Tropical Smoothie | Douceur d'été

I love sipping smoothies throughout summer days. Especially when they turn out to have beautiful colors like yellow, orange, pink... Here's the recipe of a smoothie that keeps me full and that my taste buds love !

J'adore faire des smoothies durant l'été, c'est bon, simple, rapide, et ça rempli bien ! En plus, boire avec une paille me rappelle mon enfance :) 

1 banana
1 yellow nectarine
1 teaspoon of peanut butter (or more)
1/3 cup of pineapple juice
1/2 cup of almond milk (I love the Bjorg Lait d'Amande Bio sans sucres ajoutés)
You can also add oats if you want to make sure to stay full (I use Quaker Oats)

Blend the chopped fruits and peanut butter with the pineapple juice, then add the almond milk (and oats if you want a thicker smoothie).
There you have it ! As simple, easy and quick as that :)
Yummy !

What are your favorite smoothies ?

My favorite palettes | Mes palettes préférées

Not so original, but palettes are so useful & handy ! Especially small ones, when you don't want to bring a lot of stuff on vacation, or to a friends' sleepover where you know you'll be going out.
Since it's sunny outside (and still will be over the beginning of September !! :D) here's a view of my favorites palettes.

Obviously with the direct sunlight the color is a little over-exposed but I think you mostly know how the colors look like (especially the one from Urban Decay) ;)

I've seen many bloggers talk about the Sleek Storm Palette, from the i-Divine Collection. I bought mine last summer when I went to London, where my boyfriend was undergoing an internship. (I bought a lot of beauty products there I remember!! It's way cheaper and they have more brands too !)

What I love about these palettes is that you can achieve any kind of look. From natural for every day life to a seducing smokey look for night outs.

From the Naked Basics from Urban Decay Palette, I use the color Venus for the inner corner of my eye, Foxy and Walk Of Shame for my entire eye lid, Naked 2 for the crease, Faint for the outer corner, and Crave as a liner on my top lashes and sometimes on my bottom lashes. Pigmented, long-lasting (I use the Primer Potion from UD) and a little powdery but it's not a big deal.

From the Sleek Storm Palette, I mostly use the top line colors (the left column), and the bottom-right color too. The colors are really pigmented, also a little powdery but still creamy (that doesn't make a lot of sense haha but that's the way I see it).

From the Miss Helen Palette number 01, it's better to use your fingers, because with a brush you won't be able to take a lot of product on it. In fact, you really have to rub your finger to get a good amount of color. That said, the colors are gorgeous and look really nice blended together. I like mixing the 2nd and 3rd one starting from the bottom together on my entire eye lid. The colors are luminous and instantly bright up your eyes.

What do you think ? What are your favorite palettes ?

Thank your for reading and see you soon :)

Tag time ! *11 questions*

Hello les filles ! Voici mon tout premier tag (et post complètement en français !)

J'ai été taguée par Mon beauty journal  pour ce Tag des 11 questions, merci d'avoir pensé à moi Cathia :)

Sans plus tarder, voici les questions !

Comment et pourquoi avez-vous décidé de créer votre blog? 

Au départ je pensais créer ma chaîne Youtube (make-up, soins de la peau...). Puisque je savais que mon Master allait être très prenant et que mon temps libre serait très limité, j'ai opté pour un blog, dont je ne regrette pas du tout ! J'ai commencé il y a un mois, un blog plutôt complet qui me reflète bien. Et je prends un très grand plaisir à écrire des articles, prendre des photos, échanger avec les blogueuses ! :)

Quel est l'erreur fatale en maquillage, selon vous?

Le crayon trop foncé autour des lèvres !!!!! Et le trait de crayon tout fin des sourcils... Si vous voyez de quoi je parle.... Bref tout ce qui fait pas naturel !

Selon vous, quel est le pire défaut de l'homme idéal/de la femme idéale?

