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 look, you might notice how different the packaging is from this line of hair care products.  The products were reated by the Australian hair master himself.  These rectangular bottles have a matt finish and are engraved with a "k".  Why that matters is that the way it is packaged enables easy storage and handling (stacks easily and neatly, plus easy for slippery hands to grab onto).  And in a sea of overly exaggerated and more commonly round, big and tall packaging from today's major brands, Murphy's design is certainly a plus.  This in itself is consistent with Murphy's philosphy in that his products were designed to not over stress (keeping things simple) hair as he found out that while styling hair during fashion shows that "as a day progressed, the models' hair became heavy, dull and lifeless".

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.

Calling My Name - Fall 2009

It ain't all bad that the weather is changing on us.  All it means is that we we spend an extra minute layering for the cooler temperature and trying out new makeup colors for Fall.  Right now I'm drooling over 2 particular collections from Chanel and MAC.  They are calling my name.

On Chanel:  I would buy anything with the words 'Laque' or 'Lacquered' on them.  Referring to the Chanel Rouge Allure Laque (Collection Noirs Obscurs), this jojoba oil rich glossy lacquer for lips promised color punch and endurance.  Line the lips with The Body Shop's Lip Line Fixer to prevent color migration.

On MAC:  Mac's all black collection, Style Black brings wearing black to another level by letting us wear is without fear of looking too goth.  The sheerness in the selection of items in the collection mean greater freedom in layer intensity from a sheer wash to a glossy opaque finish.  Glimmerglass (gel formula) lipgloss in Bling Black and Black Fire, and Mineralized Eyeshadows in Young Punk and Gilt by Association are particularly standouts. 



Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), chanel.com, maccosmetics.com

The challenge with makeup for me sometimes is to take something that the majority dislike and make it work. This Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to powder eye shadow has a pretty skinny rating on MUA. And like many of the reviewers there, I purchased this quad without first reading the reviews. But I was drawn to the cool natural tones and the cream to powder aspect. I mean, products that are not too powdery work gorgeously in hotter months.

I love a good natural quad that has all the colors needed to shape and enhance the shape of the naked eyelid. And this quad without a doubt provides me with that. The dark sooty brown defines the lash line and deepens the crease. The medium mud brown is the happy medium between the dark and the light creamy shade. While the lightest ivory shade highlights the tear ducts and brow bones. All without a speck of shimmer.

I understand that people complain that the creams crease and that the colors looks too natural. But a good base takes care of that and this is supposed to be a natural looking product. Seriously! And I find it so easy to put on and blend when I'm in a rush to get out of the door. Which is most days these days.


Website: Revlon
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

All At Once

I took one look and knew that this is the collection I've been waiting for from MAC. There are too many delicious and unique colors for the eyes to choose from. Check out what I mean...

• Grand Entrance Cool apricot beige
• Dreammaker Frosty golden yellow
• Smoke & Diamonds Dirty dark grey
• Glamour Check! Reddish brown
• Strike A Pose Dirty deep sea blue
• Ego Light yellow pink
• Fashion Groupie Light, blue violet
• Unbasic White Snow white
• One-Off Medium green with silver pearl
• Rated R Light, yellow green
• Style Snob Dirty pink brown with gold pearl
• Fashion Light gray-green with gold pearl

This might be like what the N Collection was for me from 2008. How is it possible to have so many unique colors to choose from all at once?

Website: maccosmetics.com
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), temptalia.com

Liquid Glass

There comes a time when I meet a product that feels so good that I wonder what I have been using in the past. I met the MAC face & body foundation in class for the first time yesterday.

This MAC foundation comes in 11 shades ranging from C1 (light/cool) to N9 (dark/warm). The sturdy screw top with a fine spout tip design ensures travel-bility plus controlled and sanitary handling.

But you realize you've hit gold the moment you experience this liquid foundation on your skin. The liquid simply glistens like liquid glass as if it was lit from within (the foundation is water-based after all; i.e. non-greasy). When you apply it with a foundation brush, the foundation just glides and is then absorbed/accepted by the skin. One layer of this stuff provides very light coverage and can be built to give medium coverage (about 2-3 layers). What I adore is the translucent dewy finish rather than the opaque and matte finish that we see achieved with most foundations. Any spots that need extra coverage can be solved with a little concealer or concentrated application of this foundation. Set with a translucent powder after application (only where needed to maintain the natural dewy finish). The result is a makeup-undetected, polished look!


