CC

Having heard a lot of good things from Essiebutton about these two products, I've decided to try them out myself as soon as they got to our drugstores. Again, the shade range is somewhat strange, sometimes I think that everyone assumes that are no pale people in Ukraine, so the shade 31 of the CC cream was not available anywhere. I got the shade 21 in concealer, and it is perfect for my under-eye area, but the CC cream in 32 itself is quite yellow for now. I guess in summer I'll get the 22 concealer and it would match the base and a tan. When it comes to texture, it's all you could ask for: lightweight, dewy and even. Both products are great for spring and summer if a barely there makeup is your thing!

What are your drugstore picks for this season? Let me know xx

A drugstore haul

I've recently managed to get a sneaky 30% off discount at my local drugstore, and, honestly, it was completely impossible to ignore such a possibility. So these are some things that I have been wanting to try (and some good old favorites that were repurchased).

1. Themal Water by Vichy. I was nearly out of my Avene Eau Thermale, so I picked the Vichy version, just because a large Avene was out of stock. Some may say that thermal water is quite an unnecessary thing and does nothing, but I have irritated skin, and this product is soothing, relaxing and refreshing. A staple, in my opinion.

2. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm. Having heard lots of good things about cleansing balms, I really wanted to try out at least one. So I decided to go for the Clinique one, as it is fragrance free and has no nasty stuff in it. I did try it and I do like so much! It has a slightly waxy consistency which melts into a light oil, and it does take my waterproof mascara. Brilliant.

3. Hydreane Legere by La Roche-Posay. Probably my fourth repurchase of this moisturizer. It is light and absorbs into the skin so nicely, still leaving a dewy finish. I use it under my foundation and can't really get enough of it. 

4. Basil Lemon Body Milk by Korres. This colorful tube of loveliness drew my attention as it was 50% off, so who could have passed that? But the best thing about it is the scent - so fresh and spicy, with vibrant lemon zestiness, oh, love it. It tingles the skin a bit, but in a nice, awakening kind of way.

5. Baby Skin Primer by Maybelline. I've never really tried a primer and don't think that I need it, but this little fella is so hyped up, so I figured, why not?

6. Bourjois So Laque Glossy Nail Varnish in 03BCBeige. It is my kind of color through and through. I like nude nails and this polish is a cool-toned beigy grey, which looks great on the nail and doesn't clash with makeup or clothes.

A book makes the best gift

If you are stuck with what to buy your friend/mom/brother/girlfriend, go to the nearest book store. You will spend a quiet time browsing through books and looking at pretty covers + you'll definitely find a present, trust me. I was invited to my (not very close friend's birthday), so I picked this gorgeous Vintage Edition Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. First of all, because it is a classic, included in the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, second of all, look at that cover *swoons*. If my friend did not really like the novel itself, this little paperback would just look so nice on a bookshelf, won't it? Of course, you don't have to buy your friend a quite complicated futuristic novel, the variety of books is endless, so here is a quick top-ten that I would recommend buying as a present (or for yourself, why not?) I've linked all the books on Amazon, just that it is easier to see the cover and the reviews. 

1. Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel. If your friend is a dog lover or he or she has a sense of humor - this coffee table book is perfect, as it is a collection of hilarious photos of... dogs underwater, you've guessed it!

2. Jamie's 15 Minute Meals. A great cook book for anyone, really. Quick, healthy and interesting recipes that your cat can follow, brought by the man of my dreams, Jamie Oliver.

3. Wonders of Life by Brian Cox. It is based on a magnificent Discovery Science series with the same name. A gorgeous and captivating book, sure to fit any taste and answer some eternal questions about the nature.

4. Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. For those who have read and reread the Potter series hundreds of times, this little collection of stories may be something new(ish), it has some great tales, which your friend can enjoy and even retell then to their younger siblings.

5. Making History by Stephen Fry. I can admit that Sir Fry is on the top of the list of my favorite authors and I cannot recommend him enough. I particularly enjoyed this novel as it combines both history and science in one thing (and a little bit of Hitler).  Even my mom did read it, so it goes to show, that maybe it will be quite a nice present to someone.

6. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Not a typical pick for a present, I know. But if you know someone who enjoys reading plays, get this one for them. It is just so witty and clever, it got very popular with the audience when it was first staged, as there were no serious and highly dramatic subjects. I am halfway through it now and can recommend it even now!

7. Andy Warhol Portrait by Toni Shafrazi. It is just a colorful and stylish book, I have to say. A collection of those iconic, bright portraits that Mr Warhol got so famous for. I can see this looking great on anyone's bookshelf, it's just a decor piece by itself.

8. The Pocket Scavanger by Keri Smith. This author and illustrator become very popular because of her interactive books. In this particular one, the reader is instructed to collect various little things and place them into the journal, following page after page until a little hunt is complete.

9. The Fault in our Stars by John Green. Do I really need to get into this? Go, go buy or read it, only then give it to your friend (friends, the whole world, to be particular).

10. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. To be honest, I've only seen the film, like, 20 times, but I imagine that the book is even better. It is in that Perks of Being a Wallflower genre, but a bit different. It is a story of Melinda, a sensitive and vulnerable girl who had some mistakes in the past, but doesn't really know how to overcome them and speak about them. I imagine this would make a great gift to one of your closest friends.

Lots of love.

Nika xx

Basics

My wardrobe consists of basically black, white and grey tops, because I find them the easiest to style. If you have a white shirt and a pair of jeans you love - the outfit is complete with adding a necklace or a jacket. So while 'casually' walking through the mall, I spotted that some GAP basics were on offer, you buy one, and another one is half priced, I decided to pick up three, just because you can't go wrong with a nice-quality crew-neck tee. I've already worn the white one and it doesn't wrinkle as much as I thought it would (I am a bit OCD when it comes to wrinkled clothes, but, what can you do).

I highly recommend checking GAP out for some essential shirts or tank tops, I don't care much for the store's overall aesthetic, but nevertheless, I find their basics to be on the highest level of middle-price high-street clothes.

Roomspiration

Confession: I'm 20 and I still live with my parents...
In my country it is common, but I'm starting thinking about moving out, dreaming of my own little place, scrolling through endless pages of scandinavian room decor photos. I like simple but unique things, ones that can reflect my weird personality but still remain looking inviting. The most relaxing space for me is light and bright, clutter-free and cosy at the same time. Of course, these HAY catalogue photos are staged, but I jut imagine how good that little yellow chair would look near a window next to a big pile of magazines and a cup of tea.

A little haul

I can't stop cursing on the weather, it's soo gloomy, windy and just depressing. So when some sunshine hit my brain, I was very much into treating myself to some spring-ish purchases. To be honest, I'm not very fond of shopping, because there are only 3-4 shops that I really like and they aren't the cheapest. So I save up and then buy some things here and there.

A little shop is not complete without Zara, and as being obsessed with boyfriend jeans, I picked up these light blue, very distressed  and ripped jeans with light-colored panels down the leg. They look so cool with a white sweater or shirt, any shoes, really. My second purchase was these patterned trousers by Sportmax, which is a MaxMara line. Again, they would be perfect with white or black simple top, trainers and a pair of Ray Bans. I was in a hunt for Nike Roche Runs, but couldn't find them anywhere, so I opted for as cool Nike Air Max Theas, which are very lighweight, comfortable and generally cool-looking, the sole especially. I'll be making some outfit posts as soon as I can, so I'm pretty excited to wear some of these in spring.

What have you bought for spring? Leave some links in the comments xx

Ready for spring

So the spring has come, and it is one of the main reasons for having pretty flowers at home. So I went to the nearest supermarket and picked some daffodils which are the favorite flowers of my beloved one. Passing by the beauty isle, Garnier Micellar Water caught my eye, it was as cheap as the daffodils, so I thought, why not. It wasn't disappointing, I must say, useless for waterproof mascara, but removes foundation quite well and is moisturizing. The Freeman Acai mask was also pretty good, it left my skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed, I think it's worth getting a full tube. So this is my coming into spring beauty bits, I'm looking forward to refreshing my wardrobe with some new things too!