Barry M Foundation Creme No.1 - Lighten your foundations

If you know me or have read some of my previous posts you will know I am VERY pale.

However, when I am colour matched for foundations they always get it wrong but I can't tell until I get out in natural light and have already fallen for their sales tricks!

So when I was in Superdrug and saw this Barry M Creme Foundation 1 which is a white foundation I breathed a sigh of relief.

I snapped it up so quick as I have been on the look out for a white foundation for a long time. I decided to first try it mixing it with the badly matched Estee Lauder Double Wear in the shade Bone. As you can see below, this is way too dark for my skin tone.

I just put a small amount of the white on the back of my hand and rather a lot of the Double Wear (by accident!) and mixed it together with a foundation brush.

This then resulted in LOTS of foundation on my hand, enough to cover my face for 3 days I think (nice waste of product there Clare!). However, the colour was perfect.

This made me like the Double Wear (and the money spent on it!) that bit more as it didn't make me look like an orange. I think that I will be trying this with a few MAC foundations I own too to try and use them up. I also wont be frightened to pick up cheaper brands now which never do a shade light enough. 

I am now thinking that I should actually buy a few more of these in case they decided to stop making it or something!

Do you have a problem being matched for foundations too?

Barry M Foundation Creme No.1 - £6.99 Superdrug

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - £27.50 Boots

Budget Blog Buys!

So I have been splashing the cash quite a bit at the moment but I have tried to be a little bit savvy!

I have browsed through many a blog sale in my time but never purchased anything until now!

I found both of the blog sales from people posting on Twitter so keep your eyes peeled!

Firstly I bought from this lovely lady...

**CLICK**

I both these on separate occasions both time I paid £1.50 P&P

Benefit Powderazzi £8.00 (Hoola, Coralista, Dallas)

I bought this because I have been tempted to buy these in full size many a time. However, I have some of the other Benefit powders and have found them to be hit or miss. I love 10 and Georgia but I'm not overly keen on Thrrrob or Dandelion. So this was perfect for me to try them before spending some serious money on a full sized version (which are now smaller that the older ones!).

They were all used but still plenty left for me!

On my want list now are Hoola and Dallas!

MAC - Viva Glam II £8.50

I am not sure why I bought this but you can never have enough MAC lippies right?! This shade is slightly too dark for me but with a slick of gloss on top and its perfect for a night out! 

As you can see there was loads left, hardly used!

The next products were bought from this MASSIVE blog sale!

**CLICK**

Charged £3.50 P&P.

She even popped in a couple of lollies and a free sample!

Stila Smudge Pot - Kitten £3.75

I know that Kitten is their signature colour and I have never tried any Stila products so at £3.75 I couldn't pass it up.

I have seen lots of reviews on MAC Paint Pots and Maybelline Color Tattoo's but I have never been a fan of cream based products myself, I always find they crease and slide. 

I have tried this a few times now and if I only use a small amount it looks really pretty and doesn't crease at all. 

I think this would be a very good wedding day shadow!

New CID Cosmetics i - glow Compact Shimmer Powder - Ice Pop £8.00

I am always on the hunt for a perfect highlight and as I am not sure this is quite it. It is a very pretty shimmer and looks nice as a blush or as a highlight for a night out though. If anyone knows of a perfect subtle champagne powder highlighter that isn't sparkly then let me know!

This does look super pretty in the pan though!

So that's it! 

My experience of blog sales so far has been great! If you know of any more then comment below, they don't just have to be cosmetics!

I think when I have a good sort out I may try and do a blog sale myself!

Have you picked up any wild bargains on a blog sale?!

Loves xxx

Meadowhall is my weakness...

Haul time...

I have been having a nightmare at the moment with the hairdryer I use at uni. It is only a small travel one and now my hair is getting longer it takes ages to dry it and the past few times I have used it it has pulled my hair in the back of it creating lovely knots! I am scared that one day it will pull it all in and I will have to have it all cut off!

