May's Used Ups...

For this month I mighta cheat a bit and add some things I used up in April as well.

Do you mind? I hope not...

• Superfoods: I've talked about the effect of Moringa before (the Kerastase oils here) so why not adding it to da smoothie. I think I really like the dynamic effect of it and I feel my skin behaves better when I add Moringa.
• By Killian Flower of Immortality: I liked it but I consider them too aquatic for a larger size.
• Chanel Les Beiges Poudre n 30: Honestly, I'm not a fan. It's too perfumed and it's not working that well as foundation or glow-i-fyer. I do bring it on holidays to top up over my sunscreen.
• Mascara Too Faced Better than Sex: This mascara is lovely but I still prefer MUFE Smokey Lash.
• NARS Eyeliner Stylo in Atlantic: A lovely colour of navy blue but it dried up quite fast.
• Phyto Phytokeratine Mask: as recommended by a hyperblonde (here) when I was quite blonde myself. Lovely, I stil prefer Alterna Fill & Fix Mask for blonde (or other colour) rescue.
• L'Oreal Glam Bronze: OMG, how old is that one again? #MUhoarder
• Stila Lipliner in Charming: #MUhoarder again...gotta clear some space
• Majolica Majorca Automatic liner in ?: this must be one of my oldest makeup-products (7 yrs) and it still gave this killer metallic blue line. Something NARS could learn from.

• Addiction by Ayako Eyeliner Pencil in Tokyo Jazz: This has been a part of their Tokyo Jazz '14 set (here). It was also the best quality item and I totally finished it: perfect tightliner tool. 

My skin finally settled from easily agitated to kinda normal. However, are we humans a satisfied species? I guess not. So I was happy to use a variety of serums adressed to other specific needs:
 *

• I wanted to like La Roche Posay Pigmentclar but it smelled like really strong aftershave.

• I used plenty of Odacite serums thanks to a Cultbeauty promotion: The Baobab + Sarsapilla has been an undereye serum I used for my face, quite gentle. In the beginning of May I used the Green Tea & Lemongrass  to perk up my blah complexion. It worked! On my clogged pores I used some Lavender & Jojoba but I could not see dramatic results. I prefer La Roche Posay Effaciclar for that purpose.
• The Gressa Minimalist Serum in 4 had been a tad to dark for me. However, on my holidays I gotten slightly too tan (failing sunblock) so it was an excellent, nourishing match.
•  The Caudalie Polyphenol Oil has been targeted to detox skin. I felt I woke up with clearer skin. It has a stronger fragance so I only would use it when my skin is slightly normal.
• I've been buyng Caudalie Polyphenol Serum a couple of times and I love it during spring to plump up skin.
• The unlabeled bottle has been my Marie Veronique Organics Sunscreen. Very lovely and quite matte. I love it in cities or places when I tend to go oily.
• The Dr. Jart Water Max Sleeping Mask has been a wonderful boost of moisture at night. It doesn't do that much more than adding moisture, but I have other potions to add the extras ;)

Here goes the hairstory again:

I've tried to be a blonde for a while. In order to maintain a middle blonde I started going to hairdressers who made me blonder each time. At a certain point I gotten into this unequal creation that consisted of blondes going way to grey on me (bad toning done) and darker roots. So do blondes have more fun? I guess when their hairdresser is right and when you have too much time on hands that you like to spend toning/uprooting...

I have been going slightly darker these days because maintainance was too much stress: weekly toning, greys when I have hardly any of my owns. etc.  I basically could not get that beautiful blonde level some of my fellow Dutch women have. A bad blonde can look tacky so the guys were not so lovely on me either.
Also, I've adapted an organic lifestyle, went glutenfree, used mostly organic products, so why would I infuse so many chemicals in my system by hairdyes?
Indeed, it's not for nothing that doctor's tell pregnant women NOT to dye their hair because it could harm their baby.   That could never been good news for your body even if you were not pregnant

But the things I did to be a beautiful blonde (by myself)...

