Summer Drink Recipe: Kompot/Компот

Hello, everyone! Drinking a nice cold glass of Kompot is one of my favourite methods for staying cool and hydrated during the hot summer. The best bit is, it's yummy and super easy to make! It's an Eastern European drink that is simply made out of boiled fruit. So essentially, if you're out of juice, you can just make yourself some with whatever fruits you have at home :). My favourite is strawberry Kompot, but you can use any fruits that you please.
I've also decided to write out this recipe in three languages, just so international readers can enjoy it too :).

Привет всем! Я хочу поделиться с вами этот вкусный рецепт для компот. Надеюсь, вам понравится!

Hallo Leute! Ich möchte dieses Rezept für Kompot mit euch teilen. Ich hoffe, dass es euch schmeckt!

Ingredients                                    Ингредиенты                           Zutaten: 

500g of Strawberries                    500 грамм Клубнике                500g Erdbeeren
3-6 Apricots                                  3-6 Абрикосы                           3-6 Aprikosen
1-2 tsp of Lemon Juice                 1-2 ч.л. Лимонный сок             1-2Tl Zitronensaft
8-10 tsp's (or to taste) of Sugar     8-10 ч.л. (или по вкусу) Сахар  8-10Tl Zucker
2.5 litres of Water                         2.5 литров Вода                         2.5 Liter Wasser

Instructions: 

Pour your water into a large pot and bring it to a boil. While it's heating up, wash and cut up your fruits. Once the water is boiling, add the fruits in and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add sugar and lemon juice. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar if you'd like. And that's it! Let it cool off and then refrigerate it to let completely cool down. Can be served cold or warm.

Инструкции: 

Налейте воду в большую кастрюлю, на сильном огне. подождите пока вода закипит. В то время как она нагревается, нарежьте ваши фрукты. Как только вода закипит, добавить фрукты и  варите  5-10 минут. Теперь добавьте сахар и лимонный сок. Вы можете регулировать сладость (добавив больше сахара, если вы хотите). И вот и все! Пусть ваш компот остынет, а потом положите его в холодильник, чтобы он полностью остыл. Можно подавать холодным или теплым.

Zubereitung: 

Gießen sie Wasser in einen großen Topf und bringen sie es zum Kochen. Während es aufwärmt, waschen und schneiden sie die Früchte. Sobald das Wasser kocht, fügen sie die Früchte hinzu und lassen sie es für 5-10 Minuten köcheln. Dann den Zucker und Zitronensaft dazu geben. Die Menge an Zucker kann nach Belieben variiert werden. Schon sind sie fertig! Abkühlen lassen und bei Bedarf in den Kühlschrank stellen. Der Kompot kann warm oder kalt serviert werden.

Now you can relax and sip your summer drink :)

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Review: Nivea - In Shower Body Moisturizer

Since it is now summer, our skin tends to crave a bit more moisture thanks to the drying sun rays. And let's be honest, some of us are a bit lazy when it comes to body moisturizing (I know I definitely am!). So I thought I'd let you guys know about my number one savour for this hot season!

I technically picked up this product right when the hype was just beginning to form around it, but only now am I finally getting around to writing a review on it. At first I didn't see much point to it since there are hundreds reviews already out there. However, I did notice very mixed reviews so I thought it wouldn't hurt to add my own opinion :).

This innovative creation by Nivea is a god's send to all those lazy people out there in the world *raises hand shamefully*. Personally, I don't have time or the patience to apply moisturizer all over my body after a shower. It's time consuming and it also takes forever for the cream to dry, leaving you awkwardly walking around naked afraid to touch anything... We've all been there right?...

Anyway, this in-shower body moisturizer solves all those problems! Right after you wash off your body wash, all you do is slather this onto your body and then rinse it off. Yup, it really is that simple. It is a creamy consistency and can feel a bit sticky before you wash it off. However, once you pat yourself dry with your towel, you're left with super soft skin! Obviously, it does work more efficiently the longer you keep it on, so I would suggest a minimum of 30 seconds.

And the best bit for me is that it contains no silicones meaning it's not simply coating your skin to make it feel soft, but it's actually being moisturized. The only real complaint I have is the scent. It smells 'soapy', but I can live with that. Would be nice if they came out with a selection of fragrances.

To sum this up, I love it. A lot. And it doesn't break the bank (around $5). Brilliant and innovative stuff! :)

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Review: Clarins Cleansing Milk with Gentian

So sorry for the long absence everyone! I just came back from a lovely holiday and I am now ready to get back into the blogging world :). I've decided to start off with my new holy grail cleanser: Clarins Cleansing Milk (with Gentian).

After reading almost every post written by the amazing Caroline Hirons, I came to realize how important it was to have a good and thorough cleanser. However, finding one wasn't easy. I wanted to find one that didn't contain any bad ingredients, such as alcohol, mineral oil, etc. Another key feature was that it had to be a none foaming cleanser as those are the cleansers that simply dry up your skin.
Of course, I had heard of the much loved Emma Hardie Balm Cleanser, but I wasn't willing to cough up $56 for a cleanser (not just yet at least...). I wanted to believe that were was a cheaper alternative, and luckily there is!

