#HEALTH: annie’s beauty… Tricks & Tips on How To Stay Fit and Motivated

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#HEALTH: annie's beauty... Tricks & Tips on How To Stay Fit and Motivated, exercise, health, healthy eating, healthy living, Stay Fit and Motivated, tricks and tips

Summer is just around the corner ( hopefully!? ) and around this time of the year is when I find my motivation to get fit, again… Not because I need a beach/bikini body for the next hot months, but simply because at the beginning of every spring I get lazy and forget how much I love to exercise…. And of course, the mesmerizing power of the chocolate from the triple choc chip cookies wins over all the will in the world!

So I find it appropriate to share with you today what I do to get back my healthy lifestyle I was telling you about in this post here.

1. Keep a journal of your Fitness journey, where to write all the details that will help you keep under control everything you do: weight, meals – which you can also plan in advance, certain fitness programs if you’re into any, the days you’ve been working out, and exercises you did, days you haven’t, what you eat on a regular day and what you allow yourself to eat during your cheat day…
2. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t see immediate results! And by no means Don’t quit! Allow your body to do its thing, on its own rhythm… My body, for instance, needs a good 10 to 14 days of intense and sustained effort to show changes! So at least two weeks of daily working out at the gym, lots of water and some delicious meals, will take quite some time to show up! Read about my healthy eating habits here.
3. Think positive! See the best in your muscles are sore – that means that you’re doing your exercises well… In that plain water that often tastes like nothing, but it will help you cleanse your bossy of all those nasty toxins… Nobody stops you to spruce that a bit with a touch of lemon, or strawberries, or mint, or… whatever excites you taste buds! In those who make fun of your red face after you ran 8 km in the park or on the thread mill… They can’t understand and above all, they wouldn’t be able to keep up with you, not even for the half of your run! They’re probably like that in real life as well – they want but they cannot! You WANT and you CAN!
4. Realize that you’re alone in this! The sooner you realize this, the better for you and your mental set. Because “you” are going to be your worst “enemy” yourself! Tired, lazy, greedy, the epitome of all the cravings you’ve ever had at the worst hours in the day!… This is you now!
5. But don’t worry! Don’t be too harsh on you! You’re only human after all! Understand that it’s better to take “yourself” by the hand and have a treat ( cheat day )… both of you! Like that you won’t feel that food-guilt that often pushes people way too far, leading them to some serious health issues, and “yourself” won’t be able to laugh it’s fat a** at you anymore!

So, how many of you are you doing any of these above! What else are you doing that I’m not aware of? Please share everything you know in the Comments below!

See you soon, Beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

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APIVITA Natural Serum LIFTING with royal jelly & vitamin A

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Apivita, APIVITA Natural Serum Lifting with royal jelly & vitamin A, natrural ingredients 95%, review

I’m no stranger to Apivita products! I have used some of their skincare, body care and hair care items and had lovely results from them!

My favourites have to be their serums though! My absolute favourite serum is the Natural Serum HYDRATION with aloe & hyaluronic acid which I used at a certain point when my skin was acting out like never before and it put it back on track… But today I’m going to talk to you about a new discovery, the APIVITA Natural Serum LIFTING with royal jelly & vitamin A!

Our skin has practically a life of its own and needs a couple of ingredients to “survive”. Its main “attraction” is firmness which depends on collagen and elastin ( two of the ingredients I was telling you about! ). The worst enemy of our skin is time, while it is also affected by external factors, such as exposure to the sun. So, as the years go by, the skin looses its elasticity and firmness. The Apivita LIFTING Natural Serum is used both in cases of firmness loss and preventively, recovering the skin’s elasticity and youthfulness. Its basically what your skin needs to look younger in a tiny little bottle!