Uh... Chacun a ses qualités et défauts je dirai. (Phrase bateau mais bon, c'est vrai)

Quel est votre plus grand rêve?

Voyager partout dans le monde, sans se soucier de l'argent !

Si vous pouviez vous offrir n'importe quel produit beauté (peu n'importe le prix), que choisiriez-vous?

Oula mais un seul n'est pas possible !! Je dirai d'abord de la marque Mac. Ou Dior. Ou Chanel. Hihi

Quel est votre marque de sacs favorite?

Je m'en fiche un peu des marques ;)

Si vous pouviez rencontrer une personne (morte ou vivante), qui serait-elle?

Barack Obama. Il a l'air marrant et je suis sure qu'on s'entendrait bien, moi et mon copain, avec lui; on rigolerait bien en soirée !

Si vous ne deviez choisir que 2produits de beauté, lesquels choisiriez-vous pour la vie de tous les jours?

Une crème hydratante et un baume à lèvres teinté

Quelle est votre chanson du moment?

Les nouvelles de Justin Timberlake, je m'en lasse pas!

Quelle est la gourmandise dont vous ne pouvez pas vous passer?

Les gâteaux, sous toutes leurs formes

Présentez-moi votre pinceau favori (on ne triche pas et on n'en choisit qu'un! =))

Mon pinceau poudre de chez Sephora, il venait dans un petit Kit, genre mini-pinceau à emporter avec soi, très pratique! C'est un de mes premiers et il reste super doux et ne perd pas trop ses poils.

Je tag ensuite :
Candy Sweet 
Beauty Fairy
Cherry Blossom
Cola's Hood
Pauuulette 

Et toute celle qui veut aussi hein :) (bien sur je ne serai pas offusquée si vous ne répondez pas à ce tag^^)

I love Revlon !

So I was hanging out in town with my friend Aurélie, and we went to a drugstore (parapharmacie for us), directly attracted to the Revlon stand.

There I found there were some last Summer sales, especially for nail polishes. My eye was driven to this one : it's number 762 called Plum Attraction. That's exactly it. A beautiful plum color with tiny pinky silver sparkles.

I would say it's very similar to the OPI Every Month is Oktoberfest, although the Revlon one is a little lighter - let's say it's a small dupe :)

Sorry for the white residue of the sticker, the 50% off sign was hard to take off !! 

With only one coat the color is magnificent and the texture is very fluid. It allows you to control how much color you want to put. One light coat gives you a soft dark fuchsia. Two coats is as my nails.

The glitter acts as an extra shine for this nail polish.  I'm really glad I bought it ! Since it was 50% off, purchasing it for 5.45€ instead of 10.70€ is a great deal !

I also saw another Relvon product that attracted me ...

Look at that !!! Isn't it a super super pretty color for any lipstick or lipgloss ?! Kind of like the nail polish, but more of a bright fuchsia. It's from the Colorburst collection, number 60 called Adorned / Enjolivée.

The packaging is also beautiful and this lipgloss is really pigmented. I swatched it on my hand and the color stayed really long !! 

But you know, I'm reasonnable (sort of), so I decided to only buy the nail polish. It was almost 12€ which is not really cheap. Since online they are around 3€ ... But not this color, arrrgh! And as I don't often (almost never) wear lipglosses, I don't know if I would've worn this flashy - but amazing - lipgloss...

What do you think ? :)

Mini Make Up For Ever Haul | Achats MUFE chez Ventes Privées

First time I ever purchased on the famous website Ventes Privées, which allows you to buy a various range of items up to 70% off. When I saw there was a Make Up For Ever sale, I just had to take a look ! 

On these types of e-shopping websites, you better buy what you want on the first day of the sale, or else everything is already sold out !!

Regarding the MUFE sale, there were lipsticks (only 3, sadly...), compact/powder foundations, lip pencils, eyeliner pencils, and accessories. Since the shipping costs are pretty expensive (6 € !), making the best deal ever is kind of necessary.

