Salon du Chocolat Milano 2018
Over the last years, once a year, the Salon du Chocolat Milano makes Milan a sweeter city and a great place for those who love chocolate and cooking. I’ve been to the 2018 edition of the Salon du Chocolat here in Milan and I loved the experience, because I love cooking, specially sweets.
From 15th to 18th February, Milan hosted the Salon du Chocolat with so many events and brands exhibiting their amazing chocolates at the Salon. During the four days of the event, we had 47 showcooking events, 36 presentations, and more then 105 brands and degustations of chocolate and sweets.
• Salon du Chocolat Milano 2018:
It all started with the opening night on the 15th February and with a fashion show inspired by the king: the chocolate. The dresses always had a story behind it and they were created by fashion designers collaborating with chocolatiers and chefs, creating a very interesting final result.
Check some of the dresses that were in exhibition after the opening fashion show at the Salon du Chocolat Milano 2018:
I love cooking, so I checked many of the showcookings during the Salon du Chocolat and I definitely learned a lot from italian chocolatiers and chefs.
Nicolò Moschella Showcooking at the Salon du Chocolat Milano 2018
Nicolò Moschella is a young pastry chef that I already heard about, because once I walking around Milan I ended up in a place called Just Love, it’s a coffee shop, but you can also have lunch there, as well as the famous italian aperitivo by the end f the day. The place is very cute and fashionable (I guess you now understand why I liked it.), but food is also great. I already tried from sandwiches to sweet croissants, tart, fish and even a veggie lasagna, all was always very good and with a nice ambience.
Showcooking with Alessandro Comaschi, monumental chocolate cake decoration.
Simone Salvini Showcooking at Salon du Chocolat Milano: Indian Kheer.
Emanuele Valsecchi creates macarons inspired by Japan.
One of the brands I meet during the Salon du Chocolat here in Milan was Italianframe, a multisensorial shop opening here in Milan. I tried one of their cookies with a crystalized violet, it was such a good combination! Italianframe defines itself as a place where art, pastry and flowers meet, the end result could be just a great combination.
Italianframe cookies in Milano
Check more photos of other brands and chocolate I saw during the Salon du Chocolat here in Milan:
Can we say crystalized flowers are a trend in chocolates already?
Delicious chocolate with cranberry by Slitti.
If you are around Milan around this time next year and you love chocolate and sweets, the Salon du Chocolat could be a great time to enjoy and appreciate good quality chocolate and sweets. Be it a program for italians, milanese or travelers.
Combray Facial Oil Review (Complete)
One of my favorite skincare products at this moment is the Combray Facial Oil (a regenerating face oil) which is a facial oil with only two ingredients and it has made my skin AMAZING! It is an antioxidant and multifunction oil.
And if you also have oily skin and you were scared just to read the word oil, wait a minute, because I also have oily/combination skin and the product is recommended for all skin types. Yes, I was also afraid of oils at first, but once you find an interesting product, you understand that even oily skins can use oil products, but attention, just apply the right amount to your skin and choose the right product. Anyway, let’s go back to Combray Facial Oil review. (This is a spontaneous review, I really liked the product, it’s not a sponsored blog post).
Combray Facial Oil contains only 2 ingredients and it’ss a multifunctional oil, but what does it promise?
It is an anti-aging treatment, which moisturizes the skin, soothes and regenerates it, and protects the softness of the skin.
I should add that I LOVE skincare products, but I had never been so excited about a single product as I am with this one, since I noticed visible improvements on a kind of a bad skin time I went through a while ago, while it was also very cold here in Milan, anyway, I talk more about my experience bellow.
• Combray Facial Oil: my favorite facial oil
Like I wrote above, the Facial Oil from Combray has several functions and properties in one single product.
You probably noticed in this last photo that the bottle is almost halfway through, so I really try a skincare product for a long time, because generally cosmetics are not products that give you immediate results and according to the brand’s information, I read that better results were visible after one month of using the product, by the time I’m writing this full review, I am already using Combray facial oil for almost 3 months every day, twice a day, and I’m really enjoying it.
Combray Facial Oil is rich in antioxidants and it contains only two (magic) ingredients: grape seed oil and another one called Oxofulleram, which is an antioxidant. The product has no other ingredients, preservatives, coloring or perfume and besides it all, the brand is cruelty free!