The Natural Serum LIFTING has a rich formula and contains 95% natural ingredients, amongst which: Greek Royal Jelly, Vitamin A, Linseed, Cistus, Honey, Wheat germ oil, Hyaluronic acid, Myrrh, sandalwood & rose essential oils, Green tea infusion all from certified organic cultivation and NO Parabens, Silicones, Propylene glycol, Mineral oil, Ethanolamine, Phthalates, PCM, NM. Basically a loot of good ingredients and no nasties.

Vitamin A is basically a group of retinols which is the main “cause” of the regeneration of skin cells, giving that freshness and lifting to the face, while royal jelly is anti-aging and wrinkle reducer, skin and wound healer ( heals acne, scars, cuts, and wounds ), anti-inflammatory, has antibiotic components, antibacterial agents, contains complex B vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and enzymes.

All these ingredients combined will lead to a more youthful-looking, fresh, hydrated and plumped skin and you’ll be noticing improvements with the first usages. This was my case! 

Given the fact that Vitamin A is in fact retinol, make sure you use this serum every other day or less, especially you my Beautiful ladies with sensitive skins! And make also sure that you’re using your SPF as you should, daily. 

Besides the benefits given by the ingredients, what I enjoyed the most is the lightweight texture of the product. It offers such an enjoyable experience when it touches your skin and it absorbs instantly leaving your face clear of any residues! Definitely excellent under makeup as well! It has a pleasant, faint smell that will not offend even the pickiest of noses! You know, products with natural ingredients in them tend to have strong, herbal, earty scents that most people would find unpleasant! Well, this is not the case!

This serum gained a special place in my skincare routine, that is a strong one now! I will definitely write a post dedicated to that, since my last one I remember writing a year a go! 

Would you like to read more about that? Please let me know in the comments below! And make sure you share your favourite serums, as I’m always opened to trying new products.

Thanks for reading Beautiful, and as aways…

See you soon! 

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

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Beauty Facts: Perfume – How To Make Your Favourite Fragrance Last Longer…

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#anniesbeauty, #beautyfacts, beauty, favourite perfumes, fragrance, how-to perfume, perfume

The fact I’m going to expose next, I’m absolutely positive happened to all of us at least once, at a certain point in our lives!

So… You went into your favourite perfumery, fell head over heels for a certain perfume, and since you couldn’t imagine life without wearing it everyday, you had to bring it home with you! Such a happy kid you were! But when you spritz it on, guess what?!… It disappeared before you knew it! “What you did wrong?!”, you start asking yourself… “Where did it went?!” That’s going to be another unsolved mystery!…

Or maybe not! Because I’m going to try to explain in “poor words” what actually happened!

First of all, my lovelies, perfumes are made out of volatile essences, ingredients which in contact with our skin are activated, and become… well!… volatile, what do you know!?!?!?! ( for those who didn’t knew, the root of the word “Volatile“ traces back to the Latin verb volare, which means “to fly” – according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary ). So bye-bye, perfume!

The main “culprit”, responsible for this unhappy event always happening, is actually the “heat” of our own body… Which is also influenced by a handful of factors: weather, temperature, blood pressure, food… Yes, food! It is well known that meat eaters have a body temperature a bit higher that vegetarians, that’s why the same perfume smells differently on different persons!

It’s what’s called “different PH”! But in fact, it’s all about chemistry!

So, here’s what you need to do for your perfumes to last longer on you:

