Beauty questions :)

I wasn't tagged by anyone but found these (relatively old) questions the lovely miss Sandra answered so i figured i might actually give them a try. It sounds like fun, so why not! Plus, it reminded me of several things i want to blog about.

SKINCARE
-How many times do you wash your face daily?
Twice, in the morning and at night. I don't use soap or wash gel though, only at night and very rarely. In the morning i find that cold water+my pharmacy-made fluid makeup remover does wonders for puffy eyes, sleepy skin and my unruly pores. I use facial wash gels maybe three times a week, at night, after removing the makeup, if i feel like it's time to literally wash the day off...

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
I have oily-combination skin that paradoxically lacks hydration.

-What is your current facial wash?
I own several facial wash gels/products but i wouldn't refer to any of them as 'the current' one because i use them so rarely. My favorites are two, Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel cleanser and Neutrogena 2 in 1 facial wash and mask. I should probably add Lush's Coalface...once a month.

-Do you exfoliate?
YES! Probably four-five times a week, with the OCM once every ten days-two weeks.

-What brand do you use?
Gosh, my favorite exfoliant was given to me by my friend's mom in a labelless jar so i don't actually know the name of the brand. It is a pharmaceutical product manufactured by the former Swedish national pharmacy chain.It is fantastic but a little too aggressive on the skin because it's EXTREMELY granulated.If i had to choose i'd say most of the time i prefer using a home-made scrub, coffee and cream being my favorite, followed by coffee (very finely grounded) and extra virgin oils (avocado, olive, coconut, almond, etc).

-What moisturizer do you use?
Weleda Skin Food, Olay Nature Fusion Anti-Aging Fluid SPF 20, Nivea...several. I like to switch...not necessarily to swing.

-Do you have freckles?
Not naturally. I have some sun spots unfortunately, and yes they do look like oversized freckles :( I think freckles are super cute on those who can pull the look, unfortunately not on my face :(


-Do you use eye cream?
Yes. I'm not sure if i'm actually going to do it but my eye cream deserves a post of its own. It's a Swedish brand that is very good and cheap at the same time. A-maha-zing!

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
No. I never had acne. I experience some pimples here and there but nothing serious.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
No. And even if i had to, i would (have) never put benzoyl peroxide on my face.

MAKE-UP
-What foundation do you use?
Several, but my favorite is Estee Lauder Double Wear. Hands down the best foundation ever. Second runner up, the Picture Perfect foundation from Face Stockholm.

-How about concealer?
Clinique All About Eyes.

-Do you know your undertone color?
Yes, neutral. In MAC language i'm an NW30-35.

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
A great invention of womankind :) They do improve the overall appearance in a dramatic way...i've finally mastered the art of applying them, after years of struggling. However, i think one must be careful with falsies as they tend to look fake and porn-star like if too bushy, too long or too dramatic, like the crystal-threaded ones, sparkles, glitter, feathers, lace and other stories.

-Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
I know about the 3 month rule. However i always use a mascara until it finishes, which varies. Some mascaras go dry on me in about a month, other last longer. It depends.

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Many. My favorites are Max Factor and L'Oreal Voluminous as drugstore brands, Shiseido from the high-end ones.

-Sephora or MAC?
Neither. There is no Sephora here in Sweden and apart from color, i don't actually like other Mac products.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
No.

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
Wet sponges, a ton of q-tips, makeup brushes (of course), fingers (a little).

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Not anymore. The 'good' ones such as the UDPP aren't available in Sweden and i've given up on the others. I do however own some concealers that do the trick.

-For the face?
Yes. Laura Mercier and Chanel.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
My favorite eyeshadow is from Isadora, a Swedish drugstore brand. I like two quads, the Classic Browns and the Golds.

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Pencil. I only use liquid eyeliner for special occasions, and only because if i'm using falsies, i like to be extra sure the glue line won't be noticeable.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Lol. Never??

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
Very vibrant and beautiful colors, i don't own any because i think it's a hassle with the messiness, the price...maybe some day, who knows...

