

Yes these are old news but when the news is sooo good I think its ok we talk about them again. 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils!

These are the favorite matte lipsticks in my modest stash ( I use the word modest liberally as you might guess). They are long lasting, don't bleed, beautiful matte finish, super pigmented, dont make my lips feel like desert..I could go on and on.

The range is vast in color choice but as I wear red lip most often mine are all from that color family. However they are all "totally" different as you will see below.

So starting from the left we have the darkest of the trinity called Cruella (Link). Described as scarlet red by the brand this is "prepare to be seen" kind of lip color. Blue based deep red that is so "sexy" if that can be used as a color description. I would say this is a color not for the faint hearted. If rocking a red is your thing then this is a must have for fall-winter especially.

Next up is my latest addition and one I had been chasing for a while. Dragon Girl (Link) seems to be constantly sold out in various online stores so it was a long time coming. Boy was it worth the wait! Vivid siren red is how NARS describes it. This one is also blue based (we all know those are the best to make those pearly whites shine) but with strong pink undertones- a proper bright cherry red. The shade just lasts and lasts for a good 5-6h through the day. If I would describe Cruella as "sexy" then Dragon Girl would be my more "glam" option.

Lastly comes Red Square (Link) which was actually the lipstick that converted me into the red-lips-during-day-time business. I bought this years ago when visiting my sister in London and it was a random purchase to be honest. Little did I know it will start a whole red lipstick hording episode of my life. If someone asks for my favorite red lippy the first one that comes to mind is Red Square. Bright orange red is what the official description reads. I think this is such a day appropriate shade. Red Square is proper orange based warm-toned and pretty bright. I love that it isn't neon but more of a "retro" shade that makes me feel like a vintage vixen ( I have good imagination okay!)

L-R: Cruella, Dragon Girl, Red Square

So there we are. 

My favorite NARS reds all lined up for you. 

Have you tried the Velvet Mattes? Whats your favorite shade? 

Maybe I should be branching out from the red category?

I'm Feeling The Love

I believe I have mentioned more than once that September is my bday month. Together with the general merriment of cake, bubbly and hugs came some very very lovely birthday presents.  

So I thought I will show you one that I got from two fantastic ladies who you all should know well. When you have friends like Laura and Simone who besides being hilarious and sweet also have exceptionally good taste perfection happens..

What you see here is a "omg-I-cant-get-over-how-cool" Sophie Hulme pouch that they so perfectly picked up to match my new handbag (Link).  I feel ever soo chic pulling it out of my bag where it houses business cards, a lipstick choice of the day, my planner and keys. All those little bits that go missing in the big tote. I have also worn it as a clutch because look how pretty! It is so sleek and in that thick textured leather again with beautiful simple gold hardware clasp. I am telling you- Sophie Hulm is just too much to handle for me right now!

And inside the pouch I found these two beauties! Of course Simone and Laura knew to choose two shades I dont have anything similar to and I am so excited to add them to the collection.

MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Vegas Volt (Link)- this perfect wearable coral shade pulls all the right kinds of orange on me. Its much more toned down than my bright corals and I love it. If I do my little sugar scrub + lip balm action in the evening my lips are prepped and Amplified formula works amazing on me. If I fail to do that I find it get patchy on the dry bits very fast. Vegas Volt as a shade is perfect. Its interesting that if you look at swatches online it looks very much more neon on some people. You can see how it looks on me below.

Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Sandwash Pink (Link)- this is just a perfect nude.  Im not hugely into the beige nudes so this one is a beaut. It has all the right pink undertones and it looks pretty much like my lip color just amped up. The formula is super creamy and moisturizing and the shade makes your lips look so polished. This is my first ever Bobbi Brown lipstick and if they are all as good as Sandwash Pink I am seriously missing out.

As a bonus trivia for you- apparently this is the lipstick Kate Middleton wore on her wedding day! I mean if its good enough for a princess..

 Laura had a camera on hand as I was opening my present. Could I BE any more excited?

