Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat review

I bought Sally Hansen Insta-Dri as a quick replacement for my beloved Poshe top coat. It's not bad, but not as good as Poshe or Seche.

On the bright side:

• quickens the drying process
• adds shine to the polish
• easily available in all drugstores
• not cheap but affordable

Drawbacks:

• does not work as quickly as Poshe or Seche
• the top coat is not as shiny as the one left by those mentioned above

All in all, having used top coats by Poshe or Seche I'm very hard to please. Nonetheless, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri is a very decent product which I'll most probably keep repurchasing cause I don't really enjoy having to order everything on-line.  

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Sephora nailpolish in I'm a rich girl (no.75) review

I'm not a huge fan of gold nails but on New Year's night you can't go wrong with golds, can you?

We're actually staying in this year, minding the kids, which does not mean I can't look festive tonight.

Being unsure about gold on my nails I decided to get something cheap in case it was one-night-only thing and  so I picked Sephora nailpolish in "I'm a rich girl" which with 30% off discount was as cheap as cheap can be.

The Sephora nailpolish bottles are very pretty but 5ml only but it's just enough for me. Most of my polishes get wasted because they dry out before I can actually use them up.

This is my first Sephora nail polish so imagine my surprise at the quality of the product. I thought it would be something cheap and fancy to play around and discard when no longer needed. The quality of the polish is amazing. The brush it's equipped with is very unique. It's flat, thick and stiff, rounded at the tip. Remimded me of beaver's tail even though a beaver's tail is actually bald. The brush is so wide that it covers the nail in 2 strokes and you don't need to fan it out. The rounded edge fits in the cuticle crescent perfectly. The formula was on a thick side thanks to which the polish didn't flood my cuticles during the most careless application under the influence of our Xmas gin.

The shade is a kind of cool-toned gold (sounds oxymoronic, doesn't it?) with lots of frosty, metallic shimmer. It was very opaque, I got full, streak-free coverage in 2 coats. Then I added one coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and the result is awesome.

It seems to me that my affair with Sephora nail polish has just began. The variety of shades is amazing, you can test them on your nails before you buy them, the quality equals that of other, more renowned  brands and they're fairly inexpensive. What else do I need?

    

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua compact foundation review

Just before Xmas I received a nice little package from Chanel with a number of samples to try out. It contained a sample of Vitalumiere Aqua compact foundation which I've been considering getting for quite a while now.

The little box contained a MAC eyeshadow-sized pan of foundation in no.30 (beige) and a latex sponge to apply it with. The sponge wasn't very handy so I used one of my own instead, but it clearly suggested the method of application.

The sample was so large that it actually gave me the opportunity to test the foundation for well over a week and the verdict is: it's not for me.

It needs to be said that I'm not a fan of compact cream foundations. All of those I had were too heavy and better suited for dry skin. They clogged and accentuated my pores, needed lots of powder to set them and finally melted off my face sooner than expected. 

I'd never have been drawn towards the Chanel foundation if it hadn't been for the fact that I absolutewly adore their Vitalumiere Aqua liquid foundation and the cream version was supposed to be equally light but more handy due to its packaging.

Nothing more misleading. The cream compact form turned out to be a typical cream foundation with all the vices I've listed above. It's fuller coverage than it's liquid sister and it doesn't feel terribly heavy but it's far too greasy for my skin, it sits in my pores and actuslly migrates there during the day. No powder is able to set it fully without loading tons of product on. And finally, the B30 shade was far too dark and yellow for my untanned pinky skin. Beige is supposed to be the neutral shade within the range but it seemed to have strong yellow undertones on my skin.      

I believe that this foundation may suit those of you who have dry skin and are looking for medium coverage and need something compact and handbag friendly. 

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Chanel Sublimage La Creme review

Just before Christmas I received from Chanel a couple of samples to try out. They arrived packed in a luxurious box, marked with Chanel logo. Today I'd like to review my favourite item of the box, a face cream called Sublimage.

I really loved the product for two very simple reasons:

• it smells like lilac. Not like artificial perfume but like the real lilac from my grandma's garden. 
• absorbs within a minute and gives a lovely matte finish

The cream promises ultimate skin regeneration but having used it for about two weeks I can't really say whether my skin is regenerated or not. The cream certainly does wear perfectly under make-up. It moisturises my skin without making it greasy. And this gorgeous smell! But is it enough to justify the price tag? I'm not really that sure even though I love the product.

