Rock The Night Party Look / The Body Shop

The party season is fully upon us, which means it is time we added a touch of glam to our beauty routine. Be it glitter tips, a show-stopping red lip or a smokey eye – now is the perfect time to get creative and have fun with our makeup!

Having said that, when The Body Shop recently contacted me asking if I wanted to be a part of their Online Advent Calendar (here) and recreate their Rock The Night party look (here) I instantly jumped at the opportunity! It’s very rare I get to rock a dramatic smokey eye, let alone pair is with a red lip, so I decided that now it’s the perfect time to step out of my comfort zone and try something different. And you know what? I actually loved channeling my grunge-y self! I’ll probably stick to a nude lip though as I am not that brave but I’ll most definitely be sporting this metallic smokey eye at an upcoming Christmas party!

I was quite nervous before doing this look as dramatic eye makeup and I don’t really get along that well, but hey – I’m learning! So let’s ignore my lack of skills in that area and talk about the fab selection of products the Body Shop kindly sent me.

If you are into bold eye makeup for nights out and you love playing around with metallic shadows, then the Rock The Night palette (here) is perfect for you! The quad has three metallic and one gorgeous black matte shades and they are all dreamy and blend like a charm. The pigmentation is insane as well, so if you fancy getting the palette hurry up as it’s limited edition!

To help me get the perfect eyeshadow base and make the shadows more vibrant, I used the Eye Colour Stick in Cairo Granite (here). It’s a gorgeous metallic black colour that’s quite glitter-laden and it’s perfect for the party season. It’s the perfect gleaming eyes companion and it blends beautifully and stays put until you say so. Love!

A Christmas party look in never complete without a red lip and this Matte Lip Liquid lipstick in the shade Sydney Amaryllis (here) is just gorgeous for the occasion. It’s a lovely red with slight pink undertones, which brightens up my complexion beautifully. I am super impressed with the pigmented, buttery soft formula that’s not drying and which stays on for hours and hours. It’s affordable and I highly recommend it for this time of year.

I loved putting this look together for Day 12 of The Body Shop Advent Calendar (here) and if you fancy getting more inspiration for gift ideas or makeup looks from fellow bloggers, head over and count down to Christmas with us!

Lots of love,

Andrea

*Contains PR samples/gifted items

The Best Cyber Monday Deals & Discount Codes

So the gift-buying season is in full swing and now is the perfect time to get your Christmas shopping started or treat yourself to that new winter piece you’ve had your eye on for ages. If you are like me and you totally missed all the amazing Black Friday deals, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! Cyber Monday is here and I have a list of all the best discount codes and sales you will need today. Simply follow the link of the retailer, add the discount code at checkout if you need one and enjoy!

Happy Shopping!

MY FAVOURITES:

ASOS:

Worldwide excl. US -20% off with code GOGOGO

US -30% off with code THANKFULL30

Online: here

FeelUnique:

UK & EU – 15% off with code MAKEITMAGIC

Online here

Space NK:

Spend £50, £75 or £100 and select a complimentary gift from 10 available beauty products stocks lasts

Online here

Topshop:

UK – 50% off selected lines

Online: here

JohnLewis:

Worldwide – offers on beauty & fragrance, kitchen, dining, electrical & toys

Online: here

House of Frazer:

Worldwide – Up to 50% off

Online here

Harvey Nichols:

EU – 25% off Fashion, 15% off Beauty

Online here

Harrods:

Worldwide – 30% off luxury, womenswear brands

Discover more here

Marks andSpencer:

UK – Gifting Weekend – up to 50% off Selected Lines: beauty, lingerie, sleepwear, home, toys & books

Online here

All Saints:

Worldwide – 30% off with code CYBER

Online here

DESIGNER:

MONNIERFrères:

Worldwide – 30% off with code: CYBER30

Online here

Forzieri:

Worldwide – VIP 30% off orders of $350 or more with code: CYBERSTYLE30

Online here

The  Outnet:

Worldwide excl. US – up to 85% off selected brands

US – up to 90% off selected brands

Online here

Avenue32:

