Sock Haul!

Socks are an obsession of mine... as you can probably tell now by the pictures already! However, I'm really picky about socks. I only buy them from one store! I went there a few days ago, and wanted to show you. For me, socks are a part of my outfit. A way of showing my personality. I even like to mix them, so that I have a pink one on my right foot and then a green one on my left foot! Sounds fun to me... My favourite types of socks are high ones (up to my knees, maybe because it gets pretty cold here in winter, sometimes...), but for summer, I like the shorter ones.



I loved the Hello Kitty ones, and the ones with the flowers! And oh my, the ones with the cats! One package had two pairs, so I swapped sides on the two pics (those are Hello Kitty ones, in the middle row, and in the middle in the middle row!).

And check out the rosy pink ones in the last row, below. They are oh-so-pretty! They come about half way up the knee, and I can't wait to wear them for a summer evening, in a pretty skirt... they actually have silicone lining inside the lacing, so that the pretty part holds up on your feet, brilliant!

Bought any nice socks lately? Which pair is your favourite in my haul? Mine is the cats, of course! But tell me in the comments what you think!

My best regards,

Miss Diorista

Cookie Dough Brownies, yay!

How delicious do those look? Well, they taste every bit as good as they look, let me tell you! I got the recipe from Sunday Baker, and let's just get on with it! Run into your kitchen and start baking!



Cookie Dough Brownies

From Sunday Baker, but with slight changes of my own



1 recipe of brownies (from a box or from scratch, I just googled "brownie recipes")



3/4 cup soft butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 - 2 t. vanilla

5 - 7 T milk

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 T unsweetened cocoa

1 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips

(you can add nuts if you want to)



1 and 1/2 cup chopped chocolate

1 - 2 T butter



Grease your 13x9" pan and bake your brownies.

To prepare the cookie dough, beat together butter and white sugar. Add brown sugar, vanilla and milk, mix well. Add flour and cocoa and mix. Stir in chocolate (and nuts, if using).

When the brownies have cooled down, spread the unbaked cookie dough on top of your brownies. Yum, you're almost done! Melt together the chocolate and butter, let cool down a bit, and then spread over the whole thing! Let this sit in the fridge (or freezer, if you're in a hurry) in the pan, and when it has set, slice. Then enjoy... lots.



Obviously, you can add anything into the cookie dough. I'm seeing tons of candy here... *passed out from too much sugar*!



My best regards,

Miss Diorista

Review - YSL Exfoliating Lip Balm

What a lovely, lovely product!

This is by far my favourite lipscrub, so I don't think I'm going to write a long review on it. It is just amazing. It is a little bit pink, and is actually suppose to make your lips a little bit more pink with regular use (I'm not going to say whether that is working or not...). It is a sugar scrub, and I love the feeling of sugar on my lips! Also, it has small strawberry seeds, which rub comfortly on. The scent and taste of peppermint/strawberry is simply adorable. It is always a happy moment when it is scrub-time! You can't really see it, but I have the product on my hand. It feels great on my lips, and is easy to rinse off. Does not feel oily, which is great!

I leave this on for about five minutes, then I rinse it off, and finish with a nice lipbalm. Perfection!



My best regards,

Miss Diorista.

Drink water!

Now when it has been extremely hot here in Iceland, I felt like reminding myself and all of you, about the importance of drinking enough water.



Water is important for every part of your body. Google "importance of drinking water" and you get tons of great reasons for filling your glass. Find your favourite reason to motivate you. What gets me drinking is the fact that is helps keep my skin looking healthy and glowy.



I really like drinking water. However, I also like to mix things up a little bit. Just simple things like decorating your glass (on the picture, I carefully cut a slice into the strawberry, then placed it on my glass), or put a bit of ice into your water, can spice things up, and prevent boredom. Also, I know that some people dislike water, maybe it is the taste... or the lack of taste (I wouldn´t know, since I love water). In that case, try to trick your taste buds into liking it. Infusing your water with fruits and even vegetables can do the trick. The most common thing is slicing lemons and limes for your water, which can be quite nice. Don't be afraid to experiment! Use frozen strawberries instead of ice, it gives you taste and cools your water. Or slice cucumber, or apples, or peaches... just anything you have on hand! Slice it, place it in your water and place your water in the fridge. When you want to drink it, pour in a nice glass and drink it with a bit of ice. Lovely!



