Things I bought today #1

 

   

 

Floral Top £22.99 Zara

Flats (black and nude) £6 each Primark

Jacket £22 Primark 

 

I finally have five whole days booked off work to do as I please, first chance I got I headed to Birmingham to do some much needed retail therapy. I've been trying to de-clutter my wardrobe to make room for some key autumn/winter pieces and have a wishlist as long as my arm, so I headed out ready to shop! I had a realisation when I was out that I do have rent and bills to pay so I only bought a couple of things to satisfy my shopping habit, until payday at least. I'm really happy with my purchases and I know I'll get a lot of wear out of them all. First stop was Zara where I saw this pretty floral tshirt, the top is made of quite thick material and I've seen similar floral pattern pieces in other stores, but nothing compares to the quality and finish of Zara items. I can't wait to wear it with my skinny leigh jeans and a leather jacket. I then went to Primark in a quest to buy new flat shoes as all of mine have gone really tatty, these two pairs of pointy flats were only £6 each so I had to snap them up. They are a suede finish which initially put me off, as I know any hint of rain will just ruin them, but for the price I just had to. Lastly I bought this jacket with the PU faux leather sleeves which will be perfect for the autumn weather.

 

I may have to make another trip into Birmingham as I tried on a beaut of a coat in Primark (an oversized boyfriend coat) I didn't purchase it as I couldn't decide if it drowned me making me look 2 foot tall. Now I'm home I regret not buying it. I was also eyeing up a chunky gold necklace in River Island, and Nars Chelsea Girl lip gloss which is so lovely. Me and my sister fell in love with this Zara coat, which she is modelling below, LOVE, it is £110. So expect to see another 'Things I bought today' post very soon!

 

 

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Duty Free Shopping

I recently returned from a week long family holiday in Spain. One of my favourite parts of travelling is the duty free shopping at the airport! As I was travelling there on my own it was the perfect opportunity to browse the beauty counters and take my time testing the products I've had my eye on. Top of my list were the Dior BB crème and Clarins Self Tanning Primer, it's safe to say I didn't get either as with both they had ran out (booooo). I also wanted to buy a new MAC lipstick but the MUA was so unhelpful I just couldn't be arsed. (sidenote: Can anyone recommend a MAC lipstick shade similar to the colour Hue? - this woman had no idea).

 

So onto the products I did buy. Before departing to Spain I picked up Clarins Hydraquench Cream for Normal to Dry Skin, I've needed to purchase a moisturiser for a while now and after doing some research this product seemed to be a good call. I love Clarins as their products never disappoint, after using the cream for just over a week, so far so good. The moisturiser is very nourishing and I find it perfect for use as a night cream, it's not too heavy so I don't worry about it breaking me out but I can feel the hydrating effects it has on my skin. I also purchased Victoria Secrets Fragrance Mist in Secret Charm, I don't know anywhere else in Birmingham that sells Victoria Secrets Products so I wanted to try one of their fragrances. Secret Charm is described as a honeysuckle and jasmine fragrance - it is gorgeous! Jasmin is one of my favourite scents, it reminds me of holidays and summer. I would say that these mists are overpriced for what they are, this cost about £10 (I think) in duty free and the scent doesn't last longer than an hour, but it will be handy for freshening up throughout the day and the plastic bottle means I can just throw it in my bag.

 

On the return journey I had some Euros left so decided to pick up the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil that I've wanted for so long but could never justify paying the price for it. I have to say I am SO glad I made the purchase as nothing else has helped my legs feel so smooth after shaving. I'm also hoping the oil will help to keep my skin moisturised in an attempt to prolong my tan. Another fragrance I picked up was Givenchy Play For Her, I had a sample of this and thought it was lovely, a very sweet summery smell. I'm not keen on the packaging as I think it's quite tacky looking but you can't have it all.

 

I'm so pleased with my little beauty bits. Pity I couldn't pick up the items I actually went looking for but I suppose it just gave me an excuse to go looking for other goodies. Do you own any of the products I've bought? What do you think?

New Beauty Bits

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser, Miss Sporty Nail Polish 320 Popfiction, Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

I've bought these goodies within the last week and I am happy with all three. I thought I'd give my two cents on each one as I didn't want to dedicate a whole post to each product. 

1. Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser

First up is the Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner for Dry Skin £3.56 (Boots). This is basically what it says on the tin, a moisturiser which is used in the shower. I am a lazy girl when it comes to moisturising after every shower/bath so I think this is a great idea! I apply the product after I've washed off my shower gel and then rinse it off in the same way. Skin feels silky smooth afterwards, as though you have just used a moisturiser! It feels a bit weird when you are putting it on in the shower as it doesn't lather up and just feels like you're putting moisturiser on wet, but it really does work. I will be using this every time I have a shower now especially as the weather is getting better and i'll be wearing summer clothes, showing more flesh.

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner for Dry Skin £3.56 (Boots)

2. Miss Sporty Nail Polish 320 Popfiction

I tweeted earlier that I couldn't stop looking at the lovely colour on my painted nails. That was because I was wearing this little beauty, Miss Sporty Nail Polish 320 Popfiction £1.99 (Boots). I was browsing the nail polishes in Boots, hoping to find a cheaper dupe for Nails Inc Baker Street - no such luck but this shade caught my eye. It's a purply blue shade which I love, perfect for summer. The quality of the nail polish is surprisingly good, the brush is thick (bonus) which makes applying it a dream. The only thing I would say is that the product claims to be quickdry...it's not. More than 24 hours have gone by with no chipping yet, so I have my fingers crossed. I would definitely be purchasing more shades from the Miss Sporty Nail Polish collection.

