Review | Dr.Organic Manuka Honey Lip Balm

A couple of weeks back, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of organic skin care brand Dr.Organic and at the end of the event, we were each given a choice of three products to take home and review. I was in need of a lip balm so the Organic Manuka Honey one made it into my bag!

 

Before I start the review, if you are new to Dr.Organic, I suggest you read my event post where I introduce the brand.

Back to the lip balm, the packaging is very simple and it truly represents the organic theme of the brand without being boring. The Manuka Honey range is just one of the twelve ranges offered by the brand and the range itself comprises 15 products, amongst which is actually this lip balm.

Dr.Organic only sources natural ingredients which are actually beneficial to our skin and Manuka Honey is well renowned for its antiseptic and healing properties. So much so that it is actually dubbed as 'the Healing Honey'. Honey has been used to treat a variety of ailments since ancient times and I have to admit that I do swear by it whenever I have a nasty cough.

Now I can also enjoy the benefits of honey in this lip balm! Manuka Honey is produced from the nectar of the flowers of the Manuka Tree which predominantly grows in New Zealand. Typically, Manuka Honey has a dark colour and pertains a strong, distinctive flavour accompanied by a herby/woody smell - something which you can smell right away as soon as you take the cap off the lip balm.

Stick lip balms are my favourite because they are way more hygienic to use than the tin ones as you don't have to put your fingers into them so that is definitely a plus with this lip balm! However, the big plus is actually the star ingredient which is responsible for healing and restoring dry and chapped lips in no time through cell regeneration. It provides a healing barrier for the lips which do not contain any sebaceous glands to keep them moisturised.

Dr.Organic Manuka Honey Lip Balm also contains Shea butter, Propolis, Beeswax and Vitamin E to help nourish and protect your lips. It feels very comfortable on the lips and doesn't leave that whitish residue unlike most lip balms. It goes on matte and can be used under lipstick. It also provides protection against UVA nad UVB rays with SPF15.

I highly recommend this lip balm especially because of its fast action and smell - if you like the smell of honey that is!

Dr.Organic Manuka Honey Lip Balm can be found at varous authorised pharmacies across Malta & Gozo and retails for €4.25 for 5.7ml of product. For stockists and more information, check out the local Facebook page and website.

Dr.Organic products are free from harsh chemicals, animal ingredients, parabens, mineral oils and GMO ingredients and are not tested on animals.

Review | Born Pretty Store Pearl and Metal Rhinestones

Born Pretty Store nail art items have become a somewhat regular appearance on this blog primarily because they are so cheap to buy and also because of the variety they offer. Today, I have one of their newly arrived rhinestone wheels to review and these are basically pearl and metal rhinestones which will fit a variety of nail art designs.

The wheel comes with 11 different colours of flat-back half-pearls with a metallic gold rim and each rhinestone has a 4mm diameter so you might want to reserve them for your larger nails. 

Moreover, since they are flat-back, they a little difficult to place on a curved part of your nail but applying a top coat every other day should do the trick to keep them in place for as long as you like. 

On me, they lasted for 5 days and I managed to take them off carefully to re-use them in another manicure.

You can get these pearl and metal rhinestones for $4.55 from Born Pretty Store with free worldwide shipping and you can even get 10% off with the code EBABK31.

Do you like the look of these rhinestones?

PR Sample

Style Post | Re-Styling A Bridesmaid's Dress

The big day is over and now you have a gorgeous bridesmaid dress hanging in your closet that you don't know what to do with? Help is at hand thanks to this fab collaboration I have been working on with Weddington Way as part of their November Style Challenge where I was asked to restyle one of their bridesmaids dresses for a casual night out with friends or that special someone!

It is really easy! The hardest part was choosing a dress out of their exquisite range! I opted for this cocktail dress in navy blue as the colour looks good on most people and the sweetheart neckline is also very flattering.

A classic trench coat is the perfect cover up now that the evenings are getting chilly and this one in a camel colour looks good with the dress and leaves a million of style options to be explored as far as accessories go. 

A statement necklace will fill up the neck area and give the dress a more casual feel. Pair it with an ear cuff and peep-toe ankle boots for a rock star vibe and an animal print clutch bag to add texture and interest to the outfit.

Cat-eye winged liner and bold red lips complement the look and lend a whole new approach to the dress.  

So, there you go! See how easy it is to restyle a bridesmaid dress?! Check out Weddington Way's full range of wedding dresses and accessories for inspiration for your big day and beyond!

Review | Pupa Milano Autumn 2014 Limited Edition Paris Experience Vamp! Wet & Dry Eyeshadow 001 Gold

Audrey Hepburn once said 'Paris is always a good idea' and, quite frankly, I couldn't agree more! Pupa Milano have perfectly embodied the luxurious feel of the city of lights in their Autumn limited edition, Paris Experience.

I have already reviewed one of the I'M Lipsticks from the collection a few weeks back which you can check out here. This time round I have one of the Vamp! Wet & Dry Eyeshadows to review which the local brand importers kindly sent me.

The eyeshadow is presented in an elegant round compact just like the ones for the other Vamp! Eyeshadows in their permanent range. The only difference is that since this one belongs to a limited edition collection, the metallic part of the case is in rose gold as opposed to the silver casing of the regular Vamp! eyeshadows. Being a baked eyeshadow which can be used both wet and dry, the product has a domed appearance and also comes with a tiny sponge applicator.

The shade I have is 001 Gold and it is indeed a true gold that suits all skin tones. It has a shimmery pearl finish and complements a wide range of shades. I personally like pairing it with plums and browns.

Pupa Milano Paris Experience Vamp! Eyeshadow 001 Gold
dry {left} ; wet {right}

I always use a primer base and to be honest I have never felt the need to use the eyeshadow wet as it is richly pigmented even when used dry. Lasting power is also very good yet it is easily removed with some makeup remover without having to tug at the delicate eye area.

I would highly suggest you try the Vamp! eyeshadows from this limited edition. There are some gorgeous purples and peacock hues you might regret missing out on. 

The Pupa Milano Paris Experience Vamp Wet & Dry Eyeshadow retail for €11.70 a pop and the collection can be found at the follwing outlets:

Attard: Transforma

San Gwann: Lourdes

Sliema: Drug store (ferries)

Msida : Deby’s pharmacy

Qormi: Evans Pharmacy

Zebbug: Diva’s H salon

Fgura: Chain (Perfumery section) 

B’Bugia: Martins Pharmacy

Zejtun: St. Catherine’s Pharmacy

Marsaxlokk: Epoca Beauty

Gozo: Hair Flair       

For more information, kindly check out the Pupa Milano in Malta Facebook page and the Pupa Milano website.

PR Sample

Style Post | Bridesmaid Beauty Inspiration

A bride's wedding day truly is her special day but while the focus is on her and her immaculate looks, her bridal party has to look polished to perfection just as well. When I was contacted by Lover.ly to do this post, I immediately jumped at the chance and henceforth, I am sharing some beauty and makeup tips to complement one of their bridesmaids dresses.

I chose this number for a various of reasons but primarily because of its versatility for both day or night weddings and the fact that it flatters every figure and stature. Moreover, the demure fabric and pastel colour evoke romantic feelings, which are in fact what most brides are after on their wedding day! I can most definitely see this dress as part of the princess-y wedding every girl dreams about!

With the dress choice settled, let's get down to the makeup choices!

We all know how demanding weddings can be with all that running around for long hours and your pictures being taken all the time, so a good makeup base is a must. On perfectly cleansed and moisturised skin, apply a thin layer of makeup primer and allow it to set in your skin for even better results. I swear by Inglot Under The Makeup Base. Follow with HD makeup which is your best bet to make your skin look dewy and fresh in photos without leaving you looking like a ghost (SPF makeup will have this effect) especially if flash photography is implemented. NYX Cosmetics have a nice range of HD makeup you might want to check out.   

To further enhance your features, a good contour palette is a must. I personally like this one by Napoleon Perdis which features a delicate highlight shade, a suits-all blush and a matte bronzer which will definitely look more natural than a shimmery one.

As for eye makeup, you can play up your eyes with pinks and plums or grey hues as well as brown shades of eyeshadow. A smoky eye look is probably the most popular choice but you can always spice it up with say some glitter for night weddings. Rose gold shades are also a popular alternative that will stand out. Finish off with a coat of volumising waterproof mascara to last you throughout the day or opt for false lashes if you're feeling adventurous. To complete your eye look, use a gel eyeliner as it lasts longer and it is much easier to apply!

Lastly, seal the deal with a richly pigmented and long lasting lipstick such as Max Factor Colour Elixir lipsticks. The shade 655 Lilac Wine will look good with every skin tone and lasts for hours on end!

Finally, for nails, I would go for muted pinks or dusky rose hues as they will complement the makeup excellently and blend seamlessly with the romantic, princess feel of the dress.

Check out Lover.ly for an interactive wedding planning experience where you can browse, shop and save your favourite items from their online shop!

Brand Spotlight | piCture pOlish

Following nail art accounts on Instagram, reading nail blogs and being part of a nail polish community on Facebook, it is only a matter of time before I succumb to try new brands of polish or nail art ideas. My latest venture was to give Australian nail polish brand piCture pOlish a try.

Swatches all over Instagram are what lured me in to get a few shades to try out the brand and so far, I was positively impressed. 

First things first - the website design and layout. I found the website to be very user friendly and everything is easily accessible. Apart from an extensive range of fashionable colours, there are also MoYou London stamping plates and NailVinyls for sale.

I like that you can browse the nail polish shades in alphabetical order or if you want to narrow it down, you can always go by finish or type. Each polish is clearly swatched and what you see on screen is what you will get in your package.

Since I was only trying the brand for the first time, I selected four shades, went ahead to create an account and checked out my order. I received confirmation of my order and payment just a day after and the package shipment notification followed. In just two days, I had my pretties delivered via DHL courier and I have to admit I was impressed with how fast delivery was, considering they came all the way from Australia!

