Here's To 2019.

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The Makeup Look | Festive Edit.

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What To Wear | Festive Edit.

{This post contains PR Samples by Kurt Geiger, send to me with no obligation to write this post)

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The Ultimate Gift Guide For Her.

{This post contains PR Samples by Paige, Kurt Geiger, Rosefield, Kunert & Hudson, Lounge Underwear, S'well, iDeal of Sweden, Fleurs de Paris, Jo & Judy}

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Don't Forget To Treat Yourself This Holiday Season | Giveaway.

*This post was written in collaboration with Notino.de

It's finally December, yay! The most magical month of the year. If you are anything like me, you are currently in full-on gift shopping mode. My list of gift ideas for my family and friends is growing and growing and to be honest, I love it. I just love thinking about what would put a smile on the face of my loved ones. If you still need some gift ideas, stay tuned for next Sundays post.. 

I also understand that all of the gift shopping can be quite expensive and the last person we think about in December is consequently ourselves. But I think we should all treat ourselves as well. This doesn't have to be a brand new designer bag (I mean go for it if you want!) but it can be as small as a new candle to make you feel all cozy and festive. 

So today I want to share with you my top picks for exactly that..  treating yourself.

Candles

Let's start with the smaller gift idea for yourself. Why not pick up a new candle? It can be as low or as high-end as you want. I personally am all about bath&bodyworks candles and when I feel like really giving myself a treat I like to go for Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay. 

Perfume

Whenever I talk about this with friends everyone agrees that we never really buy perfume for ourselves. It's a great gift to receive but splurging on a new scent always seems kind of unnecessary. But sometimes those unnecessary treats are the really special ones. My all-time fave and a real treat is Chanel No.5.

Lipsticks

Of course, you can go out and buy yourself a new drugstore lipstick every now and then. But we can all agree that the feeling of a Tom Ford, YSL or Chanel lipstick is just different. I mean, to be honest, everyone around us probably won't see the difference, but it just feels different. My go-to for a real treat is a Tom Ford lipstick (shades All Mine, Pink Dusk and Blush Nude are the most beautiful nudes if you ask me).

Hairtools

If you really want to splurge but it has to be something more useful.. why not investing in a new hair straightener. I recently got the ghd gold max and I am OBSESSED! I never had a ghd straightener before and if I am honest, I always thought they must be a bit overrated. But they leave my hair so silky smooth and shiny like no other does.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

So now that we all want to go out and shop something new for ourselves I thought I'd throw in a giveaway for you guys. So even when treating yourself is really not in your budget this month.. why not entering in my giveaway?

What can you win? 
You can win the Notino Winter Box! It contains loads of beauty surprises, like the FOREO Luna Play and my all time favorite oil, the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. 

How to enter? 

There are two ways to enter the giveaway 

(each gives you one entry so you can get two entries in total)

Blog entry

Simply comment on this post and tell me what your favorite Christmas song is
& please include your email address or Instagram / Twitter handle so I can contact you

Instagram entry 

Follow me and Notino on Instagram and then comment on this Post (here)
telling me about your favorite Christmas gift you have received so far

The giveaway will end next Sunday and I will contact the winner the next day. 

x Lisa

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The Healthier But Ultra Chocolaty Brownie Recipe.

A couple of months ago I set myself an 'eight weeks no refined sugar' challenge. It just so happened to be my sister's birthday right in the middle of those eight weeks. Consequently, I was looking for a recipe to use for a sugar-free cake/cookie or anything baked so I won't be the only one eating some fruits while others stuff their face with baked goodies. I read through a couple and I quickly realized that a lot of them are quite complicated or have pretty bad reviews. But I did learn a few things.. substituting a lot of the sugar with dates seems to be the main idea. Also, there are quite a few recipes requiring no flour and coconut oil instead of butter. Well, that sounds at least healthy-ish, doesn't it?

On my sister's birthday, I started my little experiment and just combined all the tips I have read online to a recipe which I, admittedly, was pretty sceptical about. But you know what? It turned out absolutely delicious. Yes, the calories for these brownies are still quite high but they are sugar, dairy and flourless... a good start to healthier baking if you ask me. 

Even my family enjoyed them so much that they reached for more even though there were other, and most importantly sweeter, alternatives available. 

Before I go into the recipe you should consider that even though they are delish, if you do not like dark chocolate and you prefer the taste of really sweet milk chocolate you should maybe add some sugar. Of course, this is optional though.

