Babyliss Expert 2100

So, in my last haul you saw the blowdryer I recently bought from TK Maxx (germany's version of TJ Maxx), the babyliss expert 2100. This blowdyer is AMAZING. The diffuser is unlike my last blowdryer, as the fingers don't point out as much from the actual diffuser, so it cups the hair a lot better. you can actually cup your hair into the diffuser and hold it to your head which I really like, because it helps dry the roots faster as well and adds some volume, which i love when my hair is curly. The bigger, the better, is my philosophy. It also has some sort of ion-infusion which, i know most hairdryers state that nowadays but this dryer definitely cuts down on drying time by about 50%. Which is a big deal, because normally it'll take me anywhere from 25-40 minutes to get my hair completely dry and ain't nobody got time for that. It also comes with a concentrator nozzle which I find super helpful for blowdrying my hair straight (which I did yesterday) and my hair dryed less poofy than normal, which is great for cutting down on flat ironing times.


here are some pics of the blow dryer/accessories:

and my hair fully dried: (excuse the dumb face but look at that volume!)

hope this review was helpful! i've heard nothing but good things about babyliss products so i'd definitely check them out if you're in the neighborhood for new hair hardware.

xo

expat

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

So it's taken me six months, but i've finally found my perfect color match in a foundation in Germany-- the shade is 3W2 Cashew in Estee Lauder's double wear foundation. It's not exactly impossible for me to find my proper shade--especially in higher end brands with a large selection of colors--considering how long i've been wearing makeup (over 10 years! wow), but the odds that a german store will be carrying that dark (and i'm not even that dark! i feel so bad for anyone darker than me living here looking for makeup haha) of a shade are damn near impossible.

a great recommendation i can make is to use the site findation.com --if you plug in your shade in one brand of foundation, they tell you what the equivalent would be in lots of other brands, such as mac, l'oreal, chanel, makeupforever, etc. they've been right so far in the brands i've used!

I like this foundation because it doesn't make me too oily--i have very oily skin and therefore i tend to gravitate towards long wear, mattifying foundations. this one does a great job at staying on my skin without oxidizing throughout the day which is a relief. it really is disappointing when your foundation is the perfect shade and then changes colors halfway through the day. i like to use this foundation with a beauty blender, because i find that even on my oily skin, any dry patches from acne medications i may be using tend to be highlighted when i buff in the foundation with a brush. fingers works well too, just make sure they're clean :) i also have been using the l'oreal youth code magic blur as a primer, and i have to say i'm actually pretty impressed. it does seem to blur my pores and fine lines, and helps at keeping the oil under control.

i'm planning to get a new camera in the next couple weeks, so i can start posting more regularly with pictures and updating my youtube channel again. hopefully i can put up some photographs of me wearing this foundation so you can see what i'm raving about! what are your favorite foundations? any recommendations for oily skin?


xo,
expat

Favorite Fall Lip Combo

So I've been on the hunt for the perfect fall lip product combination, something to give me that dark vampy look without drying out my lips or being too expensive. My original go-to was MAC's Strong Woman, but as gorgeous as its purple color is, it's not quite deep enough for what I wanted. Then, yesterday, I was goofing off in Rossmann (think: riteaid but smaller) and stumbled upon this nameless lipstick by Rival de Loop in the perfect shade-- a deep wine red, gorgeous alone but absolutely perfect over my Strong Woman.

Now for some swatches:

L: Rival de Loop R: MAC Strong Woman

Top: MAC

Bottom: Rival de Loop

Top: MAC Strong Woman

Bottom: Rival de Loop

MAC Strong Woman

MAC Strong Woman w/ Rival de Loop layered on top

Both Lipsticks Together

Again, in natural lighting