Ask Tiny! - Hallo Berlin | Day 1: Christmas Markets!

Hi Tinies,

Last week we ventured to Berlin for a week of Christmas markets and exploring the city for the first time. I absolutely loved every moment of this trip, and having always wanted to visit Germany, this trip definitely didn't disappoint.

We flew super early in the morning from London Gatwick for Berlin SFX airport, and quickly made our way to Alexanderplatz where our hotel, the Park Inn by Radisson, was. With check-in not starting until 3pm, we decided instead to explore the Christmas markets right outside the hotel. Of course, we headed first to a currywurst stand and it was amazing! If only we could have such yummy currywurst in the UK :(

Christmas Market in Alexanderplatz

Opposite our hotel was a large department store, GALERIA Kaufhof, where we actually spent a lot of time getting snacks for the rest of the week. They had pretty much everything, from food to clothing to toys. There are several hot food sections in the ground floor, and the pork chops from there were so good. I would also recommend checking out the drinks section, as we found & bought several fruit juices by Van Nahmen which were just heaven!

Christmas Markets with TV Tower in the background

We booked our holidays with EasyHolidays, and had a pretty good deal with flights + hotel for about £220 per person for 5 nights. Breakfast wasn't included, but with all that great food outside, we weren't too bothered about that.

Stay tuned for more, or head over to my instagram for more photos of the beautiful Berlin.

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July Faves - Top 5

Hi Tinies,

Superdrug has recently become one of my favourite beauty and skincare go-to stores recently, especially this month! I found a great product range, at a good price as well, and here are my Top 5 buys for July 2015.

5. Garnier Ambre Solair - Dry Mist (SPF 50)

Even though we've been blessed with very little sun in the UK this summer, I still enjoy sitting in the sun when it does decide to come out of hiding. However, the sun can be very harmful to skin, and I usually find that if I sit in the sun (even for a little more than 10 minutes), my skin reacts badly to it. This normally takes form in red rashes on my skin, which are just awful to tolerate for the rest of the working day.

In the past, the sun lotions I have used were very heavy and made my skin feel sticky and greasy. I'm so glad I decided to try Garnier's Dry Mist sun protection because it really does stick to what it claims. When you spray it, you can hardly see the product apart from very fine white spots which you can just massage into the skin. It's non greasy, non sticky, so light and smells pretty good as well. I would definitely recommend using this if you hate having that sticky skin feeling. It's also great for your face if your makeup doesn't have SPF protection, just rub it into your skin after you put on primer, and just apply foundation/BB cream as usual.

Rating: 10/10

4. Calvin Klein - Eternity Moment

As I mentioned in my post on Boot's new Ted Baker collection, I bought 2 body sprays. However as they are EDTs, they usually don't last very long. It was pure chance that 'Eternity Moment' was on offer when I was in Superdrug, and I immediately fell in love with the scent. It's an eau de parfum which means it lasts longer due to a higher oil to water ratio in the fragrance, and it's just the perfect summer scent as it is floral & fruity. After 6 hours, the scent was slightly faded but still there, meaning less top ups throughout the day.

Rating: 10/10

3. / 2. / 1.

I've put these three together as they are all part of of Bourjois' makeup collection and definitely my favourite July products overall. I would put Healthy Mix at number 1, and the Primer and Powder as tied at 2 and 3. But when using these products together, I've enjoyed flawless skin which takes minimal effort on a daily basis. Bourjois also have a huge selection of colours to choose from, which makes finding your perfect shade that much easier.

Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer

This is the slightly peachy coloured middle product in the image above. I especially like this Primer because it leaves your skin very soft and creates an excellent base for makeup.

Rating: 10/10

Bourjois Healthy Balance Matt Finishing Powder

The matt finishing powder gives a very unified finish and is great for creating that finished look. The only problem is that it doesn't come with anything to apply the powder with, but I had a spare foundation pad that I use instead. As the name implies, it creates a very matt effect, so be sure to contour & highlight if you would like some dimension to your face!

Rating: 7/10

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I used to use Healthy Mix before I was using BB Cream and in all honesty loved it. I've decided to restock my cupboards because it gives more coverage as well as a more natural look. You really don't need much of the product, one pump is enough to cover your whole face, which is good as you can save a little extra on makeup.

