A Couple of Hair Heroes

Hello beauties. Happy weekend! Today I wanna share with you all a couple of hair products that I have been testing out lately and quite frankly really enjoying. 

Let's start with this famous Surf Spray by Bumble and bumble. I am sure by now you all know what this is because everybody and their mother loves it, but in case you don't know, this is a saltwater based texturising spray that meant to give your hair a really nice beachy texture as well as volume. 

I find that this spray makes my hair kind of "sticky" but not in a bad way believe it or not, feels like my hair has been dampened by the sea water and air dried, it just looks so full with lots volume which I am really pleased because I have fine/flat/straight hair which is impossible to get some volume going on. I actually pair it with my Bumble and bumble Volumising Spray and the result is incredible. I also tried it on its own but all I get is the texture but as far as volume I just think it works its best with the volumising spray. Note: make sure to use a hair primer before hand because I just feel the texture lasts longer plus I get more volume. I am using the Living Proof Primer Style Extender which I have done a full blogpost on so if you are interested then click here. I think this spray works especially well on shorter hairs because the texture and the volume that you will get is just unspeakable. I am really digging it. 

Moving on to the next hair hero... It is something that I have never come across before as far as hair conditioner goes. It is from a Korean brand called abelle Premium Hair Care which I got from my Memebox Collagen Superbox. 

This is a silicone based hair serum with a very strange consistency, kind looks like a freshly squeezed apple juice with pulps in it. It contains collagen which is supposed to strengthen the hair and makes it shiny looking. It claims to warm up by itself so that the serum can be deeply absorbed into hairs which sounds very promising but to be honest with you I didn't feel the warmness at all. It to me is just a normal hair conditioner, but be careful though because I accidentally got a little bit of the product on my face and it burnt like hell so I guess it does heat up but I just didn't feel it on my hair. 

Regardless of the "heating" part I really do like this hair serum because it just makes my hair feel so soft, smooth and really really nourished. The difference between this and other conditioners that I have tried in the past is that it doesn't leave any residue after rinsing which I really like. I can feel when I rinse it off after leaving it on for about 20 minutes there was really nothing left on my hair and yet it manages to keep my hair silky smooth and soft. A big thumbs up for that because I just can't deal with the "slippery" residue feeling even after rinsing for like 10 minutes you know what I'm saying?! Ohh and may I just say that it smells delicious, like candy cane. Absolutely beautiful!!! 

To use, it is just like other hair conditioners: towel dry your hair after shampooing and remember to leave it on for at least 5 minutes, the longer you leave it on, the better result you are gonna get. 

abelle So Hot Burning Concentrate Ampoule comes in a little glass bottle which contains 20ml of product and it costs $24. I must say it is not the cheapest hair serum out there but it is definitely worth trying out, unfortunately it is exclusive to the box and cannot be purchased separately. I really do like this and wish it comes in a bigger bottle.

That's it guys. These 2 hair products have been rocking my hair routine lately and I hope you have enjoyed this post and if you do decide to give them a try please let me know in the comments below or tweet/instagram me @eflicciardello. Until next time...

Read More

Korean Sheet Masks

Hi beauties, happy Thursday! Today I want to talk about some sheet masks that I got from my recent Memebox orders as well as some that I have ordered from eBay , two are for the face and one is actually for the eyes. I have always wanted to try some Korean sheet masks as they are without a doubt the best in the world. The Koreans definitely know what they are doing when it comes to skincare. 

If you don’t already know, sheet masks are facial masks that are made of cotton sheets and are usually soaked in nourishing serum or essence if you will. They don't require rinse-off, you just leave them on for certain amount of time (usually between 15-20 minutes but I personally like to unwind with them for at least half an hour) then peel them off and pad in any residue with your fingers so that the skin can absorb all the goodness. 

