February 5, 2016 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

CHANEL AND LANCOME SKINCARE REVIEW

Happy February everyone! As you have probably realized by now, I am into skin care products more than make up ones. Skincare products improve the skin and help deal with any problems it may have, instead of just masking and covering them up. I like trying different skin care products from different brands, as I am always searching for something better and different from the products I already have. I don’t really have high-end brands makeup and skin care, but on January there was a huge sale on a few shopping centres and I decided it was my chance to get some high-end skin care. Therefore, I went with Chanel and Lancome. I already have a couple of skin care products from both brands and I really like them. From both brands I picked a toner and a mask, because I love toners and I always like to try new masks.

From Chanel I got the Silky Soothing Toner for Comfort and Anti-Pollution and the Hydration, Protection and Radiance Mask from the Hydra Beauty line. I used both products and I sadly have to admit I am not very satisfied with both of them. First thing’s first, the Toner is a nice toner which refreshes the skin, but it is not something that wowed me. It smells lovely, but I don’t feel it really cleanses my skin. It is supposed to be anti-pollution, but besides refreshing my skin, I don’t feel it does anything else. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just feel that the other toners I have offer something more. The Mask, as well, is not something amazing. It is a moisture mask for radiant and smooth skin, that you apply on your face before you sleep and you massage it into your skin before you sleep. It felt really greasy on my skin and my skin couldn’t absorb it at all. I don’t know if this is how the product is supposed to be, but I really hate greasy products that make my skin look shiny and they are not absorbed easily. Even once I woke up the product was still there. It had been absorbed a little but you could still feel my skin being sticky. I didn’t like the mask and I felt it also broke me out a bit. I never had acne or any skin issues but after the mask I had a couple of zits and irritation, which to be is a break out. Really unhappy with the mask.

From Lancome I got the Clarifying Exfoliating Toner and the Purifying Mineral Mask with White Clay. Unlike with Chanel, I was really satisfied with Lancome. I have two products already from the brand and I really love them, so I had high expectations from the two new ones. The Toner is amazing. I absolutely love it! It has a strong scent because it contains alcohol. Toners which contain alcohol, are not suitable for dry and sensitive skin types; they will dry out the dry skin and irritate the sensitive skin. It didn’t irritate my skin at all. I would classify my skin as a little sensitive, but not much. Therefore, the toner didn’t affect my skin negatively at all. On the contrary, It actually helped my skin a lot. Every time I use the toner, the cotton pad is quite dirty even after I have cleansed my skin. This is something I hadn’t noticed before with my other toners. I was always under the impression that I had cleansed my skin a lot and therefore there was nothing for the toner to remove. With this toner I realized I was wrong; there always was some dirt left and this toner will definitely remove it. So happy I actually got the 400 ml bottle (double the size of my other toners), because it will last me for a long time. The Mask is really good as well. It is a clay mask and as with all clay masks, it becomes solid on my skin before I rinse it off. Its scent is quite unpleasant, but it doesn’t really bother me and the results I get are amazing; my skin feels really tight and bright afterwards which I love. I used the mask on my mom, who has a different skin to mine, and it was a success as well. Her skin was so moisturized, tight and brighter than before. Such a lovely mask. The skin really feels extra clean and refreshed. It even feels tighter which is great! I prefer it much more than the Chanel one.

Recently I added some high-end products to my skin care collection, from Chanel and Lancome, as I don’t have anything almost from the first brand, and I love whatever I have from the second. I was quite disappointed with the Chanel products, because although the toner was simply ok, the mask was quite underwhelming. The toner has a nice, refreshing feel but nothing more than that. The mask is greasy, sticky and not easily absorbed. It also broke me out a little bit, which doesn’t happen often. Unlike Chanel’s products, the Lancome ones were great. The toner is amazing, because it really moisturizes and cleanses my skin and the mask is great because it makes my skin feel more plum, tighter and brighter. What more could you ask from a mask right? I totally recommend the Lancome products but for the Chanel ones I am not satisfied therefore, I can’t really recommend them. The toner is ok for refreshing your skin, so I suppose you could try it out but the mask is a let down. I would love to hear your opinion about these products and which is your favorite toner in general? Comment down below and share! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

January 29, 2016 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

MY FAVORITE MAC LIPSTICKS – SWATCHES

I love lipsticks! From all the different types of makeup products out there, lipsticks are my absolute favorite. Even when I am not in the mood for a full face makeup look, I just put some lipstick on and I instantly feel happier and like my self is more put together. I like how a lipstick is enough to transform a day time look to a night-time one, orr how there are different shades that compliment you during the different seasons.

If I was stuck in an island and I only had to choose one makeup product to have with me, it would definitely be a lipstick. And it would probably be a MAC one. MAC is one of my favorite makeup brands, but above all I really like its lipsticks. I love how long-lasting they are and how easy to apply and blend. Also I really like the variety of the types of finish. There are satin lipsticks, matte (my favorite), lustre, cremesheen and more. The finish is really what differentiates one lipstick from the other, because it basically is how the lipstick will end up looking once applied. So the matte ones are not going to be shiny at all, whereas the cremesheen and lustre ones, are creamier and shinier. In this post I am going to share my favorite MAC lipsticks divided in three categories based on their color: plum/purple/dark red, pink/nude and bright colors like red and fuchsia.

Pink/nude lipsticks

Please me: This is a lovely rosy pink shade which is perfect for a casual day look. It has a matte finish which is my favorite, because it looks more natural and toned down. I don’t like creamy lipsticks a lot, because they look too glossy for my taste, they last less and my hair tends to stick on them which is not cool at all. I feel that this is the perfect pink shade; not too pink and Barbie-like but also not too nude.

Pink plaid: This is another lovely pink shade. I really like this shade because it is a blue-toned pink. I am not a huge fan of pink color makeup wise because I feel it doesn’t really flatter me. However, I love the blue-toned pink. Its cool tone matches my quite pale skin and brunette hair color. Its matte finish is a plus. Another perfect pink for a casual look. Please me is just a bit warmer than pink plaid however, they both work quite well on my skin.