• The Phyto Phytocyane also has been recommended by the platinum on XOVain. I think my hair grew a bit faster with it. The vials are a bit hazardous, though. 
• Viviscal: hairstuff from the inside. If it's good enough for models...
• Wella Ilumina is a professional hairdye used in hairdresser salons. Well, toning cost about $60 and they often plunge the cooler tone all over the hair, resulting in some greyer parts: very unflattering when you are almost 40! I did a more precise job by buying either the 9.60 or the 10.1 on the parts that needed toning. It was a heck of a job, though, and I often washed it out in 2 weeks. I think my hair is stubborn because I have the same when getting professional toning in salons. Anyway, if your hair responds normally to toning (about 4 weeks of pleasure of the colour) I guess that DIY is a beautifully cheap option. Just take care of reading a zillion of tutorials on it!
• Davines Finest Pigments Gloss in Pearl is also a professional gloss, only gentler because it does not need a developer. Pearl neutralises some yellows but for a serious yellow or orangy I'd suggest Ash. I like this one when you need instant softening after bleach without going into the harshness of chemical toning again, or blurring out the first greys. You can get them over here.
• I guess you guys know I love Lush Marilyn. I use it when I'm strawberry red, superblonde or  lighter brown. It's an awesome pre-conditioner.

We continue with hairstuff...

•  Gielly Green Repair Mask is one of the better organic hairmasks out there.
• Another fave is Alterna Caviar Repair Fill & Fix treatment Mask. It's protein based and wonderful when you need to restore lost protein.
• Supplements: Doctor's Best Hyaluronic Acid. I like this stuff...
• I often add Marine Based Collagen in my smoothies: it's supposed to plump up skin & hair from the inside.
• Kerastase Crystaliste Serum has been a godsend when I had extensions last year. However, I have to use it sparingly on my own hair.

Skin:

• Sana Hadanomy Collagen mist has been wonderful for a while, but I'm on organic facemists now.
• I found this Hada Labo moisturizer slightly too simple for my face, but it made an awesome thinner body lotion.
• Ren Morrocan Rose Body Lotion smells divine without going to chemical rose territory. It moisturizes well enough for winter skins but is a bliss for summer skin as well.
• I've gotten the Indigo Skin Repair cream as a cheaper alternative on Tatcha's Indigo cream (below). I think it works quite well on psoriasis: I mean,not completely healing but still enough to cope with. It's more affordable to put this on your body than the expensive blue Tatcha one.
• However, for face and a more intensive effect: Tatcha Indigo Cream does help.
• I've gotten First Aid Facial Radiance Pads as a cheaper alternative on Cane + Austin Retexturizing Pads (here). They exfoliate, but Cane & Austin are more effective.
• Rodial Dragon Blood Eye mask struck me as gimmicky, but I still bought some for a long haul flight. I like them better than cheaper varieties but they're pricey.

• Yves Rocher has this affordable 2-phase cleanser for eyes that can remove my stubborn Japanese Primer by Kanebo Kate
• Bionike Dependence Miscelair gel is an Italian apothecary brand that cleanses the face easily
• A gorgeous perfume stored too long: Nicolai Cococabana. Bye bye!
• I had to say goodbye to my very 1st Burberry Beauty product bought in London! I loved this foundation but never used it up.
• Fushi Organics Hydrating lipbalm packs up the right amount of moisture on lips: whether totally healthy or slightly winterrized/seasalted-in-summertime.

Nails:

My nails have been weak for some unknown reason, hence:

• I've been trying Mavala Scientifique to strenghten them: no result
• Then there was Koh Nail Hardener in Bamboo: neither worked for me
• I had to discard Essie Lambada because it dried up too much, aww...
• Same with China Glaze Unplugged
• and I left my newbie from & Other Stories in sunlight. Boohoo, such a pretty orange.

That has been a bit of product-chat. Also, the hairtalk. Someone asked me to dedicate a blogpost specifically on haircolour and I think I might do that. It's often a bit of a social experiment, going into a new colour. 
But first, a proper review on one single product again! Yes...

Best of '14: Face, Body & Hair

In 2014 I have gone mostly organic on everything that skincare & hair.

