My beauty discovery - January 2016

My search for a new perfume led me to this lovely little thing from Pacifica. 

I bought this 10ml bottle of French Lilac just try out and see if I like it outside the shop. I am totally sold and so thrilled to share this beauty discovery with you.

Pacifica French Lilac is perfumed in a traditional French style. It has fresh scent of Lilac, Magnolia Leaves, Heliotrope, Ylang Ylang, Hyacinth and subtle notes of Nectarine. Beautiful flowery scent.

Perfume is 100% vegan and gluten free. Cruelty free brand. It is made without phthalates, parabens, mineral oils, GMO, propylene glycol and artificial color.

Pacifica using a natural, pure grain alcohol and it's own blend of essential and natural oils. 

It is almost perfect, with exception it doesn't last long. I think only for few hours, but I enjoy this scent so much don't mind to apply a dab or two during the day. 

I think I am discovering a delicious natural perfume world and I would like a bigger bottle of French Lilac for my bathroom soon.

Have you tried any Pacifica perfumes? Which one is your favourite?

Marija

  

Beauty Shopping List 2016 - Conscious Spending

This became some sort of tradition for me to create a basic beauty shopping list. This list helps me to buy beauty products I need and if I get carried away I know where to go back for basics.

I collected everything I could find to have look through and to help me decide what I actually need for a basic beauty routines. Looking at all this I can tell you that it is a mess again and I hope to head for a right track within few months.

I am 32 this year and naturally some of my tastes and preferences have changed since the last year. Plus it is time to be in control of what I buy, so I cancelled my Glossybox subscription.

Here is my basic beauty shopping list for 2016 along with it what I have at the moment in photos.

Skincare:

Face:

1. Toner
This is a must have skin care product in my bathroom now. I just love the feel of refreshing toner after a bath, shower or just after I washed my face.
2. Day cream
You can't go without one these days. I still prefer cream to oils, but natural formula is a must to give my skin the best I can afford. Sadly at the moment I am trying to finish all face creams I have, so will need to wait for a few months before I can buy something I like.
3. Eye cream
I got few at the moment. I believe one eye cream should be enough for the future. Something natural and for 30+ skin. I need to hydrate and combat those fine lines.
4. Night cream
I like two options of the night creams: one is my favourite Vicco Turmeric Cream and another any cream with useful acids to use few times a week.
5. Facial oil
I don't think that I need a serum just yet, but a facial oil is a must. I like to use it after cleansing before I apply my night cream or whenever I feel it is needed. Again my preference this year goes to a natural oil with antioxidants.
6. Cleanser
My skin care routine has changed and I now wash my face every evening to remove make-up and any other impurities. I prefer a very light natural cleanser to do the job. I haven't resumed my oil cleansing routine yet, I guess this due to my FOREO Luna and luck of time. 
7. Face mask/scrub
I have Vichy Normaderm 3 in 1 Cleanser, it works as a cleanser, scrub or mask when needed. This multitasking beauty product is perfect for my busy days. When I have time, I do like to make my own face masks from my kitchen supply.


Body:

1. Body lotion/butter
I need it for a day to day use, on the go. Same as my facial skin care I give the preference to natural formula.
2. Body oil
I don't actually need to buy it, I prefer to make my own using my carrier and essential essential oils. But body oil is on my basic beauty list. I love to use it after a bath, I think oils are the most effective on warm damp skin.
3. Shower gel
Not a picky girl on the shower gels, maybe I should be?! I love anything with citrus scent and I might try a natural shower gel this year.
4. Soap
This is still my obsession. I love a good soap, with beautiful smell and with a good formula. My soft spot a bar of soap.
5. Hand cream
I add it only because, I use one on the go and keep it in my hand bag. It isn't a necessity. You can always squeeze a bit of your favourite body lotion in a small bottle and I used to do that. But I think it is a little bit of a luxury to have a delicious hand cream. Each time I use mine, it makes my day!
6. SPF lotion
I am much better with my facial SPF now, but I am afraid can't tell you the same with my body. I think I should research and find a non greasy lotion for my body to use along with my general one. If you know any, share in the comments below.
7. Body scrub I am not sure, if I need a body scrub. I will leave it out for now, in case when my current one will run out I am thinking to make a hand made sugar body scrub.


