MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year dear friends and readers!

I wish you all peaceful holidays spent with your loved ones, and warm feelings all over! :) Moreover, since this is a beauty blog, one or two of your cosmetic wishes under the tree! ;)

For me this year is extra special, as it is my baby girl's first Christmas :) <3

As for the new year, I also hope to return to blogging during spring time. I really miss it, and have TONS to write about!

But until then, go now, have fun and eat (not too much though LOL) ;)

And still, I cannot make it... + some Dior ;)

Quick post to show I'm alive, and the blog is not closed down! I even started writing a posting about two weeks ago, but cannot seem to finish ever since. Life with a baby is busy, and when I have some time on my hands I still very much prefer to rest. I need to rest...

But my "cosmetic life" is busy and hectic as well, filled with beautiful, magical items. So yeah, I have tons to write about, do not give up on me!!!!

For the moment, I leave you with an image of the most beautiful, breathtaking limited edition Christmas Collection this year has to offer: Dior's Les Rouges Or. This one, even I could not miss out on...

PUPA - Folk Waves Blush Trio

I remember last year summer (I think) I entered a beauty shop and there was the new limited edition seasonal collection from PUPA. The theme had something to do with forests if I am not mistaken, but the point was the blush in the collection. It was fantastic! It was pretty much a pale pink velvety incandescence in powder form! Creamy pink candle light! And yet, sort of deliberately avoiding PUPA (the *ss that I am) I resisted.

Since I still keep thinking about that blusher and I regretted my decision a million times since then, I definitely could not miss out on this fall's limited edition blusher from the "Folk Waves" Collection. A huge, baked gorgeousness composed of 3 stripes to be mixed or worn alone. The two edge stripes shimmery and rich, while the middle one more glittery this blusher is perfectly illuminating and has a "silky effect" just as promised. The clam shell design compact is luxurious and falls perfectly into place in the palm of your hand. It has moreover a huge mirror inside!

Pink Harmony was obviously my choice of color, and it looks perfect with my pale complexion. It is also the perfect product to wake up my face in these grey winter days (after long nights of barely sleeping). The formula is also without parabens and perfectly adapted to sensitive skin. I think this item is lovely, and if you want an awesome illuminating blusher (the glitters are really not offensive on the face and make a nice effect), you will get your 20 Euros worthwhile.

By the way: has PUPA's formula's and quality been improved, or did I just mature into their world of baked products? I know for sure that most of their products have undergone some sort of revamping this last year and a half/ two years. I'm not sure, all I know is that I went for some of their mini nail polishes (which I have always loved!), and came home with almost every product in their line! After some years apart it seems we are a match made in heaven!

Oh yeah, I am all about PUPA now! <3

DOLOMIA - Nail Color

Post number two in my DOLOMIA series!

You might remember my quest looking for a simple but cute nail color that is easy to find (in Italy that is), has none of the major harmful ingredients (therefore is 3 free) and offers a something little extra for my nails, some cure and care while we're at it ;)

Well once again, DOLOMIA was the answer! They have a little line of 10 simple and elegant colors (most of them pale creme pastels), as well as one transparent polish that dupes as both base and top coat (or a simple clear polish if you prefer that look), that no one can go wrong with. These babies are strengthening and protecting the nails, are easy to apply and dry quite fast too, giving you a solid 5-7 day manicure (especially if you use the base/top coat).

The available colors are all lovely, and also here, you can hardly make a wrong choice. I myself opted for '04 Chiara' as my very first bottle. 'Chiara' is a very very pale pearly pink. Coverage is flawless, and I need no more than one coat. Now many of you might think of this color as very mammy, but I like it a lot, and find it more of an evergreen classic. There is nothing wrong with a pale pearly pink if the formula is right (right amount of pearl effect, not too heavy nor too light, moreover easy to apply evenly) and if it is applied right. With this one I have no problems whatsoever, and my hands always look flawless and ready for any situation.

Naturally this is not a selection for you nail crazed ladies out there. (Luckily) There are no crackele' effects, magnetic polishes, vampy colors or chunky glitters. But if you want clean and polished looking nails in a few simple minutes, with products that are guaranteed safe and "clean" to use while only spending 6 EUR for a 9 ml bottle, DOLOMIA Nail Colors are right up your alley. Personally, they are all I ever really wanted for my nails.

On the image below I try to present the bottle, and on my nails you see one plain coat of 'Chiara'. No base or top. With base and top the effect is just somewhat smoother (as my nails are smoother) and a couple of grades shinier.

Highly recommended!!!

