Rocaille Writes

... but no, I mean it - just about everything. You guessed it: it's all because of the dreaded Valentine's Day, or Cupid's Day of Doom as I like to call it; well, maybe not exactly, but you might have correctly inferred that I harbor a strong dislike for February 14. I DO like roses though, so I thought we could meet in the middle - you'll be conjuring images of glitter, pink hearts and romantic dinners, if that's your thang, and I'll just talk about one of my favorite flowers. Deal? Or does everyone hate me now?

Anyhow. I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but it turns out I have a good variety of rose-centric beauty products - I won't lie, I mostly enjoy using them due to the sweet but sophisticated, feminine floral aroma, although rose (or more specifically, rose essential oil and rosehip oil) has a number of skin loving properties too. Rather nifty coincidence, right?

Starting with skincare, I've waxed lyrical about the Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum ($54 for 30ml/$150 for 100ml)before, but here's a quick recap: it's a beautifully-scented hydrating serum rich in natural ingredients including anti-aging rosa canina fruit oil (rosehip oil), which helps to diminish scars, lighten pigmentation and nourish dry skin. I've also recently picked up a bottle of organic Rose Hydrosol from Mountain Rose Herbs ($4.50 for 3 oz spray bottle); hydrosols or flower waters are by-products of essential oil steam distillation and offer all the beneficial components of a whole plant. Rose hydrosol/ rosewater has antibacterial properties, helps balance sebum production and tighten pores, calms and relieves anxiety. I like best using it as a toner or a natural pillow spray.

My rose-scented bath selection includes an old favorite, Lush's Rose Jam Bubbleroon ($6.25 for 3.5 oz), previously metioned here (thank you Kar Yi for reuniting me with it!), and a new find: Neom Organics Complete Bliss Bath Oil ($56 for 100ml) with Moroccan Blush Rose, a perfectly relaxing, moisturizing treat. In terms of scent difference, Lush's Turkish rose is a bit sweeter, jammier and more edible, while Neom's Moroccan rose smells greener, sharper, more rose geranium. To complete our rose world tour, I was gifted this Bulgarian rose soap by my mom; this hot pink bar smells like garden rose petals, fresh, clean, slightly musky. The soap came in a set with a little vial of rosewater, which I can't wait to use for scenting pot pourri sachets or in a diffuser.

While browsing The Body Shop's hand cream offerings, I couldn't resist a purse size tube of their Wild Rose Hand Cream ($20 for 3.3 fl oz/100 ml, I believe my smaller size was $10). This luscious cream contains rosehip and brazil nut oil (by the way, I love The Body Shop's Brazil Nut Body Butter, it pretty much smells like nutty donuts) and it's aimed at more mature skin types but I find that it works perfectly for my dry, eczema-prone hands; it's richly moisturizing yet soaks in without leaving a greasy layer, and the rose scent is not too overpowering - it has a sharp, soapy edge to it.

Last but not least, my beautiful vintage-inspired bottle of L'Occitane Rose Quatre Reines Eau de Toilette ($22 for 0.66 fl oz/20 ml). This rose soliflore is composed of four different varieties of rose: the Grasse rose, the Bulgarian rose, the Moroccan rose and the Turkish rose. This light, refreshing EDT becomes more powdery and musky as it dries down on the skin without turning too old lady - it still retains an effortless, sunny, summery quality. If you're after a feminine, but not overly complicated rose perfume, I do recommend you give it a sniff.

Now that I've been smelling all these rose-scented products for the past hour, I may actually use one or two this Friday night... but I'm not promising anything! What are your favorite rose-themed beauty products?

I like neutral eyeshadows. Beiges, browns and taupes are what I wear 90% of the time. But even I started growing tired of the ubiqitous 'Naked' bandwagon; I'm aware it makes sense in the marketing way of things, however I'd much rather cosmetic companies came up with something new instead of regurgitating spin-offs for what - 3 years now? Come on, we need some excitement here!

So as much I wasn't impressed with the theme of this mineral eyeshadow set, I was grateful to receive it as a birthday gift from a very thoughtful friend who knew my taste in eyeshadow shades. The bareMinerals 7 Ways To Bare Eyecolor Set ($38 for 7 x 0.28 g / 0.01 Oz. ea) is a seven piece loose mineral shadow set in a variety of universal neutral shades for a complete eye look.

The set comes in a sturdy pearly yellow box with a pull-out drawer housing seven little pots of eyeshadow wedged in a plastic insert; I'm not sure what I'm going to reuse the box for quite yet, but it's too pretty to toss! The drawback of this beautiful packaging is that it's definitely too bulky to actually store my eyeshadows in; well, let's face it, mineral eyeshadows are certainly not the easiest to store conveniently anyway...

7 Ways To Bare comes with the following mini Eyecolor shades (these are smaller than full size):

Pearl Sateen Eyecolor (described as vanilla cream), a warm off-white with a satin finish

Nude Beach Matte Eyecolor (described as matte warm sand), a matte light pink beige with grey undertones

Chic Nude Eyecolor (described as veiled nude), a light peach with a satin finish

Silk Stockings Eyecolor (described as peachy nude), a light tan with soft gold shimmer, reads as satin

Pamper Eyecolor (described as copper canyon), a metallic copper with gold shimmer

In the Nude Eyecolor (described as subtle bronze smolder), a slightly warm dark matte brown

Spiced Fig Liner Shadow (described as rich fig brown), a matte black brown with bronze shimmer

Close-ups left to right in the same order as listed above

The eyeshadows have a smooth, creamy feel in the pot and swatch well on bare (unprimed) skin. I would say most of the eyeshadows included in the set are not the most pigmented shadows I've ever worked with, with the exception of the metallic copper Pamper shade; my guess based on this one and another bareMinerals eyecolor I've tried, a light shimmery taupe Nude Beach (reviewed and swatched here), is that the intensely shimmery/metallic shades from bareMinerals are probably the most pigmented, as is the case with many brands as well. Don't get me wrong though - these are definitely pigmented enough to show up on the eye without difficulty, and they blend without a fault.

L-R: Pearl Sateen, Nude Beach Matte, Chic Nude, Silk Stockings

L-R: Pamper, In The Nude, Spiced Fig

I think the shade selection should suit both warm and cool skintones in the light to medium end of spectrum; I feel that the lightest 4 shades of the set may not work well as all over lid shades on deeper skintones, and there's probably little use in having a set with four highlighting eyeshadows. The set pulls slightly warm with the inclusion of shades like Silk Stockings and Pamper, but it also works on my cool skintone. In the look below, I used Silk Stockings all over the lid, Pearl Sateen in the inner corner to highlight, In The Nude lightly in the crease and Spiced Fig over a brown pencil eyeliner. The end result is a very subtle daytime definition but with a flattering sheen on the lid, and the added interest of some sparse sparkle in the brown eyeliner. I've used Bourjois Healthy Mix as my foundation, NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink on my cheeks, and Revlon Superlustrous lipgloss in Coral Reef on the lips.

Overall, I quite like this bareMinerals 7 Ways to Bare set; I'm especially glad to see three lighter lid shades (Nude Beach Matte, Chic Nude, Silk Stockings) that seem a bit more interesting than my standard shimmery beige, taupe or champagne. I'm not too keen on the hassle of applying loose mineral eyeshadows on an everyday basis, but they're fun to play with; I'll probably incorporate one or two shades from the set into my regular pressed eyeshadow arsenal and swap them out from time to time.

Are you still looking for your perfect neutral eyeshadow palette or are you over the Naked trend? Do you use loose eyeshadows in your everyday routine?

In truth, I originally planned this post to be a strict comparison between two fantastic honey lip balms, with one clear winner emerging at the end. But I can't do it, you guys - I just love them both, and nobody wants to be forced to pick their favorite ~~child~~ lip treatment. Still, would you like to hear my thoughts on these bedtime staples and why you need them in your life? Yeah, I thought so.

Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair* ($22 for 0.28 oz) contains beeswax, cocoa butter, Vitamin E oil, manuka honey, as well as myrrh and bergamot essential oils to heal dry and cracked lips within one to two days. The balm also contains lanolin to help it stay on your lips overnight. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm ($19 for 0.52 oz/ 15 g) is a concentrated formula to nourish and repair chapped and dry lips, and contains beeswax, shea butter, sweet almond, rosehip and Vitamin E oils, honey as well as grapefruit and lemon essential oils.

As you can see, both of these lip treatments contain beeswax, Vitamin E oil and honey (which hydrates dry lips beautifully on its own - you need to try it!), plant oils and butters, as well as essential oils; essentialy, the ingredients for both are very similar. Osmia's Lip Repair contains 79% certified organic ingredients, while Nuxe Rêve de Miel contains 80.2% ingredients of natural origin.

