Yesterday the winners of Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2021 were announced!! I’ve had the utmost pleasure to work with the Awards this year and I gotta admit I was very emotionally invested to see which products would win. Here is the list of the 2021 Nominees and the WINNERS!!
My Thoughts on The Winners
First and foremost, big congratulations to all the winners on my part! I trust it must have been a tough competition with some of the categories, such as ‘Hydration’ and ‘Deep Hydration’, which included facial oils, serums, and night care for example. Secondly, I can’t emphasize enough that everyone did an amazing job – I could see and sense all of the Nominees were produced with passion and care for natural cosmetics.
Not going to lie, when I saw the list of the winners I felt like I had an emotional rollercoaster inside. I had the pleasure to write about the products, Nordic beauty, as well as do some product shots for the Awards, so I’ve touched each of the Nominees and tested with as many as I could. If you know me, you know I’m a very sensitive person. I can get emotionally involved with many projects I work with closely. I was literally watching on the edge of my seat while waiting for the winners to be announced. I can’t imagine how tough it must have been for the brand owners, formulators, and teams in general.
When it comes to skincare, my favorite categories tend to be toners, facia balms and SPF, but I also adore masks and facial oils. This year there was no sun protection category, but maybe in 2022? In the case of Nordic Natural Beauty Awards Nominees 2021, my personal favorite categories were Deep Hydration and Body Cleansing. I discovered some amazing new-to-me products, but also brands I had not heard of before.
I expected a couple of my personal favorites to be in the winners’ category, but in the end, were not chosen by the Nordic Beauty Jury. I think this highlights my earlier point the competition probably was tough, and there are many excellent products produced in the Nordic Countries.
More About The Awards
If you produce 100% natural cosmetics in the Nordic countries, you can now pre-register for the 3rd edition (2022) here!!! Also, if you’re a fan of eco-beauty, natural cosmetics, or the Nordic countries, make sure to follow the Awards’ Instagram and check out the Nordic Natural Beauty Podcast.
Thanks for reading! Please come hang out with me on Instagram, we can discuss more on our favorite Awards Nominees/Winners!
*This post contains affiliate links to support this blog! Thank you if you choose to use them.
In October Dossier (aka my monthly roundup of favorites) I have a lot of makeup to share! It was a very, very good month makeup-wise. I have other products I wanted to share, but to keep these Dossier posts concise, I’ll leave out some products for future posts.
Glow&Play Set: My first ever makeup set is sold on Biodelly!!! It contains 3 of my favorite products for glowing, sculpting, and playing with makeup: Zuii Organic Luminising Crème in Galaxy, Lily Lolo Sculpt&Glow palette and HAVU recyclable lipstick in Cranberry. All these 3 products are multi-use, eco-friendly natural makeup! The box also has my original artwork card inside! Use the code GLOWPLAY for -20% off. (Psst, I do not get a commission for the sales, I’m genuinely excited for this launch!!). Available here!
Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2021: The winners of 2021 were announced at the end of October. I’ve worked with the Awards for over a year now and I’m happy to see them grow and flourish with the featured brands! The winner products are super exciting, I hope to do individual reviews of my favorites. Read my 1st impressions of the winners here.
New tattoos: My tattoo sleeve project continues! My hand is still healing so no pictures, but I want to give a shoutout to my wonderful tattoo artist, Maija Ovaskainen. She’s not only talented with an eye for aesthetics, but also a lovely and fun person. I’ve been caring for my new ink with this aftercare cream by Laboratoires de Biarritz, which is nicely moisturizing, layers well but doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. Available here. (Note: always follow the care instructors by your tattoo artist!)
Byredo lipstick in Reunion: My curiosity for Byredo’s makeup line sparked when I saw Lexi Jong’s review and at the same time the range came available at KICKS. The lipstick is breathtaking in person. I love the Scandi cool aesthetic and heavy metal lipstick case. Reunion is the perfect muted brick red for everyday and special occasions. Looks very pretty paired with Lisa Eldridge Lip Liner in Dragon! Lipstick available here, lip liner here.
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation: Speaking of Lisa Eldridge, I got sample sachets of her Seamless Skin foundation with my lip liner order. I truly fell in love with this light-to-light-medium coverage foundation as it spread effortlessly and truly looked like my skin – only perfected. I’m rushing to purchase this asap. I also loved my shade match, which is 2 btw. Available here.
SUVA Prime+Paint eye primer: My new favorite eyeshadow primer as it cancels out my lid color (redness, veins, staining from eyeshadow, etc.) for a “clear canvas” as well as holds my eyeshadow in place. Comes in 3 shades (black, white, medium beige). Available on nobe beauty.
Self-Care: I love the idea of regular morning gua sha, but I still haven’t managed to make it a routine. I tend to gravitate towards designated self-care routines in the evenings when I want to relax: first, double cleanse with care, apply a lovely facial oil, then perform a massage for the nape of my neck, neck, jawline and lastly for the rest of my face. It’s not only good for your skin but very relaxing and mindful me-time. My favorite is the LAHJA tool by Yin your skin.
Audio: If I haven’t been looping Grimes Miss Anthropocene album or the rave edition, I’ve been binge-listening the archives of Maintenance Phase. It’s a podcast about diet and wellness but debunked. I love to listen to the two hosts, Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbs, joke around while decoding the topics with science and research.
Activity: Dancing in the kitchen, preferably listening to the albums mentioned above.
*Sponsored post with House of Organic. The post contains affiliate links to support this blog. Thank you if you choose to use them!
Winter is coming – want or not! I’ve already seen the first glimpses of snow in Helsinki. Even if I’m hibernating at home, I want glowing, supple skin all year round. For today’s post, I’ve selected a complete routine of products for glowing skin, but feel free to cherry-pick whatever suits your current interest and needs. There are some new upcoming favorites as well as amazing classics, enjoy! Everything is on sale on House of Organic during this week!
House of Organic Eco Beauty Sale Info
House of Organic’s bi-annual Eco Beauty Sale starts today and runs until Sunday 14th of November! I think the timing is great if you need to update your seasonal skincare and makeup cabinet or perhaps shop for early holiday gifts. View the full catalog (in Finnish) here!
Please pay attention that the discounted items vary daily (as long as stock last)! You can place multiple orders, they will be combined automatically. Remember to use the code YHDISTÄ to get free shipping to all of your orders! The delivery will start on Mon 15th of Nov. Many thanks to House of Organic for partnering up with me again! I love to create skincare posts and share my favorites from their massive range.
How to Get Glowing Skin – Quick
Here’s my “quick fix” list for a glowing complexion. You don’t necessarily need to have a very long, multi-step skincare routine, but pay attention if you are lacking something on this list:
Proper cleansing
Gentle chemical exfoliation
Vitamin C
Amping up the hydration
Gua sha facial massage
Daily protection against UV rays
Plus a bonus at the end!
If you find some cleansing products too drying and stripping, you may enjoy gentle cleansing milk such as Kora Organics’ new Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil. This dual-phase cleansing milk works like some eye makeup removers: you shake it to mix water and oil-based ingredients, then massage on a damp face. The base of this cleanser is aloe vera leaf juice and sunflower seed oil, so it won’t leave your skin feeling compromised. If you need a more hard-core makeup, dirt, and sunscreen remover my long-time Holy Grail favorite is Whamisa Cleansing Oil. You can combine the two during evenings for a thorough cleanse!
Whamisa recently extended their super popular Fresh Cactus range with Moisturizing & Purifying Toner and Soothing & Lifting Prickly Pear Mask! The star ingredient is Opuntia Ficus-Indica aka Barbary fig or prickly pear cactus. This cactus is like a “superfood” for your skin, and has soothing, replenishing, and nourishing properties. At the same time, this range gently retextures the skin, clears the complexion and balances sebum levels with anti-inflammatory properties. I’ve tested these items for a couple of weeks and I find them very promising. The mask does “pack a punch”, but the products won’t leave my skin feeling irritated like some chemical exfoliators.
Vitamin C is my favorite antioxidant for the skin as it “does it all”: not only does it lighten existing pigmentation (sun damage, acne scars, pigment spots), but also protects the skin from external stressors and damage (UV radiation, pollution, etc.). Novexpert makes excellent serums, and their skincare is very research and science-backed. As I’ve said before, this Booster with Vitamin C is like freshly squeezed OJ for your skin. Read more about the benefits of Vitamin C my earlier post.
For proper glow, you also need to pay attention to your skin’s hydration and moisture levels. For me, the easiest way is to use a humectant toner or serum and layer it with an occlusive cream. Novexpert Serum Booster with Hyaluronic Acid is an excellent hydrating cocktail for very thirsty skin. Whamisa Water Cream is as the name says - very lightweight in texture, but it gives a lot of hydration. If you’re not a fan of gel moisturizers but want something lightweight and easy to layer, I can happily recommend this cream. It gets bonus points for a high amount of licorice root extract, which is excellent for brightening the skin!
Gua sha is an ancient Chinese healing and massage (actually scraping) technique, which has many beautifying benefits when done gently at home. It stimulates circulation, decreases puffiness, softens the appearance of fine lines, releases tightness, etc… I promise I will do a full article on cosmetic gua sha asap! It’s also a beautiful way to practice self-care and self-awareness while bringing back the glow to your face. Since versatile, high-quality tools and oils are quite expensive, but if you’re thinking seriously about trying gua sha or looking for an amazing gift: Yin Your Skin Essentials kit is on a special sale on Sunday. It has the beautiful Sileä facial oil, Jalo Advanced gua sha tool and Niva gua sha spoon.
For general massages, I’m loving Moi Forest Multipurpose Cream. This organic, nourishing cream also has science-backed “forest dust”, which can boost your skin microbiome when used topically! I’ve written about the benefits of nature for self-care, but this cream is a must-have for urban people like me who don’t go outdoors enough. The cream leaves your skin a bit greyish (because of the forest dust), but don’t wash it off!
If you want to take care of your skin, please remember proper protection! One of my top favorite sunscreens of all time Alga Maris SPF50 is now available in a limited edition supersize for an excellent price. This is nicely moisturizing, long-lasting and wears beautifully under makeup with no pilling. Physical/mineral sunscreen always leaves some white cast, so apply it in layers or massage it in properly. More sunscreen posts here.