Worldwide – 30% off Site Wide Excluding Sale and Pre-Spring 17

Online here

Coggles:

Worldwide – 30% of with code BLACKFRIDAY

Online here

MrPorter:

Worldwide – 30% off Selected Styles

Online here

BEAUTY:

Space NK:

Spend £50, £75 or £100 and select a complimentary gift from 10 available beauty products while stocks lasts

Online here

FeelUnique:

UK & EU – 15% off with code MAKEITMAGIC

Online here

Aveda:

UK – free hair treatment with orders over £40

UK – 15% off with first order with code: WELCOME15

Online here

SkinStore:

Worldwide – 25% off with code CYBERWKND

Online here

The Body Shop:

Worldwide – 40% off with code: 19805

Online here

BeautyBay:

UK – 30% off selected lines

Online here

CLOTHING:

Boohoo:

FR, DE, NL – 70% off

US – 50% off excluding sales items with code: FRIYAY50

IT, ES & Scandi – 60& off with code: BLACK60

AU & UK – check the website for code

Online here

Urban Outfitters:

UK – up to 50% off

Online here

Public Desire:

UK, US, CA – 30% off with code: CYBERSALE

Online here

River Island:

Worldwide – up to 50% off 50 styles

US – 20% off full priced items with code: BFRIDAY16

Online here

Whistles:

UK – 25% off selected lines

Online here

KarenMillen:

Worldwide – 25% of everything excluding leather

Online here

BNKR:

Worldwide – 25% off full priced items & 50% off sale items with code: OMG50

Online here

NA-KD:

Worldwide – 20% off with code: BLACKWEEKEND

Online here

Pull & Bear:

Worldwide – Free Shipping

Online here

Stradivarius:

UK, FR, NL – 20% off everything

DE, IT, PL, BE – 20% outwear, dresses & shoes

Online here

Chicwish:

Worldwide – 25% off

Online here

Office:

UK – 20% off with code: WONDER

Online here

Cotton On:

AU & NZ – up to 40% off

Online here

The Undone:

Worldwide – CYBER2o (20% off Spring & Summer)

Online here

FITNESS:

Sweaty Betty:

Worldwide – 20% off

Online here

ACCESSORIES & FOOTWEAR:

Larsson & Jennings:

Worldwide – 15% off with code: LG15

UK – 20% off if you have or create an account

Online here

My Bag:

Worldwide – 30% off wit code: BLACK

Online here

All Sole:

Worldwide – 30% off with code: CYBER30

Online here

Monica Vinader:

Worldwide – 30% off after signing up

Online here

HOME:

Anthropologie:

UK & EU – 20% off with code: GIFT

Online here

Made:

UK & EU – Free Delivery

Online here

The White Company:

Worldwide – 20% off almost everything with code: AP380

Online here

Enjoy and let me know if you manage to get your mitts on something amazing!

Lots of love,

Andrea

Haul // Lush, MAC, The Balm & More

Autumn is in full swing, which meant it was time for adding some autumnal bits to my stash. We are talking spicy scents, vampy makeup and new skincare, which I am super excited to try out…

Starting off with Lush, I obviously had to pick up a few of products from their Halloween Collection. The first thing I got was Autumn Leaf Bath Bomb. It smells divine and I can’t wait to see what kind my color it turns my bath into. Next, I got Sparkling Pumpkin, which seems to be everyone’s fave and I am looking forward to it making my bath all gorgeous. I mean – glitter and bubbles? Yes please! Lastly, meet Boo. He is a bath melt, he is adorable and I am excited for it to help me relax and make my skin irresistibly soft. Plan for tonight – sorted!

I have a serious soft spot for Jo Malone, so when I was in Brussels I just had to swing by their boutique. I wanted to pick up my favorite Pomegranate Noir Candle (here). It has such warm, rich and sophisticated scent that just makes me instantly cozy and excited for Christmas (I know, I know, but I can’t help it). Then I decided to treat myself to one of their hand and body washes and after sniffing every possible scent in the shop I picked up Wood sage & Sea Salt (here). It is such clean and fresh scent and I am obsessed. The price was ridiculous for what is essentially just soap but I figured that the bottle would look gorgeous in my new bathroom. Besides, I can always refill it with £1 soap when I run out and pretend I am still very fancy right, lol?

