'Together Is Better' | First dance video launched by Blog by Grazielle

One of my favourite local bloggers and friend, Grazielle has launched her first dance video with a message that I think is truly what the world needs right now. I'm happy to support this project of hers, thus I am sharing it here with you.

In Grazielle's own words, it [the video] is the first of hopefully a series of videos aimed to spread love, messages and good vibes out into the world and we see many more people and companies getting involved with us for good causes on this planet! 

The inspiration behind this video is what the family of a friend of Grazielle's (Francesco, the other dancer in this video) are going through in Venezuela (you can read her emotional post here for all the details) and together, they figured dancing is the way to go as it is one of the most relatable forms of communication between all nations - no language barrier and inhibitions!

The video was possible with help from choreographer Kristina Bianco at Dance Project Studios, Byron for filming and editing and NIKE (Hudson Group Malta) for the clothing. Grazielle's wish is that this video will hit over 1 Million views on Facebook and will automatically kick start a series of other dance and music videos open to international participation, all with the aim of spreading messages, love and good vibes. We are hoping that You and the universe will make it happen and we are ready to dance with you!  Let's help her turn it into reality by sharing the love and the message this video aims to convey:

Although we all live independent lives, it is when we join forces towards a common goal, that we are heard better and results achieved are better.

Help Each Other

To Achieve Your Goals

We Should Unite More

To Make The World A Better Place

Just Do It

Cold Weather Beauty Essentials

If you live in Malta or a country with an extremely humid climate, you would know we cold weather is a killer here - for me at least. We don't get snow or sub-zero temperatures mind you, but when it's cold it can wreak havoc on my skin, making it dry and lack-lustre all over.

In this post, I will be sharing my absolute must-haves to beat the effects of cold weather as voted by you on my Instastories ;)

I will start with the one product that I don't leave the house without - hand cream. My favourites are from L'Occitaine and The Body Shop not only because they smell nice and do an excellent job at keeping chilblains at bay, but they come in the perfect size to put in handbags, which is why I make sure to stock up on them as I literally keep one in every bag. My personal favourites are Argan Oil, Almond Milk & Honey and Coconut from The Body Shop (I currently have the Christmas trio which is shown here), while from L'Occitaine, my favourites are the three shown in the picture with the Radiant Balm being my absolute favourite - it leaves a subtle shimmer on your hands + smells amazeballs!

Hydration is key all year round but I do tend to switch formulas according to season. For my face, I am currently loving Lierac Hydragenist Moisturising Gel Cream and Moisturising Serum. They both have light textures that are easily absorbed and don't cause my skin to turn oily while doing a great job at hydrating my skin. To prevent my lips from getting chapped, Eau Thermale Avene lipbalm is my best friend. It doesn't leave a white residue on my lips and keeps them moisturised for a long time.

For the rest of my body? Human+Kind Family Remedy Cream does the job. It is suitable for a ton of skin conditions, is all natural and is great for use by children and adults alike! Lastly, to beat cold weather's number 1 ailment - colds, I have resorted to ImmunAction and PropoliEVSP by Erba Vita. You can read my full review about both products here but they have really helped me in beating colds this year.

What are your trusted ways of beating the cold?

Review | Eau Thermale Avène Cleanance Range

If you're looking into taking better care of acne prone skin, then this post is for you. I have been trying out the Cleanance range from Eau Thermale Avène to deal with a couple of nasty breakouts due to eating way too much fatty food during the festive season. I was actually introduced to the range a couple of months ago, when I was invited for a presentation about Cleanance at Villa Mdina in Naxxar.

Dr. Lawrence Scerri, one of the leading dermatologists in Malta delivered a very interesting presentation about the different types of acne, what causes acne and the medical treatment available to treat it. Anyone who has suffered from acne at any point in their life knows the impact it has on our day to day life and activities. Women tend to pile on layers and layers of foundation in an attempt to cover up the pustules and scars. Men are also badly affected and this can impact work and their social life.

As you know, I have tried and reviewed skin care products for oily skin from other brands before which I still find them to be very effective and use these products on a daily basis. However, being a beauty blogger, I still like to try similar products to see how they compare. Today I have some products from this same Eau Thermale Avène Cleanance range which were given to me at the event.

Products from the Cleanance range suit my skin type, which is oily to sensitive where I get occasional pimples. The foundation of any great skincare regime is an effective cleanser. I am favouring the Cleansing Gel to remove all traces of makeup and dirt from my face at the end of the day without my skin feeling dry. I have also used the Cleanance Micellar Water and it is just as effective if you want something milder. I generally use micellar water for a quick clean in the morning while I tend to reach for a gel cleanser in the evening.

Cleanance Expert and TriAcnéal Expert are your best bet to take care of blackheads and stubborn blemishes respectively. Both products have a light texture that is rapidly absorbed and don't feel greasy. I like to use them even under makeup to protect my skin and prevent spots from getting inflamed. In fact these two are my favourites because I can see the results within 2 - 3 days.

Lastly, I have Cleanance MAT Mattifying Emulsion which is a light moisturizer that keeps skin shine free for longer. I sometimes use this as a makeup primer because it gives makeup an excellent hold and I don't need to touch up during the day.

What makes Eau Thermale Avène products different from other brands is that all of their products are packed in a sterile environment making them a sterling choice for people with sensitive skins. Eau Thermale Avène products can be bought from all pharmacies in Malta and Gozo.

PR Samples

New Year, Same Me, New Glasses! - Meet Ralph!

You all now how the drill goes - new year, new me. Well I'm going with new year, same me, new glasses! Those who follow me on Facebook and Instagram have already caught a glimpse of my new pair of Ralph Lauren glasses which I got from Optika Opticians in Sliema. Technically I got them last December but I guess they can still count as something new to look forward to getting loads of wear out from in the new year, no?

I love my D&G's to bits but sometimes we all need a change - the little details make all the difference and these Ralph Lauren glasses are just what I needed to change up my look a little. For starters, I have been wanting a pair of tortoiseshell glasses for as long as I can remember but somehow, I never found the perfect pattern for me - it's either too dark, too light, too busy, but the pattern on this pair is, well, perfect! The very front of the glasses is black though so the tortoiseshell colour is most notable on the temples.

My favourite part of these glasses are in fact the temples - understated yet full of details! There's the Ralph Lauren logo on the brushed gold-toned metal end piece and a bit of leather that 'connects' the end piece to the temple. The lenses are the perfect size for my face and I like the fact that the nose pads are in-built. I always tend to favour such models more.

The sales assistants at Optika always go out of their way to help me choose the perfect frame for a) my very demanding tastes and b) my small face. With the vast choice they offer, I always find it difficult to narrow down my choice to just one pair but with their professional help and advice, I somehow manage and I am always satisfied with my final choice :) Finally, to keep my lenses clean and scratch-free, I use Kler Spectacle Lens Cleaner and the provided cloth to ensure my glasses are always kept in tip-top condition.

For ideas on what Optika have to offer, go ahead and check out my gift ideas post for it doesn't have to be Christmas to give gifts! Wishing you all the very best for the year ahead!

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018!

I'm snuggled up here on our couch typing this post, the last post for 2017 as I sip on a mug of tea with the heater on and Christmas lights still twinkling, and of course, I cannot help but think what a good year this has been on so many levels.

2017 was a big year for me personally as well as for this blog - I got to work with some amazing brands and individuals, both 'old' and new, attended another edition of Malta Fashion Week and even got the chance to see what goes on backstage, shared my favourite outfits with you guys and it was even the year where big plans for 2018 started taking shape :)

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/05/mfwa-2017-what-goes-on-backstage.html

2017 was also the year me and my boyfriend purchased our first house together which we (technically, right now Mario is doing all the hard work :P) are working on to turn into a home - the home we have always wanted and hopefully, the one we start our family and grow old in :)

This year, more specifically at Christmas, I realized just how lucky I am to be surrounded by family and friends - the ones that stick through no matter what. This became more evident when my parents and my boyfriend asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I just couldn't think of something that I actually needed - I already have everything that matters. Sometimes, my busy life gets so in the way that I forget about the little things that have the most meaning so in 2018 I will try to slow down a bit and just appreciate everything and everyone that is a part of my life in one way or another.

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/02/black-velvet-vs-black-suede.html

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/05/fashion-meets-travel-in-sicily.html
http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/05/ladies-trip-to-trapani-sicily-with-blog.html

As for the blog, I have some big plans for it, to continue to deliver quality content to you, my readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who actually take the time to read and interact with what I write here in this little space on the internet. I would also like to thank the brands who year after year trust me to promote their products. Thanks also go to my better half, the one who is behind the lens most of the time and who patiently takes countless outfit pictures.

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/10/its-luxury-kind-of-thing-my-28th.html

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/10/introducing-zadig-voltaire-this-is-her.html

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/12/the-pink-secret-garden-at-sherries.html

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/10/the-love-for-maltese-tiles-maduma.html

http://larasbeautybible.blogspot.com.mt/2017/03/pleats-please.html

It was a year of travel too - travels filled with fond memories of new friendships, irreplaceable times with my better half and even some exquisite fine dining and a Manolo Blahnik exhibition in Milan!

I look forward to 2018 being a year where we fulfil more of our plans as well as a year of growth for the blog :) I am not thinking of the new year in terms of resolutions but I am looking at it in terms of goals - to better myself in the things I am not so good at and enrich myself and those around me in doing so. Thank you for joining me on this beautiful journey :)

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!