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.

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.