-Do you use mineral makeup?
Not on the face except for some blushes and bronzers. I use a mineral body powder though.

-What is your favorite lipstick?
I cannot live without L'Oreal's Color Riche in Coral Magic (Michelle Yeoh's color) and Rimmel's Moisture Renew in 600 Soft Coral. I also like the Max Factor cream blushes as lipsticks. I'm a total natural lipstick lover and would rather sport the 'no lipstick' look than an obvious slather on my face.

-How about lipgloss?
Lancome Juicy Tubes in Raspberry/Framboise. The most glorious lipgloss ever invented by makeupkind :)

-What is your favorite blush to use?
The pinks and peaches from Face Stockholm. I absolutely adore them. I love love love Rosa, Körsbär and Celestial.

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
I would perhaps NEVER do that.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yes, quite a lot.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
None of those here.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
Yes.

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
No, but i obviously sometimes stain myself with mascara.

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
One, blue eyeshadow and red lipstick. Two, the abuse of nude lipstick-if it's pink, it makes you look like a porn star with chalky lips. If it's beige, it completely washes the face off. In both cases it makes the teeth appear yellow and ages the face quite a lot. Third, the notorious fake bake+pale lipstick. Distasteful and unnatural.

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I like browns for eyeshadows and peaches and pinks for lipstick. So i guess i'm a neutral shade person after all.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Cheryl Cole and Jennifer Lopez have the greatest complexion glow...Megan Fox has the eye makeup...but overall, it would be Natalie Portman and Kate Moss. Their physiognomy allows this high makeup versatility and Natalie always looks so clean and fresh-faced.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Bronzer.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
I do it all the time.

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
Yes, sometimes :)

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
There are two, Face Stockholm and Estee Lauder.

-What do you think of Makeup?
It's something that really makes the world go round...and keeps it as we know it :)


Yay! Mission accomplished :)

Le Blanc de Chanel Illuminating Base

I've wanted this product for a while before purchasing it...i stumbled across some primer reviews on Makeupalley and there it was.



Now this is my version of the pic, a little more blurry because by the time i got to actually realize the quality wasn't the expected one and try change the settings, the battery died.

It is a beautiful, beautiful frosted glass bottle with a gorgeously massive squared cap with the Chanel logo embossed on. The bottle is squared as you can see, which i love because it's simpler to pack when traveling. It comes with a small plastic spatula to use and pick up the product from the bottle...yep, it doesn't have a pump. Not very happy about it.

This is the 'new and improved' version of the 'old' base that was marketed as Blanc Universel de Chanel.

So this is basically a liquid version of the old white paste in a jar. I must say this version appears to be much hygienic and comfortable to use than the former one...at least they provide a spatula or a separate pump can be used. I can't imagine what it was like to try work with the paste, dabbing your fingers/sponges/brushes in the jar...brrrr. Germs+messy fingers+wasted product=NOT cool.

The rave reviews on Makeupalley were 90% referring to the old cream version...and not to the liquid one simply because the ladies were/are still using the old formulation. It was a bit of a cringing situation for me when i discovered i had bought the 'new' version and not the wonder jar many girls were swearing by, because from my experience, whenever a quality product is 'improved' it usually turns out to be a major flop.

However, though i never used the cream one, i do think the differences between my observations and the ones on forums are minor.

Price: It is expensive like hell. For a small bottle of 30 ml one has to pay around 50 euros but i was lucky and got it from duty free for 29, almost half price off. Yay! As i said, it is going to burn a little hole in your budget.

Quantity & stuff: 30 ml isn't too much but the thick fluidity give the primer/base a creamy consistency. a little goes a long way, it is extremely blendable and easy to work with. So i guess it lasts forever. I've had mine since March, though not using it every day thus not being able to approximate, i can still tell it DOES last a long long long time...my bottle looks untouched and i did use it many times.

