Sephora September

One bonus of living here in Paris (one of many) is that I can shop in Sephora. Love this shop dedicated to beauty with brands of differing prices and for various tastes. C'est parfait!
Recently I bought a few products and now that I have used them for a few weeks I have decided to review them.

I bought a 'Head to toe hydrator' which, for 8.50 for 125ml, is great value. It literally can be used everywhere so it's very practical for travelling around! I use it on my face at night, regularly for my body and hands and I use it in my hair if I run out of conditioner or I'm staying away from home. It moisturises well, smells nice but not too strongly of perfume and does the job. Completely recommend this if you can get a chance.

I also purchased a new Waterproof eye makeup remover for 5.90 for 125 ml. You use with cotton wool pads and wipe across your eyes to remove mascara, eyeliner and eyeshadow. You need to shake it gently to mix the formula and it is slightly greasy but it performs well and takes maybe 30 seconds for it all to be gone!

Lastly I bought a new blusher as my Benefit Bella Bamba had ran out. I love Benefit but wanted to try something new and a little cheaper. I then bought a Sephora branded powder blusher in Coral Flush. I love the colour and it's perfect for me. It seems as though it will last me a long time too as I don't need lots to get the correct colouring! Excellent news for my face and my purse!

Let me know if you have any recommendations or questions on Sephora products. 

Bonne lecture!

Beauty Storage -Downsized!

Since I moved to Paris (have I mentioned this yet?) I have had to seriously downsize my beauty products and there is a large percentage of them still in London. Particularly my nail varnishes which I am starting to miss! So since my original post I thought I'd share what I have now. Which, on a plus side, actually includes a proper table :) I also have a chest of drawers which have come in handy, although they were originally on the floor I don't need them there. Perfect for organising beauty bits. Anyway here it is...

My dressing table.

Bags, mirror, brushes & perfume.

My solution to having no jewellery tree - white tack on the wall! Easily accessible and not too ugly to look at!

My claireabella bag - when not being used for shopping/picnics etc it stores my hairdryer and ghd's.

Some skincare bits.

My make up drawer

Hair bits (yes don't get too excited at how interesting this photo is)

So that's the lot at the moment until I marry a millionaire or find a few million lying around. Then my beauty storage will be a sephora and my room will be at the plaza athenee. Obviously!

Maria xx

Euro Centrale OPI nail varnish set

On my first full day in Paris I realised I had forgotten to bring any of my 50 odd nail varnishes with me! Quel nightmare! Therefore I had to go straight to Champs Elysee sephora to get some. I love this shop, it has every make up brand you can think of. After a confusing exchange with the shop worker she spoke English and advised me really nicely (I am slowly learning French but it was my first day and she spoke really fast!)

Here's what I bought...

Sephora express nail varnish remover, Euro Centrale OPI set, Free Lanvin perfume sample

Worked really well, I was very impressed!

Lovely spring time colours, the gold goes over the top of the others to make them shimmery. Great names too!

The embarrassing state of my nails before I visited Sephora

Can't Find My Czechbook (Aqua) with OY-Another Polish Joke (Shimmery gold)

I loved this colour combination and I think they lasted well considering I have no top coat on them. Goes on ok, but seemed a little clumpy to begin with.

More photos of my first week in Paris to come.

Maria

Loving the You're Such a BudaPest (Periwinkle-purple) with the OY-Another Polish Joke! Got a few compliments yesterday - who doesn't love a nail compliment?

Friday night make up

After another day of exercise and diet I'm going out tonight with friends. I managed some cardio/aerobic dancing with toning and stretching exercises. If I keep this up I reckon in a month or 2 my body will begin to show the results. I'm sure ill start feeling benefits before though.

Off out for dinner tonight so have decided to wear a marroon pleated skirt and plain top. Yet to decide which jewellery but as I'll wear my tan boots it will be gold. Bearing this in mind I tried out a gold/plum/brown smoky eye. Here it is!!

Here is how I did it:

My 'makeupless' eye. 

The Sephora eyeshadow pallette used.

Start by putting the light beige/silver/white colour at the top of your eye near the eyebrow. Focus mainly on the outside and only use a small amount near the bridge of your nose.

Next I used the dark goldy brown colour on the lid near the corner of my eye. I worked it to about half way across the eye. Make sure when applying shadow you tap or gently blow excess powder off the brush otherwise it will end up on your cheeks!

Then I used the red/plum colour on the edge of my lid carefully blending it to the centre so the two colours are blended and not leaving a line. Use more or less as required.

The final result with mascara. (Benefit They're Real)

Hope you like it!