Redken All Soft Range for Dry/Brittle Hair Review!

I have been using the Redken All Soft range for weeks and really like it! I have mentioned it briefly in My Haircare Routine + Styling Tips & Tricks blogpost, if you'd like to check that out click here! I have read so many amazing reviews about Redken haircare, a lot of beauty bloggers have been raving about it since last year [in UK]. It's an American brand and it is finally picking up here in UK too! All Soft range consists of Shampoo, Conditioner, Heavy Cream [deep treatment hair mask], Supple Touch [softening leave-in cream-spray], and Argan 6-Oil [I don't have it, but it's a nourishing oil]. The main ingredient in this range is Argan Oil, this ingredient helps to deeply nourish and soften dry/brittle hair to make it look healthy, smooth and shiny. I absolutely love the peach scent of this range, super summery and yummy!

LOVE

Inspired by Lisa Eldridge's Classic Smokey Eye!

 This is my Instagram pic so the colours are a bit different...

You can see the swatches from top left to right:  

Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in 4, Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner in Black,  

MAC Paints in Sublime Nature,and bottom two from L to R  

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Taupe and Hot Stone

I'm a huge fan of Lisa Eldridge's work and so happy to see her doing beauty looks again. Her latest creation is the Classic Smokey Eye, to see her vid click here! I decided to recreate this look especially because I already had Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Taupe, which I haven't touched in ages. This Classic Smokey Eye is all about greyish brown shades, shades that naturally don't suit me, I prefer warm browns on me so I was really intrigues how this look would work on me. And I ended up loving it! This is why beauty is all about experimenting and being brave, I highly recommend to try this look, it has honestly become one of my staple looks!! 

I followed the exact techniques that Lisa Eldridge shows in her video, but used all the products I already have in my make-up collection. So do watch the vid of how to do this look, and I will just list the products I used otherwise this blogpost would be insanely long... 

Base [in the order I used the products]: 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Light 4 Deauville, Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer in Medium 02 [just under the eyes], Collection 2000 Concealer in Light 2 [everything is rubbed off of mine, I still got the original one, best cheapest concealer ever - to conceal spots etc, not for under eyes], bareMinerals Matte SPF15 Foundation in Light W15 [all over to set the foundation],  Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer [doesn't seem to have a shade number, might have rubbed off - I always finish off my make-up with this concealer under the eyes], Aerin Illuminating Powder in Pretty Bronze [I love to contour under my cheek-bones with it, I even prefer it to Nars Laguna!], and finally Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in 4 [I bust this baby out during summer, the prettiest bronzy natural blush I can think off]

Eyes:

Soap&Glory Archery Brow Tint & Precision Shaping Pencil in Love Is Blonde [I love the name as much as the pencil it self, I find the tint end a bit too hard but omg(!) is the precision shaping end amazing!! I will have to do blogpost about it separately it's that good, basically gives you the sexiest blode brow], MAC Paints in Sublime Nature [all over as a base], Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Taupe 4 [as the main eyeshadow], Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Hot Stone 56 [as the darker shade, very similar to what Lisa Eldridge used, a greyish dark brown], Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner in Black [one of my favourite black eyeliners, very intense and creamy so it's great for smudging, once it sets it stays put forever], before I apply mascara I always curl my lashes, it has become a religion - I use Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers, Avon SuperExtend Extreme Mascara in Black has proved to be a great companion [doesn't seem to ever end or dry out, love it!]

Lips:

And lastly for the lips I decided to keep it nice and simple as this looks requires lots and lots of blending, so I went for Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 03, I was obsessed with it couple of summers ago, and might go back to it this summer, these lipglosses are super simple to use, not sticky which is a major plus point and they just somehow make your lips look very pretty and natural! 

Hope you like this look, I certainly loved wearing it! The cool browns I usually try to avoid wearing changed my mind, thank you Lisa xox

LOVE

Obsessed With: Essie Van D'Go!

I wanted to get Essie Van D'Go for ages, I have no idea what kept me from doing that sooner but I finally got it! It's the sweetest shade ever and application is beautiful, I'm wearing two coats. Being a nailpolish-junky I somehow didn't have a single peach shade, how that is possible I have absolutely no idea but I think I might have started a family. Essie Van D'Go is a pastel peach with a cream finish, in some lights it looks a touch brighter, a delicious popsicle colour! The more I wear Van' D'Go the more I fall in love with it. This will be my go-to nailpolish this summer!! Loooo-ve! And although peach tones can be hard to wear on pale skin I find this one looks gorgeous on any skintone! I bet with a bit of tan Van D'Go will be the bomb! 

