The Real Kajal

At one point or another we have all used a kohl pencil for your eyes. Either for contouring or for completing a smokey eye look, the handy dandy black pencil is something most women put in the must-have category. Well, it was only last week that I realized the true shape and form that the Kajal comes in.Kajal is simply the hindi name for what we call Kohl.
The friend I went with to London took out a lipstick looking thing out of her purse and aimed it towards the eye. You can imagine the look on my face at that point. Not to mention the fact that a black, round-topped pyramid seemed to appear out of the package. 

She then explained that she had gotten it from a friend who had it from pure Indian sources and that this is the actual shape they make it in there.
Now, beside the fact that it was a creamy piece of heaven, it was also deep deep dark and did not seem to want to smudge.

Here's how Wikipedia says it is prepared:

Preparation of homemade kajal begins with dipping a clean, white, thin muslin cloth, about four by four inches square, in sandalwoodpaste or the juice of Alstonia scholaris (Manjal karisilanganni), which is then dried in the shade. This dip and dry process is done all day long. After sunset, a wick is made out of the cloth, which is used to light a mud lamp filled with castor oil. A brass vessel is kept over the lamp, leaving a little gap, just enough for the oxygen to aid the burning of the lamp. This is left burning overnight. In the morning, one or two drops of pure ghee (clarified cow's butter) or castor oil is added to the soot which now lines the brass vessel. It is then stored in a clean dry box. 

Don't know about you but that sounds pretty magnificent and so much better than the things we usually put on our eyes. Not to mention how impressed I was with its lasting power.What I can say is that if you have the chance, grab one of these original Kajal sticks and enjoy feeling like an oriental goddess.

                          

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Catrice Made To Stay Eyeshadow in Copper & Gabbana

I remember seeing this in the store, not buying it, then changing my mind and making it get to me in the end. Have to say, I am very glad I did, because it really does its name justice. It is made to stay.

The Catrice Made To Stay eyeshadow will probably remind many of you of the Maybelline Color Tattoos. They are more or less of the same consistency and can be applied either with your finger, in which case you will get a bit of product but which will be super pigmented, or with a brush, in which case you can control the dosage and how much color you want. 

If I'm in a hurry I will admit to using my finger and I have never been unhappy with the result. 

My eyes don't look good with just any color,but the browns, coppers and blacks are the ones that keep them looking nice. This color is a bit on the orange side, but still beautifully metallic.

The question is, does it stay in place all day?

It does! And that, without any primer! If you add primer to the mix, you will get an unmovable color on your eyes. I was completely surprised the first time I tried it without a primer to see that after 8 hours of work, it was still going strong. Not even a crease!  It has actually even been tested at the gym and made it through incredibly well. 

This color would, I am sure, look so great on a tan or darker skin in general. And on fair skin, it gives a regal air. I find it to be quite the universally gorgeous color.

Have you ever tried this product? And are you a fan of these kinds of eyeshadows or would you rather stick to the classical pixiedust version?                     

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My First MUA Order

"Took you long enough" I hear you say. Well, because MakeUp Academy reached 35k Facebook fans and had free shipping plus a considerable discount, I decided to give them a go.
I'm usually somewhat skeptical about relatively cheap cosmetics, especially the kind you apply on your skin in sensitive areas such as eyes or lips. I've had less than jolly experiences with the likes of Elf and that kind of put me off.
Also, I would have had to order MUA online, since they don't really sell them outside the UK.
But I  had heard so much great things about them that I figured this would be the perfect time to stock up on some.                
I will tell you now, I was INCREDIBLY surprised! In a positive way.

Here's what I got:

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

Lip Boom in Ok.com

Lip Boom in Cheeky

Lipstick Shade 14 Bare, but I got shade 15 Juicy.

Might have been a mix up but I don't mind at all,since I really like shade 15!

Love Hearts Lip Balm Great Lips

Eyebrow Pencil Brunette

I am someone who's hard to please in the lipstick department and don't work well with anything that's not the perfect combination of dry and moist.

To my surprise, the MUA lipsticks are just that! MAC for example is off my lips in no time, but it feels super moisturizing.Well, these stay on my lips and you get the feeling they really wanna stay there, while not drying out my lips. Not to mention they are matte and I'm mad about that!

As for the Heaven and Earth Palette, I'd been looking for these colors for as long as I can remember! I wanted to get that Addison Montgomery sheer, but naturally glowy California eye makeup look ( for those of you who watch Private Practice and know, for those who do not Here is a picture of the eye look I mean.)

Well, I got it! The first time I played around with this, I was a bit "meh", but the moment I tried it on and combined them, I was the happiest puppy ever! 

