Sunday 1 March 2015

February Favourites ft. NARS, Formula X and more

February is over, and it’s been fast. Two or three days less make such a difference, don’t they? Anyway, today I’m here to tell you all about the beauty products I’ve been loving in the last month, so let’s get started!

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Lash Sensational Formula X Rimmel Provocalips La Roche Posay

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
This monthly favourites are going to be affected by the heavy cold that caught me in the last week - sorry, but with a runny nose and mountains of paper tissues everywhere I couldn’t avoid this. The good thing though is that it gives me the chance to talk about this little miracle worker that I always forget about but always ends up saving my skin: the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. I’ve always loved the original Cicaplast (do you remember when everyone went crazy for it as a primer when Lisa Eldridge used it in a video? When was that?), and when the Baume came out I got a tube to keep around for emergencies. This week, the condition of my nose was so embarrassing (bright red and dry skin all around it - trust me, it wasn’t a good look!) that I needed to do something - but every time I tried to apply anything to the nose area it was being removed by the tissue in 30 seconds time. Until I remembered that this was hidden somewhere. Three applications, and even with the continuous use of tissues my nose was nearly normal. I almost couldn’t believe it, and this earned a place in my everyday skincare box because I never want to forget about it again.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
If you’ve been wondering what was the little Sephora sample pot in the picture, here’s the answer. You know how it goes with me and foundations: if a new one comes out, there’s a 99% chance I’m going to try it.
I was hesitant to try this because I’d heard it was even more mat the NARS Sheer Glow, which looks anything but glowy on me. But I’m happy to report that I’ve had totally different results with this, and I love it! Yes, it’s pretty mat, I can hardly say it’s got a slightly satin finish to it, but it looks beautiful on the skin and doesn’t make it look flat in the slightest. The coverage is amazing, and the sheerest layer bounced on the skin with a sponge already has a good medium to full coverage. I apply the slightest amount: a tap in the cap of the tiny pot does my whole face! So, if you’re not liking this and finding it too thick or that it sits on top of the skin, try cutting the amount you’re using in half. I have high hopes it’s going to work better!
The thing that made me fell in love with the NARS All Day Luminous Foundation though is how it behaved during that cold (and then I’m going to stop talking about it, I promise!): with stressed skin with dryness and red patches everywhere, this made me look human. And even on my nose, that in winter is already dry so imagine with a cold, it looked perfect, without clinging to dry patches.
One last thing (or this is going to become a never-ending post!), the shade. I usually avoid anything pink because I look terrible with it on, but the right match for me is Mont Blanc, which is described as having pink undertones. it looks pretty neutral if not slightly yellow when swatched, and it works, so I’m not going to complain! I’m glad it works though, because otherwise I should have ordered Gobi online (if I wanted to buy it, which now I kinda do, lol!) and I wouldn’t have been able to test it properly before.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
I won’t say too much about this as I’ve just posted a full review here in my last post, but what you need to know is that’s amazing. I’m back in the world of drugstore mascaras after my love relationship with Lancôme Grandiôse (full review here!), and I couldn’t be happier. This €9.90 mascara gives me long, voluminous and defined lashes, lasts all day without smudging or flaking and it’s a breeze to apply. It’s love!

Rimmel Provocalips in I’ll Call you 
I’ve never been the biggest lover of liquid lipsticks, but this product changed my mind completely. Easy to apply, comfortable and long lasting, I like it better that Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge (you can read my comparison in this post) and allows me to wear a really bold lip without having to check the situation every half an hour. I have now bought the shades Little Minx, Dare To Pink and Skinny Dipping too, and the only one I don’t like is the last one, the nude, as it’s a really unflattering browny shade with a frosty finish. Ugh.

Formula X Sheer Strenght Nail Polish in Energetic
I love Formula X: their System is one of the best things I’ve ever got for my nails (I reviewed it in this post!), their nail polishes are beautiful and this new Sheer Strength range doesn’t seem to disappoint. The shade I have is a really sheer pink that gives a really nice look to the nails, and gives the look of a French Mani (the one with the white pencil trick, not the one with the stripe of white polish). I got this because I needed something strengthening and concealing for slightly damaged nails, but I ended up with a new nail polish love. And I almost forgot: this lasted 10 days without the System, just two layers of the nail polish and not even a top coat!

Here’s what I’ve been loving this month - I’ve been playing around with more exciting things though, so keep your eyes peeled for upcoming exciting reviews!
What have been your favourites new and old beauty finds this month?


Febbraio è finito, ed è volato. Che differenza fanno due o tre giorni in meno! Comunque, oggi sono qui per parlarvi dei prodotti che mi sono piaciuti di più nell’ultimo mese: cominciamo!

