K's Weekly Wishlist #4 US Edition!

Glitter Nail Polish | Glow-in-the-Dark Nail Polish | Brushes | Coat | Essie Nail Polish | BB Cream | Boots | Hair Dye | Perfume | Purple and Glitter Nail Polish | Make-Up Box | Confetti Nail Polish | Mascara | Pouch

The time has come. Tomorrow I will leave for New York City and it will be the start of the roadtrip from New York to Los Angeles with my father! I am so excited and also so afraid that I will forget anything, you know that feeling right? My suitcase is packed. It is not even half full but I am sure it will come back home totally crammed.
In my wishlist you can find items I have wished for for quite a long time actually and that I am sure I will find in the United States.
I have always been a fan of glitter nail polishes and obviously they had to be in the photo set. Lately I am into the confetti ranges and into those, in which the polish is another color than the glitter. I will also replace my old A List Essie nail polish with a new one; it is like the best shade of red I have ever found. Since special nail polishes have always been my taste, I will also try the glow in the dark type. So excited!
Cut-out boots are the latest trend I really don't want to miss it. I am looking for flat ones and I really hope to find some.
Beauty products should not be missing on the wishlist since there is a much wider and more different range in the United States than it is here in Austria. I will totally take advantage of that, and honestly: who wouldn't. I will go for Benefit and Smashbox Camera Ready products, as well as Daisy by Marc Jacobs.
I have talked about the Real Techniques Brushes set before and this time it will not only be on my wishlist, it will be in my make up bag! I have also mentioned dying my ombré-ed hair pink and Urban Outfitters has a really good product to do so, at least that's what the reviews say.
I have not talked about the make up pouch yet, it only stands for the infinite number of products I want to buy from Forever 21.
And last but definitely not least: the coat. Bianca has purchased it already but I fancied it for quite some time already and after trying it on in stores I want it really badly. Her and me will run around like twins in autumn/winter then, so what.

What has been on your wishlist lately?

B's ''What's in my Make-up Bag''

Hi everyone!

I am leaving for Finland early on tuesday morning, and because I need a little time off, won't be taking my macbook with me. Tomorrow is my boyfriend's little brother's birthday, and because we're really good friends, I have spent the last two days shopping for presents and making a huuuuuge pass-the-parcel! I also bought a gorgeous pair of black and white tribal print hareem trousers with cuffed ankles which are so great for relaxing and perfect for the last days of hot weather because of the light and floaty material. Since I'm leaving on tuesday, I thought I would try to squeeze in one or two more posts before being MIA for a week, so I decided to do a little "what's in my make-up bag" post. Relevant, since that will be the bare necessities I will take with me to Finland because I want to travel super light.

Here are my bare essentials:
Short blusher brush: I use this for contouring, to apply bronzer, to buff foundation in case I need to reapply during the day an to blend my blush or apply highlighter to my cheekbones.

Benefit "Sugarbomb" Lipgloss: I usually really dislike lipglosses, as I nearly always find them incredibly sticky, get my hair caught in it, and find it drying on my lips. This one, however, blows my mind. It has a subtle sparkle and the color is very "your lips but better" kind of dark-pink nude. Lovely to just throw on and go, and it definitely adds a little glamorous sheen to your lips. Plus it smells de-li-cious.

MAC "Creme In Your Coffee": my favorite lipstick by MAC. I have naturally very light lips, so this is an essential for me to look alive haha! It's a dark red/pink-ish nude and because it is a cremesheen, it's incredibly moisturizing. This has been in my make-up bag non-stop, so I need to re-buy this soon.

MAC "Creme Cup": This is a recent acquisition of mine, and since it's a cremesheen as well, it's super moisturizing too. The color is more a light-pink kind of nude, very girly and gorgeous in summer. 

Maybelline Great Lash Separating Mascara: I use this in combination with another mascara for length and volume, because I'm typically not too fond of plastic wands. This however is pretty great because it separates my lashes like nothing else I've ever tried, and with a topcoat my lashes look great!

