Dior - Cannage Couture Collection Brush Set

Talk about travelling in style! I bought this beautiful set of four travel-sized brushes when I was in Germany in March (at the airport, to be specific). I wanted to give it a good share of use before reviewing it, but quite frankly, I didn't have the time until I travelled to Edinburgh two weeks ago - I decided to bring only these brushes with me (I did take an eyeliner brush as well though, and an angled one for my brows) - so after a whole week of using almost only these brushes, I believe I have enough to tell you what I think of them.

As you can see, the travel set come in this beautiful purse (perfect for both travelling and , and to be honest, my favourite thing about it is the "D" on the zipper. So Dior-ish!

The purse has a mirror inside, a sleeve for each brush and a nice cover to protect the brushes and the mirror - it feels rubbery, so makeup won't stick to it.

As you can see, these brushes aren't going anywhere - they each have their own little pocket, an elastic band for holding them in place, and a plastic cover for protection. Very, very professional.

The set comes with four travel-sized brushes - (from L-R) a lip brush, an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush and a foundation brush.

The lip brush is nice to have, very precise and does a great job at applying lipstick. Personally, I would have picked another brush for a travel set  - an eyeliner brush for example, but I guess it's nice to have, especially if you like strong lip colours, which tend to need precise application.

The eyeshadow brush is a medium at density - meaning that it can be used for both packing on colour, as well as putting shadows in the crease and blending them out. I have to admit that I don't use this brush on an every day basis, but I did use it every day for a week when I was in Edinburgh, and it does work - I got beautiful looks from it, and even managed to use it for smudging shadow under my lower lashline. So yes, I will definitely use this for travelling in the future, although I don't use it at home.

The blush brush is my favourite from the set - although that may not come as a surprise, I'm a blush gal :) It's very soft, and I used it both for bronzing and blushing - it's small enough to work for contouring, yet big enough to give a blended look when working with blush or highlighter. I would say that it's on the smaller side, but it is a travel-sized brush after all, and I do like it.

The foundation brush is to me the least interesting brush of the set - but that being said, I really, really don't like classic foundation brushes at all, this one is no exception. I feel that they leave my face streaky, and I always have to re-do my makeup if I decide to give them "one more try". I just don't understand how people can use them, to be honest.

So, do I recommend this set? Well, if you are looking for a really nice travel brush set, I think you will like this, especially if you use classic foundation brushes. The brushes are really well made, the bristles are fantastic and the handles are so classy, with the Dior logo printed so nicely on them. I'm really happy with mine.

Love,

Miss Diorista

Giveaway - Dior Addict Lipstick in Diorkiss (CLOSED)

Finally I can announce the giveaway and the prize! I'm so excited! To celebrate my blog's 1st birthday (which was yesterday :) I am hosting a giveaway, my second giveaway! The prize is a product I've been using almost every day since I got it in April - a Dior Addict Lipstick in Diorkiss! This collection of lipsticks has recently been reformulated, and oh my. Those lippies are so pigmented and give great, juicy shine. They are wonderful, and perfect for summer, so I though it would be the perfect prize for a birthday giveaway! It obviously had to be something from Dior, after all, this is Miss Diorista here :)

Isn't this a wonderful lipstick? Diorkiss is a nice pink with no shimmer - great for every day or more formal occasions, and I think it's a shade that most people would love. I certainly do, I have one and I never let it out of my sight! Review will probably be up soon.

Now to the fun part, how you can win it! Please read the giveaway rules before you enter:

1. The giveaway is international. As long as you can receive packages through mail, you can enter.
2. If you are under the age of 18, you must get permission from either your parent or your legal guardian before you participate in the giveaway.
3. You have to follow my blog (it's easy and completely free, just click the "Follow" button to the right).
4. Only one entry per person.
5. The giveaway closes the 1st of August 2011.
6. There are two ways to enter, you can use both or only one:

• Comment on this post, telling me what one product you can't leave house without during summer. Leave your e-mail! OR/AND:
• Blog about this giveaway on your blog, linking to this post. Remember to leave a comment telling me about your blog post with a link to it, so that I can see it! And leave me your e-mail!

