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!