My Current Favourite Lip Products

Today I'd like to share with you the four lip products I'm currently obsessing over. Most of them are new purchases, so I decided to gather them all in one post :)

Max Factor Color Elixir Giant Pen Stick in Subtle Coral 02

I have been all about coral lately: coral clothes, coral nails and -of course- coral lips. After swatching just about every coral lip product in my beauty store, I found that the Max Factor Color Elixir Giant Pen Stick in Subtle Coral 02 was my favourite: it's the perfect orange-y coral shade for Spring time and I find it suits my skintone and hair colour perfectly. The texture is very smooth and balmy, and it has a nice glossy finish which makes the lips look more plump. The only downside to this product is that you have to sharpen it! But I like the fact that the bottom of the pencil matches the actual colour of the lipstick - that's always nice if you have tons of lip products like yours truly.

Essence XXL Longlasting Lipgloss in Coral Delight

I absolutely love pairing this lipgloss to the Max Factor lip crayon! They match perfectly and this Essence lipgloss makes the other product even more pigmented and shiny. I like it also on its own for quick, fresh-looking make-up looks. It's definitely pigmented for a €2,50 product and I definitely want to try more from this line. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie
You know I love my Revlon Lip Butters - I have ever since they came out and I just can't stop using them. The one in Raspberry Pie was one of my less used ones because I found it was just too pigmented for day-to-day wear and it also made my teeth look a bit yellow. I tried it again on a whim a few weeks ago and I fell in love with it! Despite it having a very creamy and soft texture, I like applying it over lipbalm so that it has a more sheer and glossy finish. I love the dark berry shade, but most of all I love how perfectly it wears, because it leaves the prettiest stain on the lips after the gloss is gone. 

KIKO Precision Lip Pencil #311
My other favourite everyday lip product of the moment, together with the first two I mentioned, is the KIKO Precision Lip Pencil #311. It's a great 'my lips but better' shade, which is just a tiny bit darker than my own lips. I have been enjoying defining my lips a bit more recently, and I definitely want to branch out more in the lip pencil department. I'm trying to add more lip pencils to my collection because they make your lipstick stay on so much longer (and I definitely need that, especially when I have long days at Uni) and they look pretty even on their own, as this one does, especially topped off with some clear lipgloss. I find the KIKO Precision Lip Pencils are great: they are pigmented but not drying on the lips. I have a red Essence one as well that I love even more, but unfortunately the colour range is so poor!

What lip products are you enjoying so far? Which ones do you like to wear in the Spring time? :)

Max Factor // Essence // Revlon // Kiko

My Roaccutane Experience: Month 2 & 3

Here I am with the second post about my Roaccutane journey! It's been exactly 3 months since I started taking it. I'm still on 30mg a day, but I will probably ask to up the dose next time I see my dermatologist as it's going so well! It's insane. I would have never imagined how quickly it would have worked - I'm just hoping my skin will look this good when I stop the treatment too. But let's be more detailed, shall we :)

As I have said in my first Roaccutane experience post, my skin started clearing up about three weeks into the treatment. During the month of March I have had three (yes, only THREE) pimples, and that was probably because I wasn't eating very healthily. I pretty much have only scars left, which is just insane to think of... Yes, because when you wake up every day of your life for almost 10 years with at least one breakout on your face, you get used to it. So this whole 'no breakout situation' is completely new to me!

My skin has definitely been dry, but not drier than it was in the first month. My morning and evening skincare routine are exactly the same - I wash my face using Avène Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo Cleansing Fluid, then I apply a thick moisturizer my dermatologist gave me (it's a local product so it's no point in me telling you the name). I know some people on Roaccutane have to moisturize multiple times throughout the day - that's definitely not my case. I would say my skin has gotten incredibly drier compared to what it was before, but it's rarely flakey or tight. Applying moisturizer before putting on my makeup is mandatory, otherwise the dryness will show through.
To take my make-up off I'm still using the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish hot cloth cleanser and Bioderma, and they don't irritate my skin very much at all and substitute make-up removing wipes beautifully.

