Effortlessly Chic 101

a personal favourite: rhinestone eyes by gorillaz

2010-04-20T18:09:00.001+01:00

absolutely beautiful lyrics!

a review: the best lip balm in the world

2010-04-20T17:34:00.000+01:00

hello beautiful people out there.

do you have chapped lips? do you like the smell of roses? do you enjoy luxury products? would you like me to stop being annoying and just tell you what the product is already? well then! read on.

now. this really is, for me, the best lip balm/treatment in the world. it might not be for you. but you really ought to try it. the product i'm talking about is...

dior crème de rose smoothing plumping lip balm (with SPF 10)! yes. it's beautiful, it's amazing, it IS all that. but enough rambling. the product comes in a plastic white packaging, very sturdy, with CD engraved in the center. it smells basically like roses, rose water, etc. and it's very delicate and floral. i like it, but you may not. it's a very strong scent (despite its delicacy) so you really don't have any way around it. the color is a very light mily pink on the pot, but when you put it on your lips it just gives you the lightest pink sheen with a blue-ish cast (which makes your lips look slightly plumper and your teeth whiter) when you dip your finger in it, you can tell, from the first time, that the texture is pure luxury. very creamy and it "melts" on contact. when you put it on your lips, the luxurious experience reaches its peak. it melts on your lips like butter, immediately moisturizing them deeply and effectively, and whatever pain or discomfort you might have had from the dryness, is surely gone from the first second. when it comes to plumping, i don't think it has that much plumping power, it does provide a slightly plumped look, mainly due to the restoration of moisture and the sheen of the product itself, but not real plumping. it has spf 10, which is always good, especially now that the sun is getting stronger and thus more harmful. it lasts a relatively long time on the lips, i'd say about two or three hours before you really have to re-apply it, assuming you don't eat and/or drink in between. the only downside to this product is that due to its buttery light texture, it tends to get used up fairly quickly - plus, they don't give you much product (7.2g / 0.25 OZ.).

pros:

amazing scent

deeply moisturizing

it gives you a really pretty light pink sheen

gives your lips a slightly plumper look

it has a buttery texture

it has spf 10

it's dior

cons:

it gets used up fairly quickly

you don't get much product for your money

it's a little expensive

conclusion

over all, i LOVE this product and i will probably use it forever and ever, i just love it that much. but i'm also on a rose kick right now so i love everything rose scented :) if you like rose scented products or think you could benefit from this product, you should try it! available at dior counters, sephora stores, and online.

have you tried this product? did you like it? let me know! plus, i hope you're having a good week so far :) love,

brief hiatus

2010-03-19T22:14:00.000Z

hello everybody! i know some of you were hoping to see the second how-to in my how-to series today. the thing is, i'm going to pause my blogging activity for a few weeks, for personal reasons. i'll be back soon, and so will the how-to series. i hope you can understand... :) check back soon!

March 17th: HOW TO LOOK FABULOUS AT SCHOOL

2010-03-17T23:13:00.000Z

(warning - long post)

STEP 1 - good hygiene.

crucial. no one is going to take you as a beautiful girl if you smell bad! people will just stay as far from you as they can, and that way, they can't get to know the wonderful person you truly are.

shower everyday.

this is very important. the time of day when you shower is up to you, it's a totally personal choice. make it fun by using delicious smelling shower gels and hair products! philosophy has amazing shower gels that can be doubled as bubble baths. hair products are more tough to recommend, because it really depends on what you're willing to pay, what you're used to buying, your hair type, and things like that. redken and kerastase are my favourite higher-end brands, and i love herbal essences and garnier as well.

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take care of your skin

this probably goes without saying! i'm sure you're rolling your eyeballs out. but it's a step that can't be stressed enough. do everything in your power to keep your face as clean as it can be. use products specifically targeted to your skin type. neutrogena, clean and clear, and clearasil, are all brands that work really well and are affordable. if you're willing to spend a little more, you can go for clinique or dior, both have amazing skincare lines. wash your face, apply toner if your skin is combination/oily, and moisturize. you could look for a gel or oil-free moisturizer if your skin is oily, or a rich moisturizer if your skin is dry.

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also, you should brush your teeth and floss, and such things that you probably don't need me telling you to do! :) and don't forget perfume!

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STEP 2 - hair.

a beautiful frame beautifies the painting. a couple of years ago i read somewhere that when people are considering if you're beautiful or not, hair plays a big part - a 60% part. i know that sometimes that just isn't true. but it's one of those things that you don't forget about. ever. some things you read and never think of them again, and some just stick. like when you first found out you shouldn't rub your face with a towel, you should pat it dry. you will never ever rub your face again, thinking it's super dangerous.

if you don't know already, find out what your hair type/condition is.

some people don't know what their current hair condition is. this is something you should really look into. the majority of hair products are designed for a specific hair condition. if your hair is dry, you should consider moisturizing, glossing, softening, or restorative products. if your hair is oily, look for words like clarifying, purifying, clearing, cleansing, or balancing. the same goes for styling products or hair products that you use out of the shower. this has to do with your hair type. is it curly, straight, or wavy? kinky, even? you can find products to suit your every need.

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style your hair

this step is optional, however, in most cases, really does make your hair look better. don't over do it with the heat, though!

if you want your hair really straight...
...you should use a flat iron. i really recommend the babyliss ipro 230 ionic titanium.

it's very nice value. it's reasonably priced and works really well. other great straightening irons are from CHI or GHD. if you don't want to use a flat iron, you can just blow-dry your hair with a blow dryer and a round brush to keep it straight...

boar round brushes work really nicley to provide shine and to keep your hair frizz-free.

if you want to have pretty waves...

...why not products made for curly hair, use deep conditioner and let it hair dry, after using leave-in conditioner and glossing cream/curl gel?

if you want frizz-free, defined and shiny curls...

...why not use a curling iron, if your hair is not naturally curly?

...or, if your hair IS naturally curly, try NOT to use any tools on it! brushing through it will probably cause frizz and puffiness. just define your curls using hair products, not hair tools. let it air dry.

whatever the tools you use to keep your hair straight, just make sure you're using the right products to go with them. if you're using a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, or anything that shapes hair by heat, use a heat protectant.

tresemmé's heat tamer protective spray is great for any tools you might use...

or, if you're straightening your hair, i HIGHLY recommend THIS PRODUCT.

finally, you can wear it in whatever hairstyles you like. ponytails are always cute, and buns, too.

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STEP 3 - make-up.

as you might know, i love make-up almost as much as i love fashion! however, i don't really like overly bright or scandalous make-up. the way i see it, and the way i like my make-up to be, everyday make-up shouldn't be noticeable. it should help your beauty shine through, and make you even more beautiful than you already are. the same goes for school make-up...also, it should be quick and easy.

apply your base

the type of coverage you choose is entirely up to you. i suggest using a sheer to medium foundation (or a tinted moisturizer) that has just enough coverage to even out your skin tone but doesn't cover your skin and doesn't have a cakey feel. this also depends on your skin type, as a lot of foundations are specifically designed to suit a skin concern. you can use a powder, a liquid, or a cream - it's up to you! find out what suits you best and stick with it. don't use too fussy products, your morning make-up routine should be very simple and easy! you can use brushes, sponges, or puffs, or even fingers, if it works for you! you can see a mini-review of my favourite foundation HERE.

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apply your concealer(s)

unlike foundation, i think concealer should be as full cover as you can get (unless we're talking dark circles concealer). foundation is supposed to provide a base, but concealer is supposed to conceal. anything that you might wish to conceal is because you don't want to see it in your face - so why would you use a concealer that didn't cover it up completely? use a very small concealing brush for blemishes, and a slightly bigger one for larger areas, like redness. i think blemishes and/or redness are more common on teenagers (school goers) than dark circles. if you do need to conceal any under eye shadows, use a light reflective concealer, like ysl touche éclat.

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apply a sheer blush

this is a very important step in my opinion! if i only have time for ONE step of my routine, i'll choose concealer, but if i can squeeze in just one more, i'll go for blush, because it awakens your whole face and makes you look instantly pretty! i talk briefly about my favourite blush HERE. mac's powder and cream blushes are very nice quality, as are dior's and chanel's. for everyday, you're better off with a sheer blush in a natural shade. sheer blushes are widely available, within numerous price ranges, but the shade you'll just have to figure out yourself! which isn't bad - it's actually really fun. if your skin has pink in it, counteract the redness with your concealer and then use a peach or golden blush, both look very beautiful on pale pink skin. if you have yellow in your skin, pale and medium pinks, along with peaches as well, will look lovely on you! apply your blush with a blush brush, or a stippling brush, for best results!

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apply eyeshadow (or not)

don't spend too much time putting on eyeshadow. in fact, you don't even HAVE to put on eyeshadow. sometimes, for school, it's just not worth it! however, if you want to, just go for a classic look. choose a matte or shimmery neutral color and apply a wash of it all over your lid, and you can leave it at that, or, you can take a shade a little darker, and apply it on the crease, very lightly. i don't wear eyeshadow everyday, so i can't tell you the shades i wear everyday, but when i do wear eyeshadow to school, this is generally what i wear...

