Start of Summer present: Monica Vinader Fiji

Happy summer, or to the ones on the Southern part of the globe, happy winter.

As it's finally summer over here, I treaded myself the elegant way to friendship-braceleticity: a Monica Vinader Fiji in Gold with plum thread.

 I got this one based on the colour combination: normally I prefer rose gold but the purple looks really nice with the yellow gold.

Plum stands for prosperity, according to Vinader's site. I'm not the super-materialistic type so I consider prosperity to be more than just more cash or business success. Eg: prosperity in friendships, love and life in general.

Ps: I bot a Bobbi Brown powder in Antigua that day too: I still love my makeup too and the rose undertone of the bronzer is actually more flattering on me than a straight brownish colour.

So, how have you been celebrating the beginning of summer?

Owly

My wallet was stolen about a week ago. Good thing I've purchased this cute purse at forever21 beforehand, so the loss wasn't too bad.

I should get something sophisticated (leather) soon, but for the moment I love my canvas cutie!

Xmas Tingies

Some Chrismas presents update and other tingies...

1. My little golden Seahorse:

I love underwater life even though I haven't been diving for ages. When I was 16 I did my Padi course on holidays, and I saw a seahorse for the first time: 

Magical! 

Did you know that seahorses are really feminist? The males are the ones getting pregnant and delivering their babies. 

Some other new babies: 

2. Laura Mercier Eyeliner Set

This year I was quite underwhelmed by most Christmas sets, or perhaps I have bought too many Lunasol and other sets in the years before because I wasn't really tempted.

I went for the Laura Mercier kohlliner's set after seeing some excellent swatches on makeupguru Karen: she tries out a lot so if she likes a kohlliner it must be something. Also, her cat approves...so, in her words "how cool is that?".

Some Used ups

I finally got the cultstatus SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C and finished it. I really like it for it's neutral value and I think I'll repurchase.
Phytospecific Night cream for hair: Meh...


Japanese Liese Hairdesigning jelly in I: I actually like this for keeping my do less frizzy. My hair is straight but with some broken strands that can frizz up during winter. This one tames them a bit.
Madara Deep Moisture cream: Yummy for daytime in winter and not that greasy-feeling for a Deep Moisture cream, quite light. Perhaps a repurchase too but I'll try the products in the winter set first.

Beauty to carry the Beauty: Miu Miu Matelasse

I talked about wanting a beautiful cosmetic purse half a year ago.

It took me some deliberating for buying the Miu Miu Matelasse purse in peach. I think the reviews of the miumiu.com website on shipping weren't optimal, but I got my beautiful purse in a week.

It's not cheap, but I reason that beauty should be carried around in beauty.

Teal-y Marc

Something non-makeup-y today.

I bought this summery bracelet from Marc By Marc Jacobs to match my teal nailpolish :D. It reminds me a bit of children's bracelets and actually has the same rubbery texture as my O'Clock watch in turquoise.

The O'Clock watches are a lot of fun too because you can alternate the wristband. Perhaps a good thing because I think the teal and turquoise are a bit too close in colour but not really, so perhaps I could clash with pink or so...

Cosmetically related: beauty-ful cases

Lately I have been toting around my cosmetics in the side pocket of my bag. It actually makes little sense to have a beautiful set of cosmetic products for on the road and decide to randomly tug them in the side pocket. So I am eyeing up a couple of beauty-ful cases to give my beauty-lovelies a better way of travelling

A lovely and springlike classic floral from Diane von Furstenberg:

This one is from Anya Hindmarch and is in a lovely peach with some fringy sides:

Something cute with pink poodles:

Or this one in Paisley:

Or, the one I am really lusting about (although I would store my cosmetics in another bag inside because I wouldn't dare to tarnish it's inside: Miu Miu Matelasse clutch

Anything pretty you stumbled upon lately?

The Beauty-Closet Find & Something Necklacy

Have you ever bought something from a Limited Edition but haven't found the courage to touch it? So you stashed it deeply into your beauty closet?

Well, I have, and it really feels like shopping in your own stash when you find a gem...