DOLOMIA Make Up - Blusher

Hi All!

Here comes finally the first posting since my baby girl arrived :) What to say, it feels good to be back :)

As you perhaps remember during the last few weeks of my pregnancy I tried to create a beauty guide for new moms (to be), and also had the time to revise it once. Well, I had many ideas, and I think in one way or another I managed to follow most of them, but having given birth and taking care of a newborn baby really showed me to the best products I own (and needed or still need to get), and how to truly keep up a quick and practical beauty routine. To show and explain, I should take a new stash photo I think, but bear with me for a while.
You might also remember that I introduced you to DOLOMIA Make Up by showing off what I bought, and leaving a hint here and there on Facebook of my satisfaction. Well, I must confess that during this last month this amazing, exclusively pharmaceutical brand (both as far as production and distribution goes) has truly become my number one, must have, go to brand of make up items.

I own practically an almost completely full "kit"by now (as I pick up something every time I enter the pharmacy LOL), but will still need to complement a bit, and hope in some new goodies to be launched as well (there should be limited edition seasonal collections, but I have not been able to get information or seen anything in my pharmacy). I have been thinking a lot about which item should get the honor of the first review, and have decided for the powder blusher as it is the item that perhaps surprised me the most. First of all, for decent swatches look here. Although there are only four shades available they are all very natural, and cover the scale for all skin tones in my opinion. Being very pale I chose No. 51 Biscotto (Biscuit), that is much better for us pale and porcelain skinned ladies than you would even begin to imagine.

Biscuit is a quite pale but definitely pigmented shade of pinky-peachy-beige (completely matte finish). What I love about it is the super fine powder texture that applies effortlessly and evenly with a blusher brush (I would love to buy the DOLOMIA brushes but alas the pharmacy does not carry them), leaving behind a beautifully transparent but luminous color that looks super natural on my cheeks, all day long. This color moreover has the ability to look slightly different in different light conditions. Sometimes it is more of a pink shade, while at other moments the peachy beige tone seems to reign. Not to mention that also the price tag of about 11 EUR (cannot remember exactly now what I paid but it was not more than that) is more than friendly for this top notch product, that even comes in a very elegant, shiny black packaging.

There is not much else to say, and no need to draw this posting much longer. In all honesty this is a lovely product of the highest (and purest!) quality for little money (like the rest of the DOLOMIA selection), and I am going to remain a faithful consumer as long as I can. I also recommend it to all of you, warmly.

If you disregard of the Sephora concealer on the top of the image below, you can see most of my DOLOMIA stash, and a pretty realistic image of the blusher. More reviews of this brand definitely to follow ;)

Things to Look Out For This Fall - A Summary Post

Ok, me being pregnant is no news for any of you anymore. I am now in week 38, and exhausted. On the other hand there are so many lovely things to share with all of you, so many things I wanted to say these last weeks, but I just never made it. Therefore I have decided to make one summary post where I try to make up for lost time (and non written posts), and perhaps even more importantly give a quick run through the news for this fall/winter that I think look worthy of some serious attention.

First of all, I unfortunately ended up hating all my Benefit haul items :( Yes, serious waste of money, but luckily there is my "to be gifted" bin, so at the end it will work out well. Call me crazy pregnant lady, but in the longer term there were a couple of little things I did not like (that I discovered little by little while using them) and it all snowballed into a general no go for these products, not to mention that my husband hated the smells of them, and that for me is always a deciding element! No worries though, as I just went to a pharmacy nearby and replaced practically my entire makeup stash with nice, pharmaceutical quality DOLOMIA make up products for a mere 60-70 EUR (includes cream foundation, lipstick, blusher, eye liner pencil, eye shadow, nail polish and mascara). I love pharmacy skin care and make up more and more and will probably never let go of them again. But then again.... But then again, there are other items which need to be singled out on the shelves of a good Sephora or department store. Good items always hide in the masses ;)

1. Just as a reminder. If you own and wear any of the Clinique Chubby Sticks, hug it tight and love it (if not, go and get one now!). I adore mine, and it is definitely the comfort item I reach for the most when it comes to lips. I now wear 'Woopin' Watermelon, and it is just the perfect pale pink sheen and pampering for your lips. As a quick note, I apologize to my lovely contact at Clinique Italy, as she did send me some items months ago and I, shamefully, never came around to the reviews. One of them was the 'Targeted Protection Stick SPF 35', and I must say although I never left the city this year, it served me well on some strategical points that were often exposed. The other item was their new 'Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15'  which is light but at the same time soft as silk and is a dream to apply. It keeps yous skin soft as butter too, with a delicate but effective pigmentation. Unfortunately though, I personally would need shade 1, which I will have difficulties to find it seems.

