Tuesday
ELLE Style Awards 2010 Backstage
I'm in the video too!
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Posted by: Grayburn 0 Comments
Labels: fashion, House of Orange, makeup, makeup artists
Monday
AIFW Is Coming!
The Amsterdam International Fashion Week is coming! As usual, I will be sharing what I see with you but what's different this time is that I will be participating in mobile blogging as well. Wish me luck!
For now, get yourself ready and head over to the official schedule page for more on who will be showing what where.
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Posted by: Grayburn 0 Comments
Labels: AIFW 2010
Thursday
WANT
TOPSHOP Spring 2010
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Posted by: Grayburn 0 Comments
Labels: fashion, Spring/Summer 2010
Tuesday
Personal Favorites of 2009 Part II: Gives Good Hair
In this second edition of my Personal Favorites of 2009, we will be having a look at some new product discoveries in the Gives Good Hair category. Meaning new products (to me) from 2009 that have significantly helped in improving the look of my hair.
Test case(me): long, straight hair on the dry side
Kevin Murphy's ANTI.GRAVITY. Oil Free Volumiser
Upon first whiff of the product you might as I did and still do every time, appreciate the aromatherapy you are also getting from using this product. Two birds with one stone as they say. Top note lavender, followed by tangy citrus which is then rounded off by sweet luscious honey. The oil-free volumnizing milk feels nourishing as it easily spreads through every strand of your hair. When hot air blasts its way through your hair (and while you are using your round blow-drying brush), the air in the room surrounding fills up with the most relaxing yet uplifting scent. To top that off, the product is the only one that I've found to provide natural looking full hair without the usual tackiness or crispiness. Hair keeps its bouncy fuller shape for the whole day without a fail.
How I use it: distributed through wet hair and follow with regular blow drying. Use on dry hair if some separation is desired.
Wen by Chaz Dean's Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
Now this is an interesting one. While I never believe in any infomercial hypes nor did I jump on the "washing hair daily with conditioner" trend that many on blogsphere braved last year, I have to admit that I was quite drawn in by those images of glossy, bouncy hair I saw on tv everyday while I was on vacation in North America last year.
So it goes without saying that I am indeed quite surprised when this product is now on my list of cool finds in 2009. I mean please...instructions say to use 16-24 pumps of the product and even more for longer hair (me!). How was a measly 350mL bottle suppose to last me for 30 days as their website suggests? And without the usual -cones, sulfates or other harsh detergents that my hair has gotten so used to my whole life? My skepticism continued.
But it is only hair that we're talking about here and it does eventually grow back. So I pressed on as I was determined to get to the bottom of this.
The cleansing conditioner works like this. Without lather, it cleanses the scalp and the hair with several nourishing ingredients such as chamomile, wild cherry and rosemary. I moistened my hair with a little bit of water then took about 12 pumps of the product to lightly cover the entire scalp and hair. And with circular motions, I massaged this minty yet sweet concoction (I suspect that the sweetness comes from the 'fragrance' listed at the end of the ingredients). Did I ever tell you how much I love an invigorating minty rub on my scalp? It is one of the most satisfying things to happen in a shower. After a good rub and just letting the product marinade in my hair for the duration of my shower (followed with no conditioner), the routine was complete.
The milky substance produces no drying lather indeed and while it took some getting used to, it feels comforting to know that I'm not using any sulfates in my hair. But that aside, does this product deliver for me? Yes. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that my locks were shiny, soft and had a certain salon bounce to it. And after having had my hair destroyed in some unfortunate events of late, this was certainly a welcomed sight to see.
Websites: http://www.kevinmurphy.com.au, http://www.wenhaircare.com/
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Disclaimer: I purchased the Anti.Gravity myself and the Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner was given to me as a press sample.
Posted by: Grayburn 0 Comments
Labels: hair, North American products, Personal Favorites of 2009, Special Feature
Monday
Personal Favorites of 2009 - Part I: Seasonal Delights
Two of the products that I fell in love with at the end of 2009 (and they are both on my Personal Favorites of 2009 list) are from The Body Shop's Nutmeg and Vanilla line. (Yes, I do hope to complete this list soon and am crossing my fingers to release this list throughout the month!). These two products are: The Nutmeg and Vanilla Lip Balm and the Nutmeg and Vanilla Bath and Shower Gel. And just so you know, the Nutmeg and Vanilla line is one of three of their festive lines and limited edition for 2009.
