nannalie: 2017

Every year I look forward to Christmas since Summer as it's my favourite time of year by a mile. However, sometimes I find my Christmas spirit dampened as soon as we hit December. I'm one who would love to go all out as much as I can, but I'm at a place in my life where that is not always possible. For the time being I'm also depended of what others want. As a child of divorced parents the whole thing for years now is that I alternate between both. That means that one Christmas I'll spend it at my mom's, and the next I spend it at my dad's place with my stepmom and the whole family there. My stepmom is arguably not the most festive person in the world, and so the years spending Christmas with my mom are usually the ones I look forward to more.

Over the years I have found that whichever parent I spend the actual holiday with, the Christmas period is only what I make of it. I'm in control of my own festive cheer. So this post is for you, the person who loves all the festivities, but often finds that others might dampen the mood, or if you simply want to give your Christmas period even more of a festive boost. It's not too late! Today I'm sharing my favourite things to do in the lead up to Christmas, and on the day itself, to be in charge of your own amount of festive cheer. Let's get on with it shall we!

Planning. I love to plan. Whether it's for the following week ahead or making lists for Christmas gifting. I have found that the more I think about the good things about the Christmas period, the happier and more festive feeling I get and the more I actually want to get festive. Somewhere halfway through November I usually start planning Christmas packages to send, presents to buy, and festive activities I want to do.
Getting the tree. Whatever my plans are for the actual Christmas day, I always make sure I make a festive day out of getting the Christmas tree. Spruce the day itself up with baking something, drinking a hot chocolate or simply having a stroll around the Christmas decorations at the garden center. Festive spirit galore!
Gift wrapping. Along with planning for Christmas, I love planning my Christmas theme. Give me all the Christmas wrapping, tags and ribbons and I'm one happy girl. Isn't it just great though to see your colourpalette and vision come to life? I live for making presents look as pretty as possible. For the ultimate festive feeling I like to make a cosy afternoon of it.
Decorating. All the decorations please! Once my room and the house entirely looks super festive I instantly feel more in the spirit myself. Ideally I like to have some sparkly lights up as soon as the days go darker and then go full out once Decemer arrives. Also candles. all the candles. Candles are decorative right?
Have a stroll. When feeling a bit blue I love to have a stroll around town and find the prettiest Christmas lights. Sparkly lights always get me in the holiday spirit. Plus the fresh air always helps clearing your head. Of course, winter-y walks in a snowy landscape always work for this purpose, if there's snow that is.
Christmas markets. Aka everything Christmas in one place. Now who wouldn't get festive from this? I'm hoping to go to a Christmas market in the city closest by where I live next weekend (fingers crossed!) and I'm super excited! Christmas markets for me aren't even for buying loads, they're all about letting myself soak in all the Christmas possible before it's actually Christmas. And for consuming all the hot chocolates possible.
Food. Christmas time is involves a lot of food. Of course there's the traditional family Christmas dinner, but I also like to make my food more Christmassy beforehand. I love consuming all the treats and hot chocolates possible. Going to the supermarket alone to get these things makes me feel more festive. Nothing better than getting home with a bag filled with Christmas treats. As for Christmas dinner itself, I love spending Christmas day cooking with my family and planning said dinner weeks before.
Cosy nights in. Winter is THE time of year to have cosy nights in. Light a few candles, do a long pamper routine, get in your cosy pjs and slippers and under a blanket and put on your favourite movie or a read a good book, and you're bound to feel the stress fade away. Plus cosy equals Christmas.
Christmas movies and music. I like to listen to Christmas music all day long. And sing along. although I can't sing, oh well. Anyway, Christmas songs add cosiness to any scenario. When I'm not listening to Christmas music I am usually watching either Christmas movies, or doing a vlogmas marathon. Of course watching festive episodes of your favourite tv show is also a hit.
Christmas shopping. Where Christmas shopping is a huge source of stress to some, I actually enjoy it thoroughly. Nothing better than discovering all the Christmas collections and finding the perfect gift for someone. I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes to do some Christmas shopping for herself. Nothing wrong with treating yourself to one of the many Christmas releases!
Plan a Day Out. Now, if nothing of the above worked, there's always a day out. Last year my mom, my sister and me went to a city further away and went for a day at a winter fair. If money is no problem I would also love to go see some special Christmas show, or maybe even do a weekend trip away to, preferably, a place that has all the snow.

