Category Archives: Bourjois

January Favorites
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Posted : 31st January 2012

My daily face for the last two months (Dec and Jan):

Estee Lauder Idealist serum. Use it every morning, under my day moisturiser to minimize my awful looking pores. Two drops its all you need, spread it in the essentials areas (my case cheeks and nose). I’m pleased to say it really works, seen a reduction after just a week and my pores are looking airbrushed.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (shade 53). This is my ‘day off’ foundation, it provides a medium coverage with a dewy radiant glow. I only use it when im off just because i get loads of shine through the day and this foundation doesn’t have any mattifying properties, so its nice when i slap it on just for a few hours.

Lancome Teint Idole 24H (No. 03). Was lucky to try it before it was launched (which is 1st of Feb, tomorrow!) so had about 3 whole months of daily testing. This is my ‘work’ foundation – it doesn’t budge, needs minimal retouching for shine and has an excellent color range. I was a fan of the original Teint Idole Ultra, but sometimes i found it too drying and the coverage was too heavy. While the new is style full coverage, the texture its a lot smoother and velvety.

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer (no. 52). An excellent concealer! Very moisturising, full coverage and with a brightening effect. I apply it first, then my foundation and then highlight with YSL Touche Eclat.

YSL Touche Eclat (no. 1). I use it on top of the Bourjois concealer, just in the inner corners of my eye and on my nose bridge.

Bourjois Smokey Eyes in 04 Nude Ingenu. I have been obsessed with these eye shadows, reach for them every morning and for the first time, hit pan on a color.

Lancome Artliner in Black. My signature look for 2011 and im sure for 2012 as well, the windged black eyeliner.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara in Black. Love the brush, it gives me length and separation. Think that this is the type that gets better with age, when it dries up a bit after a week from opening it provides the most flawless application.

Sleek Nude Blush. Because of the cold weather i was a bit over the pink blusher, it looked like a had rosaceea cheeks! Instead i reached for the nude brown/tan blush to sculpt some cheekbones.

Mac Mineralized Powder in Medium Plus. Dewy, natural, flawless coverage what is not to love?!

Eyebrows: penciled first with Lancome eyebrow pencil (02) and then sealed the color with my all time favorite Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe.

Other Loves

F for Salvatore Ferragamo Perfume, probably a more summer appropriate scent as it is light and floral but it makes my happy so im gonna use it up.

Kerastase Nutri Sculpt Leave-in Conditioner. The first leave in conditioner that doesnt leave my hair flat and greasy. My hair drinks it up and re becomes shiny and soft.

Vichy Lipidiose Body Exfoliant. This is the old packaging version, they have re-vamped the range since i got it (a year ago). Use it once a week and it delivers the softest skin ever. Its definetly not a gently scrub, but sometimes rough is better :) .

Vichy Liftactiv Serum. This serum has been an absolute savior during winter months, have been using it religiously every night under my moisturiser to plump and boost my skin. I can really see a difference in my complexion in the morning, it looks brighter and more relaxed.

Promise the next Favorites installment will be a lot shorter than this, haven’t done one in a long time so had lots of loves.

Alive and kicking
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Posted : 22nd November 2011

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun, can’t believe its almost a month since my last post. Ive been so focused on work and become too excited to think about anything else – im the typical workaholic when im not at work, im thinking about work lol.

Also it seems im not that inspired to blog, im craving for a new site layout and desperately need a better camera. Santa, are you reading this? Im very much into fashion blogs lately, find myself looking up lifestyle and fashion blogs on blogloving more then the beauty ones. Who knows, i might start doing some OOTD in the new year and maybe some videos to spice things up a bit here.

I haven’t been shopping loads in the last month, im trying to save my pennies for the January sales. Every year im promising myself ill have a decent budget to splurge on the sales and on my birthday (new year baby – 3rd of Jan) and i end up broke, so im determined to get organized. Im already so excited about the next year resolutions!

Well, enough chit chating ill get straight to business:

Took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer in Boots at the start of November and got my skincare staples: La Roche Posay Effaclar K and Vichy Normaderm Anti-Age. Seriously, this routine is the best ever for my skin! I tend to test out other products for ‘research’ purposes, but nothing agrees with me better then this two products. In just three days from re-starting with my routine my skin was looking perfect again: smooth, clear, no bumps in sight. I use the Effaclar K in the morning with Shu Uemura spf 30 priming mousse and the Normaderm Anti-Age during the night.