Lips - My lips have been dry but not extremely flakey; I've been using the Bionike Proxera Lipogel lipbalm, which feels more like an oil rather than a lipbalm and smells like MAC lipsticks, which is amazing. It's worked very well so far in giving back my lips some needed moisture :)
Nose - The tip of my nose is driving me insane - no matter how much moisturizer I put on it, no matter when I apply it, it won't do nothing! It's so noticeable when I put foundation on, I hate it!
Hands - I got a weird rash on my hands from mid-February to mid-March, but it's completely gone now. My dermatologist said it was a normal reaction that many people experience during Roaccutane.
Eyes - My eyes get a little bit dry during the afternoon, especially if I have a lesson at Uni or I'm studying.
Body -The only other part of my body that is drier than normal are my underarms and arms, but nothing major. Despite not being super dry, my body skin is definitely more sensitive and that's a problem when it comes to shaving. I usually wax my legs and underarms, but I'm scared it will hurt too much - if you've been on Roaccutane, how did you shave? D:

I haven't been experiencing any other side effects: my blood levels are fine, I'm not feeling any more depressed than I normally am (haha), no headaches. I'm so, so, so happy that the treatment is going so well and I do hope with all my heart it will go even better!
Feel free to ask me questions and tell me about your experience in the comments below ♥

READ ABOUT MONTH 1 HERE

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

After managing to use a light-coverage foundation for two years, about 5 months ago my acne got so bad that I decided to switch to a more heavy duty product than my beloved Chanel Vitalumière Aqua: the Make Up For Ever HD foundation. I have been using it for a long period of time now and I have fallen in love with it!

I was looking for an oil free, long lasting product, but most of all I wanted something that would cover up all the redness and scarring on my skin: the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation seemed to tick all the boxes. This foundation's coverage definitely is very high, but what I like about it is that it doesn't look fake or cakey - it looks like real skin. It almost gives a glowy, non-flat finish. And on some very good skin days, I can even skip concealer!

Despite having such a high coverage, it doesn't have a thick consistency: it's almost runny and it doesn't feel very heavy on the skin. For that reason, I like to apply it with my hands by patting it on the skin - that way I can concentrate more product on my problem areas and less where I don't really need it. I tried to apply it with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush when I first bought this foundation, but I found the coverage was less intense and the effect was less natural. Also, for some reason the product clinged to dry patches like crazy, so for me the best way is to apply it with my fingers.

Back when I bought this product, I wasn't on Roaccutane (read more about that here) and my skin was oilier than usual, so I had to powder after max three hours after applying my make-up - it was driving me insane. Thankfully, now that my sebum production is being controlled by Roaccutane, I can wear this foundation for more than 12 hours, which is a dream come true. It wears really well and it find it tends to disappear a bit on certain areas only after many hours. 

On the whole, I would definitely recommend the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation to those who have hyperpigmentations, blemishes and things like that, not so much to the lucky girls with already good skin! The only 'con' about this product is that it need a good moisturized base underneath, because it tends to cling to dry patches. The shade selection is great -it comes in 26 shades-, so I bet there's one for everybody. What's not so great is the price which is pretty high, but I am willing to pay a bit more for such a good product. Also, I've been using it since October and it's not nearly empty yet!

Overall I am really enjoying my Make Up For Ever HD Foundation and I would absolutely repurchase it if I was not hoping to not need it at the end of my Roaccutane treatment ;)

Redecorating My Room: Part 1

About a month ago, I decided I had to change some things in my room. My bedroom probably is my favourite place in the entire world, but I felt like I could organize it a little bit better: I only come back home every two weeks and to find a pretty, tidy room is the best feeling ever for me. I need a cute little space to study and relax in, since life in Rome is so stressful.  

As soon as I was finished with my exams mid-February, I took a morning off from everything and give my bedroom a little restyling - hopefully it will inspire you to do the same :) 

I liked how my books were organized before, but I was running out of space - if I had bought one  more book, I probably wouldn't have known where to put it. They were stacked two deep, so they were often hard to find. I decided to move them to a set of shelves that were already on another wall of the room (blog post coming on that soon!) and move the content that was there to these ones. Much more organized, huh?

On the first shelves I put two Glossybox boxes where I store little bits and pieces, a Starbucks cup full of little memories and covered them with two pretty flower crowns I made a few years ago. On the background you can see a portrait of myself when I was 10, taking part in a rhythmic gymnastic competition :) I know I could fit so much more on this shelf, but it looks nice as it is, so I am probably going to leave it like that for now. 

The next shelf is another pretty useless one, but at least it's nice to look at! I have a Ladurée recipe book there, together with a Ladurée tea box and a simple embroidery work I did during the Winter holidays. I love keeping a few quotes here and there in my bedroom - it's the place where I spend the most time when I'm at home, and they keep me motivated :) 

The fourth shelf I left as it was before, with my foreign fashion magazine collection. I like how the white spines look together! The next shelf is filled with cardboard magazine organizers, in which I keep extra stationery, binders etc. I picked two packs of IKEA Flyt magazine files for super cheap, covered them with brown paper, glued some string around them and tied a little bow in the front. It took a few hours to do the whole process, but I couldn't be happier of how they turned out!

