Up To Do

Hey guys!

Yesterday I tried a new concept, which is called « Up To Do – Beauty Bar ». Right there, it says it all already.

I was really seduced by the concept that I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys.

Up To Do is a beauty bar where you can get your hair or/and your make up done, BUT:

- it’s unexpensive (15€-20€)

- it’s quickly done (10 to 20 minutes)

- it’s different from what you usually get at hairsalons, it’s more modern.

Their Pop-up store is opening today, at 1PM, until July 13th. After that, they will open at Shopping de Woluwé in September.

Of course I tried and here is the result

Do you like it? I was all womanized at once! It’s a change But I LOVED the hair so much. My friend Charlotte (Blondie Market) also tried an hairdo, so pretty as well

And the GREAT news of the day is that Up To Do won the Starter Program (belgian program for new concepts)

So congrats to them, but make sure to check it out, it’s really worth it!

Pop Up Store Up to Do
Rue Jean Stas 10, 1060 Bruxelles

Bobbi Brown Make up

Hello guys!

I wanted to start this week by introducing you to the make up I had done last week by Bobbi Brown.

We’ve already talked about make up around here, but for once I wanted to try something new. Something new that would still be me, and make me confortable wearing it.

I went to Smets on thursday to get my make up done but the Bobbi Brown make up artist, and I was blown away. She completely understood what I was looking for, what I wanted, and what my skin needed.

She did not only did my make up, but she taught me a few tricks on make up, and skin. I’m really gratefull, it was seriously needed (I have such a dry skin a didn’t know how to handle it).

So anyway, I told her I wanted something not too over the top, but not the make up (eye liner + mascara) that I usually do.

And here’s what she came up with!

And later on

It seems stupid but it was a big step to have such a different make up! What do you guys think about it?

xx

Prodigieuse

Hey guys,

today I want to introduce to you my new perfume, and by the way let you know that it finally is sold in Belgium. DAMN RIGHT!

This perfume is no other than the Prodigieux by Nuxe.

To be completely honest, I usually have such a hard time with perfumes because I’m really difficult. I don’t like it when it’s sweet and too girly. I like something strong and spicy. And not too popular.

I wore the Diesel Fuel for Life for many years, then I went for Rituals n°7 for a few months. Since many years though, I use l’huile Prodigieuse de Nuxe as perfume sometimes, especially during summer. I just always LOVED the smell so much!

While in France last summer, I was SO glad to discover that Nuxe had made a Prodigieux perfume. Sadly when I came back to Belgium I realised it wasn’t in sale here. After many months, I’m so glad to say that it’s finally here for us to buy.

But you don’t have to. It’s my smell now, YA KNO WHAT I MEAN RIGHT???

I even got a personalized bottle! Lucky me

Have a smelly weekend, CIAO!

Make up inspiration

Hey guys!

You know me, I’m not so much into beauty, mainly because I like simplicity and because it takes time. I do prefer sleeping later in the morning than put make up on my face. I might look like crap all day long, but honestly I don’t really care.

Obviously, this is only for my days at the office. The other days, or at night, I like to put some make up on, but always staying very natural.

I always enjoy finding inspiration, and I have just found my new make up muse, Cara Delevigne. She is so natural, and she has really strong brows, which I do too. I’ve been brought to believe that’s it’s part of the make up, and can really change a face when you pay attention to it.

I have realized that on photoshoot, they often accentuate her brows and her lips, and I find it so beautiful. It’s not over the top, yet we can see there is some make up going on

I’m honestly no so good with make up on my eyes. I’ve tried it many times, even with make up artist, but it just never works for me.

Working on my brows is something I’ve been wanting to do for long, but they’re not easy: big, long air, so really hard to make a shape out of it. Add color to it wouldn’t change anything. So a brow gel was the only option. I bought mine at Sephora in NYC. I believe the brand is Anastatia.

