Bourjois 10 Days in the Shade 25

I've searched for the perfect coral nail polish for a long time. There have been plenty of missed purchases because most corals look bright orange on me. Originally, I was planning to get Essie's Cute as a Button, but I was informed by a fellow blogger Sanja from Sparkle with Laughter that Bourjois 10 days in 25 is a pretty good dupe and cheaper. I compared the bottles is the shop and they did look very, very close. 

The colour is essentially perfect - a proper coral, not too orange nor too pink, but sitting comfortably in the middle. Needless to say I'm in love with the shade and it's become one of my favourite colours ever.  I have already worn it three times in a row. 

However, much is left to be desired when it comes to the formula and the brush. I can't really point out what is so wrong with the formula, but it just doesn't work as well as the others. I'm being vague I know, but once I felt it was too liquidy, then on other occasion too glupy and thick. I'm just not a fan of it. It needs two coats for full coverage. 

I honesty don't know what they hoped to achieve with the design of the brush. It doesn't makes it easier nor better, in fact can only apply it turned one way on my left hand and the other way on the right hand. Basically just a nuisance. 

I love the colour, but the formula and the brush almost ruin this polish for me. I'm actually considering getting Essie Cute as a Button as well, just because I've had much better experience with Essie polishes. If only they weren't so expensive. Anyway, Seche Vite top coat fixes a lot of problems of any nail polish. Bourjois 10 Days polishes cost about 6-7€.

My Seche Vite is getting old and consequently becoming thicker. I needed something quick that I can use until I find a decently priced Seche Vite and I just grabbed the Essence Studio nails better than gel nails one, not giving it much though. Basically, I hate it with passion. I don't recall ever hating a product so much, I just want to toss it out the window. Lets start with the first problem:

1. It takes eons to dry. I swear civilisations have collapsed in the time it took to finally become dry.

2. Bubbles. Never, ever have I had bubbles forming on a nail polish. Until now. Brilliant.

3. On top of the bubbles, despite painting my nails hours before going to bed, I acquired a "lovely" sheet print on my nails. Needless to say I had to take it off in the morning and repaint my nails (using what Seche Vite I have left), which is really annoying.

I'm sorry essence, I love your nail polishes, but this is an utter disappointment. I liked the top coat from the regular line.

Have a great day!

New In

I decided to do something that might not be the best idea and almost completely revamped my skin care routine. Well, it was more like added steps and kept my favourites. I kept Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse obviously, because it's the only thing I can rely on, and Bioderma stayed as did Maybelline waterproof remover. I'm really bad when it comes to skin care because I want it cheap and simple, but it's time for a change - I only have one skin. I read so many reviews/skin care routine posts that my head was spinning and narrowed down to all these products (I still have a few back-ups on my wishlist). I didn't focus too much on ingredients, I decided to stop doing that because I find it oversimplifying, especially when it comes to mineral oil and alcohol. I chose to just go with the positive reviews and recommendations. 

Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 wash mask - An oldie, but a goodie. I don't recall ever being without a tube of this since I first bought it when I was 17. It's a simple clay mask, smells nice, is gentle and the tube is huge for 6€. It draws out impurities and leaves my skin looking clearer. The only thing is that I forget to use it often enough.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Oil - it's not sold in my country yet, so I ordered it from HqHair. I needed a new cleanser as my old one wasn't working for me because as soon as I washed my face, it got really tight with dry patches everywhere. This one is quite nice, it's basically a light oil that emulsifies when I add a bit of water and rub my hands together. I massage it into the face and then remove it either with a wet flannel or just rinse it off with water. I must add that it doesn't irritate my eyes at all. It smells nice, a bit fruity and slightly like a beach (for some weird reason it reminds me of it, even though it's not a typical beach scent). It removes makeup decently, but not waterproof mascara. My skin feels fine when I use it, it doesn't dry it out one bit, moreover I think it's a bit moisturising. It wasn't my first choice, but it was the cheapest and it turned out just fine.