I can proudly say that this cleanser has completely cleared up my skin. It doesn't just cleanse and remove makeup (which includes stubborn mascara), but it also nourishes my skin, which is a first for me in terms of cleansers. It just leaves my face feeling really clean and not in the slightest bit dry. My skin feels very pampered when using this. It's also very gentle since it is a cleansing milk so it's great for  those with sensitive skin. It also comes in all skin types, so you can just pick whichever you need, which in my case is combination/oily. The texture is very different from anything I've tried before. It's creamy rather than a liquid or a gel, which is nice because that way you know you're not stripping your skin of any moisture.

My only complaint with this cleanser is the smell. It smells either like a sunscreen or an old lady's moisturizer. It's not the worst smell but I would prefer it unscented.

Overall, it's the best cleanser I've ever used and it doesn't break the bank! Big thumbs up for Clarins! :).

The cleanser is available in two sizes: 100ml/$17 and 200ml/$34.  

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Shopping My Stash: Samples

I think I'm right when I say that I'm not the only girl who feels uneasy about buying an expensive full-sized product without giving it a test or two. Luckily, that's where samples come in. I've decided to do a mini review/first impression for each sample that I have recently tried out :).

1) Aussie 3 Minute Miracle: Given the massive praise and hype this hair product receives, obviously I couldn't resist giving it a go. However, when I saw that you could purchase samples as well as the full sized bottle, I decided to opt for samples instead. I bought two and have finished both. Conclusion: It made my hair feel very soft, though only for a few hours. Did it actually repair it? No. Will I purchase the full-size? Probably not. Though I might try out their normal conditioner.

2) Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense: I love this! I had 5 samples of this (generous counter lady) and I can say that this is one of the best facial sunscreens that I've ever tried. Didn't break me out, felt incredibly light on the skin, and protected me from the sun. I even went back to purchase the full-size but sadly it was sold out. The only complaint I have is that it does make your face look shiny (but not oily), so a powder is definitely needed.

3) Kiehl's Midnight Night Recovery Concentrate: I really wanted this to be the holy grail product that everyone praised it to be. Sadly, it just sat on my face and never got absorbed. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed. I was also quite skeptical about it because it contains Lavender Oil, which is a known natural skin irritant.

4) Origins Make a Difference Plus +: I had hoped this might be a nice moisturizer, but sadly after I put it on, my skin felt very tight and dry. Had to wash it off and put on my regular moisturizer instead.

5) Origins GinZing Eye Cream: I have a love-hate relationship with this eye cream. I love it for the brightening effect it has! Oh my god, you don't even need concealer after using this. Though, this is only the case because the cream itself is actually tinted. However, it doesn't moisturize my eyes and actually made the area feel quite tight and uncomfortable. I can't make up my mind if I'll get the full size or not. If I did, I'd probably still have to use a different cream to retain moisture in the area.

And those are my mini reviews on some very well known products :). Hope this has been helpful! Let me know if you've tried any of these products or anything from the Origins or Kiehl's that you particularly like or dislike :).

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June Favorites 2013

June was a good month for me beauty wise, lots of favorites! Just to explain a little bit before diving into my lovely products, June was quite warm/hot so I really wanted a more natural, dewy, and creamy finish to my makeup. My moto for summer weather looks is: "less is more". Something about the warm sun just makes us feel like we don't need that much on our skin :).

1. Clarins - Cleansing Milk: I can honestly say, this cleanser has saved my skin and has kept it clear ever since. Works wonderfully at removing any remains of makeup while deep cleansing my skin. I will have a full review on this coming up soon :).

2. Origins - VitaZing SPF15: I have a full review of this here, but just to summarize this has been a gift from heaven during the hot days. It has a sheer tint, which evens out my skin, and adds moisture to my face while also protecting it from the sun. Huge staple of mine in June.

3. Rimmel - Wake Me Up Foundation: I love this foundation, especially for summer time because it gives me enough coverage while still allowing my skin to look dewy and fresh. It's also quite moisturizing! Full review here.

4. Urban Decay - De Slick: This is my holy grail of holy grail primers/make up setting sprays. Anyone who wants their makeup to last in high heat or suffer from oily skin like I do, you need this in your life. I use it almost everyday during the summer time and my makeup doesn't budge :).

5. Michael Todd - Citrus Cream Moisturizer: I'm just in love with this moisturizer. I don't know what it is about it that keeps my face soft and clear of spots, but I just adore it! Will definitely be buying the full size when I run out :). Full review here.

6. Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24 hour in 'Pink Gold': This was my first ever Color Tattoo and now I can see why everyone raves about them! 'Pink Gold' is a gorgeous shimmery pink that looks beautiful on it's own. I like to use my fingers to apply it rather than with a brush. It's just so simple and quick, which is why I probably used it almost everyday for weeks :). It can be used on its own or as a base/primer. I put it to the test as a primer and I have to admit, my eye makeup did not budge! It's also a pretty close dupe for 'Sin', which is a shade from the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Love, love, love!

7. First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Concentrate: Anyone who gets dry feet in the summer should really consider trying this out. I just slather it on before bed and wake up with incredibly soft and nourished feet. It can be used anywhere on your body, even your face if you want. If you're struggling to heal any really dry or cracked skin, then I couldn't recommend this enough. This balm has been a life saver for me and will continue to be during the summer. Full review here.

And those are my June Favorites! I have a lot of really interesting reviews coming up within the next few weeks so stay tuned! :). Also, if you're interested in my blog and want to subscribe or stay subscribed, then please follow me on bloglovin' (link here). As you know Google Reader is gone and in 10 days all of the data will also be deleted so if you want to stay in touch then head on over to Bloglovin :). Hope you're all have an amazing day and I wish you an awesome weekend! x. 

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