Saturday Beauty Buys

Saturday is the one day a week i tend to go a bit crazy-crazzy with the beauty pur-chasing. I walk through Boots on my way to work, and walk past Superdrug on the way out, so i'm basically destined to buy something.. Yet again, this week was no exception to this 'pur-chasing rule' and i bought a couple of things .. :)

Here's what i picked up... (i had a measly excuse of a lunch break today and i've worked bloody hard! And so i figured i would treat myself to a crafty 5 minute browse around the shoppy shops before heading to the car - i deserved it!)

Eyelure Eyelashes '050' & '101' - £5.09 each (2 for £8.99 at the momento)

Laydeeeeesss get yourself down to Superdrug if you're in need of a pair of falsies or two, as they're on offer right now at 2 pairs for £8.99 - of which i thought was absolutely spiffing :)

I picked up my trusty 101s for nights out, and i decided to go for a pair of '050's for a more natural option. I never wear falsies in the day but i figured if i do happen to have any daytime events coming up now that the weather is warming up then i have something less dramatic to opt for!

No.7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in 'Mojo'

I had to have this colour in my life - a lovely orange colour with gold sparklies in it (ooo sparklieees). I love No.7 polishes, as they apply smoothly and evenly and last for ages without chipping (which is a miracle for me and my cruddy shoe shop job!)

Does anyone else end up buying random beauty items on their way to work to pass time?! 

& can anybody recommend their favourite false lashes for me to try? I fancy a change :)

Lord & Berry Lipstick Crayon Review

Lord & Berry Lip Crayon 'Mandarin' - £8 - ASOS

I was having one of my regular ASOS binges last week and really fancied treating myself to some new beauty bits. I took advantage of the 25% discount and decided to pick up a few Illamasqua treats, and i also decided to pop one of these little lip crayons into my virtual basket. And i'm so chuffed that i did.

Lord & Berry isn't a brand i'd really looked into before, or really heard much about, and i was really intrigued by their lipstick crayons. I opted for an orangey peach shade in 'Mandarin' (i really need to stop this addiction to coral..it's getting slightly obsessive). I love how it comes packaged in a little white box - for a product which is fairly reasonably priced i didn't really expect it come in its own box and it made me a very happy lady (i'm one of these girls that keeps all their makeup stored neatly in boxes...i just never want to throw them away.. the thought of throwing pretty little boxes in the bin makes me feel a little bit sad inside..)

The consistency is just perfect; really creamy and smooth. I half expected it to be very drying and difficult to apply, but it applies like a dream, and gives a very pigmented but glossy finish.  It also smells like vanilla (similar to Mac lipsticks but with even more hints of vanilla-ey yummyness). I've worn this for a few days now and even though it is quite glossy and light, it does last quite well - i only needed to reapply a small number of times throughout the day as it wears off gradually and still gives a pretty hint of colour after an hour or so.

I really like the concept of crayon lipsticks - they've really taken off this past year (Topshop's are proving very popular), as they are so easy to apply as you can vary the thickness of the line you're getting, it's easy to get a more precise finish without the need for a lip liner, and they just seem altogether more versatile.

I'll definitely be purchasing another of these, and i'll also be looking into more products from Lord & Berry as this little crayon has impressed me no end. 

[Lord & Berry Lipstick Crayon - £8 - ASOS]

What are your thoughts on lip crayons?
Have you ever tried any products from Lord & Berry?

 

Topshop Pay Day Treats...

It's Saturday. It was pay day last week. This could only mean one thing for me - my monthly Topshop venture. I could have bought the whole shop; they have some lovely cropped t-shirts and shorts in at the moment, but i settled for a spring dress and a couple of lippies (if you know me you know i have a weakness for lipsticks..especially of the Toppyshoppy variety). I'm very lucky that i live in a city with a flagship Topshop, and that it's directly opposite my place of work (oh hello there lunchtime treatss..)...

 Lace & Chiffon Spring Dress - Topshop - £36

I originally wanted this in mint green or powder blue, but since those colours never emerged in my Topshop i settled for the peach colour and i'm extremely chuffed i managed to get my mitts on it. Perfect length (i didn't even need the petite version which are always hard to get hold of - yaaayayayay), perfect colour for a summer tan, and it has little hook and eye fastenings to the back so the top is really nicely fitted. 

I love lace. I love chiffon. I love spring dresses and i love coral. Basically my perfect dress.

