Jovana Tomin: favourites

I've wanted to write this post for a while, but procrastination got the best of me. Basically, I listed a few products that I continue to repurchase the second I run out of them. I can't imagine stopping using one of these. I guess you could call these my holy grail products. Here they are.

Maybelline Lash Sensational

There is absolutely no denying that this is the best mascara in the world. Maybelline just knows the secret mascara and that's obvious. I've tried many mascaras in my time, but none of them come close to the Maybelline Lash Sensational. When I use this mascara, I don't even need to curl my straight lashes beforehand! It's that good. I have found a technique that works well and my lashes always end up looking like falsies. It gives my eyelashes volume, length and curl and there's nothing more I could ask from a mascara. I have repurchased this product A LOT of times and I will continue to do so as long as it exists.

Mixa Hyalurogel Light

I've talked about this moisturizer a bunch of times already, sorry. It's just sooo good! This is my 5th or 6th time repurchasing this cream. It is light, pleasant, refreshing and moisturizing. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin or leave a thick layer. It might not work for dry skin, but there is a heavier version called Mixa Hyalurogel Rich. So, you can try that if you need serious moisturizing. I don't have anything bad to say about this product, it ticks all the boxes and my skin loves it. You can read more about this product in the review I wrote when I first started using it.

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Concealer

This is one of my favorite concealers of all time and the concealer with the longest name of all time. It's lightweight, but it provides enough coverage. The shade is perfect for my skin tone and I can use it alone on good skin days. I love the finish that it has and how my skin looks after I apply this concealer. It's not full-coverage, but it still does the job well. It has a natural-looking finish and makes my skin look really fresh. This is another product I've already written a review on because I love it that much. Once again, well done Maybelline.

Garnier Micellar Water

This is a classic. Everyone and their mum have used this micellar water because it is affordable and it works really well. I use this product to remove my makeup at the end of the day. I've tried other micellar waters, but this one suits me best. It doesn't leave the skin feeling dry or stripped. It is gentle and just does what it's supposed to. Of course, after removing my makeup with this, I cleanse my skin with other products to make sure there is absolutely nothing left on it. So, if you're looking for a good micellar water and you somehow haven't tried this one, it's time to give it a whirl.

There are, of course, a more products that I absolutely adore, but these ones have a special place in my heart. Share your experiences with these below or tell me about your holy grails! We'll talk soon.

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I just spent the best three weeks on a summer course in Sweden. And while it was amazing for my soul, my social life and my knowledge of Swedish, it wasn't so great for my skin. For some reason unknown to me, my skin really didn't enjoy my stay in Sweden and it was inflamed and full of breakouts almost the entire time. It may have had something to do with the copious amounts of cinnamon buns I ate, but you can't blame me for that. One thing that my skin did agree with, though, was going to Åhléns and buying a few of The Ordinary skincare products. I didn't want to go ham, but I did have to purchase three products that I'd heard great things about. Here they are.

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

The first product is this amazing The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. My, oh my, has this been fixing my skin! I feel like out of the three products this one has contributed most to my skin clearing up.

This is an AHA which is great for exfoliating the skin. It's a chemical exfoliant. I feel like this is the perfect product to use after a long day of wearing makeup. After removing your makeup, you want to make sure every last bit is gone. This toner will help get your skin completely clean. However, this isn't only something to use to ensure that your face is clean, this is a miracle worker when it comes to different things. It has helped my skin clear up and I have been breaking out much, much less since using this baby. It's also helped with texture and it's just made my skin look better overall. I only use this toner a few nights a week and I can still notice great results.

If you decide to use this product, you need to be careful with it. If your skin stings when you apply it, that is normal - it just means your skin isn't used to acids. If that's the case, start by using it 2 or 3 times a week. Don't go overboard. You can gradually start using it more often based on how your skin is reacting. If there's some pealing, that's also okay. You should introduce it into your skincare routine slowly. Also, don't forget to wear SPF during the day when you're using an acid like this.

