Male skin care

Hey guys!

My sister offered me to post an article about male skin care, and I was more than excited to take this chance and share my experience with you. Skin care was always treated as a girly thing. For guys, it's more or less a hidden topic as we would get uncomfortable discussing or sharing experiences with others. I don't find going to the store to buy corrector or to scrub my face with face cleanser feminine at all! Approximately 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience at least minor acne, but yet, I know very few people that went to dermatologist. Why? Because they are scared of pointing out the skin problems. In my opinion if we were more open about it we would get around such problems much easier. I've had problems with acne for a couple of years, but now it seems like it's disappearing. It's making me really happy and to help you too I want to share my experience with you.

I do believe that one thing has even more significant effect on your skin than your gens, hygiene, or food – your way of thinking.  Before I tried any skin product I noticed my skin was getting clearer only by changing my mentality. I simply didn't allow my skin to have such a dramatic effect on my mood as it had. Its not about standing in front of mirror and pretending that you are pretty (which you are anyways), but knowing that you are much more than just your skin. What actually makes things awkward is your confidence. If one sees your insecurity about acne, you will automatically point out the problem you have instead to just shift attention to more important things. People will treat you as you make them treat you. There are so many things we should really care about and use our energy for, in this case your insecurity for skin is only a distraction. Don't let anything stop you from what you are doing. Problem always starts in your head. If there is no problem in your head, there won't be any problem on your skin. This way you will earn others respect, your stress level will go down, you will start to feel better about yourself and believe me or not, your skin will start to look better.

I often hear how much of an impact food has on the way your skin looks. I like to eat well and that's why I didn't try anything more than staying out of sugar for 2 days, trying to eat more veggies, and limit the intake of processed foods. To be honest I also tried eating Nutella with spoon for few days and none of those things made difference I could notice. Results were often the opposite of what I've expected. The only thing that makes big difference to me is amount of water I drink. I try to drink at least 2 L of water a day, up to 3 when I go the gym. When I don't drink enough water my skin gets oily, that might be a sign to drink more water for you as well, but every skin is different. I also think sun can have a really positive effect on your skin, especially after swimming in the sea. I try to stay on the sun after swimming for at least 30 mins and I always come back home with a better looking skin.

Agnes' comment: I cannot resist from commenting on the food subject. After being into food and beauty for a couple of years I highly advise you to stay away from processed foods which contain lots of useless sh*t like conservatives, colorants, sodium, artificial sweeteners and so on. Such ingredients make your skin puffy, irritated, can cause huge breakouts, dryness to mention only a few. Clean eating is the way to go. Embrace all the beautiful natural options like fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, lentils or nuts and seeds. You might start noticing your skin is getting even worse but do not be discouraged, it's cleaning and detoxifying. Be patient. And do not forget to drink a looooot of natural water. I promise you'll notice a big difference, if not in a week or a month than surely in a few years when you'll meet your ex-schoolmates at the high school reunion and your skin will look youthful compared to the dull and wrinkly skin of your smoker friends who consume crap.
Consistency. Water. Clean eating. Sleep. No smoking. No drugs, obviously. Working out. Right skincare. Practicing face yoga or massaging. Thinking kind thoughts, relax your forehead. Patience. :)
Good luck! X

After changing my mentality I started to enjoy skin treatment. At first I started to use spices I was cooking my lunch with every day. After some time now I still think this is better than any skin product.

Recipe:
-2 tablespoons of turmeric/cinnamon
-1 tablespoon of honey
- lemon juice/olive oil

I have to admit that I'm so into curry. I love cooking with it and you wouldn't  believe, how good this stuff is for your face! If you are a spice freak like my family, check your kitchen if you find any turmeric or cinnamon. Simply mix 2 table spoons of turmeric or cinnamon with a table spoon of honey and add a little bit of olive oil, if you have dry skin or lemon juice if you have oily skin. Put that on your face for 20 mins and your face will be like new, just make sure you wash if all off, believe me, my friends still sometimes ask me if I'm yellow because I didn't sleep enough. Also be careful as it might drip off to your clothes and it doesn't come off.


If you want to try other things, I've been testing some products by Afrodita lately and I'm satisfied with results.

Clean Phase- cleansing foam

 Afrodita: "Gently removes facial and eye make-up and other impurities. The bisabolol and hyaluronic acid calms your skin and maintains its natural hydro-lipid balance. Apply the milk to your skin, rinse off with warm water and tone your skin with SOFT Tonic."

My opinion: It cleans the skin very well, but its not appropriate for sensitive skin. It makes your skin dry therefore you should moisturise your skin after.

 

Clean phase- tonic

Afrodita: "It contains hamamelis extract which regulates the secretion of oils and tightens enlarged pores. The hyaluronic acid and lemon extract helps to moisturise your skin, restore its natural pH and invigorate it. Apply the tonic to cleansed skin and leave until it is absorbed."

My opinion: my favourite Afrodita product because it makes your skin look better, it shrinks the pores and very useful after any face cleanser or turmeric mask.

1. 

Hydra Thermal Hydra Active Concentrate

Afrodita: "Supply your skin with what it needs most - moisture! With our Hydra Active Concentrate from Kozmetika Afrodita's NEW Hydra Thermal line it is now also available to you in concentrated form. This extremely effective product represents a perpetual source of moisture for all types of skin regardless of age and is particularly essential for dehydrated and tired skin."

My opinion: I don't often use moisturiser because I prefer tea tree or any other oil over this. Also it has a strong scent.

 

Oil Control 3 Active T-Zone mattifying serum

• "it instantly mattifies the complexion and reduces sebum secretion,
• moisturises the skin + protects it from dryness,
• and regulates the balance of oils and moisture in the skin. "

My opinion: I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't have sensitive skin. Its a great product and results are visible over few weeks of using it.

I hope this article inspired you to try new things, to not worry that much and to spice up your daily routine a little.

Thank you for reading!

Agnes' brother, Nace

**Disclaimer: The skin is not photoshopped!**

AlpStories: Natural cosmetics on test

I got an exciting offer to try out brand new products of a Slovenian company AlpStories. Their skin and hair products are free of parabens, mineral oils, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, silicones and cruelty. I was really happy to be one of the first ones to get a chance to test it. I'll share my thoughts about it with you.

It was a tough decision what to pick, especially because they also offer you custom made products (you can create them yourself using their smart guide) but at the end I chose those 2  products:

-Marigold Macerated Oil With Vitamin E
-Tea Tree Oil Face Cream

Marigold Macerated Oil With Vitamin E

"The benefits of sunflower oil infused with Marigold flowers are mostly in its medicinal properties. 

The oil is an excellent healer aswell as an anti-inflammatory product. It works best with sensitive skin types, it alieves redness and provides a soothing effect. It is such a strong remedy that it can be used with certain scar tissue. It leaves the skin feeling smooth, soft and healed."

How to use: Apply to face, body or hair and gently massage in.

Parabens free        Mineral oils free        Artificial colours free        Synthetic fragrances free        Silicones free        CRUELTY free        VEGAN

My experience?

My first impression was how beautiful the packaging is, it's made of glass. The scent is completely natural and might not smell good to everyone, but I got used of it. The oil is very runny and not as thick as the argan one for example which is great for hot summer months too.
When applied on the skin it feels very lightweight and fresh. It soaks in very quickly. I actually chose this product because it's recommended for fighting redness and sensitive skin. I must admit it does work. My skin didn't get any more red, the oil actually soothes it. It's a very versatile product, you can use it on your face as a moisturizer, you can leave it on like a face mask, use it on your wet body after showering to keep the moisture, you can even use it to remove makeup. I'll be using it mostly as a weekly oil treatment to revive my skin from daily troubles.

Order yours HERE (available internationally).

Tea Tree Oil Face Cream

"Day cream for oily skin and  prone skin to acne with long-lasting anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect.

Helps to reduce redness and impurities caused by excess sebum. Vegetable oil of almond and sunflower repair skin and tightens pores while the tea reduces sebum production and acne by reducing the existing ones. Carrot composed purifies the skin, reduces scars and regenerate the skin.

Active ingredients are from certified organic farming. Vegan product.

How to use: Massage gently on thouroughly cleaned skin. "

My experience?

At first I was a bit sceptic to be honest, it has a strong tea tree scent. From previous experience I can tell you I got horrible redness around my cheeks when using strong essential oils. My skin would normally get really irritated. But *surprise*, it didn't. Even more, it helped me calm my skin down. The strong scent disappears quick, the product is absorbed quickly and only leaves a nice and indeed very soft texture. It's light and works great on oily skin. Neither does it dry out my skin. I'll be using it mostly on my T-zone where it's more oily.

Get yours HERE.

It's always such a pleasure to try out Slovenian products and cosmetics with natural ingredient. I recommend you to check out their site or at least jump to boutiques where they sell it and try it out. The shops where it's available: http://www.alpstories.com/s/id/prodmest.

Xx,

Agnes

NEW hair + outfit

Woohoo, I changed my hair again. My previous grey dye got washed out pretty fast so I was kinda brunette for some weeks. And it was truly boring. You know, brown hair don't match many eyeshadows, black brows, some lipsticks and it's not as bold as I want me to look. I love monochrome. So I decided for a change again. I always trust my hair to Viki's Place where their hairdresser Sabina always transforms me into something really special.

I wanted to have black roots and so it was, plus grey-blue ends. I'm more than happy with the result. I think it makes my blue eyes stand out and gives me that witchy vibe. LOVIN! Plus, my hair is super renewed thanks to a special treatment called Olaplex that is used by many celebs including Kardashians. It's really soft now. And yes, it's messy because I love messy hair. 

Wearing:

Crop top by New Yorker

Chain necklace custom made, a gift

Jacket by Dimepiece

Jeans by Versace Signature

Bag by Zara

Jelly sandals by Juju

Photo: Robert Ribič

Special thanks to Viki's Place. Find them on Viki's place page, Facebook, Instagram and follow their special weekly offers.

Xx, Agnes

Lightweight plastic

As you see my hair is getting blonder and I cannot wait to dye it black again. But there is literally no time. I'm studying for my matura exams (the essay was fine). I'll remind you all to stay well hydrated, especially this month, it's Hydration Month held by Equa (water bottles company). I agreed to become their ambassador as I strongly believe drinking water is essential and that I can be a good role model at drinking water. :) I drink at least 2L of filtered water every day. When I don't I notice huge mood swings, dizziness, dull skin, bloating, poor concentration. It's so easy to stay hydrated but we somehow forgot about that and rather search for some magical health pills not realizing it's closer than we think. Have a glass of water now!

So, after you drank your glass of water.. Here's a quick outfit post that I wore last week, you can see that I'm a bit lazy with my glamorous makeup, but I think that's what spring brings. Feeling fresh and motivated!

PLUS, I have a discount code for you: AgnesHydration10 for 10% off via www.myequa.com.

Have you already seen the new Artdeco's Summer Collection 2015 'Here comes the sun'? It's awesome! The collection consists of following products:

Art Couture Nail Lacquer (3 shades) NEW & Basic

•Sunshine Eyeshadow (4 shades) -NEW& Limited

•Sunshine Lip Gloss (2 shades) –NEW & Limited

•KholKajal (1 shade) –NEW & Limited

•Bronzing Powder Compact (2 shades) –NEW packaging & Limited

•Sunshine Blush (1 shade) –NEW design & Limited

•Sunshine Glow Fluid (1 shade) –NEW & Limited

•Spray on Leg Foundation (3 shades) -Limited

I especially love those 3 eyeshadows, they're PERFECT if you want that bronzy light smokey look. They aren't very pigmented but they create a beautiful colored shadow. Easily blended together. Long lasting (tested!).

You can put the white one ("Blazing sun” no.26) on top of your lid, under eyebrows or even as highlighter, looks really gorgeous thanks to its pearly finish. The brown one ("Sand beach” no.21) is perfect for the ones who want to use just one shadow to create a sleek bronzy summer eye look, it's not too dark. And the pink one ("Sun bath” no..31) works amazing with blue or green eyes because of the color contrast.

Personally, I use it to blend out the brown shadow to warm it up a bit. I also tried to use it as a blush and it's super nice. You should check them out, I think they're versatile and a great choice for summer days. They're easy to work with so you can just pack them on and blend it all with one brush. They retail for around 9 EUR each (available in Muller or via Moja kozmetika- CLICK).

Which one is your favourite? I'm in love with the brown one!

Wearing:

H&M skirt

random top (unknown brand)

vintage trench coat (thanks Nathan!)

H&M bag

JuJu chunky jellies

Photo: Robert Ribič

Thank you all for reading Agnes Krown blog!

Xx, A

NATURAL contour, highlight, blush

I was in a search for nice blushers. I've gotta tell you I've always hated them. I was intimidated to use them because I have rosacea (strong redness) and why would I keep adding redness to my face, right? But it's not really like that. I've already told you how to get rid of redness (HERE), but complexion with no colour is dull and perfectly concealed face makes you look like a cartoon character. That's why we have to add add dimension back using contour, highlight and blushers. Some will go natural, some will go dramatic, it's your choice. :)

I tend to wear heavy sculpted face using cream products most of the time. But since summer is coming and I really don't want to look like a moving cake I started experimenting with powder formulas. I've been loving Essence Silky blush in 40 Natural beauty because it's such a pretty pink-brown shade. You won't even need contouring, I actually use it as contour when I want warmer face.

I was thinking of writing a special guide post about heavy cream contour & highlight, would you be interested in reading it?

As you already know, I'm a huge fan of Paula's Choice products. From skincare saviours to special makeup must-haves. Their latest collection Spring-Summer 2015 includes Blush it on Contour palette. I was dying to test it out and my wish came true.

This six-color blush and contour palette features 4 blushes, 1 silky contouring bronzer and 1 luminous highlight shade. The colors can be used individually or mixed for a variety of looks.

Shade Descriptions:
Pearl:soft, slightly warm ivory with a hint of opalescent pink
Bronze: warm slightly golden brown with soft tan undertone
Delicate Coral: soft, peachy-pink
Dusty Rose: classic rose with a slight brown undertone
Peony: bright healthy pink
Soft Mauve: understated sheer rose-toned shade.

How I use it:

I contour cheekbones, temples, nose, jawline, under lower lip using Bronze and a large brush. It's more of a dusty matte shade, no more orange faces! The shade is really a hit, it beats all the bronzers I've tried. It's quite light, perfect for the ones who are afraid of using bronzers and contours. It blends with ease.

Then I put on blush. I usually apply it over my bronzer on cheekbones and a little bit on apples of my cheeks. I really love almost transparently blushed cheeks so it still looks natural. This palette is a great choice for the ones who love looking natural. Those four blushes are wonderfully pigmented but at the same time they blend nicely and don't stick to your face when you put it on, don't worry about having lines of blush anymore. You can choose between warmer and colder shades, which is wonderful. I especially love the one at bottom right, Soft Mauve, because it's quite dusty and looks gorgeous mixed with Bronze. But you can also gradually build the intensity up if you want to.

Then I apply highlight shade Pearl on top of cheekbones, bridge of my nose, cupid's bow, under eyebrows. It's the only shimmery shade in this palette, but it's so finely grinded you won't see any glitter, it will only appear as a light luminous reflection. The shade is very light, you really have to pack it on if you like prominent highlight (personally, I wish it was more intense), but on the other side it's a great choice for the ones who like it delicate.

Thoughts and recommendations:

I would absolutely recommend buying it if you like natural looking sculpted face. I assure you it's easy to use, even for beginners. Just use a big fluffy brush and voilà!

It retails for 39.90 EUR on www.paulaschoice.si , which may seem a lot for a student's tight budget, but it's worth it. It's so practical to take it with you anywhere, you also have a mirror inside. You get a generous size of products, 3g each. Plus - it's multifunctional. I use the blushers as eyeshadows almost every day, they look especially pretty on blue eyes. I'm sure you'll like it. Paula's Choice launches only a few makeup products each season and they always make sure they're exactly what you need.

Share you thoughts with me, have you tried it? Do you like it? Or will you maybe even consider buying it? What is your favourite blush palette?

Next post will be the outfit I was wearing on those photos, I think you'll like it! Stay tuned!

Xx, Agnes

Improve your style!

To be honest, I've always disliked UGG boots, maybe because of the fact every basic b*tch in Ljubljana owns at least a pair. Those kind of trends are stupid to me, because love for them doesn't come from genuine adoration but from a wish to show off money and to be 'it girl'. It shows a lack of creativity, taste, confidence. If they weren't a trend I maybe would get a pair.

I've been thinking about my attitude to trends and popular pieces. I don't want to follow them. Yes. I'd rather be a trendsetter myself. I refuse to buy a pair of white Converse or an Armani plastic bag for example. But is it even good for me to limit myself like that, does it even show any kind of power or qualities? Sometimes you profit the most when you overcome your limits and give the thing you would normally never chose a go! That way you can really discover new exciting hobbies, meet interesting people, improve your style. 

It's spring so I obviously  cannot wear boots anymore, so I decided to get a pair of UGG sandals. It was a challenge to combine it in my style, but I'm really happy to own them now. I discovered another side of me that can get a bit more preppy and romantic. First, they're so comfortable and easy to walk in, but I also think they would look great with most of my clothes, I just have to combine it right. I think I did a good job, what do you think?

Do you like them? What are the things you would never ever wear? Comment below, I'm more than interested to know!

Wearing:

UGG Jules Pearl sandals from Spring-Summer 2015 collection (info HERE)

H&M skirt

Grandma's shirt

H&M plastic bag

Ph. Robert Ribič

I also wanted to share my recent discovery with you. While searching for my prom dress I came across a cute web store Sherry London. They sell cocktail party dresses, evening and prom dresses plus much more. All the productions that you need in their website are custom made, which could let you get the goods suitable. I wish I could attend more evening events and be wearing some of the dresses I found dozens of gorgeous dresses that remind me of the latest Rodarte FW 15/16 collection on NYFW (photo below).

I much admit there is a fine line between looking cheap and expensive, but I believe it's a matter of how you combine the dress for example. The dress I like the most is the third blue one. It's such a shame being a Barbie has a bad sound to it, it should be the opposite - it's a lot of hard work, talent and a good eye to look like an expensive one. I've been loving vintage dresses lately, especially the ones by Gianni Versace from the 90s and these dresses below seem like a modern and cheaper version you can get for your special occasion.

Here are some of my favourites:

 Dresses from left:

Mini strapless baby blue dress

A-line sweetheart dress

Two-piece cocktail dress

Backless spaghetti dress

"www.sherrylondon.co.uk Bridesmaid is an embodiment of dignity, elegance and fashion. We combine the view of dignity and elegance with the east graceful and restrained spirit, designing its dresses of unique, showing originality in the skill of draping tailor and using the first rate imported fabrics"

Inspired by Rodarte:

I wish you all a successful week and good luck to the ones who are taking matura essay on Tuesday, we'll rock it!

Xx, Agnes

My Prom

I decided to share these personal photos with you because I believe I hadn't posted a photo of my family before. It was an amazing evening with my loved ones. I'm aware of the fact I'm a lucky girl to have such an amazing and inspiring family and Gal, my ex-schoolmate who danced with me. I had so much fun I couldn't stop laughing. Reality :)

It saddens me a little when I realize I'm growing and that we won't be together for long and that I'll leave Gimnazija Bežigrad in 2 months. But on the other side I'm looking forward to experiencing new things.

Nace (my brother) on the left, Gal (my friend) on the right

My family - I wanted us to be dressed in monochrome! #stylishmoments

I had a privilege to wear a dress just off the runway. It's a transparent silk & linen dress by Janja Videc Clothing that was presented at Ljubljana Fashion week last Wednesday. It's my dream dress. Not only I think it looks super gorgeous but I also felt comfortable and confident in it, which is really important. Since I'm not a classic girl I still wanted to keep a detail that wasn't expected. So I put on those white chunky plastic boots, a stone necklace from Janja Videc's new collection and minimal evening makeup.

Father's dance

I did my mum's makeup, she's such a youthful lady. I'm glad I have her smile. :)

Wishing you a fabulous week!

Xx, Agnes