belle bleuet

Lea, a 23-year old University student from Berlin, who finds happiness in makeup and beauty products

[bellebleuet]

Favorite Makeup | MAC Lipsticks Update

Hello everybody! If you know me in real life or have followed this blog for a while, you know that my ride or die favorite lipsticks are MAC lipsticks. I absolutely swear by them and recommend them to anybody - makeup newbie, oldie, fanatic or the bare faced fans looking for a bit of color!

I currently have a total of 21 shades, with a back up of my favorite one as #22. If you want to check out the rest of my collection, click here, here and here :)

Viva Glam Ariana Grande is a “deep, dark plum” with Matte finish

Limited Edition. When I saw the promo pictures for this year’s Viva Glam shade in collaboration with Ariana Grande, I knew I wanted it immediately! I love dark plummy shades but I am really picky when it comes to the finish and opacity of these shades and I knew MAC wouldn’t let me down. Applied with a lipliner (I use Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipliner in Mauve Mistress) this shade is as dark as it gets, without having to wear a black lipstick. Absolutely not blotchy or drying! Added bonus: as always, all of the proceedings go to charity that supports adults and children affected by HIV and Aids!

Margherita is a “yellow, bright peach” with a Matte finish

Limited Edition. Sold out. Last year everybody eagerly anticipated the release of the MAX x Giambattista Valli collection, me included! At first I wanted to go for the dark red, Eugenie, but the swatches I saw of it really reminded me of Diva and so I decided to step out of my comfort zone. At first I was shocked by how bright Margherita is and my mom was certain it would look horrible and make me look ill BUT! if styled correctly, Margherita is super flattering. Surely, not an everyday color but perfect for spring and summer and it somehow brightens up my whole complexion!

Viva Glam II is a “muted pink-beige with shimmer” and a Satin finish

Purchasing Viva Glam II was absolutely not planned. I didn’t want this particular shade, nor was I in “need” of a new lipstick. I simply picked it up because my friend and I had a browse at the counter and I fell in love! To be honest, I don’t see the shimmer at all but the Satin finish gives this perfect true nude some sheen and dimension, so that it doesn’t look like concealer lips! Again, all proceedings go to the HIV/Aids fund and I can honestly see myself pruchasing this shade over and over again!

Stone is a “muted grey-ish taupe brown” with a Matte finish

I am very excited about this shade because I got it for free with the Back2MAC program where you bring back 6 empty MAC products to the counter and get a free lipstick (although I saw that it is about to change to a free eyeshadow). Stone is part of the Matte Lip 2015 collection and quite the unusual shade. I haven’t really worn it out and about yet but I can see myself pairing this with a bold brow and thin, long wing and nothing else on the lids. Very artistic and earthy and a bit something different ;)

Among The Fireflies is a “soft mocha” with a Cremesheen finish

Limited Edition. Again, something I didn’t expect to purchase but the promo for the Faerie Whispers collection is so pretty that I couldn’t resist! Among the Fireflies is a really nice brownie shade that due to the Cremesheen finish isn’t too opaque and might be just the right thing if you want to experiment with brown shades but fear they might wash you out or look too bold. For me it’s a nice everyday shade and I love wearing it paired with reddish brown shades on my eyes! 

Swatches: Viva Glam Ariana Grande, Margherita, Viva Glam II, Stone, Among The Fireflies

And that’s it for now! I am sure MAC will come out with new amazing shades and I am still not even familiar with all of the permanent shades... But I am working on it ;) 

As always, I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know if you did by liking and reblogging! If you have recommendations - either for products or even requests/ideas what I should blog about next - let me know!

[bellebleuet]

hey hey, can you maybe help me out? do you know any good night face lotion brands that are not too pricey and cruelty free?

It really depends on what your skin is like but some brands/shop to check out that are cruelty free and that I personally have tried are The Body Shop, LUSH and Grown Alchemist! They have both cheaper and pricier products, so you might find something!

If not, you could always check out the Leaping Bunny website and their list of approved cruelty free brands! 

Hope this helps :)

[bellebleuet]

Product Review || NYX Intense Butter Glosses

Hello everybody! I am sorry I haven’t posted in such a long time and thank you for anybody who is still following me :) I am soon done with my thesis and will return to my normal blogging schedule meaning at least one post each sunday!