Mehr: This is a new lipstick I got my hands on this year and I am absolutely in love with it. It is another dirty blue pink, like the Pink Plaid lipstick, plus it is also matte. The difference is that Mehr looks a bit more brown on my lips than pink. It is like a deeper shade of pink that is almost brown/mauve. I really love this lipstick for a day and night look. Its darker than the previous two and perfect for fall/winter.

Plum/dark red

Amorous: Moving on to the plum/dark red category, one of my favorite lipsticks is Amorous. This is a dark cranberry shade, with a satin finish. Satin finish is a semi-matte finish, which means it is the closest thing to the absolute matte finish, but it also has some creaminess. I love this shade for fall and winter, as it is a lovely dark pinkish-red, which really compliments my reddish hair color and my pale skin tone. It is perfect for the entire day. I really like wearing darker shades in the daytime especially in the winter, because they make eye makeup redundant.

Plumful: This is one of my oldest MAC lipsticks. It is a rose-plum shade with lustre finish. I really like this color as it is a perfect plum and plum is another perfect fall/winter shade. It is a pinkish plum shade instead of dark purple one, which makes it wearable in the daytime as well as the nighttime. Being lustre, means it is creamy and with some shine, which although it’s not my favorite, is not bad at all. I can tap some powder over it and it immediately becomes more matte.

Rebel: This is the newest addition to my collection. I got a week ago and I am in love with it. I had its matching lip pencil, the Rebelious, and I love it so much that I thought I should get the lipstick too. I am really happy with this lipstick. It is a satin, dark purple plum shade. I know it sounds so confusing, but it is not an eggplant purple, or a very dark one like the Cyber. It looks very dark in the bullet, but once applied it can come off a bit lighter, like a magenta toned plum. It is semi-matte, which makes it long-lasting and steadier. Although it is quite dark, I would actually wear it in the day time as well, because it is a statement lipstick that is enough to be a look on its own. Such a show stopper!

Bright red/fuchsia

Girl About Town: The last category is about the bright colors of my collection that I really like. Girl About Town, is one of my favorite lipsticks in general if not my favorite. I absolutely love this shade. I find it perfect for all year round and all day round. It’s a bright fuchsia shade with a creamy amplified finish. It feels buttery on the lips but it doesn’t really fade easily. It is such a lovely shade, that always cheers me up. I feel pretty and just in a better mood whenever I am wearing it. I also believe it flatters all skin shades!

Perpetual Flame: This is a Pro-Longwear lipstick, which means that it is supposed to last much longer than the regular ones. It is a lovely red/pink shade. It has a matte finish, but it feels quite steady on the lips and I dare to say a little drying. Once on the lips its feels like it’s not going anywhere. It is also a little harder to remove and it stains the lips a little bit. However, it is a gorgeous color and I love how matte and steady it is. Perfect for all year round due to the red and pink hues it has.

Russian Red: Another classic lipstick! This along with Girl About Town are my oldest and favorite shades. This is a blueish, bright red and it has a matte finish. It is absolutely gorgeous. It is a bright, cool toned red. It doesn’t have any coral hues which I really like. It flatters all the skin tones and hair colors, and it is perfect for all year round. I do enjoy wearing it in the spring and summer more though, as in the winter I go for darker and deeper shades of red. I even have the magic lip liner (Cherry), because you can never wear a red lipstick without a liner first!

As you have probably realized by now, I am a lipstick hoarder. I love lipsticks very much because they brighten up my mood and make me feel much prettier than any eye shadow can. They are all I need in a makeup look essentially. MAC lipsticks are amazing. With different finish and in a variety of shades, the choices are many. The shades I usually go for are plum, red and berry. Sometimes I go for light pink as well. I love how they are long-lasting and good quality. I recommend all the lipsticks mentioned above, as well as MAC lipsticks in general. What is your favorite lipstick? Comment down below and share or snap a picture wearing it and upload it on Instagram using the hashtag #myonelipstick . I would check them all out! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

January 7, 2016 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

LAURA MERCIER SWEET TEMPTATIONS REVIEW

LAURA MERCIER SWEET TEMPTATIONS AMBRE VANILLE SET REVIEW

Hello everyone! I hope 2016 is treating you all good so far! Although I am really excited for the new year, I am also sad that the holidays are over. All the gifts and the cheerful , festive spirit are gone. This year, there were so many amazing holiday sets from so many beauty and skin care brands, that it was really hard to choose from. Either for a present or for myself, picking just one set was a hard task. However, one of the sets that really stood out to me and I got my hands on, is Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre Vanille Luxe Body Collection set. This is a bath and body set from Laura Mercier and it includes 4 amazing products. A shower gel, a honey bath with its wooden honey dipper, a body cream (souffle) and a perfume, all with the Ambre Vanille scent. I had heard so many amazing words about Laura Mercier’s bath products and especially its honey bath, that I knew I had to have this set; and I was happy to realise that everything I had heard was true; the set is simply amazing.

My favorite thing from the entire set, would be the body cream, or body souffle as it is called. It is a thick, rich body lotion, that moisturizes and softens the skin. I apply it after showering and my skin instantly feels silky smooth, plus it smells amazing. The Ambre Vanille scent is wonderful. It is quite sweet but not in a sickly way; more like a vanilla cookie way. It is currently my favorite body moisturizer; so rehydrating and soft.

The shower gel is quite lovely. You only need a small quantity and you get a lot of foam. It smells amazing as well and it’s a perfect way to layer the scent. Showering with the gel and then layering with the body cream, is a perfect way to make the scent last longer and be more intense. Although the gel is not a big size, it is going to last for a while, as I prefer using it on special occasions and not on a daily basis.