Maybelline Fit Me Powder: I love this powder. It adapts to your skintone, gives a nice matte finish and stays in place all day long. Definitely recommend (and as you can see, I need to buy it again really soon.)

Chanel Pencil Sharpener: self explanatory. I use this for my brow pencil, my kohl, and my white eye-liner which I use in my waterline for a bigger-eye effect.

Chanel "Allure" Eau de Toilette Sample: I like to always  have a small sample of one of my favorite perfumes in my make-up bag, so I can retouch during the day without having to carry the full size in my handbag. This one is sweet and summery and absolutely lovely.

Benefit "High Beam" Highlighter: again, I like to carry smaller or sample sizes of my favorite products to make my make-up bag lighter. This is one of my absolute favorite ever products. It's creamy and gives the most gorgeous dewy look. I use it on the back of my nose, my brow bones and my cheeks.

Maybelline LumiTouch Highlighting Concealer: did I mention I am pretty fond of Maybelline products? This is great because it conceals my dark circles under my eyes as well as uneven pigment spots really well, and gives a nice "awake" effect in photographs. Staple piece in my make-up bag.

Maybelline Matte Mousse Foundation in "Ivory": I have been loving this product, because I can use it without any primer (it glides on really well), I don't even need to use a brush because it's very easy to apply evenly, and I don't need to use any setting powder as it has a great matte finish. All in one!

MAC Blusher brush: I use this for contour powder, blush and highlighting powder.

MAC "Expensive Pink" Eyeshadow: Lovely when you want a light but slightly sparkly eye to wear with a more dominant (for ex. purple or red) lipstick for a gorgeous evening look.

MAC "Brulé" Eyeshadow: my favorite MAC eyeshadow. Gorgeous slightly matte, slightly satin-y finish, light creamy/nude-y color. Great for a neutral-nude eye and a more bold lip.

MAC "Bronze" Eyeshadow: bronze-y brown eyeshadow, which is great for a brown smokey eye or to use in the crease for every day wear.

Hema Eyebrow Gel in Brown: this is just a supermarket product, but it's actually a great brow gel, with a slight tint. It's super easy to use and you can just pop it on and go without too much of a fuss.

B's Weekly Wishlist #3

Hiya! 

I've had a few camera-related problems (aah!) so I haven't been able to upload any pictures recently - though I will post an article with my favorite buys of july 2013 soon :)
No matter what, I always have time for my bi-monthly wishlist though! I haven't seen many clothes that I really want recently, and I'm still a little caught-up in my make-up frenzy, but I thought after last week's beauty heavy post, I'll try to focus more on accessories, so here goes: 

 Necklace 1 | Necklace 2 | Benefit Kit | Backpack | Tan Cream | Nail Polish | Ear Studs | Laptop Case

I've been loving neutral colors and bold statement jewelry lately, so these rope necklaces with silver and gold detail from New Look are right down my alley - can't decide which one to get!
Because my bezzie Kym is heading to the US in a couple of days and cos she's the cutest girl in town, she asked me if I wanted anything from NYC... of course I couldn't say no. #1 on my wishlist is this little beautybox by Benefit called "Primping with the Stars". I've got their "Sugarlicious Lip & Cheek Kit" and love it dearly, but this box is even better - my every day make up essentials in one box and a cute travel size of their They're Real mascara.
I've been searching for the perfect leather backpack for a while now and recently came across this one on ASOS. I love the contrast between the suede and sleek leather, the color is perfect and it's neither too big nor too small. At 70€, it's quite expensive, but bear it mind that it is real leather.
Talking about chocolate brown: summer is slowly but surely coming to an end... and I'm pretty devastated because my tan is fading! When I was at the airport recently, I picked up a beauty magazine for a fiver, which had a really generous free sample tube of this Rodial brazilian tan... it's so good, but I've run out and need some more - despite the hefty price tag of 40€ for a small tube.
I've also been looking for a cute leather-look nail polish, and think this one by Nails Inc. looks just perfect! Definitely going to get the black one, it looks classy and fierce all at once.
As you may or may not know, I really love piercings and tattoos. Along with my crescent moon tattoo on my forearm, I have a golden nose ring, a cartilage stud on my left ear, and, as of yesterday, three lobe piercings on each side. To decorate my new piercing acquisitions and because I love to wear different studs on each ear, I've got my eyes set on this really cool set of studs by Me & Zena.
My current laptop case is a disgrace to my darling macbook baby, so I've been on the hunt for a cute one: this one by ASOS is perfect. Colorful, girly and with a little bit of aztec, right on trend.

