Tips & Tricks: EXAM EDITION

Hey loves,

Some of you are enjoying your (well-deserved) Christmas break. Lucky you! But some of us... Well we need to study for the exams that are coming up AFTER break. Here are a few tips that will hopefully help you.

1. Start on time

Oh yes, you procrastinators out there! I'm guilty as well. But starting on time actually helps! Don't put off making summaries at the last possible second. It's less work if you work on it after your classes. That way, the information is still fresh in your mind and BOOM: you have a summary to study. Less time-consuming AND less stressful.

2. Make your own schedule

You know yourself better than anyone. So decide if you're more of a morning student or an evening student and base your schedule on that. Don't compare it to others as everyone has their own methods. I'm personally an evening studier, so I don't wake up at 7 since I know I won't be productive. Also, I like to sleep. I'm better at staying up late than waking up early!

3. Take reasonable breaks

Everyone needs a break. Especially when you've been staring at your books or screens for a while. Find out whether you prefer a lot of little breaks, or just one big break after a couple hours of studying. Go out for a walk, make some food or do some yoga! Anything to take your mind off of school for a little while. Taking breaks help process the information better and you will be more productive when you start studying again.

4. Use colors. Loads of them

I'm a big fan of markers. Big, big fan! Not only do they make your books and notes look pretty, they actually help you memorize the information better. When marking a word or a sentence, it stands out. That helps you remember it on the exam!


Alright so those were some pretty basic tips. Here are a few more that people tend to forget:

5. Change your clothes

Sounds weird. But I know that a lot of people stay in their pajamas to study. They wake up  and walk to their desk the way they're dressed. My tip to you is: change. your. clothes. Even if you're staying home all day, just change into some soft leggings and a comfy sweater. You'll shake off the grogginess and you'll feel more awake. Splashing cold water on your face also helps!

6. Eat healthy and drink loads of water

It's so much easier to grab something quick and unhealthy while studying. But most of the time, it's counter-productive. You need something that will give you energy throughout the day. Don't eat too heavy at lunch because you will want take a nap right after. And water, loads loads loads of water. That's always a good idea. And it helps against pimples. Nobody wants pimples, not even when they're studying!

7. Open a window

Even if it's freeeeeezing cold outside (which it currently is in Belgium), open your window. Maybe not the whole time but for 15 minutes every couple of hours so fresh air comes in. Cold air works wonders for me to stay awake.

8. Sleep

If you can, try sleeping 7-8 hours a night. If you don't sleep enough, you will be less concentrated and might end up taking a nap on your desk (trust me, it happens!). Especially the night before your exam! Otherwise, because of the lack of sleep, you won't remember the little basic things. So sleep! You'll go into your exam with fresh eyes, face and brain. You've studied, you'll know the answer!



Good luck to all of those studying for the exams. You can do it! But remember: not everything is about school. Those grades do not define you. You can achieve anything you want in life. Just gotta work. Hard.

Hope you liked this post. I'm going back to my books!

Love

Molly

Let's talk about LUSH!

Hi there

Cold weather is coming up (or is already here for some of ya! Or not at all for those in AUS)! That only means one thing: warm baths & hot showers! I always love pamper days when it's cold out. I like to treat myself to a hairmask, a facemask and just mmmh-smelling products in general! So of course LUSH is the place to go to. 

For those who don't know what Lush Cosmetics is: it's where they make fresh handmade cosmetics. All their products are plant-based and do not contain any harsh chemicals. The company is against animal testing and is completely vegan. Oh and did I mention they are eco-friendly? What's not to like?

You may notice I am not mentioning any bath bombs or bubble bars here and there is a very simple reason for that: I do not own a bath. Here are 5 products you can enjoy from LUSH Cosmetics, even if you don't have a bath tub:

1. King Of Skin:

 Words cannot express how much I love this. I have very dry skin and I'm very lazy a.k.a I hate moisturising after I get out of the shower. This is the perfect product for me! I just put some water on the body butter and I rub it on my body. The bar just melts into your skin. You don't need to rinse it off. Also: it kind of smells like chocolate. If that's not a reason to buy this body butter, than I don't know what is ...

