Review: A-derma Sensifluid Cleansing Lotion

After a quiet period from me, I am back with a new review on A-derma’s Sensifluid Cleansing Lotion!

I bought the cleansing lotion as a replacement for Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Michelle Solution as I couldn’t possibly find it for a student-friendly price, and A-derma has stood the test. Almost, at least.

The cleansing lotion was very easy and effortless to use, removing my make-up gentle without leaving my skin to feel dry afterwards – this is a big difference from Bioderma’s make-up remover. The product itself is a white foam of sorts and feels cold when meeting your skin, which explains why I think it suits my sensitive skin much better. However, it should be said that it isn’t that great with removing stubborn waterproof mascara.

A-derma even writes on the bottle that you don’t need to rinse after using it, which I actually can understand. I still like to wash my face afterwards and all that, but if you were in a hurry then rinsing could definitely be skipped.

Even though I really like the design of the bottle with its sleekness and pump, I would have like the bottle to be clear as to be able to see how much product is left. It is just more practical. Also, you should know that depending on how thick your make-up is, a few pumps of foam is needed to remove all traces of make-up. In my case, I need five pumps – two for face, two for eyes and one for lips.

A-derma or Bioderma? The answer is both. I find when having sensitive skin that a combination of products for the same job is better, and these obviously do the same job but differently. My skin and me prefer Bioderma for removing eye make-up, especially stubborn waterproof mascara, and A-derma for the rest.

Do you use a combination of products to remove make-up? If so, what products?

Until next time,

Mia ♥

Review: Matas' Volume Booster

 

A little month ago, I decided to cut my hair again. It went from being a kinda medium length to ‘I can’t put all my hair up in a ponytail anymore’ short. With this change came some challenges as the last time I had this short hair was some four years ago and I can’t remember much other than it fell differently around my face. The hairdresser recommended dry shampoo and volume booster to me as it would give my hair some texture and some playfulness. I am very familiar with dry shampoo, but volume booster? That would be a no.

I went to the locale Matas shop and purchased their volume booster in travel size. I didn’t want to buy the bigger size and spend some money on it if it should turn out that I wouldn’t like it. On the bottle, it recommends you to use it in completely dry hair. From experience, I actually think it works so much better if you use it when you have towel-dry hair and then following blow-dry it. It activates the volume booster thingy more in my opinion. If I use the volume booster in towel-dry hair, I feel the effect last the longest and that my hair looks nicer for more days.

So, how much do you need? Not a lot. I learned that lesson from the first time I tried it out as I ended up looking like a poodle. A cute poodle, but definitely a poodle. I really love this product and the volume it creates, so when the travel size was empty I immediately went out and bought the bigger bottle. The thought of not using it… it wasn’t a pleasant thought. All in all, I would beyond recommend it!

What is your favourite hair product?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

DIY: Christmas Decorations - the 2014 edition

It has become somewhat of a tradition for me to make my own Christmas decorations – I make a few each year for my mother and for myself. I make them myself because I find it very calming and soothing to create something with my hands. Also, it is cheaper than buying them. And so I thought I would share…

What you will need:

• Metal wire (I used 1,5 mm wire, but 1,1 mm or 1,3 mm would be just as good).
• Glass beads in transparent and blue/black (I had mine in two bowls, as it was easier).
• Thread and needle (note: the needle should be able to get through the beads).
• Fabric in black or blue.  
• Jewellery metal wire.
• Sequins.
• String.
• Tools (side cutters and round-nose pliers/ flat-nose pliers).

Most things I already had, so I didn’t need to go out and purchase anything. But if you don’t have these materials, you can find them in a mix of supermarkets, DIY retailers and hobby shops. 

For metal wire Christmas decorations, you start by cutting an appropriate size of and shaping it with either your hands or pliers. I recommend pliers if your wire is 1,5 mm like mine because I struggled. I did a leaf and a heart. It won't be perfect, but that is the charm of homemade Christmas decorations! 

For fabric Christmas decorations, you start with getting your needle and thread ready. Now, you can decide whether you want to cut your fabric in a shape from the beginning or wait until after you have sewed on the sequins. When you start sewing, your needle and thread should go through the fabric, then sequin, bead, sequin again, and lastly fabric; this secures the sequin and bead to the fabric. Remember to tighten!

