Saturday, May 30, 2015

REN Hot Cloth Cleanser

As many of you know I am quite picky on skincare. I've had my experiences with allergic reactions and all that jazz and let's say it's not the best. So when I try out a new product it can go either way: I love it or I hate and this one luckily falls into the love category.

The REN Hot Cloth Cleanser (150 ml, €23,00) was an airport purchase on my flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam Airport. I needed a new cleanser and I had never tried anything from REN before. I had heard many good things about their Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, but as I already spent way too much money, on many shoes and make-up items in my favourite city, I decided to buy something that I actually needed. But believe me, someday I will get my hands on that mask, because who doesn't want radiant and glowy skin? I do, I do!!
While paying, the lady at the counter went nuts about this cleanser. She used it too and was in love with it, so I had high hopes to see what it would do for me.

Back home I tried it out and I was quite surprised by the product itself. Before this I used the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, which is just like a regular cleanser. You massage it into your skin for a minute or so, wash it off and you are left with clean, make-up free skin. 
This one however takes a bit more time. I take about 2-3 pumps in my hand and massage it into my skin. This actually takes quite some time and the white cream sort of transforms into an oil. It doesn't look like an oil, but it feels like it. 
This part is actually the only thing I don't like about the product. When it's the end of the day I want things to be quick and easy. I want to put my comfy pyjamas on and watch my favourite TV-show in bed. I don't want to spend five minutes on massaging a cleanser into my skin. However after rinsing the cleanser off with the cloth and some warm water, I am left with soft, clean skin that makes me forget about those three extra minutes I just spend on my skincare ritual. What are three minutes anyway?
You do want to use warm/hot water to rinse it off. One time I used cold water, because I was on a ''sort of camping trip'' with uni and the warm water didn't work. I had to use cold water and it was such a pain to get the cleanser and make-up off my face.
I used this cleanser for about 3,5 months before it was empty, (I had almost finished it when I took this picture, let's just say I had some photo difficulties haha) which I think is normal for a cleanser. 

I do really like the product itself. The REN Hoth Cloth Cleanser left me with soft, clean skin and I do really feel like the 'oily' cream did good things to my skin. Although I do really like it, I will probably not repurchase it. The massaging part just takes too much time and I am currently back to my old fave (the F.A.B. cleanser). 
I am very interested in other products from REN though. I've seen that they have many more cleansers and I can't wait to try those out!

What is your favourite cleanser?


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Homemade Guacamole and Tortilla Chips



Avocados are something that I love. I pretty much eat them every day; just mashed with some salt and pepper on a spelt-flaxseed cracker. Today I used them again in one of my favourite recipes: homemade guacamole. 
Now, guac and nacho chips are not the healthiest combo, but I made it a bit healthier by making homemade tortilla chips. I had never tried this before but they are truly amazing!

What do you need?
Two ripe avocados
One tomato
1/4 red onion
One clove of garlic
1/2 lime
Some coriander leaves
Eight tortillas (I used whole wheat ones)
Sunflower oil (or olive oil, use whatever you fancy)
Sea salt
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper

First, preheat your oven to 180 °C. Then start with the tortilla chips. I cut the tortillas like I would cut a round birthday cake. In the end you should have eight chips per tortilla. Lay them next to each other on a baking tray lined with baking paper. They do not all fit, so just wait until the first batch of chips is out of the oven and start doing the same thing until you are out of tortilla triangles.
Put some sunflower oil in a cup, take a pastry brush and coat the tortillas with a thin layer of oil; front and back! Then sprinkle on some sea salt and cayenne pepper and put them in the oven for about eight minutes. They will come out all crispy and golden brown!
When your homemade tortilla chips are done, it's time for the guacamole!
Peel the skin of the avocados, remove the seeds and put them in a bowl. Mash them together with a fork until you get a smooth, green mixture. Cut your tomato, red onion, garlic and coriander in fine pieces and add those to the avocado mash. Squish out the juice of the lime and put it in the bowl. Now it's also time to add some sea salt and chili powder. Mix it all together and your homemade guacamole is done! 
Serve it with the chips and you have the best snack ever! I personally think the tortilla chips taste better than the ones you buy in store and they are so much healthier! 

I hope you make these too, because they are SO good!


Monday, May 25, 2015

Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes in Lots o' Latte



 When the By Terry Ombre Blackstar craziness began I wanted one so bad. There is just something about a cream eyeshadow in a stick that I can’t explain. Since no one sells By Terry here *cry emoji* I decided to go with the next best thing, which also has been on my wishlist for a very long time: the Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes. I hopped on over to the nearest Clinique counter, swatched many colours and decided to go with Lots o’ Latte; a gorgeous light brown colour.