Let’s talk about the face mask from my Memebox Superbox #35 which is Fermented Cosmetics 2. This is called Galactomyces Wrinkle Care Essence Mask by the brand Dermahouse ($2 in this box but $14 if you order separately). I, to be honest, have never heard of this particular brand before but I decided to give it try anyway and I’m glad I did because it is lovely. I left it on for about half an hour and it made my skin feeling super soft and hydrated. I don't know about the “wrinkle” part but it is a lovely hydrating sheet mask from what I can tell. It smells quite pleasant, has some sort of herbal scent in it, not over powdering at all. 

It contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to brighten and hydrate the skin as well as portulaca extract, aloe vera gel which, as we all know are great ingredients for soothing the skin and keeping it healthy looking. It also has some sort of anti-aging ingredients such as collagen, levan extracts and some vegetable plant extract that are fermented to really work deep into the skin and keep it healthy, plumped and youthful. Unfortunately I only got one but I guess if I continue using it I might be able to see some “anti-aging" result.

Moving onto the eye mask that I got from the same Memebox. It’s called Panda Eye Essence Mask ($3). I actually got 3 and have already used all of them. Unfortunately they are exclusive to this box and cannot be purchased separately. Again they are made of cotton and soaked in a rather hydrating essence. This eye mask has a very strong almost medicine like scent which I don't really care for but it does go away a little once the essence is absorbed. 

(This is after both the Panda eye mask and Dermahouse face mask. You see my face is very moisturised and plumped, and under eyes appear smoother and definitely brightened kind of looking like I put concealer on right?!!!)

It is made from pure vitamin C, E, and various fermented components such as honey, beans, mistletoe, licorice and bacillus which are supposed to brighten and treat fine lines and wrinkles as well as supply moisture for the delicate eye area. I do like this mask, and I can tell you right now that after half an hour, my eyes appear brighter and the annoying line that is under my right eye is definitely less visible, but do keep in mind that it does sting if you got some of that essence in your eyes. 

Last but certainly not least is the Red Ginseng Sheet Mask that I got off eBay from an Korean seller. They are shipped directly from South Korea and they are written both in English and korean on the packaging which I really appreciate. 

This is again a very lovely mask if you have dull and dehydrated skin. It just really moisturises and brightens the complexion. It contains red ginseng extract which is commonly used in Korean skincare products for hydrating the skin. 

(Healthy looking complexion, no redness, even toned and hydrated.)

I got a pack of 8 and it only cost me around 8 euros including shipping which is an amazing value for money. I'll link the eBay seller if you are interested but bear in mind that this mask does contain paraben and perfume so if you are sensitive you might want to test it out first.

I hope this post is helping you some way if you are thinking of getting some Korean sheet masks to try. To be honest I haven't come across any Korean masks that I don't like so I think you'll be all right, but again I have pretty normal skin so if you have extremely sensitive skin then I suggest to sample a little of the serum or essence at the back of your ear first and if no irritation occurs then I think you're good to go.  Thank you so much for reading guys and see you all next time! 

Question: what are your favourite Korean sheet masks? 

Twitter/Instagram @eflicciardello

Read More

Memebox Unboxing - Fermented Cosmetics 2 (Superbox #35)

Hi guys! If you follow me on Instagram you know that my Memeboxes have finally arrived after more than 3 months which is just ridiculous. Words cannot describe how much I dislike our custom service but what am I gonna do right?!!! 

Today I want to do an unboxing blogpost with you guys and just to show you what sort of items that you can find out of their Superboxes which contain all full size products price ranging from $30-$70. 

A little background info here for ya if you are not familiar with Memebox. It is a Korean skincare and makeup company that does "subscription" boxes, but what makes Memebox special is that you don't actually need to subscribe on their site you just choose and buy the boxes that you are interested in which is really neat in my opinion. All boxes are shipped from South Korea and the beauty items that you are gonna get are 100% Korean. There are 3 types of boxes that you can choose from: Memebox which contains deluxe samples and some full size products; Superbox which includes ALL full size products, and Luckybox which are some of their most wanted boxes that were sold out before and have been brought back due to the popularity if I'm not mistaken. I haven't been on their website for ages and some of the contents might have changed so I'll link their web page  for you so that you can check it out! 

