Name: Le Male
Brand: Jean Paul Gaultier
Size: 1.03oz
Price: $48.00

What I liked:
- remarkable, powdery and floral, spicy and woody scent
- strong and longlasting
- unisex, can be worn both during the day and night

What I didn’t like:
- the packaging

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Eau De Toilette is a classic. Released in 1995, seventeen years later, it is still immensely popular and loved by both women and men. It’s one of those scents that we have all smelled at some point, even if only on a stranger to whom we didn’t bother asking what he/she was wearing. Its popularity is due to its audacity. Le Male is yes woody, spicy and masculine like you’d expect a men’s cologne to be, but it is also powdery, sweet and floral, characteristics you usually associate with women’s perfumes. And yet, this mix works. The result is an unisex, sensual blend that men can wear without feeling like their masculinity is menaced. And judging by the reviews I’ve read, women love to smell it on guys.

Le Male is a strong and powerful scent so one spritz is more than enough and it will last on your skin for the entire day. It opens with a fresh mint note mixed with artemisa, soon followed by a stronger burst of bergamot. At this stage, the fragrance is refreshing, but it also has a touch of sweetness and is a bit powdery too. The mintiness lasts for about an hour and is then replaced by lavender, a typical note in men’s colognes, mixed with spicy cinnamon and cardamom. This is the most masculine stage of the scent, but not so masculine that will put women off. The drydown is a nice, sensual and powdery blend of vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood.

Overall, Le Male combines masculine and feminine, powdery and woody, spicy and sweet notes in a way that’s both unconventional and irresistible. It can be worn by anyone, men and women, both during the day and at night. It’s not one I’d wear all year round though. Because it is strong, it is more suitable to autumn and winter than summer. It’s also a scent that won’t let you go unnoticed. You’re gonna attract attention when you wear it. Although I love the scent, I’m not a big fan of the packaging. I find the bottle, which is shaped like a male torso, quite creepy.

Available at: sephora and ulta

Summary
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Eau De Toilette is an interesting and original mix of powdery and floral, spicy and woody notes that can be worn both by men and women, during the day and at night. It is strong and longlasting. However, I find the packaging creepy.

Rating: 4.5/5

Name: Seaweed Power Deep Calm Balm
Brand: Oxy
Size: 50ml
Price: £5.99

From Oxy’s website:
OXY Deep Calm Balm is an oil-free moisturiser. It harnesses the power of natural seaweed to keep skin soft and hydrated, whilst helping to prevent oily skin, spots and blackheads

What I liked:
- lightweight texture, absorbs quickly
- moisturizing, makes skin soft and smooth
- keeps the oil at bay for a few hours
- helps prevents breakouts
- creates a good base for foundation
- sleek and hygienic packaging

What I didn’t like:
- not moisturizing enough for those with dry skin

Last week, I introduced you to the Oxy Seaweed Power skincare range, which uses the power of natural seaweed to prevent oily skin, spots and blackheads. Today, I’ll talk about my favourite product in the range, the Deep Calm Balm. Just like the other products in the line, this moisturizer also comes in a white tube with an image of an algae on it. I really like the packaging, it is sleek and hygienic. The moisturizer itself is white in color and has a subtle, refreshing scent that disappears very quickly.

The texture is quite lightweight and absorbs really quickly into the skin. It makes skin very soft and smooth, and creates a perfect base for makeup, thanks to the blend of silicones it contains. But don’t worry about them breaking you out, they won’t. Not only this cream didn’t make my skin break out, but I haven’t even been getting the odd pimple since I’ve started using this range! In addition, it keeps my skin moisturized all day, and keeps the oil at bay but this only for a few hours. I don’t think it would be moisturizing enough for those with dry skin though, but then this range, although Oxy claims it is suitable for all skin types, was designed for those with oily and acne-prone, not dry skin.

