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Home Archive for 2013

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light 1.

I bought this bronzer at the end of the summer with the intention of wearing it all through the fall and winter. The idea is not really to look tanned but to have something that would warm up the face after applying foundation.

This bronzing powder is just what I was looking for. It has a beautiful golden color that doesn't turn orange or muddy on the skin. It may be a little light for me in summer but it is the perfect shade for now. It is also matte which I find indispensable for a bronzer.

I use it all the time, especially now that I’m wearing more bright and dark lipsticks since I don’t always have a blush that matches with them.

MAC Fluidline in Dip Down.

This month, I've also been shopping my stash and have re-discovered this great product. I am a big fan of black eyeliner when worn by itself, without eye shadow. However if I do a light smokey eye or use mid-tone colors, I feel that black eyeliner looks too harsh. That’s when this product comes in handy; I apply it on my upper lash line to intensify the look and correct my “sad puppy” eyes, as I like to call them!

Rimmel Lipstick in Starry Eyed 128.

I bought this one on a whim and I’m in love. It is refreshing to find an affordable, drugstore lipstick that I love so much. I like that is versatile. It can be applied as a stain or built up to its full potential for a vampy type of lip. It is not a matte (and therefore not too drying); I would categorize it as a satin finish or semi-matte. It looks great for a good 4 hours before I need to re-touch.

Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast.
I have been listening to this podcast for years and always liked it. There are subjects that are more interesting than others but lately I’ve been enjoying pretty much every episode that the hosts (Tracy and Holly) put out. If you have a long commute or go for walks, I highly recommend you taking this Podcast along. It makes your time go by much faster!

Quinoa.

I know I’m late to the party but I recently bought Quinoa for the first time. This month I have been eating it with everything; fresh tomatoes, olives, baked veggies or as a side dish for meatballs! It is so easy and quick to make that it has become my carbohydrate source of choice!

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light 1. I bought this bronzer at the end of the summer with the intention of wearing it all th...

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What is Green Tea? To produce green tea, the Camellia Sinensis leaves are lightly processed and undergo more oxidation than the ones used in white tea. This minimal oxidation allows green tea to retain a higher concentration of antioxidants and benefits. All leaves (not just the youngest) are used to produce green tea which makes it more widely available than white tea.

There are countless green tea varieties being produced in different regions of China and Japan. Many times I see tea marketed simply as Japanese or Chinese green tea, which is quite a simplification! You can check Wikipedia for a quick rundown.

(Sencha to the right, gunpowder to the left)

The most important thing you need to know- if you are just diving into the world of tea - is whether your loose leaf green tea comes in a gunpowder form or not. Gunpowder beaded or pearl tea, is loose leaf that has been rolled into a small pellet. These leaves will expand when brewed. This product is more condensed so if you are measuring your tea with a spoon, be careful and don’t use the same amount of tea you would use with “unrolled” leaves.

How does it taste like? It is hard to give an answer to that because each variety tastes different. Green tea is generally grassy in flavor which doesn’t appeal to everyone. The Sencha variety is softer, fresher and sometimes even has a sweet taste to it. Chinese Gunpowder is usually stronger and sometimes described as smokier in flavor. You can always try a green tea blend that combines tea leaves with other fruits or flowers.

How do I prepare it?

If you are preparing gunpowder use 1 level teaspoon of tea leaves for 240 ml. (=8 ounces of water). If you are using Sencha or any other “unrolled” loose leaf variety, use a heaping teaspoon for the same amount of water.

Water temperature is supposed to be between 170°-175°F (=70°-80°C). The steep time should be 2 to 2 and 1/2 minutes, not any longer or else the tea won’t taste right. Use a clock for this one.

Check out part 1 for more on White Tea and part 3 for Black Tea.

What is Green Tea? To produce green tea, the Camellia Sinensis leaves are lightly processed and undergo more oxidation than the ones use...

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Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite things in the world: tea. I wrote an entry on how I prepare Iced Tea a while ago but now that Fall is finally here, I wanted to do a more in-depth post about tea. I hope it answers all your questions and helps you find the right tea drink for you.

Let’s begin with the basics. Tea is the infusion of leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant in hot water. All tea types come from that same plant but leaves can be processed differently to produce the varieties that we usually call black tea, white tea, green tea etc.