Alrighty! I will choose one (1) winner completely randomly. If something is unclear, feel free to ask. I really hope that you enjoy this giveaway, it is my way of trying to thank all of you for the support and all the comments during the past year. You are amazing!

Love,

Miss Diorista

My Powder Foundation Routine

Back in February, I posted about my foundation routine. I planned on showing you my powder foundation routine soon, but... "soon" has a different meaning here on Miss Diorista than in the rest of the world, so you're getting my powder foundation routine now :)

I really like powder foundation, since it's quick and simple. Also, I'm young and I don't always need the heavier coverage that a liquid foundation gives me, but I still want something. So give it powder foundation a try if you haven't already!

1. First, I conceal my under-eye circles and any dark spots that have to be concealed. I really like the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, since I can use it both under my eyes and on my skin, because it doesn't have a pink undertone to it.
2. I set the concealer with a setting powder, very often my Dior Diorskin Powder. Sometimes, I also sweep a bit of this over my forehead, nose and chin to control any shine, before I put on the actual foundation.
3. Time for the foundation! I really like Hello Flawless! by Benefit, but I also have one by Dior which I really like. For both of these, I use a sponge (you can get them at the drugstore) for sweeping and patting them on. I also bring the powder down to my neck.
4. If I'm looking too powdery, I really like to buff the foundation in with a Sigma F80, which is a flat top kabuki. It makes everything look more natural and blended.

That's it! Finally, a nice tip to remember when wearing powder foundation, is that it never hurts to use an illuminator with it. You can either apply a luminizing primer underneath, or sweep on luminizing powder afterwards. Either way, you will look more glowy, younger and always fresh.

Love,

Miss Diorista

Dior - Rouge Dior Lipstick in Mazette, 028

This lipstick is, quite frankly, perfection... so bright and perfect for summer!

It is a part of Christian Dior's Rouge Dior lipstick collection, which has 32 shades, each of which has a corresponding Dior Haute Couture gown. That is, each lipstick shade is inspired by a gown from Christian Dior. I think it is so fun and interesting to know that my lipstick has a corresponding gown... which I sadly haven't found yet - please let me know if you find a site where you can compare the dresses to the lipsticks, I'd love to see the gowns.

This is a more accurate picture of the colour - it is a bright coral colour, no shimmer of any kind. This lipstick is perfect for spring and summer, and I really like the formula, which is creamy, yet not too creamy.

The weartime is rather good, especially since the lipstick leaves a bit of a stain behind. I'd say about 4 hours, without eating.

The packaging is beautiful and classy, a dark-blue colour with a see-through at the top, where Dior's signature letters, CD, can be seen through (picture above).

And of course some swatches. The swatch to the left is very light, the lower one to the right is medium, and the top one to the right is full colour.

Product (65%) - 9/10

Value (10%) - 7.5/10

Would I repurchase? (15%) - 10/10

Packaging (10%) - 9/10

Overall - 9/10

 

Love, Miss Diorista

 

Beauty is a form of genius -- is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon. - Oscar Wilde

Haul from Berlin (part 8) - Dior

We have come to the last part of my haul from Berlin, and yes, it is Dior. Of course :) As you will see, I didn't really go overboard with Dior this time, and decided that I rather wanted to spend money on, well, I guess you can call those "special edition" products. That is, those are (apart from the lipstick) products which I can't really get here in Iceland. So enjoy this final part of the haul!



