Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Eyes, Time Complex Capsules

Last eye cream that I used and reviewed was Eveline Bio-Energizing eye cream. It wasn't a horrible product but I also wasn't blown away by it. It didn't work wonders for my "not mature" skin so I couldn't recommend it to other women with more mature skin. I didn't think that it was nourishing enough. But, when I started using these capsules I was stunned by the fact that my skin was so "thirsty" that it felt like it was swallowing water like a man left in a desert who finally found his oasis... I could almost hear it drinking.

I bought these on cheapsmells, a respectable site where I do my shopping a lot. I am not affiliated with them in any way and I bought this product with my own money.  I bought a three pack (containing 90 capsules) and it costed me 22 GBP ( about $40, 28 Euros). That seemed as a good price to me because they will last me for three months and their original price is 45 GBP, which means that they are double the price of what I paid for them. You must add shipping to this price, which is about 2 GBP (in my opinion, not bad at all).

For me, one capsule is enough for one day. I apply half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening. My mother also bought these and when she first started using them, she used one in the morning and one in the evening. She naturally has more mature skin which is also dry. But she told me that she used them also for wrinkles around her nose and mouth area. Now, she uses them like me, half in the morning and half in the evening. We both apply them on our lid and below the eye.

This product is so mild that even if some of it gets in your eyes, it will not burn them at all. I never experienced that. Neither did my mommy...

Don't worry about a capsule being opened. It is made of some rubbery material and to open it, turn capsule tab twice and twist off. Squeeze onto fingertip or directly below your eyes and pat gently around eye area. The rest of the product will stay in capsule until you squeeze it out. So, if it falls or something it will stay in the capsule, it will only get out if you apply some pressure to it.

To be honest, when I first used this product I rolled my eyes because I wasn't expecting oil in it. Since I have oily skin I am not too fond of applying them to my already oily face. But this one disappeared almost immediately. That is when I realized how dry my skin was.

I am just starting my fight with wrinkles and fine lines so this didn't save me. But...I noticed that I have them and this product softened them and nourished my skin. My mother is thrilled with them. She says that they worked great not only for her wrinkles and fine lines, but also for her morning puffiness.

They don't contain preservatives, so no parabens here. And if you are more knowledgeable than me, here are the ingredients.

This is how Elizabeth Arden describes this product....

For the specific concerns of the delicate, vulnerable eye area. Encapsulated for optimum purity and potency, each application contains:
- Ceramide, to help strengthen skin's resistance to fine lines
- an exclusive complex with Vitamin E plus botanical extracts to soothe and comfort

Ceramide Eyes Time Complex Capsules
- help reduce the appearance of fine lines and puffiness
- help relieve dryness
- preservative and fragrance free

The serum/oil inside of the capsule doesn't have a scent, it is applied in the morning and in the evenings, it sinks into skin quickly and doesn't leave an oily residue. You can apply your makeup normally in the morning after it. It won't affect it.

This is an awesome product for me, and my mother, we will both buy it again. I am going to try Estee Lauder Night Repair for eyes next (heard great reviews from anaviglam- check her out, she is amazing).

What are your thoughts on it? Any recommendations for me?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

Avon green apple bubble bath and bath fizz with cranberry and cinnamon

My dearest readers... I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope that you are safe and happy with your families and friends. Enjoy the rest of your holidays and thank you for letting me into your lives by reading my posts.

I owe you my reviews for the rest of Avon's bubble baths that I bought. Don't worry, I bought them with my own money, this is not a sponsored post...

Avon's green apple bubble bath comes in a cute 250 ml bottle shaped as a Christmas tree. It even has some decorations which you can't really see on my pictures, but belive me, they are there.

It costs 24 kunas in Croatia (about $4.50, 2.40 GBP, 3 Euros) and you can get it in a catalogue for campaign 17/2012. I don't know for your country but in Croatia you have to hurry if you want to order it because it is only available today and tomorrow. I haven't seen a new catalogue so I am not sure if you'll be able to buy it after that.
This bubble bath is green and it really smells like a sour, green apple. The smell is stronger in the bottle but when you mix it with water, it almost disappears.
Most of you noticed it because of the packaging which is adorable but I have to say less adorable things about it. Unlike the Winter rose bubble bath which I already reviewed here, it doesn't have some kind of a stopper on the top so it is not very easy to handle it. It is very likely that you'll have enough product for one or two baths. That would be OK if there was a bunch of luxurious foam in your bathtub but unfortunately, that is not the scenario with this one. You'll see some foam but it will stay on some foam.
If you are still interested in this product, you can read the ingredients in the picture below.

click to enlarge

Bath fizz with cranberry and cinnamon.

They come packed as a three (two red ones and one pink ball). They reminded me of Lush bath bombs but they are smaller in size (half the size of Lush's bath bombs). Also a lot cheaper (29 kunas for this package, about 2.90 GBP, $4, 3.50 Euros). But, although they are advertised as bubble baths they are not going to create any bubbles, not even as a mirage. Only some coloured water.

There is not a huge difference in these two variatons. The red one is more cinnamony and the pink one smells more like cranberries, and it is also lighter in colour.

Ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, pentasodium triphosphate, sodium sulfate, cellulose gum, talc, isopropyl palmitate, parfum (+/- CI 14700, CI 17200, CI 19140).

I haven't noticed that they were drying. So, that is a plus. And that is it from me for now.

Enjoy the holidays...

LOVE, beautyandbrains007

Avon, Winter Rose bubble bath

Mmmmmmmm.... I am a big beliver in bubble baths. As soon as the temperatures drop after long summers in Croatia, I become obsessed. And since I am not sure if you even want to know about this product, I am going to keep it short. But I promised my review on these items so here is the first candidate.

It comes in a very cute, round, plastic 250 ml bottle. It costs 23 kunas in Croatia (about $4, 2.30 GBP, 3 Euros)- LINK for Croatian catalogue (but I am sure you have it in your country, too).

When I first opened the bottle, the scent was a bit strong to me. Very strong rose scent. I know, surprise?! But when you put it in the water it becomes nicer and softer.

Avon recommends that you put two caps of the product in your bathtub but I did it the old fashioned way. Poured right from the bottle as much as I wanted. That is OK with this one because it has a stopper on top which prevents you from spending all your product on one bath.
I didn't go crazy, though... and the bath was really bubbly (it hurts my heart to write this, but much "bubblier" than most of the Lush bubble bars).

ingredients

It is not drying. Of course, you'll have to apply a body moisturizer after (it is recommendable), but that is a must after every shower or bath.
I like this bubble bath. It is a nice product for the price. It is rich and bubbly but I would prefer it if the scent was softer. So, this is not a must have product, you don't have to go online immediately or call your Avon lady to order it, but if you decide to get it for yourself or as a Christmas present for someone else, in my opinion, you/they will like it.

I hope I kept my promise and wasn't too extensive in this post. Do you like this bubble bath or Avon products in general?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

I am not affiliated with Avon in any way. I bought this product with my own money.

Christmas bath with Avon... (green apple and winter rose bubble baths, and cranberry&cinnamon bath fizzes)

Don't you just LOVE December? But, unfortunately the first half of December passed by in a second for me... I don't understand where it went? I usually start buying gifts for friends and family in September but this year I wasn't that successful so I'll be standing in lines at the stores during this week... But I did buy a couple of things from Avon. Two liquid bubble baths and a package of three bath fizzes ( they remind me of bath bombs from Lush).

If you like the packaging, like me, you'll see them and buy them. But if you want to know more about their ingredients, how I like them and how they performed for me, you'll have to wait a little bit. I am going to try them and publish my reviews this upcoming week. For now I'am leaving you with links of products in Croatia but I am sure that you can find them in your country, too.

Green apple scented bubble bath...Link. It costs 24 kunas in Croatia (about $4.50, 2.90 GBP, 3.20 Euros) and comes in a Christmas tree shaped 250 ml bottle.

Deep red bubble bath that smells like a winter rose also comes in a 250 ml round bottle and costs the same...Link.
For my review on it, click here.

And a package of bath fizzes. There are three balls in a package which are cranberry and cinnamon scented. They claim that they are bubbly but I am not sure about that. Here is the link for them....Link They cost 29 kunas (2.90 GBP, $5, 4 Euros).

So HO HO HO to you and see you soon.

Love, beautyandbrains007!