• Combray Facial Oil: product’s purposes
- Anti aging
- Hydration
- Calming and regenerating the skin
- Protect skin against oxidation caused by stress, pollution and inflammation
According to the brand’s website, they have clinical studies that demonstrate high product efficacy in reducing the appearance of free radical damage caused by oxidative stress, aging, sun, air pollution and inflammation.
In fact, you already start to see a difference in your skin in the early days, but of course I went deeper into the use of the product and I waited two months to be able to properly see the effects of the product on my skin and be able to actually review it properly.
• Combray Óleo Facial: How to use it
The product should be applied after washing your face, I have been using it both in the morning and at night and since it has several functions, I have been trying an almost minimal daily skincare routine: applying a cleanser gel to wash my face, an eye cream and the Combray facial oil.
Just a few drops for the face and neck, the recommended by the brand is: 6 drops, I think I have a small face or not for having a very dry skin, I often apply only 4 or 5 drops and that’s enough to my face. You should apply the product on the face and massage it with your fingertips, so that the product is better absorbed by your skin.
As you can see by the color of the oil in the photos, it has a dark color and the only care is actually massaging the product so it is well absorbed by the skin (it does not get your skin colored or anything) and take care of waiting a little at night and do not apply and lie on a white pillowcase straight after the application. But the brand itself has the instructions on how to apply the product and which are the movements indicated on the package.
• Benefits and my experience with Combray Facial Oil:
I started using the Combray Facial Oil at a time when it was very cold here in Milan and my skin, that’s actually a bit oily, was dry and even peeling close to the eye area. In fact I was even afraid to try a new product with the skin like that, but since I had met the brand on Cosmoprof last year (a cosmetics beauty fair that’s very respected worldwide), so I thought it was worth the try, since it has purposes like to moisturize and regenerate the skin.
And it was great, it helped my skin recover very well and in the following days and it also helped to keep it beautiful during the very cold days here, applying the product every day, I had no problem at all in my skin getting dry. It was super soft and hydrated all the time, even when I was in Switzerland and we had negative temperatures such as -6˚.C
I felt that in addition to being softer, my skin looks very moisturized and bright, in fact, I find myself in a great skin moment and I believe that the product also played a part on it. I also try to eat very healthy and, of course, that is something that helps to have healthy and beautiful skin. But with regards to the cold weather, I believe Combray Facial Oil has helped a lot in keeping my skin hydrated.
To summarize: I really liked Combray Skincare Facial Oil because the daily application left my skin looking healthy, soft and moisturized even on the very cold winter days. Plus, it’s a multifunction product that makes it easy for anyone who wants more everyday convenience and I also really enjoyed their travel size packaging, I’ve been using it straight on all my last trips.
The Combray brand is from the Netherlands, but Combray Facial Oil is sold and delivered worldwide by the brand’s website and you can get 20% OFF when you buy with the coupon code: MANU20 (the coupon is valid for only one month, so enjoy it while you can). Website: Combray Skincare
* I am not affiliated with the brand, this review is not a sponsored review, I just received the product to try it and all the reviews here on the blog are my real opinions after using a product.
Red dress for Milan Fashion Week
What about a red dress outfit for this winter?
That long awaited week arrives: the Milan Fashion Week F/W 2018.19, with shows, collections and fashion events. And with it, the fashion week outfits, and for my first look at MFW FW 2018.19, I decided to go for some minimalism with a red ruffled dress and a black wool coat, because this week is very cold here in Milan.
Dress: StyleWe | Coat: Lafort | Handbag: Guess | Necklace: Monili di Legno | Leather boots: H&M
• Red dress outfit at the Milan Fashion Week:
Check out more details of my outfit with a red dress for fall / winter:
To match with my red dress, I picked a black wool coat, creating a combination with a strong contrast.
