Things I love this summer (part 1)

Just a few things, most of them old 're-finds'. And the Nivea chapstick!

Make Up Store Microshadow in Ghetto 

The best eye/brow shadow ever, pigmented and LARGE. It comes at a fraction of the price you'd normally pay for a MAC one. Too bad I expect the brand to be available in Sweden only...

It's very soft and natural, the color is fantastic for brows, as eyeliner (i don't use black...) or as a plain matte eyeshadow. I'd compare it to MAC's Espresso, only with fewer 'red' undertones (from the chocolate tint that one has). It's perfect! 

Make Up Store 'Ghetto' microshadow

I got this amount of product by only touching the pan- it's really pigmented and a little goes a very, very long way. Very soft, yet not silky- it doesn't pick up too much on the brush or gets dusty once you swirl the brush in the pan.

This is MAC Espresso:

Stars'n Rockets blog 

Looks lighter in the pan but the orange undertones are far stronger. Espresso on the brows:

You either must have a light hand, light eyebrows (mousy blonde) or mix it with something ashy...I can't see how otherwise. Anyways, the product is very popular so I can't say it isn't good at what it does, it's just that sometimes one can find 'better dupes' at lower prices. That's my opinion. 

Helena Rubinstein Illumination Loose Powder

The best powder, loose or pressed, I have ever used (notice how little I have left :( ).  Did my friend's makeup on her wedding day and she looked spectacular. The powder illuminates the skin, sets the makeup and doesn't make your skin look cracked...which is a first. It's translucent but it has some tonality, available in 5 shades (I think). On the website it says it's enriched with 'optical pearlisers' for a glowy and healthy effect. It really works wonders, I suggest everyone to try and get their hands on a sample..I use it in nr 05 Light, and had it in 02 as well but gave that one away since it was too rosy for my skintone. 

Nivea Fruity Shine chapstick in Strawberry

The effect after wiping the lips

Very hard to find (Cherry, Honey and Classic are always on the shelves, not this baby). I adore the tint it gives the lips, very natural yet 'blushed', just like a strawberry. It's very hard to find a lipstick/lipgloss that would mimic the color of strawberries since they are all either cold-toned (fuchsia pinks) or orange/scarlet..which isn't bad, but I wanted something strawberry-ish! 

Been cruising makeup stores and supermarket aisles for ever until I saw this baby right by the cashier's...hello lover! I absolutely love the texture, the color, the scent (it has a pleasant taste as well, no plastic-bad blueberry juice like every other 'fruity' lipgloss/chapstick has), the smoothness and the hydrating effect. Comes with an SPF of 10 as well.

It's not extremely cheap, but not expensive either, so if you just want gorgeous lips without all the fuss, I suggest this product, combined with a lipliner (currently using Rimmel's East End Snob and Lancome's Caramel). It's going to be gorgeous and very Lolita-esque (kissed lips!), and it's REALLY pigmented for a chapstick (more pigmented than a lipgloss, obviously less color than with a lipstick). 

Maybelline Super Stay 24h Concealer

I use it as an eyelid primer and it works wonders, my makeup doesn't budge. I got the wrong shade (03, the darkest beige) which is too yellow for me so I can't really use it under the eyes. It's also a bit drying, which makes it a perfect tool to hide some blemishes. I probably shouldn't be using it on the eyelids, but they tend to get oily so I guess the dry effect cancels itself during the day...great eyeshadow primer! 

Veet Warm Wax

This is great for summer. I'll tell you why:

-I always wax my upper lip. The tiniest hair will get stuck in foundation and the more, the merrier- you end up looking like you have a mustache. If you're a brunette, even worse. I think every woman should wax their upper lip...the hair will not grow stronger or darker, but weaker and slower since you're yanking it out from its root and not only cutting off its surface. But that's just my take on the issue. However, girls with bleached facial hair look horrifying..so I personally suggest what my beautician said, just wax it...in two years maximum it won't grow back at all. 

-Bikini lines, especially if you're going to the seaside: salted water, chlorine and all those substances are known to irritate the hell out of the delicate skin or the upper thighs/bikini lines/inner thighs. If you're going on holiday and you're planning on shaving, think about the fact that if you're going straight into the water, you'll come out full of red dots; if you wait for a day (I tried waiting for 8 hours, didn't work), the hair is going to start growing back though it's (yet) unnoticeable. By this stage you can feel it already so no silk smooth legs. So you have to do it over and over again. Not nice. 