Rating: 10/10

Overall, I'm super happy with my Bourjois purchases, and there was a 3 for 2 offer which was an added bonus :)

What are your favourite July products? Let me know in the comments below!

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Burgers @ GBK

Hi Tinies,

One of the restaurants I've been loving at the moment is Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK). You can find them pretty much anywhere in London, as well as other major cities in the UK. With reasonable prices, and a good range on the menu, it's perfect for casual dates or meeting up with friends.

Food

As their name suggests, GBK specialises in burgers, but there is also a great sides menu which you can choose from as well. They do also offer vegetarian options e.g. falafel burger, and gluten free options. Of course, you can also tailor your burger so if you dislike cheese, like me, you can choose to just not have it in your burger.

I had the original chicken burger, which you can see in my photo above, which has chargrilled chicken, salad and relish as fillings. I thought the bun itself was well done, the bottom is slightly soggy but still better than most other places.

For drinks, I had an elderflower drink, which I thought was nice, fresh and great for summer. I would definitely recommend this over the soft drink options.

One thing to mention to onion rings lovers, GBK's onion rings are literally onions covered in a thing layer of batter. So, if you love more batter and less onion (like the ones you get from the supermarket), I would suggest you go for something else on the sides menu instead!

Rating: 8/10

Find out more about GBK here!

What's the best burger place you've ever been to? Let me know in the comments below!

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Ted Baker Bath & Body Collection at Boots

Hi Tinies,

Boots introduced a new Ted Baker bath and body collection just a few weeks back, and I absolutely love their new products. Currently, there is also a 3 for 2 offer for all luxury bath and body products at Boots, which is great if you're up to treating yourself or looking for a gift with a touch of luxury.

I just bought 3 products, a body wash and 2 body sprays. With the bath and body collection, there are two types of scents you can choose from: fruity (mint coloured packaging) or floral (pink coloured packaging).

Fruity

"...fruity top notes with violet, whilst the base combines sweet yet soft vanilla, patchouli and amber."

I really like the fruity collection, and honestly would rather use the body spray over my current fragrances at home. It's great as a scent for summer, and at only £7, it's definitely worth its price.

Floral

"...soft floral notes of jasmine and neroli,...(&) the base of patchouli, sandalwood and musk..."

The floral collection is very musky, so if you like this particular scent, I would suggest you buy this one instead. Personally though, I prefer the fruity collection.

Have you tried the Ted Baker collection from Boots? Are you Fruity or Floral?

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May Skincare Routine

Hi Tinies,

Since my last skincare post, I've been following an amended Korean skincare routine to the one I found on wengie's Blog. So far, it's been working well and and I've really enjoyed looking after my skin for the last few weeks. Below, I will outline my steps and the products that I use to keep my skin soft, clean and healthy.

Step 1. Remove Makeup (evening only)

This is particularly important if you wear makeup during the day. I use Nivea cleansing wipes and my Simple cleansing lotion to remove the majority of my makeup.

Step 2. Cleanse (every day, morning and evening) & Exfoliate (1-3 times a week)

I recommend exfoliating 1 to 3 times a week, as too much exfoliating will damage your skin. I've always loved using Cure, which is originally from Japan. They currently do not have an official standalone store in the UK, but you can buy it online from Amazon or YesStyle. I also like using the baking powder cleansing foam from Etude House which I purchased in Hong Kong last year. Both are really good for getting rid of all that makeup and dead skin from your face, leaving your skin soft and clean.

Normally, after using the exfoliator, I use my pobling Sonic Cleanser with my Simple moisturising facial wash to prep my face for moisturising. I make sure my face is covered with the Simple moisturising facial wash, and then use the Sonic Cleanser to gently massage my face in circular motions. This also helps prep your skin for better absorption of serums, toners and moisturisers.

When I'm not using exfoliators and my Sonic Cleanser, I usually just stick with the Simple moisturising facial wash instead. I'm not a huge fan of foaming cleansers as they tend to leave my skin too clean and stripped of its natural oils. The Simple range is definitely kinder to skin.

Step 3. Toner & Serum

Currently, I'm on the hunt for my next toner and serum. I will probably by both from Lancome in the next few weeks. Toners are important as they neutralise the pH of your skin as well as helping the absorption of serums and moisturisers more effective. Serums help target specific problems you may have with your skin e.g. regenerating serums. I would normally use toner twice a day, and serums in the evening only.

