Thursday, September 30, 2010

September Favorites

September has been a very fall-oriented month here on Rocaille Writes; have you noticed how many times the word 'fall' appeared in the posts' titles? However, when it comes to actually following the autumnal trends in practice, I haven't been too diligent. In fact, this month I've hardly been wearing any make-up at all and also refrained from make-up shopping; my birthday giftcard for Sephora is still laying unused... Shocking, no?

Still, there have been some titbits that reached the 'favorite' status:


1. Wet'n'Wild Sweet As Candy eyeshadow trio
Yes, high-end make-up excites me far more than drugstore thrills. Nevertheless, I do believe you can find fantastic gems among rolls of bathroom tissue and bottles of laundry detergent, so to speak, and one of them is certainly this little beauty. The colors seem a little blah in the pan but they go on smoothly and vividly, creating a great everyday eye set for those who are pressed for time in the mornings, or, as in my case, gals who often find themselves pondering which eyeshadows to take for a weekend hiking trip.


2. Lush Sweet Lips vegan lip scrub
You're right, this is essentialy sugar and flavoring. So what? Not that I could make such a glamorous chocolatey concotion in my own kitchen. I find this lip scrub especially essential now that the dark lips are in; there's nothing worse than chapped, flaky mouth smeared in a dark lipstick (well, at least in my world). I wish it had a tiny bit more jojoba oil in it though, as I tend to get a lot of fall down when using it.


3. Badger Organic Fair Trade Creamy Cocoa lip balm
Now that your lips are smooth and soft, it's time to moisturize and protect that perfect pout. I've tried a lot of different lip balms over the years and for now, this is the winner. It smells faintly of cocoa, very similar to Lush Therapy massage bar, and has no taste. The big tube makes application a matter of seconds and I like 'Badger the Magician' packaging design. However, as with most organic moisturizers, it's quite sensitive to temperature change, so carrying it around in your pocket might not be the best idea.


4. Lush Figs and Leaves soap
I like the sweet, floral scent of this soap, so subtle and feminine. However, if you intend on rubbing the bar all over your body, there's nothing subtle about it: the fig seeds in it act as a very abrasive exfoliant which I find too harsh for my skin. I just put some on my loofah and enjoy the creamy lather and luxurious feel of the product without the pain.


5. Bass Bamboo comb
I bought it on an impulse in Whole Foods, hoping that it'd help me solve my biggest hair woe: tangly hair. I find it ridiculous that for someone with such an oily skin as mine, my ends get so unbelievably dry and impossible to brush through. This sustainable comb detangles my mane effectively without ripping and breaking a handful of hairs as is the case with detangling brushes. Success!


6. TRESemme 24 Hour Body Root Boosting Spray
I have big faith in TRESemme styling products, and this is no exception. I spray this into sections of my hair at the crown, massage it in, blow dry head down and voila, voluminous and bouncy do. It doesn't hurt that it also smells amazing of exotic fruit and flowers and comes with a very reasonable price tag.


7. MAC Vex eyeshadow (Frost)
All of you girls who recommended this shade to me, you were so, so right. This unique silver with pink and green duochrome is one of the best neutral eyeshadows in my collection. Easy to pair with other shades, smooth, understated and elegant, this has already become an everyday staple. If you don't have this, you need it in your life!

What are your favorite beauty products this month?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Golden Fall at Ingalls Creek

... or what we were up to this past weekend. Enjoy!







How was your weekend? Are you enjoying 'Golden Fall' where you live? Thanks for stopping by, lovelies! xxx

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sinful Colors 'Hot & Sour' NOTD

Direct sunlight

Indirect natural light

'Hot & Sour' is a very classic creamy red, neither yellow nor blue-toned; think red hot chili peppers and fire hydrants. In the photos, I layered two coats of the polish over a base coat and finished with a layer of Seche Vite only to prolong wear since the shine on this one was very decent without additional help. It applied easily without bubbling, dragging or streaking which I find true for all of my Sinful Colors polishes. I'm on my 5th day now, and while there's noticeable tip wear (how could there not be any with all the cooking and dishwashing?!), still no chipping in sight. I'd say, for $2, I can't possibly expect more from a nail polish.

What's gracing your nails at the moment? xxx

Friday, September 17, 2010

3 Necklaces for Fall

RE Reserved

J.Lill

Dogeared 'Pearls of Wisdom'

Last two were birthday presents too :) To be honest, I'd also wear them all year round, but I feel like the shades of silver, grey and black are especially appropriate for F/W. Which one is your favorite? xxx

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The New Beginnings

Remember this piece of advice about experiencing new things to help you grow as a person? Well, I really liked this one and I think I'm taking my best shot to incorporate it into my everyday life. New home, new language, new friends, new diet, new sports, new hobbies, new habits... All that to try to find my place in the universe where I could feel whole and at peace with myself.

And sometimes I feel like I'm getting there, just a couple more steps. But most of the time, I'm not so sure I can do that. It feels like such a struggle, like there are so many things changing around me, and I just want my old life back; if I could just curl into a ball in my old bedroom with one of my favorite childhood books and hear my mum calling me from downstairs for a cup of tea, with lemon and sugar of course.

But in those moments of uncertainty, I try not to lose sight of the bigger picture. You know, as a teenager, I never imagined myself in the place where I am now. I never thought so many beautiful, unexpected and unique things would happen to me: meeting the love of my life so early, studying something not-so-practical but which I feel passionate about, moving across the Atlantic, discovering blogging and being able to develop my passions. Yet, it all happened to me and I am grateful. I count my blessings even if they overwhelm me.

Why am I writing this? I'm not entirely sure. Holidays are ending and soon I'll be studying again albeit remotely, my last, fifth year of university, and fall always feels like a new beginning. Will it bring me inspiration to carpe diem and strength to follow my dreams?

Friday, September 10, 2010

Favorite Trends for Fall

Yes, it's coming... Streets are getting grey, windy and slick with drizzle. However, that's not how I like to think about fall. Because it can be fun. Just look:

photos via weheartit.com

1. Chunky knits & earthy shades. Oh, how much I love thee. Soft plaits againts goosebumpy skin and those rich hues of burgundy, plum, reddish browns and dark purples.
2. Laced up ankle boots. Simple and stunning. There's something Victorian about them that makes my heart skip a beat; but will I be able to walk in these heels on slippery sidewalks? We'll see...
3. Knee high socks. Or even higher. Trendy toasty toes that make me feel a little girl again.
4. Long scarves. I love scarves full stop, no matter the season. They make more sense in fall and winter though.
5. Beehives. With an optional pretty head band. What can I say, I have a soft spot for anything sixties.
6. Berry lips. I am soo not bored with these every time they're back come September. Now, wearing a dark lip is not just my thing, it's fashion.
7. Purple nails. How cool are these?!
8. Big mugs of tea/coffee and a great read. Hand me this blanket, hun.

What are your favorite trends for fall? xxx

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Lacquered Up Haul

Let's pass over the fact that I may have gone a tiny bit overboard this time and just soak in the sheer gorgeousness of these nail polishes...


Some of these colors were picked by my mom and sisters-in-law, but they left them on my vanity when packing, so I'm guessing they're all mine now, no?

On my nails we have two coats of China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le, and the result of using a top coat gone bad (Sally Hansen Mega Shine); it literally drags the polish off the nail bed, creasing at the edges. What the...?! Fortunately, I since got myself a brand new bottle of Seche Vite, so that won't be happening again any time soon.

L-R China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le, China Glaze Frostbite, Sinful Colors Aqua

L-R Sinful Colors Vacation Time, Sinful Colors Hot & Sour

L-R Wet'n'Wild Wild Shine Nail Color in Metallica, Wet'n'Wild Craze Nail Color in Shield

L-R CQ Purple Passion, Petites Passion Orange, Sally Girl EH9329?

I will be posting swatches of these over the next couple of weeks. I'm thinking about painting my nails Hot & Sour next; it's been ages since I last painted my nails red... Which ones would you like to see swatched and reviewed on the blog, ladies? xxx

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Continuous Coral FOTD

This is so overdue I'm not even sure I can recall correctly what products I used... A fun look nevertheless, it somehow reminds me of rainforest.


Face:
100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer with Fruit Pigments in Creme
MAC Studio Finish concealer in NW20
Physician's Formula Healthy Wear SPF50 Powder in Translucent Light
Physician's Formula Organic Wear Face Sculpting Trio in Tan Organics - you can see the full effect of the beautiful highlighting powder it comes with in the last photo


Eyes:
Wet'n'Wild Khol eye pencil in Taupe for the brows
Benefit F.Y. eyes primer
Coastal Scents 76 pallette for the greens on the lower lashline
Physician's Formula Organic Wear Face Sculpting Trio in Tan Organics - I used the bronzer and highlighter to enhance the shape of my eyes
Covergirl Lash Blast Length mascara in Very Black
Benefit Eye Bright on the lower waterline


And, finally, the lip color that inspired the look: Revlon's Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze in Continuous Coral, a perfectly juicy, scorching orangey coral infused with beautiful gold shimmers. It goes even better with a tan!

Hope you enjoyed this one, and as much as I don't want to admit it, I guess this would be the last summery look I did this season... I do however crave some autumnal plums already. What was your favorite shade of the summer and what is your favorite shade of autumn? xxx