International swap: Italy - UK

In January, me and the gorgeous Saratu from xshakespeare.and.stilettosx decided to do a swap.
Most people know how this works already, but just for the novices I'll say: we set a budget, told each other preferences in terms of products, colors, and brands, if we had any particular product request, and then we shopped, shopped, shopped!

So here is what I got:


From the top, clockwise:

Sleek "The Original" Divine palette;

MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Creme d' Nude;

Bourjois blusher in Cendre de Rose Brune;

Barry M Glitter eyeliner in 07 (gold);

Barry M Lip Laquer Crayon in 01 (Scarlet Red, I think?);

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Stormy Cloud;

MEMEME PussyCat cheek and lip tint;

Illamasqua cream eyeshadow in Amour,

and she included a sample of Flora by Gucci perfume (I HEART THIS - IT'S GOING TO BE MY NEXT PERFUME!!!).


Needless to say, I'm super happy and I love everything she sent me! I kind of have a feeling she went a little overbudget for this, because of the Illamasqua and MAC products - but then again, I went way overbudget with hers too LOL - can we ever behave for once???

I have to thank Saratu again for this swap, it was such a lovely experience! Not just because of the shopping, but also because it allows people to get to know each other a little bit better. When reading her blog (and seeing it grow from n°1 post - as we are two of each other's first followers) I kind of sensed she was a gorgeous person, inside and outside, and our emails exchange just proved me right! She is beautiful, smart, driven, and she likes literature like I do, which for me is a huge +++ :D so, definitely, check her blog out!!!
I really look forward meeting you, next time I hit the Big Smoke (which might happen sooner than I thought, as my bf asked me to go there with him for a weekend, to visit his long time friend who lives there now).

Kiss kiss,
Lyd

Soap and Glory "The Fab Pore" review

[I know, you can see my shadow, but I used the flash, you wouldn't have seen anything]

I bought this in October, when I was in London, and I have always procrastinated reviewing it. Sorry!

The purpose of this mask (although the packaging says it's a peel, but I don't really think that is appropriate) is to minimize your pores, as the catchy name states.
The image on the packaging reads "My pores, they're ALMOST invisible", so bear in mind, if you have large pores, nothing will ever make them 100% invisible! So yes, foundation is our only best friend! (thank God my pores are visible, but not really that large. I've seen worse!)

However, this helps a little! (I've been neglecting my skin care a little from Christmas, and that's due to busy life, however...) I remember being impressed with the result. It minimizes your pores in a way that you can achieve a good coverage with your foundation! Yay!

The consistency is very creamy, and it contains little green beads that you should gently rub on your skin while putting the mask on. Soap and Glory says you can wear it for 5 mins for a refresher, or 15 mins for deep cleansing. I've never tried the 5 mins option, though. I don't put it on my whole face, I only use it in areas where i have visible pores, that is on the apples of my cheeks, on my nose and, sometimes, on my chin.
I hear you asking "why that?" - well thing is, it is a little drying, and all other areas of my face are kind of dry already.
But then again, it's meant to shrink your pores, so do you really need it where your pores are already invisible? No. I'm not a fan of unnecessary stuff, just for the sake of beauty.
Did I mention the smell is lovely? At least, to me!

It retails for £ 5,88 I think, and you can find it in Boots if you're in the UK, in Target if you're in the US and Canada (there are Target stores in Canada, right? Can't remember now!), and in Douglas perfumeries if you're in Germany (and me thinks: why not in Douglas stores in ITALY?)

Maybe one day, Soap and Glory will decide to sell their stuff online, like they said, because I really want to try other things from their range (cosmetics, maybe? eheh). In the meantime, you can browse their products at www.soapandglory.com

Kreativ Blogger Award

I was nominated for this award by the super-gorgeous Tacky Blue Eyeshadow some weeks ago, and I have only had time to re-post it.
Thank you so much, beautiful, I really love your blog and I'm happy you tagged me.

So, here's the rules to this award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Here are the 7 things about me, although I don't really know if people may find them interesting LOL:

1. I love homecooked food. Soups, vegetables, quiches, Sardinian and regional Italian recipes. I kind of hate going to restaurants, because I am very picky with food.

2. I am such an emotional wreck. I cry for everything: be it songs, movies, books, poetry or phrases. I cry, cry, cry.

3. I am obsessed with Lost, and tv series in general, however I could care less for celebrities. Sometimes, I don't even know the name of the actors.

4. I hate Lady CaCa...ehm, GaGa. I'm sure this is controversial for the majority of you, but I seriously hate her and her music. I'm more of a rock chick.

5. I never bring any makeup in my bag for touch-ups. Yes, I'm that lazy. LOL

6. I really think blogging and reading blogs improved my appearence. I got to know all the tricks to the trade ;)

7. I love how all the girls in this blogging community appreciate one another, instead of hating and competing. It is like all the good people who appreciate other good people have come together and united. :) I love you girls!

Here are my 7:

1) Lipstick Rules

2) Beauty and the Blog

3) CarolineXO

4) Too Much Blush

5) I heart cosmetics

6) Italian Beauty Blog

7) xshakespeare.and.stilettosx

Competition winner! and a 200 followers thank you!

As you can see, winner was picked randomly using www.random.org

I had 10 comments, but a person commented 3 times, so I had to "eliminate" 2 of her comments, cos everybody else had just one shot.

The second comment was from Louise, from Lou Lou Land!
once again, LOL!

Send me your address on twitter again, honey

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Winners, your prizes will be sent tomorrow!


AAAAND I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING:

A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FOLLOWERS.
I REACHED 200 AND I AM SUPER DUPER HAPPY!

Gemstones inspired series - n 1: Blue Sapphire

Hello everyone,
some days ago I was browsing some pictures I took at the Natural History Museum in London in 2008. I found some shots of their amazing gemstones section, and that made me think of how many wonders this planet has.

To celebrate our beloved nature, I have decided to have a gemstone ispired series, where I will be having fun with eyeshadows, and try to recreate the amazing colors of some gemstones.

This week, I was inspired by the Blue Sapphire (click here if you want to learn curiousities on Sapphires and Blue Sapphires).

I apologize for the poor quality of the photo: 1. blue eyeshadow is really hard to photograph well; 2. I cut the picture and the quality and colors became terrible! Next time I will do a full face shot I guess.

Products used:
very light glittery blue eyeshadow in the Precious Gold palette from Pupa Milano;
Flipside e/s from UD BOS II;
Jinx e/s from UD BOS II;
Indigo e/s from Elizabeth Arden's Jewels & Velvet palette;
Shimmery dark blue e/s from the Sleek Storm palette;
Dark bright blue e/s from the Sleek Acid palette;
Black eyeliner pencil from Revlon;

can't remember the mascara I used, because I took this days ago.

I will try and be more accurate in the future, and post the picture as soon as I take it :)

Giveaway first prize is up for grabs again - enter here!

Some weeks ago I announced the winners for my Christmas giveaway, but unfortunately for her, the winner of the first prize didn't claim it, so I am now putting it up for grabs again.

Once more, the prize consists of a Deborah Milano eyeshadow trio in Black Dalia and a Deborah Milano glitter liner in black.
The eyeshadows in the trio are all shimmery and perfect to create a smokey eye. I took pictures of the colors with flash and without flash: there's a shimmery black, a shimmery intense dark blue (not really navy, it is more of a midnight kind of blue) and a shimmery whitey silver with very light baby blue undertones.
All of those eyeshadows are baked, so you can use them dry or with a damp brush to obtain a more intense color.

So, if you want to get your mitts on these items, the rules are as follows:

1. Be a subscriber of my blog
2. Comment below this post saying "enter me" and incorporate your referal link for step 3
3. Post a blog entry about this competition on your blog

This competition is only opened to UE residents (sorry lovelies, but it's only 2 items and I don't really want to take care of the 1,000 things to do to face customs!)

This contest will be opened until the 20th of February 2010

Good luck everyone!

with flash

without flash

Sarah's 500 followers giveaway

Lovely and super-informative Sarah, at I Heart Cosmetics is hosting another giveaway, as she reached 500 followers on her blog! Click here to find out the details and enter.

Even if you're not interested in the giveaway, I suggest you follow her. Like I said, she is very informative, and I'm sure you will find lots of products reviews that you are interested in.

Congrats, Sarah!!!