L-R:

• Rouge Dior Lipstick in Mazette (028) - This is a gorgeous bright coral - perfect for spring and summer. Love, love, love it! And it's so fun to know, that each of the 32 Rouge Dior shades are inspired by Dior Haute Couture gowns - what a brilliant idea, a lipstick shade for each dress!
• Cannage Couture Collection Brush Set (Collection Voyage) - In English, this is a travel brush kit. How ingenious, a travel brush kit with brushes from Dior! I've always wanted to try their brushes, and I had heard that their blush brush was amazing, so I of course had to take this little one home. The kit comes with 4 brushes - a classic foundation brush, a blush brush, an eyeshadow brush and a lip brush. The brushes are all mini sized, and come in a "wallet" with the classic Dior quilt print. Very elegant and pretty!
• The Scents of Miss Dior Chérie - As I've told you before, my favourite perfume is Dior's Miss Dior Chérie printemps...so basically, my heart did a little flip-flop when I saw this absolutely beautiful set of 4 mini-perfumes from the "Miss Dior Chérie" range - you have Miss Dior Chérie L'eau, Miss Dior Chérie Eau De Toilette, Miss Dior Chérie Blooming Bouquet and Miss Dior Chérie Eau De Parfum. How adorable!

This completes my haul from Berlin. I really hope that you enjoyed these posts, and yes, you can be expecting many of the hauled items to be reviewed during the next few weeks :)

Love,

Miss Diorista

The moment we shared might only have lasted a few seconds, but the memory will never fade. - Anonymous.

My Current Foundation Routine

Some of my favourite posts to read are all kinds of routines - foundation routines, skincare routines, blush/bronzer routine... you get the idea :)

So I thought I'd share my own foundation routine with you. This is my liquid foundation, I'll post my powder foundation one later (which is quite simple, though...). But let's get into it, hope you enjoy it ;)

1. First off, I prime my face with the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, using clean fingers. Now I love this stuff, but I've been hearing from people who break out from it, so be careful... try before you buy :) 
2. I like to put on foundation before concealer, so next up is my current go-to foundation, Dior's Nude Foundation. I prefer using my fingers for this foundation, I just make sure they're clean. I can't say enough about this foundation!
3. Now my foundation is in place, I can see where I need some extra coverage. I'm currently using Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer under my eyes, but I also use Benefit's Erase Paste. If I have anything else than has to be concealed (for example redness on my nose and/or chin), I generally use the "green" side of Make Up Store's Cover All Mix. This stuff really hides redness. Again, I use my clean fingers for both concealers.
4. For a setting powder, I've been using Dior's Diorskin Poudre Compacte in "Transparent Light" for quite some time now. I use the included sponge for this powder, and I feel it actually does a great job.

That's it! Really quick and simple, and I've been using this same routine for a little over a month now... ever since I got the Dior Nude Foundation actually :)

What is your fave foundation routine? Please tell me in the comments! Oh, and don't forget to include your favourite foundation, I'm always on the hunt for new ones to try out.

And finally: Have you tried Sigma brushes? What did you think of them? I'm looking into buying a brush kit from there...

Yours,

Miss Diorista

Dior - Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder Makeup SPF10

That has to be the longest product name in history... (if you know a longer one, though, let me know!)
I have talked about this product to you before, and it is a powder foundation - that is, a powder, which covers like a light foundation. If you read my blog on a regular basis, you probably know that I love powder foundations. However, there are a few "extras" about this one, which made me fall completely head over heals:

• The compact itself is beautiful, can be carried around easily, and has a special place for a small brush/sponge.
• You not only get powder foundation, but also blush and highlighter, in the same compact!
• When you're done with the powder, you can buy a filling, instead of having to buy a whole new compact. Environmentally friendly :)

 Now on to the product itself.

 

 This is what the product looks like (mine is in shade 020, called Beige Praline).

It comes with an accompanying brush, which is actually usable if you want very sheer coverage, but I don't use it so I couldn't find it... sorry :S

You can see I've already hit pan on the foundation part, which is the lowest one. The middle part is a beautiful peachy blush with some shimmer to it, and the top part is a matte highlighter. Let me tell you, I'm in love with this highlighter! Nothing makes my nose look slimmer than this ;) All the powders are very smooth and easy to work with (I like using a sponge for all of them).

