Aveda - Lip Saver SPF 15

Aveda
Lip Saver SPF 15

After spending the whole day outside at the pool, I decided it was time to write about one of my favourite lip balms with SPF. I've never had sunburnt lips, but it's definitely not something I want to experience either so I'd rather be safe than sorry, as they say!

I've discovered this lip balm a few months ago and had it with me ever since. To be honest, I don't know much about Aveda but after trying this balm I think I'll have to take a closer look! This lip balm has many natural ingredients (whoop!) such as anise oil, beeswax, cinnamon leaf and vitamin E. It tastes like cinnamon and anise, which I actually enjoy (and those who get to kiss your lips will too!). This was a surprise to me, because I normally prefer lip balms with neutral flavours or no flavour at all. I've never liked fruity balms because they tend to make me bite my lips (weird, I know) so they actually do more harm than good.

Once you've applied this balm, you can feel it melt and sink into the skin to leave you with soft and moisturized lips. It's not particularly shiny, although this depends on the amount you put on. But don't worry; it's not nearly as shiny as lip gloss! Also, you get 4,25g of product but I can't say it'll last you a long time. Although maybe it's because I reach for this one a bit more often than the other ones I carry with me.

If you're looking for a good lip balm with SPF - give this one a try! As far as I can see, it doesn't contain any nasty ingredients and it really does a good job at moisturizing and protecting the lips. Even when you go swimming, it'll stay on for a long time thanks to the waxy texture. It's definitely a lip balm I'll repurchase once I run out!

What are your favourite lip balms with SPF? I'm always open for suggestions! -L.

Maybelline - Volum' Express the Falsies waterproof mascara

 When I have to wake up early or I'm late (happens way too often lately) and I have no time to put on proper make up at all, I usually just go with one product - mascara. It can really do wonders and change your appearance in a second! Unluckily for me, my allergies successfully prevented me from wearing any eye make up during early spring (red and swollen eyes all the time brr) so I'm more than happy that I can finally use mascara again. I always choose a waterproof formula, rather than the normal, because you never know what is going to happen and I'd rather not find out with panda-looking eyes. :) If you buy mascara, you need to remember one thing - never judge a book by it's cover. Or, in our case, if the mascara doesn't suit you after the first application, don't throw it away immediately and give it a time to 'set'. When I first bought the Falsies and tried it on, it was very wet and clumped my lashes, but after a while the formula dried a bit and it was good to go. Many mascaras act like that, so I'd recommend waiting a bit before we judge the product.

The mascara that I've been using the most this year is Maybelline's Volum' Express the Falsies. I've always liked Maybelline's mascaras and even though I tried some other brands, I somehow always come back to them. The Falsies is packed in a pretty neat purple packaging, with a very interesting brush. It's flexible and in the shape of a spoon so it applies well both on the upper and the lower lashes.The producer promises that this mascara will give us a "false lash effect". Well, my Falsies dried a bit, but even at the beginning I wouldn't say my lashes looked fake. Still, for me, it gives a pretty decent effect. My lashes are lifted, well defined and separated. The mascara doesn't clump them, it gives volume and even a little bit of length. Unfortunetly, since it's waterproof it takes some time to wash it off, but a good eye make up remover will deal with it.

Overall, I'm satisfied with this mascara but I don't think I will stick with it forever. I'm still on the search of a perfect mascara, and yes, this one is pretty good and cheap, but I will definitely try out some other ones, since there is so much more to choose from. ;)

What mascara have you been using lately? Did you try out the Falsies? Waiting for your comments!

A.

Favourite summer polishes!

Even though autumn is just around the corner (when did that happen?), here I come with a selection of my favourite nailpolish shades I wore during this summer! Unfortunately you can't see them 'in action' because my nails aren't exactly in shape right now (damn you camping...) but the colour on the bottles is almost the same as it is on the nails.

But before I start I need to mention one thing - I am lucky enough to have nails on which almost every nailpolish lasts for almost a week! That's why I usually go for cheap brands because no matter what I'll choose, the effect will be quite the same. If you aren't as lucky as me, a good topcoat is a must! I think it's better to invest in a really good topcoat, because then every polish you'll buy, even the cheap one, will last longer on your nails! Also, I really don't see the point in buying big bottles of nailpolish if I never finish them. Such small polishes are excellent for the summer! Not only don't they use too much space in our cosmetic bags but also if the shade will be 'out of fashion' next year you won't cry over throwing an expensive bottle away! Easy like that! :) I'll finish my ramble right here and let's (finally) move on to the 8 shades I wore the most this year!