...bobbi brown matte eyeshadow in bone all over the eye area, bobbi brown matte eyeshadow in sable lightly on the crease, and bobbi brown shimmer wash eyeshadow in champage under the eyebrow bone and on the inner corners.

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apply mascara and/or liner

mascara and liner really make for beautifully defined eyes. however, sometimes, for school, you don't need, or have the time to, apply both. sometimes you do. go with whatever you feel most comfortable doing! for everyday wear, stick with black or brown, or gray (for liner). use black mascara if your hair+eyelashes are dark, and brown mascara if your hair+eyelashes are brown. (but you may like the look of black better even if your eyelashes are blond). liner is really up to you, black is more dramatic, but can be subtle. brown is safe, and gray looks beautiful on everyone! you can use pencil, liquid, gel or cake liners. use whatever is easier for you to use. you can read a review of the mascara i'm currently using HERE.

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you can add extra steps to the make-up part, but try to keep it as simple as you can! this step shouldn't take up much of your time... after all, you usually don't have much time in the morning!

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STEP 4 - fashion.

my favourite par!

my everyday clothing style is very classic and grown-up, and i value quality fabrics and cuts, and classic colours as well.

i have a post about school fashion, and you can read it HERE

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STEP 5 - attitude.

and finally...be beautiful inside :) if you're kind and true to others, good things will happen. don't be snobby. don't create drama. meet new people. be helpful. be supportive. be there when people need you!

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what did you think of this how to? did you enjoy it? post your opinions below!

(an emo picture of me, doing a heart with my hands to show you i love you.)

EXCITING NEWS - HOW TO SERIES

2010-03-16T19:09:00.005Z

hello my darlings! how are you doing?

i say, have you ever wanted to know how to do something so badly but just thought it would be stupid to ask or you just didn't know whom to ask? or you just want to learn some new things? i know you do! don't fear - over the next 20 days i'll be posting a series of beauty and fashion how-to's, covering everything from looking fabulous at school, knowing what to pack for a trip, to how you can dress in a simple yet elegant way. i will be posting this and much more, especially for each and everyone of you! i'm really looking forward to doing this and i hope you enjoy :)

♥

HOW-TO CALENDAR

March 17th: how to look fabulous at school

March 19th: how to look flawless in every picture

March 21st: how to pull off bright coloured make-up

March 23rd: how to build a simple yet elegant wardrobe

March 25th: how to take the most out of your facial features

March 27th: how to truly achieve the no make-up look

March 29th: how to look and feel irresistible on a first date

March 31st: how to choose what to pack for a trip

April 2nd: how to attain beautiful hair everyday

April 4th: how to look subtly and age-appropriately sexy

interested? excited? :) mark it down on your calendars, blackberries, iphones, wherever! be sure to come read the ones that caught your eye - or read them all!

have a great week, everybody!

P.S.: can you tell i'm excited? does it show through? no? i'm very very discrete. i can be a freaking undercover spy when the situation calls for it...

a personal favourite: thank you by dido

2010-03-15T12:29:00.000Z

isn't this the most perfect song ever? it's so calm and beautiful. the lyrics speak to me in a very special way :)

do you love it?

a review: rimmel sexy curves mascara

2010-03-14T20:32:00.001Z

hello there everyone!

how are you doing? hope everything's okay!

rimmel has never been a brand that appealed to me. i have had some rimmel products...and i really like glam'eyes mascara. and i used to have an eyeshadow duo too, which was nice. but not that nice, since i used it to create lip balms.

but i digress.

this is the product. i don't know why i keep buying so much mascara. well, no, i mean. i do know why. i use a lot of it and i it's the only thing i never leave the house without. so there you have it! i'm still using diorshow blackout waterproof, as well.

this is, overall, a very nice mascara. the brush is one of those silicone-rubber-elastic-flexible-flimsy kind of things, but the shape itself is far more interesting. (see above). it's like three givenchy phenomen'eyes/l'oreal telescopic explosion's in a row! i liked it. but i didn't love it. volume, check. length, yes. curls/curves? well no...! what the...? i liked it but i think the name is misleading. it doesn't really give my lashes any curl. keep in mind i don't use an eyelash curler. ever. (i'm a little afraid of them, they creep me out, and when i DO use it, it doesn't do much for my lashes...) maybe if you did use an eyelash curler this would be able to mantain the curl longer than other mascaras, but the way i see it, the name suggests that the product gives your lashes a curl for itself.

pros:

it's cheap

it gives quite some volume (if applied correctly)

it gives you lots of length

the brush is relatively easy to use

the wand doesn't come with excess product when you take it out of the tube (although you should always wipe off any excess, even if little)

it's available everywhere (i think)

doesn't flake

doesn't have a smell (at least my tube didn't!)

cons:

it doesn't curl my lashes AT ALL

it can be quite clumpy. so no pretty lash definition from this.

conclusion

in my opinion, this is a very good mascara. if you're looking for a lengthening mascara, this is one to try. if you're looking for a volumizing mascara, this might be the one for you. but this does not give your lashes any curl. and if there's one thing i hate is when brands specifically name their products one thing, and it's the total opposite. it's not like it's called the 'super mascara' and it happens not to give you any curl but still volumizes and lengthens. and you're bummed because it said it was super. super means different things to different people. but naming your product 'sexy curves' you know people are going to be pretty upset when it doesn't provide them with the one thing you said it did. so that's my biggest pet peeve about the product. but it is a good mascara! i just happen not to need as much length (nor volume for that matter) as i need curving, so that made me not want to buy any more rimmel mascara thinking they don't deliver what they advertise.

that was my review! do you own this mascara? do you like it? do you hate it? please let me know, i would love to read your comments.

p.s: follow me on twitter! click!

my second favourite place in the whole world

2010-03-13T21:35:00.000Z

can you guess what city it is?

i love: blake lively

2010-03-13T16:26:00.000Z

why hello!

isn't blake gorgeous? i think so. in fact, i know so! she's just absolutely flawless. her hair ir perfect, her face is perfect, her body is perfect, her make-up is perfect, her clothes are perfect. so she is, in fact, perfect. photographic evidence below

well isn't she mind-blowing? yes! that dress, although a little over the top, is amazing. black and off white, yes, count me in please. nude shoes, yes, i'll have that too. feathers tastefully placed in a non-travesti manner? yes, won't mind if i do. beautiful floral black lace? yes, yes!

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although not effortlessly chic, this is definitely effortlessly cute. i think girls in guys' sports clothes look painfully adorable! i'm sorry i sound like a teenage girl but...well no, actually, i am a teenage girl. moving on.

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this outfit screams at me, and it goes a little like this "i'm so you!! you would totally wear me, am i right? i know i am! muahahaaha!!! i'm so you it hurts! you know HOW i know you would wear me?? because i'm already part of your wardrobe!!! AHAHAH GO WEAR ME!!" ...and that's what it screams. and it is true, i do have a blue striped shirt, and a tight white mini skirt, and maroonish pumps. although it probably looks a lot better on her. sigh.

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i almost want to CRY at how much i love this dress. although i love me some navy, red, white light pink and the works, i love bright colors as well! especially if combined with a tan and nude peep toe pumps, mind you. doesn't she look goddess-like?

_____

oh my god that hair...makes me want to be blond. and her make-up is FLAWLESS! seriously i don't think i've ever seen hair so beautiful and shiny and curled to such perfection. and i want to know what lip products she was wearing...

was that enough to convine you that blake is, without a doubt, beautiful to surreal extents? or did you already know? oooorrr are you still not convinced? let me know...and tell me which of the photos was your favourite!

don't you just hate it when...

2010-03-13T14:51:00.000Z

...your holy grail make-up item just isn't working?
...your little brother brings friends home?
...your first drawing on your new tablet doesn't work out that great?
...your life doesn't have a constant soundtrack?
...none of your friends are online?
...you have nothing to do?
...you say 'don't look now but there's a cute boy behind you' and they turn around EVER SO SLOWLY and unrealistically?
...you get home late at night and you're supposed to go to sleep but you're so hyper you feel like pulling an all nighter?
...your project evaluation day is tomorrow?
...there's nothing in the fridge that you actually feel like eating?
...you nail polish chips and precisely that day everyone decides it's a good day to look at your nails?
...you feel so excited about something that nothing can keep you still?
...you want to wear the cutest top ever but you don't have any bottoms to match it?
...your hair decides it wants to go all badass puffy on you?
...you're so excited to watch a new video clip and then it blows?
...you don't feel like tweeting?
...you can't go to a concert because you have absolutely NO ONE to go with and you don't want to go alone?
...you go to a birthday dinner and you meet a very cute guy and you talk to him all night long and you wrestle with yourself not to stalk him on facebook as soon as you get home?
...you spend the whole next day thinking about him and how you both would love to travel the world?
...you can't control yourself and you leave a comment on one of his photos and you realize your comment doesn't really make much sense and then he replies with a simple 'Ahah'?

well wasn't that a piece of randomness! i guess it was :)

rainy days - they suck. and what i wear

2010-03-12T14:55:00.001Z

hello my darlings! so here in lisbon it's still quite the wintery winter. the last few days it has been a little sunny around midday or so, but nothing spectacular, because a while after it's freaking cold again. and yes it does rain. and yes, i hate it.