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
Questo post sui preferiti del mese sarà inevitabilmente influenzato dal tremendo raffreddore che mi ha colpita nell’ultima settimana -  scusatemi, ma con il naso che cola e montagne di fazzoletti ovunque non potevo evitarlo. La cosa buona è che ho l’occasione di parlarvi di questo piccolo miracolo di cui mi dimentico sempre ma che finisce sempre per salvare la mia pelle: La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. Sono sempre stata fan del Cicaplast originario (vi ricordate quando iniziarono ad usarlo tutti perché Lisa Eldridge l’aveva usato come primer in un video?), e quando uscì il balsamo decisi di tenerne uno in casa per le emergenze. Questa settimana la condizione del mio naso era così imbarazzante (rosso fuoco e pelle secchissima tutto intorno - credetemi, non era un bello spettacolo) da rendere necessario un intervento risolutivo, ma ogni volta che tentavo di mettere qualcosa veniva rimosso dal fazzoletto nel giro di 30 secondo. Finché non mi sono ricordata che avevo questo nascosto da qualche parte. Tre applicazioni, e anche con l’uso continuo di fazzoletti il mio naso era quasi tornato normale. Non ci credevo quasi, e il Baume Cicaplast si è guadagnato un posto nella mia scatola della skincare quotidiana perché non voglio mai più dimenticarmene.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
Se vi siete chiesti cosa ci potesse essere in quel piccolo contenitore Sephora nella foto, ecco la risposta. Sapete come funziona com me e i fondotinta: se ne esce uno nuovo, c’è un’altissima probabilità che io finisca per provarlo.
Non ero completamente decisa a provare questo però, avendo sentito dire che fosse ancora più mat del NARS Sheer Glow, che su di me è tutto tranne che luminoso. Ma sono felice di dirvi che o avuto un risultato completamente diverso con questo, e lo adoro! Sì, è piuttosto mat, posso a malapena dire che il finish sia leggermente satinato, ma appare bellissimo sulla pelle e non fa effetto piatto neanche un pochino. La coprenza è incredibile, e lo strato più sottile tamponato sulla pelle con una spugnetta dona una copertura da media a totale. Applico uno strato leggerissimo: un colpetto nel piccolo tappo del contenitore è sufficiente per tutto il viso! Quindi, se avete provato questo fondotinta e non vi è piaciuto perché troppo spesso o innaturale, provate ad usarne la metà. Credo proprio che vi piacerà di più!
La cosa che mi ha fatto davvero innamorare del NARS All Day Luminous è però come si è comportato durante questo raffreddore (e poi smetto di parlarne, giuro!): con la pelle stressata con secchezza e rossori ovunque, mi ha fatto apparire perfetta. Anche sul mio naso, che già di suo si diverte ad essere secco in inverno quindi figuratevi con il raffreddore, il risultato è stato perfetto, senza evidenziare per niente la secchezza.
Un’ultima cosa (o questo post diventerà infinito!), la tonalità. Di solito evito qualunque cosa sia anche solo leggermene rosata perché mi sta malissimo, ma il colore giusto per me è  Mont Blanc, che è descritto come una tonalità dal sottotono rosa. A me sembra piuttosto neutro se non leggermente dorato, e funziona, quindi non mi lamento! Sono felice che vada bene poi perché se no avrei dovuto ordinare online Gobi (se avessi avuto intenzione di comprarlo. Quasi quasi…) e non sarei stata in grado di provarlo bene prima.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Non mi dilungherò molto a proposito di questo mascara, visto che l’ho appena recensito nell’ultimo post, ma quello che avete bisogno di sapere è che è favoloso. Sono tornata nel mondo dei mascara da drugstore dopo il mio idillio d’amore con Lancôme Grandiôse (recensito qui!), e non potrei esserne più felice. Questo mascara da €9.90 mi dona ciglia volumizzate, allungate e definite, dura tutto il giorno senza sbavare o sbriciolarsi ed è una meraviglia da applicare. Lo adoro!

Rimmel Provocalips in I’ll Call You
Non sono mai stata la più grande fan dei rossetti liquidi, ma questo prodotto mi ha fatto cambiare idea completamente. Semplice da applicare, confortevole e a lunga durata, mi piace di più dell’Aqua Rouge Make Up For Ever (potete leggere il confronto in questo post) e mi permette di indossare un rossetto dal colore deciso senza dover controllare la situazione ogni mezzora. Ho preso anche i colori Little Minx, Dare To Pink and Skinny Dipping, e l’unico che non mi piace è l’ultimo, il nude, visto che è un marroncino terribile dal finish frost. Ugh.

Formila X Sheer Strenght Nail Polish in Energetic
Amo Formula X: il loro System è una delle cose migliori mai trovate per le mie unghie (l’ho recensito in questo post!), i loro smalti sono bellissimi e questa nuova linea Sheer Strength non mi ha delusa. La tonalità che possiedo è un rosa molto trasparente che da un bellissimo effetto sulle unghie, e mi ricorda l’aspetto di una French Manicure (quella con il trucchetto della matita bianca, non della riga di smalto bianco). Ho presto questo smalto perché avevo bisogno di qualcosa d rinforzante e leggermente camuffante per unghie leggermente danneggiate, ma mi sono ritrovata con un nuovo smalto preferito. Quasi mi dimenticavo: è durato 10 giorni senza il System, solo due strati di smalto e nemmeno un top coat!

Ecco i prodotti che ho amato di più questo mese - ho usato molte altre cose interessanti però, quindi tenete gli occhi aperti per le review in arrivo!

Quali sono stati i vostri prodotti preferiti, vecchi e nuovi, di febbraio?

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24 comments:

  1. I cannot wait to try a sample of that Nars foundation, everyone seems to be loving it!


    I am also a big fan of drugstore mascaras and I love Maybelline the Falsies, maybe I will try the Lash Sensational next.


    Sephora's X Formula is really amazing, I have been using their top coat for a while now and it's the best one ever! Have you tried that one?

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  2. I've been wanting to try Formula X but I can't get it here in the UK :(

    www.angerawrs.co.uk

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  3. Unfortunately I'm not getting along with the new NARS foundation at all. I'm intrigued by the Cicaplast B5 now, need to try that one ;-)

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  4. I really like the nars sheer glow as well! And maybelline has always brought out fab mascaras! Hope to see more great reviews like this soon!!

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  5. I haven't tried anything you've posted here, but it all sounds so good. I tried the original Nars foundation and had to return it because it made me skin look so "off" if that makes sense. I could try out a sample of the new one and see how it does, since a lot of people are saying it's so good! I've never heard of this particular Rimmel lippie, but I'm intrigued!
    xx
    Jenny // www.mishmoshmakeup.com

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  6. Hey, I don't remember Lisa Eldridge using Cicaplast as a primer! Now I need it, too LOL I've tried the Cicaplast lip balm, but when I am ill and need something for my nose, I use Homeoplasmine. I hope flu season is officially over, but then again I didn't get sick till March last year and it was NOT pretty!


    Glad to hear you like the NARS foundation so much! I've heard mostly good things about it. Too bad there is no counter here so I can't get a sample pot first. In general I find it a bad idea to buy a foundation without having tested it out several times.

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  7. Great favourites :) I bought my first Rimmel Apocalips a few weeks ago (I know, seriously late to the party) and it was seriously long lasting! :) x

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  8. the nars foundation sounds intersting. thin mat but not flat... i could go for that. sometimes i feel like mat foundations only come in full coverage and then you look like you have a super thick paste layer on your face. not thanks...

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  9. Great picks! Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara is on my list to try! I do enjoy Maybelline's mascara's! :)


    Miss Singh
    www.miss-singh.blogspot.com

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  10. I had (and still kinda have) the exact same problem! I've been really sick and I'm constantly sneezing and blowing my nose, so as a result my nose area looks and feels terrible. Good to hear La Roche Posay could bring you some relief.

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  11. I love LRP products! They can get a bit expensive depending on the pharmacy you go to but they're really great at doing what they say they do! Have you tried their Effaclar Duo? I love it!

    x Julia | Wing Me a Dream

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  12. Once I've used up my Bourjois mascara I'll definitely be getting Lash Sensational, Maybelline mascaras are fantastic! From your review of the new Nars foundation it definitely wouldn't be for me as I need really dewy, glowy ones because I have such dry skin! Glad you're enjoying it though :) I have a Sephora Formula X polish too and I really like it!

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  13. I just bought the Cicaplast for my daughter and it's amazing. Love the Rimmel Provocalips shade you have, so gorgeous x

    Beauty with charm

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  14. I really want to try the new Nars foundation, it sounds like I would love it. I also like the Maybelline mascara and the Provocalips :) x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

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  15. I definitely want to try the Maybelline mascara, I've read nothing but good things about it!

    allthatshimmers.co.uk xo

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  16. You know, I've never been that intrigued by the NARS foundations but I'm becoming more and more curious about this new one. :-) Did I say that already? And yes, Formula X is AMAZING. You know I agree with you on this. xo


    Beauty Isles
    | An Island Girl's Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  17. I've got dry skin and that's the only reason why I have not tried that Nars foundation yet. I need my bases to be glowy. I've been meaning to buy those Rimmel provocalips since they were released but the reviews online are so mixed I give up every time I'm in the drugstore. Your post sparked my curiosity again. :) x

    Renata | Speaking Beauty UK

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  18. I have heard raves about that nailpolish, but never got to try it myself. 10 days of weartime does sound impressive, though...
    How long does nailpolish usually last on you?

    www.lindalibraloca.com

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  19. Hey Gyudy. Hope youre feeling much better now (im sick with a cold and some eye infection now yuck) ! Provocalips was so suprisingly good -I love it too! The maybelline mascara looks very similar to the loreal butterfly one that I love , so good to know that it works well too !Ah yes Formula X..love ! Great picks:)

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  20. So glad to hear you're loving the NARS foundation, too! I totally agree with you about the coverage. You need so very little amount to cover the entire face! Unbelievable! I think my bottle is going to last me at least 3 years. LOL! Great picks!

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  21. So many favourites here I still need to try myself! I have Mont Blanc myself in the Nars Sheer Glow one, but it seems a little too pink for me. Do you think it's different shade-wise compared to the luminous weightless foundation? I need to get my hands on the Maybelline mascara aswell! xx

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  22. that formula x nail paint is so beautiful color

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  23. and im so glad to hear about the foundation
    its always good to try with sample :)

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