My best regards,

Miss Diorista.

Beautiful Icelandic evening

The other night, I went out for a short walk. I brought my camera along, and just had to show you guys. It is the peak of summer now, and the evenings here can be so beautiful... I'm not going to say anything more, just let you enjoy the pictures.

I actually made this one my profile picture!

My best regards,

Miss Diorista.

Tag: Top 10 Summer Products!

I found this tag on YouTube a few weeks ago, and obviously, I'm a little late with it since half of July has already flown by, but still! I have eleven products, actually, but they're still ten... ok?
So let's get this thing started!Starting from the left:

1) Summer foundation. Mine is by The Body Shop (my nice nice aunt gave it to me - thanks!). It is a powder foundation, has very sheer coverage, feels light and gives my skin a healthy glow. You need the kabuki to apply it. Mine is shade 03.

2) Mattifying powder. This is possibly one of the most important things for summer, especially if you have the tendency to "shine"! My powder is by Dior, it is their Dior Diorskin Poudre Compacte, and mine is shade 001. It is sheer, but still gives me a bit of coverage as well as acting as a mattifyer. A standard in my purse!

3) Illuminator. When I'm out in the sun, I want my skin to literally glow, especially my cheeks and cheekbones. You can get powder, liquid or cream illuminators, but personally I prefer powders... No matter what you pick, though, be sure not to pick a glittery one, buy one which gives you that nice glow/sheen/slight shimmer. And remember that less is more, you don't want to look like a disco ball! My favourite illuminator this summer has been MAC's Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl. It was LE and came out with the Liberty of London collection.

4) Natural-Looking Eyeliner. In summer, I don't wanna do the whole dramatic thing with my eye makeup. I save the attention for my bright lips! So my favourite thing for 'a summer night out', is to wear a teeny tiny bit of brown eyeliner, instead of black. You can pick a matte one or one that has glitter/shimmer. I recently bought the Maybelline Line Definer in Brown Bronze Gleam. It is a dark brown with bronzy tones and a bit of shimmer.

5) Tinted Moisturizer. IMO, this is a must for summer! Preferably, pick one with SPF. I don't feel like wearing heavy foundation when it's hot outside, so I wear my tinted moisturizer. Now, you have to realize that I am letting you in on a secret, here... the tinted moisturizer you see above is absolutely... amazing! A dream... It is by Dior (surprise, surprise!) and is from their HydraLife skincare range. It is called Dior Pro-Youth Skin Tint. Mine is in shade 1, and it has SPF 20, which I love! This gives me the perfect coverage, evens out my skintone, gives me a glowy look, and is extremely moisturizing. Ok... I'll stop obsessing about it now... did I mention that I love it? And that applying makeup on top is easy peasy?! Ok... I know, I said I'd stop... I'll write a review on it soon!
1) Makeup Remover Wipes. A must-have when you're on vacation or just don't have time to do the whole thing. In summer, I want to spend most of my time having fun, not removing my makeup! So I love those, they are from Preven's Paris. Of course, washing your face with wipes every night is not a good idea, since it doesn't, IMO, do quite the same thing as a cleanser would. But two or three nights a week, three months a year, is no biggie!

2) Light-Catching Lipgloss in a Light Colour. I want my lips to look like precious jewels in the sun... lol! Well, maybe that was a bit too poetic for a beauty blog, but you get the idea! Mine is L'Oréal's 6H Glam Shine, in Forever Nude. I love it, feels nice, lasts decently, can be worn over lipstick, or alone.

3) Bright Lipgloss. I love bright and bold lips for summer. Why not make a statement? This summer´s pick was The Body Shop's Love gloss in shade 18, called Tropical Pink. It is not pink. That is simple! It is a bright coral colour, almost orange... but very wearable, yet bright. It is has shimmer (you have probably picked up on it by now, that I love shimmer!). If you look at the swatch on TBS website, then know that the gloss is way brighter in real life than it seems there!

4) Bright Lipstick. Yes. I love bright lips, so bright lipstick are love... My favourite for this summer is L'Oréal's Glam Shine Crema in Hot Lilac (check out my review!). It is a bright, glittery lilac colour.

