MY LIGHTWEIGHT SUMMER MAKEUP

I almost forgot what it feels like to wear 1 pump of foundation! Let me tell you, feels like nothing. And that's the best feeling. Without realizing, I've been putting on tons & tons of makeup over the past year or so. But Summer rolled on and I want as less product on my face as possible. Here's my Summer "no makeup" make up look!

from drab to fab

BASE: ILLUMINATING PRIMER + HIGH COVERAGE FOUNDATION

After moisturizing, I prime using this illuminating L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Primer. When I have plump and bright canvas, I move onto foundation. I mix one pump my one and only True Match with one pump of the mentioned primer. It gives even more brightness without sheering out any coverage of the foundation. I pay extra attention to blending the product on my jawline/neck and my hairline as I have a tan to match!

SETTING POWDER

Bourjois Healthy Balance Compact Powder sets my foundation for the day. It gives a very natural skin-like finish, not too matte. Most of the time, I dust it lightly using a soft duo fibre brush. But it's actually a quite pigmented powder, so if I end up wanting a fuller coverage, I use a sponge to press the product into my skin which gives me this flawless finish without unnatural!

EYESHADOWS IN MY BROWS, YES

Ugh, I have 99 problems and my brows are all of them. However, with these two products I manage to get a semi-decent and somewhat socially acceptable brow. First off, I define and fill in my brows using Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in 'permanent taupe'. It's THE color for your brows, trust me. Has a cold undertone and is a very ashy taupe. I follow it up by using another cold toned brown eyeshadow by Makeup Revolution, I only use it on the tail of the brow. I feel like this is where the brow should be the darkest and most defined, ya kno. 

BROWN MASCARA FOR DAYS 

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara in 'black brown' is my new favorite! It doesn't look as heavy as black mascara, this one makes it seem like you have naturally long and curled lashes. And since it's waterproof it holds the curl like no other mascara I've tried! It's very buildable as well. LOVE. IT. SO MUCH. 

BRONZE!

Bourjois Délice de Poudre Duo is my vital finishing touch. I don't contour, just carelessly swirl this bronzer around my cheek area and temples. Even the tiniest bit adds dimension to my face so it doesn't look flat, who'd want that?!

And that's all there is to it! A fuss-free summery look which is as bare as I get. Need something to match my tan after all! 

Happy Summerin' yall,

Julia

NEW IN: HYDRATING SKINCARE · FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It's no news that I don't do "haul" posts on my blog, but I've decided I might do a few once in a while; only if I buy something that truly excites me and/or is blog-post-worthy in my opinion. Some shopping sprees must be blogged about as Instagram just doesn't cut it!

HOW I BATTLED MY OILY SKIN

Some of my most recent beauty purchases include skincare that's meant to hydrate and nourish. I'd fight with my awfully oily skin until I started lathering it in various oils. If you're dealing with the same problem, you might want to consider the fact that the reason why your skin produces so much oil is that you're providing it with none! Using (coconut, rosehip, avocado..) oils on my face has balanced out the natural oils of my skin completely. 

For the past 6 months or so I've been buying products designed for dry/dehydrated skin types that are (obviously) packed with hydrating goods which are not solely oils. I obviously need skincare for under my makeup etc.  (Lil tip: most of the time it's anti-ageing skincare, so don't stay clear of those when shopping - it might work magic on you!) Today I'm sharing few of my latest buys in that area. 

VICHY AQUALIA THERMAL SERUM (only £11 now!)

For some reason I had my hopes up for this one even though it's not really up there. But at the same time, I haven't heard any negative feedback either. And it was so cheap on Feel Unique, I couldn't pass it on! Now I'm not disappointed with this buy, it's just that I expected a bit more from it. I thought it's gonna be much more.. intense (in terms of hydrating properties). It's only 30ml so you'd expect a decent effect off a one pump. Instead I have to use 2-3 pumps at a time, so I'm already halfway through the bottle (been using it for less than 2 weeks)! Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy it as a daily pre-makeup serum. It doubles for a moisturizer too, if I'm not leaving the house. I would probably even repurchase this, but there are so many other serums out there I want to try!

