Essence - Gold Old Buffy (Vampire's Love TE)

And here comes the last nail polish shade from the Vampire's Love trend edition by Essence. One thing is for sure: this is the first and hopefully not the last collection that got me drooling over all nail polish shades. This TE was a winner, no doubt about that. And the name has nothing to do with it. For as much as I care, it could also be called Monty Python's Love. Oh, who am I kidding, we all know Monty is even more awesome than vampires.

Essence, Gold Old Buffy (Vampire's Love TE), 3 coats

It's a three coater. And you know what? I don't mind at all. The application is so easy I don't even wanna fuss about the three layers thing. The removal was a pain in the rear, but I still don't wanna complain. Those ladies who worry about glitter polish removal have obviously never tried removing flakies. It was tough, but so worth it. Look at it, it's awesome!

I've been drooling over the blue one and the other ladies were drooling over the purple one, I said the grey one is a gem of the collection, but I'm gonna tell you something - Gold Old Buffy is the star of the collection. It's hard to pick my favorite, because the originality and my color preferences don't always match. I like them all and they're all staying with me.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Better Than Any Foundation: Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream (Hot Pink)

I bought this product long, long time ago on Ebay and I think I've used it enough times to give you a relevant review. I really want to tell you about it, because I absolutely love it. Here it is, the Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream, hot pink edition.

What's a BB cream?
- BB is an abbrevation for beblesh (blemish) balm.
- It was originally formulated in Germany and used by the laser surgery patients to protect and soothe their sensitive skin while providing light coverage.
- BB creams come in different formulations and have different properties (skin brightening, anti wrinkle, sun block, moisturizing, foundation...).
- BB creams have been named 'the secret of the Korean actresses'. 
(Source)

Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm (hot pink) has a triple function:
* whitening (adenosine and arbutin)
* UV protecting (SPF25; UVA and UVB protection)
* wrinkles improvement (brighter and more elastic skin)

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Talc, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Arbutin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Adenosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Triclosan, Ceramide 3, Cholesterol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trihydroxystearin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytic Acid, BHT, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Iron Oxides.

What does this BB cream do?
- Osmopur ingredient (mix of sunflower, rice bran and ivy extracts) protects skin from various harmful conditions.
- Phyto Complex moisturizes and soothes skin.
- Excellent cover function.
- Corrects different skin tones naturally.
- Fine and soft texture is great for skin adhesion and sebum control.
- Makes your skin light, soft and dry all day, without it going gooey.

I used a very small amount of Hot Pink BB cream on the back of my hand for swatching purposes.

Pros:
+ No troubles with finding the right shade for your skin tone.
+ Easy application.
+ Doesn't accent the pores.
+ Doesn't feel heavy on your skin. It actually feels nice.
+ Doesn't rub off as much as a regular foundation.
+ A little product goes a long way.
+ Buildable coverage and natural results.
+ Doesn't make my skin look oily after a couple of hours.

Cons:
- None!

You know I don't use foundation a lot. I don't want to and to be honest, I don't think I need to. My skin isn't in such a bad condition I'd have to keep it covered at all times, but I do have coloration problems - redness caused by cold weather. I want a foundation that would give me light to medium coverage and would make my skin look better and not worse by sitting into my pores and making me look 10 years older. I've tried Vichy Aera Teint and Revlon ColorStay with SoftFlex foundations, but they can't compare to Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream. This one is so much easier to use. Application is a lot easier but the fact I don't have to search for the right shade is one of most important pros for me. This cream comes in a light neutral ashy tone, so I think you can't really go wrong if you're light to medium toned. In some way, this cream does look like a tinted moisturizer, but again - nothing I've tried so far. It does basically everything it promises. I love this product and I doubt I'll buy myself another foundation anytime soon. I highly recommend it!

Where to buy?
I got this BB cream on Ebay (well, of course) for ~15 USD for 40g.

