Party Season Must-Haves

Hello beauties!

The holidays are just around the corner and the party season atmosphere is in the air. Shopping malls are drenched in holiday decor trying to attract customers around the busiest shopping season of the year. Now that we're in December, it's time to decorate the Christmas tree and add a warmth and coziness to our homes.

I decided to write this post about my party season must haves and I hope this is going to be interesting for you and that you'll maybe pick up a thing or two from my list! Also, don't forget to share with me your must haves for the Christmas holidays in the comments below!

Red nail polish indeed makes everything more festive! These are truly my must haves for this time of the year, I love both shades: 03 by Mavala is more of a vibrant red but "Rouge Savage" by L'Oreal is also a true red and perfect for Christmas time.

Party season calls for sparkly body mist! If it's caramel scented, even better! This one is from H&M and it's a scented body splash with glitter. You can layer it over your usual body lotion, too.

Tissue face & eyes masks are a must-have for prepping your skin for the party season. You want to look (and feel) your best and these masks can perform little miracles in less than 30 minutes! I love these under eye masks by Shiseido Benefiance and tissue face masks by Mitomo.

With just a few drops of your favorite perfume, it's already Christmas! I love, love, love Angel by Thierry Mugler, especially in the winter season, as it's quite a bold and strong scent that can't be passed unrecognized!

Christmas time is a time for family gatherings and also office parties and just many occasions to wear something festive! I always add some sparkles and sequins to my outfit just to make it a bit more festive! In this photo, I have details of my old Zara Exquisite Embellished Multicolored Beaded Sequin Bomber Jacket which is super cute and covered in sequins that I wear whenever the right occasion comes along.

I hope you liked my ideas! What are some of yours beauty / fashion essentials when it comes to holidays and party season? Do share!

xo from Italy,

* more fashion & beauty topics on Glam Express

Mitomo Japanese Sheet Mask Review & Trying Out The Camellia Essence Mask!

Hello beauties!

You probably already know my obsession with tissue masks, I like to use them as often as I can because they boost my skin with hydration and make it soft and baby smooth!

I often post on my instagram funny photos of me wearing the mask and the results afterwards.

Here I was testing out Garnier sheet masks, but recently I teamed up with Mitomo and they kindly sent me some of their top selling tissue masks to review.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

1. Mitomo Pure Skin Care Pure Facial Essence Mask
2. Mitomo Pore Care Pore Control Facial Essence Mask
3. Mitomo Moisturizing Care Moisturizing Facial Essence Mask
4. Mitomo The Natural Perfect Moisture Essence Sheet Mask Placenta + Platinum
5. Mitomo The Natural Perfect Moisture Essence Sheet Mask Syn- Ake + EGF
6. Mitomo Black Sheet Gold & Horse Oil Black Sheet Face Pack
7. Mitomo Q10 + Lithospermum Essence Mask
8. Mitomo Collagen + Lithospermum Essence Mask
9. Mitomo Uruuru Tea Tree Essence Mask
10. Mitomo Camellia Essence Mask

I decided to try out the Camellia Essence Mask that very day (well, that very night to be precise, as I use face masks whilst taking a shower, and as a part of my night time skincare routine.)

In this video , I talk more about the masks & show you a little clip / demo on how I used the Camellia Essence mask and how my skin felt and looked like afterwards:

These masks are very affordable, and you can get more info on their global official website

The Camellia mask felt very refreshing, and left my skin very hydrated. The cotton sheet mask came in the packaging full of essence, but it wasn't sticky at all. It was a true pleasure to do this 20-30 min pampering treatment before going to sleep.

The packaging itself was super pretty!

I really like Asian skincare, they really know what they're doing and our Occidental beauty industry often gets inspired by their ancient knowledge and traditions.

Let me know, have you ever tried any of Mitomo's (or other brands') tissue masks and how was your experience with them? Is it something you'd want to include in your beauty routine?

xo from Italy,

* read more fashion & beauty articles at Glam Express

Shiseido Ibuki Total Recharge Beauty Sleeping Mask Review

Hello beauties!

Today I'd like to present you one of the skincare product that became an essential part of my night time skincare routine. I'm talking about Shiseido Ibuki Total Recharge Beauty Sleeping Mask.

I really love Shiseido products and I've tried quite a bit of them already.

Currently my favorite Shiseido product is this beauty sleeping mask as it hydrates skin overnight and leaves me with youthful and plump skin in the morning.

It's a great product for busy mums, new mums or whoever doesn't get enough sleep during the night!

This will visibly correct dullness and tired looking skin, as it contains some amazing ingredients such as condensed vitamin capsules, that leave skin looking and feeling fully refreshed.

It also contains phytoplankton extract which thrives in the severely dry Sahara Dessert, and phyto-target complex which supplements natural moisturizing factor and intracellular lipids that are key to optimal barrier function.

In a few words, skin will look radiant, dewy and well rested, even after a night of inadequate sleep.

This awesome product contains vitamins C and E, as it helps tired looking skin appear brighter, clearer and more radiant after one night.

You can use it on occasions, or even every night (depending on your skin's need).

My skin is currently quite dry so this product is a must!

Have I told you about its gentle scent? It will definitely relieve you from daytime stresses, as it generates a feeling of relaxation, preparing you for a pleasant sleep (well, hopefully, if your baby sleeps through the night, that is! haha)

 I talk more about this beauty sleeping mask in my review video

One Extra Tip:

For greater results, spread the mask from the center of the face outwards. Close your eyes and breathe in the fragrance while applying on the skin. Press the acupressure points for inducing sleep along the eyebrows, and then glide your fingers along the lower eyelids, from the outer corners of the eyes to the inner corners.

This is a quick and effective beauty ritual that you can easily do on your own and pamper yourself a bit after a busy day.

As my skin needs change with time, so does the products I use, but one thing is certain: I always turn to Shiseido. From Pureness line (when I was in my 20-ies and fighting breakouts, to Ibuki or White Lucency, I'm always one very pleased consumer!)

I also reviewed more Ibuki products in this video if you're interested to find out more about this line:

Have you ever used anything from Shiseido? Do you like their products? Which one is your favorite?

xo from Italy,

* see more fashion, beauty & lifestyle articles at Glam Express

This Month's Empties (October)

Hello beauties!

This month as well, I have 5 products that I've used up, to share with you.

To me personally, "empties" are always interesting, as I can get some good recommendations or find out which products are not that worth of hype!

So let's see together, my empties for this month.

• Garnier Dry Body Oil (Olive Extract)
• Dove Bath Foam
• Batist Dry Shampoo
• Nivea Q 10 Serum Pearls
• Garnier Cocoa and Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner

There's a couple hair products that I'd like to talk to you about.

Garnier Hair Conditioner with Cocoa and Coconut Oil Extract. This product is very affordable price wise and it's overall a good conditioner: It has got a pleasant scent and it's quite creamy and moisturizing. It leaves your hair straight and soft and I love the scent!

If you don't want to splurge on expensive high end hair care products, this one is a good drugstore buy!

For ages I was convinced that the Batist Dry Shampoo was the popular "Batiste" Dry Shampoo, only an Italian version of it. But then I realized this was made in Italy and other than a very similar name, it doesn't have much to do with the famous "Batiste" dry shampoo. This one will do the job, but it's more of an "old school" dry shampoo. It comes only in this version, whereas the "Batiste" one comes in many different varieties and let's face it, it's way more fun to use!

Unfortunately, in Italy (at least in my area) we don't have the "Batiste" one (I buy it when I'm in Croatia), so "Batist" it was this time! I wasn't too impressed and if I can avoid buying it again, I will.

I'll much rather opt for the awesome Klorane Dry Shampoo then, which is available at our local pharmacies.

"Batist"  I have to say was kind of a "no-no" for me.

Next I have two body care products.

Dove Bath Foam was very creamy and nourishing, nicely scented and was leaving my skin soft and moisturized. It's a drugstore product, so very affordable. I would buy it again, maybe trying out other scents, as it comes in a variety of different options.

Garnier Dry Body Oil was a true discovery for me right after I gave birth. I was very busy with my newborn son and also quite weak in the postpartum period, so I didn't have much time, or strength to do my usual everyday beauty routine. However I didn't want to neglect myself, so after taking a shower, this oil was the best for a quick nourishment! I loved everything about it: how easy it was to apply, quick to absorb and it's beautifully scented. I most certainly will buy it again. It's also great if you don't have much time to dedicate to your beauty routine after showering!

Last is one face care product: Nivea Q 10 Serum Pearls. I bought this at my local drugstore even before I got pregnant. I started using it, but then I had to stop for a while, as during my pregnancy (especially in the first trimester) the scent of this product was making me sick!

I started using it again not that long ago and I just recently used it up. I was using this as a serum, before my daily moisturizer. The yellow pearls turn into a creamy consistency as soon as you press the pump and it's non greasy and easy to absorb. I don't mind the scent anymore but I do wish it was less scented. This way it looks too artificial, so I doubt I'll be buying it again.

My favourite product from these empties is definitely Garnier Dry Body Oil! I absolutely love & recommend it!

If you get a chance to try it out, please let me know your opinions!

* read more fashion & beauty articles at Glam Express

Details of Cortina D'Ampezzo ♥♥

ENG: Hi loves! Thank you so much for following my blog! It really means a world to me and you're my biggest source of inspiration :-)

Today I'm bringing you some amazing shots from Cortina d'Ampezzo. Sometimes we're so concentrated on ourselves, that we skip the incredible beauty that surrounds us. That's why this post is dedicated entirely to the beauty of Cortina, and to these amazing landscapes that just being able to appreciate them, makes you feel very grateful and priviledged. Thank you life, for all this beauty!

"...But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can be seen..." Seal "Kiss From A Rose"

HR: Pozdrav ljepotice! Hvala vam puno sto pratite moj blog! Vjerujte mi, puno mi znaci vasa podrska i vi ste moj najveci izvor inspiracije :-)

Danas vam donosim neke predivne fotografije sa naseg putovanja u Cortinu d'Ampezzo. Ponekad smo toliko zaokupljeni nama samima, da propustamo uociti ljepotu koja nas okruzuje. Bas zbog toga ovaj post posvecen je u cijelosti detaljima Cortine i njezinoj ljepoti! Pogledajte ove prekrasne krajolike. Sama mogucnost uzivanja u ovakvom prizoru, cini me sretnom, osjecam se zahvalnom i privilegiranom. Hvala ti zivote, na ovoj ljepoti!

GHD Curve Classic Wave Wand Review & Loose Waves Hair Tutorial ♥

ENG: Hello beauties! In this post I'd like to share with you my thoughts on GHD Curve, classic wave wand, hair styling tool that I got a month ago! I've been loving it, so I wanted to mention it here on my blog :-) I've already done a review/ tutorial on my youtube channel, and I'll link the video to this post, so you can go & check it out, for more info on this styler, and also to see, step by step, how I created these soft, loose waves ♥

GHD hair tools are by far my favourite ones! I've had my GHD hair straightener for years now, and when I found out that GHD came up with a whole range of styling tools/hair curlers, I knew I had to try one out! I do like to curl my hair, I love how my hair looks with a slight wave, but i'm always concerned about damaging it, when applying heat on it...so I avoid wearing  this hair style too often...
That's why i needed a styler like GHD, because they're designed to deliver awesome results, while taking care not to damage your hair!

As my hair is quite long, I opted for a GHD curve, Classic Wave Wand, which gives you that "old Hollywood glamour" style, classic waves. I'm loving the result!
Depending on how you hold the wand, you can achieve different type of waves: If you hold the wand vertically, you will get classic waves. If you're going for soft waves, flat-wrap hair around the barrel.

GHD curve was quite expensive, but I think it's worth it! As my hubby said: "You bought yourself a Ferrari of hair curlers!"

Top tips:

1. Always use curl hold spray before styling to protect your hair and lock your look in place.
2. For perfect curls, the size of your section should be the width of the barrel.
3. Make styling easy by splitting your hair into sections and curling one side at a time, tilting your head as you style.
4. Hold hair around the barrel for 5-8 seconds, depending on your hair type.
5. Always place curve on its stand when not in use.
6. Dress your hair out to create different looks. Use your finger tips to create a textured beach wave and use a paddle brush for soft and glamorous curls.

Watch here my full review & hair tutorial with GHD curve Classic Wave Wand:

HR: Pozdrav ljepotice! U danasnjem postu zeljela sam sa vama podijeliti svoj dojam o GHD curve, Classic Wave Wand, figaru za kosu. Figaro sam kupila prije mjesec dana i zaista sam njime odusevljena! Vec sam o njemu radila video recenziju i tutorijal i na hrvatskom jeziku, pa cu vam ostaviti link dolje, gdje cete moci pogledati taj video.
Potrudila sam se da video recenzija bude detaljna, a u tutorijalu vam prikazujem, korak po korak, kako do ovih "glamuroznih holivudskih" valova u kosi :-) ♥

GHD uredaji za stilizaciju kose moji su omiljeni! Svoju GHD peglu imam vec godinama i ne mogu vise zamisliti svoju svakodnevicu bez nje. Kada sam cula da je GHD nedavno na trziste izbacio i cijelu kolekciju figara za kosu, znala sam da si zelim izabrati jedan!
Buduci da volim kovrcati kosu i svidja mi se kako mi taj look stoji, a opet, ne nosim takve frizure cesto, jer bojim se pretjerano izlagati kosu toplinskim uredajima, znala sam da je GHD curve rjesenje za moje "styling" probleme!
GHD curve donosi vam najbolji rezultat dok mozete biti mirni da nece ostetiti vasu kosu!

Buduci da je moja kosa prilicno duga, nakon pomnog istrazivanja, odlucila sam se na tip GHD figara Classic Wave Wand, koji vam garantira onaj klasicni holivudski glamour laganih valova u kosi :-) Rezultat je odlican, a postize se jako brzo, upola brze nego sa mojim starim figarom!

GHD styleri su jako skupi, priustila sam si ga na poklon i nije mi zao, vrijedi.
Puno se razlikuje od ostalih takvih uredaja koje nude drugi brandovi na trzistu...Kao sto je moj muzic napomenuo: "Kupila si si Ferrari od figara!" ahaha...ali, imao je pravo ;-)

Video tutorijal i recenziju pogledajte ovdje:

GHD Curve Classic Wave Wand

The result: