Verso is a Swedish skincare brand that has been popping up on Instagram and some skincare blogs, but I've seen fairly little reviews online. Intrigued by the star ingredient retin-A and the gorgeous packaging I purchased the eye cream. Later I generously received a couple of serums for review from the Finnish importer. The name 'Verso' confused me at first, because in Finnish 'verso' means a sprout, but later I learned the brand's name comes from Latin and means renewing. A good double meaning I say, too bad the brand isn't from my home country (haha). Let's take a better look at Verso's Super Facial Serum!

Verso super facial serum

This serum claims to be both healing and strengthening, aiding the skin's natural production of collagen and anti-ageing. Regular use should result in brighter look, improved texture and visible reduction of pigmentation spots and wrinkles. I decided to test the Dark Spot Serum later separately to see if the 4 Super Facial Serum alone would help with my skin concerns. Verso Super Facial Serum 30ml retails which retails £95 (Cult Beauty) or 119€ (Skin.fi, Yliopiston apteekki, available in various salons in Finland).

My skin concerns

As I'm writing this review I've put the serum to the test good 1,5-2 months. In a a couple of years I'll be 30 and I'd prefer if my fine lines wouldn't appear any faster. As anti-ageing is hard to measure, I was curious to see if there was any effect on my PIH or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation aka "acne scars". You know, those red-purple spots you are left with after you've had a pimple. On my fair skin the acne scaring/PIH tends to be very prominent, depressing and takes months and months to heal. I could draw a face chart of myself and pinpoint where I have acne scaring, I've had to stare them for so long I know them by heart. 

Packaging

The Verso branding is a graphic designer's dream. Simple, clean typography and press images easily available on the website (I decided to shoot my own though). I love the typeface and clear hierarchy in the logo and product name, the numbers in the packaging imply the order of application. The graphic design gives a luxurious look to the uniform plain white pump bottles. However, I feel the pump is a bit 'cheap' - in the beginning you may have to press it multiple times to get any product out and deal with the growing panic have you gotten a dud. It doesn't feel very reliable to me, but after the pump is working, it does distribute the perfect amount of product for the whole face, which I enjoy quite a bit. Opaque packaging also keeps the ingredients from oxidising, which is great.

Ingredients

Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Squalane, Palmitoyl Glycine, Canola Oil, Palmitoyl Proline, Magnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate, Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate, Retinyl Retinoate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tetrahydropiperine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10 – 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum

I'm writing a comprehensive post dedicated to retinols and its benefits if you're completely new to the ingredient. Retinol/retin-A/tretinoin aka Vitamin A is scientifically proven to be an anti-ageing ingredient and found beneficial in treating multiple skin concerns including wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin firmness and collagen synthesis. They're available in various strengths both with prescription and over-the-counter. The con is retinols are often drying, irritating and proper sun protection needs to be applied.

Verso's "Retinol 8" means their ingredient 8 times more potent than traditional retinol. I wish they'd announce the % in the packaging for the curious of us and not just "high concentration". Retinyl retionate, which Verso uses, is a photostable derivate of Vitamin A acid, which has a higher skin regeneration activity than retinol (source). Retinyl retionate has also been found causing less irritation than other retinoids (source) as induces more effective hyaluronan production, which causes less transepidermal water loss compared to retinol. These are all wonderful news to those of us who can't stand using retinol products without flakey skin. According to Verso the serum can be applied both morning or/and evening, but personally I've only tested it in my evening routine.

Experiences

I've used some retinol serums and behind the counter retin-A gel in the past, but I've always got a very dry, flakey skin after using them. Basic retinol serums have so low concentrations I haven't seen much results with them, but my skin won't tolerate 1% on daily basis. I've applied Verso facial serum every single night after my Vitamin C serum or current acid exfoliant with ~15 min wait time before and after to let the products sink in properly. No stinging, flaking or dry patches. Sometimes after application I do get a warm flush but no feeling of irritation. The eye cream, which I'm going to talk about separately, always makes the application area to feel hot.

I didn't notice any difference to my texture issues while using Verso, but after my Accutane medication I've had zero break outs, which is hard for me to comprehend. When it comes to scaring, it takes the skin time to heal itself even if you get aid from products. I feel my scaring has gradually faded. I don't have the desperate need to pinpoint concealer some red spots that previously were visible from miles and miles away. I haven't noticed a visible difference in my fine lines, but they haven't worsen either. Longer term use will show, but I believe in regular use of retinol products.

Overall

I think Verso Super Facial serum is an excellent retinol product, strong yet gentle. For the most sensitive of us, the retinyl retionate/Retinol 8 might be on the stronger side, but it's a product worth of testing out as the proven results of regular retinol use are fantastic. Verso is a very premium line, but I believe I'll purchase the serum once I've ran out. I'm very happy to find a non-drying and stable retinol product I enjoy!

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

It's Winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and most of us struggle with the same problem every year: dry, chapped lips. I've skipped the whole matte liquid lipstick trend as my lips dry out even at a glance of them. Instead, I've been gravitating towards lip glosses (featuring my favorite formulas here) and creamy lipsticks (like SUQQU Creamy Glow Lipstick moist). Rouge Bunny Rouge's newish lip treatments, the Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP, are welcome addition to the line. I got two out of 3 colors sent to me and purchased the last one myself. Let's take a look!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP

This product seems to me like a hybrid between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick. They're designed to bring volume and intense moisture back to the lips with anti-aging properties and a sheer wash of glossy color. The tubes are same as RBR signature lipstick packaging: black, sleek and reliable. The firmness and pointy shape of the balm also remain of their lipsticks. There are a total of 3 shades available and the balms retail 29€ for 3.5g/0.12oz.

Protection to the lips

Often with lip balms I feel they just coat the lips without getting into the fine cracks and lines of my lips. The comfort and protection remain as long as there is a 'coating' of a balm, and if you've ever been addicted to Vaseline or a lip balm you'll know what I mean. With RBR Tinted Luxe Balms I feel the balm 'sinks in' and gives an instant hydration to the lips. The texture is lightweight, non-sticky, more like a lightly creamy lipstick instead of a balmy salve. 

Ingredients

POLYBUTENE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, OLEIC/LINOLEIC/LINOLENIC POLYGLYCERIDES, CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX), POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX), MICA, AROMA (FLAVOR), HYDROXYMETHOXYPHENYL PROPYLMETHYLMETHOXYBENZOFURAN, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, TOCOPHEROL, [+/-] CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 15850 (RED 7 LAKE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) 

The bulk of the ingredients are viscosity controllers and various emollients, lastly some flavor and pigments. As RBR has high claims of the anti-aging properties of the product, I was expecting more plant extracts or natural oils in the list. The 5th ingredient (oleic polyglycerides) is sunflower oil, which moisturises intensively. Candelilla id a plant based wax for holding in moisture, improve skin texture and protection. The fragrance is very non-invasive, there is a light scent of dessert when you open the tube which won't linger around.

SWATCHES

Pinch of Nude, Sip of Pink and Specks of Cerise

Pinch of Nude

A luminous, transparent nude with specks of golden shimmer. The shimmer particles are like fine glitters, but fortunately barely visible on the lips. I often wear this shade as my lip treatment when starting on my make up routine to plump and hydrate my lips for any lipstick I decide to apply later.

Sip of Pink

A juicy light pink with a hint of peach undertones. The look is very soft and cute, a perfect shade to be used instead of a lipstick for a casual look or layered under a lip gloss. The easiest go-to shade to throw in a handbag! 

Specks of Cerise

Transparent, juicy cherry shade with cool purple undertones - like having eaten cherry clafoutis. If you love the RBR Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings, which is a bit more opaque cherry shade, I'm sure you'll love Specks of Cherise and the other way around.

Overall

If you're looking for a luxurious lip treatment for yourself or as a gift, these are a beautiful choice. If you prefer a bit more pigment yet almost equally moisturising lip product, I'd recommend the RBR Sheer Lipsticks over the Tinted Luxe Balms as they're priced the same. I've taken the anti-aging promises of Tinted Luxe Balms with a grain of salt as the ingredients list wasn't ground breaking. Saying that, I would prefer Rouge Bunny Rouge over Chanel, By Terry or other ridiculously expensive pot balms any time. The ease of use, instant moisturisation and long-lasting hydration are just what my lips need this season.

What's your favorite lip treatment? Edit: Get 20% off your Rouge Bunny Rouge purchase use the code  RBR-LAURALOUKOLA20 (non-affiliated) for your shopping basket! It should be valid until the end of the year.

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Whether you suffer from a mental illness, stressful life or world events - we all have those days when you feel not-so-great about yourself or your day in general. Here I've gathered things you can do to improve your mood or just get you through the day from beauty and self-care perspective. This post was partly inspired by my own life, the Snailcast podcast episode 25 and Myra's suggestion in my giveaway post.

Accept you need to take care of yourself

Quit thinking you're selfish and let yourself be mindful about your own feelings and thoughts. In great distress it's easy to forget you are as good and valuable as everyone else. Think about an airplane: when the cabin pressure goes down you need to put the oxygen mask first on yourself – only then you can help the others. 

Focus on the little things

If everything in life feels like a turmoil, sometimes it's helpful to focus on the little things to improve your mood. Take off 10 minutes for yourself and do something to relax your senses. It can be lighting a scented candle, rubbing essential oil on your pulse points, pouring a cup of flavourful tea or filing and painting your nails.

