Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask - Great Fix for Dehydrated Skin!

I recommended this Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask to my aunt who's got very dry skin type, we got it together when we went on a fun beauty/skincare shopping trip to Harrods. As a disclaimer I will mention that she is not into skincare or make-up in general so her skin tends to react to a lot of things, even mascaras... I couldn't repeat enough how important skincare is, and that you should start looking after your skin in mid to late 20s - skincare should be treated as a preventative rather than a magical cure! Her skin is very sensitive as it is not used to any active ingredients, so she ended up having a reaction [burning sensation] even from this product which actually is very soothing, so she gave it to me. 

I finally came around to try it last weekend! Last Friday I went to a family birthday dinner and had a few glasses of wine, approaching my 30s I find that my skin reacts quickly to dehydration, so next morning I woke up looking like my skin needed some extra love and care! I had absolutely no reaction towards this facial, in fact I found it incredibly soothing. It's a cooling gel like texture that you apply thinly on cleansed face, and either leave it for 10 minutes as a quick fix or leave it over night for a deep treatment. I have a combo and acne prone skin type which I am in control of now, but my skin started to get dehydrated on occasions. Acne prone skin is also sensitive to a lot of ingredients and can break out easily, but my skin reacted very well to this product, no breakouts at all!

Hyaluronic acid is fantastic for dehydrated skin as it plumps and injects moisture smoothing fine wrinkles and lines. This facial is also fantastic for a long flight, as the skin always gets so dehydrated. Dragon's Blood reduces redness with anti-oxidant benefits whilst Gransil smoothes imperfections for a firmer and flawless complexion. Dragon's Blood complex is a unique and potent Tree Sap extract which, when combined with Rodial's potent formulas, offer unrivalled benefits for anti-oxidant, soothing and anti-irritation properties. 

A Tip for extremely dehydrated and sensitive skin types: If your skin is super dehydrated and you are someone who somehow never indulged into great skincare before, then chances are that your skin will be very fragile and react to a lot of things. I started getting into skincare few years ago, and in the beginning I found a light irritation or burning sensation from a lot of serums and gentle creams, but then I started taking great care of my skin, having a regular skincare routine etc. So if you are new to exfoliators or any types of acids, start slowly, and in a way try to train your skin, apply the product for a few minutes and then gradually leave it on for longer. Also prior anything start moisturising, daily, day and night, use deep hydrating serums and moisturisers on top to intensify the result and only then advance to exfoliators and acids.

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A Chic Spring Pink Chanel Evening Lip Look!

To create this voluptuous chic pink lip I used Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 58 Rubellite and Chanel Rouge Allure Pure Shine Intense Colour Long Wear Lip Gloss in 69 Merveille, both are from the current Spring 2013 Collection! Rubellite is a very adorable fresh pink shade and looks beautiful on its own, for this look I filled in the lips making sure to get the colour right into the lips, which makes a lip look last a very long time! I like wearing Rubellite without anything on top as a chic matte pink day lip just over lightly moisturised lips, lip liners should be treated as a lipstick, they aren't there just to be worn on the edge of the lip or to be matched with the lipstick shade. 

To turn it into an evening look all you need is a lipgloss of your choice. I love Merveille over Rubellite, it's such a gorgeous combo! Merveille is a very shimmery tawny pinky shade, which makes lips look really plump and luscious. Check Rubellite and Merveille out at the counter, they won't be available for very long as they are limited edition!

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Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Glitz Blitz!

This is quite a bling bling nail look for me, something I wouldn't usually go for, but I had fun wearing it! Glitz Blitz shade is perfect for festivals, summer parties or any parties... I wore this nail look to go with my summery golden beauty look in the previous blog post if you haven't seen it yet. These nail polish strips are fantastic for occasions when you don't have time to do your nails and need to turn up to an important event and look presentable. I always make sure to have a pack available at all times, just in case! They are super easy to use, very-very quick, and they come in a variety of pretty nail art shades. In every pack you get a tiny file and an orange stick to get a perfect looking mani. I previously did my nails at the back of a cab while on my way to the event, awesome!

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A Summery Golden Beauty Look with Smashbox!

 Nails: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in 260 Glitz Blitz

Here is another look I have created with the Smashbox Studio Pop Eye Palette that I have really enjoyed lately. Like I said in my previous blogpost featuring this palette I find these eyeshadows work best with a flat blush. With other brushes you may find there will be a lot of fall out and not as much pigmentation, but the flat brush does the trick and the eyeshadows have a fantastic pay-off and no fall out at all! To see a chic 70s on-trend emerald green eye make-up look I created with this palette click here! And for more pictures of this palette and a smokey plummy look check out my full review by clicking here!