Website: MAC Cosmetics
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

Prime Time For Eyes

Even with knowledge and experience, sometimes we go against our best judgment. As soon as I enter into a drugstore or massive stores such as Target or Walmart, my critical thinking waits outside of the store until I'm done shopping.

Every time I go to Target, I get overwhelmed. Here in Europe making a choice for things like cereal or a drugstore foundation is simple because selection is limited compared to North America. Our stores are alot smaller in size and our isles don't go on for ages.

As much as I enjoy my shopping experience at stores such as those, I do make bad judgment calls when I feel overwhelmed. Let me bring your attention to L'oreal's HIP cream shadow paints.

I'll start by saying that I am a devoted fan of MAC's paint pots. I love their creamy textures (though they take a little practice to get the hang of) and their ability to prolong eyeshadow wear. I do not even think of putting on eyeshadow without a base of some kind because I know that without it only leads to disappointment later. The L'oreal paints score an average of 70% for 'Buy Again' on MUA. Not bad I think for a drugstore brand thus worth a try. These paints even come with their own little travel-size round crease flat brushes of fair quality and are contained in their own chic plastic boxes. The L'oreal range offers a good selection of neutral colors also; ranging from a shimmery beige (picture right) to a charcoal grey (picture left). So far so good.

But the rest leaves little to be desired. First off, they come in metal tubes which I find myself too clumsy for. Getting the right amount out each time is a trying task. The liquid that comes out of the tube's spout is not nearly as creamy as MAC paint pots. I think because of its liquidy-cream texture, the 'cream' starts off with a workable texture at the beginning but then dries unevenly as one attempts to blend it into the skin some more. After having tried different application methods including dabbing, rubbing, gliding, striping, dotting, smudging with fingers and different sized brushes, I gave up. I don't think I can bother with it again as an eyeshadow primer. However, my last resort...I think these could make fair cream liners if used with the Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush. I'll keep you posted!

L'oreal HIP cream shadow paint in Steely (above left)- a shimmery cool tone dark grey that borders on black.

L'oreal HIP cream shadow paint in Secretive (above right) - a shimmery cool tone beige that becomes slightly silver.


Website: L'oreal HIP cream shadow paints
Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

How's A Girl To Choose?

My heart fluttered when I saw these yesterday. There were so many so how is a girl to choose? After trying on several of them, I decided to go with my staple look of nude lips. I chose a dazzleglass that I would use often....

So my choice was MAC dazzleglass in Goldyrocks.

Because:
Pigmented Lips + Pale Gold = Shimmery Soft Caramel Nude.
Perfecto!

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

Aloha And Sun Protection

Aloha! I am loving Hawaii and even more now that jet lag seems like a distant memory. It is sunny here and when it rains, it only seems to last for 10 minutes. And oh boy is sunscreen a necessity but makeup no longer one.

I have 4 different bottles of sunscreen on hand and when used appropriately, they seem to be keeping me well protected. For example, my tiny liquidy bottle of La Roche Posay Spf 30 is managing to withstand 12-o'clock sunshine and sweat without that greesy feeling. Unfortunately, it somehow messes with my mineral foundation. The Sofina Lucent Spf 50+ is a liiiiight protector which doubles as an Excellent liquid or powder foundation primer. The thing about these two sunscreens is that you must remove them completely or they could lead to clogged pores. I discovered the Banana Boat sunscreens here in Hawaii and have fallen in love with their Ultra Defense line. This stuff applies very light and is absorbed by the skin in no time. And for sun protection touch-ups on the go, I love those mists from Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling line.

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), picture of the beautiful Waikiki Beach from waikikibeachoutreach.com

Must-Haves?

Hello! Just wanted to let you guys know that I've arrived well, after taking gruesome flight transfers after another to Hawaii! It is gorgeous here. The weather is sunny and breezy plus the people here are friendly. I took an-hour-and-a-half bus ride to the Target store and found myself three hours inside eying and grabbing everything from Sonia Kashuk to a crafty bag that can act as a 'set bag' to hold makeup supplies during dashes out on set. Inside the store is also where I discovered what a spam musubi was and soon after found a cool Alexander McQueen jumpsuit!

I would love to hear what you think are the current or classic 'must-haves'...things that I simple must hoard and bring home to Europe?

Take care luves and I'll be checking in soon again!

xx Grayburn

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

A Shot At Cream-To-Powder Eyeshadow

Half the battle with wearing eyeshadow is getting them to stay put. While I have spent much of my time playing with different methods of applying long lasting eye makeup, I would rather to have spent that time discovering and playing with different colors.