The perfume is a tiny 15 ml bottle that you can easily put in your bag and carry with you. It has the exact same scent, perhaps a bit stronger due to the alcohol. It’s the last step on the layering process, behind the shower gel and body cream. It’s not a big bottle obviously but it is a nice touch in the entire set. It may not be the centre piece of the set but it is handy part of the Ambre Vanille line. Since I don’t wear perfume often due to my allergy, this will definitely last me for a while.

Last but not least, the star of the set and a best seller, is the honey bath that comes along with its own wooden honey dipper. You fill in your bathtub with water and then add a swirl of the honey bath for a relaxing bath. It smells amazing and creates a lot of bubbles. Its scent is not overwhelming, on the contrary it is very relaxing and stress-relieving. This product is definitely going to last me a while, as I don’t take a bath every day and I don’t need more than a swirl or two for a nice foam.

The Laura Mercier Sweet Temptations set with the Ambre Vanille scent, is absolutely amazing. All the products are lovely. From the simple shower gel and perfume to the moisturizing body cream and relaxing honey bath, this set will steal your heart. It will make you feel you are in your own luscious home spa. With Almond, Brown Sugar, Coconut, the Ambre Vanille holiday set is perfect for anyone who wants to have a lovely, soft skin that smells irresistibly delicious. I absolutely recommend the set to everyone. As for myself, I intend to repurchase the products individually once they are finished. And the best part is that the set is still available on the Laura Mercier site! So you guys can still get your hands on it if you hurry! Have any of you guys have tried any Laura Mercier bath and body products and if so do you like them? Comment down below and share your own experience. Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

January 3, 2016 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

DECEMBER FAVORITES

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I wish you all an amazing 2016, where your wildest dreams come true! It has been a bit crazy this past week due to all the celebrations and preparations, so I am a little late with my monthly favorites. December was a lovely month with all the presents and the festive spirit. I got the chance to try some new products that I absolutely loved and can’t wait to share with you guys.

Jo Malone Perfume – French Lime Blossom

Every time I go by Jo Malone’s stand I always feel the urge to smell the amazing perfumes and candles. This year is definitely Jo Malone’s year for me. Not only I got my first candle (see post) but also I got a couple of perfumes. From the beginning, I was in love with the French Lime Blossom perfume. It has a powdery scent and it reminds me of something clean and fresh, like soap. I know it doesn’t seem like much but I absolutely love that scent. It makes me feel peaceful, like I am in a fresh meadow on a spring day. I love it when I can associate a perfume to something so stress relieving. It is not overwhelming or too strong. I love the perfume so much, that I am considering getting the candle too at some point.

Charlotte Tilbury – Charlotte’s Magic Cream

I got this cream in Charlotte Tilbury holiday set “The gift of Goddess” (see review). Having heard so many amazing things about Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty and skin care products, I have wanted to try them for a while now. I got the cream in a small size and I tried it right away. It’s amazing; such a moisturizing cream with a nice thick texture. It smells lovely (like a rose), and it doesn’t make my face oily at all. You only need to apply a little bit, which means my small pot will last. I love how smooth and fresh my face feels afterwards, especially now in the winter where it gets quite dry.

Michael Kors Camille Small Leather Satchel in black

I was looking for a nice everyday bag for a couple of months now. Since I don’t have a light grey bag, I was after that color. I think it’s very neutral and I can wear it daily all year round. I never had a Michael Kors bag before, but I always liked his designs, as they are modern and sophisticated. However, I couldn’t find the style and size I wanted in light grey. I was really bumped, but then I came across the Camille satchel in black and I was in love. It is such a cute bag, with the perfect size for daily use. It has a strap, many compartments and the leather is so soft. It was simply perfect. My mom surprised me by getting it for me for Christmas! Black is the perfect color that matches with everything. It is not the color I wanted, but it is a basic, neutral color which is what I was going for bottom line. The size is just great; apart from daytime, I can get it for a dinner or a drink as well. It is not really small, and it can accommodate everything I carry with me daily plus an umbrella in case of rain. An absolutely ideal bag!

Klurskin cleanser with jojoba and coconut

As I have mentioned before, I am a skin care hoarder. I love skin care products and I am always looking for something new that will freshen up and improve my skin. Although I do like all the major cosmetics and skin care brands, lately I am interested more and more into smaller, indie skin care brands. They are local and use natural ingredients. Klurskin is a LA based brand that creates non-toxic products that nourish the skin. This cleanser is aloe based and 75% organic. It has coconut milk and jojoba oil. It is in a gel form and has a pleasant scent. It is very gentle and cleanses the skin well; however, I don’t use it when I have a lot of make up on my face because I feel I need something stronger. I love how much it actually hydrates my skin. It doesn’t only cleanse it and removes all the dirt, but it also hydrates it and makes it look fresher and calmer afterwards. Such a nice, organic cleanser!

Laura Mercier Ambre and Vanille body soufflé

I got Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre and Vanille holiday set because I was very excited to try the body products. Everybody is raving about how lovely they are, so when I saw the holiday set, I just had to get it. I am not going to mention the entire set, as there will be a review about it up soon, but I have to admit that the body lotion is my favorite product. I absolutely love it! It has an amazing scent that makes me feel like I am a vanilla cookie, and it deeply moisturizes my skin. It has a thick texture therefore, you don’t need a lot. Its scent lingers for a couple of days on my skin which is wonderful. This body soufflé is just perfect. From the scent to the feeling, it is amazing. I know for sure that once I finish it I will repurchase the full size.

Topshop Betty Star boots

I am not going to talk a lot about those boots because there will be a review of them up the blog soon. I got the Topshop Betty Star boots only recently but I am in love with them already. The heel height is perfect for me for every day and for a casual night out as well. I love how they are simple but the golden stars in the back add some spice to them. They are basic black ankle boots but with a twist. I have worn them twice so far and I love them! Stay tuned for a more thorough review J

H&M nail polish in Red Over Heels shade

You guys already know how much I love H&M’s new nail polishes. I have a whole review of them where I am raving about how fast they dry and how long the last (see review). For the holidays I wanted a true red color, so I can be a little festive myself. I went for the Red Over Heels shade, because it is a lovely deep, yet not too dark, red. It doesn’t have any orange undertone. I was so happy with my choice. They nail polish was lovely like all the H&M ones and it was perfect for the holiday season. I don’t usually go for red nails but I was so happy I did this year!

