How to: have a break like a boss

Hello lovely people!

I'm really sorry that I have been absent for two weeks, but I have exams in September so I'm basically buried under my books all day. This is a post for all the students out there, because it is important to have a break once in a while.

When you take a break, you need to make sure that you do it right. Why is that important? Well, if you don't do that, your brain will not have the chance to rest. Therefore, it isn't smart to watch television or go on the internet while having a break.

To get the most out of your time outside your books, here is my list of ultimate breaks:

- Put on your favourite song and just dance, go all the way, it doesn't matter. If you are studying in your dorm, make sure your curtains are closed... Unless you want to admire yourself on Youtube dancing in your Tweety shirt (or your pink Snoopy pyjamas)...

- Go for a walk, because it's great to be outside and inhale all the fresh air. If you happen to be in your jogging pants, it doesn't matter, you are a student but please take off your fluffy knee socks...

- 15 minutes is great to try on some make-up, and the positive side? If it looks terrible: your books won't complain!

- Open your wardrobe and start combining. Maybe you will find a nice outfit you can wear when you get your freedom back.

- Have fun with your pet. It is the perfect time to be social for a few minutes (and yes, pets do count during exams)!

- Make yourself some tea or coffee: much needed!

These are my favourite breaks. They may seem silly, but for a student everything besides studying is fun. And one important thing to remember: this period filled with horrible exams will pass! Good luck everyone who is, like me, chained to his/her desk for a few weeks!

After my exams, you can expect more outfit posts and other more beauty related posts.

xo

July favourites

Hello guys!

I know it has been a while but I have been studying for my exams in September. August has begun and this means: time for my first monthly favourites! In Belgium, July has been very hot with some storms. Therefore, my favourites contain a lot of sun products but also a good book for when it was raining outside.

Beauty products:

When it's sunny outside, you need proper protection and my favourite is Nuxe sun SPF 30. I get sunburned very easily, to the amusement of my friends when I end up looking like a roasted tomato, therefore SPF 30 is the absolute minimum for me. This Nuxe sunscreen doesn't leave a greasy layer on your skin and smells delicious. In the evening I also put on the Nuxe sun after-sun lotion for the same reason: it isn't greasy, smells devine and hydrates my skin. During summer my hair gets dryer and breaks easily. This Schwarzkopf essence ultîme reinforces my hair, smells great and makes my hair all shiny again.

Make-up products:

In this picture you can actually see almost all my everyday products for when it's hot outside. During summer, the last thing you want to do, is clog your skin with layers and layers of make-up. I would just put on my Rimmel stay matte foundation (in the shade: 200 soft beige), some concealer if needed, a bit of KIKO blush (shade: 101 venus pink) and a touch of mascara. If I wanted to update this everyday look to an evening look, I would just put on some eyeliner and my KIKO unlimited stylo long-lasting lipstick (in the shade: 07 cherry red). But to be honest, a lot of the days when it was too hot outside, I didn't even bother to put on foundation.

Note: I will post my everyday make-up look with more details later!

Reading:

This is a book of a friend of mine but it deserves a place in my favourites because she gave it to me in July and I love it! When you look a the title, you don't know what to expect: do you need to be offended because a friend gave it to you? But the purpose of this whole book is great. I can't tell you a lot about the contents, just read it. Let is surprise you and you won't regret it. Thanks C for this book!

Fashion:

I bought these earrings on a small market in Ghent and they have barely left my ears since. They look heavy but they are absolutely not and the dark, green tones match my hair and eyes. I love them!

Fashion: normcore

Hello lovely people!
I have been away for a week because I had to clean out my dorm but I'm back and I have a fashion post just for you guys.

There is a new trend in town and if you haven't seen it yet, it's a sign that the people are succeeding. Wait, does this sound weird? Let me explain it to you: how many plain white shirts, jeans shorts  and sneakers (Adidas or Nike) have you seen? The answer is probably a lot but you didn't notice.

So why do we call this a trend? When did it become completely fashionable to dress comfortably and according to the avarage norm? Well, it actually started as a reaction against the overdressing trend, where people go all the way in dressing up. Everyone needed a calmer trend, affordable, comfortable and one that blended in. You do not always need to jump out of the crowd to be noticed. Normcore is all about blending in but standing out at the same time. You can summerise this trend in one sentence: "Normcore is all about embracing sameness, rather than striving for difference."

How do you do this? To blend in, you just take a perfect fitting jeans/shorts, a pair of sneakers or flats and a nice shirt/top. When you combine this with simple make-up and simple hair, you have an easy everyday look. But how do you stand out in it? You just have to combine this look with an outstanding piece of accessory. This can be a nice handbag, a necklace, a big ring, nails in popping colours,... You can also combine this simple look with funny details ( a print on a sweater, shirt,...).
The print on my new sweater for example:

There are some celebrities, who have mastered this trend. But if there is one person who is doing it really well and always looks on point, it's Alexa Chung. She is never overdressed OR underdressed and always looks great.

The key of this look is to be comfortable, always. If it's raining, don't be afraid to take a jacket, it won't ruin your outfit. Dressing according to the norm is effortless and also has vintage influences, such as the flaired jeans, the white sneakers, Birkenstocks,...

So guys, enjoy this trend before fashion goes all the way again!

xo

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Marilyn

KIKO: a brand to discover

Two weeks ago I went to Milan where I discovered the KIKO store. KIKO is an Italian brand of cosmetics, make-up and skin care products. I knew the brand but I never tried anything of it. When I saw the store I couldn't resist and took a look inside. 

First of all, I was surprised by the friendly people there! They wanted to help everyone and gave me a lot of information about their brand and products. When you are not sure about the colour you should buy, you can always ask them for advice. They speak Italian, but their English is also very good.

On the first day I bought three nail polishes, blush, eyeshadow and lipstick. I also tried another lipstick on my hand but didn't buy it. Afterwards, we had lunch on the Piazza del duomo and went back to our hotel. I had washed my hands several times that day and I never thought about that lipstick again...until I had a look at my hand and saw that that lipstick was still there! Therefore, I went back to the store on the second day to buy that one too.

The blush I bought is multifunctional: you can use it as a blush but also as a lipstick. I have tried it on several times now and I would recommend to just use it as a blush because it made my lips a little dry.
The best buy I did there, was that second lipstick! It doesn't dry out your lips, the colour doesn't run, it lasts for hours, the texture is really nice, the finish is matte but it has a little dewy glow,... And all of that for 6.90 EUR!

If you didn't know about this brand, you should take a look on www.kikocosmetics.com . They have a lot of choice and you get a good quality for a great price!



(All pictures are taken from www.kikocosmetics.com)

ZARA summer sale: the wishlist

Hello there!

It is July and this means the temperature is getting higher, vacation has started and... the summer sales are here! When I think of summer sales, I always think of these few items I didn't buy in the months before. Zara is a shop I like a lot and I always get excited when I see their summer sale appear. So here is my wishlist!

If I could pick one item of this wishlist that I really want, it's the handbag. I adore the colour because I fits a lot of seasons and the fringes make it a bit more edgy.