Note: when you get out of the shower, don't dry yourself too harshly. It's better to pat your body dry so your body will feel moisturised. 

King of Skin 

2. Eau Roma

I love how toners are just completely clear and feel like water. You don't really think they are doing much but they are so good and gentle for your skin. This one contains rose water and lavender water, both are used to soothe and soften the skin. I use it after my cleanser and before my night/day cream. 

Eau Roma Water

3. Balancoire face mask
Sometimes you need to treat yo self! Wash your face, put this face mask on, make yourself a cup of tea (or hot chocolate, whichever you prefer) and get on Tumblr/Pinterest/Weheartit/... or watch your favourite TV show! Face masks are great to calm your skin and nourish it. This one smells amazing as well! 

4. Aqua Marina

At first, I wasn't too sure about this face cleanser. It had little green pieces mixed with a pinkish goo. The consistency wasn't one I used before. But I liked it a lot! It was a really nice surprise. The consistency turned out to be really gentle so this was really good for my sensitive skin. 

Aqua Marina

5. The Godmother soap

I just really like this one for the smell! It's just such a girly and sweet smell. It makes your whole bathroom smell amazing and it also lingers for a very long time on your hands and body.

The Godmother

So here are my 5 favourite products from Lush Cosmetics! Leave a comment below with your 5 favourites! And just a quick question: who wants to give me a bath tub for Christmas so I can use those Christmas-themed bath bombs? 

Love xoxo

Molly 

Karl Lagerfeld has a surprise for us!

Chanel will be releasing another short film on dec. 1^st! The title is “Reincarnation” and was created and directed by Karl Lagerfeld himself, in honor of the Métiers d’Art collection which will be presented in Salzburg next week. I’m so excited about Cara Delevingne and Pharrell Williams being the main characters!!

The film recounts on the moment when Coco Chanel was inspired to create the iconic Chanel jacket, when she spotted the elevator operator’s uniform at the Austrian hotel where she vacationed in 1954.

Pharrell plays the elevator operator wearing the famous jacket, and Cara plays an Austrian royalty in a beautiful dress. 

The song, “CC The World” that comes with the trailer is composed by Pharrell and sung by Cara. This model was apparently on the first row when talent was handed out. What is it that Cara can’t do?!

Have a look at the teaser, are you also getting excited for the complete version of the film?

- Amal ♥

Tarte cosmetics

Hello lovely readers,

Last year, my cousin introduced me to this new make-up brand called Tarte. One of the main things I love about these products is that they are cruelty-free and eco-friendly! As you probably have read before on this blog, you know that I have highly sensitive skin. I'm always skeptical about trying out new products because I easily break-out. But Tarte only uses naturally-derived ingredients which mean there is no crazy chemical bad-for-your-skin stuff in it!

This brand originates from the US, and that is where I got my products as well. Unfortunately, they don't have stores in every single country. For the american readers, you can find this brand at ULTA. For other countries: it's available in SEPHORA (make sure to check the website first to see if they actually got it!)

My absolute favourites:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation

Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!

Thanks for reading! 

Xoxo Molly

Who is Taylor Marie Hill?

I’ve been wanting to write this article for a while, but never really got to it. Today I decided to write, and immediately upload it (hurray for my productivity!). 

So this article is about Taylor Marie Hill. Maybe you haven’t heard from her before, but you must have spotted her face at least once. Taylor has been modelling since she was 15 years old. She started with Ford Models, now the model is signed up with IMG Models.

Taylor Hill for Blugirl ss 2013

I’ve been keeping an eye on this girl for about two years now and I’ve been sensing that she’s making big career steps in the world of modelling. I think she has a lot of potential and she might get really big in the near future, that’s why I wanted to introduce you all to this girl. I also think that she deserves this little shout out.

There’s not too much to find about her on the internet or in magazines, but I thought it would also be fun to give you an overview about the things I picked up about her since I first spotted her. By the way, I think it must have been on Instagram. She caught my eye because she seemed very familiar to me. I had seen her before on the H&M website. She’s been working a lot for H&M, DIVIDED. That’s why you might spot her while looking for clothes on their online shop. 

