Gimme Candy: L'Oreal Miss Candy & Smokin' Eyes!

Hello my pretties, how's your week going?

 I don't know about you, but every now and again I have this furious burst of beauty & make up addiction, I'm not entirely sure if it had anything to do with my little L'Oreal Paris surprise this week (-great start to the week, yay!!!) or the fact that I just wanna ply my face with a bit of colour when the weather seems a little unpredictable and grey sometimes.

Anyways... I loved seeing all the candy, gum dropped colours coming through for spring/summer; from Dior to YSL & even Laduree's super yummy sorbet shaded make up collection.

MAC/NARS/Bobbi Brown, please forgive me but I officially have a new love - L'Oreals Miss Candy collection.  My pouts craving the super shimmery Glam shine lipgloss in Cola Fizz & Strawberry Licorice (available in 6 delicious shades) and my eyes will be coveting the Color Infallible eye shadows bright n' sparkly 'Innocent turquoise' (above) and 'Sassy marshmallow' hues (Eye shadows available in 4 colours), which will pop against my subtle tan. Looks like I'm all set to to dress my nails, eyes and lips now! 

For the best part of winter you could say that I'm pretty guilty of falling into the same make up routine, but once summer hits, I do love experimenting with eye make-up looks,  especially with colourful shades, similar to the L'Oreal look (first image above). Right now, I'm totally smitten with these gorgeous eye make up looks.

 Coco Rocha with emerald green & grey hues for Vogue Nippon, Aug 2008 by Arthur Elgort

Check out the brilliant How-To post on how to achieve this colour blocking make-up look via The Beauty Department here.

I adore this! I haven't actually tried purple, but I think I will do... one night. Love this step-by-step image by make up artist Zina Grekova whose eye make up looks are all over Pinterest.

 Have you mastered your smokey eye look yet, take peek at Zina's classic brown/black smokey eye look close up!

Having read some of the comments, I thought I'd add a little more to this post. I know that doing a smokey look on yourself can sometimes look like you've been punched in the face in both eyes if you're not used to seeing how this look looks on you - just remember to BLEND!!! I always keep cotton buds at hand to help remove any parts that I might have gone way OTT on (usually to lessen the amount of dark shadow near the brown bone area, in the corners or underneath the eye)

Everyone has a different eye shape - it's about experimenting and knowing what or how much smokiness works with your face shape. Always take a step back from the mirror and see how it looks.

It's good to try different things - sometimes I'll go for a more elongated cat eye shape and balance the make up on the cheek area with a bit of definition.

 Need a little help? What about this four-piece brush set by Sonia Kashuk? (Alternatively, you can find similar brushes at Sephora too) image via: Glamour Mag

So lovelies, will you be trying something new or different this summer? Know what colours work for you and take a risk I say! Colour is a real game-changer in the name of make-up!


p.s Thank you L'Oreal Paris GR! Mwah!

A Tally of Two Cities Illustrated: Je L'aime!

A while ago, I fell in love with these incredibly minimalist & colourful illustrations by Vahram Muratyan's blog Paris vs New York: A tally of two cities. Take a peek at these and you'll see why! What a fantastic illustrative journal.

After reading his interview in Black Book Mag here (it's a great read), I totally understood how he feels in terms of being torn by two cities he loves dearly. I can't really make that comparison with Athens and London, these are two major cities with so much cultural differences & history that go way onto another level.

The weekend is upon us, so of course I'm going to leave you guys with something fun to watch! My BFF sent this and said that there should be a Pinball parking in Athens - how much fun eh?!

Have a super duper sparkly weekend lovelies!

Happy Feet: Mariettas Fantasy Sandal Collection 2012

Hot, sunny weather has been storming the shores of Greece for quite some time now, so it's only appropriate that I find some decent footwear that is not only comfortable but stylish. Note, I am a sucker for colour & detail or something dead simple, understated but stylish too - very contradictory (but yes I am that kinda girl, it's either all or nothing with me). I managed to discover the perfect amalgamation of all these things in Marietta's Fantasys new collection.

 Let me introduce you to Greek beauty Marietta Chrousala, TV personality and model (who, believe me looks even more gorgeous in the flesh) whose collection was born out of reaction in not finding the ultimate pretty, comfortable sandal. Marietta ended up doing a bit of cratista by making her own leather sandal with the help of her uber crafty mum and together they created their very first pair of decorative sandals. When strangers stopped her in the street on numerous occasions to ask where they could buy a pair, she knew it was the moment to branch out & design a collection. It took about a year to complete the design process to actual launch of the collection via the online boutique and now she's considering plans to expand into the accessories area... you heard it here first loves!

 Each pair have a slight heel and comfy non slip soles

Calling all cupcake lovers!

 My faves - the black and nude patent leather thong with skull or crown motif - I think I want both, one for day and one for night! 

 Lots of hand-beaded colourful leather sandals

Stylist to the Stars Alex Katsaiti with Marietta in cute black playsuit, image via Alex K

The majority of Marietta's collection leather sandal remind me of all things summery & happy; it's super girly, pretty, playful and colourful, with two gorgeous patent numbers, which I couldn't help but swoon over (see photos above). There are around 30 odd styles in the new collection, with new styles coming soon for high summer, all of which are handmade by Marietta and her mother and produced in Greece with slip resistant soles. Perfect for not wiping out on Athens dodgy pavements I say!
Lastly I adore the new pink & black zebra foldable flip flop - which you can sneak into your (teeny) bag if you're suffering from a spot of tired feet! For more information, please visit Marietta's Fantasy.

Thanks to Zoe, Aliki & Marietta for having me! It was so good seeing you beautiful ladies!