ANTIPODES MANUKA HONEY MASK 

I've used this mask a fair amount of times as well so I do have some things to say. First off, equal parts - the packaging and the word manuka were the main factors that sold me this product. I was running out of my Origins Drink Up overnight mask so I needed something in its place. This one is not to be used overnight, however that's exactly what I do. It's not one of those masks that just sit on your face, this one kinda sinks into your skin like a heavy moisturizer (it is a treatment after all) so I don't find it uncomfortable to sleep in at all. I put it on after using exfoliating and using clay masks (around 3 times a week), to regain moisture and nourish my skin throughout the night. Most of the time it helps me wake up with a plumper-feeling face; it depends on how well I exfoliate beforehand.

AVENE HYDRANCE RICH MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 20

A moisturizer with a decent amount of SPF was all I was after. I picked this one up because Boots is Boots and has offers on everything all the time. In this case, you get a 150ml (!) bottle of thermal water if you buy a moisturizer. The best combo for summer! I love the moisturizer; it's not shiny if worn on its own even though it's rich and hydrating. My makeup goes on perfectly over this. It dissolves and absorbs into skin completely, there's no white cast or anything because of the spf in it. However, I will be looking for a moisturizer which is higher in spf; I use a 30 for my body, so I've decided I need a 50 for my face. This moisturizer could be perfect for sun-less days/seasons!

I will most likely write up my final thoughts on these products once they end up in my 'empties bucket'. Which will definitely happen as I love them and will most definitely use up in no time! I'm always on a hunt for intensely hydrating skincare and am always open for suggestions, feel free to leave your finds or recommendations in the comments :^)

bisou biosu,

Julia

ONE INGREDIENT VOLUME BOOST ROUTINE

So my hair's crazy flat and since I can't rock a sleek look I have to find ways to give it a volume boost. I recently discovered a very underrated product that solves my hair problems every time I leave my house. Apparently, Ruth from A Model Recommends has joined forces with the Colab Hair to create a range of dry shampoos. The best thing about it - they're volumizing, and they work! The below shows how I make my hair bigger using this spray. 

I start off by spraying this directly onto my roots to lift them and make my way downwards to give the rest of my hair texture. And it does give texture! If I'm going for a messy look I'll scrunch and fluff up my hair and brush only the ends. But most of the time I'm going for a neat look so I'll brush through all of my hair, holding my head down so it doesn't lose the volume I created. 

I love how it only takes a few minutes in the morning for me to achieve this. As if it wasn't a great product already, it also does a perfect job at being a dry shampoo. I have to wash my hair everyday (that is, if I'm leaving the house everyday), meaning my hair gets greasy really quick. For the first time in my life I can wash my hair every other day if I'm using this on the second day. So far, the best dry shampoo I've tried. Well I haven't tried much, but it certainly beats the very overrated Batiste. 

bisou bisou,

Julia

EMPTIES · MINI REVIEWS · WILL I REPURCHASE?

I have a whole lot of empties to show you today. I've never had that many products to run out of at more or less the same time! But it caught my eye the other day as I noticed that my empties bag is all full. So now I have lots to go through.. If something interests you out of all this abundance, keep on reading! 

HAIR

I have a full package of hair care products this time which consists of shampoo, conditioner and a mask. The shampoo I used up is the Miracle Moist by Aussie and to be fair it didn't do anything out for ordinary. I find it difficult to describe a shampoo since I never use it on its own. After washing my hair, my opinion will be solely based on the performance of conditioner, not a shampoo.

The one I recently ran out of is Dove Nourishing Oil Care conditioner and even though I finished it up quite a few weeks ago, I'll never get its affect out of my mind. In all honesty, I have never used a conditioner as good as this one. It does all the great things a conditioner's supposed to do, I'm not gonna go into depth, but I do recommend it. Five stars from me.

After I shampoo, I either use a conditioner or a hair mask; a few days ago I scraped the last bits off this bright pink Lee Stafford jar. Yes, it's the Treatment For Hair That Never Grows Past Certain Length. I picked it up merely out of whim, just because I heard Gabby from velvetgh0st talk about it and saying some good stuff. I wasn't particularly targeting the hair growth, I just needed something to upkeep the general well-being of my hair. And it did the job. However, when I think about it, a basic £2 TRESemmé conditioner is kind of doing the same thing as this £9 mask... huh.

Will I repurchase? I'll definitely buy the mentioned conditioner, but only after I try a few others by Dove; there's been a few releases I'm really interested in. As for the shampoo, I've come to a decision not to spend more than a quid on it. After all, it only has one job: get the grease out of your hair. Conditioners and treatments are responsible for glossiness and all that jazz. Speaking of treatments, I will not be buying this mask again.

