October Favorites ♡

Another month has ended and we all know what that means.. Another monthly favorite! So here are a few stuff that I've been loving the month of October.

Beauty Favorites

1. Micellar Cleansing Water by Garnier. I'm pretty sure I have already mentioned this one in a previous monthly favorite of mine, but as I said before this bottle right here is amazing! If you have sensitive eyes then I really suggest you give this one a go. It removes the makeup so easily and leaves your skin feeling fresh. 

2. Hydrating shampoo by Bangstyle has become one of my best friends when it comes to my hair. Not that my hair really needs to be "hydrated" since I've been told by many hairdressers that I have nice and healthy hair, so I only use this baby maybe 2 - 3 times a week, just to give my hair a little bit of love. It leaves my hair feeling super smooth and the shampoo smells like candy and who doesn't love having their hair smelling like candy, right?

3. High Impact Curling Mascara by Clinique has been one of my favorite mascaras for years now and if you saw my lashes when I use it, you would totally understand why. I like many asians have short lashes and since I do not want to wear fake lashes all the time, I'm always on the hunt to find ways to make my lashes appear longer. This goodie not only makes my lashes appear longer but it helps make lashes to stay lifted and curled. 

4. Sally Hansen Gel Nailpolishes are a new way when it comes to nailpolishes that leaves your nailpolish to last for over 10 days. It contains on a 2-step program where you first apply the gel nailpolish of your choice and then finish it off with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. I have been loving three specific colours which are 120 Bare Dare, 450 Get Mod and 340 Hydro Electric. These colours are so gorgeous and perfect for Fall and best of all, they do not crack so fast compared to regular nailpolishes. They might be a bit pricy here in Denmark since they cost 120 kr in Denmark but Matas (our danish version of Sephora) do have deals where you can buy 2 for 1.  

Anyways so these were all my favorites for the month of October and until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Unboxing: October's Goodie Box

Curiosity has always been a good trade of mine (According to myself), so when I saw that you can get a goodie box here in little Denmark, I could not resist to give it a go! If you are familiar with the Glam box from the US then let me tell ya, it's pretty much the same thing. If you don't know well then let me explain: A goodie box is a subscription where you get a box filled with beauty goodies monthly to try out with a little card that gives a description of each product.. 

The goodie box subscription cost 120 kr I believe but you also pay for the shipping, so it total you pay 150 kr. The good thing about this is if you for some reason are not satisfied then you can always unsubscribe. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, they shipped my GB in a cute pink box, and this time around the danish beauty store called Magasin contributed with some beauty goodies. So here are the little loves I received for the month of October:

Magasin Du Nord Eye Gel

An eye gel from Magasin's own beauty line. It contains creatin and cucumber extracts that helps rebuild and apply moist to the under eye. The tube has a rollerball applicator which makes it easier for you to apply the product onto your eyes, plus with the cooling effect helps your eyes from looking tired and puffy. 

L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel

This little bottle of joy is a french shower gel for you to pamper yourself in the shower. It contains organic provenicale iron-extract and oils, which will make your bath smell heavenly and lemony. Your skin will be left feeling clean, super soft and just nice. 

Balance Me Restore And Replenish Face Creme

Balance Me is a prizewinning British brand that has a ton of beauty fans around the world. The creme contains hyaloron acids, peptides and omega acids which helps gives the skin a moisturizing boost and not to mention, it also helps to strengthen the skins ability to repair and rebuild itself. You can apply the creme day or night.

Real Technique Brush

I am sure most of you (if you watch beauty tutorials on youtube) know or heard about the brushes, but did you know who "invented" them? It was two sisters who had their own youtube channel and blog Pixiwoo.com that came with that idea to make this brushes, and now they are pretty much well known all over - the brushes I mean. This brush is a goodie since you can use it for either powder products, foundations, face powder or blushes. 

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Face Oil

This is a new series from the Body Shop that came out a couple of months ago. The oil contains lots of seed oils which helps to make your skin silky soft and leaves your skin with a nice glow. You apply 1 - 2 drops of the oil and massage it onto your skin before you use any other moisturizer. By buying this product you help to plant seeds in the Cerro Blanco forrest in Ecuador. 

Karameju Konjac Sponge

Is a 100% natural sponge that helps balance the skin's pH-level and exfoliates and rebuild the skin. You use the sponge by letting it soak in water for a couple of mins and then rinse your face with it by using circular emotions, after use you rinse it clean and you should clean it properly once a month by letting it soak in hot water. 

