This week at the office I was surprised by a lovely shiny black goodiebag with pink ribbons. Inside were a bunch of nail/hand goodies from Ici Paris XL! 

Ici Paris XL has their own nail polish line since a few months, with 22 standard colors, 3 nail care polishes and then on top of that for each season there’ll be 5 seasonal polishes. I received all five of the summer colors and I absolutely love them! The colors are so vibrant and the finish is highly glossy. 

From left to right: Pink Kiss, Wasabi, Acid Love, Banana Split and Miss Bikini.

Don’t mind the messy touch.. I had just removed a highly pigmented blue color that kind of got stuck on my fingers.. I’m wearing two coats, no top coat. From left to right: Wasabi, Miss Bikini, Banana Split, Acid Love & Pink Kiss. My favorite colors are Acid Love & Pink Kiss.. I just can’t choose between the two!

Polishes sell for the budget price of €4.95. But, good news! Right now there’s an introduction special: 3 for €9.95. Quickly head out to your local Ici Paris XL to get some of this summer goodness! 

Stay tuned for a chance to win a complete DIY manicure package with Nubar’s top & basecoat, and one of these lovely Only You! summer colors!

A few weeks ago I told you about how I bought Michelle Phan’s favorite brush set. Check out how much she loves the set here.

Since it’s not available in Europe I had to buy it on Ebay from a Japanese seller. I received them about ten days after ordering. Since the brushes are so cheap & the seller does not charge shipping, I only paid about 4 euro (5 dollar) for the complete set. Such a bargain! For those of you in the USA: you can get this set at CVS. I’ve tested them thoroughly and can now give you my honest opinion on these. The brushes are double sided, so you’ve got 6 brushes but only need space for three. 

The foundation brush: if you want full coverage, this brush really is as amazing as Michelle Phan says! The bristles are very soft and they do not absorb too much product. 

The concealer brush: I love this brush! It does a perfect job at blending in your concealer and is small enough to reach the toughest places. Doesn’t absorb too much product & the bristles are a perfect mix between soft & stiff. 

Blush brush: does its job perfectly! Wouldn’t call it a match with MAC’s 168, but it comes pretty close. 

Powder brush: this one is a tad too small to my liking. I just use it to apply translucent powder around the eye area just after applying foundation. 

Eyeshadow brush: does not compare to my favorite eyeshadow brush, MAC’s 252, but it does a good job. 

Blending brush: this is my favorite brush from the set! It blends so perfectly and the results can walk hand in hand with my MAC 224, although it has a different feel and shape. 

The verdict? This set is absolutely worth the four euro. As they are double sided they’re also perfect to take with you when you’re traveling! You’ve got my brush blessing. 

I’ve tested Eylure’s Katy Perry lashes and I even gave away one pair. Roxanne was the lucky winner, by the way. I promised some more pictures & details later on, and here I am!

I love the biggest lashes (they’re called Oh My, oh my!) so I decided to show you these. I read somewhere that these are really heavy, but I found them to be quite alright. After five minutes you don’t even notice them anymore. They’re really easy to apply if you follow Katy’s tips & tricks. There is a small bottle of lash glue provided in the package. Oh, and you can use them more than once! The verdict? Approved! 

(Available at Di shops in Belgium, Douglas in Holland & Boots&Superdrug in UK)

I’m sure all of you know Olaz, or Olay as it is called in most countries. It’s a well known, worldwide skin care brand by Procter & Gamble. Michelle Phan even recommended their skin care products in one of her first videos. And I’m a huge Michelle Phan fan. I got sent some of their products, so let’s get started and take a look!

Left to right: Total Effects Touch of Foundation, Regenerist Eye Serum, Total Effects Tonic, Total Effects Cleansing Milk, Total Effects Touch of Sunshine & Total Effects Cleansing Wipes.

I was very excited about these products as they are anti-ageing and you can never start using anti ageing products too early on in life! I would say that night treatments are the most important as overnight your skin repairs itself the most and any aid given is very welcome.

