My (daily) makeup essentials

Hi lovies,

Read this article to find out what make up I use on a daily base, maybe there’s something you’d like to use as well ;-) definitely let me know what products you use a lot! I’d be happy to find out more about your makeup habits! :-)

 

Kiehl’s – Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

I use this skin smoother in between my moisturizer and foundation. It minimizes my pores and I feel like this is the perfect base for my makeup.

Maybelline – FIT me

This foundation has thought me that not all good products have to be expensive. It’s the best foundation I’ve ever used. And it was only 14 euro! The product comes in a lot of different shades, that’s how I got to find my perfect FIT. Nr. 225 looks like my own skin, no other shade has ever done that for me.

PS: I apply my foundation with a beauty blender and afterwards I dab my face with a regular makeup sponge.

Essence – Stay natural concealer

In order to hide my under eye circles, I use this concealer. It’s an extremely cheap product which does its job well enough for me to continue using it. But I’m not highly recommending it. 

M.A.C – Studio Sculpt Defining Powder (Dark Deep)

This powder is usually used as a contouring powder, but it can also be used as a bronzer. And that’s how I use it. It’s been given to me as a present, and I’m really happy with it. I’m surely buying another one, once I used this one up. 

Hema – Terra bronzing powder

When I feel like I need a little bit of a highlight, I use this product. It’s maybe odd to use a bronzer as a highlighter, but the Terra bronzing powder doesn’t do its job in a good way. It’s not strongly pigmented, that’s why it only adds a little bit of a sparkle to my skin.

By the way, Hema is a Dutch company, so I don’t think Hema’s products are available worldwide. 

2B – Longwear eyeliner

Again, this is a product I’m not too excited about. But it works for me, so I’m not complaining. 

Essence – Get BIG Lashes

A lot of my friends told me that this is the best mascara on the market. That’s why I bought it. I’ve only been using it for two days now, so I’m not ready to totally agree with my friends yet. However, I will give an update on this one. :-)

Essence – Lash & Brow gel mascara

I need this product. Every. Day. I don’t fill in my eyebrows, because I have really dark and full eyebrows. But I use this gel to tame them a little bit. It works wonders for me. 

Let us know what products you often use! Byeee - Amal

Tarte cosmetics

Hello lovely readers,

Last year, my cousin introduced me to this new make-up brand called Tarte. One of the main things I love about these products is that they are cruelty-free and eco-friendly! As you probably have read before on this blog, you know that I have highly sensitive skin. I'm always skeptical about trying out new products because I easily break-out. But Tarte only uses naturally-derived ingredients which mean there is no crazy chemical bad-for-your-skin stuff in it!

This brand originates from the US, and that is where I got my products as well. Unfortunately, they don't have stores in every single country. For the american readers, you can find this brand at ULTA. For other countries: it's available in SEPHORA (make sure to check the website first to see if they actually got it!)

My absolute favourites:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation

Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!

Thanks for reading! 

Xoxo Molly

Maybelline Baby Skin vs L'Oréal Blur Cream

Hello lovely readers,

We decided to work together on this post since we both purchased a beauty product that claims to erase pores and works as a face primer. We'll be comparing these two so you can choose which one works for you best!

Baby skin Maybelline (Molly):

Texture: +
Long wear: +
Price: € 9
Everyone knows the Porefessional by Benefit. Well, the Baby skin by Maybelline claims to be the cheaper version of this product. I have used the Porefessional before and I absolutely love it. I definitely understand why everyone makes such a big deal out of it. And that's the reason why I definitely wanted to try the Baby skin.

The texture is very silky almost velvety, but a bit oily/greasy, in a good kind of way. It comes out clear so you don't have to worry about the colour matching your skin. Also, a little goes a long way. You don't need much to cover the areas where you have large pores (for me that would be my nose and under my eyes/cheekbones). It might feel a bit heavy on the skin at first, but just let it dry for a couple of seconds. It says you can use the product on its own or as a primer. To be honest, I don't like to use it on its own. I only use it under concealer and foundation. It stays on for a very long time and your face looks smooth. It doesn't completely minimize your pores but since mine are not very visible, this product works well enough for me. And for that price, I'll take it!

 

L'Oréal Blur cream (Amal):

Texture: --
Long wear: +
Price: € 13
I guess my expectations were way to high?
The blur cream didn't reach my expectations. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice product to work with. It's just my expactations that were a bit too high. The advert that I saw in Cosmopolitan made me think that the product would dissolve all your pores. But it doesn't, it only makes your skin look more evened out. So don't expect a photoshopped result after you've used this product.


