Eerste impressie van de nieuwe MAC Cosmetics zomercollectie.
Sally Hansen Gel Manicure Starter Kit Review
Since white seems to be the next big thing for your nails this summer, I decided to jump on the train and change my nail color from bright pink/orange to, yep you’ve got it right, white!
During my last trip to the U.S.A. I spotted this Sally Hansen Gel Manicure Starter Kit to create your very own gel nails at home! Since I’m constantly painting and re-doing my nails I couldn’t do anything else but buy this kit!
Deze zomer is wit de absolute must-have kleur om op je nagels te dragen! Aangezien ik nog steeds rondliep met fluo oranje/roze nagellak werd het hoog tijd om ook mijn nagels een mooi wit kleurtje te geven!
Tijdens mijn laatste reis in de U.S.A. spotte ik echter een set van Sally Hansen waarmee je zelf heel eenvoudig een gel manicure kan doen bij je thuis. Aangezien ik constant bezig ben met het (op)lakken van mijn nagels leek mij deze set z’n geld wel waard (ik denk dat het iets van een 70$ was in Target).
So let’s stop “talking” and check out these simple and easy steps to make your nail polish last for up to two weeks!
First of all you want to push back your cuticles using the included cuticle stick, once you’ve done this you only still need to file all the shine of your natural nails and your ready to go!
De eerste stap is om je nagelriemen terug te duwen met het bijgeleverde stokje uit de set, als je dit gedaan hebt moet je ervoor zorgen dat je alle natuurlijke glans van je nagels doet verdwijnen met de bijgeleverde vijl.
Next step is using the included pads to remove any left overs and dust from your nails, this step really is necessary to make sure your polish will last a looooong long time.
Zo, nu hoef je enkel nog al het stof en eventuele resterende oliën te verwijderen met de bijgeleverde “pads” en je nagels zijn klaar voor hun eerste laag!
So now your nails are the cleanest they will ever get so let’s put some polish on them!
First you start with container number 1 which contains the base coat, only apply a thin layer before putting them under the specially designed UV lamp to let the polish dry for about 30 seconds (luckily the lamp is designed so that it will switch off automatically every time, so you can just keep on watching your favorite tv show without having to keep track of time;) ).
Nu je nagels helemaal gereinigd zijn kan je overgaan tot het aanbrengen van de base coat uit het potje met nummer 1. Nadat je een dun laagje hiervan hebt aangebracht laat je je nagels uitharden in de meegeleverde UV lamp, deze heeft een speciale timer zodat hij telkens automatisch uitvalt na elke 30 seconden (zo kan je rustig naar je tv show blijven kijken zonder je druk te hoeven maken om de tijd 😉 ).
Once all of those ten nails are coated and dried you can go ahead and put the nail polish on them, you can either use the included one or (this is the really great thing!) you can use any other regular nail polish!!
You repeat the same steps as you did with the base coat, twice! (or three times as I like to do it!)
Nu al je nagels voorzien van een basislaag kan je overgaan naar het aanbrengen van de eigenlijke nagellak. Je kan hierbij zowel gebruik maken van de meegeleverde speciale lak of je kan ook elke andere gewone nagellak gebruiken! (al zal het resultaat dan wel iets minder zijn)
Once dried you can go ahead and apply the final coat, number 3! Each bottle also has a number so it’s easy to know which product to use when.
Een keer al deze lagen (ik breng er meestal drie aan) droog zijn kan je overgaan tot de laatste stap, het aanbrengen van de “top coat”. Alle flesjes hebben trouwens ook allemaal een nummer zodat je zeker weet welke laag je wanneer moet aanbrengen.
Here we go again, put your nails under the lamp and let the lights do the job for the very last time!
Now only one more step is left, you take the wipes which you used to clean your nails in the very beginning of the process and wipe your nails once more. Don’t be scared if your nail polish looks matte at the beginning, shine will reappear soon but whit out the sticky feeling you have on your nails right now ;).
Na het aanbrengen van de base coat laat je je nagels voor een laatste keer drogen onder de lamp et voilà!
