My new personal skin trainer KIKO - 30 days later

You may remember that I started a new regime in August when I got myself a personal trainer for my skin, courtesy of KIKO, and you can read more about the product and my first impressions in this August post. Since I hadn't found any reviews of this product anywhere, I decided to put the product to the test and to do a 30 day trial on myself, to see if it delivered on all the amazing promises.

So before we get started, let's do a quick recap of what KIKO Skin Trainer claimed to do for the skin. First of all it's supposed to be a youth generating serum that trains the skin "to increase its youth potential" by recharging the skin with energy and counteract the signs of aging, intelligently moisturize skin according to its needs, increase cellular oxygenation to show healthy complexion and even out the skin. The scientifically proven results from the KIKO test groups were pretty impressive:

• The skin is up to 42.8 % more supple (average value: 21.8%) after 4 weeks.
• The skin’s hydration increases by up to 76,6 % (average value: +31.6%) after 4 weeks.
• Wrinkle depth is reduced by up to 58.5 % (average value: -32.4%) after 4 weeks.

The two aspects that I have been focusing on during my 30 day trial were improvements to the suppleness of my skin and sense of hydration. I also need to say that during this trial period I have made no other changes to my skin routine and not introduced any other new products.

 
Now on to the results! For 30 days I've been using no other serum but the KIKO Skin Trainer, which I have applied every morning and evening after I've cleansed my face, but before adding any moisturizer or night cream. The serum is a quite a lot thicker than other serum's I've used so in the beginning I only used about 2-3 drops for my face and neck. But after a few weeks I started to feel as if that wasn't quite enough and as if the serum absorbed quicker into the skin than previously, so I added a few more drops for every use. Even if I did use a little bit more, it still sank into the skin beautifully and quickly, leaving it feeling nourished but without any shininess at all. I can't say that I've come around to the plastic scent of the product, but since that smell doesn't stay on my skin, I think I can put up with it for a few seconds while I massage in the serum. 

After a few days I started to notice that the skin did feel toned and stronger in a sense, as if the skin had tightened up a little, but not in the sense of dryness, but on a "muscle" level. And at the end of these 30 days that feeling is even more prominent. So that's a big tick in the box for increased suppleness - I really didn't expect that, so WEHAY!

For the other criteria on sense of skin hydration, I'm not as impressed as I am over the increased suppleness. There could of course be many reasons for this - change in the weather, hormonal, whatever, but for me the fact that I had to up the dose of serum from 2-3 drops to 5-6 to get a sense of hydration means that the serum simply didn't hydrate enough, and keep in mind that I already have dry skin. It wasn't just that I didn't get that initial feeling of hydration after a few weeks use, it was also that my skin clearly needed a moisture boost a couple of times a day, which is something I haven't had to do for quite a while. I guess it's a good thing I've always got a facial spray with me! So in terms of hydration I can't say that I noticed any overhwhelming positive results. 
 
The Skin Trainer is reasonably priced at £22.90, and for that I am VERY impressed with the increased suppleness, and as I continue to finish up what's left of it, I think I will add a richer and more moisturising serum either in the morning or evening to restore the hydration level to my skin. I would definitely recommend KIKO if you're looking for something to tone up your skin, but if you do have tendencies towards dry skin, like I do - you might want to counteract any dehydration from the serum with an intensely hydrating moisturizer.

I'll let you know if this small change that I'm planning has had better results regarding the hydration sense when I've finished the product in that month's Empties post.

32?! Yep, that's my magic number...

I'm a very organised person and I like to keep things neat and tidy, putting everything back in its right place when I'm finished with it. But the other day I had to get ready in a different room of the house, so I had to get all my beauty stuff and move it into the other room so I was surrounded by what I needed to get ready. This was a very ordinary day with nothing in particular happening or planned so I just got ready for your average day. Now I wouldn't consider my beauty regime to be particularly high maintenance and there are a lot of beauty steps that I ignore e.g. I don't wear primers for everything, I don't bother with eye lash curlers - in short my approach is pretty straight forward and without fuss. So when I had finished getting ready and looked at the carnage around me, I couldn't believe the amount of products I had used. This gave me the idea to wait until the evening and then count how many products I had used that day, and the grand total came to 32... 32!!!!!

