Sunny Days Makeup

I'm loving this Spring in Madrid. It has been more chilly and rainy, but I couldn't be more happy. I'm a weirdo and I feel great after a thunderstorm when the air is damp, clean and fresh. The bad thing is that my skin looks like alabaster, because the sun hasn't shined enough to have a desirable and healthy tanned look. I'm always excited about trying and discovering new beauty products and for this particular transitional period I have found the perfect pick me up makeup to minimize dull skin and bring light and color to a wintry face.

First of all, the base. Laura Mercier knows how to formulate makeup and she has created one of the best tinted moisturizers available in the market. I have been using the classic one for years and a few months ago I was tempted to change and try the Illuminating Version. This base is amazing, I use it as my first step in my morning skincare routine. It's very easy to apply because the only tool that you need is  your fingers. It blends nicely and easily on your face and provides you a medium SPF of 20. The finish on the skin is beautiful and luminous. It adds a hint of natural colour to your face with a touch of flattering shimmer. This product is great in the mornings when you don't have time to put many products (moisturizer, spf, primer, foundation and liquid highlighter), because it does everything in one.

Another discovery has been this YSL lipstick in the shade 17 Rose Dahlia. It looks so amazing! I have a lot of compliments when I wear it. The thing is, this lipstick gives light and color to your face. It makes it look more awake and alive if that makes sense. It's the perfect combination of Red, Pink and Orange. Sometimes red is too bold, pink is too dolly and orange, well...too colorful. The formula is very moisturizing and has a shiny finish. What a joyful and pretty lip product,  I could not recommend it more!

I'm a sucker for everything 70's related and that's why I bought the By Terry Sun Designer Palette n°6 Happy Sun. It has a combination of powders designed like the iconic vintage Missoni fabric.
This artistic and beautiful palette comes with three bronzers (chocolate, peach and terracotta) that have a matte silky finish. The right part has three shades of  highlighters (champagne, bronze and copper) that can be mixed up or applied separately.

Last, but not least, I put on my cheeks Natural Glow Butter Blush by Physicians Formula.
During this time of the year and in Summer I prefer to choose nude blushers, because I want to focus all the attention on the bronzy glowy idea of complexion. This is a very sheer shimmering product that gives a hint of pink to your cheeks. It's very natural, so if you want more intensity you have to reapply it several times until you get the desired pigmentation. Enriched with Murmuru Butter, this smooth blush smells like a beach paradise full of coconuts. 

Discovering Antipodes Skincare

A few days ago I went to Paris for a week. I was so excited about this trip! 

Since I moved to Spain in December 2015 I never had the opportunity to go back. During this spring break I had a blast and I was so happy to spend time with my friends and my boyfriend's family whom I adore. 
On the last day of my stay, during a long stroll across the 6th and 7th districts I went to the cutest natural beauty shop called "Oh! My Cream". If you ever go to Paris and you are a self-confessed beauty addict like me, don't miss out this little gem. Inside you can find the best selection of organic and natural beauty brands that are more niche than the average. I'm a very curious person, I really get very excited about new things and Antipodes Skincare is one of those brands that has been on my list of beauty products I would like to try. 

Recently, I have been loving more and more organic silicon and paraben free ingredients. Life it's a balance and I don't waive to very sophisticated and advanced science, but sometimes natural formulas full of actives are as effective and less harsh than others that are actually full of fillers and preservatives.

First things first, what is Antipodes? It's an organic, natural and cruelty free brand from New Zealand inspired by the power of its unique biodiversity. I was very tempted to buy everything, but just chose two products instead that I really needed.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Cream

This cream is a dream really, it's sensational like whipped cream. My face feels so comfortable, restored and nourished when I apply it before going to bed. The formula is thick and very soft, but absorbs very nice for its consistency. It has a heavenly scent due to the organic essential oils blended inside this concoction: ylang ylang, sandalwood leaf and jasmine. Pure happiness for your senses! The formula is the result of the blend of restorative ingredients. The avocado oil helps to hydrate the skin increasing the collagen production that makes the skin more supple. The Manuka honey has antibacterial properties that promote a fresh and blemish free complexion. The last key ingredient is vinaza grape that that improves firmness and restores the damage caused by free radicals. If you want to wake up with a fairy glow, a hydrated and plumped baby face, this night cream will be great for you.

Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum

This award-winning serum is a powerful defense against the visible oxidative stress on your skin caused by the overexposure to the sun, stress, bad diet, lack of sleep, smoking, alcohol, too much exercise, pollution and even some medications. I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with the wreak havoc that can cause some external factors that I can't control, so I try as hard as I can to have the best diet and to treat topically my skin with potent products that fight against these multiple aggressors.
 The lightweight formula of Antipodes Hosanna serum is a shot of anti-aging boosters for your skin. It contains Vinaza, an antioxidant extract of grape from sustainable plantations. Another two super ingredients of this formula are Waiwera Artesian Water rich in beneficial minerals and Mamaku Black Fern, a bioactive from New Zealand that helps to accelerate cell renewal. This watery serum absorbs very very fast and you can even apply two layers if your skin is in the need of an extra dose of daily hydration. You can wear this during the day or at night. It has a slightly tingling sensation, but disappears after one minute after the application. This doesn't bother me at all, as all of my most effective elixirs in my skincare collection tend to produce to me this little reaction (naturals and not so naturals). After three weeks in a row slathering on my face this product I have noticed that my skin tone has improved and my complexion is more radiant and looks healthier.