Best Beauty Discoveries of 2015

I am very excited to finally share with you my Top Beauty Discoveries of 2015. Let me tell you, it was not easy to narrow it down, but I had to be pretty ruthless and think which products actually stood out to me. I am very content with the selection and I stand by every single product mentioned here. If I have a separate review on any of these products I will link it below. So, shall we dive right in?

Gwen Stefani x Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette

First up and probably something that doesn't come as a surprise, is the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette. This palette is a neutral girl's dream. Since I got it, I haven't touched any of my other eyeshadows. I love everything about it, packaging, shades, longevity and blendability. If you are lacking on the neutral shadows department, pick this one up!

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993 and Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture

Keeping it within the Urban Decay theme its Matte Revolution and Revolution lipsticks are one of the best lipstick formulas out there. Revolution lipsticks have been around for a while, but I have tried them for the first time only in 2015. In my opinion the Matte Revolution lipsticks are comparable to NARS Audacious lipsticks, but come with a more affordable price tag. 

Urban Decay After Glow 8-hour Blushes in Video and Fetish

Moving along, Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour Blushes were pretty much all I wore for the past 6 months. These are extremely pigmented, long-lasting and talc-free (in case you are allergic like me). Can't fault these blushes, amazing stuff. I am not sponsored by Urban Decay - in fact, they have no idea who I am. I just genuinely like their products which are cruelty-free. 

La Girl Pro Concealer in Natural

I always had difficulty finding a concealer that provides a decent amount of coverage and does not emphasise fine lines. La Girl Pro Concealer does exactly that, and what's more it's cruelty-free and will not break the bank. I honestly have no idea how it can be this good and cheap. 

T-B: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve, Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Lust,
Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob

2015 was the year of liquid lipsticks and lipliners. People went bananas over a matte 90s lip, yours truly included. The two liquid lipstick that I used on a daily basis were: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve and Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Lust. In terms of lipliners there was just the one and only Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob. This is hands down my favourite lipliner of all time. The only downside is that it's not cruelty-free. A good alternative would be Catrice's Long Lasting Lip Pencil in 080 That's What Rose Wood Do!

Lastly a few skincare bits and a perfume that I discovered during 2015. Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is by far my favourite product discovery of 2015. This cleanser is amazeballs. I have been using it for a couple of months now and my skin loves it. I have extremely sensitive, eczema and acne prone skin. This cleanser never leaves my skin feeling irritated or dehydrated. Instead it leaves it feeling smooth and nourished. I won't go into much details here, as I will be having a separate review on it soon, so keep your eyes out for that. Another skincare item that impressed me was the Sephora Mud Mask Purifying and Mattifying. It's great for clarifying the skin, especially if you have breakouts or congested skin. It's non-drying and you can actually see how it pulls all the nasty stuff out of your skin. Perfume wise the honours go to Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom. I don't have anything like it in my collection. It's floral, powdery but warm at the same time. Lovely scent and unlike other Jo Malone fragrances that tend to wear off on my skin pretty quickly this one stays put for a really long time.  

These are my tried and true beauty products which I will continue using in 2016. I would love to hear if you are loving any of these or what are your best beauty discoveries of 2015!

Until next time,
Muffy

What´s in My Friend's Makeup Bag

I don't know about you but I am pretty nosey when it comes to other people's makeup, skincare essentials and home decor. I figured why not take a look inside my friend's makeup bag. I might even make a series out of this, lets see. I reckon it's curious to see what other people use on everyday basis and hear their opinion for a change, not mine. So let's get right to it!

 

Let's start with the makeup bag itself. It's a leather pouch from &Other Stories. It is no longer available but in case you are interested you can find something similar here. 

Just for reference my friend has neutral-cool complexion and dark hair. In MAC she is around NC15 and 0,5 in Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation. Now let's talk about the most noticeable product from the bunch - an eyeshadow duo by NARS in Parallel Universe from the Christopher Kane for NARS limited edition collection. It comes with two stunning shades: the iridescent pink lilac and the soft iridescent violet. Even thought these are purple hues they are wearable for any day. In terms of pigmentation these perform really well. The texture is soft, however they have particles of glitter in them. The glitter isn't scratchy, but as expected there is fallout with these shadows. My friend recommends applying it with a flat eyeshadow brush and patting the colour onto the lids, not swiping around. This will allow for a minimal fallout. These eyeshadows wear for about 10h without creasing when applied on an eyeshadow base. My friend uses an original Urban Decay Primer Potion.

 NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Parallel Universe

Armani Sheer Blush #10

Next up is the Armani Sheer Blush #10. It's a pinky-neutral shade that is universally flattering. It's texture is soft, slightly powdery but not chalky. It has somewhat of a shimmer running through it, however it doesn't translate on the cheeks. It applies easily and you can build up the colour. The longevity is great. It lasts throughout the day without fading. The only downside is that it has been discontinued. But don't you despair Armani Cheek Fabric Blush in Daybreak (503) is quite similar. 

The lipstick of her choice is a recent purchase that is being put to the test. It's Charlotte Tilbury's Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate. It's a nude with pinkish-grey hues perfect for fair complexions with cool undertones. The pigmentation is alright, however it applies a bit patchily. My friend has tried it over Mac's Prep & Prime Lip and Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in Ozone. The texture is creamy but it feels heavy on the lips. The longevity is not too impressive either, lasting only for a couple of hours. The finish is slightly shimmery but that doesn't bother her. So far this lipstick has not lived up to expectations. My friend would recommend trying the Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipsticks or Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked instead.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt,
Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate,
Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm

Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm,
Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Nude Kate, Mac's Prep & Prime Lip

Staying on the topic of lips, Mac's Prep & Prime Lip is an essential for my friend. As the name suggests it's a lip primer that ensures your lipstick does not feather and lasts longer. She has been using it excessively and it works like a charm. It's most effective in combination with MAC or NARS lipsticks but not so much with Charlotte Tilbury. If you are not a fan of MAC, a good alternative is Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in Ozone but that one you need to sharpen after every use. 

To keep the lips protected and hydrated she uses Jack Black Intensive Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint & Shea Butter with spf 25. If you don't fancy a tingly sensations, don't you worry, this balm comes in various flavours. She highly recommends this product and it's already on my shopping list. 

Last but certainly not least is the Jo Malone Perfume in Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Jo Malone scents are fresh, simple, nothing too heavy or sweet, which is great for work or hanging out with friends. The 30ml bottle is great for keeping in your bag and re-applying when need be. The Wood Sage & Sea Salt is not the most enduring scent that Jo Malone makes. If you want something more potent try Pomegranate Noir or Birch & Black Pepper (limited edition). Besides the Jo Malone fragrances the ones my friend favours are by Maison Martin Margiela in Untitled and Lazy Sunday Monday, but those do come in 100ml bottles, which is not too travel friendly.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed taking a sneak peek into someone else's makeup bag and exploring these mini reviews. Maybe you'd even get interested in trying one of them!

Let me know what your makeup essentials are!

Till next time,
Muffy

My Jo Malone Perfume Collection

I am so thrilled to bring this post to you, as now you can purchase Jo Malone products at the Finnish Helsinki - Vantaa airport. Which is fantastic if you ask me! You can get your hands on these without having to go through the trouble of asking someone to bring it from UK, Spain or Russia (which happened in my case). 

Jo Malone is a British lifestyle brand, which has a very unique fragrance selection as well as luxury products for bath, body and home. I have not tried anything from the bath, body and home range but I have tried a few of their fragrances. Jo Malone claims they do not test on animals, but they are part of the Estee Lauder group. A hint of warning: if you buy a fragrance you will never go back to anything else, and you would want to try them all eventually! 

L-R: Pomegranate Noir, Wild Fig & Cassis, Blue Agava & Cocao, Wood Sage & Sea Salt

What is special about this particular brand is that it enables you to create your own unique scent by mixing different fragrances. In my collection I have four Jo Malone perfumes and I love them all. To me they are very different and depending on the occasion I choose my pick for the day. I am a proud owner of : Pomegranate Noir, Wild Fig & Cassis, Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Blue Agava & Cocao. I like to mix Blue Agava & Cocao together with Wild Fid and Cassis, it makes for such a wonderful combination, loves it!

If I were to describe these in a couple of words, I'd say:

Pomegranate Noir - sophisticated and spicy 
Wild Fig & Cassis - woody  
Wood Sage & Sea Salt - fresh and none invasive
Blue Agava & Cocao - warm and sweet

These beauties come in 30ml and 100ml sized bottles. I prefer 30ml, since it is super convenient for travelling and carrying in your bag if you want to reapply during the day. I really like the simplistic packaging, it looks really nice on a makeup desk and does not clash with anything. I would imagine a 30ml perfume to retail for about 50,00€, but don't take my word for it. I have not had the chance to visit the tax free shop at the Helsinki - Vantaa airport yet. This is more or less the price I paid.

It is very difficult to pick a favourite or recommend just one. I suggest when you are next time heading on a holiday or business trip go and give Jo Malone fragrances a sniff.

If you are already familiar with Jo Malone perfumes, which one should I add to my collection next?

Cheers,
Muffy