YSL Rouge pur Couture lipstick in the shade 201

I got this lipstick in a magazine, so I didn’t purchase it myself. I never had a YSL lipstick so I didn’t have an opinion about them. I was happy to find that the lipstick was in a bright red shade, because red is one of my favorite lip colors. The shade itself is quite lovely; bright red with orange undertone. Something I don’t really have. I tried it on and I was surprised at how lovely it looks. It’s creamy and moisturizing, which I really like, since my lips are quite dry. It is matte with a satin finish. It didn’t sit in my lip lines and it lasted for a quite a while. I really love this lipstick, as it is festive and the sample size of it is just too cute! I am very pleasantly surprised with this YSL lipstick, because I liked the texture, the color and the longevity. Also it has a rose scent. Highly recommend the YSL Rouge pur Couture lipstick!

I was so blessed to get my hands on some amazing things on December. I absolutely love each and every thing mentioned in this post. From the bag and the shoes to the lipstick and the body lotion, all these products are simply wonderful. They stole my heart on December and they earned their place in my monthly favorites list. I recommend them all. Don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hello! With 2015 gone, I am very excited for what 2016 has in store! Happy New Year to everyone with lots of love!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

December 23, 2015 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

FESTIVE MAKEUP LOOK

FESTIVE MAKE UP LOOK

Hello lovelies! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! I am so excited thinking of all the food and sweets and just how fun that day will be. For a festive day like this, a festive look is appropriate. However, I am not a huge fan of extravagant makeup looks; I mostly like subtle yet glamorous makeup that does not look heavy on the face. I really like the old school Hollywood stars make up, where lips are the centre of the entire look. For this festive Christmas look, I will go for shimmery eyes but not too loud, and for bold lips. I am torn between red and purple, as I love purple lipstick a lot however, I believe red lipstick puts the F in Festive! So let’s get started shall we?

The face

In order to look extra glamorous and fresh on Christmas day, I moisturized my face using Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream. I really love how smooth and hydrated my skin feels afterwards. Then I used MAC’s Prep and Prime primer to prime my face so the makeup will not crease and stay in place for the day. In order to achieve a dewy base, I used a tiny bit of my Nars Sheer Glow foundation in the shade Mont Blanc, which I applied with a damp sponge. For under my eyes, I used my Bobbi Brown Corrector in the shade Bisque to cover my dark circles, and then I applied my Nars Radiant creamy concealer in the shade Vanilla. To set the base I used my Rimmel Stay Matte powder in the shade Transparent. Once everything is set, it’s time for the highlighter and blush. For blush I used MAC’s Breath of Plum because I find it a lovely winter color that ties well with gold shimmery shades. For highlighter I used my Physician’s Formula “Natural Nude” palette. I love this multipurpose palette and especially the top white colors for highlighting. I applied the highlighter on my cheekbones, inner eye corners and my cupid’s bow. I am not a huge fan of contouring and bronzing however, I used my Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit palette to bring some warmth to my pale face. I used the middle bottom shade because it is perfect for very pale skin, and I applied it on the hollows of my cheeks and my forehead; but only a little because I didn’t want to end up with darker face than body. And with that the face is finished.

The eyes

Moving on to the eyes, I went for a shimmery yet subtle look. I wanted to keep the eyes bright and glamorous but not very strong as to overshadow the lips. To create the festive look I was going for I used two of my favorite palettes: Naked 2 (p1) by Urban Decay and Everything Nice (p2) by Too Faced. These palettes are extremely pigmented, which means you really need a small quantity each time on your brush. First I applied the color Turtle Dove (p2), which is a creamy matte white, all over my lid and up to my brow bone, in order to create the perfect base. Then from the first palette (p1) I used the color Bootycall (I know right?) on my lid. This is a nude-peachy metallic color, which is going to deepen my lid a bit. Then, from the second palette (p2) I applied the color Shinny Happy on the centre of my lid. This is a shimmery, cool toned gold. It sets the base for the glamorous part. With a fluffy brush I blended the color Suspect (p1), which is a silvery gold, on the edge of my crease to brighten the eye a bit. Lastly I used the color Don’t Settle (p2), which is a brown-gold color, on the outer corner of my eye and all the way to the middle, to make the look a little bolder and tie everything in. On the inner corner of my eye, as mentioned before, I used my highlighter. On my lower lashline, I used the color Don’t Settle (p2) to enhance the look and make it a little more dramatic. I am not a big fan of liquid liner or eye liner in general, because I feel it looks heavy on my droopy eyes. Therefore, I choose to use a black eye shadow with an angled brush and I create a small wing which I bring to the middle of my lid and smudge it a little bit. I also connect the wing to my lower lashline until the middle as well. I don’t use fake lashes as I am rubbish at it however, I love mascara! I curled my lashes with my H&M curler and then I used Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara. It makes the lashes longer and much fuller, perfect for a festive look. Of course we should never forget our eye brows. My eye brow routine is very simple. I brush them with a spoolie, then I fill them in a little with my Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown and I set them with a clear brow gel.

The lips

Last but not least, the lips. Remember the lips are the centre of the whole look. It’s the holidays so I decided after some conflict to use a lovely bright red lip color. First I muted my lips with some powder and then I used my MAC lip liner in Ruby Woo to line my lips slightly. I don’t go over my lips with my liner; I simple go over my natural lines and accentuate my cupids bow. I absolutely love red lipsticks. For this look I wanted a bright red but not orangey, so I used Rimmel’s Kate Moss number 10. Such a beautiful creamy red! It is not very matte or very glossy. If you want to go full on, then you can add some red or even clear lipstick on the top. To make sure my makeup will last and look amazing after a couple of hours, I set it with MAC’s Fix Plus spray.