I am not affiliated with Avon. I bought all of these products by myself.

November empties

 I don't know why but these empties posts and videos are one of my favourites. Maybe because of all the hauling that we watch and do ourselves? But I know that I was really surprised to see just a few items in my November empties bag. Just to clear that out a little bit. I am keeping all the cases from my cosmetic products (both makeup and body care) because I recycle. So, I know how much I really use up. And this month there aren't really a lot of things to show you, which is kind of funny since this is the first month I decided to write a post about it. Well, that's the way life goes, I guess?!

I've decided to divide them in categories. So, in the first category are cleansers.

Balea mild face gel with lotus flower got its own review which you can read here, so I won't write tons about it. It really is a mild gel for normal and mixed skin which I enjoyed. I didn't buy a new tube because I had one waiting for its turn but I would buy this again. It didn't make my skin dry but it did its job and the price of it is very wallet friendly.

Balea Young Soft&Care Face Toner for mixed skin was both in my bathroom and in my empties bag a lot of times. It is a good product for young skin fighting with acnes and hormones. I've came to realization that although I feel young in heart ( and yes Mom I know that you're rolling your eyes right now) my skin has changed and doesn't want products with so much alcohol in them, or it needs a different formulation or something, but despite of my really oily areas products like this can be drying for the top layer of my skin, now. That is probably enhanced by the winter season when it is cold outside and warm inside. In any case, I will say goodbye to this product at least until spring.

After cleaning your skin you should always put a moisturiser on it. I've used up just an eye cream this month. Eveline Bio-Energizing Eye Cream (with magic of the orchyd). This cream also has its own post which you can read here. It was an OK product for me but I don't think it would be a good choice for mature skin. It is not nourishing enough. I wasn't aware of that until I started using my Arden capsules. So, NO, I wouldn't buy this eye cream again.

For makeup items, I have only one- Essence I Love Extreme Mascara. I love this mascara and have gone through many tubes of it. I would buy it again (I did in the past) and would recommend it if you want full lashes. I must say that I have read and heard mixed reviews for this mascara. It is like there is no middle with this one. People either love it or hate it... Some say that their lashes were falling out because of it but I, of course, didn't experience that. I love it!

And the last item is hair related. It is Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo. It is my HG dry shampoo for now. I loved the volume that it gave me and it really made my hair looking clean and fresh. I tried several dry shampoos and this one was THE BEST!!! But....always a but, I am on a hunt for another amazing dry shampoo with a non irritating smell. I hated the smell of this one but loved what it did for my hair. Ugh, I really am so complicated?! And I almost forgot, if you are interested in this product you can read my review- here.

Those are my empties.

What do you think about these posts? Yay or nay....?!

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

LOVE LUSH: MRS. WHIPPY bath bomb

I haven't written a new post in my Love Lush section for ages and since I recently wrote a post about a Lush haul I figured that it was about time to review one of them.

I've searched for it on Lush sites but couldn't find it. Today I decided to look for it in Lush stores and apparently it is discontinued but since you can still find it in some stores, I decided to publish this post.

It was a present and when I got it, I was convinced that this was a bubble bath (bar) because of the shape. I know that bath bombs come in all shapes and sizes but I guess this reminded me of another Lush product- Comforter so I've put it in the same category. If this was a bubble bath, I would be writting a law against it, but since it is a bath bomb I am more forgiving. I don't expect much from them. To me taking a bath should be a sensual and rich experience which is completely impossible without any bubbles or foam involved. Bath bombs tend to colour the water and usually it stops there.

To show you what is going on inside of the bomb, I cut it. You can use this piece for one or two baths.

I haven't noticed that immediately but this bomb has small glitter inside of it. I noticed that in the water. The small amount of foam which developed (a really small amount) was shiny and glittery.

the glitter is more visible with flash

If you'll see it in the store it will be, very likely; calling your name. It is pink, whirly and girly, smells wonderful and what is there not to like?

And the answer to that question is THE PRICE. I am not sure how much it costs because it was a gift but I think that it is somewhere around 35 and 45 kunas for a piece (about 3.50-4.50 GBP, 5-6 Euros, $7-8). That is a lot for one or two baths. And if you like bubble baths then it is even more disappointing.

This is how Lush describes it: 
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be Cleopatra rising from a milk bath, then this is the ballistic for you! When you drop this whirl into the bath, a smooth and creamy froth pours forth from the centre, bringing with it a milky scent laden with berries. Use on days when you want a creamy indulgence but don’t want to top up on calories.

- a combination of tapioca flour and soya milk gives lovely creamy-textured water and a smooth feel to your skin
-  Simon was keen not to do just any old cliched strawberry scent, instead he has layered everything he has to create a creamy rich base with multiple berry notes over the top
- tonka, cocoa absolute, almond essential oil and buchu combine to make a grown up indulgent scent, somehow managing to conjure up that moment of excitement when, as a child, the music of the ice-cream van drifted down the street

So, in my opinion it is not a real shame that Mrs. Whippy is retired. It was just too expensive for the lack of everything. If I was in a store, any store and wanted to try some kind of bubble bath, and salesman or woman would offer me to buy a small sample for one application at the price of Mrs. Whippy, I would never buy it! But when in Lush, my brain just changes somehow and I buy all of these pretty and expensive products. Does that happen to anyone else?

Ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, soya milk powder, tapioca flour, perfume, cream of tartar, sugar, sodium laureth sulfate, cocoa absolute, tonka absolute, almond essential oil, buchu oil, titanium dioxide, cocamide DEA, lauryl betaine, coumarin, eugenol, limonene, methyl ionone, colour 14700, colour 17200, colour 45410 
 
This time my Love Lush section wasn't that much about love?! Better luck next time!

Do you like Lush? Which products would you recommend?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

Balea cleansers- my picks (gel and toner with lotus extract)

It might seem to you that I should have discovered these products a long time ago but I bought them only recently. I am not talking about Balea products in general but these two products. I have oily skin so it took me a long time to realize that I am not a teenager anymore and that my products don't have to be as harsh. Meaning, I kind of got stuck in my routine and although I don't have problems with acne, I have large pores so in my mind it was crucial to try cleaning my face as much as possible. So, while buying in DM, I always went for the green bottle which is ment for oily skin.

Then I went to a beautician for a facial and she told me that my skin was dry in the top layer and that as a result of that my pores are filled quicker. I don't know if that makes sense to any of you but it seems that I was overcleaning my skin so it produced more oil, my pores were not clean and the top layer of my skin was too dry. She is completely against any kind of gel cleansers (claims that it's only fashion of the moment) and that I should remove my makeup with some kind of cream cleanser, rinse with water and apply a cream. She is also not a fan of hydrating creams, she likes more nourishing ones.

In my mind that was something to think about but I couldn't stop cleaning my face the way I am used to with gels and toners, so, instead I went with a milder gel and toner for normal/mixed skin. That is how I ended up with these two products.

Balea claims:
They both contain provitamin B5 which hydrates the skin and protects it from getting too dry. The formula is also enriched with lotus and bamboo extracts. They additionally calm the skin down, protect it from irritations and help to keep skin in healthy balance.

I started using the gel, first. It didn't seem mild to me. I had a feeling that it was too drying but then I realized that that was a result of something else. I changed my routine a little bit and my problem was solved.
It is mild to your skin but I wouldn't call it hydrating. It is great as a gel cleanser but it has to be followed with a cream. So, it is a good product for its purpose.

It is recommended to use it twice a day (mornings and evenings) but I use it only in the evenings to remove makeup. In my opinion, my skin isn't dirty in the morning so I only wash my face with water and then go over it with some toner on a cotton pad. That is enough for me to prepare my face for serum and hydrating cream.

The way you are suppose to use it is to take a small amount of gel and mix it with some water. It will change its consistency and foam up. I suggest to wet your face before also, because that will help to do it more efficiently. In the end rinse your face with water to remove all the residue of makeup and gel from your face.

gel ingredients

Then I proceed with the toner from the same line which I apply to a cotton pad. It cleans beautifully but it is not too "strong" for your skin. It really feels like it cleans my skin but leaves it hydrated. Of course I always finish with a cream. As I said, I use gel just in the evenings but toner I use both in the morning and in the evening.

This toner is great for my oily skin but if you have dry skin, go with their dry skin toner in a pink bottle. My mom uses it and loves it!

toner ingredients

I recommend both of these products, especially if you are on a budget.

