New in. Beauty

ENG: As promised in my previous post, here are my recent beauty purchases. One portion is from a drugstore, the other is from Clarins.
Let's start with the drugstore products.

RUS: Как я и обещала в своем предыдущем посте, делюсь своими косметическими покупками. Одна часть косметики была куплена в обычном магазине, другая - на сайте Clarins. 
Давайте начнем с более дешевых продуктов.

CoverGirl lipstick in Darling, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsgloss in Fuchsia Finery, CoverGirl Outlast Foundation, Maybelline The Rocket mascara

This is my first CoverGirl lipstick, and I can say I'm pleasantly surprised. It's very creamy and does not look too shiny on the lips, which is exactly the effect I wanted. And I really like the color too - it's neutral with pink undertones. The formula of the lipstick reminded me of the Cremesheen formula of MAC lipsticks.

Я не знаю, продается ли продукция CoverGirl в России, но в любом случае, она достойна внимания. Эта помада - мой первый продукт от этой марки, и я впечатлена. Она очень кремовая, тающая на губах, но не придающая губам особого блеска. Мне как раз и нужен был такой эффект. А еще мне очень нравится ее цвет, такой бежевый с розовым подтоном. Текстура помады напомнила мне текстуру Cremesheen в помадах MAC.

The Revlon Super lustrous lip gloss in Fuchsia Finery is my dream in a tube. It has a very gel-like consistency and instantly smooths out the lines on the lips making them look a lot plumper. None of the high-end lip glosses that I own has given me such an evident effect. Another huge plus is that it's not sticky at all!

The Revlon Super lustrous lip gloss в оттенке Fuchsia Finery - это моя мечта в тюбике. Этот блеск настолько гелевый по текстуре, что моментально разглаживает мельчайшие складочки на губах, делая их соблазнительно пухлыми. Ни один блеск класса люкс не давал мне настолько видимого результата. Еще один плюс этого блеск в том, что он абсолютно не липкий!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Fuchsia Finery

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Fuchsia Finery

Maybelline the Rocket mascara, CoverGirl Outlast foundation

The CoverGirl Outlast Foundation is very similar to my all-time favorite MAC Matchmaster. It has about the same level of coverage and same semi-matt finish. I would say the only difference is, the Matchmaster is less visible on the skin (it looks smoother), whereas the Covergirl foundation has a better staying power on me.

The CoverGirl Outlast Foundation - тональная основа очень похожая на мою любимую MAC Matchmaster. У них примерно одинаковая степень покрытия и идентичный полу-матовый финиш. Наверное единственная разница, помимо цены, в том, что Matchmaster менее заметен на коже, в то время как Covergirl Outlast более стойкий, по крайней мере на мне.

Maybelline the Rocket Mascara is a volumizing mascara. But because of its very thick consistency, it can be hard to separate the eyelashes, so they may end up looking clumpy. I don't like this mascara, but I don't hate it either; I guess it just takes longer to work with.

Maybelline the Rocket Mascara - новая тушь, придающая объем. Из-за ее очень густой консистенции появляются проблемы с ее нанесением и разделением ресниц. Иногда она мне нравится, иногда нет - все зависит от нанесения, которое занимает очень много времени с этой тушью.
 
If you've been following me on Instagram, you may remember I got several samples from a Clarins counter in Portland, which I liked a lot. When I finally decided to order the full-size products from their website, there was a great deal going on, so I ended up buying just three products (on the left in the picture below) and getting the rest for free!

Если вы подписаны на мой Instagram, вы наверное помните, что в последний раз, когда я была в Портланде, мне посчастливилось получить несколько пробников от Clarins, которые мне очень понравились. Когда я наконец решила заказать полноразмерные продукты с официального сайта, там проходила отличная акция, поэтому в итоге я купила только три продукта (слева на фото внизу), а остальные получила в подарок!

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, the Camomile toner, the Blue Orchid face oil + random samples

1. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract (what a short name!) I use it after my regular cleanser, avoiding the eye area, and it really is very gentle, while getting the job done. I'm not too fond of the scent (it smells chemically to me), but I like the feeling on my skin after I use it. It's very purifying, but not drying at all!
2. Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile. I'd say it's a regular, non-lotion-ey toner with an herbal scent. It doesn't do anything spectacular, but I'm happy it's not drying and doesn't not leave a film on the skin. It works well at preparing the skin for the next step (your cream or face oil)
3. Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil. This is an amazing product worth everyone's attention. It's very moisturizing and I can see the effect on my skin. I used to have a lot of flakes, especially on the cheeks and nose, but this oil resolved the problem. Now my skin looks a lot more hydrated and even-toned.

1. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract - гель-скраб для лица. Я использую его после моего обычного средства для умывания, избегая область вокруг глаз, и он действительно очень мягкий, но в то же время справляющийся со своей задачей скраба. Мне не очень нравится его химический запах, но очень нравится чувство свежести и мягкости на лице после его применения!
2. Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile - тоник с ромашкой. Я бы сказала, это обычный тоник, без какого-либо лосьена.  Он не делает ничего сверхъестественного, но по крайней мере, он не сушит кожу и не оставляет после себя липкой пленки. Тоник - это важная ступень перед последующим нанесением крема или масла. 
3. Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil - масло для лица Голубая Орхидея.  Это превосходный продукт достойный внимания каждого. Это масло увлажняет на отлично - я смогла увидеть результат уже после нескольких применеий. Раньше у меня была проблема шелушений на щеках и носу, но оно прекрасно с ней справилось. Теперь моя кожа выглаядит более увлажненной и однотонной.

Clarins Blush Prodige in 02 Tender Peach. Isn't it cute?

And the last thing I got, which I totally forgot to mention in my last post, is this beautiful Zara necklace. I think it will look amazing over a black top or dress!

А вот еще бонус-фото моего колье из Zara, которое я совсем забыла вставить в мой прошлый пост. Я думаю оно будет выглядеть очень эффектно поверх черного топа или платья. А вы как считаете?

Thank you for stopping by and see you soon!

Спасибо, что остановились, и до скорой встречи!

Outfit of the Day

This week (or 99.9% of the year?) has been cold and rainy, which means that I can't wear all my nice summery clothes that I've recently bought. Heading for a walk, I chose comfortable shoes, jeans, and a warm cardigan. I'm not an expert at combining things, so I prefer simplicity and casual style, which help me to avoid mistakes. I paired the cardigan with a basic black tank top and a wide leather belt. As for accessories, I wore my everyday watch and a little black bag, which completed this black-and-orange look nicely.

Top - Melrose, cardigan - Ralph Lauren, jeans - Victoria's Secret, shoes - no name, bag - Calvin Klein, belt - no name, watch - Bulova

nailpolish - Wet n Wild - I Red a Good Book

I don't normally wear tons of makeup, so today I only wore light foundation (Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua,) bronzer (Too Faced Chocolate Soleil,) eyeliner (Stile Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner), mascara (Diorshow Extase), and transparent pink lip gloss (Artdeco Hydra Lip Booster #38.)

Thanks for reading and have a nice, sunny day!

My Travel Makeup/Skincare Bag + Reviews

We've just returned from our one-week vacation (we went to visit Mike's parents), and I wanted to share with you guys what makeup and skincare products I took with me.
Starting off with makeup, I want to say that I don't really like heavy/complicated makeup in general, and especially when I'm out of town. That's why I took only basic things with me, most of which I use regularly.

Here we have Jane Iredale Purepressed Base SPF 20 (mineral compact foundation). I've never been a fan of loose forms, that's why I love this powder - it's compact and not messy at all, provides very good coverage (although it's sheer, it can be built up and at the same time look thin and very natural), the color is just right for me, and I like the golden compact! But the most amazing thing about it is that it creates a soft-focus effect, making your skin look poreless and smooth.The brush I use for it is also by Jane Iredale. It's called the Handi Brush. It performs very well; however, the bristles can feel scratchy at times as it's made of goat hairs, but maybe it's just me who is used to extremely soft synthetic brushes like Sigmax ones.
I also took my favorite matte bronzer with me -Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. It's great for contouring or just adding warmth to you face, and it looks very natural - not orange at all! It smells amazing too, just like hot chocolate!I'm going to do a review and comparison on all the bronzers I have as there are a couple more that I also like.
I don't like blushes in general, but there are two in my collection that I find look good on me. One of them is Mac Mineralize blush in Warm Soul.It's hard to describe what color it really is because depending on the lighting it can go from beige to peach to bronzed pink. I really like the effect it gives my face.
The brushes I use for applying blush and bronzer are from Mrs Bunny travel set by Sigma.
My cat has recently stolen my favorite concealer, and I couldn't find it, so I took my Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer instead, which is more of a highlighter than a concealer, but it still has some coverage.
The only eyeshadow palette I took with me was NYX Triple Eyeshadow palette in Rock&Roll. It has a highlighting color, a pinky-nude color, and  a darker blueish-silver color. I like the colors, and the palette itself is very versatile.

