Face of the Day

This is the kind of make up that I like to wear everyday when I don't really have anything special planned.

Foundation - Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (Gobi) 

Contour - Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick (355 Coconut Mokka)

Blush - Mac Blush (Something Special)

Eyebrows - Catrice Eyebrow Pencil (020 Date with Asthon) and Catrice Eyebrow Filler (010)

Eyes - L'oreal Miss Manga Punky Mascara

Lips - EOS Lipbalm

- Julia xxx

 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation Review

I finally caved in and bought myself the Nars Sheer Glow foundation a couple of weeks ago. It is a little bit more difficult to get your hands on here in Germany, so my only option was ordering it online, which is always a bit tricky with foundations, since you can't try them out on your face. After a little bit of research I decided on the shade Light 3 Gobi, which has a yellow undertone, and, surprisingly, matches me perfectly.

 I like to apply this foundation with a beauty sponge since this sheers it out a little and also makes it go an easier. I would say that this foundation has a medium coverage, but can definitely be sheered out or build up. When applied with a brush, I noticed that it can get quite streaky and it emphasises all the little hairs on my face. When I have really dry skin, and dry patches on my face, it also likes to cling to them.

 As you can see, it really does a good job at evening out my skin tone and I can also use it as a concealer under my eyes. One thing that I have noticed is that it doesn't work well with primers, on my skin, anyway. It just slides around the face and never seems to settle. When set with a powder, it does last the whole day, though.

Pro

looks like skin 

colour range (+undertones)

buildable coverage

Con

sticks to dry patches and facial hair 

takes some time to work in

price (43€) 

All in all this is a decent foundation, but I do think that there are better ones out there on the market, especially in that price category. I enjoy wearing it and will definitely use it up, but I probably won't repurchase it.  

For any of you interested, this is where I purchased my foundation.


- Julia xxx

 

Shop My Stash

I am finally back at Uni, not living with my parents anymore but on my own in a tiny little dorm room not-so-near campus and that means: having access to the whole of my make up collection ... Amongst other things, like noisy neighbours or having to do my own laundry again, but it's all good!
So after two months of living out of a small make up bag, small for me, excessive for 'normal' people, I had a little look through my make up yesterday evening and 'discovered' a few items I have totally forgotten about. How exciting! (It's the little things in life people, don't judge me!)

Here we have them all. Aren't they beautiful. And on some of them I have even hit pan, which is even more exciting (oh gosh) and motivates me to use them up, put them in an 'Empties' blogpost, or even video (?) and throw them out. Nothing more satisfying than finishing make up products, am I right?

Ok, for the products we have:

L'Oreal True Match Foundation soft ivory n1 - And even two of them! Back when I lived in the USA for a few months I was obsessed with this foundation and because we don't have it in Germany (at least no that light of a shade), I panicked and bought two. Back home again, I just wasn't interested in it anymore. Story of my life.

NYX Blush Taupe - Great contour shade for fair skinned people like me. I really don't know what else to say about it, really. It's inexpensive (at least in the US) and it works. But ever since the Lancome subtile palette, I have stopped using it, because that's just a whole nother league. That being said, I will probably repurchase it.

Make Up Factory Matte Eyeshadow 08 - It's matte. It's brown. It's a nice contour- crease shade. But ain't nobody got time for single eyeshadows, anymore. I really find myself reaching for eyeshadow palettes these days. So the single eyesahdow needs to go. Nice quality, though. 

NYX EyeshadowTrio Nude/ Taupe/ Dark Brown - Back in the day when I started getting into make up, this was my very first eyeshadow- palette- love. And you know how they say you will always remember your first love. It's true ... at least with this trio. Muhahah. (I think the lack of sleep is getting to my head already?!) But seriously, these eyeshadows are amazing. Super pigmented, no fall out, very creamy. I only have nice things to say about it. I especially love the shimmery nude shade in the summer.

Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder 125 - Now that I have really dry skin, I don't want my powder to completely mattify my face but instead just setting my make up and leaving my skin look like skin, if that makes sense. I find that this powder really does the trick. You probably won't like it if you have oily skin and are looking for something to mattify your face. In that case I would recommend the Rimmel Stay Matte powder. 

Revlon Lip Butter Strawberry Shortcake/ Sugar Frosting - Since my lips are so dry because of the Roaccutane, these are the only lipsticks I can wear these days. These shades make me feel so summery and happy that I want to wear them more often.

Sleek Blush By 3 Lace - Again, think summer. I love oranges in summer. These can be quite scary, because they are so bright and pigmented. But I really wanna make them work. We'll see how that goes.

Benefit Blush Bella Bamba - Smells ah-mazing. And it is super shimmery. It's all about the shimmer this summer. And it's more wearable and easier to pull off, in my case anyway, than the Sleek blushes.

elf Shimmering Facial Whip Lilac Petal - Going with the shimmer theme: this! Supposedly a dupe for the Nars Copacabana highlighter. I wouldn't know. Besides the usual place where one would apply highlighter, I like to apply this as an eyeshadow. Looks super glossy on the lid. Gorgeous. and the pink really brings out the green in my eyes, which is always a plus. Be warned , though, it is a metallic-y colour.

left: Sugar Frosting / right: Strawberry Shortcake

It's quite fun shopping your own stash at home every now and again. And way more justifiable and easy on the wallet. What is a product that you recently re-discovered from your make up collection? I would be interested to know!