Step 4. Face Masks (evening, 2 times a week or as often as you can)

Face masks are vital for hydrating you face. I try to use them whenever I have time, and I've got a stockpile of My Beauty Diary masks which you can buy from YesStyle. They are quite expensive in the UK, so if you're off to East Asia soon, I would recommend you buy a few boxes as they are super cheap there (£3-£5)!

Step 5. Moisturiser

Finally, I use moisturiser as the last step to my skincare routine. I'm currently using the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream for both day and night, however I will be switching to the Lancome moisturiser I bought for my mum for Christmas last year.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Apart from a regular skincare routine, to keep your skin truly healthy, make sure to drink lots of water during the day. It will help flush all those nasty toxins out of your body. I also like to get a decent nights sleep as it gives your skin time to relax and heal. Finally, diet plays a big part as well, so don't eat too much fast food!

Which routine do you follow for your skincare? Let me know in the comments below :)

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An Afternoon Along Southbank

Hi Tinies,

A stroll along London Southbank on a sunny Sunday afternoon is a great way to enjoy the fresh air and scenery without being bombarded with hoards of commuters. We had lunch in Yo Sushi which is just behind the London Eye, and walked next to the Thames until we reached St Paul's Cathedral.

It was a nice change from Westfields Stratford where we usually spend our weekends.

Outfit:

Top - Primark
Blazer - Tammy
Jeans - eBay
Chelsea Boots - Miso @ SportsDirect

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April Clothing & Home Haul

Hi Tinies,

I've finally decided to do some shopping for my wardrobe and for our new flat in London. As summer is just around the corner, I picked up some tops more suitable for work as the weather starts getting hotter.

Clothing:

I really needed some new summery tops for work, and found two perfect ones in Primark, one blue and one pink. As they are sleeveless, it's easy to pair them with cardigans, blazers, or under sweaters & jumpers if the weather suddenly turns cold. I also picked up a blue peplum top from River Island. It's so comfortable, and great for day to night conversion outfits. Whilst I was in River Island, I bought two pairs of trousers as well, one pastel pink and one black. Black goes well with everything, and I thought the pastel pink pair would work well with floral tops for summer.

My black cardigan broke earlier this year, so I picked up a new one from Jack Wills. It's comfortable, warm, and easy to wear with most tops.

Shoes:

Shoes really are my one weakness when I'm out shopping. I just can't resist their calling! I found some Miso Chelsea boots, which I've been on the hunt for. These are perfect for outfits with skinny jeans at work. I also bought some ankle boots from Office which works well with skirts & dresses in the workplace. The black pumps from Primark was an emergency buy as the pumps I was wearing on that day was too small and cut into my feet. These Primark pumps are lifesavers, easy to carry around, and ideal companions for when you're feet are in need of some rest from those heels (also they're so cheap, just £5!!).

Accessories:

I am literally in love with my new handbag. I found this in Accessorize, and it looks so similar to this Agnes b bag I wanted to buy when I was in Hong Kong. It has 3 compartments inside, as well as a detachable strap. I think it goes well with everything in my wardrobe, which is great (!) and it's not too uncomfortable to carry around as well.

I also picked up a few hair clips from Accessorize, mainly to use as a tool of keeping my hair out of my eyes when I'm at work & at home. Putting all my hair into a bun can sometimes leave me with a splitting headache, which is where these little clips come in.

Home:

What is a home without that homely feel, right? We now have 3 Winnie the Pooh Tsum Tsums in our bedroom, aren't they cute? We bought them from the Disney store, where they also have massive Mickeys & Minnies! We also have a puppy doorstop, which is so much easier to use compared to traditionally doorstops.

As my boyfriend and I are drinkers of loose Chinese tea, we bought a tea diffuser which makes tea brewing much quicker. It was only £2 in the Tiger shop, which I thought was a bargain. We also popped into Muji where we found a set of 4 plastic cups. Currently we have one which serves as a toothbrush holder, and the others will probably be used as pen holders or something like that. These are so cute and versatile for any home.

And that pretty much concludes this post :)! Hope you enjoyed it, tell me your thoughts & leave a comment, or even better: follow me on bloglovin' for my next post, an OotD for a day out in London!

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