My Yankee Candle Christmas (I know it's early) Bargains

I have mentioned before that I have a bit of a problem with Yankee Candles. At Christmas time this problem goes in to overdrive! I always start thinking about Christmas early and this year is no exception.

In total I have 3 medium jars and one tumbler to fill my world with fragrance this festive period! I already mentioned in a previous post that I buy all my Yankee's from the House of Fraser Outlet in my home town. So what I am about to haul for you is £50.14 worth of products for £27.10!

First of all I picked up the Mistletoe and Fig medium jar (£8.55) as I think this is divine.  Such a rich fruity yet festive smell and for some reason I am always drawn to the white coloured candles.

Once I picked that I had the uncontrollable desire to get a shade and plate for it. I have always wanted to get a shade set for medium/large candles as I think they make more of a feature. I know some people think they are awful but I don't care. At first I was going to opt for a Christmas design but I don't really want to have to store it away all year and only bring it out at the festive period. So in the end I went for a clear glass shade (£5.23) and plate (£3.38) which will go with any colour candle I choose.

At that point I had decided to pay and leave... until I came across a regular tumbler in the festive scent Sparkling Snow (£6.96), of course I had to smell it and when I did I knew it would be coming home with me. It is a gorgeous fresh pine smell. On reflection I wish I had bought the large tumbler in this as that was only £13 but I guess I already have enough to be getting on with.

Then as if that wasn't enough, as I got to the till they had a box of Illuma-lid's. These are accessories you put on the top of your jars to help protect the flame so they burn steadier and well they just look pretty! So of course I bought one for £2.79

I may sound a little mad with the Christmas talk in October but I look forward to it all year. I don't go away very often and I never make a big thing about birthdays so Christmas is my thing. That being said, I am forcing myself to wait until after 5th November before I get full on Christmas excited!

Anyone else as sad as me and can't wait for Santa to come?!

Estee Lauder Treats!

I have already raved about how much I love Estee Lauder's Double Wear mascaras so I wont bang on about that but the other day I walked passed my local counter in Boots and totally got sucked in my their recent free gift promotion!

As I am coming to the end of Double Wear Mascara and have always wanted to try their Double Wear Foundation I thought this was a perfect time to try it out.

In order to be eligible for the free gift you had to make 2 purchases, one being either skincare or foundation.

I opted for the original Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara as having tried all the variations I find this the best for me and the Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in the shade 1W1 Bone.

I then got to choose between a gift containing either Brown or Pink shades of make up.

I went for the pinks as I have recently bough a lot of brown, gold, bronze coloured palettes.

The gift included a palette of 4 Pure Colour Eyeshadows, Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Extreme Black, Pure Gloss lip gloss in Berry Lush and a lipstick which I gave to my mum as I wouldn't really wear the shade.

However, it was the skincare which really got me excited in this gift! I have never tired Estee Lauder skincare because it is quite pricey for my budget so I though this was a good way of trying it out.

It included Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator, Take It Away Total Makeup Remover and DayWear Advanced Multi Protection Anti Oxidant Creme SPF 15.

They are all pretty good sample sizes as well so I should be able to get a good trial of all the products and no doubt end up spending a lot of money on the full sizes!

The gifts came in the cute makeup bag which is just the right size for travel.

I would advise anyone who loves Estee Lauder or who wants to try any of their products to look out for their free gift offers as they usually run a few over the festive period. After all we all need a present for ourselves every now and again!

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - How I made it work for me

This is a bit of a mixed review but bear with me!

I first tried this when I received a sample size in my Feel Unique beauty box (which is no more!). As I had read all the rave reviews on blogs and in magazines I was truly ecstatic to try it.

Well, I was less than impressed. I hated the application, the waiting around and the results left my hair lank, heavy and I needed to wash it the next day.

Having said that I used up the sample hoping my mind would change...it didn't...until now!

3 months ago I arrived home to find that my mum had ordered a MASSIVE 1 litre bottle of it after seeing it on QVC and thought it was too good a deal to pass up. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had already tried it and thought it was pants!

So feeling guilty that she had forked out so much money on this I gave it another go using the technique it tells you to use on the bottle.

What a faff eh? I like my showering/bathing time to be quick and easy not to add another 10-20 minutes on sat around in a plastic cap.

So one lazy afternoon I was sat watching QVC with my mother (she is addicted to that channel!). They said that if you have it and don't like time it takes for the application process try and fit it in your routine however you can, as using it is better than not.

So this is how I get it to work for me...

Firstly I get in the shower and wet my hair, then I apply a generous amount to the lengths and ends of my hair just as I would a post shampooing conditioning treatment. 

I then pop my hair in a bobble and get showered which takes me approximately 5 minutes and I try to avoid getting my hair wet.

Then I just take out the bobble, rinse the product out and shampoo and condition as usual.

Using this technique really works for my and my hair feels in much better condition without all the faffing around I did before.

If you do like the product I would recommend the 1 litre size as in the end it is really good value. It comes with a lock pump top so it is east to keep sealed and you can regulate how much product you want to be dispensed.

If I could have one request for this product it would be a bit of fragrance. I am not one for over powering fragrances but this smells a bit like E45 cream which doesn't really fit in with the luxury hair care experience for me!

I am just glad now my mums pennies wont go to waste!

