An Update #4

001. I’m currently sitting in the sofa with a facemask on, finishing my cup of tea and smelling my freshly washed hair- Toni & Guy is where it’s at, review coming soon! This week has been really really busy, and I’ve finally 
made an attempt to sort my life out, starting with the cabonets in my bedroom. I threw away so many of my clothes and sorted out one of my closets which hadn’t been touched in years- really! Opening my closet and realising there are only clothes in there that I really like and actually wear is such a good feeling, even though it kind of hurts throwing out old clothes that have so many memories to them. But oh well, it really had to be done and my mind feels so much clearer because of it. I also bought some new, fresh bedding from Ikea and sorted out my books/school stuff cabinet, which now looks so much more organised and pleasurable to open. I do love me a bit of organising.

002. I had a bit of a revelation this week in terms of school and my future. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may or may not know that I was studying Psychology but decided to drop out in January. Since then, I always thought that Journalism was where it’s at, but the past couple of months it just didn’t feel right. Whenever I thought of going to study Journalism coming September, I got this strange feeling that I can’t really explain, but I thought that were just nerves and it was normal to feel that way. On Friday, however, one of my best friends took me and another friend of her to my old uni for some presentations, and I suddenly missed it so much. My old uni was in Holland, and the schools there are just so much nicer than in Belgium. The people are friendlier and more spontaneous, and it’s a really international school with lots of different people, making it really interesting. The lecturers are so nice and the atmosphere there is just SO much nicer than in Belgian unis. When I got home, I was browsing their website for an overview of all the courses they had there, and I suddenly saw a course called ‘Health Sciences’ which seemed right up my street and I immediately knew this was what I wanted. I’m not quite sure if this is what I’m going to do coming September, but it sure feels more right than Journalism, which just doesn’t seem right for me one way or another. And if I really want to become a journalist, I can always follow an adult education course in it! I’m so happy I finally came across something that will probably suit me, and I’m also really grateful for having kind of a gap year. I have reflected so much about my past and especially my future, and it has helped me so much. I really hope I’m going to be making the right decision. I have always told my mom that my biggest goal in life was having a job I actually thoroughly enjoy and be passionate about, and I really hope I will achieve this goal in the next couple of weeks!

003. I don’t really have anything else to tell you right now. I haven’t been blogging that much in the past week because I just didn’t feel like it and I’ve been so busy, so I really hope normal blogging can resume this week! (Even though I’m not that much of a regular blogger, but sssht). I've been reading a lot these past two weeks, and I've finished The Fault In Our Stars in under 24 hours because it was just so amazing! I'm currently reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower (finally!) and have composed a reading list full of books I've yet to read. Any recommendations, throw them my way! 

004. Oh yeah, as you probably may know already, Google reader is disappearing tomorrow, so feel free to follow my blog on Bloglovin’!

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour

I have had my eye on the Maybelline Colour Tattoos for absolute ages before actually buying one of them around Christmas time last year and I have loved them so much I thought I should do a review on one of my most-used eyeshadow products.

The Maybelline Colour Tattoos are described as a ‘gel-crem eyeshadow’. After picking up my first shade ‘On and on Bronze’, I decided to pick up another one called ‘Permanent Taupe’. I absolutely love the consistency of these eyeshadows and these were actually the first cream eyeshadows I actually tried, and I’m in love with them.

‘On and on Bronze’ is a gorgeous warm-toned brown with shimmer. What I love about this colour is that the shimmer is really subtle so it doesn’t make your eyes look like a discoball. I think this is one of those neutral colours that suits everyone. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

‘Permanent Taupe’ is, as the name already suggested, a cool-toned taupe. This doesn’t have any shimmer in it and has quite a matte finish on the eye, which I really really like.

The formula is great and really easy to work with. I usually use my ring finger to take a little bit of the product and then dab it on my eyelid, blending it in with said finger. The eyeshadows are both really, really pigmented when first swatched, but leave quite a sheer wash of colour on the eyelid when first dabbed in. The great thing about these is that you can actually build the colour up quite a bit. If I want them a little bit more blended into the crease, I’ll use a fluffy blending brush, but I often don’t find that necessary. They last all day, too, even when I’m not using an eyelid primer and i have quite oily eyelids.

I use these just on their own as an eyeshadow, as a base under other eyeshadows to make those last even longer or with an angled brush as a gel eyeliner. I found that when you use these as an eyeshadow base, the colour of the eyeshadow you’re applying next gets so much more intense and beautiful.

If I had to pick my favourite, I think it would definitely be ‘On and on Bronze’. My favourite way to wear it is with a shimmery champagne colour on top of it- just gorgeous! I love ‘Permanent Taupe’ too, but I find it a little bit harder to pull off because I don’t really suit cool toned eyeshadows, but it’s gorgeous too. Do you like these? What other shades of these do you recommend?

Dear Michael...

Our love affair started quite a while ago. My mom got me one of your beautiful rose gold watches for my highschool graduation last year, and I couldn't be happier. Fast forward six months and she got me one of your gorgeous purses for Christmas, which I'm so thankful for and is just perfect. And just when I thought your designs couldn't be more perfect, I stumbled across your Selma bag. I was casually browsing your website since I often do and it was love at first sight. The perfect size, perfect design and  the perfect big sister for my purse. I started to save up my money and told myself I would buy it in a couple of months time. But then it happened.
I went shopping around the end of April when I walked by a store which sells your stuff. Purses, clothes, jewelry, watches and... bags. I spotted your Selma bag right away and knew that it was a sign. I had to buy it. I had to. So I did. And I couldn't be happier with it.
It has been two months since, and I haven't worn another bag ever since I got it. It fits all my stuff but is still small enough not to be tempted to carry too much. The quality is just amazing and it just can't get scratched, which is amazing. You can definitely feel and even see that it's of great quality, which I love. To me, bags are an investment, and I'm so happy to finally own my own little designer bag. I'm sure I will carry this with me forever, and it will always have a special place in my heart as my first designer bag. I love the idea of having one or two (or even more) really good quality bags which will last you a lifetime. Thanks for creating this perfect bag, Michael. I will love your forever.

Love,

Charlotte, self-confessed beauty  addict who has a silly blog  and likes to waste her time proclaiming her love for miscellaneous things

Gettin' My Bronze On

I’ve always been really pale, but as soon as my skin sees some sun, I immediately tan and don’t really burn that quickly. This means, according to Belgian weather, that a tan is only reserved for a holiday. Now accidentally, my parents booked our holiday yesterday, so whilst I’m getting excited (and scared for the flight) I thought I might as well get my body a little bit bronzed just to feel a little bit of that holiday vibe.

Now I’ve gotten a bit afraid of fake tanning (mostly caused by my mom telling me horror stories about streaky lines and the tan sweating off of your body) so I settled for a nice compromise; a gradual tanner.

Last year, I tried the Garnier Summer Bronze which I really liked, but I detested the smell- which is probably why I’ll never really commit to ‘real’ fake tanning. I also had a little bit of a love affair with the Dove gradual tanner, but then I fell in love with the L’Oréal Nutri Bronze. I’m sorry, Dove. So here’s a review with a little bit of a routine thrown in for good measure…

It’s really important to prep your skin before slathering on the tan. This removes dead skin cells, which guarantees streaky-free application. Now gradual tanners aren’t as ‘dangerous’ to apply as fake tan, because they’re gradual and are more of a body moisturiser than a tan. I still like to scrub my body though, especially if the tan has built up over the week to remove the residue and reveal fresh skin. I recently got a sample of the Kiehl’s Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub in “Grapefruit”. This is a really fresh smelling body scrub which really reminds me of summer and holidays for a reason, so I think it would be the perfect scrub to take with you on holiday! It comes out as a white, creamy latter which does also feel really moisturising. The scrub particles feel really gentle on the skin, but they’re still really effective in removing dead skin cells leaving you with softer, radiant looking skin. I love this and I’m debating buying the full size version, even though it’s a little bit pricey so I might wait a little…

After stepping out of the shower, I immediately slap on some of the L’Oréal Nutri Bronze. This is the one for light to normal skin since I am really pale and don’t want to wake up looking like an oompa loompa, so I thought I would play safe and go for this verson. I just apply this using my bare hands, so no tanning mittens, just because I’m al ittle bit lazy and I’ve never really had any problems doing so. I just make sure to wash my hands thoroughly after use. What I really, really like about this gradual tanner, is the smell. It just smells really nice and fresh, which makes it a real pleasure to apply! It does, however, develop in a little bit of a ‘cookie’ scent after a few hours, but by then I’m already used to the scent and it isn’t that strong at all. It sinks into the skin really quickly, which is also really really great since you’re not standing in your bathroom naked waiting for it to absorb because getting dressed can cause streaks. What I don’t like about this product is that it contains quite a lot of mineral oil, but since I’m only using this on my body and not on my face I don’t really mind. I would prefer one without though, so I’m on the lookout for that! I only apply this 2-3 times a week which is enough for me, since it’s quite longlasting and doesn’t need to be applied every day. On other days I just apply my regular body moisturiser.

Have you tried this gradual tanner? Do you have any recommendations?

All About Peach

I’ve always been more of a pinky cheek girl, afraid that more peachy hues would look way too orange on my pale skin. This is why I wisely stayed away from them. The same goes for cream bluser; I would associate them with wet and sticky, absolutely non-compatible with my oily skin. I was convinced cream blush wouldn’t last long on my skin and thought they were very hard to blend and just a fass to apply. A few weeks ago though, I suddenly went crazy and bought two of the new Bourjois cream blushes, one of them being a peachy colour. I know, I don’t know what went through my head at the time- but one thing I do know, however, is that I haven’t been wearing any other blushes since. They are amazing. And guess my favourite shade? You’re right, it’s the peachy one…

So this is a makeup look I’ve been opting for every single day for the past two weeks or so. Clean, simple and with a nice glow- the look I always tend to go for, really. Since I talk about bases all the friggin’ time (see my last ramble about them here), I thought I would just show you the essentials for my peachy-toned look.