well the other day i was talking to a friend of mine in the uk, which as you know, is a rainy and cold country most of the year, and she told me that she hated the rain because she never knew what to wear (she's not from there, obviously, or she would have learned what to wear when it rains a long time ago). not that i'm a rain expert. mind you, i hate the rain myself, and i don't look really glamorous when i have fat, huge, heavy water drops falling on my head and rolling down my face. and sometimes getting right in my eyes. but this is what i wear/would wear on rainy days.

this is a set i created on polyvore (my bff) displaying three looks i think are pretty and would wear on rainy days. the first two are actually similar to outfits i wear often. the last one is also similar to some of my outfits, and it's the prettiest of the three (imo) but it's a little too sophisticated for just going to school, so i don't wear them (my similar outfits) that often.

what's your favorite outfit? would you wear any of them? tell me in the comment section :)

have a great weekend! love,

iPhone posting

2010-03-12T11:13:00.001Z

funny how i've never tried posting through my iPhone, uh? does this even work? this is going to be a very uninteresting post, i'm afraid. i'm in geometry class. oh! i have a (not so) funny story. i have a guy in my class, Salvador, who is all ghetto and stuff, and he decided that for his english presentation, he was going to make a rap...about me, and how he "loves me". yes. you heard me. (read me.) that's not cool!! in fact i would say it's rather uncool. as in embarassing. i'm gonna be red as a tomato during the whole thing. i'm gonna die! i kid. but it will be very very embarassing. what would you do? i'm going to the
mall tonight and having sushi dinner too. well my darlings i should go. have a great weekend! x

sephora haul 11/3

2010-03-11T22:12:00.001Z

hello my darlings!

today i had kind of a school trip, we went to see a play about Shakespeare (but in a modern, funny, interactive, childish, comedic kind of way which, although undeniably entertaining, is usually not my thing) and the theater was downtown. first off, i had forgotten my wallet at home, as i tweeted earlier. second off, my whole body was aching because yesterday i had double class of horse riding followed (ten minutes after, i'd say) by an hour and a half of PE. not fun. and the play was so-so. SO. after the play i was everything BUT relaxed and happy. so when everyone went home, i decided to stick around (and call my dad since i forgot my wallet...!) and do a little shopping to cool off. and true to myself, i went to sephora. sigh.

so i'm going to show you what i got! again, sorry for not using my own photographs, but i still don't have my camera... :( soon, soon! bear with me.

dior crème de rose smoothing plumping lip balm

this smells so good :) i don't NEED any more lip balm, but i want to have more. you can never have too much lip balm on hand. and plus...it's dior, what up?

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fusion beauty lipfusion XL

...ok so funny story. not long but funny. everytime i apply lip plumper, i only apply it on my top lip. (not that it won't transfer to the bottom lip after a while, but still) because i want my top lip to be kind of a little bigger than the bottom. not obnoxiously so... do you know what i mean? you don't...hum. oh well! i'll try to find a picture and post it tomorrow :)

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by terry baume de rose

ahhh! i love this. i do! i know, ANOTHER lip balm sort of thing. but this is more than a lip balm. it's lip heaven. so it's all good...

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clinique vitamin c lip smoothie in mango-thon

ha! how cute are the names for these things? :) mango-thon, nude-tritious, raisin the bar! ahah. cracks me up. smells/tastes great too!

that's it my lovelies :) i hope you're having a great week. have you been buying any make-up or clothes? let me know!

love

sunshine award

2010-03-11T19:30:00.000Z

sunshine award

i was tagged by Claire, (click!) who was such a darling to award me. i really appreciate it and these things mean a lot to me :)

The rules:

Post the award on your blog.
Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs.
Share the love and link the person who gave it to you.

I award:

British Beauty Blogger

classics: pearls

2010-03-10T16:57:00.001Z

hey there everyone!

continuing my classics mini-series, today i'm going to talk about pearls.

since ancient times, the pearl has been a symbol of flawless status and perfection. tt is the oldest known gem, and for centuries it was considered the most valuable. no two pearls are identical; actually, the word for 'pearl' in latin literally means 'unique'. they symbolize status, purity and innocence.

pearl jewelry has always been a common link between royalty members all over the world, and is now more accessible, although remaining a symbol of status. jackie kennedy, had a passion for pearls; so did a number of other famous style icons and actresses as well as socialites.

the versatility and elegance of pearls in jewelry is both undeniable and unbeatable. a truly chic and feminine woman must own at least a set of pearl studs and pearl strand! pearls go with everything, be it casual or formal, and provide a je ne sais quoi to every outfit.

when it comes to pearl necklaces, or strands, you can choose between a variety of lengths. you have the collar, the pearl choker, the princess length, the matinée, the opera, and the pearl rope. you have many to choose from, however, consider the occasion when making your decision. pearls may work for every occasion, but some pearl necklaces are more appropriate than others depending on where you're going, when you're going, with whom you're going, etc.

there are also several different coloured pearls, such as black, pink, blue, champagne, green, or purple.

i think pearls are one of the best accessories a girl can have. they look very classic and beautiful. you can't go wrong with pearls, really!

love,

fun stuff! photo tag

2010-03-09T19:32:00.001Z

hello my darlings! i was tagged by the lovely Chloe at Cardigans and Clogs. Go check her out, she has an amazing blog!

Photo Tag

Open your 1st Photo Folder
Scroll to the 10th photo
Post the photo and the story behind it
Tag 5 or more people

ha! looking at this picture makes me miss last year :) this is the class photo we took on the beginning of last year. this is the arts school i go to! i used to go to private school and have always been kind of around nice, clean-cut surroundings, so you can probably guess my shock in the beginning of the first year! but now i love it, and these people mean the world to me! my class isn't the same anymore, but i have made loads of irreplaceable friends at this school and i will cherish these memories forever!

p.s.: can you guess where i am?? hint: i don't really fit in clothes-wise!! another hint: i'm wearing black and grey!! yet another hint: i showcased what sun-in can do to your hair!! (not attractive. my hair is back to normal now)

i tag everyone!! seriously, i know it sounds cliché :) but i honestly love and value each and every one of my readers and followers, so as i hope you enjoy reading my tag, i would really enjoy reading yours! so go ahead, do it! YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED!

and thanks again Chloe, for tagging me :)

a review: lush business time massage bar

2010-03-09T19:14:00.000Z

hello everyone!

this is me, reviewing a lush product! ta-da! :)

lush has tons of massage bars, but when i went to amsterdam i bought the business time one. because although i hate chocolate, i enjoy chocolate scented things.

massage bars are like solid lotion or moisturizer, and they're very creamy and kind of melt on contact with the skin, even more so when you rub them on your body. which is, of course, what you want to do! on the website, they say that massage bars are 'made from cocoa and shea butter bases to carry the oils, these melt in contact with body heat' yes that is true. they are incredibly moisturizing, but they are also a bit oily. do you know what i mean? they're so buttery that when you use them they sometimes leave an oily film on top of your skin. this happens more often when you use them at the middle of the day, for example. i find that if i use it as an after shower moisturizer, it works much better, because for some reason, my skin absorves the moisture from these much better when it has been recently wet. or something like that. anywho! these smell delicious! it's so sweet that sometimes it's a little overpowering. but most of the time it just smells delicious. the scent does linger on the skin, which can sometimes be annoying because it messes up any other scents you put on your body, but not overly so. my skin is dry, and i can say this gives it a lot of moisture, without the fuss of a liquid lotion, and plus, it's better for the environment because it isn't packaged.plus, these will last you a loooong time, so you get a lot product for your money!

pros:

smells amazing

it's very moisturizing

it's earth-friendly

it lasts forever

cons:

it can be a little oily

you may find the scent a little overpowering

you have to keep it in the paper bag because otherwise it'll melt and get the surface dirty

conclusion

in my opinion, this massage bar is a great product. i haven't tried the other ones, but i'm sure they have the same quality. if you have oily skin, i probably wouldn't purchase (but maybe it works? i don't know!), but if you have dry skin, you should definitely invest in this product! i would repurchase, just not this particular one because i find the scent a little bit too much.

that was my review, mes chéries! i hope you enjoyed. have you tried this product? or any lush massage bar for that matter? please tell me in the comment section!

p.s: follow me on twitter! click!

make-up routine

2010-03-09T14:42:00.001Z

hello lovely readers!

this is going to be a description of my daily make-up routine in the morning - at night it changes everytime i go out, of course!

1. i wash my face

currently i'm using dior's lait magique démaquillant, for sensitive and dry skin. although this is a make-up removing cleanser, it's gentle enough that you can use it in the morning as well, and i love the way it feels on my face. so there you go! i use it twice a day.

_____

2. i apply concealer

i use this because at the moment i don't need much coverage - i just use it on some minor imperfections and i use it under my eyes, and to illuminate and highlight the face. i use it on the outline of my upper lip, to make lips look fuller, too.

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3. i put on some blush

this is the blush i've been wearing, make up for ever hd blush, but in #8 (not the color in the picture). i use a mac 187 to apply a very sheer layer of it on my cheeks.

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4. i apply a light veil of foundation

i use this more as a powder - because i don't need that much coverage, i just cover what i need to with concealer, and then i dust a light veil of this foundation with the included brush (which is super soft by the way)

_____

5. i apply mascara

yes, i was using my bourjois 1001 cils mascara, but my brother thought the mascara wand/brush thing was funny (because it's flimsy and flexible) and decided it would be fun to break it. so i bought this mascara again (which i love). and that's what i'm using right now. it's pretty good (not as good as the bourjois me thinks...) and i'm quite happy with it!

