January Used Ups

So we've made it through 1st month of 2015. I guess it's not the easiest month, unless you're in midst of summer at the southern hemisphere. 

 Used ups:

 

• IS Clinical is a brand that is quite well-known. I was glad to use the Instant Smoothing Gel in the midst of flare-ups. It's incredibly neutral and well-moisturizing and my skin tolerated it well. It has some positive ingredients like copper tripeptide & others but it also has some dimeticones (see here). Repurchase it big? Maybe.
• Kimberly Sawyer Restore anti-ageing cream was too much essential oils for my skin.
•  Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydrating Serum also felt like a neutral bliss on my skin. I think I'll get the travel size.
• I rarely finish a lipglos but Jill Stuart Lipgloss in 12 Sensual Veil ticked all the retro-girly boxes. Also, it's milky peach enough to wear it on its on and a fab glossifier over lipsticks.
• Nexxus Kerafixx is a wonderful treat to dryer, damaged hairs. Funnily, I've started to notice my hair is not that dry or damaged lately so I can venture on lighter treatments.
• Makeupalley had a fab rating for Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol brightening solution and it has been a wonderful duo-product to brighten skin. I finished it before the grande flare-up and it has been a wonderful treatment for a couple of months.
• I'm not exfoliating anymore but I'm still liking Cane + Austin Retexturizing treatments (review here). These are the travel-size, single packed version that are a bliss while travelling.

• Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant mascara made it into my Best of '14 list. I've cleaned the brush to use with the organic W3LL People Expressionist Mascara. Honestly, the organics cannot hold my curl but I had to make the switch for my Clean & Calm routine.
• Ren Glycoactic Masque is another favourite exfoliator. However, if your skin is overreactive, step away from all exfoliators.
• Dr. Organic Royal Jelly Shampoo is way too overfraganced imo. I used it to clean my brushes and wash my gentle clothes like cashmere.

• [almost invisible label] Coastal Scents Essential Oil in Peppermint is a good quality oil that I mix with a base like advocado oil for scalp treatments. 
• Lea Journo has been brilliant into packing its conditioners in sachets: travelfriendly, and a good smoothing conditioner that only needs a tiny bit for a good effect.
• I've discussed the blissful neutrality of Avène Cicalfate in my last post. It's a repurchase.
• [almost invisible label, part II] I've ordered Leahlani Aloe Day cream together with the hyped Mermaid mask. It's supposed to  "to gently balance hormonal skin flare ups" but it did not helped my flare-up skin. I was not a fan of the baby-powerish fragance either.
• So one thing that does help is my Tatcha Indigo treatment. I've already reordered.

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact '14 Spring in Tulip Fields 08

I could write a whole story about why I bought this blush or I could show your the photo:

Or, ooooh Spring or It's purrrty!

But I'm not that superficial and it gotten a bit of nationality mixed in as well: Tulip Fields!

Nothing more quintessentially Dutch as a good dose of Tulips!

Still there has been a lot more that made me buy my second Jill Stuart Blush. I like my first and for some reason I haven't made a repetition buy until this one. Reason: price, and perhaps the bit of OTT on cuteness. I do not trust too cute & too pretty too much, or call me superficial on the superficial [get it?].

And there's often a good dose of innocent-talk when buying Jill Stuart. However, I've been getting used to this with Rouge Bunny Rouge. Even a mature/sleek brand like Laura Mercier has been talking about 'innocence' for Spring '14 so there must be something in the air that longs to the pre-twerking/booty-instagram era...Perhaps Tulips?

In Jill Stuart case, there's the Fairytale:

And the fairytale princess Abby Lee Kershaw as 'zee face'

Often a model who is a face is not that often used for body-modelling, but in Abby's case she's been a Victoria's Secret model too: Well, you definitely need a body to walk those shows so talk about lucky genes.

So I'd been discussing "inner beauty" as a resolution but the inside of the box is also decorated with cute flowers:

Which brings me to the palette:

 

I like that brush on a leash: it makes the innocence of the blush a bit more cheeky...

Close:

 

& Closer:

And the swatches:

I have been really surprised about the colour payoff and the glowiness. The closest match I can think of is the Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope blush. I got to compare both of them. And I have to make better photos when there's some real light again but *people* it's January and I was too eager to swatch/discuss/review/blag about it today!

I was slightly worried because I've been reading Driveller's Kate review on the way she fell for pretty with Paul & Joe, and gotten "pretty [useless] balls" (my quotation, btw). Also, I was worried about too much 'orangy' tones but I love how the mix works out. Also, the 'red' colour is not as frightingly red as I imagined: it's a pinkish red that I love.

This will make a versatile palette when travelling: the yellow makes a slightly shimmery/speckly highlighter and the rest have enough versatility to use on it's own, and make the most 'universally peachy' combination when mixed.

Or,  a Fairytale come true! Now only the 'return of innocence' again...

#No-nobuyJanuary

As in the double negative is a positive...

I think I'm one of the few who hasn't attempted the #nobuyJanuary.  I love the idea of toning down on the consuming part, but I think January is too much of a moody month to go really dramatic on a no buy. I hope everybody who was on the #nobuyJanuary that it has been succesful; I'll might try in Februari or March :)

Left is a jar of Lyonsleaf Beautybalm. It's organic, and a multitasker. What I like about this balm is that you can use it as a oil/balm cleanser: I've been trying to cleanse with coconut-butter but I'm not that fond of it: it reminds me of cooking too much.  I hope this balm will be a better option for me.

On the right is a sample set of Kris d'Amour of face & body products. I cannot believe how generous the large bottle of Bath Oil is. I'm really loving his Soothing body butter and already ordered a larger size. There's still a discount code for 30% going on with "JANUARY2014". Samples are free but you'll pay for shipping.

 I'm also waiting for the Jill Stuart '14 blush in Tulip Fields 08: it has dainty flowers decorated on it

It will be my second Jill Stuart blush: I'm not always into pure prettiness but this time it wowed me over. And I love the delicate powder of JS: subtle radiance and a glow of colour.

Summer Makeup wishlist

1. Jill Stuart Fig Tart blush from the Summer Patisserie Collection

First spotted by reading Rougedeluxe's blog. I love this one because it is a lot brighter and more reddish/pink than the usual collection of blush that Jill Stuart has. And as a food lover, I am smitten by the name :-)

I have seen it online but I still haven't ordered it yet. Probably because this one isn't cheap and I am not too certain about the people selling it.

2. Kose Addiction Lady of the Lake eyeliner pencils (or the lacquer)

screenprint from their video

I think it was the challenge that Yumeko from Bittenbefore gave other beautybloggers to show their collection in colour schemes. Some of the bloggers had trouble finding enough whites but I actually love white eyeliners, and saw that the Lady of the Lake collection has an awesome white pencil called Moonwalk:

Now I know Kose Addiction doesn't come cheap but they often excel in what they do in makeup.

I like the eyelacquers too, but I  am not really into high-makeup when going into the water (pool or sea) but a good pencil often gives out some definition or extra zest to the eyes.

Any specific makeup items you have been eyeing up?

SOLD...sorry about that

Everything is sold, sorry about that

Before 2009 is over, I would like to sell three of my Jill Stuart items for reasonable prices, predominantly to cover for the shipping fee.


The first item is a limited edition eyeshadow quad from the winter 2008 range. It is a range of the cutest golds, pinks and neutrals, so if you haven't been able to pick this up in 2008, this could be your chance.

***(mail me at tropischezee_@online.nl if you are interested in buying something)***

Jill Stuart eyeshadow quad in 05 Flash Veil (used 1x)- $19 INCLUDING shipping


Jill Stuart is the queen of princessy packaging. You will receive this palette in the whimsical, peachy packaging.

The colour collection is 05 in Flash Veil

The compact is adorably cute and a jewel to show:

The inside mirror is handy for applying your makeup in the office or on the road:

My second items is the Jill Stuart Eye Jelly in colour 10 Vintage Decor:

Jill Stuart Eye Jelly 10 Vintage Decor (used 1x) $ 7.50 including shipping

Princessy packaging, adorned like a jewel:

Shaped in feminine forms, a statement on your makeup dresser:

A gorgeous taupy brown colour with silver flecks:

Utterly beautiful to have:

My last item is another jewel, that has gotten rave reviews as well:

Jill Stuart Loose Powder in Natural (new) $21 INCLUDING shipping

It is a generous size that will provide you with the silkiest powder in the most adorable case:

The box is included:

You cannot get more cute and girly with this soft peachy bow on the powder puff:

Every item is clean and unused:

The foil is still unharmed:

***(mail me at tropischezee_@online.nl if you are interested in buying something)***

My gorgeous new colours, and Jamilla's generosity!

