List making app - Wunderlist

As you might've seen on my previous post, I love making lists and I carry a notebook with me wherever I go so that I can note down any little thing I should remember.

Not anymore, though. I'm willing to let my notebook go, and instead I'll be using this app (I think it's also available for Android. I definitely have it on my Mac, my iPad and my iPhone already.) Not only will it make my handbag a lot lighter, but it's way more comfortable in case is something you have to write quickly!

If you're a list-maker, like I am, definitely check out this app! 

This is the link to the video that explains how Wunderlist works.

Did I mention this app is free?

Love,

Maria.

New on my wishlist: YSL Glossy Stain

Hello everyone! :)
If you've been browsing through the blogosphere, and reading different beauty blogs, you might've read something about the new YSL Glossy Stain products, which are a kind of mix between a gloss, a lipstick and a stain, according to the brand itself. As a stain lover, I couldn't skip the chance of trying it out, or wanting it desperately at least.

This afternoon, I'm heading to the YSL counter. I actually don't know if it has been released yet in Spain (very professional of me, but I really think it has, because of all of the ads everywhere), but I always love looking at pretty expensive and beautiful things, so I will go on my trip anyways!

Just in case you have been living under a rock for the past month, I will take some pictures for you guys this afternoon, and some swatches too! For now, I will show you a little sneak peek into the product itself:

If I actually purchase any of these, I will go for any of the brighter colors, in the middle or first column, probably. The thing with the YSL Glossy Stains is that they change over time, like the kind of oxidization process that occurs with some foundations, so the color changes and can become deeper. This is something to take into account before purchasing a really dark color, I think, because it can end up looking really vampy!

I have heard a lot about #11 Rouge Gauche, a true red, but I really wanted a hot pink or fuchsia, so I will swatch them all and decide if I buy a couple of them! (They are 25€, so I will have to pick really well!)

I hope you are as excited as I am, because I wouldn't spend 25€ on any other lip product, I assure you! They better be as exceptional as they sound like. I will tell you everything about them this same afternoon, I hope you have a great day! 

Love,

Maria

On my wishlist... (part 2)

Hello everyone!

This is the second installment of my "On my wishlist..." post series! :) I've starting thinking lately about what kinds of products I really want to purchase, even if I don't have the money (ugh), or I might be willing to splurge on.

In this installment, I will show you a couple of nail polishes I've really wanted to buy for some time, and since it's the spring time, very spring appropriate too!
(I did say this second part would be about eyeshadows and eye-related products, but in the end I wasn't able to collect a big enough collection to show you, so the third installment will be about these, I promise!)

ILLAMASQUA VIRIDIAN

Well, I admit this isn't your usual spring color, but those peacock tones just won me over! I am JUST ABOUT to convince myself to click the "purchase" button on the Illamasqua site, but I just think: 

"Wow, they're so beautiful! But... two polishes for £13.50 is not an AMAZING bargain, and add the really high (£8.50) shipping costs, and that just adds up to £35.50, which comes up to 42,3€... and that is A LOT, for just TWO polishes. Don't you think?"

Yeah, that's what I think. And OMG, is it a beautiful color already, but will I spend 1/4 of my savings on polishes? I don't know yet (I probably will, clicking on a button seems to be such an easy way out of my dilemma!)

ILLAMASQUA COLLIDE

This bright pink neon polish is the sister of my beautiful "Rare", with all its neon beauty showing even from the bottle. I just can't resist bright colors, I'm afraid. This is the other nail polish I was going to buy, but... I mean, IT'S SO EXPENSIVE. :(

(Pictured by Temptalia)

OPI KISS ME ON MY TULIPS

It looks quite similar to Collide, right? Wrong, this is a very bright pink, but not a neon at all, I'm afraid.  And I think this color is on the bluer toned side of pinks, because compared to those pictures of "Collide" above, it looks way pinker!

The thing is, I have actually ordered this one already from BeautyBay, before I had started swooning over Collide and Viridian, but this one seemed to me to be the perfect spring color! If I hadn't ordered it, though, I don't know if I would have if I had thought about Collide a little before.

