Current Likes

Time for a new post! :)

Been neglecting the blog for ever..time to sweep in and talk a little about current obsessions. Let's begin.

1. Neutrogena Deep Moisture Comfort Balm

This stuff is a miracle in a jar. It works wonderfully on my skin, like nothing I've ever tried before. I usually go for thicker, more oily products since aging and wrinkles are my biggest fear. However, this cream is the best thing I have ever tried for hydration and quick absorption. It works wonderfully under the makeup, and that's why it has become my current staple- my skin drinks it up instantly and I'm ready to apply my makeup. Yay!

It has a beautiful, delicate 'creamy' scent, it didn't clog my pores (I've been using it for a while, I guess several months already, the jar is almost empty), didn't cause anything, redness or itching, it doesn't stain my pillowcase (I always apply a thick layer before going to bed), it just works magically and I am so happy I discovered it! Got it from the Carrefour supermarket and it doesn't cost a lot at all (in euros, around 4.20, and in USD, 5.35, which is very cheap if you ask me), especially given the generous size of the jar (200 ml) and the consistency which allows for using a very small amount. 

2. Baby Oil

Currently, Nivea's baby oil and the classic Johnson product, the gel version. I love this stuff. I use it on my body, given that I have one of the driest skins out there, and it did improve the overall condition (especially after being out in the cold, or aggressive treatments such as waxing). I don't even use lotion anymore, since I get baby soft skin after each use (after shower- it's important to apply the baby oil on wet skin, but I guess everybody knows this). My skin is softer, the hairs don't feel as coarse as they did once they start appearing and overall, it's been a major gain. 

The main purpose of my baby oil routine is to condition my lashes. After tons of products, natural remedies, oils and massages (vaseline, borage oil, etc.) I think I found the easiest, no stress way of conditioning my lashes and helping them grow out- I apply baby oil each night before going to bed, alternating between the two brands, Nivea and Johnson's. The Nivea one contains almond oil as well as the classic paraffin (liquid version of vaseline, anyone?), which is a nourishing oil for the skin as well as for the delicate hairs of the lashes, while the Johnson's one is easier to use because it's a gel and I can apply it with absolutely no fuss; not to mention that I find this 'method', alternating between different formulations, to have helped my lashes tremendously. I can't remember the last time I lost a single one, they've become much stronger and softer, and they're significantly longer and thicker despite my constant violence towards them- curling, pulling, false lash gluing, ripping the band off, etc, we all know what happens.

I also use the baby oil to remove my eye makeup, and it does leave a greasy film on the skin but the benefits override this little nuisance. I wouldn't go back to using a typical eye makeup remover, not in a thousand years. 

3. Le Blanc de Chanel Primer

I swear, this is a rediscovered product I have fallen in love with...yet again. Haven't used it in a long time because I remembered it took me a while to apply it, blend it in, wait for it to settle a little, all the procedures. However....this weekend I went out and decided I wanted to have my skin look a little better, and the foundation last longer, so I applied it underneath Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation (review coming soon)...oh the surprise!!!

It make my skin look so beautiful, emphasized the pigmentation of the foundation, make my cheeks glow and settled my makeup so nicely I didn't even need powder on top; it also lasted for about 10 hours without budging...the makeup that is. Deeply in love with the primer, once again. Will continue using it on every 'special occasion' since it's so expensive...can't wait to see the differences again! 

Update on the lashes-week 2 and some rambling...

I've been conscientiously applying vaseline on my lashes every night now, for about two weeks and a half. The results, as i mentioned before, are not visible in the form of a shocking difference but there's definitely something going on. This week's lashes:

With copious layers of mascara but still longer than 10 days ago

As you can see, the vaseline + Borage oil technique seems to work well. I'm pleased with the results because, though i still want huge lashes (Lilash...!!!) that can curl up to the eyebrows, i'd rather have healthy lashes first of all. No kidding. I read Laura's post about her problems with RapidLash and those images were terrifying...add that up to a YouTube user's account of her tragic eyelash extension experience and you got yourself a very scared me. I mean i am definitely going to try Lilash...some day. For the moment i'm sticking with my vaseline stuff. Because the Makeup Store's Treatment Mascara is currently unavailable-they've pulled the product off for some 'reformulation' of the original version...which i am sure it won't be as efficient as the first one. Here's an image of a lovely Swedish blogger, faithful Treatment Mascara user:

Image from Kenzas.se

As you can see the effect is almost identical to the Lilash one-i'd say the lashes are a little less bushy but longer. I wanted to try this at first, then got caught up in the whole Shiseido mascara base frenzy and forgot about it. Now i have to wait for the new formula to hit the stand and who knows what's gonna be like (reformulated products are usually rubbish). Oh well.

Now, about some things i got yesterday.

I finally purchased the Garnier 2-in-1 Caffeine Anti- dark Circles Tinted Eye Roll-on and so far i am pretty darn impressed with it. Most reviews on Makeupalley rave about this product and consider it the concealer of the century since it's 'natural', thin and light, and it's a treatment as well, so there you have the 2-in-1-ness.

The first time i spotted this (a few weeks ago) i didn't actually want to purchase it. The color looked nice when swatched on the back of the hand, a light illuminating beige, very thin and wearable. I just had that thought in the back of my mind, what is this, a concealer or a treatment? It looks too light to cover anything, i'm going to end up with a glittery yellow halo under my eyes and the pigments are going to dry my eye area, not allowing the 'treatment' part do its job. I just didn't know how to take this.

But yesterday it was on sale so well...i did what i usually do. Grabbed it and never looked back...which i seriously think is what i am going to keep doing for a while. It is a little too early to write a review but this product is really surprising. I never expected Garnier (i don't like their products at all, except for their hair colors...and treatments) to do such a great job. The product works and it's so sheer yet delivers great coverage. Truly surprised. 

The second item of the ramble- a lip gloss from H&M, apparently very popular- the double H&M gloss in Queen of Peach (it's even on Makeupalley):

Given that i am currently in a coral lip phase i couldn't help at falling in love with this. The only problem- it doesn't look exactly like that on the lips, which is something that never happens with H&M glosses, despite their low-end-ness. Upcoming post on this one, soon.

I also got an eyebrow palette (got tired of the H&M one and just wanted to stray a little...), two face masks, a mud one and a revitalising one, a new mascara, actually two (Max Factor is 20% off this week), an eye cream and Silica hair supplements. Not a very big haul but definitely things i needed and wanted or had to try out :)