I haven't used a proper toner since they dramatically changed the ingredients of Garnier Fresh toner (which felt like nothing anyway, so I stopped using toners all together with the exception of homemade aspirin one). Now, I'm using two toners - an exfoliating one and a hydrating one:

L'Oreal Age Perfect toner with Vitamin C - a simple toner for dry skin with vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside). The packaging is stupidly impractical and the product gets everywhere, so I moved most into a spray bottle and I use it after cleansing or whenever I need some refreshment. It's ok, definitely more moisturising than the old Garnier Fresh toner, but sometimes the skin around the eyes burns slightly when I use it (It's really not a big deal though). I got it in Müller for about 5€.

I decided to take on my problem with dry patches head on with AHAs. Honestly, since I stopped using Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair my skin hasn't been acting ok. Though it looks fine, because of the Nuxe oil which really helps with radiance and softness, the stupid dry patches are still my nemesis. They appear especially around the eyes and on the forehead. The latter used to be completely smooth when I was using EL ANR, but has since become uneven and bumpy. Also, I have a problematic spot on my chin under my lips that I've had since my teens, where the pores are constantly congested and most impurities appear. I want it to finally fade, hence the purchase of AHA products. 

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner - a toner with glycolic, tartaric and salicylic acid that provides gentle exfoliation. Despite the alcohol it's not drying, in fact I find it quite moisturising. The scent is very gentle and clean. So far I've only used it twice, therefore I can't say much about the result yet. I plan to use it a few days a week. I couldn't find it cheaper online, so I got it in Műller for 33.95€, but I had a discount, otherwise I wouldn't splurge so easily. I'm hoping it will help me get rid of the dry patches and make my skin more even.

That little pot is a sample of Dior Nude BB cream in 001. It's the lightest shade which is pink toned, but suits me very well. The finish is semi-matte and it holds oiliness at bay, however, it has some radiance to it. Actually, it looks like healthy skin and is not perceivable on the skin at all. It blends in so easily, just melts into the skin and doesn't leave it tacky at all. The coverage is light and it evens out the skin really nicely. It reminds me a lot of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, but is less radiant. If you find HMS too radiant and you want something more matte, you should check it out. I would buy full size if it weren't so darn expensive.

REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate - another AHA product, but more potent than the Clarins toner. I was choosing between this and the infamous mask. I decided to get the serum, because I am really lazy when it comes to masks. It's a very light serum that has glycolic, tartaric acid and hyluronic acid. I find that it doesn't tingle, but my skin isn't sensitive at all and it smells nice, like orange vodka. I've been using it the last couple of days and my skin is definitely improving in a sense that it's clearer and more even. As with the Clarins toner, I plan to use it a few times a week. I got it from HqHair for 30€ because I actually had a handsome discount code (It costs 56€ in Müller!)

La Roche Posay Nutritic Intense - I'm not sure about this one. I ran out of Ombia Hyaluron Gel which was a really lame product (sorry to anyone who likes it), so I needed something new. Originally, I wanted the Eucerin Aquaporin light again, because I really liked it, but I asked my mom to go to the pharmacy for me and the pharmacist recommended this one instead. It's definitely nice, light yet very moisturising, a great base for makeup and smells lovely, however, I think it might be clogging my pores (I've had it the longest out of all the new products). Though, I don't recall any product ever clogging my pores and it could be a result of something else. I'll keep using it and report later.