5) Light-Catching Lipstick in a Light Colour. Light-catching, meaning shimmery and pretty... Mine is MAC´s Lipstick in Beachbound, LE from the To The Beach Collection. It looks like a simple nude indoors, but in the sun, it. is. beyond. beautiful. Period.

6) Nailpolish in a not-tradiational-summer-colour... long, and hard to figure out? No. Not at all! Just pick a colour that seems fun to you, but is not the summery pink/coral/red. My fave these days is the OPI Chicago Champagne Toast. It is very pretty and yes, has a sheen/shimmer to it!

So that is all. Please tell me your must-haves for summer, do this tag and let me know in the comments below! Or do you want a review on any of the products? Comment and tell me!

Yours,
Miss Diorista

Skincare and Makeup Haul!

Today, I went to the store... and of course, I found a few items that were right up my alley! This was not a cosmetics store, (it was a grocery store, actually!), so the only cosmetics they sold was Maybelline. But I'm okay with that!
I also got quite a few masks and skincare items. So let´s get started!

Starting with the makeup, I got three things.
1) First comes a lipstick, Color Sensational (by Maybelline) in the color 240, called Galactic Mauve. It is a really pretty colour, a rosy pink mauve, with a hint of lilac, very subtle brown undertones(can't really see them, unless the lighting is dim) and beautiful golden shimmer. Maybe a bit dark for summer... but with lipgloss over it (I'm thinking a nude one...), it would look a bit lighter. Swatched on top.

2) Next comes a mascara! I'm so excited about this one! It is the Maybelline's Colossal! Mine is in Glam Black. They also had plain Black, (they promised it was 100% black...) and I don't know what the difference is, but Glam Black definitely sounded more fun to me! You maybe remember (from my Mascara Wishlist post) that one of my friends uses this mascara, and her lashes look amazing. So since I saw it today, I decided to give it a try, and I ran back home to try it on! I have to say, that I was not disappointed! Wow! I've only been using it for a few hours now, but so far, I really really like this! Thanks for recommending this to me, friend (lol, no names!)! My niece actually recommended Clinique's Naturally Glossy Mascara for pretty and natural lashes... I might give that one a try too, it sounds good!

3) Last but not least is an eye liner, Maybelline's Line Definer in Brown Bronze Gleam. I also tried this on when I came home, but I'm not ready to say whether I love it or not... I think I like it, the colour is nice. It is a dark brown bronzed colour with a hint of shimmer, and actually goes well with a natural look (which I have on today). I like the fact that it has a twisting thing (lol). I will tell you more once I'm sure about what I think! Swatched on the bottom.

I like the bristles on this mascara a lot, the brush is pretty big and dense, and easy to use!

Then on to skincare items! Starting from the left ;)

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1) First we have Nose Pore Strips (with Tea Tree) by Botanical Choice (by Purederm). I'm going to try those tonight or tomorrow... I´ve never used anything like this before, and I'm super excited!

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2) The next two items are also by Botanical Choice (by Purederm), and they are Anti-Stress Heat Therapy Masks, one in "Apricot" and one in "Oatmeal". Once on your face, these are supposed to heat up and give you the feeling of a warm towel on your face. Sounds good!

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3) Then we have a Ultra Hydrating Shea Butter Mask in "Coconut" by Botanical Choice (by Purederm). Basically, this is simply supposed to moisturize and soften. Contains shea butter, coconut and lavender.

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4) The tube is Apricot, a Facial Scrub Cream. This is an exfoliating scrub with natural apricot oil and finely crushed walnut shell. I can't wait to start using this, it smells good too!

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5) Now on to the second row! First, we have a Pearl Essence Mask by Purederm. This actually has vitamin E, collagen, and pearl powder! How good does that sound, you tell me!

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6) Next comes Nivea's Gentle Peel Off Mask. I am obsessed with the idea behind this (if I get this right...) This is supposed to set on your face, and then you can peel it off... we'll see if it works!

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7) Then comes a Pore-Shrinking Mud Masque by Andrea. This is said to really... well, you guessed it: shrink your pores! I don't really have visible pores, except on my nose and the top of my forehead, so that is where I will use this. Hopefully it works!

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8) And lastly, we have Firming Leg Gel by Andrea. It is supposed to really rev up tired legs and tone them a bit too... we'll see!

