This spring, go green or go home

 As you may already have heard, green is the new IT colour for spring!

I'm not talking blue green or grey green here, no. I'm talking pure green, grass green or more flashy.

As per usual, I didn't have to look too far to get two lovely shades. OPI who is always one step further on the trends, already have many shades of green in their range so it wasn't difficult to get some pure green :) 

My picks are Green-wich Village and Gargantuan Green Grape

 Green-wich Village is your typical green grass colour. It's not as bright as in the picture, it's more of a discreet green (if that even exist) It is such a lovely colour, it will be wearing this baby a lot during sunny days. The application was very good, as always with the OPI nail polishes and I used three coats to get the most opaque result I could.

Gargantuan Green Grape is my crush colour for this spring! I had this colour for sooo long and never really used it until now. I got the matte version but one coat of Rapid Dry Topcoat by OPI and you're good to go with a glossy finish. This colour is so bright yet not neon, I absoooolutely love it. I can see myself wearing this with a black blazer, white top and blue jeans. Very basic outfit with the crazy nail colour pop of colour is my favourite trend! 

Glory to OPI for having such a wide, fun range of colours!

Will you be wearing the IT green this spring? 

XO,MARILOU

Cover Girl Lash Blast Waterproof mascara

I know, I know I've already wrote a post about this mascara but what can I say? I'm obsessed. It is my favourite mascara of all time, I've bought this countless time with the same satisfaction and need to rebuy it when it dries. Nothing like long and voluminous lashes to brighten any puffy/morning faces. It's been now almost 4 years that I'm faithful to my Cover Girl Lashblast. I always pick the shade "very black" (oooh I love that this is even a shade!) as it gives the most intense black result. This time I went for the waterproof as all the regular ones were sold out!  One thing I loathe about makeup is the way it looks at the end of the day, when you come back home and see your face that looks nothing like the way it looked like in the morning. I love that fresh makeup feeling when I've just applied my foundation in the morning but I already dread the way home as I know that it will fade away and look less attractive and flawless than in the morning. With mascara, it's the same issue, I find that some mascara do not last all day long. Not that it disappears like foundation could, but it does fade and looks less intense. I hate hate hate when that happens.

The waterproof lash blast profusion mascara is said to last all day and keep that very intense dark shade.

Also, as it is waterproof it will keeps your lashes curled all day long and will not smudge!

My guilty pleasure with this mascara is that before/after moment with the massive brush when you get to inaugurate it.

before

after. HOW DARK IT IS? love it!

This is definitely my most used and loved mascara and I highly recommand it to you if your looking for over the top curled long and voluminous lashes that stays still all day AND it is very affordable (+-10€)

The packaging isn't the girliest, not a fan of the orange thing going on but it does perfectly its job so it's forgiven! 

Also, very very important I always use this as a SECOND MASCARA. I apply a first mascara to shape the lashes then I apply my lashblast to create the drama over the top glamorous lashes!

XO,Marilou 

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditionner

I've had the chance to review these two hair products from Liz Earle. I was really excited as I'm a big fan of their brand as you may have noticed if you read my blog. I love that Liz Earle goes from skin care, to hair care and now a makeup range.  I have tried the Botanical Shine Shampoo which is good for all hair types and I went for the Botanical Shine Condtioner for oily hair as I wash my hair every day and they tend to grease after one day (yikes, I know) but I can't help it I love the fresh washed feeling on my scalp. 

The hair products come in bottles of 200ml, as a little goes a very long way, they last forever!

You don't need that much product (depends of the length of your hair obviously) as it foams very well.

 I'm obsessed with the ingredients of shampoos. I always read the back of the bottle of shampoo I'm using when I'm in the shower. I am amazed (yet not surprised) with the dreamy list of naturally active ingredients that Liz Earle is using.  It smells really good, with that usual botanical smell.

The shampoo cleans your hair really easily, I was impressed with the feeling afterwards. I could feel my hair were really soft... yet the conditionner was still to apply.

The conditionner is also filled with tons of amazing ingredients.  It is a very good conditionner that nourrishes without leaving that heavy feeling in your hair. I've avoided applying in too close from my roots of course. 

My hair are SO soft after my Botanical Shampoo & Conditionner, easy to comb and really shiny.

I love that they're effective AND filled with tons of naturally active ingredients.

Have you tried the Liz Earle hair products range? 

You can buy Liz Earle here :)

Ps: Yes, I've changed my colour and went for the colour "Caramel" who turned into even more gingerness. YOM OR VOM? 

XO,MARILOU

Oops I did it again

Girl can't help it. An other british beauty haul. It was supposed to be very innocent at first, just two or three items I've been wanting for a very long time then the list just kept growing and growing, until this. The lovely Rachel (at http://www.ohwhoisshe.com/ ) who helped me through this beauty extravangaza did add some unexpected lovely things like the nail polishes and the snow fairy (I might have scream when I saw it in the box as I have never had the chance to try this oh so famous shower gel) Thank you Rachel!!!!

Expect some reviews and swatches soon :) 

YOU GOTTA LOVE A GOLD OLD BRITISH BEAUTY HAUL.

XO,MARILOU

Jessica - Phenomen Oil

Cuticles. Those horrible little dead skins that rotten your nail life. I've never paid much attention to my cuticles because I never felt it was necessary and I didn't see the point. I do feel self conscious at times when I swatch nail polish because you can see them from time to time and it's not an attractive feature.

I have a terrible confession to make, I even went to the point where I have had cut them with a tiny cutter. Eeeee, shame on me, I KNOW. Do NOT cut your cuticles, it's so baaad.  The way to go is to moisturize them and nourish them. I've decided to stop mistreating my cuticles and accept that they are now a part of my nail routine. After looking for a great product and reading the pixiwoo JESSICA post, I have bought the Jessica Phenomen Oil on feelunique.com 

What it says : "Phenomen Oil is a unique blend of essential oils that softens cuticles and promotes the growth and flexibility of the nail. Restores, protects and maintains healthy cuticles and nails. Natural jojoba heals dry, spilt and craked cuticles. Almond and rice oils for conditionning. Increases circulation and promotes nail growth when massaged in. "

It comes in a nice little bottle of 14,8 ml (which is a lot) and smells like marzipan (thanks to the almond in it) It is extremely moisturizing and the fact that it has a little pump is very handy to apply the product on the cuticles. It's not greasy at all, which I LOVE yet it really nourrish your nails and cuticles. The other thing I adore about this product is the multi use you can have with it. You can use it basically on any dry part of your body. Face, knee, elbow, and even hair (I've tested it, it's faaaaabulous)

 I can NOT believe I've waited sooo long before taking the plunge and taking care of my cuticles.

A great manicure is nothing without healthy cuticles! That's my new nail motto.

XO,Marilou 

Last friday OOTD

Last friday the weather wasn't THAT cold anymore. So I did venture outside for a night out with the boyf with an outfit very not appropriate for the season. But blame it on the two weeks of intense cold, I was soooo over wearing snow boots/rain boots/unfashionable boots.  So I did get massively sick afterwards, and still am a little bit now :( I'm so waiting for spring to arrive, you have NO idea. I'm sick and tired with my winter wardrobe and wearing socks!  The pose is so awkward but I was posing, for blog's sake, on the side of the sideway (hooker much?) so I've avoided to pout and strike a pose. 

My outfit :

Clutch - vintage Delvaux 

Blazer - French connection (I'm obsessed with it)

Jeans - I can't remember...

Shoes - New look 

Tee - Primark

Scarf - Primark 

AND FALSIES OF COURSE.

Hope you all have a better weekend than me, dying in bed with a hot bottle of water

XO,MARILOU

Lately...

Doing a lot of back and forth with the train so music and something to read is NEEDED.

The comeback of the side braid. Always handy when you're having a bad hair day..

Interning at OPI with the super cute decoration near my desk :) 

Oops, I might have bought some new nail polishes! Blame it on the internship :) 

My favourite earrings at the mo' (yeah I'm so cool)

So random, this was my lunch today. Super yummy tuna bread with pickles and cressonette.

NOM NOM

XO,MARILOU

Primark eyelash curler

Let me introduce you to my favourite eyelash curler EVER.

Curling my lashes, in a really important step in my makeup routine. Without it, I feel like my lashes are dull and my mascara does not apply as well. Last year when I spent a month in London, I was looking for a cheap eyelash curler as I had forgot mine at home and I got the one at Primark. It is a very cute white and pink one, and it was 1£! BARGAIN. I was not expecting this curler to be the best but to my great surprise, IT IS. 

After a full year of using it, it became old and I didn't work as well. I was desperate to get a new one but the Primark in Belgium didn't have the makeup range. Well It didn't, but IT DOES NOW. I went to Primark last week and I was excited to see that they makeup range and beauty accessories is now available in Belgium too! I bought 2 lash curlers, just in case :) It was 1,50€, still very affordable. 

This eyelash curler has a very firm pressure and does an amazing job to the lashes. I use it every single day even when I don't wear mascara, it really disciplines my lashes and brighten my eyes!

 Lash curled without mascara. You can see that it is very efficient! 

And with mascara :)

For a very long time, I was thinking of splurging a good amount of money to buy myself a good eyelash curler (like the Shu Uemura one) but after being really satisfied with my Primark one, I think it would be so mad to spend so much on an eyelash curler! 

What is your favourite eyelash curler? (if you use one...and if you don't... OMG DO IT)

XO,Marilou 

On my nails today : Size Matters

Nothing like a good old red nail polish to add sophistication to any outfit. My latest red crush has been the varnish Size Matters by Essie. I've bought this because I found that the undertones of this colour were really special. It's not your typical red, it has some fuschia/wine undertones. It's a very unique mix! 

 I've been a bit disappointed with the new Essie brush to be quite honest, it's just too wide and makes the application a bit messy.

This was 3 coats! 

XO,Marilou

Beauty wishlist #1

This is my current beauty wishlist :) I'm dying to get my hands on these gems. Especially the Clarisonic MIA and the Real Techniques brushes (too bad they're not all pink). The perfume Flower Bomb is on my wishlist but is no new to my daily life. It has been my favourite perfume for about two years now, such a lovely girly yet spicy smell!   I have some goodies coming soon from the UK thanks to the lovely blogger RAY. I have been a bit MIA lately, I've had very busy weeks and weekend but I'm plotting some great posts to come. I like being busy but I really miss having the time to blog like I love to do. When I blog it seems like all my worries or thoughts disappear and I'm just in a beauty talk mood (which I love)

OPI - Midnight in Moscow / Viktor & Rolf - Flowerbomb/ Physicians formula - Happy Booster/ Clarisonic Mia 

Sleek Contouring Kit / Mac -Russian Red / Real techniques brushes - Core 

XO,MARILOU