Look at things in a neutral way

Sometimes it can feel immoderate to look at yourself in a positive way, but what you can do is try silencing the negative, overly critical voice. Just let it be, even for a little while. Instead of focusing on your "horrible" eye bags and dark circles, accept your fatigue and do something soothing and comforting for your eyes: use cold eye drops, do a soothing eye mask or allow yourself a power nap.

GETTING COMFORTABLE

Swap into cozy and warm outfit. Run a bath, get a warm compress or heat a hot water bottle to sooth any aching muscles or just feel nice. Think about cleansing your face as a mini pamper, not a chore: wet a flannel/washcloth under hot water and use it to remove any dirt, grime and make up residue. Preferably do this with a luxurious cleansing balm and perform a little massage on yourself. Feeling warm and clean, curl on a couch and tune out for a moment.

Minimal enhancing

I've noticed if I feel like crap, I look like crap and vice versa. Minimal make up routine can bring some life back to my face and I don't feel like the mirror is going to crack if I peek at my reflection. Concealer, blusher and groomed brows can instantly bring life back to the face. If you have the energy, add some bronzer to look extra healthy.

Power make up

If colors make you happy, energised or you simply enjoy doing your make up, try adding something to boost your confidence. Wear a statement lipstick (red, orange, coral, fuchsia, purple), a thick winged eyeliner, experiment with eyeshadow or take an inspiration from a photograph. Put some music or a video on the background and enjoy the process of playing with your stash - it doesn't matter if you're not even planing to leave the house.

Routine shortcuts

When exhausted, washing your face might be the last thing you want to do. Take your make up off quickly with a micellar water and an emulsifying cleansing balm/oil. If you're too tired to do a full skincare routine then grab an antioxidant rich facial oil. Oils do wonders for all skin types: protect, calm, nourish and moisturise. You're ready to crash into bed.

What's your beauty or self-care advice for the days you're feeling down? I'd love to hear! I understand some of these tips are superficial and sometimes on my bad days I couldn't care less about beauty. In that scenario I cuddle with my cat or go climbing. I still enjoyed writing this post, it felt almost therapeutic for me. I'll have a separate post all about the importance about self-care once I've pencilled down my thoughts. Have a lovely day!

Last Summer I took my first proper dip into facial oils and after lots of pondering online I chose to purchase Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Cell Repair Night Oil. I'm always intrigued by brands that take pride in creating effective but luxurious to use skincare with both science and natural ingredients hand in hand. Is wanting it all too much to ask? Let's take look at this beautiful oil.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare

Aurelia is a British company with a core approach to restore and maintain a healthy, balanced and glowing skin. Aurelia combines high quality and ethically sourced botanical ingredients with their probiotic technology and peptide complex. The probiotics they use is a form of glycoprotein from bifido bacteria to balance the immune system of our skin and protect it against stresses and environmental damage, such as UV exposure (read more in here). 

Unfortunately it seems these technologies aren't included in the Cell Repair Night Oil. At the time I was looking for a facial oil, but I should've double checked what else the brand had to offer. Now that I've learn more about probiotics and fermented skincare I'm eager to try a lot more from the brand. Their products are cruelty free and manufactured in England.

Cell Repair Night Oil

This facial oil is a luxurious blend of botanical oils with a natural floral fragrance of neroli, lavender, rose and mandarin.  No fillers, additives, synthetic fragrances or a number of other harmful substances, but purely what's in the label. Cell Repair Night Oil 50ml retails for £55 (~$67.5 or 64.6€) on Aurelia website and Cult Beauty, available at KICKS stores in Finland.

Using The night oil

The oil is recommended for normal to combo skin types as a treatment for 3 times a week, but I don't see why oily skins wouldn't benefit from using a night oil. I'm dry so I've used the oil every day as my last skincare step or under a night cream for deeper hydration before I hop into bed. I also use about four drops of the oil instead of the recommended two and massage in to my face - I simply don't get the oil spread enough with just two drops. The Aurelia ritual suggests relaxing and inhaling the fragrance, but personally I'm not very drawn to the scent. It's just a matter of taste and if you love lavender or orange citrus then you'll probably love this as well.

Experiences

Here is what the oil looks like: colorless and light. The oil sinks in "like water", my skin very much loves to drink this oil. It's not heavy, greasy or leave an uncomfortable film on the skin, but plumps and softens. I feel I need to go over the recommended two drops, but that being said, I've been using the Aurelia Cell Repair Nigh Oil for months and I've only used up maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of my bottle. 50ml might not sound a large amount but is a generous size as luxury face oils tend to come in 30ml bottles (Sunday Riley, Vintner's Daughter etc). 

Ingredients

Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil (Sweet Almond oil), Cannabis sativa oil (Hemp oil), Triticum vulgare oil (Wheat germ oil), Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii kernel oil (Mongongo oil), Citrullus lanatus seed oil (Kalahari Melonseed oil), Punica granatum seed oil (cold pressed Pomegranate oil), Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis flower oil (sweet Orange oil), Citrus nobilis peel oil (Mandarin oil), Lavandula angustifolia oil (Lavender oil), Rosa damascena flower oil (Rosa Damascena oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), Limonene*, Linalool*, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Hydroxycitronellal*, Citral* (*naturally occurring in essential oil)

Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil is packed with ethically resourced, pure botanical oils providing essential fatty acids, Omega 3, 6 & 9, Vitamin E and antioxidants for firming, toning and repairing the skin. The base is sweet almond oil, which I'm a big fan of. Sweet almond oil is very gentle and hypoallergenic, suitable for eczema and psoriasis skin as well. There's a also a beautiful mix of more exotic (for me) fruit oils such as mongongo, kalahari melonseed and baobab seed oils. Packed with fatty acids, these oils help to retain moisture while making the skin glowing and smooth.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is an antioxidant but also a potential acne trigger according to COSDNA. I'm prone to acne but haven't found any problems personally, but in general sensitive skins should be mindful and always patch test. I'd be more confident to recommend this oil if it didn't have Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol etc listed. These ingredients can be irritating to the skin and shouldn't be applied near the eye area. I don't totally opposite essential oils in skincare products, but I proceed with some caution. With Aurealia Cell Repair Night Oil they're at the bottom of the ingredient list and I haven't experienced any issues myself. Still, do they have to be there?

Overall thoughts

Despite me being unhappy with a couple of the ingredients, Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil is a very good night time moisturiser and a great value. I haven't seen dramatic changes in my skin as I'm fairly good with my skincare regimen, but I give the oil some credit for radiance and hydration boost. I used to suffer from dry patches time to time and now I haven't had one for months - and it's currently the dead of Winter. I think the Cell Repair Night Oil is worth repurchasing, but at the moment I'm more intrigued by Aurelia's other products. If you're not sensitive to essential oils and you're wanting to treat yourself a beautiful facial oil with pure, high quality and ethically sourced ingredients is Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil worth looking into! 

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Happy February! Here's a topic I've been wanting to talk about for a while: cleansing. By far the most important step in your routine. Everyone knows how to wash their face, right? My empirical research tells me otherwise (please take this humorously).

In Finland, make up wipes are not very common, but I've read this is a culprit in the US and UK. In here people sleep with their make up on, aggressively rub their faces with exfoliating beads or be content with washing their faces with soap. When I lived in Japan, double cleansing, a variety of pre-cleansers and a multi-step skincare routine was as common as bread and rice. Here I'll share with you what I've learned about proper cleansing. I hope this post helps you to define your own routine!

Feeling after cleansing

Feeling after cleansing should be clean, fresh, balanced - not stripped, tight or "squeaky clean". Very clean yes, but not squeaky. If it's one of the latter, you're most likely using wrong products for your skin type or wrong products all together. Check if your products is high on denat. alcohol, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), strong acids or hard exfoliating particles. Personally, I'd let go of them.

You have the time

Sometimes when I'm dead tired the last thing I want to do is splash my face with water. But no way I want all that dirt, dust and grime marinate on my skin for the whole night. Think cleansing as a mini pamper instead of a task. Try cleaning with micellar water on your lazy nights before going in with an oil cleanser and a warm wash cloth. Once you've gently wiped your face it doesn't feel as bad to use another cleanser.

2 Minute massage

If you're invested in a cleanser there's no benefit if you rinse it straight away - all those wonderful ingredients go down the drain. Take at least 2 minutes to massage your cleanser in to your face. Massaging not only removes the dirt and make up efficiently but relaxes, improves the circulation, removal of toxins and reduces puffiness.

Double cleansing

Please notice that over-cleansing and stripping your skin is never the goal. Your skin needs hydration and sebum (oil) in balance. Especially oily and acne prone skins should be mindful to not to over-cleanse, which can stimulate the pores to produce even more excess sebum and further block your pores. Harsher and harsher cleansers are not the answer to this dilemma - but being gentle.

The point of double cleansing is first to remove what's on top of your face and then actually cleanse and treat the skin. At first you want to break up any sebum, make up, sunscreen plus dirt and grime that has built up over the day. As like dissolves like, this step is most easily completed with oily cleansers. If you don't wear sunscreen already, I recommend you read this post of mine. The only time you "don't need to" double cleanse if you've been indoors with no make up or SPF all day. Then, you want to perform the second step, which is a gentle cleanser to actually clean your skin, plus remove any oil residue off your face. Only touch your face with clean hands!

