How Does Advent in Zagreb Look During COVID Times?

December has finally come and we can all agree that this is definitely the strangest holiday season we have ever experienced. I'm not sure how is the most wonderful time of the year looking in your city but around here in Zagreb is looking a lot different. 

Advent in Zagreb has won for three years in a row the prize of Best Christmas Market in Europe and I was able to experience the magic for the last two years since I have moved here. It is something that I love and I look forward to every year.

Unfortunately, we are in some sort of lockdown at the moment until December 21st. That means that coffee places, restaurants are all closed and big social gatherings are not allowed so, there aren't any events for Advent this year. Stores and shopping centers are thankfully open and we are able to do some Christmas shopping according to the established measures of social distance.

It's a very weird mix feeling you get because the city is all beautifully decorated just like every other year but it's lacking the main ingredient of the holiday season which is the social aspect. Meeting with your friends to enjoy some mulled wine and sweet treats from the Christmas market,  the sound of the music from the different concerts playing around town and of course the entire happy and relaxed atmosphere is missing.

But apart from all these things that are different and missing this year because of the pandemic, there is one thing that we have got this year in Zagreb which wasn't present in the previous two years I have been here and that was snow! Last week we had a full day of snow and that turned the city into a fairytale. I went outside after work to get some pictures and to enjoy the snow with my two closest friends and it was so magical. It gave me a lot of hope and it made me realize that there is still a lot of things to be grateful for during this holiday season. 

Maybe some of our favorite Christmas traditions are not going to be present this year, or maybe not in the same way but that doesn't mean that there is no place for gratitude, for love, and for some Christmas magic. How is everything looking around your area? Are the Christmas markets openes? Let me know in the comments ;)

Gift Ideas: Zara's New Zodiac Collection

Now that we are in the holiday season, I think it's time to start thinking about some cool gift ideas for the important people in our lives. One of the things I love the most during this time of the year is how brands always come up with the most beautiful gift sets and every year they bring up new ideas. 

I love this kind of gift sets especially because they always include amazing packaging so you don't have to worry about how you are going to wrap that gift. It's the easiest way to gift something that you are sure the other person will love!

The other day I saw that Zara has recently launched a new Zodiac collection and maybe some of you already know how obsessed I am with astrology so besides buying something of this collection for myself, I'm sure this could be a great gift option for this holiday season. 

I also love it as a gift idea because I feel like is something a little more personal because you can gift something from that person's zodiac sign! And as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, wearing something with the symbol of your zodiac sign helps you to channel that energy and incorporate it into your life. Also, I find that these symbols are very eye-catching and great conversation starters. 

Zara's new Zodiac collection includes silk scarves for each of the zodiac signs which are so classy and their designs give me major Dior vibes because Mr. Christian Dior was also obsessed with astrology and everything magical.

There are also bag sets for each sign which include a bag and eye mask, a scrunchy, and a pair of socks. The bag and the eye mask have the zodiac sign embroidered which I find is a very nice touch. And everything comes beautifully packed in a box. That's why I think this could be a perfect gift which is also personal because it has that person's zodiac sign. 

What do you think about this gift idea? Do you like wearing pieces that have your zodiac sign? Have you already started buying Christmas gifts? Let me know in the comments. 

Leather Pants Edit for This Fall/Winter Season

Leather is a very big trend right now. You can find everything leather in the high street stores, from shorts and skirts to dresses, blazers and especially pants. All sorts of leather pants and leggings are available in every single brand and I could be any happier! I'm such a big leather lover.

I actually started only wearing faux leather a few years ago because it's more eco friendly and I think that right now there are some great materials which look just as good as leather and they are also very resistant. But for the purpose of this post, I would just say leather because I'm referring to that leather look. 

A touch of leather gives an outfit that rock and roll, cool chick vibes and for winter it's one of our best friends because it helps us to look more interesting while still keeping us warm. I especially love wearing leather pants during winter to add more texture to my looks and I personally love the combination of textures paired with wool coats. It looks so classy and expensive.

These are the key elements from today's outfit, my new green coated baggy pants with this timeless black wool coat, both from Zara. I actually can't believe I'm wearing baggy pants because I always thought that since I'm quite petite and skinny they wouldn't look good on me, but these pants look incredible! I'm totally obsessed with their shape and with that olive green color that matches so well with any other color, I have, such as grey, black, beige, or burgundy. What a great neutral shade to add to your wardrobe if you haven't already!

Now let's discussed this black coat, can you guys believe I didn't have any black coats here? I had one very old in Argentina but I didn't bring it with me here and I still can't believe how I could live more than 2 years and survive (fashionably speaking) two winters without a black coat? Anyway, this one is currently discounted in Zara so it's definitely a great option to have in mind if you are looking for the perfect black coat. What I love about this particular design is the length, because it's short but long enough to cover your hips and I also love the golden buttons which add a lot of elegance and chicness to this piece. 