The star of the show is, of course, the Bourjois Cream Blush in 02 – Healthy Glow. Healthy Glow is just the perfect peachy shade, reminding me of an apricot. It warms up the skin so beautifully, so I find that I don’t need to wear a bronze with this- it’s perfect as it is on its own. The Bourjois Cream Blushes are very, very easy to apply. I usally dab on a little bit using my fingers, then blend it in with a stippling brush- my favourite MAC 187. This works perfectly for me, as I find blending in with my fingers a little bit hard. It works, since they’re really easy to blend, but I trust my brush more. The texture melts into the skin really beautifully and they dry up as a powdery finish, which makes them even more longlasting. Even on my oily skin, these cream blushes last all day long. The peachy hue looks beautiful on my skintone, which is something I was a little bit worried about at first but I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it and I’m definitely considering buying more peachy toned blushes.

To accompany the peachy cheeks, peachy lips are in order (I feel like I’ve been overusing the word ‘peachy’ in this post, sorry!). The Dior Nude lipstick in 553 – Sillage is just the perfect coral-peach. The lipstick itself smells really good and is so moisturising on the lips, which makes it such a pleasure to apply and it actually feels like you’re doing something good to your lips. Even though it’s moisturising, it doesn’t feel slippery like I feel some other lipsticks do, and it also lasts for a really long time. The shade is absolutely beautiful and reminds me a bit of Ravishing by MAC, and I think it’s definitely one of my favourite lipsticks. The packaging is absolutely beautiful, too.

When I’m in for a little bit of a change or just don’t feel like going all out with colour, I love using the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02. This delivers the most subtle peach tint to your lips. These are just the most perfect lipglosses ever and I always make sure to carry one of these in my bag. I currently own shade 01 and 02, but I’m definitely going to invest in some more since they’re all I basically wear and they’re just so easy to apply.

I always, always finish off with lots and lots of lashings of mascara. I absolutely love long, fluttery eyelashes. I’ve been using a sample of the Chanel Le Volume de Chanel mascara and I really like it. It gives crazy volume to your lashes and makes them really, really long. It does feel a little bit clumpy and I do need to make sure that my lashes don’t look too clumpy or spidery, but it’s really great if you like lots and lots of volume in your lashes.

So looking back, I think I should have called this post ‘Obsessed with Peach – A Confession’. I’m definitely going a bit mad for the fruity hue, and I’m not even ashamed (lol). What arey our favourite peach-coloured makeup products? Have you tried the Bourjois cream blushes and if so, what did you think of them?

How To: Under-Eye Concealing

I have always been really lucky in the dark circle department, until recently. All of a sudden, I woke up with a dark shadow underneath my eyes (dramatic, I know). This is when I started to drink even more water and green tea, uppered my fruit and veg intake as well as my sleeping hours, and came up with a (hopefully temporary) routine to create the illusion of bright eyes.

Now to most of you, this might sound a little bit obvious, but I thought I’d write a blogpost about it nonetheless.

A good prep is half the work done. For this, you’ll need a hydrating product with dark circle-ish benefits. Depuffing properties are also a plus! My product of choice is the Clinique Even Better Eyes (if you want to read more about my AM eyecare products of choice, click here). Not only does this help fade away those dark circles in the long term, it does also come out as a salmony colour that already conceals the darkness a little bit. It has a little metal applicator which makes it such a pleasure to apply and the product itself feels really hydrating but not too heavy under the eyes. A definite winner and staple in my morning skincare routine.

Next, on to the actual concealing. Depending on how bad your dark circles are, you may or may not need a full coverage concealer. If you don’t have much to hide, you can however also skip this step and go on to the next one. My concealer of choice is the MAC Studio Sculpt concealer, which is now unfortunately discontinued. I also really like the Estée Lauder Double Wear concealer as you might already now, but I thought I should switch things up a bit and opt for this. The Studio Sculpt concealer is a really nice creamy concealer which has a bit of a gel consistency when applied. It’s really full coverage and so easy to blend. I also found that it doesn’t crease under my eyes- win! I usually take a bit on my finger and tap it into the skin using my ringfinger. I really prefer blending in concealer using my fingers instead of a brush, as I find the finish so much more beautiful and I just think it’s much easier.

A little bit of highlighting is necessary fort hat bright eyed look we all desire. A liquid highlighting pen, my choice being the YSL Touche Eclat, is something you can just never go wrong with. Often mistaken for a concealer, this is just a highlighter with the lightest bit of coverage. Using a highlighter underneath your eyes will make you look so much more awake and healthy, and it also cancels out the darkness under your eyes even more. I usually sweep this underneath my eyes then pat in using my ringfinger, same old story really.

The final step is setting the concealer, to prevent it from creasing. My powder of choice is the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre- a loose powder which comes in a giant tub. I don’t think I’ll ever finish this since it’s so big! I usually take my Real Techniques Contour Brush, swirl it around in the powder, tap of the excess (you don’t want to apply too much powder since it can accentuate fine lines and can make everything look cakey) and blend it in.

A couple of steps to perfectly concealed dark circles and you’re ready to go. This only takes around 2 minutes, and if your dark circles make you feel insecure, you’ll feel so much better for it. What’s your favourite concealer?