If there is one make up item I am totally addicted to and can never get enough of that would be lipglosses and lipsticks. I  always find myself buying new ones, have a bunch at home and carry a few in my bag. This is a kind of  an overview of my most favourite ones or at least the ones I wear most.

• Bourjois Effet 3D MAX — comes in a really great range of colours and provides amazing shine. The down side is that it is one of the most short lasting lip glosses I’ve ever tried. It looks great but you constantly have to apply more so not a good option if you can’t carry it with you or just don’t feel like having to retouch it every 15 minutes. Can also look a bit thin without any base like for example lipliner or lip pencil. The applicator might surprise you, it’s not a brush but a very flexible piece of plastic with which you distribute the lipgloss on your lips.
  
• L’oreal Glam Shine — I have quite a few of these and really love them. The applicator is really nice and the range of colours is quite wide as well. Probably the lipglosses I reach for THE MOST out of all I have are: 1) 303 Topaz Strass, a really cute pink, and 2) 31 tender Crystal, which is slightly thicker and a bit darker. I also love the Glam Shine 6H in Always Pink but if I had to choose between it and Topaz Strass, the latter would definitely win by a mile. L’oreal lipsticks aren’t that bad as a whole as well, although I got a regular Color Riche one in 254 (pink one, not sure about the name) and was really disappointed.
  
• L’oreal Shine Gelee — I did a small review on this one before. I like it mainly because it’s very easy to apply, you don’t have to bother with brushes or applicators. I think I said previously that the colour was a bit of a let down because it was kind of bluish undertoned. Lately I’ve worn it quite a lot and have grown to love it, besides anything bluish undertoned is going to make your teeth look whiter or at least that’s what they say
• Bourjois Eau de Gloss — no this isn’t a perfume gloss or something like that :p The one I have in number 15 Framboise glacee is a bit too bright on its own so I always put it over a transparent gloss and it looks quite nice. Unfortunately, just like the 3D MAX one it’s extremely undurable and also the container gets a bit messy after a while. I have dropped it a few times only for it to stain things.
• Sleek lipsticks — despite the fact that Sleek falls into the “drugstore, quite affordable” type of cosmetics it doesn’t mean that their products are low quality. In fact, many make-up artists lately are raving about the Sleek eyeshadow pallettes which cost only about £5 yet offer a quite good colour pay off. Same with their lipsticks. The packaging is nice and again the colour pay off doesn’t disappoint. My favourite one is number 840 Rose petal which is a peachy pink and can be used under Bourjois’ 3D MAX for more intensity.
• And the winner for best transparent lipgloss is… Soap and Glory’s Sexy Motherpucker — transparent lipgloss and lip plumper all in one, it’s my absolute favourite. The packaging is very pretty (yes I’m a sucker for cute packaging ) and I think the gloss was voted best lip plumper on Gok Wan’s How to Look Good Naked (tv show in the UK). Definitely would repurchase again and again and again…

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LIPS LOOK PLUMPER

What I normally do to make my lips appear plumper is the following:

1) trace the outline of your lips using a lip pencil in a similar colour to the lipstick or lipgloss you’re going to use later. Start at the corners and follow slightly outside of the natural lip line.

2) Fill in with the same lip pencil. This is going to provide a base and prevent the colour from fading easily.

3) Next, apply either a transparent lip plumper gloss and wait a few seconds before applying your favourite coloured lipgloss

OR

Apply a lipstick gently over the already applied lip plumper and, if you want, in order to intensify the colour follow with a coloured lip gloss on top.

THE 3-STEP SYSTEM

During the last few months I’ve changed my skincare routine quite a bit. In fact I stopped using all cleansers, exfoliators and what not that I previously had and started using the Clinique 3-Step system. I have never been more in love with a skincare product (or products) so much. I used to stick to Vichy or Lierac but with the 3-Step system you have amazing results straight away.