I didn't make any change to this corner of my room, but I wanted to show it to you anyway :) I like to pick flowers from places where I go on holiday to, let them dry in a book and frame some of them. These, in particular, I picked from Sicily and Greece ♥

I hope you enjoyed this little peek at my room, and that you can take some inspiration from it. I believe that improving in the space you live in always has positive consequences! 

A KIKO Combo

After a long, long time, last week I went into KIKO and got out of the shop with two nail polishes. I hadn't bought any nail polish from the brand in such a long time, mainly because I had this idea of KIKO nail polishes being goopy and taking ages to dry up. And if you have been shopping at KIKO since they opened, you know what I'm talking about!

However, I decided to give their nail polish range a chance again and picked up #372 Nude and #215 Pearly Light Pink. The best part about KIKO is that they have such a huge variety of shades of every product, but surprisingly it was easy to choose only two nail polishes: I'm always on the hunt for new pretty nude shades! 

#372 Nude is a very close dupe to my favourite nail polish ever, Essie Sand Tropez - that's the reason I picked it in the first place! They look almost identical, but KIKO Nude is just a tad more pink. In some lights it looks more like a a pastel pink rather than a light beige.

Thankfully, the formulation has changed since I first tried KIKO nail polishes years ago: the formula is creamy and opaque, just a little bit streaky but nothing that can't be fixed; it also dries up fairly quickly. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the best wearing power: it doesn't chip, but it starts to show tip wear in only about two days. 

The other nail polish I got is #215 Pearly Light Pink, which I'm absolutely in love with! It's a very light almost white pink shade with a pearlescent finish - it looks very much like mother of pearl, which is exactly the reason why I got it. I love that it's opaque in two coats - these kind of shades are often very sheer. I think I will get a lot of use out of it in the Summertime :)

What do you think about KIKO nail polishes? Have you ever tried them?

My Roaccutane Experience: Month 1

I started my Roaccutane -or should I say, Isotretinoin- journey a little more than a month ago and I would like to share my experience with you, in hope that it will be helpful to any of you. 

Remember I'm not a dermatologist, a doctor or anything like that; I am just going to tell you what my experience was and what I'm going through right now. I may use the wrong medical terms and explain myself not too well - I'm sorry for that, English can be a barrier sometimes.

Firstly, a little overview on my "acne story". I have had breakouts ever since I was 12; first only my forehead, then only my cheeks. For some reason, I had never went to a dermatologist until September 2012, when my spots started leaving red marks on my skin. I always knew that my skin problems were caused by hormonal imbalances, which I had tried to treat using the pill when I was 13 or so, but that made me gain so much weight that I always refused to take it again despite my period kept on being irregular.
My dermatologist put me on folic acid to try and solve the hormonal problem and at the same time I had glicolic acid peelings done on my face until June 2013. They worked really well, to the point I had almost no scars left; the folic acid worked as well, until September 2013 when I moved to Rome to attend university. Everything got worse: maybe because of the change, maybe because of the stress.. who knows. My acne and scarring got so bad and my period so irregular that and I decided to take the pill again and start Roaccutane.

Roaccutane's active ingredient is isotretinoin, the purest form existing of vitamin A. What Roaccutane does is dry up everything in your body - your sebaceous glands, most importantly. Your skin is supposed to get super dry and stop producing sebum. In 70% of the cases, it cures acne forever. It's quite a controversial treatment, because it has numerous side effects - the most dangerous one is that it's teratogenic, which means that if you get pregnant while on Roaccutane, the fetus will be seriously damaged. There has also been rumors that it induces to suicide, but my dermatologist assured me that it's all rubbish, apparently.
Before starting to get Roaccutane, you have to take the pill for a month and get your blood test taken, to make sure that you are not pregnant (so pointless if you're single like me, haha!). You also have to take blood tests every month, to check that the levels in your blood, like cholesterol and transaminase, are ok.

