TUNEY TUESDAY l Tove Lo

Hey, hello and welcome! This week's tuney tuesday is being brought to you in a finals and flu haze. Sunday morning I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by something unpleasant, and yesterday I started my first final for this semester - what a way to start the week. While the final doesn't bother me so much, all I can think about is blackface minstrelsy, freaks shows and the general power of modern pop-culture. So writing this post feels like a short break and as a realization that freedom will return once I finish this exam. And I mean, I've got until Monday so I shouldn't be stressing yet.  

On to the playlist. Maybe you've heard about Tove Lo before, maybe you haven't. Either way, stop what you're doing, take a break and give her a listen. Her album "Queen Of The Clouds" has quickly become a favorite of mine. All the songs got a cool sound, the interludes are pretty different and while not being extraordinary or fantastic pieces of art, they fit in nicely on the album. As you'll find out if you want to listen to the playlist (or you know, you can read it here), she's got a song on the new soundtrack for Mockingjay Part 1, which is quite good as well. Also, she's from Sweden so I feel proud to be Scandinavian when we can produce music this good. For a debut album I find it really good and her sound, while still being pop and somewhat mainstream, is quite special. 

What's your favorite song from her album?

xx Sisse      

(Also, I apologize if the blog will be a bit neglected in the next week or two. I should have scheduled some posts but instead... I didn't. No surprise there. If I find some time to take photos or get hit by sudden inspiration, I'll post something. But until next time - enjoy the holidays!)

High on Highlighters

In the cold and grey months of Winter many people will stick to a matte, nude-y, basic base-makeup and then pair it with a dark lip or dark eye-makeup. I'm all for that, but one thing I can never abandon is my highlighter. I usually just dab it on top of my cheekbones to add a bit of glow. I must admit that I like a bit of glittery goodness as long as the glitter doesn't come off all chunky, cause I often find that that will make me look like a disco ball. These four are my current favorites and I'll just write you through them a bit!

Sleek Face Form Palette in "Light";

This palette is a go-to palette for me. The contour powder is nice and matte, the blush got a nice shine to it, so you can even use that a highlighter/blush as well. But my favorite part of this palette is the highlighter. It's probably my favorite highlighter in powder form. It's got a nice shine and gives a perfect glow but it's not exactly glittery. And you can add it mixed with a favorite blush or bronzer for that extra-party effect.

e.l.f. Baked Blush;

There is no color name on this one, which is quite annoying. However, all the colors were quite nice if I remember correctly. This highlighter is more of a blush combined with a bit of highlight, because it is quite shimmery. For the price it's a very nice product and if you're just starting out with makeup these or the Baked Bronzers would be a good starting point.

Revlon Highlighting Palette in "Rose Glow";

This is probably my most glittery highlighter and I do have to be a bit more light-handed to avoid the disco ball effect. It's really nice for parties though, and would be great for the different holiday celebrations we face this month. The shades can be used on your eyelids as well and they look quite nice that way. 

Benefit Cream Highlighter "Whatt's Up!";

This is the only cream highlighter I've ever tried and it is the most beautiful color. The champagne glow will probably work with every skin-tone and it's very easy to work with. I just blend it out with a brush but you could use your fingers just as easily. The color is one of those works-with-everything colors, a bit like the "All That Glitters" eyeshadow from MAC. If you're willing to splurge a bit on a good highlighter this one is the one to go for. 

Hope you liked this post! If you have a favorite highlighter please feel free to share as I'm always looking for new ones to try out.

xx Sisse 

TUNEY TUESDAY l The Kooks

We're well into the official Christmas month and maybe you've had it up to here (imagine me waving my hand somewhere over my head) with jolly Christmas music. If that is the case then do not fear - this playlist is not remotely holiday-ish. 

This summer I was properly introduced to The Kooks. I mean, I've heard of them and their music before but when I bought a ticket for their concert in Copenhagen I became a proper and proud fan. All their albums are good. And I mean all of them. So this playlist is not so much a Top Ten but more a small collection of some of my favorites. I think If I had to, I'd say that Inside In / Inside Out, Junk Of The Heart and their newest album Listen are my favorites. So that actually only leaves out one of their full-length albums... Well, it's difficult! I'll just pronounce Listen as my all-time favorite, 'cause it's always nice to introduce new listeners to the newest music - so go listen to Listen! Or to this playlist to get a general feel of the band. 

If you like Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines and/or The Killers then I think these guys are for you. 

Hope you'll enjoy it!

xx Sisse 

Skincare Routine

Let me start of by saying that I'm aware that these pictures look... Weird, grainy, out-of-focus, whatever you wanna call them. I'm struggling with finding good light to take my pictures in, and now that it's getting darker than night by 3 in the afternoon I always miss the nice hour of light we get. So for now these will have to do. 

I just wanted to walk you through my skincare routine seeing as I've finally found one that I'm mostly satisfied with. Whenever the seasons change my skin act like it did when I was an awkward teen, (still awkward, not teen) but these products have helped me out recently. 

In the shower in the morning I'll just use the Neutrogena 2-in-1 visibly clear face wash. It's nice and cooling and in the morning I can't be bothered to dig out multiple products, so this is a nice and refreshing compromise. It can be used as a mask as well but I haven't tried that yet. I do like it as a simple wash without too much hassle to it. 