Have you tried any BB cream yet? If so, what do you think about it?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Guppy Sanding Fruit Extract Nail Polish in #14

If you liked my previous Guppy manicure with shade no. 13, there's a big chance you'll like this one as well. Guppy Sanding Fruit Extract (this name still puzzles me) in shade 14 is my second favorite Guppy nail polish from this line, right after the black one.

Guppy, Sanding Fruit Extract in #14, 2 coats

This polish is awesome on many levels: opacity, application, quantity vs price, finish... But it has it's dowsides as well: smell and removal. I don't want to repeat myself, so I'm just gonna tell you it's worth buying if you're tough enough to deal with the smell.

Guppy, Sanding Fruit Extract in #13, 2 coats + Essence, Sealing Top Coat, 1 coat

Now you've seen all of my Guppy Sanding Fruit Extract Polishes. Which one is your favorite?
From left to right: 08, 12, 13, 14 and 17.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: Angel Wings Ring

You know what I say about rings. The bigger, the better. Well, most of the time anyway. =) I like angel wings. I think it's because of my appreciation for goth imagery - fallen angels and stuff. It's almost always a winning combination when angel wings and jewellery are combined. Like this ring.

I'd like it even more if there were no rhinestones, but I'm not complaining. This is one badass ring. At least sizewise. I just hope it won't get stuck in my hair a lot (that's the curse of my curly/wavy hair).

I got this ring for only $1.98 (buy it now, free shipping). If you wanna get one, search for 'rhinestone angel wing ring'.

What do you say? Too big, too shiny, too much?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Arya Update

I know how you are. You say you come here to see nail polish photos, but secretly, you all want to take a peek at my furry babies. =D Some of you were wondering about Arya and it's about time I give you some update on her.

Arya is a healthy, naughty little kitten. She loves to eat and I think she's already grown quite a bit. The second you touch her, she starts to purr like crazy. She sleeps a lot and likes to play. I got her some leopard pattern balls to play with, but she's satisfied with almost anything she finds. The only thing I don't like about her is the same as with all young cats/dogs. She bites. And scratches. I know this will pass, but you should see my arms. =) She sleeps in my room, in a basket which used to be Gaia's sleeping place (I still miss her so much) and later Jimi's sleeping place. I bought a little cat blanket with cat paws and fish bones on it, to make it more comfortable and she loves it. In the evening she comes to cuddle on my bed and after an hour, she leaves and rolls into her basket.

Arya still isn't best friends with Aishila and Jimi, but that takes time. Every once in a while I'd see Aishila and Arya playing and rolling on the floor, but Arya becomes too defensive really fast. =)

She got bitch slapped by Jimi a couple of times, just to get the idea of who the boss is. They're getting along better now.

Speaking of Jimi. I had to post this one. She looks so regal.

And look at her profile. Perfection.

OK, back to Arya. She managed to ruin one of my mother's plants already. First, she was sleeping on top of it (I guess it was really cosy and soft) and then she knocked it on the floor. Who could be mad at her, right?

Her sleeping poses are ridiculous. Sometimes I'm wondering if she has broken bones in her body... These are one of the not so weird poses.

She didn't leave the house for the first couple of days, but she's getting more and more curious about the outdoors. She wants to sniff everything, see everything and hear everything. There will be more time to do that in the summer though.

One more thing: some of you mentioned her sad eyes. Yes, her eyes do look sad, but I can assure you, she's a very happy little kitten. =)

I don't think of her previous owner much anymore. I went to the vet and got her flea treatment and pills for internal parasites - one thing they didn't take care of, so I think she'll be better off with me. She'll get spayed in a couple of months and I hope that will be the last bad experience she'll have to go through in her life.

P.S: She just cracked me up with one of her before-going-to-bed-episodes. Her claw got stuck in a slipper she was fighting with and then she ran from the room. With the slipper. XD Yeah, she's a bit coo-coo.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Guppy Sanding Fruit Extract Nail Polish in #13

Bad news... I just talked to the customs and they say I can't receive free samples from the companies as a physical person. I've never heard of this before, but I guess their word is the last. Of course. That means I won't be able to review the stuff from anywhere else but EU. At least not the ones I'd get for free. I won't let that stop me. I still have some nice things to show you ... 

