Products of the Month

Deciding the stuff i've rediscovered in my hidden stash deserves a holla. Stuff i've loved and used over the years yet i somehow strayed..but they're definitely making a comback.

Estee Lauder Double Wear

Part of the 10 pan project since i've already gone through two bottles. While scratching my head and looking for a dupe i realized there is no such thing....hence the 3rd bottle. Unfortunately i had to purchase the same shade which doesn't quite suit me (Ivory Beige)...thanks to the understocked EL counter. Grrr. Anyways, the problem isn't a problem at all considering i love mixing this rather heavy foundation with moisturizer, face cream on colder days, Le Blanc de Chanel, for a lighter, glowy base, etc. The ways of this foundation seem to be endless indeed and i couldn't love it more. 

H&M Brow pencil & powder set

Why did i stray in the first place, i don't know...over the past two years i've gone through an endless amount of brow products and always ended up coming back to these ones 3-4 times a week on average...i guess they're my to-go products when i want something fast, easy and natural looking. The pencil is from their latest 'collection', an improved version of the old formulation, with a softer, longer brush and a wonderful pigmentation that's just a teeny tiny bit less gray than Clinique's Superfine Liner for Brows in 02 Light Brown. Lovely! 

Red Lips are making a comeback!!

As a neutral, pink lips person i found myself inexplicably attracted to more colorful shades...cherries, raspberries, even russian reds. Hmmm something's definitely coming. I am currently loving the Maybelline lipstick in Fatal Red, it's great for both a dramatic look as well as a paler, chapstick-looking lip. Had this lipstick in my drawer for a year now (almost) and probably used it twice or three times- hence the strong comeback. 

Max Factor bronzing powder

MF Bronzing Powder & The Body Shop concealer swatches

I cannot believe how natural looking and smooth this bronzer is. I'm also shaking my head at the enormous pile of bronzers i've accumulated so far...while being totally oblivious of this one.

Why did this happen in the first place?? well...most of my other beloved bronzers are amazing as well, different pigmentation tonalities, so i guess that explains it. However, given the age and dent of this bronzer i dare say its newly acquired status as product of the month will go on since i'm planning on finishing it up in combination with other bronzers. I like that it's very, very natural, more on the pink/fleshy side with no orange tones whatsoever (shame on you, Smashbox Bronze Lights!). It works perfectly with every brush, it doesn't stain or get muddy and it' very easy to blend. There are many beauty 'gurus' and bloggers who love this product- no wonder i wanna use it every day from now on. Perfect for contouring as well as for a bit of a sunkissed look. 

The Body Shop Concealer

The one shaped like a pencil. It's really a great find. I found this in my 'old makeup' box, have never used it before since i was the impression it was going to cake and crease, as every Body Shop concealer/foundation i ever tried. Wrong. It's a beautiful, natural looking concealer that i love using as a foundation as well because it's sheer enough, doesn't settle into pores or fine lines yet has a great coverage potential. Its newest job is to serve as an eyelid primer as well and it does work better than everything i ever tried before (except for Estee Lauder's Double Wear, that stuff works great as well). However, the packaging, while being cute and all, it's hard to maneuver...which translates in buying a jumbo size sharpener. From the Body Shop. Which is expensive. To use for the concealer only. Yep.

Yves Rocher Luminelle powder

Whilst not being a powder person at all, i could say, this stuff got me hooked because of the packaging. The lovely Plexiglas compact has thick, transparent bubbles on the lid and it looks like a fatty baby-powdercase :) just cute and sweet and adorable- had to have it. Quite intriguing since it also comes in one shade only, aimed at working as a powder with illuminating properties.

No shimmer, no 'light reflecting particles' (which is usually a decoy for glitter)..yet it does the job without caking. Pretty much like Max Factor's Creme Puff, only a lighter, much finer consistency in the sense that it feels as satiny but the product picks up less and looks less obvious on the skin. It's very cheap i believe, i got it on sale in Stockholm, and i've been using it with its retractable kabuki brush from Yves Rocher that i've been carrying around in my bag ever since.

Never before had actually CARRIED a powder case in my bag WITH a brush (a fluffy, powder one!). I might not be a powder person, or think i am not, but it does come in handy whenever my t-zone gets a bit shiny. I'm so out of the beauty planet-i just began taking makeup with me. Plain stupid not to do it on a regular basis, right? Oh well.

