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.

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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?

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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 :)

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

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!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Ask Tiny! - Gifts for the Bubble Tea Enthusiasts

Hi Tinies!

Some of you Londoners, especially those who enjoys bubble tea, may have noticed a new option in the Bubbleology stores: Popping Boba Gift Packs! These are currently selling at about £4 per container, and you can choose from any popping boba flavours available in store.

What I love about these is that you can mix different flavours in one container. Let's say you like having mango and lychee popping boba, you can just ask for both in one. They are also so cute, and easy to gift.

I usually have popping boba with Lipton Ice Tea, which is readily available in most supermarkets. They are, obviously, not as good as the bubble teas in store, but you can stock up on fruit syrups and green tea at home if you're adventurous and want to make your own!

Things to Keep in Mind

1. Popping Boba don't last very long, and have a week until they expire. The Bubbleology staff will write the expiry date on the side, just make sure you don't forget!

2. If gifting, these can get a bit sticky around the outside from when the staff transfer it into the container. Just wipe down with a wet cloth to get rid of the stickiness before giving it away.

3. If you are a massive fan of popping boba, these aren't the most cost effective way of keeping a stock at home. You can buy the big buckets online which are a lot cheaper in the long run. Just Google or buy on Amazon :)

Find out more information on the Official Bubbleology Website!

Rating: 9/10

Would you buy these as a gift for a friend? Let me know in the comments below!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Ask Tiny! - Going Blonde

Hi Tinies!

What a better way to start off a new year than with a completely different hair colour. I was thinking about going for hazel brown but it turned out a lot lighter than I had expected! Normally I go for hair dyes but since Schwarzkopf Live Colour XXL was on offer, I decided to try their hair lightners instead.

It looks more auburn-y ginger at the moment, but I love it. I would definitely recommend Schwarzkopf to anyone with dark hair as it works so well. Usually, with hair dyes, I have to go for blonde and leave it in for longer as I have black hair. With hair lighteners, as they have bleach in as well, the effect is much better and quicker. The box recommended leaving the lightener in for 30 minutes, but I actually washed it off after about 15-20 minutes, otherwise my hair would have been platinum blonde! If you have long hair, I would also recommend buying 2 boxes in case you run out, it's only £4 per pack which is cheap and cheerful :)!

Rating: 10/10

Which hair colour would you go for? Would you go from dark to blonde? Let me know in the comments below!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Tiny x

Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream

Hi Tinies!

I've been using the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream recently, and I absolutely love it. I always find it hard to find a moisturiser that is right for me, and if you prefer hydrating moisturisers, this is definitely one that you should try. I normally have relatively dry skin, and applying this in the morning & evening helps my skin feel baby soft and hydrated.

The fragrance is pretty good, smells a lot better than some moisturisers I have used previously. Because it is fragranced, you may find that your skin is a little pink after applying it, but it should be fine for normal skin. It comes in a tub, and lasts quite a long time as well, I've been using mine for about 3 months now, and I'm not even halfway through!

Rating: 9/10

Do you have a favourite moisturiser? Let me know in the comments below :)

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Tiny x

Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

Hi Tinies,

I've been using the Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer for about 2 months now, and I really like it. Believe it or not, this is the first primer I have ever tried, so I can't compare it to any others. I bought mine in Tesco, and it claims to smoothen, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect.

I think for just under £8, this primer is worth every penny. I wouldn't say it achieves all that it claims to achieve, but it definitely helps with the application of foundation. When I use this primer, I find that my makeup lasts a lot longer than without. It also smells really good, which is always an added bonus, but do try it in store first if you have very sensitive skin.

Do you have a favourite primer? Let me know in the comments below!

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Tiny x

Etude House Makeup & Skin Care Haul

Hi Tinies,

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas & New Years!

Etude House is one of Korea's most famous make up brands, and it is gaining fast popularity across Asia and the world. If you're into K-Pop or Korean culture, this brand should be very familiar to you due to the significant amount of endorsements from K-Pop idols like 2NE1 and Girls Generation.

But let's put the celebrity endorsements aside for a while and review their actual products. A few years ago, I bought 'BB Magic Cream' from Etude House, and I honestly loved it! It was one of my favourite products, and I really wanted to try more products from Etude House. Recently, I went to the store in Hong Kong and bought some makeup which also came with loads of freebies. I only recently managed to try all of them, and I think for the price I paid, it's worth it but only for certain ones.

My main goal was to pick up some foundation, as my Bourjois Healthy Mix was running low. As the store was introducing their new line, the 'Precious Mineral' collection, I decided to try their BB Cream (SPF 30) which claims to be whitening, anti-wrinkle and anti-darkening, as well as their compact Precious Minerals 'Any Cushion' Foundation (SPF 50) which I thought would be great for applying make up on-the-go. As part of their in store promotions, they also included a Baking Powder face wash, Mascara Remover & something called a 'Collagen Moistfull'.

The compact Precious Minerals Any Cushion is definitely convenient. You have a mirror inside, as well as a separator between the cushion and the foundation. I usually just lightly pat the cushion on my face to apply the foundation. The only problem with this particular foundation is that it leaves your face too powdery, which I found a bit odd as it is supposed to be foundation. After using this just twice, I'm not sure I would use it again as the finish makes me look like I've poured beige flour all over my face...

The BB Cream, however, I absolutely loved. It's almost the same as the Magic BB Cream I used before. The consistency is very light, so you don't even feel like you have anything on your face. As with most BB Creams, you also just need a small amount to cover your whole face. When you first apply it, it may seem a little too white for your face, but it does blend well after a few minutes. It's really good for light coverage as well, I only needed a little concealer to cover up larger blemishes.

Finally, I also really liked the baking powder face wash, it leaves your skin soft, and is good for getting rid of dead skin. The mascara remover also works well, and smells really good as well.

All-in-all, I'm definitely buying BB Cream from Etude House again, but I'm not sure if I will buy any more of their foundations, at least not the compact version. If you're ever in Asian countries, I would recommend visiting the store as they usually have some great promotions and you will receive a lot of freebies and samples of future products.

You can order Etude House online as well but the shipping fees might be relatively expensive. However, you can check out their products on their Official Website.

Have you ever tried Etude House makeup or skincare before? What were your experiences with it?

bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest

Tiny x