Nail Colour: E.L.F. Coral (10413)

I've been falling behind on my nail posts. I was going through my photos and realized, I never posted these and I don't know why, laziness perhaps since I haven't put on any polish in about 2 or 3 weeks. I bought this polish in January/February and didn't get to wear it until March because it broke in shipment and took even longer for the replacement.

For $2, the colour pay off is amazing!! I had more compliments on this polish versus my Peridot Chanel!!

Gorgeous colour!! Will definitely be wearing this throughout Spring and Summer. Don't you love getting compliments and telling people the brand or cost and they are absolutely amazed?

Ciao!

Nail Colour: Barry M-304 Mint Green

You all know how much I love my nail polishes. My co-worker is from London and she went to visit her parents last month, so I had asked her to get some products (drugstore) that I've been eyeing. The last time I was in the UK was when I was an exchange student in year 8, so I know all about Barry M nail varnishes. The only thing she could get were the varnishes.

Flash

Natural light

I love this colour, such a spring time colour. Glad to have this as a part of my growing nail collection.

Ciao!

March Glossybox: Anniversary Box

This is the anniversary Glossybox of Germany (DE). On the website, it told us that there were suprise items that would be going into the March box; and the names and prices of the suprise items wouldn't be reveiled until April. Here's what I got:

It came in this pretty wrapping paper, tie and card.

Card symbolizing DE's Glossybox first anniversary.

Starting with the OPI to the Peeling Grommage (L-R).

All product translations are taken from Glossybox.de:

OPI in Malaga Wine (1/4th size)-"The most beautiful nails you get the best nail polish in the world - from OPI. With high-quality color pigments and its splinter, he brings solid formulation for radiation and keeps the nails very long. The new "Pro Wide Brush" Brush ensures a streak free application. All of OPI nail polishes are free of formaldehyde and toluene. The Nail Lacquer is included in the colors "Lincoln Park After Dark", "Malaga Wine" and "Strawberry Margherita" in the GLOSSYBOX Beauty."

 JANE IREDALE Lip Plumper Tokyo (1/4th size)-"Give your lips fullness and color - with the lip plumper jane iredale Tokyo. Peppermint, spearmint oils and ginger root extract, stimulate blood circulation. The lips look a firmer and fuller. Also to be removed with essential oils of lemon and mandarin dry skin cells. Avocado, shea butter and sunflower oil maintain silky smooth. A hint of color makes the beautiful lips finally perfect."

Kryolan Eyebrow Powder (Full size)-"Velvety formulation particularly for use on the eyebrows. The powder spreads easily and is distinguished by its extraordinary adhesiveness. Eyebrow Powder is in the color "medium" contained in the GLOSSYBOX".

The Extremely Gentle Cleanser by Avene (1/4th size)-"is suited for the cleaning of sensitive skin. The lotion contains only specially selected ingredients, including 96% healing Avene thermal spring water. In addition to clarifying its action soothes the irritated skin product, it refreshes and does not leave a pleasant feeling of tension. Especially gentle surfactants maintain the face during cleansing. Extremely Gentle Cleanser is free of fragrances, dyes and parabens."

???-"Avocado and pomegranate extracts, vitamin E, antioxidants - sounds like a good mix and that's what it is! This brand new, mysterious peeling is not yet on the shelves, but it has already gone in the GLOSSYBOX. The balanced blend of effective cleansing and skin-friendly ingredients to the skin and makes it shine and fresh look."

Overall: I've tried the Kryolan and I love it! My shade is medium. I can't wait to try out the Avene cleanser and the mystery item. I love skincare so I was syked that I got to skincare products one full sized. Mid-April they will tell us what brand the mystery items are and how much they cost. All of my Glossybox have been over 10 Euros and I've got 2-3 full sized products. I think beauty boxes are a great idea, especially if you like getting things in the post. Its nice to get a small treat once a month. Will review most Glossybox products in a later post.

Ciao, ciao!!

 

**Update. The "???" product is a new Clearasil face product that will be on the shelves early this month. I'm very happy that I received something that wasn't on the market. I will be doing a post on items reviewed from previous Glossyboxes.**

Sally Hansen Salon Effects: 140 Teal with It

I've been eyeing this product for awhile, the designs and plain colours are gorgeous. I just couldn't justify spending $7.99 for a one time application nail polish. $7.99 can get you a full bottle of O.P.I. The exchange marked them down to $4.07, so I decided to give it a shot. The Salon Effects says it lasts it up to 10 days.

This is more accurate to the colour than the second picture.

The nail strips were pretty long. I had a co-worker that bought the pink and after she was done she used the other halves on her daughter. That is what I consider, stretching your dollar.

The instructions on the side.

I think they should change #3 the picture shows the strip easily being filed. I had molded/rounded at the end of my nails and slowly peeled it off then used the soft side of the file to smoothly file just in case.

Overall, I really liked this product. I love painting my nails but these will be going in the emergency nail kit. It does last 10 days, on the 10th day, I began to see small cracks but is only noticeable close up.  Going to pick up some more colours, but I'm going to wait awhile to see if they drop the price again.

Ciao, ciao. 