My finished wire-bead leaf decoration.

After you have shaped your decoration with the metal wire, you take the jewellery wire and cut a piece off. You wrap a bit of the jewellery wire around the metal wire to secure it. Then you put beads on the wire and then wrap it around the metal wire. My leaf decoration is tightly wrapped with beads, but you can do it loosely. Afterwards you attached a piece of string so you can actually hang it somewhere. 

My finished fabric-sequin-bead leaf decoration.

You continue with the sequins and beads by placing them close to each other and let them shape whatever you like. I went for a leaf again… surprise! On the back I sewed on longer beads that would form the general outline of a leaf, so it would be easier to guess for others and because I thought it looked nice. For my mother I made a Christmas tree, where I replaced some of the tiny beads with bigger beads to replicate Christmas baubles and as the Christmas star/angel/whatever you place on top of your Christmas tree, I attached a big bead to replicate that.

Do you make your own Christmas decorations?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate

Some two weeks ago, I sneakily purchased the Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in a (for me) daring darker red colour, which is also known as the shade 107. It is a classic… and very autumnal, even Christmas-y. I had had my eyes on the shade for a good while and I am glad I actually decided to buy it as I have already gotten so much use out of it. Also, it will be my go to lipstick when the Christmas parties starts.

The colour is gorgeous dark red, yet also has a plum shade to it. The plum shade balances well with the darker red and makes the red not appear as dark, especially as it applies matte, which makes the lipstick very wearable. I have gotten so many compliments on the shade, even though the colour seems slightly dramatic and in contrast with my pale skin tone.

It is very easy to apply, whether you dab it on or go full on out with it. I have tried lipsticks there are harder to apply, so the easiness of 107 is greatly welcomed. However, it is slippery on the lips. I am used to lipsticks just staying put without needing a lip pencil to draw the edges up, but those days are over with this lipstick. It isn’t a big minus for the lipstick, but it is definitely something to note so you don’t return home and look in the mirror, wondering, “how did that happen? But I didn’t even do anything other than talk!”

Is it lasting? That depends on what other lipsticks you compare it with, which will always be the case. It doesn’t last as long on the lips as my MAC lipsticks, but in fairness I paid more for them and Rimmel is a cheaper /more affordable brand than MAC. I am definitely cutting it some slack, seeing it isn’t an expensive lipstick. However, it leaves a good stain even if it doesn’t last long, so it isn’t a big minus that it doesn’t last over 4 hours without eating and drinking. On a last note, it is drying on the lips so pack a cheap lip balm you dare get stained for a short while.

What is your favourite autumnal lipstick?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Autumn Coats

According to some weather forecasters, Denmark is having the warmest autumn in 140 years. I can’t say whether that is actually true or not, but I have felt the November weather haven’t been as cold as last year I decided to purchase a new coat for autumn instead of a winter coat. So, I have basically been rocking my autumn coats as the weather has allowed it.

The coat is from Magasin, the big department store in Denmark, and it is from their own brand. It is highly simple and very classic in its style and form, making it seem so fresh, yet kinda have some feelings of retro. The coat is a neutral dark grey colour that won’t look and get dirty immediately, but also breaks the general Danish autumn/winter picture of black everywhere. Danes generally really like black. A coat in similar style can be found in Cos.

This is a last year coat from H&M. In ways it is very different from the coat from Magasin, yet in ways they are very similar. It isn’t as simple, but it is definitely a classic retro style… and I can’t help but love that immensely about it. Compared from the grey coat, this has a zipper instead of press studs that is definitely more practical. The colour is very vibrant with its red colour, which makes it stand out immediately.

What are you wearing this autumn?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Skin Saviours

Lately, my skin has been particularly messed up and so out of control that I felt the need to take extra measures to fix it. It has generally happened around the time of my period, which explains it all. Doesn’t it for most females? My skin was been very spotty and uneven, and I most certainly don’t like that. To fix these problems I have turned to three products: Origins Clear Improvement, Helosan original and the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil.