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So that is all... it is quite a lot, IMO... have you tried any of this? Would you like a full review on any of those products? Please comment and tell me!

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Yours,

Miss Diorista.

Current Skincare Routine

So sorry for long time no posting! Well, two days... but still, long time!
So today I have my current skincare routine for you. The pics are a little to the side, I know :) I say 'current', because I have the feeling that I might change it up a bit soon... we will see.
For reference, my skin is fair, and rather normal. I do have drier/oilier spots, particularly around and on my nose, chin and forehead. But my skin is rather normal overall.

So first, we have products for cleansing. We will start from the left and then work our way through the picture.

1) The first product is my current make-up remover wipes. They are by Preven's Paris, and I really like them (I also use them for cleansing my makeup brushes, sometimes). They smell kind of nice... not really nice but pretty good. They cleanse really well, too (I don't use them on my eyes, though). They are made of 100% biodegradable tissue, which is super duper of course, and they contain vitamin C, which as most of you probably know, is a powerful antioxidant. They also moisturize the top layer of the skin, and have a smoothing formula. All good here ;) Dermatologically and ophtalmologically tested.

2) Next is my daily cleanser. I actually just cleanse in the evening, irrelevant maybe... The product is Clean and Clear's Exfoliating Daily Wash. I just bought this, about three weeks ago. I had been using a cleanser by Nivea which I really didn't like, so I decided to give this a try, and I quite like it. Took me a few days to get used to the scent, though, which I find rather masculine... This has teeny tiny micro-beads, which work very gently towards smoothing and softening skin. I like the fact that I can exfoliate a bit every day. They promise softer skin from day one, which is true. My skin is definitely softer after I started using this. Also cleans my skin really well, and is oil-free.

3) Now on to my eye-makup remover, which is The Body Shop's Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover. This is both for lashes and lids, and is supposed to cleanse, condition and soften. For the cleansing part, this works very well. Removes all my mascara and eye-shadow, if I have any on. (Lol, it obviously does not remove what I don't have on!) And for the conditioning part, I think my lower lashes have grown a bit... strange, I know! But I think so... and they upper ones look a bit fuller... Don't take my word for this, though, since I´m really not sure about it!

4) Last product on this pic is really not a cleansing item, but I use it every night. It is Nivea's Bye-bye Spot! SOS Stick. This is good for any small break-out you might get... I actually don't get break-outs really often anymore, but I still use this every night around my nouse, a bit on the top of my forehead and my chin, to prevent any break-outs from jumping out on me! Also, when I see that an evil break-out is preparing to attack, I immedietely fetch this stick. It is not a miracle product, but still works nicely. Don't expect miracles, though! On to the second picture, which is all about everyting else than cleansing :) Again, we will start from the left.

1) The first product is one I bought about two weeks ago, and still haven't had the time to use it... But I felt like including it in this post since I plan on testing it out tonight. It is Nivea's Refreshing Moisture Mask. The packaging on the picture is actually two portions. This mask has sea extracts and vitamin E, so I really look forward to trying it.

2) Then you see my current face scrub, which is Nivea's (Young) Scrub Away! Peeling Cream. This has pure ocean-minerals and is oil-free... and I'm not sure what I think about it... I don't like the smell, it is a bit too strong and artificial for me. Also, I find it a bit harsh. The beads are not gentle, and this scrub kind of stings... But still, I have been using this about twice a week for about six months, so I must like this... I would not re-purchase, though. For the scrubbing, yes, it works, but not dramatically.

3) My daily moisturizer (I only moisturize in the evening) is Dior's HydrAction Visible Defense Hydra Protective Light Creme SPF 20. Long name! Obviously, since it has SPF, it is meant to be used for day... but still, it doesn't say: Not for evenings! So I use it before I go to bed, but sometimes in the morning too, if I feel like my skin is extremely dry. This is actually a bit too heavy for summer, I feel, so these days, I only apply it on dry spots, or where I feel like I need it, but not all over my skin. Really like this creme, it moisturizes so well. A bit hefty pricetag, though...

4) The last product is The Body Shop's Vitamin C Skin Boost. This is in gel form (clear gel) and smells really nice and fruity. I use it in the morning (when I remember it, lol!) and this really smoothes out my skin, makes it soft and yes, maybe a bit more radiant with continued use. Nice for summer.