L'Oreal Elvital Hair Mask

An amazing product.

I am uber surprised with this- the shampoo worked beautifully for both my brushes and hair; this product comes in a 300 ml jar and i got it on sale...pretty good deal if you ask me. The thing is this is BETTER than anything L'Oreal i've tried before, even their Professional line (the champagne, silver and light yellow packaging). It smells very strongly but i don't dislike it since it's sweet and flowery and lingers on the hair long after you've washed and dried it (no more Crispy by French Fry for me).

The effects are fantastic for a drugstore product-it conditions and softens my hair without weighing it down or making it look greasy two days after, it also combats frizz (!), which means i no longer have to use anything for that, gives a healthy shine and overall, it does work wonders as a treatment. Add this to UV protection and intense moisture (no oils or silicone whatsoever) and you've got yourself a little wonder. Makeupalley seems to agree with me as well, this being one of L'Oreal's most voted non-professional hair products.

The Makeup Store Microshadow in Ghetto (matte)

....the perfect eye/brow shadow ever. Very pigmented. Great dupe for MAC's Espresso as well. Larger packaging and lower price. Very silky texture. Needs a light hand since it's VERY VERY pigmented. Loves it.

Isadora Blush in Coral Blossom

This blush is currently on a fast paced climb on the HG ladder. I love everything about it, the color, pigmentation, even the little brush it came with.

What i especially love about this is that it can be used as an overall blush-powder as well, whenever i feel like peaching up my complexion or even for slightly correcting mismatched/grayish foundations. To me it works pretty much like Benefit's Coralista plus the very intense pigmentation-a natural bristle brush + light hand advised. It's just lovely and i think this is the only blush i am actually able to gently sweep all over my face for a healthy, rosy complexion effect. I dab the brush on the pan, gently swirl it on my palm to remove any excess and with the little bit of product that's left, i go all over my face. Ta daaa! Really pretty and definitely worth the (kinda low) price. 

H&M Hello Kitty lip balm

My favorite lip balm of all times.

I hate that H&M comes up with new formulations of lip glosses/balms every two-three weeks and finding an 'old' product becomes virtually impossible. I used to be a die hard fan of their Raspberry Vanilla Hello Kitty balm, a creamy, double-shaded lip conditioner that came in a round little pot. They obviously discontinued that but came up with something even better ingredient-wise.

This lipbalm is great for me because, in comparison with other lip conditioners (Vaseline, Rosebud, etc), it isn't 99% petroleum jelly with some flavor in it. It contains aloe vera leaf extract, chamomile oil and beeswax apart from the usual vaseline-butene-polywhatever-ates (cheap) lip balms tend to be packed with. Another great thing about this is that *...drums...* i actually think it works as a bit of a lip plumper...to a certain extent.

I don't know if it's just me, but as soon as i apply it I can feel an intense (but pleasant) tingle and my lips get smooth-no more creases/lines. I've cheked and double checked and it isn't the effect of the product deposited on the lips-just plain old science! While i definitely can't say 'buy this, it will plump your lips' given the low price and no plumping effects advertised, i do think it makes a difference in my case. I use it on top of every lipstick, lipliner or just gloss, for a paler, more natural look, i like the aroma (sugary with a hint of bubblegum) and the price tag (under $3).

Ahoy for lashes!!-part deux

Three days ago, wanting to boost my little 'eyelid hairs', i purchased an eyelash growth serum from a German brand named BeYu. And i really, REALLY like it. I was going back and forth whether to get this one or the L'Oreal serum, but the ingredients list convinced me...bonus, the SAs positive attitude and gorgeous lashes (she said she's a faithful user of the former). Now let's see.

The BeYu Lash Energizer (Growth Activating Gel) comes in a mascara packaging, 10 ml for the equivalent of $27 (ouch!) or £17. More expensive than the L'Oreal one, especially on the North American market, but it's packed with good ingredients and more product inside. I purchased this from Åhlens, which is a sort of Swedish Harrods, and it was the last one on the shelf...the SA said they literally flew off the racks in less than a week. Good for them! :)

It comes in a nice, glittery silver-ish cardboard box, pretty much like a higher-end mascara. It doesn't have a scent unless you sniff it really close (mmmm something milky with a hint of baby powder...something rather fresh) and you can't feel it once you've applied it.