(btw I’m looking for a new one, if you have any idea where to find one in Brussels…)

After, I’m working on my lips.

I’m always looking for some new lipstick, really colorfull ones, and these are the one I use lately

Revlon Raspberry Pie – Biguine Deep Red – Unknown brand bought in London (old) Cherry Pop

I recently bought the Revlon and the Biguine and I really love their color. The really red one I’ve had for a few years and it’s so perfect. Long lasting and such a pretty color. Do you guys have any colors/lipstick to recommend? I always find it so hard to find pretty lipsticks

With that I usually add some eyeliner, mascara and some blush. AND TADAAA

If I can add one last tips, if there are any other super dry face skin just like me, I have a magical product to share with you

ETAT PUR Actif Pur A30.

I apply one of two drops on my face, where it’s really dry every other day. A few hours later, the dryness is GONE! It’s so amazing. And let me tell you, with a freezing weather like this one, I’m so glad I have it!

What about you guys? What is your beauty routine?

HAIR

Late posting it is, I completely fell back asleep after my alarm stopped ringing
(and between us, when I finally did wake up and looked outside, I would have prefered to never wake up and stayed in bed all day)

So today I want to talk to you about hair. Lately I’ve been thinking of changing mine, but I’m not quite sure yet, so I thought I’d ask you guys. It’s all about the color because with my crazy curls, I can’t do much more than keeping them long.

First things first, my natural hair color (I had to go back in time, like 7 years ago!)

It’s kind of dark blond/light brown, or however you want to call it.

I’m now blond, as you know, but I want change. And I thought about a few options:

- go back to basics and to my natural hair color

- in the middle and go for an ombre

Really love this one

- go COMPLETELY overboard ang go RED

My mom would love it and jump up and down of happiness, and my bestfriend would probably kill me and make fun of me

Truth is, I’ve already been a red head, for many years when I was a child. I tried henna once with a friend, and my mom loved it so much I kept on doing it for years…

(I do hope you’ll enjoy the sight of my beautiful bathingsuit)

- or not do anything and leave my hair as it is.

What’s your take on it, what’s your take on it???

Winter Beauty Essentials

Hello guys!

How are you? I have been sick since 3 days now, and it drives me nuts! Which explains why I’ve been posting so late…

Today, I wanted to share with you my winter beauty essentials. I have a really (like REALLY REALLY) dry skin, so it’s really important that I hydrate it as much as I can. My hair get easily damaged with the cold, the blow dries, the curling iron,… So here are my favourite products!

HAIR

Bumble&Bumble Let it Shine Shampoo and Creme de Coco Conditionner – Huile Prodigieuse de Nuxe – Kiehl’s Superbly Smoothing Argan Hair Pak

As you probably know, I’m addicted to Bumble and Bumble, and almost all of my shampoo and conditionner come from that brand. The Let it Shine shampoo is amazing and really works. Since I have curly hair, they are often dry and it’s hard to have them shiny, but this one works perfectly (I also use the Let it Shine Conditionner, but the shampoo works by itself too). The Creme de Coco smells really yummy (even if I don’t usually like the Coco smell) and is really rich, which definitly helps with dry and damaged hair.

These two are really good for winter, but I never use the same shampoo/conditionner or at least the same combination twice in a row. I always have 4 or 5 shampoos and conditionner at a time, most of them from Bumble and Bumble.

The Kiehl’s mask is just a dream! I bought it in New York in june, and since then I’m obsessed with it (even though every time I’m affraid to use it because I don’t want to empty it, you know the feeling?). The Argan smell is just amazing, and stays on your hair at least until the next day, which I really really enjoy. I use it when my hair are really damaged or when they are really tangled. I leave it on from 3 to 10 minutes, and after, when I wash it off, the hair feel smooth and silky…

I use Huile de Nuxe not very often, just when my hair need a little boost or when they are really really dry. I have another bottle with a spray, whitch make it a lot easier to applicate on the hair. I concentrate especially on the ends. I then attach my hair in a bun and leave it on for 45min, or an hour it depends. After, I’ll just need a good shampoo and a conditionner to make sure the oil left, and I’m good to go!

