Eye Travel with Sunday Riley Start Over travel-size

Now most of us are either holidaying or have one coming up, I'd like to share a travel favourite of mine.

Meet Sunday Riley Starting Over Eyecream. It looks as simple as any other eyecream: 

Tube ✓

Clinical letters ✓

White packaging ✓

Or somehow I find eyecreams to be looking kinda sterile compared to other facial care. 

 Might be because it comes closer to a fragile area, the eyeball?  

In any case, Sunday Riley has Results as their 1st concern:

 Now, I do think the concept of 'having results' is a variable. In normal English: what I want from an eyecream might be totally different from my teenage daughter. She might combat dark circles that come from Festival [lack of] sleeping; I want wrinkle care!

But my love for this eyecream is probably veered towards it's travel purpose: especially airplanes that suck the moisture out of your body like a Saharan desert. Also, the puffiness reminiscent of walking in a sandstorm.

This Metallic top has this perfectly cool feel on eyes. A bit of a squeeze will bring out a small dollop [practice first otherwise you'll have an amount to equalize for the whole face], and the feel of the metallic top with the super-moisturizing eyecream will have your lids soothed to a key.

Ingredients:

V-5 Ageless Complex (Opuntia Tuna Fruit (Prickly Pear) Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf (Blue Agave) Extract, Cypripedium Pubescens (Lady’s Slipper Orchid) Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit, Opuntia Vulgaris (Cactus) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract & Saccharmyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract), Squalene and Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Punica Granataum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Methysilanol Carboxymethyl Theophylline, Butylene Glycol, PEG-75 Meadowsol, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Isohexadecane, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Hydroxyethyl, Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C Ester) Glucosamine HCL & Algae Extract & Yeast Extract & Urea, Algae Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) Extract, Glabridine (Licorice) Extract, Lecithin, Cholesterol Oleyl Carbonate & Cholesteryl Nanoate & Cholesteryl Chloride, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil & Astaxanthin & Lycopene & Alpha D-Tocopherol, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, DMDM Hydantoin

As for these results again: The ingredients focus on hydratation [eg: Rosehip seed oil, Squalene oil, Pomegranate seed oil] , anti-ageing [eg: Prickly Pear extract, Vitamin C, Algae extract, again Rosehip & Pomegranate] and brightening [eg: Licorice extract & Licopene].

I often feel I "start over" a bit when arriving at a new destination from an airplane. Perhaps because of the fast way of overcoming total areas, timezones and sometimes seasons.

Now I can "start over" with representative & hydrated eye-area.

But why does only the travel format come with the eyecontour-saving metallic lid???

Also, can we have this in the facecream as well? 

Beauty Newbies

Weather is still nicely summery even if it's getting closer to Autumn. I still felt like grabbing some autumn-like purchases: 

1. You have probably seen Rouge Bunny Rouge's latest Chronos palette on all the grande beautyblogs. Me too, so when my fave high-cover foundation of '14 (see here) was on sale, I added this palette for beauty's sake. 

2. I've already started sampling some new oils for when Autumn weather will appear. I've been reading plenty about YÜLI Skincare: SpiritBeautyLounge has a sampling service which makes it affordable to try out. 

3. Candles: How Autumn/Winter they are to me. I still picked out the tropically Gardenia based 'Je t'aime Jane' from Bella Freud's line. I mean, my blog is called 'Birkinbagbeauty' because I love Jane Birkin so I couldn't resist a candle in her homage.

4. Chanel quad in Poésie: The national beautystores have 25% off on eyeshadows and this L.E Chanel was finally in stock. It's described as a set of the most effortless neutrals by most beautyblogs: Probably dupable but still highly chanel and supereasy on undecided mornings of 'how to dress the eyes'.

One Sample led to another: Marie-Stella-Maris

I've been happy to sample up something from a new cosmetic company: Stella-Marie-Maris

I fell head over heels on the minimalistic packaging and the French aura it exuded. Especially the heels because the footcream with thyme is bliss for tired, parched feet.

 Doesn't it look like a Saint Laurent editorial?

 

I absolutely feel like being invited to a show during fashionweek:

 

Now we've gotten the superficial intentions of buying out of the way, don't we all fall for packaging every now and then, it has an inside too:

Ok, besides the ingredients:

Their website: I think they 'care for water', or is that just a hunch of mine?

This is also highlighted on their packaging:

Beyond looking through the rose-tinted glasses of nobility towards good causes like water maintainance, I am quite enthousiastic about this footcream.

