Last Monday, I was (unexpectedly) supposed to be in Leuven for a work related training. Always nice isn't, a day "back at school" and more importantly, not having to work! And especially when you get an hour off at noon. What do you do then? Hmm... well... how 'bout a trip to the shopping street! Evidently, I couldn't resist and had to pop in to the local beauty shop. Consequence: some 20 minutes later, I was back on the street, but a few nice little products richer! 

Vorige maandag was ik toevallig in Leuven voor een opleiding. Altijd heerlijk, zo'n dagje "terug op de schoolbanken" en dus niet hoeven te werken. Vooral als je 's middag een uur pauze krijgt. Wat doe je dan? Hmm, effe de winkelstraat in natuurlijk! Ik kon het (uiteraard) niet laten en moest toch effe in de lokale beautyshop binnenwippen. Gevolg: een dikke 20 minuutjes later stond ik terug op straat, maar was ik toch alweer een paar leuke productjes rijker! 

Max Factor Blusher in the shade Gorgeous Berries is a very nice blush. I'd been looking for a blush that doesn't come close to the millions of other terra cotta shades I already possess. This summer, I'd already purchased the Bourjois Aqua Blush in shade 03 Pink Twice, but have to say, I wasn't really convinced by it. Maybe I don't have the right skin type or colour, but I found it too "clowny-esk". This blush, you can just apply as much (read: just enough) as you want using your blushing brush, and the result will be a "healthy" flush! Pretty! 

Max Factor Blusher in de kleur Gorgeous Berries is een hele leuke blush. Ik was al langer op zoek naar een blush die niet zo hard naar de terra cotta teint nijgt die ik me in het verleden steeds aanschafte. Ik had sinds deze zomer al de Bourjois Aqua Blush in shade 03 Pink Twice in mijn bezit, maar was er toch niet volledig van overtuigd. Misschien heb ik niet de juiste huidskleur voor die blush, maar ik vond het net iets te "clownachtig". Bij deze blush kies je door middel van je brush borstel zelf de intensiteit van je kleur, en het resultaat is altijd een "gezonde" blos op de wangen. Mooi! 

Maybeline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold... Hmm... Can I get a woop woop for this cream shadow! Wow, this product is SOO good! I was already the happy owner of the shade On and On Bronze and wanted to try a second one, and let me tell you: it's been decided, these will be my new holy grail creamy eye shadows! No doubt about it! Easy and handy in these busy times! 

Maybeline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold... Hmm... Can I get a woop woop for this cream shadow! Wow, dit product is echt wel goed! Als gelukkige bezitter van de shade On and On Bronze wilde ik me toch nog aan een tweede creamy wagen, en dit wordt dus mijn nieuwe holy grail cream shadows! No doubt about it! Gemakkelijk en handig in drukke tijden! 

L'Oréal La Palette Nude Beige... This I must admit was a case of doubt, as there wasn't any tester available to see the colours beforehand. I decided I'd buy it anyway. Having arrived at home, I wasn't really surprised by the colours. No wow effect there, and that's a bit sad... I haven't used it yet though. Bummer! 

L'Oréal La Palette Nude Beige... Dit was een beetje een twijfelgeval, mits geen tester om de kleurtjes eerst eens te aanschouwen. Uiteindelijk toch besloten er eentje mee te nemen. Thuisgekomen, toch niet echt overtuigd van de kleuren. Geen wow-effect bij het openen en dat vind ik een beetje jammer. Heb het nog niet gebruikt. Bummer! 

Bourjois CC Cream in Beige Doré. This is a product I regularly use when I'm a bit pressed for time to do my make up (I believe this will be my 3rd already). After your day cream, apply a bit of this to your face, some matting powder (preferably Bourjois Healthy Balance) and you're good to go! 

Bourjois CC Cream in Beige Doré. Dit is een product dat ik ook regelmatig gebruik als ik weinig tijd heb om me op te maken (is geloof ik al reeds m'n 3de tube). Na de dagcrème beetje van dit op je gezicht, wat matting powder (Bourjois Healthy Balance) en je kan er tegenaan! 