Magasin Skønhedsserie All In One Cleaning Wipes

Cleaning wipes has always been one of my holy-grail since it helps remove makeup quickly when you're feeling too lazy to do it the proper way and let's face it, we sometimes do get too tired and lazy to do the long process of removing the make up, so cleaning wipes has pretty much been a gift from God for all people who are super busy or just lazy. And as many other cleaning wipes, Magasin's contain 3 steps since it acts like a cleansing milk, a toner and as a makeup remover. It contains extracts from chamomile tea and aloe vera, so your skin will be left feeling clean, fresh and soft. 

Anyways I will do a prober review of the products in the future so until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Showdown: Trine's Wardrobe Argan Oil Serum VS. Lee Stafford Nourishing Miracle Oil

 Vs. 

There are a ton of different hair oils and serums on the market that all claims to be the best, but which is truly worth your money? I have bought two Argan oils from two different brands to see which is worth the hype, and for the past few months I've tried and tested both of them to see which is best so let's take a look. 

Argain Oil Facts:
Argan oil is a natural product that comes from the roots of the Argan tree, which only exist in the southern parts of Marocco. Argain oils are not greasy to the skin and the hair absorbs the oil easily. The oil is rich on Vitamin E, antioxidants and Omega 3 and Omega 9, which is vital for you to have healthy hair. Vitamin E helps rebuild the hair and helps reppare damaged hair. Omega 3 and Omega 9 improves the hairs strength and helps to heal the split ends.   

Let's compare the pros and cons here:
Pros: Trine's wardrobe's Argan Oil serum is paraben free and perfume free. It claims to repair split ends and chemically dried/ruined hair, but can also be used for normal hair to make it shinier and smoother, which is all true. The packaging is simple with a pump, and it has a cute label that explains how to apply the product. As a bonus it is a lot cheaper compared to other Argan oils since this baby only cost 99 kr.    
Cons: The only con about this product is the fact that it's very liquidity, so if you have it in your bag, you will have oils coming out from the bottle.

Pros: Nourishing Miracle oil from Lee Stafford is rich and moisturizing for the hair. It contains ingredients to help rebuild and repair damaged hair. The Nourishing Miracle Oil treats the hair and helps give the hair a natural glow and makes your hair silky smooth and straight. You can use this product on wet or dry hair, where you only apply a little on the hands and massage it on the ends of the hair.  
The packaging is cute and small and has a pump, which is convenient since it makes it easier to apply. 
Cons: Sadly this has perfume, so if you're not a fan of the smell of Argan Oils, then you shouldn't buy this product since it does leave your hair smelling like Argan, plus this fella cost 150 kr. 

So in my conclusion I would def pick the Trine's Wardrobe's Argan Oil Serum again. Not only is it cheaper but it has the benefits of being paraben and perfume free.

X❤️X❤️

Shandra. 

September Favorites ♡

Hi again anyone and everyone! So I am back with a new monthly favorite. As you can see, I haven't been that active lately on this blog since mid September. I do apologize for that but life has just been pretty hectic so yeah.. Anyways let's just get to the point. Here are my favorites that I've pretty much been lovin' from August to September - Enjoy. 

Beauty Favorites:

1. The first thing that I've been lovin' since I stumbled upon it a couple of years ago is this Benefit Cosmetic's They're Real mascara. I simply love love LOVE this mascara. Its packaging is super slick but it's the mascara brush that makes this baby a favorite of mine. They're Real Mascara is known to lengthen, curl, volumize, lifts and separates the lashes, so if you have short tiny lashes like myself, then I suggest you should give this goodie a go. I know it's a bit pricy but quality over quantity when it comes to mascaras. 

2. My second favorite is the makeup remover called Micellar Cleansing Water by Garnier. I have tried so many different makeup removers but many of them just felt very oily and even some would sting my eyes, so I was on the hunt for a one that didn't. And I can honestly say, this goodie right here will from now on until forever be my favorite makeup remover. It's a cleansing water that helps remove dirt and makeup. It helps to reduce the feeling of a dry skin and gives the skin moisture and leaves you feeling fresh. 

3. The next thing on my favorite list is the Konjac Sponge. It's a sponge that is gentle to the skin but and helps clean the skin efficiently. 

