GlamGlow Youthmud Review

I'll start by saying that, when I purchased this product, I really hoped that I didn't like it. But my hopes sadly vanished.. This product is great!! I've heard so much rave about it from bloggers and youtubers that when I saw that it was available in travel size I couldn't resist.

As I read in their website, GlamGlow claims that "YOUTHMUD® provides gentle resurfacing exfoliation and helps to leave skin smoother, brighter, and softer resulting in immediate camera-ready glowing skin" . And it's all true.. Sadly.. For me. Now if you know anything about GlamGlow then you can understand my resentment. But if you don't, then let me enlighten you.. It's damn expensive!!

The texture is grainy and gently exfoliates as you spread it on your face as well as when you wash it off. The whole process of leaving it on takes 10 minutes tops and in the meantime the mask dries and draws out impurities while tightening the skin. This results to smoother skin and a notable decrease in the appearance of blackheads. Now I've only used this once, but I bet if you use it twice a week as it suggests, you'll see wonders!!

The final question though is one... Is it worth it?? Well that solely depends on how much you can afford to spend on an exfoliating mask. If you want to splurge on something then this is it!! I'm not saying that I'll never buy it again, I'll surely do, but not on a regular basis for sure!!

Everyday Makeup

I thought I'd give you a little idea of my everyday makeup look. It's really natural and I guess there's not much you can get from my picture, but as you can clearly see, there are lots of products involved to get this so-called au naturel look.

My base consists of my most beloved combo : Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer - Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. I apply the foundation with a MAC 188 brush, concealer always with fingers and then to mattify the whole face, I powder using a Body Shop brush, which I conveniently forgot to include in the picture!!

My favourite blush at the moment is Raisin by Nyx which I apply with an Elf blush brush - oh. my. god. this brush is sooo soft. Moving on to the eyes, I really love a matte mauvy nude eye and the MUA Ever After palette has the exact colour I need - Chino that is. I put this eyeshadow on top of my trusty Maybelline Color Tattoo in Permanent Taupe. To finish up the eyes I use my brand new Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara.

Coming to the lips, I told you I have a favourite lip combo involving the Seventeen Longstay Lip Shaper in Buff and here it is.. First I apply a light wash of Seventeen's Matte Lipstick in no.14, more as a stain ,then I put my trusty lip liner on top and voila... My look is complete!!

Shop 'til you drop

Alternative title : Eat - Shop - Repeat, without the Eat of course!! As you can see I went out on a binge and bought everything I've thought this last month, all at once!!

It all started with a simple visit on BeautyJoint. Big mistake!! The shopping cart was getting fuller and fuller and with great self-restraint I managed to limit my purchase to only four products.

The first, and the reason why I went on the website in the first place, was of course the NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Mauve. Rumor has it that it's a dupe for a certain lip pencil a certain celebrity wears - *cough* Whirl *cough* Kylie Jenner - so I went for it!! 

Then I stumbled upon the Studio Matte Lip Color by Elf and just couldn't resist to another nude matte lipstick, so I got one in the shade Tea Rose.

And then I remembered all the good things I've heard about the Jordana Matte Lipsticks, so I got one of these too.. in the shade Taupe, which surprisingly is just the same as the mauve lip pencil from NYX.

To end the BeautyJoint binge, I decided to get this little Blossom Blush Brush, which is just great for contouring!!

But that wasn't all, because the next thing is a Sephora suddenly appearing before me.. so I went in.. and got a thing or two - most likely three!!

First I was on the look for a new mascara and my eye caught the Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara. It has a very similar wand to Benefit's They're Real Mascara, so I thought to give it a try.

Then I recalled that I always wanted a nude eye pencil so I got the Sephora Long Lasting Kohl Pencil in Infinite Beige to try out.

And as there weren't enough for me, at the cash register I saw a travel sized GlamGlow Mud Mask just standing and waiting for me to buy it. And so I did!!

There are a lot of stuff, I know!! And I will probably have to starve for the rest of the month.. but what can I say??? I love them all and I'll manage!!!

Seventeen Longstay Lip Shaper Review

As I've already said in the previous post, recently I'm all about the nudes and the browns. So as I was looking for the perfect nude lip pencil, I stumbled upon this one from Seventeen Cosmetics. The Longstay Lip Shaper ( I have it in no.21 - Buff ) is just a revelation.

Let's start with the colour. It's a nude with brown and mauve undertones, although if used with a light hand it can almost disappear on the lips. My lips are pale by nature and the colour appears vividly, so have this in mind when purchasing nude lip products. On it's own it gives a my-lips-but-better look but paired with a little more browny lipstick, it gives the full 90's feel.

The consistency is great - not too dry that is, but as with all lip pencils, it's essential to have hydrated lips. A thin layer of lip butter underneath and this one feels and looks just like a lipstick. Regarding its staying power, I give it a 9/10. It's good, but don't expect it to be there after dinner. Nothing I wouldn't expect, especially for the price of it. 

It's All About The Skirt

Photography : Bill Bar

SHOP THE LOOK

top : H&M

skirt : Zara

shoes : H&M

As the title of this post gives away, it's all about the skirt!! It is my last week's prized possession and a purchase I really had not planned. I just went in the store for a casual stroll - this is my story and I'm sticking to it - I saw it... and I fell in love!! So the usual search for the perfect outfit to go with it began and this is what I came up with.

These shoes from H&M was the first thing that came to mind as I wanted to go for a secretary look. They have the perfect heel for a tall girl like me and a timeless, almost vintage, look to them. But then the whole look turned a little bit too formal and something had to be done. Florals and skulls was the obvious (!!) choice and this beloved shirt transformed and completed the look. Kudos to the weather, as I found the only one day of October, when it was piping hot outside, and I could wear it without freezing!!

A special mention to the make up look I'm wearing, as I'm all about the mattes and the nudes lately - inspired by she-who-shall-not-be-named, you all know who she is!! It's so very 90's ,really suitable for Autumn and needless to say, a whole post will be dedicated to it, so stay tuned!!

Eat - Shop - Repeat

After last week's poor attempt to find inner peace and re-adapt to everyday life, I'm back again with another Eat - Shop - Repeat!! After all there's nothing like shopping and eating, when you try to survive Summer In The City!

EAT : It wasn't long ago, actually it was in this post right here, that I went on an endless rant about the new craze of cocktails on a stick! So, because when I like something I wanna have it ALL the time, I tried to make my own! And I succeeded!! To be fair, my attempt was to make a watermelon popsicle, but accidentally threw a little booze in the mix.. accidentally!! I used this recipe and I adapted it to taste - the amount of sugar in the recipe is far too much!

SHOP : The crop top madness continues and I've enlarged my collection by one more! I got this one last week from Tally Weijl - for heaven's sake if someone knows how to pronounce it, please enlighten me!! - and I'm in love with it already! It's a basic black and white with a little neon green running through it and a halter neck, which I wasn't so keen on - until now! What you can't see in the picture is that it has cut-outs on each side and a zipper running down the back! My describing skills are so bad, but it'll have to do, as I couldn't find it in the website.

Clinique Colour Surge Eyeshadow Review

I'm still here and still fighting my vacation blues, but I've found that makeup really helps to overcome this kind of illness. This time I'm reviewing a product that brings summer to my life.. not that it isn't here already - end of July and everything - but it is an eyeshadow that can be used all year round and brings some bronzy goodness back in the picture!

We're talking about the Clinique Colour Surge Eyeshadow in 303 Lucky Penny. Clinique classifies it in the super shimmer finish category and it's absolutely right. It hasn't got any big chunks of shimmer in it but more of a metallic glowy finish. The colour is a burnt pink or you can say a bronze with pink undertones and as the name accurately states it resembles the colour of the penny.
Perfect for summer as a wash of colour to the eyelids and even as a highlight for the more daring. In the winter, when I'm reasonably paler, the colour picks up better and it's good as an everyday eyeshadow.

I know that this product is on the pricey side and you could definitely find something similar on the drugstore, BUT if you can afford it and you don't own it already, then get it.. like.. now! The pigmentation is great and the powder is so fine milled, that is just a joy to work with. Big plus.. due to the high pigmentation, you really don't need a lot, so it will last, and last, and last!!

The one with Vacation Blues

Fake it 'till you make it, or else, how to persuade yourself that you enjoy coming back to Athens and reality, when vacation days come to an end!
I'm exactly in this place since I've been back on Friday and I'm trying to find ways to distract myself from thinking that all I want is more holidays!! So since I'm having the blues and I don't want to leave the house there's one thing that always saves the day.. starting a new series!!

So in case you're in the same page as me or you just want to start a new series, here are two recent favourites of mine!!

The first one is Hannibal. I'm assuming that most people know the famous Hannibal Lecter from the Silence of The Lambs but even if you don't, this is a great way to meet him! Hannibal is basically a crime series with a lot of horror and thriller elements. It's not for you if you have a weak stomach, I assure you, but if you like a little suspense then give it a go!! 

Continuing with the whole mystery and horror theme, there is Penny Dreadful. This series is an absolute favourite. If you are a fan of the supernatural and/or famous fiction characters like Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray then this is your thing! I found it and started it mainly for Eva Green, whom I've loved in the Kingdom of Heaven and Casino Royale but the whole series is really well made!!

I know my picks are a little dark, but I assure you they're both worth it! So that's it for this week, it's no Eat - Shop - Repeat but this is what happens when Vacation Blues knock on your door!!

Floral on Floral

SHOP THE LOOK

top : Pull&Bear

shorts : Pull&Bear

sunglasses : Pink Woman

shoes : Zara

clutch : Mirror magazine

It all started with this particular pair of shorts! I found them at Pull&Bear and was just in love with the palm tree print and the material and everything. I went back home with my prized possession and realised that no top I already owned went good with the shorts. And so the quest begun!! I went in every shop I could find, I tried every top available and still nothing. I was going for a monochrome of course.. no stripes, or plaids or florals.... wait!!

And so it struck me.. why not floral? I went back to the same shop I got the shorts from and the solution presented itself! This floral crop top was everything I needed! It's not the first thing that comes to mind and it doesn't even sound compatible, but something happens and they match!! Also they leave a little bit of skin showing at the belly which I find really nice for these warmer months.

I decided to pair this look with my new Zara shoes - yes, heels, as I wasn't tall already(!!) - and add a pop of neon yellow with the clutch and the sunglasses. Some of you may remember the clutch from this post, when I made it into a perfect little beach bag. But after all, there's more to it than meets the eye!!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet Review

It's safe to say that I'm not a big skincare person! I always seem to forget about creams and serums and all that jazz, so I'm always looking for an easy way out. And this time I found it in The Body Shop and their new Sorbet line.

Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet - quite a mouthful - is a light moisturiser for all skin types and is presented with the premise of "an instant cooling sensation for all day hydration". I was a little sceptical at first, as I have oily skin and generally the "all skin types" label is a big no no for me. Now I'm standing before you proven wrong! This really works even for my skin without making it too oily. It's just what it says, a light, refreshing moisturiser and I may say it's exactly what I need for summer.

And just when you thought that the review is over, I'm still here to address the whole "sorbet" issue! It's the texture of the new line that The Body Shop is promoting and I have to say I'm a little confused. Ok it's smooth and soft and silky and all that, but after all.. all creams are! On the website it says that they get absorbed faster but I really don't know anything about that. So other than the pretty colours and the smoothie-like consistency, I don't see it doing much else.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a negative review whatsoever! I'm really pleased with this new moisturiser and I think it must be the first to say "all skin types" and actually mean it!! So all in all this gets a thumbs up and a pat on the back. I think that I've said that for all the products from The Body Shop that I've reviewed lately, but what can I say?! They were all pretty good!!

Eat - Shop - Repeat

This week I'm channeling all kinds of summery vibes and I hope one of those will get you too!!