Taylor Hill for H&M

You can also find her on the VS PINK website. She’s even has been on the head banner for a while. And not so long ago, Taylor announced that she’ll be walking in the VSFS this year. She posted a picture on her IG account, caption: “New from VS pink also I’m super excited to announce I’ll be walking in the VSFS this year I’m coming for Ya London!! @victoriassecret”.

Taylor Hill for VS PINK

I already mentioned I have a feeling that Taylor Hill is becoming bigger. The fact that she will be in the VSFS is of course one of the biggest reasons. But also because I’ve seen her on several catwalks during the latest Fashion Month. She’s walked for Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, Christopher Kane, Versace, Kenzo, ... and (my favourite designer!!), Elie Saab!
 

Sooo, big up for this girl! I’m no expert in the model industry, but in my opinion she’s been doing awesome work and I think she’s a person we’ll be hearing more about soon. I’m telling you girls, keep her name in mind. Taylor Marie Hill.

If you want to know more about her modeling story, then go watch this video!

- Amal ♥

Plain T stylin’

I’ve been loving plain T’s lately. It’s the perfect item for creating different styles and a great base for layering. In this post I will show you some of my plain T creations. Hopefully you can use this as an inspiration for your own outfits. :-)

This is an everyday look. The plain T allows you to play with different accessories.

Here you have a look that’s more convenient for a more special event. This glitter skirt brings out your feminine side!

This is how I mostly style my plain T. A laid back look, again with some jewellery to spice up the outfit. I love slip-ons!

If you want to see more “outfitbords” like these, visit: http://imagina-tion.polyvore.com/ t’s my Polyvore account.

Love,
Amal

Pic of the week: Blake Lively's baby bump

Starting today, I will be sharing a pic of the week on each Saturday.

This week's picture goes out to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

The actress and actor are expecting their first child. Blake Lively confimed her pregancy early this week. She shared this amazing news by posting a picture of her baby bump on her lifestyle website Preserve. (shoutout to the cutest baby announcement ever!)

Blake is now posting more photos of her pregnant figure. So if you want more babybumpfun, then go visit her website!

I can only imagine this is going to be a beautiful baby. - Amal ♥

5 items I would definitely repurchase

Hello there,

sorry for being so MIA lately. I've been all over the place: London, Marseille, Paris and Mallorca. It was great but I'm happy to be sleeping in my own bed.

I love trying out new products but here are 5 products that I'm pretty sure I'll always repurchase:

1. Moroccan oil: words cannot express how much I love this product. It's a bit pricy but very worth it. A little goes a long way since you only need about one pump (+/- the size of a dime). I have dry hair and this oil works wonders for me. It keeps my hair healthy, especially because I almost never get a haircut. Maybe about once a year (hashtag: long hair, don't care).

2. Bioderma Créaline: this may not come over as a shock to you since I've posted an article about this not too long ago. It's just THAT good! If you want to read my review about it, click here!

3. Bioderma body lotion: another Bioderma product. Way to go, Bioderma! It's so important to have a good body lotion, especially when you have dry skin like me. This lotion is very moisturising but at the same time very light.

4. Archery from Soap&Glory. Everyone loves a good eyebrow game. I don't like mine too overdone or drawn on my face. I like to keep it very natural and this "brow tint & precision shaping pencil"does exactly that. It has a pencil on one side, and a felt tip marker on the other side.

5. Stay Matte pressed powder from Rimmel London. I love this powder because it keeps my face shine- and oilfree throughout the day.

What are your 5 favourite products? Let us know in the comments!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram: @lipsticksandsneakersinsta
Also our personal Twitter accounts: @Molly_vd and @Amalmaataoui

Xoxo
Molly

Vaca Loca, the Crazy Cow …

Although it’s been almost three months ago since I’ve been to Málaga, I still like to share something about this city. Better late than never, right?

“Vaca Loca” means “Crazy Cow”, and it’s the name of the trendiest tapas bar in Málaga! It’s a young, hip bar where you can get drinks, food and … tapas of course! The best thing about this bar is that you get one free tapa with every drink you order. A fun fact: I’ve never gotten the same tapa twice!

