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Revlon by Marchesa – Red Carpet Collection

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The latest Revlon/ Marchesa collab has kinda left me speechless. I absolutely love the Black Cherry lipstick and the Valentine & Grey Suede (which looks more like a dusk rose to me?) Nail Enamels! Words cannot describe how annoyed I am, at not being able to get my hands on Revlon products anywhere in my hometown… Guess I will have to look for them online (or maybe get one of my friends abroad to get & post them to me).

Raluca Stoica's avatarA Stairway To Fashion

Revlon and Marchesa came together one more time, for the third time, and created the “Red Carpet” beauty collection.

“Beauty plays such a huge role in completing a red carpet look and we wanted this collection to be representative of some of our most iconic red carpet moments,” said Keren Craig, co-founder and textile director for Marchesa. “We were inspired by the bespoke elements found in the Marchesa collections and translated them to the packaging through beautiful hues and intricate designs. This exclusive collection makes it possible for every woman to have her own show-stopping beauty moment.”

The two giants, in the honour of their third collaboration funded $ 15.000 towards the Half the Sky – a program that helps the fight of women and children against the oppressions and empower women worldwide. “It was very important to us, on a personal level, that this collection…

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Coming Soon: MAC ‘A Fantasy of Flowers’ Spring 2014 Collection

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Not sure if you’ve seen the upcoming MAC ‘A Fantasy of Flowers’ collection or what you think of it. I, for one, have and cannot wait for the March international release! I have already sussed out what I’d like to try and should now start saving towards that, I suppose. In fact, I think I’ll put myself on a little ‘spending ban’ this month – in view of what’s to come…

Here’s an overview of the collection:

Mineralize Eye Shadow Quads ($21)

  • In The Meadow: Icy shimmering white, dirty olive green, golden mint green & pale yellow
  • Pink Sensibilities: Pinky brown, chocolate brown, yellow pink & icy blue pink
  • Golden Hours: Copper bronze, golden brown, soft golden peach & pale yellow gold
  • Great Beyond: Deep blue, dusky plum, icy white lilac & soft mauve brown

Mineralize Blush ($25)

  • Azalea in the Afternoon: Midtone blue pink
  • Petal Power: Coral pink with gold shimmer

Mineralize Skin Finish ($30)

  • Stereo Rose: Coral with golden/bronze shimmering nuances
  • Perfect Topping: Pale pearlized pink

Nail Lacquer ($16)

  • Girl Trouble: Super glitter pink
  • Pep Pep Pep: Light peach nude
  • Saint Germain: Light cool pink
  • Soirée: Sparkly light bronze gold

Pigment ($21)

  • Lily-White: Pale butter-yellow shimmer
  • Chartreuse Bouquet: Shimmering acid green
  • Pink Pearl: Shimmery lavender pink
  • Violet: Vivid bright violet purple

Fluidline ($16)

  • Phlox Garden: Vivid violet
  • Sassy Moss: Vivid green

Cremesheen Glass ($20)

  • Nectarsweet: Soft pink-peach
  • Flare for Fantasy: Midtone pink-beige
  • Pagoda: Frosted cool pink
  • Playful Petal: Electric magenta
  • Star Quality: Bright orange-coral
  • Galaxy Rose: Midtone violet pink

Lipstick ($16)

  • Fleur D’Coral: Pale creamy peach
  • Naked Bud: Neutral sheer nude
  • Dreaming Dahlia: Sheer red-coral
  • Rose Lily: Sheer pastel pink
  • Snapdragon: Midtone blue pink
  • Heavenly Hybrid: Midtone berry

There’s also the Haute and Naughty Lash in Black ($21) and three brushes:

  • 286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush ($32)
  • 159 Duo Fibre Blush Brush ($35)
  • 187 Duo Fibre Face Brush ($42)

The whole of the collection is bright & lovely really, but some colors just don’t work for me – so I think I’ll stick with my tried-and-tested hues this time around. Here’s my favorite, to-buy items:

From left to right: Mineralize Eyeshadow Quad in ‘Pink Sensibilities’ & ‘In the Meadow’, Fluidline in ‘Phlox Garden’, Mineralize Blush in ‘Petal Flower’, Lipstick in ‘Naked Bud’, Cremesheen Glass in ‘Flare For Fantasy’ & ‘Galaxy Rose’, Nail Lacquer in ‘Soiree’.

How does the ‘Fantasy of Flowers’ collection strike you? Is it something you are looking forward to, or not really that excited about? Got any favorites? Better yet, have you tried anything already? Got swatches/ reviews? Do let me know…

{Full Collection Image via ‘A Soft Black Star’. Campaign/ Swatch images © MAC}

Sephora Haul

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A couple of weeks ago, I headed over to Sephora with the (very honest and very innocent) intention of buying hairspray. Then…this, somehow, happened:

Above, (kinda) clockwise: Benefit ‘World Famous Neutrals’ Eye Palette & ‘The Porefessional’ Primer, L’Oreal Elnett Satin Extreme Hold Hairspray, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, Sephora Cotton Flower Moisturizing Hand Cream

The only thing that wasn’t a complete impulse buy was the Benefit ‘Porefessional’, which I have been meaning to get for a while (and which, in my defense, was 35% off at the time).

The eye palette (also at 35% off) was picked up instead of the Too Faced ‘Naked Eye’ one (which was not in stock) and has proved to be amazing and, when used with a primer, extra long-lasting. All six colors included (see below) are subtle & sultry at the same time and can easily be played down or up – for morning/ evening looks respectively.
The Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara was something I kept hearing about and felt that I needed (my bottom lashes are real tiny, to the point that I have, literally, never been able to put a coat of mascara on them without totally smudging the whole area under my carefully done eye). Plus, at 15€ (-35%) it would be sacrilege not to pick it up (he he).

Last, but not least, I got myself a little tube of the Sephora Cotton Flower hand cream (to substitute for my L’Occitane Rose 4 Reines Velvet Hand Cream, which has run out, until I restock).

Moral of today’s post – aka recent Haul no.2 (see recent Haul no.1 here): Never carry extra money or a credit/debit card with you, when on totally routine trips to beauty stores…

{‘New World Famous Neutrals’ Palette Image: © Benefit}

Fashion Obsession of the Day…

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Pop Wrap Limited Edition Amelia Silk Wrap Dress (In Spotted Cat Floral Lilac/ Yellow)

Pop Wrap Limited Edition Amelia Silk Wrap Dress (In Spotted Cat Floral Lilac/ Yellow)

Part of the latest Diane Von Furstenberg/ Andy Warhol collaboration, this little number has stolen my heart. Will it also (@440€) steal a sizeable chunk of my monthly salary? The jury, my dear readers, is still out on that one…

You can check out the full ‘Pop Wrap’ collection online, here.

{Image © Diane Von Furstenberg}

‘The Rosie Project’ by Graeme Simsion ~ A Review

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As you may know I do enjoy getting to know new authors by their debuts and Graeme Simsion’s first novel, with its catchy title and intriguing back cover blurb, had me at hello. Let me start by saying that I actually purchased the Audible audiobook version of this (narrated by the wonderful Dan O’Grady) which I most highly recommend.

On to the book itself what we are dealing with here is, essentially, the journey of self- discovery of Don Tilman – a handsome (think Gregory Peck) but totally inept socially (think Sheldon from ‘Big Bang Theory’) Genetics professor (and undiagnosed Asperger’s sufferer).

At 39 Don decides it’s about time he got married and, disillusioned by the inefficacy of traditional dating rituals, devises ‘The Wife Project’ – a scientific method (complete with a 16-page questionnaire) of finding the perfect partner. She will not be (amongst many others) a smoker, a drinker or a late-comer. Enter Rosie (a.k.a. ‘The World’s Most Incompatible Woman’) on a quest right up Tilman’s alley: to find her biological father. Don’s safe, ordered life is thrown into complete chaos & what ensues is… one of the top feel- good novels of 2013!

An amusing, clever and at times unexpectedly touching love story, with a twist and some of the quirkiest (& most adorable) characters, ‘The Rosie Project’ is 352 pages of unconventional, lough- out- loud chic-lit – written by a guy at the top of his game.

Hands down, one of my favorite books of last year – if you haven’t read it yet (and are in the mood for something light, different and fun) do make a point of picking it up!

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Penguin (2 Jan 2014)
ISBN-10: 1405912790
ISBN-13: 978-1405912792

Find it in English here
Find it in Greek here

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