1. make sure you apply perfume after a shower or a long bath! Scents last longer on moist skins, “when all your pores are opened”. So feel free to dose yourself in perfume after drying off with your towel, but before you’re getting dressed!
2. place a couple of spritzes “strategically”. The “hottest points ” of your body are the ones you should apply your perfume on: neck, behind your ears, inside of your elbows, cleavage, stomach, back of your knees… Be careful though when you tend to slather yourself in perfume… It’s kind of essential for other people to still breathe while you’re around! No need to cover all there areas either, the most recommended are: back of your ears, inside of your elbows and knees, areas that favor evaporation, so the fragrance will be released continuously throughout the day!
3. DON’T “rub” your fragrance! You’ll only heat the area and “break” the particles of fragrance in smaller divisions, which will volatilize even faster.
4. double your perfume with a body lotion with the same scent!
5. use your perfume in your hair… also sparingly, because perfume can be drying!… and you know, people need to breathe… still!…
6. look after your perfumes! Make sure you deposit them in proper storage conditions, away from light and heat, which will cause them to break down sooner than expected! And by no means, don’t keep your perfumes in the shower!
7. my favourite “trick”: layer your perfumes! Make your favourite scent smell even better by combining  softer, airy scents with strong and longer-lasting ones ( just an example! )! Like that you’ll give them body, make them last longer and why not, create your own perfume that will only smell like… YOU! Be unique!
8. feel free to take your favourite perfume with you and freshen up during the day! for that you have perfume atomisers and perfumes perfume refills with their own fancy cases check some options here and here, like my MFK Amyris Femme photographed above.

How many of these “tricks and tips” were new to you, Beautiful? Do you have other ones to share with me?

Until next time…

See you soon!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

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AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES Bath Jewels – SPA, relaxation time… at home!

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Aromatherapy Associates, Aromatherapy Associates Bath Jewels, Aromatherapy Associates Bath Jewels Revive Morning Deep Relax De-Stree Mind, review, SPA, SPA at home

I love a good bath! I like my steamy water, I like my bubbles, I like my oils, bath salts and my candles lit all-over the place! I like to relax and enjoy a moment with myself, in an atmosphere that’s cozy and relaxing!

And now’s when the Aromatherapy Associates Bath Jewels come in hand!

This is a trio that came out around Christmas, made of a selection of their most loved and most sold, award-winning bath and shower oils: the De-Stress Mind, the Deep Relax and the Revive Morning. They come in this little and extremely cute glass bottles, filled with 9 ml of the blissful aroma of the of the purest essential oils, which will transform your every bathing experience into the most luxurious, SPA-like experience…

Deep Relax is meant for a peaceful night’s sleep, De-Stress Mind to focus the thoughts and Revive Morning to awaken the senses. The first two really helped me to keep at bay my insomnia, which showed up its ugly face around Christmas time, therefore they are my most used out of the three.

The Deep Relax Oil uses the extraordinary benefits of vetiver, camomile and sandalwood extracts which combined, calms you down after a day when you’re always on the move and gives you the absolute feeling of well-being.

The De-Stress Mind helps clearing your mind, sharpening your thoughts due to the amazing “awakening” powers of frankincense, petitgrain, wild camomile and rosemary. You won’t feel sleepy, on the contrary in your mind all the “pieces of the puzzle” will fall in their right places effortlessly.

The Revive Morning Oil is a blend meant to wake you up in the mornings! It has refreshing pink-grapefruit, rosemary and juniper extracts meant to help you cast away the “morning laziness”, preparing you for the new day! 

As you can see all the oils have natural ingredients, that smell earthy and herbaly. It’s a strong scent though, and if your not the biggest fan of strong scents this might actually take you by surprise! You only need the tiniest amount of product and your whole house will smell like a SPA…

… definitely an experience you’ll want to reenact again and again!

What about you, Beautiful? Have you tried any Aromatherapy Associates products? Do you have any recommendations?

I hope you enjoyed this little introduction into the Aromatherapy Associates world, throughout my own experience!

See you soon!

xx, Annie

 

 

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2015 Christmas Gift Guide

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2015 Christmas Gift guide annie's beauty..., annie's beauty... last minute Christmas shopping list, Christmas 2015, gift guide

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette // Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Fallen From The Lipstick Tree Mini Lipstick // Zara Home stationery // Aromatherapy Associates Bath Jewels // Eve Lom The Kiss  // NEOM Candle // Zara Home Cahsmere Scarf and Beanie

Tic-tac tic-tac… A couple more sleeps and Christmas it’s here! And Santa is here…

And as the late shopper that I am I already started panicking and put together this little gift guide with a few suggestions for all those little panicked late shoppers like myself!