I started taking Roaccutane on January 9th 2014 and I had never in my whole life been more determined to do something, even if the side effects were so scary. My dermatologist put me on 30mg for four months; I just finished my first one and the results are already amazing. I started getting chapped lips within the first week; it's the most common side effect and it's nothing that some lipbalm can't solve. They're not flakey, they just feel tight.
Around day 20, I started using eye drops as my eyes began to feel a bit dry; but I think that that could also be because I was studing pretty much from when I woke up to when I went to sleep. At the same time, my skin began to be sensibly drier. Usually, if I woke up at 8,30 AM and didn't apply any make-up, my face would start feeling very oily at around 4 PM; if I applied foundation, I had to powder after 3 hours. After 3 weeks of using Roaccutane, my foundation would stay exactly the same for 13 hours. As of right now, after a bit more of a month of use, my skin basically doesn't produce any sebum anymore and I feel like I'm in paradise - everyone who suffers from severe acne can understand me.
I currently have only one or two spots -and that could also be because it's that time of the month-, but there have been several days when I had none. None! That hasn't happened since I was 12 years old!

I had my blood tests taken a few days ago, and the levels haven't changed. My dermatologist said I'm doing pretty good, considering I'm experiencing only the 'normal' side effects. I will probably keep on 30mg for two more months and then go on 40mg on the last month. I am so happy this is going good so far, and I hope with all my heart it will go even better!

I will update you again next month :) Have you ever tried Roaccutane? What was your experience like?

READ ABOUT MONTH 2 & 3 HERE

My Empties #4

Here I am again with another empties post! It's so funny that us beauty bloggers keep our 'trash', seriously. Anyway! I've got some skincare, some haircare and some make-up to talk about today. First on the list is my beloved Bioderma Sensibio H2O, which I have already raved about a couple of months ago. Let's just say I had already purchased a new bottle when I was halfway through it! I seriously love this product, it's a great post-make-up-removal micellar water. It really helps get every single bit of make-up off and I highly recommend it.

Next is the Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner combo (only shampoo pictured). I had used it back in March and loved it, so I decided to repurchase later in the year. It didn't blew me away as the first time, maybe because the water in Rome where I live now is more 'polluted' and it makes my hair awful anyway. :'(

I finally have made it and finished my Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, which I think I have had for over a year and a half. I have struggled so much finishing this, because it's such a thick cream that you only need a very tiny amount every time you use it. It's even too thick for me, so I don't think I would repurchase it. If you have extremely dry skin, though, I reckon this would be a very good hand cream to use as a "mask" with those sponge gloves you can find in beauty stores. :)

What empties post would be completed without a nail polish remover? This time it's the Bottega Verde Acetone-free Nail Polish Remover with honey extract, a product that I don't think is sold elsewhere than Italy. At 8,99 euros, it's quite pricey nail polish for what I usually tend to spend on this kind of product, but it does it job very nicely without drying my nails at all.

I finished up another can of Batist Dry Shampoo in the Classic version. For some reason here in Italy it's spelled without the final "e", I don't know why! However it's the exact same I have reviewed here. It's my all time favourite dry shampoo - it has a great fresh scent, it does a great job at absorbing the excess oil and it gives the hair a lot of volume, which I find only this dry shampoo does!

The Maybelline The Rocket Mascara definitely was a good one. Super volumizing, super black and super cheap! I loved the thick applicator with the tiny spikey bristles, I found they did a great job at creating lots and lots of volume in my lashes. I would repurchase it if only there weren't so many other mascaras to try out!

I got a teeny tiny sample of MAC Zoom Lash Mascara a while ago in a swap and I have carried it in my handbag for quick touch-ups for a few good months. I really like the applicator and formula; it's not very volumizing, but it's really lenghtening and that's mainly what I look in a mascara. I would be definitely interested in getting the full size :)

Lastly, I finished up a Labello Chamomile & Calendula lip balm. Labello lipbalms are truly the best, my whole family uses them and I have used them for ages. They are super moisturizing to the point they almost feel greasy, but they really hydrate the lips like no other. The Chamomile and Calendula lipbalm has a nice, non offensive herbal scent. This product has been my savior all throughout the cold months and I have already repurchased one, but in a different scent.

Have you tried any of these products? Have you finished any beauty product recently?

Is Spring here yet? + $25 GC Giveaway!

I was busy being buried under a pile of books and learning the Constitution by heart when the postman came to rescue me and delivered a little package from Persunmall! I had almost forgotten ordering this lovely Stereo Large Flowers Cotton shirt, so receiving it definitely was the highlight of my day, haha :)

This shirt is quite interesting, I don't think I have ever seen anything like it around. It's white with big flowers all over it, with see-through bits between them. It's very lightweight and its material feels almost like linen, which I adore and makes me want it to be Summer already. Another unusual thing about this shirt is that it has elasticated sleeves, so it's nice to wear them rolled up.

