Jade Roller – What is it and what does it do?

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blog post contains affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

Jade roller, facial roller, jade facial massage tool – no matter how you call it, you have heard about it.

To be honest, I never really bothered with this trend until I recieved not only one, but two different devices as a GWP and curiosity got the better of me. Of course I had to dig deep, and by dig deep I mean that I didn´t only look at the science behind them, but ventured into topics like crystal healing that I admit I had no clue about before.

 

Jade roller and rose quartz roller
Jade roller and rose quartz roller

 

Now as a long time follower you will know that I am, by heart, a scientist.

I did my best to present my findings in a neutral way, but feel the need to do this disclaimer: I am sure there are many things out there that science can not (yet) explain. Absence of proof is not proof of absence, but at the same time claiming that the ancient Egypts did XY doesn´t make a practice right.

6500 years ago a cavity was filled with honey and beeswax, but I still think our current way of dental care is superior.

What I am trying to say is basically: let´s talk about jade roller and lets do it with respect for each others opinion.

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Avon Advance Techniques Instant Restore – Salon experience

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blog post contains PR-Samples and uses affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

If something promises to bring the salon experience to my home, all I can do is laugh. Seriously, no matter how excellent the product itself might be, it will never offer a salon experience.

I mean, the salon experience isn´t about the products anyway, is it? At least not for me! I don´t care what they use to wash my hair, as long as I get to sit there, read a magazine, sip on a cup of tea and don´t have to get up and look after tiny little humans.

 

Avon Advance Techniques Instant Restore
Avon Advance Techniques Instant Restore

 

Oh, and then the head massage! Use olive oil, I wouldn´t care, as long as you give me a proper head massage!

It is at home where the actual product counts – without the tea, without the massage, without having five minutes to myself!

So lets see how the Avon Advance Techniques Instant Restore haircare line performed.

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klairs Soft Airy UV Essence – The best SPF?

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blog post contains PR-Samples and affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

I recently read a great article on marketing claims on a fellow bloggers website (Skin Care Inspirations). The article was inspired by someone asking her on Instagram why she accepted mineral oil in her skincare if she wouldn´t put it in her salad, which lead to a very interesting read about whether or not natural is always better, especially if you have sensitive skin.

 

klairs Soft Airy UV Essence
klairs Soft Airy UV Essence

 

The reason why I link her here is because the klairs Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA++++ claims to be an „everyday sun protector for sensitive skin“, while still containing Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil.

Citrus essential oils in SPF are strange to say the least, as many (not this one) contain furocumarine, which are phototoxic and should not be applied within 12 hours before sun exposure. And while Citrus Aurantium Dulcis oil does NOT contain furocumarine, essential oils in general are potentially sensitizing (just like artificial fragrance is), so I wouldn´t recommend them for sensitive skin.

Why it was added to the klairs Soft Airy UV Essence in the first place? I don´t know, but I will share my thoughts on the product below.

 

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Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions Review and Tutorial

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blogpost contains affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

I actually wanted to try Huda Beauty a while ago, when they released their Faux Filter Foundation (that still sits on my list of things to try). But when I went to get color matched, the Sephora sales person in Berlin was that rude and unhelpful I decided not to spend any money there and just leave the store.

 

Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions
Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions

 

That put me off the brand a little, but when I received the Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions Palette as a GWP, I figured it was a sign to let go of that grudge and get testing.

To keep things short and sweet I filmed a review and tutorial for one look, but added pictures of two other makeup looks at the end, along with where I used which shade – Do let me know if you prefer it this way or want step by step tutorials on all looks next time.

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Create before you consume

/ Linda, Libra, Loca

Podcasts – a few months ago, I barely ever listened to them, but fast forward to now and you will find me listening to them whenever I have a minute to spare.

Nothing lifestyle related though: I have fallen for the entrepreneur version!

 

Create before you consume
Create before you consume – no matter if it is on paper or digital

 

The ones with the Blogging and You Tube advice, the ones that make you want to sit down and work on your channels immediately, full of ideas and motivation.

Of course not all episodes offer something valuable for my current situation, but for each of them that I listen to and the immediately forget about, there is one that offers me something that has a huge impact.

„Create before you consume“ is one of the nuggets that truly changed a lot for me.

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Caudalie Vinopure Skin Perfecting Mattifying Fluid

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blog post uses affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

Why can’t I for the life of me type Caudalie? I mean, I have written the name how often over the last three months, six times?

And that is six times in blog post titles only, I don’t even want to count how often the term Caudalie appeared in the corresponding text and social media shares.

 

Caudalie Vinopure Skin Perfecting Mattifying Fluid
Caudalie Vinopure Skin Perfecting Mattifying Fluid

 

And yet I keep writing Caudlaie, which to my eye somehow looks right (don’t even try to pronounce it though).

Why I have written it so often? It is not that I am obsessed with the brand, even though I admit they do have some gems. It is mostly because I first raided my mothers stash for her products and then discovered the Caudalie Vinopure trio aimed at congestion prone and oily skin.

Now that I have tested my way through all three products (read part one here and part two here), it is time to end the series with my thoughts on the Caudalie Vinopure Skin Perfecting Mattifying Fluid, bringing the count up to seven.

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October Empties 2018 – Taking out the trash 19

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blogpost contains *PR-Samples and affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

The drama with the You Tube thumbnail…

I swear taking the thumbnail takes me longer than filming the actual video itself! Especially now that I´ve learned that thumbnails with faces have a higher CTR than the ones showing products only.

October Empties 2018
Literally seconds before things fell out.

 

CTR, for those of you wondering, means click-through-rate and stands for the number of people that click on the video after seeing the thumbnail.

I am not sure why my face would help in selling a video, but I do know for sure that it takes me ages to take a picture that doesn´t look like I am a complete moron grinning into a camera.

Maybe it is the fact that I do take the picture while holding up a basket full of empty bottles.

I guess it is kind of hard to look sane when doing that.

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Why I don’t run – at least not at the moment

/ Linda, Libra, Loca

This was supposed to be a blogpost about running. I had it all planned out: How to get motivated, how to build your stamina, which gadgets or apps to use…

See, it all started earlier this year. I had been working out pretty consistently over the last months and was really seeing the results. I was actually happy with my body, getting toned and fit. All I wanted was to be a tad bit leaner, just a tiny bit, while continuing to eat all the food obviously. And to achieve that, I wanted to get back into running.

 

Varicose veins
The reason I am not allowed to run right now

 

Before the kids I went for a run two to three times a week, but in and after the pregnancies it never really happened again.

So, with determination, I made a plan. And the plan worked fine!  Once a week became a thing, with me getting faster and less resembling a beetroot after finishing. Read more


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Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum – Two birds, one stone

/ Linda, Libra, Loca

Multitasking –  I have talked about that numerous times before. It just seems to be a recurrent thing in my life, albeit not always a successful one.

Just the other day, running on 1.5 hours of sleep, I tried to multitask feeding the cat and preparing my sons breakfast at the same time.

 

Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum
Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum

 

Well… let’s just put it that way: My son would eat about anything I serve him, the cat is much more picky.

Good thing I served the cat first and could quickly switch bowls before my son excitedly dug into his surprisingly meaty muesli…

So, once again, I vow to leave the multitasking to my skincare products, opting for versions that combine several beneficial ingredients at once. Like the Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum.

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How to update your skincare routine for fall

/ Linda, Libra, Loca
This blog post contains *PR-Samples and uses affiliate links. Please read disclaimer.

The weather in Germany took the transition to fall very seriously. Within 24 hours we went from 32 °C and sun to heavy rain, wind and mornings with 6 °C.

Needless to say I was busy changing summer bedding to thick duvets, frantically searching for the kids rain boots and getting my skincare routine in order.

 

How to update your skincare for fall
All the things I will start using now!

 

Yes, I updated my skincare routine before I even updated my wardrobe (I still have my boots stored away), because #priorities.

So if you need help with the update (the skincare one, I am no help when it comes to fashion) – if you need help to update your skincare routine for fall, keep on reading.

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