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? 

Lipgloss Cleanse

Hiya all!

Long time no blog...It often happens to me in April that I feel like doing something de/reconstructing something, like changing a piece of garden. Or, in this case I had a food-change by going glutenfree. Long story, but it involved lots of delicous cooking so the blog was slightly on the sideline.

So we know our detoxes and cleanses with food etc, and it was about time to cleanse some of my lipgloss-stash from many moons ago.

Let's see...what a bunch! I'm gonna list some names:

• Essence Sunclub 02 Beautiful Bronze 
• Natio Gloss Pot in Paradise & Goddess -such a fun Aussie brand
• Essence Volume Up Lip Maximizer
• NYX lipstick in B52 & Tea Rose
• the Macaron shaped lipgloss is from Korea but I've been away from gmarket so I have no idea what brand it is...
• L'Oreal lipstick in Aishwarya Rai -I really liked this shade when I was a brunette.
•  L'Oreal lipstick in Laetitia Casta
• Benefit Her Glossiness in Who Are You Wearing? & Didn't Hear it from Me
• Clinique Black Honey lipsheer 
• MAC lipglass Lovechild
• Kiehl's Lipgloss Earth Day & Berry 1851
•  Zoya Hot lips in Sweet Tart
• Stila IT Gloss in Gorgeous
• Avon Lipstick Teak Rose
• Avon Lipgloss Darling Pink
• NYX lipgloss Vixen & Baby Rose, RLG 23, Smokey Look & Salsa
• Lavshuca Liquid Lips BE4
• Etude House 02 from the Falling in Love line
• L'Oreal Glam Shine Juice in 209 Juice Love
• Smashbox ?
• Senna Cosmetic Lush - their lipglosses are so stunning, I need to restock
• Silk Naturals Lavish Lip Cream in Classic
• Mac Lipglass Chercher La Femme
• Mac Lipglass Entice & Sharp Beige
• Biotherm Gloss Shine 70
• Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lipgloss in Passion Flower
• H&M Rich Lipgloss in Peach Parfait
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in 21 Pink Crystals & Cherries in the Glow
• Avon Glazewear in Darling Pink
• Dior Rouge in 296 Beige for Office
• Contem My Gloss in peach- It's the lipgloss I bought in Rio de Janeiro!!
• Clarins Gloss Appeal in 03 Paradise
• Laura Mercier Iced Melon - Bring this shade back!
• L'oreal Glam Shine 6 hr Mauve
• Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics Lumi-lips in Crushed Velvet
• MUFE Super Lip Gloss N 14
• Clinique Longlast Lipstick in Bamboo Pink & Pink Peach
• Boots 17 Ultimate Volume Lipgloss in Fuzzy Yellow Petal Flutter
• Calvin Klein Lip Color 10 Peach
• Giorgio Armani Lip Sheer in 6
• L'Oreal Caresse Impulsive Fuschia
• Lavshuca Moisture Melting Rouge in PK-6
• Majolica Majorca Honey Plump Gloss in PK 384
• Besame Cosmetics 204 Carmine
• Almay Lip Shine 04 Violet
• Bourjois Mini in 11
• Rimmel Color Show off Lipstick in 130 Love Me & Coral Queen
• Stila Pink Ribbon edition in Anni
• The Body Shop 07
• Bobbi Brown ColorOptions Creamycolor in Grapeberry
• NARS lipgloss in Triplex
• Lavshuca liquid lips in PK 7
• Etude House LUCIDdarling lipstick  in 9  Romantic Rose- I wore this one to the Rihanna Concert!
• Babypink lipgloss 3

So I basically compiled this list for my readers who had trouble falling asleep ; ). 

But seriously, I still like to discuss a couple of these that I found difficult to let go of.  

 The one from Brazil:

What to do in Rio de Janeiro? I think most people would sit on the beach with their Caipirinha checking out Brazillian bodies in their element. The beauty addicts among us would still like to shop, especially checking out the national brand. The Makeupartists at Contem were such dolls and they picked this gorgeous lipgloss for me. Boohoo, I don't wanna part from this one.

The one for THAT concert:

2010: I was all about Rihanna and her 'Rated R' album (also 'Good Girl Gone Bad'). She came to Holland for a concert and I had to wear my brightest, longlasting colour in Romantic Rose. I picked up my Korean Etude House LUCIDdarling lipstick in Romantic Rose (original review here).