I'm really happy with this product; though nothing spectacular has happened, i truly believe it works and it has already improved my lashes in just 3 days of use. The 'final' effects are visible after 30 days of use. Hopefully the product will last me enough or even a bit more since i'm not sure they'll bring it back...however, i'm not totally against the L'Oreal one (never tried) since this is how Lollipop recovered her beautiful lashes...i want those too!!! ;)

What it says it does: 'nourishing eyelash gel for visibly longer, thicker and stronger lashes. Thanks to the novel multi-active complex consisting of a bio-energizer and peptides, the eyelash growth is doubled compared to natural growth already after a month of daily use' .

Ingredients: that's quite interesting. While L'Oreal's consists mainly of chemicals whose names i can't spell, let alone pronounce, and a bit of panthenol (that 80% of face creams and lotions contain), this one seems to be richer in this department, whith a couple of interesting additions.

-apigenin: a flavone (derived from Vitamin P) with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune system booster effects. It's mostly considered very efficient for cell growth and cell development stimulation, hence it's destination-a lash energizer. Haha, quite funny. I'm quite impressed, you know. It's easy to research on so you should definitely check apigenin out if you want to find out more, i'm being brief here.

-biotinoyl tripeptide-1: also present in Lilash and Cargo eyelash growth products (according to truthaging.com), a substance used for treating alopecia.

-keratin: no comment. the more the better. it replenishes the hair structure since it's a natural substance the hair follicles are based on.

-oarweed (Laminaria Digitata) and millet (Panicum Miliaceum) extracts: brown and green algae extracts. couldn't be happier about that. Sea weed has proven regeneration and cell growth properties, being a key ingredient in many expensive cosmetics (La Mer, Silk Therapy, etc). 

-Channel Wrack (Pelvetia Canaliculata): another brown alga rich in nutritious elements, packed with peptides, used in anti-hairloss cremes and treatments. 

Application: they say it should be applied as a normal mascara, once or twice a day, before going to bed, on clean lashes, or before applying your makeup in the morning, letting it dry for 60 seconds if you're also putting on your regular mascara. I apply this several times a day like i would normally apply a mascara and i also take a bit of gel from the brush and massage it into the roots of the lashes to maximize the effect. 

It doesn't sting at all, however it gave a slight tingling sensation on my left eye, right where the gaps were, so my positive self wants to believe it's because the product was 'working it'. It is definitely neither painful nor disturbing. Haven't noticed any discoloration/pigmentation on the lashlines, it could be too early to say but so far nada, therefore whoever wants to give this a try shouldn't worry about these aspects. My eye color hasn't changed either :)). 

It looks and acts like a transparent mascara- it's a cloudy gel that dries transparent, giving the lashes a bit of a crisp, so i'd say coating them with a drop of oil makes everything more comfortable and prevents any breakage from occurring in case you want to curl them/wash your face etc. Just to be extra careful, you know.

I've been using this for three days now and i apply it more than once a day. In my desperate attempt to recover my BAE (before Ardell Extensions) lashes i keep applying this perhaps six or seven times a day. I'm keeping it on my desk, next to a mirror, so i won't forget about it. At night, i apply it, let it get tacky (not dry) and then apply a concoction on olive and castor oil on top of that (i read that the two oils mixed together increase each other's effects and penetrate the skin and hair follicles much better than when applied separately). I haven't noticed any massive growth in thickness, but there have definitely been some changes.

My lashes are longer in both eyes, especially the right one. The gaps on the left one are almost invisible, the small hairs struggling to come out having grown quite decently (small lashes) on my lash line. The lashes are longer and it is quite noticeable, which i can't say it's the effect of olive+castor oil since they do work, but on a slower pace. 

This is what my lashes look like now. The camera can't capture all the changes that have taken place unfortunately, i.e. some lashes have outgrown their neighbors and look like fine baby hairs; since it's just a few of them and they're quite light, you barely see them. 

If you click on the photos you'll see a great deal of tiny lashes growing out...fingers crossed! However, they're not as dark as they used to be and there's no 'fake' curl whatsoever, just my natural barely there blah. Oh well, this isn't a big deal to me, just thought i should mention it since most of the lash growth products out there also give a tremendous curl from what i've seen.

