These days I don´t leave my house without a little bit of blush. I just adore deeper berry color cheeks for this time of year and I like to combine it with minimal make-up. I have quite a few blushes but I tend to stick to my 3 favourites. All 3 are matte finish blushes, no surprise here, and they are all perfect for the fall. And probably the best part is they are all drugstore brands so they are very affordable.

Catrice - Rosewood Forest (left), Sleek - Flushed (top) and Gosh - Rose Whisper (right)

Let´s start with the lightest one. Gosh Natural Blush in Rose Whisper (36) is my go-to everyday blush and also my absolute favourite. It is a subtle pink shade blush with matte finish and amazing pigmentation. This one looks great no matter what season it is or what look are you going for. When in doubt I always reach for this one. Even though is a subtle pink blush it has an amazing pigmentation and it is very long lasting. I am surprised no one ever mentions it.

Next on the list is the cheapest of the 3 - Catrice Cosmetics Defining Blush in the shade Rosewood Forest (060). This one is similar to the one above, just a little deeper and a little less pink. Is is a bit more mature color, just like all deeper colors. Lighter Pink and coral colors create illusion of a younger face and the deeper berry colors the opposite. Keep that in mind the next time you are shopping for blushes. Again, this one has a matte finish, amazing pigmentation, you only need a bit of product on your brush. But you can always build up the intensity if that´s what you prefer.

Last but certainly not least is Sleek blush in Flushed. I am so impressed with this blush I have to order some more colors. I know I said all of these are pigmented, and they are, but this one takes the cake. I have never seen such a strong color payoff. You need to be careful with this one if you don´what to end up looking crazy. This blush is deep berry, in some lights almost red shade. A true fall blush that you need in you´re collection. And I love that it comes with a mirror.



If you read my blog regularly you might remember I did a similar post a few months ago about my 5 favourite blushes and all of these made it on there. You can read it here. I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know if you own any of these and share you`re favourite fall time blush. Don´t forget to check last weeks beauty post and come back next week for more Beauty talk.

N.

Bahama Mama Bronzer

Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter

the NudeTude Palette

Frat Boy blush

1. Catrice Cosmetics Prime and Fine Highlighter

2. Benefit High Beam Highlighter

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Mac Paint Pot (left) and Catrice Prime and Fine (right)

1. Mac Paint Pot

2. Catrice Cosmetics Prime and Fine Smoothing Refiner

Last Tuesday I turned 23. I´ve had a lovely week of celebrating and partying with my friends and family. I had an amazing time and I got a lot of lovely wishes and prezies. Among them quite a few beauty bits. And I just want to share them with you all today. Here it goes.

left to right: Max Factor Facefinity Primer, Loreal True Match Foundation and Catrice Cosmetics All Matt Plus Foundation

Essence contouring set, 01 Happiness is...A Way of Life

from left to right: 03, 05 and 08

Catrice Cosmetics Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer and Long lasting Waterproof Eyeliner

Essence makeup brushes

N.

My birthday is right around a corner, I will be turning 23 in precisely one week. I can´t believe another year has gone by so fast. Every year I make a wish list to help my family decide what to buy. This doesn´t mean they have to buy everything or anything from the list, but we find this way is a lot easier to shop for the perfect present. This year I didn´t ask for anything but I still wanted to make a list for myself.

1. Loreal True Match Foundation

I am in desperate need for a new foundation. I am just running out of my current favourites so this is the perfect time to venture out and try new products. I heard so much about this one, I just they carry my shade. Fingers crossed.

2. Essence I love NUDE single eyeshadow

I love nude and neutral shades in general so I just have to have these. I swatched them before in the store and the pigmentation is insane. I am eyeing following shades: 03 - Creme Brulee and 05 My Favorite Tauping. But honestly all of them look amazing.

3. Mac Lipstick - Velvet Teddy

I absolutely love Mac lipsticks, especially matte shades. I haven´t purchased any in a while so I think is about time to take a closer look. I have been lusting over Velvet Teddy for years, but I wouldn´t mind owning Honeylove or Blankety either.