• GET MY LOOK:
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For my makeup look, a very simple look that I love: in shades of brown eyeshadows and a red lipstick. Check below some makeup photos, so you can check it all better:
The handbag was one of the charms of this look, because it’s almost fully in glitter, to bring a bit more of shine and glam to this outfit. ✨
On a daily basis, this is the pair of glasses I wear the most, a more rounded red, which is a light kitten model:
Sao Paulo Hotel Review: Blue Tree Premium Paulista
I traveled to an event in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and I wanted to do a review of a Sao Paulo hotel where I stayed while in town: the Blue Tree Premium Paulista and I’ll also recommend some restaurants for those who will be visiting the city. In this blog post I will write about the hotel with a complete review and in other posts I will recommend some of the restaurants I liked while I was in town, in order to have it all better organized here on the blog.
I went on a quick trip of only three days in Sao Paolo and I had an almost full schedule, luckily all my appointments were near the hotel, that’s just near the famous Av. Paulista and the Jardins neighborhood. As I had several appointments, I looked for a hotel that was close to everywhere I needed to go, after all we hear a lot about Sao Paulo’s traffic and of how many hours you can be stuck in traffic over there. So, in order to not waste too much time in traffic, I thought that a hotel close to where I needed to go would be ideal.
And that’s when I found the Blue Tree Premium Paulista hotel in Sao Paulo, it’s located at Rua Peixoto Gomides, n. 707 and if you’re like me, who does not know anything about Sao Paulo’s addresses, it’s just two blocks away from Paulista Avenue and near the MASP (Sao Paulo Museum of Art), so close that the MASP was actually “my neighbor” when I was looking out the window at balcony of my room on the 23rd floor:
The MASP, view from the balcony of the hotel Blue Tree Premium Paulista from the room I stayed.
• Hotel in Sao Paulo: Blue Tree Premium Paulista
The Blue Tree Premium Paulista is close to Paulista Avenue (Av. Paulista), even for those who are not going to Sao Paulo on business, but if you want to stay in a well located neighborhood, the hotel has a great location. The region has shopping malls, restaurants, cafes and it’s not far from another super famous street in SP, the Oscar Freire.
I stayed in the Deluxe Premier Twin apartment of this hotel in Sao Paulo, which has two beds and it’s very spacious with a desk, an armchair and a decoration that mixes a bit from classic to modern. The bathroom is also spacious with large mirror and a great shower and bath. With TV and wi-fi, I definitely had a warm and comfortable stay at the hotel.
The hotel also has a restaurant and it serves breakfast, I didn’t had time to check the hotel restaurant during lunch and dinner, because I had a few meetings on those times as well, but I will tell you more about the breakfast in a second. ;)
Check out more photos of the Deluxe Premier Twin at the Blue Tree Premium hotel in Sao Paulo, where I stayed during a weekend in Sao Paulo.
I found the room comfortable and spacious for two people and more our ladies’ suitcases. Very helpful to find a big mirror, but for those who love a mirror to check your outfit before hitting the city.
In today’s day when wi-fi is a required item, the internet in the room and throughout the hotel worked very well, even for videos and Youtube.
Classic armchair and a small balcony overlooking Sao Paulo:
The bathroom was also spacious and with a big mirror and a great shower to take that relaxing shower at the end of the day.
• Breakfast at the hotel in Sao Paulo:
I find the convenience of breakfast in the hotel so helpful, even in Sao Paulo with the variety of cafes and places to meet, you have several other meals throughout the day to enjoy the city.
In the photo above, mini pancakes with red fruit syrup that I had for my breakfast and, well, they end up being quite photogenic. lol
The breakfast of the Blue Tree Premium Paulista hotel was in buffet style with a variety of breads, cheese, ham, fruit and cakes:
• Leisure areas at the Blue Tree Premium Paulista hotel:
The hotel has some spaces such as a swimming pool, a small gym and meeting rooms for those going on business trips to Sao Paulo.
Summary of my review and stay at hotel Blue True Premium Paulista: I found the hotel with a great location in Sao Paulo, great area and ideal for those who want to travel with comfort and convenience. With a good variety for breakfast and fast wi-fi, I found a great hotel choice in Sao Paulo.
• Hotel em São Paulo: Blue Tree Premium Paulista
Site: www.bluetree.com.br
Phone: +55 (11) 3147-7000
Address: Rua Peixoto Gomide, 707, Cerqueira César • SP • São Paulo • 01409-001
Book your room at their website Blue Tree Premium Paulista or on Booking.com.