So i'm going to keep using this and do a little update in a week...see what happens. Lash Diary!

Ahoy for lashes!!

Here we go again with the lashes...during my boot camp conditioning routine. I am currently using:

-vaseline

-castor oil

-extra virgin olive oil

-the oils combined

-the three ingredients altogether

-a Swedish pharmacy cream for extra dry skin enriched with peanut oil (worked wonder in the past on both my skin and lashes)

-a second type of vaseline (white, pharmacy refined) in the hopes that something will bring back my lashes. 

The Makeup Store treatment mascara is discontinued. Bummer. Face Stockholm has a product but it's kinda expensive right now, around €30; the SA's babbling that 'uhm well, yes...it does make your lashes grow...but doesn't make them longer....it's a conditioner for lashes thus will make them...longer...but not really, thicker i assume...but they will grow back....unless they have been yanked out...' convinced me not to get that product. 

And i'm also seeing some changes with my 'holistic' routine. Here's what they look like now:

Right eye- definitely not thicker but a tad longer and more luscious. I am not losing lashes either so hurray!

The left eye is the biggest troublemaker; when i removed the false lashes i also lost two bunches of my own lashes....i think there were more than twenty. Notice the gap and the two little hairs sprouting out...my lashes are finally growing back. Slowly but decisively. I had major lash rip off and two gaps actually...but the lashes around the 1st one are gradually getting longer and perhaps it helps at concealing the baldness...sigh. This is the worst feeling ever after getting a (short) bad haircut....luckily, mascara is much more accessible than hair extensions and looks better than wigs ;)

My lashes still look crappy with mascara on because they're fewer and adding copious layers of makeup makes them look crunchy and unnatural (eeeeekkk!!!! i hate the look!!!) but what's a girl gotta do.....

I'll keep my aforementioned regimen and perhaps muster the courage to pick up an eyelash growth product...heard about a 'good one' from a lady working in a beauty salon, hopefully it isn't something excessively priced...anyways. I'll come back in a couple of days and do an update on my lashes...i feel so down and bad without them :( sigh sigh and triple sigh.

Ardell Duralash Experience....and why i am never doing it again

Oh well, well well. Where do i begin.

For an assiduous blogger like i am a prolonged  absence seems a bit painful to be honest, but i decided to st(r)ay away from any type of beauty blog since it would have talked me into writing...and i needed the time to be able to deliberate on my experience with semi-permanent lashes (the drugstore equivalent of lash extensions). I got the Ardell DuraLash in medium, black, regular individual false lashes, one box.

 

This is what happened so far. I first put them on the same day i last blogged, which would be september 24th. I took them off yesterday evening. This has been my journey with these lashes and my honest opinions are what follows. For your sake, i strongly recommend you to PLEASE read what i am writing here in case you're fancying the idea of a brand new set of fanned out falsies...i wish i could have had a detailed 'story' about these lashes before i even thought of purchasing them. So i begin.

Day One-Purchase and Application

I actually purchased the babies separately from their adhesive, the LashTite, since i thought it came inside the box-not. You must shell out other 4 € for the small tube of glue, which isn't all that but i was definitely super excited and wanted them on asap. Therefore i came back to the store and got the glue. My version is a very small one, not the huge tube depicted on makeupalley, so you might find the same type too; don't stress, it's the official adhesive marketed under different packagings around the world (i assume Europe and the US at least).

Putting them on is a hassle. Actually this is the key-the application process. Being the newbie that i was i frantically researched and came across a nicely written and detailed review on makeupalley. This is where it all started.

On the packaging you are advised to dip the small knot of the lash group in a tiny bit of glue and then apply it on your lash root-not on your eyelid skin, like you would regularly do with strip false lashes. The review (actually several of them) advised to engage in a more 'complicated' process that would mimic the salon lash extension technique-basically dip the knot, drag it along your lash (the one you decide to stick the knot to) so the adhesive would stick to a larger portion of hair, then fix it along this glue line, at the root of your lash. This way you are given more support for the false lash, hence increased life span. 

Well i did that. But it didn't work out because you have to be VERY handy to do it. I'll tell you why. No matter how much you comb and curl your natural lashes beforehand, it's impossible not to get glue on the neighboring lashes as well, especially around the base. The hairs are small and fine, and unlike hair, that you can clip while working through, there's no teeny tiny lash pin you can use. Therefore...disaster. This is what happened to me, on my first application- if you're handy and like these lashes by all means go ahead. 