Let me introduce my Shu Uemura by Mika palette. This one even has more special memories because I bought it in the winter 2008 in Paris in Le Printemps ♥

The colours, oh la la, I really like them all and I can say that the quality is still quite good, even after being stored for almost four years. He he, perhaps we can call this the beauty-deadstock vintage find (deadstock is vintage that has never been used in clothing terms).

Colour No. 3 is actually another illusive peach I am craving at the moment...

And yes, I finally used some of the colours...finally!

I also bought a necklace from the sweetest seller who especially listed it for international shipping after I asked it

 

This is the sweetest thank-you note! 

I actually wanted the necklace because of the tribal form, ánd because one of the stones is made from Labradorite. (It's from ArtifactsEtCetera).

Now I feel a leeeeettttle bit spoiled....

Review: Kanebo Lunasol Coffret Xmas 2011

Hello, it's here!

Hold tight, because I will have pictures and swatches of almost everything, that is a lot for one post but I decided to keep it in one post.

The only thing I won't be swatching is the eyeshadow palette. (I'll keep that one for later).

I already had high expectations based on the promotion pictures I saw (talked about it here). I have been slightly enamourated with the clutch and I know from previous Lunasol Xmas editions that they seldom dissapoint...sometimes they repeat the best-sellers, but for me that is not such a problem because that has given me the opportunity to (finally) have one of the bestsellers that are always sold-out.

The shine on that clutch is already amazing.

But eventually I bought it for the shiny thingies inside, right?

Lunasol provides its coffret with 4 full sized products:

1. the Skin Contrast Face Powder in 01 Glow
2. Full Glamour Gloss in EX19 Tender Glow Pink
3. Cream Cheeks in EX 04 Tender Glow Pink
4. Eyeshadow palette in EX 01 Tender Glow Beige Brown

So let's look at everything in the same order!

1. Skin Contrast Face Powder in 01 Glow

I was most curious about this: I wondered if it would be an overly shimmery/glittery powder or a powder for blotting/diffusing the face. I hoped for the last.

And YES! It's mainly a face powder for setting makeup:

Still, if you click on the pictures you can see a tiny glitter/fleck appearing. I don't really mind. One of my favourite face powders is from Jill Stuart and they are based on the same principle -> with a tiny hint of shimmer to make the powder feel less flat on the face.

Blended in the skin:

I really like the soft-diffusion effect...I think you can see the difference between the powdered part and the non-powdered parts: but in a good way because the powdered parts have that softly-lit or airbrushed finish.

I think it holds away the oilies for a good couple of hours. It is also non-scented and that is brilliant. It doesn't irritate my skin as well and it feels soft on the skin.

That's my temporary review: I will have to road-test it for a couple of days more to give out a definite review :D

2. Full Glamour Gloss in EX19 Tender Glow Pink

 

It's a clear pink gloss without any shimmers. The foot on the applicator is slightly bended for a better reach on the lips.

The colour:

I do not think it changes the lip-colour a lot, but it is perfect for that glossy finish without a tacky feeling. It almost feels like a high-end lip treatment. The pink/rosiness gives the lips that bit of extra.

Overal, a safe colour as an extra over lipstick or for a slightly fuller pout on its own.

3. Cream Cheeks in EX 04 Tender Glow Pink

I have seen a lot of raves blogwise so I was really glad this product is included in the set. I could finally get my hands on this blogger's favourite.

The colour is a warm but light pink, infused with flecks

 

I am somewhat surprised that it is quite light. I am already such a pale-face but this one looks more light a pink-toned highlighter than a blush. 

I might be used to liquid blush that has a bit more coverage/pigment in it, such as my By Terry liquid blush and my Inglot liquid blush/highlighter (here). But it is still perfect for creating a sweet highlight.

4. Eyeshadow palette in EX 01 Tender Glow Beige Brown

So I haven't swatched this one yet. But it looks so versatile and promising in the pan. I can already distinct 8 colours in a handy size!

As for the tiny strips? I don't mind. I cannot remember if I ever finished any eyeshadow in my life: I'm just too fickle for that and I like to vary my eyeshadows (or days I don't wear them at all).

