March Favourites 2014

April is almost here and therefore it is time for a March favourites! April is a really happy month for me, because it's my birthday in April and I feel like Spring is finally here!
So the products/ things I have been loving this month were:























My Chunky Boots from boohoo.com: They look really edgy yet still feminine and can transform any outfit. Because of the platform they are not too high and so comfortable to walk in, which is always a plus. I especially like to style them with swing dresses. I did a whole video on how I would style them here.
My Handbag from Zara: This bag is absolutely beautiful and makes me feel all grown up. Especially if you are a little OCD and need to have everything organised, this one is great! It has so many compartments so almost everything has it's own place and the colour goes with everything as well. They also have it in blue.

My Sunglasses: I got these little sunglasses in a small shop in my home town and just fell in love with them. They have a slight cat eye shape and cover most of my face, which is great on days when I don't feel like wearing any make up. Asos do a similar pair.
My Coconut Oil: I use coconut oil for everything. This month I used it every night for taking of my make up. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and looking dewy and I swear it makes a difference in the whole appearance of my skin. I also used it a couple of times as a deodorant. I know, sounds gross but it works.

My Aquaphor: I bet people are getting sick of me going on and on about Aquaphor but it's just amazing. I have no words for it. And especially this month, which has been my first month on Roaccutane, it has been an absolute live saver!
My Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: What can I say, they have a great range of shades, it covers everything that needs to be covered and blends like a dream. I have acne and quite a few scars and I can get away with just using this concealer and no foundation. Ah-mazing I tell you.

My Real Techniques Stippling Brush: Alongside with the Maybelline Concealer I used this brush to achieve a sheerer more natural finish. And in the places were I need more coverage I just tap the brush a couple of times and it does the job. 
My Nars Laguna Bronzer: I like to bronze my face to give it dimension. This bronzer is quite shimmery and makes you look glowy and healthy. Especially if you're already tan, this will make you look fancy but even pale like me (lighter than MAC NC 15), you can make it work.

My Sleek Storm Palette: Along the lines of  'Shop your Stash' I rediscovered this eyeshadow palette. When I first got it I didn't really like it because the eye shadows are not the BEST quality (fall out) but the colours and pigmentation are great. I guess the warmer it gets the more I get into shimmery stuff. This would explain a lot. haha
My hair staigthener: This is just an old, cheap, no- name hair staigthener I got for my birthday when I was 14 or 15. I never used to use hair tools because I was simply to lazy and in all honesty my hair looked fine just air dried. But ever since I had to chop off 4 inches of my hair (sad tear), I really need to do something with it otherwise I'll look like a mix between Joker (minus the green hair) and Kurt Cobain. And no...just no. So this tool has come in handy. 
 

Lip Tints

I am not one for wearing lip products. The stickiness of a lipgloss and the "heaviness" of a lipstick make me constantly aware of my lips and it is just an extra step I can't be bothered with in the morning. (That doesn't keep me from buying more and more lip products, though. duh! haha) But would like to wear more colour on my lips, because...well, because I can. And also I find that when I have a really bad skin day, a dark lip for example, can draw the attention away from my imperfections and towards my lips. Which, you know, I can appreciate.

So here we have pixi lip blushes in No.1 Youth (left) and No.2 Purity (right), Manhattan Colour Splash Liquid Lip Tint in So Paris! and L'oreal Caresse 402 MiLady.
I have to say, that if you have dry and patchy lips, lip tints won't hide ANYTHING. In fact, they will stick to the dry patches and highlight them. So make sure you exfoliate your lips and apply a lip balm before you use them.
The pixi lip tints are really easy to use, since they have this felt tip applicator with which you can literally just draw on your lips. They do dry out quite quickly though, so you might want to find a cheaper alternative?! Purity is more of a red on the lips and Youth is a really sheer pink. Oh, and the smell is just define! Reminds me personally of peaches.