1-Miss Selene #221, 2-Essence Nude Glam #7 Cafe Ole, 3-Miss Selene #122, 4-Essence Nude Glam #4 Iced Latte, 5-Golden Rose Sweet Color #64, 6-Essence #93 C'est La Vie!, 7-Miss Sporty Et Voila #14, 8-Essence #27 No More Drama

As you can see, pastels rocked my world this year! The only intense shades I wore is the cobalt blue (1) and the orangey one (6). It's kind of a funny story with the last one! I was looking for this colour for ages (it's Essence #93 C'est La Vie!, however it was just discontinued) and when I finally did find it, I was extremely disappointed. It took 3 coats to cover my nails and the shade turned out brighter than I thought it would be. That's why I put it away for a few weeks and after some time I've decided to use it on my toe nails and even though I still had some problems with applying it, it looked much better there! For the days when colourful shades were rather inappropriate (exams!) I went with (2) and (4) (again Essence, this time they are #7 and #4 from the nude glam collection), really beautiful shades, and, what's surprising, it only takes 2 coats for full coverage! If you have a chance to get in hold of them, do it! However, the biggest disadvantage of Essence nailpolishes is the fact that they tend to thicken in the bottle very quickly and the application becomes quite a challenge - just look at #27 No More Drama (8), I bought it in March and all I can do is throw this beautiful shade away :(. Recently Essence changed the design and ingredients of their nailpolishes, so I'll be more than glad to see if they got any better. Other shades here (3), (5), (7) and (1) which I mentioned at the beginning are polishes I bought at my local drugstore (nothing brightens up the mood like a little shopping, right?) and I quite enjoyed wearing them during the summer. However, since they are light and pastel, you need at least (!) 3 coats to cover the nails.

What shades did you enjoy wearing during the summer? Do you follow the trends or just go with your favourite colours? Don't hesitate to comment!

A.

l'Occitane - Almond Milk Concentrate

I think I might be visiting my local l'Occitane store a bit too often, since the people who work there know me by name. But if you've ever tried their products, you know why I'm always coming back for more! l'Occitane makes really wonderful products with many natural ingredients (which for me is always a big plus) and they always feel very high quality. I admit, their products aren't cheap but in my opinion you definitely get what you pay for!

Being a guy, it's not always easy to find a body lotion that's easy to apply on the hairy body parts. It sounds weird, I know, but you can't imagine how annoying it can be to use a thick body lotion on your legs with all that hair! ;) That's why I love to use body oils: easy application and a healthy glow afterwards. Still, sometimes I like to use body lotions because they feel more luxurious. And if you're looking for a good one, then you need to give this one a try!

The Almond Milk Concentrate has a very creamy consistency and glides very easily on the skin (yes, even on the hairy legs!). It feels lightweight yet it's very moisturizing. Although it might not be as moisturizing as a body butter, I'd rather apply a bit more of this lotion than rub in body butter for 15 minutes. Since almond oil is one of the main ingredients, this lotion is supposed to make the skin firmer and tighter. I can't really say if it does that, since I'm only in my early twenties, but it does make me skin very moisturized and smooth to the touch. Oh, and if that's not enough - the lotion has an amazing smell. I don't know if that's what almond milk smells like (shame on me) but I wouldn't mind having an eau de parfum on that! It's fresh, yet maybe a bit floral and not offensive at all. Just... yummy (how's that for a professional description...)! Just give it a sniff and you'll know what I'm talking about.

The Almond Milk Concentrate comes in a 200ml glass jar and will last you for a few weeks since you don't need very much to cover your whole body. The jar might be difficult to travel with, but I know from experience that l'Occitane is generous with their samples so just ask for some with your next purchase. They also make smaller versions of this lotion, so that's another way to take this one with you when you're traveling. I must say, I have tried many body lotions but this one is by far my favourite. I'll admit it's rather pricey but in my opinion it's definitely worth the money!

What are your favourite body lotions? Do you prefer body lotions or body oils? Let me know in the comments! -L.