I love how festive this look is, without being over the top. The eye makeup is a cool toned gold, paired with a bold and bright red lipstick. It is a look that can carry you throughout the day and night. You can have it on the Christmas table and the bar you might pop at night. It is flattering for everyone, as you can never go wrong with a red lipstick. I hope you like the look as much as I do. If you recreate it, share it on Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) with the hashtag #myshinyxmas.

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

December 17, 2015 - crazyandfashionable 2 Comments

THE GIFT OF GODDESS – HOLIDAY SET REVIEW

Hello guys! Being sick for a few days now has really brought down my mood, however, this weekend I received something I have been dying to try out since the end of November; Charlotte Tilbury’s “The Gift of Goddess” skin holiday set. You all may know by now that I am quite a skin care hoarder. I love skin care products probably more than makeup ones. The reason for that is that with skin care products you don’t just enhance your characteristics and your natural beauty, but you can actually improve your imperfections or any problems your skin may have. Skin care products are a huge addiction for me, especially moisturizers and face cleansers. I just love trying different brands and see what they have to offer.

Charlotte Tilbury is a very renowned makeup artist who works with many celebrities. I have heard so many amazing things about her makeup and skin care products so I have been longing to try some for quite a while. When I am not sure about a brand, I prefer to try a sample first before I invest in a full size product. Holiday sets are the perfect way to get to know a brand and try many different products. Therefore, when her holiday sets came out I really wanted to get one. I picked “The Gift of Goddess” skin set, because the products included are the ones I really wanted to get. The set has 3 products and is 15 ml each. It has Charlotte’s Magic Cream, which is a moisturizer, the Wonderglow, which is an illuminating cream like a highlighter, and the Goddess Skin Clay Mask, which obviously is a mask.

Charlotte’s Magic Cream is absolutely lovely. It is a moisturizing cream with SPF 15 so you can wear it in the daytime. I have been wearing it in the nighttime as part of my before-sleep routine. My skin is quite dry recently because of the cold weather and I need a good moisturizer. This cream is simple lovely. It smells amazing, like roses and gardenia, is thick enough but it is absorbed easily by the skin and it is spreadable, which means you only need a small quantity to cover the entire face. So although it is 15 ml, it will last for a while. I really enjoy using this cream and I do feel my skin moisturized. However, the best part is how soft my skin feels next morning. It is smooth like a baby’s butt. I absolutely recommend it.

The Goddess Skin Clay mask is a mask that lifts, smooths, brightens your skin and tightens your pores. I have used the mask twice so far and I am not very sure how I feel about it. It has the same lovely scent as the cream and it is very easy to apply on your skin. Because you need a thick layer in order to have some results, the 15 ml may not last for as long as the cream. It has a nice feel to it and it is easy to remove with a warm cloth. I love how my skin is soft and smooth afterwards and it does look a little brighter however, I can’t really tell if it lifts the skin and tightens the pores. I believe if it is used for a longer period, you might get all the mentioned results, but just after a couple of times I didn’t get everything promised. Hence I am unsure how I feel about it. I am not dissatisfied, but it is more like one of these products that don’t really wow you. It is a nice mask, smells good and is quite rehydrating. It feels lovely and it brightens the skin a bit. I am glad I got a 15 ml sized tube to check it out before I splurge on the big one.

Lastly, the Wonderglow is a very promising product but I don’t believe I fully understood what it is when I first put it on. I was under the impression it is a sort of metallic highlighting primer, like Benefit’s High Beam but as a primer. You can use the product under your foundation, over your foundation or just on its own on a makeup free face. Once I applied it though, I realized it is a shimmery product. It has a beige color which dissolves once you apply it, and it is very shimmery. I don’t like shimmer on my skin a lot especially on an everyday basis. I made the mistake to apply it to my entire face which stressed me out because I didn’t want to have shimmer on my forehead and chin. The shimmer however, is quite discrete, so I am confused as to what the product really does; if the shimmer is barely seen then I don’t understand what’s the point of it. Plus I can only apply shimmer on my cheeks, otherwise it’s going to look tacky a bit. So this product is very confusing to me and I didn’t really enjoy it.

“The Gift of Goddess” skin set by Charlotte Tilbury, is a lovely holiday set for anyone who has never used the brand before. The products are a great introduction to the brand’s skincare line. The size is quite small for the money you pay ( 50 euro ) but compared to the price for the full-sized ones it’s a good deal. Overall the products are quite nice, with the Magic Cream the set’s hit. I recommend this set for anyone who wants to try the brand out plus it would make a lovely Christmas present. Have you guys tried any of these products and if so what do you think about them? Don’t forget to pop over Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) to say hi.

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

December 13, 2015 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM

Following my previous post, Christmas Gift Guide for Her, this post is going to be a Christmas Gift Guide for Him. It is a suggestion of what I consider great Christmas presents for the special guys in your life. I am so excited for the gift guide posts, because I love sharing lovely things I would definitely get for the people I care about. You guys already know how much I enjoy getting gifts for the people I love, so these posts are really fun for me and hopefully for you too! I always found shopping for a guy much harder than for a girl, mostly because I am quite unfamiliar with what a guy might like, plus guys have a smaller variety of categories of products they use. However, in this gift guide I have picked out some pretty cool things that I believe they would put a big smile on that special someone’s face.

