The Best Of The Best - 2010

Hi All!

I hope you all had a marvelous Christmas! I for sure did, not so much for the presents (although I did get a few lovely things) but for all the family togetherness, warmth and laughter :)

Before reaching New Years Eve though, I wanted to summarize this year for you, at least the makeup/cosmetics part of it. This will not be an all too detailed and scientifical list, but it will let you in on the best beauty secrets /products I discovered this year.

1. The first and best secret has to be: forget all you ever read about skin tones and makeup. Really. I've discovered its all bull. I am pale and cool toned. Have favored cool tones and pinks my entire life, just to discover recently how wrong I have been. While delicate pinks and naturals do look nice enough on me, they always have looked somewhat fake and made up (it was that 'oh she's wearing makeup' pretty). When I recently started experimenting more bravely with warm tones such as peach, apricot and coral for nails, lips and cheeks, and warmer shades of beige and brown often with golden hues for eyes, I saw a drastic and rather flattering change in my look. My skin and appearance warmed up. I have color on my face but it does not look like makeup. The colors adjust slightly to my skin, and they just make me look healthy, glowing and so much more... approachable. Much more adult. In addition, peaches and corals are universally flattering and suit most women way better than they would ever assume. And they will still look gorgeous with your old, mostly cool toned wardrobe as well (peach marries so well with most colors, you have to try it to believe it). So I say, if you like it and it flatters you wear it. Do not even bother with reading ancient rules of what you're supposed to look good in. Wear what you actually look and feel good in.

2. Too Faced Natural Eyes Kit. There is not much to say about this. In my opinion, this should be the number one (and quite possibly only one) eyeshadow collection in every woman's possession. It is the best, the most basic and yet complex that let's you do all and allow you to always look your sophisticated best. A myth.

3. The same goes for Chanel's Rouge Coco. Amazing formula with a luxurious feel that is worth every of the 27 EUR it costs. And once again, forget pinks. 'La Pausa' is a very flattering, luminous peach to color your puckers elegantly.

3. The Sephora Collection hides some very price worthy goodies, and their blushers are flawless. Blush Me! in 'Abricot Plaisir' is a lovely option while you're at it.

4. A simple eye brow pencil. Makes such a difference even if your brows tend to behave.

5. Zoya Nail Polishes. Buy them, wear them, love them. Don't ever change them. These babies are as non toxic as it gets, and they come in a huge range of lovely colors not to mention several special collections each year. There is something here to love for every gal'. Quite a few corals as well I need to mention.

6. Nivea Q10 Plus Anti Wrinkle Light Day Care. I have not reviewed this yet, but I friggin adore it (as I have discovered this last month)! It is soo good, feels lovely on the skin and takes care of it without leaving a trace. I also adore the cleansing milk, and I plan to put some focus on this line as I run out of certain items. It just seems to fit me so well and I really love the feeling of the products, as well as the results.

That's it ladies. I think these are the most ground breaking beauty "happenings" for me during 2010. I think I am starting off a good foot, let's see how this situation will evolve during 2011 :)

Have a lovely New Year's Eve!

Season's Greetings!

Dear All!

I merely wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for reading me this year, and I hope you will return the next :)

Enjoy the holidays and be well!

LightPinkPearl

Wishlist: Too Faced Romantic Eye Classic Beauty Collection

What an odd coincidence :D I was just sitting here and browsing for makeup to wear on a very special occasion I have coming up spring 2011 (yes I am aware that it is Christmas just now, but why not be proactive?), when the facebook posting of a blogger "colleague" (Trendy Nail) drew my attention to this fantastic and dreamy looking thing:

Yes everybody, this is a new Too Faced Eye Kit, available for now only in the US it seems but I sure hope it will arrive also to us before it is time. I mean look at it!!!!

With shadow names such as "Soul Mates", "Kiss The Bride", "Bouquet Toss", "I Do", "Unveil", "Cut The Cake", "First Dance", "Honeymoon" and "Ever After" this is the ultimate wedding eye look kit, also suitable though for an ultra feminine look on all those other days ;)

I want this. I NEED THIS. I cannot be complete without this (makeup wise that is). I will do my utmost to get this, and as I do adore my Natural Eyes Kit above all my other items (it is my go to eyeshadow product and I am not even sure why I have any other eyeshadows, even if I have truly only a few), I am sure I will love this one as well.