What were these 32 products then? Well, since you ask - let me tell you (I've tried to do this in the order that I used them and even if I used the same product twice I have counted it individually):

1. Cleansed my face in the morning using Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser

2. Scrubbed my lips using the amazing Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum

3. Applied serum, my KIKO Skin Trainer - don't forget to check out my 30 day trial update on September 20. 

4. Time for eye cream - Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Eye Creme

5. Applied Origins Starting Over Moisturizer

6. Hydrated lips with A-Derma Lip Care

7. Moisturized my hands using my beloved Clarins Hand and Nail Cream

8. The days first lovely and invigorating spray of Caudalie Beauty Elixir

9. Put on some sun in a bottle on my neck and decolletage with Caudalie Divine Legs

10. Boring but necessary - Garnier Mineral Invisible Anti-White Deodorant

11. Prepped for eye shadow with Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion

12. Applied No 7 Instant Radiance Foundation

13. Did some correcting with the miracle that is Collection Concealer Lasting Perfection

14. Fixed my make up base with Urban Decay De-Slick Make Up Setting Spray

15. Swept on some eye shadow from Look Mini Make Over Palette

16. Applied mascara using Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

17. Added some blusher from Look Mini Make Over Palette

18. Stained my lips with product from Look Mini Make Over Palette

19. Filled in eye brows with Collection Eyebrow Definer

20. Dabbed on some powder to blot out any shininess with Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

21. Another quick spray with Urban Decay De-Slick Make Up Setting Spray

22. Final touch for the day - some perfume and today's choice was the sophisticated Prada Infusion d'Iris EdT

23. Removed eye makeup using Gatineau Floracil Gentle Cleansing Lotion for Eyes

24. Time to take the face off using the amazing Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser

25. Quick sweep using Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile

26. Another round of serum, using KIKO Skin Trainer 

27. Time for eye cream again - Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Eye Creme

28. Massaged in my night cream using Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Comfort Cream

29. Hydrated lips with A-Derma Lip Care
30.  Added some nourishment and treatment to my lashes with L'Oréal's Lash Renewal Serum

31. Moisturized my hands for the night using my beloved Clarins Hand and Nail Cream

32. The days last relaxing spray of Caudalie Beauty Elixir 

I'm so glad it wasn't one of my gym days because that would have added at least another 10 products... What do you think is this a reasonable amount of products for an average day and What's your magic number?

September empties

It feels as if it was just yesterday that I wrote the empties post for August - where does the time go? Today I have quite a good mix for you with a little bit of everything and you may recognize some of them from previous posts.

One of the first products I finished this month is my staple Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel from Clarins. I have repurchased this so many times because of its very gentle but effective cleansing abilities and it leaves no dry areas at all. I should mention that it is a foaming gel since there's a lot of discussion about whether you should use this on your skin or not, although it is soap free and the foaming comes from Soapwort which is a natural alternative to soap. I love how refreshed and pepped up my skin feels after I've used it. This is partly because of the lightness of the gel and partly because of the amazing, zesty fresh citrusy scent - what a way to start the day or to wash away the day that's been and I will definitely repurchase this again. 

It might seem strange to some people, but I actually light candles all year around since I'm scent-dependent, and I try to capture the time of year in the scents that I use and surround myself with. One of the candles I've used this summer has been Lily-Flame's Sweet Pea, mentioned in one of my very first blog posts. All of the Lily Flame candles are so pretty to look with their tiny marshmallows on the top, and every time I light a candle the first time I feel so guilty for ruining it - but it has to be done to get to the goodies! Sweet pea is a very tender, ladylike and classic, pure scent that's been perfect for the hot summer evenings we've had. I wouldn't say that it smells exactly like the flower because it has less of the floral and is a more crisp and pure scent - very elegant and delicate. If you haven't tried any of the candles from this range I really recommend them. There are so many amazing scents to choose from and they all smell very authentic. Another thing I love about them is that they burn really really well in the tin - from side to side without creating a big horrible crater in the middle, so you do get full value out of these. Since I have just stacked up on candles you can expect to see some of them mentioned in the next few months. 

Staying with the scent of summer, I'm sad to say that I've finished my Moschino Pink Bouquet EdT. It contains scents from exotic pineapple, warm juicy peach, cooling citrus fruits, seductive womanly jasmine and spicy woods - which together forms a light, sparkling, fresh and lively scent that isn't in the least syrupy or sugary. Pink Bouquet has suited me perfectly and I got so many compliments wearing it, so even though I have A LOT of beautiful perfumes left, I will definitely get another one at some point after I've finished a few others (I can hear Him Indoors sighing with relief).

In my Green edition I mentioned the Kérastase Bain Force Architecte Reconstructing Shampoo so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but this is a higher end shampoo specifically for damaged and dry hair. It reconstructs your hair to improve its resistance and leaves it shiny and feeling much stronger. It is a pricier product but if you need an intensive treatment, I would highly recommend it since it's worked beautifully on my hair.

A while back I got two products out of the Estée Lauder Resilience Lift range; the Eye cream that I'm still using (and I think I'll still be using in 5 months time since you need so little of it), and the Resilience Lift Face and Neck Creme which I've now finished. The cream is supposed to help tighten the facial contours, using a light-responsive enzyme, minerals and mimosa extract to help boost your skin's collagen production. The formula is lovely and thick, and it quickly melts into your skin as you gently massage it in, leaving your skin feeling very moisturized and nourished. I've only used this as a night cream, but every morning my skin has looked radiant, fresh and plump and it feels as if it's been nourished throughout the night, preparing the skin nicely for the morning routine. I really enjoyed this creme and I will definitely consider getting it again.

The last item in this month's empties is also a skin care product - the Gatineau Melatogenine AOX Probiotics Youth Activating Beauty Serum (now say that quickly 10 times in a row - I DARE you). This is another item which is packed with antioxidants and pro-biotics to help boost the skins immune system and the effect is that it should help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. I love using serums and have tried many different brands and this is slightly different than many of the others I've tried. It's slightly thinner and more runny in its texture, although it absorbs easily and also gives that lovely feeling of deep and long lasting moisturizing and I would highly recommend it if you don't like the sensation of thicker, richer serums. I can't really comment on the wrinkle reducing effects but your skin does feel very smooth, supple and bright.

Which products did you finish this month and will you be repurchasing any of them?

Could it be magic? Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

If I was only allowed to have one single beauty product, it would without a nano second of a doubt be a mascara! I am a complete mascara girl - I've lost count of how many brands I've tried, I've tried different colors, effects (volume, length etc) and I am VERY fickle. Even if I do actually like a product, it's unusual for me to repurchase it straight away since there are so many other products to choose from that promise the perfect look, and the only time I've ever actually done that was with L'Oréal's False Lash Telescopic mascara. Don't actually have it anymore - see I told you so, fickle! Even though I have blonde eyelashes, they are pretty long, slightly curved and of good quality which is why I'm always on the hunt for the perfect mascara to emphasize their shape. There are two types of mascaras that will inevitably get my attention: the first one is if they play on the flared look and the other one is if it promises ridiculously long lashes, and when I first heard about Revlon's Lash Potion Grow Luscious Mascara I thought it sounded just like something I should try.

This mascara claims to have almost magical effects through "spellbinding volume and supernatural length" with the help of the formula which is packed with strengthening proteins that will create volume. The whole witches brew theme is of course also played at in the name of the product, and the beautiful prismatic packaging - all very cute!