Sun Dance Mattierendes Sonnenfluid SPF 30 (Mattifying fluid) - I like it. I'm not sure about the filters, but it's light and doesn't leave my skin too tacky (I try to use a much as possible, but not the recommended 1 teaspoon. Have you any idea how much product that is!). It's not a matte finish, it still has a bit of a shine, but nothing like regular sunscreens. The bottle is nice, sleek and easy to carry in your pocket if you want to. 50ml costs only 2.95€

Balea Fiji Passionfruit (0.85€) - I finally found the third shower gel from this year's LE. I was most excited about this one from the start because I love passion fruit. It is a fresh version of a passion fruit scent  opposed to Fructis Fruity Passion shampoo which is sweeter. I reviewed the other two here.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - Not the latest news from our neighbouring country, but Croatian DM's started selling Aussie (as did German DM's). My cousin was kind enough to get it for me. Before Slovene girls get excited, according to DM Slovenia facebook page, there are no plans to sell Ausie here. I was surprised to learn it costs 9€ (70kn), which is really expensive for drugstore. It smells like Hubba-Bubba fruit fantasy bubble gum tape. It's a nice conditioner, but I find the Dove 1 Minute Oil care better and cheaper (for really dry hair, of course). 

Washcloths or flannels - I had a few already, but now I saw they have mint ones. I adore mint green can you tell? I wet the flannel with hot water and use it to take off the cleanser. This provides gentle exfoliation. I used to use just regular towels, but this is easier. Btw, we don't use fabric softener when we wash towels in our house and I like my towels rough (and it's a free exfoliator).

So yeah, a lot of new products in my skin care routine. It might backfire or it might turn out great. I'd like to hear your recommendations for products that work well on dehydrated combination/dry skin, especially some nice toners and moisturisers. Have a great day!

May Favourites

Victoria's Secret Love Spell fragrance mist

I like wearing this body spray on warmer days, because even though it's sweet and fruity, there is some freshness to the scent. It's smells like a sweet, but refreshing frizzy soda. It doesn't last long, however, I don't mind reapplying it (besides, the bottle is huge). It does last longer if I layer it over the Love Spell body butter.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel Turquoise Block

I love this colour. It's a great shade for Spring/Summer. Actually, I've worn it for two weeks straight. It's a green with some blue mixed in.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Base

My favourite highlighter that I wear everyday (on days when I'n not experimenting with make up). It's one of those products that I know will look great no matter in what condition my skin is. It's a more subtle highlighter and therefore very appropriate for everyday makeup (when I was wearing Jemma Kidd Iced Gold on a very sunny day, someone commented why am I wearing glitter on my cheeks, it's better suited for gloomier days or night time). Lumi looks more like natural radiance and is perfect in combination with Healthy Mix Serum. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

I only did a first impression review on this foundation, which is odd because I freaking love it and it's my favourite foundation ever. I've been wearing it constantly since I first bought it, but I needed to use up the original Healthy Mix, so I haven't worn it for I while. When I put it on the first time in months, I was gobsmacked when I saw how absolutely perfect it looks. Yup, I love it. Looks so natural like I have nothing on and the finish is moderately glowy. It also doesn't leave my skin tacky, a feeling I genuinely dislike.

Ardell Demi Wispies

Absolutely stunning falsies that don't look over the top, but still give your eyes a bit of drama. These are so comfortable to wear, you can't even feel them on your eyes. And you can re-use them so many times.

Lady Gaga Fame eap

I've really enjoyed wearing it this month and I wore it on most days. It's a lovely honey-floral fragrance with a strong fruity note in the beginning and a hint of smokiness from the incense. Plus the bottle is stunning.

However, my absolute favourite thing this month has been the Kerastase Nutritive products. These are the first products I ever tried that left my hair amazingly soft and that feeling lasted for days. I've used my regular conditioners since and I must admit it can't even remotely compare. When I used Kerastase my hair looked great for days (3-4), while with regular conditioners and other products my hair looks good for a day at most, then it's blah again. I own Bain Oléo-Relax Smoothing Shampoo, Masquitense Épais - Thick and Nectar Thermique.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

I've been using it on most days to reduce frizz and give some additional shine to my hair. It's very light and great for when you want to add some extra oomph to your hair, plus it smells amazing. I carry the travel size in my bag at all times, not just because it's lighter than most silicone oils, but also because it has a pump.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel 22 In the Navy

I already posted a swatch of 22 Turquoise Block here and because I love the quality of these 1 seconde gel nail polishes, I got another colour, 22 In the Navy, which is a dark cobalt blue. Again, as with the Turquoise Block, the formula is very opaque, I can get away with one coat and I add another on nails where the application looks uneven.