Origins Clear Improvement is a charcoal mask, which is the first product I use of these three. You apply it to your face after you have washed it with your product of choice. You then wait for it to dry and once it is dry, you gently remove with it with a damp washcloth or muslin cloth. I personally use a washcloth and gently scrub it away in circular motions because that feels amazing. Afterwards, your skin will feel very smooth and even, yet not dried out! I had feared it would dry my skin out, but it hasn’t done it for me… It appears to find the right balance, though how it does that I don’t know.

The second product to use is Helosan, which is a thick skin cream with good healing qualities. It can be found everywhere in Denmark. I use it on the skin where I have or have had spots to help the skin heal better and faster. It takes a while for it to sink in, so if you are in a hurry and usually put on make-up, then you can always apply it right before bedtime. Helosan can be used for many various tasks; mainly, I use it for my hands that go so beyond dry during colder weather.

Last, but not least, is the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil that comes in an admittedly ridiculous child-proved bottle. First time I used it, I spent 30 minutes trying to get the cap off and get the product out. Tea tree oil is known for being able to dry out the skin wherever you apply it. However, once you get it out you dab it onto your spots and probably feel it sting a little to begin with. I only apply it directly on my spots and then nowhere else because the tea three oil series isn’t for dry skin at all, only this little product to fight against spots and zits. You don’t use a lot of it, so the bottle can last for a long time. There are contrasting opinions on the tea three oil – some like me really like and feel it works, some have had an outbreak due to it – so be careful just in case!

What products are your skin saviours?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Tiny Sephora Haul

Yesterday I went to Sephora for the first time… and naturally, left with a little.

There are only two Sephora shops in Denmark and both of them are located in Copenhagen, which is quite some distance from where I am living. It is admittedly rather annoying when you are attracted to some of the brands and don’t know where else to purchase them. But while being on autumn break and spending that at my parents’ house which is considerably closer to Copenhagen, my mother and I went to Copenhagen and thus to Sephora.

There was a lot of brands that you can’t find elsewhere and generally a lot of products, making the experience quite overwhelming. I am not sure I really have seen everything they had to offer or took my time really to see if they had some great offers, but instead I went after the two products I knew I had to have; NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla and Sephora’s Easy 4-step buffer. I have already tried the buffer, and I already adore it, but I have yet to try the concealer. I will let you know how I get on with it!

Is there a Sephora shop close to where you live? And what was the last item you purchased in there?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Review: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

The first possible thought that came into mind upon using Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution for the first time was: this is really efficient! I was surprised about how little I actually had to do to remove stubborn waterproof mascara or generally other make-up products. It was effortless, easy and didn’t sting my eyes painfully like I had experienced with some make-up removers in the past.

However, I did find it to drying out my skin. Seeing it is for sensitive skin, I would have expected it not to dry out my skin, but instead been gentler, even though there is another version for dehydrated skin. Maybe that would have been better for me?

The small travelling bottle has lasted me several months. I realise that probably won’t be the case for everybody or me again, mainly because I have had many days without make-up due to weather (both kinds – heat and rain) and days where I haven’t felt well at all. Nevertheless, I will say, a few drops go a long way… or longer than I had expected. I felt I got good value for my money.

Would I buy Bioderma again? Well, yes, because I would like to try out Hydrabio to see if it makes any difference. However, I haven’t made any Bioderma purchase. There aren’t any favourable offers lately, so I haven’t felt convinced to use over 100 DKK on a make-up remover. I am still a student and am not earning that much money, so I don’t want to spend a whole lot on one. Instead, I have decided to give Avéne’s make-up remover a good try as it was far cheaper, coming in at only 60 DKK. I will let you know how I get now with it.

Do you use Bioderma’s make-up remover? And what do you think of it?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Wardrobe Clear Out 2014

With a new season, comes a good wardrobe clear out? I don’t know if that is completely true, but nevertheless found myself cleaning out my wardrobe the last couple of days.

(yes, that is the IKEA bedding underneath. So pretty!)

