My Morning Routine - Skincare Edition

Hi lovelies,

Todays morning routines turned out to be green-orange-themed. It was too cute to not take pictures so here it is.

Let's start with the orange side of my skincare. 

- The Body Shop papaya body butter to keep my body soft and moisturised

- Shiseido benefiance creamy cleansing foam to cleanse my face

- Essence colour & go nailpolish in flashy pumpkin to give my toes that summer feeling 

- Bio oil which I put on scars to help them heal

The green side was all part of a skincare kit from Clinique that was in promotion after Christmas. You got a bag with a full size moisturiser and 2 generous samples for a price that was less than a full size moisturiser. I of course could leave it the store without it. It's a great set that really works for dry skin. It's the only thing that I've tried when I get a skin reaction where my skin turns bumpy and dry that actually works. Ofcourse it also works great for every day. My skin hasn't got the memo yet that it's spring now and can stop being dry. So what am I exactly using?

- Clinique 7day scrub cream after I cleansed my face

- Clinique superdefense spf20 age defense eye cream

- Clinique superdefense spf20 daily defense moisturizer for very dry to dry combination skin

I love my cute green-orange-themed skincare, what about you?

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

The essentials - Shower edition

Hi lovelies,

After the last fashion blogpost we're going back to the beautyside of things with a post that hasn't been done on the blog before : My shower essentials. Lately I've accumulated a couple of new bits that I really love and deserve to have their place in the spotlight.

 The haircare edit

I start my showersession with haircare because all of these products need their time to work into the hair so start with that first and do your bodycare in between while your products soak in your hair. I wash my hair with Bioderma Node K shampoo. My dermatologist recommended this because I have a condition that's similar to psoriasis on my scalp, it helps a little with the itchiness and cleans quite well but it isn't a miracle worker so the itchiness probably won't ever leave. After I washed and rinsed my hair twice I apply a hairmask. My hair is quite sensitive and gets split ends so quickly. I only need to look at an curling iron and my hair dies. To keep my hair healthy and growing without splitting I use the Lee Stafford treatment for hair that never grows past a certain lenght. Longest name ever but I really noticed a significant difference in my hair. My last step for hair is conditioner. I refused to use conditioner until last year but I finally caved and I just need to accept that it really does keep your hair healthy and not just makes it too soft and flat. My conditioner of choice is the Aussie 3 minute miracle reconstructive deep conditioner. It works miracles, trust me. The fact that it smells like bubblegum doesn't make me mad either.

The bodycare edit

I start with washing my face using the Shiseido benefiance creamy cleansing foam. It's meant for older skin but that also means it's more hydrating, which I really like with this cold weather we've been having this winter. My bodywash changes with my mood but I really love the fruity scents from The Body Shop. I featured the papaya shower gel but I also like other scents and the showergels from Bourjois. I've only ever used The Body Shop scrubs to scrub my body but I really like them. I do prefer the shea scrub over this jelly pink grapefruit one but it does the job. The last product I use is when I get out of the shower. I use a Body Shop body butter in the papaya scent to moisturise my body. It smells delicious and makes you feel soft and non-flaky in the past cold winter months. 

Looking back on this post I really am a Body Shop fan, which are your favorite products?

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

F*ck it - The final thought before making a desicion

Hi lovelies,

Last week I wore an outfit I personally really like so I decided to feature it on the blog. I love knee high or over-the-knee socks but I'm usually a bit afraid to wear them because people tend to stare. Sadly enough they only come out the closet on the days I feel most confident and can face the stares. I should really learn to care less about other peoples opinion.

Outfit

                                                                       Dress - H&M

                                                                 Cardigan - New Look

                                               20 deniere stockings - Zeeman

                                                     Over knee socks - Primark

                                                                      Shoes - Converse

                                                                Necklace - H&M

Goodbyeeeee

- Nikki

Review NYC Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

Hi lovelies,

My search for the perfect black kohl liner continues. Finding a decent one seems to be harder than you'd think. There are a couple of boxes that need to be ticked : 

                                              - cheap / drugstore prices

                                              - readily available aka in my local Kruidvat

                                              - smudgeproof

                                              - doesn't crumble during the day

                                              - doesn't get in lines

                                              - lasts all day

                                              - needs to be pigmented 

                                              - needs to be soft to apply

Me picky? Nooooooooooooo?!

