ICE-CREAM AND BICYCLES

It was a lovely warm sunny day, so me and my friend Tjaša decided to spend the afternoon just chilling in the city and talking about some serious business (skincare, boyfriends, epic quirky stories). Since Tjaša is my favourite photographer of all time (check out her Instagram here) she was kind enough to snap some photos of me and my OOTD. I've been her biggest fan since I first laid my eyes on her work, mainly because her photography style is so unique and well-defined. Something about her photos just makes me happy and I could stare at them for ages. Enough with the words.

How are you guys doing? I have some exciting projects coming up so stay tuned - I promise I'll share all the bits and bobs with you. 

xxxx

Zara jacket, t-shirt & boyfriend jeans

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

The MAC in the last photo belongs to Tjaša.

FLORENCE OOTD

My favourite thing to do in a city that I've never been to before? Getting lost between all those teeny tiny alleys that tell different stories than the hustle n' bustle of the city centre. This time it was in the charming city of Florence. It was a lovely little street so we decided to snap some OOTD photos. Voilà!

Hope you're having a good week!

xxxx

"The New Icons" H&M T-shirt

Zara Boyfriend jeans

Dioniso star studded sneakers

Sisley bag

Zara long bull necklace

Tommy Hilfiger watch

H&M and Topshop bracelets

Calvin Klein ring

Marc Jacobs sunnies

THE BATTLE OF LIP BALMS

Let's have a little battle here, shall we? A lip balms battle that is. I'm a bit obsessed with good lip balms so I'm always on the hunt for new releases. Lately I've been using three lip balms (they're from different price ranges) which all promise quite the same things: protection, hydration, and moisture. No additional words needed, this battle is ON.

What the brands say:

Avéne Cold Cream Lip Balm (slo, eng): This rich, creamy formula is supposed to leave a thin protective coating on your lips and provide them with antioxidant protection. Like with other Avéne products, their Thermal Water will soothe and soften your skin. You can use it on dry, cracked, or chapped lips. It can also serve as additional care after some harsh acne medication treatment, such as isotretinoin (which will dry out your lips pretty badly). 

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil (slo, eng): It's a replenishing and hydrating natural lip balm that is infused with the antioxidant beneficence (polyphenols and anthocyanidins) of pomegranate oil. It should instantly replenish and moisturise your lips while coating them with a hint of colour. All ingredients are 100% natural. 

Antipodes Lime Leaf & Cocoa Butter Lip Balm (slo, eng): A creamy, moisturising and organic lip balm which features olive oil, cocoa butter and lime, all on a mission to condition your lips and defend them against sun damage. It should also minimize pigmentation and redness, lock in moisture, and "boost the healthy cells" (whatever that means).

What I say:

Avéne Cold Cream Lip Balm: After the first month of using this I was absolutely thrilled. My lips were smooth and really hydrated. It does leave you with a coat of protection, which I'm not a big fan of, because I felt like I had too much stuff just sitting on my lips. As I said, it was brilliant at the beginning, but after some time it seemed to lose its qualities since I had the feeling that my lips were left a bit dried-out after intensive use (maybe that's the main reason for this drying effect, so hard core users beware). The fact that you can't wear anything over it also didn't make me exactly happy. For me, the experience can be compared to that of Nuxe's Reve de Miel (slo, eng), but slightly more artificial and not that efficient. It's also the most expensive (12€). On a scale from 1 to 5, I'd give this product a strong 3. 

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil: This one does a brilliant job at moisturising and seems to smooth out my rough chapped lips. It's one of the few lip balms that don't make my lips peel. I also love the fact that it stays on my lips for a really long time and the smell is divine! It also leaves you with a fresh and tingly feel. While the brand says it has a hint of tint in it - well, I say it doesn't, it's completely transparent. Another minus is the fact that this balm is a tiny bit waxy, but still way better than your average waxy lip balms. The price is 4€, which I think is quite acceptable for a lip balm. On a scale from 1 to 5, I'd give this product a 4. 

Antipodes Lime Leaf & Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: It's hydrating thanks to the natural moisturising properties of olive oil and cocoa butter, not too greasy (it acts great under my lipstick) and it smells amazing. In other words: long lasting, smooth, buttery and delicious. You'll pay 7€ for it, but gosh darn it works! It's on my repurchase list, for sure. On a scale from 1 to 5, I'd give this one a 5. 

So, we have a winner - Antipodes strikes once again! Which one is currently your master of lip balms? Do you change them often or do you stick with one for a longer period of time?

xxxx

FLORENCE INSTA DIARY

Waking up late, drinking the best cappuccino there is, consuming unhealthy amounts of gelato and soaking up the Florence atmosphere - that's what my last week was all about. No need to say I absolutely loved it. 

The almighty Duomo Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. 

The top of the Duomo! We climbed 463 stairs and the view was breathtaking.

Tortellini prosciutto e piselli. I'm drooling.

Gnocchi con gorgonzola. Drooling, again.

Luisa Via Roma. I wish I could shop there on a monthly basis. My fav store so far!

An outfit moment. 

Wondering around the beautiful Giardino Bardini.

Just chilling on our cute balcony and waiting for the party to start.

You can follow me on Instagram @giiiiita

Aaaah, Italy. You always had and always will have a special place in my heart. How was your "spring break"? I hope you had fun, did something really inappropriate and stupid, and filled you batteries for the upcoming months (students will understand). 

xxxx