I actually wanted something more taupe coloured, but I am very pleased with this one. It’s not too warm toned and I personally see a slight hidden taupe in there. It’s very well pigmented and easy to apply. I just ‘‘paint’’ my eyelid with the Chubby Stick and blend it out with my trusty MAC 217 brush. Yes, it’s that easy!
This cream eyeshadow gives your eyelids a gorgeous, brown sheen and the colour is also very buildable. Just keep applying and blending until you’re happy with the end result. It also lasts for quite some time; nine hours I would say. A little note with that is that I have very oily eyelids and an eyeshadow normally melts right off my eyes. I also didn’t use an eye primer, because I ran out of that. So nine hours is quite extraordinary on my ‘eyeshadow wearing days’.

I’m quite pleased with my newest addition. Normally I’m not an eyeshadow person cause 1. the blending just takes a lot of time and 2. it will crease in no time. I do have a lot of eyeshadow palettes in my collection, which is weird, since I don’t use them as often. This eyeshadow stick however applies like a dream and looks fab at any time of the day. Definitely one of my new faves!

What are your favourite cream eyeshadows?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Cinderella Approved Nails


I’ve always loved Disney films. From when I was a little girl to me being 21 years old and still shedding a few tears when a character dies. Nail polish is also one of my faves. I just love buying all those pretty colours, so you can imagine how I felt when I saw these babies in the shop!

Because of the new Cinderella movie (that I haven’t seen yet), Essence has teamed up with Disney and came out with a special limited edition collection. The collection has some amazing products, but what caught my eye was a sparkly nail polish. It just looked so pretty that I couldn’t resist not buying it. There was a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal, so I decided to also pick up a pastel lilac, which looked more like a grey colour in the store, but it’s still very pretty.
‘02 Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo’ is, as I said before, a pastel lilac with a matte finish. Two coats of this bad boy will transform your nails into the perfect spring manicure.
To top it all off, I decided to coat my ring fingers with ‘01 The Glass Slipper’: the glitter topper with silver and purple sparkles. I applied 2-3 coats, just because I wanted some more sparkles on my nails, and it looked amazing. The two nail polishes go very well together, so all in all I am very happy with my Cinderella approved nails.
The nail polish also lasted for quite some time. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo started to chip after three-four days, which for me is quite decent and The Glass Slipper would’ve stayed on for forever, but after six days I removed everything and reapplied the same combo. The only downside for me is that The Glass Slipper won’t come off my nails. Half a bottle of nail polish remover later, it finally started to come off, but it’s so pretty and sparkly that I can get past that.

If you also want to get some princess approved nails then head on over to your nearest Essence counter and have a look. They are both €1,99, so that’s quite good for these amazing nail polishes!

Have you tried anything from the Essence Cinderella range?

Saturday, May 23, 2015

FOTD #1: Going to 5SOS

 On Wednesday my friend and I kicked of our concert month. In the next couple of weeks we will be going to a lot of gigs. Ariana Grande, Olly Murs, Taylor Swift; just to name a few. I will also go to Miranda Sings, but my friend is not really a big fan, so I found another victim that wants to go with me hehe. Funny enough, all these gigs happen in four weeks’ time, so that means that some buzzy, but fun days, are ahead of us. 
To start off this music adventure we went to see 5 Seconds of Summer. Last year, I saw them too at the 1D concert and I really liked their music, so when they came to The Netherlands, for their own tour, my friend and I had to go. Also the tickets were very cheap which makes it even more fun. Here are some pics from the night!



 I have to admit, 1D and 5SOS are both guilty pleasures of mine, but I feel like I can share this top secret information with you haha. Anyways, we had an amazing time and we can't wait to see Ariana next Friday! *Happy face*

I've always liked Face Of  The Day posts. I'm just nosy in a way that I like to see what make-up other people have on their face. So today I am going to do the same and make this a regular thing if you like them too!