In terms of texture, Osmia Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair is more solid (you need to break the hard surface with your fingernail - I actually use my nail to scoop out the right amount of both of these balms) but thinner and more oily once warmed up on the skin. Nuxe Rêve de Miel is softer in the jar, but thicker and more waxy on the lips. Osmia's balm feels very smooth and quite light on the lips and gives a slight sheen, while Nuxe has an almost grainy, heavier consistency and a matte finish. I like the feel of both of them equally for different reasons. Both lip treatments stay on the lips overnight (I can still feel some in the morning), but Nuxe is probably a touch more tenacious - it can even withstand drinking and a small breakfast. The smell of Osmia's Lip Repair is resinous with a touch of citrus, while Nuxe's scent reminds me the most of candied orange peel with a touch of honey.

In terms of effectivess, both Nuxe and Osmia are fantastic at nourishing and hydrating very dry, peeling lips - which I get on a daily basis, so an intense lip balm like these is an absolute must in my night skincare routine, and I always keep one on my bedside table. The similarity of end result is in fact the reason why I can't choose a favorite; while you might nit-pick over packaging, texture, scent, organic versus natural ingredients, in the end those factors are simply a matter of individual preference - but the effectiveness of product is what matters most to all of us.

Lastly, let me touch on the price point and availability of both products. In terms of price per ounce, Osmia's Lip Repair works out to be roughly twice as expensive as Nuxe's already pricey balm. Osmia Organics products are also only available online through their website, while Nuxe products are offered by a number of etailers, as well as in some drugstores (Duane Reade Look Boutiques in New York, for example). Osmia's product are handmade in Colorado with high quality natural and organic ingredients, while Nuxe's are made in France with a touch more lab-derived fillers. So yes, it's cheaper and easier to get the Nuxe Rêve de Miel... but I really like my Osmia (support small businesses!), so I'll probably just end up rotating purchases of both.

Have you tried Osmia Organics Lip Repair or Nuxe Rêve de Miel? Which lip treatment is your Holy Grail?

*Disclaimer: Osmia Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair is a press sample I received directly from the brand for review consideration, and I purchased Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm myself. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as a free press sample. All links are non-affiliate and simply provided for your convenience. Thank you for reading!

If you follow me on Instagram (click!), you may have seen that I recently scored an amazing gift with purchase goodie bag from drugstore.com, and I promised I would do a small giveaway with products I wasn't intending to keep for myself. So - here it is! I've also thrown in some extra goodies from my personal stash of brand new products.

The giveaway prize includes:
- TRESemme Keratin Smooth 7 Day Smooth Heat Activated Treatment for use with a flat iron
- Physicians Formula Super BB Cream in Medium/Deep
- Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Totally Toffee
- Zoya Nail Lacquer in Wednesday
- Stila Lip Glaze in Apricot (deluxe sample)
(seashells are not included :)

The giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry! International shipping costs are a bit prohibitive at the moment!) and be over the age of 18 or have parental permission to share their shipping address in the event that they win.

All you have to do to enter is be a follower through either Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin', and leave me a comment below with some requests/ideas for future posts you'd like to see on Rocaille Writes, or an existing post/series of posts you particularly enjoy. Please also share your email address or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you're the lucky winner.

The winner will be randomly chosen a week from now and announced on Twitter, as well as the bottom of this post. Good luck to all!

I confess: so far, I haven't bought any make-up this year. To be specific, I've only bought one beauty product thus far (Murad's Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum, mentioned here), so this post should probably be called 'The Anti Beauty Product Phase' - but well, that just didn't sound right and I'm all about catchy titles that actually reveal nothing of the forthcoming content (sometimes, anyway).

And this post isn't even about a make-up no-buy, which I'm NOT doing, by the way (so don't worry, I'll continue to blog about various beauty product discoveries!). In fact, it's about beauty products I've realized I don't need. Don't need, because I never use them, and have been able to satisfyingly cross out from all my beauty shopping lists. So, here are some categories of products I've eliminated, or I'm in the process of eliminating, from my beauty stash:

Foundation primers. I religiously reach for my NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base every time I wear eye make-up, but foundation primers are just so... meh. It might be that I just haven't found a game changer yet, but most of the time I just can't be bothered. You can see in the photo that I have a nice variety of samples to play with when I want to experiment, though I can't see myself actually purchasing a foundation primer for a very, very long time indeed.

Highlighters. I own two full-sized ones and some deluxe samples, and, uhm... almost never reach for them. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light (reviewed here) is definitely the best one I've ever tried and I like to apply a tiny bit here and there, but overall, I think I could really do without them; if need be, they could be easily replaced by a bit of highlighting eyeshadow, me thinks. I guess I'm lucky to have enough of my natural glow (shine, ekhem, ekhem...) to cover most of my highlighting needs.

Also a controversial omission from my make-up routine: eyelash curlers. I do own a great pair from Shiseido (raved about here) but I've come to realize I don't actually need them - my lashes have a natural curl to them! Adding the extra step of curling just makes them look strangely crimped, causes mascara transfer on my browbone, and makes them more brittle over time. So eyelash curlers... maybe not for everyone after all?

Lip liners. Fussy, drying, superfluous. I don't know you guys, I haven't actually noticed my lipstick ever bleeding outside my lip lines, and when I want a defined, long-lasting lip, I just carefully apply my lipstick with a brush, blot, apply again. I just can't be bothered to match a lip liner to all of my favorite bold lipsticks, and I can't be bothered with the extra step. So there.

And on the topic of lips - lip scrubs. I mean... just why exactly do we buy them? You can do all your lip exfoliating with a soft toothbrush, or a Q-tip dipped in some lip balm, or your regular face scrub, or like me, a damp towel. Or hey, you could even make your own scrub with some sugar and base oil. Why do we feel convinced that we need to add a lip scrub to our already lengthy beauty routines?

Self tanners. I know more of you are in the same boat with me - I embrace my pale skin. Gosh darn it, not even a full bottle of self tanner is going to turn me into a bronze goddess anyway; not with my coloring! I like bronzers for adding a subtle warmth to my face, and even with diligent applications of sunscreen, my body usually manages to get some sun in the warm months, and I think that's enough for me. The only time I feel like I could use some gradual self tanner is when I expose my white shins to the world for the first couple times in the spring - but these two samples you see here, mixed in with some body lotion, should be enough to last me the upcoming season at least.

Speaking of body care, I also don't use shaving cream - I actually don't have any to show you, because I don't remember the last time I bought one. I just find it's such an easy product to substitute: you could use a moisturizing soap/shower gel for shaving, or a body lotion, or a hair conditioner, or something like coconut oil. Why multiply the already numerous bottles in the shower? Multitask your products is what I say.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my stash reducing thought process! Are there any products you have succesfully eliminated from your beauty routine? Also, check out Beauty Reductionista's take on things she doesn't buy or need!

While the Anti Make-up Phase is still going strong (and by the way, thank you for all the amazing comments - you guys are obviously my tribe!), I thought I'd entertain you with a little non-beauty favorites post, focusing on my favorite teas and dark chocolate bars of the moment. Because let's face it: if I don't blog about them now, there soon will be nothing left to blog about in the first place :)

You may know from my '30 Random Facts About Me' post that I'm a discerning coffee drinker, but I actually drink more tea than coffee, and my tea consumption reaches about 4 mugs a day in the depths of winter - I just like hot drinks in my cold, cold belleh! I do try to moderate my caffeine intake, so some of the teas you'll see here are of the herbal variety. Recently, my husband also got me really into dark chocolate (I used to be a milk chocolate kind of girl, and Lindt's bars are still among my favorites) and now a nice hot cup of tea with some dark chocolate is my all-round favorite treat.

Let's start with the ever-so-popular David's Tea. One of the benefits of moving to New York is that we now have access to a physical David's Tea store and are able to smell all the goodies in person. My general impression of David's is that while they do have some wonderfully tasty teas, unfortunately some of the varieties they carry smell better than they taste (looking at you, chamomile-laden Mango Lassi!), but you know, there's always a bit of trial and error with previously untested teas.

David's Tea Organic Cream of Earl Grey (black tea with vanilla and bergamot flavor) is my ultimate favorite for the mornings. I think Earl Grey is a bit like Marmite in that some people love it and some people hate it, but if you enjoy this classic variety, try to hunt down something with a touch of vanilla as well. I also like Adagio Tea's Earl Grey Moonlight, which has the same taste profile.

Next up, a little night time treat: David's Tea Jessie's Tea, which is a rooibos blend with coconut and lavender. Jessie's Tea is a case of something that sounds pretty weird on paper, but tastes really good in reality - you get the slightly sweet, grassy notes of rooibos, creaminess of coconut and a bit medicinal, relaxing lavender finish.

Lastly from David's Tea, the unassumingly-named Citron Oolong. We bought it to replace sadly discontinued seasonal Tangerine green tea, and I love it just as much. Oolong ('black dragon' in Chinese) is a variety that sits somewhere in between green and black tea, and this blend is scented with jasmine (those are actual jasmine flowers you can see in the photo!), lemon myrtle and citrus essences. I'd also like a matchng perfume, please.