I'd love to know what are some things you love doing the get in the ultimate festive spirit?

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead lovelies!

No reacties

Charlotte Tilbury Very Victoria, Charlotte TIlbury Bond Girl, MAC Smoked Almond, MAC Amorous, Kat Von D Lolita

Let's start off by saying that I'm someone who's very particular about her lip colours, if the shade is not just right I will simply not use said lipstick. I feel that there are so many shades that completely wash me out - I'm very pale -, that over time I've simply been sticking to the same kind of shades. I can't do crazy brown for example because I will look like a ghost, pinks and mauves work much better for me. For autumn I tend to branch out a bit more than I usually would to deeper shades. I mean, who doesn't honestly. And over the years I've built up a nice collection of lipsticks that I truly love and work for me. I've put together six shades that I've been getting a lot of wear out this autumn (and beyond), definite autumn shades for day to day wear!

First up is the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Bond Girl. This may or may not be one of my faves out of the whole bunch. The Matte Revolution lipsticks stick out to me mostly because of the gorgeous formula. Like shades, I'm also quite particular about the formula of lipsticks, and this one is one of the best matte formulas I've come across. I personally love the matte lips look, especially during winter time, but simply can't do the dry formulas. These lipsticks give me that without being drying. As far as the shade goes, Bond Girl is described as a 'Natural Berry Red' which I agree with. It's a toned down berry shade with a more cool (mauvey) toned undertone, which makes it very wearable for daily wear. As it has a more red look to it, it even can be rocked on Christmas Day for those that find a true red too intimidating.

The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita is a great offering for everyone who prefers to wear liquid lipsticks. While I'm not really a liquid lip kinda gal, the Kat Von D ones are even comfortable enough for me to put on. I find they don't tend to dry out my lips to the point the lipstick is cracking (never a pretty sight) and last long too. All that while feeling lightweight and comfortable. I would suggest using something to moisturise your lips beforehand though. Lolita is more on the darker and browner spectrum than most of my lipsticks (on me at least), but definitely still has a hint of a mauve undertone. Gorgeous and super autumn appropriate.

This MAC Lipstick in Amorous is THE perfect berry lipstick for me. Amorous manages to capture the perfect balance between berry and red and is in fact my go to option during the holidays when I want my lips to stand out, but don't want to wear a bright red lipstick. On me this looks like a warm berry tone, that comes off quite dark. I love that Amorous is not one of MAC's most well known lipstick shades, which makes it all the more special in my eyes. Amorous has a satin finish, which makes it pigmented and semi matte without the drying aspect.

Next up a beauty I got for my birthday last year and that I have loved ever since. This MAC Liptensity Lipstick in Smoked Almond is unlike any other lipstick I have in my beauty arsenal. Not only is it super creamy and comfortable, this semi new formula from MAC has apparently twice a normal lipstick's pigment which makes it very opaque and long lasting without being a matte. It's as if though you are wearing a lip balm so comfortable, it's soft as butter I tell ya, and it makes your lips look super plump. The shade is a stunning rosy brown, which on me leans more towards an orangey undertone.

Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria is my go to autumn lipstick on the nude spectrum. This gorgeous pinky nude brown shade is just right on my skin tone and flatters about any makeup look I go for. If I want to make it slightly darker, I tend to wear a lip pencil underneath. Like Bond Girl, it has a matte finish, but never dries out my lips. If you're on the lookout for the perfect pinky brown shade, go check this baby out!

The final lipstick I'm wanting to tell you about is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cannes. Now, NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are super comfortable to wear and that for a crazy affordable price. As a person who's not the biggest fan of liquid lips, these lip creams are perfect. Yes, they may last not as long as your typical matte liquid lip, but those are dryinggg guys. And if there's one thing I can't do it's drying. Biggest no no in any lipstick. The Soft Matte Lip creams claim to be 'hydrating matte lipsticks with a silk like finish'. I can get behind that. The shade Cannes is a gorgeous pink with a dusky undertone, which makes it incredibly appropriate for autumn time. On me, as I'm so pale, it's probably a tad darker than on most, but I love it. It's a definite shade that will go with everything.

