Scents made for Spring

Hello!
It has been waaay to long since I've last posted an blogpost! I was so busy with school (final written exams are done - only the oral exams remain, yippieh!), therefore, I want to apologize first of all!

So, now that we've clarified this, I'll begin with the actual topic: It's all about scents (perfumes) just made for spring! You know that everyone crazes about viewing cherry blossoms (Insta!) and wearing skirts again (well, at least in other countries, it's freezing here - brrr). I think that spring carries a special sentiment. You're automatically happier and you want to spend time outside.

Perfumes or scents in general are a good way to emphasize this "springy" feeling and to get into the mood:

The one for in between: DEMETER - CHERRY BLOSSOM (ROLL ON OIL)
This little friend of mine is easy to carry with and convient. There are times when you don't want to spray a full load of perfume around you and annoy everyone else. It just smells (as the name indicates) like cherry blossoms and fits perfectly for spring. Even so, the scent will eventually fly away after a few hours, so be sure to reapply it again if you want to.

The daily one: CLEAN - BLOSSOM
This one is new: They've launched it not too long ago and I have to admit that I was at first a bit allured to buy it (my favorite K-pop group advertises for this company [BTS - 방탄소년당]). Either way, the smell is just a.m.a.z.i.n.g. It's my most favorite scent right now and I think that I'm becoming addicted to it. It smells flowery and fruity at the same time and you're not overwhelmed by it. I reaaally recommend it!

The one in the evening: VALENTINO - VALENTINA
This eau de perfume is heavier than the others. It smells lighter at first, but gets "deeper" as time flies by (don't know if you can understand what I mean), so I think that it's more a scent for the evening. Other than this, it smells flowery, too, with a hint of musk.

To wrap it up, I hope you've liked today's post (after my long absence) and be sure to come take a look again next time! (PS: Next post is going to be a small DIY!)

Review: INNISFREE Ampoule Intense Cushion

 

This will be my first review of make-up! Lately, I've been a bit (OK, I admit - A LOT) obsessed with make-up, especially with the ones from Korea (Are they called K-makeup?). Unfortunately, I've discovered this passion of mine last year when I wasn't able to visit my home country. I know that I'm a late bloomer, haha. (Sigh...how I miss that country...) Either way, I couldn't wait/resist, so I've ordered a few items via good old ebay. All the items I've purchased were without shipping fees, but of course they were a bit pricier than in Korea. Today I will show you one of my favorite items:

When you already know Innisfree and their brand mentality of being eco-friendly, then you're probably also aware that their packages and cases are recyclable and printed with soy ink, leading to their typical, clean, white/ivory color. Korean make-up brands, also called road shops, tend to make collaborations throughout the year with other brands or designers. As you can see above, my cushion case is from their S/S 2015 collection, depicting different flowers from Jeju Island, where the base of Innisfree is stationed and where their natural ingredients come from. I looove flower patterns - so pretty, right?

On the underside, it is written that the cushion contains 15g with an SPF of 34. Also, don't be shocked by the red-colored date, it's not the expiration date, but rather the date when it was manufactured.

When you open the case, you can find the magic puff inside and a mirror is attached to the lid.

This is the puff - a very fine sponge to tap your face with.

Under the puff, you can find a lid which helps to avoid spilling and smudging. And after you remove the film...

...you can finally see the cushion filled with CC cream! It promises to moisturize and hydrate your skin while naturally brightening it.

As you can see above, the coverage is really natural, there is no masking-effect at all! It hydrates my skin throughout the day as well, leaving it moisturized and with a little glow that doesn't look greasy. In addition, it lasts quite a long time.

Conclusion: I have combination/dry skin, so it's easy for my skin to show dry patches, especially in the winter season. But this cushion is so hydrating that I don't even have to worry when I forget to apply moisturizer beforehand. I really recommend this cushion for all dry-types and for the fall-winter-spring season (it could get off in summer and look a bit greasy with sebum).
I've got this cushion in shade number 21 natural beige for 18000 Won=18$.

Hair-Myths: The Dos and Don'ts | with Madison Reed

"Split ends can be repaired with conditioner again" or "Don't brush wet hair" or "Stress can lead to loss of hair". These are only a few of many hair myths which we've all heard of before. But how can we know if they're  actually true or false and what are hair Dos and Don'ts?

Madison Reed and I will uncover these myths for you! Also, please check out their fun hair color quiz to get to know which hair dye will suit you the best!


Hair care products can repair split ends.
False. No conditioner or treatment can glue together split ends again. Once a hair is split, it's split forever. To avoid split hair from the beginning, it's important to use hair care products constantly.

Wet hair shouldn't be brushed.
True. Wet hair is weaker and therefore more prone to break or split. It's better to comb your hair gently.