FACE

I'm out of quite a few skincare essentials of mine. They're absolutely vital in my daily routine so repurchases will have to be made ASAP. One of my essentials is a coconut oil which I use to remove my makeup. The jar you see above is my very first purchase in the UK which I've made in mid-August so it's lasted me exactly 6 months. I'm pretty sure I've saved a fortune by not buying any makeup removers. This is how you save, girl! I've also run out of L'Oreal Micellar Water which I use solely to wipe that coconut oil off my eyes and remove any mascara residue if there is any. 

After removing makeup, I like to make sure I got rid of every last bit of it by applying a clay mask.  (I do it once a week.) The one I'm out of is Botanics Ionic Clay Mask. I've never used a clay mask before so I needed something not too pricey to begin with, just in case my skin doesn't want to befriend it. I must say I liked what it does, and now I'm ready for a teeny tiny bit more splurgy one. I've been eyeing Origins. 

Either it's cleansing or the mask, my face usually gets quite dry afterwards. So I'm always in need of an oil. I used to go with the same coconut oil to moisturize at night, but then I got the Balm Balm Rosehip serum which I used up just last night *sighs sadly*. It's one of the best things I've used lately, I'm not gonna go on about it too much, you can read about it in my December Favorites here.

Will I repurchase? These were all amazing products, however I won't be getting the same exact ones again, merely because I want to see what else is out there. I'll be getting some sort of oil or/and a serum and a clay mask. I thought I was going to repurchase L'Oreal Micellar water, because I do that all the time. But Boots has been having some great offers and I got a Micellar water from Garnier instead. I've wanted to try theirs for quite some time!

NAILS

It might seem like there's still some product left in the bottle of Eveline 8in1 Nail Conditioner, but it's got too hard and sticky to use. Nevertheless, it's has fixed and saved my nails, it's one the most effective products ever! I was using it either on its own or as a base coat. No matter what problem you're having with your nails - this guy will solve anything, trust me. And then I have two other nail polishes, one of them is a gorgeous muted red called "English Rose" by Essence. I think it's safe to say this is my favorite nail color for Fall. Next up, "Peach Negligée" by L'Oreal. Now this one could easily make it as my favorite nail polish of all time. Click here for swatches.

Will I repurchase? Since my nails are in a pretty good condition, I don't think I'll be buying the Eveline treatment any time soon. I'm in a need of a good base coat though. Any suggestions? As for the other nail polishes, I'll most definitely get another bottle of "Peach Negligée" for Spring.

BODY

I thought I'd include stuff like lotions just as well even if I personally don't find it that interesting to write about. I have an empty bottle of Nivea Happy Time Shower Cream laying around, which has done a decent job; Nivea never lets me down when it comes to shower stuff. I've also run out of a Shea Butter Hand Cream by Dove which I thought was pretty good until a sample of Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion arrived. I know it's just a teeny tiny sample but I wanted to mention it anyway, because if it wasn't for this sample I would have never discovered my favorite hand cream of all time. I'm already halfway through the full-sized tube, you can read more about it in my December Favorites here.

Now this has been quite a bit of writing. Phew. I think I'll exclude some less exciting stuff like shower gels and shampoos from my next empties to make it a little shorter for you to read and for me to write!

bisou bisou,

Julia

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La Roche Posay: Thoughts So Far

La Roche Posay has been one my most anticipated brands to try out and I don't know what took me this long to finally do so. Might be the fact that accessibility of these products is way better here in UK than it was back in Lithuania. Also might be the fact that I've decided to take better care of my skin and build up a proper routine. A product of La Roche Posay happened to be one of the first ones in my currently quite solid skincare routine.

These are the only products I've got from LRP so far (well, I have just received one more, but it's way too early to build up an opinion on it) and I've been using them for a few months. Therefore, I feel like the time has come for a review. All of them are from their Effaclair range which targets oily, blemish-prone skin. I'll start off with the one I purchased first, back in October. (I'm almost out of it!)

Effaclair Mat, Sebo-regulating Moisturizer

I'm really glad this was my first buy from LRP as it turned out to work very well on my skin. First of all, it does exactly what it claims: the moisturizer helps to limit the appearance of pores and shine by reducing excess sebum. Mattifying products always make me think of drying products. This, however, has just the right amount of hydration in it; thus my skin feels moisturized, but the opposite of greasy. It sinks into my skin relatively quick and leaves it perfectly matte and so SO smooth and soft. It doubles for a primer too. I wear it on its own or under my makeup. If you have oily skin and are looking for a moisturizer - you'll love it.