I will try to make this short and sweet…

1. One can never go wrong with some gorgeous makeup items so the ones I chose for you were the  Hourglass Ambient Edit Palette, that besides the fact that it looks absolutely fabulous has some amazing quality products in it, and this little Charlotte Tilbury Mini Lipstick Charms that look oh! so adorable. I think that they would make an awesome gift for any woman at any age! 
2. When in doubt, go for a pampering product! Aromatherapy Associates come out every year with Christmas mini versions of their cult favourite bath oils and their sets are so beautifully packaged that you don’t even need wrapping paper for them! And look at this little Eve Lom lip treatment! What a beautiful stocking filler it would make, don’t you think? 
3. A candle is always a good idea and NEOM Candles were something I always wanted to try! They’re beautiful all year round, but this Christmas they made them so gorgeous and they smell heavenly! 
4. Stationery is a classic gift for me! I always receive a beautiful agenda at the end of the year and I think it’s a good gift to give as well! These are from Zara Home.
5. And last but not least, something to keep you warm: a beanie, a foulard, some mittens… They’re more than welcomed in Winter when it’s cold and dreary. These two items I found in Zara Home too, so go have a look there as wel!

This is my little selection for you. I hope you enjoy it and hurry up! Christmas is just around the corner! 

Are you done with your shopping yet? What did you get?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

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Seasonal Favourites Autumn 2015

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Autumn 2015, dark lips, grunge lipstick trend, seasonal favourites, seasonal favourites Autumn 2015

This is the easiest favourites post I had to write in my almost two years of blogging!

I’m sure that you, my beautiful readers know already what I’m talking about! And the feedback from you was worth all the effort I put in each and every one of them! Thank you for always being so receptive and kind to me! It means the world!

In the past few couple of months you were able to see a huge amount of posts on dark lipsticks! I bet at times you got bored of dark lipstick swatches… But let me tell you this: it’s been a real pleasure and and some of the most fun blog posts to write and to photograph!

I wrote about NARS’ Ingrid and Deborah, Charlotte Tilbury’s Glastonberry, Estée Lauder’s Desirous and YSL’s Grenat Satisfaction. I even wrote about a high street option that took many of you by surprise ( post here ).

And even though they might seem many for you, I’m still left with the sensation that I haven’t found the right shade of grungy, dark lipstick yet… The hunt will continue next year!

Nothing kept my interest alive more than these lipsticks and I feel like no other products should be included in this Favourites post. They were the star and the highlight of my whole Autumn!

Which were your favourites?

See you soon, Beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

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MADISON Luxury Perfumery Bucharest LAVENDER CULTURE Summer 2015 Event

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beauty bloggers event, Lavender Culture 2015 Event, Madison Luxury Perfumery Bucharest, Summer 2015

The Lavender Culture 2015 Event was definitely one of the highlights of my Summer 2015. It took place in one of my favourite places in Town to shop for beauty, Madison Luxury Perfumery Bucharest.

The lovely Alexandra and her colleagues waited for us with some amazing lavender scented surprises, in a rustic Provence-inspired decor – the perfect location for one last relaxing cocktail, to mark the end of this hot Summer.

– image courtesy of Madison Luxury Perfumery Bucharest Facebook page – image courtesy of Madison Luxury Perfumery Facebook page   

With a glass of bubbly champagne in hand I was able to revisit the stands of my favourite brands in the store and catch up with all the new and amazing releases…

By Terry –  brand that holds a special place in my heart and it’s entirely “because of” Alexandra who kindly invited me to a By Terry event early last year. I was at the very beginnings of my blogging adventure, I was scared s**tless *pardon my “French”!?!? and utterly excited at the same time. Read all about my Madison experience with By Terry, here and here.