The Total Effects Touch Of Foundation cream has a lovely texture with a gorgeous smell. It’s actually a day cream with a hint of foundation mixed in. The foundation used is by Max Factor, and I got the light version as I am very pale (for reference: I am a MAC Cosmetics NC20/25). It also has SPF 15, which is extremely important. No really, if you have a day cream or foundation without SPF I would recommend to get a separate cream with added to add to your routine. In the right hand picture you can see how it spreads out. It blends in easily and is a tad shiny. The coverage is very sheer, so if you’re looking for something that gives you flawless skin I would recommend opting for a separate day cream & foundation. As I am someone using foundation daily to conceal the redness in my face I’d prefer some more coverage in this. However, I’m totally saving this one for when it’s weekend tanning time. I know I’m a little crazy using foundation when it’s really sunny, so this cream/foundation version seems like a good in between solution.
I haven’t yet used the Total Effects Touch of Sunshine cream as I am saving this one for summer. I really don’t want my face to tan, so using a day cream with added mild bronzer seems like the perfect solution. More about this product in a few months.. 

The Total Effects Cleansing Milk (pictured left) has a very nice smell and a silky, soft texture. This is your first step in cleaning your face & getting rid of make up. Olaz/Olay recommends to use the tonic after, but I would add an extra step: wash your face with your favorite foaming cleanser to get rid of that last bit of make up/dirt. I’m not a fan of cleansing milk, but I reckon this one does a good job. 
The Total Effects Anti-Ageing Tonic has the best smell I ever discovered in a tonic. It seems to really refreshen my skin, but leaves a sticky finish. 
The Regenerist Lifting Eye Serum (pictured right) has a very smooth texture with a shiny, silky finish. It’s supposed to create a lift around the eyes and smoothes the area around your eyes. There’s no noticeable smell around this one. I’ve used it for a few times and didn’t notice any huge change. However, I don’t have any wrinkles/extra skin around my eye area. I guess I’m not the perfect lab test case for this product!

The Total Effects Cleansing Wipes are really amazing. I am definitely going to buy these again. The wipes have a ribbed texture and smell really nice. Also, there are no parabens in these which is very hard to find in cleansing wipes! The texture helps removing almost all make up. Also, the formula is very gentle on my eyes. 

Overall I am quite positive about these products: most of the time the smell is really nice and the products seem to do a good job. These products appear to be really popular online, mainly because of the excellent price compared to high-end anti-ageing products. The creams sell for about 19 euro (13 pounds) and the wipes go for 8 euro (5 pounds). I would really recommend the cream with a hint of foundation if you’re looking for sheer and light weight coverage during summer time & the cleansing wipes if you’ve been (as I am) looking for wipes without alcohol.

Last week, my  heart skipped a beat when I received Dr. Brandt’s BB Cream in the mail. Yes, I’m talking about the BB cream from heaven that I blogged about not so long ago! 

This BB cream has a very mild formula without any harsh ingredients. It comes in just one color and blends in with your own skin tone. It helps correct flaws, helps brighten your skin & provides a healthy glow. Another huge plus is the SPF30 added to this lovely formula. 

The trick with this BB cream is not to use too much, especially if you’re pale (NC25) like I am! I really like the smell (but I am quite weird when it comes to smells, so check for yourself!) and the color really is adjustable. Using loads will result in darker coverage, using little results in lighter coverage. Easy, no? As this is a BB cream you are not supposed to add a day cream as it’s got moisturizing features of its own. However, I am a bit stubborn and I use a tiny bit of cream anyway. What doesn’t kill you can only make your skin healthier, right?  I’m a huge fan of the coverage! It corrects my red areas and gives me a smooth, healthy look. Overall I must say that I was right: this really is the first BB cream that’s regularly sold in stores across Europe that actually does what it is supposed to do. 
Please refer to this post for more info on the price, ingredients & selling points! 

Last week I got an introduction to the world of Lush. Yes, I admit.. I hadn’t really used LUSH until I found a small jar of Dream Cream in last month’s Glossybox. That cream completely blew me away. I’ve been having really dry hands for years now & nothing seemed to work. One week of Dream Cream & the chaps on my knuckles were gone. Amazing! I got myself three full size products now, as an introduction. And I’m very sure that in the near future I will add some products to this small collection! Lush is 100% vegetarian, 81% vegan & 70% free of preservatives. They very actively and openly campaign against animal testing. You can find pictures of their latest demonstration here. 

Left to right: Dream Cream full size, Angels On Bare Skin full size, Lemony Flutter full size, Dream Wash sample, Turkish Delight sample, Dark Angels sample. 