Effaclair Duo+, Unclogging, Anti-imperfections Care

I think I purchased this in the beginning of December without even knowing it's been some sort of a cult product of 2014. I must have good intuition! It definitely deserves all the hype and praise. And I suppose there was some if it's really been a cult product. What it does? It's basically supposed to fix your skin. Spots, blemishes, clogged pores - be gone! It's supposed to help you get rid of all the imperfections. And let me tell you, it works. It dries out my break outs and helps get rid of any redness the latter leaves. It's a perfect product if you're seeking a clearer skin. The way I use it, it's that I apply it only to those troublesome areas instead of the whole face. The only reason being is that it does dry out my skin; I'd rather have my zits dried out rather than my whole face.

Effaclair H, Multi-compensating Soothing Moisturizer

Now this was the very first LRP product I've heard of; it's been introduced in one of A Model Reccomends videos and since that time I couldn't get this brand out of my head. Effaclair H would be amazing for people who constantly use those drying, acne-targeted treatments. Because those products do dry out your skin and you're kind of afraid of moisturizing it in case it causes even more acne! Well, the Effaclair H is designed for that. It moisturizes skin which lacks hydration, without producing sebum. Lately I've been wearing this under my makeup too, because my skin's been feeling dry. So this is actually a perfect product for all skin types. Especially now, in Winter, when the harsh weather seems to suck all the moisture out of your skin.

Overall...

I would highly recommend these 3 products for anyone with oily, blemish-prone skin. This truly is a whole package: you have something that gets rid of your zits, something that hydrates your skin, and something that mattifies it!

Even though I've done quite a reasonable amount of reviews now, I still feel like I'm not good at it and leave out half of the important stuff. So if you have questions about any of these products, do ask in the comments!

All in all, I'm really glad to have included La Roche Posay into my skincare. Would you like me to do my full routine post? With cleansers, oils and so on!

bisou bisou,

Julia

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December Favorites

DECEMBER FAVORITES

04 / 01 / 2015

In the midst of everyone doing their 2014 Favorites, I am bringing you mine. Except they're just December faves. I'm really glad to have discovered some really awesome bits and bobs towards the end of 2014 which are definitely here to stay with me throughout the year of 2015 too.

COLLECTION Lip Definer in 01 Nude Pink

My love for lip liners continues to blossom. In fact, I have bought a few more just the other day. Spoiler alert: they're already in my January favorites. But this time I'm talking about this Collection one which has a bit of a misleading name as it's not a pink at all. The shade is a beautifully muted red which is basically my all time favorite version of red. It's well-pigmented and of course, matte, but not drying at all. Overall it's perfect for an everyday red lip without being over the top. Plus, you can define your lips with a precision you'll never achieve using a lipstick. Lip liners, girl. What a great invention.

MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in 40 Permanent Taupe

I've fallen head over heels for this little multi-tasker in a pot. If I'm wearing shadow, 99% of the time I'll be using this to define the crease. It blends perfectly, you can even create a day-time smokey eye look within a few minutes only! I also use this to fill in and define my brows. However, it's too light for me (blondes would love it!) so I always go over with a powder that's dark enough for me. And it holds the powder intact all day. It's obviously not kidding when it says 24 hour eyeshadow.

NIVEA Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia

Just like the Color Tattoo, this butter too, has had its fair share of praise this past year. And knowing me, I take forever to jump the bandwagon. But eventually I do end up there! And with this product, I'm definitely taking the side of its lovers. I carry this pot around me 24/7, I simply have to have it with me at all times. It's sitting right next to my laptop as I'm typing this. My lips absolutely love it. It's moisturizing and nourishing. And buttery enough to have a decent staying power, but I do end up re-applying it more than I should, because I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to the scent. 

MAYBELLINE Great Lash Mascara, waterproof

So basically, I needed a new mascara, and I only buy a new one when I run out of the previous one. Which was a waterproof one and has totally converted me into never using a non-waterproof formula again. As we all know, Maybelline does some really great mascaras and they come out with new ones at what seems like regular intervals of time. There was definitely something new on their counter when I was shopping and oddly enough, I found myself picking up this Great Lash one. It's one of those drugstore classics which I have never got around to try so it was about time; I gave it a shot. I wouldn't say it's something out of ordinary, but I do love it a lot. Holds the curl throughout the whole day, definitely lenghtens. I wish it was a bit more volumizing and separating, but it's buildable!

