A Little Weekend Makeup Haul | Drugstore Beauty Buys under £10

As I’m off to New York soon, I’ve been particularly frugal with how much I’ve spent on makeup and beauty buys recently. Instead of splurging on a new high-end foundation or treating myself to a glossy new lippie or two, I’ve set the money aside for some serious Sephora shopping. However, as I was browsing in Boots this weekend, I couldn’t help but indulge in a little 3 for 2 spend. Desperately in need of some new makeup brushes (don’t worry, I’ve got a Zoeva collection on the Christmas list already!) and an under-eye concealer, I picked up both and added in a beauty treat too.


A 3 for 2 is a great way to treat yourself without breaking the bank; I always utilize this deal if I can as you’re always saving around £6-10. Luckily, I needed to invest in a concealer and a blush brush anyway, so the lipstick was a freebie for me. I’ve been after a nice new nude for a long time now, so it was fun to be able to choose something a bit different, without thinking about cost.

I needed to buy a new under-eye concealer and opted for the Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser in the shade Light. I’ve been using the Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating Concealer for a few months and, whilst I really like it, I wanted to try out this Maybelline concealer again. I have actually used it before and I think it’s really good, so I’m excited to start using this. I’m particularly attracted to this product for its nourishing, hydrating ingredients and its unique sponge applicator. At just £7.99, it boasts an affordable price tag for such a mighty product.

I’ve been using Zoeva make-up brushes for around 6 months. I spotted them on Beauty Bay and was instantly struck by their low price point. Prior to this, I’d used Real Techniques brushes for a long time. I’ve been watching Nic and Sam Chapman on their YouTube channel Pixiwoo and I’ve always loved their brushes. Instead of opting for a Zoeva brush this time, I decided to try the Real Techniques Blush Brush for a change, and I’m really glad I did. Super-soft and delicate, this brush is perfect for sweeping powder under the eyes or over your T-Zone and for light bronzing over the cheeks and temples.

Although a new lipstick isn’t exactly a beauty priority, I’ve definitely been lusting after a new nude for a little while now. Whilst I love a glamorous red or deep berry, it’s unusual that you’ll catch me sporting a bold lip unless I’m attending a dressy event. I’m more partial to a your-lips-but-better shade of rose, so this L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in Naomi’s Delicate Rose is the perfect shade for me. It’s slightly pinker than my actual lip tone, so it’s a little more prominent. I plan on wearing this to work, to town and out and about – it’s so wearable and forms part of a gorgeous collection by L’Oreal. Massive thumbs up.


In total, these three beauty buys came to around £16, which is pretty good for a luxe lipstick, HD blusher brush and under-eye concealer. Whilst I champion all make-up, and I’m fond of high-end beauty brands like Nars, Mac and Estée Lauder, it’s amazing how much you can get for your money when you buy in drugstores. I’ve tried all three of these products too, and I couldn’t recommend them enough. I’m really surprised by how much I love the lipstick too – it’s a lovely formulation and it’s comfortable to wear – I’ll definitely be purchasing more of the Color Riche Collection Nudes shades.

Have you bought any new make-up recently? If you’ve tried these products, what were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

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Lush’s Rosie Gift Box: A Rose-Themed Gift Set for Girls | Review

I’m a little bit obsessed with Lush; I love bubble baths, beauty and all-round pampering, so what’s not to love? If I’m shopping for gifts or I’m after a little treat for myself, Lush is my go-to store for grabbing something great. After all, a bubble bar isn’t exactly going to break the bank now, is it?

For my birthday this year, I was lucky enough to receive one of Lush’s gorgeous gift sets, Rosie. After falling slightly in love with it, I actually bought another one. I then bought one for my best friend too. (Slight shopping addiction, anyone?) As a champion of all things Lush, and a true advocate of the Rosie by Lush gift set, I thought I’d share my review* of the gift set. *Spoiler alert: it’s going to be a good.


WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

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At £21.25, the Rosie gift set is at the lower end of Lush’s gift sets in terms of pricing. Whilst you can grab a little gift set for as low as £8.45 (Sandstone & Ice Blue Soap Stack), gifts at Lush can exceed £100+ and the mid-range sets are around £30 each.

As this gift set is reasonably priced, you might be surprised to see that you actually receive five Lush goodies in the box. Here’s what’s inside:

  • Rose Jam Shower Gel, 100g
  • Rose Jam Bubbleroon, 100g
  • Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner, 45g
  • Amandopondo Bubble Bar, 100g
  • Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb, 120g

Lush-Rosie-in-the-box

In a pretty palette of creamy whites and strawberry pinks, the Rosie gift set by Lush is super-sweet and makes for the perfect little treat for any girl – be that your daughter, sister, girlfriend or best friend.

Altogether, the gift set is pretty substantial in size, as all of the treats in the box are priced at £4+, with the Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner the most expensive treat at £16.50 for 225g if bought separately. And even if the overall saving isn’t as much as you’d hoped, half of the beauty of this gift box is in the packaging. Medium in size and wrapped in beautifully-decorated paper, this gorgeous gift set looks as beautiful unopened as the products inside.

ROSE JAM SHOWER GEL

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Lush say: Let your skin be kissed by a rose. This sweetly floral shower gel is made with lemon to bring clarity and rose to lift the spirits.

Lush’s Rose Jam Shower Gel smells heavenly and blends lots of luxurious ingredients, including renowned skin saviour Argan Oil and cleansing, brightening Goji berries. This shower gel will definitely leave you feeling fresh, and the overall rose scent lingers on your skin. A little goes a long way, and this is a lovely product to have sat in the shower.

ROSE JAM BUBBLEROON

Lush-Rose-Jam-Bubbleroon

As soon as I opened my Rosie gift set, the first thing I went for was this Rose Jam Bubbleroon. It’s vibrant strawberry pink in colour and has a creamy overall consistency, whilst still remaining firm enough that you can break it apart in the bath. This little bubble bar will turn your bath bright pink, whilst leaving your skin seriously soft. Love it.

AMANDOPONDO BUBBLE BAR

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Of all the products within the Rosie gift box, I was least excited about the Amandopondo Bubble Bar. I’m not sure whether it was the overall look of the product or not, but I just didn’t go for product as quickly as did the others. Well, I was definitely mistaken to assume this bubble bar was the least exciting of all the products! This bubble bar leaves your bath smelling heavenly, whilst it produces heaps of bubbles and soaks your skin in luxurious natural oils – a true winner for indulging in a little TLC when you most need it.

RO’S ARGAN BODY CONDITIONER

Lush-Argan-Body-Conditioner

I’m a champion of all of Lush’s face and body moisturizers, and when I’m after a real treat I’ll head for their little tubs of goodness at the back of the store. (My favourite treat is the Oatifix Fresh Face Mask, but that’s for another day!) Included in the Rosie gift box is a 45g tub of the Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner. Lush’s body conditioners work like a hair conditioner does, so you work it into wet skin and then rinse off after a bath. This specific body conditioner leaves skin feels so soft and supple, and it smells divine. Lush have packed vitamin oils and butters into this body mask, so it’s a real treat and definitely my favourite item in the box.

TISTY TOSTY BATH BOMB

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If there’s one thing I love when it comes to bath bombs, it’s added extras that make them memorable. Tisty Tosty by Lush adds seven real rose buds and is based on a real medieval love potion – cute, right? I still can’t work out why it’s called Tisty Tosty but the rest of this product makes complete sense – it’s beautiful, luxurious and smells divine, a real winner.


Whilst I can see that adding Lush goodies to your everyday bath and beauty routine might be a bit extreme, a little treat here and there is just plain good for you. I think everyone deserves some pampering once in a while, so treat yourself to a lovely box of goodies like this one. It’s a real winner as a gift and the products inside are truly lovely (unless you really hate the smell of roses, as in the case, I’d probably consider something different) and it comes in at a reasonable price point.

What I love the most about this gift set though is the packaging. I think the overall look of this gift is really special and it looks so pretty and well put together. I’ve seen other Lush boxes that are a little bit more ‘gimmicky’ looking and the packaging isn’t as pretty as this. As you can probably tell, I rate this gift set very highly and I think it’s a perfect idea for any lady in your life.

What do you think of this gift set? Do you like it? Do you have another favourite from Lush, or is there a gift set you’d prefer me to review? Let me know in the comments below!

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August 2015 Lust List: My Current Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Wishlist

As a self-confessed shopaholic, all-round beauty junkie and lover of all things cute, expensive and entirely unnecessary, it’s no surprise that I’m carrying around a mental wishlist of all the things I’m lusting after at the moment. Much to my finances’ detriment, if I were to purchase everything I desire on this list, I would probably be paying off a credit card for the next year, so it’s unlikely that I’ll be working my way through this anytime soon.

Luckily, as anybody with the need to go to an AA meeting for serial splurgers will know, a girl’s wishlist often changes weekly anyway, so whilst this is what I need today, it’s only going to change again tomorrow…



 

  1. I’ve been lusting after Charlotte Tilbury’s make-up collection for years now, and her Light Wonder Foundation is at the top of my wishlist. At £32 for 40ml, it’s actually quite reasonably-priced for a high-end foundation.
  2. If you know me, you’ll know that I’ve been coveting the Olivia Burton watches for a while now, and it’s this gorgeous Big Dial Black and Gold Watch that has really caught my eye – £80 is relatively inexpensive in comparison the retail prices of other luxury watch designers’ products.
  3. Completely unnecessary but beyond lustworthy, these gorgeous little soap stones by Pelle make the perfect gift for any girl. Retailing between £7 and £27, depending on their size, these luxurious soaps are available at the Goodhood store.
  4. Potentially Jo Malone’s most iconic fragrance, the Pomegranate Noir Home Candle is loved by bloggers all over the world, and it’s definitely caught my attention. £42 isn’t cheap but it makes a lovely gift or treat.
  5. I haven’t met many girls who wouldn’t love a piece or two from Pandora’s jewellery collection, and it’s their pretty chain bracelets that I’m lusting after at the moment. Delicate and non-fussy, this Lucky in Love Chain Bracelet for £45 is exactly what I’m looking for.
  6. I’ve been looking for a backpack for a while now and I just haven’t been able to find a style that I like – until I found this Black Suede Backpack, £49 from Urban Outfitters. I need this to complete my ‘back to school’ outfit vibe.
  7. I’m in desperate need of a compact camera, and the Sony a5000 Compact System Camera is a great choice for me – it’s inexpensive (currently £239 at Currys) whilst offering an enviable repertoire of technical features.
  8. After @thebeautycrush featured these in her latest vlog, I’ve been dying for a pair of the Rose Ear Studs from alternative jewellery store The Great Frog. At £50, these are on the less expensive side of the brand’s catalogue.
  9. I know, I know. £70 for a passport holder is just not OK – but can we just take a moment to look at how beautifully-crafted this Kate Spade Cedar Street Passport Holder is? I’m off to Brussels next month, and New York in November, so I apologise in advance if this makes its way into my shopping basket!

What’s your favourite item on my August Lust List? Do you think I should purchase anything from my wishlist? Are you lusting after anything specific at the moment? I’d love to know, so let me know in the comments below!

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My Current Summer 2015 Skincare Favourites

Skincare is the buzzword of the moment and if we’re not buying into the latest Micellar water, CC cream or anti-acne lotion, we’re considering a vampire facial, courtesy of Kim Kardashian. I used to be a little more frugal in regards to my skincare routine and it was, at best, limited to a Clarins 3-step system of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Recently, I’ve become obsessed with skincare and beauty products, and that’s partly due to the changes I’ve noticed in my skin: At 18, I had clear, normal but dehydrated skin. Now, at 23, I have a combination, dehydrated skin type which is both sensitive and prone to breakouts. As you can see, my skincare regimen needed adapting quickly.

My Current Skincare Favourites

I’ve built up quite the collection of skincare products, and although it’s probably beneficial to stick to a simple system, I do try to mix up the products I use every now and then – partly because some just aren’t working. Throughout my skincare journey, I’ve come across a few products that I think are definitely worth the hype. I hope you enjoy the edit.



  1. Laidbare ‘For Richer For Porer’ Pore Minimising Facial Masque, £6.99: this 50ml masque is filled with organic ingredients, such as Rose Flower Water and Japanese Seaweed Extracts – it also contains a hint of liquorice which forms the base of this product’s scent. This mask is light in consistency and contains little grains which help to drag impurities out of the skin. You’ll notice that it doesn’t set like a clay mask, though, but it does leave the skin feeling ridiculously soft and supple.
  2. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, £4.99: now a cult favourite, this cleansing water is perfect for effectively breaking down makeup and cleaning your skin, without having to drag a wipe over your face. I do find this product to leave the skin feeling a little greasy, so I only use it to remove my makeup.
  3. Lancome Bi-Facil Non-Oily Instant Cleanser for Sensitive Eyes, £21.50: I used to be guilty of using make-up wipes for makeup removal, but I quickly became conscious of the damage I was doing to my delicate eye area. I’ve since switched to this cleanser as it doesn’t inflame my sensitive eye area and I have yet to find anything better – this product breaks down stubborn eye makeup in seconds.
  4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo[+], £15.50: the most recent purchase of mine, this cult beauty favourite is renowned for reducing the appearance of pores, marks and acne blemishes. I have definitely started noticing an improvement in my skin (and I’ve only been using this product for a week), but it’s definitely one of those that can make the skin worse before it gets better!
  5. Nuxe Creme Prodigieuse Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream, £21.00: designed with the iconic Nuxe scent, this thick and creamy moisturizer is a luxurious beauty buy. This product leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated and is great used overnight or under makeup.
  6. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil, £28.00: combining Macadamia oil, Hazelnut, Almonds and St. John’s Wort to name but a few ingredients, this dry oil is a cult hero for nourishing and repairing skin and hair. This product is elegant and luxurious and is perfect for treating split ends and the T-Zone. If you’re going to buy one thing, buy this!
  7. Sanctuary Deep Cleanse Facial Matte Perfecting Hydra Lotion, £13.50: this amazing product has become my new BFF, doubling as my morning moisturizer and makeup primer. It leaves the skin feeling fresh with tighter pores and free of grease, providing the perfect base for your makeup – this genuinely helps to lock down my foundation all day as well!
  8. Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash and Mask, £3.69: a high street hero, this cheap and cheerful dual-purpose product is great for quickly washing your face or applying a 5-minute mask. I like that this mask dries like a clay and is easy to use, and it leaves my skin feeling super-clean and refined.
  9. Johnson’s Makeup Be Gone Pampering Wipes, £3.05: as aforementioned, I used to swear by makeup wipes before I could be bothered to use cleansers and I’ve tried pretty much all of them. Whilst I use proper skincare products now, I sometimes use a makeup wipe too and these are just incredible. They’re super hydrated wipes that really break down makeup on the skin whilst smelling so luxurious, making these wipes my travel essential.

After writing this blog, I’m definitely now going to go off and apply a face mask and treat my skin to some deserved Sunday pampering! What did you think of my edit? I hope you found this interesting and have taken away a little bit of beauty inspiration. Have you tried any of these products before? Let me know in the comments below!

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Eyeshadow Palette Review: Urban Decay Naked2 vs. W7 In The Buff – which is better?

As a newly-confessed eyeshadow obsessive, my collection of palettes is increasing by the day and it’s only fitting that I review the iconic Urban Decay Naked2 eyeshadow palette with its copycat competitor W7 In The Buff. Formerly too scared to embellish my eyes with shadow, I’ve recently discovered the wonders of this makeup product – to say I’m now addicted to applying eyeshadow is an understatement; I genuinely can’t believe I used to leave the house without even a touch of a matte brown shadow over my lids.

urban decay w7 buff eyeshadow palettes

Urban Decay Naked2 palette (top) versus W7 In The Buff (bottom)

These two palettes have come into contention many times as the W7 In The Buff palette is so strikingly similar to the legendary Naked2 palette. Below, you can see the undeniable similarities of the two…

When the palettes are sat next to each other, you can really see how similar they are – each of the shades are almost identical. Considering the Urban Decay Naked2 palette is £38, and the W7 In The Buff palette is only £5.29 currently on Amazon, it must be absurd to even consider the more expensive option, surely?

Well, not necessarily. On first glance, I can definitely notice the quality of the shadows just isn’t the same – in terms of their true colour, that is! The Urban Decay shadows boast a gorgeous, deep, silky metallic pigmentation in their shimmery shadows that the W7 alternatives just can’t compete with. As we all know with eyeshadows, though, the finish of the product isn’t always as it seems in it’s pan, so I’ve swatched both palettes below for further insight…

Urban Decay Naked2 eyeshadow palette – swatches

(from l-r: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout)

W7 In The Buff eyeshadow palette – swatches

(from l-r: Buff, Camel, Sand, Dust, Chocolate, Topaz, Earth, Storm, Silk, Wave, Thunder, Onyx)

In terms of naming their eyeshadows, the Naked2 palette stays true to Urban Decay’s roots and features unique names. Whilst I assumed the W7 palette would try to imitate UD’s, it actually names them more aptly, i.e. ‘onyx’ refers to the deep grey/black shadow.

Whilst the palettes have named their shadows differently, they’re really very similar and W7 have definitely done a great job in duping the iconic Naked2 palette. If you’re after an eyeshadow palette that offers great pigmentation, a range of beautiful taupe-y colours and at an affordable price, this £5 palette really is an absolute steal. However, if you’re into eyeshadow quality, there is one thing that really sets the Urban Decay original apart from its copycat… the metallic shimmer and gorgeous, silky texture of the Naked2 palette’s shadows just cannot be replicated by the W7 palette, no matter how hard it tries – there’s just something so luxurious about the Urban Decay eyeshadows!

I’m actually quite torn between which of these palettes is the best. I can tell you that the Urban Decay shadows are more long-lasting and won’t crease as quickly, whilst their superior texture and silkiness is also simply unbeatable. However, for £5, the In The Buff palette offers almost identical colours with excellent pigmentation and at an absolute fraction of the price, and for that reason, I cannot recommend the W7 palettes enough. I’m a true champion of original ideas and products, but W7 have created a product that is affordable and also of great quality – it’s just a lovely, lovely alternative.

I’d love to hear your opinion on this – do you have either of these palettes? Or have you tried either of these brands’ eyeshadows before? Which is your favourite out of the two, based on either your experience with the palettes, or on my review? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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