My road along this journey has been a fun one actually. I have met quite a few candidates that claimed to be 'the one' but soon fell short and left me teary with shadow under my eyes. However, there is definite merit to "you don't know until you give it a try!". So I sent for a couple of sample tubes of the EyezCreme from Pure Luxe Cosmetics and prayed for the best.

First off, the EyezCreme is not meant to be a primer. They are actually cream eyeshadows that make the method of 'foiling' slightly easier. They come in an assortment of 12 colors with a majority of them swaying towards nude tones. My order consisted of 3 colors (see above): Golden Sands (a cool tone gold with shimmer), Elysium (shimmery peach-copper), and Amethyst (pink-hued medium purple also with shimmer). They come in a convenient 1.5mL lipgloss tube and a doe-foot applicator.

My first impression was that they were adorable. Soon the initial high dissipated when I realized how much I dislike using a doe-foot applicator for eye makeup. Pressed on as "you don't know until you give it a try!" kept making loops in my head. The cream applied with a consistency of a whipped lotion and did not dry to a powdery finish as anticipated. The lotion did not dry nearly quickly enough for my short attention span. The color went on quite vibrantly however, but became sheer and lost its initial oomph too soon. Sounds a little dissapointing yes? I don't think I will give up just yet. I gather these little tubes are convenient for traveling and for when I want to quickly dab on a little wash of color without having any tools close at hand.

What have you tried to get your colors to stay put on your eyes?


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

If there is one thing we must do for our lips, it is to take care of them to ensure that they stay plump for as long as possible. What to do? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

The thing I love most about Silk Naturals' lip products is that they are petrochemicals-free. In our lifetime of wearing lipsticks and balms, we will consume an average of about 4-6 pounds of lip products. So if that is going to happen, we might as well be eating Silk Naturals' lippies since theirs are made of ingredients such as avocado oil and shea butter.

SN's line of lip products include the liquid lip gloss (applied with a doe-foot applicator), solid lip gloss (twist-up and organic), lip sticks (twist-up and organic) and Kiss Bliss demi gloss (pigment of a lipstick but with shine of a gloss). My collection currently contains 4 solid lip glosses and 1 limited edition (Color For a Cure) solid lip gloss. What I have noticed with these glosses is that the colors are extremely wearable no matter which one it is. The comfort level of wearing these pigmented lip colors is extreme and these babies condition my lips better than anything I have tried. As much as I would love to slather on the ultimate lip product that is La Mer's "The Lip Balm", being able to SPEND on things other than lip balm seems more justifiable. Now SN's lippies are packaged in a skinny tube (see 1st photo) with printed sticker labels (perhaps not the fanciest), but they retail for only 4.25 usd each. They are so good that I even wear them to bed at night.

Read on for color description of my current lineup of SN lippies (which is expecting to grow substansially in the near future):

Sweet Nothing - Similar to Skinny Dip below but slightly darker. No shimmer. I wear this on my top lip.

Skinny Dip - Natural, daytime mauve that seems to just enhance my pigmented lips ever so slightly. Satin finish. I wear this on my bottom lip.

Rhonda - Described as a shimmery lavender but does not apply 'old money' as I had imagined it might. This one surprised me. It looks great paired with purple-y eyes.

Birthday Suit - SN calls this the "Ultimate Nude Lippie". The color looks like it belongs on my olive/golden skin tone. I normally prefer a paler nude lipstick (my heart belongs to MAC's 3N lipstick) but I favor this for times when I want some color.

Monarch (LE) - Contains the luxuriousness of 23k gold edible leaf, apricot kernel wax, cranberry seed oil, passionfruit oil, camellia oil. Touted as the most luxurious lippie collection so far by SN. The color is a warm gold and very wearable by different skin tones for night time.

My male readers should not fret. Silk Naturals also make a clear balm to make sure your lips stay kissable as well.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), silknaturals.com

The Prayers Of SSS Lashes

Even when I have found the one mascara that answers the prayers sung by my Short, Sparse & Straight lashes, I can't help but to be lured into trying yet another mascara; especially if it came GWP.

I was wandering through the isles at Zellers when I was in Toronto and came across that wonderful line of eyeshadow quads from Revlon. I was pulled into one with shimmery lavender shades in the Lavender Meadow quad (reviewed); especially because it had a tube of Luxurious Lengths Mascara attached to it.

