MAVALA Scientifique Nail Hardener/Durcisseur d'Ongles

If you're like me and have been struggling with flaking and peeling nails for years, and you feel like you've tried everything, maybe it's time to give Mavala a shot.

It's a Swiss brand specializing in nail care, and they have a full range of protective bases, top coats, and nail polishes.  But this nail hardener is what has changed my life recently.

After the first application, my nails became bonded and there has not been a single chip, flake, or peel.  My nails are now those of Superman.  Incredible.  I can finally wear nailpolish with confidence, and as often as I want!

It is available at Monoprix and Sephora.  Below is a list of all the ingredients.

Water (aqua)
Formaldehyde
Alcohol
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Allium Sativum (Garlic) Bulb Extract
Fragrance (Parfum)
Cocamide DEA
Sodium Chloride
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Triethanolamine
Benzoic Acid
Ammonium Hydroxide
Blue 1 (CI42090)
Limonene

Mariage Frères

 

 

If all you've ever drunk is supermarket tea, you're missing out. 

Great tea is like great coffee and great chocolate (and great wine, and great cheese, and great bread...).  There is a world of difference in the quality, and therefore enjoyment of the experience, between loose-leaf tea and the ashes one finds in the supermarkets.

This tea is made for pure luxurious enjoyment. 



Not all of it is expensive - there are teas that go for 40 euros a kilogram, like the Rooibos (Red) Tea - but some more unique and rare ones can get up to 1000 euros a kilo.

Nevertheless, it is an opportunity not to be missed.  When you walk into one of the shops, you are transported back a century, with dark wooden panelling, and old-fashioned scales that are used to weigh the teas.
The staff is bilingual (at least), knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient.  I went in with a long list of teas and I could smell any that I desired.  In fact, I didn't want to stop shopping, and I didn't want to leave!

I walked away with my staples (experimentation has to wait for sometime during the week when the shop isn't so crowded):

1.  FRENCH BREAKFAST

This is a deep, rich, black tea with a hint of sweetness to it in the form of malt and chocolate.  I like to buy it in sachets, but it's also available as loose tea.

 

 

2.  PU-ERH

 

There are 12 different types of Pu-Erh available, as well as a 500g brick of packed leaves, but I chose the original, matured tea from China:

 

 

 

Here is what the brick looks like:

 

 

 

This compressed square ‘brick’ of large, shiny tea leaves comes from the misty slopes of Yunnan's mountains. Notably known for its refreshing, energising, beneficial properties, this tea has the unusual feature of improving with age.

The 1999 vintage is stamped with the Chinese ideograms for good luck: a vestige of the 20th century, a gift for the 21st.

Dim= 15 x 16 cm, weight = 500 g

3.  ROOIBOS (Thé Rouge/Redbush Tea)

Rooibos originates from South Africa with a natural sweetness to it, and doesn't contain caffeine (theine), so it's an ideal afternoon or evening tea.  There are 13 different mixtures available - here's the original:

 

 













4.  ROUGE D'AUTOMNE (Rooibos + candied chestnuts)

 

But then I smelled this one, and fell completely in love.  If you have a sweet tooth but are trying to stay away from chocolate and cakes, this makes a delicious supplement:

 

 

 

 

Mariage Frères has employed an almost forbidden fruit - marrons glacés, a famous French indulgence ever since the days of Louis XIV - to create its new "Autumnal Red" tea.

A red rooibos from South Africa, mild in taste with very little tannin, has been combined with the flavour of fine candied chestnuts and Bourbon vanilla, yielding a most striking yet smooth cup, warm and festive, with fruity and slightly spicy harmonies that precede a final note of honey and dried fruit.

 

 

CONTACT INFO:

 

www.mariagefreres.com

 

Vente à distance - online boutique and mail orders:

35 rue du Bourg-Tibourg

75004 Paris

FRANCE

tél:  01.43.47.18.54

 

Where I went:

LE MARAIS

30-32-35 rue du Bourg-Tibourg - Paris 4e

tél:  04.42.72.28.11

 

Also, go visit their Tea Museum or sit down for a special tea in their tea room.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

(all photographs courtesy of www.mariagefreres.com)



Mémorial de la Shoah

MONDAY 28 JANUARY 2013 : INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COMMEMORATION IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST
 
This day established upon the initiative of the Ministers of Education of Member States of the Council of Europe and followed by the United Nations is celebrated every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. It aims at encouraging States to promote educational projects and protect places of memory related to the Holocaust.

The museum is also open on the weekends, including Sundays until 18h, with free entrance.  There's a crypt, a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions, and a bookshop.
On the website you can search for a particular person, whether they were the executed victims, the resistance fighters, or the Righteous.

To make a day of it, because it is located in Le Marais which is in the centre of Paris with the shops and cafés and restaurants open all weekend long, either before or after the museum you can take a walk North, which will take you directly to rue des Rosiers, the most famous Jewish street in Paris with all the traditional eateries where you can stop by and get some tea and cake, or South, where you'll end up on l'Ile Saint-Louis, the smaller of the 2 islands on the Seine, where the boutiques and cafés are also open throughout the weekend.

CONTACT INFO:

Mémorial de la Shoah
17, rue Geoffroy-l'Asnier,
Paris 75004
FRANCE

Tel:  +33.1.42.77.44.72
Fax:  +33.1.53.01.17.44

contact@memorialdelashoah.org
www.memorialdelashoah.org

How to get there:

By METRO
Saint-Paul (line 1)
Hotel-de-Ville (line 1+11)
Pont-Marie (line7)

By BUS
67/69/76/96/Balabus

On FOOT
Pont-Marie (rue de l'Hotel-de-Ville)
Baudoyer (place Baudoyer)
Lobau (rue Lobau)

CARON face powder / le Teint a fleur de peau

Laura Mercier is not a very popular brand in France because it's available only in the main department stores.  We can't buy it online or pass by at Sephora and have a peek.

But I have American friends who swear by the LM mineral powder (it was even in my 'dying to try' list), and finally curiosity got the better of me.  It's taken me this long to get around to it because I had (am. still. having.) a less-than-stellar experience with the MUFE HD powder. 

I find this powder to be messy, and the container really isn't user friendly; you can use only a medium-sized powder brush because a bigger one won't fit inside the lid from where you pick up the product.

So I went to Printemps, which I find to be quieter and calmer than Galerie Lafayette, to have a close look at the LM powder and ask for an application [(we don't get samples over here :( ] - but on the way I got sidetracked at the Caron counter and this is what I came away with:

Already the packaging makes me wish I had an actual boudoir decorated in burgundy velvet... 

It comes with a washable puff-

-along with the instructions to apply the powder liberally to the T-zone, then to use a brush to diffuse it to the rest of the face.

It has a sifter-

-which actually isn't very practical because it doesn't completely contain the powder, but I doubt this design has changed much from the launch of this powder.

CARON specialises in fine fragrances, and the powder is the only make-up produced by the house.  According to the information booklet-

"Natural ingredients are ground, blended and sifted several times to achieve an outstandingly fine, lightweight texture...  Caron face powder is recommended by dermatologists...  It is sweetly scented with the fragrance of natural Bulgarian Rose, distilled by the in-house perfumer."

The range available includes:

1.  TRANSLUCENT formula: 
-a sheer, natural finish 
-for sensitive skin
-available in 10 shades

2.  SHIMMERING/IRIDESCENT formula:
-for face and body
-for evening use
-available in 3 shades

3.  CLASSIC formula:
-excellent coverage
-matifying finish for combination skin
-available in 9 shades

4.  REFILLS
-for the original gold box
-come with new screen and puff

5.  COMPACT POWDERS
-for touch-ups
-available in 4 hues to match the loose powders
-the golden compact fits in the palm of the hand

6.  LES TERRES DE SOLEIL
-color-enhancers
-use light-seeking colored pigments to give a natural look
-available in 3 shades

7.  ACCESSORIES
-large brush to remove excess powder
-swan's down powder puff

I got the shade in "Gitane", which gives the most sublime, peachy, brightening glow to my skin.

And the cost?
Here's another reason why that damn MUFE powder hurts me so much.  For the MUFE powder I paid 34 euros at Sephora, and that contains 10g of product.

The Caron powder is on average 45 euros, depending on where you get it, and it contains 30g of product.  That would mean that that damn MUFE powder should cost about 17 euros, or in the reverse calculation, the Caron powder should cost 135 euros...

If you get a chance, I would strongly recommend that you have a look at the Caron.  I was pleasantly surprised at the experience!

CARON Paris
34, Avenue Montaigne Paris 8ème
90, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré Paris 8ème

OOTD 24 Oct 2012

Hello everyone!

This is one of my favourite dresses:  it has fluidity, while skimming over any possible lumps and bumps due to the heavier weight of the viscose:

It has two deep pockets and it came with a leather woven belt that isn't detachable:

Because it's such a striking jade colour, I try to keep the rest of the outfit simple, and generally I match it up with these Roberto Festa pumps:

They are patent leather with a slightly pointed toe, and a very manageable heel of 6cm:

Fortunately, there's also a platform of 1cm, so it makes me feel almost as if I were wearing flats!

The weather in Paris is changing rapidly and a cold front is coming, but I hope you're enjoying your week!  :)

PRADA: Black patent leather peep-toe stilettoes

I am in love with these:

They have slightly more coverage on the sides of the foot at the arch, while the peep-toe part is more open than in most other shoes of similar style that I've tried:

At the beginning they are a touch stiff, but like with all new leather shoes they have to be walked in.  So far there's been no chafing on my toes, which is often the case with poorly-constructed peep-toes.

The arch is beautiful but comfortable.  Even though the heel is high - 10cm-

- the platform is almost 1.5cm, which takes the distance down to 8.5, a much more comfortable and manageable arch:

The soles are non-slip and very sturdy, not the kind of fragile suede that is found in certain brands and which have to be resoled immediately before the first wear.  These I'm confident to wear for a while before the first visit to my cobbler:

In my experience not all Prada shoes are made the same, especially the strappy, summer styles.  Be careful with the sizing - it can run small, so be prepared to take either a half or a full size up.

What's your favourite luxe brand for shoes?

Animal-print LEATHER BOOTS from CosmoParis!

If you've never tried this store, and you're in the market for some not-quite-classical footwear, have a look at CosmoParis.

When you enter one of the stores, you enter a world of bright purples and canary yellows with a smattering of rabbit fur and animal print, dotted throughout with sparkling gems.

At the moment there is a promotion on selected items of 30% off until the 21 October 2012!

This is where I bought these boots:

They are full cow-hide leather with an animal print dyed into the hide; a 1cm platform; and 11cm heels.  They have a zip on the inside that reaches only halfway up the calf, which gives them a slightly slouchy appearance, but nothing too extreme.

I think it is very easy to go overboard and look too sexy - or like you're looking for a certain kind of action - with animal-print knee-high stilettoes (unless, of course, that's the kind of action or look you're actually going for, in which case, ignore the next paragraph), and I really wanted to pair them with skinny jeans and a leather jacket, but then I decided to try to tone them down a bit (if that's even possible...):

I chose a calf-length leather skirt, a woolen stream-lined jacket from Gianfranco Ferré, and a black sleeveless cashmere turtleneck.

Animal-print shoes are so much fun - and if you're not ready to take the plunge with boots, there are always pumps, sandals, or even simple little ballerinas!

Visit www.cosmoparis.com for store locations and current stock available.

MAYBELLINE ColorSensational Lipstick SWATCHES

Hi everyone!  This is the first time I've ever bought any Maybelline lipsticks and I am so impressed by them that I thought I'd share:

They are very creamy and pack a lot of punch in the colour payoff.  Basically, what you see in the tube you can expect on your lips.  As they have such a moisturising formula, I would recommend you use a lip pencil as they might migrate or bleed.

Also, the darker colours seem to stain my lips a bit, which is good news for lasting power, but bad news if that is a pet peeve of yours, so be aware of that.  They're really easy to work with and you can always create a smudgy, just-been-kissed look with many of the reddish or darker hues.

Left to right:
413 - Delicate Coral
175 - Pink Punch
190 - Atomic Pink
527 - Lady Red
547 - Pleasure Me Red

International Make-Up Exchange Part 2

Here are the American drugstore products I received from another friend:

On the left is a sample of "L'Eau", a fragrance by Serge Lutens.
Next to that is a sample of the Stainiac lip stain by the Balm.

At the top we have:
Hardy Candy Kal-Eye-Descope Baked eyeshadow duo's in "Rock 'n Roll" and "Rush Hour".
Also, Physician's Formula glow enhancing bronzer in "Light-Med".

Below that is a Wet 'n Wild blush in "Berry Shimmer", right next to a WnW trio in "Walking on Eggshells".

The little vial you see is a sample of the Tom Ford "Violet Blonde" (YUM!)
and underneath that is a Milani baked blush in "Rose d'Oro".

How lucky am I?  ;)

Guerlain écran 4 couleurs in "Les Cuirs"

I received this from a friend, and this is what it looks like:

(without flash)

(with flash)

I must admit, I have a small problem with Guerlain. 

First of all, their service is awful.  It's not just me, it's also happened to all of my friends who have dared to go to a counter - those sales assistants are the most snobbish on earth.  I can't attest to what they are like in other countries, but at least the Parisian ones obviously get no training in customer service.  This terrible behaviour is amplified in the stand-alone or pop-up boutiques.

Second of all, I'm not too keen on this gimmicky packaging, most evident in the lipsticks:  I'm of the belief that if a product is good enough, the company won't need a schtick to sell it.

And third of all (but not least of all), is the fact that monsieur Guerlain was a staunch and very vocal anti-semite, and to this day there are occasional protests on Parisian streets against the brand.

It is because of this last point that I refuse to buy anything from the company.  This eyeshadow quad, however, was given to me without money being exchanged, and it was given by my friend who wasn't happy with the quality and colour-payoff.  Her complexion is a few shades darker than mine, so let me show you the swatches:

(without flash)

(with flash)

Already it is obvious that the only shades worth any beans are the lightest highlight (on my index finger) and the chocolate brown (on my pinkie).

Now, let's transfer them onto my hand:

(without flash)

This is a true swatch, meaning I didn't rub the colours off, they are untouched here (and I pressed hard!).  Can you see the white colour on the left?  No?  Me neither. 

In conclusion, I am very grateful to my friend who gave me the opportunity to try this out, because I played with it for a few days and nothing improved my very low opinion of this quad.  I'm very happy I didn't spend any money on this, and I'm very happy that I now have less than zero desire to buy anything from this brand.  (And don't get me started on the perfumes, because it ain't good.)  I've already sanitized it and passed it onto a friend who enjoys very simple and understated make-up looks.

I would say that if you have the kind of budget that allows you multiple holidays in exotic locations and luxury hotels, AND if you enjoy very understated looks, then knock yourself out.

But if this isn't within your normal budget and you've got it on your birthday or Christmas wishlist, then do yourself a favour:  go for a makeover, ask them to use the palette you have your eye on, and then spend the whole day walking around with it.  See how you feel about your eyes at the end of the day, and only then make your mind up.

Do you have a different experience with Guerlain?  Or perhaps there is a brand out there that you refuse to buy from?  Let me know!