FMSphotoaday – Day 22 ( Change ) Caudalie Vinosource

Hello my Beauties,

how is your week going so far?
Every Wednesday i feel like my weekly goals are half accomplished, but i still have half the way to go.
Does anyone know this weird feeling?

Well, today is Day 22 of the May Photo a Day Challenge and the topic is: “Change“.
What does change mean to you? Do you get excited about changes or are you rather someone who likes things to be “the same”?
“22. Change: This can be a hard one, so put your thinking cap on. How can you show change in a photo?”

As i’m trying to keep this challenge at least a little beauty related, i will tell you about my latest skin care changes.
For the past months i have been using Avene products, which i mentioned in ♥ Avene Skin Care Travel Kit ♥ post before.

After trying some samples (and i always go for samples first, before buying a full size product) i got a moisturizer, a cleanser and a mask, which i enjoyed using quite a lot.
But last week i finished them all and really had to decide, whether to get same kit again or try something new from another brand.
And being an curious blogger, “of course” i went for something new. 

These are the samples for my new skin care routine:
Caudalie Vinosource Creme Sorbet Hydratante: with Grape water, Camomile & Grape-seed Polyphenols 
(moisturizing sorbet for sensitive skin).

Caudalie Vinosource Riche Creme velours Ultra-nourrissante: with Grape oil, Shea & Grape-seed Polyphenols 
(intense moisture rescue cream for very dry skin).

Caudalie Vinosource Sérum S.O.S. Désaltérant: with Grape Water, Hyaluronic acid & Grape-seed Polyphenols
(s.o.s. thirst quenching serum for dehydrated skin).
Basically this is how i usually pick out my facial creams & co. I like rich intensive ones as my night cream, a serum to waken up my skin in the morning and some light moisturizer afterwards, that is getting absorbed fast, so i can apply my foundation.

I can’t wait to see whether my skin is happy or not after using these products and how well they all go together if used one after another. That’s going to be my “face project” for the next few weeks. 
You can find more information about the brand and line on the Caudalie Natural Skin Care site.

Btw: when i got the samples today, i remembered a post from a few month’s ago, written by Kareen from the Ziba-Blog, where she talked about the Beauty Elixir & Moisturizing Cream and how i bookmarked that one for later.
(So Kareen, you can be proud of me, i finally managed to get some Caudalie face products as well.) 

As i was saying, i heard quite a lot about the brand before, but mostly used their amazing Hand & Nail cream (with Grape-seed Polyphenols, Vinolevure®, Shea butter, Grape oil.)
Truth is, it’s very much comparable to the Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy hand cream line by Crabtree & Evelyn or the L’Occitane Karité hand cremes. Moisturizes perfectly, isn’t too greesy and if you don’t want a certain scent – that’s definitely one for your purse.

Have you tried any of these before? Which one is your favorite?
And what about this Caudalie Vinosource line? Any experience with that?

 Until next time – stay beautiful.

Featuring Amanda and SkincareHQ

Hello my Beauties,

today i would love you to meet Amanda, a young woman from Minneapolis, who run’s SkincareHQ – a blog full of great dermatology,  simple skin & hair care tips and makeup. 
About a month ago Amanda approached me about writing a guest post for my site and offered to talk about skincare tips for spring and summer, that really work for her.

I gladly accepted, since getting tips from someone, who calls herself a skincare fanatic can’t hurt at all, right?!
I hope you find Amanda’s article useful and give her blog a chance to grow.  Here we go:

Skincare Tips For Spring and Summer

During the spring and summer, hot conditions rule the day and sometimes even the night. These hot and humid conditions can have a less than ideal effect on your skin. Your skin will certainly suffer the consequences if you don’t properly care for it during these horribly hot conditions. But don’t worry! Follow these simple tips and keep your skin looking great all summer long.

Keep it Clean

 The first thing you should make sure to do is keep your skin clean. Heat means sweat, and sweat can lead to oily, slick skin and acne blemishes. To ensure your skin doesn’t stay this way, you need to make sure you clean your face with a gentle acne wash every night before you go to bed. There’s no need to do this in the morning, however. Just rinse your face with some warm water when you wake up, and pat it dry. This will make sure your skin is clean, but not dried out.
Stay Hydrated

 Heat can also lead to the skin becoming dried out. For this reason, you should make sure you drink plenty of water. Dehydration can lead to the skin becoming sallow, dried out, and yes, even this can lead to excess acne. A good rule of thumb is to drink eight cups of water each day, which is equivalent to four regular sized water bottles. There are times when you need to drink an extra cup or two, however. A few good examples are:

