Saturday, November 17, 2012

Cosmania order received.

Yesterday I received my Cosmania order - I was so happy, like a kid in a candy store :-).
At first I was shocked at how tiny the items were - did I order miniatures? No I didn't. But they did spoil me with samples - extra points to Cosmania!

These were my first impressions. I can't wait to try them all out and treat you with many reviews.

 





























All pictures are taken with iPad by LVEB.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Instant spa store @ Antwerp

My dear readers,

We're always in the mood for some great beauty buys. The instant spa store at Antwerp (Schrijnwerksstraat 12, 2000 Antwerpen) is having a huge blow out sale - literally everything is on sale.










They have brands like OPI, Essie, Dermalogica, REN, Deborah Lippmann, ...
You go girls! And let me know what you got!

With love,
La vie en blush.

F*** the world.

























Sometimes you just need to let go, with perfect make-up done ofcourse...

With love, La vie en blush.

Korres.

God, I love online shopping. I just can't stop. But don't worry - I don't have a problem (yet).
I'm was so happy to discover the unique beauty store Cosmania that I have ordered some more products :

  • Korres - Pomegranate deep cleansing scrub
  • Korres - Pomegranate purifying natural clay mask
  • Korres - Yoghurt mask

 














I can't wait for my items to arrive. I love trying new products, but I always stick to the basic. It's not good for your skin to switch products on a daily basis. I have the same skin care routine, morning and evening, but I switch between the extras : night creme, masks, ... Never forget that even your skin sometimes needs to rest. And stick with the products that work perfectly on your skin.

So be prepared. More reviews to follow.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Eat better, feel better.
























I hope you, my dear readers, are all good and healthy eaters. There is truly nothing more important. Real beauty starts with the food on your plate.

Bon appetit.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Clarisonic Mia2

I discovered this product for the very first time during a trip to the United States years ago. I was fascinated, but not enough to buy it. Some weeks ago it got my attention again and this time I ordered it online, after reading tons of reviews which have convinced me.


I was still in doubt the moment I hit the button "confirm your order" but I would never know unless I try. The company recommends daily use and I was afraid it would be too much for my skin to handle. But this device delivers everything it promises and even more! The brush is so soft - I got the sensitive brush with the Clarisonic Mia2 (basic). I'm really pleased with the Clarisonic! My skin has changed overnight and if I could I would buy all my girlfriends a pink Clarisonic (I got the coral one). It cleans my skin like nothing else before. As I would like to continue to use the Clarisonic daily (morning and evening) I ordered the brush for delicate skin.


Sonic cleansing benefits :
  • removes 6x more makeup than manual cleansing (true true true! You really feel the difference!)
  • leaves skin feeling and looking smoother (no doubt about that)
  • removes impurities that keep creams and serums from working their best
  • gentle enough to use twice a day (I have been using it twice a day and love it!)
  • reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes 
  • minimizes the appearance of visible

Let me proudly introduce you to my new big love, besides my hubbie babygirl and doggies.



















I ordered my Clarisonic on one of my favorite websites : www.drugstore.com. I got the far right (island coral). Love the pink one too.



With love,
La vie en blush.

Maybelline - BB cream

Until last week I was a loyal user of the La Mer foundation, but on a sunny lunch break the Maybelline BB cream caught my attention. Well, actually is was their product design - I love the packaging! What an eye catcher, so I had to take this fellow home with me. And guess what? I love the product too (understatement - I ordered several more online the same day and converted my mom too).

























It's my first BB cream so I did some research. Appartantly this "BB cream" is not like the original asian BB creams. Let's say the big players on the western market smelled big bucks and gave tinted moisturizer a new trendy name. I hope they pay their marking guys big bucks as well because it certainly does the trick. I love this product, although it's not a real BB cream.

The texture of the product is very light. I apply it with a foundation brush just because it works for me. It's no foundation so don't expect the same coverage as you would have with a foundation but it's very natural. However, if you have a lot to cover (blemishes, dark spots, redness, ...) go for the original BB creams or a foundation. My skin looks better than ever and I'm happy so I have enough with this cream. But I still going to try some different brand, like the Philosophy one I ordered yesterday, and some original asian BB creams, like Dr Jart of Skin79. For now this does the trick.