The Kerium Extra Gentle shampoo is for himself, its the only shampoo that he can use. Unfortunately he suffers of seboreic dermatitis on his scalp and face, when i met him was using Nizoral shampoo for every wash. Now he only uses the Nizoral once per week or even once every two weeks, and washes with the Kerium every day. He never looked back.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

This foundation deserves a proper post by itself, it is absolutely amazing. Excellent color match on my skin (im no 53), light weigh with a medium coverage, dewy radiant finish. Find it very similar to the more expensive Chanel Aqua Lumiere that i’ve had a couple of samples during the summer. The only drawback is that it gives me shine on my t-zone, but again even the Double Wear is not strong enough for my oiliness. Also it doesn’t have any SPF, so make sure you use a primer or skincare with SPF.

Last but not least, got some Clarins goodies: One Step Exfoliating Cleanser and the Energizing Lotion for the legs. Had them both before, the One Step exfoliant is a cult product for Clarins, it gives such a good scrub and the smell is delicious. Felt the need of a more rigourous face exfoliant, the Liz Earle is good and still have loads, but with my oily skin likes rougher stuff.

The Energizing Lotion is a God sent for anyone working on their feet all day, its so refreshing and stimulating. The only warning is that is very, very cooling so use it sparingly.

Any news with you guys?

xo

PS. Sale alert: The Body Shop are having 30% off this Friday (25th Nov) and Clerys Department Store on O’Connell street (Dublin) are starting the Mega Days this Thursday (24th Nov) with 10% off on all beauty counters/cosmetics.

Bourjois Delice de Soleil FOTD
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Posted : 19th August 2011

For me, the Bourjois Delice de Soleil tan collection was the highlight of this year summer must haves. I didn’t crave for any Mac or Chanel Bronze Universal, I just counted on the days until the innovative Bourjois bronzer came out. It was love at first sight since seeing it on GemsMaquaillage’s YouTube review.

I finally managed to get it while on holiday in London, in my local Boots it seemed to be always out of stock. Got the whole collection on a 3 for 2 deal, which consists in Bronzing Powder for Face (spray can), Mineral Bronzing Foundation and of course, the Bronzer. All in the shade fair/medium skin.

Because i was off today, i got the chance to properly play with the products and after about 100 failed FOTD photos, to decide on a few. I’m totally useless on taking these type of photos by myself – I’m either mid blink, my hands are trembling and I’m getting blurry shots or the makeup colors are looking washed out. Unfortunately getting an SLR camera is way way down on my shopping list.

Here it goes:


I blended the tan around my hairline better after this shot. Fake much?!


Please excuse the hair, its my day off…im aloud to be lazy :) .

The Breakdown:

  1.  Preped my skin with moisturiser (Lancome Primordiale Fluid) and eye cream (La Roche Posay Hydraphase Gel)
  2.  Sprayed lightly the bronzing powder and blended really well. At first i got a fright because it was looking orange, but after properly blending it, I got a lovely glow on my skin. You need a tiny bit, so i believe the can will last months and months of use if you only use it for your face.
  3. Mixed in my palm the mineral foundation and applied it with  a large kabuki brush (Smashbox). Again, you will have to blend it really well to avoid any dark patches on your skin. The foundation gives a medium coverage, while looking very natural. The pot is divided in two: one part mineral neutral foundation and another a bronzing powder. It really easy to customize your personal shade, lighter for the day and darker for night time.
  4. Contoured my face with the bronzer, insisting on the contour of my face (temples, hair line, jaw line, nose).
  5. Applied a dash of blusher – UD in Storm.
  6. For the eyes, ive kept it pretty neutral – used the UD Naked palette:
      •  Virgin all over the crease
      •  Naked on the lid
      •  contoured with Buck mixed with Darkhorse on the outer corner
      •  highlighted the inner corner of the eye with Half Baked
      • lined my lower lash line with Smog
      • used the Lancome Artliner in Black to add a flick to my look
      • coated my lashes with two coats of the new La Roche Posay Respectissime WP mascara in black

Sorry for the quality, the eyeshadows look brighter in real life and not as grey and lifeless :D .

  1. Defined my brows with Mac Spiked and Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe
  2. Conditioned my lips with Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm no. 14 (coral shade)

 Overall thoughts:

I really like it! Love the cocoa scent and how easy to use are the products. Its my first time using a mineral foundation, i always thought it wont give me enough coverage and that it will be messy. The packaging is very ingenious, love the large build in mirror of the bronzer. It will surely become a staple for my handbag.

The finish is a dewy, radiant one – looks very natural on the skin.

What do you think? Have you tried the Bourjois Delice de Soleil yet?