I strongly suggest girls, especially brunettes, to wax, since it's a healthy and perfect method of getting rid of body/face hair without paying a ton of $ if you can't afford laser/pulsed light/whatever else there is out there. I never shave on my upper legs/inner thighs/bikini, for fear of ingrown hairs (that always pop up when you go on holiday..especially when you swim/sweat) which look horrible in that area.

This wax is great because:

-it's not real bees wax. It's a combination of sugars and other substances that make it not that sticky as bees wax, easier to handle, with a higher boiling point (so you don't get burned as easily if you're a novice). 

-it does a great job at removing unwanted hair, from the thickest to peach fuzz. Really good for sensitive skin (me and some of my friends have been using this on the face as well with no problems whatsoever).

-it's hydrosoluble, which means it dissolves in water. Any drops/spots/traces can be cleaned really easily and fast.

-comes with a set of reusable strips (since it's hydrosoluble, you just let the used strips in water and in 20 mins they're ready to be dried and used again). 

-comes with a cute thermo sensitive applicator that 'tells' you when it's too hot or good to use

- if you're handy enough, you can apply it in a thicker layer (it doesn't crack no matter for how long you leave it on the skin, unlike bees wax that starts chipping if left for more than 2-3 mins) and then yank it with your fingers if you wanna save the product (of course, if you're waxing fuzz). 

-you can warm in it in the microwave. Super fast and easy!

Summer foundations

Nivea Beauty Lift, Vichy Normaderm and Estee Lauder Double Wear. Because they're so resistant and don't budge in heat/water/sweat etc. Will review the Normaderm very soon! 

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).

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This post doesn't bear the 'review' tag in its title because i'm biased and this is a praise post. This is the only makeup product i couldn't honestly live without. It has become such a staple in my routine i just can't imagine what i would do without. To me it's more than a foundation-it is like a second skin. 

It's more on the expensive side (410 swedish crowns, which means 57 USD, 37 pounds or €45) so this didn't make me very happy about having to purchase it. Looking back i can say they might as well charge € 100 and i'd still purchase it. 

The shade range is quite wide, 20 shades of Neutrals, Cools and Warms; they mostly cater to Neutral and Warm so if you need a Cool, then there aren't that many shades to choose from. However, the pigmentation is very good and highly realistic and the foundation sort of mimics, adapts to the skintone (if the shade is properly chosen that is). I have the 3N1 Ivory Beige shade and it's a wee darker than my natural skintone but perfectly suitable (or even lighter, depends!) for my tanned self (i.e. right now). It didn't make a difference when i was wearing it on my pale face either; just blend it as you'd do with any other product- careful at the hair lines, neck and ears. Now the packaging and other issues....

It doesn't come with a pump, so it's a tad messy to take it out of the bottle. The nozzle and the cap get very messy after the first two applications, and if you're a bit lazy like i am and don't clean the bottle, you end up with a very dirty bottle :) 

 It's scented, smells of flowers and something else, perhaps something slightly plastic? i couldn't tell exactly, but the scent is strong. Not very, but you can feel it throughout your foundation application; once it dries there's no trace of it so that's the positive aspect about this. 

The bottle is simply beautiful and original, squared frosted glass bottle with the golden cap and the Estee Lauder name and logo embossed on. Really beautiful, with a rather vintage edge and a glamorous look at the same time. If you decide to use it with a pump it's gonna look really bad:

Image from Bedasbeautyblog.blogspot.com

 Therefore, i didn't purchase a pump because i didn't want to ruin the bottle and make it impossible to carry it around. However, that IS an option in case the absence of the pump has put you off.

Now. My basic requirements from a foundation are natural aspect, creamy consistency, coverage and long lasting finish. Not too much, right. Over the years i have tried hundreds of foundations, high-end, drugstore, etc, and some of them are real gems i will always keep around. But nothing compares to this. 

It's thicker than other foundations, with a gooey aspect, quite similar to Revlon's Colorstay, and is one of those foundations that look quite disappointing when you try them on your wrist or neck at the counter- this one gives the impression of a sticky, oily cream that doesn't blend in properly and will certainly not live up to the hype. However, once you blend it in properly it looks really good (perhaps a little heavier than it does when applied on the face):

 But well, that's just a first impression. I usually get scared if i try something everybody's raving about and it doesn't look good. Never had a second thought about this one-i just wanted to get properly matched and take it home as fast as possible.

It's 'hard' to apply, i guess not in the established sense of the term but in the sense of 'needy', probably due to  the psychological association of streaks and thick foundations. I found it to work best with my fingers, a kabuki brush (though it needs more product this way), a sponge (for buffing it on the trouble zones-undereye circles and discolorations). It doesn't look nor feel good when applied with a typical foundation brush because it takes ages to properly blend it in, it can leave marks/streaks and it's always about the fuss of whether you have applied too little or too much. The best of all- fingers. This way you can feel the consistency blending in with your skin and sense whether you need to apply more on certain areas. Of course, prepare yourself for messy hands and fifteen minutes of babying it, at least the first time-you're always 'worried' and want to bring out the best of it.

It takes a while to dry, not as in ages but definitely more than other foundations. I'd say to give it a good five minutes settling in time before you think about applying bronzer/blusher, because if you apply anything else on top of it while it's still moist, it will suck all the product and make it incredibly hard to blend in anything else. Even if you have extremely oily skin, don't forget to properly moisturize your skin, a heavy-duty cream being most indicated. The foundation was especially calculated to absorb the natural oils of the skin that appear throughout the day (that's how it stays on) and can be drying if you don't moisturize, and especially if you set it with powder. Even if you have VERY oily skin, just let it dry first, and then assess whether you really need to powder it on top. I have combination skin and nothing seems to stay on my t-zone for more than 5 hours; this one doesn't budge. The first time i used it i applied powder on top-big mistake. I could literally feel my skin cracking around the eyes in about a couple of hours. So just let it do its job and don't jump the gun with it- you could end up disappointed.

The first thing about the foundation is that it covers, and really well. Though it's marketed as a medium coverage foundation it covers....and covers...i usually need an extra quarter of a drop to conceal both my undereye area and the nose angles. No concealer whatsoever, but if you feel like you need a little bit of illumination/highlight, apply the concealer while the foundation is still wet to let both product create a sort of a fusion on the skin and blend in perfectly. It looks beautifully with highlighter on top, even when dry, just make sure you're using a patting motion+ cream highlighter or a very light hand with any powder illuminating products.

The second thing- it goes dry. Not as in dusty dry, but it has a dry yet not completely matte finish. The best comparison would be paint- it looks like paint on the wall. Not flat and unnatural but solid and 'there'. It won't make any blotches or patches on the face whatsoever. I definitely think this is one of the most important aspects of the product since nothing else comes even close to this effect. 

The third thing, related to the 1st and 2nd- it doesn't transfer. Most foundations claim they have a 'staying on' power of a certain number of hours, but they forget to mention how exactly the 'transfer' is supposed not to happen. Once it gets dry, this foundation doesn't transfer on anything, clothes, hands, hair, etc. You can rub your finger across your face and get nothing on- it feels and looks like you have paint on the face. I guess this is 'the' thing about this foundation- it doesn't move. If you don't have extremely dry skin, moisturize properly and blend it in wisely, it won't look overdone but give that porcelain complexion look. Otherwise it can look a little bit heavy.

The finish is flawless, no pores, no lines, no oily blotches after three hours or less. You definitely don't need to carry this around in your bag for touch-ups. I know of the Double Wear Light version of the product but never thought about getting it- why? I have this one. It's the best foundation i have ever tried.

Another thing about it- if you still feel you'd like something lighter, it's perfectly ok to dilute it with a bit of your favorite moisturizer. It will give the exact flawless coverage with less product and more moisture. Definitely highly indicated, especially in winter or those 'great skin' days when you feel like you only need a bit of concealer and you're ready to go.

However, it's good to keep in mind this isn't the perfect choice for either extremely dry skins or people who prefer light, almost sheer coverage. Several Makeupalley reviews mentioned an uncomfortable feeling about wearing this foundation, like their skin was 'suffocating' from the thickness of the product. It never happened to me, but if you are not used to wearing liquid foundation or something thicker, or if you've used mineral powders all your life it's better to give it a try with a sample first.

It doesn't break me out (and didn't cause anything to anyone on MUA yet), doesn't irritate my skin, is waterproof and a bit difficult to remove. Careful to cleanse your face really well, especially around the forehead, ears, nose creases, etc, because it can leave residues due to its highly resistant formulation. I usually cleanse my face with liquid makeup remover, then give it a good wash with Neutrogena facial soap (transparent) and i'm done with removing my makeup. You really don't need to scrub your face (i read it on some board posts somewhere...) to completely remove it.

All being said, this is my favorite foundation of all times and the only one i take on holidays or i reach for when being forced (not really..) to pick up one foundation only. I highly recommend it for those who've been 'misled' or just uncomfortable with full coverage foundations (like MAC's 'attack'...bleh) or anything else that didn't stay on and smeared all over your clothing. Hopefully they never discontinue it.