Now for an old favorite: Adagio Tea's Thai Chai. It's a comforting, warming black chai tea blended with coconut, lemongrass, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. This particular blend differs from most chai teas in that it has the light freshness of coconut and lemongrass. I don't usually take my tea with milk, but I find that this benefits from a little splash to mellow out the spice and bring out the Thai flavors.

Now for the newest favorite: Mountain Rose Herbs Hibiscus High Tea. This is obviously an herbal tea (or what the French like to call 'tisane') - a blend of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, mint, rose petals and orange peel. It tastes sweet, fresh, fruity, slightly cooling with lemongrass and mint; I actually need to try it as iced tea, I bet it would be pretty fantastic. It's a good substitute for fruit juice in the winter months, but quite difficult to get hold of (only available online from Mountain Rose Herbs store, and I found the shipping to be pretty extortionate), so I might move on to a diffrent hibiscus infusion after I finish this box.

Time for dark chocolate noms! Gourmet dark chocolate can get very expensive very quickly, so here's a little online shopping tip: I get my dark chocolate bars from Vitacost (this is my referral link, if you care for it*) - I find their prices a lot lower than any grocery store around me, Whole Foods included, and they have a very nice selection of fair trade, single origin, oftentimes organic dark chocolate. Their customer service is pretty outstanding and they have lightning fast shipping!

Madécasse is a Madagascar chocolate brand we've been buying for a long time now. My older favorite is Citrus & Pink Pepper (63% pure cocoa) for it's bright, subtle spiciness, but now I've been cheating on it with Sea Salt & Nibs (63% cocoa) - it's a bit bolder, less sweet, with the delightful saltiness and crunchy texture from cacao nibs. Yum! Husband also really likes hot Cinnamon & Chili Pepper variety.

Our favorite inexpensive discovery: Equal Exchange Chocolates in Organic Very Dark Chocolate (71% cacao content) and Organic Panama Extra Dark (80% cacao). I used to dislike very dark chocolate because I often found a strange bitter/sour taste to it; these two have none of that, just super intense, concentrated cocoa flavor with a hint of vanilla bean. You really have to let a piece melt in your mouth a bit to savour all the amazing chocolate-ness of these... no rushing! Between the two of us, we go through a couple bars a week.

Let's wrap this up with a little bonus treat - my current favorite pastry. This is Tarte Framboise Meringuée from Maison Eric Kayser bakery here in New York. So far, I've found this international bakery chain to be the only one to properly execute a French tarte pastry; the crust has to be buttery and uhm, crusty, and this version (not to be confused with the regular Tarte Framboise, which comes with vanilla cream filling and no meringue) has a sweet and sour lemon cream, meringue AND fresh raspberries on top. Simply indulgent. Get their Torte de Meule, a large sourdough bread, and some Mini Cereales bread rolls while you're there.

Let me know in the comments your favorite teas and dark chocolate of the moment, or any other treat for that matter! I love discovering new things through your suggestions, and I need to replete my stocks pretty soon :) Also, if you're craving more tea reviews, especially of the bagged variety, check out my older tea favorites right here.

*Disclaimer: If you use my referral link to make a purchase at Vitacost.com, we will both receive a $10 coupon off of a minimum $30 purchase. You don't have to use my link - but it IS a nice deal. I'm not affiliated with or sponsored byVitacost, I just genuinely like their service.

Oh, Buxom. Buxom, Buxom, Buxom. You and your lip glosses... I've mentioned before that I'm more of a lipstick than a lipgloss gal, and then I'm DEFINITELY not into shimmery glosses - but I'll make an exception for you, Buxom Full-On Lip Polish formula! Yes, you're THAT good. (I'm not alone in talking to my lip products, am I? Am I?!)

The Full-On Lip Polish ($19 for 0.15 oz, deluxe sample size pictured here) shimmery lip glosses are one of three gloss formulas available from Buxom; the other two being the non-sparkly Full-On Lip Creams (I've raved about the shade 'Cherry Flip' here) and the shimmery, but non-tingly Full-Bodied Lip Gloss, which I've yet to try. Both of the Full-On lines claim to have a gentle plumping effect, on top of being smooth, shiny and moisturizing with hyaluronic spheres and Vitamins A & E.

The plumping effect manifests itself via slightly tingly, but mostly cooling sensation on the lips, which lasts for about an hour on my pout. Interestingly, the Full-On Lip Polish does not smell minty/mentholated - it actually has the most delicious scent of crème brûlée when applied to the lips. It comes with a standard, fuzzy doe foot applicator that deposits just enough gloss to cover my entire lips. The gloss smooths over any vertical lip lines, gives intense shine, hugs the lips for a non-sticky, cushiony feel. It's so, so comfortable! The micro shimmer feels weightless and non-gritty, my usual pet-peeve with any shimmery/glittery lip product.

'Dolly', the shade of a deluxe sample I received with some Sephora order, is a warm pink mauve shot through with delicate golden shimmer. I refused to try this gloss for a while because I thought this shade would be all wrong on me (too brown, too frosty...) - but it's actually very pretty! It's definitely in the 'My Lips But Better' family and on me adds a hint of depth and warmth to my paler, cooler lips. The fine gold sparkle adds some dimension without being too noticeable.

Clockwise from the top: MAC Viva Glam V, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up, Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige

L-R: Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige, Maybelline Warm Me Up, MAC Viva Glam V

As for the moisturizing claims: the Buxom Full-On formula so far has been one of the most easy and comfortable lip gloss I've ever tried, tied only with the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector. It's obviously not as moisturizing as a lip balm but does not dry out my lips in any way. The wear time is standard for a gloss, meaning it doesn't withstand earing or drinking, but doesn't wear off or fade otherwise. Gosh, I'm now kicking myself for not picking up one of the holiday mini sets Sephora releases every year! Maybe next December...

Have you tried Buxom Full-On gloss formula? What is your Holy Grail lip gloss?

For the past two months or so, I'd noticed the condition of my skin gradually deteriorating into the hormonal, congested, flaky, irritated territory. I was at a loss - I was already using gentle, quality skincare products, taking supplements, spending time pampering my skin; surely there's little more a woman can do, right? Wrong! About a week ago I chanced upon an old 'Routines Cheat Sheet' by the indelible Mrs Hirons (whom I've adored and silently stalked on social media for what... 4 years now? Holla, #TBT!) and it spurred me to really fine-tune my skincare routine. Mind you, it's not that I didn't read the cheat sheet when Caroline first posted it... but turns out, I didn't really really read it.

So here's a little overview of my skincare bad habits, some changes I've already introduced into my routine and more changes I hope to incorporate in the near future. I'm already seeing results from these tiny tweaks: my skin is calmer, less red and congested, plumper and more hydrated. I'm hoping there's something here you too might have overlooked and could change in your skincare routine!

1. Cleansing. If there's just one thing Caroline will impress on you, it's the importance of properly cleansing your skin. We're talking absolutely no foaming cleansers, nice balmy textures applied on dry skin, removed with a hot washcloth (stupidly in the past, I thought she was referring to flannels as an actual fabric... and bought some baby flannel wipes that I still need to replace with just your plain old terry washcloths), as well as double cleansing. I have chucked most foaming face washes a while ago but I sometimes failed at double cleansing and using a cloth to remove it all, like when I'm using my TATCHA One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. I'll now make sure to always remove it properly, and follow up with another cleanser (currently the Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe) when I'm wearing make-up and sunscreen... and really throw that cloth in the wash when I'm done with it.

2. Toning. Incorporating an exfoliating toner into my routine has probably been one of the best things I've ever done for my skin. But, I'd fallen a bit behind since I first started using my Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner; Caroline suggests using one twice a day, morning and night, but due to some dryness and irritation, I'd been using it only at night. I now think that maybe I actually wasn't nourishing my skin enough afterwards, and also I might be sensitive to the grapefruit extract in the product (which is why I'll be replacing it with another acid toner in the near future). In the mornings, I've now started to mix a little bit of the MB Glycolic Acid Toner with some of the La Roche-Posay Physiological Soothing Toner, and I have to say my skin is now brighter, evened out and much less congested, without the redness I was getting previously.

3. Hydrating serum. Well... I just didn't always apply a serum, to be perfectly honest. If I was using the Murad Pigment Lightening Serum at night, I'd skip it for fear of the serum interfering with the efficacy of the lightening product. In the mornings, I'd skip it for fear of getting shiny too quickly and overloading my skin. Yet, I was still getting dry patches and flakes. Now, I've started to use this Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Moisturizing Concentrate for Very Dehydrated Sensitive Skin every morning, and I layer it over the Murad hyperpigmentation treatment at night, or alternate them every other day. So far, no flakes!

