30.11.11

Kerastase Elixir K Ultime Review.

Hello my dears,

Today's post is a review on a product I was sent a while back. However, before I get started let me say that even though I was sent this product, I was not asked to review it neither was I compensated for the review. For those of you who have been my readers for a while you know that I would never risk my "relationship" with you guys by giving a positive review on a product I don't like just because the company sent it to me. I have reviewed plenty of products in the past, the 99% of which was purchased by me.
Also, let me tell you that I have been holding back on this review because I was waiting for some external input to enrich this post(as I mentioned in my last post).
Now let's get started!!

This is a hair product(an oil) which is used to nourish and condition the hair.
Given the fact that I have oily roots I have never tried a similar product to this. In the past I have used traditional conditioners as well as a couple of different silicone products but, in time, I became resigned to the idea that I can nourish my dry ends without making my roots more oily than they already are.
Before I got a chance to try this product I did a little bit of online research and read some reviews. Most people mentioned the fact that it is very lightweight, that it is very nourishing and it that it smells great. I have to say that I agree for the most part. I was , also, worried that it would be one of these products that would only work if you apply it on damp hair and then style.
Now, in order to make this review more elaborate I gave samples to a couple of friends to try the product. We all have different hair types so I thought this might help a lot of you.

I will start with my experience with the product and then share with you some comments from the other people who tried it.
My review:

+
It is lightweight.
It can be used before the shower and then washed off and it still works.
It makes the hair soft and easy to style.
It doesn't weight down fine hair, like mine(when used as a pre-shower treatment)
It smells phenomenal(I know this might not be very important to some but I just wanted to add it to the list of positive things because it is truly yummy).
A little goes a long way.
Since I am also a sucker for packaging I have to say that the special packaging of the product I received(which was a collaboration with the designer brand YAZBUKEY) is very pretty.

-
If you have oily roots you should stick to using it before the shower because(like any oil product) it will not help with your oilyness.

The price! Given the fact it is a very difficult time for most people, I would say that the price of this product is not very attractive.However, If you want to try it I would suggest finding a friend(or two) who wants to try it as well and sharing the cost and the product.

I would not recommend going crazy with it since it is still an oil even though it is lightweight. Two pumps are plenty for the entire hair(that is if you have fine/oily hair like mine).

If you have hair similar to mine don't use this on the roots of your hair.Start applying it from the middle part of the hair downwards.


Now, here are some comments from some of my friends who tried it as well...

Lydia aka our guest blogger(straight,fine hair that has been coloured a lot in the past and it goes through styling daily): It made my hair really soft however the smell is a little overpowering for my liking.

Kate(curly hair, relatively normal but with dry ends and a history of dying and styling):"I like the product.It leaves my hair soft and looking nice and shiny. Also, after styling my hair I witnessed a lovely silky feeling."

I hope you found this interesting and helpful. Of course,I welcome your questions and comments as always!!

Ta-da!!!!
xoxo
A.

26.11.11

Ok...so I bought some stuff...(a collective haul)

Hello my lovely readers,

During the last month or so I purchased several make-up items. Some of them I got in store and others I purchased online. So I thought I should share this collective haul with you.
Let's get started...!

The first couple of items I got from ASOS(www.asos.com).
Firstly, I re-purchased the Rimmel Max Volume Flash mascara since I ran out of the last tube. However I forgot to put it with the other items when I was taking pictures(I am so sorry...)so here is an old picture...

Then, I bought a very exciting product which is the Illamasqua cream blusher in "Dixie". This is my first Illamasqua product and I have to say that I am very very impressed by the quality of this product.
This is a dark peach(almost reddish) colour which blends out like a dream and it is an amazing base for any peach or coral powder blush.Of course it is, also, perfect to wear by itself!