I ordered 2 of their Superboxes and today I will unbox one of them with you. It's their Fermented Cosmetics 2 AKA Superbox #35. Unfortunately this box is sold out but just keep an eye on their website because they do bring back some of their most popular boxes every now and then and I believe this is one of them. This box contains 8 full size products which is an amazing value for what I've paid for ($32). They are all skincare items. The reason why I ordered this one was because Korea is famous for their skincare products and "fermented" cosmetics are very popular these days and apparently good for the skin. 

According to Memebox, Potent fermented ingredients help to deeply revitalise exhausted and dull skin for a dewy and healthy glow, while powerful antioxidants work to strengthen, condition and smooth skin to keep it supple and firm. Gentle enough for the most sensitive type yet powerful enough to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I can't wait to try all of them as this does sound pretty promising. Will report back! 

As you can see here there was an disaster once was delivered to me. The box is wet and 2 of the items are ruined. I, to be honestly is not very impressed with the condition of the box but I'm still looking forward to using some of the products, and let's face it $32 for 6 full size products isn't even that bad so I'll live with it. 

I won't write down the detailed description on each item otherwise this post will be way too long. I'll include a photo of the description card below, and I will certainly blog about each item in details in the future! FYI some of the products in this box contain paraben so just bear that in mind if you are a "natural" kind of girl! 

1. Bocians Cycle Repair Whitening Spot 15ml ($24) (Serum)

2. cotterang Aesthetic Reparative-K Cream 20g ($43) (Moisturiser) 

3. cotterang Panda Eye Essence Mask 3ml * 3ea ($9) 

4. Tosowoong Time Shift Skin Toner 120ml ($34) 

I was very disappointed with this one because it came totally empty and I was really looking forward to try this. A complete shame!

5. The Skin House Face Calming Galactomyces Cream 30ml ($19) (Moisturiser)

6. SOYBIO + Fermented Soap 80g ($42) 

This is ruined by the Toner but I wasn't that sad to be honest as I don't use soap on my face. Well I don't use any face wash that forms as they dry out my skin.

7. DERMAHOUSE Galactomyces Wrinkle Care Essence Mask 30ml ($2) 

8. DRAN Wonder Serum 30ml ($42)

Total value of this box is $215 and I only paid $32 for it. This is an amazing value for money. Memebox is definitely worth checking out if you are into Korean beauty products. If you are like me and live in Italy just bear in mind that it will take ages to arrive because of the custom but I guess for  the rest of the world shipping speed should be standard. 

As I said before I will do full reviews on all of the products once I get to try them so stay tuned for that, and at the mean time comment or tweet me (@eflicciardello) if you have any problems regarding Memebox. 

Thank you so much for reading and the other Memebox unboxing will be up this Saturday. Have a lovely day beauties! Bye! Muahh! 

Read More

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White Perfumes

Hello beauties. Happy Saturday! Let's talk scent today! I hope you are interested!

Scent is very personal and that is why I don't usually review any perfumes on my blog. Everyone is different and have a particular preference when it comes to fregrances. However, the 2 that I'm going to show you today are just so beautiful I mean everybody and their dogs are talking about them so I have to share right?!!! 

As we all know that Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White fregrances are created by the Olsen sisters and I have to say that they did a great job on both of them. I think they are exclusive to Sephora USA. I was lucky enough to get my hands on them considering I live in Italy. Let's just hope that these two lovely perfumes will make their way to Sephora Italy someday!!! 

I bought both perfumes in roller ball form and I couldn't be happier because they are just so handy that I can actually take them with me on the go. Definitely handbag friendly as well as wallet friendly because they are inexpensive so that you can try out new fragrances without hitting your bank account too hard. 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black is a woody scent with notes of violet, sandalwood and vanilla. I can definitely smell the violet in there which is the main reason why I lean towards this one a tad more. I love violet. This scent to me is very grown up,  elegant and sophisticated. 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White is a floral musk scent with notes of peony and muguet. It is definitely floral like it's described but not over the top, very wearable. I like the fact that this is not a strong scent, very light but it does linger, exactly how I like it. 