Miss Sporty Nail Polish 320 Popfiction £1.99 (Boots)

3. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

The smell of summer in a bottle. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent 100ml £44.50 (The Perfume Shop) is described as a warm scent with hints of coconut, tahitian gardenia petals, bergamot and mandarin. Whenever I spritz this on my skin I can imagine myself on a beach tanning myself up with a cocktail in my hand. If only! I love the packaging too and almost don't want to throw the box away. I bought mine from The Perfume Shop on Saturday, at the time they had 10% off all perfumes and giving out a load of samples with each purchase - I'm not sure whether the offer is still on or if it was just for the day.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent 100ml £44.50 (The Perfume Shop)

Have you tried any of the above, what are your thoughts?

I went shopping

I had a day off on Thursday so I decided to go to the Bullring to pick up a few bits and bobs, I'm officially skint now with 3 weeks left until payday FML! Oh well, i'll enjoy using the things I bought, I love them all. A couple of things were repurchases including Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, Caudalie Beauty Elixir & Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory. All of which seemed to run out at the same time, I wish I didn't love them enough to repurchase as I spent a bloody fortune.

 

New goodies included one of the new Topshop Lip Bullets in Covet, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 132 Sweet Pink, & 2 of the new Bourjois Creme Blushers in 02 and 04. I also picked up a few accessories including these gorgoeous shoes from H&M, Mary Kate Olsen-esque sunglasses from Topshop and a gold chain necklace from Miss Selfridge.

 

I think I need to go and cut up all my cards. Spending ban until the end of the month!

Saturday Shopping

Holland & Barrett: Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules

Boots: L'oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray, Maxfactor Falsh Lash Effect Fusion Mascara, Rimmel Salon Pro 402 Urban Purple Nail Polish, Palmers Natural Bronze Body Lotion

ID (cheap high street shop): Patterned Blouse, Tiger Vest

New Look: 2 necklaces

Brantano: Tan Boots (only £7...BARGAIN)

 

 

Warehouse: Blouse

So I went shopping today...again. I feel lost on a Saturday if I don't do a spot of shopping, so despite the weather I took a stroll up to my local high street. 

 

I needed some more fish oil capsules as my Lamberts tub was running low so I purchased these, I find that they help keep my skin clear when I take about three of these tablets per day before eating...these were approx £15 (wow). I then purchased some 'essentials' from Boots, consisting of my favourite L'oreal Elnett hairspray, a new maxfactor mascara (my favourite high street mascara....when I can't find YSL Faux Cils), a new Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Polish (I love that many brands are introducing new gel finish nail polishs, the Barry M ones are decent so i'm excited to try this one out) and Palmers Natural Bronze body lotion (feeling very pasty at the moment and i'm far too lazy to apply my xen tan).

 

I picked up two tops for £5 each, one is a patterned blouse which I will probably wear for work and a tiger vest which i'm going to wear with my new shiny black leigh jeans or tucked into a black midi pencil skirt. The new look necklaces were buy one get one free, I love both of these, they will dress up a plain top/dress perfectly. These new tan boots were my bargain purchase of the month..£7..they are SO comfortable and I can wear them with anything! They will look great with summer dresses or with my jeans. Lastly I picked up this floral blouse from Warehouse after seeing it on Millie Mackintosh on her Style Diary website here...I love it! Perfect for spring/summer.

 

A successful shopping trip i'd say. I didn't spend too much as payday is looming (Tuesday) and I have a list of beauty/makeup products/clothes/bags that I want to purchase. Did you go shopping today or recently? Please give me links to your most recent hauls girlies?

 

 

Pre Birthday Haul

It's my 25th birthday on Wednesday so my parents gave me some money to go and treat myself. Typical me, I spent it all on makeup! The Karen Millen bag contains a top which was a birthday present to myself (I just had to). I got a few bits i've been wanting to try for ages and also spent alot of the time getting hints and tips off the MUA's at the different counters. Here's a quick list of the things I picked up;

MAC Fix + I've never tried this product but i've wanted to for ages, i've had a quick spritz ontop of my makeup today and I really like how refreshing it is and the glow it gives to my face.

 

MAC Lipstick in Chatterbox A beautiful pink shade, I cannot wait to wear it.

 

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre I saw this on Lisalisad1's latest friday haul youtube video. It's supposed to provide a base for your eyeshadows to allow their true colour to 'pop' out.

 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory I'm getting bored of using bourjois healthy mix so purchased another product i've never used from my favourite makeup brand.

 

Nars The Happening Eye & Cheek Palette I originally went to the Nars counter to purchase Laguna, but after talking to the MUA about the makeup she was wearing (gorgeous) she pointed out this palette which contains both Laguna and Orgasm as well as 4 eyeshadows in Night Star, Gstaad, Kuala Lumpur and Coconut Grove. All for £45 which I thought was quite a good deal. This is my favourite purchase of the day.

 

Look Beauty Blush in Flirt I first saw this on llymlrs beauty blog. I love how she does her makeup and this is one of her favourite shades. I like my blush shades to be quite pigmented and this definitely is, can't wait to try it.

 

Look Beauty Lip Liner in Toffee Cup An impulse buy, there wasn't even a tester but i've been looking for a nude/baby pink liner for a while. For only £2 I didn't really care.

 

There were some other products I was dying to try but I couldn't really justify buying. Including Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Balm & a few more MAC products.

 

I will do separate blog posts on each of the products purchased when i've had chance to use them. Do you own any of these products? What are your thoughts?