Even so, I am just really excited to see this nail polish arrive home. Come with mama! 

ILLAMASQUA LOAD

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

This off-white with yellowish tinges has won my heart. In spring, I tend to do a lot of bright lips, and maybe even some bright eyes, and when I don't want my nails to compete for attention, I would totally put on a nude or a color like THIS ONE.


I really like this one, but it didn't make my Illamasqua basket because of my obvious problems with the price, and I really prefer Viridian and Collide to Load, I'm afraid to say. (I think I will be able to tone down my makeup for those beautiful colors. )


ILLAMASQUA LAMENT

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

Oh you beautiful color!


I love corals. Really beautiful corals like this one, but I'm afraid I have a really nice KIKO nail polish which is similar (not a dupe, though), but taking into account Illamasqua's steep prices, I think KIKO will have to do for now!


ILLAMASQUA GAMMA

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

If you know me even the slightest, or you have read a couple of posts on my blog, you'll know I love my nails BRIGHT. And neon is the brightest you can get, isn't it?

Well Gamma, is definitely that other sister, the third one in tow, after Rare and Collide, she's my third neon love. She still hasn't made THE BASKET (the legendary Illamasqua basket only few products are able to fit in!), because I'm not too much of an orange girl. I have a couple of cheapish (KIKO) orange polishes, which I love because they're great quality, but nothing like this neon, though!

Until I have a better financial situation, I think this beauty won't be able to come with me either! Oh, boo!

I hope you really liked my nail polish wishlist, because it has definitely given me a lot of ideas about what kinds of nail polishes I love, and what I am going to save up for! 

Are you eyeing any of these or other springy nail polishes? Tell me in the comments below!

Love,

Maria.

On my wishlist... (part 1)

Hello everyone! 

I have currently noticed I have my Notes app full of little ideas of things I really want to get. Even so, there are many more that I haven't listed on my phone, and I wanted to collect all of these beauty products I am DYING to try!


I hope you enjoy my wishlist, and maybe it will give you some inspiration on what new products to purchase (if you have the budget to do so, because I haven't)!


1. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Since my conversion to the "au naturel" makeup routine, I have started thinking that a tinted moisturizer with SPF (such as this one, which has SPF 30) might be the wisest pick for my skin. And the fact that this tinted moisturizer is by NARS (my makeup brand crush) and is supposed to be an illuminating product, makes this all the more alluring. Oh, and it's oil-free! 

1 Finland, 2 Alaska, 3 St. Moritz, 4 Annapurna, 5 Cuba, 6 Malaga, 7 Seychelles, 8 Martinique, 9 Polynesia

It comes in 9 shades, and I have heard some (very few, I assure you) complaints because of the fact that the lightest shade (Finland) is not light enough for some people. But apparently, it does cover a really large range of colors, which is always a great thing for the darkest skins and lightest skins (I should know).

I will be trying out this product, to see if I am able to find the perfect shade for me, although I will pick a shade one step darker than my winter skin color, because I want to be able to use this in summer too, and since it's sheer, I think I might be able to use it all year round! (HOPEFULLY)

This product costs: 38€/42$

(Doesn't their skin look amazzzzzing?)

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

I admit I have been dying to try this foundation too, since it's sheer too, and maybe, for the same reasons (illuminating, my-skin-but-better...etc.) although it doesn't contain any SPF (bummer) but, on the other hand, it's WAY CHEAPER (hey, I CAN afford this one right now!)

I've heard it has a very strong fruity scent WHILE applying, but once it's on your skin, it fades away. I must say, I love fruity scents, and scented makeup doesn't bother me the slightest, but I know some people really hate/can't cope with scented things. But, if it smells really well, I can't say no! (My skin is not very delicate and doesn't get irritated by these kind of things, but if you want to try this product and have these issues, you may want to try this out before you purchase it!) 

It apparently treats your skin too, making it luminous and such, but I can't believe this until it WORKS for me. There are 5 shades available, and they all tend to look quite yellowy, which for me is a plus because I have a pale-but-warm skin color. 

