CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Fluid

Chanel Les Beiges healthy glow fluid is a hybrid product. It is somewhat between a tinted moisturizer and a BB cream. The 30ml retail for 43 Euros. There are 3 color available. I own the lightest color number 10. Even though there are only three colors available I think most of us can fit in because the product is very light and kind of fits itself.

The idea of the series Les Beiges from Chanel is to offer a very natural look. You will look like as if you are wearing no makeup at all. The product comes in a tube and very easy to use.

You can simply apply the product with your fingers. It applies like a light cream. It offers a little bit of coverage to make you look awake but it will not hide any serious irritations.
By the way the product is heavily scented. It smells of roses. I like the scent but if you are sensible you should be careful. I am happy that that the healthy glow fluid has an SPF of 15. I find it important no matter if its summer of winter.

Here is how color 10 looks like:

The color is light and goes into beige (as the name suggests) and not pink.

I like the natural look it creates. The color sinks in and gives a satin finish. I look awake but not as if I wore heavy makeup. The coverage is on the very light side which is fine for me but others might prefer a real BB cream or a makeup as they offer more and also build-able coverage. If you are searching for something light and easy this will be a good product for you to try.

I am not yet sure if I am absolutely convinced of the product because I have a feeling that it dries my skin a little bit around my eyes. I will stop using it for a bit and then try it again. Otherwise I am happy with the look and the feel the healthy glow fluid creates.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Natural look

·                     Easy to apply

Cons:

·                     Price

·                     Not a lot of color options

·                     Trying to find out if it dries my skin

TATCHA Skin Care for Sensitive Skin

A while ago I wrote about the Tatcha Ritual Discovery Set I reviewed the cleansing oil and the rice powder for sensitive skin. In this post I mentioned that I would get back and talk more about the cream and the serum that the set included. Till now I have not reviewed the cream and the serum. The reason for this was because I have very sensitive skin and I was not really happy with the results. I was not able to point at one of the products to say which one of them caused me irritations.

Over half a year ago (maybe more) Tatcha came out with a new line for very sensitive skin. This made me curious. I decided to give Tatcha's new line for sensitive skin a try to see if this works better for me. I have ordered the discovery set for 59 US Dollars to test and feel if the products suit my needs.

The series for sensitive skin consists of the classic cleansing oil, the indigo rice powder, the deep hydration firming serum (the other series contain a brightening serum) and the indigo triple recovery cream.

The cleansing oil I already reviewed here.

The series contains a rice powder like all of Tatcha's other series. It is called Indigo smoothing rice enzyme powder. It is blue and has no scent.

As all Tatcha's rice powders it needs to be in contact with a few drops of water to foam up. Then you can massage it gently onto your face for a few seconds. The rice powder is washed off with water.
I am not a fan of rice powders overall. I find them a bit drying. I am using this once only every few days. It makes the skin feel extra smooth but I want to use it carefully. I will keep an eye on the rice powder over the next weeks to see if I can use it more often.

Once the skin is clean you use the Tatcha deep hydration firming serum.

The serum is very liquid and has a floral scent to it. A little bit of product goes a long way. The serum is transparent with little gold flakes.
The serum feels good on the skin and it sinks in very quickly.

Once the serum is applied the indigo triple recovery cream is applied on top of it.
According to Tatcha the new indigo triple recovery cream that is intended for sensitive skin is helping the skin recover from rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or allergies. Due to the fact that my skin reacts to many products I wanted to see if this cream would be good for me too.
The cream is blue and has no scent to it. It is thick and needs to be applied quickly because it sinks in very fast.

I have used the series including the cream for almost four weeks twice a day. I have not experienced any breakouts or other signs of allergies. My skin is healthy moisturized and feels soft. I started off with a bit of dryness around the eyes which now starts healing. I have ordered the products in full size to see progress over a longer period of time.

Overall I am very happy with the new series for sensitive skin. It contains some products that are not scented and I feel the series is better thought through than the initial series for sensitive skin. I am pleased that I have not experienced any trouble with my skin using the Tatcha products.

Guerlain KISS KISS in Very Pink and Red on Fire

Guerlain KISS KISS lipsticks are very popular for more than a year now. Though I have not purchased any of them once they came out because I had enough lipsticks at that point in time.

A month ago when I was looking for a new lipstick I passed the Guerlain counter and tried KISS KISS in several colors. They have a very nice color selection from light pink to deep red. KISS KISS retails for 37 Euros.

I was looking for something pink but not too pink which is why I tried "Very Pink". "Red on Fire" was a spontaneous choice. I liked the red because it is not too red for me. In addition to that it has glitter inside! It is difficult to tell from the photos but believe me the color is amazing.