The moisturizer contains Zea Mays Starch, which has absorbent properties and can soak up excess oil, and Lactic Acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid derived from milk, that exfoliates skin by dissolving the “glue” that holds the skin cells together, thus allowing them to slough off. This ensures the dead cells aren’t blocking the opening of the pores so that sebum can flow more freely, thus helping prevents breakouts. The moisturizer can also regulate sebum production and inhibit acne bacteria thanks to the combined action of Hydrolyzed Algin, a substance extracted from the membrane skin of brown seaweed, and Zinc Sulfate.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zea Mays Starch, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isoceteth-10, Parfum, Silica, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Algin, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool, Zinc Sulfate, Butylphenyl Methylproponial, Alpha- Isomethyl Ionone, Pentaerythrityl tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

Available at: Amazon and Boots

Summary
Oxy Seaweed Power Deep Calm Balm is a lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly, leaving skin soft, smooth and hydrated. It also helps keep the oil at bay for a few hours and prevent breakouts. The packaging is sleek and hygienic too.

Rating: 4/5

Retinyl Palmitate is a form of Vitamin A that made the headlines a couple of years ago, when the Environmental Working Group claimed that sunscreens with this ingredient may accelerate the risk of skin cancer. Is that really true? What is Retinyl Palmitate and why is it used in sunscreens and other skincare products anyway?

What is Retinyl Palmitate and what does it do?

Retinyl Palmitate is a combination of Retinol, which is pure Vitamin A, and Palmitic acid. It is easily absorbed by the skin, where it is converted first into Retinol and then into Retinoic Acid. Like all forms of Vitamin A, Retinyl Palmitate has antioxidant properties and helps fight and prevent premature aging by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin and regenerating skin cells. In addition, it helps treat acne.

Side effects of Retinyl Palmitate

Retinyl Palmitate is gentler than other forms of Vitamin A and thus more suitable for those with sensitive skin. However, it could still cause irritations, redness and peeling in some people which is why you should start by using products that contain it in small concentrations (but not too small or it won’t be effective!) and apply them only every other day until your skin has got used to it. If you do that, and those symptoms still persist after a couple of weeks, then stop using it immediately. If not, you can increase its concentration or frequency of application. Just make sure these products come in opaque tubes and bottles, though, as Retinyl Palmitate soon oxidises when exposed to light and air. In jars, this ingredient usually loses its effectiveness after only 30 days.

Is Retinyl Palmitate in sunscreen dangerous?

A couple of years ago The Enviromental Working Group raised concerns that Retinyl Palmitate in sunscreens could cause cancer. However, like many of their reports, this too was based on bad science. They cited a study that appeared on the National Toxicology Program, in which mice were treated with small doses of Retinyl Palmitate and exposed to ultraviolet light. The scientists found that these mice developed skin tumours faster than those treated with a control cream. This sounds scary, doesn’t it? But don’t go and throw away your Retinyl Palmitate products just yet.

A group of dermatologists has examined the findings of the National Toxicology Program and concluded that Retinyl Palmitate is safe and that there is no proof that it causes cancer in humans. On what did they base this conclusion? First of all rats are very different from humans and can develop cancer from lots of substances that are instead safe for us, so just because something is bad for them doesn’t mean it’s bad for us too. In addition, the NTC study was performed on rats that are highly susceptible to skin cancer when exposed to UV light even when they’re not treated with Retinyl Palmitate, so we need to be very careful before extrapolating these animal study results to humans.

Secondly, while it is true that other studies have shown that Retinyl Palmitate (like other retinoids) is a photosensitizer that causes the formation of free radicals, it is also true that just like in the study from the NTC, in them Retinyl Palmitate was tested on its own too. But as Dr Wang points out “retinyl palmitate operates within the skin as only one component of a complex antioxidant network. For example, when a sunscreen with retinyl palmitate is applied to the skin, a number of antioxidants work together to alleviate the risk of free radical formation seen in these in vitro experiments. If studied on its own – outside of this environment – its antioxidant properties can rapidly be exhausted, allowing the production of oxygen radicals.” There is actually proof that, when Retinyl Palmitate is used in suscreens that also include stabilizing ingredients, it is safe  and doesn’t pose any risks for human health. In any case, because retinoids can make skin more susceptible to sun damage, I prefer to use them at night.