• I haven't been buying that much eyeshadows from Japanese Brands for a while. I haven't been buying much eyeshadows at all in the last couple of months. That was because I had a large collection shades at home, and lately, I could not wear eyeshadow because of sensitivity problems with my eyes.
  
  However, my eyelids have improved and I was so happy to see some gorgeous new Autumnal collections popping up at my favourite Japanese makeup pusher-sites.
  
  Let me present to you my new, beloved boxes:
  
  

• Kanebo KATE Diamond Cut Eyes PU-1: a gorgeous palette with lilac and purple shades.
• Shiseido Maquillage Alexander Wang BR 365: taupes and browns
• Kanebo KATE Reflect Mirror Eyes GY-1: greys and taupes.

I also bought the supergorgeous Jill Stuart Blush Fresh Apricot 06 from Jamilla Camel.

Jamilla is such and inspiring and fantastic blogger who always has the best features in her blog.

Let's not forget her generosity....wowza. She was soooo sweet of sending me all of this:

A Mac eyeshadow in expensive pink, an eyeshadow pencil in brown and a Paul & Joe pencil in purple. Some decadent skincare sample from KenzoKi, sheet masks and other goodies.

Thank you Jamilla Camel, *HUGS*

My sweetest readers ♥ ♥, I will post some swatches of my newest colour next week (probably at the end of the week) so you will have an idea of how the colours would look like in real life.

buying birkie....

Hauling makes me happy every now and then...buying from bloggers I know (a bit, though) makes me extra glad.....

So, when I came home last saturday I had a bunch of packages waiting for me...it is the ultimate "happy return" welcome, I believe ;D.

I was pretty quick in ordering the Jill Stuart summer 2009 palette from Kathi (lotuspalacesales) which will probably has irritated some potential buyers. Sorry for you, but I was so selfish to pick it up! I haven't been buying eyeshadows for ages, and after seeing some swatches of JS summer 2009 I was really happy to snap it up for a good price.

Gorgeous, stunning muted colours. I think the palette of colours is not specifically screaming SUMMER, but that makes it very suitable for me.

I also included my very first Sonia Rykiel palette! This palette is very summery indeed! Gorgeous colours that remind me of diving in tropical seas....mmmm

For the people who have been following Kathi's superpopular blog (and I guess most people who read my blog are certainly reading hers) are already aware that she has been buying a fantastic variety of cute stationary, deco tape, memo letters, etc. And yes, my envelope was already a gorgeous present, decorated with cute tape and kawaii stickers...

The cutest stationary: this letter is printed on both sides: I think it is Malaysian or Indonesian language?

The cat that cooks the best dinners!!!

Sweet Kathi also included two scented Miffy pens. They really smell like candy when you write with them.

Even more, she has been so incredibly generous! You know what she did: she included this FABULOUS RMK eyeshadow in 04 Silver Blue Beige as an extra. Those hearts are toooooo adorable ♥ ♥

I cannot wait to try and swatch all of the eyeshadows....

How do you like her new businesscard? It has the same, kawaii logo as her blog.

She also suprised me with some facial treats....my new passion: sheet masks....

This is bathsalt from Tabinoyado and it is absolutely amazing!!! It turns the water into a deep pink colour and smells like delicate flowers mixed with cherries. I absolutely need more of this.

Kathi, you have been so generous and really sweet to send me all of this:

Thank you soooo much!

I also snapped up another gorgeous necklace from amorevintage. I became mesmerized with another creation of Aileen.

Ohhh, my favourite Finnish jewelly maker included some matching earrings as well (as an extra)...awww, they are really dainty and pretty.

Everything came in the cutest packaging: the letter is so lovely with the roses, and the pink box makes everything look like a real treat!

I loved the polka dot envelope.

Some fantastic samples she included...

Wow, I love my new necklace and I cannot wait to let it decorate my neck.

Thank you, my dearest Aileen!