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

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

Green primer: No more redness?

I'm here with a quick review on Parisax Base Correctrice de teint. It's a green tones primer which is supposed to cancel out any redness and prepare your skin for foundation so it lasts longer.

What it does?

It neutralizes red cheeks, pimples and any red imperfections. It's not crazy green so you won't even see it when applied.

Does it REALLY work?

Yes it does. I got this product a few months ago but to be honest I didn't post it online because I thought it doesn't work. I want to feature only the products I believe in. But I was mistaken. I tried it on my skin at dim light and I applied it to my whole face so I of course couldn't compare the before and after.

But a week ago something nteresting happened. I watched a Yutube video about covering redness and the girl mentioned some primer she uses. There's a special trick she said, you've gotta wait for a few minutes so it starts working. So I took it back from my beauty drawer and gave it a second chance. I applied it to one cheek and let it dry for about 5 minutes. And it worked!!! The neutralized cheeck was much less red and very nice and soft. It was a little bit grey compared to the other glowing red cheek. It's meant to put foundation over that, you can even use a concealer underneath.

When do you use it?

Whenever. Its texture is very light so it won't bother you to wear it even every single day.

I'm so happy I own this product. As a rosacea sufferer I must work hard to cover redness. I would absolutely advise you to buy it. It's far better than Catrice, Essence or any other green primer I've used.

You can buy it here for 18.50 EUR: http://parisax.si/trgovina/baze-primerji/korektivna-baza-zelena-vph0636-3/

AAA, it's such an amazing day today. I got my accreditations for FW Ljubljana confirmed (12.-15. April 2015 on Kongresni Trg), will I see you there? What are you going to wear? I'll post it all on the blog, so everybody will be able to catch a glimpse of the runway, my outfits and other fashion week things.

Bests,

Agnes :)

Prom outfit & makeup + Beauty favourites

First, I have to apologize for amateur pics, I didn't even plan to post them. My mum took it just for our personal archive. But I got so many requests to show you the outfit I wore for prom I decided to share it with you.

I have to mention that it wasn't my actual prom, I was just a dance partner of my very dear friend Gal who goes to Gimnazija Moste, I joined him at his prom. My prom with Gimnazija Bežigrad is in 3 weeks. :) 2 proms yay!

I wore a classic glam look with small flick, big lashes, soft lips and eyebrows on fleek. I cannot go any crazier for prom than I already am because I'd look like a Christmas tree, a great alternative was to step back and rock in basics! Do you like it?

I had a special opportunity to wear a design of a Slovenian designer Janja Videc. It's a simple light grey long dress with side splits from thighs down and huge side (boob) cut outs. Elegance!

Janja Videc Clothing FB page (click!)

Makeup:

Kryolan Dermablend concealers used for concealing, highlighting, contouring

Kryolan red, gold, orange, taupe, brown eye shadows

Catrice Limited edition golden fat pencil

Paula's Choice eyebrow duo fixed with Urban Decay Naked basics black and dark brown

Essence Satin Mauve lip pencil blended inwards

Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

Kryolan Translucent fixing powder

The second part of this blog post are my March BEAUTY FAVOURITES!

I came across this new eyebrow duo by Paula's Choice which has been a fresh staple in my beauty routine since then.

Why I love it?

+2 ashy shades, no more orangey brows #yay

+cream, meaning easy blending and easy building up the intensity

+no smudging, stays on like a dream

+easy application with a brush

+beautiful packaging

+natural looking

Suitable for almost everyone. I use it on my clients regularly because it's so versatile! It may be not the best option for the ones who want very dark and intense 'stencil' eyebrows, but you can use it as a base and just set it with a bit of powder on top, that's how I draw in my brow ends. I set it with Urban Decay's dark brown or black shade, because I love my brows to be quite dark.

I think the price 24.90 € is on point, you get the quality you pay for. It's an AMAZING product. I'm picky about brow products and I wouldn't have been wearing it if it wasn't excellent. I do have a big collection of brow products and this kit is my holy grail! No surprise about unbelievingly positive feedback on beauty blogs and Youtube. Good job, Paula's Choice!

You can BUYit here: www.paulaschoice.si/trgovina/licila/brow-defining-cream-duo

I was in a search for a natural deodorant that will work and won't be dangerous on long run. While scrolling on Instagram I discovered a Slovenian company called Nelipot which makes natural deodorants.

I got a SHAC deo. It's vegan, praben-free, Natrium Laureth Sulphate-free, auminium-free, contains no bad stuff.

My experience: It works amazingly. I didn't experience any sweating while using it. Loving this product. It melts easily and allows smooth application. The only thing that will maybe turn some off is that you have to apply it with fingers. But honestly, don't say you cannot touch your own armpits. ;)

You can BUY it here for 8.90 €: http://nelipot.si/produkt/nelipot-shac/

And finally, my magic solution for horrible dry and tired skin after my party nights- Collistar Multivitamin Makeup-Remover Milk. I got it to test it out but I didn't feel it was so special until recently. It was last Sunday and I woke up after a crazy night out with dehydrated red skin that was calling for some love. You know that feeling when your skin feels like shit? Well, I found a magical solution. I apply a thin layer of this product all over my face and let it work for about 10 minutes. Then, I just wipe it off. It makes my skin so soft!

You can buy it in Muller or Mercator Beautique, it will cost you around 10 € for 200ml.

Comment if you want to read more of my beauty secrets!

Xx,

Agnes

7 Spring lip looks

Girl, if you like vampy lipsticks even in summer just rock it! I'm already in spring mood, feels so refreshing. I prepared a selection of 7 lip products I've been obsessing with lately. Some are very quirky, some are just basic lip colours that I like. I think all of you will find something for yourself. And almost all products mentioned are very affordable. :)

1. Makeup Revolution mat Salvation velvet lip laquer in shade Depravity (4.95€ on Licila.si - click!)

I think it's pretty obvious this lipgloss is my new favourite lip product. I'm wearing it all the time. Its liquid formula dries completely matte in a minute. It does chip off after time, but it's very easy to fix it buy reapplying it to the centre of your lips. It dries your lips but frankly, I don't care. It's too amazing not to buy it.

2. Makeup Revolution mat Salvation velvet lip laquer in shade Keep flying for you (4.95€ on Licila.si - click!)

Same collection, different shade. Amazing pigmentation, it's unbelievable. This gorgeous neon pinky orange is a great choice for pale girls. I think it looks amazing with subtle makeup.

3. Essence longlasting lip liner in shade 03 Yummy berry (around 1.9€)

Since Essence lip pencils are my favourite ones, I absolutely had to try new line of them- longlasing liners. It's pigmented, glides on easily, is very precise and is hydrating. So you can really use it instead of a lipstick. This bright purple will suit most of you. Can you rock it?

4. Sleek Matte me lipgloss in shade Fandage Purple (9.95€ on Licila.si, click!)

I saw you loved my selfie on Insta and FB with this lipgloss (click). I love it too! This matte gloss is a bit more liquid comparing to Makeup Revolution ones. It doesn't dry out your lips that much. But I find it harder to apply even because of the applicator. I would advise you to use a lip pencil before. Good news, it dries matte even with a creamy lip liner underneath!

5. Lancome Lip Lover lipgloss in shade 355 Framboise Etoile (around 30€)

From matte to super-shine glossy. I'm not a big fan of glossy lips to be honest. But I got this one as a gift so I had to try it out. I was a bit disappointed by its sheerness. The texture is amazing, feels very lightweight, non sticky, very creamy and luscious, though. In total = lovin' it!

6. Essence longlasting lip liner in 02 Sweetheart (around 1.90€)

It's a bit less pigmented than their basic lip pencils but still amazing, not mentioning the price. This cool toned pink will be an amazing spring alternative for the ones who are scarred of wearing bright pink.

7. Collistar Professional lip pencil in shade 19 (around 12€ in Muller, new product)

Best orange ever. I wanted to start wearing oranges so bad, but I always changed my mind when I saw some horrible circus makeup pictures combining it with flashy blue, red, green and other bright colours.. Personally, I think it looks the best with monochrome makeup. This liner is super pigmented, but also a bit drying, so make sure you apply lip balm underneath, or use it only to outline your lips. It's gorgeous, isn't it?

Thanks to Robert Ribič for the photos.


You were asking me on Facebook what makeup I was wearing on those photos, so I decided to write a list of them here, just click on the links and see where you can get them:

-Kryolan Ultra Underbase primer
-Parisax foundation
-Ben Nye Highlight wheel of concealers
-Kryolan shadows in RB32 and Oak used for contouring
-Paula's Choice Brow-Defining Cream Duo (reviewed soon + natural eyebrow guide)
-Kryolan eyeshadow in RB25
-Essence I <3 Extreme mascara
-Kryolan Translucent powder

I hope you liked this post and that I inspired you to try wearing bright shades this spring.
Which look is your favourite? Comment below! I'd love to have some feedback!

Xx, Agnes

90s bitch

An amazing week is behind me, we had holidays. Now I only have to stay alive till June when I'm done with matura exams. But to be honest I don't panic so much (yet).

I finally managed to enable all your comments - also the anonymous ones - thanks to my cousin Sara. As I didn't get many questions for this Ask Agnes post yet I thought you would all like to ask me anonymously. I'll still do this post but a bit later, so you have some time to leave your questions down below. You can ASK ME everything you would like to know about me (about my life, certain products, advice, school, clothes, blog, friends, hair, plans, travel, ... you can even copy some interesting ones from Youtube tag videos if that would interest you). Go, go - now!

Another thing, I'm hosting a big giveaway on Facebook starting this Thursday (in 2 days). Expect the coolest products ever, some of my favourites included.

My Instagram Followers already know I've been using Parisax foundation for more than a month now, I always tag what products I use so you can see real life results. If you don't follow me yet make sure you turn the follow button green now -- @agneskrown . I love to surprise my followers by liking back. <3

I wouldn't have been wearing it every day if it wasn't so good! I own quite some foundations, it's hard to find a product that you really really like, yeah? But as a loyal user I can give you an honest review. Parisax foundation really is great! I have mixed skin, oily T-zone, dry cheeks. Any dry foundation would just dry my cheeks out even more but it must be enough matte and long lasting it stays on my forehead without moving. This foundation is thick just enough, it's medium coverage, yellow undertone, light enough for my skin (which I light it to be pale!!!), stays on perfect all day. Comparing to Loreal True match it's less dewy and lighter but maybe even a bit more pigmented.

I honestly love it. I'll definitely rebuy it.

I got it here: http://parisax.si/trgovina/tekoci-pudri/ivory-vph0631-20/

I was sooooo happy when I saw this super cool 90s wind jacket in the nearest second hand shop. Love it so much!

Jacket - second hand shop (on Zmajski most, Ljubljana)

Jeans - Topshop

Heels - Humanic

Sunglasses - Versace from Optika Smole (it's located in Ikona Ljubljana)

Photo: Robert Ribič

I wish you an amazing sunny week, don't forget to comment your questions down below! I'll take time for them.

Xx, Agnes

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