You will need:

• 250g pitted dates
• 4 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 eggs
• 80 ml of coconut oil 
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 200g of unsweetened baking chocolate or sugarfree chocolate 
• (I used a German brand called Xucker)

First, you should preheat the oven to around 180°C. While it is preheating pulse the chocolate, cocoa powder and the baking powder in a (strong) blender or food processor. Afterwards, you pulse the dates together with the eggs and coconut oil until everything is pretty much blended. Mix these two parts and place the batter into a brownie baking dish which should be around 20x20cm. 

The brownies should bake around 20 minutes but it depends on your oven. Try not to overbake them though. And enjoy!

x Lisa

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My Beauty Staples | Autumn/Winter Edit.

*Advertisement | This post was written in collaboration with Notino.de

There is only one thing I love just as much as winter fashion... of course, I am talking about my autumn/winter beauty staples. In the summer I am all about minimal products, light coverage... and even though I love that effortless look I just miss all my oils, matte lipsticks and intense opulent perfumes. So today I want to share this excitement with you and introduce you to my autumn/winter beauty staples. 

The Scent 

I have quite a few different go-to scents in the fall time but Armani Si Intense must be one of my most worn ones. It's a very wearable, yet 'out there' perfumes. I just love it.. it's way better than the original Si. So if you haven't tried it yet, you should. 

The Nudes

I know, I know.. you probably expected me to talk about red and berry toned lipsticks at this point. And even though I do sometimes wear them, I must be honest and tell you that I am all about the nudes.. even in autumn. But I do like to switch it up with a deeper nude from time to time. For a light nude lipstick, my go-to is 'Blush Nude' by Tom Ford or 'Beige Pop' by Clinique for a more budget-friendly alternative. For a deeper nude I like to go for 'Indian Rose' by Tom Ford or for 'Blush Pop' by Clinique. 

The Moisturizer

When the air gets colder and especially dry I love to go back to my oils. One of my all-time faves is the Nuxe Dry Oil.. I use it on my face, my body and my hair. An absolute all-rounder. For my lips I can't live without the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.. the one and only. To add some extra moisture to my hair I recently discovered the Shu Uemura Satin Design Milk. A beautiful product which leaves my hair extra silky. LOVE!

If you want to give your beauty collection a little autumn/winter makeover: Notino has some amazing offers on  Black Friday  week beginning from tomorrow the 19th November. 

Happy Shopping!

x Lisa

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Let's Talk Autumn/Winter Skincare.

*This post was written in collaboration with Europa Apotheek

I don't know what it is about autumn, but as soon as it starts to get colder I want to step up my skincare game. This year, I have discovered a brand that I am so excited about. The brand is Dermasence. I have previously been drawn to the skincare products with the prettiest packaging, like Charlotte Tilbury, or the most impressive brand name, like Estee Lauder. But this one is different as it is a medical skincare range. And in this case, different works!

Just to clarify, their products have been sent to me in PR but with no obligation to write this post. However, I have since used them for months and months and my skin has never looked and felt better... so I felt like I just needed to tell you guys about them. 

AHA Body & Face Lotion

The first product I fell in love with is the AHA Body & Face Lotion. I have been loving Alpha Hydroxy Acids products for a while now, so I knew this would be a winner. And as you can use it on your face and body it's so versatile. However, I mainly use it on my body, as I love another product for my face much more.. keep on reading to find out what it is. 

Tonic & Cleansing Mousse

Then I tried the little travel set consisting of their tonic and cleansing mousse. Two beautiful cleansers which don't feel drying or harsh on my skin. I love them, but to be honest there are a lot of other cleansers out there that I love just as much. So if you only want to try one of their products, you can skip these ones. But if you are looking for a new cleanser and don't want to commit to a full-size product yet.. try these!

AHA Effects Plus C Creme

Last but certainly not least, is the AHA Effects plus C creme. Oh my.. this is for sure the star of their range. If you have very sensitive skin, you maybe should look for a different product from their range because this one is more on the intense side. It contains 8% glycolic acid and 2% vitamin C. This absolutely transformed my skin and made it appear much clearer and fresher.

And because Dermasence is a medical skincare brand their products are only available in pharmacies, online and offline. You can buy Dermasence and other products for your skincare on Europa Apotheek. 

Have you tried any of their products yet?

x Lisa

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It Cosmetics CC Cream | Worth The Hype?

*{This post contains affiliate links}

If you haven't heard about It Cosmetics yet, you probably lived under the rock the past two years. And if you heard of them, probably because of their hyped CC cream. I first discovered it through The Anna Edit and Lily Pebbles what feels like years ago. But it was quite hard to get hold of here in Germany so I quickly gave up on ever trying it. Now that it has launched in Germany as well I just had to take the plunge. 

