I have a new favorite in my perfume collection, a recent addition that seems perfect for winter – Lola (by Marc Jacobs). I just adored Pulp (by Byredo) for spring and summer but felt that I wanted something more spicy for fall/winter. Lola is the older vampier sister of Marc Jacob’s Daisy (a more sweet and innocent scent). I fell immediately for Lola because of its strong character – it’s sexy, spicy, floral and sweet. Do you stick to the same perfume all year around or are you just like me in that you have a summer and a winter scent?

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As I said in this post, I like to keep my make up to a bare minimum in the summer heat. Here are my summer make up favorites!

Calvin Klein Sun Drenched (304) Summer Affair Bronzing Powder. I’ve used this one for a few summers now and it gives the perfect matte and sun kissed look. It is not as illuminating as most bronzers but gives a more natural look.

M.A.C Mineralize cSkinfinish Natural in Medium. This is the perfect all year around powder as it’s basically a transparent mineral powder that never leaves that stiff feeling to you face. And you can even use it the sun.

Lancome Color Design 5 Shadow & Liner Palette in Bronze Amour 101. This palette is a new favorite and is so so perfect for a dewy glowing summer look. I’ve got quite a few compliments when wearing the gold or the bronze shadow.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash (in blackest black) is the perfect summer mascara. It never gives a dramatic look, but more of a natural lash look which I prefer on hot days.

Laura Mercier  Illuminated Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20. I’ve raved about it before but I can’t say enough good things about this product. It’s light and evens out the skin tone at the same time. And the illuminating quality completes the dewy summer look I love so much.

Lancome Color Design 5 Shadow & Liner Palette in Bronze Amour 101 – a new darling in the make up bag!

I think most of us are battling some kind of lack of confidence in ourselves and how we look, from time to time, I know I certainly do. But lately I’ve been thinking about in which situations I feel the most beautiful and happy with myself and in which situations I don’t. This is so strange to me, how differently I can see myself from day to day and yet I’m the same person. I had an interesting conversation with a friend a week ago when I told her that I never feel as good about myself and how I look as when I’m at the gym working out! She was a bit surprised to hear that! I mean… wearing no make up and my (dirty) hair in a pony tail and with sweat dripping from my forehead… how can I feel beautiful like that? But I just do. Maybe it’s the light? Maybe it’s the adrenaline kick that simply make me happy and content with myself? I’m not sure… But regardless of the reason I always try to remind myself on my “ugly days” that I’m still the same person as I was yesterday at the gym. It’s all in my head!

I think most women feel at their best before going out to a club or a party, maybe in a new dress and after they’ve spent some time on their hair/make up. Some feel most beautiful being intimate with their partner or on the dance floor after a few cocktails. When do you feel the most beautiful? Does anyone recognize my feelings about working out? And please remember on those less good days that you’re still the same, bring out that same feeling you had when you felt so gorgeous and stay with it. Cause nothing really changed from that moment.

In the summer I don’t like to wear a lot of make up, especially not foundation and powders. I prefer a light tinted moisturizer with SPF for my daily routine. For years I used Clinique’s City Block sheer oil-free daily face protector with SPF 25 which is very light, evens out the skin tone while protecting from the sun. The I got hooked to Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Tinted Moistrurizer with SPF 15 which I felt hydrated a little more than the City Block (I don’t need oil-free products I believe).

However this summer I have a new favorite: Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating with SPF 20. This moisturizer does not only do what the Kiehl’s tinted moisturizer does, it also adds a bit of shimmering color to get that dewy summer skin that I love. It’s the most expensive out of the three but the amazing consistency and the fact that it seems to last forever makes up for it. Then I just add some bronzing powder and a touch of mascara, some of this lipgloss and I’m good to go!

Monday Morning, but it feels just like Sunday… It’s Memorial Day here in the U.S which is a public holiday so I’ve been sleeping in, eating pink grapefrutis in the garden and now I’m planning on getting out there agin with a nice book. What if all Mondays could be like this?

It’s been extremely hot here lately, and according to forecasts the entire week will be between 27-34 degrees C. I’ve invested in some new sunscreen this year and just wanted to send a reminder to everyone how important it is to be careful in the sun. I’m currently using Shiseido SPF 60 (love the smell and consistency) for face and upper body and SPF 30 from CVS’s own brand for my legs. I always wear sunglasses to to protect the eye area… and normally a sun hat! I love to be in the sun, but only with the right protection.

Last week I got my first ever Nars product, any Nars fans out there? I decided to get their lipgloss in the color “orgasm” as it felt like a fresh addition to my make up bag. I mostly have matte lipsticks in bold colors, that’s what I usually prefer. But on hot summer days when you don’t want to wear that much color (or make up at all!) I have a feeling that this gloss might be perfect.

It might not seem to add so much color but the truth is that I have a lot of natural pigment in my lips. So for me it does add quite a lot of peachy/pale color that I much more prefer as a “no make up- shade”. I was pretty happy with the product and can definitely imagine to try out more of their make up products.

I have just made it home after a very long day of traveling! It has been an amazing trip but I couldn’t be happier being at home again. Now, let me introduce my new favorite nail polish brand Illamasqua that has turned out to be the perfect travel partner! I picked up a bottle a day or so before our trip and even thugh I normally only use either Essie, O.P.I or Chanel neither of these brands had this shade that I was looking for. Illamasqua had it – it is called Collide and is a hot neon pink that is a nice contrast to my wardrobe.

And now to the amazing part: This polish last at least twice as long as my normal nail polishes. I seriously used it for six days before it started chipping! I was very impressed as the other brands I’m using always starts chipping after three days (or less!). When traveling, or when you have very little time for manis and pedis this polish was brilliant! I think I payed around 12 USD for it and you can buy in through their own website or through Sephora, it was definitely worth the money!

Which are your favorite brands when it comes to nail polish? How many days do you expect the color to last without chipping?

As I was showering this morning I came to realize that I had completely forgotten to mention my number one body smoothing secret in yesterday’s post about oils in beauty care. Isn’t it crazy how the one trick that I’ve used the last 10 years was the one to slip my mind? Anyway, the bottle of Johnson’s Baby Oil in my shower reminded me of this, so here we go:

I always keep a bottle of some kind of baby oil in the shower and once I’m done showering (and before I’ve dried myself) I apply the baby oil to my skin (except the face). This method locks in the moisture and makes the skin more hydrated and soft than any body lotion I have ever tried! Once I get out of the shower I dry off excess oil and water. Try doing this a couple of times per week (or every time if you have enough time) and I bet you’ll get addicted just like I am!

Enjoy your weekend!! xx

I have always been a fan of oils in beauty and skin care and have tried numerous types and brands throughout the years. I have found certain types of oils working much better for me than many expensive skin care products. My skin is normal/dry with a tendency to become dehydrated in the winter and when I’m traveling. These oils are my favorites right now and I wouldn’t want to be without any single one of them!

ARGAN OIL. This dry oil has been a staple in my house for many years. I love to take a few drops and brush it through my hair when I go to bed and then wash it out in the morning. It also works brilliant as a moinsturizer. I massage it into my face when going to bed in winter (once in a while) and always wake up with a hydrated glowy skin!

TEA TREE OIL. This strong smelling oil works miracles on pimples, cuts and burns as it has disinfecting qualities. A small drop goes a long way. I could not bee without this oil in my teens, but I still use it from time to time for small spots or pimples.

ALMOND GLOW. This is actually a mix of different oils of which one is rose oil and this is something I use for hot baths. I love to put just a few drops of this oil in a bath as rose is very soothing and relaxing. It is perfect for massages as well.

HUILE ORCHIDÉE BLEUE. This face treatment oil from Clarins is my newest addiction. It is an oil that you can use temporarily if your skin feels dehydrated (like after a long and cold winter!). I currently use this one at night on its own and I love how it really balances the skin and gives it moisture.

AVOCADO OIL. This oil is packed with vitamin A, D and E and potassium (known as the youth mineral). It has the power to increase the amount of collagen in the skin (which we loose as we grow older) as well as help healing sun damage and scars. I sometimes use this oil with some yoghurt and honey to mix a mask and put on for around 30 min. Or I use it as it is, as a moisturizer. Anyway, it works miracles!

In L.A. I visited Barneys (Beverly Hills) absolutely divine perfume section and sniffed around even though I was not even looking to buy something. I stumbled upon the scents of the Swedish perfume house Byredo which my brother recently told me he has fallen in love with. I tried all of them and felt nice, fresh….cute… until I came to the one called Pulp – then it just felt – me! There was just something about this dramatic and bold scent that just reminded me about sweet childhood memories, happiness, sunny days and adventurous searches in Indian Bazaars.

Byredo themselves says Pulp is - a compilation of exotic and Swedish influences that create an international fruit basket.

Well isn’t that pretty perfect signature scent for me then? ; )

What’s you favorite perfume?