Definitely, will be trying this one out in little to no time (and I will post a review!)

Price: 18€ (approximately)/£10.99 (I haven't been able to find the price in $, but I don't even know if it's available in the US, actually. It is available in Canada, though.)

3. NARS Blushes

I am not known for my love of blushes, that is true, I'm more of a eyeshadow girl (now turned into a lipstick girl). I don't know how these changes come and go, but right now, I just want BLUSHES. Really beautiful blushes that I can use when having no other makeup product on, or with a very light foundation (such as the ones listed before). This is what the natural makeup look is doing to me! 

And, what brand is really well-known for its beautiful blushes? Well, of course, my beloved NARS.

I am currently crushing on a couple of shades, but I have to go to the NARS counter and SWATCH THEM ALL to really decide what I want to buy. 

Price: 29€ (D'OH!)/$28.00

Right now I am in love with:

A) GAIETY

(Picture by Temptalia)

I have been hearing all these amazing reviews about this color, and the fact that it's such a beautiful pink, has made me REALLY WANT this blush! 

B) EXHIBIT A

(Picture by Temptalia)

I know I might probably NOT be able to pull this off at all, but a girl can dream, right? 

Actually, worn lightly, it gives a beautiful glow (as seen on pictures), although you have to be very careful and be sure to tap off the excess from the brush you use to apply this with!

C) TAJ MAHAL

(Picture by Temptalia)

With this blush, I don't know. I have seen this on some medium skintoned people and it looks amazing! But will I be able to pull this one off? Hopefully! (If applied lightly, maybe?)

D) DESIRE

This blush looks a little warmer than Gaiety, but from the swatches I've seen, they don't differ that much! (Maybe I'm terribly wrong, because I haven't actually been able to swatch the real thing!) In the European NARS site, this color is NOT available. 

4. Highlighter

I actually haven't got an item that I really really want in this category, but I really really want a beautiful highlighter! I have heard a lot about NARS Albatross, but I want to look for cheaper alternatives. Any ideas, anyone? 

5. Illamasqua blushes

Since my love story with their nail polish in 'Rare', I just can't believe I haven't owned anything from this brand YET! And since I'm in a blush rage right now, I checked out their blush color range. And believe me if I tell you that...: WOW-ZA. THESE are really pigmented and bright blushes, which is something I adore, and it really makes NARS dull blushes (most of them, except for the ones I mentioned before) look bad. (Am I really criticizing NARS? Who am I?)

Prices: 19.73€/$26.19/£16.50

All of these blushes are matte, unless stated otherwise (in blushes like Morale, etc.)

As I will have to purchase these online, I want to really check out a LOT of reviews and swatches before I decide. But these are the ones I'm already sold on:

A) PANIC

It's described as a bright cherry red, which makes me fall in love with it. Here is a comparison between NARS Exhibit A and Illamasqua Panic.

(Picture by Lilllgoddess)

B) HUSSY

(Picture by The Beauty Codes)

This is a bright watermelon blush color, and as you will be able to see in the swatch underneath, it is bbbbeautiful. I can see myself wearing this one on a summer night! But, on the other hand, maybe when I'm tanned this can be too light? Hopefully not, but buying online is full of risks.

(Picture by KarlaSugar)

C) TWEAK

I hate the fact that these blushes are pictured unrealistically and dully on the Illamasqua website, because they don't look that alluring on these pictures.

Tweak is describes as a Hot Pink, but from the swatches I've seen (next picture) it looks more of a pinkish-orangey red, which is exactly what I'm looking for! I think it looks a little like Exhibit A from NARS, so maybe I will purchase that one first, just in case!

(Picture by KarlaSugar)

___________________________________________________________________________________

I hope I didn't overwhelm you with products, but I assure you there are MANY more on my list! So I will be doing a second part related to eyeshadows, liners, etc. so that eyeshadow girls won't feel left out! (I know how you feel, I used to be one of you! Still am at heart!)

If you have any of these products, would you be so kind as to tell me what you think about them? Total fail or really worth the splurge? It will be really appreciated!

Love,

Maria.