Wednesday, 22 January 2014

EOTN: Belated Christmas Night Out

This is how I did my make up for a night out I went on with my friends for Christmas, just a bit late!  I was wanting more of a purple effect on my eyes as the colours I used from the Urban Decay Naked Palette are purpley toned but it turned out quite neutral still, silly Urban Decay :(


Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Urban Decay Naked Palette - Sin, Toasted, Hustle and Virgin to highlight
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack (not CF)
Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark 02
Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara

Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51
Illamasqua Face Base in 02
MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten in Porcelain
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
Illamasqua Powder Blush in Kiss

Lips
Bourjois Effet 3D Lipgloss in Rose Romantic


<3

Thursday, 16 January 2014

Empties #14


Christmas has come and gone!  I had a lovely time with friends and family, and apart from work I wish it was Christmas Eve all over again!  Work wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, but it was still pretty chaotic and I'm glad it's over; now the January lull has begun which is possibly even worse...  This year I will get a new job!


Herve Leger Femme Shower Gel
Thoughts: I really liked the perfume of this but used it up over a year ago.  I used to wear the perfume on nights out though so using the shower gel just brought back hazy memories of being steamin in clubs when I was like 19...
Cruelty-free?: No, from Avon.
Repurchase?: No.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Thoughts: I've technically not finished this yet, I just decanted it into a more user friendly squirty bottle.  I am a huge fan of toner but unfortunately not Liz Earle's, I find the scent too floral and overpowering for my liking.  £13.25/200ml here.
Cruelty-free?: Yes, BUAV Approved.
Repurchase?: It was a free sample but wouldn't buy it myself.

Dr Hauschka Deodorant in Floral 
Thoughts: I was quite disappointed by this deodorant actually.  I didn't like the smell, it was quite spicy and since it's not an antiperspirant, when I sweated I would just end up smelling as if I had really bizarre BO - not good!!  I was so glad to see the back of this one.  £11.95/50ml here.
Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: No.


REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream
Thoughts:  Received this with my LoveLula order as you can choose 3 free sample to try if you spend over a certain amount.  I quite liked this moisturiser, it seemed to work fine and smelled really good.  £27/50ml here.
Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: Possibly but it's not cheap!

Benefit Erase Paste
Thoughts:  I bought this years ago when looking for the perfect under eye concealer.  I wasn't a fan of this one to be honest, it was too creamy and would crease and sit in the lines really easily.  I had to buy Powderflage to try and set it!  There's still a tiny bit left but I'd rather just bin it!
Cruelty-free?: No.
Repurchase?: No.

<3

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Rose Gold Skull Necklace

I recently purchased this gorgeous little necklace from Etsy and I am totally in love with it!  The story behind how I discovered it is actually a little bit creepy but I'll share it with you anyway!  I was serving this lady in work and she was just stunning; her make up, hair, jewellery, Hermés bag, huge rock on her finger...  I wanted to be her!  But anyway I'd noticed she was wearing this necklace which was really pretty and unusual: a tiny gold skull on quite a short chain.  So when I got home I decided to google 'tiny gold skull necklace' - as you do - expecting it to come up as some sort of designer make, but no, the only ones I found were on Etsy for less than a tenner!  I then found it in rose gold and preferred it in that metal, which also makes it slightly less stalkery...



To show how tiny this pendant really is I've put it beside a 5p coin for comparison, it's only 6x6mm!  The pendant is on a 16" chain but is also available on 18".  I would have preferred it slightly shorter although is does sit quite close to my neck already.

This is the link to where I got it, also available in gold and silver.

Sunday, 12 January 2014

January Shopping Purchases!

Due to work, seeing family and generally just wanting to avoid January sales chaos, I didn't go shopping until the 9th of January.  I'm not a big fan of sales and would quite happily just look at all the new things instead of trying to hunt down a bargain.  However I do work in a shop which makes it much easier to pick out bargains and the first few two are as such!

I needed a new lunch bag to take to work as I'd had my other one for years and it was getting really tatty.  This is one of Ted Baker's mini shoppers which are £29 RRP but I ended up getting it for about £15 due to various discounts.  £15 is still a ridiculous amount to pay for a lunch bag but I really like it and it's very sturdy so it should last a long time hopefully!


I'm long overdue sorting out all my jewellery and having a big clear out so I bought some Stackers which are really handy jewellery boxes.  They come in different layouts so you just buy whatever you need.  These 3 would have cost £52 but in the sale with discounts it was only about £18!  As you can see I've already started sorting my earrings in the 2nd section, I can't wait to have everything organised.


These items I got using various gift cards I'd accumulated since my birthday and Christmas:


New Look - £12.99


New Look - £9.99 (edit: I actually had to return this as the back isn't lined!)


Topshop Joni Jeans - £36


New Look Necklace - sale £4
Topshop Nail Varnish in Venus Flytrap - £5
Topshop Nail Varnish in Blank - sale £3

I love La Senza pants but I only buy them in sale when they go down to £2, such a bargain!  Although they had a pretty rubbish selection this time sadly :(


I also went into Lush because between my boyfriend and his dad I have £30 to spend in there!  I'm hoping to make it last as long as possible!  I got 2 new items I've never tried before.  They are both vegan.


Figs and Leaves Soap - £3.40/100g

Finally I went into Paperchase as I was really needing a new diary and picked up this cute little one for £5 which I think is pretty good!



<3

Monday, 6 January 2014

FOTD: New Year's Day

I've not done one of these posts in a very long time - I've actually not really been wearing anything other than my very plain every day make up for whatever reason.  However as it was Christmas I decided to make an effort and get back into it!