"Very Pink" is a color with a pink undertone which can be worn casually without being starred at in the middle of the day. I have light skin and blond hair and the color gives a nice contrast to my blue eyes.
"Red on Fire" is a red that is not too dark for me. I can wear it during the day without feeling too colorful. Here is how both colors look on my hand.

Both colors apply easy and stay put for a few good hours. I prefer applying them with a lip liner.
For me they hold on all morning and I need to refresh the color only after lunch. From then on the color stays till the early evening. The lasting power is absolutely fine with me. The color does not dry out the lips and also does not make the lips feel tense. Basically you do not feel that you wear any lipstick. The marks on cups and glasses that you might leave when drinking are minimal.

The packaging of the lipsticks is black with gold on the cap. The packaging is made from plastic but still looks fancy. They also take less space in my makeup bag because they do not have the heavy silver packaging that Guerlain uses for some other of its lipsticks.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Large Color selection

·                     Good Lasting power
·                     Lips feel moisturized throughout the day

Cons:

·                     Price

TATCHA Luminous - Dewy Skin Mist

The Tatcha dewy Skin Mist is a moisturizing mist that can be used when on the go. This is not the type of product that I would usually purchase. I am generally not the type of person to buy such additional skin care products that are intended to be somewhat portable - ready to be applied on the way to provide extra moisture. I usually do not carry skin care products around because I use them at home and when I go out I do not want to spend time thinking about my skin care. As you can hear I have not actually planned to get this product. I got it as part of a set that I bought from Tatcha.
Nevertheless, I tried the dewy skin mist and I actually quite like it which is why I am presenting it to you.

The dewy skin mist comes in a purple glass bottle with a pump dispenser, The bottle is quite heavy and looks very luxurious. The product itself is of a milky white color and smells slightly floral.

This is how the product looks like. It is kind of watery. The pump dispenser is very gentle so you will not spray too much product on your face to have a wet experience. Once the product is on your face it gets absorbed quickly.

The finish of this is dewy. Your skin will feel moisturized but not greasy or sticky or wet. Your skin will look relaxed but not shiny.

I am having dry and sensitive dry skin and I like the product very much. I am not sure everybody - especially those with oily skin will need this but I think it is a nice to have.
I use the mist mainly after I wash my face or after a shower when I do not apply my skin care products right away.


Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Very nice feeling on the skin

·                     Provides moisture on the go especially nice for dry skin

Cons:

·                     Might not be needed for some

CND Shellac

I have not planned on writing this post in the first place but thought after a while that my experience with Shellac is interesting for others as well.

Three weeks ago when I was visiting family in Germany I spontaneously decided to go for a manicure. After the flight my skin was dry and two of may fingernails broke off when pulling my suitcase around.
I walked into the first best beauty salon and booked a manicure. While I was there I was asked if I want CND Shellac to be applied or a normal nail polish. I have heard from Shellac before but never tried it because it somewhat never crossed my way. I was curious and decided to go for it.

I chose a lovely red (I was afraid I will have enough of the color after two days but it did not happen).

Once the nails were cut and shaped it was time for Shellac!
At first my nails where prepared with a machine which carefully removed a bit of the top layer of the nail. I was told that this is done to allow Shellac to connect with the nails to make it stay longer.

Right after that a base coat was applied and dried with a UV lamp. Followed by that was the color itself and the top coat. Each layer was dried carefully using a UV lamp.

Once everything was finished the polish was dry immediately! I could not believe it when I took my hand out of the UV lamp. Completely dry! My nails were shiny and nice. I could pay for the manicure without any troubles.

See here a few pictures of how it looked after application:

Today three weeks have passed and I decided to write about Shellac because my nails look almost as good as when it was applied. Of course my nails grew and the polish is not as shiny but nothing broke off or peeled off. The only thing that I can note is that the polish is broken from within on both of my middle fingers. This happened during the second week. Its not something that can be really observed unless you come very close to my nails. Nobody apart from myself can actually see this.

Here is how Shellac looks after three weeks:

I am extremely impressed by the quality of Shellac.It stayed three weeks on my nails without any problems. I have never had such an experience with any nail polish. I am very happy to have discovered Shellac.

Next week I will remove it and change the color.

Helena Rubinstein Spectacular Extension Mascara

The Helena Rubinstein Spectacular Extension Mascara is a mascara that promises to extend your lashes to another level. It exists only in black and costs 35 Euros. In the past there was a waterproof version of this mascara and a normal one. Today they seem to be selling only the non-waterproof version.
I have first bought this mascara around 8 years ago. Ever since I have tried various types of mascaras but I feel that one is my favorite one.

Here is how the brush looks like:

The brush is made of many tiny hairs that distribute the product very evenly over the lashes. In order to achieve the look of extended lashes without spider legs you have to apply the mascara very slowly and carefully. The brush keeps lashes separated by itself but it you apply it evenly over your lashes they get perfectly separated and extended.