EAT : I'm going to introduce to you something new and completely groundbreaking - okay I didn't discover gravity, but this is quite exciting too! It's called Papoto and you can find it exclusively at Bios - read more about it here! Basically it's a cocktail in a popsicle form, made with fresh fruits and a bit of booze!! I had my first experience with it last Thursday at the Papoto Craze Night Party at Bios, where they gave out little mini versions of it and the people declared the best flavour of them all - watermelon!!

SHOP : I spoke about summery vibes and other than swimsuits, there isn't anything more summery than sunglasses!! I have created a little collection over the years and I can't help but making it bigger and bigger! So this summer I went for colour and chose this pair of sunglasses from Pink Woman. The lense has a little bit of a blue going on and they just seem so funky and laid back!!

L'Oreal Elvive Fibralogy Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Since my Aussie shampoo (see post here) came to an end and I proceeded to, at last, cut my completely damaged hair, I went on a hunt to find the perfect shampoo, again.

I found out about L'Oreal's Elvive Fibralogy shampoo, through a youtube video and the review was quite good, so I decided to give it a go, together with the conditioner from the same range.

There hasn't been a long time since I've started using it, so the review is still on an early level, but I have to say that I'm satisfied for the time being. This is supposed to be a thickening product, but to be honest I didn't expect big results, as my hair are very straight and heavy. However, I think that it's working. I don't know if it's some kind of a placebo effect, but I've noticed my hair getting a little bit fuller. The conditioner makes my hair really soft and easy to detangle, but I skip it sometimes in order to get a less silky result.

In conclusion, this range gets a thumbs up from me, the only reservation being that I haven't tested it for a long time. So stay tuned and if anything changes, you'll be the first to know!!

My Little Beach Kit

I'm the kind of girl that likes a more organised beach bag and that means that I have smaller bags in my bags, that contain even smaller bags and so and so forth.. So in this spirit of divide and conquer, I present to you this small kit of essentials every summer beach bag should have!!

First and definitely very important is my face sunscreen, from Bepanthol. It has an SPF 30 and is very moisturising, without leaving greasiness on my skin or that common white cast most sunscreens do leave! Then there is sunscreen for my lips. I know it seems a little far fetched, but Piz Buin make this great lip balm with SPF 30, which I really thought is a brilliant idea for summer, when my lips get dry from the sea salt.
Another product, that I thought was useless but found it completely life saving, is my mini Evian Facial Spray. There are times that the heat is so overbearing and a little spritz of Evian is just what you need.
And then there is my travel size concealer from Estee Lauder. Although I've never used it on the beach, it's something I always carry with me!! Last product in my little kit, some wet wipes! These ones are from Lidl and they smell like melon - quite summery if you ask me.

Some non-beauty essentials are of course my phone and earpods (both from Apple), my sunglasses, which I got from Stradivarius and a little mirror from The Body Shop. The bag itself came as a gift with July's Mirror magazine (the Greek edition) - which fits inside perfectly - and I quickly turned it in my go-to bag-inside-the-bag for this summer!!

Eat - Shop - Repeat

Eat - Shop - Repeat is back after a brief leave of absence. This week we talk about how Sales mess with my mind and how I can't do without chinese takeout.

EAT : It was 13 years ago when my parents had the brilliant idea to take their 10-year old to eat chinese food and since then I've battled with this addiction. I love, love, chinese food and I have tested every takeout in my neighbourhood. Lately I've been in love with Asian Corner. It is a place with a more modern take on chinese food and focused on noodles and fried rice. Great big plus.. the portions are humongous!! Favourite noodle dish : Singapore Noodles. Vermicelli rice noodles with chicken and prawns, in a mild curry sauce. Pure awesomeness!!

SHOP : SALES!! What else do I need to say?? But just for the sake of clarification, I'll continue with the fact, that sales mess with my mind. There's something going on when I hear the word sales, that makes me go crazy and think that I must shop. I MUST SHOP. So this time - and with great self-control - I went in and got a thing or two. First of all I got this bag from Bershka ,which was done in a spontaneous spirit - saw it, loved it, got it! And then I got this pair of shorts from Pull&Bear, which was totally planned, as I had spotted them on the Pull&Bear web page in advance.

The Body Shop Shimmer Waves Review

Now this is a post I wanted to make ages ago and ultimately the time has come!

Shimmer Waves from The Body Shop is a product that has been in my make up collection for years and years, but just when I thought to make a post about it, then came the time that I hit pan and I decided to wait until I got a new one. The sacrifices we make for the sake of photographs.

This product comes in three shades - I have the one in Bronze - and as the official promotion states , its "Five shimmering shades for face and cheeks in one neat compact.". All five of them are very pigmented and can be used individually to create the perfect summer eye makeup or all swirled up together on the cheeks for a bronzy glow. I also like to use the gold shade on its own as a highlighter both in the inner corners of my eyes and on the tops of my cheeks. For the days that I want a more subtle rosy flush on my cheeks, I choose to omit the deep bronze shade.

Over the years, it has proven to be a must have product for the warmer months - dull, cold weather and pale skin don't go well with this - and is also very useful for summer vacations, when you don't want to bring all your make up with you. This multipurpose product gives endless possibilities to create a lot different looks and I'll go out on a limb and say that you can take this with you and leave all your other eyeshadows and highlighters at home resting.

Summer Tanning Essentials

Bikini Top and Bottom : OYSHO

Summer is here - nobody can deny that with 38°C roaring outside - and although I'm still city bound, I'm practising the old "a girl can dream" moto and I'm thinking of sandy beaches and gorgeous tan lines!

Unfortunately I'm the kind of person that is more likely to spontaneously combust under the sun, than get a magical sun kissed look, so this summer I'm getting a little help from my friends.. Carroten and Hawaiian Tropic that is!!

They are both tested and well-loved, so the recipe is pretty much guaranteed. Let's start by saying that if you are fair like me, then you have to pass through a phase of SPF 30 and 20 before you move to this particular Carroten product - unless you like burned skin, so in that case ignore what I just said!

So after you've elluded burning and you're in the first stages of tanning, enter the lovely Carroten Sunsations intensive exotic tanning gel SPF 10. It has been my favourite since last year, as it helps speed up the tanning process, while it protects from the sun - which most tanning oils and gels don't. The formula is moisturising and not at all sticky and it gives a nice glow when applied. Another great plus is the scent of this product. Although it says exotic flowers fragrance on the tub, it really smells like summer and exotic beaches without any hint of floral in it! I cannot really describe it as you can tell, but I guarantee that it's a really addictive scent.

Now let's skip to the part when you're back from the beach, all bathed and dolled up.. all you need is an after sun product and here comes the Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Body Butter. Long story short, I swear by it and I have all my friends hooked on it too!! It's not only a great after sun product, it's also the best body butter formula I've ever tried. It's really moisturising but after applied it gets completely absorbed, leaving no residue on the skin whatsoever. As for the scent, I have the exotic coconut one and once I've found it, I haven't used anything else layered under my perfume.

Stripes and Bubbles

Photography : Bill Bar

SHOP THE LOOK

top : H&M

kimono : Bershka

shoes : H&M

You can't say that I didn't warn you, in this post, when I said that you'll be seeing more of my beloved kimono soon!! So I stayed true to my words and after grabbing my favourite flavour of Bubble Tea, I went for a walk from Thiseio to Gazi - taking pictures was completely coincidental, I promise!!!

Initially I thought to put the top in a different look, where it would be the main item. After wearing it with the kimono though, I really liked the way the straps are peeking through the material - accidentally or not! Both the top and the kimono are airy and loose, and are really perfect to bring with you in your vacation for that "night out in the island" aetherial kind of look!!

As far as the shoes are concerned.. I know you've seen them before and I know I said they weren't the most comfortable footwear item in the world, but I'm a weak person and a sucker for these shoes! I really like the way they look and the way they hug my feet. Also for tall girls like me, it's not everyday when you find such a flatform!!

Easy Sea Salt Spray - DIY

So this post isn't something new or groundbreaking, but I decided to make it anyway! This is just the way I make salt water for my hair and it's a recipe that I find works. If your hair is like mine - straight and thick - then give it a go!!

First let's start by saying that the basic salt water spray could be just water and coarse salt, but there are little somethings you could add to have a better finish.
For me it's some coconut oil, a little bit of a thickening paste and if your hair is super dry then you could add some leave-in conditioner too.
The coconut oil takes some of the harshness of the salt and nourishes your hair, and the thickening paste really plumps up the whole do!!

"RECIPE"

1 cup hot water

2 tbsp coarse salt

1 tsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp thickening paste

+optional

1 tsp to 1 tbsp leave-in conditioner

(depending on your hair type)

Mix all the ingredients together and wait for it to cool down a little - then spritz away on damp or dry hair and enjoy your newly found textured look!!

Eat - Shop - Repeat

Another Sunday is here and the shopping and cooking spirits have overcome me once again!!

EAT : Fact about me : I love eggs! Poached, scrambled, omelette, sunny-side up or straight up boiled, I don't care, I love them anyway!! In a recent visit to Hip Cafe, I tried poached eggs with salmon and then I tried to recreate it at home with scrambled eggs instead!! And it worked!! I used a technique for Quick Cured Salmon (link) by Chef John - check him out, if you don't know him already - and the result was truly yummy!!

SHOP : So the Kimono trend is no news for many of you. It's been going on for some months now and though I've seen many shapes and sizes in the stores, I was still looking for that perfect one!! In my mind it was short sleeved and with a length reaching to the hip area and not so much a maxi one. After a meticulous search, I found the perfect one at Bershka (link to the kimono) and I can tell that you'll be seeing more from it soon!!!

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Review

Here we are again with another review and another beloved product. I bought this mascara two weeks ago, when I was in desperate need of a waterproof formula!! I put my faith in this new one from Bourjois and I wasn't disappointed - it's been a while since a product had completely let me down fortunately.

I've included a close up photo of the wand, since it's the thing that's so unique about this mascara. It's plastic and spiky but has little plastic spheres going on through it, that supposedly hug the lashes and give mega volume. Which I can say is pretty true!
This mascara gives volume and separation enough for a morning look if you apply one coat and then it's buildable enough to provide really black and voluminous lashes. but separation is the key here and you'll never get a grungy clumpy look out of this one!

Now about the formula, it's waterproof of course and it does the job perfectly without smudging or smearing or any other stuff that come with regular mascaras. And I live in a country where summer is relentless and without mercy, so trust me when I say that this works!!
One thing that comes hand in hand with the word waterproof is the fact that this mascara is a little bit on the dry side. It doesn't glide on the lashes but I find that this dryer formula gives more separation and this is all that counts for me!

New Haircut : From Deciding To Choping

There comes a time in a girl's life, when she's in need of a haircut. And I'm not talking about the regular trimming here.. This is the proper haircut, the one people notice!!
Having been in that place in my life recently, I think that it is a tad difficult to set your mind on the style you want - except, if you are super decisive and oh my God where have you come from??
In case you are just like me and not some kind of a super human cyborg, here's a little guideline I find really helpful everytime a new haircut is to take place!

Decision Process

• Do a little self assessment and decide whether you feel adventurous or you want to go for something safe.
• Decide the length you are going for first, before looking for different styles.
• Pinterest is your friend. Search depending on the length you want and you'l find a million different cuts.
• Don't repeat the failures of the past. If bangs weren't the right thing for you before, they won't be now.

In the Salon

• If you have a salon or a hairdresser you prefer and you know suits you, then stick with it. If not, find the friend with the best haircut and ask her.
• Bring photos with you, so you can show the hairdresser exactly what you want.
• Explain in detail how you want your haircut to be.
• Don't feel bad to tell her if something seems out of place.

So this is it.. It's not some kind of profound wisdom but it helps me get my mind in order and decide on that perfect looking, smoking hot new haircut that will change my life for good!!