The Life Changing Art of Tidying! By Marie Kondo

This is the very first time that I am writing about a book. I only want to make a short note of it because it gave me an interesting way to look at my clutter at home and how I can be more arranged. 

I am not a messy person as such but I would also identify myself as a "using something and not returning it to where it belongs" kind of person.

So in her successful book Marie Kondo talks about the ways that are causing cutter in somebody's home and I did find myself in several of her examples. Ooops...

I liked her idea that the large well-known storage units usually are just bought by us to keep all our clutter allowing us to hide it from our eyes. Its so true, at least for me.

She is giving advice of how to get rid of things and more importantly what to get rid of. As we all have stuff that we feel emotionally connected to her method is not about throwing everything just out but to think about what to keep and how to storage it.

Her way of looking at belongings with more respect and care really touched me and I believe there is something about it. If you care for what you own that it will last longer. She also believes that living in a tidy space where we feel at home in, gives us a different look on things and helps us to achieve in life what we really want to do.

For everybody that is interested in getting more organized this book is a very nice guide into how to start tidying up your home. 

On a side note though...I am German so I have difficulties throwing away credit card bills and bank statements so I skipped that part of her book and filed them up neatly.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today I am sharing with you a very easy recipe for baking chocolate chip cookies.  I like home-made cookies of any kind and need to admit that cookies is what I am having for breakfast on a work day. I know... not a very healthy habit.

So how to make chocolate chip cookies?

You need:

• 250gr of flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• A bit of salt
• 170gr melted butter
• 100gr brown sugar
• 50gr white sugar
• 6 teaspoons of vanilla pudding powder
• 1 Egg
• 200gr chocolate chips (white/brown as you like)

1. Mix flour and the baking soda in a large bowl.
2. Melt the butter and mix it with the white and brown sugar in an additional bowl.
3. Mix the egg with the pudding powder separately.
4. Add the egg/pudding powder mix to the melted butter and sugar.
5. Add the mixture from no.4 to the flour and baking soda (no.1) and mix everything gently.

This is how the dough looks at this point.

   
      6. Put the chocolate chips into the dough.

      

      7. Form cookies

      8. Bake at 170C for 10-15min.

And thats it!!! I got almost 30 cookies! (Some were already eaten when picture was taken)

LANCOME Eau Micellaire Douceur

I do not want to spend much time on reviewing this as this product has not worked for me.

The LANCOME Eau Micellaire Douceur is a cleansing water for face eyes and lips.
It comes in a pump dispenser for easy dosage. It has a heavy scent which might be the reason why I got an allergic reaction to this.
I have used this product for about a week and burns on my skin and makes me feel uncomfortable. I thought that I might need to get used to it as it seems to do a good job removing make-up and mascara. Depending on your skin type it might be a decent product for you. For me unfortunatly this is not the case.

Now I am using the cleansing water for cleansing my neck and it works fine. However I would not repurchase this product.

CHANEL La Solution 10

La Solution 10 de Chanel is moisturizer for sensitive skin. The creme is alcohol, fragrance and oil-free.  The product is called la Solution 10 because it is only containing 10 ingredients. The small number of ingredients should allow people with very sensitive skin to use it. It is the first product of that kind that Chanel has brought to market. 

The 10 ingredients are:

1. Water
2. Vegetal Squalane
3. Soft Powder
4. Glycerin
5. Silver Needle Tea Extract
6. Shea Butter Extract
7. Emollient
8. Emulsifier
9. Humectant
10. Preservative

I was curious when I heard about this product because I like the idea of a moisturizer that is especially designed for sensitive skin. My skin is reacting to all kind of ingredients in skin care products so I decided to give this cream a try.

The moisturizer comes in a white pump dispenser. The container with 30ml costs about 80 Euros.

The cream is white, thick and without any scent. You need only one pump for the face. The moisturizer is very soft when it touches the skin and it is observed quickly. After the application the skin does not burn or itch even if the cream is applied on the eye area.

I have been using La Solution 10 for about two weeks now every morning and have had no problems with it. I need to add that I also do not feel that my skin condition has significantly improved but my skin feels as nice and soft as before. I have not had any allergic reaction using La Solution 10 allowing me to conclude that the product is suitable for my skin hence world-changing improvements of my skin are yet to be seen.

Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Powder

The Terracotta Joli Teint Powder from Guerlain is a very nice light bronzer. It costs about 50 Euros for 10gr. The Terracotta Joli Teint Powder comes in 4 colors: clair blondes, clair brunettes, naturel blondes and naturel brunettes.
The powders for blondes are having a cooler undertone while the ones named brunettes have a warmer undertone. In the end you need to chose the color that fits your skin tone and not base your choice on the hair color labeled on the product. I chose clair brunettes even though my hair is blond and not brunette simply because my skin color is on the warmer side.

The powder comes in a plastic container and has a mirror. It does not come with any type of brush but you can purchase the Terracotta brush that Guerlain recommends for this bronzer.

 

The bronzer consists of a brown side and a pink/peachy side. When applied with a brush those colors are mixed together. The powder as no shimmer or glitter of any sort which makes it very natural.

I use this powder as a bronzer over my foundation or for an easy look completely without foundation. I use the Guerlain Terracotta brush and apply it on my cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. As my skin is relatively light I do not use a lot of product because I do not want look too sun-kissed because it would not look natural on me.
In terms of scent the powder smells like sunscreen and makes me think about summer immediately.

For me this is a lovely every day bronzer for the summer because it is not too dark and last on my skin all day.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Natural Finish, brozer nice for people with lighter skin

·                     Long-lasting 

Cons:

·                     Quite expensive

·                     Scent might bother those with sensible nose

Guerlain - Météorites Compact Powder

The Guerlain Météorites compact powder is the compact version of the popular Météorites powder pearls. It is available in the same colors as the powder peals and is intended to give the same finish. 10gr cost about 55 Euros in the compact version as compared to 25gr powder pearls that you get for the same price. (25gr of powder pearls referring to the new edition of the product - the old container (2013) contained 30gr).

The product is packaged in a silver plastic container with a flower engraving on the top. It comes with a mirror but without any sort of brush. Depending on your preference you can apply it with a powder brush or the Météorites powder brush that was specifically designed for it.

I purchased this in color 03 medium. The idea of the different colored powder pearls from the original product is transmitted to the compact in a way that the powder looks like pressed pearls resulting in a powder that has different shades.

In terms of finish I do not feel any difference to the original Météorites powder pearls which I reviewed a while back.
Well, why did I actually purchase this, if the compact costs more than the powder pearls? Simply because of the comfortably of the compact format and because I was curious to see if there is any diffierence.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Comfortable packaging

·                     Natural Finish 

Cons:

·                     Costs more than powder pearls which have the same finish

·                     Exactly the same as powder pearls, hence both products are not needed

CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder

The Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder is from the Chanel Les Beiges series which is aimed to create a natural look as if you were not using any make-up. The Healthy Glow Fluid is from the same series and the products can be used together. 

The Healthy Glow Sheer Powder contains 12gr. and retails for about 50 Euros.It comes in a little black velvet pouch and contains also a brush. The brush fits exactly into the comapct and is held in place by a little black cover that you set on top of the powder itself. The soft brush is moon-shaped with a wavy grip.

I am using shade no. 20 which is one shade darker than the lightest. The lightest shade is no.10.and it is too light for me. It makes me look pale. 
The powder smells like roses exactly like the Healthy Glow Fluid. Depending on how sensible your are to scents it can bother your fine nose. Once the product is applied though I do not smell it anymore. For me the scent is not disturbing but I am not particularly a fan of it. The scent is similar in strength as the scents of the Guerlain powders. 

The powder can be applied as is for a very natural look or as a setting powder over the Health Glow Fluid or any other foundation. It is very fine milled and has very light coverage. It feels very light on the face but it will also not cover any imperfections. 

I used it as a setting powder over a BB cream and it works just fine for me. In terms of lasting power I am not excited. On my skin the powder does not sit longer than 4 hours while other powders such as the Guerlain Météorites Powder Pearls stay put up to 8 hours.

Its very convenient that the product comes with its own brush that fits into the compact. Many people have remarked that they dislike the little moon-shaped brush as it is not working for them to distribute the product evenly. Well, I can not confirm it as I do not experience any trouble with the small brush but I do agree that a normal sized face brush is more comfortable when powdering my face. I have a better grip and I can cover my face evenly in a much faster way.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Includes a brush

·                     Natural Finish 

Cons:

·                     Lasting power is not more than 4 hours

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