summer favourites

I wanted to share some products I love and took with my on holidays.

I didn't take any AHA's products with me since I would be in the sun a lot. Cosmel's Hydro toner and eye cream a staple.

Avene came out with some new mineral spf and I bought the tinted one and really liked it. I also used Natura Siberica's Gentle Face Peeling 2-3 times a week.

Schmidt's Rose Vanilla travel deo for the pits! :)

I LOVE Treaclemoon's True Shea Love body butter. Smells devine!

I also tried a gradual self tanner for the first time and will continue to use Eco by Sonya's Winter Skin. It's so easy to use (just make sure you wash your hands after using).

In the evenings I used The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension but I need hydration (the sun and sea really dried my skin out) so I ordered Cosmel's Omega 6 Cream which is DIVINE!!!! I was worried it would be a bit too rich but no. Gives amazing hydrations and the smell....yum! Smells like vanilla and something else...can't put my finger on it!

Cosmel's Melli Sun Milk spf 30 (uva/uvb) is amazing! We were in the sun A LOT and no burns! We all used it (hubby and kids) and no one burned. I do wish Cosmel comes out with a high spf for face (I have lots of hyperpigmentation on my face).

Also I wanted to mention that I was also loving the Barine towels I bought. They are super thin but soak up the water and dry quickly. I will definitely be buying more next summer. You can see one of the towel below (stripes), I used it as a background for the Cosmel travel size goodies.

I did discover another Croatian brand - Adriona. I bought their spf 40 for face and I really liked it. I can't find it so I got this photo off of their facebook page. 

photo

 That's it! ;)

xo

skin food

Hello!

I thought I would share my thought on Weleda's Skin Food. This is a universal I'm gonna say balm. It relieves dryness anywhere from head to toe. I have used this on my face, hands, feet, elbows and knees (on my kids and husband). It's very thick and oily (it's base is made up of oils and beeswax) so I don't really use it on my hands during the day because it does leave your hands oily rather I use it when I go to bed (feet and hands). The smell is 'natural' if you know what I mean, which I love.

Skin Food is free from synthetic fragrances, colourants, preservatives or raw materials from mineral oils.

INCI: Water (Aqua), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Limonene*, Viola Tricolor Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Hydrolyzed Beeswax, Sobitan Olivate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arginine, Zinc Sulfate, Linalool*, Geraniol*, Citral*, Coumarin*. * from natural essential oils

I've lost count on how many times I've repurchased this (I buy mine at Muller). It's a must have and I highly recommend you give it a try. :)

xo

AHA love

Adding AHA's in my skin care has made the biggest impact, I wish I had started using AHA sooner. 

 Alpha hydroxy acids are natural acids derived from fruits such as oranges and lemons. In facial skincare products, the acids are often listed as sugar cane extract, glycolic acid, malic acid, triple fruit acid or lactic acid.

AHA's act as chemical exfoliants, which help to loosen and get rid of the dead skin cells on your skin's surface. The acids are more effective than abrasive exfoliants, such as scrubs and cloths. 

Some benefits are improvement in skin pigmentation, decrease of fine lines and wrinkles, increases absorption of active ingredients in your skincare creams, serums etc. 

Two AHA toners I love are Alpha H Liquid Gold and the recent discovery Cosmel's New cell Intensive Cleansing Lotion (which is made in Croatia). Like I said I love them both but I'm leaning more towards Cosmel. I feel Cosmel's is more gentle despite having 10% AHA. After using Liquid Gold I feel a tightness on my skin and the need to moisturize right away where as when I use Cosmel's toner my skin doesn't feel tight at all.

Another difference between the two is the price. Cosmel's is less expensive in price but the quality in my opinion matches Liquid Golds.

Cosmel 10% AHA ingredients:

Aqua, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Linalool, Limonene

Cruelty Free

Handmade

No artificial colours and fragrances

No Parabens

Recycle

Alpha H Liquid Gold (5% AHA) ingredients:

Aqua, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Hydrolysed Silk, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract.

Keep in mind when using AHA's to use sunscreen.

xo

Cosmel - eye cream extra sensitive

I love me some good natural skin care!! LOVE! I was so excited to use this eye cream for several reasons.

1. Natural product

2. Made in Croatia

3. Not tested on animals

4. Handmade

5. No parabens

6. Recyclable

Like I said Cosmel is a Croatian company which combine their strong pharmaceutical background with an ecological and natural approach to creating their products. Sounds amazing right! :)

This eye cream (15 ml) is gorgeous! I've used more than half and I'm very very happy with it! This cream hydrates (it's got Croatian spring water and hyaluronic acid), protects (raspberry seed oil and other oils like jojoba, avocado, grapeseed. Natural vitamin E and green tea).

When I first opened it the cream looked thick (which I don't mind...I have really dry under eyes) but it's actually a very thin consistency. What surprised me is how rich it is without being too thick or oily. It won't cake up your eye make up. I will definitely purchase this product again. 

The packaging is pretty cute too! :)

Ingredients: Aqua, Glyceryl Stearate, Rubus Ideaus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondisia Chinesis (Jojoba) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Eqisetum Arvense Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cera Alba, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat protein, Tilia Crodata Acid, Ceteareth-20, Benzyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-12, Tocopherol, Mel, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sphingplipids, Phosholipids, Dehydroacetic Acid

They have other products that are on my wish list and I can't wait to try them out like their New Cell Serum which has AHA's and is good for hyperpigmentation (which is my biggest skin issue), Melli Cream Royal Jelly (which is packed with vitamins, honey, shea butter...I'm getting hungry!).

Cosmel is a family run business, super friendly (and speak English!!). You can find them on facebook here. I wish them further success from the bottom of my heart! 

Bravo!

xo

favourites - FOTD

Hello!

I wanted to share some favourites of 2014 and I'll start with my face! :)

This is pretty much what I wear on my face on a daily basis....my FOTD which means face of the day (took me such a long time to figure out that one!). I don't like to wear lots of make up, hate wearing foundation, powder...pretty much never wear it.

Andalou SPF 30 serum (love) I MUST wear minimum of SPF 30 (hyperpigmentation) - Vitacost.

If I'm going to be running errands then I'll top Andalou with Nuxe's BB cream (it only has a SPF of 8?? That is the only bad thing I have to say about this BB cream...and the fact that it only has two shade of which I wear the lightest and if you're very fair skinned I think it will be too dark).

For under eye circles, around the ol' schonz I use RMS Beauty's Un Cover Up - Naturissimo.

I use Bourjois's Ultra Care mascara. I have sensitive eyes and this doesn't irritate them. I want to try Lavera's mascara once I'm done with this one.

I go back and for and sometimes blend Ilia's In My Room (love the colour, lasts on the lips but it takes a bit of work to get it on the lips) and Logona's Double Lip Pencil in 01. I LOVE the Logona Double Lip Pencil and want to get other shades - Love Lula.

When my cousin came to visit from Canada her brought me Tarte's blush in Exposed and it's pretty much all I've been wearing. 

Lush's Vanillary solid perfum is my FAVOURITE! 

All the Christmas 'stuff' is coming down. With all the deadlines I had and sick kids, hubby in the hospital Christmas slipped past me. I didn't even got the Christmas mass because I was home with Jakov (who was sick...and then the next day Mia got sick...then Marko...).

I'm saying goodbye to this Christmas tree. I bought it the first Christmas after my father passed away...so I was 21 (I'm 40 now). I lived in a one bedroom apartment and this tree looked HUGE in it! lol! It looks tiny in our home now.  It's been falling apart the last few Christmas's and looks a tad shabby...looking forward to buying a new tree...or maybe we'll go with real tree's.

Pop on over to the JD blog and check out Alice's FAB card.

 and join me here tomorrow for a Spotlight Blog Hop featuring my stamp set Seamus! :)

xo

Vitacost + Reviva Labs

 Hi!

Hope all is well! :)

I wanted to share a little review on Reviva Labs 10% Glycolic Acid Cream and my experience shopping at Vitacost. Right off the bat I'm going to say I'm 100% happy with both! :) I took these photos early this morning so the lighting is bla. 

Anyhow I bought this cream because I was looking for a good glycolic acid night treatment that would help gently exfoliate my skin (I have normal skin that gets dryer in the winter and my t-zone oilier in the summer, reddness and hyperpigmentation) AND I don't want any nasty ingredients. 

I have been using this for over a month and I have to say I'm very happy with it. I have noticed that my skin feel smoother and less congested. As for my hyperpigmentation...I think more time is need but I do see improvement. This does sting when first put on...but I had no negative reaction and if I feel my skin needs a little extra moisture I will apply my argan oil on top.

For more info on this cream (ingredients, direction) click here.

I really recommend Vitacost especially for people living in Croatia because there's such a huge selection, there's always great sales going on (they ship worldwide). We have a few green shops here in Zagreb that don't compare in selection of budget friendly prices. I just got my second order (Andalou Naturals, I'll update on this product once I get a chance to test it out) yesterday...it takes about a week. 

Click this link

http://goo.gl/FHv1w2

and get $10 off your first Vitacost purchase!

xo

empties

Hello!

Well this is a first blog post for me...empties! :) For those who don't know I'm a bit of a skin care and make up fanatic! BUT I don't collect or buy a lot of it and usually when I'm happy with something I stick with it. If there is something new I want to try out then I do my research (especially if it's a little pricier). 

I have been holding on to some of this stuff for months (to get a decent collection).

I have to say that all of these empties I would re purchase, love them all. Out of the bunch the Novexpert is the most expensive and don't think I'll be buying it for a while because of the price but I L.O.V.E it! It's a mask and scrub in one (if you don't like a gritty scrub than this is not for you).

Products:

OleoTherapy Rosehip oil

Green Girl (cleansing oil, cleansing balm, serum)

Weleda Sea Buckthorn hand cream

Bioderma Sensibio

Nuxe Gentle Toning Lotion

Melvita Body Milk Succulent yellow fruits

Novexpert The Expert Exfoliator Mask & Scrub

xo

skin care staples

Hi!

Hope all is well! :)

I wanted to share some skin care products I use and LOVE! I've changed up a few things.  

First up is coconut oil! If I had to choose one skin care product it would be coconut oil...I use it to cleanse my face (takes off every last bit of make up), it's a moisturizer for the whole family...it's awesome! AND it doesn't hurt that I LOVE the smell of coconuts! ;) Oh and I eat it too!

pinterest

I recently came across this pin and decided to give it a go since I already had some organic apple cider vinegar and I am shocked at how well it is working as a toner for my skin! It's amazing! I use equal part vinegar and water....now it does smell obviously like vinegar but it doesn't stay on the skin.  So far I'm really loving it! I know coconut oil, vinegar??? It's not everyone's cup of tea but it's working for me.

pinterest

Another change I made in my skin care is that I'm using oils and serums to moisturize my skin and have noticed a difference. One of my favourite oils (besides coconut) is Argan and I'm using Primavera's Organic Argan Seed Oil. Another oil I love is Rosehip oil (I ran out and need to get more!). Another oil I want to try out is Avocado oil...heard it's lovely on the skin! :)

 pinterest

I don't like to wear foundation (only wore it maybe 5-6 times in my whole life) and prefer tinted moisturizers, BB creams or CC creams. I love La Roche-Posay's Anthelios XL tinted ultra-light fluid. I'd like to find a natural product for sun care (we don't have a good selection here in Croatia).

pinterest

This next product I have mentioned on my blog and it's Nikel's Cocnut Butter. It's a multi purpose all over butter (a little goes a long way). I literally use it all over (body and face), all year round...it's just gorgeous! The one I have doesn't have carrot oil in it (which is very beneficial for taking care of your skin in the summer months, a natural protection) and as soon as I use up the one I have I will buy this one.

pinterest

I was thrilled to see Weleda's Skin Food available here in Zagreb (Muller). A little goes a long way, if you like creams or lotions that absorb into the skin right away than you probably won't like this...but like I said a little goes a long way and I used this mostly on dry patches, as a hand cream before I go to bed, elbows, feet even on my face when I fell a tad dehydrated. It does have a strong herbal/natural smell (typical of Weleda) which might bother some people...I personally love the smell...smells like the spa (not that I've ever been to a spa but that's how I imagine it to be).

pinterest

There are some more skin card goodies I will share at a later date, lots of them are natural and organic which is what I prefer...not everything I use is but I try my best.

Anyhow, hope you all have a lovely weekend!

xo

strawberries and hyperpigmentation

Hello!

Hope you all are having a lovely weekend! It's cooled down here in Zagreb...rain....but nevertheless we had a little barbecue action yesterday and our strawberries from the garden and ready to be picked so...........

I made my simple lemon cake (recipe here) which tastes amazing with some whipped cream and strawberries!

Jumping from strawberries to skin care :)  I have sensitive combination (very dry and redness on the cheeks)...so I have been searching for a cleanser that wouldn't dry out my skin but deep clean it....long story short I started using coconut oil and HELLO!!!! I LOVE LOVE it! My skin has improved....not as red or irritated....takes off make up! There are different ways of cleansing your face with coconut oil (you can google it) I'm too lazy to do most of the methods I read about..... all I do is slather on some coconut oil, massage it into my skin and wipe off with a cotton pad and repeat (depending on how much make up I've got on my face)...then I rinse my skin with warm water and dry...usually I would have to slap on moisturizer before my skin cracked off (felt so tight)...not anymore!! I just put on my serum and that's it!! I have a jar of coconut oil in my pantry and in my washroom...health benefits are amazing (google it...try it!). Oh...and I use the Bioderma to take off my eye make up.

Speaking of serum I recently received my first Michael Todd order (I have read so many great reviews that I just had to try it out for myself). I ordered the vitamin C serum and the Avocado and Mango mask.

First I have to say the odering and shipping process was great (I live in Croatia)!!!

So far I'm really enjoying these products (that are targeted for pigmentation problems/ sun damage)...the Vitamin C serum smells yummy...not overwhelming and the smell goes away. The mask also smells good enough to eat!! :) It tingles slightly on the skin...doesn't hurt or burn at all....so far I'm loving these products but it's only been about a little over a week so I'll make sure to do an update.

I will be purchasing RoC's Soleil Protexion (Anti Brown Spot fluid)...I heard good things about this one and having hyper pigmentation issues I'm hoping this will help!

Well..that's it for strawberries and my skin issues! lol

Hope you enjoy what's left of your weekend!

xo