A perfume set is always a lovely and safe choice of a present. I love perfumes, especially the male ones, because I love strong scents just like my mom. I absolutely love Dior’s Sauvage Coffret gift set. It features Dior’s newest perfume (yes the one with the Johnny Depp ad), which just happens to be amazing. Also it has the aftershave lotion, which is perfect for grooming and a small pocket spray you can actually refill. It is great for carrying around or travelling. I know it’s on the pricey side but it is truly an amazing and luxurious gift. Dior perfumes are among my favorite ones!

art of shaving-horz — *Photo credit: www.sephora.com*

Another gift I consider very important for a guy, would be a shaving kit. I love getting my boyfriend different shaving kits so he can try out a few products from the range of different brands and decide the one which works best for him. The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Carry-On from The Art of Shaving, is one of my personal favorites. I got this for my boyfriend and he really enjoyed it. This kit is the carry on version which is half price from the regular one, and the products are travel sized. I believe it is a good introduction to the brand and in case it doesn’t work 100% for your guy, he can just keep the set for travelling purposes. The set has a pre-shave oil, a shaving cream, an after shave balm and a shaving brush. It basically is a complete set of everything necessary for the perfect shave! I really love the shaving brush; it adds such a splash of luxury and pampering. The set comes in an unscented version and in a lavender-scented one. But just to be fair, if your guy is on the beardy side, you could get him a beard grooming kit. I would recommend Jack Black’s Beard Grooming kit which contains an all over wash, a beard oil, a beard conditioning lube and a beard comb. My boyfriend has used Jack Black’s products before and he always was satisfied. The price is a plus as well!

While we are still in the grooming-pampering area, I believe another great Christmas gift would be a skin care set. A good skin care routine is not only a female issue; men should take good care of their skin as well. I would recommend Aesop’s Collective Care for Combination Skin. It’s a lovely set that consists of a face cleanser, a balancing toner and a rehydrating cream. Aesop is a skin care brand with plant-based products. I haven’t tried the brand yet although I am about to get my first product soon and I can’t wait. It has amazing reviews and it is highly recommended. I know it is quite pricey, but it will be a luxurious set that your special man will definitely enjoy!

*Photo credit: www.playstation.com, www.amazon.com*

Moving on from grooming products, I don’t know a single guy who does not love video games. I know it may sound such a cliché, but boy oh boy do they love video games! Mine does for sure. So it goes without saying that a video game related gift would be amazing! Since I am totally clueless when it comes to video games (I only have a Wii and Mario games), I would recommend 2 different game related gifts. First a Playstation Plus subscription sounds amazing. For a yearly subscription, he could get free games, discounts and game trials. I don’t know much but this sounds quite lovely! My second recommendation would be a 2-part gift; a game of your choice and an extra controller. How cool would that be right? I have no idea about games to recommend one from personal experience, but Fallout 4 is quite hyped and I really like the DualShock 4 Wireless controller in black color. This little duo would be an excellent gift for a PS lover.

Another lovely and vintage style present would be a Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer. This little gadget that I have been lasting over for ages, allows you to print pictures from your phone on paper like an instant camera. I am really into the whole self-printing technology that is quite trending lately. I have a Fujifilm Instax camera and I absolutely love it. I like how all the pictures we snap on a daily basis on our phones, instead of keeping them in our computers or phones forever, we can print them out and put them around us so we can cherish the memories they bring. I find this gift really amazing. Just don’t forget to get a little pack of paper to go along with the printer!

The list gift I would recommend, as I did in the Hers gift guide, would be a big stocking filled with lovely smaller gifts. Imagine his surprise when he opens the stocking and finds all the little goodies inside. You could fill it in with Selfridges Men Grooming Kit, which 8 travel size products, a razor and of course the travel bag. This kit is so cute and it has everything a man needs when traveling from shaving to showering and moisturizing. Another lovely gift would be a leather wallet-phone case like Urban Outfitter’s Understated Leather Wallet Case. You can carry your phone, cards and cash plus I really like the color of it the design of the moon on the front. Such a pretty and masculine case. Or how about his own Makerskit Mason Cocktail Kit by Urban Outiftters which includes everything needed to make your own cool cocktails! As a huge mug lover, there are so many lovely mugs you could get as stocking fillers like this cool Star Wars mug from Urban outfitters. I love Star Wars and I have to admit Darth Vader is ultra cool! Or how about this Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit by Urban Outfitters, which includes almost everything he needs to make his own beer. Now how cool does this gift round, right? There are so many amazing things out there you guys could use to fill your big stocking; just don’t forget the Christmas candy!

I absolutely love Christmas; it is my favorite time of the year. I love the gift giving spirit and how happy people are once they receive their gifts. All the above gifts sound so amazing and I would love to get my special man something from above. As a matter of fact I have already decided which one I will get him 😉 I hope you enjoy my gift guide for Him and if you have a special girl and you are looking for gift ideas, you should check out my Christmas Guide for Her post. Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

December 10, 2015 - crazyandfashionable 1 Comment

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

With Christmas only a few weeks away, it’s this lovely time of the year again where we buy gifts for our loved ones, and share the holiday spirit! I love getting gifts for all my family and friends more than getting stuff for myself. Although many of you like to get your gifts quite early and have a stress-free countdown to Christmas, I am quite naughty and I always end up getting my gifts on the very last-minute, which completely stresses me out. Therefore, this year I decided not only to get my presents earlier than usual but also to suggest some pretty cool gifts for your favorite ones! I am so excited since this is my very first Christmas gift guide post and I really can’t wait to share with you guys some lovely things I have picked out.

Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge/?lang=2&menuid=14&id=114&page=2 — Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge

A perfume set is always a lovely idea for a present. I absolutely love perfumes! Who doesn’t right? Valentino’s Valentina Eau de Parfum set is perfect! I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes but I am in love with Valentina. It is such a sexy and feminine yet fresh scent, that you can’t go wrong with. This set is great as it also contains the body lotion. Layering the perfume on top of the body lotion will make the scent last longer and be more intense. And how cute is that box right?

Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com/new-arrivals/sweet-temptations-ambre-vanille-luxe-body-collection-12615222.html#start=2 — Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com

In the whole spirit of layering and smelling amazing, another great gift and personal favorite is Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre Vanille Luxe Body Collection. I actually got this set for myself and it is amazing! The set has a body wash, body lotion (or soufflé), perfume and honey bath, all with the Ambre Vanille scent. Everything is so pretty. You can use the body wash for a quick shower or the honey bath, which is a best-selling product, for a more relaxing bath. Then layer the body soufflé (which is brilliant!) and the perfume. The scent is quite sweet but not in a sickening way. Such an amazing gift!