The overall plan I had was simply to get rid of clothes that I hadn’t worn for a long time and honestly wouldn’t wear again. In the end, I got rid of 7 scarves, 1 poncho, 3 dresses, 1 pair of rain pants, 7 pants and 10 shirts. 34 pieces of clothing in total. It might sound like a lot (I know it at least did in my ears in the beginning) but when considering that I don’t own a separate summer and winter wardrobe I don’t think the number is too high. I don’t like owning clothes you can only wear half a year, so I normally buy clothes that can be own all year around, which isn’t unrealistic when you live in weather-weird Denmark.

The clothes will be donated to charity, which hopefully can get something good out of all pieces. If it can help or bring in some money, then I am happy.

When was the last time you had a wardrobe clear out?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

MOTD: Casual, Minimal Look

A little make-up of the day blog post from me on casual, yet minimal look, if you aren’t in the mood for the whole deal but still want to do a little bit.

I generally go for the minimal make-up look for every day, but as my parents were visiting and we were planning to head into town I thought I should do a little bit more. It is a little more without it feeling like a lot, and the look still only took five minutes in total.

First, I started with my base for which I used Missha’s Perfect Cover B.B. Cream in number 21. The colour is a perfect match for my skin now, and I really do love this BB cream. It blends easily, and doesn’t feel or look like you are wearing anything, but simply that your skin does look that good. Koreans know a thing or two about BB creams. Then I put some eye shadow primer from INK by Dennis Knudsen on just in case the eye shadow wanted to mess with me.

Of eye shadow, I picked Sable (frost) from my MAC palette, which is the one with a few dens in as I have dropped it previously, and put it all over my lid and blended it in. I applied my MaxFactor 2000 Calorie Waterproof Volume in Rich Black to mark my lashes. On the cheeks I lightly applied a mix of Sleek’s Guipure and Chantilly to give them a little colour instead of letting the cold do that job. Finally, I dabbed a bit of MAC’s Cremesheen Glass lipgloss in Star Quality on my lips, which can be play up or down to whatever you are in the mood fod.

What make-up is your favourite at the moment? And what look do you like for autumn?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Different Hair Ties

Normally, I don’t think much of hair ties as the ones I already own are pretty dull and practical, just practical. It is just hair ties, right? Well, I have been proved oh so wrong!

Kitsch’s hair ties in Naturally Mini are the ones that proved me wrong with their adorableness, yet chic colours that can make any outfit and hairstyle seem far more interesting! Also, I have been told they can be used as a bracelet as well… that might be a little too much for me, but I do love them and the freshness they bring. The Naturally Mini comes in eight different colours, though are a bit neutral in the colours (and glitters) and doesn’t harm the hair at all when tying it up tightly. They are so soft and the quality is really great. There are many different options and colours to pick from Kitsch, so it is just about making a decision and getting to try them out.

I bought mine from a Danish webshop called Oh So by flølich, who I can’t not mention in this blogpost. They had handwritten a card for me and attached a lollipop as well to my package. Gosh, that is just amazing service and going a little beyond ‘the duty’. It certainly made me smile so much, as I do love feeling the extra attention to detail, which in turn makes me want to purchase something more from them.

+linkKitsch 

+linkOhSo

What do you think of the Kitsch’s hair ties? What hair style are you most into lately?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

New Boots for the Season

They say great shoes are difficult to find, which I wholeheartedly agree with after the search on these pretty boots from Angulus!

Angulus is a Danish shoe company who makes quality and well-fitting shoes for kids and adults. Admittedly, they are quite pricy, though I do believe that if you need quality shoes that lasts for many years and are good to walk in that you really have to pay for them. I already own another pair of black leather boots and a pair of green ballerinas from Angulus, which I have had and worn for the past 10 years… so, I know these are going to last many seasons.

I had spotted the Chelsea boot a few months ago in a local shop and fell for them immediately. They didn’t have them in my size and suggested I came back in September, as the newest shoes for the season would have arrived by then. When I returned, I was informed that my size was already sold out, which pretty turned out was the same answer I following got all over town. Sigh.