Topshop Lipstick in 'Infrared' - £8

I finally gave in and bought it. I've been putting myself off it for weeks and telling myself whatever will i do with an orange lipstick?! But i love it. Such a lovely shade that is actually very pretty and wearable. It's a very deep orange colour which is almost red, and looks similar in the tube to 'RioRio' (one of my favourites everever - review here) - but once on the lips it is a lovely vibrant orange shade.

 

Topshop Lipstick in 'Charmed' - £9

I know, i know. It looks more or less the same as 'Infrared', but i can assure you - it isn't. This one is from their 'Sisters of the New Moon' collection and i am just in love with the packaging - a lovely little pink box with pretty swirls and silver writing. This shade is more pastel once on the lips and is more of a peach shade rather than an orange, it's also more muted and doesn't look so bright on the lips - more cool in tone and is more wearable if i'm not feeling brave enough for the brightness of Infrared!

Swatches: Top - Infrared

 Bottom - Charmed

Currently on my Topshop Lipstick wishlist is 'All About Me' and i really want the liptint in 'Crystal'. But i shall wait until next payday for those.. 4 lipsticks in the space of a week is a little bit ridiculous, surely?

What are your Topshop favourites right now? :)

Barbara Daly Cream Blush 'Peaches & Cream'

Barbara Daly isn't a brand i tend to go for purely because it isn't sold in drugstores and i don't often frequent the supermarket for a makeup-purchasing sesh! However, on a recent trip to Tesco with my LAVLEY best friend (we take it in turns to drive to various supermarkets for fun and to stock up on chocolate..please tell me we aren't the only folk that do this?), we found ourselves browsing the makeup stands and this caught my eye. I have a thing for corals and peaches at the moment..

The packaging is so cute; i like that you can see the colour through the little window, it's pocket-sized (i actually keep it in my purse because it's so small), and is just one of those compacts that feels rather satisfying to hold in your hands (oh goodness..how sad do i sound right now...) The cream blush retails at £5.00 and you get 1.4g of  product, which i thought was pretty decent and comparable to other brands.

The colour is more pink in tone when in the pot, but when applied it has lovely orange/deep coral tones to it which is what i fell in love with straight away. It's quite strongly pigmented too and one swatch provides an intense colour which is very blendable and buildable. I find that 3 or 4 dots on my cheeks is more than enough. The consistency is lovely and creamy and very much reminds me of the Topshop cream blushers as it seems to become more powdery once applied. But whereas the Topshop ones tend to look more matte, this one looks more creamy and sheer which gives a more dewy effect to the skin. The colour does seem to last quite well, obviously with a creamy blush the colour does wear off quicker than most powders, however it doesn't seem to go patchy and just fades slightly throughout the day (but because it fits into my purse it means topping it up is a doddle! ;))

Overall: This has been my first product from her range and i've been pleasantly suprised by the quality.I'll definitely be looking into grabbing a couple more of these (i reckon the whole range is on 3 for 2 at the moment). The only downside is the shade range - i just wish there were a few more to choose from. I currently have my eye on her airbrush foundation and a few of her nail polishes...

Have you tried anything from Barbara Daly? 

FOTD - Coral in Gold Lipstick

Face:

 Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' (review)

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer *a new fave of mine*

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in 'Brown'

Sleek Contour Kit in 'Light' (review)

Illamasqua blush in 'Lover' (review)

Eyes:

Urban Decay Naked Palette - ('Half Baked' all over the lid, 'Smog' in the crease and 'Naked' under the lash line)

Loreal Carbon Gloss Eyeliner

Barry M Kohl Pencil in 'black'

Maybelline 'The Falsies' mascara

Lips:

Rimmel - '210' Coral in Gold *my new orangey fave*

Dress:

Primark :) *previous post*

Evenin', you lovely bunch. 

This week has been a bit hectic to say the least. I've been attempting to finish a hefty essay, at the same time as completing a project and i've spent the week racking my brains and covering myself in acrylics. LAVLEY.  I still have a little bit left to do over the next couple of nights but thought i'd do a little blog post in the form of a 'face of the day' - i don't usually do these just because i can't bare to post close up shots of my mug on t'internet but i thought it was about time i tried one..

It's been really lovely and sunny over my neck of the woods just recently (but still a bit chilly - ohh england how i love your beautiful springtime weather..*sarcasm*), so i've been reaching for the corals and the pretty pastel shades in both my wardrobe and my makeup bag - my current obsession being peach coloured blushes and orange toned lipsticks. I've also been loving Urban Decay's 'Half Baked' - i find the gold tone brings out the green in my eyes now that the weather is getting a bit brighter! Also been loving the Primark dresses i posted about earlier this week. Oo i can't wait for Summer..

