I was strolling around at Åhléns City the other week. I can walk around for hours, trying out new products, talking to beauticians and makeup artists at the different beauty departments. I stopped by the Estée Lauder counter, looking for something good and I got home with something great! After less than ten minutes the sales associate had convinced me that this serum, with over 30 years in the business was the one. Advanced Night Repair is certainly the best serum I've tried, so far. In less than a week I can see how my skin texture has improved and skin tone evened out. Try it, buy it and (you'll gonna) love it!

Prepare for some close-up product reviews from brands like FACE Stockholm and Make Up Store. Coming soon!

When I got back home from work this evening, I had a little brown Royal Mail package waiting for me outside my door! Some days are just a bit better.. especially when the contents are products from Dermalogica.


I'm selective when it comes to facial cleansing products. I have been a fan of Dermalogica's Special cleansing gel for years now and I use it every day, morning and evening. Works well on my normal/combination skin and is sensitive on the eyes. Doesn't sting or irritate and is great for lens wearers, like me. On my top 3 skin products you find Daily microfoliant. It makes the skin clean, smooth and radiant, all at once. I can guarantee you'll love it! In the package was a little travel bottle of Antioxidant Hydramist, from Dermalogica's Age Smart series. It improves the skin's texture and fights signs of aging. I've just tried it once before, at an esthetician so I'm eager seeing its results! It acts a bit "tougher" than regular facial toner, so I'm thinking of dedicating it to those mornings when I need an intense facial boooost! Climate control - check! Dermalociga's lip treatment enhances the lip's natural pink tone and treats it good. Really good.

This weekend I've been to my friend Sofi's place for her big birthday party. Our after-party-Sunday included chocolate flavoured Kusmin tea, chick flick movies and of course, a beauty product run-through. As it turns out, Sofi's become quite a Clinique-lover. And somewhat of a product specialist for that matter! So, I thought I'd better take the opportunity to share her Clinique-routine, so here we go!
 
"I start my morning routine (and end my evening) using Clinique's Step-1 Liquid Facial Soap, follow up with step-2 Clarifying Lotion and finish with Step-3 Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. Since my skin is quite sensitive, this 3-step routine has become sort of my complexions best friend.


"Following the Step-3 I use a moisturizer. Depending on the weather, I use either Superdefense SPF 25 or Moisture Surge Intense. The latter is a thicker cream, for those days when my skin needs a better defense for cold winter weather. As a daily booster I use Moisture Surge, at work or after a gym class, and it's light texture makes it wearable on top of my makeup! For my eyes I like All About Eyes Rich. Since I started using this eye product, dry lines dramatically has decreased".


"I like the stripped, natural and easy-to-do makeup look. My fav Clinique makeup products are: Superbalanced Makeup Teint 05 in Vanilla, which I put on after the moisturizer. Adding a bit of Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Victorian pink and High Impact Marscara in no. 11 Brightening black. Take The Day Off is just as it sounds like, a makeup remover which treats the sensitive skin around the eye area really well. The makeup I always have with me in my bag is Clinique's Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss, love colour no. 10 Grapefruit and Deep Comfort Hand Cream"!

Environmental awareness is overall about concept thinking. Today we don’t just dress in eco-friendly tees and sweatpants and put organic tea and vegetables in our basket. Eco-thinking has become more important for everybody, also for the beauty industry. I feel strongly for the Swedish label Estelle&Thild. The products are really “blooming” in nice packaging and instantly makes you feel good inside…and outside of course. The production is straight through environmental friendly and the packaging are recyclable. My favorite product is the Facial Oil, oil-maniac as I am! It’s just lovely…

The products can be found online at www.eleven.se and in stores like Åhléns and Kicks.

Keeping my Scandinavian blonde hair healthy and natural looking, it takes frequent visits to the hairdresser and in between those visits a good hair care regimen. Especially during winter when the cold weather certainly is an enemy.. The products fill up my bathroom shelves and here’s a review of some favorites.

I almost daily use Velvet Whip, from Redken's All Soft series. It's my savior to combat frizz and dullness. I leave it in towel dried (or dry) hair and it instantly soothes and smoothes and brings out that natural luster. I have a new found love named Paul Mitchell. Before blow-drying (and I can’t live without my hairdryer) I use Heat Seal spray. It de-tangles and makes the brush run more easily through the hair, leaving it well protected and soft. For those days when your hair just feel flat and shapeless I use Redken’s Layer Lift 07 spray-gel to add volume. Spray the product close to the hair roots, tousle with your fingers and blow dry as usual. The finishing touches varies a bit but I love Shu Uemura’s protective and Nourishing Oil. The product may be a bit expensive but lasts what feels like forever! And the smell is like perfume for your curls. When I want a bit more texture and shape I use Osis+ Dust It (light control). I devide the hair into smaller sections and “dust” lighly underneath the sections, close to the scalp. Be careful not to use too much of the powder dust, since it stays in until next shampooing. For a lighter texture I use dry shampoo and comb it through my hair. I’ve tried a lot of dry shampoos but still, my no. 1 product is REF.204. It’s money well spent I guarantee you! Osis+ Elastic is a non-sticky flexible hold hairspray. I use it when I want my hair let out, to give it a lightly fix but still keeping the flexibility. I just starting using the product but must say it works well.

A big thanks to my great hairdressers (especially Linah) for keeping the naturally blonde tones going strong! Maybe I'll book an appointment Linah, in a near future..


Have a great Saturday everyone!
/Z

 
This summer I’m going overseas for two of my best friends weddings! I’m so excited and so happy to be a part of the planning! For the June wedding, on the island of Santorini, I’m one of the happy-to-be bridesmaids and in charge finding the perfect bridesmaids’ dresses. So, I'm making mood boards for inspiration and to help me keep track of everything from color samples to fabrics. It’s a lot of copy + paste time but so much fun! Also keeping an eye out for the perfect french civil wedding dress.. 

When I get into this kind of mood I have to throw in a little mini manicure pause, with a wedding summer feeling. Let me introduce you to my new found friend, Ballet Slippers from Essie! It gives your nails the perfect subtle tone of milky pink, and goes great with all skin tones! Winter or summer. Chic and beautiful nails in a flash! I use the varnish after Reward basecoat (for normal nails) and when dried, I top it off with Brilliance, both from the Jessica range.

Added recently to my mood board is the really striking Essie colors Made To Honor, Happily Ever After and Blushing Bride.

I like my minerals, they're good for me. Especially those for my complexion. I have heard great things about bareMinerals and have tried it for years, when I have visited makeup artists and beauty salons. Though, I still haven't been completely convinced of it's "wonders". It wasn't until my visit in Paris over new years (and of course Sephora) that I decided to give the products another try. 

I came home with some products from the range, some of which I definately can recommend. I love the Flawless definition volumizing mascara. It's easy to build up for that perfect lash volume you're looking for. Wait about 15 sec to re-apply the mascara and volia! Thick and long black lashes. Daytime, I only use one layer and still it gives that "eye popping" effect. I like the Original SPF 15 foundation in medium beige and it gives the face a great lustre. But after a while, I feel the complexion getting a bit too shiny. I found it beeing great as a concealer though, loving it! With a smaller brush I apply the foundation around the nose area, inner corner of the eye, as a cover for unwanted red spots and dark circles under the eyes! I have yet to try the matte foundation..maybe it's more compatible with my skin type. Prime time foundation primer really is as great as they say. I use it before my daily makeup routine in the morning, before going to work. When I come home in the evening my makeup is still intact and perfect! So, +++++ for this product. The lip gloss of the moment is Stawberry shortcake and it smells like candy, and I always want more of the sweet things! Giving my lips a soft tasty pink colour. The handy buki brush is great for medium coverage and I use it for applying my Mineralize skin finish powder in medium from M.A.C.


Wishing you all a great weekend!