 It's a base cream, it's no foundation :-)
I was a bit confused about how I was supposed to use the cream. I thought that it was a foundationlike cream. I was pretty disappointed after my first use. There was no coverage, you could still see all my imperfections. It made me pretty mad to be honest.
Then I searched on the internet for reviews and, here you go, it did ring a bell. Of course, L'Oréal would never disappoint me. The cream has to be used underneath the foundation, as a primer. And as a primer it does it's job pretty well. I love that the product has two functions; priming and smoothing your skin.
One little remark ...
The only thing I don't like about the blur cream is its texture. I don't even now how to explain it. It feels kinda silky, but oily at the same time. Also when I squeeze the tube in order to get the product out, the product flies everywhere (because of the consistency). Other than that, it's a great product to even out your skin. Only keep your expectations realistic, and don't expect to be looking like an airbrushed model after using it.

Micellar water: Garnier vs Bioderma

Hi there!

This is another article we both worked on. The both of us purchased a micellar cleansing water. Mine (Amal) is by Garnier, and Molly's is by Bioderma. At first we'll discuss Garnier's version of the product and after we'll talk about Bioderma's. This article covers a nice comparison, it'll be up to you to decide on which one you'd like to buy! :-)

You might not know what micellar water is or does. Well, it's a cleansing water with tiny micellar particles that remove your skin from makeup, skin impurities and sebum. The two biggest advantages of this product are that you don't need to rinse it off an it's hypergentle for your skin.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Molly and I like to call this product the wanna be version of Bioderma's, because Bioderma came up with the micellar treatment earlier. After trying this product, I must say that it's pretty good at impersonating the Bioderma version. And guess what..., you get pretty good quality for a lot less money. :-) I totally love this product, it's like wonderwater to me! Please continue to read more about the things I love about this product.

A lot of product for a small price
The water comes in a pretty big container as you can see on the packshot. On top of that, it doesn't cost a lot of money. 5,99 euros is the price you'll pay for this bottle that will save your beautylife.

A cotton pad is all you'll need

Just pour a little water on a cotton pad, wipe your face, and your make-up is GONE!

You know that moment when look like someone has punched you in the face because you took off your makeup with a regular makeup remover? Or your eyes feel irritated because you've been rubbing them like crazy, hoping the makeup will come off quickly. Or you look like you've been crying for hours because of you're eyes looking as red as a tomato... Well, none of that will happen when you use the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. No more rubbing in order to get your makeup off. One simple swipe does the job.

This product is also supergentle to your skin, because it has no soap or alcohol in it. So say goodbye to irritated skin/eyes, and let's all say "hurraaay to Garnier"!

Yes it takes your makeup off quickly, but I need a little bit more of 'cleaning'
I think it's pretty clear now that this product does the job pretty quickly. However, I still need a little bit more of cleaning to my face.

I've always been that person who uses a bunch of different products to wash her face. Well that's just me :-) There's no makeup left after I used this product, but I don't find myself feeling like I have a 100% clean face. After I take off my makeup with the micellar water, I continue my routine by cleaning my face with a gel wash, scrubbing and dabbing on a toner. In fact, the gel, scrub and toner I use, are also by Garnier.

(let me know if you'd like to read more about these products ;))

So these were my thoughts, now it's up to Molly!

Bioderma Créaline (Sensibio)

Quality product in a big bottle
Okay, so first off I would like to say this: I bought this product back in December and I have been using it regularly since, and I've only JUST finished it. The bottle is HUGE. There was a sale so I've got it for 11 euros. I think the normal price would be around 15 euros for 500 ml. So it is a little pricy. But it is completely worth it.

One of my favourite skincare products
I have very sensitive skin, so I always need to make sure that the products I buy are gentle. (You can read our skin types blog post here). Bioderma has many products for different kinds of skin types. The pink bottle is the one for sensitive skin. This product is absolutely amazing because it doesn't have a scent. It looks and feels just like water yet there is just something about it that makes your skin radiant and clean. I can't live without it. It has definitely helped me get rid of acne scars, acne spots or redness. I absolutely love it as a make-up remover. I just put some on a cotton pad, leave it on my eyes for a few seconds and voila. There is no need to rub your eyes until they're red. I don't just use it as a make-up remover but also as a toner or sometimes even a cleanser. Yes yes, I know, you have to wash your face every night but there are days where we're just too tired/lazy. And that is why Bioderma has invented this product!

Face cleanser
I combine this product with a La Roche-Posay face cleanser since I do have some acne spots. I wash my face with a Clarisonic Mia (And it's pink!) and I scrub once or twice a week with St Ives Apricot scrub. So for me, it's a combination of all these products that I use every single night to have clean and spot-free skin.

Comment down below if you would like me to review the Clarisonic, the Effaclar products from La Roche-Posay or even the St Ives Apricot scrub!