1st cleanse

Optional for heavy make up and SPF: pre-cleanse your face and eyes with a micellar water or eye make up remover. I recommend you won't use this alone as your 1st cleanse, but go in with an oil or balm afterwards. Let's not be lazy. Then clean your face properly from oil, remaining make up and sunscreen with an oil or a balm cleanser. Don't yank the skin but spread the product evenly, massaging the skin. Remove by emulsifying the oil/balm or gently wipe with a warm washcloth. 1st cleansers:
- micellar waters
- eye make up removers
- gels
- oil cleansers
- cleansing balms
- sherbet cleansers

Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

This is how many cleansing oils function: You massage your cleansing oil on dry face - I start from eyes and centre of my face, moving outwards in round, circular motions. I avoid pulling my skin and move my hands in upward motion instead of dragging the skin down. After I rinse the dirty oil from my hands and place the damp hands back onto my face, massaging. The oil should emulsify to a milky texture, removing gently but efficiently your make up/SPF/etc. True oils won't emulsify and are easiest to remove with a damp washcloth.

2nd cleanse

After removing the majority of oil, dirt and gunk it's time to cleanse the face. Any light cleansing milk or gel for your skin type works: Apply to the skin, massage and rinse or use a washcloth if you need the extra exfoliation. Although the skincare goddess Caroline Hirons likes to say 'bubbles are for your bath, not for your face' I don't personally totally opposite foam cleansers. Especially in the Asian market I've found low pH, non-stripping cleansing foams that I enjoy. I also save any luxurious cleansers for this step - fancy oils and balms or cleansers with skincare benefits as I want them straight on my face and not down the drain while removing my make up. 2nd cleansers:
- milks
- (expensive) balms
- gels
- foams
- luxe cleansers

Morning cleansing routine

Do you need to wash your face in the mornings? Yes. Same as 2nd cleanse. Some of you might only want to splash your face with water, but personally I wake sweat on my face instead of getting that Victoria's Secret glow. I also use heavy occlusive moisturisers that may leave a film or traces of oil on my face, so I go in with a light foam, milk or a luxurious cleansing balm. It feels heavenly and washing wakes me up at the same time.

Washcloth or no?

All of my favorite British beauty bloggers seem to have adopted the habit of using a washcloth, muslin or flannel to remove their cleanser, but this isn't very common in Finland. In my local home textile store the SA didn't even know word 'muslin'. In Japan, where I used to live briefly, any friction to your skin is considered bad and causing wrinkles. As I have no data is Asian skin thinner than European, I just pay attention how much I pull and tuck my skin while washing. Using a hot washcloth can be a relaxing home spa ritual and a gentle way to manually exfoliate without beads (plastic beads are very polluting and some can cause micro cuts to the skin).

I hope this post was helpful! Finding the perfect cleanser will follow in my acid mantle & cleanser pH post. I'm curious to hear do you always double cleanse? How about use washcloths?

I am so excited to share bits of SUQQU's S/S 2017 collection. Within a year the brand has gone through such a revamp, first discontinuing their old blushes, then coming up with a new lipstick line and now eyeshadow palettes. Today I have the pleasure of showing you one of the new SUQQU Designing Color Eyes palettes in 05 Aoshizuku (蒼雫) and my initial thoughts about the new formula.

SUQQU Designing Color Eyes

Sad to see the old palettes go, for me the look of old SUQQU palettes (but not the oldest, mind you) were iconic. I would recognise the silhouette from any other high end quads. I loved sheer, nuanced colors and their endless layering ways. On the other hand, I'm happy SUQQU is evolving and revamping. The new gold lining of the packaging is very chic and I don't miss the velvet pouch one bit. And best of all - you get 5.6g of product instead of the old 4.2g for the same price. SUQQU Designing Color Eyes are available in 5 permanent shades + one limited edition (101) for S/S17. They retail for ¥7,344 or €51.00 (~$54.76). You can purchase palettes from SUQQU UK counters, Selfridges and SUQQU Japan.

Thoughts on the new formula

I've been playing with 05 Aoshizuku about one week. Normally I would prefer testing a product for a longer time, but I wanted to get my review and swatches up near the UK release. To compare the old formula I took out my most shimmery quad EX-29 Koukiori and tested both palettes in the same eye look. The differences in the actual formula of the shadows weren't as noticeable as I expected. I might change my mind about this later, but so far I'm content the formulation isn't too different from the old.

In my opinion, the biggest differences to the older Blend Color Eyeshadow palettes are the pan size and lack of matte colors. It's not the first time SUQQU releases all shimmer palettes, but this time the whole collection lacks matte shadows. Where as old SUQQU quads had very complex shimmers, 05 Aoshizuku is much simpler with one color shimmer on a base shade.

Applying 05 Aoshizuku

I think 05 Aoshizuku is a winner in its constant quality and I expect the same from the rest of the new palettes. In some older SUQQU quads there were inconsistencies with harder mattes and more 'crumbly' shimmers. 05 Aoshizuku applies smooth and beautiful with little to no fallout. No glitter fest. The eyeshadows wore about 8h on my primed but hooded lids, just like the old formula did. The pigmentation is sheer-medium where as old palettes were on the sheer side. In the swatches below I've done two finger swipes of color. As you can see, the colors still transform beautifully when layered. Not as complex as the old, but still very pretty.

Swatches 

- Beige + white: Gold layered with silver creates a beautiful icy gold with a champagne hue
- Glittery icy white
- Yellow ochre gold with golden glitters
- Dark chocolate with greenish undertone (on my skin) and specks of golden shimmer
- Dark navy grey/slate with fine blueish shimmer
- Brown + navy/slate: Slate grey with a chocolate undertone and specks of metallic shimmers

As my lids have matured, I'm more concerned about the eyeshadow texture. The two lighter shades have more prominent glitters, but they're not too chunky in my opinion. A bit frosty when layered, but daytime appropriate/easy to wear as they're not high-shine or metallic (like Natasha Denona). The two darker shades have micro shimmers when inspected closely, giving the shades a beautiful subtle sheen. I especially like them layered, I can see both dark slate or brown hues depending on how light hits the color.

Change in design

Now there's another interesting difference in SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow (old) and Designing Color Eyes (new) palette designs, which is the placement of colors. If my memory serves me right, the pictorial on SUQQU's website instructed Blend Color Eyeshadows to be used counter-clockwise from bottom right: base, middle shade, highlight shade and deep color. In the new pictogram Designing Color Eyes the deepen from the top left (highlight color), going top right (nuance color), bottom left (accent color) and bottom right (deep color). I'd be curious to hear the reasoning for this change. Palette on the right, EX-36 Fuyusumire, reviewed here.

MOTD

I think the Japanese gradient eye look done with this palette is sublime, but this time I'm wearing the nude gold all over the lid, dark brown and navy layered in the outer corner, white on the centre of the lid and inner corner highlight. It looks very subtle with my eyes open (hello, hooded lids), but I like it. With 05 Aoshizuku, I don't find myself missing my usual must-have matte crease color. Make up worn:

Base: Addiction Skincare Foundation 01, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
Eyes: Viseart Structure brow palette, SUQQU Designing Color Eyes 05 Aoshizuku, Benefit Roller lash mascara
Cheeks: SUQQU Pure Color Blush 07 Tsuyasatsuki (review coming soon)
Lipstick: SUQQU Extra Glow Lipstick 07

Overall thoughts

The increase of pigmentation might be a good selling-point for the Western audience, but personally I think SUQQU has gone to the roots of Japanese make up. Very shimmery, easy to layer, blendable, perfect to create gradient the eyeshadow look, which is super popular in Japan. I was never drawn to Lunasol's glittery shadows, but SUQQU delivers the "adult shimmer" in a sophisticated way. I'm smitten with the new collection and I can't wait to get my hands on the other palettes. In the future I'd like to see more complex glitters and maybe a matte or two to make the collection more diverse.

Are you eyeing Aoshizuku or any other items from SUQQU S/S17 collection?

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The SUQQU products in this post were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Verso is a Swedish skincare brand that has been popping up on Instagram and some skincare blogs, but I've seen fairly little reviews online. Intrigued by the star ingredient retin-A and the gorgeous packaging I purchased the eye cream. Later I generously received a couple of serums for review from the Finnish importer. The name 'Verso' confused me at first, because in Finnish 'verso' means a sprout, but later I learned the brand's name comes from Latin and means renewing. A good double meaning I say, too bad the brand isn't from my home country (haha). Let's take a better look at Verso's Super Facial Serum!

Verso super facial serum

This serum claims to be both healing and strengthening, aiding the skin's natural production of collagen and anti-ageing. Regular use should result in brighter look, improved texture and visible reduction of pigmentation spots and wrinkles. I decided to test the Dark Spot Serum later separately to see if the 4 Super Facial Serum alone would help with my skin concerns. Verso Super Facial Serum 30ml retails which retails £95 (Cult Beauty) or 119€ (Skin.fi, Yliopiston apteekki, available in various salons in Finland).

My skin concerns

As I'm writing this review I've put the serum to the test good 1,5-2 months. In a a couple of years I'll be 30 and I'd prefer if my fine lines wouldn't appear any faster. As anti-ageing is hard to measure, I was curious to see if there was any effect on my PIH or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation aka "acne scars". You know, those red-purple spots you are left with after you've had a pimple. On my fair skin the acne scaring/PIH tends to be very prominent, depressing and takes months and months to heal. I could draw a face chart of myself and pinpoint where I have acne scaring, I've had to stare them for so long I know them by heart. 

Packaging

The Verso branding is a graphic designer's dream. Simple, clean typography and press images easily available on the website (I decided to shoot my own though). I love the typeface and clear hierarchy in the logo and product name, the numbers in the packaging imply the order of application. The graphic design gives a luxurious look to the uniform plain white pump bottles. However, I feel the pump is a bit 'cheap' - in the beginning you may have to press it multiple times to get any product out and deal with the growing panic have you gotten a dud. It doesn't feel very reliable to me, but after the pump is working, it does distribute the perfect amount of product for the whole face, which I enjoy quite a bit. Opaque packaging also keeps the ingredients from oxidising, which is great.

Ingredients

Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Squalane, Palmitoyl Glycine, Canola Oil, Palmitoyl Proline, Magnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate, Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate, Retinyl Retinoate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tetrahydropiperine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10 – 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum

I'm writing a comprehensive post dedicated to retinols and its benefits if you're completely new to the ingredient. Retinol/retin-A/tretinoin aka Vitamin A is scientifically proven to be an anti-ageing ingredient and found beneficial in treating multiple skin concerns including wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin firmness and collagen synthesis. They're available in various strengths both with prescription and over-the-counter. The con is retinols are often drying, irritating and proper sun protection needs to be applied.

Verso's "Retinol 8" means their ingredient 8 times more potent than traditional retinol. I wish they'd announce the % in the packaging for the curious of us and not just "high concentration". Retinyl retionate, which Verso uses, is a photostable derivate of Vitamin A acid, which has a higher skin regeneration activity than retinol (source). Retinyl retionate has also been found causing less irritation than other retinoids (source) as induces more effective hyaluronan production, which causes less transepidermal water loss compared to retinol. These are all wonderful news to those of us who can't stand using retinol products without flakey skin. According to Verso the serum can be applied both morning or/and evening, but personally I've only tested it in my evening routine.

Experiences

I've used some retinol serums and behind the counter retin-A gel in the past, but I've always got a very dry, flakey skin after using them. Basic retinol serums have so low concentrations I haven't seen much results with them, but my skin won't tolerate 1% on daily basis. I've applied Verso facial serum every single night after my Vitamin C serum or current acid exfoliant with ~15 min wait time before and after to let the products sink in properly. No stinging, flaking or dry patches. Sometimes after application I do get a warm flush but no feeling of irritation. The eye cream, which I'm going to talk about separately, always makes the application area to feel hot.

I didn't notice any difference to my texture issues while using Verso, but after my Accutane medication I've had zero break outs, which is hard for me to comprehend. When it comes to scaring, it takes the skin time to heal itself even if you get aid from products. I feel my scaring has gradually faded. I don't have the desperate need to pinpoint concealer some red spots that previously were visible from miles and miles away. I haven't noticed a visible difference in my fine lines, but they haven't worsen either. Longer term use will show, but I believe in regular use of retinol products.

Overall

I think Verso Super Facial serum is an excellent retinol product, strong yet gentle. For the most sensitive of us, the retinyl retionate/Retinol 8 might be on the stronger side, but it's a product worth of testing out as the proven results of regular retinol use are fantastic. Verso is a very premium line, but I believe I'll purchase the serum once I've ran out. I'm very happy to find a non-drying and stable retinol product I enjoy!

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

It's Winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and most of us struggle with the same problem every year: dry, chapped lips. I've skipped the whole matte liquid lipstick trend as my lips dry out even at a glance of them. Instead, I've been gravitating towards lip glosses (featuring my favorite formulas here) and creamy lipsticks (like SUQQU Creamy Glow Lipstick moist). Rouge Bunny Rouge's newish lip treatments, the Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP, are welcome addition to the line. I got two out of 3 colors sent to me and purchased the last one myself. Let's take a look!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP

This product seems to me like a hybrid between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick. They're designed to bring volume and intense moisture back to the lips with anti-aging properties and a sheer wash of glossy color. The tubes are same as RBR signature lipstick packaging: black, sleek and reliable. The firmness and pointy shape of the balm also remain of their lipsticks. There are a total of 3 shades available and the balms retail 29€ for 3.5g/0.12oz.

Protection to the lips

Often with lip balms I feel they just coat the lips without getting into the fine cracks and lines of my lips. The comfort and protection remain as long as there is a 'coating' of a balm, and if you've ever been addicted to Vaseline or a lip balm you'll know what I mean. With RBR Tinted Luxe Balms I feel the balm 'sinks in' and gives an instant hydration to the lips. The texture is lightweight, non-sticky, more like a lightly creamy lipstick instead of a balmy salve. 

Ingredients

POLYBUTENE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, OLEIC/LINOLEIC/LINOLENIC POLYGLYCERIDES, CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX), POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX), MICA, AROMA (FLAVOR), HYDROXYMETHOXYPHENYL PROPYLMETHYLMETHOXYBENZOFURAN, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, TOCOPHEROL, [+/-] CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 15850 (RED 7 LAKE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) 

The bulk of the ingredients are viscosity controllers and various emollients, lastly some flavor and pigments. As RBR has high claims of the anti-aging properties of the product, I was expecting more plant extracts or natural oils in the list. The 5th ingredient (oleic polyglycerides) is sunflower oil, which moisturises intensively. Candelilla id a plant based wax for holding in moisture, improve skin texture and protection. The fragrance is very non-invasive, there is a light scent of dessert when you open the tube which won't linger around.

SWATCHES

Pinch of Nude, Sip of Pink and Specks of Cerise

Pinch of Nude

A luminous, transparent nude with specks of golden shimmer. The shimmer particles are like fine glitters, but fortunately barely visible on the lips. I often wear this shade as my lip treatment when starting on my make up routine to plump and hydrate my lips for any lipstick I decide to apply later.

Sip of Pink

A juicy light pink with a hint of peach undertones. The look is very soft and cute, a perfect shade to be used instead of a lipstick for a casual look or layered under a lip gloss. The easiest go-to shade to throw in a handbag! 

Specks of Cerise

Transparent, juicy cherry shade with cool purple undertones - like having eaten cherry clafoutis. If you love the RBR Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings, which is a bit more opaque cherry shade, I'm sure you'll love Specks of Cherise and the other way around.

Overall

If you're looking for a luxurious lip treatment for yourself or as a gift, these are a beautiful choice. If you prefer a bit more pigment yet almost equally moisturising lip product, I'd recommend the RBR Sheer Lipsticks over the Tinted Luxe Balms as they're priced the same. I've taken the anti-aging promises of Tinted Luxe Balms with a grain of salt as the ingredients list wasn't ground breaking. Saying that, I would prefer Rouge Bunny Rouge over Chanel, By Terry or other ridiculously expensive pot balms any time. The ease of use, instant moisturisation and long-lasting hydration are just what my lips need this season.

What's your favorite lip treatment? Edit: Get 20% off your Rouge Bunny Rouge purchase use the code  RBR-LAURALOUKOLA20 (non-affiliated) for your shopping basket! It should be valid until the end of the year.

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Last week was a hectic one, I'm sorry I couldn't post as much. It was my birthday week and I had some extra plans accompanied by some additional work and my studies. While I'm working on more comprehensive posts, I thought I'd casually share what I've been into lately. I love watching and reading monthly favorites posts and videos, but don't feel like I accumulate enough new items to do those updates myself. This could be my laid-back version of those, with some life updates.

Vitamin C serum

Not a new addition to my routine, but I've been very regular about using a Vitamin C product in my skincare. For more info why you should be using one too, please read my Vitamin C in Skincare 101 post here. This NIOD ELAN is a strong 30% L-Ascorbic Acid*, which I've been using about 3 months. I've used 1/2 this bottle so I presume it'll last me another good 2-3 months. My pigmentation has nicely lightened and my complexion looks even and bright. Proper review will come soon!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder + Chikuhodo Sakura

When I first started using this powder I found it difficult to detect any difference in my skin. I expected more divided reviews online, but could be the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder won over the hearts of beauty addicts like it did mine. I use shade Diffused Light as a setting/finishing powder with my Chikuhodo x Beautylish Sakura Collection 2015 Powder Brush for a subtle glow. I find my other powder products blend better when there's a light dusting of powder on the top of my foundation. The Sakura powder brush has a nice angled shape and gets easily in every part of the face.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Luxe Balms

I've been keeping the Pinch of Nude* shade on my table and applied liberally in the mornings while doing my make up or in the evening before going to sleep. I love the instant hydration and plumpness it gives to my lips with a shiny finish. Full review and swatches here.

Luxe botanics Marula Hydrating serum

During the colder windy Winter months the dryness (and ageing, sigh) accentuates my fine lines, which I'm trying to treat and plump with retinols and added hydration. I was gifted the Luxe Botanics Discovery Kit* some time ago and decided to give the Marula Serum a try. This serum-oil instantly treats and nourishes the skin, leaving it plump and supple. I have high hopes of this line and looking forward to purchase the full size.

pH Meter

Ever since I battled with acne I've been very into skin health and I'm now working on a blog post about the acid mantle. As a nerdy person I felt the need to test the pH of my cleansers. Stay tuned for more!