Charlotte TIlbury Bond Girl, Charlotte TIlbury Very Victoria, MAC Amorous, MAC Smoked Almond, Kat Von D Lolita

What is your favourite lipstick for the autumn and winter time?

No reacties

Hello all you lovely ladies! As I haven't been blogging in quite some time now, I figured what better way to get into the swing of things again then to show you guys what exciting new products I've gotten over the past few months in a haul. It's a big one!

Makeup

Makeup wise the last months have existed of purchasing a few beauties that have been on my mind for ages and a few spur of the moment ones. Two of said beauties are the NARS Unfiltered II Palette and the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow. The NARS Unfiltered II Palette is filled with pink and peachy hues, containing both shimmer and matte blush shades as well as a highlighter. Basically it’s ensured to give you the perfect subtly looking glowy cheeks, OBSESSED! The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow is simply so so beautiful, but the price always put me off a bit. That wasn’t until I found it for such a cheap price on Feelunique. I haven’t put it down since, I’m not sure anything can actually top the gorgeous healthy glow this palette gives you, you guys. I tend to switch the highlighter in the palette off with the MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Double Gleam, another new favourite, for days when I want a more intense glow.

At the same time of ordering the NARS palette, I also happened to pick up the Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Vanilla, as I’ve been meaning to try it, and so far it’s my go to for full face days. It gives me high coverage, doesn’t crease on me and makes my under eyes look amazing. What else can you want right? I’m eyeing the Soft Matte Concealer next! My NARS order also gave me two freebies in the form of mini sizes of the Orgasm Blush and the Radiant Primer (score!) which I’ve been so excited to try.

The last months have also been all about that base for me. Where before I used to be mostly interested in blushers and lipsticks, now I’m also mildly obsessed with everything involved in ensuring my face will achieve that radiant catwalk glow. As a result I’ve picked up the MAC Strobe Cream, the Guerlain Météorites Perles Light-Diffusing Primer (phew what a mouthful) for a bargain, MAC Fix+ and the MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation. Let me just say, the MAC Strobe Cream has turned out to be my most favourite glow ensuring product EVER. Even a little bit of this glowy goodness on my cheeks gives me a glow under whichever foundation I use it with and paired with the Studio Waterweight Foundation, which in itself blurs out my skin, it gives me everything I’m looking for: Glow? Check. Blurred imperfections? Check. Lasting finish? Check. Mission accomplished!

Skincare

I’ve been trying to reinvent my skincare routine a bit, which has been a challenge for me as I don’t have the budget to do so like I would have had two years ago. However, I have managed to pick a few bits and pieces here and there that I’m quite happy with. First up is probably my favourite of the bunch, the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Moisturizer. And OH MY GOSH, why did I wait so long to get this? It is by far the best moisturizer I’ve ever tried. It makes my skin feels smoother than anything else, plus seriously moisturizes my skin in the process. That’s a winner in my book! Since I’ve been using this I have noticed such a difference in my dry patches around my nose.

I also picked up two new products in the cleanser department, first being the The Body Shop Camomile Sumptious Cleansing Butter which is so good for removing your makeup (I've already almost run out!), and secondly the Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk which I’m not entirely sure about but am currently using as my second cleanser. The cleansing milk is gentle alright, but that’s about all there is to it for me. Will be looking into other products soon. Last but not least I got myself The Body Shop’s Drops Of Light Liquid Peel. Let me start by saying I’ve never used something like it as it truly feels like it peels your dead skin cells off, leaving you with utterly soft and smooth skin. Love using this about two times a week to give my skin a little boost. I can truly say this product especially has made a remarkable difference in my skin, texture has improved so so much.

That was it for now, phew haha. I'm sure I'll be showing you more new purchases soon ;)

What have you guys purchased recently? I’d love to know!

No reacties

Pages

Makeup

Skincare

About Me

Follow Me

Instagram

Recent Posts

Blog Archive

Labels

Popular Posts