Feet are somewhat the forgotten child of the beauty industry: only few companies pay attention to them. But how important or annoying can they be when they're not happy or feeling good? A good footcream should be the perfect hybrid between being moisturizing but also fast absorbant: who is actually sleeping with socks in order to get pretty feet? Raise your hands (or feet) if you do!

Besides of absorbing rapidly, they also have this wonderful blend of herbs that give zest to tired feel.  A mix of pepper mint, thyme, natural oils and pumice makes them feel cleaner. 

So this specific sample led me to the full size. It's a gorgeous footcream that will revitalize tired (sandal/slippered/heeled or broody sneaker-ed) feet to life again. And I think it will add the right amount of moisture when winter will arrive.

Perhaps there will be more on the cards with my new set of samples:

Who knows? 

Find them on their website, skins' website or at their flagstore @ Herengracht in Amsterdam.

Used Up's / June

Late to the party for a quick round of my most important used up's...

Hair: 

I've been blogging about sampling up some Less is More hairproducts and I've finished up the Lindengloss conditioner. The 30ml has lasted me quite a while: about 7 times for long hair. I really liked how this organic conditioner performed: soft & silky feel, no heaviness or weird residue and it smells amazing. However, when I had the opportunity to buy full-sized I kind of steeped back from the price. The sample size is a reasonable € 6, but a full-size € 23. I still have some other quality conditioners to use up so I will consider, but wait before going full-size.

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 Makeup:

Paul & Joe's finishing powder is from the Sahara collection from 2010. Long long time ago...I had a darker colour (002) so I only use it in summer when having [faux] tan. It is really good, though: a micro-thin quality that doesn't alter the foundation underneath, and can also be used on a good skinday alone without foundation. I would gladly repurchase. 

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Mask:

Osmia Detox Mask has gotten quite the hype among organic and concious bloggers, and from that field it gotten known among everyone that wants a good, detoxing mask (like me, see here).  I really liked it when living in the Mediterranean: my skin gotten weirdly oily and pimply-> heat & polluted air. A good claymask helped to remove remaining sunblock, some oiliness etc etc. However, I liked it but it has not been the complete miracle worker. I'm somewhat convinced that there are cheaper clay-mask options out there, but the mix of ingredients are quite good.

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Lash:

I'm on my 3rd tube of YSL shocking mascara. It's not the complete HG but it has some excellent varieties of colours around. People with chameleon eyes like myself can have a cute effect by changing a hint around the colour of the eyes. E.G, a blue, burgundy or a purple can change my colour into a more green or blue, depending of what I like. YSL Shocking doesn't do dreadful 80s colours, only a slight hint. And the formula is delightfully thick and glossy without going clumpy. 

#

RapidLash, I've finished my 2nd tube and I get a longer result every time I use it. I never get irritations from it either. In fact, I'm on the more expensive Revitalash right now, but I feel it irritates my eyes. I think I will just repurchase Rapidlash instead.

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Oil:

Caudalie has done an excellent job in creating their Polyphenol C15 line. This sample has been feeling both detoxing and youth-i-fying for my skin, and I've only been trying it for 2 nights! I will go for the bigger bottle.

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Serum:

I took the full plunge by buying a full size of Caudalie Polyphenol C15 antiwrinkle defense Serum. I've been using it superconsistently (morning/evenings) for one and a half month and I absolutely was stunned about the plumping effect. Moreover, the price was under €40 so not that ridiculously expensive price some companies ask for their serums. I'm not sure if it will be HG material if my skin gets sensitive (thinking winter) because the amount of fragance is somewhat present, but for the moment I really like this one.

Last Week's Cosmetics

Let me share some of last week purchases, samples and re-finds:

Clockwise:

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The Essence nailpolish is one those sparkly multicoloured glitters in purple hues: perhaps that's why it is called "Only Purple Matters".

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Mac Dainty Mineralize blush has been last week's rediscovery.

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I bought Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick 'In Love with Ginger' after testing various orangy reds, ranging from Givenchy Le Rouge Carmin Escarpin, L'Oreal Perfect red and Chanel Rouge Coco. My actual favourite has been the Givenchy but pricewise I think I'd rather save on a colour that is not a staple of mine.

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The Kanebo Sensai Cleansing Essence has been a free sample: I haven't used Kanebo for a while and I hope that my organically infused skin is up to the more chemical concoctions of Kanebo.

Summer of Fragrantica '13

The idea of September got me into recaptulating the things about Summer 2013.

And then...

there was the search for the ultimate summer perfume:

Looking at the middle bottle you might think I found my object of fragrantica 2013, but that beauty of a scent has been my 2012 discovery.