Anyway, I hope you like this look and let me know in the comments what is your favorite leather piece to wear? Is it pants like me? Or maybe you prefer jackets or dresses? I would love to know!

Shop the edit:

First Impressions Korean Beauty from Wishtrend

As you may have noticed already from my previous posts, I am a big Korean skincare fanatic since the first time I have tried this kind of product. I was lucky enough to get to know some of these brands throughout my first collaboration with Wishtrend, and from that day on, I have started to research and try more and more brands. 

For today's post, I would like to share my first impressions of some products I have also received from Wishtrend. On this site, you can get some of the best Korean brands and they even have their own brand By Wishtrend, from which I have only heard great things. So I invite you to take a look at this site if you are interested in trying some Korean skincare products because they have some great offers quite often. So, without further due, let's begin discussing these new products I have tried. 

I'm From Rice Toner

I have heard many great comments about this toner on TikTok (yes you already know that TikTok has influenced a lot of my beauty purchases lately) and I was very interested in trying it out because it looks so soothing and calming. The rice helps to clean the skin and make it clear and glowy. It's very hydrating and moisturizing so it feels really nice on the skin when you apply it. It has a very light and liquid texture, almost like milk and it absorbs very quickly into the skin. In addition, this toner has Niacinamide, which also helps to regulate sebum production and to brighten the skin. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product and I'm very happy I have incorporated it into my skincare routine.

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

I was very interested in trying some other products from this brand since I had such a good experience with their Vitamin C serum and I opted for this cleansing oil because I wanted to try something different for my double cleansing routine. This was my first time trying a cleansing oil and I have to say I'm very surprised! This oil does a very good job in removing my makeup, it takes a little time to work it, especially on the eye area but it does remove all my mascara, without any problems. You need to rinse it out a few times to make sure that there is no oil residue on your face but after you finish the skin feels very soft, clean but still hydrated and nourished. Just keep in mind if you use this product that you need to use another water-based cleanser to remove all the excess oil and to make you it doesn't clog your pores. I'm also super satisfied with this cleansing oil and I will be using it every other day instead of the micellar water so I can remove my makeup without using so many cotton pads. 

Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence

From Korean brands, you can get the best sunscreens because they have amazing formulas that are lightweight, hydrating, and that don't leave a white cast. this particular sunscreen from Klairs has SPF 50 and it blocks UVA and UVB rays so it gives you complete protection from the sun. This Klairs SPF contains 80ml so you get a lot of product for a very good price. The texture is like a light moisturizer and it gets absorbed very quickly without any white cast, I even think it's lighter than the Purito one and that is a lot to say! So, overall I'm very impressed with this SPF and I would totally recommend it. 

I hope you find these quick reviews or first impressions useful, I love trying and discovering new products, especially from Korean brands because they are maybe not so popular but they offer an amazing quality in regards to ingredients and formulations for very reasonable prices, and to me that it's always a plus! Let me know if you have tried any of these products or if you have any other recommendations. 

Advent Calendars Wishlist

Advent calendars are something relatively new to me since it's not common in Argentina, the country where I come from. There is not an Advent tradition there so I never thought about buying an Advent calendar until I moved to Croatia. 

I feel like it's such a nice and special way to get ready for Christmas and it makes the holiday season so much better because it's not only one day but a whole month that you celebrate and receive little present until Christmas day. 

Advent calendars come in all shapes and forms, you have the traditional chocolate ones, the makeup, and skincare ones, which are definitely my favorites, but you can also find tea advent calendars and also gin and tonic ones. There is one option perfect for everyone and I think that is why they are so popular.

I think in these uncertain times in which we are not sure how the holiday season is going to be like, having a little ritual that gives us comfort and a bit of happiness every day sounds like a great idea. Therefore, I wanted to put up this wishlist with the Advent calendar I would like to shop this season. 

High end

The Dior Beauty Advent Calendar has to be my ultimate advent calendar dream, not only because I love Dior beauty products but also because the design of this calendar is absolutely dreamy and stunning. It's like an actual piece of art!

The Net-a-Porter 25 day Beauty Advent Calendar is the perfect option for the luxury skincare lover. This one has a very elegant and sleek design in black and white which looks really chic.

More affordable

L'Occitane is one of those Advent calendar classics that we wait for it every year. This 2020 Signature Advent Calendar has a great selection of products, and it has a good price point but they also have a luxury version which is a little bit more expensive, so it great they offer different options for every budget.

The Douglas Advent Calendar has a very cute and simple design but it really caught my attention, I like the around the world theme and I also think it includes a good selection of different brands and beauty products, so it's a great option if you would like to try more than one brand. 

The Revolution Advent Calendar is without a doubt an excellent option for the makeup fanatics because it includes some great makeup goodies from the brand at a very affordable price. This is another one that I'm seriously considering getting because I think it offers great value for the money. 

I think that would be all for my Advent Calendar wishlist, I will make sure to let you know if I buy any of these. Which one is your favorite? Or if you have any other advent calendar in your wishlist let me know :)