LOVE

Nuxe Discovery Event with a Surprise!

 The beautiful Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, Multi-Purpose Dry Oil for Face, Body and Hair

is much loved talked about in the beauty industry and has even received The Tatler Beauty Awards 2013

 This Nirvanesque range is great for first wrinkles, it helps similarly to botox to relax the skin

and smooth fine lines + first expression lines.

 Nuxellence Jeunesse is the new release and has already become No.1 Face Care product in France!

It's a youth and radiance revealing fluid, that helps to rejuvenate tired looking skin. 

 These are Nuxe Cleansing products, they smell amazingly beautiful of Roses, 

in fact the whole space was filled with this delicious scent! 

Some of the products here are: Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals, Micellar Foam Cleanser with Rose Petals, Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals, and Clarifying Cream-Mask... 

 Chic setting, Laduree Macaroons and a beautiful French skincare brand - dream scenario!

 Nuxuriance is the Anti-Aging Re-Densifying range for mature ladies! This range consists of Day Cream for Normal to Dry Skin, Emulsion for Combination Skin and a Serum for All Skin Types. 
It intensely firms the skin and would make a great skin treat for your mom!

 This is the lovely Charlotte, who is the artist behind the chic Nuxe illustrations, signing the posters!

A quick snap after the event, with the Nuxe goody bag filled with great products to try!

Hey Beauties! Last week I went to the Nuxe event to be introduced to the gorgeous skincare products in depth! It was lovely to see some of their award winning best-sellers, products I haven't tried yet, as well as new releases - a true discovery! All Nuxe products have a heavenly scent, some are more floral, others have a very gentle classic scent, but they all are incredibly beautiful. One that made me almost feel emotional is the scent of the Reve de Miel range, the Hand & Nail Cream and Ultra-Comfortable Body Cream has that classic gentle feminine scent, it reminds me so much of my childhood and my grandmother's beauty routines, she had a hand cream with the exact scent! The famous Lip Balm from the Reve de Miel range has a more lemony scent, which is pretty delicious!

The surprise at the event was that I got to meet the lovely Charlotte, who does the chic illustrations for Nuxe! We had a chat about the brand, and she admitted that her favourite Nuxe products are the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil and Reve de Miel Lip Balm. My first ever Nuxe experience was a few years ago when I tried the Huile Prodigieuse, the shimmery version. I really love this oil, it looks so beautiful on summer tanned skin, it can be applied it on face, body and hair. Personally I love Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse on my arms, shoulders, and collarbones, gives you the most beautiful decadent sheen! I haven't use this oil in my hair yet but apparently it looks stunning on blonde hair making the highlights shiny and pretty, so I will definitely try it this summer - thanks Caitlin for the tip! 

And of course Reve de Miel is my top favourite lip balm to this day, it's got a lovely matte texture and I love to apply it just before going to bed. It deeply moisturises the lips and you wake up to healthy looking pout! Also I have learned something new: apparently make-up artists mix the shimmery Huile Prodigieuse and Reve de Miel Lip Balm together to create a beautiful lip product! I will do a separate blogpost on the products I got in my Nuxe goody bag, very excited about those! 

LOVE

Inspired by Miley Cyrus BillBoard Music Awards 2013 Look!

Last week I came across the images of Miley Cyrus at the BillBoard Music Awards 2013, I really liked this grungy version of the classic red lip and smokey eye. This smokey eye is particularly great for hooded eyes as it doesn't have the winged liner that usually disappears in the crease when you look straight ahead. Also the matte red lip she wore had an edge to it, with that gradual effect. 

To recreate this look I have used on the Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Nubile as a base, MAC Eyeshadow in Cork keeping it mainly on the lid and taking it into the socket, also blending it under the lower lash-line. For the eyeliner I used Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Noir Intense trying to visually elongate the eye without flicking the end up, just making the upper and lower liner meet in a straight line, slightly faking where the eye corner naturally sits. Also taking the Noir Intense on the waterline. I have smudged it slightly not taking it to far out, keeping it closely to the lashes - that is what gives this smokey eye a more modern edge. 

On the Lips: I have use a combination out of three products, which created the most long lasting red lip I have ever worn. To begin with I filled in the whole lip with MAC Lip Pencil in Brick. Then I went with Nars Lipstick in Jungle Red [it's one of those velvet textures], then I blotted the lips to take off excess, and to create that darker gradual edge I lined the lip edges with Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 54 Amarante. Blending Amarante with a lipbrush so that it fades out, and then finally I reapplied a touch of Jungle Red, working the colour in with a finger this time, makes it look more lived in. This is a classic look with an attitude!