The "magical" thing about these two fragrances is that they smell so unique and lovely when you wear them together. You can smell every single note in them but not overwelming. I have been layering them for the past week and I now wish I got the full size bottles. Both scents last really well throughout the day and I normally don't even touchup. They definitely linger well on me. These two now just become my all time favourite perfumes and I honestly haven't even been touching my Chloé ones which is a big deal. 

That's it guys, short and sweet. I honestly think you should give them a try if you can get your hands on of course. They definitely live up to the hype and I think you will be impressed! I just really hope these two will become available in Europe. Fingers crossed... 

Thank you so much for reading and have a lovely weekend with your loved ones! Bye! Muahh! 

Twitter/Instagram @eflicciardello

Read More

4 Steps to the Perfect Lip

Hello beauties, today I want to share with you all my secret to achieve a perfect lip! A perfectly done lip is just so darn important in my makeup/skincare routine and I think it should be important in everyone's routine. I can go out and wear no foundation, no eyeshadow nor blusher but I can never leave the house without a perfectly moisturised as well as a full on coloured lip. This is just something that is extremely important to me like eyebrows for example to some people but to me a perfect lip is always a must. I mean come on, women look much sexier if the lips are smooth and moisturised. Agreed?!!! I get really annoyed if my lips are chapped or dry so if you are like me then stick around for my ultimate tips to avoid all that. 

Step 1. Exfoliate... Nobody likes to see a chapped lip cuz it ain't pretty. Prepare some hot water in a bowl and place your lips over it. Keep your lips in position for about 5 minutes or longer if you have time. You can then use a lip scrub or a toothbrush gently move your fingers or your toothbrush around your lips and scrub off the dead skin cells or any flacky dry bits that you might have. Don't rub it too hard though as your lips might feel burning afterwards. 

My all time favourite lip scrub is this Bubble Gum one from Lush and it is so sweet and tasty. Well I know I'm not supposed to eat it but I like to lick it sometimes. Oops... But who doesn't like bubble gum right?! It not only smells lovely but also does a great job for scrubbing off any nastiness on your lips. You can make your own of course but I just really like this one. 

Step 2. Moisturise... Apply a moisturising lip balm straight after exfoliating (very important). Don't leave your lips without a lip balm for more than a minute as they might become dry again, also after all that scrubbing your lips are thinner and need to be moisturised and protected ASAP. 

My can't-live-without lip balm is this Reve de Miel by Nuxe. I think I don't need to ramble more about this one as it is featured in many of my blogposts and has been a highly raved product in the beauty world. It is as good as everyone says but better, a lot better, so hydrating and thick which I love and it is matte. 

Step 3. Lip mask... Apply a lip mask and leave it on for as long as you can to lock in the moisture and keep them smooth and soft. This step is better to do at night and is optional if you are in a rush. Put a thick layer of any lip mask that you have or a very very hydrating lip balm but has to be a thick layer so that it can really penetrate deep into the lips. Then what you need to do is take a piece of plastic film and place it on your lip and leave it on again for as long as possible, preferably overnight. It might seen a little extreme but trust me you will wake up with the smoothest, softest and most moisturised lip ever. 

(Top: with a thick layer of my Clarins lip balm on

Bottom: with a piece of plastic film over the lip balm)

I don't have a lip mask to be honest but I use a thick layer of my all time favourite lip balm by Clarins and it is as good as any lip mask in the market. This Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm is just so hydrating, so smooth on the lip and I love the thicker texture but by no means sticky. 

Stop from here if you are off to bed but if you are doing this in the morning or before going out then obviously...

Step 4. Lipstick... Apply your favourite lip product to finish off that gorgeously moisturised lip, et viola... A perfect lip that any woman could ever dream of. 

(You see if your lips are nice and moisturised then any lip colour will look gorgeous)

There you have it. My secret to a perfect lip. If you follow these 4 steps and trust me your lips will thank you and every woman will stare at your lips (in a good way) and every man will want to give that gorgeous lip a big fat kiss (in a romantic and sexy way)... :)

Thank you guys so much for reading and remember to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @eflicciardello for daily updates. If you like my style then follow my blog by hitting the "following" button on the top of this page. Have a lovely day wherever you are and see you in 2 days! Bye! muahh! 

Read More

Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner

Hello my beautiful makeup junkies. How are you? Today I want to give you my thoughts on the they're Real Push-Up Liner by Benefit. It's a pretty hyped up product I should say, some people swear by it and some just don't care for it at all, and I, however, have a mixed opinion on this product so without further ado let's start!

I got the miniature version AKA deluxe sample from Sephora and I couldn't be happier because I have been wanting to try for the longest time and now I can say that I love it and hate it at the same time. Is that weird? I seriously have a love-and-hate relationship with this thing and I'll tell you why...

I don't know if you ever noticed from my Instagram photos that I never wear black eyeliner because all black eyeliners smudge or transfer around my eyes. It's just not pretty. It doesn't matter if it's liquid or gel or pencil eyeliners as long as it's black I can't do it. But with this one it's a completely different story. It never smudges nor transfers to my lower lash lines which is the main reason why I love it. It lasts all day with a primer underneath of course otherwise I will end up looking like a panda after about an hour but feel free to use it on its own if you don't have oily eye lids. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the "non-smudgey" part because now I can wear black liner again!!!

By the way I really like the angled rubber tip it makes winged application so much easier! All you have to do is twist the end part and the product comes out then apply it away... FYI put back the little orange "stopper"on the tip after using it otherwise the product will dry out quickly. I should also mention that since it is waterproof you do need an oil based makeup remover to get rid of it. 

Did I mention I hate this eyeliner as well? Well here it goes the reason. This stuff crumbles... I hope I am making sense here. This is in such a thick formula so after a few strokes it starts to crumble and separate into bits and I can actually peel them off which is the strangest thing in the world. I find myself constantly reapplying this eyeliner and quite frankly I just can't deal with it. Does anybody else has the same experience with this eyeliner or it's just me?... Let me know in the comments down below. This is so bizarre! 

(freshly applied)

I don't know if I should keep using it. I like how it looks when it;s freshly applied but after a little while it cracks and separates into bits like I mentioned above and it's just not a pretty look. 

That's it guys. These are my thoughts on the Benefit they're Real Push-Up Liner. Not much else to say really these are just exactly how I think and feel about this product. I hope you like the review and let me know what you wanna see next and until next time, stay fabulous beauties! Muahh!

Twitter/Instagram @eflicciardello

Read More

September Favourites

Hi guys. Happy weekend. I know it's October already but I still want to get this up for you guys because I have some amazing products that I have been loving for the month of September and I really want to share with you beauty junkies out there plus this is my very first FAVOURITES blogpost so I hope you like it. 

There are some products that you have already seen before and some are actually new discoveries which I have no idea why I only start using now because they are amazing. Ok let me just show you what they are.

First up are my 2 favourite products from Hourglass Cosmetics which I had done a full blogpost on, just click if you wanna know more. Hourglass has been my favourite makeup brand for a long time and this Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light is just the bomb. This month I have just been loving glowy dewy skin so I dust this all over my face to achieve that which is a bit strange of me considering I used to hate the over glowing sort of "oily looking" face. However this month I am all over that and this baby just really makes my skin look healthy and radiant. I adore it. 

As far as the Mineral Veil, I really love the texture of this primer and it makes my skin feel so soft and looking matte but not flat if you know what I mean. Such a great product. I am gutted this is almost out but 100% repurchase for me. 

I haven't been using foundations that much in September just because I feel that my skin has been pretty well behaved plus I discovered this lovely concealer from NARS. It's called Radiant Creamy Concealer and I have the shade in Custard which is the perfect match for me at the moment as I am still quite tanned. 

I have heard a lot of people raving about this but for some reason never thought of purchasing it until now, but I'm so glad I did because it is amaze balls. I use this mainly under my eyes and around the centre of my face. This does a great job in terms of brightening my under eye area and hiding any imperfections so really no need for foundation, but feel free to use your fav foundations if you do need it as this never feels cakey nor creasing so even layer it over or under any foundations wouldn't be a problem at all. I can't recommend this baby enough and it is as good as everyone says if not better. It is becoming my HG concealer, and get ready seeing me raving about it from now on. 