4. Facial massage. Following Caroline's recommendation, I got this little facial massager from The Body Shop, and use it in the evenings with my second cleanser. I haven't noticed any results from it quite yet, but it's quite fun and pleasant to use - the knobbly bits really feel like they're doing something extra compared to just massaging your skin with a cleanser in circular motions with your hands. I'm hoping the massage will help drain some of the toxins causing deep breakouts on my neck, jawline and chin.

5. Supplements. I've been taking fish oil capsules on and off for about a year now, but now I'm trying to step up my game and make sure I'm taking it every single day. Another supplement I'd like to try in the near future is quercetin, which Caroline recommended for acne-prone skin. From what I've gathered, quercetin is a natural, plant-derived antioxidant that may help with inflammation as well as allergies; in fact, some people call it 'the natural anti-histamine'. I'm planning on getting the Quercetin & Bromelain capsules from Vitacost (referral link) next time I place an order.

6. Other tweaks. I used to always apply my eye cream as the last step in my routine; however, even small amounts of serum or moisturizer may prevent it from being absorbed fully, thus making it less efficient. Now I try to make sure I whack it on as the very first step. I also focus on bringing my skincare down onto my neck; because firstly, I do get some breakouts just under my jawline that could use some exfoliating, and secondly because I want to ensure it's getting some anti-aging action - nobody wants a smooth, unwrinkled face and a lined, sagging neck! I've also kind of gotten away from using spot treatments - I feel like they weren't helping much to actually heal the spot, they were just making the area dry and flaky. Now when I see a spot coming up, I smear some tamanu oil on it to soothe the angry offender.

That's it for now; obviously, my skincare routine is ALWAYS a work in progress, so I'll be introducing more changes in the future, especially by way of replacing some products here and there. I still need to find some good exfoliating toner options to alternate (I'm thinking of trying REN's Clarifying Toning Lotion and First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, which are currently on their way to me!), as well as a lighter cream/milk cleanser to use in the mornigs (maybe REN's Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk, or Anthony Logistics for Men Glycolic Facial Cleanser?). I'll definitely review new products as I try them, well if they're worth mentioning anyway.

Have you introduced any changes into your skincare routine recently?

It's such a stunning, warm, sunny, SPRINGY day today in New York City! I don't care that it's going to be below freezing tomorrow again, for now I'm definitely feeling spring - so I whipped up a semi-simple angelic white Face Of The Day to share with you.

White eye make-up is very much in at the moment, and while usually I can't really be bothered with trends, I thought this was quite 'me'... and a chance to feature a previously undiscussed Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Sugar Frost. You might remember from my older review of the shade 'Grey Pearl' (clickety click!) that I'm a huge fan of the Caviar Stick formula, and 'Sugar Frost' is no different; although compared to Grey Pearl, the texture is a bit less refined and the finish more frosted. On its own, it does give a beautiful, glossy, almost 'wet' look to the lids though, and has since made its way into my current make-up rotation.

For this delicate eye look, I decided to use 'Sugar Frost' as a base on the mobile lid, and a tiny dab in the inner corners. I then applied the shade 'Virgin' from the Urban Decay Naked 1 palette over the Caviar Stick on the lid, and very lightly defined my crease with 'Naked'from the same palette. For my pop of pure white, I pressed some NYX Single Eyeshadow in 'White Pearl' on the inner corners and on the centre of the lid above my pupil, blending out the edges. I finished the eyes with a generous coat of Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in Black.

On the rest of my face, I'm wearing Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum foundation (reviewed here), BECCA Dual Compact Concealer on blemishes and the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque under my eyes. I applied some NYX Powder Blush in Angel (sic!) onto my cheeks and set the whole face with Make Up For Ever HD Powder. Lastly, I applied a couple swipes of Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink (more swatches here) on my lips and tapped the color in with my finger for a more natural finish.

L-R: NYX White Pearl eyeshadow, Urban Decay Virgin, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost, NYX Powder Blush in Angel, Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink

This look is a bit of a throwback for me - in highschool, I used to apply the exact shade of white pearl eyeshadow to highlight the inner corners of my eyes almost every single day. Nowadays, I feel that pure white can be a bit too much for everyday, although with my current very pale skin, I can almost pull it off. I wouldn't however recommend using a pure white eyeshadow if you're much darker than me, unless you're going for a more mod/rocker look. I also completely skipped eyeliner, because I felt that would look too harsh against the white and the eyes would lose some of that subtle, dreamy quality. In this version, I opted for light, cooler pinks on the rest of the face, but I think the white eyes would also look fantastic with a light peach cheek/lip combo.

Have you tried wearing the white eye look already? What is your favorite spring make-up trend?

I haven't shared any nail swatches in a while, right? Well, you might remember that in January, I decided to give my nails a break from constant polishing to see if it would help with breakage and general dryness. What resulted, however, was a little bit different from what I expected - without the extra protective layer of base coat + nail polish + top coat, some of my nails started breaking even worse! You know, kinda like when you get this tiny crack at the side of your nail that's sticking out, and then it catches on something, and before you notice half of your fingernail is GONE. Yeah, that.

So I obviously decided to stop that nonsense and went right back to painting on some pretty pretty early spring shades.

Essie Nail Color in Chinchilly, two coats. A cult classic for a reason. Chinchilly replaced a bottle of Essie Hot Coco in my collection; while Hot Coco was a bit too warm and brown on me, Chinchilly has a perfectly cool purple undertone. I accented my ring nail with a coat of Zoya Jules, a taupe with gold shimmer.

A sparkling snowy manicure for the last days of winter! This is Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish in Calla Lily (three coats), topped with one coat of Zoya Nail Lacquer in Mosheen from their Winter 2013 collection. Mosheen is such a cool shade: a very sheer light blue base with small opalescent glitters and larger light blue bar glitters. On top of the Revlon shade, it brought out some yellow undertones in my nails I wasn't overly fond of, but now I really want to try it again on top of blue or some darker shade nail polish.

And Zoya strikes again! This beautiful medium orchid purple with white gold shimmer is Zoya Nail Lacquer in Hudson (two coats) from the Spring 2014 collection. I actually won this plus one other shade in Zoya's weekly Twitter giveaway, Tune Tuesday (you can learn more about it here). I definitely recommend checking their giveaway out - it's a lot of fun, and who can say no to some new Zoya polishes?

Lastly, a quintessential warm weather shade - Essie Nail Color in In The Cab-Ana from last year's Resort collection (two coats). This medium turquoise blue (it appears lighter in my photo) was a little thick for my liking, which caused some gaps and dragging, but overall applied opaque in two coats and has lasted with just some tip wear for six days now. This is actually my first time wearing this shade and I like it a lot more than I thought I would!

What nail polish shades do you favor this time of the year?

Happy First Day of Spring! Still going strong on that make-up low-buy, peeps - which also means my wishlist is growing exponentially. Making wishlists is a great way of keeping your beauty spending in check; it's like bookmarking products for later consideration so you can avoid impulse buying and focus on things you really want (no, I mean - really really want. Including every new limited edition collection does NOT help). If your current lemming is still high on that list after a couple months - great, it might actually be worth treating yourself to. I might be alone in this, but adding things to my wishlist, deleting things, editing, rewriting, umming and aaahing over it - in short, delaying gratitude - makes me appreciate my new products a lot more when I decide it's finally time to pull the trigger. Plus, I can also shop around and wait for the best deal.

So here's a look at what's on top of my skincare & make-up wishlist at the moment:

1. By Terry Rouge Terrybly Age Defence Lipstick in Torrid Rose #303 ($49.50 for 0.12 oz/ 3.5g)
I've only ever sampled a face moisturizer from By Terry, but the brand is widely known for its fantastic lip products, with Rouge Terrybly formula coming highly recommended by many of my favorite blogging pals. Torrid Rose looks like a gorgeous deep rose pink, bright but not too much for every day. Not gonna lie though, I'm absolutely balking at the price - so I'm not going to buy unless I can find a nice deal.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads ($45 for 60 pads)
I'm still on the hunt for the best acid exfoliant for my skin - and while I've recently tried the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads and I'm in LOVE, I'd like to compare these ones from Peter Thomas Roth (both are Caroline Hirons' approved) so I can get back to you with my favorites. I originally wanted to save on these by getting the almost $10 cheaper Complexion Correction Pads but a quick look at the ingredients list convinced me otherwise; the latter are loaded with alcohol and an artificial peach bellini scent, so Un-Wrinkle it is.

3. Chantecaille Lip Chic ($35 for 2 g)
Again, on recommendation from some fabulous bloggers - and apparently, Chantecaille's best-selling lipstick formula. Lip Chics claim to be emollient, comfortable and glossy, with collagen for plump but not stinging lips. I haven't quite decided on the shade, but I like the look of Sunrise, a bright coral-pink, or Rose Delice, a bright pink.

4. Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Ash Blonde ($26 for 0.3 oz)
I have actually just finished my eyebrow pencil, and the drugstore replacement by Revlon is just not the right shade. Gummy has recently put the Precision Brow to the test and liked it, and I've never tried anything from Kevyn Aucoin... so why not? The capless design seems a bit scary, but hey ho, living on the edge, and all that shiz.