This brushing brush is by Kruidvat and I use to it to tame my recently cut locks. I needed one that really grips my hair while brushing, so my freshly washed locks don't fall right through as I brush them. This one's ideal! 

De brushborstel is van Kruidvat en dient om m'n recent kortgewiekte haren in toom te houden. Ik had er een nodig die m'n haar echt "vasthoudt" bij het brushen, zodat m'n vers gewassen lokken niet gewoon doorglijden. Deze is ideaal! 


On another note, is it October already? Halloween is just 30 days away and I can't believe how time flies! Definitely looking forward to the holidays though... and you? 

Iets anders, is het echt al oktober? Halloween is al binnen 30 dagen en ik kan niet geloven hoe de tijd vliegt! Ik kijk alvast enorm uit naar de feestdagen... en jij? 

So yesterday I did a whole new makeup look on myself and I have to say I was very pleased with the result. I’m relatively new to the whole makeup / beauty blogging scene though, so please give me some credit. The products I used you can see on the picture below and I will quickly talk you through how I did it.

For preparation of my face, I started off with the Estée Lauder New Dimension Shape + Fill Expert serum. This serum has only recently launched and I was lucky enough to be selected by Estée Lauder to test it, through a campaign on someone’s blog I like very much, mostlysunnyblog. Its purpose is to redefine facial contours and lift the cheekbones and jaw lines. Like any other serum, you can use it before applying makeup or just before bedtime. I have been using it for about a week now and this far I am very pleased with it. You have to use it for at least two weeks to be able to tell the difference, so I will definitely get back to you on it!

Then I used the Be Creative Make Up photo perfecting primer. I only got this some time ago as I didn’t even know what a primer was till like a year ago. This is a budget product by Ici Paris XL, but what a difference it makes! It definitely persuaded me that a primer is indeed very effective before applying makeup. And I only used three drops!

 

Then the first thing I did were my eyes. For eye shadow I used my Jupiter Ascending palette by Pür Minerals. This is a palette I purchased online because I really liked the colours. It also holds an eye liner and a lip gloss with a light inside and mirror! Not really sure about its goal though (‘cause like, who applies lip gloss in the dark anyway?) and you can’t even see yourself in the makeshift mirror, but hey… 

As for the palette, I must say I’m not really convinced about it. The eye shadows seem nice after you put them on, but really they don’t last too long. Pigmentation is mediocre. I started off by applying the colour Jupiter just under my crease, which is a very lovely colour once it’s on the lid! I then used the colour Cosmos above my crease  and to fade the Jupiter out. In the outer corners of my lids, I used the Majesty colour. The brush that’s in the palette is not very nice to use either, as the hairs on it feel like little metal pins on your eyelids. So definitely a no. I used my Real Technique brushes instead! For mascara, I used my Chanel Le Volume mascara, and applied it just very lightly. Then I did my wings using the Pür Minerals eye liner and applied some fake eye lashes. As it was really my first time using them, I have had to redo it a couple of times but finally got them right! I guess practice will make perfect in the end! I really liked the effect they gave though! They really made my eyes pop!

 After I was done with my eyes, I noticed the eye shadow already began to fade so I had to retouch both eyes (pity!). I guess you can’t expect much about a palette that was put out for promo of the corresponding movie, but I’m going to keep using it for my stay-at-home makeup.

For foundation I used my Infallible 24H matte foundation by L’oréal in the shade 20 (Sand). I absolutely love this foundation. For concealing my under eye circles I used my brand new Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-on glow BB highlighter, and then applied a fine line under my eyes using my Réserve Naturelle black eye pencil and the colour Night Sky on the palette.

To finish everything off and settle my make up, I used my much loved Bourjois Healthy Balance matting powder in 55 Dark Beige, before putting on some golden glowing highlighter by Topshop. What I forgot on this picture was my bronzing powder by The Balm, which I lightly applied over my highlighter.

On my lips I used the Max Factor Colour Elixir lipstick in the shade Mulberry.

 

 

So this is a complete resumé of my look. Let me know what you think!