So when my boyfriend offered to take me to dinner in Meadowhall I took the opportunity to nip into Boots. 

I never really look at reviews for buying hairdryers I just pick a mid-priced one and opt for that.

This time I came away with this...

Mark Hill Raw Professional Style & Shine Pro-Power Dryer - Was £59.99 - Now £29.99.

What drew me to this one? Obviously the fact it is animal print!

I have had a look inside and it all looks fairly standard. I may do a review on this in the future but just on the design and price it gets a big thumbs up from me!

Tangle Teezer Compact Styler (Black/Gold) - £12.29

For Christmas I got a Tangle Teezer and I have used it everyday since and think it has made an improvement to my hair. It always looks smoother when combed with this. I have put the original in my bag a few times but it does squish the bristles a bit. So I decided to get the compact styler edition to keep in my handbag. I do think it is a little expensive but I will just have to live with that!

Sheer Blonde Colour Renew - Tone Correcting Shampoo - £5.89 (3 for 2)

Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone Correcting Conditioner - £5.89 (3 for 2)

Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone Correcting Mousse - £5.59 (3 for2) 

Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream - £14.99

 These products were bought on the recommendation of Lizzie (See her blog here!). 

My hair has been highlighted in the past but not for a very long time now and my natural colour is a dark blonde with natural highlights. I don't really want to highlight my hair again but I feel it is quite dull. 

When I mentioned this to Lizzie she said she uses the John Freida Brilliant Brunette range and maybe I should give the Sheer Blonde a go. So that is what I have done! I haven't used these yet but I am hopeful, I have read some good reviews about it and to be honest it can't make my hair any duller surely?!

She also recommended I try the Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream as I am having a few problems with my skin lately. I am always apprehensive about trying new skincare products because I do have very reactive and sensitive skin. I usually stick to products I know, even if they aren't amazing, just because they don't send my skin into a raw, red, painful mess. I am hoping this suits me because I am fed up of having to put up with bad skin.

Lastly I picked up a mega bargain in my opinion! 

Boots Re:Balance Re-Energise Effervescent Orange Flavour 60 Tablets - £8.99 each (3 for 2).

These are basically Berocca but so much cheaper seen as Berocca is £4.99 for 15! They were 3 for 2 but I gave a box to my boyfriend because I am nice like that! 

They are effervescent tables that you just pop into a glass of cold water, they fizz a bit and then you are left with a nice orange drink full of goodness!

Lately I have been feeling run down and decided that I needed to make sure I am getting the vitamins I need to boost my immune system. Usually I would say only take supplements if you have been told that you need them by a doctor but I have taken these for the past week now and I feel like they are having an effect. I do on the other hand have a virus right now so it could be a completely placebo effect! I am putting the virus down to mixing with new people at the start of term, dirty students eh?!

Anyway...I must stop going to Meadowhall...It makes my bank account cry!

Loves xxx

My Mini Meadowhall Haul

I met up with my friend in Meadowhall the other day. I haven't been for a good look round for a while and really enjoyed myself. We went to Las Iguanas for a spot of lunch and a cheeky glass of wine before I spent a few pennies on the following!...

Primark Goodies! - Beige ballet pumps £4, Black ballet pumps £4, Cotton rich black tights £2.50, Make up bag £3, Jumper £12, Skirt £1 (BARGAIN!).

Boots 3 for 2 Goodies!

 Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara £7.99, Bourjois Light Illuminating  Eye Shadow 01 £6.99, Bourjois Light Illuminating  Eye Shadow 03 £6.99.

 Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Rock 'N' Roll Extreme Hairspray £1.99, Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Morning After Dry Shampoo £1.99, Umberto Giannini Incredible Body Volume Blow Dry Spray For Big Hair £1.99.

Bourjois Light Eye Shadows Left - 01 Right - 03.

I am excited to try these two shadows, they just caught my eye when walking past the stand! They are very finely milled and are not glittery at all just extremely shimmery. Hopefully they will be perfect for the corner of my eyes to make them look wider and maybe on my brow bone when heading out for the night! Was hard to capture how pretty the colours are as the lighting in my room is crap!