Ouai hair oil

This hair oil is both nourishing and gives my hair a nice glow, doubling as a heat protectant. The floral scent is quite intense (love it or hate it) and liberal use of this oil can make my hair look greasy. So far I'm enjoying Ouai products, but haven't totally made up my mind yet.

SUQQU Dual-ended eye liner

I haven't been wearing a catliner for a while, but I like to "stamp" my upper lash line with a sharp liquid liner. This thin line of brown or black makes my eyes look framed and lashes fuller without looking too harsh or intense. The SUQQU liner wears beautifully and you have the option to use either color!

Get Giddy solid hand bar

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know I'm hooked in my climbing hobby. Protective calluses haven't properly formed yet and my hands have been extra sore, rough and even bloody after bouldering sessions. I wanted a climbing salve to treat the hands while keeping them rough. I rub Giddy's har hand bar in evenings and wake up with healthier hands.

I did a little bit of damage to my wallet for my birthday and on Black Friday: some bits and bobs from Cult Beauty, Deciem and Rouge Bunny Rouge. I wasn't planing to purchase much but the latter two had massive savings on selected items. I'll be showing and reviewing those items for you as the parcels roll in. What're you into right now?

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This post contains *product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Who doesn't love a good face mask? I'm a fan of quick weekday pampering sessions and I do them regularly instead of saving masking for a special occasion. It takes relatively little time as I can go about my business while the mask dries or treats. I don't think masks are a must-have like a good cleanser or a serum, if you're on a budget I'd invest in just one according to your skin type or concerns.

NIOD Flavanone Mud

NIOD FM claims to work in three phases: purifying surface impurities, decongest and protect against environmental congestion factors for skin health and sustainable purity and glow. This red mud mask tingles on the skin, leaving it firm and supple without being drying. The tingling reduces after multiple uses. I'm quite liking this mask despite its strong smell - full review will follow.

Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

I should've read the name more carefully, I just picked up a mini size on a whim from Sephora in Denmark. I am not convinced a product works just because it tingles, but I can take the strong tingling sensation. I liked the mask until it dried up and was time to rinse it off: the exfoliating particles didn't soften up at all and felt quite harsh, like rubbing sandpaper on my skin. After rinsing the mask my face was a bit red, firmer, but not moisturised. I far prefer the NIOD FM mask and think I'm going to pass on Glamglow.

Clarins hydraquench cream mask

Overnight mask or a "sleeping pack" like Asian masks tend to read, Clarins hydraquench is a tricker cream you apply as last step in your evening skincare routine. Most of the cream sinks in but leaves the skin feeling a bit sticky, which I'm not a huge fan of in overnight masks. It's nice and moisturising, sealing all my other skincare products in, but not a necessary step. I'd far prefer a luxurious cream with more anti-ageing ingredients. I'm glad I got the deluxe sample size first.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

I purchased this mask after hearing a lot hype about Origins masks, but I'm not totally convinced. Again in a sleeping pack style, I apply it as last step in my evening routine, sealing all the serums and oils inside. With this I don't feel I need a separate moisturiser, but again, I do prefer a heavier night cream that sink in. In the mornings when I wash my face there is a film of sorts on my face. The texture is lighter than Clarins, if I had to pick between the two I'd go for Origins. Not a bad mask, but not interesting enough that I'd repurchase. The scent resembles mango yogurt.

My Beauty Diary Honey Mask

Now this mask is real skin entertainment. Out of all five masks this has the most interesting and fun texture! The mask resembles real liquid honey, has a mild scent and it heats up when you apply it on your face. The mask feels nourishing and moisturising, but not overly so. I think oilier skin types could also enjoy this mask, for me it's not quite moisturising enough I'd repurchase. Fun on cold days or in the sauna.

As you've noticed, I'm more a fan of masking rather than my actual wash-off masks. I use masks to relax and they act as a nice pick-me-up when my skin needs it. With sheet masks I usually get what I've paid for and enjoy them as often as I can.  What's your favorite wash-off mask? Any recommendations?

Laurantaina Beauty Blog also partakes in the Finnish Beauty Blog Advent Calendar! My post will be up on 19th of December and it may be giveaway related.. Stay tuned! The first calendar posts you can read here and here (English version). Enjoy!

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I've said it once or twice before, but I love a good cleanser. As I wear make up almost every single day, I'm very particular about the way I get it all off and how I treat my skin afterwards. I find cleansers and masks also a a great way to get familiarised with a new brand, as they're usually less of a splurge compared to serums and creams. I was generously sent this cleanser for review from January Labs, and gave it a good test for a couple of months before writing this review.

January Labs Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel

Currently the Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel is the only cleanser in January's line. It's designed for all skin types as a 1st cleanse to dissolve dirt, make up and sunscreen without leaving the skin feel stripped. The cleanser retails £23/$32 for 236ml/8 fl. oz on Cult Beauty or January Labs website. £23 is about 26,95€ and got to say it's a very decent price for such a big bottle.

Using the cleanser

The websites recommend multiple uses to the gel: refreshing morning cleanse or removing make up in the evenings - except for eye make up. I've put this cleanser in the use both morning and evening, 1st cleanse (taking of your make up) or 2nd cleanse (cleansing the face), sometimes removing the gel with a hot cloth or just rinsing. The gel is a bit stiff and clumpy when it comes from the bottle but smoothly on damp to wet skin. The gel lathers a bit I wouldn't call it a proper foam. I tend to alternate this product as my 1st and 2nd cleanser, but usually I gravitate towards 2nd just because my face is already damp after emulsifying my oil/balm cleanser. Honestly I think you can do both or even double cleanse with the gel if you're in a pinch. Thanks to its make up melting abilities I find it a bit 'wasteful' to use it as my morning cleanse and I tend to spare it for the evenings.

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodiumlaureth Sulfosuccinate, Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Natural Salt, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin E Acetate, Willow Bark Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Vitamin A Palmitate, Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Sunflower Seed Extract, Licorice Extract, Papaya Fruit Extract, Vitamin C Palmitate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate Lauryl Glucoside , Corn Derived Preservative, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Sodium Pca, Lime Oil, Chamomile Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Citric Acid.

The ingredient list is both cleaning agents and botanicals with soothing and brightening properties. I was worried if the gel-to-foam formula contain any skin stripping ingredients like Sodium laureth sulfate, but according to COSDNA there is little to none low acne/irritation causing ingredients. The only warning flags are the Vitamin C Palmitate and Vitamin A Palmitate, which are both forms of antioxidants that have brightening benefits. If you're sensitive, I recommend patch testing, but I don't think the cleanser is on your skin long enough to cause irritation. There is lime oil in the formula, in the case you're sensitive to citrus ingredients. Other notable ingredients are soothing aloe extract, antioxidants like grape seed extract with anti-inflammatory white willow bark and licorice root extracts. 

Performance

Researching for this review, I was surprised to read online the cleanser wasn't for removing eye make up and eyes should be avoided. Lesson learned, the cleanser does sting if you open your eyes while washing. Keeping my eyes closed I have had no problem and irritation and I'm tempted to use it all over my face as the cleanser destroys my non-waterproof mascara, eyeliner and other make up effortlessly. I was dubious if a gel texture would suit my dry skin, as I often associate gels for oilier skin types, but the Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel leaves my skin feeling clean, soft and balanced. No redness, dryness or that notorious 'tight' feeling you could experience with gels or foams. The scent reminds me of papaya and lime (both used ingredients). According to the meter I use, the pH is nicely acidic 5.4 which won't disturb skin's acid mantle and makes it suitable for acne prone skin (like mine).

Overall

January Labs Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel is a great multipurpose 'workhorse' cleanser for both taking of your make up and washing your face in a gentle, non-irritating way. It's rare to find a cleanser that is both effective yet non-abrasive with a clean ingredient list. The low price point for a high end brand and big packaging size is top notch. This cleanser is something I would certainly take with me on a trip or in my gym bag.

If you've seen my January Labs Revitalizing Day Cream review you'll know I'm smitten with this Californian beauty brand founded by January Olds. I had a moment of panic when I ran out of the cream and had to purchase a new one in an instant. I'm telling you, this is a brand to keep an eye on as the products are very cleanly formulated with science and 'green beauty' hand in hand. The Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel is something I'll 100% repurchase once I'm finished with the bottle.

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

I didn't prepare myself for this post as I'm not very keen on keeping my empty beauty products (aka trash) around. But, at the end of January, I noticed many products in my skincare stash diminishing at the same time. It's time for a classic beauty blog post: empties. Find out what are my final thoughts and would I repurchase!

Verso Super Facial Serum

I've done a full review on this anti-aging retinol face serum (review here) and my love hasn't faded. I'm very actually very bummed I ran out of Verso Super Facial Serum. In my desperation I performed an operation to the packaging, only to find it completely empty. A good retinol product is hard to come by, and Verso felt potent yet gentle. No flaking, redness or dryness - the serum felt almost moisturising on the skin. It lasted me a good 4 months in daily use, which is pretty good. However, I do wish there was more product simply because the eye serum is the same size (30ml/1oz). I've used the eye serum longer and it's still going strong as only tiny bit is needed. If you're wanting to try Verso but afraid to splurge I recommend trying the eye serum first: it's also very potent but a better value. As I love both, I will be purchasing Super Facial Serum as soon as possible.