I paired the shirt with some light blue jeans from Fornarina and my new babies from Zara. I absolutely am in love with them, they look so pretty! 

Since I've got some spare credit to spend on Persunmall, I decided to give $25 away to spend on the website! I haven't hosted a giveaway in so long, and there are so many nice things on the website ♥ I will contact the winner when the giveaway is over, order their item of choice and get it shipped to him/her. Entering is super easy, you just need to fill out the Rafflecopter form at the end of the post! Good luck! :)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

After hearing a countless number of blogger talking about this products and realizing that my MAC Studio Finish was not the right choice for my eye area, I decided to get the infamous Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer in the shade Light. 

The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer comes in a slim tube packaging with a domed sponge attached to the top, through which the products comes out. I don't find it particularly hygienic, but I only use this concealer over my dark circles so I don't mind too much. As for the product itself, it has a light, creamy texture that is easy to blend out. It has a light to medium coverage, so it manages to cover up my dark circles and brighten my eye area while still looking natural and letting a bit of my skin show through. 

If I apply the right amount, it won't set in my fine lines and it will stay there all day. I really like this concealer, I think it's one of the best under-eye products I have ever tried.. and for under 10 euros I guess you can't go wrong! 

Have you ever tried this product? What is the best under-eye concealer in your opinion?

Things I'm loving at the moment

The purpose of this blog is sharing what I love with you, and there are times when all I can think about has nothing to do with make-up! ;)

I am absolutely obsessed with Pinterest right now. I opened my account years ago when nobody used it and kind of forgot about it; last week I downloaded the app on my iPhone and now I can't stop scrolling! The amount of interesting things I found there is just insane. Some of my favourite Pinteresters (?) are Griottes, Twigs & Honey (my dream is to marry in one of their dresses) and Raising Up Rubies. You can find my boards here :)

I am in a serious DIY kick right now, which is not exactly ideal as it's so time consuming and I have exams coming up! Since I came back in December I have completed a little embroidery work you can see in the photo above, and I have started experimenting with calligraphy. I definitely want to get better at it - if you just type 'calligraphy' on Etsy, some seriously talented people's shops will show up!  

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon Oana Befort's website and the artsy side of me could not help but grab a brush and a set of watercolour paints and start experimenting! If anything pretty ever turns out, I will definitely update you about it :)

Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2014. Honestly. Too much beauty. And Valentino, too.. it truly amazes me that there are people that are still able to actually sew and embroider masterpieces like these.

What about you? What are you obsessed with at the moment? 

Essence 'I Love Extreme' mascara

About three months I was induced to buy the Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara, partially because every single girl on the planet loves it and partially because of it price - it's only 3,50 euros or something ridiculous like that. I also badly needed a new mascara, and I think those were the only three sensible reasons why I chose this product, as I don't particularly like the applicator, but I decided to give it a shot anyway.

As you can tell from the photos, the Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara has a huge plastic wand with lots and lots of bristles, to which you have to get used to, as it's quite easy to get smudges on your upper lashline if you don't pay enough attention. It definitely lives up to its claim, giving a lot of volume to the lashes; I also manage to give them some extra length by building the mascara up only on the ends. I'm not one to apply more than 2 coats of mascara, but I guess you could get an extremely voluminous set of lashes by building this mascara up!

Anyway, the formula is quite dry and I have to be super careful not to get clumps when using it. It wears nicely throughout the day, but I find that it smears on my lower outer corners just a tiny bit - nothing too noticeable. 

I would recommend the Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara if you are on a budget and you feel comfortable with big applicators - maybe this is not the best product for beginners. I won't be repurchasing it just because I think there are so many other mascaras on the market and I'm not completely satisfied with this one!

Have you ever tried it? What do you think about it?

Too Faced 'A few of my favorite things'

I don't know why I have been putting off writing this post for so long, maybe because the beauty I'm talking about -the Too Faced 'A Few of My Favorite Things' palette- was limited edition and you can't get it in stores anymore. As soon as I was done with my exams last month, I went on a shopping spree and this gorgeous thing was included! Even though you can only get it on Ebay for an insane amount of money, I am going to dedicate this post to this awesome palette just for the sake of sharing something beautiful with you ♥

The Too Faced 'A few of my favorite things' palette comes in a lovely pouch which chevron pattern recalls the packaging of the palette itself. I think the prettiness of the pink and gold combo was what drew me into the purchase! Inside the pouch you find a mini Better than Sex mascara and a full sized Lip Injection Color Bomb.
The star of the show, though, definitely is the palette. It comes with 20 eyeshadows, 2 blushes and 2 bronzers. The eyeshadows come in different finishes, from matte to satin to glitter. I had never tried any eyeshadow from the brand before and their quality literally blew me away! They all feel soft as butter and are extremely pigmented, except two glitter ones (1st on 1st row, 4th on 1st row) that feel a little gritty. As for the color range, it has a little bit of everything: lots of "not boring" neutrals (see Coquet, the most beautiful iridescent light pink), the most stunning golden shades I have ever tried (Tinsel, Crisp Apple Strudel), a gorgeous orchid colour, an oxblood colour, a green.. it basically has every single shade you could ever need to create a daytime and an evening look.