What it claims to do: Chanel states it is a 'multi-tasking ingenious fluid' base meant to provide a smooth application of the makeup through its texture; it is also meant to reduce the small expression wrinkles, fine lines, large pores or granulated skin, therefore aiming towards a porcelain complexion.

>





What it does: well. It is not very visible on my skin therefore i have uploaded a picture of a model being prepped with Le Blanc. The effect on her entire face is the exact same one on mine, when i use the right amount all over my face.

The primer IS white, but it won't leave white streaks, a white layer or anything in the family. It is like applying 'pearl cream' on your face- you get a ton of glow due to the microscopic light-reflecting particles in it. It doesn't look shiny (as in greasy oily forehead and nose), glittery or tacky. It gives the Jennifer Lopez glow 'from the inside' even when worn alone.

In the pics I have only used it underneath my eyes and blended it downwards on the cheekbones because i sincerely don't want to waste the product and two, due to the specificity of the area- my undereye skin & the cheekbone area are the most troublesome parts that need to be taken care of (undereye circles & spots immediately under). The quality of the pics isn't so high but you can clearly see a difference. The product is basically capable to significantly lighten up your skin and 'erase' undereye circles and fine expression lines BY ITSELF. I have no foundation or concealer on top of it.

It does make a huge difference, and by itself only. The first twenty seconds seem like an eternity because the product must be allowed to settle on the skin and 'work'. The first impression is indeed of having applied whitening glow on your face but immediately after you'll see the difference. It just evens out the skintone, one, two, it makes your face glow in a natural and healthy manner, and three, it does make even the cheapest and chromatically challenged foundation glide on the skin and appear much more suitable to your skintone. It can also be used for lightening up a darker foundation, or as a mixing agent for two foundations, making your own tinted (glowing!) moisturizer or taming down a thick concealer. It is indeed a very versatile product and i don't regret having purchased it.

How to use: i prefer to use my fingertips to warm up the product and not waste so much; never tried the brush or sponge but i guess it's okay to use those too. Very important to remember- you must let it settle in for about 5 minutes; it doesn't change the appearance or the quality of your makeup if you don't, you might only get a little scared by the initial whiteness (which isn't so pronounced after all, but who knows). NO, it will NOT make your face white or lighten up the tone of your foundation/concealer. It gives this impression if applied together with a dark foundation because of the light-reflecting particles, but it won't affect its tone. It will however make your face dewy, glowing, amazingly healthy and smooth. No matter what cheapos you decide to use with it, you'll have a beautiful and radiant complexion at the end of your makeup routine.

It also makes your foundation last longer, no dryness, no crimping in the fine lines, even if you use a heavy-duty setting powder. It's suitable for every skintype, doesn't irritate, doesn't break me out, it's perfect. It gives a nice sensation by keeping the moist in your skin, you literally feel fresh-faced even after ten hours of wearing makeup. The best primer for my Estee Lauder Double Wear, which is a tricky foundation to wear (can dry out the skin).

Therefore...: It is the best foundation base i have ever had, period. Much much better than Laura Mercier, Clinique or the drugstore ones i have tried. I love the fact that the foundation gets smoother and easier to blend; this is indeed a true makeup base. It's worth all the money, it lasts forever, it smells good (a faint powdery-fruity scent)....strongly recommended.

Here are some pictures.

With flash, Seventeen Time Plus foundation on top (shade 05 dark beige):

Without flash (daylight, bad angle):

Happy shopping everyooooone!

To Oil or not to Oil, the question has been answered

What: The OCM, Oil Cleansing Method. Notorious, i guess everybody is already familiar with the hot cloth and oil cleansing ritual.

Why:...because i have a little set of observations of my own. For the record, i have combination skin, large pores but no excessive oiliness.

Therefore...: I think there are not only advantages but also problems with this method. I figured i'm the only one who's got something to say 'against' this little treatment...or not? anyways i am still doing it, occasionally, and in the mean time deciding whether i should continue with it or not. I guess i'm going to have to maintain it in my beauty routine but only rarely, maybe once every ten days.