Sephora Collection Baked Moonshadow + Eye Brow Pencil

Luck brought me to Milan also this weekend and that obviously means a trip to Sephora on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. As I was just there a month ago, I feel really privileged. That place is amazing, I could live there in all truthfulness :D

Anyhow, this time I went easy though on the shopping. I was mostly looking for a small gift to a friend of mine, and an eyebrow pencil for myself (while my beloved stocked up on his Yes To Carrots products. There really was a fantastic offer on them). But then again I could obviously not resist the Baked Moonshadow line and picked a lovely color: Sunbaked. This is a trio of a sort of bronze color, dark chocolate and gold. Great natural trio, with that added bit of glitz and glam baked eyeshadows are known for. As always with baked eyeshadows dry usage gives a subtle result, while applying them wet brings a lot of oomph. I truly detest applying eyeshadow wet and stick to dry application. Subtlety is my motto in makeup anyhow. I do however prefer to apply this with one of those cosmetic cotton swabs as I feel it gives me the most control.

I personally feel to have a kind of love-hate relationship with baked cosmetic products (they attract me so, but then when it comes to using them often I am left feeling a little empty), and this I say after having tested both KIKO and MAC, thus covering both high end and low. I must however confess that I rather like this one. Pigmentation is great and it is easy to work with. The colors are wonderful (there are some rather interesting looking color combinations available for those braver among you) and Sunbaked really gives a lovely natural, but more sparkly result (applied dry though it is subdued enough for daytime or even work). It really does recall the effect of the sun, as a matter of fact I think of it as my sunshine colored eyeshadow, as it looks a tad bit orange on the lids. Anyhow it is lovely, do not think of a bright clown looking thing at all.

Generally I must say I am so very very impressed with the Sephora Collection. I have said it before and will say it again. They are high quality for an affordable price and offer something for all tastes and wishes. I have found many favorites amongst them lately and I turn to them gladly when I need something, or am just looking for something particular.

Like the eyebrow pencil. I have never used one, but wanted to test as I think it can lend eyebrows a somewhat more elevated sense of order and definition. Well luckily the color 'Brown' is just right for me. All I need to do is to "draw" on a wee bit of color (I am being very light handed) and then I make some order with the little brush on the cap. Tada! Lovely eyebrows all day long for the mere price of 7,90 EUR.

The Moonshadow retails for 15,90 EUR, but I think that is fine and worth it. I recommend the Sephora Collection to all (as many of their products are even paraben free).

Chanel Rouge Coco

Ok this is it, stop the presses! You know that scene in many movies where the female protagonist lies her eyes for the first time on the one man she knows will be the love of her life and father of her children? Or to put in less dramatic, like a commercial here in Italy currently does: you can like many, but only one can truly conquer your heart.

Well I know many good lipsticks I would recommend to you in a heart beat (the PUPA Volume, Incarose Extreme Lips Glam and Lancome Color Fever being the top 3), but none, I repeat NONE is like Rouge Coco from Chanel.

I could tell you about how the click of the cap was studied and engineered, how the faint rose/vanilla scent was tweaked to perfection and how the name of each and every color is a piece of history as it ties to something in Coco's life. But I won't, as all of it is wonderfully described on the very cool mini website (within Chanel.com) dedicated to the Rouge Coco line.

I can however tell you that this lipstick is perfect, and if you could swear true love to a lipstick, promise faithfulness to it and marry it, I would. Without any hesitation. This is my lipstick, and I love it, every single thing about it. The scent is delicate and superb (would love it in a perfume or eau de toilette form although it does not smell perfumey at all just a very pleasant scent. I do in all honesty adore both rose and vanilla scents, maybe that's why I love it so much). The texture is on the firmer side of creamy but it is by no means hard or waxy. Oh no no.  It is just right to apply easily without a mirror or on the go (which I have done several times). The Hydratender formula does give sufficient moisture to my smackers, and they are soft and comfortable even in this ungodly cold that we have at the moment. The pigmentation is rich and so are the colors as a result, in addition they also last quite long and do not disappear in an instant even if you eat or drink something. Also, this lipstick is not sticky at all.

