All posts tagged: luxury

Winter Bases

Published by

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, …

Filorga Oil Absolute

Published by

Bonjour mes amours! It is the week of love, and if there is anything I love, love, love in beauty, face oil takes that crown. My adoration of face oils has been well documented here on LeenLovesStyle, especially when my skin’s feeling dry and tight due to a change in seasons, a lack of hydration or after a retinol or AHA binge. I usually have a few of them on rotation, but the one I’m reaching for the most lately is Filorga Oil-Absolute Ultimate Anti-Ageing Serum. Wait, what? Serum? Oil? Can it be both? Filorga markets this as a ‘facial oil with the power of a serum’, promising to improve the look of wrinkles, even out skin tone and boost its radiance. Filorga + face oil? I was ready to dive in, literally and figuratively! The ingredient list is always the perfect place to start, and the one for the Filorga Oil Absolute reads like a who’s who of skincare Tinseltown. Reigning supreme is a blend of several natural oils, with buruti and camellia being the most enticing ones. …

Goldfield & Banks Pacific Rock Moss

Published by

Raving about the most summer-y looking, sounding and evoking fragrance in the freezing dead of winter, quite the contradiction, right? And no, I see no issue whatsoever with that… I’ve never been the type to match my perfumes to the season and do that switch up twice a year, I just go with my mood each morning, and see my fragrance as the extension of my day ahead. Goldfield & Banks and I met by chance, a late night Instagram inspiration session (‘cause all modern-day couples meet like that nowadays…), a splash of blue, a ray of sunlight, an image that stoopped my heart, and I was sold in an instant! Never having held the bottle, never having experienced the scent, and still, the atmosphere and story of that image was so beguiling that I wanted to know more, smell more, experience more! Dimitri Weber was one of Belgium’s perfume PR exec’s par excellence. After a thriving career that saw him represent the best of the olifactory best, create the signature fragrance for an interior …

Givenchy Noir Couture

Published by

A mascara? I can see you sitting there, reading this, saying to yourself “what can be said about a mascara?” A whole lot, if you believe the world wide beauty web out there! Mascara is one of those beauty items that ignites one discussion after another (drugstore vs high end, black vs brown, mascara vs lash tinting and so on), but also seems to be the prime beauty bit that is always evolving and infinitely improvable. A new wand, improved formula, an intenser black, curlier curl or a  bolder result than ever before. Like the perfect little black dress, the perfect mascara needs to work for you on all fronts. It needs to be the perfect shade to complement your eyes, sublimate you lashes with what they may lack and boost their strong suits. In my case that would be emphasize their length but add that much wanted vertiginous curl… So when Givenchy’s Noir Couture 4 in 1 landed on my desk, I was, as always, intrigued and ready to rip into it. First thing …

Lippie Friday

Published by

Friday Lipday! I’m all in! What better way to start that final countdown to the weekend or liven up that final day at work than a bright lippie, and I am more than happy to oblige. Two days ago we celebrated International’s Women’s Day, and both this year’s motto “Be Bold For Change” as this article by Sali Hughes inspired me to break out my favourite reds again. ” Red lipstick is a kiss to womankind” – Sali Hughes First up, and my utter favourite by a landslide: the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl. It’s praises have been sung by countles beauty afficionada’s, and there really is no other like it. Vibrant and intensely pigmented with the most beautiful perfect deep red, this stunner offers that perfect balance between grace, elegance, strength and attitude! Up next, and gracing my lips today is the MAC Viva Glam I. A slightly darker blue-ish red. A touch darker than Ruby Woo, but texture-wise the same, and holding power is also equal. I find that I …

