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

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

NEW HAIR

I've been dreaming of a hair transformation for a while. I really liked my dark roots though. Long hair simply did't match my personality. I want to be sharp, fierce, unique and chameleon-y. Because of bleaching them at home 2 times (Cheap solutions - not always the best idea, you reckless Agnes!) my hair was severely broken so I decided to go for a big change.

My dear friend and a singer Raiven (go to her page) has been a regular customer at Viki's place for some time and since her hair is gorgeous and a true statement I noticed they can do exactly what I like- bright colours, crazy cuts, one of a kind looks. After searching for THE hair salon in Ljubljana that will 1) repair my hair and 2) cut them fiercely and 3) dye them to a crazy monochrome shade the best option was to trust Viki's place. Viki, the owner kindly welcomed me herself and pampered me with coffees. The salon treats a customer like god, you truly feel special which I appreciate very much.

Sabrina, the hairdresser took care for my poor hair extremely well. I really wanted to have V bangs and have it dyed it monochrome. Grey hair is an amazing choice for makeup experiments. Everything matches nicely. And it's my signature feature. It wasn't that easy to create an iconic haircut, Sabrina did an amazing job. I'm so thankful!

First she cut my split and damaged ends for around 20 cm. Bob was a great choice!

Then she bleached my roots with a special formula containing 6% peroxide which doesn't damage hair. But only roots. It was enough to bleach them to a yellow tone because we continued dying them with dark dyes.

She washed my hair using Moroccan oil products, which they also sell (great to know, right?).

Once it was wet she cut my bangs. We decided to go for something as sharp as I am, V cut! It emphasizes my looong and bold eyebrows and puts everything together nicely.

She dyed my roots using Matrix professional permanent grey hair dye and my ends using a semi permanent lighter grey for the ends. It's quite dark, yay. It will wash out a little, though.

After second washing she applied Morrocan oil hair mask and did a special treatment with a machine called Micro Mist.

"The new revolutionary Micro Mist repairs and rejuvenates your hair, giving strength, suppleness and a longer lasting shine. The Micro Mist, as its name suggests, uses mist (not steam) generated by ultrasound to process the treatment. This works in two ways: firstly, the particles of mist are much smaller and lighter than those of steam and therefore they can penetrate the cuticle of the hair to a greater depth. This means the Micro Mist pushes the product deeper into the hair where it is needed."

Then she blow dried it, I wanted them to be a little messy. :)

...bangs correction.

VOILÀ! 

I'm extremely happy with the result. I cannot emphasize enough how much more healthy my hair is now. Like new! It's different, I look a bit like a space ship astronaut, don't I?

This week an amazing package waited for me at the door. It's from EOS Adria! I got 2 lip balms and a hand lotion (didn't even know they offered any).

I chose:

Lip Balb Blueberry Acai - blue egg (buy here)

It smells so good. It's not that thick and nourishing, just perfect for spring.

Lip Balm lemon drop SPF 15 - yellow egg (buy here)

Finally I got a lip balm containing SPF factor. All their balms also taste sweet, which is very pleasant.

Hand lotion Fresh flowers - blue oval thingy (buy here)

Yes, it does absorb really quickly and I love the design.

By the way, EOS Adria ships to Slovenia in a few days, I got my order within 3 days!!!

Wearing:

Hard rock cafe T-shirt (I stole it from my brother <3)

Thrifted net cardigan from East end thrift shop London

Calzedonia leggings

Monki glitter socks from Amsterdam

H&M sandals

No name jacket (from my bro again)

Vintage YSL bag

Photo: Robert Ribič

Special thanks to Viki and Sabina from Viki's place.

PAGE: vikisplace.si

FB: facebook.com/vikisplaceljubljana

INSTAGRAM: @vikisplace

I hope you like it! What do you think? Leave comments below, I'm curious!

Xx, Agnes

AmsterDAMN

I wish I could greet you from Amsterdam but I'm sadly already back to Slovenia. I had such a great time. I wandered around, did a collaborational shooting with a South African musician and photographer in Amsterdam, Bas Raad, hung up with a fashion blogger Milena from BraidsAndEyeliner and did a bit of shopping for my prom next month (I discovered a lot of small vintage galleries and shops, loved them!). I really enjoy travelling alone, that's the best thing one can do to experience something new. I met a bunch of new cool people. I'm looking forward to returning to this amazing city, hopefully soon.

I'm impressed by the architecture, I took hundreds of photos.

It was unexpectedly cold. I wanted to wear socks 'n' sandals but I ended up in warm socks and boots because it was around 5°C and it rained a bit. My hair was a mess because of the constant strong wind. Such a pussy to rant about that. Well, that was my biggest problem. #luckyme

Felt like wearing a monochrome outfit, it's never a bad idea. But I wouldn't be me without something flashy like a blue bag or red eyelids.

Makeup:

Parisax foundation in Vanilla (buy here)

Kryolan Dermacolor concealers for contour & highlight

Parisax black cake liner for eyebrows (buy here)

Kryolan deep red eyeshadow in RB32 (I really recommend wearing red eye shadows for all blue/green-eyed queens)

Parisax eyeshadow Terre de Sienne for blending (buy here)

Essene Pen liner

Essence I <3 Extreme mascaraEssence Soft berry lip liner blended inwards

One of my favourite tees (it's by B.Polanec), it's very comfortable and always a saving piece when I'm feeling too cosy or lazy.

Loved my stay in Amsterdam, I'm such a lucky girl I know. But nothing comes for no reason. #workhardplayhard

Wearing:

B.Polanec T-shirt (buy here)

Calzedonia leggings

C&A sweater

Topshop jacket

My friend's scarf (thanks Jaša Xx)

Second hand boots

Zara bag

Photo: Bas Raad

Hope you enjoyed my Insta photos as well!

Xx, Agnes