I haven't found it this year (yet), although I like the idea of Maison Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae.

Some of the scents I have been sampling & trying:

• Frederic Malle 'Dries van Noten'
• Frederic Malle 'un Fleur de Cassis'
• Rouge Bunny Rouge Chatoyant, Lilt & Incantation
• various Hermes, eg Jour d'Hermes
• L'Artisan Parfumeur Caligna, Dzingg, & Seville a L'Aube
• I knew Kai from 2008 but I tried it again if I was more gentle-feeling towards heady Gardenias
• Bex London N6

This sounds like a perfect example of a first world luxury problem ｡◕‿◕｡. Eventually I have found some gorgeous scentual concoctions in other types of aesthetic products, such as the Diptyque Tubereuse candle & the gorgeously scented Darphin nourishing satin bodyoil.

Have you found a fragance that has captured the mood of summer '13?

Sampling Vapour Beauty: Atmosphere Luminous Foundation 130

The reason I ordered this: Stick foundation, or Foundation stick!
 

Vapour Beauty Sample set

Ok, to steer away from the phallic symbolism and Freud, it was curiosity too after reading Miss DrivellerKate blogging about it (here). It almost made the order the whole stick before sampling, but reason got over stick-mania and I ordered some samples.

I'm not the greatest (foundation-)stick fan! (you might thought otherwise but I wanted a sassy introduction...hehe). My last one was a Rimmel one in the prehistoric year of 2001! I worked in a cosmetic shop which fueled my cosmetic-addiction and gave me playtime when no customers were around. I think most women (& men) working in cosmetics love their face-crayons aplenty.

So that one, and I tested Tom Ford in London when I visited Selffridges. I kinda liked it (I almost hear DrivellerKate wispering "traitor" as I told her I'm not the most Tom Ford-cosmetics fan) but the amount of cash wasn't word the splurge that it would outdo my other foundation stash.

Anyway, I ordered a set of samples from their original website, as it was the only place to try out the  Atmosphere Luminous Foundation (or the more sophisticated name for the "stick" I've been muttering out again & again in this post, teehee)

Vapour sample set: full with tips, a discount,  pictures & application methods...

Overall, I ordered a Mesmerized eye-colour in Storm, Stratus Luminous Skin Perfector, a delightful nighttime oil: Essence restorative night treatment with the sample of the stick:

But I will do a mini-review of the Atmosphere Luminous Foundation (Stick) today in colour 130:

not THE stick, but a part of it

I received the sample in the exact same container as when I ordered from naturisimo.com (see review on concealer here)

Swatches: Unblended: 1st application -above: Tanned part of arm - below- original paleness of me:

It matches the top and it totally too dark for my real light skin. 

Swatches Blended:

Similar as before: when it matches the skintone (top) , it brings out a gorgeous & luminous glow. When too dark (bottom), it looks like a bit of oompaa loompa.

Swatch: blended-close-up

Similar as before, only close up.

(personal) VERDICT:

• the colour turned out to be too dark for my face too. 120 would have been a better option
• Formula: Thick. Personally, it felt too heavy on my sensitive skin.
• Effort: I found it difficult to blend and it took me longer than normal. The stick was too thick for me 
• Finish: I loved the glow and colour-luminescence, even if it was too dark for me (it looked natural after lots of blending in the neck, etc)
• More suitable for dry and not-too-sensitive skins.
• Scent: natural but still scented.

CONCLUSION:

Blimey, I love the effect it had on my skin, natural and glowy! The feel on my skin was something I personally didn't like. Howcver, that has been the reason I stayed away from sticks for more than a decade so that's something personal and related to the type of skin I have.

Availability:
You can order 5 samples from their whole range on their website (here)

Beauty Start

Happy Hangover's day! 

Funny that the start of the year is a difficult one for most people. I couldn't drink anything yesterday because of some antibiotics I have to take, but I'm seldom a big drinker anyway.

I'm taking some Christmas presents with me to get myself a beauty start in 2013.

Madara Set (Winter Kit)

 

 I once blogged about a product of them and I wasn't really sold about it (here). Nevertheless, I have gotten a sample of their conditioner and really liked it. 

When I went to the shop for it, they had a representative of Madara who showed me some more and gave me some samples. 

Bottom line: I bought the set above with a discount and already like some of their newer formulated samples I have tested

(For Dutch people find it over here and the rest here)  

 

They also have this newer line specified on maturing skin. Hehe, the representative told me I wasn't old enough for it so when I told her my age she told me to take it as a compliment.

