Once in a blue moon

This new year is going to be a very special one. Not only 10 million people in the world, including me, believes that the year 2010 is going to be a good year but there is a very wonderful fenomenon going to happen on new year's eve. The new year's eve blue moon! You know that saying once in a blue moon? Something that happens rarely, well we have waited 19 years for this to happen and for that we must celebrate it. Every 29 days the earth is blessed with a full moon and most years have 12. I love love love a full moon especially when it is midnight I can just sit by the window and stare at our moon. I always try and find new things on the moon and ever since I was little I see a man falling off the moon with his hands and legs wide open LOL. Do you see that too?
The blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia. Australia and Asia will have a January blue moon which will show on January 1st.
However the Eastern Hemisphere will experience a partial lunar eclipse on New year's eve. Only the Americas will not see this one. But hey don't get bumped, if it's alreeady dark were you are then look out the window and you will see the full moon almost there and don't forget to check the blue moon either today or friday depending were you are. Here it's already midnight so I tried to look outside and take a picture of the moon but too bad for me the sky is not clear. I hope tomorrow it will be clear cause I don't wanna miss anything. Here in Holland at exactly 20.23 we can see the eclipse. So in any case you are reading this blog before that time don't forget to check it.

In honour of this beauty I tried and created a look inspired by some of my favorite youtube guru's: Tiffany, Elle, Samantha and Joshua

I did two different eyeshadow looks. One is smokey that reminds me of the midnight moon and the other one is how I imagine seeing my first blue moon. I added some shimmer to my face which reflects the stars in the sky and kept the lips basic because we are focusing on our eyes.

Products used:
midnight smokey moon
- all over my eyelid and blending out to make a cat eye (avon shadow stix: arabian glow in sea blue)
- in the inner part of my lid (divine sleek palette: sunset blue shade)
- in my creast (same palette: black)
Blend to create a nice shape and decrease the hard edges
I also added at the end a little bit of copper all over the eye (sleek palette:copper)
- really tin line of black eyeliner (palladio: black liquid eyeliner)
- waterline (any black khol will do)

Imaginary moon
- inner corner (divine sleek palette: chaos dark blue)
- creast and rest of eyelid (divine sleek palette: sunset blue)
- highlight ( divine sleek palette: sunset baby pink)
- under eye a thin line (divine sleek palette: chaos aqua)
- white eyeliner YES (you could use any it will blend right with the color and become a neon blue line
- waterline (white eyeliner use a khol liner which will last longer)

Cheeks - Clinique bashful blush

Lips - nude lipliner and believe it or not H&M Rich Lipgloss in color me cute. It is my first H&M cosmetic and I must say I am impressed color stays long and is very pretty.

Here the pictures








Hope you enjoyed this and will have the opportunity to experience the blue moon.
2010 is going to be a good year with more peace, blessings and a lot of love to all.

xoxo

Steff

Review: Sleek eye shadow palette

Last week I was browsing around on the net for beauty products and discovered a cute AND affordable dutch website Alicejohavesentials.
For €6,99 I could have a palette in 12 different colors. Woehoe...right away I wanted to test it out and ordered two palettes. On the page self it stated that those palettes are extremely popular on youtube and a famous dutch beauty guru has reviewed them. So hell yeah: Can I place an order please for a divine sleek eyeshadow palette ;)
I ordered two of them

Chaos: This is a colorful mat pallet. I see a lot of pretty creations coming out of this palett. Well I don't only can play around with the colors but I can mix and match and create a perfect office, cinema, theater, shopping look with this palett.




Here are the swatches first one is the upper row and second one well.. the second row.




Sunset: The name says it all. I instantly had a feeling of putting on a beach dress, loose down my hair, put on my slippers and go drink a cocktail on the beach watching the sunset...ahhhh dreaming sighhhhh.....The shimmery look of this palette creates the perfect eye; for dinner or clubbing or just enjoying the sunset over a cocktail. The good thing is that you can also use the lighter colors during the day for a sweet elegant look.