Het enige wat je nu nog hoeft te doen is even met de pads, waarmee je in het begin je nagels hebt schoongemaakt, over je nagels heen gaan. Je hoeft niet bang te zijn als de glans even van je nagels lijkt te verdwijnen, deze zal snel weer terugkeren en dit maal zonder dat plakkerige gevoel dat je nu op je nagels hebt 😉 .
Now all you need to do is enjoy your nails for the next two weeks and relax!!!
Het enige wat je nu nog hoeft te doen is genieten van je home made gel nagels!!!
After all I’m really glad I bought this kit because it does actually allow me to only redo my nails every two weeks. It’s really easy and quick once you’ve done it a few times, and it wasn’t even that expensive! The only downside is that my nails seem to have become weaker after doing this for about two months now…
Achteraf gezien ben ik erg blij met mijn aankoop! De stappen zijn heel eenvoudig en het gaat best wel snel, eens je het hele proces een aantal keer gedaan hebt. Het enige nadeel is wel dat mijn nagels nu wat zwakker aanvoelen, ik gebruik de set nu ook al wel ongeveer een tweetal maanden. Ook heb je wel een “converter” nodig als je lamp in Europa wil gebruiken ;). Het doet best wel wat er beloofd wordt, je nagellak kan je nu echt tot wel twee weken houden zonder dat enige bijwerkingen nodig zijn!
USA Haul
Why oh why didn’t someone wake me up a million years ago?!?
You probably all thought I was dead, but I’m not!!!
I’m back (yet again) and I’m here to stay!
Since summer is lurking around the corner I made myself some mid-year resolutions (does this word even exist?)
Next to continue to work out (I’ve started the Insanity workout videos) & eating healthy I also want to spend more time on here! I wanna share each and every inch of my life with you guys. I also want to make more Youtube videos, the only thing I’m not sure about is whether or not to do them in English… or Dutch…
Hallo iedereen!
Hier ben ik weer (eindelijk, I know).
Aangezien de zomer bijna daar is (of dat maak ik mezelf toch wijs tijdens het schrijven van deze post in het zonnetje, jawel!) heb ik mezelf enkele mid-jaar resoluties gemaakt (bestaat dat woord wel?).
Niet enkel wil ik meer bewegen (ik ben begonnen met de Insanity work out videos en trust me het is zijn naam meer dan waard) en gezonder eten (met het ultieme bikini lijf in het vooruitzicht!) maar ook wil meer tijd steken in mijn blog en Youtube kanaal, ik ben er alleen nog niet uit of ik mijn video’s vanaf nu het Nederlands zal doen… Let me know!
Anyways let me share some pictures of my USA haul:
Must buy deo tijdens je bezoek aan de States (vooral de clinical strengt one)
Bought these babies on Fifth Avenue NYC! Absolutely love their products!
Gekocht op Fifth Avenue in NYC! DE Redken winkel (ik ben een mega Redken fan 😉 )
New tampons which I haven’t seen in Belgium yet, I hope I will soon though because I like them! They even have a special packaging which is more quiet so no one will know you have a tampon in your hand!
Nieuwe soort tampons die ik in Belgie nog niet gespot heb (correct me if I’m wrong), met een speciale discretere verpakking die minder geluid maakt!
Sephora damage 😉 with a free gift (mirror) for waiting their line!
Cadeautje van Sephora (spiegel) omdat de rij aan de kassa erg lang was!
Raved about a million times but I have to agree with them, this stuff is amazing!
Nog een must-buy! Super product voor je haar, doet alles in 1 keer en je haar voelt zijdezacht (helaas wel niet echt goedkoop)!
Gotta love this one!
Helaas niet bij ons verkrijgbaar dus ook deze Baby Lips mocht niet in mijn koffer naar huis ontbreken!
* No words needed…
Benefit Erase Paste, haven’t tried this one yet…
Benefit concealer gekocht bij Sephora, heb hem nog niet geprobeerd maar lijkt veelbelovend!
Forever 21!
American Eagle
Nike
Victoria’s Secret
I got a lot of stuff if you look at it like this… but we don’t have the majority of these things in Belgium :(.