I started this look with my Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer. Since I was going to be very sweaty (lovely image for you there, but that's going to happen at concerts), I wanted my face make-up to look flawless the entire night. 
Next step is foundation. I used the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51. It looks very natural on the skin, but it tends to be quite shiny on me after a couple of hours.
To cover dark circles, pimples and scars I used the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 01 Fair. This concealer does an amazing job to cover anything, so I knew that it would help with my flawless, long-lasting complexion. I also used the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 to cover the things that needed a bit more coverage.
To set everything in place, I swirled my fluffy brush in the Soap & Glory One Heckof a Blot Powder and pressed it into my skin. This way it will stay put all night!
To give me amazing cheekbones I applied the Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer,  for a rosy sheen I applied the Estée Lauder IlluminatingBlush in Tease and for a gorgeous glow I went with my trusty MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle.
For bold, defined brows I used the Catrice Eyebrow Kit and the GOSH Eyebrow gel. This way my eyebrows won't move!
I kept my eye make-up very simple and just applied my Clinique Chubby Stick forEyes in Lots o' Latte and blended it out with my MAC 217 brush. A few coats of the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara in Black Waterproof and my eye look is complete.
On my lips I am wearing a mix of the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry and the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 105. I overdrawn them a bit, which is a look I really like at the moment.
A few spritzes of my Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream perfume and I am ready to go!

I hope you liked this post and let me know if I should make these a regular thing! :)


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

My Perfume Collection



A spritz of your favourite perfume can bring up so many memories. I used to have a Sarah Jessica Parker perfume that took me back to the period of time, back in 2010, when I had a summer job in a clothing store. Unfortunately I don't have that colourful bottle anymore, but I still have some other, maybe even better, fragrances that are currently standing on a stack of books on my dressing table. Let’s go through them all, shall we?

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum
This was the first luxury perfume I ever bought. The moment I first smelled this scent I was sold and this is already my second bottle of this perfume. I love how sophisticated it makes me feel and it's definitely my most favourite out of them all.

Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum
For my birthday I would always get gift cards for this luxury beauty boutique in town and I would mainly spend them on perfumes. That's actually how I bought this one from Chanel. I got a sample and immediately fell in love with the scent. This perfume also makes me feel so much like a grown up, I love it!

Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Again a gift card purchase. I love the floral scent of this Dior perfume. It just brightens my day every time I spray it on. It also stays on for a very long time. At the end of the day I can still smell the perfume, which for me is a big plus!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Eau de Parfum
This perfume has a special place in my heart. For my internship, last year, I went to the press event of this beauty and it was the first event I ever went to. I was very nervous, but in the end everything turned out great. I took some pictures, socialized and ate a delicious cupcake! 
The perfume itself is lovely and if you like the Marc Jacobs Daisy fragrance, you will love this. And even if you don't like it, just buy it for the pretty bottle. It will look stunning on your dressing table. This is a joke of course. Not really

United Colors of Benneton Love Yourself Eau de Toilette
Another beauty event perfume! I quite liked the event. We did a laughter yoga session, which basically means that you have to laugh, because laughing makes you happy. There are three perfumes in the collection and I received the pink 'Love Yourself' edition. I like the message of this perfume a lot and above all it smells very sweet and fruity!

Zoella Beauty Blissful Mistful
When Zoe came out with her range I had to buy this body mist. I love the scent of the entire range (I haven't tried every single product, but I also own the Fizz Bar, so I assume that the entire range has the same scent). It's very floral, fresh and perfect for every day. Even though I still have some left, I'm thinking about picking up a new bottle next time I'm in London. I can’t live without it!

Van Gils Tendenza
This is an old favourite of mine. I used to own this one when I was very young and I love the fruity and floral scent. You can read more about it here!

Beyoncé Heat The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Limited Edition
To be honest I can't really say a lot about this one. My friends forgot this birthday present, so they gave it to me on another friends' birthday and then I forgot it at her place. I am so smart. not 
I picked it up last week and I do really like it. The perfume is by Beyoncé, so what's not to like?


What is your favourite perfume?


Monday, May 18, 2015

Spring Lookbook 2015

Since we can finally say goodbye to the winter and enjoy the warm sunshine, I decided to film a spring lookbook. To be honest, the weather in The Netherlands has not been very sunny and warm, so if you are thinking: 'Why are you wearing jeans in every single outfit?' that's probably why.
I have also been very into black and white clothing. I love the minimalistic look and at the moment it just suits me better. My younger self is cringing by the thought of an all-black outfit (I used to be a walking rainbow), but I honestly quite like it. I made an exception with some brown accessories and a bright yellow pineapple skirt, but that's about it for the colours in my spring wardrobe haha.

I hope you like the video and let me know what your favourite spring fashion items are in the comments below! Ooh and don't forget to subscribe!




Thursday, May 14, 2015

A Day in Utrecht and A Vlog Fail

If you've read my last lifestyle post, you know that I recently went to Utrecht. I had a lovely catch up with a friend; we explored the city and ate some delicious food. I vlogged the trip and I decided to film with my DSLR camera because the quality is better.
The only thing is, is that vlogging in public with a small camera or your phone is awkward, but vlogging with a big DSLR camera is even more awkward. That's why I didn't really pick up my camera and talked about what I was doing.
In a bit less than five weeks I will be going to London and I WILL vlog the trip. The quality may be a bit off, but I WILL VLOG haha! I still hope you enjoy this little video of my trip!