What are your picks of the week? Any requests or suggestions for posts? Let us know, we'd love to hear from you.

B's Summer Essentials

Hi everyone!
It's been really rainy these last two days here in the Netherlands (admittedly a welcome little change after the weeks of humid and unbearable heat!) so I've had a little time to take a few pictures! I thought I would show you guys which products I have been loving and using a lot so far this summer: from make-up to dry shampoo, body butter and lipstick, it's all there. I'll include all the necessary shop names/sites where I can.

You can buy all these products via the Body Shop Online Shop.

I'll start off with my body care / shower essentials. Aside from my Garnier facial scrub (boring!), my Elmex toothpaste, my Elvital Color Protect shampoo & conditioner and my Nivea Stress (or Dove Silk Dry) deodorant, these are the things I've been using in my body care routine lately... I may or may not have raided the Body Shop when they had a sale a couple of weeks ago! I am going crazy for tropical scents at the moment, so all things fruity, coconut-y and fresh really appeal to me. Not included in the picture is my nearly empty Passion Fruit Shower Gel, which I highly recommend. The Body Shop are great when it comes to creating smooth, soothing products that smell delicious without being sickly sweet, and it's always good to buy fair trade and vegan where you can!

                                        You can buy Batiste Dry Shampoos via ASOS.

Next stop: my hair. Because of the unbearable heat, I have been washing my hair less often than usual. I have incredibly thick, long, hair, and A LOT of it, too, and to my dismay it tends to curl and frizz a lot when I let it air dry - so I blow dry it after every time I wash it. When it's that hot outside though, I just cannot be bothered to go through the 20 minute long hassle of blowdrying!! Instead, I wash it once every 2-3 days, and use the Batiste Dry Shampoos on the days where I don't. I have the scents "Tropical" (COCONUT!) and "Cheeky Cherry". They work wonders, because they don't make my hair feel rough and sticky, but they definitely give it a fresh feel. I'm pretty addicted to it - though I do prefer the tropical scented one.

                               Cacharel "Amor Amor - In a Flash" via The Perfume Shop

Talking about scents: I have discovered my new favorite perfumes and have been completely in love with them over the past two months. The first one is my every day go-to perfume: "Amor Amor - in a flash" by Cacharel. From the packaging to the scent, it's completely perfect. It's sweet, girly and fruity, without being too overwhelming so I find it perfect for every day wear in summer.

       L'Occitane "La Collection de Grasse" Spring/Summer 2013 Collection Box Set via L'Occitane

My other favorite scent is actually a whole little collection: the "Collection de Grasse" by L'Occitane. It's composed of four little perfume flasks, and I can't even decide which of the four scents I am more obsessed with. The scents are: "Jasmine & Bergamot", "Magnolia & Blackberry", "Vanilla & Narcissus" and "Green Tea & Bitter Orange". I know right? They sound divine, and they really are. I own the box set which has all four scents in 18mL bottles, but you can also buy them individually in bigger bottles if you like one of them particularly! Have a look here on the Birchbox Site!

     Chanel Le Vernis in "Black Pearl" and in "Lotus Rouge", Barry M Nail Paint in "Prickly Pear"

Recently, my nails have been really weak and chipping a lot, so I've been trying to give them a little time to regenerate and air to breathe and have been going easy on the nail polish. I also recently moved away from home and had to leave a biiig part of my collection back! So sad. These are my favorite polishes though so they had to come with me: The two Chanel ones are my all time favorites, as they're perfect for any outfit or season, classy and elegant and still pretty fierce. I've been loving this lilac-y / lavender-y shade by Barry M because it's light and pastel-y and perfect for summer. Their gel nail varnishes are so good - they give such a nice glossy finish and stay chip-free for at least 3 days. Admittedly, the Chanel colors aren't that long-lasting or chip-free if you don't use a top coat, but they do make the prettiest colors ever!

           All MAC Shadows via the MAC Cosmetics Store -  Estée Lauder Quad - H&M Palette

Now to the more exciting part: my summer make-up essentials. I'll start off with my eyeshadows, since they're my favorite bits from my current make-up collection. As I've mentioned before, I've been loving the nude shades for my eyes, so these here have been my essential life supply in the last weeks. I like to mix more high-end make up with drugstore make-up, just because I can't go 100% high-end but don't wanna use only cheap things either, so I try to find a compromise! I am eagerly saving up for an Urban Decay Naked Palette, but in the meanwhile, the eye shadows that I do have serve me well. My hands down favorite is my MAC one in the shade "Brulé", which I use all over my eyelid up to my brow bone on a daily basis (that explains why my little beauty is nearly empty - going to cry!!!). I also dearly love my eye shadow quad in the shade "Truffle" by Estée Lauder. It combines a khaki-olive-y brown/green, a warm, coppery bronze shade, a shimmery deep brown shade and a satin-y champagne tone. For a summery smokey eye, this combination is perfect. My other every day go-to shadows are "Bronze" and "Expensive Pink" by MAC and my "Soft Nudes" eyeshadow palette by H&M which is surprisingly good for a fairly cheap product. You can pick it up for 4,95€ in your H&M!

I've been trying to keep the rest of my make up fairly light so I haven't been using tons of foundations, setting powders and concealers. These are my few bits and bobs that I've been using a lot though. I use the Catrice Cosmetics facial primer, which is great cos it is really cheap, not oily and makes my skin feel smooth and moisturized without making it greasy. I swear by the Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse (I use the shade 01 Ivory) because it's a great light weight foundation, and since it is matte I don't need to use any powder make up on top. For dark circles under my eyes, I use the Maybelline Dream Lumitouch highlighting concealer, also in the shade ivory. Recently I've had to cut back a lot on both of these though, as ivory is slightly too fair for my tanned skin at the moment! Luckily, the sun and lack of make-up has made my skin clear up a lot so that's not a problem. My absolute favorite product at the moment is the Benefit High Beam highlighter. I blend it on my brow bone, my cheek bones and a bit on my nose for a fresh faced summer look. I'm going to be so gutted when it runs out as it is such an expensive product, but really worth the investment.

I usually pair my nude eyes with a very thin line of black liquid eye liner and a combination of three mascaras (one for length, one for separating and one for volume) only on the top lashes. As an alternative to my liquid liner in black (and for a softer look), I've been using my MAC eye pencil in the color "Powersurge" as well as my MAC Kohl liner in dark brown. For days when I don't want to wear any proper foundation at all, I go with my GOSH Cosmetics BB Cream in the shade 01 Sand - Primer, tinted moisturizer, and SPF 15, all in one! For my eye brows, I usually use my Barry M Brow Pen in dark brown, paired with my Catrice eye brow pencil in light brown, and on my cheeks, I love to use the Benefit Bene-Tint color stain for a healthy glow. I also like to use it on my lips and usually pair it with my Benefit Sugarbomb Lipgloss or my MAC lipstick in Crème in Your Coffee (my all-time favorite lipstick! I have naturally very pale lips, so it helps me look a bit fresher and healthier). You can pick up most of these products in bigger shopping centers at the cosmetics counters, or you can check out the Benefit Online Store as well as the MAC Cosmetics Online Store.

