Summer Favorites!

Hi guys! I know it had been ages since I updated this blog and I really missed blogging and sharing my thoughts so here it goes: Summer Favorites 2014!

This year my Boyfriend and I went to Romania for a summer vacation, so a lot of products are things that I loved during our trip there. We had wonderful time and yes we have visited The Dracula’s castle!

Satsuma body sorbet and Shower gel from the Body Shop

There is not better thing after a long day sightseeing and walking around than to take a shower and then apply cold from the fridge this body sorbet. It’s very refreshing and revitalizing. I really enjoyed it.

I totally recommend it for people who don’t like the greasy-oily feeling that some body lotion and 

body butters have.

Tea tree Skin Clearing Toner-The body Shop

In summer my skin tends to be more oily than usual so I picked that up to help me clear my face and I love it! I love the tea tree toner from Lush too but we don’t have a shop here. My bottle is almost over. In fact between the two I may prefer the Body Shop one.

Tecnoskin-Total Beauty Face Cream CC

This was a gift and it totally worked for me. I didn’t know this brand before and I will definitely check them out in the future as well. The consistency is light and it didn’t break me out. The color was perfect for my skin, at first I thought that it would be dark but it adapts to my natural color, not full coverage but it does make the skin glowing and gives an even tone.

I love this because you don’t have to use a lot of products. It’s a moisturizer, a sun block and it has a light color to it as well.

From the website: Due to its multivalent anti-aging factor, it offers anti-aging action reinforcing thus and protecting the ally of firm skin, the collagen. At the same time, it effectively and constantly hydrates making the skin look fresh and renewed. Furthermore, it offers a uniform skin tone and erases any possible imperfections making the skin look radiant. With antioxidant action and sun protection SPF30.

I think it’s a greek company because in the tube it’s written Made in Greece.

If you want you can check them out here: www.tecnoskin-derma.com/en/

 Apivita Refreshing Body milk with Fig and Aloe

Another gift from my Mom this time! With 91% natural ingredients this body milk moisturizes very well and sinks in quick. Usually I don’t like figs in perfume or bath and body products but this has a spa like quality and it just smell clean and refreshing so I used it so much this summer it’s almost over!

Korres Blush Stick in Pink

Lately, I have started to wear blush and I love how I look with a little something on my cheeks. This was easy to  wear, suitable for traveling and I got a set with 3 colours for almost 10 euro. You can beat that!

Heroine lipstick-MAC

This is one of my favorite lipsticks for day wear. I am so glad this is permanent because this summer I wore it almost every day!

Perfumes

Brit by Burberry

Another gift! Now you know that I don’t wear designer perfumes because I prefer the handmade perfume oils so , I kept this on my closet. Then, I was in need for something refreshing and fruity after the Satsuma sorbet and I remember it!

Notes (from Sephora):
Italian Lime, Icy Pear, Green Almond, White Peony, Sugared Almonds, Amber, Mahogany, Vanilla, Tonka Bean

On me it’s like a lime and pear sugar candy with a bit of powder underneath. If you want a work friendly pick me up scent this is it.

Bridal Veil by Possets

Orange blossom, neroli, and the scent of silk woven into the most sheer of chiffon.

I love neroli and orange blossoms. Even when I have the real blooms on my hands in the spring I can smell them from hours. They just make me happy!

This perfume has the same effect on me. It’s a simple blend but so well made. One of my favorite Possets perfumes!

Thanks for readingJ

COURTYARD PREMIUM FRAGRANCE-SOLSTICE SCENTS

NOTES: Lavender, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Coriander, Lime, Labdanum, Gardenia & More

I bought this little sample last year but I hadn’t done a proper full day wear since then. To be honest, the first sniff wasn’t positive and that’s why it stayed hidden in my sample stash, not getting any love.

When I first put this on today it reminds me of fresh, thick olive oil. The colour of the oil is dark green but the smell was so similar I couldn’t stop making this connection.

I was brave enough to put some more. Then, I realized that maybe I had to shake the sample vial.  I can smell the lime top note and the lavender. I totally agree with the official description on the site this Lavender is different. On the other hand, I don’t find it as sweet as the description on the site suggests.

While I was wearing this I thought that there is a light smokiness maybe from the Sandalwood and the Labdanum.

I don’t get any floral.

It’s a unisex scent for sure and I would love it as massage oil as it reminds me some aromatherapy blends that can be found in some “Bio” shops.

All in all, this scent doesn’t work on me but I can’t love them all!

Haus of Gloi!

My Haus of Gloi stash!

Hi guys! I had the flu all the past week and that’s why I haven’t made any reviews:(

 My sense of smell was so weak the past few days… I missed all my scented stuff!

I am much better now so I thought to continue my collection series with a HoG post!

My trio of comfort: Sweet potato treat Pumpkin butter, Hearth sugar exfoliant and Parkin perfume.

When I am feeling a little sad or I am stressed out foodie scents is what I reach of the most of the times. These scents go so well together that I am using them regularly that way.

Hearth sugar exfoliant: As you can see I am almost out! This is the 7.5oz pot and I have it for a year I think. I love the consistency of this scrub. It’s not harsh to the skin. This one has cranberry seeds too. I love the touch of color that these ones give! It leaves you moisturized but not oily. I could say that it almost washes away clean. The scent, not only feels the bathroom but it stays on my skin. Sometimes I can notice it even after I put my body cream on.

The warm glowing center of any home. Autumns last apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind, various fire roasted nuts, cracked black pepper all nailed down by an oozing sticky benzoin.

The skin of the red apples combined by the warm bread is the first thing I smell. In use the orange rind and the black pepper become more obvious. It’s a warm scent. Perfect for when it’s cold outside.  Very similar to Guy Fawkes by Paintbox Soapworks.

Sweet potato treat Pumpkin butter: I love this formula! It sinks to the skin immediately and it leaves me feeling so soft at the same time. Using this product you don’t even need to put perfume on! It’s so strong and it stays for hours! Also, a little goes a long wayJ

For me, this is the epitome of holiday comfort food: Sweet potatoes with mild spices, butter and brown sugar baked off with marshmallows.

It smells exactly like it’s advertised. Sugar, marshmallows and Sweet potato with mild spices. Yum

Parkin Perfume: Glorious ginger cakes celebrating Guy Fawkes Day! Brown sugar, black treacle, oats, a peculiar blend of white spices tossed with chopped roasted chestnuts and coated with the lightest of icings.

I am curious what the white spices might be. White pepper? Anyway, I love this and I wear it regularly. I have it for two years and still smells perfectly good. This and Gingerbread Whorehouse from Possets are my favourite ginger perfumes.  On dry down I get sugary oats and I really like that note. Stays for hours on me which is always a plus!

These three perfumes compliments each other so good and they are making me smell eatable!

Narcosa: A thick haze of tonka and black vanilla, three jasmines, tuberose and ylang ylang.

I started with the small body butter but I couldn’t resist buying the perfume as well. I love this one so much that I might buy another one when it becomes available again!

Heavy on the ylang ylang, it’s one of the best white flower- vanilla interpretations that I have in my collection. Sweet and feminine to the Max!

Come Hither: Based off of traditional herbs and roots used in Hoodoo to draw and attract a lover, or entice the one you've already ensnared! Bourbon vanilla, tonka bean, a touch of rose oil, Queen Elizabeth root, three threads of saffron and a bit of honey to sweeten the whole deal.

This is on my bottle wish list for over a year. It smells like sugared rose petals in a whipped cream bed drizzled with a teaspoon of honey.

The  pumpkin butter is great for layering with other rose blends in my collection.

Milk Maid: Flushed, but demure. Fresh milk, clean linens, pale musk and pink sweet pea blossom.

Yet another pumpkin butter. Now you know, I have a thing with body creams! This one doesn’t smell milky to my nose but musky with a hint of floral. The pea blossom is so beautiful! It reminds me a little bit of peony too. This is so easy to wear and to layer with other scents that I am almost out! Really nice scent.

Odette: sun dried linens, tuberose, ginger lily and white musk.

I don’t get a lot of flowers from this. Linen and white musk are the notes that my nose pick out the most. I like it though and I could buy it again in a bath and body product but not in perfume.

Lassi: Cool, fresh mango cream, Tunisian orange blossom absolute, black ginger to ground, splash of green tea and a soft squeeze of lime juice.

I haven’t used this one yet but on cold sniff I get lime and mango cream the most. Can’t wait to start using this one this summer!!!

Mango Sticky Rice: Sweet mango, coconut infused rice and toasted sesame.

I don’t buy or like fruity scents very often but this one is an exception. I haven’t smelt anything like it before! I got mango, sesame and a green note that reminds me of coriander but it can’t be that. The coconut gives creaminess to the whole. Perfect for warmer weather!

Ghost Puffs: This is almost a marshmallow single note. Simple and easy to wear. It doesn’t stay hours on me and it has low sillage but I love it anyway.

Ceremony: Dusty beeswax candles, frankincense, myrrh, mastic, spikenard, pale honey, a pinch of tobacco and faded musk.

This is easily on my top 10 perfumes. I love it so much and I can’t understand why HoG didn’t bring this one back. I will guess that the ingredients were too expensive to remake it. Mastic is one of my favourite smells in the world but I don’t see it to be used in perfumes that often. It’s one of the most expensive resins in the world. Here in Greece we use it to scent our pastries and it’s delicious. I am so happy that I didn’t wait and I bought a bottle right away.

It’s a resinous blend that stays hours to the skin.  It’s warm from the beeswax and a little bit powdery from the frankincense. I don’t get tobacco or honey. In fact, I breathe deep every time I wear it to enjoy the mastic and the resins.

I hope I will see similar scents from HoG in the future!

Do you have a favourite scent or product from HoG?