Today I got a little product review/haul for you about a product that I have recently discovered and needed to share with you: the NYX Cosmetics Intense Butter Glosses - or, as I like to call them, every sticky lipgloss-hater’s dream come true!

The Intense Butter Glosses are NYX’s second generation of Butter Glosses that are meant to be even more pigmented than the original ones. In Germany there is a range of 12 shades which retail for 6,99€ but I have just seen that in the US they have recently released 12 more shades!

The formula of these lipglosses is unlike any other lipgloss I have ever tried. They are smooth, buttery, creamy and not at all sticky but still nice and glossy on the lips. They last fairly long and feel more like melted down creamy lipsticks. I am usually not a fan of glosses mainly because I don’t like the feeling on my lips and end up licking most of the product off but these are really something else!

These particular glosses are extremely pigmented and opaque on the lips and you really don’t need a lot of product to get an evenly covered look. The applicator is a flat doe-foot applicator that is meant to distribute a lot of the product at once but you have to be a bit careful with the application. Since the darker colors tend to bleed minimally, don’t apply too much product on the edges of your lips or use a primer/lipliner first.

I have 8 of the original 12 shades available here which are:

01 Napoleon - a bright tea rose pink

02 Berry Strudel - a bright violet with blue undertones

03 Toasted Marshmallow - a mauve plum

05 Apple Crisp - a true red with blue undertones

06 Chocolate Crepe - a deep chocolatey beige

10 Black Cherry Tart - a deep vampy purple

11 Tres Leches - a light beige/true nude

12 Spice Cake - a berry plum

The other 4 shades I don’t have are: Sorbet, Funnel Delight, Orangesicle and Banana Split

The Intense Butter Glosses have a slightly sweet smell and taste but it’s not sickenly overpowering and so I can totally look past that, especially considering the price and shade range! They don’t cling to dry patches on the lips and feel very hydrating. I also enjoy the names of the individual glosses because they are all named after sweets and I personally find that very cute!

My verdict on these is that I urge everybody to check them out and give them a go! I am completely in love and have worn nothing else on my lips since I have gotten these! I do hope NYX will release the new 12 shades in Germany soon because judging from the look of them on their website, I’d love them all!

I hope this post was helpful and interesting for you! Let me know if you still have questions or if you have requests for tutorials, posts, etc!

[bellebleuet]

Do you have any tips for applying lipstick (especially red lipstick) for someone that doesn't normally wear makeup but would kind of like to without looking like a little kid that smeared it on with no mirror?

First of all, appologies if this answer comes late! I’ve had little time to care for this blog lately :(

Applying bright lip colors is always a bit tricky, no matter how much experience you have! The best thing you can do is to get a good lipliner in the same color of your lipstick and line your lips first. The easiest way to do that is to create tension on your lips (by pressing your teeth against them) to make them flat and even. Take your time and use a Q-tip to clean up any errors. Fill your lips in completely with the lipliner to make your lipstick last longer! If you want to, you can clean up the edges with a small eyeshadow or eyeliner brush and a but of concealer or foundation :) You can also use a lip brush to apply lipstick, if you find the bullet to be too big!

Hope this helps!

[bellebleuet]

LUSH Lover || Lord Of Misrule Bathbomb

Hello everybody! I am so sorry that I’ve been posting so little lately but my life is super stressful at the moment and I don’t have the time and energy to blog as often as I like but today I am back with another review in my LUSH Lover series!

Today I’ll be reviewing the Lord Of Misrule bathbomb which is part of the 2015 Christmas collection and smells just like the shower gel of the same name.

LUSH says:

Revel in your bath with this mischievous bomb that features a spicy herbal blend of patchouli and black pepper oil. Inspired by the ruler of the pagan Feast of Fools, Lord Of Misrule has a deep green exterior that slowly froths away to reveal a rich wine-coloured centre. Just like at the Feast of Fools, when the wine starts to flow, the popping candy crackles and the festivities begin...

The Lord of Misrule bathbomb is definitely something out of the ordinary when it comes to your typical LUSH bathbomb. No bright colors, no sweet or zesty scent, and no shimmer or glitter. However! This bathbomb is absolutely perfect for a nice relaxing bath when you’ve had a stressful day full of Christmas preparations, where you’ve pushed through crowds in the cold air to get presents for your loved ones and worried yourself over all the things you still have to get done - while it still keeps you in the festive spirit.

The scent is definitely more musky and earthy and something suitable for men as well and the colors are deep and Christmas-y (green and red, how can it get more festive?) while the subtle hint of black pepper makes you feel warm and energized! The color change is fun to watch and overall the bathbomb gives you a nice sensuous experience without being too overpowering.

At first I didn’t want to purchase Lord of Misrule because I thought that the scent had nothing Christmas-like and that I couldn’t understand why the sales assistant was so hyped about the product but I am really glad I did get one and I might even go back and buy another one for the time after Christmas!

[bellebleuet]

friendly reminder that i LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog

Thank you very very much!! That honestly means sooo much to me :) xx 

[bellebleuet]

Basics & Bonus || Eyes

Hey guys! I am back after being totally hung up with my birthday (as well as my mum’s) and some serious work on my thesis, but! as promised, here is part 2 of my Basic & Bonus series! Today it’s all about eyes and eyebrows and I hope you enjoy :)

Basics

Mascara: Rimmel Wonderful Wake Me Up Mascara

I am pretty sure that mascara and lipstick are the first two pieces of makeup everybody makes their experiences with and for good reason, too! Mascara is brilliant for opening up the eyes, making them look brighter and you in general more awake. Full, long lashes are also seen as especially feminine and glamorous! Depending on your needs you can find mascaras with a multitude of brushes and formulas for more length, curl and/or volume. Sometimes it can be nice to have a variety of mascaras for different looks and events and in the summer a waterproof formula can save you from getting panda eyes!

Kohl Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil

In addition to a mascara, a kohl liner applied along the lashline can help to make your lashes appear thicker and fuller. A kohl liner can be applied in a multitude of ways, creating very different looks! If you get a good quality liner, you can either create very crisp lines or smudge them for a simple smokey eye look. And there is no reason, why you should only have one in black! Wear whatever color you like best and switch it up for different occasions!

Brow Mascara: L’Oréal Brow Artist Plumper

You are probably aware that next to contouring and strobing, eyebrows are the big hit in the beauty community these days. Now, if you are a beginner or blessed with naturally full and well shaped brows, it cannot hurt to set them in place and give them a tiny boost of color (if needed), thus a good brow mascara seems to be a very nice staple basic! And there is no need to pay much money for a brow mascara either: many drugstore brands have come out with great brow mascaras in various colors and different formulas.

Bonus

Liquid Eyeliner: Astor Eye Artist Stimulong 

Since the 40′s and 50′s women have discovered that black liner is a girl’s true best friend - the cat eye flick will never go out of style and up to this day you will see artistic creations of various styles, shapes and colors in glossy magazines and on the internet. I write liquid eyeliner here as an umbrella term because there are many more forms and forumlations out there, such as felt tip liners or gel liner pots, and I am sure everybody has their favorite. This particular one has been my true love since I was 13 and I will cherish it and pray that it’s never discontinued!

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion

There are only very few people who won’t need an eyeshadow primer when applying eyeshadow. Primers don’t only help to prevent creasing and to make your eye makeup last longer, they can also make eyeshadow appear brighter and help them to blend better. If you know that you have deepset eyes or oily eyelids, I would highly recommend investing in a good eyeshadow primer! Some people also like to use a cream eyeshadow in their skin color as a base such as MAC’s Paint Pots. 

Eyeshadow Palettes: Zoeva Naturally Yours & Urban Decay Vice3

Over the years I have learned that eyeshadow palettes are really really worth the money. I used to be very much into single eyeshadows, thinking I would get exactly what I wanted and wouldn’t have to pay for more than I bargained for and colors I would never actually use, but I was kinda wrong. Sure, single eyeshadows are great but really, you usually get a better price-value ratio with palettes and you already have an overview of possible color combinations! There’s something out there for everybody in every possible price category! I would suggest at least one palette of neutral colors and one with colorful eyeshadows that you do think you would get wear out of!

