Garnier Ambre Solaire BB Cream Review

Hello my beauties!

How are you doing?

I know some of you already had their first swim on the hot beaches of Greece!
I hope I will in the next days during Easter vacation...!

So as the weather is getting hotter and hotter many things keep popping in our heads such as sun protection, oil free, long lasting, color, coverage and other stressful words!

As many of you have noticed, BB creams are popping out like crazy!!

Today I will talk to you about Garnier Ambre Solaire BB cream*.

You all know and most of us love the classic Garnier BB creme but this one comes from a different series.

It says it provides sun protection for the face & neck, with a very important SPF30, illuminates your skin, evens out any imperfections, hydrates and has an anti-dark spots formulation.

Personally, I think that it feels a lot like a sunscreen than a bb cream, which means it is a little heavy, at least for my combination skin.

It has a decent coverage, certainly evens out my skin and it takes at least 5 minutes to dries on your skin before you set it with powder, which is something I think you must do with this bb cream.

It comes out in one color as you see in the picture which is quite dark and difficult to match all skin colors, but you can blend it really really well and set it with lighter or darker powder.

Before I started using this bb cream, I was wearing the classic Garnier bb cream for combination skin but as I had bought it during winter in the shade light, now it is a little light for me.

Sooooo the thing I started doing is mixing the two Garnier bb creams and guess what.

It gives the perfect color, an extra SPF protection and evenness!

I would certainly recommend this bb cream for those with drier skin and wanting to look flawless on the beach! 

Actually yes. I now think that it is a Beach BB cream not a City BB Cream as the first one.

But I am really happy with the result so I think I found my everyday summer bb cream!

Well, that's it from me.

Have you tried this bb cream? What do you think?

As always
stay healthy & beautiful
xxx

*PR sample

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Guerlain Fresh Bronzing Gel

Hello my beauties!

How are you? 

I am doing great as long as I see that sun popping outside my window!

But even though I adore the sun and its glowing effect on my skin.......

we all have learned by now that it is not good for our skin. Not good at all....

We have figured out many many ways to "cheat" the sun effects on our skin and this is exactly what we were discussing with my very good friend Vicky and she just happened to have the most brilliant idea ever! 

She would review her new bronzing gel for my blog and all you!

Let's hear it straight from her!

"Hi everyone!

My name is Vicky and today I will be sort of a "guest lecturer" in Laoura's Beauty Blog. The reason for this, is that I tried a certain product and wanted to share it with everyone else.

I am talking, of course, about Guerlain's Fresh Bronzing Gel, from the Terracotta series. 

It is not a foundation, not a self tanner, and not a primer. It is pure magic, in my opinion!

There are two ways to use it.

First, you can apply it on your face (or neck, arms, and wherever you wish) by itself and achieve a beautifully bronzed skin tone and a healthy glow. This is great for the months of summer, when we usually don't need heavy coverage. 

Second, you can combine it with a foundation of your choice and apply it on top of it. You still achieve the bronzed skin tone and the glow, but now your face looks flawless and healthy.

It is extremely light and easy to use. Due to its gel-like texture you hardly feel like you have anything on, but it stays in place for several hours. 

There is also a bit of sunscreen there, which is always good.

As a downside, it is a bit expensive so keep an eye out for sales and offers! At least, that is how I got it and I haven't regretted it at all.

Thank you for your time, and a special thank you to Laoura, for letting me use her wonderful blog!"

Thank you Vicky for the lovely review! 

As always

stay healthy & beautiful

xxx

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AVON. Eyes Wide Open.

Hello everyone!

How are you? Do you enjoy the weather?

How are you spending your days? Are you doing something special? Do tell!

Today I will talk to you about an event I went to, not very long ago at AVON Headquarters in Athens.

They invited 40 beauty bloggers in order to present the already world known AVON, show us their new products, inform us about the best sellers and most importantly walk us through the fundraising  campaigns they are running as a company.

I am sure that all of you are familiar with AVON.

It is a brand who’s been around since 1886 and founded by David McConnell in the United States. There are about 6,4 million Avon Representatives in more than 100 countries. That says a lot, don’t you think?

During the presentation, they showed us new products that are about to be released and classic best sellers, some of which were given for a try.

The thing that caught my eye was of course was the new bb creme.

Everyone is talking about bb cremes and we want to try them all!

