What's in my travel makeup bag?

It's no big secret that I'm travelling with my family to the UK this week. By now I'm guessing everyone knows since I can't stop mentioning it! I'll be away for almost a week and need quite an assortment of products. I'll be going to a party while I'm there, I'll of course need my everyday makeup, and I also need to do a more polished everyday look, for going shopping in London. Anyone else out there that likes to dress up before going to nice boutiques? I'd die if I had to go to Harrods or Chanel without looking great. It's a bit silly, but I can't help it. Anyway, my makeup bag is filled, and I even had to leave behind a few products I would love to bring. Of course I would love a better selection of blushes (I'll miss my Dolce & Gabanna Provocative), and I'll probably miss my MAC Fix+, but I'm bringing my La Mer The Mist, and that should do the trick. I'm also skipping on fake lashes, since they take up so much space, and I probably wouldn't wear them anyway since it's a 90th birthday party we're going to.

If you want to watch my last makeup bag video, from December 2013, and also see which brushes I'll bring this time as well, you can do that HERE.

On My Radar | Shopping in London

If you've been following me for a while you may know that I'm travelling to the UK next week to visit my husbands grandparents. This is my first time going outside of London, but that doesn't mean we're gonna skip it all together! We are of course ending our trip with two days in London, and I've been planning the shopping for as long as we've been planning this trip. I've got makeup on my mind, and I'm planning on picking up a few things that have been on my wishlist for ages, and if I'm lucky I'll also come across a few exciting new launches (I never trust launch dates completly). You can of course expect tons of Instagram photos while I'm there, and a big haul video when I get back.

• Christian Louboutin Nail Colour (£36/$50) I love Louboutin shoes, so of course I'm going to love the nail polishes as well. Sight unseen. I just know. I feel that you either love or hate these, and if you love them, and are willing pay up, you apparently get your moneys worth. Reports say that these are in fact as amazing as they sound! But, they are selling out. Hopefully, I can find the ones I want instore at Selfridges, because they're already sold out online. Of course I want to get Rouge Louboutin, seing as it is the Louboutin red, but the one that's on top of my wishlist in Pluminette, which may just be the perfect bright pink, just check out this picture from one of my favorite Instagrammers.
• Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portfolio (£65) Now, this may just be the perfect makeup bag. Even if it's not technically a bag. This hardcase beauty was once a popular limited edition item, but is now permanent. It has four removable pouches of different sizes, and generous room for your makeup brushes as well. I've get to find a makeup bag that can contain both makeup and brushes, without it being mushed together, which is why this caught my eye. It's not really in my budget for this trip though, so I may just scope it out and put it on my Christmas wishlist.
• Diptyque scented candles (£40) What can I say? Of course I want more Diptyque candles! I'm planning on picking up one or two that will work with gloomy days and sweather weather.
• Tom Ford makeup brushes (£36-80) These have been on my wishlist basically since they launched, but since I had so many MAC brushes that I loved, and considering the hefty price tag, I've always skipped on them. It's just recently that I've been feeling that I can't find the perfect face brushes, and when mid-range just can't cut it, why not look to the top? The bronzer and cheek brushes are on top of my shopping list this time.
• Chanel Beige perfume (approx £100) This beautiful creature is part of Chanels Les Exclusifs de Chanel fragrance range, which is only sold in select boutiques, which is why I hadn't smelled it until my first ever Chanel visit this summer. This is very different from my usual fragrances, and my husband was honest to admit he didn't like it, but for me, it was true love. It's elegant and timeless, and something I can see myself wearing year round for many, many years.
• Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill liquid eyeliner (fall 2014) Now, I don't even know if these will launch the UK, but a girl can hope because they look amazing! There are four metallic liquid eyeliners in the fall collection, and they are said to be limited edition. They look like such a fun and easy way to spice up a look, and I think these would look amazing if lined over (not on top of) black eyeliner.

Current Obsessions | Nude Lips

When I was planning this post, I was going to call it current favorites: lip products, thinking I was going to tell you about all of my favorite lip colours. But as I was lining them up, I noticed that every single one of them was a pinky nude. Is this really all I've been wearing these past months? It seems so. A few years ago I wouldn't be caught dead in nude lips, and here I am, a true nude lip lover. There, I said it! But even though they're all in the same colour range, this is still a post about my favorite lip products of the moment. Top to bottom:

• Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Pink Mauve (£16/$22) Every girl (or boy) needs a nude lipliner in their arsenal, and this has been my favorite this summer. Being a lip product addict, I do of course have several super similar nudes, but there's just something about Bobbi Brown lipliners. I find that this works well with all of the lipsticks/glosses in this post, except maybe Ballet Twist from CoverGirl, which honestly doesn't need a liner. This mauvy pink (obviously) can also be worn by itself, if you want to channel that very hip 90s matte lip.
• CoverGirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in 205 Ballet Twist ($8.99) I picked this up on a whim while I was in the US, because I rembered Tiffany D had raved about it. I'm not usually a fan of drugstore lip products, but this is just so simple to use I can't help but like it. The formula is nowhere near amazing, but the sheer peachy pink nude is so flattering, and since it's so light it doesn't need too much precision, so I find myself just throwing this on if I don't want to go without lipstick, but actual lipstick feels like it may be too much.
• Hourglass Extreme Sheen lipgloss in Canvas (£21/$28) This completly opaque pink mauve lipgloss was love at first sight, and I find myself loving it for a sexy lip when I'm wearing a full face of makeup. It's that 90s lip, but with a gorgeous shine. It's not sticky, and it stays put longer than regular lip glosses. This is the darkest of the shades.
• Tom Ford Lip Color in 12 Nude Vanille (£37/$50) It may not come as a surprise that this is included, but I love it so much I don't mind writing about it again. This had been almost unused in my collection for years, because I feel it is a bit light to wear on it's own, but paired with the Chantecaille lipgloss in Lucky (below) it's a perfect nude lip that works both day and night. The formula of this lipstick is great, and doesn't look nasty with a gloss on top. And let's not forget the packaging, which is just so luxurious.
• Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Lucky (£26/$33) Ever since picking this up last December, this has been my holy grail lipgloss. It's light pink with gold shimmer (transforming it into a peachy pink) colours works with just about any lipstick, and looks great on it's own too. It's not sticky either, and I honestly think it is the perfect universal lipgloss. I think this is one everyone could wear and love. If you just want one lipgloss in your makeup bag, this is it.
• Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Fig ($24) This lipstick has been my number one go-to lipstick this summer, and I've been carrying it with me everywhere I go. I've probably mentioned this in several favorites videos, that's how much I love it. I hate that Bite Beauty is only available at Sephora, but atleast they ship to several new destinations now (including UK, Germany and Norway), and have stores all over the world. This is only bordering on nude, as it is a light pink, but on me it wears nude. The formula is buttery soft, and wears well. Great light shade for any pale and light skinned girls!
• NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine (£18/$25) This was a favorite years ago, and as you will see in tomorrows video (declutter part 3) I rediscovered this last week. Pulling it from my collection, I immediately remembered why I loved it so much all those years ago. This is another pencil type lipstick, and I love that style in particular because it's so easy and quick to use. The colour is very similar to Canvas, but with more pink. This is a matte lipstick, but not so much that it's drying. It's very soft, and it has small amounts of microshimmer, which gives it a satin-like effect on the lips. This is another handbag favorite, and a shade that I think would work well on many skintones.

Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm

Aesop Rejuventate Intensive Body Balm (£25/$35/120ml) is a very rich body balm, enriched with vanilla, sandalwood and tangerine rind oil, for dry skin. It is light yellow in texture (very similar to Kiehl's Creme de Corps), and the texture is somewhere between a cream and a balm, and it feels quite airy. I have the small size, which comes in a metal tube. There is also a 500ml version that comes in their signature brown bottle with a pump (£69/$97).


Now, I know what you're probably thinking. That much for a little tube? I agree, it is alot, but luckily, a little goes a long way. You may remember that I was giftet this for my birthday, and honestly, it would take alot for me to pay that much for something that I go through so quickly. So this is obviously a luxury item, and you can tell. The first thing you notice is the yummy smell. It's a soft and almost warm smell, that lingers on the skin without being overbearing. The first time I used this my husband commented on the lovely smell, and asked what it was, which he rarely does. I use this every night after my shower, and apply it all over my body. As I said, you need very little, and about a pea size is enough for an entire arm. It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin soft and supple. If you're used to body lotions or balms for dry skin, you will love that this isn't sticky. In the Aesop range, this is the body balm for most hydration, and as you know I have very dry skin. This leaves me feeling hydrated all day and night, but I would say very dry patches such as elbows may need extra amounts or a heavier cream. Know that it does require a bit of work during application, but I feel that is normal with products that are heavier then creams

On a negative note though, I was surprised to find that there was actually a bit of air in the tube. What's up with that? That being said, that's the only real negative thing about this. I do find that the tube is a good match to this product, and the formula is thick enough so that product doesn't spill out when you're opening it. It's also great for controlling amount, and of course tubes are the easiest containers to get every little bit out of.

Overall, even looking at the price, I really like this body balm. It does it's job, which is saying something when you have dry skin. It smells delicious, and the packaging works. It's also suited for sensitive skin, and I have not experienced any problems over these pasts weeks. Let's not forget it's delicious scent! It also feels very light, which is a nice change from similar products.

Chanel Joues Contraste in 80 Jersey and 170 Rose Glacier

With the launch of Chanels new powder foundation, Aqualumière Loose Powder, they also launched two new Joues Contraste blushes (£31/$45). They launched in Europe, Asia and the Middle East a few weeks ago, and should launch in the US in September. The colours are 80 Jersey, which is more or less a light orange shade with matching microshimmer, and 170 Rose Glacier which is a beautiful and bright pink, with gold microshimmer. They both have the typical Joues Contraste rose smell, which I'm personally not a big fan of. I have heard that Jersey will be a Europe exclusive, but I can't be sure until I read anything about the US launch. Both are limited edition.

For years now the Joues Contraste blushes have been some of my favorites. I'm a complete sucker for packaging so of course I love anything Chanel puts out. The colours are always beautiful, the formula is not powdery and they're always so radiant, even if it's not a shimmery shade. They're easy to work with, and wear well. From time to time I hear that there are two different formulas to these blushes and that the US versions are different from the rest of the world. I don't know if that has changed, because it has been a while, but unless otherwise mentioned, all of mine are from Europe.

170 Rose Glacier is my favorite of the two. It is a very bright, fun pink that I personally feel would be best suited for a heavy nighttime makeup. It may have a bit too much shimmer for some. I pulled some other blushes from my collection for swatches, and I would say the most similar blush that I own is NARS Orgasm. They are both pink with gold shimmer, although the gold is much more muted in Rose Glacier.

70 Jersey is the most unique of the two shades. As you can see from the swatches I didn't really have any that are particularly similar. It looks quite brown on my computer screen, but I assure you it is orange, with a slight hint of brown. The blush that swatches the closest in person is Chanel Joues Contraste Espiègle (LE shade from spring 2011), although Jersey is a bit more brown with less shimmer.

Tom Ford Nude Dip Eye Color Quad

 Today I wanted to introduce you to my new eyeshadow quad, Tom Ford's Nude Dip, from his fall 2014 collection. It seems that everyone and their mother has been going crazy over this, and having it in my hands, I understand why. This is actually my first ever Tom Ford makeup product outside of lipstick. I often have trouble buying eyeshadow palettes, because I feel that I have to want every colour in it, not just one or two. When I first saw the pictures of this quad, I knew it would suit me perfectly. It launched in the US a few weeks ago, and sold out in a blink, so I was checking Selfridges twice a day for weeks, to make sure I got my hands on one. I'm so happy to have this as my first TF quad, and I think this will be used very often.

The four shades are all very metallic, and buttery soft. You can use them both wet and dry, but I haven't found a good technique for using them wet yet. The colours are a champagne, a light pink, a taupey grey and a dark brown shade. The first three are the most metallic (just the way mama likes it!), and the brown is almost a matte metallic with a warm microshimmer. The light pink is easily my favorite, and I think that the dark brown can easily be duped. They are an absolute dream to work with, and I experienced no fall-out. This is the most expensive eyeshadow quad I own, but hands down also the best one. It just feels so luxurious, and I think that's what one would expect from a quad in it's price range. I can't wait to layer the two lightest shades over By Terry Ombre Blackstar eyeshadow eyeshadows for the most metallic eye ever!

Now, I know that this is more or less sold out, but Harrods still has it in stock, and they ship to tons of locations worldside. You can also check your local Tom Ford boutique or counter if you have one, as they may still have them in stock.

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask

The Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask from Bliss (£42/$54/100ml) is a brightening, lightening and tightening mask from Bliss' Treat Yourself skincare range. They claim it is a 'super quick fix for dull, tired and sallow, 'I'm sick of my skin' skin'. It's made to mimic the famous Triple Oxygen Treatment Facial that you can get at any Bliss spa. I bought this on a whim a few months ago, when my skin was looking a bit dull, and this looked, well, fun. It has been featured as an InStyle Best Beauty Buy five years in a row.

It comes in a white bottle with a pump that dispenses very small amouts, and i would say that I easily use 15 pumps for a full face application. The texture is a light coral, almost milky, colour and feels somewhat like a light gel. It has a light and sweet smell, that somehow reminds me of traditional, Norwegian tran, which is cod liver oil with lemon flavour. But in a good way, I promise. You apply it onto damp skin, and once in contact with water it lathers into something resembling a not-so-dense shaving foam and turns white. This is when it starts getting fun. You leave it on for five minutes while little air bubbles pop on your skin. It has a tingling sensation, and at the same time it feels like it's sliding off your face. After five minutes most of the foam is gone, and you basically look like you have a soapy foam beard. I end my session by removing any residue with a warm wash cloth.

I'm not really sure how this crazy technology works, but it does. The results are immediate, and the skin looks bright and refreshed. I love using this in the morning maybe twice a week, or before getting ready for a special occasion or event. I love that it comes in a very generous size too, and this will probably last me a full year. Using it actually manages to give me joy. How is it possible to care so much for a facial mask? Does it give any long term effects though? It's hard to tell, but I wouldn't really think so, although dull skin hasn't been much of an issue since I started using this. I believe it's one of those products where it's hard to know how much it really does until you stop using it. I would still love it even if the effect only lasted a day though, it's absolutely worth it.

Using it has made me wonder about how the actual spa treatment feels like, and what the results are. Surely it must be fantastic? They have spas several places in the US, as well as London, Barcelona, Doha, St. Petersburg and Hong Kong.

I would recommend this facial mask for anyone that needs a pick-me-up for dull skin. Using it is so lovely, and I believe it would benefit all skintypes. To make it even better, the big size makes it an absolute steal. It's impossible for me not to love this, as it is easy, fun, quick and gives great results.

Eve Lom Rescue Mask

Eve Lom's Rescue Mask (£35/$50/50ml) is a deep cleansing clay mask for all skintypes. It comes in a white tube, but there is also a bigger 100ml size that comes in a pot. This is supposedly the star product of Eve Lom's skincare range. I've been using this mask for almost two months now, twice a week in the evenings. I also use this as a spot treatment, and I may use it as often as every other day if I have a particularly pesky spot. It has won InStyle's award for "best mask for congested skin" for seven consecutive years.