NYX Triple Eyeshadow Palette in Rock&Roll and Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake

The brown eyeliner by Stila is called Smudge Stick in Lion Fish. I got it in my Birchbox a couple months ago and really like it! For my eyelashes I used Dior Extase mascara (Birchbox again, lol), and for my brows - Mac transparent brow gel. I also took a neutral lipliner and two lip products - Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss in Pink Pop and Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake. The latter is used in the above pictures.

Ok, next to my skincare.

High SPF was my priority. I like that Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock is truly dry-touch, and doesn't feel greasy on the skin as most creams with high SPF do.
My day cream is A Perfect World SPF 25 by Origins. It's a little too thick for my liking, but if I wait half an hour before I put on my makeup, it soaks in and feels soft and moisturizing rather than greasy.
 My night cream and toner are from the same line, Vitamin E, by The Body Shop. The are both very moisturizing and smell like baby powder, which I like, surprisingly. I can say that these two products were the first ones that truly helped my skin to get rid of the extreme dryness that I had not so long ago.
The eye cream that I use is by the Grapeseed Company and is called "Vine Eyes". It's organic and is supposed to be anti-aging. I'm not sure about the anti-aging effect, but the cream itself is very moisturizing. My under-eye area is very dry, but when I put this cream on at night, I wake up with very soft and supple skin.
 I used Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Shea Butter Lotion as my hand cream. I'm not sure if I like it or not, just because it's not as rich and thick as I would like it to be. I mean it's thick when you put it on, but when you rub it in, it becomes dry, and your hands feel just bare. The cream still works, but I don't like the initial effect. I guess I'm just used to greasier types of hand creams.
I also took a hair spray that I got in my Birchbox this month and Dove soap to use in the shower.

Alright, that was a really long review, but I hope it wasn't too boring! I'll try to be more concise in my future posts though.
Thanks for reading!

My Lancome purchase: Teint Idole Ultra foundation and L'Absolu Nu lipstick in Beige Tulle

Hi everyone! This post, as you might have already guessed, is going to be about cosmetics. :)
We went to Nordstrom yesterday- I needed Lancome foundation. I tried their sample of Teint Idole Ultra foundation for about 10 days and I really liked it because it has a soft matte finish, exactly what the description says, and it stays on all day without getting oily (I have combination skin and tend to get oily by the end of the day in my T-zone).  Another plus of this foundation is that it's oil- free and non-comedogenic (it won't clog your pores or cause pimples).I was going to buy it and then the sales assistant told me that they had a special offer and with any $50 purchase I could pick out 3 samples. So I had to buy one more product to make it over 50. By the way the foundation costs 42 dollars. I picked out a lipstick from their new collection L'Absolu Nu. The shade I chose was Beige Tulle, I think it was the lightest and the most neutral in the collection. So, here are the pictures and my opinions :)

 My shade is Ivoire 3 (Warm). I hate pink undertone in foundations !:))

 The foundation does not have SPF, so make sure you apply a moisturizer that contains SPF. You don't want premature wrinkles! ;)

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra foundation

 The nice feature-it has a pump!! 

 

 Here is the swatch on my hand. I made the second swatch right next to it and blended it out. As you can see it blended with my skin perfectly! I'm very happy about that since I have pretty light skin and it's really difficult for me to find the right shade..As for the consistency - it's quite liquidy, inspite of it being a full-coverage foundation. I don't feel it on my skin at all and it is extremely easy to blend!

Lancome L'Absolu Nu lipstick in Beige Tulle

 Ta da! I like the cute rose engraving on the lipstick!:D

With flash. The lipstick is very smooth and creamy like a lipgloss. It has very subtle silver shimmer to it...beautiful! I can describe the shade as beige with pink undertones.

In natural light

 I'm a fan of nude/natural lipsticks, so here are some swatches to compare. From top to bottom, left to right : Revlon in Petal, MAC in Creme cup, Lancome L'Absolu Nu in Beige Tulle, L'oreal color riche in Fairest Nude.  With flash.
Natural light

 These are the 3 products that I've chosen- Hypnose Drama mascara, Flash Bronzer (tinted self-tanning leg gel with vitamin E) and a brush(I don't know exactly what it is for, I mean it's either a powder or a blush brush, but I'm going to use it as a blush brush as it is not big enough for using on the whole face) :)
The gel-a swatch and it blended-out right above. It has shimmer and is orangey, at least on me..Though I'm going to try it when it's warm enough outside.

Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

 The brush. It has a unique shape,I've never seen anything like this before :) And as for the mascara itself, I was not impressed...It didn't lengthen nor added volume to my lashes. But it may be only the first impression.. I'll wait until it dries a little as this seems to help with most of my mascaras :)
Me with the foundation, mascara and lipstick on.

 Hope this helps! Have a nice day ;)