The Bottom Line

Retinyl Palmitate, like all forms of Vitamin A, has strong antioxidant properties that help fight premature aging and can be used to treat acne too. But, although less irritating than other forms of Vitamin A such as Retinol and thus more suitable for those with sensitive skin, it can still cause irritations, burning, peeling and photosensitivity. However, when properly formulated in a sunscreen (ie stabilizing ingredients are added to it, which is what usually happens anyway), it doesn’t pose any risks for human health. What’s really dangerous is not using sunscreen at all!

Do you use products with Retinyl Palmitate?

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love bold, bright and colorful shades. And so you won’t be surprised to hear that, when I came across the Carnivale Collection on the Ulta website, I feel in love. Isn’t the palette really cool? It features 9 eye shadows, 1 cheek color, 1 lip color, 1 mini eye liner pencil and applicators. The packaging is so festive too! And the best part is that this palette is only $12.99!

If instead you’re a nail polish fanatic, fret no. Ulta has thought about you too and released also a Carnivale Nail Mini Set ($7.99), which features four feisty summer shades: It’s the Rio Deal (red cream), Masque-parade (purple soft shimmer), I Want Samba That (metallic lime green) and Cha Cha (butter yellow cream). I really love that green shade, but the others are pretty too.

What do you think of these products?

Name: Eyeshadow Blender Brush / Pennello Da Sfumatura
Brand: The Body Shop
Price: $18.00 / €9.00

From The Body Shop’s website:
An elegant, high-quality makeup brush that provides even blending of The Body Shop makeup Eye Colors, particularly in the crease of the eyes.
Ampio e vaporoso, ideato appositamente per sfumare l’ombretto nella piega palpebrale o per applicare l’ombretto in modo più trasparente sulla palpebra.

What I liked:
- firm but soft bristles that don’t scratch skin / le setole sono “solide” ma morbide e non graffiano la pelle
- doesn’t shed / non perde setole
- can be used to apply and blend eyeshadows / può essere usato sia per applicare che per sfumare gli ombretti

What I didn’t like:
- bristles could be a little bit softer / le setole potrebbero essere un pochino più morbide

I bought my first crease/blending brush in my early twenties and since then I’ve been wondering how I could have lived without it for so long. This is one of the most important brushes to have in your stash as it makes it so easy to blend eyeshadows into a gradient and contours your crease, adding depth and definition to the eyes. One of my favourite blending brushes is The Body Shop Blender Brush.

Ho comprato il mio primo pennello da sfumatura quando avevo all’incirca 23 anni e da allora mi chiedo come ho potuto farne a meno così a lungo. Questo è uno dei pennelli più imporatnti da avere nel vostro arsenale di makeup perchè rende facile sfumare gli ombretti, rendendo meno netti i distacchi tra i vari colori facendo in mondo che non si veda dove finisca un colore e ne comincia un altro, e scolpire l’arcata plapebrale, donando dimensione e definizione agli occhi. Uno dei mie pennelli da sfumatura preferiti è il Pennello Da Sfumatura di The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Blender Brush has a long handle that’s thicker at the end and synthetic bristles that are very stiff yet soft and don’t scratch skin. Nor do they bleed or shed. In fact, this brush has never shed a single hair since the day I bought it several months ago and, despite being washed regularly, it is still in perfect condition. The bristles also have a slightly flattened domed shape that work great both at applying and blending eyeshadows.

Il Pennello Da Sfumatura di The Body Shop ha un lungo manico che è più spesso in fondo e setole sintetiche che sono “solide” ma morbide e non graffiano la pelle. Non perdono neanche nè il colore nè qualche peletto. Infatti, questo pennello non ha perso neanche una setola da quando l’ho acquistato qualche mese fa e, nonostante io lo lavi regolarmente, è ancora in condizioni perfette. Le setole hanno anche una forma piatta e leggermente arrotandata che funziona bene sia per applicare che per sfumare gli ombretti.