Now if you haven seen my Lip Product Addict Tag Blogpost then you'll know how much I love this Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm by Clarins. It is not the cheapest in the market but a little goes a long way with this and frankly it worths every penny. This little 15ml tube will last me at least 6 months and honestly I can't even remember how many tubes of this I have gone through. 

It is extremely moisturising and it also acts like a lip mask which i really like. Put a thick layer of this on before bed and you'll wake up with the smoothest and most hydrated lips ever. Trust me! By the way it is lighted scented because of the essential rose wax in it, nothing crazy just a delight to wear it. 

I have to mention my beloved Mac 217 brush which I have been using every single day for the past month. It's just an all-round great eye brush for either dusting shadows all over the lids or blending over the crease. Cant live without it! Literally!

Last 2 favourites are actually brought back from Sephora in America by my lovely husband and I am so grateful and happy because I am obsessed with both of them and have been using non stop for the past month. Meet: Tarte Amazonian Clay waterproof eyeliner in Bronze and Le rouge Givenchy in 202 Rose Dressing. 

I have been enjoying using just this Tarte eyeliner on my eyes and I am proud to say that it is waterproof. It doesn't smudge, lasts all day with a primer of course because I have oily eyelids. FYI you do need an oil based makeup remover to get it off. Great stuff!

This little lipstick is actually an 100 point reward from Sephora and I am so happy because the colour is gorgeous (bright coral pink) and it feels very smooth on my lip, lasts pretty well throughout the day even after drinking. It just leaves a very nice and even stain on the lip. Might have to look into buying a full size lipstick from Givenchy! 

There you have it guys. Sorry if it's a bit too long for you but I do have a lot favs to share so please bear with me. Let me know what your favourites are in the month of September and I hope you have enjoyed mine. Look out for a favourite blogpost at the end of this month because I really enjoy sharing my favs with you guys. Hope it is helpful and tweet/instagram me @eflicciardello if you have any questions. Have a lovely weekend guys and see you next week! Bye! Muahh! 

Ps. follow my blog so you don't miss out on anything! :) 

Read More

Bioderma Repair Hand Cream

Hi guys! Time for another review. Let's just start!

This hand cream from Bioderma is a nice little surprise to be honest. I picked it up a week ago because my Yes!Nurse Hand Cream is finished and I thought I give this a try. It costs 5.90 euros for 50ml and I gotta say money well spent... (nodding) Well spent!! 

First of all, it comes in a simple and sleek plastic squeeze tube which I really like. It smells really nice like all Bioderma products, kinda like a floral perfume. If scent is something that you cannot tolarant then maybe this is not for you but it is not a strongly scented product I'd say. 

The thing I really like about this hand cream is that it comes out very gel like in texture but after spreading it all over my hands it turns into sort of an oil, not oily kind of oil but it feels like I am rubbing a very light dry oil on my hands if that makes sense to you. Very interesting texture I have to say. I've never used anything like this before and I really like it. It feels light, a little tacky at the beginning but once it's absorbed the tackiness goes away. My hands feel very smooth and hydrated even my cuticles are nice and moisturised. 

I have nothing bad to say about this hand cream and I can see myself repurchase over and over again. I still like my Yes!Nurse Hand Cream but it's different in terms of texture and how they feel on my hands but I like them both. 

(Left: before Right: after. My hand definitely looks more bright and hydrated after)

FYI the Bioderma Repair Hand Cream is paraben free and it is formulated for Dry and Damaged hands. It is hypoallergenic and no harsh chemicals or preservatives were added. 

That's it guys. Short and sweet! Have a go with this lovely hand cream and let me know what you think. It is inexpensive and pretty easy to get hold of. This hand cream, in my opinion, is very nice to use in the cooler months because of the " special" texture. 

As always please follow me on Twitter and Instagram @eflicciardello for daily updates as well as following  for more beauty product reviews. Until next time...

Read More