Bath Time: Epsom Salt + Something Else

From to time, we enjoy taking a nice, warm bath. Epsom Salt, called also ' bitter salt', is not just a mineral bath salt - it is much more. Magnesium sulfate MgSO4 (of PH neutral to the skin) is a great bath addition because of its properties beneficial to the body. Epsom Salt contains magnesium and sulfur which make the bath time not only relaxing but also improve the condition of the skin - soften and smooth it (we usually use one cup of Epsom Salt for a bath). After a long day, the Salt helps us also treat the tired and aching feet - soaking them in warm water + some Epsom Salt soothes minor skin cuts/grazes and sprains too.
To get more info on the Epsom Salt properties and how to use it, we advise you to read the instructions provided on your Epsom Salt package.

Another product which we enjoy using to improve the quality of the soaking bath is 100 % Pure Menthol Eucalyptus Oil by Power Industries Inc. Just a few drops of the oil makes the bath time a fragrant experience. 
Menthol - obtained from peppermint oil/other mint oils - gives a cooling and refreshing feel on the skin.
Eucalyptus Oil - has antiseptic, stimulating and energizing properties - kills germs and bacteria, improves blood circulation, helps to decongest upper respiratory tract and soothe minor muscle pains.

Luckily, we are not allergic to these oils as we really like having the aromatic bath every now and then.

Makeup - Natural Look Option

Although a black eyeliner was my very first eye makeup item, I have always enjoyed various, rather bright, colors in eye makeup. Here is one of my options (usually, the colors of my clothing influence the colors of the makeup) for a natural look - it involves more shades than a typical natural image but it is still quite soft, and I enjoy wearing it.

1. Eyes

• eye pencil - white by Lumene

to apply to the inner eye corner and below the eyebrow arch;

• eye shadows: a) sparkling champagne, b) beige + light brown, c) 2 shades of green, d) gold

 a)

Wet & Dry Double Effect Eyeshadow by Collistar

to apply to the white eye pencil spots;

b) light beige - apply to the upper lid, crease with the light brown shade;

Eye shadows of Yria collection by Yves Rocher

c) mix the two green shades and color the outer eye corner area, including drawing a line along the 1/3 of the lower eyelashes line;
 The pearl green shades come from 77 Color Eyeshadow Pallette by Profusion

d) gold - to apply to the center of the upper eyelid - for a less pale look;

This eyeshadow by Yves Rocher contains soothing virgin organic sweet almond (rich in vitamin E). It enhaces hte eye and adds a luminous and sparkling touch to a rather pale look.

• waterproof eye pencil by Bourjois - to define the upper eye lashes line

More or less it all looks like this (scary? Well, hadn't drawn since the end of the 80s :) ).

2. Lips

a) lip liner - orange or natural

I wrote more on this lip liner here.

b) lipstick

This moisturizing cream lipstick by Yves Rocher contains sesame oil. It stays on the lips long, hydrates them and gives rather sheer, satiny and delicately luminous coverage.

Have a wonderful holidaytime!

Hair Care by Suave

Trying cosmetics by local brands (besides the ones which have been available in Europe) is like discovering new worlds. The names of the manufacturers most often say nothing to me, so I need to try a product to know what it is like and what to think about it.

The Refreshing Waterfall Mist Shampoo by Suave (Naturals) contains vitamin E - an antioxidant - but actually I chose it because of the 'Hypo-Allergenic' on the bottle. The product is really quite mild, considering the scalp, and it foams and cleans the hair quite well (which makes the shampoo efficient). Another positive side of the shampoo (in my opinion) is its rather light fragrance. Besides, the form and shape of the plastic bottle is convenient - easy to open and hold - using the product involves no effort, considering the container.
However, after applying the Waterfall Mist Shampoo, the hair is crying for a conditioner as it becomes dull and difficult to be combed.
Luckily The Refreshing Waterfall Mist Conditioner helps a lot and solves the problem. It does make the hair soft and moisturized although I never leave it on my hair for two minutes. I simply put the conditioner on my hair and wash it off. And the hair is ready to be styled and looks nice also after using the hair dryer - the conditioner does not make the hair strands heavy or greasy in anyway.