Niacinamide 10% + Zink 1%

This next one is a product I love using because it feels so lush applying a product with a dropper. Is it just me that finds that satisfying? Anyhow, Niacinamide helps clean your pores and get rid of any congestion. It's meant to prevent breakouts and the Zinc helps with that. They say it also helps with sebum activity, but I think that's a little bit difficult to determine. All in all, I've been using this product every day, both in the morning and at night for the past month. I love using it and I feel like it's made a huge difference in my skin in combination with the two other products.

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%

I love using this product in the evening after I moisturize. So, the procedure is: cleanse, apply niacinamide, moisturize, apply vitamin C. Oh, I forgot to mention - this is a vitamin C derivative. Vitamin C is really good for brightening your skin and making it look fresher and it's an antioxidant. Some vitamin C derivatives don't work well with niacinamide, but this particular one does and that's why I chose the The Ordinary's Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%. I don't have much more to say about this product, but I do feel like my skin has been looking a bit brighter and healthier.

I am, of course, not a skincare expert, but I've done a lot of research on these babies. I don't know which one is the most effective or which one has made the biggest difference because I started using them at the same time. All I know is that my skin has been much better, clearer, fresh-looking and my skin tone has been more even. I feel like some acne scars are starting to fade thanks to these puppies as well. So, all in all, I am over the moon about this purchase and I would definitely recommend finding skincare products from The Ordinary that are suitable for your skin.

I know that I wrote a skincare routine two months ago, but when you have problematic skin, you need to try out lots of products before finding the perfect ones. Well, I guess I've found mine. Thanks, The Ordinary, you're a skin-saver.

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Yes, I know I am very late to the game, but it doesn't matter. Better late than never.

Of course, I'd heard of Stranger Things way back in the day when it first came out. However, the hype annoyed me and I was scared to watch it cause some people said it was a scary show. I was a fool, I admit.

A week ago, something clicked in my brain and told me Watch Stranger Things. So, I went on Netflix and thus began my infatuation with this show. I binged the entire first season in one day. One day! I couldn't stop despite having more important things to do. It was a rainy, miserable Sunday and staring at the computer screen the entire day seemed like the only reasonable way to spend it.

It is not a scary TV show at all and I quickly realized that it was stupid of me to dismiss the show because of that fear. It also became clear to me pretty quickly that the hype the show got really was well deserved. I was glued to the screen and needed to see the ending.

If you are among the few people in the world who haven't watched the show, here's a quick recap. First of all, it's one of the most intense and exciting shows I've ever watched. The suspense in certain scenes was killing me and I almost wanted to fast forward a little bit just to see what was about to happen. It was stressful, but I loved it. It had been a long time since a TV show gripped me so much. It's centered around a group of kids whose friend goes missing and their families. It's not a crime show, though. They are trying to figure out what happened to Will (the missing boy), where he is and how they can bring him back. There are some weird and unbelievable things happening in their town, and all I will say is that it kind of has to do with parallel universes. I don't want to give away too much, you should probably watch a trailer instead of reading a description as words can't do it justice. Or just watch the show. The cast is absolutely amazing and the kids are much better at acting than many adult actors. They are very convincing and they the way they show off emotions is very believable. Hats off to them.

So, yes. I am obsessed and I admit that it was stupid of me to refuse to watch this show. It's very easily become my favourite show and I cannot wait for season 3. Have a good day and go watch Stranger Things.

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I am a bad blogger and that's just something we all have to learn to live with. I haven't been in the blogging mindset, but I've become obsessed with some music so I'm here to share cause I'm not selfish and sharing is caring.

Years & Years - Palo Santo

As with the first album, for some reason it took me a bit of time to fully commit to listening to it, but since I finally heard the whole thing, I haven't been able to stop listening to it. I love it! I can't exactly decide whether I prefer this one or the first one, but it doesn't really matter, does it? What matters is that this is an amazing album that you should go and listen to. It can lift your mood up if that's what you want, or it can be the thing you listen to when you're down in the dumps and relate to the lyrics. That's another thing - the lyrics are absolutely beautiful, wow! It's a great little pop album with some electronic elements to it, if you ask my musically uneducated self. My fave songs are: Karma, Preacher, Lucky Escape, All For You, If You're Over Me, and that's where I'll stop myself because I could go on until I've named all the songs. Go listen to this gem!