Aesop – one of my favourite skincare brands… That infamous Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is beyond amazing and deserves all the hype around it! I will talk about it more in an upcoming blog post.

Byredo – ahhh, Byredo! My newest obsession in terms of perfumes and home scents! I was tempted to get me another backup for my Bibliothèque candle, but what’s the point of a backup on a backup, right?! Same story with 1996 but I can survive this Winter with just one of these candles, since I also have the perfume to “keep me warm”! But I really, really want Accord Oud now!… And Mojave Ghost for the upcoming warmer seasons!

– here you have Alexandra and one of her lovely clients

My perfume-exploring little quest continued with Creed, Annick Goutal, Atelier Cologne, Roja, Artisan Parfumeur, Terry de Gunzburg – which is actually By Terry ( good gracious, I adore Parti Pris and I’m using a sample of that as we speak and it’s nearly gone! Have you tried By Terry perfumes yet? Which one is your favourite? Any suggestions? ).

These lavender treats were scattered all-over the place and let me tell you this: those mini-eclairs were out of this world amazing!

– image courtesy of Madison Luxury Perfumery Facebook page – check out those colourful cigarettes! Too bad I’m not a smoker, right?!

The atmosphere was relaxed and informal… As if a group of friends agreed on a night out in one of the best locations in town, and now they have an amazing quality time together.

Same cozy atmosphere was outside the store as well…

Children were also welcomed to this event. We have to cultivate beauty from early ages, haven’t we?!

Now this is me next to the glowing Alexandra, trying my best to hide the busy day I had at work before the event…

– image courtesy of Madison Luxury Perfumery Facebook page

… which I wasn’t very successful at because I had to leave relatively early! Sad times!

But before I left, my amazing host offered me this amazing bundle of Hampton Sun products, which I wanted to try ever since I’ve seen them online, on the net-a-porter website and this magical fresh lavender bouquet!

Thank you Alexandra for this amazing invitation! I’ve lived intensely every second of it… Just like all my experiences I had with you and Madison Perfumery Bucharest!

Until next time…

See you soon, Beautiful!

xx, Annie

#HEALTH: Some of annie’s beauty… healthy meals and snacks…

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food, healthy, ingredients, natural, natural ingredients, natural products, personal experience, recipes, tricks and tips

DISCLAIMER: I am not a nutritionist or a health expert in any way. This is my personal experience and what I’ve learned from it!

I’ve always been a little nervous to add anything related to my fitness routine or my diet to my blog, but here I am braving myself and doing just that!

With my food, I always try to keep a certain balance! I got used to a healthy eating even before that was actually “a thing”! So this new “trend” that got everyone these past couple of years, for me was actually a life style long before.

I’m not saying that I was juicing or living on salads all the time, but I definitely still can hear my Mom’s voice in my inner ear telling me to eat all my veggies, not only my meat!

Due to the whole access to information we have nowadays, I can say that my meals have now a good variation of courses to choose from, keeping the same healthy and nutritious properties.

One more thing I need to throw in!… I’m small ( read tiny ), but very energetic and I really need nutritious food in my system periodically! Plus I go to the gym almost everyday(!?) – “not very good to your body!” some may say. I don’t care! It’s my body that allows me to do that and I sure listen to its signals! Plus being active helps me with my other issues, like insomnia.

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 I would love to write a separate post where to share my gym programme, and all the exercises I do to “spend” my energy! Would you like to read about that?

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So here you have some of those healthy meals I love! But first…

 – Pinterest

Aliments you’ll always find on my table:

– meat ( chicken, beef ), fish ( salmon, tuna, cod, etc. ) and lots of eggs ( main supplier: my own Granny )

– milk: natural whole fat milk, fat Greek yogurt and vegetal milk: almond and coconut milk, plus cheese: cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, etc.