Shipping costs included, I paid a total of 20 €, which is very reasonnable given the quality.

I decided to buy a nude lipstick from the Rouge Artist Natural collection (number N5) and a waterproof eye liner pencil in dark brown from the Gypsy collection.

Let's begin with the lipstick. I love the packaging & design ! As you can see, on each side of the lipstick is written the name of the brand. Simple and sophisticated.

The Rouge Artist Natural lipstick is considered as "an ultra creamy formula that hydrates the lips with a natural sheen. Enriched with a cocktail of vegetal ingredients, made of waxes and Capuassu Butter, it contains nourishing properties for a moisturizing smooth texture that glides on effortlessly. Its transluscent shine reveals pure pearls and pigments for a profusion of 50 luminous shades. Dermatologist-tested"

Now for the color, it shows darker on the photo. it's a medium beige with peach undertones. 

As the box packaging says, it's a moisturizing, soft shine lipstick. It really is. The color is subtle yet doesn't wear off that easily.

Here is what the color looks like in the sun light (btw it's really hot today). I would describe it as a perfect nude with a sheen to it. It's not mat of course but seems quite pigmented.

Here's how it looks like in the shade.

The color on the bottom of the lipstick looks really similar to the actual one, which is not always the case with other lipsticks!

Now for the eyepencil liner from the Aqua Eyes range: 

This pencil slides smoothly on the skin and isn't drying. It's a beautiful dark brown, suitable for every eye color I would say!

It's very pigmented and even after rubbing it with my fingers to try and get it off, it doesn't. 

I hope you enjoyed this little haul :) Tell me what are your favorite MUFE products 

Pretty discovery | Une jolie découverte ... chez Carrefour !

A few weeks ago I purchased my first product from Les Cosmétiques Design Paris. It's a brand affiliated to the supermarkets Carrefour. 

I was looking for an affordable coral peachy nail polish color, and I found this little baby for less than 5 €. 

The packaging is simple yet classy. It's written PRO'S Couture, Star Manucure. It's number 040 called Peach Powder.

The application is perfect and the brush is a good size. 

The pigmentation is also impressive ! I did two coats, it was really sufficient !

It's a glossy finish, not too flashy nor too pale. A bright Peach Papaya is for me the best description :)

Ce vernis à ongles de la marque Les Cosmétiques Design Paris de couleur corail pêche est lumineux, et possède le meilleur rapport qualité/prix à mes yeux ! 

I am definitely going to try new products from Les Cosmétiques Design Paris !

Have you tried any of their beauty products ? 

Here they are ! Easy but impressive Vanilla Cupcakes | Cupcakes à la vanille simples mais efficaces !

Among my first cupcakes recipes, here is my well-known & appreciated Vanilla Cupcake Recipe 

For : 12 cupcakes

Prep time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 8 to 12 minutes, still depending on your oven

Ingredients :

150 g all-purpose flour / 150 g de farine

1 teaspoon of yeast  / un demi sachet de levure 

1 vanilla pod (or vanilla extract) / 1 gousse de vanille (ou de l'extrait de vanille)

75 g of slightly salted butter, soften / 75 g de beurre demi-sel, mou

80 g of sugar / 80 g de sucre

1 egg / 1 œuf

10 cl of milk / 10 cl de lait

10 cl of liquid crème fraiche (whole or not, as you like!) / 10 cl de crème fraiche liquide, type Fleurette (entière ou non, comme vous le souhaitez!)

Vanilla frosting / Glaçage à la vanille :

150 g confectionners' sugar / 150 g de sucre glace

60 g of soften butter / 60 g de beurre mou (attention pas fondu !!)

About 2 tablespoons of cream cheese / Environ 2 c.à.s. de cream cheese (Philadelphia, ou St Moret)

Vanilla extract / Extrait de vanille

About 2 tablespoons of powdered cocoa / Environ 2 c.à.s. de poudre chocolatée

1. In a large bowl, incorporate the flour and yeast. Put in the vanilla pod by cutting it in half and using a knife to take out the beans.
   Dans un saladier, verser la farine et la levure. Fendre la gousse de vanille et, au-dessus du saladier, gratter l'intérieur de la gousse avec la pointe d'un couteau pour récupérer les graines.
   