Bonus Glow Points
To glow inside-out I can highly suggest YOU & OIL Feminine Lubricant-Moisturizer OMG - YES!, which is has a lovely light, non-tacky texture. Just like the name suggests, it works lovely as an intimate moisturizer, but also as a non-messy lube. Idk why it says feminine in the title, I’m positive you can use it regardless sex or gender identity.
For outer glow: Joik candles are finally available in Finland! I used to purchase these during Tallinn trips, I’m so happy their range is now easily available here. I’ve been burning my new Lily of the valley candle several times and the scent throw is excellent, but not sickly sweet or “too intense”. The fresh floral scent of the lily of the valley makes me instantly think of summer, which is very welcome during this dark and gloomy season. The candle also has a very clean burn if you trim the wick, no nesting!
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post! x
*Sponsored post nobe beauty. This post contains ad links to support this blog. Thanks, if you use them!
Understanding color theory is fundamental knowledge for makeup artists, but also very useful for anyone who wants to play and experiment with makeup. I’m not a makeup pro myself, but as a visual artist, I believe understanding and recognizing color is just as essential as technique.
In today’s post, I’m talking about the basics of color theory while showing you some real-life examples with SUVA makeup. When I saw their newest rainbow palette I knew I had to do a post discussing color theory. Many thanks to nobe beauty for collaborating with me for this post! It’s a vast topic, so I did my best to be concise and useful. If you ever found color theory confusing or boring at school, I hope this post changes your mind!
Benefits of Understanding Color Theory
Mix and match your own colors, such as blushes, eyeshadows, foundations, etc.
Understand how contour, highlight and color-correcting works
Find the colors that best compliment your unique features and aesthetics
Create endless looks with less stress and mistakes
Fundamentals: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colors
(a) Primary colors are red, yellow and blue.
Using the primary colors you can mix pretty much any other color in the spectrum – except for white and a perfect black.
Brown is created by mixing all three primary colors. You can create different shades of brown by mixing the primary colors in varying proportions.
(b) Secondary colors are orange, green and violet. They’re made by mixing equal amounts of two primary colors.
Tertiary colors are made by mixing one primary color equally with one of its neighboring secondary colors. For example, mixing red with orange creates a red-orange. Blue and purple create blue-purple, and so on.
The names of tertiary colors can vary a lot, so be careful!
Value tells us how receding a color is: this is a technique to add dimension to makeup. Our eyes are more drawn to light colors (high in value), so those are excellent for highlighting. Dark colors (lower in value) are great for contouring and shading.
Pastels are created by mixing a high value (lightness) with medium-low saturation. Example: lots of white with a primary or secondary color.
As you may notice, makeup palettes rarely use exact primary colors: here the yellow is quite warm, almost an orange-yellow (which would be a tertiary color). Having mostly warm-leaning rainbow shades in a palette makes it more cohesive and easy to use.
While I’ve used SUVA Beauty We Make Rainbows Jealous Collection the most for my colorful eyeliner, I think the UV Primaries palette is the most versatile mixing-wise. UV Taffies pull quite neon, which is a bit harder to mix. It depends on your taste, skill, size of your makeup bag (We Make Rainbows Jealous colors are easy to carry separately). Read more about SUVA Hydra FX products in this post.
Understanding Color Temperature: Cool and Warm Colors
On the color wheel, colors are divided into warm and cool.
Warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Cool colors are blue, violet and green.
Warm colors register more quickly to people – our eyes notice warm colors first and they stand out more (think of driving and warning signs).
Cool colors meet the eye more slowly, they are receding and great for creating shading.
White, grey and black are considered neutral colors.
Since makeup (such as eyeshadows) is usually mixed with several colors, it’s important to recognize the undertones. For example, yellow on the color wheel is labeled as warm, but if you mix blue-green and perhaps white with yellow you get lemon yellow, which would be considered cool.
Since most makeup products have translucency to them, layering a white or black base underneath an eyeshadow can emphasize the color/shimmer.
Color Combining for Makeup
Complementary colors: Each color has a complementary color – the one that’s opposite on the color wheel. For example, yellow and purple are opposite each other, therefore, are complementary. These colors create strong and vibrant contrasts.
When complementary colors are mixed, they can sometimes turn muddy: mixing equal portions cancels each other out, producing grey. Rarely eyeshadows are primary colors, so blending them together can turn brownish.
Complementary colors can be used in color correction: for example, you can use a touch of green primer to neutralize redness or an orange/pink-based concealer to neutralize dark under-eye circles.
Harmonizing colors are colors that share one primary color: for example red, red-orange and orange.
Harmonizing colors usually blend easily each to each other, creating harmonious looks. For an easy makeup look: combine harmonious colors on eyes/cheeks or cheeks/lips.
Colors have a mass tone and undertone: the mass tone is the color you directly see (for example, your skin is brown). The undertone may be less apparent, especially in white and neutral colors (for example, your skin can have a cool, warm, neutral, olive undertone).
You can train your eye to see undertones by comparing colors from the same color range.
Pay attention to skin tone and eye color when first practicing color combinations. Depending on the skin’s undertone, cool/warm colors can make the skin tone “glow”, while using contrasting colors for eyes make your eye color ‘pop’.
Play with color, pigmentation, undertone and value (white to black) and you can create infinite looks!
Left: Harmonious eyeshadow combination (blue + blue-violet + violet) Middle: Complementary colors (yellow + purple) blended together with warm orange. Right: A challenging color combination using only secondary colors.
I want to point out while there is theory how to mix, use and blend colors – there are no rules how to wear them!
*Sponsored post with Biodelly. This post contains ad links to support this blog. Thank you, if you choose to use them!
This post is in a partnership with Biodelly! I’m so happy I get to be their Brand Ambassador and pitch my own ideas. Black Friday is a great chance to stock up on beauty products you use up frequently, but I didn’t want to do a traditional sale shopping recommendations post. My theme this time is holiday gifts around the Five Love Languages.
Five Love Languages discusses showing affection and love depending on personality types. I haven’t read the book, but just like personality types and quizzes, I think the 5 love languages are a fun way to think about how you show and want to receive affection. Knowing someone’s love language can help to improve your relationship communication. I assume someone can have several love languages or they can vary whether you’re showing or receiving the affection yourself. Anyway, I’ve gathered conscious gift ideas around these 5 themes: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service and physical touch.
Enjoy -25% off site-wide on Biodelly until 28th of Nov!!!
Words of affirmation
Showing affection through the spoken word: kind words, encouragement, notes, quotes, etc. Perhaps write a traditional letter or a card, or find a beautiful typography poster. I also love written acknowledgments when I receive a book or a printed item. Try Women in Business inspirational cards or Elävä Iho book by Maria Varon! The former are beautiful, illustrated cards that empower women while the latter is an excellent eco-beauty book (in Finnish) for skincare nerds!
Quality time
Being present is the most important for someone who appreciates quality time. Try a gift you can share together, such as a gift card to an event, experience, or a delicious meal. I think sharing a common hobby or a course makes a sweet gift! Try art supplies, online courses or perhaps a crafts workshop. I also suggest gifting something you can attach to a quality time, such as a scent or fragrance. You can also craft a personalized kit for quality time: such as snacks, a movie, a candle, and a face mask. For your lover, you can also gift adult toys, such asJe Joue Mimi Soft vibrator (latex and phthalates free, vegan!).
Giving gifts
Someone who enjoys receiving gifts doesn’t only treasure the physical item but the time, effort and thought the gift-giver put into it. The gift(s) don’t necessarily need to be lavish, but something that shows you really know and thought of them. For a beauty enthusiast, I suggest a luxurious eco beauty lipstick from Und Gretel or HAVU Cosmetics. I love both, but especially HAVU since their lipstick packaging is completely biodegradable. For someone who battles with chapped lips or has “a lip balm addiction”, maybe try HAVU Natural Lip Care Set (includes a lip scrub, mask and balm)? I also suggest beautiful and deeply hydrating Whamisa Deep Rich Mistand my Glow & Play Makeup kit! Glow & Play is a curated makeup kit for someone who enjoys makeup and wants add shape and color to the face in an easy, effortless way (+comes with my exclusive illustration!).
Physical touch
Someone who enjoys physical touch could potentially enjoy body products (and applying them together!). Take a bath or go to a sauna together. Estonian JOIK makes amazing body scrubs that not only polish the skin but retain moisture with natural oils. Try JOIK Organic Sweet Orange & Mint Sugar Scrub! I love giving massages to my partner (sometimes to my friends too), so instead of gifting a professional massage maybe craft a gift card to 3 massages by you and attach it to a massage oil and body moisturizer. Gua sha is my other favorite! I love doing it to myself, but also to my partner, so maybe a gua sha tool and a great quality facial oil could be a potential gift? Yin Your Skin Essentials comes with Sileä facial oil, Jade Pro gua sha and Niva spoon, if you really want to invest in your gift! For a simple, but luxurious looking gift: Hetkinen Hand balm with Birch and Peppermint is di-vi-ne.
Acts of service
These can be anything that elevates the daily workload, small uplifting gestures. For a skincare lover (or newbie!), you could choose a simple routine or parts of a skincare routine. Moi Forest Multipurpose Cream is not only skin-softening and pampering but has research-based “forest dust” that boosts the skin microbiome. If someone is very urban and busy, this could be an addition to their daily dose of nature! I personally enjoy convenient gifts that are also decorative, such as Hetkinen soap ball and soap dish or any Patyka shower gel.
Thank you for reading! Have a happy Friday, weekend, and spend mindfully (if you’re shopping)! x
*This post contains affiliate links to support this blog. Gifted items are marked with an asterisk.
Last-minute genuine gift ideas for your beauty-loving friend, family member, colleague, or – yourself. Everything is tried, tested and loved by yours truly. Gift-giving is one of my 5 love languages, so I worked long and hard on this list (thus, a late posting date... sorry!). I hope these picks still bring you ideas or inspiration. If you’ve already sorted with holiday gifts, maybe check these out during New Year’s sales?
Enjoy!