Troye Sivan - Bloom

I mean, leave it to Troye Sivan to release the perfect collection of songs every time. Seriously, there isn't one song I don't like on this album, and that's very much the case with all of Troye's albums and EPs. It's in true Troye Sivan style, pop but with different variations and beautiful lyrics that cause a little nostalgia and make you a bit emo. It's fine, though. It's got upbeat tracks and it's got slower ones and it tugs at all of your heartstrings. My faves are: Postcard, What A Heavenly Way To Die and Seventeen. Check baby Troye out if you haven't yet.

5 Seconds of Summer - Youngblood

Taking it back to the basics and 2014 when I used to be obsessed with 5SOS. This album was a long time coming and I was very excited to hear what it would sound like. As I said, I used to love 5SOS back in the day and so my inner fangirl woke up and was ready for some new songs. All the singles they'd released before the album were fan-tas-tic! I will admit, this isn't my favourite album they've ever made, but I still enjoy listening to it. Every now and then I'll play all the 5SOS songs ever made and it makes me super nostalgic and I love it. This album is very upbeat and, in my opinion, quite different to the previous ones. If you're a fan of these boys and haven't yet given this album a listen, I urge you to do it. My favourite tracks are Valentine, Youngblood, Lie To Me, Moving Along, Talk Fast and Want You Back.

There you go, that's all I have for now. Go enjoy some music now and have fun! Till next time.

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Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes

Yes! Baby Shawn has released a new album (that's not even that new anymore cause I procrastinated writing this post for so long) and I am obsessed! I never really used to actively listen to his music, but things have changed. When I first heard In My Blood and then Lost in Japan I knew this album was going to be different and I was intrigued. By the time Youth came out I was already obsessively listening to the new songs. So it was no surprise when the album came out that I absolutely loved it. He said in a few interviews that he wanted to experiment with genres a bit more and break the barriers between them and I think he definitely succeeded and you can hear a lot of diversity on the album. It's a very feel-good album, the lyrics are, of course, beautiful and there's a variety of different tempo songs, which is always good and keeps things interesting. My faves are Queen, Particular Taste, Nervous and Where Were You In The Morning?, but ofc I encourage you to listen to the whole album as it is in fact beautiful.

James Bay - Electric Light

This is another album that I expected to love even before it came out. I had heard a few songs such as Pink Lemonade, Wild Love and Us and could not wait to hear the whole thing. James Bay is just super talented and I love all the songs he's ever put out, so this wasn't a surprise either. There's a lot of guitar, a lot of high tempo songs, rock vibes and lots and lots of beautiful words. If you loved his first album, you're gonna be obsessed with this one. Go give it a listen and have a little jam session in your room. And if you're wondering which songs are my faves, I'll tell you: Sugar Drunk High, Wanderlust and Wasted On Each Other.

Ariana Grande - Sweetener

Now, full disclosure: I still haven't heard the entire album, but I think that Ariana deserves some love atm, so I'm gonna recommend it based on the songs that I have heard. We all know that this girl is the most talented singer of our generation and she's got some amazing tunes as well. The album is a little bit different than the previous one, but it's still very much Ariana. It's a mixture of really good pop/RnB songs. I am OBSESSED with R.E.M, breathin and God is a woman, and some days I'll find myself singing borderline non-stop as well. It's a pretty fast paced album and it's got a really cool vibe to it (which I think I also said about Dangerous Woman). So I suggest you go listen to it and give some love to this amazing lady.

I want to quickly mention two more albums. I haven't heard all of the songs on them, but I have a feeling I will love them as much as I do the ones I've heard so far. They are Bloom by Troye Sivan and Palo Santo by Years and Years. If the three albums I wrote about aren't enough for you, give these two a try as well. They sound promising to me.