A few weeks before heading to Brussels I was having an “I have no good perfumes’ drama and Jo Malone came to the rescue again with their Blackberry & Bay Cologne (here). I must say it is my favorite perfume of theirs so far and I’ve been wearing it religiously. Review is coming up soon, so stay tuned.

The Diptyque Baies candle (here) has been on my wishlist for a while now and I though that this autumn is the perfect time to get my hands on it. The scent is, again, so sophisticated, it’s spicy, yet sweet and is the perfect candle to burn on a chilly autumn evening. It’s been keeping me great company and I would highly recommend you go sniff it because it’s blooming gorgeous!

Makeup wise, I couldn’t be happier with the bits I picked up. I’ve wanted to try The Balm products for the longest time and now that I have I get the hype! I got the NUDE’ Tude Eyeshadow Palette (here) and the oh-so-famous Mary Lou Manizer (here). The palette is such a beautiful mixture of nudes and shimmers and the quality is insane. It definitely ticks all the boxes and I’ll be talking about it in details soon. The Mary Lou Manizer is all sorts of beautiful and I’ll go as far as to say that it’s already earned a Holy Grail status, which says a LOT.

From MAC I snapped an old favorite - Cranberry eye shadow (here). As the name suggests, it’s a stunning cranberry shade that’s perfect for the season and compliments green eyes beautifully. Next, I had to get MAC Currant lip liner (here). It makes all my vampy dreams come true and I love how deep and dramatic it is. The formula is not the best but the gorgeous deep reddish purple makes up for it and you can see it in action here.

I had to stock up on my all time fave concealer, the Make Up For Ever Full Cover (here). A few months back I picked up shade No6 but since my beautiful summer glow is long gone I had to get my usual lighter shade – N03. I simply love this concealer and if you’re looking for something that makes spots nowhere to be seen, this is your guy.

I’ve wanted to try the famous face masks from Peter Thomas Roth (here) for ages, so when I saw that Sephora had Mask Sampler Kit (similar here) including three of their most-loved masks I had to add it to my basket. I still haven’t tried them but I am most excited to and I’ll report back soon.

I just love the spicy scents from Bath & Body Works and my boyfriend recently surprised me with three of their Pocket Back Sanitizers (here). That’s the way to my heart, pretty much. He got me Pumpkin Cranberry Cider (my fave), Coconut Pumpkin Latte and Pumpkin Cupcake. They are all dreamy and so autumnal. Yum.

Have you tried any of these products?

Lots of love,

Andrea

Favorite Autumnal MAC Lip Products

One of my favorite things about autumn is the makeup. Berry lips & burgundy eyeshadows are my weakness and they are my go-to looks for this time of year. Lips wise, MAC just seem to have the best A/W selection and here are my top lip champions for the colder season:

MAC Soar // Review & Swatches

Soar (here) has received so much praise from bloggers, myself included, and with good reason. It’s just one of those suit-everyone products that add extra something-something to any look. The beautiful pink-y brown shade has slight berry tone to it, making it perfect for the season. I just love the way it boosts my confidence and it has that effortlessly sophisticated vibe to it, which I am all about. It’s matte, easy to apply and non-drying. What else could you ask for? I like to wear it on its own or pair it with MAC Syrup for some added sheen.

MAC Syrup // Review & Swatches

Speaking of MAC Syrup (here), this baby just screams ‘Autumn’ to me. If you are into cool toned mauve-y pink shades, you will absolutely love this one. I love the hint of purple it’s got and it just looks beautiful paired with both a smokey eye and an everyday eye makeup look. The formula is a Lustre, so not the most pigmented but it has gorgeous glossy finish.