From left to right:
Barry M in Neon Pink #52 and Baby Pink #100, Manhattan in Nude #95L, MAC in "Crème in your Coffee", Manhattan in Purple #56U, Kate Moss for Rimmel London in "Kiss of Life" #111, Catrice in "Princess Peach" #050, Manhattan in Coral #34N, Kate Moss for Rimmel London in #10, Manhattan in Deep Red #54V.
Below: swatches of the lipsticks (order doesn't coincide with the above picture.)
From left to right: MAC "Crème", Barry M #52, Barry M #100, Manhattan #95L, Manhattan #56U, Manhattan #54V, Rimmel #111, Rimmel #10, Manhattan #34N, Catrice #050. 

Since I go mostly nude on my eyes most days, I've been loving crazy bold lipsticks! I'll let the colors speak for themselves, so there you have my Summer 2013 Favorites. (I wear the brighter, coral-y and candy-pink tones during the day, and the deeper, darker shades like purple and red at night).

If you want any special advice on how to use/wear any of these products, where to get them, or a more detailed review/opinion on them, let me know in the comments below! Sorry for the long, photo-heavy post, but I thought this was a good time to show which products I've been loving so far and will continue to love til the end of the summer for a fresh faced, light summer look with a pop of color.

B's Weekly Wishlist #2

Happy Saturday morning everyone!

It's time for our weekly wishlist again... and I definitely went a little overboard with the beauty products this time around... whoopsie. Luckily (or sadly?), for now these are objects of my dreams and I can only slowly get hold of them because #bankaccount. 

          Boots | Benefit Bronzer | Casio Watch | Cuff Bracelet | Frenchie Ring | NARS Stick |  

   Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! | Stila Lipstick | Lip Butter | Detangling Brush | Pore Fessional | High Beam

My most important purchase in the next couple of weeks is going to have to be the Benefit High Beam highlighter. I currently have one, and I'm SO in love with it, but I've been using it in quite copious amounts lately because I've been trying to go natural and shimmery, and it's running out quickly. From the same brand, I've really been wanting to try out the Pore Fessional pore minimizing face balm. I have fairly oily skin and larger pores on certain areas of my face and would love to see if this works as well as I've heard it does. Same goes for their Hoola Bronzing Powder, which looks beautifully rich and could easily be used as contouring powder too. Next on my list is the Stila After Glow Glow-in-the-Dark Lip Colour in the shade Tangerine Dream. Stila products are amazing, and the glow in the dark concept makes me curious - and as you might know from a previous post, I am all about orange in all its beautiful shades at the moment! Only problem: Stila products aren't the easiest to come by in Europe (just like NARS and Benefit ones... what am I going to do!) I also want to try out the NARS "The Multiple" Stick in Puerto Vallarta - a warm, bronze-y apricot shade which can be used on eyes, cheeks, lips and body and is the perfect size to throw into any bag when you're in a rush. Because I'm planning to travel very soon, I've been thinking of getting my hands onto a travel-size of one of my favorite perfumes: Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!, so I can smell delicious wherever I go (I also just think the little flask is adorable). The two last beauty products I am eyeing are the Tangle Teezer Professional Detangling Brush, which apparently has made it into every celebrity's and their mum's handbag, and the Korres Lip Butter in the scent Guava - I'm loving tropical scents and flavors at the moment. Other than that, I've been liking a few accessories (Asos cut-out boots, Casio mini gold watch, Asos cross-charm arm cuff, Monki french bulldog ring - cute!!) here and there, but nothing major that caught my eye.... definitely nothing compared to my crazy make-up frenzy of the moment.
 Have you tried any of the products above? What's you verdict? Let us know in the comments!