The main reason is because my sensitive skin responses better on purer ingredients. It can be A equals B but B does not always equal A. Or, just because it says it's (mostly) organic it will not automatically rule out sensitivity issues (see here @ Caroline Hirons). I did not experience major breakouts/rash but some products do get more hype than they deserve.

Nevertheless, My best of 2014:

FACE:

Facial Mist:

Sanoflore Veritable Eau Florale in Camomille

 Chamomille has been my herb of choice as a toner: it calms down my skin and smells wonderful in that dried flower way. I've tried some more expensive facial mists (see here) but sometimes a really sensitive skin needs a bit of simplicity.

Cleanser:

Suki Exfoliating Cleanser

It's not my daily cleanser but a favourite of mine for smelling so zesty and giving skin a mild, organic way of exfoliation.

Serum:

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti Wrinkle Defense Serum

This potion with a newer antioxidant has been a wonderful serum with a good antiageing result. Moreover, my skin tolerates it well. This is my 3rd bottle.

Daycream & nightcream:

No real winners nor losers.

Speciality:

Odacité Pure Elements

These blends really target the problem by location (eg: congested pores at tzone & dry skin @ cheeks). I've always been a fan of essential oil/base oil mixtures and Odacité does them well. The only thing is that they are darn expensive, so you could mix up your own too. Sidenote! I've had a aromatherapeutic course so I have some clue, but if you are unsure about mixing: start with 1 drop of the essential oil on 30 drops of base oil. Overusing an essential oil can have a opposite/negative effect, that's why I really recommend Odacite for convenience and having really good organic oils.

Sensitivity/dry spots/Psoriasis/Exzema

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Renewal Treatment

This is one of the few effective products when I break out in dry spots. It's totally expensive but people who break out on the face know what it is like when you just want to hide behind your hair. So yeh...

Lipbalm:

AS.AP Lip Balm 06

Soothing for wintery or crack-y lips. Also gorgeous as a primer for normal lips.

Mask:

I'm gonna jump upon the [instagram] bandwagon and declare I like Leahlani Mermaid Mask. I don't feel the need to post myself clad in green mud while duckfacing & wearing thick mascara/falsies etc. I hope that's ok.  Ps: I'm still a great fan of my Rhassoul mudmasks (here) too.

BODY/HAIR

Bodylotion:

Avène Xeracalm AD bodylotion

This cream has been an excellent cream in un-itching my body. It diminishes the local dryness/patchiness too. I'd also give Tatcha Indigo bodycream a really high vote, but it is expensive and still has a mild citrus-scent that might not be every-sensitive skin's taste.

Hair:

Less is More Neem Scalp Relieve Shampoo & Lavender Smoothing balm

The shampoo diminishes itchiness on the scalp and cleanses beautifully.

The Lavendel Smoothing balm really smoothes stubborn ends and smells like true lavender.

&

Acure Morrocan Argan Oil + Morrocan Stem Cell condioner

A price-friendly organic conditioner that smoothes down wonderfully.

FaceTools:

Yung Yu Roller in Jade facial

I gotten this roller as a freebie with a large Cultbeauty purchase. I've become a fan of facial massages and the Jade is known as a cleansing stone in Chinese medicine. 

 &

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Facialift

This medieval tool of [...] feels more vigorous when used (video here), like those facial massagist people can do when they want to stimulate the connective tissue. Quite effective as my slightly slacking jowl (I'm a slacker, not a real wrinkler) is a tighter baby the morning after. I have the same tool for body but I should use it more.

I'm quite happy to have found a couple of winners that are organic, or at least quite natural. I feel organic skincare gotten a long way and the choices are sometimes overwhelming. I still like to read reviews beforehand, or read up on the ingredients before I try as 'organic' has become some kind of lucrative magicword these days.

November Empties

"And so we're finished"

(but we might meet again...)

 

 I haven't been that empty-tastic like last month, but I did my share.