Chiara Ferragni Collection: Spring 2018 #MFW
The new Chiara Ferragni Collection Spring/Summer 2018 collection was one of the collections that I checked during the Milan Fashion Week (S/S 2018), as it’s just as we expected: full of joy, glitter and cool pieces!
photos: @SLS.Assessoria
• Chiara Ferragni S/S 2018 – MFW:
The new collection of Chiara Ferragni Collection for Spring / Summer 2018 was called Chiara’s Suite and it brings accessories and some casual clothes with glitter, a lot of shine that is already a trademark of the brand, and details with palm trees that bring that summer and vacation feeling to this collection.
Sweatshirts and bomber jackets are part of the new collection of the Chiara Ferragni Collection together with casual accessories like the many different sneakers on the new collection:
Here in a photo with Valentina Ferragni at the presentation of the Chiara Ferragni Collection Spring / Summer 2018 collection during the last Milan Fashion Week:
On the more feminine styles for shoes: models of mules, boots and slippers that bring the logo of the brand stamped and shining. But it’s not only on the shoes but also on some pieces of clothing and on some backpacks:
photos: @SLS.Assessoria
The new Spring/Summer collection brings a great variety of models without heels and on a more casual line than we had seen on the the previous season (check here the Chiara Ferragni Collection Fall 2017.18 presentation):
Shop it here:
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Sweatshirts, trousers and pieces that make a more sportive and even a minimal line are part of this new collection:
fotos: @SLS.Assessoria
Where to find the new collection of the Chiara Ferragni Collection? Find it all here:
[show_boutique_widget id=”689871″]Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing Lotion (Review)
A good body moisturizer is always important in our body care routine and for those of you who have or are facing a very dry skin, I tried the Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing Lotion, an intensive moisturizing lotion with 10% urea and I’ve been loving it!
I have been really liking Eucerin products for a few years now, since some years ago when I first tried a cleanser for rosacea or reddish skin that I really liked. But returning to this moisturizer review, Eucerin’s Complete Repair Moisturizing Lotion is one of those lotions with a more consistent texture and it really moisturize the skin very well, after all, it’s a product to dry skin.
• Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing Lotion: Review
The Eucerin Intensive Complete Repair moisturizing Lotion has 10% urea and aquaporin technology, I believe that among the two of them, urea is more famous in general. Urea is a component that can bring the water present inside the blood vessels into the skin cells, meaning that it has a strong hydrating action on our skin and it’s an important ingredient in many body lotions.
But the aquaporin technology was new to me and I went to give it a little research to understand it better. Aquaporins are channels that are on the cell membrane and have the function of driving the water molecules in and out of these structures, as well as blocking the passage of other substances.
Therefore, the use of this technology in cosmetics has the function of activating the production of aquaporins, as a result, they increase irrigation in the skin region and it can improve hydration capacity by up to 50%. That being said, the combination of this technology with urea actually creates a very strong moisturizing product to our skin and the results are visible.
In practice, I found that the intensive moisturizing lotion is really intensive and it’s great for dry skin or for when your skin gets drier during the cold days. After you apply the product, the skin is already soft at the time, of course for long-term results, you need to apply it everyday.
[show_lookbook_widget id=”384875″]Eucerin Intensive Moisturizing Lotion, U$ 18.06.
On the instructions it says you should apply the product as many times as necessary during the day, as my skin is not usually very dry, but since here in Italy we are in the winter season, my skin ends up getting drier, but still, I applied it only once a day, after a shower. And it was great to my skin.
Another interesting thing about this body moisturizer is that it actually leaves the skin moisturized for long hours, it is not one of those lotions you apply on the skin and shortly after the skin has the same dry texture as before. It actually leaves the skin softer and moisturized for a much longer time.
• Ingredients of Complete Repair Eucerin Moisturizing Lotion:
* I received the product from the brand, but my reviews are always my real and sincere opinions on the products I try.
Manu Luize
Fashion, beauty and travel blogger. Manu Luize is based in Milan (Italy) and writes about fashion trends, makeup and skincare reviews and tips, hair, fashion tips and travel destinations..
Write to Manu LuizeFavorite Online Stores
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Manu Luize
Fashion, beauty and travel blogger. Manu Luize is based in Milan (Italy) and writes about fashion trends, makeup and skincare reviews and tips, hair, fashion tips and travel destinations..
Write to Manu Luize