Revlon Luxurious Lengths Mascara

So what about the mascara? The one I have is in Blackest Black. The color that it deposits on my lashes is more of a natural black. The formula itself is not clumpy and not overly wet or thick. When dried, the formula does not flake and has even resisted moisture better than other waterproof formulas I have tried. So far, so good.

The brush, it seems, can be the Pièce de résistance for some but a deal-breaker for others. On one side of the brush, the bristles are flat (think Maybelline Lash Discovery mascara). On the other, the bristles are rounded and curved. Its doublesided-ness tackles the issue of having separate brushes for volumizing and lengthening. Not bad, except for one thing. The result is not as 'luxurious' or curvaceous as the company claims. The stiff bristles although are good for ensuring separation and no clumps, it is simply too stiff to produce any curve. Several swipes is necessary to deposit enough color to show up on the lashes. This mascara, while it may be good for those seeking natural looking results, those of us that need more help in the lash department might stick to using mascaras that address volume and length separetly.

Vic's Secret Heated Lash Curler

Rather than being an impulse purchase, this heated lash curler has been in the planning for some time.

The one that I finally decided on is actually rather inexpensive. Excluding the cost of shipping, this heated lash curler from Vic's Secret was less than an average visit at Starbucks.

The gadget comes in a handy purse-friendly format with two levels of heat settings, powered by one AAA battery. My initial try had me going about it very careful. At first I touched the heated part with my fingers and then slowly I allowed it to come near my closed eye. It isn't hot actually at the lowest setting and it only produces a slight curl that did not hold for too long. However, the highest setting (which feels warm to my lids) produced the kind of curl that I look for. The result is curls that curve naturally without that unnatural bend.

The desired result is achieved by first applying Revlon's Luxurious Lengths mascara to my lashes, waiting until the mascara is completely dried, then curl with the heated lash curler. Was I satisfied? Yes!


Revlon is available at your local drugstore and Vic's Secret is available at sasa.com.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
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7 Days Of Summer Beauty Classics '08 - Day Six

A little spritz here and there with a facial spray really gives a welcoming relief to a hot, sticky complexion. I love to carry a facial spray in my purse during the hotter months simply because of that.

The MAC Fix+ spray contains ingredients that draw moisture onto the skin and to help makeup adhere to the skin. Not only is it a handy freshen-upper, it is my must-have because I use mineral foundation. The smell of the product isn't half bad either. Three spritzes on my face after the application of mineral foundation takes away that powdery look and prepares the skin for the next step: setting powder. I know that many use mineral or spring water sprays such as Evian or Avene however, my personal preference is for MAC's because of the extras on their ingredients list. I sent BFOG for a few bottles of this while he was in New York earlier this week. He returned only with one bottle (the last on the shelves) after having visited 3 different MAC counters there.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
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7 Days Of Summer Beauty Classics '08 - Day Three

The Body Shop Vitamine E Moisture Serum

Hanging around in the intensity of summer's heat wilts the best in me. What makes it more uncomfortable and at times unbearable, is that greasy feeling some moisturizers leave on my skin. I know it is tempting but this is not the time to skip moisturizers as it is always important to keep our skin hydrated.

This is where skin serums come in. They nourish and feed the skin and generally gets absorbed so well by our skin that they almost become undetectable. The texture of the Vitamine E Moisture Serum is somewhere between a gel, serum and a lotion. The liquid applies firstly like that of a lotion and when it is warmed up by the skin, it becomes a gel. Finally, when it is fully absorbed, it feels like you only have a serum on the skin. The Vitamine E in the serum is a nice bonus because of its anti-oxidative properties. The fluid also contains Wheat Germ Oil and Tara Bush seed extract.

This potion is a firm Summer Beauty Classic of mine and it keeps my skin well-hydrated, soft to the touch and fresh. It also works well at night under a heavier moisturizer or under makeup during the day.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
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7 Days Of Summer Beauty Classics '08 - Day Two

Using Aveda's Pure Abundance Potion definitely takes practicing and a lot of getting used to. I think the initial learning phase scares people away. Well, at least it did me. The pale green powder delivers Ooomph (package states 17% thicker) and that is why it takes a spot on the 7 Days of Summer Beauty Classics '08 list. But using it meant that I had to enlist my baking skills.