The packaging, well let's not even talk about the packaging. I mean what is there to say about it? Lacquered metal (yes, all metal. No plastic feeling here), black with gold detail and the characteristic Chanel logo on the top of the cap. It is pure elegance and luxury. A trustworthy best friend every woman should have in her purse.

The color I picked is 08 'La Pausa', which is a golden peach (according to Chanel coppery peach). Anyhow it is a lovely, quite neutral warm shade of peach with the tiniest golden glimmer particles that sparkle ever so little if the light catches them right. The effect is gorgeous, and it brings a healthy warmth to my face (just like the Sephora 'Abricot Plaisir' blush), that looks way more natural than pinks ever did. People even said they didn't recognize me at first, it is a completely new look. But one I love. It is much more harmonious and adult. Peach (apricot, coral) is definitely the new pink in this girls life!!!

What else to say? This is my signature lipstick and color from now on, there is just nothing wrong with it. Price tag is at 27 EUR, but if you buy one only when you need one (what can that be, 1-2 tubes a year? No more than 3 in any case!) it is absolutely worth it.

As a matter of fact I even put up the amazing picture you see on the right as a sort of 'Rouge Coco' badge to show where I stand to to say :) Feel free to "steal" it if you feel like me about these lipsticks.

Nivea SOS Care Repair Lotion

Although Nivea shampoos and conditioners seems to be poison for my mane (and I don't really get why), I do rather like their face and body care along with some shower creams and hand creams. Cheap, reliable and even good. After all Nivea is a brand I have grown up with, and for the greatest part they do not have a history of letting me down. Quite to the contrary actually.

As I am sure I have mentioned before body lotion (along with shower and hair products) is not something I like to spend a lot of money on because I use them in larger quantities than other cosmetic items and the whole ordeal would simply cost too much. One economic and good lotion available to me is the Garnier Body Sensitive, but to have some alternation and a second option I also use the Nivea SOS Care Repair Lotion.

The skin on my body is notoriously dry, particularly during winter. I mean my own clothing have caused me wounds in the past, and I really do need a good lotion that keeps my skin in condition and also protects it. The Nivea SOS Care Repair is perfect for all this. It is a fluid, so it sinks into skin quickly, leaving a pleasant softness, comfort and scent behind. It does relieve skin and protect it very well, even keeping my elbows smooth and soft to the touch which is no wonder if we take a look at the ingredient list. Besides the usual ingredients in a body lotion does there is indeed the promised (dex)panthenol but also calendula flower extract and shea butter.

All in all, no matter what angle I look at it from, this is a very good lotion for those of you with dry skin that needs attention, for a price tag of about 4 EUR. Highly recommended.

Skin Care At My House These Days

Truth is, I have been meaning to write about my current skin care products for a while now, but I am just not sure how to get on with the task.

I mean how can I write an accurate review of a product, if my skin seems to like almost anything these days and still behaves eerily well? As we usually order home the biggest part of our grocery shopping twice a month (we do not have a car currently and it is a bit difficult without), I often take part of offers the supermarket proposes. That is how I currently alternate products from the L'oreal Derma Genesis line, the Nivea Dnage and also Q10 lines, and also some cleansing products from Garnier, not to mention a few drops of Boots Beauty Serum every day. I know much of these are not meant for my age category, but I go rather after the texture and effect of a product than categorizations based on age.

Products aimed at consumers between 40 and 50 are richer but without clogging the skin or being heavy in any sense (the L'oreal Derma Genesis is amazing in this sense. I adore it, but not as much as my skin I must say), they moisturize well and have a luxurious feeling over them. Then again I am also not particularly worried that I might be using these products too early in life (I am 31 currently), and what will I then reach for later? I doubt they are that effective anyway (let's face it if you have wrinkles like the grand canyon and you have neglected skin care for the greater part of your life, mere creams won't help you now) not to mention the market constantly changes and new products appear each year. I will always have something new to choose from. So I say, if you like it and your skin likes it, use it! As simple as that.

