Latest Posts

Pick Your Five: Favorite MAC Products

Published by
Top5 MAC Products

It’s no big secret that I have a long- standing love affair with MAC Cosmetics, which I’ve been using (almost religiously) for the last 10-15 years. With that in mind, I thought it was about time I created a Top5 of my absolute favorites and this is the end result. So, without further ado, here are my all-stars:

1. Fluidline Gel Liner
Ever since I first used this (special angled liner brush included), about 6 years ago, I have never looked back. This stuff practically glides on to give me my beloved cat- eye and will, literally, NOT budge throughout the day (and night). The alternative, animal friendly, Stila Smudge Pot I opted for last year never even stood a chance and left a lot to be desired (not to mention it completely dried up, half- way through, resulting in a total waste of hard- earned money).

2. Studio Fix Fluid SPF15
Having tried a ridiculous number of different foundations on my (oily & still acne prone) skin, I can honestly say that this takes the cake! A practically custom- made shade, fantastic coverage and SPF15 (for the non- religious sunscreen users, like me), what more could you ask for? The fact that I have not had one single break- out and/ or irritation since I have started using this, more than a decade ago, just adds to the list of things that have made me a fanatic for life…

3. Brow Set
Despite the fact that my brows are naturally thick and easy to maintain, I (like any other gal) am in need of some everyday definition – as well as the occasional tweezer- mishap cover- up :$ For some reason, I have never been able to make full use of the powers of eyebrow pencils & powders, finding them tricky to use in order to achieve a subtle, uniform, natural looking result. Upon being recommended this, by my trusted MAC consultant (and trying it out for myself,  later the same day), I was converted. The non- sticky formula brushes on easily (thanks to the mascara- like wand) & adds colour and definition in one swift swoop. Would not change it for the world!

4. Fix+
This is a bit on the pricey side, but worth every cent! I use it either as a light primer (I find that spraying it on before makeup, makes my foundation glide on smoother and also adds a bit of oomph to any colours I may have used, i.e. eyeshadows) or as the  finishing touch that gives my face a dewy look and ensures everything stays in place for longer, without flaking and/ or separating. Lately I’ve been considering also investing in the 30ml Travel- Size bottle, to keep in my purse for those quick mid- day refreshers…

5. Sheen Supreme Lipstick
Despite my un-ending love for (almost all) MAC lip…stuff, this comes up on top when it comes to puckering up 🙂 It glides on effortlessly and feels luxuriously smooth and silky, almost balm- like. It makes my lips look chic and polished, with just the right amount of shine and none of that lip- gloss stickiness (that I absolutely despise). Add to that its wide range of highly wearable colours, amazing coverage and great consistency and you can see why it has become a staple in my makeup bag.

So, there you go… My all- time favorite MAC buys, laid out for all to see. Have you used any of them? What did you think? Any recommendations for other MAC things I should not live without?

Save the Orangutans

Published by

Parts of Indonesia, the last remaining place on Earth where endangered orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers still roam free together are in danger.

Local Government in Aceh, Sumatra plans to let mining and palm oil companies move in to decimate areas the size of a million football fields, in one of Indonesia’s most pristine and untouched forests. And it looks like the national Forestry Ministry will let the plan go ahead unless President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono steps in to reject it.

The “Plan to kill Orangutans” petition on Avaaz currently features 1,253,542 signatures and will need to reach a total of 1,500,000.

If you feel that it is imperative to stop greed & dirty politics from destroying one of the last few remaining pieces of paradise on earth you should add your name to the ever-growing list, here.

3cc70dc9b121b77f9dc0b18818c9954c

Similar petitions can be found here, here & here.

Color me…AVON

Published by

When I was first approached by AVON to become a representative, a few years back, one of the main perks mentioned was that of making extra pocket money while doing something girly & fun. Having tried it for long enough now, I can definitely vouch for the second half of the statement. As for the extra money, I’m afraid that being a classic, I-love-me-some-makeup, girl I usually end up having way too much fun with it (a.k.a. buying intriguing new products & lovely new colors of old & trusted favorites) for any to actually stay in my pocket…:

Case in point: Last Week –when in a happy-go-lucky, summer-is-here mood I ended up buying quite a few products for myself (narrowly less, in fact, than those I ordered for actual customers on this occasion :$). My “loot” arrived yesterday and looked something like this:

There was the new professional make-up palette with 36 eye shadows, 36 lip glosses, 6 blushes + blusher/eye/lip brushes (24.95€), the AVON Glow matte bronze powder in Medium Riviera (12.50€), the AVON Color Trend lipstick pencil in Coral you Later (5.50€), the new AVON Speed Dry+ nail polish with Volcanic Rock in Mambo Melon (5.50€) & all six samples of the AVON Ideal Flawless Invisible Coverage Foundation for medium- toned skin, in order to try and see whether one of them will prove able to replace my beloved MAC Studio Fix Fluid (even though, to be honest, I should really know better than to even try).

I will try to post pictures of the nail and lip colors, at a later date. For now, I leave you with a visual of the (FANTASTIC) make-up palette –which came gorgeously packaged, looks cute as hell, includes every which shade a girl may need and… I have already fallen head over heels in love with).

I’d stay and chat but it’s high time I, properly, checked the new AVON Catalogue. A quick look last night left me with the impression that there’s quite a lot to be tempted by, in Campaign 14 😉

RUN GREECE

Published by

Life held a lovely little surprise for me, this morning 🙂

While checking my e-mail (which btw is usually, mostly full of uninteresting newsletters and software/ website updates), I came across a mail from SEGAS (the Hellenic Athletics Federation which organizes a series of sporting/ running events incl. the annual Athens Classic Marathon), informing me of a new series of races to be held at different Greek cities throughout the year. Starting at Ioannina on the 19th of May, “RUN GREECE” will also be held in Patras on the 29th of September (with a 5 & 10K scheduled).

Suffices to say I’ll be joining for…something. Not sure if it will be the 5K (followed by the 10K in Athens on 10/11) or the 10K itself (not bothering to travel up to Athens at all), but it will be something 😉

Cudos to SEGAS for offering runners from outside the main Greek urban centers (ie. Athens, Thessaloniki) the -refreshing- opportunity to register for and participate in running events in (or around) their own hometowns.

Lucky Spindles

Published by
Spindles is incredibly lucky to be alive. His mother, Michaela, a beautiful grey donkey, had been rescued from certain death after being abandoned in the desert. Blind, emaciated and with a broken leg, no-one knew she was about to have a baby – Spindles was a surprise to everyone. But the neglect she suffered meant his legs hadn’t formed properly.
Spindles, was born prematurely, before his legs had the chance to form properly. They began to collapse under his weight until he could hardly stand. You can see in the picture how badly his legs were deformed, and twice a day, they are cast and bandaged to encourage them to straighten. Spindles has been making progress, but still has a long way to go before he’s out of the woods – and he needs all the support he can get.
Wish him good luck in his recovery (and thank the team at Pegasus for their dedication to helping all donkeys and horses in need) by signing his virtual cast.