Natalie's BeautyLand

Hey lovelies! I was tagged by many lovely ladies to do this post. Here they are in no particular order. Wanna see which ones made it into the list? Scroll down...



This item has every right to be in this list since my sister gave it to me as a Christmas gift last year. So, I've been using and loving it for a whole year! I never did a review on it because I thought it was limited edition and I wouldn't like to suggest a product you cannot find. Now, it's back in stock and part of the permanent collection I believe. Whether you are looking for colourful shadows like a true red or more natural ones, this palette will cover your needs.



I needed a complete make up brush set really much. This one combines great quality brushes with a splash of colour that makes my day. And the brush holder is very useful for travelling or storing the brushes. Only problem is I love it so much I now want the new Sigma sets!



I discovered stamping a couple years ago. Back then Konad was the only available brand. But they were not that affordable, especially in Greece. I was super excited to discover BornPrettyStore stamping plates with the same designs and quality as the Konad ones but at a much lower price and free worldwide shipping. I still haven't used every single design but I'm planning on getting more of them! Bad girl!




This have been my favourite mascara since I first use it! It gives volume, curls and holds the curl, it doesn't clump or smudges, it's water resistant and it's easily removed with waterproof eye make up remover or just warm water. And when I finally found my perfect mascara Essence goes and stops making it! I'm so angry! I still have a couple of them of course but I'm so sad they discontinued it.



I kinda cheated and put 2 products here but they have the same results so it's just a matter or taste which one you'll choose. I really like them, they are very affordable and make the eyeshadows brighter and last for many hours. They are not shimmery so you can use them with matte eyeshadows as well. Only thing I'd add is a little coverage for those tiny veins on the browbone. But still, they are great products, with a couple euros you can make almost every cheap eyeshadow work better.



I bought the Seche Vite top coat because I've heard so many good things about it and I really wanted a fast drying, long lasting, shiny top coat. Then I tried this one and I really believe it's a better Seche Vite. It dries fast, it's shiny and lasts longer on me than Seche Vite, it doesn't get thick that easy and it's more affordable! Love it!



I fell in love with pastel nail polishes this spring and I enjoyed this set a lot! I love every single colour, even the packaging! The last couple months I'm not using them that much but I'm sure I'll go back to them this spring too! Also, with this set I start loving China Glaze nail polishes, great quality at a good price.



You might think "comm'on, just a brush?" but this brush changed the way I apply my foundation and the way my foundation looks on me. Perfect coverage, airbrushed finish, I totally love it!




Amazing smell, deeply moisturises, already have back ups! I can't use during hot summer days but I really enjoy it every other day. I also have the Sweet Lemon one, lighter and better for warm days and I want to try the Moringa one, it has a more floral scent.




The perfume of 2011 for me, present from my bf. I enjoyed it a lot during summer and autumn, now I'm using some older perfumes but I still love it!



I know, I know, this is not a product but it's one of my fav things in 2011! I'm so glad I started blogging! Sometimes I can't blog as much as I want but I'm still happy I can share some posts with you every month. I'd like to give a big hug to each and every person that visits my BeautyLand, it means so much to me and makes me so happy!! Thank you lovelies!!!


The last couple months I got some amazing products which I love so far but I thought it wouldn't be fair to include them in the list since I'm only using them for a couple months. No worries, I'm sure they'll make it to a future favourites post.

Phewww, I'm done! Which products did you include in your list? I'd love to know!! I wish you a very happy and glamorous New Year's Eve! Be safe, have fun!

Hey lovelies!
Yesterday I was working in the morning so I didn't catch the light to show you my Christmas nails. But today, I run home and started photographing! It's more of a winter design, not very Christmas-sy but I still love it! And imagine my surprise when I saw that a fellow beauty blogger came up with a very similar design using the same polishes! Great minds..., I know! hehe! Here's my NOTCD (nails of the Christmas day!)


I used 3 China Glaze nail polishes,
** Blue Year's Eve
** Snow Globe (these two are from this year's holiday collection)
** Sci-fi for stamping the snowflakes
In the pic there is also China Glaze Holiday Berry cuticle oil that smells amazing! I seriously think that China Glaze had the best holiday collection this year, I wanted every single colour!!



And here's the treat I promised you! Yesterday evening I wanted to try the chocolate cupcake recipe I found here. You just need 100gr butter, 75gr flour that rises, 100gr sugar, 2 eggs and 25gr cacao powder and in 15min you have yummy chocolate cupcakes. You can add frosting if you want, I prefer to add Nutella before eating them! :D


I have in mind a cute New Year's mani, stay tuned! Till then, take care and enjoy the holidays! And the cupcakes!

Hey lovelies! It's Christmas Eve and I'm home eating junk and watching rubbish ;D so I thought I'd do this tag. I tag all of you if you want to do it! 

1) What are you doing for Christmas this year?
I'll be working during the holidays but I hope I'll spend some time with my family and friends.

2) When (and how) do you open your Christmas presents?
In my family we open the Christmas presents during the first minutes of the first day of new year. We wish each other "happy new year" and exchange presents.

3) What's your favourite Christmas film?
Home Alone 1 and 2, you already guessed that, right?

4) What's the weirdest gift you've ever been given?
I don't think I have been given anything weird, nope, just the usual stuff.

5) What's your favourite Christmas song?
All the Christmas songs, really, I'm such a baby!

6) Do dress up or dress down for Christmas day?
Dress up. Ok, I don't overdo it but something glittery is always welcome during the Christmas season :)

7) What's your favourite Christmas colour?
All together! Green with red and gold :D

8) Candy cane or gingerbread man?
Neither. I prefer melomakarona, they are greek Christmas cookies, soft and sweet, super yummy!

9) What's your favourite Christmas smell?
Oooh, I love to wake up in the morning and smell everything my mum bakes. And then taste everything my mum bakes! :D

10) What is top of your Christmas list this year?
Meeting friends and relatives. Because I'll be working during holidays I just want to find enough time to meet my friends and relatives.

11) What's your favourite Christmas food?
We don't cook anything special for Christmas. Oh, wait! There is vasilopita, it's a cake that we eat on the first day of the new year. It's basically dessert but I'll cheat and put it here!

12) What's your favourite Christmas drink?
Hot chocolate.

13) What's your favourite Christmas past time?
Going for walks to see the decorated stores and do some shopping and when I stay home I love looking at the Christmas tree and all the decoration, they are so pretty!!

14) If you could only buy one Christmas present this year, who would you give it to?
To a sick child hoping it'd make him/her happy, it makes me so sad when children suffer from illnesses.

15) What is most important to you about Christmas?
To give a little happiness to people around me. Everyone is sad these days, I want to see more happy faces! :D :D

Oh! I just Googled Merry Christmas to find a cute pic to put here and something cool happened, try for yourself! Also, try Googling let it snow! Silly little things but I like them!


Merry Christmas lovelies, I wish you a wonderful time with your beloved ones!

Hi lovelies!
I have some beauty news and bargains for Christmas shopping in my mailbox and I thought I'd share with you.

E.L.F. UK had an offers-advent-calendar-thing for the last 12 days but if you missed it don't worry because ALL offers are valid till 14 December 9.30am GMT. Click the photo to view the all the codes.

BornPrettyStore has a single stamp plate sale for $1.55 each. You know how much I like them so I had to share the news with you. Don't forget you can always choose the free shipping option. Moreover there is a code for 10% off, it's TENOFFK31



Sigma launched a new brush kit, the Extravaganza Face Kit with 18K gold plated ferrules. I have to admit that for $210 this isn't for everyone or everyday but if you can afford it, I'm sure it will transform you make up routine into a luxurious ritual!


If you love this gold brush kit but it's a little too much (gold and price wise) for you, there is always the more pocket and travel friendly London kit from The Cities collection with 18K gold ferrules.


And the tiny blog sale I have for you.

I bought them while trying to find my shade but they don't match me, they are too dark for my skin.
I bought them for €4 the tinted moisturiser and for €1.70 each powder.
The tinted moisturiser was used twice, the Spice powder was never used and the Toffee powder was used twice.
I'd like to swap them for tinted moisturiser in Nude and Pressed Powder in Rosy Beige or sell them for half the price. If you are interested leave me a comment or e-mail, they are great products and it's a pity to throw them in the bin just because I chose the wrong colour.

That's all for now, take care, eat Christmas cookies and we'll talk again soon!

Hello ladies! How are you today?
About 2 weeks ago I got an email asking if I'd like to try and review the new Vichy Liftactive Serum 10. I replied that of course I like to try new products and write my opinion about them but since I'm 24 I can't really test it for anti-wrinkle action. I guess they were ok with that and a few days after that the package came! :D
So, what is Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10? It's a serum that you are supposed to use before your usual day and/or night cream. I've only tried one more serum, the L'Oreal Youth Code one and I can say that they really are miracle products! They are more concentrated than lotions or creams but their consistency is very fluid, something between gel and water. That way your skin will absorb it in a minute and it won't leave any oiliness behind. Which is why it's perfect for every skin type, it deeply moisturises the dry skins and leaves the oily ones perfectly matt. You can use it before your regular face creams, day and night or at night only if you believe you don't need it that much. Or you can use it without any face cream if you are going to wear a tinted moisturiser or bb cream. Which is what I've been doing for a week. Every morning I'd use the serum and the Garnier bb cream and run out of the door.

