A few months ago, I was browsing the Beauty Bay website and came across Pai skincare brand. It sounded interesting as is a brand with organic skincare products aimed at sensitive skin! Bingo! The Geranium and Thistle Skin Cream got my attention, but as I had a face cream at the time, I decided to order the Rosehip oil and face mask combo (which is now not available). Rosehip oil is “effective at improving the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage and fine lines”, as  “high levels of Trans-Retinoic Acid are delivered directly to the epidermis, which converts to Vitamin A to boost the skin’s natural healing process” (source). I don’t have scars, sun damage or fine lines, but what I do have on my face are a few dry patches due to psoriasis and some scarring on my chin courtesy of breakouts I have before my period. So I decided to give this oil (and mask) a go!

I use the oil almost every night for the past 2 months and the mask once a week or every 10 days. The oil has a distinct wooden scent. Personally it reminds me of dried up grass and hay, my fiance says it reminds him of wood. I use it after washing and toning my skin at night, applying 3-4 small drops on my face and massage it. Of course it needs about 30-60 minutes to be fully absorbed by the skin, but it doesn’t feel too oily. Most of the times I use my moisturizer on top, after the oil is absorbed. I’m happy to report that the oil has indeed helped with my blemish scarring on my chin, which now looks much much better. Also my dry patches are more hydrated and look better, but are not diminished. It feels more like a “maintenance” treatment, than “cure” for my psoriasis patches.

The mask has a thick consistency and I apply it generously on my skin (as the directions say) for 5-10 minutes. Then I wash it off with the muslin cloth provided. Then I apply my toner and the Rosehip oil. Overall I’m really pleased with these products and would definitely reconsider buying the oil again when it runs out. The bottle is 30ml, but as I use 3-4 droplets each time it will take me more than 6 months to run out!

So how about you? Have you tried any face oils? Anything that you were particularly happy with? Go ahead and share your experience in the comments!

If you are following me on Instagram, you probably got some hints about 2 weeks ago that I was in Copenhagen. Now I’m more than happy to share my photos and experiences with you, as after all travel posts are my favorite ones (by far)! I must admit that it was not my first visit in the Danish capital, as I have been there before, back in 2000. Of course my memories where a bit vague (I did remember the little mermaid and the Nyhavn), so it was time for a recap and the some more (sightseeing).

Day 1

I spent almost 3 days in Copenhagen, which I believe are enough to walk in the city, visit the most important sights and places of interest. An extra day would be welcome for shopping purposes only (my wallet is thankful that I didn’t have that extra day). On the first day we took a long walk in the city, passing by the most important sights as you can also see in my Google map. Among the sights that we saw that day was the City Hall, Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace, The Marble Church, The Little Mermaid statue and Rosenborg Palace. The weather was pretty pleasant (minus for some clouds and a few droplets of rain), so there was a lot of people in the parks and bars and restaurants enjoying themselves (added bonus that it was Friday as well!!)

My favorite “sight” has to be Nyhavn, as I have a soft spot for colorful buildings lined up (as you will probably notice in other photos as well)! The once merchant harbor is now full of bars and restaurants (and people)! As for the Little Mermaid statue, which is a landmark of Copenhagen, I must say that I’m disappointed. She is very small you see!! You can’t even spot her from the distance!

Day 2

The second day started off with a walk towards Frederiksberg in order to explore the gardens that surround it. Copenhagen has many parks and gardens and as it was a sunny day, they were filled with people sunbathing, lounging, walking or having a picnic. There were even groups of people exercising al fresco! Afterwards we took the Metro and headed to The Blue Planet (Den Blå Planet in Danish), which is Denmark’s new state-of-the art aquarium. I saw many many fish in all shapes, sizes and colors, so here I featured my “favorites”. Next up was a visit to the Botanic Gardens, before heading to the hotel for some rest before our night walk!