Because you get free tapas, I consider this bar to be very cheap. The tapas are huge, while drinks remain a normal price. A perfect combination for young people/students with little money! J

The bar has an urban/hip, young feel to it because of the interior and people who visit the bar (mainly students, newly grads, teenagers …). The waiters were friendly, warm and sociable. It’s perfect for a chill evening out with your friends, to reminisce the long they you spend at the beach or prepare for a night out in the city!

Unfortunately we don’t live in utopia, so things can’t always be 100% perfect. The same goes for “Vaca Loca”. Service was not always on point. The bar was always crowded, but there wasn’t enough work force to handle the bustle. That’s why we usually had to wait way too long for our drinks/bills to arrive. But hey, if you’re on vacation time doesn’t matter that much I guess …

When in Málaga, don’t hesitate to hop in! ;-)
Address: Calle Moreno Monroy, 3, 29015 Málaga, Spain ‎

What did you do during summer break? Let us know in the comments below!

Bidding is Fancy!

A couple of days ago I came across this amazing website that allows users to bid on Fancy things. It’s a great way for buying designer bags, IPhones, camera’s, … at extreme low prices. It’s such a creative concept that I just had to share this with you all! J

Follow these simple steps to join the fun!

1.       Create your account on www.thefancybid.com.

2.       Purchase a bid package.

3.       Choose the item you would like to bid on.

4.       Start bidding by clicking on “bid now”.

All items start at zero dollars. Every time somebody places a bid, the item's price increases by one cent.

Watch this video for more details.

My experience

After participating in an auction, I immediately found out that bidding comes with a little bit of gambling. Besides making the highest bid, it’s also majorly important to bid on the exact right moment. The exact right moment is when nobody is bidding, so you can make the last bid, but when is that moment? That’s right … you never really know!

A lot of people complain about the fact that they used 100 dollars without getting the item they were bidding on, but that’s just part of the game. If you choose to join the bid, then you should be aware of that. Also decide wisely on how much money you want to spend for an item.

I highly recommend keeping a constant eye on the auction. But I have to warn you, an auction could go on for a very long period of time after the initial countdown has ended. That’s because each extra bid placed after the end time, will reset the counter to 15 seconds again. You will need a lot of patience J

Know when to stop

I myself bought a 30 dollar package, if I don’t win a bid after using up the package, I won’t ever buy another package. I recommend making some kind of little agreement with yourself in order to keep your bidding under control.

I don’t know if the website doesn’t allow people under the age of 18. However, I strongly advise against underage people using the platform. All in all, money is involved. Therefore you should use the platform wisely. The concept is really nice, remember to keep it fun! ;-)

Happy bidding! J - Amal ♥

3 quotes to a positive life!

Hi there!
I've always been a girl who lives by quotes. They're important in difficult life situations, but also in everyday life. That's why I wanted to share my three most important quotes regarding a positive life. I'm not always the most positive person, but I try to live by positivity. And those quotes help me with it.

So without further a do, here we go, enjoy and be inspired! 

1. "People inspire you, or they drain you - pick them wisely." ~ Hans F. Hansen

In life, I've learned that it's majorly importent to be surrounded by positive people in order to have a positive life. More important is to try to avoid negative people. Their aura pulls you into negativity, it's weird that on person can influence your mood without you even wanting it. But it happens, and i can tell by experience that it can happen very easily and quickly.

Caution: I'm not saying that you have to drop that one friend with problems in her/his life. By negative people, I mean people who don't have any problems but will make a problem out of anything. People that never will be satisfied, no matter what. 

2. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

Try to make the best out of anything! Life can bring you crap on the most incovenient moments. However, things will happen the way they are supposed to be. So instead of making a fuss about it, try to make the best out of it! 

An example: When you get (literally) lost and are in the middle of nowhere, enjoy the view you'd otherwise never would have seen. 

You can't change things in life, but you can change your mind-set. Do that, in a positive way. And trust me, things will turn out positive :)

3. "Enjoy the little things"

It's a simple quote, but according to me it's the most important one. Just relax and enjoy the little things. Try to notice the little positivities in life (do that every day). It could be your winged eye that worked out perfectly, being on time for once, having time to cook dinner properly, the flowers in your garden, ... Appreciate those things and you'll feel much more happy in life. 