I bought the Blackest Black shade (not waterproof) and I find that it's quite a dry mascara, but at the same time it's still fluid enough for you to get enough product on the brush in one go for one coat, which will give you great coverage. Another good thing is that it doesn't clump or flake in any way and at least on me, it stays put all through the day without any smudging. 

The brush is very large and bristly and it comes with triple-grooves that comb through the lashes preventing the spider leg effect. It does cover your lashes very well with a few sweeps and it's also nifty enough to reach the shorter eye lashes closest to your nose. For me however, the brush feels a little stiff and I would have preferred it to be more flexible and bendy to better follow the fanned shape of the lashes and to easier build up volume from the root of the lashes.

 

After only one coat, you can't help but notice the volumising effect and the lashes look thick and dreamy. If you add just a thin second coat on the end of the lashes you'll also get that ridiculous length that you can sometimes only get with falsies. 

This is definitely a very good mascara for this price range, that will create a volumised look and give good coverage with minimal effort, although for me the magic isn't all there mainly because of the brush. Have you tried this mascara, and did you think it was out of this world?

Manic.Monday: Ciaté's Headliner

Barely have we had time to enjoy summer and the first days of autumn before we see notices everywhere to book tables for Christmas parties and the shops have started with their Christmas offers and brochures - fact is that there are less than 100 days left until Christmas. Earlier this week this year's Ciaté mini mani advent calendar was released in Selfridges and it sold out the same day as it went on sale (you can now see it on eBay at extortionate prices). But if you didn't manage to get your paws on one - you can pre-order it at Ciaté too - oh yes.... was there, did that, got the t-shirt and wear it proudly! It made me realise that even though I have a large no of Ciaté polishes, I haven't shown a single one of them in any of my posts - so let's remedy that this Manic.Monday with looking at this gorgeous shade - Ciaté's Headliner.

Headliner is a vibrant and gorgeous shade of greeny blue with yellow undertones, not as dark as teal but not as pure bright as turquoise either. The Ciaté formula is really wonderful to work with - it's a creamy, fairly thick consistency that at the same time is fluid enough to easily get an even streak free finish. This is also helped by the nice wide brush, which is of good quality and it doesn't drop any of the hairs in the polish - ruining the finish. Even though the polish is well pigmented, I would recommend that you apply two coats to get that perfect opaque satin look but since the formula is a bit thicker than many other polishes, you might want to give it a few minutes in between coats, to make sure that it has dried properly - but I would still say that it dries fairly quickly.

To get a really striking finish, I would also recommend using a high shine top coat to bring out the energy and zest of the color - which is what I'm wearing in the photo. If you decide to go without a top coat the finish is still beautiful, although a little bit more matte and muted.

This is a very sunny and summery shade that definitely brings out a tan, but since this color goes really well with the spicy, rich, golden reds, oranges and ochres that I'll wear this A/W, I'll continue to wear Headliner long after my tan is gone!

Lush Lemony Flutter

If you have read my blog previously you'll know how much I love nail polishes and I'm rarely seen for longer periods with nude, bare nails. In fact, this only happens about 3-4 times a year and that is when I do my regular nail detox. Wearing polish every day, and using nail polish remover can be tough on the nails and cuticles so I regularly take time out for my nails when I don't wear any polish, except a clear treatment polish for whatever my nails need most at the moment. For the past 2.5 weeks I've given my nails one of these breathers and the only products that I've used are Sally Hansen Miracle Nail Growth Treatment and Lush's Lemony Flutter.

Lemony Flutter is an ultra rich and thick cuticle butter that will help to nourish and soften the cuticles. It contains a long list of ingredients like thick oils from soya, avocado, coconut - butters from shea and mango that together with the beeswax form this delicious whipped and thick butter. It has an amazing strong and refreshing smell of creamy, sweet lemon - it's like rubbing lemon mousse into your cuticles and nails.