For Makeup Lovers
Westman Atelier Clean Glow Trio - Westman Atelier’s best-selling cheek sticks in mini size. Each set comes with a contour/bronzer, highlighter and a blush. They feel substantial and luxurious for mini-size (3g/.1oz). Great way to try the brand and several shades! Sets are available for both fair and deep skin tones.
HAVU Lipsticks* - lovely Finnish small business that created the world’s 1st 100% biodegradable lipstick: the case is wood and the inner case/refill is biodegradable “plastic”. Available in multiple lovely shades (I personally love Raspberry, Cranberry and Lily). HAVU lipsticks are also refillable. Conscious and beautiful gift idea!
HAVU Lipstick Lab- gift an experience to your beauty-loving friend. In HAVU Lipstick Lab you get to mix and match your dream lipstick shade from pigments, see it molded and take it home. Fun, exciting and leaves a great memory.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask* - Best-selling lip balm and for a good reason. This balm gently coats your lips, moisturizes, but doesn’t feel gloopy/sticky. Available in nice subtle scents such as Sweet Candy, Grapefruit and Lemon Sorbet. Excellent mini gift!
Frank Body Marshmallow Lip Duo* - I love Frank Body’s lip scrubs. The limited edition marshmallow scrub is excellent and I really enjoy the lip tint as a balm. Good stocking stuffer or a small gift that comes in handy for anyone with dry lips!
For Candle Connoisseurs
Earl of East Onsen Candle- the candle that transforms you to Japan. This candle is reasonably priced and perfect for someone who misses travel or enjoys bathing. The scent is relaxing, has a good throw, but is not overwhelming.
Kaurilan Sauna Beeswax Candles*- beautiful hand-made Finnish beeswax candles. This beeswax is a by-product of honey production and doesn’t harm the bees. They burn beautifully and are available in several colors. I personally love the hot pink!
MYYS Boutique Candles*- Finnish small business that hand-makes divine scented candles. 100% soy wax. These also burn very clean, filling the room with exquisite (but not overpowering) fragrance. Try Mökki or Delightful!
For Beauty Tool Addicts
Yin Your Skin HELMI Gua sha tool* - if someone is really into gua sha: this is the perfect, luxurious gift. HELMI gua sha massage tool is unique, effective, perfect for treating the face as well as décolleté.
House of Lashes Lash Essentials Kit* - true makeup lover’s dream. Someone who loves glam or alternatively is interested in glamming up but doesn’t have the right or fresh tools: this kit has you covered. Comes with lashes, tools, glue - all you need! House of Lashes products are reusable and of very good quality. Pair with House of Lashes Lash Story Wanderlust*travel case and fill it with the lash styles of choice.
MILU Facial Massage Tool* - this vibrating tool is relaxing and fun to use for facial massage. Personally, I like to use this to treat puffiness in the mornings or for relaxing in the evenings after face masking. Combine with a couple of sheet masks and you have a lovely gift!
Beauty Blender Signature Blend Set* - coffee or ice cream or both? This 5-in-1 set comes with two Beauty Blenders (original and LE color ‘tiramisu’), stand, soap, and silicone cleansing matt. The packaging is very cute and comes in handy for any makeup lover!
GHD Desire Style Gift Set* - great gift for anyone who heat styles their hair. GHD makes excellent tools, but their hair treatment products are also high quality. This heat-protecting spray comes with a festive emerald scrunchie and pouch.
Other Genuinely Beautiful Gift Ideas
ALUNA Bracelet- ALUNA jewelry is hand-woven by ancestral peoples from Colombia. The jewelry is not only gorgeous but sustainably made and socially responsible. I can’t recommend ALUNA enough!
SPARV Accessories* - lovely small business from Sweden that makes reasonably priced, chic and dainty jewelry. One of my go-to pairs of earrings is from SPARV!
Venner Plant-Based Food Boxes* - you can purchase food for a loved one and donate to charity at the same time. On the website you can also directly donate a meal box to a family in need.
*Sponsored post with nobe beauty. This post uses affiliate links, thanks if you use them!
Nowadays the makeup market is very saturated, it’s rare to find something new and exciting I haven’t encountered before. I review only a limited amount of brands on my blog, I keep a very close eye on the international high end/luxury makeup releases via social media. Just like fashion, many of those releases seem to come in waves and are sometimes repetitive. It’s not a bad thing, but how many times can you get excited about a new shade of cream blush? (OK… I can, but you see my point??)
About a year or two ago I decided to find out more about indie makeup and working with nobe beauty has made it easier than I ever imagined. nobe beauty doesn’t only stock household names like the Beauty Blender, but also a curated selection of smaller brands that are fun, exciting and excellent in performance. Today I’m introducing you to Karla Cosmetics! Enjoy!
About Karla Cosmetics
Founded by award-winning make-up artist Karla Powell, Karla Cosmetics is a UK-based indie makeup brand that focuses on eyeshadows, especially duochrome and multichrome pigments. She founded her brand in 2013, but Karla’s breakthrough was in 2018 when Fix Potion was released. Their brand is cruelty-free, vegan and hand-crafted in the UK. Read the full brand story here.
I had seen some stunning makeup images using Karla Cosmetics on social media and when I saw a teaser picture on nobe beauty’s Instagram I was ecstatic from joy! As you know, with Brexit and all it’s begun increasingly hard to shop from the UK if you’re based somewhere in the EU. Being able to shop Karla on nobe beauty makes things much easier for at least Finnish consumers.
Karla Cosmetics Review
Standout products:
Fix Potion: Lightweight, clear gel that acts as an eyeshadow base for the loose pigment shadows. It’s like a mixing medium but doesn’t affect the look of the makeup (such as powder eyeshadows) underneath. It has a light grip without leaving your skin tacky or sticky whatsoever. With this base, Karla’s loose pigment shadows hold +10h on my hooded lids without creasing or fading! If you mix your pigments and Fix Potion properly, there’s also minimal to zero fallout, which I find astonishing. I personally can’t stand fallout from my products, so this is an amazing plus!
Loose Multicrome and Duocrome Pigments: Unique, color-shifting, beautiful eyeshadow pigments. Don’t think about chunky, old loose glitters, but finely milled powder pigments. Their multichromes can change up to 4 colors as the light hits the shadow from different angles. They come securely packed in small plastic pots with an additional, sturdy lid on the inside. The opening inside the jar is much smaller than the lid, so you can control the amount of pigment you’re using. Using any loose shadow can be messy, but using Karla’s pigments with Fix Potion is surprisingly easy, fuss-free and lots of fun! If I’m mixing the pigment with Fix Potion vs dabbing pigment straight on my eyelid I rarely get that dreaded fallout.
Multichrome Pressed Eyeshadows: Since I found the loose pigments so amazing, I had my doubts about the pressed shadows, but I’m happy to report that the one I’ve tried is very nice. Soft, pigmented, no fallout, and has a similar shift to its loose counterpart, but lacks some of the ‘wet look’ you can achieve only with pigments+mixing medium. If you’re intimidated by using a pigment or want a more travel-friendly version of your favorite shade, go for it!
Shadow Potions: Readily mixed version of Fix Potion and loose pigments. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of this product as I was already in love with mixing eyeshadows myself. Shadow Potions feel ‘wetter’ to me than my ideal concoction of Fix Potion+pigment, but if you have trouble in mixing, blending or need more work time with your eyeshadows in general, this could be an option for you. I’ve tested only one shade, but from what I’ve seen online they seem to perform similarly.
How To Use Karla Cosmetics Fix Potion and Loose Pigments
Take about the size of a rice grain of Fix Potion and put it on a palette. I’m using a small watercolor palette, but any flat surface, such as a mirror, will do!
Unscrew the lid of your loose pigment, carefully push inside the cap open and gently tap out some pigment. I like to use about the same amount of pigment as Fix Potion (1:1 ratio), as I like very pigmented, almost paste-like consistency. Test and experiment to find your favorite ratio!
For texture showcasing purposes, I mixed with a spatula, but when I do my makeup I use a flat synthetic shader brush for both mixing and applying.
Swipe or dab the ready eyeshadow on your lid! As you can see on the swatch, I like a lot of sparkle and pigmentation.
Tip: Also try and experiment applying Fix Potion directly on your eyelid, lips, etc. as your base and gently pat the pigment on with your finger.
*Sponsored post nobe beauty. Products gifted. This post contains affiliate links to support this blog. Thank you if you choose to use them!
Today I’m reviewing a new-to-me indie makeup brand: Made by Mitchell! I received a few of his key makeup items for review, which I’ve now comprehensively used, tried, and tested. I’m happy to swatch everything I have as well as share my thoughts on Mitchell’s eyeshadow, cream blush, and liquid eyeliner formula.
I’m happy to share this post is created in a partnership with nobe beauty. It’s a pleasure to be working with one of my favorite beauty retailers: their selection is well-curated with interesting indie brands, K-beauty, and high-quality staples (such as Beauty Blender and House of Lashes). Many thanks and now – enjoy the review!
About Made by Mitchell
Mitchell Halliday aka @mmmmitchell is a British Makeup Artist, TV personality and influencer with over 1.1m followers on Instagram. His style is creative, glamorous with a lot of color and fun. Before founding his own brand, Mitchell had done several makeup collaborations and learned what works and doesn’t – “And, most of all, what is needed”, he says. Made by Mitchell was in the works for four years before its launch in 2020. Right now the brand is focused on color makeup: pigmented blushers, colorful eyeliners, eyeshadows, and makeup tools.
Made by Mitchell Blursh Cream Blush Review
€21,90 for 6ml of product. Available at nobe beauty. Blushes: available in 11 shades + white mixer Contour/bronzers: available in 8 shades
I was completely unfamiliar with Mitchell’s artistry, career, style, and popularity before testing his products. I feel unbiased and my review is completely honest (as always – despite doing sponsored content or not). My first impression was that the packaging and makeup style is very loud and colorful. I do love color, but I also love chic luxurious aesthetics so I wasn’t initially drawn to the neon yellow-green packaging. However, the products stand out in my kit and they’re very clearly labeled, which is very nice when I’m looking for a certain shade or product. The neon green/yellow is growing on me.