The foundation gives me even coverage, it is definitely buildable, but covers light to medium. The average wear-time is about four hours (maybe five) before I have to touch it up. This product can also be used as a setting powder, over liquid foundation. I even think my foundation looks slightly more natural with this powder than without it. However, most of the time I wear this product by itself.

I tried swatching those for you, but my camera was giving me a hard time with the lighting and all... but as I said, the blush is a light, fresh peach with shimmer, and the highlighter is a soft, slightly pinkish white/beige.

The only obvious downside I can see to this product, is that you go through the foundation part so much quicker than the blusher and the highlighter, since you alternate those more. This can be a problem when you want to buy a new filling for the compact, but still have more than enough of blush and highlighter. However, I don't mind this problem, since I really love the foundation.

Product (65%) - 9/10

Value (10%) - 8.5/10

Would I repurchase? (15%) - 9/10

Packaging (10%) - 9.5/10

Overall - 9/10

Love,

Miss Diorista

Dior - Diorskin Nude Foundation

I got this beautiful foundation for Christmas (see here what else I got ;)
Short review? I love it! If you want something a bit more in-depth, then read on ;)

I am shade 010, which is pretty much as close to my skin colour as I have ever gotten with a foundation.
What I love about this foundation, is how radiant and hydrated it makes my skin look. Made out of approximately 40% water, this foundation is really hydrating and does not dry me out at all.
The consistency is nice, a bit runny but that just makes the foundation easier to work with. The coverage is light to medium, but it can be built a bit. However, if you prefer full coverage, then this is not for you. You should also know, that the weartime of this foundation is not as long as with many others. After about four hours I can see that the coverage is starting to fade a bit. This does not make me love the foundation any less, though! Just grab your powder with you, and you'll be good to go.
The foundation also has SPF10, which is a plus, and the packaging is super-pretty, with a great pump, and choosing the amount of product you want is very easy.
However, the best thing about the foundation is that with continual use, your skin will look more radiant and beautiful than before, even without makeup. I've only had the foundation since Christmas, but I believe I can already see some difference with my skin.
Last but not least, I can't feel the foundation on my face at all - I don't look or feel "made up".

I decided to try using this "two-pic" layout. Let me know if you like it or not. Maybe not quite clear enough? Anyways, the upper left picture is without foundation, the lower right picture has one "layer". You can see that the tone of my hand has been evened out, yet not completely covered. Very natural.

Product (65%) - 8.5/10

Value (10%) - 8/10

Would I repurchase? (15%) - 10/10

Packaging (10%) - 9,5/10

Overall - 9/10

Love, Miss Diorista

P.S. I've made some of the most important facts from the review bold for those who just want to take a quick look - tell me if you like it or not!

Dior - Dior Manicure La Collection

I hauled this beautiful set of three "polishes" last summer, in one of the "hauls from Germany" (check this particular part out here), and always meant to review it. Here we go :)

The set of three comes in this very elegant box. A small paper nail filer is included.

The set comes with those three pictured above. Going from the left to right:

Basecoat - This is a very nice basecoat. It has a light beige colour in the jar but goes on clear. Dries fairly quickly.

Diorlisse - Now, this is many things... yes, it is a polish of a very light, pink colour, but it is also a "ridge filler". It smoothes out the surface of your nails, evens out the tone of them and is also supposed to strengthen your nails. You can use this as a base coat, a middle coat between your base and the polish, or simply as the polish itself, which is what I did (last picture in the post). However, you have to remember two things when working with this product. One is, that you should never do two coats of it if you're going to were it as polish. Two coats result in overly pale, sick-looking nails, whereas one coat simply evens out your natural nail colour beautifully. The second thing you should remember, is to always top the Diorlisse of with a top coat if wearing as polish. Otherwise, it wears off too fast and becomes patchy.

Top Coat - So far, this is definitely one of my favourite top coats. Why? Incredibly shiny, and unbelievably fast-drying. Like, super fast... Magically fast!

My nails with nothing on them. You can clearly see some ridges, as well as a slight alteration in colour.

On my nails: One coat of the basecoat, one of the Diorlisse and one of the top coat. All ridges have been smoothed out, the colour of my nails is even and beautiful - and you can still see the white part of my nails, which I personally think gives this a bit of a "French" touch.

And now, according to the new rating system:

Product (65%) - 8.5/10

Value (10%) - 9/10

Versatility (15%) - 7/10

Packaging (10%) - 10/10

Overall - 8.5/10

Love, Miss Diorista

P.S. Sorry about the huge "gaps" at the end of this post - blogger was giving me some problems. How do you like this rating system? I've been thinking about the "versatility" feature, would you rather like to see a "would I repurchase" there (which would then account for those 15%)? Would that be more helpful? Please tell me what you think, those reviews should be as clear and helpful as possible :)

Winter skincare

Taking care of your skin is always important, but especially so in winter. Cold weather, rain, snow, wind, the heating in your apartment... it all comes together at dragging your skin down. But do not despair! Treat your skin right, and it will thank you a thousand times!

Face
First off, exfoliate. You don't want to look flaky! Most people exfoliate about 2-4 times a month.
Always use a good moisturizer that suits your skintype. If you apply moisturizer in the mornings, try one that has SPF in it. Using sunscreen every day is very important, also in winter. If your moisturizer doesn't have SPF, then pick a foundation which does, or wear sunscreen underneath your makeup. My moisturizer, Dior HydrAction Visible Defense, has SPF 20.
A quick tip: The packaging that many moisturizers come in is big and heavy, including mine. I bought some small pots which each hold 10ml, and then scooped a bit of the moisturizer into it. It's so much easier to travel with your moisturizer when it is so small!

Eyes
Remember to use good eyecream. This is very important. Since I'm still young, I don't use one with "effective ingredients", but instead I use a moisturizing one with aloe vera, from The Body Shop.
A quick tip: For an extra refreshment, which also helps relieve puffiness, store your eyecream in the refrigerator between uses!

Lips
Dry and flaky lips are not attractive at all. Not to mention that applying lipstick on that kind of thing is a nightmare. So, number one: Exfoliate! You can buy really great lip exfoliators, but I fell in love with the one by YSL a few years ago, and have been using that one ever since (check out my review here).
Make your own lip exfoliator: Mix a bit of olive oil with a bit of sugar, until you have a grainy paste. Rub it on your lips, leave it on for about five minutes (longer if you have time and want seriously soft lips!) and then wash the scrub thoroughly away with water.

And second, moisturize your lips by using a good lipbalm. I love lipbalms by Origins (bonus: they last forever) but many companies make great ones.

Hands

Yes, you should also exfoliate your hands. I haven't seen a whole lot of handscrubs around, but one that I use, love and can deffinitely recommend is the "Butterfly kisses" by Alessandrio. It is scented with grapefruit and mint, and leaves your hands soft and refreshed.

Use a good lotion on your hands. In winter, my hands get very dry, so I use my Hemp Hand Protector by The Body Shop every night before I go to sleep. You might want to use something a little lighter, though, if your hands don't get seriously dry.

Also, take good care of your cuticles and nails. This "Cuticare Nourishing Pen" by Alessandrio does a wonderful job at moisturizing even the driest cuticles.

Finally, don't forget to take good care of your whole body. Once again, the steps are two and they are simple: Exfoliate, and moisturize! The two products pictured above, I got for Christmas. I love both of them. They are by The Body Shop, and the scent is "Wild Cherry". I hadn't tried it before, but I do really like it. I also love Vanilla and Coconut, try them out :)

In winter, I switch from body lotion to body butter, since the butter type offers deeper moisture. The Body Shop offers a great range of body butters (and lotions), I love trying out new scents.

Dry elbows? Try rubbing them with a bit of lemon juice! The lemon juice actually helps soften the dry skin and remove dead skincells. Afterwards, you can use a few drops of olive oil to soften them even more. (Of course, if your elbows are cracked, then you should not use lemon juice on them.)

That's it! Know any good skin tricks that I left out? Please tell us in the comments!

Love, Miss Diorista.

What I got for Christmas - Cosmetics

This is the last part of the "What I got for Christmas". The other two were about kitchen supplies, and products I got from the Tartan Tale collection. Check them out :)

I was really excited to get those products from L'Occitane, since I hadn't tried out their makeup yet. The lipgloss is gorgeous, perfect for holidays, since it's so red and shimmery!

I also really love those face pearls. They have three colours, and create a beautiful glow.

The last thing is a green eyeliner... I'm not quite so keen on this one, since I don't find it soft enough, but I have to try it out a bit better before I give a conclude opinion...

Those three products from Dior came together in a "kit". These are the Diorshow mascara (black), an eye-makeup remover (the kind that you have to shake up before you use it) and a black eyeliner (not completely full size).

Yay, I finally got the Dior Amber Diamond highlighter! It is absolutely beautiful :)

And I also got the Diorskin Nude foundation - it is amazing. Love it.

The three brushes you see are MAC 188 (the shorter version), MAC 275 and MAC 139. These are all amazing, don't think I have to tell you that!

That Lancome blush is so pretty. I hate that the overspray will go away, though, so I still haven't used it!

Don't you just love that eyeshadow trio? It's by Shisheido, in the colour "Tropical", and oh my, the pigmentation!

Finally, the lipstick is by The Body Shop, and it is a beautiful pink colour (shade 73). It feels very moisturizing.

A close-up of the Lancome blush. So pretty :)

A big thank-you to all of those who thought so kindly of me - I love you guys ;)

Yours,

Miss Diorista

My Favourite Products of 2010!

Can you believe it? The year 2010 is almost over. I feel like it was New Year's Eve just yesterday... yet the whole year has passed!
But, that of course means, that it is time for a quick summery of the year, that is, the cosmetics of the year :) Enjoy!

First up, you see my most used perfume this year. It is the Miss Dior Chérie, by Dior, in the Eau de Printemps version. It is rather light, floral but sophisticated at the same time. I love this perfume.

In the upper row, from the left, you see the Tri Brow Color by the Make Up Store. This is HG for my eyebrows, I will do a separate post on it.

The lighter e/s is Eye Colour in shade 41 by The Body Shop. It is very smooth and pigmented, a shimmery golden, beige colour. Goes great over Rubenesque paintpot, which is what I have been using it for (mostly). The other e/s you see is MAC Satin Taupe, which is what I have then been using in the crease.

I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the Voluminous mascara by L'Oréal. If not, then you need to try it :) It is absolutely amazing if you're looking for way blacker than black, long lashes.

And the brush you see is MAC's 275. I actually got this one for Christmas, but I'm already in love with it. This brush makes shading a breeze!

The lippie is by YSL, it is a Rouge Volupté in shade 29, called Opera Rose. This is a brilliantly creamy lipstick, but the shade is also right up my alley. Bright, yet not too bright.

The lipgloss is by L'Oréal, it is one of their 6H Glam Shine ones. Mine is in colour number 103, called Forever Nude. It is basically a nude colour, with a hint of pink and it's fair share of shimmer. Pretty by itself but gorgeous over almost any lipstick!

And finally, products that have made my skin purr :) Well, almost. The powder (which you can tell is a lover!) is Hello Flawless by Benefit. Mine is in the colour Gee I'm swell, shell. It's a little too dark for me, but I can still make it work. Wonderful powder foundation.

Next to that is the Amber Diamond highlighter by Dior. I got it for Christmas, and didn't fall in love with it until yesterday (the trick is to use a blush brush for it!)... but I fell so hard that I decided to include it here. Really gives you a gorgeous, subtle glow.

The blush is MAC's Springsheen. It is a sheertone shimmer, and creates beautifully glowy (I'm in love with anything that glows!) cheeks.

Last but not least, the Dior Airflash foundation (mine is in shade 200). I actually never spray this on my face. I rather spray it on the back of my hand, and then use a brush or my fingers for applying it. This gives me just the right coverage, not too light and not too heavy, and I can't feel that I'm wearing foundation at all.

That completes it! I hope you liked it. What were your most-reached-for products this year? Please tell me in the comments!

Love, Miss Diorista

P.S. Looking for a review on any of those? Let me know!

Haul from Germany (part 7) - Dior

Finally, we are getting close to the end of this enormous haul! This part is not the last one, but the next one will be. Normally, I would have saved Dior until last, but since the last brand isn't sold in Iceland, I am very excited about it... so I'm saving it! Please enjoy this part of the haul!

First, you see here the following, starting from the left:

Diorskin Airflash Foundation. This is HG status. So amazing. Mine is in the lightest shade (they have four altogether). You can spray it directly on your face, but I prefer using a brush or simply my fingers. Beautiful foundation.

Next up is Diorskin Nude Glow. This was released in summer, and I unfortunetely think that is was LE. It can be used either under foundation to add some healthy glow, or over foundation as a slight highlight. Has very peachy (almost apricot) undertones.

Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder Makeup in Beige Praline. Has SPF 10. I have to say that I really like this. It kind of has three products in one - an overall powder "foundation", a sculpter (which, depending on shades, can be used as a blush/bronzer. Here, it is a dark blush colour), and a highlighter.

The eyeshadow duo is 2 Couleurs, in Pop Look. It has a true, matte brown, and a shimmery peachy, pink shade, with a hint of gold to it. You can layer the two, or wear them seperately.

Finally, you see three nail polish bottles. Those came in a set of three. The first one is a base coat, then there comes a "ridge filler", which is basically just a very pale pink (kind of flesh pink) nail polish, and of course, you finish things off with a top coat. Let me just say, that this top coat is so amazing! It dries superquickly (by the time you finish your last nail, you can already touch the first one comfortably!) and gives a lot of gloss and shine.




Now, when I found this "little" guy, I just knew that I had to get it. It is a Travel Studio, and is basically supposed to be a travel kit. It has three eyeshadow duos (that makes six e/s altogether), a face powder, one lipstick, two lipglosses, a mini mascara, a black eyeliner, a brown lipliner, one double-ended e/s brush, one double-ended applicator and one brush, which is almost like a flat kabuki brush... Now, first of all, I have to say, that this palette is strangely put together. Two of the e/s duos are almost exactly the same (the top two, I know they don't look the same on this pic, though!), and what has a brown lipliner got to do with a pink lipstick? I don't quite get it. Also, the e/s are definetely not of the same quality as usual Dior eyeshadows. Those are a bit dry, as opposed to the buttery texture you usually get from Dior e/s. However, everything else is pretty nice, and you can create both day and night looks with those shadows.

Finally, I got this gorgeous "Addicted to Dior" lipgloss duo. It comes in two colours, and I got the "Addicted to Pink" one. It has a shimmery bronzy shade, as well as a pink shade. I decided to loan the pictures from elsewhere instead of taking some myself, because the stones in the writing always flashed my camera. Hope you don't mind :)

Image from Shopstyle
Image from FashionFuss

So that completes the Dior part of my haul, and I promise that I will post the last part, part number 8, as soon as I possibly can!

'

Yours,

Miss Diorista

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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

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.

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!

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