Basically i ended up with small glue knots all over my lash roots, not sticking to the skin so it was quite visible i had 'balls' of glue all over my eye, from which the lashes started, darker and thicker than at the ends. It was quite unnatural but hey, they were long and bushy so i kinda loved the change. 

The other eye turned out more normal looking since i screwed the 'technique' and went with the packaging instructions-just attach the knot to your lash roots (or wherever you feel comfortable as long as it's not the skin, so they say) and you're done.

Another thing would be that if you don't have naturally thick and gorgeous lashes (which means you actually don't need falsies, but i'm just saying), you need more than ten clusters for each eye simply because they will look spiked, thin and unnatural. The best result you get by applying the clusters very close to one another, or coming back with other clusters and filling in the gaps. I used all the lash knots in the box for both my eyes, and i don't have particularly large eyes or desire for a dame Edna look. Some reviews mentioned combining two lengths for a maximum natural look- short and medium were the most common choices. I wholeheartedly agree, however one size (medium is the best in my opinion) isn't bad either since you can gently trim the inner angles of the lashes and make them look very natural. 

They can be easily curled and made up with mascara, they don't look fake or ugly or anything in the family. In fact, this is where it gets better-after a while, the hairs soften- you wash your face, take your eye makeup off, put your eye makeup on, curl them, clean them, rub them, etc- and they look like real, uber long and thick lashes, Spanish eyes style. Lovely. I adored them and felt super happy i had finally discovered something that didn't cost an arm and a leg, didn't involve salons and hours of sitting on someone's lap, high maintenance and regular 'refills' at high costs as well.

Then i started noticing the downsides....

First, the glue hardens very fast and creates a sort of 'bridge' all over your roots, especially if you use the 'technique'. If you have diligently applied  the lashes as described on the box, there will still be small glue 'stains' that once hardened, will sting your eyelids when you close your eyes, sneeze, squint, etc. It's very uncomfortable especially for people with sensitive eyes-i have no problems whatsoever and it still bothered me. I didn't use a large quantity of glue so i dare believe it wasn't 'my fault' with this.

Another thing-the glue will create the aforementioned 'bridges' and the eye makeup will slowly deposit on it, making the upper lash roots look dirty and full of shadow/eyeliner.

 what the roots of the lashes look like...scary. Filthy. Hazardous.The hardened adhesive keeps moist, bacteria and dirt stuck in your lash line, thus making it prone to infections and other dangerous happenings.

It's very hard to clean them because you have to use a lot of makeup remover and q-tips and gently rub; the cotton/fibers will get caught in the glue asperities and good luck yanking them out...no matter what you do, you'll always feel you haven't properly cleaned your lashes, and it is visible. Thumbs down.

Then, after a couple of days your natural lashes' curl will cease to exist so you'll feel the need to curl the falsies altogether- once curled, they don't come 'down' unless you wash them with lukewarm water. If you have applied your entire face and eyeshadow makeup and see your own lashes pointing down among the falsies, and if the falsies are already curled- you can't curl them again because they'll look excessively bent upwards, they'll touch your brow bone and mess your eye makeup-mascara on the lid and shadow on the lashes. Not pleasant at all. So pray that your natural lashes won't be too visibly sticking out from the falsies abundance, and that's about all you can do. 

These lashes didn't feel particularly heavy, actually they're lighter than strip false lashes; however, when you twist them and arrange them with your thumbs (they get a bit messy, mimicking natural lashes very well) you feel a bit of pressure on your natural eyelash roots thus an uncomfortable sensation. That's their weight and the pressure they put on your lashes, and it will take a toll. 

You get used to sleeping with them, swimming, taking showers, rubbing your eyes more carefully (you risk to rip your own eyelashes off if you're not gentle) and why not, a minimum amount of mascara; that was the best part of this experience- a tad of concealer, contoured eyebrows and i was literally good to go. Having these eyelashes on seriously cuts back on makeup time and allows you to feel fresh faced and pretty 24/7. It opens the eye, gives you a Bambi look, everything very natural and tasteful (especially if you have darker hair or larger eyes). I got a ton of compliments and they all said 'wow, your lashes are so long and full!' and not 'are you wearing falsies?'.