So the Dream Cream really is a dream cream! I paid €18.95 for a jar of 240ml. As I only use this on my hands, this should last me a year or so. This is also a really good cream for people suffering for eczema! So what makes this baby so lovely? Oat milk, rose water, organic extra virgin olive oil, cocoa butter, chamomile blue oil, tea trea oil & lavender oil give this product its amazing properties! Only downside? It also contains methylparaben & propylparaben. However, these are the last two ingredients noted so the dosage will be low.

This gorgeous product is called Angels On Bare Skin, and costs €9.50 for 100 grams. And trust me, if angels would be able to dance on your skin this would be exactly how it’d feel like! It’s all natural (really, there’s nothing chemical in there!) and has a light scrubbing feature next to its thorough cleansing feature. The main ingredients working their magic are: ground almonds, kaolin (white clay), lavender oil, rose absolute, chamomile blue oil, tagetes oil & lavender flowers. I use it twice a week (you shouldn’t scrub daily) & I enjoy it so much. My skin feels refreshed afterwards and after the little time that I’ve had this my face -especially my troubled chin area- has already improved. You should keep it in the fridge though, as it’s so natural!

Lemony Flutter is what everyone has been telling me to use in my battle against weak & peeling nails. Nail care starts at the cuticles! I paid just €9.95 for 50 grams, which will surely last me a year. The lemony (what’s in a name, right?) smell is intoxicating, but in a good way! The main purpose of Lemony Flutter is using it as a cuticle cream, but if you’ve got rough spots anywhere else on your body this cream will gladly work its magic there as well. This lemony goodness gets its magic from these ingredients: fresh organic lemon infusion, shea butter, beeswax, organic cold pressed avocado oil, organic cold pressed flaxseed oil, mango butter, extra virgin coconut oil, castor oil, organic cold pressed wheatgerm oil, lemon oil, lavender oil, tagetes oil, chamomile blue oil & gardenia extract. It’s a very thick cream using little water so your skin can absorb the precious oils.

I haven’t used the samples yet, except for Dream Wash which is as lovely as the Dream Cream. I’d really recommend it for people with dry skin. Turkish Delight is a shower smoothie with a strong smell & Dark Angels is more or less the same as Angels On Bare Skin but intended for people with oily skin. Take your time to visit www.lush.nl or www.lush.co.uk for more information on the products & prices in your region. Visit www.lush.com if you live elsewhere & want to select your region. 

Last month I received an easter egg full of Babor fluids, which I have now tested completely. I even did it in the right order! So let me provide you with a wrap up about Babor fluids. 

I really liked this intensive treatment. Using fluids just has this luxurious feel to it as they are in ampoules. Every fluid has its own scent & finish, so I was eager to discover all of them. The fluids do contain fragrance, so careful if you’re allergic to fragrance. The ingredients are all very concentrated, meaning that these little tubes contain doses of working ingredients eight times higher than you would find in regular creams.

These fluids were in the egg:
 Hydra Plus Active Fluid
 Algae Active Fluid
 New Skin Fluid
 Collagen Booster Fluid
 3D Lifting Fluid
 Direct Beauty Fluid
 SeaCreation CONCENTRATE

They all have there own purpose. I found none of these fluids to be irritating to my skin. They all smelled lovely as well! The best way to use these fluids is to cleanse your skin properly, pour the fluid into your handpalm & then smoothe it over your face (avoiding eyes!). Then, pat gently so your skin absorbs the fluid quickly & effectively. Afterwards, apply your regular night cream. I especially loved the 3D Lifting Fluid, which smelled like absolute heaven! It contains gentle ingredients that lift your face & treat your wrinkles. I have really enjoyed using these fluids & I have promised my skin that I will re-do this when needed. I did some research and these fluids are also sold seperately! Sometimes you just need to pamper your skin & give it what it deserves, right?

A friend of mine went to the US & brought home some goodies for me. One of those things is Physicians Formula’s Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronzer! I fell in love (online) with this product a few months ago. Just take a look at those 3D hearts! 

So what does it do, apart from just being a great light bronzer? It makes you happy! Well, it is supposed to anyway. There is a light scent to this bronzer which is caused by the Happy Boost Blend (natural plant extracts mimicking the effect of endorphins), so be careful if you are allergic to fragrance.

The bronzer is very light, which is absolutely perfect for my skin! It shapes my face perfectly. The product has a sheer finish & is not shimmery. I don’t really build up the color as I am quite pale, but you could totally create an even bolder look by re-applying a couple of times! 