The cap flips open on this tiny bottle to reveal a single hole that lets the powder out. One has to be careful to not shake the bottle too much as unnecessary motion turns its content into liquid. It is a 3-step process: gently turn the bottle upside down, sprinkle a small amount of the product directly at the roots by gently tapping on the bottom of the bottle (think dusting powdered sugar over a cake without the proper sifter), work the powder in by tousling and teasing the area where you want the Ooomph. As soon as the powder touches the skin, it feels cooling, as if fine ice dust has touched it. Set the volume you have just achieved with a flexible hairspray (Though I was advised against using the one from the same collection).

It brings the Va-Va back into my mostly straight but somewhat wavy medium-thickness hair. I have found it to be great at creating volume for messy buns, as well as when I leave my hair down (to past my shoulders). This is a definite Summer classic product because it also helps to fix humidity-induced greasy roots.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
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7 Days Of Summer Beauty Classics '08 - Day One

It is sad to have to almost say goodbye to Summer. Seeing that I am not quite ready to do that just yet, I decided to do a series on the products that saw me through Summer this year. All of these products have been tried & very much tested and are absolutely my favorite go-to's. I am calling it 7 Days of Summer Beauty '08 Classics.

Looking back, I realized that I had (and still am having) a lot of fun with beauty this Summer. I discovered bright colors this year, and found products that kept me hydrated, dry, glowing, and ones that helped me get ready fast. Knowing how to be ready fast is a real plus especially when we cannot tolerate spending tonnes of time getting ready, or when we get a last minute invite to a BBQ.

Without further delay, let me introduce you to Day One of 7 Days of Summer Beauty Classics '08


Day One: Cheerful Summer Colors of the MAC Neo Sci-Fi Collection

Spaced Out (blush)

This is a true peach blush. It may not be one that is usable all the year round but it looks damn good on sun-lit cheeks. It is the color of happiness and hugging someone you love on a sunny day.

Magnetic Fields (eyeshadow)

The coolness in this color comes from the sprinkling of silver shimmer. In a base of blackened taupe, the pearlized shimmers show up as random fine diamond dusts. This shadow gives great cool contrast to the warmth in this collection.

Evening Aura (eyeshadow)

Such a beautiful shimmering peach champagne color. It is sheer but stunning if packed on the lids. The frostiness makes this color unique and different from the warm peaches out there. It is lovely!

Pleasure Seeker (lipstick)

A nude and sheer peach jello color that is so easy to wear. This is no MAC 3N lipstick (which is my personal ultimate nude lipstick), but wearing this with Evening Aura is gorgeous. They complement each other so well and the result is soft, pretty and sophisticated.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)
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Long Awaited Sephora Stores In NL!

A quick note to share my excitement about Sephora opening 11 stores in the Netherlands! The last store that will be opening in Enschede will be complete by November 20th. I no longer have to take a 4-6 hour train ride to Luxemburg or France to indulge myself in Sephora madeness. Their nearest store is now only half an hour away! This move from Sephora will bring brands such as Benefit and Makeup Forever finally into the Netherlands.

My wish has come true!

Credit: sephora.nl

Grooming For Sickies

Woah! I have really been caught in a whirlwind of activities this past week (I was at the Amsterdam International Fashion Week & played bridesmaid at a wedding) and my house currently looks as if the Tasmanian devil had run through it! But the week was so much fun, even if I was sick the whole time.

Being that I had to attend those events meant that I had to look presentable. The key to grooming or beauti-fy-ing ourselves when we are sick is to use products that counteract common "sickie" issues such as flaky or sallow skin, as well as products that deliver results quickly. Forget about spending forever in front of the mirror!

Here are a few tips & products that helped to get me through the week:

A Hair Dryer With Extras

One that helps to dry hair quickly and gently is a god-send for a sickie. T3 hair dryers are actually infused with tourmaline which emit effective negative ions. For me, that translated to smoother and quicker results, which meant I was able to sleep in a little longer in the morning. Since I have the overnight travel version, it goes with me when I travel.

Double-Duties

My week's blush of choice is from Tarte. My shade is called "tipsy" and it is a solid cheek stain. I love it because it doubles as a blusher and a lip stain in one go!

Worn over foundation (pat on with a synthetic foundation brush), then set with a dusting of powder, this stuff lasts and looks naturally glowy. This went on the road well with me at Fashion week and it smells like divine bellinis! (I hear that Selma Hayek likes them as well).

Got mine at: Sephora Toronto

Creamy Coverage

A common problem when one is sick is flaky and/or sensitized skin. I could not be bothered with exfoliating my face as it takes too much effort, as well as it would have hurt too much on my sniffly nose.