• If you are pregnant, you should drink 2 extra cups of water each day at least
• If you are in high elevations, such as in the mountains, you should drink 1 to 2 extra cups
• If you are in extremely cold weather (under 32F) or hot weather (over 85-90F), you should drink 1 to 2 extra cups per day
• For each daily medication you take, you should try to drink 1 extra cup of water (vitamins not included unless specified on the bottle)

It isn’t hard to figure out, either. It might seem that way, but if you are a perfectly healthy person on no medications, in a normal climate, you would only drink 8 cups or 4 water bottles. If you are a pregnant woman, living in the mountains with a very cold climate, and taking 1 prescription medicine a day, you would drink around 11-12 cups, or 5 to 6 water bottles each day.
Moisturize

 Another  way to make sure your skin doesn’t get dried out is to moisturize. This should be done each night after you wash and pat dry your face, just before bed. Choose a moisturizer that will work well for your skin type. Those with dry skin should use a strong, thick cream, while those with oily skin should look for moisturizers without added oils. Yes, even oily skinned people should moisturize. It is entirely necessary for everyone, no matter your particular skin type.
Protect Your Skin

 When you go out into the sun, make sure that you use sunscreen. Some foundations actually have built-in sunscreen, so make sure you read the package to see if yours is one that does. If not, you can also add a drop or two into your foundation. If you aren’t using makeup, such as at the beach, just place the sunscreen directly onto your skin and rub it in well. Using sunscreen will help you avoid getting a sunburn, which is not only unattractive and painful, but can predispose you to skin cancer.

And that ‘s really all there is to it. 

This is all that is necessary for keeping your skin healthy, clean, and even safe during spring and summer.
Do you have any other tips you would like to add to what i have already said?
Let me know about it in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

There you go, Beauties. If you want to connect with Amanda, you can find her @Skincare_HQ on Twitter!

Two of the latest articles Amanda wrote on her blog were on:
Top 10 Foundations For Aging Skin and Best Face Wash For Oily Skin: Top 10 – so check them out and leave her a comment. 🙂
Don’t forget to say HI from me.

Tarte 100% Pure Maracuja Oil Roller Ball – first impression

Hello my Beauties,

it’s finally friday again. We all should be doing something fun tonight, like a nice gathering with friends for a night out in the city or a girls night in, with great movies and manicure. What are you up to?

Today i would like to talk about a product, that i recently discovered, thanks to my friend Irene, the lovely Pinkiecharm on youtube. She’s got always the best news for what’s good & exciting on the market, i have to say. 
So, Let’s talk Tarte 100% Pure Maracuja Oil Roller Ball.

Tarte 0.60-fl-oz / 18 ml 100% pure Maracuja Oil roller ball. Made in Brazil; Filled in USA

Available in http://tartecosmetics.com / http://www.qvc.com / http://www.sephora.com
Price: $17.00
According to Tarte Cosmetics: This earth-prescribed, powerful treatment oil targets individual skin concerns while deeply moisturizing and nourishing skin. Pure, undiluted & cold pressed, it restores skin balance to aid in skin recovery and rejuvenation. Rich in Vitamin C and nutritious essential fatty acids, this precious harvest from the Amazon awakens skin for a healthy, radiant complexion. This anti-aging elixir provides instant hydration—quenching dry skin with no greasy or filmy feel. Discover firmer, brighter, smoother looking skin with tarte.

Research results:
In a 6 week consumer use study:
-96% of women saw an overall visible improvement in skin
-91% of women saw a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
-94% of women saw a visible improvement in skin texture
-94% of women thought skin appeared renewed and rejuvenated.
Well, we shall see that…

What it does NOT contain:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan

Application (direction on the bottle): Apply oil on the go directly on face and neck for immediate hydration.

Packaging: I mean let’s take a moment to observe this packaging. How nicely is this bottle made!? I really like those details on the lid! The color combination of purple and gold is just so festive. Besides that, having a rich undiluted & cold pressed maracuja oil in a glass bottle, instead of a plastic one, keeps the product much longer fresh and gives it over all a luxurious appearance.

My general thoughts: I have been using the maracuja oil for a little bit over a week now. It’s way too little time to say anything about the long-term effects, but what i can say for sure is, that i enjoy the general idea of roller balls, when it comes to skin care products, such as the under eye serums for brightening the area or fluids to even out the small wrinkles on the forehead.
It should also be mentioned, that because of that handy packaging it’s great for carrying in your makeup bag on the go.
This maracuja oil has almost no scent, at least nothing i would really call noticeable.
It feels much lighter on my skin, than the Moroccan Argan Oil by Shea Terra Organics (which i like for the effect, but definitely not for the scent) or the coconut oil.
I have a few dry patches around my mouth and my nose, usually during the cold time of the year, and as it’s still winter here, the maracuja oil came really handy.