LOVE

My First Ever BirchBox - The Review and Swatches!

 BirchBox is £10.00 + P&P monthly subscription

Stunning OPI Aphrodite's Pink Nightie mini [in day light]

I have been using the Doctor Duve Anti Aging & Firming Eye Cream 

[which I decanted into an empty Laura Mercier sample container] -

over my Darphin Uplifting Serum Eyelids Definition [from my own collection]

Woohoo here is the May 2013 BirchBox! I got it couple of weeks ago and have been trying out the products to let you know what I think, so lets go... First of all it's a super exciting concept of having a box delivered every month filled with beauty goodies! A great way of trying products you have never heard of or vice versa things you always wanted to try but didn't get a chance. You get four main products, either a full-size or minis and then you get one Beauty Extra and a Lifestyle Extra. The boxes are not identical, they are filled in with slightly different products, so it's really a surprise what you get in your box, which makes it even more exciting as you don't know what to expect!

The May BirchBox was inspired by the glamour of Cannes Film Festival, to help you get the red carpet worthy skin and beautiful looking nails, as well as to detox and feel great before the big event. Here is the BirchBox description of the products and my experience with them:

OPI, Nail Lacquer

For red carpet worthy mani, just paint on this gorgeous colour from the iconic nail brand between a base and top coat. Easy! Full-size, £11.50 - Firstly, as it is OPI mini there is no name on the bottle and as I soon realised the only way to figure out is to either google and see if other bloggers had the same nailpolish and figured out what the shade is or take the bottle to the OPI counter and try to match it that way. I ended up having a bit of a nailpolish frenzy with this one as I loved it so much I had to know what it was called to get a full-size eventually. 

Funny enough, only a couple of weeks ago I got the OPI Japanese Rose Garden, which in the bottle next to the mini looked practically identical, but painted on they are two completely different shades. Anyways after an extensive online research [which wasn't easy] and then taking it to the counter - I can confirm that this is OPI Aphrodite's Pink Nightie - absolutely beautiful, I even prefer it to the Japanese Rose Garden! So I am very happy that BirchBox introduced me to this colour!! I had so many compliments for this shade, it's one of those that looks amazing on long nails, love!!

Elemental Herbology, Cell Plumping Facial Moisturiser SPF8

This concoction of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and ultra-hydrating botanicals boost and plump the skin's appearance and texture. Full-size, £42.00 - I haven't tried this product yet, but I have heard lots of good things about this brand beforehand. It smells lovely, and you get a 15ml sample [full-size is 50ml].

B/Attitude, Body Souffle

Known for their London restaurant Buddha-Bar and with a spa in Paris, B/Attitude's divinely-scented skincare treat nourishes and absorbs easily. Get ready your limbs for your red carpet moment. Full-size, £24.00 - This body moisturiser is incredibly rich, and smells very sweet and spicy, a pretty intense and over-powering middle eastern scent that lasts forever. I can't find how much product you get in the full-size jar as BirchBox doesn't specify how big the full-sizes are, but this one is 50ml.

Makebelieve, Sunbeam Bronzer & Brush

This matte bronzer is perfect for enhancing the natural contours of your face. Lightly dust onto the hollows of your cheeks and temples to highlight those cheekbones. Full-Size: £15.00 - This seems to be the full-size product this month, and I haven't tried it yet but it looks like a matte version of Nars Laguna.

Beauty Extra

Doctor Duve, Anti-Aging & Firming Eye Cream

A skincare heavyweight to tackle all your skin concerns around the eyes. This will boost skin moisture levels, reduce puffiness and active collagen production. Full-size [30ml], £115.00 - Now, this is another product I have really enjoyed, I love indulging eye skincare! This one has Hyaluronic Acid which is great for plumping up the skin with moisture and smoothing out fine lines. What I like to do with skincare samples that are expensive and I don't want to waste a drop, I decant them into one of those sample size tiny containers with screw on lids like this Laura Mercier one, that way you get a good few weeks if not a month worth of the product!

Lifestyle Extra

Kusmi Tea, Detox Tea

This healthy tea rids your body of pent-up toxins, boosts your energy and lowers your stress levels. Perfect for pre-event nerves! Full-size, £13.85 - I am not a huge fan of green tea but I actually ended up having a cup of this tea one night while I was having a bath and feeling under the weather, and by the end I felt more uplifted. It tastes quite nice, a blend of mate and green tea flavoured with lemon, and lemon glass. You get 20g in this sample jar.