BALM BALM Little Miracle Rosehip Serum

They called it little miracle for a reason, you know. It truly is a bottled wonder. I use it 1-2 times a day to rejuvenate my currently dehydrated skin. I love that it absorbs the product quite quick and I'm not left looking all grease-tastic. Apparently it's because it contains oils very similar to our own skin's oils so it takes no time to sink into skin. I'm loving the packaging as well; it comes with a pipette dispenser so it makes my life ten times easier. I wish more oil treatments had that. 

AVEENO Daily Moisturising Lotion
I might have mentioned this, but I'm a sucker for hand creams. I absolutely must apply one after washing my hands, I simply cannot comprehend how am I the only person I know who does that. Therefore, I run out of hand creams in no time and am constantly looking for/buying new ones. Ladies, I think I found the one. I had a little sample sized tube of this and I just had to run to Boots to get a full size after using it up. The reason it's so amazing is that it sinks into my skin within seconds and leaves my hands dry afterwards. I know, sounds weird. They're dry, but they're moisturized at the same time. You know how you always have to wait a bit for the product to sink in, after rubbing it into your hands. I personally can't even use my phone for like 10 minutes, because my hands are still feeling quite greasy. This lotion, however, is truly a miracle. I'm a little sad they don't make it in smaller amounts; I can't put this gigantic tube in my bag! 

Double pearl earrings
This lovely pair of earrings is simply one of the best in the whole earring history. Dior, ya done good. It looks incredibly elegant and chic. So chic. Mine are not Dior, of course. (One dolla on ebay, hollaaaaah.) I cannot justify spending my month's rent on a pair of earrings. Well, I do justify it, I simply can't afford it yet.

Invisibobble Traceless Hair Rings
This is another great discovery, a 'where-have-you-been-all-my-life' kind of discovery. Now I can put my hair up without even feeling like my hair's tied. These rings doesn't pull your hair or hurt or damage it in any way. They might look quite funky at first sight (vintage phone cords, anyone?), but you have to try it. I give you my word, you're gonna want to throw all your hair elastics away after trying these.

Now this was quite a post, I can't remember the last time I wrote this much on my blog. I must say it definitely feels good. And I'd feel even better if someone read all that! I truly love the products I described above, is anyone using some of this stuff as well? Tell me in the comments!

bisou bisou,

Julia

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EMPTIES

Now this Empties post is embarrassingly over-due. All of the above is long gone and replaced; pictures are all what's left of it. So these were a few products which I brought from Lithuania and finished them up probably within the first month of my stay here in England. That makes it early September. Yup, this is how over-due this is. Therefore, before I post-pone it even more, let's talk Empties!

Garnier Ultra Doux "Honey Treasures"

First up, there's the duo of Garnier shampoo and conditioner. I must say, I had my hopes up for these two, because I had heard some great feedback on it. However, I was unpleasantly disappointed. It's not that it did me any damage; there's just nothing out of ordinary with these two. The most basic shampoo that washes off the grease out of your hair and a conditioner that makes it slightly softer and a bit more manageable. I've been hearing a lot of praise for these products, so I'm kind of bummed me out that this is no miracle at all. 

Bioderma "Sebium" Purifying Foaming Gel

I had also run out of a face wash from Bioderma of their Sebium range which has definitely helped me with keeping acne under control. I used it along with a Sebium Global blemish-targeted treatment and that definitely kept my acne at bay for the time being. Back to the cleanser, it's no doubt one of the best ones I had so far.

Essence "Get BIG Lashes" Waterproof Mascara

Next up, a waterproof Essence mascara. I just have to share this epiphany I've experienced by trying out a waterproof mascara. It's changed my life completely. I've struggled with my lashes lacking curl and staying up right in general for so long. Turns out, a waterproof mascara is the answer. This mascara has kept my lashes big and curled all day - I am not exaggerating. The only issue I had is that it used to leave some black residue on my lid just below my brow bone. But that's 100% my own fault as I used to go a little over the top with a curler...