I mostly use it for those spots, but also instead of a night cream for all over my face. It’s really refreshing after i take my makeup off in the evening.
A little bit goes a long way, so you don’t really need much of the oil to hydrate your face.
It absorbs really fast and doesn’t leave greasy spots on your pillow, which was my concern, as i’m using it mostly during the evenings.
I did not get any redness from the product, nor has it made me break out.

It’s really nice to know, you are using a natural product, without many additional ingredients and it really makes your skin feel soft, look even and moisturized. And i have to admit, it looks gorgeous on my vanity. What a design!
So i would say, if you’re someone who’s currently looking for a new oil to try, this would be a great pick. Don’t worry, if you have a rather oily skin, it won’t let you feel greasy or be heavy on your face. Give it a try!
I’m happy, i have so much left, i’ll be using the product for a few more month’s. 

What are your thoughts on natural oil’s in general? Have you tried the Tarte Maracuja oil before? Which is your favorite oil to use?

Share your secrets with me!

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: don’t forget to enter my current Giveaway!

Summer Favorites 2012

Let’s talk summer favorites. Can you actually believe it’s september already? I think I’ve even seen the first yellow leaves covering the trees… 

Anyhow, for me the summer is almost over and it’s time to evaluate what kind of products I really enjoyed using and why.

• I’d like to begin with my all time helper in the morning. And that’s my Arabica coffee.

Yes I know, it’s not exactly a beauty item, but it makes me awake and smile every day, and as we know – smiling makes every girl (and boy) beautiful!

• In the area of decorative cosmetics I want to point out my highlights of this summer: the Ultimate Shine lipstick in 080 Corallicious Pink and the Ultimate Nail Lacquer 030 Meet Me At Coral Island. Both by the german brand Cartice.

I really enjoy wearing lipsticks from the Ultimate Shine collection, since they always fit my idea of shade, texture and formula. The  application goes on very smoothly, gives my lips enough moisture ( no one likes dry lips ),  doesn’t feel sticky and it stays pretty much shiny and in place for over 2,5 – 3 hours.  Personally thinking – the best feature is def the almost nonexistent traditional lipstick smell, which many can not stand! So all in one a really great summer lip product!

Matching the lipstick would be the Nail Lacquer by Catrice 030 Meet Me At Coral Island. Usually you only need one coat to get the wanted color on your nails. Depending on the light the color can look more corally or pinkish. Funny enough, even on the official Catrice Cosmetics website the color appears much more pinkish than it is in real life.

So because i was so much in love with the coral color this summer and had a few month to test them,  i can absolutely recommend both items. If you can get your hands on Catrice products, you should def give them a try!

• Going over to my top 3 hair and skin care items of this summer.

1. MoroccanOil Oil Treatment
2. Lumene Natural Code skin purifier 24h Moisturizer.
3. Balea erfrischendes Bodyspray Minze & Grüner Tee (refreshing body mist with mint & green tea by Balea)

So many ladies have been raving about the MoroccanOil Oil Treatment all over the net. By now we all are aware of the nourishing effect of the product. I instantly felt in love with the smell, which again isn’t  too strong. If you put it on your almost dry hair, the oil makes it smooth and almost silky. The hairstyle does stay in place all day long and even 2 days later it doesn’t feel more greasy than usual.

My favorite daytime oil-free moisturizer of this summer was Natural Code skin purifier 24h. The finnish brand Lumene claims the moisturizer  balances the sebum secretion and mattiefies the skin. The formula is pretty light, so your face doesnt feel like having a lot on, which is always nice during summer time and Lumene includes salisylic acid, to prevent possible breakouts. Great product, especially for combination & oily skin types.

And last but not least the body mist with mint & green tea by the german drugstore brand Balea, which launches different limited summer editions every year. The smell is not too strong (by now you should have noticed i’m not a big fan of really strong scents) and the green tea definitelly dominates over the mint. The mist is pretty fine and cooling on the skin and doesn’t feel sticky, so I liked to spritz myself all over with it on a really hot summer days.

Have you ever tried any MoroccanOil or Lumene products?

Glad if this post helped someone 🙂

Tell me, what your favorite summer product of the year are. I’d like to hear your stories!