Lilla’s Box of Treasures (LBD): September 2012

Well I haven’t done one of these in a while, and it is Wednesday (my day for random posts), and I have a lab report for Biology due Friday that I’d rather not do, so I decided to do my monthly favesies!

Beauty Favorites:

A+D

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahh trusty A+D, how I do love you. I use this for just about everything, but this has been instrumental, along with another product that I will mention shortly, in keeping my hands from being chopped off for a snakeskin handbag. I wrote a rather glowing post about it last week comparing it to the famous Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (if you would like to read that, click here), so I will not go into a ton of detail. Anyway, it is fabulous… and cheap, too! When I go back to the States in October I will probably pick up some back-ups.

The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was given to me a fairly short amount of time ago by a very good friend (hey Marie, thanks schmexy lady!), and I wish I had it for longer because it is AWESOME. Now, you may say that 4 days is not enough time to test out a product. Believe me, for this product this is not the case: I have used it enough times to know it is just amazing! I will wait a little longer to write a full review though. Anyway, it smells gorgeous, exactly like roses. It sinks in really quickly and doesn’t leave your hands feeling nasty, which is great. It is extremely moisturizing (this was the other key player in Mission Prevent The World From Experiencing The Horror That Is Lilla’s Hands In The Winter/Fall), and I like that this has SPF in it to protect my hands from the unrelenting German sun. Just kidding, there is no sun here, especially as we get towards fall. It is supposed to be for mature skin, but whatever. I think I am a very mature 15 year old, and can therefore handle the cream with wisdom and grace.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, I have to confess that this is only a sample size, but for this a little goes a long way and I have been testing this out for a good long while. I really really REALLY like this face cream, it is really moisturizing, has a gorgeous texture, and smells really nice. It is actually a real bummer that I like it so much, because I cannot see myself purchasing the full-size product for a very long time. Why? Because I checked on FeelUnique.com and it’s like 70 quid. Now that may be fine when I am older and looking into higher caliber anti-aging products (not to mention when I actually earn a proper salary), but for now I think as much as I like it, I don’t think I can justify spending 70 pounds at this stage in my life.

The Body Shop Eye Definer in Blue Smoke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the products that I carry around in my Emergency Kit, because it is an easy, one-step look that looks nice and doesn’t need tools. This is an interesting color, it is a non-shimmery grey with just a slight overcast of blue, it adds a really pretty smokiness without looking too harsh or stark. When I finish this, which probably won’t be long now!, I will be buying another.

Lilla Brand Tinted Lipbalm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah ok, I am pretty proud of myself. Maybe a bit too proud. But I don’t care. I really like this color, it is really easy to apply, you don’t need a mirror, and it looks gorgeous whilst still moisturizing. That seems to be a theme for this month, I guess that’s fair enough because we are moving into Fall and Winter. This product also gets bonus points for doubling as an emergency blush!

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Tone-Revealing Hydration Conditioner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly I was a bit skeptical about the tone-revealing properties of this conditioner, but I think it really did work. My hair is not only softer and more hydrated, it does look quite a bit shinier and… well, richer, I guess. It’s nice!

Real Techniques Detailer Brush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This brush is from the Core Collection, and I am really enjoying it! It can be used for a lot of different things, but this month I pretty much used it for lipstick. At first I thought it was going to be a bit big for my lips, but it turned out to do a really good job. It gives nice clean lines, and gives you a lot of control. I love how all the brushes from this set feel, they are super soft and feel really well constructed.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Pocket Bac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This thing is such a lifesaver! I use this nearly every day because I take the tram to school, so it keeps me from dying. Yes. It smells divine, and the little blue beads that just disappear never fail to amaze me. I am easily amused, I know. Anyway, this product is the bomb and I would not be here without it!

The Body Shop Neroli Jasmine Eau de Toilette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one that I have commandeered from my mom (well she never wears it… :D). It is a pretty sweet smell, and very warm. This may be a bit sweet for some people but I have gotten some compliments on it so I am obviously not alone in loving it. I am also pretty impressed with the staying power of it, considering it is an EDT.

Random Favorites

Primandonna by Marina and the Diamonds

I have liked this song since camp, but just recently I went to see Coldplay when they came to my city (it was AWESOME), and Marina and the Diamonds played backup. I actually have developed a bit of a girl crush on her, she is gorgeous, has the most amazing figure, and has a great voice! From what I saw at the concert it seemed like she has a really sweet personality too. She was wearing a really pretty outfiit at the concert, nothing that I could ever pull off but look fabulous on her.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mavnu7iGdl1r9misbo1_500.jpg
With the glasses and the vest…

As Long as You Love Me by Justin Bieber Ft. Big Sean

Ok, this is kind of my guilty pleasure song… Ordinarily I’m not fond of Justin Bieber, but this song is just so irresistible!

Same by Snow Patrol

I have just recently discovered this song, it is so relaxing and sweet, it is just so calming.

My Awesome Typewriter Notebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked this notebook up from T.K. Maxx.for 6 euros (!). I haven’t written in it yet, I haven’t decided what I will use it for, but it is just so perfect!

My Gina Tricot Sweater

Courtesy of Gina Tricot

This is one of my most recent clothing purchases. I think it is so pretty and delicate and perfect for the upcoming months!

My Rain Boots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure what brand these are because my mom got me them from Costco, but please tell me these are not the awesomest wellies in the history of the world. Just try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilla’s Box of Treasures (LBT): June 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since June is my birthday month, this month’s LBT is formed predominately of birthday gifts. Nails do feature prominently, as I got a crapload of pretty polishes, and I just wanted to try them all out!