 Contestant of choice : NYC waterproof eyeliner pencil. You may now enter the ring. Let's see how it will do. Let's start with the good : The pigmentation is great, is has a a great deep black velvet finish. It looks gorgeous when swatched and on the eyes. It's soft to apply and the price is great, 2.99€ a piece in my local Kruidvat. Meaning that it also ticks the box of being readily available. Sadly that's were the good part ends.

 Onto the bad part: It starts as soon as you apply. I started my eyemake up with a light layer of the maybelline color tattoo in permanent taupe as a base. After that I applied the eyeliner around my eyes but when i looked up to do the waterline, the liner on the upper lashline had already left a black line in the crease which turned out to be incredibly hard to remove. Micellair water just doesn't cut it, which makes it hard to remove any smears during the day or at night when you remove your make-up. My eyes were still black the next morning.

When I came home at the end of my school day and looked in the mirror I was horrified. I looked like a panda. Black smears everywhere, my entire under eye area was one black stain. The picture below doesn't even show how badly it really was. The kohl crumbled in some places, smeared on other. It definitely isn't waterproof or stays all day. It managed to get into every fine line it could possibly find. It looked horrendous, let's be honest. It was so disappointing especially because it swatched beautifully and was completely smudgeproof on my hands.

As illustrated by the photos above it will probably be clear that my search for the perfect kohl pencil continous. Any recomendiations?

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

What I bought - Lush valentines edition

Hi lovelies,

Valentines day is almost here and what better way to celebrate than to visit Lush and take a look at their Valentines collection. Baths are a great way to relax and Lush bathstuff is amazing. From bathboms to bubblebars, your bath will never be boring again. Considering it's Valentines day, whether you take your bath alone or not is up to you. 

 Products 

- Love locket bath bomb - 10,75€

- Unicorn horn bubble bar - Sold in the 'in your dreams' giftbox for 13,95€

- Big shampoo sample - free

- Heart throb bubbleroon - 5,95€

- Sakura bath balistic - 4,95€

- I love juicy shampoo sample - free

- Granny takes a dip bath bomb - Sold in the 'in your dreams' giftbox

These are the items I bought from the limited edition Valentines collection. The love locket is pretty big and can be used in 3 times by breaking it in half and use both sides and the tiny heart inside separately. Of course it's up to you in how many pieces you break your bath bomb considering it's pretty pricey. But for this one just throw your piece in your filled bath and enjoy. The red smaller heart is the bubbleroon. It consists of 2 halves held together with gold glitter which makes it easy to use twice. Last but not least, the unicorn horn, this was sold out everywhere but I managed to get my hands on one by picking up the 'in your dreams' gift box which consists of the unicorn horn and granny takes a dip bathbomb.  

Ah the extra purchases I couldn't leave behind even though I swore to only buy valentines stuff. My shopaholic side took over and bought more than I was supposed to. In fact I bought so much I got free samples. I chose the Big shampoo and the I love juicy shampoo, I also got a prince charming sample but I gave that one away to my sister in law. Shop with 3 people, get 3 samples, I never expected to each get a sample. Onto the other products, I got the Granny takes a dip bathbomb in the same giftset. I'm hoping all the circles will make my bath go colourful. The last thing is the Sakura bath ballistic. It has dots everywhere, so cute. It's supposed to make you a bit sleepy so great to use before bed.

Of course I'll be sharing all of this stuff with Anais, little valentines gift from us to us.

I hope you liked this article.

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

Princess Marshmellow has a new home

Hi lovelies,

How are you doing? Today I'll my showing Marshies new little Queendom. I've had a circus hamstercage for the past few years but after a few cagetours on YouTube, I've realised that it's actually pretty small even though it's supposed to big enough if you believe the info you find everywhere. But think about it if you're going to be caged and can't leave... you should at least be in a big space so you can move somewhat freely. I just wanted for her to have a satisfying and fun life. I don't want her to be miserable in a small space. So I went to Ikea and made my own hamstercage. 

 I purchased the Samla box which is 78 cm long, 43cm wide and 56 cm high. It's a lot bigger than the previous one and cost me only 14.99. It comes with a lid but do remember to cut out quite a big piece out of the lid and place some kind of wire in it because when you close it it creates a vacuum and your hamster will probably die and you obviously don't want that. You'll also need to bring in some fresh air because it would get smelly otherwise. The only other problem with a cage that hasn't got bars is that you can't place a bottle of water. I tried everything from Velcro to duct tape, it just doesn't work so I made 3 little holes to place the bottle through and to secure it and that works wonderfully.

