When summer arrives, most women want to achieve that beautiful sunkissed look. We all know the dangers of sunbathing and getting a natural tan, so how can we achieve the desired look? This summer Bourjois comes to the rescue with a new range of bronzers designed to give your skin a beautiful and natural tan in an instant. And to complete the look, Paris Delice De Soleil also includes two glittering lip gloss shades. Here’s what you can get:

DÉLICE DE SOLEIL BRONZING POWDER (€14,95)
This powder bronzer has an ultra-fine texture that provides a natural tan with a radiant finish. It comes with a compact mirror that can be turned to 360° and completely folded down, and a brush. Available in 12 light to medium skin and 14 tanned and dark skin.

DÉLICE DE SOLEIL MINERAL BRONZING FOUNDATION (€15,95)
This mineral bronzing foundation includes two shades which can be used separately or mixed together to achieve a shade that perfectly matches your skin. It evens out the skintone, hides imperfections and provides a natural tan.

DÉLICE DE SOLEIL BRONZING POWDER SPRAY FOR FACE & BODY (12,95)
A spray bronzing powder that provides a naturally sun-kissed tan. It dries quickly.

EFFET 3D LIPGLOSS (€12,95)
This hydrated lipgloss has a waterproof formula that makes it last long and stay put even while swimming. It also contains SPF15 to protect your pout from the harmful sun rays. Available in 49 Rose Pacific and 50 Brun Exotic.

What do you think of this collection?

Bourjois Coup De Theatre Mascara

I’m always on the lookout for the perfect mascara and Bourjois’ new one has really caught my eye. Coup De Theatre ($18.00) is a double-ended mascara that promises a false lashes look with minimal efforts. On one side there’s a white microfiber base coat that lengthens and thickens lashes, on the other a dark top coat to add volume, depth, and shine. I’m also digging the black and white packaging, which I think is edgy and cool.

Bourjois Kohl & Contour Eye Pencils

Being a huge eyeliner fan, I couldn’t leave you without mentioning the Kohl & Contour Eye Pencils ($13.50). They are said to have a soft texture that glides on gently, delivering a precise line in only one stroke that lasts all day. They are available in 5 beautiful shades: Ultra Black, Gris Ingénieux, Prune Moderne, Bronze Raffiné and Bleu Virtuose. I’m really liking the grey in the picture and the bronze one sounds very pretty too.

What do you think of these products?

I admit that Bourjois is a brand I rarely pay any attention to, but the promo picture for the Paris Pretty spring collection has totally caught my eye. Everything from the beautiful makeup the model’s wearing, to her outfit, to the floral background screams spring and the packaging of the products is so cute too! And if the eyeliner really looks like that in the promo pix, then I’m sold! What do you think of the collection?

EYESHADOW MONO (€10.30)
Available in Tabac Blonde (93) and Givre & Citron (94).

REGARD EFFET DUOCHROME EYE PENCIL (€6.90)
Available in Tilleul doré (64).

MASCARA VOLUME GLAMOUR ULTRA CURL (€11.90)

BLUSH ROSE COUP DE FOUDRE (€10.90)

SWEET KISS SHINE (€12.50)
Available in Rose Etincelant (59) and Juicy Tangerine (74). There are two more shades, which you can see in the picture, but unfortunately I don’t know what they’re called.

SO LACQUER ULTRA SHINE (€8.50)
Available in Tangerine fatal (33) and Opulent Santal (34).

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Hello everyone,

do you remember what we were talking about this time last year? Here’s a reminder:

Effects Of Smoking On Skin: smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body. Not only it can cause cancer and other disease (which is a good enough reason to quit!) but it also causes premature aging, bad breath, yellow teeth and more..

Product Review: Barry M Intense Eyeliner Pen: this is one of my favourite eyeliners for several reasons. The color is intense, waterproof and lasts ages even on the waterline. And it’s really cheap too!

Product Review: Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush: this baked blushes are pigmented, inexpensive and long-lasting. They also harden after a while, though.

