Batiste Blush dry shampoo

Since I've already reviewed Syoss dry shampoo (you can read it here), people are goint to start wondering about me. Don't worry, I do wash my hair in an old fashioned way, but when you have greasy hair every extra day of freshness makes a huge difference. It is not healthy to wash your hair every day (which I did) so I am in a constant search for a HG dry shampoo. Until now, I only tried Syoss (which didn't impress me) and this little fellow....

I was so surprised when I first saw this little bottle in DM about a month and a half ago. I haven't seen it since but it had its own shelf. They had one more version in brown bottle which was more expensive. This pink 200 ml/6.73 fl.oz. bottle that I picked (surprise, surprise) was 29,90 kunas (about 2.90 GBP, $5, 4 Euros), and the brown bottle was 39,90 kunas (abou 3.90 GBP, $7, 5 Euros). I think that one is for dark haired women but I might be wrong. In any case, that didn't seem fair to me.

This bottle will offer you 6-8 uses. I'm speaking from my own point of view (I have long and full blond hair).
I didn't say that before but this one comes in a spray bottle.

You have to start with brushed hair. They don't mention it and to be honest I haven't noticed that it leaves white residue on my clothes but you can put a towel on your shoulders to prevent getting dirty. Then spray the product on small sections of your hair close to the roots, using your fingers massage your scalp and leave for a while, then brush your hair one more time. And that is it!
I am a blonde so I haven't noticed any white residue on my hair but it does brighten my roots so it can be possible that it would be more difficult to handle on dark haired women. I suppose that is why they made another version of this in a brown bottle. Haven't tried it so I can't say for certain.

What surprised me the most is that this product really makes a difference for your hair. When I apply it, I get not one but two more days of fresh looking hair. Second day after applying it I tie it in a ponytail and it looks like I washed it and wanted to wear it up. Also, it adds volume. Lots of volume.

And now to the scent. It has a light floral scent which doesn't turn bad or start smelling like akcohol. Do I like it? NO. But it is tolerable. I even got compliments about it. People said that my hair smelled so fresh. Oh, if they only knew....
If the smell was different, I would say RUN to DM and get this one but with it this isn't my HG product. I like it and would repurchase it but I am still on the hunt for a HG product.

Have you tried it? Which dry shampoo is your favorite?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

Smart Girls Get More nail polish, number 72

I told you about this polish and promised a review ages ago. The sun was still shining and I was at the beach enjoying my summer vacation. But I don't want to bother you with my inner struggles so here we go.

This little guy/girl/it gave me a hard time.
First of all, the picture doesn't even begin to describe how beautiful and special this shade is. It is an amazing apricot colour with subtle sheen, and "golden dust" in it. It really is special. I saw it in DM (where you can buy polishes from this brand), in a 5.5 ml bottle. They cost 11,90 kunas (about $2.20, 1.10 GBP, 1.50 Euros). Since I don't think this is a part of their limited edition, I waited a little, then cracked and got it. If you want to read about summer LE polishes click here-yellow 47,here-orange 48and here-green 55.

you can see the colour better here

It has a small brush which is easy to manage and not bad at all.

The consistency is a bit thin but nothing to worry about. It goes smoothly and I didn't experience any problems.
As you will see in the pictures, I applied three layers but, in my opinion, two looked prettier because the shade looks more like in the bottle and it is not as milky. Opaque is not the best option for this polish because then it looses some of its dimension.

I didn't apply base or top coat. I tested this one on its own.

one coat/natural light

two coats/natural light

three coats/natural light

three coats/direct sunlight

I was thrilled with this polish in the store and when I first applied it. Even my husband (then boyfriend) commented how pretty and sophisticated it looked, but sadly, this turned out to be one of the worst polishes I have ever tried, quality wise.

It acted like a bad foundation. It turned orange on me. And, I wouldn't even be able to discover this if I hadn't applied it on my toe nails. There it stayed for two days (I didn't say without chipping), but on my hands it didn't last one afternoon. I applied it after lunch and went to the beach a couple of hours later, went for a swim and when I got out of the water, it was almost completely gone.... Leftovers were peeling off from my nails easy like butter.
I tested it one more time, without sea in the equation, and if you will do ANYTHING in your house, any chore, ignore this one! It won't last you.
Base and top coat will help a bit but something is seriously wrong with this formula or I just got a bad one. Let me know in the comments if you have any experience with this nail polish.

And ingredients for the end (the picture is a little blurry but you can read them):

What is your opinion on this one? Tried any other of their polishes?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

Wet n Wild Greed Gourmandise palette

Hey everyone! Let me just say that I am sorry for my absence but I had major things going on in my life. I tied a knot and now I am officially a Mrs. Yes, this past weekend I got married. I am not going to bore you with my personal life. I have more time now to write new posts until my honeymoon which is on hold for now, due to my business obligations. I'll be going to.... You'll know when that time comes.

This is not the palette that I used on my wedding day but surprisingly I have been reaching for this little thing a lot this month. I got it a while ago and left it in a drawer. At the beginning of the month I took it out for pictures and started using it. It seemed OK when I bought it but this deserves a favorite of the month status (maybe I'll do them for the first time next month). I haven't heard or read much about this palette. If you want to know my opinion on some of their more popular palettes click here for petal pusher or here for comfort zone. 

The first colour that I swatched was OMG this is amazing!!! The top creamy, matte colour is so soft. I couldn't belive that it was from a drugstore range. It is soft and creamy, CRAZY pigmented, I wasn't even sure that it was a powdery shadow. For a second there it felt like a cream eyeshadow.

But when I went for a swatch on the top right side I was in for a surprise. How is it possible that in the same palette you can find such an amazing shadow and this one which is badly pigmented and not at all creamy? I was rubbing like crazy for a lame swatch. But, the interesting thing is that when I apply it in my crease on top of the medium matte colour it shows nicely. Keep in mind that I am fair. I must admit that despite its lack of pigmentation, this one is also a part of my "greedy" look. This is a grey/purple shade with golden sheen, nice in the pan but not as perfect when swatched.

you can see the colour better with flash but it is not so shimmery

This palette has six eyeshadows divided into two groups. On the left are matte shadows and one the right side are shimmery ones. You get 7 g of product (0.25 oz).
Since I already introduced you to the top row, let me tell you something about the medium/second row.

There are two peachy shades in the second row. Matte side is pigmented like its matte friend from above. It is an amazing all over lid colour which I use as a base. All the other colours look so much more pigmented when applied on top of this one. It is pigmented, soft and creamy.

Its shimmery sister on the right has a nice pigmentation but not as nice as the matte shade. Isn't it funny how usually matte shades from the drugstores aren't so pigmented and this palette proves differently? This shimmery shade is peachy/rose gold shade with tiny glitter which is visible but I can't determine the colour of the glitter. It looks nice. I apply it on top of the medium (peachy) matte shade in the center of the eye. It opens my eyes and looks beautiful!

Black matte shade from the bottom row is the least pigmented from matte shades in this palette. If you want an intense colour you will have to apply it several layers. I use it to tightline or instead of an eyeliner along my upper lash line.

And the last shade from this palette is an amazingly beautiful black with glitter (silver/blue and purple). It is highly pigmented and only shimmery shade in this palette that can compare to the mattes (by quality). I put it on top of matte black an it adds intensity and little something something to my eyes. I instantly look flirty and turn into a modern and adult Lolita. I love this shade, obviously!

sorry for the quality of this picture but you can see it better on other pictures

These shadows are really nice. They stay pigmented and vibrant all day long. I use a base, but I never apply eyeshadow without a base. That is just a part of my routine.

matte shades without a base and without flash

matte shades without a base/with flash

shimmery shades without a base and with flash

You can see on the picture what I have been talking about. Shimmery shade on top (grey/purple one) is the least pigmented, rose gold shade is much better and black glittery shade is amazing. Without flash this purple/grey shade was almost invisible. That is the reason I didn't put a picture of the swatch but you can see it on the picture of all shades swatched.

top row-mattes, bottom row-shimmery shades (without a base and flash)

without a base, with flash

You can create lots of looks with this palette. WnW also recommends day looks on the back of the palette (just peel off the label).

And if you add black you can easily create smoky, evening looks. If you don't feel inspired, you can always create a look that they suggested. Just keep in mind that this palette is a great choice for neutral eyes ladies. If you are more into colours, this is not the palette for you.

You also get two applicators with this palette but honestly, they are not the best quality. So harsh. You could use them, I guess, but not too often, I hope. One is like a brush and the other one is a sponge tip applicator.

Here are the ingredients for all of you that are interested.

So, if you ignore right top shade which really isn't pigmented enough, you get a nice palette for a good price. If you live in the USA you can find it in drugstores for $5 (minus coupons), but if you don't live there you have to buy it online. Ebay is always a great place to look for it but I bought it from nonpareilboutique. It costs $5 (3.50 GBP, 4 Euros) but when I bought it, it was discounted and there were additional 20% off for some holiday so in the end it costed a little more than $3. You must include shipping which is from $5-$8 depending on the weight of your parcel. Mine was $8 but I had a larger order, of course.

I am not affiliated with nonpareilboutique in any way. I just buy from their site. They offer PayPal which is a must in my case, have an awesome customer service and the parcels come qiuckly to Croatia (from 10 days up to 3 weeks max). Once, I ordered a polish from them and it broke. I just sent them pictures of broken polish and they sent me a new one on their cost and an apology.

Have you tried this palette or any of their other products that are not so popular?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007

Eveline Bio-Energizing Eye Cream (magic of the orchid....)

Magic of the orchid. Doesn't it sound, well................magical?

Ok. I am writing a review about this product although I didn't age over night. Well, I did but not as much as one would think since this is an eye cream for mature skin. I bought it in Kozmo but in Croatia you can find Eveline products in all drugstores (DM, Bipa, Muller...). Paid 39,90 kunas for it (about 4 GBP, $6, 5.20 Euros).

It comes in a small 15 ml/0.53 fl.oz. tube. Don't worry, it doesn't seem much but it will be enough for at least three months.

I didn't worry about the fact that it was for mature skin because I thought that if it shows as too agressive for me, I can always give it to my mother. And Mom, if you are reading this, I don't think that you are old, just a little bit more mature?!

The reason I bought it was that with every new day I've been noticing more and more fine lines under my eyes (Fine lines? That sounds so much better than wrinkles but we all know what they are). Do you remember the days when we could just buy something from Avon's Naturals line? All we had to do was pick a colour or scent we liked the most.

This cream fights against all symptoms of ageing. The extraordinary, rejuvenating composition of the Bio-Energizing Eye Cream is a unique combination of Orchid Extract with the active Hyaluronic Acid, which reduces wrinkles, brightens discolorations, provides in-depth revitalizing and moisturizing action. Day after day, the skin around the eyes becomes smoother, intensively nourished and infused with
a maximum dose of energy. Wrinkles and „crow's feet” are reduced, shadows and puffiness become smaller the eyes regain the youthful glow and radiant look.
Unique combination of a luxurious elixir of nature and modern technology:Orchid Extract – contains polysaccharides, is a natural energy source for the skin cells. Supports cellular renewal and reduces the symptoms of ageing, assuring vitality, firmness and radiance of the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid – a strong natural moisturizing substance. It intensively smoothes the skin, supports the process of new cell growth, makes the skin soft, supple and silky smooth.
Vitamin Complex A, E, F – deeply nourishes and regenerates the skin, making it firm and supple.
Shea Butter – prevents the dryness, loss of water and firmness, conditions and deeply regenerates.
Euphrasia officinalis – has soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, removes signs of fatigue and irritation. Reduces puffiness, perfectly moisturizes and smoothes the skin around the eyes.

Rich dose of nature – proven and confirmed effectiveness*:
Perfectly moisturized skin – up to 90%
Smoothed wrinkles – up to 86%
Less visible shadows and puffiness – up to 89%
*Self-evaluation test on a group of selected women, after 4 weeks of application.

For best results apply every morning and evening.

Of course all above in italics are words of the company. I don't entirely agree with them.
In my opinion, this is an OK cream. I like the consistency of it because it is a cream but acts like a gel. Even if you put too much product it will absorb nicely to your skin. It won't leave any oily residue around your eye which means that you can go on with your morning routine and start applying makeup almost immediately.

But....my fear that it will be too strong for my young wrinkles wasn't justified.
I am a person with first fine lines, without a lot of puffiness and dark circles (thanks to my genetics) and this product didn't work on that areas for me. Meaning, when I didn't get enough sleep I looked tired and a bit puffy, my skin had its fine lines in all their glory. So, if it didin't fight and smooth my newly developed wrinkles I am wondering what it would do for someone with a mature skin. If any of you more mature ladies tried this cream, please let me know how it worked for you below.
Yes, it did hydrate my skin but that was the end of it.

Ingredients: aqua/water, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, glyceryl stearate SE, octocrylene, octyldodecanol, cetyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, dimethicone, titanium dioxide, hyaluronic acid, euphrasia officinalis extract, acquy/glycerin/orchis mascula extract, cyclopentasiloxane/dimethicone crosspolymer/cyclohexasiloxane, titanium dioxide/mica, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, caffeine, glycine soya oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit, panthenol, polysorbate 20/PEG-20 glyceryl laurate/water/tocopherol/linoleic acid/retinyl palmitate, acrylates/C 10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, triethanolamine, allantoin, phenoxyethanol/methylparaben/butylparaben/ethylparaben/isobutylparaben/propylparaben, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance, disodium EDTA, hexyl cinnamal, linalool, hydrokycitronellal.

In translation, if you are anti parabens, this is not a product for you.

I don't want to end this post with an entirely negative tone so for the positive side I must say that this cream has SPF15 which is always a good thing and the product was not tested on animals!

In the end, this cream doesn't have a holy grail status. It is hydrating but it will loose the battle with your existing wrinkles and fine lines.

Have you tried it? What do you say? I'm in the market for a new eye cream. Any suggestions?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007