So this is all. As I said, I think my routine will change soon and then I will let you know!

Yours,

MissDiorista.

Chocolate Sunflower Cupcakes

Even though it is July, here it is not really sunny... the wind has been blowing like crazy and I decided to simply spend the evening baking. So this is what came out of it: Chocolate Sunflower Cupcakes! They were easy and simple to make, and so was the icing. The only time-consuming part is the sunflower. I had them on hand (made them about a week ago when baking for my aunt's "party"), you could skip them if you're in a hurry. Or use sprinkles... or make them! They are simple too, just take a bit of time.
Line a sheet of parchment paper to pipe on. Simply melt some good quality white chocolate, colour it with food colouring, and fill a piping bag with it, using a small round nozzle (I believe I used Wilton's nr. 2... don't quote me on that, though!). Pipe the outlines of a sunflower. This takes a bit of practice, but it is not that hard. You can do it ;) Let the outlines set and harden. Then, take a bit bigger piping nozzle (I believe Wilton's nr. 3... but again, no quoting!), and gently flood the leaves of the sunflower. Be careful not to overflood. When set, you use a small piping nozzle (Wilton's nr.2... no quoting, lol!) to pipe a little dot of melted brown chocolate in the middle of each sunflower. Let set and then gently, very gently, remove from the parchment paper. There you go!


Chocolate Sunflower Cupcakes
Adapted from Baking Bites. Some slight changes were made.

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup wholewheat flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sour cream (I used 5% fat)
1 cup coffee (room temperature)
1/2 cup finely chopped chocolate (or small chocolate chips)

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Mix all the dry ingredients together in one bowl. Mix the chopped chocolate in.
Mix the wet ingredients together in another bowl, and beat a bit. Gently, mix the wet and dry together. Make sure everything is well blended, no lumps! Don't overblend, though.
Line about 18 muffin cups with muffin liners, and fill them ca. 3/4 full.
Bake for about 15 to 18 min. (I had to bake them a little longer, just watch them carefully.)

Chocolate Icing
My own recipe

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup chopped 70% chocolate, melted
3 tbls. coffee (room temperature)
3 tbls. cream, if needed to thin the icing.
About 3 cups powdered sugar (just as much as you need, I didn't really measure...)

Cream the butter, then mix in the melted chocolate. Mix in the coffee, than the powdered sugar. If you need to thin it, use the cream, otherwise, skip it.
Ice the cupcakes when they have cooled, garnish if you want, and enjoy! (My family and I sure enjoyed!)

If you make these, let me know what you think! And if you need further information on the flower-making, just comment and I'll get right back to you!

My... chocolatey regards,

Miss Diorista

Mascara Wishlist

My Dior Diorshow Iconic mascara is almost finished... sadly, 'cause I quite like it, but on the other hand, this is a great opportunity to try out a new mascara!

What are you currently using? Please tell me in the comments!
I'm looking into a few mascaras...


1. YSL's Faux Cils
I have heard that this one is simply beyond beautiful (though said to be a little wet...)

2. Helena Rubinstein's Lash Queen Feline
Haven't really heard anything, but have you? It just sounds nice, since I'm really into cats, LOL!

3. Maybelline's Colossal Mascara
My friend has this one (hi if you're reading!), it's her favourite and her lashes look aMaZiNg,
no kidding! They are just superlong, defined and so pretty! Have to buy this one... she completely "sold" it to me!

4. MAC's Haute and Naughty Lash
Sounds like a good idea to have two mascaras in one... I have yet to fall head over heals, but I'm pretty sure that I will buy this some day... *sigh*, some day! At least the packaging is super glamorous, definitely like that!

So can you help me choose? Please? Have you maybe tried any of those?

Yours,

MissDiorista

P.S. You can be expecting a cupcake post soon! And thank you, Temptalia, for the photo!

Miss Diorista is now on Bloglovin'!

Hi there all of you!