_____

6. i apply whatever lip product i'm wearing that day

and the final step is usually lip products! i'll use whatever i feel like using at the time, but some of my favourites right now are ysl rouge voluptées (lots of them), mac slimshine in bare, and labello cherry lip balm.

that's basically it! occasionally i'll add one or two steps, like eyeshadow, primer, etc. but usually i don't even wear eyeshadow, maybe just a cream nude colour or something... :)

anyways, i hope you enjoyed this post! i'll be writing one or two more posts later on today, so be on the lookout for that as well. do you use any of these products? what is YOUR face routine? i'd love to know!

new layoutish

2010-03-08T23:18:00.000Z

i removed the flowers background and simplified the color scheme and template - what do you think? do you think it's classier and you like it? or did you prefer the previous layout+background? i just felt like the background was too overpowering on the rest of the page! share your thoughts on the comment section.

a list of random favourites

2010-03-08T22:20:00.001Z

i'm sorry if you don't find these kind of things interesting - i just love to fill in these kinds of quizzes, and i also love reading other people's answers! so i hope you take the time to read through it all...but i warn you, it's just a bunch of randomness :) this is a list of random favourites. if you enjoyed reading it, why not post a comment with your answers? i would love to read it! (of course you don't have to do all of them, just a few maybe? :) )

Food? - sushi
Restaurant? - sakura (it's a japanese restaurant)
Non-alcoholic beverage? - OJ
Alcoholic beverage? - i'm still 17 :)
Song? - right now it's free fallin' by john mayer
Band? - N.E.R.D., thousand foot krutch, three days grace, plus a few others
Concert that you've been to? - bon jovi
Season? - spring
Holiday? - christmas
Day of the week? - thursday
Time of day? - 6:30 pm, and around that! :)
Color? - purple
President? - i'm not an american, so that isn't really one of my main concerns! i'm sorry :)
Sport? - horse riding, basketball, badminton
Hobby? - horse riding, drawing
Animal? - horse
Number? - 7 and 25
Board game? - monopoly and cluedo
Computer game? - the sims 2 and 3
Drinking game? - ahah! i don't do drinking games!!
Book? - the letters of vincent van gogh, and the complete works of edgar allan poe
Poem? - romance by edgar allan poe
Musical? - mamma mia? :)
Tv show? - how i met your mother
Ice cream flavor? - i don't like ice cream! :(
Genre of music? - hip hop, funk, classic rock, minimalistic
Female singer? - taylor swift or miley cyrus
Male singer? - pharrell
Instrument? - piano
Future career? - graphic designer, lawyer
Pastime? - horse riding, drawing
Animal? - horse
Pet? - cat
Language? - english and french
Historic monument? - notre dame
Country you've been to? - france
State you've visited? - i haven't been to the us :(
Vacation spot? - algarve
Amusement park? - disney
Actor? - jamie foxx
Actress? - emma watson
Comedian? - dane cook
Joke? - yo momma :)
Magazine? - elle and look
Store? - benetton, gant, ralph lauren, lilly, zara, etc
Designer? - burberry, ralph lauren
Jeans brand? - j brand
Perfume/cologne? - d&g light blue, ralph lauren rocks
Jewelry that you own? - swarovski circle pendant
Pair of shoes? - seafoam green ballet flats from massimo dutti
Teacher in elementary school? - i only had one teacher for all subjects!
Subject in school? - english
College? - idk!
Fast food restaurant? - i don't like fast food
Junk food? - again, i don't like junk/fast food ahah
Cookie? - crackers
Web site? - facebook
Search engine? - google
Instant messenger? - windows live messenger
Cell phone company? - vodafone
Baby boy name? - fred
Baby girl name? - rachel
Book when you were a child? - the one that had a story for each day of the year!
Movie when you were a child? - lady and the tramp
Activity as a child? - drawing
Candy? - i don't like candy!
Hairstyle? - straight and silky, or luscious beachy waves
Brand of shampoo? - redken, kerastase and herbal essences
Flower? - lillies
Tree? - orange trees
Outdoor activity? - horse riding
Planet? - saturn
Constellation? - scorpio
Zodiac sign? - capricorns (me) and scorpios (<3 :) )
Place to have a date? - the movies and a garden, or something with grass you can lay down on!
Best date? - ahh... secret :)
Sex position? - !!!!!
Friend? - i love them all!
Place to hang out? - school
Way to pass time when bored? - oddee, blogger, teen movies, etc
Job that you've had? - i'm still in school :)
Family member? - i wouldn't be able to decide, i love my whole family
Gift you got from someone? - a little silver owl pendant, given to me by my someone very special, but i actually lost it...i really do regret not having taken better care of it ahah :)
Inspirational quote? - don't ever give up on something you can't go a day without thinking about
Song lyrics? - "pain, without love, pain, can't get enough, pain, i like it rough, 'cause i'd rather feel pain than nothing at all..." ahah sounds emo :) but it was my favourite song when i was in 8th grade and it's still one of my favourites. pain by three days grace
Song title? - our last summer
Music video? - i don't really watch that many music videos...
Word? - devotion and passion, maybe?
Drink at starbucks? - iced coffee moccha
Prank? - i don't like pranks..
Vehicle? - car
Vehicle color? - black and silver
Pen color? - blue
Artist? - john mayer, edgar allan poe, and loads of painters
Photographer? - i don't really like photography...but i admire my photography teacher's work a lot! (photography is a mandatory subject in my course)
Gum? - coca-cola
Hat that you own? - lacoste baseball hat, and a sun-washed denim hat that i've had since i was little
Place that you've lived? - lisbon... :)
Photo of yourself? - i don\'t know, i have many that i like! but i'm not hugely photogenic

a personal favourite: love bomb by N.E.R.D.

2010-03-08T21:04:00.000Z

this is just the most beautiful song ever...or at least the most beautiful one i've heard this week. anywho, listen. i hope you enjoy! (bonus secret: i have the biggest crush on pharrell.)

summer beauty

2010-03-07T19:43:00.000Z

hello beautiful readers

the weather here in lisbon has been so depressing it's not even funny. seriously, winter, you should just go now. can't you see we don't want you here? JUST GO AWAY! and take the rain with you, we don't like her either. just...go. (did you enjoy my overly dramatic paragraph? because i sure did.)

anyhow, i've been wanting me some summer. sun and sand and ocean. and bikinis. and all that jazz. PLUS!! with summer, comes summer beauty, comme tu peux deviner! don't you just love summer beauty? it seems that the whole make-up world revolves around it from the minute the sun begins to shine down upon us. which is ever so pleasant, i would say, because summer is supposed to be effortlessly chic and the whole summer make-up mania just makes it easier to choose what you want to buy.

i'm now going to share what i will be using this summer

benefit creaseless cream shadows/liners

here's the thing - i don't really like eyeshadow. i know, it's weird, but it's just too much of a hassle. i love the beautiful colours and nice pigmentation some do have, and they look amazing when properly applied, but the way i see it, it's not worth the extra 10 minutes in the morning, because it looks too done for school, and anyway i would have to wash it off in the evening. but i like the effect of easy to wear nude shades, and my skin is dry, so it all adds up to benefit's creaseless cream shadows. i'll be using stiletto, which is a reddish purple aubergine, which looks great in hazel eyes, and R.S.V.P which is a shimmery champagne.

_____

guerlain kisskiss gloss in beige secret 841

iiiihhhh this is such a beautiful color (sorry for the tween enthusiasm) beautiful nude, beautiful shine, relatively waterproof, all the goodies.

_____

amazing concealer by amazing cosmetics

this is the best concealer ever! i bought it last week or so. but anywho, i love it! i haven't tested its waterproofness, but i read it really stays on. but it does cover like nothing else does!

_____

bourjois easy waterproof mascara

i actually haven't tried this yet! but i read awesome reviews and it sounds super nice. and since we still have a long time until summer, i'll try it before it arrives :) on the website they say:

Master poolside glamour with ease!

Volumising and waterproof mascara.
100% waterproof, 100% easy to remove!

Your ultimate pool-side accessory: stays put in the water, but comes off as easily as a non-waterproof mascara.

Thanks to its innovative flexi-bristle brush, lashes are evenly covered and smoothed – leaving them beautifully volumised.
Remove with your usual non-oily make-up remover

Comfortable and soft texture.

that was it for make-up, you beautiful people! i hope you enjoyed my list and tell me what is YOUR list, in the comment section! that would really make my day :)

thanks again and i hope you have a great week!

sephora haul

2010-03-06T20:20:00.001Z

hello my beautiful people!!

how are you doing? have you been getting your beauty sleep? are you recovering from the possibly stressful week? for me it's neither! but it will come with time.

today i went to the mall with my best friend and we spent like an hour and a half at sephora :) typical i would say! but anywho, this is what i bought!

make up for ever HD microfinish cream blush in #8 Light Rosewood

(this is not the correct shade, i don't have my camera with me right now, i'll post swatches next week!)

ahhh i'm so stoked! i mentioned this product in this post (click) and i finally got it! light rosewood is a pretty color, with pink, coral, peach, and brown thrown into it. very pretty color. i also bought the HD sponge to go with it!