Avoid stress to prevent hair loss.
True. We can lose up to 100 strands of hair a day. Stress can disturb our usual cycle, leading to more frequent hair loss. In the case of heavy and protracted hair loss, you may consider to visit a doctor.

Trim your hair often to let it grow faster.
False. How often you trim your hair won't influence the speed of growth - it will neither grow faster nor slower.

Use silky pillows for beautiful hair.
True. The smooth surface of silk won't roughen your hair as much as ordinary pillows, letting you wake up with beautiful, flowing hair.

Now that the myths are clarified, it's time to know the Dos and Don'ts of hair care. Madison Reed has created a great graphic about it:

Personally, I have to admit that I did rinse my hair with cold water before, but my hair kind of "squealed" afterwards. Good to know that I won't have to go through the pain (the cold!) again.
Besides, my mother would always scold me if I went to bed with wet hair, saying that I would catch a cold easily. Guess I have to show her this graphic!

A big gratitude goes to Madison Reed to have provided the graphic above.

How to fix your broken make-up (with alcohol!)

Hi there!

The other day, I eavesdropped one silent lament from one of my friends: Her make-up broke to bits and she was devastated. Since I wanted to cheer her up, I promised to fix it with a fool-proof method:

You'll only need:

alcohol (any hard liquor will suffice - I used vodka in this case)

a tiny spoon

tissue

1.Mince the broken make-up until there are no big clumps.

2.Pour a few drops of vodka over it.

3.Stir the mass together and smooth out the surface with a spoon.

4.Press a tissue over it until it absorbs all the remaining fluid.

5.Let it either dry in a sunless place or in the fridge for around 24 hours.

6.Now you can use it again and it is as good as before!



Nail Art | A Cozy Christmas

Hi!
I don't know about you, but I (and many other girls would agree with me) love to paint my nails according to seasons or themes. Christmas is right around the corner - the countdown is going on!
To prepare for this feast, I wanted to have elegant but subtle nails and essie's "leading like a lady" (from their 2013 winter collection I think) was just perfect! To add a little more bling to it (even though the nail polish itself is already shimmering), I've put on tiny stickers from essence.

Hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas Day with your families and friends!

& other Stories nail polish review and NAIL ART

 Hi!
It's been a while since I last published a nail design. For today's post, I've tried two nail polishes from & other Stories. I looove their shop - their clothes, accessories and now also their nail polishes! (although they are a bit pricey...)

To begin with, I bought the two colors "Clove Vert"(light green) and "Fountain Ice"(sheer blue). They cost 7 euro each and come in a small round bottle with a white cap which is slightly bigger than the transparent glass bottom. The brand name is written onto the cap and it contains 9 ml.
"Clove Vert" is a very light pastel green, while "Fountain Ice" is an almost white-blue color. I had to apply 3 coats to achieve full coverage. Also, the size of the brush is rather small, as well as the tip.

For the nail design, I've varied between color-blocking and dots.

What do you think about the nail polishes and the design? & other Stories has a huge nail polish collection and I'll definitely buy more in the future!

DIY BEAUTY: Tinted Lip Balm

 

Hi there!

It has been such a long time since my last post...I think I had some kind of a 'blogger's block' and the hot weather here has also worn me out. I spent most of my time inside, escaping from the sun and any sort of exposure. Fortunately (or not), it has been getting colder again, also, my motivation is back and in full motion!

This time will be my first beauty related post ever! Lately, I've begun to grow some interest into the beauty world (especially Korean makeup) and I'm even obsessed over a few items. But...my money doesn't suffice to afford all those goodies and that's why I'll share with you a very quick and super easy -not messy- way to make your own tinted lip balm (tints are the craze right now!).

Read on!

 



What you need:  

-Vaseline
-spoon
-empty container
-toothpick
-tint (I've used a sample I got - it's the Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in the color RD301)
-hair-dryer

Step-by-Step:
With the spoon, take a small amount of Vaseline and put it into the container.
Sprinkel a few drops of lip tint over the Vaseline.
Now take your hair-dryer and hold it over the container while stirring the Vaseline and the tint together with a toothpick. The Vaseline will start to melt and the tint will fuse with it.
After the two ingredients are blended together completely, let the mass cool down.
Ta-dah, it's ready to be worn on your lips!

I've also prepared a swatch for you on the back of my hand. As you can see, the formula is quite sheer, but appears to be glossy. The color is buildable and because of the Vaseline, it's really moisturizing for your lips, too. Whenever you want to add a hint of color on your lips without having to use a mirror, this handmade beauty product will be your go-to item.

Try this method with other tints and colors! I think that every household has some Vaseline at home, so whip this up in only 10 minutes and you're good to go! Hope you will have fun at making this~.