 I've decorated it with 2 coconut halves as little hideouts, a hideout house from the previous cage, toiletrolls and 'treerolls' and a ladder to crawl through or on. She has 3 wooden bridges who also work as hideout places to possibly make a nest in. She also has another treethingie but it has food on and in it which is a nice addition to her regular food in the red bowl. Last but not least a finally fully working waterbottle, a silent spinner wheel that is not as silent as I hoped it would be and a flying saucer to run on but she hasn't fully grasped the concept yet, she just sits on it.

 As nesting material I go for the standard wood shavings on the bottom, cotton bedding in the nesting places and corners because it absorbs well and edible hay which she also used for her nest. I also throw in some toiletpaper because she likes to play with it and tear it apart for her nest.

She seems to like her new cage a lot but there are still some changes to be made. I need to find a way to install a platform so she can climb because she loves that.

Hamster for comparison, ghii

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

What's on my face #22 - Brown smoky eyes

Hi lovelies,

After the quite pictureheavy Get-Ready-With-Me post I'm staying on the make-up front and planned this What's-On-My-Face post for you. Keep scrolling I hope you like it.

Let's see I didn't wear any face make-up, just eyes and lips. For my eyes I used Matt Garcia from the Meet Matt Nude palette from the Balm on the entire lid. Matt Wood on the outer half of the eyes and in the outer corner I used the black shadow out of the Undress Me Too palette from MUA. I applied the same Matt Wood shade as an eyeliner around the entire eye and topped things off with the Organic Wear mascara from Physians Formula. For the lips I outlined and filled them in with the Catrice lipliner in That's What Rose Wood Do! and went over it with the Hey Nude! lipstick from Catrice.

I also added a picture on my instagram. Do feel free to follow me on @mysprinklesoflove.

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

Get Ready With Me - Long Overdue Christmas Edition

Hi lovelies,

Remember a long time ago when I promised a get ready with me Christmas edition? Even though we're close to February now, the day I finally managed to photograph every step of the way has come. By this point it's probably more for my own memory that I make this because by this time it really has got no point anymore. Anyways... prepare, get yourself a cup of coffee and observe.

Let's start with hair. When my hair was almost dry I spritzed some heatprotectant by L'oreal Elnette for curls in my hair. When my hair was dry I curled it with a spiraled curlingiron. When I was done I applied hairspray, brushed the curls out and removed the frizz with mermaidhair texturising spray by Got2Be. Add a glittery hairclip and you're done. 

Prep the skin by removing all of the remaining make-up or sleepiness with some micellair water and hydrate your skin with your favorite moisturiser. I used the Vitamin E aqua boost sorbet moisturiser by The Body Shop. 

 I always start with eye make-up before I do my face make-up just to prevent having to start all over again because of glittery fall out. I started with using the L'oreal Colour Riche pencil in Enigmatic Brown as an all over base. I made the colour more intense by using Dreamy from the MUA undress me too palette in the outer corner and under the lower lashline, Fiery in the inner half and shy in the inner corner. All from the same eyeshadowpalette. I applied winged eyeliner using the pearlised black liquid liner from NYC. Made my lashes look a whole better by applying the Physians Formula Organic Wear mascara. Lastly I used Matt Abdul from the Meet Matt Nude palette from The Balm in my eyebrows.

 For face make-up I used Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in shade Ivory. Catrice Camouflage Cream in light beige went under my eyes and around my nose. I bronzed up the face with my trusty Essence sun club bronzer for blondes. I applied a rose blush with golden glitter on my cheeks using Sleek's rose gold blush. Last but not least I used Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Pleasure me Red. 

My dress is from Zara, thights from Veritas and heels from Pepe Jeans. 

Even though this post is very very late due to interning, exams and other parts of life I hope you still enjoyed it.

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

2014 Beauty Favorites

Hi lovelies,

We're now halfway January which means it's definitely time for a round-up of my 2014 beautyfavorites. It's going to be a long one so let's get started.