5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly ($29 for 0.22 oz/ 6 ml)
'Cause I've run out of the darn concealer as well. Kind of (says she, picking through three unsatisfactory back-ups at the bottom of the drawer). Though in all seriousness, my BECCA Dual Coverage Compact Concealer might be on its last legs - I still have plenty remaining in the pan, but lately the texture seems dry as a bone, and looks even drier on the skin. So you know. The NARS is a necessity. Or at least justifiable.

6. Paul & Joe Face Powder S, Secret Garden ($45 for 1.2 oz)
Now here's something that's completely UNjustifiable - I have way too many face powders, including the somewhat recent acquisition of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused. But... look at all the BIRDZ!!! And the pastel pretty BALLZ! I haz to have them *closes website for fear of accidentally adding them to the cart and speeding through the online checkout*

7. Kahina Giving Beauty 100% Organic Argan Oil ($36 for 30ml)
I'd be totally skeptical about paying this much for pure argan oil if I haven't tried a sample of this Kahina one - it absorbed like a dream, giving me beautiful, even-toned, glowing skin in the morning. This paired with FAB Facial Radiance Pads gave me a couple days of some of the best skin I've had in a long time, and that's something I don't say easily. I don't know, you guys - I might cheap out and get a less expensive brand, like Aura Cacia. Or I might not. It's amazing, anyway.

8. Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow Refill in Iridescent Pink ($15, available in 25 shades)
Driveller Kate dedicated an entire post to Shu Uemura glitter eyeshadows, and while most shades she featured are discontinued/unavailable in the US, this is the single one that we can still get our grubby little mitts on. And so I shall, one day - I might also try some other favorites from this previously unexplored brand; I hear from Larie their lipsticks are also amazing.

9. Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BE213 Nude ($33 for 1 oz)
Another brand I've never tried anything from - and again, beauty blogger recommended. I've been on a very subtle eye make-up kick, and I think this should fit the bill nicely. Speaking of Japanese eyeshadows, I would love to check out Suqqu eyeshadow quads some day, but I just can't stomach the Ichibankao mark-up or the Selfridges.com shipping fee; so in the meantime, I'd be more than happy to experiment with Shiseido.

Ooof, that's a lot of wants - all that wishlist dissecting has really made me hungry. You might notice a prevalence of high-end and luxury brands, as well as some Japanese inclinations; I guess this year I'd really like to try products from brands formerly unbeknownst to me, and since the number of my purchases has drastically decreased, I don't mind paying more for the few things that look interesting.

What's on your current beauty wishlist?

This is going to be a bit of a different post - so if you're not a blogger yourself, or actively involved in the beauty blogging community, the following might not be of any interest. But for those in a similar conundrum: the blogging blahs have settled, and in my experience if I don't air out whatever is currently bothering me, there may be here for good. So here are some random observations about the state of the beauty blogging union, and my place in all of this.

When I started this blog back in 2009, blogosphere was very much a different beast altogether. Reading blogs was still a relatively niche past-time, being a blogger was very alternative - or simply weird for non-blogging people. Blogs seemed more personal, and intimate, and the community was tight but open to newcomers. That's why it was so enticing to be a part of it; I wanted a space to let the creative juices flow and show my point of view, and I wanted likeminded friends to discuss all things beauty. To a lot of you, it might still be the case - but I feel like something HAS changed.

In 2014, many of those beauty blogs are now competitive buisnesses. Sure, businesses with a strong focus on writing, product photography and social media presence - but so are women's magazines. It's all about the New! Just Released! Limited Edition!, PR samples, press events. Churning out swatches and a review the minute you lay your eyes on a product, because it's all about who can be the fastest, who has the freshest trend. Posts at different blogs featuring a newly released product come all at the same time like a huge wave, and it's really rather interesting (dare I say, annoying?) to see five subsequent Instagram photos from different bloggers featuring the exact same eyeshadow palette that has just landed on their doorsteps. The more posts and YouTube videos about the same product, the more hype around the product, the more people are frantically trying to purchase, now now now, before it's gone.

Now, for a necessary disclaimer: I absolutely do not begrudge successful bloggers' success, or the fact that they have been able to make a career out of something they love. I also understand that what beauty blogs focus on are essentially commercial products, and so brand relationships form and have to be maintained. But - it IS walking a thin line between being truthful to yourself and fearing a cold shoulder from a big company, and no amount of disclaimers is going to change it. Some pull it off with more aplomb than the others, and that's were my readership preferences lay - but that's something you absolutely have to judge by yourself.

What I'm trying to say is that the beauty blogosphere is not what it used to be, and I don't regard is as something pejorative - call it progress or necessary evil, it just is what it is. My feeling though is that in the new blogging landscape, there's a certain paradigm choice to be made: are you going with your own flow, or are you going with the crowd? What's your focus? New collections, swatches and lightning fast reviews, or staying true to your unique perspective, true time-tested favorites, less popular products that really work and deserve a mention? I'm going to be quite blunt: the latter approach is not going to generate as many page views, or give you as many readers - you know, what most people would call blogging success. But is carving your own niche worth it for YOU?

It is worth it for me. I'm not a big player - there, I said it. What I get from beauty blogging are not free samples of the newest products, invitations to press events, external motivation in the form of readers and page ranks; although I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the rare brand outreach, or am not overjoyed over gaining new followers or seeing some nice stats for the month (thank you!!!). The reason I have been blogging for so long and do not intend to quit (come on, I'd be like abandoning my own baby!) is that I get a tremendous satisfaction from the very process of creating, from post ideas, through product photography, to actual writing - about something I love and feel passionate about. And still, the sense of community: so many wonderful readers, friends on and offline. You really are my tribe.

Practically, it means that you won't see many newest product releases, reviews and swatches here on Rocaille Writes. That might be a disappointment to some of you - and I understand. But from what my gut is telling me (and from what I can gather from your very enthusiastic response to the Anti Make-up Phase post), a lot of you are not here for it. What you will see on Rocaille Writes are products I'm truly enthusiastic about, be it old or new, from small or big brands, product comparisons so you don't need to spend your hard earned cash on everything that gets the hype, my own interpretations of current trends, thoughts on the blogging process, quality over quantity of posts, my struggles, experiments, randomness; whatever is on my mind as a writer. If I'm not going to sit with the popular girls because of that - so be it.

And yes, observing the current state of the beauty blogosphere can sometimes be quite depressing, and frustrating, and blogging blahs-inducing; but we shall withstand the storms and persevere. And maybe try not to look at those stats too often, and not compare myself - in the end, I can only be me, but I strive to be the best me that I can. Love you, my unique, fearless, no-bullshit readers. Friends.

Switching to quarterly instead of bimontly empties posting schedule can only mean one thing... I have LOTS of finished products to show you! They didn't even all fit in the frame --->

I think this may be the biggest empties post I've done to date, and I believe two factors contributed to the amount of empty bottles: obviously, the longer timeframe, but also an accumulation of nearly finished products I had laying around that finally gave up the ghost. Due to the sheer number of products here, I'll only highlight the best and the worst for the sake of your sanity - and patience! Let's dig right in!

Skincare. Click through for my reviews of: REN ClearCalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser, Dermalogica Ultracalming Mist, Devita Solar Protection Moisturizer SPF 30, Nuxe Reve de Miel Nourishing Lip Balm, Murad Rapid Age Spot Lightening Serum with 2% Hydroquinone.
Products I enjoyed and would repurchase: REN ClearCalm3 Cleanser, Devita Moisturizer SPF 30, Nuxe Reve de Miel (my HG lip balm), Murad Rapid Age Spot Lightening Serum, CeraVe PM Facial Lotion.

Hair and bodycare. Click through for the review of Deep Steep Bubble Bath and Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Concentrated Cream.
Products I enjoyed and would repurchase: Deep Steep Bubble Bath, Palmer's Concentrated Cream, Pureology Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (so far, my favorite volumizing haircare duo!), Enjoy Hydrating Conditioner.
Products I disliked: The Fortune Cookie Soap Body Butters (I've tried a couple different scents - wasn't fan of the fragrances and the butters rolled and felt sticky on the skin), L'Occitane Pate Amande Body Scrub (reminded me of the St Ives Apricot Scrub but for the body), Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo (weird lingering scent + felt very heavy and dirty in my hair... but did volumize!), Philosophy Happy Birthday Beautiful! shower gel (awful, plasticky, synthethic vanilla scent + drying formula), Dove Go Fresh antiperspirant (balled up on the skin, staining shirts and extremely difficult to wash off... any recommendations, ladies?)