You only need a very little amount for each nail, and when you massage it in, the oils and butter heat up and melt beautifully into the skin leaving it feeling a tiny bit oily, but nourished and smelling absolutely fantastic. If you want to apply polish straight afterwards, you should probably wipe the nails clean, but since I've gone "nude" I've really enjoyed the feeling of the oils sinking into the nail properly. For the past weeks I've massaged in this gorgeous butter every morning and evening and it's really revitalized the cuticles that now look healthy and supple, and the sweet and zesty lemon scent has really been a wonderful pick me up to restore my mood. In addition my nails feel stronger and have definitely grown a little bit thanks to the Miracle Growth treatments that I've re-applied every other day. I absolutely love this nail and cuticle butter and it smells so enticing that even Him Indoors has started to use a little bit every now and then. 

The past weeks of my NPP (No Polish Policy) may have been a great and well needed break for my nails, but it has also been exceptionally boring from a nail polish point of view and I can't wait for the 3 weeks to end, so I can start wearing all the wonderful shades I've bought recently. I wonder which shade I should start with...  

Let's mist it up a little with facial sprays

Even I as a beauty junkie admit that there are several beauty products on the market, that you can't help but wonder if they actually do something beneficial, or if they're just the latest craze - facial mist sprays are one example of that. These are in essence water mixed with different ingredients like minerals or antioxidants to help protect your skin and they have several uses. E.g. you can use them to set your foundation, to freshen up during the day or to calm your skin after you've been in the sun. Facial mist sprays come in all price brackets and I've done a comparison of a few of them to see what they actually did for me; in order of price - Avene, Anatomicals, Clinique and Caudalie.

The first spray I've tested is Avene Eau Thermal Water Spray which you can find in Boots, both in a travel size and in a larger version, which is great if you're planning to take it with you, like I usually do. I had read a lot about this product and know that it's supposed to be great for angry or sensitive skin and you can use it for many different things according to the description - here are few examples: sunburn, after hair removal, after anti-acne treatment, to complete cleansing and to set make-up. That's pretty impressive, so if you're going on holiday this will be one of your Must bring products. Since I've only tried this as a facial spray, I'll limit my review to that particular use. This is an aerosol bottle so it dispenses a cloud of very fine mist that is absorbed straight away into the skin. It doesn't have any scent at all which might be a plus point for some, but it feels incredibly refreshing and cooling, and I can imagine that it would feel soothing on skin that's irritated or sensitive. This is perfect as a moisture boost during the day and it really freshens up your skin and your makeup if you're wearing any, leaving it a bit more dewy and radiant. This spray is absolutely amazing and considering it costs less than a grande macchiato in Starbucks, I would highly recommend that you try it, and I would even go as far as to say that if you're new to facial sprays - I bet this will make you a fan!

 

The second one I tried is the Anatomicals Spray Misty For Me which I actually got in a Glossybox a while back. Since I have been using facial mist sprays for quite a while now I was very happy to have received it and was also excited to try it, but I wasn't happy with a few things. First of all the pump squirts the spray out like a mini shower, getting your face wet in small patches, rather than dispensing it evenly over your face (and I have tried lots of different ways of using it) - not a great first impression. The spray does absorb quickly, but it feels very patchy afterwards. Secondly, while I like an aromatic invigorating scent, this one - which is lavender and peppermint to hydrate and sooth your skin, is too prominent. It does evaporate very quickly, but for me it's important that you feel refreshed after using a facial spray and this scent puts me on edge, it just doesn't work for me. And lastly, it makes my skin feel sticky and dry. It probably has to do with the first point that it's sprayed unevenly on the face, so some areas may be hydrated and others not. Since I haven't found this product on another web site, I link to Glossybox where you can read more about it, and if you're interested in getting this product, I know you can find it on good old eBay.

