Winter Nails!

I love nail polish just as much as I love lipsticks. And for that reason I couldn't wait to get my hands on the winter collection of Essie the moment I saw it in stores. I managed to take a hold of  go with the flowy, getting groovy and in the mood ring. I don't have to tell you how awesome these colours are. 

Here I put together the polishes a list with getting groovy and sealed with ready to go by Essie to create the following nail look.

I hope you got some inspiration for your nails during the wintertime. Hopefully I will manage to give you another nail look with the other colours before New Year. But first of all all I wish you for the week to come a joyfull Christmas with a lot of happy moments and wonderful memories.

Interior Wishlist: Romantic Copper

It's been a while since I updated this blog so "new year new me". Ready to rumble? I am! So what happened? I finished my Bachelor, started my Master, moved and started to play the Ukulele. Besides studying Christmas does it's part filling my day. Nevertheless I am here to share my interior wishlist for this month:

Wohnzimmer - Romantic Copper, zusammengestellt bei stylefruits.de

This combination of dark grey tones with soft pastel coloures like sand or rose are not only in vogue but also a perfect match for copper features such as lamps or small tables. To round this comfortable style off I added a latern und a sheep furr so nothing can get in the way of a cozy evening for you. Perfect for cold winter nights.


Chair: IMPRESSIONEN LIVING 

Table: Made.com 

Pillows: Pichler (rose), artboxONE (black) 

Carpet: MÖMAX modern living 

Lamp: DeKo-Light 

Candles: impressionen.de 

Lantern: Loberon

Furr: novel

Sephora/ Douglas Beauty Haul - First Impressions!

Hello my lovely readership,

Dear god, were the last weeks stressful! I had all of my exams of the summer semester plus a term paper that will have to be handed in next monday. But I never forgot about you so now I am finally posting the haul I talked about in the last post! Enjoy!

I have purchased a lot of new items over the internet during the time I had to learn so I gathered the most mentionable picks to give you a personal first impression of them!

First off the things I bought at Sephora:

- Sephora Collection - Eyelash Curlers
- Sephora Collection - Color Proof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
- Rosebud Perfume Co. - Rosebud Salve
-  Sephora Favorites Summer Crushes
(yet only the Caudalie Divine Oil, Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment and Shaveworks The Cool Fix because those are the only  things I have been using so far).

First impressions:

- The Sephora Eyelash Curlers was a must buy due to the awesome pink colour! The lash curler is good at handling and does a satisfactory job so far. To be honest I haven't tried out too many lash curlers because my lashes are naturally curled yet I had to get it because it looks so neat. Oh my, this is a good start!

- This Sephora liquid eyeliner could be my favourite product of the Sephora haul. It has a good applicator which takes enough colour on the tip without overloading it. The line can be pulled fine yet also thick with ease. The black is very dark which is lovely too. And as far as I can tell it stays on without smearing and is really hard to remove which speaks for its long lasting qualities.

- The next product is another good pick. The rosebud salve lip balm is perfect for applying at night. In the morning your lips are smooth and hydrated for the whole day. The only thing I am still not sure about is the funky smell. Something between roses and honey but maybe that's just one of the scents you have to get used to.

- So for the next few small products a short review on each of them: The Caudalie Divine Oil is something I can't make up my mind about so far. It's a wonderful smelling oil that does take at least a few minutes to be absorbed by the skin. But I can't really tell if I like the way this oil nurtures. I have very dry skin and I get the feeling that body butters and lotions work better for me. But we will see how my opinion will change when using it more. 

Another item I can't really decide whether I like it or not is the Bumble and bumble Surf Spray. I tried to make a beachy wave look with it and it didn't work out at all. My hair which is thick and very stubborn didn't get that awesome "fresh from the ocean" look I wished it had become. Maybe I should try using more spray next time. Do you guys have any advice on how to use this product for a perfect result?

Another tricky first impression is the hair mask by Living Proof. The scent of this hair mask is lemon grassy which is pure bliss when using it. But I can't tell if I like the effect of the mask or if it is any different to the ones I have used before. The hair gets kind of stiff when washed out and dried which I usually don't have as an issue. Maybe this is one of the things you have to use a while until it unfolds its true effect. Did anyone try this mask before?

So the last product I tried out is the Shaveworks after-shave gel. I do get some problems with rashes after shaving and ingrown hair - oh yes! So yuk I know! I first tried this after my normal shaving gel was empty all over my legs; after shaving of course. And oh my. My legs were so soft and smooth. The rashes were getting less and I guess the ingrown hair got treated well with this gel too. It just burned like hell when being applied to the bikini area and armpits which I guess is a minus. I can't really tell if I would buy this in a bigger size because it is kind of expensive and my other after-shave gel does quite a good job as well. I will let you know if I do though!

From the products I purchased at Sephora the things I bought at Douglas:

- The Body Shop - Strawberry Body Polish
- The Body Shop - Brazil Nut Body Butter
- Soap & Glory - Scrubatomic Daily Face Polish
- Soap & Glory - Clean On Me Moisture Shower Cream
- Tangle Teezer - Compact Styler

First impressions:

- This Body Polish by the Body Shop is pure bliss for my nose. I could live in the shower after buying this just by its smell. The texture of the body polish is not too rough and combined with the shower gel it is perfect for smooth skin and a strawberry escape from the real world.

- From the fruity scent to a nuttier, vanilla type of smell. The body butters by the Body Shop aren't this hyped for nothing. The texture is firm and is a little harder applied then the usual body lotion. Yet it leaves the skin nurtured and looking healthy. Putting on too much can make your skin a little sticky so less is more with this products formula. And I am really wondering why I didn't get stuck on this product earlier!

- It is summer sale at the moment and lucky me I got this product as well as the other Soap & Glory product 50% off! And I love not only the prize I purchased these for. First off the face polish. This stuff is amazing. Instead of leaving the skin deeply red and dry it feels smooth and cleansed. This doesn't mean you should cut out your day/night cream but your skin isn't begging for nutrition afterwards. So after the second usage I really see myself including this into my weekly skincare routine.

- I don't really believe in deeply moisturizing shower creams or oils. Yet if there is a cream that is as moisturizing as the L'Occitane Huile de Douche Amande then it's this shower companion by Soap & Glory. At least for my skin after the few times I used it now.

- Last item I got from Douglas is the smaller version of the Tangle Teezer simply because I was afraid my bigger one would lose it's combing qualities being thrown around in my bag without protection so I got this travel brush and like the big one I really like it. Plus it's pink. Gee this post is so cliché-ridden.

Since I didn't buy these at Douglas nor Sephora so I put the best things at the end. This is my new holy grail of beauty - the brushes by Real Techniques. I purchased the Core Collection Kit and the blush brush over Amazon. These tools are the best I tried so far besides a set I got from Annayake. I don't ever want to apply any blush without my brush anymore. Even with very high pigmented blushes it applies them as if they were airbrushed onto the skin. At least that's the magic these brushes do to my skin. These brushes by Real Techniques deserves a love, love, love!

Wow this was really a long post! I hope you enjoyed reading it! And yay I finally got Instagram too! For those of you who care to join me here is the link: instagram.com/katiewinterbottom you are warmly welcome to fellow! By the way who of you would like to have a post on the sale haul I had this week? I could also write about the geeky/nerdy stuff I possess if there is any interest. Just write a comment below!

I wish you a wonderful week and until next time!

xo Kate

May / June Favourites!

Hello my lovely readership!

Yes! I am back with the promised favourite post. I will make sure to extend my favourites by things I loved and music I couldn't stop listening to over the last two months so sit back and enjoy!

Favourite Beauty Products:

Let's start with the skincare products! Origins - a brand everyone loves lately. Since my birthday was in June I got a very lovely gift from a friend of mine. A small set with an assortment of Origin products. The one thing I can't live without since that gift is the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. Due to the fact that my skin is going bonkers this product really helped me reduce spots that started spreading all over my face. Some people claim it to dry really uncomfortable on your skin which it does yet for the effect it provides I would take that tension for fifteen minutes over and over again. Plus if you move your face a little when it starts drying you can easily reduce the tension or you can apply it on the pimples only which has the same clearing effect. After using up this sample I will make sure to get the bigger size because nothing is keeping my skin in check like this product!

The second skincare product was a insiders' tip from the same friend who gave me that lovely present by Origins. I don't even know what exactly this cream does but the Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream is an allrounder! I will quote the packaging as it explains what it can all be used for "moisturize and protect anytime, anyway you chose. Shape brows, revitalize shine, soothe dry hands and smooth cuticles and nails. Also for symptoms of chapping, peeling or flaking due to minor burns, sunburn, windburn, scrapes, abrasions or cracked lips." 

Do I have to say any more? Well okay maybe my experience I gathered using this cream. When applied to the lips the lips become so smooth that no lipbalm could compete with that effect. I often apply it on scrapes since I keep collecting them lately without any reason at all and they heal so much better and faster with this cream. The only thing promised which I can't really see an effect on are my cuticles. Even after applying they are really dry so I have to use a nail oil. But otherwise neat! I think I should try forming my brows with this the next week.

Let's jump to the nail polishes. I already leaked my love for pink lacquers a few posts before and this is one of my favourite colours for the summer. Status Symbol by Essie. Look at that strong pink, sophisticated colour! Only two layers and your nails look like summer has come to town itself. To make the colour last and give the nail a beautiful shine I apply the top coat Good to Go by Essie. It dries the layers from before, seals the colour and gives a nice gel look to your polish. Why didn't I find this top coat before? It would have speared me a lot of nerve racking time with other top coats.

From strong pink nail lacquers I would love to jump to strong pink lips! This is another birthday present I adore deeply! The new Dior Addict Fluid Lipstick in the tone Wonderland. The reason I didn't buy one for myself before is the fact that I was rather suspicious of a blend between lipstick and lipgloss. How could that go well? But it did! My worries that this product would feel heavy and utterly sticky were disproved. The colour is full, the lips are deliciously shining and the texture is light and creamy. Way to go Dior.

Another lip product I been using quite frequently is the Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick - Impulsive. The colour is very subtle which makes it perfect for heavier eye makeup or every natural makeup look. The consistence is very creamy which makes it foolproof to apply leaving a hint of lustre on your lips. 

The only downside is - and this is unfortunately the second lipstick by Estée Lauder where this problem occurs, that it doesn't have a proper grip to its retainer. The first time this happened the red wonderful lipstick fell to the ground and died along side my carpet. Now after one week of using this one it's so loose in it's mounting that it moves around madly applying it on your lips making it not a fun experience to put on. I hope they will fix this at some point. From now on I guess I will just have to apply this lipstick with a lip brush. What a pity. This could have become my all time favourite lipstick!

The last beauty product for this post is a fragrance I bought myself for my birthday. I have been dallying over this scent for the past year until I finally invested the money for the Eau De Toilette Loverdose by Diesel. The overtones are star anise and mandarin followed by the heart note of licorice, sambac jasmine and gardenia petals. In the end the scent unfolds it's base note with vanilla, amber and woody notes. All in all it's mysterious a bit floral and oriental at the same time. I don't know what this perfume does to me but I can't stop using this even if it might not be the typical perfume for summer.

Random monthly favourites:

* A drink I recently came across is the "coco juice". The water of young coconuts. It's not that sweet and has a very unique kind of taste to it. Perfectly refreshing for hot summer days! And it only has 19 kcal each 100ml!

* Cooking vegetarian meals has become a fun challenge for me the last two months. Informing myself over the conditions that most animals we consume suffer of really made me reduce my meat consume to once or twice a week which is still a lot yet a good step in the right direction!

* I have started watching Sailor Moon again. A show that everyone used to love and watch in their childhood years. Somehow I simply wanted to catch a bit of nostalgic memories by watching this and it worked and even as an adult it is amusing. Why not release our inner child once more?

Favourite music:

This is some of the music that I can't stop listening to over and over again on Spotify:

* Netzwerk (Falls Like Rain) - Klangkarussell

* Rude by Magic!

* Stay High by Habits Remix

* Sleepless (feat. The High) - Radio Edit

What are you experiences with the products above? Does anyone else have the same problem with the Estée Lauder lipsticks? Which are your favourite songs lately? Feel free to leave a comment below!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Next time I will write a post on an online Sephora Haul! I just hope the package will arrive in time! So till then!

Yours,

Kate xo

Epic Crush on Tinted Lip Balm Sticks!

Hello my lovely readership!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! For those of you who are waiting for a "favs of the month - may" post I can reassure you that I will include my favourite products of may into my "favs of the month - june" soon. I didn't have too much new products before so it would have been boring but a week ago I had a little buying frenzy which enhanced my favourites - but more to that in the post to come. 

Today I want to talk about a topic that I have been planning on writing since forever. Till now my addiction for tinted lip balm sticks has grown to an amount I have to share with you guys. So lean back and enjoy!

The first lip balm I would like to introduce is the Pure Shine Colour Lip Balm by Catrice Cosmetics in the colour Don't Think Just Pink. The colour is well covering for a tinted lip balm whilst still being lighter on the lips as a lipstick in the same tone. The smell is close to vanilla which I really love since I am a sucker for vanilla fragrances. The low price is unbeatable and makes this lip balm a really good pick if you want to try out these sticks for the first time! Additionally to that it's a good dupe to the Clinique Chubby Stick "Mimosa" although the Catrice product has a little more red/orange to it.

Why not go on with the product I just mentioned. The Clinique Chubby Stick in the tone Mighty Mimosa. Clinique was one of the first brands to make tinted lip balm sticks popular which makes it worth mentioning! I talked about this product before and I still love the colour - a beautiful warm pink tone. Only downside still is the lack of any good scent. It reminds me of coloured pencils which I find quite disappointing due to the high price that comes with this lip balm. Pity since it would be a lovely product then.

Next lip balm I just bought recently lets my heart beat faster! It's the Isadora Twist Up Gloss Stick - Pink Punch. I didn't really plan on buying a gloss stick in a strong pink so far yet out of frustration finding nothing else I went for this one. All I can say is I love it! It's super comfortable to wear due to it's good coverage. Not comparable with a lipstick and the colour is just wow. Equal to the Catrice lip balm it also smells like vanilla.

Manhattan is usually not the brand I go for first when it comes to buying beauty products but I slowly have to wonder why. I already talked about two orange lipsticks by Manhattan which persuaded me and now another lip product caught my eye. Compared to the other lip balms above the Manhattan Glossy Lip Balm in the colour Nude Up! is not as tinted yet double as glossy. It's also not as firm in it's texture but creamy. With a hint of coral it makes your lips look juicy. The smell is very sublime so there is not too much to say about that. All in all it's wearable for all occasions being natural. But it reminds me a little too much of a normal lip balm. A little more colour would have been  better.

The last tinted lip balms are my favourites in this section. I already have 5 different colours from nude to red and I just can't get enough! I am talking about the Soft Sensation Lipcolour Butter by Astor. Out of the five li p balms I have I picked out two because talking about all five would make a post on its own. The colours I chose are Loved Up and Pink Lady. Both colours are just perfectly tinted. I often use the colour Loved Up when I am wearing a heavy eye make-up and the Pink Lady tone whenever I want to have a cute and fresh make-up. And again - this really seems to cross all brands it smells like vanilla. Plus they have a huge assortment of different tones for a good price. 

I hope you enjoyed reading my post! Do you have a favourite Tinted Lip Balm? If yes which one? Would you like to see a whole make-up with one of the products? Just leave a comment below!

I hope to see you next time!

Yours,

Kate

Empties! Products I've Used Up - Volume 1

Hello my lovely readership!

Today I want to launch my first „Empties – Products I've used up“ post! I finally gathered some of the products I used up over the last month to give a short review on them and tell you if I would buy them again or not. Today we have nine different beauty products to go through so lean back and enjoy!

I will talk about the products from left to right in the order in the picture.

1. Nivea –  Pure & Natural Day Cream

I use this cream every day and I am very happy with it. It protects your skin from the sun, it nurtures dry skin and it's not to expensive for everyday use. Plus it doesn't contain parabens, silicones, dyestuffs and mineral oil so it's perfect for sensitive derma!

Rebuy: Yes!

2. Rituals - Qi Gong 24 anti-perspirant stick

A very reliable deodorant for every stressy situation. Only downside are the white stripes this product leaves on your clothes when you put on a dark coloured shirt. Otherwise I really love how you feel fresh the whole day long even when going to the gym.

Rebuy: Yes!

3. Maybelline Jade – Pure Make-Up Mineral

It has a nice fluid consistence perfectly for applying, highly pigmented without looking too cakey yet not that good for oily skin since it leaves a shiny finish which you have to powder a lot.

Rebuy: Yes but due to my skin issues since a year sadly a no.

4. Rituals – Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel Sensation

I love how this shower gel foams up when you apply it to the skin. It also spreads a lovely scent which sadly doesn't linger on overly long after showering also it doesn't nourish my dry skin enough.

Rebuy: Yes but I will purchase other scents because I can't help but try out all the other lovely varieties by Rituals plus the small size of this foam is perfect for traveling.

5. Biorderma – Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire

I couldn't wait to talk about this product! I fell in love with this solution micellaire since it prevents my skin from freaking out. Additionally it takes off my make-up with ease. There is no better facial water then this - for me. I tried out a lot of different brands and most of them dried out my skin a lot. So nothing has won me over as much as this facial water!

Rebuy: YES!

6. Micro Cell 2000 – Nail Repair Remover

Well it's a regular nail polish remover in my opinion. It's not bad and it's not revolutionary.

Rebuy: Maybe.

7. CD – Waterlily Deodorant Roll On

This product wasn't strong enough for high stress levels which lead to strong sweating. It smells really good at first but after a while when it's mixed with sweat it gets kind of musty.

Rebuy: Unfortunately no.

8. Nivea – Anti-Transpirant Invisble for Black and White

Don't be surprised about all the deodorants. I have been trying out a lot of them lately. This is a good basic deodorant. It keeps the smell away for long, it doesn't leave marks of sweat or white stripes on the clothes and the smell is subtle. This is a very good balance to the Rituals anti-perspirant I mentioned above.

Rebuy: Yes!

9. Ralph Lauren – Big Pony 2 for Women

It is really rare for me to use up a perfume. But now it happened - yieks. This perfume was fruity due to the fragrance of cranberry, fresh and very sweet. I wore it mostly last summer and loved it. But since I am linking it too much with last year I am not sure if I want to buy it again this year since there are so many awesome smells popping out at the moment which I'd rather rebuy.

Rebuy: Maybe next year.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I can't wait to see you guys on my blog next time!

Yours,

Kate

Tone in Tone Outfit for Men

Hello my lovely readership!

My friend came over wearing an awesome tone in tone outfit perfect for the summer and I couldn't hold back showing it to you guys - well guys in particular. The combination of pastel turquoise with royalblue is a beautiful match especially synergizing with the brown details from the belt and the shoes. Enjoy!

Model: Kevin R.

Shirt: Mango He
Shorts: Scotch & Soda
Belt: Tom Tailer Denim
Shoes: Hilfiger
Watch: Tissot
Glasses: Fielman