Finally a sunny day to wear my new Ray Ban sunglasses.

A quick lunch, was craving chicken kebab today probably not wise as i went to try on jeans in River after.

My big Mango bag, fits everything and their mother. Its the go bag for work. And got some new skinny jeans…

The outfit theme was obviously blue haha, can i write it off as color blocking?!?

Picked up some new home scents: Yankee Candle White Gardenia and some burners.

Zara coat

Zara dress from The Basic collection

River Island boots

Miscellaneous scarf

Penneys waist belt

Ray Ban tortoise shell Wayfarer

We had a quiet celebration of love, went to our favorite restaurant in Ranelagh “Mario” and had the most delicious food ever. Seriously, everything its so good there and the people are absolutely lovely.

 The obligatory iPhone photo before leaving the house, hence im orange.

Maisy dress

River Island shoes

Ralph Lauren clutch

By the way, this post is a lame attempt to create an OOTD with awkward body poses and face expressions. Don’t know how other people do it, I’m just to clumsy and stiff lol.

I wear my new Sisley jumper got in the sales for an absolute bargain, its a soft, warm woolly jumper that makes you feel all fuzzy inside.

Sisley Jumper

Zara skinny jeans

River Island waist belt

River Island boots

This is how they look on a daily basis:

These are the steps that im using to deal with my problem:

1. Thread/trim/pluck your eyebrows to give them a good shape. Because im useless at it, i always leave it for the professionals.  Ive used The Body Shop’s threading services in store (€12) and Clerys Wink Threading (€10), been happy with both.
2. Use an eyebrow pencil to draw the shape. Im using the Lancome pencil (02) or the Mac one (Spiked), both are good just the Mac annoys me because its hard to twist. You can get eyebrow stencils to play around with different shapes.
3. After you drawn the shape, fill it in with an eyebrow powder using an angular brush. I’m using the Smashbox powder in Taupe with the Smashbox Eyebrow Slanted Brush. Other great powders you can find at Sleek or Clarins.
4. Use a champagne/vanilla highlighting eyeshadow under the outer corner of the brows to highlight the shape. Im using Smashbox Eyeshadow in Fizz.

Pictures of the products are in my January Favorites, so you can have a look here.

I am very aware that they don’t look perfect (yes, i know they are a bit far away), but im trying to do the best of an awkward phase of my life. Im optimist that it will pass, but until then i will be playing more with makeup .

If you have any tips or tricks, share them bellow in the comments

Lots of love,

Andreea

Because the sun was shinning today and it felt almost like spring, ive gathered some of my favorite spring/summer scents to show you and until they will invent smellavision, you have to trust my word that they are delicious!

NB. I enjoy light, citrus based scents in the summer time meant to refresh and uplift the senses. Im all for optimist, clean, fresh fragrances.

Lancome O de Lancome, O de Orangerie, Dior J’Adore Legere, D&G Light Blue, Dior Escale aux Marquise

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, Chanel Chance Eau Fresh

Valentino Valentina, Clarins Eau de Jardines, Gucci Flora

Most of the bottles are new ones, ive re-stocked during the winter sales and some were Christmas gifts (Valentino, Chanel, Dior Marquise). The discounts were really great on the gift sets so its worth to splurge.

Im missing some of my beloved Marc Jacobs scents: Daisy, Daisy Eau So Fresh (have a few drops left) and Oh Lola. Very curious about the new Stella McCartney perfume Lily, it sounds right up my street.

Any other summer scents i should check out?
 

After my usual Zara, River and Outnet drooling, saved the best for last – the My-Wardrobe site. I love it!!!!! So many designers that i like in one place and clothes and shoes are actually under the €500 mark. And they had their last day of  sale -70% off.

My heart pounded, literally jumped from the sofa and I’ve started rooting for the hidden credit card. I was a woman on a mission!

Today my beauties arrived, beautifully packaged in tissue paper and nice ribbons. Loooooveeeeeeee.

Michael Kors Eden Patent Sling Back Heels in Neutral €79

The MK are pretty, classical nude shoes that will match any outfit easily. Love the pointed front and that it gives a bit of toe decollete which i think its very sexy. The only draw back is that its a bit weird to walk in them, the heel is slightly curved on the outside (the selling point for me) and that makes walking a bit funny.

Diane Von Furstenberg Cranberry Zia Suede Sandal €61

I can see a major obsession developing with the DVF Zia platforms, they are incredibly comfortable and look amazing on. The black and aubergine ones are still on sale at the moment.