For the moment though, keep your eyes peeled for their Black Honey fall trend (with the mythical Black Honey Lip Color), not to mention the Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8 Hour Colour (which should already be in stores also in Italy, but apparently we have some delay so just wait a few more days). Despite of being tired beyond ridiculous, I did go out and search for these, and mark my word, soon I will look for them again. :D

2. Do also take a look at the lovely Colour Definition collection from Clarins. As always, we are being offered a collection that is breathtakingly elegant, and gives us also some items that will make part of the general collection of Clarins! The Ombre Minerale 4 Couleurs especially talk to me.... Moreover, let's not forget their new eye contour gel and compact foundation to be released either.... Yup, keep your eyes open, you won't regret it!

3. Estee Lauder. Aaah, thy name is temptation. Besides the sick, twisted and forbidden attraction I feel towards their new Idealist Illuminator products for face and eye contour, there is their new Pure Colour Sensous Rouge Lip Color, the lipstick with the balm(y) core that looks like a million bucks. One of these will be mine! Sooner or later. For the moment, let's just wait for the release ;)

4. Dior. Not one of my usual brands, but unfortunately I am kind of getting into it. About a month ago I received as a gift from my mother in law, one of the new Dior Addict High Shine Lipsticks and it is way better that I even imagined it could be. Soft and moisturizing with a texture that really is beyond anything we are used to. Wonderful colors aplenty and red carpet ready lips. My mind is blow away by this, and I can only recommend it. The color I got is color 579 'Must Have'. A mid tone pink with the most delicate shimmer. Simply a must have. And, just to mention it, I am also lusting for a Diorlisse nail polish, Dior Addict Lip Glow and of course Creme Abricot for my nails. Take that wish list. I guess an item for my birthday, another for Christmas... It can be done :)

To give you a proper view of how my stash is currently I also took a photo. Still not a huge stash, but almost completely changed. As for the new mom beauty routine, I think unfortunately I will not be able to revisit it again at this moment, but I do stick to the most important points of it: cleanse (wipes are handy as I have mentioned before), moisturize, and keep things clear and simple but do not give up your femininity. Take care of yourself and remember you are a woman (to be desired) not "just" a breastfeeding and diaper changing machine LOL. ;) :D At the end, this you can do with any products you see fit. For my part, reviews, updates and more items to lust for will be posted about later. Never forget that although I might not write, I always check in and keep an eye on the developments! ;)

A Quick Catching Up

I have so much to say, and so little focus and discipline to do so at the moment :D Please forgive me, good readers and brands I am in contact with, but as I could go into labor any day now I feel slightly distracted :D

But to catch up a little: all my skincare (including body) comes now strictly from the pharmacy, and I am loving it. My skin feels great (finally also on my body - all hail Vichy NutriExtra!) and it's really just a higher quality experience, for not a too high price (although I must admit I am ever so curious about the Benefit b.right! skin care line). I am going to stick to shopping in the pharmacy I think. And I am also going to go there for makeup!

Recently I wanted a nail polish that was a bit special, and so I managed to pick up a bottle of Dolomia nail polish in the pharmacy. The ingredient list is great (definitely free of anything remotely nasty), and I am very happy about this 6 EUR find of mine. Having seen many appealing, simple and elegant products I will definitely return to the pharmacy next time I need to replace a makeup item. I am a simple girl at heart, and pharmaceutical formulas just feel so clean and safe for some reason. Not to mention colors are usually on the sober side, prices are affordable and most makeup items made by pharmaceutical companies hide some great skin care benefits as well.

Having said that, I need to confess to loving my new Benefit stash (although Posietint still needs to get some getting used to from my side, I do absolutely and in particular adore Dandelion and Ooh La Lift!), and also my selected Sephora Collection items (new hydrating blusher, jumbo eye pencil, concealer and vinyl lipstick pencil), so for the future, I guess I will just mix pharmacy with Sephora and Benefit :D. On the other hand I have grown some second thoughts about liquid liners. I mean they are still great, but I did see some lovely pencils in the pharmacy, and I am also very tempted by a BADgal liner in color 'Espresso'. Perhaps I also miss the creaminess of a pencil, and the ability to smudge it out a bit when I want to (or when I apply it slightly crooked).

I will make a list of reviews I need to make, and also update on how my beauty routine works after actually having had the baby (and consequently having a lot less time and effort to put into makeup).

And I will try to be here, as much and as soon as I can! :)