A Cosmetic Affair

How NOT to prepare for a Blogger Event

Being a beauty blogger you’d think getting invited to blogger events is the norm. But in truth, at least in my case, blogging is a hobby, something I do in my free time or whenever I can squeeze in some time to write down a post. Blogger events are usually rare and far in between.

Amazing blogger event for Catrice and Essence together with these lovely ladies – notice me hiding in the background. Photo credit – Lorraine from Lola Loves Sparkles

Having said this, there are some opportunities which crop up that give me the chance to attend to blogger events for brands which I love and believe in. However, since blogging is not my full-time job this can turn into a juggling job, that similar to a fight, does not always see me come out as the victor. Apart from having a full-time job, I am finishing up my last year at University and try and maintain a healthy social life.

Although rare in occurrence the blogger events that I get invited to seem to have one thing in common; they all seem to happen on that day of the week in which I have already crammed two or three things in. Continue reading

Femme Beauty | Launch Party

A few weeks back I was invited, together with some other bloggers and beauty lovers to the re-launch of Femme Beauty – a spa and beauty shop in Attard specialising in Acrylic and Gel Nail Extensions, Gelish, Spa Manicures and Spa Pedicures, Facials, Massages, Waxing and Make-up by Qualified Personnel.

The hosts of the evening and owners of the quaint and welcoming place were Luisa and Christina, two gorgeous and talented girls. The shop although small was filled with people and us bloggers didn’t take long to start chatting away about beauty as we were surrounded by makeup and a fun atmosphere.

Continue reading “Femme Beauty | Launch Party”

The 2014 Autumn Edit | Skincare, Makeup & Hair

Every season I tend to gravitate towards certain products, more than others. The following is my Autumn Edit for 2014, with the changes I carried out for skincare, makeup and hair.

For skincare my top priority is hydration, so the products I turned to are good for dehydrated skin and at soothing it. For makeup, I chose products that are easy to use for on-the-go and that are long-lasting since I have long days at University and work. On the other hand for hair, I chose products that help my hair stay sleek and frizz free for longer.

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Dr Organic | An introduction + Event

The hottest buzzword at the moment in both the beauty and food industries is ‘organic‘, as it is associated with health, nature and benign products. Dr Organic is a brand that is based on creating unique, natural products that are effective whilst also capturing the bio-active properties of the natural ingredients that make up their products. They have recently launched a new website for Malta and have been stocking up all local pharmacies and health stores with their vast range of products.

The brand offers a variety of different products with different ranges highlighting different key ingredients. The ranges are Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Pomegranate, Manuka Honey, Royal Jelly, Tea Tree, Lavander, Olive Oil, Rose Otto, Coconut Oil, Moroccan Argan Oil and Dead Sea Mineral.

All of their products are made up of mostly natural ingredients that are organic, thus offering the most effective results from each product for your skincare. Continue reading “Dr Organic | An introduction + Event”

REVIEW | Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends

If your hair is anything like mine, the ultimate struggle is to find products that don’t make your hair greasy but at the same don’t dry it out. I have oily roots and dry ends, so a combination of products for both is essential. Here is where the Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends comes in!

This product is a great, easy to apply, on-the-go product that is not heavy on the hair but truly makes a striking difference to get those dry ends looking smooth and polished.

The Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends is from the Yves Rocher Nutrition Hair Range. You get 50ml of product in a squeezy tube which makes it easy to get the exact amount you want. The Balm is made with oat extracts but I did not find it to smell of anything really.

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REVIEW | OPI in Just a Little Rosti at This

This week on my nails I have been wearing my first ever OPI nail polish which is in the shade Just a Little Rosti at This. Now since this has been my first time trying out this brand I thought I would let you know what I think about it.

The shade I got as you can see is very Autumn appropriate and I love a good dark red on my nails during this time of year. You get 15ml of product which is great when you consider the price tag. I paid €9.95 for this nail polish which is well over my usual budget for nail polish. Luckily the store I got it from was also having a 10% discount at the time.

The application of the polish is great. The product is not streaky, the shade pigmented and the brush is wide, just perfect for an easy and fast application. The bottle and the aesthetics of it are gorgeous as well. If you are anything like me, the packaging does make a difference. In this case, there is indeed something satisfying about having an OPI nail polish added to my collection.

As regards to the brand, OPI, I was truly blown away by the huge selection of shades they have. Even though I am quite sure the store did not carry all the line, there were over three shelving units filled with different shades I was a bit overwhelmed. You get shimmer, glitter, metallic, nude, bold, dark and any other nail polish formula you can imagine.

My advice, be prepared. Do your research online and know what you are looking for when you go to shop for OPI. The product is good and you won’t be disappointed.

What is your favourite OPI nail polish shade?

REVIEW | TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range

For the past month I have been trying out the new TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range, which consists of the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo, the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner and the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment.

As the name suggest this trio of products is supposed to make your hair less frizzy and more manageable for you to style. The claim that TRESemmé are making is that you can get salon-smooth hair that lasts for up to 4 washes.

I decided to test out these products thoroughly before writing anything about them and I have been using only them for about a month now. For you to know, I have an oily scalp, dry ends and somewhat wavy hair that tends to get frizzy more than anything.

You start off by using the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo, which is also lower in sulfates and then follow up with the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner, which is designed to use with straighteners. After rinsing off the product and towel drying your hair, you are supposed to use up to 8 pumps of the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment. Since I have medium length hair which is fine and easily weighed down, I only used about 4 pumps making sure to distribute the product mostly to the ends of my hair and what was left all over the rest of the hair.

Both the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner and the Heat Treatment have a similar scent, which is sweet and very pleasant. The 7-Day Smooth System Heat Activated Treatment is also designed to be used with straighteners and the smoothing properties are heat activated. After working in the product and combing it through my hair, I blow dried my hair and straightened it.

After the first time using the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range, you are supposed to wash your hair with the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner and reapply the Heat Activated Treatment only after around 4 washes. I usually wash my hair day in, day out, so I did not re-use the Treatment until about a week had gone by.

Excuse the duck-face 😛

Although I would say that my hair still needed the straightener to be totally smooth I feel that the combination of these products helped in the smoothness of the hair. I had less frizz in my hair and it was easier to pass the straightener over it. Moreover I feel that the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range did not weigh down my hair and did not cause any extra oiliness, which is important to me.

I have now used the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment about 3 times and I find that whenever I apply it my hair looks smoother (no fly away hairs), shinier and healthier. Even though, I might switch out the shampoo from time to time, since I like to use a purifying one from time to time, I will still be enjoying the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner when I do. I found it to be light, does not weigh down my hair and smells great.

In case any of you are interested in the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range you can look up the TRESemmé Facebook Page. The recommended price for the products is as follows; TRESemmé 7-Day Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner €6.75, each, and the TRESemmé 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment €12.28.

Keep an eye out for them in stores as I have seen them on the shelves and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored. The products were provided as PR Samples. All opinions are my own.