The polishes were securely wrapped in bubble wrap and they even came in a cute small damask print black bag with a sticker bearing the company logo. I think that adds a nice touch :) The polishes themselves come in square glass bottles that hold 11ml of nail varnish and on the front they each have a verse relating to the actual name of the polish. As The Girls (who manufacture the polish say), every shade tells a different story, hence the name piCture pOlish! Clever right?

Let me show you the shades that I got:

Blogger ~ the sparkliest of the bunch, this is a dense mix of pink, red, blue, gold and silver large hex and tiny round glitter.

Grace ~ a delicate shade of baby pink with holographic shimmer.

Monroe ~ a pink/red based plum with holographic shimmer.

O'hara ~ a true scarlet red with holographic shimmer.

The brushes are a very good size and the pigmentation is very good - two thin coats are enough for full opacity and the polishes dry fairly quick. I must say that I am impressed with the quality of these polishes and on me they last for five days before I can see tip wear. Chipping occurs after six days of wear on me.

All piCture pOlish shades are made exclusively in Australia, and contain no fragrances or flavours. They are 5 free, vegan and cruelty free, what's not to love?!

The colours retail for AU$10 - AU$12 and the company has a 'minimum 3 bottles per order' policy and all the shipping terms are made clear in their Shipping and Returns section. I paid AU$32 in shipping as I had four bottles but I was happy to do so as delivery is always signed for and the company ships to a number of international destinations (**as of 2015, the brand has to revise prices so they maybe subject to change**).

Would I buy again? Definitely! I love the colours and the bottles with the little verses and all and the quality of the polishes is also something I like. I would keep purchases from the site as a treat though because of the shipping fee but I do recommend you treat yourselves to some piCture pOlishes!

Event | Pink 10th Anniversary Fashion Show

Last Thursday marked a very important milestone for Malta's leading women's magazine, Pink which is distributed monthly with The Sunday Times of Malta - it is the magazine's tenth birthday and what better way to celebrate than to host a fashion show at the Progress Press printing area which is not usually accessed by the general public?!

Ten brands, namely, ALDO Shoes & Accessories, Armani Jeans, Esprit, F&F, Karen Millen, Liu Jo, M&Co, Marks & Spencer, Miss Selfridge, and Tommy Hilfiger, showcased their collections for the upcoming season.

I really wished for an open cheque to somehow fall from the sky right into my lap that very moment so that I could buy all the outfits and accessories that the models strutted on the catwalk! Well actually, the catwalk was a carpet which featured past Pink Magazine covers and the backdrop was actually pallets and newspaper reels - a very nice and unique touch I must say! Furthermore, some models even had specially printed copies of The Times of Malta, featuring the respective clothing brands' logos.

Hair and makeup added and interesting touch of wow and tough factor to the outfits and they complemented even the dressiest of outfits.

After the fashion show, guests were treated to drinks and finger food courtesy of Catermax and everyone was given some generous goodie bags, thanks to the main sponsors. In fact, the event would not have been possible without the help of Alistair Fenech, CHEMIMART, Dical House Mosta, Diet Kinnie, Lady Million Eau my Gold, Natuzzi, Powwow Station, and Renault.

So, Happy 10th Birthday to Pink Magazine! I really look forward to each and every issue of the magazine as it really is at the forefront of covering the main topics of interest for women!

All photos from the show courtesy of Pink Magazine Facebook page.

Event | Dr.Organic Launch

Last Wednesday evening saw me getting ready for an intimately lush night at Villa Bologna in Attard for the launch of organic skin care brand Dr.Organic.

The lavish setting of the place is truly remarkable and very apt for the environment the organizers were after. Us guests were greeted with drinks and delicious appetizers including the most amazing coconut soup I've ever had!

Following introductions, Miss Teri Camilleri walked us a through the 12 ranges that the brand has to offer and gave a thorough insight on the products and what the active ingredients do, during which we were able to sample some of the products. There's the Pomegranate Range, Olive Oil, Virgin Coconut, Dead Sea Minerals, Manuka Honey, etc... all of which are known to contribute to the well-being of our skin. Interesting to note is that each range has the same products, for example there is a shampoo and conditioner in all varieties.

All Dr.Organic products are free from Parabens, SLS, artificial colours, fragrances, genetically modified ingredents, mineral oils or harsh preservatives. They contain no ingredients of animal origin, making them suitable for vegetarians and vegans and they are not tested on our furry friends. Most importantly, all products carry the 'BioActiv' logo which simply means that the products are formulated using organically certified  and natural extracts.

At the end of the presentation, we were each given three products of our choice to try out and review for you all, so watch out for that! 

All in all, I really enjoyed myself at the event and you might also want to check out the other ladies in attendance...

Elle from Beauty She Wrote
Marija from Pocalocca

Charlene from A Cosmetic Affair

Lorraine from Lola Loves Sparkles
Elaine from Blabber Beauty
Steph from Think Love Makeup
Maya from Blue Jeans and Red Lipstick

Davina from Lady With No Name

Have you ever tried Dr,Organic? Any products you think are worth getting? For more information about stockists, kindly check out their Facebook page or the newly launched website...and while you're there, why not try out the fun quiz to find out which products would suit you most?