The bristles pick up just the right amount of color you need and effortlessly blend it out on the crease. It softens the edges of your eyeshadows so that you get a seamless gradient and is perfect for blending smokey eyes looks. The brush can also be used to apply eyeshadows on the lid: it provides just a soft wash of colour on the lid, which makes it perfect to apply any bright and colourful eyeshadows you may have but don’t use because you’re afriad you can’t pull them off, making them appropriate to be worn during the day too.

Le setole raccolgono proprio la quantità giusta di colore di cui hai bisogno e lo sfumano facilemte sull’arcata palpebrale. Rende meno netti i distacchi tra i vari ombretti applicati ed è perfetto per sfumare i look smokey eyes. Il pennello può anche essere usato per applicare gli ombretti sulla palpebra mobile: deposita solo un tocco di colore sheer sulla palpebra mobile, il che lo rende perfetto per applicare ogni ombretto colorato e acceso che avete ma non usate perchè avete paura che non vi stia bene, e rendendoli appropriati per essere indossati anche durante il giorno.

It also means that you can use the brush to apply a subtle hint of colour to the browbone to highlight it. I’ve always liked The Body Shop brushes and knew their Blender Brush was gonna work well to blend colours on the crease, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how versatile this brush is. You could actually do an entire look with this brush which is great for when you’re in a hurry or travelling. If I had to find a fault with this brush I’d say the bristles could be a bit softer (they’re not hard but not as soft as those of MAC 217 Blending Brush for instance) but they’re soft enough not to scratch skin so I don’t really mind that.

Questo rende anche possibile usare questo pennello per applicare un tocco di colore trasparente e luminoso sull’arcata sopraccigliare per illuminare l’occhio. I pennelli di The Body Shop mi sono sempre piaciuti e sapevo che il loro Pennello Da Sfumatura avrebbe funzionato bene per sfumare i colori sull’arcata plapebrale, ma sono rimasta piacevolmente sorpresa dalla sua versatilità. Potete addirittura fare un intero look con questo pennello il che lo rende ideale per quando si va di fretta o si viaggia. Se dovessi trovare un difetto a questo pennello direi che le setole potrebbero essere un pochino più soffici (non sono dure ma neanche morbide quanto quelle del pennello da sfumatura 217 di MAC ad esempio), ma sono abbastanza morbide da non graffiare la pelle, per cui non è davvero un problema.

Available at: thebodyshop-usa.com and the-body-shop.it

Summary
The Body Shop Eyeshadow Blender Brush has quite soft and firm bristles that don’t bleed nor shed. The domed tip makes it easy to blend out eyeshadows into a seamless gradient, while the flat shape allows you to apply just a soft wash of color to the lid and browbone area.
Il Pennello Da Sfumatura Di The Body Shop ha setole abbastanza morbide e “solide”. Non perde setole né colore quando viene lavato. La punta arrotondata rende facile sfumare i colori in modo da ridurre i distacchi tra di loro, mentre la forma piatta permette di applicare un lieve tocco di colore anche sulla palpebra mobile e l’arcata sopraccigliare.

Rating: 4/5

Hello everyone,

are you planning any trips this summer? Whether it’s a short weekend away or a longer holiday somewhere hot and exotic, before you leave makeup sure you check out Essence’s new collection Ready For Boarding, which features everything you need for your trip, from multitasking cheek & lip stains to hands and body wipes, from a cute makeup bag to even a tag for your luggage! Here are more details:

EYESHADOW PALETTE
This palette has a cute post stamp design and features six fresh and shimmering summer eyeshadow colors. Available in Beauty on Tour.

2 IN 1 KAJAL PENCIL
These practical pencils are available in two contrasting yet harmonious color combinations in brown-grey and yellow-blue. They’re called Destination Sunshine and Via Airmail!

LIP & CHEEK CREAM
Available in 01 Sending You Kisses and 02 Beauty On Tour.

PEEL OFF BASE COAT
After application, the milky white texture turns transparent and provides an ideal basis for your nail polishes. To remove your nail polish, all you have to do is peel it off. Then you can apply a fresh layer of base coat before covering it with a new favorite nail polish shade. Available i 01 Carry Me Home!