The Nailpolish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The three nailpolishes which have been big this month are these three from OPI: Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous, Uh-oh Roll Down the Window, and Bogata Blackberry. Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous is a gunmetal grey with shimmer (see NOTD here), Uh-Oh Roll Down the window is a creamy army green, and Bogata Blackberry is a dark red with shimmer.

MAC Costa Chic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a gorgeous, gorgeous coral which I have been wearing unashamedly pretty much every day. Since I got it almost halfway through the month, most days I have just been wearing some eyeliner (more on that in a bit) and this dabbed onto my lips. It is a perfect color for summer and complements my long sleeved shirts wonderfully. Yes, you read that right, guys. It has been like October in Germany for the past couple of weeks!

The Body Shop Eye Definer in Black

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I have been going for  a darker, more smokey look than I normally wear, and have been really loving it! Well, I hardly go smokey at all, so it isn’t that much. I love how I can get defined, made-up eyes using only this eyeliner and a cotton bud. If you are looking for a creamy, black-black eyeliner this definitely isn’t it. However, it works very well for the purpose I have just described to you. Because it is so hard and not creamy, I find that it is much quicker and easier to get the smokey, smudged out look I was going for. This was the one product out of this post that I did not get for my birthday!

The Ice Watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This watch is the medium-sized watch (I believe). It is white with a graphite-colored face and a black Swarovski crystal on the windy bit that you use to change the time with. I was never a big watch-wearer, but I really love this watch! It is the perfect size for me, and I love the face and the crystal. I am a thoroughly happy bunny 🙂

The Bracelet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least I have a product that shouldn’t really be here because I have absolutely no clue where it is from , but I had to include it anyway because I have been wearing it everyday since I got it along with my watch. It is a really delicate gold chain, with bejewelled bobbles placed at intervals around it. It is so delicate and feminine, I really love it. It’s funny, because it is one of those cases where it is an item I would never have picked up myself (I normally go for huge, loud, in-yo-face jewellery, and rings mostly), but I really love it and how it looks on and basically everything about it.

Lilla’s Box of Treasures (LBT): May 2012

As the month of May draws to a close I would like to draw your attention to a couple of products that I have really reached for this month.

MAC Eyeshadow in Quarry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have really been neglecting my eye makeup recently (the result of warmer weather, extreme laziness, and the sudden fascination for bright lipsticks, which I unfortunately am not brave enough to wear to school), but when I have done something with my eyes, it often involves this color. One of my biggest pet peeves in the world of beauty (or anywhere, really) is an overly dark crease color. I don’t think having a brown line in your eye socket is attractive, and it sure as hell isn’t fooling anyone when it comes to eye depth. To me, Quarry is the perfect color. A beautiful soft purple-y brown (I don’t think the camera is quite picking up on that), it is subtle enough that it can actually look like a naturally shadowy socket, but does still provide a unique color. I also sometimes use it as an all-over lid color for a subtle and polished eye look (a nice partner for bright lips, for instance), or to blend out the edge of Urban Decay’s Sidecar eyeshadow. As for quality it is a very nice, smooth texture, and provides the perfect amount of pigmentation for a crease/blending color. I really do recommend this shade; it is a very versatile and unique eyeshadow that you can always depend on.

Catrice Ultimate Nail Lacquer in Genius in the Bottle

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have only recently acquired this color, and I have been really enjoying it! It is a beautiful color, one of the many dupes of Chanel Peridot. I have gotten a ton of compliments on this nail polish, and actually a couple of friends bought this shade after borrowing mine, so expect some drooling if you choose to wear it ;).

Wet n’ Wild Megashine Nail Color in 437F Emblazed 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To me this is the perfect summer color: a gorgeous true coral, even if it doesn’t show up on camera as such (it is actually less orange in real life). I currently have this on my toes, and it looks amazing! Another amazing thing: the price (somewhere under $2, I believe…)!

Labello Soft Rose Chapstick

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s just talk about lifesavers for a minute. Along with my face, my lips have been so dry recently. And then, of course, I went and lost my Carmex. I was not amused. So of course I had to trek down to my local drugstore and pick up another chapstick, and I picked up another one of these guys. Well, two of these guys, as they came in a two-pack for a grand total of €1.99 (!). The color provided is really sheer, NOTHING like the Revlon lip butters, but when applied they just give you the prettiest your-lips-but-better lip color imaginable.

Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Lotion SPF 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been getting pretty sunny this month, especially now towards the end, so sun protection is getting to be really important (click here to see more about sun protection). This has made it really easy for me to just throw on some protection without needing a separate facial sunscreen. In addition, my skin has been especially dry recently (normally it’s combination, but it has been just flat-out dry), and this also has really helped that.

Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, I have been into skincare this month, more so than usual (skincare normally comes as an afterthought to makeup for me). I have been really into this moisturizer this month, because it is fabulous. It is so super nourishing; my dry scaly legs just love to soak it up. Good thing too, considering I have to expose them now that it is warm…

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioning Spray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been looking for a good detangling spray to use on my rat’s nest after coming out of the shower. Apparently your hair is super-vulnerable when it is wet, so you’re not supposed to yank a hairbrush through it at that point. Oops. Anyway, that’s where this spray comes in: you spray it in your hair, and voila, your brush just slides right on through with no problems whatsoever. I was also very excited to see that it comes with heat protection, so I can blast my hair with a hairdryer and not feel bad. Is it bad that this makes me so excited…?