Barcelona Marathon - First Stop: GAUDI

Barcelona, my most recent visited city...is like one of the most fascinating areas of the world...so much art, culture, fashion and spirit in one place. The people are very friendly and the possibilities to have fun, relax and enjoy the best time of your life are endless.
I would like to start my "BARCELONA-MARATHON" with the topic "Gaudi".
Gaudi is very important around Barcelona, much more than Pablo Picasso or Salavador Dali for example (which are more popular in Madrid). Antonio Gaudi still is very famous for his vision of perfect architecture. His work is so unique and special, it's almost spooky and scary. His masterpieces contain so many intricate forms and convoluted shapes that you need some patience and time to be able to understand all the hidden aspects and meanings. The beauty is in all the fine details that include 'stuff' like animals, humans, even geometrical errors (that seem to be that at first, but when you take a better look and think about it, it's just art in it's perfection). Gaudi was influenced by forms of nature, by it's changeability. For me it seems that each Gaudi-building looks very different depending on the angle you look at it from and on the perspective you have in that moment over the world and life in general. Very famous are: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa Calvet and many more. I compare the genius of Gaudi with the genius of Tim Burton. They have a similar imagination and fascination for the bizarre, but in a good way (if that is understandable). When you view a Burton movie or look at a Gaudi creation you are lifted from this world of evil routine and boredom, you are finally allowed to escape the claws of the malevolent mediocrity of others in a world of ugly beauty, of beautiful weirdness. You can finally be "you" in a way that doesn't condemn you. Ok, in time, it also turned into a hobby or snobbery for many to say that they love Gaudi or many other artists just so that they 'fit in', today it became a trend to be 'different' (that's another topic). But it is one sad thing to just know about something and another to really understand that 'thing' and feel at the same wavelength with the artist. But enough about that...we were having a discussion about Gaudi! He is one of the most important national symbols of pride for Spain. Do enjoy the pictures (of Casa Batllo and Sagrada Familia) and who knows, maybe you'll go and visit those things in the near future in real life...

Click on the pictures in order to see a bigger size of them and to be able to observe all the details...













The pictures are private property so don't forget to ask me first, before using them on other sites! Thank you.

Tune in later to find out more about Barcelona and other interesting topics. And if you want to know more about Gaudi, leave me a comment and I will tell you more :)

Sunny day...

Skyrunner? Little cousin of Skywalker!…

Smallest things actually matter!

Ingredients that hurt your skin - be smart!

Here is a list of the things that can clog up your pores and cause blackheads, pimples, breakouts and irritations on your skin. Don't take the ingredients as they are - check the products you have or you want to buy and see how many of those ingredients they contain. If the number of bad stuff in your products is big than try to not use those products anymore or to just use them rarely. If you have products for the body it's not that bad, only if you suffer from acne on your body obviously. Your face can and will be affected by today's makeup and face care products, even if you have very healthy skin! Don't play around with your skin's good luck!



I hope this helps! Enjoy!

Watch out for:

Acetone - usually in nail polish (so don't touch your face with your fresh done nails for a while)

Acetylated Lanolin - clogs up pores and gives you blackheads

Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol - clogs up pores and irritates

Algae Extract - very irritating and clogs up pores

Algin - bad for skin in general

Almond Oil - clogs up pores if used on face (this one is good in creams for dry skin all over the body)

Apricot Kernel Oil - also bad for the face but good for the body

Arachidic Acid - clogs up pores but not if used rarely

Ascorbyl Palmitate - clogs up pores but not if used rarely

Avocado Oil - clogs up pores on face

Azulene– clogs up pores

BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole – clogs up pores and irritates the skin

Benzaldehyde – clogs up and irritates (all added fragrances usually do that to the face)

Benzoic Acid – clogs up and irritates

Butyl Stearate – clogs up pores but doesn't irritate

Cajeput Oil – clogs up and irritates very bad

Camphor – clogs up and irritates at a medium level

Capric Acid – clogs up and irritates at a medium level

Caprylic Acid 1 – doesn’t clog pores but irritates

Carrageenan – clogs up pores very bad and irritates

Cetearyl Alcohol – clogs up and irritates at a medium level

Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20 – clogs up pores very bad and irritates at a minimum level

