Make-up look | Smokey eyes and pale pink lips

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

Last Thursday my boyfriend and I were invited to an Iranian dinner party. It was quite the experience, because I had no clue what was in most of the dishes I tried. All the flavors and combinations were completely new to me. It was definitely a culinary adventure. And also a killer party, because there were plenty of cocktails, great food and a fantastic atmosphere. Let’s check out the make-up look I wore for the night!

Click to enlarge

Skin:

- Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer
- Smashbox Healthy Fix HD Foundation in Medium (review)
- Smashbox Halo Longwear Blush in Warm Glow (review)
- Catrice Prime & Fine powder

Eyes:

- Contapharm eye pencil in Noir
- Revlon Sea Mist ColorStay eyeshadow quad (review)
- Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Feather-Look Mascara
- e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Dark (tutorial)

Lips:

-  Revlon ColorBurst Lipbutter in Pink Lemonade (review)

Nails:

- Dior Golden Jungle, the khaki shade from the duo (nail art)

Click to enlarge

Do you like the look? Have you ever tried Iranian food?

Review | Rodial bee venom eyes, Rodial bee venom moisturiser & Rodial bee venom super serum

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

In April I tried my very first skin care products with bee venom, and immediately sparks (or stings) flew. The products I got in April are all empty now, but it didn’t take long before I got myself some new bee venom products, this time by Rodial. Let’s have a closer look!

Rodial bee venom eye

The bee venom in the Rodial bee venom eye cream visibly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the blood circulation in the eye contour and by firming and smoothing the skin around the eyes. The Rodial bee venom eye cream not only contains natural bee venom, but also five other impressive active ingredients: Haloxyl, Proturon, P-Cell, Cyclopeptide 5 and Juvinity. Okay, those words probably don’t mean much to you (or me), but all these ingredients hide the signs of aging and also efficiently tackle the underlying causes. So it’s not just about camouflaging, it’s also about treating.

I really like this eye cream. The packaging is bright and luxurious, the texture is thick and creamy, and the scent is just lovely. Since I’ve been using the Rodial bee venom eye cream, the skin under my eyes looks fuller and I see less dry patches and fine lines. Combined that gives me a refreshed and more awake look. Yippee! Luckily I don’t have wrinkles yet, and I hope to keep it that way using this Rodial bee venom eye cream.

Price: 165 CHF for 25 ml, sold exclusively at Marionnaud

Rodial bee venom moisturiser

The Rodial bee venom moisturiser follows the same principle as the Rodial bee venom eye cream. The only difference is that the moisturiser is for your face and not for your eye contour. The bee venom in the cream softens fine lines and wrinkles, and the other active ingredients (like for example hyaluronic acid) treat the causes of those lines and wrinkles and have an anti-aging effect on the skin.

The Rodial bee venom moisturiser feels, smells and looks a bit like the maxi version of the Rodial bee venom eye cream. The packaging is identical (a jar with a screw lid and an extra protective cover inside) but a size bigger. The moisturiser is, just like the eye cream, thick and creamy. The smell is slightly different, but again it’s very subtle and pleasant. I use the Rodial bee venom moisturiser every morning and it does for my face what the Rodial bee venom eye cream does for my eye contour: it makes my skin look smoother and fuller, and makes me look more youthful. And hopefully the cream will also keep me from ever turning into a human sharpei dog :-)

Price: 129 CHF for 50 ml, sold exclusively at Marionnaud

Rodial bee venom super serum

The Rodial bee venom super serum is the most heavy duty product of the three. The concentrated formula contains bee venom, P-Cell, Cyclopeptide 5 and also collagen. Collagen is the most important factor in preventing and treating wrinkles. As we get older and our skin produces less collagen, our skin loses some of its elasticity and we get wrinkles. Help! By boosting the skin’s collagen production a bit (superboosting it, actually, with this extremely concentrated serum) we can prevent wrinkles and soften existing ones. Sounds good, huh? That’s what I thought!

I am very enthusiastic about this product. I believe in serums. Some people say that serums are just regular products with a ridiculously high price tag, but I am convinced that the high concentration of active ingredients in serums can really make a difference. I am very happy with my Rodial bee venom super serum and I use it religiously every night. Unlike the bee venom eye cream and the bee venom moisturiser, the Rodial bee venom super serum comes in a pump bottle. A gorgeous, luxurious-looking pump bottle. The serum itself looks like a watery gel and smells great. Serums are often a bit greasy and they’re not always suitable for oily skin, but the Rodial bee venom super serum is not greasy at all. The product gets absorbed instantly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling or looking oily. So I get to ‘’anti-age’’ all I want without having to worry about looking like an oil slick, woohoo! High HG potential here, I am head over heels in love with this product.

Price: 229 CHF for 30 ml, sold exclusively at Marionnaud

The Rodial bee venom products are very expensive (you usually get a bee sting for free), but in their defense: they are really rrrrreally good. Out of the three products the serum is my favorite. The ingredients in all the products from this line are impressive to say at the least, and it’s been scientifically proven that ingredients like collagen and hyalorunic acid really work. The Rodial bee venom eye cream, the Rodial bee venom moisturiser and the Rodial bee venom super serum are high-end but more importantly also very high-quality product with a delicious texture and a lovely smell. They are a pleasure to use and to look at. I think it’s pretty obvious: I am a fan!

How about you? Have you tried skin care products with bee venom yet?

Review | Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation & Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

In May Revlon launched two new products: the Nearly Naked Foundation and the matching Nearly Naked Pressed Powder. I got to try the whole line, and today I’d like to share my thoughts with you. Let’s get naked!

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

The new Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation is a lightweight liquid nude-effect foundation that adjusts to the natural color and texture of the skin. So it evens out the skin tone while still looking natural, as if you weren’t wearing any foundation at all. And it also contains SPF 20. But is it really possible, providing coverage and looking (almost) 100% natural? Yes it is. Maybelline’s Fit Me foundation already proved it, and now so does Revlon.

Click to enlarge | from left to right: Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Tan

Click to enlarge | from left to right: Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Tan

Revlon’s new Nearly Naked Foundation definitely manages to cover up flaws and imperfections while still looking natural. Even from up close it still looks pretty au naturel. But of course there’s a limit to what this foundation can do. If you really suffer from bad acne for example, you’ll need the help of a good concealer first. The Nearly Naked Foundation has light to medium coverage, and so it can’t hide very obvious blemishes. But in ‘’normal’’ circumstances (read: a blemish here and there) the Nearly Naked Foundation performs really well, even on its own. It has a lovely natural-looking dewy finish and stays put all day.

Click to enlarge | from left to right: Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Tan

Click to enlarge | from left to right: Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Tan

The Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation works on any skin type, but combination and oily skin will need a little blotting or powdering every now and then. I don’t have a problem with that, but what I do have a problem with is that this foundation doesn’t come with a pump. If you find that as muchos annoyingos as I do, then I advise you to buy a separate pump for this foundation because working with the glass bottle really is a pain in the naked ass.

Bottom line? The Nearly Naked Foundation definitely lives up to its name: it’s a very natural-looking foundation that manages to even out the skin despite its light to medium coverage.

Retail price: 19.90 CHF, available in four shades (Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Tan)

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

Revlon’s Nearly Naked Pressed powder follows the same principle as the Nearly Naked Foundation and evens out the skin while looking almost invisible. Or at least that’s the idea. In reality the pressed powder is a little less potent than the foundation when used on its own. I have quite a few blemishes to cover up, and the pressed powder alone can’t do that. The foundation however could. The finish of the pressed powder is just as natural as that of the foundation (you can barely see the swatches on my arm!), so definitely points for that, but it does provide less coverage.

Click to enlarge | Light (left) & Medium (right)

Click to enlarge | Light (left) & Medium (right)

But in combination with the foundation the Nearly Naked Pressed Powder does a great job. When I apply the Nearly Naked Foundation first and then set it with the pressed powder, I get a lovely result. The powder has mattifying but very natural-looking effect, and it adds that last bit of coverage to really even out my skin completely.

Click to enlarge | Light (left) & Medium (right)

Bottom line? On its own the Nearly Naked Pressed Powder isn’t enough for me, but together with the Nearly Naked Foundation it really forms the perfect nude duo.

Retail price: 17.90 CHF, available in two shades (Light and Medium)

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Natural Beige + Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Medium + Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral

Do you like foundation and powder with a nude effect?

P.S.: Wondering about that lipstick I am wearing? Check this blog post :-)

Beauty meets fashion | Zalando

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

A little bit of retail therapy never hurts, not even when you’re feeling perfectly happy and don’t really have anything to remedy ;-) Hitting the shops in the city is fun, but what I like even better is online shopping. I like how web shops are so organized and that I don’t have to get into a smelly fitting room and don’t have to dodge elbows in the sales corner. Instead, I can just take my time to look around in peace, and I don’t even have to leave the house for it. I love that.

One of my favorite online shops is Zalando. In Belgium the mail man often had to drag a big Zalando box to the door, and it didn’t take long before I started putting my new mail man here in Switzerland through the same ordeal. Seriously, my online shopping behavior will turn any podgy mail man into a true body builder… But let’s cut to the chase, because today I’d like to show you my latest Zalando purchases! I’ve got two outfits ready for you guys: first a casual look, and then a more dressy one, both put together with the same black skinny jeans:

Black jeans Levis Skinny Young Modern Slight Curve – 85 CHF – Zalando
Sequined top Even & Odd – 22 CHF – Zalando
Gold-colored bracelet Black Lily Cruize – 39 CHF – Zalando
Black sneakers Anna Field – 24 CHF – Zalando (I now have them in light blue as well!)
Rocket Dog booties – older purchase – Zalando

Do you like online shopping? Have you ever shopped at Zalando?

Review | Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

In May I reviewed four new lip butters from Revlon’s Pacific Coast collection, and today I am doing the same with the new limited-edition Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral. Let’s have a closer look!

Color and finish

Gülsha Coral is named after Gülscha, a moderator from the Swiss teen channel Joiz. To be honest, I didn’t have a clue who she was, but she obviously has good taste, because the shade that Revlon developed for her (lucky girl) is mouthwateringly gorgeous. Gülsha Coral is a warm bright red shade (nothing coral about it) that will give you irresistible lips with a big kissability factor (new word). Red lipstick can sometimes look a bit harsh, but the warm undertones in Gülsha Coral make it look very soft and flattering. Beautiful!

Texture

The Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral is a real lipstick, and not a lipstick slash lip balm like the Revlon lip butters I already had. This makes its texture slightly less creamy, but it still has the same moisturizing capacities as the Revlon lip butters. I usually apply a bit of lip balm before I put on lipstick, but Gülsha Coral is not the least bit drying and is hydrating enough to keep my lips perfectly nourished. I’m impressed.

Wear

The wear of this Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral is more than okay. I never expect my lipstick to last from AM to PM, let alone survive three meals, a ton of snacks and a whole day of sipping on a water bottle. And I didn’t expect that from this lipstick either. The Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral lasts for a good few hours and if you touch it up a little after every big meal you will be fine until the end of the day. Yes, you will leave red lip prints here and there (glasses, spoons, boyfriends) but despite that the lipstick stays on well and keeps it color intensity. So if you don’t have unrealistic expectations, then the wear of Gülsha Coral definitely won’t disappoint you.

Gülsha from Joiz, the lucky lady for whom Revlon created this lipstick

Are you looking for a flattering bright red long-lasting lipstick that will give you a very kissable pout? Then I bet you’ll love Revlon’s ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral. Don’t wait too long to get your hands on one, though, because this limited-edition lipstick is only available for a short time!

The Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Gülsha Coral costs 17,90 CHF and is available at Manor and other specialized retailers for a limited time.

Do you like red lipstick? Would you wear Gülsha Coral?

Make-up tutorial | Full color eye make-up with the e.l.f. 100 Piece Eye Palette

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

I’ve been asked several times if I wanted to do a tutorial on full color eye make-up. Why of course I do! Your wish is my command, girls, so today I am showing you three full color eye looks that I created with my new e.l.f. 100 Piece Eye Palette. Grab pen, paper and make-up brushes, and let’s get started!

Click to enlarge | e.l.f. 100 Piece Eye Palette

Click to enlarge

Step 1: choose your color palette

Full color make-up can mean a lot of things. It can be an eye look with literally every shade of the rainbow, but it can also be a slightly simpler version with just three or four colors. You can choose different colors (for example yellow, orange, pink and purple) or you can use different nuances of one and the same color (for example four shades of blue). Whatever colors you chose, it’s always best to go from light to dark, or from light to bright. That means that it’s best to use the lightest shade or color in the inner corner of the eye, and then work your way to the outer corner of the eye where you use the darkest or the brightest color.