Brow Filler: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade

If you have very thick and full brows, you won’t need to fill in your brows even more but especially for people that are unhappy with their natural brow shape or think their brows could be a little fuller, a good brow filler can be your savior! I personally prefer a pomade but lots of people also use brow pencils because they can draw in individual hairs to make everything look a bit more natural. Don’t forget to brush any product through the brows to make it blend better!

False Lashes: Cheryl Lashes by Eyelure “Girls Night”

A lot of finished makeup looks you will see on the internet (especially on youtube), look especially nice because the makeup artists have applied false lashes. They give your eyes more definition and make them appear more open and give your whole look a certain finesse. There are a million styles to choose from to suit your wishes and your style! If you have gathered some skill you can even experiment with individual lashes!

And those are all my basics and bonuses considering eye makeup! I hope you enjoyed this and I am sorry it took me so long to get on with this series!

[bellebleuet]

LUSH Lover || Yoga Bath Bomb

Hello everybody and welcome back to the blog! Continuing my LUSH Lover Series, I got a brand new review for you of the Yoga bath bomb!

Yoga belongs to the permanent range and is not an exclusive product but still fairly new. It’s a plain round bath bomb in orange and might be overlooked by some people that seek more fun and adventurous bath bombs but for everyone that needs some relaxation, this might be the one for you!

Here’s what LUSH says:

Take a journey of the self as reassuringly soothing sandalwood oil creates a sanctuary of calm in your bath. When you plunge this meditative fizzer into the water, slow mesmerising shades of oranges, purples and turquoise will unfurl. At the same time deeply relaxing olibanum and ho wood release, fragrancing your body and surroundings. It’s the ideal atmosphere to lie back and contemplate life.

My personal experience was that this bath bomb took unnaturally long to dissolve and I am sure that if you want to save some money, you could cut this in half and get 2 full baths out of one. I definitely enjoyed the smell and the color because both were subtle and not too overpowering. Apart from some golden glitter and a little bit of purple and turquoise foam at the core, this bath bomb keeps it simple and classic!

LUSH really hit the nail with the concept and execution of this product. Just like Yoga this bath bomb helps you to relax and get rid of any stress but the simple color and design that passes up on funky colorplay and effects leaves you free to collect your thoughts and come out of the bath completely focused. The scent reminds me of frankinscence and saunas and it’s generally woody and slightly citrus-y so that it fits into every season and time of day!

So if you are looking for a good, relaxing bath that helps you to focus and to regain energy and strength, give this one a go and see how you feel afterwards! Bonus: the bath bomb doesn’t stain your tub and the glitter won’t cling to you either!

[bellebleuet]

LUSH Lover || Cranberry Mask

Hello everybody! I am so very sorry that I have not posted anything in the past few weeks because I was in London and had to prepare some things for my dissertation. But now I am back and I have a new thing for you!

My LUSH Lover series! I went to the Oxford Street LUSH flagstore and bought lots of goodies and then went home and basically bought the whole Christmas collection and instead of just hauling it all to you, I decided to actually try everything in its own time and then report back to you :)

Today I present you with a review of the fresh Cranberry Mask. It’s part of the Christmas collection and retails for 10,45€ for 45ml. LUSH describes the mask as follows:

Nourish skin throughout the winter with this festive face mask of antioxidant cranberries and cleansing fennel seed infusion. A blend of argan oil and rose clay leaves skin matte and luxuriously soft. Who needs Christmas pudding when this is waiting in your fridge instead?

The main ingredients are cranberries (duh), fennel, argan oil and tofu but you will also find patchouli oils, lemongrass oil and sandalwood oil. The first are gently exfoliating the skin while gently cleansing it and hydrating it, while the latter make this mask smell super fresh and calming and sensuously brighten any dull winter day! On top of that, the color is super fun and adds something extra to the whole pampering experience!

The mask goes on feeling very creamy and soft and you wont need a lot to cover your whole face, since unlike other masks from LUSH such as Brazened Honey, Cranberry is not of a dry consistency. After a few minutes the mask starts drying and feels fresh on the skin but doesn’t make your face tingle, so you can leave it on for a while without having to worry. After washing it off my skin felt plump and soft and very hydrated and the feeling definitely lasted even though I did not apply a moisturizer afterwards.

Because of its nourishing and hydrating effect I think this mask might be worth checking out, especially for those of you who have dry skin. I would definitely repurchase this mask and think it’s a nice pick-me-up during the winter :)

Next up will probably be one of the new bath bombs, so watch this space if you are a LUSH Lover like me!

[bellebleuet]

Quality Check-List || Part 2

Hello my lovelies! As you can see from the title, today I will continue talking about this some things to look out for when buying makeup and beauty products!

Just like in Part 1, these are things that I consider important and you might think they are silly but I still hope that these points might help some of you the next time you go beauty shopping!

Fragrance

A lot of beauty products have very distinctive scents or artificial fragrance added to it. This can be both good and bad! Especially when you have sensitive skin, artificial fragrances or perfumes in skincare can lead to irritation while others may absolutely hate the natural odors you get in organic cosmetic. I think as a rule of thumb, go with your gut feeling! Scents can cause headaches and make you feel uncomfortable if they are not to your liking, so a product may perfom brilliantly otherwise but if the scent urks you, you might not use it in the end anyway!

Packaging

I feel like this is something that gets talked about by youtubers a lot bot not everybody realizes how important packaging can actually be! Foundations that have glass bottles can be troublesome to travel with and you want sturdy packaging that protects all your powders. Fiddly closures can not only be annoying but can lead to you dropping the product and breaking it! Big and bulky should also be a no-go if you know you have little storage space or want to take some things with you when you travel.

Cost-Benefit Ratio

I thought I would leave the most obvious and most important point for the end. Now some of you may think that the cost-benefit ratio is hard to determine for makeup and you are right, there is no general rule of when you should buy something and for how much. That being said: you can find amazing quality makeup and skin care for very affordable prices and drugstore can be just as good as high end (especially when you do some research and find out that companies like L’Oréal own brands like Urban Decay). On the other hand, it’s your money and if you feel like only buying MAC or high end brands, that’s your personal thing and you don’t have to feel like you owe someone an explanation! Personally, I’m not a fan of dupes but I totally get how other people love that they have the chance to buy a similar product for less money. So in the end, you decide how much you want to spend and how much use you will get out of something! And remember: Makeup is meant to be fun!

I really hope this was helpful for you but if you still want me to talk about something that I haven’t mentioned yet or want something like brand recommendations for certain products, please feel free to message me!

[bellebleuet]

Rebel Romantic Eyeshadow || KIKO Cosmetics

Welcome back to the blog everybody! Today I got a little product haul/review/swatch post for you :) I bought two of the Metallic Shine Eyeshadows from Kiko Cosmetics’ Rebel Romantic LE Collection.

Kiko describes the products as follows:

“A creamy powder eyeshadow with a metallic finish. The dense yet supple texture glides on easily and adheres perfectly to the eyelids for an instant colour payoff. The formula's waxes and oils strengthen the pearls and pigments in the eyeshadow, ensuring a long-lasting wear.”

There is a total of 6 shades available of which I have two: 02 Absolutely Rose and 05 Charming Sage.

Absolutely Rose is a really unique shade, not too pink and not too warm but also a bit mauvey and with a more cool toned sheen to it. Charming Sage on the other hand is a lovely deep olive green that probably looks amazing over a black cream base.

The packaging of the whole collection is absolutely gorgeous! It’s a nod to the art deco style and makes you feel a bit like you’re getting ready for a Gatsby party when you work with the little eyeshadow pots with the dark grey chrome lids.

I have to say that once again Kiko doesn’t disappoint. The texture of these eyeshadows is really unique: They almost feel like a cream and are as pigmented but blend as easily as a good powder eyeshadow. That being said, there is a bit of fall out if you are not careful but it’s only minor! Another thing I have noticed when wearing Charming Sage is that it is super vibrant when I first apply it and during the day the green kind of looses its’ pigmentation and starts looking a little duller...

I have yet to try and see if these shadwos can be foiled and how they apply on top of cream bases but I still think that Kiko has created a really unique eyeshadow texture with great metallic colors for an amazing price!

