June Collective Haul

Half the year is officially over. I honestly don't know how to feel about it all - part of me is glad that a jam-packed summer is here, part of me is also happy as when time flies it means you're having fun and a little part of me is sad that good times roll by so fast. So what do I do to avoid myself overthinking this dilemma? Shop of course! Here are all the pretty things I made mine over June.

 

Starting with cosmetics, I have bought quite a few polishes to add to my ever-growing collection. I bought China Glaze I Sea The Point and Angel Wings from a seller on Ebay for around €6 per polish as well as this gorgeous pink from Max Factor for €7.50 in the shade 104 Just Cheerful.

 

I have also added two new polishes from Essence to my collection, namely the shades 03 Glitz & Glam and 169 A Hint Of Love. These were €2.10 and €1.70 respectively. On my search for a good top coat, I have bought Sally Hansen No Chip Top Coat for €7.40.

 

To remain on the theme of nails, I have placed a small order on Born Pretty Store and I ended up getting the following items for just €20! So I got this cute small display book to store image plates in, a snowflake image plate (I know it's totally out of season but it's cute I couldn't resist!), shell decorations and two varieties of water decals.

 

 

Browsing the makeup stands at the hospital convenience shop really isn't making my wallet happy...the other day I caved and bought this gorgeous lippy from Max Factor in the shade 655 Lilac Wine. I wore it to a wedding I had last Saturday and boy I was impressed with the pigmentation and lasting power. I only reapplied out of habit, not because there was much need! This cost €13 but you really get what you pay for.

 

The last beauty-related purchases for this month are all courtesy of The Body Shop. I have some weekend breaks coming up soon and I decided to stock up on their travel-sized products while they were on offer for Buy 2 Get 1 Free. I bought the Mango Body Butter, Mango Body Scrub (€4.50 each), Mango Shower Gel (free), Rainforest Balance Shampoo, Rainforest Balance Conditioner (€3.95 each), Vanilla Bliss Body Polish (free). I also bought the Peppermint Foot Spray and Peppermint Reviving Leg Gel for €6 and €6.30 respectively.

Moving on to clothes, Mango has been quite a winning choice this month. I love the quality of their clothes and their fit and I just can't help not to shop each time I go into the store. I know it's still very early to start thinking about winter but I just couldn't resist this greyish white coat which was the very last one in my size. I paid €89.99 for it. Next is this gorgeous pair of super skinny super white trousers which I bought for €39.99. The fit is superb and I already have a good number of outfits planned around it.

 

More trousers from Mango...this time it's this black tailored pair that also came with a belt - a bargain for €29.99 if you ask me and again, the fit is excellent. My favourite pair is this printed relaxed one. I have been obsessed with anything blue lately and I couldn't leave this pair in the store. It cost €39.99.

The last purchase of the month are these flat slingbacks from Debenhams. They were only €26 and the holographic gold colour is what sold me. I tend to favour gold over silver so I am sure I will get a lot of wear out of these.

 

Review | Chanel Les 4 Ombres 208 Tisse Gabrielle

Chanel - the fashion house that symbolises the epitome of French elegance. You can imagine my delight when a friend of mine gifted me this eyeshadow quad before it was even released locally! This is my first eyeshadow quad from Chanel and it is one of my most treasured palettes. Not only because it is Chanel and feels luxurious but also because of the colours in it.

 

Speaking of luxury, the packaging is somewhat of a gem in itself - the palette itself is a small black plastic box with the Chanel logo embossed on the front and it houses four beautifully unique shades and two small eyeshadow sponge applicators bearing the Chanel logo. It also comprises a good sized mirror and the eyeshadows are protected with a plastic cover, again with the Chanel logo embossed right in the middle.

 

 

 

The palette comes in a soft, black velvet pouch, signed Chanel as well as a small booklet with four different looks that the brand proposes with the palette. All is packed nicely in a black box with a golden band on the front. If that is not luxury, I don't know what is!