Made by Mitchell has a large range of cream blush + contour/bronzers called ‘Blursh’ (slang for blush?) that range from pale beige and light peach to deep ebony, vivid pink and orange. They come in a medium-large tube packaging with a doe-foot applicator, which I personally enjoy a lot: it makes the product placement more precise and is especially nice when doing contour. I found my contour shade medium pigmented and easy to blend, but the blushes do pack a punch: you only need a tiny bit of product. Use a light hand and dab only about 2 dots on your cheek, working one side at a time. I love that I can mix and match my own shades on the back of my hand and also adjust the lightness with a white mixer shade.
I saw one fellow Finnish influencer criticizing that the Blursh pigmentation is too strong (and thus difficult to use), but I say that Mitchell has been smart and thought about inclusivity. We NEED more contour/bronzer colors for deeper skin tones, as well as pigmented, punchy blush shades that are visible on darker complexions. I cannot talk on behalf of POC, but I think that Mitchell’s 8 bronzer/contour shades are a step in the right direction.
Made By Mitchell Graph-ink Liquid Liner Review
€18,90 for 6ml of product. Available at nobe beauty.
These liquid liners come in a classic bottle with a foam-like nib applicator. The colors are fun, ranging from cotton candy pink to pastels to classic brown, black and white. If only the applicator had been a brush I would’ve scored these higher, but it’s a personal preference: using a nib applicator may be easier to control. Very good and fairly priced liners. I haven’t noticed crumbling or fading while wearing these, but if you curl your lashes after eyeliner (like I do) you may need a quick touchup. Just looking at these liners makes me inspired, which is great!
Made By Mitchell Blursh and Liner Swatches
Cow Lick is a vivid hot pink with a lot of pigment Shy Boy is a medium tan orange Holo There is a light cool-toned beige, perfect for contouring pale skin
Sugar Rush is a fun bright yellow shade Bubbles is a light, white-based baby blue Candy Man is a classic light pink with a white base
Made By Mitchell Do You Want Some Milk? Palette Review
As a big fan of eyeshadow quads I always expected I wouldn’t enjoy palettes, but Do You Want Some Milk? doesn’t feel too enormous at all. It has a beautiful selection of warm neutrals, a couple of pastels, muted/earthy greens with vivid pops of color. The shades are pigmented, easy-to-blend and soft: there’s some kickback when you pick the shadows with a brush, so be mindful about not pressing too hard. I would describe the texture as more smooth and creamy instead of powdery.
Only 1-2 shades that are a bit on the drier side, such as the eggplant purple, but they still blend and work very beautifully. Purples are commonly difficult to formulate, but this purple is still far from being chalky or patchy on my maturing eyelids. I only wish there were a couple more dark shades, such as one very deep brown or/and a black to add more drama to the looks. Now I’m relying on the deep purple to create more depth, but then again most eyeshadow lovers already own a black in other palettes.
I’m so happy this palette is mostly matte as many eyeshadow brands rely on shimmers and glitter. The shimmer shades of Do You Want Some Milk? palette mostly performs beautifully, as they’re smooth and pigmented – but very softly pressed, just like the mattes. To avoid fallout I recommend tapping off any excess color or wetting your brush before pressing the color on the lid. Only the peachy-gold shimmer shade kept giving me trouble and fallout, so if that’s an issue to you maybe do your eye makeup first?
I can highly recommend this palette to a variety of makeup lovers. I’m sure that this color scheme and formula please die-hard eyeshadow lovers as well as beginners or someone who wants to experiment with some color without sacrificing the everyday brown color scheme.
Made By Mitchell Do You Want Some Milk? Palette Swatches
Final Thoughts
Made by Mitchell doesn’t offer just bold, “Instagram-friendly” makeup, but a very good line with fun, easy-to-use, and interesting products. The colors are inspiring, captivating, and fun, but also offer inclusivity and perform well for everyday purposes. Although I did nitpick 1 single(!) eyeshadow texture, I’ve been reaching for these products and enjoying them a lot!
My favorite is definitely Do You Want Some Milk? eyeshadow palette, but I’m also loving Blursh Cream Contour in Holo There, which is cool and light enough for my pale skin without looking ashy. No doubt I will get tons of use out of Milk Mixer too!
This is a brand to keep a close eye on, I’m hopeful they will extend the range soon! Check out the full Made by Mitchell range on nobe beauty. x
*Sponsored post with Biodelly. This post contains ad links to support this blog. Thank you if you use them!
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share something sweet/cute yet useful and makeup-related. As you can see from the title, it’s blush! Especially how to place blush for different looks. I think this topic ties nicely together with Valentine’s Day and rosy cheeks when you’re having a crush on someone (or something… like blush! lol! But I do love blush!).
While I’m not a fan of hearts and love kitsch, I do love Valentine’s Day! In case you didn’t know, in Finland, we celebrate “Friendship Day” or “Day of Friends” on February 14th. I think it’s a sweet occasion to celebrate love but also friends, family and companionship. As far as I know, it’s similar to Sweden, where Valentine’s translates as “All Hearts’ Day”. That being said, I am a romantic person, but perhaps not in a traditional/classic sense? I love small, everyday gestures instead of extravagant dinners or lavish gifts. A couple of days ago my friend brought me flowers, for “no reason”! ♡
Why Should You Wear Blush?
Blush is an interesting makeup item as beginners often skip or forget about it, but diehard makeup lovers adore blush. Why I personally am an advocate for wearing blush:
It’s relatively easy to apply
Makes one’s makeup look cohesive and ties the look together
It can help to shape your face
Makes the complexion look healthy and lively
How To Place Blush
Today I’m sharing two basic ways where to place a blusher. I’m not focusing on what’s “flattering” for a certain face shape but giving you tips on how to master these placements so you can figure out what you enjoy the most. Wear makeup as you please and how you feel good! Try, experiment, play – at the end of the day it washes off. If you still feel insecure, try these application methods at the end of the day before washing your face. These two placements work for all blush formulas and applying methods. You can even wear your lipstick as a blush!
Left: My blank face for reference.
Right: Two common blush placements: cheekbone and apples of the cheeks.
For the tutorial: I personally like to use a light hand when I’m laying down the initial color, then build up the intensity. I always start from the middle and diffuse outwards. In this demo I’m using Und Gretel lipstick 06 Wood as my blush!
Right: Youthful and fresh apples of the cheeks application.
When you smile, feel the most prominent part of your cheek: the “apples” if you will. If you’re in your early twenties or younger, you can place the blusher here and blend in a circular motion. However, as we age our features change: when you relax your face after smiling the “apples” might appear lower. In this case place the blush slightly above the thickest part of your cheeks, I start approx. right under my dark circles. This gives the cheeks a more lifted appearance.
Tip: Try vibrant pinks and reds for this placement – it gives you a healthy flush as if you had been hiking on a snowy mountain!
Left: The classic cheekbone application that “lifts” your face.
Keep your face relaxed and place your brush/sponge/finger on the highest point of your cheekbone to lay the initial color. You want mostly to blend upwards and towards the perimeter of your face for that lifted look. Don’t drag the blush too much down, you want to keep the color above your contour and away from the center of your face. See in the picture above how the blending stops approximately below my iris.
Tip: The higher you bring the blush towards your temples, the more editorial look you get
I hope this mini-tutorial was helpful! Replicate the feeling of having butterflies in your stomach and having a healthy flush with rosy cheeks by experimenting with blush this Valentine’s Day!
Sponsored post with House of Organic, products PR samples. All opinions are my own! This post uses affiliate links to support this blog. Thank you if you use them!
It’s raining sleet outside, no sign of sunshine, but – I can feel the Spring is upon us! Spring used to be my least favorite season as I associated it with muddy streets and increased stress levels, but atm I’m loving the increasing daylight and the feel of a fresh start. In December I decided that 2022 would be my year and I would prioritize self-care and finding a healthy balance. I hope Spring brings a nice boost to these themes. The eco-beauty products in today’s post are a combination of old and new must-haves that spark joy in me in the everyday life: practical – with a sprinkle of luxury.
House of Organic kindly asked for a list of my favorites and added them to their bi-annual sale! You can find these items discounted 17.-20.2.2022! View the catalog here, more info at the end of the post. The pictures of today’s post are taken in my new home! I’m still figuring out the best photography setup in here, so please bear with me!
Makeup and Lip Care
I think I’ve spoken about my love for HAVU Cosmeticslipsticksseveral times. They’re a sustainable Finnish company that specializes in 100% biodegradable packaging! The outer packaging is made of wood, while the case is a biodegradable “plastic”. In the images, I’m wearing the shade Pink! I also love Cranberry and Lily. Last Fall they also released a lovely Lip Care Set that includes a lip balm, mask, and scrub. (The set is pretty €€, worth it if you can get it on sale!). I especially love the lip mask, which gets its vivid orange color from seabuckthorn.
Mádara is one of my favorite eco makeup brands. Their line is well-curated and of great quality, you can’t tell from the textures that it’s an eco brand. They finally released a mascara! It’s called Deep Matter and I gotta tell you: it’s very nice! I love a volumizing formula, the plastic bristle wand is very nifty too for coating each lash. Sadly, it’s not a waterproof formula, but one of the best eco mascaras I’ve tried.
Skincare
I’ve also shared my love for gua sha and Yin Your Skin Sileä facial oil several times, so I had to choose those. If you love blue tansy and pampering, luxe facial oils you’ll probably love Sileä (and it comes in a lovely renewed packaging). I find that gua sha relieves tension from the neck and jaw area, helps with puffiness, and gives you a subtle glow from the inside out. I haven’t noticed a difference with my fine lines, but I’m not very regular with my routine. I do believe in the science behind facial massage and gosh, it feels so good. Nowadays my tool of choice is the Jalo Pro gua sha tool (not pictured) as it’s the most versatile for décolleté, neck and face!
