All posts tagged: Budget

Winter Bases

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Also known as “The One That Was Supposed To Be Called Summer Bases But Evolved Into Winter Foundations” ( somehow I hardly wore any bases between May and October). Foundations and coverage have found their way back into  my make up stash, and these 4 bases have been tried and tested these last few months. Spoiler alert, there were 2 absolute winners, one that was just so-so, and one that turned out to be a complete no-no. First up, I went straight fo the Shiseido Waso Colour Smart Day Moisturizer. After originally dismissing this little tube as not being moisturizing enough for my Sahara dry skin,  I dug it back out a month or two ago and reintroduced it into my routine, but with a little twist. Instead of just going by its moisturizing mismatch with my skin, I started layering it over my Sukin Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin as a base, a little cover-up operation without having to go for a heavy hitter foundation or a glitter-ball, all too quick at disappearing BB/CC Cream, …

Kneipp Patchouli and Shea Butter Body Cream

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I feel like I am going about this winter skin thing backwards, as I am only now getting round to writing about the “fattiest” cream that kept me going this winter, but somehow my skin only realized winter had kicked in about a month and a half ago. Up until the end of January, I was happily lathering myself with the La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+ Balm every two to three days, never feeling itchy or scratchy, and generally not feeling that winter blues. However, the unthinkable happened, I ran out of the LRP Lipikar AP+ (shock horror, my back up had vanished as well), and even my pharmacist had run out of it’s stock as well. I dove into the stockpile that I affectionately call my little beauty hall, and the Kneipp Body Cream with Patchouli and Shea Butter caught my eye. Though not the flashiest of my body care bunch, the soothing white and gentle green packaging almost seemed to echo the softness and creaminess inside. Silky smooth might be two words that sound beguiling …

A Tale Of Caving In (Into The Ordinary)

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Us bloggers are at the same time a critical and impressionable bunch. Sure, years of testing, trialling and studying have taught us a thing or two, which makes that we approach new launches with caution, but when friends and fellow beauty afficionada’s start raving about that same new launch, we end up throwing that same caution to the wind, hop on the bandwagon and end up ordering the product anyway? Me? Guilty as charged! Case in point: The Ordinary. I steered clear from the brand for a long time, not quite trusting the low price / high quality claim and feeling bulldozered by the extensive catalogue of products… something about not seeing the wood for the trees and such… But still, curiosity won, and I caved. Cue back to a few weeks ago, when my serum stash was dwindling and my skin was in need of a shake up of my skincare routine. My curiosity was getting the better of me, so I dove in, did my research and ordered the 100% Squalane Oil, the …

An Abundance Of Oils

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What better universe to divulge yourself in than that delightful, aromatic, silky soft and golden hued one of body and face oils? My devotion to oil is no secret here on LeenLovesStyle, and with a love so devout an intense, why stick to only one product? These 4 have been on rotation lately, and here’s a little breakdown of each of them: The Avène Body Oil has long been a darling of mine, and is the epitome of minimalism. No frills or thrills, but boy does this oil deliver! Thanks to avocado and calendula oil, it breathes life back into parched skin, takes it from croco to soft & supple. Plus, the Avène Thermal Spring Water in it has this heavenly soothing effect on my itching and dry limbs. Sheer hydrating heaven! Another golden oldie in my collection is the Caudalie Huile Divine / Divine Oil, and quite frankly, the clue is in the title. Divine by name, divine by nature, this oil raised the bar when it first launched several years ago. Not only …

The SPF Diaries Part 1 – Bodysol Hydraxsol

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Sun is out… and so are we. While it may not yet be warm enough to spend an afternoon worshipping the sun in my bikini, the skirts and shorts are coming out and bare arms no longer need a sweater to keep them warm. A few hours al fresco with a glass of wine and some friends or a day at the zoo (#momlife) is all I need to get a killer sunburn (speaking from experience here), so time to start slathering my limbs in SPF. I’ve spent many an article here on LeenLovesStyle complaining about my skin having the same moisture levels as the Sahara, and trust me when I say that my legs don’t exactly fare better. So when I heard about an SPF option with an added hydration boost, my interest was piqued. The Bodysol Hydraxsol range* claims to do just that with their Triple Moist Complex, so who better than my parchment legs to put them to the test? First up, about 30 minutes before heading outside in search of a …