Click to enlarge | green arrows: 1st look | red arrows: 2nd look | blue arrows: 3rd look

Step 2: Apply your base color

There are no rules when it comes to applying make-up, but I always use the lightest color from my color palette as a base color. That means that I apply that color on my whole lid. In the first look I created, a yellowish green was my lightest shade and therefore my base color, so start by applying that color on your whole eyelid.

Click to enlarge

Step 3: Apply your middle color(s)

Depending on how many colors you are using in total, you will use one, two or more colors in the middle of your eyelid. I used four colors in total for all three looks, which means that I used two middle colors: bright green and blue. Apply your first middle color (bright green) somewhere halfway between the middle and the inner half of your eyelid. Just pack on the color using a firm bristled brush. Now fade out the edges and blend them with the yellowish green base color. Use a soft bristled brush for this and blend very carefully until there are no visible lines left anymore and the bright green blends in seamlessly with the yellow green. Do the same for your second middle color (blue): really pack on the color with a firm bristled brush, this time somewhere halfway between the middle and the outer half of your eyelid, and then use a softer brush to blend the edges and to make the blue blend in with the bright green.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Step 4: Apply your darkest/brightest color

Apply the darkest or brightest color (in this case purple) in the outer corner of your eyelid. Use the same technique you used in step 3 and let the purple blend in nicely with the blue. Use a clean blending brush to fade out the outer edges of the purple and work your way to the sides and up a bit until no more hard lines are showing.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Step 5: Soften your crease

Use a rounded crease brush to blend the color in your crease and to make everything blur into one blended whole. You can use the same brush to apply a bit of the darkest or brightest eyeshadow from your chosen color palette in your crease to add more depth to your eyes.

Click to enlarge

Step 6: Don’t forget your lower lash line

On your lower lash line you can use either one of the colors that you used for your look, or all of them. In the first case just pick one of your colors you used (I went for blue) and go over your lower lash line with it using a slightly pointed precision brush. If you want to use all colors, then just follow the same principle as before and start with the lightest shade in the inner corner of your eye and gradually work your way to the outer corner of the eye where you use the darkest or brightest color.

Click to enlarge

Finish off the look with a little eyeliner and a touch of mascara, and you’re done! All you have to do now is wait for the compliments. And trust me, with happy colorful eye look like this you’ll be getting plenty of them!

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The e.l.f. 100 Piece Eye Palette is available in the e.l.f. web shop and costs 12 euros.

What do you think of my full color eye looks? Do you like wearing colorful make-up?

Make-up look | A summer look in bronze with the Smashbox Hint of Bronze make-up set

Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.

Summer is on its way (at least I hope it is) and Smashbox is celebrating that with the launch of a new make-up set. The Smashbox Hint of Bronze make-up set contains four summer-proof products: a Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, a Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in Hint of Bronze, a Smashbox Rouge in Hint of Bronze, and a Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey. In case you hadn’t noticed (and are therefore blind :-p) you use the Smashbox Hint of Bronze set to create a sultry summer evening look in bronze and with lots of shimmer. Have a look!

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge | Smashbox Rouge in Hint of Bronze | Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey

from left to right: Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey | Smashbox High Shine Lip Gloss in Hint of Bronze | Smashbox Rouge in Hint of Bronze

Skin

- Smashbox Light Photo Finish Foundation Primer
- Smashbox Healthy Fix HD foundation in Medium
- Smashbox HD Concealer in Medium
- Smashbox Rouge in Hint of Bronze
- e.l.f. SPF 45 Sunscreen powder

Eyes

- Contapharm eye pencil in Noir
- MAC eyeshadow in Bronze
- MAC eyeshadow in Embark
- NARS eyeshadow in Persia
- NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in White
- Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Lips

- Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey (1st look)
- Smashbox High Shine Lip Gloss in Hint of Bronze (2ndlook)

on the lips: Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey

on the lips: Smashbox High Shine Lip Gloss in Hint of Bronze

Click to enlarge | left: Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara | middle: Smashbox High Shine Lip Gloss in Hint of Bronze | right: Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Honey

The Smashbox Hint of Bronze make-up costs 65 CHF and will be available on June 10, exclusively at Marionnaud.

Do you like make-up looks in bronze? What is your favorite make-up look for summer?