This is what how I wore my make up on New Year's Day, usually people would be posting their NYE make up but I had a very quiet Hogmanay so instead got dressed up the next day!  I didn't actually do all that much, just had family round for a meal which was lovely.   


Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Urban Decay Naked Palette - Half Baked, Smog and Dark Horse then Virgin as highlight
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack (not CF)
Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark 02
Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara

Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51
Illamasqua Face Base in 02
MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten in Porcelain
Mac MSF Natural in Light (not CF)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
Nars Blush in Lovejoy

Lips
Bourjois Effet 3D Lipgloss in Rose Romantic

I used the Naked palette again a few nights ago for a night out with my friends and have photos of that as well so I'll do a similar post for that look in the next week or so.

<3

Monday, 23 December 2013

Yaoh Hemp Seed Oil Lip Balm


I received this item in Decembers The Vegan Kind box and wanted to share it with you.  Yaoh are a UK based vegan brand selling a range of Hemp Oil products including this lip balm.  They come in 5 flavours: Spearmint, Strawberries and Cream, Mango and Kiwi, Coconut, and Blueberry.  As you can see I got Strawberries and Cream which I wouldn't have chosen myself to be honest but it's not as sweet as it sounds and has quite a pleasant scent.

I've had a bit of a cold the past week and so my lips have been ridiculously dry and cracked but I've been using this and it's actually helped quite a lot to keep my lips hydrated.  I tend to avoid lip balms, especially petroleum based ones (I avoid Vaseline like the plague!) as I don't think it's very healthy to be using a by-product of oil on your lips.  Also you can get addicted to using it as your lips rely on the balm for moisture instead of producing their own - I'm not sure if this is a legit fact but sounds about right to me!  You can find the ingredients on their website here which all looks pretty good.  At £2.75 I would happily repurchase, I think I'd like to try the Mango and Kiwi flavour!

We also got marshmallows in our TVK2 box which is so exciting!! I haven't tried them yet but I'm really looking forward to it.  This month TVK are donating 10p from every box to Greyhound Gap which is a charity which rehome greyhounds and lurchers who find themselves in a 'put to sleep' situation in UK pounds.  You can see my review of the first box here, and follow the link to sign up via The Vegan Kind website.

<3

Saturday, 21 December 2013

Festive Nails!

Hello!  I feel like I haven't posted on here in sooo long!  I'm not even sure why?  I've just been  busy working and applying for jobs and stuff, not really had any motivation for blogging sadly!  

I've kind of decided what I would like to do as a career if possible.  I'd like to get into merchandising; they are the ones who work out how much stock goes where, and when to run promotions and markdowns going by the sales figures etc.  I have a background in maths and also in retail so it seems like something I can do!  Unfortunately most head offices are in London which would mean moving away from home but I'm not sure if I'm quite ready for something like that yet!  I have found one vacancy in Scotland so we shall see...  If anyone knows of any head offices that are in Scotland please let me know so I can investigate haha!

Never mind blogging, I've not actually painted my nails in over a month, it's shocking!  I actually felt like a 3 year old when I was doing it, I'm so out of practice... Also my nails are such a mess at the moment but never mind, at least now they look kind of cute and Christmassy.


I've used Nails Inc Victoria & Albert as the red underneath (only needed one coat!) with Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow over the top.  There are smaller gold particles which are much more visible in person and give it a nice shimmer.

PS do you like my Christmas duvet set?  I got it from Primark - love it!

<3

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

The Konjac Sponge


I've had my eye on the Konjac Sponge for a while and decided to get it for using in the morning.  This is because I am a terrible human being and don't cleanse in the morning cos I am too lazy... I do 'wash' my face with cold water but that's about as far as I've gone, so I decided that this looks like the perfect way of getting me out of this terrible routine.

The Konjac Sponge is made from 100% pure vegetable fibre (from the Konjac plant) so this makes it also 100% biodegradable.  The Konjac plant itself is an alkaline and contains loads of great vitamins and minerals such as protein, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and folic acid.  It is gentle on the skin, naturally moisturising, deep cleansing and gently exfoliating.  They come plain, like the one above, or with added charcoal or french clay depending on your skin type. 


I wasn't very sure what to expect from this when I first got it and was quite excited to try it.  It arrived in a sealed plastic pouch which was sort of damp on the inside and smelled a bit odd, but after a first rinse the smell was gone.  When you leave it to dry it goes almost solid so you need to make sure before using it is totally soaked to soften it again.  It has the most bizarre texture, I can't even explain it properly, reminds me of a crumpet!!  It is very soft, not like a normal sponge you would buy, and when you rub it on your face it feels almost as if it is foaming... but it's not?!  It does feel very nice and cleansing on the skin, you can use it with your own cleanser for extra goodness and it also can be used to remove make up.  As I'm only going to be using it with water in the morning I can't really comment on this, however I did try it once after coming out the shower but there was still make up coming off when I toned so it didn't seem to work very well.  Perhaps the ones with clay or charcoal ones would do the job better.

The sponge should last between 1-3 months depending on use so once it starts looking a bit depleted or damaged it will need replaced.  There is a a string running through the sponge to allow you to hang it up to dry, leaving it in a damp place such as the shower will shorten its lifespan.  When you've finished with it it can be composted, or you can add it into a plant pot and help look after the plant by retaining moisture for it!

I've been using it for a while now and haven't noticed any improvements in my skin - which in general is good, combination but more dry in Winter - but I am enjoying the routine of using the Konjac sponge in the morning as it does leave it feeling nice and clean.

You can get this from LoveLula for £6.99.

<3

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