Seeing I have small feet and use a kid size in shoes, I knew they were going to be difficult to find. Shops mostly don’t have many in my size, or simply don’t have them as my size tends to belong in a kind of a grey zone between kid sizes and adult sizes, yet is still called a kid size. Luckily, I found them and got them as the last pair available at Angulus webpage in the boys section after searching most of the internet and getting a small shock from the international prices. So, if you want a size 34 EU I wish you good luck.

The Chelsea suede boots come at a price of 800 DKK (approx. £80), but the quality is amazing. I can’t wait to wear mine in the beautiful autumn weather… and maybe, I might have to get them in brown too. Brown should be easier to find.

Are you ready for autumn? What are you looking most forward to in autumn season?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Tiny IKEA Haul

After a long working vacation and getting over the first small hurdles of starting my minor, I am finally(!) returning to my little blog with the aim of continuing where I left off. I thought the best way to do that was with a tiny IKEA haul, because you can’t through IKEA without buying anything, right?

Ever since I got the new IKEA catalogue, I have been eyeing up and wanting the Strandkrypa bedding. It is very sweet with the floral pattern that seems almost retro, but at the same time also minimalistic. Though it is different pattern, I still find it gives a calm feeling and spices up the bedroom slightly without overdoing it. The quality isn’t as great as the bedding that is retiring from my bedroom, but Night&Day bedding I have had is more expensive so that is to be expected. According to IKEA (the UK version) the bedding costs £10, which I believe is a good (yet cheap) price.

The famous Istad plastic bags are a lifesaver and has become a necessity in my and my parents’ lives to the point where we feel rather lost without them. We use them for almost everything, e.g. lunch, toiletries when travelling, dog treats, etc.. I really could go on. The Istad bags are beyond practical, cheap as they can get, good quality, and for every purpose. I obviously had to buy one for myself and then two for my parents (not pictures).

Though I am not fond of IKEA’s batteries, as I don’t think they last as long as some of other brands, I still went ahead and purchased one for my smoke detector. I didn’t know where else to get that particular battery (9V), so I settled for the IKEA one today. Safety first!

What have you been up to this summer? And when was the last time you went to IKEA?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Beauty: Testing BB Creams & Tinted Moisturiser

Lately, I have been testing three different BB creams/tinted moisturisers in the hunt of finding something that can replace my weird combination of MaxFactor’s Weightless Foundation in number 40 Light Ivory and Missha’s Perfect Cover BB Cream in number 21 Light Beige. The combination I have going on so far is actually quite good, but rather bothersome, as it requires mixing the colours and getting the proportions rights each and every time. Basically, it is time consuming.

I personally don’t like foundations as they feel quite heavy upon my skin – even the lighter ones – and I think they provide too much coverage. Now, I am by no means claiming that I have the perfect skin (oh no, far from), but I don’t like that my many freckles are covered as I find them adorable. Freckles equals love, baby!

I have been testing Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream in Fair, Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream in number 00 and Estée Lauder Daywear Sheer Tint Release. As you will be able to tell from the pictures below, I didn’t buy the products but instead got a small sample. So much easier, so much cheaper.

I accidentally put far too much on my hand.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the Kiehl’s products I have acquired so far, their BB cream isn’t cutting it for me. While the colour fitted me perfectly, the texture was nice and it was easy to apply, it didn’t stay put on my face. If I slightly touched my face it came off immediately and matters only got worse with the Micro-Blur Skin Perfector product under it; with that product, the BB cream just moved around and mostly ended up by my chin… oh, I wasn’t charming at all.

I tried to blend it out, but it is darker than my skin tone.

Of all of them, Estée Lauder was the most peculiar one. The actual cream is a greyish colour, but once you start working with it the colour changes to a brownish one that supposedly figures out how to match your skin tone. Riiight, it didn’t do that for me. On me, the colour is far too dark for my pale and sick-looking skin and looks like I have acquired a really fake-looking tan. It also should be mentioned that the cream requires that you work with it a lot to blend it in nicely, especially around the edges as that leaves a darker brown colour.

Though it looks slightly darker, the tone actually fits well.