Wow, ik heb mijn best gedaan 😉 , maar de meeste van deze spullen zijn in België helaas niet verkrijgbaar ;).
See you next time!
Bikerista
Hi there!
Biker is the way to go this season!
So fashionably as I am I couldn’t let this trend pass by without joining it!
I already own my very own pair of biker boots (see previous post), and I also have a “”cool chick” leather jacket but I wasn’t satisfied yet!
So I opened my wallet once again and here is the result:
All these beauties were purchased at Modemusthaves, a site every fashionista (on a budget) should know! They sell beautiful & trendy shoes, clothes and accessories! Please check it out!
Outfit of the day coming soon!
XoXo Elien
Everyday Makeup Routine
Oh my Rocco!
I wouldn’t necessarily call it love at first sight but whenever I see it again I fall in love more and more each and every single time.
Though copied by many nothing beats the real stuff! (I know the price, € 700 to € 900, isn’t that cheap, but hey just look at it!)
Now there’s even a summer version of this lovely bag, only for those of you that actually can effort two(!) of these wonderful bags.
No matter how much I love this beautiful color, I would suggest just going for the black one with the rose golden hardware, it will match with every outfit you wear (summer & winter).
More budget proof, think € 650, may be the smaller version of this baby, called the Rockie bag, with this lime green color being my absolute favorite for spring (and this one even comes with a strap)!
Oh boy how I wish I could show you guys pictures of this bag made by myself! 😉
Keep on dreaming!
Ririlove
No matter where you look, Rihanna is (almost) everywhere (and no I’m not only talking about my blog!)!
We all know about her very recent collaboration with River Island:
This collection will be available in selected Rives Island stores starting March 5th, and luckily (for us Belgians) Antwerp will be one of them!
If you’re one of the unlucky persons without a selected River Island store near you please don’t worry! The collection will also be available online!
But busy as any popular celebrity is, she couldn’t stop with designing “just” a clothing line, to make the package complete she also decided to collaborate with MAC Cosmetics.
The Riri (loves) M.A.C. collections will be launched throughout 2013, with the first one being released in May together with the start of Riri’s Diamonds World Tour concert on March 4 & 5 in New York. This first product to be launched will be the Riri Woo, a signature shade of the well known red lipstick called Ruby Woo.
Together with the seasons the collection will change, ending with a special holiday collection in December which will also be the most elaborate one.
Some more Rives Island x Rihanna collection images:
I’m so sad I wasn’t able to get tickets for the Rihanna concerts in Antwerp on June 5 & 6.
Red is the new blonde
Yes I did it!
After years of contemplating I finally took the plunge and died my hair red!
It came as a bit of shock for everyone in my surroundings but i’ve had this idea for such a long time I decided it was now or never!
So once she took out all of my extensions (after 4 months!, I could start crying…) my hairdresser showed me all the color options and I went for the Redken Chromatic Colors in number 6R (I think).
And here’s the reason why:
At first I was really pleased with my new hairdo, since the red color really makes my blue eyes pop!, but I still get those days were I really miss my long blonde hair! Not only do guys stare at it instead of complimenting on it, but all those perfectly choosen blonde-hair-matching-clothes don’t really fit with this new red anymore. You might think of it as a positive thing (yes it is a good excuse to go and buy new clothes, I know) wasn’t it for the fact that I made myself the promise that I wouldn’t go shopping until we leave for the USA at the 31st of March!
After two months of abstinence (were browsing online stores the entire evening didn’t really seem to be such a good idea after all, seeing all those new items!) I did it again! I went out to my favorite nearby shopping city called Hasselt and went to my alltime favorite store: Zara! And as usual I didn’t succeed at leaving the store empty-handed.
First of all I got this scarf, love all those bright colors mixed with the army green (yes it’s more green in real life)! (€ 22,95)
Next up: the shoes!
I had already seen these online but they were even prettier in real life so I just had to get them! (and they were on sale! € 39,99 instead op € 79,99)
I also needed some new blouses so I got these ones (€ 39,95):
Last but not least, another pair of shoes but Oh how I love them! (€ 29,99)
I’m so glad I found these after seeing their picture on tumblr, can’t wait for the sun to pop out and wear these babies!