In the lower part of the palette you can find Raindrops on Roses, a very bright pink shade of blush which will be perfect in the warmer months, and Melt into Spring, a muted down peachy pink colour. Next to the blushes are the infamous Chocolate Soleil bronzer (it actually smells like chocolate and it looks great even on my Snow White skin) and Sun Bunny, a shimmery bronzer which gives a very pretty glow to the skin.

I cannot say more about this palette other than "I am in love with it"! Did you manage to get your hands on it? If not, would you ever have the guts to purchase it for three times its price on eBay? ;)

Coconut Oil: 5 Beauty Treatments

I have started including Coconut oil in my beauty routine a few months ago and I've been experimenting a few different ways to make the most out of that giant tub you can see in the photo above! 

♥ Hair Mask
The most common way to use Coconut oil is as a hair mask. Coconut oil comes in solid form and melts at 25°, so you have to melt it in your microwave beforehand. I usually melt a spoonful or two and then apply it generously on my hair until every strand is covered; I let the oil sink in for as long as I can and then I proceed to wash my hair. Coconut oil makes them incredibly soft and hydrated - it makes them smell lovely too! Clearly, this hair mask is only suited for damaged and dry hair types. :)

♥ Lip scrub
Whenever I feel like my lips are in need of a good scrub, I melt a teaspoon of Coconut oil and mix it with half a teaspoon of sugar in a little container. I then apply the mixture onto my lips and rub it gently; not only my lips will feel softer from the scrubbing, but also perfectly hydrated from the oil. I always do this when I want my lipstick to look perfect!

♥ Lip balm
I depotted a small quantity of oil in a tiny glass jar and I keep it on my bedside table at all times, so that every evening I apply some as a lipbalm. It's amazing how Coconut oil manages to hydrate my lips!

♥ Eye Make-up Remover

Coconut oil can be used as a make-up remover, too (extra-virgin olive oil works as well). I have only tried using it on my eyes even though I know lots of girls love to use it on their face - I bet it would work wonders as a moisturizer for dry skintypes! Anyway, it removes mascara perfectly well, but I found that it made my eye area slightly red, so I stopped using it for that purpose. I have a quite sensitive eye area anyways, so I advise you to try it and see how it works for you! 

♥ Cuticle oil

Everytime my cuticles and nails feel slightly dry, I reach out for that little glass jar I have mentioned before and apply some Coconut oil on them. Sometimes my knuckles get quite dry during this time of the year, so I generally put some on there while I'm at it ;) 

As you can tell, Coconut oil truly is an all-purpose product. It can be used as an emollient all over the body and for cooking too, of course! There are hundreds of yummy recipes including it that I can't wait to try :) 

Do you know any other use for Coconut oil? Have you ever tried it? 

Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Milk

About two months ago I ran out of my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish hot cloth cleanser and I couldn't order it online, so I had to switch to another make-up remover for a while. Since my skin already loved the Bioderma H2O, I decided to explore the brand further and try their Sensibio Lait Démaquillant, or Cleansing Milk. 

I don't think I have ever seen anyone review this, so I thought I'd share my thoughts about it with you. The Bioderma Sensibio Lait Démaquillant is a make-up remover that is part of the Sensibio line, just like the infamous micellar water everyone raves about, so it is specifically formulated for sensitive skin types. It's fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and perfectly suitable for the eye area. 

This product, just like the name suggests, has a light milky texture which feels very fresh on the skin. The instructions advice to use it on cotton rounds, and it actually is the best way to use it (I've tried applying it directly on the skin and massaging it and it hasn't done a good job). 

Now, the Bioderma Sensibio Lait Démaquillant is not the best make-up remover if you have to take off a ton of foundation like I do. I found myself using 6 or even 7 small cotton rounds to feel like I had completely removed all make-up on my face; I found it way too impractical for me and as soon as I could, I stopped using it and replaced it with the Liz Earle cleanser I have mentioned before. 

