Titanium dioxide in eyeshadows

This is just something that caught my attention when I studied the back side of my Metal Mania palette. The ingredients contain some scary-sounding things such as: titanium dioxide, iron oxides, tin oxide...Now, I am no scientist, so I googled the first one and the trusty Wikipedia says:

"Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO₂. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. It has a wide range of applications, from paint to sunscreen to food colouring. When used as a food colouring, it has E number E171." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxide)12.02.2011

I found the same ingredients in other eyeshadows as well (Maybelline, L'Oreal...), so I guess it is pretty normal and that I should not worry about everything under the Sun :-}

Groupon mania

These days, you can not google anything without being hit right and left with GROUPON adverts. The idea is to sell you a discount ticket to anything you might like to see/do/taste as long as enough people join in. I found this explanation video:

This website is also fully functional in Brussels. It sounds cool and once I beat my initial skepsticism, I will try it. I subscribed to their newsletter and I got a super interesting offer:

Deal van de dag: Mini make-up workshop voor 2 met heerlijke hapjes en cava/wijn bij Make-up Idee voor 69 euro in plaats van 139

The temptation would be strong, but the deal is on offer in Kortrijk. Maybe some other time!

One-day colour contact lenses review

I am not going to lie -  it was pure vanity that inspired me to buy coloured contact lenses. My eyes are a mix of grey, blue and green and I was always curious what the colour contacts could do for me. I gave it a shot one day and I ordered on www.lensonline.be (previously www.myoptic24.be, the two merged together) CIBAVISION FRESHLOOK one-day contact lenses in blue and green, thinking how riveting the look of my eyes will become.

Little did I know! I popped them on and immediately felt huge discomfort. The trouble was, I saw everything blurry and as a result, my head felt dizzy. What happened was that the coloured section partially covered the pupil, effectively depriving me of a clear vision....

As for the colour effect...yes, the original eye colour somewhat transformed, making whichever hue (in my case green or blue) more prominent. I do not believe, though, that the intensity of the colour would be enough to make my grey eyes brown, had I decided to try the brown tinted ones...In fact, the change in colour was so subtle, that none of my friends noticed it. 'Nuff said!

Gel eyeliners review

I am crazy about gel eyeliners so imagine my excitement when I discovered they were finally available at Di and Kruidvat (Maybelline Lasting Drama). This afforable product (cca 12.99 EUR) does not fade out during the day and the colour payoff is amazing. The gel in the container has not dried up for months. The fact that is it packed together with a flat bristle dome-shaped brush makes is a perfect starter combo.

I bought a plum version in New York, I do not think it is on offer in Europe yet. :-(

L'Oreal HIP (high intensity pigments) - I bought it in blue and I am happy to report that the pigmentation is indeed rich and the colour does not botch all day long (available at http://www.allcosmeticswholesale.com/).

ESSENCE gel eyeliner in grey (Denim Wanted line)- locally available (Kruidvat), very cheap (4 EUR). The colour is long-lasting, it has nice metallic sheen to it. Unfortunately, mine dried up within days after I opened it and it is difficult to transfer it to my eyelids.

Final tip: to remove eyeliner from the brush, it is best to use two phase (normally for waterproof makeup) makeup remover soaked in a cotton pad.

HEMA makeup base review

While I am a huge fan of HEMA eyeshadow base, I can't say the same about their MAKE-UP base. It cost 4,99 EUR for 30 ml. It is supposed to mattify and smoothen your skin, extending the longevity of your makeup. The consistency is light and creamy. The first problem I had with it was its white colour, it did not quite blend into the skin and left white powdery streaks. Secondly, when I applied make-up, it started to rub off together with the primer. So, L'Oreal magic perfecting base remains my favourite.



Be my Valentine make-up looks

Two of my favourite Valentine's look tutorials. Have fun and enjoy!

Contact lenses - a tip for an online shop

I happen to be blind as a bat: - 4 myopic to be exact. After fifteen years of wearing monthly contacts (and buying litres of disinfecting solution) I finally took a leap of faith towards daily contact lenses and I have not regretted it.

Dailies - disposable contact lenses - are not only very convenient for travelling but they are also more hygienic (no danger of protein deposits) and are generally a "healthier" option.  I work in an office and my eyes are sensitive to air-conditioning, what sometimes used to result in conjuctivitis.

For years I was put off by their price, but now I am happy to report that a pair of contacts costs 1 EUR/day. I order at: http://www.lensonline.be/, 90 contact lenses cost 45,50 EUR with delivery (Cibavision).