I’m working on a dedicated article about Djusie, but I had to mention it today as well. Djusie (pronounced “D-juicy”) is an exciting new Finnish eco brand founded by the creator of Yin Your Skin, Katja Kokko, who is a well-known Finnish esthetician and author. So far I love everything about the brand: the products, ingredients, transparency, aesthetics & promo photos. Their mission is to promote skin awareness, kindness and mental health, which I stand for too. Djusie Full Bloom Box contains their 3 current products: cleansing oil, toner/essence and facial oil (plus a beautiful mini illustration).
Body care
I’ve always adored tattoos. I’ve wanted a full tattoo sleeve since my teens and now I’m finally fulfilling my dreams! Me and my wonderful artist, Maija Ovaskainen, have been working on my sleeve for maybe 1,5 years (thanks, pandemia) and I need only about two more sessions! Last time we did more peonies and after removing the protective film I moisturized the healing tattoo with Alga Cicosa Reparative Tattoo Cream(100ml in pictures). It’s thick but absorbs in a decent time and I felt it relieved the feeling of itching. Always, always follow the instructions by your tattoo artist! Even if you’re not planning to get tattooed, I think it’s a very nice treatment for itchy, super dry skin.
Last year I discovered YOU & OIL Feminine Lubricant-Moisturizer, which doubles as lube and moisturizer for your intimate area. It’s a non-sticky, non-gloopy, very light water-based formula that works efficiently. The ingredients include aloe and hyaluronic acid, which are also some of my favorite soothing skincare ingredients. Highly recommending!
House of Organic sale runs until Sunday, here is a direct link to all of my favorite products! The offers vary day by day, as long as the stock lasts. You can place multiple orders: they’re combined automatically. Get free shipping with the code: YHDISTÄ
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this post was helpful!
*Sponsored post with Biodelly, products gifted for review. This post contains affiliate links to support this blog. Thank you if you use them!
A new Finnish skincare line that marries together eco-certified ingredients and high-quality sourcing, a brand that promotes skin awareness and kindness, plus has beautiful, unique packaging and campaign images… Need I say more to get you excited? This is Djusie! (Pronounced “D-juicy-e”)
This time I’m giving you a short intro to the brand and reviewing their current range: Liquid Silk cleansing oil, Acid Bloom toner/essence, and Fruit Glaze facial oil. I’m delighted to be working as Biodelly’s brand ambassador: they’re running Djusie promo week until Sunday! If you’re interested in trying any of Djusie products just use the code DJUSIE to get -15% off at checkout!
Btw, I’m trying to be more concise with my wording and blog posts in general as I know that many of you like to read on your phone. I ramble easily, but I promise to do my best!
About Djusie
Djusie is founded by a Finnish eco skincare pioneer, aesthetician, gua sha teacher, and author Katja Kokko, whose knowledge in skin and skincare I admire and respect a lot. She’s one of those people who truly seem to put their heart and soul into her projects. I’ve spoken about her luxurious gua sha brand Yin Your Skin several times here on the blog, you can find out more about it in the archives/tags! Djusie has a more accessible price point, I learned from their online seminar that all products are less than €50. So far there are 3 products, enough for a minimalistic skincare routine, but Katja teased that there’s at least a moisturizer and an eye cream in development.
According to their brand philosophy, the products don't contain any synthetic ingredients and no materials unnecessary for the skin or product function. The focus is on effective, mostly Nordic ingredients, including adaptogenic mushrooms. Skin awareness and ingredient education is also a large part of their brand: you can find ingredients database, skincare-related information, and beauty rituals like facial massages on their website. Lastly, Katja greatly emphasized that Djusie’s values lie in kindness, better self-worth and mental health. They will be donating to mental health charities every year.
Liquid Silk Perfect Cleansing Oil Review
100 ml/3.38 fl. oz. for €35. Made in Finland Available on Biodelly
Liquid Silk is a clear cleansing oil with a fruity scent that emulsifies with water: you apply a few pumps on dry hands, massage on dry face, wet your palms to emulsify the oil then rinse clean. I adore all sorts of cleansing oils, but if I had to choose only one – I would go for emulsifying over the type you need to remove with a washcloth/muslin. Djusie Liquid Silk feels very silky and smooth to touch, it effortlessly removes even heavy makeup and stubborn SPF. After rinsing it off, my skin doesn’t feel notably dry nor do my eyes get cloudy or sting like with some oils. The scent is supposed to be fruity, invigorating and elevating, but personally, citrusy scents are not my 1st choice for aromatherapy. I had a minor scare when I thought the pump was leaking, but it was just that my cap is loose. Not a major issue, but perhaps worth mentioning that there may be hiccups with every 1st release by a new brand? Anyway, a very effective yet gentle feeling cleansing oil!
Some notable ingredients include sunflower seed oil, squalene, flowering quince seed oil, lingonberry seed oil and aromatherapeutic essential oils. Squalane is a hit ingredient among skincare enthusiasts as it’s similar to skin’s natural oils/sebum and excellent for all skin types. Squalane absorbs well and makes the skin feel moisturized and supple among its other benefits. I also want to highlight flowering quince, which is a beautiful shrub with peach-orange flowers that remind me of cherry blossoms (I have a few branches by my kitchen table as I’m typing this!). Fatty acid-rich quince seed oil used in Liquid Silk is cold-pressed and helps to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, soothe, brighten and balance sebum production. You don’t only get nice emollients and a citrusy scent, but also a nice boost of antioxidants.
100 ml/3.38 fl. oz. for €39. Made in Finland Available on Biodelly
This watery essence looks a bit like green juice and smells faintly like kombucha. As I mentioned above, it’s against Djusie’s philosophy to include any ingredients that don’t have added skin benefits: in order to add fragrance (essential oils) to Acid Bloom, the formulation would have required an additional solubilizer/surfactant. I love fermented things so I don’t mind the scent at all, but I’ve heard that some people find it off-putting less or more. Acid Bloom is my favorite out of the three products and in my recent memory, but I am partial to toners and essences. I pour some essence on my palm, pat on clean face and my skin is drinking it immediately. I repeat this until I’ve done about three layers. My skin is on the dry side and Acid Bloom removes any feeling of tightness without making my face feel heavy or sticky.
Notable ingredients are very gently exfoliating gluconolactone (PHA) and apple cider vinegar, skin-soothing gotu kola leaf extract (aka tiger grass or Centella Asiatica, which I’ve talked about in my K-beauty articles), high-quality reishi mushroom stem extract, plus hydrating betaine and xylitol. Although some of the key ingredients have gentle exfoliating properties, to my understanding Acid Bloom is formulated to be more moisturizing, toning, pH balancing (mildly acidic) – and I agree from my experience. Adaptogenic mushroom reishi is an interesting addition to this essence and Djuisie has a very unique and high-quality harvesting method for the best potency. Reishi is said to be suitable for the treatment of pigment spots, scars, and signs of aging – even for those with sensitive skins.
Acid Bloom INCI:
AQUA, GLUCONOLACTONE, VINEGAR, BETAINE, GLYCERIN**, CENTELLA ASIATICA LEAF EXTRACT, GANODERMA LUCIDUN STEM EXTRACT*, XYLITOL, XANTHAN GUM, ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, BENZYL ALCOHOL, BENZOIC ACID, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL *Ingredients from Organic Farming **Made using Organic ingredients 1,15 % of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming 99 % natural origin of total
Fruit Glaze Vitalizing & Brightening Facial Oil
30 ml/1.0 fl. oz. for €49. Made in Finland Available on Biodelly
Fruit Glaze is a functional skincare oil that’s not only intended only for moisturizing, softening, and nurturing the skin, but it also has scar fading, dark spot preventing and overall skin brightening properties. It’s said to be suitable for all skin types and I agree, as the oil doesn’t feel heavy on the skin but absorbs quickly. That being said, if you’re new to facial oils and feel intimidated by feeling “greasy”, start just with a couple of drops! I really like that the oil is designed to give you a glow from the inside out with its complexion brightening properties. You can also wear Fruit Glaze under makeup! My skin is on the dry side and during winter my foundations tend to look cakey, but with this oil, I’ve managed to achieve a more balanced complexion and a beautiful makeup application.
Notable ingredients include squalane, lingonberry seed oil, grape seed oil, rosehip seed extract, and flowering quince seed oil. There’s also soothing bisabolol that interestingly works together in synergy with açai berry oil; this compound is said to work efficiently for treating pigment spots and brightening the skin without causing sensitivity. I personally love both oils and skin brightening ingredients, I think the combination of these ingredients looks very unique and something I don’t already own in my skincare cabinet. This product also has a fruity aromatherapeutic scent and it’s more to my liking vs Liquid Silk.
Fruit Glaze INCI:
SQUALANE, VITIS VINIFERA SEED OIL*, ROSA CANINA SEED EXTRACT*, EUTERPE OLERACEAFRUIT OIL, CHAENOMELES JAPONICA SEED OIL, VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA SEED OIL**, BISABOLOL, HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM FLOWER OIL, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS FLOWER OIL, CITRUS NOBILIS PEEL OIL EXPRESSED, CITRUS BERGAMIA PEEL OIL EXPRESSED*, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL, TOCOPHEROL, CITRONELLOL***, GERANIOL***, LINALOOL***, LIMONENE***, CITRAL*** *Ingredients from Organic Farming **Wild grown ***From natural essential oil ****Bergaptene-free 48,11 % of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming 100 % natural origin of total
Final Thoughts on Djusie Skincare
If you know me you know that I’m all about promoting skincare and ingredient knowledge, feeling good in your skin, as well as mental health. I can see that they’ve put a lot of thought and effort into formulating the products, as well as their message.
I need to give a special shoutout to the packaging and branding: the products look like candy! The outer packaging is just as lovely and the bottle colors truly reflect what’s inside: ingredients that give a healthy glow to your complexion from the inside out. Love! If you’re into citrusy aromatherapy (or perhaps the kombucha-scent of Acid Bloom) these products will also bring a smile to your face. I’m very happy with the current ensemble of products, I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Please check out the current lineup on Biodelly and use the code DJUSIE for -15% off (until Sunday 27th of Feb 2022)! x
As I’m typing this post, Helsinki is bathing in the sunshine after seemingly endless overcast weather. Nordic winters may be long and dark, but that makes our springs ever so more beautiful. In today’s post, I’m sharing some recent “rays of light” (aka things that bring me joy) in my life and celebrating Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2022 Early Bird Sneak Peek! It’s my third year working with the Awards and I couldn’t be more grateful and excited! I love the whole Awards team and what they stand behind: celebrating natural cosmetics and eco beauty from the Nordic countries!