It removes eye make-up and especially mascara fairly well, but i had to follow it up with some Bioderma H20 anyways, to make sure that every trace of mascara was gone. 

So, I would only recommend the Bioderma Sensibio Lait Démaquillant for someone who doesn't wear a ton of make-up (it would remove a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation in a sec), and, of course, to those who have sensitive skin. It didn't remove all of my make-up in one swipe, but at least it didn't irritate my skin in the slightest! 

Have you ever tried this product? What do you think about it?

Urban Decay De-Slick Make-up Setting Spray

Don't ask me why, but when I first moved to Rome in September my face started to produce more oil than ever - maybe because of the pollution. I have always had oily skin, but I had come to a point where foundation only lasted 3 hours on me before getting as shiny a face as a discoball. I decided I needed to do something about it, so I purchased the Urban Decay De-Slick Make-up Setting Spray!

The Urban Decay De-Slick Make-up Setting Spray is supposed, as the name suggests, to control oil and set your make-up, preventing it from separating and sliding everywhere. It doesn't contain parabens, sulfates or phtalates, which is always nice in a product. The instructions on the bottle advise you to spray it 8-10 inches away from your face, in an X and T motion - I usually don't follow that rule and spray it quite randomly, until I feel that it has reached my whole face. Also, they say you can use it before putting on your make-up, but I always feel a little strange putting any type of product that is not moisturizer on my bare skin; primers make me feel claustrophobic! I know it's silly, but I'm not the only one to say it! 

Anyway, the Urban Decay De-Slick Make-up Setting Spray comes in a very fine mist, and it doesn't feel sticky or anything like that. I have tried it without using a powder before spraying it, and it hasn't done miracles. If, however, I dust some blotting powder before, it makes my make-up last a bit longer indeed - about 5 or 6 hours without retouching. I wish it performed a bit better since sometimes I'm at Uni for longer than that, but hey - you can't expect any miracles from a setting spray.

Priced at  €24,90 for 120ml, I think it is a nice product and I am going to repurchase it not because I'm in love with it but because I need it, sadly. Maybe next time I could try the All-Nighter version - have you tried any of the two? What do you think about them?

Persunmall wishlist

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 2, 3, 4

Today I would like to share my top picks from Persunmall, an online store which offers tonnes of trendy items! I picked out four comfy and cozy sweaters (it's still pretty cold here), two beautiful clutches, a pair of mint green shorts and a blue skirt. What are your favourite items from Persunmall?

Best of 2013

When I decided to write this post, I went to my (pretty little) make-up collection and at first I thought I had just a couple of things that I were worth mentioning, but after further consideration I realized that I definitely had enough! I'll just briefly go through each one in no particular order. 

1. I have been using my Avéne Antirougeurs Dermo-Cleansing Fluid for almost 6 months now and I'm still completely in love with it. It's the most gentle face cleanser that you will ever find; it perfectly cleanses my skin without completely stripping it of all the moisture and making it feel tight - on the opposite, it soothes the skin and, as the name suggests, diminishes the redness. It has a lovely fresh scent, which I love; and after using it every day for 6 months I have only used half of it! 

2. I haven't reviewed it yet, but you can expect it a post about the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation soon. My acne-scarring situation has gotten worse over the last three or four months and the light coverage foundation-full coverage concealer combo wasn't working anymore. So, I decided to get this foundation and it was a very good choice! Although it kinda clings to dry patches, it covers 80% of the red spots and it has made getting out of the house possible for me. Which is very sad to hear, indeed, but what's a girl got to do? 

3. On the same 'acne scarring' note - I have started using a green liquid concealer in combination with the MUFE foundation, and I noticed it makes a huge difference in the way my skin appears! You definitely need to be careful when applying it -you don't want to leave the house with green dots all over your face, do you?- but I highly recommend adding this little step to your make-up routine if you have troubled skin. The green concealer I've been using recently is the KIKO Natural Concealer in the shade 04.

4. As for lips, I have been still loving my Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie, which is the perfect 'my lips but better' shade. I always turn to it when I don't know what lipstick to wear or when I'm in a rush! The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Sao Paulo is basically the same colour, but it's way more intense and it's been my product of choice when I wanted to go for a 'statement lips' kind of look all throughout the year. The third lip product I want to mention is my beloved L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral. It gives my lips a hint of colour, and it makes them look more full with its lovely glossy finish.