I believe it's a new shade, a part of the Spring collection, I'm not sure if it's a LE or permanent, but there where four shades on display -  21 Sunny Sunday (bright yellow), 22 Turquoise Block, 23 In the Navy and a lilac one I didn't check the shade name. These cost 7€, but I got mine 25% off in Müller.

I was inspired to get a cobalt blue shade by one of the images on Pinterest, which featured bright red lips contrasted by cobalt blue nails (I think it was Nails inc. Baker Street which is lighter than In the Navy). For the life of me I can't find that picture anymore, but I loved that combination of colours. I did my version using MUA lipstick in 13 (I should have gone for something matte).

While in DM yesterday, I finally got the chance to check out the new Essie display and I absolutely fell in love with Cute as a Button and Turks and Caicos, but they cost 9.95 € each. I genuinely regret not buying them from Feel unique while they still sent them to my country. Oh, well...

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Kérastase Nutritive

Prepare for a long and picture heavy post. It's been more than a month since I got these goodies and after some thorough testing, I'm finally feeling comfortable writing a review. Originally, I was going to do a separate post for each, however, I feel the need to put them all in one for a good reason. The thing is that individually these are all great products, some of the best I ever had, however, when all three are used together the magic happens. I swear my hair hasn't never felt this silky, light and soft then when I use all three/four products together. I just can't stop touching my hair and the effect lasts for three days - normally, the top layer of my hair and the ends get dry fast. You know how on L'Oreal or Pantene commercials when they lift the hair, it falls down like a waterfall, well that's how my hair feels after using these (it doesn't look as retouched obviously, it's still normal people hair that feels amazing to the touch). They must have some very high quality silicones too make it this way. The whole Nutritive line is targeted for dry to very dry hair (the description of my hair type is under about).

I tested each individually (with a combination of other products from different brands) and all together. These are all very expensive products and even though I coveted them for a year, I wasn't really prepared to part from my money until a truly fantastic offer came my way. I got the three products 15% off and was given a full size Elixir Ultime, which retails about 35€. A word of advice, salons really overcharge these, so go online on sites like HqHair, Lookfantastic, Feelunique and other similar ones to find the best prices.

Kérastase Nutritive Bain Oléo-Relax Smoothing Shampoo

It's meant for dry, frizzy hair that refuses to be tamed. Other reviewers describe it as the best shampoo for taming frizz - admittedly that was what sold me. Texture-wise it's a regular, gel type shampoo that has an orange hue, it's more on a liquidy side, rather than a thick gel. It foams lovely and lathers to a rich foam. My hair feels quite silky, when I'm rinsing it off and I can easily comb though the knots with fingers. The comb basically just glides though the damp hair. It's a similar effect to using a light conditioner, which is a consequence of the added silicones. It's absolutely not one of those shampoos that leave your hair squeaky clean (a feeling I genuinely dislike) and is one of the best shampoos for dry hair I tried. It doesn't irritate my scalp which is also a plus, however, I do feel the silicones might build up on my hair, so an occasional use of clarifying shampoo or baking soda is needed. As far as the anti-frizz properties go, I must confess I didn't see much of an effect, my hair was equally frizzy than when using other shampoos, however, what I call frizz on my hair are actually individual shorter hairs that get curly because my hair is naturally curly (the longer the hair the less curly it is in my case).

The scent is similar to that of shampoos you get at the chemist's, something like regular soap (aldehydes), but slightly more sharp. I have a slight gripe with the bottle, because the top twists off, rather than having the one that flips. It's more time consuming and frankly a bit annoying, considering I'm paying a lot for it.