That’s all for now, soon more about my Redken love!
Beauty Shopping
Hi there!
Here I am again (finally) with a new online shopping experience I would like to share with you guys!
Since I haven’t had the time to do anything but work in the past few weeks (our store has been soooooo busy, you can’t even imagine) I had to resort to my pc to fulfill my shopping needs. I absolutely love spending the entire evening browsing the web in search for the perfect outfit or beauty products, yet this time I should have done some better researching!
This one evening (about a week ago) I decided to order some of my favorite beauty products at my favorite offline store online! I chose to order at the online Ici Paris XL store, although there is a store in my neighborhood I couldn’t resist the offer of free next day shipping (which would still be faster than having to wait for my next day off to actually go there and get the products myself!). So I dug my Visa out of my wallet, blew off the dust and typed in my pin!
Here’s the result:
I absolutely love all of the products except for one thing: the Philosophy Hope In A Jar oil free moisturizer (€37,15)
Though I love using their shower products (and their fabulous smell), I really dislike this product. It might have a great effect on your skin but unfortunately I won’t be able to tell you guys since I stopped using it ever since the first time I applied it all over my face.
Why? I guess something must be wrong if the first thing you do after applying a product is checking the expiration date!
I absolutely don’t know how they’ve managed to sell this product once with such a smell! It really is horrible, and no I don’t want to put anything on my face (!) that smells awful!
Fortunately I also bought some awesome things:
YSL Touche éclat in number 2; I guess I don’t really have to say anything about this other than it’s just a great concealer! (which you all already knew!)
Yes I did it! I went the high-end way and I love it!
This YSL Terre Saharienne bronzer might seem a little dark but you really just need to apply a small amount for a perfect contouring of the face. (€43,60)
Next I also ordered another Philosophy product which I don’t regret buying 😉
Hands Of Hope is a nice lightweight hand-cream with a nice scent to it! Nothing really special about it, it’s just another hand-cream. (€9,27)
I really needed a new blush brush! It’s perfect to apply my new YSL bronzer in the hollows of my cheeks. (€9,95)
After running out of my Make Up Forever green primer I was in search for a new one to try out and fall in love with… this one ain’t it 😦 Though it’s green and it doesn’t smell awful (like other reviews suggest, it just smells like pistachios! come on you guys surely haven’t smelled Hope In A Jar yet!) it just doesn’t really provide much of a coverage for my morning redness. It does have SPF in it so yay for that! Clinique Redness Solution Daily Protective Base (€20,60)
Last but not least my all time favorite foundation: Clinique Even Better in number 6, it’s the perfect light weight foundation for a medium to light coverage. It wouldn’t suggest using this one after a night out but is perfect for everyday use for someone that likes the natural look! (€27,95)
That’s enough for now I guess, talk to you all soon!
My my my telephone!
Nialaya
If you’ve never heard of this name, now the time has come to change this (and please do it quick!)!
This LA based company creates one of the prettiest collection of iPhone cases I’ve ever seen (recently).
Think studs, gold/silver and our dearly beloved Stars and Stripes (I am a true America lover if you might have not noticed by now) and this is what you get:
But there’s just one problem, yep you’ve got it right: the price! Since they aren’t that “cheap” (think 200$) I would have such a hard time choosing just one out of all those pretty designs. So I would go ahead and visit the closest H&M near you (or any local tiny shop run by chinese people would do) and buy the cheap-ass version so you don’t feel bad when you go and buy a new one next week (at least that’s what I tend to do).
But since looking still is free, here we go!:
But hey, let’s not be sad, if you’re one of those (lucky) people that is able to spend 200$ on an iPhone case, please don’t forget to check out the Nialaya jewelry, it’s astonishing and most important the Biebs is also a fan!
Now let’s look at some other cases I love, first of all, of course, Marc Jacobs:
But H&M does a great job also, here are some of the covers I own:
The gold one however did mess up my network connection :s (has anyone else had the same experience?)
That’s all folks,
Elien
Lucky-Eighte 