For this golden eye make-up look I used 24K [a true gold shade] all over the lid and Nutmeg [an antique gold] just in the outer v creating just a touch of dimension, and then right in the middle of the lid I applied the 24K again, just to lift the whole look and make it look really golden and lustrous! To really fade out the golden edges I blended the shade Vanilla [a matte cream] onto the brow-bone. A nice thick black eyeliner and a few individual lashes applied just on the corners for extra lengthening finishes off a beautiful summery golden beauty look! 

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Zoya Jacqueline - Peter Som Custom Colour for NYFW SS13

Zoya Jacqueline is a pretty magnolia pastel nude, it's a nice balance of cold and warm tones. It has a white-ish/silver-ish sheen that my camera couldn't pick up. This shade is also one of those nudes that are really flattering because of the pigment. Jacqueline is quite streaky, so prepare for a good three coats, which will turn it into an opaque full-coverage beauty! Jacqueline along with other two on-trend shades, the signature orange and cool grey, was created as a custom NYFW SS13 runway shade for Peter Som.

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On Trend: 70s Metallic Emerald Eye Make-Up Look with Smashbox!

I have featured this Smashbox Studio Pop Eye Palette over the festive season before Christmas, but I have recently rediscovered it! I realised these eyeshadows work even better when applied with a flat brush, the same way as you'd apply loose pigments, laying them over the eyelid instead of a blending it with a fluffy brush. This way the fall out is completely eliminated and the pigmentation becomes even stronger! The variety of shades in this eye palette like I said before is pretty good it has some really beautiful shades, matte, metallic and a couple with fine glitter. To see the look I created with this palette first time click here!

A few of the shades remind me of some of my fave MAC eyeshadows! Nutmeg reminds me a lot of Woodwinked, Vanilla is a very pigmented version of MAC Brule, Cinder is a lighter MAC Satin Taupe, Nude is very much like MAC Soft Brown [between Cork and Wedge]. There are also a few very pretty springy shades like Flamingo [a shimmery peach] and Amethist [a lilac with gold fine glitter]. Sofar every shade I tried I really liked, my favourites are Nude, 24K [a true gold], Nutmeg, and Vanilla! I'm looking forward to try more of the shades from this palette, awesome quality and this look lasted the whole day looking untouched and perfect! This palette also comes with four shades of cream eyeliner, I tried one back then but I don't remember loving it, I think it might have been too dry or smth like that, but next time I'll give it another go, and will let you know.

And of course THE trend shade of SS13 Emerald grabbed my attention as the most daring colour in this palette. It's not too crazy looking however, it's just that I am not used to wear colours on my eyes. But I decided to be brave and give it a go! I wore this look on Saturday when we had beautiful summer weather in London, so it really felt fitting to go for a fun 70s eye make-up look and the 60s beehive messy pony hair-trend as seen at Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs. Truth be told I really enjoyed wearing this look! My camera doesn't make it justice, it looked so much better in real life.

Emerald eyeshadows can look very chic and fresh if you concentrate the eyeshadow just over the lid, looking straight ahead into the mirror and bringing the eyeshadow just about two millimetres [precision!] peeping out. What you are after is just a colour-tease, when your eyes are open it should be barely noticeable, but when you look down bam(!) pop of Emerald! I also used the shade Champagne from this palette to blend the Emerald with it, so that there is no edge visible, it has to be very subtle graduation. Please share what your favourite on-trend emerald green eyeshadow shades are, I'd love to know! 

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Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover!

As I really got into wearing fake eyelashes lately, I found I needed something a little stronger that would easily get off even the sticky lash glue sitting above my lashes or sometimes even in between, which can be tricky to get off with a regular eye make-up remover unless you don't mind loosing a few of your own lashes. This one is really greasy and oily which makes it glide over all water resistant eye products with such a great ease, taking off every bit of everything without damaging your eyelashes or the gentle eye area! As it is oil based it does leave a lot of residue, so I just go over it with a regular make-up remover. I wouldn't use it every day as it is so oily, but on occasions when I need a little more help with removing heavy eye make-up this one does a fantastic job! 

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Nomad Jewellery The Silver Skinny Knuckle Rings!

If you follow my Instagram, chances are you saw me wearing these knuckle rings almost on a daily basis, I'm obsessed with them! They are by Nomad, an awesome jewellery brand that makes handmade and also one of a kind custom made jewellery, including pretty quirky vintage necklaces. 

To see Nomad jewellery pieces check out the blog: www.nomadjewellery.blogspot.com 

The rings I'm wearing are The Silver Skinny Knuckle Rings [£15 each] - they are very simple and can be stacked or worn on different fingers, or mixed with other knuckle rings. There is something about these Nomad Skinny Knuckle Rings that makes them sit very comfortably on the finger. After giving my finger measurements it only took a few days, and the package arrived promptly, super quick! There are a couple more knuckle ring designs that are really trendy looking, so I might have to start expanding my Nomad jewellery collection!

UPDATE: Nomad has moved to MDG Jewellery! 

The new blog name is: www.mdgjewellery.blogspot.com 

and also new email: mdgjewellery@gmail.com

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Butter London Fruit Machine from the Sweetie Shop Collection!

Butter London Fruit Machine is a super pretty pink shade. I don't wear pink nails very often but this one totally converted me! It's a cool-tone lilacy pink, with a cream finish. Fruit Machine is very flattering, there is something about this pink that is different to most of the pinks I have, it's fresh, springy and really fun to wear. I had so many compliments wearing this shade, even from people who aren't into pinks! This shade looked perfect on me after three coats, and it lasted such a long time without chipping! Fruit Machine is from the Sweetie Shop Collection Spring 2013, I have also reviewed Cuppa [the most flattering pastel nude!] from this collection, click here for info and swatches.

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Chanel Jeux de Regards Collection - Springy Plum Smokey Eye Look!

Les 4 Ombre palette in 42 Seduction

Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in 20 Bleu

Hallelujah it is weekend! It's been a very long week, had one of those days yesterday when everything goes wrong, and today Lisa Eldridge made my day by liking my look on Instagram, which was inspired by her latest vid on Modern Baby Bardot look! Click here to see Lisa's video, and to see my created version check out my Instagram: alyonainfashionlove, and I also uploaded a mini vid of this look on Vine: Alyona Infashionlove. Btw I am also wearing this Chanel palette in the Modern Baby Bardot look, you'll find all the details in the description.

Speaking of which, here are a few of the new Chanel beauty products I played with and created this springy plummy smokey eye. Some of the products I have already featured, I will link them at the end and two of them are new, which I am super excited to share with you in case you want to treat yourself and go get them over the weekend! Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow palette in 42 Seduction and Le Volume Mascara in 20 Bleu are from the Chanel Jeux de Regards Collection that launched today! This collection is all about eyes, which also features new shades of Ilusion D'Ombre, and Stylo Yeux Waterproof.

On the eyes I applied the plummy shade from the 42 Seduction palette all over the lid also taking it on the lower lash-line, and the lightest shade I used as a highlighter just over the brow bone. 42 Seduction is a beautiful palette with neutral warm shades, it's perfect for that fresh springy smokey eye. Then I used a brown eyeliner for extra dimension yet keeping it still looking soft. I also used the Le Volume Mascara in 20 Bleu, which the camera didn't pick up on very well but I really like this shade. It's a toned down greyish blue, quite sophisticated and chic. I quite like the brush, it's one of those silicone flexible brushes with a rounded point which is great for lower lashes.

On the lips I used Rouge Coco in 51 Ce Soir, very flattering beige plum shade, I lightly dabbed it on the lips with a finger for a pretty wash of colour, equally you can build it up for more intensity. Et Voilà!

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 581 Cinema -

 from Avant-Premiere Collection, click here for pics and full review!

Chanel Rouge Coco in 51 Ce Soir - 

also from the Avant-Premiere Collection, to see another look with this lipstick click here!

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New Launch! Estee Lauder Batik Sun Palette - Bronze Goddess 2013!

Arm swag: Michael Kors bling gold watch; Oliver Bonas hot pink studded arm wrap; Nomad custom made silver knuckle stacking rings [middle finger], and Accessorize silver ring [index finger]

...because of the flash being so close, the emerald green looks turquoise here...

Hey beauties, for anyone who is Russian, Ukrainian or anyone else celebrating the 1st of May hope you had a lovely day! I'm super excited to share this stunning Estee Lauder Batik Sun palette with you... This palette is absolutely gorj. First of all it's right on trend with that beautiful emerald green eyeshadow shade. Batik Sun is from the Bronze Goddess 2013 Collection that launched today! Batik Sun has five absolutely beautiful eyeshadow shades: the satin terracotta; metallic light gold; satin emerald green; sparkly champagne gold; and satin taupe. Every single shade is super flattering. I will create a separate look with the emerald green shade to show you how you can wear this on-trend shade, keeping it chic! 

The look I'm wearing today is inspired by this Bronze Goddess collection, it just gives you that sunny glow you usually get when you return from a holiday, so this look is very flattering and beautifying. I used all four shades apart from the emerald green. Firstly I applied the gold shade all over, then I blended through the taupe in the crease and outer corner for extra dimension. Next to create that bronzy warmth I blended in the terracotta shade right over the edge of the taupe, taking it slightly higher then usually! And finally I used the lightest shade right under the brow to highlight the brow bone. Et Voilà! 

Many of my Instagram followers asked if I have a YouTube channel, which I don't, and said they'd love to see my beauty looks tutorials, so I started making mini tutorial vids on Vine, so check it out if you want to see how I created this chic bronze goddess look! 

Vine: Alyona Infashionlove

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