- Julia xxx

How Much Is My Face Worth?

I JUST read a blogpost and sad as I am it really excited me, so I thought I HAVE to do the same. This is such a cool idea and I think everyone should do one of these! Basically if you wanna know how much money you have spend on your face alone, you add up the price of all the products you use on a daily basis and out comes 'How much is my face worth?'. To be honest, I am a little scarred to do this, because I already know that it will be a lot of money and I don't really know how I'll be able to justify this. But I am gonna do it anyway, because ... I'm a rebel like that ... haha

Now on some days I use more than this and on other days I use less, so the price obviously varies. But over all, this is what I use on my face on a daily basis. Let's start with the base.

Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation Ecru - 40€
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder Sandstorm - 5€
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 15 - 6€
Real Techniques Stipplig Brush  - 13€
Real Techniques Buffing Brush  - 13€  

This is pretty standard in my daily routine. I apply foundation, which is always Double Wear, because it's full coverage and stays on 18+ hours, and I apply concealer to brighten my under eye area. On rare good days I can get away with only the Fit Me concealer. And to seal everything in I use a powder. My foundation I apply with the stippling brush and my powder with the buffing brush.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo On and on bronze  - 8€
Benefit High Beam (came in a kit)  - 30€
Nars Bronzer Laguna  - 36€
Sephora Eyelash Curlers  - 12€
Real Techniques Contour Brush  - 13€

The last few weeks I have really enjoyed using bronzer again. I also like to mix my foundation with a little bit of High Beam, so my complexion doesn't look dull. For a little colour on the eyelid I use a Colour Tattoo, easy. Curling my lashes is also a must. The brush I use for blush and sometimes extra contour for those puffy days.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara  - 13€
Lancome Blush Subtile Palette Rose Flush  - 42€
Burt's Bee Lip Balm Pomegranate  - 4€
Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush  - 10€

Mascara, standard. For blush I like to use the one from the Lancome trio, it's so soft and velvety. Lip balm is a must for my dry and chapped lips. My concealer I like to blend with the deluxe crease brush.

Ok, are you ready?! The grant total is: 232, 13€. That would be 320 USD or 192 GBP. Oh my. I feel a little guilty but at the same time incredibly fortunate and grateful that I am able to afford things like that. I think sometimes we don't appreciate the things we surround us with everyday enough and it's easy to forget how lucky we are to be in such a position. So today I am going to be extra grateful for all the small things I usually take for granted. Showing gratitude. It's a good thing. 

What do you think? If this whole 'project' excited you as much as it excited me then...welcome to the loser team haha just kidding! But I would really like to see what you use on a daily basis and how much money you spend on your 'daily face'. 

- Julia xxx

My current Wish List

These are the products I am currently lusting after, but since I am a poor student I just can't have it all at the moment. Unless I get a job. Which I am trying to, okay?! Don't put me under pressure!

The Nars Matte Multiple in the colour Vientiane - copper bronze. 
I NEED this in my life, but it is so expensive I am even a little afraid to ask for this for my birthday coming up.
But ever since I have seen this video, I really want to try it. 

The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. 
Now I love my Sigma Round Kabuki Brush for foundation, in fact it is my favourite foundation brush of all times, but I am sad to say that it is slowly but surely falling apart, which would be my second Sigma Kabuki brush falling apart. What's up with that, Sigma? Shame man! So since I love all the other Real Techniques Brushes, I will switch to this one as soon as my Sigma one has died. 

 The Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra- Sheer Daily Defense SPF 30.
Now I have already talked about it in my 'Whats in my Bag' post, but this stuff is great. I ordered three little sample sizes of this from the Paula's Choice Website and I am really happy with it. For an SPF of 30 it is super sheer and leaves you with a matte finish. Plus it doesn't break me out and it is just perfect after your daily moisturizer and under your make up. Not greasy at all. Big thumbs up from me.

The Stella by Stella McCartney Parfum. 
I got my mom the roller ball parfum for christmas a few years ago and she never really used it, so a few weeks ago I started using it and it is already halfway empty. I think this is such a beautiful scent for spring. It is not too sweet, rather floral and not too heavy, so perfect for daytime and I just like it. Bam. 

The Clinique all about eyes rich eyecream.
Since I am on a strong acne medication (read about it here), my skin is going to get super dry and this will cause or emphasise fine lines on my forhead or under my eyes. So in order to prevent this or help with that, I would like to start using an eyecream. Preferably the Clinique one since I have only heard good things about it. But again, this will probably go on my birthday wishlist, since I am broke at the moment. hahaha



 Have you tried any of these products and if so, what do you think about them?