If you have any other Bobbi Brown lipsticks shades you love please let me know? I think I will have to investigate next time I am in the mall..

High maintenance much?

I got nothing to say to defend myself.  I am high maintenance and in beauty related subjects there is two that need to be perfect. Nails and lips- thou shalt not go out of home with a chipped nail or a smudged lipstick. Its just how it is for me.

For this reason I never used to wear bright lipstick. I would wishfully stare at women who wore full on red or fuchsia pink in the middle of the day. For me it was always about the fact that every damn lipstick I bought would sweep into the fine lines around my lips in a matter of a hour- lipliner or not. At that time I was in university so I couldn’t afford to try out Tom Ford and the likes but still. For example no red formulation of Mac lipstick would ever stay put. If I tried wearing it I would have to constantly check my lips and sure enough they would be a mess at some point. Oh those days of struggle..

So about 3 years ago I figured its time to give this bright lip thing another go and picked up NARS Red Square while in London. It actually looked flawless hours later and I couldn’t belive it. As my love for reds grew I started looking more into other products that would help me make any brand lipstick look perfect and stay without bleeding.

Nowadays I wear a full on red or pink lip to work most days of the week. I totally get if this is way to much hassle for most but I use the following products to make it perfect.
My lips are always dry so I make sure to scrub them twice a week. My favorite being the Lush Mint Julips Lip scrub. Its made out of caster sugar, jojoba oil, vanilla extract, tagates oli and peppermint oil and its lovely. I am soon out of it and next my eyes are on the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish.

Nuxe Reve de Miel is one of those cult products everybody loves and I can't fault it either. Best lip balm I have ever used and I dont go to sleep without a thick layer of this on. Its not sticky and has a thick matte consistency so works well under a lipstick as well. I will never be without it!

Mac Prep + Prime Lip is my main secret weapon and something I always wear under bright statement lipstick. This is a color free base that smooths lips and stops the lip color from bleeding. Its very lightweight but feels a bit sticky once applied, however once I put on lipstick you never feel it. It makes the color go on much more evenly and I think it helps with the longevity as well.

Too Faced Borderline Anti-Feathering Lip Pencil- this one is the latest addition to the lineup and I am so happy I decided to give it a go. Its a waxy colorless pencil you use as liner and it "creates a resistant barrier around the lips to perfect the shape and provide precise definition".  The pencil comes out when I want to wear the creamier reds as those are the fastest to bleed. I kind of half expected it not to work but it does exactly what it says. The barrier is there and no color bleeds past it.

Needless to mention I almost always wear a lip liner as well. You see..high maintenance.

Is there something you have tried that I dont know about? Another secret weapon?
Do you wear brights during day time at all?

Gimme More Neutral Eyeshadows

There are two products I have been meaning to tell you about for a month now. I bought them in July and have been using daily as both are fantastic. I have never done monthly favorites on the blog (only for nail polish) but if I did these two would be in it.

 Too Faced Natural Eyes palette (Link) and Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray (Link) are what this post is about.

The setting spray is something I was excited to try if only because the weather in Dubai is totally insane. In addition to the high temperatures, humidity in the last weeks has been just off the charts and everything melts of my face slowly but surely. No actually not that slowly..it melts off with one 7min walk to get coffee. I was between the All Nighter or De-Slick spray and ended picking De-Slick as my combination skin definitely needs help staying matte at the moment. There is not that much to say about it besides that it works great. I spray it all over the face once I have finished makeup and I love the results. Its weightless and keeps my foundation from melting into the fine lines. Its a must-have for summer months from now.