Maybelline "Eye Studio Master" Brow Pencil

Brows were so on trend this whole past year and I totally jumped on the bandwagon and did everything in my power to improve my brow game. This pencil definitely helped me move in that direction. I loved how quick it is to do my brows using this product, so much faster than using powders or dips. And I'm all about efficiency!

Nivea "Fruity Shine" Watermelon & Bonjour Love "Užjūrio Princas" lip balms

And at last, I have two lip care products. As you may or may not know, I am a lip balm junkie. I use them everyday, all year around. So I ran out of two of them in September. First one is in a pot with a very summery lid as you can see, it's from Bonjour Love, a homemade cosmetics brand from Lithuania. It was absolutely amazing and it smelt like candy. The watermelon one from Nivea smelt fantastic as well, but I've come to learn that not everyone is a fan of watermelon (crazy!), so those people might want to stay away from this.

I should try my best and blog about this kind of stuff as soon as possible. It's definitely challenging to remember the affect of the products when the last time I used them was months ago! See you next time, hopefully really soon.

bisou bisou,

Julia

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BEAUTY HAUL | Boots, Superdrug, Primark, Feel Unique

Shopping has become so fun here in UK as everything's more or less cheaper here and delivery from Feel Unique takes only a few days! So, obviously I needed some essentials of both skincare and makeup, but we all know how shopping for essentials goes... we can get a bit carried away, am I right ladies?

REAL TECHNIQUES Miracle Complexion Sponge | L'OREAL PARIS True Match Foundation

I already tried the RT sponge and it does work wonders, like most beauty gurus claim. The application is so quick, it will be amazing for when I don't want to spend ages on my makeup, but still want a flawless finish. The sponge doesn't seem to absorb the product (like most cheap sponges I tried do), so it's really easy to build up the coverage if needed.

Now there was absolutely no question as to which foundation I should go for this season. True Match is my one and only. It's probably my 4th or 5th bottle, so that should say a lot already. Also, many people have asked me whether it's suitable for dry skin.. Thing is, I wouldn't know as my skin is anything but dry!

SIMPLE Facial Wipes | LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclair Mat | BOTANICS Ionic Clay Mask

Moving onto skincare, here are a few purchases I've made. I'm already using everything you see here and I'm really happy with the results. When my face feels yuck I use these wipes to get rid of all the unwanted grease and then apply this clay mask. After being a Shrek for ~30mins, I rinse my face and moisturize it using the Effaclair Mat by La Roche-Posay. I might just do a proper review for this product as I've fallen head over heels for this stuff!

TIP: before paying almost £4 for these facial wipes at Boots, try Superdrug. They're only £1 there!

DID YOU KNOW? I purchased this La Roche-Posay moisturizer using the money I earned playing apps! Say whaaa?! Yup, I'm happy to say that it's 100% legit, the app is called "Feature Points" and you get points by downloading and using apps for ~30 seconds (then you can just uninstall those apps). You can then redeem your points and get Amazon vouchers or just straight up money into your PayPal account (which is what I did)! So download "Feature Points" and use my code for extra 50 points: BY29XP

SUPERDRUG hairspray | DOVE hand cream (similar)

I haven't had a chance to try the hairspray just yet, but I have freshers coming up so it'll definitely come in handy! And I'm using this hand cream all the time as I'm an absolute hand cream junkie, I hate the feeling of dry hands! And this one's honestly one of the best ones I've ever bought. My hands are so smooth and the product's absorbed really quickly and the smell... it's just divine as my favorite scent is nothing else but vanilla.

BATISTE dry shampoo | PRIMARK pedicure set | PRIMARK falsies

After ages and ages of wanting to try Batiste, the time has finally come and so did the realization that dry shampoos don't really work on my hair. My hair gets really greasy within 24 hours so I only use this dry shampoo to give some extra volume to my roots and that's it. 

I also picked up some bits from Primark. A pedicure set, merely because I forgot mine back at home and some false eyelashes if I ever decide that I don't have enough of my own. Have any of you tried Primark eyelashes, are they any good? I suppose you can't go wrong with it being one pound only...

BOURJOIS bronzer + highlighter | L'OREAL Eva's nude

I saved my favorite purchases for the last. I absolutely cannot wait to try this bronzer and highlighter duo! I haven't heard much about this particular product, it was more of a spontaneous purchase rather than planned. But Bourjois is a trust-worthy brand in my opinion, so I hope for the best. 