Cetyl Acetate – clogs up very bad and doesn’t really irritate

Cetyl Alcohol – clogs up and irritates at a medium level

Chamomile – just clogs up at a minimum

Cocoa Butter – clogs up pores badly but doesn’t irritate

Coconut Butter – clogs up pores badly but doesn’t irritate

Coconut Oil – clogs up pores badly but doesn’t irritate

Colloidal Sulfur – clogs up and irritates badly

Corn Oil – just clogs up badly

Cotton Awws Oil – just clogs up badly

Cotton Seed Oil – just clogs up badly

Crisco – just clogs up badly

D & C Red # 17 – clogs up pores bad

D & C Red # 19 (Pigment – Color – banned on the market) – clogs up pores

D & C Red # 21 – clogs up pores

D & C Red # 3 – clogs up pores

D & C Red # 30 – clogs up pores

D & C Red # 36 – clogs up pores

D&C Red #27 – clogs up pores at a minimum

D&C Red #40 – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum

Decyl Oleate – clogs up pores badly

Dioctyl Succinate – clogs up pores badly and irritates at a medium level

Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate – clogs up pores very bad and irritates at a medium level

Emulsifying Wax NF – clogs up and irritates at a minimum level

Ethoxylated Lanolin – just clogs up pores badly

Ethylhexyl Palmitate – just clogs up pores badly

Flowers of Sulfur – just irritates badly

Glyceryl Stearate SE – clogs up pores bad and irritates at a minimum level

Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate – just clogs up pores badly

Hexadecyl Alcohol – just clogs up pores badly

Hexylene Glycol – just clogs up pores at a medium level

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil – just clogs up pores badly

Isocetyl Alcohol – clogs up pores and irritates badly

Isocetyl Stearate – just clogs up pores very bad

Isodecyl Oleate – just clogs up pores very bad

Isopropyl Alcohol – irritates very bad

Isopropyl Isostearate – just clogs up pores badly

Isopropyl Linolate – just clogs up pores badly

Isopropyl Myristate – clogs up pores badly and irritates at a high level

Isopropyl Palmitate – just clogs up pores badly

Isostearyl Isostearate – just clogs up pores badly

Isostearyl Neopentanoate – irritates and clogs up pores at a medium level

Lanolin Alcohol – clogs up pores at a minimum level (but still, it does)

Laureth 23 – clogs up pores at a minimum level (but still, it does)

Laureth 4 – clogs up pores and irritates very bad

Lauric Acid – clogs up pores badly

Mink Oil – clogs up pores at a medium level and irritates at a minimum level

Myristic Acid – just clogs up pores at a medium level

Myristyl Lactate – clogs up pores badly and irritates at a medium level

Myristyl Myristate – clogs up pores very bad and irritates

Octyl Palmitate – just clogs up pores badly

Octyl Stearate – clogs up pores and irritates very bad!

Oleth-3 – clogs up pores very bad and irritates a bit

Oleth-10 – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level

Oleyl Alcohol – clogs up pores badly and irritates

Olive Oil – clogs up pores a bit

PEG 100 Distearate – clogs up pores a bit

PEG 150 Distearate – clogs up pores a bit

PEG 16 Lanolin – clogs up pores badly and irritates

PEG 200 Dilaurate – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

PEG 8 Stearate – just clogs up pores at a medium level

PG Dipelargonate – clogs up pores at a minimum level

PG Monostearate – just clogs up pores at a medium level

PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate – clogs up pores very bad and irritates at a medium level

Palmitic Acid – clogs up pores a bit

Peanut Oil – clogs up pores at a minimum level

Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate – clogs up pores at a minimum level

PG Dipelargonate – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level

Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate – clogs up pores badly

Potassium Chloride – clogs up pores very bad

Propylene Glycol Monostearate – clogs up pores at a maximum level

Red Algae – clogs up pores at a maximum level and irritates at a minimum level

SD Alcohol 40 – just irritates at a maximum level

Sandelwood Seed Oil – clogs up pores at a minimum level

Sesame Oil – clogs up pores at a minimum level

Shark Liver Oil – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

Sodium Chloride (Salt) – clogs up pores at a maximum level

Sodium Laureth Sulfate – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – clogs up pores at a maximum level and irritates at a minimum level

Solulan 16 – clogs up pores and irritates very bad

Sorbitan Oleate – clogs up pores at a medium level

Sorbitan Sesquinoleate – clogs up pores very bad and irritates

Soybean Oil – just clogs up pores at a medium level

Steareth 10 – clogs up pores very bad and irritates

Steareth 2 – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Steareth 20 – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Stearic Acid – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Stearic Acid Tea – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Stearyl Alcohol – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Stearyl Heptanoate – clogs up pores really bad

Sulfated Castor Oil – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

Sulfated Jojoba Oil – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

Syearyl Heptanoate – clogs up pores really bad

Tocopherol – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Tridectyl Neopentanoate – irritates badly

Triethanolamine – clogs up pores a bit

Vitamin A Palmitate – clogs up pores and irritates at a minimum level (but still does, don’t forget!)

Wheat Germ Glyceride – clogs up pores and irritates at a medium level

Wheat Germ Oil – clogs up pores at a maximum level and irritates

Xylene – clogs up pores badly and irritates pretty bad

Seasons and colors

Hmm ... about makeup colors for warm days: neutrals – beige, cream, white, pink, gold, light orange, copper, all of them look amazing during a warm autumn or spring day, when the nature just gets one more breath of fresh but warm air. In summer, when it’s really warm already, I suggest no or very little makeup on your eyes, just so you look fresh, otherwise the heat can melt everything or make it look like too much. For summer you could also dust just some light glittery shadow (just one shade) on your lids and get that lovely gloss on (in pink, tangerine or very light red). Blue, purple and grey, heavy colors, I like to wear during cold days. Green I feel fits any kind of weather. You can see in the pics below what I mean. For the lips I love ‘alive’ colors in summer, but for when it’s cold I only use either a color awakening thing (like so many companies sell – Dior Addict Lip Glow or Smashbox O-Glow) or a simple pink gloss or just some colorless lipbalm (I love Labello Hydro Care!) because my lips get so very dry.

The colors are arranged so that they reflect what I ment. I chose to only show you my M.A.C colors because it’s nicer to view them like that, the shape of the containers doesn’t change that often :)

En’joy!

Joy creeps away if your daily routine is unamusing...


From Left to Right:
Crystal Avalanche – shimmery white (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: white with reflects
Shroom – shimmery beige (Satin) – they say: soft beige with shimmer
Brule – matte beige (Satin) – they say: soft creamy beige

From Left to Right:
Vapour – beige with silver and pink sparkles (Velvet) – they say: peach-pink with violet pearl
Yogurt – matte very light pink (Matte) – they say: soft pale pink
Seedy Pearl – Yogurt with pink little sparkles in it (Frost) – they say: chilled lavender pink

From Left to Right:
Paradisco – light coral with golden sparkles (Frost) – they say: bright pinky-coral with pearl
Expensive pink – darker version of Paradisco (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: pink with duochrome
Soft Brown – matte very light caramel (Matte) – they say: soft golden peachy-brown
Orange - very strong glowing orange (Matte) - they say: neon orange

From Left to Right:
Honey Lust – light copper and silver glitter (Lustre) – they say: bronze-dipped peach
Amber Lights – strong golden copper (Frost) – they say: peachy-brown with shimmer

From Left to Right:
Patina – dark beige that reflects into pink and gold (Frost) – they say: taupe brown with golden pearl
Woodwinked – dark brown-ish gold (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: warm antique gold
Tempting – middle brown with gold and silver sparkles (Lustre) – they say: sinfully rich coco
Cork – middle matte brown (Satin) – they say: muted golden brown

From Left to Right:
Goldmine – strong yellow gold (Frost) – they say: intense gold with shimmer
Chrome Yellow – strong glowing yellow (Matte) – they say: vivid bright yellow

From Left to Right:
Mythology – red copper with silver glitter (Lustre) – they say: copper
Cranberry – deep pink/red purple (Frost) – they say: red-plum with pink shimmer
Plum Dressing – is not the same with Cranberry like many people say! It’s more purple than reddish (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: pinky-plum with metal
Passionate - hot pink, but not red, just very intense dark pink/fuchsia (Matte) - they say: mid-tone red

From Left to Right:
Beautiful Iris – light whitish violet/lilac, lavender with pink sparkle (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: lavender with sheen
Stars 'N' Rockets – purple with blue-purple sparkles (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: purple with pink pearl
Parfait Amour – blue violet, mauve with pink sheen (Frost) – they say: blue-violet with shimmer
Purple Haze – matte middle mauve (Matte) – they say: intense purple

From Left to Right:
Sky Blue – this is a ProMac product – light baby blue with silver sparkles – they say: Robin's egg blue
Electric Eel – strong middle blue (Satin) – they say: bright blue with shimmer
Freshwater – darker blue (Veluxe Pearl) – they say: bright summer blue (mmm, not really!)
Deep Truth – dark blue, like the ink (Frost) – they say: true dark blue

From Left to Right:
Aqua – this is a ProMac product – milky whitish greenish turquoise – they say: subdued, pale greyed aqua
Aquadisiac – turquoise with silver sparkles (Lustre) – they say: deep sea turquoise
Plumage – very dark green blue (Matte) – they say: dusky peacock
Surreal – it seams to be discontinued – turquoise with gold, a light version of Steamy

From Left to Right:
Bitter – glowing light yellow green (Velvet) – they say: vivid green with shimmer
Juxt – yellow light green with gold (Satin) – they say: bright green with gold pearl
Swimming – grass green with silver sparkles (Lustre) – they say: hi-shine sea green
Humid - dark plant green (Frost) - they say: intense green with shimmer

From Left to Right:
Electra – light silver (obviously silver is shimmery) (Frost) – they say: silver with icy shimmer
Copperplate – mouse dark matte grey (Matte²) – they say: muted mid-tone grey