Using, Used, Gonna Use ft. Rodial Bumlift

In the trend of Cannes I thought I would give it a filmic title by featuring something.

Or actually I am really surprised I bought something called Bumlift.

USING:
1. Rodial Bumlift:
I almost finished a whole tube of this product. Rodial is quite expensive and it was the name and the hype that made me bought this. Actually, it was my grafity-obeying Gluteus Maximus : I prefer grafity-defying body and face parts so I thought it was time to bring in some revolt against my drooping glutes.

Ingredients:

So did this prep my glutes and thighs for the luring bikini season?

I was already quite satisfied with Vichy Aqua Destock but curiosity killed gravity so I splurged two times the price of the Vichy on Rodial. I'm not quite sure if it is worth it: my legs and behind are looking slightly perkier since using it, but I do not consider it to be worth more than my Vichy variety.

2. Duri Rejuvacote:
This is my second bottle. I loved it on my first bottle as it FINALLY gotten my nails strong and longer. When I stopped I gotten into nail-breakage Limbo again. Hence, it has its limits but I continue to use it as it gets me natural lenght for the time I am faithful to it.

USED:
3. Organix Repairing Awapuhi Ginger Mask
Oh dear, another hairmask! Yes, I found good reviews on this line at makeupalley and it's available in a brick-and-mortar shop close to me. It works really good in smoothing flyaways and is not too expensive.

Gonna Use (kind of using now but needed this category to be filled)
4. Kanebo Coffret D'Or Rouge Essence RS-276
I bought this one to replace my beloved and almost finished Shine Drape Rouge. I'm slightly dissapointed that it is not the moisturizing quality as before: it is slightly waxier on the lips but I love the pinkish colour for it's neutral polishness. I'm surprised it is on the pinker side as I normally receive something rosier when I order a RS colour. Still, it's a pretty pink.
However, I think I will stick to the Chanel Coco Rouge Shine instead for the feel that is similar to my previous Shine Drape Rouge.

Turquoise Gathering

Revlon Turquoise Tango | China Glaze Passion in the Pacific | Catrice Virgin Forest | [b] basic 471 | Topshop Lead

Last week I have been into turquoise nailpolishes :D.

Mauve-ing into 2013

I have reached for a whole spectrum of mauves lately: holographic mauves, sparkly, matte, red-toned, pinkish and purplish...

Bottom exposure: (how cheeky)

Opi My Big Break | Opi Merryberry Mauve | MAC Violet Femme | Orly Minds Eye | Colour Club Uptown Girl

So have you been reaching for a particular nailpolish in the first week of 2013? Or were your nails on a break after high Nail-tenance Holiday season?

Thumb(s) up...

I wouldn't post a link to a tutorial without trying it myself. I used the colours featured in my previous post and added Nails Inc Basil street for a dash of nude1

Ehm Military? I think it's more Safari right now, so my nail should be dashing around spying up lions and antilopes, that suits me better than being in the army anyway.

Basically I'm not that good with nailart anyway but it looks fun from a distance. And I guess practice makes perfect?

1.Actually Nude is a disciminating name because it only suggests that nude comes in the pale (Caucasian) colours whereas the Caucasians are really in the minority with their colour), but let's not get too political and keep it Shakespearean that "A rose is just a rose, by any other name it would smell as sweet". So Nude for a paled out brown?

Autumn nails: what's new?

Most beautybloggers have an eye on fashion as well. I'm no exception and I was quite curious what I would be going on for face makeup...

But somewhat easier, how to accessorise my nails?

courtesy Vogue Fr

I went to Vogue Fr. and they showed some returns of the classics: (link)

• Red nails- quite big during Fall. No extras with nailart-caviar, etc...just classic reds.

As for the returns of previous seasons:

• Khaki, blacks and taupes: ah great, not that much investments.

I did buy the latest Chanel in Vertigo:

I couldn't resist, even though I probably have a dupe. I love the reference to the film with Kim Novak building up the tension in true Alfred Hitchcock style. Will his films ever date?

I really like the trend they called 'outsider', but basically quite logical with the so-called 'winter-pastels'...a sweet candy pinkish lavendel: 

As I said, there is not that much nail-art featured. Somehow I was surprised about that, because I have seen a lot of Military clothing in the shops. I personally wouldn't like to dress up like someone who has to defend the country against possible enemies, but I thought it would be fab for nails and so I googled and found this blogger doing this tutorial: CrazeGlaze

Wow, supercool: I brought up my other murky greens that I can pair op with my latest Chanel Vertigo:

left: Brazilian brand Ludurana in L001, Essence 68 High Spirits, Illamasqua Hectic, Creative Nail Design in 340 Okey Dokey Artichokie

Swatches in similar order: Ludurana in L001, Essence 68 High Spirits, Illamasqua Hectic, Creative Nail Design in 340 Okey Dokey Artichokie.

 In general, I think that Illamasqua Hectic will qualify as the most military based. It will look awesome on it's own but I really want to try to do my nails in somewhat similar way as Crazeglaze.

So, what beauty-actions are you going to apply in order to go with trends, or perhaps go against trends?

Things that absolutely did not work (and were not cheap at all)

My title has been ridiculously long today But sometimes I just get frustrated with buying things that are hyped all over, and have absolutely no effect.

Today I will look at hair things.

I will start with the most expensive product. I was really enthousiasic about trying Shu Uemura Tasai cream.

• because it is incredibly difficult to get. I think that only Shu Uemura hairdressers sell this, and ebay.
• it was used on Alexa Chung in Marie Claire's photo shoot (here). Alexa has some coooool hair, the right kind of sloppy and nonchalant with a sexy twist. Worshipblues loves her style as well. She is the girlcrush of a lot of UK people, I guess...
• Glamour.co.uk had a hairdresser raving about this stuff.
• It is EXPENSIVE, $30 excluding shipping, so it must do something good, right...(eehm)
• lots of girls on the beauty-blogosphere seem to like it too...
• Tasai, that sounds like a Japanese miracle potion that will transform my hair into Goddess material
• Oh, it looks soo stylish in its sleek, black bottle...

Well, it does absolutely nothing...blah...it makes it even more complicated to handle.
Moreover, my partner even commented on my hair LACKING shine...well, before he notices anything...? (men, sight).
Anyway, I have virgin (undyed hair) and it is always a bit shiny because it has not been damaged so much...This product managed to take away the natural shine.
Ok, so this product would be ideal for girls and boys who like the matte look of 'I-do-not-care-about-my-looks-my-hair-etc' (but are always busy trying to look their best)

So, before being too negative today...let me show you what does work:

Good old John Frieda's Volume line...

Only a third of the price that Shu Uemura Tasai costed me...and also easily available in every drugstore around the corner...

Volume, shine and manageability in one blue can....

My second product that did not help is a supplement I bought on vitacost.com:

Biotin from NSI

I wanted nails that would actually grow a bit without splitting or breaking off...(remember this post?)

I have been taking these supplements since mid-October. That are almost 3 months, so there should be some results, not?
Nope, no results at all...My nails are still thin, breaking off, and lacklustre looking.
Blah...
I do not know if the brand is not really reliable, but it just does not deliver...
So, for the hair and volume I have my good old John Frieda, but I still need to find something for my nails...

Koh Crystal Nail File: or a little bit of hope for my frail nails...

Every now and then I receive those coupons that guarantee you a free product, only when you are willing to give the free advise from the experts (read: sale-eager-persons-on-commision) who are willing (read: desperate) to give you advise (read: pushing you into buyng a trillion of products from their brand). I normally dodge away from these promotions, even though I am a sell-declared fan (read:cheapskate) of free products.

With Koh I was willing to endure the consultation, as the state of my hands actually could use some advise. My poor mits have been aging too fast, the nails are peeling and breaking of at the smidge of a touch, even though I have been loading up on Biotin (the supposedly godsend supplement for brittle nails).

Koh is actually a beautiful brand that caters for women (and men as well, because they tried to manicure the husband of one of the women treated, who fled away looking at all the pampering and bottles declaring that manicures were something that was "not for him").

It is a Dutch brand that has a Japanese style, name and philosophy.

I think I was helped by one of the friendliest and gentlest persons of their department: she was actually giving good advise, gave a brilliant hand massage, and did not pressure me into buying anything...so I found myself even more willing to buy something.

Everything screems luxury...from the bag that was given to me to the boxes of the products...


A personalised advise...She advised a couple of products for me. The nail file would be the best thing for splitting nails, according to her. She said that filing the nails with the ultrafine file would prevent any moist and influences from outside penetrating into the nail, which would stop the splitting as well.


I tried so many products and strengtheners to prevent the nails from flaking and spitting, and it never helped. I was still cynical, however, the file looked really beautiful so I took the plunge.

So I bought the nail file. They had a brilliant discount of 10 euros, which made it affordable enough.

The information on the leaflet confirms what the saleswoman said to me as well...lets hope it will work:



My new crystal naile file...
It comes in one of those chopstick-style boxes...I like the fact that it has this sturdy, yet elegant style of packaging.

I had a crystal nail file at home, and Essie one. I think that Koh is even finer in texture. The Koh file is really large, though. I use the Essie for filing everything at one length, and the Koh file is the finishing and sealing touch.

Ohhh, I haven't shown you what my free product was...the goal of my visit to the counter! I could choose out of the whole collection of nail polishes, and chose a duochrome colour in green/purple. I will post pictures of the bottle soon, when the sun gets out and I can take a good picture.

For me it is fingers and nails crossed to see if I will get results from this file. Hopefully, I can see the good results within a month...