My Winter Beauty Routine

Posted on January 18, 2018 | Leave a comment

Step 1 : Cleansing & Moisturizing

For over a month, I have been testing a new beauty routine, with the French brands Quiriness (sensory and spa-based), Novexpert (cosmetics devlopped with 100% natural ingredients) and Cattier (organic and sustainable).

My focus for this season is : fighting against cold, dehydration, sagging skin and lack of radiance. Let’s start with cleansing and moisturizing. Morning and evening, I use on my face, neck and décollete:

1. The Uriage 1st Cleansing Oil. Light, very pleasant and ultra soft for my skin more sensitive and reactive in winter. It foams in contact with water and leaves after rinsing a discreet film that softens the skin.

2. Then I apply the Quiriness Lotion Tonique Exquise (Gold Softening Toning Lotion) with the fingertips in generous quantities. Its velvety watery texture with iridescent reflections offers a great feeling of freshness! And I massage or tap my face, neck and décollete to penetrate the lotion.

3. To end this step, I spray the Novexpert Brume Magnésium (magnesium mist) that I tap, to wake up and activate my skin and blood circulation. This haze is a treat! I do not hesitate to spray again before applying my second serum, day cream or oil.

Step 2 : Day Serums

No beauty routine without serum, thank you (lol)!

Every morning, I start with the Quiriness Anti-Aging Serum, Elixir Temps Précieux (Perfect Lifting Essence) which contains the superstar ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid, but also Microencapsulated Retinol, Peptites, Seaweed, Grape seeds, Cotton oil … Very very nice on the skin: the lovely creamy texture surprised me a little at first, because I got used to watery serums.

To fight against oxidation (especially due to pollution) and have a radiant complexion, I add a pump of the Novexpert Booster à la Vitamine C. This 100% biodegradable serum contains collagen and 25% vitamin C, the daily dose to protect the skin against free radicals (according to Truecos).

Step 3 : Day and Eye Creams

Morning and evening, I apply a pump (for both sides) of Novexpert Contour des Yeux Anti-âge Expert which is really effective! After each application, I’ve noticed that my (slightly darker) dark circles under eyes disappear. The magic happens thanks to nacres that reflect the light. And best of all, the cream moisturizes and nourishes this very fragile area, without irritating my eyes.

I finish my morning beauty routine with Quiriness Caresse Temps Précieux (Perfect Repair Cream). Dream texture with a very discreet scent: the comforting gesture to start the day! It gives a luminous velvety smooth finish to my skin.

Step 4 : Night Treatment

I do this after the same cleansing and moisturizing step than in the morning.

If I need to remove makeup : before the cleanser, I apply a greasy substance (a vegetable oil of olive or musky rose) that I mass on the neck, face and eyes. Then I remove it with cottons rinsed with hot water and wrung out. Much less aggressive than a micellar water.

In the evening, I deeply moisterize my skin with Novexpert Sérum Booster à l’acide hyaluronique. This serum is the most concentrated hyaluronic acid in Europe. It offers the equivalent of 20 injections of hyaluronic acid (according to Truecos). Its gelled texture is a bit sticky but penetrates very quickly.

I optimise with the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+. It become one of my basic. A pot lasts me up to 5-6 months!

Last beauty gesture of my winter routine, I apply an organic vegetable oil by specific massages on the décolleté, neck and face. I change the oils according to their properties.

My Face Body and Hair Must Have

Dear shea butter! Organic, alone or mixed with other products (like organic vegetable oils), multifunction (make-up remover, face and body cream, or moisturizer for super dry hair)! At the moment, the odorless shea butter of Cattier suits me very well.

Ma routine beauté de l’hiver

Posted on January 15, 2018 | Leave a comment

Etape 1 : nettoyage & hydratation

Depuis plus d’un mois, je teste une nouvelle routine beauté, avec des marques françaises : Quiriness (axée sur la sensorialité et le spa), Novexpert (à base d’ingrédients 100% d’origine naturelle) et Cattier (bio et développement durable).