A creamy foundation answers my call in this case and produces dewy skin that powdery makeup cannot. Because they are usually thicker in consistency, they conceal redness well; without emphasizing flakes. This one from Shiseido went with me to the catwalk shows.

Got mine at: DA Amsterdam

Easy Does It

A quick way to groomed eyebrows is by using a tinted eyebrow gel. Since they are usually quite sheer, application without a mirror is possible and easy. The one I have from Miss Helen kept my brows in place all day and lent just enough definition to my face; perfect for summer!

Got mine at: Hema Amsterdam


Extra tip:

Try to stay away from grays or fleshy pinks as these colors bring out the redness in our eyes we may have when feeling ill; making us look even more tired.

Color Pink Now

Now is the time to whip out all of our pink lippies and wear them as much as possible!

Pink lipsticks look pretty with dewy summer skin and during this time of the year when we have a lot more sunlight. Scanning through the upcoming Autumn/Winter makeup trends, I quickly got the hint that we will soon not have as many opportunities to wear pink. So whether you like it bright & bold or soft & pretty, this is the time to let pink shine!

The 2 that I am wearing at the moment are both from Sephora.


This is the Lip Attitude Glamour G08

It gives an innocent "how could I have done wrong" look. This is a light to medium blue-based pink with fine silver shimmer that is not overdone. It is not a pastel pink at all and because of its sheer texture, it will look great on a variety of skin tones.

This is the Lip Attitude Star S04

It is the color of creamy raspberry punched with silver and gold shimmer. The shimmer is detectable when you rub your lips together but that doesn't bother me too much. Because of its sheer texture, it is relatively foolproof to apply and great for those trying pinks for the first time.

So what lip-look is everyone rocking these days?



Photos: Grayburn

Beauty Geek - SPINLASH

The geek in me has a deep fascination for electronic gadgets. My house is fitted with all sorts of these that sometimes make things a little easier for me. I was shopping around in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport (which has fantastic shopping these days by the way) and I came across a shop selling all sorts of gadgets. I laid my eyes on an alarm clock that is fitted on 2 large wheels, and it rolls around the room ringing when it is time for you to get up! I laughed out loud at it because I was imagining me chasing the alarm clock, with half-open eyes, and watching it run out of the room and down the stairs!

This brings me to another gadget pictured here called SPINLASH. You might remember that I voiced disbelieve about this in a previous post. The rotating mascara wand came packaged with it's own wand-holder, and a black mascara.

Let's compare the company's claims against my personal experience with it:

Spinlash 1 : Synthetic brush - 'glide gently and smoothly through.."

I do like mascaras with rubber brushes because they are gentler than the traditional brush on our eyes and lashes. Spinlash's brush is pretty straight all around with a slight thicker middle. The bristles are soft and glides easily through my lashes.

Spinlash 2 : 'Gentle motion of the rotating brush separates lashes while it coats, lengthens, & volumizes."

The rotation happens a lot slower than I thought it would. The fact that it is so slow made it less intimidating during my first trial. Honestly, I didn't want to like this thing. But I was amazed at how easily it combed through my lashes and caught all the little clumps my mascara had left behind. The button on its mid section of the wand controls the brush's direction of rotation. This is smart because it makes it easy to switch between both eyes.

The part of the claim where I am not so sure about is lengthening and volumizing. The mascara that comes with the wand left a rather undesirable effect for me. I normally look for length and volume from any given mascara and this mascara falls short in both categories. I imagine though if you are looking for something completely natural, this is not so bad.

How I use it
I have quite many lash combs which I never use because I find them rather intimidating (hard plastic or metal + unsteady hands near my eyes = accident waiting to happen). Instead, I opt to choose a clump-free mascara, or just ignore the clumps on my lashes (!).

This rotating wand was rather enjoyable to use because all I have to do is hold it under my lashes (which I have already applied mascara to), as it detangles away my mascara mess. I love to watch all the clumps just fall off and land on the soft rubbery brush. After every use, I wash the brush with soap and water, as I would with any lash comb.

Verdict
I love it and I would buy it as a well-performing lash comb, but not to apply mascara. However, I wished that the batteries inside the wand were replaceable. The way it is designed now, the opening to the batteries is glued shut. So after the batteries are used up, the entire wand has to be disposed.



Mascara comes in brownish black or black, both valued at 14.95 USD. More information at Spinlash.com