The system itself consists of 3 products: a facial soap you wash your skin with first (it’s very mild and I was really surprised at how it didn’t make my skin feel dry at all). A clarifying lotion which acts as a kind of everyday exfoliator and skin polisher you pass through your skin on a cotton ball, and lastly the amazing moisturiser. You have to repeat this procedure (which by the way takes only a couple of minutes) twice a day. I was a bit sceptical at first regarding the Clarifying lotion because it seemed a bit too strong to me. I had used something similar in the past by Clean&Clear and it left my skin totally dry and dull so I hadn’t used that kind of product ever since. However, the Clinique one is different. After you’ve washed your face with the liquid soap and pass the lotion on a cotton ball you see that there is still some dirt or make up residue left. It basically leaves your skin absolutely clean and prepared for the moisturiser which I have to say totally deserves its name “Dramatically different”.

So for the last couple of months I’ve been using the 3-Step system religiously and couldn’t be more happier with the results! The first thing I do when I get up is brush my teeth and do my Clinique routine. I let the moisturiser sink for a while although it’s so weightless you can’t even tell you have it on, before I start applying my make up. I am using a foundation by Clinique as well (Even better with an SPF of 15) and the Dramatically different moisturiser actually works quite well as a primer too. I have stopped using primers lately because I don’t feel the need to and both the foundation and moisturiser work amazingly well together.

ALL ABOUT EYES RICH EYE CREAM

Ever since I got and started using the 3-Step system and was so satisfied with it I decided to try more Clinique products. I’ve been on the hunt lately for a really good under eye cream especially for dark circles because I’ve tried so many with quite poor results. This is why I decided to give All About Eyes a try. It comes in 2 versions: normal and rich. The normal one is a bit lighter and even helps eye make up stay in place, while the rich one is anti-aging. Since both cost the same (and my dark circles are quite bad ) I got the rich one, not sure if it was because I thought I’d get faster results considering how very impatient I am.

I have to say this is the VERY FIRST eye cream I have been impressed with. There are obvious results: dark circles don’t look that bad, if I wake up in the morning with puffy eyes it’s fine because I put the cream on, let it sink and I’m saved. I’m glad I got the rich one partly because I guess it’s stronger and I have fine lines under my eyes which I really hate so it helps with that too.

I put it on twice daily (as every Clinique product seems recommended to be) right after I have passed the Clarifying lotion from the 3-Step system with a cotton ball all over my face, avoiding the eye area and followed by the Dramatically different moisturiser. It’s something I really can’t live without. I also highly recommend the All About Eyes concealer especially used after you’ve let the under eye cream sink into your skin. It has orange undertones in order to counteract the bluish appearance of dark circles and yes, I will say it again, I love it and am quite impressed with it as well

NEW BRONZER: ESTEE LAUDER BRONZE GODDESS LUMINOUS LIQUID BRONZER

I ran out of my previous Estee Lauder bronzer (which I can’t figure out why looked so totally different) and saw this one on sale so decided to give it a try. I think it’s actually not that bad, in the sense that the colour is ok. However, first of all when you’ve used it only a couple of times you can see how fast it disappears, and second of all, the price is a bit of a let down. To me, this is totally dupable by L’oreal’s Sublime Bronze Illuminating cream (http://www.gordons-chemists.com/products/58903). I have used the L’oreal one for quite some time before I got addicted to the Bronze Goddess collection by Estee Lauder and honestly, they offer more product, similar results for way less. Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Here are five products (mostly make up) that I rarely reach for, some of which should go straight to the bin.  In no particular order…

1. Collistar All over face powder – this one falls into the type of products that look really cool in the packaging, the colours inside look promising… until you put it on and realise it’s a big disappointment. I really liked this when I first saw it and thought it would make a perfect highlighter. The truth is that it’s extremely chunky and glittery. I got it the lighter shade (pink tones, probably should’ve gotten the darker one) and it’s basically a white frosty shimmer with tons of glitter. Not cool. Because it’s made of several different colours it said in the description that they can be used separately as eyeshadows, which sounds great, right? However, these colours, used by themselves, basically have no colour pay off at all, even though some are pink, peachy, plum, etc. One positive thing about it? Probably the mirror inside. Overall, considering the price, I think there are tons of much better highlighters out there that cost much less.