MAC Velvet Teddy // Review &Swatches

As I said, I do love me some burgundy on my eyelids and pairing it with a nude lip is a stunning combo and something I’ve been sporting ever since September rolled around. I find that Velvet Teddy (here) does this job the best and its warm brown-y nude shade compliments the reddish tones beautifully. That lippy gives me some serious Victoria’s Secret angel vibes and I love how plump and full it makes my lips look. The formula of Velvet Teddy is a good’un as well. It is matte with just a touch of sheen, it’s creamy and stays put for decades. It’s the perfect nude, basically. And yes - you need it!

MAC Rebel // Review and Swatches

If you are regular round these parts, you will know that Rebel (here) is my all time favorite lipstick. I wear it all year round but come the colder months it just settles permanently in my makeup bag. Rebel just does something to my confidence and the minute I apply it I feel 10x better about myself. It is a deep fuchsia berry shade and depending on the look you’re after you can build it up or down. I love how feminine Rebel is and its touch of edginess is something I just adore. Paired with a leather jacket and heels it just looks bomb.

Which is your favorite Autumn lip product?

Lots of love,

Andrea

Reasons Why I Love Autumn

Happy Autumn everyone! Today is the first day of fall and I am currently snuggled up in a blanket with a cup of white hot chocolate and fuzzy socks on. I feel beyond cozy and I thought today is the perfect time to do a post like this. Autumn is definitely my favorite season and here are some of the reasons why I think it’s the most magical time of the year (after Christmas time, obviously).

1. Scented candles

2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes

3. Watching Marnie jump into piles of leaves

4. Bonfire nights

5. Leaves changing color

6. Crisp air

7. Taking Lush baths

8. The smell of fire in a chilly evening

9. Halloween

10. Pumpkin carving

11. Berry lips and plum eyeshadows

12. Homemade apple pie

13. Apple picking  

14. Listening to the rain pouring outside

15. Eating my weight in roasted marshmallows

16. Knitted jumpers and cozy oversized scarfs

17. Wrapping myself up in a blanket in front of the TV

18. Kitchen smelling of cinnamon and nutmeg

19. Fuzzy socks

20. Cozy snuggles in front of the fireplace with a glass of red wine

21. Scary movie marathons

22. Hot drinks in pretty autumnal mugs

23. Reading books by the fireplace

24. Long walks in the beautiful misty mornings

25. Starting the Christmas countdown eek!

What’s your favorite thing about Autumn?

Lots of love,

Andrea

The Perfect Red // MAC Cherry

I’ve been feeding my lip liner obsession a lot recently but the last time I hit MAC I decided to stay away from my favorite nudes and go for something brighter. The first thing that caught my eye was Mac Cherry Lip Liner (here). For me it’s just the perfect red.

Cherry is the perfect blend of cool and warm tones, which really compliments my skin tone (NW 20 for reference). It is such a classic shade and I love it. It’s bright, vibrant and flattering. It makes my teeth look whiter and if I’m having a ‘meh’ skin day this baby saves the day. It brightens up my complexion beautifully and gives me that extra bit of confidence I need.

Red lip is sometimes too much of a hustle and that’s the reason why I love using this baby. As it’s a lip liner, Cherry gives great precision and I actually love wearing on its own. If you want though, you can pair it with Ruby Woo – it matches is perfectly.

Cherry seriously won me over formula wise, too. It’s somehow more creamy and less drying than my other MAC lip liners and it goes on like a dream. The pigmentation is insane and one coat is all you need to get full blown color. Cherry doesn’t smudge easily and I get about three hours of wear without fading or budging. Love.

Have you tried MAC Cherry lip liner before? Which is your favorite red lip liner?

Lots of love,

Andrea

Green Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Smoothies are without a doubt my favorite type of breakfast. They are easy and quick to make, incredibly delicious and not to mention super healthy and nutritious. The fact that I’m starting the day with a nice serving of fruits and veggies makes me feel really good about myself and actually gives me that push to eat better throughout the day. It’s a win-win really, which make smoothies my favorite morning treat.

And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, the smoothie bowls have taken over the world. And I am obsessed. I like that they are more of proper breakfast and you can sit down and eat them with a spoon whilst you are scrolling down your favorite blogs. And the fact that you can add all sorts of different, nutritious toppings? Yes, please! I do love adding toppings on my food, so this is just ideal.