True, a boring life often shows on your skin...or, what is boring? A bit of extra sunscreen only takes 20 seconds each time but can save you 4 years or more on your face.

And living healthy only makes you feel better in the long run.

Using...used...gonna use..

Happy Pre-Christmas: I hope you all try to enjoy preparing for it, and leave the stress for what it is, when possible.

Just a good ol' roundup of the things I am using...used...gonna use:

from top left- clockwise

• I've gotten some new lipsticks lately. I have the Le Metier de Beauté in Dubai and this week received an Edward Bess in Midnight Bloom. The Balmshell lipgloss is a GWP
• I also emptied my Sana Hadanomy Collagen Mist and gotten myself a new one; it's intensely neutral and soothing for days that your skin needs it, and I feel it actually does something in terms of adding moisture
• Samples: Jouer Lip Enhancer lipbalm and curious about Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel. The Jouer doesn't do that much plumping, but it has the perfect consistency as primer before lipstick/gloss.
• I digged up my Beauté the Kose Eye Fantastist from an older collection: WOW! that was 2008!  (see here when I got the set). It's a glowy champagne-hued highligher that I'll be using during the holidays for making my eyes appear slightly dreamy & angelic.  

Chrismas Presents 'research' (read: new lovelies)

After this semi-preachy talk about appreciating the well-functioning products in your beauty-robe, I bought  some new products.

My excuse besides being a beauty-a-holic was "research for Christmas Shopping for my friends and family" ;P. (write that one down)

1. Burberry Eyeshadow Palette in 06 Plum Pink

I was already itching to buy the single eyeshadow in Dark Sable that was released this fall, untill I saw the incredibly accurate swatches over here, here and here. I was convinced that I needed a full-on palette this time.

Totally buttery silky, like you can expect from Burberry Beauty. I have been playing with them this weekend and totally love them.

I will not review them as it has been done so perfectly at the earlier mentioned blogs, just to say I love the harmony of the colours combined and it's one of those better pink/purples/mauve blends that actually does not look like I've been crying or having a night-of-partying.

2. Cire Trudon candle in Mademoiselle de la Valliere

Yay, I was so happy to found a Dutch adress that basically sells all of the candles that I bought the one I was most attracted to at the time being. It smells really happy and actually quite like spring with all it's flowers (more precise ingredients here)

Mlle de La Valliere burning beautifully

For this one I will do a review soon. I probably combine a post with more candles so to get a clearer idea of having a beautiful fragance in your home or as a present for your loved ones.

3. Sampling Argentum Apothecary La Lotion Infinie cream

I've read about them in some Glossy magazines, one of them the latest ElleUK December edition. Their website gives you the opportunity for a free sample, and the ones not living in the UK only have to pay for shipping (about $3).

I liked the sample, but I have to say that I disagree with the claim that it's really suitable for sensitive skins: It has a high fragance level, being quite masculine or like those 1990s unisex Calvin Klein One's. However, I loved it's effect: I only tried the sample but it has a fluffy and matte consistency which really makes the skin looks better after a couple of days.

I will sample another sachet during spring to how my skin likes it when it's not too sensitive, because the full jar will set you back a whopping £147.00 and that's quite the cash.

Sample them here.

4. Inner Me Beautify Me

Inner beauty...or the supplements are often the things that make my skin go calmer when flaring up.

 

Ingredients such as MSM, Silica, Marine Collagens and Vitamin C are perfect to calm and perk up skins. I was especially thrilled about their MSM as I used it before and it helped calming my pre-winter sensitive skin. Their box is so cute and they have this days-of-the-week system that can help you reminding to take them regularly. 

Only downside is that they're not so cheap for a supply of 28 pills for only 2 weeks for 18 euro. I think I will buy separate MSM supplements with a higher degree of MSM for the next time, but with the Omega 3 and the Collagen Supplement I feel it has been helping my skin.

Find them here on the original site.

The stamp, the letter, the gift

About 2 weeks ago I had a little, cute discovery of an online place where I could sample some Asian cosmetics.

I thought that most sample stores were not able to send out internationally, or just mailed out their products in some part of Asia. But hurray, thesamplestore.sg mails out to Europe, and is pretty quick with it as well.

I just love the stamps decorated on the envelope!

The letter contained a couple of masks that I was curious about. The name often draws me in (hehe, remember BeautyDIY, Beautyfriends, etc), so a mask named Love More had a great appeal to me. Who does not want to be love/and be loved, a little bit more?

A gift? Mmm, not really. I still had to pay 10.04 singaporean dollars (approximately 5 euros), however, what a wonderful way to try out something new.