And as for me still being able to review skin care, well I guess I will just have to start describing each product to my best abilities without saying much about the effects of them, as they all result in more or less the same on my face: strong, smooth, velvety skin with few flaws and blemishes. I hope this lucky strike will last and last :D

Lipstick Nightmare

As I am sure you have noticed I am obsessing about buying a lipstick to match better my beloved apricot color blush. First of all, I cannot imagine what I was thinking when I purchased the Too Faced Natural Eye Kit, an apricot colored blush and a pink lipstick. Pink. Why pink???? Particularly as I wanted to bring some warmth to my face. I guess it did not compute that the warmer shade of blush, will look best paired with a similar lipstick. What to say, I must have been too excited.

Anyhow, Monday I will have to go and get a lipstick, as I dislike the pink shade more and more. I do not even like it anymore in combination with the warmer blush and why should I, its horrid. What was I thinking??? Now I just basically wear it so to protect my lips and not go "naked".

I started off with wanting a Rouge Coco, since then I have looked at everything I can think of. The plan is however basically this: I will go to Sephora and choose a lipstick based on shade, not popularity. During this last week I have been to Sephora almost every day I think and looked at many things (lipsticks), yet afterwards I always had a new idea that needed to be checked out.

So Monday I go there, and look at every shade that could match my blush and needs. Then I will choose. I go with a noble purpose, as I aim to choose my signature shade, the one I shall stick to. That is my current beauty need, and that is what I shall solve.

Image below purely illustrative of my confusion. :D

My First Steps Into Zoya Land

So the other day my little Zoya haul arrived and I am thrilled, as the products are all that I hoped for!

Lovely delicate colors, easy to use, also great base and top coats, remover (the remover particularly amazed me!) and quick dry drops. I got two color polishes and the Mini Color Lock System, and they proved to be a perfect first step into the world of Zoya nail products. The mini set is also rather sweet and handy for a low price, perfect gift for christmas to a friend or even yourself! It also allows you to test the products without investing a lot of money. I will for sure repurchase, and buy the full sized items without hesitation as I now know how they deliver. Very very well! :)

I will go into more details regarding all the products, but for now I merely wanted to make an introduction and show some pictures.

My manicure was made with the base coat, 2 coats of 'Scarlet' (the pink shade. The other shade is 'Lulu'), top coat and quick dry drops. Clean and subtle, just the way I like it (although the image does not make it full justice. It is so much more glossy and lovely than what you see below. It is indeed perfect). :)

Rediscovering PUPA

Ever since I purchased the PUPA Volume Lipstick (which is fantastic), and noticed that PUPA also has a lovely new website (FINALLY, they were really overdue for it) I have been paying some more attention to them again (after some years of pretty much neglecting them) and I must say I rather like some bits and pieces I see. Before I forget to mention it, I have tested also their renewed Lasting Color mini polishes previously and found them to be not only gorgeous, but also excellent.

In the past I was a devotee of their Strawberry and Cream Miss Milkie products, and it might just be time I got me some soon again! I mean they're absolutely delish....
And just today, I noticed that color 301 of my beloved 'Volume' lipstick line is a color called 'Coral Pink'. Might it be what I am looking for? A warmer, coral/apricot sort of pink to complement my Sephora Abricot Plaisir blusher? It would cost less than a Rouge Coco, even if I am obsessing with one.

I shall be happy to explore this I can assure you :)

On My Lips...

I am one of those women who has to go through that eternal struggle of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde dimensions regarding lipstick and lip gloss. What am I? A gloss girl, or a sophisticated lipstick woman? At times I am one, then the other, or both at the same time. Based on my recent experiences though, and looking retrospectively at the last 10 years, at the end it seems I need to confess to being a sophisticated lipstick woman. Both worlds have a lot of good to offer, but at the end I seem to enjoy a lipstick more.

Glosses do not even attract me really anymore, with the exception of the Zoya Hot Lips series, that I do hope to experience some day and I think I could like it.