What make-up looks are you loving at the moment?

One Primark Dress... Three Different Colours

 Primark mini dresses - £6 each

One of my many rules of shopping: If you can't decide, buy it in every single colour possible. That's exactly what i did when i saw these cute little cotton dresses in Primark the other day. I usually find dresses from there a little bit long for me, so i was really chuffed when i spotted these as they don't drown me and my stubby excuses of legs in fabric. Admittedly, they're quite short in length, and when i'm going 'tightless' in summer i'll probably throw them over a pair of cotton shorts to save myself from any Marylin Monroe-styled mishaps :)

Yess, i know, I didn't really need 3 of the same dress in my life, but at £6 each i just had to get all of them! I thought the copper coloured one would look nice with a bit of a tan when i'm on my summer holidays (they're perfect to throw on over bikinis too because of how light they are). I just love how versatile and simple they are to wear - i wore the white one today with a pair of tights, a tan belt and a pastel pink blazer - definitely the type of thing you can dress up or down.

I've been a bit disappointed in Primark lately, (although i tend to find their spring/summer collections a bit more exciting than the winter stock), but these simple little dresses have been a really good, bargainous find to say the least, and i know that i'll get a lot of wear out of these with leggings and pretty summer wedges when the weather warms up. A very much welcome addition to my wardrobe. Primark - you have redeemed yourself.

'Get To Know Me' Tag

I've seen this tag post floating around on my reading list the past few days, so i thought i would hop on the bandwagon and do it too. I think it's a really good way of getting to know the people behind the blog, and personally they are something i enjoy to read, as i feel it helps me get to know my fellow bloggers better :)

1. Are you named after anyone?

No. Apparently when i was born none of the nurses had ever heard of the name 'Bethany' before.. 

2. When was the last time you cried?

Yesterday. I cry when things get to me.. and things got to me

3. Do you have kids?

No.. maybe one day but not just yet.

4. If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself?

Probably. I like to think i'm quite a loyal friend.

5. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I guess i do really. Working in retail means you work up a bit of a sarcastic side. And believe me, the customers i get need a sprinkling of humour in their lives anyway.. they're often very miserable self-obsessed snooty women. I hope i never ever end up like that! 

6. Will you ever bunjee jump? 

You could never pay me enough money to leap into the air like that...

7. What's your favourite cereal?

Ohh well this is embarrassing, i suppose the mature answer here would be my Kellogs Crunchy Nut.. but i must admit im partial to a few Wheetos now and again. Yes, i eat cereal aimed towards 5 year olds :)

8. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Aside from appearance,  I look at their shoes (this, yet again, comes from the misfortune of working in retail..needless to say, i work in a shoe shop and have done for near on 4 years!) You can tell a LOT about people by the shoes they wear and I see all sorts of  'footwear sins'. If you see somebody above the age of 13 wearing Crocs - i advise you NEVER.ever. to approach them. Ever. Even worse, If they're wearing a brightly coloured variation and are sporting a matching anorak.. for the sake of your life - don't even look them in the eye!

If you walk past me, trust me, i will be looking at your shoes.

9. What is your eye colour?

Green. I wish they were blue :( Or dark brown.

10. Scary movies or a happy ending?

I hate scary movies (i say 'hate' - i still watch them i just regret it afterwards). I can't watch anything with blood in it either - Bleghh.. You can say it's tomato ketchup as many times as you like.. it makes me feel funny!

And i spent the entire length of 'Paranormal activity' in the cinema, with my hands in front of my face/buried in my friends shoulder and looking at photos of my pet lizard on my phone to make myself 'feel better'. The nachos i'd bought went all over the floor in fear :( *wuss*

11. Favourite smell?

Nice aftershave on a male species. Bed linen thats been air dryed in the summer breeze, and the smell of suncream because it makes me want to go on holiday!

12. Summer or Winter?

SUMMER. I shouldn't have been born in the UK! I just love the sun, and i constantly think about where i'm next going on holiday. Give me a beach, a pina colada and boiling hot sunshine and i'm a happy girl :) Everything just seems so much better in the Summer.

13. Computer or TV?

Don't make me choose between watching The Only Way is Essex and writing my blog..thats so unfair..