As far as I know, it was only available online back when I got it in February, so finding the right color for me proofed itself to be quite the challenge. (Especially if you consider the price tag). I went with the second lightest shade as I read this one pulls the least warm. My skin is quite cool and pink toned so warm tones always look horrible on me. I must say the shade is probably a bit too dark for me. I can definitely make it work over the summer months but I think I will get the lightest shade 'fair' sooner or later. Maybe I will end up mixing both just like Anna does. So yeah, not impressed with the shade range. 

But the shade range is honestly the one thing I can complain about. I have worn this foundation in 40°C heat and -10°C cold and it hasn't moved a bit. It looks so natural while being middle to high coverage. I haven't been this obsessed with a foundation in a long time. So even though it is not the cheapest, I can see myself investing in the lighter shade for the coming months. Another thing I love is the packaging. It might not look as chic as a Chanel glass bottle but it is so practical. I absolutely hate traveling with heavy and breakable foundation bottles so this one quickly became my go-to for these occasions. And every other occasion if I am completely honest.. The finish is pretty high coverage for a CC cream and still manages to be glowy. Such a dream.

Have you tried the It Cosmetics CC cream? If so, which shade are you?

x Lisa

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Must-Haves In Your Shoe Closet This Autumn.

*This post contains affiliate links

A couple of weeks back I introduced you to my autumn fashion staples. So today I thought it is time to look into my autumn shoe staples. As autumn is a transitional time, my shoe closet also looks very transitional in this period. The two main categories I choose in autumn are flats and boots. Sometimes it's still a bit too warm for full-on boots and other times it's so cold that I can't get away with cute ballet flats. Luckily, the shops are still full of both versions but there are definitely more boots to choose from right now. 

Here are some of my fave picks at the moment.. and I might go on a little online shopping spree after finishing this post. If you want to keep up with my purchases just head over to my Instagram: lisa.autumn. 

flats 

low to medium priced 

medium to high priced

boots

low to medium priced

medium to high priced

What are your staples in your shoe closet this autumn?

x Lisa

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The New Dyson Airwrap Styler Review | Worth It?

If you have been on social media recently you probably have come across the new Dyson Airwrap Styler. When I have first seen a short clip about it on the British Vogue social media channels I wasn't sure what exactly I was seeing. It kinda looked like those self-spinning curler that mostly ends up in a disaster. But if you look closely, you can see that the barrel is actually not moving.

Dyson is using something that is called the Coanda effect. It basically is a spinning vortex which attracts your hair and therefore wraps it around the barrel. Also, this is really not a traditional curler. It doesn't heat up like your normal curling iron would. So it is way healthier for your hair..  It uses hot air, just like a hair dryer would and styles it while drying it. That's also why it works the best on damp hair. 

I have looked at loads of videos about this new hairstyling tool, but I have to admit that the price tag is just a bit too high for a student... 500€ just to style my hair... no thanks. But my boyfriend must have picked up on it (I seriously don't know how.. we didn't talk about it at all) and a few days later, today, he surprised me with it on my birthday. 

I was obviously over the moon and hat a little play with it on my unwashed but damp hair this morning. I was expecting to have some difficulties, as most reviews said you need some time to get used to it but honestly I loved it from the first second. Even though I didn't do it very neatly and my hair was due to a wash anyway.. I was left with super bouncy and light curls. But I really wanted to try it properly so I washed my hair and tried it again.. what can I say? It looked equally perfect. I am now writing this post almost 12 hours later. The curls have dropped a bit in the first 30 minutes, just like they would with a normal curler. But since then they have stayed in place like nothing I have ever seen. I have even had a little nap with them this afternoon and I still looked like I just had my hair styled professionaly. And all of this hold without this 'crunchy' and dry feeling you normally get when curling your hair.
I can only assume that styling your hair while it's drying sets the curls into place even more than just heat styling your hair would. 

Even though I won't go into detail on how to use the airwrap (there are plenty of videos online), I have to say that the curling barrels are my favorite part about the styler. They come in two different sizes and two different directions each (for each side of your hair). Changing them is honestly so effortless and doesn't take any time at all.

In addition to that, it comes with a drying attachment so you can use it as your hairdryer as well. It's supposed to be a bit less powerful than the normal Dyson dryer but honestly.. I couldn't feel a difference. Then there are three other attachments. A round brush for a voluminous blowout look and two brushes each for a thicker/corse or thinner/straight hair texture. So there is something for everyone. 

Oh and have I mentioned the beautiful brown faux leather box it comes in? Storage goals!