The eyebrow pencil is a bit too ginger for my eyebrows. My eyebrows have an interesting black-but-not-really-but-definitely-not-too-brown thing going on and it's an almost impossible task to find something that fits. That's why I'll probably stick to my gel liner residue technique that for some reason is the right color.

All in all I was very surprised by how great MUA is and I will be definitely be ordering some more soon as I'm not thinking of trying every single lipstick they have to offer. If the shades I was sure don't work on me, clearly work just great, I think everything is possible!

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September Favorites!

It's that time again!

I know, it took me long enough to post this, didn't it?
Well here we go, my favorite things from the past month.

You'll see some good ol' friends and some new faces.
And since we're speaking of faces, let's start with that.

Favorites for my Face

As you might have noticed, I don't plaster my face with much, but these two are very very handy together.
The MeMeMe Sunbeam still holds its spot as favorite illuminator and you can read my review about it HERE

The Tinted Moisturizer from Florex I've also recently introduced to you in This Post and it will stay with me until the sun starts shining very brightly again.

Let's move on to The Eyes, shall we?

I'm very much a sucker for Gel Eyeliner and this one from Catrice is still my favorite. If you haven't tried it yet, want to, or don't know what kind of liner can work best for you, I suggest you check out my post about Picking Eyeliners.

Eyeko Fat Brush once more! I think you know by now I really like this mascara, but in case you don't, let me direct you to the post where you can find out why I like it so much. It's Right HERE.

Let's not forget the eyelash curler.This brilliant invention makes any lashes look 10 times better! I can't imagine not using it every single day.

And last,but not least: Nails!

Such awesome autumn colors,both of them!
The first one is Essie Bobbing for Baubles and you can see what it looks like on my nails HERE.
What a unique color it is! I'm really glad I found and got it.

The second one is Catrice After Eight and if you have a bit of patience, by next week, you will be able to see how it looks on my nails also, because the post about my Top Autumn Polishes is coming up and this one is in it.


How about you, what have your September Favorites been?


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Fiber Mascara: CHANEL Vs. MAC Vs. EYEKO

The time has finally come for me to talk about the thing I love most: Fiber Mascara
I discovered it about 4 years ago when I was out shopping with a friend.Passing by the Chanel counter he suddenly said: "This! You have got to try this!"
I had no idea why it was supposed to be so spectacular, but since I had been let down by most of the mascaras until then, I figured Chanel would be a good pick.
I had no idea what would happen!
The moment I put that mascara on, I saw beautiful long lashes that felt perfectly naked and light!
Obviously, at that point I had no idea why that was, I just assumed  the people at Chanel were Mascara Geniuses.But after a bit of research, I realized it was the "fiber" part of the mascara that made it so great. And that's how this love story began.

The sad thing about it is, each mascara I ever loved got discontinued.

First it was Chanel, then MAC changed the formula of their Fibre Lash mascaras and then.... they discontinued it last year. Which sent me on a quest for a replacement that I found in the Eyeko Fat Brush. So far so good, but God I hope they don't think about discontinuing it!

Let's start with the beginning,shall we?

Like I said, the reason I started loving fiber mascara: Chanel Volume + Length
For a long time, I considered this to have the perfect brush. It applied the mascara evenly, did not clump (no fiber mascara clumps, actually) and I never felt my lashes more natural. I still think it is one of the best brushes ever, the problem is...it's no longer available. Boo-hoo

This is the little guy who beat the Chanel brush. To this day, it remains my favorite mascara.
To start off, it had the most beautiful smell! I'm a sucker for anything that smells nice and will be instantly repulsed by anything that doesn't, as you may have seen in the post about my beauty NO-GOs.
Not to mention that it came off incredibly easy! I didn't even have to use any make-up remover sometimes. It was so rich in fiber that you could literally rub it off your lashes. You'd be left with little fibers on your fingers and no mascara on your lashes. This was very useful if, for example you'd forget you were wearing mascara (like I sometimes did) and would rub my eyes. No smudge and no proof of my little mishap,just fibers on my fingers.
Another amazing thing was that I actually grew new lashes while using this mascara. They say fibers nourish your lashes but I was a bit skeptical. After using this mascara though,I was fully convinced!

When I first saw this brush I instantly said "Oh No!" , but I clearly reacted too fast. With a modified formula, but still rich in fiber, the brush made absolutely no difference. The mascara looked just as great and did a good job. Sure, it wasn't as good as it's discontinued brother that I was swooning over above, but I trusted MAC that they knew what they were doing. I was sad I couldn't rub it off anymore and be left with little fibers on my hand, but it came of just as easy with cleansing lotions.
The sad part is...this too got discontinued. I was told  the False Lashes  s the new and improved Fibre Lash , but I didn't see much of the "fiber" in it. Maybe I'll give it a try one day though.

Which brings us to the present:

Eyeko, my lovely!  I think this is a classic case of  the more you use it,the more you love it !
You can read all of my swooning in the post I did about it,the day after I got it. But I will say, I have gotten even more impressed since then. I've mastered the art of using the Eyeko Shield (you can see what that is in the same post ) and my lashes are looking gorgeous!


Why Fiber Mascara?

• First up, the fibers hug your lashes making them longer and thicker.The "fibers" are micro-fibers of nylon, rayon or silk which attach themselves to your lashes making them fuller and longer.
• The fibers actually nourish your lashes and you will never have any lash fallout with them. Mine actually grew most while using the first MAC Fibre Rich Lash version. It was incredible!
• It never clumps! Because of the fiber formula, it will not clump, as it is not a thick paste you're applying, but fine lines of micro-fiber that work individually to add volume and length to your lashes.
• It never smudges! Again, because of the formula that is more fiber than liquid, you will not have this mascara ever be runny or start smudging. It stays put wherever you place it.
• Your lashes will look natural and never feel heavy. I love fiber mascaras mainly because of the natural look they give. I've been asked several times "You're not actually wearing mascara,are you?"

Here's a comparison I did for MAC Fibre Rich Lash and Eyeko Fat Brush  a while back, just to show you how beautifully natural your lashes can look. Would have loved to show you the Chanel and the MAC Fibre Rich, but those have been emptied a long time ago.

I'm always open to new fiber mascara suggestions, so if you have any, please let me know!
Have you ever tried fiber mascaras or thought about it? What do you think?



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Favorite Summer Eyeshadows

Summer.Sunshine.Hot.
Clear keywords for the past three months.

It's been warm,then it got warmer,then it got back to being warm and it stayed like that.Even as I type this, it's 28 Degrees outside. Which meant that my face has seen as little make-up as possible. You can imagine that at 40+ C temperatures, you don't really want to feel anything than a cool breeze.

As far as colors go, I like shades that accentuate the tan or that work well on a sunkissd skin. That's why the following eyeshadows have been definite favorites.

I stumbled on them by compete accident and said "Why not,let's try it!". I'm so glad I did!
They are pearly, bronze beauties!

Both from Catrice,  we have Mr.Copper's Fields and Oh,It's so Toffeeful!

Mr.Copper's Fields  is a dark copper shade, as the name says, and it gives a perfect accent when combined with Oh,It's so Toffeeful! The latter is a shiny light bronze color that gives your eye a subtle glow. I love it! Even used it as a sorta bronzer and it looked gorgeous!


Last but not least, here's what it looks like on my eyes.

What's your favorite eyeshadow? Do you have any colors that you love and couldn't do without?



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Safely Removing Your Eye Make-up?

Let me tell you a couple of things I've learned,especially when it comes to removing eye make-up,because that one is the hardest to do and should be done in the most gentile manner.
We are talking about eyes here,and the skin around them is the thinnest and most prone to get ruined and get wrinkles.Rubbing your make-up off like a maniac is about the worse thing you can do
 

So,here's what I do:
I used to have a fatty, vaseline based cream at hand for it but the truth is,it takes a bit of rubbing and it requires make-up pads. To my eyes,make-up pads are dry and pretty rough,so I stopped using vaseline ointment.
Wanna know a secret tho? Vaseline helps your lashes grow and get fuller.  So don't dismiss it just yet. You can apply it on your lashes before going to bed and in a couple of weeks you will see results.
But for me,other things work nicer.

Here's some TIPS:
1.ALWAYS use a make-up remover that is SPECIFICALLY designed for removing eye make-up.
2.Use oil or oil based make-up removers.They're good for the skin and they moisturize while doing their job
3.Try to use make up removing wipes,but again SPECIFICALLY for eyes.They're wet and that makes them less rough
4.IF you use liquid make-up removers then place the pads over your eyes,and let your eyes soak a bit.It will require less rubbing that way.

Here's the stuff I use. Sometimes just one,sometimes the other,but always in collaboration with the wipes :)

• Vichy 3 in 1 One Step Cleaner ,that I wrote about in the post about my july favorites.
• My own, concocted oil. It has argan,olive,orange and rosehip oil in it,amongst other oils.Rosehip for example is super full of vitamins and it has a natural UV protection factor.
  I'll be doing a post about this soon,as oils can be really great for the face.
• The magic wipes: Lately, Purex 3 in 1 Facial Wipes have been working really well for me.
• I also included the Vaseline based Calendula ointment,because it is really good for your skin and even for your eyes,just not ideal for removing make-up.

What I've just tried is:
- Garnier Clean&Fresh Eye Make-up Remover

It is liquid,which is a good thing,but it did feel a little stingy in my eyes even if it says it is suitable for sensitive eyes also. There's also a lot of parabens in it,which I prefer not to use.


I will still stick to Vichy,which is paraben free and will remove even waterproof make-up without causing any irritation to and around the eyes. It has actually happened once that I got some Vichy in my eye and was surprised to realize,nothing burned.

What do you use for your make-up removal routine?



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Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Highlighter

As I've mentioned in my post about my favorite products in July, I have had a very long and fruitful relationship with the Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Highlighter.

I first found it about 3 years ago and have been using it ever since. Nothing else has managed to convince me that it might be better.
The great thing about it is that it is not only a concealer,but also a highlighter and because it is from the Match Perfection series, it is made to adapt to your skin tone even more.
The highlighter part has saved my life on a number of occasions,as you can use it pretty much anywhere you feel the need for some extra "awake" effect.

Before it, I had used a mix of tinted moisturizer and cover stick,to adapt the color to my skin and make it look ok.
But I think you too know that the texture of a cover stick isn't the most natural looking,nor is it too light and comfortable to wear.

The Rimmel Concealer on the other hand kinda disappears and blends in almost unnoticed.For me,it's important that things like concealer,blush or mascara look and feel natural. I hate feeling like "there's something on my face!" or for my face to look like I've plastered colors on it.

I also like the application: it comes with a brush tip and in a squeeze tube,which makes it that much easier for you to dose the amount you put on your skin and to get all of it out of the tube.

BUT, like with any brush that deals with the area around your eyes,keep it clean and change it every couple of months because you really don't want bacteria to get there!
Same thing goes with mascaras.

I use 030, Classic Beige. My skin is now a bit tanned,but as far as I've seen,the Classic Beige works well on most skin colors.It still does its job well though, even with a tan.

Here you have the Before and After

On the left  I'm wearing my just woken up face and on the right I'm wearing the Rimmel Concealer.
The lighting is different because I moved to the right of the mirror a bit and stopped having the glare from the window light behind me.

And a TIP: When you apply,pat the concealer it in,don't smear it around. By patting it,you lose less product, it stays in place and you can control its application much better.

July Favorites

This past month,I've been using very few products as temperatures have been above 30C almost each day.
With that heat,I personally like my skin to be able to breathe and feel light so less really has been more in July.
That's why I'll show you my favorite beauty products of the month.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Highlighter

I've been using this one for years now and am still liking it a lot. The great thing about it is that it adapts to your skin and will actually, well...match to perfection.

Another thing I like is that it is also a highlighter and doesn't just act as your regular concealer. I've given a number of other concealers a go,just to have an alternative in case of emergency. From Estée Lauder to Benefit,nothing worked as well as this one. It also is quite cheap: 7.99€  and lasts a very long time.

Of course you will want to change it out regularly ,as it has a brush tip and might end up causing more bad than good once bacteria gets on it, but it is worth it.

Catrice Black Gel Eyeliner 

Last year gel eyeliners started getting popular and as an avid consumer of eyeliner I wanted to give it a try.It quickly turned out that it was much easier to maneuver and had a much better coverage. That's when I was hooked and remained hooked ever since.To be honest,Catrice was the first one I found,and I kinda just stuck with it since I was satisfied.

To me,eyeliner and mascara can easily be enough make-up,and gel eyeliner serves its purpose really,really well.

Manhattan Multi Effect Eyeshadow in Cotton Candy

This one is just a very,very pretty and subtle pink that brightens up the eyes and works amazingly well with eyeliner.

Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara

I suggest you read my post about it ,because it has very quickly become on of my favorite mascaras!

Vichy 3 in 1 One Step Cleaner

The best thinkg to have ever happened to my make-up removal routine. It is a cleansing milk,toner and eye make-up remover in one. I can honestly say that there is nothing my eyes appreciate more than this. It's very gentle on them and successfully removes even the most attached eye make-up. I'm super pleased with it and will write a full review about it soon!

I Love... Raspberry & Blackberry Hand Cream

Summer,sun...dried out hands. Not only cold gets to them,but heat and sun exposure too.As I already have dry hands and nails that are at risk of becoming brittle,I always have some hand cream in my bag. This one just happens to smell so good!

China Glaze Surfin' for Boys

Oh coral neon,how I love the! This one was adoration at first wear,and since it is a neon,it is perfect for summer. About this one,you can read all my swooning right Here.

I'm curious,what have you used most this month?

All Natural: Quick Beauty Fixes!

Beauty does not only mean "What products can I put on to mask imperfections?". It means caring for yourself in such a way that you will be healthy and that it can reflect on the outside.
We all know that saying about beauty coming from the inside but the process of getting that inner balance can take a while. It is also 100% worth it,so never back away from it just because it isn't a quick fix!

We also know that today,the "quick fix" is a global favorite,so I decided to show you some great quick fixes that I use. And the best part about it: THEY'RE ALL NATURAL!

Let's start with EYES

I have a tendency of getting tired eyes really fast and really often and I also get dark circles under them. The problem is,when my eyes get tired,a headache is just around the corner.
But worry not! For I have found the quickest and most effective fix for it. And when I say quick I mean INSTANTLY !

Meet The Cucumber.
This young fellow cools,calms,reduces puffiness and dark circles. Perfect you say? Pretty much!
For me,it really is the one thing that is guaranteed to work.

Slap on two slices and you're ready to go. I like to cut them progressively thinner,from edge to middle,so that the side you put exactly under your eyelid is thinner and stays on more comfortably. Like so:

We move on to the FACE

Whenever I have some time,I cut a slice of fruit and rub it all over my face. It's a fast face mask and it is 100% natural,organic and vegan. Can't get any better,can it?
Just leave it on for 10-20 minutes (even more if you have the time) , then rinse with water and gently dry your face.

My fruit of choice is The Mango.
It is absolutely packed with vitamins ( The antioxidant Vitamin A and C, plus Vitamins B1,B2,B5,B6,B9 ) And it's suitable for any skin type. My skin is fairly dry and sensitive and I can tell you for a fact that it loves the mango. My face and Mango are potential bff's.

Cut a slice and rub it all over your face. Your skin will look healthier and in case you were pale,you will get a nice color correction from it too,leaving you looking less white and more sun kissed.Quick fix or what?!

Now to show some love to the HAIR


You might not know this,but there is one thing out there that can work as doping for your hair,giving it vitamins and nutrients and leaving it strengthened and shiny.
I bet you have no idea you probably even had it for breakfast!

Wanna know what it is? Coffee!

Yes,you heard me! Coffee and your hair will get along very, very well.

Here's what you have to do:

- Make about one cup of coffee and let it cool before using it. It doesn't need to be cold,just not as hot as to burn your skin

- Take it with you to the shower :)

- Do your regular hair washing routine (shampoo,conditioner, etc) and rinse

- When you are done and have finished your shower, pour the cup of coffee over your hair

- DO NOT RINSE OFF!  You have to leave it in your hair. It is the crowing moment of your hair routine.

- Dry your hair off. If you are doing it with a towel,make sure you use one of a darker color, as the coffee in your hair is likely to leave some stains on white towels.

- Enjoy your new brilliantly strengthened hair!

I'll also do another post soon about how coffee can make your skin look amazing,so stay tuned!

Last but not least, THE ALL-ROUNDERS

I think we've all heard about this one and we've all used it on one way or another: 

Olive Oil

Nature's little all-round miracle.

I use it on my face as a moisturizer (sometimes combined with other oils also), on my nails for strengthening (they need love too), on my hair, also for moisturizing (but use small amounts,or your hair will be greasy even after you wash it off) and of course on my salad.

Just make sure it is cold pressed and bio olive oil. This really is one thing you should pay more for, as it guarantees quality,and that is something you need if you're gonna use it all over your body

One more thing you might not know about it it has a natural SPF(Sun Protection Factor).

Of course,it is not a high SPF.Olive oil has one of the lowest (raspberry  and carrot seed oil having one of the highest,raspberry between 28 and 50 and the carrot seed oil between 38 and 40), so don't go to the Mediterranean and sit in the sun with only olive oil rubbed on you.

But it can help you get a nice tan in the spring sun and it also keeps your skin from drying out. I also occasionally use it as a body lotion,but only when I have enough time to let it sink into my skin.

Another all-round product I very much enjoy is Majoram

 

This yummy spice is full of Vitamin C,D and B3 and tastes insanely good in cooked foods and salads!

What you can also do is make an infusion (aka tea:put dried leafs in hot but not boiling water and leave them for 5 minutes). You can either drink it and get some inner benefits like better circulation,or you can use it as a face wash. It's really effective in calming your skin down if it's itchy or just feels uncomfortable.

Hope you've enjoyed this first natural post and learned some new things. I have some more natural tips for you that I can share in a future post.

Stay healthy!