Recent Rays of Light (Recent Beauty & Lifestyle Favorites)
I survived moving!! Although I love packing and organizing the moving process itself is always quite stressful. I’m grateful I have amazing friends who helped me out. I’m very excited to settle into my new home (with my partner!) and start a fresh new chapter in my life!
Dry brushing, exfoliating, and body scrubs. Spring is an excellent time to pick up an exfoliation routine if you haven’t already: dry brushing and scrubbing not only shed dead skin cells but also boost circulation and lymphatic drainage, which gives you even more glowing skin. I discovered my favorite body scrubs through the Awards by the way!
Nordic interior design. It’s a cliché maybe, but I do love the clean and natural Nordic aesthetics when it comes to furniture and decoration. Just browsing beautiful homes on Instagram brings me calm and joy (and motivates me to clean haha).
I’ve been obsessed with film photography! I’m still (re)learning the basics because the last time I touched an analog camera was about 10 years ago + I had only shot black and white film. Having a new creative outlet is so much fun.
Nordic Fat Tuesday’s traditional sweet buns with cream and raspberry jam or almond paste aka semla (Swedish) or laskiaispulla (Finnish). At least in Finland, you’re either a jam or almond paste person and it’s extremely important to know which one your friends and family prefer if you’re getting them some. (I'm a weirdo who likes both, as long as it’s vegan…)
Sneak peek… !
Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2022 Information
The registration for the Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2022 is open until April 30th! Any Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) brand producing 100% or 99% natural cosmetics can apply to the awards – please check out more information and apply through the website here! The final nominees will be revealed in early June (I can’t wait!!). Make sure to follow the exciting journey of the 3rd edition of the awards on Instagram.
Together with Nordic Natural Beauty Awards, we also acknowledge that the current events in Europe are shocking and devastating. At times like this, we believe it’s important to give yourself the permission to feel and cope the best way you can. Please give the same space and permission to people around you. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the situation. If you want to help Ukraine, please check out your local trusted resources. Here are some links in English & all Nordic languages.
*Ad/sponsored post with nobe beauty. This post contains affiliate links. Thank you if you choose to use them!
Everyone knows about Korean K-beauty sheet masks, but how about J-beauty (Japanese cosmetics)? Japan’s number no. 1 best-seller mask brand LuLuLun is now available in Finland! I got a sneak peek of this release in early Autumn and I was desperate for them to launch officially as I was running out of my masks. In today’s post, I’ll introduce you to my favorite sheet mask brand and share what makes LuLuLun so special!
LuLuLun Sheet Masks Review
I first encountered the brand in the early 2010s when I was traveling (and later living) in Japan. We don’t have drug stores in Finland, and I certainly loved a good Japanese drug store experience. LuLuLun masks were not hard to miss as they were super popular and advertised in every store. What makes LuLuLun masks special in my opinion:
Comfort (fit, non-slippery)
Quality (great ingredients and sheet that retains moisture)
Less waste (available in multipacks)
The sheet itself is a very comfortable, high-quality material. Each mask is made of 3 layers of sheets to retain maximum moisture. Although the suggested wear time is 5 to 10 mins, I’ve worn these +20 mins comfortably and they won’t dry out. The amount of serum is “just right” that they don’t drip on your clothes, but this could also be the mask technology? The fit for my large face is sufficient, and the masks don’t slip or slide while wearing. I’ve blow-dried my hair, made coffee, even done squats while wearing one!
LuLuLun masks come in packs of 1, 7 or 32(!) masks, which saves tons of plastic and packaging material. I used to sheet mask almost daily, but I felt bad for how wasteful it was. LuLuLun brings back the “daily self-care” experience with multipack sheet masks! Multipacks are not rare in the Asian beauty market, but I found that most of them felt cheap or some of the masks felt drier as the liquid dropped to the bottom of the pack. LuLuLun masks somehow maintain moisture evenly although I’ve stored them vertically.
Above: 1 sheet, 7 sheets and 32 sheet packages
How to Choose a LuLuLun Sheet Mask
I really enjoy the variety of mask types or “flavors”, I haven’t encountered one that I didn’t like. If you feel intimidated by the range, just choose one that speaks to you:
Balance – I’d say these are aimed at combination to oily skin types, who have excess sebum or breakouts.
Moist – for normal to dry and dehydrated skins
Precious & +45 – for those who want aging care
All LuLuLun masks are alcohol-free and have no parfum (except for the prefecture series). If your skin is very sensitive, try a single-packed one first. Personally, I enjoy the multipacks the most, especially the Japanese prefecture series. The scent in these masks is very faint and hasn’t irritated my skin. I miss Japan so much, so these masks are a fun way reminiscent or experience Japan: Japanese people have a great appreciation for local traditions and delicacies: for example, Hokkaido prefecture is known for melons and its namesake maskLuLuLun Hokkaido Melon has melon seed oil.
The ingredients vary mask by mask, but most of them focus on hydrating, moisturizing, and calming properties. There is glycerin, hydrolyzed collagen, squalene, ceramides and various plant and seed extracts, such as kombu seaweed, perilla leaf, tara/carob fruit, etc.
What’s your favorite sheet mask brand? Have you tried LuLuLun yet? Come hang out with me on Instagram and let me know!
Please check out the full range on nobe beauty. Some of the masks are currently sold out, but I’m sure they will restock asap!
*Sponsored post with Biodelly. This post contain ad links.
In mid-December, I made the early New Year’s Resolution to start prioritizing daily self-care. I had seen how people close to me had suffered from burnout and severe exhaustion, and I was possibly heading towards a similar situation. I was able to put the brakes on in time (I acknowledge it’s a privileged position and I feel very grateful), and started to make lists of intentions and practices I wanted to incorporate into my daily life. Today I’m chatting more about my intentions for this spring as well as some fitting green/eco beauty suggestions!
If you follow me you know I’ve been working closely as Biodelly’s brand ambassador. The team kindly encouraged me to share these intentions, so here’s sort of an intention/self-care goals diary with some products I’ve enjoyed using. Biodelly is having their Friends & Family sale from 20th – 27th of March 2022! The theme of 2022’s event is well-being. 2% proceeds from 22nd to 27th of March 2022 is donated to Save the Children Finland (read more).
I hope this post gives you glimpses of joy and inspiration for your own self-care routines & rituals!
My Intentions for Spring ‘22
1st Intention for Spring: Rest
I recently moved, which was a more exhausting process than I could recall! So after a chaotic beginning of the year, my first intention was to rest. For me, it meant very basic, “boring” yet necessary everyday things, such as sleep, cleaning, and time management. Rest doesn’t necessarily have to mean 12h of sleep or crying while laying on the floor (those too can be necessary at times), but finding comfort in everyday and elevating chores to pleasant rituals. I deepened my love for body products: scrubs, scented soaps, and hand lotions after cold winter months. I like having a quick morning shower routine, but I’m taking just enough extra time to enjoy the texture of the scrub or scent of the body lotion before dressing up.
After sufficient rest, I made sure there would be enough free time in my calendar for being present. This means appreciating the little things, such as the increasing amount of light, how sunshine hits my kitchen walls and cat’s whiskers, playing with the kitties, leaving my phone on Do Not Disturb mode more often, catching up with friends and my partner. I think being present is key for making the most out of the mundane, and appreciating the beauty of details.
This one is hard for me, as I haven’t prioritized myself (or my health) for the past two years. I’m sure many of you can relate! I’m trying to “re-learn” how to adult haha by making more time for meal prepping or/and planning. We hate grocery shopping, but I found an online equivalent to a farmer’s market – except I can order everything in advance. I also want to nourish my mind/soul and body externally! For the mind, I want to incorporate more inspiration boosts to everyday life: walks outdoors, going to the flower market, ashtanga, podcasts, picture books, and sketching. For the body, I’m excited about pampering cleansers and facial oils, as well as functional skincare (read my Djusie skincare review here).
This sort of goes hand-in-hand with nourishing the mind, but I wanted to add a special highlight for makeup. After moving and organizing my things, the spring sun is shining and I feel like flourishing again! I’m excited to play with makeup and beauty items, try new products and techniques, and obviously create more inspiring content to share! Biodelly now stocks one of my favorite luxe makeup brands: Kjaer Weis! It’s one of those brands that’s never discounted, but I highly recommend checking out the blush and lipstick range. Below are the makeups I used for this look!
*Ad Biodelly. This post uses affiliate links to support the upkeep of this blog.
How to get the most out of your makeup? Can you re-purpose items and use them in other ways not designed in the packaging? When it comes to beauty and makeup, I often think about how to get the best value for money. I don’t like the idea that something will gather dust in my cabinet just because it didn’t work as intended. In this post, I’ll share my best ideas on how to re-purpose and multi-use your eco beauty makeup! I’m so excited and grateful that this post is in collaboration with Biodelly – I’m still working as their brand ambassador!
Biodelly’s values are ethical, ecological, and aesthetic beauty, and supporting better choices. They don’t support over-consumerism but increase the value of products and the authentic feeling of beauty. I know that sometimes it’s nice to feel extra luxe and use multiple products for each purpose, I’m doing it myself, but it isn’t necessary!
Please remember, there are no rules in beauty! Not in expression, style, but also not in the use of makeup!*
Multi-purpose makeup ideas
DIY BB-cream: combine your favorite liquid foundation on the back of your hand or a palette with a pump of Zuii Organic highlighting liquid. I personally use the shade Galaxy.
Highlighting pen: don’t splurge on a separate product! Use a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone for highlighting any dark areas. For example, this Und Gretel liquid concealer brush pen is excellent for this purpose.
Easy everyday eyeshadow: swipe your contour color, bronzer or blusher on your crease with a fluffy brush. This is not only quick and convenient but makes the whole look cohesive!