The sales assistant recommended the Clarins BB cream to me as she had really enjoyed it, but after trying it out the product isn’t really for me. It was much like the BB cream from Kiehl’s with the colour fitting me perfectly, the texture being nice and it was easy to apply, but in difference, this felt more like a foundation. It feels a bit heavier on my skin and it doesn’t seemingly act like a BB cream, or at least the Korean BB cream I am used to.

Of the three, I liked Clarins BB cream the most but not enough to purchase it. I suppose the conclusion is I will continue to test BB creams until I find the right one.

Do you use foundation or BB cream? What is your favourite?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

5 Graduation Present Ideas

It is that time of the year, where people happily graduate from gymnasium or university and begin another chapter of their life. This typically means parties are thrown and a present has to be found, bought and given… and that might be rather difficult because what do you buy? These are my suggestions (as I have just been in same situation) for presents if you haven’t been able to come up with something. Also, I have tried finding something for each price range – please note, things is Denmark are generally expensive, so if you are from another country then there is a good chance these things are cheaper.

Max 100 DKK (£10)

Seeing this probably is the hardest price category of them, I am going to bring forth two suggestion.

Essie Nail Polish*

First suggestion is an Essie nail polish at the price of 99 DKK (£9,99). There is different opinions about Essie, but I personally like the nail polishes. The range of colours is amazing, they dry quickly and they don’t chip quickly if you use topcoat and basecoat (I think that is a must to also protect your nails). You can pick the favourite colour of the recipient.

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1*

Second suggestion is Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 in a pot (the link takes you to the tube version, but you get more for value with the pot) at the price of 60 DKK (£6). Kiehl’s products, at least the one’s I have tried, are good and they actually work. The latter is an essential part to a product. Everybody loves soft lips, so it is a good present idea.

Max 200 DKK (£20)

MAC Lipstick*

A lipstick can range in price, but I think a MAC lipstick at the price of 145 DKK (£14,5) is a good purchase and a good present idea. The matt finish, the colour range and staying power are great for MAC lipsticks. A lipstick can last for a long time, which is why it is a good present idea. It is just the last touch that will complete a whole look. As for what colour… oh, there are so many to pick from, but Russian Red (the classic red colour) is a good suggestion.

Max 300 DKK (£30)

Royal Copenhagen’s Fluted Contrast Mug*

This is present idea actually works for both genders due to the timeless design of Royal Copenhagen, but also due to width of the range in terms of colours. It is minimalistic, timeless, elegant and practical. The mugs can be used for many years. One mug is only 150 DKK (£15); however, I think it is nicer to give two as a small set thus making the cost of the present 300 DKK (£30).

This is personally my favourite present idea.

(To make this cheaper, you can buy the expresso cups instead – one cup is 100 DKK (£10).

Max 400 DKK (£40)

Tiger of Sweden’s Cornelius Card Holder*

Nowadays, people are more likely to use credit cards rather than coins when paying (at least in Denmark) and typically women have a quite small clutch with them when going out, so I think a good quality leather card holder is a good present idea. Tiger of Sweden’s design is very clean, simple and classic, and nothing bad can be suggested/said about the quality. 350 DKK (£35) for a leather card holder isn’t bad in my opinion.

If these don't float your boat, then I would suggest checking Esty* or Not On The High Street* for present ideas.

Do you know anybody who is graduating? What is the best present you have given?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Outfit of the Day - Summer Party

Uuh, an OOTD post! It really has been a long time since my last one so I thought I could quickly sneak this one in before actually heading to ze party… at least I am gonna give it a good try with typing this quickly while listening to some good music.

Onwards!

Seeing the party includes eating and is supposed to be a summer party of sorts (Danish weather, man), I decided for a black/white pattern H&M dress that is really appropriate for any occasion. Pair it with a blazer and red lips, then hot damn, baby – although I am toning it down for tonight. I am pairing it with a coral-orange cardigan from H&M’s basic collection, which brightens the whole look up in my opinion. I don’t really have many summer dresses that are more toned down and that I dare spill drinks on. Yeah, the latter is a priority. H&M clothes can handle that and they aren’t too expensive if things go completely wrong. I will pair it with my black leather Becksöndergaard clutch/bag… although I have forgotten to take a picture of it. Hm… you will see it at some point.