I also really like the packaging. You can lift up the powder to reveal a brush (pink/red coloured) & a mirror. The brush is kind of stiff & a bit rough, but I never use travel sized brushes anyway. You just have to admit: it’s so cute!

I believed I paid $13.95 for this one. Such a bargain! If you want some pink happy boosting cuteness in your collection & you live in or are heading to the US.. Go for it! 

I’ve already told you about how I got invited to discover Procter & Gamble’s new products for summer 2012 a few weeks ago. I also got some shampoos & conditioners to take home with me; and I have put them up to some testing. For your reference: I’ve got long, not so thick but neither very thin, dry hair that needs to be washed every other day. 

First up is Head & Shoulders’ Apple Fresh. The marketing campaign for this new product is based on scents & how they influence your life. I absolutely agree on scents having such a huge impact on life - I put on perfume every day and I choose products by their scent (for skin care not as a primary factor, of course). This shampoo smells like fresh green apples, and I must say: it’s lovely! I already use Head & Shoulders as it’s the single best product for me to treat dandruff, so I’m quite happy with this new product. The smell stays in your hair for a long time, it even holds after using styling tools up to 200°C! The first time I had used it & went to work (and this is honestly a true story) my colleague gave me a compliment about my hair and said how good & fresh it looks. Good grades for this shampoo! One small remark about Head & Shoulders, though: it can be quite harsh if you use it daily. I prefer to use it once or twice a week which is just enough to enjoy its anti-dandruff characteristics. And be sure to use the complimenting conditioner, which will treat your hair & has the same gorgeous scent. 

Next up in line is Wella ProSeries’ Frizz Control. I was very excited about this one as I’ve got really frizzy hair. I really need to heat style my hair, as it looks terrible without. Every woman with this type of hair recognizes the following problem: my hair turns a tad bit frizzier whenever it’s really damp outside. Well, Wella created their response to that problem with this shampoo and conditioner. I like how the shampoo feels on my scalp and it does do a very good job, however I find the conditioner to be quite heavy on my hair. There indeed was no frizz (hooray!), but I also lost the breezy, jumpy volume my hair normally has straight after styling. So I’ve got mixed feelings about the conditioner & love the shampoo! And it’s a great product for a bargain price (just 4 euros for a huge bottle).

The last shampoo & conditioner I got to try out are from the Sebastian Professional’s Trilliance collection. It’s a quite light shampoo & ditto conditioner which makes my hair look breezy & healthy. There are a few other styling products in this collection as well that all focus on making the hair shiny & healthy. 

Et voila, I guess it’s quite obvious that Head & Shoulders came out as the absolute winner in this one! Go out and be fresh! 

A month or two ago I blogged about Etat Pur & the introductory package I got sent to try out. I must say that I was a little biased, the brand looks so good on paper that I loved all of the producs before even testing them! However, I’ve now tested everything carefully and have even bought some extra goodies. Which obviously means that I’m really fond of Etat Pur!

As you can see, I bought the B09 mask as I really needed an express purifying mask. This one is very budget (as are all Etat Pur products) and does a great job in just five minutes! It’s very gentle on my skin but at the same time cleanses thoroughly. Just what my face weekly needs. I also bought the A21 active, which is a mild dose of salicylic acid to treat the imperfections and blackheads in your complexion. The first few days I used this it worked miracles: I could see overnight change! Now however, the improvements are slowing up. I’m still using it every night and hopefully soon I’ll be able to report about flawless skin! 
In my introductory package I also got a tinted moisturizer, but that one was too light for me. I need more coverage than tinted moisturizers can provide. My friend however, who’s got better skin than me, absolutely loves it! The regular moisturizer is such a dream. I’ve been trying out different textures as you can choose a few samples with each order and I’m learning which texture is best suited for my skin. The B38 is very creamy and rich and I love how my skin soaks up the moisture. I also find the gel very pleasant to use under make-up. 

Overall my skin has improved a whole lot since using Etat Pur. The Pure Actives are genius: I always use a few on different areas of my skin as they all have their specific problems. You really do have to stick to your routine, though, as I can see a (negative) change in my complexion whenever I’m slacking on my routine. I use A20 and A21 to treat my imperfections, A08 to tackle dark circles under my eyes, A31 when my skin needs some extra moisture and A41 for when my skin is a bit redder than usual. 

Etat Pur is a great brand that does not use any products that are bad for your skin. Read all about that here. Their products are only sold online on their website.