NAIL POLISH
Available in 01 Sending You Kisses, 02 Beauty On Tour, 03 Exits On Your Right, 04 Via Airmail! and 05 Destination Sunshine.

COSMETIC BAG
A cute cosmetics bag in a postcard design! Available in 01 Carry Me Home!

LUGGAGE TAG
A stylish dark blue luggage tag, so you don’t have to worry about someone else picking up your luggage by mistake at the airport! Available in 01 Carry Me Home!

HAND & BODY WIPES
15 wet wipes for your face and body so you can stay fresh while you travel. With a summery, fruity pomegranate scent. Available in 01 Destination Sunshine.

Source

Hello everyone,

ready for some random ramblings?

Anniversary Dress

I am really obsessed with lace at the moment and when I saw this gorgeous dress from Rise Fashion on the Dorothy Perkins website last December, I incessantly nagged casually hinted to my boyfriend that it would make a wonderful present for our 10th anniversary the following January. The dress is absolutely stunning: it is a sleeveless lace dress with purple lining and ribbon waist tie, 100% Nylon. The style of the dress reminds me of dresses popular in the 50s, which I adore and the ribbon tie at the waist contributes to create a beautiful hourglass shape. It’s very flattering on. Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to wear it often yet but now the weather’s warmer, I’ll make up for lost time. Have you bought any nice dresses lately?

What I’m Reading Now

To have and to hold by Mary Johnston. A historical romance set in colonial Jamestown during the reign of James I. Captain Ralph Percy wants to take a wife and so goes to town where a group of English single ladies has just arrived to become wives of the settlers. He ends up marrying a certain Jocelyn Leigh who had boarded the ship to Jameston to escape a worse fate in England and although she asks Ralph for help and protection, she makes it clear that they’re married in name only. Ralph is a gentlemen and obliges but soon Jocelyn’s secret catches up with her and she and Percy will have to face a haughty English noble that will try to separate them, pirates, Indians, and lots of other dangerous situations. The book is quite long, rich in adventure and full of twists and turns: you won’t be able to put it down. Because it was written in 1900 the prose is a bit archaic, but not difficult to read and follow, and the romance is very tame. No sex scenes here. Overall, an enjoyable read for the entire family. If you’re interested to read it, it is available for free at Project Gutenberg.

The Links

Future Derm explains the difference between occlusive, humectant and reparative moisturizers.

Hair Romance remembers Vidal Sassoon, the founder of modern hairdressing.

The Skin Type Solution Blog explains how to treat acne while breastfeeding.

Beautyholics Anonymous has released a free ebook that teaches bloggers how to create a media kit.

British Beauty Blogger rants about how some brands are trying to take adventage of bloggers.

Sunday Survey, Vol.101

1. Favourite Winnie The Pooh character?
I’m not a huge fan of Winnie The Phoo but I love Eeyore, he’s so adorable!

2. Do you think MAC releases too many collections every year?
Yes! I can’t keep anymore and I’m not sure I want to either. I think they’ve been sacrificing quality for quantity lately.

3. What are you wearing on your nails right now?
Sinful Colors Nail Enamel in Rise And Shine, a beautiful aqua green.

4. Vampy or nude lips?
Vampy, but I find both of them hard to pull off.

5. What do you think of Mexican food?
I think it’s really good when it’s not too spicy. I’m not really a fan of very spicy dishes.

It’s your turn now!
1. Favourite Winnie The Pooh character?
2. Do you think MAC releases too many collections every year?
3. What are you wearing on your nails right now?
4. Vampy or nude lips?
5. What do you think of Mexican food?

What it is
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, also known as Matrixyl and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, is a pentapeptide created by Sederma SA and Proctor & Gamble.

What it does
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 stimulates the production of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. It improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and the skin’s moisturization levels, and, overtime, its firmness.

Side effects
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 is generally considered to be safe. However, according to Sederma, this ingredient should be used in concentrations ranging from 3% to 5% to work properly, and very few, if any, products on the market contain the recommended amount.