 

 

 

The colours in the palette all have excellent pigmentation but the use of a primer is recommended to help the makeup last longer without fading. I would describe the shades as:

- dark taupe with a metallic finish

- dark mauve with a metallic finish

- matte charcoal grey

- metallic off-white

 

 

I have used this palette multiple times and I have always been positively impressed with the quality of all four shades. The only downside is that you have to use a primer because otherwise, the colours will eventually fade away a little.

 

I don't know the price of this palette but obviously, being high-end it will be on the expensive side. Nonetheless it still makes a special little treat for a dear one or yourself!

** Win with Max Factor Malta - #Selfeye Competition **

Attention all my Maltese followers! Here's your chance to win big with Max Factor and VJ Salomone Marketing. Read on to discover all about this fun competition Max Factor Malta have launched on their Facebook page and will be running until the 6th of July 2014.

 

The Max Factor #selfeye Competition is all about creativity - set your creative side free and create the most dramatic eye makeup look for your chance to win one of these fantastic prizes:

  

1st - €300 worth of Max Factor products

2nd - €200 worth of Max Factor products

3rd - €100 worth of Max Factor products

 

Winning entries are chosen according to the number of likes so be sure to promote your entry among your friends for a bigger chance of winning!

To enter, simply follow these steps:

 

1. Like the Max Factor Malta Facebook page

 

2. Click the Selfeye Competition tab

 

3. Enter your email address

 

4. Upload a Selfeye (A selfie of your eye!)

 

5. Use the hashtag #selfeyemalta in the caption box.

Submit your #selfeye by midnight on Sunday 6th July 2014.

Here is the look I created:

Good luck to all!

Event | Polaar Ice Pure Experience

It's 6:45, my off day -  I wouldn't normally be awake at this hour on such a day...unless I have something exciting coming up that is! As it happens, I have quite a busy day today but what I am really excited about is what happened yesterday at the Ta' Xbiex Perfumery premises.

 

image courtesy of Polaar Malta Facebook page

I was invited to this event and being all about a French skin care brand, I was quite excited about it - in fact, I was there 45 minutes early but since we actually experienced a mild thunderstorm (yeah mid-June in Malta), I waited for time to pass in my car.

 

Upon actually reaching the premises, I was greeted by a trio of lovely ladies, Monika, Charisse and Veronique and we chatted for a few minutes over a glass of water and some tasty nibbles while waiting for the others to arrive.

 

 

One look around was all it took for me to feel like I have stepped into a time machine and transported back some 12 years ago to Chemistry class - there were beakers, pipettes and spatulas and a whole array of ingredients for us to have fun with later on. The fresh, modern surroundings and cute penguin statues contribute a very palpable polar feel which is exactly what Polaar is all about. 

 

 

When all invitees arrived we took a seat and Charisse, who is the Polaar brand manager, gave us an overview of the brand and its objectives in a very well informed presentation. I was pleased to be introduced to a brand that is eco-conscious and has an actual scientific background to it (I personally always love such skin care brands). 

 

Polaar was founded in 2006 by Mr. Daniel Kurbiel and Ms. Karine Roche. It all started way back when Mr. Kurbiel, the son of two polar explorers embarked on a scientific mission himself. It was here that he became aware of the extremely harsh conditions the flora of the Arctic and Antarctic circles have to face everyday, yet they still survive beautifully.

 

The brand's tag-line 'What if the secret to your beauty was hidden beyond the polar circle?' sums this up perfectly. In fact, all the products in Polaar's extensive range contain active ingredients from polar plants which are renowned to have the highest concentrations of the purest, natural antioxidants. All products are free from parabens, alcohol and mineral oil.

 

Polaar is actually the pioneer in scientific polar skincare research and the brand follows an environmentally ethical charter when manufacturing its products (all processes are carried out in France). Moreover, the brand really stays true to its roots - from the simple white packaging to the brand logo. The two 'a's in Polaar stand for Arctic and Antarctic and the dot on the first 'a' is a tribute to Inuit language.