And here the swatches: sorry if it is a little blurry but still shows the true color on my skin, again same order!



I did a swatch especially to show how it looks on my skin color which is brown and tend to fade in the winter. (would you imagina how the sunset palette would look on me when I'm tanned and really dark?) FAB FAB FAB. I find it important when reading reviews or watching videos on make up to find someone with a skin color similar to mine that way I am sure that it suits my skin. But these palettes are sweet and suitable for everybody. The website offers seven different palettes and all look really fine. I want to order a few more, neutral colors for daily use.

Now some pro's and con's of this order in general

Pro:
- they are mineral. Since my last article I am a big fan of mineral make up and want to have as much as possible in my daily routine.
- Worth money value, for the price I paid I find it extremely pigmented and contains pretty much (1,1 gram per pan).
- In every palette there is black (BIG pro).
- Good customer service. Even if it is the holidays my order came in really fast.

Con's:
- Well I went all out when ordering and have too much bright colors for my like now.

That's it so really no con's for this palette.

P.S: the website is in dutch but they do ship Internationally. You can contact them and I am sure they will help you further with your order.

So as a bonus I added a look for tonights movie date with my boyfried.





I chose baby pink colors. The lightest color from the sunset palett added a grey liner, mascara and some bashful blush from clinique. For lips I used a cheap lipgloss I had in my beauty case.

xoxo Steff

Scary

Today I was driving home from some shopping in the city center and heard on the local radio (Den Haag fm) that they discovered carcinogenic stuff in mascara's and eye liners. WOW this is huge!!!! There was a research on 103 and 19 seamed to have this stuff in it, called nitrosamine!!! The fact is that it can develop (cause it is a special formula) when certain ingredients of those two are in contact with each other. Also they claim that this will not happen if the product has pure raw minerals in them. (From a dutch website)
I was tottaly shocked on this and went straight on the net to check it out. Seems it is in food we eat, cosmetics we use and pesticides. Qoute from Wikipedia: " Nitrosamines are produced from nitrites and secondary amines, which often occur in the form of proteins. Their formation can occur only under certain conditions, including strongly acidic conditions such as that of the human stomach. High temperatures, as in frying, can also enhance the formation of nitrosamines. These cooking styles may be responsible for thousands of cases of colon cancer per year across the world."

This is a big deal because if you keep on reading you can see that this stuff can cause cancer.

Now for the past years a lot has been done to improve the food we eat and process them as natural as possible. The food you eat you have in the hand by choosing organic or non processed food. But my mascara I cannot develop my own!! So I went on a little research and the following mascara's and eye liners are nitrosamine FREE.

1. e.l.f cosmetics/mineral line: eyeliner
2. purminerals: mineral mascara
3. clinique: all mascara’s are natural based (my favorite)
4. L’Oreal Bare Natural Mineral-Enriched mascara
5. After glow (you will find everything organic) Super



These are a few I have chosen and searched for but please start using only mineral based mascara, well not only mascara but all make up you use that way you are sure your beauty does not disadvantage your health.

This is a reality check for us users and our favorite cosmetic lines to take that step in using only natural ingeredients in beauty products.

Take care!

Xoxo Steff

Highlites and Downlites for 2009

Hope everyone had a wonderful christmas and are still enjoying this day. Did you get everything you asked for? I got money which I am really happy with and going to spend it really good!

I made a list of high and low lites in fashion and beauty for me in the year 2009.

Hope you enjoy! Feel free to make your own list.

Highlites

1. Flip-flops and sandals in January

I lived in Dubai for 6 months and well the weather is pretty warm there, even in the winter. As I already mentioned I grew up in a warm place and ofcourse my all time favorite footwear are flip-flops.
On a casual day I would wear my Havaianas, which I have in every color of the rainbow


On a more "formal" day I would wear fancy ones. In Dubai they had the most beautiful ones and several of them looked like these.


I have them in different heights, with or without jewels, different colors to match my outfit and most important comfy. Ok I can handle some nice killerheels but when I go flat it has to be comfortable and fashionable. In that exact order.