4. The last thing I have been loving beauty-wise is the beauty scrub from Palmolive called Feel Glamorous. It is part of their Aroma Sensation collection. I can't really describe the smell besides saying it smells sweet. They say it contains berries, dragon fruit and vanilla. It contains little pearls or bubbles that helps to exfoliate the skin hence why it's called beauty scrub. It lives your skin feeling super fresh and the smells stays on your skin. 

Books Favorites:

5. The book that I fell in love with is called #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso, the ceo and founder of the famous Nastygal clothing brand. It's pretty much like a self-help book that tells how Sophia ended up becoming a millionaire and a long the way, she tells funny episodes from her life and some tips to help you. I can honestly say that she pretty much became my hero after reading this book. I have taken the tips she made into account and have seriously learned a lot by reading her book. I can only suggest you to read this amazing book, and I am sure you'll understand why I love it so much. 

I'll give you one of her tips. Many people today always buy and spend money they do not have but you have to be smart with your money. Would you rather spend 200 dollars on some shoes that's going to get ruined anyways or would you rather put them on your account? As Sophia says "Money on the bank looks better than money on your feet". I have started using this quote every single time I'm about to buy something that I in reality do not need.  

Anyways that was all this time around. I do hope you enjoyed my little blog post and until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

July Favorites ♡

July has been a very hectic month for me, so here are the things that I have been grabbing towards the entire month. I've added a technical gadget to my favorites so from now on, I'll add anything and everything that I have been loving.

Beauty Favorites: 

1. The first things is of course the Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 30, which was also in my first giveaway. It's been out for a very long time now but none the less a favorite of mine. The product is super moisturizing and contains UVA/UVB which protects your lips from the sun. 

2.The second thing I have been loving the month of July is the hand gel called Farmstand Apple from Bath and BodyWorks. I'm a huge fan of them even though we don't have the store here in Dk, but this little product has been my life saver. It is super handy when you're on the go, so I would bring it with me everywhere I went. I'm not a fan of using local toilets but when you're out and about (especially travelling in another country), I would use this sucker on the toilet seats. There are so many germs on toilets seats, and this baby contains 68% alcohol and Tihitian Palm Milk, so it leaves your hands and in my case toilet seats germ-free, plus it doesn't hurt that is smells amazing! It smells like sweet apples so of course it's a no wonder that they called it Farmstand Apple.

3. The last thing beauty-wise that I loved is the Body Shop's Vitamin C daily moisturizer with SPF. I can not stress enough how important it is to protect yourself from the sun, and since I'm always on the go, I'm thankful that there is a normal moisturizer with SPF, so I don't have to worry about protecting my face when I'm out. If you haven't tried this moisturizer, then I suggest you go to your local Body Shop and give this a go. I am sure your future self will thank you for it. 

Fashion Favorites:  
4. Again since I am all about protecting oneself from the sun, of course a fashion favorite would be my Gucci sunnies. These babies have been my faithful companion all through the Summer, so of course I had to include it in my favorites. I got these a couple of years ago at our local store, so I'm not sure if this model is still available?

5. I'm a sucker for anything that is white, especially when it comes to stuff you wear. I don't know? White just makes everything look fresh and clean, so when I saw these cute wedges when I was in Berlin (I bought them like the last day of July but still) I knew I had to get them! I got them at Primark which is located at Alexanderplatss in Berlin. If you didn't know, Primark is a huge store that sells awesome and trendy clothes and accessories for cheap prices. I got these cuties for only 12 Euro which is around 90 kr - a pretty sweet deal. Not only are they super cute but they are actually also very comfy to walk in. Because of that I ended up buying the same pair just in another colour LOL. 

Technical Favorites:

6. I only have one tech gadget that I am soooo thankful for that I got, which is this portable charger. I've been wanting one for months, especially since the day my phone died on the train and long story short, I had an electronic train card = a fine. So since then I have been on the hunt for a cute charger and with my luck, I found this one the day before I had to go to Berlin. It's from Hooc (never heard of the brand before) but I figured I might give this one a go. It comes in all different type of colours from black to pink, yellow, purple and blue but since they ran out of pink, I thought I might as well get the yellow one (then I know my sister or mom won't snatch it from me HAHA. The charger is already charged when you buy it and all you have to do is push the little button and it will start charging. It has 4 little lights that will blink and show you how much there is left and it comes with a wire of course and this little pouch. The great thing about this one is that you can use it to charge any type of cell phones, cameras and even laptop.  

If you would like to see what I bought while I was in Berlin, then comment down below and I'll do a lookbook post about it. Anyways these were all my July favorites, I hope you enjoyed my little post and until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra. 