I’ve been playing around with differentrecipes and ingredients and this one must be my fave so far. It takes ten minutes to make and I love how creamy and filling it is. You can obviously customize this smoothie bowl recipe and add anything you fancy, so don’t be afraid to experiment. I sometimes like to add pineapple, raspberries, chia seeds or matcha powder. It’s entirely up to you really. You can also use any kind of non-diary milk but I find that the Alpro Coconut Almond one compliments all ingredients beautifully and adds a touch of sweetness too.

As with your normal smoothie, just add all ingredients in the blender and blend away. Simple as. Then it’s time for the fun part – adding the toppings! Here is where you can get really creative but for this particular recipe I kept it simple. Shredded coconut, blueberries and crushed raw almonds. Yum!

Just give this green smoothie bowl a try, you’ll fall in love, I promise! And if you are trying to eat more healthy this could be a great afternoon snack as well.

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

·      ½ ripe avocado

·      2 bananas

·      2 large handfuls of spinach

·      2 cups of Coconut Almond

·      1 cup of rolled oats

Toppings:

·      blueberries

·      shredded coconut

·      crushed raw almonds

Which is your favorite smoothie bowl recipe?

Lots of love,

Andrea

IKEA Haul

In case you didn’t know my boyfriend and I bought a brand new apartment a while ago. After saving up like crazy, the time to finally renovate and furnish the apartment has finally come and as you can imagine the excitement is real! We recently hired an interior designer for our kitchen and dining room and they advised us to go have a look at some kitchens in stores, so we have an idea as to what mechanisms we want built in. Alex suggested we went to IKEA and needless to say I instantly jumped at the opportunity!

Now I don’t know exactly how much work we got done kitchen wise, but I surely found some exciting new bits to add to my forever-growing IKEA collection. I won’t bore you with everything I got, but here are some of my fave bits I picked up:

Cacti set. Being a blogger cliché again, I know but look how adorable! And they are perfect for photography props, so expect to see them often round these parts haha.

As soon as the new IKEA catalogue arrived last week I’ve wanted to get some of their new plates. I got three pattern ones and I especially love this one here for desserts. How pretty!

This (here) fluffy rug has been on my wish list for ages (mainly to take some pretty Instagram worthy pics on, let’s be honest) so it finally landed in my basket. It’s so super soft and fluffy and Marnie has been glued to it since Sunday. He absolutely loves it, and I do too, so brace youself for all the upcoming Insta flatlays with it in the background lol.

Lanterns make everything cozy and since I’m in a super Autumn-y mood I decided that this lantern would be a great match in my autumnal home décor. It's cheap as chips as well.

Colorful, pastel straws. The perfect addition to my morning smoothies. 

I love cards and I love sending them to people, so I couldn’t say to no these ice lollies ones. They are perfect for putting in frames too, which made me get some black and white ones. I really want to give a gallery wall a try before we move and these Fiskbo ones are perfect.

I’ve never seen IKEA as a place to buy stationary but just look at these washi tape cuties. I love the fact that they are monochrome and would be a great addition to my Filofax entries.

Have you picked up anything amazing from IKEA recently?

Lots of love,

Andrea

10 Tips For A Great Beach Holiday

1. Stay hydrated.

Okay, we are stating the obvious here but drinking lots of water is always important, let alone whilst being in hotter climate. I know it’s easy to get carried away with drinking all the martinis when you’re on holiday and we often forget about water but you really don’t want to feel dizzy whilst sunbathing. Staying hydrated helps you adjust to the climate better and keeps the headache at bay as well. It’s a must!

2. Balance Out Your Diet

In an ideal world holiday calories wouldn’t count but unfortunately they do. I am such a foodie and I’m always up for eating all the burgers and fried squid but I think that moderation is key. I know how easy it is to overindulge in yummy desserts and sugary cocktails but think about the bloating the next day and feeling less confident waking around in your bikinis. It’s important to feel light, so maybe pack some healthy lunch when hitting the beach. Chances are there will be some fast food places there but having something more nutritious is always a good idea. Take some fruit or a healthy salad and give the fish and chips a miss. Another good idea is to share meals with people and that way you can try all the delicious food and cut the calories in half.