Clowing around in the kitchen – Marcel Wanders x Alessi Circus Collection

Published by

Very rarely do I  get transfixed by a kitchenware (or any kind of) collection. I see hundreds of new collections or launches pass by on a monthly basis, so somewhat enthousiastic or lukewarm intrigued is the best reaction I can muster most of the time. The latest brainchild of Dutch creative genius Marcel Wanders for Alessi, however, left me mesmerized with its theatrical theme. My love for all things Alessi is very well documented throughout the history of this blog, just have a little search with “Alessi” as your key word, and it’ll become increasingly clear that I am, and always have been, utterly besotted with the brand. Quirky, elegant and not quite run-of-the-mill utensils and kitchen tools that combine form and function in the most perfect of marriages, one filled with love and laughter. Marcel Wanders on the other hand is of course known for putting on a show with his works, grand in thought and execution, and this time he chose the magic and trickery of the big top and the circus as his …

Knockout Eyes with Estee Lauder

Published by

Leen, where have you been? I know, I know, I went a bit awol, but I had a good excuse. After a heavy few weeks, my parents in law had invited the hubs, our kids and me for a relaxing Easter week away, way out in the German woods. It’s was much needed week of quality time, a spot of reading, a lot of walks, and to be honest, hardly any make up. And by hardly any, I really do mean hardly any. A bb cream was only complemented by this latest offering from Estée Lauder. Sometime, one eyecatcher is all you need… Right before I started narrowing down what I wanted to take with (multifunctionality for the win!), the new Estée Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara* popped into my hands, and about two minutes and an application later, it hopped into my toilet bag and became the only eye make up item to come with to my forest hideaway. So, what’s so special about it? Estée Lauder amped up the volume of the …

Dior Sauvage – Not Just For Men

Published by

Unisex perfumes have always been my thing. If it is displayed in the male section, I’ll sneakily head over for a little whiff. Constantly turned off by most of the sweet and girly offerings known as female perfumes, I love it when a fragrance is headier, with a bit more body, and a less outspoken gender personality. Gotta keep everyone guessing, you know. Dior Fahrenheit 32 has been a favourite of mine for yonks (we go waaaaay back, Fahrie and me), and the Acqua Di Parma Colonia Ambra has been heating my skin up these last few months as well. Neither one can be pigeonholed as a clear male of female fragrance, and where my dress sense can only be described as decidedly feminine, my taste in scents is quite the opposite. Cue the new Dior male fragrance! Released with big fanfare earlier this year, Dior Sauvage is not only making a play to be the house’s next big male fragrance, but also to find it’s place in my carefully curated daily perfume collection. Not to …

Just un Clou – Just a Dream?

Published by

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, jewellery are a woman’s soft spot, shortly put, if it’s gold, sparkly and costs a pretty penny, it’s a surefit way into your lady love’s heart! As part of the fairer sex, I too have a soft spot for a gorgeous piece to enhance my neck, wrist or ears, and even more, I know exactly what I want! For the last few years, I’ve been clou crazy! Ever since Cartier launched their Just Un Clou Collection, I’ve been passionately coveting it, and the love has not waned! All I need is my own personal Mr Rockefeller, and the Clou bracelet in Rose Gold will finally be mine! But for now, I’ll have to do with dreaming and hoping, with desiring and coveting. I’ve got clou fever!

The Sisley Love Affair Grows…

Published by

When Sisley does make up, it’s never just make up. Make up with benefits doesn’t even cover it, but it’s a great start. Both my skin and the luxury-loving kitten within loves the brand and all it comes up with, and their two latest releases aren’t any different. Enfusing a high dose of skincare into each of their make up launches, let’s see how their new eyeliner and finishing powder deliver in that department, and on my skin. I’ve always been a big fan  of Sisley make up, their Sisley Phyto Teint Expert All-Day Long Skincare Foundation in Sand still is my number one foundation, and Sisley Phyto-Poudre Libre* is supposed to be the perfect sidekick. An airy, almost feather-like powder, soft and silky to the touch, creates this nourishing veil on my skin, but in this way that makes you have a little re-look at yourself in the mirror. When used alone, it doesn’t do much, but when combined with a BB cream (especially the Filorga BB Cream) or a foundation, that’s when the magic happens! …