Like them or loathe them, I have bought some new shoes. Patent esc. brogues to be precise. From Primark. I have been outfit planning for the Clothes Show Live 2013 (it is still a month until I go..), and I decided I needed a comfortable, chunky soled, closed up, shoe which would match with whatever I decided to pair them with - dresses, jeans, the lot.
I found these chunky looking ones in Primark, no shame - although there may be a little of it, as my entire outfit will probably be from Primark, at a rather big fashion event - wild. But, if I saw someone wearing these, I would most certainly think they were darn expensive, and not from anywhere near Primark - result. The best part? These bad boys were £12. WHAT?!
They don't make my feet look like canal boats, and they look smashing with jeans or dresses, and there was no staggering price. Although I will be sporting Primark based attire for the day, I will feel pretty good about it. I also bought the big, black oversized furry/fluffy/hairy cardigan they have out at the moment, and that will be getting an outing on the day too.
Love them or hate them, these could be up there to be my new favourite pair of shoes, and I haven't even worn them out yet.
I love a good freebie, and my luck has been pretty high when discovering some good free products in magazines recently, although I am still kicking myself because I didn't pick up the ELLE Issue with the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray in it, nor the one with Benefit's Their Real Mascara - idiot Lauren... Maybe it will happen again one day.
In the (very early) December Issue of ELLE, you get a choice of 3 Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss, either Hoola (which I got), Coralista (which I want), and Dandelion I believe. My mum got me this magazine after knowing how much time I spend at the benefit counters, but never actually pick anything up.
Hoola itself is a really lovely natural nude/brown, slightly shimmery shade. The formula is great for a lipgloss, is has a very slippy texture, and not sticky at all, meaning you can wear this in the wind and you wont have any hair-in-lipgloss situations.
The magazine costs £4, and with the 6.5ml lipgloss, I think it is something worth buying. I am definitely spending more time browsing the magazines in WHSmith nowadays, hoping to find some hidden gems. After all, magazines are a really good way to add more high end makeup items to your collection without spending too much, which is great for me being on a drugstore budget. ELLE, put some more Bumble and Bumble in there again...just for me? I promise I won't forget to buy it!
During these past few weeks, some strange reaction is going on in my body making me love oil cleansers, and I have been craving all of the expensive balms. This is the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, and I have been currently loving it, and so... what better to do, than sing it's praises in a blog post? I never used to like this, but now, we are the greatest of friends... DHC Do you accept my apology?
This is the smallest size, of 30ml, costing £4.50, which is kind of pricey, with the full 200ml retailing for £21.50, so this isn't exactly high street pricing, nor high end, somewhere in between. I must say though, a few drops goes a long way.
You can use this to remove makeup, by applying it onto your dry, makeup full, face, and massaging it in, and then wiping it away with a warm washcloth. Sometimes it feels a bit odd the first few times, and you are left with a film over your eyes blurring vision, so instead, I much prefer to use this after removing makeup (still on a dry face), and really massage it into the skin as a normal cleanser. It feels extremely luxurious when rubbing it in, and although I have combination skin, it doesn't feel too heavy, nor does it leave any residue. With all oil/balm cleansers, your skin isn't going to feel squeaky clean, which I don't like anyway, but instead, it feels plumped and nourished.
At the moment, this has become one of my favourite night time cleansers, and maybe it will make its way onto the skincare shelf very shortly, as shown in my last post.
After watching tons of videos, reading blog posts and buying new things, I have finally found a good skincare collection/routine which works for my skin, and it is time to give you a tour of my most-used products, gaining a place on the shelf.
Removers: I would never go a day (or night), without removing my makeup. The first of my favourites in the Nivea Daily Essentials Eye Makeup Remover, which I did a full review of here. This is my number one high street eye makeup remover, and you get get waterproof mascara off your lashes in a matter of one sweep. Then, for face makeup, is the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution, which is a really nice, high street (apparent Bioderma dupe) makeup remover, without going anywhere near the wipes.
Cleansers: After realising foaming cleansers were one of the worst things I could be using (although I have one lingering in the bathroom which I need to finish), I have 3 main creamy cleansers which I use. The first is the No.7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm, which is a cream more than a balm. It claims to be for dry skin, but mine is combination and I haven't had any issues. The other I have is the Spa Find Renewed Radiance Energizing Cleanser* which is a huge bottle, and the cleanser itself is really lovely, and it also removes waterproof mascara, but it stings the eyes so I use this after removing makeup. I also have a Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk Mini there, which is nice too.