If your hair is either normal or oily, you'll probably find it too heavy because of the silicones. It's expensive for a shampoo and I get though shampoos so fast, so it's really more of a luxury to be buying it regularly.  It was 18€ on Lookfantastic and the prices on most online shops are about the same.

Kérastase Nutritive Masquitense Épais - Thick

There are three different hair masks in Nutritive line and this one is targeted for thick hair, which mine are.  The texture is like a medium thickness silicone-heavy cream that just glides on the hair with such ease. Due to that you actually don't have to use much, which is a relief because the pot contains a quite stingy amount of 200 ml. Curiously, there are no instructions as to how long you should leave it on, I do at least 45 minutes. When I'm rinsing it off my hair feels truly silky and it has a lot of slip, it's a very similar feeling to when I use Tigi's Serious Conditioner, but here it's less intense. Once my hair is dry it feels very soft, manageable and moisturised, but the biggest difference is that amazingly my ends stay moisturised for four days. Usually they get dry either on the second day if I use a cheap drugstore conditioner, or on third day if I use a more expensive one and I have to use an oil to condition it. It smells exactly like sunscreen, a scent that I love. 

The packaging is a nice simple pot, nothing special but functional. The price is a shocking 26€ for a 200ml - honestly it could a least be 300ml. 

A little advice: Be careful not to get any water in it, this applies to all products actually, it can affect the effectiveness of the product. So no sticking your fingers into pots under the shower or with wet hands.

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique

This product excited me the most with the results. It's a heat protection and leave-in conditioner in one meant for dry hair. It's a light cream, truly nothing too heavy, in fact I find it hard to overdo on my hair, but others whose hair aren't so dry might find it heavy if used too much. It glides on the hair with ease and even before blow drying you can feel how your hair feels more silky. During and after blow-drying my hair feels incredibly silky and very soft, the only product that I can compare the feeling to is Tigi's Serious Conditioner, but this goes to an even higher level. My hair looks shiny, but not much less frizzy, I tame frizz with a bit of silicone oil like Elixir Ultime (or Macadamia, Orofluido,...) and Tigi's Spoil Me. The feeling lasts for three-four days and my hair remained soft and silky, but my ends did get a bit knotty as usual.

I really appreciate it for it's moisturising properties. If I had to choose my favourite heat protection, this one and the Tigi S Factor one are neck to neck, but I use them in two different ways, Tigi on dry hair because it's more oily and Kérastase on damp because it's a cream (I use a lot of heat protection, I apply it every time I use a heat tool, so before blow drying and then again if I'll use a curling iron). 

It's 19 € for 150 ml which is actually a very nice size, since it just glides on the hair and you don't need to use much. For example TIGI Catwalk Sleek Mystique Blow Out Balm contains only 90ml for 15€ (well, I got it for 9€ on offer) and I have to use quite a lot pumps. If you really want something from Kérastase, I would definitely go with this first.

Kérastase Elixir Ultime gives the final touches to the hair and makes it look more polished. In my original review I stated it's too light for my hair and it leaves my ends dry, however, in this case because the other three products leave my hair in such great condition this works perfectly. Because it's so light, it doesn't weight my hair down, it just tames the frizz and gives lots of shine. I actually keep a travel size in my bag all the time for frizz taming emergencies. I already raved about the scent, which is just divine, a mix of floral notes and coconut, almost like a high-end beach scent. And the pump is a giant plus. I'm not sure I'd pay a full price (I got it for free), it depends on how long the bottle will last or if I have an unexpected windfall, but it's certainly addictive.