Photo credit: http://www.net-a-porter.com

Since we all know how important skin care is to girls – and it should be to guys as well – I find that a luxurious skin care set would be a great gift to your special someone! There are so many out there that I can’t wait to get my hands on, but Sarah Chapman’s Facial In a Box set has really stand out to me. It is a lovely set of 5 products, including a 3-D mask and 2 professional cleansing mitts. It is such a lovely introduction to the brand and such a luxurious set. Using these products will make you feel like you are being pampered in a spa.

Photo credit: http://shop.lomography.com

In an era where we capture every moment on our phones and cameras, what a better gift than a lovely camera that ties the old with the new. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 is a wonderful present for everyone; boy or girl. I have the bigger one and I absolutely love it. However, it is quite heavy and big which makes it really hard to fit it in my purse and carry it around all the time. The Mini 8 is a cute camera that immediately develops the pictures taken. It has a vintage vibe combined with modern design. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors. I personally love the powdery blue one! Don’t forget to get a pack of film!

Photo credit: http://www.diptyqueparis.com

As a proper candle-addict, I believe that Diptyque’s Seasonal Candle Set is another amazing gift. Diptyque’s candles are just wonderful. They smell amazing and last forever, plus they are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere. This seasonal set includes 5 mini candles with different scents which is amazing. It is a perfect introduction to the world of luxurious candles. I have a review of my favorite Diptyque scent, that you guys should check out!

Photo credit left to right: www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.amazon.com, www.anthropologie.com

The last gift I would recommend is a little bit more complicated. Personally, whenever I get gifts for my people I always like to get a couple of gifts instead of just one. I don’t know why but I just love the moment when the present is unwrapped and there are more presents in it. Like the babushka dolls! Therefore, I believe a big stocking filled with many small gifts would be a great gift itself. You could fill the stocking with a book, like Madeline Shaw’s Get the Glow book for the healthy eater, or Jemma Kidd’s Jemma’s Makeup Secrets for the makeup addict one! Great stocking filler could also be a cute little journal like Urban Outfitter’s Oh Snap leather journal, along with some cute stationary. This Gold Monogram Mug from Anthropologie would also make a lovely stocking filler. You can add any bits and bobs you like and personalize the present which makes it even more perfect! Don’t forget the Christmas candy!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year! The holiday spirit is just everywhere and everyone is happy and cheerful. I love that is a gift giving period, because buying presents for my loved ones is ony of my favorite things and it makes me very happy. On my Christmas gift guide for her, I am sharing some ideas of presents for your favorite girls; mom, aunt, sister, bff or loved one!! I personally love all those things; I even have some of them and the ones I don’t have, I really want to get! Following this post, there will be a Christmas gift guide for Him, with some nice gift ideas for the special guys in your life, so stay tuned! Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

December 5, 2015 - crazyandfashionable Leave a comment

NOVEMBER FAVORITES

November and autumn – which is my favorite season – might be gone, but December has set in, with Christmas just around the corner. Since it’s the end of the month, I have done a roundup of my most loved and used products! This is so exciting, as it is also my first “monthly favorites” post and I can’t wait to share with you guys everything that really got in my heart this month. I am going to mention not only my beauty favorites, but also my fashion ones as well as some random things!

Beauty – Skincare – Hair care

As a nail polish hoarder, I fell in love with H&M new nail polishes (see full review). Reinventing its beauty department, H&M came up with a new nail polish line, which looks higher end than their usual nail polishes and is a bit more expensive. However, they are absolutely amazing! I am completely converted. They are easy to apply, they dry in merely 5 minutes and they last for a little over a week with minor chipping. Also they so shiny you don’t even need to apply a top coat. I can’t say enough good words about them! I have already got 6 colors and I intend to get more, since the variety is huge!

I absolutely love Burberry’s Velvet foundation (see full review). It is very light and watery, so it is easy to apply and has a sheer, velvet finish. It blends in to my skin in such an easy way, that I can’t even tell I am wearing anything. I really love the sheer finish, especially for every day casual makeup because it doesnt burnden my skin. This foundation has by far the sheerest coverage I have seen. I love how the shade I have has a rosy undertone which is perfect for my pale, pinkish skin. In total, it is a wonderful foundation, perfect for those who seek something sheer and light.

Another makeup monthly favorite is my Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel. Up until recently I was using either a pencil or a shadow for my eyebrows. Lately though, I started using my ABH sample sized clear brow gel and I am in love. I know it is just a clear gel but I love how it sets my eyebrows in a perfect way. They look naturally full and groomed and you can’t see the imperfections and sparse areas.

I got Lancôme’s Renergie Lift Multi Action from a magazine and I decided to give it a try. I am so glad i did! It is amazing. Although it has anti-aging properties, for me it does wonders in moisturizing my skin. It is quite thick, almost like butter and it is absorbed instantly from the skin. I find my face so smooth the following morning and it looks clear and bright. I am very surprised with this cream and very happy I came across it. It is part of my nighttime routine now!

Moroccanoil hair treatment (see full review) is my holy grail! I had heard so many great things about it that I decided to give it a go. This product is simply amazing. I use only a pump for my entire hair and it makes my hair incredibly soft. Also my hair is easier to detangle. I am so shocked at how good this product is. All these reviews weren’t lying. You only need a little bit and your hair will be so nourished, soft and shiny. Definitely a favorite!

Fashion

My Public Desire over the knee boots (see full review) is my favorite pair of shoes for this month. They are so comfortable and pretty. They have a lovely fit, even though they are a bit big around my thighs, and they look so sexy. I love over the knee or thigh high boots. They look good with everything, either jeans or skirts and dresses, and they can be worn for a casual look or a fancier nighttime one. So perfect!