Day 3

The last day, we walked towards Christianshavn in order to visit the Vor Vrelsers Church (the one with the spiral staircase leading to the top), Freetown Christiania and the new Opera House (see night photo on Day 2). Then I managed to squeeze a little bit of shopping in & Other Stories (which I will share soon), before having lunch at Gråbrødretorv square (such a cute square with equally cute buildings). Then after a short “last” walk in Copenhagen it was time to pack up and head to the airport unfortunately

Until my next trip then…

Filed under: Travelling Tagged: Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark, Frederiksberg Palace, Gråbrødretorv, Nyhavn, The Blue Planet Aquarium, The Little Mermaid ]]> http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/travel-copenhagen/feed/ 2 Nyhavn Copenhagen designedbyann Nyhavn Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen Magstraede Copenhagen Library Garden Copenhagen The Marble Church Copenhagen Russian Church Copenhagen The Little Mermaid Copenhagen Nyboder Copenhagen Kogens Have Copenhagen Street in Vesterbro Copenhagen Ducks in Frederiksberg garden, Copenhagen Frederiksberg, Copenhagen The Blue Planet Aquarium Jellyfish "Glitter" fish Colorful fish & Coral Reef Botanic Garden Copenhagen Wisteria tree Opera house City Hall Garden, Copenhagen Danish Patries Vor Frelsers Kirke Copenhagen Christiania, Copenhagen Gråbrødretorv place, Copenhagen Inside the Marble Church Nikolaj Contemporary Art Center Copenhagen http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/alexa-chung-make-up-look/ http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/alexa-chung-make-up-look/#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:10:17 +0000 Anna http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/?p=5661 Continue reading »]]>

It’s no secret that I like Alexa’s Chung style, and hair…definitely the hair! I do pay attention to her make up as well…I tried the cat eye look because of her (not always with success though). I had this look pinned for a while and I make an attempt to recreate it! The 2 main products that I used were Maybelline’s Rocket Mascara and Color Sensational Lipstick in 914 Vibrant Mandarin. I also used The Body Shop black eyeliner (that I had bought a few years ago specifically for Alexa’s cat eye look) and Garnier’s BB eye cream combined with Benefit’s High Beam in order to brighten up my under eye area.

This particular lipstick looks very bright and orange when applying it. To tone it down, either blot it or apply it with a lip brush. I personally use the latter option (the brush), so that the color doesn’t come out very striking. As a base I used MAC’s Mineralize Moisture Foundation mixed with my sunscreen (Lancome’s Genifique Soleil) and topped it with my bronzer Lancaster Kaleidoscope Illuminating Compact Powder (I have it for the past 3 years and I’m pretty sure they’ve changed it by now). And that’s how my attempt looked like.

What do you think?

Top photo source

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to attend (after a long and tiring day) the preview of Swarovski’s A/W 2013-2014 collection called “Secret Treasures”. This line, designed by Nathalie Colin, is inspired by the Silk Road and is built around four legendary locations: China, Himalayas, India and Venice. For this collection Swarovski collaborated also with Shourouk, which initiated a new collaboration with the world of fashion. I particularly liked the Venetie cuff, which is a long cuff in rose gold plating featuring a large central /9 oval cut faceted crystal stone, baguette cut and pear shaped crystals, pictured below!

Further on, you’ll see my favorite pieces from the presentation! I particularly liked the tear shaped crystals pictured in the second to last photo, the Shourouk Collection (of course) pictured in the 3rd picture below, on the left and the black cuff pictured in the last photo on the left (it’s similar to their spring cuffs I already adore!)

Filed under: Fashion Tagged: Fall/Winter 2013, jewelry, Secret Treasures, Shourouk, Silk Road, swarovski ]]> http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/discover-swarovskis-secret-treasures/feed/ 1 Swarovski Secret Treasures Venetie Cuff designedbyann Swarovski Secret Treasures Swarovski Secret Treasures Venetie Cuff Swarovski Secret Treasures Swarovski Secret Treasures Swarovski Secret Treasures Swarovski Secret Treasures http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/beauty-new-in-from-garnier/ http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/beauty-new-in-from-garnier/#comments Mon, 27 May 2013 11:13:18 +0000 Anna http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/?p=5637 Continue reading »]]>

Remember my post a few months ago about Garnier’s new launches? Well last week I was delighted to receive a pakcage with some new products to try out! I didn’t have the time to test them out yet, so this post is just a short introduction/presentation. I’ll start with my favorite one (and the one I’m going to try out first): The Beauty Oil containing argan, macadamia, almond and rose oil! Those oils contain Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which nourish the skin. It’s a weightless dry oil which is sprayed on the skin and absorbed immediately. Price wise it’s an affordable oil, costing around 8 € for 150ml.

Next up there are some face care products: Garnier’s new Hydra Match face creams which contain 4 different creams for normal/combination skin (light blue one), dry/very dry skin (pink one), combination/oily skin (light green one) and dull/tired skin (orange one). Since my skin is combination I’m going to give a go to the light blue and light green ones!

Also in the package there was Garnier’s Pure Active Fruit Energy face cleansing gel! I love cleansing gels a lot…I believe that they clean my skin better that cleansing milks. And this one sounds very promising as it states that it’s suitable for sensitive skin as well. It contains pomegranate and grapefruit extracts as well as Vitamin C. One pump is enough for each use (so, no over using it then). It retails at around 6 €. P.S. I’ve seen that the line contains an invigorating face scrub that I’d like to try out, to see how it measures up to my Neutrogena one.

And last, Ambre Solaire’s BB cream…yeap that’s right, sunscreen and BB cream all in one! I received that one a few months ago, but since it comes in one color and I’m pretty fair, I’m waiting to tan a bit before giving it a go! The cream has 2 versions SPF wise: SPF 30 and SPF 50. It contains Vitamin E and retails at around 10€ for 50ml.

I’ve been using this cream for the past 2,5 months and now I’m finally ready to do a proper review! Let me start by saying that it is lightweight, targeted at normal/combination skin and (as all Bioten products) smells really really good! My skin is combination (but sensitive as well) so this cream was a good match for me!

The Ingredients

The cream is enriched with 100% natural Quince extract deriving from eco-friendly and gentle extraction methods. It also contains HYDRO NUTRIENT 24H, an advanced moisturizing complex combining the purity of natural ingredients with the power of science, offers immediate moisturizing and prolongs skin hydration up to 24 hours increasing your comfortable skin feeling.

My opinion

I use this cream at night, as in the morning I wear sunscreen (note: not a moisturizer with SPF, but the good old sunscreen). As I wrote before it has a very lightweight formula, and makes my skin feel really fresh (this feeling would be handy come summer)! I use it on itself or on top of Pai’s Rosehip oil that I will review at some point!! Of course I give time so that the oil is absorbed by my skin! And last, I mix it with my foundation to create a sort-of-custom made BB cream (for any night outtings that is), as it makes my foundation feel much much lighter and my skin doesn’t look yellow-y (as it does with the foundation on itself).

On overall, in the beginning I was a bit suspicious that the cream irritated my skin (since it contains fragrance and as I said I have sensitive skin), but in the long run I realized that my skin has it’s ups and downs. It is a really refreshing, lightweight, budget friendly cream (it conts… for the size of 50ml) that I would recommend to someone with normal/combination skin that looks for a refreshing cream. As for me, I’ll go on looking for the one face cream that will make me say WOW! Nope, haven’t found that yet, and believe me I’ve tried many face creams in the past 10 years (since I first wearing face creams).

What about you? Have you used this cream or any Bioten creams?

On a sidenote, have you found that WOW cream?? I’m curious!

Disclaimer: The product was sent to me by Bioten to try it out. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

The event

A few days ago I had the opportunity to attend a make up workshop by Maybelline Greece and make up artist Grigoris Pirpilis. As someone who made many make up mistakes in the past (ugh panda eyes anyone?) and who values make up tips, I was more than happy to attend this workshop. Maybelline is a brand I’ve trusted many times over the years from their mascaras, to eye shadows, to lipsticks, you name it! Their ads give out this New York glamour feeling (aren’t you sold yet?) plus their prices are really affordable!

The tips

After a quick (but empowering) presentation of Maybelline’s new launches. Grigoris started applying make up to a model and I started taking notes. First he applied a BB cream to the model’s face using upwards circular moves. He told us that it’s important to massage our faces when applying our day (or night) creams, because in that way the skin is stimulated and provides a better base for make up. It’s also better to before buying a new foundation to try it out in broad daylight in order to find the hue that matches our skin! Now, for foundation application, Grigoris suggested using our fingers, because using a brush can result to using more product than needed. Always make sure to blend foundation up to your hairline, as not to leave some spots uncovered (you want one color on your face, right?).

Now let’s move on to eye make up! I really missed the details about applying eyeshadow and concealer, but I did take note about applying eye pencil. Grigoris suggested to pull the lid down when applying eye pencil, in order to drag the line as close to the lashes as possible. Next up comes the blush, which is better to apply at the very end of your make up session, because then you’ll be able to determine the intensity of the color that you need (maybe your lipstick is bright enough, so you don’t need much blush). If your blush is peach or pink colored (and all the hues that apply to those color ranges) you should apply it on the cheek apples. If you want to create angles and lines on your face, then use a bronzing powder just below the cheekbone.

The personal consultation

Next up, we were encouraged to create (on ourselves that is) our everyday look using Maybelline products (if we’d like to) and then Grigoris would give us some advice on our looks. I went for my everyday combination of pink eyeshadow (I used Color Tattoo in Rose Gold) and grey eye pencil. I also used the Dream Blush in a peachy color, which I’ve heard so many good reviews from a make up artist in the past. Grigoris told me that my look was pretty good. He suggested using eye pencil for the outer half of my bottom lid so as to make the eye look bigger (and more cat-ty I’d add), add more mascara (I had 2 layers on) and use concealer under the eye to brighten up my look.

I left the workshop with new tips and products under my belt, so stay tuned for more details!!

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I have to admit that I enjoy making these collages with items that I get from press releases and it has been a while since I last made any. This time around I created 3 easy looks for spring, featuring my favorite clothes from Suiteblanco (when I last visited the store I had to restrain myself from buying yet another white embroidered/crochet dress), make up palette from Giorgio Armani and skin pampering products from Kiehl’s and Biotherm.

The first look is my always favorite crochet dress; whether you’re heading at Coachella or going shopping, you’ll definitely look stylish in this one. I added some funky bracelets to accessorize the dress and I suggest a pastel make up for this look! Next up is the mint green scarf. Mint green is still going strong this year as well and can be paired with most pastel colors for a total spring look. I couldn’t resist adding mint green bracelets to the mix as well as a white skirt which is a dead ringer for Dolce&Gabbana’s white dresses from 2 years ago. And last I’ve got the statement necklace, which I paired with a “statement” skirt as well.

P.S. A few words on the beauty products featured: Biotherm’s Aquasource Deep Serum moisturizes and brightens up the complexion and also prepares the skin for the products that will be applied on top (your moisturizes probably). Plus the Aquasource line, now features a BB cream, which deeply moisturizes, brightens up, evens out, covers, protects, smooths and protects your skin.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is one of Kiehl’s “start” products, which you’ve probably already read about. This lightweight treatment works while you’re sleeping and results in smoother, more radiant skin in the morning. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask is applied before going to bed and replenishes skin’s water reserves allowing to maintain moisture.

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend a presentation of MCM’s spring summer collection at their store in Athens. I always remembered MCM as the brand with the cognac colored – logo covered bags. After visiting their their store during Fashion’s Night out in 2012 and 2011, I became aware that this brand has evolved and now features monochrome lines, like the one called First Lady (like the blue colored bags featured above). They’ve also introduced backbacks which are very popular abroad, we’ve been told (personally I grew out of backpacks long time ago, but that’s just me). In this post I featured my favorite bags from the collection. I absolutely adored this blue shade of the First Lady bags, as well as the patent leather ones (aren’t those orange bags feature below adorable?).

Also in the photos you’ll see the nautical inspired window display as well as the Very MCM bag for this season. Oh and did I tell you the campaign was shot in Monaco? The new collection definitely makes us dream of the French Riviera a bit… More campaign and collection photos you can find at the MCM website.

Thanks MCM and Act & React for the beautiful event!

Υ.Γ. Μην ξεχάσετε να πάρετε μέρος στο διαγωνισμό που τρέχει στο blog για τον νέο λάδι μαλλιών Miraculous Oil από τη Garnier

Filed under: Fashion Tagged: bags, MCM, Monaco, spring-summer 2013 ]]> http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/mcm-ss13-collection/feed/ 9 mcm ss2013 designedbyann mcm ss2013 MCM SS 2013 MCM SS 2013 MCM SS 2013 very MCM bag ss2013 MCM SS 2013 MCM SS 2013 MCM SS 2013 http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/fashion-room-service-fresh-hotel/ http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/fashion-room-service-fresh-hotel/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:40:46 +0000 Anna http://designedbyann.wordpress.com/?p=5546 Continue reading »]]>

Last Thursday I attended my first Fashion Room Service organized by Ozon Magazine in Fresh Hotel. In this event each up and coming designer decorates a room with his/her creations. I saw many beautiful clothes and accessories that day and this posts sums my favorite ones! I particularly fell for those Pink Powder necklaces pictured above and the colorful Lucky Pig dress pictured below.

The following pictures feature: denim shorts by Nidodileda, Maggoosh jewelry, Ippolito bags, de.bour sandals & shoes, Mimika Ciboyianni jewelry, Displexia jewelry and accessories and Bobbi Brown make up.

Υ. Γ. Μην ξεχάσετε να πάρετε μέρος στο διαγωνισμό που τρέχει στο blog για τον νέο λάδι μαλλιών Miraculous Oil από τη Garnier.