Innisfree Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock SPF50+ PA+++

My HG (Holy Ggrail) sunscreen. This was probably my 6th or 7th tube. I think this sunscreen may be a "Marmite product" as you'll love it or hate it. I'm the former, my dry skin simply loves the thick texture of this sunscreen. It's very creamy and has a visible white cast if you don't blend it out. The reason I like this is my skin feels properly protected, moisturised and there isn't the awful sunscreen smell. Make up applies beautifully on the top without pilling, which is very important to me. I always have 1-2 backups and I've already opened a new one. To my knowledge Innisfree did repackage and reformulate their sunscreens, I'm excited to try the new ones in the future!

GOODAL Mild Protect Essence Sun SPF50+ PA+++

Goodal is also a 'physical' sunscreen but a total opposite to the Innisfree: this sunscreen is fluid, light and absorbs immediately without a white cast. Someone in the comments asked a sunscreen recommendation for oily skin and I think this or the Biore Aqua Rich are excellent choices. It hasn't reached the HG status for me as I've noticed my make up pilling from time to time. It's still a very good option for the days I don't wear make up or want a lighter base, I've already repurchased a tube for my boy friend who hates thick sunscreens.

Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 PA+++

Another excellent sunscreen, the bulk of this particular tube was used by my boyfriend. I've repurchased this sunscreen about 4-5 times, I'm happy it's inexpensive as I tend to use sunscreen a lot. The formula is light and quickly absorbing, perfect for people who hate the feel of sunscreen (or skincare in general). I personally prefer physical sunscreen filters, so this one hasn't been in my heavy rotation lately. Will repurchase in the future.

NIOD Fractionated eye contour concentrate

I aimed to do a full blog post about this eye serum, but during the months I used it I couldn't make my mind about it. It wasn't very moisturising, but good for layering under thicker eye creams. I think it provided some treatment to the eye area, but in the end didn't help with any skin concerns. Didn't particularly dislike it, so I used it up. Wouldn't recommend or repurchase.

Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum

Another product that didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I like Clinique and purchased the Turnaround Revitalizing Serum after reading a decent review on Beautypedia. I think people new to skincare might enjoy a mild serum like this, but for the price I'm not sure it's worth it. I had hopes it would brighten my duller Winter skin, but I didn't notice any difference from this product. Didn't dislike it, but won't repurchase.

NUXE Reve De Miel lip balm

My favorite lip balm, one of the very few that makes a lasting difference in your lips. The balmy texture doesn't deeply hydrate, but soothes, nourishes and protects dry, chapped lips. I use it quite sparingly, I think this was my 2nd or 3rd jar. Already bought a backup. Rave!

Bioderma Sensibio

I first encountered this hyped and loved micellar water a few years ago in Japan, but I found the price tag too high for a plain make up remover. I've now purchased the bottle several times and it lasts me ages as I usually skip make up removers go straight to my cleansing oils. Gentle, but effective. I would repurchase again, but I'm now testing the Rouge Bunny Rouge Gentle Cleansing Water, which I find just as gentle and effective.

I have a weird sensation of accomplishment and panic as I'm scraping the last bits out of various containers. I pat myself in the back for using things up, but anxious to purchase many things at once. There was no cleanser empties, wow! What the latest product you've used up?

The Verso and NIOD serums in this post were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Happy holidays and season's greetings everyone! I try to resist the holiday craze, but now the Xmas is just around the corner. Even if you don't celebrate it I want to give something back to my readers and thank you for supporting me during this fun ½ year I've been blogging.

I'm giving away one of my favorite products from one of my favorite brands: the Rouge Bunny Rouge RAW GARDEN: Caliche palette! Caliche is the cool, brown-mauve toned eyeshadow quad with buttery soft pigments and insanely beautiful satin finish. The winner obviously gets a brand new unopened one, the palette depicted is mine. I've reviewed it's more neutral sister version, Antigo, here. This palette retails for 59€/$59 and the giveaway is open internationally!

The winner will be randomly chosen on December 31th 23:59 Finnish time (GMT+02:00). I will contact the winner by email and update the winner's username in this post! Please reply my message within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. To be eligible to participate please follow these simple rules:

- Comment this blog post answering the questions: Which post(s) have you enjoyed the most? Any post ideas you'd like to read about in the future? (general feedback appreciated)

- Optional two extra entries: Following me on Bloglovin' (remember to post your username in the comments)

That's it! Good luck! xx

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

The winner is username Henna73! Congratulations! I'll email you asap!

This post is a part of the Finnish Beauty Blogger's Advent Calendar! Most of the blogs are in Finnish, but I highly recommend you check out yesterday's posts by the beautiful Myy of Nutturapää and the lovely Ilona of Eyeshadow and Flame. They've both created gorgeous look with Colorpop shadows! Tomorrow's post will open at The Domino Effect -blog. Banner by Elämää smykkinä.

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I've said it before and I say it again: if you have healthy looking skin and beautiful brows you won't need any (other) make up. I am fortunate to have somewhat decent brows - and by decent I mean they grow and have color. I did my best to ruin them as a teenager by plucking and shaving my brows in odd places, smudging black kohl on top of them. Oh how times have changed.. Nowadays I try my best to keep them looking natural and filled in, not very graphic or arched. Rouge Bunny Rouge kindly sent me their brow products to try, today I'll share my thoughts about the Long-Lasting Brow Liners!

ALCHEMY Long-lasting Brow Liner

RBR eye pencils are sort of 'automatic pens' which you can twist up and down, without the need to resharpen them. The tip is very fine and small for precise drawing. Comes in two shades: Trona (lighter) and Antimony (darker). The brow liners retail 26€ for 0.09g / 0.003 oz.

The brow liner

My first impression was the brow liners are very thin, smaller and lighter than a regular mechanical pencil, but in the use I haven't found any problem to hold and draw with the pencils. The nib is also tiny, which is great for drawing individual brow hairs or filling in the tail of the brow. If your brows are very sparse you may try filling them in with a brow powder first and then with a liner for definition. If you've got fuller brows then this liner should be enough to style your brows.

Formula

The Alchemy Long-Lasting Brow Liners waxy, the formula won't slide or move around. In my opinion the nib has optimal hardness for precise drawing. You can blend a fresh stroke a bit, but it quickly sets with a matte, smudge-free finish. The color opacity is medium for easy-to-achieve natural brows, it's hard to go overboard with these liners. I wouldn't say any brow liner could replace a brow gel/mascara, but the wax can help to keep your brow hairs in place if they aren't particularly unruly.

RBR claims the brow liners to be waterproof and last over 10-hours and with the latter I can agree. I haven't tested them in water, but my brows do stay put during a sweaty exercise session. The only con I can think off the liner doesn't have a lot of product, and if you use one every day to completely draw your brows I think you'll run out fairly quickly.

Swatches

Here's Trona and Antimony in indoor lighting. They're both earthy browns with ashy undertones: Trona lighter for blonde to medium brown hairs and Antimony from dark brown to black hair. I like the shades as they don't have excess warmth/red and look very natural on the browns, especially Antimony is very cool. If you're very blonde or ginger there might not be a perfectly matching shade for you. With my medium brown hair I think I can pull off both shades, so I rotate them depending my mood. If I had to choose for myself, I prefer the lighter Trona:

Below are the both liners in natural light after hard rubbing. As you can see, they did fade a bit but didn't smudge excessively. I don't think you'll be rubbing your eyebrows in this manner you should be worried about messing your brows.

Overall

I'm very happy RBR finally came out with brow products and they perform very well. I'll reach for the Alchemy Long-Lasting Brow Liners especially on the days when I want the ease of quick application or need good longevity from my make up. However, I try to be sparing as the price is quite high. I hope RBR comes out with one or two additional colors in the future, but if either of these shades spoke to you I can highly recommend them.

Feel free to use the code  RBR-LAURALOUKOLA20 (non-affiliated) to get 20% off your Rouge Bunny Rouge order! It should be valid until the end of the year.

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

I wish you a beautiful and bright festive season and a Happy New Year!

xx Laura

Happy Monday! I hope you've had a wonderful weekend and happy holidays if you celebrate them. Today I'm reviewing a gorgeous highlighter from one of my favorite high end brands: Tom Ford. I remember when my friend hyped the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo duo last year, but at the time I wasn't too interested in another highlighter. The darker shade looked way too deep and intimidating for my skin tone, but after purchasing and falling in love with THREE's Shimmering Glow duo (review here) I knew I had to get the TF powder version...

SKIN ILLUMINATING POWDER DUO 01 MOODLIGHT

Unfortunately in Finland we only have a Tom Ford counter at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport duty free, and they didn't have it in stock. The kindest SA informed me the duo wasn't a limited edition, and luckily I managed to find it in the Copenhagen Magasin department store during my trip last August. Originally Moodlight was a limited edition release for Fall 2015. The powder duo comes in a classic Tom Ford rectangular packaging with gold detailing, protected by a brown suede pouch. The two powders are embossed with cross-hatch pattern and TF initials. The embossings last nicely on the powder, even after several uses. The duo is fairly expensive ~67€/$70 but you get massive 12g/.42oz of product.