5. I have used the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish every single time I took my make-up off this year, without fail. I ran out of it about a month ago and started using a different product - worst mistake ever! I shortly realized I couldn't live without my Cleanse and Polish, it's seriously the most cleansing product ever. It manages to remove every trace of make-up from my skin - I will absolutely continue to use it!

6. The infamous Bioderma Sensibio H2O has quickly become my favourite micellar water, after trying it for the first time a couple of months ago. I use it after removing my make-up and I must admit it's my favourite step of my night-time skincare routine!

7. My favourite face brush this year has been the Real Techniques Powder brush. It's just so soft and dense, and I love how it can stand up on its own! Real Techniques brushes are incredibly high quality for their price, and I definitely am going to try more from their range :)

Honourable mentions: my MAC Era and All That Glitters eyeshadows, my all time favourite nail-polish Essie Sand Tropez and the gold nail polish from the Dior Golden Jungle duo!

I wish you all an amazing 2014. ♥

A little update

Hi everyone! I haven't written a post in more than a month and it feels so good to be blogging again :) I had exams these past two weeks and I knew I wasn't going to have time for my blog, so I scheduled a month's worth of posts when I still had a bit of free time. 

My first two Uni exams went great and I couldn't be happier! I'm proud of the good results that I got, because I put so much effort in it. I am now back home for the holidays and I will stay here until the end of January, so you can expect a lot more posts coming your way! 

On that note - is there any specific post that you would like to see? I wish I could have done Blogmas, but I have been extremely busy for the past three weeks. I am also planning to redesign the blog layout; I'll see what I can do. I was so good with HTML and coding just a few years ago and now I can't remember almost anything about it! 

I think that's it for now - I hope you're having a great time and you are enjoying Christmas time as much as I am! x

Bioderma Sensibio H2O

I know you're looking at this post's title and thinking "Seriously? We don't need another post on Bioderma H20!". I know Bioderma is probably the most popular micellar water on the planet and thousands of bloggers have sang its praises, but if you want to know what I think about it, then keep reading!

Bioderma Sensibio H20, which everybody refers as just 'Bioderma', is a micellar solution - in other words, water that you can use to remove your make-up. Bioderma is a famous French pharmacy brand and their Sensibio range is specifically targeted towards sensitive skin. This product can be used on face and eyes, and it's fragrance free; it honestly feels and looks just like water. 

Removing the thick layer of concealer and full coverage foundation that is usually on my skin every day using just the Bioderma would be time-consuming and a waste of product too: I'd have to use 100 cotton rounds. So, I like to remove my make-up first with a more 'potent' cleanser and then use the Bioderma. I just pour some drops on a cotton round and swipe it on my skin: every time I use it I am shocked at the amount of foundation that it manages to remove even after I cleansed my skin one time. It's seriously amazing! It makes me think of how many times I thought I'd perfectly removed my make-up and happily went to bed, not suspecting anything.. sigh! 

It takes off every trace of face make-up that's still left on my face, making it feel fresh and deeply cleansed. Needless to say, it doesn't irritate or make my skin feel tight: it's absolutely fantastic for troubled skintypes that need soothing, like mine.  

The Bioderma Sensibio H20 may work great for taking off face make-up, however it's not as good as an eye make-up remover, and I don't even use waterproof mascara; so I usually take it off using a different product.

Bioderma is definitely not hard to find here in Italy - it's sold in lots of pharmacies for less than 15 euros. I am definitely going to repurchase it in a bigger size when I run out, as it's quickly become a must-do in my nighttime skincare routine.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Aveeno isn't a very glamorous skincare brand, I know, but I have always wanted to try something from them. What best way to introduce myself to the brand than trying a body lotion? 

The Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion comes in a tube packaging; I believe that it's sold with a pump in the US.. so much more handy. However, the product is exactly the same. As all Aveeno products, it contains Colloidal Oatmeal, which is supposed to protect the skin while moisturizing it. It's also fragrance free, which makes it perfect for sensitive skin types, but I have heard that they do a scented version as well. In fact, I would have preferred to get that one, but I couldn't find it in the store! Anyway, the product itself has a quite thick consistency: not as liquidy as a lotion, not as thick as a body butter. It doesn't feel sticky or greasy at all and it absorbs quite quickly. The driest part of my body during this time of the year are my legs, and the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is moisturizing enough to make them feel smooth and nourished. 

Would I repurchase this body lotion again? Yes, probably, but in the scented version. I like my body lotions to smell nice - it's amazing how good a nice scent can make to your mood :) 

Have you ever tried anything from Aveeno?