Skincare Routine and Products

Your routine and products go hand in hand; if you have great products and no routine, results will take awhile to achieve. My routine for example:  daily face wash, astringent/toner, pore strips, masks, exfoliate, face wash specifically for make-up removal

Sunday-daily face wash
masks
 
Monday-daily face wash
astringent/toner

Tuesday-daily face wash
pore strips

Wednesday-daily face wash
 astringent/toner

Thursday-daily face wash
exfoliate

Friday-daily face wash
astringent/toner or masks

Saturday-daily face wash
and face wash for make-up removal

*Daily face wash should be a soft face wash preferably a soap free wash. Face wash for make-up removal should be used when cleaning up a full face of make-up this should be oil free and/or sulfate free.

*Astringent or Toner basically contain the same ingredients. Astringent is more suitable for oily or combination skin. They are either chemical or alcohol based. Toner is more suitable for dry or sensitive types of skin. They aren't chemical or alcohol based, but they could leave the skin dry and chapped. When introducing skin to an astringent or toner, its best to go slow and with less start out using this once or twice a week for up to 2-3 weeks before deciding to use more frequently.

*Masks/pore strips should be used once or twice a week. Using masks in a routine because they suck out impurities that are embedded in the skin throughout the week.

*Exfoliate is important to have. An exfoliate removes dead skin cells, its good to have one for your face and body. Our skin fluffs off skin cells everyday that rise to the top or outer most layer of our skin; which in turn will make skin appear rough and dull. An exfoliate is really really important to have.

**Moisturizer. Now, I didn't mention it because it would seem redundant. I suggest having a moisture. I use it everyday. It hydrates and repairs skin, basically its skin food.


Products

These products are in my routine unless stated otherwise.

Daily face wash-I have two besides the one for make-up removal.

Essence Soft Gel is soap free and very gentle on the skin. Lime and cucumber scent is lightly scented, I don't like overly perfumed products.

My second daily wash, used once or twice a week or when I see a small breakout happening. It has small micro beads that are gentle, I don't classify this as an exfoliate.

Make-up removal facial wash

Biore Steam Activated Cleanser with SteamActiv beads. After I've used a make-up remover wipe, I wash my face while taking a shower (end of day) this wash uses the steam of the shower to open pores and gently cleans them. Its oil-free, sulfate-free and hypo-allergenic.

Astringent or Toner

I used this in high school for whenever a breakout occurred. For astringent and toners use cotton ball and use a thin amount, like stated above.

Currently using this Essence Anti-spot toner and powder. This combo absorbs oil, deep cleans and reduces blackheads. It mattifies the skin but doesn't make it dull or dry looking. I will be repurchasing.

Masks and Pore strips

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque dries up pimples, rinses away blackheads and shrinks pores. It tightens/hardens and draws out the impurities from your skin. Skin will be silky smooth, love everything about this masque. I've been using it since high school.

Peel off masks are one of my favourites. It peels away impurities leaves skin smooth. I use this before the mint julep masque for a deeper clean. Also, loved peeling off Elmer's glue from my fingers as a kid, this is the adult equivalent. Ha!

Strips perform the same tasks as a mask but in a specific location. The two I use the rid your skin of blackheads and other impurities.

I use my strips once a week. Biore is about $7 over here. Buy the time I use up a box, new coupons are out. Essence strips are 1.99 Euro which is about $3-4.

Exfoliate

I used St. Ives Sensitive Apricot scrub until I discovered Origins Modern Friction. The cost of St. Ives is around $4. Origins is my splurge item the cost is around $30.

  

Moisturizers

After cleansing, moisturizers should be applied. I have a day and a night moisturizer.

Essence anti-spot moisturizer is a light moisturizer that I like to apply for daytime wear. It fights spots and is a great make-up base for liquid foundation.

Vitamin E moisturizer is made for all skin types. This is a bit of a splurge, cost is around $11.

After I'm done with my current jar, I'll repurchase and also buy the night time moisturizer. This is technically a daytime cream.

**Out of all my products my "holy grail" items are:

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Biore Pore Strips

Origins Modern Friction

Vitamin E Moisture Cream

**Tips

-Wait 3-5 minutes before moving on to the next step of your routine. For example: after washing my face I wait 3-5 minutes before applying toner after toner wait another 3-5 etc., this gives your skin time to adjust and for the product to sink in.

-When washing or applying moisturizer, use the middle and ring fingers and work the product in small circular motions. The middle and ring fingers are the weakest and facial skin is thin and sensitive especially the skin around the eyes; it shouldn't be handled roughly

I do love all the products I have mentioned in this post but the holy grail items are my loved loves.  I hope this post helped. It takes time to work in a routine and find the right products.

I don't know everything about skincare but love skincare products. Visit E-how and About.com to get more in depth about skincare.

Most jpeg's were found off Google Image.

Swap with Renee part 2

I was going throug my posts and saw that I didn't post the second part of my swap. I'm so behind! Oh well. Here it is.

I've already eaten the Look a la mode. It was delicious. I sent my hubby the Almond one.

I can't wait to use the dotting kit. The Animal lip glosse is cute and Canmake brown eyeliner is cute and I've gotten many compliments on it.

Ciao!

Blog Love Therapy Blog Hop

If you are looking for a way to gain more followers or looking for new blogs to read.  Check out Blog Love. A hop lasts for a week.

Click on the link below.


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Enjoy Ciao