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I have been consumed by this show for the past month and I can't believe I've waited this long to write about it. Yes, yes, I am talking about Queer Eye, in fact, I haven't stopped talking about it since my friend introduced me to it. Of course, you will already know all this if you follow me on twitter (@xoxoxojo) where I've been fangirling for a while.

Basically, this is a makeover show where 5 fabulous men who happen to be gay and who are experts in different fields help people gain confidence and start living their best lives. We have Bobby, Karamo, Jonathan, Antoni and Tan (in the order seen in the photo) who all have different roles in the process of the makeover, or as they would say: the make-better. Bobby is the interior designer who changes the home of the nominee and makes it functional and absolutely gorgeous. Every time they reveal the house, I want to cry and text all my friends and beg them to nominate me for the show. Karamo is the culture expert and he's basically a life coach. He gives the heroes (the nominees) advice and constructive criticism and helps them get over their fears and struggles. Jonathan is the gorgeous, hilarious groomer - he makes sure the hair and beard are sorted, voluminous and shiny and that the face is protected from the sun. Baby Antoni is the food and wine guy who helps the heroes get over their fear of cooking, teaches them how to make simple and easy meals that make sense for their lifestyle and living situation (and cooking abilities) and how to take care of themselves better. And on top of all that he is hot as hell! Tanny is the fashion expert and an absolute queen. His hair is always perfect and his style is impeccable. If I could raid his closet I would do it in a heartbeat. He gets rid of all the clothes that no one should be wearing and in collaboration with the hero makes sure that their new wardrobe is decked out with amazing pieces. He takes the hero shopping with him and makes sure that the new clothes are suitable for the person and their life.

Apart from being a makeover show that makes people and their houses look stunning, Queer Eye also focuses a lot on the mental change. They really work hard to connect with their clients and to help them get into a healthier mindset and gain confidence. At the end of every episode you can see the change in their personality and outlook on life and how grateful they are to the Fab 5.

Every time I watch the show I learn something new and I am inspired by these 5 babes. Their friendship is also so pure and supportive and loving and simply amazing to watch. It makes me want to be a better friend and a more self-assured, confident person, to change my bad habits and work towards the life I want. Wow, that was cheesy. Sorry.

All in all, this is the most feel-good show you will ever watch so get right to it and after you're done binging both seasons go insta-stalk them and read their hilarious and supportive comments on each others' posts.

I think I'm done now. Enjoy, you'll thank me later.

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This might shock you, but this month I've actually been trying things. What a turn of events. I am here today to share some of those things with you lot.

○ February album: Blackbear - digital druglord

I have been annoying every single person that I know by talking about Blackbear these past few weeks. I stumbled upon his song do re mi one day and I became obsessed with it, so I decided to listen to the rest of the album. It's safe to say that I haven't really listened to much else ever since. I am sorry to everyone I've annoyed, but I couldn't help it. Blackbear is an RnB/hip-hop artist and the reason I love this album so much is mainly the lyrics. He's really savage and has got some really funny puns. I don't even know how to explain it, but I just love the whole vibe of the album and I would recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of music. My favourite songs are chateau, make daddy proud and i miss the old u.

○ February book: Fredrik Backman - A Man Called Ove

Fredrick Backman is a Swedish author so this book is sort of close to my heart because of that. The book is about an old man who is very strict, loves rules and hates people who break them, he's not really the biggest fan of people in general and he comes across pretty bitter and cranky. It's a really entertaining read and it is very funny. I wouldn't say it was as funny as Doppler (fave quotes) or Volvo Trucks (mini review) by Erlend Loe, but it is definitely close. Throughout the book you definitely get to know Ove a bit more, you see why he is the way he is and you grow to love him and feel for him. I don't want to give anything away, but I recommend reading this book, for sure. There's also a movie adaptation of the book that is in Swedish and is very well made. If you're not a reader, but you're interested in the topic, give it a try. The Swedish version is called En man som heter Ove.

○ February movie: Call Me By Your Name

I saved the best for last. What a movie, wow! I think this film is the most beautiful piece of art I've seen since I saw Monet's and Van Gogh's paintings in real life (I can obviously be kind of dramatic). It's another movie adaptation of a book. It takes place in a little Italian town and it's a coming of age story which follows the progression of a relationship between two people. One of the guys is a 17-year-old Elio and the second one is a doctoral student named Oliver who is a guest in Elio's family's house. Their relationship takes some time to blossom and we get to see it transform from a friendship into a first love. I hope there are no homophobes here. However, the story isn't centered around the fact that it is a gay relationship and it doesn't highlight that. It's simply a love story that happens to involve two men. It reminds you of your own feelings and experiences, it touches you, engrosses you and it feels real. You are able to relate to the characters in some way or another and you feel kind of connected to them.

It's a beautiful story, filmed in a beautiful setting with beautiful actors.The actors are amazing, especially Timothée Chalemet who plays Elio and Armie Hammer who plays Oliver. They delivered the characters very, very well and they portrayed the emotions as if they were their own and you can tell they really gave it their all. I urge everyone to watch this movie and then feel free to share your love for it with me in the comments. When I finished watching it, I immediately found and audiobook and started listening to it, and I can confirm that it is also very beautiful (drinking game: how many times have I written beautiful while talking about this movie) and it's read by Armie Hammer. Go enjoy it!

That's all for this month. I'm hoping to come back with some more recommendations next month, but we'll see how well I'll do.

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Well, I haven't done monthly recommendations in a while, but I've finally managed to compile a list of things that I've enjoyed and I'm here to share it with you.

○ October TV Show: Riverdale

I guess you could call this show a teenage drama. It's set in a small town where everybody knows everybody. In the first season a murder happens in the quiet town of Riverdale and throughout the whole season they are trying to solve the mystery. It will definitely keep you on your toes. And if you think the first season is good, wait till you see the second one. Literally every single episode is an emotional roller-coaster and waiting a week for the next one is a real pain. If you used to be a fan of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, I recommend you jump on board because Cole Sprouse is one of the leading characters.

○ October Movie: Why Him

I think that if I tell you that this is a comedy and that James Franco is a part of the cast, you'll be able to conclude what kind of comedy it is. Of course it's a little bit vulgar, but if you don't mind that sense of humour, I strongly recommend watching this movie. Basically it's about a girl who, after months of hiding him, finally decides to introduce her boyfriend to her family. Let's just say he's not what they had expected and the whole introduction goes a little bit south. I don't know about you, but I was definitely laughing out loud whilst watching it and so were my friends.

○ October Book: Erlend Loe - Volvo Trucks

I've mentioned that I wanted to read this book because I loved the first part of the trilogy (Doppler) so much. Well, I've finally read it and I absolutely loved it. There's something about Loe's style of writing that I just adore. It's very simple and very different to your typical novels, but it's just so entertaining. This book in particular was hilarious, even funnier than Doppler and I couldn't help but laugh while reading it. He included a lot of his comments on the storyline, and it was absolutely hysterical. I loved that touch of adding his own comments and speaking to the reader directly. Just trust me, give this series a try.

○ October Album: Flicker

I mean, does this come as a surprise to anyone? I'm sure it doesn't. For anyone who doesn't know, this is Niall Horan's debut album and one that you should deffo listen to. I am not a music expert and I don't know how to properly describe his sound, but I can for sure say that it's amazing. He says he's been influenced by The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and loads of other people that he grew up listening to, so maybe that can give you an idea of what it sounds like. He's even got a country song with Maren Morris. The lyrics of his songs are beautiful and his voice has matured a lot and he sounds divine. It's a little bit more of a slow tempo record, although there are a few upbeat songs. My faves are Mirrors, Seeing Blind, Since We're Alone, Flicker, You and Me, and Fire Away, but it was extremely difficult narrowing it down to just half the album. I think you should give it a listen without giving in to the stereotypes because he used to be in One Direction.