So what is on my lips then as far as lipstick go? Well I am rather impressed with the PUPA Volume lipstick, and the "my lips but better" pink I have purchased is really clean and fool proof in any situation. Soft like a mousse and not only plumping but intensely moisturizing. And then even smelling of violets! What a dream of a lipstick.

The Clarins Rouge Prodige are nice. They are definitely quite firm and can perhaps be perceived as a bit hard, but in reality are very pleasant and they do feel ever so good on lips, particularly in this cold we have now.  Let's just say that they are not those buttery soft lipsticks that melt onto lips, but are of a denser texture. Great nonetheless as they never feel heavy during wearing, and keep lips soft and supple even in icy winds.

For some reason though, I am absolutely fixated with wanting a Rouge Coco from Chanel. By now, these need no further introduction I am sure... What is there to say really, these are elegance and luxury in a tube that all women should have a right to own. Maybe one cannot build a wardrobe of Chanel outfits, but a tube of lipstick is not impossible to reach (even if it is not the cheapest at 27 EUR) and can still make you feel like like a socialite as you busy about your daily business.

As I have recently discovered how a warmer shade of blush surprisingly complements my face exceedingly well and gives me a much more natural effect of health than pinks do, I would like to own a lipstick in a similar shade, so to have the lipstick and blush a bit more on the same string and be a tad bit more coordinated (although I am by no means obsessed by coordination of makeup items and never have been. Also because I tend to wear neutrals or very delicate shades where nothing can really stand out. Particularly nowadays that I have found the Too Faced Natural Eyes Kit and it is all I wear.) Therefore my fist idea was the color 'La Pausa', but as it might prove itself to be a little bit too yellow, I changed to 'Ruban Rose'. This one I have seen described as a warmer pink that is versatile and can adapt to the other colors in your look, with a slight golden shimmer. This might just be enough for me to bring some warmth to my lips and assimilate to the blush, without going overboard.

I do not own a Rouge Coco. Just yet. It is a void in my life I hope to be able to cure soon ;)

Zoya 'Hot Lips':

Rouge Coco 'Ruban Rose' and below 'La Pausa'. Images courtesy of Temptalia:

I Really Really Want And Need Some Zoya In My Life

Yup, I desperately want and even need some Zoya nail polishes (I do not really need more than two colors at once though as they come in a huge 15 ml bottles) and preferably the Color Lock system which consists of a base and a top coat as well as drying drops.

If you remember, I have already had some adventures with the odorless nail polishes of Honeybee Gardens, and my experiences were good indeed. At the end however, even though I promised I would not, I did return to regular nail polishes for one reason or another. Honeybee Gardens has very little colors selection, and even though there are some nice shades, there is not a selection of pastels, there is no subtleties between a range of shades that seem to be so similar and yet they are not.

Well Zoya has it all! They offer an amazing range of over 300 shades of pregnancy safe, non toxic, non aggressive nail polishes that are even considered to be the longest lasting natural nail products in the world, in addition to a line of nail care items (gentle remover, base coat, top coat, drying drops) to keep your manicure (or pedicure for that matter) fancy for longer. I recently realized that even though I do adore the Sephora mini nail polishes which are not supposed to be the most "harmful" ones (and I have tested tons of others, always looking for better and better options), a regular manicure routine is indeed harsh and drying on my nails. I just started to use some nail and cuticle cream (nothing fancy, was part of a 5 EUR H&M manicure kit) and I see huge improvements already, but I put down my usual manicure products for good. Zoya polishes though are not supposed to do this damage, and they even handle just like regular polishes and are a bit less peculiar in the application process, which cannot be said about the Honeybee Gardens products.

Moreover, among these over 300 shades there is a wide selection of lovely pastels (these are the members of the 'Purity', 'Blissful' and 'Spa Essentials' collections) although also in the regular line you can find some lovely pales. The mentioned colors all have an air of delicacy, bridal look and elegancy about them, and I can find all the declinations of a french pastel pink or peach I have ever dreamt of.

Luckily, some of these are already on their way to me, and I cannot wait for them to arrive!!!!! :D These will for sure be reviewed and photographed! This time, for real ;) :D

'Spa Essentials' Chart:

'Purity' Chart:

'Blissful' Chart: