FINISHED! September Edition

September was a really slow month when it comes to the products I have spent. I also have to brag myself a bit and say that, with the exception of Essie nail polish (shade Recessionista) I haven’t bough any single product, be it make-up or skincare, since August 10th. That’s almost two months of an unintentional no-buy. It wasn’t so hard – I simply didn’t think about it at all.

Anyway, I’m planning on having a huge shopping spree – I need some Vitamin C serums, glycolic acid peel and something with Retinol. I’m kind of low with the body-care products, too, and I’m planning to raid Yves Rocher store.

Also, Sisley has launched new blushes in the trashiest packaging possible (the plastic cover with zebra pattern) but I’m in love with the coral shade.

Next, I’m gathering the courage to get my hair cut – I haven’t been at the hairdresser for over two years (because of the very traumatic experience) and my hair is in horrible condition. I’ll have to cut off at least 10 to 15 centimeters and I just need to find a reliable salon. This also means that I’ll have to get some hair-care products.

DIOR Diorskin Nude Tan Nude Glow Sun Powder Swatches

 

Unlike Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder ($55), Diorskin Nude Tan Nude Glow Sun Powder is a true bronzer. The round compact comes with a small kabuki brush included and it retails for $52.

It comes in 6 shades:

001 Miel (Honey)

002 Ambre (Amber)

003 Cannelle (Cinnamon)

004 Epice (Spicy)

005 Caramel

006 Sienne

It is very silky, matte (the bits of shimmer here and there on the swatch were accidentaly transfered) and extremely pigmented, but very blendable.

I’m not a fan of the shade selection – I think that they won’t match my skin tone very vell (with the exception of the shade #3).

The bronzer is swatched in this order:

Top row: 001 Miel (Honey) swatch, 002 Ambre (Amber) swatch, 003 Cannelle (Cinnamon) swatch

Bottom row: 004 Epice (Spicy) swatch, 005 Caramel swatch, 006 Sienne swatch

DIOR Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder Swatches

Dior Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder retails for approximately 50 euros. It comes in a round compact with a kabuki brush included.

This is not a pure bronzer – it is a really sheer, bronze tinted powder, that is better to be used as a highlighter. It is sheerer than Chanel’s summer 2012 bronzers.

The powder is divided on quarters and each quarter has the bas relief letter so that is spells the word NUDE. The letters come in two colours (the shades of pink and beige bronze). The quarters are two toned – a lighter and a darker shade of bronze.

There are four shades available:

001 Aurora. This shade is intended for very pale skin and if you don’t mind a bit of shimmer, it could serve as a real bronzer.

002 Sunlight. Slightly darker shade than Aurora.

003 Zenith. Warm, slightly orangey shade.

004 Sunset. The darkest shade in the bunch, a bit too orange for my liking.

Overall, I think I prefer Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel. Dior Nude Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder is too sheer for a bronzer, plus none of the shades would match me well (the closest being Aurora and Sunlight). Also, in spite of the shimmer, it lacks the true glowy quality that Chanel has.

The bronzer is swatched in this order: 001 Aurora swatch, 002 Sunlight swatch, 003 Zenith swatch, 004 Sunset swatch.

DIOR Eye Gloss Swatches (Summer 2012)

Dior Eye Gloss comes in a similar bottle like Dior Lipgloss with the sponge tip applicator. It retails for around 25 euros.

Eye Gloss is a cream eyeshadow, available in four shades and, as far as I know, all of them are limited edition. Don’t expect amazing pigmentation – when you spread the eyeshadow, they are very sheer and they give a hint of colour and a lot of shine. Applying another layer after the first one had dried might deepen the colour, but don’t expect too much.

The shades are:

750 Sunset. Shimmering pinky peach coral.

020 Sheashell. Pearly white shade.

240 Azur. Shimmering baby blue with a hint of turquoise

560 Tan. Shimmering bronze medium dark brown.

The eyeshadow dries very quickly upon application and I think that those with non-oily eyelids won’t complain on the lasting power. I have extremely oily eyelids and I have tested the product only at the counter without a primer and, once applied, it stayed on for three hours without creasing. After five hours, the creasing was very visible.

DIOR Croisette Summer 2012 Preview

Here are some pictures of Dior Croisette summer 2012 look. There is another quint available – in brown-bronzey gold tones. I admit that I’m tempted to get the quints only because they look nice.

They are also introducing a new member of the Nude family – Diorskin Nude Tan Nude Glow Sun Powder (six shades).

The only product I really like from this collection are the nail polishes.

Dior is back!!! – DIOR Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012fe

I know this is not a fashion blog, but this collection has left me breathless. After Galliano left, it seemed as if Dior has lost it’s track. Thankfully,this collection put it right back. This collection is the essence of Dior – feminine, elegant and strong.

You can watch the video from Dior’s you-tube channel:

link

You can see the photos of the dresses in the photo gallery here.(scroll down)

My favourites are dresses on these pictures: 4 (very nice), 7, 8 (nice), 10 (love it), 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 24, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34 (perfect), 35, 36, 38 (my absolute favourite), 39, 40.

I hope that one day I’ll be able to afford one of these.

Which dresses did you like?

♥

Friday FAVOURITES 20.01.2012

The exams are approaching, so I don’t have much time for make-up – I mostly sleep and/or study.

For this reason, I’ve decided to go with natural make-up.

I have used the most the following items:

cK Loose Powder

Dior Diorblush Strawberry Sorbet

Guerlain Ombre 4 Eclats in Perles des Mers (minus the turquoise shade)

Essence quad in Ciao Bella

Sisley Phyto Ombre in Sorbet

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Chance

Rouge G in Gaby

Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Mirifique

SKINCARE STASH INVENTORY (January 2012)

In my Make-up stash inventory post, I’ve promised skincare and body care stash post so here I am, fulfilling my promise.

You can read on my make-up inventory HERE.

MAKE-UP STASH INVENTORY (January 2012)

I think it’s high time for me to start to control my impulsive purchases and redirect the money I spend on cosmetics I don’t need on something else. I’ve had much more self-control before I started to get involved in beauty community. Before, I’d purchase something only when I would need it, but now I’ve been buying things only because they seem pretty or I think that I simply must have it (even though I’ll probably use it several times before the product is lost in my stash.

I don’t like feeling overwhelmed every morning when I’m doing my make-up with all of the products which I have. Sometimes it takes me literary 10 minutes only to decide which eyeshadow I should use. I’ve tried the concept of creating “looks” which would include several products and then wearing the look for the next week. It is a good concept, but this means that 90% of my stash sits there unused while I’m wearing the “look”.

I do not plan to use up all of my make-up. I’ll use eyeshadows only until I hit the pan (especially if it is a discontinued or LE product). The same goes with lipsticks. I always leave a millimetre or two of the lipstick in case I ever need to find a dupe. After that, I put the product in the original packaging and put it in my “finished products” drawer. I know this sounds a bit ridiculous, to keep the boxes after you have spent the product, but I have paid a lot for these products and I cannot imagine throwing the compact of, let’s say, Guerlain eyeshadow away.

I have taken a photo of all the items in my stash, for my reference (I’ll do the same the next year). Compared to the previous stash pictures, you can see that I have spent some items (yay! for me) and hit the pan on many others.

Fleurissante’s Favourites 2011

Happy New Year!!!

I wish you all the best in the next 2012. May it be much, much better than the previous one.

Fleurissante’s Favourites lists my favourites products in the last year. It doesn’t matter if they were freshly released or something available for a long time, which I have discovered the last year – the only thing that matters is that this are the products which have come closely to the Holy Grail status.

DIOR 3 Couleurs Smoky in #091 Smoky Black and #291 Smoky Navy Swatch and Review

Together with their fall 2011 collection, Dior have released and ingenious concept of trio eyeshadows. The compact cost $48 and it contains three shades, each of a different texture, two applicators and a mirror. The top two shades are darker – one is matte and the other is packed with glitter and shimmer. Below these two shades, there is one lighter satiny shade, in a bigger pan.

The concept seems ideal – you practically get everything you need in one compact. The colours are well coordinated and I could see myself wanting all of these. However, not all the shades impressed me when trying them in a real-life.

However, I’d like to warn you that I have only tested these products at the counter. I’m still writing a review based on this first impression because I believe that the testers are there in order to impress the customer and make them buy the product. Also, the swatches were done with a light swipe of finger. The purpose was not to show the exact colour (swatches on Dior website are pretty accurate), but rather to show a level of pigmentation the shade has.

DIOR 3 Couleurs Smoky in #781 Smoky Brown and #481 Smoky Khaki Review and Swatch

Together with their fall 2011 collection, Dior have released and ingenious concept of trio eyeshadows. The compact cost $48 and it contains three shades, each of a different texture, two applicators and a mirror. The top two shades are darker – one is matte and the other is packed with glitter and shimmer. Below these two shades, there is one lighter satiny shade, in a bigger pan.