_____

ysl touche éclat radiant touch in #1 Luminous Radiance

ahhh i love this! i've tried it before, but the shade i had was too dark. i love it. i'll post a review next week!

_____

dior cleansing milk for dry and sensitive skin

i've only used this once - right when i got home - so i can't really give you an in-depth review, but i think it'll be a favourite for a very long time! i feel it ahah :)

that was all for make-up and beauty! i bought two moleskine watercolor notebooks but nothing special! have you been buying anything lately? have you tried any of these products? leave me your comments, questions and oh-so-sweet-little-nothings in the comment box below!

have a great weekend everybody!

my favourite make-up brands

2010-03-05T20:34:00.000Z

hello there!

in the past i've done a "my favourite brands of clothing" post, and i though i'd follow with the same concept only for make-up! i choose my favourite brands according to a number of different parameters, such as product quality, product variety, collections appeal, staff at the stores, packaging, price, etc.

chanel is my all time favourite make-up brand! i love all things classic, classy, graceful, simple yet chic, and timeless, so it's no surprise that my favourite is chanel i'd say! it was also my mom's favourite make-up brand, and my grandma's as well. so it's in the family i suppose! i inherited a lot of products they didn't use up or didn't like anymore, and i buy my own too. the quality just can't be beat. i don't mind the price - i get my money's worth everytime. i like the packaging, it's simple and classic.

_____

yves saint laurent is my second favourite. although i do own more chanel than ysl, i prefer ysl's packaging by far. the gold always gets me. it's really sultry and luxurious, while chanel packaging is more understated and classic. yves saint laurent has, in my opinion, the best lipsticks around. the rouge voluptées are beyond everything you've ever imagined. you won't want to put anything else on your lips once you try them, while at the same time, you might not wear them at all because you're afraid to use them up. (if you're like me, you'll also sniff it several times throughout the day because it smells divine). their eyeshadows are also very nice quality, and they have amazing concealers and highlighters. and they are the company behind one of my favourite foundations, the perfect touch radiant brush foundation.

_____

the thing about bourjois is - i don't know how anyone might dislike this brand. i think it's the cutest, most covetable brand of all time! it has a very long history in the make-up world, too. their eyeshadow little round pots are famous worldwide and not without good reason; they are amazing. everything about bourjois is an oldie but goodie. their eyeliner pencils are all very very very good quality, especially the duochrome ones (the violet one is great for hazel eyes, like mine!). plus i love how their products are amazing but the brand in itself isn't snobby at all (does that make sense? of course a brand is an abstract concept, it can't be snobby, but do you understand what i mean?) and they keep it very low-key most of the time. which is totally fine, because the products are already known to be good quality. oh! and one of my favourite mascaras is by bourjois! 1001 cils! i love it. all their mascaras are pretty good though.

_____

lastly, mac cosmetics! i like mac, a lot actually, but mainly because of all the appealing collections. i like their eyeshadow, and their cream blushers, and some of the eyeliner pencils. and i love their brushes. i like a lot of other products as well, but they just don't scream 'BUY ME', at least to me. another thing i don't really like is the staff. often times the staff at mac counters and stores isn't really helpful and can even be quite unpleasant to be around. not because they don't know about make-up, because they're actually very knowledgeable, but they're a little snooty and snobby. i know of one mac counter that has really nice staff, but it's very far away from where i live so i don't go there often. but anywho, overall, i really like mac products and i love their quirky collections!

those are my main favourites! i have a few other favourites but nothing exceptional.

do YOU like any of these brands? do you hate them? what are your favourites and why? i'd love to know!

have a great weekend!

10 things to make you smile

2010-03-05T19:45:00.000Z

hello everyone!

so lately my life has been pretty chaotic and stressful. you could say that being friday, i should be happy because the weekend is coming. well no - i'm not happy nor relieved. i mean, saturday i have to wake up even earlier than on school days, to go to my theatre group. not that i don't like it, but the play is in may and it's beginning to get really stressful. plus, i failed my history test, and it totally sucked. so i have to make up for that and study on sunday. so it's not going to be a relaxing weekend, and that is something i could really use right now. but anywho, in order to make me happier, and put a smile in any of you stressed out people's faces, i'm going to make a "cute little things to make you smile" list. just because. i hope it makes you happy.

(image via www.littlethingsthatmakeyougoaahh.com)

(image via http://very-bored.com)

(image via http://dustinmaherfitness.com)

(image via www.stuckincustoms.com )

(image via http://www.minoas.gr)

(image via http://www.sixwise.com/)

(image via http://www.rockinghamremembered.com )

(image via http://www.zimbio.com)

(image via http://nubienne.files.wordpress.com)

(image via http://www.photobucket.com)

there you go! i'm sorry if you think the last one is a bit morbid, but i think it's really about eternal love and it makes me smile big time! i hope you enjoyed and that it made you happy! which one was your favourite? leave a comment :)

love,

en mi nube

2010-03-04T14:52:00.000Z

i'm so happy :)

en mi nube ("in my cloud" in english) gave me an award for "Cute Blog"! so sweet, thank you!

please go check out her blog: click!

her blog is super adorable and has loads of nice stuff. it's in spanish, so i guess not all of you will understand what she writes, but go by the pictures :)

thank you!

make-up products i want to try

2010-03-04T11:33:00.002Z

helloooo my darlings!

how are you doing? i'm craving summer :(

here is a list of a few things i want to try out in the near future

make up for ever HD microfinish cream blush

but i don't want it in this shade, though. i want to buy the shade 6 - coral, because it reminds me of summer! oh and i want to buy the new stippling brush that goes with it as well.

_____

make up for ever full cover concealer

you know, i don't see the point in having a full cover foundation caked on your face. foundation is supposed to even out your skin and provide a base, covering up and concealing is, as the name indicates, the concealer's job. so my make-up lifetime philosophy is that you should use a sheer foundation, with just enough cover to even out your skin, and then use a very small brush to apply a full coverage, hardcore concealer to hide any spots, discoloration, dark circles or redness you might have. this way, it doesn't look cakey and looks a lot more natural. at least on my skin! so THAT is why i want to try this concealer. because it's haaaardcooore. and waterproof

_____

chanel aqua crayon lipcolour stick in #10 rosey

just because i love chanel and i need a new my-lips-but-better lip colour :)

goodbye everyone! are you all craving summer too? when does the cold weather go away? seriously!

50 random questions

2010-03-03T16:05:00.002Z

50 random questions

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?

PE class!

2. Who are you in love with?

i'm currently not in love with anyone... :)

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?

i probably have! when i was little

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

yes, my oooooold game boy color

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?

this weekend, i think?

6. Are you wearing socks right now?

yes, my horse riding socks haha :)

7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000?

well ME, personally? i don't own a car! it's only legal to drive at 18 where i live, but the answer is yes, my dad does!

8. When was the last time you drove out of town?

carnival break!

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?

yes i have! valentine's day, and i loved it

10. Are you hot?

temperature wise...? ha!

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?

water

12. What are you wearing right now?

my horse riding clothes, plus my timberland shoes that i wore to PE

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?

again...i don't own a car :)

14. Last food that you ate?

philadelphia light, with my fingers ahahaha

15. Where were you last week at this time?

math class!

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?

yes, a couple things from benetton

17. When is the last time you ran?

about...3 hours ago

18. What's the last sporting event you watched?

the olympics? i don't know!

19. What is your favorite animal?

horse

20. Your dream vacation?

thailand

21. Last person's house you were in?

a friend from my class

22. Worst injury you've ever had?

ahhh i don't know, i get injured a lot!

23. Have you been in love?

yes i have!

24. Do you miss anyone right now?

yes

25. Last play you saw?

humm i can't remember, but i'm in a drama club :)

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

ahahaha! i don't know! i suppose it's a little sad if you have a "secret weapon"! i think the opposite sex should love you for being you, while you're at your most natural, not while your using a secret weapon that doesn't show the real you :)

27. What are your plans for tonight?

i will be...at home, procrastinating!

28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?

i don't use myspace!

29. Next trip you are going to take?

spain, spring break

30. Ever go to camp?

sometimes, yes!

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?

humm no!

32. What do you want to know about the future?

i don't want to know anything in concrete, but i would like to know if the future me will be doing okay in life or not, just so i could plan accordingly :)

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?

yes, dolce & gabbana's light blue!

34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit?

hum i don't think so

35. Where is your best friend?

at school, i think! she lives far from school and i live very near, so when we don't have class i have the luxury of being able to come home! ahah :) (sometimes i invite her over, though!)

36. How is your best friend?

fine!

37. Do you have a tan?

no, i'm very pale :)

38. What are you listening to right now?

the traffic outside, plus rihanna's rude boy!

39. Do you collect anything?

yes, pandora charms

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?

hum! i know a lot of gossipers

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?

ha never

42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?

yes, always do

43. What does your last text message say?

'ok sweetie =)' ahaha :)

44. Do you like hot sauce?

i do not

45. Last time you took a shower?

today

46. Do you need to do laundry?

hum not right now!