14. What's the furthest you've ever been from home? 

America. Loved it. Hated the flight, but it was so worth it. 

15. Do you have any special talents?

I'm quite good with a pencil and i can draw things :) I want to go into illustration when i grows up :)

16. Where were you born?

Midlands. 

17. What are your hobbies?

Aside from bloggering - drawing, shopping, and having a good old natter in the pub.

18. Do you have any pets?

Not at home, but me and my boyfriend have 2 leopard geckos, and i've adopted his cat, Paris.

19. Favourite Movie?

The Time Travellers Wife, The Notebook, PS I Love You, The Lion King...Anything that makes me cry is a winner for me :) ... Although Bridesmaids is hilarious..

20. Do you have any siblings?

Nope. I'm an only child!

I do hope i haven't bored you with this little insight into my life, i tag all of you to do this, please let me know if you do in my comments box :)

Toni&Guy Haircare for £1

On a recent trip around Poundworld (i often go in to see what hair products they have in as they have some 'reet good bargains), i spotted a large section of Toni&Guy shampoos and conditioners. Admittedly, they are of the travel size, but at 75ml you still get a decent amount of product for just one pound (more product than you would get in the travel sizes at Boots & Superdrug). Toni&Guy being such a top quality, slightly higher end haircare brand, i decided to treat myself to the 'Rapid Response Leave-in Conditioner', as it's something i don't usually buy and the ends of my hair aren't looking too happy at the moment..

I've only used this twice but so far i'm really liking it. I don't need a lot as it's quite rich, so the smaller size is going to last quite a while. I'm usually not so keen on leave-in conditioners as i feel they leave a bit of a residue on the ends, however, this one isn't noticeable at all and soaks into my rather frazzled ends very well, leaving them feeling soft and smooth.  It also smells amazing!

For just £1 i think they're really good to pick up if you're going away, or even if you just fancy a little treat for your hair. They have all sorts of products in there at the moment so hurry hurryyy down to Poundworld and get your mitts on them :) I have no idea why i only picked up one product.. (probably the sensible side of me kicking in that i don't see very often..) but I'm off to loot some more tomorrow..
I have my eye on the curl conditioner..

MUA Lipglosses

I picked up these MUA lipglosses on a recent mooch around Superdrug (does anyone else find themselves 'mooching' around the makeup stands looking for a bargain makeup-fix at the end of the day?) I'm really not a lipgloss person at all. The one lipgloss i use and love is a Sephora one, and being from the UK, i am aware i'm going to struggle to get my mitts on a replacement. So, i picked up a couple of the MUA ones as i liked the look of the colours (and the price..lets face it, MUA are a flipping steal if you're on a bit of a budget..like myself at this current moment in time..)

The first shade i picked up is in 'Shade 1' (ohh MUA..i wish you named your products..poor nameless little things they are..). I'm a lover of lilac shades when it comes to lipsticks so i figured this would be a good choice. It's full of shimmery-bits and goes nicely with my pink/lilac lipstick shades. 

The pigmentation is suprisingly quite decent for a lipgloss (i hate it when they look brightly coloured in the tube and then amount to nothing on the lips), i prefer a subtle sheer colour and this is exactly what the MUA glosses deliver.  They do feel slightly sticky and i definitely won't be wearing these glosses on a windy day (long hair + wind + lipgloss = annoyance!). The consistency is the only thing i wasn't too keen on but it wouldn't put me off buying anymore - for £1 you can't really go wrong.

The second shade i picked up is 'Shade 4', a lovely corally orange tone. I've really got into coral lipsticks just recently, and i've really been loving peach as a shade in general for Spring. I wore this over a coral/nude coloured lipstick on a recent night out, and it seemed to last suprisingly well. 

I'm still not convinced i have successfully replaced my beloved Sephora lipgloss, but i'd probably still pick up a couple more of the MUA glosses. For the price i think you get a decent bit of product and the quality is on par with some of the more expensive drugstore brands on the market.

 [MUA colours with flash]

Have you tried any of the MUA glosses?
Whats your favourite drugstore lipgloss? 

 

The Battle of the Dry Shampoos

One thing that's a must have in my hair-care routine is dry shampoo. I use it in-between washes when my hair is looking a little bit flat, lifeless and in general a little bit worse for wear.  I have fairly long and thick hair, and washing it can be a bit of a chore, so i tend to leave it a day between washes. Sometimes, a bit of dry shampoo puts the life back into the roots and helps me get that extra day out of my hair. So, having tried and tested many over the years, i've decided to pick out a few of those that seem to crop into my bathroom cupboard/handbag/suitcase on a regular basis and give you my thoughts on them (this post is going to be quite rambly..so apologies if you're not in a reading mood this wonderful evening :))

Batiste Dry Shampoo:
Batiste is probably one of the most well known brands of dry shampoo and is the one i've used since my school days (quite some time ago now, i hasten to add..) Since then, they've bought out an array of different variations of their ever so popular 'original' bottle, my personal favourite being the 'tropical' version because it smells like coconuts.

• Pros: A wide range of choice available including coloured versions for blonde and brunette hair. They also have travel sizes available which is something i look for as they're not only handy to pop into your bag but they're great for taking away on holiday and for travelling with. The bottles last for quite some time and dispense a decent amount of powder each time, meaning you don't have to use a lot for it to absorb any oil. 
• Cons: Can be quite heavy due to the powdery texture and this may weigh down thinner hair. The smell can sometimes be a little bit overpowering if you prefer unscented products; even the original version smells quite powdery. If you do have very dark hair the powder is quite obviously white (unless you're using the brunette version) and can make hair look a bit dull. It can also make your hair feel a bit dry if used a few times throughout the day.

Tresemme Dry Shampoos:
As you know, i do love a bit of volume in my hair and i am the first to admit i'm often a bit of a rascal when it comes to backcoming *slap wrist*. When Tresemme first bought out their dry shampoo i couldn't wait to try it and instantly fell in love. Of course, when i spotted the volumising version, i fell in love even more.

• Pros: Lighter in texture and the powder isn't obvious, therefore doesn't feel as if you are weighing down your hair or clogging it up with product. I personally prefer the scent of this product over the highly frangranced Batiste, it smells fresh and altogether less powdery. The volume version is even more amazing and adds a bit of lift at the roots - you aren't sacrificing volume for freshness.
• Cons: No choices for coloured hair however the powder is so fine that i actually don't think this should be classed as a 'con' as you can't see it too much anyway. No smaller sizes or coloured variations. The bottle doesn't seem to last as long and once you get to the bottom it can take some shaking up in order to dispense any powder along with the spray.

John Frieda: Anytime Volume Refresher:

• Pros: Instantly volumises hair. Seriously, i lift up the roots and give this a couple of sprays and my hair just looks so much more.. VOLUMISED. Oof. It smells amazing, and doesn't have a powdery hint to it whatsoever. It also makes your roots look really bouncy and fresh without the dull-greyish tone that most dry shampoos tend to leave. It doesn't feel like you have any product in your hair as the powder isn't heavy, and you don't need a lot to see results.
• Cons: More on the pricey side and i wish you got a little bit more product for your money.

Superdrug Own Brand - Dry Shampoo in 'Away with the Fairies'.

• Pros: The price! At 99p a bottle it's the most purse friendly of the lot. Similar in texture to the Tresemme one however you do need a little bit more product to achieve the result. This one smells really nice, however it is heavily fragranced so if you really hate strong-smelling products then this isn't for you. A choice of variations in fragrance.
• Cons: Very light in texture and therefore if your hair needs a decent bit of refreshing then this isn't going to do much unless you use a fair bit (it's better for little touch ups rather than full-blown dry shampooing!)

Charles Worthington: Front Row Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair:

I bought this for use on a recent holiday as i didn't want to take a big bottle, and i wanted a change from my usual Batiste. They also offer an original version and a brunette bottle for darker hair.

• Pros: Very lightly toned with a blonde colour so my hair didn't look powdery or dull even after a full application (result!). Banishes oil straight away and doesn't feel overly powdery (although it is heavier than the Tresemme).The quality is spot on and it applies smoothly and easily, and doesn't take a lot of, if any, massaging in.
• Cons: Again, a little bit pricier but the travel size didn't cost me the earth and is still going strong.The smell can be overpowing but it doesn't smell powdery.

Overall:

It's very difficult to pick a favourite, simply because i use different dry shampoos for different things and for different situations. I have to say i really am loving the John Frieda at the moment, but for everyday use i love the Tresemme Volumising Dry Shampoo as i find the texture suits my hair a little bit better than the heavier powders.

If you are new to dry shampoos then my advice would be to try the travel sizes first - you can grab a load of them from Superdrug and Boots for about £1 each and they're easier to pop into your bag for on the go!

What's your favourite dry shampoo?