The Avon Skin Loving Beauty Balm comes in 6 natural skin shades, loaded with vitamin E & SPF 15, reduces any redness, softens your skin and even out your tone.

It is a great product worth trying!

However there was one thing, no, three things that really hooked me.

Avon is currently running 3 campaigns:

Avon Foundation against Breast Cancer

Since 1955, Avon Foundation has helped millions of women through information, updates, prevention. They offer over 850 million dollars in more than 50 countries for education, diagnosis, support and scientific research.

Here in Greece, Avon is a true supporter of the Greek Cancer Society and together they have managed the sponsorship as well as the purchase and operation of a mobile mammography unit art.

The mobile mammography unit began its precious journey in Greece in April 2010 and since then they have performed over 14.500 free digital mammograms!

Everyone can help support and expand this action by purchasing some special Avon Products such as the Pink Calendar.

For more information: http://www.avoncosmetics.gr/PRSuite/crusade.page

Avon Foundation against Domestic Violence

This campaign launched in 2004 in the United States. Through educational programs, prevention and information, they support mostly women and their families who suffer from Domestic Violence.

Avon Greece with the cooperation of WIN Hellas, they finance educational seminars within the families suffering from this, focusing mostly on the children affected in order to stop the cycle of violence.

This campaign is supported through the sales of products empowered such as the Empowerment Necklace.

For more information: http://www.avondomesticviolence.gr/

Hello Green Tomorrow Campaign

“Avon Hello Green Tomorrow is mobilizing a global environment movement to nurture nature and help end deforestation”.

With mottos like “Helping Protect Forest Worldwide” & “Paper is a sustainable Resource” they are trying to unite people, educate them and mobilize them to do good and give back in this important cause.

Help Avon protect the Forests can make a huge difference in the world we live in.

Selections of special fundraising products have been creating in order to expand the life and the purpose of this campaign such as the Green Bag.

For more information: http://www.hellogreentomorrow.com/ 

Companies such as AVON inspire women and people around the world to do good around them in so many ways that is beyond touching.

We should all give it a minute to look to the person next to us, advise them and support them.

Eyes wide Open should be our new thought.

See their products & find an Avon Representative near you at

http://www.avoncosmetics.gr/PRSuite/home_page.page

I hope you liked all the above and given you something to think about.

It is worth it.

As always…..

stay healthy, beautiful, aware & active.

xxx

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Maybelline SuperStay 24hr Review

Hello beauties!

I hope you are well and prepared because summer is getting closer and closer!

As most of us do, we tend to change our skin routine because of the weather changes and the temperature rise. We start from our cleanser, our moisturizer and our foundation.

I will start from the last. The foundation. 

Now that the weather is getting hotter and hotter we are searching for a light yet with good coverage, durability, staying power and SPF protection! You think it’s too much? No.

Most cosmetics brands are aware of our needs and the conditions change and they adapt. And evolve.

This is what happened with Maybelline. 

They created a modern foundation with many benefits.

Maybelline Superstay 24hr micro-flex stretch formula foundation with SPF 19

&

Maybelline Superstay 24hr Concealer

Let me start from the foundation.

It has one of the most velvety consistency I have ever felt in a foundation.

It applies very easily giving you the time to work it in your skin and once you are done blending it, within 2-3 minutes it transforms from liquidy to powdery, giving a really really nice finish. 

I have combination/oil skin and it does give me a matte finish that stays without touch ups for a 3-4 hours. 

But I really want to say something here. If you have combination/oily or even very oily skin, you should know that there is no magic potion/foundation/powder that will take away the shine for the entire day. Seriously. The only thing we can do is to always use a good primer, try different foundations for oily skin in order to see which one sits well on our skin, powder and take that powder with us in order to touch up when needed. Just saying, so you know. 

Back to the review. 

Its coverage is medium but you can build it up, although if built a lot can look a little cakey and make your pores more visible than before.

It comes in a 30ml glass bottle and has a pump which is a very good thing for our hygiene.

As declared by its name, it has very good durability and does not fade away or slide off your face.

It has an SPF 19 which is something really good if you are wearing this as your morning foundation. It's not enough, you have to use a regular sunscreen underneath but an SPF is always a plus! Unless you will be photographed!!

I gambled and ordered it online in the color 021 Nude. It is not the perfect shade but suits quite well on my NW25 skin but it is a little pink which I hate. I make sure I mix it with a hint of a lighter yellowy foundation and blend it all the way down to the neck.

As I was quite happy with the foundation I thought I would try the concealer as well.

I first tried it on my under eye area. That didn’t work very well.

Even though I don’t have visible dark circles and don’t need to cover something, I want to put something there!

But my skin there is rather thin and this product is a teeny tiny heavy for an undereye concealer, at least for me.

But as I noticed that it has a quite good coverage I tried it on my blemishes and minor flaws that need extra concealing. It was great. It covers up anything you have, although you have to put little by little because it will cake and blend really well around the edges with your brush.

I like it very much. Once it set with a powder, stays on really well and for at least 6-8 hours.

I am really happy that the last years drugstore brands come up with such quality cosmetics for a good price. We can try out new things without making our bank account to bleed!

Well that’s it from me!

Have you tried the Maybelline SuperStay 24hr?

What is your opinion if you have?

stay & beautiful

xxx

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Essence Stay All Day Eyeshadow Review

Hello everyone!

How are you? Do you enjoy the weather change like me? 

You can’t wait for the sun to pop out every day like me? 

I totally get it! It’s Spring after all!

Well, today I will be reviewing a product that has been a surprise to me.

Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting EyeShadow

The last couple of years I have raised an obsession to cream eyeshadows.

I find them to be one of the most genius things ever invented in makeup industry.

They are so easy to use. The chance of a mistake is so little that you can’t even see it!

They apply like a dream on your lid and with a little blending, sometimes without even a brush, you get a very good eye makeup without even having to worry about its longevity as most of them are creaseless, waterproof and long lasting. 

How amazing is that?

So, as you know, many brands have launched their version of cream eyeshadow.

I have two of the famous MAC Paint Pots, a couple of Maybelline 24hr color tattoo, but as a makeup junkie I always try to look behind the curtain as I don’t think it is a rule that expensive things are always the best.

So I came across with these cream eyeshadows by Essence, a German cosmetics brand, well known to all of you for its good quality and low prices.

So I picked up the All Day Long Lasting EyeShadow in For Fairies.

 

I wanted an everyday yet slightly popping eyeshadow that would not crease and stay at least throughout the working hours and I found it.

It is super creamy eyeshadow, it applies really smoothly on your lid and you don’t even need a brush.

It is a light pink with gold shimmer to it that you can build up if you want. 

It is perfect for a daytime look. You pop that on and some mascara and you are done!

Or you can match it with a deep plum shade on the corners of your eyes for a more evening look.

I never remember the prices of my cosmetics except they are super expensive but I believe this one costs around 3.50 €. Amazing, right?

So what do you think of cream eyeshadows? Which one is your favorite?

Have you tried Essence?

Stay healthy & beautiful

xxx

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Mac & Sephora Eye Brighteners! Lighten Up Your Eyes!

Hello everyone! 

How have you been doing?

Is the season transition makes you feel a bit sleepless and tired? 

And the worse…does it shows in your eyes? 

Well if this is the case, boy I have good news for you! 

Eye Brighteners! 

If anyone of you has not heard of them before, let me give you a heads up.

Eye brighteners are light textured colored cremes that go very smoothly under the eyes. 

Their main goal is not to cover your dark circles but to brighten and light reflect the under eye area, creating a more fresh and clean appearance.

I don’t have any dark circles so this is perfect for me. But it is also useful for the ones that have, by using a light layer of corrector (peachy), concealer (beige) and brightener (light pink) which you will success by applying a small amount of each to have a natural highlighted under eye area.

The ones I have and use are:

 MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter Pen in Bright Forecast & the

 Sephora Smoothing & Brightening Concealer in 03 light.

As you can see from the photos the one is really yellowy and the other is rather light pink.

The yellow tone is more suitable for darker skins and the light pink one is perfect for fair skins.

I use to mix them together and I end up having the perfect highlighting shade for my skin.

It is almost like second skin. 

I bought both of them on sale so I am not sure what their price is but I can tell you approximately that the MAC is about 20-22 euro and the Sephora is about 10-12 euro.
 

Their quality is equally good even though there is a big price gap! 

So, what do you think? Do you use eye brighteners?

If so, which one? I am open to suggestions!

Stay healthy & beautiful!

xxx

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