47. What is your heritage?

french and dutch, and my mom was born in africa because my grandpa was in the military, but he and my grandma are both portuguese. however, they came to portugal when my mom was 15. the french and dutch is from my dad's side of the family

48. Are you someone's best friend?

yes!

49. Are you rich?

i don't think it's classy to talk about money :)

50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?

sleeeeeeeping like a rock

Credit Repair Companies

Surveys and Quizzes for MySpace

in and out

2010-03-03T14:41:00.002Z

hello everyone!

i hope you're all doing ok. more than ok!

photobooth

do i really have to explain? photobooth makes for countless hours of fun and procrastination. it's my savior when i don't want to do my homework or when i'm very bored. i...love it. and yes, after a while of trying to look pretty in pictures, i give up (after about a hundred? yes i just...don't...yeah) and start making funny, but still obnoxious, faces. i love you photobooth!!!!!!

_____

simple make-up daily routine

usually i just apply my chanel vitalumiere wherever i need a little coverage, apply my bourjois 1001 cils and labello cherry lipbalm and i'm good to go. i know it's so simple but i love it! looking good = applying mascara+foundation + (x x lipbalm applications) <=> looking good = easy .

perfect equation, if you ask me!

_____

ysl's rouge volupté lipsticks

i have three of these...

#1 nude beige

(this picture isn't accurate at all - the color is very different. i'll post a swatch later)

#14 orange shiver

#18 red taboo

i love all of these colors. i talked about the orange shiver on my 'current addictions' post (click). you can go and see my mini-review of that, it's basically the same goodness for all of them!

__________

out

mac studio sculpt concealer

argh. i hate this! i love the studio finish concealer, but i hate this one. it's super thick and it feels like an extra thick paste, not creamy and soft at all. plus, my skin is dry, so it didn't handle this product very well. i tried to put it under my eyes and while the coverage was very nice, it left the area looking out-of-this-world-cakey. so that is: very cakey. mainly because it's very drying...and my skin is already dry. it's a little bit nicer when it comes to covering spots and zits, because it has such full coverage and it is a very small area. i usually take either a very small concealer brush or an eyeliner brush, and dab the concealer just on the zit, and pat with my finger. it looks natural, because it's a small area. but i can't use it on redness, for example, because i have quite a lot of red in my skin and if i try to cover even a relatively small part of the redness, such as the are around my nose and a bit on the cheeks only, it's cakey again. so i actually have mixed feelings about it. but overall it's an out, because i don't have really bad dark circles anyway and that's not what i want to use it for.

_____

descriptive geometry

that ...

...is how i feel about descriptive geometry right now. that is, after getting back the test results. i've been pretty guuuud (!!) at it ever since the school year began (it's my first year of geometry), but then THIS test comes along, and 90% of the class failed and yes i WAS one of the failures, although i got 9,7 out of 20. but it was still bad, i mean! i got 18,6 out of 20 and 17 out of 20 on the two previous tests. i am mad, i am angry, and i feel like blasting some corny music on my itunes.

hope you're enjoying your day! tell me what you're loving and hating in the comment section! are you mad about school, too? 'cause i sure am.

love,

classics: red lipstick

2010-03-02T15:00:00.002Z

hello lovelies

this is the second post of the "classics" mini-series.

lipstick dates back to egyptian times, some 5000 years ago, and the romans and greek were also known for adorning their lips with pigment mixed with dye in an oil-wax base. two of the first red lipsticks ever made were by guerlain and elizabeth arden, followed later by revlon.

in 1986, madonna, who popularized the red lips in pop culture, declared mac's russian red as her favorite red lipstick, making it instantly famous worldwide. then mac again hit the mark with viva glam, a beautiful red that has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for the mac aids fund. it's funny how through the years, the pigments and basic idea of the lipstick have remained basically the same, thus connecting many different generations.

red lipstick can instantly turn your look from simple to incredibly chic (making it therefore EFFORTLESSLY CHIC, since it's so easy to swipe red lipstick on in just a few seconds and becoming a wildly sexy woman) and, when properly applied, using the right color, it can look good on everyone. that's what makes it so universal.

some of my favorite red lipsticks include, but are not limited to:

ysl rouge volupté lipstick in #18 red tabboo

chanel rouge allure laque in #75 dragon

mac cosmetics lipstick in dubonnet

overall, i think every girl/woman should own at least one red lipstick! it instantly boosts your self-confidence and makes you feel like a woman. it's simple yet sophisticated.

here's a bonus picture of the beautiful emma, wearing a gorgeous shade of red lipstick :)

that ends my brief blurb about red lipstick and its understated, classic sexiness! what are YOUR favorite red lipsticks? tell me in the comment section!

until next time,

classics: the trench coat

2010-03-02T14:18:00.001Z

hello darlings!

this post is exclusively about the trench coat, in all of its glory!

the invention of the trench coat is claimed both by aquascutum and burberry. the classic trench was used only by the british army, back in the beginning of the 20th century, as part of the uniform, but even after that it became a huge fashion statement, a timeless, classic object that transmitted status, class and authority, as well as being a simple but chic item of clothing.

in the more modern times, the trench has become hugely fashionable, made famous by actresses such as audrey hepburn. the design of the classic trench has evolved, but it remains basically the same. through the years, colors and fabrics of the trench changed, according to trends, but the main design is still the same and nothing beats the original.

as you can see, the classic burberry trench coat has clean and simple lines, neutral colors, and is nicely cut. it will never go out of fashion because it doesn't follow trends, it's very reliable. it looks good on everyone and goes with everything.

in my opinion, it's a must-have item. you can never go wrong with the classic trench! you can buy it any color, however, a classic color will probably get much more use because it goes with everything you might want to wear. you don't have to buy a burberry trench, as they are out of reach by most of the people. there are numerous companies that make trench coats nowadays, and they are just as good, as long as the fabric is sturdy and waterproof, the coat itself has classic lines and is clean and chic.

some less expensive options...

calvin klein double-breasted trench coat (click)

old navy women's belted trench coat (click)

gap mid-lenght trench coat (click)

so you see, you have to go and buy yourself a trench coat if you don't already own one! ha! ;) you won't regret it! i hope you enjoyed this post and that it inspired you.

love,

february favourites

2010-03-01T19:50:00.002Z

hello sweeties!

this is a list of my personal favorites from the month of february

ysl rouge volupté lipstick in #14 orange shiver

i have already mentioned this in my 'current addictions' post, but i have to include it in this one as well, because i just love it that much. it's very creamy, pigmented, long-lasting, moisturizing, nicely scented, the works. the color is lovely, too.

chanel vitalumière compact

i love this, with all my heart. it's beautiful as a powder or as a foundation (depending whether you use the sponge or the brush, you'll get more or less coverage). i frequently use it as a powder, with the little brush (because it's actually very nice quality) as i don't really need foundation, but i'll use the sponge to cover any little imperfections. it smells wonderful, seriously. i don't kid. it matches the ysl rouge volupté scent. it was so nicely packaged, too! it came in a large black velvet pouch, and inside there was a little fold to keep the brush.

labello cherry lipbalm

i am going to be honest, i'm all about the lips. i don't care much for eyeshadow, usually. i prefer to play up my eyes using mascara. also i don't feel comfortable wearing full eye make-up to school. so having said that, i am always on the search of the perfect everyday lip product. i don't want the full coverage of a lipstick, i don't want the stickiness of a lipgloss (i also don't like that it doesn't stay on for long) and i want pretty, natural, a little flushed lips. (don't take me wrong - i love lipstick, i love lipgloss. sometimes it just isn't practical or school appropriate) SO. my search ended when i bought labello's cherry lipbalm online on ebay. we used to have it in portugal but then it stopped being sold everywhere. we still have tons of labello products; this one in particular has disappeared, however. anyway, i looooove it: it's super sheer, has a subtle red tint, it's very classy and cute, it's not that long lasting but it's okay because being a balm i keep re-apply it AND moisturize my super dry lips. it's HG material here.

bourjois 1001 cils mascara

ugh. i love this. i don't even know how to put it in words. well, actually... c'est d'autre monde, très fabuleuse indeed (i guess i did know how to put it in words after all!) oh and i didn't just google the phrases :) i have been studying french since i was a kid! it's a beautiful tongue. but, i digress. this is a wonderful mascara. it has one of those flimsy rubber type wands, and it makes it very easy to apply just the right amount of mascara into the lashes. bourjois claims this "multiplies" your lashes, visually, of course. which is, in fact, true. (whoa! a claim made by a company regarding a mascara is actually true! whoaaaa! i digress again.) it reaches every lash and it makes for a very sultry fan look. it's very long lasting and not crunchy, nor clumpy, or anything. it's just the perfect mascara. but i do have a piece of advice: the first time i used it, i didn't really like it because it was a little clumpy on me. but i found out later that the best way of using it is to take a piece of toilet paper or a tissue and wipe the excess off before using it. wipe the tip, wipe the sides, wipe it until you think there will be no mascara left. i know this might look like common sense but a lot of people don't do it - including me, until a few weeks ago.

so those were my february favourites! i can't believe february is already over. 2010 is passing by very quickly. isn't it? or is it just me? what do you think? anywho, i digress once more. it would make me very happy to read about YOUR favorites of this month! or just a product recommendation you would like to give me. thank you and until tomorrow, lots of love!