Moving on to the considerably more expensive products, I'll start with the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray All Skin Types which is actually the very first facial spray I tried a few years ago. This also comes with a pump for spraying, but it's much better than the Anatomicals one. After much testing I think the trick to get the right amount of mist from this spray is to hold it as far away from your face as you can, spray a cloud, and then you step into it rather than applying it straight onto your face. It doesn't really have a distinct scent to it, but to me it smells a bit clinical, so it's a good thing that it doesn't last very long. This product is marketed as a moisturizing facial treatment in a liquid form and it does feel lovely and refreshing on the skin and it's melts in well, however I personally don't find that it does much for my skin and I also find that it tends to make my skin a bit too shiny if I've applied it a few times during the day, so I have to correct with powder or blotting paper.

The last mist in this mix is the cult classic Caudalie Beauty Elixir which comes in two different sizes - one for the bathroom, one for the handbag. This also has a great spray function that dispenses just the right amount of fine mist that settles on your skin, leaving it feel wonderful and it's great for adding radiance and hydration to your skin throughout the day. Since it contains oils that separate when the bottle's been standing for a while, don't forget to shake it properly before you apply it - to mix up the oils. This mist is a lovely green scent that reminds me of a herbal garden and I particularly notice the fresh mint, earthy warm rosemary and faint roses. This is not just a boost for the skin, the amazing aromas boost your mood too, and I love using it any time of the day.

I know that the effect of facial mist sprays is a temporary one and it doesn't magically fix your skin, but to me it's also about how it makes you feel, which is why my favourite out of the ones I've tried definitely is Caudalie and I wouldn't want to be without it. The aromatic scent calms and focuses me, it makes my skin feel hydrated and dewy and last but not least it feels so luxurious to use - but Avene comes in as a very close second, showing that there's a product for all budgets.  .

What do you think of facial sprays - Fad or Fab?

Topping Lane - Cupcake nails from Nails Inc

One of my favourite accessories is my nails, and I would even go as far as to say that you can make or break an outfit with your nail polish. There are all kinds of glorious shades and effects made for us, showing that nails can be elegant, glamorous, edgy, romantic, creative or why not just plain fun.

And fun is exactly what comes to mind with Topping Lane from Nails Inc. Topping Lane is one out of 4 polishes that formed the dessert themed Sprinkles collection from 2012, which is a series of pretty glitter polishes in different pastel shades - blue, pink, grey and cream. Topping Lane is my favourite out of the 4 shades and it's a lovely candy pink polish with matte glitter effects in silver, cerise and violet blue.

Before you apply it, give the bottle a good shake to make sure the glitters aren't all clumped together and apply over a base coat. Like most of Nail Inc's polishes it has a nice light weight formula with just the right thickness that is very easy to apply. Unlike many other glitter polishes that are translucent with only a faint color to them, this pink is actually very pigmented and with 2 or more coats you'll end up with a nice and opaque finish, which is what I'm wearing in the photos. Since the polish dries very quickly, you can probably add even more layers, but for me it's enough with 2 to keep the lightness of the look. I would also recommend that you use a high shine top coat to really make the glitters stand out. The glitter will end up unevenly across the nail, but that's part of the fun - each nail will look different and so will each application. The final effect looks like delicate sprinkles on a cupcake - yummy enough to eat!

The nail polish wears well and you'll get about 3-4 days out of it before you'll need to touch up and unlike many glitter polishes it's actually fairly easy to remove - no need to almost have to scrub off half of your nails at the same time to get rid of it.

You can still get the Sprinkles collection from Nails Inc, and if you get it from Beautybay.com, you'll get it at a slightly better price as well.

This may not be a polish suitable for all occasions but it's a girly, fun and frivolous look - and after all we all know that girls want to have fun!

Baby Blue Eyes - Look Mini Make Over Palette

One of my beauty soft spots is palettes, but somehow I very rarely make full use of them. There's usually 2-3 shades that I really like and will use down to the pan, and the rest I'll barely look at. I have also always liked the idea of a palette that has not only eye shadows, but matching lip products and blusher as well, so when I saw the Look Mini Make Over Palette I absolutely had to try it - not that I need another palette to clutter my wardrobe, but I wanted to see if the idea of an all in one palette works in reality. These Look Mini Make Overs come in different shades to create either a rock chic look, or to emphasize blue, green or brown eyes. I have to say that the shades are all very pretty and tempting, but I went with the palette Baby Blue Eyes.