Masks: I love the Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask, as you already know, and it works wonders for any blemished skin I may have, and instead of rambling, click here to read the full review. Another I have is the A'Kin Express Purifying Facial Masque* which I find also works really well for my blemishes. I use a mask twice a week, so I alternate between the two of these, one on Sunday, the other on Wednesday. I must say, I love the packaging of the A'kin one, and although the bottle is small, you don't need much.
Treatments: Almost halfway through the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, this is something I probably can't live without anymore. I do notice difference, and I love how it can be used in many different ways; by itself, on problem areas, or all over the face under (or over) moisturiser. You can read my full review here. Then, I have the Spa Find Perfect Purity Dermabalance Spot Treatment*, which is incredible. It is what I describe as liquid clay in a bottle, and you take some on a cotton bud, and put it directly onto the blemish, and feel it tingle for a while, and then, go to bed and in the morning it will have improved the area dramatically, I swear by this nowadays.
Moisturiser: So, to start off with, I have the Dr Jart+ Most Moist Water Sure Gel which I use daily underneath my moisturiser, as it is basically Hydraluron in a little tub, designed to lock in the moisture from whatever day cream you put on top. It is incredible, and I may whimper at the price when this runs out (£26.00, but I found it in a clearance at £6.50...).
After that, we have the Lancome HydraZen Neurocalm Moisturiser which I love, but when this mini sample runs out, I will not be repurchasing, which is a shame, as it really soothes the skin overnight if you have any blemishes or redness, especially after using a mask. I also have the Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream which apparently protects you from pollution, which is strangely cool?
Eye Creams and Gels: For a daytime eye gel, I use the Ren Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel, which is a really cooling eye gel which absorbs quickly to the under eye area, which is why I like using it in the mornings. For night time, I prefer a more creamy, hydrating offering, and in this case it is the Fade Out White Anti-Shadow Brightening Eye Cream* which is also really nice. It offers hydration whilst still fading darkness and puffiness a tiny bit overnight (trust me, my bags are genetic and they ain't going anywhere).
I am really pleased with my current skincare, and that is something I am prepared to spend a little more on, I'd say, higher end of the drugstore stuff, because as the skincare goddess Caroline Hirons says 'You only have one face, so why mess with it'...
When I first got into nails, and blogging, I always thought that OPI Polishes were way out of my league (aka, too much money, and I would never own any), but some time on, I own 5, and after some success stories in the bargain-hunting department, I will definitely be getting more in the future. I thought it would be a time to talk you through my current collection, but look out because I sense another coming soon in the future if I ever get any bolt-ons.
Starting off with the first OPI I ever bought, it's Red Lights Ahead...Where? A vibrant pink-red, hint of coral, one-two coater little pot of loveliness. I never used to like this when I first purchased it, but as I used it more it has become a staple in my overflowing collection, and gets an outing on the pointers at least once every one/two months. This came from the Holland Collection, which most of them belong to.
Another from the Holland Collection is A Roll In The Hague which is a vibrant, slightly red, but closely bordering true orange, and I didn't think I would be too wowed on this one, but I am. I love it, and orange is a colour you can wear it quite a lot of months and seasons, and so I think this one will be worn quite a lot. I don't own anything as close to a true orange as this one.
The third I have from the Holland Collection is this one, dubbed as I Don't Give A Rotterdam which is a lovely blue/periwinkle, with silver and iridescent shimmer in it, and I was so excited to wear this, but it is so sheer. I have tried it over white, but it didn't quite work, so I'll get back to you on that if it works out, I'm not one for sheer polishes.
One from the Caribbean Collection is Stranger Tides a dusty, murky, nudish pale green, which I am obsessed with, and I have a feeling that I could be wearing this a lot. It goes with everything, and it has that staple status of a nail polish, and once again, is nothing like I already own at all.
I'll be quite honest, I was over the whole crackle thing, a few months after its debut, and I haven't used one since. But, considering I found Shatter The Scales from the Amazing Spiderman Collection in Poundland, I got it anyway, and although I won't use it all that much, it is nice to say I have it... sad. If this was a normal polish, it would be my autumnal dream, a rich forest green with sliver sparkles throughout - lovely.
One day OPI might rule my collection, but for now, I am more than happy with my 'collection', and I'll let the drugstore ones do their thing until I have otherwise...
