5 Tips to Transition your Wardrobe from Winter to Summer!

 

The sun is up, the beach is calling, it’s nature’s way of telling you to get that coat back to where it belongs (the back…back… of the closet!) and get out all the fresh and comfy outfits.

For me, summer is all about light textures and colors, here are some transitional tips that will help you through

1- Lighten up 

IRO white T-shirt, Mint Green Gap jeans, Yellow Bensimon

IRO white T-shirt, Mint Green Gap jeans, Yellow Bensimon

IRO white T-shirt, Mint Green Gap jeans, Yellow Bensimon

Add light colors to your wardrobe and softer textures.

Pastel  is the “it” shade of the season. The hue comes in different colors from pink, purple, green, coral and blue. Wearing the pretty pale shades head-to-toe is unmistakably feminine, plus it’s also refreshingly au courant.

If you’re not into these colors add more white to your wardrobe. No color is more fresh or crisp than white, so when you wear the hue from head to toe, it results in an exceptionally stylish, high-impact look. 

 

2- Color of the Year

Flower spotted in Bikfaya Flower Market

Flower from my Mum’s garden

Don’t forget about the Pantone color of the year: Radiant Orchid. This is another fun way to update your outfit. Wear the color as a shirt, or skirt  –> quick and easy way to bring your look into Summer. 

3- Patterns:

Floral Dress – Light colors

Floral Dress – Light colors

Floral Dress – Light colors

Summer is the perfect time to play with patterns. Florals are popping up in store windows everywhere. Each piece is going to add visual appeal to your outfit and ensure you are transitioning into the summer with a chic and dynamic wardrobe.

4- Accessories

Marella Necklace – IRO white T-shirt

The winter to summer transition is not just an opportunity to mix up your clothing, but also your accessories, make-up, even nail polish.

 Add a statement necklace or earrings to your outfits and keep everything else simple.

5- Beauty

Go for a glowing highlighter on cheeks but keep your lips matte. And skip the heavy eyeliner, a neutral eye shadow and thick mascara will keep your look fresh.

Nail polish is another fun way to add a little Spring to your look. Again go for brights or pastels!

Bourjois Blush and Eye Shadow – Maybelline GO Extreme Mascara, L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara, Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara in purple – Maybelline Nude Lipstick

 

I hope my tips will be helpful and have a lovely summer 🙂

 

This post was part of the interactive campaign “Closet Swap” by Raise.com.

Raise is a new marketplace where you can buy discounted gift cards to your favorite brands, and sell your unused gift cards for cash!

 

Body Sorbets By The Body Shop!

 

The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturizer infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturized and offers up to 24 hours of hydration.

The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit.

They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long!

The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala.

The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.

SEVEN ways to use the Huile Prodigieuse from Nuxe!

I love multi-purpose products, it helps you reduce time and space!

The Huile Prodigieuse is the ultimate product, if you haven’t read my previous review, you can check it out here.

 

As I promised, I’ll be sharing with you today, some tips on how to get the more use of it.

1. Put a few drops of the Huile Prodigieuse into your bath for super soft skin. It also leaves your skin smelling lovely.
2. Apply the Huile Prodigieuse after shower on your skin for an intense moisture, hydration and toning effect.
3. After waxing or shaving, apply the Huile Prodigieuse to your skin to soothe any soreness, it will also leave your skin feeling super soft.
4. Apply a small amount dotted down the center of the legs as a highlighter on a night out.
5. Apply the Huile Prodigieuse to pulse points as a fragrance oil.
6. Use a few drops on your cuticles to leave them feeling super nourished.
7. Apply the Huile Prodigieuse to the ends of dry hair to help battle split ends.

 

 

I hope you find my tips useful, and stay tuned for reviews about new products from NUXE!

TEN Minutes Office Makeup!

For the people who don’t know me, I am a makeup and cosmetics freak. I spend hours and hours in the makeup department in the malls, I ask questions about new products, textures, tips for mixed skin…

I used to wear makeup, not on a daily basis. But since I moved to my new job, which requires to be always looking smart and sharp, I learned how to apply makeup in a fast way, especially that I have to wake up earlier than I used to before.

For today’s look, I’m using my favorite products this season, and that I use mainly for day makeup.

 

After cleansing my face and applying the day cream, my skin is ready for make up!

I start by applying the concealer:

If I’m at home, I use a brush, and if I’m in the car (while parked, not driving), I just tap it with the ring finger.

The concealer I’m using at the moment is the Make Up Forever Lift Concealer (#3)

More than just a concealer! It contains tensine, an active ingredient with skin-firming properties for the eye area, and vitamins A and E, which regenerate the skin. This multipurpose product also conceals specific, darker areas and can be used as a highlighter on the more prominent parts of the face (cheekbones, forehead, and chin) for added radiance.