Face make-up

- Estee Lauder Daywear tinted moisteriser

- NYC mousse foundation

- Catrice Camouflage cream

- Essence Sun Club bronzer for blondes

- Sleek Rosegold blush 

Eye make-up

- The Balm Meet Matt Nude eyeshadowpalette

- Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara

- L'oreal Miss Manga mascara

- Bourjois Megaliner

- L'oreal Colour Riche eyeshadow stick

- NYC Liquid Eyeliner in pearlised black but I wish I bought the regular black one but the formula and brush is great

Lipproducts

- YSL Babydoll Kiss&Blush in 7 

- YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 28

- Dior Lipglow lipbalm

- Maybelline Colour Sensational in 547 

Bourjois Rouge Velvet Editon in 02

Beauty accessory

-Zoeva Rose Gold brushset 

Skincare

- Garnier micellair water

- Freeman facial peel-off cucumber mask

- The Body Shop Vitamin E aqua boost daycream

- The Body Shop Vitamin E facemist 

Haircare

-L'oreal Elnett satin heatprotection for curls

- Batiste XXL volume dryshampoo

- L'oreal Studio Line #TXT07 volume texturising spray

- Schwarzkopf Got2Be beach babe texturizing salt spray 

 Nailcare 

- Hema mild nailpolish remover, it smells like cherries!!!

- NYC minute quick dry nailpolish in raindrop

- Essence colour&go in headphones on

- Essence colour&go in hello marshmellow

Scent

- Givenchy very irrestitable eau de toilette

- At the end of the year I also discovered Lancome la vie est belle eau de parfum and YSL black opium

What were your favorites?

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

What I got for Christmas 2014

Hi lovelies,

I hope you had a wonderful festive period. I hope you had a great time and if that's not the case I hope you at least got the presents you wished for to make up for it. I personally had a great time. Okay there are the moment I felt like I was going to kill my family. My family seems to get more stressed than excited for family parties. That's why I totally get it if you don't enjoy this time of year. That being said I do feel like I've grown up a lot in the past year considering Christmas (only Christmas - I'm a Disneylovingchild forever). This is the first year in my life I cared less about the presents. Usually I'm quite greedy and have my list of things I want ready. This year was different and that has translated in my presents. I don't have a lot to show you because my presents were more sentimental and activitybased than materialistic. I'll talk about them below but first this.

I also felt a shift in wanting to receive gifts to wanting to buy and think about what I would give to others. I never bought presents for my family. My aunties usually buy things and say 'well, I got you this, you can give that to your parents and this to your grandparents,..' I realise now that how lazy that was, It's okay when your a child but it shouldn't have happened this way until I was 20 years old. This year I decided to buy my own presents and it feels so much better. My spoiled my girlfriend and bought her so many tiny gifts and she loved it so I loved it. For my father I bought a tie and I feel proud when he wears it because I chose it. I'm really happy I've made this change and have finally grown up. 

Last but not least we introduced a new thing in our family. My aunties thought it would be funny to set a budget of 5 euros per person and buy food and then do something fun with it. You know as a silly little thing. Sceptical as I always am, I didn't agree at all. I found it a stupid idea unless you would give the food we purchased to a charity. So that's what we did. We shopped and between Christmas and new years we brought the food to our local Poverello. Which is an organisation that helps the poor people in our city. They can go there for cheap clothes and a warm meal and/or coffeebreak. I felt so appreciated by doing that that it will definitely become a new tradition. It's only a small thing to do but all little things count.

Now back to what I got for Christmas

- Bongo gift certificate for a wellness weekend - Girlfriend

- Lush bathbombs : father Christmas, blueberry, wizard - Girlfriend

- Vivabox cinema and a bongo gift certificate for a dinner for 2 which was for Anais but I'll be joining her so it may count as a present for me - Girlfriends grandparents

- 3 entrancetickets for a wellness centre near us - Parents-in-law

- Gift certificate for a restaurant I like - Auntie

- A handmade cookbook with all my beloved family recipies which I will treasure for ever - Auntie 

- Money so I can't buy whatever I want - my parents

All by all my year ended well. I'll also do a get ready with me- christmas edition as well as a new years edition and I also see a 2014 favorites in the near future. 

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki

What I Wore - Punk Boohoo Edition

Hi lovelies,

I promised a boohoo-haul months ago but since that still hasn't happened I'm guessing it's going to be in a lookbookform and today will be the first one. The dress and cardigan are both from boohoo. The fashionblogger-dress just needed to happen. I couldn't not buy it. It's also sooo comfortable, it feels like wearing pajamas but when paired correctly it doesn't look like you just stepped out of bed. I advise a big scarf and cardigan. My pictures with the scarf turned out crappy but the outfit does look prettier with a scarf. I decided to go for a grungy-punky look. I like to throw those terms around, makes me feel cool. Anyways... I paired the boohoo tshirtdress with an oversized cardigan from the boohoo men's section, fishnet stockings and my new pair of vans.

Goodbyeeee

- Nikki