   
2. Beat the soften butter with the sugar, the egg, the milk and cream. Whisk until the mixture looks smooth.
   Battre le beurre mou (il doit être pommade) avec le sucre, l’œuf  le lait et la crème. Fouetter jusqu'à ce que la préparation soit lisse.
   
   
3. Little by little, incorporate the dry with the wet ingredients. Mix lightly. Fill the liners about 2/3 of the way full with the batter. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until the cupcakes are lightly golden and when a toothpick comes out clean.
   Remplissez au 3/4 vos caissettes à cupcakes. Faire cuire entre 8 et 12 minutes, selon votre four, jusqu'à ce que les cupcakes soit légèrement dorés.
   
   
4. For the frosting, whisk the confectionners' sugar with the soften butter and cream cheese, add the vanilla extract and cocoa powder.
   Pour le glaçage, fouettez le sucre glace avec le beurre mou, le fromage frais (cream cheese), puis ajoutez l'extrait de vanille et la poudre chocolatée.
   
   
5. Once the cupcakes have coolen completely, frost them and decorate them with pieces of chocolate, fruit, sprinkles...
   Une fois les cupcakes complètement refroidis, utilisez une poche à douille pour faire la glaçage et ajoutez des morceaux de chocolat, de fruit, des pépites colorées...

What I love about vanilla bean is that you see them to the naked eye, and the taste is just magnificent !!

What's in my Beach Bag ? (or Lake Bag ;))

As I don't live very near from the ocean or the sea, I rename this tag "What's in my Lake Bag" haha because there are many lakes around my region, and some have a really pretty tropical water color !

Here's a photo to show you guys a bit how the Aiguebelette Lake looks like (yes the word can be hard to pronounce :))

What I love about lakes is that there is no way your eyes are gonna burn from the salty water or that you're gonna want to puke after swallowing sea water !!

Anyway, here are the things I always bring with me on a Beach / Lake day !

1. Sun screen : I love the Hawaiian Tropic Protective Sun Spray Lotion with FPS 20, which is a medium UVA/UVB protection. I think it protects really well while making you tan ! This sun spray smells AMAZING !! It's like a tropical coconut fresh smell, not too overwhelming, just perfect for summer ! Since it has skin nourishing C and E antioxydants and botanicals your skin feels smooth and smells oh-so nice :) 
   
   
2. Big towel and bathing suit :Technically, it's not in my beach bag, I just carry it with me. But I wanted to mention that I looove huge soft towels to lay in the sun :)
   My current bathing suit is from H&M. I got the top and the bottom seperate, I love their match together !
   
   
3. Sun glasses : Just in case you want to hide from people you don't want to see... Haha. Mine are from Mango
   
   
4. Lipstick with FPS : I've never been lip sunburnt but I heard it can happen... Just to make my lips look nice and protected ! I have the Deborah Milano lipstick in shade number 2. It's a peachy nude color. The application is very smooth but I feel it can dry my lips so just wear some chapstick under it.
   
   
5. Music with my phone : Listening to music while laying in the sun can take me anywhere ! I imagine myself somewhere in the Bahamas, dancing with no care in the world.
   My phone is the Galaxy S II.
   
   
6. Book : Now I'm reading the best selling book from Patti Smith, Just Kids. I'm around the middle of the book, and I really like it. It retraces her life, around my age (20-21) in a narrated way I particularly appreciate.
   
   
7. Tissues : you know, when the public toilet there has none... of if there is no toilet !
   
   
8. Water !!! Always stay hydrated !

I tag each and every one of you ! Before summer ends... 

What do you carry in your beach or lake bag ?

I scream for ice cream, we all scream for ice cream !

Soooooo my mom didn't want to share her precious Ice Cream recipe ... 

But if you can guess the flavor of this special summer Italian ice cream I might (finally) share the recipe with you :D

My current nail polish - Kiko

As you can see, I'm not so good at putting nail polish on... But I don't mind, I feel like nail polish brightens my day and I like changing it depending on my mood :) 
Yes my nails are quite "short", I prefer them that way (maybe because I used to play the guitar... or not!)

I just put one coat, so you see that it has good coverage !
For the color, it's a pale peachy pink, perfect with a tan ;) it's still sophisticated and goes with everything. 

I would say this nail polish is a rather good dupe for Essie's Fiji nail polish :) 

Sadly the brand Kiko is not available where I live, but there are some shops (one or more...) in Paris and obviously in Italy, since it's an Italian make up brand.

I like to put the Rimmel Double duty base coat before applying nail polish. It leaves my nails hard and yellow-free. It's transparent and has some light pink shimmer which I love !

My favorite moisturizers and facial creams | Mes crèmes pour le visage préférées

Let's admit it, I have combination to oily skin, which can be quite sensitive too! So it's not always easy to find the right facial cream to keep my skin hydrated but to prevent it from looking like a greasy frying pan for fries! 

First of all, I love facial sprays, especially in the summer! It's about 35° C (around 90° F) these days in Grenoble so this little guy is always good to have in hand! Put this spray in the fridge and you'll appreciate it even more !!  I have the Evian facial spray, but other brands have some too. 

Make sure you take one thats with natural mineral water so that your skin appreciates all its vertues :) It also comes in a smaller format so you can carry it in your bag or purse!

Price : more or less 5 €

Overall rating : 5/5 

Now from La Roche-Posay, I've been using for years the Effaclar Duo (corrective and unclogging anti-imperfection care). I used it in the morning as a moisturizer + primer in the summer time, or just on my T zone. 

At night it also allows to sooth my skin. I didn't really see a difference with my black spots but I do love the texture (it's like a gel cream, really light).

Price : between 10 and 12 €, depending on the drugstore

Overall rating : 4/5 but I keep buying it ;) 

I'll try the Effaclar Mat next, tell me if you like it !

The 3rd product is just a sample I got from the drugstore but I love it so I decided to include it here! It's the Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot (fast acting anti-imperfection targeted care, minimises marks). It contains hyaluronic acid that's why it works wonders for acne and redness. 

Since it's quite a strong product, I just use it on my spots. I feel like it's anti-inflammatory so that's a really good thing. But it can tingle and dry out your skin so be careful with that. Otherwise it does a great job. Regarding the "minimizing marks" thing, I think it does work a little...

Price : I don't remember but around 9 €

Overall rating : 5/5 for targeted anti-imperfection care

I purchased the Clean&Clear dual action moisturizer on Amazon because it isn't commercialized here in France. I heard a lot of good American reviews on this product so I decided to buy it. I think I paid around 12 € for it, but 120 ml is a lot :)

I love the fresh feeling it gives me in the morning, espcially in the Summer time. It's a minty feeling. Kind of like toothpaste on your face but not sticky at all. I haven't been using it for a long time but it hasn't broken me out. Time will tell us how I review it!

Price : cheap in the US! 12-13 € on Amazon

Overall rating : 4/5 for now

Last but not least is the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. For all skin types, this milk-cream is perfect at night time. It leaves my skin smooth as a baby's butt, it's calming and nourrishes perfectly. The texture isn't super light nor heavy. In the Winter, I sometimes used this product on my skin and it didn't make it too oily, so that's good! A little goes a long way with this Embryolisse cream :)

I also works really well as a body moisturizer ! 

Thanks to the Youtube beauty gurus Elsamakeup and MrsCaroline1305 who allowed me to discover this product :) ❤

Price : between 10 and 13€

Overall rating : 5/5

Tell me if you know these products and what you use as moisturizers :)