Haircare:

Hair:

1. Shampoo and Conditioner
Recently I prefer professional hair care brands, not the high end, but a good quality I can afford. I think their shampoos are much softer and more gentle with hair and conditioners are more effective. 
2. Hair mask
I have few hair masks at the moment, I believe one should be enough along with the oils and home-made hair masks.
3. Heat protection
I started to use heat protection before I dry my hair and I can see the difference. Don't have favourites just yet. At the moment I am using Toni&Guy Heat Protection Mist, but would like to explorer more brands.
4. Leave in oil/hair serum
Just as a finishing touch, can't be without it.
5. Hair oil
I love Castor and Coconut oils for my hair. At the moment I am using my Black Castor oil before hair washes and I just love the results.


Make-up:

Make-up I mostly use is on the left hand side along with the cosmetic bag, rest I keep in a small box for those special days. Even now looking at my selection of make-up, I can see that a lot to be done this year to make it right. 

I washed some brushes, so they are on the towel separately. Again those are mostly used in my day to day make-up.

1. Eye make-up remover
I am using the Micellar water to remove my eye make-up, L'oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Water is my favourite so far. Click here to read full review.
2. Concealer
This is one of the make-up products I can't go without. I prefer a liquid concealer to others and still looking for the best one.
3. CC/BB cream
New addition to my make-up bag. I use it when I feel like I need to give my look that extra attention. It doesn't cover anything, but evens the tone slightly.
4. Face powder
I use it for my T-zone and to set the concealer or CC cream. I would like to try a loose powder, when my compact will finish.
5. Bronzer/Blusher
At the moment I have neither. I gave a lot of my cosmetics away to my sister in law and now on the search for the right products I can actually use. Most of my cosmetics came from Glossybox/Birchbox and some of them were not really my colour or just something I don't usually use. Ideally I would like a compact with both bronzer for countering and a blusher to give colour to my cheeks in one. I haven't decided yet what to buy and currently I am doing my daily make-up with out them.
6. Eye pencil
Pencil must be in dark grey. I have tried black and brown, but they don't flatter my looks. Dark grey just the right shade for my complexion and brings out my eye colour nicely. Current favourite is Lavera Organic Soft Eyeliner Pencil. It is soft and natural, just what I need in pencil and it glides well and it lasts well on my eyelids.
7. Basic matte eyeshadow palette
I would like finally to buy one. It needs to have the right shade of brown in it, so I can feel in my brows too. I will keep you posted with the quest.
8. Lip balm
I like to make my own lip balm. You can find few DIY lip balm recipes on this blog, just browse the search engine. If I don't have time, I just squeeze a little bit of Lanolin Golden Ointment into a small jar. It smells of honey and had the consistency similar to my home-made lip balms.
9. Lipstick
I don't use them often, but occasionally I like to add a bit of colour. I would like one lipstick in red and another in more natural shades. I believe 2 shades should be enough for the basic make-up bag.
10. Mascara
I don't use it daily, but I think it should be included for those special days.


What are your must haves on the basic beauty list this year?
Marija

MWgift(s) - January update

I had a day off and finally got a chance to spend some time on my project. MWgift(s) got new beautiful items this month and I wanted to post them on eBay by this Friday. 

Job well done and I would like to share with you some gift ideas for your loved ones.

1. A gorgeous window/door frame set with colourful beads, jingle bells and small brass bells. 

I just love the vibrant feel of this set and I think it will enhance any room or décor.

2. If you are a fan of oriental wood, the next item will catch your eye. 

Another window/door decorative hanging set made with coloured wooden beads, hand painted elephants and finished with small brass bells.

3. If you would like a bit of golden glam, have a look at this window/door frame decorative hanging set made with engraved golden plates. 

Beautiful details throughout.

4. The last, but most certainly not the least - window/door frame hanging set with crystals and Lord Ganesha. 

Ideal as an Indian wedding venue decoration, as a gift or just as a oriental decoration. Lord Ganesha is good for any new beginning.

Click on the links to view them on eBay. You will find more photos and full item descriptions there. To view all current items on MWgift(s) just click here. Free P&P on all items above in the UK and almost on all MWgift(s) products.

I wish you a happy shopping. Beauty update is next.

Marija

Something new to share - Green Spoonful

My dear friends, I have something new to share with you. 

I mentioned in my New Year Resolutions that it is time for me to look into my diet, and today I want to introduce you to my new blog Green Spoonful. 

It is only the beginning. Here is the insert with introduction.

One day it all changed...

I knew that it's only the matter of "when" for me to start this journey. Its all began with my curiosity and bother regarding the toiletries I buy, the ingredients manufactures use to create them and the world behind the making the products. 

It is only natural that this flow of my thoughts rounded up around the food I eat too. Today is the first day of my journey and I am so glad to be brave enough to start it. The hardest for me was to overstep the stigma. I don't want to be judged on what I eat and I really don't want to be labelled with one word or two.

I started this blog to catalogue information I collect on my way. I hope this source will be useful not just for myself, but for you as well. At the moment it is much easier for me to talk to the strangers and share my new world. I hope within few weeks, months I will have enough confidence to share it with more people than my husband.

Before I start I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I am 32, a mother of two year old boy, relatively healthy and not overweight. I don't have any allergies either. 

The decision to become a vegetarian/vegan at the moment bases fully on aversion of "dead" animals, fish and the rest. As well, I heard that people on the plant base diet have a lot of energy to spare. I am in a great need of it. I find myself very tired and frustrated at times and often, so I hope my new eating habits will result in a high energy levels along the rest.

I haven't watched the documentaries about animal slaughter houses, but I grasped few bits and pieces on my way so far. I am confident in one thing at the moment, that I don't want to take a part in the animal suffering. I know I am only a person, but I am sure I am not alone in this world and one day there will be even more of us.

This blog isn't a propaganda either. It is your choice what you eat and I won't judge you on that. But I believe it is everyone's responsibility to make a conscious choice, based on knowledge not the ignorance.


I am so excited to start. I wish myself and you the great adventure...
Green Spoonful


PS: You can find a link to my Green Spoonful blog on the right hand side just after "follow me".

New Year Resolutions - 2016

First week of New Year and I love it! I always have that extra bit of energy when new year starts and feel like I can make it all happen. To put this extra energy to a productive use, I love to make new plans and write the resolutions down for the year ahead.

I don't treat my New Year Resolutions as must to do, just as a guidance to inspire myself to be a better person. I don't like the feeling of guilt you get when you don't achieve something you planned and wanted. Plus I understand that my views and desires might change while year goes on.

I penned down few resolutions at the back of my 2016 diary to have an easy access to them and I left some space to write something new as time goes. I would like to share few of my new year resolutions.

Beauty Resolutions 2016:

In 2016 I would like to buy only what I really need or would like to try out. This isn't easy to do when you are a beauty blogger, but I think I can at least try to control certain useless spending. I hate to waste cosmetics or skin care. I will need to look into my conscious shopping again and up to date my beauty shopping list for 2016. Click here to read the last year's basic beauty shopping list.

To follow up with beauty waste elimination, I would like to be more creative with what I have got and try to use beauty products I have or buy. You probably will see a bit less in my beauty hauls and yes, I know they never were extensive. On other side in 2016 I would like not just explore new skin care and cosmetics, but try out new DIY beauty recipes. So, look out for those!

Another beauty resolution for 2016, is to improve my make-up skills. I would like to find the perfect day to day look and to collect my perfect make-up bag. I am already working on it, check my December beauty haul. You might see a bit more cosmetics on my blog this year.

Health and Wellbeing Resolutions 2016:

I would like to do a bit more of Yoga this year and overall to give a bit more attention to my exercise routines and to my diet. Now, who wouldn't?! I am not entirely sure where to start. But I know what I want - a perfect balance to keep myself in shape and keep the energy levels up. Now I just need to get on with it and think of the ways to achieve this. As usual I will keep you up to date with my new venture.

Marija's World Resolutions 2016:

This website is my hobby, sanctuary and place I share my thoughts, hopes and ideas. I wish www.marijasworld.co.uk is and will be useful not only to myself, but somebody else who reads it out there. My blogging experience has inspired me a lot last year, gave me means to take that extra step to create the MWgifts and the website itself. I hope it will bring something new and exciting in 2016 too. 

I wish you all a wonderful, prosperous, beautiful and inspiring 2016!

Marija