Quick blush: try using your lipstick as a blush! I like to apply the product directly from the bullet and blend with fingers or a damp sponge. If your lipstick is quite matte, like the HAVU lipstick in Red I used in these photos – add a drop of facial oil and mix on the back of your hand. I enjoy using Djusie Fruit Glaze oil, since it adds a nice glow on my cheeks.
Faux freckles: use a warm/reddish eyebrow pencil! Poke your face directly with the pencil and blend with a finger or sketch some freckles on your finger and press them onto the skin. Remember that freckles are not symmetrical! I think the finger technique is the softest and most natural. Und Gretel makes excellent brow pens, there is also one reddish shade that works well for faux freckles!
Highlighter tips: use your highlighting liquid on your eye lids, inner corners of the eyes.
Body makeup tips: Add Zuii Organic highlighting liquid on your legs, décolleté and shoulders. You can also mix a pumpful of highlighter liquid with your moisturizer, so the effect will be more subtle yet pampering.
*Please note: Eco beauty makeup can be safely used for multiple purposes all over the face (many thanks for my friend and ingredients guru Maria Varon for clarifying!), but please use extra care when you try cheek and lip products around the eye area. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, I always recommend patch testing before using a new product all over the face.
I hope this post brought you joy and inspiration! Biodelly is having their Easter Sale 14.-18.4.2022 - almost everything is -15% and extra special deals (sunless tan products -25% and SPF products -20%). Quick shoppers may also encounter the famous HELLOBUNNY-bunny, and earn free delivery, free products or gift cards! Keep your eyes open and be quick! xx
Happy May! In today’s post, I’m sharing some skincare tips for transitional weather as well as each season. As you may know, the skin is the largest protective organ of our body. Just as your wardrobe, hobbies, and food choices change from season to season, it’s important to pay extra attention to your skincare routine too! In order to have supple, healthy skin all year round you need to support and treat it to its individual and seasonal needs.
Depending on where you live, you may be experiencing very warm weather already or perhaps transitioning into cooler months. Spring is officially here in Southern Finland, but we’ve had some extra cool nights for the past week or two, so the lakes are still frozen and there’s barely any grass or flowers blooming outside. I’m still excited for May and the upcoming summer!
Above: Images from my summer cottage, shot on film
What Affects Our Skin Each Season?
Temperature changes (especially transitional weather)
Air conditioning
Sun exposure levels
Environmental stressors
There are a couple of essential examples! Of course, your lifestyle changes (habits, diet, etc.) play a huge part in your skin’s well-being. Treat your skin for your individual needs: are you feeling more oily, surface dryness, perhaps allergies, and itching depending on the season? If you’re unsure I highly recommend visiting a trained skin therapist/aesthetician or a dermatologist. I personally think you should pay more attention to how you use your skincare products aka customize your daily routine vs switching up your products completely.
I think that hotter/cooler months go hand-in-hand, but in order to make this post more interesting, I’ve divided the tips for each season!
Seasonal Skincare Tips: Summer
Remember to use SPF (head to toe, rain or shine)
Skip heavy moisturizers
Use light lotions and hydrating ingredients
Don’t sunbathe
Wear protective clothing from the sun (such as hats)
Seasonal Skincare Tips: Spring
Do gentle exfoliation for a brighter complexion and removing dry, dead skin cells
Pay more attention to SPF, perhaps increase the rating (I suggest minimum of SPF30)
Check your moles
Use more Vitamin C and other antioxidant-rich ingredients to protect from environmental damage
Adjust the amount of oil and water-based ingredients, layer your skincare according to your needs
Seasonal Skincare Tips: Winter
Moisturize your body with occlusive oils and balms
Wear more protective clothing (gloves, hats, scarves)
Do more advanced skincare treatments (LED, Vitamin A, micro-needling etc).
Don’t skimp on the SPF!!!
Avoid hot showers as they can dry out the skin
Seasonal Skincare Tips: Fall
Moisturize your lips
Add more hydrating and moisturizing ingredients into your routine
Do gentle exfoliation and stronger actives again
Start advanced treatments when there’s less sun exposure
Increase amount of occlusive ingredients (balms, oils, etc.) and body care (hand lotions, body balms)
Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2022 Registration
I’m so happy that the Awards partnered up with me for this post! Thank you for your endless support and encouragement. I can’t really believe it’s time for the 3rd edition (2022)! We’ve been working together for almost 3 years! In a nutshell, Nordic Natural Beauty Awards are an annual online contest to celebrate all-natural cosmetics from the Nordic and Scandinavian countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The nominated cosmetics are tested and the winners are selected by a very special Nordic Beauty Jury – 50 Nordic stars from various fields such as cinema, music, fashion, and sports. Read my Early Bird post here and more about the Awards here.
The registration for the third edition (2022) is open until May 31. If you produce 100% natural cosmetics in the Nordic countries, you can register your brand here!! Or if you have a favorite Nordic brand in mind you can tag them and @nordicnaturalbeautyawards on Instagram for example! This year the Awards will have audience’s choice as well, so keep a close look at their social channels!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this post was helpful. Let me know what you think & come chat with me on Instagram!
*Sponsored post: Depology. Products press samples, all opinions my own!
Hi!! I hope you’re all well! I’m back for my summer vacation/mini hiatus. I took a short break from writing to focus on social media work and artistic development. I will share some personal updates more in my next blog post, but I’m doing very well in many ways. Today, I want to share my Depology Skincare review with you! Enjoy!
About Depology Skincare & Products
Dēp // Deep (English) = extending far down from the top or surface. Ology = a subject of study; a branch of knowledge.
Depology Skincare is a brand that focuses on various serums, treatments, and microneedle patches to provide excellent skincare results at home. Professional micro needling is a somewhat abrasive skincare treatment, which I personally love, but wouldn’t operate an at-home device for hygiene reasons, etc. I’m excited that Depology has developed a gentle yet safe alternative for home. Their patches are more densely packed with darts than others on the market, which means that a higher concentration of the solution can absorb into the skin. They don’t puncture the skin hard or hurt at all, no worries!
8 pairs / 12 pairs / 16 pairs for $72 / $108 / $144, made in South Korea.
Depology Deepcare+ Serum Infused Micro Dart Patches are multi-purpose skincare patches that can be used under the eyes and nasolabial folds, for example. They’re also marketed as anti-wrinkle patches or anti-age patches, as they have small micro darts that help the serum to penetrate better into the skin to provide effective results. I’d say the texture of the Deepcare+ Serum-Infused Micro Dart Patches reminds me of a soft sticker. You can wear these overnight for the most effective results; personally, I wake up very early (and often puffy around my eyes) and wear these +2 hours after showering. The patches lock in the moisture, so you don’t need to worry about applying eye cream first!
I’m lucky that I don’t have very visible fine lines around my eyes, but I’ve really enjoyed the patches and will test these for my nasolabial folds as well. The ingredients list is excellent and fluff-free: hyaluronic acid, Argireline peptide, glycerin, and amino acids, etc. for nourished and plumped-looking skin. Use a pack as a treatment program or for special occasions!
Depology Black Caviar Collagen Under Eye Patches Review
60 pieces for $48. Sourced ethically in China.
Caviar hydrogel patches for that de-puffing in the morning or plumping the delicate undereye area every day. Black Caviar Collagen Under Eye Patches are made from durable hydrogel and feel very moisturizing and luxurious. Nourishing, plumping, soothing, de-puffing - especially if you store them in the fridge. What a treat in the morning, when you’re tired and still brewing your first cup of coffee! These collagen patches are larger than average imo, so they nicely treat the whole undereye and upper cheek area (for me).
I really do enjoy under-eye gels and skincare patches in general, but most are too slippery in texture or not ideal ingredients-wise. I think Depology Black Caviar patches are worth the price! There are black caviar extract, Centella Asiatica extracts, collagen peptides, and Hyaluronic acid, so a lot of soothing, moisturizing, fine line plumping, and antioxidant-rich ingredients that protect against oxidative stress and make the skin soft and supple.
If you’re an OG reader (hi!), you may know I have somewhat dry/dehydrated post-adult acne skin and I’m very partial to hydrating serums. I’ve reviewed plenty during the years, yet I remain intrigued by new (or new to me) products! I always lust after that juicy, supple, soft, plump, and hydrated “glass” skin. To put it simply: Depology Matrixyl 3000Ρ Collagen Boosting Serum is Laura approved! Matrixyl 3000 is a synthetic peptide that’s said to promote collagen production, which is excellent for any skin over 25. It also has Hyaluronic Acid, aloe, and glycerin for that hydration. I hate to use the word “clean”, but this INCI was pretty much it - no fuss, just efficacy. Nice light, a bit viscous texture, and wears lovely under creams and makeup! It’s currently sold out, so make sure to sign up on Depology’s mailing list!
Have you tried Depology? Which product intrigued you the most?
*Sponsored post House of Organic. Products gifted work, all opinions my own. This post uses affiliate links to support the upkeep of this blog. Thanks!
This summer has been transformational for me. I’ve reflected on my values, what I want to do in the future, and how I want to present myself. I want to keep blogging, but the frequency is still open. I’ve noticed that my focus is more on the images, so perhaps in the future instead of long articles, I’m moving towards a visual diary.
In this post, I’m wanting to share with you some eco-beauty favorites that bring a smile to my face. They work beautifully as a routine as well as alone! Psst, House of Organic friends & family sale is here again until 21th of August 2022. Find all my favorites and plenty of other beauty products discounted this week! Use the code YHDISTÄ to get free shipping to all your orders (combined automatically!).
Late Summer Skincare Favorites: Cleansing and Gua Sha
Djusie has been one of my top 3 brands of 2022, and I expected nothing less from Katja Kokko’s skincare brand that focuses on juicy skin. I asked if House of Organic would discount two of my favorites: Liquid Silk cleansing oil and Acid Bloom essence. Liquid Silk has a nice fruity scent, it easily breaks makeup, and it cuts through dirt and grime. It removes conventional mascaras without tugging the skin and irritating my eyes, and nicely emulsifies with water. Acid Bloom is a gentle, intensely hydrating essence that lightly exfoliates, and smells lightly fermented like kombucha. Perfect for layering!