You can find them in DM, gel comes in a 150 ml tube, and toner in a 200 ml bottle. They both cost the same- 16.90 kunas (about 2 Euros, $3, 1.70 GBP).

The only thing I am not crazy about is the scent. It is not awful and I bet you that most people won't even realise that it exists but I would prefer if it wasn't there. The toner is not as strong but you can smell it better in the gel and it does stay on your skin for a while. But, don't worry, it really isn't something major but I had to mention it.

Which toner do you use? Have you tried Balea products? What do you think about them? Have you got any recommendations for me?

Tell me.....

Love, beautyandbrains007

Long-awaited haul.....(Lush, Asos, Kik and DM)

This haul is quite late. I bought or have been given these things by people a long time ago. But, better late than never?! I want to share my little treasures with you.

I'll start with Lush!

You can buy Lush products in their stores or order them online. I got them from one of their stores but didn't buy them by myself. They were a present from Mr.Just Right.
I know you want to see what is inside of the bag, so....

and since you can't see everything, let's take them out...

I got two of the their fresh face masks, Ayesha and Love Lettuce (in Croatia you get 75 grams of product for 59 kunas which is about 5.90 GBP, 8.30 Euros, $11), Mrs. Whippy bubble bar (not sure for the price because it was a gift and I can't find it on Croatian site but I guess it was around 45 kunas for a "bar", about $8, 4.50 GBP, 7 Euros) and a Dragon's Egg bath bomb (44 kunas, about 4.40 GBP, $8, 6.20 Euros).

Their fresh face masks I adore. I already wrote a review on Love Lettuce. If you want to read it, click here. Bubble bars can go both ways, meaning that they can be incredible or a complete waste of money. Let's face it. Lush products are expensive, so I always expect the best. Bath bombs I'm not too crazy about because I miss bubbles when taking a bath, but sometimes I buy them because they look amazing. Don't we all?

Don't worry. These were gifts and that is why I love them a bit more, but when I will review them, I will forget that and be completely honest.
And they weren't given to me by Lush, they were a present from my dearest!

And now I little bit of jewelry...

I had a coupon for Asos and loved these earrings. Asos Mini Gem Flower Drop Earrings.

I didn't realize when I bought them but they are a clip on earrings (claw style setting) which can be great if costume jewelry earrings, like these are heavy. These aren't heavy but I like that they are clip on. That is not something you worry about when you are young but I don't like when I see too stretched earlobe.

Asos always ships their jewelry very well packed and secured.

If you want to see some better pictures of these earrings, here's their Asos link.

They are currently on clearance for 10.42 GBP but I bought them for less. They costed me 7.50 GBP. Shipping is free.

During a visit to a mall in Zagreb, I found these cute and trendy bracelets. They will cost you a lot more if you choose to buy a designer piece like Michael Kors. I wasn't prepared to spend much money so I decided to get these which I found in KIK.

I bought golden,

silver

and gunmetal version.

These are from Verona Poth's collection but I saw many more in different colors by the register. They were all priced the same, 17.90 kunas (about 1.80 GBP, $3.25, 2.50 Euros). In my opinion that was a great price. I saw similar bracelets in New Look but they were much more and weren't better in any way. It was 59 kunas for a bracelet, which is abou 5.90 GBP, 8 Euros, $11.
When I was buying mine at KIK, a girl was there shopping with her mother and she was whining that they were rough and uncomfortable but they really aren't.
They can be narrow or wide, very easy to manage.

They are a lot shinier than they seem on my pictures. That is why I put a lot photos of them to try and show you how they are made.
I like them a lot and wear them often alone or with my watch. I have them for more than a month and they haven't changed their colour, all the stones are still in place and I recommend them.

And the last jewelry piece that I bought were these earrings that I found in DM.

They are two toned, golden and silver earring. They had just silver ones but I liked these better.

you can see better how shiny they are with flash

They are smooth in the back.

In the front they are really shiny although they don't have any stones. It is just the way they were processed.

They don't contain nickel. You can find them in DM for 39,90 kunas (about 4 GBP, 5.20 Euros, $7). I got them for 34 kunas with a coupon.

And that is it for my haul. What have you bought?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007