Bloomin' busy

I have been so busy with uni and work lately that I haven't had time to blog. All I'm craving right now is time to get creative and crafty again. I have a milion DIY projetcs that I'm dying to tackle, one of them being this Dita dress by Wear Lemonade. I plan on sewing one in black velvet and one in red velvet (cupcakes anyone?), which would be perfect for the holidays. Fortunately Wear Lemonade has thought everything through and sell ready-made clothes for the busy girls who don't have time to get their sewing machines roaring and that is one reason I love this label so much! Their latest collection "Midnight Bloom" associates teal, light pink and this increadible floral pattern. It is such an unusual color combo, but I absolutely love it and decided to recreate it.

Dress-Wear Lemonade
Jacket-Vero Moda
Beret-Old
Shoes-Old

DIY: Halloween Shoes

I've been really inspired by Halloween this year. Last year, my costume was extremely last minute, but this year, I have been thinking about makeup look for weeks, buying wigs and accessories. As I was browsing Charlotte Olympia shoes online, I spotted her iconic spiderweb ballerinas and they immediately appeared as easily dupable. So here is a little DIY post on how to make your own Halloween-inspired shoes, even though I will probably be wearing mine all throughout Autumn!

To do this DIY you'll need: a pair of shoes (make sure there is enough space for your spiderwebs), gold beads, a thin metal thread, pliers, universal glue (make sure there is no harsh solvent in your glue as it might tarnish the beads and the leather), a ruler.

Create three strands of beads. They will be the axis of you spiderweb so make them as long as the diameter of your web. Measure the space you have on your shoe in order to figure out the diameter. To stop your thread and secure your beads, go around the last bead and back inside the strand of beads for a few centimeters, then cut what remains.

Start with two strands. Twist them in their middle. Then add the third one and twist it with the others. This can be done quite messily. Just make sure your three axis are holding together. They will become more sturdy as we add the web's circles.

Then slip a thread through a bead on one of your axis. I chose the fourth bead, but it can't be higher if your web is bigger.

Add beads and slip your thread through the fourth bead on the next axis.

And cut the remaining thread.

All you have to do now is glue your webs on your shoes. You can shape your webs to make them more hexagonal (which I forgot to do for the left foot) before glueing them on. If the glue application gets messy, clean it up with nail polish remover and cotton buds.

Cosmetics Obsession Haul

I recently placed an order on Cosmetics Obsession which is a swiss online cosmetic store and an actual store in Lausanne. They have so many cool brands to choose from that it's really hard not to buy everything. However I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to get: products that I could add to my everyday routine to change it up and make it a bit more fun. If you scroll down you will find a list of the products I bought, along with a review of the one I've tried so far and a video demo, where I create a very bright and sparkly eyeshadow look (not necessarily for everyday, but still fun! :-) ).

Bright eyeshadows: I felt like playing with colors more and the Morphe 35U palette seemed like a great way to do it since you get so man different shades at a really affordable price. The quality is really good. The shimmery/metallic shades are comparable to Makeup geek's foiled shadow in term of softness and pigmentation. The satin/matte shades are a little drier, but still totally usable.

Contouring: Contouring is something I've never been interested in until recently and the LA Girl contour stick in Suede was, again, an affordable way to try it out. I was truly surprised by how subtle it can look and I'll definitely keep using it in my daily routine.

False lashes: I haven't worn these yet except the Red Cherry Demi Wispies, which I wore in the video below. I think they look really nice on, without being too dramatic. I can't wait to wear the other ones. (I got the Socialeyes lashes in Vixen, Whiplash and Tease, and the red Cherry #DS 04)

Glitter: As a self confessed glitter addict who owns several pairs of glitter shoes, I couldn't resist adding loose glitter to my collection. I got the Eye Kandy glitter pots in Marshmallow Sugar (an iridescent white), Icing Sugar (a place blue with green reflects), Mad Melon (a gorgeous bright green) and Double Bubble (a dusty rose), that I have yet to try. I'm really happy with them so far and I'm definitely considering getting more colors!

Paris inspired makeup

The purpose of this post is probably more the pleasure of the eye than an informed review with swatches and the whole shebang. As a makeup collector I can't resist such pretty pieces to add to my treasure chest. The Dior palette I will probably never touch (It's a freakin'  Eiffel town embossing!!!), even though that blue shade is calling my name. The Lancôme products, on the other hand, I've tried and the quality is as good as the packaging. The eyeshadows are pigmented and soft (the silver glitter feels like butter!!!), I used the liner shades with a wet eyeliner brush and it gave me a beautiful smooth line. The cushion blush is great. The pigmentation is not not sheer, not too intense and very long lasting. Finally for the lip crayon, I got a punchy orangey red, which has a nice creamy matte formula. I haven't used the balm side much, but I feel like it's the perfect product to throw in your handbag if/when you want several lip options without carrying multiple products.

Old leaves, new hair

I think it's safe to say that Autumn is here and if I was a little sad at first to see summer and its exciting promesses go away I am now very happy for the beginning of this new season, which is also the beginning of a new (and hopefully my last) year at university. Even though the arrival of colder weather means slowing down from the hectic pace of summer days and getting into survival mode (i.e. hide under thick blankets with hot cups of tea) I think it is also a great time to let go of old habits to embrace change. For example: chop this long, shapeless mop of hair and get a fresh cut. And that's just the beginning!