4. Sleek Contour Kit

Another product I have been wanting for a while. I really need a deeper brown contour shade. And having a bonus highlighting product doesn´t hurt. I´ts about time to get this one.

5. Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer

Last time I was shopping for primers I chose Maybelline´s Infallible Primer instead, but now I really want to try this one.


My wish list is quite longer, but I will save those products for another time. I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know in the comments what is the number one product on your wish list? If you missed last week´s Beauty post about Benefit´s Go Tropicoral Lip and Cheeks Kit check here and come back next Tuesday for more Beauty talk. Don´t forget to follow us. Have a beautiful day.

N.

Benefit Go TropiCORAL Lip and Cheek Kit

I normally love saving money and buy make-up from the drugstore. Not only it is quite cheap but also the brands are stepping up and introducing more and more amazing products. Still every once in a while I like to treat myself with a high-end product. I love how benefit sells these kits where you can get multiple sample size products at once and try them out before investing in quite expensive full size product. And I have to add that the sample sizes aren´t that small at all. In most cases you might not need the full size at all.


This beautiful Tropicoral Lip and Cheeks Kit comes with four sample beauty products and a small brush. It is all packaged in a small cardboard box with a magnetic closure. You also get a big mirror and Tips and Tricks booklet with instructions on how to use the products. Now let´s take a look at them, shall we?

1. Coralista Blush

First let´s talk about the powder blush. Coralista blush has been makeup lovers favourite for a while and I heard so many good things about it. I really expected it to be like nothing else. I set my expectations way to high and they left me disappointed. Don´t get me wrong, Coralista is a beautiful coral shade, sheer, shimmery blush. In my opinion it acts more as a subtle highlighter, or you can add a thin layer on top of another blush to make it more radiant. That being said there are tons of cheaper alternatives that have a better color payoff. It is gorgeous, but not worth all the hype.

Coralista Blush

2. Cha Cha Tint

Speaking of blush, another cheek product you get in this kit is a lip and cheeks tint called Cha Cha tint. Another beautiful coral shade that makes your cheeks pop. As the kit itself implies you can use it also as a lip tint. The color intensity is very buildable, the product is easy to use, but make sure that you blend it fast. You don´ want coral dots on your face. I have to say I was quite scared of the applying process. The product packaging resembles nail polish packaging, but it is very easy to master. And I love how it blends, looks and stays on forever. It is a lifesaver in the summertime.

3. High Beam Highlighter

Another reason why I choose this kit is High Beam. Another praised product I just had to try. And I have to agree with, well......everybody. It is an amazing product. It´s intense, long lasting, easy to apply, blends like a dream, definitely a must in your makeup bag. It is silver toned. The packaging is the same as Cha Cha tint. Absolutely beautiful product. That´s all I have to say.

High Beam Highlighter and Cha Cha Tint

4. Coralista Lipgloss

And the last beauty product in this kit is Coralista Lipgloss. I have to be honest I am not a lipgloss lover to begin with, so me not using this product should not stop you from getting it. The color is sheer coral shade. It applies nicely. It is not sticky or tacky. And it smells quite nice. If I was a lipgloss lover I am sure I would enjoy it.

Coralista Lipgloss

And that is all for today's post. I hope you like this review. I do want to add, just because I don´t like a product, doesn´t mean it is not good or it won´t suit you. Let me know which of these products is your favourite and if you don´t own any, which would you get first? Let me know in the comments bellow, check out last weeks Beauty post and come back next Tuesday for more Beauty talk.

N.  

Writing about beauty products is usually not my thing - my sister writes about makeup and cosmetics. I am more of a sporty, artistic girl, who doesn´t care much about cosmetics. I love looking and feeling beautiful, but I am not one for shopping for makeup products. I already own what I love and I am not changing that easily.

Over the past few years we have been getting a lot of different information about healthy living and how using all natural healthy products is the way to live. I was always interested in healthy lifestyle and loved the idea of it, but also adored a lot of unhealthy foods and habits. I so took years for me to get where I am today. I love sports, I always have, I am a runner and I love delicious food. My fitness habits are good, but I love ice cream, sweets and other unhealthy food - so I learned to make them in a healthier version. But I still enjoy the unhealthy versions every once in a while. What I truly learned about healthy living trough the years is that having balance between healthy choices and enjoying in occasional not so healthy cravings is the best way to live. Sacrificing everything that you love cannot be healthy in any way, am I right? So here I am, making choices one day at a time and loving it. I am like that with all of my choices, which includes beauty related ones.
In my twenties I started worrying about the health and beauty of my skin. I have never had problems with my skin before, so I never give much attention to which products I am using and what would benefit my skin. Then one day my skin just started to get irritated over night. I was confused and started to research different skin types and products. I figured out I have dry skin and the best products for me are all natural cosmetics. A lot of other products have been giving me skin irritation and I felt awful. Well since then I have tried number of different products and I have found a few that work wonders form my skin. Taking good care of your skin will prevent premature ageing, I mean who would want wrinkles before 30 or 35 if there are ways to prevent that? OK, not prevent, but slow down the process of ageing. I mean, I am all for ageing gracefully, but why not help your skin to look great and young for longer period of time, if you can. Also, I am in first trimester of my pregnancy (feeling blessed and so happy it is ridiculous) and I am even more concerned about what kind of products I am using. I really don´t want to use products with ingredients I cannot even pronounce, since your skin absorbs these unknown ingredients. The newest edition of my natural cosmetics are Herbio products.
The first product my eyes were drawn to was Herbio Invigorating Facial Mask. In my teen years I was obsessed with facial masks, always making different ones at home (with avocado, eggs, honey, yogurt – you name it). I am all over the process of making a huge mess for 10 minutes of bliss, so I rather buy one. Herbio invigorating facial mask is great for my dry skin, because of its moisturising effect. It is suitable for all skin types otherwise. The facial mask contains extract of ivy, menthol, bio hyaluronic acid and panthenol. So if you hate the smell of menthol, you will not be the biggest fan of this facial mask – but it is really not strong, i swear. I am not a fan and I do not hate the smell, it gives me a sense of freshness. I give Herbio Invigorating Facial Mask all points (with a small minus, because I love fruit and not herbal scents - but you cannot expect excellent effects of herbs from a fruit mask). Its attractive packaging is sufficiently large (50ml) so it lasts for a longer period of time.
The next item in my shopping basket was Herbio Vitamin Cleansing Milk, which is a necessity in every woman's beauty routine. I take my morning and evening skin routine seriously - I rinse my face with water or cleansing milk. Description says that this mild, creamy cleanser is meant for normal to dry sensitive skin. My skin falls into this category, though it is not really that sensitive.  It does what every other cleansing milk does - opens up and cleans clogged pores, thoroughly removes dirt, sebum and makeup and also improves the skins structure and elasticity. So far I had tried many different brands of cleansing milk and I was disappointed a lot, because they give me irritation and my skin kind of stings after use. For a while I was using pure almond oil instead of cleansing milk and I was satisfied. Also, my mom was buying that for us and who doesn´t like free products, right? Now I am using Herbio Vitamin Cleansing Milk that suits me - the skin is not irritated, it does not sting or itch. Also, every night I fall asleep hopeful that vitamins will make my skin look perfect overnight. Herbio Vitamin Cleansing Milk contains grape seed oil, moisturising skin care complex gel of Aloe Vera, vitamin A and E. A simple reminder: for beautiful skin you need to provide a sufficient intake of vitamins in your body, not only on your skin. Cosmetics does not work wonders.
Herbio Body Scrub With Sea Salt is one I really wanted to try out during summer season. I already said I never had any real problems with my skin, so I have not used body scrubs that often. I made a coffee and sugar body scrub at home a few times and I liked the feeling after the use. My skin felt a little irritated, but very soft after a few hours. I had high hopes for Herbio Body Scrub and it did not fail me. The herbal oil, which is one of the ingredients of this body scrub makes my skin feel very soft. The product description says that oil exfoliation with sea salt crystals effectively removes dead cells on the skin and stimulates circulation. Because of the jojoba oil and sea fennel extract the skin after usage is silky, soft and healthy looking. It is all true. But as I said, I haven´t got a lot of experiences with body scrub, so I have nothing to compare it to. Just saying.
I love Shea Butter, I just do. I have been using it for years (ever since I started to care about my skin products - so like 5 years now). Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. It offers UV protection and provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production.
Shea Butter is great for: dry skin, skin rash, skin peeling after tanning, blemishes, wrinkles, itching skin, for use as shaving cream, small skin wounds, skin cracks, rough skin on feet, in cold weather, for frost bites, stretch marks prevention, insect bites, healthy skin, muscle fatigue, aches, tension, before and after exercise, skin allergies,, eczema, dermatitis, skin burns.. The important thing is that all Shea butters are not equally effective, so be careful on which one you buy. Just look for one that is: raw/unrefined, unbleached, organic and Grade A. In all I love Herbio Shea Butter! I use it more often now, because of my pregnancy to prevent stretch marks.
Herbio Herbal Darkening Oil is the one I was thinking about using a lot. I have olive skin so I tan quickly and I have no need for darkening oil. But I still choose to try Herbio Darkening Oil in the end because I hate sunbathing and I use sunblock, sunglasses and hats outside. I know how damaging sun can be for my skin, so I choose to keep my face well protected when I can. Why would I get wrinkles at a young age, if I don´t have to? So if I am relaxing on the beach and swimming, my body gets really tanned, but my face stays the same. So I used this darkening oil a few times and it works OK. It is not very darkening, just a little. Plus, I am not using it for that purposes anymore - I just love the herbal positive effects it has on my skin. But I avoid using it, because as I said, I tan really quickly. I would buy Herbio Darkening Oil for my mother, who has pale skin and her skin gets all red when sunbathing. This is meant for different type of skin and not mine.

