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.

Dior Skin Nude BB Creme in Fair 002

The Dior Skin BB Creme is available in three colors and costs around 40 Euros for 30ml. I have it in fair 002. It matches my skin tone exactly. It is a light beige but it is not very light and it has an SPF of 10.
The BB Creme comes in a tube with a pump dispenser. I like it very much because it is very hygienic. One pump is enough for my entire face.

The reason I purchased a BB creme was because I have troubles with sunscreens on my face. I get very dry skin around the eye area when using most sun screens (even when they are intended to be for the face). In addition to that they make me feel sweaty. So I thought I might try a BB creme as they also contain a little bit of color. I liked the idea to simply use a light moisturizer in the morning and then use a BB creme for some color and SPF. I know a make up could do the same but I need to say that I wanted something very simple that I can use when I am in a rush. I generally see a BB creme as a tinted moisturizer with SPF.

In terms of texture the BB creme is very creamy and soft. I use one pump and distribute it in dots all over my face. Then use my fingers to put everything in place. It takes me around one minute. The creme dries down quickly.

Here you can see the color Fair 002:

The coverage of the BB creme is very good. It is not like a full coverage make up but it covers redness and helps to hide tiredness around the eyes. For me  it is enough especially during the hot summer days. The BB creme is in place during the entire day and I do not need to reapply or powder during the day. I have dry skin so this could be different for those with oilier skin.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase. I do not get any dryness around the eyes from this and I can use it everyday. I really love that it stays put during the day and it makes my face glow in a very healthy natural way. I will definitely repurchase!

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Easy to apply

·                     SPF of 10 (could be higher though)
·                     Long lasting
·                     Enlightens the face

Cons:

·                     Not a lot of colors

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Pure Parfum Extrait

Coco Mademoiselle accompanies me for around ten years. It is among a few other fragrances my favorite perfume. I own Coco Mademoiselle in all variations Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Body Lotion and Deodorant. Today I would like to talk about the Parfum Extrait. I feel that this version is not being mentioned enough.

It comes in 7.5ml or 15ml for around 120-190 Euros. The price is high and the amount of product you get is very little. I bought it in the format of purse spray but you can get it also in a lovely little glass bottle (mine is empty and I wanted to try the spray).

This is how I got mine:

It is very difficult for me to talk about a fragrance. I am not a professional in this field but I would like to share the following.

The Eau de Perfume that most people know is relatively intense while the Eau de Toilette comes along lighter and with more citrus which reduces the drama that the Eau de Perfume characterizes.
Now, looking at the Parfum Extrait we are going into a different direction. The Extrait is very present it contains the theme of the Eau de Perfume and Eau de Toilette but puts it into play differently. It is more precise everything fits together perfectly. There is no drama but some kind of control that holds everything together in place in deep harmony.

It reminds me of the Chanel Eau de Perfume Chance. There is something in common about the two.

The Parfum Extrait in my opinion is the best version of Coco Mademoiselle because everything fits together perfectly. There is not too much and still nothing is missing. There is a great balance between going forward and enjoying the moment.
For those interested the Body Lotion goes into the direction of the Parfum Extrait.

During the week I use the Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Toilette and during the weekend or for going out I mainly use the Parfum Extrait,

In terms of wear I do not have to say that a little bit goes a long way. One or two drops are enough for the entire day. This means that 7.5ml will last me around 4-5 months.

The spray needs to be used with caution. I expected, given the fact that the Extrait is very intense, that the dispenser will be very careful but this is not the case. It sprays almost the same amount that a normal Eau de Perfum sprays. This is far too much and will only result in wasting a lot of the precious product. Dear Chanel, could this not have been considered?

I will definitely repurchase but not the spray version.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Sand 2

The Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation comes in 24! colors and retails for 43 Euro for 9gr. of product. I was matched at the counter to color 2 which is called sand. It matches my skin color exactly,

The stick foundation comes (as the word already says) as a stick. It is like a giant lipstick.

Color sand is a light natural beige. The texture has no detectable scent and is creamy. I apply it directly on the face and use a foundation brush to distribute it. The coverage is medium but can easily be built to full coverage if applied in layers.

Here you can see it on my arm. I applied the product heavily to show the color.

The foundation is not matte but rather satin. It creates a natural look which lasts for me the entire working day. I have dry skin and this might not be the same for people with other skin types.

I realized when using this foundation with SPF (this foundation unfortunately does not have any) it can creates some kind of sweaty feeling. I managed to prevent this when I let the SPF dry down completely for at least 10 minutes before I apply the foundation.

The foundation stick contains only 9gr. of product and I can not yet tell how long this will hold on. Overall I must say that it does not seem to me like a lot of product.