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I thought today I'd share some products that I would have no problem repurchasing and/or have already repurchased in the past. I guess you could call them my holy grails.

First things first, this foundation by L'Oreal is absolutely amazing. I took a break from using it over the summer and now that I applied it after that hiatus, I fell in love with it all over again. The coverage is amazing and the staying power is really good, as well. It covers whatever needs to be covered, but it still doesn't look cakey. I apply it with a beauty blender and it sinks into the skin beautifully. I touch it up with a bit of concealer and my skin ends up looking bomb. So if you need a bit more help from your foundation, but don't want to suffocate your skin in a really heavy formula, I recommend this one for sure. Read my full review here.

Next up is a product that I've talked about a million times as well as all the other bloggers. It sets the foundation nicely and doesn't look cakey (unless you apply loads of it). It comes in different shades and in a translucent version, so you can go for whatever floats your boat. I feel like this is a go-to drugstore powder for a lot of people. Honestly, this is the only powder I've ever bought and definitely will continue to buy. I am planning on trying out a different one from Rimmel, but for the time being, I'm enjoying this one.

Now, I'm sure you've heard loads of people talk about this mascara, and it's definitely for a reason. I can honestly say that this is the best mascara I've ever used (and I've used a lot of mascaras). It curls the lashes, gives them volume and some length and separates them nicely. It manages to make them nice and dramatic looking, without making them clumpy. We all know I love a good dramatic lash look. I am absolutely obsessed with this mascara and would repurchase it in a heartbeat. You can find my full review here.

That's it for today's post, but I can definitely whip up some more repurchasable products for a future post. I really like the idea of writing mini reviews of my favourite products, and seeing as I've got some more, I'll make sure to write about those too.

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Seeing as this is one of my favourite books at the moment, written by my current favourite author, I thought it was only right to share some of my favourite quotes from it. Just a little heads up if you haven't read this book, it deals with a man who moves away from civilization and goes to live in a forest. He's not the biggest fan of people and I guess you could say he's a little bitter. He likes to have his own space and be alone (or with his pet moose). Erlend Loe's style of writing is simple and to the point. I've already talked about his writing style in the post about Gone With The Woman, so if you're interested, check it out. The book itself is very interesting, very different to anything I've read before and pretty darn funny if you ask me. If you haven't read this book, maybe this will persuade you to do so. Enjoy!

''One problem with people is that as soon as they fill a space it's them you see and not the space. Large, desolate landscapes stop being large, desolate landscapes once they have people in them. They define what the eye sees. And the human eye is almost always directed at other humans. In this way an illusion is created that humans are more important than those things on earth which are not human. It's a sick illusion.''

''We're born alone and we die alone. It's just a question of getting used to both of them.''

''Everything which is human is alien to me.''

These next few ones are going to be in my translation as I can't find them on the internet so it probably won't be a 100% what the book says (my book is in Serbian).

''Time never stops and it doesn't take a break.''

''You're here now and never again. And it's not cool being dead. Don't ever forget that.''

''Now that it's over, it's easy to say that I shouldn't have done that, but I was scared and provoked, and that's why I made a mistake. People do that often. It has happened before, and it happens again.''

''Right and wrong generally doesn't exist, I say. It depends on who you are and where you are.''

''Anyhow, people aren't the most important. I refuse to believe in that.''

''I can't guarantee that it will be fun, I say. We'll see. But not everything can be fun.''

''Maybe it is possible to save the world after all.''

So there's a little insight into the book and it hopefully gives you an idea of what you can expect. I highly recommend reading this book and then reading the following part (Volvo Trucks). They seriously made me laugh out loud whilst reading, which never happens, and kept me very entertained and interested in the story.

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Maybelline Lash Sensational

Mixa Hyalurogel Light

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Concealer

Garnier Micellar Water

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Niacinamide 10% + Zink 1%

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%

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