The concept seems ideal – you practically get everything you need in one compact. The colours are well coordinated and I could see myself wanting all of these. However, not all the shades impressed me when trying them in a real-life.

However, I’d like to warn you that I have only tested these products at the counter. I’m still writing a review based on this first impression because I believe that the testers are there in order to impress the customer and make them buy the product. Also, the swatches were done with a light swipe of finger. The purpose was not to show the exact colour (swatches on Dior website are pretty accurate), but rather to show a level of pigmentation the shade has.

 

DIOR 3 Couleurs Smoky in #051 Smoky Pink and #571 Smoky Nude Review and Swatch

Together with their fall 2011 collection, Dior have released and ingenious concept of trio eyeshadows. The compact cost $48 and it contains three shades, each of a different texture, two applicators and a mirror. The top two shades are darker – one is matte and the other is packed with glitter and shimmer. Below these two shades, there is one lighter satiny shade, in a bigger pan.

The concept seems ideal – you practically get everything you need in one compact. The colours are well coordinated and I could see myself wanting all of these. However, not all the shades impressed me when trying them in a real-life.

However, I’d like to warn you that I have only tested these products at the counter. I’m still writing a review based on this first impression because I believe that the testers are there in order to impress the customer and make them buy the product. Also, the swatches were done with a light swipe of finger. The purpose was not to show the exact colour (swatches on Dior website are pretty accurate), but rather to show a level of pigmentation the shade has.

DIOR Garden Party (Spring 2012) Preview

What is a better way to enter December than with an invitation to spring garden party?

Even though it is colour-wise very similar to other spring launches, Dior have this time made a breathtaking collection. This is definitely my favourite (even though I couldn’t pull off most of the colours). I’m definitely getting a Garden clutch in Granville Garden (brown one), maybe even the quint (although I have no idea what could force me to actually touch it – it is even prettier than anything that Guerlain have ever launched).

How do you like Dior Garden Party

DIOR Diorskin Airflash Foundation #200 Review and Swatch

I’ve spent last year looking for a new foundation. I’ve tried many of them: Chanel Mat Lumiere, Sisley Phyto Teint Eclat, Givenchy Photo’Perfexion, Dior Nude Loose Powder, Sephora mineral foundation, etc and many of them were good, but none was perfect.

My skin is oily and, while I do not have heavy acne and I am not breakout prone, I can count on one acne per week. My pores are also very expanded. In spite of this I am not a fan of full and medium coverage foundations. What I require from the foundation is minimal coverage – the foundation simply needs to even-out my skin tone, cover slight discolourations and minimize the appearance of the pores. My skin-tone is somewhere between NC15-20.

I’ve never really considered Airflash before, because it seemed very expensive and not practical to use, but since I was very desperate, I asked a SA to spray a bit of foundation in a jar so that I could properly test it. I tried it and I was thrilled with how good my skin looked, so the next week I’ve decided to purchase it. (I’ve paid around $50 for a 70ml foundation so it doesn’t seem so expensive. If I calculate a price per ounce, it is around $21 for 1.0oz which isn’t expensive at all (an average price of a better drugstore foundation in my country).

The shade range is not so good. There are only four shades and all are leaning a bit towards pink undertone. I’ve purchased shade 200, which was the closest match, maybe just a tad bit too pink and too dark. The foundation didn’t oxidize on me.

The foundation comes in a can and you’re supposed to spray it directly on the face in Z motion. I usually don’t use the foundation in this way since it is messy and wasteful. I suppose more foundation would end up on my hair and sink then on my face. When I was paler, I sprayed some on the neck, so that the transition between the neck and the face wasn’t as obvious and by spraying it, it seemed much more natural.

I’m applying this foundation by spraying a small amount on the wrist, I pick it up with a brush and then stipple it on the face (I’m using Sephora 45 mineral powder brush, which is amazing). One to two short presses on the spray are usually more than enough. The foundation dries and settles really fast, so you need to be quich with application or apply a section by section of your face because once when it dries, it becomes almost impossible to blend it properly.

The finish is gorgeous luminous matte (not as matte as with Sisley Phyto Teint Eclat but very similar to the finish of Chanel Mat Lumiere).

The coverage is light, but it is possible to build it up to medium. It will cover discolouration, redness, and the pores will be minimized (I shoud know, I have the largest pores ever), but this is definitely not the foundation for someone who wants heavier coverage.

It is very mattifying. I haven’t expected oil control at all, and this foundation controils oil much better than some mattifying foundations. In summer, when I get oily pretty quickly, I can spend 8 hours outside and don’t need to blot (I haven’t used primer or setting powder). Airflash is more appropriate for normal or oily skin. In winter, when my skin is dryer and extremely dehydrated due to heating, the foundation doesn’t look as good. I’ve been wearing it for a month and it hasn’t broken me out.

The only drawback is that it doesn’t have SPF, but this can be easily solved by using a SPF moisturizer before the foundation.

Project 10 Pans and Sample Challenge Update #4

It’s been ages from my last update. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally spend all of these products. However, I haven’t been as disciplined when it comes to the new purchases. I’ve got several nailpolishes and a primer. I’m also planning on a foundation purchase (even thought I have half a bottle of Clarins Everlasting and half a bottle of Dior Airflash) if the foundation I’m currently testing proves it is worth it.

Here are the original posts: Project 10 Pans, Sample Challenge

DIOR Electric Tropics (Summer 2011) Swatches

Product pictures: from makeupandbeautyblog

Swatch pictures are mine.

I’ve been waiting (and saving money) for Dior Summer collection ever since I saw promo pictures. I’ve almost given up hope that it will arrive in my country (we always get collections a couple of weeks later). I’ve been browsing Chanel polishes, searching for the shade Morning Rose, when the SA told me that the new Dior collection has arrived and they have a gorgeous pink nailpolish. Mind you, I didn’t even listen after having heard that the new collection has finally arrived. I swear I’ve almost started jumping out of happiness (the SA must have thought I have gone insane).

Unfortunately, the collection didn’t live up to the promo pictures. On my shopping list, I’ve had both eyeshadow quints, lighter bronzing powder, Nude glow and at least one Crystal gloss. You can imagine my disappointment when all this products turned out to be nothing special.

Keep in mind, the products are far from being bad, but nothing stands out. I won’t be grading the products, as I haven’t tested them properly, but I’ll give my first impressions for every product.

 

DIOR Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil Review

After my positive experience with L’Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil (which is being discontinued), I wanted to find an alternative. I was considering Chanel and Dior, as this are the only two cleansing oils available in my country. I’ve chosen Dior, as it is considerably cheaper than Chanel.

Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil comes in a yellow plastic bottle with pump. 200 ml retail for 28 euros (an average price for Dior cleanser).  The packaging seems really practical and hygienic but, on the other side, it is not the best possible solution. The pump has a stopper which ensures that you accidentally do not squeeze the oil out. You have to remove the stopper before pressing the pump and you have to remember to put it after. I’d prefer if the pump were like the pump on Sisley cleansing milk bottles, where you have to turn the pump in on/off direction, which is much simpler.

Also, be careful not to drop the bottle. The plastic the bottle is made of is very rigid, it feels almost looks like glass and I do not think it would survive the fall.

I use this oil primarily for make-up removing. I always follow with another cleanser.

The oil is transparent – one to two pumps are enough to cover the face. Usually, I gently massage it, until it has almost sunk in, then I add a tiny amount of water and massage further. Adding water transforms the oil into emulsion. In the end, I wipe it off with a moist cotton and all make-up is gone.

I’ve tried to use it on the eyes, but I do not recommend it. Even though my eyes are far from sensitive, and I can put literally anything on my eyes, this oil irritated me. I still use it on the eyes from time to time, because it is really great mascara remover, but I always have to be careful to keep my eyes closed all the time in order to prevent the oil getting into the eyes.

I’ve been using this oil for a bit over two weeks, and no breakouts have occurred. I have noticed that my pores seem cleaner and the blackheads on my nose seem smaller. I hope that with long-term usage, they’ll become almost invisible.

Overall impression:

My Stash: Blushes, Bronzers, Concealers

My stash posts are almost finished. This post will feature all of my blushes, bronzers, concealers and other random face products.

My Stash: Eyeshadows, Mascaras and Eyeliners

We have finally arrived to my favourite part: eyeshadows. I think that if I’d stop to buy eyeshadows today, I’d still have enough to last me a lifetime.

As for the eyeliners, I’m not a great collector. I prefer black, but here and there I use colour eyeliners.