Thanks for reading and make sure to comment if you have any requests!

Love,

Amal & Molly

Swishing: Student Edition

A couple of days ago I went to Molly’s Swishing event. For everybody who doesn’t know what Swishing is, here a short explanation: Swishing is an organisation that does events all over Flanders where you can come in with the clothes that are too small/big, or that you don't wear anymore and you can "shop" for other clothing.  

Student-like, girly, yummie, ... PERFECT.
So today I wanted to write about it because more people should know about these events. I’ve been to several clothing swap events before and also some of Swishing. I liked the Student Edition the best. It’s perfect for, let’s say, girls from 16 years old til mid twenties. You’re almost 100% sure that you’ll find something that fits you and is like your style. Creepy grandma skirts are not allowed! 

Swishing offers everything a girl needs. There was food (the cookies were soooo good), a makeup artist, a hair stylist, and of course there were CLOTHES! 

Have patience girl!
When you go to a Swishing event it’s important to have patience. Don’t just go in, get your points and spend them right away. No you don’t want to do that, because a girl with the PERFECT clothes may come in three hours later. 

That’s why it’s fun to have someone who gets your makeup, nails and hair done. It gets you through the day and you learn a lot from those artists. The two girls at the makeup table gave me so many tips, it was just amazing. I also loved that you could choose from brands like Benefit, Urban Decay, M.A.C. etc.

Get to know people.
Another thing I love about these kind of events: everybody is in for the same reasons; they love fashion, are in for some fun and are not planning on leaving soon. Perfect to get to know more people, I say! 
I made some pictures, find them below!

Spotted brands; Zara, H&M, Bershka

The cookies were by Maison Dandoy

Eva's Makeup

Tiana's makeup

The makeup table

Vanida, the makeup artist!

Would you consider going to one of these events? Let us know in the comments below – Amal <3

SWISHING: Student Edition

Now this one is for all our Belgian readers...

Amal and I are communications students and we are graduating this year. Since my minor is Events & Entertainment, I'm organising an event. A Swishing Event. Now for people who don't know what Swishing is: Swishing is an organisation that does events all over Flanders where you can come in with the clothes that are too small/big, or that you don't wear anymore and you can "shop" for other clothing.   The best part is: it's student edition. This means these are clothes that you will like! No old lady jumpers that smell like mould or something that is so passé that even a dinosaur wouldn't wear.

Now why is secondhand clothing better?
- it's cheaper
- it's vintage
- unique
- better for the environment
- ...

How does it work? 
You come in with your old clothes. The clothes that don't fit, clothes that you bought without thinking and you don't really like them, clothes that you're tired of wearing, ... we'll take them! You get points for each clothing item. With those points you can go through all the other clothing and trade them for your points. All the clothes that have not been traded, will go to a charity.

This is not all though! We are planning loads of other stuff. There are nail art and make-up artists coming. There will be a live act: Stresspa, a producer that will do a live set. Here is his page, if you want to check it out. There are goodie bags, there are snacks and drinks ... Sooo much going on, I can't think of any reason NOT to come.

Important information:

- The event will take place at: Muntpunt - Munt 6, 1000 Brussel
- It's on 17th MAY 2014 from 12:00 to 17:00
- The entrance is 4 euros
- You can bring a maximum of 15 clothing items

Don't forget to sign up here!

If you want some more information, go check out our Facebook event here

Hope to see you there


Molly

DIY eye shadow primer

Hello there!

Putting a primer before eye shadow is a must, if you want the colour to stay longer. The colour is also more pigmented and you don't need to build up multiple times. It will help for people with oily eyelids because the primer makes the eyeshadow stay right where it needs to be.

Now I know some primers can be really expensive so here's a recipe on how to make one yourself. It's super easy!

What do you need?
- an odourless body lotion or moisturiser
- a concealer
- a small container
- a toothpick

First, you take your tiny container. I'm using an old gel liner container from Bobbi Brown, but you can use anything. Then, you add 1/2 concealer and 1/2 odourless body lotion. I'm using a L'oréal concealer and a Nivea body lotion. I like using a thick lotion so the primer stays on for a very long time. After you've added your two ingredients, mix them together with a toothpick and VOILA! You have your own, homemade primer!

This is what the two ingredients mixed together looks like

Below, you can see some swatches of eyeshadow with and without the primer. I put some primer on my hand and added one swipe of eyeshadow with a brush. As you can see, this makes A HUGE difference. This primer lasts about 6-8 hours, which is a reasonable time for a homemade primer.

Hope you liked this post,

Molly

The best mascara ever!