GIVEAWAY: Summer Lovin'

                                      

I've always been a huge fan of The Body Shop and since they are having a Summer Sale, I figured why not share the love I have for the brand by hosting a little give away with some extra goodies, so you can be ready for your next holiday in the sun.

The lucky winner will get the following:
- The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel 60 ml
- The Body Shop Mango Body Whip 60 ml
- The Body Shop Mango Hand Cleanse Gel 60 ml
-  Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care SPF 20
-  Benefit Coralista Lip Gloss

So here's what you gotta do to win these goodies and yes this is world wide.

Step 1. Follow me on here (www.withshandra.blogspot.com)

Step 2. Follow me on Instagram (withshandra)

Step 3. Tag me (@withshandra) and a photo of you in your favorite Summer outfit on 

                Instagram with the hashtag #SummerLovinWithShandra

Step 4. Comment "Enter me" on the blog along with your email (just for me to contact you 

                if you do win)

I will announce the winner on July 19 on my Instagram, so keep and eye out since you might be the lucky winner.

- Good luck and as always ingat! 

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

February Favorites ♡

Vitamin E Eye Cream / Clinique Lash Power Mascara / Almond Hand And Nail Cream / Rimmel Scandeleyes / 

Camomile Eye Make Up Remover / Eos Lip Balm / Gosh Brow Kit  

Clinique Lash Power Mascara / Rimmel Scandeleyes / Vitamin E Eye Cream 

Okay starting off with my February favorite is this Clinique Lash Power Mascara. It's my first time trying it since I usually go for the Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara but none the less, this little one is pretty awesome. It simply gives the effect of longer and slimmer lashes. So any Asians like me would love this one too.

Moving one to the Rimmel Scandeleyes in the colour 002 Bulletproof Beige which is suppose to be 24 hour long lasting and waterproof. I'm not so sure about the 24 hour long lasting part but it is for sure waterproof. It is originally a shadow stick meaning eye shadow but on a stick so it's easier to apply and you can just smudge it around the eyelid with your fingers, but I have been using it as an eyeliner for my under eyes and for my inner corners of my eyes. It helps make my eyes look more awake and fresh. 

Right next to is is the Vitamin E Eye Cream which helps to reduce appearance of lines and wrinkles around the eyes and dark circles. As I am getting older (even though I'm still under 25) I find myself wanting to keep myself looking as young as possible so to prevent myself for getting wrinkles early on in life, I find it's a good idea to start using eye creams.

Eos Lip Balm / Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover / Gosh Brow Kit

We have of course my trusted partner that pretty much comes with me everywhere I go, which is the EOS lip balm. Now I swear to this lip balm cause it is simply amazing. So moisturizing and not to mention cute. 

Then we have the Body Shop's Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover for all skin types. My eyes are very sensitive when it comes to make up removers, they get easily red and teary so I was on the hunt for a gentle make up remover that wouldn't sting my eyes and I found it at the Body Shop. It pretty much smells like cold camomile tea but it is very gentle to the eyes so I had no problem using it. With this make up remover, a little goes a long way and I would only need to add a bit on a cotton pad and I could pretty much remove any eye make up. 

And the newest edition to my brows is this brow kit from Gosh. It's in this pretty cute black packaging and you get three different shades of brown and a wax to keep them crazy brows in place. I have been using this baby none stop since I got it. Pretty compact and not so pricy when you think of other eye brow kits. 

 Almond Hand And Nail Cream from the Body Shop

The last thing from the Body Shop is of course my beloved Almond Hand Cream. I have told you about it in my previous favorites so I don't feel the need to explain why it's a favorite of mine. But if you do want to read about it, then go check it out on my two other previous Monthly Favorites ♡

Anyways what were your favorites of the month of February oh and did you have any plans on Valentines Day? I would love to hear about it. If you didn't have any plans well don't feel bad since I didn't either HAHA. Anywho that is all this time around so until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Top 5 Fall/Winter Beauty Essentials

There are a few beauty essentials that every girl should have in her makeup bag for Fall and Winter, so thought I would share with you guys what I think the essentials should be.

So let's start of with the face: If you live in a Country where it gets really cold in Winter time, I would suggest that you should go get yourself a nice and thick face cream. The coldness and the wind can be very hash to the skin and since your face is what that is least covered up, then it needs some kind of protection from the Winter. A thick cream will help keep the face moisturized from the wind (since cold winds drys out your skin)

I am sadly a victim of getting really dry and sensitive skin in Winter time, so I'm always on the hunt for a nice cream. The one that has been my go-to cream for the past 2-3 years is the Bebe cream by Johnsons. They have a variety of creams that focus on something specific - so wether you have dry to sensitive skin or a combination, they got your back.  