2. Maybelline Dream Mousse eyecolor – I have very little to say about this. It’s supposed to be a mousse eyeshadow. Comes in a jar and the lid is in the same (or similar colour) to the eyeshadow itself. I got this in 08 Eden Green, but it’s actually a bluish green (it looks really pretty in the pot). I don’t even know why they bother to make this stuff. The colour pay off is almost non existent. When you put it on there’s barely any trace of colour (just some vague shimmer) which is fine with the mousse blushes since you want a more subtle finish. I guess one positive thing about all the products in the Maybelline mousse range is that they blend easily. However, when it comes to eyeshadows the colours should be a bit bolder than that in terms of pigmentation, etc. I guess this is why they have called it “eyecolor” and not “eyeshadow” (not sure?!), since it can by no means qualify as a (quality) eyeshadow. It could maybe be used as a base but then I don’t know what’s the point in buying this to use just as a base.

3. L’oreal Glam Bronze Micro-fine spray foundation for legs – OK, I think the fact that I don’t like this is partly my own fault because I didn’t research at all before purchasing it. I have tried several other products from the L’oreal Glam Bronze line and was pretty sure that this must be similar but an improved formula (in terms of colour, texture, whatever) especially designed for legs. Imagine my shock when, after spraying it on and reading the back of the bottle, (I never read instructions first LOL), I discovered that it’s not a self tanning product at all. Even more shocking, after waiting for it to dry and thinking it was already dry, I ran my fingers over it and it came right off!! Another contradiction about it is that it says it’s waterproof, yet when you read the instructions at the back about how to remove it, turns out you can wash it off with water and soap/shower gel (which wasn’t needed, I took it off with a dry towel, it was that easy)… Now, it’s really beyond me why you would use a tanning product (even though it’s classed as “foundation for legs”) that comes off when you touch it and would most likely stain your clothes as hell. I swear the foundation I use on my face doesn’t come off like this. The only possible use I can think of is for example if you have a photoshoot and use a small amount on your legs while being EXTREMELY careful not to stain your outfits, but then even so it doesn’t seem like a very practical option. The only positive thing about it is the colour (not orangey at all) which I think is due to the fact that you spray on an already predetermined shade so it doesn’t depend on the original colour of your skin. The bottle I have is still half full so if anyone has an idea of how to use this better (?) please drop me a line.

4. Nivea My Silhouette Slimming & Reshaping Gel-Cream – I hate to say this but is there any “slimming” cream that actually works? Definitely not this one. Very nice scent but the cream sits on your skin and you have to wait forever for it to absorb. It says it should be applied twice a day over the areas such as legs, waist, etc. and the first results should be visible after 4 weeks. First of all, I don’t really have time to put this on twice a day and wait for it absorb for an hour. Surprisingly, it moisturizes very little, if at all. I did not use it for 4 weeks either and honestly I felt a bit silly believing that it would actually make any difference.

5. L’oreal Hydra-Collagen Instant Volume Mascara – I think I put this one last because I still use it every now and then but definitely not on its own. I personally prefer double mascaras (white primer + black, like the L’oreal Double Extension, it’s great). I was unpleasantly surprised at the big brush and how it clumps my eyelashes and doesn’t provide much volume, only thickens. I was left with short, clumped eyelashes that looked certainly thicker. Like I said, I never use it on its own, sometimes over another mascara for a more dramatic effect. I looked for other reviews online after trying it out and most people have the same issues. Definitely not a must have for me.

This is going to be a LOONG post (sorry) with reviews of some products I got recently and really like. Not all of them are make up, some are skin/hair care, so I guess this post will have a little bit of everything. Hope you like it and find it useful. If you have any questions/suggestions feel free to drop me a line

1. St. Tropez Gradual Tan in medium/dark & St. Tropez bronzing mist – I was a St Tropez fanatic until I discovered product number 2 in this list. Basically there’s a lot of hype surrounding St Tropez, mainly because it’s a self tanning product that doesn’t smell AT ALL of self tan and provides a really nice non-orangey colour. The gradual tan comes in a white tube and the cream itself is completely white (I was really surprised at first), just like a body lotion or butter. I got it in medium/dark and initially was wondering how would a completely white cream make me tan… It does smell really nice and you have to wait for a day or two to see the first results. Personally I’m not a big fan of gradual tans because I’m really impatient lol I prefer to put something on, get the result I want and forget about it. This is why I got the bronzing mist. It’s a spray (nothing like the Garnier self tanning mist, which looking back, looks quite orangey compared) that you have to rub in and distribute evenly. I like this one better than the gradual tan for obvious reasons. While I’m not sure I’d repurchase the mist, I’d probably give St Tropez’s Self tan remover a try since I don’t think any other brand makes that.