Here are a few things that are getting me excited for Autumn:

1. The changing colors... obviously!
2. Sleeping under a warm, thick duvet when it's cold outside.
3. Cooking warm comforting meals.
4. Cozy racoon pyjamas. (Oh yeah!)
5. Browsing bookshops and hunting for new reads.
6. Spending rainy days in museums.
7. Jewel-toned makeup.
8. Taking long hot showers. 

What are your favorite things about Autumn?

Leather jacket - Naf Naf

Dress - Family Affairs

Boots - Vivienne Westwood X Melissa

Tote - Wear Lemonade

Review: Three Nyx Eye Products

Nyx is a brand I've really been into lately. The Nyx displays in Switzerland were revamped last Spring and with it came plenty of new launches. The Lingerie liquid lipsticks sold out pretty much instantly and haven't come back in stock yet, but the line was so full of novelty that I quickly forgot about those. Here are three products that I put to the test over the past month:

• The Vivid Brights liquid liners: By far my favorite products from this selection. They are pigmented, long lasting, they come in really fun colors and add a nice pop to any make up look. They are 5,90 CHF a piece which, in my opinion, is a bargain for such a nice quality product. I am looking forward to compare them to the New Urban Decay Razor Sharp eyeliners that should come out very soon. A must have for any make up lover. Pictured above are the shades: Vivid Envy (Green), Vivid Halo (Yellow) and Vivid Violet.

• The Jumbo pencil in Milk: A cult product that is not super glamorous, but very functional. It does provide a nice white canvas for your eyeshadows and has a sticky texture that grips the powders you put on top. I wore it over an eye primer and did not experience any creasing. Another must have.

• The Avant Pop palettes in Surreal My Heart and Art Throb: I have mixed feelings about these products. On one hand I love the color selection and how both palettes can be combined, but on the other hand I find these a bit chalky and not long wearing enough for my liking. Both looks that you can se below were created using 5-6 different shadows from the palettes and yet it looks like all I have on is a light wash of 1-2 shadows. However the weak pigmentation can be a plus for beginners or people used to neutrals who want to experiment with brighter color without going over the top. I will keep experimenting with them (I haven't tried to use them wet), but I definitely think that for 20 CHF (a piece) the quality should be higher. 

New Make Up Geek Shadows for Spring

Makeup Geek has become one of my go-to brand for eyeshadows and these 9 new additions to my collection marked the inauguration of my second z-palette filled with MUG shadows only. In a world where brands keep coming up with "the ultimate pro quality/luxury" makeup items (Hello 240$ Natasha Denona palette!), Makeup Geek is one among a few other companies that seem to be passionate about offering affordable products without sacrificing quality. When considering that MAC eyeshadow pans in Switzerland cost 19 Swiss francs (19$), MUG 6 to 10 $ pans are an amazing alternative for makeup junkies and even for professionals. 

Makeup Geek recently released 9 shimmery and 9 matte shades for Spring and I couldn't resist adding the 9 shimmers to my collection. and I am really happy I did since the shades are really beautiful and unique. I can see myself creating so many different looks with these, as I'm really into colorful shadows at the moment. Concerning the formula, most of these are buttery smooth and it almost seems like MUG has improved their formula. The only shade that disappointed me is "rebel". I found it a little dry and not as pigmented as the other shades, but since it is such a unique shadow (a grayish blue jam packed with golden shimmers), I think it is worth the effort of spraying a little water or fix+ on your brush.

With that being said, I'll leave you with swatches of these beauties!

My Favorite Summer Lipstick Shades

As I'm typing this it is actually too cold outside to wear bare legs and it doesn't feel like spring anymore, let alone summer. But we've had a few hot sunny days so far and my favorite thing to do to celebrate warmer months is to crack out my bright, bold and cheerful lip shades. On the menu today: old faithful friends and new discoveries!

From left to right: Bourjois Pink Pong, l'Oréal VIP (above), Body Shop Color Crush Shine in 14, Charlotte Tilbury Lost Cherry and Sexy Sienna

The Pals From Way Back:

• Bourjois Rouge Velvet Edition in pink Pong: a flashy blue toned fuchsia that lasts all day long!
• L'Oréal VIP: the perfect matte vibrant coral that you'll wear all summer long!
• Body Shop Color Crush Shine: a cheer but buildable juicy fuchsia!
• Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in lost Cherry: a strawberry pink in a heavenly formula!
• Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna: a muted coral with a hint of brown. Divine with a smokey eye!

Clockwise from left: Milani Cherish, Tarte Selfish, Essence Glossy Stick in Poshi Pink, Essence Velvet Stick in Mega Melon, Colour Pop Lippie Stix in Button

The New Kids in Town:

• Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Cherish: a warm hot pink. Summer on your lips!
• Tarte Tarteist Lip paint in Selfish: pair it with a white dress and you're good to go!
• Essence Glossy Stick in Poshi Pink: for summer goddesses on a budget!
• Essence Velvet Stick in Mega Melon: a warm pinky red that will take you from picnic in the park to party on the roof!
• Color Pop Lippie Stix in Button (Satin): a muted coral for any occasion!