It's a very nifty, thin and compact little palette with 8 eye shadows, 4 lip colors and a blush that fits perfectly even into the smallest of clutches - just imagine never a need to bring 3-4 separate products, when you get them all in a size slightly bigger than a credit card.

The 8 eye shadows are all high sheen, shimmery metallic shades - so they'll be perfect for this A/W make up trends. They are all lovely shades that compliment each together well to create different looks, but personally I would have liked to swap one or two of the metallic shades for a matte peach or champagne shade for more versatility. Swatching the eye shadows I was a bit sceptical since many of the budget palettes look pretty, but the pigmentation is rubbish. Unfortunately the swatches didn't turn out very well in the photo and since they don't have any names or no:s I've tried to describe them below from left to right, top row first - as they are in the palette:

From left to right top row

1. Dark chocolate brown

2.  Copper

3. Gold

4. Sandy buff

From left to right bottom row

5. Pale khaki

6. Peachy pink

7. Light mocha

8. Light taupe   

I can tell you that the swatches don't do these eye shadows any justice at all and despite being metallic shades they are VERY pigmented. The first look I tried, I used the copper and light mocha shades, and the payoff was so strong that I had to spend a good few minutes blending and toning with powder to fade it out. Don't make the same mistake as I did, so I would recommend that you barely touch the eye shadows with your brush and then build it up if need be. Another great thing is that they settle really well on your eyelid without creasing and they last throughout the day - in a way I never would have expected. These can easily be used individually across the eyelid for a vibrant sweep of color and I've tried that with both the taupe and the pale khaki (although this shade isn't as rich as the others). The only thing I wasn't so keen on, was the fall out under my eyes so you might need to apply your eye shadow before the foundation.

I've also described the lip colors and blusher below, in the same way as I did the eye shadows - from left to right, starting with the top row and having the blusher furthest to the right:

From left to right top row

1. Nude beige

2. Cedar rose

From left to right bottom row

3. Peachy coral

4. Classic red (blue undertones)

5. Blusher Golden apricot

While the eye shadows were very pigmented, unfortunately I can't say the same for the lip colors. They are all matte with a fairly dry formula that doesn't apply easily so you have to use quite a lot to build up a color, and even then - the finish is more like a stain. While it's not sticky and it settles well, it doesn't last very long and it does dry, leaving those unattractive marks on your lips, so for me personally I definitely need to prep with a a lip balm before applying any of these shades. Out of the 4 colors, my favourite is the red one and I even surprise myself by saying that - since it gives a subtle matte finish that looks very natural but still noticeable and I've used it a lot with a barely there eye make up and it looks fresh but a small hint of glamour.

Finally we have the blusher, which is a beautiful golden apricot shade with light reflecting shimmer. Again I have to issue a word of warning - this is even more pigmented than the eye shadows, it really has to be seen to be believed! Knowing now exactly how much to use and how to work with it, I absolutely love it. It gives a lovely rosy peachy color and I had almost forgotten what blushers can do for your look. 

Overall this palette is such a lovely surprise and I highly recommend this bargain buy! I love the concept, I love most of the shades and products and I will definitely continue to experiment with it, and may even try some of the other palettes. Have you tried any of the Look Mini Palettes or any other ones with the same all in one idea that you recommend?

The green edition

Out of all the colors in the spectrum green is the one most closely associated with nature - fertility, growth and ultimately life. But green is also supposed to have a calming, relaxing effect and to symbolise balance. I know that autumn is more or less here, but the trees haven't quite shifted to gold and red yet so there's still a memory of green summer left so a great time for me to share some of my favourite green products that help me feeling balanced and harmonious.