You can have a browse here www.my-wardrobe.com

]]> http://yourbeauty.ie/2012/02/a-girl-gotta-have-shoes/feed/ 5 http://yourbeauty.ie/2012/02/loreal-triple-resist/ http://yourbeauty.ie/2012/02/loreal-triple-resist/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:58:06 +0000 Andreea http://yourbeauty.ie/?p=3350 Because of my whole ‘hair growing program’ i bought the latest L’Oreal haircare range meant to promote hair grow and help keep hold of the existing one, by making it more resistant. I went all out and got the entire range, for maximum benefits.

Shampoo, conditioner, mask and scalp spray.

I waited until i finished the whole shampoo and conditioner before ill make a review about it, so here it is:

I don’t like it!

In the past Ive used tons of Loreal hair products, don’t mind a bit the sea of silicone in their products – my hair tolerates them quite well. Actually if im not using silicone my hair becomes a frizzy hair ball, tangled and unmanageable. Used with success the red line (colored hair, my favorite ever), pink (shine), royal jelly and the multivitamin one (2in1). Every time it was fine, grand even.

And then ‘Triple Resist’ appeared in Boots. On Sale. TV and magazine inserts with the beautiful Jennifer Lopez swishing her Rapunzel pony tale. It was a sign!

First week was ok, was using every second day the shampoo and conditioner and the spray every night. The mask was  saved for Sunday treats.

Then it came second and third week.

a) the build up was unbelievable. And not that shiny, soft buildup….no, it was my hair was looking ‘dirty’ even if it was freshly washed.

b) the spray ruined my scalp. It has become so sore to touch, that it brought tears in my eye when brushing. Obviosly ive stopped using it.

The spray contains the highest concentration of Arginine, which strenghtens the hair from the root. It also contains the highest concentration of alcohol.

c) the frizz! oh my goodness the frizz of it all, due to the alcohol applied every night, my hair was frizzy from the root. Combined with the buildup, i was a true vision. A vision of yuck.

Im cracking out my Shu Uemura shampoo to re-store sense and health to my hair, hope its not too late.

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.

Behold the evidence:

GONE!

Now this is no stranger to me, since i was a child my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out when im stressed. Don’t know how to translate the condition name in english, but yeah I’ve lived with it all my life. Thankfully no one can notice, or so ive been told, when i have my makeup on. And no, fake eyelashes are not a solution for my everyday life.

Anyway, this is what ive bought to tackle the issue:

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum (€50)

A cult product for lash growth, been reading about it for ages on blogs and was amazed by the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures. Was a bit worried about the side-effects, apparently it can be irritant for some people, change the eye color (!?!) and promote a mild pigmentation on the lids. It should be used for approximately 8 weeks.

How to use: every night, apply RapidLash at the base of the eyelashes. Its very easy, just like applying liquid eyeliner (well minus the messy evidence)

So far i have been using it for 2 weeks and these are my preliminary thoughts:

a) no irritation, stinginess, redness or other nasty side-effects. Also my eyes are the same green/hazel they have ever been.

b) no growth whatsoever. Nope, my bottom lid is as bare as the dessert.

NB. I will continue to use it until the 8 weeks are up, i was just hopping ill see some results in just two weeks.

Talika Lipocils (€20)

The Lipocils was recommended by my eyebrow threading specialist, to grow my eyebrows. It is meant for lashes, but really cant see how this will work at all. The brush is so big and it appears drying, like there is nothing on it when you try to comb your lashes. When used on the eyebrows, i can tell that there is a gel-like texture on the wand.

Again i only used it for two weeks, only on my eyebrows. No massive difference yet.

Mavala Double Lash (€10)

This product i have been using all summer and im still using it daily in the morning time. To be honest i don’t even know why im using it still, no difference whatsoever on my lashes and this was in the times i had luscious, long lashes (ah…memories). Think its more a lash conditioner rather then ‘lash growth’ product. Im applying it in the morning before my mascara.

As a natural remedy, i have tried the castor oil every night on my lashes for a month or more (in Nov/December) but no luck. Usually this cure made the trick in the past, but this time nope.

Also ive started taking Perfectil and Silica supplements. Really cant do more then im doing, just pray for growth lol. Oh yeah, i could have a ZEN attitude!

Any lash growth remedies/products that i should now about? I would try anything!

- to be continued after 6 weeks -

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.