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  I know, right!? Outrageous!!! I loooove milk… From the good old cows! The same one our parents and grand parents grew up with! Those who think it’s not a necessity for the body, will crucify me for sure! Well, I love it! And I don’t have any allergic reaction to it! I’ve heard lots of snobs saying that “we’re the only species that drinks milk from other species!”. So what?! It’s what we’ve done for ages now! It’s the world we live in! And why not make the best of whatever nature has to offer!?

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– vegetables: salads ( lettuce, ruccola/rocket, baby spinach ), broccoli, brussel sprouts, pees, pods, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms and potatoes ( sweet potatoes too ), cucumbers, spring onions and garlic

 – Pinterest

– fruits: avocado, bananas, mangoes, apples, strawberries, oranges, limes and lemon and whatever seasonal fruits I find at the market… But I live on bananas, like a little monkey! Haha!

– dry fruits: apricots, grape, figs, dates, coconut

– seeds and nuts: sunflower, pumpkin, chia, flax seed, sesame, peanuts, walnuts, almonds all eaten raw!

– spices: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, chili powder, basil, oregano and anything that makes your food taste good

– guilty pleasures: peanut butter… Crunchy!, and rye flour biscuits. YUUUM!!!

 – Pinterest

MEALS

Breakfast options:

1. Yogurt with fruits, nuts and honey

2. Poached eggs on rice biscuit with avocado

3. Fruit smoothie

4. Banana pancakes with fruits

Snacking options:

Rye flour biscuits, banana + seeds and nuts

Lunch options:

1. Stir fry

2. Rice pasta with meat and veggies

3. Eggs with greenery + salad

4. Vegetables simply boiled in hot water with salt, chili flakes and soy/oyster sauce or cooked, steamed in the oven with a bit of olive oil and some spices

2nd Snacking:

mainly nuts and maybe one banana

Supper:

1. Salad: Caesar Salad, Caprese, whatever recipe you come up with…

2. Steak and veggies, either steamed or cooked in the oven with a bit of olive oil and some spices, or simply boiled in hot water with salt, chili flakes and soy/oyster sauce

3. Fish and veggies, either steamed or cooked in the oven with a bit of olive oil and some spices, or simply boiled in hot water with salt, chili flakes and soy/oyster sauce

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, a bit different than the usual makeup/beauty reviews! Should I continue with the whole HEALTH thing and make it a mini-series? I really need your opinion on this one…

Thanks for reading!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS, INTERESTING FACTS and some TRICKS:

• I really don’t get it how some say that a smoothie in the morning can be so “satiable” and “fulfilling”, when I , if I don’t get to “chew” on something consistent so that my brain gets the idea that I’m actually eating , I turn berserker in less than 2 hours. Therefore a smoothie, although it’s an important part of my diet, will almost always accompany a main course from my Breakfast or Lunch, or it will be a Snack in between .
• remember to eat your fruits/drink your juices or smoothies in the first part of the day to benefit 100% from their nutritious and energetic power! If you drink them at night, you might find yourself bloated, and without any will to sleep, which will cause a long night, therefore a zombie-like portrait when you look in the mirror the following morning!
• for a better digestion, don’t drink water 30 minutes before and after your meals and by any mean, DON’T drink any water WHILE you’re eating!
• the good, old, plain water is your best friend, so drink as much as you can!
• eat in small portions, you can always come back for more
• your body/mind will usually give you signals before you finish everything in your plate… THAT is when you HAVE to stop! Remember, you can eat/snack later!
• try to eat your foods as freshly prepared as possible

Seasonal Favourites – Winter 2014-2015

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Burberry, candle, Charlotte Tilbury, dior, Elemis, Escentric Molecules, eyeshadows, favourites, Laura Mercier, Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, Penhaligon's Malabah, red lipstick, Smiling Shoes, stiletto shoes, tea, Tom Ford

Since I can finally say that I can see major signs of Spring after such a long Winter, I thought I’d do a Favourites post!