The mascara stays put the entire day even though the mascara is not waterproof - it is absolute water resistant for every day life challenges.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Super Long Lasting!

·                     Extends and separates lashes

Cons:

·                     Only in black
·                     Not fully waterproof

Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Face Lotion

The Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Face Lotion is one of my all time favorites. I am using this cleansing face lotion for the last 4 years on and off. I keep on returning to this product because it is so calming and soothing.

The cleansing lotion comes in a tube of 75ml and retails for 9 Euros. The lotion is white very creamy and smells of marzipan. It is 100% fragrance free and contains 100% of natural ingredients.

I apply it on the dry face and then wash it off. It removes all my makeup without problems. I am using non-waterproof makeup and I am not sure if it can remove waterproof mascara and the like.

The smoothing cleansing lotion is intended for sensitive skin. I can confirm that it is wonderful for sensitive skin. I never had any troubles or blemishes caused by this product. I can highly recommend it!

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Great for sensitive skin

·                     Fragrance free

Cons:

·                     None

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner Longue Tenue in Caviar Ink 27

The Bobbie Brown Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink 27 is a black gel eyeliner which comes in a little glass jar. The jar contains 3gr of product and costs 24 Euros. The eyeliner comes without a brush.
The Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner comes in lots of colors! Mine is Caviar Ink 27 which is a type of black. It is not the blackest black that Bobbi Brown has though. Due to might light skin and my blue eyes I was not recommended to wear a darker version of black as I looked quite pale.

Here is how the color swatches. You can not see that it is not deep black but if you would put both colors next to each other it would be visible.

The product is a gel-like mixture that needs to be applied with a brush. Bobbi Brown has several brushes available depending on the look you want to achieve. I am using a small eyeliner brush that came with a compact and it also works just fine,

You might need some practice using a gel eyeliner (I definitely do) but once the product is applied and in place it stays put for hours and hours. Far after my working hours the eyeliner is still place. It does not smudge or fade. Nothing at all. It only waits for you to take it off at the end of the day.

I really like the gel eyeliner and I have thought about purchasing it for quiet awhile because I was not sure if I will use it that much. Now that I have it I am very happy and I do not want to give it away.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Super Long Lasting!

·                     Colors for everybody

Cons:

·                     Need some practice to apply it nicely but it is not too difficult.

Bobbi Brown BB Cream in Light

The Bobbi Brown BB cream was a spontaneous purchase as I was searching for an SPF the other day and ended up buying a few products at the Bobbi Brown counter. The first one was the SPF 50 Protective Face Base which I already reviewed here.

The BB cream comes in 12 different colors!! So it seems that there will be a good match for most of us. I was matched to a color called light which is a light natural beige but I think that it is not the lightest shade. The product comes in a simple black tube. I personally like it as it will allow me to really finish up the product. The tube contains for 40ml for 40 Euros. In my eyes the price is okay as the Dior Skin Nude BB Cream costs the same but contains only 30ml.

This is how the color light looks like:

The texture of the BB cream is creamy and not too liquid. I apply my serum in the morning and then I use the BB cream. I apply it with my fingers and it takes me about 1min. It is very convenient because I do not have much patience. Sometimes, when its very hot outside, I apply a setting powder on top to make sure everything stays put. I am using the Guerlain Meteoroids as setting powder.

The BB cream offers a light coverage and helps me to look awake in the early morning. Compared to the Dior Nudeskin BB cream this one has less coverage. I also tried the Guerlain lingerie de peau BB cream in store which also offers more coverage than the BB cream from Bobbi Brown. I will write a separate post comparing the Dior Skin Nude BB cream and the Bobbi Brown BB cream to provide more thoughts.

The Bobbi Brown BB cream is looking lovely throughout my entire working day. The lasting power is wonderful. Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I have used the BB cream everyday for the last two weeks. A big pus is also the SPF of 35 which is very welcome especially during the summer.


Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Easy to apply

·                     Huge selection of colors

·                     High SPF!

Cons:

·                     Have not found anything to complain about

Bobbie Brown Protective Face Base SPF 50

I have visited a Bobbi Brown counter and picked up a few items which I am going to show over the next weeks.
The Bobbi Brown Protective Face Base is a very versatile product. It is officially a makeup primer but it was recommended to me as daily SPF that can be used with or without makeup on top.

The product comes in a black tube containing 50ml. It costs 35 Euros. The texture is white and quite liquid (more than a regular cream). It has a lovely floral scent to it.
The product should be applied after the regular skincare products and before your makeup in case you want to use the product as a primer.