BODY

L’Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream - Huile Prodigieuse de Nuxe - Rêve de Miel de Nuxe

Nothing better than L’Occitane body cream to hydrate my dry skin. I especially use it on my legs. It hydrates them perfectly, which is honestly really needed. When I don’t, they like snake skin!

You will soon enough understand that I use the Huile Prodigieuse for all the parts of my body. My legs, my hands, arms, legs, face, chest,… It hydrates and leaves a delicious smell. I’m close to obsessed with the smell of that oil.

Rêve the Miel is a hand cream, which I LOVE to use when I’m doing my manucure. I usually change my nailpolish every 3 or 4 days, so that’s how often I use it. It hydrates my hands and my nails, and it also has a delicious smell (really close to huile prodigieuse)

FACE

Actif Pur A30: Vitamine PP from Etat Pur – Sampar Equalizing Foam Peel – Sampar So much to dew midnight mask – Sampar glamour shot eyes - Huile Prodigieuse de Nuxe - Guinot Lip Balm

The Actif Pur A30 is for severe and constitutive skin dryness. I use it by little drops where my skin really needs it (my forehead,…) It’s magical!

I use the foam peel once in a while, what I love the most about it is its smell (essential oils), and that yummy smell stays on the skin.

I find the midnight mask perfect to use after long party weekends. It feels like it hydrates, and make my skin all better after lots of work, one too many cocktails and a few cigarettes. You just have to wash it off, and it feels like you have baby skin all over again.

The glamour shot eyes is only for the days when I may have too little to sleep the night before, and I have what looks like couching bags under my eyes.

L’huile Prodigieuse, is just as perfect for my face, as for the rest of my body!

The Guinot lip balm is for me the prefect lip balm! It’s greasy but not too much, and it ACTUALLY hydrates the lips, like really. Labello for example; when I use those, I feel like it will stay greasy on the surface on my lips, but will never hydrate it. With the Guinot lip bam, it’s almost like I was putting hydrating cream, when actually it’s a balm. Am I clear enough? Anyhow, you’ve got to try it!

You should now have a healthy skin for winter!

xx

Dark Lipstick

Hello guys!

Today I’ll talk to you about…BEAUTY STUFF. Yup, this is happening! You definitly know I’m not really into beauty and make up (I love it, don’t get me wrong, but do not wear that much of it).

Still, there is something I can’t stop thinking about, these past few days… DARK lipstick. It’s stuck in my mind since I came accross the Azaelia Banks lipstick for MAC on Elin Kling’s blog. I mean, look at that killer lipstick

Pretty uh?

I’ve been into dark lipstick since a while now, and already last year when I went to the USA I was looking for a cool shade of dark lipstick but that would still be « easy » to wear. I went for a purple/brown color, which is the MEDIA shade at MAC

You can see how it looks worn HERE

But since I have seen the Azaelia Banks lipstick, I thinking about something darker or/and something more purple. Like these

You know what I mean?

I’ve done some research and I found some great lipstick that could do the trick

Film Noir by M.A.C

Cyber by M.A.C

Scarlett Empress by NARS

Volga by NARS

You should also look for the following for which I couldn’t find a picture:

- Bobbi Brown: myrtille satiné 49
- Bobbi Brown: violet nacré 15
- Sephora: bewitch me R24

So, would you dare to wear some dark liptsick? I WOULD!
I bet that’s going to make some happy boyfriends

My Beauty Essentials

Hello guys!

How was your weekend? Mine was really realaxing, I stayed home, chilling in my jogging, watching movies,… AND making some friendship bracelets! I had bought the material to make them a few weeks ago but never took the time to start and to learn. I’ll show them to you soon, or you can follow me on Instagram @lucievd I post pictures of them up there.

I haven’t done a beauty post in a long time, even though I planned on doing this one for a while. I just didn’t take the time and I finally did.

I will show you my « everyday » products.

You know me, I’m not so good with beauty stuff, or I just simply don’t spend to much time caring about it. Here are the products I use on an everyday* basis

1. ETAT PUR DEMAKE UP: I discovered the brand not so long ago and I LOVE it! That demake up lotion is sooo perfect! It takes my make up off in a second, isn’t greasy, so easy to use, really perfect!

2. ETAT PUR HYDRATING CREAM: I have a really dry skin and this cream is magical! It hydrates it perfectly (even when I don’t use it everyday…)

3. GARNIER BB CREAM: This one is perfect when:

- I feel like a vampire because of my really white skin (sun, I’m still waiting for you)

- I want to put make up on (which doesn’t happen everyday, far from that even…) it works like foundation, it hides every little spots or redness on the skin. I’ve heard there is a lot of other BB cream that happens to be better than this one, but for my small use of it, and my basic knowledge of make-up, it’s more than fine.

4. SAMPAR URBAN EXPRESS MOUSSE: Really great to wash my skin on an everyday basis, plus it smells like essentials oils, I love it!

5. SAMPAR EQUALIZING FOAM PEEL: Perfect peeling without pearls in it, so it’s really soft with the skin. It’s an oil that becomes a mousse with water. This one also is with essential oils, and you’ll have that smell on your skin for a few hours.

6. SAMPAR 3 DAYS WEEKEND: This is, by far, my favourite product. I often feel my skin to be too pale, and so far I have tried many solutions. UV but I hate it, self tanner products, but I always look orange, powder but it always looks fake,… until I tried this one. It acutally brings out the colors of you skin (melanin), and gives you a glow. There’s nothing fake about it, it just helps you bring out what’s already there. This one is for the face, but they have also one for the body.

*I wish it was everyday, it’s more like every other day

As you know, I don’t wear so much make up, but this is what I will wear if I have to put some on.

(Going from the far left all the way to the right)

1. MAC BLUSH: to give a little bit of colors to my cheekbones

2. BOBBI BROWN BRONZING POWDER: The only bronzing powder that doesn’t look too fake. In general, I find Bobbi Brown’s product to look very natural.

3. L’OREAL AGE REWING: This product is to hide dark circles, I love this one because I don’t like when it’s actual liquid that you have to apply directly on the skin.

4. CLINIQUE EYE LINER: I can work with pretty much every eye liner, either it’s brush or more like a pen. This one is like a still brush, really easy to apply.

5. YVES ROCHER MASCARA

6. CLINIQUE MASCARA

7. HELENA RUBINSTEIN

As for the mascara’s, I haven’t found the perfect one so far, so I’ve been using these 3. The one from Yves Rocher especially at night, because it makes my lashes really big and long. The other 2 are really nice as well, but more for the day.

In my first beauty post, I have shown you my favorite hair products, but there’s a few more that have been added to my collection.

(Going from the far left all the way to the right)

1. BUMBLE&BUMBLE MASK: Special mask for curly hair

2. BUMBLE&BUMBLE FIXING SPRAY: I haven’t try this one yet but I can’t wait! You have to apply the product on wet hair, before doing anything (like a blowout or curls) and it will stay longer

3. BUMBLE&BUMBLE SHAMPOO: Apparently it’s the regular shampoo. Really perfect and makes my hair shine a lot.

4. BUMBLE&BUMBLE CONDITIONNER: Conditionner for dry and damaged hair, exactly what my hair needs lately!

5. SCHWARZKOPF DRY SHAMPOO: Often in need of it, and it works very well.

And you guys, what are your favorite beauty products?

xx

Beauty: Manucure

And here we go with my second beauty post!

Today it’s about manucure. I always wear nailpolish, for me it almost became like an accessories, or a jewels.

Today, I tried my new Pronails nailpolish, and I took all the steps in pictures:

1. All the different supplies needed

KIKO nail polish remover – Nivea body cream – Make up remover pads – nail files – Sally Hanson base&top coat – ProNails nail polish

2. Remove old nail polish if needed

3. File your nails

4. Wash your hands

5. Apply cream on your hands and your nails (it’s maybe only psychologial, but I believe it hydrates them)

6. Apply the base coat

7. Apply two layers of the nail polish of you choice, I chose the ProNails n° 279

8. Apply a final layer of top coat

9. Let everything dry

10. You’re done!

Ps: I use the same products as top coat and base coat, which comes from the US (available in any grossery store/CVS there) and it’s the BEST

Have a great weekend guys!

Beauty: Hair Products

Big up to my first beauty post! I don’t believe beauty is my forte… I do not wear make up on an every day basis. It’s more on weekends, when I go out (even though I enjoy wearing make up, don’t get me wrong). But I do like to do my hair, since mother nature gave me really, REALLY messy curls…

Not easy to deal with everyday… either I do a high bun, or a blowout (but I can NEVER brush it the way it is, unless I want to look like the Jackson Five).

I guess, I’m not the only one with that kind of messy curls, so I thought I would show you my different hair products!

Bumble and Bumble Shampoo, Conditionner and Finishing Spray
I discover these products thanks to Mr. Cosmeticary who presented them to me at the opening of Smets. He was kind enough to offer them to me. And I can’t thank him enough, I love those products! It is more expensive than what you find in regular grocery stores, but it’s worth it. You can find the Bumble and Bumble products at Cosmeticary and Smets.

Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Calming Creme
And guess what?  Mr. Cosmeticary was so convicing that I actually bought another product from Bumble and Bumble (well actually my best friend offerd it to me – how COOL is she?) I’m so glad I finally found something that is able to manage my curls (they actually look like curls when I use this). You can find the Bumble and Bumble products at Cosmeticary and Smets.

Pantene Pro V Frizz Control, John Frieda Enhancing Blonde Conditionner and L’Oréal Ever Sleek Shampoo
These are the products I bring back from the USA. I love making my beauty shopping there (let’s be serious, ANY kind of shopping), but beauty shopping is way more fun. There is so many different shampoos, conditionners,… for ridiculous prices. I know you should be able to find John Frieda at the durgstore DI or the INNO shopping center.

Garnier Ultra Doux and TRESemmé Smooth&Silky
My hairdresser told me it was better to use regular shampoo, so that’s what I use in general, unless when I do a blowout. Then I use the Smooth&Silky from TRESemmé or the Ever Sleek from L’Oréal for a frizz control effect. I usually wash my hair every 3 days.

Frank Provost Expert Protection
Before blow-drying my hair or using the curling iron, I always spray some of this protection. It protects my hair from the heat (must have for me since I have already really dry hair)

Professional Brushes
I recieved the big one from my Mom (who’s a big blowout addict), and it’s the best one EVER! I don’t use the small one as much, but it’s good when I really want to work on the curls.

Professional Hair Dryer
That’s my Mom’s old one. It’s the best I’ve ever used. Really powerfull and hot.

Baby Liss Curling Iron
Christmas present I got from my aunt and I absolutely LOVE it! So usefull. I usually use it after my blowout, but sometimes I just do it on my curly hair (the result is not as pretty as after a blowout).

I always use curlers.  The result is always better, even if I want straight hair. It gives more volume, and hair look simply better.

RESULTS

Well, you probably see it on my pictures (the high buns, or the straight hair), but here is a closer look

That’s how it looks right after I take the curlers out. But it never stays that curly. It becomes kind of wavy.

This is straight but right with the curlers. I like it better this way than completely straight, what do you think?

Blowout and curling iron.

What did you think of this first beauty post? I hope you enjoyed it!

Have a nice weekend! xx