And the fan-club lippies:
 

These have been from Kanebo Lavshuca line: cute, pretty girly cases and a good quality for its price.

More about the pretty case:

 My Besame lipstick! It had been quite difficult for me to get at the time being so I treasured it, but actually seldom wore it...

I think lots of women out there buy more than a pretty colour: we buy an emotion as well, or it symbolises a kind of feeling we had that day, a particular occasion, or that precious Limited Edition that was so hard to get our hands on. Or, in my case I did some swaps with people from other countries to get a specific gloss.

Also, I used to sample all colours that were either rosy pinks or MLBB (my lips but better). These days I have more variety: not just lipglosses and subtle lipsheers but full on colours like NARS Audacious and other fun hues. 

Discovering my older stash again makes me appreciate the beauty of a subtle accent again! I already bought a couple of new lipsticks from Coffret d'Or & Shiseido Maquillage, because they excel in beautifullly balmy lipsticks with the right amount of easy colour.

So do you agree that 'parting is such a sweet sorrow' for your lipglosses as well?

Sisterhood of Travelling Spas: Alqvimia Barcelona

Spa-ing, is it actually a verb? I think it should be...

In my case it has been a while since I had a relaxing treatment so I decided to make it a verb again. Also, in the beginning of 2014 I made a couple of resolutions that included to try out more french products. Now, Alqvimia is as Spanish as you can find, or a gorgeous brand that sells divinely, aromatherapeutically infused products for face and body. But the idea was there and going to it's spa would combine a couple of elements:

• getting familiar with their brand without buying the full monthy (bottle)
• Time out being in a hectic city like Barcelona
• mmm, soothing massages and masks that will draw out city impurities

I decided to go for the Facial Absolute Beauty Express. It is one of their facial treatments in a relatively shorter timespan. I like long treatments but as it had been my 1st time I wanted to know if the therapists would be really skilled. I think a longer treatment with someone who isn't really skilled, dedicated or not really connected is often ackward and not really relaxing. In this case, I could have spend hours with her because her way of bringing relaxation was total bliss. 

40 minutes is often not enough to experience that spa-drownsiness that you can get in good hands. But Beatrice quickly got me into a lulling state of being with the exotic music, synchronising massage, the aromatherapeutic blend of the rose water mist, and later some other divine mixtures personalised for my skin. Their slogan 'total relaxation is paradise' never been more fitting.

Some other quirky elements from the treatment:

• Massage and scrub is elaborate, a fabulous plumping method when done right
• the mask is a custom made blend
• the mask covers eyes and ( if not too claustophobic/ having a cold) lips as well 
• The spa is in the centre of Barcelona, just 2 minutes from Placa de Catalunya
• a lovely tea-infusion afterwards

I really liked this introduction to Spanish brand Alqvimia: the shorter treatment totally gets you zoned out.

And results, ofcourse we want them too! I left the place without a smidge of makeup and felt totally confident about the radiance of my skin: that happens so seldom I cannot even remember (a woman who prioritizes her compact makeup before the mobile).

I think it's a gorgeous perk up being on a hectic citytrip or when working in Barcelona without much time on hands. I'd like to have a longer treatment in the future that includes both body and face.

The Alqvimia spa is situated on Ramblas Catalunya 24 in Barcelona and you can read about them over here.

Addiction by Ayako - Eyeshadow in Meeting at Dome 071 (Eivissa Dreams '14)

Last week I had Kose Addiction Spring 2014 Eivissa Dreams

 on my radar.

It didn't took long for me to order my first eyeshadow from this collection: Meeting at Dome 071.

I opened the lid full of expectations of receiving a warmish taupe ~Something like in the promotion photo:

Reality has been slightly different. I will show you numerous photos of different angles and light-positions so show you the complexity of this eyeshadow.

Opening it for the first time: It looks like a mix of platinum and silver or more of a cool colour than a creamy taupe.

Direct sunlight ~ a cooler silver:

Slightly shaded/partly in sunlight ~greyed and speck-ly:

Same as above, only close up (see the turquoise sparkles!)

Another direct sunlight shows a slightly creamier/aspect of the silver:

Swatching it brings out a silver with a hint of mauve:

Same above, only close up:

Another swatch photo in a mixture of shade & light outside:

Verdict:

I think it is easy to conclude that this colour is far from a warmer colour as in the promotion photo. That doesn't make it a dud: au contraire! I love the complexity of this platinum that lights up in subtle turquoise, silver and lavender/mauve or a slightly smoky dept in various lights and shadows. I tried to compare it with my existing eyeshadows and thought about NARS Lhasa, but that one wasn't even close. 