Would I recommend it? YES! I find this to be such a revolutionary product. It not only makes my curls more bouncy and shiny, but the whole process is so much faster. I don't have to properly dry my hair and then curl it.. Now it's two steps in one. But if you are someone who never really styles their hair other than blowdrying it.. maybe this is a bit too expensive for you and you should rather get their hairdryer. 

One thing I have to say is that you have to figure out the right dampness level. Your hair shouldn't be completely wet, but also not too dry. But the drying attachment helps you with that. 

Have you tried it yet? Is that something that would interest you? 

x Lisa

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What to do on your birthday (when you don't want to do anything).

It's (almost) my birthday.. actually, it is tomorrow. Even though I always love other peoples birthdays and think about cute surprises for them, I am actually not the biggest fan of my own birthday. Okay, that doesn't mean I hate that day or I totally ignore it. But I personally, like to keep it on the low. I never was one to have huge birthday parties or remind everyone around me that my birthday is coming up. Instead, I like a relaxed day for myself and I also don't mind seeing some of my favorite people that day. Additionally, my birthday falls on a Monday this year. So family and friends are mostly at work and busy anyway. So today I want to share with you a few things you can do if you like to celebrate your birthday but don't 'really' want to do anything. 

Have a lie-in 

Okay, okay.. this might not be that exciting to everyone and some of you don't even have the luxury to lie in that day. But if you can, and if you value sleeping as much as I do, treat yourself to a couple of extra hours in bed. Don't set an alarm and even when you wake up.. just stay in bed that extra hour and enjoy being one year older. And if you want to go that extra mile: put on new sheets on your bed the night before and don't forget the fresh set of pajamas. Maybe even buy yourself some new cozy slippers for when you finally get out of bed. 

Take yourself out for breakfast

Who says you need companionship to go out for breakfast or even better brunch? It's your day. So go out to your fave cafe or a brunch spot which you wanted to try for ages and order whatever you want. Breakfast is one of my highlights of any day so why not treat yourself? 

Treat yourself even more

So, just because you are spending your birthday on your own doesn't mean you can't have birthday cake.. right? If you are an avid baker why not bake something for yourself or just run to a bakery and choose the cake that looks best to you. Yumm... But if you are not into cakes at all why not treat yourself to something different, is it Pizza you like? or you would rather buy yourself a new lipstick? Whatever it is.. just go for it. Remember: there are no rules on your birthday, especially when you spend it on your own. 

Have a pamper evening

This must be my favorite part of a 'stay-at-home-birthday'. And the best thing.. maybe your friends are out of work by the time evening rolls around and they can join you? Whether or not you are in company or alone: A good pamper night is a beautiful way to end your birthday either way. Run yourself a bath, use the expensive face mask you have been saving for special occasions and put on a movie that makes you feel good. Maybe you even have some cake left from the afternoon? Best. night. ever. 

x Lisa

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My Autumn Fashion Staples.

*This post contains affiliate links

Half of you are probably mourning the loss of hot summer days and the other half still can't get enough of all the earthy tones and chunky knits coming out in the stores right now. I am for sure part of the second category. It is October... it feels like I have waited all year for this!

I (obviously) have a thing for autumn in general, but October is the month I am most excited about. It's not only that it's my birthday month but also shopping is so much more fun. Even though the autumn pieces start to hit the stores in early September, I always feel like shops are a weird mix of the last summer dresses and new winter coats at this time of the year. But October... oh in October it's autumn heaven in the retail world. 

So what are my essentials that I always like to look for at the beginning of autumn/winter?

Blazer season 

I don't know how the conditions are in the rest of the world but in Germany, and Europe in general September and October call for blazer season. It's not as hot anymore that we can get away with just wearing a cute dress but our winter coats are still too warm. So my favorite time of the year begins. I just love to layer a pretty earth-toned blazer with cute short dresses, especially when they are black. This is a great way to transition some of your summer dresses to the new season and get even more wear out of them. 

Coats everywhere

Of course, what is autumn without a cozy new coat? My collection is admittable quite big so I really have to restrain myself. But I mostly end up investing in one new coat every year (or two..) and refresh my coat closet. Generally, I love a structured and longer coat in neutral tones but I try and stay away from black coats as most of my dresses are already black. And why not belt your coat to change things up? 

Dresses to layer

You thought you can find dresses only in my summer wardrobe? Well, then you clearly don't know me. I only, repeat only, wear dresses or skirts. In the summer I love a cute linen dress and in the winter I love a long-sleeved dress paired with some opaque tights. 

What are your autumn fashion staples?

x Lisa

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