What do you think of eyeshadows with unordinary textures? Would you be interested in trying this cream-powder eyeshadow? 

[bellebleuet]

Quality Check-List || Part 1

 Hello everybody! I while ago I was asked, if I could perhaps make a list of things to look out for when buying makeup and beauty produts and I thus came up with this handy list! 

These are some of the things I personally look out for when I spend my money on beauty goodies and I hope they are helpful for you, too! I also tried to include some general things to look out for that might be of interest for those of you that are still new to the wolrd of makeup and want to start building up a small collection :)

Undertone & Oxidation

This point in particular applies to liquid base products like foundations, BB/CC creams and concealers. It is really important to find a base that matches your natural skintone to give you a very natural and perfect finish. Therefore, it is important to get a base that blends in seamlessly with the skintone of your neck. Usually people tend to have yellow or pink undertones and the best way to find out is either to observe your natural skintone in daylight or go to a beauty counter and let them match you to a foundation and specifically ask about your undertone. Another thing to watch out for is oxidation, which basically means that the base product will react with the oils on your face and the oxygen in the air and change shade - usually darker. When looking into buing a new foundation, swatch it on the back of your hand, blend it out and wander through the store for a while. Check back if the shade has visibly changed and you should get an idea of the level of oxidation!

Pigmentation & Fall Out

After watching out for your base colors, let’s move on to eyeshadows (and I guess blushes). When buying eyeshadows you want to make sure that the product in the pot easily has the same color and intensity when you apply it to your lids - the same applies to blushes and your cheeks. Sometimes an eye primer can help but a good eyeshadow should feel soft and easily give off color. However, that doesn’t mean it should give off color to your whole face! Fall out (excess eyeshadow falling down from your lids onto your cheecks) is something you’d want to avoid because it makes things messy and wastes product. Unfortunately it is hard to tell in stores if an eyeshadow will have fall out, so I recommend reading online reviews of products before buying them, if you are unsure!

Textures & Finishes

These two things apply to all beauty and skin care items and are something very very personal. I am mentioning it here because I want you to be aware that it is okay to like what feels best to you and experiment a bit! Even though the world may go crazy over dewy, shimmering skin, you might prefer a matte finish - and that is perfectly fine! That being said not every matte is the right matte and not every shimmer is a good shimmer and so forth. Meaning: textures and finishes may differ from product to product and can sometimes do more harm than good! If you have oily skin you might think you need super mattifying moisturizers, when in fact those can cause your skin to produce even more oils! Just take your time and try out different products - perhaps you’ll be surprised in the end!

Since I don’t want to make this posts too lenghty, I have decided to leave it at that for now and will soon be back with a Part 2 and more useful tips and things to watch out for when buying makeup! 

Let me know if you like this post format and if you perhaps have more specific questions that I can answer for you :)

[bellebleuet]

Current Favorites || Beauty & Lifestyle

Hello everybody! I am so sorry I have been a bit inactive lately but now I am back and I’ve got some good posts lined up for you - some of which have been requested by you guys as well :) 

But first I want to start off with some of my current favorites! I wanted to do a Fall Favorites post but then I realized that I’ve been loving so many different things atm and because fall has basically just started this week, I’ll do a general beauty and lifestyle favorites post :)

LIPS: MAC LIPSTICK IN TWIG

As much as I love my dark reds and berry shades in the fall, I have noticed lately just how much I love wearing MAC’s Twig. It makes my lips look fantastic and it’s such an uncomplicated color that matches nearly every outfit and eye makeup. I also think that the rosey undertones in Twig make it a nice transitional color between summer and winter!

FACE: KIKO SOFT TOUCH BLUSH IN CLASSIC ROSE (111)

I probably bought this blush about 5 years ago and it’s one of the few makeup items that I will never clear out because every year when the temperatures drop I push back my peachy shimmer blushes and get out this little beauty. It gives my cheek a lovely natural blush that makes me look a bit like Snow White.