Seen as it was 3 for 2 in Boots it would have been rude not to have picked up something else to try. I am very picky with my mascaras and use an expensive one everyday just so I don't have any flaking! I cannot stand mascaras that flake! 

For a night out however I do like to pile on mascara for a voluminous look and I dont want to waste my expensive stuff! Seen as this has been "tested and loved by clubbers" according to the tube I thought I would give it a whirl! The wand doesn't look too big either, I hate it when they are so big you catch your lid with it.

Overall I am very happy with my bargains! I went into Topshop and saw a few things I liked but when I tried them on they looked awful. That always seems to happen to me in Topshop. I also made myself walk away form Debenhams very quickly! The MAC, Urban Decay and Elemis counters were calling out to me but I was a good girl! I need to remember I am a student and when I get a job I can treat myself. 

Having said that I have just bought some things from a few blog sales! I think I will do a haul of blog sales in the future when I get all my goodies delivered!

Loves xxx

New bag!

I get excited when I get a new bag. Stupidly excited! I have so many bags that even when I sold 10 on Ebay I still had a trillion left! Now I have a trillion and one.

While browsing through VIPXO's blog the other day I stumbled across her ''Designer Inspired #24' blog post. I saw the 'Studded Tote' she had featured and I had to have it! Especially when I went onto the Ebay link and it was only £15.99 inc P+P.

It has studding all around the edges and even on the bottom. It also has a longer strap which you can attach if you want to wear it as a satchel. 

I think this bag is perfect for dressing up a little bit or just trekking back and forth from uni.

Granted, it isn't the best quality I have ever seen but for the price I think it is a bargain.

Plus it comes with a protector bag which is handy for me because my bags always seem to get damaged because I have no room to store them!

Any ideas on storage for bags?

The bag is now sold out on THIS Ebay store but maybe they will get them back?!

Loves xxx

Rome Sephora Haul

When I went to Rome I had no intentions of going into Sephora... honestly! But when I realised it was 2 minutes away from where I was staying it would have been rude of me not to go in...right?!!

I ended up coming home with these...

I think I was quite good don't you! I could have bought so much more. I picked up some amazing bargains...

The first thing which caught my eye was this gorgeous violet, grey shimmery polish which looks like it would make a 'galaxy' style nail. It is in the colour 'It's Time To Rock!' and was around 6 Euros so approximately £5. 

 The next thing to make it into my basket was this Sephora Sculpting Disk. I originally picked up the highlighter from this kit on its own but when I saw it was in this kit I thought I may as well give this a try. 3 products for the price of one eh?!

 This disk comes with a matifying powder, blush bronzer and a highlighting powder. I am not sure I will be using the bronzer too much as it it seems a bit too shimmery for my liking but I will definitely be getting some use out of the powder and highlighter. I am impressed that the powder is quite translucent, usually they are too dark and make me look orange! 

One thing I don't like about this product is that it is heavily fragranced. I am never sure why cosmetics need to be so scented but it soon wears off once applied.

One thing I really like about this kit is it tells you how to use it on the back. I am no stranger to sculpting but if you had never used contouring products like this before I think it would be useful! This Sephora Sculpting Disk was a real steal at about 18 Euros which makes it around £15 (these are approx as I lost the receipt!).

To go along with this sculpting disk I purchased this limited addition red double ended bronze and blush brush. It is so soft and I cannot wait to use it! I think I would like to get more double ended brushes and I am kicking myself that I didn't pick up their eye shadow brush as well!

This Limited Edition Sunkissed Glow Brush was 28.50 Euros which is approx £23.

Now here are my real bargins!

 Urban Decay's 'The Dangerous Palette' 

 Urban Decay's 'The Feminine Palette'

These palettes were on sale for 10 Euros each! I snapped them up with no hesitation! That is less that £10 each. I have never been tempted by the Naked palettes but these babies called out to me straight away (I think the price helped!) They both come with 6 shadows, a 24/7 eye pencil and a mini primer potion. I think I will do a separate review on these when I have used them more.

Now I want to go back to Rome to eat more food, see more sights and buy more makeup!

Loves xxx

SALE BARGAINS...or lack!

If there is one time of the year I look forward to when it comes to shopping it is after Christmas. SALES! Well this year has been very disappointing. Online sales have been poor and I went shopping yesterday and hardly bought a thing. The sales seemed to be the same as before Christmas. Hopefully January will be better.

Here is what I did find...

Topshop Black Knitted Jumper was £36 I got it for £16.20.

James Brown Shopper including High Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner, Frizz Calm Serum and Intensive Moister Mask was £20 I got it foe £10 in Boots.

Umberto Giannini 'Oh So Pretty' Hair Kit including Pure Beauty Shampoo, Intense Conditioner, Overnight Beauty Moisture Balm which all came in a small beauty bag. Was £12, I got it for £6.

Clarks leather ankle boots in both grey and brown. Were £74.99 down to £45.99 then down to £15! So I bought a grey and a brown pair for £30!

I will be taking the Umberto Giannini shampoo and conditioner with me on my trip to Rome so I may review when I get back.

Maybe I will find some bargains in Rome? Probably not!

Hope you had more luck in the sales.

Loves xxx

2011 Favorites

So another year is nearly down (cries!) and many products have been used. Here are the ones I have discovered, rediscovered and adored!

Make Up

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC15 - This lives in my handbag. Perfect for touch ups!

MAC Powder Blush in Coygirl - In my make up bag all year. Perfect subtle pink for day and night.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation (Combination/Oily) in Ivory - The foundation I have been searching for all my life! Perfect colour match.

ELF Studio Powder Brush - Used for applying my foundation leaving a flawless finish.

Rimmel Matte White eyeshadow - Everyone needs a matte white eyeshadow and this is as good as any I have used.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Black - Claims it lasts 15hrs without smudging...it does last 15hrs and I love it!

Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus - Improved my lashes no end and adds mucho volume!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup - Glides on and looks so pretty. My 'Go to' MAC lipstick.

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink - MAC Creme Cup dupe if you ask me! This usually finds itself in my handbag in case I forget my Creme Cup!

Skin Care

Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum - As I am in my late 20's now I am thinking of lines! I'm not sure if this is helping but it feels nice!

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser in Dry/Sensitive - I use this as a night cream after my serum. Skin soaks it in and feels super smooth in the morning.

Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash - Replaced my Cleanse and Polish and I love it so!

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner - Replaced my Liz Earle Skin Tonic...Sorry Liz! But Elemis seems to suit me so well.

The Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion - I hate thick greasy mosturisers for my body. I have dry itchy legs and cannot stand emollients. I have fallen for this product so hard! It is light, milky and soaks in so quickly. Smooth, silky, gorgeous smelling legs!

Ultrasun Face SPF 30 - Just to reassure me I am doing everything I can not to go wrinkly! Great base for my everyday make up too!

Liz Earle Muslin Cloths - Now Liz says they don't work well with other products...I use them with my Elemis and they work better with that! I couldn't live without them!

 Hair

Umberto Giannini Backcomb In A Bottle - Some people really don't like this but when you get it right...its fabulous!

Umberto Giannini Volumising Blow Drying Spray - Not sure they still sell this now or they have repackaged it but it gives an extra lift and protection.

Bed Head Hard Head Hairspray - Shine and hold...perfect :)

VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder - Gives my hair a sexy oomph indeed! Seeing these powders a lot in salons now too.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - A Classic!

Goody Cushion Brush - I got a Tangle Teezer for Christmas and must admit I love it but this is a pretty good brush. I use it every time I blow dry and since I'v started using it haven't had to use straighteners which is very impressive if you ask me!

Nails

OPI Nail Varnish Remover - Super fast acting and has helped me keep my nails somewhat healthier this year.