I think it will make an awesome Ibiza colour as it works brilliantly in warm sunlight, and gets the smokey dept during the evening.

As for the quality and longevity: I adore Addiction by Kose's eyeshadows on this part and this one is just as brilliant: buttery smooth and the specks/glimmer is suitable for young and slightly older.  It holds for 8 hours with foundation underneath (like my swatch photos) and I have to try it with Edward Bess eyeprimer to see if it holds even longer.

Conclusion:

I'd almost book a flight to Ibiza to show off this eyeshadow.

On my Radar...

Kose by Addiction Spring 14 Eivissa Dream...

In contrast to the innocence of Jill Stuart Beauty, Addiction by Kose choses a hedonistic theme: Ibiza. I'm slightly dissapointed that there are only powder blushes around, not anything stick or *gasp*...the liquid. But I like look no. 1 "Dizzy Love".

If you go to Kose Addiction site you will launch into a drum-infused video of a bleachy-blonde model being made up (she's famous but I have no clue who she is...any readers?).

In a way, not that Ibiza-promotive: the repetitive application of either lipgloss or lipstick, but look 1 is a fresh, beachy neutral that I like, especially the eyes. Look no 2 is a bit too muddy IMO.

The eyeshadows might be a bit too tame or neutral to some but I really like Kose Addiction's quality. Also, these colours seem to look stellar on greenish eyes and will be glowy and radiant on various eyecolours

I think I will go for "Meeting at Dome" (=meet me at Dawn?) first: a delightful & glowy taupe.

French Haul

A couple of weeks ago I was in Paris and I got some cute things...

 There is no way you can go to Paris and skip on the best Macarons in the world: Laduree.

And I went for the special edition of Les Marquis, only sold by the shop at 14 rue de Castiglione.

how could I resist this shopwindow?

Ofcourse, I digested one of them with my cute-as-a-button tea-set from La Chaise Longue

 To add, some funky candles from cultshop Colette:

Also limited editions. Hurray!

*artistic (Basquiat & Keith Haring)
*Funny drawings
*limited Editions
*they smell quite good too
(the candles can also be found on their website)

I went to the Keith Haring exhibition and it was really lively, although you might question if it is really art (but that's often the question around art)

I finally bought the quintessential French Shoe, the ballerina: Repetto ofcourse.

Window Repetto Rue St. Honore (they have several shops in the city)

A shoe that really looks like a ballerina shoe makes you feel like a little girl again.

 

 Talking about feeling like a little girl, I couldn't resist Pink Panther:

For the grown-up girl in me: the Japanese Vogue (Holland hardly sell these anymore, they used to)

So Paris gave me a funky smile (and three eyes) as Mr. Haring is burning smilingly...

spreading heady florals around the room.

 Overal, a cute city with a taste for sweet decadence.

Palet-mania: Edward Bess Back to Basics

I have a soft spot for palettes. They are often the perfect way to try different products from a particular brand, are easy to take with you, and are often in the cutest box.

I kinda stopped for a while with my Paletmania: I couldn't find anything that mixes up a good match of colours nor did I find a brand I really wanted to explore. Until recently, when Edward Bess ventured on the field of palettes.

 I already tried some of Edward's products (here) and some where hits and others not so much. What I hadn't tried but was still curious about were his creamy cheek blush, his lipglosses and the lipsticks. So when I saw this palette would feature his creamy blush ánd some lipglosses I was almost sold. They also featured more of my favourite Bess products: the eyeshadows.

From the swatches from niche beautyblogger Sabina (beautylookbook) I saw that the Back to Basic palette looked like a better choice for me than the Berry Chic one.

The palette embodies the same minimalistic chic as his other products. It really reminds me of Bobbi Brown.

Speaking of Bobbi Brown, I want to show you the difference in size and compartability, as, after all, a good palette should be handy to carry around with you:

Basically, Edward Bess is the longer and thinner version of Bobbi Brown.

I actually prefer the size of Bess to tote around with me: you can put it in a sort of sleeve or in the side-pocket of your bag. It is somewhat wallet-like.