Some of the ingredients of the shampoo and conditioner by Suave Naturals are:

• Spirulina Maxima Extract: spirulina maxima is a microalga rich in proteins and known for its antioxidant properties;
• Mentha Aquatica Leaf Extract - conditioning agent;
• Nymphaea Alba (White Water-lily) Flower Extract.

Ingredients of Refreshing Waterfall Mist Conditioner

Ingredients of Refreshing Waterfall Mist Shampoo

All in all, quite a good quality for a very friendly price. Maybe in some time I will try some other hair care products by Suave too.

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Makeup For Cooler Weather 1

When the weather gets cooler, it is time to adjust the makeup to the changing temperatures and atmospheric conditions, different from the ones we used to have in the hot and steamy summer. Especially that makeup is not only supposed to enhance our beauty but also protect the skin.
Among many products by various brands there is quite a lot to choose from. Sometimes it is difficult to decide which cosmetic is best for myself unless I try it a few times. What's more, every so often it means trying again and again before I really find what my skin/face likes best or dislikes. Here are some examples of my favorite discoveries.

1. Foundation 

Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Light Reflecting Foundation SPF 10 by Clarins (in the above picture).
The foundation contains both plant and mineral ingredients including pink algae extract and opal powder. The first one has antiseptic properties and is rich in biologically active silicon (the plant grows in France). The other one comes from Brazil. It contains silica beads which fill in fine lines and give luminous, light-reflecting effect. What I also like about the foundation is that it hydrates the face skin and is quite light - gives medium coverage.


2. Compact Powder

The Ultralucent compact powder by Estee Lauder is great: non-comedogenic, good for sensitive and dry skin. It does give smooth and mat, flawless finish. Besides, this pressed powder sets makeup really well, without any kind of cakey effect on the face.The compact is quite handy to use both at home and when on-the-go.

3. Eye Shadows

High pigmentation and intense tones. I especially like the rusty bronze but all of them remind me colors of the autumn leaves.

My recipe for the Forest Quartet look:

• Use the rusty shadow in the inner corner of the eye + to highlight the outer under eyebrow area.
• Apply the dark brown shade to the upper eyelid, avoiding coloring the above.
• Sculpt the outer corner of your eye and Crease with the green eye shadow. Blend all the shades with a brush.
• Draw a thin line along the upper lash line + along 1/3 (from the outer eye corner) lower lash line with color no. 4
• Emphasize the dark line on the upper eyelid (color 4) with the green eye liner.

4. Eye Liner

I hardly ever use black eye liners as I simply do not like the typical smokey eye look. That is why I have chosen the green, waterproof and self-sharpening eye liner by Avon. However, I would use it to draw lines on the upper eyelids  only. The tip of the liner is soft and its shade nicely defines the eye and the eyelashes line.

5. LipGloss

Simply glamorous! Shiny gloss which rather reminds a lipstick, considering nice coverage and creamy texture. The intense color lasts long on the lips and, in my opinion, is gorgeous. One of the best gloss lipsticks (two-in-1s) I have ever tried.

6. Black Mascara

Le Waterproof Mascara by Sephora which I have got happens to be a bit clumpy, but it is easy to clear the lashes, and separate them also, with the little comb (by Sephora too). The other side of this handy tool, the brush, helps me tame my eyebrows. The mascara is quite good, meaning its waterproof properties (I have not tried it in the pool though), and it is easy to wash it off with eye makeup remover.

Marsala: Fashion vs Style

Somebody has decided that Marsala shades are in this season. To those of you who do not know - Marsala is a kind of (also fortified) wine made in the area of Marsala, a city in Sicily/Italy. The dark color looks interesting on nails, including toe nails. However, such tones may not be beneficial for each and every face.
A few years ago I used to know a lady who wore Marsala lipsticks and nail polish most of the time (although they were rather called Burgundy not Marsala then). It was her style, her image, which really suited her well (meaning hair color, complexion type etc.) and enhanced her beauty.

The point is, fashion trends come and go, following them uncritically might be disastrous. The personal style stays and makes a person. Or maybe it is a person who makes their style, despite what others regard as being in or out.

402 Urban Purple Professional Finish by Rimmel London. The shade is more 'Marsala' in real than it seems in the picture. Good quality and quite long lasting.