You press the white button on top to fill in the tube (while in the bottle) and you press again on your hand. I don't think you can apply directly to your face, which is not bad at all since it's more hygienic this way. The bottle is opaque and it contains 30ml 1.0fl.oz of product which can be used for 6 months after opening. I'd like to be able to see how much product is left but I think that light affects products like this one that contain no parabens so it's ok.

Rhamnose 10%.
Hyaluronic acid.
AQUA / WATER, RHAMNOSE, GLYCERIN, ALCOHOL DENAT., DIMETHICONE, HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID, PEG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SALICYLOYL PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ADENOSINE, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE / AMMONIUM, POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, DISODIUM EDTA, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM, OCTYLDODECANOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE



It's whitish clear. Totally clear when applied on skin.

Amazing! It applies very easily, you only need a couple drops for your whole face. Soft and light feeling, quickly absorbed, it leaves the skin velvety smooth. Every skin type can use it, even sensitive ones (see below). Don't worry about the serum leaving your skin dry or oily, it won't happen. Which is why I believe serums are miracle products! Now, compared to the L'Oreal Youth Code, I believe this one has a richer formula so if your skin is very dry I'd suggest this one. What else can I say? I really like it, it feels amazing when I apply it and I'm in a dilemma whether I should give it to my mum for anti-wrinkle testing or just keep it! hehehe-evil cartoon laugh-

* Hypoallergenic
* Tested under dermatological control
* Tested on sensitive skin
* Paraben free

Very nice smell, something like roses, very refreshing.

I can't give it a 5/5 since I can't test it for anti-wrinkle action but as far as moisturised, velvet and soft skin goes, I really like it.

Where can you find/buy it - Price
- http://www.vichy.com
- Liftactiv Serum 10
- Beauty stores that sell Vichy
- Suggested price (Greece): €38

Wait! For my Greek readers there's a giveaway on Vichy Greece facebook page. They will give away 20 full size bottles. :D Or you can ask for a sample next time you'll see a Vichy counter.

If you have already tried it I'd love to read you comments below. If you haven't, what do you think about serums? How do you like to use them?

Disclaimer: product was sent to me for free-nobody pays me-this is my honest opinion

November (and late October) was the month I got tons of new products so I thought instead of reviewing each one individually I could do it a ins/outs post. I'll basically tell you which products I liked and which I didn't and why is that. Shall we begin?

This is not a product I use everyday since my brows are quite thick. But I've noticed that when I do a dramatic eye look or dark lips for a night out my brows need more definition. The set includes a brow wax, a brow powder, 2 brushes (the angled one for the wax, the other one for the powder), a pair of tweezers and a big mirror. The box is small and easy to carry around but I noticed I don't need any touch ups, the products last long. The brushes work well, the tweezers don't which is the only drawback of this cute and handy brow set.

Here is my detailed review. I really like it and I continue to use it.

L'Oreal Glam Shine 6h lip gloss: OUT
The colour is veeeery pretty and the applicator is heart shaped!! But it's sticky!

I was really excited to try this product and it disappointed me. Again the colours are super pretty and I love the colour combination. When you first apply them, they are creamy and blendable but not too much to think they'll crease. But the crease. A lot. Even with eye primer underneath. :(

I like it more than I expected! I like that it contains pinky toned nude eyeshadows, I like that it contains 3 dark colours for night-time look, I like that it contains 2 matte browns for defining the crease. You can use them for brows too. I also didn't expect to like the brush but it works great with these eyeshadows! And the Primer Potion works great with the eyeshadows of course.

This is a brownish purple colour, lovely! You can smudge it for a smokey look but it doesn't smudge during the day. It's not too soft and I can't use it for the waterline but neither of them is a problem for me.

This is a natural/compliments many skin tones colour. It has shimmer in it but it still looks very fresh and natural and this is why I like it. Lasting power is great too.

This works great. It leaves my hair very soft and I love its smell. Unfortunately, I have long and thick hair so I've already finished it! Will I buy it again? Yes! :D

I don't know. It's very cool looking, it's moisturising, it gives a hint of colour. But it's not something I'd buy again or buy for a gift because the colour is different on every one's lips.

I'm super picky when it comes to mascaras and I don't like this one. It gives no volume or length or curl to my lashes. It smudges during the day and it's sooo difficult to remove at night even with waterproof remover. Which doesn't make sense of course! The only thing I like is that it doesn't clump my lashes.

This light pink souffle is lovely! Very soft, so soft it's the only face primer I use under the eyes. Works great!
I can't comment on the results, I can only comment on the product itself. I love the packaging. It has a watery/gel consistency which is perfect for all skin types, even the oily ones. It absorbs very fast leaving a velvet skin. It has a light and very nice smell. I gave it to my mum to really test it and I'll be back with details.

I love the packaging! It's small, easy to carry on my purse and artistic. And I believe Elnett hairspray is one of the all time favourites of many women.

There are some more things I haven't tried yet, I'll review them as soon as I do.
What do you think? I'd love to know your opinion about these products!

Disclaimer: All products were given to me for free. As you can see this doesn't change my opinion about them. Nobody pays me to use or post about them.

Hey lovelies! How are you? Happy December with great beauty news...
Finally!! An affordable BB cream that is available in Greece!!
So, what is a BB cream? I know that many of you already know the answer but for those who don't here's the story of the BB creams.
BB cream stands for Blemish Balm cream. It was originally formulated in Germany by Dr Christine Schrammek in the 60s. It was initally used to heal, to soften out and to help fast recovery for patients who have been on surgery. After many years, in 2006, people realized that flawless Korean celebrities skin was not all natural. When they realized that well known Korean actresses and models were using BB creams, everyone wanted to try them! BB creams became very popular because they are basically an all-in-one product, moisturizer, anti-acne, anti-wrinkle, whitening, covering imperfections and protecting from sun damage with high spf.
So the BB trend arrived to the US and Europe and everyone started ordering them from Korea. As far as I know Garnier is the first company that offers affordable BB cream in Europe. I think some other companies already have products that are similar to BB creams but they are high-end/more expensive. That's why I was super happy when I was asked to try and review this Garnier BB cream. To the review now!

Packaging/Application
It comes in a 50ml beige tube in a box. 50ml is larger than most foundations and Korean BB creams.

Ingredients




As you can see, two colours were sent to me, 02 light and 03 medium. 02 matches perfectly my skin at the moment, 03 will be great for summer time when I tan a little. Since this is a light coverage product I'm sure most Greek girls will be fine with the colour selection. If you have porcelain skin colour, you may need something lighter than 02. Now, I haven't tried any Korean BB creams yet but I have read in blogs that they sometimes look grey-ish or too yellow. This isn't the case with this one. The undertones are very natural, not grey, not yellow, not pink.

Again, I haven't tried Korean BB creams but I've read that some of them are thick and difficult to blend in. Bloggers usually suggest to wet the brush to help the blending. This is not the case. This cream is very very easy to apply and blend. I've done it with fingers, I've done it with foundation brush and had no problems. When I apply it, my face looks a little oily. But in 2-3min the skin kind of absorbs it (I guess it's the moisturising ingredients) and it looks perfect. It's not a matte finish or dewy finish, it's just natural.

It's a 5-in-1 product:
- SPF15 protects the skin from UV rays damage
- moisturising and anti-wrinkle ingredients moisturize and protect the skin for 24h
- covers imperfections and fine lines
- mineral colour particles give an even skin tone
- vitamin C gives a natural glow to the skin

Does it really work?
I tested it on the most difficult and uneven part of my face, the side of my chin. Here's the result
Please do not click for larger, I'm really embarrased!! lol! You can see that it covered the small blemishes and redness and gave me a more even skin tone. The biggest blemish still needs concealer but for day time look I wouldn't bother.

Smell/Taste
It has a nice and fresh smell, the usual Garnier smell if you have tried other Garnier products.

Again, this is the first BB cream I try. I've used it for about a week and I like it very much. On good skin days I only need some concealer on top. If you want more coverage you can apply your regular foundation on top. I don't know if you agree but I have always wanted an all-in-1 face product and I'm very happy that BB creams are exactly that. I mean, using face cream, sunscreen and foundation separately means more time and more money since there are 3 products I have to buy! Anyway, I really like this cream, I had no problem with it, no break outs or anything and I will definitely continue to use it!

Where can you find it-Cost
In Greece: According to the company, during December it will be exclusively available in Hondos Center. From January, it will be available in every beauty store.
Price: €9.99
Everywhere else: Beauty stores that sell Garnier.

What do you think about BB creams in general? Have you tried them? Are you going to try them? I have ordered a couple Korean BB creams so I'll definitely write a post about them.

Disclaimer: products were sent to me for review. Nobody pays me to use or review them. This is my honest opinion.