Roberto Cavalli Paradiso Eau de Parfum
15.12.15
15.12.15
Holiday gift guide: Affordable beauty
9.12.15The holiday season is upon us! Lately I have been busy doing everything but plan & buy Christmas presents (I've always been more of...
9.12.15
The holiday season is upon us! Lately I have been busy doing everything but plan & buy Christmas presents (I've always been more of a last-minute gift buyer. So stressful though, yikes!) but now that our Christmas tree is up and decorated, I'm starting to feel festive! Another yearly tradition I've enjoyed is reading gift guides. So many other bloggers have created awesome posts already. In fact, this year I decided it might be a good idea to join in on the fun and make a couple of gift guides myself!
Today it's all about affordable beauty. A lot of fantastic beauty products can be found at the drugstore nowadays. Many budget-friendly makeup brands are finding their way to Europe through online shops too. In my opinion the holidays are the perfect time to introduce fellow beauty enthusiasts to new things or maybe even give them something you already know they love. I personally prefer giving people small gifts I know will bring a smile to their face! Here are my beauty recommendations under €20 that would make great Christmas stocking fillers. I hope I can help out some of you or give you some inspiration! Grab a cup of tea, because this post is a long one!
When in Berlin: A roundup in pictures
21.11.15At the end of October a friend and I hopped on a plane to spend the weekend in Berlin! This little getaway couldn't have come at a bet...
21.11.15
At the end of October a friend and I hopped on a plane to spend the weekend in Berlin! This little getaway couldn't have come at a better timing, as we were dying to get away from our busy schedules for a couple days. We were both excited to roam the streets of this beautiful city, ready to stumble upon some of the many hotspots it has to offer, but also leaving time to explore its famous landmarks. Berlin is truly amazing and I'm actually very lucky to return soon and have the chance to learn even more about its stories and culture. I mean, we discuss history and society in our German cultural history classes at university, but actually being in Berlin, picking up the atmosphere that lives amongst its citizens, is so different. For now, here's a quick picture roundup with some highlights of my latest trip!
For more pictures, go visit my Instagram @lysclr!
My top 5 Lush recommendations
18.10.15There is nothing like the occasional splurge at Lush Cosmetics . Sometimes I'll go there to celebrate when I've completed hard wor...
18.10.15
There is nothing like the occasional splurge at Lush Cosmetics. Sometimes I'll go there to celebrate when I've completed hard work (or not, Procrastination could be my middle name) and I want to reward myself with new bath goodies, or I buy a backup of something and end up getting more than I had allowed myself before heading in. The welcoming staff, colourful displays and the luscious aromas in the air make it hard to resist. Over the past couple years I've built a little selection of favourite products which I buy over and over again. Now, if I tell you a bit more about my picks, would you be willing to share yours in the comments? I'd love to know what your favourites are!
10 Questions about Autumn
24.9.15Autumn is here and I couldn't be more excited! Obviously the summer months are amazing, but Autumn is just as charming for its own spec...
24.9.15
Autumn is here and I couldn't be more excited! Obviously the summer months are amazing, but Autumn is just as charming for its own special reasons. I thought it would be fun to tell you why I enjoy this season so much, so I took a couple of 'TAG' series that I found online and combined them into a new list. I hope you'll enjoy this post and please don't hesitate to tell me what you love about Autumn in the comments section!
Summer lovin': Lips & Cheeks
5.8.15We are now halfway through Summer (I can't believe I'm saying this) and I thought it was about time I'd show you my makeup pic...
5.8.15
We are now halfway through Summer (I can't believe I'm saying this) and I thought it was about time I'd show you my makeup picks for the months of June and July. This time I'm focusing on lips and cheeks! I haven't worn a lot of foundation lately. Instead I slapped on a good amount of moisturiser or a serum each morning to keep my skin hydrated for a day at work, where I was hiding from the heat wave we had a few weeks ago while preventing my skin to dry out from the airconditioning inside the building. To make my complexion more healthy-looking, I wore blush pretty much every day. To top off my summer look, I added a lip gloss or lipstick for a (subtle) pop of colour and extra hydration.
Personal · Busy as a bee
18.7.15It's that time of the year again! Summer... The time when I am so busy doing everything and nothing that the blog gets pushed into the...
18.7.15
It's that time of the year again! Summer... The time when I am so busy doing everything and nothing that the blog gets pushed into the background for a little while. I never do this on purpose, but it happens. I'm sure you all know the feeling!
I'm actually writing this to give you an update on what I've been up to. June was a blur, as always. After four years at uni I'm still not used to the mayhem that is preparing for exams. On one hand it feels like I'll never have enough time to study, yet somehow the days are very slow when you're sat in front of a desk all day. Fortunately I was able to combine work with uni after the worst - a.k.a. five exams in a week - had passed, which felt refreshing after a semester of attending classes, writing assignments and other school-related responsibilities. I had my last day at work yesterday and I was actually a bit sad to leave. My thoughts've been elsewhere since, though, because I am leaving for Ireland tomorrow! We fly to Dublin where we are renting a car for the week to explore the west coast and possibly other areas of the country. Relaxing and having fun with friends is something I've been looking forward to for a looong time! Uni assignments will be waiting for me when I get back, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the moment and focus on the trip.
I am going to attempt vlogging while I'm there! No promises, but I'll do my best! I'll be posting on social media too, so keep an eye on my Twitter and Instagram if you'd like to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Irish landscapes.
Are you travelling somewhere this summer? I'd love to hear about it!
PS. The sky was on fire last week! I was so happy I was able to take pictures of it. It was even more beautiful in real life!
Three Steps for Longer Lashes
13.7.15If there is one makeup product I couldn't miss, it's mascara. I go weeks without wearing foundation or eyeshadow, but mascara is a ...
13.7.15
If there is one makeup product I couldn't miss, it's mascara. I go weeks without wearing foundation or eyeshadow, but mascara is a daily essential for me, has been since what seems like forever. I have been wearing makeup for about eight years now and over time I've tried numerous mascaras from various brands. There are so many options to choose from nowadays, but what I usually look for in a good mascara is that the formula lengthens my eyelashes, doesn't smudge and feels comfortable (no clumpy lashes feeling for me, please!).
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for sensitive skin
21.6.15The past months I've discovered a lot of great beauty products from the drugstore. Surprisingly, only one of them is skincare. I'v...
21.6.15
The past months I've discovered a lot of great beauty products from the drugstore. Surprisingly, only one of them is skincare. I've always preferred micellar water over balms or oils because I find it's the quickest and easiest way to remove makeup before going in with a cleanser - in my case: a cleansing milk/gel. So when I'd finished a bottle of Diadermine (great stuff too!) I ended up in the Garnier aisle, where their Micellar Cleansing Water, a product that many a blogger has confessed their love to in the past year, landed in my shopping basket.
Helping hands: Bourjois Instant Dry Nail Drops
15.5.15In a world where everything has to go fast and there's no time to lose, it's no wonder that beauty brands would start bringing the...
15.5.15
In a world where everything has to go fast and there's no time to lose, it's no wonder that beauty brands would start bringing their version of time-saving products into the stores. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear 'beauty' and 'fast' together is fast-drying top coats. I hate when I have to wait for my nail polish to dry - I often forget I have a fresh manicure and end up smudging the polish. This year Bourjois released the Instant Dry Nail Enamel Dryer. They are easy-to-use nail drops that help nail polish dry twice as fast.
Personal · Things to focus on
8.5.15There is never a bad timing to set yourself new challenges. I have some personal goals I want to focus on this year. It's just someth...
8.5.15
There is never a bad timing to set yourself new challenges. I have some personal goals I want to focus on this year. It's just something I do all the time, I bet I'll have a whole new list of ideas very soon again. Here's what I'm currently concentrated on:
Outfit inspiration: Combining prints
1.5.15Festival season is here! When I go to a festival or on a short trip, I like to pack so I can mix and match outfits without having to bring...
1.5.15
Festival season is here! When I go to a festival or on a short trip, I like to pack so I can mix and match outfits without having to bring too many clothes. I'll pick one piece that works with any outfit - something that always looks fashionable, and it'll save space in the suitcase! Win-win situation! Sevenbien.nl is a Dutch shop that sells trendy, yet affordable women's clothing. They offer interesting discounts every week and recently launched a page devoted entirely to festival outfits. One of the aztec print jumpers on their website has caught my eye and it got me thinking: How would I style this item?
What's in my shower?
24.4.15Besides yours truly ? Lots and lots of bath stuff. In the shower, on the bathroom shelf, even filling a drawer in the bedroom. Of anything...
24.4.15
Besides yours truly? Lots and lots of bath stuff. In the shower, on the bathroom shelf, even filling a drawer in the bedroom. Of anything cosmetics related, buying bath products is my biggest weakness. It used to be nail polish, but that was until I discovered stores like Lush and The Body Shop. Oh, that soapy goodness.
Since I try so many different bath products, I thought it might be fun every now and then to discuss what I'm using. So far in 2015 I have made an effort to improve the condition of my hair by sticking to the same couple of products and avoiding heat. But then I've also indulged in body care...
Low-budget beauty picks
17.4.15There is no denying that luxurious makeup with pretty packaging makes my heart beat faster (YSL and your golden packaging, I'm looking ...
17.4.15
There is no denying that luxurious makeup with pretty packaging makes my heart beat faster (YSL and your golden packaging, I'm looking at you!). But when I inspect my makeup collection I see there is a lot of makeup from the drugstore too that I've been using and loving for years. Just because something is more expensive doesn't guarantee the quality, and I feel like drugstore brands have really upped their game in the past few years. I picked six of my most used low-budget makeup products to show you today. Just a heads up, this blog post turned out to be longer than I expected!
I Spy · Essential white
10.4.15more details: ppandora on polyvore Another short inspiration post for this weekend. I'm usually all about black. All-black outf...
10.4.15
more details: ppandora on polyvore
Another short inspiration post for this weekend. I'm usually all about black. All-black outfits are awesome and can look super sophisticated when combining the right textures or fabrics (but of course you can just wear whatever you like; in the end it doesn't matter!). But so can white! It's such a crisp colour and it can really make a statement. I've been fascinated by everything white for a while now. Here are some of the things fashion & interior related that are currently on my radar.
Essie Professional Routine (Chinchilly)
2.4.15If you were wondering what's been on my nails for the entire month of March, I'm about to show you right now. Now this may not se...
2.4.15
If you were wondering what's been on my nails for the entire month of March, I'm about to show you right now. Now this may not seem very exciting except I usually change the colour once or twice a week when I give myself an at-home manicure. The nail polish you see on the left - Chinchilly by Essie - is quite an interesting shade. I can't get enough of it!
MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly'
21.3.15Last year I learned about the importance of makeup primer. I can truly see a difference in the longevity of any foundation or concealer I...
21.3.15
Last year I learned about the importance of makeup primer. I can truly see a difference in the longevity of any foundation or concealer I've applied when there's a primer underneath. Same goes for eye makeup, only it took me a bit longer to find out.
The "I wish..." TAG
14.3.15Do you like my fuzzy/foxy socks? I've been waiting for an excuse to post a picture of these, haha! I read a few fun 'TAG' post...
14.3.15
Do you like my fuzzy/foxy socks? I've been waiting for an excuse to post a picture of these, haha! I read a few fun 'TAG' posts on several Dutch blogs lately, and decided it was about time I posted one of these myself! Keep reading if you want to find out some of my wildest dreams or deepest wishes.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Diffused Light'
7.3.15You might've seen me mention this pretty number a few times before. Last summer I picked up one of the Ambient Lighting Powders at a...
7.3.15
You might've seen me mention this pretty number a few times before. Last summer I picked up one of the Ambient Lighting Powders at an Hourglass counter in London. After swatching the powders and trying out the different options, I decided on buying 'Diffused Light'.
An H&M Home wish list
4.3.15H&M Home is coming to my hometown, Ghent! This was announced over a year ago so old news, but now it's almost here. The store wil...
4.3.15
H&M Home is coming to my hometown, Ghent! This was announced over a year ago so old news, but now it's almost here. The store will be opening next Friday 13 March and is located on the corner of Langemunt and Vrijdagsmarkt. I am beyond excited to go shopping, so I decided to put together a wish list to warm up!
Watching lights: Gent Lichtfestival
21.2.15How has 2015 been treating you so far? Looking back on the past two months I can safely say it's been a good start to the year. The mo...
21.2.15
How has 2015 been treating you so far? Looking back on the past two months I can safely say it's been a good start to the year. The most fun was the lights festival in my hometown Gent a few weeks ago. The city centre had been transformed with various lights installations and fascinating art pieces for everyone to visit. I almost forgot to show you some pictures I took that weekend. I really enjoyed strolling around, looking into buildings and seeing the city in a different setting.
Sunday inspiration · Loungin'
15.2.15more details: ppandora on polyvore Some Sunday inspiration. I'm dreaming of a day without responsib...
15.2.15
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| more details: ppandora on polyvore |
Some Sunday inspiration. I'm dreaming of a day without responsibilities- no deadlines, just relaxing. After one week of uni and, inevitably, a load of assignments... Right. Dream on.
s I recently entered a Pinterest contest by IKEA Belgium. Looking for pictures that resemble my dream bedroom has sparked my desire to go homewear shopping. (Though, when does that ever go away?) The copper succulent pots stand out in a white interior and would look great on my wall shelf.
s A day without a cup of tea is just not the same. I've been loving berry-flavoured or black loose-leaf tea in particular. I came across this mug and chuckled at the quote because it's spot on.
s Delicate lingerie. The pretty lace number you see above already found a place in my wardrobe. It's cute and comfortable and I'd like to get more of the similar kind.
s I've got my mind set on a few beauty products too. Mostly out of curiosity, I must admit. Funny detail: Buying the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask would give me an excuse to finally explore the beautiful store Fin du Jour in Ghent. OH yes.
Did you have any plans this weekend?
PS. Have you entered my latest giveaway? You can win a box full of skincare goodies and tea!
Winter skin fixes
10.2.15I don't know about where you live, but the weather in Belgium has been crazy. One moment it's sunny, next thing you know we're...
10.2.15
I don't know about where you live, but the weather in Belgium has been crazy. One moment it's sunny, next thing you know we're dealing with heavy rainfall, snow or hail storms. I have a selection of skincare products to keep my skin hydrated and protected through the many weather conditions of this winter.
Lush Heart Throb & Rose Jam
5.2.15As much as we hate to admit it, the holiday season is long gone. With the start of 2015 began the countdown to Valentine's Day. I don...
5.2.15
As much as we hate to admit it, the holiday season is long gone. With the start of 2015 began the countdown to Valentine's Day. I don't celebrate Valentine's, but every year I'm thrilled to see what Lush Cosmetics have in store for us! As expected they have released a collection full of divine-smelling, skin-nourishing goodies. One product that really stood out for me is the Heart Throb bubbleroon. I paired its warm scent with Rose Jam - a limited edition shower gel from the Christmas collection - to create a dreamy, sensuous bath.
Most loved of 2014 · Beauty & Misc
1.2.15Late to the party as always, but look what I found catching dust in my blog post drafts! A lot of people have been writing about their fav...
1.2.15
Late to the party as always, but look what I found catching dust in my blog post drafts! A lot of people have been writing about their favourite blog posts, beauty products, outfits, etc. of 2014 and since this is the first time I've blogged for a whole year, I thought it might be fun to share a few of my own favourites, as well! In random order:
MAC Objects Of Affection
21.1.15Today I want to show you something I'm very excited about. While I was in Tallinn in November , I picked up a bunch of pigments at t...
21.1.15
Today I want to show you something I'm very excited about. While I was in Tallinn in November, I picked up a bunch of pigments at the MAC counter from one of their holiday collections, Objects of Affection. I've been wearing nude/pink eyeshadows a lot lately, so when I saw this set of pink and rose hued loose pigments and glitter in person, I was sold.
Way late with this review as the collection is no longer available, I wanted to present them to you anyway, because just look at them pretties.
You may have noticed...
16.1.15...or maybe you haven't, but Modest Mix has its own domain name ! The blog URL is something I wanted to change for a while, and now th...
16.1.15
...or maybe you haven't, but Modest Mix has its own domain name! The blog URL is something I wanted to change for a while, and now that it's done I wonder why I waited that long at all. (Probably has something to do with me being a huge noob in everything technical.)
In a snowy paradise · Recap Lapland trip
10.1.151- Made a foxy friend. I wish! But I did get to see my favourite animal so I'm a happy panda. 2- Solo walks, my fave. 3- On our ...
10.1.15
1- Made a foxy friend. I wish! But I did get to see my favourite animal so I'm a happy panda.
2- Solo walks, my fave.
3- On our way to a Norwegian seaside village all the way up North.
2- Solo walks, my fave.
3- On our way to a Norwegian seaside village all the way up North.
4- We visited a husky farm, where I fell in love with at least fifty huskies.
5- Just look at how excited they were when the caretaker brought out the puppies! Come on, it's PUPPIES!!
(For the record, the strange-looking pile on the left is dog food, don't you dare think those nasty thoughts now.)
(For the record, the strange-looking pile on the left is dog food, don't you dare think those nasty thoughts now.)
6- Another breathtaking view, something I couldn't get enough of in Lapland.
In this case it is all about the pictures, not the words. A little over a month ago, I had the most wonderful week exploring the Lapland region in Northern Finland. It was a week filled with fun activities, great people and best of all, loads of snow! We were very lucky with temperatures between -5 and -10°C while still having the beautiful snowy landscapes to enjoy. And the Aurora Borealis... No words, so so unbelievable. Above is a small collection of photos - it was so hard limiting it to just these six! If you'd like to see more pictures from the trip, give a shout and I'll gladly post more.
New in from FeelUnique: Caudalie
5.1.15We have just discussed the Christmas sales and here I am already to show you what I scored in the previous sales of last month. I like to...
5.1.15
We have just discussed the Christmas sales and here I am already to show you what I scored in the previous sales of last month. I like to think I found an excellent deal in these. FeelUnique offered the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum by French skincare brand Caudalie in a gift set. I was going to repurchase the serum anyway so this was the perfect moment to do so. For a great price I got two full-size products and a gift with purchase, which was a cute travel bag that carried four samples. The samples contain 15 to 75ml of product, that's rather impressive!