I absolutely love this ASOS black and red checkered coat. It is so pretty and because it has a biker jacket style, there is a rock vibe to it that I find very cool. I love how it’s black but the red checkered lines are so discreet. It is woollen so it’s very warm and has huge pockets which is perfect for when I am lazy and I don’t want to carry a bag with me. Also the detachable black furry collar makes it even cooler and warmer, plus it adds some sophistication which is perfect for the nighttime.

These H&M jumpers are simply amazing. I love how they are so long that can be worn with leggings or opaque tights alone. They are very warm but not woolen (wool itches my skin). Also they have the distressed detail at the bottom which adds some spice to the otherwise ordinary jumper. I have both of the colors they come in: grey and white-grey. They are so flattering and perfect for winter!

Lifestyle

I am a proper book-worm! I love reading books more than watching movies because while I am reading a book, I become creative and built the stories and the characters in my head. I feel like I am living the story myself. Although I have over 50 unread books in my library, I just can’t stop buying new ones. I am a book-addict! Lately I have been reading the 7 Letters from Paris book and I like it a lot. It is a romantic novel about a woman who met the love of her life at Paris and let him go. 20 years later, after a failed marriage, she goes back to Paris to find that one love and apologize to him! I am a sucker for love stories, what can I say! I recommend this book to all the romantic souls out there!

I absolutely love my Diptyque Violette candle (see full review). I don’t have much to say, since I already have a post raving about it, but this has to be the best candle I have ever used. Like it is amazing! It has a powdery, discreet scent that makes me feel calm and happy. I loved this so much, that I actually finished it in merely a month and repurchased it immediately!

I am so excited to share all the things I loved this past month with you guys. Either they are makeup and skin care or fashion and lifestyle, those things took a special place in my heart and made November a much better month for me! Do you have any of the things mentioned above and if so how do you feel about it? I would love to hear from you guys and also don’t forget to pop over Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

November 27, 2015 - crazyandfashionable 7 Comments

H&M NEW NAIL POLISHES REVIEW

Top left to right: Paper Ash, Heliotrope, Chalky Pink Bottom left to right: Foil Blush, Kalahari, Fool Plum — **Top** left to right: Paper Ash, Heliotrope, Chalky Pink
**Bottom** left to right: Foil Blush, Kalahari, Fool Plum

Hello everyone! Since the weather in Greece is indecisive, I feel like I am stuck between autumn and winter. And I say stuck because it seems we won’t be getting out any time soon. One thing I hate when the weather is like this, is the daily outfit struggle. Which colors to wear? Should I go lighter or darker? Should I throw on a coat or will I die from a heat stroke? In the midst of all this, I decided to stop purchasing beauty products, as I got quite a few things on the Sephora VIB Rouge 20% off event. Therefore, the only beauty items I allowed myself to indulge until my package arrives, are nail polishes. They seem totally harmless right? I am a nail polish addict and I don’t care to hide it. My favorite brand is Erre Due. I absolutely love and have been loving this brand for the past 3 to 4 years, as it has good quality and most importantly, it is long-lasting. For me, a nail polish is long-lasting nail polish if it will make it through a week with just some minor chipping.

Once H&M launched their new beauty department, I decided to try out their brand new nail polishes. The reason was simple: the variety of colors was huge! Plus they are 1 euro cheaper than the Erre Due ones. At first I was a bit sceptical because I had tried a few H&M nail polishes in the past, and although they were very pretty, they completely chipped off after 2 or 3 days. Therefore, I didn’t have high expectations when I purchased the first nail polish. However, I was proved extremely wrong. First of all, the brush of the nail polish is short and wider (like a paddle brush) compared to everything else I have ever used, which helps applying the polish faster and with more precision. In 5 minutes I was done and I barely made a mess around my nails. Secondly, and most surprisingly, the polish dried fast. Like extremely fast. Like 5 minutes fast. This shocked me beyond words. As I was used to wait for at least 30 minutes for my nails to get properly dry, 5-10 minutes seemed surreal. In simply 20 minutes, the second coat was on and dried already. Usually it was taking me a full hour to apply the two coats and wait for them to dry decently. Now, it’s only about 20 minutes which is insane! Besides that, the color was so “pigmented” that I didn’t really need a second coat, and it was so shiny that I forgot to apply a top coat and didn’t realize until the next day. By that time I was already very excited and happy with the new nail polish, however, it had to pass one last test; the test of longevity. As I mentioned before, a good nail polish is the one that lasts for about a week with minimum chipping. Therefore, even though I was very happy with how things were turning out, I had to wait and see how my nails would look at the end of the week. Well, I am happy to inform you that the nails did last for one full week with minor chipping. As a matter of fact, at the end of the week I wanted to change my color but I couldnt bring myself to it, because the nails were pretty descent looking.

Overall the new H&M nail polishes are amazing! Good quality and at a reasonable price (just 5 euros). They are easy and fast to apply, they dry extremely quickly, are very so shiny that you don’t even need a top coat. Also they last at least for a week with only little chipping. I am in love with them. And because the first nail polish I applied was a darker color (Plum Fool), I tried a lighter color as well (Paper Ash) to see if it’s the same and it was! It needed one more coat as it was very light but it was not annoying at all. I am aware of some fairly negative reviews out there but I personally disagree. I am very happy with them, as they are a bit more affordable than my favorite brand and equally lovely. Plus they dry faster than any nail polish I have used. I wouldn’t bring my self to buy a 10 $ or more nail polish (that’s just me), as I prefer to spend more money on other beauty products instead. In a nail polish I look for something cheap and of good quality, because I like to have many shades. Right now I have over 50 nail polishes so It would be crazy if I had spent over 10 $ for each. So for their price, these nail polishes are amazing. I don’t know how they would compete to a OPI one so this is not what I am saying here. In total I definitely recommend those nail polishes if you don’t wish to spend a lot of money and you are looking for a quality-price combination. Let’s not forget that more expensive doesn’t always mean better. Have you guys tried out these nail polishes and if so, what do you think? Which one is your favorite shade? Comment down below and share! Also don’t forget to pop over Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hello!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

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CHANEL AND LANCOME SKINCARE REVIEW