In general my hair does look healthy and amazingly shiny, my mother even commented on how super shiny my hair looks and that it's even noticeable in a dim lighted room. How my hair looks depends more on how I style it using heat tools and the serum I use, but this gives one hell of a base. I am absolutely loving how my hair feels. It truly hasn't felt as silky and soft in like ever. It just stays awesome for days and I've already talked about how my hair is practically never soft in my Macadamia Deep Repair mask review, so this is a huge deal for me. It doesn't get super tangly, nor do I need to use Alverde hair oil to condition the ends and the shine is outstanding. I do, however, use Elixir Ultime daily to make it look more polished and to tame the frizz (the latter is still a nuisance, but I can live with it. There is no need for everything looking perfect).

(You can also see my hair while testing Kérastase in my last months posts: Essence Guerilla Gardening and Ardell Demi Lashes, both are second or third day hair)

I'm a hair care junkie and I've tried my fair share of products, so considering how expensive Kérastase products are, my expectation were very high and I wasn't disappointed. What I can say is that if you have such problematic, dry hair like me and you really want it too feel more like normal hair, I can't recommend this enough, but to get the maximum effect they work best when you use all together, which does mean it's very, very expensive. This does make your hair very silky, which means that some people will need some sort of a texturing product to style their hair. This is heavy-duty stuff, so if your hair is in a relatively nice condition, you don't desperately need it and there are some cheaper options that won't make your hair feel as great, but close enough.  Some links to my posts about hair: My Tips for Dealing with Dry Hair, My Current Hair Care - Part 1, My Current Hair Care - Part 2 and Hair Oils Series. So far my experience with Kérastase has been nothing but positive and I'll probably try more of their products.

Congratulations to everyone who managed to get through this long-winded post. Have a great day!

Product of the Week #11

Coralista is my go-to blush and I tend to neglect the rest that I own at lot, but this week decided to dust off my (almost) forgotten Lancome Blush Subtil in Miel Glace and start using it again. If you only knew how long this has been hiding in my make up storage. It was actually my second blush, the first one being Nars Orgasm and I bought it because I wanted a nice, very natural looking blush that would go with everything. It was blooming expensive as is everything by Lancome, I believe somewhere around 35-40€ in Müller a long time ago (btw, the same product costs almost half the price in the USA - so unfair!).

It came so highly recommended by the pale members of the beauty community, citing it as the perfect natural blush for those who wish to avoid their cheeks looking overly red. It's a very natural, warm, light beige-pink-peach shade with delicate shimmer, which gives a soft flush to the cheeks with a subtle glow. It's almost like a light mix of a blush, highlighter and bronzer in one, adding just the right amount of warmth to the cheeks. Despite it looking very beige in the pan, it actually looks more pink on the cheeks.

As far as the quality goes, you really get what you're paying for. The texture is just right, not too soft nor too hard and the pigmentation is also nice. One or two swipes are enough to get the colour going and you can slowly build it up to get the desired intensity. I am really pale and I can apply too much if I'm overzealous with the blush application. I actually like the brush that's included, it works just fine for me. The compact also has a nice size mirror that comes in really handy.

People with sensitive skin might find it a bit irritating because it has quite a perfumey scent (typical Lancome flowery scent) and even after years it hasn't faded away much.

I know it's not the best quality picture, but I hope you can see the delicate flush this blush gives.

I'd love to hear about your products of the week if you have one. Thank for reading!

Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel 22 Turquoise Block

I just love this colour!  22 Turquoise Block is a blue-green shade that is more green. It looks completely green is some lights and in some it looks more blue. The formula is really opaque, I applied just one coat on most nails in the picture and I added one more where the application was uneven. The brush is wide, which for me presents more of a problem than an advantage because I have narrow nails. I loved the quality so much that I got another shade, a cobalt-navy blue one - I'll post swatches sometime in the future.

I believe it's a new colour since it was on a new spring edition display. The colour immediately caught my attention, but I complained about the price and my awesome cousin decided to just buy it for me a as a mini gift. Of course, I forgot how much it was, but more that 5€.

Do you like the colour as much as me? Have a great day!