After these skincare steps, I love to do some cosmetic gua sha using Yin Your Skin Jalo gua sha stone and Moi Forest Forest Dust Microbiome Magic Oil. I’ve been using this Moi Forest for my scaly dry legs and arms: it absorbs quickly, softens, pampers, etc, but I recently discovered it’s lovely for gua sha as well. The oil has a high concentration of jojoba oil, which is similar to the skin’s natural sebum, which makes it great for sensitive skin. The Reconnecting Nature forest dust also boost the skin’s natural healthy microbiome. I like to start my gua sha from my décolleté, and move to the nape of the neck, neck, and finally on the face (very gently, if you’re a beginner!). Please check out my IG Reel for some video tips!
Easy Late Summer Makeup Picks
After a good skin-prep, followed by sunscreen, I’ve been enjoying a minimal makeup routine that’s focused on light, long-lasting and glowing products. I’ve re-united with Madara Skin Equal Foundation (I used my old bottle until it expired) after a break, and it’s still one of the nicest foundations (eco or not) I’ve tried. The lightest shade is a bit ashy in tone but works beautifully with my neutral/fair complexion without pulling too yellow or pink.
I did a photoshoot this spring where the makeup artist used Zuii Organic Diamond Sparkle Blushes and I fell in love with the look. They’re sparkly, yet finely milled and non-glittery. You need to enjoy a very sparkly look though! I personally love to mix and match my two shades (Raspberry pink and Blossom white) as blush, cheek highlighter, inner corner highlighter or/and eyeshadow. The base color is light, I’d imagine these would work beautifully as blush toppers for multiple skin tones!
Finally, I finish the makeup look with a lash curler and mascara. I like to heat the curlers gently between my hands/boobs/tights to get a nice, long-lasting curl for my spiky lashes. Then I’ll apply generous coats of Madara Deep Matter Volume mascara, which surpasses many conventional mascaras. It’s black, easy to apply, doesn’t smudge or crumble much during the day. I like the rubbery wand, but I do need some extra precision in application vs fluffy wands because of my eye shape. After the mascara has dried, I use a cotton bud to clean my lash line and I’m good to go!
I applied so much blush, yet the look doesn’t appear overdone, right? Also, how beautiful are these flowers? I bought them from my local marketplace, I’ve heard there’s only one place that still actively grows Finnish summer flowers like this locally.
Thank you for reading! x Please come hang out with me on Instagram!
Hi! I hope you’re enjoying the recent blog updates! If you missed the last couple of posts: I took some time off blogging and focused my time on social media work, creating art and some well-needed me-time. I wasn’t planning to take a break, but it just happened organically… I spent July with friends, discovering myself, cycling, dancing, eating blueberries, and drawing. This July also marked 2nd full year as a creative entrepreneur! Without you, dear reader, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love the most: photography, beauty content creation, and arts. Thank you! Also many thanks to my beloved partners – this is also the third season of the Nordic Natural Beauty Awards I’m working with!
Today I’m excited to share about the 2022Nordic Natural Beauty Awards Nominees! Our collaboration started with me blogging and sharing about the Awards, but now I’ve had the pleasure to do some product photography for them as well. Me and the founder of the Awards, Satu, quickly became friends and it’s been a pleasure to see this contest grow and flourish.
I’m getting sentimental, so let’s move on and check out the Nominee products! I was sent two large boxes, filled to the brim!
This year there are over 80(!) Nordic beauty products competing! Eighty!
All participating brands must be based in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, or/and Norway) while the products must be made from 100% natural ingredients in the main categories, 99% natural products are allowed in the contest with specific limitations. You know, the Nordic countries are not actually that big (at least population-wise), so I find it very impressive how many interesting, unique and special natural/eco brands we have. I think I’m pretty well-versed with most local brands, but thanks to the Awards I’ve discovered several new interesting indie brands (I love me some good indie beauty products made with love)
The winners will be selected by a special Nordic Beauty Jury 2022 that consists of 50 Nordic stars from different fields, such as cinema, sports, music, and fashion. While it’s lovely to try and test out new products, a selection of +80 beauty items is a lot! They’ve had a nice challenge, I’m sure!
Some of the competing categories are…
Facial Cleansing
Hydration (toners, moisturizers, facial oils)
Deep Hydration (serums, eye care, etc).
Body Care
Hair Removal
Men’s Care
…and much more!
What I’m personally looking forward to trying the most…
Serums and facial oils: the Nordic countries have beautiful natural ingredients, such as many berries and other superfoods. I’m sure these will be efficient as well as potent
Hair removal: I switched to an old-school razor blade many moons ago, but I’m into anything that can make hair removal easier and more efficient at home. I’ve never tried sugaring, so that’s interesting to me at the moment.
Soaps and cleansers: I always love a good cleanser as I’m doing my makeup all the time (sometimes multiple times a day). There were some beautiful-looking bottles in the mix. I also love a good bar of soap, especially hand-made ones that look pretty on the bathroom sink.
In general, my fingers are itching to try the products! There are some participants from previous Awards years as well as newcomers. I can’t wait to test and report back!
New Audience Choice Award
Exciting news; the awards are organizing an Audience Choice Award -voting this year! This means that everyone can participate in the voting process for the first time. Through this voting, you can support your favorite nominees and brands. The voting is open until October 26, 2022, 23:59 CET (the evening before the awards ceremony). Feel free to share the poll with all your natural beauty lover friends!
Also, please check out the Nominees on the official website! If there’s something that catches your eye and you’d love me to try and review it for the blog/Instagram, please let me know! The blog comments are off because of spam bots, so please email me laura[at] lauraloukola.net or DM on Instagram.
*Sponsored post with Depology. Products gifted for review.
I’m excited to share a more in-depth review of Depology Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Boosting Serum and more information about the titular star ingredient. You can check out the original post + my review of Depology’s famous Collagen Under Eye and Micro Dart patches here. Matrixyl 3000 serum was briefly out of stock last year due to popular demand, but it’s now back and re-packaged into this gorgeous blue indigo bottle. Depology has also released a new Matrixyl Collagen Boosting Serum Travel Set with a full-size and a mini, which are featured in the photos. Enjoy!
What Does Matrixyl 3000 Do and the Skincare Benefits of Collagen
You probably have heard of collagen, but let’s recap briefly. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and the primary building block for skin, muscles, bones, connective tissues, etc. Collagen is also found elsewhere in the body and is very important for general health, but let’s focus on the visible skincare benefits. Aging naturally causes the body to produce less collagen, and the existing breaks down faster. You’ll notice more wrinkles, sagging, crepey skin, and hallowing around your eyes. Eating a healthy and balanced diet, wearing a high SPF30+, and avoiding smoking can delay skin collagen loss. From a skincare perspective, topical products like Depology Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Boosting Serum can also support collagen stimulation and skin health.
You may have heard of Matrixyl before. It was launched in 2000, becoming a popular and well-known active ingredient in the anti-aging industry (or, as I prefer to say nowadays: well-aging). To my understanding, Matrixyl 3000 is a patented compound of peptides (read more: What Does Matrixyl Do?) that you could call “building blocks” proteins and new collagen, but also for elastin fibers that make your skin firm. Matrixyl ‘signals’ the skin to heal aka stimulates collagen synthesis and even boosts the skin’s production of hyaluronic acid. It’s also found efficient in skin penetration. So, applying a quality topical serum like Depology Matrixyl 3000 helps the skin to improve collagen production and increases hydration levels for more supple, smooth, and youthful-looking skin.
For reference: I am 34 years old with normal-dry/dehydrated skin. My main concerns are dullness, tightness, and the occasional dry patch on my cheeks. My congestion is manageable, and I rarely break out anymore. Dehydration makes my fine lines and signs of aging more prominent, so I’m a huge fan of hydrating serums and essences. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become pickier about the products I use: solely hyaluronic acid-based products can make my skin feel even tighter if I’m not quickly sealing them in with a layer of cream or facial oil.
Last fall I struggled with sinusitis, frequent flu, and fatigue (hence, I had to take some time off from work and blogging). I was often too tired to do my many-step skincare routine, but Matrixyl 3000 Serum was easy and quick to apply, comforting my skin instantly. I enjoy that Depology Matrixyl 3000 has several humectants (aloe leaf juice, glycerin, hyaluronic acid) and emollients (rosehip seed and sunflower seed oil) for long-lasting soothing and hydration. Not to forget the collagen-boosting star ingredient, which is in a high concentration. I’m finally healthy, and I’ve been using my 2nd bottle for a few weeks with my usual skincare routine. I still enjoy it! According to my experience, this serum is beneficial whether you prefer a complex skincare routine or a simplified one. I cannot measure my collagen levels, but my skin looks and feels smoother and brighter, and my fine lines are less pronounced.
My usual routine is cleansing, toning, and massaging a few drops of the serum on my face, neck, and décolléte. Especially if you pick up Matrixyl Collagen Boosting Serum Travel Set it will last you weeks, the price is very reasonable, and the mini bottle is easy to toss into your travel bag. I follow the serum with an eye cream, moisturizer, and SPF during the day. It works beautifully under makeup. My evening routine is similar, but I pair the Matrixyl 3000 serum with a retinol cream (or just a facial oil if I’m lazy). I also tested the serum paired with Depology Micro-Dart patches (review here) overnight to give my eye area extra pampering. Just make sure you let the serum absorb before applying the patches!
I would suggest this serum for most people and any skin type. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and free of artificial fragrance. I know people prone to acne may need to pay attention to coconut oil, but the amount seems minimal. I didn’t get any congestion (I struggled with acne in my mid-20s). For the best results, check out Depology’s simple ingredient pairing guide. I found it very helpful!
Final Thoughts on Depology Matrixyl 3000 Travel Set
Last year this product was great when I couldn’t take the best care of my skin, and I did notice a difference in my skin when I had a break from using it. Of course, my overall health and inconsistency with skincare probably also affected my complexion. However, I think I’ve achieved the best results when adding Depology Matrixyl 3000 back into my routine with regular exfoliation and SPF. I even started to get compliments about my skin again, which felt encouraging after looking and feeling like a troll last winter. I can highly suggest Depology Matrixyl 3000 Travel Set!
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, come chat with me on Instagram!