Now, I’m not the one to do these kind of posts on a regular basis, mainly because once I discover a product that I really love and I know it works for me, I totally stick to it for the longest time. So a monthly makeup favourites, or skincare favourites would be kind of repetitive and unnecessary. Plus to form a decent opinion on a new product, especially with skincare, it might take a lot more than one month.

But this past couple of months I’ve tested a good few new products that instantly stole my heart and made it to my Favourites…

Here you have my absolute Seasonal Favourites for the Winter of 2014-2015:

– festive red listick was THE thing for me this winter. I particularly loved these Tom Ford shades – Crimson Noir ( permanent ) and Alejandro, from the Lips&Boys Collection. I also loved the iconic Dior Rouge 999, the orange-reds Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy in shade Impassioned and Wild Ginger also from the Tom Ford permanent line and the Burberry Lip Cover in #18 Ruby. Later on I’ve discovered the new, reformulated Chanel Rouge Coco in Arthur, which made me dig out it’s matte correspondent, the Tom Ford ( again! ) Flame.

– Tom Ford Lips&Boys Alejandro – Burberry Ruby – Chanel Arthur– Tom Ford Crimson Noir– Dior Rouge 999

– for skincare, I don’t change it too much, I’m only adjusting it to the needs of my sensitive skin. But the products I loved the most were the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Anti-Ageing, the Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser which I like to use combined with the Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder for a deeper cleanse, my holy grail mask – the Oskia Rainessance Nutri-Active Brightening & Resurfacing Mask and the new addition, the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Mask and of course, my beloved Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist. Mostly cleansing products now that I take a closer look! No wonder though! because I firmly believe that a clean skin is a good, healthy skin. And a flawless “canvas” also means an easier makeup application, with less products! I also have to mention my hands and lips saviours this Winter: the By Terry Baume de Rose and the Laura Mercier delicious gourmet hand creams.

– my favourite Winter home scent for the past two years has been this Byredo Bibliothèque Fragranced Candle. I can’t even tell you how much I love this candle and how many I have burnt down. This year I went for something different, something more smokey and warm, with comforting notes of patchouli, birch tar and guaiac wood – the Burberry Smokey Embers Fragranced Candle. It’s the perfect candle to “recreate the mood of an English fireside afternoon”, as they say on their website. Definitely give this one a sniff if you’re in a Burberry store.

– for fashion items I absolutely lived in my Smiling Shoes heels! You might think that I went bananas, especially if you know what winters are like in Continental Excessive Climates, but stay assured I still had boots on for walking outside, in the snow. But for work and going out, and winter parties these shoes never left my feet!

– for random favourites, I really got into tea which I think it warmed my body as well as my soul. I particularly loved the combination of strong, aromatic tea ( mostly from the Teapigs company ) and coconut milk.

Also my love for clementines went to another level of obsession, and I always found myself munching on them and these Milka cookies…

And I totally hated 50 Shades of Grey – simply because I can’t get excited about someone else’s sexual fantasies… No offense!

I hope you enjoyed my favourite things for the Winter months and please be kind and share yours!

Also, should I make this Seasonal Favourites a regular entry on my blog? What do you think?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

10 simple things that make me happy…

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10 Simple things that make me happy..., Get to know me through..., tag

1. Black and White Pictures ( source Pinterest ) 

2. Fresh Flowers from My Man

3. Diptyque Candles

4. The Scent of Spring

5. Life in the Country Side… MY Countryside

6. Mom’s Ringtone 

7. Late Night Chit-Chats with faraway friends 

8. Cuddling This Old Hag

9. The Kids in my hometown Neighbourhood ( picture taken almost 10 years ago )

10. White Clouds while flying 

Here you have the 10 Simple things that make me happy… As simple as they are! 

This might easily be a Tag! Just do it if you like, if not just share the 10 Simple things that make YOU happy in the comments below!

See you in April, beautiful!

xx, Annie