Make-up. Click through for reviews of the Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder SPF50 and a very old mention of Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliners.
Products I enjoyed but wouldn't repurchase: Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara (so expensive!), Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer (overall, disliked the squeezy brush applicator and started to look too dry towards the end of my tube), Prestige Powerful Purple eyeliner (applied beautifully when new, after a couple months started to dry out and flake off the eyes), ybf Universal Eyebrow Pencil.
Products I disliked: cheap Coastal Scents Flat Foundation Brush (tried to glue the handle back in numerous times and it always falls off, low quality of bristles), Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder SPF50 (discontinued, very low coverage, quite dry on the skin, doesn't exactly provide a high level of sun protection despite its claims).

Perfume samples. No reviews here and no absolute must-haves that I'll purchase any time soon, with the exception of Prada Candy Eau de Parfum that I've had for about two years now - the sample came in handy when traveling. I did enjoy Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne for a fresh, citrusy, feminine soliflore, felt quite meh about Diptyque Volutes, Thierry Mugler Alien EDP (much prefer Angel) and Haus of Gloi Troika perfume oil (nice bath product scent but wouldn't wear it all day), and absolutely hated Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh EDT.

You know, I'm quite proud of myself - but also can't believe how much space all of these were taking in various drawers and cupboards! Even though it feels great to let go of these products, I still have so many backups to use up that I can't even contemplate purchasing anything new at the moment - well, except for the dry shampoo.

How have you been doing on the empties front? Also, let me know if you have any more questions about any of the products you saw here, I'd be happy to help!

I also kind of wanted to title this post 'Ugliest name, prettiest shade' - I mean, really, Celery?! I hate celery. But I love this shade, so that's what it's going to be all about today; plus another idea on how to incorporate spring pastel-ish shades into everyday make-up looks.

I'm actually stretching the truth a bit here; bareMinerals Eyecolor in Celery ($14 for 0.57g/ 0.02 oz) isn't exactly a pastel shade, and it certainly isn't mint. Celery is more of a light shimmery sage green; it has a grey rather than white base. But because it's such a light shade, it does work quite similarly to pastel shades - I would go as far as to claim that it might work better for those who struggle with pastels, and from what I hear, it's very many of you.

I don't have much more to say about the quality/texture of the bareMinerals Eyecolors (you can check out this post for my thoughts), apart from the fact that I cannot fault this one and found the complex shimmer quite stunning, but not overwhelmingly blingy; you can see it quite well in my indirect light vs. full sunshine arm swatches.

Contrary to my previous look that featured a pastel purple shade (Lancome's Evermore Lilac) in a very prominent fashion all over the lid, I've used Celery sparingly as an inner corner highlight. I think this is probably the easiest way to try wearing pastel shades - the sage green is still visible but the overall look is more neutral than anything. I've used a warm rosey taupe (Inglot no. 402 Pearl) all over the lid, blended up to the crease as well as on the lower lashline, and a matte dark grey (Inglot no. 348 Matte) lightly in the outer corners. I finished the look with a thin line of dark brown pencil liner (Annabelle Smudgeliner in Rich Chocolate) and a generous coat of black mascara (Covergirl Lash Blast Volume).

Lastly, a quick shopping tip: I would really encourage you to sign up for Bare Escentuals e-newsletter. They sometimes email particularly nice offers, including some free products with no purchase necessary, which is how I scored Celery, and recently a deluxe sample of their Lash Domination mascara (am I the only one who wants to call it Lash Abomination?!). I won't say no to free make-up, peeps.

Some pretty green beauty things, because I didn't have any eyeshadows remotely similar to Celery to compare the shade depth. Clockwise: bdellium Tools Green Bamboo Brush no. 975, bareMinerals Celery, Gucci Gracious Tuberose EDT mini, Orly Mini Nail Polish in Gumdrop, Fyrinnae Eyeshadows in Enchanting Otters and Electric Stardust, L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald.

Have you been incorporating some pastel shades into your eye looks recently? Any favorites I need to add to my list?

I've mentioned in passing recently that I had kind of stopped using spot treatments on a regular basis; well, with a discovery of a new product, I have picked it up again. This new favorite also spurred me to mentally catalogue all the other spot treatments I've tried over the years of battling acne, and compare the various types featuring different key ingredients and their effectiveness on my skin; very much like I did in this Overview of Spot Treatments post from over 2 years ago, but with updated products. As always, your experience may vary - but hopefully you'll find some new product ideas if breakouts are still the bane of your existence.

I've selected one specific product for each active ingredient, but I'll also give examples of other products with the same active and link to more detailed reviews where possible. Let's start with something I'm sure every acne sufferer must have tried at least once in their life:

Benzoyl Peroxide: Coral Actives Penetrating Acne Serum Gel with 6% Benzoyl Peroxide ($22.95 for 1 fl. oz/30 ml). When I first started experiencing acne breakouts in my teens, the first thing my dermatologist aunt prescribed me was a BP cream (but lower concentrations are available over the counter, as in the product shown). Benzoyl Peroxide generally works by killing acne bacteria on the skin's surface and speeding up cell turnover; quite a straightforward mechanism. However in my experience, BP never worked very well for my breakouts; it has helped somewhat with small bumps on my forehead, but never with pustules or cystic acne, which is what I primarily suffer with these days. It is also quite irritating and using it every day, or reapplying frequently, as you would a spot treatment, will cause dryness and peeling. Personally, this is my least favorite breakout-banishing active ingredient, but if it works for you, products like Bioelements Breakout Control Emergency Blemish Lotion or Clean & Clear Persa-gel are another option; both are more irritating though than the Coral Actives Acne Serum Gel.

Sulfur: Mario Badescu Drying Cream ($14 for 0.5 oz, deluxe sample pictured here). Sulfur combats acne by sloughing off dead skin cells, and it's also a potent anti-inflammatory. The downside is that it smells (ashtray/rubber tires/eggs/farts are just a few things it's most often compared to), and it is quite drying on the skin. It does work on deep down cystic blemishes over the course of a few days, but always leaves a dry, flaky patch that's quite difficult to conceal. I also like to apply it on a naughtily popped blemish to calm down the inflammation (sorry - gross), but overall haven't reached for it in quite a long time now. Other options: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion or De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment.

Tea Tree Essential Oil: Desert Essence 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil ($11.99 for 1 fl. oz, available in three sizes). Tea Tree Essential Oil is a powerful antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory ingredient. In a 2012 study by National Health Institutes, 5% of TTEO has been shown to be as effective in treating mild to moderate acne as 5% benzoyl peroxide. It's a matter of discussion whether tea tree eo can be applied neat to the skin or whether it should always be diluted to avoid irritation - I'd recommend doing a patch test and treading with care if you're sensitive. For me personally, pure tea tree essential oil doesn't prove very effective, but I do quite like it as an ingredient in more complex formulations. Other options to try: many other essential oils have antiseptic properties, most notably lavender essential oil - especially nice if you dislike the scent of tea tree.

Natural Base Oils + Essential Oils Blends: Osmia Organics Spot Treatment* ($20 for 0.16 oz, official packaging looks different - my now sadly gone bottle was a press sample). An oil-based spot treatment blends various essential oils with vegetable oils (if you're confused, read my post on oils here) for a natural, gentler acne-fighting alternative; Osmia's version combines lavender, cajeput, lemon, parsley, thyme, cypress and rosemary in a base of evening primrose oil. It works very well on soothing red, angry bumps without drying out the skin, but it's not the fastest solution in the world, and the oily texture works best overnight. Still, I used every last drop of mine and now I'm sorely tempted to try my hand at a DIY oil spot treatment. Other option: Angel Face Botanicals Blemish Soother.

Kaolin/ Bentonite Clay: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores ($17 for 1.7 fl. oz/ 50ml or $24 for 3.4 fl. oz/100ml). Clay masks are not spot treatments per se, but they do work quite well in soothing the skin and either supressing a newly forming spot, or bringing things to a head. I quite like to use the Origins Clear Improvement as a targeted blemish mask when I'm home alone (it's almost worse to scare your significant other with black blemishes rather than normal red ones), and it does speed up the recovery process when combined with other spot treatments - but again on its own, not the most effective on my skin. Other options: any clay-based face mask really, I also like this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay.

Salicylic Acid (BHA)/ Also AHAs or LHAs:Aesop Control ($23 for 0.2 fl oz). Salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, remains possibly the most recommended active ingredient for acne-prone skin. It works by not only sloughing off the top layer of skin, but also getting into the pore and helping to unclog it. Hydroxy acids are the most effective acne-fighting active ingredients for my skin, although finding a non-irritating formulation can be a bit of a struggle. Control by Aesop is my new favorite: a clear geal combining salicylic & lactic acid (AHA) with niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and sodium ascorbyl phosphate (stable, water-soluble form of Vitamin C) in a non-drying aloe vera base, it can be applied under or over make-up. It gently exfoliates the blemish away, soothes inflamed skin and helps with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks. I highly recommend trying this if you suffer from hormonal cystic acne. Other, less favored options: La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel.

Do you use spot treatments? Which active ingredients are the most effective on your skin?