summer outfit ideas

2010-02-28T22:08:00.000Z

hey there sweeties

following the previous post, here is a similar one, but only this time, with summer outfits

please read the "disclaimer" on the previous post :)

here are the looks

hope you liked them! until next time,

school outfit ideas

2010-02-28T21:47:00.000Z

hello everyone

i hope you're having a wonderful day!

here are some polyvore sets showing a few school outfit ideas. please keep in mind that this is my personal style, not anyone else's, so i won't be pleasing everyone, but i hope you enjoy. also, you can kind of tell that i really apprecciate clean, feminine, sometimes a little sporty, classic clothing. i just think it's better because it never goes out of fashion and will always look good. but i add a little crazy here and there, sometimes. just not that often ;) this is just what i personally feel comfortable wearing.

here are the looks

i hope you enjoyed and took some mental notes if you apprecciated the sets! have a great day my lovelies.

i love: emma watson

2010-02-27T20:27:00.001Z

hello everyone

first of all, let me just say that i have the biggest, unhealthiest girl crush on emma. she's just beautiful! in fact she takes 'beautiful' to a whole other level. let me include a few pieces of photographic evidence.

isn't she beautiful? yes! totally beautiful. i love her style and i think she has a gorgeous face. jesus could i be more obsessed? no.

a review: redken all soft shampoo and conditioner

2010-02-27T18:50:00.002Z

hello my lovely readers

this is a review of redken's all soft shampoo and conditioner. my opinions are unbiased and i'm fully honest with you, for better or for worse.

here is a picture of the full all soft line

i only own the shampoo and the conditioner from this line. all soft products were designed to provide softness to dry, brittle hair. i agree that it does, but nothing extremely outstanding. also, they say 'hair is wrapped in softness with increased manageability, movement and luminous shine'. hum. no. my hair wasn't wrapped in such things. it was soft, yes, it was moderately shiny, yes, but i had really big expectations and it didn't deliver. also, keep in mind that my hair is unimaginably dry...this may work amazingly in normal to dry hair, but mine needs way more moisture and softness and shine!

pros:

smells really nice

gives somewhat of a luminous shine to hair

it's moisturizing (just not enough for me)

it has a nice, thick consistency

leaves hair soft (again, not awesomely so)

cons:

it does everything it says, just not as amazingly as it says. it is moisturizing, provides softness and manageability, it just doesn't excel in any of these.

doesn't provide enough manageability to my poofy, very dry, wild frizzy hair

conclusion

i don't think these are bad products, redken products are all very nice, however, it didn't really live up to the expectations i had. it didn't stand out - at all. i wouldn't purchase again, but i say, it would be totally fabuleuse for people with normal to dry hair. if you have this type of hair, i think you should give redken all soft line a try!

that was my review, sweeties. i hope it was helpful and that you enjoyed it. post a comment if you have tried any of the all soft products or just want to speak your mind!

have a nice day everyone.

not so effortlessly chic

2010-02-27T14:54:00.002Z

a.k.a. ...

my hair when i arrived home

yes, the wind is crazy out there. the wind speed actually broke a record today in my city. i was leaving the house, and as i opened the street door downstairs, the door immediately knocked me back in the face. right in the nose! (i had to push and pull my nose all over because i still believe that face is like playdough and can take the shape of what you put it into, so whenever i smack my nose on something i have to reshape it) when i opened the door again, and quickly jumped off before i was hit by the door, the wind literally pushed me back against the door. my whole body was being pushed by the wind! crazy. iiiii know. but even crazier - my hair. i look like...like a very weird person.

a personal favourite: free fallin' by john mayer

2010-02-26T20:18:00.001Z

this is my current favourite song. very beautiful and soothing

also, he's not terrible to look at! very dashing, oui?yes.

my life has been chaotic. my school is upside down crazy so that helps (not). but this song really takes the stress away and soothes your soul! ha

have a gorgeous day everyone. enjoy the song!

love

ootd: outfit of the day

2010-02-26T14:43:00.001Z

hello my darlings

this is what i'm wearing today

united colors of benetton light blue jeans (whoa, the hand on my leg hand looks so retarded and baby fat)

zara navy cardigan

banana repuplic navy and white leaves blouse

swarovski circle pendant (click)

what do you think? leave your opinion in the comments. oh and excuse the orange lightning. that's just how my imac rolls... ;)

goodbye sweeties!

straight vs. wavy

2010-02-25T22:32:00.001Z

excuse me for the obnoxious pouty face on the second photo. it's just that it was the best photo of my wavy hair i could find.

oh! just as an fyi, the second photo is actually how my hair looks on its natural state. i just straighten it a lot. but i've recently fell back in love with my wavy hair...sort of. my hair is also very dry, very coarse, very thick, very damaged, bla bla. the works.

which do you like best? leave your opinion in the comment section!

goodbye my darlings, love

new lilly

2010-02-25T21:42:00.001Z

howdy my darlings (how billy ray of me!)

how amazing are the new arrivals at lilly pulitzer? i'm really loving everything and already have my eye set on a few pieces. i'll show you my favourite items

pearce dress novelty

seriously, how adorable is the scalloping at the bottom? seriously!

it also looks very sweet with the pale yellow cardigan over it, like so:

murfee scarves

aaahhhh!!! hold me or i'll get in a plane and buy the scarves in person. really these are the most cheerful, most beautiful, most summer-y, most feminine scarves i've ever seen. i love them...sigh.

adelson shift gold lace

oh dear! this is so beautiful. i bet it looks even more beautiful in person. white and gold look gorgeous together, especially in the summer, and it ought to look great with a tan. drools

whitney poncho engineered print

oh my god that's such a beautiful tunic/kaftan. i can almost see (it, that dream i'm dreaming...lalala) myself wearing it with brown leather sandals to the beach or the pool. i keep telling myself summer's just around the corner but really we're in the end of february, so summer is nowhere near, sadly

those are my top picks from the new spring arrivals! what were your favorite pieces? did you even like the collection? or did you totally hate it? share!

a personal favourite: les triplettes de belleville

2010-02-25T12:51:00.001Z

amazing ...

best song ever, best video clip ever, best movie EVER...

...also, the always stylish triplettes.

my favourite brands of clothing

2010-02-25T12:44:00.001Z

hello sweeties

this is a list of my favourite clothing brands of all time/as of now

benetton is my favourite brand. i love it, it's amazing, and i love everything they come out with. i adore the way the company views the world and the discrimination and how they elegantly colour the world. the basics are amazing as well, like merino wool simple cardigans in tons of colours, wrap cardigans in tons of colours, cashmere sweaters in tons of colours, wool scarves in tons of colours, ... you see the colour is the pattern here. i have been wearing clothes from benetton every since i was a little kid, and i still love their clothing today. today as i'm older i can also appreciate and understand their ads better. very clever and open minded. their clothes are very clean-cut, simple, colorful, and understated, but super fun at the same time.

massimo dutti is one of my favorite brands of the moment. i love their shoes - very well-made and sturdy, feminine and high quality. their clothing is also very feminine, simple, elegant, neutral coloured, well-made, and overall very nice. it's more of a grown-up kind of store, but i can appreciate that as i buy classic, clean-cut, elegant adult clothing most of the time anyway! which is exactly what massimo dutti sells. i recently bought a pair of seafoam green ballet flats from there which are super cute and sturdy. they're also real suede on the inside, so it doesn't give me blisters and it feels verysoft on my feet.

now...i do not know if this brand has stores outside of portugal and possibly spain. but it's my go-to brand for casual relaxed clothing. the portuguese word "quebra-mar" means "wave breaker", the kind of pontoons that protects harbours from the sea. or so it says on the website. the brand is inspired by sailing and by the sea, and it has a very casual effortless look to it. a lot of my clothing is from quebramar, and i love most of what they come out with.

i love lilly! i have a few lilly dresses and i love them. acutally i love everything about lilly pulitzer, the patterns, the happy colors, the cuts. everything. it's a very cheerful happy kind of clothing - if you're more of a dark, sultry kind of girl, you probably won't like lilly. but i certainly do! also, i love the scarves. so cute. and i like their stationery as well.

j. crew is one of the brands non-existant in portugal that i love the most. i'm all for feminine details, ruffles, soft colors, navy, khakis, polos, cashmere, and so on, so you can imagine how much i love j. crew. unfortunately, living in the ridiculously ostrasized mini-country i live in, there is no j. crew near me. i love their ruffle cardigans, the patterned cardigans, the ruffle tops, the khaki shorts, the ballet flats, everything.

saving the best for last? but of course. i l-o-v-e ralph lauren. actually i do have a department store that sells ralph lauren where i live, so that's quite nice. i have like a dozen different coloured ralph lauren polo shirts, my favourite being the hot pink and the navy. i also often buy ralph lauren clothing for my little brother. i think every single item ralph lauren comes with is high quality and desirable. enough said. oh! and i also love their line, rugby. very private school-y.

these are a few of my absolute favourite clothing brands! there are others which i like, but these are the ones i like the most. maybe i'm forgetting some. i don't know. but anywho, enjoy! and tell me which are YOUR favourite clothing brands, in the comment section! i'd love to see if yours match with any of mine. bye everyone, have a beautiful day!