2. St. Moriz instant self tanning mousse – at a fraction of the cost of a St. Tropez product I have to say this is MUCH better in terms of consistency, colour and, of course, price. It’s absolutely identical to the St. Tropez mousse only it’s a little bit darker and thicker, also it dries quicker… The only downside? It can be a bit hard to find. I heard about this first on YouTube and immediately decided to give it a try (it can be found at Home Bargains in the UK and I assume somewhere online too). So far I’m in love with it. I haven’t used any St. Tropez ever since and honestly feel like in a way I have wasted my money on St. Tropez when there is a much cheaper and better product out there. St. Moriz doesn’t have a strong self tan smell at all either and for it’s the perfect self tanning product for IMPATIENT people like me. It gives instant results, dries quickly and doesn’t turn orange yet can get quite dark too. Absolutely love it.

3. L’oreal Elvive Smooth Intense anti-frizz serum – perfect for dry hair especially dry ends. It contains argan oil which is an amazing moisturiser not only for hair but also for the skin. Very nicely scented, absorbs quite quickly on either dry or towel dried hair and leaves it really nice and silky.

4. Clinique Even Better foundation with SPF 15 – my new holy grail of foundations, absolutely love it. I used to use Revlon Colorstay mixed with a little bit of Bourjois 10 hour sleep effect (not sure about the name) because the Revlon offered good coverage but the colour was a bit too dull for me. The Bourjois one on the other hand had fantastic colour and scent but very light coverage. Well, the Clinique Even Better has both a nice colour and medium to full (buildable) coverage. I got it in 04 cream chamois which isn’t either too pale or too dark… somewhere in between. Another amazing thing about this foundation is that you can apply it with a sponge, a brush, use your fingers (which I do most of the time, got tired of sponges with Revlon) and it always looks flawless.

5. Estee Lauder “Disappear” Smoothing Crème Concealer – I got this after watching a tutorial on YouTube about disguising dark eye circles. I have to say if there’s anything I’m really picky about it would probably be my undereye dark circles slash shadows. I have tried a lot of things and nothing seemed to work the way I wanted it to so I decided to give this a try. It’s a really thick formula and it does cover up well. Some say it can be a little drying so if you’re going to use it under your eyes it’s better to moisturize first. Now, I can’t say it’s a bad product because it’s clearly not. However, even after moisturising and blending it well under my eyes I can still kind of see the bluish undertone of the skin there. I got it in the shade 02 Light, probably not the best choice for the under eye area. I guess a warmer, peachy shade would work better in order to cancel out the blue. Speaking of concealers, I got a really cheap double concealer at a supermarket (I think the brand is called Dr. Harnik) and I was amazed at how well it works… It’s made of two shades, a pale yellowish you put on first and a pink/peach colour you pat on top. I must have cost me something like £3 and I must say it’s not exactly top quality… it’s way too creamy, doesn’t stay in place, creases if you’re not careful and put on too much. However, it works on the right principle and it does a good job for the price.

6. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion – my new favourite face cream! I was sceptical at first and didn’t think I’d like this over Lierac’s Aqua D+ yet after using it for a while I’m really impressed. It’s a yellow coloured cream (first time I see something like that), doesn’t have any scent, absorbs super quickly and does a great job of evening out your skin. I wonder why they haven’t added an SPF to it. Because it absorbs so quickly, you can use it under your foundation without worrying it’d take ages to settle. I use my Estee Lauder face bronzer on top and it works great. Definitely would repurchase again.

