Name: Beauty
Brand: Calvin Klein
Size: 1oz
Price: 50$

What I liked:
- pretty and not too sweet floral scent
- very wearable, would suit most women
- not overpowering

What I didn’t like:
- very unoriginal and unremarkable scent
- doesn’t last all day

Calvin Klein Beauty is one of the most mainstream, unoriginal and unremarkable scents I’ve ever tried. There’s absolutely nothing in it that makes it stand out in the very competitive fragrance market, but its main strong point is how easily wearable it is. It is a subtle but pretty and elegant floral fragrance that would suit most women, especially those who don’t like leaving a trail of scent behind them or wearing something too strong and spicy at the office. In fact Beauty would be a safe and unoffending fragrance to wear at your workplace.

Also, those who like me dislike floral fragrances because they tend to be too sweet will appreciate that Beauty isn’t like that. It has a certain sweetness of course, but it’s not too intense nor nauseating. But you’ll definitely have to like Jasmine to enjoy Beauty as that’s pretty much all you’ll smell from beginning to end. Other notes can be detected at different stages, but overall the fragrance doesn’t change that much throughout his lifespan. After some fruity accents at the very beginning, the fragrance soon turns into a flat floral.

The Jasmine note is very prominent and is mixed with calla lily, which, unlike other types of lily, has a much subtler scent. Because of this, Ambrette seeds are also present and add a nice warmth to the scent. This note usually adds a spicy touch but I can’t smell that at all here. The base is a clean and warm musky and woody (it contains cedar wood) blend with the lightest touch of vanilla. The fragrance lasts about 6 hours on me before it starts to fade so if you stay out of the house all day you may have to reapply it once or twice. The bottle isn’t very remarkable and too simple imo, but it nicely captures the understated elegance of the scent.

Available at: Macy’s, Sephora.com and theperfumeshop.com

Summary
Calvin Klein Beauty is a pretty and not too sweet floral scent that’s easy to wear and will suit most women. However, there’s nothing distinctive or remarkable about it. It’s very unoriginal and dull, but elegant nonetheless. Staying power is average and I think the bottle looks quite boring too.

Rating: 3/5

Quirky British brand Soap & Glory has recently ventured into the realms of color cosmetics and their latest addition to the range is a new luscious lip balm. A Great Kisser Lip Balm is just what your pout needs in this cold, harsh winter weather. It moisturizes lips, keeping them soft and hydrated, and protects them against the elements. Plus, the retro-style packaging is so pretty! A Great Kisser is available in three shades:

Chocolate Cherry: a sheer, popsicle pink
Juicy Peach: a gorgeous coral
Sweet Coconut: clear with a hint of shimmer

My favourite is Chocolate Cherry but I would like to try them all. They retail at £5 each and are available now at http://www.soapandglory.com. What do you think of them?

We are all aware of the benefits of drinking green tea. This drink has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties and is said to help prevent cancer and tooth decay. Because of all its beneficial properties, Green Tea has become a very popular ingredient in skincare products too, but does it work as well when applied topically on the skin?

What is Green Tea?

Green tea is produced from the Camellia Sinesis plant, which is an evergreen shrub. From the same plant, black tea and oolong tea are obtained too, but with different processes. Green Tea is obtained from the steaming and drying of the Camellia Sinesis leaves and originated in China, although today it is widespread in the West too.

Green Tea has antiaging properties

Green Tea is very high in polyphenols (and in particular in Epigallocatechin-3-gallate which is considered to be 200 times more effective than Vitamin E), a group of antioxidants that fights free radicals, one of the main causes of aging. In addition, polyphenols also have anti-inflammatory properties. Skin inflammation is another factor that contributes to skin aging so reducing it will help keep skin looking younger for longer.

Green Tea helps reduce damage caused by sun exposure

Studies also suggest that “green tea polyphenols are photoprotective” and that their topical application can help reduce inflammation and redness caused by sun exposure. Another study, performed in 2003, has found that the polyphenols in green tea prevent UVB-induced oxidative stress (which can cause cancer) and the depletion of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, epigallocatechin-3-gallate can also prevent collagen breakdown. That’s why, even though green tea is not a substitute for sunscreen, it is still a good idea to incorporate it in your skincare routine.

Green Tea is an effective treatment for acne

A 2009 study has shown that a 2% Green Tea Lotion is an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne. The lotion was applied twice a day for 6 weeks on 20 patients. The scientists found that “the mean total lesion count decreased from 24 before the treatment to 10 after 6 weeks after treatment, a reduction of 58.33%” and concluded that “topical 2% green tea lotion is an effective, cost-effective treatment for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris”.