Also, I finally got my hands on this L'Oreal lipstick. All this time I was convinced I'm gonna get the Cheryl's nude, but at the store I decided to go with Eva's as it's more of an Autumnal color. I can already see myself wearing is every single day as it's so neutral and lately I've been hating having my lips bare, I'd rather have some lipstick on!

I'm definitely planning on doing reviews of some of these purchases, tell me if you're interested in something particular!

bisou bisou,

Julia

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MANI MONDAY

hello mon cher reader! It's been so long since I actually took time and put actual effort in doing a proper nail art! I've been wearing two colors tops for the past few months, usually just a single color. I'm really falling out of love with nail art. Weird, but I'm just not feeling it anymore. But I was so happy to get back into it last night when I was watching this video by the lovely and ever so talented Jenny Fox. She claimed this might be her favorite mani she's ever done! And it looks SO amazing, doesn't it?

I love how vibrant it looks, I can't stop admiring my nails now, haha! The thing I love the most is probably that at first sight it seems so complicated and difficult to do, but it's honestly SO easy. All you're gonna do is just just dot, dot, dot away. And if you don't have any dotting tools, here are some alternatives which work just fine.

What do you think of this design? It reminds of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it... Anyways, hope this Monday isn't too hard on you and if it is, just know that whatever obstacle you're facing, it's permanent. XX

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BEST FACE SCRUB EVER (your skin will thank me!)

BEST FACE SCRUB EVER

YOUR SKIN WILL THANK ME

Last week I didn't only discover Kandee Johnson, the quirkiest persona, a sunshine of youtube beauty guru's, but also the best face scrub on earth. 

WHAT DOES IT DO?

removes the dead skin layer so you're left with a face so soft baby's butt is jealous

helps with: acne, blackheads, freckles, discoloration, any spots

basically all of the skin problems

A treatment without having to leave your house using products you already have in  your kitchen:

lemon juice

a teaspoon of sugar

and a cotton pad

HOW TO?

soak the cotton pad with lemon juice, sprinkle sugar on it, scrub your face in a circular motion

THOUGHTS:

that's a discovery of a lifetime! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this scrub. I have a rather sensitive skin (+ basically all of the problems I mentioned above) and I'm truly surprised the scrub doesn't cause any irritation, only does what Kandee claims! I love to use it after taking my makeup off so that I'm sure to have a 100% clean skin after wearing makeup all day. 

You have to try this out. You know you want to! Just GO already will ya, tell me your thoughts afterwards.

The next BEAUTY post on my blog should be:
	My Skincare Routine
	My Holy Grail Makeup
	Empties
	I'll leave suggestions in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

BISOU BISOU,

Julia

EVERYDAY MAKEUP

S A T U R D A Y ,  O C T O B E R  5

EVERYDAY MAKEUP

hello dear reader. It took me a month to build up a pretty much permanent makeup routine for my everyday look this Fall. After trying out different products, I've settled to the following. By the way, I feel like doing some reviews in my upcoming posts, so if you want me to review something from this posts - do tell in the comments! 

My makeup-free self says hi:

Step 1: prime

L'ORÉAL PARIS STUDIO SECRETS PRIMER

I apply this after moisturizer with my fingers

Step 2: foundation

GARNIER BB CREAM in shade LIGHT applied with a beauty blender
a light coverage of this bb cream is enough for my everyday look 

Step 3: conceal

CATRICE CAMOUFLAGE CREAM in shade IVORY
applied with a small eye makeup brush around my eyes, inner eye corners, around my nose, and blemishes. Then I blend it gently with my finger tips.

Step 4: setting

CATRICE SKIN FINISH COMPACT POWDER in shade TRANSPARENT
I need something soft to apply powder so I choose a stippling brush because of its fine bristles

Step 5: blush

MAYBELLINE EXPERT WEAR BLUSH in shade ROSE
I apply this on my cheekbones, but don't bring it out on my cheek apples though. I use what's suppose to be a dupe of Real Techniques Expert face brush (purchased from ebay).

Step 6: lashes

ORIFLAME GIORDANI GOLD and RIMMEL SCANDALEYES

(I curl my lashes before btw) then apply Oriflame mascara for lenght and its perfect separation, then a coat or two of Rimmel's for volume.

Ta dah

So that's my ever so simple look to wear everyday for school. Oh and I don't wear anything on my lips besides a lip balm. So yeah that's that! Anything caught your eye? Tell me what should I review then!

BISOUS BISOUS,

JULIA