How to Create Volume for Thin Hair: a few tips on how to give fine and thin hair some volume from hairstylist Giles Levres.

3 Homemade Lip Balm Recipes: 3 simple and easy-to-follow recipes on how you can make lip balm at home.

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Natasha Hamilton shot to fame as part of British girl band Atomic Kitten. The singer is now working on her solo career and has also opened a restaurant called Hamilton’s in Liverpool. Here are the beauty products she can’t live without:

VERA WONG THE FRAGRANCE (£50.00)
A modern, floral bouquet that features notes of Bulgarian rose, calla lily, mandarin flower, gardenia, lotus, iris, white stephanotis, musks, white woods, and precious floral nectar. Natasha says: “I bought it last year when I got married because I read in a bridal magazine you should get a new wedding scent to always remind you of that day. Now, it teleports me back to my wedding morning.”

BOURJOIS VOLUME CLUBBING MASCARA (£7.95)
Double sided volumizing brush with product reservoir for a striking look. Natasha’s eyelashes are so fair that they are almost invisible so she always has mascara in her bag. She says that Volume Clubbing “has got a really thick wand but if you apply just one coat it’s fine and perfect for daytime. You can build it up later on and it doesn’t smudge or go bitty, it’s great for going from day to night.”

OPTREX EYEDEW SPARKLING EYE DROPS (£4.06)
Ideal for enhancing your eyes’ sparkle during the day, Eyedew Sparkling Eye Drops restore natural brightness to reveal beautiful, clear eyes. Natasha says these are essentials when she has a late night and an early shot as they make her look bright eyed instantly.

TIGI BED HEAD HEADBRUSH HAIR SPRAY (£13.05)
A lightweight aerosol supershine mist that gives hair a smooth and shiny look. Natasha says: “If my hair’s gone flat, this gives it a bit of oomph and a lovely shine. It smells great too.”

Debra Stephenson is an English actress best known for playing Frankie Baldwin in the soap Coronation Street. Here are the beauty products the actress can’t live without:

REN MOROCCAN ROSE OTTO ULTRA NOURISHING BODY OIL (£31.25)
This ultra nourishing body oil restores glow, softness, elasticity and comfort to the skin. Debra says that a friend bought her this and now she is addicted cos it feels so silky and light on the skin.

BOURJOIS LITTLE ROUND POT EYESHADOW (£5.75)
A fine powder eyeshadow for luminous colour that comes in an great selection of colors. One of Debra’s fave is Gris Pailletté 92, a grey with silver shimmer, which is perfect for soft, smoky eyes.

TIMOTEI SOFTENING OATMILK & PEACH SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER (£2.33 each)
The shampoo gently cleanses hair, while the conditioner nourishes, leaving it soft and supple. Debra applies the conditioner and leaves it on overnight. She says it’s like a salon treatment without spending a fortune!

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR ZERO SMUDGE LENGTHENING MASCARA (£17.13)
The mascara is formulated to resist high temperatures and high humidity without flaking or smudging.

DERMALOGICA SKIN SOOTHING CREAM (£26.00)
A moisturizer that helps to maintain your skin’s moisture, smooth fine dehydration lines and relieving tightness.

Name: Little Round Pot Blush
Brand: Bourjois
Size: 2.5g
Price: £6.25

From Bourjois’s website:
Softer and more velvety thanks to a new pearl effect and a skilful blend of pigments. The baked texture is transformed on the skin into a light ultra-fine pressed powder, that is easy to apply and blends impeccably. One stroke of the brush reveals the irresistable aroma of rose scented powder.

What I liked:
- beautiful shades
- very pigmented
- gives a beautiful and glowy flushed look
- long-lasting
- the price

What I didn’t like:
- it hardens
- the packaging
- the brush

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush is available in 12 shades that have three different types of finishes: shimmery, matte and pearly. The shade I have is Rose D’Or, which is a beautiful true, rosy pink with golden shimmers that aren’t over the top.