The inside:

The palette is quintessentially like a good functioning palette with a mirror, the compartments separated, and, good extra, actually a good quality brush instead of your run-your-mill disposable applicators!

In the full view they are a selection of safe neutrals.

A closer look:
The Blush (lipstick)

This is exactly the same blush in different lightning. It was so hard to capture the true colour of this one so it is basically a mix of the two. And you will see in the swatches that it is actually a bit of a problem child to me, colourwise.

The highlighter & eyeshadows:

The highlighter looks regular in the pan, but the swatches will show that it actually has some flecks of glitter in it. The eyeshadows are beautifully creamy.

The Lipglosses:

The top colour contains some beautifully delicate shimmer and the bottom one is darker with a lovely rosy glow. Quite understated and beautiful.

Swatches: Blush/highlighter/lipglosses

The blush

I have to say I am quite confused about this blush because of it's muddy mauvy tones. When I first swatched it I thought it had a whole lot of mauve undertones so I compared it with my recent mauvy/purply purchase from Rouge Bunny Rouge, the Gracilis.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis

I can see that one is absolutely no match either, although you can see the Edward Bess still is rather on the mauve site and RBR really is a pinkier version next to it. I have to say it is a unique colour in my collection

So I am confused how I would use this colour. I find it too corps-like as a lipstick but it doesn't really benefit as a perk-me-up blush colour either.
I concluded it would be a wonderful shader colour for cooler skin-tones. Somewhat, as a neutral toned woman, I think I can use it as a shader too, only with a delicate hand.

Texture blush:
I would say it has a typical lipstick texture being a bit harder compared to other cream-blush that I have (Bobbi Brown, Julie Hewitt, Becca, Mac) so you have to spend some time blending it in. It does stay on longer, because if it's dryer texture.

Swatch Highlighter:
It was not what I had in mind...I think the glitter doesn't do it any good. Otherwise, it would have been a delightful rose-based creamy tint.

Swatch Glosses:
The glosses are the unexpected hit from the collection, especially when I read that thenonblonde and Sabina were both dissapointed in them. I absolutely LOVE the colours and I believe the creaminess is one of the best and the smoothest I have come across. It makes me really curious for the full-size lipglosses because if both women are dissapointed in the palette-glosses and they tried the real size before, than that one has to be even better.

Swatches: The Eyeshadows:
.

These are my absolute favourite of the palette. The texture is so wonderfully soft and brings out a glow on the eyelids. My favourite are the two lighter colours. Colour 1 to be a buttery, somewhat yellow toned cream and the second one a pink hued cream.
 The 3rd colour is a rose-toned brown that is excellent for bringing out a slightly different hue in hazel, blue and green eyes, so I love it for it's neutral quality ánd being able to make the eyes stand out a bit. The last colour, the darkest one, is a lovely neutral brown with slight shimmer to make it come alive. So lovely for shading and a soft eyeliner.

Conclusion:

This palette is absolutely travel-worthy on trips that are based in the winter or colder cities (or when having a paler skin colour) and I can see it working on tanned skin as well (for example Sabrina again) as the neutral no-makeup-look essentials. 

Some textures/colours surprised me in a good way (the lipglosses) and some were not really my thing (highlighter). I really like the fact that the eyeshadow/lipgloss brush included is made of higher quality hairs so the brush is a big benefit as well. I think the price is quite normal/good for a travel palette because the brushes are good and Bess didn't compromise on the quality of the products as some of the palettes of cosmetics brands sometimes do (cough MAC).
I bought it from Zuneta and if you buy anything from them don't forget to add the ZBEAUTYBIBLE code for 10% off.

Back from Portugal

Hey everyone!

I'm back from Portugal.

Well, you could already read from my last mid-weekly Quirkologies that I was in Portugal with some friends, and that I always spend too much time in beauty shops, according to them.

Well, if I would go on holiday with one of the beauty-bloggers I am quite sure there would not be such complaints, right?

But in order to keep everyone happy I just browsed the shops a few times, which is probably a few times too much for my friends, although they bought something too and they kind of liked it.

I toned it down to this:

The one in the middle is a hair-mask for blonde hair. Weirdly, I think my hair is not so blonde, but as you might have read from a holiday post of last year that people from Southern Europe always consider me to be a dark or middle blond, whereas the people over here almost think I have black hair. Ok, not really black but brown at least.
It does a fine job. It makes some of my lighter hairs look brighter and is quite soft for my hair. I could almost go back for that one ;P

The 'Vita Capili' Karite in that cute can is a bit too greasy for normal use, but it was brilliant on the beach for protecting my hair against brassy blondeness.

The Mini Skala on the left is a wonderful bodylotion.

Ok, the CD tube is something every beautyblogger will recognize, and not particularly Portuguese. It was just one Tax-free purchase on Lisboa airport before I was pulled out by my friends again, ha ha. I love the light pink colour (it's 240) and I am familiar with Dior Serum Drape so I know that one will not dissapoint me.

Just curious, how do you beauty-bloggers behave on holidays when seeing a beauty-shop? And how does your travel-mates react on that?

candy tripping

Hi all,

Sorry about this absence in the summer.

I have been tripping a bit too much...

city tripping, that is...

When most people like city trips for the sake of looking at art and culture, I often get a bit carried away by all of food that is around.

Ohhh, cupcakes and other cookies...

This is in front of a tempting shop window in Barcelona. I felt like a kid in front of a sweet's store.

(oh, I was, only as an adult!)

More cookies, caramels and other lovely sweets I found at La Cure Gourmande, also in Barcelona.

They also are in other countries, and seem to have an online shop (here).

Honestly, the shop people of La Cure were not too helpful to me, so I only bought 3 cookies or so. I was planning to buy a lot as presents.

Worst was, they offered free samples of cookies to all of the other customers and ignored me. Blah, I hate when that happens and I have no idea why they do that. And normally I will take my plans of buying a lot to another store, but I had to try one cookie at least.

Ha, and now I found out they have online shopping, so the shop in Barcelona can stick it to itself....

Sooo, do you have any idea what these people are waiting for, or looking so curiously at?

(open space)

(more open space)

(last open space)

Ok, they were looking at this...

Ha ha, I told you about Tripping in my title!

Come on, it is candy, folks...(still, my favourite choice for getting a sweet high)

The 'pils' are quite innocent, only for the ADD people and other people who get a bit hyper after sugar they might have an effect....

Inside of that 'Happy Pills' shop

And, if you think I am obsessed by anything about sweet candy-like food, then you are wrong.

(Silence, pouts at the idea you could actually think that)

I am obsessed about other food as well!

In that same Barcelona I went to Poble Sec in this street...

and had a predictable, but healthy salad.

I am not the salad fan that most girls and women are. I do not like diets and the excuse that salads are healthy is not always true. I mean, when they only have green salad leaves and not that many healthy vegetables it is only a bit of empty filling for the stomach. And those dressings can be even worse to the people who do like to keep an eye on their weigth.

But this is quite a balanced salad with healthy tuna (sooo fantastic, so much better than the Dutch canned version), Carrots for that bit of vitamine A, Tomatoes for the Lycopene and vitamine C, Red pepper for the Vitamine C, and olives and olive oil for the Omega oils and other skin-beautifying and internal beneficial properties.

And the corn must have a good function as well (tell me in the comments, and no, not that Chinese dude or girl who is spamming the comment box)
Haaa, I am not all healthy in Barcelona and keeping it to a salad...These croquettes were too good not too pass...

Uhum, fried food...but they were delicious and I had to compare then to our Dutch delicacy (or weird food habit) of the Dutch croquettes. These were filled with a potato mash...nice.

I saved the best for last....these were so tongue-tickling good that I was in culinary heaven when I took a bite...

These squids were flavoured in a mixture of garlic and other beautiful spices....

I am not really sure if the person that sat next to me in the airplane that next morning would have been too delighted with my choice of the squid...but it was too good to pass up...

So, if you read this and like to answer I would like to know if you experiment with food while travelling, are obsessed with trying on a certain type of food or if you take it the safe way and go to the McDonalds or other food franchises?

Or, perhaps a bit like me, you do both...(it just depends on where you are and if you are willing to sit through a wonderful but lenghty meal on the one hand, or just hop in that Mc Donalds for something you know when you are more in a hurry)?

Do you like any food at all? (most of the bloggers do, as they aaaalways tempt me with pictures of the fantastic things they ate...)

Or, are you more of a liquid person and go for the local beverages or other or other alcohol-type of drinks, for example...go for the wines in France/Italy and the Sangria in Spain (of fill in, I am not an alcoholic-afficionado so I have not that much of a clue)?