Clockwise:

• Aurelia Revitalise Glow Serum is a repeat serum I crack open before winter starts: it's potent enough with anti-agers but soothes for skin-that-doesn't-like-cold. I've repeated before, and will repurchase next transition.
• Ciate Amazing Gracy has been from the 2013 Advent set and it started to thicken up. I wanted to buy this year's set but I had the most craptastic saleslady so I passed at the counter. :( Perhaps I'll get it online anyway.
• SWELL Volumizing condition travel size has been such a gorgeous organic conditioner that doesn't compromize on smoothness nor volume. I need the full size but I still have tons of other conditioners to use.
• I've been liking this Keep Calm & Spray On ThemeFragance perfume since 2009 and it still smells as good as then, but it's almost finished. They don't have this lable anymore so I'll keep the bottle!
• (leftcorner) This Kose Fasio Smart Curl Mascara curl has been a lovely mascara holding up my curl and giving a nice amount of volume. I won't repurchase as I'm adoring my Kate Base + MakeupForever mascara combo so much. 

• I'd ranted about Revitalash stinging my eyes but I guess it had been something else. Fact is, it has given me a wonderful grow and some dainty lashes. 
• Becca Resurfacing Primer has been a GWP but has begon to smell wiffy. It's slightly silicony.
• Koh nailpolishes are from a Dutch company with a Japanese aesthetic. Their nailproducts are brilliant, but expensive. I gotten this colour in the Bijenkorf beautybox from last year's GWP.
• This Bourjois Docteur Glamour lippy had been in my collection for too long. It still smells fresh but I had to make some space. This gorgeous colour is 15 Fuschia o Boho.
• Similar with this NYX Pumpkin Pie: I'm not that fond of nude lipsticks anyway.

 

•  Odacite Ac + R (Acai & Rose Youthful Glow) Oil has been the most gorgeous & glowifying serum on my holidays: a perfect after-sun antioxidant & moisturizing blend. Alas, it's only 5 ml so the price per use holds me back.
• I've already bought & used Bella Freud J'Adore Jane candle and I was curious for Ginsberg is God. I prefer Jane as I'm not too fond of fig as a home-fragance. It's still really nice, though.
• I guess everyone knows about Manuka honey so I won't elaborate on it.
• Normally I go French with my anti-cellulite but L'Oreal (I consider it American instead of French) had a BOGO. It's nice, but I prefer my French for celllutite blasting.
• Tatcha Indigo Bodycream (travelsize) will gets its own feature on the blog: it's THAT good and I already purchased full-size.

 

• Rotho Lychee eyedrops are a staple of mine. I'll repurchase for sure.
• The black tube next to it is Kjaer Weiss Mascara refill. Nice, but so far the chemicals and chemical primers have given me a better result.
• The sample next to it is Tammy Fender Intensive Repair cream. I like it, I use to have full-size, and it's rather expensive.
• The Caudalie Polyphenol C15 eye & lip serum is also nice. I always use the excess of eyecream for the contour of my lips as well but I like the marketing of including both.
• Clean Fresh is like its name, and Frederic Malle's Fleur the Cassis is almost it's florally heady opposite. I like both but not enough for going full-size.
• Suki Balancing Day Lotion has been better than I expected. It's thin but moisturizing enough and it kept my blemishes at bay. Potential repurchase.
• Tatcha Luminious Deep Hydration Firming Serum feels quite neutral and soothing on. I might upgrade to the 10ml travel size.
• Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint is a wonderful hybrid between a tinted daycream and a luminizer: on some days you just need a bit of extra [faux] glow.
• The 2 Ole Hendrikson's are from Sephora's 7 day 'transforming' set. Ugh, the more they come with 'transforming'/'flawless' terms, the more wary I get (they never work for me!). The Truth Serum is a mild Vitamin C based serum: I used to like this one but I feel there are more diverse serums around these days. Similar with the Moisturizer: nicely bland but I'd pick the Suki one over it.
  
  
  In general, my November was not so spectacular on a social level, but I found some really effective products. I'm gonna discuss some of the likes of #Team-anti-irritation soon. And I'm so delighted that my Tom Ford Lipstick & Boys arrived minutes ago. Thus, I'll be getting lippy and report soon ;).