What I really like about this foundation stick is that you can easily carry it around and touch up no matter where you are. My other favorite foundation the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau comes in a glass container which I am definitely not carrying around with me in my purse. Another nice thing about the stick foundation is that you can also use it only on certain areas of the face such as a spot or dark rings under the eyes on days when you are not in the mood for a full make up.

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Easy to apply

·                     Huge selection of colors

Cons:·                     Little amount of product

·                     Can be tricky with SPF

Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait in Luxure and Avarice

Today I would like to share with you my favorite lipsticks. The Rouge G L'Extrait comes in seven different colors from deep red to plum. They retail for 45 Euros each.

They are package is very nice, It come in some kind of metal packaging. The packaging is really well thought through as it also contains a nice mirror.

The application is done exactly like a lip-gloss. The texture is smooth and it is easy to apply without messing around. I still recommend using them with a lip-liner as I believe it makes lipstick application more precise.

The finish is satin as it is not fully matte nor glossy. Avarice is a nice beige rose. It looks very natural. It is nice as daytime makeup as it does not draw too much attention to the lips. I love to use this color for work as it is never too much but exactly right.
Luxure is a lovely red. It is perfectly red not pinkish or plumy. It is bright but wearable for daytime or evening occasions. I love both colors and use them regularly depending on my mood.

Once the lipstick is applied and dried down (yes it actually kind of sets down) it stays put for around 4 hours. I believe it would stay even longer if you do not eat or drink anything. For me that means that I reapply the color after lunch and I am all good again till I am going back home.

Here is how it looks applied:

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Long-lasting

·                     Easy application

Cons:

·                     Pricey

Brioche

I have spend the weekend baking one of my favorite breads. It is the French brioche (sweet white bread). I love it so much I needed to share the recipe and a few pictures.

Here is what you need:

• 500gr of flour
• 1 Egg
• 15gr of fresh yeast
• 100gr sugar
• 60gr of butter
• 125ml sweet cream
• 150ml milk
• Tiny little bit of salt
• 1 yolk

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt and egg in a bowl.
2. Melt the yeast in a bit of the cream in a separate bowl. Once all is smooth add the rest of the cream and then add the milk.
3. Add cream/milk/yest into the flour/sugar/egg mixture.
4. Add the butter in small pieces.
5. Knead everything well.
6. Form a ball and let dough rest for an hour.
7. Knead dough one more time and bring it into its final shape. Cover dough with yolk.
8. Let dough rest for another half hour.
9. Bake at 170C for 15 minutes

As you saw in the first picture I chose to bake small brioches. From step 7 on you can see what I did step by step. To prepare small brioches I created a total of 12 dough balls which I braided into small breads. I baked the brioches in a muffin form but you can bake them also as they are or make one big brioche.

Here are some of my dough balls.

Out of each and every one of them I created 3 ropes.

I attached them at the top and braided a small bread.

Then the breads went into a muffin form covered with yolk to rest another half hour. 

Afterwards I baked the brioches for 15 minutes in a preheated oven. Remember that the baking time increases if you chose to prepare one big brioche.

Here they are fresh from the oven!

They are so tasty! I can only recommend you to try the recipe!!

Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask

The Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask is from the Tatcha Luminous series. It retails for $ 28 (one mask) or $ 98 (for four masks). It is available from Tatcha’s website.

The gel mask comes in a sealed light purple packaging. Each mask is packed separately to insure a maximum of hygiene. I received one mask as a gift with order. This is how it came:

The mask is to be applied on cleansed face. I am sorry that I was not able to capture the mask once I took it out of the package. It was so heavily soaked with products that I needed to hold it with my both hands not to damage it. 

Once you open the package the gel mask is white and has to be unfolded. One layer of mesh has to be peeled away. Once done you need to place the gel mask face down on your face. Then the second layer of mesh has to be removed.

In order to place the mask straight on my face I worked from the eyes and then I set the rest. For me the mask is quite big as it is a bit too long on the chin and a bit too wide on the sides.

Once the mask is placed on the face the magic begins. My face started to get really cold. I felt that something was happening under the mask as I felt some kind of tingling.

After 20 minutes I removed the mask and massaged the leftover of the product into the skin. Then I applied Tatcha’s Moisture Rich Silk Cream. Having removed the mask and creamed my face, it stayed cold for at least another half hour or so.

I applied the mask during the evening before I went to sleep. The next day my skin looked very relaxed and moisture. I felt great the entire day as the skin was extra smooth. I really enjoyed the mask. The cooling effect was nice and the way the skin looked the next day was wonderful. I experienced no irritations or any kind of other inconveniences. 

Summing up:

Pros:

·                     Great feeling, nice cooling effect

·                     Smooths Skin

·                     No irritations

Cons:

·                     Price!