OFF TO CINQUE TERRE

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One very wise person once said that “you can really appreciate life only when you don’t have to study for an history exam”. Ok that wasn’t a wise person, but just me – Elvira the survivor. After spending the past few weeks over books, taking notes of major events I was supposed to already know as a russian (but somehow I didn’t) and trying to memorize dates, I finally got through this exam and … oh, is it still summer outside?
It is. The weather is still fabulous, and it’s high time I got on with my life. This is why Charles and I booked a couple of days in the pretty village of Riomaggiore – situated in the highly instagrammable “Cinque Terre” in Italy.
It will be a short trip but God knows how I need a little getaway! Discover the three products I recently discovered and that will follow me in my Italian escapade:

 

“WHITE SNOW” NAIL-POLISH BY MARC JACOBS

White nails for beach days? This is the kind of classic that does never-ever bores us! “White Snow” Enamored lacquer is the first product I try from Marc Jacobs’ makeup line and my verdict is 100% love and a total and incurable obsession. While the name tends to claim an immaculate white, I’d rather say it is a milky sheer (if you’re looking for an opaque white, this is not for you). Unlike any other white nail-polishes I tested, this one stands out by it’s plasticized, almost wet-like finish that just looks gorgeous once applied.
The lasting-power is pretty good, on me it lasted three days without chipping. Available at Sephora my darlings.

PEARLMATTE FACE POWDER BY MAC

Anything that comes in such a pretty packaging already has 50% chances of stealing my heart – and as you might guess, this limited edition Pearlmatte Face Powder by MAC that features an exclusive “It’s A Strike!” design is not an exception. As curious as it might seem, this powder is multifunctional. At first I tried it as a blush; the color payoff is good (oh that pretty little pink) but a bit too light for me – I like my blushes with more “character”. So I decided to apply it as a highlighter and it turned out to be a real gem as it has those pearlized and satin shades that add a lovely glow to the face. But MAC claims it is also “suitable for eye area”, and indeed, I recently tried it as a brow highlighter and the result was really satisfying!

NEW DIMENSION SMOOTH+TONE HAND CREAM BY ESTÉE LAUDER

If I had to name one type of products that just never leaves my bag it would without any doubt be the hand cream – as you might already know I’m using it in industrial quantities (no kidding). I must have tried dozens of different brands (some better than others) by now and was very curious when one of my favourite beauty brands Estée Lauder launched a hand cream as an extension of it’s already existing “New dimension” line. The Smooth+Tone Cream-Glove is an intensely nourishing formula that penetrates surprisingly fast, has a pleasant, non invasive scent and leaves the skin smooth and silky. When used continuously, the cream is supposed to firm up the hand’s skin and make it’s surface look even – but I haven’t been using it for that long to be able to tell. However, the size of the product will easily keep me satisfied for a good time – a time that will allow the cream to reveal it’s miracles.


Picture : Charles Legrand