With the make-up I am keeping it pretty neutral with a pop of colour on my lips. The balm stain matches really well with the cardigan and the nail polish from Essie (Resort Fling) that I am rocking at the moment. At the moment I am testing Kiehl’s BB-cream and will also be trying the micro-blur skin perfector. Ain’t buying nothing if I don’t like it, so yeah.

Erm, it looks prettier on, I swear!

Clothes detail,

Black/white pattern dress from H&M (approx. 130 DKK - £ 13).

Make-up details,

Base: Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautying BB cream in Fair and Kiehl’s Micro-blur Skin Perfector.

Mascara: MaxFactor 2000 Calorie dramatic volume in black.

Eye shadow primer: INK by Dennis Knudsen in number 01 matt.

Eyeshadows: Dior’s eyeshadows in number 754 Rosy Tan.

Balm stain: Revlon Colourburth balm stain in number 040 Rendezvous.

Blush: Sleek’s Blush By 3 in number 367 Lace.

What are you doing today? Are you watching the World Cup in football? (I am, obsessively so)

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Small Tip #1 - Vaseline

The pollen season… and admittedly also, the summer flu season is upon us, leaving many (me included) with a really sore nose after blowing it far too many times for it to be good for the skin around the nose, but sadly necessary due to the want of breathing through one’s nose. After blowing your nose many times, you will notice the skin around your nose will start to crack. The cracking, in my experience, is typically very painful.

To avoid this pain – who doesn’t want to avoid pain? – I put Vaseline on the skin around my nose. I know, Vaseline. I promise, it does really work despite the weird feel of it. It does feel weird, but it makes the skin stick and thus not cracking and causing any pain. But remember - put it on the skin before it cracks! If you typically wear foundation or bb cream during the day while having a leaky nose (I don’t really wear any on the skin during the summer time), you can put the Vaseline on after you have removed your make-up or when you are going to bed. That way it won’t interfere… and it really does help.

Vaseline doesn’t cost much and lasts a hell of a long time, so it is in my opinion worth of a try if you a tired of that cracking and painful skin around your sore nose.

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Lancôme: Taking One For The Team

This is for all the people who have allergic skin – I took this one for the team, (although unwillingly), so the rest of you don’t necessarily have to try it and possibly suffer the pain I did.

The story started in the completely opposite end on the emotion scale as my mother’s colleague once again had been so kind to think of me upon receiving quite some samples from Lancôme. It was beyond kind of her. Thus, it was with great curiosity and excitement that I opened these samples and started reading the various labels on them. The labels didn’t actually tell much, mainly just the name of the sample and what you use it for. I tried the products on my hand at first to see for any immediate reaction, but as nothing happened I thought of it as ‘go ahead, try them’. Oh boy, I was wrong!

Correcter, night serum, multi-lift and eye cream from Lancôme.

I tried the night serum and the eye cream just before heading to bed and slightly noticed my eyes had gotten itchy almost immediately afterwards, but didn’t think more about it as I have pollen allergies. Again, oh boy, I was wrong!

The next morning… my eyes were so swollen that my mother didn’t even say good morning to me, but instead rushed to find a towel and some ice cubes for me. My eyes were so swollen that I couldn’t see clear for two hours even though I used the ice towel diligently and, admittedly, I had tears running down my cheeks. I wasn’t actually crying, but the pain coupled with the swollenness made them tearing up. Furthermore, my skin was slightly red and my lips were swollen as well.

That wasn’t a fun start to the day!

As there wasn’t an ingredient list attached to the products I honestly have no idea what particularly caused this reaction, but I certainly learned my lesson and will steer clear of skin care samples without an ingredient list. In the end, I feel quite sad about being able to use the products, but it definitely isn’t worth the pain… and so I left them for my mother who has completely normal skin.

Ouch… just ouch.

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Auctions - Another Alternative

Everybody always talks about flea markets, thrift shops, etc. and the greatness of these places to purchase cheaper things for your home and your life. There is no question that these possibilities are great. However, people seem to only focus on those options and not mention auctions. Well, I am gonna change that as much as I can by making this post!

