Original Tangle Teezer and Compact Styler

Just a quick look at these cute little things that will save you time and energy (and yes I am just talking about brushing your hair).

Tangle Teezers are a time saver.  If you have loo000ng straight hair like I do, then you know full well that the thought of washing your hair, drying and then brushing it is already exhausting, and you are only thinking about it!  I am not saying Tangle Teezers are revolutionary...

(see what I mean? that's a kiddie brush.)

But then again they look presentable and they do have very soft bristles that makes it a joy to use.

Be it noted that even in whatever websites of ANY hair brushes, they would say the best way to brush any types of hair is to do it by section.  I do it with my regular brush, and I do it too with the Tangle Teezer, the only major difference I have noticed is that with the Tangle Teezer I probably lose (or brush away) fewer strands of hair, unlike my old brush which makes the bathroom look like someone has picked gazillions of my hair and dropped it on to the floor (yep, that bad).

Anyway, back to the TTs, the Original and the Compact Styler:  It comes in this packaging.

A somewhat major size difference.  I find that the Original has softer bristles since the bristles themselves are longer, the CS has shorter ones though it is as pleasurable to use.

The Compact Style feel weird to handle though, it is bulky and heavier than the Original even without the cover.  I always am scared of dropping it, which I hate (dropping things, in this case I'm just scared it'll fall apart if it hits the floor all the time).  It also comes with a cover for the bristles.

In any case, a good investment.  Surely there are lots of other prettier brushes that does what it should and more expensive, but base on my personal experience, the Tangle Teezers are practical enough, saves me time and extra effort and takes away the stress (yeah.) of brushing my hair.  Keep one at home and one in the bag.

I got the Original TT from DM Markt in Berlin for 14.95euros and the Compact Styler for 13.30euros from beautybay.com (free worldwide shipping, though be it noted that my one-piece-of-order arrived 20 days (yeah, that's VENTI giorni, people!) and I am only in Italy, not as if they're shipping it to Australia, which is farther away from the UK.  Oh Well.

Thanks for reading!

A (very) old powder from T.LeClerc

Hi everyone! So last year, I was back in my old room at my parents' house and was going over thru some old stuff (YES, most clothes ALL still fit me, some might even be bigger around the waist!) and before my left my mother was like, "yeah so what's in THIS? I wanted to throw it away but it might be important to you cos it's still heavy..."  and what she got in her hand was a sealed silver little tub of my old T. leClerc Banane powder.

I bought it YEARS ago (it was in my OLD room, need I emphasize more? Hehe) and you might think I am pretty gross taking an old powder so excitedly from her hand, reusing it til our holidays and tightly packing it back to Milan with me.  Yes, it might be a little disgusting, but the powder has not been used (I probably used it 3 times after I bought it) and it has been sealed in its tight container and sticker.  So from there came my renewed love for this powder and I will tell you why: because before I never knew how to use it.

So here is a bit of an info from the T. LeClerc website:

"In 1881, the pharmacist Théophile LeClerc developed a secret rice powder formula in his pharmacy, a stone’s throw from the Place de la Madeleine in Paris. This powder gave ladies’ complexions a radiance and smoothness beyond compare.

The legendary “T.LeClerc” powder was born. Théophile LeClerc’s powder was initially commercialised in 6 shades, including the famous “Banane” shade, and rapidly became an essential accessory for all ladies of elegance in the “Belle Epoque”."

I am pretty sure the sales consultant got me into buying this powder.  I used to frequent their counter and have bought several things from there (including the Banane pressed powder) but what I have in the loose powder form is the shade Banane Argentee and this is the one with the shimmer.  I never realized it's going to make me look like a greaseball in hot Philippine weather if I apply it to my face and mind you, the container comes with a mesh sieve to keep the powders from moving around (though you keep want to keep this at home) I only had a huge face brush (also from T. LeClerc) and not a small highlighting brush so you understand the dilemma and hence this one got sealed and kept in it's hibernating place until my mother handed this back to me and I am so glad she did.

This powder gives a beautiful shimmer to highlight my face.  I've not used any highlighter, except Chanel's La Mouche de Beaute and Guerlain's Meteorites (pressed and loose) but the Meteorites are utterly subtle I could use them all over my face, the T. LeClerc not.  This one has only one purpose and it is to powder Angel's faces with sunlight, lots of lots of it, since my tub contains 35g of product.  Yes, it will last you your whole lifetime.

Whoops. It is not what you think (hehe). I wanted to take a pic of the top cover but spilled some powder on the table.

The photo above is taken with flash, the one below in natural light. I seriously have to refrain from using my iPhone for impromptu photo shoots.

It may not be the MOST finely-milled highlighting powder you will have the pleasure to use (come on, Guerlain's Meteorites isn't that all fine-milled either cos of the shimmer/glitter particles and that's the honest truth.  Their other powders/bronzers are though) and I think it is a good thing.  When using, you will know when you are using just enough and not worrying about piling them on like a maniac.  I believe that the powder IS super finely milled (the glitters/shimmers not) but it does what you want it to do and does it perfectly.

A word of caution though: I have noticed that my facial skin, on the sides of my forehead, when it is devoid of makeup can be a bit shiny (I actually do not know why but there it is) so with this powder I avoid putting more on it because I do not want to look like I am sweating.  I normally just put this on top of my cheekbones and the bridge of the nose to give me that beautiful glow.

That is my piece on the T. LeClerc's Banane Doree and for those who have owned this and hated it, I understand why but now I understand the reason to reclaim it from the bin (errrrmmm).

PS: I wonder how this (apart from the obvious shimmer of this powder) compares with Bourjois Java Rice Powder which is all the rage at the moment after its re-release.

Thanks for reading! x
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A Post Script to Summer with YSL Le Fuchsia

Hi Laydees,

It is September and we are still experiencing pret-ty warm weather here in Milan at 30C!  So for those ladies (like myself, ha.) who actually have started experimenting with deeper/darker colours from the Fall 2013 collection, I suggest we celebrate just a little bit more with makeup and keep it cheery and bright.

YSL's Rouge Pur Couture in Le Fuchsia No7 is "Le Fuchsia" of this summer.  It is intense, bright and applies creamy and beautifully rich that completes any look.  I love color on my face, I would be the last person seen with a neutral shadow, but even if I AM that last person, I am sure to put non-neutral color on my lips and everywhere else.  I know it seems 80s to have blue/green shadows and a richly colored mouth, but depending how you would pull such a look, I surely do whenever I can (paired with my equally fuchsia eyeglasses, by Chanel).

Thanks for reading!  Enjoy the remainders of summer!

lots of love x