Here is how it looks straight from the tube and applied:

When the product is applied to the face it sinks completely into the skin. There is no sticky or oily feeling oily feeling as many of us experience when using a regular SPF in the face. This is a huge plus for me as I do not like regular sunscreen on my face due to the sweaty feeling it can cause especially during the warmer months. This cream just dries down like a normal face cream and thats it! This is what I love about the product so much. It also did not cause my any dryness around the eye area that I am experiencing so many times with SPF products.

I have also used this as a primer here and there mainly though simply as SPF during the weekends. Also under makeup everything was fine foe me. The makeup stayed put and looked good throughout my entire working day.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Easy to apply

·                     Versatile Product

Cons:

·                     For some the strong scent might be bothering

Golden Basics - Clothing

Many of us own far too many cloths. This is not because we actually want to have so many but over the years we keep on collecting because we think that we might need this or that at some point. I recently moved house and realized how many cloths I have. Not that I did not know that I have them but when I started packing I understood how much it actually is.

Overtime I saw that I have a few things that I always wear no matter what my mood is or the occasion because those items always fit. Let me present you my working horses- my golden basics that I could absolutely not be without.

·         Black Cardigan

·         Jeans Skirt

·         White Blouse

·         Some casual silk shirts

·         Pair of Jeans

·         Dress in a decent color that fits elegant and casual occasions (does not need to be black)

·         A good fitting strapless bra (very useful in the summer)

·         Ballerina shoes (I own a black and a beige pair and I do not want to miss them)

Currently I am cloth shopping much less than I used to because I feel that I overall have what I need. I am more interested in higher quality and make sure that what I purchase fits together with what I already own, so I can easily combine my cloths.

Broccoli Quiche

I love Quiche! In almost all kind of variations which is the reason why I want to share with you my favorite quiche recipe. This recipe includes broccoli but you might do this also with spinach, other vegetables or even goat cheese.

Here is what you need:

For the dough:

• 200gr of flour
• 1 Egg
• 20gr water
• 90gr of butter
• Tiny little bit of salt

For the filling:

• 250gr of cream cheese
• 50ml of milk
• 2 Eggs
• 500gr of cooked broccoli, or other vegetables such as spinach or mushrooms
• Small onion
• Pepper and salt

Instructions:

1. The dough:

1. Mix flour, water, salt, butter and egg in a bowl.
   
2. Knead everything well and form a ball.
   
3. Let dough rest in the fridge for an hour.
4. Roll the dough out on a sheet of baking paper. (I forgot to document this)
5. Put the rolled out dough into a quiche form and adjust on the sides.
   
6. Make wholes into the dough with a fork.
   
7. Cover dough with a sheet of baking paper and put dry beans or lentils on top. I used dry beans.
   
8. Bake the dough with the beans/lentils on top (this is being done so the dough will not rise and cause unevenness) at 175 C for 10 minutes.
9. Remove beans/lentils and bake dough again at 175C for 10 minutes. 

2. The filling:

1. Mix cheese, eggs, milk in a bowl
2. Add the broccoli and onions and mix everything carefully together.
3. Add the mixture onto the baked dough after you completed step 9 from above.

Now bake the quiche for 15-20 minutes at 175C.

Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li

I have to admit, this was a spontaneous purchase. I did not plan to buy anything when entering the store but I tried it and loved it.
Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is the latest addition to the the Hermes line of the unisex Jardin perfumes. I generally like all the other Jardin perfumes but do not own any other.

It is an Eau de Toilette and I have the 30ml version. It costs around 50 Euros. There is also a 50ml and a 100ml version available. It comes in the same bottle like the other Jardin perfumes.

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is a light summer fragrance. For me it smells like flowers and water (as far as this makes sense). It makes me think about a warm day in the park. I like how easy it comes a long.
Using it in the mornings makes me happy and wakes me up. When my head hurts it relaxes me (I actually used it when my head felt tired and it made me feel good).

Lasting power is good for an Eau de Toilette. On me it stays around five hours which I think is fine given the lightweight of this fragrance.

Would I recommend this? Yes, if you light light floral fragrances. It is perfect for summer!

Pandora Essence

I wanted to share with you my latest Pandora addition. It is an Essence bracelet which is thinner than the classic bracelet. The beads are smaller too and can not be worn with the regular Pandora bracelet.

The Essence Beads are having meanings and you can assemble your bracelet with beads that represent who you are. Of course you can also just buy the beads you like. Since each charm has a meaning it is also written on the charm.

I went for Sensitivity (gold glitter, bottom center), Love (rose colored stone, left), Intuition (gold with structure, on the left up), Health (silver at the top in the center) and Prosperty (green at the bottom right).

I chose those beads because they represent what I believe in and I am happy that they are also fitting very well together. I love to wear my Essence bracelet as it it much lighter than my full regular Pandora Bracelet.