(clockwise: Green Sencha Tea, Assam Black Tea, Green Gunpowder (in the ball) and White Tea)

Colloquially we also refer to tea when any other herb (that is not Camellia Sinensis) or fruit is infused in hot water and consumed as beverage. That is not tea, strictly speaking, but you can call your infusion of choice whatever you want. It’s fine by me.

So now let’s talk about the most popular teas that we, westerners, drink.

White Tea

What is White Tea? This tea comes from the young leaves and the buds of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It is only lightly processed to prevent the oxidation. Because White Tea should be hand-picked and be made only from the youngest leaves, it is usually produced in lesser quantities and has a higher price than other varieties.

There are different varieties of white tea (Bai Mudan, Silver Needle, Shou Mei) but I won’t get much into that. I always drink Bai Mudan or “White Peony”, Silver Needle is too expensive for my budget and Shou Mei is not available where I shop.

How does it taste like? Bai Mudan or “White Peony” has a soft, floral, sweet taste. From my experience, everyone enjoys this tea, even those who aren’t big tea lovers.

How do I prepare it? For this one, you need to use two teaspoons (around 2 grams) of loose leaves for 8 ounces (240 ml.) of water. This is just a guide; you may want to adjust these proportions to achieve the intensity you like.

The optimal water temperature for brewing different tea types is always a matter of dispute. As long as you are not pouring full boiling water into white tea, you’ll be fine. A water temperature of 80°C (= 180°F) is usually recommended. I personally like to watch the water, once the little bubbles that are sitting on the surface of the kettle begin to rise to the surface and pop, I consider that the water is ready for this tea.

The brewing time for white tea can be anything from 3 to 7 minutes. As opposed to green or black teas, this one won’t get bitter if you steep it for long. I recommend brewing it for 3 or 4 minutes the first time. Then you can do a second or even third infusion with a steep time of 5, 6 or 7 minutes. Yes, you can brew the same leaves several times as it will produce different flavors every time. Try it!

Don't forget to check out part 2 and 3: Green Tea and Black Tea.

Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite things in the world: tea. I wrote an entry on how I prepare Iced Tea a while ago but now ...

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During the last couple of years I have become more and more interested in skincare, hitting the mid-twenties may have something to do with that. After lots of reading and video watching (mainly Dr. Schultz, an eminent dermatologist from NY) I have gathered a list of tips from which everyone’s skin could benefit.

1. Protect your skin from the sun.

You are probably as bored of reading this as I am, but it is true. Sun damage is the number one cause of aging skin. Protect your skin all day, every day. Use a face cream or primer with a SPF 20 or 30. Go up to a SPF 50 during the warmer/sunnier months. Using a foundation with SPF ain't cutting it as I found that it slips off plus you are not applying enough product anyways.

I also avoid tanning and sunbathing completely. I would only go to the beach with an umbrella, sunglasses, three bottles of sun lotion and a "cover-up".

Vichy Mattifying Face Fluid SPF 30

2. Remove your makeup and cleanse your skin.

Removing makeup and cleansing are two different things and should be differentiated. I take my makeup off with Bioderma soaked into a cotton ball or a good ol' facial wipe. For extra heavy makeup I prefer cleansing oil. Right after that I cleanse my skin with a mild cleanser or some soap. Some products I rotate are:

Apivita Creamy Face & Eye Foam Cleanser

Alverde Hammamelis Cleanser (only available in Germany)

Bioderma H20 Micelle Solution

Dove Beauty bar (not pictured)

Sephora cleanse off oil

Olay Foaming Face Wash (not pictured)

3. Exfoliate.

The removal of the dead skin cells is essential if you want a bright and even skin. It also helps improving skin conditions like acne or hyper pigmentation (if you are suffering any of these conditions, you should visit a dermatologist that would prescribe the best exfoliating product for you)

I prefer chemical exfoliation (dissolving the dead skin cells) to physical exfoliation (removing the dead skin "manually" with brushes, cloths or little beads). I, however, try not to overdo the chemicals as they tend to be a bit harsh after a while. I will dedicate an entire entry to glycolic acid as it can be quit tricky to use.

Some products I have used and would recommend:

Muslin cloth

Bioderma Sèbium Exfoliating Gel

Neostrata Glycolic Gel

4. Thoroughly hydrate and nourish your skin.

Once your face is clean you need to give it back the moisture it has lost. I would recommend a rich cream with a simple formula. If you have oily skin don't make the mistake of depriving it of moisture, that would only worsen the situation. I use a Cold Cream which may not be suitable for oily or combination types but Avéne has a wide range of moisturizers for different skin types, so you can still look into their products.

Avene Cold Cream

I am in love with this cream, I have bought it for my mom and she loves it too. It is a life saver for my skin during the coldest months and I even use it as an eye cream! I know you are not supposed to use the same cream for your under eyes (I'm still unsure why) but I do and it works just fine and hasn't given me any weird side effect.

The bottom line: skincare, the simpler the better.

This is my newest rule of thumb when choosing skincare products. After a year using a simple cleanser and a cold cream my skin is looking better than ever! Simpler products are usually cheaper too. I believe that all those extra fancy ingredients like caviar or DNA are just marketing tricks without added benefits. Check out typical pharmacy brands like Cetaphil, Avene, La Roche Posay, Vichy, Eurcerin...

(Lastly I would like to add that if you suffer from skin conditions like acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, etc. don't hesitate to visit your doctor. These issues are medical conditions that should be treated as such. Skincare is ultimately about the health of your skin.)

During the last couple of years I have become more and more interested in skincare, hitting the mid-twenties may have something to do with ...

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Those who know me, know that I am a tea fiend. I can easily guzzle 2 liters (half a gallon) a day. As it is ridiculously hot where I live, I need to change the recipe once summer rolls around and switch up to iced tea. It is an easy process but you need to take into account that cold tea is not as tasty as hot tea. You will have to brew a stronger tea or add some extra flavor to make it palatable. Here is how I prepare mine.

To brew 4 cups of iced tea (around 1 liter) I need:

2 cups (or 1/2 liter) of water.
15 oz of ice (around 425 grams)
4 teaspoons (or 8 grams) of loose leaf tea (I use Assam black tea as it is stronger and better suited for iced tea)

To add some extra flavor I use:

3 teaspoons (around 6 grams) of diced dried fruits.
The juice of half a lime (I prefer limes to lemons but use whatever you have on hand)
Liquid sweetener according to taste (or honey or agave…)

1. I bring the 2 cups of water to a boiling point. I remove the pot from the stove, add the dried fruits and let them brew for 7 or 8 minutes. I do this because the dried fruits need some extra time. If you don't use dried fruits, start with Step 2.

2. I throw the ice into the desired receptacle and add the sweetener and/or lime juice.

3. I bring the water to a boil (again), remove it from the stove and add the tea leaves.

4. I let the tea steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Never more that 5 minutes or else it would be bitter.

5. I pour the tea over the pitcher with the 15 oz. of ice. I stir the mix until the ice cubes are almost melted and the tea is cold enough to drink.

6. I enjoy my homemade iced tea.

Tips to avoid bitter tea (cause nobody wants that):

- Respect the brewing time for each tea. Green teas need only 2 to 3 minutes, max. Black teas 4 and 1/2 minutes.

- Do not stir the tea leaves as they are brewing in the pot, let them be. Trust me, I've done that.

- When you are pouring the tea into the pitcher, do not -and I repeat- do not try to get the last drop of tea out of those tea leaves. In fact, do not press them with a spoon or force them in any way or else you would be releasing the tannins that would ruin your tea.

Those who know me, know that I am a tea fiend. I can easily guzzle 2 liters (half a gallon) a day. As it is ridiculously hot where I live, ...

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October Favorites 2013

Tea 101: What is and how do I prepare Black Tea.

Tea 101: What is and how do I prepare Green Tea.

Tea 101: What is and how do I prepare White Tea.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Carbon.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Black Tied.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Contrast.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Sketch.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Trax.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Nocturnelle.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Parfait Amour.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Shale.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Club.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Greensmoke.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Sumptuous Olive.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Bronze.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Mulch.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Romp.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Satin Taupe.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Patina.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Mystery.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Corduroy.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Wedge.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Brown Script.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: All That Glitters.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Vex.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Ricepaper.

MAC Eyeshadow Collection: Brule.

Skincare chit chat and products I would recommend.

Drugstore vs. High-end makeup products: which ones are worth it? II

Drugstore vs. High-end makeup products: which ones are worth it? I

How I Make Iced Tea With Assam Loose Leaf