Then I apply the Clear Smooth Powder by Maybelline, all over my face and neck. It has SPF25 and I’m using the nude beige (#02). If you didn’t read my previous review, you can check it here.

Then I apply eye shadow, to go quick I use one or two shades maximum, and since it’s a day makeup, I choose the lightest shades.

Here I’m using the Pink Shimmer Cubes by the Body Shop, a palette of four subtle iridescent shades to mix and match. I didn’t know about them, until recently, the first time I saw them, I thought I will be looking all shiny, but it depends on how you use them. I usually use the first two shades during the day, I don’t apply a lot and they give a lovely radiant look to my eyes.

Then I apply the eyeliner, here I chose the Dark Blue Duo-Chrome by Bourjois, I just line up the upper lash-line.

Now is the time to apply the mascara, to enhance the eyes. In this look I’m using the Miss Manga by L’Oreal. 

Miss manga features a 360 degree flexible brush for effortless application.
Its unique brush has a flat surface to intensify and amplify upper lashes while its conical shape capture the lower lashes. Formulated with collagen spheres and polymers for ultimate volume and hold.

To complete the look, I add a hint of blush, I’m using the at the moment the Prisme Powder Blush by Givenchy, and touch of Maybelline Sensational Lipstick (# 250 Mystic Mauve).

And sometimes I apply a touch of the Rose Lip gloss by The Body Shop, to give the lips a glossy luster.

That was a lot of writing, but if you can master your technique, It will only take 10 minutes of your precious time!

I hope you like my look and stay tuned for more makeup looks and tips 🙂

Lush Hair Care

 

From silky hair conditioners to beautiful balms, Lush’s collection of hair products are designed to leave your hair looking shiny, healthy, and happy. Shake off the dull this summer and treat yourself to a range of fabulous hair products from Lush. All hair products are made using natural and organic ingredients so you can feel confident there is no harm done to your precious locks.

American Cream

Bring all the boys to the yard with this strawberry vanilla milkshake conditioner. A beautiful fruit and vanilla conditioner that really does the job – a dreamy, medium strength conditioner for soft, shiny, fragrant locks. This is a thick heavy conditioner, but won’t leave the hair weighted down or heavy. Its combination of honey, strawberries, and fresh orange juice in a thick lanolin conditioner base, will make the hair soft, manageable and easy to comb.

Big

Have a big hair day. This is like having your hair lifted on a sea breeze. We love salt on the hair because it’s great for giving volume. We experimented with it for a very long time before coming up with this, our ultimate salt shampoo. Sea salt is also full of minerals and de-greases hair, removing dead skin cells and dirt without stripping natural oils for a fresh, squeaky clean feeling. We balance the sea salt with seaweed infusion, extra virgin coconut oil and avocado butter for soft, nourished locks. Finally, fresh citrus juices are squeezed in for incredible shine.

Rehab

If you don’t have any prior engagements, then why not spend a night in putting your hair into rehab? Hairspray, bleach, colors, styling products, ill-health; these are all things that can really take a toll on your hair and leave it far away from its natural best. Rehab is about bringing your hair and scalp back to basics and repairing it with an array of lovely ingredients. A blend of fresh citrus juices clarify hair and scalp with active enzymes, while herbs work their magic on tired scalps. It doesn’t take long for this shampoo to restore your hair’s vitality!

Shine So Bright

A beautiful balm to prevent split ends and help hair shine so bright. Extra virgin coconut and olive oils, shea butter and fresh free range eggs nourish and improve the tensile strength of hair to prevent and mend split ends. It works wonderfully as a finishing product as well, taming fly-aways and keeping hair in place for a flawless look. Add to that an orange flower, grapefruit, neroli and rosewood perfume and you won’t want to leave home without this!

New

Spice up your hair! Give it new life. When stress or life goes to your head and your hair starts thinning, motivate those tired scalps with spice and mint oils. It’s intense, but works wonders on irritated scalps or hair that’s thinning. Healthy hair needs a healthy scalp as its foundation. New Shampoo bar has two tasks; to give amazing shine and stimulate hair follicles to maximize growth. Nettle and peppermint infusions give shine to the hair. Rosemary and nettle absolutes are included to protect, soothe and clear the scalp and also give shine.

Retread 

Drive your hair in for some serious breakdown recovery. This is a pit stop for your hair. Just like tyres, the outer layer of your hair shaft gets worn and damaged. Retread is full of ingredients to fuel your hair up again and get it back out on the road. A super-smoothing conditioning cream that gives sad hair its shine and bounce back. We make a seaweed and lanolin base and then add soya milk for protein. Added to that are olive, jojoba and avocado oils to give a deep condition. Nutritious fresh melon juice and yogurt are then stirred through.