Body Care: Skin Nourishment by Salts of The Seas

We have discovered the creams and other products by Salts of The Seas by accident, but we are really glad we came across their stall. Encouraged by the presentation of the body scrub, we bought a little sack of their goodies: just a little bit of the scrub applied on our hands (and washed with water after a little while) made them silky and soft. It was quite an amazing and instant result!
The products by Salts of The Seas (a Texas based company) are supposed to contain Dead Sea Salts, Organic French Sea Salts. Natural Oils and Extracts. They are aimed at dry, very dry and cracked skin.

The little bag we bought: Body Scrub, Goat's Milk & Honey Creme, Heeling Foot Creme, Nourishing Lip Balm Sealer, Cuticream Nail & Cuticle Moisturizer, a small pumice stone and a plastic spoon to be used with the creams. 

Pumice stone and the spoon - Quite a nice addition to all the goodies

The Body Scrub (no picture) was really great - was - as we used it quite quickly as a pampering addition to the bath time  - to treat our feet and heels, with really great results. The consistency of the scrub, enriched with the Sea Salts, noticeably improved the condition of the skin and made the feet smooth and soft. Great product!

Heeling Foot Creme complements the Body Scrub but can be used on its own too. Besides the feet, it can also be applied to elbows and hands. The cream is absorbed by the skin quite quickly, moistens it and  does not leave any greasy film.

Some of the ingredients:
Natural Oils & Extracts:

• Beeswax;
• Sunflower oil - smoothing properties;
• Soybean oil - contains a lot of  linoleic acid which restores the skin moisture level;
• Shea butter - good water-binding properties;
• Aloe barbadensis - known for its skin healing properties (among others);
• Hydrolyzed silk - moisturizing and protective properties. 

Nourishing Lip Balm Sealer - good to treat chapped lips. It smooths the cracked skin and makes the lips look much better.
The balm contains only natural ingredients:
Castor oil, Palm kernel Oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, aloe extract,
Carnauba wax (called also 'Brazil wax' as it is derived from the leaves of the plant which grows only in some parts of Brazil) - hypoallergenic and emollient properties
Candelilla wax - made of the Candelilla shrub leaves - a plant native to Northern Mexico.

Goat's Milk & Honey Creme - quite a beneficial body moisturizer. I tried to use it as a face cream too but some parts of my face did not like it. The allergy was not caused by the Creme fragrance which is quite neutral. Most likely it was some of the other ingredients - my face is quite picky :).
The Creme contains of (among thers - see the label below): Shea butter,  soybean oil, sunflower oil, hydrolyzed silk, Aloe barbadensis and goat milk extract.

Cuticream Nail & Cuticle Moisturiser - I am trying to put it on my nails (when they are not polished of course) and cuticles every day. Hopefully the treatment will strengthen the nails - the cream seems to be working fine but I have not been using it long enough to see any remarkable results. However, right now I can tell  the cuticles are in a better shape already.

 

 

If you happen to be at The North Texas Irish Festival next year, look around, maybe you will find the stall by Salts of The Seas there. It is worth stopping by and trying their products.

Eye makeup: 3 in 1 Eye Pencil by Yves Rocher

08 Blanc

They eye pencil is part of the Couleurs Nature collection by Yves Rocher. It is quite handy: you can use it as kohl - to draw lines on the inner eyelids, a regular eyeliner or eyeshadow. The pencil is nicely soft - it contains Castor oil. When applied, the liner creates creamy and smooth texture which can be easily blurred with a finger.
According to the information given by the manufacturer, the eye pencil was 'tested under ophthalmological supervision'. It is 'eye-friendly' indeed. There are 11 various shades on offer. Mine is called 'White' though actually, the color is more light beige-and-pink or white-and-pink than Blanc. Yet, it is a good option to a traditional, snow white eye pencil.
The regular price of the 3-in -1 Pencil by Yves Rocher is $10. However, quite often, it is included in different special offers (check out the Yves Rocher website) and the price is much lower then.