The product/ No flash

With Flash

Swatches on the skin
The next product is also very exciting!!Since seeing this for the first time I have been contemplating buying it but I could never justify the cost. However, when I was placing an order on asos.com I saw they still had some in stock so I just went for it.
This is the NARS blush/bronzer trio. It is a compact trio with Laguna bronzer, Orgasm blush and Albatros lighlighting blush.
These are all classic NARS products and it is great to have them all in a compact.

The product

The back

Swatches
Next, I got the Lancome Hypnose mascara. I wanted the Doll Eyes version but it was sold out so I am going to hold back on that for a little while.
Then, I got a polish which I have already done a NOTD with and it is Zoya "Kelly".

Last but not least I got some brushes from Sigma that I have been wanting for a long time.I got the F86 Tapered Kabuki, the P82 Precision Round brush and the E50 Large fluff brush.

From left to right: F86/P82/E50
That is all from now!
I hope you enjoyed my little haul. If you'd like a review on any of the products please let me now in the comments :)

xoxo
A.

20.11.11

NOTD ZOYA "Kelly"

Hello my dear readers,

After a week or so at home I am "on the road again" so-to-speak. Today I have a NOTD for you. It is a ZOYA polish(my first)called Kelly. I have been looking for this polish for ages and I , finally, got my hands on it last week. Unfortunately I cannot tell you where to get it because it was picked up for me by a friend who is a professional in the field :P
However I think that there are numerous websites you could buy ZOYA polishes from.
Now here is the colour...

"Kelly"

"Swatch No1...no light"

"Swatch No2...Under natural light/sunlight"

"Swatch No3...close-up"
Now...a little bit about the polish itself. The formula is great in my opinion and even though the brush is not very big it applies the product just fine.
Another upside to this product(and to all ZOYA polishes as far as I am aware)is that it is Formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor FREE.
Now back to the cosmetic aspect of this product I can tell you that it lasts a long time(I had it on my nails for 6 days with very minimal chipping(which I caused trying to open a blush).
The only downside (which I don't really care about but some people might)is that the colour comes off darker than it looks in the bottle. The reason why I don't find this to be a problem is that with the hundreds of blogs around you will, most certainly, be able to find a swatch for the polish you are about to buy(if, for example, you are buying it online).
Other than that I cannot wait to get my hands on more ZOYA polishes soon. For the time being though I am loving this colour...!I hope you like it as well!!!!

xoxo
A.

p.s. My next post will be a review on a Kerastase product. I have had the post ready for over a week now but I am waiting for some extrernal input to make the review more elaborate so stay tuned...;)

9.11.11

Body Shop haul!

Hello my dears,

A week ago I went shopping to find myself a birthday present. After a walk around I decided that I shouldn't buy things I don't need so I decided to get some stuff from the Body Shop that I could splurge on without feeling guilty. After all a girl needs shower gel and shampoo...;)
So here is my little haul....


Banana Shampoo

Coconut Shower Cream

Soft hands,Kind heart hand cream

Now, in brief, the Banana shampoo is becoming one of my favourites. My friend Kate is always rambling about how great this shampoo is and I kind of agree....
The coconut shower cream is a classic for me. It has a warm coconut smell which I like for this time of year. It is , also, very creamy and nourishing which is always a plus.
The shower lilly is mildly exfoliating and lovely for cleansing the skin.As far as the hand cream is concerned, I haven't decided yet.I will let you know once I have made up my mind!

Hope you like this post ;)
ta-da
A.

6.11.11

NOTD guest post

I have a NOTD guest post for you today!! My very good friend Lydia (who is also my oldest friend in the world who still puts up with me) created this NOTD for you using MAC's Peaceable nailpolish(2 coats), the Olivia Orkide no 47 glitter polish and Seche Vite topcoat(which she swears by and I am almost sold on it :P). She is amazing when it comes to nail designs and choosing her nail colour. I hope you like it and if you want to encourage her to do more guest posts then comment below ;) ;) ;)



Let us know what you think!

xoxo
Athina & Lydia