2. Jimmy choo for H&M
The biggest shoe addict is right here. Yep me! I remember when I was a teenager whenever I bought a new shoe again (after buying one yesterday and my mom going crazy with my addiction) I would trow the box away and secretly put them in my closet. Whenever my mom asked: where did you get these shoes? I would say: Mom, I have those for years now!!!HAHA yeah I love shoes and now getting older I want to invest more and more in designer shoes. But my wallet still doesn't allow it so oh happy was I when I heard my favorite designer is doing a co-op with H&M.

This is the one I got. I absolutelty love it and my debut with it is on New year!!


3. Fashion in Paris
Last october my boyfriend and I made a little trip to Paris. Well I must say that since I have been to Paris in 1999 a lot has changed and it is now so touristy. But oh I enjoyed the fashion. A lot of stores I had in Dubai I found again here and absolutely loved it. I bought some dresses, really cute for work or just a formal thing, a very nice and warm winter coat, a bag and a shoe.
Paris is after New York def on my shoppinglist for the coming year.

4. Long beautiful hair finally after a really bad haircut
When I returned from my middle east advanture I wanted to cut my edges and put some more layers. There was one problem because my hairdresser is in the south and after moving back I had so many changes to do to my appartment and had no time to sit in the train for 4 hours only to cut my hair. But I desperately wanted to style cut it. So one day I was shopping in my neighbourhood and saw a nice (fancy) hairdresser. So I went inside and asked for the price and made an appointment. All looked great until the lady started cutting my hair. I specific said only a few centimeters cause my hair is not dead and I want layers. (when in the sun my hair tends to get really light but still look healthy and natural, I guess its cause I'm mixed). So the first thing I see is like 10 centimeters of my hair flying on the floor. Ok to make a long story short; She cut my hair really short and not the perfect layers I wanted and the worst part she couldn't even blowdry my hair!!!! Turned out I was her first client...argggg I cried a lot. I never cry over my hair cause it grows back on but this time I was so mad and sad...
Well it has been 8 months now and my hair is really long, almost to my hipbone. But I need a cut. I want some layers and a sideswept midlong bang.

Stay tuned for a before and after picture of my haircut) I discovered a very good local hairdresser.

Downlites

1. None of my good jeans fitting me
When living in Dubai I used to eat so unhealthy which made me gain at least 4 kilo (9 pounds). I am short and i know 9 pounds is not a lot but for me it is. I am also blessed with a natural big frontside so whenever I gain weight it seems I gained 20 pounds. Still 9 months later I have not managed to lose that extra weight and all my favorite jeans don't fit me anymore. I am so bummed cause I love wearing jeans and now I can only wear 5 of them.
My new years resolution is to lose that extra weight and I'm starting with the fruit diet.

When I'm starting I want YOU to join me, that way it is much easier and we will support each other. I will make a blog dedicated to the diet and after I will blog every day on my proces.




2. Wearing way too many layers
This winter was cold really cold and it just started. Everyday when I leave my house I need to check out the window' is it raining, snowing, how cold, what are others wearing etc.
Then I start dressing. First the basics; bra/underwear then undershirt (ussualy a tanktop) then my shirt/sweather and jeans. Even when it is minus degrees I refuse to wear a legging under my jeans. Whenever it is raining or snowing I wear two socks and then the boots.
Then I put on my scarf and coat. Whenever I look in the mirror I look like a bear...I mean hello already with those extra pounds and all these clothes??? People will think I am a little sealion walking on dry land. I think if I die in the near future is because of clothes suffocation.

3. Change of daily routine skin care
After 11 years of using clinique 3 steps skin care system I have noticed that my skin has become immune for it. 5 years ago a dermatologist said I have been using it way to long and had to change but it was working just fine and I was leading a break out free life. But now my soap is not doing the right job anymore and I think I am even getting break outs because of the product. Well it is time to change my skin care routine because I am getting crazy with these little bumps on my face. So I decided that upcoming week I need to go and shop for a new skin care formula. If you have any reccomendations feel free to tip me about.

Well this was my list and hoped you enjoyed it. As I said feel free to make your own list.

xoxo Steff!!

Heal your scalp

Ok maybe 90% of women and most often men suffer from dandruff. It is a big annoyance, itchy and mostly embarrasing; especially when wearing those black clothes. (Which I am the biggest fan of). There are several reasons for developing dandruff. Genetics is mostly common, if your parents have it, it is most likely that you have it too. Stress is also a big cause as well as sweating, allergies and the food you eat.

In the past I have had some trouble with dandruff and a little bit of Head & Shoulders and a lot of swimming in the ocean helped battle it. Well after all these years I think it was the salty water that helped the most. Whenever I go on vacation or move to another place I get this painfully embarasing white "stuff" in my hair. Believe me I have tried everything; from multiple really expensive shampoo to DIY olive oil, lemon, etc. Nothing really helped, it would go away for a while but still I needed to wash my hair daily for it not to appear anymore.
A year ago I lived in Dubai for 6 months and the tap water is extremely bad as well for skin and hair. Well you can imagine that as soon as I was back in Holland my hair was loaded with dandruff and again nothing helped.

Until one day I went into a little Surinam shop in the city center of The Hague. I asked for advise and what the lady reccomended was AtOne with nature: Dry, Itchy, Scalp. I taught oh well maybe it can work, maybe not. I took the shampoo plus conditioner.
I was impressed! In one week all my problems faid away and never returned. Apart from being effective it smells so good. A light to medium minth smell and feeling which blends just right with the steam of my shower. This mint "steam" bath is also good for your nasal ways. After you wash your hair you feel fresh and clean and ofcourse dandruff FREE!!
I have been using it for 6 months now and in between I wash my hair with other shampoo to check the effectiveness. Well I can tell you that still my scalp is clean as never before.

I recommend this treatment to all ladies and gentlemens out there. You will for sure lead a dandruff free life.

In Holland you can buy it in every "surinam toko" for approximately €4,00 for 237 ml. I have been using it for 6 months now and I have extreme tick hair and long. Always wash my hair two times and condition it one. So it is worth for your money.

An US website offers it also for $3,99 you can check it out here: http://texasbeautysupplies.com/ato103.html
A little more expensive here for $4,99:
http://paynesbeautysupply-salon.stores.yahoo.net/dritscsh8oz.html


I would say try it out and lead a new dandruff free life!!!



Till later

xoxo Steff!!

A tribute to Brittany Murphy

So sad to see such a young lady leave this world. I am like the biggest fan of clueless and remember seeing the film again a week ago. They all looked so young and fresh but oh so a fun movie was that.
The most popular scene of Brittany must be the rolling with the homies, because it was her "song" with Allan at the party...Haha it was so cute...

Realise that life is too short so enjoy it to the fullest and embrace your loved ones!!!

May her soul rest in peace

xoxo

Steff

Random

So! How to start your blog with totally randomness. Well that is the good thing of having a blog you can write about anything you want.

Today it snowed a lot in my city. I felt like a five year old again and went playing outside in the snow. I have a balcony of my own where I had my personal snow scoop, which is still there and if I want to dig in I just step out and indulge myself again in the snow. I was born and raised in a very warm tropical place. So for me the summer is the perfect weather. Well actually tropical weather with a nice sea breeze. For that I absolutely hate the winter and spring not even to mention all the rain. But I do for sure love the snow. Everything covered in white, the children playing outside and happy faces everywhere. I really enjoyed the snow today and snapped a few shots to share with you.

So enjoy!!!

















Talk to you soon.

xoxo Steff

Welcome

After lots of thinking and doubting I decided to start my own beauty blog..I want to start blogging at least 3 times a week and share my ideas and knowledge with everyone on here.
Expect tips, reviews, tutorials and more. I will bring color into your life!!

Talk to you later!!!

xoxo Steff