Thierry Mugler Alien

Crisp air, gorgeously colored leaves and general coziness pretty much sum up why fall is my favorite season. Along with all those things, I love how the cooler season makes me want to wear warmer scents that feel like a nice blanket. For many years now, my favorite fall/winter fragrance has been Thierry Mugler’s Alien.

Thierry Mugler is known for creating very distinctive and powerful fragrances. They linger on you and your clothes for ages and nothing else smells quite like it. Alien is a gorgeous fragrance, very unique with a warmth that screams “wear me when it’s chilly outside!” The notes go as follows: Solar Accord, Jasmine Sambac, Green Notes, Cashmeran Wood, Vanilla, Transparent Amber. The result is a slightly heady warm floral scent with just a hint of sweetness from the vanilla. The jasmine, cashmeran wood and amber are the stand out notes, but I love how the green notes and vanilla prevent it from being overpowering.

To me, Alien is like a warm cashmere blanket: soft, warm and comforting. It is definitely a feminine fragrance, albeit a sensual and rich one. As the weather cools, I love letting it envelop me in its distinctive scent, there is something very soothing about it. Like with other Mugler fragrances, the complexity and depth of Alien is hard to describe with words, smelling it is a unique sensorial experience in and of itself.

Lastly, let’s take a second to bask in the beauty of the bottle.  The deep purple color and jewel-like design are stunning. Thierrry Mugler refers to it as a talisman made to resemble an amethyst. The gold detailing elevates it to a piece of luxury you want to display. Good thing you can refill the bottle and never have to part with it.  

Thierry Mugler Alien is available in many department stores as well as from Sephora and the Thierry Mugler website where you can see the whole range of products dedicated to this scent. You can also read more about the fragrance here. 

Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel SPF30 PA++

Well the sweltering heat and humidity just keep on coming… In those condition, having a great sunscreen is crucial because nobody enjoys putting on a thick layer of greasy cream on their face when it is boiling outside. Luckily I am covered with my favorite sunscreen the Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel SPF30 PA++.

If I could only use one sunscreen for the rest of my life it would be this one and I cannot recommend it enough. It is a light water-based lotion, it is not a gel but it is a far cry from thick creams, it absorbs like a dream! It contains great ingredients like sunflower seed oil, green tea extract and hyaluronic acid. All these leave you with soft and moisturized skin and I found that the hyaluronic acid really helps it absorb faster, but it also helps the rest of your skincare do the same. It’s just absolutely brilliant!

The sun gel also works really well under makeup, leaving no white cast and it does not make your face oilier throughout the day, so your makeup will stay in place. After months of usage I can report I never got sunburned while wearing it and I love how all the antioxidants it contains will certainly help protect my skin from harmful sunrays and keep it looking young. The bottle design is also worth mentioning, it is small and compact so you can easily take it with you on your travels and it has a very small and narrow nozzle that allows you to control the exact amount of product you need preventing any waste. Honestly, this is just such a rave worthy product for me, as most sunscreens break me out, but this one has done nothing but good things for my skin.

You can get the Innisfree Eco Safety Aqua Daily Sun Gel from their website, though it appears like the SPF30 version has been discontinued they offer an SPF50+ PA+++ version in the same formula and this is the one I will be purchasing in the future. 

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil

I am slowly getting back in the swing of things with the blog and regular posting should (hopefully) go on. My whole reorganisation process also led me to discover I have quite a few products I meant to review ages ago that I still had not gotten around to. It’s shame really, because most are long-time favorites that I kept delaying since putting my excitement into words was difficult. So today I finally bring you a review on my beloved Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil, also known as the only cleanser I will ever use. 

I kid you not, this is the most amazing makeup remover I have ever tried and I am currently on my fifth bottle in a row. That kind of commitment to the same cleanser shows how much I love it. This is hands down the best cleansing oil I have ever tried, it has a light non/greasy consistency and it emulsifies and rinses clean super easily. It will leave you with clean, balanced skin that feels soft and moisturize, but there is no oily residue left behind. It also does not irritate my eyes and removes any mascara like a charm. 

I have tried other cleansing oils from various brands and other Shu Uemura offerings, but none compare to this one. More than being a simple makeup remover, it has an undeniable effect on my skin, leaving it brighter and smoother. I think this is due to the great plant extracts it contains like moringa, green tea and gingko leaf. These are all great antioxidant and the moringa extract is particularly good at refining and purifying the skin.

Shu Uemura qualifies this cleanser as an anti-ageing one because the extracts it contains help fight the oxidant effect of pollution, helping it fight against aging stress of the skin. I was honestly shocked to see actual skincare benefits from this, because cleansers never usually leave visible results on my skin. This is a truly outstanding product that lives up to its claims.  

The Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleansing Oil is a star product in my skincare routine and one of those rare products I cannot see myself without. You can find it at any Shu Uemura counters and on their website as well as in Sephora. It comes in both a regular size and a large one so you have good options for both travel and at home. 

My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin

Let’s talk lashes! Mascara is one of those beauty products I like to wear even on minimal makeup days. It just helps frame your eyes beautifully and finding the perfect one can really pull your entire face together. Today I am bringing you a review on one of my all-time favorite mascaras, the My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin.

My Little Beauty is a sister company to My Little Box, a beauty and lifestyle subscription box service that I adore. I was first introduced to the mascara in one of their boxes and I love it. It is hands down one of the best mascara I have ever used and I would repurchase it in a heartbeat.

The Mascara Volume et Soin is one of those rare ones that actually gives you tons of volume but does not compromise on length. It also really separates your lashes so there are more defined and it looks like you have incredible doe eyes. I was very impressed by the amount of length it gave me and really nice volume that did not look clumpy. I simply cannot explain how great this makes your lashes look! I was actually really sad when I finished my tube up.

As far as I know the My Little Beauty Mascara Volume et Soin can only be purchased the official website (My Little Corner) and I believe they only deliver within France (it is a French company). Now you might want to email them (they have great customer service) and ask where they ship to as they might have expended since I last checked. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy it, do it, it is a truly remarkable product.

Now here’s to hoping this amazing brand will start offering international shipping on both their products and boxes! 

RoC Soleil Protection+ Velvet Moisture SPF30

Sunscreen application is something I am religious about all year long, but during the summer months I am especially careful with choosing the right formula. To be honest I have struggled with finding the right facial sunscreen for a long time, they are usual too thick or they clog my pores. That being said, I finally have two products in my routine I can rely on to keep me protect from harmful rays, so let me introduce to you the first one today: the RoC Soleil Protection+ Velvet Moisture SPF30.

This formula is kind of a classic sunscreen texture and scent wise, but it has none of the drawbacks of the old goopy sunscreens from our childhood. This one comes out as kind of a thick cream straight form the tube, but has you rub it in it transforms into a lighter lotion and does not leave any white residues behind.

Now this is targeted towards people with normal skin and I would say that anyone with slightly dry to combination skin would enjoy this. It does offer some moisture and has an emollient texture; however it is not too rich, so you can still use it if you have an oily t-zone. That being said you should note that while it does not have a dewy finish (the name velvet moisture is very appropriate), it does take a little longer to absorb but it still looks great under makeup. It offers an SPF30 protection which is great for daily use and I have not had any sunburn while wearing it. Overall, this is a very solid sunscreen from RoC and one I will gladly repurchase (for the third time) when I finish my tube. With this formula, a little goes a long way and it is also very affordable for such a high-quality product.

I got mine in a local drugstore, but I could not find it anywhere online or on the RoC website. The European site does list different sunscreens but not this particular one. So if you are interested in the RoC Soleil Protection+ Velvet Moisture SPF30 I suggest you go have a look in your local drugstore or RoC retailers. It is certainly worth hunting down. 

Innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist

Hot and humid weather calls for a few things: light clothes, air conditioning and a facial mist. Nothing cools down an overheated face better than a fine mist of water. I personally love rose water for this purpose, but sometimes I also like to opt for something that boast even more beatifying properties and this is when the Innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist comes in.

The main selling point of this mist is that it contains organic olive oil. In the pictures above, you can see the oil floating above the rest of the liquid and how it all mixes together once you shake it up (don’t forget to do this). This mist boasts rich moisturizing properties to really hydrate your skin on the go.

First of all, this has to be the finest mist I have ever used, you can barely feel the spray and it does not make your face wet so you can use this during the day without worrying about your makeup. However, do keep in mind that you need to spray closer to your face because of this. I was actually surprised by how hydrating it actually is and I feel like it also helps lock in moisture instead of only giving a temporary effect.

One thing I noticed though is that you can kind of feel it on your skin after you apply it. I think this is because of the olive oil, but don’t worry it does sink, it simply takes a little longer than usual. Because of all the great ingredients the mist contains I prefer to use it on bare skin and it is a perfect travel companion. I used it on a 10h flight from London and my skin was in much better condition than usual. It was not very dehydrated and it did not freak out as much as it usually does despite this being a very long flight. I really enjoy using a mist when I am flying because it feels refreshing and I like how something like the Innisfree olive one can actually improve the condition of your skin when you are not in an ideal environment. 

This is now a travel essential for me and on a daily basis, I find it useful to keep on my desk for a quick midday pick-me-up. The Innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist is available on their website along with their entire olive range and other mists.