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 1lt - QVC £55.00 + P&P

New Skincare additions - Garnier, Soap & Glory and Lush

So I went on a bit of a skincare mission the other week because I have some issues I need sorting!

Dark pigmented areas on the tops of my cheeks!

Small fine eye lines!

Dry flaky lips!

I kinda knew what I was going to buy before I even went into town because I did some online research and I am glad I did.

The Garnier Dark Spot Corrector (£7.99 normally £9.99) was on offer so that was a pretty good deal. I have used this every night for 3 weeks and it is definitely fading the dark patches. I am not sure they will go all together but I am pleased with the results so far. It is a lovely light formula that gives just enough hydration. It kind of has a light fragrance but I cannot put my finger on it!

I have noticed that I have started with a few very fine lines around my eyes. I'm not sure if it is because I am tired all the time or if I am just getting old, or both! I didn't realise but this Soap and Glory Super Eyes (£9.00) eye gel has small shimmer particles in it. You cannot tell once it is applied but it makes it look super pretty. I have been using this a while now and I can't really tell much difference  Maybe I need a rich cream rather than a gel. It is very nice though.

The last product is from Lush, it is their Sweet Lips Lip Scrub (£5.25). I got the chocolate one rather than the bubblegum one as I was informed by the man selling it me that it was being discontinued so I snapped it up. I have lusted after the bubblegum one for ages but this one is just as scrummy. It definitely works and I can see it lasting along time. I use it just before bed and then apply a lip balm and in the morning they are supple and soft and ready for lipstick!

Small Haul - Boots, The Body Shop and Aldi

So I kinda went shopping again...

Mark Hill Get Gorgeous! Turn Up the Heat Extreme Heat Protection Spray - £5.49

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Rock 'N' Roll Extreme Hairspray - £5.61

Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum Normal Skin - £3.49 

Carino Miracle Oil with argan oil - £3.99

The Body Shop Heavenly Hands - £12

I unexpectedly ran out of hairspray last week and decided to try something new, I love the Umberto Giannini Glam Hair range because it smells divine (I am so shallow). I also think the products I have already tried have worked so hopefully this wont let me down! it was 3 for 2  on hair care in Boots so I bought some heat spray and my mum bought a new hair brush (exciting!).

I then had an odd experience in Aldi. I have been on the hunt fora serum for a long time now but I find them to be so expensive and as I am still quite young I find it hard to part with my money for an anti ageing product. So when I saw this Lacura serum I snapped it up! I have read good reviews of their products and thought for under £5 if it was rubbish I haven't lost anything, as it happens I love it and I have been back to buy a back up for when this runs out!I also picked up their version of Moroccan Oil, bargain!

Last but not least is a gift set of 3 hand creams from The Body Shop. I had gone into buy just the 30ml Almond had cream but when I saw this set I thought I may as well treat myself! They had a promotion on that students got one of their Love Your Body cards for free and 25% off your first purchase! Even at full price this set is a bargain as each hand cream is £5 on its own ad all these are £12!

I should stop buying for myself and think about getting my Christmas shopping done!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Nude / Benefit Eye Bright

I read a review somewhere when the Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof khols were going around the promo circuit and they mentioned that the Nude shade would make a really good colour to use in your water line to widen the eyes.

This got me really excited because I use Benefits Eye Bright in my waterline nearly every day and I love it but it is a bit pricey.

Benefit Eye Bright - £14.00

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal 005 Nude - £3.99

When I was in Boots a few weeks ago I made a b-line for Rimmel stand and picked up the Nude and Taupe shade of the Scandaleyes Kohls and bought them immediately!

When I tried the Nude one I used it just the same as my Eye Bright, in the waterline of my lower lid and in the corner of my eye. I was very disappointed with the result! It just looked like I had put concealer on my eyes. It gave me a very waxy pale look instead of a bright eyed awake look.

(Eye Bright / Scandaleyes - 005 NUDE)

Having said that, I love the formula of these Kohls. They are really creamy and blendable when first applied but dry to a no budge liner. I think the Nude did last longer in the waterline than the Eye Bright but the colour just didn't cut it. I am not sure if it looked too dark on me and that if you had a darker skin tone it wouldn't stand out so much.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying this for eye widening purposes but it wont be replacing my beloved Eye Bright unfortunately! I think for the price it is worth a shot but not if you have pale skin! I am not totally sure what I will use this for now but I will probably think of something.

As for the Taupe colour, I have been wearing this everyday since I bought it! Love, love, love it!

(Benefit Eye Bright / Scandaleyes -005 Nude / Scandaleyes - 004 TAUPE)

They also do the colours Black, Bronze, Silver, Purple and Bright Blue...I may be tempted to buy some more!

Nails! Nails! Nails! - Models Own and Essie

If you haven't been aware of the Models Own summer sale which has just ended you must have been living in a cave!

I took advantage of the 50% off everything and bought 4 polishes that I really didn't need but wanted! Then  I was wondering though Boots one day and saw the new wonderland collection so had to pick up one of their gorgeous glitter polishes.

Green Flash/Scarlett Sparkle/Thunder and Lightning/Ibiza Mix/Snow Flake

Here are a few looks I have been wearing - 

Essie - Wild Thing/Models Own - Snow Flake

Essie - Pearly White/Models Own - Snow Flake

Models Own - Green Flash/ Models Own - Ibiza mix

Did you buy any in the sale?!