3. Stick With Your Exercise Routine

You probably had a strict workout routine and worked hard for that smokin’ beach body, so why not stick with it whilst you’re away? I know it is tempting to skip the morning exercise and have a lie in or head to the beach early to get as much tan as possible but staying in shape on holiday is important. It will be much easier for you to get back to your usual routine when you get home and will make you feel confident in your body when sunbathing. You don’t necessarily need to hit the hotel’s gym, you can also go for a run on the beach or do some yoga when admiring at the gorgeous sea views. Take your pick, pack your gym gear and stay in shape!

4. Satitize

That’s a step I never miss and I think it’s important to keep that germs at bay at all cost. You don’t want to end up being ill on holiday and there might not be sink and soap you can use, especially if you go exploring the nearby caves. I love the fresh and clean feeling that sanitizers give and they also smell incredible. I love all Bath & Body Works ones or if you can’t get your hands on them, then this one is a personal fave!

5. Have a Social Media Break

As a blogger I am always trying to stay up to date with all my comments and catch up with the latest updates of my favorite bloggers. I always have my camera with me, ready to take pretty images or Snap that very cute dog. But it is important to have a social media break every once in a while. I’m not saying to stop uploading pics of your latest meal or stop checking you Twitter but try to engage with conversions with the people you’re away with. Try to enjoy every moment more without thinking how many likes you got on that photo or tweet. Focus more on yourself and your loved ones – it is mind refreshing.

6. Don’t Forget Your Camera

As I said, I always have my camera on me and I just love taking beautiful snaps of everywhere I go. Not for social media, just for me to look back on. Creating memories and capturing them on camera is such a great thing and being the nostalgic person I am, looking back on old holiday photos makes me super happy. You can also use your phone of course but if you are like me you probably don’t have enough space on your phone (sort it out Appple!). Plus, the camera always gives better quality photos and I find it a lot more intimate and the photos won’t disappear in the sea of selfies and screenshots.

7. Take Reading Material

I’m quite a busy person and unfortunately I rarely find the time to read at home, so when I am on holiday I always check a lot of books off my reading list. I find reading at the beach the best way to relax and even if you don’t fancy reading a book, flipping though a magazine is always fun and a great way to unwind.

8. Protect Yourself From The Sun

Right, you’ve fake tanned and look all sorts of golden goddess-y but the fact that you have a beautiful tan base doesn’t mean you can’t burn in the sun. Quite the opposite actually. Slap some SPF on, reapply every few hours, put on your favorite shades, a hat and enjoy. You don’t want to end up looking like a lobster on your first day, am I right? Besides, if sunbathing and tanning is your thing, you can still get tanning oil, which will help you enhance your tan whilst still protecting you from the UV rays.

9. Take Care of Your Skin

My skin usually goes cray when I change climates, so sticking with my usual skincare routine is vital. I know it’s tempting to pick up tons of minis from the drugstore but changing your entire regime on holiday is not ideal. Makeup wipes wouldn’t really do the trick either. You need to make sure that you got all that build up sweat and SPF off your skin prior going to bed. Instead of getting all the samples just get some of those travel size toiletries containers and fill them with your tried and tested skincare bits.

10.  Relax & Don’t Touch Your Laptop

I like keeping busy and as a workaholic I know how tempting it is to check your emails or finish that report that you are working on at the office. It is, however, important you take some time off. The thought of all the work that’s waiting for me at home used to make me super anxious but after experiencing quite a serious burnout, I learned the importance of relaxing. Those emails can wait, they’ll still be there when you go home, so try not to stress about it and don’t feel guilty for taking time for yourself. Try to soak up the moment, finish that book that you’re reading, go for a swim or just enjoy the sun while sipping on Sangrias. Don’t ‘live for work’. Remember - it should be the other way around!

Lots of love,

Andrea