The packaging

Tom Ford products are always exquisite, they simply don't look stunning but the packaging is sturdy and has some weight to it. The compact is secure although there is no a visible clasp or a magnet to keep the lid closed. I like it how the lid opens whole 180° degrees. The mirror is large like in all TF compacts, perfect for travel.

USING MOODLIGHT

I use the white opal one for a subtle glow on top of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. On my light skin the copper one is too dark as a highlight, but I apply it as a blush topper for a bronzy glow or mix with the lighter shade. The lovely SA at Tom Ford showed me a way to bronze your face with the bronzy powder, but I think the look might be better suited for medium skin tones. On medium skins the white shade will appear as a more visible highlight, on deep skin tones the contrast will be more evident. I do think this palette will compliment a nice variety of skin tones and be almost universally flattering.

Look and Performance

The pigmentation of these powders is sheer (white) to medium (bronze), both buildable and visible on the skin. The powders are finely milled and nicely blendable as you would expect from Tom Ford. I simply love it how light hits these powders, giving a youthful sheen to the face without being frosty or having chunks of glitter. The colors seem to have a mix of pigments, both having peachy-pink undertones.

Needless to say, not both sides are created equally. Whereas the bronze copper shade is very pigmented and soft to touch, the white opal highlighter feels stiff with a very subtle payoff. I don't know if mine is a dud, but feels like the powder was pressed too hard. This wouldn't bother me if I didn't feel the need to almost rub my brush in to the pan and check if there's product on the brush. I do love the color and have nothing against more subtle highlighters, but I'm confused with hardness of the other powder. On medium to deep skin tones I think the light shade will be beautiful and more evident. Tom Ford powders still blend and adhere beautifully to the skin and last on me a long time without fading.

Swatches

- A pale opalescent white with pinky undertones and very fine golden shimmer
- Light copper shade with a beautiful champagne sheen

The THREE Shimmering Glow Duo (review here) is a pinker and darker with more warm, coppery undertones compared to the Tom Ford. Whereas THREE is more glittery, the finish of Moodlight is more refined with a high sheen. 

Overall

I don't want to say I'm disappointed because I paid a pretty penny for this product, but I wanted both sides to be as silky soft and pigmented as the copper shade. Otherwise I would claim this duo is a must have. The look of both powders is simply exquisite, sophisticated, subtle glow for any occasion. Despite the white powder being on the stiffer side it will still win many high end powders in comparison.

Have you tried Tom Ford highlighters or his other products?

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For this post I'm doing something different: recreating a make up look that I like. This is more of a 'get ready with me' style post than a tutorial. I'm a bit shy when it comes to posting my photo (or any creation to be honest) as I'm not a natural in front of a camera. But I love make up looks done by bloggers and seeing the reviewed products in action, so I try my best to share you mine. Hopefully you enjoy this post!

I took inspiration from Rouge Bunny Rouge's Rebel Princess Rhapsody look, which is a stunning shimmery smokey eyes with a red lip. It reminds me of Natalie Portman's Odile make up in the movie Black Swan. I dug out my RBR make up and tried my best to use similar products I had at hand. I've linked all my product reviews available for more swatches and information. Thank you for RBR for providing me the new Long-lasting Duo Cream Shadow in Birdwing Beauteous and Brightening Eye Duo in Glacier Flower to recreate this beautiful make up look. Let's start!

Base make up

Here's my almost bare face. I mixed the Serene Light Skin Perfector with my usual RBR Milk Aquarelle foundation in Coconut Milk Parfait for a light-medium coverage. Serene Light is an odd one - I'm about to review this product, but haven't quite gasped if it's a primer, a foundation topper or what. It just makes your skin appear extra good, healthy and luminous. I dust a light layer of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light to set the make up and pinpoint conceal any blemishes with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-2.

I pencil my brows with RBR Alchemy Brow Liner in Trona, topping with some RBR brow mascara in Earthshine. Under eye concealer is a must for me, I've used the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla for years. It's pink undertone cancels out the purples of my under eye and inner corner area. I'm setting the concealer with Diaphanous loose powder and the Wayne Goss Air brush. I applied some RBR Tinted Luxe Balm in Pinch of Nude as my lip balm, letting it sink in while I work on the eyeshadow. Please ignore the color of my lips, I just had some coffee. Having a cup has become a part of my make up routine, I feel weird without having some.

Color make up

Time for the eyeshadow! In the original look a black kohl was used as a base, but I applied the cream shadow directly with the doe foot applicator, working one eye at the time. RBR Silk Aether cream shadows blend nicely with fingers, but achieve the wing shape I reached for my flat Hakuhodo BJ004S brush. I use the Kihitsu small eyeshadow brush to blend the edges - I want them to be smokey, messy and a bit grunge. Go for the kohl base if you want cleaner, less sparkly eyes. The Kihitsu brush diffuses the color without being too precise. Birdwing Beauteous cream shadow leaves a beautiful, almost oil slick finish while the sheerest layers are more powdery. I apply a couple of coats to get an opaque finish and pay attention to get the color as close to my lash line as possible. The pointy tip of Hakuhodo BJ004S is wonderful for this purpose.

I started adding the champagne shade directly with the applicator but quickly switched to Koyudo C001 to not get the doe foot dirty. I applied the shadow to my inner corners and blended to the black about 1/3 of my lid. I could have reached for a larger blender brush for this purpose, but in the end I let Koyudo C001 do the job. Seriously, if you're getting one pencil brush - get this! It's so good, firm but soft and precise. The contrast between the black and champagne shadows is strong but beautiful.

Finally I use the Brightening Eye Duo in Glacier Flower for my waterline. I didn't expect much from a pencil, but after trying it I fell hard in love. It applies perfectly creamy and smooth. I'm always looking for the perfect inner corner highlight and Glacier Flower is maybe my top 3! In the original look the pinky highlight shade is used for the inner corner, but I wanted mine to be more sparkly. I smudge the RBR brown eye kohl in 'Lola' for the lower lash line and apply two coats of the RBR Magnitude Mascara. It nicely defines and lengthens, but sometimes smudges on me at the end of the day.

Lastly I use the Original Skin Blush in Delicata to give some definition to my cheeks. It's one of my favorite blushes, a perfect 'contouring' blush for paler skin tones. I didn't have the lip products used in the original look so I went with a juicy cherry red named Relish of Heaven. The formula is moisturising and sheer, an easy to wear alternative to a strong red lipstick I no longer tend to wear.

Swatches

- Relish of Heaven lipstick: wet effect scarlet with sheer/medium opacity
- Delicata blush: a nude beige with a hint of rosy peach.
- Lola eye khol: chocolate brown with copper overtones
- Birdwing Beauteous duo cream eyeshadow: Gorgeous icy champagne shimmer and a black with blue shift and multi-colored micro glitter
- Glacier Flower brightening liner duo: pinky vanilla with subtle shimmer and white beige

Finished look

And here we are! I am very happy I decided to try the 'Rebel Princess Rhapsody' look, it was both fun and pretty easy to do. My make up isn't as dramatic as the original, but to me it's a lot as I rarely stray away from my usual neutral eyeshadows. I love the feline eye effect and how the 'wings' peek when I have my eyes open. Please leave me a comment if you enjoyed the style of this post as I'd love to do more! xx

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The Skin Perfector, Brightening Liner Duo, Long-lasting Brow Liner, Tinted Luxe Balm, Brow Expert Gel and Long-lasting Duo Cream Shadow provided courtesy of Rouge Bunny Rouge. As always, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. 

Happy 2017! I'm glad we're in the new year, but instead of being brisk, bright and prepared I'm having a mental post-holiday slump.. It's the 3rd of January and my energy and creativity just isn't here. All I want to do is binge watch detective series, nap and dream about treats instead of working on my projects, going to gym and starting the year on the right foot..

Let's talk about something more fun - any by fun I mean eyeshadow. Earlier last Fall while I was typing my review for RBR Antigo palette, I asked 'when can I get more of this?!'. Now Rouge Bunny Rouge delivers, they've now released another RAW GARDEN eyeshadow palette named Caliche. If you've never tried RBR eyeshadows before I urge you to read this post! 

RAW GARDEN: Caliche

As I've already reviewed Antigo, I won't babble too lengthy here but let the pictures do the talking. The palette has four shades seamlessly in one single pan, being on the cooler-neutral side compared to Antigo. Caliche retails 59€ for 7 g / 0.25 oz on Rouge Bunny Rouge's website. This palette was a also a price in my Holiday Giveaway, won by username Henna73. Congratulations!

The packaging

There's a beautiful zig-zag embossment on the powders. Despite all shades being in all in one big pan, I've had no issues to pick up individual colors with a brush. The palette has a magnetic closure, which feels secure enough I would travel with this palette. Beautiful, sleek and minimal.

