BECCA Afterglow Palette

The BECCA Afterglow palette is my first venture into the brand and into the world of highlighters. Purchasing a highlighter has been a long time coming but I could never find the correct shade with the right amount of shimmer.

This palette comes with the Shimmering Skin Perfectors in Moonstone (a pale champagne), Rose Gold (a wearable pink toned gold) and Topaz (a bronze with a strong gold sheen), and their Mineral Blushes in Wild Honey (a nude brown) and Flowerchild (a peachy pink with gold shimmer - comparable to NARS Orgasm). These all lean towards the warmer side with the gold undertones. 

On my winter skin Moonstone is the perfect highlight and I like to layer Rose gold on top of or underneath blush. Topaz is currently to dark and warm for me but I'm thinking of using it as eyeshadow. Both blushes will have to wait until summer before I'll reach for them more often.

As this is my first purchase from the brand I can't compare these to the full-sized standalone highlighters and blushes. Recording to research they are tad bit drier which makes them a bit more forgiving and less intense on first swipe. However the colour payoff is great , they're smooth and blendable. The application is a bit tricky as the pans are the size of regular eyeshadows so you won't be able to use them with a big fluffy brush.
Overall I'm really impressed with this little palette, from the packaging to the colours and the formula, this works for me. I think I found my perfect highlighter in Becca's Moonstone!

What's your favourite highlighter?

February Beauty Wish List

January was the month of yearly favourites for bloggers and I have been taking notes while reading. There are a couple of products that got a lot of hype online this past year. I'm usually one to hold back and see what everybody else thinks, going through reviews and then make up my mind if the product is worth trying.

Sunday Riley Luna has been in and out of my shopping cart multiple times. The majority of people are raving about this oil and apparently it is a miracle in a bottle. I'm hoping this can even out my complexion and fade my scars while being hydrating and lightweight. But I still can't get over the hefty price tag.

I'm constantly struggling with my skin eating foundation which is why I have been looking into primers to prevent this. Make Up For Ever have released their Step 1 range and I am curious to try the hydrating primer. Would it really make a difference?

Putting the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid lipsticks on this list is the most frustrating because I'm not able to get my hands on these. The liquid lipstick craze has definitely made its way to the European mainland but I can't find the perfect neutral shade. Bow 'n Arrow, Lovesick and Lolita are currently my most wanted colours.

When I first got into make up my mother got me my first high end mascara for Christmas and I loved it. But as I started to buy my own make up I went for more affordable mascaras from the drugstore. I've had my eye on YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils for a while now as my Maybelline Lash Sensational is about to run out.

What is currently on your beauty wish list?

And which high end mascara would you recommend?

Recipe for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

I already broke half of my resolutions as you may have noticed. Sticking to my schedule has proven to be difficult when I can't get rid of the flu.  So if you're currently trying to lose some weight as part of your 2016 resolutions I suggest you only take a look at the yummy picture. But feel free to try the recipe for the worlds best chocolate chip cookies, you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients:

250g salted butter, softened

200g brown sugar

150g sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

375g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

150g dark chocolate chips

150g milk chocolate chips

100g chopped almonds

100g chopped hazelnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven at 175°C and prepare one or two baking trays with baking-paper.

2. Put the butter and two different sugars in a bowl and beat until creamy. Add the two eggs and vanilla extract. After mixing the flour and baking powder slowly add them to the creamy butter mix. Finally add the chocolate and nuts and stir well.

3. Using a teaspoon place a small amounts of batter well apart on the baking tray. Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on your oven until the edges of your cookies turn light brown while the inside is still soft and chewy.

4. Place your cookies on a cooling rack and enjoy!

Happy baking!

Step by Step Contouring with Smashbox

Over the Holiday season, also known as the party season, I've been reaching for my Smashbox contouring kit over and over again. This small and compact palette has been my go to product for almost perfect cheekbones over the past couple of months.

The contour powder is the star of this trio. The color is perfect: not too orange and not too ashy either. It can be quite dark on my skin but applied with a light hand and blended in it's everything I hoped for. The bronzer is a deeper tan color than what I'm used too. In the summer however I'll be able to use it and not need to carry around a seperate bronzer. The highlight doesn't show up too much on my skin which I appreciate as I'm only getting into the glowy/dewy look. I feel like all three are a bit on the powdery side but that is something I can work with as I like the pigmentation and blendability (is that even a word?). The included angled brush is great for laying down the contour but I always use a fluffier brush to blend and apply the bronzer.

Let's talk packaging: The three powders come in a hand-sized thin shiny black compact that's perfect for travelling. You will get fingerprints all over it but they are super easy to wipe away compared to the rubber packaging of a certain high-end brand (Yes - I'm talking about you, NARS!) There is no space reserved for useless sponges or mini brushes that we would throw out. Also for all of us newbies to contouring Smashbox have included a sticker with easy to follow instructions!

Which is your favorite contouring palette?

P.S. This is a recycled post that long time readers may have already come across. 
Unfortunately I'm currently fighting the flu, hope to be back soon.

My 2016 Blogging Resolutions

The end of 2015 marked my return to the blogging world and I'm excited to continue my journey. This year is still young and there is so much more to learn and to improve. Maybe I shouldn't call these resolutions as most of them don't make it to February.  Fingers crossed!

• I want to stick to my schedule this year and maybe, if it's manageable with work, even post more frequently. Let's not jinx it, so I won't make promises.
• 2016 is the year of accepting that I have a "little bit of everything" blog. I want to feel more confident about my content. No more deleting of posts that don't fit into a specific category, no more doubting!
• Sometimes I feel like I'm a 90-year-old granny because I can't figure social media out. Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook? Social media I'm coming for you!
• Finally I just want to have fun with my blog, enjoy the writing process, interact with readers. I need to stop worrying about my stats because I'm not blogging for numbers. I'm doing it for myself (we're allowed to be selfish, right?) and for anyone who enjoys reading my ramblings.

What are some your 2016 resolutions?

Happy New Year

We made it! We survived the Holiday season, the gift buying and opening, the cookies and chocolate, the family gatherings and New Years Eve. I hope you had a great break and were able to relax a little bit and spend time with family and friends. With Christmas and NYE in the past it's time for new beginnings. I can't believe it's 2016 already, this year literally flew by (yes, I said it -sorry)...

I wish you all the best for the upcoming year! May this year be even better than the last, full of opportunities, happiness, health and success!

I won't ramble on too much because there are a couple of reminiscing posts coming up in January where I'm going to get all sorts of emotional.

Have a great start to the new year

What I love about the Holiday Season

I can’t actually believe that it’s Christmas Eve. I don’t think I’m ready for it yet. My Christmas tree is up, cards are sent out, the house is decorated, even my office is. But I think that’s the problem: I’m working. For all these years I’ve been off school at least a couple of days before Christmas and I’ve been able to fully enjoy the season. It’s calm at the office and I’m not drowning in work so I can’t complain. But I can’t exactly light candles, eat cookies and watch movies all day.

To get in the spirit I want to share with you what I love about Christmas:

Movies - This is going to be quite an unusual choice for a favorite: Little Lord Fauntleroy, a British movie from 1980. I wouldn't say that it is christmassy but it’s definitely one of the classics that is aired on German TV around this time of the year. Since I was a kid I've seen the movie about 15 times and I'll probably watch it next year and the year after that and so on. But I also love to cuddle up on the sofa in my onesie to watch The Holiday or Love Actually.

Decorations – Why can’t we hang fairy lights all year round or at least all winter? Driving to work in the dark is much less painful when the streets are lit up with fairy lights in trees, shop windows, everywhere. Also the smell of a fresh Christmas tree when you walk into someone’s home is one of my favorite scents.

Food – I’m talking chocolate and cookies. To be honest I’m not a fan of all the special editions for this season. Even a plain bar of milk chocolate tastes better and less guilty in December. And adding a bit of cinnamon to any drink makes it festive!

Make Up – This may sound very superficial but I love how I can layer on the make up without being judged. I wear minimal and neutral make up all year round but with all the Christmas parties and New Years Eve I have an excuse to go all out and experiment with glitter and color.

The most important thing about the Holidays though is spending quality time with your family and friends!

Merry Christmas!