Surprises and let-downs of 2011!

Surprises

1. Hand lotion. 

I never used hand lotion because I hate the way my hands feel afterwards. I can't touch anything, my hands are greasy, and I'd have to wash my hands right after applying lotion. I just didn't like to use hand lotion. My hands are never really dry all the time anyways. I have days when they are dry, but those are those days when I work in the lab a lot or do a lot of cleaning and therefore soaking my hands constantly. At some point I discovered a way to use hand lotion without getting the greasy feel. I just apply the lotion on the backs of my hands, not on the side the touches everything. So even then when I figured out how to apply hand lotion I didn't own any hand lotions. I got a hand lotion (BeSave!) from a blogger meet up, and I had bought an Elizabeth Arden set with hand cream, so I have been carrying them with me.

2. Liquid foundation

I used to think liquid foundation is really heavy and always makes me look like I am wearing foundation. I was wrong. 

I am currently using two foundations by Clinique. Even better foundation in 3 Ivory (left) and Perfectly real makeup in shade 01 (right). I mix two drops of the Even better foundation with one drop of Perfectly real makeup to get my right shade. First I had the Even better, and 3 Ivory is the lightest shade, but on it's own it is too dark. Probably the perfect shade in the summer.

3. Estee Lauder lengthening mascara

The brush is really nice. It lengthens my lashes and doesn't clump. It doesn't give volume, but that I get by applying a volumizing mascara on top.

4. Korres lip butter

Mine is the Plum-shade. It gives you a lovely color to your lips and moisturizes. It is great! You can apply a thin layer or a thicker layer and that way control the color of your lips.

5. MAC Blacktrack fluidline

I used to hate gel liners. I don't anymore. I love this product!

Let-downs


1. Inglot freedom palette

There is nothing wrong with the product. Pigmentation of the shadows is great, but I just don't grab for the palette. I feel it was a waste of money.

2.  Max Factor Masterpiece mascara

The mascara itself isn't bad, but not great either. The price tag is horrible and the amount of product, especially compared to the price is horrendous. I got mine from a sale for 9.90€ ($12.76), but it has 4,5 ml of product! 4,5 ml!! 4,5 ml!!!

3. IsaDora Eyeshadow trios

I just don't like them. I think the colors are bland, they aren't pigmented enough and the dome-shape of the shadow is just horrible. The shadow creates a mess when you stick your brush in the shadow, the shadow just flies off of the dome.

4. Garnier Roll-on Anti-dark circles

The coverage is good. I love how light-weight it is. My eyes just react to it, they get somewhat irritated every single time I have used this product.

Disclaimer: I have bought the products myself, except for the BeSave hand lotion, and the IsaDora eyeshadow trios. Those two were given to me at a blog meetup's goodie bag. My opinions.

What are the products you loved in 2011 and what are those you didn't?

New skin issues.

For as long as I can remember I have had sensitive and dry skin. After a shower I had to apply moisturizer immediately, otherwise I could barely talk or smile cause my skin was so dry. 

Now I don't know what's going on. My cheeks are normal, my chin breaks out. Constantly. My forehead and nose are oily. After taking a shower I don't feel the need to apply moisturizer immediately. Usually I take a shower in the morning, but lately I have been taking showers at night for some weird reason, and in the mornings I use a toner to get rid of the oilyness and the dirt that's appeared on my skin during the night. I'm going back to taking showers in the morning, and apparently I might have to start washing my face in the morning with something else than just water.

I haven't changed my skin care routine at all this spring. I knew the stuff that worked for me, and I kept at it. But now I might have to change, and I don't want to. 

But to get rid of the chin issues I have had to start using drastic measures. 

That right there is toothpaste. It reduces the size of the pimples, but it's not a permanent fix and it doesn't get rid of them right away. It just makes the breakouts smaller and less noticeable. I don't suggest this to be used often, I dont' use it often. Just when I have some important things to do in a couple days and I want my skin to look nice. Other times I don't really get upset if I have a pimple or two.

Ughh! So frustrating. 

All this might just be, and I hope it is, because the weather here, in June, has been ridiculously hot for numerous days. At times it's been cool and rainy, but other times it's sticky hot. Which I hate. I can't stand sticky hot weather. I wish it was dry and cool here so my skin wouldn't break out or get ridiculously oily. I loved my skin this winter, it was dry, but with the moisturizers it was wonderful, and it didn't break out!

I could use your help!

I am going on holiday to Rhodes, Greece in a couple months with my boyfriend and I could really use your help! I have more time now since I'm home cause I broke my big toe on Monday night... Ouch. I don't recommend it!

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I don't know much about makeup stores in Greece. I am aware of a Hondos Center and if I am not mistaken there is one in Rhodos not that far from my hotel. I looked at their website and saw a couple brands that I am interested in. Do they have other brands too that are just not listed on the website?

Can I get Inglot from anywhere in Rhodos? Where is MAC Cosmetics sold? Typical prices? Greek makeup brands? Any Korres-products that I should look at? 

I appreciate your help! And I'm sure my boyfriend does too, cause then I wont spend the entire holiday at the stores when I know about some stuff at least that what I should get... ;)

Concealers and color theory...

I was walking in town today and, like always, stopped at a department store and the makeup section there. 

I saw some concealers, and I'm kind of looking for a new one cause the one I have isn't too good for me in the winter at least. There was a red neutralizer, or cover all red it was called there etc, and a cover all blue concealer. 

Here's the thing. I know a little about color theory and salmon/pink colored concealers work for blue/purplish undereyes. I'm right, right? And then the more skin colored, beigeish/greenish concealers cover red spots, right? Well, the cover all red was salmon colored, and the cover all blue stuff was beige/green colored. Normal?

I first just thought that the concealers were in the wrong places, that the tags have just been put wrong or so. But on the bottom of the salmon/pink concealer it really said red neutralizer, and blue neutralizer on the other one... Have I completely misunderstood color theory and what colored/toned concealer to use for different things? 

Korres Tinted Moisturizer

Lately I have been interested in trying out a tinted moisturizer for the summer.

I don't think I had heard of Korres until Lovely Violet wrote about them in her blog and did reviews on youtube. I found myself searching around Korres website. I found a product I'd be interested in, their Watermelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer, with an SPF 30.

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I am pale. Seriously pale so I don't think the two darker shades would be good, but the lightest shade would be. Pretty much in any foundation I always look at the lightest shades and sometimes that is too dark for me. (One of Maybelline's foundations specifically for light skinned scandinavians is too dark for me.) Which is why the 01 Light Sand would be the best for me.

I have read one review about this and it was on Temptalia. (Only had time to search for one before typing this.) What I look for in a moisturizer is it's moisturizing ability. My skin is mostly dry (cheeks, T-zone) but I'd say it's normal around my jaw line. So if this isn't very moisturizing then I'd have to use my moisturizer and this one, which would defy the purpose. I really do like that it's SPF 30. I use SPF 30 during the winter as well because I am that pale and very sensitive to the sun, I burn and then I'm back to pale, I don't get tan at all.

I'm still thinking about this. Is paying 24.40€ worth it, for 30ml of product that might not suit me the best? Well, good that right now (at least on the Korres website) my shade is out of stock so I can't even order it. I haven't looked for other places to order it from., and I don't even know if Korres is even sold in my country?! These are just my thoughts on a Sunday morning.


I guess I'm still going to be on the lookout for a tinted moisturizer. Any suggestions?