The Manahattan one looks nude but oh no! It goes on like a nude colour first and after a few seconds it turns into a bright pink colour. What?! I know! I guess it reacts with the warmth of your lips? I dunno. It lasts super long (20+ hr) and is easy to apply. It has a slightly tingly effect when you first put it on, which I am not really fond of, but hey.

The product, which takes most effort is the L'oreal one because it goes on quite patchy and you really have to work with it and build it up until it looks presentable. And that takes time, let me tell you. It is also the only one that comes off when you eat or drink something, the other ones stay on for about 18+ hours. This one doesn't unfortunately. But nevertheless it is a beautiful colour and it works better for me than a lipstick. Especially if you like to wear dark lips, I think lip tints would be something for you, because you really don't have to worry about them once they are applied. They don't smudge and stay on for ages. In theory anyways.

Youth, Purity, So Paris!, MiLady

Do you have a favourite lip tint? Please let me know! :)

- Julia xxx

4 Beauty Tips You Might Not Know About

I have heard a lot of make up tips in my time. In fact, I would actually go as far as to say that I know almost every make up tip that is out there. I do still get excited when I read "10 Make Up Tips That Will Change Your Life" on a magazine cover, though. But at the end I know that they will be just the same old make up tips that I have heard over and over again ever since I started watching Youtube videos five years ago. Sorry magazines, but facts like "Powder your make-up to make your foundation last." just aren't that revolutionary anymore. 
So I have collected a few make up tips that aren't that common and surprised me when I first heard them.

1.) Apply blush not only on your cheeks but also a bit on your temples and the bridge of your nose. That makes it look more natural and less "drawn on" and also draws everything together.

2.) Use the handle of your make up brush to "roll" over your concealer under your eyes after you applied it. This takes off all the excess concealer and prevents it from greasing.

3.) Apply Highlighter above the arch of your eyebrow instead of underneath. This will lift your eye and especially if you have little eyelid space this will be the better option for you. 

4.) Use coconut oil as deodorant. Yes this is correct. You can use coconut oil in many ways and on your armpits is one of them haha. I tried it out myself and it really works! It also doesn't contain aluminium and all that other nasty stuff. So just give it a try.

Source

Have you heard of any of these tips before? And do you have any tips that you think nobody knows about? Then please share them!

- Julia xxx

Dewy Light Spring Makeup

Now that we are slowly but surely (as it seems today) going into Spring, I tent to go more for a minimalistic and glowy make up look than in the winter. But since I do have acne, I still want everything to be (semi) covered up and I have found that there is one product out there, which covers up all my blemishes but still manages to look really effortless and like I am not wearing much makeup at all. And it is the infamous Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

I like to mix my concealer (shade 15 - which is a little to reddish for me, but oh well I can make it work) with some of the Benefit High Beam Highlighter to make my face look dewy all over. I then apply it with a stippling brush so it doesn't go on too heavy.

I do have to fill in my brows, because they are real wonky and it just draws everything together and I apply some Mascara to make my eyes pop.

 If I am feeling fancy I like to apply some blush. But not any blush. The NYX blush in Mauve is my favourite for everyday wear, because it looks really natural and like my skin has been kissed by the sun. (What?) When you are really pale like me, than you can also use this blush as a bronzer because it is slightly brown and has a red undertone and that's exactly what I look like when I "tan". A little brown (less than a little) and a little red. And because the lipstick goes so well with the blush, I applied some p2 Via Medici, but on any other spring day, I will just be wearing lip balm, because I just can't be bothered. Aquaphor to be specific.

Brand Focus - Dr. Hauschka

Over the past one and a half years I have tried my fair share of Dr. Hauschka products, since my mom is a big fan of this brand and introduced me to them. 

Products and how I like to use them:

Face

Melissa Day Cream: for combination skin, after cleansing morning and night*

• It's not very rich and therefore not enough for my dry skin, it does leaves a matte finish
• I tried the rose cream before, it's targeted for dry skin and I personally liked it a lot better for my dry skin. It is definitely something for dry skin, instead of dehydrated skin.

Clarifying Steam Bath: for blemish prone skin, before applying a face mask

• It's quite nice for a pampering day, but I doubt it does much long term

Translucent Bronzing Tint: you can mix it with your moisturiser for a subtle glow, I like to apply it as a liquid bronzer over my foundation

• Mixed with my moisturizer, I can't even see it on my skin, but over my foundation it looks lovely and I like that it's a liquid, which makes it easy to blend and it's not too dark for my pale skin. It is also not shimmery, so you could use it to contour your face.

Facial Toner: after cleansing in the evening

• You are supposed to use it at night after you've washed your face and leave it at that
• I found it to be quite drying and using it without a moisturizer was not an option for me. But it is quite refreshening anf if you have oily skin this might work really well for you [you still shouldn't skip the moisturizer...but that's just my opinion. check out what I wrote about that here]. 

Eye Balm: after moisturiser at night

• It is a pretty heavy consistency, so I only use it at night, but if you have a really dry under- eye area this would be great for you. Not only to moisturize but also to already prevent fine lines.

Cleansing Cream: morning and night 

• Smells amazing, but didn't quite work for me, but my mom has normal to dry skin and she loves it. If your skin is normal to irritated but doesn't need much, the Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream would be great for you. But I have acne prone skin and it's not enough for me.

Clarifying Day Oil: for oily and blemish prone skin, after cleansing, morning and night*

• This product is really nice if you have oily skin! It sinks in super fast, doesn't leave a greasy residue and leaves the face looking matte. This is a perfect light moisturizing option for people with oily skin. And no, oil won't make your already oily skin oilier.

Ice Plant Face Cream: for very dry, itchy, flaky skin, after cleansing morning and night* 

• I really like this one! Though expensive, I works wonders especially if you have super dry and irritated skin like I do.
• It is really rich but absorbs very quickly. 

Mascara: I think I don't have to explain when or how I apply Mascara ;)

• comes in three shades: black, brown and blue
• Unfortunately it didn't do much for my lashes 

Body

I have tried three body lotions and I like all of them. The Quince Body Moisturizer is nice for normal skin. It is super light and liquid-y, almost like water and sinks into the skin very quickly.

The Almond Body Moisturizer is a little heavier, I would say for normal to dry skin. It doesn't absorb into the skin as quickly as the Quince Moisturizer, but after around 5 minutes you are good to go.

The star of the show is without a doubt the Ice Plant Body Care Lotion. It is so so so hydrating and I am already on my third bottle. And everyone in my family loves it, as well. I have very dry and dehydrated skin and red patches all over my arms, especially in the winter. This is the only body lotion I've ever tried that gets rid off it. When my skin is extremely dry, I apply it day and night, but mainly after I get out of the shower at night. And even though it is so moisturizing, it is absorbed by the skin in less than 5 minutes. 

                                                         Daily Face Care Kit

One of the things that I really like about Dr. Hauschka is that they sell small Face Care Kits for either normal to dry skin or oily and blemish prone skin. So you can really test out all the products before you decide on buying them. And the samples come in nice sizes as well, so you have the chance to really properly try them out for a week or two. I tried the one for blemish prone skin, which contains the cleansing cream, clarifying toner, clarifying day oil, steam bath, clay mask, and revitalising mask. My mom got herself the kit for normal to dry skin, because the products are nice sizes for travelling.

Products I really like | Products that are OK

Most products that I have tried were quite nice. But there are some products which are amazing and I will keep repurchasing. Those products are the Ice Plant Body Care Lotion and Face Cream and the Quince Body Lotion. Next I would really like to try more of their makeup. 

Have you tried Dr. Hauschka before and what do you think of their products? Let me know!