Also in the box you get the BirchBox magazine which guides you through the products, and it's quite fun to read. If you like the products you then can purchase the full-sizes online at: 

www.birchbox.co.uk

LOVE

Inspired by Lisa Eldridge's Modern 'Baby Bardot' Makeup Look!

Hey beauties, I hope you had a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend and enjoyed the springy weather we finally had in London, although I am not sure what you are supposed to call the season we are in, as it is the end of spring and we only had a handful of lovely springy days yet it is too cold to start calling it the summer, hey hoe! I just came across these images, and realised I totally forgot to do a blogpost on this look! This look was inspired by the Modern 'Baby Bardot' Makeup look Lisa Eldridge has done a tutorial on, if you want to see how she created the original look click here! I instagrammed a pic of this look and it was super exciting when Lisa Eldridge herself liked it!! I love Brigitte Bardot and her iconic make-up so of course I adore this look, it's perfect for the Spring and Summer!

So the products I have used on the Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Nubile as a base, the lightest eyeshadow shade from the Chanel Les 4 Ombres palette in 42 Seduction all over the lid, MAC Wedge and Cork mixed just in the crease-line, Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in 01 Black, and Ardell Individual Lashes in medium length just in the middle and outside-corner. On the Lips: I have firstly lined Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil in 08 Spice making sure to draw the line thickly and then blending the edges with a lip brush filling in the rest of the lips to get that gradual faded effect, and on top I applied my all time favourite matte nude lipstick, which is Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in 001 Nude Attitude. This lipstick is super flattering, although it's nude it has that mildly detectable pearlescence to it which gives you that seductive Brigitte Bardot lip!

LOVE

Thierry Mugler Angel Perfuming Body Exfoliant!

This Angel scrub has been sitting on my bathtub for weeks, I have really enjoyed it! It's an incredibly luxurious and decadent body exfoliant! Most of us went through the 90s Angel craze, it was THE fragrance back then, and I still love wearing it when I'm in my Angel mood! Few years back I purchased some fragrance and the lady gave me a bunch of samples, one of which was this scrub. I forgot about it, and only a couple of months ago randomly came across the sample and decided to try it. I have never seen anyone mentioning this scrub. 

So I was pretty amazed how beautiful this scrub was, not only does it smell exactly like the fragrance, but also the scrub itself has that perfect texture that isn't too rough but does a great job exfoliating the skin. I must say I only use this scrub on special occasions, I'm using it very sparingly. You only need that little scoop-full for the entire body. The scent just like the original fragrance is very strong, and you almost don't need to wear the fragrance itself. It lasts gorgeously on the skin making it super soft. If you love the Angel fragrance you have to try this body exfoliant!!

LOVE

A Quick & Chic Matte Bright Lip Look with Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet!

This is one of my quick looks, when I don't have much time to spear but would like to look nonetheless well put together I slap on a bright lip and keep the eye basic. For the eye make-up I used the MAC Paint Pot in Nubile as a base, and then all over the lid I applied a touch of the lightest eyeshadow shade from the Chanel Les 4 Ombres palette in 42 Seduction [from the Spring 2013 Collection]. And for a sharp classic winged eyeliner I love the Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black. This eye look is very quick and easy to create! 

As for the lipstick I went for the chic matte pop of pink colour, which is a more fresh alternative to the classic read and perfect for spring/summer. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 42 L'Eclatante is also from the Spring 2013 Collection, so snap it up before it goes. It's one of those click and pop lipsticks, beautiful packaging as always and the shade is utterly pretty!

LOVE

Alessandro Nailpolish in Shine Rubin & Jasmine Hand Cream!

 

I got these two in my goody bag at the Alessandro Striplac launch event I went to a couple of weeks ago. Just wanted to quickly share my love for Alessandro nailpolish, which I only discovered last year. The quality is great, and what's exciting is the 99 shade range. To read my blogpost about the Striplac launch and also to see the full range of the Alessandro nailpolish click here!  Shiny Rubin is a shimmery deep fuchsia. But another fantastic discovery is their Hands!Up Flower Bar hand cream in Jasmine, it's divine!! Those of you who read my blog regularly will know how much I adore Jasmine scent. I always go for fragrances that have Jasmine in them, so I was really happy to find this tube of goodness in my goody bag. This cream comes in a wide range of scents, including Sugar Lemon, Green Tea, Paradise Apple and all sorts of yummy fruity and herbally scents!! Ever since the day I tried the Alessandro Jasmine  hand cream I have been addicted, it's the sexiest hand cream scent I own!!

LOVE