Texture

It's my pleasure to tell you that RBR delivers in consistent quality and Caliche feels and performs as spectacular as it's warmer sister. I'm still blown away by this formula. It's silky, blends with no effort and feels ethereally light-weight on the skin. In the pan the shadows look matte, but they have a satin-matte finish on the lid with a slight sheen. I've seen a fair share of satin shades in my make up life, but not quite something as seamless as RBR. There isn't much excess powder kickoff, but the pan is quite soft to touch. I recommend only the softest brushes for this formula or you might pick up more product than you intended. I've experienced no fallout during the day and the longevity of RBR shadows are excellent. I have hooded (but non-oily) lids and I can wear Caliche easily +8 hours without creasing.

The formulation is high with dimethicone, a silicon based polymer, which to my understanding gives many powder products their silky nature. According to the RBR website the powder is also enriched with argan oil and encapsulated hyaluronic acid.

CALICHE - ANTIGO

By themselves Caliche and Antigo look rather neutral to me, but side-by-side they pull much cooler and warmer. Caliche has more pink and mauve undertones than Antigo, making it a bit softer and more feminine palette.

Swatches

- Pale pinky white
- Medium eggplant purple
- Greyish ash color
- Medium dark taupe grey brown

MAKE UP OF THE DAY

Eyeshadow look with Caliche: cream shade all over the lid as a base color and inner corner highlight. Mauve shade applied in a triangle shape in the outer V, taupe on the mobile lid, dark brown smudged in the lash line with RBR Lola eye kohl. With my hooded lids it's always hard to take photos of eyeshadow of looks, but similarly to my NYE look the V shape peeks from my outer corners when I have my eyes open.

Base: RBR Genesis primer, Milk Aquarelle foundation in Coconut Milk Parfait (review here), Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting powder in Light, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer. 
Brows: RBR Antimony brow pencil (review here) and Earthshine brow mascara. 
Blush: THREE 10 The Never Ending (review here) and lipstick Surratt Lipstique Hevyn.

Overall

Rouge Bunny Rouge Caliche palette exceeds expectations in its formula and performance. I wish the shades were a bit more different compared to Antigo, but one can easily justify having both palettes. I just can't get enough of this buttery soft satin formula and next I'd love to see a more bold, colorful palette in this formula. 

Have you tried the RAW GARDEN palettes or anything from Rouge Bunny Rouge?

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It's Winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and most of us struggle with the same problem every year: dry, chapped lips. I've skipped the whole matte liquid lipstick trend as my lips dry out even at a glance of them. Instead, I've been gravitating towards lip glosses (featuring my favorite formulas here) and creamy lipsticks (like SUQQU Creamy Glow Lipstick moist). Rouge Bunny Rouge's newish lip treatments, the Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP, are welcome addition to the line. I got two out of 3 colors sent to me and purchased the last one myself. Let's take a look!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Luxe Balm DAZZLING SIP

This product seems to me like a hybrid between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick. They're designed to bring volume and intense moisture back to the lips with anti-aging properties and a sheer wash of glossy color. The tubes are same as RBR signature lipstick packaging: black, sleek and reliable. The firmness and pointy shape of the balm also remain of their lipsticks. There are a total of 3 shades available and the balms retail 29€ for 3.5g/0.12oz.

Protection to the lips

Often with lip balms I feel they just coat the lips without getting into the fine cracks and lines of my lips. The comfort and protection remain as long as there is a 'coating' of a balm, and if you've ever been addicted to Vaseline or a lip balm you'll know what I mean. With RBR Tinted Luxe Balms I feel the balm 'sinks in' and gives an instant hydration to the lips. The texture is lightweight, non-sticky, more like a lightly creamy lipstick instead of a balmy salve. 

Ingredients

POLYBUTENE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, OLEIC/LINOLEIC/LINOLENIC POLYGLYCERIDES, CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX), POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX), MICA, AROMA (FLAVOR), HYDROXYMETHOXYPHENYL PROPYLMETHYLMETHOXYBENZOFURAN, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, TOCOPHEROL, [+/-] CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 15850 (RED 7 LAKE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) 

The bulk of the ingredients are viscosity controllers and various emollients, lastly some flavor and pigments. As RBR has high claims of the anti-aging properties of the product, I was expecting more plant extracts or natural oils in the list. The 5th ingredient (oleic polyglycerides) is sunflower oil, which moisturises intensively. Candelilla id a plant based wax for holding in moisture, improve skin texture and protection. The fragrance is very non-invasive, there is a light scent of dessert when you open the tube which won't linger around.

SWATCHES

Pinch of Nude, Sip of Pink and Specks of Cerise

Pinch of Nude

A luminous, transparent nude with specks of golden shimmer. The shimmer particles are like fine glitters, but fortunately barely visible on the lips. I often wear this shade as my lip treatment when starting on my make up routine to plump and hydrate my lips for any lipstick I decide to apply later.

Sip of Pink

A juicy light pink with a hint of peach undertones. The look is very soft and cute, a perfect shade to be used instead of a lipstick for a casual look or layered under a lip gloss. The easiest go-to shade to throw in a handbag! 

Specks of Cerise

Transparent, juicy cherry shade with cool purple undertones - like having eaten cherry clafoutis. If you love the RBR Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings, which is a bit more opaque cherry shade, I'm sure you'll love Specks of Cherise and the other way around.

Overall

If you're looking for a luxurious lip treatment for yourself or as a gift, these are a beautiful choice. If you prefer a bit more pigment yet almost equally moisturising lip product, I'd recommend the RBR Sheer Lipsticks over the Tinted Luxe Balms as they're priced the same. I've taken the anti-aging promises of Tinted Luxe Balms with a grain of salt as the ingredients list wasn't ground breaking. Saying that, I would prefer Rouge Bunny Rouge over Chanel, By Terry or other ridiculously expensive pot balms any time. The ease of use, instant moisturisation and long-lasting hydration are just what my lips need this season.

What's your favorite lip treatment? Edit: Get 20% off your Rouge Bunny Rouge purchase use the code  RBR-LAURALOUKOLA20 (non-affiliated) for your shopping basket! It should be valid until the end of the year.

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This post contains product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.

Last week was a hectic one, I'm sorry I couldn't post as much. It was my birthday week and I had some extra plans accompanied by some additional work and my studies. While I'm working on more comprehensive posts, I thought I'd casually share what I've been into lately. I love watching and reading monthly favorites posts and videos, but don't feel like I accumulate enough new items to do those updates myself. This could be my laid-back version of those, with some life updates.

Vitamin C serum

Not a new addition to my routine, but I've been very regular about using a Vitamin C product in my skincare. For more info why you should be using one too, please read my Vitamin C in Skincare 101 post here. This NIOD ELAN is a strong 30% L-Ascorbic Acid*, which I've been using about 3 months. I've used 1/2 this bottle so I presume it'll last me another good 2-3 months. My pigmentation has nicely lightened and my complexion looks even and bright. Proper review will come soon!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder + Chikuhodo Sakura

When I first started using this powder I found it difficult to detect any difference in my skin. I expected more divided reviews online, but could be the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder won over the hearts of beauty addicts like it did mine. I use shade Diffused Light as a setting/finishing powder with my Chikuhodo x Beautylish Sakura Collection 2015 Powder Brush for a subtle glow. I find my other powder products blend better when there's a light dusting of powder on the top of my foundation. The Sakura powder brush has a nice angled shape and gets easily in every part of the face.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Luxe Balms

I've been keeping the Pinch of Nude* shade on my table and applied liberally in the mornings while doing my make up or in the evening before going to sleep. I love the instant hydration and plumpness it gives to my lips with a shiny finish. Full review and swatches here.

Luxe botanics Marula Hydrating serum

During the colder windy Winter months the dryness (and ageing, sigh) accentuates my fine lines, which I'm trying to treat and plump with retinols and added hydration. I was gifted the Luxe Botanics Discovery Kit* some time ago and decided to give the Marula Serum a try. This serum-oil instantly treats and nourishes the skin, leaving it plump and supple. I have high hopes of this line and looking forward to purchase the full size.

pH Meter

Ever since I battled with acne I've been very into skin health and I'm now working on a blog post about the acid mantle. As a nerdy person I felt the need to test the pH of my cleansers. Stay tuned for more!

Ouai hair oil

This hair oil is both nourishing and gives my hair a nice glow, doubling as a heat protectant. The floral scent is quite intense (love it or hate it) and liberal use of this oil can make my hair look greasy. So far I'm enjoying Ouai products, but haven't totally made up my mind yet.

SUQQU Dual-ended eye liner

I haven't been wearing a catliner for a while, but I like to "stamp" my upper lash line with a sharp liquid liner. This thin line of brown or black makes my eyes look framed and lashes fuller without looking too harsh or intense. The SUQQU liner wears beautifully and you have the option to use either color!

Get Giddy solid hand bar

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know I'm hooked in my climbing hobby. Protective calluses haven't properly formed yet and my hands have been extra sore, rough and even bloody after bouldering sessions. I wanted a climbing salve to treat the hands while keeping them rough. I rub Giddy's har hand bar in evenings and wake up with healthier hands.

I did a little bit of damage to my wallet for my birthday and on Black Friday: some bits and bobs from Cult Beauty, Deciem and Rouge Bunny Rouge. I wasn't planing to purchase much but the latter two had massive savings on selected items. I'll be showing and reviewing those items for you as the parcels roll in. What're you into right now?

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This post contains *product(s) that were generously provided for consideration. Regardless, my opinions are my own honest and unbiased views. The links are for your convenience and do not contain ads.