Hair Styling Time: Volumizing Anti-Humidity Hairspray by Garnier

When I came here, while doing shopping. at first I was trying to find brands/products which I was familiar with,  and which I had known in Europe. The names meant also recognizable quality levels.  That was why I bought the hairspray with natural Bamboo Extract by Garnier. I had not used it before but I tried some other stuff by the manufacturer - so expected the hairspray could be good too.
I used #3 Extra Strong on dry hair to finish my hairstyle.Well, it did grip my hair really strong, glued it a bit and made the hair endings rather stiff. I did not mind it as my hair was still glossy, the hairspray did not cause a 'helmet' or flaky effect. Besides, which also mattered, the strong hold made my hairstyle humid and hot weather proof. Also, it did volumize the hair nicely.
Next day all the gluing, strong grip was always almost all gone, but the hair was still fluffy. On the other hand, sometimes the hairstyle needed little next morning corrections - some of the stiff strands of hair tended to jut in different directions. But it was easy to take care of them with my hot air brush.

Bamboo Extract is supposed to:

• strengthen hair
• absorb UV radiation
• stimulate collagen production
• stimulate skin metabolism 
• make the hair look shiny
• protect skin

It also contains some anti-oxidants.
In some time I will probably buy the hairspray by Garnier again. In the meantime, I will try some other kinds/by other (also more local) brands too.

Scented Little Cuties

I discovered them in two different duty free stores at two different airports. Two boxes of little fragrant bottles.

It would be difficult to say which scent/perfume is my favourite one as each of them is different and each of them is interesting in its own way. I tried to put them in order: from the most to the least  favorite fragrance which appeared to be rather difficult. I simply like them all (not equally though)! However, the scents within a brand seem to be equally attractive so it was easier to divide them in that way.
Here is my choice: if you click on a fragrance name, it will take you to a fragrantica.com page with detailed info on  a particular scent and its creators (a really interesting - website!)

 #1 Lancome

• Tresor - Eau de Parfum - from 1990, created by Sophia Grojsman
• Poeme - Eau de Parfum - created in 1995 by Jacques Cavallier

#2  Christian Dior

• Addict 2 - launched in 2005. This one is not in the pictures - I used it most often and it's gone already. :(
• Miss Dior Cherie - Eau de Parfum - created in 2005 by Christine Nagel
• Diorissimo - Eau de Toliette - created in 1956 by Edmond Roudnitska
• Pure Poison - Eau de Parfum - made in 2004 by Carlos Benaim, Dominique Ropion and Olivier Polge
• Dune - Eau de Toilette - first made in 1991 by Nelja Barbir and Jean-Louis Sieuzac
  
  

#3 Cacharel

• Noa - Eau de Toilette - created by in 1998 by Olivier Cresp

#4 Ralph Lauren

• Safari - Eau de Parfume - first made in 1990 by Dominique Ropion (well, I like it least).

Colors of Autumn: Orange - Lips

My favourites: no. 1 & 2

1. Glazed Coral by Avon
2. Peach (Giordani Collection) by Oriflame
 
Sparkling pigment, covers the lips evenly with a nice creamy and bright glow. Both kinds of lipsticks soften the lips and stay on them quite long. All in all, they give quite an elegant look. The shade by Oriflame is a bit lighter though, less orange.

 

3. Pure Color No. 25 Melon SHIMMER by Estee Lauder

I got this sample lipstick at a Douglas cosmetics store in Poland. The color is quite fair, vibrant and juicy, shimmering indeed. However, the lipstick covers the lips with a very thin layer of pigment which does not look good on my lips - it accumulates in the lip vertical lines and highlights them a bit at the same time. I like the color but the texture and its appearance, unfortunately, do not work for me.

4. Pink Brandy No. 825 by Max Factor

The shade name is slightly confusing. Despite the word 'pink', the lipstick color is more similar to a dark orange pumpkin.  Quite interesting though. Rich and mat, creamy consistency feels and looks good even on drier lips. However, it is always good to use some lip balm as a lipstick base, no matter what kind of brand or shade you use.

5. Couleurs Nature Lip Pencil, 04 Orange by Yves Rocher

Simply a good lip pencil - contains Shea Butter. Easy to apply and define the lips with precise lines which stay in place and do not smear. No. 4 Orange goes well with all orange/coral lipstick shades.