With love,
La vie en blush.

IRO - coat FW12/13

I'm very lucky when it comes to buying beauty products : always in stock, on sale, tons of free samples, ... But it's a total different story when I want to buy some investment pieces. This year I fell in love with not one but two IRO coats (I have a weakness for coats). To me, coats are the key pieces of your outfit (especially during winter and when you live in a ice cold country like Belgium) so I invest in several coats each year. But they SOLD OUT. I don't give up and keep on looking for them because I really really want to add these beauties to my dressing room.

IRO KINA COAT
 

IRO DALANE COAT
 

*fingers crossed*

With love,
La vie en blush.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Dermalogica - daily microfoliant.

I have been using Clinique 7 day scrub for many years now. Exfoliating my skin on a daily basis is very important to me and my skin condition. It makes my skin cleaner, brighter and smoother. As my tube is almost empty I wonder if I should try the Dermalogica daily microfoliant. The reviews have been raving this product, so I wonder what it can mean for my skin.


























I will let you know!

I re-arranged my bathroom (and the rest of the flat today) to prepare myself for the arrival of my previous baby girl. I have cleaned out old products, make-up I'm not using anymore and now I have more space than ever. Time to fill those cabinets with brand new products. I don't think this is what I meant when I started cleaning up, but it's a natural reaction right? Maybe for women anyway (or just me).

With love,
La vie en blush.

Clinique - moisture surge thirst relief.

Recently my skin became drier so I added the Clinique moisture surge thirst relief to my skin care routine. I have wanted to try this product since forever. I really like Clinique, one of the best brands I know but sometimes their products tend to be a little to harsh for my skin. Not this one.

I have been using the product for about a week now and I love the results. I only use it in the evening, just before I go to bed, and I wake up with an ultra smooth face.

The texture of the product is a gel-crème, not a gel and definitely not a crème (something in between). Crèmes tend to be too greasy for my skin condition, gels on the other give me an unsatisfied feeling like my skin is still thirsty. This texture is perfect and it feels so smooth.




















I wonder what the difference is between the moisture surge thirst relief and the moisture surge intense. I might try it when I run out of thirst relief or if I get my hands on a sample.

I got mine at Parfuma, my go-to beauty store (or parfumerie as they called it in Dutch). They offer an amazing service and their salespeople are good - I always walk out the store with much more than I intended.

So far I have always been lucky with trying new products. After several years "testing" and getting to know my skin, I know now exactly what my skin needs and when. I always do research before I buy a product and I tend to stick with the same brands for years (for skin care : Clinique and La Mer). My new years resolution for 2013 : be more adventurous and try out different brands. But should I change something thats working perfectly? Maybe for the relieve of my bank-account. :-)

With love,
La vie en blush.

Shop - Cosmania

I just discovered the Dutch shop Cosmania and I just had to share this with you. Cosmania offers you a blend of the world's finest beauty formulas - sounds great right? And it is.

Let's take a peek to the store and go search for our American Express (but let's not tell our husbands or husbands-to-be in my case). I really appreciate the great taste of interior design - I have a big weakness for clean white interiors. I need to book a trip to Amsterdam soon, but in the meanwhile I just shop their amazing beauty collection online. Thank god for internet!
















They offer all these great products that you can't find anywhere else. And I love to be unique so I     ordered :

  • Mario Badescu - silver powder (promises reducing your pores - every girls wish)
  • Cake beauty - Satun sugar hair & body refreshing powder (basically dry shampoo - which I have never tried before in my life)


Visit the ultra cool lab @ Hotel Droog! Yes, their store is at a hotel - this makes it even cooler!
Staalstraat 7B, Amsterdam.

Status : ordered. Keep you posted.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Philosophy - Be Your Best.

The newest BB cream on the market by Philosophy (big love!). I love BB creams, I addicted to BB creams so I definitely want / going to try this one. According Philosophy it's the must - have BB cream for the busy girls (that's me!).

What does this multi-tasker promise us?