So the Natural Eyes then. Its an updated version of the old Natural Eyes which I never owned but always wanted. I also held back for a while when the updated version was released repeating to myself that I have too many natural/browny eyeshadows. In the end I just made up a reason because I wanted that pretty pink tin to be mine. I convinced myself my Naked palettes are just too big and bulky to travel with (weirdly this was not a problem before I started lusting after Natural Eyes) and having the vacations to Estonia and New York ahead I just REALLY NEED something more compact that covers all the bases. If you are rolling your eyes at this point I understand. But a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

Luckily this does actually cover all my needs. For the past month I have barely used anything else and I'm still not bored. These 9 shades go from matte to shimmery, cold to warm and are all super easy to blend.

Top row has the mattes:
Heaven- a pretty ivory that is just perfect under the brow.
Cashmere Bunny- one of my favorites from the palette. Such a terrific soft taupe crease shadow to define the eyes ever so subtly.
Sexpresso-  deep matte brown. Super pretty smudged into the lash-line for daytime or used for a smokey eye.

Middle row is my most used shadows:
Silk Teddy-shimmering soft pink that blends so beautifully and works great in the inner corner of the eye.
Push-Up- my favorite. Slightly lilac toned bronze shimmer that is just perfection. Equally good as all over lid or blended into crease.
Erotica- a charcoal brown with gold flecks. Total beauty.

Bottom row gets the least use at the moment but there is no reason for it. The shades are gorgeous.
Nudie- matte greige I have mostly used to fill in my brows.
Honey Pot- very shimmery warm gold shadow. Maybe a bit too shimmery for me so I haven't used it that much.
Chocolate Martini- deep espresso with gold shimmer. Pretty but I prefer the other two dark browns.

Excuse me if I got a little too excited over a natural eyeshadow palette but I really really like this one. Im just saying that I will be going to my 20days vacation with only this with me and feel totally confident I can do any look I want. Thats pretty good for a tiny little pink tin isn't it?

What's your all time favorite neutral palette? Would love to hear about your gems..

YSL Souffle D'Eclat Powder

Getting excited about new lipsticks is obvious, pretty eyeshadow gets my heart rate up easily as well. Heck sometime a great new foundation does it.

But getting excited about a powder has never happened before. Until Simone introduced me to YSL Souffle D'Eclat. Its a loose powder that promises to provide a luminous and lightweight finish. Now usually I would sum up a powder with something like- it mattifies and does the job.  Extra nice if it doesn't cake and stays put all day.

But this one..I think YSL Souffle D'Eclat contains a bit of a fairy dust because it has actual magic powers. It blurs the skin (I know it sounds crazy but reading reviews by other bloggers reassured me I'm not the only one that sees this effect) to make it look even and glowing and mat at the same time. I dont know how that is possible hence I suspect magic. Because in theory it doesn't make sense that your skin can be glowing and mat at the same time does it? However that is the only way I can describe it. It takes away the greasy shine but leaves a beautiful light reflecting veil that feels super silky. Apparently the special ingredient is micro Mother of Pearl particles in case you were wondering.


Not a day has gone by without using this powder and swooning over the results. It really works well with my combination skin. Lets just say how it is. This is hands down the best finishing powder I have ever used. Then again note that I haven't used that many. In any case it comes in 4 shades and looks pretty translucent once applied. I have the shade 02. 

I think I need to wrap this up because how long can one rave about a product like this. Do try it if you are on the lookout for a new loose finishing powder.

You can find it online at Selfridges (link).

Tom Ford Wild Ginger I Love You!

Yes I have just confessed love to a lipstick but I feel comfortable with you guys. You wouldn't judge would you?

I have longed to get this baby since forever and it has been on both of my lipstick wishlist posts(first and second). I finally caved at Dubai Duty Free on my way to Estonia and I think this will be my favorite summer makeup purchase of the year. I have worn it a lot and you can see me sporting it every other day in the vlog as well.

Wild Ginger is a super vivid orange red. I can only repeat myself here but the quality of TF lipsticks goes above and beyond. I mean its certainly a splurge item and due to price can only be placed in the luxury category of makeup but at least its totally amazing.