 

Back to the event, the presentation flowed to the Ice Pure range which consists of three products, a micellar water, a gel cleanser and a gentle scrub, all of which contain Arctic cotton extracts which is a very moisturising, remineralising and soothing ingredient.

 

 

 

The next part of the event saw us actually creating a personalised scrub based on the formula of the Ice Pure Arctic Cotton Gentle Scrub. We were guided step-by-step into the process and I can say that we really had fun mixing ingredients and watching our little creations take shape. Charisse was kind enough to help us choose the best ingredients depending on our skin types and we could create either a face or body scrub. I decided to go for a facial scrub. 

 

When we were done, we continued chatting the night away and delicious, healthy food was still being served along with cocktails and soft drinks. We could also test the products on display and what intrigued me the most is the Polaar Sun range especially the dry body oil and the after sun cream, both of which support the skin's tanning ability and actually help maintain a tan.

 

At the end of the night, we were each given a very generous goodie bag and I was pleased to find the actual Ice Pure scrub because I really liked its gentle texture. The management was also kind enough to put in a couple of men's products too. Here I would like to point out that Polaar carries an extensive range of some 13 products that cater specifically for the needs of male skin.

 

To conclude a very lengthy post, I would like to thank the Ta' Xbiex Perfumery staff for inviting us to this truly unique and fun event and let us experience the beauty of the polar circle first-hand! For more information about Polaar skin care, you can check out their website or Facebook page to find out which of the 30 outlets stocking the brand is closer to you.

SS14 Makeup Trend | Orange Lips

Orange is all the range this spring/summer season especially as far as lips are concerned. I was reading a post about orange lip products a couple of days ago on Natalie's Beauty Land and she had me rummaging through my stash and I have to admit I was surprised at the amount of orange tinted lip products I own. Since Natalie herself loves orange so much, she has asked me to share my little collection so here it is!

 

Sleek Pout Polish in Bonaire {Caribbean Collection} - the least pigmented of the bunch but with a highly moisturising formula that rivals that of high end products. This tinted lip conditioner provides the lips with SPF15, all round moisture and a slight tint of orange.

 

Catrice Nectar Gloss in C04 Exotica {Coolibri Limited Edition} - a rather thick lip gloss that may come off as sticky but nonetheless feels very nice on the lips. Not much pigmentation here either but it is one of my favourite glosses for this time of year.

Essence Lipgloss in 02 Peach and Mix {Marble Mania Trend Edition} - I really like the look of this gloss in its tube - a marbled mix of orange and cream which show up as a nice shade of light orange on the lips.
 

 

Essence Stay With Me Long Lasting Lip Gloss in 02 My Favourite Milkshake - a light orange lip gloss that looks like a nude peach shade on the lips. Lasts for a long time and feels hydrating on the lips.

Napoleon Perdis Protégé Lip Gloss - this was actually my first orange lip product. I love wearing it to his very day and I like the refreshing mint scent and flavour it carries. Lasting power is average and doesn't feel sticky at all. Very comfortable wear!

Essence Lipstick in 61 I'm A Lobstar! - beautiful shade of orange that's perfect for summer. It has tiny gold shimmer too which will add interest to sun-kissed looks. Smells of vanilla and lasts for a fair few hours. The best part about this? The price tag of course! Essence lipsticks retail for around €2!

Catrice Ultimate Shine Lipstick in 110 Shy Flamingo - one of the most pigmented products in my collection. As much as I love this shade, it has a butter soft formula which melts in the summer heat so I never take this out with me. Luckily, it lasts for a long time.

Pupa Milano Glossy Lips in 401 Lollipop Orange - this is probably my favourite out of the bunch. It has a lacquer-like glossy finish, amazing pigmentation, super moisturising formula and lasts for a good number of hours.

Catrice Color Show Lip Gloss in 070 Light My Fire - the last product in my collection is another amazingly pigmented lip gloss brought to you courtesy of budget brand Catrice. Formula is nice and soft and this too lasts for quite some time.

So, that rounds up my orange lip products collection! What is your favourite orange lip tint?

Review | Catrice Made To Stay 8H Smoothing Lip Polish 050 Megan Fuchsia

Come summer I tend to switch everything to bright colours...be it clothes, nail polish or makeup. And what better way to make a statement than with a bold lip colour?

However, more often than not, carrying a lipstick when out and about in the Maltese summer sun is somewhat of a risk as it might melt so I'd rather go for a richly pigmented lipgloss instead, which I am pleased to say are now a common occurrence for most cosmetic brands.

Today, I will be reviewing such a product from Catrice Cosmetics - the Made To Stay 8H Smoothing Lip Polish in the shade 050 Megan Fuchsia.

 

The 8H Smoothing Lip Polishes were launched locally last February along with an array of other products but these were one of the most exciting additions to the vast range of lip products the brand offers.

Packaging is striking in its simplicity and I like the concept of having a 'swatch' of the actual colour on the tube itself. The lip polish has a doe-foot type applicator with a pointy end which I quite favour because it enables precise application at the cupid's bow of your lips.

 

Pigmentation and texture are insane - with just one application, you get the intense colouration of a lipstick, only glossier and I dare say more moisturising. The name fits this product perfectly in my opinion as I feel it is like a shiny nail polish, only it is for the lips! The shade 050 Megan Fuchsia is a deep Italian pink.

 

 

So as you can tell, I had very high expectations for this product and I am very sorry to say that it disappointed me a little on the first try. It didn't last the whole of eight hours as the brand claims and it faded in an ugly way - I was left with a bare centre and stained lip borders.

 

However, seeing I like the colour so much, I didn't want to give up on this. The next time, I wore it with a lip balm underneath and that seemed to do the trick. My lips retained a uniform stain after a few hours of wear but again, I think the claim that it lasts for 8 hours is a bit far-fetched.

 

That said, I would still recommend this product if anything for the innovative formula that combines the benefits of a lipstick, lip stain and lip gloss in one!

 

Catrice Cosmetics are available from various pharmacies and outlets across the Maltese Islands. For more information, 'like' the Catrice Malta Facebook page.

PR Sample

Event | Lierac Paris Sunific Suncare Launch

Yesterday evening saw me getting ready for a rather chic do at Settimo Cielo at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel in St.Julian's.

 

The event was all about Lierac Paris Sunific Suncare range and the choice of hosting venue couldn't have been better - a seventh heaven indeed with breath-taking views of the sea all around; the place fit the summer theme nicely.

 

The view from the roof-top Settimo Cielo

Amongst the appropriately decorated tables, we were greeted with a glass of Aperol and I personally got the meet the lovely Dr. Raina Zarb Adami, who later delivered a very well informed and detailed presentation on skin ageing and the Lierac Paris products themselves.



 

Everyone could tell that Dr. Zarb Adami is very passionate about her work as an Aesthetic Surgeon and I really appreciate when someone actually targets a problem at the core. Working with Lierac Paris products herself and prescribing them to her patients who visit her Aesthetic Virtue clinic in London, makes her the ideal candidate to deliver the presentation.

 

Dr. Raina Zarb Adami delivering the presentation

Speaking from a scientific point of view, I appreciate all the research and scientific background that go through formulating the best possible products and honestly, I don't expect anything less from a brand which is at the forefront of targeting the correction of skin ageing.

 

Sunific offers a full range of sun protection creams bearing the best in Lierac technologies. In fact, the company has a patented UVA/UVB protection and offers triple protection to the skin against wrinkles, slackening and brown spots, all combined with moisturising and tan activating ingredients.

 

 

Two gorgeous models were going around us guests with the actual products so we could sample them and one couldn't help but to notice the effortless melt-in textures and summery scents they carry! Sunific also caters for after-sun care to further help protect the skin and prolong a tan. 

 

 

After the presentation, we chatted the night away over more delicious finger food, canapés and drinks. A big thanks goes to PharmaMT for inviting us to be part of it all!

 

Lierac Paris is distributed in Malta by PharmaMT. More information can be found on the Lierac Malta Facebook page.