my cat: a photo

2010-02-24T23:50:00.000Z

whoa. that really portraits the way she loves me, so tenderly and all. ha! ;)

caption: "oh my god will you EVER let go off me?! i have to go pee for heaven's sake!"

a review: TIGI catwalk fashionista smooth & shine

2010-02-24T23:44:00.001Z

hello my lovely people!

this is a review of TIGI catwalk's fashionista smooth & shine. my opinions are unbiased and i'm fully honest with you, for better or for worse.

this is basically a heat protectant cream that makes your hair smooth and shiny, as the name indicates. overall i really really like this product and i've used it for a long time. i probably will buy it again when i run out of it. i will say, it does help make you hair straight. so you're better off using it if straight hair is what you're looking for. the way i usually use it is applying a little bit on each piece of hair i'm going to straighten with the flat iron. and it works really well. (i let my hair air dry, usually, but i've used it to protect against the heat from the blow dryer, and it works fine)

pros:

really provides protection against the heat from the blow dryer and the flat iron.

makes my hair sooo soft! very touchable and bouncy.

locks in the moisture very nicely when i use it with my flat iron.

you get a lot of product, and it will last you for a long time, since you don't have to use a lot.

makes my hair shiny, but not shinier than soft.

cons:

it has an overpowering scent. really overpowering. it's nice, but it's so strong it makes me gag a little sometimes. but only when you're using it, because after you use it it leaves a very light scent on the hair, like a toned down version of the actual scent. which is very nice and i like it.

conclusion

this is an all-time favorite of mine. it just does the job the way i want it to. i love it! i recommend it to everyone who was soft, smooth, shiny, silky, bouncy, touchable STRAIGHT hair.

that was my review! hope you enjoyed it

a review: philosophy's amazing grace bath & shower gel

2010-02-24T23:08:00.001Z

hello everyone! i hope you're doing great.

this is a review, of philosophy's amazing grace bath & shower gel. my opinions are unbiased and i'm fully honest with you, for better or for worse.

i bought this product when i went to amsterdam this christmas, to visit my sister. we don't have philosophy in portugal and i didn't feel like ordering shower gel online, so i bought it there. it was 30€, approximately, and it's $16 in the US. first of all, let me say...the scent is wonderful. now i understand why everyone loves it!

pros:

very pleasant scent. very feminine and clean, slightly floral but very clean. not sweet, nor overpowering. just very simple and feminine, classic. it does linger a bit after you get out of the shower, as i can occasionally sniff it, randomly during the day. but that's a good thing!

very moisturizing. this is very gentle on the skin and it has amazing moisturizing qualities. my skin is very dry so that is definitely something i appreciate!

doubles as a shampoo. oh yeah! you can actually use this as a shampoo, too. i think it's very nice for thick and dry hair, like mine, for example, as it is very softening and makes my hair silky and touchable, and smelling nice.

nice value. you get a lot of product! A LOT. so that's always nice.

it lathers really well, also!

creates huuuugee beautiful bubbles in the bath.

cons:

none

conclusion

i really like this product and it's the only shower gel i use. likes it, loves it, buys it!

everyone, that was my très frivolous review. i hope you take it in consideration when you think about buying/not buying the actual product. thank you for reading! i love you all.

is messy the new neat?

2010-02-24T22:40:00.001Z

is it? i actually think it looks nice. sexymessy is effortlessly chic, oui?

have a nice day, my darlings!

tag - my favorite beauty products of all time

2010-02-23T23:23:00.001Z

hello my darlings

this is my list of favorite beauty products of all time, some staples that i always go back to

shampoo: the body shop honey moisturizing shampoo

conditioner: the body shop honey moisturizing shampoo

styling products: pantene time renewal leave-in conditioner night spray ; tigi bedhead fashionista smooth and shine heat protectant ; redken ringlet 07 curl perfector

shower gel: philosophy amazing grace

body moisturizer: i don't really use body moisturizer as much as i should so i don't have a favorite...

deodorant: dove? i really don't know...

fake tanner: lancaster fast dry bronze water spray

cleanser: clinique redness solutions soothing cleanser

exfoliator: my skin can't really handle any kind of exfoliator!

primer: bare escentuals prime time

foundation brush: the fuller cover one from bare minerals

foundation: for quick and easy everyday make-up, bareminerals. i recently fell in love with chanel vitalumiere compact though

concealer: the concealer from bareminerals, or studio finish from mac

powder: bareminerals mineral veil

blusher: bareminerals all over face color in warmth

eyeliner: graphblack technacolor by mac

eyeshadow base: too faced shadow insurance

eyeshadow: mac and dior, and benefit's creaseless cream eyeshadows/liners. but i don't really wear that much eyeshadow.

mascara: diorshow blackout waterproof

lipstick: bare slimshine by mac

lipgloss: lancôme juicy tubes in toffee r&b

nail polish: opi done out in deco

ok everyone that was my tag. what are YOUR favorite beauty products? do you always come back for the same product or change it up all the time? comment please! bye my lovelies.

tag. facts about me

2010-02-23T22:02:00.001Z

some basic facts

-my name - mariana
-my age - 17
-my place of birth - lisbon
-my favorite word - squishy
-my least favorite word - pea
-noise i love - cats purring
-noise i hate - loud chewing
-what i like to do - horse riding, drama club, watching tv, drawing, painting, writing, shopping, reading
-what i hate - people who can't help themselves, disrespect, ignorance, lack of order, lack of values and principles, loud chewing, liars, etc
-favorite profession - politician, graphic designer, fashion designer
-least favorite profession - teacher, clerk, technician

+ some random facts

-i love pottery, but only in my free time, because i would hate to do it as a living.
-i am artistic and an artist in the making, but i hate the typical hippie, freak, rasta artist stereotype and am not like that. not that i dislike those kinds of people
- i am not free of prejudices, but i'm certainly capable of rising above them if needed.
- responsability, order, control, clarity of speech, strength, confidence, liability, intelligence, are all personality traits that i value a whole lot.
-i don't judge when people say they don't have a style or they say they don't really have a sense of style or whatever. it is normal so who am i to judge
-i listen to all kinds of music except for heavy metal, disco, techno, and some kinds of reggae. i listen to a bit of everything else, though. if a melody or sound catches my fancy, i'll listen to it.
-i have a soft spot for anime series that remind me of my childhood. once every once in a while i'll go to youtube and search for the opening and ending songs and listen to them on repeat for hours and reminisce.
-i am not really that sensible and romantic, nor do i care that much for feelings and mushy things. but i do like it if it comes from the person i love. in moderate doses, of course
-over the whole course of my movie-going-life, i have only cried in a movie once, when i went to see In The Land of Women (with Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart and Meg Ryan) with my then-boyfriend. it really killed me that i cried. it really sucked. the movie was nice though.
-i absolutely adore the uk. final
-i wasn't really into arts until i went to arts school. weird uh
-i own an iphone.
-i have a cat, name sissi (which should be read like "see see" with long e's) and she's beautiful and very loving.
-i used to have really amazing grades at school, then i went to arts school and my marks dropped. not dramatically though.
-i tend to have a very classic, clean cut style, with feminine touches here and there, but i also like to change it up a bit and take risks.
-i recently fell back in love with my hair, since i bought a straightener.
-i have been to africa, spain, england and france.
- i suck at talking about myself but when i am allowed to write random little things i can't stop. clearly

ok everyone so i think this is getting less and less interesting! ha! well that was my tag, i tag everyone who also wants to do it. please send the link to me so i can read it. bye everyone, lots of love!

Current Wishlist

2010-02-23T21:23:00.001Z

hello everyone

today i'm going to share a wishlist of things that have been on my mind for quite some time now and that i plan on buying soon.

number one - CHANEL rouge allure laque in #75 dragon

number two - j. crew ruffled spring celosia cardigan in wild plum

number three - guerlain kisskiss lipstick in flushy beige 557

number four - a pair of simple, preferably patent, beige flats. any brand. i find them crazy hard to find. oh and also i would prefer if they weren't as pointy as this pair over here. but these are still nice.

this is, more or less, the main things that i've been wanting to buy, and will buy, in the near future. hope you enjoyed! bye and a huge kiss, everyone.

Current Addictions

2010-02-23T19:50:00.001Z

hello my darlings

these are my addictions as of now.

CHANEL Vitalumière Compact
i absolutely love this. bought it this week. i've never tried this particular CHANEL foundation, but i can say with certainty that this is my absolute favorite foundation/powder/etc ever. it just leaves my skin looking like perfect skin. final. oh and plus, the packaging is gorgeous.

YSL Rouge Volupté in #14 Orange Shiver

ahhh. i love this. actually i bought this for a friend but she didn't want to keep it, so i did. and i luuuurrrve it. first of all...it smells absolutely delicious. it's a little floral but also fruity and kind of smells like mango and roses. the color payoff is amazing, also. it's very slippery and creamy, but boy when this settles on the lips, it does not come off easily. it leaves a stain, when the actual lipstick wears off. which is nice.

Tiffany & Co. Heart Earrings
aw! adorable, right? yes. totally cute and simple. i wear them when i actually do NOT want to wear earrings because i'm lazy but i know they will look nice.

that is basically IT for now! hope everyone's having a very chic and stress-free day. bye!