Flea markets and thrift shops are extremely assessable, no questions regarding that, but they can’t necessarily guarantee the quality or the realness of a thing (furniture, plate, etc.) unless you yourself know the specifics. Furthermore, there is the possibility of you ending up paying much more of what an item is actually worth due to good salesmen, already decided price on an item, etc.. It isn’t to your advantage always.

When somebody says auctions, one automatically thing of finer and ridiculously expensive furniture from another century, however that is only a small part it. Auctions can be a good and easy way to purchase items that isn’t your standard (and potentially) worn down items from the local thrift shop at a lower price than what the items is appraised at. Really. No joke. It is all about being strategic and use some of the same tools one uses when going to a flea market, e.g. willingness to pay for an item and walking away from an item. Nowadays, auctions aren’t necessarily done in a room filled with people, where items are being showed and you raise your number to indicate you want the sodding thing. It can be done over the internet. Wonderful invention! You can keep track of your desire item up until the time runs out, where you have hopefully gotten it at a low price.

How lucky can you be with auctions? From my experience, you can be damn lucky! Last Christmas, I had my eyes on a newly produced couch (see picture) in a blue-ish colour and managed to actually win it by waiting till only five minutes of the auction remained to make a bid. I paid 1/10 of its actual value! I kid you not!

from Lauritz.com

Also, I had looked around for a good armchair with an accompanying stool for quite a long time. I had refused to pay IKEA’s price for such a set – over 2000 DKK (£200) is ridiculous – and as such, found myself looking at auctions again. The blue set (see picture) I won in the same way as the couch, bidding at the last moment, and cost me only 1/5 of IKEA’s set. It is slightly worn-down compared to the couch, but with my love for DIY I can always fix it up later.

from Lauritz.com

 If you decide to go and try this whole auction thing, then there are some things (some are mentioned in this post already) you should remember,

·         See where the items is located – do you have to drive after it? Can it be delivered to your home? – And if so, at what price?

·         Be certain of how much you want to bid.

·         Remember there is probably a fee charged on top of the winning bid.

·         Be ready to walk away from the item.

·         Visit the showroom if you want to see the item up close.

·         Wait until the last five minutes to make a bid – however, it depends on the auction. With some auctions, you can type in how much in total you want to give for the item and then it will automatically bid for you if somebody raises his or her bid.

·         Don’t have it automatically bid for you.

·         There will always come other items, unless it is something special edition, etc..

·         Go for the auctions where there isn’t much movement (slow bidding).

Have you tried auctions? Or are you more into flea markets?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Review: NUXE's Gentle Toning Lotion

It has taken me three months to return with my opinion of NUXE's Gentle Toning Lotion. In my defence, testing takes time and also I tried to figure out what exactly my opinion to this product was; I finally know!

First and probably the most important, answer to give is: yes, the Gentle Toning Lotion does its job very well. It works like very other toner, though I especially have liked it after removing my make-up as it catches the last remaining parts. In that sense, it lives completely up to its promise.

However, while I honestly love sniffing to it as the rose petals scent is so lovely, it isn't something I want to put on my skin. It is after all perfume, which I don't want in my skincare products and I, furthermore, discovered that I occasionally had slightly red eyes after using it. However, if you are one to love products with some scent to it, then it is really nice and lovely. The scent of rose petals is calming and refreshing… I just prefer sniffing it.

It is rather expensive; it comes in at a Danish price of 135 DKK (approx. £14) in shops, which is almost ridiculous for a toner in my opinion. But what bothers me the most with the toner is the actual packaging, not the price… surprise, surprise. Baby pink is a lovely colour, but I have no idea of telling how much of the product I have actually used! This is problematic in my opinion, as I am horrible at estimating the amount left from just holding it or tapping to hear when it sounds full/hollow. I get the point of wanting text on the bottle, but other brands have done that while still being able to see the liquid. 

Overall, I wouldn't go out and purchase it after I have finished it. In the end, it is just a toner, and I would rather spend my money on something much cheaper because there are many that are just as good (and without perfume!). It isn’t worth the money.

Have you tried NUXE's Gentle Toning Lotion? What is your opinion of it?

Until next time,

Mia ♥