Le focus de cette saison, est de lutter contre le froid, la déshydratation, le relâchement cutané et le manque d’éclat. Commençons par le nettoyage et l’hydratation. Matin et soir, j’utilise sur le visage, cou et décolleté :

1. l’Huile Nettoyage Protectrice d’Uriage pour nourrissons. Légère et très agréable, elle est ultra douce pour ma peau plus sensible et réactive l’hiver. Elle mousse au contact de l’eau et laisse après rinçage, un film discret qui assouplit la peau.

2. J’enchaîne avec la Lotion Tonique Exquise de Quiriness que j’applique du bout des doigts en quantités généreuses. Sa texture aqueuse et veloutée aux reflets irisés offre une grande sensation de fraîcheur! Je masse ou tapote mon visage, le cou et le décolleté pour faire pénétrer la lotion.

3. Pour finir cette étape, je vaporise la Brume Magnésium de Novexpert que je tapote, afin de réveiller ma peau et la circulation sanguine. Cette brume est un plaisir! Je n’hésite pas à en vaporiser à nouveau avant d’appliquer mon deuxième sérum, ma crème de jour ou une huile.

Etape 2 : les sérums de jour

Jamais de routine beauté sans sérum, merci (lol)!

Chaque matin, je commence par le sérum anti-âge de Quiriness, Elixir Temps Précieux (Sérum Lift Raffermissant) qui contient l’ingrédient superstar, le fameux acide hyaluronique, mais aussi du Rétinol microencapsulé, peptites, algues, pépins de raisin, huile de coton … Très très agréable sur la peau : sa texture crème m’a un peu surprise au départ, car j’avais l’habitude de sérums gels.

Pour lutter contre l’oxydation (notamment due à la pollution) et avoir un teint éclatant, je complète avec une pompe du Booster à la Vitamine C de Novexpert. Ce sérum 100% biodégradable, contient du collagène ainsi que 25% de vitamine C, soit la dose quotidienne pour protéger la peau contre les radicaux libres (d’après Truecos).

Etape 3 : crème de jour et contour des yeux

Matin et soir, j’applique une pompe (pour les deux côtés) de Contour des Yeux Anti-âge Expert de Novexpert qui est vraiment efficace! Après chaque application, mes cernes un peu pigmentées s’éclaircissent. Le secret : cette crème comprend dans sa composition des nacres qui reflètent la lumière. Et cerise sur le gâteau, cette zone très fragile est bien hydratée et nourrie sans irriter mes yeux.

Je termine ma routine beauté du matin, avec la crème Caresse Temps Précieux (Crème Lift Régénérante) de Quiriness. Texture de rêve, odeur très discrète : le geste plaisir et réconfortant avant d’attaquer la journée. Elle donne un finit lisse, velouté et lumineux à ma peau.

Etape 4 : les soins de nuit

Après l’étape nettoyage et hydratation, identique à celle du matin.

Si j’ai besoin de me démaquiller, je mets avant le nettoyant, un corps gras (une huile végétale d’olive, ou de rose musquée) que je masse sur le cou, le visage et les yeux. Puis je l’enlève avec des cotons rincés à l’eau chaude et essorés. Nettement moins agressif qu’une eau micellaire.

Le soir, j’hydrate en profondeur ma peau avec le Sérum Booster à l’acide hyaluronique de Novexpert. Ce sérum qui est le plus concentré en acide hyaluronique au niveau européen, offre l’équivalent de 20 injections d’acide hyaluronique (d’après Truecos). Sa texture gélifiée est un peu collante mais pénètre très vite.

J’optimise avec la Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ (Emulsion Hydratante Tellement Différente) de Clinique qui est devenue un de mes basiques. Un pot me dure jusqu’à 5-6 mois!

Dernier geste beauté de ma routine hivernale, j’applique une huile végétale bio par massages spécifiques sur le décolleté puis le cou et le visage. J’alterne les huiles en fonction de leur propriétés.

Mon incontournable visage, corps & cheveux

Le beurre de Karité! Indispensable, seul ou associé à d’autres produits (notamment les huiles végétales bio), multifonctions (démaquillant, massage visage et corps, cheveux desséchés) et bio! En ce moment, celui de chez Cattier sans odeur me convient très bien.

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Germany: Arty Weekend in Düsseldorf

Posted on December 14, 2017 | Leave a comment

Day 1 : Gallery & Street Art Tour

After Berlin, Cologne and the Black Forest, I’m on my way to Düsseldorf! As always, I’m not fully awake. And I forgot to download the app of b-europe to check in real time my train schedule. I find my buddies in the Brussels-Düsseldorf Thalys! 2h15 of laughter with cool mates (yes, it happens especially when I’m tired, lol!). And here we are at Düsseldorf station, ready to discover the city!

As soon as you arrive, I recommend you to buy the DüsseldorfCard for free public transport and discounts in museums and attractions.

After a late lunch, we have an appointment with Klaus Rosskothen, the owner of the Pretty Portal Gallery specialized in street art artists. Photos above: on the left, a painting by the Irish artist FinDAC. And on the right, a painting by Kurnachzehn. Guided by Klaus, we discover many Street art works in the district where his gallery is located. End of the tour around 16h30-17h. Awesome overview of a less touristy Düsseldorf!

Polar temperature! Of course Brussels is not the Caribbean either, but all the team had a big shock with the cold here, lol! I go to the hotel to warm up (with a good hot shower) and get ready for dinner, we have an appointment at 18:30.

Dusseldorf By Night

Dinner at Küzert

At night everything is more beautiful, starting with this huge wheel (photo above). The team gathered again, I discovered the very lively cool atmosphere of the crowded streets of Altstadt, the old town. At Kurze Straße 18-20 is the Brauerei Kürzer, a traditional brewery on the Rhine, where we will have dinner tonight.

Outside, standing people drink glasses of beer. Ditto indoors where we sit down to eat (photos below). I like the contemporary setting, the mix of generations and genres with hipster waiters and a soundtrack for picky clubbers (with fine and demanding hearing, lol!).

Difficult for us to leave as the place was really cool! About the tasting of the beer produced by this brewery? Er, how can I tell you, I do not drink any beer, oops! But very good I enjoyed the chicken wraps.

Back To The Hotel

After a long walk, we finally got back to the Hotel Friends Dusseldorf, with an awesome (Instagram) bohemian interior design of the common areas (left picture above and pictures of the photo montage below). It feels like being in Portlandia (the series) …

The + : The photogenic hotel where to have a drink, with music live and DJs sets. Located near the central station of Dusseldorf, 5 to 10 minutes walk or a bit less in tram. Very good breakfast. It feels good and friendly.

The – : the neighborhood is not reassuring at night. I didn’t like the interior design of my room (except the small modern clean bathroom). I think the common areas are the best.

Jour 2: Archi & Contemporary Art

Another Day, Another Weather

We take the new metro to the commercial complex, Kö-Bogen designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind, facing the Hofgarten Park. Great mix of modernity, heritage and nature! I’d have liked to have more time to look at all the details of the building facades and stroll in the park.

And viisiting the Gerhy buildings… We head by foot to Altstadt, the old town.

A Small Museum

A Concept

As the small group walks towards the Rheinturm, I stop at the small museum of contemporary art, opened in 2007. I liked the architecture and exhibition spaces of the KIT – Kunst im Tunnel.

Photo above: in the foreground, a composition of Rosa Sarholz. Photo below: the further you go towards the black wall of the bottom, the more the floor tends to reach the ceiling. If we want to continue to move towards the “black board” of Marcel Stahn, we must stoop more and more. I stopped when my head touched the ceiling.

On the photo montage above: photos on the left, the main exhibition hall. Photo on the right (top): a flat screen – table, where hands are exchanging photos and flipping through magazines. An art work of Fabian Ruzicka.

Then we will have a late brunch in Frida, the warm tapas bar with Mexico colors on walls. Cosy atmosphere, nice interior design and impressive salad size!

Have a Nice Weekend Everyone !

Informations

To make a train reservation: the website of b-europe , or the b-europe appli.

Düsseldorf Tourist Board

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to b-europe & the Düsseldorf Tourist Board for this lovely invitation. As always, these are

Mademoiselle Le K Blog-Trotter