7. L’oreal Color Riche Shine Gelee Lipstick – I had mixed feelings at first about this lipstick looking lipgloss or whatever they say it’s supposed to be. One positive thing is that the colour payoff is good so you don’t have to put on loads, it’s nicely scented, it has a fruity mixed with a royal jelly kind of smell. It does stay on well. I’m not sure about the colours though. I got it in Sugar Rose which in the package looks a really cute pink… however once I put it on it looked a bit bluish/purplish undertoned, not quite the true pink I expected.  I guess L’oreal have so many lip products already out there they were probably trying to come up with a slightly new, different colour. One of my favourite pink lipglosses is the L’oreal 6h Glam Shine in Always Pink and also the regular Glam Shine in 303 Topaz Strass (a bit more glittery and a brighter pink), both of which can be worn over this for a more lasting effect.

8. Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker – A lovely lip plumper that really works (and doesn’t taste that bad). Cute packaging (like everything by Soap and Glory ). I got it transparent so I could use it underneath any lipstick or lipgloss and I really like it. It’s not completely transparent as there is some kind of whitish colour when you first put it on but it immediately disappears and the gloss itself tastes very sweet. A new fave.

9. Urban Decay Primer Potion – To be honest, this is the first eyeshadow base I’ve tried and I do like the idea of it. (Too Faced Shadow Insurance is a very similar product but I think it’s more suitable for oily skin). It’s a bit like concealer and primer for your eyelids. It neutralises and evens out the colour of the skin and makes the eyeshadows stick better and last longer without creasing. I’ve been using it for a while now and really like it. You can put a little bit under the lower lashes as well.

http://becontrast.com/listen

Recently while browsing music videos on YouTube I came across an extended version of an old school acid house track I really like and found out about this online radio that plays ONLY that.. acid house non stop! I have it on practically all the time now. It can be a little repetitive but I’ve looked for this kind of thing before and never found anything like it. It’s a shame they don’t do podcasts :p

OK, I have a new number 1 favourite perfume! I got it recently while in the UK and I love love LOVE it! I like it even more than Premier Jour and all the others. It’s a very light, summery scent however I’ve found that it doesn’t stay on for as long as other perfumes (Nina Ricci). I forget where I got it, could’ve been Superdrug for something like £15 and have used it a lot lately! It’s defintely the first perfume I turn to now. Worth checking out.

1.  Premier Jour by Nina Ricci –> my all time favourite perfume. It’s just who I am. I’ve been wanting it for ages and always had like small bottles or samples of it until last year I got the big bottle as a birthday present. The funny thing was that one of my dad’s colleages at work is something like my “astrological twin”, that is, she’s a Sagittarius and a Tiger in Chinese astrology.  So my dad later told me how when he was ordering the perfume from a site he couldn’t quite remember the name and asked her if she knew it… Well, turned out she had ordered the EXACT same perfume for herself out of literally HUNDREDS on that site! Isn’t that amazing?! And they say astrology is nonsense. She later showed me another one she had ordered and I totally fell in love with it… It’s my second favourite now lol! Premier Jour is a very light, floral scent that comes in a really cool bottle, the colour of the perfume itself is kind of peachy. Nina Ricci has really nice perfumes with a few exceptions.
2. 5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden –> this smells very similar to another perfume I really like by Carolina Herrera. It smells a lot like honey (which I LOVE) mixed with flowers. It’s really fresh and floral, yet sophisticated. Comes in a tall slim bottle and the colour of the perfume is kind of a goldenish yellow. Again reminds me of honey! Mmm! Anyway, onto the
3. Carolina Herrera –> I think this one doesn’t have a name of its own. It’s pretty old, it was launched back in 1988 (2 years younger than me ha!) and I think it’s called just that Carolina Herrera perfume for women (how original, not ). It comes in a square bottle with a black lid and the perfume is kind of yellow/goldenish but it smells divine
4. Fruity Rhythm by Adidas –> I know…. drugstore and cheap but I like the smell! And it’s all PINK! What more could you ask for lol. Everything is a dark fuschia pink except for the bottle which is trasparent but the perfume itself is pink too. I think it’s a very energising smell, yet floral and feminine at the same time.
5. No. 5 by Chanel –> only because it’s Chanel to be fair. When I smelled it the first time I wasn’t a big fan but I gradually started to like it. I know it’s a big classic and an iconic smell, maybe that’s why it makes me think of something an old lady would wear LOL… But yeah, it’s ok for a special occasion or something like that.

Other perfumes I like but don’t get to wear that often: Angel by Angel Schlesser (he’s a Spanish designer, and this perfume smells kind of unique. I wouldn’t say it’s that feminine at all, but still fun to try out).

Bright Crystal Pink by Versace (probably should be in my top faves but I think that even though this is Versace and high end blah blah, to me, it smells kind of common. You could find so many dupes of this. Cute bottle though)

Cafe cafe by I forget who (no, doesn’t smell of coffee lol, but I wish they would make something like that. It’s kind of strong but good for the summer. Kinda hard to find though)

Here’s a list of the non-make up products I use on a daily basis as part of my skincare routine.

Keep in mind though that I’m always trying out new products so this list is likely to change very soon.

First of all I have to say that I’ve been a fan of Vichy products for quite some time, mainly because they’re reasonably priced and good quality. This is why most products listed here are by Vichy. I’m not sure if I’ll post pictures of everything because I don’t want this post to get too pic heavy

• First thing in the morning: when I get up after brushing my teeth I wash my face with Vichy Oligo 25 Foaming Cleansing face wash for anti-dull skin. Honestly, I can’t even remember when I purchased this. It’s like water in a pink bottle but it comes out as foam. It’s very light and gentle to your skin, smells nice and has lasted me forever! So once I’ve washed my face I then put on my make-up which I’m not going to describe in this post (way too long, maybe another time )
• Evening: what I do first is take off my mascara with water. I find it the easiest, fastest and most hygienic way to do it. I’ve tried several eye make up removers that only smudge everything and make you look like Frankenstein. Besides, I don’t use waterproof mascara (no need to).  Then I put on the Vichy Purete thermale One step cleanser 3 in 1. This is a fantastic product. It’s basically 3 things all in 1: cleansing milk, toning lotion and eye make up remover, so you don’t need to buy them separately. Once I distribute it well on my skin I remove it with cotton pads and all the make up comes off very easily. Then I splash water all over my face to make sure everything’s squaky clean Most days I exfoliate even though dermatologists advise you should do it only twice a week. I find that if I do it more often my skin looks much fresher in the morning (I normally use Vichy’s Purifying Exfoliating Cream). It’s a “mechanical” one, that is, it contains little spheres that when you rub the cream into your skin remove dead cells and impurities. What I really do twice a week is a facial mask again by Vichy, which I’ve ran out of right now, oops. It comes in a greenish little tube, I think it’s called Vichy Masque Thermal Rehydratant (not sure). Again, this is very very good for nourishing your skin.
• What I do next is something lots of people skip, either because the don’t know about it or consider unnecessary. However, I think it makes  alot of difference and guarantees healthy skin! I spray Thermal Spa water all over my face and let it stay on for a couple of minutes before I dry it with a clean towel. You can get this from several brands: Vichy, La Roche-Posay and Avene all make them. The last two have no smell or taste, but I find the Vichy one slightly salty. It comes in a bottle like a deodorant. All Vichy products contain this spa water but spraying it on clean skin feels super refreshing.
• Next step: moisturising. I tend to experiment quite a lot here. Some days I’d put on a bronzer, others I’d use a regular face cream. Anyway, my favourites: Lierac’s Aqua D+ (this stuff is amazing. It comes in a transparent jar with orange lid, the cream itself is orange and smells sooo nice!!! It is a bit pricey but definitely worth it. The fact that it contains vitamin D means that it gives you a sunkissed look, NOT a tan though. Vichy Aqualia made me pale like a corpse for some reason.); Estee Lauder’s cream bronzer, read below about it, another amazing product to try. Sometimes when I feel that my skin is super dry I’d keep the spa water on my face without drying it with a towel and put just a tiny bit of Nivea Oil over my wet skin, exactly what I do with my legs.

• Last step: eye cream. I’ve been on the hunt for a good anti-dark eye circles cream for quite a while now. After having tried Lierac’s Diopticerne and the Garnier eye Roll-on I’m kind of disappointed. I’m not sure if my expectations were way too high or these products just don’t work on me. The Lierac one seemed really promising but honestly, I didn’t notice any difference at all. If anyone knows of a good eye cream out there that doesn’t cost a fortune drop me a line

This may seem like quite a lot of products to use but as they say you only have one face and it’s all people are going to see and if you don’t take good care of yourself no one else will do it for you!

Anyway, I’ll stop here because I feel like this post got way too long. Again I hope it was helpful to some, if there are any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to ask!!! Ttyl ))

As I mentioned previously, here on my blog I’ll try to make reviews of products (mostly cosmetics) that I have tested on myself and will give my honest opinion about them so that maybe others can find it useful. I’d love to record videos doing this but right now I don’t have a videocamera and recording with my digital camera is just too complicated (yes, I secretly wish I could be a youtube beauty guru too lol).

Again as I said before, I much prefer using tanning products than frying myself in sunbeds or lying on the beach until my skin hurts and I can’t even put a t-shirt on (I burn quite easily). One important thing, before buying anything I first research it on the net  so that once in the shop I have an idea of what exactly I’m looking for and what to expect. It doesn’t necessarily have to be youtube, there are online shops that offer these products where people can write about their own experience regarding a certain product although of course not every single review on a shopping site can be 100% trusted

So anyway, onto the review. Nuxe is a French brand that uses only natural ingredients in their products. Nuxe is a combination of the words nature and luxe. Sounds good doesn’t it? However, as I have found not everything *supposedly* high end and advertised everywhere necessarily means quality.

• I’ll start off with the Nuxe Teint Ultra Prodigieux which is basically a cream face bronzer that doesn’t contain any self tan. I got the one for fair skin (it comes in fair and dark). My skin is generally dry and combination on my T-zone. I applied it as I would normally any face cream, after removing my make up, cleansing and exfoliating. So far so good. The next morning however I found out that first of all the tan was anything but even, I had literally patches on my face that were more tanned than others. But the problems didn’t stop there! My skin was extremely dry and sensitive. I thought that maybe this is something temporal and I hadn’t distributed it well the previous night. So I tried it a few more times over the next couple of days and my skin was getting drier and drier. The moment I put regular moisturiser on it, because of being so extremely sensitive and dry, there was this horrible burning sensation I almost thought I had an allergic reaction or something. It says on the bottle that for very dry skin you can put it on top of a moisturiser which I have also tried only to find out that after a few hours the tanning effect is almost non existant. I have to say this is probably the most poorly made tanning product I have ever tried and definitely not worth the money. I don’t know how you could possibly use this… maybe if you wear no make up whatsoever during the day, just a moisturiser and you still want a sunkissed look you could wear it over and reapply it during the day. But there are many more products out there that can achieve the same and cost much less. Otherwise it doesn’t smell too bad, it has almost the same smell as the oil that I’ll talk about next and the colour is actually not so bad. I’m using Estee Lauder now and can’t complain It’s moisturising enough, light formula, completely matte so no shimmer, colouir is gorgeous and most importantly,  smells like chocolate
  
• The  Huile Prodigieuse is actually not that bad. I got it in “OR” or “gold”, it has shimmering gold particles inside as opposed to the regular version which is pure oil. I was in love with this product for a while. It’s a multi-purpose dry oil which contains 6 precious oils and vitamin E. It’s multi-purpose because you can use it on your skin (to enhance your tan) as well as on your hair (I don’t recommend the latter and I’ll say why in a moment). Personally, I’m not a fan of the smell of this. I also can’t wear it during the day because it’s so shimmery almost glittery. I find the formula quite heavy, so if you get this use only a tiny bit, otherwise it’ll just stay on top of your skin. They say that you can use it on your hair to highlight strands. I tried doing this (my hair is also normally dry) and I didn’t notice any moisurising effect on my hair at all apart from making it turn greasy faster (not good). Overall, it’s not a bad product but nothing special either.

Products I recommend:

The Bronze Goddess collection by Estee Lauder; Garnier Ambre Solaire

Nourishing your hair: the L’oreal Elseve re-Nutrition elixir the nuit with royal jelly

For a more shiny hair: liquid crystals; Toni&Guy Finishing Shine Spray

I hope you found this review useful, if anyone has any questions or suggestions feel free to ask.

<3