... like this new 'sanding' Guppy shade I got not so long ago. Some of the girls were excited to see it and here it is. And it's a good one!

Guppy, Sanding Fruit Extract in #13, 2 coats

Sure, the smell of this one if awful, but look at it! It's gorgeous and the application was a breeze. The removal is hard though. Just like with the rest from the glitter family. I don't really use the foil method anymore. I remove my glittery polish during watching one of my TV shows. I soak the cotton pad with nail polish remover, place it on the nail and hold it for a while. It works the same as foil techique, you just need to go one nail at the time.

Guppy, Sanding Fruit Extract in #13, 2 coats + Essence, Sealing Top Coat, 1 coat

I can't decide if I like it better with or without top coat. It's pretty either way. And gritty either way. As always, I got my bottle of stinky glittery goodness on Ebay, for $2.55 (on auction).

Would you wear this one?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches: Beauty UK Eye Shadow & Eye Liner Collection in Smoke Screen

Remember my swatches from the Beauty UK Eye Shadow & Eye Liner Collections in Amazon and Disco? Here's a brand new collection in darker, more 'Bad Girl' looking colors. This one is called Smoke Screen.

Smoke screen consists of two eye liner colors (black and blue-ish dark grey) and six eyeshadows. I swatched them on the back of my hand over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy base.

I did a quick look to try out the colors and eyeliner and I really like them. I'd love them too be a bit more pigmented (eyeshadow colors), but they're great if you don't want it to become too dramatic.

The last time I used the black eyeliner, it was glossier and not so black. This time it's wonderful. Really black and opaque.

*The product was sent to me by Ličila.si.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Constance Carroll - Apricot Sun

What's happening to me? I saw this polish by Constance Carroll and I bought it. It's orange (one of my least favorite colors) and it's shimmery - almost frosty looking. I still saw something in it and wanted to have it.

Constance Carroll, Apricot Sun, 2 coats

The color really isn't my cup of tea, but I'm glad that I got it. It's so freakin' special. Nothing I've seen so far. Once you have tried as many nail polish shades as I have, you start to appreciate the unusual colors more than anything. I mean, there's not much to re-invent, right? It's not like the companies can discover a new color. That's why this one got my attention. It reminds me of China Glaze Sunset Glow. Well, the quality of the polish isn't as good, but the color is just as special and not so neon looking in real life as on these photos.

It's really hard to describe this color. It's salmon-y, orange and dusty pink at the same time, with golden shimmer. Amazing! The brush is round and easy to work with. The formula is OK, but it can apply a bit patchy, so you gotta be careful. It's still very much worth it - this baby costs only €1.64. It's big 3 free, like most of the EU polishes. I might have to arrange a giveaway of this pretty shade if it turns out you find it as special as I do. *hint hint* Just say you'd wanna own it and you're in. Deal?

What do you think about this shade? Would you wear it?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Review: Essence Tint It Colour Changing Lipgloss in Turn to Lucky

This review is for Katkoc and everybody else that's interested in Essence Tint it, the so called colour changing lipgloss. It took me a long time, but the review is finally here.

What Essence says about Tint It:
''Color at your whim! The show-stopper: the glossy color changes when applied to the lips - from orange to pink, from blue to pink or from purple to pink. Its special formula softly tints your lips for several hours and thus provides a long-lasting and perfectly glossy look. As a special highlight softly shimmering effects complete the styling. Available in three colors.'' (Essence)

As mentioned, this color changing lipgloss is available in three different colors. I got mine in 02 Turn to Lucky, which changes from orange to pink.

Ingredients: Polybutene, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Isostearyl Isostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Isopropyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, BHT, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum, Hexylcinnamal, Linalool. May contain: Cl 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Cl 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Cl 45380 (Red 21), Cl 45410 (Red 27), Cl 77742 (Manganese Violet).

I got this lipgloss back in September and I've been using it. Not a lot, but it's been used. I wiped the tube, but it's still stained pink from the gloss. The writing on the back of the tube does say this gloss stains skin, but not in the lip stain kind of way.

