Beauty Haul!

I've been shopping! Oops. Had a job interview and got a trial shift tomorrow so I thought I'd treat myself. 

 

So I picked up three new red lip products, definitely unnecessary behaviour there, Mimi.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (what a name) in the shade Cherry Blossom. I thought I would give a new matte red lipstick a go - my current go to one is Rimmel's Kate Moss Lasting Finish 01 which I love, love love!
Then I also got myself another Revlon Lip Butter, because I use the one I have, Macaroon which is a pinky nude shade, all the time so I thought it's be nice to try a red and this one is called Candy Apple.
Lastly for lip products, I thought I might jump on the whole liquid lipstick bandwagon and picked up Rimmel's Apocalips in the colour Big Bang, not sure whether I will like it but I'll keep you up to date on how that works out for me.

I also picked up a new Stay Matte powder by Rimmel, in the right shade this time, Sandstorm. This will be my third one of this product, I absolutely love it.
I have also recently been wanting a new black kohl eyeliner and since I love the Rimmel Scandaleyes in nude that I have been using religiously all month I got it in black.
And because Boots do 3for2 deals, (that's why everything is either Rimmel or Revlon) I thought I'd try a new eyeshadow. I grabbed this Revlon Colorstay palette in Addictive, which, as you can see, is made up of beige and brown shades and apart from the darkest brown they are all slightly shimmery, something I love in an eyeshadow. I have tried the Colorstay nail polishes and really like them, though that might not necessarily reflect on the eyeshadows. I'll let you know what I think.

Nail polish is a big weakness of mine and I've heard some fairly good things about these new Barry M polishes. They're called Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint and I got the colours Blood Orange and Blueberry. I am yet to find a red nail varnish that is perfect and red is my favourite colour to wear on my nails. High hopes for these. 

 Last of all I brought some skincare products. I'm not normally enticed by skincare, but recently my eyes have been really puffy and the skin around them is dry. This doesn't normally happen to me but I do have very sensitive skin. Anyway, I got myself two Simple products (I cannot be affording high-end products) the Kind To Eyes make-up remover and the soothing eye balm in the same range. I'm hoping these two things will help my poor eyes settle down a bit. Those for my dry eyes and for my dry lips I thought I'd try the Blistex Moisture Max. It contains these tiny beads which dissolve on your lips, not too sure how I feel about that but I put this straight on my lips and it actually feels great, super hydrating. Oh, and also some of the large cotton wool pads.

Wedding Outfit Options

My mum is getting married at the end of August and I've made a collage of options for what I should wear.What do you think of these ideas? 

My Everyday Make-up: What's On My Face?

Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer in Light- I love this concealer, holy grail product for me.             Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in Medium - Also another big love for me. 

Gosh Eyeshadow Trio in TR15 Sense - use the cream colour for my lids and the brown for my eybrows

Rimmel Glameyes Liquid Eyeliner in Black Glamour - standard liquid eyeliner

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Nude - good for brightening the eye

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Collagen Mascara - not sure about this, the brush picks up a lot of product

Benefit Bad Girl Lash Mascara - possibly my favourite of all time

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent - a little too light for me but I like it as an all over powder

e.l.f Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder - used the blush today, a very pink slightly shimmery blush

Topshop Glow Pot in Polished - absolutely love this as a highlighter, very shimmery and gives a dewy look 

Nail Polish Amazes Me

I have had this polish on my nails for 5 days now and there are no chips?! I am honestly astonished.

I have the OPI Nail Envy as my base coat, the colour is Rimmel Professional Finish in 378 Posh Trash that I brought about a year ago and top coat is the same brand Clearly Clear. Amazing. So impressed.

Urban Outfitters Haul - Winter Sales!

I ordered some bits from the UO website in the sale about 2 weeks ago and it just arrived so I thought I'd share it with you! 

Cute Packaging 

Black and Grey Mirrot Diamond Rug £22 - got this for Ryan (the boyfriend) to go in his room, it's a bit creased from being folded for so long

Double Spike studs £4
Mini Hoop Spikes £4 

Glittery Starry Phone Clutch £5 - just put my phone in to demonstrate.

Floral Green Eco Cup £5
Heat Change Pac-Man Mug £5

Rose Tin Candle £4
Clutch as above
Maroon T-shirt - I didn't actually order this? Keeping it though!

Ultimate Wishlist: January 2013

The things I dream for at the moment....

Pixi Lash Line Ink - 12hr Waterproof Eyeliner - £12

Michael Kors Ladies Chronograph Gold Tone Steel Bracelet Watch - £189.95

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 Travel Size -£27

Diptyque Baies Scented Candle - £40

This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less - £12

This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil - £12

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Talk - £20

O.P.I Drip Dry Drop - £9.99

REN Limited Edition Experience Set - £32

Mid Heel Platform Chelsea Ankle Boots  - £21.99

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in I Want Candy  - £18

 

Snow in London!

The boyfriend wanted to make the most of his snazzy camera and take pictures in the snow, so we wrapped up warm and sauntered down to Greenwich Park...I could not feel my toes by the end of the day! 

Here are a couple of the pictures he took, these are before editing, he's not got much on there but if you fancied having a look at his work, or contacting him about them here's his page click here.

Review: Topshop Heavy Weight Leggings

I brought the Topshop Heavy Weight Leggings at the beginning of the summer and they are probably my most worn item of clothing I own. The summer may seem like a bizarre time to buy extra thick leggings but I wore them all summer to work (I worked in a pub) and they were perfect for that. They are so incredibly comfortable. As most of you will know and have experience of the fact that leggings are ridiculously comfortable as it is, but these have a high-waisted waist line which makes them even more cosy. On top of that they are so warm, ten times warmer than normal leggings. But the best thing about them is that they are just as thick, and well fitted as the day I brought them. I find with a lot of leggings that after a few wears and a few washes they start to lose their shape and their thickness, they start thinning out at the knees and just generally lose all their integrity. But not these. They are honestly the same now as when I brought them in June time. And that really is very impressive, because, like I said, they are the most worn item of clothing I have, I wear them all the time and wash them all the time. Very impressive leggings. They are expensive at £18 but I would definitely say they are an investment and worth every penny. 

Topshop Leggings

I've linked them in the caption if you're interested in purchasing, which you should be! Best £18 I've spent in a long while, and probably my favourite thing of all of 2012 and remain a favourite now in these cold, cold months. 

Outfit of the Day!

Casual everyday outfit, emphasis on warmth.

Chelsea boots - Miss Selfridge over a year ago
Disco Pants - American Apparel £75 but I got mine
on eBay for £55
Scarf - H&M around £8

Backpack - Primark £9 (got this on Tuesday so it's still
in store
Jacket - Urban Outfitters £20 in the Winter sale

Disco pants rolled up at the bottom with dark burgundy chelsea boots, on top I have a military green jacket in an over coat/trench coat style with my boho multi-coloured backpack and a thick ox-blood woollen scarf. Underneath I have a grey loose fitting cropped T-shirt with a long sleeved black T-shirt underneath...it's seriously cold today! I've accessorised with gold and black stackable bracelets. 

Cropped T-shirt - Asos £12
Black T-shirt - Primark £3.50

Most of these bracelets came from a pack I brought on Asos, namely the "River Island Victoriana Spike And Friendship Bracelet Pack", then I have also added a small gold cross bracelet, my vintage men's watch, my skull head bangle all from eBay and finally the chain bracelet also an Asos find.

My Handbag Essentials

Every girl has certain things that she must have in her handbag always - these are my essentials...

Soap & Glory Hand Maid - love this brand, love this product
it's great for when you've been on public transport
Soap & Glory Hand Food - another favourite of mine, and this
miniature version is so great to chuck in your bag and a hand
cream is a handbag must have!

Revlon Lip Butter - I absolutely love this, such
an easy lip product to wear
Benefit Dandelion Lipgloss - I always have a lipgloss lying around in my bag
Carmex Cherry - my favourite lip balm
Vaseline with Aloe Vera - see post below

Oilily Purse - was a gift, and I love it, someone once told me that that purse is such a good reflection of me
Cath Kidston Glasses Case - which was also a gift from my mum
Oyster Card Case - "the world's mine oyster" I picked this up in the shop at Shakespeare's Globe
Compact Mirror - also a gift!  

My current handbag - burgundy satchel that I brought for around £15 on eBay. 

Vaseline - possibly the worst lip balm?

I've been an avid Vaseline user since before I can remember, my mum swears by it, so the title of this review might come as somewhat of a shock. 

 Growing up my mum always had the big pots of the original Vaseline, I don't have one to show  you but I'll link a picture: Vaseline tub. My mum used this for everything, all dry patches of skin and irritation, (we used a lot of Sudocreme as well mind) and actually I don't dispute that it works to sooth them. 

Anyway, I got one of those big Vaseline containers branded as 'Vaseline Lips' with the main three "lip" products inside, the original one, the aloe vera and the cocoa butter. This is precisely what my issue with the product is. I find Vaseline, all kinds, almost entirely useless as a lip balm or lip therapy as they call them. I find that you 

 apply it to your lips, however liberally, and it might feel slightly soothing if your lips are chapped and sore, however the product quickly disappears and leaves my lips feeling just as dehydrated as before. I don't even feel as though it sinks it. From my experience, it just sits on top of my lips and somehow manages to wear off within 15 minutes. Despite this, I find myself lathering it on and expecting it to leave my lips feeling more hydrated and smoother, but I am forever disappointed by it.

However, saying this, there are some pluses to Vaseline for sure, and I will definitely get my use out of these little pots. I love the smell of the Cocoa Butter one, the Aloe Vera one is definitely soothing and I think the little pots are cute and handy, I find lip balm in tubes frustrating for some reason. 

The way I predominantly use Vaseline is, this might sound really gross, but on my nose. When I get a cold and the skin around my nose becomes really dry and sore I put loads of Vaseline on it and it's so soothing and actually really helps to hydrate my skin again. I also find it really great on my nails. After I've removed my nail varnish I apply it onto my whole nail and rub it into my cuticles. I don't like removing my cuticles, I don't really need to, and the Vaseline softens them just enough to push them back. It also leaves my nails feeling smoother and softer (not in a flimsy, breakable way). It's nice to have one in your handbag too, in case of dry skin emergencies!

So, to conclude, I don't hate Vaseline, I really actually like it a lot, I just hate it's claims to be a lip therapy and find it almost useless on my lips. 

Outfit of the Day!

A simple look for everyday, I just went to uni like this. 

Shirt - Primark a long time ago, the rest of the shirt is actually blue and flowery but I only really wear it underneath things with the collar out
Jumper, grey wide crew neck - H&M I can't remember how much it was, around £15-£20 maybe?
Skirt leathery snake effect - Asos got it in the sale for £16

Leather look, snake effect skater skirt with grey jumper tucked in and red collar sticking out to be a bit more formal. Worn with opaque black tights (two pairs for warmth) and brogues which I won't photograph cos they're muddy, sorry! 

The I added these big gold hoops also from the Asos sale which I got for £8 and some big gold rings. 

Les Miserables

This is not beauty or fashion related but I just wanted to say something about the film Les Miserables. I went to see it last night. Let me explain first that I've been overwhelmingly excited since they announced they were making it as it is absolutely my favourite musical, I am very much dedicated to it. So I've watched everything I can possibly find about it online in excitement and read all the reviews and interviews. So it's been very much built up and anticipated for by me. 

Now that I've explained that, let me say what I have to say.

That was absolutely one of the best films I have ever seen. I loved it! I more than loved it! It was perfect. they did everything perfectly. I am still bursting with joy at how blooming marvellous it was! Anne Hathaway was outstanding, she completely blew me away. Hugh Jackman was moving and so impressive. Even  Russell Crowe was good! Well done Tom Hooper, you wonderful visionary. 

GO and SEE it!!!!!! 

I might be a little obsessed with....Cross Jewellery!

I thought I might start a series of posts talking about things that I am obsessed with, I have a habit of latching onto things and really over doing it! The first thing that came to mind was jewellery, specifically jewellery involving crosses! 

 So here is a selection of my jewellery which has the cross symbol, this is literally just the stuff I had out to hand, there is probably a lot more than this! 

There includes two sets of earrings, a bracelet and two necklaces. 

The small earrings I picked up in Urban Outfitters a while ago, the big earrings are from eBay, as is the bracelet and the necklace pictured below. 

The necklace to the right here >> was a Christmas present from my boyfriend, it's a vintage piece (I was very impressed)

This is cross like symbol is actually called an ankh, it's an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic thought to mean 'eternal life'















I'm not particularly religious so these aren't a reflection of that. I think cross jewellery has been quite a big trend in 2012 anyway and I obviously got a bit carried away with it!

Do you guys have any cross jewellery? What's your take on it?

Mini Beauty Haul

So I recently purchased a few new beauty items that I've wanted to try out for a while. This is just to show you what I got, I'll do full reviews if I really like or really hate any of them. I got everything in Boots, I don't have the receipt but I will try and find out the prices for you.

Recent mini beauty haul
Revlon Colourstay nail polish - £5
Revlon Lip Butter - £5
Bourjois Helthy Mix Concealor - £7.49
Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner - £3.99
Maybelline Colour Tattoo - £4.99

So, let me tell you what I got! 

Here we have two Revlon Colourstay nail polishes - one in Bare Bones and the other Rain Forest. I've tried both of these out, going to do a full review of Bare Bones, but to summarise the consistency and staying power of these polishes is incredible. These are currently £5 in Boots so I'm definitely going to go and grab some more when I can.

Another Revlon product I've been desperate to try was their Lip Butters. I got the colour Macaroon and this was also reduced to £5! So far I like this, it's light and very wearable. 


Also I brought, Bourjois Healthy Mix concealor in 52 Medium Radiance, which I am thoroughly enjoying at the moment, and that was £7.49.

The Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner in 005 Nude which was £3.99. It's so inexpensive and works brilliantly to use on your waterline to brighten your eyes. I do think you need to carry it with you if you're going out for the whole day and reapply it, it wears off quite quickly but it's definitely worth the money!


And lastly, I picked up Maybelline's Colour Tattoo. I had originally wanted the On and On Bronze I think it's  called but they'd sold out of that one in the Boots I went into so I went for the Permanent Taupe. It is a lot darker than the colours I would normally use on my eyes, but I have made it work. I might do a post on how I use it maybe. And that was £4.99 which I don't think is too bad, I imagine it'll last me a long time. 

I hope this post was useful if you were thinking of getting any of these items and if you already have them then let me know what you think!