I will swatch it as soon as possible ;D

The best surprise has been the clutch and the quality of that one!



It is of marvelous fake-fur quality: I love the taupe tones and the velvet brown ribbon:

The inside is such an ON-TREND velvet.

It truely can double as a fashion-item for toting around.

But it is not only beautiful: it has been zippered on both sides so you can divide your makeup/mobile/money safely and handily:

Lunasol's label is displaced on one side of the zippered compartments:

I sound like I am completely hired by Lunasol to pimp out their new Coffret, but I honestly have to say I am superenthousiastic by myself and it is probably the best Xmas palette from Lunasol ever, perhaps even the best Xmas set ever.

There are items inside that are normally $60 on its own (the eyeshadow palette) so the whole set is such a bargain.

I hope my pictures and review has helped you to make a decision. If you decide to buy it, adambeauty still have it up for $92 (here).


EDITED: I swatched and reviewed the eyeshadow quad in this post over here

The Romanticised Leather Cuff

Hey everybody,

This morning in my Mid-Quirkies I talked about being crafty.

Well, I can finally show you something I created in my spare hours:

Before the sceptical ones are going to say: "you didn't craft that yourself"(which would actually be a compliment 'cause that would mean it looks professional), let me show you my steps...

Step 1: the Gathered material:

I still had a pastel green leather cuff I did not do that much with. And I had the idea I wanted to create I posted over here, so:

Step 2: Mid-process:

Sewing on the buttons, roses, beads and leftover of earrings. The needle is especially for leather, btw, but you still need some muscles to pierce through the leather :D.

Endresult: better view from the other side:

I quite like the outcome....♥

the Luxe, Niche and Snobby hauls

This week I felt really sad for myself...

I miss the company of my best friend, who is actually living overseas (remember the last posts about  the overseas sisters lipgloss, yeh, that is me as well).

I thought I could do better than feeling sad and lonely, so I perked myself with some really luxe, niche and snobby goodies...

The Luxe

A too-expensive body oil...

I just know I could replicate this with a nice melon-oil carrier oil and some neroli essential oil...but my dear...it is Tom Ford Daaahhhling...and too expensive for its 61 euros...still, I needed it!

I could order it online from Belgium webshop Parfuma.com...and I didn't only order the body oil...

The Niche

High end makeup that is really difficult to get, either online or in brick-and-mortar store...

My dear readers...FINALLY, I could order Armani Cosmetics ONLINE!

I ordered the supergorgeous Medittereanean palette...And yes, it is probably dupeable with the eyeshadows I have, but ohhh...♥♥♥ itssoprettyitsoprettyitsopretty ♥ ♥ ♥

They were really generous with samples. I could write down my preference of samples. And yeh, I wrote down Armani Cosmetics. They gave me the Skin Fabric in 04, the Primer, and a gorgeous and niche perfume sample from Armani. The shipping was in two days, so that was instant anti-sadness gratification for me.


The Snobby

Any order from Colette.fr

Last year I was able to visit the store in real life...Well, they are one of the snobbiest bunch around, although there were some moody, too-fassshionable girls that asked me moodily if they could help me (OH WOW). Anyway, did not buy anything that moment, but wanted to return for a Diana camera.

Anyway, the doorman said it was closed, but I saw quite a crowd inside...I probably did not have one of those big, so-called trendy glasses on (that I actually think are quite unflattering on every person, although the rest of the world think they are sooo trendy). Anyway, I actually said I would never buy anything from them, but they had a wicked sale and I wanted a Pat Falcäo necklace for such a long time...

The postman who delivered it to me is not so snobby (just sometimes, when he knows I want the parcel really bad, LOL), so yeh, hurray for online ordering...

The whole necklace:

I got it on sale from 57 euros, but it is now back at its original price from 85 euros (check to see if I am blagging or not here).

The designer is a Brazilian woman who was an engineer in sciences first, but went to cultivate her creative side...I really like that...

That is my Brazilian heart to conclude my luxe, niche and snobby hauls for this week.

Oh, wait...I actually forgot my hair-haul that includes my niche Oribe Signature Cream, but I will write about that later...