Best Korres Products

As some of you may know, Korres is a Greek Company that offers a complete skin and hair care range, make-up, sun care products and herbal preparations. It is important to know that Korres products are Dermatologically Tested, Preservative Free, Mineral Oil Free, Silicone Free, Propylene Glycol Free, Ethanolamine Free and enriched with Active Plant Extracts. The company’s products are available in more than 30 countries around the world. In Greece they can be found almost everywhere, in most pharmacies and departments stores.

Here are my very favourite Korres products (and trust me I am a strict judge):

1. Yoghurt cooling gel

This is a truly amazing product!!! It has all the therapeutic properties of yoghurt without having its smell. Greeks have been using yoghurt as a remedy for burns (sun burns or other kinds of burns) for many many years. As soon as you became red from the sun, you immediately applied a thin layer of cool yoghurt and felt relieved right away because it absorbed the extra heat off of your skin! The only problem was its smell, which was becoming annoying as the yoghurt was losing its temperature…and then it reached a point where you REALLY couldnt deal with it. But the Korres Yoghurt cooling gel has all the advantages of the real thing and still smells awesome. Another plus is that it can be worn in both the face and the body. For maximum cooling effect keep it refrigerated. Apply to the face and body after exposure to the sun. Repeat 2-3 times on irritated skin.

Yoghurt, a natural source of lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins, increases the water content of the top layers of the skin instantly relieving UV-induced redness (erythema) and sensation of burning. Epilobium angustifolium and Fennel extracts demonstrate exceptional anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties, promoting the recovery of sun-harassed skin. (Korres official Site)

2. Body Butter in Guava

What can I say about this cream? Thick moisturizing texture and the amazing sweet and tropical scent of Guava. Reminds me of an exotic island… So summer-y. Although this cream was originally made for dry elbows, heels and knees, it is often used as a smoothing and moisturising cream especially for those with dry skin. I personally have normal skin and usually avoid thick creams but during the summer I always use it like an after sun product, it makes my skin super soft and everybody asks me what perfume I am wearing…..

Guava is an important source of vitamin C, which stimulates collagen synthesis. Shea butter and Quince extract have softening, moisturising and restructuring properties. Sunflower, Almond and Avocado oils nourish the skin, thus restoring its elasticity and smoothness. (Korres official Site)

3. Quercetin & Oak normal to combination

Finally, a truly non oily anti-wrinkle cream especially developed for normal to combination skin. When it is first applied it seems thicker but you are soon left with a silky non oily face. I did not notice any difference in my skin wrinkle wise because I don’t have any obvious signs of ageing but I can tell you that my skin felt smooth and less tired plus this cream was great under my makeup.

The Korres R&D Lab in cooperation with the National Hellenic Research Foundation has studied anti ageing at cellular level through the function of proteasome, an essential shield mechanism of cell proteins like collagen and elastin. Highly-effective flavonoid Quercetin activates proteasome to prolong skin cell lifespan and act as a restorer on all ageing signs.(Korres official Site)

4. Walnut and Coconut face and body suntan oil SPF 4

A great vegetable-based suntan oil, which offers a deep and uniform tan. I only use it when I have some tan and not when I am first exposed to the sun. Moreover, avoid using suntan oils with low SPF between 12:00 and 16:00p.m because you may end up getting sunburned. Try using it in the morning and in the afternoon, it still works, but without the harmful effects of the sun.

Rich in cinnamic acid, Walnut oil provides natural pretection from the sun. Chamomile and Corn oils moisturise the skin, while shielding it from the sun-provoked irritations. Jojoba and coconut oil keep the skin soft and Supple. (Korres official Site)

5. Soft Eyeliner Pencil

Eventually, a high quality dermatologically and opthalmologically tested soft pencil that can be used inside the waterline without causing any discomfort. The black pencil is a must have, it is very pigmented so you can achieve a strong result if you wish, while the Jojoba oil and vitamin E moisturise, comfort and protect your eyes. It comes in 6 amazing colors, some of which have a satiny shimmering glow.

6. Sunflower Oil Shimmering Eye Shadow

These eye shadows go on smoothly and are quite pigmented. They have a texture like very few I have ever tried, too silky and soft. They do not come in many colors, but the colours available are very pretty.

7. Lip Butter

A magic trick to always maintain smooth and luscious lips. Although, it combines Shea butter and Rice wax and is supposed to offer deep hydration and softness, I wouldn’t really recommend it (as a treatment) if your lips are too dry and chapped, but rather as a means of not reaching this point and still adding a hint of color to your lips. It comes in 7 pretty shades, but I just love the jasmine, a pinky tone nude colors that complements most lip colors.

8. Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10

Yes, it is silky, yes it is pigmented, yes it has sun protection....Don’t forget to try the Coral no45 shade if you like bright colors for summer. Simply amazing!

Sucker Punch

For those who havent heard, Sucker Punch is an upcoming action-fantasy film....

I just came across these photos and loved them. All the girls of the cast have a sexy 50's look with a modern animated twist. Amazing styling and makeup.....Pay attention to the names of the girls, the clothes and the style. So glamorous and seductive at the same time. Great for tutorials!!

The movie features a female cast that includes Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Jamie Chung and Jena Malone. The story is quite peculiar, it follows a young girl in the 1950s about to be lobotomized and her attempts to escape an asylum with her inmate friends.

Troy Jensen

Troy Jensen is one of my favourite makeup artists ever!!! He is a talented artist who knows exactly how to emphasize a woman’s best characteristics… It is not coincidental that many celebrities trust his magic hands, like his muse Kim Kardashian. Definitely visit his webpage, a truly inspiring place…

You will  find many different makeup looks he has created on a number of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Christina Aguilera, Kendra Wilkinson and Nicole Scherzinger as well as the products he has used to achieve the specific looks!

http://www.troyjensen.com/

Icon featuring Sylvia Geersen

How much self-restraint can a girl have?

It is really hard to restraint yourself from buying all these things that make you happy and pretty at the same time!!!!

MAC, I have to admit that as much as I love you, I hate you. I hate you for coming up with so many collections per year, so many beautiful products in each collection, for having the best ads and promotions and sometimes even the cutest packaging. For all that I hate you, but yet so I find myself running to a MAC store every time a new collection comes out, feeling the urge to AT LEAST see it from up close and get the chance to reject it…which I rarely do!

I usually find myself buying at least one product per collection (with great restraint), unless it is really repetitive or is introduced really close to the previous one. In Greece, the collections are introduced later than the U.S, and often two collections may arrive simultaneously, which kinda makes it easier to control yourself.

Ladies, welcome to the world of marketing, which combined with our vanity creates a lethal combination!!!! Amazing photos and looks combined with often smart packaging and unique colorful makeup products at an affordable price makes the collections appealing to everyone. MAC promotes some easy-to-wear shades within its collections that are totally wearable for normal day to day activities, and some extreme colors and obnoxious shades that are pretty hard to wear. But, then again that is something that only a company like MAC could pull off…..

Lately, Ι 've been hearing and reading quite a few complaints from people who are big fans of MAC, about the number of collections the Company comes out with, every year. The truth is that if you are a MAC fan, it is really hard to keep up with all these collections- especially moneywise. Additionally, if you watch the colors closely enough, you’ll notice that -after a point- they start to repeat themselves. And it is normal, because their standard collection includes hundreds of colors to begin with, so if we also add the limited edition ones…

MAC is a company highly inspired by art, unique personalities, elements and events. On their behalf, they too encourage creativity through the collections and the eye catching colors and textures, but my question is how long can they still produce products with a small twist in the shade of a color or consistency? The Company is known for its ground breaking cosmetics not for the repetitions within its collections.

Makeup is a form of art, and art should not become a mass product!

Some striking collections

Barbie loves MAC

MAC Style Black

MAC Warm and Cozy

MAC To the Beach

MAC Love Lace

MAC Colour Craft

MAC in Lillyland

MAC Kello Kitty

MAC Naked Honey

MAC Euristocrats

MAC Monogram

MAC Dazzleglass Creme

MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead

MAC DSquared

MAC Colour Get Ready

MAC Spring Colour Forecast

MAC All Ages, All Races, All Sexes

MAC Pret-A-Papier

MAC Give Me Liberty

MAC A Rose Romance

Current Skincare Favorites….

About a week ago I purchased two Kiehls products that I have totally fallen in love with! The first one is Yerba Maté Tea Cleanser and the second one is Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic. What can I say, I am truly amazed by the results; my skin looks and feels more luminous, soft and less oily.

I went ahead and purchased these products because I felt that my skin was not in good condition; clogged pores, excess oil and some breakouts which I don’t normally have. Yerba mate tea cleanser was actually not my fist choice, but it was recommended to me by the woman at the Kiehl’s stand, who seemed to really believe in this product. Yerba Maté Tea Cleanser has Vitamin-Infused Tea Extracts Vivacity that it is suppose to remove excess oil and residue, moreover it helps reveal skin's natural radiance. Since it is a very gentle herbal cleanser, I would definitely recommend it to all of you out there no matter what your skin type is!!

My second purchase, was the Rare Earth Pore Refining tonic (Pare Earth line). The Rare Earth products have effective pore-minimizing formulas, which help in purifying and detoxifying the skin while leaving it soft and smooth. And although I do not have large pores, I felt that my skin was in big need of purification. The main active ingredient of this formulation is the White Clay, a white powder that rests on the bottom of the tonic. Before applying the product you should kindly shake the bottle to mix the white clay powder with the liquid.

After two weeks of use I noticed that my skin looked smoother and felt cleaner. I did not really notice a big difference in my pores, but I now definitely have a more matte skin and the break outs have almost vanished. What else can a girl ask for??

Wearing make-up at the beach

How do you feel about wearing makeup at the beach? Is it something you often do, have friends who do, or make fun of those who do? I am personally neither for nor necessarily against it. Like most things, I think it depends on the circumstances…

If a woman happens to feel better with herself wearing make up and going to the beach than she should!! But there is a thin line between having your confidence boosted and overdoing it. Clubbing make up is definitely a turn off when going for a swim, unless you are going for a photoshoot!

Wearing lots of makeup at the beach usually causes problems too. First of all you cannot dip your head in the water (don’t ever do that!!!) when wearing your regular makeup products unless you want to end up looking like a clown. Waterproof makeup is the only thing that can save the show!!!!

By the sea, you shouldn’t look too made up; instead the makeup that you choose should intensify your natural beauty or help you hide small imperfections, like if: 

You have very sparse or too plucked eyebrows

If you always give a specific shape to your eyebrows and all of your friends are used to seeing you this way, try to avoid revealing your barely there eyebrows, unless you want to scare them. Moreover the eyebrows are the eyes’ frames, and balance your face, especially when your hair is all wet and pulled backwards!!!

Best Choices:
1. Suqqu, Waterproof brow pen
2. MUFE, Waterproof Eyebrow Kit

You have very washed out eyelashes

If you feel that your eyes are very washed out (blond eyelashes) or you are very used to wearing a strong eye than you can go ahead and use waterproof mascara, which intensifies your look and wont smudge after your dives.

Best Choices:

1. MUFE, Aqua Smoky lash
2. Dior, Show Black Out Waterproof Mascara

You want to cover a scar

If you have a scar, broken capillaries or stretchmarks that make you uncomfortable then go ahead and hide them!! If it is a face scar or acne scarring, it is wise to wear a foundation in your whole face as it will look more natural and not as if you wish to cover something, moreover you may end up with a blotch in your face especially if you don’t find the exact shade you’re your skin tone. Remember, you will be under the sun, nothing can be totally hidden.

Best Choices:
1. MUFE, Face and Body Liquid Makeup
2. Shiseido, Sun Protection Liquid Foundation
3. Shiseido, Sun Protection Compact Foundation SPF 34

Now if you want to cover a scar in your body than use a concealer or a stick foundation like:

Best Choices:
1. MUFE, Full cover concealer
2. Shiseido, Sun Protection Stick Foundation SPF 35
3. Estee lauder, Camouflage Makeup for face and body SPF 15

You have very pale face compared to the rest of your body

If you never expose your face in the sun or wear too high SPF than the chances are that you have a very light colored face compared to the rest of your body (happens to me all the time, but trust me it is better than premature aging). If you want a sheer coverage then you may mix one of the above mentioned foundations  with some of your SPF face cream. You could also use a waterproof bronzer (my favorite summer product).

Best Choices:
1. It cosmetics, Get Wet Waterproof Bronzer
2. Hourglass, Superficial Waterproof Bronzer
3. Tarte, Matte Waterproof Bronzer 

You have Dry and/or chapped lips

Avoid wearing bright lipsticks (look natural, remember?) and lipglosses (if it is windy than sand can stick on your lips), instead use hydrating lipsticks with sun protection.

Best Choices:
1. Dior, Addict Lip Glow
2. Korres, lip butter
3. NARS, Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment
4. Laura Mercier, HydraTint SPF 15
5. Clinique, Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 (only when it is not windy)

Get full lips

Some women are gifted with bigger lips and some are not, nevertheless for some reason most of us would like to have a fuller pouter mouth. It is probably because we are daily exposed to images of beautiful women who happen to naturally have large lips like Angelina Jolie and Irina Sheik or to others that have had a procedure done.
I personally have average sized lips (some tell me above average) but nevertheless I wouldn’t say no to fuller lips. BUT, being a person who is terrified of invasive procedures and bad results, especially when lips are concerned, I mean have you seen how many women look like ducks? I would kill the doctor if I ended up looking like that…..so I’d rather stick to the magic of makeup, which can definitely give the effect of plumped up lips!! Here are my tips:

1. Gently scrub your lips, using a ready mild scrub or a homemade one by mixing olive oil, honey and some sugar. Remove the dead cells from the surface of your lips, do not over do it!

2. Take a lip plumper like Too Faced lip injection, Lip Fusion or Maybelline volume XL and apply a thin layer to your lips. If you can find an organic lip plumper this would be even better. After about a minute or so (your lips should be slightly plumped) remove the product. By now your lips should be smooth and pouty.

3. Get a lipliner that matches your natural lipcolour and slightly draw outside your lips. Be kind, you don’t want to end up looking like a clown. Be careful when going over your cupid’s bow, you should fill some of it with the lipliner. A deep cupid’s bow can give the impression of thinner lips, but then you don’t want a straight line either.

4. Take a lipliner that is one or two shades darker than the one you used and slightly shade the outer part of your lips (focus on the corners).

5. Fill in your lips and slightly go over the lip line you previously drew, with a natural color lipstick (not as bare as MAC myth), we want a color that resembles the color of your real lips. You could use a myth color in the very centre of your lips, making sure that the two colors are well blended to one another.

6. Now take a very shiny, I mean really shiny lipgloss and apply it on the center of your lower lips. Choose a clear lip gloss, or a color that is at least 2 tones lighter that your lipstick. Moreover, do not use a lipgloss that has big chunks of glitter, but rather smaller ones like MUFE Fascinating lip gloss, Bourjois Effet 3D max or Loreal Glam shine.

Since there are countless lip products on the market that promise to plump your lips, you should try those that work for you and most importantly have the least painful side effects like burning, tingling or causing chapped dry lips. You should know that I test all the products I propose, and I don’t get paid to promote any of them! I only express my honest and personal opinion. Finally, since most cosmetics unfortunately contain chemical ingredients, it is always wise to run a sensitivity test prior to usage.