In the evening I'll usually remove my makeup with either the Micellar water from Garnier or the Camomile oil from The Body Shop - I'll use the oil if I feel like my skin need a bit more deep cleansing. Then I'll scrub my face with the Benefiance Cleansing Foam from Shiseido. This stuff is pure magic for my skin and ever since I tried it out the first time two years ago I've wanted to repurchase it, but could never justify spending that much money on it (it's crazy expensive here in Denmark) so when I went to New York earlier this year I finally bought it, since it was quite cheap there. It's got a very light scrub to it and as someone who can never use "daily scrubs" because they're always too harsh no matter what the bottle promise, this is the one. The scrub is barely there but it's enough to make me feel like my skin is better than new whenever I use it. 

To end the whole cleaning routine I dab some of the Grease Lightning from Lush on any spots I'd might have. The only spot-remover I've ever really used was one from Kiehl's which was too harsh for me and it never really reduced or removed anything - it just stung and dried my skin out. This one dries the spots out as well but in a very gentle and soothing way, y'know? So if you've normally got too sensitive skin for spot reducers/removers I'd recommend you try this stuff out. If not for the product then just for the name 'cause, let's face it, it's pretty genius. 

What's your favorite skincare product?

xx Sisse 

TUNEY TUESDAY l Christmas Edition

Yes my friends, Christmas is upon us! Even though I always think to myself all throughout November "Geez, it's almost December", it always manages to sneak up on me, which usually results in me being late with Christmas decorations and cookie-baking. This year was no exception! But just to set the mood as proper Christmassy I thought I'd create a Christmas playlist. 

Favorite Christmas songs are often personal favorites and everybody has got a different song they prefer. My list is definitely marked by my parents as they each have specific songs they love to listen to during Christmas and I've got my own favorites as well, so as with everything else during Christmas it's definitely influenced by traditions. 

So if you're still struggling to get in the Christmas spirit give this list a listen and maybe it'll help you on your way to a glittery and cookie-craving mood (but who doesn't crave cookies all year long?)

What's your most loved Christmas song? 

xx Sisse  

Christmas Beauty Wish List

Is Christmas slowly sneaking up on you? All of a sudden it's almost, soon-ish Christmas and that is the most wonderful time of the year as you probably know (if you don't agree, then you won't like this post at all you Scrooge). It might seem a bit early to have already made a wish list but my mom always start asking for my wishes when we hit November because I "always want something she has to order online" and she's one of those people who do not trust the online world, so better safe than sorry. As soon as I start my list it often go completely off track and if I don't grip tight on to my self-control I end up with a list that is miles ling. This year I think I've managed pretty well. I'm only wishing for things that I've wanted for some time, so I know that I'll actually get a use of it. Quite the Christmas wonder if you ask me.
Above you can see some of the beauty items I'm drooling over. The Sleek palette is one of their newer ones and I love my contour palette and the highlighter in it so I would love to try this one out, as it contains three creme blushers as well and I'm getting quite fond of those. The brush is just the concealer brush from MAC, the eyeshadows I would love to get my hands on are "Honey Lust", "Naked Lunch" and "Mulch" - they would all fit nicely in my palette. The NARS blush is in the color "Douceur", which I've had is getting discontinued, so if I'm lucky I'll be able to dust it up somewhere. The last item is the "Microblur Skin Perfector" from Kiehl's and seeing as I'm running out of my current primer I'd love to give this a go.

What are your beauty wishes for Christmas?

xx Sisse

Let's talk Deluxe Albums!

This Monday night Paramore released their Deluxe version of their self-titled album. Being a major Paramore fan had prepared me for this, but nobody seemed to know what this deluxe version would be or include. Many probably had their minds set for something like a special, limited edition box-set as we've seen from them before. But the bomb finally dropped on Monday and in the form of a digital album. Now, I'm not disappointed by this - not at all actually. Sure I would have liked something crazy and cool but seeing as not many new songs were actually added to the album I think this is a nice way of making into something nice without over-doing it. I feel like they've thought a lot about their fans regarding this deluxe album, seeing as nobody will feel tricked into spending a lot of money on something fancy and then "only" getting two new songs. 

The songs you see above - "Hate To See Your Heart Break" feat. Joy Williams and "Tell Me It's Okay" - are the new songs you can get on iTunes. Besides those the album includes "Escape Route" and "Native Tongue" but I think most of the fans already got their hands on these during the release of the original album.  "Escape Route", "Native Tongue" and "Tell Me It's Okay" all three have a sort of more old school-Paramore sound to 'em, and I think that's quite nice - their old and new sound sort of mix together on these songs. On "Hate To See Your Heart Break" Joy Williams join Hayley and this is actually the first official "featuring"-song from Paramore - and I love it! Their voices mix together so well and seeing as the song is about friendship and love between friends I think that two good friends singing it together gives it such a nice detail, and the feelings in the song become so much more obvious.  

You can get 8 live songs on the album as well if you want. Another nice detail about this release - you don't have to buy the complete album! None of those "album only" songs, which always annoy me because they sometimes make you spend money on something you already have in order to get something  else as well. So yeah, I really do feel that this album was made and published for the fans without the band compromising and delivering something half-heartedly. Hayley has said on some occasions that the band isn't ready for new, complete album so this makes for a nice compromise. 

Then again, I'm a major fan of basically every single thing this band does an since I've been a fan since I was 13, I might be a bit compromised.  

Have you listened to any of the songs on the deluxe album? 

xx Sisse