Hope you liked the quotes and got a bit inspired. What are your favorite quotes? Let us know in the comments! - Amal ♥

Maybelline Baby Skin vs L'Oréal Blur Cream

Hello lovely readers,

We decided to work together on this post since we both purchased a beauty product that claims to erase pores and works as a face primer. We'll be comparing these two so you can choose which one works for you best!

Baby skin Maybelline (Molly):

Texture: +
Long wear: +
Price: € 9
Everyone knows the Porefessional by Benefit. Well, the Baby skin by Maybelline claims to be the cheaper version of this product. I have used the Porefessional before and I absolutely love it. I definitely understand why everyone makes such a big deal out of it. And that's the reason why I definitely wanted to try the Baby skin.

The texture is very silky almost velvety, but a bit oily/greasy, in a good kind of way. It comes out clear so you don't have to worry about the colour matching your skin. Also, a little goes a long way. You don't need much to cover the areas where you have large pores (for me that would be my nose and under my eyes/cheekbones). It might feel a bit heavy on the skin at first, but just let it dry for a couple of seconds. It says you can use the product on its own or as a primer. To be honest, I don't like to use it on its own. I only use it under concealer and foundation. It stays on for a very long time and your face looks smooth. It doesn't completely minimize your pores but since mine are not very visible, this product works well enough for me. And for that price, I'll take it!

 

L'Oréal Blur cream (Amal):

Texture: --
Long wear: +
Price: € 13
I guess my expectations were way to high?
The blur cream didn't reach my expectations. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice product to work with. It's just my expactations that were a bit too high. The advert that I saw in Cosmopolitan made me think that the product would dissolve all your pores. But it doesn't, it only makes your skin look more evened out. So don't expect a photoshopped result after you've used this product.


 It's a base cream, it's no foundation :-)
I was a bit confused about how I was supposed to use the cream. I thought that it was a foundationlike cream. I was pretty disappointed after my first use. There was no coverage, you could still see all my imperfections. It made me pretty mad to be honest.
Then I searched on the internet for reviews and, here you go, it did ring a bell. Of course, L'Oréal would never disappoint me. The cream has to be used underneath the foundation, as a primer. And as a primer it does it's job pretty well. I love that the product has two functions; priming and smoothing your skin.
One little remark ...
The only thing I don't like about the blur cream is its texture. I don't even now how to explain it. It feels kinda silky, but oily at the same time. Also when I squeeze the tube in order to get the product out, the product flies everywhere (because of the consistency). Other than that, it's a great product to even out your skin. Only keep your expectations realistic, and don't expect to be looking like an airbrushed model after using it.

Micellar water: Garnier vs Bioderma

Hi there!

This is another article we both worked on. The both of us purchased a micellar cleansing water. Mine (Amal) is by Garnier, and Molly's is by Bioderma. At first we'll discuss Garnier's version of the product and after we'll talk about Bioderma's. This article covers a nice comparison, it'll be up to you to decide on which one you'd like to buy! :-)

You might not know what micellar water is or does. Well, it's a cleansing water with tiny micellar particles that remove your skin from makeup, skin impurities and sebum. The two biggest advantages of this product are that you don't need to rinse it off an it's hypergentle for your skin.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Molly and I like to call this product the wanna be version of Bioderma's, because Bioderma came up with the micellar treatment earlier. After trying this product, I must say that it's pretty good at impersonating the Bioderma version. And guess what..., you get pretty good quality for a lot less money. :-) I totally love this product, it's like wonderwater to me! Please continue to read more about the things I love about this product.

A lot of product for a small price
The water comes in a pretty big container as you can see on the packshot. On top of that, it doesn't cost a lot of money. 5,99 euros is the price you'll pay for this bottle that will save your beautylife.

A cotton pad is all you'll need

Just pour a little water on a cotton pad, wipe your face, and your make-up is GONE!

You know that moment when look like someone has punched you in the face because you took off your makeup with a regular makeup remover? Or your eyes feel irritated because you've been rubbing them like crazy, hoping the makeup will come off quickly. Or you look like you've been crying for hours because of you're eyes looking as red as a tomato... Well, none of that will happen when you use the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. No more rubbing in order to get your makeup off. One simple swipe does the job.