What: the oils i use vary. I usually like the extra virgin olive oil and castor oil combination, but i always add a few drops of almond oil (cold pressed, unrefined), avocado oil or my Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. I don't use a fancy cloth, such as the expensive muslin cloths similar to the ones from Liz Earle or anything from a kit. I just have two face towels, one purchased from Ikea, that is not so fine, and another one from an interior decoration store, a little softer, with more delicate threads. Therefore there is just a small difference between the two 'cloths' but not something significant. I alternate the two cloths, when i need to wash one of 'em.

How: i used to do it once every three days, then once a week. i got really scared when i read some blogs where the ladies said they were doing it every day, sometimes even twice. i think it's too much for the skin.

....which brings me to the jist of this blog. the pros and cons:

Pros: -it is a natural exfoliation treatment that you can mechanically control. You don't aggress your skin as you would do with any other exfoliant, no matter how delicate the particles are. I use one from a Swedish pharmacy, i don't know its name, but the cream is extremely thick and the particles are very, very small. I think it's a perfect dupe for Dermalogica's Microfoliant or the new version of it that is currently being marketed in Sweden. I usually add three to five drops of almond or avocado oil to the exfoliant when i use it, just to make it milder for the face.

- it prevents breakouts...seriously. I never have them in a serious way, only a couple of small pimples here and there, and i never suffered from acne. But this method really kept those little pesky bumps at bay, which is great. I can only imagine what this would mean to someone suffering from cystic or rebel acne..a true blessing. It delivers your skin the necessary oils and cleanses it extremely naturally, only hot water and oils.

- leaves the skin nourished after the process, which no other exfoliant does, no other home-made mask or anything in the family. It is useful for the ladies who want to keep their treatments at a minimum and go totally natural. You basically don't need any thick night cream afterwards, if you're doing it at night, only a couple of oil drops if you feel your skin too tight.

-takes off all the dirt, dead cells and makeup. and i mean everything. my skin was never pink and plump, baby-like, as it was after each OCM session. you can see the real skin coming out, and you look your own age. No more superficial spots, no more grayness, no more washed off skintone, no more 'opaqueness'. Your skin does glow, and i take it it glows from inside. The blood circulation is activated by the hot water and the friction with the cloth, while the nourishing oil does a delicate and effective job at exfoliating your skin.

- a HUGE thing- if you have oily skin you can wave it goodbye. this method will literally change your skin type, and i mean it. It stops the excessive secretion of sebum and you can easily go from extremely oily to combination skin in just a few 'sessions'.

Cons: it is weird that i actually found those....

Basically i feel my skin gets too dry afterwards. it's not a nourishment problem but a dehydration one. My skin needs hydration because of the exposure to the hot water...and i need to use a hydrating cream, wash my face with cold water, use all sorts of tricks to restore the natural equilibrium...i even got to the point where i had to use vaseline to seal in the moisture...

Again, i don't have extremely oily skin so sebum was never a problem for me. I only needed something to really cleanse my pores and potentially minimize them, or if not, just 'tame' them a little. It didn't quite happen this way. I did observe fewer blackheads and less clogged pores in general but it came at the expense of hydration, which my weird skin needs it. Yep, the old 'oily but dry' dilemma all over again.
Add that to my biggest fear- wrinkles and premature aging. exposing your face to hot water or steaming for long periods of time can result in premature aging, drying of the skin and wrinkles. Therefore i stopped doing it once every three-four days and started thinking of it once a week, maybe ten or fourteen days.

-it is ADDICTIVE. If you don't do it in a month expect hell. My chin got inflamed and several huge pimples, almost acne-type, popped out, despite me not changing anything in my routine except for the OCM. It was a terrible experience, the pimples wouldn't go away with anything, not even aspirin, and i was left with tiny purple spots- scarring. I couldn't believe it!

.....so i think i will be using this once every two weeks and see what's that going to be like. I strongly recommend attention when using this method, because although it is indeed a very effective and beneficial cleansing process, it can seriously backfire if you're not doing to according to your skin type.