Nails inc. Polish in Victoria - I have had this for a number of years but this year I got A LOT of use!

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File - I wouldn't ever think of using a bog standard file ever again.

Leighton Denny Precision Corrector Liquid and Brush - You know those corrector pens you get? Well this is 10x better than those!

OPI Original Nail Envy - Has saved my nails in 2011 without a doubt. On it's own, base coat and top... definitely worth the price.

Randoms!

H&M brown across the body bag - I bought this in August and have worn it every day since (well nearly every day!).

DAB Radio Alarm Clock - Great alarm! It is usually tuned into BBC Radio 5 Live...Yeah I like my talk radio!

Filofax Personal Organiser - This was a Christmas present in 2010 and it has my life in it!

ASOS Silver retro digital watch - Got this for £7 in an ASOS sale. Love it for casual outfits and it was a bargain!

Look Magazine - Bought every week in 2011, my bf is sick of seeing them laying around!

Well that's it...

HAPPY 2011 AND BRING ON A HAPPY 2012!


Loves xxx

L'Oreal Haul & Freebies!

I was bored out of my mind because I had spent 2 long weeks stuck in my flat doing uni work so I decided to venture into town. What could cheer me up more than having a good browse at my favorite cosmetic stands. Well...it depressed me! I realised how expensive make up is these days. So I dragged my sorry ass to Boots in hope of getting a little something to cheer me up for under £20. This is what I found....

I have bought drug store make up in the past but no drug store make up has ever really stayed in my make up bag for long other than my Revlon Color Stay Foundation. I was drawn to the L'Oreal stand because it had some shiny boxes that said FREE underneath them!

If you spent £15 you got a box full of goodies worth £25 for free...naturally I gave in!

What I bought to get my free gift was Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black (£11.29) and Contour Parfait Lip Liner in 657 Rosewood (£4 ish!).

I have heard very good things about the Volume Million Mascara and it is much cheaper than my usual Estee Lauder Double Wear Lengthening Mascara so I thought it was worth a try. 

(Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black)

I have no lip liners but many pinky neutral lipsticks so though this would be a good purchase even if I only use it when I am going on a night out.

(Contour Parfait Lip Liner in 657 Rosewood)

So here is the free stuff!

In the free box came the following -

Full sized Glam Bronze Trio

Full sized Color Riche Lipstick in 390 Nude Treasure

Full sized Contour Khol Eye Pencil in 164 Golden Brown

Mini Youth Code Day Cream (8ml)

Studio Secrets Resurfacing Smoothing Primer Sachet (1ml)

Revitalift Repair 10 Multi-Action Daily Moisturiser Sachet (1.5ml)

Elvive Triple Resist Reinforcing Shampoo Sachet (10ml)

Save £2 coupon for True Match Liquid Foundation

Worth It Day Competition information

 Glam Bronze in Blondes -

Color Riche Lipstick in 390 Nude Treasure -

Contour Khol in Chrome Brown - 

 Swatches above are: Top - Glam Bronze in Blondes (3 shades bronze, gold and pink), Middle - Color Riche Lipstick in 390 Nude Treasure, Bottom - Contor Khol Eye Pencil in 164 Golden Brown.

I haven't had much of a chance to use all the products but my first impressions are good! The reason why I went for my Double Wear Mascara in the first place was because it NEVER falls under my eyes after a long day like most mascaras do...so far neither does the Volume Million Lashes so fingers crossed I have found a cheaper alternative!

The lipstick is a gorgeous shimmery nude which looks so pretty for a every day look and is very moristurising but you can feel the shimmer particles on ur lips (a bit gritty!).

Glam Bronze is very glam! Very shimmery but great for the party season and nights out...best to use with a light hand!

Finally the Contour Khol is beautiful. A bronze gold brown which I like to line my bottom lash line with to give a softer look than my MAC Smolder. Divine!

So all in all I got 5 full size products for the price of 2 AND free samples, coupons and my Boots Advantage Points! I think this offer is still available in store and online at www.boots.com

Loves! xxx