  • zero default finish (could this product be a gift from God?)
  • brightening (whitening?)
  • anti-aging (let's save on botox and facelifts!)
  • anti-dark spots (bonus points!)
  • 24 hours hydration (important unless it gets greasy)
  • SPF 30 (say NO to cancer)





















The products comes in 2 shades : light and medium.
Retail price : 27,85EUR

Status : ordered. Keep you posted.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Beauty by Lauren Conrad.

I love books (understatement) - some might even say that I collect books... Proud to say that I recently added another one to my collection.


I absolutely love this book - well written (thanks to the ghostwriter), gorgeous layout and photography. Reading a book about beauty isn't always easy - some are plain boring - but this one reads as a breeze! I just can't put it down. I'm even reading it on my way to work and that's with public transportation!
She's very lucky to have learned all her experience from the best professionals. And now she's sharing it! 

With love,
La vie en blush

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

BearFaced for BBC Children in Need.

BearFaced is now friday 9 november 2012. BBC asked women to go make-up free for the day to support the cause Children in Need and of course raise money.

BBC Children in Need tries to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. For 2012 they get the support of the following celebrities : Lulu, Louise Redknapp, Heidi Klum, Caroline Flack, Abbey Clancy, Tuuli Shipster.

 

 

 

They all look pretty damn good for being "make-up free". I wonder if their definition of make-up free is either photoshop, natural make-up or even both. 

Beautiful photography, beautiful cause - I support BearFaced for Children in Need but I won't go make-up free this friday. I have to attend my own baby shower and obviously I need to shine (with make-up). I will make up this sunday.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Skin care routine - morning.

I don't need to tell you how important proper skin care is. But what is proper skin care? I have been looking since my teenage years for the perfect skin care routine and only recently I think I have finally found it. I have used so many products over the years (I'm amazed my skin hasn't been damaged by it) but I lost my heart to La Mer.

La mer products are amazing. Some people think they're overrated, some swear by it (me). Everyone has a different skin, so it's quite logical that one product can't please everyone. But it works for me, little less for my bank account.

I have been using La mer products since 12 months or so and the difference is amazing, almost unbelievable. I have always had a difficult skin - read : acne prone skin, pores, spots, too dry or even too oily. The products I use are keeping my skin in perfect balance. I don't have flawless skin (by far even) but I very happy where I'm now.

This is my daily skin care routine in the morning :


  • Clinique - 7 day scrub
  • La mer - the cleansing foam
  • La mer - the hydrating infusion
  • La mer - crème de la mer
  • La mer - the spf 30 uv protecting fluid
www.clinique.com
www.cremedelamer.com www.cremedelamer.com
www.cremedelamer.com
 www.cremedelamer.com














I will review each of these products later.

With love,
La vie en blush.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Follow my blog with Bloglovin.

There's a new beauty kid on the block - spread the word!


With love,
La vie en blush

Beauty.

beauty |ˈbyoōtē|
noun ( pl. -ties)a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, esp. the sight I was struck by her beauty an area ofoutstanding natural beauty.• a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.• [as adj. denoting something intended to make a woman more attractive beauty products beauty treatment.a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular• a beautiful woman.• an excellent specimen or example of something the fish was a beauty, around 14 pounds.• ( the beauties of) the pleasing or attractive features of something :the beauties of the Pennsylvania mountains.• [in sing. the best feature or advantage of something the beauty of keeping cats is that they don't tie you down.PHRASESbeauty is in the eye of the beholder proverb beauty cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.beauty is only skin-deep proverb a pleasing appearance is not a guide to character.ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French beaute, based on Latinbellus ‘beautiful, fine.’                                                                                                                                                                       My mom always taught me that beauty is important. It makes you feel good about yourself and puts your life in a positive light. And she's right. My love for beauty covers fashion, make - up, interior design, books, photography, ... Love it all! La vie en blush will mainly publish about beauty (skin care, make-up, ...) and little about the rest. I spend tons of money on beauty products, still only a few please me in the end. I have a weakness for the expensive brands. Somehow I still firmly believe "the expensive the better". So thank god for American Express! 
With love, La vie en blush.