My daily face for the last two months (Dec and Jan):

Estee Lauder Idealist serum. Use it every morning, under my day moisturiser to minimize my awful looking pores. Two drops its all you need, spread it in the essentials areas (my case cheeks and nose). I’m pleased to say it really works, seen a reduction after just a week and my pores are looking airbrushed.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (shade 53). This is my ‘day off’ foundation, it provides a medium coverage with a dewy radiant glow. I only use it when im off just because i get loads of shine through the day and this foundation doesn’t have any mattifying properties, so its nice when i slap it on just for a few hours.

Lancome Teint Idole 24H (No. 03). Was lucky to try it before it was launched (which is 1st of Feb, tomorrow!) so had about 3 whole months of daily testing. This is my ‘work’ foundation – it doesn’t budge, needs minimal retouching for shine and has an excellent color range. I was a fan of the original Teint Idole Ultra, but sometimes i found it too drying and the coverage was too heavy. While the new is style full coverage, the texture its a lot smoother and velvety.

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer (no. 52). An excellent concealer! Very moisturising, full coverage and with a brightening effect. I apply it first, then my foundation and then highlight with YSL Touche Eclat.

YSL Touche Eclat (no. 1). I use it on top of the Bourjois concealer, just in the inner corners of my eye and on my nose bridge.

Bourjois Smokey Eyes in 04 Nude Ingenu. I have been obsessed with these eye shadows, reach for them every morning and for the first time, hit pan on a color.

Lancome Artliner in Black. My signature look for 2011 and im sure for 2012 as well, the windged black eyeliner.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara in Black. Love the brush, it gives me length and separation. Think that this is the type that gets better with age, when it dries up a bit after a week from opening it provides the most flawless application.

Sleek Nude Blush. Because of the cold weather i was a bit over the pink blusher, it looked like a had rosaceea cheeks! Instead i reached for the nude brown/tan blush to sculpt some cheekbones.

Mac Mineralized Powder in Medium Plus. Dewy, natural, flawless coverage what is not to love?!

Eyebrows: penciled first with Lancome eyebrow pencil (02) and then sealed the color with my all time favorite Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe.

Other Loves

F for Salvatore Ferragamo Perfume, probably a more summer appropriate scent as it is light and floral but it makes my happy so im gonna use it up.

Kerastase Nutri Sculpt Leave-in Conditioner. The first leave in conditioner that doesnt leave my hair flat and greasy. My hair drinks it up and re becomes shiny and soft.

Vichy Lipidiose Body Exfoliant. This is the old packaging version, they have re-vamped the range since i got it (a year ago). Use it once a week and it delivers the softest skin ever. Its definetly not a gently scrub, but sometimes rough is better .

Vichy Liftactiv Serum. This serum has been an absolute savior during winter months, have been using it religiously every night under my moisturiser to plump and boost my skin. I can really see a difference in my complexion in the morning, it looks brighter and more relaxed.

Promise the next Favorites installment will be a lot shorter than this, haven’t done one in a long time so had lots of loves.

Only two weeks in my cosmetic/makeup spending ban and i already break the rules. Jeez i have the willpower of a fly!

It just has taken me by surprise, the sale i mean. You see, if i know there will be sale in a shop i prepare myself and if it really comes to it, i just don’t enter the shop at all. The crowds and the mess put me off (unless it is a Zara sale!) and im usually too tired for a good rummage.

But what do you do when the sale its at your counter and you have to re-label the products for the sale?

It all started with some products that didn’t have a tester so i just checked the color out of curiosity. Big mistake! Cue three lipsticks and two lip glosses:

Lancome Color Fever Lipsticks and Color Fever Glosses

Warning! I’ve taken the photos at night time with a pretty crappy camera. Capturing the tones of a lipstick its an art that i haven’t mastered yet. Ill be doing swatches in the morning, with natural light and update the post.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 332 (was €24 now €16)

Its a lot prettier and lighter in real life than in the photo, its a beautiful barbie pink suitable for a casual day.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 147 (was €24 now €16)

The classic red lipstick! Not too pink, not too blue…just perfect. Need to byte the bullet and start wearing reds, im in my late twenties for heaven’s sake.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 104 (was €24 now €16)

My absolute favorite from the bunch. Yes, my camera fails miserably and probably you cant even notice the differences between the two reds. 104 its a coral/orange toned red who would look fabulous on blondes and makes an ultimate summer staple. Tanned skin, tasseled beach hair, a sexy maxi dress and this lipstick, can not wait for summer nights!

