This product used to be named the Advance Retinoid, but it was renamed to Granactive Retinoid.This is arguably my favourite product of The Ordinary I've tried so far and as I was running low I knew I wanted to repurchase it. The Granactive Retinoid targets aging of the skin and I actually love using this. It makes my skin glowy, and although I haven't seen any crazy effects after using it for a few months now, I'm all for age prevention skincare. If you ask me it's better to prevent signs of aging than to try to turn back signs of aging already present. 

I know my birthday and Christmas are long gone and I figured it was too late to show you these, but I did a poll on instagram and a 100% of you said you wanted this post either way. And who would I be to deprive you of it? As my birthday and Christmas are so close together, I decided to show you what I got for both in one go. I got so spoiled this year and and am so happy and pleased with everything I got! My siblings actually managed to get me something I had been really wanting and I haven't stopped using since.



For Christmas my family usually does a Secret Santa kind of thing, so we don't tend to go crazy like some, but I did get some things I'm really happy with it. First up I got a book that I'd been hearing good things about. I usually tend to ask for a book for Christmas, as I love curling up with a hot chocolate and a good book this time of year. I opted for 'All The Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven and so far I really like it and have been reading it at an alarming rate. The other things I got are this gorgeous mini candle set by Scento that remind me both in design and smell so much of the Jo Malone scents. All scents are very calming but I can see Peony & Rose become a firm favourite. Can't wait to burn these. I also got the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm I've been eyeing since last winter and I am pleased to say it's helped my dry and chapped lips tremendously so far. Last but not least I got this gorgeous smelling Ritual of Sakura Body Cream, because once again, yes I'm obsessed with that store whoops. I've been slathering this baby on since Christmas.

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!

1. 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. 
2. 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!
3. 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. 
4. 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?
5. 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. 
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.  
9. 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. 
10. 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!
11. 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.

Skincare

 I'm not a big trainer person, let's just put that out there. Trainers generally don't go that well with my personal style and I find them often too sporty and dressed down for my liking. However, now and then I fall head over heels in love with certain designs and trainer types. It happened with Converse a few years back (some may argue these aren't trainers to begin with but shush okay haha) and late last year it happened with Adidas Superstars and Stan Smiths. It's something about these Adidas trainers that doesn't just make them sporty for me, but that also gives off a classy and sophisticated vibe. It happens to be that I'm all for classy and sophisticated. It wasn't long after that I bought myself my first pair of Superstars and not long after that, that I got a pair of Stan Smiths. The Stan Smiths I will be talking about today.

I can safely say now that I prefer the Stan Smiths over my Superstars, although adoring them both! Why you ask? Well, I find they are just that much more comfortable. As a girl with pretty wide feet and a high arch I find that shoes can look quite bulky on me anyway and the fit can also be way off. Even though the Superstars fit me well, I do still find them quite bulky to walk around in and as a girl with big feet I don't want to emphasize that. The Stan Smiths on the other hand are the total opposite They hug your feet like a glove and the leather is less stiff as well, making daily wear crazy comfortable. Also not unimportant: they make my feet look smaller. All through summer I've worn my Stan Smiths a ton and not once I worried about if my feet were gonna hurt on a long day out. In June I went to Amsterdam for example and I wore them all day without even having broken them in back then. Result? No pain or blisters whatsoever. Yes baby, I'm hooked.


This particular pair has the most gorgeous pink flowery detailing, a limited edition for the summer months, which makes them all the more special. Gotten quite some questions on them, even from random strangers. I first saw these when my friend got them and I knew I had to have them too (copycat that I am haha). What can I say, she has good style. I'll surely be wearing these for quite a while longer and for autumn and winter I already have a new pair in mind. Rose gold Stan Smiths ladies, it's gonna happen soon eeeeek!!

Another favourites post, another month gone. Am I the only one who can't believe summer is almost over? As for summer, so far we've been getting the loveliest weather the last week or so, that's supposed to last for a while. The Netherlands is making a comeback with the summer weather, having me not in the autumn spirit much yet at all. The month of August was one with ups and downs for me, with the biggest up being my graduation last Tuesday. You can read more about what I wore here. Anyhow, let's stop the babbling and let's get on with these favourites.


This month has been filled with quite a few favourites, but the jewellery love has surely been substantial this month for me. Firstly I've been obsessed with this sleek and classy looking New Look watch I ordered off ASOS sometime during July. I've worn it daily ever since and can't seem to part with it. I love that it has both the rose gold and the silver in it as it ties together my other jewellery bits that are both those tones. Some serious love has also gone toward these cheap 4€ silver hoop earrings from ASOS. They came in a set with gold ones as well, but my love for anything silver is real. Love to wear them combined with chokers to give off that 90s vibe.
I have a new sunglasses love! I know I know, I have a new pair every month... BUT these ones are from La Moda, I got them earlier this month, and am obsessed. After looking for the perfect pair of rose gold mirrored sunglasses for forever I finally found a good quality pair. They haven't left my face since. Who can resist rose gold, am I right?

My go-to scent this month is this gorgeous perfume by Paco Rabbane called Olympéa (review on it here). I've gotten multiple compliments while wearing it already.


Makeup wise I've got quite some things to talk about. First off this STUNNING Sleek Solstice Highlighting Palette that I've been using non stop. I thought the glow on the other highlighters I own was real, but this baby is from another world. It's been perfect to achieve that summer glow. You guys need this one in your life! Favourites in the palette for me are both Hemisphere (top right) and Equinox (bottom right). I love to mix those two together, as well as use them on their own. Also a favourite for my cheeks has been this Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, the perfect glowy peach blush. For lips it's been all about MAC Fanfare (review here) and the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk. Love the latter so much that it's been in my favourites for the second month in a row! Last but not least I've been obsessed with using an Essie nail polish called Mrs. Always Right on my toes for a cranberry terracotta pop of color. I can see myself loving this as a transition nail color on my finger nails as well.

Where many people seem to have a deep love for the body butters from The Body Shop, that's never truly been the case for me. I like them of course, but I find that they don't dry quick enough and leave my skin feeling too greasy for too long. So what do I apply to my limbs to prevent them from being horribly dry? Rituals comes to the rescue here. Their body creams guys, their body creams ahh! It's everything I need and more.

Like every summer, Rituals came out with a limited edition summer line, amongst which this delicious body cream. Truly, the whole line is delicious because of it's scent that completely enchanted me. The scent of the line, holy lotus and bergamot, is fresh, sweet and femine at the same time that lingers on the skin. Don't ask me how they did that, but Rituals managed it. The scents Rituals create always have such depth to them which makes them feel as such a luxury to use, another thing they have going for them if you ask me. 

The last product I swear by is a good bronzer. To be honest so far I only owned one bronzer that I truly loved to use: Hoola by Benefit. It's an amazing one at that. However, it was matte. For summer I wanted a more luminous look so I recently picked up this budget one from Makeup Revolution. So far I am completely blown away. More on this bronzer in an upcoming review.

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What are you guys's favourites to achieve that summer glow?