With this mask, Eve Lom promises deep cleansing without drying, and it's suppost to help smooth the skins surface, calm redness and irritation and soothe puffy skin and eyes. I mainly rely on this for deep cleansing, and I love it for that purpose. It is hands down the best cleansing mask I have ever tried. I have experienced a bit of oily skin this summer, and this is excellent for oil control. I especially notice that when I use it as a spot treatment, and it just dries pimples so beautifully. Sometimes once is enough for spots, and you can see the spot getting smaller throughout the day. On a regular basis though, I use it all over my face twice a week, but only post shower in the evenings when my pores are open. I always leave it on for 20 minutes, and Eve Lom recommends 15-20 minutes, but I notice that when I have oiliness or spots those extra five minutes make a difference. It dries down to a hard finish that's not uncomfortable. Eve Lom recommends you remove it with a dry cloth in upward movements (which exfoliates), but I prefer just removing it like I would any other dry mask, using a wet wash cloth.  I love that it comes in a tube. Allthough the bigger one gives better value money wize, it seems very unpractical for two reasons. The first being that you have to shake it before use, and you can actually hear that it goes a little bit thinner right away. The other being that the tube gives you great contron of how much product you want to use, it's quite thick, so you won't end up squeezing out too much. The bigger pot does come with a spatula, but it just seems that it would be so messy compared to the tube.

The product itself is a very light gray, almost white, clay with tiny black grains of what I believe may be sweet almond seed meal, but don't quote me on that. The main ingredient is kaolin, which is a white clay often found it clay masks. I know there are many people that react to this particular type of clay, but I have never experienced any problems, even though I have sensitive skin. If you think you may have had a reaction to kaolin before, you may want to get a sample first. It smells very strongly of camphor, which I find quite envigorating, allthough I know it's something that people may dislike.

All in all I have been extremly happy with this mask. It cleanses so well, yet I don't find it drying. I love using it on those days where I can relax in the evenings, and I always feel like I'm pampering myself when I use this. This has quickly turned into a holy grail product for me, and I would easily say it's worth much more than its price. I would recommend this for anyone with normal or dry skin that needs that extra cleanse once in a while. I wouldn't not recommend this to someone with oily skin, it's just that I don't have any experience as to how this would work when you need more oil control than I do. However, it does help with oil, and obviously with impurities and congested skin, so I would give this a go if you're looking for a cleansing mask, no matter what your skintype is.

Dior Vernis Carré Bleu

Dior Vernis Couture Colour Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Laquer in 796 Carré Bleu (£18.50/$25) is a limited edition dark navy nail polish from Dior's autumn make-up collection. The collection isn't really that big, and this is the only item that tickled my fancy. I don't think I would exaggerate if I said that this nail polish is my favorite thing right now. The colour is so gorgeous and somewhat feels classic, even if it's blue. It's blue in the same way as OPI Skyfall is red (which is my favorite nail colour of all time).

This year I've started wearing blue nails for the first time, and somehow all of my Dior nail polishes are blue. I guess they know what they're doing in that department! This will without a doubt be my go-to nail polish this autumn, and I'm considering buying a back-up or two. I don't know how it's possible to love something so quickly, I guess it was just love at first swatch.

I won't write too much, because words can't do this justice. Pictures can't either, but I'll have to post some. The colour is creamy, and looks almost black in dim lighting, but in direct lighting it's a gorgeous true blue. I think this can work for just about anyone, and I recommend you go swatch it yourself and see what I'm talking about.

Chanel Hydramax + Active Active Moisture Mask

Chanel Hydramax + Active Active Moisture Mask (£39/$50/75ml) is, as far as I know, the only moisture mask in Chanels skincare range. It is creamy and pale blue, with a thick almost gel-like texture. It has the typical Hydramax scent.

I purchased this about a month ago, because my skin was suddently feeling dry and stiff. I had a sample of this years ago, and remembered loving it. I'm particularly weak for the Hydramax scent, probably since my first ever high end skincare was from that range, although I believe it had a different name back then. I'm happy to announce it is as good as I remembered.

Upon application it goes on like a regular cream, but leaves a sticky feeling as if you were wearing a very thick cream. Chanel recommends you wear it for ten minutes before washing off. I have always just worn it over night, and my skin feels very moisturized and a little plump in the morning. It's almost completly absorbed in the morning. I don't have a routine as to when I use this, so I just apply it when I feel that my skin needs it.

One thing I have to mention about this facial mask is that the second ingredient is glycerin. Glycerin is very often added to skincare so that you won't have any reactions to the other ingredients. I have sensitive skin, and I often notice a reaction sooner or later anyway. When I use this I sometimes start to itch on my cheeks, which is how a breakout usually starts for me. Now, I've never broken out when using this, but I wouldn't want to use it too often.

Even with the glycerin and the looming though of breakouts, I still really like this. Mostly because it does what it's suppost to do. I don't have to use it several days in a row to get good results, I feel them the next morning. It's a nice little treat to use once in a while, and it just feels very luxurious. A must have for an evening of pampering. With my use this is surely going to last me a long time, which is a big plus (is there anything more annoying then having to replenish the same product every 2 months?).

On a last note I want to remember you that this is a treatment for when you need that extra boost. If you have dry skin, start with a good moisturizer and the right cleanser to give you balanced skin, don't rely on masks and overtreat your skin.

Summer Beauty Haul

I'm glad to say that I am finally here with my collective summer beauty haul. I've picked up some lovely stuff over the past few months, and I also added a few bits that I got for my birthday in this video. This video contains make-up, nail polishes and skincare, and you can expect to see brands such as Chanel, Dior, Eve Lom, Aesop, La Mer, and oh, I finally got a Clarisonic! Sit back and enjoy, and let me know if you want to see any reviews, especially of the Aesop products, which is probably what I'm most excited about. If you want to check out my mentioned reviews, you'll find the Diptyque Eau Rose hand lotion HERE, and the Dior Addict IT-Lash HERE and Addict IT-Liner HERE.

Stay tuned these following weeks for reviews on my three facial masks, and more Clarisonic talk will come later this week.

Diptyque Eau Rose Hand Lotion

Diptyque Eau Rose Hand Lotion (£20/50ml) is basically a cute little hand cream that smells just like the Eau Rose candle. I'm a sucker for packaging and this appeals to my Diptyque-loving heart. It's a nice black and white tube, with just a hint of pink in the roses. I really just bought this on a whim when I came by a store in Norway that sells Diptyque. I'm a big hand cream lover, so how could I say no?

First of all, let's talk about the scent. It smells good, but it's strong, and it lingers. This is not one for those of you that are sensitive to fragrance. The smell is delicious, and very similar to the Eau Rose candle. It absolutely smells like roses, and those of you that love rose fragrance will love this. Personally, I think the fragrance is so strong that I wouldn't want to use this several times during the day. And although the smell gets weaker on the hands over time, it does linger for quite a while.

I'm happy to report that the formula is very nice. The texture is light and creamy, and rubs easily into the skin. Hands feel instantly softened, and it absorbs quite quickly. After about a minute you'll be ready to use your hands again. As someone with dry hands I would say this is a "daytime handcream" that I could apply any time during the day and not feel handicapped as I wait for it to absorb.

I would have to conclude that this is a novelty hand cream. It's a good cream, but considering the price tag the formula itself isn't worth it for me. It's a fun little addition to my handbag, and the scent can easily be a little pickmeup during a busy day. Not to mention, this is a must for all Eau Rose-lovers.

What's in my makeup bag?

This weekend, my husband, son and I went on a little trip to the East Coast. The trip was about familytime, with no special occasions that would require big amounts of makeup, so I only brought my bare essentials. Of course, my essentials change all the time, so I though I would show you what that means this month. I managed to fit everything into my tiny, little pouch from Victoria's Secret (similar HERE and HERE). To be honest, I didn't even use everything!

For the face, the first thing I brought was my Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base. I've had this for a while and it's been my favorite these past weeks. I only love this with some foundations though and it works well with Clè de Peau Beatè's Refining Fluid Foundation with SPF 24, which gives gorgeous looking, but natural, coverage. Also From Clè de Peau, I brought my favorite concealer from them, which I dab underneath my eyes for non-cakey full coverage, and I apply a little bit on my eyelids as well instead of a primer. To set everything I use Les Violettes Translucent Compact Powder Mattifying Veil from Guerlain, which I've recently gone back to. It's great for a glowing matte complexion. To top everything off I brought my favorite blush, the gorgeously pink, but very natural looking Provocative from Dolce & Gabbana.

The only eyeshadow I brought is my current favorite MAC's Artistic Licence from the recent Moody Blooms collection. It's such a gorgeous rose gold shade that brings out my blue eyes. I've been using this as my everyday eyeshadow this summer. To line I brought my favorite white pencil, Chanel's Le Crayon Kohl in Blanc to brighten my eyes, and Dior's new Addict IT-Line liquid eyeliner (reviewed HERE), which is so easy to use with a glossy and true black result. I had to bring the matching mascara as well, which is the Dior Addict IT-Lash mascara (reviewed HERE). My eyebrow pencil can come as now shock, it's the eyebrow pencil in 203 from Clé de Peau.

Lips is the only thing I actually brought options for, and I went for what's currently my three favorite natural looks. The first option is the Fig lipstick from Bite Beauty, a gorgeous mauvy pink my lips but better shade with amazing formula. For a more glam look I went for my favorite combo this month, Tom Ford lipstick in Nude Vanille and Chantecaille lipgloss in Lucky. Last but not least? You guessed it, even more Clé de Peau, with the Enriched Lip Luminizer in 204 Bellini.

Believe it or not, that's all I brought, even though I am a complete product junkie. And with my excellent packing skills, yes, it did all fit into that little makeup bag.Would you have managed to get through a weekend with such a small makeup bag?

Empties #2

Giving you an extra video this week! This is one for the extra interested, as it is inhumanely long! But I did want to post it, since I think a few of you liked my first empties video that I did this spring. Lots of good stuff in this one, so check out which products I would want to repurchase, which is basically the ultimate mini-review!

Dior Addict IT-Line

Dior Addict IT-Line (£24.50/$31/9.7ml) is Diors latest liquid eyeliner that launched this summer. It falls into their Addict range, and the packaging is created to match the Addict lip products and fragrances. It launched together with the Dior Addict IT-Lash mascara that I reviewed HERE. They both come in four shades, black, pink, purple and blue. The formula is a regular non-waterproof formula.

When I got this a few months ago I couldn't remember when I last used a liquid eyeliner. I used then all the way through high school, and for a few years after that. Until I discovered the glorious invention that is gel eyeliner. But let's face it, gel eyeliner is a hassle, since I wanted to get something simpler for everyday use, and the choice fell on this because I thought you may like to see it reviewed.

Let me start off by talking about the brush. I'm glad to say that it is an actual brush, and not a felt tip. The handle is quite long (which doesn't look great compared to the mascara, but is practical). It's quite easy to work with, allthough making thin, even lines may not be the easiest task. I would say it is very good quality for this type of brush though. I do really like the packing, it's sleek and cute, and of course, perfectly matches the Addict range.

The formula is also a big plus. It's not too liquid, and it glides on easily, and gives a true, black line (you may need to work with it a few places though). It dries rather quickly, and I have not experienced any smudging or transfer of colour. The end result is actually a bit glossy, which I think gives a nice touch. As long as you don't cry, it sits put through the day, and on me it usually looks almost the same in the evening as in the morning, but with a little bit of wear of course. What's most important to me is that it doesn't flake off in any way, and you can't scratch it off in pieces either. 

All in all, I think this is a liquid eyeliner that is a good buy. I'm not 100% sure about the other colours, but I think they could look cute paired with black on the right person. Allthough I still prefer gel eyeliner over any liquid liner, this is an easy, everyday product that works well. I'll add some swatches of the other liners as well, but know that the blue and purple are not sparkly, that's just some transfer after a swatching party.

Dior Addict IT-Lash

Dior Addict IT-Lash (£22/$26/9ml) is Diors latest mascara that launched this summer. It falls into their Addict range, and the packaging is created to match the Addict lip products and fragrances. It launched together with the Dior Addict IT-Line liquid eyeliner that I will be reviewing tomorrow. They both come in four shades, black, pink, purple and blue. The formula is a regular non-waterproof formula.

When this first came a few months ago I was very hesitant for two reasons. One, I'm not a huge fan of Dior mascaras, and two, I'm not a fan of plastic mascara wands either. But I'm glad to say I was happily surprised. The formula is what I would call a medium in every single way. It's not too thick or too thin, and it doesn't dry too quick or too slow. It goes on very beautiful without anything even resembling a clump. Dior recommend applying it in a zig-zag motion, and if you do that it has a nice lengthening effect. It's not very volumising with just one coat (or atleast not in my opinion), but it has such a perfect drying time that you can go back after the first application and add more for volume. And it still looks nice. I have not experienced any kind of fallout or drizzling during wear, and it comes off easily when using eye make-up remover.

The brush, or wand if you may, is of the plastic kind with silicone bristles I guess I'm going to call them. I feel that many of that kind feel very hard on my lashes, but this doesn't. I would have to say it's almost idential to the CoverGirl Lash Blast wand. I do quite like it, and I feel that brushes are what really make a mascara. This is definetly for the lengthening and seperating junkie.

I actually love the packaging. It's almost a bit cheesy and reminds me of the 90s (my first high end lipstick was actually a Dior Addict lipstick), but the shiny black just looks so nice. It also clicks when it's screwed on properly, which is always nice. I think that this is a good addition to the Dior mascara range, and it's very different from the DiorShow mascaras.

My Skincare Routine

This summer, I feel like my skincare routine has been in a good place, so I thought I would share it. I take great pride in having beautiful skin, and I easily see skincare as an investment. You will never catch me falling asleep with make-up on because I was too tired to remove it! I have some old favorites in this post, as well as some new products that I am quickly falling inlove with.

The Removers

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (£4.99/400ml) I initially bought this cleansing water because I am a big fan of the Bioderma cleansing water, and had heard good reviews of this claiming that it was basically just as good. Since it was cheaper and easier to get  hold of, I though why not. At first, I felt that the two were very similar, but over the course of time I noticed that this didn't remove make-up nearly as well as Bioderma. At this point, I'm basically just using it becaue I hate throwing away products. Even if I'm not wearing very heave make-up, I feel that I have to go over my face twice when I'm using this.

Chanel Démaquillant Yeux Intense Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Make-Up Remover (£22/$/100ml) After I've removed my make-up using a gentle cleansing water, I have to go over my vast amounts of mascara and eyeliner using this remover. It's hard to describe exactly how much I love this product, but it has been in my holy grail selection for many years. Everything just glides off, and it doesn't leave an oily filter around my eyes like so many other similar products.

La Prairie Purifying Cream Cleanser (£52/$80/200ml) Not pictured. I'm a firm believer in the double cleanse, and for years now this has been one of my favorite cleansers. It's a rich, creamy texture that smells very luxurious. It's extremly gentle, and I even use it on my eyes. If you're in need of a deep cleanse, this is not for you, but if you have very sensitive skin this may be what you're looking for. It's not often that I come across cleansers that are this rich, and it's one of the reasons I love it so much. For me, cleansing is such an important step in my skincare routine, and it may be easy to think that a product that is washed off right away makes a big difference, but it really does. When I was younger I would just by a random, cheap cleanser and think it didn't matter, but once I started actually caring about my cleansers, I noticed a big difference in my skin at it got much clearer. If you're wondering, the reason this isn't pictured is because I didn't plan very well, and since my two tubes were almost empty I cut them open to remove the leftover product.

The Creams

La Mer The Eye Concentrate (£135/$190/15ml) When my skin is nice and clean, I start by applying eye cream. For about three years now this has been my only eyecream, and with this your really just need one. For about a year now I've only been using this in the evenings and only on occasions when I really need that extra moisture in the mornings. In my eyes this is a must for everyone that has dry skin or gets dry patches around their eyes, and you should start using it in your 20s. I started using this a few weeks into beauty school, when my skin was becoming unbarable because of the constant application and removing of eye make-up, and within days my eyes were moisturzed and comfortable once again, and stayed that way during the rest of the school year. I still use on extra dry patches, like around my nose after a cold.I always use the silver tipped applicator that comes with, and I just dip that into the pot and glide it around my eyes, avoiding the actual upper and lower eyelids. This may sound very silly, but the eyelids will absorb the amound of cream that they need. If you apply directly on your eyelids, it will get absorbed too close to your actual eye. Avoid the inner corners of your eyes as well

La Roche-Posay Remedic [R] Eyes (£24.50/15ml) This little 5ml sample has been my morning eye cream for the past few weeks, and it contains retinol. As I've been starting to get a few lines around my eyes these past few years, I was hoping to see results because of the retinol, but I've honestly haven't noticed anything yet. When applying this I squeeze a tiny bit onto the tip of my ring finger, and lightly dab it around my eyes, avoiding the actual upper and lower eyelids, for the same reason that I mentioned with The Eye Concentrate.

La Mer Creme de la Mer (£200/$295/60ml) Do I really need to say much about this? It truly is amazing, and as long as I can afford it, I see no reason to try anything else but this. It took me a while to get a hang of it, and how to warm it with your hands before application, but now it's no turning back. I use the little spatula that comes with to get a pea sized amount, which is enough for my whole face. It's hard to describe the warming procedure my text, but you basically rub it between your hands or fingers, and the consistency changes and it becomes lighter. Then you pat it onto your skin. If you don't get it right the cream is going to feel unnecessary heavy, and you're not going to see good results, so be sure to ask your SA to show you how it's done when purchasing. So far in life, this is the only cream that can keep my dry skin moisturized, and I can easily call it life changing. Even during the west coast winters it's enough.

The Extras

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (£42/$54/100ml) For about a month now I've been enjoying this fun mask, and I use it about twice a week in the mornings. It smells a bit odd, but it's so fun to use and it leaves me looking better than I did before. The point of this is to mimic their famous Triple Oxygen Facial at the Bliss spas, by allowing tiny bubbles to burst on your skin. Sounds scary, but it feels very nice. Full review to come later.

Chanel Hydramax + Active Active Moisture Mask (£39/$/75ml) This mask is an old favorte that I recently repurchased. I don't really have a schedule as to when I use it, I basically just put it on in the evenings whenever my skin feels parched. The box says to leave it on for 15 minutes, but you can easily leave it on over night. The texture feels light and thick at the same time, and feels like it's somewhere between a cream and a gel. It also has that typical Chanel skincare scent, which I think is amazing. Full review to come later.

Eve Lom The Rescue Mask (£35/$50/50ml) I've been suffering from not-so-perfect skin this summer, and picked this up on a whim during my summer holiday. I had never tried Eve Lom before, but heard good things, and when the SA told me that she though this was their best product, I went for it. I use this twice a week in the evenings after a shower, once a week on my entire face, and once a week on the areas that need a little extra attention. I even like it as a spot treatment, and after 20 minutes I can actually see that my pimples have dried out. It really helps with oil control too, and have to say that this product is an absolute star. Full review to come later.

Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub (£26/$24/50g) First of all, let me say that this smells absolutely amazing! I've been using this twice a week in the shower for about two months now, and allthough I like it, I'm not so sure that I love it. After my all time favorite scrub (MD Formulations Face & Body) got discontinued in Europe, I've been on the lookout for a new favorite scrub, and this doesn't really fit the bill. I can definetly call this 'nice', but it leaves me wanting more.

A little Clé de Peau Beauté haul

Several weeks ago I put in a little order at Saks for some Clé de Peau Beauté goodies. The main reason or ordering was the Refining Fluid Foundation which I got to try out when I was in Las Vegas in June. I was absolutely blown away by it, and I think it's the perfect everyday foundation since it's so light and looks very natural, yet it makes your skin look so good you would easily wear it out too. I won't get into it too much, because there will of course be a full review in a few weeks time. But you know how it is, you can't just order one thing, so I got a selection of products so I would get a broader impression of the brand itself. I had only tried the concealer before this, and if you've heard of that before you probably know it's amazing. Before you watch the video, let me get a little more into the products that are mentionen.

• Refining Fluid Foundation ($120/30ml) Is a light weight foundation for light, bordering on medium, coverage. It is suppost to make your skintone look as flawless as possible, and help even it out. It is a quite dewy foundation, so this would be best suited for dry and normal skintones. It has broad spectrum SPF 24, and it's active sunscreen ingredient is octinoxate. My color is I10 which is the absolute lightest, and the next one up is O10 which is still quite pale, but pinktoned. The colour rage is not too impressive, but they do go quite dark, so I think most people will be able to find a match.
• Eyebrow Pencil cartridge ($25/0.1g) plus Eyebrow Pencil holder ($35) Is a slanted and very waxy eyebrow pencil. The shape makes it very easy to work with, and it fills inn easily and the end result is very natural. I had heard from many people that this is their holy grail eyebrow pencil, and so far I'm loving it too. I'm excited to see how long it really lasts, but rumours say upto a year! If that's true, the price tag is an absolute bargain! My colour is 203 which is light brown (allthough it's quite taupe and perfect for blondes), and the other three are dark brown, grey brown and gray.
• Enriched Lip Luminizer ($35/2g) plus holder ($25) Is a glossy lipstick on the sheer side. It has a barely there formula, that sits nicely on the lips. I've used this a few times and found it has longer weartime than most other glossy lipsticks. I find that this is a very practical product, and easily a handbag staple since it glides on so easily and doesn't require a lipgloss on top. I have the shade 204 Bellini, which is a peachy pink colour with gold shimmer. Now, you can feel the shimmer on your lips which is annoying, but it's not as bad as with many other lipsticks. I will try out other shades and see how they compare, both on the glitter front, and how the cream colours compare too.
• Syncatif Softening Lotion ($175/124ml) I only have a 20ml size of this, as it was a gift with purchase that is no longer available from Saks, but I wanted to include it anyway. It is suppost to replenish moisture and help create even-toned skin, while minimizing dullness and discoloration. It is completly liquid, just like water, and has a subtle scent that is hard to describe as anything but a 'typical skincare scent'. I will be testing this out very soon and probably write a full review.
• Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush (£29/$30) Now this little brush has been on my wishlist for years, but since I haven't been that into applying foundation with a brush, I never really got around to buying it. It is a firm brush with a slanted surface with extremly soft bristles that is made in Japan. They claim that it works well with all foundations, from liquid to powder. This brush is world famous and has even won awards. Hopefully this will help me get the best results from the Refining Fluid Foundation, just as I got at the counter, when it helped apply the foundation so flawlessly it was implossible to notice it on the skin, but at the same time filled in pores perfectly making my skin look amazing.

ON MY RADAR: NEW IN

Recently, there have been so many exciting launches in the beauty world, and there are even more coming up this month. All of these badboys have been on my radar as of late, and you should expect to see a few of these popping up on The Daily Beauty Edit in the next few months. Top to bottom, left to right.

• Dior 5 Couleurs eyeshadows (£42/$60) Dior have revamped their classic eyeshadow quints (like so many other companies are doing as well). I believe there are eleven new palettes and five of them are included in the fall 2014 collection. Available now at Selfridges and a selection at Nordstrom and Saks.
• YSL Fusion Ink Foundation ($60) This is the third summer in a row that YSL has launched a new foundation, and since I'm a big fan of the two previous ones (Touche Eclait and Youth Liberator), I can't help but be excited about this. I think this one is more suited towards normal and oily skin though, but I may check it out anyway. This is suppost to be a very light weight foundation, but with good coverage and 24-hour wear. Sounds interesting! Available now in the US, soon in Europe.
• Dior Color Icons Fall 2014 Collection Vernis ($25) Dior has actually taken a plunge and made a pre-fall beauty collection! Unfortunately, this is a Nordstrom exclusive, and I have no idea if we'll see any of this in Europe or Asia. Too bad, because there three polishes are absolutely gorgeous! There are mono eyeshadows, lipsticks and more in the collection as well. Available now at Nordstrom.
• Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour (£26/$37) If these look farmiliar, it's becase Guerlain have redone their KissKiss lipsticks with 25 new colours and put them in a sleek black case with gold details, while the old packaging was all gold. They're supposedly extra creamy and pigmentation looks amazing. They've added hyaluron to these as well, so look out for deep hydrating and maybe even a slight plumping effect. Can't wait to get my hands on these! Available now at Selfridges and Saks.
• Tom Ford Fall 2014 Collection This collection has been blowing up on Instagram in the past few weeks, and no wonder, because it looks amazing! Tom Ford beauty is all about a flawless complexion and looking your best glowing self. The eyeshadow palette, Nude Dip (£63/$79) looks universally flattering, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. And look at those Contouring Cheek Color Duos ($77) look amazing, and there are two of them. No exact launch date yet, but I hear rumous it will be at the end of the month.
• Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Nail Colour (£32/$50) This gorgeous polish is on everyones lips right now, and it seems to be one of those things you either love or hate. Everyone is scrambling to get their hands on one (including yours truly), even though it hasn't officially launched yet! The formula is said to be out of this world, each bottle is hand made and they've come up with a special brush as well. There are 30 more colours to launch in a few weeks, and there will be a lipstick collcetion too. Available now online in the US and at Louboutin boutiques. Coming soon to Europe.
• Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation SPF 15 (£62/$80) Tom Ford isn't giving us a colour collection alone, oh no, they've launched three new compexion products as well, and the star is their new foundation. The formula and coverage is said to be the middle road of their two old foundations, with a medium coverage that is buildable. I've been waiting for the perfect TF foundation to splurge on, and this might be it! Available now at all Tom Ford locations worldwide.
• Cle de Peau Eye Color Quad ($55) + case ($25) Wouldn't you know it, another repromote for fall. Not that I'm complaining. I love Cle de Peau as a brand, and they have many new launches this month, but in my opinion these new eyeshadow quads are the stars of the show. They're all permanent, and there are eight quads in total. They all look absolutely gorgeous! They're all very pigmented and quite sparkly, but instead of being glittery they all contain micro-shimmer that makes them look luminous. The Beauty Professor has great swatches on her blog. Available in the US where ever CdP is sold, and in Asia later this month.