Here's a shot of the tube before I wiped it clean. You can see the gloss is jelly orange color and the stains are pink. It does change color, that's a fact.

The color change is slow though. I applied a little gloss to the back of my hand and took a photo of it. I took another photo a few minutes later and you can see it's a bit pinkier.

I hate showing a photo of my lips with just lipgloss, they're just not defined enough. I decided to post a photo anyway, just so you get the idea of how it looks like on lips. My lips are naturally quite pale, so this gloss does make them look better. It looks like I'm still alive. Barely, but alive.

What I think about this gloss:
Now that I've had it for a while, I can say I expected more from it. I thought this was gonna be a 'mood' changing lipgloss, but that's a bit unrealistic, right? It changes color, but I'm not too fascinated by that. It's orange in the tube and that's not important for me. It could also be pink, like it is on the lips. I want something that really changes color and becomes brighter when you get colder or vice versa.
The gloss itself is OK. It's not too sticky (I hate sticky glosses), it has a subtle vanilla scent (really subtle), which doesn't botter me one bit (scented glosses usually bother me). For 2€ and some cents, it's a good product. Don't expect too much of it and you might even love it. I can't. I don't like glosses in the first place, I don't like the applicator of this one and it's just not working for me. But you know how it is - what doesn't work for me, might work for you.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #13

Saturday again? Aren't days going by soooo fast? Christmas will be here in no time. Speaking of Xmas, I already got a very early gift. The Playbook! I'm sure all the HIMYM fans know what I'm talking about. I have to say it: Barney is awesome!

***

I'm not even gonna try anymore. Whenever I say I won't buy any more nail polish, I go and get a few bottles. I suck. These came to me by mail all the way from China. They're gorgeous but I can just hope my lungs won't bleed out from the nasty smell.

***

It's been a while since I last straightened my hair. I don't wanna damage them, so I only use my hair straightener a couple times a year. I still have my first bottle of L'Oreal Hot Glatt that protects them from heat and it's still half full. It probably already expired. I have troubles when it comes to using hair products (if it's not shampoo or conditioner). Anyway ... I can really see how long my hair is only when it's straight. And it's loooooong. Too long, perhaps?

***

I know that non-decorative cosmetics isn't too interesting for the readers. That's why I won't bother you with this in a separate post. Here are some new products I got and if you're interested in hearing about any of them, let me know.

***

This photo was actually 'an accident'. A very nice accident. I was taking photos of my make up when Aishila came and started posing. This kitty sees into your soul.

***

I don't have any posts of the week or music of the week for you this time. But I do have someting even better - a new episode of Simon's Cat!



This is what's happening in our house ever since Arya came into the picture. =) I'll post about her soon. We all got to know her a bit better now and she's a really interesting cat.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches + Review: New Beauty UK Glam Nails Shades

Fresh from the store: these are the four new shades from the Beauty UK Glam Nails varnish range.

Based on the list of ingredients written on the back of the bottles, these polishes are 4-free. That means they contain no Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene or Camphor.

Here's a quick view of how they look on my nails. This are Posh Puddle and Street Rose ...

... and these are Cafe Culture and Urban Jungle.

Let's take a look at them shade by shade.

Beauty UK, Glam Nails, Posh Puddle, 3 coats

Beauty UK, Glam Nails, Street Rose, 3 coats

Beauty UK, Glam Nails, Cafe Culture, 3 coats

Beauty UK, Glam Nails, Urban Jungle, 2 coats

All of the polishes come in 9 mL bottles. They have a small round brush - not perfect, but OK to work with. The formula differs a little from shade to shade. Cafe Culture was the hardest to apply and I found the formula to be a bit goopy. Other polish shades have good formulation but tend to apply patchy if you're not careful. I think I was hurrying too much and didn't wait long enough for the previous layer to dry completely before putting on another coat of polish: hence the patchy look. Posh Puddle and Urban Jungle are my picks.

What do you think of these shades? Would you wear them?

*Products were sent to me by Licila.si.

Thanks for looking and commenting!