Till The Last Drop: Pu-Erh Tea

The Pu-Erh tea originally comes from China (Yunnan Province) but my box of 40 tea bags by Big Active came from Poland. I always thought that Pu-Erh is a kind of red tea, but later I found out that in some parts of the world it is classified as black tea. However, the tea itself, as well as its properties, is quite different from other black teas. And it tastes totally different. It is not that bitter.
Actually there are quite a few types of Pu-Erh but all of them are produced in a similar way. Their 'leaves undergo microbial fermentation and oxidation after they are dried and rolled. of microbial fermentation and oxidation. '*
According to what I have read in several articles, Pu-Erh teas have quite distinct chemical composition, comparing to black and green teas. It is also called 'fat killer' as it is supposed to stimulate digestion, help to keep the right body weight and also lower cholesterol levels.
I like the flavor of Pu-Erh and wish it was easier too find this kind of  tea in local stores.

* Wikipedia

Colors of Autumn: Orange - Nails

The orange nail polish looks fabulous on the nails.

The two shades chosen by myself look quite similar  however, the one by Sally Hansen is less pricey. On the other hand, La Laque No.142 by Yves Saint Laurent (I discovered it much earlier than No. 170 by S.H.) looked good on the nails even for two weeks - did not chip. I loved it - I found its quality really worth the price. The consistency of the nail polish doesn't change - it did not thicken even after moths of using it. The practical brush almost reaches the bottom of the bottle which helped to use the nail polish entirely, nearly till the last drop.

Right now I am enjoying The Hot Tamale shade (Hard AS Nails Xtreme Wear) by Sally Hansen  . I like the shiny color. So far I have been quite content with the quality of the nail polish. It is quite durable considering all the dish-washing and regular housework I do. The shape of the brush allows to apply the layers of the color quite evenly and flawlessly. All in all, in my opinion - a good buy.

Hand-Washing Time: Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash by Jergens

The hand wash by Jergens reminded me the tap water in Cyprus. It was amazing (both the tap water and Cyprus itself). At the beginning of our stay there, I thought it was the hotel soap that was making the water so soft and silky, so I was wondering where I could get such nice hand soap. Later I realized it was the water itself - perhaps something was added to it that changed its properties and made it so soft. I do not know for sure what it was but the softness of the water made the skin soft and moist too.

The hand wash by Jergens gives a similar, pleasant, silky feel during washing the hands. The liquid soap does not foam much but it cleans well. After using it my hands do not cry for hand balm so much as they usually do when I wash them with water only. Also, the light cherry-almond scent of the wash is noticeable during using it.
Quite a good thing especially considering its price - which was $1.

Big (and hot) Summer Day Makeup

It is this time of the year when some of us start missing the warmth of the summer. The colder it is getting outside, the nicer it is to think about the sunny summer or spring days when the weather was a bit more comfortable. However, it all depends where you are - in certain places in the world, the heat of the summer months makes you dream of the winter.
Not long ago I was looking for makeup items which would not fail on a hottest day, meaning the temperatures and the climate of course.
This is what I found (see the picture below).

Each piece is a kind of art achievement in the field of cosmetics. They worked well for me, despite of the high summer temperatures and high levels of air humidity.  Their prices are on a more expensive side though, which is a kind of disadvantage. I find them great anyway.

1. SENSAI Smoothing Water Make-Up Base by Kanebo
 
From the manufacturer's website: "SENSAI combines advanced skincare technology with the supreme power of its precious signature ingredient, Koishimaru Silk. This extraordinary fusion of science and nature works in harmony with the body, creating flawlessly silky skin that enhances every woman’s unique beauty." Japan's Koishimaru Silk hydrates skin and stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid within the skin. You can read more about this magical silk here.
The base is absolutely wonderful. It 'creates a taut, invisible veil that leaves the skin firmer, smoother and primed for make-up' - all true. It not only keeps the face skin moist and relaxed all day long, but also gives it a kind of natural, radiant look. Three little drops of the base are enough to cover the entire face, which makes the product last quite long.