Speaking of keeping something moisturized, I suggest you also have a good lip balm close to you at all times. Nobody wants dry and chaky lips and as the wind can dry out your skin, it can also dry out your lips. Don't even think about just licking around your lips, since it's only going to make it worse -So invest in a good lip balm! 

My favorite lip balm so far is the EOS lip balm. Don't think that I haven't tried other kinds, but I must say that the EOS lip balms has helped my lips the most. So I always carry one in my bag. Actually if you look around, you will see that I have a lip balm in the bathroom, one in my bedroom next to my bed and one in my bag. I would say it's one of my Holy Grails.  

The next thing as a beauty essential is having a nice dark lip colour. Every girl should at least have one dark lipstick for Fall/Winter. If you don't think that dark colours suits you, it is not true. It's just about finding the perfect shade depending on your skintone. If you feel like you don't have really white teeth and you can't really afford getting them bleached or something, then just go after a lipstick shade that has a blue undertone. That will help making your teeth look whiter. 

 

The next thing that you shouldn't neglect in Winter time is your hands. Always, always, always make sure to wear gloves or mittens when you go out! I have learned that the hard way. The Winter and cold winds can give you really dry hands and that can lead to drying the cuticles (the skin around your nails).

I don't know about you, but I always want nice looking hands so one thing I always carry around me wherever I go is my go-to hand cream from the Bodyshop. I have been using the Almond hand and nail cream since I was in College (since 2007). It is really moisturizing, it keeps your nails and skin soft, it's not sticky and it has a light scent of Almond. So if you want to try a new hand cream, why not try out the Almond hand cream from the Bodyshop - I swear by this stuff! ♡

The last thing has also got to do with the hand, or more specific something on the hands - yes, you got it, the nails! Every girl should at least have 5 types of nailpolishes in her collection, especially when we are nearing the Christmas season and the following colours are a nice navy blue colour, a shade of grey (also seen on my nails if you check out my instagram "withshandra), a dark red colour for the Christmas season and one in black for new years and of course also one with some glitters. 

Anyways I hope you enjoyed my Beauty Essentials and hopefully you've learned something new. So until next time - Ingat! 

X❤️X❤️
Shandra.

Top 3 Fall Lipsticks

When the weather is slowly changing and we are getting closer to Winter, one of the must haves in the beauty and make up section is a nice dark lip colour. I thought I would share my top 3 colours for Fall and Winter. These are the ones I grab towards whenever I'm on my way out and they usually accompany me in my make up bag too whenever I'm going on a trip.

These are super nice on the lips, has a nice colour pay off, they are matte and non-drying for the lips.

Rimmel
So the first lipstick is by Rimmel called Dark Knight Waterl-Oops, I've already mentioned this in my October fave post, but here is how it looks like. It is this pretty dark red colour (kinda reminds me of like a vampires lipstick XD) that looks superb on the lips. It is from the moisturize line so it doesn't leave your lips dry like some other lipsticks - We like! 

If you're looking for a lipstick that not only has a nice colour but also stays on your lips for many hours AND is moisturizing, then you should go and by yourself a Rimmel lipstick.

MAC
The second lipstick that I almost always grab when I get ready is by M.A.C and it's the Viva Glam 1, which I've also mentioned in my October fave. If you haven't read my October Fave, then you should go and check that out here: http://www.withshandra.blogspot.dk/2014/11/october-faves.html

It is this really nice red colour that for me just screams Christmas! The perfect colour to wear for any Christmas dinner. 

Chi Chi
The last lipstick is by a brand called Chi Chi, I'm not sure how famous it is around the world? But I do know it is known in Australia, and that's where I got it. I would say Chi chi kinda reminds me of M.A.C, they almost got the same price. I know M.A.C lipsticks cost around 15 US dollars while Chi Chi cost I think 19 Australian dollars. Anyways so this one by Chi Chi and it's called Hollywood Wannabee. The colour is a mix between hot pink and purple - very pretty for an everyday lipstick. 

Which colour do you prefer for Fall and Winter? Leave a comment down below, I would love to know! And if you have any recommendations on other colours, please let me know too.


Anyways that was all for today, until next time - Ingat! 

X❤️X❤️ 

Shandra.