Although both products come from the same scent family, the two of them do not have identical smells (thanks goodness!). The lip balm has a very spicy and sweet cake scent in that -just stepped into a
bakery which also sells spices kind of way. Whereas the scent of the bath & shower gel takes on a completely different note. It has spices and it has sweet (and less vanilla) but it has the added oomph of a kick of candied fruit. And when added to a tub of hot steamy bath water, it does not smell sweetly sickening like most spicy vanilla concoction usually smell like, this smells divinely sensuous thanks to the added touch of sandalwood. I mean this is this is the stuff that will spice up your bath and your evening.
Onto the packaging. I know that most of us are not fans of open lid containers and prefer squeeze tubes for lip balms. I do have to say that it feels great getting some balm out of a round tin because it makes me feel as if I'm getting a cookie treat out of a cookie jar. And the bronzy color on the inside of the lid just makes it ever more special. As to what you do with the leftover balm on your fingers after you've applied balm on your lips; give your cuticles a little treat as well! The bath & shower gel's packaging is really nothing intriguing until you dial down the lights and light a few candles. The transparent and amber-tinted bottle looks sumptuously warming and glowy in the candlelight and in the steam of my mostly white bathroom. Quite a treat for the eyes I must say!
The texture of the lip balm. This is a rich balm indeed with all of its most conditioning ingredients topping the ingredients list. Like most of The Body Shop's old school lip balms, this one is also extremely emolient, transparent and have a high sheen finish. I personally prefer this type of balm (I really loved the older version of TBS' balms) as they simply are longer lasting on the lips and are especially good for wearing to bed. And you know why this one is especially good for wearing to bed? It is because the balm has these subtle fine gold shimmers that just makes the lips look so pretty. The added bonus is that the balm has a slight tint that warms up our pouts in a natural kind of way.
These and other TBS seasonal delights are currently only available in very limited quanitities at their stores in Amsterdam and some of them are on sale at 50% off. Check them out and leave your thoughts and comments!
Website: thebodyshop.com
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Disclaimer: Things I had purchased myself.
Posted by: Grayburn 1 Comments
Labels: Fall/Winter 2009 - 2010, fragrance, gifts, Holidays Shopping, Perfume, Personal Favorites of 2009, Shopping, spa, Winter 09
Tuesday
Thoughts On The New Year
Quickly jotting down something more than just as a reminder for the year to come....
What have we got to lose right? The only thing left to do is to take more risks in our lives.
In the spirit of that, a look at 15 years of Hussein Chalayan in fashion.
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
Posted by: Grayburn 2 Comments
Labels: Designers, feedback, Special Feature
A Taste of the Holiday Season
I recently acquired some marzipan from the beautiful city of Toledo (Spain) while I was on vacation there and they are just so irresistible! I mean I couldn't even wait until after taking the picture to eat them with BFOG! Just look at them; all the little bundles all handmade and brimming with joy. The 3 varieties here come either coated with pinenuts, crystal sugar, or with yolk filling (yema as they call it there). And these are from one of the most prominent and local favorited shops in town; Santo Tome (since 1856). Biting into one of these not only make you realize how beautiful something so simple yet so well-crafted can taste; but one also feels like they're biting into a piece of history. The history books in Toledo tells us a story of local nuns helping to stave off famine during King Alfonso's VIII's battle against the Moors in 1212 with the help of these little 'almond bread'. Because the nuns had a good supply of almonds (but not much else) in their reserves, they pounded the almonds with sugar and created 'bread' to provide food to the public.
These are not your everyday variety of marzipan that are usually funnily colored and shaped into a leg of ham or a carrot. These ones have a PGI status which according to BBC Foods, has "the origin and quality of products that carry this hard-won stamp of authenticity".
So which foods are you especially enjoying with your loved ones this holiday period?
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/britishpdos.shtml
Posted by: Grayburn 0 Comments
Labels: christmas wish list, European products, Holidays Shopping, Spanish products
Small Update
Hi everyone!
Really sorry for the lack of posts lately. I do wish to post more often as I have tonnes of products and news laying around waiting to be reviewed and shared. But not having sufficient time these days and my insufficient knowledge of mobile blogging or mobile internet as a matter of fact has made it rather challenging.
But there are definite things I need to share with you and though I cannot promise when, they are coming! I recently watched this video of Shakira and felt so taken aback and simply marveled at the way she moves. Isn't the fight/longing dance between her and the shirtless partner amazing?
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), youtube.com
Posted by: Grayburn 2 Comments
Friday
He Never Loses The Darkness In His Soul
The pieces had a sort of mesmerizing power that drew everyone watching into the center of them. A complex exterior wanting to be unraveled perhaps. Somewhat of a romantic notion.
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), style.com
Posted by: Grayburn 2 Comments
Labels: fashion, Spring/Summer 2010