EYES: CHARLOTTE TILBURY THE DOLCE VITA PALETTE

To me this quattro is fall in eyeshadow form. Seriously, the colors remind me of fallen leaves and golden autumn days! I absolutely adore the color combination possibilities these 4 shades offer and the quality really justifies the price. The packaging is sturdy enough to put this little palette in your bag, for a touch up or a day to night transformation on the go! As I like to put it: fall colors for neutral lovers ;)

SKIN CARE: LUSH BRAZENED HONEY

Although my favorite reliant go-to mask is LUSH’s Mask of Magnaminty I got a sample of the Brazened Honey mask about 1 or 2 months ago and I instantly noticed the amazing effect it had on my skin! My pores seemed smaller, my skin much clearer and still very soft, so I went and got a full size! The smell is the only thing that I think is a bit strong and.... unique... but definitely worth enduring for the amazing results! The mask especially helps with those nasty hormonal zits and reduces the swelling and inflammation!

FRAGRANCE: MY BURBERRY BY BURBERRY

I think I have mentioned before how much I love Burberry and Burberry fragrances because to me they always have something sophisticated about them. My Burberry reminds me of cashmere and classic women wearing chic trench coats and stylish hats while strolling down a busy London street in the fall. And according to the official description that was the thing they were going for! If you like flowery scents that remind you of a London garden after the rain: this is the one for you ;)

ACCESSORIES: ROSE GOLD WATCH BY CHRIST TIMES

Again, not exactly a fall related favorite but a favorite nontheless. My dad got me this watch on a whim when we were out shopping and I love it to pieces! I get loads of compliments on it and I love that this watch is enough of a statement to replace jewellry (which I tend to not wear very often). Bonus: You get two different cuffs with the watch, so if you prefer a woven or leather bracelet, you’ll love this watch!

DRINK: STARBUCKS’ PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

I know this may make me look like a basic white girl, but I am not even sorry. I love Starbucks coffee - it’s such a treat and I could die for the taste of the classical Pumpkin Pie spices because they’re also ingredients for a lot of old school German Christmas baking goodies and it’s the perfect cut from summer for me and a good transition to pre-Christmas in my opinion.

MUSIC: HAMILTON THE MUSICAL

If you are a musical theatre fan, you will know that this new musical about the American founding father Alexander Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda has swept the whole community off its’ feet because it’s just so DARN GOOD! Honestly, the lyrics are so, so well crafted and the whole concept is beyond brilliant! I would definitely recommend checking it out (the cast album is available on spotify) and give it a listen, even if you might not be the classical musical theatre fan!

MOVIE: NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Okay, to  be fair, The Nightmare before Christmas is basically my all time favorite movie but during this time of year I love it even more! I am a big Tim Burton fan and I just love all the lovely details you can find in this stop-motion masterpiece! The characters are very unique and the songs a joy - even for non-musical theatre fans ;)

BOOK: FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY

Another favorite that may seem very fitting for the season but it’s actually coincidental this time. I bought this book years ago when my English wasn’t nearly at the same level it is now and thus I never really got around reading this classic of Sci-Fi literature. However, now that I’ve finally got around reading it, I absolutely love it and I wish Mary Shelley would get more personal credit for it! A classic worth reading!

And those are all my random favorites of the moment! I hope you enjoy this post format - I definitely think it mixes things up a bit :)

What are your current favorites? Anything you think I should check out?

[bellebleuet]

mrsswormwood hat auf deinen Eintrag geantwortet: Heya :) Do you know any vegan face care products...

There is an Italian brand, Neve Cosmetics, that is mostly make up but has few skincare things too! And almost all of their products are vegan and it’s completely cruelty free (And very pretty)! I believe it sell in the whole Europe!

I have literally never heard of them before but I’ll gladly check them out and share this information for anybody else who is looking for vegan skincare/makeup! Thank you for the tip! :D

[bellebleuet]

Heya :) Do you know any vegan face care products you can recommend?

I would definitely recommend LUSH and Grown Alchemist when looking for vegan skin care (although not all of their products are but they usually do put it on the package)

But I would recommend staying tuned because I got a request for a post on cruelty free/vegan skin care and makeup and I’ll hopefully get to that very soon :)

[bellebleuet]

Hello! I love your blog! I wanted to ask whether you could (maybe as a part of the basics series?) give advice on how to determine whether a product is good or bad quality and which factors one should check. Thank you already and have a nice day.

Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me :)

Although I think that is largely based on personal preference, I am sure I could come up with some things to check when it comes to product quality :) Thanks for the request, I’ll hopefully get around to writing a post like that soon!

[bellebleuet]

Basics & Bonus || Face

Welcome back to the blog and welcome to a new series I am starting! A while ago I had a conversation with someone who asked me what I would consider the absolute basic must haves for a makeu kit and I realized how difficult it is to answer that question because clearly everybody has a different idea of how much makeup is “necessary”.

That is why I have decided to break down my basic and bonus products for you! Keep in mind that this is my personal idea of both terms and only meant to give you an idea :)

Basics

Foundation: Rimmel Match Perfection

Personally I think everybody needs at least one good base product. I understand that some people are blessed with an even complexion and of course I wouldn’t advise using camouflage makeup when that is the case for you, but in case you don’t a good medium coverage foundation can transform your whole face. Important is that it matches your skintone and that you feel comfortable - sometimes people prefer high end, sometimes they prefer drugstore what matters is that you feel good! Finish and coverage are completely up to your own liking as well!

Concealer: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

I am sure most people feel like they could live without foundation but that concealer is an absolute must have! Whether to cover imperfections, blemishes or dark circles, concealer is your best friend! Like with the foundation, make sure that you feel comfortable with the consistency and color of your concealer! Watch out for creasing!

Blush: Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush

I have heard before that people (even those with the nicest complexions) feel like their face seems one dimensional and dull sometimes, yet they are completely at a loss of what to do. Understandably, not everybody likes contouring, which would be the obvious way to sculpt and form a face to make it look more three dimensional. However, there is a much easier solution: a touch of blush! No need for bright pinks and shimmers - a rosey, brownish color can look very natural and can be easily applied (even if you are a total newbie to applying makeup). On the other hand, I would always recommend a cream blush because it’ll last you longer and you can use it as a lip tint as well!

Bonus

Powder: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

Especially when you only want to buy one liquid base product it can be good to buy a powder to alter your look from dewy to matte (or semi-matte) and to set your concealer. Personally, I like having a translucent lose powder for setting my foundation and an “effect” powder like the Hourglass powder for some extra radiance and luxury!

Bronzer: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Like a good blush, a good bronzer can do so much for your complexion! Apart from contouring you can also use the bronzer to warm up your face and give you a summery tanned glow all year round (and also during the summer for sunless tanning). If you manage to get your hands on a duo of bronzer and highlighter (Charlotte Tilbury being the luxury version here but there are plenty of drugstore alternatives, e.g. from Soap & Glory and L’Oréal) you can even transform a matte contouring bronzer into an Ibiza-like glow!

Highlighter: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks

After mentioning the bronzer/highlighter duo just now, you might as well ignore this part but since radiance is the big hit these days, one can really never have enough highlighters! From champagne shimmers to golden glows and peachy pearls - there is something for every complexion out there! Some other favorites of the beauty community include the Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer and Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors!

Tinted Moisturizer: Estée Lauder Enlighten EE Cream

While I usually advocate medium coverage foundations (purely out of personal preference, really), I can also preach about the benefits of a nice tinted moisturizer or BB cream. Especially during the warmer months or on especially good skin days, it might be uncomfortable wearing a heavy foundation. They are also perfect for lazy days when you want to look fresh but natural - like on weekends when you just need to get some groceries but otherwise just stay inside with a good book or movie!

Miscellaneous: mix it all up!

If you are on a very tight budget I can understand that you don’t think it’s necessary to have three different peachy coral blushes and 5 different champagne highlighters but sometimes it can be nice even to have (at least) two options of everything. Like a coral blush for the summer and a darker rosey red for the winter! A concealer that matches your skin for blemishes and a lighter one to highlight your under eye area! A dewy finish light coverage foundation and a matte finish medium to full coverage foundation! The possibilites are endless and I would truly recommend indulging in some variety ;)

Those are my personal basic and bonus products for the face! Next time we will cover eye makeup, including brows ;)

What do you think of this series? Do you like it? Do you have questions, tipps or recommendations you would like me to cover? Send me a message!