If you're like me and you love trying out new mascaras, then this post is definitely for you! I've struggled for so long finding the perfect mascara for my lashes. I have asian roots so my lashes are straight and kind of go downwards. And the worst problem: they won't curl. At all.

I've tried a bunch of mascaras and I combined it with eye lash curlers but they would always fall back throughout the day. But I recently found the perfect mascara: "Better Than Sex" from Too Faced. It's a little pricy but it's absolutely amazing and definitely worth the price! It curls my lashes and makes my eyes look bigger. The bristles are shaped as an hourglass so it will flare out the outer corners of the lashes, which I love! It leaves no clumps and makes your lashes look full but it coats each lash individually so they don't stick together. If you curl your lashes with a lash curler first, you will achieve an even better look! So to all my asian girls out there: look no further! This mascara is great for you and your straight lashes!

Xoxo Molly

The hourglass shaped bristles

My spring make-up essentials

Hi!

It's almost spring! One of my favourite seasons, along with fall. You could say I like the inbetween seasons, it's not too cold nor too hot. I also like spring because of the fashion and make-up. You don't have to layer up on a million sweaters, scarves and mittens. You can finally wear your favourite pair of bright-coloured jeans and flats. And the make-up is so light and colorful ... Ahhhh, I can't wait!

I don't like wearing heavy make-up during spring/summer. Instead, I just wear concealer to cover up redness and blemishes. For eye make-up, I like wearing brown eyeliner instead of black. Or you can also go for purple or blue eyeliner/eyeshadow. Those colors are perfect for spring!

"Coralista" by Benefit is currently my go-to blush. It's a corally-pink colour with a little golden shimmer in it. And to match the blush, "Colour Boost - Peach on the beach" from Bourjois. It's a cheap lip balm that is moisturising and they have pretty colours. You do have to re-apply during the day but overall I do like it. Another lip product that I like a lot is Tarte. It's an eco-friendly and cruelty-free cosmetic product. They have a wide range of make-up products. "Hope" is a pink, matte colour that stays on all day. It tastes like peppermint and smells amazing. On my nails, I like using Essie. Essie has such a big variety of colours and they stay on for a long time without any chips. My favourite is "French Affair" which is a pastel pink.

I'm currently using the Fa "Mystic Moments" deodorant. I don't know why but I prefer using spray deodorants during spring/summer and the roll-on deodorants during autumn/winter. Probably because the spray-kinds give you a "fresher" feeling. I love the hand sanitizers from Bath&Body works. Every time I go to one of these, I always stock up on the 5 for $5 because we don't have them in Belgium. For perfume, I use "La vie est belle" from Lancome. I absolutely LOVE this scent. It's floral and fresh. I finished mine not too long ago, so I'm using the samples they gave me when I bought it.

You can add a flower crown to your outfit to make it more girly and fun. And of course: don't forget your sunnies!

Hope you liked this post,

Xoxo Molly

Zoeva Bamboo Make-up Brushes Review

Hi there!

I recently bought some new make-up brushes since I desperately needed some! After searching the web for a while, I found Zoeva. My friend Eva recommended these to me and I checked out their website. At first I was just planning to buy a foundation brush, but then I was looking at sets and it's way cheaper than buying just one brush. 

Zoeva is a German brand founded by Zoe Boikou. They started with brushes but when the company grew, their collection grew with them. Now they also sell eye, lips and face make-up. I have not tried any of their make-up yet but I bought the  Bamboo Pinsel Set. They sell it for 30 euros, which is reasonable price for 12 brushes. I bought them online and a few days later, they arrived on my doorstep.  The brushes come in a roll-up travel bag so it is small enough to take with you anywhere you go.

This set includes:

a buffer to apply and blend foundation
a powder brush to apply pressed and loose powder
a foundation brush to apply liquid foundation
a fan to sweep away fall-out, but I also use it to highlight my cheekbones because it has a very light touch
a blush brush: an angled brush to apply blush or you can also use this for contouring
a lip brush: a small and fine brush to apply lip products
an eye blender to blend out eyeshadow
a crease brush to apply eyeshadow in the crease of your eyelids
2 shader brushes (a big one and a smaller one) to apply eyeshadow all over your lids
a liner to apply eyeliner
a concealer brush to apply concealer under the eyes or to cover up redness and blemishes

The handles are made of bamboo and the bristles are synthetic taklon bristles. The brushes are very soft and it's very easy to use. I use them almost every day. I especially like the buffer brush because it blends my foundation perfectly and leaves me with a natural look. Another favourite is the blush/contouring brush. It's the perfect size for my face since it's not too big or too small. 

Over all, I like this set a lot and I'm glad I purchased it. Do you have this set at home? Or do you have any other products from Zoeva? Let us know in the comments! 

Xoxo Molly

Rolled up travel case