Disclaimer: The product marked with asterix (*) is a press sample I received from Osmia Organics for review consideration. I purchased all the other products myself, or received them as a gift with purchase. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as a free press sample. Thank you for reading!

Time for the first progress check on my Project Make A Dent!

If you haven't heard about it yet, it's an idea originated by Lola at Lola's Secret Beauty Blog of challenging yourself to make a concentrated effort to use up or at least make a dent in certain make-up products you've selected from your collection - but not at the exclusion of using other items. Here's how I'm doing at the end of the first quarter of 2014:

The photo above shows the usage on my chosen products when I joined the challenge. The photo below shows how much I've used up since:

Sorry, I seem unable to recreate exactly the same layout of products, or the same lighting conditions. But you get the gist.

You can certainly see quite a bit of usage on the Annabelle eyeliner pencil, and some progress on the two lipsticks. Also... can you see that tiny bit of pan winking at you from the Annabelle eyeshadow?! I know, very exciting. There isn't much observable progress on the blushes though - I was using both quite a bit but I think with blushes the progress is going to be rather slow. And before you get too excited, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation isn't missing from the photo because it's all used up, but rather it was easier to show the usage in this shot here. I have less than 1/5 of the bottle to go!

Overall, I think I'm doing all right - not amazingly well, but not terrible either. The part of the challenge I struggle with the most is trying to use my chosen products diligently, though without depriving myself of the rest of my make-up collection. I don't wear make-up every day, so making sure that I reach for the denting victims but still taking out other products for a spin is definitely hard - more so than I expected. Consequently, I can see a little bit of boredom creeping in, and I've been trying to remedy the feeling by mixing the project's products with some other items I own. I've been mixing two different shades of lipstick, layering eyeshadows, blending various foundations together... that way I'm still using things for the challenge, but I can change the shade depth and finish for more variety.

As a bonus, here's my everyday face using my chosen products. I've found that on its own, Bourjois Healthy Mix looks more even and doesn't cling to dry patches as much when used over a primer. I still think NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink is a fantastic, glowy, enlivening shade of blush for my skintone, and for the lips, I actually mixed the Rimmel's coral shade with the NYX Tea Rose.

What have been your most reached for products recently? And the ladies participating in Project Make A Dent, how are you doing?

It's a sign of a true beauty junkie to have a specific collection of products just for the bedside pampering, always within reach when you're all snuggled up in bed and ready to doze off. I'm pretty nosey and love to know what beauty products people keep at their nighstands, so I thought you lovely people may also be interested in what I use every day before bed.

First off - gotta take care of that dry and scaly bod'. I know it's probably more effective to moisturize your body right after you get out of the shower, while your skin is still damp; but truth is, I already spend way too much time in the bathroom on different ablutions, so I've moved that part of the routine to my bedside. I've been using The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter ($20 for 6.9 oz) for the past couple months and I really, really like it - smells like fresh nutty donuts. I also find it very moisturizing, but it absorbs quite easily, and doesn't get all over my sheets.

I don't slather my whole body in The Body Shop butter every night, so when I'm feeling lazy (most days), I just do my hands, knees and elbows using The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream ($20 for 100ml/ 3.3 fl oz). It's a pretty lightweight lotion that sinks in quickly, so when eczema strikes, I bring out the big guns - Neosalus Cream. It's a prescription moisturizer/ barrier cream that feels very tacky at first, but then absorbs fully into the skin, forming an invisible layer to seal in all the moisture. I realize that talking of Rx creams may not be super helpful to everyone, but I also know many of you struggle with extremely dry, itchy skin conditions, so maybe ask your dermatologist about it next time you're in for a visit - if you'd rather go the OTC route, I also recommend the CeraVe lotion.

For my dry, peeling cuticles, I like reaching for the Badger Organic Cuticle Care ($5.99 for 0.75 oz). It's a solid balm in the tin (by the way, how cute is that packaging?!) that melts into an oil on your skin, and smells absolutely amazing: like mandarin oranges, lemongrass & ginger. It does feel quite oily on the skin and doesn't sink in immediately, so I try to use it as the very last step before going to sleep. On my lips, I always use Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair ($22 for 0.28 oz); you can read my detailed review and comparison to Nuxe Reve de Miel over here.

Lastly, two sleep potions: a pillow spray and an oil rollerball. When I feel a bit anxious and have some trouble winding down from the day, I like to spray the Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Lavender Vanilla Pillow Mist ($10 for 5.3 oz) on our bedsheets. It's a sweet, comforting, almost creamy lavender, not too overbearing but the scent does linger on the linens for about an hour to two hours; I'd say it's a good alternative to more expensive pillow sprays, especially when you're not quite decided yet if it's a product you'll get a lot of use out of. For a more natural, essential oil option, I use the 21 Drops in 18 - Sleep ($29 for 8 ml/ 0.27 fl oz). It's a blend of sandalwood, ylang ylang, palmarosa and vetiver essential oils that you can roll onto your wrists, temples and sides of your neck to help with a racing mind and restlessness. I do think aromatherapy and scents in general can help evoke different emotional states, and breathing in this slightly spicy, sensual woodsy concoction aids in letting go of stressful, worried thoughts before hitting the hay.

Do you have your own little stash of products you like to use before drifting off? What are your favorites for a bedside pamper session?

A couple weeks ago, Mr and I felt that we couldn't take the East Coast winter temps anymore, and decided to escape for a weekend to the beautiful, sunny San Francisco, one of our favorite cities in the US. While in New York the temperatures were still well below freezing, and the snow was piling in dirty mounds on the sidewalks, I was planning a trip that included a stroll among blooming magnolias in the Botanical Garden, a visit to the Conservatory of Flowers with its stunning orchids and butterflies lazily floating in the air, and a lot of chocolate tasting at the 2014 International Chocolate Salon, which turned out to be even better by the inclusion of SF Annual Artisan Fragrance Salon, where I could not only (at long last!) catch up with Meredith of Seattle's Sweet Anthem, but also had the opportunity to meet Michael aka Mik of the San Fran's own MIKMOI Handmade Artisan Fragrance.

Long story short, I was very intrigued by MIKMOI's concept of fragrances inspired by Michael's world travels but also the journey of self-discovery, as well as the minimalist aesthetics, and was very kindly given the opportunity to try his EDP Sample Set*, which comes with a chic MIKMOI Himo Scent Bracelet ($30 for a set of four sample sprays).

The Japanese-inspired presentation is gorgeous: a white matchbox stamped with the fragrances' symbols has four generous spray vials nestled safely inside, and my favorite of all, there's also a simple black and white rope bracelet included. Michael explained to me that on the occasions when you'd prefer not to wear his EDPs on the skin (strict work environment, allergies, wanting to change your fragrance from day to night, or layering scents), the knot on the bracelet can be sprayed directly, making it into a scented piece of jewelry. I instantly thought the idea was very interesting and unique, and would make for a perfect gift - I for one did not want to take off my bracelet at the end of the day.

There are four eau de parfums in the set: Aldwych, Vesper, Ao and Itoh; each fragrance is also available individually in 50ml bottles, retailing for $90. Let's start with Aldwych, a green carnation: 'An homage to Oscar Wilde. Absinthe top notes, crisp carnation lavender and aged patchouli create a bespoke British flair.' (scent description taken from the included card). Aldwych opens up with sour citrus and green anise, and I smell some of the carnation/geranium in the background. With time, it settles more into fresh, crisp lavender, balanced out with tobacco sweetness. To me, it's a reinterpreted classic gentleman's cologne, slightly soapy and bracing.

Vesper, a sueded incense: 'Cocktails trailing Bond Girls. Aperitif top notes, fig leaf, black rose and smooth suede redeemed in a myrrh and frankincense base'. Vesper is one of the most layered, developing fragrances I've ever worn: it starts with boozy cocktail bitters, almost rubbery leather, dusty woods and dry resins. The top note is cool and metallic, almost a bit medicinal, and the whole thing resembles the leather interior of 007's Aston Martin. But the drydown is a completely different story: the dustiness of fig turns into a sweet, candly-like fruit with a touch of rose, built on the leather incense. Quite fascinating.

Ao, Thai ginger, is my absolute favorite of the four fragrances. 'Ao ('ah-ow') is 'Bay' in Thai. Young coconut juice infused with tuberose and cool ginger float on a warm beach bonfire base'. The top is fresh, citrusy, slightly spicy ginger, mellowed out by the creamy sweetness of coconut. I get a cool, calming camphorous woods note, which reminds me a bit of eucalyptus. In the middle, the indolic headiness of tuberose really shines through, with more smokey, warm cedarwood rounding out the floral sweetness towards the drydown. This is absolutely going to be my summer fragrance this year!

Lastly, Itoh, a woody peony: 'A tribute to Self Discovery. White cedar, pink lotus and peony with tobacco leaf evoke a journey; precious oud guards the elusive path'. To me, Itoh is a Tibetan Temple: I smell incense, smokey cedarwood undermined by the sheer, watery lotus and sweetness of peony. As it dries down, I get more grounding, smooth woods with a touch of spiciness, rounded out by the florals. It's a mindful, meditative fragrance.