Stash rediscoveries...

Besides of my usual greediness, I sometimes look at the pretty things in my stash and find some lovely gems...

♥ It brings back those cosmetic memories ♥

Pout Cosmetics was one of those brands that was so girly and delicate. One of my favourite eyeshadows is Miss Jamaica:

Pout cosmetics Miss Jamaica

It is that gorgeously shimmery mix between a murky, mossy green and some happy turquoise sparkles...This makes a wickedly fun alternative for that standardly grey/black smoky eye, or gives that hint of cheekiness when applied as an eyeliner.

Bright colours are having a comeback for the fashion season. Makeup often follows (or starts) a trend, so I dug out my eyepopping pigments I sampled throughout the years...

Plethora of Pigments (Aromaleigh, Meowcosmetics, MAC, etc)

Sampling pigments is a cheap and fun way to try colours you would normally shy away from, or try something new in a smaller form.

They have a long period that they stay good, so I like to try that fun yellow colour soon, or that shockingly neon pink in the middle...

New seasons, new scents...

I cannot think of a more appropriate scent to try than Creed's Spring Flowers...

Creed Spring Flowers

I would not invest on a whole bottle, which makes this dinky sample more attractive...

Soft Scent of Late Spring

The tail of the spring-period is possibly one of my favourite moments of the seasons. The anticipation of the summer is there, and the newness of the upcoming warmer weather wispers some kind of promise of a fantastic period ahead.

Sometimes, the summer does not live up to the expectations, but the end of spring and the beginning of summer still has that hope and lovingness that keeps things full of a bright, summer fantasy.

Wow, that was my somewhat poetic side...now, what did the haul-a-holic buy in order to 'capture' the spirit of the late spring?

I cannot find a better way to embrace this season with a accompaning scent (or two). Scent is the most connected element with memory, and a good memory can be relived with the scent that has been connected to that memory. 

Plus, honestly I am not one of those eyepopping gorgeous girls that depends highly on her looks. So, I add a bit of scent-beauty to my physique in order to be a bit more remarkable.

This can work in either a good or bad way...LOL (no explaination necessary, I believe everyone has been sitting in public transportation next to someone overdosing on a perfume you were not so fond of and I myself have been wearing the not-so-right fragance a few times), so I would always recommend a person wearing a perfume they are drawn to than a perfume that is recommended by someone else, or your scent-personality will give out a different message than you would like to give.

Ahaa, I have been sampling in order to find a wonderful scent. The scent I samples have been quite a mixture of fragance families in the categories floral, fruity, vanilla, citrus, leathery and some perfumes have been quirkily mixing up some of these notes...mmm.

I bought eight of them, and they were all suprisingly good, even though they were different in quite a few ways.

Byredo Parfums Tulipe I bought because, he he, as a Dutch woman I was curious how our national flower would be captured in a scent.

I also went for The Beautiful Mind Series volume 1 Intelligence and Fantasy. Those are my favourite key-words anyway...

Histoires De Parfums 1873 Colette has been an ode to literary figure Colette. I loved her livestyle, so I was wondering how this would translate in the perfume.

L'Artisan Havana Vanille has been described as a leathery, salty vanilla and it absolutely lives up to that description...it is Vanilla taking a day off on the beach.

Another unusual vanilla is the Hermes Vanille Galante. Hermes and vanilla sounded interesting.

Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse Trilogy 3 Animale was described as a sensual Tuberose scent. That is not something I would normally go for, but a sample...why not.

L'Artisan Mimosa pour Moi....mmmm, fruity tropicalness.

 But the one that was so suprisingly different was the Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio. It has that zengy, energising citrus start that I like in perfumes, however, after a while it turns into a somewhat warm and grassy mixture that is unlike any summery perfume I have.

Oh no, you might have guessed it but after smelling this beauty I bought the whole bottle!!!

I did not 'hunt' for it as I did with the MAC beach collection lately. I was already in the city that has a specific Annick Goutal shop for a business appointment. So no crazy running around after limited editions, but a decided decision after lots of contemplating. 

I love Niche perfume shops, which is such a wonderful place for perfume snobs like I am.

Well, I had the choice between the pretty, curved bottle of 50 ml or the bulkier bottle for 100ml, and the one for 100 ml was only 10 euros more expensive. I bought the 100 ml one, as I still believe it is rather pretty.

The only concern is that I probably will never be able to finish this whole bottle. I probably will share this with some friends and acquantances (or extras with any giveaways) as I did with the Miller Harris L'Air de Rien.