2. SENSAI Cellular Performance Total Finish Foundation (with SPF 15) by Kanebo.

 Another great product - a true gem. Although it is a powder foundation, it is good for dry skin as it gives it a pleasant and moist feel. The foundation is easy to apply flawlessly to the face with a sponge provided by the manufacturer. The Total Finish Foundation is so light like a delicate veil, even after wearing it for many hours I do not feel it on my face - the skin stays relaxed and radiant. The foundation covers skin imperfections quite well and does not clog pores.
I bought a refill  package of  this SENSAI item (which helped reduce the price of the product), which included the foundation in a convenient box + the sponge. The refill version works as well as the product  in its original package. The powder base stayed in place and looked good on my face even when the summer temperatures were reaching 100F. However, it seems that 'my' Bamby Beige shade is no longer on offer.

3. SENSAI Eyelid Base by Kanebo

 
Its formula reminds a very light cream - it moisturizes eyelids and enhances the colors of eye shadows/eyeliner. A small amount of the base applied to eyelids with a finger helps keep the eye make up in place. It does not irritate my eyes, simply adds a touch of comfort to the eyelids.

4. Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour by Clarins

What I like about Clarins products (besides their quality) is that some of them are provided in red, velvet etuis which, in my opinion, add  cuteness to every item (and purchase).  I use this blush when I do not apply the Meteorites (read below). There are two mat and two shimmering shades in the blush box. My complexion is rather pale so this delicate, satin and illuminating color gives my face a healthy glow. It covers the skin evenly, without any ugly darker spots or marks. According to the manufacturer, the blush contains plant and mineral extracts. The little brush included in the box is rather better for a retouch than a regular application, but still it is a convenient addition - quite handy when away from your big blush brush. However, I have never done the retouch thing as I simply never needed to do it.

5. Meteorites - Powder for the Face by Guerlain

The illuminating powder consists of  light-diffusing balls/pearls which five colors depend on their purpose. The white pearls illuminate the skin, green color helps to correct redness, yellow pearls highlight and catch natural light, mauve ones brighten the face and the red ones give it a nice glow. The pearls contain a spherical pigment which brightens the skin with a halo - radiant effect. The Meteorites can be applied in different ways (see the tutorial video included below). I like to sweep them with a brush over my temples only, just for an illuminating effect.


 

The handcrafted powder pearls are available in three different color sets. The powder is really efficient - even if used every day, lasts really long - which maybe rewarding - considering not only its great properties but also quality - and price.

6. Blended Face Powder And Brush by Clinique

 The powder is supposed to be good for all skin types. What I can say about it is that my, a bit dry, skin likes it. It does set makeup quite well, with a natural look/feel effect on the face even during a hot summer. It is also useful when I want to give my face some nice shade without using any foundation. The brush size is good enough to put the right amount of powder on the face - without unwanted excess.

7. Instant Light Brush-on Perfector - Concealer by Clarins 

It is one of the best concealers I have ever used. It covers and brightens dark shadows, moisturizes, and smooths the skin. This Perfector contains oat sugars and Clarins Light Optimzing Complex which make the under-eye area not only look but also feel great.

8. Eye Shadows from Eye Shadow Pallette by Yves Rocher

Yes, I really like them! The shadows are quite high pigmented, cover the eyelids evenly and stay on them all day long. They do not crease and do not fall on the face during applying them around the eye area. The pearl shadows look good also in the daylight and, what matters to me, they are 'eye-friendly' - do not sting/irritate the eyes.

9. Long-Lasting Eye Liner by Sephora

The eye liner defines the eyes nicely. Its consistency helps to draw flawless lines, it doesn't smear and gets dry on the eyelid quite fast. However, to avoid marks below the eyebrow area, I usually kept my eye closed for a moment after putting the eyeliner on the upper lid eyelashes line.

10. False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara by Max Factor

I enjoyed using the mascara. It thickened and lengthened the eyelashes, giving them a nice but not artificial look. I have already run out of it and I did not take a picture of it. Well, it was really good.

And finally something for the lips.

11. Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil by Estee Lauder

One of the products that have never failed my expectations. The pencil is soft enough (but not too soft)  to define the lips and also cover them with the color quite easily. It really is a long lasting lip pencil and its slightly creamy texture does not dry my lips. The convenient brush helps with the lipstick application.

12. Perfect Rouge Lipstick by Shiseido 

Well, it is perfect for me - the illuminating color, the texture and how long it lasts on the lips. The lipstick softens and smooths my lips (it contains hyaluronic acid and Super Hydro-Wrap Vitalizing DE). It gives a nice vivid finish to the lips.