This product is also supergentle to your skin, because it has no soap or alcohol in it. So say goodbye to irritated skin/eyes, and let's all say "hurraaay to Garnier"!

Yes it takes your makeup off quickly, but I need a little bit more of 'cleaning'
I think it's pretty clear now that this product does the job pretty quickly. However, I still need a little bit more of cleaning to my face.

I've always been that person who uses a bunch of different products to wash her face. Well that's just me :-) There's no makeup left after I used this product, but I don't find myself feeling like I have a 100% clean face. After I take off my makeup with the micellar water, I continue my routine by cleaning my face with a gel wash, scrubbing and dabbing on a toner. In fact, the gel, scrub and toner I use, are also by Garnier.

(let me know if you'd like to read more about these products ;))

So these were my thoughts, now it's up to Molly!

Bioderma Créaline (Sensibio)

Quality product in a big bottle
Okay, so first off I would like to say this: I bought this product back in December and I have been using it regularly since, and I've only JUST finished it. The bottle is HUGE. There was a sale so I've got it for 11 euros. I think the normal price would be around 15 euros for 500 ml. So it is a little pricy. But it is completely worth it.

One of my favourite skincare products
I have very sensitive skin, so I always need to make sure that the products I buy are gentle. (You can read our skin types blog post here). Bioderma has many products for different kinds of skin types. The pink bottle is the one for sensitive skin. This product is absolutely amazing because it doesn't have a scent. It looks and feels just like water yet there is just something about it that makes your skin radiant and clean. I can't live without it. It has definitely helped me get rid of acne scars, acne spots or redness. I absolutely love it as a make-up remover. I just put some on a cotton pad, leave it on my eyes for a few seconds and voila. There is no need to rub your eyes until they're red. I don't just use it as a make-up remover but also as a toner or sometimes even a cleanser. Yes yes, I know, you have to wash your face every night but there are days where we're just too tired/lazy. And that is why Bioderma has invented this product!

Face cleanser
I combine this product with a La Roche-Posay face cleanser since I do have some acne spots. I wash my face with a Clarisonic Mia (And it's pink!) and I scrub once or twice a week with St Ives Apricot scrub. So for me, it's a combination of all these products that I use every single night to have clean and spot-free skin.

Comment down below if you would like me to review the Clarisonic, the Effaclar products from La Roche-Posay or even the St Ives Apricot scrub!

Thanks for reading and make sure to comment if you have any requests!

Love,

Amal & Molly

Swishing: Student Edition

A couple of days ago I went to Molly’s Swishing event. For everybody who doesn’t know what Swishing is, here a short explanation: Swishing is an organisation that does events all over Flanders where you can come in with the clothes that are too small/big, or that you don't wear anymore and you can "shop" for other clothing.  

Student-like, girly, yummie, ... PERFECT.
So today I wanted to write about it because more people should know about these events. I’ve been to several clothing swap events before and also some of Swishing. I liked the Student Edition the best. It’s perfect for, let’s say, girls from 16 years old til mid twenties. You’re almost 100% sure that you’ll find something that fits you and is like your style. Creepy grandma skirts are not allowed! 

Swishing offers everything a girl needs. There was food (the cookies were soooo good), a makeup artist, a hair stylist, and of course there were CLOTHES! 

Have patience girl!
When you go to a Swishing event it’s important to have patience. Don’t just go in, get your points and spend them right away. No you don’t want to do that, because a girl with the PERFECT clothes may come in three hours later. 

That’s why it’s fun to have someone who gets your makeup, nails and hair done. It gets you through the day and you learn a lot from those artists. The two girls at the makeup table gave me so many tips, it was just amazing. I also loved that you could choose from brands like Benefit, Urban Decay, M.A.C. etc.

Get to know people.
Another thing I love about these kind of events: everybody is in for the same reasons; they love fashion, are in for some fun and are not planning on leaving soon. Perfect to get to know more people, I say! 
I made some pictures, find them below!

Spotted brands; Zara, H&M, Bershka

The cookies were by Maison Dandoy

Eva's Makeup

Tiana's makeup

The makeup table

Vanida, the makeup artist!

Would you consider going to one of these events? Let us know in the comments below – Amal <3