Schwarzkopf Nature Moments

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Hair… When it’s looking good, you’re on top of the world, when it falls flat, so do you. With the organic beauty movement still gaining momentum, our desire to go green, soil associated or natural for our  haircare, skincare and make just keeps on growing, and the people at Schwarzkopf understood that this was the perfect time to marry all natural ingredients to their know how and drugstore prices for a pontential triple win. The Schwarzkopf Nature Moments line is brand spankin’ new, pH neutral, contains extracts from 100% natural origin (quite a smart cliam this one, dancing around the 100% green and organic sourced nature of the ingredients) and consists of 5 sub lines , based upon different hair types and needs. The LLS family bathroom has seen some heavy rotation and rigourous testing , and all 5 lines have been tried, tested and assessed. Mediterranean Olive Oil & Aloë Vera AKA the family favourite!  Designed to tend to and nourish damaged hair without weighing it down, the olive oil puts the bounce and shine …

Monochrome chic on a buget

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Pair a catch up lunch with a friend plus a very windy afternoon with my ever-continuing love for all fashion black and white, and you get the zest of this post (and that day)! My love for all things black and white, and especially separates, is still going very strong, and I don’t see us breaking up any time in the nearby future. My wardrobe has been slowly evolving from a gigantic burst of preppy colour to a minimalist palette of blacks, whites and greys any Swede would be proud of, and as much as I just want to throw anything eve remotely colourful out and replace it with a Scandi-cool item, my bank account (and Mr B) do not agree with that, so time to go budget… This gorgeous H&M top was a bit of a lucky coincidence. I had to dash to several other meetings after a dentist’s appointment a week ago, and my dentist managed to spill some liquid all over the white silk blouse I was wearing that day. Shock horror, and …

Garnier Mythical Olive

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It’s every woman’s dilemma, your make up and outfit can be your best ever, but as long as your hair is a frizzy disaster or a greasy, flat mop, there’s no looking your best. No better buzz killer than bad hair. Unlike with some other beauty categories, the fanciest and most expensive shampoo’s aren’t always the best. Garnier  has always been one of those brands that everyone grew up, who doesn’t remember those commercials about their kiddie apricot shampoo? Latest addition to their Ultra Doux family is the Mythical Olive range, a Mediterranean secret in a bottle for dry and brittle hair. Will it be as good for my hair as it is for my aperitif? Virgin olive oil apparently does not only work wonders in the kitchen, it’s high dose of nutritious and softening powers is supposed to turn your hair from straw to silk, from shabby to shiny. If it worked for the ancient Greeks, I figured it should also work for me, and treated my hair to a pampering session with the …

Balmain For H&M!

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What better way to start my week than a spot of breaking news! Swedish fashion giant has just announced their latest collaboration partner for their annual capsule collection, and this year, Balmain will be bringing their glamourous magic to to the masses with a collection for H&M that will include women’s and men’s clothes, shoes, and accessories. Mark your calendars, book in a day off and be sure to head to H&M (or hit the web) on November 5! The collab will then be available on the company’s e-commerce site and in stores worldwide.

That First Esprit Summer Feeling

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Every morning is the same story at my house. After a frantic morning rush to get the 2 littles ones ready (Mr B has to fend for himself :-)), I sprint upstairs with about 5 minutes to spare to get myself dressed. Often lacking inspiration and pressed for time, I find myself constantly reaching for the same uniforms, which also means that about half of my closet remains untounched. Additionally, with the weather teethering on the edge between winter and summer clothes, and  having just started a new job with a completely different, less business appropriate dress code (ie we can wear whatever we friggin’ want…), I’m in a style rut at the moment. Not good at all… Hold this thought! A while ago, the unthinkeable happened. I had the entire afternoon to myself. No wee ones needing to be entertained, husband off with plans of his own, so after having photographed anything and everything that needed it’s picture taken, I started having some fun. In one corner: some of the basics in my closet. In the …