I definitely recommend all niche-loving fumeheads to check out MIKMOI's Eau de Parfums: everything from the packaging, through the compositions, to the fantastic quality and wear demands attention. I can't wait what else Mik has in stock for us all!

Disclaimer: The product marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received directly from MIKMOI for review consideration. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as a free press sample. Thank you for reading!

I don't know what's going on, you guys - I'm kinda into glosses at the moment. While I still think you can't beat a nice bright lipstick with a stick, and long wind-blown hair caught in your sticky glossed lips drives me absolutely bonkers, I'm really enjoying the sheerer pigmentation and mirrored shine of lip glosses - while preferrably tying my hair into a ponytail or a messy bun. Here are five different shades and formulas I've been wearing recently, swatched for your viewing pleasure.

One common denomination between all these different glosses is the fact that they're virtually shimmer and glitter-free, which is my preference in both lip glosses and lipsticks. By 'virtually', I mean that I suspect maybe two of the glosses below have very very fine, very very minimal shimmer, but it's nearly undetectable in the arm swatches as well as on the lips. They're also all comfortable, non-drying formulas that I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for a new gloss; I'll link to respective reviews where possible for more info on the formulation and longevity.

1. Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer 01($23 for 0.35 fl oz, previously mentioned here). Possibly the nudest lip gloss shade I own, the Clarins Rose Shimmer still manages to even out and beautify the lips without verging on the concealer lips territory. The formula is most often described as a balm & gloss hybrid, and it does feel smooth, cushiony and hydrating on the lips. Great gloss to keep in your purse for completely-forgot-to-apply-a-lip-product situations as well as touch-ups on the go.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef (sadly discontinued - I'm guessing the closest shade match in the new repackaged & reformulated Super Lustrous Lip Gloss range is Pango Peach, $5.99-7.99 for 0.13 oz). Remember when these were all the rage? Yeah, I totally jumped on that bandwagon with Coral Reef, and haven't regretted it since. It's a beautiful, apricot coral shade with medium pigmentation, bright enough to lift a neutral look but not too in your face. I'm kinda bummed this shade was discontinued - my tube has started separating, and I think it's the last season we can enjoy each other's company.

3. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Dolly Pink ($4.99 for 11ml/ 0.37 fl.oz, the four shades I own are swatched & reviewed here). Actually, I don't reach for this gloss nearly often enough; I will admit that I find the cherry cough drop scent a bit offensive, and there's something about the formula that I don't absolutely love - but I do like it, and Dolly Pink is a wonderful blue fuschia shade that works great with my coloring. You know, sometimes these posts serve as a reminder for me to go rummage through my drawers and come out with something pretty that doesn't get enough love... like this gloss here.

4. Essence Stay With Me Long Lasting Lip Gloss in Candy Bar ($2.99 for 4ml/ 0.13 fl oz). Mentioned a long time ago by Driveller Kate and more recently, Tiffany from Will Work For Make-up, I had this gloss mentally filed away in the 'try-at-a-later-date' category. But, I was placing an online order at Ulta for Mr's shampoo & conditioner, and needed an inexpensive item to get to the free shipping treshold - and so it was meant to be. Candy Bar is such a beautiful, bright coral, and possibly the most pigmented out of the glosses featured here. It has a slightly strange, fruity old-school scent; I remember another gloss from my teenage years by a Polish brand 'Bell' that had the exact same scent... and oddly enough, this gloss is actually also made in Poland. Hmm... Anyway, I don't think you can get a better lip gloss for three bucks than the Essence Stay With Me - I just wish they had more than three colors in the range.

5. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Cherry Flip ($19 for 0.14 oz, previously reviewed and swatched here). Still one of my absolute favorite glosses, be it spring, summer, fall or winter; Buxom lip-plumping formula is a winner for me. Cherry Flip looks quite similar to Essence Candy Bar here, and I admit they're not miles apart, but Cherry Flip is slightly more red in a clear base, making it look less vibrant than the pinkier Candy Bar, which has a bit of a white base - hope you can see that in the lip swatches. I always walk past these Lip Creams in Sephora for fear of accidentally plopping more shades in my basket.

Have you been more into lip glosses or lipsticks recently? Or maybe liquid lipsticks, seeing as they're all the range at the moment? I did buy one shade of a newly released lip gloss formula during the Sephora VIB sale that I'm hoping to share really soon (any guesses?), but in the meantime, let me know your spring & summer lip loves - a girl can never have too more lip products, right? Or at least she can start a new wishlist...

For the past couple of months, I'd been only reaching for bronzer to apply it on my... neck. I know I've lost some of you there, but bear with me: it simply looked WRONG on my pale face, and the only use I could find for it was bronzing up my neck slightly to match a too dark foundation on my face. But, there's something to be said about the effortless, summery glow that a quick swipe of bronzer instantly adds to one's face, and so I decided to track down a bronzing powder which would look RIGHT on my fair, fair skin.

Enter a lovely suggestion from Lisa Eldrige's 'How To Wear Bronzer Beautifully' video: Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Light/ Medium Matte Bronzer ($30 for 10g/ 0.35 oz). In theory, it ticked all the boxes: reasonably light shade, rather compact, matte finish, decent price tag. Review spoiler alert: in practice, all the boxes remain gloriously ticked.

While the plastic packaging lacks simple elegance and class of some more luxurious brands, the compact feels sturdy and snaps shut with a secure click, and comes with a large mirror. In reality, the 'Milk Chocolate' marketing blurb is more of a gimmick: the claims of antioxidant cocoa are probably a bit far fetched, as it comes towards the very end of the ingredients' list, and the sweet hot chocolate scent is most likely all due to the artificial fragrance. I don't really mind it though: I'm looking for a well-formulated bronzer, not pressed cocoa powder to dust on my face. And the chocolate lover in me does appreciate the happy, delicious scent emanating from the compact.

The texture of the powder is fine and silky: it does have a fair amount of slip and feels creamier than my other bronzers. I was a bit worried that could cause blending issues with the powder grabbing too much onto liquid foundation, but no, it blends out seamlessly and doesn't sit on top of the skin, or sink into pores. I would say Milk Chocolate Soleil has medium pigmentation; that, combined with the lighter hue, gives just a whisper of warmth to my skin with one swipe, but it can be built up to the 'I just came back from a beach vacation' level (or, as much as I can hope to achieve one...) with a couple more layers.

Here's a quick shade comparison for you: next to my only other light matte bronzer, The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder in 02 Fair Matte (yes, they do make one shade lighter and yes, I have used the heck out of mine), Too Faced Milk Chocolate is warmer and more well... uhm... orange. I know 'orange' is officialy a no-no when describing a bronzer, but you guys - my natural tan is a peachy, orangey shade, and so are my freckles (or actually, my facial tan often equals freckles). So yes, it is more orange compared to the slightly pinkier The Body Shop Honey bronzer, and a lot lighter and less brown than both Benefit Hoola, and the darkest bronzer in my collection, theBalm Bahama Mama.

L-R: Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil, The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte, Benefit Hoola, theBalm Bahama Mama.

To showcase my recently rediscovered bronzing passion, I decided to go for a simple, sunkissed look with Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil used on high points of my face (liberally on the cheeks, temples, up into the hairline, a tiny bit across the bridge of my nose and on the chin, as well as - you guessed it - down on my neck), and also lightly in the crease of the eyes for some definition. I smudged a dark brown eyeliner pencil on my lashline, applied lots of black mascara and finished with a slick of Rimmel Soft Coral lipstick, patted down with a finger to take off some of the glitter and shine. I like this look: it's quick, it's easy, it makes me look rested and subtly polished.

Do you also struggle with finding the right bronzer shades? Is bronzer an everyday part of your make-up routine, or do you reserve it for specific looks? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Everything's Coming Up Roses...

Not Another Naked?! bareMinerals 7 Ways To Bare Eyecolor Set

My Holy Grail Lip Balms: Osmia Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair & Nuxe Rêve de Miel

Random Giveaway!

The Anti Make-up Phase

Current Favorite Teas and Dark Chocolate

You're a Doll, Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly!

Fine-tuning My Skincare Routine

Angelic White Eyes with Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost

A Month In Nail Polish: Early Spring 2014

Spring Beauty Wishlist

Going with the flow, or going with the crowd?

Beauty Product Empties: 1st Quarter of 2014

Pastel Pretty: bareMinerals Eyecolor in Celery

Battling Breakouts: Spot Treatments Overview & Comparison

Project Make A Dent #1: First Progress Check

Bedside Beauty Edit

Scent Travels: MIKMOI Eau de Parfum Sample Set + Scent Bracelet

Five Spring & Summer Lip Gloss Picks

Giving Bronzer Another Go With Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil