Late favourites and Breast Cancer Awareness talk!

Hi guys!

Hope you're all well and staying warm (well, obviously that last part doesn't count for those of you in the warmer climates, you lucky ones)! :)

So, as the title suggests, this will be another (late) monthly favourites post for the month of September. Now, September is a classic exam month here in Greece (anywhere else too?), so be prepared for my boring, uni-approved makeup choices!




1. The mid-tone brown eyeshadow from the Sleek Safari palette.
Nothing spectacular here, just a very basic neutral eyeshadow, that gives the eyes some definition. I love its ashy shade and that it has a satin finish, meaning it would most likely make an excellent choice for a sculpted eye look. Now, yes, it does contain some super tiny and sparse bits of glitter, but none of it will show on the eyes once applied and blended.




2. Becca Sheer Lip Tint in Estella.
Already talked about here, Estella is a lovely wearable nude that adds just a hint of colour on my lips. It's perfect for any "I 'm not wearing makeup" makeup look, hence why it made it on this list.




3. The Body Shop Baked blush in 02. Coral.
Now, this is a product I 've been dying to try since this last June/July, but sadly I don't think this particular shade even made it here, all TBS stores I tried seemed to only carry the other baked one. But, after trying my luck on ebay, I managed to get my hands on it and I 'm very glad I did - it's a beautiful warm rosey coral shade, buildable and really flattering on the cheeks! I 've swatched the two tones separately to give you a better idea of the shades, but I use them both mixed together.

4. Seventeen* nail polish in 95.
It's cheap, it's nude, it's appropriate for oral exams. Unfortunately, it is a bit streaky, so I wouldn't really recommend it, however, it does the job. Best used for a diy french manicure.
*Seventeen is a greek "drugstore" brand.

5. Benefit Erase Paste in #1.
Another product that's already been discussed here in the past and very well loved. I do trust on this little pot to erase my tough dark circles and it's never failed me. There's still a ton of product left in my jar, but I 'll be surely repurchasing in the future.

So, that was it for my September favourites, told you it was nothing exciting!


But before I hit publish, please allow me to talk about something very important - it will only take a few minutes of your time!

As you all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I 'm sure you 've heard of this a million times by now and have been bombarded with a fair share of pink ribbons over the past 20 days.
Pink ribbons are good and all, but somehow I think we 've been missing the point, which is becoming more knowledgeable about this disease and what we can do in order to help others and also, help ourselves.

I 'm not going to focus on the charity aspect here, however it would be unfair to not mention that there's numerous beauty brands out there that show their support by offering portions of their sales to research: Estee Lauder, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Avon, OPI, Palmers and Darphin, to name a few. In that sense, it would be worth checking out your favourite brand for pink ribbon products (some do jewellery too) and making a beauty buy, while supporting a good cause.




But awareness is also about prevention, which I feel often gets neglected.

- It is *extremely* important to know that lifestyle plays a huge role: don't underestimate the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet and also be conservative with your alcohol consumption.
- Do start your routine mammograms at the age of 40 and do remind your forgetful relatives and friends. Goes without saying, that if you have a family history of breast cancer, those should be more often or begin at an earlier age (sth to discuss with your doctor).
- Do remember to self-examine your breasts. Here's a quick how-to:

✓ After a week or so from your last period, stand in front of a mirror. Inspect for any changes in the texture of the skin, the shape of the nipple and for possible discharge.
✓ Put your hand behind your head and use the pads of your 3 middle fingers to feel the breast tissue, alternating the pressure to make sure that you've examined everything from the surface to the parts closer to your ribcage. Move your fingers slowly in small circles. You can use a lengthwise strip pattern or a spiral pattern (as shown above), just make sure you've covered the whole breast.
✓ Don't forget to examine the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.
Do remember that breast cancer is curable, if detected in an early stage. That said, I truly hope that you and your loved ones will never have to deal with this disease (or any types of cancer for that matter) in your lifetime! :)

Thank you for making it this far, next post will be about sth more interesting, I promise!