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Goldwell Style Sign Curl Cream review

Goldwell seems to be my favourite brand for hair products. The curl cream didn't disappoint me either.

The cream is a thick green paste which you need to scrunch into your hair in moderate amount. It allows me to style really pretty curls out of my damaged hair. It doesn't dry my hair out and makes it looks nice and as shiny as damaged hair can be. Large amount of the product may weigh fine hair down and turn it into an oilslick but used sparsely the cream produces lovely results. 

Smells nice and fresh and is a great pleasure to use!

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Korean goodies: Holika Holika Magic Pole Waterproof Mascara review

The reason I bought Holika Holika Magic Pole Waterproof mascara was to use it on my lower lashes. I'm not a huge fan of using waterproof mascara all over cause I don't normally have any issues with non-waterproof mascaras on my upper lid and the waterproof ones are so much more difficult to remove!

The Magic Pole Mascara comes in a fancy holographic triangular packaging which opens sidewise to reveal an instruction manual.

The packaging of the mascara itself is also very nice, it's a silver tube with blue and black prints and a sort of crystal at the top.

The wand reminded me very much of a Givenchy mascara I once had. It's a spiky head which looks very much like a medieval weapon. The application of mascara with this sort of applicator is time-consuming, but very precise as it coats every single lash individually, separating and extending them nicely.

The difference between this applicator and the Givenchy one is that there's also a spiky stick which is meant to give the lashes volume. It would actually work if the spiky ball didn't get in the way and make it all messy. I'm actually considering cutting the ball off cause I believe a tiny applicator like a spiky rod will serve my purposes best.

As far as the mascara formula is concerned I believe it's a truly waterproof mascara. I'd seriously consider wearing it in the swimming pool. I've tested it in a variety of conditions and it would not budge. No smudging, no smearing, no crumbling. 

Removing it is also a bit of a pain, remember to equip yourself in any oil-based make-up remover before you apply it. Oil will not dissolve the mascara but it will make it slide off your lashes easily.

I don't particularly like to wear it on everyday basis on my upper lashes cause it makes them stiff  and straight, and it's difficult to remove, but on my lower lashes it's just right.

I believe everyone needs one good waterproof mascara in their stash for special purposes and the Holika Holika Magic Pole is a decent and moderately-priced choice.

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Icon review

Hourglass is a relatively new brand in make-up and hardly known and distributed here in Europe. They have a couple of products in their portfolio which have become iconic items for make-up lovers and Opaque Rouge is one of them.

Opaque Rouge is a fully opaque matte lipstick which comes in a liquid form and initially looks like a gloss. The tube it comes in is really cute but tiny which makes you feel a bit disappointed considering how much the product costs but on the other hand it's very practical and party- and travel-friendly cause it fits in the tiniest pocket.

The applicator is a fluffy wand which picks the right amount of product and distributes it rather successfully. You need only a tiny amoount of the product cause a little goes a long way. Apply it evenly on your lips, give it a minute or two to set and voila! Perfectly matte lips are done!

The shade Icon is a gorgeous dark cherry red with cool undertones which suits my complexion really well. 

three hours later...

Now on to a proper product review:

What I liked about the product: 

• the shade is beautiful
• matte finish
• quite long-lasting
• cute packaging and luxurious design

What I found disappointing:

• the product is long-lasting but nowhere near the 8-10 hours of wear including eating and drinking mentioned by other reviewers. After 3 hours I notice substantial and uneven fading. And I'm a good lipstick wearer, I don't tend to touch or lick my lips all the time.
• the beautiful cherry red turns to fuchsia when it starts to fade. Fuchsia/magenta are not my favourite shades
• it's quite drying, your lips need to be in tip-top condition, applying a balm right before the lipstick will affect its performance
• very expensive and hard to get

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Moroccan Oil Treatment review

I have very dry hair so I'm always on the look-out for products which would condition my hair and make it look healthy and shiny. Would anything serve the purpose better than hair oil?

The answer to the question is quite tricky cause I've already had one hair oil (L'Oreal Mithic Oil) which turned out to be a kind of dry oil and it didn't make my hair shinier at all but it made it nicely curly.

Moroccan Oil is an oil in true sense. 

Here's what I liked about it:

• makes my hair optically shinier
• texturises my hair nicely
• smells gorgeous

What I didn't like is that it:

• doesn't improve the condition of my hair in the long run
• I need to use a tiny amount not to weigh  my hair down
• it's damn expensive and not locally available.

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Nivea Aqua Effect moisturising mask review

Nivea Aqua Effect mask is one of the items I won in a Nivea competition a couple of months ago.

It's a moisturising leave-on mask meant for normal skin types. You need to apply a generous amount on your face, leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wipe the remains off with a tissue.

I must say I'm not a fan of this kind of masks and the Nivea one is not my favourite as well.

While it's highly moisturising and refreshing and incredibly nice-smelling, I find it quite difficult to use. You actually need a day off to benefit from the mask properly. Once wiped off it leaves a heavy, greasy and sticky residue all over my face. There's no chance of applying make-up over it. Of course I could always wash it off with a gel cleanser, but it's not the point, is it?

The second option is to use it before going to bed but I don't like the idea of smearing it all into my pillow.

So, I use the mask on lazy mornings, which are so rare in my life. I must also say that although the mask is meant for normal skin, I feel it's too heavy for normal skin. I see it more as a highly moisturising mask for dry skin.

I think this mask is highly effective in providing moisture to the skin. It's just a matter of personal taste that I don't enjoy having anything greasy and heavy on my skin, to the extent that I start experiencing somatic problems like my skin starting to itch.

If you have very dry skin, I recommend this mask to you as it will bring relief to thirsty skin. It's conveniently packed, sold in double sachets. One sachet is intended for one use, though for me one sachet was more than enouch for 3 uses. I just can't imagine piling more of the product on my face. The product is quite cheap and the good thing is that if you don't like it you may simply discard it without feeling you've wasted your money.

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Decleor Aromesscence Neroli Essential Serum review

Decleor Aromessence Neroli is a kind of serum that comes in a form of aromatic oil which is meant for all skin types.

Being a possessor of rather oily skin I was quite sceptical whether I should be using this serum at all. To my surprise I didn't experience any breakouts and even more surprisingly when followed with a matifying cream it wore quite well under make-up.

How about the results?

True to its claims, the serum does soften the skin visibly and it definitely does have aromathetapeutic properties. I'm sure dry skin types will experience increased radiance and healthier look of the skin.

I think this product will suit a large number of people but there is a number of things I didn't like about the product.

First of all, according to the instructions, you need to warm 2 drops of the serum in your hands and then massage your face and neck. Well, 2 drops of the product are insufficient to be slippery enough to massage your face gently, using more than 2 drops will result in greasy face.

Secondly, the product is heavily scented and while I like the scent as air freshener I don't enjoy wearing it on my face that much.

And thirdly, I can get away wearing this serum in winter, but I can't see myself using it on warmer days.

To conclude, this product is not bad at all. It might actually be a holy grail for dry skin types but I don't need such product at all.

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Merry Christmas!

Korean goodies: Missha B.B. Boomer review

When I first read the description of the product I thought it was not suitable for my oily skin due to its content of pearl pigments. The cream promises to make my skin more radiant and moisturised which in some cases means greasy.

Not in this case. 

To my surprise, although the cream most certainly does have pearl ingredients, they don't produce the heavy glow I feared so much. The cream makes my skin look nice and fresh. It absorbs quickly and leaves quite matte and non-sticky finish.

I suppose this finish really does boost the adherence of BB creams and foundations but such dry finish makes it simultaneously more difficult to apply. I can't really say if it prolongs the wera time of BB creams. This depends on so many different factors, ranging from individual skin types, through BB cream types to external conditions like temperature or air-conditioning.

I really like this cream and it's earned its place on my extensive wish list.

EDIT: I forgot to mention one thing I don't like about the cream: the smell. It smells like savon de marseille in its most basic and non-perfumed form. Not my favourite smell at all. 

This sample was sent to me by Bellogirl who is my trusted e-bay seller and now she runs her own website bellogirl.net. 

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Shiseido Future Solution LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum review

Shiseido Future Solution LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum

Future Solution LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum is yet another amazing product from Shiseido.

The serum is quite thick in consistency which initially lead me to believe that I'd better use it before sleep. But in fact it sinks in very fast, leaving my face totally matte and dry, ready for my regular moisturiser.

As with all Shiseido skincare products I've tried, the results are instantly visible. My skin is incredibly soft to touch and looks soo fresh and healthy.

I'm not a fan of serums, I consider them to be unnecessary expenditure. This one, however, has attracted my attention and I think I would like to have it full size.

Shiseido Future Solution LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Glossybox December 2012

What I liked most about my December Glossybox was the gorgeous paper in which it was wrapped.

But I must say that the contents were fairly good as well.

I received (in order from the most to the least satisfying): 

Kryolan gel eyeliner

Model Co Lipstick & Gloss duo

Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait body milk

Batiste dry shampoo

Yasumi micellar solution

Clarena cream

I also received a couple of gadgets.

Name tags for X-mas presents are pretty and such gifts are always welcome.

The Glossybox hand warmer is a typical gimmick, you need to drop it in hot water for 15 mins to make it work, I can't see myself doing that in my morning hurry and what about coming back from work? How am I to activate it?

Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait Body Milk review

I received this mini-product in my December Glossybox. 

This was the first time I'd heard of the brand and it was instant love. 

The body milk has a pleasant, sweet milky smell, it distributes easily and absorbs within a minute. A great product for morning use, leaves my body non-sticky and I can put on my clothes almost right after the application. 

It's nicely moisturising but if you have particularly dry skin or dry patches this product is not for you. It suits me just fine. 

The only problem is the availability of the product. I'm definitely not going to order my body care online when there are so many good drugstore product just waiting for me round the corner. Yesterday I saw a shattered box of Scottish Fine Soaps duo in TKMaxx so I hope to come across this product these some day. 

Goldwell Style Sign Twist Around Curl Styling Lotion review

Today I'd like to say a couple of words about my Holy Grail hair styling product. 

It's Goldwell Style Sign Twist Around spray.

I've got very fine wavy to curly hair which due to bleaching got so damaged that it actually refuses to curl. But the Goldwell spray somehow manages to put it in shape.

This products differs from other products I know cause it applies over dry hair and is heat-activated. So what you do is dry and style your hair as required and than spray a fairly small amount all over your hair and use the hairdryer (I use diffusor) to make it work. It gives my hair this instant boost which is so welcome in the morning. First of all it lifts the wilted curls, gives my hair incredible volume and actually makes my hair curl like never before. And last but not least the spray has an incredibly pleasant smell. It's quite strong and I treat it as a sort of hair perfume.

I'm a product changer. I love experimenting with things. In Poland we sometimes say that better is the enemy of good so I'm always on the lookout for better products. But I believe you can't get better than this. It's a must have for curly hair owners but also for anyone who wants more volume or to lift their hair at the roots.

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Garnier Ultra Lift 2-in-1 Anti-Ageing Eye Cream review

I stumbled across the Garnier Ultra Lift eye cream when browsing Rossman drugstore shelves. I always thought Ultra Lift line was meant for women twice as old as I am but to my surprise I discovered I'm just approaching the bottom threshold. Being an eye cream fanatic I decided to give this one a go.

The cream is a 2-in-1 kind of product which combines a serum and an eye cream. Inside the bottle you can see a DNA-like spiral of interweaving strands of  the serum and the cream. Looks very scientific and actually quite pretty. The pump picks up both substances at the same time and which comes out of the jar in sheer and opaque mini-stripes.

My first impression of the cream wasn't very favourable. My undereye area felt very tense immediately after the application. This kind of discomfort usually is not only my subjective feeling but the area under my eyes looks horribly dry and starts to wrinkle. So I rushed to the mirror to see that this area actually looked quite nice. Perhaps this tense feeling was the lifting effect. As I continued using the cream the discomfort subsided and I must say the cream proved to be really decent. 

Garnier Ultra Lift Eye Cream + Serum is highly moisturising but non-greasy. It absorbs quickly and therefore can be used under make-up. What I liked about it is that it didn't leave my eye area dry like many creams do.

As for a drug store product it was rather expensive, but still it cost only a fraction of a price of any high-end creams. It's not my Holy Grail but I feel it's a decent product which I'm sure I'll return to one day.

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.

Made in Poland: Dermika Nourishing Rose Mask review

Dermika Nourishing Rose Mask is yet another product I received as a free sample to try out and is not properly matched for my skin type. Although it's clearly targeted at dry and very dry skin I decided to give it a go. After all, even oily and combination skin needs nourishment and moisture.

When applied (all over the face, including the eye area) the mask is fairly thick and white. When it warms up it turns into oil which moisturises my face pretty well. It's a leave-on kind of mask so I'm sure that whatever is not absorbed by my skin is absorbed by my pillow. In spite of being fairly oily the mask didn't cause any breakouts, which is good. 

I like the faint rosy smell which adds to the pleasure of using the mask.

Now on to the results. Apart from giving me a feeling of being pampered I didn't notice any visible results. My skin didn't feel particularly softer or smoother and my undereye wrinkles didn't disappear. I'm definitely not in the position to say if it brings any relief to dry skin, I'm actually quite positive it does.

One sachet goes a long, long way. So if you have dry skin this mask could be worth giving a try. It's reasonably priced and sold individually by sachet so it's not a kind of expense you're gonna regret. 

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Lierac Luminescence Serum review

Lierac Luminescence serum is another Glossybox product I had the pleasure of testing.
I was very curious about this serum cause it promised not only to luminize my skin but also to correct the skin tone, which is always desired.

The serum surprised me with how watery it is. I do realise that serums are meant to be lightweight and liquidy cause they're to be used under other creams but this one literally flooded out of the tube. It's not a disadvantage, I just needed to get used to how thin it is.

The serum is a white, watery substance which when applied leaves a distinct sheen on the face. It looks like mother-of-pearl kind of sheen. I found it too glowy for my oily skin to be worn under make-up, but I'm sure that dry skin owners would be absolutely enchanted by this look.

What I didn't like about the product is that it felt somewhat gritty under my fingers as if this sheen was produced by tiny chunks of glitter. Nothing major but it somehow bothered me.

Now the question of short and long term effects.
While the serum provides instant glow which luminizes dry skin in a  very pretty way, it fails to correct the skin tone in the long run. I was using the serum for about 2 weeks regularly and I didn't notice any effect on my skin apart from the superficial glow which can be removed like foundation.

Will I buy the product? Certainly not. It's not meant for me and it didn't really work. But if you have dry skin I'd give it a go. It smells nice, absorbs quickly and surely will make dry skin look healthy and fresh.

Rene Furterer Karite intense nourishing mask for very dry, damaged hair review

Here comes another review of a product I received in my Glossybox. I must say I welcomed it with pleasure cause my hair is very dry and damaged and I thought it was exactly what my hair needed.

Having used this relatively large sample up I don't know what to say, which is not the beginning of a good review.

The conditioner is a wildly yellow substance of very thick consistency which smells similar to Vaseline products. 

Once applied the product is not as buttery and thick as it initially seems to be. I don't feel it gives my hair the expected level of nourishment or moisture. After using this conditioner my hair is decently easy to comb and style but not more than after using any drugstore product for damaged hair. 

The reason for my disappointment stems from the fact that when you receive a high-end, professional product your expectations are rising and the Karite hair mask did nothing unusual to satisfy them.

Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked review

If this gloss hadn't been attached to my Naked 2 eyeshadow palette, I would never have had an opportunity to try it. It's sooo 'not me' and yet it turned out to be one of my favourite lip glosses of all times.

What I didn't initially like about it was the packaging and the shade. I like glosses with doe-foor applicators, a brush would also do, bit this one has this plastic nozzle with which you're supposed to smear your lips or use a finger instead, which is messy and non-hygenic.

The shade is a perfect nude with pearl and nudes don't appeal to me at all.

But once I tried it on I really fell in love with the product.

First of all I love the minty smell and the sweet taste.

Secondly it does really plump my lips and even out the texture.

It's more moisturising than many lip balms that I've tried.

The shade, even if nude, doesn't make my lips look deadly pale or sickly. It's just exactly my natural lip colour plus high-shine gloss and smooth texture.

While it looks quite decent when worn alone, I like to apply it over my lipsticks. Being very neutral in shade it doesn't alter the lipstick colour much but adds gorgeous shine and plumpless. And such combos last surprisingly long.

I'd like to get this gloss full size once I've used this one up, and also there's a red one which attracts my attention. I feel I need them both cause they're such a great product!

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

Decleor Aroma Night night balm review

When I received a sample of this product, I instantly knew it was not meant for me. Nonetheless, I decided to try it out.

The substance inside turned put to be a very thick balm which reminded me of organic balms such as Figs &Rouge lip balm. As instructed, I warmed a small amount in my hands, at which point the substance turned into a kind of dense oil, and tried to massage my face. The consistency, even when warmed up, was too thick to make any sort of gentle massage possible so I ended up tapping the thing onto my face. It's quite possible that the "small amount " I used was too small to cover my face and thus refused to apply like buttter, but on the other hand the balm is so greasy that I feared waking up with millions of breakouts all over my face.

To my great surprise there were none in the morning and my face felt incredibly soft to touch. Really amazing! It's only on very rare occassions that I experience something like this!

Aroma Night, true to its name has a strong herbal smell which didn't appeal to my taste very much. But I think the volatile ingredients might have some aromatherapeutic effect.

The full size product is sold in 15ml jars with a price tag of around $40 which makes this product too expensive for my liking.

It's intended for all skin types but I still believe that in the long run it's too greasy to be used on oily skin such as mine.

I'm not going to purchase it full size but I wouldn't mind using a sample every now and then.  

Disclaimer: I received this product as a complimentary sample for my personal use and I'm not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my personal opinion.

November Faves

In November I fell in love with a couple of lip products: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains for everyday use and Dior Diorific in Lady, for more festive occassions. 

My collection of NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils has expanded but I started experiencing first major issues connected with these pencils: they wouldn't sharpen.

I suprised myself with how often I reached for Too Faced Exclusive Bronzer from the Sweet Indulgences Set. It seemed too dark for me at first glance, so initially I didn't even bother to try it our. In fact it's not very pigmented and not too powdery. The brush picks small amount of the product thanks to which there's no risk of overapplying. I like the bronzer very much but I find the packaging very inconvenient to use.

I also fell madly in love with a Chanel blush in Ultra Rose. This in my first Joues Contraste blush and now I understand what everybody is raving about. It's perfect

My nails tended to reflect my autumnal moods. I went for Butter London in Marrow, OPI in I'm Suzy and I'm a Chocoholic,OPI in  Germanicure, China Glaze in Street Chic and Essie in Carry On.

My love for Skinfood Watery Berry eye cream does not cease, I reach for it every morning.

As far as hair styling is concerned I must mention my HG products by Goldwell: Style Sign styling cream and heat-activated spray for curly hair. Excellent stuff!

And as for my body care favourite I must mention a generically named product called Fruity Body Milk, I suppose it's one of Douglas perfumerie own brands. I love it for how quickly it absorbs, leaving my skin moisturised, but dry.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 055(Adore) and 001 (Honey)

I never jumped on the Clinique Chubby Sticks bandwagon cause they just didn't seem like the product for me. I'm a lipstick wearer and I use balms only before sleep. My lips are in pretty good condition and they don't demand any special care. 

revlon just bitten kissable balm stain in adore and honey

So when I heard of a product which is substantially cheaper, conditions the lips, offers something more than a sheer wash of colour, is long wearing and stains the lips I felt my interest rise. 

Getting these little beauties required some effort cause while Revlon is widely known and sold in Poland all new stuff arrives with a year's delay. I didn't want to wait that long and I'm glad I didn't.  

Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are deceptively similar to Chubby Sticks. They come in the form of plastic pencils which just need to be swiveled, not sharpened to reveal more product. Very convenient. 

They both distribute evenly on my lips, moisturise them like a balm without making them drier than before and add an absolutely non-sheer wash of colour. These balm stains will last for ages cause I've been playing with them for a couple of weeks without the need of 'sharpening'.  

revlon just bitten kissable balm stain in honey and adore

Adore is definitely my favourite out of the two. It's a very pretty red with barely perceptible gold shimmer, slightly warm toned, but suits my cool complexion perfectly well. It wears surprisingly long as for a lip product and leaves a lasting stain. I absolutely adore Adore. Pardon the pun.

 revlon just bitten kissable balm stain in adore

Honey is a pretty shade but not as nice as Adore. My hubby honestly hates the shade but I can't totally agree. It's a muted rosy pink with no shimmer. It's far less pigmented than Adore and it doesn't seem to stain my lips. Perfect for casual day wear. I use it as a tinted lip balm and in this respect it performs exceptionally well.  

 revlon just bitten kissable balm stain in honey

Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.