The texture is nice and soft, although slightly gritty  in some shades. It goes on smoothly and is easy to blend. The color is quite pigmented and you only need a little to get a nice flushed look. But you have to be careful when applying it, as it is very easy to go overboard with this. It has a lovely rose scent and lasts for most of the day. I rarely need to do any touch-ups.

Because the blush is baked and not pressed, it tends to harden after a while, but this problem can easily be resolved by removing the top layer with a toothbrush. That way, the blush is just as good as new.

The blushes come in a plastic, round domed shaped container. The color of the packaging matches that of the blush inside so it’s easy to identify the shade you want. The blush comes with a mirror and a brush, both of which are useless. The mirror is just too tiny. And while I like the curved shape of the brush, which fits the contour of your cheeks, the bristles are just too thin and too hard and they scratched my face a bit. And there isn’t a compartment for the brush, so it just sits on top of the blush.

Summary:
Overall, I really love this blush. It’s very pigmented and a little goes a long way. It gives my cheeks a beautiful flushed look that last almost all day. However, it hardens after a while and the inbuilt mirror and brush are useless.

Rating: 4/5

As I promised yesterday, here is my London haul. I bought a lot of products from drugstore brands like Gosh, Sleek and Barry M (I love their dazzle dusts and they’re a steal at £4.50 each). I’ve also finally bought my first mineral makeup foundation. Believe it or not, the mineral makeup craze hasn’t really reached Italy yet. Very few brands sell their mineral lines here and most of them can only be found in a few big cities. Luckily, things seem to be changing and MU is becoming more available everywhere, but it still a very slow process. Anyway, here’s what I bought:

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Aqua
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Lime
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Orange
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Yellow
Barry M Eyeliner pen in Kingfisher Blue
Barry M Glitter Dust in Aqua (I bought this by mistake. My boyfriend kept rushing me and I picked up the wrong pot. Unfortunately, I only realised the mistake when I got back home but, oh well, it’s still a beautiful color)
Benefit Erase Pasta no.1 fair
Bourjois Blush no.34 Rose D’Or
Eyeko Magic Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeko Strawberry Fat Balm
Gosh Effect Powder in Pineapple
Gosh Lipstick in Velvet Touch
Gosh Quattro Eyeshadow in Toucan
MAC Lipglass in Frozen Dream
Sleek Divine Chaos Eyeshadow palette
Sleek Eye Dust in Jet Set
Sleek Glo Face & Body Highlighter in Peach Shimmer
The Little Pink Tin SPF 15
The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Foundation SPF25 shade 01
The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Foundation brush

The SA at one of the Superdrugs shops I visited also gave me some samples of Kate Moss Velvet Hour fragrance. Overall, I’m really happy with my haul. I’ve bought most of the stuff I wanted but ecotools brushes. I couldn’t find them anywhere even though I thought I’d read somewhere that they were available in some Superdrugs and Tesco stores but the ones I visited didn’t have them.

Before I left for London, I received a package from Anastasia from Ball Of String. She said there was a 3 for 2 offer on dazzle dusts and offered to buy and ship stuff to me. I also got a Sleek palette, which I was really lemming after reading her raving review about it. Thanks a lot, Ana! Here’s what she sent me:

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Cherry Red
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Grey
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Ice Pink
Barry M Dazzle Dusts in Khaki
Barry M Dazzle Dusts in Pink Shimmer
Barry M Fine Glitter Dust in Black Purple
Sleek Divine Palette The Original

Finally, here are some stuff from my boyfriend:

Paul & Joe Disney Face Color B
Pupa Beauty Bijoux makeup kit

The Pupa palette was a Christmas present. Pupa is one of my fave brands and I’ve been using their palettes since I started wearing makeup in high school. They’re great quality and have the cutest packagings. The Paul & Joe face powder was a present for our 7th anniversary which was yesterday. I really wanted something from their Disney Collection but P&J isn’t available here so when we saw the collection at Harrods, he decided to buy me something from it. Wasn’t that sweet? There was a 50% sale on most P&J items as well as discounts on other brands but unfortunately I didn’t have enough money with me that day, so I couldn’t take advantage of the sales. I’m still kicking myself for it.