The Bottom Line

Overall, Green Tea is an effective ingredient that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-acne properties and also helps prevent damage caused by the sun’s UV rays. That’s why it is a good idea to incorporate it both in your diet and in your skincare routine. But make sure that your skincare products look brown. As dermatologist Dr Baumann explains: “if they don’t, it means they don’t contain enough green tea to be effective”

Do you use skincare products with Green Tea? Or do you prefer to drink it?

Calling all chocoholics! The Body Shop has created a new bath and body range that smells like dark chocolate. Doesn’t that sounds scrumptious? Just in time for San Valentine’s, Chocomania would make a great gift for this romantic occasion, or you can buy the products for yourself as a pampering and delicious treat. This sweet range includes:

Body Scrub: it removes the dead skin cells on the surface to reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath (€15.00)
Shower Cream: a creamy body wash that leaves skin clean and soft. (€6.00)
Soap: this heart-shaped soap can be used to wash hands or in the shower. (€2,50 each or €5.00 for a bag of four)
Body Lotion: a lightweight lotion that moisturizes skin and leaves it soft. (€10.00)
Body Butter: a rich body butter that moisturizes skin for 48 hours. (€15.00)
Lip Butter: a buttery and moisturizing lip balm. (€5.00)

And for San Valentine’s, The Body Shop has also created a delicious set. Chocomania (€32.00) contains the Shower Gel, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Lip Butter, a heart-shaped soap and an exfoliating glove!

The range is now available at thebodyshop-usa.com. I’d love to try everything, all the products sound so scrumptious! What about you? What do you think of this range?

Avviso a tutti gli amanti del cioccolato! The Body Shop ha creato una nuova linea Bagno & Corpo che profuma come il cioccolato fondente. Non sembra delizioso? Proprio in tempo per San Valentino, Chocomania sarebbe davvero un regalo fantastico per questa occasione romantica, o potete comprarla per coccolare voi stesse. Questa linea dolcissima include:

Esfoliante Corpo: rimuove le cellule morte per ottenere una pelle liscia e luminosa. (€15.00)
Doccia Crema: un detergente cremoso che lascia la pelle pulita e morbida. (€6.00)
Sapone Cuore: piccoli saponi a forma di cuore che possono essere utilizzati sotto la doccia o per le mani. (€2,50 ciascuno o €5.00 per una busta da 4)
Idratante Corpo: una lozione leggera che idrata e rende morbida la pelle. (€10.00)
Burro Corpo: ricco e corposo, idrata la pelle per 48 ore. (€15.00)
Burro Labbra: un cremoso e idratante burro per le labbra. (€5.00)

E per San Valentino, The Body Shop ha anche creato un set dolcissimo. Chocomania (€32.00) contiene il Doccia Crema, l’Esfoliante Corpo, il Burro Corpo, il Burro Labbra, un Sapone Cuore e un guanto esfoliante!

Chocomania è disponibile su the-body-shop.it. A me piacerebbe provare tutto, i prodotti sembrano così dolci! E voi? Cosa pensate di questa linea?

Name: Sheer Gloss in Cherry
Brand: NYX
Size: 15ml
Price: $5.50

From NYX’s website:
Add some clout to your pout with one quick sweep. The mineral-based lip gloss formula boosts moisture levels and protects lips, while coating them in sheer wash of transparent color. This lip gloss can be worn alone, or used to dial up the glamour of your favorite lipstick.

What I liked:
- wide shade selection
- provides a hint of color and lots of shine to the lips
- texture is smooth, not-sticky and feels comfortable on the lips
- fairly hydrating for a drugstore gloss
- longlasting for a lip product
- lovely fruity scent
- brush is soft
- packaging is pretty and contains a lot of product
- the price

What I didn’t like:
- if you like pigmented glosses, this is not for you
- it’s easy to squeeze out too much product and overapply

Do you love red lips but are scared you won’t be able to pull them off? Then try a sheer red gloss, like NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry. Sheer glosses are a good introduction to red lips as they only provide a hint of color that can be easily built up if you want a more intense look. And pretty soon, you’ll feel confident enough to wear bolder red lip shades.

NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry is a sheer red with a very shiny finish. It provides a soft wash of color on the lips that makes it very wearable and suitable for most skintones. You can wear it on its own or on top of a lipstick to add some shine to it. The color disappears after an hour of wear but the gloss and shine hang around longer and can last, if you don’t eat nor drink, up to 4 hours.

The texture is quite thick but not sticky and feels very comfortable on the lips. And for a drugstore gloss, it is fairly moisturizing. I can actually avoid prepping my lips with lip balm before applying this gloss. The subtle fruity fragrance, although a bit artificial, is still very pleasant and the gloss tastes nice too.