 


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The BEST Chocolate Cookie Recipe



As a person who watches YouTube videos regularly I have seen these cookies a million times before. When Tanya Burr first came with this cookie recipe I knew that I had to make them myself, but as time went by I forgot all about them. Until recently when I saw them pop up in a lot of vlogs and my cookie cravings were immediately triggered. Because when people say this is THE BEST cookie they have ever tasted, you know that I can't wait to try them myself.

After making and taste testing them myself I can honestly say that these are indeed THE BEST cookies I have ever tasted. *Insert millions of heart-eyes emojis*. They are just so chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. I especially like them when they are still warm, because then the chocolate is a bit melted. They are not the healthiest option, but from time to time we got to treat ourselves right?

What do you need?
(For 10 cookies)
200g softened butter
300g caster sugar 
1 large egg
275g self-raising flour
75g cocoa powder
A little dash of milk 

And add A LOT of chocolate. I used a couple of bars which turns out to be these measurements:
200g of milk chocolate
225g of white chocolate
75g of butterscotch chocolate
A lot of Rolos

Feel free to add whatever chocolate you like! 


How do you make these delicious cookies and go straight to chocolate heaven?
First of all, preheat your oven to 200 °C.
Put your softened butter and caster sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream them together. I used a spoon to do this and it went quite well. A mixer would also work and that would be a lot quicker too!
Add your egg to the buttery mixture and keep on mixing. Then pop all your dry ingredients into the mixing bowl and keep on stirring until your dough is perfect. If your dough looks a bit dry you can add a dash of milk, but my dough looked perfectly fine, so I didn't do that.
Break up all the chocolate and add them to the dough, except most of the Rolos. (I added a few sneaky ones into the mixture itself, but I mainly added them on top at the end).
Make sure all the chocolate is well distributed through the mixture and take small handfuls of dough. Place those onto your two baking trays that are lined with baking paper. The cookies will spread in the oven and you don't want to get one large cookie, although that would be quite cool haha. Also now it's time to add the Rolos on top of the cookies! Make sure you press them into the dough, because the caramel will burst out of the cookie like a volcano.
Pop your trays into the oven for about 10-11 minutes. I think that 11 minutes is a bit too long, so you just have to see what works for you. When you get the cookies out of the oven they are still soft, which is normal, so don't put them in for like 25 minutes, because then you will get a cookie as hard as a brick instead of a delicious, chewy cookie.
Now you let them cool for about 30 minutes. I know this is hard, because I was so tempted to take a bite, but they really need that time to cool down.

In the meantime you can make a nice cup of tea or a refreshing glass of lemonade, put on your favourite TV-show (I just finished all 9 seasons of HIMYM. Last year I also did this, so I thought it was time to do it again and I actually have a new record on how fast I watched them all. It's too embarrassing to tell this record *3 weeks, #nolife*, so I will spare you that haha) and take in the delicious, chocolaty scent that has filled the room. And then there is that moment when you take a bite out of that crunchy, chewy cookie and oh boy it's THE BEST. I wish I still had some left.

What is your favourite cookie recipe?

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Collective Haul with Primark, Kiehl's and More

The last couple of weeks I have been in a very #feelingspendy mood. A lot of my regular products like my cleanser and my moisturiser ran out, so I HAD to go to the shops and buy new ones. On these trips I popped into a lot of other shops and picked up some goodies that I am going to share with you all today! 
Get ready for some fashion and beauty bits and some reading material!

Don't forget to subscribe!




Friday, May 8, 2015

A Day in Utrecht




Lately I have been a bit obsessed with Instagram. I love taking pictures and when I walk down a street I just see so many photo opportunities. It's getting a bit out of hand actually.

On Wednesday I went to Utrecht to catch up with a friend and I had an amazing time! I usually go to Amsterdam, because I go to uni there and it's only 30 minutes away. Utrecht on the other hand is an hour away so I don't go there that often, but that city is hella photogenic. Just as Amsterdam the lovely streets and bridges are so beautiful. We strolled through the city and ended up at 'La Place'. The food there is sooooo good and I hadn't been there in forever. We both ordered a salmon burger with fries and a frappuchino. It was very delicious and I have to go there again very soon! 

I had such a lovely day and it was nice to catch up and take a lot of photos along the way. If you want to see more than head on over to my Instagram!

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