When reading reviews of Wild Ginger I noticed it seems to translate a little different on everyone. Its pulls more tomato reds on some skin tones and more orange on others. Im happy to report the orange hue is definitely there when I wear it. Its very pigmented and the lasting power for such a creamy consistency is great. I generally do a touch up 5-6h in but often thats not even necessary. Many reviews say the staying power is not all that so I'm not sure if my success has to do with the next purchase.



The lip liner. With such a look-at-me shade I want the lips to look and stay perfect. So the hunt for perfect liner started promptly after Wild Ginger was mine. And when I say promptly I mean at the very same Duty Free. I really did try to find a match at Mac or any other brand that was a bit more budget friendly but in the end the perfect liner was of course at Chanel counter. I could have been a sensible person and waited til I arrive back to Dubai and have much more options but what fun would that be? Instead I just bought the Chanel Le Crayon Levres in 56 Orange Intense. I actually haven't had one regret purchasing this. Its a perfect match and smooth to apply but stays put for ages. It has a great quality brush on the other end and it comes with its own sharpener. And as mentioned I think it really adds hours to the staying power of the lipstick. I also choose to have a memory of a goldfish when it comes to dwelling on the price.

This duo is making me very very VERY happy.

Do you own a Tom Ford lipstick? Which shade is your favorite?

A Holiday Haul That Was Not Supposed To Happen

First of all sorry about the radio silence. I have been on a vacation in Estonia for a week and it has been amazing. I have barely opened my laptop. I couldn't tell you I'm off because I wanted to surprise some of my friends and they read the blog.

Anyway I will tell you more about my vacation soon. This post is about the things I bought while in Estonia. I was not supposed to buy anything as the New York vacation is in less than a month but you know how it goes..sometimes (read:always) you dont have willpower to resist.

Clothing & Accessories

- 2 new stripey tops from Lindex. Its a Swedish brand that has very affordable prices and I love their basics. I always pick up some tshirts while in Estonia. This time I was all about stripes so a basic cut tshirt and a comfy cotton top with 3/4 sleeves.

- I haven't found anything in Dubai H&M for about a year. I almost never go in anymore because the layout and the stock just dont interest me the slightest. The H&M in Tallinn is a brand new and huge store that has great displays and pretty things catch your eye much easier. I picked up this pink dress that will be perfect for work and requires minimum effort to look put together. I will try to take some outfit pictures soon.

- I obviously had to go to my sisters studio and do some damage at New Vintage by Kriss HQ. I came home with a black agate necklace called Metal is My Muse. I have the same style with a green stone but just love the black with gold as well. I also got some opal earrings and a plain golden necklace I will have engraved.

Skincare

- Lumene Gradual Self Tan Lotion is something I always used when I lived in Estonia. Its a Finnish skincare and makeup brand that has lovely natural ingredients and loads of good products. I like the gradual tan lotion as it builds up slowly and fades evenly. It is paraben free and smells nice. Excited to have it in my stash again.

- I wrote in my last skincare post that I didn't put enough thought into the last toner I bought and ended up purchasing a alcohol containing Clinique one that is just way too harsh. I picked up the REN Clarimatte toner to replace it. Its alchokol free but has all the good stuff like glycolic and lactic acid and salicilin. Very much looking forward to give this one a go.

- Khiels Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado was on my wishlist for awhile and I picked it up at airport Duty Free. I have been using it for a week and absolutely love it. Its perfect if you have fine lines and dry skin under the eyes.

- Joik soy wax scented candles are one of my absolute favorites. Its an Estonian brand and I always pick a few up because I cant resist. This time I got the Strawberry's & wine scent.

Make up

 

- I havent been to Estonia for a year and during that year something awesome has happened. They have started selling Real Techniques brushes here! Who knew!? After convincing my sister to get the Blush brush I stood umm-ing and ahh-ing at the stand for ages. I ended up leaving with the Starter Set for eyes. So overexcited about this one!

- I ran out of my Healthy Mix Serum while here so decided to switch it up and get a bottle of Bourjois Happy Light instead. I have had it before and like it just as much, its just a good staple and does the job nicely. 

- saving the best for last of course. I allowed myself a sneaky Duty Free purchase at Dubai Airport and Tom Ford Wild Ginger is finally mine. My-oh-my is that a beauty. I have been wearing it most days and have so much love for the orangery red shade, the fancy packaging and the perfect formula. I didn't have any lip liner to go with it and even thou I made an effort matching it to Mac ones in the end the closest shade was from Chanel counter. Whats a girl to do? The girl is to buy that Chanel lip liner (shade 56 Orange Intense).

Im flying back to Dubai tomorrow so will be on track with regular posts before you know it. Expect to hear all about my vacation.

Tiny Little Non Haul

You see I only bought 3 things that surely doesnt count as a haul right? So lets call it a non haul just so I feel better.

It happened cause I "needed" to go check out the Zara sale which surprisingly didn't end up with any purchases. Instead there was a white dress in Gap that I really really want but it was not on sale so I numbed my heart and left it. To ease my pain I walked straight into Boots cause that's always a great idea.

My previous felt eyeliner has tragically dried up and Maybelline Master Precise liquid eyeliner looked promising. It has a ultra thin felt tip which is what I was looking for so that went into the basket. The Dream Touch blush came as a gift because I purchased 2 items from Maybelline. Im not hugely into cream blushes but will give this one a try out of curiosity.

Now to the good bits. I have been stalking the Bourjois counter for a month now and the Rouge Edition Velvet in Red Pepper is always out of stock! The pink version is pretty much my favorite matte formula ever and I really wanted to add this bright red one. I snagged up the last one according to the sales lady ( lesson- its always worth checking into Boots)

Dreaming about orangey lips is also a new hobby of mine.  Its all red and full on pink for me most days and I would love to switch it up. Maybelline ColorSensation Vivid range looked like they are worth a try, will not break the bank and there is sooo many shades available, so I chose Vibrant Mandarin. There was a few other shades that I might need to investigate if I will love this formula. I will post some FOTDs soon so you can see the lipsticks in action.

So this is it- my non haul! Well I did make a detour into Bath&Bodyworks but will not bore you with pictures of hand-soap and candles.

Have you tried any of these products?
I would especially love to hear if you have any favorite shades in ColorSensation range that I should check out?

I Like You

There is a few newbies in my make up routine that I have been meaning to share with you. Things I have picked up or been gifted and I have really enjoyed using as the weather gets more silly by the day (Hello +42c!).

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream- I think I saw Lisa Eldridge talk about this in a few videos and made a little note months ago. Now as all my favorite bases just felt too thick and mineral powders didn't sit well due the weird dry patches I have going on I was on a hunt for something new. Noticed it at Boots and decided to give it a go. Bourjois foundations are my favorite from the drugstore make up . I always have a Healthy Mix in my stash and I like Happy Light as well. And the CC cream did not disappoint either. I really love this. Its lightweight and luminous yet has way more coverage than I expected. Let is be stated that this is the first ever BB or CC cream I have tried. It really evens out the red and feels super hydrating. I will seal the T zone with a bit a powder but if it wasn't this hot I think I wouldn't even need to do that. All in all I'm so happy with it and if you like a dewy, luminous and smooth base for summer I cant recommend this enough. Oh and it has SPF15!

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock- a much raved creamy eyeshadow stick that I had been dying to try. I got my hands on the shade Misty Rock thanks to the lovely Stacey. First of all the consistency is so silky and easy to blend and this shade is totally up my alley as well. A gorgeous shimmery plum-taupe with flashes of pink and silver. Its just a joy to wear (I do always use primer under it so it wouldn't crease). A swipe over the lids for a light shimmer or built up for more color. I'm also still in love with my Mac Sable eyeshadow and Misty Rock works so well over it. I will try to post a make up look with it asap as I think its a bit difficult to explain how pretty this shade is. Thank you Stacey!

YSL Gloss Volupté in No19 Rose Orfevre- this was a gift from Simone and I dont know how will I ever repay it because this is my favorite lip gloss formula.. like.. ever! Its so light weight and non-sticky but insanely glossy. It smells like apricots and I have been wearing it almost daily! The shade is a pretty light pink with small golden flecks in it. I feel a strong need to pick this up in many many more shades.

Clarins Eclat Minute Natural Lip Perfector in 01- this is one of those perfect lip products that feel more like a balm but have a little bit of gloss to them. The shade I picked up is a pink but it looks more like my own smooth natural lips rather than painted ones. It feels very nourishing and is a products that always comes handy in your daily makeup. I really like the tube packaging also.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief- I got this sample a while back and only dug it out recently as my skin is playing tricks on me. Its such a refreshing cream-gel moisturizer. Feels lightweight and really puts the moisture back into my drenched dry spots plus its oil-free. Works well under make up. Will go into my 'must purchase' list once the sample runs out.

Last but not least is my new little makeup bag with a glittery L by Alphabet Bags. Perfect size for the small amount of products I carry around daily and just pretty to look at as well. I think I might do post about my daily make up bag and whats inside. What do you think?

Have you discovered any must have summer products lately? Would love to hear..

The Benefit Bits

Ohh I was soo excited to get my Glambox last month. I have been wanting to show you the new toys but needed some time to play around so I can write down my thoughts. It was a Benefit box with tiny "can-barely-handle-the-cuteness' sized samples of 5 products and 4 of them were on my wishlist. So this couldn't have worked out better.

Big Easy Multi-Balancing Complexion Perfector- Its a liquid to powder formula that is somewhere between a BB cream and a tinted moisturizer. Unfortunately the shade I got is a bit too dark but as one of its promises is adapting to your skin tone I gave it a go anyway. It does blend well and definitely has a powdery finish. The coverage is light, so something I would only whip out on my very good skin days and even then I need help from a concealer. The evening of skin and blurring of pores is excellent. Now lets just put it out there, my skin seems to be going through an identity crises at the moment. We are talking mega oily T-zone, dry patched on the cheeks and overall confusion.Not sure if its just freaked out by the constant combo of +40c or full blast AC. Big Easy is aimed for oily/combination skin and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't cling to my dry patches however in about 2 hours my forehead was shining like a disco ball. Not cool!
Would I purchase- Maybe. I feel there must be something better for light coverage summer skin but its not a definite no.

the Porefessional- this is a balm that's supposed to minimize the appearance of pores. Kind of a primer really and you are supposed to blend a light layer just over your T-zone and where ever else you want to smooth the texture of your skin and blur imperfections. After layering on my foundation I could really see the difference. It works very well and does what it says. It also kept the shine away noticeably longer.  The issue for me is -first of the two ingredients in this balm is silicone and I just dont like the feel of silicone primers. The silicone texture feels unpleasant to me and I much prefer my water based primer even if it doesn't give as smooth of a result.
Would I purchase- No. Again only because of my aversion to silicone primers, otherwise this is great.



fake up concealer- the product I have been meaning to try for ages so I super thrilled to get the tester. Benefit claims "This is a hydrating crease-control concealer - with Vitamin E & apple seed extract - hides dark circles & diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultra-natural look."
Whats special about it is that the inner bit of the stick contains the color correcting concealer and the outer edge is a hydrating balm. It feels super creamy and soft so I was worried it would settle in the fine lines under my eyes but nope..its kind of sensational. Cant get enough of it! It looks so natural on the skin, it conceals well, doesn't cake and is all around awesome and unique product.
Would I purchase- YES! When the tester runs out I'm getting a full size asap.

they're Real! mascara- The only one from the bunch that I already have and love. Has been my favorite for a few months. Stays put like nobody's business, gives great length. What else is there to say about a mascara really?
Would I purchase- Yes. If my current one stops going strong I will definitely repurchase.

they're Real! push-up liner- newest launch from Benefit that had me itching to give it a go. Eyeliner is easily one of my favorite make up items and I use it a lot so the new innovative rubbery tip and the promise of a 'matte black gel that won't smudge or dry out' sounded right up my alley. I am usually pretty opinionated but this time I dont know what to think. I dont hate it but it's not an instant love affair either. I think it takes time to master it and I am far from it at the moment. Instead of getting into all the details I send you over to Simone who has written a post that is my exact thoughts about the push-up liner.
Would I purchase- no. yes. maybe. I dont know. I'm confused!

So here we are.
Two loves, one 'meh', one no and one confused ramble.

Have you tried any of these products? Which one is your favorite?

FOTD- My Everyday Bold Lip Look

Do you have a signature "look"?
I dont think I do.

But one look I will never grow tired of- the bold lip. Let it be a screaming fuchsia or any red from orange to dark, I'm always willing to give it a try. 

I especially love wearing a bold lip during the day but in order to pull that off without looking over done I have always paired it with practically no eye make up.

More often than not I dont even wear blush just a good swipe with a bronzer to make me look alive.

Its minimal effort in the morning. On my eyes I have two coats of Benefit They're Real and a bit of Benefit High Beam in the inner corner of my eyes. That is it! And a good coat of Benefit Gimme Brow combed through the brows.

I do spend a bit longer to make the base as flawless as I can. Clinique Superprimer Universal and Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet take care of that on my good skin days. For this look I will usually add a bit of Collection 2000 concealer (that stuff is the bees knees!) around my nose and blend some Clinique Airbruch concealer under my eyes.

 Now on the days there is a pesky blemish and I still want to rock this look I tried something my makeup artist friend Diana once suggested. Try drawing a beauty spot on it! You see that little one on my cheek- yep that's the drawn one. I have to say I felt all sneaky and great with this fun addition. I dont know why it makes you feel all different but I really loved having one for the day! Give it a try and see how you feel.

On my lips is my current love from Chanel. The Rouge Allure in Pirate is a great addition to your collection if you are on a lookout for classic long lasting red.

I have red options plenty but really want to add a great orange lipstick into my routine for this summer. Something with a slightly red undertone but still orange. Do you have any suggestions?

New in from Clinique and a FOTD

I have picked up two little things from Clinique that I really wanted to share with you guys. 

As both of them are fairly boring (foundation primer and concealer) I figured throwing in a FOTD might spruce thing up a bit. I mean they are both great products contributing to a smooth base and whats more important that flawless complexion to layer on your less boring bits like eyeshadow and lipstick.

Newcomers are the Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer and Airbrush Concealer.

Few words about the primer first. Clinique Superprimer range has all kinds of color correcting options but I picked up the basic one. The one that promises to smooth and prep skin and help the foundation last longer. This water based Superprimer mainly caught my attention because silicone based primers give me the heebie-jeebies. In short conclusion the Universal Superprimer is great. It does what is says and I can see that the foundation looks so much more smooth and even. It totally blurs the smaller pores and I have been enjoying it daily. Great all around product to have.

I have only good words about the Clinique Airbrush Concealer as well. I would even say its not great but a fantastic one, especially if you have dark circles. Its creamy but doesn't settle in fine lines, its light weight but brightens any shadows super easily. I have been devoted to YSL Touche Eclat for years and I must say this one might be better on the days you need more coverage and it still manages to give you that luminous light reflection. Totally love it!

On the rest of my face you can find the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder. Still cant get over how amazing this mineral powder is. Once again have to admit Laura knows what she is talking about as she was the one constantly telling me I need this in my life. My go-to for the days I am looking for light base.

Smashbox Bronze Lights bronzer in Suntan Matte (applied with Real Techniques contour brush I love so so much). I have also rekindled my relationship with NARS Orgasm blush.

Now moving on to the eyes I wanted to play around with my Mac Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Bordeauxline. I covered the lids with Burberry Pale Barley which is such a nothing-special-yet-so-amazing eyeshadow. I really like it either as a base color or just an all around everyday shade. I then lined my eyes with Bordeauxline and smudged it out, added some more and smudged it out again. Its just as soft and neutral as my daily eye makeup usually but the purple really brings out green eyes.

Lipstick is the ever so dreamy Tom Form Spanish Pink. Seriously if you are looking for a nude peachy amazing lipstick just dont buy the 3 Mac ones you were thinking of and save up for this one. Its so worth the money and Im happy I have it. 

Hope you are well and cant wait to talk to you tomorrow again! Also I would really appreciate if you could drop me a comment which posts are your favorite? Outfit or FOTD or nail polish? I would love to include more of whatever it is you like. xxx

Chanel Rouge Allure- Pirate #99

I have been itching to share this beauty with you but I felt like I wouldnt do it justice taking pictures with my iPhone. So I had to wait til I got to use the camera again.

 This lipstick became mine on a tiny little Duty Free haul on our way to Sri Lanka last month. If you saw this post from February you know I have had my eye on Rouge Allure Pirate for ages. And as my first pick from lipstick wishlist was TF Spanish Pink second one had to be a red offering.

However they never seemed to have Pirate at various Chanel counters so imagine my excitement at Duty Free. Double fun as Duty Free is a grey area in shopping and always makes me feel less guilty about spending money.

 

This is as classic as a red can get. Blue undertones and flattering on everyone.

Very pigmented and creamy and the little black and golden bullet makes me feel like such a grown up when applying the lipstick. Well the fact that it says Chanel on it probably also has something to do with it.

 Pirate is one of those excellent reds that makes your teeth look whiter. I will attempt to make a teeth bearing photo for you soon but until you can just take my word.

If you are in search of a truly classic and luxurious lipstick I say take Pirate for a spin. Or maybe you have already found one and only true love classic red. If so let me know which one?

Meet my new friends Mekong & Gina

I read a lot of blogs. That means I see at least 20 things every day that I simply MUST buy.

Most of them I don't and soon I will forget about it. But once in a while there is a gem that gets stuck in my mind. When Simone posted a photo of Mekong eyeshadow by Nars on her Instagram I literally gasped and rushed to look at some swatches online. I mean it was brown and it has golden specks and it was just sooo beautiful..

The teeeny tiny problem remained. Nars is not sold in Dubai. Until by accident I found out that you can order some of Nars products on Glambox.me site. I could not believe this information had passed me and I decided to remedy the situation. First into the basket went Mekong of course.

 Mekong is described as an “Espresso infused with gold” on the NARS website, and I have to say thats exactly what it is. Its a dirty brown but also has deep black undertone. And we are talking pigmented like nobodies business. I did do some googling before ordering it as I was worried the gold specks will look like glitter on my eyelids. In reality they don’t translate to the eyes as much as they appear in the pan. I have used it smudged into the lash line for day time but really cant wait to play around with it for a smokey eye look.

Now I had added Mekong to the shopping basket and should have called it a night but the uncontrollable shopping addiction kicked in. I felt like..well I cant just order one tiny eyeshadow if I'm already ordering. That would just be wrong wouldn't it. Specially as I have just found a way to have Nars delivered home to me. I knew I wanted a peach toned blush however felt totally overwhelmed having the choose without testing it in real life. When facing a problem like that there is only one solution. I texted my make up guru "i-know-every-shade-of-every-brand-ever" genius friend Laura who helped me narrow it down to Gina.

Me and Gina will become close friends in the next few months. She is ever so lovely! The color is not vibrate or intense but a pretty muted butter soft orange/peach tone. I love that it has no glitter or sheen, I didnt own anything like that in my blush collection. It also has no pink undertones. What you see in the pan translate to the skin pretty accurately.

Oh yeah and Zulu is becoming a regular beauty expert as well! That Gina will bring out her green eyes just perfectly dont you think..