 

*Dr. Hauschka don't believe in applying a moisturiser at night after you cleansed your face, because they believe that your skin has to be able to breath at night, and apparently it can't do that with a moisturiser (?). I mean, do whatever works for you. I have very dry skin and the thought of not moisturising my face after cleansing hurts. I wonder what Caroline Hirons would say to that. 

**Most of the products do contain alcohol and fragrance so be aware of that. I found a few products to be pretty drying, others on the other hand are real gems and I will keep repurchasing them.

Dr. Hauschka doesn't test on animals.

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?

Wet Brush vs. Tangle Teezer

... the battle of the detangling brushes

I have a lot of hair. It is pretty thin but let me tell you, I have a lot of it and it tends to get really tangled, especially in the back of my head. I don't know why, if it's too dry or damaged because I have bleached the ends so many times to reach the desired ombré effect or what, but I know that brushing my hair had become a chore I was not looking forward to. 

Source

So a few years ago, when the Tangle Teezer first came out in Germany, I was one of the first to get my hands on it, as it promised to detangle your hair without any pain and furthermore prevent split ends. Now let me say, for years I was very happy with my Tangle Teezer, until a few months ago, I came across the Wet Brush at TK-Maxx.

Source

Design

The original Tangle Teezer is a round- shaped brush made out of plastic without a handle. Because of that, it is not the most comfortable to hold in your hand.The bristles are pretty flexible and dense and the rows alternate between longer and shorter bristles.All in all it is a pretty original design.

The Wet Brush looks more like your common brush with your standart handle and everything. The special thing about these brushes are the bristles which are very long and flexible but unlike the Tangle Teezer not very dense. Now design-wise, I think the colours are pretty fun but for a grown woman or man they kinda look silly, just sayin'.

Promises

The Tangle Teezer promises to "deliver speedy and gentle results with the revolutionary teeth formulation. [It] helps minimise hair breakage caused by mistreatment when detangling." It's also supposed to "noticeably increase shine".
The Wet Brush claims that the "adaptive flexibility of the IntelliFlex™ bristles eliminates all tugging, tearing, pulling and ripping. No split ends, no hair loss. It provides healthy brushing and detangling, creating the perfect transition from wash to style".

Price

The original Tangle Teezer retails for around 15€ and the Wet Brush for 16- 20€. I found my paddle Wet Brush at TK- Maxx for 17€.

Performance

I find that the Tangle Teezer does get rid of tangles, but not really without tugging at the hair. I brush my hair from the bottom to the top and that does take some time especially if you have thick hair. I also found that because my hair is so thick and the bristles are pretty short, it takes a little more effort to get every last knot out of my hair. And since it doesn't have a handle, the back of my head is hard to reach and that is where my hair is extremely knotty. Yet it is more gentle to your hair and prevents split ends more than the average brush.
The Wet Brush on the other hand is really easy to use, because of its traditional shape. The handle makes it super effortless the reach even the back of my head and the size, especially of the paddle brush, makes brushing my hair a matter of seconds. Now it is calles "Wet" Brush, so they say it's save to use on wet hair, which is super sensitive. And there really is something about the bristles, which I can't really point my finger at, that makes combing your hair effortless. It doesn't tug or rip out any hair because the long bristles just glide through your hair. Therefore it does prevent hair damage and it makes it save to use on wet hair. 

Conclusion

Before I found the Tangle Teezer I sometimes used to go days without brushing my hair, because I just couldn't be bothered with spending 15 minutes trying to brush out my hair. Aside from the fact that it hurt like a mofo and ripped out and broke off so much hair, it wasn't even funny. So it is still way better than your average hair brush, but ever since I have found the Wet Brush, I prefer it to the Tangle Teezer, simply because it is easier to use, it saves time (that's always a plus) and it is more gentle to the hair. 

To sum it up I would say the two things about the Wet Brush that stand out to me and make it better than the Tangle Teezer are 1) the handle and 2) the long and very flexible bristles.