These products do not contain parabens and are not tested on animals, which is awesome. I really like natural cosmeics, so when I will buy something new, I will inform you about my opinion.


M.

I did a Coral Edition post a few weeks back and I taught it was about time to share products in my favourite color family. And that happens to be neutral and nude. I love a good effortless look with light earthy and gray tones. Even though colors are pretty similar there are still countless color variations. So here in goes.

I am a big nail polish lover. I have way too many in my stash but for some reason I keep on adding new ones and almost always I am drawn to same neutral tones. My all time favourite neutral nail polish is OPI Did you ´ear about Van Gogh? A beautiful light grey-ish color. And I also love Essence The Nudes line especially number 03 I´m Lost in You, a light rosy color.

Essence - I´m Lost In You (left) and OPI - Did You ´Ear About Van Gogh? (right)

I also love lighter, nude lipstick shades. My absolute favourite lipstick is Mac´s Kinda Sexy. One of my first and favourite Mac purchases. A deeper nude, matte finish shade with a hint of peach. It looks a bit darker in a tube, but looks like a perfect nude shade on my lips. Another one is Mac´s Cremesheen lipstick in the color Creme D´nude. This one is a concealer nude color. It is very hard to pull off but if it suits your skin tone it c look amazing.

left to right: Mac - Creme D´nude (Cremesheen) and Mac - Kinda Sexy (Matte)

Lastly I want to talk about eye products. I absolutely love Maybelline Color Tattoo eye shadow bases, but especially Permanent Taupe. It´s deeper taupe-brown matte color. It is very long lasting and cheap. One of my drugstore must-haves. As far as eye shadows go I love two Catrice Cosmetics single eye shadows: I Wear my Plum Glasses at Night (790) - a matte brownish plumy shade and New in Brown (750) - shimmery rosy brown shade.

left to right: Catrice - New in Brown, Maybelline - Permanent Taupe and Catrice - I Wear my Plum Glasses at Night

That concludes today's post. I hope you enjoyed it and  be sure to come back next Tuesday for more Beauty talk.

N.

(left to right) Gosh - Rose Wisper, MAC - Warm Soul and MAC - Peaches

Catrice - Rosewood Forest (left) and Sleek - Flushed (right)