Just wanted to let you know that Miss Diorista is now on Bloglovin'! I'm so excited about it.
In case you don't know what http://www.bloglovin.com/ is, then let me tell you. It is a site which lets you keep track of all your favourite blogs. It is free. Just log in there, type http://missdiorista.blogspot.com/ in the search bar, and click "follow". That way, you will never miss a single post!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Yours,
Miss Diorista

Review - Nivea Blush by Chantal Thomass in Secret Rose

Yes, I am aware that this blush came out with Nivea's fall collection last year, or 2009, but at least where I am, I can still get this, so I decided to do a review on this... since I love it so much!
First of all, look at the oh-so-pretty packaging! This blush is by Chantal Thomass, and in case you haven't heard of her, she designs lingerie. That is why the blush has such a pretty lid, as well as the little bow on the product itself. This makes the whole thing so cute!
This is really a long-wearing blush. I have it on today, put it on around 8 am this morning, and now, sixteen hours later, it is still pretty and fresh. Pretty fresh, so to speak!

I love the smell of this blush. I'm having a hard time finding the correct words to describe it, but it is really nice. Not too strong, but if you are sensitive to scents, you might dislike this product. However, I really like the scent. Makes me like the product even more!
And obviously, the colour is just too pretty. It is, as the shade name describes, a rosy pink colour. You can see the swatch below, but it also has a little bit of sheen to it. I hesitate to even call it a sheen, since it is so subtle that it is barely there. Maybe it would fit better to call it a satin-like sheen. Very beautiful.

So overall, I totally recommend this product. Very, very long-wearing, a beautiful colour, pretty packaging, smells nice and has a satin sheen to it. My thing!

My best Dior-ish regards,

Miss Dior

Review - L'Oréal Glam Shine Cream in Hot Lilac

Before I begin, please note that I am not sure that this lipstick is still on the market. I bought it a few years ago, totally forgot about and then recently re-discovered it in my collection. So if this is discontinued (which would be sad!), then know that I had no knowledge of that.
This is... maybe one of the prettiest lipsticks I have. And I am a lipstick person, let me tell you! First of all, the texture and consistency of it is very nice. It is creamy, but not overly so, and does not get on my teeth. It is easy to apply (you don't have to work hard to get it on). The smell might be a con for some people, it is kind of a perfumy fruit scent. I am not too keen on it, but it is not too strong and it doesn't annoy me at all.
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Second, the colour is just simply to die for. So beautiful. As I told you in my Dior post a few days ago, I have been really into lilacs lately. However, a pure lilac colour is too much for me, at least too much for a rather casual day at work. So this colour is the perfect in-between. It is very bright, but still very wearable. Stands out from the crowd, but still totally in my comfort-zone. Kind of a cross between lilac, fuschia and pink with a hint of purple to it. It also has lots of shine, so you get the coverage and colour of a lipstick, but the shine and feel of lipgloss. Some people might not like the fact there is quite a bit of sparkles in there, but personally, I find it pretty.
On the swatch picture below, the bottom one is about three coats of the lipstick (full coverage, so to speak), the middle one is about one to one and a half coat, and the top one is simply "dabbed" on, kind of like you're stippling the colour on. This technique gives really sheer coverage, just a hint of colour.
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Overall, I am in love with this lipstick and wholeheartedly recommend it. There is nothing about it I dislike. This will be a staple summer colour, my version of "bright for summer"!

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Yours,

Miss Diorista

The Body Shop - Fall Makeup Collection 2010

Tomorrow, the 6th of July 2010, The Body Shop releases its fall collection for 2010. I only heard about it today, from the great blog http://hebrideanspritebeauty.blogspot.com/. Go check it out, she only features non-animal testing brands.
This collection is called Smoke and Fire, and I have to say, that I am kind of excited... First of all, I have never tried a kajal eye liner, like the ones below. They come in three colours, black, silver and green. I'm thinking about getting the green one (if it isn't too bright), even though the review I read on those was not too good...

Now, on to the really exciting stuff. The blush below, has me drooling... It is so beautiful! I love love love the pattern, it looks so delicate and well done, but I also LoVe the colour! Multi-coloured blushes are a favourite of mine, since I think they give a more complex and natural glow (if you think about it, your natural flush is not just one colour). I also really like the fact that this blush seems to be a bit shimmery (doesn't seem to be glittery, whew!) but not matte. Last but not least, this blush seems to be a rather warm shade, which I like.

This blush also comes in a "bronzer" kind of shade, but I don't think, judging just from pictures, that I will be very keen on it. It has a bit of yellow in it, and I'm not really interested in having a yellow hue on my cheeks... just personal preference, I guess!

What do you think about this collection? Will you be getting anything from it? Tell me in the comments below!

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Yours,

Miss Diorista.

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P.S. Thanks, theNotice (beauty blog) for the pics!

White Chip Chocolate Cookies

These are completely dangerous... those still working on the art of self-control are advised to stay far, far away. You have been warned.

I love shopping, but I have to admit that some things are more fun to buy than others. Obviously, makeup is always fun. Clothes and shoes, too. All kinds of dishes, cups and kitchen tools are another addiction of mine, along with books on recipes, especially for baked goods. One would think that nothing special would tempt me in the supermarket... but one would be wrong! Whenever I see something that I think would be fun to bake with - be it a new brand of chocolate, some kind of candy, or simply anything that catches my baking-eye, I have to get it!

So the other day, I bought a bag of white chocolate morsels by Nestlé. They were quite tasty and my cookies turned out great. I was about to throw the empty bag away when I noticed two recipes on the back of it... Of course, the oven was quickly turned on again!

I made some slight changes to the recipe, but oh my! This is heaven, I tell you!

So here we go...

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White Chip Chocolate Cookies

(Adapted from Nestlé's recipe)

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1 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 package pudding mix (I used one with chocolate flavour)

1/3 unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 cup chopped chocolate (around 50-60% cocoa is fine)

1/2 cup chopped white chocolate

1/2 cup mint filled chocolate

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Preheat oven to 350°F (or 180°C).

Combine flour, oats, pudding mix, cocoa, soda and salt in a bowl.

In another bowl, beat together butter and both sugars until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well in between. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Stir all the chocolate in.

Roll into balls (I use really heaped teaspoons - these grow big in the oven!), place on baking paper and press them down a little with wet fingers or the back of a spoon.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, cool and enjoy!

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Cheers,

Miss Diorista

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P.S. Sorry about the little commas in thist post! The spaces were teasing me!

Baby Hairclips - Collective Haul

Don't you just love those little sweeties? I know I do. They're adorable!
The last few weeks I've been on a quest for cute hairclips. When I say 'cute', I mean baby-style... or children's style. Obviously, some of the hair-ties, like the ones with the yellow girlies, are too small for my thick and long hair... but they came in a set with the clips, so I decided to photograph them too. I love them all, but those are my favourite, all the little detailing is so pretty. The green bow with polkadots, the hair has engravings, and even the necklace is so cute!


On this picture you can see all the clips I´ve bought the past month or so. I really like all of them, but the orange girlies and the pink polkadot ones are my favourites. I still haven't worn the pink ones, I'm waiting for the perfect occation and outfit!
I really like how one cute clip can perk up your whole outfit and appearance.
Why don't you try it for yourself? Try children's clothing departments, they often stock really cute hair accessories!

Yours,
Miss Diorista.

MAC haul from London!

I have a family full of wonderful people, I'm lucky. One of them, my niece, lives in London. Last weekend, she came home for a short visit, and I asked her to buy a few MAC things for me (of course, I paid her back), since everything is much cheaper abrought. My sweet sweet niece bought three things, all of which you can see above.

Starting from the left, you see my first MAC Blushcreme ever! I'm so excited! Well... I'm excited for all of this! The blush shade is Lilicent, a beautiful earthy pink colour, looks very natural and pretty. I have worn it a few times now, and have used my finger for applying it... I'm thinking about getting the MAC 188 brush for it, have you guys tried that? The blushcreme is swatched on top.

Next is an eyeshadow, the famous Satin Taupe. I can see now what the rave is all about. This colour is beautiful, a chocolatey brown grey... with silver sheen. So pretty. Looks fabulous alone, but layered over the third product, it is absolutely stunning (sorry I didn't swatch it that way!). Satin Taupe is swatched in the middle.

The last product is a paint pot, in Rubenesque. What a beautiful colour. It looks very pink in the pot, but on my hand it is a golden pink, with a pretty sheen to it. Love it. For a simple, work-suitable eye, I sweep the paint pot over my lids, and for a little more drama, I add Satin Taupe on top.

I know the swatch picture looks a bit strange... the lighting is off and my hand looks HUGE! Believe me, it's not that huge in person! I hope you benefit from the swatches, though.

Thanks again, niece (lol, don't know if you want your name here!), those products are amazing, all of them, I can't thank you enough!

If you want reviews on any of those, or on products from my June Favourites, please comment and tell me. Or if you have those, tell me your opinion. But in any case, comment!

Yours,

Miss Diorista.

June 2010 Favourites

Yes, I know I'm a bit late with this maybe, but still, I wanted to let you guys know what I've been loving this June! So let´s get started!

This one is to the side, just flip your computer if you can... or tilt your head! This is OPI's Chicago Champagne Toast. A really pretty pinkish plum colour, and a nice break from this season's bright corals!

This beautiful blush to the left is simply love, love, love. It is in shade 02 and it is by Golden Rose (I got in a pharmacy). I have absolutely been loving the gorgeous pink glow that it gives. You can see it swatched on the bottom.

The lipgloss is by GOSH and the shade is 0058. This is a really nice rosy pink colour with shimmer. Looks good on its own but is still sheer enough to be put over lipstick. It is swatched on top.

The lipgloss is 6H Glam Shine in shade 103, called Forever Nude, by L'Oréal. My aunt gave this to me for my birthday in April, and I love it! Love the texture, the colour, the shimmer, the consistency, the packaging, everything! It is a pinky nude, wearable enough to wear on its own but simply outstanding over lipstick! It is swatched on top.

The lipstick is my favourite lipstick, and it is by Dior, in shade 559, called Rose Drama. It is so wearable, a pinkish mauve colour, with a hint of plum maybe, and has a beautiful sheen to it. No chunky glitter here. Very sophisticated and goes brilliantly with the L'Oréal lipgloss. Swatched on the bottom.

This is a beautipowder by MAC, and it came out with the Liberty of London collection. It is called Shell Pearl, and the name really tells you all about it. This is a gorgeous pale pink powder. I love the pearly sheen it gives, and I use it either as a pale blush or over another blush to give me that nice, pearly look. Great to wear out in the sun!

FYI, you're looking at a miracle product here! This is Cover All Mix (in the lighter shade) by Make Up Store. I don't use the red colour, and the lightest shade I only use to prime my eyelids (works well as a primer, but not as a concealer!), but it's the green shade that I'm in love with! I use it on my chin and nose to conceal any redness that I have and this works wonders, covers well and blends in perfectly. Does not look green on the skin!

This is probably my number one summer product (though I do use it a lot no matter the season, this is one of my makeup collection's stars!). It is Dior's Diorskin Poudre Compacte in shade 001, called Transparent Light. I use it either to set my makeup or as a 'foundation' on those "almost no makeup days". It makes my skin look healthy, even and it mattes the areas which get shiny in summer (my forehead and my nose) without making them look powdery, chalky or 'made-up'. Just beautiful.

This is my summer foundation, Nature's Minerals by The Body Shop. Mine is shade 03. This is a powder foundation, but it gives me a very glowy, almost dewy look, and does not feel or look powdery at all. It is very sheer coverage, but on the other hand it looks so natural. The kabuki brush is necessary to apply it and I love this brush, so dense and soft.

This is it for now, I hope you enjoyed and please comment and tell me your favourites, or if you have tried any of the products above!

Dior-ish regards,

Miss Diorista

Dior - Fall Makeup Collection 2010

Finally! I have waited for so long! The pictures of the Dior collection for fall are here!
It is stunning, with amazingly deep colours, for example the beautiful lipstick on the model above. I have lately been obsessed with lilac colours, and this collection will give me beautiful lip options in that colour area!

See the gorgeous pictures!

These glosses look pretty, and since I'm in love with lilac, I think the dark lilac-y plum to the left would be my thing...

This palette looks really pretty, and I'm especially interested in the texture...

This one, I'm in love with! The shimmery look is beyond beautiful, and those colours are perfect, neutral but still fun!

Perfect for an "updated" smoky look.

I am especially loving the one to the right... Beautiful.

Very pretty, the first three from the left catch my eye...

So this collection looks really amazing... and I can not wait to get my hands on it, but it will be available in August. My wallet is not so excited...!

What do you think? Is this collection a winner?

My Dior-ish regards,

Miss Diorista