We all try to live life a little greener, and one of the best beauty brands founded on 100% natural ingredients and with a strong commitment to the environment is Caudalie. If you have read some of my earlier posts you'll know that I use quite a lot of products from the Caudalie range and also reward myself with the occasional treatment. It was during one such pampering session that I was introduced to the Caudalie's Fleur De Vigne Shower Gel. It's a lovely, gentle and soap free shower gel that cleans well without stripping your skin back or making it feel dry, but what I REALLY like about it is the scent (surprise, surprise) that stays on your skin for quite a long time afterwards. It's an unexpected delicate mix of subtle florals like rose with fresh melon and leafy vines. It's a very green but aquatic scent that helps you to unwind after a tough day - to me it's pure bliss!

I liked the shower gel so much that I went straight to buy the matching fragrance Fleur De Vigne Eaux Fraiches. Of course it has the same mild scent combination as the shower gel, but it also has an extra touch of a very noticeable citrus air from grapefruit and tangerine together with woody cedar. This makes the fragrance very sparkly and exhilarating but also grassy and modern. To sum it up: it has got to be the greenest scent I've ever tried, and if you're looking for a balancing and harmonious scent - you should definitely try this one.

Since I have long hair and work out a lot, I go through bottle loads of shampoos. And because I use so much, I usually don't want to spend too much money on hair products and tend to go for more affordable products, but I will occasionally invest in the odd high end product as a treatment for my hair. This is exactly what I did a good few months ago when my hair felt very dehydrated and damaged and I wanted something to boost my hair, so I invested in the Kérastase Bain Force Architecte Reconstructing Shampoo. This shampoo is supposed to be used daily, but instead I actually limited my hair washes to no more than 3 times/week (thank goodness for Batiste Dry Shampoo) and also only used this shampoo, no other. You only need a little dollop of it to get a really nice lather and it cleans your hair in a very gentle way, with a lovely fruity salon scent that lingers. I know that this has a higher price point, but for me this shampoo really worked - my hair felt stronger and I didn't notice as many brittle strands as I had before. Since you don't need much the bottle actually lasted me well over 2 months, which is probably unheard of for me when it comes to shampoo. You can of course get this in salons all around the country, or why not check out the fabulous Feelunique.com, and get yourself another little something since you're there anyway. 

I've mentioned before that I've mainly been using coral and bronzed eye makeup this summer, but often added a stronger color on my lower waterline for effect, and one of my most used eyeliner shades has been the Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner Emerald Green. It's a beautiful, intense and  smooth emerald green with blue undertones that I've really enjoyed wearing and that's worked well with my blue eyes. The formula is so pleasant to wear and work with since it goes on so easily, it's waterproof and it lasts a long time - so it's been perfect for summer wear. There are other wonderful shades available in this formula as well e.g. plum and black, and I've already decided to get the plum one for the A/W makeup.

Emerald Green

Being a polish-aholic I obviously wanted to include a nice green polish in this post and despite having quite a few nice greens in my collection I knew straight away which one I wanted to show. When the Revlon Moon Candy nail polishes were released I was completely taken in by the idea - you probably all know it: first you use the dark base shade and then you add the lustrous top coat for a great 3D look. I've tried many of them, but the shade I was instantly drawn to was Meteor which for me is perfect for this time of year. It combines the summery, lush, dark forest green with autumn golden and coral speckles and I really love the finish of it.

Meteor

I usually apply 2 coats of both the base and the top coat since I quite like having an even spread of the little opalescent fragments across the nail. On me the finished look lasts 3-4 days before it starts to chip away, which is pretty good. I wish I could say that it's easy to remove this polish, but it is unfortunately a little trickier than normal ones, but to make it a little easier I would recommend using 3 coats of the base color to thicken it up since it won't effect the final finish. This particular product may not be new anymore, but my fascination for different effect top coats and formulas stays on, and although I've already picked up some of the A/W releases, I know I'll continue to sport my Moon Candy look every now and then.

This collection of product definitely makes it easy being green!