The lashes soften and gradually start mimicking natural lashes in texture, curl and volume-however, notice my own lashes through the falsies

The party's over

Then...a week and half after, when there was no sign the lashes were going to budge (as opposed to makeupalley reviewers claiming they experienced a softening of the adhesive and even fall outs two days after), i started losing my own lashes. Two, three hairs each eye, but it scared the hell out of me since i never, ever lose lashes. I think i lost one when i rubbed my eyes too hard trying to get rid of some overnight Shiseido mascara base, and that was all i can recall. I saw the lashes falling, and they weren't eyebrow hairs or the falsies- they were MINE. Oh no. Combine this with the cautionary instructions-don't use anything oil-based or you'll lose the falsies- and you get the perfect recipe for disaster. I couldn't condition my lashes with vaseline or anything else because i was afraid the adhesive will slowly soften and i will start losing lashes on my way to work, on the street or at my boyfriend's (not cool at all). Little did i know you can use ANYTHING, and i mean it, and the glue won't budge unless rubbed with industrial amounts of the Ardell LashFree adhesive remover....clever market move, huh. So if you're already wearing them and reading this, go ahead and use everything you desire-baby oil, vaseline, coconut oil, avocado oil, EVOO, the glue won't soften at all. 

Not to mention the worst part- a red inflammation of the lid on my left eye-partially caused by the hardened glue constantly poking my skin, partially by makeup residues i couldn't remove no matter what. It looked like a very bad irritation, almost like a small infection. Yikes. 

Then my own lashes were growing under; i could see the roots and the false lashes flipping and vibrating every time i blinked. They were losing their solid support base and were hanging on my lashes, weighing them down and putting even more pressure on. Well....i got the adhesive remover and started rubbing. And i rubbed, and rubbed, and massaged, and touched, and everything in the family. The LashFree remover comes in a tiny bottle, has an oily consistency, smells a bit like nailpolish remover and stings like crazy; hard to apply (how can you hold a paper tissue between your eyelids AND apply the remover at the same time??), time consuming, smelly, stingy, all in all a completely terrifying experience.

The clusters finally softened and started slipping down my real eyelashes; i didn't pull because i was really afraid to rip my own lashes off. Well, the only difference the adhesive remover did was to spare me of some pain- the horror. I saw most of my natural lashes stuck in the glue gunk as the falsies were coming out... and this isn't the worst part. I literally have no lashes right now. The adhesive has burned them down and made them fall out. 

This is what my lashes used to look like before.

This is what they look like now.

Notice the red spot on the lid- that was taken during the removal process. I no longer have the irritation going on therefore it must have been caused by the glue+dirt+makeup leftovers. Disgusting and dangerous if you ask me.

I have far fewer and shorter lashes than before; the glue literally destroyed them. I am never going to use the LashTite adhesive; if i fancy some individual falsies i'll go with the good ol' Duo adhesive or just regular glue. It's such a shame because they don't mention this effect...and for the ladies on makeaupalley who swear by wearing these lashes for twenty years- then you either have no lashes of your own left, or they're super-lashes. I can't explain it otherwise. This means i'm back to my vaseline+borage oil+castor oil routine again, slathering ten times the quantity and brushing them for ten minutes every night. I can't even begin to think what am i going to look like with mascara...thank goodness for the Shiseido mascara base, i hope it can help me a little in this department.

Bottom line-i strongly, strongly recommend you to stay away from the adhesive; it's just painful, complicated, and it takes a huge toll on your natural lashes. Goes straight into the trash can.

Therefore...: Yes, they look amazing. Yes, they can look natural and lift your entire look, particularly for a special occasion. However, there are serious problems you might encounter with these lashes, as i did. Everybody is different and if you are already a user and love them, by all means keep up the good work. What happened here happened after a decent amount of time, and perhaps my eyes are just built that way that it simply happened (the unwanted redness and inflammation). My advice would be use them, if you cannot resist the temptation (i almost felt the urge to apply them again after seeing how bald my eyes looked after removing them), but remove them as soon as possible, gently as possible, and then engage in an assiduous process of conditioning your lashes...because the adhesive does take a toll on them. I am never going to reapply the adhesive-i have no problem with the lashes whatsoever. So yep.