Color Fever Glosses in 326 (top) and 334 (bottom) (was €20 now €13.50)

Non sticky, medium coverage, delicious pink tones. 334 its a cooler pink, while 326 has a touch of peach in it, making it warmer.

Perhaps if i’ll stop buying lipsticks, i could afford a proper DSLR…

Disclaimer: I have paid for the products with my own money.

‘A product so powerful that over half of women no longer want a dermatological procedure after using Visionnaire.’

*product claim

RRP. €70 for 30ml or €95 for 50ml

I have been using the Visionnaire serum daily since August, once a day in the evening time under my night moisturiser. I didn’t want to rush and post a review after only two weeks – although i fell in love with it instantly – just to be able to have an accurate view of the results.

What is Visionnaire?

It is a skin corrector, a light serum that can be used once or twice a day under the current day/night moisturiser and it is safe to be used even on the gentle eye contour.

100% Active – 100% Safe, Visionnaire its four times stronger then the leading pharmaceutical product Retinol without the nasty side effects (sun sensitivity, dryness, redness).

It has taken Lancome 12 whole years to create the LR 2412 molecule, inspired by nature and the safe healing properties of plants.

Results

Wrinkles appear reduced, as if smoothed.

Skin imperfections seem diminished.

Pores appear less visible.

Dark spots are visibly reduced.

Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

My thoughts

First of all, have to mention that i have oily combination skin, don’t have any wrinkle concerns yet! (im 27) so cant say I’ve seen a major improvement in that area. I have been using the product every night for the last two months – three pumps under the moisturiser, including the eye contour and neck.

The serum is very light weight and easily absorbed into the skin and its beautifully fragranced, I really believe that it has the same scent as Chanel Eau Tendre, but it could be only me. Im not allergic to perfume in skincare so not sure how a person sensitive to fragrance might react to it.

It really improved my skin condition in the sense of radiance, pores and overall evenness. It just appears a lot smoother and more radiant, the first word that comes to mind when i see my skin in the morning is ‘relaxed’.

Now the most important thing that convinced me of the product, is the healing properties of Visionnaire. Ony, my fiancee has a nasty cut in the corner of his mouth obtained while shaving, who refuses to heal even after months since the cut. Well, after starting to apply the serum every night on the cut (and overall his pretty face!) it appears that is finally closing and start to heal (he used it for a month now).

Another healing story of the product is of one of my friends who had a little burn on her arm, after an ironing session. After only one week, the burn is so faded almost gone.

Apparently this is one of the most important properties, it restarts the healing process of the skin and boost the whole appearance. Also its a great help in fading scars and acne marks.

Have you tried Visionnaire yet? What are your results?

Hmm…the idea of having big, round, beautiful doll like eyes always fascinated me.  Well, not in the *Im a Barbie doll, made from plastic, im fantastic* kind of way. More like clean and soft eye makeup, flick of black eyeliner and long, fawned out lashes.

Introducing Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara, a hybrid between the original bestseller Hypnose and the newer false lash effect mascara, Hypnose Drama. This is how their love baby looks like:

And the brush:

If with Hypnose original you would get a buildable volume (up to 7 coats of mascara wowsa!) and with Hypnose Drama the result would be an instant false lash effect (thick, luxurious lashes); Hypnose Doll Eyes would separate every lash, giving a wide-open, doll like lashes *pun intended*.

Have been using it for the last month or so and i can absolutely say that i adore the brush! Being a conical wand, means that you can coat even those little lashes in the inner corner of the eye and i can finally use it on my lower lashes without a panda eye.

Also, i had fun with the new Doll Eyes Facebook app.: you can create your own look-a-like doll! Here is mine:

You can be one if you fancy by clicking  here.

RRP. 25.50 euro

Renergie Yeux Multiple Lift is the latest addition to the Lancome anti-age family, with an innovative technology of two formulas to completely rejuvenate the whole eye area. It was developed with a top leading plastic surgeon – Dr. Patrick Bui, expert in gaze rejuvenation.

I know I’m not exactly the ideal candidate for the cream, as i am only 27 and don’t have any deep set wrinkles (yet!). When you read ”multiple lift” automatically you think that it will have a strong anti-aging effect, which it does and you wonder why for the love of God a 27 year old would use it.

Because i have dark circles, aquired with a combination of genetics and self-harm (coffee, workaholic, early mornings) and this cream promises that it will help me get rid of them. Simple as.

Lets get into the science bit:

 Two formulas, six benefits.

The base formula consists in the Volumetric lifting cream which will reduce wrinkles and fine lines, will firm up the eye contour and it will lift the eyelids.

Yes, the cream can be applied under the eye (on the bone), on the lids and on top of the brow to support the lifting effect and rejuvenate completely the eye area. There is a little massaging technique that goes really well with the cream and helps smoothing out the fine lines. I’m not the best at explaining it, but at the moment, Lancome offers free eye spas on counter (takes about 10min) to show you exactly how it can be used. This is how i got convinced to try it out.

The ingredient that it will help me fade the dark circles is Haloxyl, which is used in cosmetic surgery to brighten up the eye.

The top formula is an Illuminating Protecting Care rich in highlighting pigments and with skincare benefits like fading dark circles, deflating under eye bags and immediate illuminating effect.

Contrary to first impressions, it is not a concealer. You would still apply your favorite concealer and carry on with foundation as usual. Because its actually skincare, the top formula can be applied even at night time so you can sleep with it and get full benefits.

The top formula comes in one shade to suit all complexions. Tried to swatch it on my hand, without much success - its so subtle that the camera doesnt catch the tone.

 Not much there for you to see…

After 3 weeks of daily use:

I believe it really makes a difference on my whole eye area, i look more rested and my little dehydration lines are gone. I can definitely say that my dark circles seem to look faded (when i have no makeup on) and after i apply the highlighter and concealer they are completly gone.

The cream is smooth, you need a pea size of product to work it into the skin and massage it thoroughly with the ring finger. After 3 weeks, it looks good as new.

The top formula melts on top of the cream, you warm it up with the fingers and apply little highlighting dots all around the eye and then you just blend everything together. It doesn’t get set in the fine lines, doesn’t cake and the eye makeup sits beautifully on it.

 Price: 53 euro.

N.B. I got the cream part of a goodie bag at a Lancome briefing.

Seems that for spring 2011, all the major cosmetic companies decided to release a new shiny and glossy lipstick: Lancome has L’Absolu Nu, Chanel has Rouge Coco Shine and Dior just came out with a fresh range of Addict Shine. The general idea behind it all is fresh, nude lips, full of shine and volume suitable for casual, day to day wear.

Lancome launched a couple of weeks ago the long awaited L’Absolu Nu Rouge as an replacement to their Color Fever and Color Fever Shine lipsticks, which have been discontinued so grab your favorite shade while you can ladies, when their gone, their gone!

L’Absolu Nu is available in 12 nude shades, divided in three categories to match perfectly every lip tone varying from light shades to slightly brighter. Red tone lips – 101,102,103, beige tone – 201,202,203,204,205 and pink tone lips – 301, 302, 303 and 304.

Myself, I have pink tone lips so i got the 302 shade (Voile de Rose) which is a slightly berry pink.

The packaging is sleek and elegant and what i love the most is the magnetic top, which means no spills in your handbag. Once i ruined the interior of a lovely little going out bag, because the top of my red lipstick decided to detach.

Texture wise, i like a lot as well: looks like a lipstick, but applies like a gloss! Its not sticky or heavy, i can barely feel it on the lips. Deliveres a sheer to medium coverage, depending on how much you want to apply.

My lips look and feel hydrated and have a very natural shine, the whole idea is to enhance the natural tone and give the bare lip sensation.

 * A little pout for the camera *

The color is brighter in real life (think berry pink), although I have taken the photo in natural light,  my camera still manages to fade the colors.  Dear Easter Bunny i want  need an SLR please…

All i need now is the 202 shade (juicy peach-coral) and im ready for spring!

RRP. 25.00 euro

Got a couple of new faves in February when it comes to my makeup. Still kept nice and uncomplicated, there is no need of drama at 7.30 am when i can barely keep my eyes open.

1. Base:

Vichy Dermablend in shade 35 (sand), Vichy Dermablend transluscent setting powder andSmashbox High Definition Concealer in Light.

Lately i felt the need of a bit more coverage as the lighting in my work place is very harsh and makes every single pore or blemish 10 times worse. Had the Vichy products from last summer, the shade of the foundation is a bit too dark at the moment (the 25 would’ve been perfect for winter) but teamed up with blusher and blended well on the neck, its grand.

The foundation gives a perfect, flawless coverage without looking fake. The first day when i weared it at work, one of my friends comented on how smooth and polished my face looked.

I blend it with my fingers, using a tiny bit of product, working from the center of the face moving towards the extremities. I apply the concealer on top, under my eyes and anywhere there is the need of coverage and set with the translucent powder using a large brush. Dermablend will not budge until removed, although i get a bit of shine on my t-zone.

2. Eyes

 I used only two shades of eyeshadow, browns and blue-greys: the gold Half Baked (on the lid) and bronze brown Smog from the UD Naked palette (shadow) and Bourjois Smoky Eyes trio eyeshadow in Gris Dandy.

Maybe because my foundation is slightly darker, i felt the need to warm up my complexion with golds and bronze. To get more definition, i lined my lower waterline with UD Lucky 24/7 liner and used the Lancome LE Artliner in brown on my upper lashes (last summer collection).

  Loreal Million Lashes Mascara in Carbon Black, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Lancome Artliner and Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Lucky

 3. Blusher

For the warm brown tones i matched a Lancome Blush in Peach Fever (20) a lovely shimmery coral-peach shade with little sparkling particles. Warms up my skin and gives a lovely glow as well.

When i wear the grey Bourjois trio, I used a light cool toned pink – Loreal True Rose Blush (115) with Lancome Teint Miracle #5 underneath (very similar to Benefit High Beam). Teint Miracle #5 its a cool toned pink highliter, that can be used on the bone of your cheeks as a base for blusher, under the brow to create light and everywhere else you would like to add a bit of movement and glow.

 * with flash*

4. Setting Spray

This month i gave a go for the first time to Clarins Fix Makeup Refreshing Mist spray to set even more my makeup and to ensure it will be long lasting. To be honest i don’t know what to think about it…it smells lovely of roses, it has a fresh feeling when applied (which you could get from spraying thermal water or even mineral water) and it dries up in an instant.                                                                 

Can’t say it makes my skin dewy, or even that my makeup lasts longer. Haven’t noticed any difference with it or without it. I will take a break from spraying it until summer time, maybe then i will notice more benefits.

Lipstick wise, i didn’t feel like wearing any. Most of February i had a cold so every 5 min felt the need to blow my nose, hence lipstick on the tissue…lipstick on the nose…not worth the hassle.

Looking forward to read your February favorites, roll them on!

So far, 2011 spring season was the best ever for me! Every cosmetic house went out of their way to come up with lovely shades of violet and purple, from eyeshadow palettes to mascaras and blushes. I’m in purple heaven!

What i loved most was the Lancome Ultra Lavande spring collection, the lipglosses and lipsticks are my perfect shades of pink and the eyeshadows are to die for, combinations of purples and gold.

The stand out was for sure the La Rose Butterfly Forever blusher, have a look at this beauty:

Isn’t it gorgeous?  My picture doesn’t do much justice to it, in real life the colors are stronger and better defined. I was a bit concerned about the shimmer, but its only the spray on type that you can use on your decolletage and arms, leaving behind a delicate cool toned pink.

To get the full advantage of the blush i would just mix the whole lot with a blusher brush and use it for a natural rosy look.  The result color is very natural, it would work best on a fair complexion and for a more dramatic look or sallow skin like in my case, i just use it as a highlighter on top of another blush. The finish is lovely, I always get compliments on it.

Tried to capture a picture with the blush on my cheeks…didn’t work out for me, either i don’t have the skills or my camera is crap . Could be all of the above.

Lancome French Touch Absolu Rouge in 308

Le Rouge Absolu its another gem of a lipstick, very moisturising and pigmented. The shade 308 is a neutral pink, more on the nude side very subtle for the day to day look – again, its a lot paler in the photo, in real life is slightly richer. Tried it in the shop with the Color Fever Gloss Rose Ballerine (same collection, smells of lavender) and it really stands out, so pretty!

I’m raging i missed out on the nail polish Violet Groove and the new khol pencil – Pink Ballerina. Think they sold out in minutes and being limited editions, when their gone there gone . Should’ve bought when i first saw them.

I’m sure you all know that Lancome launched a new breakthrough foundation this month, that its going to revolutionize once more the art of makeup. After 10 years of research and 7 patents, let me introduce you to *drum rolls* Teint Miracle foundation!

Teint Miracle promises to give your skin instant radiance, luminosity and that “barely there” type of finish. There is a lot of science behind it, “Aura-Inside” technology that recreats your inner light effect, is just one but im not going to bore you to death with it.

I have been using it daily since i got it, almost three weeks ago. This was the only foundation i had with me on holiday, so i only used this without cheating with other foundations.

First, i have to tell you that my skin is combination/oily, i don’t need major coverage but i like a medium to full one, just to have a nice canvas for eyeshadow and blush. Miracle offers a buildable coverage, which means you can layer the foundation depending on the desirable look.

What i usually do is apply it with my fingers all over the face and the insisting with a foundation brush on the areas where i feel i need a bit more coverage. The result is very natural, and yes i can notice a nice radiance added to my skin. Also, it didnt break me out.

Texture wise is very hydrating (40% water content) and has an added SPF 15. Some people might not like this, but it has a faint scent of roses due to the natural extract. I don’t mind fragrance in my skincare as I’m not allergic, but i know some people dislike it.

The only issue i have with the foundation, is that its not meant to add pressed powder on top of it because you are killing the luminosity/radiance effect. It actually makes sense, a dewy makeup means maximum light reflection…powder kills it, by matifying. After a couple of days with terrible oily t-zone i had to compromise and use a pressed powder on the shiny areas, avoiding the cheeks.

Here is me sporting the 03 Beige Diaphane shade. Looks a tad darker in real life.

Overall i like it a lot for day to day use, but i wouldn’t use it at night time. By being a radiance foundation, it reflects the light so you look like a ghost in flash photography. I learned that the hard way lol.

What do you think, do we have an yay or nay?

Last week i attended a Lancome briefing in Galway, about the new autumn makeup collection French Coquettes and the new foundation Teint Idole Miracle. I must say I’m impressed with the foundation so far, full review to follow after a couple of weeks of use (i like to test the product thoroughly).

I snapped a few photos of the make-up in the shop and swached the testers for you to see, so this post will be photo heavy. The only draw back of this new collection is that is already out of stock, even before being distributed to the shops. This means that if you like something, go and get it fast as the quantities are extremely limited.

French Touch lipstick, available in two shades: 304 and 306. The packaging seems very tiny, but Lancome assured us that the content is the exact same size as their Absolue lipsticks. Unfortunately, no testers were available to swatch the colors. RRP. 30.00 euro

La Laque Fever, available in two shades: Bloody Cheri Cherry (113) and Rose Daria (308).This lipglosses have long lasting properties and medium to full coverage. Great for evening wear. RRP. 24.50 euro

Three new Color Fever Gloss shades: Metropolitan Beige 272 (my favorite), Bloody Black Cherry 382 and Pure Bitten Lips 262 (this one is from the permanent collection). RRP. 20.00 euro

The most exciting new product for me, was the new eyebrow pencils. They are fabulous!! I never liked the old Lancome one, find them very hard and with little color pay off. I use the no2 Noisette, combined with Smashbox brow tech in Taupe.  Also the pencils are double headed: one side has the actual pencil, the other one has the setting wax. RRP. 16.00 euro

A new cheeck powder completes the collection: “La Rose Deco is an all-over powder that gives a subtle shine, a new mix between shaded tones of rose wood and a touch of pink silver glow.” RRP. 39.00 euro.

The silver shimmer is the spray-on type, which means it will go after 3-4 uses. I kinda find this to be a good thing in this case, i only use glitter on my decolletage and shoulders so how much cleavage can a girl show. After the shimmer is gone, you are left with a very subtle light pink powder. Because it doesn’t have much color pay-off, the fair skinned ladies can use it all over the face as a setting powder. I am naturally sallow skinned, so i cant notice it at all on me.

Le Crayon Kohl, available in three limited edition shades: Bloody Black Cherry (gorgeous sparkling burgundy), Charcoal Grey and Urban Silver.

Also the Alice Temperley bag its available now, with two generous sized cleanser and toner. You can get it with the usual carry on: gift with the purchase of two items, one to be skincare. At the event, there were even matching cupcakes .

I got quite a few things from the French Coquette collection, the new Ombre Magnetique eyeshadow and top coat Hypnose mascara just to name a few. I will do a separate post on these, as they deserve a more detailed review.

My general thought about this collection, is that it could ve been a nice start to autumn if it wasn’t out of stock from the start.