Roots

Thine be the glory – Don’t despair, we’ve got a treatment for thin and fine hair. The route to mighty fine hair. Fine hair needs careful looking after. This treatment is packed full of ingredients to revitalize from root to tip. You’ll feel the tingling and cooling sensations of fresh mint infusion and minty oils (peppermint and spearmint) as they go to work revitalizing the scalp, because healthy hair starts at the roots! Extra virgin olive oil and honey soften and condition hair to make it shine without weighing it down. Give dull, fine and thin hair volume and shine by treating it with Roots.

S’N’B Unveils Luxury Collection of Natural Halal Nail Polishes

 

Safe ‘N’ Beautiful LC, the specialist natural nail care beauty house, has unveiled its newest range – a luxury collection of breathable, water-based and water-removable nail polishes. The patented formulas, free of alcohol and animal-derived products are also ‘five-free’ of the controversial chemicals DBP, Toluene, Camphor, Formaldehyde and its resins. And unlike traditional nail polishes the Halal S’N’B formulation is aqueous and oxygen permeable.

With a gorgeous palette of modern and refined colours the S’N’B collection is the newest innovation in natural beauty products first showcased in the company’s world-renowned signature line Snails (Safe Nails), designed especially for children and expectant mothers.

S’N’B debuted the new product range at the Middle East’s foremost and influential trade show – Beauty World ME, that took place at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center from the 27^th through the 29^th May.

To discover more about Safe ‘N’ Beautiful LC., Snails and the new S’N’B collection you can visit their website http://www.safe-nails.com/ and follow them on Twitter @Snails4Kids.

THREE reasons why you should use the Huile Prodigieuse from NUXE

 

Nuxe is a very famous brand in France, and who doesn’t want to know the beauty secrets of the French? 😉

The Huile Prodigieuse is a cult product from NUXE, which is available in two versions, normal and with Gold Shimmer effect.

The Huile Prodigieuse from NUXE is a blend of six different essential oils, including Sweet Almond, Camellia, Hazelnut, and Macadamia, this multi-purpose oil hydrates skin and gives it a velvety sheen. In addition to the natural reparative plant oils, the formula also includes a good dose of healing vitamin E.

As dry oil, Huile Prodigieuse is intended to be used on the body, hair and face for a nourishing and a moisturizing effect, here’s how you can use it.

1-  Use on body
Huile Prodigieuse® optimizes the properties of a facial skincare product or body cream. Just a brief spritz in the palm of the hand is enough to blend with some Rêve de Miel® Ultra Comfortable Body Cream before applying it to the face or body. Nourishment and a beautiful result guaranteed!

2-  Use on hair
To transform dry hair into supple, shiny locks, no need for miracles, just a NUXE tip. Apply Huile Prodigieuse® generously as a mask then wrap your head in a warm towel and relax for 10 minutes. Rinse off then apply your usual shampoo.

3-  Use on Face
Blend a drop of Huile Prodigieuse® GOLDEN SHIMMER in the palm of your hand, and apply it to your cheekbones and lips. The best of beauty enhancers!

 

I have been pampering myself with the normal version for the last two weeks after shower and I’m in LOVE.

I love the soft, pleasant smell of it.

I love the soft texture when touching the skin. I thought that since it’s an oil, it will keep my skin oily and will need a lot of time to dry, but I was completely wrong, it dries instantly, leaving you with a feathery skin.

The Huile Prodigieuse from Nuxe, is a great product for everyday use, it works everywhere and doesn’t damage your skin. You should definitely try it!

Stay tuned for more tips on how to use it for gorgeous effects 😉

Testing: Mollon Pro Nail Lacquer

I was going through my timeline, and I saw a new nail lacquer brand in Lebanon. I checked their Facebook page to get to know more about them, and I liked their products.

 

Mollon Cosmetics is a dynamically developing brand of cosmetics for nail care. Their products are known for their styling and care values. They offer a wide choice of cosmetics in a vast color range which can satisfy the growing needs of the customer.

 

Their cosmetics are exceptional thanks to their innovative nature, modern design, premium quality and attractive price. Mollon Professional Pro offers the highest quality products for professional manicure and pedicure.

Their assets are French quality and style, innovation, effectiveness and, as a result, consumer satisfaction. All Mollon Pro products are designed for professional beauty parlors as well as for the continuation of nail styling and care. Their products are recommended for both natural and acrylic/gel nails.

 

I chose a relaxing color suitable for this time of year, when shifting between winter dark colors and not yet ready for flashy colors –> The Pink Mocha 

The texture is just what you need, not very thick and not very light, after applying two coats, you get the color needed. 

Plus their formula is enriched with hardener that extends lacquer durability up to 7 days, it lasted all week with no chipping 🙂

 

OK, my hands were very dry that day, stay tuned for a hand cream review 😉

Egg-ceptional Easter collection from LUSH!

 

Instead of giving family and friends over-packaged, calorific chocolate eggs this year, treat them to a tasty selection of Lush’s new bath products especially for Easter … much kinder to the waistline and the environment, as Lush bath bombs, bubble bars and soaps are solid which means they are preservative free and packaging free.  And to top it all off, Lush don’t test on animals either, preferring instead to dedicate products to bunnies as opposed to testing on them.

 

NEW Golden Egg bath melt ballistic 

A brand new invention, this egg is a bath bomb coated in bath melt mixture.  It will unexpectedly sink to the bottom of the bathtub while the outer layer dissolves, popping to the surface as the fizzing center is revealed.  The outer bath melt mix is made using our beautiful fair trade, organic, Colombian Peace Village cocoa butter and olive oil from a brand new permaculture project we’re working with in Palestine. Scented with the best-selling Honey I Washed the Kids fragrance, it’s coated with PET free golden luster. 

 

Inspired by chocolate cream eggs, we reverse it and coated the hard bath bomb center with a creamy bath melt shell. 

 

NEW Bunny bubble bar 

 

A cute little bubble bar shaped like a white rabbit, made with a brand new formula.  This one has a similar mix to a bubbleroon, with shea butter and coconut oil, but cornstarch is added to the mix to limit the ‘dough rising’ effect of our other bubble bars.  This means you get a more condensed bar that can be broken in half and used over two baths.  Or you can use the whole things for masses of softening Creamy Candy scented bubbles.  Inspired by the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, this sweet little fellow has a pink tummy containing little cornstarch flowers to float in your bath water.

 

NEW Carrot soap 

 

A spectacular carrot-shaped soap with a bunny hiding in every slice!  The orange part is made with carrot oil to moisturize; while the white bunny inside is made with cocoa butter to soften.  The fragrance smells nothing like carrots however, as we’ve used fruity essential oils such as buchu, lemon and bergamot to really make your mouth water. 

 

Brightside bubble bar 

 

Back this year and this time to stay, as it joins our all year round range after Easter!  A bright and cheerful swirl of a bubble bar to give you a fresh and cheerful perspective.  Scented with a trio of uplifting and invigorating oils, there’s: Sicilian mandarin, tangerine and bergamot oil and just a squeeze of lemon.  All are energizing and also incredibly toning oils that will lift the spirits and clear the mind.  Crumble under the running taps and watch as the water turns into a hazy red and orange sunset with frothy white clouds of bubbles.  

 

The Immaculate Eggception bath bomb 

One of Lush’s innovative double-layered bath ballistics, these are hollow eggs with a surprise inside … crack the outer layer bubble bar and ballistic mix to reveal either a mini chick or bunny ballistic inside!  You can then throw the outer eggshell and its inhabitant into the bathtub and enjoy a vanilla absolute, lemon and grapefruit scented soak.  There are two colors to choose from, the yellow egg with green decoration contains the bunny; while the pink egg with yellow or blue decoration contains the chick.  They both make for a cracking great bath!  

This one can be used all at once, or each bit used for separate baths – so one could last you three baths!

Mother’s Day with LUSH

Just like every occasion, LUSH has a special collection for Mother’s day, full of smells right from the garden 🙂

Check them out…

Rose bubble bar … Sweet and uplifting

 

This beautifully crafted bubble bar will instantly transform mum’s bath time experience into a rose filled voyage through a mountain of skin softening bubbles.  Rose hip oil and cocoa butter grated into the mixture provide the softening properties; while rose and lemon provide the fragrance.

 

This bubble bar has a brand new formula … cornstarch has been added to the mix to limit the rising effect of our other bubble bars.  This means you get a more condensed bar that can be broken in half and used over two baths.  Or you can use the whole things for masses of creamy, softening bubbles.

 

Inhale Exhale bath bomb … Intensely soothing 

 

 

A new bath bomb with two halves – each lightly scented with one half of the two-part Gorilla Perfume fragrance, Breath of God. The Inhale half fizzes quickly, allowing mum to breathe in the light and fruity neroli and rose to relax.  She can then lie back, breathe out and enjoy the grounding effect of the Exhale fragrance, with notes of smoky cedar wood and revitalizing lemon and grapefruit.  This half fizzes more slowly to give mum an even longer lasting soak.

 

Wonder Woohoo bubble bar … Recharge and rejuvenate

 

Inspired by Wonder Woman and created for wonder women! Mums can channel their inner superhero when using this bubble bar, covered in gold sparkle to replicate Wonder Woman’s gold tiara!

 

Packed full of sandalwood and Brazilian orange oil from our best-selling Gorilla Perfume, The Sun, Wonder Woohoo is ideal for overworked super mums in need of a little time to recharge and rejuvenate.

 

These products are available in all Lush stores in Beirut Souks and ABC Dbayeh. For shop details and mail order, go to www.lushlebanon.com

 

Happy Mother’s Day!