The gloss comes in a sturdy and pretty tube that contains a lot of product (15ml) that will last you for ages. It has a brush applicator whose bristles are very soft and apply the gloss well. However, when you squeeze the tube, too much product comes out so it’s easy to overapply if you’re not careful.

Available at: amazon.com and cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Summary
NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry provides a hint of color and lots of shine. Fairly moisturizing and not sticky, this gloss feels comfortable on the lips and lasts about four hours if you don’t eat (the color disappears only after one hour though). It has a lovely fruity scent and a soft brush applicator. However, it is easy to squeeze out too much product and overapply if you’re not careful.

Rating: 4/5

What Is Hyaluronic Acid And Why Is It In My Skincare Products?: Hyaluronic Acid is a very popular ingredient in skincare products and touted to do pretty much anything, from moisturizing skin to reducing wrinkles. But is it really such a miracle worker or just another hyped-up ingredient? And what is Hyaluronic Acid anyway?

How To Use Blue Concealer: blue concealers are kinda new on the market and look very weird but are helpful to hide certain imperfections. Curious? Then click on the link and find out.

3 Reasons Why You Should Wash Your Face At Night: I know that when you come home tired after a long day at work or a night out, the last thing you wanna do is remove your makeup but if you don’t you’ll regret it. Read the post to know why it’s so important to wash your face at night.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Review: this is my favourite eyeshadow primer. It has a lightweight texture and feels like you have nothing on, yet it prevents your eyeshadow from creasing and fading.

5 Tips For Colored Hair: dying your hair can be a lot of of fun but how do you make the color last long and prevent the dye from damaging your hair? Here are 5 easy tips to help you achieve that.

Hello everyone,

and Happy Sunday! I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s random ramblings and if you can, please spare a few minutes of your time to take the survey below. Thank you!

Reader Feedback Survey

From time to time, I ask for a few moments of your time to fill out a brief survey about what you think about Beautiful with Brains and how the blog could be improved. Your opinions are extremely important to me and will give me a better insight into what works, what doesn’t and what can be improved. This way, I can make visiting the blog a more enjoyable experience for you all. The survey is completely anonymous and even I won’t know who said what so you can be as truthful as you like. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

To take the survey, CLICK HERE.

Thanks a lot!

What I’m Reading Now

Gentle From The Night by Meagan McKinney. Although I love history, I’m not a big fan of historical romances as they are usually full of hot sex scenes to make up for poorly-written, badly-plotted and historically inaccurate stories, but every now and then I come across one that’s quite good. In Gentle From The Night, which is set in Victorian England, Lord Newell asks Alex, who he believes to be a man, to go to Cairncross Castle to help his brother speak again. Sam, in fact, has become mute after a shock. While there, strange and horrible things start to happen, which seem to be linked to the mysterious disappearance of the abusive governess, which occurred 20 years ago. Lord Newell, who had been abused as a child, is fighting his personal battle with the good and evil sides inside him, and Alex will try to help both him and his brother, although someone is trying to scare her away. And although the end didn’t fully satisfy me (mostly because I’m not sure I 100% understood it lol), I still recommend Gentle From The Night as it is so refreshing to see a historical romance that’s well-written, has some Gothic elements in it, can be very spooky at times and in which the suspense was sustained throughout.

The Links

The Gloss rants about women who are called brave for not wearing makeup.

The Natural Haven explains what causes some shampoos to be harsh.

Vampy Varnish warns aspiring and newbie bloggers against common blog mistakes.

Personal Care Truth explains how cosmetics raw materials get their names.

Viva Woman explains how to make your blog better looking.

Sunday Survey, Vol.89

1. A clothing brand you’d like to see do makeup?
Elie Saab. I so love his clothes! And Alexander McQueen too. That would be really interesting.

2. Do you use a self-tanner during the winter?
Nope, I never use self-tanners. I’m not a big fan of them. I love my pale skin!

3. Are you subscribed to any magazines?
Nope. I only buy Vanity Fair weekly, but I’m not subscribed to it.

4. Rain coat or umbrella?
Rain coat.

5. How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?
Although I don’t think you need a special day to show your love to someone, it’s still nice to celebrate it when you are in a relationship.

It’s your turn now!
1. A clothing brand you’d like to see do makeup?
2. Do you use self-tanner during the winter?
3. Are you subscribed to any magazine?
4. Rain coat or umbrella?
5. How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?

What it is
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that stores energy our body needs.

What it does
Research on Adenosine Triphosphate is limited so far, but it seems to help in reducing inflammation and improve the appearance of the skin.

Side effects
Adenosine Triphosphate is generally considered to be safe.