Cosmania The Must Beauty Boutique to Visit in Amsterdam

During my amazing stay in wondrous Amsterdam, I was told by my housemate to visit her favourite beauty store Cosmania on a beautiful narrow street called Herenstraat filled with unique boutiques.
Following her advice I biked my way over to the Jordaan District(my favourite) where there is a new generation of occupants: artists, students and young entrepreneurs.

Entering Cosmania you automatically feel a sense of comfort, as you clearly see all the products displayed in a minimalistic and simplistic manner. Brands are separately displayed together on wooden selves with testers on the bottom. The front of the store mostly caters to hair and body products, then as you walk farther into the store it fazes into skin care and makeup. The modern feel of the boutique is accompanied by cool house music playing in the background.

A beautiful detail I love about this boutique is that because it caters to both women and men it has a unisex feel to it, so men, want to pick up something nice for yourself or your lady? Don't hesitate to head on in.

A little bit about Cosmania...

The creators of Cosmania, Marije Hoff and Marcel Dekker call themselves "self-confessed cosmaniacs".  A clearly charismatic team Marije and Marcel have a passion for foreign products, beauty, photography, design and fashion which is clearly displayed in their beautiful boutique.  Having years of big companies under their belt such as L' Oreal, Lancome, Biotherm and Oillily the two decided to embark on their own private cosmetic company that caters to both women and men that have a love for beautiful beauty brands. Starting out as an online store celebrating their 4th year, the boutique in Herenstraat has now been open for a year and a half.

I had the honour of meeting with one of the creators, Marcel. Speaking with Marcel was a pleasure as he told me about his and Marije's background and about combining their passions, fashion with cosmetics. As well as bringing international beauty brands to Dutch consumers with affordable pricing.

Myself with one of the founders Marcel

Cosmania carries beautiful, special and affordable international products that you can mostly only find in Cosmania. I love that their products have quality and integrity keeping with the brand's philosophy. With plans of expanding throughout Holland, Marcel gave me some very good tips about being an entrepreneur. Follow your passion, follow a business plan, REVISE the business plan and most importantly stay consistent!

This is defiantly a must visit store for all beauty lovers....

Here are a few of my favourite products from Cosmania:

Inglot Makeup

Korres Fig Body Butter

John Masters Organics Hair Products

If you are ever in Amsterdam, be sure to visit this wonderful store!

Beauty Monday: 5 Beauty Tools I......

 I actually got tagged on Instagram to to post about 5 Beauty Tools I... and thought this would make the perfect Beauty Monday post. As I haven't posted in a while (tons as happened/changed) so I'm getting back on track! Woohoo! Enjoy!

1. Beauty product I can't live without: Annabelle's Brow Pencil and Benefit's Gimme Brow are two product I can't live without! Brows frame your eye and help shape your face. They can make you look put together when your rushing out of the house or don't feel like doing much with your face that day. Early call times consist of shaping my brows with Annabelle's pencil and filling in with some Gimme Brow! 
2. Makeup item I will splurge on: This is more a beauty tool rather than makeup, I will splurge on brushes and I will splurge a lot. I believe that having the right tools makes all the difference with application, blending & execution. l admit I'm more of a brush addict that product addict, especially when it comes to my kit. 
3. Product(s) I travel with: To things I always toss in my purse & ALWAYS have with me wherever I go is my lip balm & Arbonne's Skin Conditioning Oil. My skin gets very dry during travel so having these two conditioning products for me is a must. Recently, popped into Kielh's and was curious to try  out their lip balm as I was running out. It has a lot of natural oils & vitamins , but the only thing I don't like is that the main ingredient is petrolatum (vaseline), for myself it does the trick but because of the petrolatum I wouldn't purchase it again. Arbonne's Skin Conditioning Oil is great cause it's tiny and goes a long way and doesn't leave your hands greasy but moisturized. Perfect for our dry Canadian winters!
4. Beauty Tool I Can't live without: I probably could but choose not too. After purchasing the Mini Beautyblenders for my kit I got my own. Just makes blending so much easier and faster underneath the eyes. So why not? And it's TINY barely takes up any space in your makeup bag!
5. Beauty product I normally don't buy: Would be bronzer....Seriously I don't, I always use it for my contour but somehow I always end up getting one from someone else or a freebie (YAY!) Also, because I only use it underneath my cheekbones it lasts me FOREVER! I do really like M.A.C's Bronzing Powder because even though it's undertone is orange, the pigmentation isn't as strong so it's real easy to get it looking like a shadow as opposed to an orange streak under your cheeks. *Less is more people*

Belated post

Why have I disappeared from this blog????????????

Because I am currently living in Amsterdam for the month of April, specifically till May 3rd. So before my departure from Toronto I was prepping as well as working pretty much everyday. Maybe had 3 days off for all of the past 4 months. Doing freelance makeup, The Brow House and keeping up with my fitness served me barely any time to blog and get inspired. Along with tax season.....don't get me started about that!

I know that's pretty rad right? So I've been here for a week taking it pretty easy, let's face it as much I love my job(s) I'm a nomads, love to travel and needed to experience new people and new places. So I've done all the touristy things and literally just roamed the city. Can I tell you something, I still haven't experienced mediocre food? Seriously, everything is so good. Not only that I live in the best damn area! Steps from the farmer's market, a walk away from a super cool coffee shop called Coffee and Coconuts (a featured blog on that later) and so close to the city centre you can smell it! (not literally, figuratively) Literally dream location for me! #manifestyourdreamlife

After a week of being here, I'm doing a couple of shoots this weekend, WOOHOO! Super psyched to be working with a talented team. And to be living out one of my many passions of doing makeup & hair.

I've had "me time", traveled, explored. I feel amazing, I even reconnect with a friend I haven't seen in 4 years! It's been amazing so far, I know it's only getting better!

Stay up to do follow my Instagram Nomadic Beauty, as I am always posting, not a an IG fan? That's ok you can follow me on Facebook Founder of Nomadic Beauty Blog and Services!

Sending Love & Hugs! Some awesome blogs coming up soon!
Nomadic Beauty